02.08.08
Posted in Thoughts at 5:41 pm by Administrator
I have seen time come and go
Smoke rings in the sky
This is the last time
But only I know, that is a lie
Whither has it blown me
Over arching mountains vastness
Gentle sentinel, always shining
Green even in winter’s fastness
Drums beat the hurt
In the heart of a quiet mead
A song, sweet singing, lullabies
Old things return from forgotten seed
A tide will come
Beyond the brake of memories
Washing even Heaven pure
Beyond the guile of both our ways
A certain wave assured
Moving on Eternity
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02.06.08
Posted in Spirituality, Happiness, Thoughts at 8:11 pm by Administrator
I sincerely want to see more people awake.
The more people that are awake, the better the world will be for them and many others.
To be awake is to know what you are, eternally and presently. This can be discovered by really wanting to know and taking the time to figure it out. Figuring it out is benefitted by shaking off the comfortable ideas you have created about yourself and your place in the world and doing what is necessary to experience clear awareness and inner stillness.
Being with people who are awake and effectively functional in the world is one way to begin. Finding ways to clear your mind and detach your awareness from the objects of the world is another way. Reading spiritually inspired books that do not play on fantasies or infantile desires is another.
Then all sorrow falls from you, and an eternal bliss (not the exagerated emotion, but the source of reality) blossoms from you.
What are you waiting for?
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02.05.08
Posted in Spirituality, Thoughts at 3:04 pm by Administrator
I was walking through Namaste Yoga and Healing Center here in Asheville on Sunday and found a painting of a buddhist monk with words written around the edge. It read “Life has no meaning. Sing Dance Live”
Too often we search for meaning, which is a waste of time. It is a mental trip. Life is beyond the mind, and any questions, answers, words, feelings or thoughts are all of the mind.
It is easy to get caught in the trap of the mind when you don’t know anything else. If we knew what we were at the very core of our being, which is not an object in this world, we would not have the sorrow that comes with identification with our physical possessions, our personalities, or our belief systems, etc. In the end, all of these perish. Yet one thing alone remains, and that IS you. One thing always IS, and that is YOU.
You are that right now. You are always that. There is no need to find it. The experiences you have happen within you. Yet most people identify with the experience as opposed to their real Self. To move beyond the mind, intend to do so. To identify with your eternal Self, intend to do so. Then wait, knowing the realization is on the way. Accept it when it arrives, however simple it might be.
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12.27.07
Posted in Spirituality, Thoughts at 5:59 pm by Administrator
An email was sent to me that read:
“I personally am very interested in the ideas pertaining to quantum physics, how the physical world melds with the spiritual world, how they are actually intimately connected. It fascinates me that even in the era of The Yoga Sutras, Patanjali and other yogis had figured out the theories that quantum physicists today are still mulling over. So a question… .
Where and how exactly do the physical and the spiritual worlds connect, and how can we as spiritual seekers use this information to “progress” along our paths? Are there ways that understanding the nature of energy can help us in our daily, workaday lives?”
My response was:
“There is no connection between the spiritual and physical worlds because they are one whole. You can use this information to progress by 1st living from this understanding and thereby acknowledging that every action, thought, thing, etc, is “spiritual” and second by inquiring to figure out what part of you led you to believe there was a separation. Seeking to understand “the nature of energy” as you called it is a distraction keeping you from knowing what is important, which is knowing your whole Self. Find out who wants to know how understanding the nature of energy can help you in your every day life. “
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Posted in Thoughts, Healing at 5:57 pm by Administrator
An email was sent to me asking:
”I’d like to ask how you handle the “very strange” and needy folk that are sometimes attracted to this and other esoteric methods.” (This was in regards to the Yuen Method.)
My response was:
“As far as handling strange and needy folk…
I do the corrections that are presented and leave it at that. If they are interested in changing their strange or needy ways, that is up to them. I also frequently refer these folk onto more patient practitioners. Ideally they need strengthened to functioning in reality and not in fantasy, which…most don’t have the desire or the resources to put the work in to address that. As a Yuen Method practitioner, I can make energetic corrections to clear their consciousness and prepare the ground for their own growth. If they don’t plant the seeds or dig up new weeds, I can’t help that.
An analogy comes to mind. If I am working with a person that wants to improve their life, yet doesn’t have the emotional maturity or the desire to do the work to get the skills they need to live effectively their life will not change very much. It can be likened to a person who really has a burning desire to be a mechanic. Yet they are crippled by past experiences of self doubt or abuse that leads them to believe they are worthless and incapable of achieving their goals. The Yuen Method can clear away the negative blocks of the past experiences, self doubt, abuse etc… but if they don’t take the initiative to sign up for classes or get a job to pay for their tuition, nothing much will change.
I suppose you could address the neediness and strange ideas directly, if in fact, those test as the reasons they are unhappy or not experiencing what they would like to. If I’ve not answered what you were asking, feel free to elaborate on what you want to know.”
A follow up email read:
“The strange and needy folk in this instance happened to be other students/interns at the last class I attended. I don’t know that I’m surprised that they were there, but I was most surprised that I was the object of their focus. Weird. Gave me a glimpse of what Dr. Yuen encounters and must control as a teacher. I suspect this is true of all teachers, regardless of their discipline. I guess I’m learning about boundaries in this situation.
The strange and needy clients I’ve encountered, I have handled pretty much as you described though not so clearly. Thanks for the mechanic example. That is helpful on many levels and in many situations.
What new and interesting things have I learned since last we spoke…
- Sitting in one position for 10 hours is not good for the body. I’ve gone to a trainer who has been helping me strengthen my neck and given me exercises to do between sessions.
- There are lots of people carrying heavy energetic burdens. I have a new appreciation for the health of my extended family.
- Sometimes I am shocked by the people who come back to me after telling me that it didn’t work for them.
- People are happy to pay for this work.
- I need to develop a clear and lucid explanation for those who are truly interested but not tuned into the world of energy healing methods – like my family.
- Sometimes there are miracles on the spiritual, psychic, emotional levels which don’t seem to translate to the physical. I have one client whose life has been transformed but she still has migraines and GERD. I have learned tremendously from her! She doesn’t care that the main physical issues haven’t responded because she is so happy otherwise. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue.
- I am surprised by how different the causes of some of the “typical” issues I see can be from person to person. I have also seen the danger in becoming habitual in my responses. The greatest discipline is in not falling back on what went before.
- Before I complete my training, I really need to see how others teach this method. Can recommendation some excellent teachers for my internship classes?”
My response was:
“Boundaries are good to learn. I’ve found in my experience that it is easy to give people what they want rather than what they need and takes practice to remain strong, and that it is always better to remain in the truth, rather than fantasy, even if it takes practice. ( The more I do this with myself, the easier it is for me to do it with others.)
Another analogy that came to me was that of a poor person and a millionaire. If you give both a rich person (Someone who has their act together) and poor person (someone more interested in being dependant and lost in fantasy) a million bucks (clear out all their junk using the Yuen Method) in one year, the poor person will more than likely have less money, and the millionaire will probably have found a way to make even more money using the million bucks. Paradigms needed shifted and skills learned. If you can do that too, great! If not, it’s always good to explain the importance of also working with someone to develop those skills.
That’s just the nature of people really.
As for practitioners/interns being weird, it can be likened to church. Most people go to church to hang out with their friends like a club, they are not interested in spiritual growth and what it takes to actualize that. The same thing with healing practitioners, they like hanging out in problems and so are attracted to places where problems exist…healing workshops…they are not really interested healing…they are interested in finding out the next neat problem to overcome. I don’t go to church, and I avoid healing workshops unless it’s necessary. ; )
Below are some responses to your comments.
–I need to develop a clear and lucid explanation for those who are truly interested but not tuned into the world of energy healing methods – like my family.
Why is that? Just do it and let the results speak for themselves or not. Remember, if it does or doesn’t work, it’s not your fault either way. You know what to do. As long as you do it, its up to the receiving end to make use of it. Explanations just get in the way.
–Sometimes there are miracles on the spiritual, psychic, emotional levels which don’t seem to translate to the physical. I have one client whose life has been transformed but she still has migraines and GERD. I have learned tremendously from her! She doesn’t care that the main physical issues haven’t responded because she is so happy otherwise. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue.
It depends on the client. Work on her to the effect of having no problems, or being perfectly healthy, feeling good, and digesting just fine. Strengthen the positive and focus on that rather than the negative symptoms.
-Before I complete my training, I really need to see how others teach this method. Can recommendation some excellent teachers for my internship classes?
Look up Prema Shanti and Mary Fox. They are both in Colorado I think. ”
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11.26.07
Posted in Thoughts at 3:16 pm by Administrator
Not long ago, a man I knew died. He had cancer for the last 2 and a half years. I was privileged to work with him in those last two years of his life. At first we were utilizing EFT and the Yuen Method. In time, we became friends and I left the therapeutic realm to others.
At his memorial service I was asked to play the mandolin. I was happy too. This man had attended one of my For the Love of Zeppelin concerts, and although he said he appreciated the musicianship that went into our performance, our volume and 70’s rock style were not his thing. He also came to a show at the Brew Pub where I played mandolin with the irish group. That was much more his style. So I was happy to play two songs at his service.
When we first began working together I had no doubt it was possible for him to overcome this and live the life he intended, because if he did live his intention was to drastically rearrange his priorities. My faith in his chances of survival did not falter, until the last two times I saw him.
Much of our interaction in those last few visits revolved around his coming to terms with death, and probing of the meaning of life and spirituality.
Make peace with death now. Do not wait. Find the meaning of life now. Do not wait. Though these may seem far off and impossible to understand, death comes quickly, and through practice and commitment, understanding is available. Also, do not wait to arrange your priorities by the standards you intend. It is this very thing that might dissolve the boundry between living and dying. This is what I’ve learned from the man I knew, that is no more.
At some point in eternity the light must come on, and now is the best time for it.
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11.21.07
Posted in Spirituality, Thoughts at 4:07 pm by Administrator
There are things that grab our attention. These are sensational and different from our ordinary experience. They are perceptions that act as sign posts to call us forward.
It is good to pay attention to these sign posts and follow them. Too often though, people just want the shiny sign posts and forget about their intrinsic value.
In my experience most are drawn to spirituality because their lives are not what they ideally want. I know this was the case with me. I saw myself as a puny little human and wanted to experience the boundless bliss of cosmic consciousness. Because really, that was so much more special than my present experience.
So I read the works and studied with the masters. I followed the path outlined by them, always looking forward to that day when my little self would vanish into puff of scintillating light. Meditation experiences rose and fell. Life continued. There were still good days and bad days, but in the center of all that calmness descended.
As time passed, it became clearer that right now I already am and have always been one with the all. What I am right now is it. There is no escaping.
Masters speak of transcending duality, and the dualistic nature of the world. That IS the nature of this world. Things rise and they fall. Things are born and they die. Moods change. Thoughts come and go. That is the nature of the world. But you see, our real Self is not the world. It is timeless and the support of all these things.
To transcend duality does not mean to destroy the world, or to escape from it. It means to see what really IS, to identify with that which we really are.
So what does all of this have to do with glamour? Well, I just wanted to share that it is great to be pulled in a certain direction by sensational spiritual experiences, but don’t mistake those for the source of the experience. Getting caught up in the sensationalism is no different than getting caught up in TV dramas, or exciting adventures in life. It’s all entertainment. In the end, there is nothing special about spiritual discovery. It is as normal as your day to day existence. So find peace there, and know that all of that is IT. Let your worship and your prayer be the remembering that every little thing has the Divine under the surface. Every little thing is fantastic if you let it be that way.
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11.19.07
Posted in Spirituality, Thoughts at 3:51 pm by Administrator
Well?
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11.02.07
Posted in Thoughts at 8:51 pm by Administrator
What if instead of living through the screen of past experiences and imaginations we forgot about all that and lived simply within the contents of the present moment?
Or, if that doesn’t seem possible, what if instead of letting the mind turn over painful poisonous thoughts, we turned our attention to God?
Imagine that, letting the past, the imagination, and the useless thoughts of the mind take care of them selves, while retraining our attention to focus on the only reality of the present in as God!
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10.28.07
Posted in Spirituality, Thoughts at 2:05 pm by Administrator
Finding something to concentrate on is up to you. It needs to be something that you are interested in and that can absorb your attention. Let this be a concept or idea that, if you could, you would like to know or become. This could be a form of the divine, a state of surrender, or oneness with all things. Or you could simply focus on your self. Once you have your point of concentration, summarize it in one or two words. For example, if I wanted to know my self, I would pick the words, “my self”. Easy. Right?
Now, schedule a time once or twice a day to reflect on your chosen idea. Don’t change the idea, stick with your original choice. Find a quiet place where you can sit up straight, close your eyes and turn your attention within. Know that this time of the day you are dedicated to nothing else but contemplating your chosen idea and strengthening your mind. (Because that is what this will do, get your mind under control.) Once you are firmly established, sitting up right, with your idea of contemplation in your mind, give your attention to your breathing. As you breathe in, feel the breath coming in to your body and hear the word, “my”. As you breathe out, feel the breath leaving your body and hear (and feel) the word “self”.
As you do this, don’t be mechanical about it. Just repeating words and breathing won’t do much for you, other than calm you down a bit. If you really want to strengthen your mind and know what you are contemplating, when you hear and feel the words in your mind as you breathe really focus on them. What do they mean? When you say “my” what is it that you associate with that. When you “self” what is that you attach to your “self”. (Here is a helpful reminder: Anything you can think about imagine to be associated with your self, is not your self.)
Two things are occurring here. One, you are strengthening your mind. Thoughts, emotions, sensations, memories, etc. will break your concentration, but you gently bring your awareness back to your breath and contemplation. With each day and each session of practice your mind grows stronger and you can maintain your contemplation longer. So don’t give up. Look at it like training. If you are weak physically you may need to change a few things to get stronger. 1) eat right. 2) take some time to exercise often. Eating right one day or exercising once a month won’t do it. It needs to become part of the routine of your life. Think about the things that are important to you. You probably take some kind of action that involves these important aspects of your life daily, or at least often. What is important to you is reflected in your regular daily routine.
After you have sat silently for a while just breathing and contemplating, disregard the breath and let go of the contemplation. Just sit silently observing all that passes through your being. Observe the silence, and also observe the distractions as they rise and fall. When your scheduled time is at end, get up and go about your day as usual.
During times when you are simply living and not contemplating, yet you find your self day dreaming or worrying about something useless, use that moment to remember what it felt like to sit in the stillness after your contemplation, and take a moment or two to reflect on your object of contemplation. This will further train you to keep your attention focused and your mind strong.
Note that strength of mind does not indicate strain or force. It is more like a habit. Most people are in the habit of letting thoughts run wild and directing their energies outward. With practice, such as the one above, you are merely changing your habits. Instead of wasting energies and depleting your life force on useless thinking and worrying etc, you learn to remain connected to the source of all things. That becomes your natural state. A person who has done this would feel just as weird having millions of distractions running through his/her mind as a person who would think it strange to not have to think at all.
So the only difference between a “master” and someone who isn’t is really the habit of how they live and what they identify themselves with. A master identifies with the source of all things. Someone else identifies with the things in life that come and go, and feels that as the things come and go, so do they. One knows and is the source. The other is still the source, but has no idea what they really are. The latter could be likened to a person who has lost a precious necklace and is worried to death about where it might be, when really it is still around the person’s neck and they’ve just forgotten. The former never forgets where the necklace is.
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