Tagged: universe
The gifts of Life
A very good singer has the gift to sing. That gift cannot be passed onto another. That singer could believe that he has developed his gift through years of practice. “Practice” has only allowed for that gift to resurface not to develop. This individual may come up with his “own method” to teach to others. He can even say to the masses: “You can sing like me. Anybody can. I will teach you for only $599.99.”
The masses buy into that. If you don’t have the gift, there is no teaching, no method that will work. We cannot BE like someone else.
Every person has a particular gift. It is meant to be used in Life for the common good. Discover it. Allow it to fully appear. That is part of “knowing thyself.”
Conditioned by a commercial society, we believe that a gift is only that which allow us to make money. We label the exploitation of needs for profit as “helping others.”
In Life, we manifest. We do not create, although it may appear as such. Because we manifest, the gift is not truly “ours.” Paradoxically, we are ONE with Life.
Some individuals get caught up in the terminology. They will say it is “God” who gave them that gift. “God,” “Life,” the “source,” the “Universe,” etc. Use whatever label you desire. What is important is to realize that this gift wasn’t created by us.
That is a fantastic awareness.
The “deep” questions
“…But, what is the meaning of Life… it has to have a beginning and we should have a purpose for being here… You have not responded anything but merely diverted your answers…”
Ok… here I go again: Whatever you say, whatever I say, you can believe it or not. In Life… it does not matter what you believe in. Beliefs are of the mind. Living Life with joy is completely away from the mind. It is “no-mind,” not mindless, but “no-mind.”
“That is completely silly…”
So are your questions. Do you see that “purpose” is not something concerning Life, but it is only a concern of your mind?
“But…there has to be a moment of creation!”
It doesn’t. Everything has always existed, but in different forms. It changes just like Life. Life has always existed, but it changes all the time. It manifests through different forms.
The creator is called “God” but there is no need of a creator, for everything in Life recycles itself, “you” are part of it… or in a more appropriate language, “you” are Life itself.
There is no “big explosion” creating anything. What exists have always existed and recycles itself all the time. Existence has always existed. As it is above, it is below.
For you this could be “another belief,” as you believe a scientist with his latest “discoveries” or a religious credo, but if you observe Nature without using your mind to ask and resolve questions, but intently BEING there, you will know. Life will tell you the “secrets” and you will know without asking a question or regurgitating a belief. What you know cannot be put into words.
“That is nonsense. I will die. I cannot live 200 years.”
That “I” who you think you are is what you can perceive. That is the separation that is killing you with fear and anxiety. There is more that you cannot perceive due to the layers of conditioning affecting your mind and your emotions.
Take away those layers, and you will see something different.
In fact, that is the whole journey of a seeker.
Take away the layers of mental conditioning and fear, start living away from the mind and through the feelings of your heart… you will never ask again those meaningless “deep” questions.
The mind wants a logical answer, but it can only get beliefs.
Any answer could satiate your mind for a moment, but never your heart.
Because you are Life, the Universe itself, the answers are already within you; but paradoxically; “you” cannot see them unless that “you” goes away.
That is the journey.
There are not deep questions in Life, but only for the mind.
“You” are here. Enjoy the experience.
“You” will not be here in the future. That is the mind. Forget about it.
“You” are here until “you” are not. Live it completely. Become aware of it, for when “you” are not, then truly… “you” are… 🙂 A wave in the Ocean of Life goes away and then… a new one appears. “you” think you are the wave, in fact… you are the Ocean.
Discovering the covered self
The world as Nature or the Universe showcases only “what is.”
This statement may seem too obvious or senseless, but to understand “what is” without beliefs and preconceptions could be a challenging task which comes when we start to “unlearn.”
Some may label “what is” with colorful names: Beautiful, ugly, good, bad, correct, incorrect, etc.
The paradox to keep in mind is that this “giant mirror” only reflects the viewer.
Question: What do you mean?
It reflects what the viewer “IS.”
It doesn’t reflect what the viewer will become or what he has been. It only reflects “now.”
The “problem” arises when “I” become someone rather than “being”… The Universe itself.
A flying bird does not even have the label of being a bird in its awareness. A bird “is.”
Human beings on the other hand, are pretty good about coming up with sophisticated labels to segregate and separate. Some labels are enticing while others denigrate. Duality.
And here is one of the greatest paradoxes of all time:
“The more “I” go away from “me” to search for answers, the longer it will take for those answers to come to “me.”
Do we see the extreme depth of that paradox?
It is “Me” in front of the mirror of life. What do we want to “see”?
Reality? 🙂
Really?
Are we ready for it? If we are, the “world at the office” may lose its grip on us.
We will be different from “others” perspective, although paradoxically; we will be more in tune with the birds and other “non-office” dwellers. 🙂
If we truly understood even intellectually, that we perceive things as we “ARE,” then let me ask a couple of innocent questions:
1. Who is God? Is our understanding based on what we “see” which is based on what we “ARE” or it is another hand-me-down concept to repeat which by necessity is “static” and will not reflect the nature of life, which is changing, dynamic?
As we reach another consciousness, could “our concept” change? Or it is supposed to be a “dogmatic” non-changing truth in a changing Universe?
My last innocent question is:
2. Could a belief distract us from knowing the only thing in life that we could truly know that is, ourselves?
Answer: You bet.
The paradox is that a “distraction” is also another path to the same “know thyself” therefore, that experience of being distracted, cannot be labeled as “bad” for it was “good” after all… 🙂 Got to love paradoxes, by now! 🙂
The above is truly begging for the following question: 😉
How can we know “ourselves” if we are influenced by so many perspectives and beliefs?
1. Unlearn those beliefs
2. Let Nature itself teach you, for there is no difference between Nature and “you.”
Ask any bird if in doubt …. 🙂
From life at the “office” to living Nature
“Life at the office” is the term used to describe our worldly experience of a man-made world away from the laws of Nature.
When our mind is immersed in the “world at the office,” then our understanding of the Universe and the way Life operates will be very limited.
Anne wanted to “improve” herself. Anne was taught that “knowledge is power” so she went to the bookstore where she found plenty of books. Anne decided to go for “Self help” under that, she found “spirituality” and in another subsection, there was “Western,” “Eastern” and “New Age,” thought. The labels were neatly divided into different religions and philosophies and then into different authors.
Anne felt a bit overwhelmed that she had to read so many books to “help herself.”
Anne decided to hire someone, a local Guru who she heard “talks pretty good stuff” to “coach” Anne into getting certified as a “spiritual life coach,” so she can become a teacher to “make the difference in the lives of many.”
Anne heard: “You could be what you want to be. Your past does not determine your destiny unless you decide that. You could follow a proven path to help your clients to reach their goals.”
Anne then had a successful training in the “Secret” and in metaphysical studies.
Anne became a proven knowledgeable Guru of life… She was certified and she went through rigorous training… 🙂
The above scenario illustrates our belief in the “world at the office” to understand “self-help” or “spirituality,” which Avyakt7 likes to call “living life with joy.”
Obviously, there is no way that any sort of “book learning” and “certification” could give anyone the wisdom coming from insight.
But… what about if Anne joins a religion?
What about if Anne stays in that religion for 30 or more years? Could she become a “true” spiritual guru?
Of course she will. The followers of her path will be her audience. She will be the example of dedication and love to whatever they believe is worthwhile in life.
Certifications are not required here, but unbreakable loyalty to a dogma is the most important valued item.
However meaningful that may be, it does not mean that Anne will experience the art of living life with joy, that is to be “spiritual.” 🙂
That cannot be learned by following a particular path, for life is greater than just one path.
Something outlined to be followed to reach “illumination” will present the typical duality: Acceptance of “my path” and rejection of other paths.
Isn’t it? Do we see that?
If you hear someone who is representing any religion, once you heard that person; you have heard more or less all the followers who belong to that path.
You know their definitions. You know their philosophy. You know what they believe in. You know what they represent.
The structure, the dogma becomes very important to repeat. Repression will arise in that circumstance and with that the inability to perceive Oneness.
The “world at the office” has taught us: “This is good, that is bad. This is right, that is wrong. This is moral, that is not. We have the truth, they do not. We have God with us, they do not. We will go to heaven, they will not. Our ideas are correct, theirs is not.”
The Universe, Nature, life, does not support that segregation.
The experience of the path of “certifications” or the path of “loyalty to a dogma,” both are good experiences.
The issue resides in the belief that “we have found the truth.”
That is the biggest illusion. That is the greatest ego builder there is.
If we would like to understand life, Nature, the Universe, that means to become it, to be that truth, not to talk about it.
For that, we may need to observe.
To observe we may need to clean our minds from previous learning.
That cleaning is personal. Every one of us has different experiences, different beliefs, different emotional issues, different traumas, etc.
In other words, as our minds become “pure” by dissolving all the previous learning, we have the space, the openness to observe and learn from Nature itself.
That is the meaning of being born again.
It is evident that no bookstore or teacher is going to teach us that, because all we could get from them is more information (books, CDs, DVDs) that will cloud the mind with preconceptions of life…. of Nature.
However, if the above is just accepted because Avyakt7 says so; that is a big illusion as well.
It has to be realized. It has to be the product of our own experience. It has to be the fruit of previous search, of previous experiences of looking for answers… This is the “homework” that may need to be done so the next chapter starts afresh.
The beauty of the range of experiences in life will take the “life walker” from gaining information into emptying himself from it. The “method” is according to where our consciousness is located. Some may need to gain information, others to dissolve it as beliefs.
As that emptiness is necessary for our insight to appear, we could be like those birds who already know about flying in a “V” formation without ever going to a library to learn… and that insight cannot be put into words for “others” to follow.
It is immediate, intuitive…reflecting only the moment, the now.
Spirituality: A discriminatory word
“ Andrew is not spiritual enough for my taste.”
What is the meaning of the above?
Perhaps that Andrew does not practice a ritual or that Andrew does not have a belief system in God, Paradise, morality, etc.?
Or maybe that Andrew does not behave in a certain way because he hasn’t joined a religion?
Spirituality is none of the above and a person cannot be “less spiritual than another.”
Spirituality is about living life harmoniously to the fullest, that is flowing in life.
For that reason the name of this blog will be changed, just to reflect that new realization:
“Exploring the depth of living.” 🙂 will be its new name.
That means, that we don’t need to be “spiritual” to read this blog. 😉
Avyakt7 is free to explore and free to share what he finds. If Avyakt7 was tied up with a belief system or with a dogma, Avyakt7 wouldn’t be able to experience the freedom to fully explore and with that, the freedom to express and share.
To express in that freedom is my “art.”
To live life in harmony is the greatest art of all in my view.
The possibilities for creating newness in life are unlimited while flowing with “what is.”
If someone likes to call himself “spiritual,” then someone else may not be or may be “less than” under that view.
That is discrimination.
As this belief in the word “spirituality” gets dissolved in my psyche, then a word that unites everything appears:
Life.
Living life.
We live life. They live life. There are different ways of living life… but joy in life will bring that harmony.
Some may call that joy as contentment, some others as happiness. This is an issue about finding the most adequate label to explain an experience, which paradoxically; cannot be put into words.
Living Life may be called “God” for some. Universe, Nature and Cosmos by others.
Let us not be confused by concepts and words.
If God was to be “boxed up” with a particular personality brought about by a belief, then that God will be limited by our own beliefs.
We cannot put limits to that which is unlimited.
The heart beats. Life happens. That is the same life force giving consciousness to a snake and to a flower.
The “spirit” of life is in them. That is, life is spiritual.
Innocence is a trait of childhood. As humans develop their conceptual thinking, confusion will appear and that innocence will be lost.
Religious “Spirituality” is not the “savior” which will bring light to darkness… but just a tool like a hammer or a screwdriver to show a human being that this innocence is still there.
That tool acquires different forms according to different religions, philosophies and views.
The tool is not the method to get there, but merely the “mosquito bite” which makes someone react… and look inside.
Looking inside may be the method.
Life is a teacher. Life is “spiritual” at all times and for all.
All experiences in life are meant so we could take a look “inside”… where joy resides.
The Common good is yourself
When we discover the paradoxical aspect of life, the Universe, the Cosmos, Nature, etc. We could understand that to use logic and analysis to make sense of life may not be desirable.
On the other hand, beliefs are more suitable for logical “entertainment” of the mind.
Here is one statement that I have discovered to be true to myself, but that could be a belief for “others.”
If your aim or purpose is the common good, “you” will be included in that as well.”You” are the common good. If your “purpose” is “you” then that separation with all will be your own decline.”
Let us change the utilization of the word “purpose.”
It is not about “myself.” It is about the “common good.”
It is not about my group. It is about the “common good.”
It is not about God. It is about the “common good.”
Consciousness is the world. Without enjoying consciousness, perception is not possible.
That consciousness manifests through different beings. The Totality of consciousness fragments itself to be expressed through the diversity of beings.
When we see this, it is impossible to separate “myself” from everything else… unless “I” create a personality.
What are the consequences of perceiving the separation of “me” and everything else?
Rather than seeing that “I” am the whole, I will see that “I” am part of it or separated from it.
In that consciousness, my belief will be that I am a “ spirit, a soul an individual” completely separated from everything else, when consciousness is rather ONE but manifested in different ways.
It is in that separation when “I” cannot grasp the immortality of consciousness. At that point, “I” will be looking for “salvation.”
It is “I” who wishes to be saved. It is “I” who wishes to be “someone” and to remain “alive,” in the “afterlife.” 🙂
Please see the absurdity of that. Consciousness is already eternal.
Thus, my search for meaning could end up in a search for a “creator,” for the “big boss” who can do the miracle of granting me “eternal life.”
Please see that this search is merely a consequence of my own state of consciousness.
Therefore, that journey is very important. It is very “healthy.”
That “true” search will be compensated, (cause and effect) as searching for meaning in life is not something that everyone is conscious of.
God will appear in one way or another. In one experience or another, just as when we were kids and “searched” for Santa. There was always someone who could take that role for us, someone who could dress like him, someone who I can take pictures with.
We are not alone.
That “God” could take the name of Buddha, of Jesus or be a guru or defined as something else. Every religion has its own beliefs.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. That is the bottom line of that search for meaning.
Please see that this step is necessary for many in their development to experience a different consciousness.
Obviously, some may want to be like “Peter Pan” (he wanted to be a kid forever) and stay in that consciousness, when sooner or later things will change for that is the nature of life itself.
We separate from ourselves just to be ourselves again, just like the phases of the Moon.
This may be the journey and there are many paths for that.
Every path will express that “they are the true path,” but now we could recognize that a “true path” is in intimate relationship with our state of consciousness.
We may just need to learn to trust, for everything has benefit. Every experience has a beneficial unseen motive behind. That is not just for “some” selected ones but for everyone.
We are Consciousness expressed in different levels. None better than another for everything is necessary as it is.
Everything starts when we search for meaning.
Again, the search is not for God, but for meaning. God may be there to fulfill a meaning but everything comes back to us, the “creator” of that search for meaning.
That search starts with a child mentality.
“I don’t think I want to speak with him, because he is too shallow and bad karma could get me.”
A childish view, but everyone starts someplace.
We could grow out of that childhood only when we ourselves, realize that we are no longer little children; otherwise, life will provide for “protectors” that could keep Peter Pan safe from its own mischief.
Beliefs are important in that child like consciousness. Thus, beliefs are not “bad,” they are necessary for the growth of some.
To understand and to embrace the existence of different levels of consciousness is to be mindful of the common good.
When that little child realizes that it is the same consciousness which is keeping us together despite the illusion that we are separated, that is when things start to change because it is no longer about “ME” and my desires, but the common good. The starting point of that common good is not “me” but everything, which includes “me” and paradoxically… is totally “Me.” 🙂
The above does not mean that “I” have to deny myself for the benefit of others first, as religions may teach.
Change does not start when we exhibit a different behavior. That is artificial.
Change starts when our feelings, our attitude have a natural change based on our own realization.
That will come. It will happen. How soon?
That totally depends on us.
There is a level of sensibility to beauty, which could be experienced by being in touch with Nature, life, the Universe. The problem of separation started when we separated. The problem could be solved as we are willing to integrate again.
Place “yourself” last to be in the front.
That is only possible, when there is no “I” and that is how “my goals” are achieved.
Paradoxically, that is why; there is nothing to achieve.
No purpose in mind.
So, enjoy life… 🙂
Words used to take us away from a new consciousness
A little depth today…. 🙂
In life, the Universe, the Cosmos, etc (pick the label) everything is movement. Our cells move. The Earth moves. The Sun moves, thus “our” consciousness moves as well.
The paradoxical aspect of that movement is that to “move” implies to go away from what something “is” however, that movement is meant only to go back to the same position. In other words, “something” moves away from itself just to meet itself again.
Isn’t that paradoxical?
Does it make any sense? 🙂
Karma is like that. An action moves from the “doer” just to come back to him.
Any movement from “being” into becoming will necessarily go back to that “being” again.
This is the premise behind “eternal return.”
When we deeply realize this by just observing Nature, we could allow our insight to take us away from the mundane.
That is why there is no beginning of time. That is just an intellectual logical premise which does not work with the paradoxical nature of the Universe, life, the Cosmos, etc.
It is a circle. Life is a circle with no beginning or end.
Nevertheless our minds are caught up in conceptual thinking.
We want a “beginning,” therefore we ask:
“Who created the Universe?”
It always existed. It just changes, moves to be like it was “before.” 🙂
The word “creator” may need to be redefined if we would like for the “Big Guy” to keep his job.
🙂
The Moon has phases from our perspective but paradoxically, those phases do not exist.
The phases of the Moon are:
New, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent, new Moon again.
Do we see the cycle?
It moves away from itself to become itself again.
The above phrase, has more importance than what it looks like.
The moon does not have to do anything for this movement to occur. It just happens. If the Moon had human consciousness, then the Moon could make “effort” to become a full moon again… The Moon could believe that a “full moon” is better than a third quarter.
If we deeply understand that, we could see the futility of believing in a “place” called Paradise which will last forever, when everything is change and… when there is no “creator.”
Paradise is a state of consciousness not a place. It is a state of fullness which then will move away from itself to become itself again, later on.
Every human being is like a Moon. Every human has a state of fullness, which occurs at different “time,” that is why there is variety of consciousness in life.
Our experiences are different and that makes our consciousness. Every one of us has different experiences, which are automatically meant to change us, to change our consciousness.
Paradoxically the “choice” to change at a certain time, is in us. That is when our awareness awakens.
To enjoy a different consciousness is a matter of openness to life. It is a matter of having the honesty to search within.
That change of consciousness does not happen through rituals, beliefs or physical practices.
There is not “doing” that could change consciousness.
The beauty is that our consciousness will change whether we want it or not, because everything moves, everything changes; everything evolves… just to become itself again. Just like the Moon.
Nevertheless, a not welcomed change in the horizon of life, will bring suffering.
It is almost as if the Moon wants to stay in “full moon” all the time.
Thanks God… 🙂 the Moon does not have ego; that is why it does not suffer… but human beings have ego, therefore…there is suffering in that “natural” movement away from itself.
“Things exist for a purpose” is an empty phrase in Nature.
Perhaps in the human world of business, but not in Nature, the Universe, the Cosmos, life.
Ego thrives in purpose.
Ananda was sitting by a tree in a hot morning in the Summer.
Is it the purpose of that tree to give shade to Ananda?
If the tree had ego, the tree could say:” Ananda. Thank me for giving you shade in this hot summer.” 🙂
If the tree had a business mentality, the tree could say: “ Ananda, I charge a dollar a minute for my “cooling” services… but today everything is 20% off. What a bargain!” 🙂
The purpose of a tree is not to give shade. Shade just happens because the tree is there.
Day and night just happens because there is a Sun and there is the Earth rotating in its axis.
The “purpose” of the Earth rotating is not to give day and night to humans. It just happens to be like that.
The Universe is consciousness (paraphrasing a reader) and consciousness allows us to have a certain experience. That is why reality is according to our consciousness.
Some will see the Universe and consciousness as being separated, that is when the “I” is present. This is the actual “collective consciousness” of the present time.
Oneness. We are all interrelated. There is no purpose out of anything. It is the way it is.
The minute we could see this, that is the minute that we will stop asking “why?”
If our minds are trapped in finding a creator, a purpose, a better place such as Paradise; we will miss the beautiful experience of just being…. Our intellectual minds will not allow us to enjoy.
Everything will move, will change… but we will be stuck in our beliefs, our ideas, our ego… until we become aware of them. That is the time when the “waning crescent” appears in the sky to give birth to a “new Moon,” a new consciousness.
Exploring the Depth of Living 