Meditation Monday ~ Inner Treasure

Ten years ago I was on a quest for inner peace. One auspicious January, that quest landed me in the Meditation Gardens of the Self-Realization Fellowship in Encinitas, California.

It was not the first time I'd been there. This Eden on earth, located on the grounds of the ashram and home of yogi and teacher Paramahansa Yogananda, had been a spiritual touch-point for me for years. But this visit was different. This time I was sleeping over, engaging myself in an absolutely silent weekend retreat. 

I came prepared, journal in hand. I planted myself beneath the palm tree where Yogananda himself sat and meditated. I sat for hours—listening, dreaming, meditating, writing. Hours passed, timelessness set in, my tush firmly planted in the same molded spot where thousands of devotees and visitors sat over the years hoping to conjur a glimpse of enlightenment.

This "poem" was penned there, and it is my offering to you on this Meditation Monday. Of all the pieces that were birthed that weekend, this is my favorite. Simply put, it reminds me how to live.

Living in the present takes full effort and concentration.

When we practice living in the "now,"

we realize each moment is special.

We will never experience this exact circumstance 

in this way again.

We will never see these sights, hear these words,

feel these emotions in the same way ever again.

Concentrate on savoring and enjoying the moment at hand

so it is not a lost jewel, but a valued treasure. * 

Now, does your heart have anything to say? 

May you and your day be blessed ...

~~~~~

Excerpted from Awakening the Spirit Within.

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Waking Up to Life

The story of Rip Van Winkle always intrigued me.

This is the story of a man who fell asleep for many years and awakened to strange goings on, unfamiliar sights and sounds. As I speak with people today, I witness them reporting a similar circumstance. They feel like they are “waking up.”

Like Rip Van Winkle, they have a sudden realization that their life is not what they think it is, or going where they believe it should. It is as if they have been given a new set of eyeglasses through which to view their lives. Or, as in the fairy tale, they're awakened from a deep slumber of unconsciously lived days and nights. Life crisis often does this for us; boldly shakes us, wakes us up, through personal tragedy, the loss of a relationship, loved one or job, a health challenge. Any one of these can jolt us from our metaphorical life sleep to find ourselves, like Rip, looking about in bewilderment asking, “What happened?”

Once we have awakened, naturally we wonder how we are to live. The landscape has changed and new rules seem to apply. Establishing some self-evident truths can be helpful—truisms of "How Life Works." Buoyed by their wisdom, we can find comfort and courage for the journey ahead—the journey to live in a more awakened manner.

Truth #1: We are each responsible for our own lives.

This truth brings with it a flurry of emotions. If I awaken to realize that it is me, and me alone, who is responsible for my life, then fear and worry may set in. We may become trapped in paralyzing thoughts of: ‘What if I make the wrong choices?’ ‘What if I make mistakes?’ From this perspective, self-responsibility may feel too difficult to accept. Self-responsibility is a truth that many of us refuse to acknowledge because it is much easier to live our lives blaming others, blaming the world, even blaming God. More simple to assign responsibility elsewhere, especially our pain and sorrow, or the consequences of poor choice-making.

On the other hand, this truth can also bring relief and newfound freedom. I love the quote, "If it's to be, it's up to me!" There is tremendous power in knowing that we can choose how we think, feel, and behave. We can choose how to earn a living, who to associate with, and more. When I am in charge and take full responsibility for my life, the world is mine. I have life by the tail and I can create my own reality.

Truth #2: There are no mistakes and no wrong roads to take.

Every decision we make brings us to greater awareness of our truest selves. Every choice that is made invites us to look more deeply at who we really are. Through these choices we discover our values, the timbre of our character, our strengths and weaknesses, our gifts and talents. Viewed in this light, there is no such thing as a right or wrong road to take. Every road can lead us to a more complete version of ourselves.

Think about it for a moment. Ask yourself, ‘What is one of the greatest mistakes I have ever made?’ Then ask yourself what you learned from that experience. How have you become a better person from having walked through it? As long as we can reflect upon our experiences along the way, paying close attention to what they have to teach us, we will continue to grow in confidence and character. Mistakes are for learning.

Truth #3: There is a bigger picture, a higher order at work in our lives.

I also love the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." We may not always know why we are being asked to experience certain circumstances, but the fact remains, we are. If we can flow with what we are given, the lemonade we create from the stock of our lives can be nourishing. On the other hand, we can continue to squeeze too hard, hoping to get orange juice out of all those lemons and block our growth. We have been given these lemons for a reason.

As human beings we may not have the capacity to see into the future. We may not be able to look down from on high to observe where each twist and turn might take us. Instead, trust is in order. Trust, that where we are being led is perfect for our growth. Trust, that we are supported by earthly and heavenly companions. Trust, that, in time, we will move through any difficulty with grace and ease.

Embracing truths such as these can deliver us to the next grandest version of ourselves. "Waking up" is a tremendous gift provided by an ever-loving Universe that desires each of us to be happy, to live with joy. The choice is ours whether to slumber on at the base of the tree like Rip Van Winkle, or open our eyes and greet the dawn of a new reality with the spirit of willingness and hope.

As always, I welcome your thoughts ...  


(Image courtesy of http://sleepfoundation.ning.com)

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Meditation Monday ~ Reflecting on the Light and Dark of Us

Inside each of us are dark recesses,
corners of our psyche that deserve to be enlightened.

As we journey inward, seeking the Light,
we are hesitant to explore the darkness within.

Our own inner light,
our qualities of goodness, generosity, and love
act as a spiritual flashlight,
allowing us to focus a high-beamed intensity
on the dark nooks and crannies inside —
little corners where selfishness, prejudice, or envy may reside—
all the qualities that we deny.

Secrets revealed in the dark shed light on a new way of being.

Be not afraid of your shadows.
They are but deep pools of murky thought
waiting to be illuminated and transformed into brilliant wisdom.* 

Blessings of Light to you this day and, as always, I welcome your thoughts ...

~~~~~

*Excerpted from Awakening the Spirit Within (Jan Forrest Lundy, 2000)

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EmBody with Me at Bliss Chick

To love oneself is the beginning 
of a life-long romance.

 ~Oscar Wilde

I am at Christine Reed's Bliss Chick Blog today and I hope you'll join me there.

She asked me some very challenging questions about how I really feel about my body and today the interview is posted. This, as part of a fabulouso series she's doing on how well we're listening to and honoring our bodies. She calls it "EmBody Talk" and it is completely thought-provoking and inspiring.  With her as guide, we are moving into greater acceptance of our bodies as sacred.

Please hop on over. I'd love to hear how YOU are doing with and in your body these days! Click here. 

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Meditation Monday ~ Grounding Ourselves

The frenzied pace of our day-to-day lives can easily knock us off center.

How do YOU feel when you are "off-center"? It often shows up in me as feeling like I'm literally spinning in my body. Thoughts are moving fast and sensations of swirling move through every part of me. I may feel frazzled, unfocused, or pressured.

When I notice this happening, I do try to slow things down, and different methods work at different times. One of the methods with which I have had the most success I fondly call "Be Here Now."

It's taken from the teachings of Ram Dass, and his book of the same name. I use the concept as an exercise for grounding myself.

Begin by bringing your awareness to your body. If you can sit down in a chair the first time around it helps. 

Focus your complete attention on your feet and how they feel on the ground. Hold your attention there and take a few breaths. 

Slowly, body part by body part, move your awareness up your body. How do your shins feel? Bring all your attention to your shins. Breathe. 

How do your thighs feel pressed into the chair? Feel how solid and strong they are sitting in the chair this way. Breathe. 

And so on. Buttocks, belly, chest. Go slowly, paying attention to each body part. Breathe. 

When you get to your back, once again notice how it feels supported and grounded, pressed into the chair. 

Continue through the various parts of your arms, hands, then fingers. Feel how how they are being held, pressed, or grasped. Allow them to relax and rest comfortably in your lap. Really feel them supported by your thighs.  

And on up ... all the way to the top of your head. 

Once you have reached your crown, say to yourself, "Be Here Now. Be Here Now."  

Continue to breathe with comfort and ease, your entire body at home in this physical world, fully grounded and appreciative of being able to truly "Be Here Now."

You can use the "Be Here Now" mantra anywhere, anytime, while doing anything at all. Just bring your full and present attention to how your body feels in that moment, feet (or back, if lying down) on on the earth, feeling very solid and stable.

I often say this phrase over and over to myself to cement me in the present moment —wherever I am. Standing in line, waiting in an office, sitting at a red light. Anywhere we are provides an opportunity for practice.

Thank you, Ram Dass. "Be Here Now" is a beautiful mantra to live by.

Now, does your heart have anything to say? 

May your day be ripe with the beauty of the present moment ... 

~~~~~

P. S. Just a couple of tips. If you are feeling especially ungrounded, drinking purified water with lemon wedges helps. So does taking your shoes off and going out-of-doors, feeling the grass or cement beneath your bare feet. So does touching a tree. ;-)

Feet image courtesy of sheknows.com. Check out this interesting article on the joys of going barefoot.

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Got Bliss?

I apologize.

I was so "busy" this week being blissed out in SW Florida that I forgot to post! (LOL)

Bliss ... What does that word or concept mean to you?

I don't know that I'd really heard or even understood the notion until I became familiar with the work of mythologist Joseph Campbell. "Follow your bliss," he is reported to have said.

This was not his complete statement. To get the full meaning from these powerful words, I invite you to read this:

Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.

This week I was following my bliss ... working on the book that's been gestating in me, savoring the tropical warmth. Basking in the sound of palm trees swishing and waves lapping upon the shore. Doing metta. Choosing to re-root my life in a very simple existence—listening, writing, enjoying the bounty of nature. And that's why I lost track of time.

I also opened myself up to Trust in a new way and so many marvelous opportunities blew in. I met new people, those of whom Joseph Campbell speaks—people in MY field of bliss. New doorways opened. In coming days, I'll be saying more ...

What would it mean for you to follow your bliss?

Are you?

Can you, if you're not?

Oh, I do hope you are ... or at least you'll try. The world needs the outpouring of your joy. 

I'm curious. What does bliss look like to you?

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Tranquility Tuesday ~ I Say A Little Prayer for You ... And Me

I am a 60s/70s sort of gal (though not too hippie-ish!) and one of the songs that always touched my heart was by Dionne Warwick, "I Say A Little Prayer for You." It's a sweet song about holding someone in your heart as you go through your day.

I believe in prayer—in all its forms. And there certainly are many of them. I believe prayer works.

And, as I recall, the last time I talked about prayer was during the 28-Day Meditation Challenge in January. Sylvia Boorstein, my jewel of a teacher, was here. She reminded us that every time we turn ourselves toward the Sacred, we are engaged in prayer. This is part of what she said:

Whatever particular meditation practice we do, we are ardently hoping, indeed praying, for a peaceful and compassionate heart, for our own well being and for the well being of others. The very act of stopping to reorient ourselves—which is central to all meditation and prayer practices—and to focus our intention for the good, is a prayer.

I know all of this to be true. Yet, sometimes I feel the need for petitionary prayer. A real ASKING for guidance or assistance. Or for help in shifting my energy when I am off out of sorts. Do you? 

What's so puzzling to me is that if we believe wholeheartedly in prayer and we know that it works, why do we forget to do it? (You know from reading here that I've often referred to this phenomenon as "spiritual amnesia. :-)

Often when I "sit" or converse via phone with a directee/mentee about a pressing issue in their lives, I ask if they've taken it to prayer. 9 times out of 10 they'll pause, then say, "I guess I forgot all about that." I understand, because I do too.

Sometimes prayer is the only thing that we can do. It is our only course of action when we are in a "dark night of the soul," or have received bad news. Or we're simply struggling with the day-to-day burdens of everyday life. Sometimes the best thing I can do is surrender to life as it is and say, "Help me."

Who am I asking for help? I'm not always sure. More often than not it's a wise, enlightened being—someone who is "God" personified. (Mary, Jesus, the Buddha—even the spirit of my deceased father, on occasion.) These, for me, are representations of living in perfect alignment with Love, with All-That-Is, with all that is right and true, as I know it in this moment. When I pray in this way, it is not a form of "worship," but a sense of igniting my inner spark of divinity (when it's dimmed) and joining it with theirs, with the Universal heart, sourced in compassion and wisdom.

Here's a short point of reference on petitionary prayer as I understand it. Perhaps it will soothe your spirit today or jump-start a nice discussion here. 

Prayer is an outpouring of the substance of our souls.

As we petition Source, 

our words flow,

pouring out our heart's desire,

the water of our being.

We empty our vessel and, in so doing,

allow the Divine to fill it again with sweet nectar

to quench our spiritual thirst.**

Today, I'm singing along with Dionne Warwick, saying a little prayer for you ... and for me ... and for all of us. 

Now, does your heart have anything to say?

~~~~

** Excerpted from Awakening the Spirit Within.

p.s. I'm taking the 30-Day Lovingkindness (Online) Retreat with Sylvia Boorstein through Spirituality and Practice dot com. 

I can hardly wait for it to start on March 15. It goes through April 19. It features weekly emails, exercises, audios, 3 live teleconferences and a dharma practice circle. All for only $49.95! What a gift from one of the world's most respected and beloved teachers of Lovingkindness pratice. Perhaps we'll meet each other there! Click here to learn more. 

  
(Prayer image courtesy of www.utexas.edu)

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Come Play with Me

I'm not a debater, much more of a lover than a fighter. But I do love a healthy exchange of interspiritual ideas. Join me for one?

Today, and through March 8—International Women's Day,—I'm at Mommy Mystic. This fabulous blog's owner, Lisa Erickson, interviewed me on the subject of Women's Spirituality.

And, as you can probably guess, the subject of Men's Spirituality came up, too. How could it not? For to come to wholeness as human beings means to embrace the holiness of the "other"—the other as ourselves ... and in ourselves. Yes? The Yin and Yang of us all. :-)

So pop on over, please, and share your thoughts.
Click here to begin.

(Image courtesy of newmoonvisions.com. Artist Mara Friedman's rendering of "The Nectar of Pure Delight.")

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And Why Are You Here?

A humble life dedicated to a great purpose, becomes great.

~Paul Brunton, Perspectives

Isn't this a marvelous thought?

A simple question today, but one well worth asking ... 

Is your life dedicated to a great purpose?

And, if so, what is it?

I'd love to hear ... 

I'll go first.

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Meditation Monday - The Spark Within

The Divine encourages us to begin the journey inward. 

This is a most daunting task because for too long we have been taught that the answers we seek are outside of ourselves—with this teacher, that seminar, those books. 

To believe that all the answers we search for so painstakingly are found inside of us seems a ridiculous notion, for what could WE possibly know? We are ordinary people struggling with Universal Truths. Surely, the solution to our dis-ease is out there somewhere! 

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Within each of us is a small, divine spark, a glimmer of God itself. By spending time with and nurturing this glint of divinity—our spirit— we come into greater contact with the Transcendent, deepening our relationship, creating communion. 

Through an inner journey, we can come to know ourselves within a sacred framework, and, in so doing, experience firsthand the presence of our Source.**

On this Meditation Monday, take a few moments to reflect upon your divine connection. 

~Close your eyes, take three calming, cleansing breaths and move your attention inward.


~Visualize, if you can, this sacred spark of your being burning brightly within you. 

~Watch it glow. Feel its warmth—calming you, centering you, reminding you that the greater Spirit (God) dwells within you.

~Trust, that all you need to know, have, and be is right here, right now, contained within this sacred spark. You need not search anymore.

May your day be blessed. May you live with ease knowing all is always well.  

Now, does your heart have anything to say? 

I welcome your thoughts ...

~~~

**Excerpted from Awakening the Spirit Within by Jan Forrest Lundy.

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