Contacting The Child within us: We were all once children, and still have that child dwelling within us. But most of us are unaware of this.
June 10, 2014
We travel through the dark of the moon
Think of life as a school for your child within
Think of life as a school for your child within; you are here to learn in perfect well being. Here's a tip for life's pop quizzes: instead of asking why something happened, ask instead 'what can I learn?' For extra credit, ask '...and how may I serve?'This is a typical comment from the parent without condescending and unknowing. Someone a child within cannot emphasis with.
June 06, 2014
In these adversarial times when most people are too busy or rushed to practice manners or respect for others
Those on this mystical path practice adab, a way of life that includes courtesy, respect, and appropriate behaviour in all situations and relationships. In The Book of Language, Sufi sheikh Kabir Helminski defines it as "courtesy, appropriate behaviour . . . a subtle discipline of mind and body that expresses humility, respect, patience, and sensitivity." We also like Al-Shiran's definition as "a profound courtesy of heart that arises from a deep relationship with the Divine and expresses itself in refined behaviour of all kinds with other beings." Adab is part of the code of behavior called futuwwah, often translated as Sufi chivalry. The term comes from the Qur'an and is associated with an ideal, noble person whose respect, hospitality, and generosity enable that person to always put others first. It includes such qualities as humility, sincerity, selflessness, compassion, kindness, and altruism.
This behaviour was modeled by the Prophet Muhammad and by other friends and lovers of Allah. There is an adab for every situation. We've witnessed it at gatherings where Sufis go out of the way to make their guests feel welcome, putting the well-being and comfort of others above their own. Once we were at breakfast at an interfaith conference. While most people were chatting away over their coffee, we noticed a Sufi friend quietly and humbly going from table to table asking if anyone needed a refill or, perhaps, tea. She had what we call "beautiful adab." There is an adab for every relationship including with animals and objects. One of the ironies of our materialistic times is that we treat the materials of our lives with such carelessness and even distain, seeing them merely as resources to be exploited and then discarded casually when they are of no further use to us.
How different is the Sufi way of adab. Acknowledging that all creation is a manifestation of the Beloved, Sufis approach objects with reverence. What a profound message is conveyed when a dervish kisses the glass from which s/he is drinking or the rug on which s/he has just prayed. What care and love is conveyed when a Sufi musician pauses before playing to ask permission of his/her instrument. Adab is even reflected in language. According to Kabir Helminski, we do not "put out" a candle, we "put the candle to rest." We think this kind of respect for things is a good first step for any revival of civility to take root in our lives and in our society. We intend to take a look at the practices of other spiritual traditions for their special contributions to our understanding and appreciation of the refined behaviour of courtesy.
Understand that not everything is meant to be understood. Live, let go, and don't worry about what you can't change.
Understand that not everything is meant to be understood. Live, let go, and don't worry about what you can't change. There is a major difference between trying to prove your recovery and simply sharing your recovery. You have to stop being a walk on part, a bit part actor in your stage play. A manipulator of the scenery.
A director without a cast. I can’t tell you how many times I have tried in the past to prove my recovery. I realised that I kept doing this because I had yet to truly realise how worthy, understanding and spiritual I was. If I had really known this, I wouldn’t have been trying to prove it to other people or needed an audience. A lot of people suffer from trying to prove themselves to unavailable people in recovery. Acting in front of self absorbed people is a waste of time. Everyone else wants to be the star. The Slate is Recovery , Sound, Rolling, Action,.... your on set, Here’s an exercise: Make a list of all the things you wish other people would see about you. You wish what?
They would see how spiritual, awesome, loving, supporting, caring, etc. you are? Make the list… Now, ask yourself if you are demonstrating these qualities toward yourself? The answer is probably no for some or all of the qualities you listed. So, how would you act if you were actually demonstrating these qualities? That version of you is who will attract people who see you. When you see you, other people will too. Then, you can SHARE your gifts, your understanding of your program and your worth with them and receive their worth, gifts and understanding.
This is different than trying to prove yourself to someone else. Its really what SHARING is about. What we often do is vent not share. When we try to prove ourselves to others, it is because we do not see our great qualities and are not giving these qualities to ourselves. Once we do, we step into a new paradigm and walk away from trying to prove ourselves and step into just being our spiritual selves. Then understanding, authenticity and all the spirituality can emerge. The steps help to make this shift from actor to participant. You can you step out of proving yourself and into being yourself with a comprehensive program of recovery thats called GROWTH.
“Are you ready to lose your world?”
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Are you ready to lose your world?”
Because true meditational awakening will not fit into the world as you imagine it or the self you imagine yourself to be.
Reality is not something that you integrate into your personal view of things.
Reality is life without your distorting stories, ideas, and beliefs.
It is perfect unity free of all reference points, with nowhere to stand and nothing to grab hold of.
It has never been spoken, never been written, never been imagined.
It is not hidden, but in plain view.
Cease to cherish opinions and it stands before your very eyes.
Practice doesn’t make perfect – but meditation might.
To stand alone in true solitude is to stand in the recognition of the absolute completeness and unity of all manner of existence.
To stand alone in true solitude is to stand in the recognition of the absolute completeness and unity of all manner of existence. And from that common ground, where nothing and no one is foreign to you, your love extends across the magnitude of time and embraces the greatest and smallest of things.
Awakening to the truth is a deep realisation of what you are as an experience.
Awakening to the truth is a deep realisation of what you are as an experience.
What is it that is feeling?
What is it that is thinking or sensing?
This is not about coming up with the right name for it, so don’t name it for a moment.
It’s about just noticing, just experiencing.
Feel it.
Sense it.
Welcome it.
Spiritual awakening is realising what occupies the space called “me.” When you listen innocently, you’ll see that there really is something more here than a me.