Saturday, January 23, 2010

Enlightenment

Rangitoto, New Zealand

We believe that achieving enlightenment is impossible. We think that it has only happened a few times in history. Perhaps only Jesus, Buddha and a few gurus in India have achieved it. We believe that it takes years of being cut off from society, practicing meditation or yoga to even see a glimmer of it.

This is not true. The word "enlightenment," like the word "God," is so loaded with beliefs and judgments, that it is almost impossible to see the truth behind the concepts.

All that we have to do is to stop believing that we are what we think we are. We cannot think our way out of our problems, because our thoughts are the problem.

We need to have the courage to turn away from our thoughts, our stale beliefs, our expectations, our judgments and our labels that we use to define ourselves and the rest of the world, and open our eyes to what is.

We do this by bringing our attention to the present moment. It is simple, but it is not easy. It is like a muscle. The more we use it,the easier it becomes. And we will not be alone. The universal energy is waiting for us to awaken and will welcome us with open arms. Life will unfold before us in profound and unexpected ways. We will enmbark on a new adventure.

Millions of us are awakening all over the world. It does not matter what we call it. Enlightenment, awakening, self-realization, living mindfully. Words cannot describe it. It must be experienced to be understood.

Let's wake up to what is.

Life

Sunrise, Hana, Maui

We assume that life is one bad event after another, and that the universe is out to get us. We assume this because of our expectations and assumptions.

The world is a glorious place and life is joyous. We can recognize this by appreciating the simple things. Do we really need an impressive job and car to be happy, or are we actually covering up the fact that we feel inadequate without those things?

Once we stop striving and desiring more, more, more, we can begin to receive pleasure from all that life gives to us. The simple act of breathing and being alive is worthy of celebration. Walking in nature, watching the clouds move across the sky, or looking at the simplicity in which an animal interacts with its environment is joyous. Watching a bird in flight can be exhilarating. If we are thinking too hard about what we have to do tomorrow or worried about how we can afford the things we desire, we will never appreciate such a simple and beautiful thing as a bird flying.

Let's enjoy the simple things in life.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Freedom

Fletcher Bay, Coromandel, New Zealand

We are programmed robots. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can choose to be free. We are living in THE MATRIX, except that instead of being programmed by machines, we are being programmed by society, with our acquiescence.

When we consider purchasing a product that we see on a commercial, we are being programmed. When we go to church, we are being programmed. When we go to the doctor, we are being programmed. When we gossip with friends, we are being programmed. When we watch a movie or a television show, we are being programmed. When we enter a supermarket or pharmacy we are being programmed. When we go to a wedding or a funeral, we are being programmed.

The first step towards breaking the cycle of programming is realizing that we are constantly being programmed. Then we can bring our attention to our thoughts and emotions without judgment. Our lives will then be in harmony with our true Selves and we will be acting in accordance with our life's purpose. Our neuroses, obsessions and fixations will begin to fade and a sense of calm will pervade our lives. For the first time, we will be free of the shackles of our conditioning.

Let's choose freedom.