It Whispers in Silence

Venice Beach

We are very familiar with the every day part of ourselves.  The part that has gender, religion, likes and dislikes, friends, family, beliefs and so on.  We are less familiar with the part of ourselves which sends a message to our gut that we should take one course of action over another.

This part of ourselves has unlimited information about ourselves and the world, and the knowledge which can lead us to our highest fulfillment.  If this "higher" part of ourselves is sending us information occasionally, is there a way for us to access this information so that we will make better decisions?  In other words, if the communication flows one way, why can't the communication flow the other way as well?  It can.

It whispers in silence.  The more still and silent we are, the more we can hear it, the more information we can receive.  We don't have enough information to know how the communication will come or what it will contain.  So it is important to not have expectations or judgments about the information.  It might be a dream.  Or a feeling.  We just have to be open.

How can we tell the difference between intuition, instinct, and impulse, such as our urge to have a cigarette if we are trying to quit smoking?  When we follow the guidance from our greater selves, we will feel peaceful about the decision.  If we feel anxiety or physical distress, we are not following our intuition.

Since guidance will be heard more clearly in silence, how do we become silent?  The best way that I know is through a consistent practice of meditation.   When the mind is quieted through meditation, there is space for the information to come through.

Let's listen to the whispers in our silence.

Faith

Sand Bar, Bay of Islands, New Zealand

There is nothing that anyone can say to prove the existence of an Intelligent Energy Source.  There are no words that can adequately describe it.  The word "God" has been so laden with religious dogma through the centuries, that it has been rendered practically useless. If it cannot be proven and it cannot be described, why would we believe it exists?

We can know the truth of its existence through experience.

Many of us have experienced spontaneous moments of grace and elation.  Out of nowhere, we feel spiritually connected and euphoric.  We are in an altered state of Bliss.  These feelings do not last, try as we might.

Is there a way to induce these experiences?  

We can bring this state of connectedness into our present moment by choosing being over thinking. When we choose being over thinking, we experience the peace, love, joy and freedom that is our natural state. Do I believe that the Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva?  I have no idea.  Do I believe that he has achieved a state of grace, peace and love through practice and discipline? Absolutely.

Is faith required in order to experience the Divine?  I believe it can be helpful.  When we are in a state of stress, we can remember that, in the past, we have experienced the euphoria of being present. This remembering is faith.  When we are lost, we remember when we were connected, and have faith that we can be there again.  With this faith, or remembering, we can take steps to reconnect with Source.

Every moment is a choice: Being or thinking.  If we stay vigilant in presence, we can sustain our connection with the Divine for as long as we are able.

Let's have faith and surrender to Presence.

Uncertainty

Russell

It is very stressful not knowing whether Trump is going to start a war or infringe on our freedoms which we take for granted.  It is hard to relax when we know that the company we work for is downsizing and we have no idea whether or not we will be laid off.  How can we be at peace when we are waiting for the result of a biopsy?

The only certainty is uncertainty.  We may think we have everything wired and under control, but we really cannot be certain that we will be alive even tomorrow.  We must become comfortable with uncertainty.  Since we have no actual control, we might as well give up trying to control everything.

We must have faith that when we give up control, we will not be lost.  We will not be led astray.  In fact, when we give up control, we are in partnership with an energy source which is beyond description and comprehension.

If we surrender to Uncertainty, we will be led with peace, love and joy to our highest fulfillment.

Let's be comfortable with uncertainty and surrender to the Great Unknown.

Stop Making Decisions

Pierre at the Tapeka Pools

Wouldn't it be incredibly relaxing if we never had to make another decision?

What if every decision was made for us and was the perfect decision for everyone involved?  I am not speaking about taking direction from a parent, teacher or autocrat.  What if we could ask advice from our own future self?  What if we could ask advice from another version of ourselves who, not only knows the future, but knows what everyone that we know is thinking and doing?  Would we follow their advice?  Of course we would.  This is what happens when we surrender our will to Universal Energy.

When we have to make a decision, we can make a list of the pros and cons associated with either decision.  We can ask the advice of experts and trusted friends.  We can do research and explore every possible angle.  In the end we do not have enough information to know which decision will lead to a positive outcome.  It does not do us much good if we win the lottery and are hit by a bus on our way to claim the prize.

By surrendering our will to that of Universal Energy, we will always be led to the best decision for everyone concerned.

How can we tell the difference between intuition and unconscious impulses?  Following our intuition will always make us feel peaceful and open.  When we follow our impulses, we often feel uneasy and our bodies feel constricted.  When we relax our minds and are in presence, we are in harmony with our true nature.  Decisions flow naturally without effort.

Let's surrender to the flow of life.

The Observer

Phantom

Do we sometimes (or often) feel a general sense of unease, as if something bad has happened or is going to happen?  Do we feel overwhelmed by all of the information we receive and decisions we have to make in a single day?  Do we sometimes feel like the deck is stacked against us, and that we are unable to find happiness or connect with people?

Stop.  Surrender.  Allow.

We do not have to look for a solution, because we are the solution.  We do not have to find what we are looking for because we are what we are looking for.  By observing our feelings and thoughts instead of reacting to them, they lose the intensity of their hold on us and easily pass through us.

What is destroying our mood is our instantaneous knee jerk reaction to a thought or feeling.  Our body constricts and the negative thoughts start to feed upon themselves.  We start spinning and the unease increases.  Our constricted bodies also accelerate the negative feelings.  We end up anxious and frustrated.

If we observe our thoughts or feelings without reacting, they soon pass like clouds moving across the sky.  The observer is who we really are.  When we are in a state of observing instead of reacting, we are in a state of peace, love, joy and freedom.

There is nothing that anyone can say to convince someone of the truth of this.  However, it is easy enough to try.  If we try it, we will soon see results when we experience "negative" events, thoughts or feelings.

Let's observe instead of reacting.

Mindfulness

The Other Venice

How often do we actually pay attention to what we are doing?  Are we remembering past events with regret or wishing things would turn out a certain way in the future?  When someone is speaking to us, are we listening or waiting to say something?

So much of our thoughts are consumed with remembering the past or imagining the future with dread or hope that we lose sight of what is happening to us in the present moment.  We are sleepwalking through life.  Since our thoughts consist of lies and do not help us with our present situation, our time and energy is wasted.  We are missing out on the grace and beauty of Life.  Not to mention all the miracles we could be experiencing.

When we slow down and pay attention to what is happening in the present moment, we are in harmony with our Divine nature.  We see the beauty in small things.  We experience the peace which comes from slowing down and paying attention.  We are more productive.

Let's be mindful of what we are doing.

Presence

Venus over Santa Monica Beach

It is extremely difficult to shed the belief systems which are so deeply ingrained in our consciousness.
We have been conditioned since birth to believe that we are a male or a female, of a certain age, of a certain religion, education, economic status, residence, political party, etc.  Each of these identities carries a complex and mandatory set of beliefs, which must be adhered to.

A series of thoughts emanates from these belief structures.  We have a constant internal mental monologue of thoughts, all arising from the belief systems which were created by our exposure to family, friends, teachers, the media and so on.

We maintain our identity and sense of safety from belonging to these various groups and belief systems.  However, most of these beliefs were not chosen by us and do not serve us.  Since these belief systems are built upon a foundation of lies, instead of feeling a sense of belonging and satisfaction, we are frustrated, angry and afraid.

What is the alternative?  We can live an authentic life of peace, joy, love and freedom by surrendering our beliefs and allowing Presence into our lives.  It takes courage and faith to take the leap away from our societal beliefs into the Unknown.  We believe that we will be lost without our identity.  We are afraid of losing what little we have.

We will not be lost.  We will not be alone.  When we surrender our beliefs and turn our awareness towards the Infinite Energy Source, it turns towards us to meet us.  In every single moment of our lives, God is whispering to us to join him/her.  God whispers, never shouts.  It can only be heard when we are still and quiet.  When our minds are filled with thoughts, we cannot hear the whispers.  When our awareness is in the present moment, we are in harmony with the Universe.  Things start to turn our way.  Good things happen unexpectedly.  We experience the peace, joy and love which are our natural state.

Let's turn our awareness away from thought and towards Presence.