Now

Autumn in Big Sur

Imagine how life would be if we could rid ourselves of our anxieties, our frustrations, our anger, and our unhappiness. What would we give to be able to live a life of peace, joy and freedom?

We can live that life now. In fact, the only way we can achieve such a life is now. We cannot accomplish it in the future. If we believe that our lives will be better "someday," we will never realize it, because "someday" will never come. The future can never arrive. It will always remain in the future. The only thing that exists is the now. Once we realize this, everything changes.

We can have the life we want by living in the now. We can live in the now by surrendering all of our beliefs, thoughts, ideas and judgments and bringing our attention to the present moment.

Let's be. here. now.

Courage

Kauri Tree, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

We are afraid to leave the safety of our comfort zone. We feel safe thinking and acting in the same manner as the various groups we identify with. We have been conditioned our entire lives to think and behave a certain way. However, at some point we become conscious that we are dissatisfied and frustrated with our lives. The solution is not to join another group or try to alter our thinking.

The answer is to have the courage to give up compulsive thinking.

It take courage to surrender everything that we have been taught and everything that defines who we think we are. It takes courage to surrender to a great unknown, which cannot be defined or described. It can only be experienced. Once we become conscious, the thoughts and beliefs that we buried deep into our subconscious because they were too painful will begin to emerge. It takes courage to face them without judgment.

Let's have the courage to surrender to the Mystery.

Breathe

Mt. Tongariro from Lake Taupo

Our breath is the connection between our physical bodies and the Unmanifested. It is a doorway to Presence.

Our breath and our states of mind are irrevocably tied as well. If we are feeling stressed or anxious, our breath is shallow and quick. If our breath is long and deep, we are feeling peaceful. We can change our state of mind by changing our breath.

We take our breathing for granted because it is so familiar. It can be a very helpful tool. Studies have shown that we can greatly lower our blood pressure by doing breathing exercises. Following our breath with our attention is a powerful meditation.

By bringing awareness to our breathing, we become present.

Let's breathe.

Acceptance and Gratitude

Sunset at Waihihi Bay, Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand

The Buddha said that life was suffering. He also said that suffering was caused by desire. Our desire is fueled by fear, sadness, frustration and envy. By dropping our feelings of desire, we can end our suffering.

The opposite of desire is acceptance and gratitude. If we accept our current circumstances, and embody a feeling of gratitude, we automatically give up our incessant desire that our circumstances should be different than they are. Our suffering will cease as well.

Once we embrace acceptance and gratitude, we can begin to change our circumstances, if that is what we choose to do. However, we will act from a place of peace, wisdom and love, rather than reacting out of fear and frustration.

Let's embrace acceptance and gratitude.

Joy

Stony Batter, Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Happiness does not exist without unhappiness.

Even the elation we feel after we obtain a deeply desired object or situation will fade in short order and we will return to a state of frustration. Studies of lottery winners have show that even the biggest wins do not bring lasting happiness. This is because the problem that we think can be solved by satisfaction of our desires, cannot. The relief is only temporary. The realization that obtaining the desired object or situation does not solve our problems can cause even greater frustration and despair. If satisfaction of our desires does not solve our problems, we believe there is no hope.

We can transcend the cycle of desire, frustration, fulfillment, and disappointment. If we surrender our beliefs and desires, we will become one with Universal Energy. We will experience joy when we value and our grateful for what we do have. This gratitude will cause our hunger for more things to subside.

Let's surrender to joy.

Allowing

Waitete Bay, Coromandel, New Zealand

We swim against the current of life.

We follow our desires, believing that they will lead to fulfillment. We think that if we only had this house or that car, we would be satisfied. We believe that if we achieved success or married the right person, that our lives would be enhanced.

If we instead allow Life to take us where it wants us to go, a greater intelligence takes us over, and our lives will become peaceful and joyful. We cannot learn about allowing. It must be experienced.

We can trust that if we give up our stale and conditioned beliefs, our lives will be peaceful and our fears and frustrations will fade away. That is true faith.

Let's allow Life to take us where It wants us to go.

Gratitude

Buffalo Lodge, Coromandel, New Zealand

When we see someone with MS in a wheelchair, we are afraid that something similar will happen to us. We are also grateful for our ability to walk and communicate normally. When we see a homeless person, we are grateful that we have a home and friends and family to support us. Our gratitude can run much, much deeper.

It is easy to be grateful when things are going well. It is when we believe that life has turned against us that it becomes much harder. By giving up our notions of what we think are "good" or "bad" we allow Life to take us where it wants to go. We really do not have enough information to determine what events are good or bad. Often following our desires does not take us in a direction which will enhance our lives. Our lives will be enhanced when we embrace gratitude regardless of our outward circumstances

When we are lying in a hospital bed with only a few minutes to live, we can be grateful for having those last few moments of life and for having the opportunity to have lived. That is true gratitude.

Let's be grateful.