Stillness

Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan

It can't be stated enough. If we want to get rid of our neuroses, our frustrations, our anger, envy, obsessions, our unhappiness, lethargy, addictions, toxic relationships, our deepest fears, we can do it by simply spending 20 or so minutes in meditation. The benefits will be instantaneous. Stillness is a powerful force, with the ability to completely transform our lives. A new study has found that meditation is more potent than morphine in relieving pain. Several studies have shown that it activates portions of the brain that had been previously dormant. Can such a small investment of time bring such profound effects in our life. You betcha.

Let's enjoy stillness.

Truth

Cocoa Puff

We project images of ourselves to the world that we believe best reflect what others expect to see. The images were created by societal programming.

We could change the images which we project to the world in order to create a better projection of who we would like to be. We could project images of positivity, courage, success, etc. However, whatever image we choose to project will be hollow and unconvincing because they are only thought projections. They do not have the power and energy to back them up.

When we release our images of ourselves, we can relate to the world as we really are. We cease to be an image. We become real. Our physical manifestations have the infinite energy of Source behind them. We project peace and quiet power. Our lives become more positive because we are in harmony with Source.

Let's release our thoughts about who we are or who we want to be or who we want others to believe that we are. We will be transformed by becoming who we truly are, beings of infinite energy manifesting our divine energy in the physical realm.

It takes courage to release our images of who we think we are. Painful memories that we have been repressing come to the surface. Thoughts of dread about the future may surface as well. We have nothing to be afraid of. No thought can harm us unless we let it. As we drop our belief structures about who we think we are and how we think the world works, we become one with the power of Presence. We will transform ourselves and the world.

Let's release our thoughts about ourselves and reality and allow Presence in.

Inspiration

Qamea, Fiji

Inspiration is the flow of ideas from Source. We cannot force inspiration or make it happen. We can, however, create an environment for it to occur. Our thoughts and beliefs block the flow of inspiration. When we are lost in thought or carried away with our emotions, there is no room for energy to enter. By slowing our thoughts and surrendering our judgments, we allow inspiration to guide us. Letting go of our beliefs about reality and who we think we are allows true knowledge and inspiration to flow through our lives.

Let's surrender our stale beliefs and surrender to the great Mystery.

Peace

East Cape, New Zealand

Peace is what we are, our natural state. If we do not feel peaceful, it is because we are telling ourselves stories of who we think we are. The stories often involve worry about the past or dread of the future. We tell these stories to people that we encounter and people repeat these stories back to us. The cycle of reinforcement (and conditioning) started when we were babies and continues until we wake up to what we truly are: love, peace and joy.

How do we break the cycle of addictive thought? By bringing awareness to our thoughts, our emotions and our actions. The light of awareness will allow us to release our stories and surrender to our natural state, which is peace. What is the light of awareness? It is simply attention without judgment. Let's be aware of our conditioned thoughts and beliefs, look at them without judgment or labels and let go of our stories, which are boring anyway.

Let's return to what we are. Let's embody peace.

The Instrument

Sedona, Arizona

Our bodies are our instruments for interacting with the material world. When our bodies are operating at peak efficiency, it is easier for the energy to flow through us. When we clog our instrument with fast food, drugs or alcohol, our awareness becomes foggy. When we do not get enough rest, or stress is being held in our muscles and organs, our connection to the Infinite Energy Source can be blocked. We can nurture our body by being conscious about what we eat and drink, exercising, and getting sufficient rest and relaxation. In addition, unused parts of our brains can be activated through meditation. We should care for our bodies as we would a beloved classic car. On the other hand, some believe the physical vessel is of no importance whatsoever. Up to you.

Let's bring awareness to our physical manifestations.

Outside In

Nara, Japan

A way to access our inner selves is through fully inhabiting our outer selves. The way to activate our inner senses and experience our inner dimensions is to be fully aware of our 5 three dimensional senses. Let's see with our eyes, without labelling or judging what we see. Let's hear the sounds all around us without thinking about who or what is making them. Let's feel the ground below our feet and be aware of the taste when we chew our food. Let's bring our attention to our breath going in and out. When we are fully inhabiting our bodies without judgment or thought, we are in harmony with Source. Our awareness grows and new dimensions of being will be activated. We will see things we have never seen before.

Let's bring our attention to the present moment.

Stress

Waipoua Forest, North Island, New Zealand

Many experts teach us how to manage stress. They assume that there will always be a certain level of stress and that is a good thing as long as it is not too excessive. We try to make sure that our stress levels do not become so high as to be debilitating. We should not be managing stress, but eliminating it. No amount of stress is good. Stress literally kills. It can cause an otherwise healthy heart to shut down in a moment. Or it can kill us slowly over a period of years. 75% of doctor's visits are stress related. In addition to its adverse physical effects, stress makes us unhappy, frustrated and unfulfilled. Our relationships suffer. We are unable to communicate with others. We lose touch with our spiritual selves. Our lives are out of balance.

Stress is caused by the accumulation of "negative" thoughts (mostly fear) reinforced by our present thoughts. The only value stress has is to give us a shot of adrenaline when we are being chased by a sabre tooth tiger. We do not have to live with stress. When we surrender our thoughts and feelings and bring our attention without judgment to them, they will start to dissolve under the light of awareness.

Let's release our fears and replace them with love for others, for animals, and for ourselves.