Several Weeks ago, I had this experience while driving in my car. I was driving home... and vexed with thoughts... then I tuned in to life, and turned off my thoughts. I wrote the experience in my journal. Posting here, in case it's useful for others:
Journal from May 5, 2011:
I had a bit of a great moment tonight when I was driving home. I had a rough day. Work was stressful. It was busy. I learned I had to work the weekend. Just a lot of stuff to bum me out.
So there, I was leaving the job in my car - windows down. Driving home, along Neilson Way in Santa Monica, and I found my thoughts were all over the place. So I began listening. I listened to the sound the cars in the opposite lane made, when they passed me. I tuned into the swish of the air, and the roll of their tires against pavement. Then my attention was brought to a single bird, chirping a tune while perched on a house. Something I probably would have overlooked in the past. But by active listening to the sounds around me, I was tuned into a lot of things I would normally overlook. I began to feel at total peace. I heard a dog bar, people talking, cars driving by, birds chirping. Even in this urban landscape, I was tuned into the living nature of the environment. All the stress from the day was gone. All worries of the future were gone.
When I heard the bird, I didn't make it into a thought object. I didn't think "oh there's a bird on a house, doing this or that.." instead I just took it in, without any judgment good or bad. The same with all the sounds. I just observed. In this observation I came to peace in the moment.
Manny years ago, when I took Buddhist vows, my Lama told us that the word Dharma meant several things for a Buddhist. For a Buddhist it could reference spiritual teachings. It could also refer to 'everything.' We also learned about Refuge. To a Buddhist, the Dharma is a refuge object. A place one can find peace. Through listening, I found the present Dharma. Through observing it, I took refuge in it.
I began to feel that the sounds of my environment woke me up to the living dharma around me, and in that process I was taking refuge. Not through some outward ritual, or sitting meditation - but simply in awakening to the present moment.
To put it simply, I felt good, listening to the world around me. It brought me peace to sit and listen and observe life, as I drove home.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Harold Camping
Everyone is writing about this guy, so I thought I might as well.
But instead of satire, jokes or puns... I do respect the man and his followers. It's easy to criticize others for believing differently then we do. It's harder to see ourselves in Harold Camping.
I heard, through a friend, that a co-worker of his followed Harold Camping. This past week, this co-worker quit his job and relocated to Arizona (awaiting the End.)
Some may laugh, but this guy has something most of us don't. Adventure. The only problem, it's very short lived. When the 22nd comes, he'll be out of a job, depressed and hit what some call the Belief Crisis. I feel compassion for this unknown man, and I feel an admiration at the same time.
It reminded me of when I was in Scientology. Despite all the things that drove me leave Scientology - it WAS an adventure. The sense of adventure is vacant in most Western Beliefs. Here in the West, orthodox religion is mostly spoon fed. We ingest something that is 'safe' and easy.
In Scientology you had the past life regression... and then the actual Church itself. Both of these were adventures... whether it was reliving a past life, or running from the long arms of the Church - there was adventure there. The author of Blown for Good, talks about how much he hated Scientology, but without it - he couldn't have written the book he did. He couldn't have had the adventure he had.
But back to Harold Camping... was he a fool? Where people who followed him fools? No. Not to me. I don't know what Harold is. As far as I know he could be a High being, and I just don't see it, because my Karma paints him to be a little old man with tall tales. As for his followers, they got an adventure (as short lived as it was) and should be happy for the experience.
Is Harold Camping a guru? Not mine. His views and mine don't mesh. He's hung up on an old paradigm of sexual repression and egotism. Or so it appears to me, when I view him from my Karma based perception.
But some people have (and no doubt will continue) to see him as a High being. To each their own. We're all on our own trip. So love them, baby. Love them for who they are, and what they believe.
But instead of satire, jokes or puns... I do respect the man and his followers. It's easy to criticize others for believing differently then we do. It's harder to see ourselves in Harold Camping.
I heard, through a friend, that a co-worker of his followed Harold Camping. This past week, this co-worker quit his job and relocated to Arizona (awaiting the End.)
Some may laugh, but this guy has something most of us don't. Adventure. The only problem, it's very short lived. When the 22nd comes, he'll be out of a job, depressed and hit what some call the Belief Crisis. I feel compassion for this unknown man, and I feel an admiration at the same time.
It reminded me of when I was in Scientology. Despite all the things that drove me leave Scientology - it WAS an adventure. The sense of adventure is vacant in most Western Beliefs. Here in the West, orthodox religion is mostly spoon fed. We ingest something that is 'safe' and easy.
In Scientology you had the past life regression... and then the actual Church itself. Both of these were adventures... whether it was reliving a past life, or running from the long arms of the Church - there was adventure there. The author of Blown for Good, talks about how much he hated Scientology, but without it - he couldn't have written the book he did. He couldn't have had the adventure he had.
But back to Harold Camping... was he a fool? Where people who followed him fools? No. Not to me. I don't know what Harold is. As far as I know he could be a High being, and I just don't see it, because my Karma paints him to be a little old man with tall tales. As for his followers, they got an adventure (as short lived as it was) and should be happy for the experience.
Is Harold Camping a guru? Not mine. His views and mine don't mesh. He's hung up on an old paradigm of sexual repression and egotism. Or so it appears to me, when I view him from my Karma based perception.
But some people have (and no doubt will continue) to see him as a High being. To each their own. We're all on our own trip. So love them, baby. Love them for who they are, and what they believe.
Friday, May 20, 2011
A link on finding a Guru...
I came across this tonight... a lot of good, level headed advice:
http://www.kriyayoga.com/english/on_your_wings/searchforguru.htm
Some good quotes from that link:
"If God is your only Guru, then all you need to do is to really and immediately accept all God's guidance to progress the smoothest and fastest path of Love to your freedom in God."
"If you allow your intellect to calculate distance, travel expenses and similar factors - then you have lost your search for a Guru before it even started."
http://www.kriyayoga.com/english/on_your_wings/searchforguru.htm
Some good quotes from that link:
"If God is your only Guru, then all you need to do is to really and immediately accept all God's guidance to progress the smoothest and fastest path of Love to your freedom in God."
"If you allow your intellect to calculate distance, travel expenses and similar factors - then you have lost your search for a Guru before it even started."
Meditation
Tonight I sat in meditation for only 15 min. I kept it short. I sat in a chair, back straight, hands turned up on my legs. eyes closed. headphones on with binural beats and white noise to drown out the sounds around me (tv mostly.)
As I sat in this position... I felt an enormous amount of heat being generated in my body. I began to sweat. I figited 5 times in 15 min. I found my hands upturned was annoying me. The tension in my legs was hard to hold. I'd start to get beads of sweat, and I'd break concentration and move.
My mind was going to the man and people who followed the belief in the rapture tomorrow. I kept thinking "what if it's true?" So I made a prayer to Jesus - got that fear out of the way, and began meditating again.
As I sat in this position... I felt an enormous amount of heat being generated in my body. I began to sweat. I figited 5 times in 15 min. I found my hands upturned was annoying me. The tension in my legs was hard to hold. I'd start to get beads of sweat, and I'd break concentration and move.
My mind was going to the man and people who followed the belief in the rapture tomorrow. I kept thinking "what if it's true?" So I made a prayer to Jesus - got that fear out of the way, and began meditating again.
Chill Out
While walking around town today, I had moments of frustration. In fact I was upset all morning. I was upset because I had to drive my wife to a Dr. visit, and we were running late. I was upset because traffic wasn't agreeing with me. I was upset because people would just get in my way and slow me down.
I was taking a break today and as I entered a store, a guy said, "Hey man, want a free sample?" As he said that he shoved a can in my hand. It was some drink, about the size of a red bull, but instead of being an energy drink - it promised relaxation. It was called "Chill Out."
It even said some comment about "enlightenment" on the can.
Life has a lot of messages for everyone. I just need to open my eyes to the ones for me.
I was taking a break today and as I entered a store, a guy said, "Hey man, want a free sample?" As he said that he shoved a can in my hand. It was some drink, about the size of a red bull, but instead of being an energy drink - it promised relaxation. It was called "Chill Out."
It even said some comment about "enlightenment" on the can.
Life has a lot of messages for everyone. I just need to open my eyes to the ones for me.
I went searching today...
I went on my search for The Guru... My Guru. I heard that there was a Hindu based spiritual center in Santa Monica, on Main St. I happened to be in the area... and I double checked Google.com, which in deed showed this group: Ananada-LA to be on Main St. But when I went there, it was no longer at that location. Instead a smoke shop had taken it's place.
Discouraged, I walked on and found I was close to Hill House in Santa Monica. Although I've never been, I've heard of it. In the local Starbucks there was a advertisement for some groups meeting at Hill House (on Hill St. in Santa Monica.) I walked there. It wasn't far. Just up the street, across from a Latin based Baptist church and next to a Lutheran church. An older woman and man were cleaning up around the place, and I inquired about their calendar. But they had no real calendar of events. Just a board with notes of things going on. I checked the board and nothing rang out to me.
Again I was discouraged.
But then I recalled something. Earlier, while I was walking along this trek, I met a beggar. He was sitting on a wall. I was being stupid and tried to ignore him and move quickly past him. But my wife held me back. While I slowed down and neared this fellow. He smiled and asked, "Excuse me. Can you understand my sign?"
I was upset. At first I was angry. I felt pissed off. I was like "Of course I can read." I felt like it was a confrontation to get money from me. But I didn't read the sign. I glanced at it. He had a lot going on with that little sign. He had written all over it.
My wife's heart opened and she said, "Oh, give him something." I felt happy to give at that time, and I pulled out a dollar and give it to the man. He had the sweetest smile. It was just a dollar, but he turned to me and said, "Bless you! Bless you on this three day weekend." It wasn't a three day weekend. But I got his meaning. Then I realized something, I hadn't read his sign.
The Dharma, is all around. It's messages constantly reaching out to us. I missed an opportunity to take this in. Next time, I'll try not to be in my head, and be in the present moment. Then I'll be more aware to read the signs in life. Both the literal and figurative signs.
Discouraged, I walked on and found I was close to Hill House in Santa Monica. Although I've never been, I've heard of it. In the local Starbucks there was a advertisement for some groups meeting at Hill House (on Hill St. in Santa Monica.) I walked there. It wasn't far. Just up the street, across from a Latin based Baptist church and next to a Lutheran church. An older woman and man were cleaning up around the place, and I inquired about their calendar. But they had no real calendar of events. Just a board with notes of things going on. I checked the board and nothing rang out to me.
Again I was discouraged.
But then I recalled something. Earlier, while I was walking along this trek, I met a beggar. He was sitting on a wall. I was being stupid and tried to ignore him and move quickly past him. But my wife held me back. While I slowed down and neared this fellow. He smiled and asked, "Excuse me. Can you understand my sign?"
I was upset. At first I was angry. I felt pissed off. I was like "Of course I can read." I felt like it was a confrontation to get money from me. But I didn't read the sign. I glanced at it. He had a lot going on with that little sign. He had written all over it.
My wife's heart opened and she said, "Oh, give him something." I felt happy to give at that time, and I pulled out a dollar and give it to the man. He had the sweetest smile. It was just a dollar, but he turned to me and said, "Bless you! Bless you on this three day weekend." It wasn't a three day weekend. But I got his meaning. Then I realized something, I hadn't read his sign.
The Dharma, is all around. It's messages constantly reaching out to us. I missed an opportunity to take this in. Next time, I'll try not to be in my head, and be in the present moment. Then I'll be more aware to read the signs in life. Both the literal and figurative signs.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
I forgave him, then he got expelled
2/5/2011
Backfilled Post
http://templeptah.org/EOGD-Public-Announcement.html
This is of interest to me... because of something personal.
In 2006, I joined the Essoteric Order of the Golden Dawn. I left in about a year's time.
I held some anger and frustration towards the leader (Robert Zink) for some time. For many years I'd dwell on how I disliked his words, actions, etc.
But now, living in a new place - introduced to Radical Forgiveness... I realized I was holding on to some real deep seated issues.
I let go of my judgement and anger of Robert and forgave him and myself.
Then, I got an email - the next day (today) saying he had been expelled from EOGD.
How weird is that?
Backfilled Post
http://templeptah.org/EOGD-Public-Announcement.html
This is of interest to me... because of something personal.
In 2006, I joined the Essoteric Order of the Golden Dawn. I left in about a year's time.
I held some anger and frustration towards the leader (Robert Zink) for some time. For many years I'd dwell on how I disliked his words, actions, etc.
But now, living in a new place - introduced to Radical Forgiveness... I realized I was holding on to some real deep seated issues.
I let go of my judgement and anger of Robert and forgave him and myself.
Then, I got an email - the next day (today) saying he had been expelled from EOGD.
How weird is that?
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