When we learn to trust the Universe, we shall be happy, prosperous and well.  We must learn to come under that Divine Government, and accept the fact that Nature’s table is ever filled.  Never was there a Cosmic famine.  “The finite alone has wrought and suffered, the Infinite lies stretched in smiling repose.”  God is always God.  No matter what our emotional storm, or what our objective situation, may be, there is always a something hidden in the inner being that has never been violated.  We may stumble, but always there is that Eternal Voice, forever whispering within our ear, that thing which causes the eternal quest, that thing which forever sings and sings.

excerpted from The Science of Mind~Ernest Holmes

stop

the turning wheels of your mind

look

the miracle of life is happening all around you

walk

out that door with a heart filled with wonder

breathe

it all in

you

are alive

feel

the rhythm of a heart pulsing within you

you

are a part of this miracle

here, now

bask in the splendor of it all

Recently someone I consider to be a wise teacher in my life, Philip Golabuk, stated that we are too much with the world and not enough with the self.  I pondered what was the meaning of this statement.  What does it really mean?

I’ve come to see it means I am too much with trying to make things happen in the world.  Too much with believing there are an endless string of things to be worked through.  Too much with giving attention to what I don’t want.
Too much being reactive to the world.   Too much with shouldering burdens I am not meant to carry. And too much with believing I am in control.

Too much with getting and not enough with letting.

Too much with reacting and not enough with Being.

Too much with the head and not enough with the heart

Stated another way, as Meister Eckhart said: The outward man is the swinging door; the inner man is the still hinge.

Who is this inner man and which self are we not enough with?

Perhaps it is the inner self that doesn’t die.  The inner self that lives in the deepest truth.  The inner self which, when unobstructed, freely finds its way to goodness and grace.  The inner self that rests in calm, still waters.

The self that reaches a turning point and lays down its arms, literally and figuratively.  Knowing now there are no more causes to be fought or won.  Our arms drop to our sides and then, perhaps only then, does the Field/Universe/God take up our cause.

Just for a moment…

Be still

and know that I am God

Be still

and know that I am Peace
right along side any state of war

Be still

and know that I am Joy
even amidst your sorrow

Be still

and know that I am Faith
in between the spaces of your doubt

Be still

and know that I am Limitless Possibilities
right next to your fears

Be still

and know that I am Clarity
right beside your confusion

Just for a moment…

Be still
Breathe deep
And know that I am God.

©heartsdeesire

]]> http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/11/25/be-still/feed/ 8 Beth/Bethie stillness http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/11/04/this-world-is-full-of-miracles/ http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/11/04/this-world-is-full-of-miracles/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:10:34 +0000 heartsdeesire http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2007/09/13/this-world-is-full-of-miracles/ ]]> Image Locale

This world is full of miracles.

They stand in shining silence next to every dream of pain and suffering.

They are the dream’s alternative, the choice to be the dreamer, rather than deny the active role in making up the dream.

The body is released because the mind acknowledges ‘this is not done to me, but I am doing this.’

And thus the mind is free to make another choice instead.

~ A Course in Miracles ~

Follow your bliss, those were the immortal words of Joseph Campbell and oft quoted by Abraham Hicks.  I love its simple message coupled with Abraham’s message that appreciation is what brings us closest to our true nature and Source Energy.   G.K. Chesterton also said: “praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul”.  I love that quote.  To appreciate, to praise is to follow my bliss.

I’m listening to the cliff note’s version of “Happy For No Reason”, these mp3’s are put out by Philosopher’s Notes.  I highly recommend them.  Happy For No Reason presents several ideas.  The one I like the most is giving out awards daily.  The best cloud award of the day.  The most beautiful flower award of the day.  The kindest driver award today.  The nicest customer service person today.  Or how about this: the biggest raindrop that plopped on my head today; hello, I live in Seattle after all :).  As I was walking outside today, I thought of the prettiest bird song award.  The loveliest red maple leaf award.  The best dog tail wag today.  The best Autumn season ever award.  The most gleeful children’s voices award today.  The funnest laugh of the day.  The chubbiest bumble bee award.  You get the idea, you can tailor it to your likes and make it your own.

The idea is so much about appreciation.  I remember when I first started out with the teachings of Abraham and all I did was practice appreciation.  Talk about an easy method for turning your boat downstream.  What I loved about Happy For No Reason is that it reminded me how sometimes the simplest stuff is overlooked in the busyness of the day.  I forget how easy it is to turn my attention to the things I love and appreciate.  As I get back in the flow of what is the natural pulsation of my soul, I remember again just how good it feels to love, to praise, to appreciate.

Happy For No Reason also quotes a parable that was part of one my very first blog posts here entitled Feeding the Lover, have a look at it via the link, if you like.  It’s good wisdom even today.

Thanks to Ritama for recommending Philosopher’s Notes and Ritama you get my Best Not-Yet-Seen-In-The-Physical Fellow Blogger Award today!  How is that for a mouthful?! :)

It amazes me that Jane Roberts was taking dictation on The Way Toward Health even as she lay in a hospital bed with just a few more months to live.  Perhaps her illness served in some way for the greater expansion of all of us, as Seth offered much in response to Jane’s asking.

Below is a quote from The Way Toward Health and following that my comments.

April 19th, 1984 (The Way Toward Health)
4:03 PM Thursday

“There are certain simple steps that can be followed, whenever you
find yourself in a difficult situation, whether the condition is one of
poor health, a stressful personal involvement with another, a financial
dilemma, or whatever.

These steps seem very obvious, and perhaps too easy—but they will bring
an immediate sense of ease and peace of mind while your inner reserves
are being released and activated.

I have mentioned these steps many times, because they are so vital in
clearing the conscious mind, and bringing some sense of relief to the
frightened ego.

1. Immediately begin to live in the present as much as possible. Try to
become as aware as you can of present sense-data—all of it. Often, while
you are in pain for example, you concentrate upon that sensation alone,
ignoring the feelings of ease that may be felt by other portions of the
body and unaware of the conglomeration of sounds, sights and impressions
that are also in the immediate environment. This procedure will
immediately lessen the pressure of the problem itself, whatever it is,
and give you a sense of refreshment.

2. Refuse to worry. This fits automatically with step 1, of course. Tell
yourself you can worry all you want tomorrow, or on some other occasion,
but resolve not to worry in the present moment.

3. When your thoughts do touch upon your particular problem in that
present moment, imagine the best possible solution to the dilemma. Do not
wonder how or why or even when the ideal solution will come, but see it
in your mind’s eye as accomplished. Or if you are not particularly good
at visual imagery, then try to get the feeling of thanksgiving and joy
that you would feel if the problem was solved to your complete
satisfaction.”

Love that…someone once so eloquently stated: worry does not empty
tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.  And how often
do we find that present moment awareness and worry simply cannot
co-exist.  Worry by its nature is not present moment focused.

Number 3 of the steps reminds me so much of Neville’s teachings which
is to live in your imagination from the desired outcome as having already
manifested.  So that you are not thinking of it, you are living from it as if it
has already happened in your mind’s eye.

And speaking of solutions – that big desire of yours, do you ever get the sense,
just a little nudge or an inkling that you know the end of that story.  You don’t
know how it’s going to happen or when but you just have a sense, an inner
knowing that says it’s all going to work out.  If you do, then go there now,
live from the end, don’t let yourself get caught up in the worry or confusion
or the endless attempts at figuring out what to do.  Just go there to that
fulfilled state now.  And every time you fall back into doubt, remind yourself
of one thing: you already know the end of this story.  All the stuff in between,
is just stuff, you don’t have to give yourself away to it.  If you are going to give
yourself away to anything than give it to living in remembering you already
know it all works out in the end.

It’s not our work to know how or why or when, our only work is to remain
faithful to that fulfilled state.  Feel the body sense that goes along with that
fulfilled state of whatever it is you are desiring.  For me, it is a feeling of deep
contentment, bliss, if you will.  When a moment comes along and everything
feels like it’s not going in that direction, I go back to remembering that fulfilled
state and the corresponding body sense and I rest there.

We are choosing what we give ourselves to all the time with where we put our
focus.  This moment I choose bliss.

We are beings of vibrating, oscillating energy and we can operate on both receive and transmit.  I note that I sometimes do quite a bit of transmitting.  There’s an inner conversation often running in the background relating to things I observe: I like this, I prefer that, this is good, don’t like that and so on.

What happens when I begin to allow myself to be in an open, receptive mode?  I take a few conscious deep breaths, feel myself grounded in this body and allow the inner commentary to quiet.  I slow down and enter the still waters of just pure awareness.  Pure awareness which is free from my personal take on anything; an observer largely aloof and uninterested in drawing conclusions or forming opinions about people, situations or events.  And I cease being the proverbial blade of grass blowing whichever way outer conditions are blowing today.  I pay things “no mind” — literally.  Now, I am one who receives.  Resting in receiving, I discover an intelligence and a wisdom that transcends my experience as a locally focused being.

Imagine this profound peace found while resting in pure awareness.  Situations that seemed dense and immovable now seem porous and malleable when I discontinue the running commentary about what looks like the facts and outer conditions.  To discontinue, to break the continuity, interrupt the transmission of a particular consciousness I hold towards anything is exactly what allows these situations to become more fluid and flexible.

Anything can change in an instant and these things do change as we do.

“This being human is a guest house.  Every morning a new arrival.  A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor…” excerpt from the Guest House by Rumi

Such a beautiful expression Rumi makes here.  What if we treated everything that we experienced as a welcome guest?  What if we did this even and especially with the contrast, the challenges we experience and the so called “negative” emotion that often comes with it?  What if we treated it all like a guest, a visitor and a welcome one at that?  Why a welcome one?  Because everything at its core has something to offer us and when left unresisted, a new expansion lies within easy reach on the horizon.

Thich Nhat Hanh also said: “Feelings, whether of compassion or irritation, should be welcomed, recognized, and treated on an absolutely equal basis; because both are ourselves. The tangerine I am eating is me. The mustard greens I am planting are me. I plant with all my heart and mind.  I clean this teapot with the kind of attention I would have were I giving the baby Buddha or Jesus a bath. Nothing should be treated more carefully than anything else. In mindfulness, compassion, irritation, mustard green plant, and teapot are all sacred.”

Thich Nhat Hanh and Rumi are centuries and countries apart and yet each with a similar viewpoint, one calls it all sacred, the other a welcome guest. Imagine if you were feeling irritation, if you regarded it as sacred.  Just take a breath into it or whatever it is you are feeling, no pushing it away, it’s sacred now.  You’re alive, this alive-ness, this human-ness is so sacred.  You get to experience it all, anything and everything.  Now, know that none of it is wrong.  You may bring compassion, wisdom and understanding to all that you experience at any time.  And the moment that you do, is the instant that you know none of this life of yours is wrong.  All of it is sacred.  All of it is holy.  Can you feel that – how soft, how easy, how self-honoring that is?  I sure do.  Now, imagine bringing this awareness to all your sacred guests.   Welcome them, as Rumi said: “be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”

]]> http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/08/30/sacred-guest/feed/ 5 Beth/Bethie Horizon http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/08/29/quietness-rumi/ http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/08/29/quietness-rumi/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:08:40 +0000 heartsdeesire http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/?p=1031 ]]> Today I’ve been asking myself this question:

What would wholeness say?

I love asking the question; it seems to prompt a feeling of slipping my arms into the sleeves and cloak of wholeness.   Wholeness spoke quietly and tenderly just a few things to me -

You are a blessed being.
You are perfect just as you are.

And perhaps if Rumi were by my side right now, he’d peer over my shoulder and whisper in my ear:

inside this new love, die.  Your way begins on the other side.

In my last found poem, combining Rumi and Rilke, Rumi’s Quietness comprised the last verse.  Here it is, in it’s entirety, the words below and the words, set to music and images by Rahmama at youtube.  It is absolutely spectacularly, breathtakingly beautiful!

Inside this new love, die.
Your way begins on the other side.
Become the sky.
Take an axe to the prison wall.
Escape.
Walk out like someone suddenly born into color.
Do it now.
You’re covered with thick clouds.
Slide out the side. Die,
and be quiet. Quietness is the surest sign
that you’ve died.
Your old life was a frantic running
from silence.
The speechless full moon
comes out now.