Tag Archives: Happiness

Union Is in the Heart

8 May

Follow the advice of your heart, because no one will be more faithful to
you than him.
—Book of Sirach, 37.13

I think that the positive forces that will create our future will not be the
forces and the laws of matter, but those of conscious cooperation,
comprehension, and love for others that all beings in existence must sooner
or later manifest because these values are the essence of our deepest nature.

I also think that the most effective way to achieve union is through a
process of collective and cooperative creation of a just, empathic, and
loving society through right and courageous actions informed by the heart
and by the intuitive and rational mind. Then our experience and knowing
will grow in our hearts and they will guide our individual actions through
an ever-higher level of consciousness. Unfortunately, today there is the real
danger of letting ourselves be seduced by the spreading culture of digital
ontology and digital consumerism that replaces true and profound
relationships with virtual and superficial ones, thus halting, if not reversing,
our spiritual development.

Social networks designed to bombard people with suggestive messages,
often personalized to reinforce personal biases or based on false
information or on presumed conspiratorial theories, generate groups that
can become alienated from reality in self-isolating worlds. Nikola Tesla said
that “progress must serve to improve the human race; if not, it is only a
perversion.”
Technology must be used to help us discover our true nature, not to
further imprison us in meaningless virtual worlds designed to enrich the
richest. We have come to the point where we can truly unite as humans no
matter where we were born, or stay divided in warring factions with ever
increasing destructive technology on our side.
Only when we truly comprehend that we are responsible for our
experiences and that the choice is ours alone, can we begin to truly know
ourselves and the world.

To know ourselves more and more, we need a new empathic science
that can convert scientific knowledge into deep lived knowing and from it
generate new scientific knowledge. Similarly, we need a new rational
spirituality that can convert lived knowing into new scientific knowledge
and from it generate new lived knowing. These two disciplines can then
intertwine in endless and mutual crescendo.
This is the essence of the Creative Principle of One. Within this vision,
empathic science and rational spirituality, integrating and interweaving, will
evermore increase our loving, joyful, and fulfilling union with the Whole.

Federico Faggin: Irreducible – consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature 1988 Essentia Publisher

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Pure and Serene Mind (Part 2): The Path of Chi Restoration Through Qigong & Tai Chi

22 Apr

Written by Rodger R Ricketts

In the previous blog post, I explored how modern life gradually separates us from our original Chi through excessive mental activity, immersion in artificial systems, and disconnection from natural sensation. As symbolic thinking and external pressures dominate our awareness, the mind stretches beyond its natural limits, losing sensitivity to life energy. This disconnection weakens the true self and leads to imbalance, fragility, and inner suffering. Yet within each person remains the potential to restore purity, stillness, and authentic Chi by returning to original awareness, reconnecting with natural sensation, and aligning with timeless Daoist principles. Now, I examine how the ancient practices of Qigong and Tai Chi guide this restoration through stillness, movement, and the gradual purification of mind and life energy.

The cultivation and flow of energy through Qigong breathing techniques and Tai Chi movements reveal a path that is both clear and accessible. As individuals begin to recognize the false self that has often governed much of their existence, they should prepare for unexpected insights. Many people find themselves encumbered by multiple false identities. Rather than becoming discouraged, it is advisable to adopt a strategy of gradual progress—advancing step by step with unwavering faith—steadily uncovering one’s original life energy. This process unfolds layer by layer, requiring persistence and resilience. If one has been taught to believe that miracles occur externally, such a belief stems from a misconception rooted in a desire for effortless gain. It is imperative to cease heeding this false self and reject this erroneous notion immediately. Although the journey toward reclaiming one’s life energy may be challenging, it is ultimately profoundly rewarding.

If one maintains a pure heart and genuine sincerity in their efforts, it is possible to utilize the tools and guidance provided by a master to achieve the goal of discovering one’s true self. The experience of Chi can be regained through consistent practice. Several methods exist to restore the sensation of Chi, including motionless meditation, moving meditation, and receiving Chi energy from a master. According to the sacred teachings of an ancient lineage, a master capable of radiating life energy resembles a powerful iron magnet. Ideally, these practices should be undertaken concurrently. The primary purpose of these meditations is to create calmness and exclude the distractions of the artificial world, thereby enabling concentration and reconnection with internal sensations through stillness, typically in a seated posture, although some practices involve standing.

Despite the diversity in names and styles among various meditation techniques, all are designed to help practitioners eventually perceive their own energy. While many contemporary meditation systems emphasize sensing life energy, only one system currently extends beyond this initial stage by teaching how to direct the flow of Chi. This system contains essential knowledge that aids in purifying and strengthening true energy. It is the original Qigong meditation, deeply rooted in the principles of the Tao. Unlike other forms, the essence of Qigong meditation lies in cultivating the sensation of Chi within a clear mind. Qigong instructs practitioners to intensify this sensation and circulate it throughout the entire body, resulting in Chi that is fully present in every moment.

Through flowing movements, total Chi can be refined to become exceptionally pure and strong. This practice also forms the foundation of what is now known as Tai Chi. Tai Chi remains the only moving meditation practiced today that supports the development of Chi beyond the initial healing stages. Authentic Tai Chi enhances both the quantity and quality of life energy in a manner consistent with ancient Qigong meditation. Numerous styles of Tai Chi exist worldwide. For those whose lifestyle permits and who are resolute in their desire to attain true freedom from the artificial world, halt the depletion of life energy, and reclaim their true selves, it is possible to engage in all three stages of practice simultaneously, as was done in ancient times.

Among all training processes, the most critical step is learning to maintain the cleanliness and purity of one’s life energy. Purifying life energy is the ultimate goal, while maintaining its cleanliness is the means to that end. To keep life energy clean, one must keep the mind clean. If the mind remains unpolluted, unsullied, and undisturbed, it can purify life energy. The mind functions as a filter and must remain in its original, uncontaminated state, free from external influences. It must be brought to its most concentrated state: calm and comfortable, neither forced nor resistant, simply embodying one’s original self. The pursuit of this clean state of mind should not be forced, as the desire to attain it itself contaminates the mind. Ancient temple records recount stories of monks who failed to purify their minds due to excessive effort.

When the mind is free from contamination, distortion, and confusion, it naturally facilitates the purification of life energy. An apt analogy is to consider life energy as water and the mind as its filter. The mind must remain in its original, unaltered state—characterized by freedom, deep concentration, calmness, and comfort, without striving or resistance. Engaging in practices such as two-gong breathing and slow meditation with sincerity and honesty gradually calms and purifies the mind. With a purified mind, one can direct life energy to flow throughout the entire body, and over time, this energy will attain a purity comparable to that of a newborn. This represents a valuable aspiration: to harmonize one’s life energy with the original cosmic energy, known as the Dao.

Upon sensing and communicating with this pure life energy, one may progress further by reconnecting with its source through harmonious contact. This process entails transcending the layers of impurity and negative energy that obscure the original life energy, as well as the pollution of the artificial mind. In a polluted state, life energy cannot resonate at the same frequency as the Dao. It is not that the Dao refuses to communicate or assist; rather, communication is impeded while life energy remains contaminated and vibrates at a low frequency. Many individuals pray to external entities using words; however, such prayers often yield inconsistent outcomes because the original almighty force neither perceives nor communicates through low-level, artificially constructed symbols such as language. Instead, it communicates with those who turn inward and pray through the sensation of their pure life energy.

There exists no higher pursuit or more cherished goal than rediscovering and reclaiming one’s pure life energy. The most effective and singular method to cultivate life energy is through moving meditation that promotes the flow of Chi. Chi grows only when it flows, encompassing increases in strength, range, size, and volume. A greater volume of Chi better supports both body and mind. When the mind attains purity and Chi strengthens, it can be refined into higher forms of energy known as Jing Jing, which can be projected and transmitted beyond the body. Presently, no other meditation practice offers a comparable method to facilitate the flow of life energy as does the original Tai Chi flow meditation. Tai Chi simultaneously strengthens the mind and cultivates life energy, or Chi, and can be practiced anywhere and at any time. Practitioners are advised to wear comfortable clothing and flat, flexible shoes, breathe smoothly, quietly, and naturally, and may synchronize movements with breath without forcibly holding it. The mouth should remain closed with lips and teeth gently together, the tongue resting lightly against the roof of the mouth, and the head held upright as if suspended by a cord from above. Movements should be performed in a relaxed, comfortable manner with minimal muscular tension. With modest effort, the movements can be learned effectively.

At first glance, Tai Chi may appear to consist of slow, graceful movements designed primarily to improve physical balance and flexibility. However, beyond these physical benefits, Tai Chi represents a deeply meditative practice aimed at fostering clarity and inner stillness. The most profound aspects of significant Chi involve an empty mind and the clear release of mental tension. In Tai Chi, stillness does not imply the cessation of physical movement; rather, it entails cultivating a calm and focused mind. The practice promotes the release of distracting thoughts, worries, and mental chatter, thereby enabling full attention to be directed toward the present moment and the fluidity of one’s movements.

This state of stillness is known as Wuji, which translates as “emptiness” or “non-being” and represents the state of primordial, undifferentiated reality before the emergence of Yin and Yang. In Tai Chi, all movements and energy flow from Wuji. It is a state of pure potential wherein the mind is clear, the body relaxed, and awareness anchored in the present moment. By embracing stillness, Tai Chi practitioners access a powerful state of mental clarity that facilitates movement and fosters integration between body and mind.

Across these two blog posts, I traced the arc from loss to restoration: how modern existence subtly exhausts Chi and obscures true nature, and how ancient Taoist practice gently guides the return. Part One revealed how artificial systems, excessive thinking, and sensory overload separate us from original life energy, weakening intuition and inner peace. Part Two illuminated the path of return through sincerity, stillness, and movement, restoring Chi through meditation, Qigong, and Tai Chi. By purifying the mind, circulating life energy, and aligning with the Dao, one gradually reawakens the innate wholeness present in infancy—a pure and serene mind capable of sensing life energy naturally and resting effortlessly in truth. This journey requires patience and devotion, yet it ultimately leads to freedom, clarity, and harmony with the living universe.

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Pure and Serene Mind (Part 1): The Loss of Chi in the Modern World

22 Apr

Written by Rodger R Ricketts, Psy.D.

As individuals progress through life, they develop the capacity to respond to external stimuli in ways that enhance survival, growth, and reproduction. Learning arises through constant interaction with the environment, enabling humans to retain external information, think reflectively, and make value-based decisions. While personal identity and societal constructs support civilization and survival, they also impose a cost: artificial cognitive activity consumes essential life energy. Decision-making rooted in conceptual values, rather than natural sensation, gradually separates the mind from its inherent life energy. Initially subtle, this divergence may become permanent, leading to persistent depletion of life energy and eventual decline.

In infancy, one remains intimately aware of Chi (life energy), but as adults become absorbed in cognitive processes, they neglect this vital sensation. Excessive mental activity drains Chi, as the mind’s energy is an extension of life energy itself. When life energy is overextended, the connection between mind and Chi weakens; like a rubber band stretched beyond its limit, perception breaks. This loss of authentic internal perception manifests as illness, fragility, and ultimately the deterioration of one’s true nature.

As artificial constructs dominate awareness, individuals may lose their intimate connection with mind and body. Money, language, and symbolic systems—tools created to support society—become mistaken for reality itself. Immersed in this virtual realm, one drifts further away from natural sensation. Childhood’s pure, intuitive engagement with life fades as artificial signals override internal experience. Modern environments bombard the senses with constant stimuli, drowning out natural signals such as sleep, sunlight, contact with the Earth, natural foods, and internal bodily sensation. As these cues diminish, the ability to perceive Chi weakens, and the intuitive connection to life energy declines.

Within Taoist cosmology, the universe alternates between Tao-in-stillness and Tao-in-movement: the unmanifest state of Wuji (primordial emptiness or original stillness) and the manifest state of Tai Chi (cosmic duality and the birth of Yin and Yang), where Yin and Yang operate. Phenomena arise from Wuji and return to it, much like waking life cycles back to the stillness of sleep. Wuji—primordial, undifferentiated, timeless, and absolute—represents pure potential. From this state, Tai Chi emerges, giving rise to Yin and Yang, motion and form. Wu denotes stillness, while Wuji signifies standing in silence and sensing universal energy. In Tai Chi practice, movement and energy flow from this stillness. When the mind becomes clear and the body relaxed, one experiences present awareness and accesses profound mental clarity.

Original life energy contains no duality of good or bad—it is eternal, perfect, and requires no modification. When it manifests as human life energy, it divides into Yin, Yang, and Chi (three aspects of energetic function: receptive, active, and vital force). Human life depends upon the dynamic cycling of Yin and Yang; constant motion seeks to return to the original state of harmony. To mirror the original Chi, one must cultivate clarity, purity, and strength, restoring balance within and harmonizing with the external environment. Without vigilance, temptations and artificial habits lead to deficit, destabilizing Chi and drawing the individual deeper into artificial existence.

Three primary forces disrupt Chi: overuse of the mind, immersion in artificial constructs, and bombardment by negative environmental signals. As Chi becomes a mental signal, it weakens; as artificial ideas dominate, natural sensation fades; and as negative influences intrude, energetic balance destabilizes. In severe cases, the Chi signal may become disabled, resulting in decline. When artificial influences overpower life energy long enough, both mind and body lose the ability to perceive Chi. In this state, one struggles to maintain equilibrium and ultimately deteriorates.

Chi embodies concepts of center, harmony, and infinity. It forms the essence of the true self; diminishing its quality is equivalent to losing life force and authentic integrity. When Chi is strong, one experiences inner completeness, intuitive knowing, and a fearless sense of unity with existence. Conversely, when Chi becomes depleted through artificial living and suppressed emotion, the true self is constrained, leading to fragility, imbalance, and inability to live peacefully. Rebuilding life energy requires the reintegration of mind and Chi, honoring genuine emotion, and restoring internal equilibrium.

Modern society conditions individuals to conform to external expectations, prioritizing artificial norms over inner truth. This form of psychological enslavement suppresses intuition and compels the pursuit of illusory goals—achievement, wealth, security—at the expense of well-being and authentic identity. Perpetual busyness prevents inner stillness and blocks access to the original self, allowing the artificial framework (social expectations, productivity culture, or identity roles) to maintain control.

Liberation begins by reconnecting with life energy. One must discern whether the desire for growth arises from true inner calling or from external validation. A sincere longing to understand suffering, live meaningfully, and liberate the authentic self signals the voice of life energy. Those who recognize this call and possess the courage to follow it must learn to sense and refine Chi. Fortunately, this path is not new; ancient Daoist masters have walked it before and left guidance for those ready to return to their true nature.

This first stage of the journey reveals how modern existence, dominated by artificial constructs, incessant mental activity, and external pressures, gradually separates us from the vital life energy that forms the essence of our true nature. By recognizing the subtle yet profound ways in which the mind becomes overextended, how natural sensations are replaced by symbolic systems (in other words, expectations and conceptual thinking), and how societal demands obscure our inner awareness, we begin to perceive the root of our disconnection. The path back to authenticity arises not through force or intellectual striving, but through gently restoring stillness, clarity, and genuine sensation, allowing Chi to be felt once again in its natural purity. As one reconnects with this original energy, a deeper sense of wholeness, peace, and intuitive understanding gradually awakens, reminding us of the completeness that once existed in infancy and remains within us still. In Part Two, I will explore how ancient Taoist wisdom provides practical tools for this restoration—guiding us through the cultivation of calm awareness, the refinement and circulation of Chi, and the harmonious integration of mind, body, and life energy through practices such as Qigong and Tai Chi. Through steady effort and sincere intention, it becomes possible not only to reclaim the purity of one’s life force, but also to return to a state of balance, presence, and effortless connection with the living universe.

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Happiness and Fulfillment

19 Apr

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Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ:We are connected to each other in multiple and vital ways

17 Apr

The Lakota phrase Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ describes Reality by addressing it as “All My Relations.” All humans, all animals, all plants, all the waters, the soil, the stones, the mountains, the grasslands, the winds, the clouds and storms, the sun and moon, stars and planets are our relations and are relations to one another. We are connected to each other in multiple and vital ways. When one is in pain, all are harmed. When there is justice for one, there is more justice for all.

It is time for the dominant culture to finally learn that its people cannot harm those it deems lesser than themselves simply because it wants to and can. This is, simply, wrong. It violates the fundamental nature of reality. Actions that violate the fundamental nature of reality build tension into the system that eventually causes a loss of balance and a rebound of consequence to those who broke natural law. This is true whether the ones being unjustly persecuted and abused are human beings whose color or religious beliefs are not those of the dominant culture, or parts of the natural world that those of the dominant culture judge as insentient or even not-living. In all these cases, the dominant culture judges these “others” as unacceptable or lesser than themselves, and therefore undeserving of respect and reciprocity.

Being “woke” is not simply a matter of learning what words to speak. Truly right words can only come from a heart that is open to the living world’s grief, that is willing to be broken by the pain of this grief. Such a heart experiences the pain that all the rest of creation has suffered for generations upon generations, and in doing this it helps to share and bear that burden. Only then, once the true heart has shattered from this pain, can Real Knowledge flow into it. It enters through the spaces between the shattered fragments. This is the pathway to true healing, for that heart and the heart of creation itself.

===Notes about the translation and meaning of Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ:

Although “All Our Relations” is the most common translation of Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ  — even Vine Deloria, Jr. defines it as such in his books — the phrase actually bears within it rich layers of additional meaning that cannot be easily translated into English. It’s important to point this out because words and ideas, stories and rituals, are bound together into a single reality that must be respected, not misappropriate. In the video, the late Sicungu Lakota Elder Albert White Hat, a friend who was on Tapestry’s board for many years, explains this matter of language and concept being inextricably interwoven.

The Native relationship to nature is revealed in Native hunting and food-growing practices. It is believed that the animals we hunt, whom we view as our relatives, offer themselves to us as an act of Metta. In return, the hunter must do something for the animal, for instance a deer dance or buffalo dance, to thank the animal and pray for regeneration of the animal’s family. When it comes to the food that we grow, we have dances and seasonal fertility rituals, which are ceremonies that bring us into direct relationship with the spirit of plants and Earth consciousness.

I see the whole Native way as realizing our relationship with everything and ourselves as an integral part of all things, which in turn causes us to treat the Earth and other forms of life with respect, as part of our family. Western civilization is finally recognizing that relationship. Suddenly people are saying that the Earth is alive and talking about Gaia and holistic worldviews and systems theory. Native people are basically saying, “Yes, welcome home.”

The Indian elders say, “We must remember also the four-footed, those who swim and those who fly, those who crawl and those who move very slowly like the stone people, and all the green and growing things.” Within this sacred circle we are one. What we do affects everyone, everything. These great teachings remind us of our responsibility to care for all life. In our pursuit of progress and comfort we have separated ourselves from our place in this great circle. Earth traditions bring us back into harmony and balance within the circle.The Lakota end all prayers with “O Mitakuye Oyasin,” meaning “I do this for all my relations (or all sentient beings).”  Dualism happens when egocentricity develops, creating a split with nature, each other and all life. When I was departing for a yearlong retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, I told the medicine woman Bertha Grove, “I’ll be alone for a long time.” She replied, “You’re not going to be alone. When you go outside and look around, you won’t feel alone at all. You’ll be completely accompanied by the trees, the plants, the birds and the animals.” For many years, I had learned about nonduality and the teachings of integration, but Grove’s way of saying it was like a direct transmission.

Animism flows from the belief that everything is part of an interconnected web of life. It is deeply embedded in many indigenous worldviews and as well as nondual meditation traditions from Tibet, India, China and Egypt. Both animism and nonduality share some profound philosophical and experiential similarities.

While not explicitly labeled as apophatic, many indigenous religions share core principles with apophatic theology, particularly in their emphasis on the mystery of the divine, the limitations of human language, and the importance of direct experience. The apophatic lens can offer a valuable framework for understanding and appreciating the diverse spiritual expressions found in indigenous cultures.  The concept of the “Unknown God” in ancient Egyptian religion, and the debate among scholars about whether it was monotheistic, henotheistic, or polytheistic, can be seen as related to apophatic ideas, as it acknowledges a divine reality beyond human comprehension.  How it Relates to Indigenous Religions:

While apophatic theology is primarily associated with specific theological traditions like Christian mysticism and negative theology within Hinduism and Islam, its core principles resonate with some aspects of indigenous religions. 

  • Emphasis on Mystery:
  • Many indigenous traditions emphasize the sacredness and mystery of the natural world and the divine, often employing symbolic language and ritual practices that point to something beyond literal explanation.
  • Reverence for Nature:
  • Indigenous religions often have a deep connection with the natural world, viewing it as imbued with spiritual power and interconnectedness, which can be seen as an expression of the divine in a way that transcends human concepts.
  • Oral Traditions:

Many indigenous traditions rely on oral traditions and stories, which often utilize metaphors and symbolism to convey spiritual truths, rather than relying on propositional statements.

  • Focus on Experience:

Indigenous spiritual practices often prioritize direct experience and personal connection with the spiritual realm, rather than relying solely on abstract theological doctrines.

Both challenge the rigid subject-object dualism and reductionist materialism that dominate modern thought and instead present an interconnected, holistic and kinship-based worldview and an embodied experience of existence.

I believe our ecological crisis of climate change and biodiversity collapse is ultimately a crisis of consciousness. Our disconnection from nature fuels both ecological collapse and a mental health epidemic. Reclaiming the felt sense of interconnectedness found in animism and nonduality is a powerful antidote to our alienation.

I have found that practicing nondual awareness and spending more time outdoors exploring with mindful awareness practices can dramatically reduce self-reflective overthinking, help to get to the root of today’s existential anxiety epidemic and heal our alienation from nature. Through nondual awareness practices, we can start to feel a deeply rooted sense of aliveness and kinship with all other living beings. In animistic cosmology, we are not separate from nature and we exist within a kinship worldview where we feel fundamentally at home in this world. In animism, there is no strict division between self and nature; rather, existence is participatory. The forest is not just a backdrop for people but a dynamic, intelligent presence.

Posted in Tapestry on June 12, 2020 by Dawn

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We are divine

17 Apr

“We are divine, and we must live not by the
survival of the fittest, but in a way that supports everyone and everything on
this planet” Bruce H. Lipton

The time has come to use our powerful technologies for the good of all,
rather than for the delusional good of the self-proclaimed fittest. The idea of
separation, which finds its expression in the reductionism of classical
physics, must be replaced by the experience of union and inclusion already
evident in the holism of life. “There is not a single isolated fragment in all
of nature, each fragment is part of a harmonious and complete unity” (John
Muir). Only by recognizing this crucial interdependence can humanity go
beyond the repetition of the same dysfunctional patterns that have caused so
much unnecessary suffering to our species and to the ecosystem.
Many sages throughout history have suggested that we are beings of
light that will not die with the death of the body, because we are here to
learn and grow. I think we are here to learn to collectively create new
worlds in which to operate at a much higher level of cooperation, creativity,
and fulfillment than we now can at this early stage of our spiritual
evolution. The possibility of experiencing our true nature is already
supported by the enlightened personal experiences of millions of people
around the globe, and by countless “anecdotal” facts and events that science
hesitates to investigate. If we open ourselves to this potential that is
dormant in us and ask our greater self to show the way, we may soon be
able to experience an unsuspected unity in our lives, the early signs of
humanity’s awakening to its true power and purpose.

Only when we truly comprehend that we are responsible for our
experiences and that the choice is ours alone, can we begin to truly know
ourselves and the world.
To know ourselves more and more, we need a new empathic science
that can convert scientific knowledge into deep lived knowing and from it
generate new scientific knowledge. Similarly, we need a new rational
spirituality that can convert lived knowing into new scientific knowledge
and from it generate new lived knowing. These two disciplines can then
intertwine in endless and mutual crescendo.
This is the essence of the Creative Principle of One. Within this vision,
empathic science and rational spirituality, integrating and interweaving, will
evermore increase our loving, joyful, and fulfilling union with the Whole.

I think that the positive forces that will create our future will not be the
forces and the laws of matter, but those of conscious cooperation,
comprehension, and love for others that all beings in existence must sooner
or later manifest because these values are the essence of our deepest nature.
I also think that the most effective way to achieve union is through a
process of collective and cooperative creation of a just, empathic, and
loving society through right and courageous actions informed by the heart
and by the intuitive and rational mind. Then our experience and knowing
will grow in our hearts and they will guide our individual actions through
an ever-higher level of consciousness.

copyright: Federico Faggin 2023 Irreducible: Consciousness, Life, Computers and Human Nature

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Transcending Duality

3 Apr

It was not a state of thinking but a state of living and being. It was pure consciousness. What I call a magnificence state of oneness that transcends duality. Getting me in touch with the parts of me that are eternal, infinite, and encompasses the whole. This was awesome; no longer becoming entrenched in beliefs that lock us into a state of duality and puts us in a constant state of judgment. What we endorse is considered good or positive and what we don’t is not, which also puts us in a position of needing to defend our beliefs. When others don’t agree and when we invest too much of our energy in defense, we become reluctant to let go even when ideas no longer serve us. That’s when our beliefs start to own us instead of the other way around. Having pure awareness, on the other hand, just means realizing what exists and what’s possible without judgments. Awareness doesn’t need defending. It expands with growth and can be all-encompassing, bringing us closer to the state of oneness. This is where miracles take place. In contrast, beliefs only allow what we deem credible while keeping us out of everything else.

Non-duality is a state of pure awareness which has a state of complete suspension of all previous held doctrine and dogma. It was when I was willing to let go, I received what I wanted, truly what was mine. Strongly held ideologies actually work against a person. Needing to operate out of concrete beliefs limits my experience because it keeps me within the realm of only what I know and my knowledge is limited and if I restrict myself to only what I am able to conceive, I’m holding back my potential and what I allow into my life. However, if I can accept that my understanding is incomplete and I’m able to become comfortable with uncertainty, this opens me up to the realm of infinite possibilities. After the non-duality, I am able to know and let go. When I suspend my beliefs as well as disbeliefs, I leave myself open to all possibilities. It also means that when I’m able to experience the most internal clarity and synchronicities, my sense is that the very act of needing certainly is a hindrance to experiencing greater levels of awareness. In contrast the process of letting go and releasing all attachment to any belief or outcome is cathartic and healing.

Anita Moorjani– Dying to be Me

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Experiencing Non-Duality: NDE

2 Apr

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Deepest sense of happiness

23 Mar

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One doesn’t become a Buddha

22 Mar

I saw this statement: All Humans can become a Buddha. If the definition of to become is, ‘to come into existence’ my personal understanding is different as written below.

Or every human being have a Buddha-nature and by following the Eightfold Path they can realize it fully. For example, if you have a gift that is well wrapped in coverings, once you unwrap the gift completely, you finally realize what the gift is, which, in fact, is the same as when it was wrapped. It is the same about the Buddha. We are all intrinsically a Buddha, it is just that we have veils that hide our realization of that. The veils are lifted with the Path of ethical conduct (Sila), mental discipline (Samadhi) and wisdom (Panna). One doesn’t ‘gain’ Buddhahood but instead removes the veils or obstructions that prevent one from knowing that their nature is already Awakened.

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