Unconditional Follow-Through

Second Foundation from Adyashanti's "The Way of Liberation" is "UNCONDITIONAL FOLLOW-THROUGH". The first is "Clarify Your Aspiration".

So, Adyashanti says "Making clear what you aspire to is the first step. It has the effect of gathering energy and attention together into a unified force and directing it toward your aspiration. Once you have clarified your aspiration, you now need to follow through on it. Following through has to do with what you are willing to do or let go of doing." 

I am so enjoying going through this.  Its like a refresher's course.  You know all these things (provided ofcourse you have been at it for years)but you tend to forget it very often.  As I meditated alot on my Aspiration, I began to see more clearly and uncompromisingly the patterns and grooves that were deeply ingrained in my psyche.  I have gone through many programes where the ultimate agenda of that course would be to come out victorious because, it appears, everyone ought to look good - the participant, the teacher and all other fellow members.  It does good PR work overall.  Going through this with Adyashanti's honest and straightforward declaration in the 'Introduction' part of "The Way of Liberation" made me WANT to reassess my spiritual growth.  

This is what he says: "This is not a book about spiritual betterment, self-improvement, or altered states of consciousness. It is about spiritual awakening, going from the dream state of ego to the awakened state beyond ego as quickly and efficiently as possible. The journey isn’t what anyone anticipates, and enlightenment isn’t what it is frequently sold as. I won’t be telling you how to achieve bliss or unending happiness, find your soul mate, or the ten easy steps to making a quick million bucks. I don’t believe in deceptive advertising or luring in spiritual seekers with false promises. Many spiritual seekers already live on a steady diet of spiritual junk food, those nice-sounding platitudes that have little or no transforming effect other than to dull the dissatisfaction inherent in the dream state. If you like that sort of thing, this isn’t the book for you." ... Cool!!

I am invited to go through a thorough and honest investigation and follow through with absolute willingness and determination allowing every illusion to fall away.  I discovered something about myself which ought to have triggered my attention much earlier, but for some reason I never got any inspired thoughts about it and I  realize now, that was so because I was still was  unclear on subjects like "Love" and "Compassion".  The two got all meshed up with The Truth and the truth of the world's understanding of it.  Though ACIM says nothing can be hidden.  Everything must come out, I still could'nt come clear with myself honestly because of lingering fear which I did'nt know was still there!!  Fear that if I talked about the deepest feelings of anger which included, in my mind, the wish to want to physically strangle particular people whom I thought made me feel less than myself amongst a few other violent assaults. I wanted, in my mind, to physically beat them up!!!  To bring light on this scared me. I still prayed so much for more loving relationships but they were just not happening till I read a few days ago this life changing line "It is not possible to have a loving relationship with someone you don't have a relationship at all". Wow! in that split second a big shift happened in my heart.  Bingo! that's it.  I was trying to infuse love into something that was not really there even though physically it had valid name e.g. mother, father, brother, sister, etc. I was working from the outside worldly ideas and trying to take it within. I was trying to create ideal worldly situations for myself thinking everyone will wind up happy.  The truth?  NOBODY WINDS UP ON THE GOOD SIDE!! You can be related biologically or through marriage, or anything, it doesnt mean a fig.  If the hearts have not connected, the question of trying to create a loving relationship seems such a futile exercise.  

And so I began an exercise of seeing each "relationship" for what it really appeared at this present time - if I had hidden anger or rage, I brought it all out and named it and expressed it in my mind and saw the needlessness of it.  I said the words describing those feelings aloud even if it sounded harsh to my ears.  As I began to do that, I began to feel lighter because I accepted my role in the mis-creation and surrendered it to Spirit for cleansing and healing.  This process already has started showing dramatic changes in one particularly  harassing relationship which just seems to keep on churning dramas after dramas.  My self honesty brought the Lights of Heaven shining straight into my soul.  It felt good because ACCEPTANCE is that way - it just takes loads off your weary and painful shoulders.  No need to be in shame and guilt.  God is surely not interested in the 'good' ones alone.  "The Prodigal Son" story is a good example of that.

Most important, I have stopped being concerned by someone else's timeline for me. Timelines for fully awakening and self realizing do not exist.  Again, Adyshanti reminds me:

"Spirituality does not require that you work hard toward achieving a result in the future as much as it requires you to be fully present, sincere, and committed now, with absolute honesty and a willingness to uncover and let go of any illusion that comes between you and the realization of Reality. Therefore, spirituality does not have to do with time or what can be achieved in time; it has to do only and always with the eternal present."

Coming back to my Aspirations.  Peace is what I declared to be my Aspiration and Peace it shall be, but first the unpeaceful must leave the domains within my inner territory which it had occupied all this time.

To round it off, here's Adyashanti:

"Aspiration is not so much a matter of the mind as of the heart, in that it is a reflection of what you cherish, love, and value most. You do not need to be reminded of what you truly love, only of what you do not love. And what you actually love is most truly reflected in your actions, not in what you feel, think, or say.When aspiration lines up with unconditional follow-through and love, it becomes a very strong force in the universe. Only then are we unified and one-pointed enough for our aspiration to survive the winds of folly, fate, and circumstance."

End of story, as I love to say!!!

Clarifying My Aspiration ~ Peace!

So, here I am, reading this wonderful book by Adyashanti “The Way of Liberation -  A Practical Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” and  benefiting greatly from his no-nonsense, unemotional approach to Enlightenment. "Dreaming big" has always been a big problem for me because frankly speaking I do not know how to dream big and what that really means. And then I thought maybe I'm just plain lazy.  Turns out it was none of that but something else quite different altogether. I did'nt want to dream big because unconsciously I did'nt want to dream at all.  I want to awaken and remember who the great ancient Indian Rishis and Sages say I Am.  Well, I have'nt come quite near that, but I believe I am half way there or better still I don't know where, but I am somewhere - of that I am certain!! I find great comfort from the wisdom of our modern day Non-Duality teachers because they are quite ruthless about The Truth - not the truth, but THE TRUTH.  Like other great Vedanta masters, Adyashanti says : 

"It is impossible to know what words like liberation or enlightenment mean until you realize them for yourself. This being so, it is of no use to speculate about what enlightenment is; in fact, doing so is a major hindrance to its unfolding. As a guiding principle, to progressively realize what is not absolutely True is of infinitely more value than speculating about what is."

Bingo!! I am always open to receiving new and fresh ideas to help me remember deeper and become more awake.  I cannot boast of "Awakening", "Enlightenment" and "Self-Realization" because listening to others say they have has made me cringe a bit because they still seem so attached to the attractions of the world.  I don't want to go down the judgment road, but I do want to say of myself always "I don't know" because I truly don't know if I have awakened or become enlightened or self-realized.  Sometimes I feel like the most enlightened Being and the very next day, I feel as shallow as you can find them!

So, naturally Adyashanti's "Five Foundations" interests me alot.

The first of "The Five Foundations" is "CLARIFY YOUR ASPIRATION".

To clarify your aspirations "means knowing exactly what it is that your spiritual life aspires to, not as a future goal but in each moment. In other words, what do you value most in your life—not in the sense of moral values, but in the sense of what is most important to you. Contemplate this question. Do not assume that you know what your highest aspiration is, or even what is most important to you. Dig deep within, contemplate, and meditate on what the spiritual quest is about for you; don’t let anyone else define your aspiration for you. Look within until you find, with complete clarity, what you aspire to."

I KNOW what my Aspiration is. It is manifesting PEACE within and without. Its another matter that I have been unsuccessful to a great degree, but that is precisely the point.  I aspire to DEEP PEACE.  A Peace that is beyond me, beyond this planet, beyond it all.  Well, naturally my success is not going to come by a given date because the more deeply rooted I am getting into Peace, the more muck is getting cleaned out of my world.  And once again, more comfort in the amazing guidance from Adyashanti - 

"As your realization and spiritual maturity deepen, you will find that some aspects of your aspiration remain steadfast while others evolve to reflect what is relevant to your current level of insight. By reflecting on and clarifying the issues relevant to your current level of understanding, you stay focused on the cutting edge of your own unfolding." 

And so It Is.  Peace Be with You. Peace Be with Me.

~~~~~~~~~~

Your Self

When you begin to unravel the truth about your Self, everything else in the world will begin to make sense.  Your Life will begin to make sense.  You will begin to see purpose.  You will begin to SEE your Self.  The Self is The Guiding Light and that Light is still shining brightly within YOU.  Remove the haze and the light will come through.

Seeing Through The Lying Game

Dear Beloved Self, A great moment of clarity for me! I am seeing through the lying game - all the stories and labels I attached to myself.  The first, biggest and the most ancient lie of all time: the serpent's lie to "us" at "Garden of Eden"!!

The human story is that people lie.  My story is that I have witnessed, been a part of, been at the giving and receiving end of untruths and lies simply because I believed in the most baseless and unfounded lie of all - "I am alone"

I Am Loved.  Deeply Loved. I am not alone. I come from the sun, moon and stars.  I am a thought of God - Beautiful, Bountiful, Blissful and more .....  I AM eternally ALIVE.  I can never die.  I Am made in Absolute Perfection in the Mirror Image of The Creator.  How can I be alone?  How can anyone be alone?

~~~~~~

Read more of my ramblings about "Seeing Through The Lying Game" here:
http://namasteradiantone.weebly.com/1/post/2013/12/seeing-through-the-lying-game.html

In Love, Service & Care

Dear Beloved Self,  It seems at the end of the day, no matter where in the world we are or what status we hold in life, ultimately Service is what calls us to shed our obsession with our small self.  I do not have to go too far to be of service to anyone.  I just need to look at the people around me - my family and endeavor to be of the best possible service to each of them at all times. When we share our 'stories of service' we get to meet a lot of other Beings who are also on the same path and their stories are so encouraging and filled with love and compassion.  Ultimately that is what Service teaches us - to extend out of our small self and reach into our Higher Self and just keep sharing and loving without conditions.  We don't need to be part of big organisations (that is very easy), we just need to BE AWAKE, LIVE and LOVE everything and anything that comes into our experience.

Yesterday, with some encouragement from my friend Poonam, I participated in a contest "ARE YOU A FEARLESS CAREGIVER? SHARE YOUR STORY" from http://www.caregiver.com/story/.  I must admit I was very reluctant because I thought to myself "why does one need to advertise one's 'good deeds' or whatever?"  I slept over it and the next morning I was inspired to add my story to the list of contestants - not for the prize but for the sheer joy of getting to read life stories of people all around the world and the creative ways they have adopted to adjust and live and be of absolute service to their loved ones.  After submitting my story, I read a few of the others and I was blown away.  The Soul is so resilient and filled with only Love at its core that it can surmount any amount of battering in this world.  I am beyond touched. I have managed 8 votes as of now and it feels really good even if I don't compare with the 500+ votes of some others.  There are many who do not have any vote, but I do not think this in anyway reflects the degree of loving service, but rather that perhaps they are more private people with a small group of family and friends whom they are connected with.  In any case, I will give a vote for each story today, because no matter what the story is, everyone deserves to be acknowledged for their very act of loving service that raises the vibrations on our beloved planet.

My story is personal but it is bringing out the deepest form of love and caring from my husband who is an excellent and devoted caregiver.  He, alongwith his siblings, did the same for their Mom some years ago and they put their lives on hold for some years to give her the best possible attention and be at her side. I greatly admired what they did, and the truth is, I am discovering, is that when we are each called to stretch ourselves beyond our daily living, we become Warriors.

In the process of garnering support for votes, Poonam and I shared so much of joy as well with others. Poonam too was on this path of intimate loving service to both her parents who were seriously ill at the same time many years ago. That experience changed her life altogether. Her life has taken on one of service to anyone she meets no matter who they are.  One of my old friends from some 25 years ago got connected through this process and he was reminded of his own mom for whom he had the privilege to take care of before she passed on.  It created a space for him to have a slight shift in his own presently preoccupied thoughts about the cares of living and remember her in deepest love.

I am so grateful for all the love, support and encouragement from my husband, Poonam, Aimee, Terry and a few other Angels I have had the pleasure to meet along the way.

May we ALL always be united in Loving Service eternally.

Rediscovering ......

Dear Beloved Self, Its been hectic in more ways than one - zillions of ways actually. I have never been so busy in my life, or so emotionally disturbed / charged and at the same time filled with gratitude, hope, knowing and enthusiasm. This whole experience of "caregiving" is giving me a whole new perspective on all of my beliefs as a "Spiritual Enthusiast". Perhaps that is what the experience is intended to be and do for me - REDISCOVER my Self in a whole new way.  The tears are far less now and that's a good thing.  There are bouts of anger and frustration, irritation and impatience, but I have stopped condemning myself.  I am embracing all of it. No exclusions at all. Not at all.

Through this experience I know now how guided I have been right into this present moment.  Every so-called dysfunction, pain, sorrow, agony had a reason.  I was not meant to live the way I thought was a normal way of living.  I was challenged and pushed and pulled to awaken me to the  transiency of my journey.  Everyone travels so uniquely and yet we are so enmeshed into each other acting as rocks, stones and/or dust for each other, if you know what I mean.  I am sure you do!  You are my Self - one and the same. 

Self Inquiry

Dear Beloved Self, to live in Truth is bitter sweet.  Self Inquiry is the sword that cuts deep and the fire that burns.