March 25, 2013

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

A lesson in Sufism from Idries Shah:

Because the average person thinks in patterns and cannot accomodate himself to a really different point of view, he loses a great deal of meaning in life. He may live, even progress, but he cannot understand all that is going on. The story of the smuggler makes this very clear:

Nasrudin used to take his donkey across a frontier every day, with the saddlebags loaded with straw. Since he admitted to being a smuggler when he trudged home every night, the frontier guards searched him again and again. They searched his person, sifted the straw, steeped it in water, even burned it from time to time. Meanwhile, he was visibly becoming more and more prosperous.

Then he retired and went to live in another country. Here one of the customs officers met him years later.

“You can tell me now, Nasrudin,” he said. “Whatever was it that you were smuggling that we could never catch you out?”

“Donkeys,” said Nasrudin.

—–

The story also emphasizes one of the major contentions of Sufism — that supernatural experience and the mystical goal is something nearer to mankind than is realized. The assumption that something esoteric or transcendental must be far off or complicated has been assumed by the ignorance of individuals. What people call truth is relative to their situation.

From: The Sufis by Idries Shah

Photo source: donkey train! (Santorini, Greece)

March 25, 2013

MOVING ON

Two monks were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was falling. Coming around the bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.

“Come on, girl,” said the first monk. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

The second monk did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. “We monks don’t go near females,” he said. “It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”

“I left the girl there,” the first monk said. “Are you still carrying her?”

–Zen story

 

Photo source: monks in moving meditation (Pongour Falls in Dalat, Vietnam)

March 24, 2013

SAGE ADVICE: I HATE MY LIFE

DEAR SAGE: I love your website! Your content is inspiring and I appreciate what you do, but I’m going to be blunt: I hate my life! I want to quit my job, but I’m scared to lose the money and don’t know what else I would do. I want to lose weight, but I’m scared to go to the gym because people may laugh at me. I want a new car because I hate the old one I have now, but I can’t afford it. I want to have a husband, but I don’t think anyone would love me. Should I just take a vacation…will that help me??!!! Help me please!

DEAR UNHAPPY ONE: Thank you for your support of the site (given the complex nature of your question, I’m going to include lots of links to other SelenaSage articles that give extra insight)! I looooove your the honesty of your question (I can bet you that each part of your question will resonate with someone else) and we’re going to see how we can work on this for you! But, first, let’s take a deep breath… With this breath we’re going to try something different…as you’re inhaling through your nose, I want you to breathe in all of the problems of the world…hate, violence, poverty, despair. And as you exhale through your mouth, I want you to breathe out your love, compassion, and kindness. Just think of those things as you breathe, then close your eyes and repeat five times. Just like that, you’ve shared your love with the world!

Now that we have a clean slate and have anchored ourselves in the present, let’s get to your inquiry. I can tell you that the first thing I noticed about your question is the number of times you used, “I” and “want”. Though a discussion of this was probably best summed up in my I WANT… post, I can tell you that your Ego is running the show right now! Your Ego is that part of you that is constantly telling you that what you haven’t isn’t good enough and always wants more. One of my favorite quotes my the Taoist master Lao-tzu is, “Only those who know when enough is enough will ever have enough.” Right now, you are not content…you don’t think that you have enough, so your basis is flawed. Even if you got everything you’re asking for, I can tell you that you still would not be satisfied. How do I know this? It is because everything you now have is something that you once hoped for, but still you are not happy. So let’s break down your list:

You say, “I hate my life!” So let me ask you, what is your “life” to you? By your question, it seems that your life is your job, your car, your body, and your hopes for a husband?  Let me first challenge that. For one second, close your eyes and place your hand over your heart. Do you feel your heart beat? When you inhale through your nose, do you feel the air moving into your body? That, my dear, is life. All of those other things are material trappings. They have nothing to do with who you really are. And who are you? You are a child of the Creator of the universe…does your car really matter? If you talk to a bird in nature, does the color of their nest really matter? Everything external can be changed, it is the internal…the spirit that really matters. So if you really hate the divine spirit inside of you, you must practice looking inward much more. I think that once you see your own true glow, you will find this to be the most beautiful thing ever :)

So with this understanding, I hope that the perceived importance of your other questions has paled. However, I want to address them anyway. First, you say you want to quit your job. I have a future post coming about “Comparison versus Contentment”, but because you’re an avid reader, I’m going to give you a sneak peak into the content :) Many would tell you to be happy that you have a job because many people do not…but this is comparison. As long as you have more than someone else, you will be happy…but as soon as you find someone who has more than you, you will no longer be happy. So this is flawed. Contentment comes a sincere appreciation for what you have.

– Read More –

March 24, 2013

NOT TO FORGIVE

Not to forgive is to be imprisoned by the past, by old grievances that do not permit life to proceed with new business.    ~ Robin Casarjian

I’ve always loved water. I find it calming, beautiful, and powerful. Water’s power lies in its ability to patiently wear down anything and wash away everything. Given enough time, water will turn the sharpest rock into a smooth pebble. Water feeds the earth (rain) and washes it away (flood). Water is always changing…one can never step into the same river twice.

Water is my favorite element, and I could probably go on for some time about all of its qualities, but today I invite you to reflect with me on water’s constantly changing nature. Water that’s stagnant becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and disease. It is not the true nature of water to be stagnant…it is meant to move. Even a lake that looks still on the surface has an undercurrent of energy and movement that we just can’t see.

When we choose to be stagnant, and unwilling to flow with nature, we lay the groundwork for illness. When we choose not to forgive, we become stuck…stagnant. We create a prison for ourselves where we suffer…and through our suffering, make others suffer as well. Without intending to, we extend our original suffering to others and continue the vicious cycle. We learn what we live, and often repeat the same actions that caused us so much pain. Forgiveness is the only key out of this prison…it is the only way to stop this cycle. (Healing with Truth)

When we become like water, we flow through life…we forgive others (even when we don’t understand why they made us suffer, we understand it is because they are suffering and truly need help: Peace). We bring life to the earth with our renewing smiles and positive attitude and our willingness to share our gifts. And we recognize that everything changes…we learn to let go and move on. In so doing, we demonstrate beauty, strength, and peace.

Water teaches us how, but remember…forgiveness is for you.

March 23, 2013

DO NOTHING

I like this comic…it reminds of the puzzle I faced when I first began studying Eastern wisdom traditions. When one is studying Zen or the Tao, it can be confusing to constantly be reminded to “do nothing” or “go with the flow.” Does that mean you’re actually supposed to do nothing??

My short answer to that question is no. But as with most things, I think it’s best explained within the context of something else. Consider breathing…your body automatically processes the oxygen you inhale and expels carbon dioxide without you having to do anything. Your body just does what it’s “supposed” to do according to nature.

In the same way, when you are prompted by your spirit to do something (in harmony with nature), you should just do it automatically. If you want to be a writer, write. If you’re feeling a pull to do the dishes, do the dishes. Mindfully and consciously do the things that you need to do in order to be fully present (e.g. if you are doing the dishes, focus all of your attention on the dishes, the water, and the soap and keep your mind from wandering to other things). Each action you take will then automatically become meditative.

Going with the flow is not always easy simply because we fight what should be natural. We postpone, procrastinate and de-prioritize the seemingly unimportant…while ignoring our inner voice…and often create our own chaos.

Many a life coach would tell you that if you want to figure out your life, clean out your closet (or your garage, your desk, or any other place you constantly tell yourself you “need” to clean). There’s a correlation. Through doing “nothing” (naturally following your inner voice), you’ll find that everything will be done.

March 23, 2013

THE ANGEL SAID

She caught me off guard when my soul said to me,

“Have we met?”

So surprised I was to hear her speak like that

I chuckled.

She begin to sing a tale: “There was once a hardworking man

who used to worry so much because he could

not feed and clothe his children and

wife the way he wanted.

There was a beautiful little chapel in the village

where the man lived and one day while

he was praying, an angel

appeared.

The angel said, ‘Follow me.’ And he did out into an ancient forest.

‘Now dig here,’ the angel said. And the man felt strength in

his limbs he had not known since youth and with just

his bare hands he dug deep and found a

lost treasure, and his relationship with the world changed.”

Finding our soul’s beauty does that — gives us

tremendous freedom

from worry.

“Dig here,” the angel said —

“in your soul,

in your

soul.”

Poetry by St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) of Spain

Translation by Daniel Ladinsky

Photo source: maple tree

March 21, 2013

ONE EYE WATCHING YOU

This song reminds me so much of my beautiful sisters. (I can see them rocking out the the “Oooh ooooh ooooh” chorus so vividly!)

I’m always keeping one eye on them ;)

 

Newer Posts
Older Posts
Translate »