Unfolding Soul
Dennis T. Maglinte
Published by Dennis T. Maglinte at
Smashwords
Copyright © 2011 by Dennis T. Maglinte
All
rights reserved.
First eBook Edition May 2011
Cover
photograph by Karalayne
Maglinte
www.awarenessoftheheart.com
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admin@awarenessoftheheart.com.
ISBN:
978-1-4580-3249-2
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Preface
What has been written has been rewritten. What has been spoken has been forgotten. What is inscribed in the heart and the soul are eternal. Timeless, and beyond manipulation, unconditional love is forever unfolding. It is an unending Source of inspiration. When I put together the writings for Awareness of the Heart, I was not sure whether I would write again or if there was a need to write again for each person must find themselves and know what is in their heart and soul.
I can only offer what I feel is in mine. Many will try to tell you what is in yours. Some may see all of you. Some may see part of you, and others still, will look pass you. What matters is not what they can accept of you, but what you can accept of yourself. The soul is forever unfolding. As I take this opportunity to share what is in mine, I hope you will take the opportunity to share what is in yours. And perhaps when we are all ready, we can accept that we are sharing this Soul and sharing this journey.
So whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, Wiccan, non-denominational, or simply a person seeking to understand, allow your soul to unfold, and your heart to sing its song.
Perhaps in finding yourself, you will inspire others to find themselves. Spread your wings and show others how to fly.
Contents
Walking Through Your Reflection
Prayer, Meditation with Purpose
When the Sea is on Fire, Love Enough
The Journey
Learning to Live Again
Sometimes there is no returning to the way things were because the way things were, were never quite right. Though life may have seemed a better time, and memories seem like pleasant melodies, we can no sooner live in the past than we can live in the future. In trying to relive the past, we miss appreciation for life now. Though life may sometimes feel overwhelming, or downright unbearable, sometimes breaking the mold is the only way to move forward. Re-learn to live. Re-learn to breathe. Re-learn to love. There is only the infinite now.
Cornered Soul
The cornered soul is like a dog that has been abused its whole life. All it’s known how to do is to survive by whatever means necessary. At one point love created it. It nurtured it. But some time during its life, it forgot what it was like to be wanted, to be loved, to be appreciated. It received food and water every day, but what it wanted most, was to be loved. Its belly was fed and a roof was mostly over its head, but its heart was never nourished. Closing its heart and backing into a corner of its soul, it did what it thought it needed to in order to survive.
Afraid that any hand that offered it affection was a hand that would take a swipe, it no longer wanted to be touched. Afraid of every sound directed toward it, it remained in constant fear of being put down and berated. Disaffected, it lies in its corner. It no longer tries to be loved. It no longer acknowledges anyone who would try to befriend it. It no longer looks for approval. It simply exists.
Though it may seem impossible to bring that dog from out of its corner and though it may seem impossible to teach it to trust again, all it needs is a chance. It needs patience. It needs assurance. It needs guidance. Most of all, it needs love. Heal the cornered soul.
All That You Need
The
past is blind.
The future is unwanting.
All you need is in
front of you.
When you are presented with your brother, do not
look for another.
When you see an empty field, do not dig.
When
you want to speak, but the words cannot flow, do not look for a book
to read.
The past is blind and the future is unwanting.
All
that you need is before you.
When the truth is revealed and some
would rather change it, do not swallow your tongue.
When the weak
are trampled, and some would pick the pieces, make them whole.
When
the innocent are defiled and some would turn their back, do not walk
away.
The past is blind and the future is unwanting.
All
that you need is inside of you.
When your heart sinks and you want
to throw it away, do not cry in anger.
When your tears run dry,
and you want to hide, stand in the center.
When your fingers claw
at your skin, and your flesh becomes a prison, set yourself free.
The
past is blind and the future is unwanting.
All that you need is all around you.
The Apothecary's Table
Chipped
paint.
Empty pages.
Memories of dust.
Nothing is forgotten.
Turned
backs.
Burried secrets.
Words spoken.
Nothing is forgotten.
Innocent
youth.
Lost dreams.
Bitter past.
Nothing is forgotten.
Tick
tock.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Nothing is forgotten.
Soiled Feet
Stop slogging in the mud, with your knees high to your chest. Remember. Gather in the tribe of One. The seasons may change, and the landscape may become barren, but look around and you will see kinship in all. Stop yelling at the face of God, for your tears shall become hard knots to swallow. Do not walk away. Do not shout at love. Do not blaspheme. Stop the rain. Stop the pain. At any moment the fields shall be filled with green. Look around. Behind you, in front of you, above you, below you, all is heard.
Burying Hope
Plant
hope in the ground.
Don’t hide your heart.
Plant
hope in the ground.
Watch it grow.
Plant
hope in the ground.
Scavengers try to tear it apart.
Water
it with love.
Watch it grow.
Water
it with love.
Don’t need a halo.
Water
it with love.
Come up from below.
Block
out the sun.
Fill up the sky.
Block
out the sun.
Blinding heart.
Block
out the sun.
Open your eyes.
The Peril in Knowing
The
peril of knowing you judge yourself for this life,
You judge
yourself but it can’t last.
You
walk through the door,
And right into your past.
Troubled
by this life,
Fix the things that others can’t see.
Troubled
by this life,
Create excuses for the things you can’t flee.
Walk
outside the door,
Never turn your back no more.
Walk
outside the door,
Worried your life’s become a chore.
Start
a new day,
Turn the page.
Start
a new day,
Gonna put down that rage.
Have a Little Faith in Me
Have
a little faith in me.
Have faith in me.
Allow
me to become me.
Watch me.
Watch me become me.
Have
a little faith in me.
Have faith in me.
See
me grow.
See me become all the things you wanted me to be.
See
me become me.
Have
a little faith in me.
Have faith in me.
Let
me stumble.
Let me cry.
Let me bleed.
Have
a little faith in me.
Have faith in me.
It’s
time to let go of my hand.
It’s time to let me walk this
path.
Want to come walk with me?
Have
a little faith in me.
Have faith in me.
Remembering Humanity
How can we celebrate and exult in jubilation over the death of another person, no matter how many evil acts one has committed? Have we lost our humanity? Have we become so enraged and disconnected that we cannot recognize how far we have fallen? How much blood will it take to quench our thirst for revenge? How many lives must we turn upside down before we can see how we have become the very thing we despise? We dress our cause in a different religion, different colors, different robes, and a different motto, but are we not just the same? We justify our acts through muddled logic, while we spin the voices of our enemies into poison hymns.
What separates us? Are we not just the same? Have we not become the same? Though we may tell ourselves otherwise, why are we so quick to anger? Why are we so quick draw the line between brothers and sisters? Today, many celebrate the death of an enemy, when perhaps we should pray that the truth may be revealed to us all, to those who have died, and to those who are still here. So do I celebrate? No. Inside, my heart weeps for those who have forgotten. My heart weeps for those would rather live in hate, rather than choose to remember love. My heart weeps for those who would use revenge and anger as their rallying call. My heart weeps for those who would be damned. My heart weeps for the innocence lost.
Addicted to Suffering
Pain is a drug some crave. Like a straight line that courses through one’s veins, some live in the suffering, not because they think they deserve it, but because they are addicted to it. They’ve lived in it for so long, that the highs and lows of reprieve from the self-inflicted wounds become a familiar friend. Pain and hurt become self-fulfilling and feelings that some think they can control. But when solace is sought and a mercy they themselves are unable to give is a forgotten memory, they stumble into the darkness.
One becomes two, and two becomes three, but added company does not set a person free. Pain begets more pain. Suffering begets more suffering. Whether crouched down in a slumped ball of self-deprecation or running madly and wildly in desperation, one need only stand as an upright person to see what is before them; Choices, or more bluntly, a choice.
Silent Lashes
When
the world conspires, do not speak.
When the sun tries to belittle
the moon, watch without judgment.
When the wind beats on the sand,
do not jump to conclusions.
When the flowers wilt and the seasons
change, do not look for someone to blame.
When whispers abound,
enjoy the silent lashes.
Live
in this moment and do not contemplate what you could change.
Live
in this moment without the regrets of others.
Live in this moment
without fear for repercussions.
Live in this moment and forget
about the distractions.
Live in this moment for you have become
you.
When the world conspires, give it a hand.
Draw From the Well
Draw from the well that is never dry. Draw from the Source that is never without. Do not spoil the water with fits of rage. Do not spoil the water with drops of hate. Instead, feed the thirsty for there is abundance. Feed the hungry for their hearts cry to be filled. Let it rain. Let it rain. Bathe your spirit in cleansing love. Bathe your spirit in the light.
Desert Light
Do not turn your back on love. When all seems lost, and you are walking in the desert aimlessly seeking a way out, do not turn your back on love. Do not follow the haphazard as they flee into the night. Do not turn your back on those who would only show a way out. Do not turn your back on those who would only remind you of what is possible.
Hold your chin up and remember who you are. Hold your chin up and remember the love inside. Hold your chin up and enjoy what is all around. Worry not about those who would proclaim doom. Worry not about those who have run in fear. Worry not about the desert night. Follow the guiding light of your heart.
Life in a Glass House
Life is not lived through a window. It is not the image we present or the stories we tell. Life is not the house we have built or the fortunes we foretell. Life is not a collection of friends or the picture of peace we prop up. Life is not about the right answers. Life is vulnerable. Life is being without judging. Life is being without compromising. Life is accepting without being uncaring. Life is a mixed bag. It is joy, and it is pain. It is love, and it is hate. It is happiness, and it is sorrow. It is fondness and appreciation. It is growth in a sea of unending change. Life is perfect in its seeming imperfection. Life is…
Walking Through Your Reflection
With
each step and each floor you move up, can you see your
reflection?
Can you see the consequences in each direction?
When
your foot hits the ground and meets your shadow,
Can you remove
all the pain and harrow?
When
you walk forward and meet your reflection, can you stand in place and
accept what you see?
Can you accept all the reflections you set
free?
Before
you utter a sound, can you hear the thoughts fall asunder?
When
walking pass yourself, do you see yourself a stranger?
Can
you see their eyes pierce your soul?
Can you walk a naked truth,
and pay no toll?
The Deer
When you stare at the darkness of night, what do you see? Do you see specks of light dotting the sky? Do you see your future changing before your eyes? Do you see incubators of life in the far distance? Do you see the past staring back with a glimmer? Do you see the constellations come to life?
See existence with an open heart and an open spirit, and see the stars as they were meant to be. See the life that courses through them. See them dance and sing in concert. See them shine and glow like you have seen no star before. See them come to life, in the symphony of your heart. Feel the love that courses through your being, and experience life as you have never experienced it.
Where is God?
People ask to see God all the time. They are told to go outside. And when they go outside, they see the stream as it trickles along, the knee high grass that waves in the wind, and the rays from the sun as it gives the sky a purple hue. They see butterflies float by and clouds scattered and dotting the vast expanse. The sounds of birds, and a symphony of insects and critters fill the air.
“Where is God,” they ask.
Again they are told to look outside. Outside they see children running by, laughing and playing. An old man sits on his stool humming to the sounds of nature. A couple is on their porch discussing the day’s events. A stranger is seen in the distance, his face out of view.
“Where is God,” they ask again.
They are told close the door and look inside. There they see their living room, filled with furniture. A mess is piled on the coffee table, and a fresh pot of coffee is brewing in the kitchen. It’s quiet and no one is home.
“Where is God,” they ask again.
They hear nothing. They see nothing. They smell nothing. They feel nothing. Everything turns to black. The sound of silence becomes deafening. Thoughts begin to empty from the mind. The smell of the coffee disappears. And there in front of them, in back of them, outside of them, inside of them, they feel nothing and everything.
Driving in Circles
When we make assumptions about people and how they will possibly act towards us or react toward a given situation, we act from a place of fear. Rather than approach a person or a situation with a clean slate, we place our fears in front of us as if to guard us from the possible outcome. But are we really protecting ourselves? Are we really seeing the truth, or are we judging someone before they have had a chance to act? Should not each person, regardless of their past, and regardless of their attitudes be given a chance? Should not each encounter be a new opportunity? It is true that we should not allow others to manipulate us. At the same time, if we treat each person with the expectation that they will behave as they have in the past, regardless if they behaved well or poorly, do we not rob ourselves of that moment? Are we then no better than the person we have come to judge?
Perhaps if we can break that cycle, we can give others a chance to grow and we can allow ourselves to grow. And if our assumptions are proven correct, rather than gloat and live in the temporary satisfaction of being right, we can put aside our pride. Perhaps that is all that is needed to reopen a door that was once thought to be shut. Though we might think we have nothing to learn or to gain from reopening a door, perhaps we can assist others and show them it is okay to walk through. It is okay to forgive. It is okay to put down a grudge. It is okay to admit error. It is okay to accept an apology. It is okay to let bygones be bygones. It is okay to move forward. It is okay to love again.
Remove the Fear
Remove
the fear of not being loved.
Love yourself.
Remove
the fear of doing the wrong thing.
Follow your heart.
Remove
the fear of rejection.
Accept yourself.
Remove
the fear of regret.
Live your life.
Remove
the fear of expectations.
Set no limits.
Remove
the fear of anticipation.
Take what comes.
Remove
the fear of loneliness.
See your place in the universe.
Remove
the fear of tomorrow.
Live for today.
Bring peace to your heart. Remove the fear.
Bring Peace to Your Heart
Share your path with another that you may illuminate the darkness. Bring love to those who would deny it for themselves. Do not make others as you, but allow others to light the way.
Personality Conflict
If we spend our time calculating how another may bring us harm, or do a disservice to us, we lose sight of what really matters. We lose sight of what others bring to us. Throughout our lives we are presented with personalities and beliefs that seem almost alien to us. To processes them, we sometimes gloss over them, and all too often we attack them, rather than try to understand them. Why do we do this? Are we so sure in our beliefs, in the things we call true, that we would disregard something before we have had a chance to fully hear it? Are we so confident of our place in the universe that we would dismiss others? Surely there are those who have found peace, and who have found love. But if one truly found peace, would they not understand that others must find it in their own right? Would they not understand that to truly love, is to allow others to discover the love in themselves without beating them into submission? If we truly found peace, would we not be so comfortable in ourselves that regardless of how others chose to live their life, or how we choose to live ours, that there would be no need to criticize or to denigrate. Accepting others is very much a part of accepting ourselves, and accepting ourselves is very much a part of accepting others.
Caged Fear
We cannot live in fear. We cannot live with the anticipation of harm or retribution. We cannot live with the worry that something we say or do may not be taken well. What we can do is have faith that regardless of whether the path in front of us is lit or hidden in the shadows, that our feet will land on firm ground. We can trust that even among the chaos and despair that sometimes surrounds our lives, there will always be compassion. And though we not always be ready to see it or accept it when it is offered, like a gentle hand, lending support, it will be there.
There is no need to lock our fears in cages or to strike against those who would strike us first. There is no need to race to be first and no need to shout in order to be heard. Through accepting our fears, and through understanding how they drive us, we can learn to let them go. And by letting go of our fears, we can move past the roadblocks in our lives. We can see that our enemies are not really our enemies. They are like us, fearful of what is in front of them, and fearful of what awaits. But together, we can overcome our fears. We can overcome our differences. What once appeared as a scary beast, can be a comforting friend in a time of need.
Island of Peace
Where
there is chaos, bring peace.
Where there is hatred, bring
love.
Where there is conflict, bring understanding.
Where there
is pain, bring compassion.
Where there is confusion, bring
calm.
Where there is despair, bring hope.
Peaceful Attainment
Love
yourself unconditionally.
Love others unconditionally.
Seek
understanding in all conflicts.
Bring unconditional love and peace
to all aspects of your life.
Live in the moment.
See yourself
in all of creation.
Immeasurable
A teacher is not measured by the number of students under his guidance or the number of devotees who seek his tutelage. He is not measured by how many masters he has guided or how long he has taught. He is not measured by the brilliance of his aura or the number of pages he’s written. He is not measured by the words that spill from his mouth, or the clarity of his visions. He is not a measure of the angels who keep him company or the devils who lay in wait.
A true teacher does not seek to be known but seeks to know. He sees himself in others and wishes only that others should see themselves. A teacher does not take over another’s burdens but helps others to put theirs down. A teacher does not try to convert but allows for choice. A teacher does not force capitulation, but waits with an open door. A teacher does not seek out students, but seeks to learn from they who would call themselves students.
A teacher is a measure of his heart. He is a measure of his love. When his love is unconditional, he is immeasurable.
Set Them Free
A true shepherd knows when to gather the flock. He knows when one is lost or chooses to wander. He knows when it is time to let the flock go and to explore on their own. The shepherd knows that each individual may choose their own path, and that no matter how far they wander, they will come back when the time is right. And if they do not come back, he will know he has done his job, for the lost becomes the found, and chooses to lead on their own.
To be a teacher means knowing when to step back. It means understanding that not all that is taught will be accepted. It means allowing for choice. It means allowing for freedom. It means love despite frustration. It is understanding that the student does not belong to the teacher but is only with the teacher for temporary care. It is patience in the face of denial and refusal. It is loving guidance in the cries of despair.
Integrity
Integrity
is standing for the truth.
Integrity is not taking
sides.
Integrity is being truthful in the face of
opposition.
Integrity is being oneself despite pressure to be
someone else.
Integrity is not blaming others.
integrity is
speaking up for the weak.
Integrity is knowing when to walk away.
In the face of unyielding pressure, be yourself. Do not allow the fears of others to sway your beliefs and turn you into something you are not. Allow the truth to speak. When fingers are pointing and the walls are caving in, be yourself. In the rubble there you will be.
2012
There is great suffering by man and animals alike. Everyday there is heartache and destruction. But rather than aide those in need, doomsday-sayers, self-proclaimed prophets and messengers, and individuals seeking fame and profit, feed the chaos. They dismiss the weak, and the unfortunate, and bend the truth to make it their own. False claims are made. Proclamations of impending doom or the second coming of Christ are shouted at those who would dare to listen. Feeding on fear, they disseminate their agenda. They pander to egos and speak down on others who would dare to question, as if berating a child.
There is great suffering and yet you smile. Woe is he who would turn God’s word into his own. Woe is he who knowingly misguides. Woe is he who has forgotten his heart. Woe is he who must bring others down to their suffering. Your intent is known. Your thoughts are known. Your actions are known. The things you do not do are known.
One Heart, One Soul
Remember love instead of deep anguish. Remember what made you whole rather than the things that tear you apart. Do not try to capture the past, or dwell on the things you wish could be, but live now. Do not try to change those around you, but instead allow them to be who they are. Share yourself freely, without want for how another should be. Allow others to make their choice even if that choice should lead one to a dark place. For in making their own choice, they are able to accept the outcomes. And in accepting the outcomes they can forge their own path, a new path. But until you can allow another to walk on their own, they will never know freedom.
No matter how long you travel a path with another person, you are no more defined by them as they are of you. Your choice is your choice. Your path is your path. At each moment it can be remade. At each moment it can be extended. At each moment another road can be explored. And at each moment you can decide that there is no path, and that there is only you. In accepting you, you may see how each choice, each action, each thought, affects all of existence; one heart, one soul.
Snake Oil Salesman
Spare not the truth, lest you should deny it yourself. Sometimes it is not your choice as to what others are to learn. We serve as teachers for each other, wittingly and sometimes unwittingly. We can choose to avoid situations that may cause discomfort, anxiety or anger in another person, but what will come to be, will be. In choosing a path of avoidance, we are sometimes presented with a lever that only quickens the inevitable. This lever does not remove free will. It simply pressures your hand. What you choose in that moment will affect not only the immediate circumstance, but all circumstances to follow, for you and for those you wish to spare. Avoidance, for the sake of avoidance is not love. It is denial wrapped in the guise of love. Love is honesty. Love is understanding that what one has to offer may not always be accepted. Love is understanding that although some may turn their back on you today, that others will come to understand another day. Love is being there when that day comes. Open the door to your heart, but do not slam it when someone decides to choose another path.
God Does Not Need a Megaphone
The message of the heart is lost in self-promotion. It is lost when it is plastered on walls, and shouted through megaphones. It is lost when the message of the heart is turned into the message of the mind, and a message of the pocket book. Every day, churches line their pockets with cash and gold, and dispense empty guidance. Charities fight each other for the attention of donors, and forget who they serve. The message of the heart is lost when individuals attempt to profit from the misfortunes of others, while at the same time propping themselves up as a savior to man. Groups are created, religions are formed, books are written, and all for the purpose of self-adulation.
It is nice to find fellowship among others. It is also nice to be able to share oneself openly without judgment and condemnation. But when we seek fellowship at the cost of damning another’s beliefs, or further separation, we have done nothing but caused more division. Separation is separation regardless of how it is framed and dressed up. Love is love, regardless of how others would like to shape it or guide it. It is not owned or controlled by any one person or group. It is free for everyone.
Not Guilty by Association
Having ties to a criminal, murderer, or rapist does not make a person these things by association. Rejecting hate does not mean rejecting a person who hates. Rejecting murder does not mean rejecting the murder. Rejecting rape does not mean rejecting the rapist. We can abhor these acts, but does it require one to disown and disentangle oneself from those who may have committed these acts? By doing so, does it not just feed the hate? To suddenly dislodge oneself from close association with someone because of their actions, does not bring a person closer to understanding, or love. Instead, it promotes the demonization of individuals. It turns individuals into symbols and idols, to either be worshiped or cursed. To cast another aside is to elevate oneself above all others. To bring into the fold is to show compassion, and understanding. To show compassion and understanding, is to give an invitation to unconditional love.
God Speaks in All of Us
If God expressed His will to you, would you change His words? Would you add to it? Would you edit it? Would you give it a grand title? Would you turn it into your own?
By changing God’s word, do we not take His breath and suffocate ourselves? Like weights upon our chest, do we not add burdens to our heart, rather than setting ourselves free?
Perhaps to express God’s will is to Be, not to be seen, to be heard or to be followed, but to Be. Perhaps if God were God, He would not need judges to persecute, politicians to rally on His behalf, or ideologues to frame His intentions. If God were God, perhaps His words would stand on their own, without need for justification or convincing. Unconditional love is an unending Source.
Creative Will to Explore
Free will cannot be taken away. The creative will to explore and to be oneself cannot be taken away. The physical body can be imprisoned, shackled and tortured, but the free will of the spirit and soul cannot be removed. Some may try to influence others through overt or concealed deception, but these deceptions are meaningless because the heart cannot be deceived. Whether through deceptive words, appearances, or actions, the heart knows truth, and is the seat of unconditional love. The mind, if allowed, is a door for all else. It knows what it knows, based on what it is told, sees, and experiences. When working with the heart, it acts like a gatekeeper. By itself, and left unchecked, it can be an oppressor.
To influence the heart, is to speak the truth and to speak openly without judgment or condemnation. To influence the mind, is to appeal to the ego. To remove undue influence, quiet the mind so that the heart may be heard. If it cannot be heard, wait. If one cannot wait, then Be.
Language of the Elders
Waka ta…Waka te…Ah ey.
Come
walk with me.
Come dance with me.
Come dance with me Great
Spirit.
Come dance with the moon.
Come dance with the
wind.
Come dance with the trees.
There
is great joy in the peace I know.
Come dance with me.
Walk
with this spirit.
Wolf, guide me through the plains.
Moose,
stand sentry over the forest.
Robin, point the way.
Walk with
me Great Spirit.
There
is joy in remembering.
There is peace.
This
is the language of my ancestors.
Come walk with me.
Bathing in the Ganges
Would you give a piece of your soul to someone or something if you knew it could bring them back? Would you give a piece of your soul to someone if you knew that it would help them see the truth? Would you give a piece of your soul if you knew you could not get it back? What if our souls did not belong to us? What if they belonged to everyone? What if what we thought were individual souls, were in fact the pieces of our self that we remembered? What if our souls were like drops of water in an ocean of souls? What if we were constantly giving of ourselves and receiving of others? Would we still exist as individuals? Would we remember who we are?
We are like the ocean. From many drops We are One. Thrust your fist into the ocean and grab a fist full of knowledge. Through your hands it escapes, but become the ocean, and understand there is nothing to grab. There is nothing even to give. There is acceptance and realization. United in a single dance, We are One.
Comfort in the Divine
Would you be so bold so as to speak for God/Allah? Are you so comfortable in knowing the Divine, that you would disregard your brothers and sisters? Would you deny another’s personal relationship with God at the risk of forsaking your own? When the left damns the right and the right damns the left, will you go to the center? When the world is upside down and what’s wrong is right and what’s right is wrong, will you then question yourself? When the world and all that you know is spinning out of control, will you then take the time to peer into the stillness? When the waves have crashed and you have been obliterated, will you say that you have been reborn? Do not cry for the lost, lest you have given up on them. Do not damn the wicked, lest you have turned your back on them. Do not love them less, lest you have turned your back on yourself.
Persecuting the dEvil
Can a person be holy and still persecute someone they deem evil? Can a person know love and then persecute someone for not finding love themselves? Can a person know love and then persecute someone when they find love in a different way? If the devil tried to teach you something, would you dismiss him simply because he was evil? If you didn’t take the time to know, could you ever find out?
Can a person know God and then proceed to tell another they did not? Can a person have a relationship with the Creator, and then wash their hands of His creations? Can a person know love, without knowing the Divine? Can a person love them self and still damn others for their beliefs?
Perhaps if we spent the time to understand others, we would not find it necessary to condemn someone for missing some mark. Perhaps if we really knew ourselves, we would not require others to subjugate their beliefs on our behalf. The dEvil goes by many a name, and yet so do We.
Prayer, Meditation with Purpose
The power of prayer does not come from how many times we recite a prayer. The power of prayer does not come from how many people pray for the same outcome. It does not come from facing Mecca, or facing the Wailing Wall. The power of prayer does not come from sitting in a church or peering through a glass floor at the supposed birthplace of Jesus. It does not come from ringing bells, or lighting candles. The power of prayer does not come from intermediaries such as saints or devotees. The power of prayer comes from one’s true intent. Prayer is like having an intimate relationship with the Creator. Prayer allows one to speak directly with God/Allah to give thanks, or to ask for guidance. Prayer allows for communing with all that is. Prayer is meditation with purpose. Prayer is peaceful awakening.
Lost Opportunities
If we concentrate on the shortcomings of others, it diverts us away from the lessons someone can teach us. If we concentrate on the perceived slights that someone has committed against us, then we take time away from understanding ourselves. If we can look at ourselves as students of life, then perhaps we can appreciate the things that others may begin show us, or bring out of us. Rarely is anyone the direct cause of our anguish for we may choose to feel hurt or threatened by another’s actions, or we may look to the blessings that life has provided us.
A person on the highway cutting us off may show us our level of patience. A crying child may show us our desire for love and acceptance. A beggar on the street may show us our level of compassion or the priorities we have set for ourselves and others. The point is we are all here to teach each other, but if walk into life thinking we have it all sussed out, we squander the great opportunities that this life has to bring.
Taking Notes
When
I watch movies, I sometimes take notes.
When I speak to people, I
sometimes take notes.
When I’m staring off into the sky, I
sometimes take notes.
When I’m walking and thoughts pop into my
head, I sometimes take notes.
When I’m taking notes, I sometimes
take more notes.
Epiphanies, moments of realization, sparks of enlightenment, whatever you want to call them, happen for us all. How we decide to act on those moments of realization is up to each of us. Some dismiss them. Some write them down as I have on occasion, and others still try to capture them as if they were pearls in the sky. There are times in life however, when we must put down that pen, or put away that keyboard, or quit trying to capture that moment for posterity, and act on it. Those moments of realization mean nothing without bringing them forward into our lives, rather than allowing them to fade away. We can best bring joy to this world by bringing the joy we each have within to others. We can best express the Creator’s love, by expressing the love we have within. Stop taking notes or getting lost in wonderment, and be.
Word Games
Some
say I speak in riddles.
Listen with your heart.
Some
say my words are confusing, and purposefully misleading.
Let go of
your expectations.
Some
say that I do not take things seriously and make too many jokes.
Live
in the moment.
Some
say that I speak above others.
Look beyond the words.
Some
say I like to cause mischief.
Tear down the walls.
Some
say that I am judgmental.
Let go of your fears.
Some
say they know who I am.
Look into your soul.
Can You?
Can
you say you have no agenda?
Can you say that you have no
expectations?
Can you speak without want to convince?
Can you
act without want for accomplishment?
Can you listen without first
being heard?
Can you share without regret?
Can you feel without
guilt?
Can you love without the need for reciprocation?
Can you
do all of these things and still be you?
Can you do all of these
things and still allow others to be themselves?
Meditate on This
Two eyes to the front, and one to the totality of all that exists. Visions can be beautiful or downright terrifying, but without context, there is no inspiration. The mind is fed, and the soul is hungry to learn. Seeking bliss in meditation is a wonderful exercise, but to bring that bliss to others outside of meditation is a true gift. Some may say, bring meditation to the masses, but a quieted mind and an open heart will say, bring that joyful love to others outside of meditation and into the waking life. Bring the inside to the outside and allow them to be One. Do not get lost in images. Do not get lost in colors. Do not get lost in tones. Life is more than a vibration. Life is more than perceived levels. Everything is a sign, with open eyes or closed, with an active mind or a quieted one, everything is a sign.
Silence Misguided
Silence by itself does not bring wisdom. Silence by itself does not bring enlightenment. Silence by itself does not bring understanding. All too often, silence is sought as a refuge in times of turmoil and turbulence in one’s life. In seeking solitude, one must ask if they are in fact running from their problems, and in the end, running from themselves. Although silence is a useful tool, without contemplative meditation, or looking into one’s own heart for what causes them pain, it simply serves as another back drop for what is really occurring.
Pain in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing. It can serve to correct us. Pain can often serve as an indicator that we must look into ourselves, and into the things that bring us anguish so that we can avoid those situations if there is a next time. And although we may stumble and continue to make mistakes or make waves in this existence we call life, we’ll have at least stopped long enough to see ourselves as we truly are, a naked soul for all to see. So if silence is something you seek, seek it not for the sake of silence itself, but for what can come of it.
May the silent mind bring peace to the forefront. May it envelop you in an everlasting joy. May it bring clarity and understanding for all you seek. And when that silence has become deafening, do not be afraid to share the songs of your heart.
Illusion Loves Company
An illusion is still an illusion regardless of how many live in it. So often in our lives we look to others to tell us how we should live and how we should love in life. We are told how to be happy. We are told how to pray. We are told how to worship. We are even told how to love. No one ever tells us to just be, to be ourselves. And rather than try to be ourselves, we look to others for a nod of support. Little do we know, that those who we look to for support, also look to us for a hint at how they should live. So rather than being ourselves and others being themselves, we lie to each other. We lie about what makes us happy. We lie about ourselves. Rather than living with all that we are, laid out for others to see, we hide ourselves in the illusions we create. And rather than stepping outside of these illusions, we invite others to live with us in illusion. Each in our own illusion, we are afraid to admit our faults. We are afraid to step out and say, I do not have to do this. I do not have to hide myself. You do not have to do this. You do not have to hide yourself. Step out from the illusion and be your real self. Step out and I shall be there waiting for you.
Waves of Transformation
Life is full of waves of transformation. Full of peaks and valleys, we are constantly trying to catch ourselves. But if we could just realize that we are those waves, that we are those peaks and we are those valleys, we could learn to appreciate life as it comes to us. In each moment, we are evolving and have a chance to become ourselves. Like the universe, we are constantly unfolding and expanding. We become more aware of ourselves and the happenings around us. Just when we think we have a grasp of ourselves and an understanding of how we fit into this existence, life happens and again, we are transformed. Just as the universe expands and contracts in an endless cycle of creation and destruction, we too are created and destroyed. In each moment we are reborn. In each moment, we again have the infinite opportunities of now. Where we decide to take each wave is up to us. We can choose to conform, we can choose to lay down and give up, or we can choose to live. Ride this wave, and see where it takes you. Ride this wave in an endless transformation of yourself. Ride this wave until it is no more, and then do it again.
Spiritual Experience
Everything in life is a spiritual experience. Walking is a spiritual experience. Eating is a spiritual experience. Playing is a spiritual experience. Sitting still and even sleeping are spiritual experiences. Everything we do in life is a spiritual experience if we can allow ourselves to treat all whom we meet, all that we do, all that we think and all that we feel as keys to understanding ourselves and those around us. Even the things we do out of perceived conflict are spiritual experiences. When we begin to sift through life and reflect on how and why we make the choices we make, we begin to understand that everything we have done in our lives, including our interactions with the world around us, have led us to this exact moment. Everything has prepared us for now. It is in this moment, like every moment before it and after it, that we decide our fate. Each moment points us to the next. And if we so choose, we can find ourselves in this moment, and if not this moment, perhaps the next. Experience this life. Experience yourself.
You, Becoming Me
I
am a Sufi.
I am a Jew.
I am a Christian.
I am a Buddhist.
I
am Hindi.
I am you.
I
am a man.
I am a woman.
I am you.
I
am a teacher.
I am a preacher.
I am a lawyer.
I am a
servant.
I am a slave.
I am you.
I
am creation.
I am destruction.
I am you.
I am you, becoming me.
Revolving Door
Never
close a door you might want to enter later.
Never destroy a path
you want to visit later.
Never discard a truth you may come to
understand later.
Never make an enemy you may wish to befriend
later.
Never say never, lest you come to regret it later.
Animal Kingdom
What is considered a higher life form? Are dolphins greater than pigs? Are pigs greater than dogs? Are dogs greater than insects? Are humans the highest life form of all? Is there even a hierarchy to begin with? So often people judge what animals or resources are acceptable to eat or to consume based on the idea that some creatures are more important than another. But who makes this decision? Who is to say that the value received from a dolphin is greater than a pig, or that humans are above all other creatures? Who is to say that any extrinsic value is greater than any intrinsic value, or vice versa? Does not each creature serve a purpose, regardless if that purpose is known to us or not? Does not each individual for that matter, serve a purpose? Who is to say what is that purpose?
Even the lowly garden weed serves its role. Though many might see it as a nuisance, perhaps it serves as a reminder that despite its appearance, and despite the harsh environments it sometimes faces, it perseveres. Others might judge it. Others might try to destroy it and replace it with something they deem more appealing, but yet it survives.
We can even look to an ant or grub. Many would see them as insects or bugs that do nothing but invade our space, and steal our food. Regardless of how we perceive them, do they not also sustain us? Do they not remind us to be mindful of our surroundings and of current circumstances, in good times and in bad?
Each individual points the way, down from an ant, to a lowly garden weed, up to the most advanced primates. How and if we decide to see what they have to offer is up to us. So perhaps before we crown ourselves superior, we should ask what each individual has to offer.
Golden Snake
Damning the snake does not bring resolution. Speaking ill of the snake does not bring the snake closer to the truth and to understanding. Hate fought with hate brings more hate. Anger fought with anger brings more anger. Hate and anger, shown love, brings light.
Speak no ill will toward your enemy for your enemy is your brother and sister in truth. None is held more dear to the Creator than the other. None shall enter into the kingdom before the other, for none can walk before the other. When we speak ill of others, we drown ourselves in discontent. When we lift others up, we also lift ourselves. For in understanding the struggles of others, we may also understand our own struggles, for the left is tied to the right.
Do not wallow in the misery of the snake but instead bring him closer to the infinite joy within. Allow the snake to be a snake and recognize its own joy.
Limitations of the Occult
The occult is not a gateway to Oneness. It cannot reveal. It scratches the surface of something it cannot understand. It promises knowledge, but what it promises is far from enlightenment. It is illusion within illusion. With one swipe it removes a wall and replaces it with another. It entices with boundless knowledge, but without Oneness, it is limited. It cannot be appeased, for what it wants is beyond what can be given.
Knowledge of tomorrow is useless, for it has already occurred. Knowledge of yesterday is useless for it has already occurred. It cannot make promises of riches, for it does not know the infinite soul. It cannot make promises of wisdom, for it lacks divine guidance. It cannot make promises of divine knowledge for it is not wrapped in boundless love. It cannot make promises for what has not been realized.
Divine Will
The divine will is not realized through knowledge alone. Knowledge without malice is compassion. Compassion without judgment is divine love.
What can be used to enslave can also be used to set free. What can be used to cause harm, can be used to heal. What can be used to exploit can also be used to show infinite wisdom. This life can be a playground, or it can be used as a classroom. One need not destroy the will of the other, for joy not only comes from playing, but also from learning.
Grant Me Strength
A prayer:
Grant
me strength that I may accept love through my heart.
Grant me
strength that I may share the love in my heart.
During
my times of weakness, allow me to remember who I am.
During times
of strength, allow me to help others remember who they are.
During
times of conflict allow others to see how they have affected
me.
During times of conflict allow me to see how I have affected
others.
Carrying Stones
It does not make sense to carry stones and lift them into a tree. For no matter how many stones are lifted, they are still stones that may fall, and can bear no fruit.
A man cannot be carried or lifted to realization by another man, but he can be led and shown the way. Man must do for himself before he realizes he can do for another. For in lifting himself he lifts all of humanity. When he rises, he shall be a beacon for all who would look upon him. They should not strive to be like him, but they should be themselves. In trying to become another, they have lost themselves. But in becoming themselves, they too shall rise, and with them, all of humanity. Bear not stones upon your back, but bring down fruit that others may share in delight. Rise up, that we may each point the way. Rise up that each man shall walk side by side.
The Infinite Capacity
The capacity to share God’s will is infinite. It can be done through writing. It can be done through talking, and it can be done through listening. It can be done through playing, and through smiling. It can be done through sharing and it can even be done in silence. None are the only way, and none are mutually exclusive. Each is a tool, unique like each one of us, but what is shared among them, is the selflessness in fulfilling the will of that which is greater than ourselves. There is a will greater than our own, unless we allow our own to be that of the greater will. This does not mean to subdue that which we deem pleasurable or unpleasurable, or that which we deem beneath God or above God, but it means the realization of self. It means that the left shall know the right, the top shall know the bottom, the front shall the know back, and the outer shall know the inner.
There is but one will, and many ways to get there. In realizing the self, we realize others. The capacity is infinite, but it is not yet realized by all, and not always fully by ourselves. We can only see as far as we are allowed to see, and feel only as much as we are allowed to feel. In understanding this, we must also understand that this is also true for others. Cast not doubt on those who have not caught up to you, and cast not stones at those who have surpassed you, for the front is the back, and the back is the front.
Realization
Inspiration comes to the heart. Aspiration comes to the mind. To become greater than, or to be like something is to tug at the mind’s strings. There is no greater or greatest, and no easier or easiest, for all are one in the same. There is no becoming the other when we are already the other. There is only realization. Realization does not come from Masters or supposed spiritual Masters. There is no mastering the self. There is only realization of the self. Realization of the self is not administered by practitioners through one art or the other. It neither comes from books, nor does it come from ancient writings. All point the way, but the way is self-realization. It is in this moment that there is inspiration.
When inspiration comes, all aspirations shall fade for there is no need to become, because the actuality has already been realized. The rest is a gift, and so it should be shared. Come down from the tree and share your fruit, for sitting in the tree does not make the fruit any sweeter. Take a bite and share in the realization that there is neither a tree, nor any fruit.
What They Choose
There will be many on your path who will try to convince you to take another route. Some will try to slow you down, and others will try to convince you that their way is the way. And though many will try, none can succeed unless you allow them to succeed. No one is allowed to make your choices for you. Little do they know, but they see only what they choose to see. They understand only what they choose to understand. They know only what they choose to know. You too must make these choices, and yet there is only One choice. It is asked every day, in every moment. And though some would try to convince you, love does not need convincing.
Rushing Toward the Light
If you see a crack of light, do not run towards it, for you are already there.
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