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G'day folks,

Just a quick visit, I'm off to day 2 of a Mental Health Conference tomorrow. :) Haven't listened to as many words in one day for a very long time. Will be interesting to see if any of the "ideas" get turned into "reality" as always ...

Just found this gem from a talk by Jack Kornfield about mindfulness. Click on the link to read the whole discourse. It's well worth it.

The first is learning to be present, which itself is a very wonderful thing, because "here" and "now" and "in the present" are the only places that we can appreciate life to begin with. Otherwise, it's kind of second-hand, what happened a few years ago—that's a nice memory—or what we fantasize about. Where can you really appreciate this life we're given? Only in the present.

Also, there is something else which interests a lot of people and can only be found in the present, and that is love. If you want to love a person or you want to be loved—some of you perhaps know anyway, right? -- where does love take place? Or "when" is a better question. Again, it's a nice memory, "Gee, I was in love once or twice" -- or more in some of your cases. It was very nice. It evokes a nice thing to remember it. Or it's in the future, "Oh, if only I could meet that right wonderful person," or "this person that I live with," or "this family," or whatever, "if they would change so they would become right, then I could fall in love all over again with them or be happy with them." The only place that you can really love a person or be loved is in the present. No other possibility for it. All the rest is fantasy.

Also in the present comes the possibility of touching our intuition, of creativity, of clarity; all kinds of things. So the first aspect of awareness is simply learning in some way to live more fully here in our present reality. If you learn nothing else from meditation practice than that, you get your money's worth—especially since there's no charge ...

Click here to read the rest.

Have a good one, as we say down here in Oz.

Terry, I knew exactly why you used "tree" instead of "branch." I was thinking "olive grove myself!

Chris, the shift from understanding to experiencing is a tremendous step. I echo Terry's "right on!"

"Put down your knitting, your book and your broom -- come hear the music play..."

Right on Chris, that "shift" is great, and really says you've come to "understand" (at a deeper level) that our intellects aren't going to "DO" it for us.

You've reached a "place" of comfortability that the physical world just "IS", and you can handle "whatever". (At least this is what I'm perceiving).

Happy for you, as now you'll be able to truly "listen" to the inner voice prompting you to much greater "things", and there just aren't anymore "big deals".

Namaste'

Geoff, things are certainly not as they seem or otherwise. Very nicely said, though I don’t “think” I get it, “I” DO get it. Thanks for the great links too!

Thanks Peggy for the movie recommendation. I tend to avoid movies with subtitles because I can either read the subtitles or watch the movie but not both due to my dyslexia. Maybe I could rent it and watch it twice… :-)

I read the link to the IROOT:NOTian link. Interesting. I can see how the “idea” of “everything is illusion” might conceivably cause some caustic conditions. To me though, it’s not an idea really. Any idea that I may have is a part of the same illusion, including the idea that it is an illusion. :-) This can’t possibly make sense when examined from an ego perspective. One can choose to believe it, or not. It really doesn’t make much difference. Ego will fight to defend it’s ideas one way or the other.

Recently I’ve become less and less interested in “ideas” and more and more interested in “experiences”. I’ve found I have become less interest in “understanding” the world, and more interested in experiencing it. This is a huge deal for me coming from a scientific and engineering upbringing. It is a subtle shift in the internal dialogue from something like, “I think X, Y and Z and I need to defend these thoughts because I am defined by these them.” to “Simply experiencing X, Y and Z. Period. No need to defend them or even processes them intellectually unless I choose to.” The difference is quite striking.

Enjoy the day everyone!

Right on Pegasus!

As you know it used to be an "olive branch", but at the time, I thought a "tree" was more representative.

Geoff, I love the Zen proverb!

Ravi, the "olive tree" that Terry said that he loved is a traditional metaphor for peace.

For those of you who like films that are thought-provoking, may I recommend OPEN YOUR EYES. It deals with the question of reality vs. dreams. It has subtitles, but they are very non-intrusive and worth the effort. Chris, I thought of you when I saw it.

Ravi, I don't necessarily disagree with your ideas. But you have misquoted me:

"Peggy also referred to it. 'If we are all enlightened then what follows?'"

You are answering a question that I did not ask and no one else asked it either -- at least not in the last two months. I'm not certain what you are referring to.

And I'm not at all certain why you refer to emotional, mentaland spiritual as verbs. They are adjectives.

Finally, you and I do not agree on what Hadi said.

I wish you well but you have left me puzzled.

Peace, merriment, and light...

Re: Parkinson's disease, i read on a site that it was dealt with in ayurvedic teachings. Does any one know where to lead me to learn more about this???. please email me if so.

I have a dear departed friend who was also a Mystic and teacher. He has written wonderful books that tell us much the same things that Depak Chopra is saying. If anyone is interested, please go see some samples of his work at www.williamsamuel.com. It is a nice complement to the light that Deepak is sharing. Thanks, Sandy Jones

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM Knowing "ALLAH" http://www.ahmedhulusi-kavramlar.org FREE Islamic Link,ONLINE BOOKS,5 languages(English-Turkce-Deutsch-Francais-Russian)Download Free.. Our works are not copyrighted.

'Things are not as they seem, nor are they otherwise' - Zen proverb

I've been thinking a bit about what is holding us back from the experience of unconditional love. Deepak talks a lot about labels in Way of the Wizard. Most of the time we're not seeing and experiencing 'reality'. We're seeing and experiencing and reacting to the labels we've attached to reality and the belief system we've constructed based on those labels. You can only see someone as a 'stranger' and treat them as a 'stranger' once you have labeled them as a 'stranger' and learned to think of them as a 'stranger'. The same applies to any label under the sun - you name it - weirdo - loser - loony - lefty - miserable sod - psychotic - boring - twit - normal - crazy - friend - enemy ...

There are some excellent meditations where you systematically 'peel away' all the labels you have attached to yourself and to others. Peel enough of them away and you may arrive at the 'place' referred to in this definition of Namaste -
"I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you, where lies your love, your light, your truth and your beauty. I honor the place in you where...if you are in that place in you...and I am in that place in me....then there is only one of us."

Trouble is, we tend to spend a heck of a lot of our time 'away' from that place. :)

Ravi, you could say that poem was 17 years in the making. It was originally much darker than what it is now.

Wonderful to see the response to that excerpt from Emissary of Light. It's the sort of book if you had given it to me just two years ago I would have laughed at. I would have said something like, "Oh, this guy has got to be kidding if he expects people to believe that story!"

Here's a further excerpt in which James wonders if indeed anyone will believe him. I can relate to his feelings. I've had many experiences where I have thought I'm not going to tell anyone about that, they'll think I have flipped. And in a sense I have. :)

"But they will think I'm crazy."

"The world is crazy," she said. "Since when has the world been so wise? You'll be telling them that they are made of love. Simple. You'll say that heaven is real and that they can experience it right now. They don't have to die or experience a hundred more lifetimes. This is what everyone is dying to hear. They've just been waiting for someone to say it with certainty. And that's what you'll do. Of course, some people will think you're crazy. But others will understand. Those are the people you're being sent to, I'm sure."

Hi all,

Geoff,

I spent time reading and rereading the material you referred me to.

Your poem is so real and pertinent from many angles. How long were you at it?

My humble offering:

The books and posts all seem to be saying that 'love' exists in three forms:

A doable thing (Hadi said it was a verb)(mental)

An emotion to bond with an object/person (Emotional)

A state of bliss (spiritual)

Pretty much the 3 Verbs.

The bliss you experienced after James Twyman's lesson probably belongs to the 'state' kind.

Such experiences are mostly ephemeral. Second time around the episode will be shorter and less intense.

How do we enter the state for long periods and hopefully, permanently?(What Buddha achieved) Peggy also referred to it. "If we are all enlightened then what follows?" Peggy, then it's Utopia - freedom from suffering.

I have postulated that there exists a subtle 'mechanism', (I call it "The Cantilever Effect") which takes one from the 'emotion' to the 'bliss state'. This can be realized and the technique can be easily learnt.

It's 'The Cantilever Effect' in operation during deep prayer for some and meditative-listening of instrumantal music for others.

The magic of the 'Cantilever Effect' is that the 'bliss state' can be repeatedly entered by following the same practice and the duration and the enjoyment of 'love state' increases with each episode.

Try it for you have been there and you'll know what I'm saying (unknowingly we enter this state during sleep for short bursts).

I offer this in all earnestness and sincerity. Namaste'

Maybe we are all dreaming. One day, the universe itself will "wake up," and we will find ourselves in a state of unimaginable bliss. In the meantime, we are "down here," doing whatever we think is best. The "illusion" of pain, loss, and fear still hurts. Mystics have advised that by meditating you can transcend much of the suffering. Let us assume that you transcended all of it. Would that mean the material world is an illusion, or just how you perceive and relate to it?

- from "Reality & Illusion"

Funny thing is that nobody ever says "this is all just a dream" when they're feeling fabulous! :)

Halya, Mezzie,
The relationship between a loving parent and a child is the ideal of unconditional love.
A loving parent forgives stealing, cheating and even murder.
A loving parent finds his/her child the most beautiful creation, and sees no ugliness.
A loving parent believs that his/her child is the most wonderful creature on earth, divine and a source of eternal bliss.
Not all parents love their children unconditionally. And most people do not love everyone in this world unconditionally.
But, the ideal exists - it is real. It is possible!

Guess I kinda just re-stated what mazzie said. (great minds---ha)

The Dalai Lama suggested that we greet everyone as if we've known them before (as a "method").

Also, a very arrogant/egotistical young man was told by his teacher to go down to Hollywood & Vine, or 7th or 8th St in downtown LA, find someone that he "looked down on", and follow them around until he "saw" them differently. To find something "good" about them. As I understand it, he had to do this for 6 months.

Today he is a close friend of Dalai Lama and involved in seeking the freedom of Tibet from Communist rule.

For me it's more of an "attitude" I'd say. Kinda like Father Flanagan's "There are no bad boys", only it includes everyone.

It's also a willingness and openness to "help" where possible and warranted.

HALYA - about loving everyone unconditionally, I think that if we actually did love everyone unconditionally, we -robably wouldnt have a need to be here at all!!....However, in an endeavour to attain this, I -ersonally believe that EVERYONE has some amount of 'good', for want of a better word, in them. This may sometimes take some digging to find at times but if we can concentrate on finding even a little of the divine in all, we all benefit from it.......Just my -ersonal o-inion anyhow....MAZZIE

Hi all, I love your posts on love, but how on earth does one love everyone unconditionally? It sounds really great, but it seems like such a high ideal that it's really frustrating....any practical suggestions?

Josie, then get "out" of your mind and into your heart. Whenever I am in my mind, there are indeed nothing but blocks. Only someone who is truly "out" of their mind, can live the life they have imagined. I use a Thoreau quote often,

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

He will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around him; and he will live with the license of a high order of beings.

In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex…

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

Peggy, apples and their side effects of living life through my second chakra (1st if you are a Margot Anand fan), have caused enough trouble in this lifetime. I'll stick to pears. They are just as sweet but less tempting and you get a nice warning bellyache if you eat too many... ;-)

Hi Sister!

Syncronicity abounds.

TO All! Help! I have been suffering from mind blocks that prevented me from moving forward. If possible could you would you throw me some questions that you would like resolved or answered in a book that you would purchase.

I am a psychologist working with individuals, groups and communities. My special interests are satisfified by running "Big Picture" workshops for young people (particularly those who have hit the wall), and those special people who work with young people. Currently looking for anyone who lives the philophical and practical belief systems promologated by Deepak Chopra, Conversations With God, and so many others...One of my current roles is working with a commnuity organisation to develop new and better ways for strenghtening families within the City of Caloundra, Queensland, Australia. Families and community are made up of individuals, with the exact same fears and aspirations. How does one go about enabling commnunities for healing using these belief systems? Appreciate comments. Paul

"No matter what we feel or know;
no matter what our potential gifts or talents,
only action bring them to life.
Those of us who only think we understand concepts,
such as commitment, courage, and love,
one day discover that we only know when we act;
doing becomes understanding".

Wow!

Es muy emocionante encontrar la pagina del dr.Chopra., Felicidades, necesitamos en México información y comunicación con el, en español para que le sea accecible a la gente sus importantes conceptos., Por favor si existe alguna forma de establecer contacto con el dr. Chopra en idioma español, favor de informarmelo. Gracias y felicidades.

"TRY" harder yx!

Namaste'

Crown/Harmony Books

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