Mindfulness: Making Friends With Myself (A Meditation)

So, then, what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is more than just being aware of what we are doing; it’s also an awareness of what we are thinking and feeling.

Mindfulness allows me to be aware when my mind keeps turning onto some well-worn karmic rut of worry or fear, inadequacy or pride.

I can still spend untold hours, days, or even weeks criticizing myself or justifying myself, blaming myself or blaming others. Yet I never would think of making a conscious decision to spend all that time enveloped in self-criticism or blame.

It seems like my thoughts and feelings are out of my control. Sometimes I notice that my whole day has an undercurrent of worry flowing through it. Worry may be telling me that some aspect of my life needs attention, yet the activity of spending the whole day endlessly replaying my fears is a useless waste of my energy and causes me considerable pain.

Through attention, being willingly and deliberately mindful, I can become aware of how much pain I am causing myself with my worrying. I then can also see that I have been choosing to worry and that I have a choice to let go of my worries and return my awareness to my present activity.

Mindfulness allows me to see that I can choose to turn toward something positive like trust rather than worry, choose to forgive rather than blame, choose faith rather than doubt.

If I feel despair, it is my choice if I allow myself to turn away from my faith and project a future without hope. And in each situation, if I am willing to really look, to see, the gift will appear. It has to. Nothing exists in a vacuum.

"By choice I become the conscious observer...of my life, my surroundings, my relationships. I watch to see when I step out of awareness and shift into automatic, allowing old habits to take over and control the situation. In that moment I say, 'Halt.' And I regain the command position. In doing so, my life is simpler, more satisfying, and I am in better relationship with my family, my friends, my colleagues, and the community in which I live. And most important, I am in grand relationship with myself."

I Just Don’t Know, Or, When Ignorance Is A Blessing

The Mystery...

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” -Stephen Hawking

Each morning, I wake up ignorant. And each morning, I say a word of gratitude for that amazing reality.

There was time, not too long ago, that I would have said it’s possible to actually know something about life, about the world, about the universe. Now I realize it’s a continual awakening, that every moment of existence presents new and powerful challenges to the status quo, to my personal view of things.

That’s how it should be. Anything less would be stagnation.

I sit in this room, in front of this computer, a very different person than I was even just a few short years ago. I think differently, I look differently, even my tastes in furniture and books and people have changed. If I were under a microscope, I could see myself changing. But I’m not, so I make an assumption. Hope I’m right.

As long as I draw breath, I will marvel at all that comes my way, mysterious though it is. Then, one day, I’ll simply close down, disappear. The journey will end and I will make room for all kinds of new.

And that will be much OK, too. The idea of eternal existence as the same person has never really appealed to me. I think, though, that the energy that made me what I am all these years will still be around. It was here to make me when I arrived, so why would I think it would just go poof? In some way, I will remain and maybe even rise again in some new form.

But I won’t know for certain that I’ve done it before. In fact, I won’t have done it before. It, I, the universe will all be brand new.

Such is life. Such is the Mystery.

“Today, I open my mind and my heart to whatever presents itself to me. And I will use it, even abuse it, but definitely release it as the day draws to a close. Whatever remains tomorrow, I will use again. And release again. And I will share myself with the world. I remain ‘eternally’ grateful.”

Deep Hate and How to End It (Part II)

YOU hold the key...

So you think you have no real power in this world?

Think again. It's because of people like you that the world hasn't totally imploded. And you are needed now more than ever. Don't let your sense of smallness stop you from changing the world. Step into the role you've always known was yours to fulfill. Read on and save the world!

You play a major part in the healing of the world. In fact, without you, we may well go down the tubes. But you won't let that happen. You will take it upon yourself to help the world open its collective eyes, minds, and hearts. You won't do it by trying to shove your religious beliefs down our throats; rather, you will reach out your hand to us in love (respect) and a sincere desire to help. And you will do it in four simple steps. Again, not necessarily easy steps, but simple nonetheless.

First, you will take charge. You will quit listening to the voices of fear, apathy, and selfishness that tend to clap around your inner and outer ears, telling you that you can do nothing to help this useless species called Human. You’ll quit giving into the habits of laziness and sloth. Oh, you have those habits, if you're totally honest. But they don't have to be your dictators.

Second, you will take responsibility. You are a member of the human family. What happens to one happens to all. Pain, suffering, cruelty, no matter where they happen in the world, are part of your personal legacy. If you want them to stop, you must be willing to place yourself squarely in the middle of the fray. You are related to all of us.

Third, you will take action. This may be the simplest of all. If you knew how many organizations and groups of all sizes need your help, you would quit the excuse making and be out there everyday, literally saving the world. Everything—from environmental causes to political action groups—is clamoring for your attention. Raise your intellectual and emotional radar, and the right group will show itself. If you're already involved, intensify!

And finally, you will take heart. Remember, the world only seems to be falling apart.

Hear this: Currently (2013), the average age in the U.S. is 75-80 years. At the turn of the 20th century, it was less than 50. Today we have medicines and surgeries and psychological services that save many more lives than at any time in history. We know how to feed ourselves better. We are actually doing something about the environment. (It may not seem or sound like it, but the collective mind is opening.) Even the poorer nations of the world are getting more attention.

There's a long way to go, but that's why you're here. Mind you, nothing is yet perfected. Nothing is completely whole nor the work finished. We have much ahead of us. And we are up for the challenge, terrorism not withstanding.

One day, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and even atheist will recognize our common humanity and end the conflicts that have kept us at each other's throats for millennia. We have it within our power right now, this minute, to create the world that the Mahatma Gandhi spoke of. And he also said that we must be the change we would see in the world. It rests upon our shoulders. Nothing else will do it for us. And each individual is essential.

Take it upon yourself to save the world. And I will, too. Together, we will make a real difference. Don't let doubt keep you from the task. The world needs you. You are the key. You are the one. If you’ve been called for anything, it is this. After all…

Who are you not to be great?

Deep Hate and How to End It (Part I)

Hate is a strong emotion--stronger than most when it goes deep. It can move individuals, groups, nations to carry out unimaginable destruction and grief. It already has, down through the centuries. It continues today--in the forms of terrorism, racism, sexism, homophobia, child abuse, gun abuse, and more.

Those of us who consider ourselves civilized have good reason to be scared. It seems as though there is nothing we can do to halt the growing menace. Our police seem weak, our governments impotent, our borders unprotected, and more and more 'unbalanced' individuals are armed with high powered weapons fit for the military. 

What hope is there?

There's more than hope. And in this two-part series, you’ll discover how you can help bring hatred to its knees. You can and must play a major role in bringing sanity back to an insane world. You have it within you and around you to save this planet and her people, her creatures, her resources. But will you? Or will you succumb to the fear? No need. You will now have the tools to turn on the light.

You probably live in a city or town that has community access TV channels. In my city, there are several.

The other night, I was flipping through the channels and happened upon a weird little program put on by the so-called Aryan Nation. This white guy, around 30, was spouting about how the White race is superior, how he hated Hispanics and Jews in particular, and what we needed to do to get rid of "the pests." He didn't come right out and advocate murder and terrorism, but it was definitely implied.

The guy claimed that the White race had given all its best stuff—technology, literature, music, art—to the inferior races of Asia, Africa and South America. And they had used it all against us.

What?

Remember The First Americans This Thanksgiving. Thanks.

Please take time to remember the many Native Americans who have given their lives for this 

country, both in the beginning and during all wars. They were at the first Thanksgiving.