Embracing The Now

Embracing the Now
Embracing the Now

Finding Peace and Happiness in What Is
Gina Lake
Endless Satsang Foundation
Endless Satsang Foundation www.radicalhappiness.com
Cover art ! Sam "light sam#rangsgraphics.com www.rangsgraphics.com.au
IS"$ %&'()(*+,-(.)*'(' Cop/right ! -))' 0/ Gina Lake
1ll rights reserved. $o part o2 this 0ook ma/ 0e used or reproduced 0/ an/ means3 graphic3 electronic3 or mechanical3 including photocop/ing3 recording3 taping3 or 0/ an/ in2ormation storage retrieval s/stem without the written permission o2 the pu0lisher e4cept in the case o2 0rie2 5uotations em0odied in critical articles and reviews.
CONTENTS
Introduction PART 1 Discovering Who ou Are 1wareness Is Who 6ou 1re "ecoming 1ware o2 1wareness 1liveness $oticing as a 8oorwa/ into the $ow "eing $o0od/ and Ever/0od/ 1cceptance 9ust "eing 1wareness :editation Who Creates 6our ;ealit/< =wo >inds o2 8esires Following 6our Heart =he Simplest :editation :editating on What Is 1ligning with Essence Going 8eeper into Essence
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PART ! The Ego Seeing =hrough the I =hought =he Ego Is a =rou0lemaker =aking a "reak 2rom the Stor/ o2 :e =he End o2 Striving =he Ego Is Irrational Li2e Is Springing out o2 the $ow How the Egoic :ind =akes 6ou out o2 the $ow Fi4ing =hings =hrough =hought Wanting to >now the Future Fear =he Ego?s :ost Power2ul =ool 8ou0t =he Ego?s :ost Insidious =ool =he Ego?s Favorite Weapon How 9udgments @ndermine ;elationships =he Ego Is Con2used :aking Peace with Li2e PART " #rea$ing %ree o& Conditioning Seeing the =ruth a0out 8esires Feelings 1re $ot What 6ou =hink =he/ 1re Feelings Point to Conditioning What to 8o with Feelings Healing Emotional Issues 8isengaging 2rom the Ego?s Aoice '% %7 %& %% +)7 +)* ., .' ,+ ,7 ,* *) **, *& &) &7 &, &' '',
'PART " Continued( Bne =hought at a =ime 1 ;adical In5uir/ 1ccepting 8eath and Loss Letting Go Is Letting Go o2 a =hought Surrender Living without :irrors Living Without ;e2erring to "elie2s What 1re 6ou "ringing into the $ow< Sta/ing in Essence in an Ego(8riven World 1 Li2est/le 2or 1wakening PART ) Secrets to *a++iness Happiness Is Here ;ight $ow "eing Satis2ied What 1re 6ou 1ttending to< Good Enough =he Hidden "lessing in Limitation Loving What Is Em0racing the :oment God Is in the 8etails =here Is 1lwa/s Something to Love Love What 6ou 8o 8o What 6ou Love 8o What Essence Loves +.+ +., +.& +,) +,7 +,& +*) +*+*, +*' +&+ +&. +)' +++ ++. ++' +-+ +-. +-& +7) +7+7.
PART , Trusting -i&e =rusting God Who 6ou 1re Is Goodness God Is GoodCnessD =aking the Leap o2 Faith =he Importance o2 E4periencing Essence What Is =rustworth/ 10out Li2e Seeing Li2e as It Is Getting and Giving PART . /a$ing the /ost o& the /oment :ake the :ost o2 Li2e I?d ;ather "e Fishing 8o What?s in Front o2 6ou Finding Pleasure Waiting What >eep 6ou 2rom "eing Happ/< Get into the Flow Events 8on?t Change E4perience What Stor/ 1re 6ou ;elating =o< @nnecessar/ =houghts $oticing the Impact o2 6our =houghts =he Present Heals Essence Is a Feeling o2 Home -), -)& -)% -+-+, -+' --) --7 --* --% -7+ -7. -7& +&% +'+', +'& +%) +%7 +%& -))
PART 0 Cu1tivating a New Pers+ective =he $um0ers Game Li2e Happens Little =hings :atter It?s $ot =hat Important Good $ews3 "ad $ews Li2e Is Interesting How We Create Pro0lems How to :ake 6oursel2 :isera0le $avigating Change and Challenges Pro0lems 1ren?t Solved 0/ =hinking 10out =hem It =akes as Long as It =akes 1re 6ou Willing< About the Author -.+ -.7 -.* -.% -,+ -,7 -,* -*) -*-*, -*& -&) -&7
INTROD2CTION
=his 0ook is a collection o2 essa/s that came out o2 m/ one(on(one work with others 2or the most part. 1s I worked with people around emotional and spiritual issues3 I 2ound the need to address certain 5uestions common to spiritual seekers and those in the process o2 awakening to their true nature. "ecause the 0ook is made up o2 essa/s3 it is organiEed in parts rather than chapters. 1s a result3 it lends itsel2 to contemplation o2 one essa/ at a time and doesn?t need to 0e read in an/ particular order3 although it has an intentional order. Introducing some terms might 0e help2ul3 in case this is the 2irst 0ook o2 mine /ou?ve encountered. =he terms I?ve used in this 0ook and m/ others are ver/ similar to those that Eckhart =olle3 0estselling author and spiritual teacher3 has used in his 0ooks3 The Power of Now and A New Earth. In those 0ooks3 he introduced the term the Now to re2er to the present moment. He also introduced the term egoic mind, which is the aspect o2 the mind that serves the ego3 or the 2alse sel2. The ego is the sense o2 0eing a me and all the ideas3 0elie2s3 and other conditioning entailed in the sense o2 e4isting as an individual. =he ego is called the 2alse sel2 0ecause the ego isn?t who we reall/ are3 although it seems like it is who we are. =he egoic mind3 which is a re2lection o2 the ego and its conditioning3 is the chatter0o4 mind3 which produces a nearl/ constant 2low o2 commentar/ a0out li2e 0ased on our conditioning. We e4perience it as Fthe voice in the head3F as Eckhart =olle calls it. For simplicit/3 I sometimes re2er to the egoic mind as the mind.
However3 the egoic mind is distinct 2rom the functional mind, which is the aspect o2 the mind that we use to read3 calculate3 anal/Ee3 design3 2ollow instructions3 and so 2orth. We need the 2unctional mind3 0ut we don?t actuall/ need the egoic mind to 2unction. =he egoic mind is the aspect o2 the mind that talks to us3 while the 2unctional mind is a tool we pick up and use when we need it. In writing a0out the ego3 I have somewhat positioned it as the enem/3 as a device to help people detach 2rom it. When people are identi2ied with the ego3 the/ are3 in a sense3 in love with the egoic mind3 and I?m hoping to help them 2all out o2 love with it3 0ecause the ego and the thoughts and 2eelings it produces are the source o2 human su22ering. B2 course3 even the ego 0elongs to the Bneness3 and the ego serves e4actl/ the 2unction the Bneness intended. =he ego isn?t actuall/ an entit/. ;ather3 it is the sense o2 0eing a separate individual3 which is innate to us. We 2eel like individuals3 although we are actuall/ mani2estations3 or e4pressions3 o2 Bne "eing. =his is the Bneness that m/stics throughout time have realiEed as 0eing 0ehind all li2e and which the term nondual3 which means Fnot two3F re2ers to. While cloaked in a human 0od/3 we have lost awareness o2 our true nature3 and we are meant to rediscover the truth. =hat discover/ is what the spiritual path is all a0out and what spiritual practices are meant to reveal. =he sense o2 0eing a separate individual is accomplished through the mind. We are programmed to think o2 ourselves as separate and as having distinct characteristics and la0els GI?m a man3H GI?m smart3H GI?m a mother3H GI?m 2ort/(seven.H 1n/thing that comes a2ter GI am3H de2ines us3 and we take those de2initions as who we are. 1nd /et when /ou e4amine those assumptions3 /ou see that the/ are Iust ideas. =here is no you 0ehind the thoughts a0out /ou. =his you that /ou think /ou are is made up o2 thoughtsJ What a revelation that isJ
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=hen who are /ou< =hat is the perennial 5uestion. =r/ing to answer it results in the discover/ that we are not a thing, 0ut more o2 a 0eing3 an e4perience o2 e4isting. I2 we strip awa/ all la0els and ideas3 we are le2t with Iust I am, Iust e4istence. We are that which is e4isting right here and now and aware o2 that e4istence. Spiritual teachers o2ten call the true sel2 Awareness 0ecause the e4perience o2 the true sel2 is that it is aware. "e/ond that3 who or what we reall/ are can?t 0e de2ined. It has 5ualities that can 0e 2elt3 such as peace3 acceptance3 love3 compassion3 gratitude3 kindness3 patience3 wisdom3 and strength3 although those words don?t come close to de2ining the m/ster/ o2 our true nature. Who we reall/ are is indescri0a0le 0ecause it is 0e/ond an/thing the mind can grasp. "ut to speak a0out who we reall/ are3 we have to give it a name. It has 0een given man/ names the Source3 Spirit3 Bneness3 "eingness3 Consciousness3 God3 1wareness3 the 8ivine3 the 10solute3 Presence3 Stillness3 Emptiness3 the $ow3 Essence3 the Sel23 the higher sel23 the essential sel23 and the true sel23 to name Iust a 2ew. I usuall/ re2er to it as Essence3 the Bneness3 the Sel23 or 1wareness. =hose words mean 0asicall/ the same thing. I generall/ use Essence to re2er to the aspect o2 the Bneness that e4presses itsel2 and lives through each o2 us. Words and de2initions aren?t important. 6ou know Essence when /ou e4perience it3 Iust as /ou know the ego when /ou e4perience it. Essence and the ego 2eel ver/ di22erent and are ver/ distinct. Awakening is another term that ma/ need some de2inition. Humanit/ as a whole is awakening out o2 the egoic state o2 consciousness into awareness o2 its true nature. :an/ o2 /ou are taking that step. 1wakening re2ers to the shi2t 2rom identi2ication with the ego3 or 2alse sel23 to the recognition o2 /oursel2 as the spiritual 0eing that /ou are. =his shi2t happens whenever we are simpl/ in the moment without all o2 our thoughts. So awakeness is
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possi0le in an/ moment. 1wakening3 however3 generall/ implies a more permanent shi2t to living 2rom a place o2 non(identi2ication with the ego and alignment with our true nature.
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PART 1 Discovering Who ou Are
AWARENESS IS W*O O2 ARE 1wareness alwa/s is. =here is never a time when we are not aware. Even when we sleep and dream3 we are aware we have slept and dreamt. 1wareness is the one constant in li2e. It is even constant a2ter li2e3 2or awarenessKconsciousnessKcontinues even a2ter the 0od/ has died3 although a2ter death3 consciousness is no longer connected to the 0od/. We are what is conscious o2 li2e and conscious o2 ever/thing coming and going. When our attention is placed on consciousness rather than on the comings and goings in li2e3 we 2eel at peace with whatever is coming and going. Consciousness3 or 1wareness3 is content with li2e in whatever wa/ it?s showing up. Who we reall/ are is even content to have the e4perience o2 an ego that argues with whatever is showing up. 1wareness participates in li2e 0/ 0eing aware o2 li2e3 0ut unlike the ego3 it doesn?t tr/ to control or change li2e. 1wareness Iust is3 and it allows whatever is to 0e the wa/ it is3 2or the time 0eing3 since li2e is alwa/s changing into something else. When we are aware o2 ourselves as 1wareness3 we have a ver/ di22erent sense o2 ourselves than when we are aware o2 ourselves as the ego. When who we are seems to 0e the ego3 we have a speci2ic de2inition o2 ourselves GI am this3 not thatHL GI am male3 not 2emaleHL GI am smart3 not stupidHL GI am short3 not tall.H We 2it into some categories and not others 0ecause the mind de2ines us in a particular wa/. In making such distinctions3 the mind separates us 2rom others. It makes us distinct 2rom others. =hat is the egoic mind?s Io03 and it does it ver/ well. =he 1wareness that we are3 on the other hand3 can?t 0e de2ined. It has no gender3 no ph/sical dimensions3 no this or that. It is not
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distinct 2rom an/thing that is 0eing o0served. 1lthough we might e4perience 1wareness as a witness o2 li2e3 0ecause that?s how the mind conceives o2 it3 1wareness is not a witness3 0ut more like witnessing. When we are 2irst learning to separate ourselves 2rom the mind3 conceptualiEing a witness who is o0serving the mind can 0e help2ul3 0ut that witness is not 1wareness. =he witness is Iust an idea that represents 1wareness. =o witness the mind3 we need awareness3 0ut making 1wareness into a witness is making it into a thing3 which it?s not. 1wareness is more like the e4perience o2 witnessing. Learning to witness our own mind is the 2irst step in 0ecoming 2ree o2 the ego and its conditioning. "ut to 2ree ourselves 2rom identi2ication with the egoic mind takes more than Iust witnessing the mind. I2 we witness our mind and still 0elieve it3 we aren?t an/ 2reer than when we were identi2ied with it. =o 0e 2ree o2 our conditioning3 we also have to see the 2alseness o2 it. Even so3 there?s one more ver/ important step. :an/ people are aware o2 their egoic mind and the 2alseness o2 it3 0ut the/ still aren?t 2ree o2 it 0ecause the/ are still giving their attention to it. =he e4perience is like watching a 0ad =A show3 acknowledging that it?s 0ad3 0ut sta/ing glued to the =A set. @ntil we put our attention on what is true instead o2 on what is 2alse3 we won?t 0e 2ree. We will still 0e e4periencing our ego more than our true sel2. =o 0e 2ree o2 the ego re5uires moving our attention awa/ 2rom our conditioned thoughts to the truth o2 who we are. It re5uires knowing ourselves as 1wareness and seeing and responding to li2e as 1wareness. When we know ourselves as 1wareness3 we e4perience our thoughts as onl/ a small part o2 what?s going on in an/ moment3 not the main show. 1wareness takes in all o2 li2e3 not Iust what?s showing up on the =A screen o2 our mind. =rue
8iscovering Who 6ou 1re
2reedom comes 2rom stepping 0ack 2rom the =A screen o2 our mind to a place where we can take in the rest o2 the room and what?s going on in the rest o2 the room. "/ 0ecoming aware o2 what else is showing up in the moment3 we can 0egin to reall/ live in the moment and respond to it naturall/3 uncluttered 0/ our mental commentar/ and the ego?s desires. We are in the moment without the egoic mind in2luencing our e4perience o2 it. When the voice o2 the ego no longer dominates and colors the landscape o2 li2e3 that is spiritual 2reedom3 or li0eration. =hat voice is e4perienced as one small aspect o2 the landscape3 one other thing that comes and goes in the landscape. =he ego?s voice 0ecomes impersonal3 something in the landscape that has no more personal relevance than a 0ird?s song or the temperature o2 the room. We still e4perience it3 0ut we don?t e4perience it as our voice3 and we are no longer compelled to 2ollow it or e4press it. Bnce we gain some detachment 2rom the ego?s voice3 it?s possi0le to e4perience the E4periencer3 the true sel23 the consciousness that is 0ehind all li2e and 0ehind our particular li2e. =he E4periencer is in love with li2e3 and when we let it live us3 we are in love with li2e3 and our actions and words e4press that love. Freedom 2rom the ego 0rings a 2inal rela4ation into the true sel2 and the possi0ilit/ o2 0eing that in the world instead o2 the ego. What a relie2J
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#ECO/IN3 AWARE O% AWARENESS "ecoming aware o2 ourselves as 1wareness is as eas/ as noticing we are aware. 1wareness is so o0vious that it?s taken 2or granted3 overlooked. 6et3 when we turn our attention to what is aware3 we get a glimpse o2 the m/steriousness o2 who we reall/ are. What is it that is looking out o2 /our e/es and taking in the world< What is looking isn?t /our e/es. Bur e/es are an instrument o2 awareness3 0ut awareness isn?t located inside our head or 0od/3 although it seems to 0e. It?s more like awareness is 2unneled through the 0od/( mind. 1t death3 awareness is withdrawn3 and onl/ the 0od/ remains. =hen it 0ecomes o0vious that whomever or whatever was alive was not the 0od/. Without the animation o2 the 0od/ that consciousness3 or the soul3 0rings to it3 the 0od/ is Iust a mass o2 cells3 inert material. When something is said to 0e soulless3 we all know what that means. =he soul3 although not acknowledged 0/ science3 is evident to man/ who have 0een with someone as he or she has died. When the soul incarnates and consciousness3 or 1wareness3 comes into the 0od/3 the 0od/ 0ecomes capa0le o2 0eing a vehicle 2or who we reall/ are. =he capacit/ to 0e aware is Spirit as it lives through what we call our 0od/. We aren?t actuall/ our 0od/3 0ut the awareness that?s operating through it3 although we mistake ourselves 2or the 0od/ and 2or all the other la0els given to the 0od/ and the personalit/. =he process o2 human evolution is a process o2 disidenti2ication with the 0od/3 mind3 and personalit/ and a reidenti2ication with3
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or a realiEation o23 our true nature. =hat realiEation and shi2t in identi2ication is called awakening. 1wakening is the destin/ o2 ever/ human 0eing. 1wakening 0egins 0/ 0ecoming aware o2 1wareness3 0/ noticing and there2ore e4periencing more 2ull/ what?s actuall/ alive in /our 0od/. What gives /our 0od/ li2e< =hat?s who /ou reall/ are. 6ou are what 0rings li2e into the 0od/ and sustains it through 0reathing and enlivening ever/ s/stem. When the consciousness that /ou are decides to leave3 the 0od/ stops 0eing alive. Who we are is the consciousness that allows the 0od/ to 0e alive and aware. =he more we notice 1wareness3 the stronger the energetic e4perience that accompanies it 0ecomes. =hat energetic e4perience is an e4perience o2 aliveness. So although who we reall/ are isn?t ph/sical3 it can 0e sensed ph/sicall/3 and it is sensed as energ/3 a vi0rating aliveness. =he energetic sense o2 aliveness is as close as we can get to e4periencing who we reall/ are ph/sicall/. "ecoming more aware o2 that su0tle vi0ration3 or aliveness3 helps us align with our true nature.
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A-I4ENESS When we are in our 0od/ and senses and not in our head3 we e4perience a sense o2 aliveness that is 2elt as a su0tle energetic vi0ration3 or tingling3 and a sense o2 0eing alive3 illumined3 and aware. =hese sensations are how who we reall/ are is e4perienced 0/ the 0od/(mind. =hat aliveness is the 2elt(sense o2 who we reall/ are and what we e4perience when we are in the $ow. When we are aligned with who we reall/ are and not identi2ied with the ego3 we 2eel that aliveness3 Presence3 energeticall/3 and it?s ver/ pleasura0le. =he 2act that who we reall/ are3 Essence3 can 0e 2elt energeticall/ is ver/ hand/ 0ecause it makes identi2/ing when we are aligned with Essence and when we aren?t easier. =hat sense o2 aliveness can also help us realign with Essence when we are identi2ied with the ego. I2 /ou 2ind /oursel2 contracted and su22ering3 /ou can search 2or the sense o2 aliveness3 which is alwa/s present3 and 2ocus on it. $o matter how 2aint the e4perience o2 aliveness is3 it will increase as /ou pa/ attention to it. Focusing on aliveness is a wa/ o2 accessing Essence in ever/ moment. =he more /ou pa/ attention to the aliveness3 the more o0vious it 0ecomes. It can 0ecome ver/ strong3 and when it does3 it acts like an anchor3 grounding us in the $ow and helping us sta/ there. =he sense o2 aliveness can drown out the ego?s mind(chatter3 relegating it to the 0ackground. I2 we 2ocus on the aliveness o2ten enough as we go a0out our da/3 it will 0ecome the 2oreground3 and the mind( chatter will 2all into the 0ackground. When we are grounded in aliveness3 we e4perience a deep calm and peace2ulness3 which allows us to move through our da/ with e5uanimit/. =hat peace2ulness is un2lappa0le3 unless our emotional
0od/ gets triggered 0/ a 0elie2 or 0/ someone else?s 0elie2 we?ve identi2ied with. When that happens3 the aliveness is still present and can 0ring us 0ack into the $ow i2 we give our attention to it instead o2 to the thoughts and 2eelings that were triggered. $ot 0u/ing into our thoughts and 2eelings doesn?t make us less human3 as some might think. It?s Iust a di22erent wa/ o2 0eing in the world3 although not the most common one. "eing aligned with aliveness instead o2 our thoughts and 2eelings actuall/ makes us more e22ective and 2unctionalKand also more kindKthan 0eing identi2ied with our thoughts and 2eelings. "eing aligned with Essence instead o2 the egoic mind is the ne4t step in humanit/?s evolution. Eventuall/ we will all awaken out o2 the egoic mind and live 2rom Essence. Emotions will still e4ist in potential3 0ut the/ won?t run roughshod over the 0od/(mind. E5uanimit/3 acceptance3 and love will 0e the most common state instead o2 discontentment3 striving3 contraction3 and 2ear. Certain individuals are heralding this shi2t in consciousness and helping to 0ring it a0out. =he potential to live 2rom Essence e4ists in ever/one3 0ut onl/ some people will make that a priorit/. =he more people who do3 the easier it will 0e 2or the rest o2 humanit/ to make that shi2t in consciousness. 6ou are pro0a0l/ motivated to make the shi2t to living 2rom Essence. Pa/ing attention to the 2eeling o2 aliveness is one o2 the most use2ul tools 2or awakening. B2 course3 the egoic sel2 isn?t the one who chooses to do that. What chooses to give attention to the aliveness is Essence3 as it awakens /ou. =he ego will 2ight that choice all the wa/. Essence is the awareness o2 the whole drama 0etween the ego and the you that is awakening.
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NOTICIN3 AS A DOORWA INTO T*E NOW =he present moment3 the $ow3 is where we meet our true sel2. Who we reall/ are isn?t who we think we are. Who we reall/ are has nothing to do with thinking and ever/thing to do with not thinking. When we aren?t involved with the egoic mind3 we move into the $ow and the e4perience o2 who we reall/ are. =he ego3 the sense o2 me3 disappears as soon as it encounters the $ow3 so the ego runs 2rom the $ow. It can?t survive in the $ow. It?s revived and survives through thought3 particularl/ through thoughts a0out the past and 2uture3 0ut also a0out the present. =he ego tells stories a0out the past3 present3 and 2uture. Pa/ing attention to these stories takes us out o2 the $ow and into the egoic mind?s made(up realit/. When we are identi2ied with the egoic mind3 we live in the ego?s interpretation o2 realit/3 not in realit/. We live in its e4planations a0out what is, what was3 and what will 0e. =hese stories take us awa/ 2rom the living realit/ o2 the $ow. =o e4perience the $ow3 we merel/ have to notice what?s happening in the present moment without our interpretations3 opinions3 Iudgments3 0elie2s3 or concepts. =his ma/ sound di22icult3 0ut all it takes is a shi2t 2rom 0eing a0sor0ed in our thoughts to noticing our thoughts. $oticing whatever else is present in addition to our thoughts without interpreting it3 Iudging it3 or telling a stor/ a0out it 0rings us into the $ow and can keep us there as long as we continue to notice without interpreting or telling stories a0out what we?re noticing. However3 once an/ Iudgment3 opinion3 or 0elie2 is considered instead o2 Iust noticed3 we are 0ack in the mind and identi2ied with the ego again instead o2 with Essence.
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Whenever we notice and 0ecome 2ull/ involved in what is without 0ecoming involved in an/ mental activit/3 Essence 0ecomes apparent. $oticing is a doorwa/ to e4periencing Essence 0ecause noticing is a 5ualit/ o2 who we reall/ are. Essence is o2ten re2erred to as 1wareness 0ecause who we are is the 1waring Presence that is conscious and aware o2 ever/thing. Essence is Io/ousl/ participating in its creation 0/ 0eing aware o2 what it has created3 including itsel2 mani2esting as an individual. When we stop and ask3 GWho am I<H what we 2ind is nothing. We 2ind onl/ Presence3 1wareness3 Consciousness3 which is aware o2 the thoughts3 2eelings3 sensations3 and e4periences o2 the individual that we assume we are. =his 1wareness3 this noticing o2 ever/thing3 is who we reall/ areJ When we realiEe we are 1warenessKthe $oticerKthen it makes sense that noticing is a wa/ 0ack to Essence. Bnce we have realiEed Essence through noticing3 then allowing is necessar/ in order to sta/ in contact with Essence. Bur noticing must 0e in2used with allowing and without an/ mental activit/. Br i2 there is mental activit/3 then that?s noticed. =he ego3 on the other hand3 does the opposite o2 allowing. When it notices something3 it la0els it3 Iudges it3 and relates it 0ack to how it will a22ect me. 1s soon as we 0ecome engaged with the mind3 allowing stops and resistance takes its place. We 0ecome identi2ied3 once again3 with the me3 the 2alse sel2 that opposes li2e3 rather than with who we reall/ are. =he 1wareness that is our true nature is aware o2 ever/thing that ma/ 0e part o2 an/ moment thoughts3 2eelings3 desires3 sensations3 energ/3 sights3 sounds3 inner e4periences3 intuitions3 urges3 inspirations3 and much more. When we are noticing and allowing3 we also are aware o2 these things. 1s a result o2 0eing
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aware3 a knowing might arise a0out an action to take. 1ctivit/ naturall/ arises 2rom 0eing aware o2 what is in each moment. =he ego has its own e4perience o2 each moment and attends to onl/ a small portion o2 what can 0e e4perienced in an/ moment. =he ego acts in keeping with its limited perceptions and sense o2 separateness. =hese actions are o2ten ver/ di22erent 2rom the actions Essence would take. Essence allows us to 2ollow the ideas and 2eelings generated 0/ the ego i2 doing so doesn?t inter2ere with Essence?s intentions3 0ecause part o2 what Essence intends is that we e4plore the world and create according to our ideas and 2eelings. Essence is interested in seeing what we will create3 0ut it also has intentions o2 its own and man/ wa/s o2 guiding us toward them. It also participates in creation 0/ inspiring spontaneous actionKaction that arises without prior thought. So /ou could sa/ there are two t/pes o2 activit/ activit/ instigated 0/ the ego and activit/ inspired 0/ Essence. "oth are o2ten going on simultaneousl/. 1s we evolve3 Essence 0egins to live through us more3 and ego(driven activit/ structures our li2e less. $oticing is an important spiritual practice 2or getting in touch with Essence and with how it?s moving us. Essence is ver/ active in our lives and can 0e more active the more we acknowledge it as a motivating 2orce. =he less attention we give the egoic mind and its suggestions 2or how to live3 and the more attention CnoticeD we give Essence and its drives and inspiration3 the more smoothl/ and happil/ we move through li2e. $oticing and allowing are ke/ spiritual practices that align us with our true nature and support Essence?s intentions 2or us.
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#EIN3 NO#OD AND E4ER #OD When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we 2eel like some0od/ Some0od/ who likes this and doesn?t like that3 who wants this and doesn?t want that3 who looks this wa/ and not that wa/3 who has this histor/ and not some other histor/3 who has certain dreams and desires and not others. 1ll these are woven into an idea and a stor/ a0out who we are3 which makes us 2eel like a certain some0od/. We have an image3 a histor/3 goals3 and an imagined 2uture. 1ll o2 this seems like who we are. "ut3 as the/ sa/3 things are not alwa/s as the/ seem. Ideas a0out what we like3 what we?ve done3 what we want3 what we look like3 and so man/ other ideas make up our sel2(image. "ut our sel2(image is still Iust an image3 an imagination3 a picture3 an idea o2 who we are. It isn?t who we reall/ are. Ever/one has a sel2( image3 0ut that doesn?t make sel2(images real. =he/ are Iust ideas. We pretend we are our sel2(image and that others are our image o2 them3 0ut no one is an image. Ever/one is something other than an image3 0ecause an image isn?t what?s walking around and living li2e. We also aren?t the 0od/ we?re walking around in. Who we reall/ are is using the 0od/3 0ut it isn?t the 0od/. =he pro0lem is that what we reall/ are isn?t an image or even a thing. It isn?t something the mind can understand 0ecause it?s 0e/ond the mind and can?t 0e e4pressed in language. Who we reall/ are is not an image or a thing3 0ut more like an experience o2 no(thing(ness. =he mind would rather not acknowledge no(thing( ness 0ecause it?s uncom2orta0le with no(thing(ness3 since it was designed to deal with things. "ecause who we reall/ are can?t 0e e4perienced 0/ the mind3 the ego considers who we reall/ are to 0e
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nothing3 which it is3 0ut not nothing o2 conse5uence3 as the ego assumes. When we drop out o2 our mind and into the moment and into our Heart3 we e4perience who we reall/ are3 0ut not as an image. When we are in the Heart CEssenceD3 images and ideas drop awa/3 and what?s le2t is simpl/ an e4perience o2 0eing3 or o2 0eing no0od/ in particularKnot a male or 2emale3 not /oung or old3 not attractive or unattractive3 not smart or dum03 not an/thing we can name. =he e4perience o2 our true nature is an e4perience o2 emptiness. Bur true nature is empt/ o2 all de2initionL and /et3 it?s 2ull and complete3 lacking nothing. =he e4perience o2 0eing no0od/ and nothing is e5uall/ an e4perience o2 0eing ever/0od/ and ever/thing 0ecause this emptiness is without 0oundaries and there2ore includes ever/thingL nothing is le2t out. =here?s no me and /ou3 0ut onl/ spaciousness3 0eingness. =hat unending spaciousness is who we are. It?s possi0le to e4perience no0od/(ness or ever/0od/(ness in an/ moment 0ecause our true sel2 is alwa/s hereKit?s what is living li2eJ =he reason the empt/ spaciousness that we are isn?t e4perienced more o2ten or more consistentl/ is that the ego isn?t com2orta0le with it. =he ego runs 2rom the e4perience o2 who we reall/ are and draws us into its arenaKthoughtsKwhere we lose awareness o2 our true nature. Whenever /ou e4perience who /ou reall/ are3 notice how the ego comes in with a thought to 0ring /ou 0ack into its world o2 ideas about li2e and out o2 the experience o2 li2e. Who /ou areK no0od/ or ever/0od/Kis e4periencing li2e3 while the ego Iust thinks a0out li2e and makes up stories a0out it. What a di22erent realit/ the ego?s realit/ is than real li2eJ When we give our attention to thoughts3 those ideas and 0elie2s 0ecome our realit/L and when we
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give our attention to the e4perience o2 the present moment3 our true nature 0ecomes our realit/. =he more /ou notice the e22ect that pa/ing attention to /our thoughts has on /ouKcontraction3 stress3 tension3 unhappiness3 and negative 2eelingsKthe more /ou will choose to turn /our attention awa/ 2rom the world o2 thought and onto this simple moment. =he $ow is 2ull and rich and has all the peace /ou have ever wanted. What the $ow doesn?t have are the pro0lems and drama created 0/ the ego3 which the ego wants 0ecause pro0lems and drama keep us attached to our thoughts. 1re /ou read/ to e4change /our pro0lems and the drama o2 the ego 2or peace3 contentment3 and the e4perience o2 0eing no0od/< It?s a reall/ good deal.
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ACCEPTANCE 1cceptance is a 5ualit/ o2 our true nature. =he 1wareness that we are3 Essence3 is naturall/ accepting. It accepts 0ecause it loves li2eK all o2 li2e and ever/ possi0le e4perience it might have through us. It is so in love with li2e and the possi0ilities li2e 0rings that it em0races even the di22icult e4periences. It is curious and an4ious to e4perience ever/thing that li2e Cits creationD o22ers. It Iumps into creation with eagerness and Io/. We are a0le to 2eel that Io/ i2 we are willing to. B2ten we are too caught up in the ego?s reIection o2 li2e to notice the acceptance and love o2 li2e that is the ongoing e4perience o2 who we reall/ are. =he ego?s resistance to li2e overshadows Essence?s love and acceptance o2 li2e until a certain point in our evolution when that shi2ts. =hat shi2t is called awakening, and with awakening comes the possi0ilit/ o2 loving and accepting whatever li2e 0rings. =he 2reedom that comes 2rom spiritual awakening is not 2reedom 2rom di22icult e4periencesKthe same challenges e4ist a2ter awakening as 0e2oreK0ut 2reedom 2rom seeing a di22icult e4perience as undesira0le. Essence loves Gundesira0leH e4periences as much as it loves Gdesira0leH ones3 sometimes even more 0ecause o2 their potential 2or growth. 1cceptance isn?t something we can talk ourselves into i2 we are identi2ied with the ego. =he ego has man/ good reasons 2or not liking or accepting a di22icult e4perience. 8i22icult e4periences are di22icult3 a2ter all. ;ather3 acceptance is something that we notice is alread/ here3 however su0tle. 1cceptance isn?t produced 0/ the mind3 although it can 0e o0scured 0/ the mind. 1cceptance Iust is. It?s unwaveringl/ here right now and in ever/ moment. 1ccepting
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whatever we are e4periencing is alwa/s possi0le 0ecause who we reall/ are is alread/ accepting it. 1ll it takes to accept something that?s di22icult to accept is aligning with who we reall/ are instead o2 identi2/ing with the ego3 which is resisting that e4perience. Bne wa/ to align with Essence is to 0e willing to accept something even i2 /ou don?t like it. "eing willing to accept something creates an environment in which aligning with Essence is possi0le. 1s long as we are determined to not accept something3 which is the ego?s usual stance3 we will remain stuck in the ego and the su22ering it causes. However3 a simple statement o2 willingness to accept what we don?t want to accept can 2ree us 2rom 0eing stuck in the ego?s resistance to li2e and open the door 2or movement toward Essence and acceptance. =o accept what?s happening3 we don?t have to approve o2 it or like itL we onl/ have to 0e willing to have the e4perience we are having now. "eing willing to have the e4perience we are having is simpl/ a sane choice3 since things can?t 0e an/ other wa/ than the wa/ the/ happen to 0eK2or now. 1ccepting things as the/ are doesn?t mean the/ won?t change3 which is the ego?s take on acceptance. 1ccepting things the wa/ the/ are is simpl/ more 2unctional than not accepting them. 1cceptance helps us deal more e22ectivel/ with whatever we are e4periencing. Instead o2 0eing lost in 2ears and negative stories a0out what we are e4periencing3 we can 0e present to the situation3 and when we are3 we 2ind ourselves responding naturall/ and wisel/ to it. =he ego 2ights to change whatever it doesn?t like 0ecause3 to the ego3 li2e is all a0out getting what it wants and avoiding what it doesn?t want. =he ego doesn?t see li2e as having an inherent wisdom and reason 2or 0eing3 0e/ond avoiding pain and getting more pleasure and whatever else it wants. It also doesn?t see li2e as a process o2 evolution.
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"ehind whatever we are e4periencing3 is a wisdom and purpose2ulness. Sa/ing /es to what we are e4periencing ena0les us to discover its purpose2ulness and 2ind 2ul2illment in that. Ever/ e4perience is an opportunit/ to grow3 learn3 evolve3 and 0ecome wiser and more loving3 which is how Essence views li2e. 1cceptance allows us to tap into the potential 2or good that an e4perience holds. It allows us to 0ene2it 2rom an e4perience and move through it as grace2ull/ as possi0le. 1nd it allows us to 2eel the Io/ Essence 2eels in having that e4perience and ever/ other e4perience. 1cceptance aligns us with Essence?s plan and the role that an e4perience is pla/ing in our plan so that we can grow 2rom it3 as Essence intends. I2 /ou are having di22icult/ accepting something3 acknowledge an/ resistance and con2usion /ou might 0e having and a22irm that /ou are willing to have that challenging e4perience. =hen ask 2or help in accepting the e4perience3 learning 2rom it3 and moving grace2ull/ through it. =hen3 i2 /ou can3 tr/ to align with Essence?s perspective o2 that challenge 0/ 0eing ver/ present in the moment. =he peace3 Io/3 acceptance3 and wisdom o2 Essence are alwa/s availa0le when we are willing to tune in to Essence instead o2 2ocusing on the ego?s resistance and complaints. 1cceptance is the antidote to the ego?s resistance to li2e and the wa/ out o2 the su22ering caused 0/ that resistance.
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52ST #EIN3 9ust 0e. =hat sounds simple enough. How can we do an/thing other than 0e< "eing isn?t something we do3 which is what makes Iust 0eing challenging in our culture o2 doers. "eing isn?t particularl/ respected among egos. We have to 0e somebody3 and the wa/ we get to 0e some0od/ is 0/ doing 6ou are some0od/ who has done this or that. =he person and persona are created 0/ doing3 not 0/ 0eing. However3 when all the accomplishments and la0els are stripped awa/3 all that?s le2t is a sense o2 0eing3 o2 e4isting3 in this simple moment. Such an e4perience o2 pure 0eing is the gi2t that happens Iust 0e2ore death 2or some people3 0ut it can 0e our ongoing e4perience. In the state o2 pure 0eing3 the sense o2 me, or ego3 drops awa/3 which is wh/ the ego avoids Iust 0eing. =he ego is striving to 0e special3 not annihilated. =his striving keeps the ego intact. Ironicall/3 when we stop striving3 2or once3 and Iust allow ourselves to be, we get what we were looking 2or all along peace and contentment. Isn?t peace and contentment what /our striving has alwa/s 0een a0out< I2 /our striving hasn?t 0een 2or peace and contentment3 then what has it 0een 2or< It?s 0een 2or ever/thing the ego wants specialness3 com2orts3 mone/3 possessions3 pleasures3 sa2et/3 and securit/. We want these things 0ecause we hope the/ will relieve us 2rom the ego?s stress2ul striving and 2ears. We work so hard in service to the ego?s desires3 and still we don?t 2ind peace and contentment3 even when we get what we desire. What a surprise it is to discover that we never needed to strive to survive and 0e happ/ a2ter all. Like 8oroth/ in The i!ard of "!3
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who discovered that she alwa/s had the means 2or going home3 we alread/ have what we need to 0e happ/ and sa2e. We have never reall/ le2t Home. However3 i2 we don?t 0elieve we alread/ have what we need to 0e happ/ and sa2e3 it?s as i2 it isn?t true I2 we don?t know that the ru0/ slippers will take us home3 it?s like not having them. =he ego keeps us 2rom seeing the truth a0out those ru0/ slippersKit keeps us 2rom seeing the truth a0out li2e. Home is right here3 right now3 0ut we ma/ not realiEe that and there2ore not e4perience Home3 or Essence3 as much as we might. =he good news is that no matter how lost we might 0e in striving3 there are moments when we e4perience the peace and happiness at our core. =he e4perience might 0e 2leeting3 and we might not think much o2 it 0ecause it isn?t what the ego wants3 which is something 2lashier. "ut peace2ul moments spring up une4pectedl/ even in the 0usiest da/. "rie2l/3 we touch into the radiant and e45uisite truth o2 our 0eing. 1nd then that taste o2 the truth is gone3 like a dream3 and we are 0ack in the illusion o2 the 2alse sel2 and its 2antasies o2 what it needs to 0e happ/. We can make room 2or more e4periences o2 radiance3 peace3 and 0eaut/L and when we do3 the/ arrive. When we make an intention to e4perience peace3 when we value peace enough to make room 2or it and invite it into our 0us/ lives3 it arrives 0earing gi2ts. We make room 2or this guest3 not 0/ doing an/thing3 0ut 0/ Iust 0eing3 Iust allowing ourselves to rest3 once and 2or all3 in this sweet moment with no agenda3 no purpose3 no reason 0ut to Iust e4perience the moment as it is. We make room 2or peace and happiness 0/ Iust noticing them. We notice that peace and happiness are alread/ here3 and noticing them 0rings them more strongl/ into 2ocus. Peace and happiness are alwa/s here3 0ut the/ o2ten go unnoticed.
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=o e4perience peace and happiness3 all it takes is noticing. 1nd noticing is eas/. It?s our nature to notice3 to 0e aware. It?s Iust that most o2 the time what we are aware o2 is our thoughts. "eing aware o2 what?s going on outside our head takes nothing more than turning our attention awa/ 2rom thoughts a0out me and onto what is real. What is real is li2e3 as it e4ists 0e/ond thoughts a0out me and 0e/ond all the ego?s evaluations and commentar/. When we notice real li2e3 when we step into the 2ullness o2 the $ow without thought3 we discover peace3 contentment3 and happiness3 an ordinar/ simplicit/ that?s 0eauti2ul and Io/2ul. =he e4perience o2 peace and happiness is the e4perience o2 the real /ou that is living this li2e.
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AWARENESS /EDITATION :editation is such an important practice 0ecause it ac5uaints us with Essence and trains us to move out o2 our mind. =he state o2 ego identi2ication is rein2orced whenever we 0elieve the egoic mind and the 2eelings it generates. When we 0u/ into the ego?s perceptions3 the ego is strengthened. =o discover that other perceptions and another wa/ o2 li2e e4ist3 we have to turn awa/ 2rom the mind3 which has 0een so empowered 0/ the attention we have given it. "reaking the pattern o2 pa/ing attention to the egoic mind takes commitment3 and the ego will 2ight us ever/ step o2 the wa/. It resists 0/ 0alking at meditation3 telling us that meditation won?t help or isn?t helping3 that it?s too hard3 that we don?t like it3 or that we don?t have time. =he ego digs up e4cuses 2or not meditating. When we do meditate3 the ego chats incessantl/ at us. It also stirs up 2ears a0out what we might e4perience during meditation and how that might change our li2e. =he dissolution o2 the ego that happens in meditation can 2eel 2rightening3 0ut that 2ear is natural. Fear is what the ego uses3 and alwa/s has used3 to control us. =he ego is onl/ open to meditation 0ecause o2 the possi0ilit/ o2 having a spiritual e4perience that would 2eel good and make it 2eel special. I2 special e4periences aren?t happening3 the ego won?t sta/ interested in meditation. =here?s no good reason not to meditate and ever/ reason to meditate. :editation is the most important thing /ou can do to support awakening. For most people3 a practice o2 meditation or something similar is necessar/ to awaken and em0od/ that awakeness in dail/ li2e.
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:editating doesn?t have to 0e complicated. It?s as simple as an/thing can 0e. What?s di22icult a0out meditating is committing time to it dail/. =he regularit/ o2 meditation is important in order to counteract the rein2orcement we are ha0ituall/ giving the egoic mind 0/ 0eing so involved with it. Something else ver/ important happens when we commit ourselves to a practice o2 meditation Spiritual 2orces that are assisting our evolution are summoned. 122irming our desire to awaken and 0acking it up with a practice o2 meditation sends a clear signal to nonph/sical 2orces that we are read/ to awaken3 and the/ take it as a cue to help us wake up. :editation is as simple as Iust sitting and noticing3 or 0eing aware o23 what?s occurringKwhat?s coming into our sensesL what energetic sensations are 0eing e4periencedL what thoughts3 2eelings intuitions3 inspirations3 drives3 and urges are arisingKwithout getting involved in the mind?s commentar/ a0out these things. Getting us involved in its commentar/ is how the egoic mind takes us out o2 the $ow. I2 we 2ollow its train o2 thought3 we will no longer e4perience the 2ullness o2 the $ow3 0ut onl/ a small slice o2 it. =he goal o2 meditation is to e4perience our true nature3 or Essence. Essence is the noticing3 aware Presence that we imitate when we sit down to meditate. In imitating 1wareness 0/ 0eing aware o2 ever/thing we are e4periencing in the moment C0ut not identi2/ing with itD3 we become that 1wareness3 we drop into it. $oticing without getting involved in an/ thoughts a0out what we are noticing aligns us with Essence. When we are aligned with Essence3 our e4perience o2 the moment changes. Bur 0oundaries so2ten3 we ma/ 2eel a sense o2 e4pansion3 and the sense o2 me 2alls into the 0ackground or disappears altogether. Peace3 contentment3 acceptance3 gratitude3
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compassion3 love3 and an/ num0er o2 other positive 5ualities ma/ arise. =hese 5ualities are indications o2 Essence. When we give our attention to those 5ualities3 the e4perience o2 them increases. It?s possi0le to achieve 5uite a 0liss2ul state 0/ meditating3 although that isn?t the goal. =he goal isn?t to achieve a particular good 2eeling3 0ut to e4perience Essence and what it intends. Essence is here3 living through us. It is incarnate3 and it intends to have certain e4periences and accomplish certain things through us. It doesn?t push us like the ego3 0ut inspires us through Io/ to involve ourselves in certain activities. In meditation3 we 2eel Essence?s Io/ in 0eing alive through us3 and we ma/ receive guidance 2rom Essence intuitivel/. We 2ind peace and contentment in meditating and a welcome respite 2rom the ego?s world o2 striving. We also 2ind true motivation. :editation 0rings us into the $ow3 where we can discover how Essence is moving us. When the mind is out o2 the wa/3 Essence can guide us more easil/. :editation is 2ar 2rom an escape 2rom li2e3 which is what the ego thinks. Instead3 it allows us to align more trul/ with the li2e we were meant to live.
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W*O CREATES O2R REA-IT 6 We are an e4pression o2 the Bneness3 or Essence3 and it creates through us in two wa/s It inspires and moves us to create the realit/ it intends 2or us3 and it also allows our ego to create the realit/ the ego chooses. So two things are going on in an/ moment Essence is attempting to move us in keeping with its intentions3 and the ego is attempting to move us in keeping with its desires3 0elie2s3 and other conditioning. In an/ moment3 we have the 2reedom to 2ollow the ego or to 2ollow Essence. =he ego has 5uite an advantage 0ecause we are programmed to 0elieve we are the 2alse sel2. In addition3 we are programmed to 0elieve the ego?s 0elie2s and desires are ours and that the/ are true and use2ul guides 2or how to live our li2e. =hat setup leads to a lot o2 learning and growth 2or the character we are pla/ing3 and the ego and the programming were created to do e4actl/ that. Bur programming3 or conditioning3 was designed to 0ring the Bneness a uni5ue e4perience3 0ecause each o2 us has di22erent programming3 and so we are 0ound to have di22erent e4periences. =he Bneness is having this e4perience through us 0ecause creating li2e is its wa/ o2 pla/ing3 e4ploring3 and e4panding itsel2. It e4periences li2e through us3 and it also a22ects li2e through us. It shapes li2e to create the e4perience it wants 0/ inspiring us to take action and 0/ communicating intuitivel/ to us. When we?re not 2ollowing our thoughts3 we discover that we still speak and act in the world. Bur thoughts don?t determine all our speech and actions3 although the/ determine most o2 them when we are identi2ied with the ego. When we are in Essence3 our speech and
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actions come 2rom Essence3 not the ego3 and that creates a ver/ di22erent li2e and e4perience than when we 2ollow our thoughts. =houghts are power2ul creators o2 realit/. What we 0elieve o2ten 0ecomes a sel2(2ul2illing prophec/. For instance3 i2 /ou think /ou are competent3 /ou will 2eel con2ident3 and that will help /ou 0ehave competentl/ when 2aced with a task. 6ou?ll 0e determined to prove /ou are competent 0ecause that?s /our sel2(image. Bn the other hand3 i2 /ou 0elieve /ou are incompetent3 /ou won?t 2eel con2ident3 and insecurit/ a0out /our capa0ilities is likel/ to undermine /our will to 0e competent. We don?t like to have our 0elie2s proven 2alse3 even our negative ones. Bn an unconscious level3 we?d rather prove that our negative 0elie2s are true than change them. So our thoughts are power2ul3 0ut the/ are onl/ one aspect o2 our realit/ and o2 what?s creating our realit/. Bther people?s thoughts and actions also a22ect our realit/3 and we have onl/ so much in2luence over those. :ore importantl/3 Essence is guiding our li2e3 and it a22ects our realit/ in an/ num0er o2 wa/s3 primaril/ through our intuition and 0/ inspiring us to take action. Essence is also in2luencing other people?s actions and choices in the same wa/. :an/ 2orces are at work in the creation o2 our realit/ our will3 other people?s will3 and Essence?s will. =he Bneness is an active participant in li2e through its am0assador to li2e Essence. =he Bneness didn?t create us and then leave us to do whatever we wish. It co(e4ists within us3 as Essence3 along with the ego3 which is Iust the sense that we are an individual that is separate 2rom other creations and 2rom the Bneness. In realit/3 there?s no separation 0etween ourselves and others and the Bneness 0ecause the Bneness has mani2ested ever/thing and lives through ever/thing. It is pla/ing in this material world 0/ creating the character that we think o2 as ourselves and 0/ inspiring and
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moving this character to act in certain wa/s. =he Bneness3 via Essence3 is ever(present and active in our li2e. We co(create our realit/ with Essence. We co(create 0/ choosing to 2ollow our desires and thoughts or 0/ 2ollowing our intuition and the spontaneous movement o2 Essence as it lives through us. 1ll the while3 ever/one else has the same 2reedom o2 choice3 which makes 2or a ver/ unpredicta0le3 0ut delight2ull/ chaotic3 set o2 circumstances 2or Essence Cand usD to enIo/.
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TWO 7INDS O% DESIRES 8esires make the world go around. We desire something3 and then we do something a0out it. Ever/one is 0us/ doing something a0out their desires. Ever/one is tr/ing to get what the/ want. "ut where do our desires come 2rom< 1nd are the/ worth/ o2 our time and energ/< =here are two kinds o2 desires3 and one is not as worth/ o2 our time and energ/ as the other. Bne kind comes 2rom the ego3 and the other 2rom Essence. =he ego?s desires can serve Essence3 in the sense that Essence wants e4perience3 and it wants to evolve. Pursuing what our ego wants 0rings us e4periences and challenges that evolve us. However3 the ego?s desires can inter2ere with certain intentions Essence has. For instance3 the ego o2ten makes choices that lead to mone/ and power3 and those choices ma/ inter2ere with Essence?s intentions. Essence ma/ 0e moving us to pursue something that doesn?t result in wealth or power3 0ut something else it values more. Essence?s intentions aren?t alwa/s di22erent 2rom the ego?s3 and when the/ aren?t at odds3 we 2eel little internal con2lict. Some o2 the con2usion and con2lict we 2eel around decisions comes 2rom the ego wanting something di22erent 2rom Essence3 although the ego o2ten has contradictor/ desires as well. Contradictor/ desires or drives arise simultaneousl/ sometimes3 and then we have to choose 0etween them. Following the ego?s desires instead o2 Essence?s will 0e less satis2/ing3 0ut we ma/ 2ind that out onl/ a2ter we?ve alread/ made that choice. Li2e is o2ten a series o2 corrections We choose something3 and then change course a2ter e4periencing the outcome o2 that choice.
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What Essence wants usuall/ eventuall/ triumphs 0ecause we 2eel its intentions so strongl/ and deepl/. What inter2eres most with 2ollowing our Heart is our conditioning and other people?s conditioning. When we are ver/ attached to our conditioning3 including our 2ears3 we o2ten make choices we later regret 0ecause the/ aren?t aligned with Essence. Even then3 i2 our conditioning is strong3 we might not choose di22erentl/. $ot 2ollowing our Heart causes a lot o2 su22ering and unhappiness. Fears are what keep most people 2rom 2ollowing their Heart. Fears go hand and hand with desires. For instance3 /ou want securit/ and com2ort3 so /ou are afraid to 2ollow /our Heart 0ecause doing so might not provide the securit/ and com2ort /ou want. We ma/ also sta/ with what?s 2amiliar 0ecause tr/ing something new 2eels scar/. =his3 un2ortunatel/3 is the stor/ o2 man/ people?s lives. Even so3 no li2e is ever a waste3 as something is learned 2rom ever/ choice. However3 much more happiness and 2ul2illment can 0e had 2rom choices aligned with Essence than 2rom those that are 2ear( 0ased. Essence allows us to choose the ego?s desires over the Heart?s 2or as long as we wish. :ost people live man/ li2etimes 0e2ore the/ have enough trust in li2e CEssenceD and enough detachment 2rom the ego to 2ollow their Heart. Eventuall/ ever/one learns to 0e true to themselves. Bnce we see that there?s something to choose 0etweenKthe ego or EssenceKthen we are ver/ close to 0eing a0le to live 2rom Essence. $evertheless3 in ever/one?s li2e3 there are turning points3 or times o2 transition3 when change is called 2or3 and the unknown 2eels 5uite scar/3 no matter how much we?ve 2ollowed our Heart up until then. 8uring times o2 change3 the ego gets ver/ stirred up3 and 2ears can 0ecome a real 0arrier to moving into something new.
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Bnce we realiEe that all 2ears are produced 0/ the ego3 it 0ecomes easier to dismiss them and not allow them to shape our choices. What does Essence want< =he answer lies in the 2eeling o2 Io/. Whatever Essence wants 2eels Io/2ul3 like a 0ig G/es.H 8iscriminating 0etween the ego?s desires and Essence?s isn?t as di22icult as /ou ma/ think 0ecause Essence?s intentions show up as Io/ rather than as a thought. =he/ are known intuitivel/3 or the/ ma/ pop into the mind as an G1ha3H which 2eels ver/ di22erent 2rom our usual thoughts. Ideas inspired 0/ Essence are accompanied 0/ Io/ and e4citement3 while the ego?s desires o2ten make us 2eel contracted3 since the/ come 2rom a sense o2 lack. We are meant to co(create with Essence3 0ut we are 2ree to co( create with the ego. :ost people go 0ack and 2orth 0etween the two. 1t some point in our evolution3 however3 we want more than an/thing to 0e done with the ego?s desires and to 2ollow our Heart. =hat desire comes 2rom the Heart when it?s time to awaken. =hen li2e can 0e lived much more happil/ and peace2ull/.
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%O--OWIN3 O2R *EART Ever/one seems to know what F2ollow /our heartF means. 1lthough the Heart is so su0tle and so unlike the mind3 people are aware o2 it3 and man/ do honor it. =he 0ene2its o2 2ollowing the Heart are3 no dou0t3 5uite o0vious to /ou in /our li2e and in other people?s lives. Still3 trusting the Heart can 0e hard at times. =he mind can 0e so nois/ and instill so much 2ear that seeing past it to what the Heart is sa/ing and trusting that can 0e challenging. =he ego?s voice is one o2 2ear and distrust. It doesn?t trust li2e. It e4pects di22iculties at ever/ turn and tries to avoid them through planning and thinking a0out the 2uture and mental rehearsals o2 the 2uture. However3 the truth is that such thoughts are impotent. =he/ don?t protect us 2rom li2e3 and the/ certainl/ aren?t capa0le o2 predicting the 2uture. =he/ keep us 0us/ in our heads and result in nothing o2 value. 8espite the impotence o2 the egoic mind3 we trust it. It?s a 2amiliar old G2riend.H "ut when we look closel/3 we discover that the egoic mind isn?t much o2 a 2riend. It o2ten scares us and 0elittles us until we 2eel compelled to listen to it. It convinces us that we can?t trust li2e and that we are sill/ i2 we do and that onl/ it has the answers to li2e. We trust the egoic mind out o2 ha0it3 without e4amining whether it?s trustworth/ or not. When we o0serve the egoic mind3 we discover Iust how untrustworth/ it is3 although most people don?t e4amine or 5uestion their thoughts. =he egoic mind causes us to make poor choices and 2eel negativel/ a0out ourselves3 others3 and li2e. 1nd we don?t see that our own mind has done that. =hat?s how strong the programming is around 0elieving the mind. We reall/ trust it3
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without 5uestion. When we 0egin to 5uestion our thoughts3 however3 the whole house o2 cards collapses. How is it we didn?t see this sooner< Indeed. =he programming is trick/. =hat?s the thing a0out programmingKwe aren?t supposed to see through itJ =he pro0lem is not onl/ that we so thoroughl/ trust the egoic mind3 0ut that the ego so thoroughl/ distrusts ever/thing else3 especiall/ Essence. We are programmed to look to the egoic mind 2or answers and to distrust answers coming 2rom an/where else. @ltimatel/3 that isn?t a pro0lem 0ecause Essence eventuall/ comes to the 2ore2ront and we allow it to guide our li2e more. =he ego can?t perpetuate its ruse inde2initel/. Eventuall/ the Iig is up3 and we see the truth a0out the egoic mind. Even those still deepl/ enmeshed in ego identi2ication are in Essence man/ times a da/. Essence 0reaks through into even the most contracted states. It rescues us 2rom entrapment in the egoic mind man/ times dail/. "ecause Essence is present in ever/one3 even those who are 5uite ego identi2ied can live a 2ul2illed li2e3 although the/ are 0ound to su22er some in the midst o2 it. Ever/one 2ollows their Heart to some e4tent. We can?t help 0ut 2ollow it 0ecause we are the Heart. Bur programming can onl/ keep us 2rom it so much. =hat?s ver/ good news. Following the Heart is the onl/ trustworth/ choice3 reall/. =rusting the Heart ma/ seem di22icult3 0ut once /ou see how untrustworth/ what /ou have 0een trusting actuall/ is3 then trusting the Heart 0ecomes much easier. Has 2ollowing /our Heart ever 2ailed /ou< Ever/one has had e4periences o2 2ollowing the Heart. What happened when /ou did< 6es3 it was pro0a0l/ scar/ Cand e4hilaratingD3 and doing so didn?t mean ever/thing went smoothl/ and e4actl/ as /our ego wanted C8oes it ever<D. "ut what we discover when we 2ollow our Heart is that the challenges we meet are rich3 and the resources we need to deal with them show up.
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Following the ego?s desires and plans 0/ no means guarantees getting what the ego wants eitherL it?s onl/ the belief that 2ollowing the ego?s plans will get us what we want that makes trusting the ego easier. What i2 /ou 0elieved in the Heart as much as /ou 0elieve in the ego<
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T*E SI/P-EST /EDITATION Here?s the simplest meditation3 which /ou can do an/where and an/time. It?s meant to 0ecome a wa/ o2 li2e3 not Iust a meditation $otice3 without getting involved in an/ thoughts a0out what /ou are noticing. Ignore all o2 the mind?s commentar/. $otice not onl/ what?s o0vious3 such as what /ou are seeing3 0ut also what?s more su0tle3 such as /our inner e4perience and state3 /our energ/ and sense o2 /oursel2 Cis it e4panded or contracted<D3 an/ knowing or intuitions3 an/ drives or motivations3 and an/ thoughts or 2eelings. $otice not onl/ what?s coming in through /our senses3 0ut also the impact that has on /ou su0tl/ and not so su0tl/. $otice ever/thing that?s arising in the moment and 0eing e4perienced. 1nd i2 /ou are involved in doing something3 reall/ notice that. =here?s a lot to notice in an/ momentJ =he reason 2or meditating is to develop /our a0ilit/ to sta/ present to thoughts and 2eelings3 which are products o2 the ego3 instead o2 identi2/ with them. We ha0ituall/ identi2/ with the egoic mindKwe 0elieve our thoughts and 2eelingsKand this causes a lot o2 su22ering. =he ego isn?t wise3 and it keeps us 2rom accessing true guidance and 2rom recogniEing what is reall/ living our li2e. =hrough noticing3 awareness o2 the $oticer is strengthened. 1nother name 2or the $oticer is Essence. =he $oticer is who we reall/ are. We are what is noticing3 or aware o23 li2e. =his simple meditation helps us get in touch with what we are actuall/ alwa/s doing noticing. However3 when we are identi2ied with thoughts and 2eelings3 we lose awareness o2 the $oticer3 which is still there3 o2 course. Getting to know ourselves as the $oticer instead o2 the egoic mind is what spiritual practices and meditation
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in particular are all a0out. Spiritual practices are meant to 0ring us an e4perience o2 Essence. What we are isn?t something in another dimension or apart 2rom usL it?s right here3 noticing the letters on this page. Who do /ou think is reading this< =hat which is alive and conscious is reading this3 and that is who /ou reall/ are. Who /ou reall/ are isn?t hidden and apart 2rom li2e3 0ut engaged and em0odied in it. We are programmed with a sense o2 0eing a me, with certain desires3 thoughts3 and wa/s o2 0eing in the world. "ut who we reall/ are is what is a0le to notice our desires3 thoughts3 and tendencies. We are programmed to think we are the me, 0ut we are actuall/ what?s aware o2 and a0le to contemplate the me. :oreover3 we are what can choose to do what the me wants or not. Bnce we?re no longer identi2ied with the me, we can choose how the me will e4press itsel2 in the world. =he me doesn?t have to 0e run 0/ the ego3 which tends to make negative and sel2ish choices. Bnce Essence takes over3 and /our choices come 2rom it rather than 2rom the ego3 li2e goes much 0etter. =he simple act o2 noticing is one o2 the most power2ul things /ou can do to trans2orm /our li2e 0ecause noticing moves /ou out o2 ego identi2ication and into Essence.
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/EDITATIN3 ON W*AT IS :editation is the practice o2 keeping our attention 2ocused on something that?s coming in through our senses the air moving in and out as /ou 0reatheL the movement o2 energ/ in /our 0od/L a mantra3 music3 or other soundsL a candle 2lame3 a mandala3 something 0eauti2ul3 or a guru?s picture. =he practice is to 0ring /our attention 0ack to these sensor/ e4periences whenever /ou 2ind /oursel2 caught up in a thought. When /ou notice /ou are thinking3 gentl/ 0ring /our attention 0ack to whatever /ou are 2ocusing on. =he purpose o2 this practice is not onl/ to 2eel peace3 0ut to train ourselves to 0e more permanentl/ in our senses and in the e4perience o2 the moment rather than in the mind and its version o2 realit/. For most people3 meditation provides temporar/ relie2 and respite 2rom li2e and 2rom the mind. However3 with a regular and dedicated practice o2 meditation Can hour or more a da/D3 the e22ects o2 meditation spill over into ever/da/ li2e and in2luence how we e4perience li2e and how we are in li2e. =hat?s wonder2ul news and a ver/ good reason to meditate. $evertheless3 meditation can 0e much more than something we practice once or twice a da/. Ever/ moment can 0e a meditation 0/ learning to 0e present to whatever we?re doing or whatever is going on. "eing present is a matter o2 attending to our sensor/ e4perience and not 0ecoming involved in the mind?s commentar/ a0out that or a0out something else. 1s with meditation3 0eing present to li2e is a matter o2 getting 2ull/ involved in whatever /ou are e4periencing and 0ringing /oursel2 0ack to that e4perience whenever /ou get caught up in a thought.
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Functional thought has a place in our da/3 o2 course. We need our minds to read3 calculate3 stud/3 plan3 write3 drive3 design3 and do all the other things we do in our 0us/ lives. =he thoughts we don?t need3 and the ones that meditation and 0eing present train us to ignore3 are the ones a0out me and how it?s going 2or the me. =hese thoughts 0elong to the egoic mind Cthe ego(driven3 or chatter0o43 mindD3 not to the 2unctional mind. =he egoic mind3 which takes us out o2 the $ow with evaluations3 Iudgments3 stories3 2ears3 dou0ts3 and ideas a0out the past and 2uture3 is not 2unctional3 0ut d/s2unctional. It draws us out o2 the experience o2 li2e and into its stor/ a0out li2e3 which is a place o2 dr/ness3 contraction3 discontentment3 and unhappiness. =he ego is an unhapp/ and negative sel2. Fortunatel/3 it isn?t who we reall/ are. Learning to 0e present to what is and sta/ present to that takes a lot o2 practice. 1ll o2 our lives we?ve 0een practicing giving our attention to the egoic mind3 so some e22ort is needed to neutraliEe this ha0it. 8etaching 2rom the mind isn?t eas/ and re5uires a lot o2 diligence3 0ut the alternative is 5uite unpleasantJ People o2ten don?t realiEe there is an alternative to listening to the chatter0o4 mind3 0ut there is Something else is living li2e3 and the egoic mind Iust chatters awa/3 pretending it?s the one in control. =he ego isn?t who we reall/ are3 although it pretends to 0e3 and it isn?t in control3 although Essence allows us to 2ollow the egoic mind i2 we choose. =he more accustomed to 0eing present we 0ecome3 the more we 0egin to live as Essence. =he $ow is not onl/ a place o2 sensor/ e4perience3 although that is su22icientl/ rich3 0ut also where li2e comes out o2. I2 we aren?t pa/ing attention to the $ow3 we might miss what li2e is tr/ing to 0ring a0out through us. We can 2ollow the egoic mind?s plans and ideas 2or our li2e i2 we want to3 0ut something else right here and now has a plan3 and that plan will 0e much more satis2/ing than an/thing the ego has to o22er.
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A-I3NIN3 WIT* ESSENCE We are actuall/ alread/ aligned with Essence 0ecause we are EssenceJ We can?t 0e an/thing other than Essence3 0ut we are under the illusion that we are the roles we pla/ and the ideas we have a0out ourselves. =he I that we think o2 ourselves as is Iust the idea I. Like ever/ other concept3 the I has no o0Iective realit/. =he idea I gives us a sense o2 e4isting separatel/ 2rom others and 2rom the rest o2 li2e3 0ut the I is Iust the thought I. Sit with this revelation a moment. 6our sense o2 sel2 is derived 2rom a set o2 ideas a0out /oursel23 which came 2rom others and 2rom conclusions /ou drew a0out /oursel2 0ecause o2 /our e4periences. =he I is so adorned with images3 0elie2s3 opinions3 desires3 2ears3 and 2eelings that it can 0e di22icult to see that these3 too3 are Iust ideas3 or stem 2rom ideas. We have 5uite a complete image o2 ourselves in our mind3 and people rein2orce each other?s sel2( images. =he e4perience o2 our 0od/ as a 0oundar/ 0etween ourselves and other people completes the picture o2 who we think we are. We 0elieve we e4ist within the limits o2 our 0od/. It does seem that wa/3 0ut we don?t actuall/ e4ist within that 0oundar/ or in an/ particular location. ;ather our soul3 or spirit3 gets assigned to a 0od/(mind3 and we take that 0od/(mind as who we are. 1ligning with Essence is a matter o2 realiEing that we are not the 0od/(mind we are 2unctioning through 0ut the essence o2 li2e itsel23 poured into3 i2 /ou will3 a particular 0od/(mind. =he essence o2 li2e that we are doesn?t 2it inside one 0od/(mind3 so our 0od/(mind is hardl/ a complete representation o2 who we reall/ are. We are s5ueeEed into this container3 which shapes and limits our e4pression. =he container is that o2 a human 0eing Cat least this
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time aroundJD. We are Iust pla/ing at 0eing a human 0eing3 and we have pla/ed at 0eing a human 0eing in man/ other li2etimes. We are learning certain lessons that 0elong to this particular li2e 2orm3 and we will go on to e4perience other 2orms3 including nonph/sical ones. =he mind isn?t designed to comprehend the truth a0out who we reall/ are3 nor is it designed to 0elieve the truth. $evertheless3 a part o2 us does know the truth and resonates with the sense o2 0eing much vaster than we seem to 0e. =hat larger sense o2 ourselves is what calls us Home. =he e4perience o2 our true nature is alwa/s availa0le3 since Essence has never 0een an/thing 0ut here all along. =o 0e aligned with Essence3 there?s nowhere we have to get to. 1ligning with Essence isn?t something we do 0ut happens more as a result o2 allowing and noticing what we alread/ are and suspending our 0elie2 that we are who we think we are. When our thoughts stop or aren?t given attention3 Essence shines through. =houghts temporaril/ o0scure3 or cloud3 the e4perience o2 Essence3 0ut Essence is alwa/s there3 aware o2 the character it?s pla/ing and all the thoughts that character is having. Essence is aware o2 the 0elie2s3 opinions3 2ears3 dreams3 2eelings3 desires3 and Iudgments o2 this character3 and Essence allows it to have these thoughts and do what it will do with them. When the actor 0egins to wake up out o2 the role that he or she has 0een pla/ing and glimpses the truth3 the truth propels him or her on the spiritual path. 1ligning with Essence is a matter o2 turning our attention in ever/ moment to our true nature rather than to the illusor/ 2alse sel2. We wake up out o2 the dream o2 the 2alse sel2 into the realit/ o2 our true nature. What a dream it has 0eenJ
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3OIN3 DEEPER INTO ESSENCE "eing in our senses 0rings us into the $ow. When we reall/ take in what we are seeing3 hearing3 2eeling3 and tasting without 0ecoming involved in our mind?s commentar/ a0out it3 we are in the $ow. "ut there?s much more to 0eing in the $ow than sensor/ e4perience. Bur senses are onl/ a doorwa/ into the $ow. =he Io/ o2 0eing in the $ow goes 0e/ond the pleasure o2 the senses. =o go deeper into Essence3 there?s another ver/ important step3 once we are 2ull/ sensing without the inter2erence o2 the mind?s commentar/3 and that is to 2ull/ e4perience the effect that sensor/ e4perience has on our "eing. When /ou look at a 0eauti2ul 2lower or hear a 0ird sing3 what impact does that have on /our internal3 energetic e4perience< What is /our "eing e4periencing< What is Essence?s e4perience o2 that< 9ust take a moment and discover what Essence is e4periencing 2or /oursel2. Look at something 0eauti2ul. ;eall/ take it in and notice how 0eaut/ makes /ou 2eel3 not emotionall/3 0ut energeticall/ within /our 0eing. When we reall/ take in 0eaut/ or an/thing else we are e4periencing through our senses3 we 2eel our "eing cele0rating and reIoicing in the moment3 and we e4perience that energeticall/. =hat su0tle energetic e4perience is the e4perience o2 the Heart3 or Essence. =hat su0tle Io/3 e4pansion3 rela4ation3 /es to li2e is the radical happiness that comes 2rom e4periencing li2e as Essence e4periences it. =hat su0tle e4periencing is ongoing and ever(present3 0ut we o2ten don?t notice our "eing cele0rating li2e 0ecause thinking is more o0vious and compelling3 even though thinking is actuall/ less
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rewarding. "ecause thinking is our de2ault position as humans3 we have to learn to notice what else is present 0esides thoughts. We have to learn to notice what?s real and true. We have to train ourselves to pa/ attention to the su0tle Io/3 e4pansion3 rela4ation and /es o2 Essence as it enIo/s li2e through us. =hat su0tle e4perience 0ecomes less su0tle and easier to notice the more we put our attention on it rather than on our thoughts. =hen the mind 0ecomes 5uieter3 so2ter3 and more in the 0ackground. Since the egoic mind is the generator o2 all su22ering3 it?s reall/ good to know that it doesn?t have to 0e prominent and that something else that?s much truer and more pleasant can take its place. Bur "eing3 Essence3 is happ/ in ever/ moment. 9ust notice that. $otice how /our Heart e4pands when /ou see 0eaut/3 hear a sound3 or simpl/ e4perience what?s arising in the moment in some other wa/. $otice how much /ou actuall/ love li2e. 6our love 2or li2e is alwa/s accessi0le Iust 0/ noticing it.
PART ! The Ego
SEEIN3 T*RO23* T*E I T*O23*T :ost o2 the chatter that comes 2rom the egoic mind is all a0out me. I2 /ou notice3 /ou?ll see that nearl/ ever/ thought starts with I. Such thoughts de2ine the I GI am3H GI like3H GI want3H GI 0elieve3H GI was3H GI will 0e.H Who would /ou 0e without these thoughts to de2ine /ou< 1nd where do these de2initions come 2rom< 1re the/ consistent3 or do the/ change 2rom da/ to da/< Some o2 the de2initions o2 /oursel2 came 2rom others. When we are children3 we take on the de2initions that others3 particularl/ our parents or other authorit/ 2igures3 give us. We also draw conclusions a0out ourselves 0ased on our e4periences. For instance3 i2 we 2ailed at something important to us3 we might de2ine ourselves as a 2ailure. Where these de2initions3 or identities3 came 2rom and what the/ are3 are not nearl/ as important as seeing their lack o2 completeness and there2ore their 2alseness. We can?t think a true thought a0out ourselves Cor a0out an/one elseD 0ecause nothing we think or sa/ a0out ourselves is the complete truth3 not even the complete truth a0out our ego or personalit/3 much less a0out our true sel2. I2 /ou sa/3 GI?m smart3H that?s true relative to some people onl/. I2 /ou sa/3 GI?m talkative3H that?s true sometimes3 0ut not alwa/s. I2 /ou sa/3 GI love motherhoodH or GI love ice cream3H that ma/ seem a0solutel/ true3 0ut such statements impl/ /ou alwa/s 2eel that wa/. Can /ou think o2 one time when such a statement wasn?t true or imagine sometime when it might not 0e< We 0elieve man/ things to 0e true o2 ourselves3 0ut are the/ reall/< Who we reall/ are and even who we think we are is m/sterious and can?t 0e captured in words. =he ego?s de2inition o2 itsel2Kit?s
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likes and dislikes3 what it 0elieves3 and what it desiresKis constantl/ changing. Who are /ou i2 /ou can?t 0e clearl/ de2ined< We have ideas a0out who we are3 0ut these ideas change3 and some Iust aren?t true. =he/ are assumptions o2 an identit/3 a 0elie2 that we are a certain wa/. =he/ are a sel2(image3 an image o2 ourselves3 and that image is in 2lu4. ;ather than 0eing something constant and sta0le3 who we think we are is 5uite inconsistent and not necessaril/ true. We tr/ ver/ hard to de2ine ourselves3 0ut we never succeed. =he ego is made up o2 0elie2s a0out ourselves that are continuall/ changing. Such ideas have no su0stanceKthe/ are Iust thoughts3 a2ter allKand the/ have ver/ little truth. =he/ are entirel/ su0Iective. How valua0le can thoughts a0out I 0e3 then< Even when the/ are positive3 the/ are meaningless. 1nd when the/ are negative3 the/ can color our e4perience o2 li2e 5uite dramaticall/ When /ou see /oursel2 as 2lawed or inade5uate3 li2e 2eels 0ad. "ut even i2 /our sel2(image is positive3 it won?t likel/ 0e that wa/ 2or long. Bur sel2( image has a wa/ o2 swinging 0etween positive and negative. =hese polarities are two sides o2 the same coin3 and neither is true. =he positive things we sa/ a0out ourselves are as relative and as inade5uate to the task o2 de2ining us as the negative things are. =his 2act renders all I thoughts useless. =heir onl/ purpose is to create a 2alse identit/3 and who needs that< Bnl/ the ego. 8o /ou need these de2initions3 these sel2(images3 to 2unction< 1ll along3 /ou have 0een 2unctioning3 and the identities created 0/ /our thoughts have Iust 0een tacked on. =he/ aren?t the reason we are a0le to 2unction and3 in 2act3 the/ o2ten inter2ere with 2unctioning. =he/ color how we see ourselves and create a 2alse sense o2 sel2 that mediates 0etween the true sel2 and the world. =he 2alse sel2 inter2eres with 0eing in the world more purel/ and innocentl/. It
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a22ects our e4perience o2 the world and in2luences how we interact with it. Essence3 which spontaneousl/ acts in the world3 doesn?t need the 2alse sel2. It allows the 2alse sel2 to in2luence us 0ecause it created the ego to do what it does3 0ut Essence doesn?t need the ego to e4perience li2e. =he 2alse sel2 creates the drama in li2e and the sense o2 having a pro0lem. It serves us 0/ providing the grist 2or the mill o2 our evolution. "ut at some point3 /ou are read/ to move 0e/ond it3 and /ou no longer need to e4perience li2e through its lens. 6ou discover that /ou have never needed the 2alse sel2 or /our I thoughts. =he/ don?t represent who /ou reall/ are3 and the/ have never reall/ served /ou. Such thoughts have onl/ served to create the illusion o2 a separate sel2. Bnce /ou see that that sel2 is an illusionKIust thoughts3 reall/K/ou can 0egin to live more 2rom Essence. =he I keeps us out o2 the $ow 0/ keeping us involved with it mentall/. I thoughts keep us 2rom discovering who we reall/ are. Bnce /ou see /ou aren?t the I, ignoring /our I thoughts and putting /our attention on li2e 0ecomes much easier. When /ou 0elieved that /our I thoughts were true3 important3 and who /ou were3 /ou were naturall/ interested in them and 2elt /ou needed to 2ollow them. Bnce /ou see that the/ aren?t true3 it?s possi0le to realiEe what else is here3 living li2e. 6ou discover that what?s living li2e has nothing to do with thought and ever/thing to do with purel/ e4periencing the moment without thought.
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T*E E3O IS A TRO2#-E/A7ER =he ego?s ongoing state is discontentment. Whatever is happening is either not enough o2 something or too much o2 something not enough pleasure3 not enough rela4ation3 not enough 0eaut/3 not enough 2reedom3 not enough com2ort3 not enough mone/3 not enough power3 not enough success3 not enough securit/3 too much stress3 too much 5uiet3 too much noise3 too much solitude3 too much socialiEing. Like the stor/ o2 the three 0ears3 whatever is happening is hardl/ ever Iust right. Even when it is3 the ego stresses over the 2uture or regrets the past3 and in doing so3 can spoil even an e4perience that is GIust right.H =he ego supports and 2eeds its discontentment with a stor/3 e4plaining what?s wrong with the wa/ things are and wh/ things should 0e di22erent. It complains a0out and Iudges whatever we are e4periencing3 which makes li2e 5uite unpleasant. 1 per2ectl/ oka/ moment 0ecomes not oka/ 0ecause the ego sa/s it?s not oka/ and tells us wh/. =he ego can spoil even the 0est moments with its negative point o2 view3 complaints3 and Iudgments. It decides it doesn?t like something3 0uilds a case against that3 and then 0ecomes misera0le 0ecause it 0elieves its own stor/. =he ego doesn?t realiEe that its stor/ is the pro0lem3 not what?s going on. 1nd when we are identi2ied with the ego?s stor/3 neither do we. =he ego?s point o2 view is o2ten a negative one. =he ego is a trou0lemaker3 a maker o2 drama3 not a peacemaker. When we agree with the egoic mind3 we 2eel like a victim or like we have a pro0lem to 2i4. When we don?t agree with it3 we Iust e4perience the moment as it is3 without the ego?s negative in2luence. =he ego?s negative commentar/ ma/ continue3 0ut i2 we don?t agree with its
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point o2 view3 we Iust 2low 2rom one moment to the ne4t3 easil/ and peace2ull/3 without telling a stor/ a0out whatever is going on. Li2e keeps moving on3 and we are going with the 2low. Going with the 2low is an e4perience o2 no me. 6ou are not 2ocused on the ego?s commentar/KGI amM.H GI likeM.H GI don?t likeM.H GI wantM.H GI wishM.HK0ut on what /ou are doing or on whatever is happening. 6ou are a0sor0ed in li2e as it is happening instead o2 on the ego?s stor/ a0out whatever is happening or a0out what happened or will happen. =he ego tells a stor/ a0out what?s happening that places itsel2 at the center o2 the universe. It categoriEes ever/ moment as good 2or me or 0ad 2or me. It Iudges each moment according to its likes and dislikes and whether the moment meets its desires or not. =he ego?s stor/ is the 0eginning o2 su22ering. I2 we listen to its stor/3 we 0ecome identi2ied with its unhapp/ voice3 and that 0ecomes our realit/. "ut i2 we ignore its stor/3 we sta/ in the 2low o2 the moment3 where we can Iust enIo/ li2e as it is un2olding. When we are in the 2low3 there?s no pro0lem. =he ego creates pro0lems 0/ de2ining something as a pro0lem. When /ou don?t listen to its opinions and 2ears3 /ou don?t e4perience having a pro0lem. 6ou still might have e4periences /ou don?t like3 0ut not liking something doesn?t have to 0e a pro0lem unless /ou decide that what /ou are e4periencing is the wrong e4perience. Ever/ e4perience is the right e4perience. =here?s no such thing as a wrong e4perience. Whatever stor/ the ego tells is one o2 man/ possi0le stories3 none o2 which contains the complete truth. =he ego usuall/ tells a negative stor/3 which re2lects its values3 0elie2s3 and opinions. Such thoughts don?t deserve our attention 0ecause the/ are anti(li2e3 anti(love. =he/ separate us 2rom li2e and 2rom others3 and the/ lead to unhappiness.
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=he onl/ opinion a0out li2e that?s worth holding is that it is good Iust as it is. =hat is the GopinionH o2 Essence3 our true sel23 which loves li2e and loves having whatever e4perience it?s having through us. 1n/ other opinion takes us out o2 the $ow. Bnce that happens3 we are drawn into the ego?s world o2 discontentment3 complaints3 Iudgments3 and attempts to 2i4 whatever it doesn?t like3 which is a lot. 6ou can spend /our time tr/ing to create a 0etter me and a 0etter e4perience 2or the me, as the ego would have /ou do3 or /ou can 0e 2ull/ engaged in the e4perience /ou are having. When /ou allow /oursel2 to rela4 into the moment3 /ou discover that /ou never needed the ego in order to live /our li2e. =he ego isn?t who we are3 0ut a 2igment o2 our imagination3 Iust a set o2 ideas a0out me. Essence has alwa/s 0een the one living /our li2e.
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TA7IN3 A #REA7 %RO/ T*E STOR O% /e =o ever/ moment3 the ego 0rings the 5uer/ GHow?s it going 2or me< How is m/ stor/ going< 1m I getting what I want< Will I get what I want<H =he ego is alwa/s checking to see i2 I am good enough3 i2 the moment is good enough3 i2 other people are good enough. 1nd the/ usuall/ aren?t. =he ego has ver/ high standards3 and the moment and li2e hardl/ ever measure up3 which causes a lot o2 su22ering. #e and my life are rarel/ good enough 2or the ego. =he me is alwa/s striving to 0e 0etter3 to have more3 and 2or its li2e to look a certain wa/. We su22er so much over the stor/ o2 me and how it?s going. What a relie2 it is when we drop into the $ow3 where there?s no me and no stor/ a0out me. =he ego?s perspective is that li2e will 0e good and happ/ when it gets its wa/3 so it works ver/ hard to get li2e to go its wa/. @n2ortunatel/ 2or the ego3 li2e has its own wa/ o2 going3 and the ego actuall/ has ver/ little to sa/ a0out that. In spiritual circles3 we hear a lot a0out surrender 0ecause surrender is necessar/ to e4perience our true nature. What /ou surrender is the ego?s agenda3 the me proIect all the ideas the ego has a0out what /ou should 0e like3 what /ou should achieve3 and how /our li2e should look and 2eel. We are willing to surrender these ideas when we 2inall/ see the pointlessness o2 tr/ing to make ourselves and li2e 2it them. =he willingness to do this usuall/ happens onl/ a2ter man/ disappointments in li2e3 which is wh/ the spiritual search o2ten 0egins later in li2e3 a2ter we?ve tried and tried to make li2e work out according to our ideas and plans3 onl/ to discover that it has its own plan. =he su22ering caused 0/ this disappointment puts man/
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on the spiritual path3 who are wondering what li2e is a0out an/wa/ i2 it?s not a0out getting what we Cour egosD want. =he su22ering caused 0/ the me and 0/ tr/ing to get our stor/ to go right eventuall/ 0rings us to our knees. When we are willing to surrender our ego?s ideas3 including its desires3 we can e4perience the moment purel/. When we do that3 we 2eel at peace3 which comes 2rom the relie2 o2 no longer having a sense o2 0eing me with an agenda. What a relie2 it is to drop the me 2or even a moment. We actuall/ all e4perience the dropping o2 the me man/ times a da/. Whenever we 2eel a 5uiet contentment with li2e and an ease o2 0eing3 that means we have dropped into the $ow and lost our sense o2 me and its stor/ o2 what it wants and needs to 0e happ/. We think we need our stories. I2 we didn?t have them3 we are a2raid we would never accomplish an/thing. We are a2raid we wouldn?t have a li2e. "ut such 2ears are un2ounded. Instead o2 0ene2iting our li2e3 our stories Ce.g.3 GI likeM.H GI wantM.H GI needMHD cause us to su22er over li2e. Without our stories3 li2e is still here3 0ut the su22ering is gone. We are meant to discover that we can live without our stories and that we don?t have to su22er. Su22ering is a choice 6ou can have /our stor/ o2 me, or /ou can Iust 0e alive in the moment and see what happens ne4t and what Essence moves /ou to do. Li2e springs out o2 the $ow. We can trust li2e to do that. Li2e doesn?t need the ego?s agenda or its desires 2or li2e to happen. When /ou drop into the $ow3 /ou e4perience the li2e /ou are having3 without tr/ing to make it 0e an/ di22erent than it is. When /ou are in the $ow3 /ou gain ever/thing /ou have 0een looking 2or peace3 contentment3 happiness3 and love. From the $ow3 li2e takes care o2 itsel2 0ecause /ou are Li2e.
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T*E END O% STRI4IN3 Bne o2 the gi2ts o2 terminal illness can 0e the cessation o2 striving. When we know that our li2e will soon 0e overKwhen the pla/ we?ve 0een starring in is a0out to come to an endKwe stop striving to 0e someone3 get something3 and get somewhere. =he ego?s stor/ is all a0out 0eing someone special 0/ attaining or achieving something. =he ego has a stor/line in mind. It knows how it wants the stor/ to go and how it wants the stor/ to end3 and it wonders how it will go and end. When all o2 that striving3 dreaming3 and desiring no longer make sense 0ecause we are a0out to die3 we ma/ 0e 2reed 2rom the ego. =he cessation o2 striving that o2ten accompanies terminal illness opens the door to discovering and e4periencing more 2ull/ who is reall/ here and who has alwa/s 0een here 0eneath the costume. When our 2unctioning is stripped awa/3 our looks are gone3 and possessions no longer mean an/thing3 who or what remains< What a 0lessing it is to 2ind out the truth a0out who we are. =his discover/ is one o2 the spiritual purposes o2 terminal illness. :ost o2 our thoughts are in service to the ego3 the I that we think o2 ourselves as. =he/ promote a stor/ a0out ourselves that?s driven 0/ desires and other conditioning GI have to do that3 I should do that3 I can?t do that3 I want that3 I need that.H =his stor/ seems true and real. We 0elieve we need our stor/ to go a certain wa/3 even when li2e has other plans. So we strive and push against li2e3 tr/ing to make that stor/ happenKand happen on our own timeta0le. It?s natural to do this. However3 all this striving and su22ering over how our stor/ is going isn?t necessar/ 0ecause li2e is
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happening an/wa/3 and it?s happening as it?s meant to 0e happening3 and on its own schedule. Bur ideas a0out ourselves and how our li2e is going or should go cause so much unnecessar/ su22ering. Li2e has a plan3 and it will have its wa/ with us. It 0rings us the lessons we need3 which shape us in wa/s we need shaping3 and it 0rings us the opportunities it intends 2or us. Bur egos are operating within a larger 2ramework3 or plan3 that the ego is unaware o2. When that larger plan is di22erent 2rom the ego?s plan3 or stor/3 we ma/ su22er greatl/. 1nd when the larger plan isn?t at odds with the ego?s plan3 we are at peace with li2e. We can argue with what li2e 0rings us and su22er 0ecause li2e isn?t going like our stor/ is supposed to go3 or we can see that even that e4perience is the right e4perience. When we are a0le to see the ego?s striving 2or what it isKa 2rantic3 egocentric attempt to 0e someone special3 to 0e sa2e3 to 0e admired3 and so onKthen we can 0egin to let go o2 striving. It?s onl/ the ego that needs the things the ego wants. =he ego wants what it wants 2or itsel23 not 2or love or a higher purpose. Who we reall/ are has no need o2 an/thing3 0ut alread/ has ever/thing it needs to 0e happ/. Striving is actuall/ what makes us 2eel lacking3 as i2 we don?t have what we need to 0e happ/. We strive 0ecause we 0elieve we need something to 0e happ/3 when we have never needed an/thing at all3 and nothing Gout thereH will ever satis2/ us an/wa/. =he ego takes us on a wild goose chase. It convinces us that we need to 0e someone and have our li2e look a certain wa/ to 0e happ/3 and we don?t. We don?t su22er 0ecause we don?t have what we want3 0ut 0ecause we 0elieve we need something other than what we alread/ have to 0e happ/. 1t death3 ever/thing the ego has wanted is denied and stripped awa/3 which is wh/ some people discover supreme happiness Iust
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0e2ore the/ die. What a relie2 it is to have the t/rannical ego o22 our 0acksJ =he ego is a t/rant that drives us awa/ 2rom happiness3 not toward it. :an/ people 2ind this out Iust 0e2ore the/ die3 0ut what a 0lessing it is to discover it even 0e2ore thatJ 9ust 0/ seeing that we don?t need what our egoic mind sa/s we need to 0e happ/3 we can 0ecome 2ree o2 the ego?s domination. Bnce we stop 2ollowing the ego?s ideas a0out what to do3 we 0egin to discover what else is here living our li2e3 silentl/ awaiting our notice. What we trul/ are is ver/ patient3 ver/ loving3 ver/ accepting. It patientl/ waits until we are read/ to discover it and discover the peace and happiness it has to o22er when we stop tr/ing to 0e someone and get li2e to turn out Gright.H =hen who we reall/ are can 0egin to live through us more 2ull/3 which results in the happiness we?ve 0een striving 2or 0ut looking 2or in the wrong places. Bnce /ou 0egin living as who /ou reall/ are3 /ou won?t 0e striving an/more. 6ou will 0e moving through li2e with 2luidit/3 grace3 acceptance3 and love. 6ou will 0e taking action3 0ut acting will 0e done through /ou. What a parado4 it is that we get what we?ve 0een striving 2or onl/ when we stop strivingJ
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T*E E3O IS IRRATIONA=he ego is irrational. Its strategies to change realit/ don?t a22ect it3 0ut onl/ make us unhapp/. Bnce we see how irrational the ego is and how ine22ective its strategies are3 we can 0egin to 2ree ourselves 2rom it and 2rom the su22ering it causes. =he ego pretends to know how to make us happ/3 0ut its strategies produce the opposite and3 in 2act3 o0scure true happiness. Bne o2 the ego?s 2avorite strategies 2or tr/ing to change realit/ is Iudging. When we don?t like something Ci.e.3 when we are identi2ied with the ego3 which reIects the wa/ things areD3 we Iudge whatever we don?t like. 9udging provides reasons 2or not liking something It?s too this or too that. Br3 it?s not enough o2 this or that. 9udgments make the ego?s discontentment with ever/thing seem reasona0le. =he/ provide reasons that Iusti2/ our complaints and the anger generated 0/ those complaints. 1nger stems 2rom assuming that the ego?s perspective is correct and that the ego?s desires should 0e met. What assumes that3 o2 course3 is the egoKwe don?t have to. =hat assumption is a highl/ irrational one. Li2e doesn?t revolve around the ego?s desires. 1nd in2inite perspectives are possi0le3 and ever/ ego has its own. So wh/ should our ego?s perspective 0e the correct one< =he ego?s perspective is colored 0/ its values. It wants securit/3 superiorit/3 2ame3 power3 mone/3 sa2et/3 com2ort3 and pleasure a0ove other values3 such as love3 peace3 and unit/. 1s a result3 the ego sees the world 2rom the standpoint o2 how well the world is providing what it wants. =he moment is good or 0ad3 depending on whether what?s happening makes the ego 2eel good3 sa2e3
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power2ul3 0eauti2ul3 com2orta0le3 rich3 popular3 happ/3 or whatever else it wants. When the moment doesn?t provide these things3 the ego 2eels cheated and angr/. It Iudges and complains3 0uilding a case 2or its anger so that it 2eels Iusti2ied in 2eeling angr/ and3 perhaps3 in taking some destructive action. I2 the ego?s anger took place in a vacuum3 it would 0e o0vious how pointless and impotent that anger is. "ut anger is meant 2or others to see3 0ecause the ego uses anger to tr/ to get its wa/ in the world. =he ego tries to manipulate others with anger3 and it?s o2ten success2ul3 0ut onl/ at a great cost. =he ego doesn?t care a0out the cost o2 indulging in anger a diminishment o2 love3 harmon/3 and happiness. It cares more a0out getting what it wants. It wants what it wants more than it wants love or even happiness3 0ecause ultimatel/ its choices don?t lead to happiness. =he ego would rather have its perspective than 0e happ/. When it does succeed in getting what it wants3 it gets little out o2 having that. =he victor/ is a hollow one. =he hollowness o2 the ego?s successes doesn?t stop it 2rom continuing to appl/ its 2avorite 2ormula to li2e3 which is ;eIect something3 Iudge it3 complain a0out it3 and get angr/ or sad a0out it. =he ego actuall/ enIo/s 2eeling angr/ and sad. When we are identi2ied with it3 we enIo/ these 2eelings on some level and o2ten unconsciousl/ choose to sta/ in them 2or a while rather than move 0e/ond them. When we choose anger or sadness over happiness o2ten enough3 anger and sadness 0ecome natural and 2amiliar3 like old 2riends3 and those 2eelings 0ecome automatic whenever li2e doesn?t go our wa/. Fortunatel/3 we can learn to respond di22erentl/ when things don?t go our wa/3 and with a little practice3 anger and sadness will no longer 0e automatic and unconscious. 1nger is an attempt to manipulate li2e3 which is particularl/ irrational when what we are angr/ a0out is something that
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happened in the past. "eing angr/ at something we think will happen in the 2uture is e5uall/ irrational3 since the 2uture is Iust an idea. "eing angr/ at something in the past or 2uture is irrational 0ecause 0eing angr/ doesn?t change an/thingL it onl/ makes us and others unhapp/. "eing angr/ at something that?s presentl/ happening isn?t rational either 0ecause anger doesn?t help us cope with the present either. 1nger simpl/ isn?t 2unctional. When we 2eel angr/3 we are actuall/ angr/ 0ecause o2 a perception we have. We are sa/ing something to ourselves that is making us angr/. =he stor/ we are telling ourselves is making us angr/. I2 we don?t want to 2eel angr/3 then we have to stop telling ourselves and others that stor/. =he solution doesn?t lie in changing an/thing outside ourselves3 0ut inside ourselves. Sadness is a stance o2 de2eat or victimiEation in relation to li2e3 which also 0rings onl/ unhappiness and3 like anger3 has no power to change realit/. Sadness3 like anger3 is also o2ten an attempt to manipulate li2e and others. We hope that others will come to our rescue and give us what we want i2 we are reall/ sad a0out it. Sadness can also 0e an unconscious attempt to manipulate God into giving us what we want. We throw a tantrum over li2e in hopes that 8add/N:omm/ will 2inall/ give us what we want. We make ourselves sad 0/ disagreeing with the wa/ li2e is showing up3 and we hope that li2e will show merc/ on us. "oth o2 these strategies3 anger and sadness3 are ine22ective wa/s o2 dealing with li2e. =he/ don?t change whatever we don?t like3 and the/ are harm2ul to us and our relationships. =hese 2eelings are the result o2 the ego?s irrational perspective3 which assumes incorrectl/ that li2e should con2orm to its wishes and that it can make li2e do that3 or that it should 0e a0le to. =he ego 0elieves it is the center o2 the universe3 which is an immature and inaccurate perspective. Spiritual maturit/ is seeing the truth a0out li2e. =he ego is
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immature3 irrational3 sel2(centered3 and shortsighted3 0ut the good news is that we are not the egoJ :ore good news is that spiritual maturit/ doesn?t depend on our ego changing3 0ut on simpl/ recogniEing the truth a0out it. When /ou catch /oursel2 complaining or Iudging3 that means /ou are identi2ied with the ego?s perspective. When /ou realiEe that and stop complaining or Iudging3 /ou will stop su22ering. However3 stopping in the midst o2 complaining and Iudging isn?t alwa/s eas/ 0ecause the ego loves to complain and Iudge. "ut the less we indulge in that negative pleasure3 the weaker the ego 0ecomes. Instead o2 complaining or Iudging3 give /our attention to something else something o2 0eaut/3 something /ou love or are grate2ul 2or3 something /ou?re e4periencing through /our senses3 or /our 0reath. Give /our attention to an/thing 0ut /our negative thoughts. I2 /ou 2ind /oursel2 angr/ or sad3 ask /oursel2 what /ou Iust said to /oursel2 that made /ou 2eel that wa/. Seeing that /ou created those 2eelings 0/ 0elieving /our thoughts empowers /ou to move 0e/ond those 2eelings. Bur 2eelings are the outcome o2 0elieving negative thoughts. 1lthough there ma/ 0e some truth to such thoughts3 which is wh/ we 0elieve them3 the/ are a stor/ we are telling ourselves that leaves out much o2 the truth. When we 2eel 0ad3 those 2eelings mean we have 0ought into the ego?s stor/ a0out ourselves3 our li2e3 or others3 and the ego?s stor/ is a negative3 small3 shortsighted3 and ignorant one. What stor/ would Essence tell< Essence sees the 0ig picture and the truest perspective. It alwa/s has an upli2ting stor/ to tell. I2 /ou are going to tell a stor/ at all3 2ind Essence?s stor/. "etter /et3 Iust 0e in the moment without an/ stor/ to distract /ou.
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-I%E IS SPRIN3IN3 O2T O% T*E NOW Ever/thing comes out o2 the $ow3 the present moment. =he present is all that e4ists3 and it?s all we have. =he past is 0rought into the present as a memor/ and a stor/3 and the 2uture is 0rought into the present as a desire and a 2antas/3 0ut neither the past nor the 2uture is real. =he/ are Iust thoughts. Bnl/ the e4perience we are having right now is real3 and the e4perience o2 the $ow is constantl/ changing. =hat?s the truth3 0ut the ego doesn?t accept it. =he ego reIects the $ow and wants something di22erent. So it takes us out o2 the $ow with thoughts a0out the past3 thoughts a0out the 2uture3 and evaluations o2 the present. =he ego isn?t interested in e4periencing the $ow 0ecause the $ow never has enough o2 what it wants. =he ego wants glamour3 2un3 e4citement3 success3 attention3 power3 praise3 mone/3 2ame3 and superiorit/. Bnl/ some moments o22er what the ego priEes so dearl/. :ost moments are 5uite ordinar/ and simple3 without a lot o2 2an2are and specialness 2or the ego. I2 a moment doesn?t hold something special 2or it3 the ego isn?t interested in what it does have to o22er. Even when the moment has what the ego wants3 it?s 5uick to 2ind 2ault with that or want even more o2 that. =he truth is3 the ego is rarel/ happ/3 even when it does get what it wants. Li2e isn?t a0out ego(grati2ication3 which is wh/ the ego is so unhapp/. Li2e is a0out e4periencing3 growing3 evolving3 creating3 serving3 and e4pressing ourselves in the world in a wa/ that?s meaning2ul and aligned with the Whole. =he ego doesn?t consider the Whole. It e4periences itsel2 as separate and on its own. However3 what?s actuall/ living li2e3 Essence3 operates to support
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the Whole. =he actions that Essence takes in the world are meaning2ul and 2ul2illing 0ecause the/ are aligned with the Whole3 while the actions the ego takes are unsatis2/ing 0ecause the/ are rarel/ aligned with it. =here?s no true happiness in pursuing the ego?s goals3 although the ego tries to convince us otherwise. We come to see that something else is alive and living our li2e. 1llowing that to e4press itsel2 through us is 2ar more rewarding than e4pressing the ego?s thoughts and chasing a2ter its desires. 8iscovering what Essence intends 2or us is possi0le3 0ut we have to 0e in the $ow to 2ind that out3 not in our head. =he ego uses the mind to direct our li2e according to its values3 while Essence shapes our li2e 0/ using our intuition and inspiring us to act. When Essence is orchestrating our li2e3 we 2eel moved to do or sa/ something. We don?t think a0out itL we Iust do it. 1nd doing it 2eels right. Essence moves us to create a li2e that will 0e 2ul2illing i2 we allow it to3 that is3 i2 we don?t listen to the mind instead. We have 2ree will. We can choose3 in an/ moment3 to pa/ attention to the mind and 2ollow its values or pa/ attention to Essence and 2ollow its values3 which are love3 compassion3 peace3 acceptance3 growth3 wisdom3 and understanding. When we put Essence?s values a0ove the ego?s3 we discover the happiness we?ve 0een looking 2or. 1ligning with Essence isn?t di22icult. 6ou Iust have to 0e willing to pa/ attention to something other than the egoic mind. When /ou do3 /ou discover that /ou didn?t need the egoic mind at all. 6ou discover that li2e has 0een happening all along3 springing out o2 the $ow3 and all the ego has ever done is take /ou awa/ 2rom the contentment that is availa0le right here and now.
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*OW T*E E3OIC /IND TA7ES O2 O2T O% T*E NOW 1s soon as we land in the $ow3 the egoic mind has something to sa/ a0out it. Sometimes it?s up0eat3 such as3 G=his is nice3H and sometimes it?s critical GWhat?s so great a0out this<H 1t other times3 it tells us what to do G6ou need to get to work nowH or G8on?t 2orget to do that.H =he mind is also 2ull o2 advice and aphorisms G"e care2ulJH G1 stitch in time saves nine.H F8on?t 0e penn/(wise and pound(2oolishJF =he mind?s commentar/ accompanies nearl/ ever/ moment. =he a0sence o2 that commentar/ can 0e 5uite an amaEing e4perience3 since it is so rare 2or most people. =he voice o2 the egoic mind ma/ 0e 2riendl/3 mean3 0oss/3 wise3 or kind. 1n/ kind o2 communication /ou have ever e4perienced will 0e imitated 0/ the mind. I23 as a child3 /ou e4perienced mostl/ kindness and generosit/3 /our thoughts are likel/ to re2lect that. 1nd i2 /ou e4perienced criticism and cruelt/3 /our thoughts are likel/ to 0e critical and unkind toward /oursel2 and others. :ost o2 us e4perience a mi4ture o2 mental voices that var/ according to our mood. When we are happ/3 our mind?s voice is 2riendl/3 chatt/3 and pleasant. When we are tired or stressed out3 its voice is more negative and critical. =his voice can also make us 2eel unhapp/3 angr/3 sad3 or an/ other 2eeling 0/ telling us something that makes us 2eel that wa/. =his voice re2lects moods and 2eelings and creates them. =he voice in our head also changes according to our relationship to it. I2 we aren?t listening to it as it tries to chat with us3 then it might scold us or tr/ to scare us to get us to pa/ attention to it. =he egoic mind doesn?t like to 0e ignored3 and it 2inds wa/s to involve us with it. I2 we are on to its negativit/ and we
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stop pa/ing attention to it when it?s 0eing negative3 then it will tr/ to 0e our 2riend and attempt to 0e help2ul3 interesting3 or entertaining. Whatever works is what it will tr/ again. 1 certain relationship with our mind 0ecomes esta0lished that?s o2ten repeated until we change that relationship 0/ ignoring that voice. =he egoic mind doesn?t have an/thing use2ul to sa/3 0ut we don?t know that until we 2inall/ see that 2or ourselves. Even once we realiEe how worthless the egoic mind is3 we ma/ still pa/ attention to it3 Iust in case it comes up with something use2ul. Bccasionall/3 something pops into the mind that?s use2ul3 like G8on?t 2orget /our ke/sJH Br ma/0e suddenl/ we remem0er where we le2t our ke/s. We usuall/ attri0ute such 0rilliance to the egoic mind3 0ut these are e4amples o2 Essence using the mind to help us. =he egoic mind is like a computer that spits out in2ormation3 rules3 0elie2s3 and other ideas it has ac5uired that don?t necessaril/ have much relevance to the present moment. Such ideas ma/ have 0een true and use2ul in the past 0ut aren?t necessaril/ true or use2ul now. Essence3 on the other hand3 delivers use2ul in2ormation or wisdom through our intuition3 although sometimes it pops into our mind as a word or a phrase3 0ut never as a length/ monologue. When in2ormation or wisdom pops into our mind3 it 2eels ver/ di22erent 2rom the usual mental commentar/. "ut 0ecause the in2ormation or wisdom appeared in the mind3 we might assume it came 2rom the mind rather than 2rom Essence. Bnce /ou realiEe how useless the egoic mind is3 then Essence will 0e a0le to 2unction more e22ectivel/ through /our mind. It will use /our mind more3 and the ego will use it less. =he mind can 0e a servant o2 either. 6ou don?t have to worr/ a0out losing the a0ilit/ to think or 2unction i2 /ou stop pa/ing attention to the voice in /our head. 6ou will 2unction much more e22ectivel/ and with much more ease and harmon/ i2 /ou don?t pa/ attention to it. 1nd
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messages 2rom Essence won?t get lost in the mind(chatter3 as the/ o2ten do now. =he onl/ thing that can take /ou out o2 the $ow is listening to the voice in /our head. When /ou pa/ attention to it3 /our attention shi2ts 2rom the real e4perience o2 the present moment to the world o2 thought. Bnce /ou are involved in the mental realm3 it?s eas/ to get caught up in one thought a2ter another and then in an/ 2eelings that are triggered 0/ those thoughts. Pa/ing attention to the egoic mind is a slipper/ slope. Fortunatel/3 once /ou see what the mind is up to and are convinced that it doesn?t have an/thing use2ul to sa/3 /ou can sta/ right here in the e4perience /ou are having. =hen /ou will discover how 0eauti2ull/ li2e arises out o2 the $owKand alwa/s hasJ
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%I8IN3 T*IN3S T*RO23* T*O23*T 1 lot o2 our thinking is an attempt to 2i4 things that can?t 0e 2i4ed. For e4ample3 we might tr/ to 2i4 the past 0/ imagining other wa/s it could or should have gone3 or 0/ tr/ing to de2end what we did 0/ thinking a0out it. We repla/ the past as i2 doing so can change it. =he mind tries to 2i4 what it can?t 2i4. We do a similar thing with the 2uture. We might tr/ to plan something down to the last detail3 as i2 doing that can make the 2uture go the wa/ we imagine it. 1lthough some planning has value3 the mind overdoes it3 as its planning is o2ten driven 0/ needless worries and 2ears. =he mind runs Gwhat i2H scenarios and tries3 through thought3 to avoid the messiness and unpredicta0ilit/ o2 li2e3 however impossi0le that ma/ 0e. =he mind also spends a lot o2 time tr/ing to 2i4 things that don?t need 2i4ing. It imagines3 or anticipates3 pro0lems where none e4ist and3 as a result3 spends precious energ/ tr/ing to 2i4 something mentall/ that isn?t even real. For e4ample3 /ou might imagine F2alling on /our 2aceH while speaking to a group3 when that?s never happened 0e2ore. Even i2 /ou?ve had di22icult/ speaking to a group 0e2ore3 thinking a0out it can?t change what has happened or will happen. =hinking a0out it is Iust needless worr/ing. =he trou0le with tr/ing to 2i4 something 0/ thinking a0out it is that it doesn?t workJ We can?t change the past 0/ thinking a0out it. 1nd even to learn 2rom the past3 we don?t need to think a0out it. Whatever we learned is alread/ Gin our 0ones.H We alread/ Iust know it. =he truth is that we can onl/ G2i43H or a22ect3 real li2eK what?s happening right nowK0/ doing something in the present. We don?t a22ect real li2e 0/ thinking a0out it. We can think and
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imagine all we want3 0ut thinking won?t change the past or a22ect the 2uture or even change what?s happening now3 0ecause it?s alread/ too late to change what?s happening now. =he other pro0lem with tr/ing to 2i4 something 0/ thinking a0out it3 0esides the 2act that it doesn?t work3 is that it a22ects our e4perience o2 the present moment 0ecause it takes us out o2 real li2e and puts us into our own made(up mental world3 which 2or man/ people is 2ull o2 worr/3 2ear3 and other negativit/. We tr/ to manage and control li2e through thought3 and we are programmed to 0elieve we can3 0ut the truth is3 we can?t. Seeing this is our ticket out o2 hell and to realiEing that li2e is alread/ 2ine the wa/ it is and that nothing ever needed 2i4ing. =he egoic mind imagines a pro0lem3 and then it imagines a solution. When we get caught up in such thoughts3 we 2eel like we have a pro0lem that has to 0e solved 0e2ore we can 0e happ/. "ut the pro0lem is Iust imaginedJ When we drop out o2 involvement with these thoughts and into the simple e4perience o2 the present moment3 we discover that ever/thing is 2ine Iust the wa/ it is. Li2e never had to 0e an/ di22erent than it is3 nor do we. We can 0e the Gimper2ectH human that we are. In 2act3 we weren?t designed to 0e an/thing other than the human 0eing that we are. We are doing this human 0eing thing per2ectl/J =he 0eaut/ is that we are all evolving toward 0eing more loving and more aligned with the spiritual 0eing that we are3 whether we realiEe that or not. So /ou can Iust rela4 and enIo/ the ride that Li2e is taking /ou on. 1ll that Li2e asks is that /ou choose love over 2ear and hatred. Fortunatel/3 we all learn that 0eing loving is the onl/ sane choice3 since the opposite onl/ leads to su22ering. We can?t reall/ make a mistake3 so nothing needs 2i4ing3 0ecause we are all 0eing swept along toward seeing the truthKthat we are all Bne and that li2e is goodJ
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WANTIN3 TO 7NOW T*E %2T2RE Bne o2 the ego?s strongest desires is to know the 2uture. It wants to know the 2uture ver/ 0adl/3 so 0adl/ that it o2ten resorts to making it up3 i2 not in a 2ull(0lown 2antas/3 at least in thoughts and 0elie2s a0out the 2uture that constantl/ change. Sometimes such 2antasies are negative and depict the ego?s 2ears a0out the 2uture. =he likelihood o2 events actuall/ occurring in the o2ten dramatic wa/ the mind imagines is minisculeL and /et our thoughts a0out the 2uture gra0 our attention3 stir up our emotions3 and can even cause us to act in certain wa/s. =he ego creates a pro0lematic 2uture and then takes steps to avoid it. =o the mind3 thinking a0out the 2uture seems reasona0le3 prudent3 wise3 and practical. "ut nothing could 0e more impractical than 0eing detached 2rom the $ow and lost in imaginar/ 2ears and plans3 and actions to avoid those 2ears. It?s natural that the ego operates like this3 0ecause it doesn?t trust li2e. It doesn?t recogniEe the Intelligence 0ehind li2e3 which is wise and loving3 and helping us to evolve toward 0eing wiser and more loving. =he ego doesn?t see that li2e is good and trustworth/ 0ecause it?s 0us/ telling negative stories a0out li2e3 a0out how un2air and unsa2e it is. B2 course the ego is 2rightenedKit 2rightens itsel2 with negative stories. It doesn?t see the love3 goodness3 and support that are present3 and it doesn?t appreciate that challenges and di22iculties evolve us in wa/s like nothing else can. Essence knows the truth a0out li2e3 0ut when we are identi2ied with the ego3 its 0elie2s3 and the stories it spins3 we don?t see things as Essence sees them. We want to know the 2uture 0ecause we want con2irmation o2 the ego?s 0elie2 that the present will 0e redeemed 0/ something
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0etter in the 2uture. We want someone to tell us3 G6es3 /our prince CprincessD will come3 and /ou?ll live happil/ ever a2ter.H =he ego?s stance is that whatever is happening isn?t good enough3 0ut someda/ li2e will 0e wonder2ul3 and then that 0liss will last 2orever. =his 2air/tale is so deepl/ em0edded in our makeup that we ma/ not even realiEe we are telling ourselves this stor/. =his 0elie2 inter2eres with e4periencing this precious moment. :oreover3 it inter2eres with seeing the truth a0out li2e It?s constantl/ changing3 we have little control over it3 and it?s 2ull o2 things that are 0oth likea0le and unlikea0le. =he ego isn?t seeing the whole picture when it reIects the $ow. It reIects the moment 0ecause it 2ocuses on what isn?t present that it would like to 0e present. I2 the moment isn?t providing su22icient pleasure3 power3 sa2et/3 com2ort3 specialness3 superiorit/3 or securit/3 it reIects the moment. "ut li2e doesn?t e4ist 2or the ego?s pleasure and to 0olster its sense o2 sel2. Li2e e4ists 2or all o2 li2e3 and it contains ever/thing we need to 0e happ/ i2 we are willing to 0e in the moment without our opinions3 0elie2s3 and Iudgments. Stripped o2 thought3 the $ow is alive and alwa/s changing into something new and une4pected. =he $ow moves3 and it?s 2ull o2 all sorts o2 things that daEEle the senses3 inspire love3 and surprise us. =he $ow is all we need and it?s all we reall/ have. =hat the $ow can 0e other than the wa/ it is showing up is an illusion. =he ego has little power to change what?s happening 0ecause it?s alread/ too lateKli2e has alread/ moved on to the ne4t moment. 1ll the ego can do is inter2ere3 through its dissatis2action3 with having a 2ull and rich e4perience o2 the moment. =he ego?s discontentment saps the Io/ out o2 li2e3 so it?s no wonder we long 2or a 0etter moment. =he ego spoils the present moment and promises a 0etter one3 0ut a 0etter moment will never come unless the mind 0ecomes 5uiet or is ignored. 1nd then ever/ moment is good.
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When /ou 2ind /oursel2 wanting something other than what?s showing up right now3 it can 0e help2ul to ask /oursel2 what /ou think getting what /ou want will give /ou. We think we will 2inall/ 0e happ/ when we get what we want. What we discover when we do get what we want3 though3 is even that wonder2ul moment disappears and is replaced 0/ the ne4t one and the ne4t. Li2e keeps moving on3 0ringing us a mi4ture o2 what we like and don?t like. Wh/ not likeKloveKever/thing that li2e 0rings /ou3 0ecause whatever it is won?t 0e here 2or long3 won?t ever 0e this wa/ again3 and is all /ou?ve got.
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%EAR9 T*E E3O:S /OST POWER%2- TOOFear is power2ul. It can make us 0ehave 0adl/ and make us do things we don?t want to do. It makes war and all t/pes o2 con2lict seem Iusti2ied. We are willing to 2ight and wage war 0ecause we are a2raid we won?t get or keep what we want3 and we are a2raid o2 what that will mean. When we 2eel our survival is at stake3 2ear is 0ehind that3 and that 2ear is the 0asis o2 all wars and other atrocities. :ost people will do an/thing to survive. =he 5uestions we need to ask a0out our 2ears are GIs what I?m a2raid o2 real< Is m/ survival reall/ at stake< 8o I know that 2or sure<H =he answers to those 5uestions are rarel/ /es. Fears aren?t real 0ecause the/ are ideas a0out a 2uture possi0ilit/. How real can those ideas 0e< =he 2uture e4ists onl/ as an idea. Where did that idea come 2rom< =his is such an essential 5uestion. Fears alwa/s come 2rom the ego3 0ecause that?s what thinks a0out the 2uture3 and how relia0le a source is the ego< We need to e4amine not onl/ how real and true a 2ear is3 0ut also how 2unctional 2ear in general is. 8o our 2ears keep us sa2e or protect us 2rom what we are a2raid o2< =he/ seem to motivate us to take care o2 our 0asic survival needs. For e4ample3 we are a2raid o2 0eing homeless and starving3 so we work to earn mone/ to survive. However3 i2 we needed 2ear to help us survive3 then as soon as we had enough mone/ to survive3 wouldn?t we stop working< So much more than 2ear is 0ehind our motivation to work and do the things we do. We don?t need 2ear to motivate us to live. We are naturall/ motivated to live to work3 pla/3 create3 rest3 e4plore3 grow3 learn3 have 2un3 and so on. Essence motivates us to live li2e. Fear is simpl/ the ego?s contri0ution to li2e3 a contri0ution we need to e4amine.
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=he ego generates 2ears and tries to get us to do something a0out them. We 0elieve our 2ears 0ecause we are programmed to 0elieve them. We 0elieve that i2 we don?t do something a0out our 2ears3 the/ might come true. Fear is how the ego sta/s in power 0ecause 2ear gets our attention. It keeps us tied to the egoic mind 0ecause the mind promises a solution to the 2ear. I2 the ego doesn?t have a plan 2or avoiding what it sa/s we should 0e a2raid o23 then it gives us a plan 2or coping with it eat3 watch =A3 drink3 do drugs3 go shopping. We assume that 2ear is constructive 0/ motivating us to take care o2 ourselves3 0ut 2ear is 0ehind our addictions and sel2( destructive actions3 and it?s 0ehind depression and other mental illnesses as well. =he truth is that 2ear isn?t constructive. It drives us to do things we don?t reall/ need to do and there2ore wastes our time. :oreover3 2ear o2ten keeps us 2rom 2ollowing our Heart3 which is the sa2est thing we could do. In truth3 sa2et/ is a 2alse concern3 since li2e has a wa/ o2 0ringing us e4actl/ what we need3 regardless o2 whether or not we recogniEe that or like what it 0rings. We can trust li2e. Fear is the ego?s e4perience 0ecause it doesn?t trust li2e. "ut the perception that li2e is untrustworth/ is 2alse. Fears are a 2igment o2 the ego?s imagination. =he/ are generated and upheld entirel/ 0/ the ego. =he ego makes up 2ears3 and 0ecause these 2ears are passed on 2rom person to person and 2rom generation to generation3 the/ seem credi0le. Since ever/one is a2raid o2 the same things3 our 2ears seem worth/ o2 our attention. 1s a result3 5uestioning them seems unnatural. Fears are so 0asic to li2e3 the ego?s li2e3 that is. =he maIorit/ o2 people are identi2ied with the ego most o2 the time and3 as a result3 identi2ied with the ego?s perceptions and 2ears. Fears keep us out o2 the $ow and in the grip o2 the ego3 which then tries to structure and plan our li2e 2or us. :eanwhile3 Essence
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continues to move us and attempts to structure our li2e according to its intentions. We get to choose what will structure our li2e. Bur lives are shaped 0/ 0oth the ego and Essence. Essence works its plan into the li2e we are creating 0/ 2ollowing our ego. =he situation changes dramaticall/ when we wake up out o2 the ego 0ecause the ego 0ecomes less dominant and Essence 0ecomes more prominent. Fear scares us into pa/ing attention to the egoic mind. It takes us out o2 the $ow 0/ sounding an alarm3 which 0rings our attention 0ack to our thoughts. 1 2ear2ul thought is more power2ul than other thoughts 0ecause o2 the sense o2 alarm connected with it. Bther thoughts tempt us to go 0ack into the egoic mind3 0ut 2ear2ul thoughts scare us into going 0ack to it. =he 2act that 2ear2ul thoughts can produce uncom2orta0le ph/sical sensations makes them all the more convincing. I2 we need to do something to take care o2 ourselves3 like eat 0etter3 0u/ health insurance3 or get a Io03 Essence will inspire us to do that3 or it ma/ 0ring people into our lives who inspire us or help us do that. When Essence uses others as mouthpieces to inspire us3 the/ do it without 2ear. =hose who tr/ to get us to do things 0/ Iudging or scaring us are acting out o2 their egos3 not Essence. Essence moves us naturall/ and Io/2ull/ to take care o2 ourselves3 and the onl/ thing that can inter2ere with that natural movement is our conditioning. =he ego is responsi0le 2or 2ears a0out ill health and also 2or the conditioning that causes us to do things that are detrimental to our health. Bur conditioning is what most stands in the wa/ o2 0eing willing to work3 rest3 eat right3 and take care o2 ourselves in other wa/s. =he ego3 rather than keeping us sa2e3 as it promises3 actuall/ keeps us 2rom our innate wisdom3 which knows e4actl/ how to live li2e sa2el/3 health2ull/3 and Io/2ull/.
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DO2#T9 T*E E3O:S /OST INSIDIO2S TOOWhile 2ear gra0s our attention and /anks us out o2 the $ow3 dou0t acts more su0tl/3 0ut has the same e22ect. While 2ear is a voice o2 alarm3 dou0t is 5uite another kind o2 voice. 8ou0t sounds reasona0le and rational3 like sound advice3 while actuall/ 0eing in2used with 2ear G6ou might get hurt. It?s risk/. It might not work out.H =he voice o2 dou0t is a voice we have all heard countless times 2rom parents and others in our lives who seem to have our 0est interests in mind 0ut are actuall/ operating out o2 2ear. 8ou0t keeps us 2rom 2ollowing our Heart Iust as e22ectivel/ as 2ear. 8ou0t cracks the door open to the unknown negative possi0ilit/. It is the G/es 0utH that takes the wind out o2 our sails and throws water on our 2ire. It o2ten takes the 2orm o2 sel2(dou0t GI pro0a0l/ won?t get that Io0 an/wa/ Cso wh/ appl/<D.H However3 more generaliEed dou0t3 or distrust in li2e3 can 0e e5uall/ paral/Eing G$othing I do matters an/wa/ Cso wh/ tr/<D.H 1 dou0t is actuall/ a disguised 2ear. It?s the 2ear that things won?t turn out3 that something isn?t worth doing3 that li2e isn?t good or worth living3 or that we aren?t good enough. It is 0elie2 in the negative. While 2ear is the 0elie2 in a speci2ic negative outcome3 dou0t is the 0elie2 in the possibility o2 a negative outcome. Fear is a dou0t that has cr/stalliEed into a more speci2ic imagined picture3 while dou0t is more vague3 which makes dou0t more insidious than 2ear 0ecause dou0t is more di22icult to re2ute. With dou0t3 /ou aren?t sure what might go wrong3 0ut /ou 0elieve something will. 1nd /ou are pro0a0l/ rightJ 6ou pro0a0l/ will run into di22iculties3 and there will 0e things /ou won?t likeK0ecause that?s li2e. =he 5uestion is3 will that stop /ou 2rom 2ollowing /our Heart<
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8ou0ts are stoppers. =he/ stop us 2rom doing what we 2eel moved to do3 what our Heart calls us to do. "ecause dou0ts come 2rom the ego3 not 2rom the Heart3 the/ aren?t true warnings that should 0e heeded. 8ou0ts are the programmed3 automatic response o2 the ego to li2e G6ou 0etter watch out. Li2e is dangerous. 6ou will 2ail. 6ou?ll end up homeless.H Bur ego and other people?s egos spew out the same responses to change or to tr/ing something new. Such dou0ts are 5uite predicta0le. =he/ are programmed into ever/ mind. When 2aced with the unknown3 out come the dou0ts. "ecause dou0ts come at us 2rom 0oth inside and outside ourselves3 the/ seem 0elieva0le. I2 ever/one has similar dou0ts3 we assume the/ must have some validit/. We assume there must 0e something to 0e concerned a0out. Fears are contagiousKthe/ activate 2ears in others. =he egoic state o2 consciousness 0rings out the egoic state o2 consciousness in others. 1nd all egos agree =he world is a scar/ and unsa2e place. Egos are happ/ to recount stories o2 all the terri0le things that have happened to them and to others. "u/ing into such unspeci2ied 2ears has kept man/ people 2rom 2ollowing their Heart and living the li2e the/ were meant to live. Li2e can 0e scar/3 and challenging things happen sometimes. "ut such things happen whether we 2ollow our Heart or not3 so we might as well 2ollow our Heart. "elieving our dou0ts and 2ears doesn?t protect us 2rom li2e. $evertheless3 we reall/ 0elieve that listening to them will ensure our sa2et/. We also assume that the illusion o2 sa2et/ is worth the price o2 not 2ollowing our Heart. We are willing to trade the ego?s promise o2 sa2et/3 which is a 2alse promise3 2or the happiness and 2ul2illment o2 2ollowing our Heart. =hat?s not a ver/ good trade. Li2e is risk/ 0usiness either wa/. Wh/ not live it with Io/ instead o2 2ear and dou0t<
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T*E E3O:S %A4ORITE WEAPON 9udgment is the ego?s 2avorite weapon. 9udgments are the wa/ the ego protects and 2ights 2or its 0elie2s and the wa/ it esta0lishes its superiorit/ and rightness. "eing right and 0eing superior are ver/ important to it3 more important than love or an/thing else. In service to 0eing right and superior3 the ego Iudges people to 0ring them down. 9udging others makes us 2eel terri0le a0out ourselves3 and then we Iudge ourselves 2or that. 1lthough the ego is tr/ing to make itsel2 2eel good and superior 0/ Iudging others3 the result is that superiorit/ doesn?t 2eel good. Putting others down doesn?t 2eel good. Separation doesn?t 2eel goodK0ecause that?s what Iudging results in. It creates separation3 and separation is pain2ul. Indulging in Iudgment leads to sel2(hate3 which 2uels the need to 0e superior and right3 so a vicious c/cle is 0orn Feeling 0ad a0out ourselves 2or 0eing unkind and Iudgmental o2ten results in even more Iudging in an attempt to 2eel oka/ again. =here?s no wa/ out o2 this c/cle e4cept to see the truth a0out our Iudgments. =he ego leads us to 0elieve that our Iudgments are wise. 9udgments are the ego?s version o2 wisdom. =he ego 0elieves its Iudgments are valua0le and correct. 1s a result3 the/ can 0ecome cloaked in sel2(righteousness3 which causes people to do a lot o2 harm in the world. 1n e4ample is the terrorism that stems 2rom 2undamentalism. =errorists 2eel Iusti2ied in an/ kind o2 violence3 even murder3 0ecause the/ 2eel that their 0elie2s are so important to uphold and so right. When Iudgment is taken to the e4treme3 violence is o2ten the result.
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Love is the opposite o2 Iudgment. Love is acceptance. It is accepting our own Iudgments without acting on them and accepting other people?s Iudgments and 0elie2s without reacting to them. =he result o2 acceptance is peace. =here2ore3 the antidote to war is acceptance. I2 ever/one would let ever/one else have their 0elie2s3 it would 0e possi0le 2or people to live in harmon/. I2 people Iust had 0elie2s without the Iudgments that 2uel the sel2( righteousness that leads to 2ighting3 0elie2s wouldn?t 0e so dangerous. We don?t realiEe that Iudgments are as harm2ul as the/ are 0ecause3 2rom the level o2 ego3 Iudgments seem valua0le and purpose2ul. However3 Iudgments are ver/ harm2ul. =he/ damage relationships and undermine cooperation3 which is what actuall/ makes it possi0le 2or us to survive and thrive in the world. Bur survival is enhanced 0/ Ioining with others3 not 0/ 2ighting with them or tr/ing to gain power over them. =he ego is nast/. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we sound nast/ and 2eel nast/3 and that doesn?t 2eel good at all. When we?re aligned with Essence3 on the other hand3 we don?t e4perience low sel2(esteem or other negative 2eelings that come 2rom having Iudgments a0out others. =here?s no such thing as a nast/ person3 reall/3 onl/ nast/ egos. Who we reall/ are isn?t unkind3 although when we are identi2ied with the ego3 we o2ten 0ehave 0adl/. Fortunatel/3 the ego isn?t who we are. People want to know how to love themselves. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 loving ourselves isn?t ver/ eas/ 0ecause the ego isn?t ver/ lova0le. We come to love ourselves 0/ discovering who we reall/ are and 0/ e4periencing our true nature3 which is love. I2 all we are e4periencing is the ego3 then o2 course3 we?re not going to love ourselves.
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Loving the 8ivine within us and within others is eas/3 once we are a0le to e4perience who we reall/ are and once we realiEe that the unkind thoughts3 separating 0elie2s3 and Iudgments 0elong to the 2alse sel23 not to who we reall/ are. 9udgments are part o2 our programming3 which endlessl/ spits itsel2 out. We had nothing to do with the programming we were given. We didn?t create it. We didn?t put it there. Bur conditioning isn?t a re2lection o2 who we reall/ are. When we see that3 loving ourselves is natural.
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*OW 52D3/ENTS 2NDER/INE RE-ATIONS*IPS =he ego is in the 0usiness o2 Iudging. 9udging others is how the ego keeps itsel2 separate 2rom others3 gains an identit/3 and makes itsel2 superior to others3 which helps it 2eel sa2e. 9udgments are the ego?s main strateg/ 2or dealing with others. $otice how whenever /ou are with others3 evaluations and Iudgments a0out them and how /ou measure up to them 0ecome prominent in /our thoughts. 9udgmental thoughts are normal. Ever/one who has an ego Cand that?s ever/oneJD e4periences the ego marshalling its 2orces whenever another person comes onto the scene3 or whenever we simpl/ think or talk a0out someone else. 6ou can?t get rid o2 Iudgments3 and /ou don?t have toL /ou onl/ have to see Iudgments 2or what the/ are the ego?s automatic response to others. When /ou notice the ego Iudging3 /ou can disengage 2rom those Iudgments. 6ou can ignore the ego?s knee( Ierk3 Iudgmental reactions to others and not speak those Iudgments out loud. =he trou0le with Iudgments is the/ keep us 2rom love and connecting with others. =he/ maintain a sense o2 separation 0ecause what we Iudge is how someone is di22erent 2rom us or di22erent 2rom an idea or ideal we hold. =he ego is suspicious o2 di22erences3 and it separates itsel2 2rom those who are di22erentK which is ever/oneJ =hrough Iudging3 the ego reIects those who are di22erent or who don?t measure up to its ideas and standards3 regardless o2 whether the ego lives up to these standards itsel2. In these times3 where we encounter people 2rom all over the world on a dail/ 0asis3 either in person or through the media3 intolerance o2 di22erences is a 0ig stum0ling 0lock to greater peace
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in the world and within ourselves. "ecoming aware o2 our instinctual reaction to Iudge others Iust 0ecause the/ are di22erent and the negative impact o2 doing so can 0ring us a step closer to inner peace and world peace. In more intimate relationships3 Iudgments eat awa/ at relationships and kill love. Little 0/ little3 the/ poison our relationships3 until onl/ anger and resentment are le2t. We 0elieve our Iudgments are valid and there2ore have a place in our relationships. What we don?t see is that the/ have onl/ enough truth to convince us that we are right3 and then the ego uses them to tr/ to manipulate others into compl/ing with our conditioning. Bur Iudgments are the means 0/ which the ego tries to 2orce others to 0e what it wants them to 0e. For e4ample3 the Iudgment G6ou are so slopp/H is an attempt to get someone to stop 0eing slopp/3 according to our de2inition o2 slopp/3 which is determined 0/ our conditioning. =he ego?s strateg/ is simple I2 it can shame others enough3 then ma/0e the/ will stop doing what the/ do and start doing what it wants them to do. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we don?t realiEe that sloppiness3 or an/ other la0el3 is su0Iective. La0els3 or Iudgments3 aren?t the o0Iective truth3 0ut our personal perception3 our conditioning. We take our conditioning as the true perspective3 rather than seeing that it?s onl/ one perspective3 while other people have their own perspective3 their own conditioning. We are so convinced that our conditioning is right that we assume we have the right to impose it on others. @n2ortunatel/3 others 2eel the same wa/ a0out their conditioning. :ost con2lict in relationships is caused 0/ arguments over whose conditioning is right. What happens when we have a Iudgment a0out someone is we search 2or proo2 that supports it. We look 2or wa/s that person
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con2orms to our Iudgment and ignore wa/s that he or she doesn?t. We 0uild a case 2or our perception and create a stor/ a0out that person3 which inter2eres with our reacting purel/ and simpl/ to him or her in the moment. Bur ideas and stories inter2ere with seeing the whole truth a0out someone3 especiall/ how the/ are right now. Bur reactions to someone we are Iudging are 0ound to 0e 5uite negative3 whether we are conscious o2 those reactions or not. What happens when /ou 2eel negativel/ or react negativel/ toward someone< @suall/3 /ou get a negative response 2rom that person3 which rein2orces /our negative 2eelings. We o2ten don?t realiEe the part we pla/ in creating negativit/ in our relationships. I2 /ou?re 0eing Iudged3 or even i2 /ou Iust sense that someone is Iudging /ou3 how likel/ is it /ou will 2eel good a0out that person and act accordingl/< 9udgment produces Iudgment3 while love produces love. In relationships3 we rarel/ see the other person clearl/ and purel/. We 0ring our proIections3 0elie2s3 stories3 and histories into the moment3 and the/ cause us to perceive and react to others the wa/ we do. We see how others 2it our proIections3 0ut not how the/ don?t. We assume things a0out them that ma/ not 0e true or are onl/ partl/ true. We even do this with people we?ve never met I2 someone reminds /ou o2 someone else3 /ou respond to that person as i2 that person were someone else. Br i2 someone triggers 2eelings in /ou3 /ou assume that person 2eels a certain wa/ a0out /ou. =he truth is that others are a m/ster/. We can never reall/ know them. We onl/ think we do. We Gsee through a glass darkl/.H 9udgments color our interactions with people and produce negativit/ that dooms relationships to di22icult/. =he good news is that Iudgments don?t have to matter. =he/ can arise in /our mind3 as the/ will3 0ut /ou don?t have to empower them 0/ giving them
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/our attention or giving voice to them. Instead3 /ou can sta/ in a place o2 open3 innocent3 awareness o2 others3 2ree o2 /our stories3 0elie2s3 opinions3 and agenda as much as possi0le. When /ou do that3 something miraculous happens loveJ 1midst the ego?s continual 2low o2 Iudgments and negativit/ is Essence3 which is in awe o2 the 0eaut/ and uni5ueness o2 each moment and ever/ person. Essence knows how to meet others with acceptance3 curiosit/3 and love. Fortunatel/3 Essence is who we reall/ are and who the other person is tooJ
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T*E E3O IS CON%2SED 1lthough3 much o2 the time3 the ego pretends to know3 it?s o2ten in a state o2 con2usion caused 0/ disparate voices within itsel2. =he ego doesn?t reall/ know an/thing. It has no innate wisdom o2 its own3 Iust in2ormation it?s gathered 2rom various sources. 1lthough it has accumulated a lot o2 in2ormation3 much o2 it is contradictor/ and untrue. =he ego doesn?t know how to evaluate and weigh the in2ormation it has3 discern what?s true 2rom what?s 2alse3 or appl/ the in2ormation to realit/. =he ego is a computer and not a sage3 although it pretends to 0e a sageJ =he ego pretends to know 0ecause that is how it copes with the unpredicta0ilit/ and comple4it/ o2 li2e. I2 it doesn?t or can?t know something3 it o2ten pretends toKand voilaJ Pretending to know gives the ego a 2alse sense o2 con2idence and securit/3 which to it3 is 0etter than no sense o2 securit/. =he ego pretends its ideas and 0elie2s are correct3 and i2 the/ di22er 2rom other people?s3 it enIo/s sparring with them or 2eeling superior to them. =he ego rarel/ 5uestions its own 0elie2s. It?s 5uite content to 0elieve what it 0elieves without 2urther e4amination. 1s our ego evolves3 which it does3 we 0ecome more o0Iective a0out our 0elie2s and more tolerant o2 the 0elie2s o2 others. $evertheless3 when we are identi2ied with the ego3 we hold our 0elie2s 2irml/ and use them as guides 2or how to live. Bnl/ a2ter awakening do we see that our 0elie2s are irrelevant and ine22ectual programming. =he ego doesn?t like con2usion. When it?s con2used3 it tries to get out o2 that state as 5uickl/ as possi0le 0/ making a decision. When a decision needs to 0e made3 con2usion o2ten arises 0ecause
=he Ego
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all the mind has to draw on in making a decision is its storehouse o2 in2ormation3 much o2 which is contradictor/. Bther people are o2ten Iust as con2used as our own egos and ma/ also o22er con2using and mi4ed advice. =here are nearl/ as man/ opinions a0out something as there are people. 1nd i2 someone isn?t con2used3 that?s no guarantee that his or her advice is goodJ Con2idence in one?s 0elie2s is not an indication o2 their correctness. =he answer to what to do a0out something must come 2rom somewhere other than the egoic mind 0ecause the ego is not a trustworth/ guide. It doesn?t know what to do3 even though it ma/ pretend to. 1nd other people?s minds don?t know either3 even though the/ ma/ also pretend to. =here?s something else we can draw on 2or guidance that is clear and uncon2used3 and that is the Heart. However3 the Heart rarel/ speaks to us through our mindKthrough thoughtsKand it doesn?t alwa/s reveal the answer when we want it. =o 2ollow the Heart3 we have to 0e willing to live with uncertaint/ until we receive an answer through our intuition. "ecause the ego is averse to 0eing con2used and to not knowing3 it o2ten makes a decision 0e2ore it?s time 2or the answer to arise. =he ego ma/ change its decision man/ times3 0ut at least it has taken a stand3 which gives it a sense o2 knowing3 at least 2or a while. Changing /our mind a lot is an indication that /ou are listening to the ego3 0ecause changing its mind is the wa/ the ego copes with con2usion and not knowing. When /ou 2ind /oursel2 con2used3 that means /ou are listening to the egoic mind3 which is con2used. Fortunatel/3 there?s another option3 and that is to 2ind the place within us that is oka/ with not knowing and that trusts that clarit/ will arise in its own time. When clarit/ does arise3 it has a distinct 2eel to it3 5uite unlike an/ conclusion the ego might come to.
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When clarit/ arises 2rom the Heart3 it?s accompanied 0/ a wonder2ul 2eeling o2 /es3 rela4ation3 solidit/3 and certaint/K/ou Iust know. 1t some point3 the mind might 5uestion that sense o2 knowing or argue with it and con2use /ou again. 1h3 the trials o2 having an egoic mindJ Living in the $ow re5uires constant vigilance and awareness o2 what the egoic mind is up to3 while remaining right here in the $ow3 where even the ego is em0raced.
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/A7IN3 PEACE WIT* -I%E =he ego is at war with li2e. It?s a2raid o2 and angr/ at li2e3 it doesn?t trust li2e3 and it doesn?t like li2e. We 2eel that wa/ too when we are identi2ied with the 2alse sel2. Ever/one 2eels this wa/3 at least some o2 the time3 0ecause ever/one has an ego3 and the ego is similar 2rom one person to the ne4t. Seeing that a 2ear2ul3 negative view o2 li2e is merel/ the point o2 view o2 the ego can 2ree us 2rom that point o2 view. It?s a lie that li2e is untrustworth/ or that it should 0e di22erent than the wa/ it is. =he ego doesn?t like li2e and 2eels li2e is untrustworth/ 0ecause li2e doesn?t cater to the ego?s plans and desires. B2 course3 li2e doesn?t cater to the ego?s plans and desires. It caters to the Whole3 not to individual egos. =o e4pect li2e to do otherwise is to have unreasona0le e4pectations a0out realit/. Ever/ now and then3 the ego does get what it wants3 0ut li2e doesn?t revolve around our ego?s desires. Bnce we see the truth a0out li2e and the ego3 it?s possi0le to 2eel compassion 2or the part o2 us that is so unhapp/ and has so man/ unrealistic demands and desires. =he ego is like a child 0ecause it?s a primitive part o2 ourselves3 an irrational and outdated vestige o2 ourselves. :aking peace with li2e is a matter o2 seeing that the onl/ thing at war with li2e is the ego and then making peace with the ego. Bnce we realiEe the ego is the cause o2 our unhappiness3 the tendenc/ is to reIect it3 to hate it. "ut peace can?t 0e had when an/thing3 even the ego3 is reIected or opposed. ;eIecting the ego is reIecting our humanness. I2 we reIect our own ego3 we will also reIect and oppose other people?s egos3 and that onl/ produces more
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su22ering. We need to come to peace with our own ego3 our own humanness3 so that we can come to peace with other people?s egos and the su22ering their egos cause. Bpposing su22ering is Iust more su22ering. 1ll the evil in the world is caused 0/ people 0eing identi2ied with the unhapp/3 2rightened3 angr/3 and hate2ul side o2 themselves3 with the 2alse sel2. We need to understand that the su22ering people cause themselves and others comes 2rom this primitive aspect o2 human nature and isn?t a re2lection o2 their true nature or value as a human 0eing. =he onl/ thing that allows us to hurt or go to war with others is the 0elie2 that the/ are evil rather than that the/3 like us3 are driven 0/ a primitive aspect o2 themselves that perpetrates evil. Evil can?t 0e stopped with more violence3 which is the ego?s response to evil3 0ut 0/ connecting with what is true3 real3 and good within others. =hat connection can onl/ 0e made 0/ what is true3 real3 and good within us. =his ma/ sound hopelessl/ idealistic3 0ut what choice do we have< =he alternative does nothing 0ut perpetuate more su22ering and evil on the planet3 and we?ve had enough o2 that. :aking peace with li2e re5uires making peace with other egos so that the/ can rela4 and their true sel2 can shine through. When we accept li2e as it is3 we drop into Essence. 1nd when we accept that other people ha$e egos 0ut are not their egos3 that helps them e4perience Essence. =he onl/ wa/ out o2 ego identi2ication and the su22ering it causes is love and acceptance3 not opposition and war. =his is the trans2ormation that must take place now on the planet.
PART " #rea$ing %ree o& Conditioning
SEEIN3 T*E TR2T* A#O2T DESIRES 8esire is a movement o2 the ego toward something that isn?t here right now. I2 what we desired were here right now3 we wouldn?t desire it. I2 loving what is3 is the secret to happiness Cand it isD3 then desiring something that isn?t here is the prescription 2or unhappiness. 8esires alwa/s seem reasona0le 0ecause the/ are the result o2 a perceived lack on the part o2 the ego. It desires something 0ecause something a0out the current e4perience isn?t enough It?s not 2un enough3 not com2orta0le enough3 not e4citing enough3 not special enough3 not peace2ul enough3 not eas/ enough3 not 2ast enough3 not loving enough3 not pleasura0le enough3 not se4/ enough3 and so on. =he ego?s Iudgments leave us 2eeling that something is wrong or missing and that our e4perience can and should 0e improved upon. 9udgments provide a reason 2or desiring something3 and the/ create discontentment3 which 2uels action. We assume our discontentment is the result o2 something wrong with or missing in our li2e3 without realiEing that our unhappiness comes 2rom taking on the ego?s viewpoint. Li2e Iust is the wa/ it is3 neither good nor 0ad reall/. 1n e4perience or a situation is the wa/ it is3 and that will soon change. Wh/ make it wrong< $evertheless3 dissatis2action is the ongoing state o2 the ego3 and when we are identi2ied with it3 we 2eel unhapp/. Ever/ moment 0ecomes something to complain a0out3 and those complaints 2uel actions3 man/ o2 which are a waste o2 time and energ/3 e4cept 2rom the ego?s point o2 view. Without discontentment3 the ego would have nothing to do3 no purpose or reason 2or 0eing. 8issatis2action 2uels activit/ that
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supports the ego?s goals and values. It motivates us to pursue what the ego wants more o2 something or a 0etter something. When the ego gets that3 it wants even more or 0etter o2 that3 or it pursues something else. 8esires are 2orever 0eing generated 0/ the ego. =he/ keep the ego 0us/ and keep us tied to its goals and agenda. I2 we 0u/ into the ego?s desires3 our li2e will 0e structured accordingl/. Few realiEe their desires are the cause o2 their unhappiness rather than the cure and that the/ don?t have to pursue them. Like all thoughts3 desires arise out o2 nowhere. Where do the/ come 2rom< Wh/ do /ou want one thing and not another< 8esires are somewhat individual3 since each o2 us is uni5ue3 0ut all egos want generall/ the same things power3 securit/3 pleasure3 sa2et/3 specialness3 superiorit/3 attention3 praise3 success3 mone/3 and possessions. Bur speci2ic desires are in2luenced 0/ what those around us want and what we?ve enIo/ed in the past I2 we?ve liked driving a ":W3 we might want a ":W. We o2ten want more or 0etter o2 the things we have positive associations with. =hat?s natural. We?re programmed to want more and 0etter o2 ever/thing. =he pro0lem with wanting more and 0etter o2 whatever the ego wants is that having more and 0etter o2 those things doesn?t necessaril/ 0ring happiness. In 2act3 more and 0etter o2 some things can actuall/ 0e a pro0lem. We can have too man/ cookies3 too man/ love a22airs3 too man/ possessions3 and too man/ activities. Even when that is the case3 the ego o2ten still wants more and 0etter. It doesn?t know when to stop pursuing what it?s decided it wants. We get caught up in our desires 0ecause the/ seem like more than Iust thoughts. 8esires are ver/ convincing. =he thought GI wantH seems important3 true3 real3 and compelling. We 2eel
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motivated to do something a0out it3 i2 onl/ to put an end to the uncom2orta0le state o2 desiring. $ot having something we want 2eels uncom2orta0le3 like li2e is lacking something3 0ut also like we are lacking something and we won?t 0e happ/ until we get it. Feelings o2 lack come with ever/ desire. =he/ are packaged with the thought GI want.H I2 that weren?t the case3 ignoring our desires would 0e much easier. :ost people don?t want to detach 2rom their desires. =he/ love their desires. =he/ enIo/ desiring3 or so the/ think3 and can?t imagine li2e without their desires3 nor do the/ want to. =he/ haven?t realiEed that their desires are the cause o2 their su22ering. @ntil the/ do3 the/ will continue to pursue them. 8etaching 2rom our desires is impossi0le without seeing that desires aren?t the route to happiness that we assume the/ are. So are /ou convinced that desires are the cause o2 su22ering and that there?s another wa/ to live 0esides going a2ter what the ego wants< 8esires take us out o2 the $ow3 where it?s possi0le to 0e content with li2e as it is. =he ego doesn?t want contentment Cit needs discontentment to e4istD3 so it turns awa/ 2rom the $ow as soon as it e4periences contentment3 which it considers 0oring and uninteresting. =he ego wants its 2antasies and the drama that comes with tr/ing to 2ul2ill them. We want this drama too3 until we don?t an/more. 1t a certain point in our evolution3 we 0ecome tired o2 the ego(driven drama3 and we long 2or the peace and contentment that onl/ our divine nature can provide. =hat peace and contentment are availa0le onl/ in the $ow3 not in some moment in the past or 2uture3 0ut in this moment right now. When we are 2inall/ tired o2 pursuing the ego?s desires3 we are read/ to see what?s reall/ going on. What we 2ind is that the ego?s desires are trumped up and made up. =he/ have little relevance to our li2e and little wisdom to guide our li2e. In 2act3 pursuing them
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o2ten wastes our time and energ/ while /ielding scant 2ul2illment. 1ll this ego(driven activit/ and the dissatis2action that results is meant to point us Home3 0ack to the $ow3 where something else is alive and moving us according to its intentions. Essence?s intentions are 2elt deep within us as drives3 longings3 urges3 and inspiration. =he/ don?t appear in our mind as the thought GI want3H although at some point we are likel/ to put Essence?s intentions into words. =hese deeper desires don?t mislead us or take us awa/ 2rom 2ul2illment3 0ut Iust the opposite. =he/ are the desires we are meant to 2ollow. However3 i2 we are caught up in the ego?s ideas and goals3 we might not notice these more meaning2ul drives. 1s we evolve3 the di22erence 0etween the ego?s desires and Essence?s drives 0ecomes increasingl/ clear3 and ignoring Essence?s callings 0ecomes more di22icult. Following Essence results in Io/ and a 2eeling o2 0eing true to ourselves. =hat Io/ 2eels ver/ di22erent 2rom the stress and unhappiness we 2eel when we are 0eing pushed 0/ the t/rannical ego to get more o2 something or something 0etter. 8etaching 2rom the ego?s desires isn?t di22icult once we see their 2alseness and 0ecome aware o2 the deeper3 more meaning2ul desires driving us. How is Essence moving /ou now3 in this moment< =he answer to that will give /ou a clue to what Essence?s intentions are 2or /ou. We discover these intentions3 not 0/ looking in our mind3 0ut 0/ noticing what?s coming out o2 the moment. =houghts o2 GI wantH might 0e showing up3 0ut what else is here in the moment< What is here that?s more true and real than an/ thought<
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%EE-IN3S ARE NOT W*AT O2 T*IN7 T*E ARE Feelings3 like desires3 aren?t good guides to li2e. =he/ don?t have the answer 2or what to do in the present moment or in our li2e in general. 1nd /et 2or most o2 us3 2eelings drive actions and structure our lives to a large e4tent. When we have an emotion3 we o2ten 2eel compelled to act it out or sa/ or do something in response to it. We o2ten sa/ or do things we wouldn?t have i2 we hadn?t had that 2eeling. When we are e4periencing an emotion3 that 2eeling 2eels important3 real3 and trueKand like a pro0lem we need to solve. :ost actions that stem 2rom emotions are an attempt to 2i4 or do awa/ with the unpleasant 2eeling GI?m 0ored3 so I?m going shopping.H GI?m angr/ at m/ 0oss3 so I?m going to 5uit m/ Io0.H GI?m lonel/3 so I?m going to have an a22air.H GI?m sad3 so I?m going to eat this pint o2 ice cream.H GI?m unhapp/3 so I?m going to steal this.H GI?m 2rustrated3 so I?m going to 0lame /ou.H GI?m misera0le3 so I?m going to make /ou 2eel misera0le.H Feelings result in a lot o2 useless and destructive activit/ that s5uanders the present moment. I2 such GsolutionsH to our 2eelings worked and were good ones3 these actions would make sense. However3 man/ reactions to our 2eelings are vindictive3 unkind3 destructive3 ill(conceived3 and unIusti2ied. =he/ are vindictive and unkind 0ecause the/ come 2rom the ego3 which is vindictive and unkind. =he/ are destructive Cincluding sel2(destructiveD3 ill(conceived3 and unIusti2ied 0ecause the ego lacks wisdom and insight. Emotions come 2rom erroneous conclusions and 0elie2s. Some o2 these were 2ormed so long ago that the/ are unconscious. =hese unconscious conclusions and 0elie2s are 0ehind much depression3 an4iet/3 and rage. However3 man/ o2 our negative emotions stem
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2rom what we told ourselves right 0e2ore the emotion showed up We 0elieved3 e4pected3 or desired something3 and someone or li2e didn?t compl/ with that. So we 2eel angr/3 sad3 0etra/ed3 and so on. =he error was in 0elieving that li2e should con2orm to our 0elie2s3 e4pectations3 and desires3 when most o2 the time it doesn?t. Who sa/s that li2e should con2orm to our wishes< =he ego3 o2 course3 which continuall/ argues with realit/. =his disagreement with realit/ is the source o2 unhappinessKnot our circumstances. When we are in the ego?s grip3 we react to our negative 2eelings in a num0er o2 wa/s We ma/ act them out in destructive or hurt2ul wa/sL we ma/ 0lame3 Iudge3 or 0elittle othersL or we ma/ act sel2(destructivel/. Such reactions spread negativit/ and consume our energ/. 1nd in the end3 the/ don?t get us what we reall/ want. =he/ don?t reap love3 appreciation3 or respect3 0ut discord and more negative 2eelings3 although we ma/ 2eel 0etter temporaril/. So much energ/ and time is spent a0sor0ed in negative 2eelings and unnecessar/3 ill(in2ormed activit/ and drama3 while we could have had a ver/ di22erent e4perience. =he un2ortunate results o2 reacting to our 2eelings are o0vious enough when we aren?t having emotions. "ut when we are under the spell o2 our 2eelings3 we don?t see ver/ clearl/. Feelings put us in an altered state o2 consciousness o2 sorts. =he/ take us over and turn us into irrational creatures who are willing to do nearl/ an/thing in the moment to 0e right or get our wa/. Emotions are not onl/ a poor guide 2or what to do3 the/ are a destructive 2orce. I2 someone told /ou to tell someone o223 5uit /our Io03 0e 0elligerent3 eat a whole cake3 or cr/ and scream until /ou get /our wa/3 /ou pro0a0l/ wouldn?t listen to them. "ut i2 our 2eelings or mind tells us to do these things3 we Iust might. We are programmed to identi2/ with our emotions3 to 0elieve the/ are important and meaning2ul3 and to act on them. We aren?t
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taught that there?s another wa/ to relate to our 2eelings 0esides repressing3 suppressing3 or e4pressing them. =he other wa/ is to Iust notice and accept them 0ut not act on them. Bnce we know how to relate to our 2eelings3 the/ cease 0eing such a pro0lem. Emotions are part o2 our conditioning and a product o2 the ego. =he/ don?t come 2rom Essence. I2 /ou o0serve /our thoughts closel/3 /ou will see that the/ are mostl/ negative and designed to uphold the 0elie2s3 opinions3 and identities that the 2alse3 or conditioned3 sel2 holds so dear3 man/ o2 which don?t deserve upholding. =hese negative 0elie2s3 opinions3 and narrow identities separate us 2rom others and make us 2eel disconnected 2rom li2e and our ver/ own li2e 2orce3 the same li2e 2orce that is coursing through and animating ever/one. We listen to our mind and 2ollow our 2eelings 0ecause we think there?s nothing else to listen to or guide us. =he ego doesn?t notice that something else is and alwa/s has 0een guiding us3 which is Essence. =he ego?s ignorance or denial o2 what is real doesn?t change the 2acts3 however We are the li2e 2orce that?s living through us3 and we are not the ego3 which attempts to control our li2e. When we drop out o2 the mind and into the moment3 even 0rie2l/3 we know the truth a0out ourselves. =hen it is possi0le to e4perience Essence?s guidance and wisdom. Essence doesn?t produce emotions3 0ut it is e4perienced as positive 2eelings Io/3 elation3 peace3 contentment3 acceptance3 love3 patience3 wisdom3 and compassion. Essence steers us toward its intentions with these positive 2eelings and awa/ 2rom what isn?t compati0le with our li2e plan with a sense o2 GnoH or with 2eelings o2 sadness. Essence?s guidance rarel/ shows up as words in the mind3 0ut when it does3 those words ring true3 and we 2eel e4pansive and Io/2ul3 which is 5uite di22erent 2rom how most thoughts make us 2eel.
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:ost thoughts are negative. =he/ disparage us3 li2e3 or others3 and the/ represent realit/ too narrowl/. :ost thoughts are a small stor/ told a0out a moment in time that can?t 0egin to contain the whole truth 2or us or an/one else. Bur thoughts are the spin that our conditioning puts on realit/. :an/ o2 them create negative 2eelings that cause us pro0lems and hurt others. For e4ample3 even a simple thought like3 GI?m 0locked3H can make /ou 2eel sad and a22ect /our outlook 2or a da/ or even longer. Bnce /ou 2eel sad3 the ego tries to Iusti2/ that 2eeling 0/ 0uilding a case 2or it. =he ego creates a stor/ around the sadness GI?m sadH 0ecomes GI?m sad 0ecause I?m 0locked. $othing ever turns out right 2or me. Ever/thing I tr/ 2ails. $othing I do matters.H =he more attention /ou give such 2eelings and this 2low o2 thoughts3 the more the stor/ grows. 1nd as it grows3 /our 2eelings grow. $ow /ou reall/ do have a pro0lemJ $ow /our 2eelings are inter2ering with getting things done3 0eing happ/3 and /our relationships. How can /ou 0e present when /ou are a0sor0ed in /our own stor/ o2 2ailure< What a terri0le waste o2 time and energ/ it is to tell such sad and incomplete stories. "ut that?s what the egoic mind is designed to do. It tells tales3 we 0elieve them3 and we respond with 2eelings and actions. =hat 0ecomes our e4perience o2 li2e3 while a much more pleasant and peace2ul e4perience is possi0le. When we stop listening to the mind3 we stop producing negative 2eelings3 and we discover that we have so much more energ/ 2or li2e and the real e4perience that is availa0le in the moment. Fortunatel/3 the stories the egoic mind tells aren?t the whole stor/ a0out li2e3 which is potentiall/ much more Io/ous than the ego?s e4perience o2 it. Bnce /ou stop listening to the mind?s version o2 li2e3 /ou can 0egin to e4perience li2e as it reall/ is3 and /ou discover that li2e is goodJ "ehind all o2 li2e is Goodness CGod(nessD3 and /ou are thatJ
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%EE-IN3S POINT TO CONDITIONIN3 Feelings can 0e an all/ in our spiritual growth rather than a destructive 2orce. @npleasant 2eelings point to conditioningKideas3 0elie2s3 opinions3 Iudgments3 desiresKthat is 2alse. =he proo2 that such conditioning is 2alse is that it results in negative 2eelings3 and negativit/ is anti(li2e3 anti(love. 1n/ idea /ou have that results in a negative 2eeling is 2alse. =hat idea isn?t the whole stor/3 0ut a partial truth3 and partial truths are lies. 1n/ negative 2eeling /ou have3 then3 can 0e used to uncover mistaken 0elie2s and misunderstandings that 0elong to /our conditioning. :ost o2 the time3 our 0elie2s go unrecogniEed and unchallenged. We generall/ assume our thoughts are true GI think it3 so it must 0e trueJH We are programmed to 0elieve what we think. =he su22ering that?s caused 0/ our thoughts and the 2eelings that stem 2rom them eventuall/ gets us to 5uestion our thoughts. Su22ering is ultimatel/ what gets us to stop going down the same road. =hat road Iust 0ecomes too pain2ul to keep traveling3 and we 0egin to look 2or a wa/ out o2 our su22ering. =he wa/ out is actuall/ through our 2eelings. "/ 0eing ver/ present to our 2eelings when the/ are occurring3 we can discover how our 0elie2s3 including possi0l/ unconscious 0elie2s3 created our 2eelings. In that discover/3 lies our 2reedom. Bnce we realiEe that our 0elie2s are the cause o2 our 2eelings3 we can 0ecome 2ree 2rom 0eing tossed to and 2ro 0/ them. However3 we all have a lot o2 0elie2s to see through. "ehind ever/ 2eeling are a num0er o2 ideas /ou?ve 0een 0elieving3 some o2 them unconscious3 or /ou wouldn?t have that 2eeling. 6ou have to uncover these 0elie2s and see 2or /oursel2 that the/ are 2alse. For
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ever/ 0elie2 /ou uncover3 ask3 GIs that true<H =he answer is alwa/s no 0ecause no 0elie2 is completel/ true. Ever/ 0elie2 has some truth to it3 Iust enough to get us to 0u/ into it. However3 what underlies 2eelings are not 2acts3 0ut stories3 perspectives3 perceptions3 points o2 view. =hese stories are su0Iective3 not o0Iective. I2 the/ aren?t working 2or /ou Cand the/ aren?t i2 the/ are making /ou 2eel 0adD3 then change them or ignore them. =he/ don?t have to 0e /our stories. =he/ aren?t /ours. 6our true stor/ is Essence?s stor/. What would a loving3 wise parent tell /ou< =hat?s what Essence would sa/. =he truth is that love is at the core o2 the universe3 even in this dimension where there?s so much su22ering. 1ll o2 our e4periences are not to punish us3 0ut to evolve us and 0ring us Home. "esides3 /ou created them and designed them 2or /oursel2. 6ou can tell a sad stor/ a0out li2e i2 /ou like3 0ut it won?t 0e the truth. Li2e allows us to 2eel sad 2or as long as we want. "ut eventuall/ we discover there?s another possi0ilit/3 and that is to em0race li2e as it is3 with all its messiness and di22iculties3 and to love li2e 2or the e4perience it?s providing us. 6ou love /our e4perience Iust 0ecause that is what?s happening and 0ecause the alternativeKto hate it3 to 0e angr/3 to 0e sad3 or to reIect itKis Iust not an accepta0le alternative. 6ou don?t have to su22er i2 /ou make the right choice.
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W*AT TO DO WIT* %EE-IN3S When we are 2eeling something3 the tendenc/ is to e4press it in some wa/3 either emotionall/ 0/ cr/ing or /elling3 ph/sicall/ 0/ kicking or hitting3 or ver0all/ 0/ talking a0out it. =hese e4pressions o2 2eelings aren?t constructive3 although talking a0out 2eelings in a therapeutic setting can 0e. What most people ver0aliEe when the/?re in the grip o2 an emotion onl/ 2eeds the emotion and can 0e destructive to themselves and their relationships. When emotions do the talking3 what comes out isn?t prett/J Letting our emotions do the talking is ver/ di22erent 2rom ps/chotherap/3 where an emotional e4perience is talked a0out a2ter the 2act in an environment where insight and a more rational perspective can 0e 0rought to it. Looking 0ack at an emotional e4perience can 0e help2ul3 especiall/ when the goal is to uncover the mistaken 0elie2s and conclusions that caused and 2ueled the emotion. =he same o0Iectivit/ and in5uir/ can 0e 0rought to an emotion while it?s 0eing e4perienced instead o2 allowing the 2eeling to 0e e4pressed or acted out in whatever wa/ we are used to e4pressing it. Without something intervening to stop them3 emotions tend to 0e e4pressed automaticall/3 unconsciousl/3 and repetitivel/. =he/ are like storms that sweep over us3 and 2or the duration3 an/thing goes. 1ll stops and inhi0itions are gone. :an/ people sa/ things the/ deepl/ regret when the/ are upset. $evertheless3 when the storm hits again3 the same unconscious responses repeat themselves. 1 more productive wa/ o2 working with emotions than e4pressing them3 acting them out3 suppressing them3 or repressing them is in5uiring into the cause o2 the emotion while e4periencing
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it. "/ doing that3 we are taking responsi0ilit/ 2or creating the emotion rather than 0laming someone else 2or it. =aking responsi0ilit/ 2or our 2eelings allows 2or the possi0ilit/ o2 discovering what?s 0ehind a particular 2eeling. When we take time to e4amine our 2eelings3 the/ are less likel/ to 0e created again. =his is how emotions can 0e evolved and emotional patterns 0roken. @ncovering the cause o2 an emotion doesn?t involve e4amining e4ternal causesKwhat someone said or did to usK0ut internal causesKwhat we said to ourselves to create that emotion. :ost o2 our emotions are instigated 0/ thoughts3 which are part o2 our conditioning3 while others come 2rom unconscious 0elie2s and conclusions we made long ago3 which are also part o2 our conditioning. When something happens3 certain thoughts come up3 and those thoughts shape our e4perience o2 that event. We see our e4perience a certain wa/ 0ecause o2 how we think a0out it. 1nd how we perceive an e4perience determines how we 2eel a0out it and react to it. We are so used to 0laming others and circumstances 2or how we 2eel. Bur language even re2lects this G6ou hurt me.H G=hat made me so angr/.H :ost people don?t realiEe that circumstances don?t cause 2eelings. ;ather3 the stor/ we tell ourselves a0out an e4perience or a circumstance causes us to 2eel a certain wa/. When we change the stor/ we are telling a0out something3 our e4perience o2 it changes. 1nd our reactions and responses to it are likel/ to change as well. =he ego is so 5uick to 0lame others 2or how it 2eels. 1nd /et the ego is the sole creator o2 2eelings. =hat?s an interesting setup. =he pro0lem is that most people haven?t ac5uired the o0Iectivit/ needed to step 0ack 2rom their 2eelings and in5uire into them instead o2 react to them. Even those who are a0le to 0e o0Iective a0out their 2eelings might not know enough to in5uire into them3
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since that usuall/ isn?t part o2 our emotional education. We are onl/ now 0eginning to see what is actuall/ so o0vious =houghts3 particularl/ 0elie2s3 create emotions. Sometimes we aren?t conscious o2 the thoughts 0ehind our 2eelings 0ut the/ are nevertheless there. =he wa/ to deal with 2eelings when /ou are e4periencing them is to let them 0e there and tr/ to 2ind out what thoughts are 0ehind them. What did /ou Iust sa/ to /oursel2 that caused /ou to 2eel that wa/< Is that how /ou want to 2eel< I2 not3 then don?t 0u/ into those thoughts. I2 /our thoughts aren?t serving /ou3 put /our attention on something else. I2 what caused the 2eelings are unconscious 0elie2s or comple4es3 then some deeper in5uir/ ma/ 0e re5uired to uncover those3 possi0l/ with the help o2 a therapist or energ/ healer. "eing o0Iective a0out our emotions is onl/ possi0le i2 we have gained some distance 2rom the ego and had some e4perience with Essence. =hose deepl/ identi2ied with the ego will 2ind it di22icult to step 0ack 2rom their 2eelings. "ut the alternative is 5uite unpleasant. Having 2eelings is e4hausting3 unproductive3 and damaging to our relationships and to our 0od/. $egative emotions sap our energ/3 waste our time3 and make us ine22ective. When the/ have hold o2 us3 we can?t think or act clearl/3 we make 0ad decisions3 and we 2unction poorl/. =here are man/ good reasons 2or mastering /our emotions. When an emotion is present3 instead o2 doing what /ou would usuall/ do3 Iust 0e with it3 with a gentle and curious attitude. Look to see what stor/ /ou Iust told /oursel2 and 0elieved. =he stor/ is usuall/ something like3 G=his shouldn?t have happened. =his is un2air. =his is terri0le. I can?t stand this.H 1ll this raging against li2e doesn?t help us cope with the situation. "elieving such thoughts and e4pressing them Iust creates 2eelings that make us less capa0le o2 handling whatever is going on. =he ego 2eels Iusti2ied in having
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such 2eelings3 and it Iusti2ies them with more thoughts3 0ut do /ou reall/ want to go down that road< 6ou don?t have to. =here?s another possi0ilit/3 and that is to realiEe /ou don?t have to have unpleasant 2eelings. Li2e is lived per2ectl/ well without all those negative emotions. I2 /ou don?t identi2/ with the thoughts that create those 2eelings3 /ou won?t e4perience those 2eelings. 1nd i2 2eelings do arise3 the/ don?t have to take /ou over when /ou see the/ are 0ased on the ego?s narrow and negative perspective. =he ego?s perspective doesn?t have to 0e /ours3 and /ou don?t have to give voice to it. 6ou have the power to choose how /ou see /our e4periences and /our situation3 what stor/ /ou tell. Eventuall/ we all learn to tell wiser3 more positive stories3 the kind Essence would tell i2 it told stories. When /ou stop 0elieving the mind?s stories3 /ou discover that li2e can 0e lived in harmon/ and with ver/ 2ew negative emotions regardless o2 what happens.
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*EA-IN3 E/OTIONA- ISS2ES Emotional issues aren?t healed 0/ acting out or giving voice to our 2eelings. 8oing so onl/ strengthens the conditioned 0elie2s 0ehind the 2eelings and rein2orces our tendenc/ to react to emotions this wa/. When we react emotionall/ to events3 whether the reaction is anger3 sadness3 0elligerence3 hopelessness3 0lame3 guilt3 shame3 or whatever3 that response 0ecomes part o2 our emotional repertoire. I2 that response is repeated enough3 moving into that emotion 0ecomes automatic3 unconscious3 and compelling. We all have certain emotional reactions that have 0ecome ha0itual. =he/ have 0ecome so 2amiliar that we ma/ 2eel like we don?t have a choice in how we react3 even though we alwa/s do. Emotions take us over3 and we are lost in them 2or a while. E4amples o2 emotional patterns might 0e 2l/ing o22 the handle whenever we don?t get our wa/3 contracting into 2eelings o2 worthlessness whenever someone criticiEes us3 or moving into sel2( pit/ whenever something goes wrong. =he 2irst step in turning an emotional pattern around is 0ecoming conscious o2 the reactive pattern when it?s happening. =he second step is accessing the will to 0ehave di22erentl/. =he third step is 0ringing awareness to the emotion. Healing an emotional pattern re5uires not reacting to a 2eeling in the usual wa/s and not repressing or supressing it either3 0ut Iust 0eing with it3 0e2riending it3 allowing it to 0e there3 and 0ringing awareness to the energetic e4perience o2 it. "eing with an emotion this wa/ is ver/ di22erent 2rom identi2/ing with it. ;ather than e4periencing ourselves as angr/3 sad3 or whatever3 we e4perience the energ/ o2 the emotion as a
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curious o0server3 as i2 we were outside o2 the emotion. "eing a0le to 0e aware o2 an emotion places us outside o2 it. We are noticing the emotion rather than responding unconsciousl/ to it. We are e4periencing the emotion 2rom the perspective o2 Essence rather than 0eing identi2ied with it. "ringing awareness to an/thing allows us to know it in a wa/ that it hasn?t 0een known 0e2ore. When we are identi2ied with an emotion3 we aren?t aware o2 it3 0ut Iust reacting to it. "eing identi2ied with an emotion and 0ringing awareness to it are two ver/ di22erent things. Identi2ication with an emotion rein2orces it3 and 0ringing awareness to it heals it. When we 0ring awareness to an emotion3 we can discover where the emotion came 2rom and how the 0elie2s 0ehind it don?t serve us. For instance3 /ou might realiEe that whenever /ou overwork3 /ou 2eel angr/. "ehind the anger3 /ou discover this stor/ G$o one ever takes care o2 me Cand someone shouldD. So I have to work hard to take care o2 m/sel23 or I might not survive.H With 2urther in5uir/3 /ou realiEe that /ou came to this conclusion as a child 0ecause /ou didn?t 2eel taken care o2. Bnce /ou discover this stor/3 /ou can stop telling it and work on 2orgiving /our parents 2or not giving /ou the support /ou needed as a child. When /ou realiEe that holding onto this stor/ and not 2orgiving what happened long ago doesn?t serve /ou3 /ou can 0egin to let go o2 that stor/. When /ou realiEe that this stor/ caused /ou to overwork3 working hard is less likel/ to make /ou angr/. 6ou might also 0egin treating /oursel2 more kindl/3 as /ou would like to have 0een treated as a child3 and treating others more kindl/ 0ecomes easier too. 6ou end up 2eeling 0etter a0out /oursel23 others3 and li2e3 all 0ecause /ou are no longer driven 0/ the mistaken conclusion /ou came to as a child.
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Such insights set us 2ree 2rom the conditioned sel2 and all the pain that comes 2rom 0elieving 2alse stories. Emotional wounds 2rom our childhood and the conclusions we drew as a result o2 those wounds shape our perceptions a0out ourselves3 others3 li2e3 and God. I2 we never see the 2alseness o2 these conclusions3 the/ can inter2ere with our 2unctioning or make us depressed. In5uiring into our 2eelings e4poses these conclusions and 2rees us 2rom them. Seeing the truth does indeed set us 2ree. In5uiring into /our 2eelings takes a little 2aith3 willingness3 and persistence3 0ut what?s the alternative< Bnce /ou realiEe there?s a wa/ out o2 the su22ering caused 0/ /our emotions3 /ou can hardl/ go 0ack to them.
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DISEN3A3IN3 %RO/ T*E E3O:S 4OICE For most people3 the ego?s voice is a constant companion3 although o2ten not a welcome one. =he egoic mind is nearl/ alwa/s talking to us a0out something It scolds us3 Iudges us Cand othersD3 scares us3 pushes us3 parents us3 e4plains things3 gives us in2ormation3 tells us what to 0elieve3 tells us what?s right and wrong3 reminds us to do things and how to do them3 evaluates what we do3 conIectures a0out our 2uture3 ruminates a0out the past3 and 0e2riends us. =he ego is usuall/ a negative voice3 0ut it can also sound positive It 0uilds us up3 congratulates us3 and imagines 2antastic possi0ilities 2or us. However3 this pu22ing up is generall/ 2ollowed 0/ a tearing down at some point. =he ego?s positive comments take us out o2 the $ow and awa/ 2rom Essence Iust as much as its negative comments do. =he ego tells us we are terri0le or wonder2ul3 and 0oth are lies. Whatever stories it tells are incomplete and simplistic. In ever/ moment3 the ego tells us who we are3 according to its 0elie2s and assessments G6ou are stupid. G6ou are 0rilliant.H G6ou are no good.H G6ou are special.H G6ou will never 0e some0od/.H G6ou will 0e 2amous.H Such evaluations create a sel2(image3 which mediates 0etween us and the world and inter2eres with e4periencing real li2e as it is showing up in each moment. =he ego?s negative and positive comments gra0 us. We reall/ think it has something important to sa/3 and we listen with great curiosit/. We value the ego?s opinionKuntil we don?t an/ longer. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we 0elieve what it 0elieves so much that we are willing to 2ight3 even kill3 over our 0elie2s. Identi2ication with the ego is the root o2 all evil in the world and
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the cause o2 all su22ering. =he egoic mind has nothing to o22er us. "ut it takes a real commitment to discovering this 0e2ore we are 2ree o2 the ego. We have to see through the ego again and again 0e2ore it stops having power over us. What makes the ego especiall/ trick/ is that it changes guises 2re5uentl/ When we are onto it as a complainer and re2use to listen to its complaints3 it ma/ pretend to 0e kind and wise3 in the hope that we will listen to its advice. I2 we stop listening to it when it tears us down3 it ma/ tr/ to get us to listen to it 0/ complimenting us. It will even pretend to 0e our spiritual mentor and tr/ to mentor others 0/ mimicking a wise tone o2 voice and repeating wisdom it?s heard. When we 2inall/ see that the ego has nothing o2 value to sa/3 it tries to 0e our 0udd/ and hold conversations with us like a 0est 2riend. =he ego is trick/3 0ut once we know its tricks3 we can?t 0e 2ooled an/ longer. =he truth is3 the egoic mind has nothing o2 value 2or us3 not even as a 2riend or companion. I2 we continue to hold 2riendl/ conversations with it in our head3 we will continue to live in our head rather than in the $ow3 where communications 2rom Essence are received. Holding chats with the egoic mind ma/ seem harmless3 0ut it strengthens the egoic mind and alienates us 2rom li2e and 2rom Essence3 which needs our cooperation to un2old our li2e according to its plan and intentions. Chatting with the mind passes the time3 like chatting with an/ 2riend3 0ut 0eing involved with it in this wa/ won?t 0ring 2ul2illment or lead to happiness. =his 2riend isn?t a wise 2riend3 and conversing with it is a waste o2 time and energ/. Bnce we reall/ see that3 we can 0egin living 2rom a deeper and richer place3 a place where Io/3 contentment3 and peace are possi0le.
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ONE T*O23*T AT A TI/E =here?s onl/ room 2or one thought to arise at a time. People o2ten 2eel overwhelmed 0/ their negative thoughts and 2eel victimiEed and controlled 0/ them. =he/ have di22icult/ detaching 2rom them. =he/ 2eel that their thoughts3 at least some o2 them3 are too compelling to ignore3 and some are ver/ compelling. $evertheless3 man/ o2 our thoughts are 5uite eas/ to ignore3 and ignoring the easier ones strengthens our a0ilit/ to ignore the harder ones. Learning to detach 2rom the mind is a skill. Like ever/ skill3 starting with something easier and moving to something harder is the wa/ to 0uild con2idence and competence. =he most important thing is to not get discouraged and give up tr/ing to detach 2rom the egoic mind3 0ecause the ego will tr/ to discourage /ou when /ou attempt to 0ecome 2ree 2rom it. Bnce /ou see /ou can detach 2rom3 or ignore3 some o2 /our thoughts3 it will 0e easier 2or /ou to 0elieve /ou can detach 2rom all o2 them3 even the ones that have negative 2eelings tied to them. When /ou are learning to do this3 please 0e gentle with /oursel2. Ignoring the mind isn?t eas/. 6ou have paid attention to it and 0elieved it most o2 /our li2e3 so it?s 0een rein2orced nearl/ constantl/. "esides3 we are programmed to pa/ attention to and 0elieve the mind3 and that programming isn?t eas/ to overcome. So 0reaking the ha0it o2 listening to the mind can 0e a slow process3 and there?s nothing wrong with it taking some time. Whatever e22orts /ou make to detach 2rom the mind matter. Ever/ time /ou success2ull/ ignore a negative or irrelevant thought3 which is most thoughts3 it 0ecomes easier. Irrelevant or unnecessar/ thoughts are much easier to ignore than negative ones
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0ecause negative thoughts are entangled with our identit/. Irrelevant or unnecessar/ thoughts are an/ thoughts that don?t serve our 2unctioning in the moment. $otice how o2ten /our egoic mind Iust chatters a0out irrelevant things3 including the past and 2uture. 6ou can easil/ see that /ou don?t need thoughts a0out the past and 2uture to 2unction in the moment. So to start with3 tr/ ignoring all o2 those thoughts. 8oing so will also get /ou used to noticing what /our mind is up to. 6ou will discover how unnecessar/ or negative most o2 what /ou think is. =his can 0e ver/ enlighteningJ :ost people don?t evaluate what the/?re thinking 0ecause the/?re so a0sor0ed in their thoughts. Bnce /ou learn to o0serve /our thoughts3 /ou are well on /our wa/ to 0ecoming 2ree o2 the egoic mind3 its negativit/3 and the su22ering it causes. Bnce /ou are more aware o2 /our thoughts3 /ou can evaluate them. 6ou can ask3 GIs that true<H What?s a0le to 0e aware o2 and evaluate thoughts is Essence. Bne wa/ Essence li0erates us 2rom the t/rann/ o2 the egoic mind is through this capacit/ to notice and evaluate our thoughts3 which is a capacit/ o2 Essence. Ignoring our thoughts 0ecomes a lot easier once we learn to notice them and we see how untrue3 irrelevant3 and negative the/ are. I2 /our thoughts are untrue3 irrelevant3 and negative3 wh/ give them /our attention< Seeing how 2alse and unhelp2ul our thoughts are naturall/ 2rees us 2rom them. $evertheless3 some thoughts are deepl/ connected to our identit/ and laden with emotions. =he/ are thoughts we identi2/ with and 0elieve automaticall/ and un5uestioningl/. We ma/ not even 0e aware that these thoughts are a22ecting us. =hese are the most di22icult ones to ignore 0ecause the/ seem true. We 0elieve them3 and we ma/ have 0elieved them most o2 our li2e. =houghts that have 2ear or other negative 2eelings attached to them seem
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particularl/ real and true3 even though the/ aren?t. I2 we are willing to e4amine them through in5uir/3 0/ asking3 GIs that true<H we can discover that even the/ are 2alse. For some people3 deeper emotional work with a therapist or alternative healer ma/ 0e necessar/ to unmask and e4plore all the 0elie2s 0ehind their 2eelings.
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A RADICA- IN;2IR Here?s a 5uestion that can have a radical impact on /our li2e i2 /ou use it 2or serious in5uir/ GWhat are the lies I?m telling m/sel2<H =his 5uestion can uncover the wa/s we pretend to know something when we don?t3 2or e4ample GI?ll 0e doing this the rest o2 m/ li2e.H GShe?ll never change.H GI?ll never 2all in love again.H =his 5uestion can also uncover the man/ negative stories we tell that aren?t completel/ true3 2or e4ample GI can?t do an/thing right.H G$o one cares a0out me.H GShe alwa/s treats me that wa/.H GI can?t trust an/one.H G$othing ever turns out 2or me.H =his 5uestion can also help us realiEe how o2ten we ma/ argue with something that alread/ happened3 2or e4ample GHe shouldn?t have done that.H GLi2e shouldn?t 0e so hard.H GI shouldn?t have slipped up like that.H Statements with FshouldF in them are lies 0ecause the/ pretend that the past could have 0een di22erent than it was. =o summariEe3 there are three kinds o2 lies we ma/ 0e telling ourselves +. Pretending to know something when we don?t. When /ou catch /oursel2 pretending to know something3 ask3 G8o I reall/ know that?s true<H 6ou ma/ 0e surprised to discover how o2ten /ou pretend to know something. It?s the ego that?s pretending to know 0ecause knowingKeven pretending to knowKmakes the ego 2eel sa2e. -. $egative stories. When /ou catch /oursel2 telling a negative stor/3 notice the contraction and tension that telling that stor/ causes3 and then decide that /ou don?t want to do
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E:";1CI$G =HE $BW that to /oursel2 an/more. 8ecide that negativit/ isn?t accepta0le to /ou an/more. Wh/ would /ou want to 0elieve stories that make /ou 2eel 0ad< Wh/ would /ou punish /oursel2 that wa/< Such stories come 2rom the ego and give it a sense o2 identit/ and a pro0lem to solve3 which gives the ego li2e. 7. =he 0ig lie GLi2e should con2orm to m/ desires.H When /ou catch /oursel2 indulging in a Fshould3F simpl/ see the truth that the purpose o2 li2e and our particular li2e?s purpose is not to 2ul2ill our ego?s desires. =he purpose o2 li2e and our li2e?s purpose are much 0igger than our ego?s desires.
1t 2irst3 it can 0e di22icult to see that our thoughts are lies. =he/ can 0e ver/ convincing3 and we are used to 0elieving them. Even when our thoughts make us 2eel 0ad3 we ma/ cling to them 0ecause the/ are 2amiliar and there2ore somewhat com2orta0le. =he/ give us a sense o2 identit/ Ce.g.3 GI?m not oka/HD and the onl/ sense o2 identit/ we have i2 we aren?t 2amiliar with our true identit/ as Essence CgoodnessD. =here?s another identit/ awaiting ever/one?s discover/3 and that?s our true identit/. =he wa/ /ou know /ou are aligned with Essence rather than the ego is that /ou 2eel good. 6ou 2eel accepting3 content3 at ease with li2e3 e4panded3 and open. Instead o2 sa/ing no to li2e3 like the ego does3 Essence is the e4perience o2 sa/ing /es to li2e. Ever/one knows what sa/ing /es to li2e 2eels like. =rul/3 the onl/ thing in the wa/ o2 e4periencing the peace and ease o2 Essence is 0elieving the ego?s lies3 the seemingl/ harmless and seemingl/ true thoughts that constantl/ 2loat through our minds3 which appear to 0e our thoughts. "ut these thoughts aren?t oursL the/ 0elong to the 2alse sel2. =he/ don?t re2lect Essence?s
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e4perience o2 li2e. When we are a0le to 0reak through the spell cast 0/ these thoughts and the sense o2 limited sel2 spun 0/ them3 we e4perience the truth3 and the truth is goodJ When /ou 2eel good3 /ou are aligned with /our true nature3 and when /ou 2eel 0ad /ou aren?t. What a wonder2ul Homing device we have 0een givenJ =r/ giving up all the thoughts that make /ou 2eel 0ad3 or even Iust some o2 them3 and see how doing so changes /our li2e. 6ou don?t need negative thoughts. 1ll the/?ve ever given /ou was a 2alse sel2 that su22ers. =he/ are all lies.
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ACCEPTIN3 DEAT* AND -OSS 8eath and loss are some o2 the most di22icult things we e4perience as humans. We 0ecome attached to the wa/ things are and there2ore resist change. We 0ecome com2orta0le with li2e 0eing a certain wa/. In part3 we Iust love the sameness3 the predicta0ilit/3 the 2amiliarit/ o2 having things the wa/ the/?ve 0een. We like sameness so much that we ma/ even 2eel sad when a situation we haven?t liked ends3 Iust 0ecause we were used to it. :uch o2 our resistance to death and loss is a resistance to the unknown3 even a 2ear o2 it. We like the known. Even when a situation isn?t that great3 at least we know what to e4pect3 or we think we do. =he unknown is scar/ 0ecause we proIect our 2ears onto it. $ot knowing what?s ahead 2eels like stepping o22 a cli223 and we imagine the worst. :uch o2 the su22ering around death and loss is caused 0/ our 2ear o2 an unknown 2uture3 our 2ear o2 what will happen ne4t. "ut the truth is3 we?ve never known what?s going to happen3 and even now we don?t. =hat 2act is glaringl/ apparent when we lose something that was part o2 our 2amiliar world. What we o2ten 2ail to see when we lose something is that something else is taking its place. "irth and death are alwa/s happening3 even moment to moment =he present moment is alread/ turning into the ne4t moment3 and the new moment isn?t the same as the old one. Something new alwa/s takes the place o2 something that has gone. =he pro0lem is we usuall/ don?t know what that will 0e. What?s 0eing 0orn o2ten takes a while to show up. Br3 in the midst o2 our grie23 we ma/ not 0e aware o2 what has alread/ 0een 0orn.
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8uring times o2 loss3 a 0elie2 that li2e is good and a willingness to accept loss as a part o2 li2e is ver/ help2ul3 since the mind tells us the oppositeKthat death and loss are 0ad and shouldn?t happen. =he mind paints negative scenarios o2 the 2uture without the loved person3 animal3 or o0Iect. It imagines that we will never get over the loss and we will never 0e happ/ again. =he egoic mind turns something that?s ver/ naturalKdeath and lossKinto a disaster. 8eath and loss are natural. =he/ are a part o2 li2e that we have to accept. =o rail against what is natural makes no sense. =o 0e angr/ at li2e 2or allowing death and loss is like 0eing angr/ at the sk/ 2or 0eing 0lue. "irth happens and death happens. Seeing and accepting that 0oth are true and part o2 li2e is so important. "irth 0rings new li2e into this dimension3 and death takes something whose time has come awa/. What will happen ne4t is an/one?s guess. It ma/ 0e a 0irth or a death3 0ut 0oth are happening e5uall/. When we see the whole truth a0out li2eKthat death and 0irth happen in e5ual measureKthen death 0ecomes easier to accept. =he mind makes death di22icult to accept 0/ telling us lies G=his shouldn?t have happened. 6ou?ll never 0e happ/ again. =his is too pain2ul to 0ear. Li2e is cruel.H =hose are ver/ sad and untrue stories3 and we will su22er i2 we tell ourselves such stories. We can Iust as easil/ tell a stor/ a0out death and loss that is true GIt must have 0een time 2or this to happen. Li2e goes on. I will 2ind a wa/ to 0e happ/ again. Li2e is a 0lessing3 and I will treasure it all the more 0ecause o2 this.H What makes it di22icult to see that the egoic mind is the cause o2 our su22ering is that most people are caught up in their negative minds. So our own negativit/ is supported 0/ other people and gets rein2orced 0/ them. I2 /ou aren?t su22ering over something other people would su22er over3 the/ might assume /ou didn?t love whomever or whatever /ou lost. Some grieving is meant to
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demonstrate our love 2or another3 unconscious as that ma/ 0e. "ut such grie2 is unnecessar/. Loved ones who have died don?t 0ene2it 2rom our su22ering. In 2act3 those who have crossed over o2ten tell their loved ones to stop grieving and 0e happ/ 2or them 0ecause the/ e4ist and are doing well in another dimension. Grie2 and sadness don?t serve us or an/one else. B2 course /ou ma/ miss whomever or whatever is no longer here. When /ou are 2eeling that wa/3 notice what is having the e4perience o2 missing. =he I is. =he missing is showing up in /our thoughts as3 GI missM.H How are /ou creating the e4perience o2 missing< :issing is a 2eeling3 so /ou must 0e sa/ing something to /oursel23 consciousl/ or unconsciousl/3 that?s causing /ou to 2eel that wa/. We don?t have to miss someone or something. Bne reason we create and perpetuate the 2eeling o2 missing is 0ecause it?s a wa/ o2 honoring and e4pressing love 2or the person3 situation3 or thing that was lost. @nder the guise o2 love3 the ego draws us into su22ering. 8oes missing have an/thing to do with love< When /ou e4plore the 2eeling o2 missing3 /ou discover that it?s created 0/ idealiEed images o2 the past and 2uture. 8o these images serve /ou< 8o the/ make /ou happ/ or sad< 6ou can 0e sad as long as /ou like3 0ut sadness is unnecessar/. :issing is Iust the ego?s wa/ o2 keeping us tied to the past and to itsel2. We can move through a loss grace2ull/ or with great su22ering. Finding a wa/ to do it grace2ull/ is our spiritual work. Losing something or someone we love provides so much opportunit/ 2or spiritual growth. We can wallow in our pain3 as our ego would have us do3 or we can 2ind another wa/ to 0e. =he other wa/ is to 0e involved in the here and now3 not in our thoughts a0out the past. Li2e is coming out o2 the $ow3 and something new is alwa/s showing up. Pa/ attention to what is 0eing 0orn now. =he past is
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Iust a memor/3 and we will never get an/ satis2action 2rom a memor/ 0ecause it?s Iust a thought. Wh/ 0ring a memor/ into this 2resh new moment< It doesn?t serve. 6ou can choose peace and happiness over su22eringKi2 /ou want.
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-ETTIN3 3O IS -ETTIN3 3O O% A T*O23*T Letting go seems so di22icult at times3 0ut whatever we are tr/ing to let go o2 is alread/ gone. It?s in the past3 and li2e has moved on and is 0ringing something else. 1ll that?s ever reall/ le2t to let go o2 are our thoughts a0out something in the past. Letting go naturall/ happens when we are Iust here now3 in the moment. =he $ow is 2ree o2 the past3 unless we 0ring the past into the $ow through thought. =hought is the onl/ thing that can distur0 the peace and contentment o2 the $ow. Even a shocking event is here onl/ 0rie2l/ and then gone. =he onl/ wa/ a terri0le event lives on is through thoughts a0out it. We ma/ 0e dealing with the e22ects o2 such an event 2or a while3 0ut the loss itsel2 is over. Ever/ moment provides plent/ o2 resources 2or dealing with the e22ects o2 a loss3 and those resources will 0e much more accessi0le i2 we aren?t caught up in negative thoughts and 2eelings a0out the past. We can?t control what thoughts come up in our mind3 and when there has 0een a loss3 thoughts a0out that are 0ound to come up. However3 we can control how much time we spend with such thoughts. =he di22erence 0etween heaven and hell is largel/ a matter o2 how much time we spend dwelling on thoughts a0out the past. We dwell on such thoughts 0ecause we think it serves us in some wa/. =hrough thought3 we tr/ to 2i4 or rewrite the past CGI2 onl/MHD3 we create a stor/ a0out the past to de2end or punish ourselves3 or we anal/Ee the past to tr/ to prevent certain events 2rom happening again. "ut none o2 these strategies changes the past or helps us cope with what happened. =he/ are the ego?s
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strategies3 which are designed to make it look good3 make others look 0ad3 keep it sa2e3 or Iusti2/ its e4istence. "ut the ego?s goals aren?t worthwhile or a good use o2 our energ/. =houghts a0out the past that attempt to 2i4 it or keep it alive Iust aren?t use2ul3 and the/ keep us 2rom noticing what li2e is 0ringing us in the present moment. Li2e gives and it takes awa/ in e5ual measure. =he c/cle o2 0irth and death is natural and not wrong3 as the ego assumes. What passes is meant to pass. It?s gone3 and the situation can?t 0e di22erent. $othing can change the past3 including thought. However3 dwelling on thoughts a0out the past does change our e4perience o2 the present moment. When we drag the past into the present3 ever/thing else that 0elongs to the $ow is marginaliEed and overlooked. 1ll we see is the past or3 more accuratel/3 our stor/ a0out it. 1ll we can ever have o2 the past is our stor/ a0out it3 and that stor/ isn?t ver/ satis2/ing. Bur stories a0out the past don?t 2eed our soul like the $ow does. 1nd worse3 an/ stor/ is usuall/ a sad tale that keeps us caught up in negative 2eelings3 and then those 2eelings 0ecome our e4perience o2 li2e. =hese negative 2eelings are so unnecessar/. When we turn our attention to what?s here right now and awa/ 2rom the past3 negative 2eelings can?t 0e maintained. =he/ disappear. $o one can maintain negative 2eelings inde2initel/. $o matter how depressed3 angr/3 or hurt we are3 we eventuall/ drop into Essence and stop 2eeling those 2eelings. Having negative 2eelings is e4hausting. B2ten through sheer e4haustion3 we drop into Essence and 2ind relie2 2rom our 2eelings. Letting go is di22icult 0ecause that seems to re5uire letting go o2 what we love. "ut letting go isn?t a0out letting go o2 our love 2or whomever or whatever we?ve lost. Love is eternal3 and our love
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continues. Bur love is what we have le2t o2 what we have lost. Letting go o2 the person3 e4perience3 or thing has actuall/ alread/ happened 0ecause he3 she3 or it is alread/ gone. =here was no other choice or possi0ilit/ 0ut to let go. 1ll that?s actuall/ le2t to let go o2 is our desire 2or the situation to 0e di22erent. Letting go o2 the desire 2or things to 0e di22erent isn?t so di22icult when we see that li2e simpl/ can?t 0e di22erent than it is. Seeing the truth renders the desire 2or things to 0e di22erent useless. 1ll we have to let go o2 is our 0elie2 that things can or should 0e di22erent than the/ are. =he/ can?t. 1ccepting this makes letting go o2 the desire 2or things to 0e di22erent possi0le. Letting go naturall/ 2ollows 2rom allowing li2e to 0e the wa/ it is3 2rom accepting that li2e is as it is. 1cceptance is actuall/ the onl/ sane choice 0ecause to do otherwise is to create tremendous su22ering 2or ourselves and others3 which li2e allows us to do3 o2 course. "ut that su22ering serves no one. =he good news is that the desire 2or li2e to 0e di22erent than it is3 is Iust a thought. $o matter how power2ul a desire ma/ seem to 0e3 desire is Iust a thought3 and thoughts can 0e ignored. We are much more power2ul than an/ thought or desire. We have the power to choose to 2eed a desire with more thoughts3 which results in 2eelings3 or to turn our attention to something else3 to what is going on in the $ow. =urning our attention to an/thing other than the desire 2or things to 0e di22erent trans2orms our e4perience o2 the moment. Su22ering disappears. =he $ow has ever/thing we need to 0e happ/ i2 we don?t 0ring an/ demands into it 2or it to 0e di22erent. 8oing that isn?t necessaril/ eas/3 0ut su22ering isn?t eas/ either. =hank heavens there is a choice3 a wa/ out o2 su22ering. =his is proo2 that goodness is 0ehind all li2e and that li2e is leading us toward greater peace3 love3 and happiness3 no matter what happens.
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S2RRENDER Surrender is reall/ Iust acceptance We surrender to3 or accept3 the wa/ things are3 the wa/ li2e is showing up. Surrender and acceptance seem so di22icult to the ego. =hat?s 0ecause the ego doesn?t want to accept li2e3 and that will never change. We will never get the ego to surrender to li2e3 to go with the 2low. ;esistance is its natural state. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we 2eel the ego?s resistance. However3 when we are not identi2ied with it3 0ut in touch with who we reall/ are3 accepting li2e Iust happens. 8uring /our da/3 /ou have man/ e4periences o2 0eing surrendered to li2e as it is. 6ou ma/ not notice those moments 0ecause /ou move through them so smoothl/ and peace2ull/. =he moments o2 resistance are the ones we tend to notice 0ecause the/ make us 2eel like we have a pro0lem. We are taken 2arther out o2 the $ow as we tr/ to 2i4 the pro0lem we think we have or tr/ to 2eel 0etter3 2or e4ample3 0/ eating3 2antasiEing3 shopping3 or watching =A. Escapist activities are activities that help us 0ecome unconscious o2 our 2eelings3 including the 2eeling o2 resistance to li2e. We o2ten cope with 2eelings and other aspects o2 li2e we are resisting 0/ avoiding the e4perience we are having and doing something that will distract us 2rom what we are resisting and3 hope2ull/3 give us some pleasure. We o2ten tr/ to relieve the pain o2 resisting li2e with pleasure. Seeking pleasure is one wa/ the ego copes with li2e. =he iron/ is that the ego is what creates the resistance to li2e and there2ore the su22eringKnot li2e. =he ego?s solution to its own resistance is to seek pleasure. When we are identi2ied with the ego3
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we are involved in this c/cle o2 tr/ing to avoid pain and seeking pleasure. Surrender is the wa/ out o2 this c/cle. When we surrender to li2e as it is3 we e4perience a simple Io/ and 2ullness that?s much more satis2/ing than an/ pleasure we could e4perience. =he simple Io/ o2 Iust 0eing is complete enough. $othing needs to 0e added or su0tracted. =he moment Iust 2lows into the ne4t3 without the need to change or 2i4 an/thing a0out it. Surrender allows us to e4perience li2e as it?s un2olding instead o2 e4periencing our resistance to it. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we aren?t e4periencing li2e3 0ut our resistance to it. We are actuall/ missing the e4perience o2 the $ow 0ecause we?re not in the $ow3 0ut involved in our thoughts a0out whatever is going on or a0out something else3 and that?s a ver/ di22erent e4perience. Bur thoughts a0out whatever is happening are never like 0eing in the $ow3 even when the/ are pleasant. =houghts are Iust part o2 what?s happening in an/ moment3 and i2 we ignore nearl/ ever/thing 0ut our thoughts3 we will have a ver/ narrow and dr/ e4perience o2 li2e. Li2e can?t 0e replaced 0/ thoughts a0out it. =he onl/ wa/ to e4perience li2e is to sa/ /es to it3 to surrender to what is going on right now and reall/ e4perience it rather than think a0out it. Sa/ing no to what?s happening entangles us in the mind?s stor/ a0out and resistance to what?s happening3 and we su22er. =he wa/ out o2 su22ering is to notice the ego?s resistance to li2e and ignore it. Ever/ time that resistance appears3 notice it and then 0ring /oursel2 0ack to what /ou are e4periencing right here and now how /our 0od/ 2eels3 what /ou?re sensing3 what /ou?re moved to do3 and what intuitions are arising. 9ust sta/ here in the $ow. What /ou discover when /ou sta/ in the $ow long enough is that the $ow 2eels good and is rich and ever(changing. From the $ow3
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li2e isn?t e4perienced as a pro0lem. =he egoic mind is the onl/ thing that makes li2e into a pro0lem. Bnce /ou realiEe /ou can relegate the egoic mind to the 0ackground and Iust enIo/ the moment3 /ou will choose to do that more and more. Surrendering to li2e isn?t hard at all. It happens simpl/ and naturall/ whenever we stop pa/ing attention to our mind?s version o2 li2e and start pa/ing attention to li2e itsel2 as it?s coming out o2 the $ow. =here?s something else to do 0esides thinkJ 1nd that is to notice3 to 0e aware o2 what?s happening now. $otice3 look3 2eel3 listen3 sense3 and give /oursel2 2ull/ to the e4perience /ou are having3 and /ou will drop into the $ow.
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-I4IN3 WIT*O2T /IRRORS How we look is so important in this culture. How we look 0ecomes how we see ourselves. =he image in the mirror seems like who we are. We carr/ that image around with us inside our heads3 and when we think o2 me, we think o2 that image. We have man/ sel2( images3 and our inner image o2 what we look like is perhaps the strongest. We are most identi2ied with that sel2(image 0ecause identi2ication with the 0od/ is so strong and 0ecause the mind needs something to pin the idea o2 me on. Bur inner picture o2 ourselves strengthens and holds in place the idea o2 me. Without that inner image3 the idea o2 me weakens and can?t 0e maintained as easil/. 6ou ma/ have e4perienced this when /ou were awa/ 2rom mirrors 2or a while3 like when /ou were camping or in a more primitive living situation. In such situations3 /ou 0egin to e4perience /oursel2 more as /ou reall/ are than as an image /ou hold in /our mind o2 /oursel2. =here?s a 0ig di22erence 0etween the e4perience o2 ourselves and the e4perience o2 an image o2 ourselves. =he image is an idea. 1n image o2 ourselves is 2lat3 un(alive3 and we have to work hard to maintain it Cespeciall/ without mirrorsD3 while the e4perience o2 ourselves is m/sterious and ever(present. =he e4perience o2 who we reall/ are is Iust there. We don?t have to work at producing itL we onl/ have to notice it. Who we reall/ are is e4perienced as what?s looking out o2 our e/es. =his is ver/ m/sterious What is it that?s looking out o2 /our e/es< =ake a moment and notice what it?s like to look out o2 /our e/es and e4perience /oursel2 that wa/. What a di22erent e4perience that is 2rom imagining what /ou look like in /our mind?s e/e.
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When we e4perience ourselves looking out o2 our e/es3 we e4perience our 0od/ ver/ di22erentl/ than when we imagine our 0od/ or see it in a mirror. Stop a moment and Iust look at the miracle that is /our 0od/3 without an/ comments or thoughts a0out it. What do /ou e4perience< 6ou are likel/ to e4perience the 0od/ as something apart 2rom /oursel23 something /ou look upon with amaEement. Whose hand is that< Whose leg is that< =he 0od/ appears to 0e more o2 a vehicle 2or who /ou are than who /ou are. 1nd so it is. =he 0od/ is a vehicle 2or who we reall/ are. =he mind pretends that vehicle is who we are3 0ut the 0od/ is onl/ a temporar/ carrier 2or the consciousness that is looking out o2 our e/es. =hrough the 2ormation o2 an inner image3 the mind takes us awa/ 2rom the realit/ that we are not the 0od/. =hat inner image is made possi0le 0/ mirrors and other re2lective sur2aces. Without them3 we wouldn?t know what our 0od/ looked like. We would e4perience ourselves without having an inner image o2 ourselves. =he mind would still 2orm other sel2(images3 perhaps a made(up image 0ased on how people react to us. "ut identi2/ing with an image o2 ourselves is much harder i2 a sel2(image isn?t constantl/ 0eing rein2orced 0/ mirrors. =o 0egin to live more 2rom the real e4perience o2 ourselves rather than 2rom an image o2 ourselves3 we don?t have to get rid o2 mirrors3 although living without them 2or a while can 0e help2ul. We can Iust realiEe we aren?t the 0od/ and consciousl/ choose to put our attention on what?s looking out o2 our e/es rather than on what we think other people see when the/ look at us. $oticing what?s looking out o2 our e/es results in a dramaticall/ di22erent e4perience o2 ourselves and allows us to 0e much more present to li2e. :aintaining a sel2(image is hard work3 and it inter2eres with 0eing present to whatever else is going on. When we
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give our attention to our sel2(images and thoughts3 we miss so much else that is going on. =he ego overlooks and discounts much o2 what?s happening and assumes nothing is happening. It tries to draw us out o2 the moment and into thinking. It doesn?t give li2e a chance to reveal its richness. When we give our 2ull attention to li2e instead o2 to our thoughts3 we discover the happiness and contentment we?ve alwa/s wanted 0ut haven?t 0een a0le to 2ind in the ego?s world. Ideas Iust can?t su0stitute 2or real li2e.
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-I4IN3 WIT*O2T RE%ERRIN3 TO #E-IE%S "elie2s3 like sel2(images3 are ideas that end up shaping our realit/Ki2 we 0elieve them. Ever/one has more 0elie2s than the/ are aware o23 since man/ 0elie2s are unconscious. We ac5uired our 0elie2s 2rom e4periences in this li2etime and even 2rom other li2etimes. We ac5uired them 2rom what we?ve read and what others have told and taught us. We are constantl/ re2ining and re2ormulating our 0elie2s3 and these 0elie2s matterKi2 we 0elieve them. Living without re2erring to our 0elie2s is unimagina0le to most people. 1nd /et the awakened li2e is one that doesn?t look to 0elie2s 2or how to 0e in the world or 2or what to do. We actuall/ don?t need our Cthe ego?sD 0elie2s to live li2e. "eing awake is a place o2 0eing ver/ present to what is coming out o2 the 2low3 or the $ow3 and responding without thinking a0out it. Living like this sounds dangerous to the ego. 1nd /et3 we do this all the time. :an/ times throughout our da/3 we spontaneousl/ sa/ or do things without thinking a0out them 2irst. "eing awake means 0eing awake in the $ow3 0eing aware and alert to what?s arising to do and sa/ in the moment. =here is such wisdom 2lowing through the real /ou. It knows e4actl/ how to 0e and what to do in an/ moment. We don?t need our 0elie2s to evaluate what?s coming out o2 the 2low or tell us how to live our li2e. When we turn to our 0elie2s 2or how to live3 the/ onl/ con2use us 0ecause we hold so man/ contradictor/ ones. =here?s no 2ormula 2or living li2e3 although 0elie2s pretend to 0e. =he/ are what the ego draws on 2or guidance. "ut the ego?s 0elie2s aren?t good guides. =he ego doesn?t know what will make us reall/ happ/ or what our li2e3 or li2e in general3 is all a0out. =he ego pulls
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out a 0elie2 and slaps it on realit/ GIt?s raining3 so I 0etter go inside now.H What i2 /ou didn?t 2ollow that 2ormula< Essence might want to pla/ in the rain. Who knows< We don?t know an/thing until we do. =he ego makes decisions a0out what to do 0ased on what we or others have done in the past3 not on what?s arising in the moment to do or not do. =he ego compares each moment to similar ones in the past and responds 0ased on what it concluded a0out that time in the past. =he ego uses the past as a template 2or responding to the present3 0ut the results o2 the past aren?t su22icient to in2orm our actions in the present. :oreover3 2ollowing a 2ormula 2or how to act takes the Io/ out o2 li2e. $o moment is the same as another. =he ego doesn?t like that3 so it ignores that 2act. It 0rings its template and agenda to the moment and reacts accordingl/. It doesn?t respond to the moment purel/3 0ut through its own lens o2 0elie2s and sel2(interest. Its overarching 5uestion is3 G1m I getting what I want now<H =he answer is o2ten no. What the ego wants is highl/ colored 0/ its 0elie2s. For instance3 i2 it 0elieves that happiness lies in 0eing com2orta0le3 it will desire com2ort3 and that desire or some other desire is likel/ to shape how it responds to the moment. =he ego ma/ 0e 2ocused on com2ort or the lack o2 it and not notice other things that are happening. =he ego has speci2ic 0elie2s and3 conse5uentl/3 speci2ic desires 2or ever/ moment3 which the moment rarel/ delivers. 1s a result3 the ego goes a0out tr/ing to modi2/ what?s happening to 2it its desires. Seeking a2ter a 0etter e4perience can keep us ver/ 0us/. When we are doing that3 we are not onl/ 2ailing to noticing what?s coming out o2 the 2low3 0ut also 0eing kept out o2 the 2low 0/ 0eing so 0us/ planning 2or a 0etter moment.
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=his is the state most people 2ind themselves in. Living 0/ re2erring to our 0elie2s is a dr/ and uninteresting place. It?s no wonder the ego wants more o2 something or something 0etterJ Living in the mind is a deadening and un(alive place. =o liven things up3 the ego seeks more things3 0etter e4periences3 more e4citement3 more 2un3 and more pleasure than whatever?s here right now. From time to time3 the 2un and e4citement the ego wants do show up. @ntil the/ do3 the ego looks to its 2antasies and plans 2or the 2uture to 2ul2ill itsel23 which are inherentl/ un2ul2illing. =he ego causes the e4perience o2 the moment to 0e dr/ and dull3 and then it tries to correct that 2latness with 2antasies and actions that attempt to 2ul2ill those 2antasies. When /ou 0egin to spend more time in the $ow3 /ou won?t want to leave it. Bnce /ou see the truth a0out 0elie2s3 the/ lose their power to lure /ou out o2 the $ow. 6ou realiEe the/ are Iust thoughts that come and go and that the/ aren?t your 0elie2s.
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W*AT ARE O2 #RIN3IN3 INTO T*E NOW6 =he onl/ thing that e4ists is the present moment3 the $ow3 0ut we3 as human 0eings3 have a particular relationship with our thoughts that takes us out o2 the e4perience o2 the moment. =houghts create an alternate realit/3 a su0plot to the $ow. We get lost in that pretend su0plot and don?t notice other things a0out the moment. When we 0ring that alternate realit/ into the moment3 our e4perience o2 the $ow changes. We are no longer e4periencing the moment purel/3 0ut through the lens o2 the ego3 which generates our thoughts and 2eelings. Bur thoughts and 2eelings come and go in the $ow. "ut unlike sights3 sounds3 and the other things that come and go in the $ow3 thoughts and 2eelings change our e4perience o2 the $ow when we identi2/ with them. $othing else that comes and goes in the $ow has the same e22ect on our e4perience o2 the moment. =he $ow is Iust what it is3 0ut our experience o2 it changes i2 we are identi2ied with thoughts or 2eelings. I2 we aren?t identi2ied with a thought or a 2eeling3 we will 2eel the peace o2 the $ow. I2 we are identi2ied with a thought or a 2eeling3 we will 2eel an4ious3 restless3 discontent3 or possi0l/ some other negative 2eeling. When we think a0out the past3 we 0ring a memor/ o2 it into the $ow and then e4perience our memor/?s version o2 the past instead o2 e4periencing the $ow. We do this most o2ten with distur0ing events 2rom the past3 and that reanimates the unpleasant e4perience and o0scures the peace and contentment o2 the moment. Even a happ/ memor/ can take us out o2 the peace and contentment o2 the present moment and make us su22er 0ecause
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thinking a0out a happ/ moment 2rom the past o2ten makes us long 2or the actual e4perience that that memor/ isn?t a0le to produce. Whenever we identi2/ with our thoughtsKan/ thoughtKwe lose touch with the peace and contentment o2 the $ow. We ma/ assume that whatever is happening is making us unhapp/3 0ut what we?re 0ringing into the moment through thought is. Bnce /ou realiEe the result o2 0ringing thoughts into the $ow3 /ou can choose to not give /our attention to /our thoughts. $otice how /ou immediatel/ rela4 when /ou give /our attention to what?s present right here and now instead o2 to /our thoughts and 2eelings. We think we need our thoughts and 2eelings to 2unction. We think the/ make us who we are. "ut we don?t need thoughts and 2eelings to 2unction3 and the/ aren?t who we are. =he/ 0elong to the 2alse sel2 that we think o2 ourselves as3 0ut the/ aren?t what is alive in us3 living li2e and e4periencing the present moment. What?s e4periencing the present moment3 including what?s aware o2 contraction caused 0/ identi2ication with thought3 is who we are. What?s e4periencing the present moment is ver/ silent3 unlike the egoic mind that chatters constantl/. Who we reall/ are is the silent E4periencer who is alive and having the e4perience that the 2alse sel2 is creating. 6ou can wake up 2rom the 2alse sel2 and 0egin creating more consciousl/ 2rom Essence3 2rom the E4periencer. 6ou don?t need the 2alse sel2 to e4perience li2e. It has never 0een what has 0een e4periencing li2e3 0ut what has kept /ou 2rom e4periencing li2e Io/2ull/.
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STA IN3 IN ESSENCE IN AN E3O<DRI4EN WOR-D Sta/ing in Essence in an ego(driven world isn?t eas/. "eing around egos can pull us into our ego. "eing in the world means not onl/ 0eing around egos3 0ut also 0eing around advertising3 television3 and other media that rein2orce the ego?s values. G"e 0eauti2ul3 0e rich3 0e power2ul3 0e se4/3 0e /oung3H the media tell us. =he media tell us such things man/ times throughout our da/ through pictures and words. Pictures are a particularl/ power2ul medium 2or conditioning us. =he/ go straight through to the unconscious and program it. Even i2 we don?t like or approve o2 the message we are receiving 2rom the media3 that message can still a22ect us. Conditioning continues to happen ever/ da/. It isn?t something that Iust happened when we were /oung. Pictures3 and television in particular3 are an especiall/ power2ul means 2or programming children 0ecause3 unlike adults who ma/ turn o22 the television or ignore advertising3 children sit in 2ront o2 the television and take in whatever the/?re seeing. Children aren?t discriminating enough to know what isn?t true and what isn?t good 2or them. Like a sponge3 children a0sor0 whatever is presented to them. 1dults and children are 0eing programmed in damaging wa/s toda/ 0/ the media. We are 0eing programmed to want things we don?t need and eat things that aren?t good 2or us. 1nd worst o2 all3 we are seeing violence regularl/3 which sends the message that violence is a normal wa/ to deal with li2e3 that it?s an accepta0le response to di22iculties. =o think that violent images don?t a22ect children3 teenagers3 and adults is to ignore the evidence around us
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and the prevalence o2 violence in our culture and even among children3 which doesn?t naturall/ occur. Children naturall/ hit each other3 0ut the/ don?t kill each other. =oda/3 even that is occurring. =o e4pect to 0e a0le to sta/ in Essence when we are 0eing 0om0arded 0/ the ego?s values 2rom the media3 other people?s egos3 and the stress o2 an ego(driven li2est/le is e4pecting too much. So what can /ou do< When /ou want Essence more than an/thing else3 /ou create a li2est/le to support it3 one that gives Essence room to 2lourish. Such a li2est/le would have much less stress and 0us/( ness3 much less striving3 and a somewhat slower pace. =he world needs this an/wa/. It doesn?t need more people racing around a2ter ever/thing the ego wants. Consumerism has gotten us into trou0le environmentall/. In looking 2or happiness in things3 we are destro/ing the environment and wasting our natural resources. Consuming will never make us happ/. =hat?s o0vious now. =oda/3 more than ever3 we need to choose more consciousl/ what we spend our mone/ and energ/ on. When we give our energ/ and attention to getting what the ego wants3 we perpetuate an ego( driven li2est/le. "ut when we give our energ/ and attention to what is real and capa0le o2 providing true happiness Ce.g.3 connections3 creativit/3 learning3 growth3 service3 peace3 and loveD3 we discover that we don?t need so man/ things3 and we 2inall/ have time to Iust 0e3 which is what we?ve alwa/s wanted an/wa/. I23 one 0/ one3 we 0egin to create a li2est/le that supports Essence3 the tone o2 our societ/ can turn and 0ecome more peace2ul3 humane3 and nourishing in the deepest wa/. :uch o2 the consumption in our culture is an attempt to 2ill a hole that can never 0e 2illed3 a hole that is the ego3 which is never satis2ied. 1ll the while3 true nourishment is availa0le right here in this simple moment.
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A -I%EST -E %OR AWA7ENIN3 =he li2est/le o2 most 1mericans isn?t conducive to awakening3 either to 0ecoming awake or sta/ing awake. It?s designed to attain the ego?s goals mone/3 power3 status3 com2ort3 pleasure3 0eaut/3 possessions3 and securit/. Bur 1merican culture gives lip service to other values3 such as love3 kindness3 and togetherness3 0ut the ego?s values come 2irst. In our culture3 we see what the ego wants as necessar/. We don?t think we will survive or 0e happ/ unless we achieve a certain level o2 power3 com2ort3 securit/3 and material well0eing. =he sense o2 needing such things is ver/ deepl/ ingrained3 so much so that we o2ten don?t 5uestion our devotion to these goals. I2 we do 5uestion these values3 we run into opposition and 2ears 2rom others3 who sincerel/ 0elieve we won?t 0e happ/ or survive without putting the ego?s values 2irst. Fortunatel/3 there are plent/ o2 e4amples to the contrar/3 o2 people who have put their Heart?s3 or Essence?s3 desires a0ove the ego?s3 and who are happ/3 2ul2illed3 and surviving well. We assume we have to choose 0etween the ego?s goals and 2ollowing our Heart. However3 these two things are not necessaril/ mutuall/ e4clusive. Following our Heart can result in getting what the ego wants. Even when it doesn?t3 the 2ul2illment that results 2rom 2ollowing our Heart is more than enough3 and the material things we might have had won?t seem important. "ecause our culture is so 2ocused on having 2un and ac5uiring things3 people are ver/ 0us/ working3 pla/ing sports3 going places3 and shopping. =heir lives are a whirlwind o2 activit/3 with hardl/ a moment to Iust stop and see what?s going on3 on deeper levels3 or
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Iust e4perience the 2ullness o2 the $ow. People take much pride in how hard the/ work3 how 0us/ the/ are3 and how little the/ rest. In a culture driven 0/ the ego3 there?s little time 2or contemplation3 meditation3 walks in the woods Cwhat woods<D3 creating3 gaEing at the sk/3 pla/ing with children3 or Iust 0eing. =he spare time people do have is o2ten spent in 2ront o2 the television3 watching other people?s harried and pro0lem(driven lives. 1dvertising and most television programs rein2orce the ego?s values. Watching television makes us want to 0e richer3 more 0eauti2ul3 more power2ul3 and more success2ul than we alread/ are3 and it makes us dissatis2ied with our lives. =elevision convinces us that happiness lies in the ego?s super2icial values. Ever/where we turn3 we are con2ronted with the ego?s values and with people struggling and striving to look 0etter3 0e 0etter3 and get more and 0etter things. =o awaken 2rom the egoic nightmare3 we 2irst have to see that the world the ego creates is a nightmare. =hen we have to 0e willing to make other choices3 to structure our lives in a wa/ that puts what matters most to us 2irst. What does matter most to /ou< What do /ou reall/ want< =his is a ver/ important 5uestion. It?s 2ine i2 what matters to /ou is getting what the ego wants. Sometime3 in this li2etime or in another3 that will change. 9ust 0e clear that awakening isn?t a wa/Ka more spiritual wa/Ko2 getting what the ego wants. 1wakening is the realiEation that what the ego wants is irrelevant to li2e and to our happiness. What does Essence want< =hat is the 5uestion. What is the deepest desire o2 /our soul 2or this li2etime and 2or this moment< I2 /our deepest desire is to awaken3 /ou will 2eel that3 and /ou will 0e drawn to work3 activities3 people3 and a li2est/le that will support that. People o2ten make the mistake o2 assuming that 0eing spiritual or awake means the/ should 0e a0le to do an/ kind o2 work and 0e
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in an/ kind o2 living situation and still 0e happ/3 no matter how unsuita0le or stress2ul that situation might 0e. While it?s possi0le to 0e happ/ in ever/ moment3 certain kinds o2 work and living situations suit us 0etter than others. When /ou are awake3 /ou naturall/ get involved in situations that 2it Essence?s intentions 2or /ou and avoid situations that don?t. I2 /ou don?t do that3 sta/ing in Essence and 0eing happ/ will 0e a challenge. "eing involved with work3 activities3 and ac5uaintances that aren?t aligned with Essence?s intentions and don?t support awakeness makes awakening more di22icult. =his ma/ seem o0vious. However3 people o2ten want to awaken 0ecause the/ 2eel stuck and unhapp/ in the li2e the/ have created3 and the/ assume awakening will make it possi0le 2or them to 0e happ/ in those circumstances without having to change an/thing. "ut awakening is more likel/ to move us out o2 unsuita0le circumstances than allow us to remain in them. I2 /our li2e is alread/ aligned with Essence?s intentions3 it will 0e in2initel/ easier to awaken3 especiall/ i2 /ou make time to meditate3 rest3 and Iust 0e. :editation3 resting3 and Iust 0eing are important 0e2ore and a2ter awakening 0ecause these activities help us align and sta/ aligned with Essence. =o discover what Essence intends3 we have to 0e in the $ow. 1 li2e 2ull o2 stress and involvement with the egoic mind takes us out o2 the $ow and out o2 touch with Essence. Essence can still reach /ou3 0ut i2 /ou are dedicated to the ego?s world3 will /ou listen< Essence re5uires some stillness dail/ and a willingness to listen and 0e guided 0/ Essence instead o2 the ego. =he ego will tr/ to keep us tied to it with 2earsKo2 not 0eing rich or 0eauti2ul or power2ul enough3 o2 not having enough3 o2 not 0eing loved3 and so on. =he egoic mind will tell us that 2ollowing our Heart is dangerous and that we won?t survive or 0e happ/ i2 we don?t listen
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to the mind. 8isregarding such 2ears takes courage and trust. So what will /ou trustKthe ego or Essence< Which is more trustworth/< What are /ou trusting now3 i2 not Essence<
PART ) Secrets to *a++iness
*APPINESS IS *ERE RI3*T NOW :an/ would de2ine a success2ul li2e as a happ/ one3 so we go a0out tr/ing to 0e happ/ in man/ wa/s. Some tr/ to attain happiness through accomplishments and material things3 while others use spiritual means. =he pro0lem is3 happiness isn?t something to attain or achieve3 0ut something that is alread/ here3 something to Iust notice. I2 /ou are 0us/ tr/ing to achieve happiness3 /ou are pro0a0l/ overlooking it. =he ego tries to get happiness 2rom doing3 having3 or 0eing someone3 while the spiritual ego tries to get it 2rom transcending all o2 that. For the ego3 spiritual 2reedom3 or enlightenment3 is Iust one more thing to achieve. Wanting happiness and wanting 2reedom 2rom the su22ering o2 the ego are worthwhile desires. =he pro0lem is that wanting an/thing implies /ou don?t alread/ have it. 6ou belie$e /ou aren?t 2ree when /ou alread/ are. 6ou belie$e /ou need to do something to 0e happ/3 and /ou don?t. =his truth is ver/ hard 2or the ego to grasp. =he ego doesn?t notice the happiness that?s alread/ here 0ecause that happiness doesn?t look like the ego imagines or wants it to look. When true happiness shows up3 the ego is 0ored with it It?s too plain3 too ordinar/3 and it doesn?t leave us 2eeling special or a0ove the 2ra/. It doesn?t take awa/ our pro0lems3 which is the ego?s idea o2 happiness. =he ego wants no more di22iculties no more sickness3 no more need 2or mone/3 no more work3 no more 0ad 2eelings3 onl/ unending pleasure and 0liss. Such per2ection is the ego?s idea o2 a success2ul li2e. However3 the happiness the ego dreams o2 will never 0e attained 0/ an/one. =he ego denies the realit/ o2 this
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dimension3 where challenges are necessar/ to evolution and where 0liss2ul states and pleasures come and go. =he happiness that underlies all o2 li2e is happiness that comes 2rom Iust e4isting. Happiness is actuall/ a 5ualit/ o2 our true nature3 o2 Essence3 which loves challenges 0ecause Essence loves the growth that comes 2rom them. It em0races all o2 li2e3 not onl/ the pleasura0le and 2un moments3 0ut also the more di22icult ones. =hen who is li2e di22icult 2or< =he onl/ thing that e4periences li2e as di22icult is the ego3 which is made up o2 ideas a0out ourselves and ideas the conditioned sel2 has a0out li2e. =hese ideas are all that inter2ere with true happiness. IdeasKIust thoughtsKkeep us 2rom e4periencing li2e and the happiness that Essence is e4periencing as it?s living through us. In an/ moment3 /ou can e4perience true happiness i2 /ou Iust notice that true happiness is here right now. =rue happiness is much more su0tle than the gidd/ high we 2eel when we 2inall/ get what we want3 which never lasts 2or long. =he ego wants happiness to 2eel like a high that never goes awa/3 which is also wh/ man/ want enlightenment. =he/ imagine enlightenment will 0e a state o2 unending 0liss3 which it isn?t. In short3 the ego wants ever/ moment to 0e thrilling. "ut li2e will never 2eel that wa/. $o one has ever had the e4perience o2 unending e4citement or 0liss in this dimension3 and no one ever will. =rue happinessKthe happiness that is availa0le and ongoing in this dimensionKis a 5uiet contentment with li2e and an openness and availa0ilit/ to li2e. =rue happiness is stead/ and constant3 although it seems to come and go 0ecause our attention shi2ts. @suall/ our thoughts take us awa/ 2rom the happ/ peace2ulness o2 the moment 0ecause the ego pre2ers drama and 2eelings to peace. I2 we sta/ in the $ow long enough3 we e4perience Essence reIoicing in li2e3 relishing the e4perience o2 0eing alive in this ever(
Secrets to Happiness
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changing and m/sterious moment. =hat contentment and love o2 li2e is true happiness. It doesn?t have the e4citement or glamour o2 a spiritual e4perience or winning the lotter/. "ut unlike those thrilling e4periences3 true happiness doesn?t come and go. When we are aware o2 ever/thing that?s arising in the moment3 not Iust our thoughts3 we see that li2e is un2olding per2ectl/3 regardless o2 the ego?s attempts to manipulate it. =he ego tries to intervene in ever/ moment3 as i2 it?s responsi0le 2or shaping li2e. "ut the ego isn?t that power2ul. =he ego?s interventions take us awa/ 2rom li2e and 0ring us into its mental world3 where it creates an imaginar/ li2e 2ull o2 dreams3 hopes3 and 2antasiesKthe li2e it wants. =he li2e the ego wants will never come to pass3 however. What the ego wants is unrealistic and o2ten not connected to the 2low o2 li2e3 out o2 which realit/ is 0orn. Li2e doesn?t 2ollow the ego?s desires. Li2e has its own momentum and reason3 which is m/sterious and can?t 0e known ahead o2 time. =he ego doesn?t like not knowing and not 0eing in control3 so it pretends that it can 0e the creator o2 li2e3 and through the mind it is. "ut the mental world the ego creates doesn?t a22ect li2e e4cept 0/ taking us awa/ 2rom it. =he ego?s mental world is an illusion that will never 0ecome real. =he ego reall/ 0elieves in its illusions3 though. It 0elieves its dreams and 2antasies ma/ come true i2 it thinks the right thoughts and does the right things. =he ego doesn?t recogniEe that something else is at work3 giving 0irth to li2e. When we are in touch with what?s actuall/ creating li2e instead o2 the ego?s ideas a0out li2e3 we stand a chance o2 0eing reall/ happ/3 not 0ecause o2 an/thing that happens3 0ut Iust 0ecause we e4ist in this miraculousl/ ever(shi2ting moment in time and 0ecause what we are loves li2e.
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=he $ow is complete and 2ul2illing Iust as it is. $othing needs to 0e added to it. =he $ow can?t 0e made an/ 0etter 0ecause the $ow is alread/ as good as it gets. =he ego will tell /ou otherwise and promise /ou its version o2 happiness3 0ut the ego?s promises are empt/. Will /ou chase a2ter the ego?s dreams3 or are /ou willing to see that happinessKtrue3 unshaka0le happinessKis alread/ here and that what?s here is enough<
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#EIN3 SATIS%IED =he ego looks around and sa/s3 GBka/3 there?s this. $ow3 what else<H It doesn?t notice what?s here3 onl/ what isn%t. It overlooks the potential 2or enIo/ing what is here and3 instead3 imagines the enIo/ment it might have in the 2uture over something else. It 2antasiEes a0out 0etter things and e4periences3 0ecause that?s how the ego is designed. It?s designed to 0e 2uture( and goal(oriented3 not to appreciate the wa/ things are. It?s a good thing that who we reall/ are does appreciate li2e Iust as it is3 or there would 0e little chance 2or happiness. =he happiness we do e4perience comes 2rom Essence3 which loves li2e. We also e4perience 0rie2 0ursts o2 happiness when we get what we want3 0ut that kind o2 happiness doesn?t last 0ecause the ego soon wants more or something di22erent. It?s never satis2ied 2or long. Essence is alwa/s satis2ied 0ecause there?s alwa/s plent/ to 0e satis2ied with. =he sk/ is 0lue3 gravit/ keeps us on the planet3 e4periencing is happening3 and ever/ moment is new and di22erent. Essence loves e4perience 2or e4perience?s sake. It loves to see what will happen ne4t. When the ego isn?t getting what it wants3 it complains3 G$othing?s happening. I?m 0ored.H G$othing?s happeningH is the ego?s stor/3 and that stor/ is never true. Something is alwa/s happening. What /ou are seeing now is di22erent than what /ou saw a moment ago. What /ou are hearing now is di22erent than what /ou heard a moment ago. What /ou will have 2or lunch is pro0a0l/ an/0od/?s guess. We don?t even know that much a0out li2e. =he ego pretends to know what?s going to happen3 and pretending to know makes it 2eel 0ored with li2e. "ut the ego
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doesn?t ever reall/ know. It doesn?t like to not know3 however3 so it pretends to know. When we allow ourselves to not know3 li2e 0ecomes much more interesting. =hen we can e4perience the e4citement3 curiosit/3 and love that Essence 2eels toward li2e. "ut when we 0elieve the ego?s tale o2 woeKGLi2e is 0oring. I?m 0ored. $othing?s happening. I need something elseHKthen 0oredom 0ecomes our e4perience. When we approach the present moment as the m/ster/ that it is3 li2e 2eels Iuic/ and interesting. We don?t know what will happen ne4t3 and we never will know the 2uture. =hat?s the truth. =he m/steriousness o2 li2e makes li2e 2un. =he ego takes the 2un out o2 li2e 0/ demanding that li2e 0e a certain wa/ and declaring that it doesn?t like li2e the wa/ it is. =aking the ego?s point o2 view makes us 2eel we need something more to 0e happ/ than what we alread/ have right here and now. =he great lie is that we need an/thing to 0e happ/. =he happiness3 or Io/3 o2 Essence as it?s e4periencing li2e through us is availa0le right now. Essence loves ever/thing a0out the present moment and the ne4t moment3 no matter what?s showing up. It loves how the chair that?s holding /ou up 2eels. It loves the e4perience that?s coming in through /our senses. It loves the 2eeling o2 the 0reath coming into and leaving /our 0od/. It loves the miracle that is /our 0od/. It loves that the universe works3 that it all holds together and supports li2e. It loves that people are kind to and support each other. It loves that people learn 2rom their mistakes. It loves that evil eventuall/ evolves into good. Essence loves it all. Li2e is such a gi2t. We don?t need more o2 an/thing to e4perience li2e as a gi2t3 and that?s the greatest gi2t o2 allJ What goodness and Intelligence there must 0e 0ehind li2e 2or li2e to 0e a0le to provide all that it provides. Li2e is a miracle and a 0lessing.
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W*AT ARE O2 ATTENDIN3 TO6 When we are in the moment without giving our 2ull attention to our thoughts3 as we usuall/ do3 we discover that man/ things are part o2 the $ow 0esides thoughts. =he ego discounts these other things3 seeing them as unimportant and uninteresting. I2 we pa/ attention to the ego3 we won?t have a chance to 2ind out a0out these other things 2or ourselves. =here are a num0er o2 things in ever/ moment that we might 0ecome aware o23 and the/ change ver/ 5uickl/. ;ather than nothing going on3 which is what the ego thinks3 a lot is going on in ever/ moment. In an/ moment3 we ma/ e4perience +. Input 2rom our senses3 including energetic sensations3 0odil/ sensations3 sights3 sounds3 smells3 and tastesL -. Emotions arising 2rom the ego3 including anger3 disgust3 2rustration3 sadness3 happiness3 2ear3 shame3 Iealous/3 env/3 guilt3 hatred3 greed3 lust3 and e4citementL 7. =houghts3 including desires3 memories3 2antasies3 Iudgments3 complaints3 opinions3 0elie2s3 dou0ts3 hopes3 wishes3 planning3 o0servations3 stories3 rehearsals 2or the 2uture3 ruminations a0out the past3 and other ideas and conditioningL .. Communications arising 2rom Essence3 including intuitions3 ps/chic impressions3 inspiration3 insights3 ideas3
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In ever/ moment3 man/ o2 these things are happening all at once3 so there?s a lot to give our attention to. Pa/ing attention to communications and 2eelings 2rom Essence is most important 0ecause the/ are meant to guide our li2e. Pa/ing attention to sensations is also important 0ecause the/ keep us in our 0od/ and out o2 our head. When we 2ind ourselves identi2ied with the egoic mind3 pa/ing attention to sensations 0rings us 0ack into the $ow and into Essence. Bn the other hand3 pa/ing attention to thoughts and the emotions that result 2rom them takes us out o2 Essence and into ego identi2ication i2 we 0elieve those thoughts and emotions. Without thoughts3 the onl/ G2eelingsH that would arise would come 2rom Essence love3 Io/3 elation3 happiness3 contentment3 gratitude3 acceptance3 awe3 and peace. =hese aren?t emotions3 0ut more like positive 2eeling states. In an/ moment3 our attention is moving around It ma/ go 2rom a thought to a 2eeling3 to a 0odil/ sensation3 to an intuition3 to a sight3 to a sound3 to another 0odil/ sensation3 to another thought3 to a sensation o2 the energ/ 0od/3 to an upwelling o2 awe3 to peace3 to contentment3 and then to another thought. Ever/ moment is uni5ue in the e4perience it o22ers3 and ever/ moment is constantl/ changing into the ne4t. We don?t have control over what arises in an/ moment3 0ut we can control where our attention goes3 and that determines our
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e4perience. 1n/ moment can 0e an e4perience o2 peace and contentment or one o2 upset and dissatis2action3 depending on where we put our attention. I2 we put it on thoughts and emotions and identi2/ with them3 we won?t e4perience peace and contentment. "ut i2 we put it on our sensor/ e4perience or the positive 2eelings3 intuitions3 urges3 and inspiration that arise 2rom Essence3 we will 0e content and happ/. 1ttention is the secret to happinessJ
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3OOD ENO23* For the ego3 nothing is good enough3 and i2 we take on its attitude3 we will never 0e happ/. =o counteract this mental voice that?s rarel/ content and alwa/s pushing 2or more and 0etter3 the a22irmation Ggood enoughJH can 0e ver/ use2ul. =hat phrase can neutraliEe the negative e22ect o2 the ego?s 0elie2 that something isn?t good enough. $otice how /ou can Iust rela4 when /our attitude is Ggood enoughH rather than Gnot good enough.H =he mind will tell /ou this is a dangerous conclusion 0ecause /ou won?t 0e success2ulKyou won?t 0e good enough i2 /ou settle 2or something 0eing good enough. I2 we didn?t 2eel that whatever was not good enough didn?t re2lect 0adl/ on us3 on our sel2(image3 then something not 0eing good enough wouldn?t matter so much. We decide something isn?t good enough Cgood enough 2or whom<D and then tr/ to make it 0etter. Who something isn?t good enough 2or is the me, who we think o2 ourselves as. Isn?t it interesting that a sel2(image can have that much power< Bur sel2( image drives us to 0ehave in certain wa/s. We are driven 0/ the ego to uphold our idea o2 ourselves as more per2ect than we perhaps are. 12ter all3 we aren?t ver/ per2ect3 are we< $o one is3 0ut we 2ight this realit/ 0/ working ver/ hard at 0eing 0etter than we?ve 0een in the past or 0etter than someone else. We set unrealistic standards3 and when we 2ail to live up to them3 we conclude we aren?t good enough3 not /et an/wa/. =hen not 0eing good enough 0ecomes our sel2(image3 and we get ver/ 0us/ tr/ing to 0e 0etter. 1ll this striving takes the Io/ out o2 li2e and out o2 our accomplishments3 which in the end3 still aren?t good
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enough. =here?s no end to the per2ection and accomplishments the ego demands. We are never done tr/ing to get what the ego wants. =he antidote to striving and su22ering is to see that whatever is, is good enough. Seeing this3 gives us 0reathing room to 0e a0le to respond to the moment more purel/3 2rom Essence. How and where is Essence moving us3 i2 at all< We discover the answer to this 5uestion 0/ o0serving what?s arising right now. Is there an inspiration or urge to act in a particular wa/< Essence drives us to 2ul2ill our li2e through inspiration and urges3 not through shame2ul 2eelings o2 inade5uac/ as the ego does. 1nd Essence doesn?t go a2ter the same things as the ego. It goes a2ter what?s meaning2ul to our li2e plan3 which can onl/ 0e known 0/ pa/ing attention to the $ow3 not to the ego?s rules3 desires3 and demands. =he ego is a di22icult taskmaster. =hat wouldn?t 0e so 0ad i2 what the ego pushed us to accomplish was ultimatel/ meaning2ul and led to true happiness3 0ut it doesn?t. =he ego is a 2alse taskmaster3 o2ten leading us awa/ 2rom what is most meaning2ul in li2e. It drives us unrelentingl/ and without compassion toward its goals3 which are contrar/ to true happiness. 1t a certain point3 we have to sa/ no to the ego and /es to the Heart instead. =his doesn?t mean there aren?t times when doing something ver/ per2ectl/ isn?t called 2or. Essence knows when per2ection is called 2or3 such as during surger/ i2 /ou are a surgeon. =he ego3 on the other hand3 demands per2ection 2rom nearl/ ever/ action. 1nd the more we listen to it3 the more dictatorial it 0ecomes. =hose who have learned to ignore the ego still per2orm well when the/ need to. =he ego3 with its insistence on per2ection3 doesn?t actuall/ cause us to per2orm 0etter. When we are identi2ied with it3 we are likel/ to 0e a0sor0ed in our thoughts. "eing inattentive to the moment makes us ine22icient and clums/3 and inter2eres with the
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spontaneous3 right action that naturall/ 2lows 2rom Essence. We think the egoic mind is our helper in our tasks3 0ut it is actuall/ unnecessar/ and even counterproductive. When we are Iust present to whatever we are doing3 without thought3 and allow Essence to act through us3 we discover that. 1cting spontaneousl/ 2rom Essence ma/ sound m/sterious3 0ut /ou actuall/ do this all the time. Bnce /ou start to notice all the wa/s /ou alread/ naturall/ respond to li2e3 /ou will 0egin to trust this wa/ o2 living more and 0egin to live more 2rom Essence and less 2rom the ego. However3 to live 2rom Essence3 /ou have to 0e willing to shi2t /our attention 2rom /our thoughts to whatever else is arising in the moment What actions are /ou moved to per2orm< What words are /ou moved to speak< What opportunities are arising< What in2ormation or insights are arising< Essence doesn?t waste time per2ecting what doesn?t need per2ecting or acting unnecessaril/ Ce.g.3 picking up that last speck o2 dustD. When something needs attention3 however3 Essence is wise enough to give it attention. Wisdom is inherent in us and operates primaril/ through our intuition. We don?t need the egoic mind to guide us. Wisdom doesn?t lie in the egoic mind. 1ll the egoic mind has 2or us is platitudes and rules3 not real wisdom a0out what we need to know now. For real wisdom3 /ou have to 0e in the $ow 0ecause that?s where wisdom comes 2rom. I2 /ou are 0us/ listening to the mind?s programmed assumptions3 opinions3 and 0elie2s3 /ou will miss the wisdom availa0le 2rom Essence.
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T*E *IDDEN #-ESSIN3 IN -I/ITATION With all the talk a0out a0undance these da/s3 I would like to put in a good word 2or limitation. =he e4perience o2 limitation3 whether it?s around mone/3 relationships3 success3 0eaut/3 health3 or an/thing else3 isn?t a mistake. I2 we are e4periencing limitation3 then that?s the right e4perience 2or now. Limitation is a 2act o2 li2e3 and it will 0e part o2 our e4perience in various wa/s until we leave the world. Limitation serves a purpose3 and that purpose is generall/ to evolve us in some wa/. Bnce that evolution is complete3 the limitation is likel/ to disappear3 or what was seen as limiting will no longer 0e seen that wa/. We tend to take e4periences o2 limitation personall/. We either 2eel persecuted 0/ some limitation or 0lame ourselves 2or it. We think we shouldn?t 0e having that e4perience3 and we imagine how much 0etter li2e would 0e without it. =hat?s the ego?s perspective3 and it onl/ 0rings su22ering 0ecause it isn?t true. I2 we are having an e4perience3 then we should 0e having that e4perience. =o Essence3 li2e would not 0e 0etter without that e4perience. It?s much truer to see a limitation as serving us in some wa/3 as having some 0ene2it. 8oing that 2rees us 2rom the ego?s su22ering and helps us learn whatever Essence intends 2or us to learn 2rom that e4perience. Limitation is especiall/ di22icult 2or the ego 0ecause the ego is under the illusion that it can make li2e 0etter. When 2aced with the sense o2 powerlessness produced 0/ some limitation3 the ego su22ers greatl/. It?s ashamed and angr/ over not 0eing a0le to mani2est what it wants. So the ego?s su22ering is two(2old It su22ers over not having what it wants3 and it su22ers a 0low to its identit/ when it discovers it can?t get what it wants.
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Such a 0low is actuall/ a good thing. =he ina0ilit/ to mani2est what we want is an opportunit/ to realiEe there?s something more going on than the ego?s goals3 needs3 perceptions3 0elie2s3 and desires. Something else also has the power to shape li2e3 and that is Essence3 which ma/ have intentions that are contrar/ to the ego?s plans. Essence?s intentions3 unlike the ego?s3 don?t relate to desire( 2ul2illment3 0ut to emotional and spiritual growth3 creativit/3 developing talents3 cultivating love and other 5ualities3 and e4periencing 2or e4perience?s sake. =he Bneness is out to e4perience li2e through us3 and sometimes what it wants to e4perience and what it intends 2or us to learn re5uire di22icult circumstances3 challenges3 or limitation. 1t times Essence uses limitation to 0ring a0out lessons or development or to encourage us to change our course or our thinking. Limitation has great value 0ecause it develops our patience3 restraint3 sel2(reliance3 and other positive 5ualities. It shapes us in wa/s like nothing else can. It also motivates us to cultivate talents and skills we might not have developed otherwise. :oreover3 limitation o2ten drives us deeper within ourselves and 2uels the spiritual search or a stud/ o2 ourselves. We look into emotional3 ps/chological3 and spiritual matters to tr/ to 2i4 our Gpro0lem.H 1nd when the distractions o2 the ego can?t 0e indulged in 0ecause o2 a lack o2 resources3 we 2ind other wa/s to 0e happ/. We learn Chope2ull/D to 0e happ/ with simplicit/3 with this ver/ simple and uncomplicated moment. Limitation and the su22ering it causes wake us up out o2 the egoic state o2 consciousness. Su22ering 0rings the ego to its knees3 and that?s a good thing. Sometimes limitation is created 0/ thinking negativel/ rather than 0/ Essence. In that case3 that?s also the right e4perience. =he su22ering caused 0/ limiting ourselves ma/ motivate us to 2ree ourselves 2rom our limiting 0elie2s. Such growth ma/ take more
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than a li2etime and o2ten does. However3 toda/3 with all the resources 2or understanding ps/cholog/ and emotions3 people can move through emotional issues and 0e/ond negative thinking much more 5uickl/. Evolution is highl/ speeded up now due to the in2ormation and new healing techni5ues that are availa0le. It is when we surrender to what?s limiting us that we discover the gi2ts in that limitation. =he struggle against the limitation is what causes su22ering3 not the limitation itsel2. I2 limitation is accepted3 there is no su22ering. However3 acceptance o2ten doesn?t come easil/ 0ecause most o2 us have a deep(seated 0elie2 that the limiting condition will remain i2 we accept it. "ut 5uite the opposite is true Bnce we accept a limitation3 we can learn 2rom it. 1nd once we learn 2rom it3 we will 0e 2ree 2rom it3 or at least 2ree 2rom su22ering over it. Bnce we stop resisting an e4perience3 we discover that no e4perience is all 0ad3 as the ego assumes. Ever/ e4perience has its advantages3 and advantages can 0e 2ound even in limitation3 although the ego isn?t what discovers this. 1cceptance aligns us with Essence3 and then it?s possi0le to e4perience the limitation as Essence e4periences it and to e4perience Essence?s peace3 contentment3 and Io/. =hen learning what Essence is tr/ing to teach us through that limitation 0ecomes much easier. Essence will guide us through our intuition to learn what we are meant to learn and do what we are meant to do in the midst o2 that limitation. Happiness can 0e 2ound even in limiting circumstances i2 we are ver/ present to the moment instead o2 to our thoughts3 which keep us 2rom discovering the gi2t in the limitation and an/ other e4perience. =he ego wants things its wa/3 and since that rarel/ happens3 it?s alwa/s unhapp/. "ut when we surrender to the wa/ things are3 we discover that li2e is miraculousl/ 2lowing toward
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greater goodness3 harmon/3 growth3 and loveKand those things are what we reall/ want. =o 0e happ/ no matter what is going on3 we have to want growth and e4perience more than we want what we want. Bnce we do3 we won?t need limitation to teach us3 since we will 0e getting what li2e is tr/ing to teach us in ever/ moment. When we pa/ attention to the moment instead o2 to the egoic mind3 li2e un2olds 5uite 0eauti2ull/3 without the struggles and su22ering the ego creates.
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-O4IN3 W*AT IS Loving and em0racing whatever?s going on is the onl/ sane choice. =he alternative is to reIect the wa/ li2e happens to 0e showing up and su22er over it. I2 reIecting realit/ and arguing with it could change the wa/ things are3 then doing that might make sense3 0ut railing against the wa/ things are onl/ makes us misera0le. =hroughout most o2 our evolution3 we don?t realiEe we have a choice 0etween su22ering and not su22ering. We are programmed to listen to the egoic mind3 which reIects li2e. $o matter how man/ things might 0e Iust right and ver/ pleasing in an/ moment3 the mind o2ten 2inds something that could or should 0e 0etter and 2ocuses on that. =he ego is designed to do that. We don?t realiEe that the ego?s voiceKthe voice in our headKis not a voice o2 truth or wisdom. It seems true3 and we 0elieve it and assume that what it sa/s is our personal 0elie2. We identi2/ with its point o2 view and cling to it as i2 it were true. What a 0lessing it is when we 2inall/ see that we don?t have to agree with the egoic mind?s perceptions3 when we see that these perceptions have onl/ caused us to su22er. =he ego?s point o2 view is a negative and narrow one. So much is le2t out in the stories it tells. =he ego reIects and dislikes so much a0out li2e. When we agree3 or identi2/3 with the egoic mind3 we 2eel negative and small3 narrow and contracted. Wh/ does the ego reIect and resist li2e< ;eIecting something gives the 2alse sel2 a sense o2 e4isting as some0od/ with a point o2 view and a pro0lem to solve3 something to do. =hen li2e 0ecomes a0out improving ourselves and making things 0etter so that li2e 2eels 0etter3 so that the ego is 2inall/ happ/ and at peace.
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"ut no matter how hard we work to improve ourselves and things around us3 we and li2e still won?t 0e good enough 2or the ego. It will never rest 0ecause to stop reIecting li2e would mean its death. I2 the me were 2ine as it is3 the me would lose all de2inition3 and there would no longer 0e a sense o2 a separate me. =he ego would no longer 0e in power3 and what would 0e le2t to run the 0od/(mind would 0e what has 0een here all along3 0reathing and enlivening the 0od/KEssence. 8issolution o2 the ego is the goal o2 the spiritual path3 0ut that isn?t the goal o2 the ego3 which is opposed to its own termination3 not surprisingl/. So the ego continues to 2ind 2ault with whatever?s 0eing e4perienced. =he ego doesn?t actuall/ die3 although it can 2all so 2ar into the 0ackground that it?s 0arel/ apparent. When we withdraw our attention 2rom the egoic mind3 the ego 0ecomes weak3 impotent. It?s still there3 0ut it?s lost its a0ilit/ to run us. When the ego is weak3 it is much easier to ignore. When we do ignore the egoic mind3 we 2ind ourselves in the moment and at peace3 no longer struggling against li2e3 0ut 2lowing with it. When we drop into Essence3 we e4perience a natural acceptance o2 li2e as it is3 a 2eeling o2 /es to whatever is happening. When we 2inall/ agree with li2e3 it?s such a relie2. Such peace and contentment is what ever/one reall/ wants. @suall/ we e4perience these 2eelings when li2e 2inall/ goes our Cthe ego?sD wa/. =hen we rela4Kuntil the ne4t thing happens that we don?t like. We don?t have to wait 2or things to go our wa/ to 0e happ/. We can see that things are alwa/s going our CEssence?sD wa/3 no matter what?s happening. =he ego?s perspective is that li2e isn?t going its wa/. Essence?s perspective is that all is well. When we are e4periencing li2e as Essence3 we are at peaceL and when we are e4periencing li2e as the ego3 we are unhapp/. It?s that simple.
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Wh/ would we choose a perspective that 0rings dissatis2action over one that doesn?t< =hat?s a good 5uestion. :ost people don?t realiEe the/ have a choice. ;ealiEing we have the power to choose our perspective is the 0eginning o2 2reedom. We can choose how we perceive li2e. We can choose the stor/ we tell a0out li2e. =he stor/ can 0e a sad or angr/ one3 or it can 0e one that allows us to 0e happ/ and at peace with li2e. Essence loves whatever is happening 0ecause it either created it or allowed us Cour egoD to create it 2or our growth and evolution. What we learn to love a0out whatever we are e4periencing is how per2ectl/ it is suited to support our evolution toward greater love3 peace3 wisdom3 compassion3 courage3 patience3 and understanding. Li2e is per2ectl/ designed to evolve us3 and that is what?s lova0le a0out ever/ moment. Whether the ego likes what?s happening or not is irrelevant. =he ego will like and dislike3 2eel happ/ and 2eel sad3 reIect and em0race3 according to its perceptions. =he ego creates 2eelings o2 happiness or sadness with its perceptions. =hese 2eelings come and go3 like the weather3 and are simpl/ re2lections o2 the ego?s pre2erences. Happiness that comes and goes so easil/ isn?t the happiness we are searching 2or3 0ecause happiness that is so ephemeral will never satis2/ us. =he happiness our soul longs 2or is the happiness that comes 2rom knowing the truth a0out li2e and a0out who we reall/ are. =rue happiness comes 2rom discovering 2or ourselves the goodness at the core o2 li2e and that li2e can 0e trusted. Bnce we realiEe that li2e is good3 em0racing whatever is happening is eas/3 0ecause we know that whatever the e4perience is3 it is e4actl/ the right e4perience3 at least 2or now.
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E/#RACIN3 T*E /O/ENT =he present moment is the onl/ moment we have. =he past is over3 and the 2uture is /et to 0e. 1nd when the 2uture does come to pass3 it will 0e e4perienced as a simple moment3 like this one. Even a dramatic occurrence3 such as a 0ig win or loss3 is e4perienced onl/ 0rie2l/3 0e2ore it passes awa/ and is replaced 0/ some other e4perience. =he wins and losses o2 the past are 0rought into the present moment 0/ the mind3 where it attempts to cling to or change what has happened. 1ttempting to re(e4perience or alter something 2rom the past causes su22ering 0ecause it takes us out o2 the $ow and involves us with a desire 2or something that can?t 0e. =he past and even the present moment can?t 0e di22erent than the/ are 0ecause it?s alread/ too late 2or that. =o want something other than what?s true and real right now causes su22ering. We su22er 0ecause our mind either re2uses to accept or tries to hang on to something a0out the past3 or 0ecause it longs 2or something that isn?t present. When we are in the $ow and 2ull/ e4periencing it without a desire 2or it to 0e di22erent3 there?s no su22ering. =he circumstances o2 the moment are whatever the/ are3 until the/ aren?t3 which will soon 0e the case3 since what?s showing up in the $ow is alwa/s changing. =r/ing to maintain ecstas/ or an/ other 2eeling or e4perience takes a lot o2 mental e22ort and never succeeds. Li2e keeps moving on. Grie2 can last a ver/ long time 0ecause the egoic mind reanimates the pain o2 the past 0/ dwelling on the past and telling sad stories a0out it that keep the pain alive. Without such stories3 2leeting e4periences o2 grie2 would come and go3 like a rainstorm that comes in and swi2tl/ passes. =he egoic mind creates emotions3
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and it sustains them through a repetition o2 stories. Grie2 is a natural response to loss3 0ut a loss can onl/ 0e e4perienced repeatedl/ through thought. =he loss has alread/ taken place3 and not accepting it keeps the loss and pain alive. 1ccepting loss allows us to move on and e4perience the present moment and what?s taking the place o2 what was lost. With ever/ ending3 is a new 0eginning. Clinging to the past makes seeing what is tr/ing to take the place o2 what is gone more di22icult. 1cceptance isn?t di22icult when /ou see that the alternative is to su22er. We eventuall/ learn to accept li2e 0ecause the alternative is too pain2ul. Li2e teaches us to accept what it 0rings 0ecause we su22er i2 we don?t. We come to see that arguing with realit/ onl/ causes us and those around us pain. It doesn?t change realit/. =his ma/ seem o0vious3 0ut it isn?t o0vious to the ego3 which is like a child who demands its wa/. Fortunatel/3 we are not the ego3 0ut what?s a0le to o0serve the ego and see that we are causing our own su22ering 0/ taking the ego?s point o2 view. When we detach 2rom the ego enough to see this3 we are 2ree 2rom its su22ering. =hen it?s possi0le to surrender to and even enIo/ the moment Iust 2or what it is. We can learn to 0e adventurers in our attitude toward li2e. We can learn to enIo/ seeing what will come ne4t. We can 0ecome someone who em0races whatever li2e 0rings. Li2e is alwa/s changing3 and li2e can 0e 5uite a surprise. When we e4perience the moment 2ree o2 the ego?s Iudgments and desires3 li2e 0ecomes interesting and curious. Without a pre2erence 2or our e4perience to 0e other than the wa/ it is3 we discover that the present moment is more than alrightL it?s Iust right.
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3OD IS IN T*E DETAI-S Bne o2 the reasons we reIect 0eing in the $ow is we overlook the details o2 what we are e4periencing. :an/ moments are ordinar/ and seem similar to other moments we?ve e4perienced We get up and do the same thing ever/ morning3 we walk the dog on the same path3 we cook the same 2ood3 we drive the same roads. =o the ego3 the routines o2 li2e seem 0oring. It assumes those routine moments are like other similar moments3 so it overlooks what?s actuall/ going on. =he ego draws us into thoughts a0out something else it deems more interesting and e4citing. It tries to take us out o2 the moment and into its world o2 thoughts3 and we are especiall/ willing to identi2/ with it when we are doing something we?ve done man/ times 0e2ore. =he truth is3 however3 that no moment is the same3 and no real Io/ can 0e e4perienced 0/ living in the ego?s mental world3 where all thoughts re2er 0ack to me and how my life is going. =o e4perience Io/3 we have to 0e present to what is real3 to what?s going on right now. I2 we assume the $ow isn?t interesting or worth pa/ing attention to3 as the ego does3 we won?t discover the inherent Io/3 aliveness3 contentment3 and value o2 0eing in the moment. When we are present to whatever is going on3 we discover the Io/ Essence has in e4periencing li2e3 including the details o2 li2e. =he Io/ is in noticing the light re2lecting o22 the silverware3 the specks o2 dust 2loating in the sunlight3 the contentment on a dog?s 2ace3 the wa/ the 2olds o2 a curtain 2all3 the shadows cast 0/ the rocks3 the clouds changing shapes3 the smell o2 2allen leaves3 the taste o2 0utter on 0read3 2or e4ample. I2 we notice3 an in2inite variet/ o2 things are availa0le in the present moment to enIo/. "ut
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we have to 0e willing to notice the small things3 the details3 0ecause details are what set one moment apart 2rom all the others. =he ego sees something it has seen hundreds o2 times3 and it assumes it knows that thing. =he mind might think a0out it3 anal/Ee it3 Iudge it3 or Iust overlook it. It skips over a thing or an e4perience and su0stitutes thoughts 2or e4perience. In assuming it has alread/ seen that thing or had that e4perience3 the ego misses out on what the moment has to o22er3 which is where the Iuiciness and aliveness o2 li2e is. =he ego?s mental world is a dr/ one. Its world lacks connection with real sensor/ e4perience. =he richness in 0eing alive comes through our senses. When we e4perience what?s coming into our senses3 we 2eel alive3 and we 2eel the Io/ that Essence 2eels in 0eing alive. When we stop taking the egoic mind?s assessment o2 things as true and allow ourselves to have the e4perience we are having3 2ull/ and in great detail3 we e4perience3 at last3 the happiness and peace the ego promises 0ut can?t deliver. =he ego o22ers us its world o2 thought3 0ut the ego?s world comes at a high price. =hat price is e4perience. When we give our attention to our thoughts a0out an e4perience3 we lose touch with the actual e4perience. We can?t reall/ have 0oth the e4perience and thoughts a0out it. Bur attention is on one or the other3 although it can move ver/ 5uickl/ 0etween the two. When we are present to what we are e4periencing3 we notice all sorts o2 sensor/ details that are usuall/ overlooked. =he surprising thing is the amount o2 Io/ that can 0e 2elt in e4periencing the simplest o2 things 2ull/ the warmth o2 the sun3 the so2tness o2 2a0ric against the 0od/3 the 0rillianc/ o2 the 0lue sk/3 the s5uishiness o2 the earth 0elow our 2eet3 the scent o2 a pine tree3 the 0uEE o2 something in the distance. =he ego isn?t satis2ied with such e4periences 0ecause it isn?t satis2ied with an/thing. We aren?t
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satis2ied with such things either when we are identi2ied with the ego 0ecause identi2ication with the mind keeps us 2rom 2ull/ e4periencing them. "ut what is li2e 0ut the e4perience o2 these simple things< =he egoic mind creates a drama out o2 li2e. 1t the center o2 the ego?s drama is the me, when li2e is reall/ Iust an e4perience o2 one simple moment a2ter another. What is e4periencing li2e is no(0od/3 no(thingKthe spacious emptiness that is our true nature. Without the mind?s interpretations3 Iudgments3 2ears3 dou0ts3 and other overla/s onto the present moment3 li2e is a simple sensor/ e4perience that is 2ree o2 pro0lems. =hat real3 sensor/ e4perience is more than enough to 0e happ/. In 2act3 sensing li2e 2ull/ is the secret to happiness.
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T*ERE IS A-WA S SO/ET*IN3 TO -O4E =he alternative to reIecting something a0out the wa/ things are3 which is what the ego does3 is 2inding something to love a0out it. =here?s alwa/s something to love in ever/ moment. Can /ou 2ind a sensation3 something o2 0eaut/3 or a sound that is lovea0le< Is peace here3 even Iust a sliver< Is love< Is contentment< Is the universe holding together< "eing happ/ or not 0eing happ/ is largel/ a matter o2 what we 2ocus on. =he ego can 0e misera0le3 and we can still 0e happ/ i2 we 2ind something lovea0le a0out what is going on. Finding something to love is hard 2or the ego3 0ut it?s actuall/ eas/ 0ecause there?s plent/ that is lovea0le a0out li2e. From Essence?s standpoint3 all o2 li2e is lovea0le 0ecause Essence e4periences li2e di22erentl/ than the ego. Essence sa/s /es to it3 while the ego sa/s no. Pa/ing attention to the ego?s reIection o2 li2e makes us misera0le3 while noticing what is lovea0le 2ills us with love. =he secret to happiness is to love(((not to 0e loved3 0ut to love. Loving is essentiall/ sa/ing /es to li2e3 accepting it. Loving 2eels good3 even 0etter than 0eing loved. $othing 2eels 0etter than loving. However3 the ego doesn?t want to love as much as it wants other things3 such as power and securit/. It would rather 2eel angr/3 sad3 or an/ other emotion than love. Emotions give the ego some identit/3 some reason 2or e4isting. =he/ give it a pro0lem to 2i4. =he ego doesn?t want to love 0ecause loving makes it 2eel vulnera0le. It doesn?t trust love 0ecause the ego isn?t what creates or e4periences love. Loving is the domain o2 Essence3 and when we are e4periencing love3 we are e4periencing Essence. So to move out o2 the ego and
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into Essence3 all we have to do is 2ind something to love. 8oing that is eas/3 0ut the catch is we have to want to. =he you that wants to move out o2 ego identi2ication and into Essence is the you that is alread/ not identi2ied with the ego. =hat is a catchJ =he ego doesn?t want /ou to move out o2 ego identi2ication3 0ut something else does3 and that?s Essence. =here comes a time in our spiritual evolution when we 0ecome aware o2 a you that can choose to move out o2 ego identi2ication. =hen we 0egin to wake up out o2 ego identi2ication and live more as Essence in the world. Essence is what chooses love over the ego?s values. Essence is what loves3 not the ego. When we choose to 2ind something lovea0le a0out the present moment3 we will 2ind man/ things. Bne thing that?s alwa/s lovea0le is simpl/ our willingness to love. What a miracleJ In the midst o2 such a pain2ul and di22icult world3 we have within us a willingness to love. =hat goodness within us is e4tremel/ lovea0le. =hat same goodness is within ever/one else too3 although that goodnessKGod( nessKis o2ten hidden 0/ the ego. Still3 there?s much evidence o2 the goodness within ever/one when we look 2or it. Bne o2 the easiest wa/s to e4perience love is to give our attention to something we love. 9ust looking at our pets3 2or instance3 opens our Heart3 which is wh/ pets are such a gi2t to us. B2 course our children and other loved ones also open our Hearts3 although their egos and ours o2ten complicate love. Bur pets? lack o2 ego allows our ego to rela4 and sta/ in the 0ackground. 1n/thing o2 0eaut/ also evokes our love nature3 colors3 art3 and music. Since 0eaut/ is alwa/s availa0le3 love is alwa/s availa0le. We can also e4perience love 2or the gi2t o2 0eing alive and 2or 0eing a0le to e4perience the present moment. =hat?s the love Essence 2eels as it lives li2e through us. What a wonder the ph/sical 0od/ isJ =hat sense o2 wonder and gratitude 2or li2e3 the 0od/3 and
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other living things is love. =he "eing that we are is in awe o2 li2e. When we move our attention onto that which loves li2e3 we 2eel complete. $othing more is needed in the moment than that. What a surprise that li2e can 0e this simple and completeJ Finding something to love in ever/ moment is the antidote to the ego?s reIection o2 the moment. When /ou 2ind /oursel2 struggling against li2e3 stop and notice what?s 0eauti2ul and lovea0le. 1nd don?t Iust stop with one thingL 2ind another and another. Li2e can 0e lived 2rom a place o2 cele0ration and gratitude instead o2 reIection. It?s /our choice.
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-O4E W*AT O2 DO Bne step 0e/ond accepting whatever is happening is loving it. Bnce we accept what?s happening3 then we might as well love it. Loving whatever?s happening Iust means getting involved3 or a0sor0ed3 in it3 Iumping right into it and having the 2ull e4perience o2 it. =hinking dilutes e4perience and keeps us 2rom 2ull/ immersing in whatever we are doing. =houghts accompan/ most e4periences3 and keep our attention 2rom 0eing completel/ on whatever e4perience we are having. Whatever /ou are doing3 reall/ do that3 Iump in with 0oth 2eet. I2 /ou?re going to eat that piece o2 cake3 then reall/ e4perience it3 unaccompanied 0/ thoughts o2 guilt or strategies 2or how /ou will make up 2or the calories. So o2ten3 we commit to doing something without reall/ committing to it. We have one 2oot in an e4perience and one 2oot out o2 it. While we are doing something3 we 5uestion whether we want to 0e doing it3 complain a0out it3 or think a0out something else. "eing involved with our thoughts dilutes the e4perience we are having. It removes us 2rom that e4perience and makes it hard to enIo/ the e4perience. I2 /ou can?t commit to 0eing 2ull/ in an e4perience3 then one option might 0e to not do it at all. 8o /ou reall/ need to do it or do it at this time< =he ego pushes us to do things on its timeta0le and to do things aligned with its goals. It pushes us to do something and complains a0out doing what it?s pushing us to do. I2 /ou?re going to do something3 then commit to doing it with Io/. I2 /ou can?t do something with Io/3 then consider not doing it at all or not doing it Iust then3 i2 /ou can.
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1n/ e4perience can 0e enIo/a0le i2 our attention is 2ull/ committed to it. =he secret to enIo/ing li2e is committing our attention to whatever we are doing. When we do that3 we land in the $ow and in Essence3 and Essence loves li2e. 1s long as we continue to give our attention to what we are e4periencing3 we will 2eel love 2or li2e3 however li2e happens to 0e showing up. Giving our attention to what we are doing is much more di22icult when we are doing something we don?t like to do. I2 we didn?t like doing something in the past3 we o2ten assume we won?t like doing it again3 0ut do /ou reall/ know that< =he reason we don?t like doing something is 0ecause the mind gives us reasons 2or not liking it 8oing it is uncom2orta0le3 mess/3 hard3 tiring3 scar/3 and so on. Such complaints seem reasona0le 2rom the ego?s standpoint. However3 we can love doing something even though it?s uncom2orta0le3 mess/3 hard3 tiring3 scar/ or whatever. "esides3 no e4perience can 0e summed up in a 2ew words. =hese are the ego?s stories3 which don?t capture the entire3 real e4perience. =he mind emphasiEes the negatives and ignores the positives. When we 2ocus on the negatives3 the/ 0ecome magni2ied3 and the rest recedes into the 0ackground. =he result is that we have a negative e4perience. Essence loves e4periences the ego considers unpleasant Iust as much as it loves pleasant ones. It doesn?t categoriEe li2e as good or 0ad3 pleasant or unpleasant3 like the ego does. It doesn?t evaluate or Iudge like the ego does. GPleasantH and GunpleasantH aren?t in Essence?s voca0ular/. Whatever is3 is Iust the wa/ it is3 without a particular de2inition. 1ccessing the part o2 us3 Essence3 that loves the e4perience we are having is alwa/s possi0le3 0ut to do that3 we have to ignore the ego?s point o2 view. Complaining a0out something while we are doing it makes it impossi0le to enIo/ it. Check it out 2or /oursel2 Has complaining
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ever improved an e4perience< What happens when /ou give up /our complaints and 0ecome a0sor0ed in the e4perience rather than in the pain3 discom2ort3 or resistance to it< Without the ego?s complaints and 2ears3 even ph/sical pain can 0e accepted and more easil/ endured. Without the mind?s complaints3 enIo/ing3 or at least accepting3 an/thing is possi0le. =he ego likes to complain 0ecause complaining gives it something to talk a0out. =he chatter0o4 mind has to sa/ somethingJ So the mind 2inds something it doesn?t like and gets ver/ 0us/ 0uilding a case against it. =he pro0lem is3 i2 we are complaining a0out something when we?re doing it3 complaining 0ecomes our e4perience o2 doing it3 and we?re no longer having the 2ull e4perience o2 the $ow. =o love what we are e4periencing3 all it takes is our attention. When we give our attention to something3 love 2lows to it. So i2 /ou want to love what /ou?re e4periencing instead o2 resist it3 give it /our attention. =hat?s the antidote to the ego?s resistance. I2 we give our attention to our resistance3 we are loving resisting. =hen resistance is magni2ied and 0ecomes our e4perience. "ecause the ego doesn?t want to love3 we have to 2ind within us that which is willing to love li2e Iust as it is. We have to summon that to counter the ego?s complaints and resistance to li2e. We summon3 or align with3 Essence 0/ giving our 2ull attention to the $ow.
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DO W*AT O2 -O4E Here?s the secret to happiness 8o what /ou love. Prett/ o0vious3 /ou sa/< 6esJ I2 it?s so o0vious3 wh/ isn?t ever/one happ/< We aren?t happ/ 0ecause most o2 us do too much o2 what the ego loves to do. We indulge in all sorts o2 pleasures3 shop3 and do other 2un things. =he ego also loves to work. Have /ou noticed< It works ver/ hard to get what it wants. It also loves getting attention and 0eing special. =he ego loves doing di22erent things than the real /ou3 or Essence3 and therein lies the ru0. It?s not that the real /ou doesn?t love pleasure3 2un3 thinking3 work3 and the other things the ego enIo/s doingL Essence Iust doesn?t love them to the e4clusion o2 the other things it loves to do3 which are lower on the ego?s list. =he ego and Essence have di22erent priorities3 and their priorities sometimes get in each other?s wa/. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we do too much o2 what the ego loves to do and not enough o2 what Essence loves to do. =hat can lead to depression and unhappiness too much eating3 drinking3 part/ing3 shopping3 thinking3 working3 pushing3 and striving. So the prescription 2or happiness isn?t to do what the ego loves Calthough the ego won?t agreeD3 0ut to do what the real /ou loves3 0ecause the real /ou will also do enough o2 the things the ego loves3 0ut not too much o2 them. 1nd the real /ou won?t ignore other more meaning2ul activities. What do /ou love to do< Identi2/ing that can 0e trick/ 0ecause we o2ten con2use the ego?s desires with Essence?s. =here?s a reall/ good wa/ to tell what the real /ou loves to do When /ou think o2 doing that3 /our Heart Iumps with Io/. Essence e4presses itsel2
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through the Heart3 while the ego e4presses itsel2 through the mind3 as3 GI wantMH or GI likeM.H What we love to do arises naturall/ within us and is e4pressed i2 we don?t let our ego 0lock that impulse with 2ear or some 0elie2 or o0Iection. Such 0locking happens all the time when the ego?s goals con2lict with what?s arising 2rom Essence to do. =he ego tries to talk us out o2 2ollowing our Heart. =o tr/ to convince us o2 its point o2 view3 it uses 2ear3 dou0t3 discouragement3 and FshouldsF G6ou should get a Io0 that pa/s more.H G6our parents will never 2orgive /ou i2 /ou do that.H G6ou won?t 0e a0le to pa/ /our 0ills.H G6ou aren?t smart enough.H =he ego?s 2ears ma/ even come true3 0ut is that a reason not to 2ollow /our Heart< Is an/thing worth going against /our Heart< When we 2ollow our Heart3 li2e does work outL it Iust ma/ not work out the wa/ the ego wants3 although it Iust might. We don?t know what will happen. =he truth is3 even i2 we 2ollow the ego3 we don?t know what will happen. "ut i2 we 2ollow our Heart3 we will 2eel happ/ and we won?t regret our decision3 whatever happens. What we love and most deepl/ want to do shows up in the moment as an impulse3 inspiration3 or urge. We ma/ think a0out that impulse3 inspiration3 or urge or e4press it ver0all/3 0ut what makes our Heart sing doesn?t show up initiall/ as a thought. What?s most meaning2ul 2or us to do shows up as a 2eeling o2 wanting to do something3 not as the thought GI wantM.H =hat?s the di22erence. GFollow /our HeartH means 2ollow /our 2eelings. However3 those 2eelings aren?t the emotions that come 2rom the ego3 0ut the deeper drives o2 Essence. We feel that something is right or true3 and that 2eeling is an intuition3 not an emotion. Following our emotions can get us into a lot o2 trou0le3 0ut 2ollowing our intuitive 2eelings 0rings us happiness and 2ul2illment.
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Essence loves creating3 pla/ing3 learning3 e4ploring3 working3 e4pressing3 and growing. It also has more speci2ic things it loves to do through each o2 us3 depending on our talents and the purpose o2 our li2e. For instance3 i2 /ou have a li2e purpose related to writing3 /ou will love to write3 whether or not that 0rings /ou 2ame or 2ortune. Br i2 /our li2e purpose relates to parenting3 /ou will love children and long to have them. 6ou will also love an/ activities that relate to /our li2e purpose. 6ou will even love activities that don?t relate to /our li2e purpose i2 the/ help /ou accomplish that purpose. We are programmed to love the things we need to do to 2ul2ill our li2e plan. What a 0eauti2ul and amaEing thing that isJ I2 /ou do what /ou love3 what /our Heart desires3 /ou will 2ul2ill /our li2e purpose and 0e happ/. 8oing what /ou love is the prescription 2or happiness and proo2 that love is the 2orce 0ehind li2e.
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DO W*AT ESSENCE -O4ES =he Creator has a penchant 2or certain things. It loves to create. It created ever/thing that e4ists3 and it loves to create through us as well. :an/ li2e purposes relate to creating3 so man/ people are driven to create. Whether our li2e purpose speci2icall/ relates to creativit/ or not3 ever/one loves to create and is creative to some e4tent. We can?t help 0ut create. Creating comes naturall/ to us 0ecause we are like that which created us. Wh/ did this amaEing creation we call li2e happen< It happened 0ecause o2 a will to create3 which is also within us. 1nd that drive is ver/ power2ul. It is a drive 2or li2e3 a drive to live and to 2ind out what will happen and what we can make happen. =he French call it &oie de $i$re. =he Io/ in living is the Io/ Essence 2eels in 0eing alive through us. What would it 0e like to 0e alive and not e4press ourselves< E4pression is natural to us 0ecause it is natural to what created us. =he Creator3 the Bneness3 e4presses itsel2 through creating3 and it e4presses itsel2 through us as Essence. =he Creator3 the Bneness3 created us to 0e uni5ue so that it could have man/ diverse vehicles to e4perience li2e through. E4pressing itsel2 through us gives the Bneness great Io/3 and when we allow it to do that3 we 2eel that Io/. =he Creator also loves to learn. It loves to stretch itsel2. Bne wa/ it stretches itsel2 is to create challenges 2or itsel2 to learn 2rom 0/ mani2esting a world that re5uires adaptation and intellectual evolution to survive. =hose who survive 0est learn 2rom li2e and pass their learning on. =hat a0ilit/ to learn and adapt evolves our species. We as individuals evolve3 and the species evolves.
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1ll this learning and evolution is ver/ interesting to the Creator. It doesn?t know e4actl/ what will happen to its creations a2ter the/?ve 0een created. It participates in creation through its creations3 0ut within creation is an element o2 2ree will that provides a wild card3 an unknown varia0le. 1pparentl/3 the Creator also loves the unknownJ =he Creator loves the unknown 0ecause it loves discover/ and pro0lem(solving. It loves to grow and triumph over pro0lems and di22iculties. =he ego doesn?t like challenges3 0ut when we are aligned with Essence instead o2 the ego3 we love a challenge. Perhaps that?s wh/ the ego was created. It provides us with the 0iggest challenge o2 all 0eing lost in the illusion that we are separate 2rom what created us. We are programmed to 0elieve this illusion3 and our challenge is to see through it. What a puEEle. =he Creator must like puEEles. When we 2all in love with li2e3 as the Creator has3 we 2ind happiness3 Io/3 and peace. =o e4perience that Io/3 we ma/ need to do some o2 the things the Creator3 or Essence3 loves to do so much. We need to make time to do what Essence is moved to do through us3 rather than 0eing caught up in the ego?s goals. =he ego can keep us ver/ 0us/3 so 0us/ that we 2orget to notice what else we are moved to do. Essence isn?t as push/ as the ego. Essence reveals its intentions more su0tl/3 and we might miss them i2 we are 0us/ listening to the egoic mind3 or Iust plain 0us/. I2 we pa/ attention to the more su0tle communications 2rom Essence3 we will 2ind ourselves doing more o2 the things that 0ring us Io/. We ma/ do more dancing3 singing3 creating3 pla/ing3 walking in nature3 moving the 0od/3 resting3 0eing3 listening3 e4ploring3 0eing silent3 noticing3 learning3 growing3 5uestioning3 looking within3 and meditating. =he ego doesn?t particularl/ value
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man/ o2 these activities3 so we tend to not make time 2or them3 or at least not as much time as Essence might make 2or them. I2 there?s an/ activit/ we do too much o2 to the detriment o2 Essence3 it?s thinking a0out ourselves. =he ego inter2eres with Io/ 0/ involving us too much in thoughts a0out ourselves and how our li2e is going. Involvement with the me takes us out o2 the $ow and out o2 the Iuiciness o2 li2e. What i2 some o2 these other activitiesK creating3 dancing3 singing3 walking in nature3 e4ploring3 Iust 0eing3 and meditatingKreplaced some o2 that thinking< =hat would dramaticall/ change /our world 0ecause /ou would 0e living more in Essence and less in the ego. What a di22erent li2e that would 0e. Would it 0e so hard to do more o2 what Essence loves< What would /ou reall/ lose in e4change 2or some Io/<
PART , Trusting -i&e
TR2STIN3 3OD =he God o2 man/ o2 our religions isn?t an eas/ God to trust. He is venge2ul and punitive3 not that we might not deserve it at times. "ut can /ou reall/ trust a God that is willing to send his creations to hell 2or all eternit/< Would /ou3 as a parent3 do that to one o2 /our children< How can it 0e that we would 0e more compassionate than our creator< 1n even 0igger 5uestion is how we can trust a God that creates a world that is 2ull o2 su22ering and provides no e4planation 2or or relie2 2rom it3 e4cept a promise o2 heaven i2 we o0e/. Is it an/ wonder wh/ so man/ people are disillusioned with religion3 when it doesn?t seem to have the answers 2or how to 0e at peace with li2e3 and when over the centuries3 through persecutions and wars3 religious 0elie2s ma/ have caused more su22ering than the/ have relieved< We would 0e 2oolish to trust the God depicted in most o2 our religions. Fear him3 /esL trust him3 no. Bur religions talk a0out the importance o2 love3 0ut even man/ religious leaders don?t model love3 0ut intolerance and hatred. So how can we e4pect their 2ollowers to do 0etter< =he message o2 9esus is to love /our neigh0or as /oursel23 0ut we haven?t seen much progress toward that in the last two thousand /ears. I2 religions are advocating love instead o2 violence3 it doesn?t seem to 0e working. So what?s going on< =here is a loving Intelligence 0ehind all li2e3 0ut the ego has co( opted much religious thought. It has twisted and warped the truth and made the truth unrecogniEa0le3 leaving man/ people con2used and without a sense o2 0eing connected to something greater than themselves. It?s smart not to trust the God o2 most religions
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0ecause that God isn?t worth/ o2 our trust. We are too sophisticated to trust such a God. =hose who do were indoctrinated earl/ in li2e and are held in place 0/ the 2ear o2 going to hell or some other punishment i2 the/ reIect the doctrine. Fear is the tool o2 the ego3 and 2ear is used 0/ man/ religions to keep their 2ollowers 2rom leaving. =he word I like to use 2or God is goodness. God is goodness. I2 we can?t trust the God o2 our religions3 can we trust goodness< 8oes goodness e4ist< 1re goodness and love at the core o2 li2e3 or is evil< "oth goodness and evil e4ist in this world. Goodness is alignment with love3 while evil is the a0sence o2 love and the result o2 identi2/ing with the ego. =wo 2orces are at pla/ in the world the ego and Essence. What prevails will tell us something a0out what created us and what is 0ehind all li2e. Is this a world where love and goodness prevail over evil< Is there enough proo2 to conclude that love and goodness are more power2ul and there2ore truer than evil< Is the ego God3 or is goodness< We naturall/ know what is right and good. We don?t need religion to de2ine that 2or us 0ecause goodness and love 2eel one wa/ Cthe/ 2eel goodD3 and hatred and 2ear 2eel another wa/ Cthe/ 2eel 0adD. We have an internal guidance s/stem that points the wa/ to what is right and good i2 we are willing to pa/ attention to it. We also have an ego that?s out 2or itsel2 and into getting what it wants3 and it?s willing to override that guidance s/stem i2 doing so serves its purposes. Evil is action divorced 2rom love3 action that doesn?t recogniEe our connection to the Whole3 while love is action that is connected and responsive to the Whole. We have the potential to participate in either t/pe o2 action. In an/ moment3 we can choose to 2ollow the ego or to 2ollow Essence. We are never le2t alone in making this choice. In ever/ moment3 we receive encouragement 2rom Essence3 our internal guidance
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s/stem3 to choose love over 2ear and sel2ishness. Goodness is alwa/s v/ing 2or our attention3 Iust as the ego is. =here?s a 0attle going on 2or our souls3 so to speak. =he 5uestion is3 who?s winning< I2 the world 0elongs to the ego3 the ego would win. I2 the world 0elongs to Essence3 goodness wins. What do /ou see happening< Is our species evolving toward love or in the opposite direction< "ased on the violence in the news3 it ma/ not 0e o0vious that we are evolving toward love. $evertheless3 despite the evil in the world3 as a species3 we 0elieve in the value o2 goodness and love. We don?t value oppression and hatred3 even though we ma/ 0ehave 0adl/ at times. Bur values tell us what we are made o23 what we come 2rom3 and where we are headed. In /our own li2e3 have /ou evolved toward love or hatred< Hasn?t the wisdom /ou?ve gained resulted in 0eing more loving and compassionate rather than the opposite< 1nd aren?t /ou tr/ing to 0e more loving and compassionate< It is our destin/ to move in the direction o2 love3 not in the direction o2 hatred and 2ear. 8o /ou know o2 people who are 0ecoming more evil rather than more loving< It does happen3 mostl/ when someone has 0een a0used or tortured or has su22ered some devastating loss. When we have 0een touched 0/ evil3 we can lose our connection to love and 0ecome hate2ul3 0itter3 venge2ul3 and mean. "ut that isn?t proo2 that our species is evolving in that direction. Evil is a dead end. We can onl/ go so 2ar in that direction 0e2ore the su22ering 0ecomes so great that we realiEe the need to change directions. Li2e corrects itsel2 When we go toward 2ear3 negativit/3 sel2ishness3 and hatred3 we su22erL and when we go toward love and goodness3 we stop su22ering. =his is proo2 o2 the goodnessKthe God(nessK0ehind all li2e. Goodness is a God /ou can trust.
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W*O O2 ARE IS 3OODNESS 8espite the strength o2 the ego3 goodness is stronger and more present in the world than evil. Ever/one has an ego3 0ut ever/one is essentiall/ goodness3 although that goodness ma/ 0e o0scured 0/ the ego. =he ego is the cause o2 all su22ering on this planet. It causes us to su22er within ourselves3 and it also harms others3 which results in more su22ering. Without the ego3 we wouldn?t su22er. Calamities would still happen3 0ut we wouldn?t su22er over them. We are meant to overcome the ego and our su22ering. =hat is our challenge and what our evolution as humans is a0out. We are learning to overcome the 2ear3 separation3 and su22ering caused 0/ the ego and to live in peace and harmon/ with ourselves3 others3 and the planet. In short3 we are learning to love. Loving is how we return Home to our true nature. ;eturning to love is what the Iourne/ in this dimension is all a0out. =he Iourne/ has a happ/ ending3 and the Iourne/ serves a purpose. 1ll the struggle and su22ering serves us and the Bneness 0/ developing our a0ilit/ to love. "/ the end o2 our li2etimes on earth3 we realiEe that love is all that matters. =hen we graduate to other dimensions and e4istences that are 0ased on service to the Bneness in its man/ mani2estations. Bur su22ering teaches us how not to su22er. Bnce we learn that3 we can help end the su22ering o2 others. 1lthough su22ering is part o2 this dimension3 it is 0/ no means part o2 ever/ dimension. "e/ond our dimension3 there is no su22ering3 onl/ service3 learning3 and growth. =he su22ering in this dimension develops our compassion3 sensitivit/3 wisdom3 love3 patience3 and other virtues.
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=he challenge o2 having an ego shapes us and makes us more capa0le o2 serving others now and later in our evolution. =hat challenge is 0uilt into this dimension intentionall/ 0ecause it serves our greater evolution. Having an ego isn?t a punishment3 0ut grist 2or our spiritual mill. =he proo2 o2 the goodness o2 li2e is that we are given a wa/ out o2 our su22ering. We are given resources that help us grow and evolve3 and we are given the potential to see through our programming and 0ecome 2ree. We are also given wa/(showers3 those who know the wa/ out o2 su22ering. =he Bneness doesn?t leave us alone to 2end 2or ourselves3 even though it ma/ seem that wa/ at times. It has alwa/s made availa0le the people3 opportunities3 and resources we need to grow 2rom our di22iculties and overcome our su22ering. $ot ever/one manages to do this easil/3 0ut each o2 us is given what we need to grow. "ecause we have 2ree will3 we can take as long as we like to discover the truth a0out li2e3 and man/ people do take a ver/ long time. =he/ choose the ego and its 2ear and negativit/ over goodness 2or a ver/ long time 0e2ore the/ see that goodness and acceptance are the wa/ out o2 su22ering. When the/ are 2inall/ released 2rom entrapment in the ego3 the/ o2ten 0ecome the most determined servers. "ecause the/ have su22ered so much3 their motivation to relieve su22ering is ver/ great. So even e4periencing such pain serves the evolution o2 the Whole. We reach a point in our evolution when all that matters is service to li2e3 which we 2eel intimatel/ connected to as our ver/ own Sel2. We serve the Whole 0ecause serving it 2eels 0etter than onl/ serving ourselves3 as the ego does. :an/ li2etimes o2 serving ourselves as the ego taught us the emptiness o2 doing that. 1ll we got 2or serving ourselves was su22ering3 0ecause our sel2 a0sorption kept us tied to the ego and its discontentment and 2ear. Getting
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what the ego wants comes at a ver/ high cost love and peace. 1t a certain point3 we choose love over what the ego wants. Goodness is our ver/ nature3 and it eventuall/ overcomes the ego?s sel2ishness. Goodness is what wakes us up out o2 the egoic state o2 consciousness and 0rings us Home. It calls us to it unceasingl/3 and eventuall/ it prevails.
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3OD IS 3OOD'NESS( :an/ have di22icult/ 0elieving God is good when the/ don?t 2eel that li2e is good. How can God 0e good when li2e is e4perienced as pain2ul< Even though li2e is essentiall/ good3 it?s possi0le to e4perience it as pain2ul 0ecause we are programmed with 0elie2s that make it pain2ul. =he 2act that we su22er doesn?t make li2e3 itsel23 0ad or pain2ul3 even though li2e can 2eel that wa/. We are meant to discover that we create our own su22ering 0/ how we think a0out li2e and that su22ering isn?t inherent in li2e. Change3 0irth3 death3 aging3 illness3 accidents3 calamities3 and losses o2 all kinds are all part o2 li2e3 0ut these events aren?t responsi0le 2or ongoing su22ering. 6es3 the/ naturall/ cause grie2 and sadness3 0ut grie2 and sadness pass3 like ever/thing else3 and are replaced with other e4periences. =he ego3 however3 clings to negative thoughts and 2eelings and magni2ies3 intensi2ies3 and sustains those emotions. :eanwhile3 the ego overlooks the su0tle Io/3 gratitude3 e4citement3 adventure3 love3 and peace that are also part o2 li2e. I2 we dwelt on such positive 2eeling states as much as on negative thoughts and pain2ul emotions3 our lives would 0e trans2ormed. 1nd we can learn to do that. =he di22iculties and challenges in li2e aren?t proo2 that li2e isn?t good. =he/ are Iust part o2 li2e. =he challenges and di22iculties we 2ace aren?t personal. =he/ aren?t proo2 that we aren?t good enough3 that we are 0eing punished3 or that God doesn?t care a0out us. Challenges are Iust part o2 li2e in this dimensionKpart o2 ever/one?s li2e. $o one escapes them. When we don?t accept that challenges are part o2 ever/one?s li2e3 we su22er. We take li2e?s challenges personall/3 as i2 the/ mean
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something a0out us3 and the/ don?t. Li2e?s challenges are designed to make us stronger and show us the wa/ out o2 entrapment in the egoic mind. =he/ are designed to show us the wa/ Home. Li2e is good 0ecause its purpose is good. It supports our evolution3 and that evolution is toward greater wisdom and love. Li2e is wise and loving in providing us with e4actl/ what we need to 0ecome 2ree o2 the egoic mind and return to love. =he wa/ li2e 2rees us is 0/ giving us a homing device3 which is the love o2 goodness CGod(nessD. We all know what goodness is3 we all love goodness3 and we all have the capacit/ to e4press it. When we e4press goodness3 we are rewarded 0/ 2eeling good and3 o2ten3 0/ goodness 0eing returned. We know that goodness is at the core o2 li2e 0ecause it 0rings us what we have alwa/s wanted. =he catch is that our goodness is clouded over 0/ the 2alse sel23 the ego3 the voice in our head that constantl/ 2ocuses on me, my life, and how it%s going for me. =his voice is primaril/ a negative one3 and it produces negative 2eelings. It?s the onl/ thing that can take us awa/ 2rom e4pressing our goodnessKthe onl/ thingJ Imagine thatK the onl/ thing inter2ering with e4pressing goodness CGod(nessD in the world is 0elieving and 2ollowing the egoic mindJ =he ego is the 8evil3 /ou could sa/3 in the drama taking place on earth. =he ego creates su22ering3 hatred3 and ever/ 2orm o2 negativit/. In our search 2or relie2 2rom the ego3 we all inevita0l/ discover our essential goodness. What a heroic Iourne/ this isJ Li2e isn?t eas/3 0ut that doesn?t mean it is 0ad. Li2e is good at its core3 and the proo2 is that we are good at our core. Eventuall/3 we all discover that3 which is 2urther proo2 that li2e is goodJ
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TA7IN3 T*E -EAP O% %AIT* =here are two possi0ilities trusting the ego or trusting Essence. =here isn?t an/thing else here to trust. In an/ moment3 we are trusting the ego or Essence. :ost people are trusting their egoic minds3 not Essence3 0ut even these individuals respond to Essence some o2 the time. Whatever we give our attention to is what we are loving and trusting3 and 2or most people3 that?s the egoic mind. What makes li2e so di22icult to trust is that the ego doesn?t trust li2e. So i2 we are trusting the egoic mind3 we won?t trust li2e. Li2e is di22icult 2or the ego to trust 0ecause li2e is so unpredicta0le and changea0le. How can we trust something like that< "ut do these 5ualities reall/ make li2e untrustworth/< @npredicta0le3 /esL untrustworth/3 not necessaril/. 8oes not knowing what?s going to happen ne4t mean we can?t trust li2e< What i2 whatever happened3 no matter what it was3 served creation3 even i2 we didn?t know how< Is that so 2ar2etched< =he ego wants li2e to serve it3 0ut li2e doesn?t do that ver/ well 0ecause li2e serves a higher purpose the evolution o2 the Whole. $o wonder the ego doesn?t trust li2e to serve itK0ecause li2e doesn?t serve the egoJ "ut3 amidst the unpredicta0ilit/ and changea0ilit/ o2 li2e3 the li2e o2 the Whole is 0eing served. We ma/ not 0e a0le to understand how an e4perience we are having is serving the Whole3 0ut that doesn?t mean it isn?t. =rusting li2e means trusting that our e4periences are purpose2ul and can 0e used 2or the good o2 the Whole. In retrospect3 /ou can pro0a0l/ see that /our toughest e4periences were ver/ valua0le and changed /ou in man/ positive wa/s3 like nothing else could have. When we are in the midst o2
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hard times3 we o2ten can?t imagine how such di22iculties might 0e serving us. "ut with time3 that o2ten 0ecomes clearer. =rusting that our e4periences serve us and the Whole helps us 0ene2it 2rom them and move through them more grace2ull/. =hat?s a 0etter choice than 0elieving that li2e is un2air3 cruel3 or untrustworth/3 not onl/ 0ecause trusting this is more 0ene2icial3 0ut also 0ecause it?s true. When we hold true 0elie2s3 li2e goes more smoothl/ than when we hold 2alse ones. Bne wa/ li2e leads us Home is 0/ showing us what?s true and what?s 2alse =rue 0elie2s 2eel good and result in happiness3 while 2alse 0elie2s 2eel 0ad and result in su22ering. When we are aligned with goodness and the positive3 li2e works 0etter than when we are aligned with the ego and its negativit/. =his is how li2e points us toward goodness and love and awa/ 2rom the ego and su22ering. =rusting li2e is a huge leap o2 2aith 2or the ego3 one the ego will never take. What eventuall/ decides to trust li2e is the you that is waking up out o2 the ego. =his you takes the leap o2 2aith when it?s 2inall/ so disillusioned with the ego that it?s willing to consider another possi0ilit/. =his you can do this 0ecause it has gained enough distance 2rom the ego and has had some e4periences o2 itsel2 as Essence. It has tasted Essence enough to know that something else is living li2e 0esides the ego. Leaving the ego and its distrust o2 li2e 0ehind is more di22icult i2 we haven?t had some e4periences o2 who we reall/ are. I2 we aren?t ver/ 2amiliar with Essence3 then we don?t know what will take the ego?s place. :an/ people see that the/ aren?t the ego or the mind3 0ut the/ haven?t seen who the/ reall/ are clearl/ enough to 0e willing to move out o2 ego identi2ication 2or ver/ long. Where would the/ go< =he ego tells them there?s nothing else3 and when the/ look3 what?s 0e/ond the ego seems like a Aoid3 like nothing. Who we reall/ are can 2eel prett/ empt/ and insu0stantial and
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there2ore scar/ when we haven?t had a 2uller e4perience o2 it. =hat $othingness can make disidenti2/ing with the ego 2rightening until we come to see that something ver/ trustworth/ is living our li2e. So 2or most people3 moving 2rom the ego to Essence is a gradual process3 one o2 dipping their toe into Essence3 running 0ack to the ego3 and then 0ack to Essence. Eventuall/3 we sta/ longer in Essence3 long enough to 0egin to trust it. 1t a certain point3 we are read/ to take the leap and leave the ego 0ehind3 0ut onl/ when we?ve had enough e4periences o2 Essence to see that Essence e4ists and is worth/ o2 our trust.
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T*E I/PORTANCE O% E8PERIENCIN3 ESSENCE We are alwa/s e4periencing Essence 0ecause Essence is who we are3 0ut we ma/ not alwa/s 0e aware o2 Essence. We take ourselves to 0e the character we seem to 0e and all the ideas we have a0out ourselves. Essence is the ground3 or space3 within which this character lives. Who we reall/ are isn?t an entit/ or a 0eing3 0ut ever/thing3 including the space in which ever/thing appears. Who we are is the awareness o2 ever/thing as well. We couldn?t 0e continuall/ aware o2 the Bneness that we are 0ecause it wouldn?t 0e 2unctional3 0ut we can 0e aware o2 the spiritual dimension. =he ego doesn?t acknowledge the spiritual dimension 0ecause the ego doesn?t e4perience it. Br when the ego does e4perience the spiritual dimension3 it discounts the e4perience GBh thatKthat?s nothing. What good is that<H =he ego is onl/ interested in things that can 2urther its goals. When the ego starts to 0elieve that spiritualit/ has something to o22er it3 some new wa/ o2 improving itsel23 then the ego 0ecomes interested in spiritualit/. Sometimes the ego takes up the spiritual search3 0ut 2or its own reasons3 not out o2 disillusionment with its goals. What takes up the spiritual search 2or other reasons is the you that is read/ to awaken. =his you is possi0le 0ecause it has attained some detachment 2rom the ego and 0ecome disillusioned with the ego?s goals. 1t times3 the you is identi2ied with the ego3 0ut o2ten it is not. In moments when the you is not identi2ied with the ego3 it e4periences EssenceKIust 0eingKand it comes to love that state o2 0eing and wants to e4perience that state more. E4periences o2 Essence drive the you 2orward on the spiritual path in search o2 more tastes o2 Essence. Such e4periences are ver/
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important to the spiritual Iourne/. When we are identi2ied with the ego3 we have no sense that another wa/ o2 living is possi0le until we have some 2amiliarit/ with Essence. Encounters with Essence show us we are something 0e/ond the ego3 and the/ motivate us to disidenti2/ with the ego. 1long the wa/3 the you ma/ have some pro2ound and possi0l/ li2e(changing e4periences o2 the spiritual dimension that solidi2/ the you%s commitment to discovering the truth a0out itsel2 and a0out li2e. Spiritual e4periences 2eed the spiritual drive and 2uel the Iourne/ Home. =he/ o22er glimpses o2 the truth that point the wa/ to the truth and motivate the search 2or it. E4periences o2 Essence are availa0le whenever we drop into the $ow3 0ut the/ don?t 0ecome more common until we welcome them and make room 2or them in our li2e. Without some recognition and valuing o2 such encounters with Essence3 we won?t e4perience them as much as is possi0le. Without some conscious choosing on our part3 the spiritual Iourne/ will un2old more slowl/. "ut when we choose more consciousl/ to drop into Essence3 the Iourne/ can un2old more rapidl/. 1t a certain point3 most spiritual seekers 2eel a deep longing to go Home. =hat longing strengthens their will to choose Essence over the ego. :editation is perhaps the most e22ective and power2ul wa/ to invite Essence into /our li2e and learn how to move 2rom the ego into Essence. =hrough meditation3 we discover what Essence 2eels like3 which is important 0ecause that e4perience shows us where we are going. :editation also gives us practice in getting there and helps us overcome the ha0it o2 listening to the mind. :ost people who awaken and 0ecome sta0iliEed in that awakeness have practiced meditation regularl/3 although that isn?t universall/ true. @suall/ meditation is necessar/ to prepare the
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ground 2or awakening and to 0e a0le to maintain a connection with Essence in the midst o2 li2e. E4periencing Essence in meditation is one thing3 and 0eing a0le to em0od/ it and live as it is 5uite another. With su22icient e4periences o2 Essence in meditation3 Essence 0ecomes so 2amiliar that it eventuall/ 0ecomes /our ordinar/ state. =here are other wa/s o2 getting to know Essence3 and those are through other means o2 altering consciousness3 such as dancing3 singing3 0eing in nature3 pla/ing and listening to music3 and creating art. =hese are time(honored wa/s o2 altering consciousness3 or disidenti2/ing with the ego3 and 0ecoming ac5uainted with Essence. Sports that demand our undivided attention also can evoke Essence. 1n/thing that results in a 2ocused mind and helps /ou move 0e/ond the ego?s mental commentar/ ma/ evoke Essence. =he more e4periences /ou have o2 Essence and the longer such encounters last3 the more /our programming to identi2/ with the egoic mind is neutraliEed. Eventuall/ the programming 0ecomes so weak that it loses its a0ilit/ to capture /our attention. =hen it?s reall/ possi0le to live as Essence.
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W*AT IS TR2STWORT* A#O2T -I%E We can trust li2e to 0e the wa/ it is. What we can?t trust is 2or li2e to 0e di22erent than the wa/ it is. In other words3 we can?t trust li2e to 0e the wa/ the ego wants li2e to 0e. We can trust li2e to 0e unpredicta0le3 alwa/s changing3 and challenging. We can?t trust li2e to 0e predicta0le3 the same3 and eas/3 which is what the ego would like. "ecause li2e isn?t the wa/ the ego would like it to 0e3 it declares that li2e isn?t trustworth/. "ut li2e is Iust the wa/ it isKand we can trust that. =here are a lot o2 other things we can trust a0out li2e that the ego rails against We can trust we will age and die3 2or instance. We don?t know what d/ing will 0e like3 0ut we can trust that death will happen. =he ego doesn?t like that we age and die or that we don?t know what death will 0e like or when it will happen. =he ego wants to know. =he ego?s need to know is the 0asis o2 much su22ering. It wants to know in a universe where little is reall/ known3 so wanting to know is 0ound to cause a great deal o2 su22ering. Such a desire isn?t reall/ a desire 0ecause it?s so unrealistic. It?s more like a complaint G"ut I want to knowJH screams the angr/ child. We all have an ego that takes the 2orm o2 an angr/ child who throws tantrums whenever li2e doesn?t go its wa/. =hat child is never happ/ 0ecause it wants li2e to 0e some wa/ other than it is. =he ego is an irrational part o2 us that makes impossi0le demands on li2e instead o2 accepting the wa/ things are. Ouieting this angr/ child is possi0le3 0ut we have to speak to it kindl/ and compassionatel/ and not argue with it. =his child is scared o2 li2e3 and that 2ear comes out as 2rustration3 anger3 and demands. What
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it needs 2rom us is com2ort and assurance that it3 the child3 will 0e oka/. Giving it that assurance helps calm it. =his ma/ seem like a ridiculous e4ercise3 0ut the child resides in the unconscious3 and unconscious parts o2 ourselves can 0e healed 0/ acknowledging them and speaking to them. E4plaining to this child that it?s oka/ and sa2e 2or li2e to 0e the wa/ it is can help us accept and trust li2e on a more conscious level. =his primitive part o2 ourselves3 the angr/ child3 needs reassurance that li2e is good and sa2e and that it3 the child3 can come out and pla/3 in a sense. Without that reassurance3 the angr/ child ma/ sa0otage us in wa/s we ma/ not 0e aware o2 It 0ecomes enraged over little things or keeps us 2rom 2ollowing our Heart. =he angr/ child is the voice o2 distrust3 and 2or those who have 0een wounded in childhood3 its voice is strong3 and its 2ear is real GLi2e is not oka/. =he world is not a sa2e placeJH 1greeing with that angr/ voice keeps us identi2ied with the ego3 which tries to control li2e and make li2e sa2e through its strategies. Following the ego?s strategies 2or sa2et/ and securit/ can take up a lot o2 our energ/ and cause us to put our energ/ in directions that aren?t satis2/ing. =he child is a2raid3 and to 5uell its voice3 we ma/ do a lot o2 things we don?t need to do. We don?t need to do these things 0ecause li2e is actuall/ sa2er than we presume. What is so sa2e a0out li2e< I2 sa2et/ means predicta0ilit/3 then li2e isn?t sa2e3 0ecause li2e isn?t predicta0le. "ut i2 sa2et/ means that resources are availa0le when we need them3 then li2e is sa2e. Let?s e4amine this. When /ou?ve 0een in trou0le3 2or instance3 when /ou had a car accident or got sick3 were resources availa0le to help /ou< =he accident3 sickness3 or some other di22icult/ was perhaps unavoida0le3 as the/ are part o2 li2e and can 0e trusted to 0e part o2 li2e3 0ut did inner and outer resources show up to help /ou through that di22icult/<
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Even when we are entirel/ alone3 we have inner resources 2or dealing with an/ di22icult/. 1lthough we ma/ also 0e severel/ challenged 0/ our ego in times o2 stress3 a more positive voice o2 wisdom is alwa/s availa0le. Some people are more aware o2 that voice3 0ut ever/one has access to it. In tr/ing times3 we o2ten discover the presence and power o2 that voice3 the inner strength that lies within us. In a crisis or in di22icult times3 Essence also usuall/ provides us with people who are willing to help. Such assistance is the 2unction o2 societ/. 1 societ/ or communit/ helps its mem0ers survive. Societies and communities e4ist 0ecause the goodness CGod(nessD within us created them to provide support 2or the man/ mani2estation o2 itsel2. When most people see another person in pain or di22icult/3 the/ naturall/ respond to help. In times o2 crisis3 we can o0serve man/ heroic acts that demonstrate this. $ever mind those who aren?t demonstrating thisL the ego will alwa/s 0e strong in some people. =he relativel/ 2ew people who are unwilling to 0e help2ul and generous don?t negate the realit/ o2 the goodness in ever/one. Something else that?s trustworth/ a0out li2e is our a0ilit/ to grow and learn 2rom li2e. 1lthough some people seem to grow or learn ver/ little 2rom li2e3 not growing and learning is actuall/ 5uite di22icult. $ot growing re5uires a lot o2 resistance and stu00ornness. Even the most stu00orn individuals eventuall/ do grow3 and the/ ma/ do it 5uite suddenl/ at the end o2 their lives3 as the/ look 0ack on their li2e. Br growth might happen once the/ are out o2 their 0od/ and looking 0ack on their li2e with the help o2 spiritual guides. I2 /ou trust that li2e is teaching /ou something3 /ou won?t 0e wrong. We can trust li2e to teach us3 and we can trust li2e to teach us through challenges. What we can?t trust is that we won?t have challenges and we won?t have the pain o2 growing.
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When we e4pect li2e to 0e the wa/ it isKunpredicta0le3 changea0le3 challenging3 and 2ull o2 growthKthen li2e is a0solutel/ trustworth/. Li2e is per2ectl/ trustworth/ in these wa/s. Essence has designed li2e to 0e this wa/3 so it has no pro0lem with li2e 0eing this wa/. We e4perience peace and acceptance when we drop into Essence and out o2 our egoic mind3 which is the onl/ thing that distrusts li2e. =he ego distrusts li2e onl/ 0ecause it doesn?t accept that li2e isn?t a0out 2ul2illing its desires and dreams3 0ut a0out something much more pro2ound and wonder2ul. Li2e is a0out evolution and3 more speci2icall/3 a0out our evolution toward love and awa/ 2rom 2ear. For providing that evolution3 li2e is totall/ trustworth/.
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SEEIN3 -I%E AS IT IS I2 we are not seeing li2e as it is3 then trusting it is hard. Li2e seems untrustworth/ 0ecause it doesn?t 2it our picture o2 what li2e should look like. =he ego sees li2e in 0lack and white3 as good and 0ad. It doesn?t see li2e as it is3 which is alwa/s 5uite a mi4ture o2 what the ego considers good and 0ad. Essence3 o2 course3 doesn?t categoriEe li2e. Li2e Iust is what it is. When we see li2e as it is and accept the wa/ it is3 we are happ/ and at peace. Bnce we realiEe that li2e is never going to 2ull/ please Cor displeaseD the me that we think we are3 we can rela4. =he ego sa/s3 G=his displeases me3H and leaves out what does please it. Br the ego sa/s the opposite3 G=his pleases me3H and leaves out what displeases it. Either wa/3 the ego leaves out hal2 o2 the truth. =he ego does this to 0uild a case 2or changing something 0ecause that?s what egos were created to doKto reIect li2e and then tr/ to 2i4 it. I2 we pa/ attention to the ego3 we will e4perience the ego?s version o2 li2e3 which is one(sided. =he truth a0out li2e is that it is man/(sided. Li2e doesn?t 2it into a simple description3 or stor/. $o stor/ tells the tale o2 an e4perience 2ull/. Ever/ stor/ leaves out so much other elements o2 the e4perience and other possi0le perspectives on it. =he ego views an e4perience 2rom one angle and takes that as the truth a0out it. "ut one version o2 an e4perience isn?t the whole truth3 even i2 man/ other people CegosD agree with that version. =he truth is that ever/ e4perience is 0oth challenging and wonder2ul. =here isn?t an e4perience that doesn?t have something challenging a0out it or one that doesn?t have something wonder2ul a0out it3 whether or not that?s apparent. 1 wedding da/ is a per2ect
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e4ample It?s e4pected to 0e a wonder2ul e4perience3 0ut the realit/ is that the wedding da/ can 0e ver/ challenging. Br take the e4ample o2 surger/ Surger/ is e4pected to 0e challenging3 0ut the love and care we receive 2rom others and the gratitude we 2eel 2or 0eing alive and receiving help can make the e4perience 5uite wonder2ul. Li2e can shi2t ver/ 5uickl/ 0etween Io/ and challenge3 love and 2ear3 tension and rela4ation3 and pleasure and pain. Such e4periences ma/ even 0e present simultaneousl/ within the same moment. Bur e4perience never remains the same 2or long3 and ever/ moment is a mi4ed 0ag. When we are a0le to notice the rich comple4it/ that is present in each moment and each e4perience3 it?s possi0le to reIoice in li2e3 2eel gratitude 2or it3 and enIo/ the m/ster/ o2 not knowing what will happen ne4t. How will li2e show up in the ne4t moment< What will 0e the ingredients o2 that moment< 1nd then what< When we are in the $ow3 that?s how we 2eel a0out li2e and how Essence 2eels a0out 0eing alive through us. Seeing li2e as it reall/ isKas a mi4ed 0agKallows us to trust li2e 0ecause li2e is predicta0l/ a mi4ed 0ag. We can e4pect3 or trust3 that ever/ moment will 0e a mi4ture o2 things that please the ego and things that don?t. Ever/ moment is a man/(2aceted and uni5ue e4perience. Essence loves the uni5ueness and un(categoriEa0le(ness o2 each moment3 which makes each moment rich and precious. Essence savors the uni5ue 2lavor o2 each moment3 while the ego struggles to take a stand against each moment and tell a stor/ a0out it. Essence rela4es into each moment3 while the ego prepares itsel2 2or a 2ight. Even the ego?s argument with li2e is a delight to Essence. Seeing li2e as it reall/ is allows us to rela4. What a relie2J We can 2inall/ give up the 2ight against li2e 0ecause it isn?t a 0attle worth
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2ighting3 and we will never win. Li2e is the wa/ it is3 and acceptance is the onl/ wa/ to peace and happiness. Bnce we accept li2e3 we 0egin to 2low with it more3 and we see how trustworth/ it reall/ is. Li2e is trustworth/ not onl/ 0ecause we can trust it to 0e the wa/ it is3 0ut also 0ecause the wa/ it is3 is good3 and 0ecause it?s taking us toward greater goodness3 love3 and 2reedom. It is our destin/ to e4press our goodness3 to love3 and to 0e 2ree o2 su22ering. =hat?s the happ/ ending to this stor/ o2 evolution. So li2e must 0e ver/ trustworth/3 a2ter all3 when where it takes us is where we?ve wanted to go all along.
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3ETTIN3 AND 3I4IN3 =he ego is alwa/s tr/ing to get something 2or itsel2 2rom others and 2rom the environment 0ecause it is a2raid and unhapp/. It 0elieves it doesn?t have enough to 0e happ/3 so its strateg/ is to withhold what it has and tr/ to get more o2 what it thinks it needs to 0e happ/. =his strateg/ ma/ seem sensi0leKand to the ego3 it is. However3 the real solution to the perception o2 not having enough is to see that that perception is erroneous and that we have alwa/s had enough to 0e happ/. ;ight now3 we are e4isting and 0eing supported in that e4istence3 which has alwa/s 0een true and will 0e true until we leave the ph/sical plane. From the place o2 realiEing we have what we need to 0e happ/3 and onl/ 2rom that place o2 completeness3 can giving happen3 0ecause i2 we 0elieve we don?t have enough to 0e happ/3 wh/ would we give< =he ego?s 0elie2 in not having enough 0locks love3 which is essentiall/ an out2low o2 attention3 energ/3 or gi2ts to others. When the maIorit/ o2 people 0elieve the/ don?t have enough to 0e happ/3 the glo0al 2low o2 love and energ/ is sluggish. However3 when the maIorit/ o2 people 0elieve otherwise3 love and energ/ 2low3 proving the a0undance and support that is availa0le in li2e. =he Bneness provides 2or and takes care o2 itsel2 in its various mani2estations through giving. We are 2ree to choose the ego?s wa/ and withhold what we have to give or to give more 2reel/. =he result o2 these two choices is ver/ di22erent When we give 2reel/3 we 2eel 2ull and completeL when we withhold3 we 2eel small3 pett/3 impotent3 and lacking. We are meant to learn that giving 2ul(2ills us3 while withholding and tr/ing to get causes us to 2eel empt/ and even more need/. =his
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understanding runs counter to our programming3 which drives us to tr/ to get something 2rom others to 2ul2ill our neediness3 onl/ to end up even more need/3 grasping3 lacking3 and un2ul2illed. =he value o2 giving is one o2 the great secrets o2 li2e. Giving re5uires a leap o2 2aith3 an a0ilit/ to trust that giving is worthwhile. Bnce we 0egin to trust this and see the results o2 giving3 then giving 0ecomes much easier3 even when we 2eel we don?t have enough. =o make this leap3 we onl/ need to see that the 2eeling o2 not having enough isn?t true3 0ut merel/ the wa/ the ego sees li2e. Feelings don?t tell the truth a0out li2e3 0ut are an outgrowth o2 the programming o2 the 2alse sel2. 1llowing the perception o2 lack to inter2ere with giving results in the ver/ sense o2 lack the ego 0elieves in. =he ego?s 0elie2 in not having enough is a sel2(2ul2illing prophec/. 1s long as we 0elieve we don?t have enough to 0e happ/3 we won?t give and we won?t discover the truth3 which is that Li2e is a0undantl/ providing 2or us to the e4tent that we Ioin the glo0al 2low3 the outpouring o2 giving. I2 we hold ourselves separate 2rom the Whole3 however3 then we won?t 0ene2it as 2ull/ 2rom the 2low o2 Li2e as possi0le. Li2e is calling to us to Iump into the 2low o2 a0undance and to contri0ute our share. =he more who do that3 the more a0undantl/ we all can live.
PART . /a$ing the /ost o& the /oment
/A7E T*E /OST O% -I%E We are all so power2ul. We have the power to make the most out o2 li2e3 out o2 the moment3 or to make li2e unpleasant. =he moment is what it is3 and what we 0ring to it makes it either enIo/a0le or stress2ul and unpleasant. We are meant to discover that we are power2ul creators3 i2 not o2 our entire realit/3 at least o2 our experience o2 realit/. We aren?t responsi0le 2or what each moment holds3 0ut we are responsi0le 2or our e4perience o2 each moment 0ecause we have the power to make an/ moment heaven or hell. We don?t create our entire realit/3 since other 2orces are at work3 0ut how we think a0out and interact with realit/ Cwhat?s showing up in the momentD a22ects it to some e4tent and3 surel/3 a22ects our e4perience o2 it. How much enIo/ment can /ou s5ueeEe out o2 the present moment< What i2 that was /our Io03 /our aim3 /our sole Cor soul?sD purpose< What i2 /ou approached each moment with this intention< I2 /ou were determined to get enIo/ment out o2 ever/ moment3 /ou would do whatever it takes. What it takes is not listening to negative thoughtsK/ours or an/one else?s. 8isregarding negative thoughts isn?t hiding our head in the sand3 0ut simpl/ not allowing negativit/ to clutter and in2luence our e4perience o2 the present moment. 1lthough we are programmed to think that our negative thoughts3 worries3 and 2ears serve a 2unction3 the moment is never helped or improved 0/ negativit/. Focusing on negativit/ and 2ears doesn?t make an/one a 0etter person3 nor does it help us 2unction 0etter. =he opposite is true.
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How do /ou s5ueeEe enIo/ment out o2 a moment< For one thing3 pa/ attention to itKclosel/. $otice what /ou are e4periencing internall/3 intuitivel/3 and through /our senses. $otice the e4perience /ou are having3 without evaluating and re2lecting on it. =he mental voice that comments on li2e and on e4perience isn?t use2ul or wise. =hat voice is an impersonator3 a 2alse sel23 and it has nothing to o22er. 8on?t listen to it. When /ou do3 the Iuice and Io/ are sucked out o2 li2e. EnIo/ing li2e is a matter o2 recogniEing that which is Gin Io/3H which is the "eing that we are3 Essence. =he "eing that is living our li2e is in Io/ and enIo/ing ever/ moment. It?s reIoicing in the e4perience it is having3 regardless o2 what that e4perience is3 0ecause this "eing has no Iudgments or stories to tell a0out an/ e4perience or an/thing. It?s Iust in Io/ all the time. We have the power to e4perience this Io/ or to disregard it and3 instead3 e4perience our mind?s stories and Iudgments a0out the moment3 our mind?s endless commentar/. We are power2ul enough to recogniEe which choice 0rings more Io/ and power2ul enough to make a choice. I2 we see we are making choices that don?t make the most out o2 the moment3 we can choose di22erentl/. When we choose to e4perience the present moment instead o2 the mind?s commentar/ a0out it3 our e4perience o2 li2e changes. So let /our guiding 5uestion 0e3 GHow can I get the most enIo/ment out o2 this moment<H 1lthough seeking enIo/ment 2rom the moment might seem sel2(serving3 seeking the Heart?s Io/ is actuall/ the most sel2less thing /ou can do3 0ecause to e4perience enIo/ment3 the 2alse Csel2ishD sel2 must disappear. 1nd the Sel2 that remains is supremel/ serving itsel2Kthe whole o2 li2eKthrough /ou.
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I:D RAT*ER #E %IS*IN3 ;esistance to what we are doing is o2ten caused 0/ a su0tle sense that doing something else is more important. Su0tl/3 unconsciousl/3 we diminish in our minds the importance o2 certain activities3 such as picking up around the house3 taking the dog out3 taking a shower3 or going to the grocer/ store3 as i2 these activities weren?t part o2 li2e3 or shouldn?t 0e. We move through man/ routine activities unconsciousl/3 without 0eing present to them3 and o2ten with resentment3 as i2 the/ are making us miss out on something more worthwhile3 meaning2ul3 or 2un. What we don?t realiEe is that not 0ringing our 2ull attention to the activit/3 or not 0eing present to it3 is the cause o2 our discontentment or 0oredom with it3 not the activit/ itsel2. Since we usuall/ don?t get much e4citement or sense o2 0eing special 2rom per2orming routine activities3 the ego discounts them and thinks o2 them as things it has to do. So the ego tends to resist ordinar/ tasks or rush us through them. "ut li2e isn?t designed 2or the entertainment3 pleasure3 and 0olstering o2 the ego. Li2e is what it is3 and the value o2 li2e and o2 what we do isn?t ade5uatel/ measured 0/ the ego?s standards. Essence loves ever/thing a0out li2e and em0races each minute e5uall/ without evaluating an activit/ as worthwhile or not. We can?t reall/ miss out on li2e as long as we are present to it3 however it happens to 0e showing up. We onl/ miss out on li2e when the ego takes us awa/ 2rom 0eing present to whatever we are doing 0ecause it deems it unworth/ o2 our 2ull involvement and attention.
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=hinking o2 some activities as worthwhile and others as not causes us to 0e dissatis2ied with much o2 what we e4perience and needs to 0e done. :ost moments are taken up 0/ mundane activities and duties3 and 2ew provide the ego with the e4citement and 0oost to its sel2(esteem that it lives 2or. I2 we are waiting 2or the kind o2 moments the ego wants in order to 0e happ/3 we will 0e waiting a lot3 which is how li2e 2eels when we are identi2ied with the ego. =hose 2ew e4citing moments the ego is waiting 2or will 2l/ 0/ as 5uickl/ as ever/ other moment3 and we will 0e le2t once again in this ordinar/3 unglamorousK0ut 0eauti2ul in its own wa/K moment. Ever/ moment has the 0eaut/ we long 2or i2 we are willing to notice that 0eaut/. Essence sees the 0eaut/ in ever/thing3 while the ego glides over ever/thing it?s seen 0e2ore as i2 those things didn?t e4ist. =he ego discounts what it sees3 while Essence reall/ sees what it sees. When we are in Essence and reall/ see something3 our Heart opens and we love what we are seeing3 no matter what it looks like. 1nd when we are in Essence and reall/ involve ourselves in doing something3 whatever we are doing is surprisingl/ pleasura0leJ =he ego has its ideas o2 pleasure3 0ut those ideas are onl/ occasionall/ met 0/ li2e. :eanwhile3 the ego misses out on the pleasure and 0eaut/ that are availa0le in an/thing we do3 i2 onl/ we give it our 2ull attention.
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DO W*AT:S IN %RONT O% O2 Living 2rom Essence is o2ten a matter o2 doing what?s in 2ront o2 us I2 something needs picking up3 /ou naturall/ pick it up. I2 someone shows up who needs help3 /ou o22er it. I2 dishes need washing3 /ou wash the dishes. I2 a Io0 needs to 0e done3 /ou do it3 one step at a time. Br i2 /ou need to rest3 /ou rest. Br i2 /ou need to eat3 /ou eat. =he mind complicates li2e with a lot o2 thoughts a0out how3 when3 wh/3 and whether to do various things. It plans and thinks a0out doing things3 when li2e is simpler than that. :uch o2 the time3 living is Iust a matter o2 doing what arises to 0e done. Li2e calls on us to take action Phones ring3 children ask 2or assistance3 dog?s look at us longingl/3 email arrives3 papers arrive on our desk3 the re2rigerator is empt/3 the laundr/ 0asket is 2ull3 ideas and inspiration arise. We ma/ think that our ego and conditioning are responsi0le 2or accomplishing what we do in a da/3 0ut the ego doesn?t actuall/ do an/thing. CHow can it3 when it doesn?t even e4ist<D =he ego onl/ thinks a0out doing things It de0ates3 pushes3 resists3 complains3 and worries a0out whatever arises to 0e done. :eanwhile3 we do what we do. We choose whether our doing is in response to the egoic mind or 2ollows naturall/ 2rom Essence. What to do in an/ moment is complicated 0/ the mind?s resistance3 worries3 and complaints and 0/ its going over plans o2 the 2uture and events o2 the past. 1ll this thinking takes 5uite a 0it o2 energ/. What to do in an/ moment is also complicated 0/ 2eelings3 which the ego is also responsi0le 2or. Feelings also take time and energ/ awa/ 2rom Iust moving through li2e. When 2eelings arise3 the/ seem like a pro0lem to solve. 1nd the wa/ the egoic
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mind thinks a0out things creates even more seeming pro0lems to 2i4 and things to do3 man/ o2 which don?t need to 0e done. Bne reason people 2eel overwhelmed 0/ li2e is the/ e4pect to 0e a0le to do ever/thing the/ think o2 doing. "ut thinking is a lot easier than doingJ 8oing takes time3 and thinking takes no time in comparison. We tend to compare how we want things to go with how long something actuall/ takes3 and then we 2eel like we don?t have enough time. "ut we alwa/s have enough time 2or whatever we are doingK0ecause we?re doing itJ We ma/ not have time 2or what we think a0out doing3 0ecause we can think a0out doing so much. =he mind is alwa/s Iumping ahead to other things while we are doing whatever we are doing3 and that leaves us 2eeling like there?s never enough time. It leaves us 2eeling hurried and harried3 when all that?s 0eing asked o2 us is right in 2ront o2 us. =hat?s all we can do an/how. When we take the present moment Iust 2or what it is3 li2e is ver/ managea0le. =he onl/ thing that makes it unmanagea0le is thoughts3 which ironicall/ are an attempt to manage li2e. =he mind?s attempt at managing li2e takes us out o2 the $ow and makes us 2eel unhapp/3 tense3 and less e22icient. We don?t need that voice in our head that tries so hard to orchestrate our ever/ move and 2ill up our time with activit/ and 0us/(ness. With its thoughts a0out the past and 2uture3 the egoic mind creates a sense o2 time and then causes us to 2eel there isn?t enough time. =he ego is a time t/rant. "eing in the present3 on the other hand3 without the mind?s t/rann/3 is a timeless place o2 enIo/ing whatever we are doing3 no matter what that is. Since we can onl/ get so much done in an/ moment3 we might as well enIo/ what we are doing. Listening to the mind doesn?t help us accomplish moreL it onl/ makes us 2eel inade5uate3 stressed3 and discontent with whatever we are doing.
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Bnce /ou see that listening to the egoic mind is d/s2unctional rather than 2unctional3 it 0ecomes easier to ignore the mind?s t/rann/Kits pressuring3 evaluating3 to(do list3 and worries. Such thoughts don?t serve /ou and never have. 6ou can 0e done with them3 and /ou?ll get as much done as ever3 or /ou?ll discover that some o2 what /ou thought /ou had to do wasn?t necessar/. 6ou also discover that there?s room in the present moment to Iust rest and 0e. Bnce the egoic mind stops ruling us3 we 2inall/ get what we have 0een striving 2or all along the 2eeling o2 having arrived. Where we arrive is in the peace and contentment o2 the $ow. We will never 2eel peace and contentment i2 we listen to the mind3 and we will never get to where the ego is pushing us 0ecause there is no end to its pushing.
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%INDIN3 P-EAS2RE =he ego is all a0out pleasure(seeking3 and the ego does 2ind pleasure. "ut Iust how much pleasure and at what cost< In the ego?s world3 pleasure(seeking too o2ten turns into regrets3 as we continue to go a2ter something that gives us pleasure long a2ter the pleasure has ended. Eating is a good e4ample o2 how unsatis2/ing too much pleasure seeking can 0e :an/ o2 us eat 2or pleasure until we 2eel sick. Where?s the pleasure in that< =he ego doesn?t know when to stop. When /ou are identi2ied with the ego and in pleasure(seeking mode3 are /ou reall/ enIo/ing whatever pleasure is there< 1re /ou reall/ enIo/ing the 2ood /ou are eating< How aware are /ou o2 the 2lavors and the actual e4perience< When we are ver/ identi2ied with the ego when we are eating3 we 0arel/ notice the 2ood going down. =he ego is goal(oriented even around 2ood3 and its goal is to get done eating in order to have more. Is there reall/ that much pleasure in that< When an/thing is done in e4cess and without 0eing present to it3 which is generall/ how the ego pursues pleasures3 that e4perience isn?t as pleasura0le as it could 0e. It?s 2unn/ that we generall/ think o2 pleasure as unspiritual3 wrong3 or sin2ul Caccording to religious conditioningD3 when pleasure is 0uilt into li2e. We can?t 0e alive and not e4perience pleasure. 1pparentl/3 we are meant to e4perience it. Is it possi0le that pleasure is one o2 the intentions o2 the Creator in mani2esting this dimension< Bne o2 the 0ene2its o2 creation is that the Creator3 through us3 gets to e4perience pleasure3 along with ever/thing else. Pleasure is goodJ
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=he more we go in the direction o2 Essence and awa/ 2rom the ego3 the more pleasure we e4perience 0ecause pleasure is largel/ dependent on how present we are to whatever we are doing. 1n/thing can 0e pleasura0le i2 we are present to it without the inter2erence o2 the egoic mind. =he simplest things are pleasura0le when we are present to them3 even things we generall/ don?t like. "eing present is one o2 the secrets to happiness. =he more we drop out o2 our egoic mind and into our senses3 the more pleasure our senses deliver. Pleasure actuall/ points the wa/ Home. It?s ironic that the ego goes a2ter sensual pleasure3 while at the same time3 it keeps us out o2 our senses and involved with thoughts. =hinking inter2eres with an/ sensual e4perienceKIust tr/ reading and eating at the same time. We can?t 0e thinking and engaged in our senses at the same time. We are doing one or the other3 which means that i2 /ou are thinking3 /ou aren?t going to 0e 2ull/ present to whatever else /ou might 0e e4periencing. Ego identi2ication is identi2ication with thoughtKo2ten negative thoughtsKso 0eing identi2ied with the ego actuall/ inter2eres with pleasure. Learning to move out o2 the egoic mind and into the e4perience o2 the moment is an important step in our spiritual evolution 0ecause this simple act is a movement awa/ 2rom the ego and into Essence. ;eal pleasure is availa0le in ever/ moment 0/ simpl/ 0eing present to whatever we are e4periencing. Li2e rewards us with pleasure when we are present to what we are e4periencing3 which is how Li2e 0rings us Home. =he pleasure the ego o22ers is 2aint in comparison to the pleasure o2 0eing present3 0ut we don?t 2ind that out until we give 0eing present a real tr/. It takes practice 0e2ore 0eing present 0ecomes as pleasura0le as it can 0e. =he more /ou learn to 0e present to the e4perience /ou are having3 the happier /ou will 0e3
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not onl/ 0ecause /ou are 2ree o2 the egoic mind?s negativit/ and pro0lems3 0ut also 0ecause 0eing present is inherentl/ pleasura0le. So i2 /ou are going to seek pleasure Cand wh/ wouldn?t /ou<D3 look where it can reall/ 0e 2ound in what /ou are e4periencing now.
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WAITIN3 =he ego is alwa/s waiting 2or something a relationship3 news a0out something it wants3 a vacation3 a promotion3 a meeting3 a move3 or some other anticipated change. =here?s alwa/s something Iust around the corner the ego is looking 2orward to or hoping to e4perience that will presuma0l/ make li2e 0etter. =his perpetual state o2 waiting leaves us with a sense that something is missing now. "ut aren?t some o2 the things /ou waited 2or in the past here right now3 along with a lot more< What is here doesn?t matter to the ego 0ecause it?s 2ocused on what isn%t here3 which is Iust what the ego is programmed to do. It?s programmed to 0e 2uture(oriented3 not present(oriented. =he trou0le with 0eing identi2ied with the ego is that 0eing 2uture( oriented doesn?t 2eel good. We imagine 2eeling good in the 2uture when we get what we want3 0ut the actual e4perience o2 waiting and wanting something other than what?s here is a state o2 contraction and discontentment. 9ust notice how waiting and wanting 2eel in /our 0od/. 8esires make us 2eel tense and tight3 dissatis2ied and unhapp/. 1long with tenseness and discontentment3 waiting 2or something 2eels like an emptiness3 a hole3 that needs to 0e 2illed. =hat sense o2 lack isn?t a ver/ pleasant 2eeling either3 so we o2ten tr/ to 2ill that emptiness up with 2ood or other 2orms o2 pleasure. I2 we 2eel unhapp/ and lacking3 the ego?s solution is to tr/ to 2eel good to make up 2or that3 which leads to pleasure(seeking and escapist activities3 and those ultimatel/ result in 2eeling worse. =he hole can never 0e 2illed this wa/. =he onl/ thing that can satis2/ the sense o2
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lack is to drop out o2 the egoic mind and into Essence3 where the Iuiciness o2 the real moment can 0e e4perienced. =he trou0le with thinking a0out the 2uture is that the 2uture isn?t real. It doesn?t e4ist e4cept as an idea. I2 we are giving our attention to the 2uture3 we are giving it to an idea. We are giving our attention and energ/ to something that isn?t o2 value and doesn?t serve us. =he ego won?t 0e convinced that thinking a0out the 2uture isn?t worthwhile3 however. It 0elieves such thoughts can create the 2uture3 or at least help it cope with the present3 neither o2 which is true. =hinking a0out the 2uture keeps us out o2 the present3 where li2e is happening. When we are thinking a0out the 2uture3 we miss out on what li2e is showing us right now3 which might have value 2or the 2uture. :a/0e an intuition or insight is arising that will inspire action in a pro2ita0le or 2ul2illing direction. I2 we are pa/ing attention to our thoughts3 we might miss an/ guidance or wisdom that might 0e coming out o2 the $ow. =he ego has lots o2 advice and guidance to o22er3 0ut its advice is in2ormed 0/ conditioning3 which is onl/ so help2ul. What?s true and wise can onl/ come 2rom our depths3 2rom Essence3 not 2rom the egoic mind3 which merel/ pretends to know. Bnce /ou 0egin to notice how the ego causes dissatis2action and emptiness 0/ creating a sense o2 waiting 2or something else to happen3 Iust 0e present to that sense o2 waiting. 8oing so can 2ree /ou 2rom the su22ering caused 0/ waiting and wanting something to happen. =he sense o2 waiting 2or something 0etter will alwa/s 0e there 0ecause the ego produces that 2eeling constantl/. 9ust notice that 2eeling and recogniEe it 2or what it is. It is Iust the ego?s wa/ o2 coping with li2e. 8on?t identi2/ with that 2eeling o2 waiting3 that is3 don?t 0elieve /ou will 0e happ/ when something else happens. 6ou
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can 0e happ/ right now3 and all it takes is seeing that happiness doesn?t depend on something happening in the 2uture. Happiness isn?t dependent on an/thing. It is our natural state. When we are 5uiet3 still3 and receptive3 happiness 0u00les into our awareness. It is alwa/s here3 0ut we aren?t aware o2 it when we are giving our attention to thoughts a0out the 2uture instead. =urn /our attention to what?s happening now3 and /ou won?t need an/thing to 0e di22erent to 0e happ/. $ow is enough. $othing is missing when we are reall/ present to what is instead o2 to our thoughts. Bur thoughts are the onl/ thing that insists that what?s here right now isn?t enough. =urn awa/ 2rom those thoughts3 and then nothing is missing. Ever/thing is Iust as it is meant to 0eKand that?s the truth. 9ust rest in that realiEation. 1ll is well and un2olding e4actl/ as it needs to. >nowing this3 is the source o2 peace.
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W*AT 7EEPS O2 %RO/ #EIN3 *APP 6 1 thought is the onl/ thing that can keep us 2rom 0eing happ/. What a revolutionar/ truth that isJ =he thought that inter2eres with happiness the most is a thought o2 lack3 which is at the 0ase o2 all desire. I2 we didn?t think that something was missing or lacking a0out ourselves3 someone else3 our situation3 or li2e3 we wouldn?t 0e unhapp/. @nhappiness is caused 0/ 0elieving that something we think we need to 0e happ/ is missing. It?s this belief that makes us unhapp/3 not the 2act that something is or isn?t here right now. =he ego produces thoughts o2 lack. =he sense o2 lack created 0/ the 0elie2 that something is missing produces a desire3 which is simpl/ the thought GI want.H =hat desire is 2ed 0/ more thoughts a0out what getting what we want or not getting what we want would mean. =hen 2eelings3 such as 2ear3 come up related to not getting what we want3 and action is taken to tr/ to 2ul2ill the desire and wa/la/ an/ 2ears. When desires are pumped up this wa/3 the/ seem ver/ real and important. We reall/ 0elieve we need what we desire to 0e happ/ or sa2e. =hat sense o2 lack makes the world go around3 o2ten in a not( so(happ/ wa/. "ut desire and the actions that 2ollow 2rom desire 0ring us the lessons and e4periences we need to evolve. =he sense o2 lack is also at the 0ase o2 human su22ering3 and that su22ering is unnecessar/. What do /ou 0elieve is missing now< =ake a moment to answer this 5uestion. =he answer to that 5uestion is the source o2 an/ su22ering /ou ma/ 0e 2eeling. What i2 /ou didn?t 0elieve /ou needed that to 0e happ/3 sa2e3 or secure< Without that 0elie23 /ou would drop into Essence3 which e4periences li2e as a 0lessingKand as
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trustworth/. Li2e provides what we need3 although what it provides ma/ not alwa/s 0e what the ego wants. Providing ever/one with what their egos want would 0e impossi0le. What would a world like that look like< =he Intelligence that we are provides each o2 us with what?s necessar/ 2or the Whole to evolve and e4pand. I2 we look with Essence?s e/es3 we can see how 0eauti2ull/ li2e has provided 2or us3 even when it?s 0rought us challenges. 1long with ever/ challenge3 li2e makes availa0le opportunities3 resources3 and helpers. 8o /ou notice the grace3 the goodness3 and the support that li2e o22ers and has supplied< =he ego doesn?t notice the 0ounti2ul love that is present. It onl/ notices lack 0ecause the ego?s role is to create pro0lems and discontentment so that we sta/ involved with the mind. =he egoic mind is the central challenge in li2e that we are meant to overcome. We are meant to see that the egoic mind3 which we are programmed to trust3 is untrustworth/ and the source o2 unhappiness. We don?t attain happiness 0/ striving 2or what the ego wants. Striving is pain2ul3 and achieving what we want 0rings onl/ 2leeting happiness 0e2ore discontentment sets in again. $o one has /et to attain happiness3 0ecause happiness is a state3 our natural state. It is discovered3 not attained3 0/ moving 0e/ond the egoic mind3 0/ seeing through the egoic mind to the truth a0out who /ou are. Who /ou reall/ are is alive here and now. It is living /our li2e3 and the ego Iust pretends to 0e /ou. When /ou drop out o2 the egoic mind3 or step 0ack 2rom it3 /ou discover that the onl/ thing that has ever caused /ou to 2eel unhapp/ is a thought. What a 0lessing this discover/ is3 0ecause thoughts can 0e ignored3 and we have the power to do that. We are power2ulKnot victims o2 li2e3 0ut creators3 or co(creators3 with the Bne Intelligence that we are. When we stop pa/ing attention to our thoughts3 we discover the happiness that is here and has alwa/s 0een here.
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3ET INTO T*E %-OW How to heal the world Cand /oursel2D< Get into the 2low. 8o what Li2e moves /ou to do. Get in alignment with how li2e is alread/ moving through /ou. =hat is what the 2low isKhow li2e is alread/ moving. Li2eKthis li2e 2orce and consciousness that we areKis moving in ever/one. It is moving us to do and speak3 create3 learn3 use our intelligence3 discover3 and Iust 0e. How is it moving /ou now< 1pparentl/3 /ou are moved to read this. =hen what< 6ou donPt know until /ou do. =hatPs one o2 the things thatPs 2un a0out 0eing in the 2low. It is spontaneous and surprisingKand thatPs 2un and e4citing3 unless /ou listen to the egoic mind3 which is the 2ear and dou0t(producing machiner/ we are endowed with as humans. =his aspect o2 mindKthe voice in our headKis our challenge3 the dragon we are meant to sla/ or3 rather3 see through in order to 0e 2ree and happ/. =here is a natural and spontaneous 5ualit/ to Essence that is e4perienced as responding to li2e in an uncomplicated C0/ thoughtD wa/. When we are aligned with Essence and in the 2low3 the intellect is used when it is needed3 0ut the egoic mindKthat nois/ voice in our headKis seen 2or what it is an ine22ectual and hollow voice3 a voice without wisdom. :eanwhile3 we move naturall/ and wisel/ in the world. What most inter2eres with e4periencing our natural state and this natural movement o2 0eing in the 2low are thoughts a0out what I should do3 what others think or will think a0out me, what I did in the past3 and what I 0elieve I need to do in the 2uture. Each o2 us has an ongoing stor/ we tell a0out ourselves. =his stor/ is revealed through our I thoughts and 0/ the things we tell others a0out ourselves. =he stor/ is created 0/ these I thoughts3
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0ut this stor/ is a mental overla/ on li2e3 while li2e is happening simpl/ and naturall/ through us and through ever/one else. =his stor/ o2 me shapes the 2low to the e4tent that we allow it to. Who is this that identi2ies or does not identi2/ with the I, with the stor/< =his is the great m/ster/J 6ou are that which is outside the stor/ and which identi2ies to one e4tent or another with it. =o the e4tent that /ou identi2/ with the stor/ a0out /our li2e and how it is going3 /ou su22er3 and to the e4tent that /ou donPt3 /ou donPt su22er. Su22ering is created 0/ the stor/ o2 me and tr/ing to manage the stor/ and get it to turn out3 and 0/ tr/ing to 2i4 the stor/3 which is impossi0le 0ecause itPs too late to change the past. So much mental energ/ and activit/ is spent tr/ing to 2i4 the sel2(image or get a 0etter oneKto 2eel 0etter a0out the stor/ /ou are telling /oursel2 in /our headJ :eanwhile3 li2e is happening as it is meant to3 and it is moving us to act3 speak3 think3 create3 discover3 love3 and do all the other things that we reIoice in as humans. Li2e also moves us to take care o2 ourselves and others and to work3 0e productive3 serve3 and provide 2or ourselves. It 0rings us opportunities and the motivation to take advantage o2 those opportunities. Li2e 0rings li2e to us3 and it moves us to respond to li2e. We can move through li2e contentedl/3 easil/3 and Io/2ull/. =o the e4tent that we drop out o2 our thoughts a0out ourselves and our li2e and our opinions and Iudgments a0out others Cwhich uphold and are part o2 the stor/ o2 meD3 we discover that li2e is happening3 and all we have to do is notice how li2e is happening right now and respond to that. 1ll there is3 is now3 this moment. What are /ou aware o2 now< What sounds3 sights3 intuitions3 drives3 inspirations3 and motivations are /ou aware o2 now< $oticing /our sensor/ e4perience anchors /ou in /our 0od/ and in the moment and makes it more likel/ that /ou will 0e a0le to catch the su0tle
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intuitions3 drives3 and happiness o2 our true nature. I2 the egoic mind comes in with its chatter3 notice that3 0ut turn /our attention elsewhere3 to /our sensor/ e4perience and to what is arising within /ou more su0tl/3 0e/ond thought. =herePs much more happening than thoughts a0out me and my li2e. Involvement in the stor/ o2 me is natural3 since we are programmed to have and 0elieve this voice in our head3 0ut this voice is the source o2 su22ering and onl/ inter2eres with tuning into what is real3 right here and now. So3 whatPs new now3 in this 2resh new moment<
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E4ENTS DON:T C*AN3E E8PERIENCE When something good or 0ad has happened3 that event doesn?t change the e4perience o2 the present moment unless we 0ring the memor/ o2 it into the moment as a stor/. For e4ample3 i2 /ou win a gold medal3 that moment o2 triumph disappears and is replaced 0/ another moment. @nless /ou 0ring the memor/ o2 winning a gold medal into the present moment3 the present moment is Iust what it is. Even i2 /ou do 0ring that memor/3 or an/ other one3 into the present moment3 that memor/ can?t change the moment 2undamentall/3 although 0ringing it into the moment will change /our experience o2 the moment 0/ taking /ou out o2 it and into /our reverie a0out that triumphant time. Even a great memor/ like winning a gold medal is onl/ so pleasura0le and3 in 2act3 lacks the Iuice and aliveness that the actual e4perience3 or an/ e4perience3 has. :emories Iust aren?t a good su0stitute 2or real li2e3 which is what is showing up now3 not what showed up in the past or what might show up in the 2uture. When something we don?t like happens3 that event also doesn?t change the e4perience o2 the present moment unless we 0ring thoughts a0out it into the present moment. For e4ample3 i2 /ou are diagnosed with cancer3 that moment would likel/ 0e ver/ surprising and sad. "ut then li2e moves on to the ne4t moment and the ne4t. @nless /ou 0ring the stor/ GI have cancerH into the present moment3 /ou are3 in a sense3 cancer(2ree3 and the present moment is Iust what it is. =here ma/ or ma/ not 0e ph/sical pain in the present moment3 0ut it can 0e 2ree o2 the emotional pain created 0/ the stor/ GI have cancerH and 0/ an/ o2 the other sad stories /ou might tell /oursel2 as a result o2 that diagnosis. =he moment is Iust
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what it is3 whether we won a gold medal /esterda/ or 2ound out we had cancer. We are still Iust here in the midst o2 whatever is arising now. Primaril/3 the e4perience o2 an/ moment is a sensor/ one i2 we aren?t identi2ied with the stories the mind 0rings into the moment3 which create su22ering. Emotional su22ering doesn?t have to 0e part o2 an/ moment. Su22ering is caused 0/ the egoic mind3 0/ thoughts about li2e3 not 0/ li2e. I2 we are Iust in the $ow3 the ups and downs o2 li2e don?t a22ect us 0ecause we aren?t 0ringing the stor/ o2 the GupH or GdownH into the present moment. 1ll we have is the present moment and what is showing up now. 6ou can 0e the richest person in the universe or the poorest3 0ut without the stor/ GI?m the richestNpoorest person in the universe3H who are /ou< 6ou are Iust here in the $ow3 doing whatever needs to 0e done. =he richest person in the universe and the poorest have the same potential 2or e4periencing the present moment and the same potential 2or receiving Io/ 2rom it i2 the/ don?t 0ring their sel2(images and stories CGI?m rich.H GI?m poorHD into it. $othing is 2undamentall/ di22erent 0etween these two individuals e4cept their stories and sel2(images. Such stories and sel2(images make up the 2alse sel2 and are the onl/ thing that can cause su22ering. "/ the wa/3 GI?m richH can cause as much su22ering as GI?m poorH 0ecause o2 the 2ear o2 losing one?s wealth and 0ecause o2 the separation 2rom others and 2rom li2e that GI?m richH can cause. =he circumstances o2 these two individuals are di22erent Cever/one?s areD3 0ut their circumstances aren?t what a22ect their e4perience o2 the moment3 0ut rather their thoughts and 2eelings about their circumstances. In this moment3 without all /our stories and sel2(images3 who or what are /ou< 6ou are Iust this that is having an e4perience o2 the present moment. =he miracle is that this is the same in ever/
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individual. What /ou reall/ are is what ever/one else is too. Bur ideas and sel2(images create a 2alse identit/3 a costume3 that we wear and 0ring into the moment3 which colors our e4perience o2 it. When thoughts are stripped awa/3 all we have le2t is li2e living itsel2 now3 and that?s all that has ever 0een going on.
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W*AT STOR ARE O2 RE-ATIN3 TO6 We 0ring a stor/ into nearl/ ever/ moment3 and doing that a22ects how we e4perience that moment and how we respond to li2e. I2 the stor/ is GI hate washing the dishesH and we are washing the dishes3 our e4perience o2 washing the dishes is a22ected 0/ that stor/. We also might sa/ or do something in response to hating to wash the dishes3 such as get mad at someone who isn?t helping us with the dishes. We might even throw a dish i2 the 2eeling is strong enough. We also tell stories a0out our loved ones3 such as G6ou don?t care a0out me.H G6ou?re not attractive enough 2or me.H GI can?t live without /ou.H GI need someone more e4citing.H GI?m not rich enough 2or /ou.H GI can?t see m/sel2 with /ou.H We all know what these stories are 0ecause the/ are the kind o2 GinsightsH we might share with a 2riend or someone else we are close to. =hese stories3 the more the/ are repeated and rein2orced3 inter2ere with 0eing present to the people we love3 and the/ are never the complete truth. ;ather than responding to our loved ones purel/3 we let our view o2 them or our view o2 the relationship3 our stor/3 a22ect how we react to them. =elling stories and reacting to our stories is going on most o2 the time unconsciousl/. We aren?t naturall/ aware o2 our stories or e4amine them until perhaps the/ cause so much trou0le that we are 2orced to. Bur stories a0out loved ones are created 0/ the ego to strengthen itsel23 to make the ego look good3 or to maintain its 0elie2s a0out itsel2. 1s a result3 the/ are nearl/ alwa/s detrimental to relationships. =he ego tends to spin negative stories a0out others3 not positive ones. ;eplacing /our negative stories with positive ones3 or no stor/ at all3 can trans2orm /our relationships. For
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instance3 what i2 the stor/ /ou told a0out /our partner was that he or she is the ideal partner 2or /ou< We o2ten tell that stor/ in the 0eginning o2 a relationship3 0ut 0e2ore long3 the ego 0egins spinning its negative stories. =he ego?s stories are essentiall/ complaints a0out the other person 2or not compl/ing to our conditioning3 2antasies3 and desires. We paint the other person in a negative light3 not necessaril/ 0ecause that person isn?t right 2or us3 0ut 0ecause he or she isn?t 2ul2illing our ego?s dreams and desires. =here?s a 0ig di22erence 0etween 0eing with the right person and 0eing with the person our ego considers to 0e the right person. :an/ o2 us are with e4actl/ the right person 2or us3 0ut our egos don?t think soJ Is the ego right< What e4poses the ego as an unworth/ Iudge o2 who is right 2or us is that the ego 2inds 2ault with ever/one a2ter its idealiEations have 2allen awa/. 6our ego will never 0e happ/ with who /ou are with3 so 0asing /our view o2 /our partner on /our ego?s assessment isn?t wise. =he ego is in the 0usiness o2 Iudgment3 not love. Even when we 2ind ourselves in a ver/ di22icult relationship3 that relationship is the e4perience we are meant to have3 2or the time 0eing an/wa/. Even an a0usive relationship ma/ 0e the e4perience we need to help us see that we don?t deserve unloving treatment and to make sure we never put ourselves in that situation again. Ever/ relationship we have leads to growth. We are changed 0/ ever/ one o2 our relationships3 in a good wa/. We learn a0out ourselves3 and we don?t make the same mistakes again3 which makes the ne4t relationship more likel/ to 0e success2ul. =o get the most out o2 the relationship /ou are in3 it won?t 0e help2ul to listen to the ego?s stories a0out /our partner or /our relationship. =he/ will onl/ keep love 2rom /ou. =he ego?s stories 0ring separation and con2lict. Essence would tell a di22erent stor/ a0out /our loved one than the one the ego tells. What might
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Essence?s stor/ 0e< It would pro0a0l/ 0e something like G=his person is in m/ li2e 2or me to love to the 0est o2 m/ a0ilit/. Let?s see what happens i2 I tr/ to do that.H 1s Essence3 we are meant to serve others and to serve li2e. =he ego3 on the other hand3 is all a0out serving itsel2. When we 0ring the demands and conditions o2 the ego into our relationships3 love is undermined. It can?t survive in an environment o2 Iudgments and demands. Love thrives when we accept others as the/ are3 while allowing them to grow3 develop3 and 0e as the/ are meant to 0e. =his is the kind o2 environment that we3 as parents3 would hope to provide our children. "eing there 2or others3 supporting their growth3 supporting them in their trials3 and cele0rating li2e with them is a great service to others. Bther people are the companions that we Cthe BnenessD have given ourselves on this Iourne/. I2 we listen to our ego3 other people will 2eel more like our adversaries than like another aspect o2 our own true sel2. What i2 /ou reall/ knew that ever/ other person was an aspect o2 /oursel23 given to /ou to challenge and support /ou in /our evolutionKand given to /ou to love< It?s up to ever/ one o2 us to take the opportunit/ to love others and not to listen to the tales the ego spins.
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2NNECESSAR T*O23*TS It?s o0vious that some thoughts are unnecessar/. :an/ o2 our thoughts come out o2 nowhere and have nothing to do with what we?re doing or e4periencing. We are like radio stations3 picking up signals that come 2rom who knows where3 and some thoughts are like that =he/ come out o2 nowhere and seem to have little relevance to us personall/. "ut even thoughts a0out our past and 2uture don?t contri0ute to what we are doing. Even thoughts a0out what we are doing aren?t necessar/J How man/ o2 the thoughts /ou are having right now3 or in an/ other moment3 actuall/ contri0ute to what /ou are doing and e4periencing< When /ou e4amine this3 /ou will discover that most thoughts don?t contri0ute to /our li2e3 and the/ aren?t needed to 2unction. =r/ to 2ind an e4ample o2 a thought that is necessar/. $ecessar/ thoughts are 2ew and 2ar 0etween. Isn?t it 2unn/ how important and necessar/ we think thinking is< =his is part o2 the grand illusion. We think we need to think to make li2e happen and make it go smoothl/. "ut when we e4amine the contri0ution our thoughts make to each moment3 to our e4perience and to whatever we are doing3 we discover that not onl/ are thoughts unnecessar/3 0ut the/ clutter the moment with con2usion3 negativit/3 and stress and so inter2ere with what we are e4periencing and doingKand with our happiness. Bur thoughts inter2ere with our happiness 0ecause the/ are so o2ten demanding3 push/3 or Iudgmental Ce.g.3 G6ou have to get this done nowJHD. Such thoughts cause stress that can easil/ make us 2eel overwhelmed 0/ li2e.
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Li2e is never actuall/ overwhelming 0ecause there?s onl/ so much we can do in a moment. "ut the mind 0rings ideas into the present moment a0out what we GhaveH to do3 what we want to do or can do3 what we?ve done3 what others want us to do3 and a0out an/ num0er o2 things unrelated to what we are doing or need to do. Such thoughts con2use and stress us out. =he/ are not onl/ unnecessar/3 0ut counterproductive. Stress makes us less e22ective and e22icient3 cra00/ and unhapp/Kand it?s unhealth/. =hose are the real results o2 giving our attention to thoughts and letting them guide our li2e. =he good news is that nearl/ all o2 our thoughts are unnecessar/3 not Iust a 2ew o2 them. =hat makes discriminating 0etween them much easier. 6ou don?t have to go sorting through /our thoughts 2or the right ones. 6ou Iust need to recogniEe that egoic thought 0elongs to the 2alse sel2 and is there2ore 2alse and not worth/ o2 /our attention. 6ou can disregard all the thoughts that relate to me and my life and all the other chatter3 Iudgments3 opinions3 memories3 2antasies3 dreams3 desires3 likes3 dislikes3 dou0ts3 2ears3 complaints3 and other negativit/ o2 the ego. What /ou are le2t with is a 2unctional mind that still knows how to read3 calculate3 use a computer3 drive a car3 2ollow a map or instructions3 and do all the other things that the mind was designed 2or. =he 2unctional mind is something we use when we need itL it doesn?t talk to us like the egoic mind. What a relie2 it is to realiEe that the voice in our head can 0e ignoredJ Can /ou trust this< 9ust start noticing how /ou don?t need an/ o2 /our thoughts to e4perience the present moment and to do what /ou need to do. See 2or /oursel2.
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NOTICIN3 T*E I/PACT O% O2R T*O23*TS Without thoughts intervening3 the world has a neutral or positive impact on us When we look at the sk/3 we 2eel e4panded CpositiveD3 unless the mind comes in with a complaint or Iudgment a0out the sk/ or something else. When we 2eel the 0reeEe3 we e4perience that CneutralD3 unless the mind comes in with a complaint or Iudgment a0out the 0reeEe or something else. $egativit/ onl/ shows up in our egoic mind or other people?s egoic minds. When the egoic mind mediates 0etween us and e4perience3 we o2ten su22er 0ecause the ego tends to put a negative spin on our e4perience or take us out o2 an e4perience altogether. Bnce we notice the impact the egoic mind has on our e4perience o2 li2e3 we can learn to ignore our thoughts and notice the true impact o2 li2e. We can Gstep aroundH that mediator Cthe egoic mindD and choose to e4perience li2e as it actuall/ is. I2 /ou encountered an unpleasant stranger3 /ou would pro0a0l/ avoid that stranger. =hat?s what we can do with our own and other people?s egoic minds. We can step around or move 0e/ond that inter2erence to a place o2 peace3 a place o2 no tension. =he wa/ /ou know /ou are giving /our attention to /our egoic mind or someone else?s is 0/ the tension or stress caused 0/ doing that. When /ou 2eel tension3 that?s the time to step around that unpleasant intruder into realit/3 to step around that thought. Li2e itsel2 is 0enign3 0ut the ego makes li2e 2eel threatening or3 at 0est3 dull. =he ego is either 2ending o22 its perceived di22iculties and pro0lems or tr/ing to drum up some e4citement3 drama3 and specialness. It doesn?t want to pla/ the game o2 li2e simpl/3 0ut opts 2or trou0le and drama. "ut drama doesn?t e5ual happiness3 and
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simplicit/ and peace don?t e5ual 0oredom. =he ego has it 0ackwards. It tries to create a happ/ li2e3 and all it does is take us awa/ 2rom happiness. =o 2ree ourselves 2rom the egoic mind3 all it takes is noticing the impact our thoughts have on our e4perience o2 li2e. 8oes the e4perience /ou are having make /ou contract and 2eel 0ad3 or does a thought a0out the e4perience cause that contraction< =his distinction is a 0ig one. Bnce we see that it?s onl/ our thoughts that cause us to 2eel contracted and tense3 we can 0ecome 2ree 2rom them intruding into our li2e. =he onl/ thing that keeps us tied to our thoughts3 or imprisoned 0/ them3 is the 0elie2 that our thoughts 0elong to us and are there2ore valid and necessar/. =he/ are not your thoughts3 and the/ aren?t valid or necessar/. When we 2inall/ see this3 it is such a revelation3 and so o0vious reall/. Ever/ thought e4cept the most neutral or 2unctional thoughts Ce.g.3 G=his is a pencilH or GPlease pass the 0utterHD has an impact on our consciousness3 or energ/. E4cept 2or 2unctional thoughts3 ever/ thought makes us either contract or e4pand. :ost o2 our thoughts cause us to contract. =he 0est the ego can do to make us 2eel good is to come up with a 2antas/ o2 something we like. "ut 2antasies actuall/ result in contraction too. 1n/time3 the ego is in pla/3 the result is contraction. =houghts that are upli2ting are re2lections o2 Essence. =he/ make us 2eel spacious3 e4pansive3 and at peace. We o2ten manu2acture positive thoughts ourselves3 as a22irmations3 to counteract our ego?s negative thoughts. =he truth 2eels goodJ =his is a clue to what our true nature is like. When we are in touch with who we reall/ are3 we 2eel good3 peace2ul3 content3 and loving. =hat is wh/ li2e without the mediation o2 the egoic mind 2eels goodK 0ecause li2e is good3 and our true nature is goodness. When we notice the impact o2 li2e on us in ever/ moment without the
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intervention o2 the mind3 we 2eel the e4citement and Io/ o2 Essence. Who we reall/ are is glad to 0e alive and grate2ul 2or ever/thing it?s e4periencing through the character we are pla/ing. =hat?s the truth. When we learn to step around the egoic mind as it tries to intervene 0etween us and li2e3 we can 2inall/ 0e happ/.
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T*E PRESENT *EA-S What heals the past< =he old adage claims that time heals. I2 that?s so3 wh/ does it heal3 and is it reall/ time that heals< Bver time3 our memories weaken and our a0ilit/ and desire to 0ring the past into the present through thought weaken. Li2e starts getting in the wa/3 as whatever was lost gets replaced 0/ new li2e. =hat new li2e 0egins to get our attention more than what happened in the past. =ime heals 0ecause li2e moves on to something new. Li2e 0rings us new e4periences3 opportunities3 challenges3 and relationships. Since we can onl/ give our attention to one thought at a time3 a2ter some time has passed3 our memories are naturall/ given less attention3 the/ 2ade3 and other thoughts take their place. I2 that?s how time heals3 then that?s ver/ good news3 0ecause it means we can speed the process o2 healing our sorrows over the past Iust 0/ moving our attention awa/ 2rom thoughts a0out the past onto the present moment. "eing in the $ow is actuall/ what heals old emotional wounds3 not time. Shi2ting our attention to the present moment is not den/ing or repressing the past3 0ut simpl/ not creating unnecessar/ pain 2or ourselves. It?s a wise choice. We can continue to recreate3 or reanimate3 the pain o2 the past3 or we can choose to leave the past in the past once we see that 0ringing memories into the present moment doesn?t serve us3 0ut onl/ e4tends the pain and distances us 2rom li2e. Putting our attention on an/thing other than our pain2ul memories heals the past. Whatever we give our attention to 0ecomes our e4perience. I2 we put our attention on the past3 we will relive the pain o2 the past and pro0a0l/ create more pain 0/ telling ourselves upsetting stories3 such as G=his shouldn?t have
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happened.H GI2 onl/ I?d done something di22erentl/.H GWh/ does this alwa/s happen to me<H "/ doing that3 we create more pain 2or ourselves on top o2 whatever loss we had. =hat su22ering isn?t necessar/. 8redging up memories and telling negative stories a0out the past isn?t a health/ wa/ to grieve3 0ut a wa/ we unknowingl/ increase our su22ering and remove ourselves 2rom the $ow3 where peace and happiness are availa0le. =he past is a diluted memor/3 and the 2uture is a 2igment o2 the ego?s imagination. =he past and 2uture onl/ e4ist as thoughts. =he ego creates a sense o2 time through thoughts a0out the past and 2uture. When we 0elieve such thoughts are the past and 2uture3 we can 0ecome entranced 0/ the ego?s world. What we imagine can seem ver/ real3 especiall/ when those imaginations create 2eelings3 which make our thoughts seem even more real. =he pain2ul 2eelings related to a loss o2ten come more 2rom what we tell ourselves a0out the loss than 2rom the loss itsel23 especiall/ the 2arther awa/ in time we get 2rom that loss. =here?s a di22erence 0etween grie2 and su22ering unnecessaril/ over the past. Grie2 is a natural release o2 emotion over a loss3 which takes time to adIust to. "ut man/ people grieve 2ar 0e/ond the time re5uired to adIust to a loss 0ecause the/ continue to rein2orce their pain 0/ mentall/ going over the past and telling themselves pain2ul stories. 8oing this isn?t help2ul and onl/ prolongs the healing process. Stopping this re(stimulation o2 pain 0/ not giving our attention to memories or stories a0out the past heals the past and helps us move on to what Li2e intends 2or us now. With ever/ loss3 come new possi0ilities. When we are present to li2e instead o2 involved in our thoughts and 2eelings3 we are likel/ to pick up on what Li2e?s intentions are 2or us and where Li2e is leading us. :oreover3 0/ 0eing present to li2e as it is right now3 we can discover the
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acceptance3 Io/3 and e4citement Essence has over 0eing alive3 even when li2e is challenging. Li2e is alwa/s good3 and we are alwa/s having the e4perience we need. I2 it doesn?t seem that wa/3 /ou are listening to the mind?s sad or negative stor/. =his kind o2 su22ering is so unnecessar/. When we drop out o2 the egoic mind and into this simple moment3 we discover the truth a0out li2e. Li2e can 0e lived ver/ well 2rom this place o2 Presence3 or 0eing in the $ow3 0ecause Presence is what?s real3 and the ego and its thoughts are not real. =he good news is we have never needed the ego?s thoughts to live our li2e3 and there2ore 2reedom 2rom su22ering is possi0le.
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ESSENCE IS A %EE-IN3 O% *O/E GHomeH is a power2ul word. Ever/one has associations with this word that run ver/ deep. 6ou know the 2eeling o2 0eing Home when /ou e4perience it. GHomeH has nothing to do with a house or an/ other thing3 0ut with our inner state. When we land in that place we recogniEe it and don?t want to leave it3 and /et3 we do. =hat 2eeling o2 0eing Home is all we?ve ever wanted3 0ut o2ten we don?t sta/ there long. Something alwa/s calls us awa/3 and that?s the mindKthoughts a0out something3 an/thing. Instead o2 0ringing us Home3 our thoughts take us awa/ 2rom it. Bur thoughts seem so important and necessar/3 and the/ are so enticing. Wh/ must there 0e a dichotom/ 0etween what 2eels good and right and what seems necessar/< =he 5uestion is3 necessar/ 2or whom< Who is it that calls us awa/ 2rom Home and wh/< =he ego is what calls us awa/ 2rom Home 0ecause it doesn?t trust this place o2 calm3 peace3 sa2et/3 and completion. It doesn?t trust 0eing Home 0ecause it doesn?t understand this place. It runs 2rom the incomprehensi0le3 the ine4plica0le3 and what nourishes us3 not 0ecause it doesn?t want to 0e nourished3 0ut 0ecause it doesn?t trust that this place actuall/ provides what it does. 8o /ou< When /ou 2inall/ rest and drop all striving and come Home3 do /ou trust this place< 8o /ou recogniEe it< 8o /ou value it< 8o /ou want to spend more time there< @ntil /ou do trust this place3 recogniEe it3 value it3 and want to e4perience it more3 /ou won?t sta/ there. We are programmed to not trust 0eing Home. Bur conditioned sel23 the ego3 tells us this place isn?t trustworth/ or valua0le and that we should move on to something else. =he ego 0eckons us to travel
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somewhere else mentall/ or get 0us/ doing somethingKan/thing. =he ego o22ers enticements awa/ 2rom Home and tries to convince us there?s someplace or something to do that?s even 0etter than 0eing Home. It?s not that there isn?t a place 2or doing or that doing doesn?t sometimes 2low naturall/ out o2 this place o2 Home. "ut we all need to drop out o2 striving3 planning3 worr/ing3 and 2antasiEing and Iust 0e Home sometimes3 to nourish3 recharge3 and 2orti2/ ourselves and to in2orm our actions. Home is where the Heart is3 and the Heart 2eels good. 1nd God knows3 we all need to 2eel good. We need Home like we need water and 2ood3 to sustain us in this di22icult world. We look 2or a sense o2 0eing Home in a ph/sical home3 in a 2amil/3 in a lover. "ut unless we can e4perience it in the still moments o2 our li2e3 no house3 2amil/3 lover3 or an/thing else will ever satis2/ our longing 2or Home. =he 2eeling o2 0eing Home is never 2ound 0/ doing3 going somewhere3 having things3 or thinking3 0ut 0/ simpl/ stopping and Iust being long enough to let ourselves 2eel that we are Home. Bur longing 2or Home can call it 2orth. >now Home3 value it3 want it3 and /ou will have it. =he most precious attainment is right here in Stillness and in Iust 0eing.
PART 0 Cu1tivating a New Pers+ective
T*E N2/#ERS 3A/E
=he ego loves num0ers and time3 which it uses to measure how well it?s doing in reaching its goals3 as i2 num0ers can actuall/ measure or predict success3 which is an unde2ined concept an/wa/. =ake3 2or e4ample3 the mone/ in /our 0ank account. We commonl/ use this as a measure 2or how well we are doing and whether we are reaching or will reach our goals. =he trou0le with this is that how much mone/ we have or an/thing else we use to rate ourselves isn?t a measure or a predictor o2 an/thing. =hese num0ers aren?t meaning2ul3 0ut the ego gives meaning to them 0/ telling a stor/ o2 some kind. =he ego pretends these num0ers are meaning2ul. =he truth is3 /ou aren?t solel/ responsi0le 2or creating the amount o2 mone/ in /our 0ank account3 the amount o2 popularit/ /ou have3 or the amount o2 an/thing /ou have. 6ou are one small pla/er in the scheme o2 things. 1t an/ moment3 that mone/3 popularit/3 or whatever could disappear3 and /ou wouldn?t 0e solel/ responsi0le 2or that either. =he ego likes num0ers 0ecause num0ers give the ego a 2alse sense o2 securit/ and control. =he ego 0elieves the num0ers are under its control. When li2e proves otherwise3 which it o2ten does3 the ego is upset3 not onl/ 0ecause it doesn?t like low num0ers Ce4cept when it comes to our weightJD3 0ut also 0ecause li2e Iust demonstrated a 0asic truth3 which the ego doesn?t want to see We aren?t in control o2 what comes and goes in our li2e. We have a small in2luence3 not a large in2luence3 on what happens to us. Call it destin/3 2ate3 the stars3 the 0igger plan3 or whatever /ou
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will3 0ut it will have its wa/ with us3 and our greatest power and responsi0ilit/ is in how we respond to li2e. I2 we are convinced that we create it all3 then when li2e doesn?t go our wa/3 we are going to 0e ver/ upset3 and that isn?t a particularl/ 2unctional response to li2e. Bn the other hand3 when we accept the truthKthat we are a small pla/er in the un2olding o2 li2eKthen we won?t take what happens to us so personall/3 and that attitude allows us to respond to whatever is happening in a much more 2unctional wa/. Bur 0elie2s do matter. "elieving we should 0e a0le to get what we want and that we are entirel/ responsi0le 2or our realit/ is mistaken. 1nd when we 0elieve something that isn?t true3 we su22er3 and we also don?t 2unction ver/ well. Bn the other hand3 when our 0elie2s match realit/ and we see and accept the truth a0out li2e and allow li2e to carr/ us 2orward Cwithout kicking and screamingD3 we won?t su22er3 and we will 0e a0le to respond more 2unctionall/. "eing deluded a0out li2e keeps us su22ering and inter2eres with our a0ilit/ to respond wisel/. =he ego?s num0ers game keeps us tied to the ego and its misperceptions a0out li2e. $um0ers also don?t tell us an/thing a0out what will happen ne4t3 as the/ seem to promise. We never know what might show up ne4t in this wonder2ul m/ster/. Getting involved with num0ers keeps us involved with the ego3 and then we might miss what?s most meaning2ul a0out li2eK0eing here now3 2ull/3 and enIo/ing this m/sterious ride.
Cultivating a $ew Perspective
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-I%E *APPENS Ever/ li2e has a directionalit/. Each li2e is moving in a particular direction3 with a particular intention 0ehind that direction. What that direction and intention are3 we are o2ten not aware o2. "ut that doesn?t mean there is no direction or that the direction we assume our li2e to have is the true one. Even though we ma/ not 0e aware o2 what li2e?s direction and intentions are 2or us3 we nevertheless o2ten still do 2low with it. We are carried 0/ this river o2 li2e3 sometimes unwillingl/. "ut whether we go kicking and screaming or 5uietl/ and in gratitude3 li2e will have its wa/ with us. =he ego doesn?t e4perience li2e?s directionalit/3 its intentionalit/. =he ego isn?t tuned in to the river o2 li2e3 the 2low. =he ego is what rails against li2e3 thinks li2e must 0e managed3 and goes kicking and screaming down the river. =he ego 2eels it has to make li2e happen. "ut li2e is alread/ happening3 and happiness lies in tuning in to what is alread/ happening and co(creating with that3 paddling with the river3 not against it3 catching the current and letting the river take us where it wants to go. =his is onl/ di22icult when the ego wants li2e to go in some other direction than li2e is going or when the ego thinks li2e should 0e going in some other direction than li2e is going. =o 2ind out where li2e is going3 all we have to do is notice what is happening What are /ou inspired to do now< What opportunities are coming to /ou now< What is 0eing asked o2 /ou now< What is li2e allowing or making room 2or /ou to do or create now< What directions is it 0locking and what directions is it supporting now< Where is the ease in /our li2eKwhat?s working now< @suall/ going with the 2low means going toward what?s
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working and what?s 0eing supported and awa/ 2rom what isn?t3 although there can 0e challenges even when we are in the 2lowK eddies3 rapids3 and snags in the river. =he ego makes li2e harder than it needs to 0e 0/ 0ucking the 2low. It?s eas/ to go down the river3 even when the river is producing rapids. What?s hard is not going down the river or tr/ing to go up the river. =here is a greater Intelligence 0ehind all li2e and 0ehind each individual li2e. We are3 in 2act3 that same Intelligence. =hat Intelligence knows what it?s doing and has our 0est interests in mind. =hese ma/ not 0e the same as the ego?s interests. =his Intelligence is interested in growth3 love3 learning3 and developing our talents3 resources3 compassion3 and wisdom. =he river o2 li2e is sure to accomplish these things3 whether we go down it kicking or screaming or with grace and gratitude. We don?t get to choose what this ride down the river 0rings3 0ut we do get to choose how we will go down the river. Bur e4perience o2 li2e is in our hands3 even i2 the events o2 our li2e are not. Li2e happens. :uch o2 it Iust happens to us3 and some o2 it is shaped 0/ us. "ut no matter what happens3 we alwa/s have the power to determine our response to it and there2ore our e4perience o2 it. =his is reall/ what li2e is teaching us as it 0rings us Home. It teaches us that how we respond to li2e is what mattersKnot what li2e 0rings us. Certain responses Ce.g.3 kindness3 acceptance3 love3 2orgiveness3 gratitudeD let us to rela4 and go with the 2low o2 li2e3 while other responses cause us and others su22ering. In the end3 our response to each moment is what matters3 not what happens. When we sa/ /es to how li2e is happening3 miracles happenKlove3 peace3 contentment3 and happiness happen. Each o2 us can make this a 0etter world 0/ welcoming3 accepting3 and 0eing grate2ul 2or however li2e is showing up 0ecause when we do3 we drop into Essence and 0ecome an e4pression o2 peace and love on earth3 and
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that is what this ride down the river o2 li2e is all a0out. Such responses to li2e take us speedil/ and grace2ull/ Home.
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-ITT-E T*IN3S /ATTER :ost o2 the turning points in our li2e happened as a result o2 something that seemed insigni2icant at the time a part/ where we met our true love3 a workshop that introduced us to a new wa/ o2 thinking3 a summer Io0 that got us started in our career direction3 a trip that changed us in some wa/3 a 0ook that put us on a particular path. Li2e(changing e4periences come out o2 what seem to 0e small and insigni2icant occurrences. :ost o2 the things that 0ring us the greatest satis2action happen as a result o2 something small a phone call3 a meeting3 2inding out a0out something3 seeing something. Li2e happensKit comes out o2 the 2lowKand the seemingl/ insigni2icant and ordinar/ moments are part o2 that. I2 we aren?t pa/ing attention to these small things and 2ollowing our intuition a0out themKgoing to that part/3 taking that summer Io03 going on that trip3 pursuing that interest that was sparked3 2inding out more a0out somethingKwe might miss out on e4periences that we would consider important and meaning2ul. Small things matter 2or another reason. B2ten the onl/ thing that?s going on is something Fsmall3F and i2 we take our mind?s word 2or it and see the ordinar/ moments o2 li2e as unimportant3 e4traneous3 0oring3 or even wrong3 we?ll miss out on the opportunit/ 2or Io/ that the/ o22er. When we give our attention 2ull/ to the ordinar/ things in li2eKdr/ing our hair3 walking the dog3 going to the store3 driving somewhereKwe discover the e4traordinar/ in them. We discover that ordinar/ moments have the same potential 2or happiness as e4traordinar/ ones. =he e4traordinar/ momentsKwhen our child is 0orn3 when we land our dream Io03 when we 2all in love3 our wedding da/Kare rare
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and 5uickl/ 2ade. =he elation o2 those moments can?t 0e sustained. "ut right here and now3 in this moment3 it?s possi0le to 0e content with whatever?s happening simpl/ 0/ giving it /our 2ull attention. When /ou 0ecome lost in whatever /ou are doing3 /ou 2eel content3 at peace3 and whatever /ou are doing 0ecomes a source o2 0eaut/ and gratitude. =he real miracle o2 li2e is that ever/ moment is Iust as precious and has Iust as much potential 2or happiness as ever/ other moment. E4periencing this happiness is largel/ a matter o2 recogniEing this great truth. =he mind discounts most moments3 and that discounting prevents us 2rom discovering the potential happiness in some small act or e4perience. =he 0elie2 that something doesn?t matter and can?t make us happ/ is a sel2(2ul2illing prophec/ When /ou 0elieve that onl/ some moments are good and valua0le3 then that 0ecomes /our e4perience. I2 /ou know the truth3 however3 that ordinar/ moments are e5uall/ valua0le3 then gratitude and the realiEation o2 the preciousness o2 li2e 0ecome /our e4perience. =he truth is that li2eKever/ momentKis precious3 sacred3 and when we are aligned with that truth3 we are happ/ and at peace with li2e. When we aren?t3 we are at war with li2e3 which is the state o2 ego identi2ication3 identi2ication with the voice in our head. =he di22erence 0etween 0eing happ/ and at peace with li2e and not 0eing happ/ and not at peace is o2ten Iust a matter o2 how we view this moment. 8oes this moment seem unimportant3 like something /ou?re Iust getting through to get to some other moment< Br is it something to savor3 like the most wonder2ul chocolate3 like a sunn/ Sunda/ morning3 like sitting 0/ a sparkling seaside< What i2 /ou 0rought the same attention /ou 0ring to e4traordinar/ moments to the more ordinar/ moments o2 li2e< =he di22erence 0etween 0eing happ/ and not 0eing happ/ is not
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in what /ou are e4periencing3 0ut in the amount o2 attention and the attitude o2 preciousness /ou 0ring to an/ moment. It onl/ seems like what /ou are e4periencing is the cause o2 happiness. "ut happiness is our natural state and not caused 0/ an/thing. =his happiness is onl/ o0scured 0/ the 0elie2 that something isn?t worth/ o2 our attention and gratitude. When we give an/thing our attention and gratitude3 we e4perience happiness in that moment. =r/ this out /oursel2 =he ne4t time /ou are 2eeding /our dog3 watering /our plants3 putting the clothes in the washing machine3 going to the mail0o43 or doing an/ o2 the man/ things /ou do regularl/3 get reall/ involved in it3 consider it a sacred act3 notice an/thing o2 0eaut/ a0out it3 recogniEe the miracle o2 li2e that is capa0le o2 doing these things3 and acknowledge /our gratitude 2or 0eing a0le to have the e4perience /ou are having.
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IT:S NOT T*AT I/PORTANT =hink o2 the things that were important to /ou once that aren?t important at all to /ou now per2orming well at something3 winning something3 having something3 getting noticed 0/ someone3 getting a particular Io03 having someone like /ou3 getting a date with someone3 looking a certain wa/. It?s easier to see the unimportance o2 things the ego desires the 2arther 0ack in time we go. What we care a0out changes signi2icantl/ as we move through the stages o2 li2e 1s a teenager3 /ou thought /ou would die i2 that special 0o/ Cor girlD didn?t like /ou. 1s a /oung adult3 /ou thought /ou had to have that special car or out2it3 or no one would go out with /ou. =he same thing is true a0out what /ou now think is so importantKit won?t 0e important at all at some point. =he wrinkles /ou ma/ 0e concerned a0out in /our 2orties or 2i2ties won?t mean an/thing when /ou?re in /our seventies. =he ego doesn?t have perspective. When what the ego wants isn?t happening or when what it doesn?t want is happening3 that seems so important. We 2eel we can?t 0e happ/ when certain things are or arenPt happening onl/ 0ecause the ego makes us 2eel that wa/. It makes us 2eel like certain thingsKachieving something3 looking a certain wa/3 having somethingKare more important than the/ reall/ are. =he/ aren?t important. =he/ don?t determine the value o2 /ou3 /our li2e3 or /our happiness. 1t ever/ point in our li2e3 the ego has a list o2 things that seem ver/ important to achieve or have. "ut time marches on3 our 2ocus changes3 and other things that weren?t important 0ecome important. =hings we once thought were important can even seem sill/ 2rom our current point o2 view. =he ego is like a magni2/ing glass3 and whatever it 2ocuses on
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seems important to our happiness3 even to our survival3 0ecause the ego sees the world through a lens o2 2ear and desire. =he ego is sure that li2e can?t 0e good i2 li2e isn?t delivering what it wants. "ut that Iust isn?t so3 although it isn?t eas/ to see through this lie. We reall/ 0elieve something is important. "ut that?s the trick3 the illusion We 0elieve something is important3 not 0ecause it?s actuall/ important3 0ut 0ecause we belie$e it?s important. =he ego creates a sense o2 importance around things that doesn?t actuall/ e4ist3 which is ver/ 0elieva0le. =o counteract this3 we have to stop a moment3 take a longer view3 and remem0er how things pass awa/ and are 2orgotten3 all those things /ou once thought were so important and that once caused /ou pain. 8oing this can help put things 0ack into proper perspective. 1nd then notice when the ego is creating 2eelings o2 urgenc/ or thoughts and desires that cause /ou to su22er or drive /ou in a direction compulsivel/. In noticing this3 /ou 0ecome conscious and can?t 0e run so unconsciousl/ 0/ the ego. ;ela43 stop3 0reathe3 and enIo/ what li2e has 0rought /ou now3 0ecause it won?t alwa/s 0e here. 1nd don?t 0e 2ooled that achieving /our goals and desires is so important. =hose things are important to the ego3 0ut the ego?s push and sense o2 having to have something undermine our happiness and a0ilit/ to tune into Essence and discover how Essence is moving us now. Essence might 0e moving /ou to go a2ter some goal3 or it might 0e moving /ou to Iust rest and 0e 2or once3 to take in the scener/ and enIo/ li2e Iust as it is. What do /ou think /ou need to 0e happ/ and at peace now< Whatever it is3 that?s the ver/ lie that keeps /ou 2rom 0eing happ/ and at peace.
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3OOD NEWS= #AD NEWS =he good news is that ever/thing /ou don?t like has things that are good a0out it. =he 0ad news is that ever/thing /ou like has things /ou don?t like a0out it. =hese are inescapa0le 2acts o2 li2e. Ever/thingKwithout e4ceptionKhas things we like and don?t like3 advantages and disadvantages3 good and 0ad. B2 course3 what e4periences and la0els an/thing as FgoodF or F0adF is the ego3 as Essence em0races ever/thing a0out this 0eauti2ul drama we call li2e. Essence is what is aware o2 the ego3 which has likes and dislikes3 0ut Essence has no pre2erences. When we are aligned with Essence3 our true nature3 we love the comple4it/ and richness o2 li2e. Essence isn?t looking to Iust 2eel good3 like the egoL Essence loves the challenges and growth that come 2rom li2e. It loves all e4perience. $o matter how o0vious it is that ever/thing in li2e is a Fmi4ed 0ag3F the ego doesn?t accept this. =he ego is alwa/s looking to have the ultimate e4perience3 when it gets ever/thing it wants and 2eels e4actl/ how it wants to 2eelK2orever. =he ego 0elieves in this possi0ilit/3 which is wh/ it?s so angr/ at li2e3 since li2e never does and never will deliver per2ection according to the ego. =his mistaken 0elie2 is a source o2 great su22ering. =he ego su0tl/ and insidiousl/ spoils our e4perience 0/ e4pecting something 0etter 2rom li2e3 something more to the ego?s liking3 something more per2ect3 something that?s without the 2atal 2law o2 having something we don?t like a0out it. =his is what we love3 o2 course3 a0out our 2antasiesKthe/ are per2ectJ =he/ lack an/ negatives. ;eall/ let this truth a0out li2e sink in. Have /ou ever had an/ e4perience or 0een in an/ situation that didn?t have things /ou
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didn?t like a0out it< =he more /ou are a0le to see this truth3 the less /ou 2eel cheated 0/ li2e3 as the ego does. E4pecting li2e to 0e more to the ego?s liking than it can ever 0e is a setup 2or disappointment. In this m/sterious and amaEing world3 the ego will never know happiness3 onl/ discontentment. =he good news is3 however3 that when we 2ind ourselves in a situation we consider undesira0le3 we can assume there?s something good a0out it3 and it?s likel/ that something else that?s nice is also going on in our li2e. =he ego doesn?t alwa/s notice the positive 0ecause it reall/ enIo/s 0uilding a case against li2e F1in?t li2e aw2ulJF =he ego loves its complaints3 pain3 and drama. =he ego o2ten swings in the direction o2 the negative3 seeing li2e as more di22icult than it actuall/ is3 and this perception creates that ver/ e4perience. Li2e is what it is. In /our li2e3 there are things /ou like and don?t like. In /our relationship3 there are things /ou like and don?t like. In /our children3 there are things /ou like and don?t like. In an/ particular e4perience3 there are things /ou like and don?t like. =his will never change. It?s 0uilt into li2e and into the wa/ the ego sees li2e. It?s what we have to work with3 and nothing can change that. So3 when /ou dream a0out achieving that goal or meeting :r. or :s. ;ight3 realiEe that these e4periences will 2eel ver/ similar to all the other ones /ou?ve had. Bnl/ in /our 2antasies will these e4periences 0e di22erent. 6our 2uture will still 0e a mi4ed 0ag3 even i2 ever/ dream /ou?ve ever had comes true. So3 since it?s a mi4ed 0ag now and a mi4ed 0ag in the 2uture3 /ou might as well 2ind a wa/ to 0e happ/ with li2e as it is now and not hold out 2or something 0etterK0ecause the per2ect li2e never arrives. :ore good news is that it?s in /our power to choose to 0e happ/ with the wa/ li2e is showing up now. It?s all a matter o2 perspective Will /ou agree with the ego?s perceptions3 or can /ou 2ind that which is within /ou that loves it all<
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-I%E IS INTERESTIN3 From the point o2 view o2 Essence3 li2e is neither good nor 0ad3 0ut interesting. Even when /ou are caught up in a di22icult situation3 it is possi0le to 2ind that which is within /ou that 2inds whatever is going on interesting. Whenever we enter into an e4perience3 we enter into the unknown 6ou never know e4actl/ what?s going to happen3 even i2 the e4perience is similar to one /ou?ve had 0e2ore. $ot knowing what?s going to happen is one o2 the things that makes li2e interesting. =ake going to the dentist 6ou?ve 0een to the dentist man/ times 0e2ore3 0ut what will this time 0e like< 6our attitude is actuall/ what determines /our e4perience3 so when /our attitude changes3 /our e4perience changes. Even so3 ever/ e4perience is di22erentL no two are the same. Going to the dentist isn?t Iust a matter o2 someone working in /our mouth3 it also includes the e4perience o2 the dentist and an/ other people /ou encounter and man/ other things. How will /ou e4perience those people< How might the/ 0e help2ul to /ou< What might /ou learn< How might /ou share love and 2riendliness with them< How might /ou serve them or make them 2eel good< 1n/ e4perience3 even going to the dentist3 is an opportunit/ to share love or share o2 ourselves in an/ num0er o2 wa/s. People 0ene2it each other all the time in all di22erent situations 0/ sharing love3 in2ormation3 and assistance in other 2orms. So a trip to the dentist isn?t Iust a0out teeth3 it?s potentiall/ a0out an/ num0er o2 things i2 /ou notice those other things. 1nd it can 0e a0out giving i2 /ou make it a0out that. 6ou have the power to make ever/one around /ou 2eel good3 no matter what else is going on3 and that
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changes ever/one?s e4perience. Li2e is interesting 0ecause li2e is an opportunit/ to create our realit/ through our choices and to create our e4perience 0/ what we choose to think a0out an e4perience. We create in the real world3 and we create our inner e4perience with our thoughts a0out the real world. =his a0ilit/ to shape e4perience is ver/ interesting to Essence3 and it?s one reason we are here to learn to 0e creators in this realit/ and to learn a0out the impact that our thoughts3 attitudes3 and 2eelings have on realit/ and on our e4perience o2 realit/. Li2e isn?t simpl/ a matter o2 going to the dentist or doing whatever else we are doing 0ecause whenever we are doing something3 we 0ring our consciousness3 our mind3 our understanding3 and our conditioning to whatever we are doing. So man/ things are in2luencing ever/ moment3 and we are in control o2 man/ o2 them. =his is ver/ interesting. What i2 I act this wa/ in this situation3 or what i2 I do something else instead< What i2 I think this instead o2 that< Li2e is like a la0orator/ 2or e4perimenting with creating. We are e4perimenting with li2e all the time3 whether we realiEe it or not. Wh/ not 0ecome more aware o2 /our role in creating realit/ and in creating /our e4perience o2 realit/3 and wh/ not pla/ around more consciousl/ with what works and doesn?t work What 0rings the results /ou?d like and what doesn?t< 1nd wh/ not learn to do the things that 0ring the results /ou would like3 such as love and peace< Li2e isn?t interesting when we 2eel at the merc/ o2 it3 when we 2eel we have to do things we don?t want to do or e4perience things we don?t want to e4perience. "ut li2e is interesting when we see that we are in control o2 our experience o2 whatever we encounter3 even though we can?t control what we encounter. We learn that3 with the proper attitude and the willingness to 0ring love and
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pleasantness to an/ e4perience3 we can 2ace an/thing. We are power2ul creators o2 our e4perience o2 realit/3 even i2 we don?t create realit/ single(handedl/. We discover that it doesn?t matter what li2e 0rings us3 0ut what we 0ring to li2e that counts. =hat?s 2reedom.
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*OW WE CREATE PRO#-E/S 1ll pro0lems 0egin with a desireKthe desire 2or something to 0e di22erent3 which is the ongoing state o2 the ego. =he ego is o2ten wanting something to 0e di22erent. It might 0e a longstanding desire3 like wanting to look di22erent than /ou do3 a short(term one3 like wanting /our neigh0or to stop pla/ing music so loudl/3 or a momentar/ one3 like wanting to eat something that isn?t availa0le. Longstanding desires create a sense o2 a pro0lem that can 0e ver/ deep(seated and even a22ect our sel2(esteem and how we approach li2e. When a longstanding pro0lem is part o2 our sel2(image3 we ma/ come to see ourselves as 2lawed or in2erior. =hen it reall/ does seem like we have a pro0lem that needs 2i4ing. Even short(term and momentar/ desires can create a sense o2 there 0eing a pro0lem3 which can sap the Io/ out o2 li2e. =he good news is that there?s actuall/ no such thing as a pro0lem 0ut onl/ percei$ed pro0lems. =hat?s a ver/ important distinction3 0ecause i2 a pro0lem is created 0/ our perceptions3 then no matter what it is3 we can potentiall/ un(create it 0/ simpl/ adIusting our perceptions3 0/ seeing the truth. =he desire 2or something to 0e di22erent is naturalL desires arise constantl/ in ever/one. It?s good to realiEe and accept this. 8esires come and go as part o2 our imprinting as human 0eings. =he/ show up in the mind3 un0idden. 8esires3 themselves3 aren?t the pro0lem3 and /ou can?t do awa/ with them an/wa/. "esides3 the/ serve our evolution3 0ringing us a range o2 e4periences that we are meant to have as humans. =he pro0lem is that identi2ication with desire causes much o2 our su22ering. It?s identi2/ing with the desireK
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2eeling strongl/ that /ou want something /ou don?t haveKthat causes su22ering and the sense that there is a pro0lem. Either /ou want something /ou don?t have right now 0ut /ou might have in the 2uture or /ou want something /ou 2eel /ou can never have. :an/ other things enter into the creation o2 a pro0lem 2rom a desire. Bne o2 the most important things is 2eelings. When we desire something other than the wa/ things are3 2eelings show up We ma/ 2eel sad3 angr/3 guilt/3 or in2erior that we don?t have it or a2raid we will never have it or Iealous3 envious3 or resent2ul o2 those who do have it. $ow we not onl/ have the pro0lem o2 getting what we want3 0ut also the pro0lem o2 getting rid o2 these negative 2eelings. =he pro0lem Iust got 0igger3 as 2eelings were added to the desire. 1nother important component o2 pro0lem(creation is stor/telling. We paint a negative picture o2 the wa/ things are 0ecause what we want is lacking GIt shouldn?t 0e this wa/. I have to change this. I?ll never 0e happ/ unless this is di22erent. =his alwa/s happens to me. I will never get over this. =his is too much to deal with. I hate this. Li2e sucks.H =hese stories rein2orce e4isting 2eelings and generate others. =he/ also magni2/ the importance o2 whatever is 2elt to 0e lacking 0/ giving meaning to it and 0/ 0uilding a case 2or wh/ not having what we want is a pro0lem. We assume that not having what we want means we won?t 0e happ/ or we are 2lawed or a 2ailure3 li2e is terri0le3 we are unworth/ o2 love or happiness3 and on and on. =hese stories can make even momentar/3 passing desires seem reall/ important. Creating pro0lems is what the ego does3 and it does it in Iust this wa/ First it desires something to 0e di22erent3 then it amps up the importance o2 that with stories. =he 2eelings that result 2rom the desire and the stories convince us that3 in 2act3 the desire is important and necessar/ 2or our happiness. Interestingl/3 the
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stories are o2ten not onl/ a0out how important that desire is3 0ut also a0out how we aren?t likel/ to get what we want or how di22icult that might 0e. 8oing this creates the su22ering3 pain3 sadness3 and anger that so man/ 2eel on an ongoing 0asis. =he/ want things to 0e di22erent3 0ut the/ 2eel powerless to get what the/ want3 or the/ 2eel it?s unlikel/ the/ will get what the/ want Some people have learned to counteract this negativit/ with3 G6es I canJH and then their desires 2uel action toward getting what the/ want. =he/ 0ecome good achievers and pro0lem(solvers. Pro0lems created 0/ the ego generate much o2 the activit/ on earth3 0ut a lot o2 that activit/ isn?t particularl/ 2ul2illing3 nor will it necessaril/ 0ring the happiness we all long 2or. 1nd a lot o2 that activit/ has 0een ver/ hard on the earth and its resources. It has involved us in the ego?s materialistic and super2icial values and taken us awa/ 2rom what Essence values love3 peace3 connection3 growth3 2ul2illment3 and true happiness. When we are in Essence3 we still accomplish things3 0ut our actions aren?t 2ueled 0/ the ego?s negative 2eelings3 desires3 and 2ears3 0ut 0/ a more intrinsic3 true motivation. =hings are accomplished that need to 0e accomplished3 and there?s a 2low a0out that. =he lie at the 0ase o2 ever/ desire is that /ou will 0e happ/ when that desire is met. =his 0elie2 2uels action. However3 the things the ego desires don?t 0ring happiness3 in part 0ecause the things the ego wants all come and goK0eaut/3 /outh3 success3 status3 com2ort3 securit/3 mone/3 powerKand also 0ecause once the ego gets what it wants3 that?s either not enough or the ego wants something di22erent. 6ou can?t win 0/ listening to the ego. 1t some point3 i2 /ou want to 0e happ/ and not 0e 2ocused on solving pro0lems3 /ou have to see that the ego is a liar It?s telling /ou something is missing and /ou need that to 0e happ/. 1nd that Iust isn?t true. So3 what do /ou perceive as /our pro0lems3 what are /ou telling
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/oursel2 a0out them3 what desires are 0ehind them3 and are these desires that important< =he/ are important to /our ego3 0ut what a0out /ou< What do /ou reall/ want< Li2e will let /ou have the e4perience o2 pro0lems and it will let /ou go a2ter what /our ego wants3 0ut there?s something else here that moves /ou towards true happiness and 2ul2illment3 and that is who /ou reall/ are. It?s who is reading this and seeing the truth a0out this. Pro0lems are created 0/ 2inding pro0lems3 0/ de2ining something as a pro0lem3 and there?s onl/ one thing here that does thatKthe ego. When /ou drop out o2 the egoic mind3 there are no pro0lems. =he same things need to 0e done3 0ut the/?re Iust done. 6ou and ever/thing else are still the same3 0ut that?s oka/. =his simple shi2t awa/ 2rom the ego to Essence is the di22erence 0etween heaven and hell on earth. Bnce /ou see the truth o2 this3 /ou have a choice $otice how the egoic mind creates trou0le 0/ the stories it tells3 notice how what it desires isn?t necessaril/ true and meaning2ul3 and a0ove all3 notice =his that is a0le to notice all this3 0ecause that is who /ou reall/ are.
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*OW TO /A7E O2RSE-% /ISERA#-E =hink a0out all the things other people have that /ou don?t have Ce.g.3 a relationship3 a nice home3 a new car3 a great Io03 children3 a thin 0od/3 per2ect health3 lots o2 mone/3 success3 popularit/3 0eaut/3 2un3 se4D and imagine how happ/ the/ are and how happ/ /ou would 0e i2 /ou had what the/ have. 8a/dream a0out what /our li2e should look like. >eep a running mental list o2 /our Fpro0lems3F shortcomings3 and how /ou and /our li2e don?t measure up and what /ou should do a0out it. =hen make this the central topic o2 /our conversation with others. =hink a0out what happened in the past that made /ou upset(( and talk a0out it. Go over past conversations /ou?ve had and draw conclusions a0out how that person or persons see /ou or /ou see them. =hink a0out ever/thing /ou have to do. Have an opinion a0out ever/thing. $otice what /ou don?t like. =hink a0out other people and talk a0out them. =hink a0out /oursel2 and how /our li2e is going.
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=hink o2 all the things that could go wrong and all the terri0le things that have happened to other people. Spend a lot o2 time looking at /oursel2 in the mirror. Set goals 2or /oursel2 and /our li2e and wait until /ou achieve them to 0e happ/. "e too 0us/ to let /oursel2 rest3 pla/3 do something /ou enIo/3 or do nothing3 e4cept ma/0e watch =A.
Can /ou 2ind other things to add to this list< How do /ou make /oursel2 misera0le< How can we make ourselves happ/< 8on?t do the things on the a0ove list. Happiness is our natural state3 and when we stop doing what makes us unhapp/3 we are naturall/ happ/J
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NA4I3ATIN3 C*AN3E AND C*A--EN3ES Change 2eels like tossing a coin up in the airK/ou don?t know which wa/ it will land3 good or 0ad 2or the ego< =he ego is deepl/ concerned that it will turn out 0adl/. When things are changing3 the ego considers the worst case scenarios and 2ears the worst. It attaches a stor/ to the changes F:/ li2e is going downhill.F I2 we sta/ in the moment in the midst o2 change or a challenge Ce.g.3 a divorce3 a move3 unemplo/ment3 a health pro0lemD3 we see that the actual e4perience o2 li2e in each moment is constantl/ shi2ting. Even in the worst o2 times3 our 0ad 2eelings come and go and we are capa0le o2 laughter3 happiness3 and certainl/ love. =he stor/ we 0ring into the moment a0out a change or challenge o2ten makes the moment more di22icult and stress2ul than it actuall/ is. How pro0lematic li2e?s changes and challenges are is largel/ a matter o2 how much we are Iust in li2e without our stor/ a0out the change or challenge and how much we aren?t in real li2e 0ut in our stor/. We carr/ our sense o2 having a pro0lem around with us mentall/ and 0ring it into the moment3 spoiling it. 1 change or a pro0lem has no o0Iective e4istence3 0ut e4ists onl/ as an idea o2 a change or a pro0lem. We de2ine something as a pro0lem3 and that creates the e4perience o2 having a pro0lem. $o situation or circumstance is unmanagea0le3 0ut we make it so 0/ thinking a0out Four pro0lem3F complaining a0out it3 tr/ing to 2igure out what can?t 0e 2igured out3 2eeling 0ad3 0eing angr/ or a2raid3 worr/ing3 rehashing the past3 and wishing things were di22erent. =hese thoughts make whatever we?re e4periencing more challenging than an/ particular situation actuall/ is. When a challenging time or situation is stripped o2 these thoughts3 all that?s
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le2t is what to do or not do in this moment a0out it or an/thing else. B2ten what?s re5uired o2 us in a particular moment has nothing to do with our Fpro0lem.F 1nd /et3 we ma/ carr/ the idea o2 this pro0lem into such ordinar/ and potentiall/ pleasant moments. I challenge /ou to sta/ depressed or unhapp/ constantl/. It?s impossi0leJ Like a 2ist that?s clenched too long3 the contracted state must let go at a certain point. Eventuall/3 we e4perience relie2 2rom it. =hat relie2 usuall/ comes as a result o2 putting our mind and attention on something other than our pro0lemKgetting lost in some e4perience we are having3 getting lost in what?s real rather than what?s unreal Cour pro0lemD. =he trou0le is our ego actuall/ loves the idea o2 a pro0lem and all the worries and plans that go with that. =he ego is also what hates the pro0lem3 while at the same time3 it enIo/s hating itJ 6ou can sense this when /ou notice the complete e4perience o2 /our su22ering. Within that su22ering is enIo/ment o2 su22eringJ =hat?s the ego. Su22ering keeps the ego alive and gives it an identit/ FI?m someone who?s su22ering. 1nd I have a pro0lem that needs a solution.F 1 pro0lem gives us not onl/ an identit/3 0ut also something to do. =he ego de2ines something as a pro0lem3 generates unpleasant 2eelings around it3 and seeks solutions. =his pro0lem(creation and solution(seeking is how the ego is maintained. Without a Fpro0lemF and the su22ering caused 0/ that3 there wouldn?t 0e an/thing to think a0out. Without thought3 /ou would drop into Essence and 0e happ/3 and the ego would 0e out o2 a Io0. =he ego has a racket going that keeps it in power3 and it doesn?t want /ou to catch on to that. =he 0eaut/ is that change isn?t like a coin that?s tossed in the airL it Iust 2eels like that to the ego. Change isn?t like a coin 0ecause a
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coin has onl/ two sidesKone considered good and one 0ad. From the standpoint o2 Essence3 an/ change that?s happening is Iust as it?s meant to 0e. In other words3 the 2lip o2 the coin alwa/s ends up in /our 2avor. =hat?s actuall/ the truth a0out li2e. Li2e isn?t like a coin 0ecause it doesn?t have two sides It?s neither good nor 0ad. Ever/thing has its hidden 0lessings and hidden costs. Li2e is o2ten like a coin tossed3 however3 in its unpredicta0ilit/. We Iust don?t have to 0e a2raid o2 how it will land. Something ver/ wise is 0ehind ever/ e4perience that 2eels like a coin toss. We ma/ not 0e aware o2 this Intelligence3 0ut we can trust that it will 0ring us the e4periences we need. 1nd i2 we don?t 0ring worries3 2ears3 Iudgments3 resistance3 victimiEation3 anger3 con2usion3 or other negativit/ to an e4perience3 we will discover that it serves our growth and evolution toward 0ecoming a more loving and wiser human 0eing. Li2e is wise3 and it?s 0ringing us Home. Change and challenges are a natural and necessar/ part o2 li2e. When we trust and listen to the wisdom that we are instead o2 to the 2alse sel2 that we are not3 we 2ind that an/ change or challenge can 0e navigated grace2ull/ and without too much su22ering.
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PRO#-E/S AREN:T SO-4ED # T*IN7IN3 A#O2T T*E/ When we have a pro0lem3 it tends to pop up in our mind man/ times a da/. We worr/ a0out it and tr/ to 2igure out what to do. "ut thinking a0out our pro0lems is mostl/ thinking a0out what might happen in the 2uture We wonder3 FWhat?s going to happen and how will it a22ect me<F =he trou0le is3 there are no answers to these 5uestionsKuntil there areKno matter how hard we think a0out them. =hese answers and the solution to whatever pro0lem we think we have are revealed over time3 in the course o2 li2e un2olding3 and this can?t 0e rushed. We have little in2luence on the timing o2 how li2e un2olds. =he mind doesn?t like the 2act that we can?t alwa/s know what to do immediatel/ or how things will work out3 and it pushes to know what to do and what will happen 0e2ore it?s possi0le to know this. Sometimes the mind makes up answers Iust to know3 and then it pretends to know what to do and what will happen. =he mind o2ten pushes ahead with its solution 0ased on its assumptions. Pro0lems are naturall/ resolved with time. We do what needs to 0e done as that presents itsel2. Solutions are o2ten discovered intuitivel/3 as the/ pop into our mind We suddenl/ know what we need to do a0out a situation. 1nd we ma/ wonder wh/ we didn?t see the answer soonerJ "ut that?s how it is in li2e We don?t know until we do. 1nd all o2 our protests a0out this and struggling to know can?t change this 2act. 1 common e4ample is a health pro0lem We ma/ live with it 2or /ears3 and then suddenl/ we run across some in2ormation a0out it that gives us the solution or
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e4planation we were looking 2or. Sometimes we aren?t meant to 2ind answers to a pro0lem. 1 pro0lem ma/ 0e serving to catal/Ee our growth or point us in a new direction3 and it ma/ take /ears 0e2ore the 0lessing in having had that e4perience 0ecomes clear. Even i2 it never 0ecomes clear3 we can trust that our so(called pro0lems serve us in some wa/3 i2 not onl/ to create the su22ering that shows us we were the creator o2 that su22ering all along and didn?t actuall/ have a pro0lem3 e4cept the one we created 0/ thinking a0out something in a particular wa/. 1n e4ample o2 this is that we ma/ 2eel our relationship is pro0lematic. We?re unhapp/ and we don?t know what to do a0out it. =hen we discover that we are creating our own su22ering and a sense o2 there 0eing a pro0lem 0/ the demands we?re making on our partner to 0e di22erent instead o2 Iust accepting him or her and allowing that person and the relationship to 0e the wa/ it is. =he egoic mind comes up with all sorts o2 things it doesn?t like3 and these 0ecome pro0lems. "ut is it reall/ a pro0lem i2 /ou don?t like something< What i2 /ou decided it was oka/ to not like something< Br i2 /ou decided /ou didn?t need to change something Iust 0ecause /ou didn?t like it< =hat?s called acceptanceK/ou accept something /ou don?t like Iust 0ecause /ou decide to accept it rather than 2ocus on not liking it and making it into a pro0lem. Br what i2 /ou decided that /ou liked it instead o2 the opposite< =hinking a0out our pro0lems doesn?t help. It onl/ makes it impossi0le to enIo/ li2e as it is showing up. 1nd i2 /ou look closel/3 /ou will also realiEe that without /our thoughts a0out a situation3 there is no pro0lem. 1ll pro0lems are simpl/ de2ined as such 0/ the mind. What i2 /ou didn?t listen to the mind?s worries3 2ears3 and perspectives on li2e< Living in the $ow is a place o2 2reedom 2rom such thoughts. Li2e is still handled3 pro0lems are still solved3 0ut with much more peace and Io/. Li2e doesn?t have to 0e so hardJ
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IT TA7ES AS -ON3 AS IT TA7ES =he egoic mind argues with li2e. It?s in a 0ig hurr/ usuall/. It creates a sense o2 time and the sense that there isn?t enough o2 it. Bne o2 the wa/s it does this is 0/ pretending that something could or should take less time3 which o2 course is a lie. =hings take as long as the/ take3 and there?s usuall/ nothing we can do a0out itKand sometimes the/ take even longer than the/ usuall/ do People are late3 tra22ic is slow3 we?re out o2 an ingredient when we?re cooking3 someone interrupts us with a phone call. =he egoic mind doesn?t even accept things taking as long as the/ normall/ take3 so an/ dela/s are especiall/ a cause 2or complaint. =he mind compares whatever?s going on with an idea o2 either how it should look or how it looked in the past3 and it thinks li2e should compl/ to that idea or memor/. "ut li2e doesn?t work that wa/. =he mind Iust doesn?t accept how li2e works3 and that causes us a lot o2 stressKi2 we listen to and 0elieve our thoughts. What i23 with ever/ little and 0ig thing in li2e3 we Iust let it take as long as it takes< It?s going to an/wa/. $ot 0eing oka/ with how long something takes is a source o2 ongoing3 su0tle su22ering that most o2 us live with without 5uestioning it. "ut we don?t have to live with a sense o2 pushing3 hurr/ing3 2rustration3 anger3 and dissatis2action i2 we see that we are creating that unpleasant e4perience with the perception that something shouldn?t take as much time as it does. $otice this as /ou are going a0out /our da/. $otice how dissatis2ied with dail/ tasks the egoic mind can 0e. 1nd /et such tasks must 0e done We have to drive to get somewhere3 we have to 0rush our teeth3 we have to pa/ our 0ills3 we have to do the man/ things that make our lives work and run smoothl/.
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;esisting and complaining a0out such tasks is d/s2unctional and unpleasant3 so wh/ listen to and agree with the egoic mind?s resistance3 complaining3 and negativit/< =he ke/ is Iust to see that an/ resistance or negativit/ a0out what /ou are doing is /our mind%s resistance and negativit/ and not yours. 6ou are that which is capa0le o2 noticing /our thoughts and what the mind is up toKhow it creates negativit/ and dissatis2action. Bur de2ault position as humans is to agree with our thoughts and 2eel the/ are our thoughts. "ut the/ are Iust the programming we were given. I2 those thoughts were going on in someone else?s mind instead o2 our own3 we wouldn?t consider them to 0e ours. "ut since the/ are going on in our own head3 we agree with them. We 0elieve that?s what we 0elieve and how we 2eel and that it?s right and appropriate to 2eel that wa/. What a 0lessing it is when /ou discover that which is within /ou that can disagree with negativit/3 that can disagree with /our own thoughts. What is that< =hat is who /ou reall/ are. 6ou are that which is happ/ with li2e and a0le to let ever/thing take as much time as it does. =his ver/ simple shi2t 2rom pushing /oursel2 through something to letting ever/thing take as long as it takes will change /our e4perience o2 li2e dramaticall/. Living this wa/ is much more peace2ul3 2unctional3 and 2un. =he same things get done in the same amount o2 time 0ut with ease and peace instead o2 stress and 2rustration. Freedom 2rom anger3 2rustration3 and dissatis2action is possi0le Iust 0/ noticing how the mind is a0le to create those 2eelings within /ou i2 /ou let it. 1nd then 0e grate2ul 2or the li2e /ou are given and all the things /ou GhaveH to do. From that place3 i2 something a0out /our li2e or how /ou do things can 0e changed 2or the 0etter3 /ou will more easil/ 2ind a wa/ to do that. =he mind actuall/ loves to 2eel terri0le3 mart/red3 and sel2(righteous3 so it won?t help /ou
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2ind a wa/ to 0e more 2unctional and happ/. It would rather wallow in its own su22ering. 6ou 2ind a wa/ 0/ not listening to /our negative thoughts and 0/ letting ever/thing take as long as it takes. ;ela4 and enIo/ the rideJ
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ARE YOU WILLING?

1re /ou willing to pla/ the role the Whole has in :ind 2or /ou3 no matter how 0ig or small< 1re /ou willing to have the e4perience /ou are having< 1re /ou willing to see that the e4perience /ou are having serves /our evolution and3 in turn3 the evolution o2 the Whole< What i2 /ou surrendered the struggle o2 making /our li2e turn out a certain wa/ and reall/ e4perienced the li2e /ou are having right nowKnot the stor/ a0out /our li2e3 0ut this moment 2ree o2 that stor/< 1re /ou willing to age the wa/ /ou are aging< 1re /ou willing to have the amount o2 mone/ /ou have in /our 0ank account< 1re /ou willing to move i2 /ou have to move or sta/ i2 /ou have to sta/< 1re /ou willing to 0e in a relationship i2 /ou are in one or not 0e in a relationship i2 /ou aren?t< 1re /ou willing to look the wa/ /ou look< 1re /ou willing to e4perience pain i2 that?s what /ou are e4periencing< 1re /ou willing to 2eel lost or 0ad or con2used or whatever /ou are 2eeling< 9ust 2or now. 1ll we ever have to do is 0e willing3 Iust 2or now3 to have whatever e4perience we are having. When we are3 the things that seem like a pro0lem stop 2eeling like a pro0lem3 and we are a0le to e4perience the 0eaut/ and goodness o2 li2e. What i2 all the things that were happening that /ou didn?t like were oka/ with /ou< What would it take 2or those things to 0e oka/< Isn?t it something inside /ou that decides the/ aren?t oka/< What 0elie2s keep /ou 2rom letting those things 0e oka/< 8oes it do an/ good to decide that those things are not oka/< =he thing is3 i2 something isn?t oka/ with us3 we 2eel unhapp/. So then we not onl/ have the situation we don?t like3 0ut we are
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also unhapp/. We can Iust have the situation we don?t like and still 0e happ/J 1cceptance doesn?t mean /ou have to like the situationL it Iust means /ou are willing to let it 0e the wa/ it is 2or now3 i2 onl/ 0ecause /ou don?t want to waste this precious moment 0eing unhapp/. "eing unhapp/ is unnecessar/. We can dislike something and still 0e happ/J =he willingness to let things 0e the wa/ the/ are allows us to rela4 and Iust 0e here in this moment without struggling with3 0eing a2raid o23 complaining a0out3 or tr/ing to 2i4 something3 all o2 which end up de2ining our e4perience o2 li2e i2 we let them. =he willingness to let things 0e the wa/ the/ are allows us to 0e in this moment without the sense o2 having a pro0lem. "eing willing to let something we don?t like 0e the wa/ it is allows us to e4perience what else is going on in this moment 0esides what we don?t like a0out Four li2e.F =hat?s when we can discover that there are plent/ o2 things a0out this moment and a0out li2e that we do like3 that are wonder2ul3 0eauti2ul3 and 2or which we can 0e grate2ul. Surprisingl/3 this state o2 gratitude and rela4ation is the state that solutions and inspiration to act come 2rom to change an/thing that is meant to 0e changed. 1re /ou willing to let /our li2e 0e the wa/ it is right now< =here isn?t much o2 an alternative3 reall/. =he onl/ alternative is to complain a0out it or 0e angr/ or unhapp/ a0out it3 which doesn?t change it. I2 something can?t 0e changed right now3 in this moment3 then let some other moment take care o2 it. 1re /ou willing to e4perience ever/thing that?s happening in the moment3 not Iust /our ideas3 wishes3 dreams3 2ears3 dou0ts3 and desires< E4periencing such thoughts instead o2 real li2e is what makes us unhapp/. =here?s alwa/s enough to 0e happ/ a0out when our attention isn?t 2ocused on such thoughts.
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=he desire 2or something to 0e di22erent takes us awa/ 2rom real li2e and makes us unhapp/ with li2e. We think such desires serve us3 0ut the/ onl/ create and sustain the 2alse sel2. Essence has deeper drives and intentions that don?t lead to the discontentment the ego?s desires lead to. Following these deeper drives is onl/ possi0le i2 we aren?t su22ering over the ego?s desires. 8rop into the moment and discover what Essence intends 2or /ou in this moment. 1re /ou willing to have the e4perience in this moment that Essence is having< In an/ moment3 we can have the e4perience our ego is having or the e4perience Essence is having. 1re /ou willing to 0e at peace<
A#O2T T*E A2T*OR

Gina Lake is a spiritual teacher and the author o2 numerous 0ooks a0out awakening to onePs true nature3 including Trusting 'ife, Embracing the Now, (adical )appiness, 'i$ing in the Now, (eturn to Essence, 'o$ing in the #oment, hat About Now* Anatomy of +esire, and ,etting -ree. She is also a gi2ted intuitive with a master?s degree in counseling ps/cholog/ and over twent/ /ears e4perience supporting people in their spiritual growth. Her we0site o22ers in2ormation a0out her 0ooks3 2ree e(0ooks3 0ook e4cerpts3 a monthl/ newsletter3 a 0log3 and audio and video recordings www.radicalhappiness.com
#oo$s b> 3ina -a$e

C1vaila0le in paper0ack3 >indle3 and other e(0ook 2ormats.D
Embracing the Now9 %inding Peace and *a++iness in What Is.

=he $owKthis momentKis the true source o2 happiness and peace and the ke/ to living a 2ul2illed and meaning2ul li2e. Embracing the Now is a collection o2 essa/s that can serve as dail/ reminders o2 the deepest truths. Full o2 clear insight and wisdom3 Embracing the Now e4plains how the mind keeps us 2rom 0eing in the moment3 how to move into the $ow and sta/ there3 and what living 2rom the $ow is like. It also e4plains how to overcome stum0ling 0locks to 0eing in the $ow3 such as 2ears3 dou0ts3 misunderstandings3 Iudgments3 distrust o2 li2e3 desires3 and other conditioned ideas that are 0ehind human su22ering.
Radica1 *a++iness9 A 3uide to Awa$ening provides the ke/s to

e4periencing the happiness that is ever(present and not dependent on circumstances. =his happiness doesnPt come 2rom getting what /ou want3 0ut 2rom wanting what is here now. It comes 2rom realiEing that who /ou think /ou are is not who /ou reall/ are. =his is a radical perspectiveJ (adical )appiness descri0es the nature o2 the egoic state o2 consciousness and how it inter2eres with happiness3 what awakening and enlightenment are3 and how to live in the world a2ter awakening.
Trusting -i&e9 Overcoming the %ear and #e1ie&s That #1oc$ Peace and *a++iness? Fear and distrust keep us 2rom living the li2e we
were meant to live3 and the/ are the greatest hurdles to seeing the truth a0out li2eKthat it is good3 a0undant3 supportive3 and potentiall/ Io/ous. Trusting 'ife is a deep e4ploration into the m/ster/ o2 who we are3 wh/ we su22er3 wh/ we donPt trust li2e3 and how to 0ecome more trusting. It o22ers evidence that li2e is trustworth/ and tools 2or overcoming the 2ear and 0elie2s that keep us 2rom 2alling in love with li2e.
-oving in the /oment9 /oving &rom Ego to Essence in Re1ationshi+s. Having a trul/ meaning2ul relationship re5uires
choosing love over /our conditioning3 that is3 /our ideas3 2antasies3 desires3 images3 and 0elie2s. 'o$ing in the #oment descri0es how to move 0e/ond conditioning3 Iudgment3 anger3 romantic illusions3 and di22erences to the e4perience o2 love and Bneness with another. It e4plains how to drop into the core o2 /our "eing3 where Bneness and love e4ist3 and 0e with others 2rom there.
Anatom> o& Desire9 *ow to #e *a++> Even When ou Don@t 3et What ou Want will help /ou discriminate 0etween /our
HeartPs desires and the egoPs and to relate to the egoPs desires in a wa/ that reduces su22ering and increases Io/. "/ pointing out the m/ths a0out desire that keep us tied to our egoPs desires and the su22ering the/ cause3 Anatomy of +esire will help /ou 0e happ/ regardless o2 /our desires and whether /ou are attaining them. So it is also a0out spiritual 2reedom3 or li0eration3 which comes 2rom 2ollowing the Heart3 our deepest desires3 instead o2 the egoPs desires. It is a0out 0ecoming a lover o2 li2e rather than a desirer.
Return to Essence9 *ow to #e in the %1ow and %u1&i11 our -i&e@s Pur+ose descri0es how to get into the 2low and sta/ there and how
to live li2e 2rom there. "eing in the 2low and not 0eing in the 2low are two ver/ di22erent states. Bne is dominated 0/ the ego(driven mind3 which is the cause o2 su22ering3 while the other is the domain o2 Essence3 the 8ivine within each o2 us. 6ou are meant to live in the 2low. =he 2low is the e4perience o2 EssenceK/our true sel2Kas it lives li2e through /ou and 2ul2ills its purpose 2or this li2e.
-iving in the Now9 *ow to -ive as the S+iritua1 #eing That ou Are? =he %% essa/s in 'i$ing in the Now will help /ou realiEe /our
true nature and live as that. =he/ answer man/ 5uestion raised 0/ the spiritual search and o22er wisdom on su0Iects such as 2ear3 anger3 happiness3 aging3 0oredom3 desire3 patience3 2aith3 2orgiveness3 acceptance3 love3 commitment3 hope3 purpose3 meaning3 meditation3 0eing present3 emotions3 trusting li2e3 trusting /our Heart3 and man/ other deep su0Iects. =hese essa/s will help /ou 0ecome more conscious3 present3 happ/3 loving3 grate2ul3 at peace3 and 2ul2illed. Each essa/ stands on its own and can 0e used 2or dail/ contemplation.
3etting %ree9 *ow to /ove #e>ond Conditioning and #e *a++>? Freedom 2rom /our conditioning is possi0le3 0ut the mind
is a 2ormida0le opponent to 2reedom. =o 0e 2ree re5uires a new wa/ o2 thinking or3 rather3 not thinking. =o a large e4tent3 healing our conditioning involves changing our relationship to our mind and discovering who we reall/ are. ,etting -ree will help /ou do that. It will also help /ou reprogram /our mindL clear negative thoughts and sel2(imagesL use meditation3 pra/er3 2orgiveness3 and gratitudeL work with spiritual 2orces to assist healing and clear negativit/L and heal entrenched issues 2rom the past.
What About Now6 Reminders &or #eing in the /oment. =he

secret to happiness is moving out o2 the mind and learning to delight in each moment. In hat About Now3 /ou will 2ind over +,) 5uotes 2rom Gina LakePs 0ooksK(adical )appiness, Embracing the Now, 'o$ing in the #oment, 'i$ing in the Now, and othersKthat will inspire and ena0le /ou to 0e more present. =hese empowering 5uotes will wake /ou up out o2 /our ordinar/ consciousness and help /ou live with more love3 contentment3 gratitude3 and awe. %or more in&o= +1ease visit the A#oo$sB +age at http.//www.radicalhappiness.com

Embracing The Now

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Embracing the Now

Endless Satsang Foundation

Endless Satsang Foundation www.radicalhappiness.com

Cover art ! Sam "light sam#rangsgraphics.com www.rangsgraphics.com.au

IS"$ %&'()(*+,-(.)*'(' Cop/right ! -))' 0/ Gina Lake

7 * ' +) +7 +* +% --, -' 7+ 7. 7* 7' .)

PART 1 Discovering Who ou Are

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8iscovering Who 6ou 1re

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8iscovering Who 6ou 1re

PART ! The Ego

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IS"$ %&'()(+,-(.)'(' Cop/right ! -))' 0/ Gina Lake