stillness

19 posts

Bucket, Water and the Life that Flows

The bucket I use for house cleaning recently became the focus of my awareness. Hence, conscious presence flowed through me as water in a stream. Likewise, conscious presence becomes obvious to everyone on occasion. This happens when we are in the moment beyond boundaries of mind and body. Yes, an object, such as the bucket I use, will offer a portal to presence. However, any thought, feeling, person or thing is only the jumping off point to active awareness. Thus, practice the acknowledgment of unity and tranquility that flows from you as the source of your beingness. Nothing in your mind or surroundings can give you conscious enlightenment. Presence is a state of being. And, our beingness should flow without biasness, attachment or dependency.

bucket

Conscious living is not something we do. Rather, we are the beingness of being. It is beneficial to deeply realize that conscious awareness flows from you. Or, it doesn’t. Here also, your state of beingness determines the energy that flows. Therefore, influences how you live life. No other person or thing can give you conscious presence. Continue reading →

Observation of Mind and Body

Observation of your level of awareness to any experience allows conscious awakening and expansion. There are many temporary superficialities that overwhelm and even restrict conscious awareness. Again, and again, something happens to us. And, we react to everything based on mind interjection. Let’s use respect for ourselves and others as an example. Society teaches us to respect ourselves and people, regardless of the behavior. Nevertheless, I suggest for you not to focus on respecting yourself and other people. I realize that this seems harsh. And, is contrary to everything the mind tells you. Nonetheless, please, give me a moment to expand on this suggestion. Let’s face the facts. We do not always respect ourselves and others. Consequently, the demands placed on us by such taught and conditioned behavior give us anxiety and frustration. This is because we usually unconsciously interact with only the superficialities of living.

observation

Therefore, we center our unconscious focus on a thought, feeling, situation or person. Thus, we only experience the temporary interactions. But, isn’t there something beyond and deeper than what the mind tells you about something? Yes, that’s right. You feel something very serene in the background of any given experience. Nevertheless, you disregard this blissful calmness because you think it is unreachable. Or, is it? Continue reading →

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Who Am I?

The mirror from the story Snow White is well-known to most people. The evil queen wanted recognition as the fairest person of them all. And, this behavior suggests that the queen had gone mad due to what she saw in the mirror. But, the evil queen did not see her true self. Neither, with or without a mirror. Furthermore, what she saw in the mirror was strictly of the mind. These mind interpretations obscured the innate presence, stillness and beauty within the queen. The queen’s dilemma happens to us each day because we look but do not truly see.

mirror

Okay, let’s expand on this topic. What happens when you stand in front of a mirror? What do you see? You probably answer this question with the obvious answer that you see yourself. This is what the mind has taught you to see, think and believe. Nevertheless, I ask that you look beyond what the mind’s interpretation of your reflection. Therefore, look deep within yourself. Likewise, use the reflection of yourself strictly as a passage to the inner self. Now, ask yourself again. What do you see? Realize that there is a depth to your beingness that is not obvious at first glance. Continue reading →

Simplify Life and Don’t Resist Living

Conscious living offers us a clear perspective regarding our daily activities and understanding of how everything unfolds. Does a feather fight against the wind or define the wind as being its fate? Both are unlikely. Thus, the feather simply experiences the natural flow of the wind. It does this without interpretation or definition. The feather is one with the now of this moment because it allows life to flow through it and the wind to move it. The stillness within nothingness manifests everything. Therefore, simplify and live within this flow.

simplify

Simplify

Simplify and you will surely fly.
Let life be simple and never wonder why.
After all, life has a natural flow
Thereby it carries you along.

The highest plateau is always within reach.
This is more than gliding or carelessly flying.
Now is not the time to wait, don’t ever hesitate.

The mind will often cause you to contemplate.
It tells you to be careful and wants you to debate.
There is so much you must think and do.
Do not listen, do not ponder.
Otherwise, the mind will cause you to wander.
How do you feel? Always observe what you think.
Be afraid, don’t look beyond my thoughts.
This is what the mind whispers.
Nevertheless, simplify and discover that you can fly.
It is possible now without delay.
However, the mind will warn you to stay away.
But, heed not what it says, do not worry…
Continue reading →

Eating Grapes and Living Life

I invite you to share my breakfast adventure as I discover an additionally stepping stone to conscious living. Grapes are great! I should have a t-shirt printed with this statement 😊. Eating grapes is a daily delight for me, either fresh or as raisins. But, not necessarily as wine 😉. Do you like grapes? You might wish to grab a few grapes to eat as I share an experience this morning from my kitchen. Are you aware that white grapes are easier than red to pick and clean? The red grape stubbornly hangs on the plant stem during picking and also when you clean it.

eating

Imagine, if you will, your eagerness to eat some grapes, perhaps with yogurt, cereal or honey. However, it is best to wash the grapes before eating them. Not a problem. Right? Well, this experience, as with all life experiences, offers us a lesson in conscious living. And, this became evident to me as I washed and removed the grape stems this morning. I choose red grapes today for my eating delight at breakfast. Consequently, as mentioned above, the red grapes held firmly attached to the stems. But, I was eager to eat. Continue reading →

The Mountaintop Is Your True Home

Acknowledge that you live on a mountaintop. Let’s reflect on this insight before the mind contaminates the scenery with too many thoughts. You stand with your face to the sun. Furthermore, the sun is always shining at the top of the mountain. A breeze caresses your face.

mountaintop

Occasionally birds fly about and visit you. They sing a song of life and living. It seems you are alone here on the mountaintop. However, you are never truly alone. You emerge in pure presence. Thus, you sense the energy pulsations of the earth, the universe and life. Living in pure presence nurtures unity. Thus, separation and loneliness are abstracts of the mind.

Presence offers bliss. Therefore, time and matter have no ultimate significance. These are only details of a temporary existence. There is a path before you. The trail leads to the valley below. And yes, you travel, on occasion, to the valley in your thoughts and actions. Nevertheless, no detail within the valley compares to the sheer rapture of living in the presence of your being. Continue reading →

Edge of Forever Is Where Life Begins

A Fear of falling prevent us from nurturing the desire to let go of the minds conditioning. This anxiety happens as a person senses the edge between mind and consciousness. The mind overshadows this boundary. And, this restricts conscious development. Mental patterns and conditioned behavior often block access to a spacious presence we call consciousness.

edge

The practice of going beyond this mind-made edge is beneficial to releasing the fear of falling. Realize that consciousness is energy and it is constant. Your awareness stimulates this energy. Thus, the practice of conscious awareness frees the pathway between mind, object consciousness and universal consciousness. Many people read about the practice of not thinking or stop thinking to reach enlightenment. As a result, these phrases cause the majority of people frustration. Why? Because it is impossible for the mind to stop the process of thinking. May I suggest the practice of simple meditative exercises consisting of beyond the mind experiences? Equally, you can practice going beyond the mind during a moment of stillness. I will write more about this in an upcoming article. Continue reading →

Please Tell Me Why

Please Tell Me Why

Where do I belong? What is happening to me?
Why don’t I understand the world, or it me?
Please tell me why.
I do my best, really, I do.
I look out into the world each day.

please

Over and over I say…
Here I am, world; don’t you see?
I listen for an answer but often, quite often, there
is nothing.
There is only silence, precious silence to be
perceived.
Please tell me why.

Habitually, I feel very confused.
I feel shattered, twirling in a storm.
There I twist and I turn, tumbling about.
Still, I don’t know why.
Continue reading →

Allow Life to Flow and Just Let Go

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Count the number of situations for one day that you don’t like. The total number might surprise you. Your boss gives you a task that you do not like. There is a traffic jam on the highway that angers you. You must wait in a line to pay for your groceries. It seems impossible to simply allow and accept. So, the list of things you don’t like goes on and on. Still, from time to time, there is a moment when everything is just right. Then, at least for this brief interval, you are happy. Or, at least this is what the mind tells you.

But, true happiness and satisfaction never really come. Thus, dissatisfaction comes again one minute later. Why? Mainly because you attach yourself to any, and everything. And, you expect and demand. Instead of accept and appreciate. The majority of people do this daily at some level. On the other hand, how would any experience change when you just allow and receive whatever the situation holds?

allow

Allow and acknowledge the isness of this moment. Trust me when I share with you that this is the simplest act of living life. All discomforts, barriers and suffering fade away. Hence, you discover a calm spaciousness during any thought, feeling or situation. Likewise, spaciousness and stillness are possible in any situation, regardless of the details. This is the feeling of coming home. This dimension is where the true self resides. Let’s reflect on this insight during the remainder of the article. Continue reading →

Do You Embrace Life or Push It Away?

The word embrace offers a signpost to conscious awareness. Do you wish to live in balance and harmony? If yes, then welcome life with open arms. This gateway can offer a clearer understanding of life and living. This is a practical stepping stone in moving beyond mind limitations. Nevertheless, the majority of people are anxious and fearful in daily activities. We cover-up anxiety with superficial and temporary distractions. Therefore, mind and body are always nervous with little or no genuine inner stillness.

embrace

But, mind-generated energy seeks a way out. Thus, this energy flow affects your interactions, whether personal or collective. And, the point of focus determines your life experience. So, please practice using the word as a signpost to the space that is beyond the mind. Your center of conscious attention is the gateway. I personally practice using the word embrace during various activities. Years ago, I came to realize that I almost always practice this in my experiences. An example of this would be my philosophy on weather conditions. I always embrace any weather condition, regardless if this is rain, snow, hot or cold. I literally consciously hug the heat or cold that I experience. Again, and again it is fascinating to observe how my state of conscious awareness benefits from this exercise. Continue reading →