Category: meditation,Breathing,visualizations

Seeking for a Spiritual Change

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How can our human afflictions influence the maturity for spiritual growth that benefits oneself and others(humanity).

Unhappiness…propels us to seek Joy

Pain and suffering…make us strive for the comfort of Peace

Ignorance and darkness,…drive us to look for the light of Clarity

Delusion and Disillusionment,…challenge us to find the Truth of Life

Anger and Hatred,…open the path into the power of forgiveness and Eternal Love

Selfish desires…bring us opportunities for kind acts of Charity

Chaos and Confusion,…humble us to implore the wisdom of spiritual Awareness

When we ask with clenched fist,how are we to receive?

When we ask with an open,sincere Heart,we are able to receive as well as Give!———CSH

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

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A Lenten Meditation

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Lent

In the Christian tradition,today,which is also known as Ash Wednesday starts the beginning of Lent.Ash denotes the truth that the physical body will turn to ashes when it decays in death.So it can be termed that we are reminded of the truth of dying to all that is not permanent.In other words to our’old habituated -suffering -egoistic self’.

It is a time of withdrawal(moving inward into the self),a time of spiritual retreat.A time to utilize the test of faith,perseverence and courage in wanting to find the True Self following in the footsteps of the historical Jesus the Christ.

As we are told in the Gospels of the New Testament,Jesus left for the wilderness/desert for 40 days/nights to meditate,look within himself, to be allowed to be tempted,tested and tried.It was a time he had to harness all his energies inward into himself withdrawing from the sensory deluded world,letting go,surrendering and renouncing all forms of desires, attachments,ego-centric motivations in order to find his True Self.He needed time to spend in aloneness and solitude to fast his senses and commence the purification process from all afflictions.By going through this endeavour,Jesus had witnessed his Divinity,experienced, announced and attested that the ‘Kingdom of Heaven is Within,’which he mentions many times in the scriptures.

As we journey on this humanly life, it is necessary to find time for quietude to examine our conscience as we develop going deeper into our self to know and experience the truth for ourselves.This is the lesson and teaching that Jesus and all enlightened teachers/masters of spiritual truth would have wanted for us to learn from.They direct the way of seeking out silence to rest the mind,body and spirit and find our True Self.

Therefore lent could be likened to an addict who wisely seeks healing from unnecessary suffering and torments through rehabilitation to courageously and completely detoxify in the term of ‘cold-turkey’ away from the source of addictive temptations.

Most religious traditions delegate a time for ritualistic fasting/penances and altruistic practices to bring us back into our conscience to observe our living states.And it does not only stop when the ritualistic time period is over…it is truly a continuation to keep evolving, delving deeper into ourselves till we find and purify and free ourselves from unnecessary suffering and selfish bondages.

Lent is a time for everyone,believers and non-believers of any particular religious tradition or non at all.Lent is an opportune chance to begin the healing process of cleansing the self of all unhealthy afflictions that disturb our lives and the lives of others.It is a time to bring peace of mind and heart for the welfare of each and every single human being.And we begin with ourselves!

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

Celebrating Love

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When we sit in solitude(meditation),in the Presence of Divine Countenance,we Celebrate Love.

When we are in the company of another/others,that celebrated Love is animated and shared in Joyful and peaceful celebration.

Love radiates as we smile,as we give a hug,as we hold a hand,as we speak a word of kindness and share laughter,as we help to serve to whomever,however,whatever either in a big or small way.

We are all,each and every one is a Lover of Truth,Beauty and Goodness”

Every Moment is a time to celebrate Love,a time to witness tenderness that we can cherish and offer to each other…

When we look through the ‘eyes’ of Love,we go beyond age,gender,race,culture, religion,physical appearances,emotional and mental propensities.

Everyone and everything is Beautiful and Unique!

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

From Head into the Heart

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From Head to the Heart

Saint Augustine of Hippo said….”my soul will not rest till it rests in you Lord”

Most of my life I tried to decipher what these words actually meant and what truth it wanted to speak of.

Because of my own quiet perseverance in search for truth and love,I have come to understand its true meaning after going through long struggles with depression, unhappiness and misery most of my adult life.Like St. Augustine, I was yearning for peace of mind and for my heart to experience love in its deepest/fullest capacity.

Meditation,as I have come to practice and experience firsthand is that ‘spiritual transport’ by which all beings inherently can reach the core of the heart and find true purpose of our lives.The purpose of which is to know who we truly are,to be liberated from wasteful,unnecessary suffering and to be a lamp to help others find their way to peace and truth.

Meditation is a sacred passage by which we travel into ourselves watching our minds while we descend into the heart to find Divine Love there already waiting.By this process we come to know who we truly are empirically(direct experience).No one can bring us into ourselves but ourselves! In other words no one or any entity can save us!All true teachers are there to help point and guide,direct us on the path into the self and not away from truth and our own true nature.

We move esoterically(inwardly) from head to heart in the quietude of meditation.It is a love affair with oneself,in self-inquiry…”who am I truly?’”what do I truly want?”

By devoted sitting/walking meditation practice, we gradually become aware and conscious of our humanness,the mind is being observed and tamed.We mature in slow progression of peacefulness(contentment),understanding the true nature of things,preparing to accept all arising of uncertainties.It is not easy to sit in meditation but it becomes possible and effortless once we understand and are willing to endure it for the sake of wisdom,compassionate and joyful attainments to offer and share for ourselves and with others.

Most of my adult life,I thought living was just one big arena for foolish/selfish fun and play,reveling in reckless/restless activities.In the midst of all those reveries,there was always a deep ache and longing for something more,something fulfilling and meaningful that I hungered for.It was something I could not put a finger on but I knew that all these fun and worldly pursuits were not truly what life should be all about totally and aimlessly. I am not against fun,enjoyment and rest/recreation…but only that no one is hurt or harmed or abused and taken advantage of leading to further suffering.Another pitfall of wanting perpetual fun and happiness is that our senses become deeply attached/addicted to its pleasurable tendencies.Happiness hence becomes a suffering trapped in a tiresome,energy draining cycle,repeated over and over unable to be freed from chasing one desire after another(the mind/psyche sustains no peace).If desires are not met,we become agitated and restless which could lead to subtle or vicious aggression and maliciousness.

The world is out there acting as an assistance usually by the subtle and harsh realities of difficulties,chaos,hardships,challenging people/situations,false/empty offering of happiness/glory/beauty and riches which creates opportunities for us to change directions into one of spiritual conversion/transformation thus leading us to introspect and look within ourselves.

A quote from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7,verse 13-14 illustrating what Jesus had to say about walking through the narrow road which means inwardly into the self and not blindly following ideologies, hearsays,opinions/beliefs of others(world) through the wide gate and broad road with the many distractions that destroy inner peace and truth.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

~~~~~ Jesus ~~~~~

If inclined to,practice spending a few minutes at a time being in quiet presence to rest the body,mind and soul.To have the right intention of understanding why we need to practice.In order to be opened to peace and loving intentions which bring relief,comfort, to nurture and cultivate wisdom and spiritual maturity.

I write not intending for anyone with any particular religious belief but for everyone as we are all human,yearning to know the truth of ourselves but still not ready or prepared to do so.

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

Courageous Humility

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Courageous Humility

In the true act of courageous humility,the being becomes aware of the log(guilt, fears,faults and negative affictions)) in one’s own eye first thus we can begin to understand the speck(pain and sufferings) seen in another’s eye.

In this process,the devotee chooses to make a courageous effort to pull out that ‘infected’ affected log from its own eye while resonating in compassion for the speck seen in another’s eye.

We all as human beings do suffer.When we see and feel and acknowledge our own suffering,we humbly stop to contain it in the wisdom of not wanting to pour it outwards to inflict pain and annoyances upon others.And this includes the discernment to not be influential in encouraging others to engage in unwholesome activities which does not empower and enhance spiritual healing,growth and humane betterment.For to help bring peace and joy to ourselves, our homes, our environment,to the world,we can mindfully discern to not indulge in meaningless,childish(selfish) and fearful behaviours which only stuns healthy development for ourselves and people we say we care for.

What can we learn from the two criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus on that fateful historical day some two thousand years ago?

The first criminal(the arrogant one),while hanging and dying on the cross mocked Jesus by saying “if you are the son of God,why don’t you come down from the cross and save yourself!”

The second criminal(the humbled one),also in the throes of suffering in pain and close to death on the cross chose the courage to be humble.He chose to defend Jesus,to defend truth and goodness.He spoke quietly to the arrogant man and said……”this man(Jesus) is not a criminal and does not deserve to die like us!”

And Jesus responded to the humble man…..”on this day,you shall be with me in paradise!”

What would suffering allow us to learn from? Humility or Arrogance?

Opening up to Our Conscious state

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Opening up to our Conscious State

How can we grow from purifying our false(negative)state of being to find peace and joy?

How can we truly practice to be courageous in order to live in our True State of Being to share with others?

How do we manifest/witness peace,loving-kindness and joy from within ourselves and outwardly to others?

How to make our lives within our family/friends/circle of people we associate with,our environment and our world,a harmonious place to thrive in?

When there were moments to be angry,abrupt and obnoxious

what did I do or can I choose to do?______

When there were chances to hate,to resent and hold on to bitterness,

what did I do or can I choose to do?______

When there were the opportunity for pride and arrogance to arise,

what did I do or can I choose to do ?______

When there were openness to be selfish,greedy and materialisitic,

what did I do or can I choose to do ?_______

When there were trials and temptations,

what did I do or can I choose to do?_______

When there were times of fear and defending falsehood,

what did I do or can I choose to do?_______

When there were reasons to blame,speak against,spread rumours and be irresponsible,

what did I do or can I choose to do?_______

When I felt Loving, joyful and kind,

what did I do?_____________________________________________

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

A Christmas Meditation

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Generally around the time of Christmas, people develop sensitivities of the heart,a time when most people feel nostalgic, depressed, low in spirit and melancholic…why?Perhaps too many reminders of the way it should be spent with lavish parties and gifts,negative past experiences—missing someone,lost of a loved one,separation,present way of unhappy life situations,being(feeling) alone,the dark,rainy and gloomy weather conditions,the chaotic world, etc.This season too is a time for miracles of the heart to happen,charity and spiritual growth/changes!,During this time,we often speak(sing), hear and see the words LOVE,PEACE,JOY in songs, posters,advertisements,greeting cards,in shopping centres,decorations,etc.

When we lighten and allow the heart to tenderize through whatever we are experiencing in this moment—with thoughtful understanding,kind,loving,forgiving,joyful and humble actions,we can and will enjoy the Christmas season and all its festivities even more meaningfully.We can learn to simply be Present(a present) of peace and joy and thus not get into a knot of attachment to all past reminders.Through this way of loving consciousness,we can wake up without any traces of harsh ‘hangovers’ when the season is over!

My wish and prayer for each one of you,family(near and far),friends and all whom I haven’t seen for a long time and some even I have not met,my wish for you is to be blessed with a Generous Heart and be a witness to the Miracle of Love during this Christmas time. Joyous and Peaceful blessings of the season to all!

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

What seemingly is imperfect,is PERFECT!

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The call to Greatness is the Call to LOVE!And that Love itself is perfect! If each one can be mindful of that love within them and act kindly to each other and cherish the pureness of every life within your self, family, friends and strangers all the same,the world will finally find Peace!With the cultivation of True Love of the heart brings world peace!Seek not for recognition or riches of the world,but rather turn within to be sustained by that ineffable beauty called Love.

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

In Love

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When Love becomes the only law we follow in deep understanding,wisdom,and courage,we allow the authencity of life to be lived out.This authencity of living is fearless and balanced in facing adversities,hardships,difficulties as well as happy moments.

Love is all that we are,have and sustained by in the presence of this moment!

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

The Kingdom of Heaven Within the Self

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The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

~~~~ Teaching of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew chapter

13,verses 44-46 ~~~~~

A beautiful straightforward message of Jesus pointing in the direction of the treasures within each of us.All teachers of Truth will attest that there is nothing outside of ourselves that will bring everlasting True Joy/Happiness,everything we need is already within!We need only to be reminded as we have forgotten,lost in the quagmire of life.

As per the two parables above both illustrate how wisdom paved the way of these two men who have awakened to understand that they have so much beauty and goodness within that they strove with all their might to conserve their energy,to let go of all unnecessary wasteful activities/burdens in order to uncover the jewels within themselves.

Like the wise men in the parables, we too can and will do the same.When we have discovered the precious jewels within,we truly will have arrived Home to our True Self and will have found the eternal life as Jesus has referred to a few times as the Kingdom of Heaven within!

Heaven as we may have been taught or indoctrinated to believe in is a place somewhere we go to after physical death if we have been good in our earthly life.In truth, heaven is that eternal joyful state of awakened luminosity that we hold and experience within ourselves and we readily and happily want to share with others right here and now…not at a future time or a fantasy place!

The teachings of Jesus and all spiritual teachers of past and present spread to all of humanity and not only to a select few people of any particular religious tradition/background.As all of humanity is connected in Universal Consciousness and the Heart in Love.

What each becomes after uncovering and discovering the treasures,is left to be …a healer,a therapist/counselor, a teacher of truth, a writer, a hermit,a householder,a benevolent servant of charity, a faithful friend, a lover,etc.Each will definitely be of help and benefit in spreading goodwill and the raising of sublime consciousness to perhaps just one person or for the 7 billion people globally.

Author of To Resurrect the True Self