Tag: life lessons

Overwhelming Afflictions

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When we are overwhelmed by disturbing strong affictive emotions such as jealousy,fearfulness,anger,hatred and addictive instigation,we can always practice the mindfulness to pause and be honest,to ponder and take a look deeply into seeing if whatever that is tormenting us in the moment is good,right and will bring us any happiness or peace!

Will we want to be trapped by its toxicity and continue to do harm to ourselves and others.

Yes sometimes affictions can very powerful energies to disarm and deal with…..all we need is not be hard, judgmental and critical or even think we deserve more punishment on top of the already tumultous state we are experiencing.We need the Light of awareness to mitigate suffering,ignorance and harmful tendencies in the face of torments.

Once, while still early on the path of spiritual awakening,I was overcome with strong temptation to drive to the Virgin Records store in downtown Vancouver to spend money on music cds.At that time the danger was because I was financially broke without a job yet.I love music and the urge to get new cds of latest releases was playing on my mind so strongly to go get them.I already had a huge collection of cds and vinyl LP records.The desire was so strong, I drove down to Virgin Records and felt like a kid in a candy store.So I went from station to station listening to every music sample that was on display.Not only listening was enough, I was lost in self-control and was picking up every cd that I enjoyed.Before I knew it, I had over 20 pieces of cds in the basket! I remember feeling very elated and excited about going home to listen to each one.I was on my way to the cashier,when I stopped and became aware of what I had in my hand.I watched and observed myself at that moment and came to a honest realization of what I was doing.I was feeding into my desires.I thought I could walk out of the store with perhaps two cds by then,but as I slowly returned each cd to its respective counter,I walked out of the store empty-handed.I felt good about my strength,the courage to let go,to be aware of what I was about to do and the harmful consequences that would arise….I would be depleting wasteful money on my already almost empty bank account.The relieve that I had from pausing to watch myself and becoming aware of consequences brought on peace instead of more mental and emotional chaos.

It is not to say that all afflictions will be eradicated in a jiffy,with constant practice of observing, watching the self,the mind and its intentions, we can come to slowly remove unnecessary sufferings.Every single time we think we have failed or have lost control and gave in to any affliction, we can practice self-compassion and tenderness for our faults and not be punitive or harsh towards ourselves.In time,healing takes place,when we make every effort to start again.Slowly the afflictive energy loses its grip and strength upon the self!

https;//www.celestehoedeauthor.com

Be in the Company of the Heart

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Very often we forget that we have a Wise,Loving,Courageous,Creative and Joyful Heart to enjoy silent company with.We tend to give so much attention to everything outside of ourselves.

We go about our lives mostly listening and living up to the voices that spread beliefs,ideologies,opinions,fear,judgements,criticism and cynicism, terror,divisiveness,expectations,power and control and false notions of achieving lasting happiness and pleasures.

The mind wavers with confusions,uncertainties and agitation,restlessness,anguish,torments,anxieties….then we wonder why we are so disturbed and unhappy again and again eventhough we may have had a good time doing something pleasurable or enjoyable.

The mind must be calmed and stilled in order for the Heart to be fully opened to act in joyful,peaceful,loving engagements…

https;//www.celestehoedenauthor.com

To Begin the Brave Unknown

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To Begin the Brave UnknownIn order for true spiritual growth to be effective and be inculcated,the self must be onward and forward with sincere, fearless and selfless actions and practises to living out,facing and experiencing all manner of life’s lessons as it arises without putting barriers, limitations and conditions on all phenomenon, so that the wise heart can exercise true understanding and knowledge.As I stood at the door of the church of St.Paul’s Richmond BC, in 1998,like a beggar begging for mercy and forgiveness, I knew within the depths of my heart I was ready and willing to put aside all my worldly egoic selfish habituated beliefs of all sorts in order to open my mind and heart to learn the ways of healing.I was willing to be opened to a new life and new birth to anything that might help me end unnecessary suffering. Although I did not know what or how am I to proceed along this new route,the main thing was taking the first step to be humbled and with sincere and right intention of letting go of all false beliefs and the need to hold and control things that have already gone out of control…I surrendered and took courage to allow myself to walk thru the door of the unknown……………….

http://www.celestehoedenauthor.com

When the mind is tired use the Heart

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When the mind is tired and busy with worries and anxieties and too much unnecessary unpleasant negative ‘story-telling’…….sit quietly in your own reverent presence,pay attention to the heart and bring it forth out into the open.It will speak of comfort and tenderness and loving, gentle resonance….listen to it,trust it and become it.
In order to end unnecessary suffering,the mind must be trained on how to be silent/still in meditation.Allow the heart to be unafraid to be left unprotected to allow all things and situations to be.Keep it continuously OPEN.When we fight and argue and be defensive with Life, it is like foolishly wanting to swim against the strongest of current.But when we allow ourselves to flow with the current(letting go of all attachments and clinging),we glide swiftly to become One with the great ocean, with the Universal Consciousness.

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We are the Light!

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We have this tendency to look outwardly…..at others, at situations,at problems,at chaos,etc.Not only do we look outside of ourselves,we make comments,judgments,poke fun,chide,taunt,criticize,etc.All along we have Light within that we forget to turn inwards to switch it On.We have goodness within to share and bring healing.We have joy to bring comfort to others.We have compassion to understand and respect one another.We have Divine wisdom to speak of Truth and kindness.We have Love in Universal solidarity…….why then are we afraid to unblock the hindrances within the self and let the Light shine forth….why are we wasting time looking away from our True Self when we are the Light that can illuminate the darkness!Dba0QpSW4AMBn-3

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Prayer

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How do we pray?

Anyone can and will have prayed!

In and through my praying experiences,prayer becomes potent when it is short and it is said simply,earnestly and humbly,such as ‘Help me,’Give me strength and courage to go through this painful time,”Thank you,”Help me to face the truth,”Guide me,”May I be safe,”May so and so be safe,”May I find peace,’etc.When a prayer is said and repeated in a fervent,simple and short manner,it becomes a positive direct affirmation to help oneself gain presence,courage,relief,calmness,clarity and insight to face all difficult events.It helps us see and hear within our being of what is being said and why we say it.Simple prayers become transformative.We learn to make subtle changes within ourselves and follow up with positive actions of the words we say.Saying a simple prayer helps potentiate trust,faith and strength and the will to move forward.
Therefore it is said that a child’s prayer is powerful due to its purity,simplicity and unadulterated supplication!
~~~~~~~ excerpt from ‘To Resurrect the True Self’ page 131-132 ~~~~~~

Author of To Resurrect the True Self

Walking Peacefully in the face of violence

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There was a special time,a time when my friend Doug and I walked with our hearts on the streets of ‘dangerous’ Downtown East side Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada,spiritually befriending the downtrodden,outcasts of society,prostitutes and drug addicts.I never felt threatened or unsafe or repulsed by the ‘dark activities’going on in that area.Who am I to judge or think that I was a ‘hero’trying to save them.NO! I was not there trying to play saviour or speak of a God or spread religiosity to try to convert them.
I was in fact there to learn from them,to be challenged in real-life learning lessons ……to break my heart open to the terrorizing,painful suffering that I relate with them in a different scenario.Humility was the biggest lesson I had to cherish as it was not easy sometimes to be hurled with obscenities and with their rough,crude and toughened mannerisms.I learned to love sincerely, to hold them, to accept them in whatever state they were in,to laugh and cry and share with them and kiss them and wipe away their tears,allow their tears to flow on my jacket/shirt.Most of them are infected with the Aids/Hiv virus and were scarred with sores and visible infected marks on their bodies.It could be very unsightly to look at,I never saw it as a hindrance to be with them.To look into their eyes and tell them that they are loved and not to be afraid.It was a joyful,fulfilling time when they would run and rush forward to be hugged and held and smiled at,there was a tiny one(Doug and I would call her little Ashu) who simply liked jumping on my back like a little monkey.

There were also disheartening times when they would shun,deny and reject any form of kindly contact.

Despite the subtle chaotic,harmful violence being visibly witnessed through the self inflicted suffering these people are causing to themselves(by way of openly shooting up,overdosing,dealing in drugs,watching the johns and ladies engaging in bargaining for sexual favours,yelling and screaming profanities,the frequent sounds of screeching,deafening ambulance/police sirens) ;I walked through the streets in peaceful and loving expression not of or for their activities but in compassion for their pain and ignorant/wasteful suffering.From witnessing these painful states, I was gaining access into my own self-created and unnecessary sufferings and vowed to purify myself of misery.Suffering helps us to look into suffering and then its up to us to want healing for it.

Once Doug,who remains a dear friend till today,invited his friend a priest(Fr.River) from Seattle,USA to join us in walking on the streets.While walking Fr.River suggested that we have a celebration of Mass right there out on the streets.Both Doug and I were joyous at the idea!So we stopped in front of a McDonald’s fast food joint and bought whatever we could to use,bread for communion host,probably pop in paper cups as wine and we spread paper napkins on the ‘dirty’floor.We sat on the floor in peaceful reverence for that sacred ceremony while chaos was going on right there around us.We gently invited the people on the streets to come join in if they liked to.To our surprise,some did respectfully sit with us to celebrate that lovely,lovely time of meaningful celebration of love on the streets.Fr.River showed courage,sincere fearlessness flexibility,spontaneity,humility,kindness and a true healing/sharing and peaceful spirit in the face of subtle violence and confusion.

As I look at this experience, I envision what the historical Jesus Christ would have done in his time and era as he was going about teaching, sharing and projecting peacefulness in the time of hatred,strife and anger over the Roman rule of his country Jerusalem.Despite violence and plotting against the Romans(Romans against the Jews and vice versa), Jesus taught compassion,charity, kindness,forgiveness and peaceful resolutions…..he taught only to look Within the Self to find the ‘Kingdom of Heaven in there’He did not bother with the chaos going on nor did he encourage anger and hatred.He invited people to find healing within themselves.
So what can we learn from this……do we get influenced by the turmoil going on in the present day world or do we find peace and love and compassion to offer to the pain of the world?

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Waking up to Spiritual Consciousness

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What do we witness,when we look externally,outwardly,away from ourselves?We see the world in chaos which includes the pain and suffering of those we are intimate with,close to,within our family,friends and social circles.Are we being aware of it or do we take it for granted that there is nothing we can do!
Honestly,are we being affected adversely,influenced negatively and drowning quietly,as though struggling against the strong current of confusion,self-doubt,self-limitations,hatred, resentments,anger,fear and depression.

Somehow, we may feel that by engaging and getting caught up with the distractions of the world and standing by helplessly/hopelessly seeing the pain of others it gives us a sense of temporary relief from witnessing our own inner pain.Without us touching and exposing our inner pain……how do we find resolutions for true healing,peaceful states and living in a conducive loving environment?If we first don’t find healing and peace within ourselves,how do we bring,teach,speak and share peace and compassion to and for others?How will the world find healing and peace?We can start with ourselves first,to look honestly within and then we bring that healing out into the world as however little or much.

How beautiful and magnificent it is when a soul wakes up from
deep slumber to listen to the call of its own voice of Truth.Not only does it wake up,it wakes up to wake up the ‘unconsciousness’ of others!

 

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Donating proceeds of my book

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A warm Hello to all,
I am delighted to share with sincere joy of my intention to donate all proceeds of my book titled ‘To Resurrect the True Self’ to a non-profit organization dear to my heart(for a while now) called The Tibetan Nuns Project www.tnp.org
By buying the book,you will be of help both ways,the young girls,elderly women and people of Tibet/India have a place to stay,food to eat and be spiritually/academically educated,as well as you have a book to hopefully keep you nurtured and nourished in intellectual/spiritual knowledge!
I heartfully thank you all for any support you can provide when you buy any format of my book.I undertake this endeavour not for any egoic purpose but for the intention of being a help to support humanity in any way ,the way that I was supported by the Universal Consciousness during my spiritual journey into healing and Self-Realization.
https://www.celestehoedenauthor.com