Thursday, May 15, 2003

 

Higher Thought

I thank our friend Adira for the following...

A Zen master once asked a Zen student, "Why are you rushing so...what is your hurry?" "I am after enlightenment(a.k.a.transformation), there is no time to waste," said the student. "And how do you know," asked the master, "that enlightenment(transformation) is running on before you, so you need to rush after it? Perhaps it is behind you and all you need is to stand still ---but you keep running away from it!"

We are inclined to search for transformation - we think we have to 'get' it. And yet sages tell us that we are perfect right now. Well, if everything's perfect, then why do we feel so miserable???

The problem is that we don't recognize our own perfection. Deep down inside, our soul shines brightly. But we have covered over that light with layer upon layer of beliefs, memories and experiences that have convinced us that we are far short of divine. We live in our personal world of doubts, fears, judgments and complaints, believing that we are essentially faulty.
That's why Lao Tzu said, "To attain wisdom, remove things every day."

To experience transformation, we need to remove these layers of misperception to uncover the truth of who we really are. In essence, we are peaceful, joyful,loving, powerful and wise. Our challenge is to know this about ourselves -- to connect with and live from our authentic nature.

"Authentic" doesn't mean "perfect." "Authentic" means "real." How do we get more real? By becoming aware of the defenses, the beliefs, the patterns and the habits that make us unreal. These are the masks we wear. The more we drop our defenses, our limiting beliefs and the habitual patterns that have put us to sleep, the more the light of our essence naturally shines through.

Instead of striving to be transformed (i.e., different), we need to understand and accept who we are now. The paradox is: the more we love who we are now, the more we will be the person we long to be.

Ready to know and grow yourself? Then:
*- Pay attention to what you're thinking, feeling and doing.
*- Accept your strengths and your weaknesses, without judgment.
*- Be still and listen to the quiet voice(not those voices!) inside you.
*- Appreciate yourself and the world around you.
*- Trust yourself.
*- Love yourself anyway.
*-And you'll be uncovering your own already-transformed nature.

posted by ~Brahma 1:19 AM