PEACE LOVE YOGA: View Point

Burnt To Ash

"All Inquiry is meant for one purpose; to take you experientially into the unknown as efficiently as possible. Once you get there, simply be still because inquiry has delivered you to its destination. The rest is up to Grace. Do not hold onto any knowledge that comes your way. Even the greatest revelations much not be clung to, or you will end up with a head full of memories and a heart empty of substance. The truth is ever new, existing only in the now. The highest truth is beyond knowledge and experience. It is beyond time and space, and beyond beingness, consciousness, and oneness. Just remember that all direct path techniques are meant simply to undermine, to cut away, the one who is performing them. No matter what spiritual path you've walked or what teachings you've followed, they must lead you back to no path and no teaching. A true teaching is like a blazing fire that consumes the itself. The teaching must not only consume you, but consume itself as well. All must be burned to ash, and then the ash must be burned. The, and only then, is the Ultimate realized. True Enlightenment destroys enlightenment. As long as you can refer back to yourself and say, 'I'm enlightened', you not. Enlightenment is authentic only when there is no one left to be enlightened. Even to say 'I am nobody', is one too many. There's a point when you intuitively realize that to be Free you have to give up your attachment to Freedom. You have to quit asking yourself: Is it still there? Am I okay? You have to decide to never look over your shoulder again to see if you're free or if others know you're free. You just have to let yourself burn there - no matter what. This isn't something I can help you with. I can tell you what you need to do, but you have to do it. In the beginning, teachers can help a lot. But the deeper you go, all they can do is point, and clarify, and tell you what you need to do. Only you can take this step. Nobody can push you in to this place."

- Adyashanti

No Expectations

A spirit that lives in this world

and does not wear the shirt of love,

such an existence is a deep disgrace.

Be foolishly in love,

because love is all there is.

There is no way into presence

except through a love exchange.

If someone asks, But what is love?

answer, Dissolving the will.

True freedom comes to those

who have escaped the questions

of freewill and fate.

Love is an emperor.

The two worlds play across him.

He barely notices their tumbling game.

Love and lover live in eternity.

Other desires are substitutes

for that way of being.

How long do you lay embracing a corpse?

Love rather the soul, which cannot be held.

Anything born in spring dies in the fall,

but love is not seasonal.

With wine pressed from grapes,

expect a hangover.

But this love path has no expectations.

You are uneasy riding the body?

Dismount. Travel lighter.

Wings will be given.

Be clear like a mirror

reflecting nothing.

Be clean of pictures and the worry

that comes with images.

Gaze into what is not ashamed

or afraid of any truth.

Contain all human faces in your own

without any judgement of them.

Be pure emptiness.

What is inside that? you ask.

Silence is all I can say.

Lovers have some secrets

that they keep.

(Rumi)

28.10.08

When they tell you to grow up, they mean stop growing.

~ Tom Robbins

Over the past year, I've of done a fair amount of travel, and remarkably, I've been both fascinated and amazed at the level of interest the world has for the upcoming U.S presidential election. The world is watching.

It's pretty clear that I support Obama. I don't support any one political party, but I do support his vision. I support what he stands for. I support what he represents. The consensus is pretty clear, throughout the rest of the world...its Obama all the way.

What is even more interesting is this. For the most part, people like Americans. The world looks to the U.S. for its innovation, ingenuity, and inspiration. In no way have I talked with someone from a foreign land that wants to see this country fail. Even those I have spoken to from the middle east...(gasp). Yes, many have asked, sincerely, with utmost concern...what is up with your president?...we don't get it?...please, I'd like to understand. Many times, I'm left speechless, because I don't get it either. I've never been a big fan of George W. Bush's policies, but when it comes to the topic of our president, there isn't much I can say, except that I hope we can some day have a more positive standing in the world.

It has been a fortunate pleasure to dialogue with people from all over, gathering a host of varying perspectives on life, love, spirituality, family and human folly. And I have to say, traveling and connecting with people from other countries and cultures has been one of the best things I have ever done and have experienced.

I've learned through our captivating and colorful differences...that have a way of making life so refreshing and complete... that we are alike, in more ways than one. We are more alike than many media portals would like to portray. We are more alike than we have been lead to believe. And I am filled with gratitude to have experienced the oneness we all share. I feel lucky to have been taught this at a young age from my parents. It set the stage. However, it is one thing to have a mental concept of it, and it is another to actually go out and live it, breathe it, taste it.

I've always been a person that desired the direct experience.

There are differences too. Beautiful, thought provoking differences, that when willing, have unlocked a part of myself. Every culuture, has taught me something. Every place has opened my mind where I didn't even realize were closed and or intolerant.

It simply feels good to garner greater acceptance, and deeper understanding. Why walk through life blind?

So, in the end, no matter which way the election turns out, I myself will continue to do the work as best I can.

I remember the Doaist telling me that it can be easy to fall into the trap of making my yoga practice all about vanity. Good point. I'm stepping into a new area within were there has to be more...and there is.

When it becomes more about life than the form. When it becomes more about abudance than lack. When it becomes more about the dance than the dancer. When it becomes more about connection than being right.