Perception is a Mirror

As within so without
Love within love without
Fear within fear without
Unchanged views, roots to continuous suffering
A broken record, endlessly looping back
Skipping and repeating
With music and lyrics as background, but part and parcel
Theme of ecstasy or euphoria
Melancholy or forlornness
Choice within choice without

The Cosmic Game

Most of us have had some experiences of playing video games.  So what are the attributes of a game?  Here are some:-

1. A vivid world made believe to be part of
2. Interactive behaviour with other characters or objects
2. Sense of winning or losing; progression or regression
3. Rules, norms and goals that provides feedback to the player
4. Joy and satisfaction derived from achievement, and vice versa

Do these sound familiar to you?  How would you compare that with the reality of our human world?  I would add that there is no value judgement in the virtual world, and thus allow one to start over and over again after countless "game over" - a valid reason in explaining why so many people are sucked into it.  But if I were to tell you that we are all indeed in a cosmic game with all the characteristics above, how would you play it differently?  Maybe it is not too late for you to come into this realisation.

Space or Spaciousness

Human beings are born to connect - with nature, animals and other living beings.  In other words, other life forms.  Of course there will be moments that we need to work alone, recharge or simply reflect.  But do you know of some people who require their "me time" a bit more than others?  Or even after being engaged with a group of people or a crowd for a while, they have the compelling  need to retrieve and be able to "cleanse" themselves energetically.

This could happen to a lot of "spiritual practitioners" who derive peace through silence and seclusion.  There are also some who cannot be their authentic selves when they are in front of others, fearing that their real side, once exposed, will be a threat to the love that they would receive.  The truth is, peace can only de derived from within and cannot be sought anywhere outside you.  No changes in external circumstances will give you sustainable peace.  And if authenticity is not your way of living, you can never be fully connected to yourself, let alone others.  For there will always be a part of you being denied whether you are conscious of it, or not.

So if you encounter such a scenario first hand or as a witness, see whether it is a yearning for space or spaciousness.  For the former is already there, and the latter is a desire that can never be satisfied.

Who Stole My Chi?

Have you ever been around people that you don't feel quite comfortable with?  Or you may feel drained out when your are with them for an excessive period of time, often for some unknown and inexplicable reasons even if you try to make it rational?  If that is the case, then in your opinion, you may think that that person is feeding off your energy and intoxicating you.

Everything, whether as a part or whole, is about balance.  And every one of us is also looking for that equilibrium whether we are aware of that or not.  When a person is deficient in certain aspects energetically, he or she may have to compensate that externally from another individual in an unconscious manner.  The opposite party could thus have a feeling that his or her energy is being "robbed".  Another way to interprete it is that when one person become overly attached or dependent on another, they have formed a dysfunctional emotional cord.

If the above situation occurs, there are alternatives to how you can yield a more desirable outcome.  The most efficient way, though may not be something that is best for soul growth, is to keep a distant with those people who are not "serving" you.  Well, at least for a period of time until you are able to replenish your own chi.  Another way, and a compassionate way too, is to look within yourself.  Likes attract likes.  We resonate with what and who is aligned with our energy, path and purpose.  What we manifest is an aspect of our most powerful and heartfelt intentions for ourselves and our lives.  If that is the truth and that the external world is indeed a mirror of your inner landscape, how have you attracted this "toxic" person to your life and how can you work on yourself to overcome that?  How does your view on that person reflect on how you see yourself?  And what does his or her qualities remind you of yourself?

Your success in making that self-transformation will allow you to have a different take on the situation, and can only make you more inclusive.

Does Wisdom Come with Age?

Well, perhaps not.  By observing young babies and children, it may allow you to see this in a different light.  From them, you can witness authenticity, curiosity and vulnerability at its best.  The personae of young children is just beginning to develop as they do not yet need to put on a facade and display themselves artificially.  They speak from a genuine heart and not from an intricate mind.  They are keen to know about everything and with completely openness.  And with limited life experiences, they have not yet formed pre-conceptions or judgement like adults.  They are also not afraid to be vulnerable and if needed, they will laugh and cry as if there is no tomorrow.  But there is something else about young children that deserves admiration.  It is the fact that they can allow their experiences to become a memory but without the emotional baggage.  Well, at least up to a certain extent before too many traumas come into their lives and become gaping wounds in the psyche.

Let us now ponder for a moment.  If a memory is associated with a thought and hence a feeling, how much truth is in that initial thought?  And how much are we reinforcing our negative emotions?  Are we carrying those emotional baggages in a false reality caused by distorted thinking?  By challenging that, maybe we can also spring clean our emotional closet and live with the wisdom of a child.

Vision is the Art of Seeing What is Invisible to Others

The captioned quote is an inspirational one which is attributed to Jonathan Swift, the 17th century satirist most famous for writing Gulliver's Travels.  While this is a much borrowed quote, it is often used to motivate others to be a visionary, think Nelson Mandela, Nikola Tesla or Steve Jobs.  It certainly encompasses insight and foresight which are penetrating and can bring about immense transformation and creativity.

True vision, however, is beyond that.  It is being able to see through our experiences in life, and not wearing the filtered lens that we are so accustomed to.  It is being able to see how distortion have led to disharmony within ourselves and with others, and not freeing us from fear and judgement.  It is being able to see with an aerial view in all encounters, and not focusing on the aspect that we have chosen to put our mind to.

And our biggest distortion?  The delusion of separation, that there is a "you" and "me".. 

Confession from the Ego

I admit I am not without fear
Blenching and trembling
Separation is what I am
Creating the illusion of death
To counteract this I control
Both myself and others
From which judgement is bred
And thus more fear
From which equanimity is slain
And thus more separation
I collect my judgement
And form unlimited beliefs
Which prolong my survival
But bring no joy but suffering
So I window-dress my fear, my judgement
And my beliefs
And label them as opinions
Perhaps I need not confess
But learn humbly from love
I have never meant to hurt
For my intent is not
If my only purpose is to protect
Then I am not so different from her
As I dissolve into love
And being love and not doing out of love
I shall live in the heart
And no longer in the mind

Inner Piece and Inner Peace

When we are traumatised, whether it is a physical trauma or an emotional one, something happens  deep within us.  A part of our soul flees our bodies for survival purposes.  The dissociated part carries the emotion or pain as an adaptive mechanism.  Most often, it is an experience whereby the pain maybe too challenging to apprehend.   Quite miraculously, our psyches have their own knee-jerk reaction which is to self-protect by having a part of the soul leaving the body so that we do not need to suffer from the full impact of the pain.  Whilst the ingenuity of such has allowed people to move forward, it also deters them from living fully.  The side-effect, as you can imagine, is that "not feeling quite the same ever since...".  Chronic physical or mental illnesses are testimonials of soul loss, and so are addictions.  The latter case is indeed a manifestation where people need to look for external fulfilment to fill up those empty spaces inside them.  Not only will we be unable to live wholesome life, we will also have a tendency to attract others who share those same feelings that cause the soul loss, thus leading to dysfunctional relationships at the very least.

Even so, the universe is always compassionate to us.  With strong intent and good faith, whatever that is lost can be gained back.  Of course, there are always well-trained and experienced shamans who can perform ceremonies and do soul retrieval for you.  But that maybe reserved for those who are familiar and receptive to such kind of practice, albeit its existence for at least 40, 000 years according to archaeological evidence.  If that is not a choice,  you can at least consider the following:
Do recognise and accept the loss of that part in you.
Do identify the missing part.
Do explore how and when it first happened.
Do reclaim the missing part.

The last step is crucial and there are plenty of ways that you can use to explore once you are open to the idea of reconnection.  Remember - All souls yearn for its own completeness.  And all beliefs are intertwined with repeated thoughts and feelings, which then feed into each other and become repeated patterns.  By identifying that initial thought that has resulted in the hijack of that missing piece, the rest will fall into place.

Find the Inner Piece, Find the Inner Peace.    

All Rebirths are Rebirths of Thoughts

Reincarnation is a word that most people associate with Eastern philosophies, and karma seems to go hand in hand with it.  Some, especially buddhists, might say that rebirth is a more appropriate word as it it does not carry the weight of permanence as much as reincarnation.  Whichever word one adopts, it has a suggestion of concreteness and materiality, whether such entities are in human forms or not.

But seldom will people dig deeper and enquire the true nature of rebirth.  Rebirths are indeed rebirths of thoughts.  Conversely, true surrender is also death, but not death in any physical sense.  Rather, it is death of our incessant thoughts - thoughts that we cling onto and strongly identify with "I".  It is through the cessation of thoughts that we can see through karma from which we derive cessation of suffering.  You no longer are at its mercy and can make a conscious choice of playing along with it proactively or staying neutral by simply observing.  In other words, when karma arrives at your door, you can see where it comes from and use it as an opportunity to understand the law of causality.  When the roots are demystified, you can change the script, of your drama.

4 million bits vs 2,000 bits

95% of the brain activity is beyond our conscious awareness, that is already proven by numerous cognitive neuroscientists.  The general understanding is that our unconscious mind can process information up to 40 million bits per second, versus the 2000 bits per second run by the conscious mind.  If most of our cognitive activities (actions, decisions, emotions, behaviour) is generated in a non-conscious way, we are utilising only a tiny fraction of the neurological brain work, and, our abilities as human beings.  The point is not to get hung up with the numbers, as no one can be precise with such nor the mechanics of it.  Rather, we should recognise and be aware of what is stopping us to make that leap and bridge the gap.

The objective is not to cultivate higher IQ or to improve one's memory.  When we are not getting in touch with our subconscious mind, we will be at its mercy and have our lives directed in ways that might not be agreeable to us.  The subconscious is the storehouse of our memories, attitudes, beliefs and values, and they are made conscious the moment we are open to the demystifying process of finding out what is standing between you and complete happiness.

How do we get connected with our subconscious?  There are zillion ways.  Some people use mindfulness and  begin by being present in the moment.  Others use energy psychology and connect with their bodily sensations.  There are also some who use clinical hypnosis and re-program the beliefs loaded in the subconscious mind.  Your instinct will tell you what will resonate.  But as the first step, one should look for negation or limitations and pay attention to thoughts and the roots of those thoughts.  We are whole in essence and our souls will always have the innate drive to go back to equilibrium.  Once the first step is made, trust that it will be fall like dominoes where every step will be guided so that you can welcome the reemergence of the real "you".    

What Really is Consciousness?

The word consciousness seems to be a word that is fashionable in the spirituality arena.  A basic word that is supposed to encompass all but also ill understood.  Some people equate consciousness with awareness.  I would say they are more the cause and effect.  As an entry, the simplest analogy is that of electricity and the brightness or lumen level of a light bulb, with consciousness being the electrical current and awareness being the illumination.  Hence the higher the consciousness, the greater the awareness.  That's it.  Not anything mystical, but pure awareness.

Well this is at least a start, but as we progress along the path you may realise one day that consciousness is beyond what words can express as it is also beyond matter, time and space.  Just BE, and how can we ascribe any interpretation to anything that is beyond what we can comprehend in this reality?

A Thinking Cloud

Fleeting clouds, passing thoughts
True to our eyes but unreal appearances
For what is empty can have no attachment
Beyond grasp so freedom is a promise
When the self faces its own demise

Observe them, embrace them
Let them arise but see them traceless
For what is of the moment can have no permanence
From dissipated thoughts there is spaciousness
When we rediscover true joy and happiness

Conflicting Beliefs

Most of us have had the experience when we are of two minds about something.  We want to be enjoying solitude instead of hanging out with friends, or sleeping in instead of working out.  Or we might have a dominant desire to please ourselves rather than our partners.  Such conflicting goals are examples of incongruence, and they usually originate from our own internal conflicts.  It is almost like a battle that you can never win, or lose, as a matter of fact.  However, because the psychic energy are spent on opposing directions, it is draining at an emotional level and eventually, at a physical level too.

To most people, they may not even be aware of what the conflict is and simply experience a strong feeling of stress and disharmony.  What are the causes of such incongruity?  Well, there could be one or more attributes.  Perhaps there was a significant event from the past from which you have formed a belief, or moulded your value system.  Or could you be role-modeling from different figures in your life who made the beliefs incompatible?  Do you have unspoken loyalty to your root family and its associated values, which often become "dated" with our life passages and transitions?

At the end of the way, it is about adopting a new belief system which allows us to be balanced and whole again.  The initial step?  Identify the conflicting parts.  Once each part becomes clearly defined, try to demystify the intention of each part or belief until you can find the common intention for each.  Then integrate these parts and allow them to co-exist.  Very often you will discover that your intentions are not really mutually exclusive.  For instance, sleeping in or working out may probably be derived from the same intention of nourishing your soul.  It is just a matter of prioritising on what gives you the most joy at that moment of time.
            

True Forgiveness

The Course of Miracles has a very different interpretation of forgiveness - one which is relevant, constructive and transformative.  According to conventional teachings, we have always been taught that to forgive is to pardon someone else's mistakes.  But true forgiveness is to forgive ourselves through the mistakes of others, and this is done through acknowledging how distorted our views are.  It is to recognise and forgive what others have not done and yet we believe that they have done.  This is not to say that mistakes are not made, but rather, we do not see such doings as a form of attack and thus impose guilt and blame on ourselves or others.   

Forgiveness is a shift in perception and to be able to see the divine nature in the "sinner".  As all minds are joined, forgiving ourselves is thus also forgiving others.  The real change is simply bringing the focus back from an external event or another person to within.

What is your Instinctive Defence Mechanism?

It is always easy to be together in good times, but supporting each other through tough and challenging times will offer some greatest opportunities to cultivate self-awareness and empathy.  It will surely eliminate a lot of "should" and "should-nots" and save a lot of air-time trying to win a losing battle.

We all have a natural disposition on how we respond to stress.  Look around your family, workplace or social circle, you will bound to find friends, colleagues or closed ones who are angry or fiery during stressful time, well, a firecracker that is small but potent.  Whilst others may respond with the need for a retreat from the outside or emotional outpourings.  There are also some who need to be involved in agreement, discussion or reasoning, resulting in anything from fruitless mumble-jumble to heated conversations.  And there are still some who simply endures and goes through the pain in silence, a silent martyr.

If you would like others to appreciate your emotional world, take that step first in appreciating others'.

Beyond a a Rubik's Cube

Do you know that there are 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 (43 quintillion) possible permutations of the Rubik's Cube?  And if you were to turn it once every second, it would take you 1.4 trillion years to go through all the permutations.  But after all, this is a human creation, and thus by deduction our own potential could only be far greater and more complex.  In fact, it is infinite.  Then what is blocking us from making the most of what we can offer to ourselves and others?  Fear.

If one is to narrow down all feelings to only two, it would all belong to to either love and fear; which are indeed opposing.  Simply put, what is not love is fear.  And what is subliminal is also the most powerful.  Do you know how often we are feeding ourselves unconscious fearful thoughts, most of which we are totally oblivious to?  So start by bringing your awareness to your thought patterns and see how they have shaped your external world.  And by playing the role of an observer, watch the undercurrent candidly and see if you can transform the calamity to calmness - that is, by replacing a fearful thought with a loving one.  Even by changing just one thought a day, it will slowly reverse the process and bring you fruitful results given time.  Bear witness to that.

The Mind is Just One of the Senses

Buddhism has a very profound explanation on the human mind, one that takes us above and beyond traditional psychology.  There is nothing in the realm of human experience that is not dependent on and subject to the interpretation of the mind.  In Buddhism, there are the six senses or modes of perception: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and lastly, the mind.  Most of us are familiar with the first five senses, but the way the mind is being classified as a sense is definitely enlightening.  The mind is from which our perception is derived through the faculties of the first five senses.

Senses are no more than systems of cells in the brain which respond to stimuli which we then become conscious and aware of.  For the eye, light is the stimuli hitting the receptor cells.  Likewise the ear also has its receptors sensitive to particular kinds of stimuli that send nerve impulses along sensory neurons.  In the case of the mind, the stimuli is brain cell activity caused by thoughts.  So in other words, thoughts originate from within the mind, with or without external stimuli and give rise to sensory inputs.  In connection with the external world and the direct sensory experiences of light, taste, touch, the mind sense allows us to expand on them through our interpretation coming from our thoughts.  But where do these interpretations come from?  And more importantly, what are the causes of our countless judgement?  By default, they are retrieved from our "databank" or "software" which contains all our memories, beliefs and values that we so tightly hold onto and identify as part of us.

So would you want to the master or the slave of your own mind?

Reality and Dream

I believe my dream in my dream
Upon waking up, I have released my shackles
Relieved, Liberated, Exhausted

I believe my reality in my own reality
Upon waking up, I have shed my skin
Joyful, Excited, Anticipatory

Is the "how-to-wake-up" the be all and end all?
How about the gains and losses in my dream?
Or is it those gains and losses that make it real?
Or is it my feelings of such gains and losses?
Or is it my feelings of the loss of the Self?

The Paradox of Truth

Many people are concerned that if they engage themselves in spiritual practice, they will lose their edge or stamina to perform in the mundane world.  In truth, spiritual practice should not deter us from goal setting or the strive for achievements.  In fact, whether it is to facilitate our advancement and evolution as an individual or a community, we need to have ambitions and worldly attainments.  But how can we integrate this into our practice so that it can also elevate us to the next spiritual level?  It is derived from our realisation and trust that we only need to deliver what we can one step at a time, and yet not be consumed by the results.  That is, you can still visualise your goals as vividly as you wish and have the grandest plan in the world but you are not fearful or worried about not achieving them.

Sounds like a paradox.  Yet such realisation and faith can only come with our understanding of the true definition of what is "good" for us.  Whatever that will happen, when it will happen and how it will happen is always and can only be for our highest good.  As the highest good is unknown to us and goes beyond the physical level, it is not subject to the interpretation of this world.  It is thus not out of the conventional implication of "good" or "bad", though we are always progressing on the spiritual path if we are open to the experiences.  Only when we we accept this can the cosmic plan be in true harmony with that of the individual.  

Feeling your Emotions

In the mundane world, we often use the word emotions and feelings interchangeably.  While I have always reminded myself not to be too hung up on diction, vocabulary and thus concepts, I do think it could be helpful at times when we can clarify certain misconceptions.  After all, the right view does help us to transform knowledge into knowing through our experiences, and consequently, create the right mindset.

Emotions are complex, messy and multi-facted, and exactly why most people shun away from them.  They may put heir emotions in exile, dismiss them or be in denial.  For some, they simply shut down and opt for numbness.  Whatever way you have chosen to mishandle your emotions in the past, it is through understanding them that you can reconnect with yourself.  

So often we have realised that there is an stimuli (external or internal) that triggers us and sends us right off to a reaction, almost happening as a knee-jerk reflex within seconds if not less.  If we were to play the entire episode in slow motion, what has really happened if that we have conducted an internal dialogue associated with criticism, blame or judgement in accordance to your belief system.  What has arisen next are physiological reactions like heart palpitations, rise in body temperature, churning stomach, muscle tension, etc etc.  At this juncture emotions are experienced automatically and unconsciously, and what are called emotions are no more than a cognitive label to those physiological arousal.  They are literally energy in motion (e-motion) and its French derivative émouvoir has a similar connotation which means to stir up.  So in a nutshell, emotions are snapshots of our physical state.  

When the brain interprets the emotions and connect with them, feelings occur.  Feelings are a totally right-brain matter and always counterintuitive to logic and reason, precisely the reason we compartmentalise them in the closet.  But of course, if unrecognised, they remain stored at the cellular level and could manifest in a physiological way as the initial response was at a somatic level.  You can now see how feelings are formed by emotions or rather, are their by-product.  The act of assessing and naming an emotion will transform it into an object of introspection and consequently make it less intense.  The moment you allow them to rear their head and embrace them, their substance change, almost alchemically.  It is just how we are naturally wired to pull ourselves out of the emotional quagmire so that we can sit back and let our mind, body and soul collaborate.  

Hence emotions without conscious feelings would not suffice, and would be analogous to having all the ingredients for a great recipe but without the chef.  The emotional impetus is a precursor for evolution, both individually or collectively.  We need them as barometers for decision-making and human advancement.  The emotional regulatory process is in place, and it is a matter of what we can learn from them and whether we can accept them wholeheartedly.

  

Adept at Adapting

Human beings are simply born to adapt, and in miraculous ways beyond our imagination. Mankind faces the same adaptive challenges as all organisms and can genetically adapt to different environment for survival purposes.  Look across people of different geographical and ethnic background and you can see how our body form adapts to our habitat and climate as in animals.  Like, for instance, how tropical habitats are typically tall and lean to lose heat, and artic and mountain are shorter and wider for heat conservation.  To add on to our physical resiliency, there are disease resistance genes and diet-related genes to suit environmental challenges and stress.

So how about our response to emotional stress and challenges?  How can we respond to them in a way that does not get us out of whack?  If we can modify our physical attributes to changes associated with the environment, we also have the ability to maintain a condition of balance and equilibrium within us internally for emotional survival.  With faith and willingness, we have the blueprint, or rather the birthright, to bring ourselves back to a homeostatic state

Character vs Personality

Character is defined as "the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual" according to the Oxford dictionary, while personality is "the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's character".  Hmm, so if we adopt these definitions, does that mean that it is the personality that makes up one's character?

I disagree.

Personality is simply a collection of personae and are masks that we pull out to protect ourselves as a a defence mechanism, so it is very much like a social role in a theatrical setting that acts as a make-believe for the audience.  I am not saying that it is a sham and we are trying to decoy someone.  And we certainly do not need to have theatrical training for this as we are all unconsciously doing it day in day out for survival purposes.  Character, on the other hand, is our innate and acquired traits; characteristics that are formed by countless past experiences in this life span and beyond.  If so, any relationship between genes, environment and the innate/acquired distinction will be far more complex than what we can apprehend or comprehend.  To make things even more complicated, there is the fierce dichotomy between biological and metaphysical viewpoints.  But concepts aside, what truly matters is: is the personality that you display in the public arena in harmony with your true character?  Are you self-aware of your personality and character, and where they were born from?  Are they are serving you or are you serving them?

Will - Instructions for Use

Option 1 - Use with Love:
Will drives us to Willingness
Willingness leads us to Faith
Faith guides us to Renunciation
Renunciation returns us to Peace
Peace is Light, Light is Love
from which we are back to Will -
But Will of the Cosmic where minds are joined        

Option 2 - Use with Fear:
Will drives us to Desire
Desire misleads us to Anger
Anger misguides us to Ignorance
Ignorance returns us to Suffering
Suffering is Darkness, Darkness is Fear
from which we are back to Will -
But Will of the Humans where minds are divided

Sun and Moon

Imagine the earth without the sun...
Without the sun, there would be no light.
Without the sun, there would be no warmth.
Without the sun, there would be no plants, no animals, no humans.

Imagine the earth without the moon...
Without the moon, the gravitational force would be altered.
Without the moon, the axial tilt would be varied.
Without the moon, temperatures would be extreme, lunar tides would be gone, days would be short.

As the sunlight illuminating the moon disappears,
so would the moon before our eyes as we see the moon only because of the sun's reflected light.

Imagine a person without the sun...
Without the sun, there would be no soul purpose.
Without the sun, there would be no core identity.
Without the sun, there would be no self expression.

Imagine a person without the moon...
Without the moon, there would be no emotional energies
Without the moon, there would be no instinctual motivations
Without the moon, there would be no way to receive love

We need our sun to reflect our moon.
We need our conscious to reveal our unconscious.
We need our life force to guide our inner self.

The yin meets the yang through which we reemerge as whole.

A Holographic Universe

A hologram is a three-dimensional image created with photographic projection.  Or another way to put it, it is a photographic recording of a light field, rather than of an image formed by a lens.  Much scientific research has confirmed that our universe we live in could also be a vast hologram, much like a 3-D movie where the height, depth and width we see originate from a flat two-dimensional screen.  Science and spirituality are closely intertwined, no doubt about that.  And there is only one reason why people need that solid "back-up": our mind always need facts to be convinced.  The key, however, is not simply to be convinced but rather how to use such confirmation to give us confidence to practise.

Based on that, every thought that we have is projected outward and becomes a form (matter) at some level.  More precisely, they manifest as the objects, people, places and situations that we encounter.  This is all possible as quantum physics has revealed that the universe is a single gigantic field of energy or light.  Matter only come into existence when our mind interacts with this field.  So EVERYTHING in the cosmos has appeared because of our thoughts.

What does this tell you?  We are the creator of the world that we perceive, one thought makes the next one stronger and many thoughts then become the building blocks of the entire landscape.  Since we are all part of this complex and gigantic field, we as a collective also reinforce each other projection and allow ourselves to share common and infinite experiences; albeit some more pleasant and some less.

The solution is hence also where the problem is: Change your thought, change the world.

Only From the Heart Can You Touch The Sky

The famous Sufi poet Rumi wrote, "Only from the heart can you touch the sky."  This quote can be interpreted in many ways.  Some people believe it is more for motivational purposes or goal setting, or perhaps how to reach one's fullest potential as sky is the limit.

If one makes reference to the attributes of Sufism, I encourage you to reflect on the quote in relation to the micro- and macrocosm.  Sufism is not a doctrine or belief system but more a way of life which recognises the unity of all beings as One.  The essence of Sufism is that a deeper meaning can be re-discovered when we can live in presence and love.  How we live is hence more important than what we believe.  

Living from the heart allows us to gain this deeper identity, one that enable true awareness and creativity to flourish.  Only from the heart can we be freed from the bondage of duality, the labelling of our mind and the judgement of our ego.  Only from the heart can we be freed from measurement, differentiation and resistance.  Only from the heart can we create the space for love, compassion and empathy.  And the one and only way to (un)do it is by staying in the now, fully embracing all and accepting what is.  Then, we can talk about touching the sky and connecting with the Source. 

A Rubber Band

My wisest teacher is a rubber band
When in quietude, it is alert and yet still
But when in action, it is pliant and flexible
Adapting to external conditions is its second nature
For it collaborates with its like when it needs to connect
Whilst it has its limit, it knows that it is only confined by form
A true embodiment of karma indeed for its round shape is a kind reminder --
Of what goes around comes around

Equanimity

"Equanimity" and "equal" share the same Latin roots, but equanimity has more depth as it comes from two words "aequus" and "animus".  The former means level, calm, or impartial and the latter is the soul or mind.  So integrate the two words and we have the Latin phrase "aequo animo", which means "with an even mind".  However, it is not simply about keeping a cool head in the face of adversity or when we are under stress, but rather using equanimity as a breeding ground for wisdom and compassion.  It is about being a silent observer and not caught up by what we see and what we hear.  It is about being centred in the middle of what is happening and accepting it without prejudice or preference.  It is about being able to let go of your preconceived ideas on people and issues and maintaining a neutral stance.

If we can at least be mindful of every situation and remind ourselves not to fall into the drama of the happenings, that will be the first step.  After all, they are all dramas that have been replaying over and over again, only the cast and setting are different.  The problem, is, we have always perceived them as real.

Letter to my Thinking Mind

Oh Thinking Mind, Oh Thinking Mind,

Throughout my lives, I thought you were me as that was what I was told since beginningless time.  Would I be nobody without you as it would feel like losing myself?  You had been everything to me - my identity, my existence, my survival.  You were never tired of being the superior, and perhaps that is how you got the nickname ego.  You were always hungry for content, so I fed you with incessant thoughts.  Through my filtered lens, I gave all these thoughts my interpretation, my judgement, my labelling.  I even coloured them with my feelings, making every image and picture appearing so real and solid.  I went on to fabricate my perception of reality with all these illusory pictures and images.

The trouble began when I could not realise that my perception is never identical to the person next to me.  But the trouble also ended upon my realization that all my perception is nothing but part of a waking dream.  A dream that will always remain a dream in my current form.  Now that I know that my true essence is my conscious being and has never been you, it is all over and we can restart the game.  Please, forgo the illusion that you are the master and let us rebuild our relationship on a new premise, from which freedom will be bred and happiness restored - a long forgotten story.

Much love,
"I Am"  

Objective vs Subjective

There is an inclination to believe that attaining objectivity is the right approach to life, as it would suggest that one has viewpoints shared by the majority.  It does have an implication that it is more encompassing and thus embracing a bigger audience.  Those who are described as being subjective can often be labeled as having a tunnel vision, perhaps even stubborn or hard to be convinced.  But does that means that "right view" has to be a function of number?  Right view is more about having the right perspective, that is, a perspective that will offer equanimity and no judgement.  So instead of going with either an unique view or consensus, check out if you can really achieve neutrality in how you think - one that is neither good nor bad.

Predisposition and Destiny

In every culture that we live in, there are always some kind of means that people can revert to so that they can gain some insights about the future.  There are endless divination tools: I Ching, tarot cards, crystal ball, astrology.... etc etc.  A complementary question focused on by many will then be: "How accurate are they?"  Well, if the purpose of using them is to predict the future, then it is at best a reference and at worst a bunch of baloney.  True creation is in the here and now and only in the here and now.  What it can at best tell you is the predisposition or potential based on your inner state and psyche at the point of asking.  And if you lock in that state like a screen and make no change to your belief system or perspective, you will be creating the exact outcome that is predicted.  If I have to put it mathematically, it is like saying that if you add x to y, then you will get z.  But if you alter the composition of x or y by making the slightest shift in viewpoint, you will get a different result.

But of course, some people would turn the predisposition into destiny, and it will always be the free will of an individual to reinforce his beliefs or challenge them.

Attainment or Recognition?

Most philosophical or spiritual teachings advocate either one of two approaches: that human beings are deficient by default and we all have to face dilemmas in our decision-making; or, we are whole and complete and all we need to do is to recognise the "as it is" and bring ourselves to "remember".

I tend to adopt the latter in my belief system and focus on removing the obstacles which are obstructing my clear view and blocking what I would otherwise be able to see - our true nature.  The former, on the other hand, may lure us into constant changes to selves and the environment.  Whilst this may be stemming from an objective of self-improvement, it also originates from an initial idea of "lack".  And whatever resides in your inner world will only be manifested in the outer, giving birth to a vicious circle which will lead us into seeking more and more to resolve this "lack".  And the result?  More desires, more attachment.

"Is life meaningful or meaningless?"  This will be a perpetual debate between your ego and your True Self.  It is then very obvious what the obstacle is.  

Wu Wei

Try not to try
Action through inaction
Strive for non-striving
Doing through undoing

Surrender.

Control not to control
Effortful through effortless
Fight for non-fighting
Owning through disowning

Serenity.

Seek not to seek
Power through powerless
Pursue for non-pursuing
Conform through non-conforming

Freedom.

Newton's 3rd Law of Motion and Karma

Physics 101: The Newton's 3rd Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  This means that for every force there is as a reaction force that is equal in size but opposite in direction.  So like when you jump, your legs apply a force to the ground which in turn propels you into the air by an equal and opposite reaction force from the ground.  Or when you are feeling frustrated and hit the wall with your fist, there must also be two forces - your own force and an equal and opposite force applied by the wall on your fist.  Hence the harder you hit, the bigger the pain as the reactive force will be of the same magnitude and in opposite direction.

The Law of Karma is the equivalent to Newton's 3rd Law of Motion in the spiritual dimension.  There is nothing esoteric and magical about it, nor is it something eastern or philosophical.  It is true that karma has been shrouded in mystery, and often labeled as "good" or "bad".  Some people like to define it as 'What goes around comes around."  But karma simply means action, and it is completely neutral by nature.  With no judgement and no clauses attached, just action.  The judgement only comes from us.  And the judgement distorts the picture of reality and makes us deny what is disapproved by ourselves and others when considered "bad".  Each action (karma) has a consequence, just like what Newton said about the interaction of two objects.  To backtrack a step, action is the fruit that we bear from the seed.  And the seeds are our thoughts which grow over time through our beliefs and attitude.  When the seed ripens, our words and actions become our karma.  Then guess what?  It will give rise to further thoughts and consequently stronger feelings which then solidify our earlier but false perspectives, until the initial seed has become a forest.

Thanks to karma, it teaches us that we have choices.  Cultivating thoughts that are loving to self and others will lead to compassion back in the same way.  If you choose to bring happiness, joy and generosity to others, you will receive the same gifts in return.

How do we next apply it to our day-to-day life then?  Balance your karmic account to build a forest of love.

Embracing vs Accepting

There are a lot of new age talks on "acceptance", advising people on how to take things as they are and "accept" them as facts of life.  But to be truly whole, we know that we cannot simply understand our phenomenal existence cognitively or intellectually.  Such a way to understand the spiritual meaning of acceptance will at best allow us not to fall into the trap of denial.  In fact, there are so many people who take their situations or experiences, notably the less desirable ones, as fate.  Looking at it from a different angle, would you also "accept" your enjoyable experiences like the way you do with unpleasant ones?  I suppose not.  Rather, you will most probably indulge yourself in bliss, merge with the moment and soak in joy.

The universe does not make a discernment between positive and negative, but just as things are; for there are no polarities in the truest sense.  When we encounter negative experiences and yet not wholeheartedly embracing them like you do with positive ones, there is actually a split happening within us.  It is like your mind is convincing you not to be in disbelief and yet your emotional part is telling you how much it is rejecting what you are going through.  If you want to be aligned in a wholistic manner, learn to bring those unacceptable experiences to your heart and tell yourself, "All is good, for better or worse, who knows?  But I would rather say it is for the better, for free will lies in my mind."

Drama

Caught in the drama so engrossed
I am an Oscar-winning actor
Only when I get so worn out
I yearn to be the scriptwriter
Then there are times when I am congruent
I find myself in the audience
Clapping, smiling, crying
But always at a distance
And in which role you want to play
You really do have the say
Be the actor to love
Be the screenwriter to create
Be the audience to be wise
Now, dance between the roles

The 84th Problem

Buddha said that all human beings have 83 problems, and of course it is not literally 83 but more how we all have to face human struggles and conflicts in a phenomenol way.  So what is our 84th problem?  It is that we want to get rid of the first 83 problems.  In other words, thinking problems is a problem is the real problem.  Rather than embracing them, humans have a natural tendency to evade or deny the undesired.  But whether you go into a tirade or bite your lips to swallow it, there will be no escape to tribulation.  Do you remember your last problem?  Do you have any other problems solved or unsolved before it?  The answer is definitely "yes".

This doesn't mean that problems cannot be solved or they won't go away by themselves, but just that there will for sure be other problems.  We can of course use the best of our logical and analytical attributes to tackle them.  But whether we can yield rewarding spiritual dividends from problems depend on whether we can find the meaning of life out of them.  What are you learning from the experiences?  What great qualities of yours are brought out with the encounter?  If you are uneasy with your problem, be kind to yourself by asking where that anguish comes from.  If you are having that "negative" experience over and over gain, ask yourself what is that thinking pattern that is so locked up in your head.

The quickest way to start the process of changing our perception in relation to problems is to give it a different name, would issues be better?