Don't Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater

Everyone wants to feel good.  We naturally develop attachment to people and situations that we desire and aversion to those that we resist.  This natural disposition, if not skilfully investigated, gives rise to afflictions when the feel-good-factor is not sustainable.  Precisely because of the vital role that feelings play in our suffering, it is the means by which we can deepen our spiritual practice.  It is thus through relating to our feelings in an unconditioned manner that we can seek revelation.  Through connecting with our feelings without any trace of resistance, we will realise that feelings, like thoughts, are entirely neutral in nature.  They are accompanied by our thoughts and thus are also passersby.  Thus we can leave them alone as they are; as after all, they are nothing but energy running in us that we have put concrete labels on.  Fundamentally, we need to understand that the protagonist of the tragic story can only be "I" -- our self-centredness.  The real culprit is then not our feelings.  It is the egoistic mind which we identify so strongly with and leads us to produce all the judgements we have on ourselves and others, thus further strengthening the "I" -- my body and mind.   

The Verb "To Be"

Trace back your memory to your elementary English grammar class when we learned the verb “to be”.  Have you ever imagined that it contains the wisdom of ancient teachings waiting to be revealed?  In present tense, the words “I am” implies being.  The profound meaning might lie clandestinely, holding the key to our primordial presence; but this being-ness is never away from all our experiences.  All experiences that are subsequently derived from “I am” also make us believe that we are the experiencers who know and are aware.  In fact, everything (and literally everything) is derived from this awareness before we objectify our world through expression and manifestation.  Awareness is the essence of consciousness and consciousness is all there is in the entire universe and beyond, both form and formless.  It follows to say that when we can stay and abide in the root of our being, we can go into a deeper state of consciousness and return to the Source, the “I AM” --  a promise to peace and happiness.

Choiceless thoughts

Are we at the mercy of our minds?  Our thoughts seem to pop up from nowhere every moment and arise of their own accord.  So is it really the case that we have no control over them?  Although the mind is running its own course with all its contents illusory in nature, we can nevertheless cultivate a different relationship with our thoughts.  With understanding we can see where our thoughts come from and learn not to chase after them when they are desirable and push them away when they are unpleasant.  Thoughts are just products of our minds which are no different from those derived from all other senses we have as a human being.  Just as we will not deny the seeing or hearing function of our eyes and ears, we do not need to subdue our thoughts.  They are neutral by nature, and in fact a gateway to great wisdom.  The wisdom is cultivated when we no longer identify with the thoughts and can observe them from a distance.  With practice, they are simply objects who are also transient with no staying power if we no longer cling onto them.

Making Friends With Impermanence

Impermanence is not a convenient term you say with a sigh when things go south, nor is it a way to console yourself when a desired situation come to an end.  If you think that impermanence simply suggests a termination of a relationship or a conclusion of an event, this understanding is also incomplete.  In the first place, why does impermanence exist?  There is impermanence because of the empty nature of all phenomena.  Everything, literally everything, that exists is empty of intrinsic existence and is therefore non-singular, dependent and impermanent.  And yet everything is also in the process of creation moment by moment and changing every second, albeit so subtle that you may not realise.  The "you" five minutes ago is already different from the "you" at this very minute, physiologically and mentally.  Thus we are all living in the perpetual cycles of arising and ceasing. 

We do not need to breakthrough this cycle though.  Rather, we can see through the nature of such and know that we can leverage on the time and physical space between ceasing and arising to make the changes we want for our highest good and the expansion of self.  What is really arising is only our mental formations or simply put, our thought forms.  There is no need to annihilate our thoughts, but we can at least take on different thoughts and perspectives and go for those that align with our heart and soul.  Let us enjoy the infinite possibilities that impermanence brings us.

There Is Only Uncertainty

Uncertainty gives a connotation of unease, insecurity -- a sense of loss.  It is like your hands desperately trying to hold onto something in the middle of an ocean and yet nothing seems to be graspable.  It is a universal desire of the human race from the beginning of evolution to have certainty in life.  Where does that come from?  And how is it that we can never abide in it?  

It is quite obvious that certainty is something not searchable as it is not part of the game.  In fact, it is precisely the opposite: uncertainty is what is supposed to be.  We as humans and all our thoughts, feelings and experiences are part of this universally constant flux.  Though our life may appear as a continuous flow, it is actually made up of a series of moments merged together; just like how in a movie when a series of frames is played back to compose the complete moving picture.  This moment is never going to be the same as the next moment.  Simultaneously it is with uncertainty that there will be impermanence.  What we need to know, rather, is how to make the best use of uncertainty and impermanence.  With impermanence changes are allowed or we can adopt a different attitude in order to embrace a different outcome.  At a profound level, our need for certainty stems from our insecurity when we believe that we are separate individuals living in our own bodies and minds.  Well, this does give a clue on how we can let go of this perpectual craving and make this a disbelief so that we can be who we truly are.   

Lost in Time and Space

With time comes the fear of death

For my mind tells me that my existence is finite

Trapped in the past and future

I have learned how to regret and worry

With the loss of my body who am I?

 

With space comes the fear of lack

For my mind tell me that I am detached

From you, others and the world

I have learned how to judge and be insecure

With the delusion of separation how can I be whole?  

A futile search when my Self is veiled

By my identification as a body and mind

Let me recover from my amnesia of the forgotten Self

So I can let go of my grasping of the outside world

Alas, I am the home of happiness and peace 

The Observer Effect

Quantum physics is finally catching up with spirituality.  We now have a glimpse of the reality of all phenomenon and may be able to satisfy this who crave for a more clinical line of reasoning.  In quantum physics, the observer effect is the theory that the mere observation of a phenomenon changes the phenomenon or reality.  And if the outcome of an event has not been observed, it exists in a state of superposition, which is being in all possible states at once.  The most puzzling fact about quantum mechanics is that the outcome one obtains is dependent on how and whether one observes the individual quanta (the smallest indivisible chunk that matter is made of) that is part of the experiment.  Depending on the type of equipment and measurement used to detect, particles have the capacity to display either “particle” or "wave" features.  This is the famous wave-particle duality where the true reality of a quantum system is neither a pure particle nor a pure wave.

In spirituality, we know that all phenomenon is fundamentally empty of any intrinsic existence, and is impermanent, non-singular and dependent arising.  Like in an experiment, when we observe something (whether it is a person, event or object), we first put our focus and attention onto it.  Then through our conscious awareness, we put our own labels and interpretation on them. A natural corollary to such definition and perception will be the birth of feelings and sensation.  Whether they are positive or negative, it then gives rise to craving, attachment or resistance.  The final product?  Suffering.  

Not all of us are science-minded, but the understanding of the mechanics that constitute the fabrics of the universe does provide some understanding for us to make the right choice for ourselves; and knowing that the right choice will create a more desirable outcome and potential happiness.

Understanding the Ego

Since it is the ego which has brought us here to have this human experience, it may appear to be an inescapable fact that we will identify with our body, mind and thoughts.  This is, of course, only true if we are referring to the attachment to our dreamy existence prior to waking up to the realisation of our true nature -- the non-dualistic oneness. 

It thus makes sense for us to understand how the ego behaves in order to recognise that we are acting out of it so that we can be the kind observer.  It is predominant to know that the ego always leads us to a sense of separation the very moment we start to see “me” as the subject and an individual entity.  This naturally gives rise to “others” from which all the suffering comes.  There will be comparison and differentiation, and hence judgement and the need for validation.  There will be an urge to be superior and important, and hence inadequacy and the feeling of vulnerability.  Let us look at the ego with courage, see through it and embrace it with space and open-heartedness.  With practices to stabilise in our true Self where stillness is in the background, the ego will naturally dissolve by itself.

Knowing Ego

Most people have a negative connotation of ego.  It implies a sense of self-importance that most often come at the expense of others.  When you describe someone being egoistic, there is even a suggestion of someone being selfish and preoccupied by oneself.  Though the word ego plays the most important in the human psyche and is widely studied in spirituality studies, there is an irony.  When we are asked to examine our ego, a lot of us will shy away from the word fearing that we will be perceived as self-centred people who do not care about the well-being of others.

This is because we do not have the right understanding of the word ego in spirituality.  Here ego means our innate identification with our self and our thoughts.  With its roots in Latin, ego literally means "I".  We are all susceptible to this identification as we believe that we are the "I" in this body with this mind.  The letting go of this ego can only happen when we can give up such identification.  This is not to say that we need to vanish form the surface of the Earth before we can transcend our ego.  But we need to develop a deeper understanding that we are beyond just "me" and "my thoughts".  With attachment to "me" and "my thoughts", there will always be separation and judgement which bind us to this dualistic world.  Being humans, this is a phenomenon that we cannot escape.  But is this really a Catch 22?  It will not be when we go deeper into our awareness and can see there is a much bigger "I" beyond this human body, in which there is only infinite wisdom, light and abundance.

The Tiny Space

Overwhelmed by incessant thoughts, we seldom notice the space in between our thoughts.  As if put into an automatic gear, our minds are too used to filling any space up with yet another thought.  Even when we are asleep, activities still take place as dreams when we try to come to terms with experiences in our waking lives through our unconscious minds.  Yet magic happens when we can rest in this tiny space in between where there is nothing but stillness. It may last only for a nano second, but when we can just be aware of it we are led to our awakened Self where there is a promise of peace, wisdom and compassion. 

The interesting thing is, whether we focus on it or not, this stillness is hovering in the background.  If you cannot capture that space in between thoughts, try to notice the gap in between your inhale and exhale.  When you really investigate, you will find quietude that opens the door to pure awareness.

Hedonic Treadmill

The desire to be free from suffering and be happy is innate in every living being.  A tiny bug will struggle to escape when it falls into a spider web.  A cow will tear up when it senses that it will be slaughtered.  And of course we as human beings have the perpetual tendency to withdraw from any predicament.  But if all of our spiritual teachings are saying that happiness is our birthright, then how is it that this search seems to be a never ending saga in our lives?

While we all say we want to be happy, we do not always take the option to experience joy.  Happiness is more than a birthright or a prerogative, it is also a choice.  Yet when we make this choice, though often unconsciously, we make it with strings attached.  "I will be satisfied if I can make X amount of money...I will be so content if I find the love of my life...If only my family is happy and in good health, I will have nothing else to ask for..."  This is called bargaining and doomed to be a lose-lose situation.  When you cannot achieve these goals, you call them unfulfilled dreams.  But even when you have met these life "objectives", you may be happy for a while only to learn later that you need to fill the vacuum inside you with other new goals to get excited again.  In other words, this is a moving target or what is coined as the hedonic treadmill by researchers Brickman and Campbell in 1971.  It is the tendency of a person to return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or changes in life.  Human beings are wired this way as a species so as to adapt to changing external events and environment for survival.  While this may have served us in our evolution, the meaning of our existence is not simply to prolong our life span.  It is up to us to make the conscious choice to be happy unconditionally no matter what the outside circumstances are.  It is not a promise to ecstasy 24/7 nor a desensitisation agent, but a knowing that happiness is from within when you have a deep faith that abundance is an attitude.

Boundary-free

For years I was bounded by shackles 

Cuffed by myself and on myself 

Limited by my own labels and definition 

Confined by conditioning

So that I could be loved and appreciated

No longer served me I started to question 

And let my feelings filtered through me

I released all pain simply by relaxing

And allow all predicament disappearing

What is left is now spaciousness

Where my creativity leads me to new discoveries

I can now go with the flow and live in joy

Where all boundaries cease to exist

Awareness Aware of Awareness

Recognising ourselves as human beings with a soul or spirit has rendered us a lot suffering.  When we see ourselves as individuals there is already an implication that we are all separated, each housed in a physical body which is distinctly different from one another.  There will always be labelling, categorisation and segregation.  There will always be you and me, your race and my race, your colour and my colour.  There will always be past, present and future.  Sages and ancient teachings have long reminded for thousands of years that we are in fact spiritual beings with a human body.  Or putting it in another way, we are actually conscious beings observing the human being we thought we were.  We are all part of the universal life force with complete awareness. The difference lie in what we choose to focus our awareness on.  When we choose to focus our awareness on external objects and events, we lose sight of what is happening within ourselves and naturally project our experiences and personalities onto the outer world.  Instead of being absorbed in the drama and even playing a role in it, let us bring our attention back to our inner landscape right in the present moment and without judgement.  We try to notice our thoughts, feelings and sensory experiences in an all-encompassing way.  Eventually, we can progress to rise above those responses and simply rest on the formless consciousness -- being aware of being aware.

There is only ONE consciousness, when we can reside in it and not anything else, we are merging with everything and everyone else where there can no more separation but only love.

Thoughts and Karma

The mind is empty by nature
What arises in the mind are thoughts
Thought is the real plane of action
Manifested with a lag on the physical plane
As activities appearing external and solid
Formed and formulated on the mental plane
Potency is in the inner self
Everything one sees is nothing but a reflection of thoughts
From past or present and as a continuum
No outer world but a personal mind only
With thoughts there will be karma
Also with no intrinsic existence
-impermanent, non-singular and dependent

The Lifespan of an Emotion

Whats is an e-motion?  Simply put, it is just energy in motion.  It is a barometer that indicate the change of energy and its intensity in our system. By nature, it is non-judgemental as there is really no "good" or "bad" emotions.  The duality of "good" or "bad" comes from our own labelling.  Once we become aware of this change of energy within us and decide to give it a name, it is then called a feeling: happy, sad, angry, anxious, excited, etc.  Even if you do not give it a name, you can recognise it at a physiological level as expressed by a tingling sensation or some sort of tightness in a certain part of your body.  Though little-understood, this is a psychosomatic reaction - the interaction of mind and body since these two departments have always functioned as one unit.  Thus when unaddressed, such suppressed emotions could develop into discomfort and illnesses over time.

The neurologist Jill Bolte-Taylor has mentioned in her book My Stroke of Insight that the physiological lifespan of an emotion in the brain and body is 90 seconds.  When you are engaged in a fight with someone and in a rage, the sensation of adrenaline rush, faster heart beat, heat in the face and stiffness in the neck are all supposed to take 90 seconds for it to set off and dissipate on its own.  Likewise, when you are on stage giving that speech the first time, the butterflies in your stomach, light-headedness and palpitation are only there for a minute and a half.  So why is it that when we are emotional it feels like we are stuck in a rut and cannot escape?  It is the narrative that we are holding onto that makes our thoughts linger on and hence the associated emotions.  The breakthrough lies in the ability of residing in the present moment and not assuming that the situation and environment should be otherwise.  After all, would you rather experience a 90-second chemical process or stay in an emotional loop?

Is Karma Overrated?

Contrary to what is preached, karma is not a rule.  But it has become a law governing the lives of many and determining what we "deserve".  Simply put, karma is nothing but a belief system.  Yet we are human beings after all; and with our construct, it is impossible to exist in a community and have no beliefs at all.  We need to hold onto some beliefs to provide a structure to our mind and existence, just like how we are born with senses like sight and hearing at a physical level to have the tactility of a human body.  Our growth experience comes not from determining what is "good"or "bad" karma but from understanding of how we relate to our thoughts on karma.  Or digging even deeper, how do we arrive at our belief system?  Why do we think the way we do?  Is that ours or have we inherited it from someone?  And how do we feel when we are acting upon your beliefs?  What have we really know about ourselves in this path of self-discovery?  The real experience of joy comes when we can peel off layers and layers of onion and become who we truly are.

The Tiny Space

Take a few natural breaths -
Inhale...exhale...
You may realise that you are inhaling before you have fully exhaled
For a moment exhale fully until your diaphragm has totally relaxed
And that your rib cage is sinking downwards and inwards
Now notice that tiny space in between your inhale and exhale
Pay attention to it without holding your breath
Let this space expand and rest in it
This is stillness, your true nature -- the gateway to bliss

Believe, Trust and Faith

Believe that you are divine and whole
Do not compromise with half belief
For that means doubt and hesitation
A deterrent and an obstacle to all practices
Turn this belief into deep trust
That the original purity is always present
Reinforce your trust that pure awareness is boundless
With us right here right now
Have unwavering faith that this is the force that manifests life
And all our thoughts, emotions and perceptions
Let them arise and let them dissolve back into it
Recognize and comprehend until it is who you are
Perfect and just as you are

Evocation or Creativity

From the time you wake up, you may notice yourself making hundreds of decisions each day.  Most decisions are quite strategic one way or the other.  Some are mundane and administrative like choosing an alternative route to work on a rainy day to avoid the traffic.  And there are some that are more impactful or transformational such as whether you should change jobs or end a relationship.  Even if you are not conscious of it, a lot of decisions are based on information we have stored in our memory bank.  In other words, we have made these decisions as the situation evokes something in us because of a past experience we have had.  Needless to say, such feelings are also strongly supported by beliefs that we have clung onto.  In other words, we often make decisions based on a repeated thought pattern.  Sometimes this may serve us, sometimes not so.  If you find yourselves caught in the misery loop, then very likely you are unable to let go of a belief that has become obsolete.  By noticing this and reminding yourself that we do have a choice on how we think and what to belief in, your decisions no longer have to be based on an outdated file from your databank.  It is a refreshing idea when you realise that decisions can be made out of an inspiration which is spontaneous as a result of own creativity.  This empowering act can be made possible when you can clear the past and create the mental space and freedom for yourself.

Being Human

To be a spiritual warrior is not to become an emotionless and indifferent person.  Once you are a human being, you cannot escape having thoughts, feelings and emotions.  But through a deeper understanding of the relationship between I and our reality, we can make a conscious choice to be dispassionate and impartial.  Our purpose is not to be in a state of elation or to be cold and unsympathetic at the other extreme.  More importantly, we can be honest and authentic with our feelings and be attentive and caring to them at the same time.  We let ourselves be happy but not ecstatic.  We are allowed to be angry but not hateful.  We accept ourselves to be sad but not wounded.  We are permitted to be joyful but not immoral.  An analogy is like having an uninvited guest the shows up at your door.  You can greet or even invite him or her in, but you do not need to make him or her your overnight guest.

Quest For Reasons

From the day we know how to talk, we have this innate desire to know the reasons for everything.  We would begin all questions to our caretakers and parents with the word "why" and no single answer would satisfy our insatiable appetite for knowledge.  As we move into adulthood, that craving to know is not appeased by maturity.  There is a drive within us that arouses our curiosity and motivates us to find out the reasons for our experiences.  It is as if we would be swallowed by the implacable magnitude of the cosmos if we do not know how and why events happen.  This is particularly true when things are going south and we are dissatisfied with a situation.  In the absence of a legitimate explanation we may find ourselves helpless and angry, as if we are looking for some fairness to justify the happenings.  And when we know the reasons, it usually gives us a sense of security, albeit a false one.  It seems to suggest to us that if we were to remove whatever that has contributed to our losses or failure, we may have a chance of success if we were granted a second chance.

Acquiring knowledge or skills to improve ourselves is definitely commendable, but maybe we need to let go of the myth that everything happens for a reason.  This is not to discount its validity, but finding the reasons can only be part of the tale at best.  It is way more constructive to find meaning out of life's disappointments than rationalising failure and losses, or you will be falling into the trap of creating another story out of a story.

The Paradox of Giving

In a lot of teachings on manifestation of desires, we are being told to affirm our goals, hold a vivid imagery and embrace them with supportive emotions.  It is easy to grab such concepts when it comes to personal wishes.  Abundance or prosperity is definitely one of the top items on most people's wish list.  But many have neglected the close link between being prosperous and the act of giving. When we are giving, there is already an implicit assumption that one already has the means and capacity to give.  Thus the energy of abundance is already predominant when we are habitually doing it so that eventually the grace of giving naturally resides in us.  We do not have to wait until we have accumulated a certain level of wealth before we can give.  That said, it is not to say that we have to give everything away and become short of resources.  It is more the spirit of cultivating the kindness of giving but without the desire to be reciprocated.  But paradoxically, by letting go of such expectations, the universe bestows upon any generous person the freedom and joy of abundance.

Letting Go of I

Am I my body?
But I can see my body
What can be seen cannot be the seer
So I cannot be my body

Am I my feelings?
But I can feel my emotions
What can be felt cannot be the feeler
So I cannot be my feelings

Am I my mind?
But I can notice my thoughts
What can be known cannot be the knower
So I cannot be my mind

Am I a subject or an object?
Am I neither a subject nor an object?
Am I not neither a subject nor an object?
So who am I?

Merit vs Virtue

In our effort to transcend and become more evolved souls, we need to cultivate both merit and virtue. Merit includes all acts and deeds that can help sentient beings and is derived from our compassion and benevolence for others.  As all minds are joined, in so doing we are also offering help to ourselves and turning that love and kindness inwards.  In other words, we are the giver and receiver simultaneously.  That is the reason why those who have committed to the "right" deeds are often the bearer of "good" karmic fruits, except that frequently we have zoomed in too closely on our current lives and fail to look beyond in a temporal sense.

People pay tribute to meritorious conduct, something that can often be displayed and deserves praises and rewards.  After all who does not want to be acknowledged and appreciated?  But this is at best part of the equation.  The righteous path to realisation has a long incubation process and both merit and virtue are necessary.  Merit without virtue may be a wish-fulfilling jewel that will bring you satisfaction to your mundane desires and bless you with health and wealth, but it will never truly alleviate your suffering.  Virtue requires courage and curiosity from which will lead us to introspection.  It is the deep reflection that probes you to look beyond mere appearances and see the reality of our existence -- to gain the insight into our divine nature.  It is the will and determination to change our belief system that has led us to encumbrance and affliction.  Life will still have its predicaments, of course, but the awakening to reality will help you to orient and be peaceful along the process.    

Words Are Token

No matter how flowery they are, words are at best tokens of exchange.  Even with the perfect diction, you will always find limitations with language.  Language is dualistic in nature and you will always find the opposite of a given word: this vs that, me vs you, big vs small, high vs low, etc.

Supreme consciousness or oneness can only be attained through non-duality.  But from a pragmatic standpoint, we do need language for the normal functioning of a human being.  How we can use it as an expedient mean to free ourselves from all boundaries is the real practice.  In other words, language is the finger pointing to the moon but not the moon itself.  We are not trying to negate existence though but rather using language as a gateway to gain non-conceptualisation, non-differentiation and non-discrimination.  Paradoxically, the objective is to drop conceptual contrivance through first gaining wisdom from words and creating the space for direct experience so that we can reap the fruit of liberation.  As we have emphasised, words are boundaries.  Some levels of connection can only be felt but not understood and expressed in words.

Hidden Karma of Snakes and Ladders

The game "Snakes and Ladders" originated in India and was called Gyan chauper in its earliest identifiable form.  Translated to "Game of Self-knowledge", the main theme is on karmic concepts and progressions.  It was played in ancient times as a form of meditation or communal exercise, reinforcing the teachings of their religion in a form of study that didn't involve books or sermons.  The historical version of the game was not like the modern one which is based on sheer luck.  With profundity the former had its roots in morality lessons, on which a player's progression up the board represented a life path interwoven by virtues and vices.  The central theme of the game was the journey of liberation so a person can transcend from the lower levels of consciousness to higher levels of spiritual enlightenment.

Let us dive deeper into the fundamental concept.  Without a cause, a result cannot happen.  What you are experiencing are obviously results from the causes created in the past.  But conditions (things and events) are also required to actualise a phenomenon.  The karma that we are continuously creating can serve as causes or conditions, and the intricate and complicated workings and mechanism are way beyond human apprehension.  The focus for us, however, is not to decipher the cause or condition but to plant healthy karma seeds by doing good deeds and adopting a kind and loving attitude.  Then let go of any expectations of results.

A Hypothesis of Non-duality

If the concept of time vanishes, there will be no past, no future, no now
There will be no reference, hence no differentiation, no relativity
No regrets, no worries, no doubt

If the concept of space vanishes, there will be no self, no others, no sentient beings
There will be no comparison, hence no judgement, no discrimination
No greed, no hatred, no attachment

Realize the limitations of life but live it to the fullest
Obliterate the ignorance
Eliminate the obscuration
Eradicate the suffering

The Function of Plans

Like a dog chasing its own tail, we might look back at our lives wondering whether the tasks or endeavours that we have been so busily engaged in bear any significant meaning.  One goal after another, there is always a never-ending search.  From material attainment to abstract, from physical fulfilment to emotional, from tactile yearning to imaginary.  They might give us a temporary satisfaction every time we achieve our goals but it is always short-lived and unsustainable.  And when our plans do not work, our attempts appear futile and fruitless thus cementing our sense of failure. By perpetually identifying a target to shoot, we also derive a plan to achieve that.  We then hold onto a false sense of security and convince ourselves that the plan will bring us to where we are.

Yet if we do not swim against the tide and go with the flow, we always end up at the right place at the right time with the right people.  It is not to imply that we should pay no effort and forgo all planning, for that will also create chaos and confusion in our world.  But we have to bear in mind that all our plans only allow us to strategise and create structure in this reality.  And it always deviates us from the here and now and brings us to a future moment.  It does not have a function of providing any real security for us and never has.  The real security lies in us trusting our own selves and the universe that everything will turn out to be fine whatever the result is.    

Spiritual Immunity

Our contemporary world is susceptible to epidemics and diseases, rendering us helpless and vulnerable.  Intriguingly, the way we react to such a phenomenon is very reflective of our own psyche and attitude towards sickness and death.  While this maybe a knee-jerk reaction, we need to pause and give ourselves the opportunity to contemplate.  We are ill when our bodies are of low frequency caused by our emotions, mindset, lifestyle, diet or environment.  Or more likely, it might be an accumulation of all the above.  Being the first external "object" being projected from our mind, our body is the first line of defence.  Addressing the issue with fear will further lower our frequency and weaken our bodies' natural ability to heal.  The right attitude is to boost our immunity and more importantly, keep our emotional and mental health in check.  Perhaps it is worth you pondering on the disturbances deep within.  How is it that you feel insecure?  What are you afraid of losing?  What is it that is being triggered?  Can you challenge all those beliefs driven by fear that might no longer serve you?

Empathy, Compassion and Altruism

Empathy is not only essential for our spiritual practice, but also from the standpoint of human evolution.  We belong to a tribal setting and are born to be connected to each other and interdependent.  The need to belong is hardwired in our brains and solidly imprinted on our DNA.  Our everyday life has already demonstrated how every facet of it is a function of the whole, but it is through emotional connection that humans can grow and transcend as a species.  How to connect and with what?  Empathy.

Simply put, empathy is the ability to be in someone else's shoes.  When we are able to take the perspective of another individual and see where that person comes from, we will be able to recognise, understand and feel his or her emotions.  Compassion goes one step beyond.  It comes with a moral intent.  It involves the wish for someone to be happy and the desire to alleviate the suffering of the other.  While a person may be empathetic and compassionate, he or she may not be altruistic; though the former two qualities are bedrock for the latter.  With altruism, there is a sense of selflessness associated and a genuine belief that the well-being of others is equally or more important than that of the self.  It involves selfless acts or behaviour that will benefit another individual at a cost to oneself.  Often, the incentive comes from the emotional reward from kind undertakings that render the beholder gratification and fulfilment.

The idea of expecting everyone to be altruistic may be a very utopian concept.  But we can at least practise empathy and compassion on ourselves, expand to our loves ones and eventually on other precious beings in our lives.

    

A Foolish Consistency Is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds

Being one of the most famous quotations of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" can illustrate the underlying theme that is underpinning the social ills and human suffering of our times.  Rooted in many of us is the deep conditioning which prevents us from living a life that allows true self-expression.  Unconsciously, we have chosen to conform as a human species.  We identify so much with the collective based on the fear that being the odd one will render us helpless and isolated.  By having this false perception of separation, we have given up our birthright to be happy and genuine people.  The irony is that by choosing to be consistent, there is no satisfaction and fulfilment in life. That is not to say that we all should live as selfish beings.  But by rigidly conforming to customary or popular ideas, we are implicitly making the judgement that the inconsistent is incorrect and thus living to the expectations of others.  We are all capable of achieving happiness.  The key to this is to free ourselves from a fixed mindset or habitual thinking and allow ourselves to live up to the potential of who we are as individuals.

Life is fluid, unstable and impermanent, that is just the nature of it.  The same goes with our thoughts and beliefs.  There is no chance to have a fixed and consistent of thinking as you will be deviating from the Truth.  Going with the flow requires the courage of introspection.  When one can re-discover the inner self, then there will be ample space for harmony, authenticity and hence, happiness.

The Other Shore

Invite space into your world
Drop prejudice and judgement
Give up a fixed and deluded view-
Of an objective reality with intrinsic existence
As all phenomena in their own being are empty
Free the self and remove mental afflictions
Rejoice in the endowment of wisdom, bliss and compassion
Step ashore oarless and rudderless
And forgo the awakening upon disembarkation

Tikun

Tikun in Hebrew means fixing or rectification; in other words, a spiritually correction.  We have all come to this life with some tikun brought from the past which we have not yet reconciled with.  Before we can see the divine nature in ourselves which promises happiness and abundance, we need to take the first step in spiritual discovery - identifying our obstacles and understanding how they are caused by our belief system which has thus created a distorted reality.  It is a life-long process of removing the stranglehold.  If we stay in the loop, then whether you are conscious of it or not, you have already chosen to be debilitated by the same negative pattern over and over again.  We have all created our own reality.  If you know that you have such a power, would you choose to create love and compassion rather than fear and pain?

Gains and Losses

We have all dealt with losses in our lives.  It can be the loss of a belonging, a first pet, a relationship or even your loved ones.  With such losses we might be greeted with a myriad of emotions along the way.  There might be sadness, fear, guilt, anger, blame or some other emotions that we might encounter but so complex that we are unable to label.  It is also quite natural for us to lose the bigger picture as we are so consumed with the intensity of such feelings and become engrossed in them.

In times of loss, it is challenging to move out of emotional captivity.  Yet this is a world of duality after all, and behind every loss there is always a gain.  And of course, whether you wish or not, the opposite is true.  This gain might not be material or be at a level that we can experience with a narrow viewpoint that we adopt habitually.  It can only be said that the gain is always a promise that will make you more appreciative, authentic and whole as a person.  Whilst busy rejoicing your gains and lamenting your losses, it is up to you to identify their counterparts and turn them into something empowering with an open mind and an open heart.

Intention

To say we have the awareness of the self is to say that we have consciousness of our five senses, body and mind.  While senses and body are physiological, the mind or mental consciousness is the interpretation of our material world through contact with the physical component.  It can cognise and perceive and has the ability to discern, analyse, organise and store.  At an even deeper level of our consciousness lies a "databank" containing the imprints of past experiences and associations from which our beliefs are formed, you may call it supraconsciouness.  If you can relate to the saying "what you sow is what you reap", then this is literally where the karmic seeds are laid.  What you can eventually grow out of the seeds depends on how the conditions are played out.

But the tenet of our spiritual practice rests on our mental consciousness.  The mental consciousness requires an anchor for it to develop, or put it differently, a resting place.  This anchor is our intentions.  Without intentions, there is no room for the mental and physical components to function and there will be no action and speech to follow.  And it goes without saying that there will no medium for our sense organs and mind to interact with external objects and people.

Perhaps it is worth us making the pause and bring more awareness to our own intentions before we become the puppets of our own action and speech.

Individuality vs Relationship

For some people who have deep respect for individuality, self-expression and independence are keys to their fulfilment in life.  They are keen on self-development and thrive to be authentic and unique beings.  They appreciate differences in human potential and character traits but may despise mobs who are constantly conditioned by the collective.  That said, be forewarn of a dangerous negligence here: relationships.  Inevitably, relationship issues involve compromise and adjustment.  These can create challenging situations that are considered barriers to living an authentic life by such, and may present them with dilemmas when they are trying to balance interdependence and genuineness.

But at the end of the day, true individuality involves seeing from another person what is happening within you.  For without a screen, what is the use of a projector?