The days of our lives are all billions of precious "nows"
strung together by "beingness"
Ancient rock formations adorn the high places ....
The ancient life of whales adorn the lower places ....
The Manly Ferry cuts its way ....
To Circular Quay.
From the Mouth of the Tiger
Ramana Maharshi, the great Indian sage, has said the path of the seeker is not an easy one
and once you have taken that path “your head is already in the Tigers mouth”
meaning it is impossible to ever return to your life as you knew it before.
Our intention is to share our personal accounts and insights gathered from the many and various roads
we have travelled down trusting they may inspire or be of some comfort and even practical use to our readers.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Your True Nature ...
Your true nature is beyond description.
It cannot be known by the mind, yet it exists.
It is the source of everything.
--- Nisargadatta Maharaj
Who am I?
The Sense of "I am" (Consciousness)
When I met my Guru, he told me:
"You are not what you take yourself to be.I obeyed him, because I trusted him. I did as he told me. All
Find out what you are.
Watch the sense 'I am',
find your real Self."
my spare time I would spend looking at myself in silence. And what a
difference it made, and how soon!
My teacher told me to hold on to the sense 'I am' tenaciously and not
to swerve from it even for a moment. I did my best to follow his
advice and in a comparatively short time I realized within myself the
truth of his teaching. All I did was to remember his teaching, his
face, his words constantly. This brought an end to the mind; in the
stillness of the mind I saw myself as I am -- unbound.
I simply followed (my teacher's) instruction which was to focus the
mind on pure being 'I am', and stay in it. I used to sit for hours
together, with nothing but the 'I am' in my mind and soon peace and
joy and a deep all-embracing love became my normal state. In it all
disappeared -- myself, my Guru, the life I lived, the world around
me. Only peace remained and unfathomable silence.
--- Nisargadatta Maharaj
... The lineage of nine gurus ... Navnath Sampradaya:Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj belongs to the Navnath Sampradaya, the lineage which originated from the nine gurus. Nisargadatta himself did not stress his lineage with most of his western devotees
External Links
DVD"S about Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
http://www.maharajnisargadatta.com/
http://www.nisargadatta.net/
Remembering Nisargadatta Maharaj, reflections of David Godman
Various articles on Sri Nisargadatta
Videos about Sri Nisargadatta
Who am I?
"You are not what
you take yourself to be.
Find out what you are.
Watch the sense 'I am',
find your real Self."
Releasing emotions
We all experience emotions, some of them feel great others not so great.
Sometimes emotions can even seem quite overwhelming.
The past six months I ventured on journey within, which at first seemed quite daunting. At the beginning of the year I made some very focused decisions of how I wanted my life to be, with no idea at the time of how I would achieve it.
One of my decisions was I wanted to master my emotions, rather than feeling like they were mastering me. I had decided I didn't want to keep changing my state and trying to think happy thoughts, because although that was effective some of the times it was not always effective when I needed it most.
So a new journey began, to go within and it has been an amazing self-journey so far. I would like to share a part of it that has had a huge impact for me along the way. There are very few words to describe the peace that I have felt since using this method and it is so simple that you can use it anywhere, anytime. Often in our lives we think simple won't be as effective, don't take my word for it and try this simple method out.
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Releasing Emotions
Often people find a bit of resistance presents about welcoming in a negative emotion, yet the truth is the emotion is already there isn't it? So instead of attempting to pretend that it is not there, you are choosing to welcome it, so that it can move through you, as it wants to do. All emotions that present want to move through you, so you are making the process much easier by welcoming the emotions.
As I said, don't take my word for it. Try it out for yourself!
A man called Lester Leverson, who at age 42 was sent home from hospital after his 2nd heart attack, being told that he had three weeks to live, developed this method in the 1950’s. Lester took a journey within and noticed that by releasing emotions rather than brushing over them, he felt lighter and lighter, happier and happier. Lester also became aware that when he was expressing loving kindness, his body was well and his life was flowing. Yet when he was wanting and withholding his love he experienced ill health, in many forms.
Thankfully, Lester went onto live for another 42 years after that original diagnosis, which lead to the development of The Sedona Method and The Release Technique. This is a very small preview of what these methods can offer.
I would love to hear your feedback of your experiences with using this method. The key is to keep practicing this release technique through out your day, as emotions present.
You are not your emotions or your thoughts
Remember you are not your emotions or your thoughts; you are that which aware of them.
Enjoy!
You are welcome to contact Kyla
Sometimes emotions can even seem quite overwhelming.
The past six months I ventured on journey within, which at first seemed quite daunting. At the beginning of the year I made some very focused decisions of how I wanted my life to be, with no idea at the time of how I would achieve it.One of my decisions was I wanted to master my emotions, rather than feeling like they were mastering me. I had decided I didn't want to keep changing my state and trying to think happy thoughts, because although that was effective some of the times it was not always effective when I needed it most.
So a new journey began, to go within and it has been an amazing self-journey so far. I would like to share a part of it that has had a huge impact for me along the way. There are very few words to describe the peace that I have felt since using this method and it is so simple that you can use it anywhere, anytime. Often in our lives we think simple won't be as effective, don't take my word for it and try this simple method out.
Exercise 1
Start by placing a pencil or pen in your hand and begin to clutch it, hold it as tight as you can. Notice how the muscles become tight and contracted the longer that you hold on. Keep gripping it for a moment and then ask yourself these three simple questions:
Would I let this go?
Could I let this go?
When?
Allow your hand to let go and the pencil to drop to the floor.
Practice this several times over, until you have a sense of what it feels like when you let it go.
Exercise 2
Think about a problem that has been presenting in your life. It may be to do with relationships, money, career or anything else. It may be a problem that has been presenting repetitiously.
Now as the emotions begin to stir up within your body, notice how you may feel a clutching feeling in your stomach or chest and WELCOME that sensation, you don't need to label it or make any judgments about it, just simply welcome them. Allow them to be there. And then ask these three questions;
Would I let this go?
Could I let this go?
When?
And let go.
You may begin to notice an instant feeling of relief from doing this exercise on the first time, though often you will repeat it several times until you feel a lightness and notice that there is no more clutching feeling inside, instead there is a feeling of peace and possibilities.
Releasing Emotions
Often people find a bit of resistance presents about welcoming in a negative emotion, yet the truth is the emotion is already there isn't it? So instead of attempting to pretend that it is not there, you are choosing to welcome it, so that it can move through you, as it wants to do. All emotions that present want to move through you, so you are making the process much easier by welcoming the emotions.
As I said, don't take my word for it. Try it out for yourself!
A man called Lester Leverson, who at age 42 was sent home from hospital after his 2nd heart attack, being told that he had three weeks to live, developed this method in the 1950’s. Lester took a journey within and noticed that by releasing emotions rather than brushing over them, he felt lighter and lighter, happier and happier. Lester also became aware that when he was expressing loving kindness, his body was well and his life was flowing. Yet when he was wanting and withholding his love he experienced ill health, in many forms. Thankfully, Lester went onto live for another 42 years after that original diagnosis, which lead to the development of The Sedona Method and The Release Technique. This is a very small preview of what these methods can offer.
I would love to hear your feedback of your experiences with using this method. The key is to keep practicing this release technique through out your day, as emotions present.
You are not your emotions or your thoughts
Remember you are not your emotions or your thoughts; you are that which aware of them.
Enjoy!
You are welcome to contact Kyla
Allowing What Is To Be
Have you ever considered how life would be different if you allowed what is in this moment to be rather than resisting what is?
It is a topic that has come to my attention many times in life, and at times I thought I would understand and do my best to let go. Then I became aware that yes it is easier to let go than to hold on, and it is totally effortless to allow and observe what unfolds. And the funny this is, what is - IS in this moment, whether you allow it or not.
How do tall palms resist the wind? We often resist situations that arise in our lives, because we don’t like them or they don’t fit into our plans, yet the truth is, what is in this moment- IS! No amount of not liking it will change what IS in this moment, though our attitude towards what is can have a dramatic impact on our experience of what we are experiencing.
A recent experience has reinforced this truth in my life experience. I became suddenly very tired, though with workshops to run and speaking events approaching, I ignored these signs and pushing against them. Until the tiredness became so overwhelming that a blood test result revealed an autoimmune disorder. When I finally stopped, the stopping resulting in 2 months of sleeping 14 – 20 hours a day, still with some resistance.
The interesting part of this experience is that it was not until I stopped struggling with the illness, and my beliefs around what illness meant, that my body began to show signs of healing.
By opening to the experience of physical illness, there has been so many learning’s revealed to me, that otherwise I would not have seen. It reminded me that;
So who am I?
Who is it that observes the body, mind, thoughts and emotions?
The more that you become aware of that which observes all in this gift called life, the greater the experience of this life as a gift.
Just for this moment, stop and turn awareness to awareness itself. That which is aware of deep sleep, that which is aware of the coming and goings of thoughts and emotions.
What is - IS!
What is - IS! There is no effort involved in what is, the only effort is the resistance. The resistance can come in many forms, including comparisons.
As humans we are gifted with intellect yet that gift we often turn against ourselves and compare ourselves to others and where we think we should or could be, rather than accepting and loving where we are now, allowing that to unfold and reveal to us the magic of the moment.
The infinite moment
There is only this moment, the infinite moment. Allow yourself to experience it fully by allowing the emotions to rise and fall as they do. Stop, even for just a 1/4 of a second and welcome the emotions as the rise. Be still. Observe the emotion, even take the name of emotions off it and observe the energy moving. It will take less than a second, and in such a brief moment, such wonderment can be revealed to those whom are watching.
A battery is charged with both a positive negative energy, both equally important. As we humans have both positive and negative emotions, both have significant importance also. Though as a culture, we do our very best to push away our negative emotions and slap on a happy face. Negative emotions play an important role within this experience of life; they are wonderful indicators of what is happening at a subconscious level. The key is to allow the emotions to be here and pass through without the attachment to the story of why the emotions came about.
Allow judgements to fall away
Observe judgements and let them drop away. When you find yourself saying this is right or wrong, allow it to simply BE as it is, neither right nor wrong.
What is - IS in this moment. Allowing it to be here, without judgement, simply observing opens your experience of life to wonderful new understandings of this gift called the present moment.
It is a topic that has come to my attention many times in life, and at times I thought I would understand and do my best to let go. Then I became aware that yes it is easier to let go than to hold on, and it is totally effortless to allow and observe what unfolds. And the funny this is, what is - IS in this moment, whether you allow it or not.
How do tall palms resist the wind? We often resist situations that arise in our lives, because we don’t like them or they don’t fit into our plans, yet the truth is, what is in this moment- IS! No amount of not liking it will change what IS in this moment, though our attitude towards what is can have a dramatic impact on our experience of what we are experiencing.A recent experience has reinforced this truth in my life experience. I became suddenly very tired, though with workshops to run and speaking events approaching, I ignored these signs and pushing against them. Until the tiredness became so overwhelming that a blood test result revealed an autoimmune disorder. When I finally stopped, the stopping resulting in 2 months of sleeping 14 – 20 hours a day, still with some resistance.
The interesting part of this experience is that it was not until I stopped struggling with the illness, and my beliefs around what illness meant, that my body began to show signs of healing.
By opening to the experience of physical illness, there has been so many learning’s revealed to me, that otherwise I would not have seen. It reminded me that;
I am not the mind
I am not the body
I am not my emotions
I am not my thoughts
So who am I?
Who is it that observes the body, mind, thoughts and emotions?
The more that you become aware of that which observes all in this gift called life, the greater the experience of this life as a gift.
Just for this moment, stop and turn awareness to awareness itself. That which is aware of deep sleep, that which is aware of the coming and goings of thoughts and emotions.
What is - IS!
What is - IS! There is no effort involved in what is, the only effort is the resistance. The resistance can come in many forms, including comparisons.
As humans we are gifted with intellect yet that gift we often turn against ourselves and compare ourselves to others and where we think we should or could be, rather than accepting and loving where we are now, allowing that to unfold and reveal to us the magic of the moment.
The infinite momentThere is only this moment, the infinite moment. Allow yourself to experience it fully by allowing the emotions to rise and fall as they do. Stop, even for just a 1/4 of a second and welcome the emotions as the rise. Be still. Observe the emotion, even take the name of emotions off it and observe the energy moving. It will take less than a second, and in such a brief moment, such wonderment can be revealed to those whom are watching.
A battery is charged with both a positive negative energy, both equally important. As we humans have both positive and negative emotions, both have significant importance also. Though as a culture, we do our very best to push away our negative emotions and slap on a happy face. Negative emotions play an important role within this experience of life; they are wonderful indicators of what is happening at a subconscious level. The key is to allow the emotions to be here and pass through without the attachment to the story of why the emotions came about.
Allow judgements to fall away
Observe judgements and let them drop away. When you find yourself saying this is right or wrong, allow it to simply BE as it is, neither right nor wrong.
What is - IS in this moment. Allowing it to be here, without judgement, simply observing opens your experience of life to wonderful new understandings of this gift called the present moment.
How not to be stressed
If you are like most people, being stressed is quiet easy. So how do you not be stressed in day to day life?
Be in this moment... yes this moment, not tomorrow, or yesterday, right here in this moment.
John Lennon said it well when he sang,
The mind is made up of memories, so when you have a problem, be that a new or old problem, the mind goes searching through its recorded memories to find a solution. If it cannot find an answer it will then project the past into the future. And the past may not have even been something that you personally experienced; it may be from a story you were told or even a TV program that you viewed. It's all there, recorded in the mind.
Really the mind is saying, "I don't have an answer", yet you still find yourself looking to the mind for an answer. As Larry Crane says,
So how do you stop stressing and find the answers you are looking for?
(1) "Can you let go of trying to figure this out?"
My first suggestion is to ask yourself "Can I let go of trying to figure this out?" . Now this is a decision, and because you no longer wish to feel stressed, the answer will of course be "yes".
(2) "Become focussed in the NOW"
The next thing is to check in and see what is here in this moment, is there any of that problem here right now? You might still think there is, but check and see is that problem here right now? What is here now, in this moment?
When the mind is living in the horizontal world, as in the past and future, it is busy, noisy and constantly trying to conceptualise and develop strategies for the future. In this mind set, you are most likely missing the beauty of the present, through being occupied in the future, which may not even come.
When you bring your awareness to this moment, the vertical world, you will notice a sense of calm and stillness. The mind at first, will probably pop in and tell you “This is boring this quietness, nothing can be accomplished here” I am going to suggest that you observe any thoughts of this nature and simply allow them to pass through. Enjoy the calmness.
You might then like to spend some time in this space, you could even call it meditation time, where you simply observe your thoughts as though you were watching clouds passing across the sky. Just watching, nothing to change. Notice how the thoughts pass by. And if you find your mind chasing any thoughts, as soon as you become aware of that occurring, bring your attention back to your breath, and the space between each breath.
(3) Enjoy that space, the calmness
which is at your core!
These simple questions can assist you to start experiencing more of your true self and the bonus can be that incredibly the answers to your problems start to reveal themselves in perfect time. You will notice that answers will start to appear in ways you have never thought of, intuitive flashes, inspiration or random acts of kindness appear.
The true beauty is the awareness of each moment and the gift that this moment presents, when you are present.
Be in this moment... yes this moment, not tomorrow, or yesterday, right here in this moment.
John Lennon said it well when he sang,
"Life is what happens to you,Stress is what happens when the mind begins to project the past into the future, suddenly you feel your body tighten and you become and feel uptight.
when you are busy making other plans".
The mind is made up of memories, so when you have a problem, be that a new or old problem, the mind goes searching through its recorded memories to find a solution. If it cannot find an answer it will then project the past into the future. And the past may not have even been something that you personally experienced; it may be from a story you were told or even a TV program that you viewed. It's all there, recorded in the mind.
Really the mind is saying, "I don't have an answer", yet you still find yourself looking to the mind for an answer. As Larry Crane says,
it's a little like if you kept looking into an empty filing cabinet over and over again...it's empty.
So how do you stop stressing and find the answers you are looking for?
(1) "Can you let go of trying to figure this out?"
My first suggestion is to ask yourself "Can I let go of trying to figure this out?" . Now this is a decision, and because you no longer wish to feel stressed, the answer will of course be "yes".
(2) "Become focussed in the NOW"
The next thing is to check in and see what is here in this moment, is there any of that problem here right now? You might still think there is, but check and see is that problem here right now? What is here now, in this moment?
When the mind is living in the horizontal world, as in the past and future, it is busy, noisy and constantly trying to conceptualise and develop strategies for the future. In this mind set, you are most likely missing the beauty of the present, through being occupied in the future, which may not even come.
When you bring your awareness to this moment, the vertical world, you will notice a sense of calm and stillness. The mind at first, will probably pop in and tell you “This is boring this quietness, nothing can be accomplished here” I am going to suggest that you observe any thoughts of this nature and simply allow them to pass through. Enjoy the calmness.
You might then like to spend some time in this space, you could even call it meditation time, where you simply observe your thoughts as though you were watching clouds passing across the sky. Just watching, nothing to change. Notice how the thoughts pass by. And if you find your mind chasing any thoughts, as soon as you become aware of that occurring, bring your attention back to your breath, and the space between each breath.(3) Enjoy that space, the calmness
which is at your core!
These simple questions can assist you to start experiencing more of your true self and the bonus can be that incredibly the answers to your problems start to reveal themselves in perfect time. You will notice that answers will start to appear in ways you have never thought of, intuitive flashes, inspiration or random acts of kindness appear.
The true beauty is the awareness of each moment and the gift that this moment presents, when you are present.
What is fear?
Fear is something most of us don’t want to experience. It can conjure up thoughts of being totally overwhelmed and debilitated, causing the body to respond to the very thought of a fear with pressure in the chest, sick feelings in the stomach and even causing the heart to beat rapidly. So it no wonder we don’t want to experience fear.
Being willing to meet fear, face to face, you open to the opportunity to experience the fear and allow it to unravel in front of you, to reveal that the fear is nothing when met fully! The greatest fear was of the fear of itself.
The interesting part is that even though you may deny your fears, they are merely pushed to the side, so to speak and only to arise at the most inopportune (or opportune) times. Again may find yourself pushing this fear aside as quickly as possible.
A Simple Example to contemplate
Say for example you had a fear of public speaking, and through your business or work you are offered an opportunity to speak to an audience of 300 people, about that a subject that you are totally passionate about. The fear for some of you reading this might be so overwhelming from the moment of the invitation, so much so, that you say “No thanks” to this amazing opportunity.
For others you might find yourself saying, “Yes” and wonder how you will deal with it later.
Tomorrow is the day of the speaking event, you toss and turn in bed that night, stomach churning, wondering if may be you have food poisoning or a stomach upset (you might even find yourself hoping that this is true!).
In this moment, the fear has arisen to be met! So rather than pushing on through the fear STOP, even if it is only for ½ a second, STOP and be still, willing to meet this fear.
If you find it hard at first to simply stop, you can ask yourself, what is it that I am most afraid of in this moment? You might be surprised at what thoughts rise, it might be of embarrassing yourself, maybe that people won’t like what you have to say, maybe something totally different. I will often take the fear as far as I can by asking something like, “What if nobody ever approved of me ever again?” The fear then springs forward to be met.
This idea is not to become a new concept and strategy for the mind, simply an opportunity to meet with fear and allow it to pass, as it does naturally. What ever the fear is, be willing to STOP and experience it in the moment.
When we ignore any emotions, including fear, the energy and lesson is stored within the body and often represents later. So why not take the opportunity to meet it as it presents.
When you allow emotions to be present, you may also notice stories beginning to present too! You may even notice many stories begin to appear. The stories of blame “he/she did this to me”, the stories of guilt “it is all because I did that terrible thing”, the stories of justified anger “I have a right to be angry about this”. Simply observe the stories as the appear, the mind may present many memories when you are ready to clear or complete patterns in your life. So as best you can, observe the stories, and allow them to pass through and notice that when you don’t delve into the stories, it simply fades away, as does the emotions.
Gangaji
As Gangaji asks “Are you willing to have your heart broken?” Within that breaking that heart opens. It doesn’t mean that you go looking for experiences of having your heart broken, simply allowing it to happen when it does.
When you are unwilling to have your heart broken, you may not be fully living; protecting yourself from the possibility of having your heart broken can be a very consuming role. A role that may be denying you the opportunity of experiencing the very thing that can open your heart to love as you have never loved before, and to experience every moment in life as life enhancing rather than events to be avoided.
Have you every noticed that what you avoid the most is that which persists in your life and represents itself over and over again?
This is very situation that persists may be offering you an opportunity to open and experience the unknown.
Life is made up of both positive and negative energy, positive and negative emotions. Neither is right or wrong or better or worse than the other, they are both simply energy. Both the positive and negative are needed to fully experience life.
“This too will pass” is a wonderful reminder at this point. As the emotions are passing you are opening to a joyful understanding and knowing that life is a wonderful collection of experiences, when fully experienced in each moment.
Meeting with fear is an opening to freedom!
Being willing to meet fear, face to face, you open to the opportunity to experience the fear and allow it to unravel in front of you, to reveal that the fear is nothing when met fully! The greatest fear was of the fear of itself.
The interesting part is that even though you may deny your fears, they are merely pushed to the side, so to speak and only to arise at the most inopportune (or opportune) times. Again may find yourself pushing this fear aside as quickly as possible.
A Simple Example to contemplate
Say for example you had a fear of public speaking, and through your business or work you are offered an opportunity to speak to an audience of 300 people, about that a subject that you are totally passionate about. The fear for some of you reading this might be so overwhelming from the moment of the invitation, so much so, that you say “No thanks” to this amazing opportunity.
For others you might find yourself saying, “Yes” and wonder how you will deal with it later.
Tomorrow is the day of the speaking event, you toss and turn in bed that night, stomach churning, wondering if may be you have food poisoning or a stomach upset (you might even find yourself hoping that this is true!).
In this moment, the fear has arisen to be met! So rather than pushing on through the fear STOP, even if it is only for ½ a second, STOP and be still, willing to meet this fear.
If you find it hard at first to simply stop, you can ask yourself, what is it that I am most afraid of in this moment? You might be surprised at what thoughts rise, it might be of embarrassing yourself, maybe that people won’t like what you have to say, maybe something totally different. I will often take the fear as far as I can by asking something like, “What if nobody ever approved of me ever again?” The fear then springs forward to be met.
Stop completelySo in this moment of meeting the fear, STOP! Completely STOP! You will notice patterns of wanting to move on quickly or change the subject arises, you can consciously choose to let those pass through as you STOP and observe them. There is no need to change a thing, simply observe, watch how the energy moves around the body then suddenly subsides and opens you to experience a feeling that is often described as expansiveness, nothingness, stillness, peaceful and loving.
and meet the fear
face to face
This idea is not to become a new concept and strategy for the mind, simply an opportunity to meet with fear and allow it to pass, as it does naturally. What ever the fear is, be willing to STOP and experience it in the moment.
When we ignore any emotions, including fear, the energy and lesson is stored within the body and often represents later. So why not take the opportunity to meet it as it presents.
When you allow emotions to be present, you may also notice stories beginning to present too! You may even notice many stories begin to appear. The stories of blame “he/she did this to me”, the stories of guilt “it is all because I did that terrible thing”, the stories of justified anger “I have a right to be angry about this”. Simply observe the stories as the appear, the mind may present many memories when you are ready to clear or complete patterns in your life. So as best you can, observe the stories, and allow them to pass through and notice that when you don’t delve into the stories, it simply fades away, as does the emotions.
GangajiAs Gangaji asks “Are you willing to have your heart broken?” Within that breaking that heart opens. It doesn’t mean that you go looking for experiences of having your heart broken, simply allowing it to happen when it does.
When you are unwilling to have your heart broken, you may not be fully living; protecting yourself from the possibility of having your heart broken can be a very consuming role. A role that may be denying you the opportunity of experiencing the very thing that can open your heart to love as you have never loved before, and to experience every moment in life as life enhancing rather than events to be avoided.
Have you every noticed that what you avoid the most is that which persists in your life and represents itself over and over again?
This is very situation that persists may be offering you an opportunity to open and experience the unknown.Life is made up of both positive and negative energy, positive and negative emotions. Neither is right or wrong or better or worse than the other, they are both simply energy. Both the positive and negative are needed to fully experience life.
“This too will pass” is a wonderful reminder at this point. As the emotions are passing you are opening to a joyful understanding and knowing that life is a wonderful collection of experiences, when fully experienced in each moment.
Meeting with fear is an opening to freedom!
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