presence

203 posts

Enchantment of Life and You the Magician

There is magic within this moment. Living life is the experience of enchantment. But, not because of the details within this instant. Mind details and diversity actually cause us to overlook the isness of now. For example, memories recently overcame me while listening to music during a rainstorm. There were memories of a fireplace, reading a book, sharing time with someone, and a candle.

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It first felt as if I was experiencing these memories in that instant. Consequently, I realized that the magic of any particular memory was not then but now. The mind is a vast storeroom of memories, anticipations, and anxieties that have nothing to do with this moment. Therefore, perplexity results due to a memory or memories. But, these do not have anything to do with the current situation. Continue reading →

A Couch by Any Other Name

Are you familiar with the play Romeo and Juliet? William Shakespeare offers universal wisdom within this play. Similarly, a quotation from this play shares profound insight into the essence of being. A rose by any other name indicates that things are as they are in this moment. Call anything any name you wish. You can assume much. Thus, label and define everything. But, everything is what it is now. Regardless, if this is a person, thing, or situation. I often reflect on Shakespeare’s insight and this quote is a helpful signpost in the process of conscious living. The depth of this insight became obvious to me last week after the delivery of a new couch.

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The couch was heavier than most (as least that’s what I told myself 😊). But, I got the sofa inside the apartment with help from a friend. However, a surprise came after unpacking the boxes. The furniture company sent two sofa components that do not fit together. I stood back in awe and considered the situation. Thoughts and feelings of disappointment, sadness, and frustration initially overcame me. Fortunately, it was obvious that this was the mind’s attempt to distract me. Thus, I simply acknowledged these thoughts and feelings. But, it did not seem necessary to attach my state of being to this circumstance nor any particular thought. Continue reading →

Time Is a Foolish Game So Stop Playing

Time reflects your specific interpretation. Is this not evident in all aspects? How you view the inner universe decides everything. This allows us to reach for feats of grandeur. But, on the other hand, this phenomenon can restrict conscious awareness evolution. What is the deciding factor? Naturally, it is you. Your observation of the mind and inner universe determines what manifests. Likewise, a conscious understanding of what and why something manifests offers clarity and serenity. Acceptance is the key. The superimposed rules of time, for example, mean nothing. We create such things and we can just as easily do away with such manipulations and restricts. Of course, these guidelines have practical and relative use for us. But, do not benefit a conscious state of being.

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Everyone is probably familiar with sayings such as time flies when you’re having fun or beat the clock. But, let’s consider something. Why does time fly or how do we beat the clock? So, we are solely responsible for creating these personal and collective illusions. And, the mind is indirectly responsible for this behavior. I use indirectly to suggest that the brain is simply doing what it does. However, each individual is responsible for becoming conscious of the minds demands and conditioned behavior. Continue reading →

Make the Decision to Love and to Live

How often do you experience love? There is no actual research to verify how often this occurs. But, it is probably more than we realize. However, there is an interesting aspect to this question. Let’s consider loving and living relating to active conscious awareness. How we love and live is a decision. This choice is either unconscious or conscious. So, let’s reword the question. How often do you decide to love? How often do you choose to fully live?

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Any decision influences our state of being. Once applied, this choice is the focus point of our brain’s output activity. This energy transfers through thoughts and emotions. These impulses directly influence our life experience. Thus, how you experience loving and living is dependent on either a conscious or unconscious act of being (Way of life). Also, unconditional love and absolute life should never be just a mental or emotional experience. Observe love and life from within the flow of presence. Choose conscious awareness as a way of being. Continue reading →

Discover the Path to All Possibilities

Usually, the mind bases our daily activities on routine and repetition. But why? Is everything really so tedious? The mind triumphantly says yes, it is all so mundane. Furthermore, the mind insists that this is normal because living life is dull. The mind is capable of many feats. But, pure creativity is not necessarily a mind creation. In fact, it is likely that the mind just hit the emergency brake. The mind will tell you that I am crazy for making such a statement. Nonetheless, I suggest that you continue reading and simply let the mind babble on. Remember, never take the mind too seriously. Thus, you discover that living life is so much more than the thoughts about living life.

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Creativity is a blossoming flower that originate within the silence between thoughts. It is in this stillness that the process of conscious awakening occurs. This acknowledgement offers a beneficial sign post on our inner journey. We can call this silence the unmanifested energy of consciousness. Or let’s simply use the expression conscious awareness for our discussion purposes. This is a haven of calmness in the midst of any mind-made storm. So, how do we discover this vastness? Life, love, and all that is creative are here between words, between thoughts, and even between emotions.

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Chop Wood and Live Within the Presence of Now

What are you aware of in this moment? Awareness defines your existence. The search for enlightenment has become more apparent in our society. This exploration of self-discovery in the pursuit of serenity began after the awaken of self-consciousness. The Buddha offers insight for our consideration. He teaches that Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water.

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Zen also teaches a similar philosophy about living life in a state of presence. The Zen quote When hungry eat, when tired sleep from Po Chang offers beneficial wisdom. The mind has difficulty accepting the simplicity of life. This mind resistance is due to the self-imposed details, complexity, and conditioning of our human existence. Sages such as Buddha, Jesus, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and others offer us signposts to a pathway beyond the mind.

So, what do the teachings of these sages really suggest? Firstly, please understand that the mind is a helpful servant but a terrible master. Therefore, any understanding of life based strictly on the mind will only cause further confusion and complexity. How does insight resonate with you? The act of being allows balance and harmony in the experience of life. Nonetheless, strictly living from mind assumptions, interpretations, and definitions manipulations the simplicity of living. Here also, don’t let the mind fool you. Simplicity does not suggest a paradise without worry or pain. Foremost, your essence is universal presence. Secondarily, this presence is manifesting through an object/body. Continue reading →

Oneself Is not Alone nor Afraid nor Forgotten

Aloneness. We reflected on this topic from time to time. Still, there are many people that write me about feeling lonely and being alone. So, let’s take another look at loneliness. It is wise to first determine if you are truly lonely. Or, do you think you are alone only because the mind tells you to be lonely. Firstly, understand that oneself is in reference to one (reflexive form). Philosophically or spiritually we can say that this is the one self.

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Accordingly, let’s start with this question. Are you lonely? Likely, you will immediately react with various answers that supposedly validate your loneliness. So, step back from these thoughts of lonesomeness. Acknowledge that what you think is just the mind in a repetitious cycle. The simple acknowledgement that you are the observer of these thoughts benefit conscious awareness, thus your state of being. But, whether you impersonate the mind and act out its drama as a puppet is your choice. Continue reading →

Guess What? None of This Matters

It seems there is always something happening. People complain about this and that and often about everything. Yesterday and Tomorrow is always of importance. Yet, all things are a bother. There is frustration in many of our experiences. It is as if a dark threatening cloud is just out of sight. But guess what? Everything is not as it seems. Nor, as the mind tells you. Actually, we bask in the bright light of life. Nevertheless, a single thought or emotion can obscure life’s brightness.

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Why do we so easily disregard or even forget the radiance and clarity within presence? The list of answers to this question is long. There are many factors that manipulate or restrict our conscious awareness. Fear, anticipation, and attachment are a few of these influences and result from mind conditioned behavior. So, what does the title of this article suggest? The short explanation is that nothing truly matters. Still, let’s expand on this insight. Likewise, let’s consider an exercise to practice conscious awareness each day. This stepping stone has the potential to keep us in the now of life. Continue reading →

Everyone Wants to Be a Superstar

Conditioning causes us to strive for more, and therefore we demand and expect many things. This is the downside of an imperialistic system that eventually became a democracy in most parts of the world. Thus, personal and social ramifications started early in our evolution. Therefore, there is a demand to do more, have more, and be more as a result of our development factors. Everyone wants to be a superstar.

There is only you, the one presence in this universe. And, it is you that is either consciously aware of this isness and oneness or not.

superstar

It is not necessary for us to consider social systems, politics, or even evolution. Still, reflecting on our evolution regarding the mind and object consciousness is a helpful spiritual stepping stone. The need to achieve more is evident in most industrial and heavily populated countries. Strive and do more is a way of life for most people. Continue reading →

What Is Beyond All That You Think?

The mind is wonderful for helping us in daily activities. It is very practical and has provided an opportunity for us to evolve to our present state of existence. But there is a price that we have paid regarding our dependency on the brain. This price has been a suppression of our awareness to true consciousness. Consciousness is a result of local and universal evolution. But the mind overshadows this development. This is why a practice of going beyond the mind can result in a more acute perception of space consciousness.

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This word and statement sound very peculiar when we use it in reference to obtaining access to higher consciousness. I speak to many people about this and suggest practicing it during meditation. Meditation offers easy access to a beyond the mind experience. Furthermore, with practice, you will choose to live life beyond the mind in all experiences. This will be your daily state of being. Regardless of whether you have prepared yourself through meditation or not. Continue reading →