Return to Love

Notice what it is to be truly good to yourself. This is about more than simply resting periodically, drinking before you get thirsty. Its about stopping to smell the flowers often, because you can, not because you have to. Its about not only dreaming of what is out of reach, but taking steps to taste the dream again, as if for the first time. Its about fearlessly taking risks to go that extra distance for good reason only to discover there was never any real risk involved. Afterall, Love is all we ever think we want, need and seek and its always here, nearby, ever-present, inviting us to see and embody it.

Honour your Soul journey

Notice the physical world suggests shortcuts exist to reach goals and flourish. Zig Ziglar echoes, "there is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs." Similarly, there is no cutting corners in spiritual practice. Contrary to popular belief, one cannot fast-track spiritual progress to reap imagined rewards and instantly access what one is not ready to energetically handle. The very thought this is possible is itself ego delusion. All attempts to dodge the messy world of difficult relationships, uncomfortable emotions and anything else we would avoid, only sidetrack and obstruct the true Soul journey of authenticity which beckons. The nature of suffering draws us back to the steps we skipped, pondered or missed. We exist to identify, honour, digest, embody and integrate Soul lessons of our lives. Every choice has alchemical conequences that alter our frequency & experience. Reclaim the power and free will to consciously create your own happiness. Hence the Zen proverb: when the student is ready, the master appears. In other words, when the student has the mindset, has their eyes and ears open and stops acting like they know everything, then a teacher will appear. Teachers present as guides at different stages until one blossoms into the Master and weilds the power of a white lotus.

Function consciously beyond 3D

Notice that no method exists to reach the natural state of being. Distractions exist to act as stepping stones, pointers or catapults. No method exists to suddenly know and accept what is always here. This is not the ego's natural state. Ego arises based on concepts, attitudes, framed within language, beliefs that "I/me" is the basis of all intention, fear and judgment. Attempts to transmit inner knowing to those still in ego consciousness is impossible. Awareness is like an inner light that reveals itself beyond language, beyond objectification of the body, or personal identity. All of this is illusory but an ego cannot be convinced of this as this is basis of ego. It is the letting go of each frame of reference created by ego that reveals divine consciousness. As one reaches the belief in the impossibility of it, shifts occur. The logic of Zen koans is so paradoxical, it takes one outside the mind so one the self vanishes. What you do is that you make no sense. Losing the (ego) mind is key. That which tries to understand or work through the problem is the problem. We cannot desire to be free as we already are. Desire itself is unnatural. Being has no aversion. Wishing to be somebody else in a different state keeps you in "that" state of wanting, judging, restless fear of not having or being. Ego is trapped. Prior to acquiring an ego, the natural state is here. It still exists in a different dimension. It has no preferences, no intention. You cannot attain what you already are. Ego cannot know oneness or wholeness of Being. There is nothing you need to do. You are already are it. You are separated from it from the desire to know and become it. Imagine no object exist (basis of ego). Enlightenment is not an object, not even something you can want. The sheer impossibility of the situation guides one beyond words and ideas created by the ego that is necessary to understand what it can never understand. If you try to get somewhere, you reject where you were and temporarily forget the natural state. Grounding in Love shifts vibration and accelerates the light to see and function consciously beyond 3D.

15 Ways to Be more Zen

Amidst all worldwide events unfolding, here are some ways to get in touch with what matters and be more Zen:

1. Review priorities. (What is necessary & what can you let go?)
2. Breathe & act slowly and deliberately
3. Be okay with doing less
4. Immerse regularly in Nature 
5. Designate time for Self-love/ selfcare & service
6. Integrate mindfulness into everyday
7. Face everything with inner calm and peace
8. See everyone as a Buddha/ master/ mentor 
9. Be receptive to shifts in awareness & perception
10. Set a daily intention
11. Create space for negative emotions 
12. Cultivate wise thoughts & spiritual practices
13. Face a something you fear everyday
14. Choose love, note fear (fear= resistance, love =openness) 
15. View everything as a blessing

Uncover your motive

Two men visit a Zen master, looking for advice.

The first man says: “I’m thinking of moving to this town. What’s it like?”

The Zen master asks: “How was your old town?”

“It was terrible. Everyone was mean. I hated it.”

To that, the Zen master replies: “This town is much the same. Don’t move here.”

After the first man leaves, the second man enters and says: “I’m thinking of moving to this town. How is it?”

Again, the Zen master asks: “What was your old town like?”

“It was wonderful. Everyone was friendly. Just looking for a change.”

The master replies: “This town is very much the same. I think you will like it here.”

There is always more than one reason why we do things. The mind tells us one reason, the rest of the body offers other insight often overlooked. What we seek is what we find. Why we do what we do matters as much, if not more, as the experience itself. The rhythm of our breath offers clues to our underlying motivation for action. Focusing on the breath and engaging in breathing exercises can reveal what we run from or tward or whether we are truly present.

Ultimately, what we find is determined by how we chose to seek and what we are ready to make conscious. All behaviours and life choices are pointers to what is going on inside ourselves.  We are the creator.  Every moment our thoughts and feelings are creating every moment and direction of our lives. Uncovering our motive for a geographic move or other life change is something we only reveal to ourselves when ready. Ponder the role of mindfulness and mindlessness...