Awakening sense

return to sender

Ego-mind's like an overcrowded terminal. Bundles of thoughts and feelings are packaged and shipped out. That cargo's our baggage: plans and projects, fears and fancies.

Actually these packages are without content, just empty dreams. Regardless of how addressed they're always returned to sender. That's like constantly posing questions while already convinced of one's own answer.

What a chaotic scene: returned packages piling up, round-the-clock departure and arrival announcements, all the background noise of unwanted trains of thought.

Why spend time in such a busy place? Better avail ourselves of silent sanctuary, regeneration in the coolness of our inner garden.

There awakening's spirit thrives.
Its presence is its message in answer to all questions.

out of practice?

Spiritual practices are after all practice, preparations for transition.
Sometime they're presumed to be just extracurricular activities complimenting life.

But the more pursued the more the mix changes. Eventually life becomes the accessory supplying fuel for awakening's work, providing grist for the consciousness mill.

Initial practice is like a boat floating downriver until discovering greater depths.
Then the underlying current intensifies, becomes more noticeable.

Sooner or later both practice and current go over a waterfall's edge into free fall.
Cherished dreams, hopes and fears, are dashed on the rocks below.

This shock of awakening clears the air, opens mind's spaciousness, fills a knowing heart.

not a sideshow

Suddenly something totally out of place can appear in the midst of our dream-life: remembrance of the Real. Knowingly or not we're swept beyond ego-mind's bounds.

But this situation is soon overridden, pushed aside by whatever seems more urgent in our dream-living. We quickly distance ourselves from that intruding event through sideshows to distract us.

We're disconnected, steered away from our inner garden. Yet these very lapses can serve to rekindle new resolve: holding on with both hands to the constant flow of awakening.

Eventually this added focus becomes paramount.
It's maintained by our life itself just as a wick feeds a flame.

In short, remembrance of the Beloved becomes the main event.
This remembrance of Oneness becomes the only show in town.

reversals

At first we may want awakening to gain a new capacity,
then we seek to lose everything, to be dispossessed.

At first we may want a new spiritual security,
then we seek to abandon all defenses.

At first we may want deeper knowledge and insight,
then we seek to know that we know nothing.

At first we may want guidance, spirit guides and the like,
then we seek only remembrance of the Beloved One.

First we want to take,
then we seek to give.

First we want peace and joy of a higher life.
Then we only want to fly into the flame: that wanting becomes the voice of a yearning that's no longer ours.                   

(pre-posted Friday instead of usual Sunday)