Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Nice quote


No one can insult or hurt you without your permission. One of the golden keys to happiness and great success is the way you interpret events which unfold before you. Highly successful people are master interpreters. People who have attained greatness have an ability which they have developed to interpret negative or disempowering events as positive challenges which will assist them in growing and moving even farther up the ladder of success. There are no negative experiences, only experiences which aid in your development and toughen your character so that you may soar to new heights. There are no failures, only lessons.

The Heart of Awarenes




The world no longer holds him.
He has gone beyond
The bounds of human nature.

Without compassion
Or the wish to harm,
Without pride or humility.

Nothing disturbs him.
Nothing surprises him.

Because he is free,
He neither craves nor disdains
The things of the world.

He takes them as they come.

His mind is always detached.

--Ashtavakra Gita 17:16-17

From "The Heart of Awareness:
A Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita,"
by Thomas Byrom, 1990.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Ten Things To Be Understood


Ten Things To Be Understood
by Gampopa


Understand that outer appearances are unreal because they are mistaken.

Understand that inner mind is empty because it is devoid of self-identity.

Understand that thoughts are momentary because they occur due to conditions.

Understand that both your physical body and your voice are impermanent because they are conditioned.

Understand that the consequences of your actions are inevitable because all pleasure and pain of sentient beings results from karma.

Understand that pain is your spiritual friend because it is the cause of renunciation.

Understand that pleasure and happiness is the demon of attachment because it is the root of samsara.

Understand that many engagements are obstacles for merit because they hinder spiritual practice.

Understand that enemies and obstructors are your teachers because obstacles are inspiration for spiritual practice.

Understand that everything is of equal nature, because all phenomena are ultimately devoid of self-nature.

These were the ten things to understand.

--Gampopa, from "The Precious Garland of the Sublime Path" (trans. by Erik Pema Kunsang)

The real thing is you, your attitude

Circumstances are irrelevant -- the real thing is you, your attitude.

All the love in the world can be given to you and if you decide to be miserable, you will remain miserable. And there may be nothing in the world, absolutely nothing, but one can be happy, tremendously happy for no reason at all -- because happiness and misery are your decisions.

It takes much time to realise this because it is very very comfortable for the ego to think that others are making you miserable. The ego goes on making impossible conditions, and it says that first these conditions have to be fulfilled and only then can you be happy. It says how can you be happy in such an ugly world, with such ugly people, in such an ugly situation?

Osho--Above All, Don’t Wobble

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Question and answer with David Spero

Questioner: Various sources recommend rolling the eyes upward during meditation, to look toward the third eye. But you have never mentioned it, and I find it uncomfortable. Do you have any opinion on the topic of rolling the eyes upward?

David Spero: I suggest not cultivating this experience through any form of deliberate effort. Anything attained in the field of meditation through effort only strengthens the feeling of separateness. Rolling the eyes up into the head is neither a precondition, nor the result of, full awakening. It may or may not happen. Enlightenment is a Gift, not an attainment.

Questioner: There seems to be a tension between the ideas of natural, peaceful, spontaneous awakening, versus something that requires intense and prolonged effort, deep desire, worthiness and grace.

Which is it?

David Spero: "Intense and prolonged effort" and "deep desire" and "worthiness" and "grace" are distinctly different ideas. Deep desire for awakening is what invites it to manifest, but that does not imply that one must also use intense or prolonged effort. When Ramana Maharishi left home as a young boy to pursue a life of meditation he was filled with a deep desire to experience the Self. This desire did not interfere with his Realization. On the contrary, it helped to accomplish It.

The sense of worthiness arises as one discards conditioned notions of unworthiness, which were put in place by outside sources. One is inherently worthy of Realization by virtue of his or her human birth.

Grace is the very life of the Spiritual Master and His Grace is given to all without distinction or qualification.

Questioner: Are there any burdens or responsibilities involved? Any do's and don'ts? Mostly you suggest that folks just continue down their paths.... David Spero: No burden is too big for Grace to remove and no responsibilities come with realization of the Self. How could responsibilities come from an unearned Gift? The Self, which is the essence of everything, cannot expect or demand anything from anyone.

Grace is the Sun of the Self and it shines everywhere. Everyone, everything, blossoms under Its radiance.

Regarding morality, just use common sense. Do what you know to be right and don't do what you know to be wrong. Follow your natural, inborn intelligence. There are "holy books" that advocate murder, bigotry, slavery, misogyny and violent (human) dominion over the natural world in the name of God, so the best place to look for moral guidance is within, from the Self directly.

Questioner: Can you say something about your spiritual efforts that required decades of hard work, faith, and sacrifice, whereas it's happening very easily for all of us? Can we regard our progress (such as it is) as the outcome of your manifesting power?

David Spero: I never "sacrificed" or performed "decades of hard work, faith and sacrifice" during my extended sadhana. Something gripped my whole being to realize God and I explored that impulse sincerely through meditation and other spiritual practices. My sadhana was performed instinctually and passionately, like an animal in the wild.

Your spiritual progress may be attributed to the Grace of the Spiritual Master or to the Self. One chooses the interpretation that feels best.

Devotional aspirants will want to offer all credit to the embodied Master and those drawn to discrimination pay homage to the Self. The Self and the Spiritual Master are one. The point is to offer all credit to That which you adore with every fiber of your being or to That which transcends the mind. It's your "choice." Just do what comes naturally.

http://www.davidspero.org

The master in the art of living

The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both.

James Michener

Youth

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. People grow old only by deserting their ideals and by outgrowing the consciousness of youth. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul... You are as old as your doubt, your fear, your despair. The way to keep young is to keep your faith young, keep your self-confidence young, keep your hope young.

- Dr. L.F. Phelan

Whatsoever is your need is given to you

Yes, it is good once in a while to move into the mountains, it is beautiful. But to become addicted, to start thinking of renouncing the world is utterly wrong--because it is in the storms of the world that integrity arises. It is in the challenges of the world that you crystilise. Lu-tsu says: Accept the situation you are in. It must be the right situation for you; that's why you are in it.

Existence cares for you. It is given to you not without any reason.

It is not accidental; nothing is accidental. Whatsoever is your need is given to you. If it were your need to be in the Himalayas, you would have been in the Himalayas. And when the need arises, you will find that either you go to the Himalayas or the Himalayas come to you.

It happens... when the disciple is ready, the Master arrives. And when your inner silence is ready, God arrives. And whatsoever is needed on the path is always supplied. Existence cares, mothers.

So don't be worried. Rather, use the opportunity. This challenging world, this constant turmoil on the outside, has to be used. You have to be a witness to it. Watch it. Learn how not to be affected by it.

Learn to remain unaffected, untouched by it, like a lotus leaf in water. And then you will be grateful, because it is only by being watchful of all the turmoil that one day suddenly, "the gods are in the valley". You see the marketplace disappearing far away, becoming an echo. That is real growth.

And if you can rightly be medatitve in the ordinary occupations of life,their is nothing which cannot happen to you. The light will start circulating; you just be watchful. Meditate in the morning and then keep close to your center. Go into the world but keep close to your center, go on remembering yourself. Remain conscious of what you are doing.... And when things arise, act, but don't get identified in the act. Remain a spectator. Do whatsoever is needful, just like a reflex. Do whatsoever is needful, but don't become a doer, don't get involved in it. Do it, and be finished with it--like a reflex.

~OSHO~ The Secret Of Secrets Vol II

Some thoughts


The boulder which was an obstacle in the path of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the resolute. The difficulties which dishearten one man only stiffen the sinews of another, who looks on them as a sort of mental spring-board by which to vault across the gulf of failure to the sure, solid ground of full success.

Many people seem to think that ambition is a quality born within us; that it is not susceptible to improvement; that it is something thrust upon us which will take care of itself. But it is a passion that responds very quickly to cultivation, and it requires constant care and education, just as the faculty for music or art does, or it will atrophy.

"You cannot keep a determined man from success. Take away his money, and he makes spurs of his poverty to urge him on. Lock him up in a dungeon, and he writes the immortal " Pilgrim's Progress."

Nature never lets a man rest until he has found his place. She haunts him and drives him until all his faculties give their consent, and he falls into his proper niche.

Persistency is to talent what steam is to the engine. It is the driving force by which the machine accomplishes the work for which it was intended. A great deal of persistency, with a very little talent, can be counted on to go farther than a great deal of talent without persistency.

Thoroughness is another of the common virtues which all may cultivate.

The man who puts his best into every task will leave far behind the man who lets a job go with the comment " That's good enough." Nothing is good enough unless it reflects our best.

Opposing circumstances create strength. Opposition gives us greater power of resistance. To overcome one barrier gives us greater ability to overcome the next. Who will not befriend the persevering, energetic youth, the fearless man of industry?

The slow penny is surer than the quick dollar. The slow trotter will out-travel the fleet racer. Genius darts, flutters, and tires ; but perseverance wears and wins. The all-day horse wins the race. The afternoon-man wears off the laurels. The last blow drives home the nail."

He who improves an opportunity sows a seed which will yield fruit in opportunity for himself and others. Every one who has labored honestly in the past has aided to place knowledge and comfort within the reach of a constantly increasing number.

Open eyes will discover opportunities everywhere; open ears will never fail to detect the cries of those who are perishing for assistance; open hearts will never want for worthy objects upon which to bestow their gifts; open hands will never lack for noble work to do.

The barriers are not yet erected which shall shut out aspiring talent.

Give a boy health and the alphabet, and it rests with him what his future shall be. Those who wait for luck and legacies never amount to much. Who ever knew of a man becoming wise or good by luck ? Those who have failed in life usually believe in luck, fate, or destiny. They will cite numerous examples of men who have made "lucky hits," or who have been "lucky dogs."

Stick to the thing and carry it through. Believe you were made for the place you fill, and that no one else can fill it as well. Put forth your whole energies. Be awake, electrify yourself; go forth to the task. Only once learn to carry a thing through in all its completeness and proportion, and you will become a hero. You will think better of yourself ; others will think better of you. The world in its very heart admires the stern, determined doer.

Who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly, and then executes his purpose with inflexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit-that man can advance to eminence in any line."

The rolling stone gathers no moss. The persistent tortoise outruns the swift but fickle hare. An hour a day for twelve years more than equals the time given to study in a four years' course at a high school. The reading and re-reading of a single volume has been the making of many a man.

Life pulsates with chances. They may not be dramatic or great, but they are important to him who would get on in the world.

The best rule in the control of others is the Golden Rule. In the long run, life reciprocates with those who do unto others as they would that others should do unto them. That power of Will which can compel one to be polite, considerate, patient, helpful, luminously cheerful, is sure to cast a large and agreeable spell upon our fellows.