Friday, January 13, 2006

Awakening 

If false thinking suddenly stops for an instant, and you see through your own mind, the vastness of its original perfect light, the purity of its original state, no thing in it at all, this is called awakening.
There is nothing to be awakened or cultivated other than this mind.
-Han-shan From "The Pocket Zen Reader," edited by Thomas Cleary, 1999.

Silence, and stillness, quieting the mind is the beginning through breath and meditation.
Awakening is seeing clearly, loving purely and following the heart of compassion and loving kindness in all things for all beings.

In our busyness we believe ourselves, our stories, our fantasies, our desires, the media, others' complaints and criticisms, our paycheck, diagnoses and critiques of experts, our belief and our moodiness. How confusing this can be when they all seem to conflict. Beyond this mishmash of incongruent data is a place of inner peace and a space of freedom and trust where true and last happiness (contentment) reside. This is the moment of perfect trust, knowing "All is well." In this now moment, there is truly nothing to do.

When there is nothing to do, we learn to breathe and be, to create and contribute. We do no harm. We trust in the undoing process of lving. We offer compassion and loving kindness when and as we are called We serve by extending the light of joy and freedom from fear. We contribute by shining the Love of trust and peace that is our natural state. We radiate all is well. We easily forgive all that is not.

Life is fun, safe and easy….except when we believe and perceive life is serious and intense, dangerous and doomed, difficult and full of eternal suffering and damnation.

How fun safe and easy is it for you to let go and quiet your mind?
How fun, safe and easy is it for your to change your mind and your perceptions?
How fun, safe and easy is it for you to let go of your fear and let Love lead your life?

If you think, “I breathe,” the “I” is extra. There is no you to say “I.” What we call “I” is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale. It just moves; that is all. When your mind is pure and calm enough to follow this movement, there is nothing: no “I,” no world, no mind nor body; just a swinging door.
-Shunryu Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind"

One path is to let go of the busy mind, to focus on healing oneself by finding inner peace.
One path is to forgive and love your brothers. as you want to be loved.
One path is to extend salvation to all humanity through prayer and education.

There are many others paths. Some have names and some do not. All offer healing.
There is no right way, but to choose the way which is "right" for you.

Loving you with a true heart,
B'Lue

I will be sending New Year’s newsletters , when my tentative travel schedule is set.
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Loving you,
Betty Lue