The Time Has Come

The time has come

With elation,

Greet yourself

Arriving at your own door, in your own mirror,

And each smile at the other's welcome.

Sit here. Eat

Love the stranger who is yourself.

Give wine. Give bread.

Give back your heart to itself,

To the stranger who has loved you all your life,

Whom you have ignored for another,

Who knows you by Heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

The photographs, the desperate notes,

Peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit.  Feast on your life.

~ Derek Walcott ~

Well, I arrived back in Canada after being six weeks away in Maine.  It’s good to sit with you and share again.  As usual the stirrings of what to write started early this morning while waking up.  It feels so vast, it’s difficult to put into words what is wanting to emerge, so I’ll just start and see what comes.

Let me begin with a childhood scene that came up …

As a small girl, I had very long hair and it was naturally curly, so when it was time to wash, Mom would use rainwater to rinse it out so that it didn’t get so tangled and hard to comb through.  While visiting my grand parents there was no rainwater to use.   It hadn’t rained in awhile and the rain barrel was stagnant and filled with bugs.  So, the scene that came to me this morning was my standing by the window watching the fresh rain filling the rain barrel.  When it reached to the top, it overflowed and all of the bugs and stagnant water flowed out.  Within the day there was fresh rainwater, giving this little girl soft, flowing hair once again.

As we have been experiencing being with each other in the Presence of Love, haven’t we realized a comfortable space where we can step into each other’s shoes and truly feel where the other person is coming from?  In a sense of not knowing, we can then ask questions and perceive what might be happening for our loved one.  This is what might be called Heart to Heart communion, which is quite beautiful when experienced.

"I-in-you" ...  I tune into and sense from within 

with my heart wide open."  

- Otto Scharmer

What I would like to share with you now seems to go even deeper than this … a place of “open will” or “I-in-now.”

“I-in-now” … I understand from the source 

or the bottom of my being, 

that is, from attending with my open will. 

– Otto Scharmer

In this space there is no one to experience “an other’s shoes,” … there is just pure listening from this vast open space.  No thinking … no trying to fix or know anything … no agenda whatsoever.  The “I” or “me” is fully surrendered into this moment of Now ... from the bottom of my being ... one is simply open and listening.

When I first experienced this, it was during an exercise in a retreat I attended while in Maine.  We were partnered up to listen to each other’s life story from this place of “open will.”   As my partner was telling his life story, I simply listened.  There were a few questions along the way to be sure I was hearing it all correctly and clearly, but otherwise I just stayed open and listened ... nothing else.   Then, it was my turn to tell my life story.  What I experienced, as he just remained open and listened, was a wonderful sense of a safe space and of being fully seen for who I am prior to my "story."   He shared he felt the same experience.  We met in this place of “open will” … only one Heart … not two.  

Greet yourself

Arriving at your own door,

In your own mirror,

And each will smile at the other's welcome.

In this moment of now ... now ... now ... now ... this is where we continue to meet … as this vast Openness of Love.

Freshness is pouring in and spilling over … the old feelings, the old stories are washing clean in the presence of this Love.

From the bottom of Being ... being the seeing … we are this Fullness of Love simply being itself.  

Who knows how it all will all unfold from Here.  We shall see as each moment freely emerges.  

I am so grateful to be together with all of you as this Love ... as this One Heart.  What a blessed life,

Elizabeth

A Heart Reunion

 

The result of Re-Union with the Source of Life

is a sparkling, radiant sense of dignity

in knowing who we really are.

Being in reunion with the Source,

we are in harmony with the Universe.

This is the optimum state of Pure Love

fully functioning in Life.

Now, the very presence of our being

ignites positive development

where everyone benefits.

How does one share the gratitude felt so deeply from being surrounded by and swimming in an infinite sea of Love? 

Just recently Elizabeth and John came back here to the farm, where Charlotte and I had been house-sitting.  One day after their arrival home, we had house-guests from Halifax, Nova Scotia – Ron and his new wife Pearl.  All of us knew each other from meeting in AHAM years before, so it was a lovely reunion.

Charlotte, Elizabeth & John Reuthe, Pearl & Ron Whitaker, Elizabeth

On our final morning together someone mentioned “The One Tree Forest” which seemed to described the heart-warming feeling that we were having in our being together.  As I looked it up on the web it was an amazing discovery.

Evidently, in Utah there is a tree called “Pando,” which means: “I spread.”  When it wants to reproduce, it extends its network of roots, forcing them up through the ground, thus starting a new tree. The new tree grows with the old one and together they establish a large root network which produce more and more trees, essentially causing the single tree to expand into a colony with a vast root network.  How vast was the root network?  This Pando is 43 hectares in size.   (For more information see:  http://www.mostlyodd.com/pando-the-one-tree-forest/)

We were all realizing and experiencing that no matter where we all are on this planet earth, the network of this Heart Tree is rooted together as One and continually growing exponentially.   This “pando” is a network of those who have reunited with the Source of Life which is naturally spreading into outrageous proportions.  No matter what the appearances to the contrary, we are this infinite sea of Love expanding and embracing all in its path.

Now, the very presence of our being

ignites positive development

where everyone benefits.

Can we all feel this?  Isn’t it awesome?  

Rumi expresses what is being felt so beautifully …

Love is an infinite Sea, whose skies are a bubble of foam.

Know, that it is the waves of Love that turn the wheels of heaven.

Without Love, nothing in the world would have life.
How is an inorganic thing transformed into a plant?
How are plants sacrificed to become rich with spirit?
How is Spirit sacrificed to become Breath,
One scent of which is potent enough to make Mary pregnant?

Every single atom is drunk on this Perfection and runs toward it.
And what does this running secretly say but
"Glory be to God."

Glory be to God!   This Perfection is bringing Love into every corner of our world … blessing and transforming ALL in It’s wake.

Loving and honoring us all as THIS,

Elizabeth

P.S.  Something more to share that came in ...

A Quotation from The Bond with the Beloved by Sufi author, Llewelleyn
Vaughan-Lee:

“As we silently work upon ourselves, the energy of our devotion becomes a point of light within the world.  At the present time, a map is being unfolded made of the light of the lovers of God. The purpose of this map is to change the inner energy structure of the planet. In previous ages this energy structure was held by sacred places, stone circles, temples and cathedrals. In the next stage of our collective evolution it is the hearts of individuals who will hold the cosmic note of the planet. This note can be recognized as a song of joy being born in the hearts of the seekers.  It is a quality of joy that is being infused into the world. It is the heartbeat of the world and needs to be heard...”

Diving Deeper

 

There are love stories,
and there is obliteration into love.

you have been walking the ocean's edge,
holding up your robes to keep them dry.

you must dive deeper under,
a thousand times deeper.

-- Rumi

There are so many opportunities in our life to “dive deeper” as Rumi is sharing with us here.  The question is “Am I utilizing every opportunity to function from Love and confidence, or am I at the effect of the situation due to fear.”

As I am continuing farm sitting here at my friend’s, Elizabeth & John, an opportunity came up for me to check into this question for myself.

A few nights ago, my friend Charlotte and I were out by the barn to put away the hens and horses for the night.  After tucking in the hens and putting feed in the horse’s stables, we went out to call the two horses in from the pasture.  To our amazement, the horses somehow had gotten out of the enclosed pasture and were on this side of the fence - right by the barn door waiting for us to feed them.  We opened the gate to let them back in and the female horse, Sojourner, followed our lead into her stall quite easily.  But, Cool Guy, the male horse wouldn’t budge at all.  He has had some history of abuse with previous owners, so my friends were having a horse whisperer, Mary Kay, come in regularly to work with him.  Harvey, a close friend and neighbor, also comes in daily to keep up with the momentum of the process.  It was discovered that Cool Guy was very unpredictable and caution was needed to be around him.  Just to watch them both working with him was amazing to see.

Here is where the opportunity came in for me … I stood in front of Cool Guy with a biscuit and started to coax him inside the fence.  At the same time two things within me were being fully seen … the fear and a freezing feeling all over and a warm embrace of Love which was the Seeing itself.  A choice was to be made in that moment … giving over to fear or leaning into this warmth of Love. 

Being the Seeing and leaning into this warmth of Love, I could feel IT begin to operate my actions and face the situation with a keen awareness.  The fear cleared out of the way, naturally.   And, the horse seemed to calm down too.  Just in time, Harvey was there to take over and knew exactly how to guide him calmly and gently. 

It was a wonderful opportunity to see the inner resource we all have available in any situation and to experience how our Life is giving us the gift of Love and Grace in every moment -- all we have to do is turn to IT and respond from here.  

Now I know how Mary Kay and Harvey are being such effective horse whisperers.  Maybe the message is for us to be life whisperers.

Living and Loving Our Life as it is,

Elizabeth

There is a Way

“You are the unchangeable Awareness in which all activity takes place. 

You are eternal Being, unbounded and undivided. 

Always rest in peace. 

Keep Quiet Here and Now. 

All is well. 

You are happiness … you are Peace … you are Freedom. 

Do not entertain any notions that you are in trouble. 

Be kind to yourself. 

Open to your Heart and simply Be.”     

 - Papaji

As I shared with you in earlier communications, the beauty of sharing goes both ways … for both the giver and receiver.  What I'm going to share with you now is one of those times when I received the gift of our sharing together on this blog.

In an earlier response to the blog “Love is Miraculous,” Bill responded with: “Love your love letter! As I was reading it, I was reminded of four wonderful words as a loving companion that has helped get me through when I couldn't seem to see any possible way through … it is:  "There is a way."  And, in response to a later blog he emailed and added this: “In process, I find that "There is a way" as a companion, eventually reveals itself as the way of silent, loving, nonresistant acceptance.”

In a morning meditation, the depth and beauty of what he shared finally dawned on me.  Initially, I didn’t see it’s simplicity and how powerful it actually is.

A sensitive situation has been present in my life … one that has been floating around and processing through little by little, but was not yet fully completed.  It was being embraced in the presence of Love, from Awareness. Now, while in this aha experience I was just being with Bill’s companion: “There is a way,” and an area began to open up in the body that I hadn’t noticed before.  I had discovered and experienced many times, that when I am able to lovingly see through all aspects of what is coming up, from Awareness, a natural healing and adjustment takes place.  Being with this simple and basic truth of there is a way, seemed to have created a space and provided a depth of seeing … an opening for the knot in the body to unwind and process through, naturally.  

This is the best way I can describe what occurred.  In being with and experiencing: “There is a way,” it took me to the feeling of what it feels like to have a way to complete this situation with no effort and at the same time, without knowing how it’s going to work out.  I gave over to this feeling … that there now is a way that this can work out, without effort … even though the “how” wasn't fully seen yet.   This feeling triggered an opening for the healing and a solution to come through.   As I stayed with the experience through out my meditation, it opened up completely.

It’s so simple...yet so powerful … as a way to surrender and allow a natural completion.  And, I can see now how, in the midst of something that seemed impossible, feeling there is a way is a way to surrender “my” will.   It is actually how things have worked out for me many times in the past.  I just hadn't seen specifically what was the catalyst, but now I do.

Maybe this will seem familiar to you, as well.  I can see why Bill calls it his “companion.” 

All is well for us ALL,

Elizabeth

Our Beautiful Presence

“When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it's bottomless, that it doesn't have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space.”      ( A Buddhist Nun)

I was speaking with a friend recently and we talked about relationship issues and how they can be so frustrating.  I’m sure we all can relate with this.  We cannot be away from relationship, unless we were living in a cave.  Yet, what about the relationship we have with nature and the critters around us?  I met a Buddhist monk some years ago, having lived in a cave himself, he had to contend with the mosquitoes.  He even had a mosquito net that went over an umbrella while sitting in meditation and somehow they got in anyway.  He said the "mosquitoes were a clever nuisance."  And, he soon realized that his practice now became observing his experience with the mosquitoes - loving and accepting them as they are - which he benefitted from greatly.  He also admitted that it wasn’t easy.

So, in this conversation with my friend, we both admitted that reacting, resisting or avoiding what is coming up in relationship is not the answer.  So, how do we remain cool in a heated situation without faking it?  Yes, we can pretend that it didn’t bother us and avoid it completely by putting on a calm, cool collected presence.  But, as you may have discovered, that doesn’t resolve it.  The tension is still there in the space between us. 

What I have discovered has been quite simple but not always easy.  I just have to remember to apply it in the moment of when a position/opposition arises.  First, admit to myself that I am reacting to this person’s comments or actions.  Don’t cover it up … let it all be fully seen as it is.  Next, don’t judge what is being seen … just let it be whatever it is.  I notice the whole experience, dynamically, and what effect it is having in all areas of the body, emotions and thoughts (body-mind).  This “noticing,” from that which is seeing, puts me in a completely different perspective … one of being objective and even ok with what is happening.  Now, there is a space created that gives some room to wait and let it all diffuse before speaking.  Just asking questions and listening is key at this point.  Most times my position doesn’t seem to be so imperative to be shared.  Especially, as I see the other person’s position - and I notice it is quite different from my perspective – to me, it seems to be more imperative to have harmony in the relationship over having my position be heard.

Now, you may say, “that doesn’t seem fair that you may not have a voice in this situation.”  Well, yes, it may appear to be unfair, so, I ask myself:  “What is more important, my position being validated or having harmony in this relationship?” … “What is more loving?” … “What honors the beauty of our Presence in this situation?”

Ramana Maharshi says, “Make the distinction between what is Real or Eternal and what is Unreal or Transient and live from what is Real.” This is where we have free choice, right here.   I have found again and again, the choice we make from Love is what is Real and Eternal … it is our living and being the Heart.  As long as I am “giving myself a voice” and seeing what is so within me, the most important aspect is being honored.  Do I have to have my voice heard for me to be validated?  The truth is self-evident and being the truth is complete within itself, isn’t it?

Again, I admit that it isn’t always an easy choice to make.  It would be much easier to let the emotions take over and have a release from the pressure cooker.  The road less travelled is the above one.  Haven’t we found how much better it feels when we honor the Beautiful Presence that we all are no matter what the dynamics of the situation?  

While being here in Maine, house-sitting on the Reuthe’s farm, I am getting how significant it is being in what is Real while relating with animals.  On the farm there are two horses, over a dozen hens, a cat and two dogs.  When someone drives up the driveway, the two dogs go crazy with excitement.  They love people and can’t wait to be with them.  It’s kind of cute, actually, to see how affectionate they can be.  On the other hand the loud barks and frantic behavior immediately brings a tension into the space and it brings up an immediate response to try to quiet them.  It came up that I was getting caught up in their high, frantic energy.  So, in honoring this Beautiful Presence that the dogs are, I now take a deep breath, bring into my awareness any tension in me that is resonating with their high energy and accept what is present as it is.  What a difference.  Now, it isn’t even what I say to them, even though communication still occurs ... it is honoring what is true and real ... and they quiet down and come into the calm, naturally.  It’s amazing to see how dramatically it shows what is shared above.  

"... this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space ..."

Loving this Beautiful Presence we all are,

Elizabeth 

Innocent Revelations Guide Us

“By being in the Heart, there’s nothing we need to do from here.  

Our only “work” is to just sit here in the Heart. 

Keep this as your foundation, as your base, and no longer let the body-mind and its experiences or thoughts be the basis of being. 

Keep your choice, your vigilance to live this Truth … be this Truth.”   - em

This communication with you seems to be continuing from our last few blogs. 

In continuing our exploration into unchartered territory, we  opened to the inner expanse of our being and posed a question: “I am open and ready to receive now ... what is it that YOU would have me do?”  It can be as huge as a shift in our expression in life, to a day-to-day choice that needs to be made, or clarity in a relationship situation.

We also talked about formulating a Master Mind with those who are "in perfect harmony" to be a part of the unfolding of this idea and assist in the exploration process.

Now, we are at a place to see the mechanism of how to remain fully surrendered throughout the unfolding of this or any idea.  This is an essential aspect in order to be connected to the pulse of Life and remain true to what the Heart, God, the Divine wants to create through us.  Being in integrity with the Heart, we are open to being an instrument for what is good, true and beautiful to express through us, that is a win-win for ALL.

So, how do we remain completely surrendered in the Heart to this pulse of Life?  What is the mechanism?  Many years ago, I realized that when we can see “how” something works, all we have to do is continue to do what works. It is so simple that it can elude us.  We realize, this exploration is actually essential for full freedom to occur in all areas of our lives.

Ramana Maharshi shared with us how to awaken and align with the Heart even in the most intense time of our lives.   His realization came as a young boy of sixteen during a death experience.  For our own 'AHA' experience,  let's take each significant aspect of his experience to discover the underlying process.  The following is quoted from “Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge." 

Ramana was in a place of innocence, not knowing what death is.  The questions began to arise, naturally, from within him: 

“With the death of this body, am I dead?”   

The questions and responses began to arise quite spontaneously:  “Is the body ‘I’?  It is silent and inert but I feel the full force of my personality and even the voice of the ‘I’ within me apart from it  ...  I am Spirit transcending the body ...  The body dies but the Spirit that transcends it cannot be touched by death ...  That means I am the deathless Spirit.”  

His revelation continued to arise within him without thinking about it:  “All this was not dull thought; it flashed through me vividly as living truth which I perceived directly, almost without thought-process ...  ‘I’ was something very real, the only real thing about my present state, and all the conscious activity connected with my body was centered on that ‘I’ ... 

  

From that moment onwards the ‘I’ or Self focused attention on itself by a powerful fascination.  Fear of death had vanished once and for all.  Absorption in the Self, (the Heart), continued unbroken from that time on.  Whether the body was engaged in talking, reading or anything else, I was still centered on ‘I’.  Previous to that crisis I had no clear perception of my Self and was not consciously attracted to it.  I felt no perceptible or direct interest in it, much less any inclination to dwell permanently in it.”  

As we can see for ourselves, questioning is the key to continued surrender into the Heart, the Source of all intelligence, clarity, and ultimate freedom -- as Ramana has exemplified here.  The Heart has a pulse on what is best for us in all situations -- even death itself -- through our willingness to simply ask questions.  

“Ask and the door will be open…” Christ shared with us. 

What’s the hesitation?  What happens when we are in new, unfamiliar territory, what is the first response that arises?  As a young boy, Ramana, was faced with the fear of death.  For me it was fear of appearing stupid, especially when my position as Mother, Executive Director, older sister, and meditation practitioner and instructor, etc. depended on what I have come to know and understand.  Due to this subtle fear, don't we then quickly bring up what knowledge we have gathered to answer the question?  In Ramana’s case there was no prior experience to glean from, he was in a child-like innocence.  

“Unless you be as a child, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”   Christ’s words to us come alive now.  

The Current of Awareness awakened through a series of questions that Ramana had no prior knowledge of.   These questions just arose in him from an Intelligence that knew exactly where to go and what to do.  In this case he made the ultimate investigation and we can benefit from his experience immensely.   

While I was in India visiting the home of Ramana Maharshi, an insight occurred to me about this questioning process he gave us.  I realized the focus is not on the answer to a question or even on the question, it is about surrendering into the organic process of questioning itself and letting go completely into this vast open space of Innocence … Not-knowing … and see what revelation arises quite naturally. 

Since this innocent revelation came, it feels like I’m home and everything is taken care of.  Life happens, questions arise, and my only “work” (which is now pure devotion), is remaining true to the Heart and its direction.

Is this what Christ meant when he shared, The son of man has no where to lay his head?  

When we live in and from the Heart there are only innocent revelations wisely guiding us each step of the way.  We are always open to what arises in the moment … clinging to nothing.  How simple and yet so practical in all situations.

Heart-felt Love,

Elizabeth