I am and I contain multitudes.

A breath taken deeply became breath work. A moment of relaxation became meditation and when we felt grateful for just being, it became an attitude of gratitude. As we took what occurred in us naturally and controlled, codified and systemised it, we moved further and further from who we truly were. The story became pre-eminent and what was unnatural became natural and the natural became unnatural.

Yet, in this, the original breath, the original moment of relaxation and that original feeling of gratitude which emanated, naturally remained. Like a shining star above the wasteland guiding all those who felt it back to a place they never left and could never forget. That familiarity; that home can never be forgotten regardless of how much we control, codify and systemise the human experience.

By controlling the human experience, by conditioning the mind, we fail to realise that this appears as an aspect of consciousness - a sliver of consciousness - but what we are is immeasurable. If the drop feels it is only a drop then it is lost. If it sees that its actual nature is the ocean, it can never be lost. Always finding its way home. Only to realise in waking up from the dream, that regardless of how enticing the dream was, it was just a dream.

I cannot be controlled, codified or systemised. I am and I contain multitudes.

Life’s perfect timing

I am letting go of all that I once thought I could never let go of and yet, when I look at what is occurring, I see it is a natural movement. I see that so many of us want to let go, to accept and to be, and yet, because it is the illusory character wishing to do this, there comes with it an impatience and resistance. Impatience as we want everything on our timing and resistance because when inevitably we go against our natural way of being, there is resistance.

What then to do? Firstly, recognise that everything is perfect as it is right now even if it appears that it is not. Realise, too, that letting go or acceptance happens, not from the viewpoint of the story, but from our natural way of being and, as such, it occurs as and how it needs to. Life’s timing is perfect; our resistance to it comes from impatience which stems from a mind that, like a petulant child, wants everything now, now, now. If, however, we can recognise that life acts as and how and with the upmost efficiency, we can see that it’s “timing” is perfect and that if we trust that life takes care, then everything occurs as and how needed. Things simply flow and happen with the upmost efficiency and ease. All that is needed is a trusting and sensitivity to the moment. This perfect moment that you truly are and in which everything is happening as and how it is needed.

Have you ever been present?

Have you ever been present? Simply sitting without intention, thought, or need for any outcome. To rest as you are with no one to witness this resting. Realising that this attaining or wanting enlightenment is a desire that can never be fulfilled. Realising that there is no one to even enlighten. That in the so-called moment of annihilation, nothing has occurred to no one or no-thing. That any attempt to even speak or point to this is the epitome of futility and yet, the paradox is that speaking and pointing will keep happening; all pointers and practices are ultimately redundant, although, they play a part in helping no one to realise the redundancy of the search.

That we can look at this topic from as many different angles we wish. From the Sufi who whirls to the Monk sitting silently in meditation. Each expression is valid and yet, completely worthless and there is no one who can lay claim to this truth, so that even the hierarchy that exists cannot exist here.

That ultimately this is what everyone seeks whether meditating, accumulating wealth, in relationships or at the bottom of a bottle. All want that moment to themselves to claim - to covet -and to say they know, and, yet we already know. Covered as this knowing may be with conditioning, belief, upbringing, or education.

In this not knowing, we all know and, as such, pointers exist to point back to the very answer you seek.

You!

Claude Monet ~ The Railroad Bridge at Argenteuil

The Rise of the Machines

The rise of AI can be seen as nothing more than the illusion believing itself to be real and creating life like the source it emanates from. Similar to a dream within a dream, AI allows the dreamer to reinforce separation and the belief that the dream is real by saying, “look, surely something temporal couldn’t create something and as it has, then it must be real.” Nothing is further from the truth. Like the Icarus effect, we are flying too close to the sun. Not realising that we are designed to overreach and in that falling from grace, we may see who we truly are. What, then, does the turbulence of this age, from the rise of AI to conflict around the world, offer us? Simply this. An opportunity to know who we truly are.

An Eternal Embrace

I am finally where I want to be. Sitting here sipping a mint tea feels divine. There is a gentle breeze and I feel happy and relaxed after the turbulent year I have had. How life has had its many ebbs and flows but I am here now. I feel grateful; grateful to be here and grateful to God. A thought arises, why don’t more choose to accept who they truly are and life as is? Carried gently by the beloved; forever in the most beautiful of embraces. I wonder why so many resist a life of ease and want to fight the answer that presents itself in the mirror. Surely you can accept it is you that you seek? That you are the object of your adoration and that wherever you turn, you see the face of your beloved and this beloved that carries you, is you. That when the veils fall and reality is seen, it is seen that it is this. Simply this.

An eternal kiss.

An eternal embrace.

An eternal love.

Image of the Kiswah (Ghilaf E Kaaba)

The Kiswah (or Kiswa) is the large, black, silk and cotton cloth that covers the Kaaba, the sacred stone building at the centre of the Great Mosque in Makkah (Mecca).