One of my favorite subjects — spirituality. Just who are we? I’ve been reading and practicing for over 20 years and I can tell you that this is really all you need to know about it. It’s one line from the Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell…
“Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness?”— Lao Tzu
That’s it in a nutshell! How spiritual you are is how present you are, and nothing else.
“The ultimate Truth is so simple. It is nothing more than being in the pristine state. This is all that need be said. Still, it is a wonder that to teach this simple Truth there should come into being so many religions, creeds, methods and disputes among them and so on! Oh the pity! Oh the pity!”— Ramana Maharshi
Once you’re clear, you need to set about coaxing your mind from its wandering, not more information.
How? Meditation and living in the moment.
Practice, practice, practice :-) An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory.
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ha ha :-) sounds amazing! Let me know if you remember :-)
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Hi Mike,
I could jump into heaps of points here however, it may get a little deep for this kind of thing so will keep it light.
Based on what you said though…it is the same for everyone. One person cannot share their story until the other stops for a moment to listen. Funny how so much that is said goes unheard. It is interesting that to listen and to hear are two very different things.
People who have exceptional listening skills are people who can think about more than just themselves. For people to learn…..a new habit!!!
Hmmm….I’ve heard something somewhere about creating and changing habits….wonder where?!?!? ;)
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Hi Katheena!
Yes sometimes we need faith… a belief in something that others say is true “because it’s there in their EXPERIENCE” but they can’t give you the experience directly… hence faith.
I often think… if someone goes to an exotic location… say in the olden days before magazine and TV and world maps. They come back and tell you about it and say “YOU GOTTA GO.” You need faith :-)
My first email to the group was about “Faith in the Finish Line.” It’s the same. I can say “this is WONDERFUL, you GOTTA GO.” But it takes faith because the actual experience may be a way away.
Same as getting to that exotic island, same as with your health and happiness, same as God.
God is especially difficult to find :-) It’s v hard to develop the kind of listening skills you need to hear God. Have you ever read “Conversations with God?” In there “God” says “I can’t tell you my story until you stop telling me yours.”
That means “Be still.” which means “let-go” which means “Thy will.”
Faith is not enough though. We also need the means… the way. Imo “listening” is all you need.
I like this thread :-)
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