Welcome to the eleventh issue of Light-Up-Your-Life
Newsletter.
The aim of this newsletter is to guide you as you discover
the very source of Happiness and Wisdom. This source is
so deep that it is unaffected by the conditions of your
environment, your body and mind.
In this issue we will explore what makes your thoughts
seem real. If you can separate the reality from the
flickering motion that we call thought, you can stand free.
And don't forget to read the last article, a great story
about how they found the lost boy. See how you can
use this one in your meditations.
See our new e-book, "Making Your Wisdom Come Alive."
for a guide that will take you to the core of the universe.
In “Making Your Wisdom Come Alive” we take you, step by step,
through the process of putting aside limitations, and waking up
to your own true nature, so you can stand in this Freedom and
Bliss without interruption.
So don't delay your happiness and freedom. Get to the core of
life itself and live in peace.
For more information use this link:
http://www.light-up-your-life.com/wisdom.html
First here's a poem
As I look out my window this morning
a thick fog covers the world,
The hills are gone and so are
the giant redwood trees,
the hair on the head of these hills.
The oak trees stark and bare
are only a faint outlines in the haze,
today the world is gone and
all that's left is peace
Your true nature is that of infinite spirit.
The feeling of limitation is the work of the mind.
When the mind unceasingly investigates its own nature,
It transpires that there is no such thing as the mind.
This is the direct path for all.
The essential Teachings Of Ramana Maharshi
Edited by Matthew Greenblatt
© Inner Directions Publishing
for more info go to:
The Essential Teachings
If you have questions or comments please send an e-mail to:
michael@light-up-your-life.com.
We look forward to your comments and questions.
If you missed an issue of our Newsletter click on:
http://www.light-up-your-life.com/Newsletter/newsletterindex.html.
Did you ever notice how real it seem when you think thoughts
or feel feelings? Even though you know that your mind can
change in an instant, each mood seems like it's the only
mood you will ever have. Whether it be the feeling that
“I can” or “I can't,” that “I'm happy,” or “I'm sad” etc., when
you're in the midst of these thoughts they seem to define
you, with an ironclad definition that will never change.
This is a curious situation. If our thoughts and feelings are
always in motion, why do we take them to be permanent and
real? For instance you hear that you just got fired from your
job. All of your worst fears come to the surface. “How am I
ever going to take care of my family” or “I'll never find a new
job.” Then you get a call from your boss and you find out that
you weren't fired, that it was a mistake. Then your mind turns
to the feeling of relief. First the feeling of fear seems real, then
the feeling of relief seems real. Your thoughts and feelings
keep changing, but at the moment you experience them, they
seem so real.
Then how could reality come from the mind
From this you can see that no matter how your thoughts
twist and turn, between the banks of good and bad, high
and low, happy and depressed, right and wrong, and all
of the other opposites, that your mind can think up, the
reality remains the same. This shows clearly that the
feeling of reality did not come from the whimsical ever
changing mind.
Separate the permanent from the changing
Your challenge then is to separate that which is real and
permanent, from that which is in motion. If you can do
this, you can remain as the reality that you usually
attribute
to your thoughts and feelings. At the same time
you can let the thoughts and feelings come and go in there
own natural rhythm, without your concern. By your direct
experience you will know that thoughts and feelings cannot
add to or subtract from whats real.
If you call water salty, then you have to separate the salt
from the water, so that you can experience the tasteless
but refreshing quality of water directly. Similarly you have
to separate the motion of the mind, the salt, from the
reality that you feel, the water, so that you can discover
your pristine, clear, and peaceful Self-Nature.
You don't get peace from your mind
Notice that you don't have to bring in a separate stillness
or peace. You don't have to still the mind, because even if
you could still your mind, it would only be a cheap imitation
of your own Self-Nature. All you have to do is find that which
makes your mind seem so real. As you can see, this is the
presence that you already feel. You didn't create this reality
and no power, not even your thoughts, can destroy it.
continues below
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and yourself. At the same time you will help keep
Light Up Your Life on the web.
Go to: http://www.light-up-your-life.com/gifts.html
Where your life really changes
Sink into this reality and you will find yourself changing in ways
that you never would have expected. These changes occur outside
the dualistic thinking of your mind, like I'm good or bad, or I'm
right or wrong etc.
You will see that life really goes on outside of these opposites. When
you step outside of them, you enter a whole new realm and that's
where the sparkle and freshness of life comes from. And that's
where the feeling of reality comes from in all of your experiences.
To find out more about looking directly into reality go to:
http://www.light-up-your-life.com/wisdom.html
Earn income by joining our new affiliate program and
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Here is an ancient Indian tale that will tell you exactly
what you are missing and what you have to gain in
your meditations.
It was a beautiful sunny day with a cool breeze wafting
in the air. Ten boys, on vacation from school, decided to
take a trip through the woods. They wanted to meet an
old sage who lived deep in the forest. The boys were is
good spirits as they walked on a narrow winding path,
through the lush green forest. The birds were singing
and the monkeys were playing and the boys were
having a wonderful time.
Then they came to a rippling stream about 20 feet wide.
Little waves with white foam were rising from the stream,
playing in the breeze and then gently floating down and
surfing on the stream. The boys waded across this stream
and when they got to the other side the oldest boy, who
was also their leader, decided to count them just to check
and make sure all of the boy were there.
Who was missing
He started counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 he counted only
nine boys. Of course, he just made a mistake, so he counted
again, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 he counted only nine boys. At
this point boys were starting to get a little uncomfortable.
“Maybe if someone else counts the results will be better,”
the eldest said to the boys. So each boy in turn counted
and each one came up with the same results. The boys were
starting to panic. They were in tears wondering which one
of them was at the bottom the stream. They were trying to
remember who was lost but in their fright they couldn't
recall who was the missing one.
The boys tell the yogi about their problem
As the sun started to set over the distant hills with a red
orange glow, the yogi took his evening walk. He passed
the boys who were grieving and crying. The old man
asked, “what's the matter?” The eldest boy answered
with tears running down his face, “Before we crossed
this stream we were ten boys but now one of us is missing
drowned and dead at the bottom of the stream.”
Relief at last
At a glance, the old yogi knew what happened and said,
“Don't worry, I can find the missing boy.” The eldest boy
sighed with relief and said, “yes but were is he?” The old
yogi lined the boys up in a row and asked the eldest boy
to count. “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,” the boy counted. Then
the Yogi hit the eldest boy on the head and said, “you are
the 10th boy!” The eldest boy had forgotten to count himself.
Once again, thanks to the old yogi, all the boys were together.
Their sadness and fear ended and the boys danced with joy.
Find happiness at its source
Even now, if you take a look, you will find that what you are
missing is your own Self-Nature. Since it's you it can
never really be missing. So when looking for peace and
happiness, don't forget to count yourself.
You do not see the Self as a separate object. You know it
because you are it. The Self is so close that it is easy to
overlook. But once you find it you can't lose it.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments
at: Michael@light-up-your-life.com.
Sincerely,
Michael Gluckman