Category Archives: awareness – mindfulness

Love, Serve, and Remember

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“Love everyone, serve everyone, remember God, and tell the truth.” — Neem Karoli Baba I suppose the above quote can be interpreted in a variety of fashions. In a way, the directive above sounds pretty clear. If I believe there is only One Power and One Presence in the Universe, then we are all one, part of the One. Therefore, if I can love one person, I love everyone. If I can serve one person, I serve all. To remember God is to realize that God is all there is, the only Reality, the Whole, the One. Love, serve, and remember. I am reminded of the song “Love, Serve and Remember” by John Astin. In it, we are reminded that we came to earth to love, serve, and remember. I have been listening to John Astin’s album “Remembrance” for decades, but it wasn’t until I just did a little research that I learned that John Astin is not only a masterful songwriter and musician, but also works as a research scientist doing cutting-edge research in the area of mind-body medicine. The song “Love, Serve, and Remember” was inspired by the words of Maharaj-ji, aka Neem Karoli Baba, when he told … Continue reading →

The Power in the Universe

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“There is something that waits on our recognition to spring into being, bringing with it all the Power in the Universe.” — “Creative Mind and Success,” by Ernest Holmes, page 31 I have read this quote several times today and it gives me pause about what I’ve done with my life, my beingness. I think I understand what is being imparted, I have a lot of awareness, and intellectually I recognize this amazing Power. And while the thought in the quote exhilarates me, it also makes me feel sad and disappointed. With so many decades behind me in this lifetime, I feel like I am still waiting for a switch to be turned on. But I don’t know what it will take. When it does turn on, I’ll be this passionate person who takes the Power in the Universe, the power in her, and finally makes the most of her innate talents, life experiences, and character and soul attributes. Then I will make a meaningful contribution to the beings of this world, I will finally have accomplished whatever it was I was meant to in this lifetime on Planet Earth. I will be in bliss and feel one with my … Continue reading →

Constructive Criticism

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It takes a rare person to want to hear what he doesn’t want to hear. – Dick Cavett “Accepting criticism is difficult for most of us. “We not only cheat ourselves out of the serenity that comes when we accept our fallibility, we also miss the opportunity to learn from others when they offer helpful criticism.” I will not turn from my critics today and will try to evaluate their words objectively. – “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” June 3 *As We Understand God I have to say that I’m not one to mind constructive criticism from others. I seek to improve myself, in order to improve my life, and also so that I can be of better service to Spirit and others. I pride myself in being objective and as long as the person dispensing the criticism is coming from a loving space and is accurate in their assessment, I think I’m amenable to hearing their words. Unlike many others, I also like change. So perhaps I am open and receptive to constructive criticism because it contributes to change. After all, growth is change, and that is what can proceed from constructive criticism. I’m sure … Continue reading →

Centered on God

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“It is not true that suffering ennobles the character.” – W. Somerset Maugham “… our attitude determines whether we find a situation painful. We can be overwhelmed by suffering if we choose. Or we can accept our changing circumstances as natural and growth enhancing. “If we stay centered on God… we won’t be traumatized by the pain and turmoil of change.” – “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” May 21 *As We Understand God Painful times surely come my way like they do for everyone else, but I truly believe that suffering is optional, that I get to choose how I respond to the painful occurrence. In fact, I get to choose how I respond to all situations that arise in my life. My attitude determines not just whether I find a situation painful; my attitude determines how all situations will unfold and their end result. When I stay centered on God and walk with Spirit, whether during painful times, times of joy, and everything in between, my life is richer, I grow, and I draw closer to Spirit, always my goal.

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Prayer is…

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Over the centuries many folks have expressed their ideas about prayer. When I first got into recovery, easing away from atheism and moving towards coming to believe, I learned “prayer is talking to God, meditation is listening to God.” Here are some other thoughts about prayer gleaned from today’s “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” *As We Understand God. Prayer is… … an attitude, an awareness of God’s presence … a feeling that we are not alone—ever … a thankfulness, a silent appreciation of and communion with our source … stepping back and letting go I cannot separate any of the aforementioned—they are all part of my attitude as I step into the evening to relax, being aware of Spirit’s presence and hence assured I am not alone, feeling grateful for my Higher Power, and surrendering the evening and everything else to Spirit.

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The Intelligence Within Me

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“I know there is but One Power in the universe and that Power is God. That Power manifests in and through all form, all people, all conditions and so is at the very center of my being. “The Intelligence within me is constantly guiding me.” – “365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Ernest Holmes,” May 8 The license plate on my car is GUIDEME. I appreciate the regular reminder when I am out and about in my 2003 Camry; she is named Espiritu, another reminder for me of Spirit’s presence in my life. When I think about it, I can see that the Intelligence within me is truly constantly guiding me. Of course, I need to stay attuned, and I find that I am more and more. When a situation or individual makes me feel uncomfortable, I know I need to pay attention. I might need to pause in order to grasp the full meaning and before I know what to do, what path to go down. But the answer, the guidance is there. Same as with when a situation or person feels easy and comfortable. It’s interesting, and perhaps synchronistic, that today’s topic about following … Continue reading →

All Things Can Be Mended

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The following quote was read during today’s meditation at my spiritual center, and I thought it most apropos for these times: “Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” – L.R. Knost There surely is so much brokenness evident in today’s world. On quite a major, visible scale, there is Putin viciously attacking Ukraine with no cause… COVID still in our midst… the increasing lack of reason and character in politics… the increasing cost of living and the supply chain still in chaos… powerful climate changes… I can feel mighty discouraged; I am reading the news less and less to help fend off my dismay. I’m reading spiritual literature more to bolster my soul and attitude. I will say that those of us on the planet during these times surely signed up for a wild time! I remind myself that love is our natural emotion, our natural state of being. And, there is a Power for Good that we can use to … Continue reading →

Being Excited About Vacuuming!

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After being engaged Monday through Friday in corporate work, even though it’s the weekend, I designated today as a personal work day. There’s been a lot of adult things needing to be done that I’ve been procrastinating about simply because I just haven’t felt like “adulting”! And, yet, now, at the end of this day of “adulting,” I feel peaceful and serene. In fact, I have felt that way throughout the day—on a mission, but neither hurried nor harried, and in joy. I was very productive: changing the three HVAC filters in my home; working on 2021 taxes (yes, I’ve already filed an extension 😊); making data entries in QuickBooks; writing tithe checks; cooking my weekly batch of kitchari; replying to emails; and, more. My philosophy is that whatever I do, I want to do it in joy, in peace. Now chores don’t always easily fit into that slot. However, when I set the intention and the time to work on them, I actually get enthusiastic about the activity and look forward to that time. Imagine being excited about vacuuming! But, that’s how today was. Not only was I productive, I was efficient, and I enjoyed myself. Plus, I felt … Continue reading →

The Guest House

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The Guest House by Rumi This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from above. – “The Essential Rumi: Translations by Coleman Barks with John Moyne” Tonight, after returning home from my women’s empowerment group, I pulled the above poem out at random as material for today’s daily blog post—it was surely synchronistic! In “The Guest House” Rumi tells us that emotions are valuable, and all are from Spirit. We should embrace them, even the ones we would like to evade, because each can lead to a new state of being and awareness. The range of emotions are part of being in a human suit, all of them part of the whole. It behooves us to … Continue reading →

Spiritual Teachers

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There are so many spiritual teachers in one’s life, and they can take many forms. There are humans, some who are well-known like Pema Chodron, Paramahansa Yogananda, Byron Katie, and countless others. And, there are plenty of other humans not so well-known, those within our circle like family, friends, and work/school colleagues. Sometimes a perfect stranger is a spiritual teacher to us. Then there are the spiritual teachers of the animal kingdom. In today’s reading in “Everyday Joy, 365 days of ohmygod life,” the authors Z Egloff and Melissa Phillippe share their thought that cats are the ultimate spiritual teachers. Cats are the ultimate spiritual teachers. They rest when they’re tired. They purr when they’re happy. They clean up after themselves. And they’re not afraid to show their emotions. Well, I do think the authors are on to something! Surely many of us would do well to learn from the felines and emulate them in living a satisfying, spiritual life. Personally, I’m more of a dog person. Dogs enjoy spending time with humans, far more than cats do. More importantly, dogs show unconditional love, no matter what, even if they’ve been abused by their human. This attribute is definitely a … Continue reading →