JOY to the World

12-15-08

With Christmas approaching, it occurs to me that the gift we are all here to give this holiday season is the JOY that freely flows from our True Nature.

Fear and doubts about the future are bound to show up in our minds as we are confronted with news about the world economic crisis, recession, loss of our assets, and all the potential ramifications of more and more failing businesses. But we do have a choice about what we look at and listen to, and what thoughts we decide to focus on. It is the nature of ego to perpetuate negative thoughts and drama. It maintains its position as our lord and master by doing so, and creating a little depression from time to time which is just part of its job! Our job, as conscious beings, is to become aware of how the ego works and choose to direct our attention elsewhere so we take back our lives from its control. This allows us to see through the web of illusion it has so carefully constructed in our mind.

The mind can only focus on one thing at a time; so we can choose to identify with the darker thoughts the ego creates, OR, we can count our blessings, focus on giving JOY to others, and heal ourselves and our planet with the natural state of happiness that has been overshadowed by ego’s domination. That happiness is a well of unlimited JOY that is just waiting to be released from within our own Self.

When we refuse to identify with the woes of the world or the woes being presented to us by our ego, we can dance, sing and laugh no matter what is happening around us. Our first job is to recognize what is going on, and then choose to ignore these negative thoughts, every time they arise. This does not mean putting our head in the sand, pretending the suffering around us does not exist. It means choosing not to join the muck and mire of the suffering by bringing another option to the table. Compassion does not mean being a companion in misery, it means caring enough to be a source of light for those who are suffering. Pulling someone up out of darkness is what the light can do. Seeing their light and awakening it within them, instead of commiserating with their misery, makes the kind of difference that is needed. Creativity, inspiration and caring action are only available to those open to receiving it. Our openness to the flow of our own light can spark the light within others, so they can access these qualities too.

Bringing our light wherever we go is a blessing to all we meet. It costs us nothing but the release of our own negativity; and it’s contagious!

JOY for the world is within us. It does not depend on economic conditions or any “need” we imagine ourselves to have. JOY is our birthright. It is there for us whenever we change the focus of our thought streams from dark to light.

Dropping the entire story of me, my life and the world “I” live in, is the next step. Choosing light over dark is done by those who believe in duality. Such mistaken beliefs keep them stuck in duality thinking. Better still is NO Thinking. An absence of thoughts about what is light and what is dark is a condition called QUIET MIND (in some traditions it is called “no mind” or “emptiness”). Those with a quiet mind are not concerned with what is going on in their personal lives or in the world at large. A quiet mind allows us to be fully present to what is happening in each moment allowing spontaneous responsiveness to whatever circumstances face us. There is no mental evaluation or decision making to be done. There is no “chooser” to decide what to do. The Self, the divine all knowing true nature within us, acts in accordance with what the situation calls for. (Not necessarily the way an ego would advise!)

An ego will not lead you to a quiet mind. Why would it seek its own demise? You cannot quiet your mind by using your ego to resist itself, or by studying spiritual material, as both approaches actually strengthen the ego. A quiet mind occurs naturally when you realize, without a doubt, that you are not the “persona” created by your ego, and that all your thought streams and visuals about that persona have no value whatsoever. When you know something has no value, why would you pay attention to it? Ignoring your thoughts is the direct path to a quiet mind. It means being fully present in the moment. Self-Inquiry, the practice recommended by my teacher’s teacher, Sri Ramana Maharshi, is very effective in this process. Consistent vigilance is essential.

It is important to note here that being a loving being, being detached from your environment, or even seeing the world as One are steps in spiritual and personal development, but they are not Awakened Awareness. Awakened Awareness includes a quiet mind. As long as there is a personal identity and a controlling mind there is still an illusion to be dissolved, in order for enlightenment and ascension to occur.

In TRUTH we already have everything we have been searching for. There is an abundance of love and happiness within us just waiting to be released. We cannot get there with the ego guiding us, we must drop the ego, to be free. Our JOY filled Self will be fully present when the ego gets out of the way. Ignoring its thoughts is a good place to start; and put away those spiritual manuals that merely fill the ego with more concepts about what enlightenment is and isn’t. This holiday season send your mind on vacation, so your True Self can take its rightful place in your life.

If you are serious about dropping that ego, call me. Awakening Coaching can provide you with some “out of the way” vacation destinations to send your mind.

Let your joyful presence bring peace and happiness to all those corners of the world where darkness still dwells. Wishing you all a HAPPY Holiday Season and a JOY FILLED New Year.

Aruna