Holding the seat of love: a process to Healing

"Disturb the comforted and comfort the disturbed" John McMullin, Journeys of Wisdom

For one to move forward in life, one must have the capacity to learn how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable; that is, to "disturb the comforted and to comfort the disturbed."

To disturb the comforted is what many people avoid. On the other hand, many other people do it at the cost of love, through blaming, shaming, judging and with closed hearts. To disturb the comforted is to integrate possibilities where one sees none. It is to confront ego attachments to being right, justified, and perhaps superior. Also, it is confronting manipulations, hidden agendas, and the excuses we make to hide our wounds.

The root of the problem is most often underneath our words, hiding in shame and fear, not to be disrupted or brought to the surface. If brought to the surface, anger is revealed; however, often, the anger is projected onto other people. One's anger may be the victim, "poor me" mentality, while another's anger may be more aggressive or passive-aggressive.

To be able to disturb the comforted, one must be firm within oneself that what they are confronting is not the Truth. Perhaps what is confronted is a relative truth that either inhibits or impedes there spiritual growth, and perhaps what is being confronted is not true at all. One must assume that they do not know, but be willing to confront what comes up as a possibility. Then, one must be strengthened enough to not take the defended ego personally. It is common, for one to be defended and take personally what is being confronted. To hold the seat of love through not reacting but being with can be the most healing part of the process.

Thus, when one considers the possibilities, more healing can be integrated. Until then, the tendency will be to scratch the surface, without any depth of feeling to emerge. This is likely to be the time when One's needs are more in learning tools to integrate how to self-love. To confront ego-attachments, hidden agendas, excuses, and ultimately, the beliefs we failed to feel, one must have a strong enough capacity to integrate love.

The process of healing is rooted is an ability to integrate love and confront ego-attachments, the obstacles to a deeper love.

Spiritual Evolution: between Judgement and Discernment

While "Judge not, that ye be judged..." (Mat 7:1) can be considered a sacred law, the interpretation of it may not be realized by many, for what is the difference between judgment and discernment? While judgement leads to fear, perpetuating illusions of separation, shame and guilt, one's discernment leads them to Truth; compassion, wisdom,and greater awareness of Self (realization).

To judge someone essentially is to miss the mark, to not see the True self, the Awakened One within the sleepless, crying child's wound reality of fear and separation. Most of the time, this wound is mirrored outside ourselves and yet, reflect to us our own internal beliefs, such as that we are guilty, bad, and unworthy. We internalized many beliefs when we were children and perpetuated them throughout life, through our judgments of "others" and inability to see ourselves clearly.


Perhaps we can say that to judge is to make guilty and real what it is we see with our two eyes, all that which there is to be ashamed and fearful of. By judging, we perpetuate illusions, feeding beliefs in fear and separation, forgetting the Truth within us. We suffer from the illusions of the world and yet we multiply them, by reacting in defense. "Judge not, that ye be judged," is a sacred law in that when we strive in life to withhold judgment, to see Love or Truth despite evidence, we realize more quickly and heal. To judge, on the other hand, is to perpetuate a horizontal view of reality in which fear and separation is the main view of life. To withhold judgment is to move vertically, closer to Heaven, toward greater peace, wisdom, and Oneness.

Discernment leads to salvation, but can be perceived as judgment oftentimes. This can cause us to doubt and shame ourselves and therefore, judge our choices. "What is love/Truth?" the spiritual warrior may ask at any given time, when faced with the challenge to choose. When faced with challenges and circumstances, the weight of discernment may feel judgmental and visa versa; it can leave one stuck in fear and another one doubting the choices they made.

True discernment is not based on judgment but on One's commitment to a greater Love. First, it is useful to realize that life is always leading us to learn. In everything, there are ALWAYS lessons that will help us to grow and mature and thus evolve spiritually. When we use discernment, we make choices, knowing that there really is no wrong choice, person, place or thing for which to separate ourselves from; every choice can help us to see clearly the Love inside the clouds of illusions that we perpetuate. A discerning mind is a state of mind that is filled with Love and compassion, yet choices to be made about which will lead us closer to our evolutionary potential. The discerning mind is one that is contemplative and directed toward Truth.

Discernment leads to Truth because it isn't that we make the "right" choices but that we follow our hearts and acknowledge the lessons along the way. In life, there are unavoidable lessons, which we all must go through; in order to realize Truth, we must, at least eventually, look at every experience as an opportunity to grow and learn. Thus, at any given time, upon making choices, we learn to look and be grateful for the opportunity which leads to growth and Oneness. Discernment helps us to realize the Truth within ourselves because our attention is primarily on making sure we see Love and making choices based on what we believe will bring us closer to it.

A discerning mind can be automatic, intuitive, and direct. At the same time, discernment may take weighting, looking at costs and benefits and tapping into deeper reserves of feeling. Ultimately, discernment leads us to Truth/salvation because we are making decisions based on our relative truth, the truth about how we think, feel, and honor ourselves.


When we trust ourselves, we are more open to the divine intelligence that speaks through and to us. While all choices may be perceived as consequential on some level, self-development and discovery comes when we trust; we commit to look inside long enough to listen, to find Truth: peace, understanding, and perspective.

A discerning mind confronts, acknowledges, makes requests, and ask questions based on the feelings and thoughts that come from the heart. A judging mind, on the other hand, assumes, expects, blames and shames for failing to understand. The discerning mind may confront in a way that the ego does not like, but its intent is not to judge or reject, however to set boundaries and honor their own evolutionary capacity to listen and honor themselves.

To discern is to make choices based on honoring one's capacity to embody the consciousness of love. The ego judges discernment as attack, however, and often fails to listen. The ego does not want to look at itself as the source of its judgment, but wishes to project it onto "others" who are really just listening and honoring their personal truth, as they see in the moment. The judging mind reacts to the discerning mind because it is wounded.

Thus, while judgment multiplies illusions, discernment leads to Truth. For one attacks and defends and the other does not. One makes guilty and ashamed, while the other sees Truth and moves closer to the vibrational frequency that matches that Truth. The discerning mind makes choices based on its commitment to a greater love and thus, travels vertically rather than horizontally. The ego-ic, judging mind makes wrong and attacks choices, while the discerning mind makes choices and then moves on.

To heal, one must become aware of how much they judge and how much this judgment leads them to Oneness, which is Truth. To become aware, one must have the courage to look at where in their life they resist seeing themselves, where it is they blame and what it is they shame (perhaps with a spiritual teacher, healer, or guide to help at first)... In looking at these things, one has the opportunity to realign with Truth and to discern their choices, however, with love still present. This is at least one way spiritual healing begins.

The primary difference between judgement and discernment is that One's focus is on Truth, seeing Love, and the other is not. To focus on Truth/Oneness/Love in the face of choices, and to discern, rather than judge, is healing and takes first our commitment. This supports our evolutionary development into the new Age of Aquarius.






















that we always have to make choices.


The "idols" in the dream, we may call them, the "enemies," is the perhaps the excuse we make tuck and earth bound.































, but


What it takes to heal them is the courage and capacity to go deeper within Oneself, to look inside and ack

the obscure images within one's own mind ..

.
and pereceived as judgment is the face of one's own ignorance of who they are.



what is the distinction between discernment and

Perspective: when adversity shows up.

When there is adversity outside, it is really a reflection of the adversity inside. The mirror in which seeing causes chaos is when one is unwilling to look at the lack of seeing herself in "others" and/or seeing from a further range of perspective, that she create her own self-adversity.

Oftentimes, the adversity opposes you because you oppose yourself and until you start to believe in yourself, the adversity wreaks havoc on your state of mind.
There will be people in your life to reflect where healing is called for and they will come and go as people who doubt, deny, and even react to the gifts which you bestow. They may come at different times and take many forms. Oftentimes, we reject seeing ourselves and what there is to learn; we fight, we run away, we make wrong because we don't want to feel the pain. However, the pain we must feel in order to move on, to realize there not true.

If we skip the pain, we often end up angry and resentful, judging and punitive. The truth of the matter is never at the surface, always deeper and harder to grasp. To believe that the adversity comes from your own self can be difficult to understand indeed. However, feel the pain, surrender, let go, and replace these difficult thoughts with thoughts of Truth and love. Keep your heart open and commit to see yourself within all. Then, you will see your "adversities" will be tackled and you will even realize them to have been necessary to your growth.

Does it mean there will not be people who resist what you offer? It does not; for big lights cast greater shadows and resistance to your light will surely occur. At the same time, the "adversity" once thought will no longer wreak such a havoc, as your confidence and courage grow to mean little in the face of adversity.

Love the wounded child? Yes, but even more, love the Truth and see that Truth in you as a gift and a light, with truly something worthy of being offered to. When you embrace your gifts with confidence, you will see that the adversity does not come without bigger lights to support you.

When fear and doubt emerge, we turn to God.

Think not that you are afraid for what looks to be lack or scarcity; we
are never upset for the reasons we think. What we think comes from somewhere else and that somewhere else merely seeks to multiply illusions and suffering. That something else feeds the belief in scarcity and would have us live in fear, withholding and withdrawn. It would have us practice the belief to such a degree that we create habit out of what it says, reacting to confirm that what we see is real. Hardly is what we see or believe the Truth of the matter. To our demise, we get stuck in views and one-way thinking only to portend more suffering.

When the time is ripe, the glory of God emerges fully alive in man. This is a time when man learns to pardon his old ways and instead,begins to practice- accepting and loving himself. “Over spiritual matters,” he may decide to take on the practice. Only until he willfully loves himself and "others," does he open himself up to receiving the love of God. Through experiencing this kind of unconditional love presence, he strives to bring it to all his interactions. Though this takes commitment, the more he embodies the love of God, the more convinced he is that he is loved.

Leaving more room for God to enter, a “new” man emerges from the ashes of what at least felt to him like death. Fully enlightened, is he? Perhaps he is but possibly not. In whichever case, he a forklift for humanity, inspiring and uplifting all that surround him. His heart rings with compassion like never before and he finds greater delight in simple pleasures; for him, there is nothing he cannot be grateful for.

Whose will is it but God’s alone that leads us to discover peace, unity and Oneness within our Self. “Suffer less, dear child; so that I may be at peace.” God the father may say, whose will is for you to see clearly, your brother and sister beside you, united as One. The will of God asks that you not be afraid of what seems to be lacking and instead choose to open your heart up to his will to love: forgive, accept, and trust.

These are the markings of a spiritual warrior because the spiritual warrior's greatest commitment is to will the love of God, despite the challenges and fears he/she may encounter. Through surrendering to love, one becomes more available to miracles and is guided.

Therefore, pray. When the voice of doubt, fear and shame are loud within you, ask for guidance. “May my will be thy will. May I want what you want,” is a prayer that helps us to align our actions with our intention to love God. Despite outer conditions, our commitment to see beyond what we think we know, see, think or believe puts us in alignment with the will of God. In surrendering our will, we grow our light and learn to listen. This is the sutra for the new age, "there is a way through every block." This way is the way of love and this love is God, beckoning each and everyone of us home. Make this your will so that at all times, you are a forklift and an inspiration, full of peace, wisdom and love.

May we emerge from the ashes, brighter,lighter, happy and free.

Amen.

Spiritual Growth and Development: the opportunity of success and failure

One might strive by placing demands on himself, believing that to sacrifice is to love God. In doing so, he places boundaries and limits on what he can and can not do, what is and isn’t appropriate. When he succeeds, he often projects in pride and feels himself to be more special than some, stronger, more capable, more deserving than others. When he “fails” at doing what he put out to do, he oftentimes suffers and makes himself wrong, suppressing his loving capabilities.

While the willingness to sacrifice and challenge oneself to being a servant to God, a mystic or a spiritual warrior, can be expressed and practiced outwardly, in physical form, it does not necessary conquer one’s ego-ic tendency to compare by making wrong or better what it is he does and doesn’t do. While the physical realm of reality is the playground in which the opportunity to experience heaven on earth becomes realized, it is not in focusing on what we do and don’t do that makes it possible. When someone looks to be doing a particular thing, he may or may not be practicing being the love of God, the keynote for any and all spiritual warriors and mystics. Thus, whether one’s demands on himself either succeeds or fails, the opportunity and spiritual growth come from his presence; that is, who he is being and how much he is embodying the consciousness of love.

It is important to realize therefore that there will be times that one may "fail" to match their internal commitment. At other times, one’s abilities may exceed their expectations by far. In either case, One must ask who the commitment is for: the body or God. If one’s commitment is of God, then he is bound to forgive himself and see unity in embracing humility, transparency, and humbleness. If one’s commitment is of the body, however, he is bound to make himself wrong and dismiss himself and those around him even more. In remembering God, one may realize that life is in not making wrong or comparing, justifying what is right, through what he does and doesn't do, but in embracing both success and failure as an opportunity to grow spiritually in either case.

Whether a seed, a idea, a new relationship, a project, ect. produces as success or failure, spiritual growth and development lies not in boasting, comparing or making wrong, but in moving forward, acknowleding mistakes, and embracing Self-love.

The Fine Art of Illusion

This life and what we see is an illusion. Everything that we see that is not of spirit or of God is untrue. Thus, one may choose to live in the illusion aware or unconscious. To do so is to either respond to the world in which we see out of love or to react to it out of fear. One draws us nearer to eternity, while the other further away. While fear perpetuates illusion, love creates what is real and is extended to “others” living in the illusion. Love is created through presence, through forgiving, accepting and through sharing.

When one chooses with awareness to live the art of illusion, then they are choosing to live from a world in which love is the foundation for all their relations. Fear, on the other hand, is to be confronted and addressed within.

Mystics, they may be called, are the bringers of heaven on earth and the example of the children of God, in which, Jesus taught:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he can not enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John, 2:20-3:18)

To be reborn, as water and Spirit, is to be a bearer that is committed to light and love and to bringing peace to this world. To be born again is to see a return of innocence, a pure-heartedness, vulnerability and playfulness.

We are all meant to see these “mystics” in ourselves and our expression of It may vary. We are meant to bring each other home by emulating their love, appreciating their spirit and working to address our own fears and human weaknesses. However we may choose to live in the illusion, it is first and foremost brought with the consciousness to bring love to it. Whether the consciousness of one brings them to glamour and fame or to be a householder and settler does not matter so much as the love that they carry, the example of which is loving, kind, and on purpose. Thus is the case that wherever One's light is carried, regardless of what they do, how they dress, and where they visit, those around It will become elevated and increase their own light as well.

Spiritual Emergence leading to Crisis: Shakti Pad

Spiritual Emergence leading to Crisis: Shakti Pad
Shakti Pad: The stage of the Practitioner

Along the path of wisdom, of spiritual development, we meet at Shakti Pad. This is the stage of the practitioner and is "the most crucial, transitional, and challenging of all the stages." This stage determines whether we progress toward mastery. In my textbook "The Aquarian Teacher" Level 1 manual, what is required at this stage is the "ability to choose a goal, fix on a motivation, and consciously commit to a set of values."

This stage of spiritual development is also "the test of power." Where decisions are done out of habit or unconscious patterning, doubt prevails, commitment is lost. The practitioner does not excel past this stage until he gives up what he thinks he knows is best, the desirable, and begins to embrace trusting what he doesn't know. This is why Yogi Bhajan describes this stage to the next as determined by a leap of faith rather than a rope which connects the practitioner directly to the master.

"The experience of this type of decision-making is often unpleasant and frightful. It is beset with uncertainty and often fills the practitioner with doubt. It is a perilous and existential moment. It is an agonizing decision- a question of identity and commitment. The decision is made through deliberate effort to reach the correct perspective of the whole, and to discern the true significance of the decision."

If the practitioner looks at the whole situation and consciously acts from the whole or part of the whole, this period in training will be won with trust, healing, and a greater connection to God or ONE Self. Thus, it is at this period where the test of one's belief in God is most challenged. It may be a dark period and for some cultures or religions, this stage of spiritual development is where we go through the "mystic death," the death of the "false" self or the ego. At this stage, the practitioner struggles with his belief in God and higher intelligence. He may resort to blaming God or other people for his problem and fall back on old ways of doing and being that do not serve him or his higher Self. Maybe he forgets what it is he truly wants and because he is fraught with so many difficulties within himself, he becomes depressed. The practitioner in crisis who finds himself aware of the alternate reality struggles with this reality because he is still afraid and his trust has not yet outgrown his fears. Thus, he clings to what he knows as much as he can. Possibly, the practitioner feels that he is losing his mind and indeed he may. However, the possibility of "no" mind could be a gift, as the practitioner becomes more aware of himself, he finds himself less reactionary and more in trust of the "unknown." His glass is empty and because of this, he can be a great teacher, guide, and lover to all. If he falls predator and prey to fear, however, he could suffer a great deal; his heart will not be interwoven with his decisions. If this is the case, he must always return to balance through actions having to do with heart, that is through self-love and service to others.

At this stage of development, we find that the ego wants to hang on while the ONE self desires to let go. This is perhaps what OSHO describes as schizophrenia. This stage in spiritual development is beset with uncertainty and perhaps can be described by some as "the dark night of the soul."

Some practitioners at this stage do not experience ego-death and may wonder why they should have to. Their ego gets stronger and they become more imbedded in the web of illusion, also known as maya, which is beset with karmic influences and universal laws. The practitioner may blame God or other people because his ego believes they are more deserving and they resent having to have to go through anything at all. They retreat back to old ways of being without seeing the hint of what there is to learn or heal from. The ego does not want to see oneness; however the practitioner in spiritual crisis is being jolted to practice what he himself resists and yet must see. The ego strives for control, certainty and specialness and becomes ignorant, depressed, isolated, and/or split thus leading to even more dissociative thoughts that make him seem crazy to "others," who are also unaware of the spiritual nature of the "problem." The practitioner succumbs to fear and and can not see light; however the light is always there.

I share this information because there doesn't seem to be a lot of talk of "Shakti Pad," or spiritual emergencies. I feel called to share this information, because I know that for some, a spiritual emergency can happen on a unconscious level, meaning without intent of a spiritual emergence or awakening. For those who are on a spiritual quest, perhaps this writing will be a sign to stay on track or an offering of some kind. It is my understanding that some spiritual emergencies are actually "kundalini awakenings" that can lead to greater connection to oneself and God. However, without the awareness or preparation, this experience can lead to crisis. This is why the path of healing is so important and especially at this time. If we aren't on a path of healing from the ego-ic mind, the separated self, we can be unaware of the true nature of dis-ease and dissociative disorders which lead to fatigue and more depression. We must all be on a path of healing to prepare ourselves for the spiritual emergence that is occurring at this time.

I gather this information partly from books as well as from intuition, personal experience and observation.