Notes from an English Path: It Takes Light to Cast a Shadow
Fred:
I’ve had 2 concepts I’ve been pondering on recently:
“Seek first the kingdom of G-d and all these things will be added to you”
“I and my Father are ONE”
I may or may not have written them down accurately – source is old old memory of my days reading the Bible, and some recent reading I’ve been doing.
I’ve been wondering if there’s a deeper meaning other than the materialistic view I’ve held of life, within the “Seek first the kingdom of G-d and all these things will be added to you” concept.
[Isn’t it typical of the ego to figure – if I think of G-d – boy – I wonder when the million bucks will land?!]
I’ve held it in mind over the last several days – asking for clarity. What/why/how?
Slowly, its coming to me in the following way:
As you say so often: ‘There’s only ONE thing going on!”
There’s often a question mark in my head when you say this. Some kind of blankness. What does this mean? How do I think about this?
I get a sense of beingness when you say it – its been interesting to contemplate though, in the light of ” …..being ONE with my Father”.
Forgive some of the religious terminology.
Spending more time focusing on awareness, though, has brought me this update:
I don’t need to know what to do. Worrying just closes the mind down, it doesn’t make it more spacious, or bring ideas or solutions.
Those seem to show up when I finally slow down – take a break or while driving, in the shower, just going to sleep or just waking up.
I don’t need to worry or stress.
I just need to rest in Awareness – and KNOW that I am ONE with my Father.
Whether driving at 1000 miles an hour, or sitting meditating, or writing the next email or solving a riddle.
Common Sense will show up as and when.
This does mean I need to be engaged. Hearing and acting are my responsibility. Thinking actively – probably on paper – instead of mulling and cogitating – which seems to go nowhere, other than close me down.
Feeling will flow! It may be nerve-wracking or exciting or intensely depressing or interesting. All happening within Awareness.
The area I’m off-piste is that Common Sense doesn’t show up as a booming voice (necessarily – I have had moments where it has!)
Being grounded in Oneness – being aware of Awareness – (seeking FIRST the kingdom) – maintains Clarity.
Everything flows out of Oneness/Clarity/Groundedness and the knowing that I am ONEness.
I do like thinking about it as “being ONE …with my Father” – it reminds me of the all-encompassing-isness that I am ONE with.
Now, one is open to insight and clear guidance, within the huge sense of spaciousness.
This says nothing about being calm – although the practice of the habit would, no doubt, enable more calmness as I realize the nature of ONEness!
Spaciousness means that all emotion/thought can show up within the field of awareness, while life is doing what its doing.
Focusing on awareness is an active habit.
Moving one’s energy consciously from being lost in thought to noticing awareness.
I notice how my available energy seems to immediately ramp up in just that one internal movement.
In some respects – this still feels muddled.
Not utterly clear – although more clarity has arrived while going over it.
Looking forward to satsang later today.
Fondest,
Julee
I see where you are, and it’s great. You continue to do very, very well. I also see the muddle, and that too is just fine. By getting this out of your head and onto paper, you’ve already helped yourself tremendously. The (so-called) reason you’re getting all these insights that you’re writing me about is that you’re taking time, at least within the dream, to pay attention to attention. (Readers, please pay attention to that last line.)
Carry on!
All love,
Fred
