inner knowledge
Even with the best of intentions to generate compassion, there are ways we go astray by deluding ourselves. This becomes apparent when, instead of feeling nurtured by offering compassion in thought or deed, we are left with the bitter taste of negative emotion.
Direct experience cannot be expressed intellectually; we cannot point out to someone what is indescribable: their true identity. Yet the teacher can facilitate the space in which the student can rediscover this in a direct experience, without words or symbolic language.
Although we can acknowledge that all which exists are in an eternal process of change, we can still get overwhelmed by the fear of losing life and the need to say goodbye to people we love and those who have been an important part in our life by making it precious.
All our actions start as a thought, so to know why we act as we do we must know our thoughts and the values and ideals that motivate us to do what we do. To get to know phenomena we must observe them. The same applies to our own minds.
Encouragement to use both adversity and success
to make our lives meaningful.
Throughout human civilization there have been attempts to formulate that conscious ability in response to the question, what are we really, of what is experience made, where does perception takes place, what is it that feels emotions, and the big question, can consciousness, meaning us, know what it is, directly, by itself and without the use of technological instruments?
LEVEKUNST art of life is priviliged to share a mantra chanting by David Hykes together with a short explanation of the mantra of compassion by His… Read More »MANTRA OF COMPASSION
Imitate that and your body is now in meditation posture. But you are not the body. You are in a body. It is not the body that meditates; it’s the mind. Meditation takes place in the realm of consciousness: that in you which is aware and thinks, feels and experiences.
“I will try my best to respect, protect and nurture this life I now have and this mind I am. I will also respect, protect and nurture the lives and minds of others.”
Imagine for a moment, if we could be just like space, letting everything unfold without trying to control or manipulate, fix or arrange.
The shieldless naked heart is the amour of the true warrior. The very moment we take a step back from what we call ourselves and allow room enough in the field of experience, this inner spaciousness is the most wonderful medicine against fear, claustrophobia and the timidity of dualistic mind.
Emotions have the potential for manifesting wisdom, strength, sensitivity and connectedness. A gift commonly bypassed as our energy is caged by personal storylines, avoidance and self-centeredness. In simple openness and a loving embrace, self-centered emotions and suffering are unveiled as living grace.
When chanting Padmasambhava’s sacred invocation, it is said that at first dualistic mind needs to approach the awakened state with the graceful bow of inner surrender. In this way the chant is a tool for awakening through song.
Holy anger is a mixture of taking pride in being violent, a distorted version of the brave heart, which intoxicate and entices us to feel: my wrath is just, I’m rightfully allowed, I just have to put things straight, by blowing up, losing my temper, and telling the awful truth, about how wrong you are.
Sitting with the unknown may arouse a variety of experiences. fear and anxiety. Excitement and adventure. It may even evoke a sense of awe, halting our running mind. Whatever the reaction there is one thing for sure, our life is pervaded by it. It lies beneath our thin facade of control.
Listen to your favorite piece of music. It is not your ears that hear, but your consciousness. Usually we think that we hear better by concentrating and focusing, but it is only apparently true. We hear much better by staying unoccupied.
Today we celebrate article number 108 from LEVEKUNST art of life with a reminder of the symbolic meaning of the mala with its 108 beads.
Today, on a very special day, I want to share for the first time in English, some words from a real saint and true of master of freedom. Just thinking of him brings tears to my eyes and my heart aches to realize the awakened state completely. His name was Adeu Rinpoche.
Spiritual means more open-minded, sensitive and intelligent. It means combining heart and mind by being willing to allow natural intelligence to coexist with sincerity and honesty. Being this way, we appreciate people’s noble heart and good qualities.
We may start clinging to certain meditative states or experiences, and may believe that we are very good meditators, or close to enlightenment. However, the moment we begin to see and recognize these patterns, it is actually quite funny. We can have a good laugh at ourselves and our habitual tendencies.
We can test this out at our own pace, that lowering defenses opens up to acknowledging the deeper and more basic strength of this insight: that spaciousness cannot be hurt.