We are the Self-Luminous One

May the Self-Luminous One shine forever and ever!

May the power of Pure Consciousness pervade all around us!

May the bliss of liberation in life surge up in the whole universe!

May everything flourish as the God who is our very Heart!

May the ego-mind decay and perish!

May there be the shower of the Milk of Being Consciousness and Bliss!

May the Truth of limitless, eternal life triumph!

May the Supreme Consciousness flourish and shine in the Self!

May the eight directions echo the joyous cry, “So-ham…I am That!”

May the Truth that All is Brahman (God) reign supreme!

Someone once asked Sri Bhagavan, “Jesus and other great souls came to the world to redeem sinners; is there any hope for me?” Sri Bhagavan replied in English: “There is hope; yes, there is hope!”

This song above was one of Sri Bhagavan’s favorites, “Saranagati” (the Refuge Song). This is being sung, regularly, at Sri Bhagavan’s shrine in Tamil, his native tongue. What a beautiful blessing for us all as we celebrate the coming in of 2011.

On New Year’s Day here, it will be New Year’s Eve there in the west. Every day, and on this day, I am on the Holy Hill at this particular spot, in the picture above. Be with me here and…

Have a Happy New Year Celebration Every Day …

Being AWAKE & FREE!

We are the Light of the World

This picture was taken on December 21^st at Bhagavan Ramana’s Jyanthi, from the same spot I took the previous picture in the Shrine Hall. You could not fit another person in here. And, we sat this way for several hours! ...

It was a sacred time being shared by all.

At the wake of Bhagavan’s birthday celebration (Jyanthi) and Christ’s Birthday, it has been said that the best way to celebrate the birthday of a Jnani, is to share their teaching. Let’s be with the words of these two Illumined Beings and receive the true reason for this holiday season …

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,

Where moth and rust consume

And where thieves break in and steal,

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

Where neither moth nor rust consumes

And where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is,

There will your Heart be also.

[Jesus speaking from the Bible: Matthew 6:19-21]

Know this: To simply abide as and be at one with That,

in the Heart as the Heart,

is itself to contemplate or meditate on it – for It is All.

This One Reality ever dwells in the Heart of All creatures

as the Very Self of each one,

as the Silent Witness without thoughts,

unrelated to anything.

To remain ever-present in It, as It, is its contemplation,

for it is the One Presence and Power of simple Awareness

In which and on which everything is dependent,

and is always, already occurring.

There is, in Truth, no separate-self or individual being.

[From “Realization: Sum and Substance” – Compiled by A. Ramana,

from the works of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi]

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life,

What you shall eat or what you shall drink,

Nor about your body, what you shall put on.

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air:

They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,

And yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?

Every one then who hears these words of Mine,

And does them will be like a wise man

Who built his house upon the rock;

And, the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew

And beat upon that house,

But it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

[Jesus speaking from the Bible: Matthew 6:25-26 & 7:24-25]

One should not be elated on having his desire fulfilled,

or disappointed on being frustrated.

To be elated on the fulfillment of desire is so deceitful.

A gain will certainly be lost ultimately.

Therefore elations must end in pain at a future date.

One should not give place to feelings of pleasure or pain,

come what may.

How do the events affect the person?

You do not grow by acquiring something,

nor wither away by losing it.

You remain what you always are.

Accept with equanimity whatever happens.

[From “Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi” p. 596]

You are the Light of the world.

A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel,

But on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Let your Light so shine before men,

That they may see your good works

And, give glory to your Father who is in Heaven

[Jesus speaking from the Bible: Matthew 5:14-16]

This Universal Awareness or One Reality, which is the Divine Self,

or Heart of the Absolute –

ever abiding prior to and beyond time and space –

being one-without-a-second and always complete in Itself –

is Itself the giver of existence to the whole world.

It also gives its One and Only Light of Consciousness to the mind,

which lacks or is itself entirely without consciousness.

This One Self is always, already realized, for there is no other.

Although obscured or seemingly hidden,

being covered up by the world of objects,

it is ever available here and now as

the One and Only Presence and Power.

All else is a false appearance, being a product of the mind.

This One Reality is “ever-known” as

the Silence and Stillness of pure Being.

[From “Realization: Sum and Substance” - Compiled by A. Ramana,

from the works of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi]

Being and Sharing in the Spirit of this Holiday Season…

In Stillness & Peace,
em

Being Blessed & Blissed

I hear Your Silence calling me

So softly calling me

To where I have always been.

I am burning and burning

In Your Grace.

These words are being felt deeply here at Ramanasramam…the home of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. The picture is in the Shrine Hall. I am sitting up against the wall just as you come into the hall, as this picture was taken. People come and go, but the Stillness remains, as It is. The “burning” is a cool melting into the Heart as “I-I” … giving way to This is all that is left to do …

Bhagavan’s family has been very gracious. They have given me a room right up next to Arunachala. I can actually see it, from my window.

I did promise to take you with me and here we are …

There is a schedule that is informal here … it is available to attend as you wish. One finds a natural rhythm and flows into what suits you. My day has found this particular rhythm: The man, who is serving our area, comes with hot water, for bathing, at 4:00 am. It is from another building where a wood fire has been put on earlier, which brings a vat of water to a very hot temperature. You put a large bucket out in front of your door and the guard knows to fill it with hot water. Then, I move on to morning meditation in the Old Hall at 5:00 am. (The Old Hall is where Bhagavan sat and met with people…the energy of his presence remains, as if he is still present sitting on his sofa, as usual.) At this early hour, an offering of flowers, incense and chanting (puja) is done in the adjacent Shrine Hall and at 6:45 am the first milk of the day (from one of their resident cows) is placed on the shrine and then offered to the people attending. 7:00 am is breakfast and 11:30 am lunch. In between this, it is lovely to just go out the back gate and up onto Arunachala for a brisk morning walk. Then, during the day, a number of puja ceremonies are done over the shrine. My favorite time of the day is after our siesta …at 2:00 pm…where it is absolutely quiet in the Shrine Hall and the Old Hall. Just basking in the Stillness is heaven. Then, tea is at 4:00 pm and dinner at 7:30 pm with a sing-a-long chanting session before that at 6:30 pm. A full day… simply basking in the Grace of the Presence of Awakeness…awesome…can you feel it?

My experience of being here is hugely different from the times that Ramana and I would come and bring pilgrims. (This was from 1992 until 2000 before we had our own ashram here.) My schedule was not my own. There was always something to tend to for our pilgrims or Ramana. This was also a time when new programs would create themselves…I SIT, NNP, CC&R for example. This time, it is an open and clear day to follow whatever arises in the moment. Each time has been special for me and absolutely different. I am certainly grateful to have this experience to flow with what comes. It is right on time.

I am being blessed and BLISSED!

By the way, if you would like to visit the Shrine Hall yourself and hear the chanting that is done in the evening, just click onto this connection to our website.

I’ll feel you here…

Beloved One

It’s been a week now at AHAM Ashram. Tomorrow, I will be going to Sri Ramanasramam for the next two months. I may or may not be able to continue this blog at this ashram. We shall see what the connections are once I move in. If not, it will continue after the middle of February.

In the meantime…

The picture above is taken from this ashram’s middle garden, between the main house and the guesthouse. Notice the large tree on the left next to the Guest House. It was the identical spot where we had planted an avocado plant over five years back. This is such a great story; I’ll just have to share it with you.

Here in India, they have huge avocados with very large pits. They are not easy to find, but we managed to locate a few in town. Ramana and I decided we were going to have an avocado tree from one of these large pits. He described exactly what to do….putting toothpicks into the middle of the pit, on all sides. We suspended it over a bowl of water that just barely touched the bottom of the pit….and waited for some action.

Days went by and nothing happened. Each time I would bring the avocado pit & bowl to Ramana to show him there was no progress. He would tell me, “Wait…be patient…let it be.” Then, weeks went by, still nothing happened. Ramana’s response was the same, “Wait…be patient…let it be.” I thought it was dead and was a lost cause, but not Ramana. He had me continue keeping the water in the bowl. Then, after about a month, when I went to show Ramana the avocado, there it was…a gorgeous root growing down into the water and a green leaf coming up to the sun. What a beautiful sight. Ramana was right…it just needed patience, simply letting it be and not buying into appearances.

That isn’t the end of the story…it was planted in a large pot and was put in the kitchenette area by our rooms, at the front of the Main House. Before we left India for U.S.A., one of our India Staff and I went out and planted the avocado plant.

And, here it stands, now as a shade tree over our Guest House to keep the sun from baking that side of the building and anyone staying in that particular room. No avocadoes, as yet…these are still to come.

So, there was such a huge insight in this for me, at the time, and even now as I share it with you. The words of Ramana, “Wait…be patient…let it be” giving us the experience to allow the natural course of things to unfold even when the appearances are not giving us any evidence of anything happening. And, now we can all appreciate this beautiful avocado tree functioning as a shade tree. This might never have happened, if we had of bought into the appearances.

This story fits where I am right now. Not knowing the outcome of this story…just being patient and letting it be…it is all unfolding, moment by moment, in its own natural way. We shall see what comes.

Thank you, Ramana, for this gentle reminder and for the years of your endearing friendship and Love. Leaving this very familiar space, that we’ve had truly beneficial times together, and moving into the unknown. These 32 years, that we have travelled together, have prepared me to fly out of the nest. I am ready.

I feel You as “the wind beneath my wings”…

Like falling leaves, floating away,

Words disappear

And, all I can say is,

I Love You.

I was born to love you.

Beloved One, You set me free.

Beloved One, You set us free.

- A song written by Kamala Devi

Sweet Selfless Service

This path to God

Made me such an old sweet beggar.

I was starving until one night

My love tricked God Himself

To fall into my bowl.

Now Hafiz is infinitely rich,

But all I ever want to do

Is keep emptying out

My emerald-filled

Pockets

Upon this

tear-stained

world.

- Hafiz

Well, I arrived in India just a few days back and have nestled in quite nicely at AHAM Ashram. Jan Sundell and Sue Cowie greeted me with open arms. After lunch, we headed out of the main building to the Guest House rooftop…a great place to see Arunachala and sit back and relax together.

Over these past few days, it has been very revealing to see what happens here at AHAM Ashram. Jan has been the manager here for a number of years. She has also been a significant part of its creation, as well. In order to care for this ashram, she has stayed over the entire year through the heat of India’s summer months. I am seeing in Jan, first hand, a true demonstration of selfless service.

It is not just the ashram here that she cares for, but the kind attention she takes with those who work here and come by day to day. Watching her tend to the smallest details with love and grace is awe-inspiring. And, if that isn’t enough, she has many calls that she conducts over Skype with Sponsees and various folks in the community.

My deepest appreciation goes out to Jan, for her dedication to keeping sacred the Samadhi site of our Ramana. As the sun comes up each morning, she and Rajasakar and one of the Indian staff, honor his Samadhi in the traditional Indian way. Many of you know what happens in India as the sun comes up and goes down…mosquitoes come out in masses. This does not deter these three in the least. The site is cleaned and flowers are offered. Then the fire and incense is lit and offered. By this time it is 6:45 am (Heart Time). A walk three times around the Samadhi is given to complete the puja. As an observer of this process, there is a definite energy of stillness and peace that is being invoked. This process, traditionally, continues to keep alive the Grace-full Presence of what and who Ramana is. What an uplift to humanity this continues to be.

Thank you, Jan, for all that you contribute to AHAM and to those who come into your space. We love you, Jan, and acknowledge the important service that you are rendering for AHAM and all mankind.

May the Peace of the Heart Be With Us

[Can you find this Arunachala Hill on AHAM’s property?]

May the Peace of the Heart be with Us.

May we live from It’s Space, O’ so Clear.

As we greet each new day,

Complete in all ways,

We delight in the time that’s right HERE.

May we give from our Love in abundance

And, receive from a Heart that is free.

We’ll join as One Voice,

Taking Truth as our choice,

And, accept all of mankind as Me.

This is the song that was written, by Karen Michaels, especially for our Sunday morning gathering, in the early days of AHAM.

As our Virtual Peace Pilgrimage begins, it actually fits beautifully for us all to use as our “Peace Prayer.” I invite us all to use it at the beginning of each day, right after morning mediation, throughout the day at Heart Times, and then at the end of our evening mediation. This is a very powerful way that we can each hold a Peace Vigil in our corner of the world, to create a network of Light, and assist with the transformational shift that is now occurring throughout the world. How does it feel, right now, for us all to be living as it says in the end of this prayer/song?

Today we have lifted the fear,

Not in some distance place,

But right HERE.

And, if I work on me,

All of the world soon will be

Bathed in a Radiant Light.

May the Peace of the Heart be with us,

May we live in this Space, oh so Clear.

We now join as ONE VOICE,

Taking Truth as our choice,

We accept all of mankind as ME.

P.S. I just received this from Karen, the one that wrote this song...thank you for the precious memory...

Dearest Elizabeth,

Thank you for using "Accepting All Mankind As Me" as a peace prayer/song in your blog today. The words definitely ring so true today, as the world flows through various energy changes. When that song was written, I remember how forcefully Divine Consciousness wanted it to be "born". The first half of the song was written the night before the very first Sunday Morning program AHAM held at the old "Janus Theater" in Greensboro. Then, the second half came through right after Ramana delivered that very first Sunday talk! He always loved the words to that song and in my mind's eye, I can see him, with eyes closed, a soft smile, gently swaying to the music!

A Heart's Embrace

The Spirit of the Lord

Goes before us,

And, makes easy

And successful

Our Way.

This past week, I was in Hendersonville, N.C. (just south of Asheville), visiting Esther Fisher. (Esther is the one who publishes AHAM’s monthly email-newsletter Heart to Heart) Mom and I went on a holiday to have some time together before leaving for my trip. We spent time with Esther and visited some beautiful places in this area…The Biltmore Estates was the highlight of the trip for Mom.

The highlight of the trip for me was a bit different. It was so awesome to see this prayer above coming alive. It all began with the delicious food that was waiting for us, as we arrived at Esther’s. It was cold and rainy outside, so hot soup was perfect. But, what stood out most was Esther’s warm embrace of my Mother, as she adjusted to the cold weather and unfamiliar surroundings. Her gentle touch and reassurance was so comforting to Mom, making her feel right at home. Also, Cedar, Esther’s dog for many years, welcomed us both. And, he seemed to understand where Mom was, after a long day, when he slipped into her room at night and slept by her bed. She loved it. It isn’t easy for someone my Mom’s age to travel away from her little “cocoon” at the retirement facility in Asheboro. And, yet I watched this happening so beautifully in Esther’s home.

So, this may not seem earth shattering or profound to some. Yet, these simple loving actions are what add to the overall peace on our planet. Our reaching out and embracing in Love and Kindness in our day-to-day situations is what adds to the raising of Consciousness for all to receive from.

Thank you, Esther (and Cedar), for opening your Heart and your Home to us ... a beautiful, authentic way to begin our Virtual Peace Pilgrimage.

“Though I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Though I give away all I have to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love never ends; as for prophecy, it will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, reasoned like a child; when I became a man/woman , I gave up childish ways. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now, I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.

So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13)

Surrounding Our World With Love

Something came to me to share with you that has to do with my traveling on December 1^st and returning to the Center the end of June 2011 ...

Just to give you some background, first … when the ticket was booked to India, it came up to ask the ticket agent what it would cost to stop a few places on my way home. When she told me the cost, it went way over what I could afford. Then, she said, “You may want to talk to the Around the World ticket desk.” So, I was transferred to that desk and the magic began. Before I knew it, I had a ticket package for "around the world" with a number of stops, to visit several folks in the AHAM family, and at an affordable price. The places that I will be stopping are: Hawaii, Vancouver Island, Denver Colorado, Quebec Canada, Maine, and Puerto Rico.

Then an idea came up to do a blog and share together, in a conscious way, as this trip unfolds. Today the idea expanded … this trip around the world will give us an opportunity to surround the world with the Love and Radiance, through our Heart to Heart Connection. We can carry a Heart Wave around the world ... covering this entire planet and everyone in it with this Light of Love that we ARE. Simple and yet very powerful! What an awesome opportunity! Are you with me? Can you see it?

Can we all remember the Peace Pilgrim? She made a commitment to walk 25,000 miles for peace. As it all turned out, she went over her goal and caused a huge stir in Consciousness in creating peace wherever she went. Well, this feels like the same context, but it is done over an electronic networking field of Consciousness.

So, I am not spanning the globe alone ... you will all go with me each step of the way. In the picture above it has AHAM’s butterfly ... "aham" = "Self" surrounding the world. Actually, we are the sky that surrounds and includes the world … embracing all. Are we together in this? … if so, Welcome aboard!

Let Our Light Shine

Our deepest fear

is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear

is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light,

not our darkness,

that most frightens us …

Playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people

won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest

the glory of God within us.

It’s not just in some of us;

it’s in everyone.

And, as we let our light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson

Thank You Buddies!

This was my first week of "retirement" in this new phase of my life. And, how did it get started?... With a Buddy Training at AHAM. Perfect!

For those who are not aware of this, buddies are those who are available to be with our first Self-Inquiry students, as they apply the teaching into their daily lives. This is one of the most significant services that is being offered in AHAM. Therefore the Training is very intense.

The picture above is of our buddies in training: (left to right in back row) Patricia Thompson (Assistant), John Schelor (Assistant Trainer), Annette Davidson, Mieke Rose, Elizabeth, Lina Landess, Kelly Santillo, (left to right in front row) Jenny Ngo and Cindy Pasternak.

Up until now these six students have been living the teaching and putting it into practice in their daily lives. In the Buddy Training, it is realized and directly experienced that to serve as a buddy shifts our perspective from a receiving mode to a giving mode...one that opens us up to a Wholeness and a nurturing warmth of Being. This shift is a maturing that awakens us out of the "what about me?" framework into "all is me" ...there is no longer a "me" perspective, separate and apart from a "you." We discover, the only way we can serve as a buddy is from the Heart and to simply get into the student's shoes. By asking questions and being the Heart support, the student experiences whatever comes up and gently releases it all into the Heart through the Self-Inquiry. In this exchange, there is only this Oneness being experienced...not two. With this everyone wins. What an awesome practice to be with anyone in our world. Actually, this is what all of our seasoned buddies have told us...how much buddying has given them this skill...which is now a part of the fabric of their every day relationships in life.

This past week, in our Association in Consciousness evening, we were going to acknowledge all of our buddies and celebrate our having and being a buddy. This didn't happen after all...some technical problems did not allow this. I would like to acknowledge all of the time, energy, effort, love and stick-to-it-ness that our buddies have given to this sacred service... and for most of our buddies it has been for years!

Here are some of those who have served in this buddy program: Stan Davis, Linda Swanson, Charlotte Twardokus, Jeanie Rehder, John Schelor, Melinda Bern, Vivian Zelig, Jan Sundell, Richard Fletcher, Michele Bordelon, Adjoa Aiyetoro, Donna Hale, Kupenda Olusegun, Doug High, Carol High, Willie Barrett, Sr., James Rogers, Nina Rogers, Rich DeAngelis, Joe Gagliano, Steve Grissom, Patricia Thompson,

Without our Buddy System, the practice received in our I SIT would not have the opportunity to be easily integrated into the student's life. The buddy is present each week for six weeks to allow this to naturally occur.

Thank you, buddies, for all that you have done to contribute to so many people's lives. We all owe you a debt of gratitude.

I am in awe of what is being offered here in AHAM...it warms my Heart to see how far we have all come in serving the Heart in this way. I leave the care of AHAM in good hands and HUGE Hearts.

What a Blessed Life

What a blessed life

what a lucky find.

The ending of the search

the stopping of my mind.

How can I express

the changes taking place?

The only words, I guess,

is the Amazing Grace...

I cannot say how

this blessing came to be.

I only know that now an arrow's piercing me.

So, you have my Heart and nothing is the same.

I have fallen into Love, like a moth into the flame.

- Kirtana

In the last post, Ramana Maharshi directed us to, "finding peace where we are." He has been one of many who resonated this peace. Those who were able to come to see him and be in his Presence were blessed indeed.

Just recently it came to me, while going through this shift in my life, that when we are able to see the "blessing" in a situation, we are then completely freed of the effects of the situation. This was presented in our recent Living Meditation program at AHAM. The truth of this expanded as we were each willing to see, an entire situation and experience, come up in our Awareness and just let it all be held in a nurturing Presence, as a blessing. This release just happens, naturally, due to the fact that we are no longer separating from the experience as it is arising, but fully accepting it as a blessing. The Oneness of Being is present and blesses the situation. It is filled with a Blessedness as the Wholeness or Holiness of Grace. All those who have gone before us that have lived this Blessed Life are blessing us in this Nurturing Presence.

Therefore, whenever there is anything arising in our space, if we are consciously being this Blessedness in the face of whatever it is that is present, we are embracing the situation with the Presence of the Heart that radiates in us, as us. With this, we are simply being this blessedness itself.

May we all be this blessedness that we are as situations arise in life. Every where we go, we can be an instrument of blessing with whatever may arise in us or "outside" of us. This was all that Ramana and I did 32 years ago as we started AHAM...we aligned ourselves in service to this One Presence that we are, in and as the Heart and we watched over the years, the blessings abundantly pouring into AHAM.

This higher frequency of vibration that comes from our being this Blessedness, could possibly be what is required to assist in shifting the overall situation that is occurring, This may be how we can all contribute to the uplifting of Consciousness and the eliminating of suffering in us and in the world around us. This Blessedness lives on in those who are ordinarily but extraordinarily ... Living from the Heart.

Let's hear the wisdom of a Hopi Elder ...

You have been telling people that this is the eleventh hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that it IS the hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled and said,
“This could be a good time! The river is flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold onto the shore. They will know they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination. The elders say that we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open and heads above water. And I say, see who is there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word ‘struggle’ from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in a celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for."