“You now have everything you could possibly need. In the end, there is only one thing you really need – and that is the fact of your own being. The good news is that it is always with you. It is the one thing that you can never lose.
Look straight through any thought or belief that says you are bound, separate or incomplete in any way whatsoever. Present awareness is the reality. It is here and now in all its fullness. You are not separate from that. There is no understanding to attain because everything that you were ever hoping to find is shining right at your center.” - *John Wheeler from “Right Here Right Now”
It’s been about a year now since my retirement from AHAM. It has been quite a ride, but it feels like it has stopped for awhile being here in a lovely little spot in Palm Coast, Florida. It is a lovely home for the winter, offered by Lina and her family. She and I had time together to open the place and for her to show me around, as this was her father’s home and she was very familiar with the area. We also invited Annette, from Gainesville, to come and stay for a few days to “play.”
While the three of us were having time together early in the morning, some things came up to share about “context.” I was brought back to the beginning of AHAM and how our teacher, Ramana, through his example demonstrated to me how context works. When he shared with me the idea of an “association of happiness for all mankind” (8/24/78), he said that it was “an idea whose time has come.” I had never heard of that expression before. He proceeded to say that this was an expression from Victor Hugo. It expresses when a context is formulated. That was the first time I’d ever heard of context, as well. It was all so new to me, but as AHAM grew it all came clear to me, through experiencing it directly, what it is to have a context and how to nurture this idea whose time has come.
During this conversation with Lina and Annette, I was transported back to this time with Ramana and AHAM at its fresh beginnings. Together, along with those who joined us at the time, we received this context as our own and through thick and thin saw it through. Whatever came up to appose the idea, we honored the context and allowed what was arising to play out. That’s a whole other story to tell you as it all unfolded.
After having honored this context in AHAM over many years, this very principle was discovered to be exactly what we do with our own spiritual practice. When we have created a context … when we *“stand firm in the conviction that it is done and come back to what I am” with whatever arises our real work begins. It’s interesting when we get it … I mean really get it … we see that we may have been working on ourselves for many years and searching throughout many teachings and teachers, but the question that ends this search is “have I really created a context…an idea whose time has come … have I established the context for myself I am complete and totally finished, right here and now?” Am I standing firm in the conviction that it is done and coming back to what I am no matter what arises? If so, this is the beginning of our true spiritual work. We get it that honoring who-I-really-am as Aware Presence, is where I stand firm, no matter what arises moment to moment.
This really hit home for all of us and a solid conviction was felt.
As we were sharing in this together, a song came up to share with Lina and Annette. When this happens, I simply have to let it come. It is a song that dear friends wrote who were a vital part of the beginning of AHAM, Karen Micheals and Ken Hamilton. It was Ramana’s favorite song. As it sang through me, I felt the presence of Ramana in the room. He was twinkling, as he did whenever something was being awakened in his presence.
Ramana passed on before he could see the context fully flowering in all of us in AHAM. He was feeling it now, in this moment, and he was glowing…he was in touch with what had started in 1978 now coming into fruition. This “flowering” included all of those who have created this context and are now living from the Heart.
Tears flowed in this Heart-felt connection with him. It is done.
I am feeling it again, while writing this to you. I am also remembering what he would say…”sharing makes it real for you.” Thank you for allowing me to share this with you. It is done.
AHAM is now being held in the hands of our new Director, Stanley Davis and all those who are inspired to assist in its context. It came up in my silent retreat in September of last year, that Stanley was to be the one to take AHAM into this next era, it was a shock to me. I was to leave AHAM and give it space to grow now through someone else. Releasing Ramana and now AHAM…it was huge. But, honoring “what is” is honoring the context and allowing it to flower in its own natural way. So, on the day of my retirement, November 1st, 2010, the “wave” that had carried “me” in this context for over 30 years completely stopped. There it was. And, now, in this recent meeting with Ramana, he seemed to have given us his blessing…all is exactly as it should be and all is well. In this picture of him, this blessing shines through … look closely for the twinkle. :0)
Now, it is coming up to say, how important it is to support “what is” and honor those who are now responsible for this context. AHAM has so much to offer this universal shift that is now happening. It’s like a Lighthouse steering the ships into safety, AHAM provides a way to direct attention back into the Light of Being…into this Aware Presence…and to live our lives from this perspective with whatever is arising. And, being in the world now, there is a lot of suffering happening in those who do not have a connection with this eye in the center of the hurricane. I am so grateful for all that is occurring on the planet to assist in this endeavor…it is truly an idea whose time has come.
To end this sharing, here is the song that opened the door for this magical, mystical meeting to occur…delighting in your flowering…
Hiding in the shadows,
Waiting for the Light,
Wishing to the moon
In the safety of the night.
Your Being has not failed you,
You are only in between,
And, the world will be ‘til everyone has seen.
Appearance cannot please you,
You must come from Within,
And, when the sky is open,
The choice is to begin.
So, wrap your arms around you,
For you have all you need.
And, the world will be ‘til everyone has seen.
And, so our ships go sailing
Unto a distant shore,
Along with them our wishes
Until we wish no more.
And, when we give to lovin’
We’ll all know what it means.
And, the world will be ‘til everyone has seen.
Oh yes, the world will be ‘til everyone has seen.
It is done.
