Monday, January 23, 2012

Just Rest


“Just sit there right now.

Don’t do a thing.

Just rest.

For your

Separation from God

Is the hardest work in the world.”

- Hafiz

The “rest” is a “stop” and all is melting into THAT.

Giving way to this melting feeling,

Falling into This Embrace

Being fully consumed by This Love, By This Fullness By that which has no boundaries.

Surrender NOW into that which has captured you.

And invite whatever arises into Your Heart

All is included in this Embrace …


This was written in India on November 2007. These words are very significant for me right now as I am nestled here in Florida. What a beautiful opportunity to just be and give way to this melting feeling and be fully consumed by this Love…by this Fullness…

So, in this “resting,” this will be the last blog for awhile.

Love always,

Elizabeth


Thursday, January 12, 2012

2012 Begins...


(This picture was taken on Hunter's Island, S.C. on my trip to N.C. at Christmas time)


“The faith of each is in accordance with his nature.

Man is made of their faith, as a man’s faith is, so is he.”

Bhagavad Gita (The Song of God 17:3)


It’s 2012 and some very gracious things are happening with everyone I meet and talk with…for me, I am now able to remain in this lovely home in Florida for the year. Thank you all for your Heart Support!

Let’s begin our sharing with this revelation from Charlotte, which came through on December 26, 2011 ... a very blessed Christmas for us all

I wanted to share with you what is being revealed since Christmas. Since all is Consciousness, perhaps this has also been occurring with you. Upon awakening on the 26th, it felt like everything was different somehow. Not really anything I am able to express tangibly except through feelings. Where there was a heaviness (which I wasn’t even aware of at the time), there is a Lightness. It feels like any obstacles, limitations, or challenges (even those we were not cognizant of) are no longer present.

There is only Love.
Whatever concerns might have been there regarding 2012,
have been dissolved in this feeling of expansive Truth.
It is now a ground for transformation
based on Truth and Love and is a whole new playing field.
It is such a wonderful time to be living in this dimension.
The winds of time have shifted and we are here to be witnesses to this event.


Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing this with us. This message sets the stage for the underlying context for this very important year of 2012. It reminds us to open all the doors for the Infinite Possibilities that can come when we are not buying into the appearances. And, it sets the stage for what came through to share with you …

In my last note with you, a New Year’s process was offered to release the old and bring in the new. This process may have happened with you, as it did Charlotte, even before the New Year’s. For myself and Saroja, who was visiting me here in Florida for a few weeks, we sat by the Atlantic Ocean and completed the process. The “old” was burned and the context for the year was then revealed. What came through was not specifics, but the qualities in the context that wanted to be expressed in various areas in our life.

This past year, I was given lots of puzzle pieces, but the full picture had not appeared as to what my next step was in serving the Whole.

As we let it all integrate, we walked along the seashore and were inspired to offer a blessing for All by writing it in the sand for it to be carried out to sea and around the world.

While continuing our visit together, quite a bit came up for us to see about being a clear instrument for our 2012 context as it began to be revealed. First, reminding ourselves that it is not “my” context…it is what wants to create itself through us.And, that it takes faith and courage to follow the natural rhythm of what comes, as we answer the calling of our context...wherever that might take us.

In the words of Arthur Osborne, he gives us a clue …

“Bhagavan says, that if one is firm in the belief that a Higher Power guides us, there need not be any concern about what happens. Then, as doubts cleared away, the devotee remains perfectly happy in that faith.” – Arthur Osborne

It is one thing to have these as words, it is another to put this wisdom into practical application in our lives.

As we walked along the beach together the wide-open space of the sky and the ocean gently reminded us of this Sky of Awareness that we are…the “Higher Power that guides us” …and all was surrendered into That.

So, I just wanted to share this with you, my dear friends, as a gentle reminder for us all ... Remembering this Sky of Awareness that we ARE and from Here, remembering to ask our self these questions if any doubts arise:

  • If it could be done, how would we do it?” And, receive the ideas that come up as clues to our “treasure hunt” discovery process…being a clear open agent for what wants to create itself through us.
  • And, “If there was only one thing I could do, right now, what would it be?” And, complete that first…always keeping on track with a step-by-step process…so our creative energy is both Divinely Inspired and focused.

Most of us now are being guided into uncharted territories to serve the Whole. The callings we are being given to be agents for are way out of the box. Where I am being called to serve has to do with supporting and nurturing those who are being called.As this came up for me as 2012 began, I realized that it is actually what has been happening for some time, but now it is being seen more fully, along with a way in which it can happen more directly in serving the Whole.

A very dear friend just recently shared something that relates to this …

“The qualified are not called, you are called and you are qualified along the way as you answer the call.” - Marian Starnes

And, also a wise sharing was sent to me recently that further supports us in living our truth ... from Ganesanji …

Have you not noticed that whatever 'begins' should necessarily 'end'! Where does it 'begin'? In 'YOU'! And, where can it 'end'? Only in 'YOU.' And, not noticing it, we try to give credit to 'others' through whom we imagine the 'end' was affected! This is the greatest fallacy... Recognizing that it is 'the' fallacy, settles you back to yourSelf! Traditionally, it is named:'GRACE' ['labeled' in the words of J.Krishnamurti]. That's why, perhaps, Sri Bhagavan repeatedly asserts: "Grace is ALWAYS there"! Is there a moment when you were 'NOT' there? – Ganesanji 1-7-2012

Having faith and trust in what is HERE is aligning with this Grace. Now, we freely move forward into these uncharted territories … and serve mankind in magnificent and yet very natural ways. Let me know where I can assist you.

Deeply *Delve

In 2012!

*[“Delve” … look into, investigate, research, probe, dig, explore, inquire into, examine]


Being a Lighthouse wherever you are...

The Lighthouse on the beach of Hunting Island, S.C.
It has faithfully kept the ships from running into the reef since the early 1900's,
And, has stood strong during severe weather over this time period.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Making Room for the Highest

Hello, dear Ones. It’s the day after Christmas, and I am sitting by a warm fire here at Dave and Charlotte’s home in N.C. They are with their family in Atlanta and I am here taking care of their kitty, Domino. Mom and I had Christmas here together and it was lovely. I'll head back to Florida before New Year's.

As I was completing my morning meditation and just basking in the radiance of this auspicious time of year, this came up to share with you …

Cast all the old aside to make room for the new. How can you
 expect to usher in the new if you insist on holding onto the old. Make room, make
 room, and have a good spring clean from time to time and see what there is you
 can cast forth of the old and never be tempted to hold on to anything which is not 
of the very highest. This needs to be done with thoughts and ideas as well as material possessions. 
Don't just throw out the rubbish, but also those things which clutter up the mind 
and stop it from expanding. Take time to go through your material possessions 
as well and sift and sort what you have and cast out anything which you do not use. 
It is right to have all that you need, but again let Me remind you not to hoard. It 
is far too easy to accumulate and then wonder why you feel burdened and bowed 
down and can't move forward and upward.” -Eileen Cady

Someone asked me, recently, what was the best way to celebrate New Year’s. What I recalled was a conscious process that I have experienced and witnessed, that removes what is no longer useful and truly “makes room for the Highest.” It came up to share this process with you.

Here is how it goes, step by step…

1. Start the process in plenty of time, before New Year’s Eve. Begin by writing out all that is old and no longer useful in your life. Just let it empty out onto the paper without any editing. This “streaming” is a way to just let it all come out and be emptied.

2. Be aware of the experience in the body as it is streaming out…being the Awareness of what is being seen…and see through all of what is arising…letting it be.

3. Be sure it is all emptied and there is a clear space before going on.

4. Now, get a fresh piece of paper and write out what is true for you…what wants to now express itself through you. Just let it stream out onto the paper without editing.

5. Notice the experience arising in the body and include this in Awareness…letting it be. It may be surprising to you that negative, as well as positive feelings are arising. Just allow it all to be fully seen through from the clear space of Pure Awareness.

6. When it has all been emptied on the paper and the space is clear, take a fresh piece of paper, and write on the top of the page: “What is True for (your name) for 2012.” Looking back over what has been written, write out what is true for you, now. Let it be clear and neat on the page, and at the same time feeling it is already complete.

7. What is coming now, is coming from the clear space of Pure Awareness, straight from your Heart…it is what is already true…what is so.

8. Now, when we bring in the New Year, there is a complete alignment with “what is” for 2012…letting go and letting it all happen in the best way, as a win-win for all concerned.

9. Some people find it helpful to meditate as the New Year comes in. However you celebrate it the main thing is, at midnight, “what is true” for you is being felt as complete. And, we are resolved to allow it all to unfold in its own natural way.

As New Year’s Eve comes, let’s be together in our Heart-felt “New Year’s Resolution” wherever we are, feeling it complete for ALL. And, as we each take responsibility for being and living our truth, we are directly assisting the Whole.

Just one more very important thing that comes up to share, with regard to living our truth with “others” in 2012. Here are three "gatekeepers" from an Old Arab Proverb...

“The words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers: Before words get past the lips, the first gatekeeper asks, ‘Is this true?’ That stops a lot of traffic immediately. But, if the words get past the first gatekeeper, there is a second who asks: ‘Is it kind?’ And, for those words that qualify here too, the last gatekeeper asks, ‘Is it necessary?’ With these three on guard, most of us would find very little to say!”

Have a very happy and prosperous 2012 … living and being the Highest … now, ready to receive so many blessings.

(Blessings from the top of the Holy Hill Arunachala)

Friday, December 9, 2011

Being Expressions of Love

During this Holiday Season, in Consciousness, we all have the opportunity to be brought into perfect alignment with Pure Love, as lived fully by at least two awakened beings. They were born at this time and are widely known and respected… Jesus Christ or Jeshua and Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

If we all tune into the sacredness of this time, we can truly benefit, directly, from their awakening and what they have taught us by their living example of this Pure Love.

I was brought to this story of Mark Nepo just recently that seems to fit nicely…

I recently learned that the first form of pencil was a ball of lead. Having discovered that lead, if scratched, would leave markings, people then wrestled with chunks of the stuff in an attempt to write. Through the work of many, the chunks were eventually shaped into a useable form that could fit the hand. The discovery became a tool.

I am humbled to confess after a lifetime of relationship that love is no different. Be it a lover or a friend or a family member, the discovery of closeness appears in our life like a ball of lead – something that if wrestled with, will leave markings by which we can understand each other.

But this is only the beginning. The work of love is to shape the stuff of relationship into a tool that fits our hands. With each hardship faced, with each illusion confronted, with each trespass looked at and owned, another piece of the chunk is whittled and love begins to become a sacred tool.

When truth is held in compassionate hands, the sharpness of love becomes clear and not hurtful.” - Mark Nepo “The Book of Awakening”


So, were Jesus and Sri Bhagavan here to leave us a teaching that we can remember by their words? Or, were they born to leave us an imprint in our Hearts as to how we relate with one another?

This is the question that is coming up for me to investigate, as I write you, as I am recalling this very auspicious time of year. I guess the only way I am going to know the answer to that is to tell myself the truth as I review my life’s relationships and see if there is “compassionate hands” where “the sharpness of love is clear and not hurtful.”

As I begin each day, new and fresh, am I being with life from the Whole? … seeing from this “Whole” perspective in relationship with life? Or, am I being with relationship and life situations from a “me-my-mine” perspective?

This is how I am “checking-in” and “being aware” these days. It becomes pretty clear, when I look and see … is there a “win-win for all concerned” or a “what about me” present?

Seeing from the Whole is receiving the Whole of who-I-AM as expressions of who-I-AM. This is Pure Love, Compassion, Sensitivity, Kindness and Generosity…lived naturally.

Is this what is being required of each of us in this planetary shift? Is this “happiness for all mankind” lived in our day to day, ordinary lives?

I invite you to check-in and see if life is being lived from this Whole perspective…in every moment of now. It is our duty and our privilege to follow the footsteps of the Wise Ones that have gone before us. Then, it is simply our natural expression to…

Have a Love-filled Holiday season!


Ho...Ho...Ho...
From Santa and his little helper. :0)

Friday, December 2, 2011

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

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.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Being Childlike

Flagler Beach, Florida

Have you ever been at the beach and just wanted to run through a flock of sea gulls? As Lina and I watched the sun rise here at the Atlantic Ocean, this opportunity came up and I went for it. What a free feeling!

"Be very, very simple, very un-complex, very natural, like very small happy children, undisturbed by what happened yesterday or what may happen tomorrow, but living and enjoying the ever present Now to the very full. Never try to possess anything, never try to hold on to anything, because when you do, you cannot be simple and childlike, for you are full of fear, you are afraid of losing that which you are trying to cling on to. When you can open your hearts and share all the good and perfect gifts, which I pour down upon you, holding on to nothing, then you know the true meaning of the freedom of the Spirit and you really are free. When all is out in the open and you have nothing to hide, what a glorious feeling it is." (Eileen Caddy of Findhorn, Scotland)

When I arrived in Florida a month ago, an experience took place that gave me an opportunity to let go into this child-like "holding on to nothing" that is being shared here.

I was about an hour from my destination when the right front tire blew on the car and it went out of control on the highway. There was no steering or brakes. As it was happening, everything slowed way down and there was a clear seeing of the entire experience from Awareness. The body was in a bubble of Grace and was not hurt. It is so clear, as I look back on the experience now ... there is only an appearance that we have control ... we have never had control and will never have control. It is just like the player piano, it looks like and sounds like the song is being played by the musician. But, the song is already on the reel and it's all just getting played out.

This revelation brought forth a child-like quality that is meeting every moment with a sense of awe and wonder. Not missing any opportunity to fly with the sea gulls.

As I drive now, in my new/used car, it feels kind of unreal how it all came together so effortlessly. I am so grateful for these blessed experiences that free us of any remnants of holding on, to then release the hidden splendor of the Creative Essence that we all are. Each day, each moment is a miracle happening.

Simply enjoying it all as it is.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Celebrating Being Together





Wafarer,
Your body is my prayer carpet,
For I can see in your eyes
That you are exquisitely woven
With the finest silk and wool
And that Pattern upon your soul
Has the signature of God
And all your moods and colors of love
Come from His Divine vats of dye and Gold.
- Hafiz



Since our last communication, I received this very meaningful letter from Mary. She gave me the go ahead to share it with you…

Dear Elizabeth,

How special it is to be able to spend a few minutes "with you" and see how your day unfolded. Two things come to mind, the first is a "gatha" I say in starting each day. It is from Thich Nhat Hanh's book Peace is Every Breath.

Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live each moment fully
and to look at all Beings with eyes of compassion.

The other is a song that had come to me in the mountains and that I sang over the phone during our NNP follow-up calls.

We are the river, the mountains;
We are the trees, the ground;
We are the fish and the ocean,
The Heart where Love abounds.

For there is no other, there is no other, there is no other, there is only One.

Several other verses have come to me from time to time. I feel such gratitude and love of life. Your guidance at AHAM freed me to live with joy moment by moment.

Much love to you,

Mary


I’ve been here in Florida for almost three weeks already. There has been such a sweet gathering with a number of folks here. We celebrated in this Love and Oneness that Mary shares in her letter...simply being together.


Here's Dan & Jenny (& baby) at a gathering for 11-11-11 in Orlando...


Here is Cheryl, Lucas, Charlotte and I, at the same gathering on 11-11-11...


Kelly and Cheryl celebrating at exactly 11:11pm on 11-11-11...



... and Richard joining in ... we all raised the roof ... all 400 of us ...


Later that week, here is Charlotte and I with Annette at a little place by the sea called Cedar Key... while visiting her in Gainesville...


..."living in joy moment to moment"...no matter what arises...so grateful to be alive.


Thank you, Rich ...