Category: Year 2022

The Best Version of Your Self  

Posted in Chapter 3, Year 20222 Comments
Ganesha and candles

Today is a very auspicious day – Ganesh Chaturthi – Ganesh, the one who removes all the obstacles, the bestower of the blessings upon us all – what a beautiful way to celebrate such a benevolent day – Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha.

Man lighting a candle to Ganesha

This morning I read the direction question PW48 my friend Joe (founder of PrivateWork) shared on his FB wall, and somehow, he planted a seed in my thoughts which unfolds like this…

Well, you already are the best in the world in what you do every day – you just have to realize that and know that for sure. You have the biggest power to change the stream of your thoughts, habits, behavior, emotions, and intentions – which all lead to how you manifest your life, every day. No one in this wide world is like you. You are special – like everyone else is special in their unique way. Your unique thought processes, life style, choices you make every day are unlike anyone else’s.

Your DNA – is one of a kind. Being the best is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Else, you’re always chasing something that is not yet and never will be. Have you ever heard of Allan Watts (Music and Life)?

I am the best version of myself the way I am because everything I have done in my past is a culmination of what got me to the place where I am right now. When you do the best you can in every situation life presents to you – to the very best of your abilities, efforts, and beliefs, you already are the best version of your self in the whole wide world. We all have our limitations and we all work within that ever expanding frame – we may be aware of it or not yet. I believe it’s human nature to strive to our best abilities – whatever that may be. Sometimes we get stuck and we need some help, guidance, and encouragement and it’s ok to admit that and ask for help. Being honest to yourself is not a weakness, it’s a sign of strength.

The question is, who am I?

You know who you are when you get to a place in life when you’re content, perfectly at peace with what you do, where you are, what you have, who you are – sure you can notice what others are doing and what they have achieved, get inspired, nudged, but that should not be your compass, your indicator of what it means to be the best. Life is not a competition because the end has already been determined when you were born – there are no exceptions to that rule. As I said before – we are all special and unique in our very own continuously evolving ways – none of us is the same – your capacity to generate what we perceive as success, that defines your best, your potential, your drive, mental capacity, emotional stability, consistency, perseverance, the way you apply your talents, skills, and abilities may be totally different to mine.

The way you choose to live your life is something you have to discover and decide on your own, it’s a process to be fully lived, the best you can. Other people can advise, suggest, encourage you to explore, but only you can know your life’s fullest potential and purpose – and only I know mine. Just like only you know where to scratch yourself when you have an itch – no one else in this world can figure that out. 🤪

You are the best in what you do – there is no one in this world like you – no one that expresses themselves like you. The question is – are you allowing yourself to be the best in what you do every single moment in your life? I believe every action, thought, and word matters.

When you hug someone, when you say hello, good day mate, cheerio, thank you, have an amazing day, when I give you a hand, when I think of you, when I write – am I doing the best I can? Being 100% present, authentic, fully serving you, and not myself or doing it out of some other selfish interest? Am I being the best version of myself in every aspect and area of my life? In all the relationships and situations life has presented to me? That’s my inner compass.

What does it mean to be the best?

The best mother, father, husband, wife, partner, sister, brother, friend, and stranger in the world I can possibly be – to the person I am ‘that’ person to? I think you can give yourself fully only when you know who you are. When at the end of the day you go to sleep with a smile, and you’re are perfectly content, without any regrets, even if you never wake up again.

When I know who I am, I can truly be the best version & expression of myself – in whatever area I choose to express myself – which is just an outcome of what I am. However, if I focus all my attention on the outcome itself, no matter what that goal is – chances are, it may end up being just another outcome – I can get stuck chasing dreams, not living my life.

The whole setup in your life, as it currently is – that is your best opportunity to excel in – be the best in the world in that. Be it in your current work situation or with people in your life – when the setup changes, which always does – simply continue doing & being the best you can. Like this, step by step, you start manifesting your true heart’s desires and outcomes – the highest potential you can reach in this lifetime will happen automatically.

Accept what is, make the best of what is, do your best, and you are the best. Unlike any living soul in this world – you won’t have the need to compare – you will radiate, you will know that, and so will everyone else who comes your way – physically or through the service you offer to others, to the world.

I guess it all boils down to what we call self-confidence. The more self-aware you are, the more confident you become – when self and confidence are in equilibrium – the more you perceive yourself as the best in what you do – by yourself and others. So, check how much of your attention goes towards self-awareness and how much towards trying to impress others.

How much do you crave, and need others’ recognition? That’s an excellent indicator to set you on the path toward focusing more on your self-awareness.

Yet nearly everything in this world is geared towards the opposite way – school recognition, work accomplishment, status in life, the uniformed way of measuring success, social media followers, the number of likes, leader boards. I have a bias here, because IMO the algorithms are lagging behind – it seems more that it’s a quantity vs quality-based approach that defines your success in this day and age. Yet, you may be miles ahead of the masses in what you do, yet it won’t be picked up or recognized. It may be that some people are here in this world to set a direction for the next generation who will truly understand the value of their work. So many great souls we appreciate today, who are considered geniuses were totally misunderstood during their lifetime. Sadly, many of them lived and died in disdain and poverty.

But no matter what their life circumstances were, they all had at least one person who believed in them besides themselves – they continued living their purpose in life – they couldn’t settle for anything else. Nikola Tesla, Edgar Allan Poe, Galileo Galilei, Emily Dickinson, Gregor Johann Mendel, Harriet Tubman, Henry David Thoreau, El Greco, Franz Kafka, John Keates, Oscar Wilde, and Vincent Van Gogh to name just a few – though I don’t wish anyone a life of struggle like theirs. These things are often hard to understand, I don’t have the whole picture, but perhaps suffering and all the struggle was part of their life’s purpose. For example, there would be no ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ written by Viktor Frankl, if it wasn’t for his unimaginable suffering he had to endure and survive.

I know that some people in this world are very much misunderstood and ahead of their time. And many of them do struggle; I suppose it’s all part of the evolution, the way it’s supposed to be – a sacrifice for the rest of us who are yet to realize their message, their wisdom, the beauty they share, their love for mankind – so we too may progress one day. At the end of the day, all of us walk the same path… each of us moving one step at a time – sometimes forwards, sideways, or even a step backwards.

You or I – neither of us were born knowing how to talk, write, walk, run, swim, dream, think. And here I am today – not because other people in life taught me what to think, how to be, how to talk or walk – but because I was encouraged to think, to walk, to be, to talk, to love. I was inspired to pull it all out from within. I learned all the HOWs on my own, I was motivated by the people around me – well, at least some of them, and that was enough to set me off towards where I am today. I’ve always found a conducive environment to be free, to explore, to express myself, to discover, to ask questions – all that lead towards strengthening my confidence, my inner string that connects me to the Self – to God.

Strengthen your connection to the self, and you will be more than okay. You will be the best version of yourself in this world and whatever you do will reflect that. And perhaps you already are, hence you smile. 😊

…and then we come together, to join our forces, to play, to smile, to create, to share our joys – the best of me, the best of you, the best of her, the best of him – the ripple effect reverberates like the waves in the ocean – all of us moving towards the same direction – one guiding force – same large swell that takes your breath away. Oh, what a joy to ride that wave!

Have an amazing day – riding your own chosen wave, again and again!

Brigi

Graceful Flow

Posted in Chapter 3, Poems, Year 20221 Comment
Goddess of gentle strength

Choose wisely, focus fiercely.
Persevere!
Do not give up your dreams.
Have patience.

Move gracefully
like a swan gliding across the moonlit lake:
radiant, with ease,
carried by the gentle breeze.

Become one with the flow.
Perform remarkably in your chosen show.

Where your intention goes,
the energy flows,
manifestation shows,
power, abundance, and love grow.

P.S.
Whatever success comes to you in life,
remember to be grateful,
stay humble,
and always share your blessings!

When Lie is a Virtue and Truth is a Sin

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Woman and a man, man wearing a mask, woman half mask.

Noble truth and dirty lies? OR Dirty truth and noble lies?

It is not about you telling the truth or uttering lies that reveals who you are.
It is your intention that carries the weight and determines your fate.  

What is the point of your wretched truth you intend to apply,
if your sole intention is to destroy someone’s life,
to squander them, to put them down,
out of rage, revenge, jealousy,  
selfish interest, or some other malice
that is brewing on your mind?

On the other hand, you tell the noble lie to save the lives of many.
With your kindest intention you tell me the lie that stops me from sinking in life.
Mother tells a sweet little lie to sooth her son to sleep.
Father conceals the truth so life does not appear so bleak.

What is your intention when you start playing your game?
Be wise, ask questions before it begins.  

Truth can surely be a sin and a lie can be a virtue.
Hence, it is the intention behind your action that reveals your direction.

When your intentions are pure and come from the heart, there’s nothing to hide, to worry about. From that moment on, love starts to flow.

Choose well, my dear ones, choose to be free! As free & fluid as you can possibly be! 🌊🤍🦋🙏

‘Truth can be a sin and a lie can be a virtue.’

Some people use truth to harm others – their only intention is to damage their so called ‘opponents’. The information they have can be used in a terrible manner – putting the person down, or in trouble, taking revenge. Would you call that a noble act of truth?

It’s the intention that decides the outcome. Hence, truth can be a sin and a lie can surely be a virtue.

Mothers lie to their children to get them to sleep, to persuade them to eat, to dress them, to make them move faster. Fathers sometimes lie to their sons or daughters to conceal how much they are struggling to provide for their family. The intention is out of pure love. To protect, to ensure they get enough sleep, to get properly nourished, to arrive to the rehearsal on time.  

Remember – lie itself is not a sin, it’s the intention that counts and decides the outcome.

Lying can sometimes be a necessary intervention to calm down the energies and achieve what is in one’s best interest. Sometimes you have to learn to trust the person who had to lie to you because you were not yet able to perceive or accept the truth. Revelation of truth had to happen gradually – with time.

Eventually truth had been delivered to you when you were able to accept it and receive it. Some people understand energies and consequences much better than others, hence trust is the paramount. Trust to the extent that goes beyond the notion of trusting the words of the person you trust. Trust in not merely trust – trust is a creative force. When you really trust, life starts unfolding accordingly.   

This is very different to intentional, deceitful lying, purely based on liar’s self-interest.

There’s a thin line that should not be crossed – it happens when lying occurs out of selfish, dirty, mean intention. Petty liars, corrupt politicians, social media deceivers, cheaters, manipulators who want to squeeze you for a dime, precious energy, and time.  

What about relationships? Have you ever been in a relationship when you started picking up subtle clues, and began noticing that you were being fooled – something in the back of your neck perked up, you picked up the vibration between the words that was not congruent with the story you were told. When you are attentive enough to observe, you learn how to read the body language, you can easily pick up the clues.

What options have you got if that happens – when you simply know. I can share with you three I know of.

First, you can smile and say to yourself, this too shall pass and ignore it, because it’s too petty for you to waste your energy on. If it continues, try to find a solution together – therapy, coaching, anything that would help. No matter what, you stay together and help each other get to the other side.   

Second option, you can roll your eyes, say to yourself – I’m not putting up with this again. It has happened too often, too much, we’ve discussed it already, it’s having an impact on our lives. The consequences are too detrimental to our relationship. Your partner could be an addictive, compulsive liar, who needs therapy and it’s too much for you to bear. You don’t want to stay; you can and you want to move on.  

Third case, often the most damaging is when confrontations happen in the heat of the moment. Arguments, defense, blaming, shaming, shouting, pushing, running away. I say, you better avoid that urge and wait for a more conducive moment, because in that particular moment in time you’ll be confronting the ‘liar’, which often represents a fragment of their personality, not the whole. That rarely ends well. Above all, don’t try to change the person, because you cannot.

What about lying to yourself about someone else not lying to you when all your senses tell you that they’re telling you blatant lies. I wouldn’t do that to myself – I don’t think it’s healthy on a long run. But that choice is entirely yours.

Animals don’t plan to lie, deceive, or cheat – if you have spent enough time in the company of dogs, horses, cats you probably noticed that. For example, our dog Daisy – she lies, but her lies are too cute – she pretends she hasn’t eaten so she could get more food even when we all know her tummy is full. Or, she starts barking to get my attention, trying to full me with her story that someone is at the door. All along she was only craving attention – how cute is that and how common to us human beings.
 
Have you ever heard the story about Koko the gorilla when she ripped the sink out of the wall? Koko knew how to use the sign language; when they asked her if she did it, Koko signed it was the cat, not her. 😊 (Source: Koko the gorilla best stories)  

Many of us like to impress upon people our best possible version of ourselves. As humans we need attention, acceptance, and love. When we lie, we get scared that others won’t forgive our lies and transgressions if they find out. We are afraid that we will look bad or lose their respect, their love. ‘Not trustworthy – no love.’ However, if you really love someone – you can see through their lies, recognize their intentions and you will notice if they were innocent and struggling with some deeply rooted issues from the past. In this case, try not to judge – instead, be fully present, so you can help.  

Just like you would with a child who was not able to tell you the truth because he/she was too afraid they’d get punished for breaking your costly, favorite vase – and that too, by mistake.

Some people learned to lie because it was the only way to survive in the harsh environment they grew up in. Later on, they built their lives and sense of security upon that particular behavior. Hence, they don’t know any better, they subconsciously became the servants of the ‘shadow called lie’.

Or, there’s another extreme where people simply don’t care, they became totally numb. Or, they choose to lie out of some compulsive habit that gives them a sense of authority and power. I bet there are endless reasons why people lie. That’s why it’s the intention behind the lie that counts and the main thing worth focusing on.

There are all sorts of people in this world, extremes and everything in between. There are people who represent honesty, stability, truthful, authentic, aware, noble hearts – and there are those who are crumbling, patched up, deceitful liars with crocked, and selfish intentions. The more one oscillates towards the latter end of the spectrum the more energy and time they have to spend to upkeep their lies, to fix things, patch it up, while having to continuously feed their lies hungry shadow. It has the power to corrupt their minds, consume them, turn them into a slave of an addiction. Good news is, that everything is reversible, but it does require hard & arduous work. The question is, how much energy, time, space have you got left in your life and do you really want to spend it all on fixing things? Be wise, chose well.

What about you?

Have you built any fragments of your personality that is based on crooked intentions, where you hide behind your lies, deceits, or manipulation? Try and identify which part – if there is such a part. Is it in your relationship to your partner, to parents, relatives, certain people or particular friends, to authority, colleagues, to yourself, with regards to your health, work, eating habits, when trying to impress others, etc.? Yes, you can be fooling yourself directly as well.

Looking in the past I had a strong urge to be accepted by people. I tried to impress upon – the more I tried to conform to various expectations and standards, the more I failed. I was oozing out the lack of authenticity, and above all I was deceiving myself about being something or someone I was not. Little did I know that I didn’t have to try, because I was special just the way I was. The same way as you are special & precious, just the way you are. They eyes can see, the ears can hear, the nose can smell, the tongue can taste, the skin can sense, but the heart – the heart simply knows.  

One thing you can take away in case you struggle with trust. You can trust anyone according to their level of consciousness at any given time. However, know that may change. Also know, that your assessment depends upon your level of consciousness and your creative force at any given time. Hence, know who you are, be and remain who you are, love yourself and you will never struggle knowing the other – the other – the most accurate mirror reflection of who you are in your life.   

I hope I was able to shed some light on this particular wide spread phenomenon from a slightly different angle. I certainly taught myself a lot, pondering about this topic while writing this ubiquitous piece.   

When your intentions are pure and come from the heart, there’s no need to hide, or worry about. It’s what matters in any relationship – the depth and the level of your authenticity and transparency. The place & space where you are love and not just a feeling, or recollection or memory of love.

Developing your ability to recognize the intention behind words is something you can bring to your attention. When it slips into your awareness it becomes a useful communication tool that provides valuable insights – just in case it’s time to clear the space with kind intervention and compassionate inquiry… 😊

…with love ❤️

Brigi

Seeking Attention and the Art of Deception

Posted in Chapter 3, Year 2022Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
The mask, face split in two.

Many of us were ‘encouraged’ to discover and engage in the act of most innocent deception of attracting much needed attention before we even became aware of what we were doing.

When you are a baby, you need attention, you need love, and recognition – you have the urge to know that you exist, that you’re real – which is all good, it’s part of an essential and healthy ego development. If the attention is not automatically given by our parents when we need it, for as long as we need it, we have no choice but to discover how to attract attention. That’s how we begin learning to manipulate energies and people around us. The story begins with a very special and simple kind of sound called ‘crying’.  

For example, if you did not receive the attention needed from your mother when you were an infant, you had to figure out how to get her attention and eventually you discovered that making noise, i.e., crying, ruffles the feathers and achieves the intention.

Surely, that can be very confusing for parents – there is crying and there is crying. One is real (pain, discomfort, hunger), the other is also real, but intentional – there’s a subtle nuance that reveals the truth and only mothers who are very much connected and in tune with their babes will know exactly which cry is which. But not all mothers have the privilege or that kind of awareness. (Please note, there is no judgement, blame, or shame intended. Thigs are the way they are and everything is a subject of change.) 

This is how manipulation became part of our identity, how it initially helped us attract attention and develop our personality. If you’re interested in this topic, tune into the interview about the importance of vegal theory and the co-regulation when mothering a child, which helps the child to learn about very important act of self-regulation. Knowing how to self-regulate gives a shared feeling of support and helps the child to develop the required neuroplasticity, i.e., the boldness, the strength required to courageously venture out to the world. (‘Trauma and the Nervous System’: Gabor Mate and Stephen Porges – see link below; Time stamp 33:30 – 36:05).

Nearly every mammalian child has 100% access to their mother for as long as they need her – apart from humans. Not that long ago – in hunter gathering societies – infants used to be attached to their mother for as long as they required their presence. Any other way seemed unnatural. Yet, when you look at our modern society, it is clear that infants and babies lack full access to their mother or father (mothering instinct occurs in both genders). Hence, most babies or children are literally ‘encouraged’ to find all sorts of ways of getting the much-needed attention.

Do they get it or not is a different story. Was it successful and fulfilling, or not? If unsuccessful, what kind of traumatic experiences did that leave in their psyche? What are the consequences?

It depends from one person to another, but the good news is, co-regulation happens in every stage of our life, hence we subconsciously seek intimate connection to other mammalians that help us self-regulate (well, that’s one of many reasons).  Co-regulation happens when we are intimately connected to another mammalian – be it our partner, friend, or a pet.    

Looking at the state of our society, the level of disconnect between people – many of us can not give up the need for attention, because it was never fully satisfied and we’re still trying to compensate for something that was never fulfilled. Hence, we crave and seek attention; we come up with all sorts of ways to attract other mammals – just like flowers attract insects to pollinate them and ensure their succession.

Think about the phenomena of social media – it seems to me, it was a natural consequence to develop a system that enables any kind of human interaction – however, I think it gives a false impression of receiving attention we deeply need. The number of likes and followers may boost our ego, but I’m not sure it satisfies what we truly seek. It’s important to be aware of it – else you can get lost – the path can easily lead you towards developing a new addiction.

We are human beings, we are fragile, yet incredibly resilient. We need attention, we need love, we need to be recognized for who we are. We also have a need to give attention, love, recognition to others. As long as you don’t build some fake identity of yourself, as long as you remain authentic, content with who you really are, you will be fine. Even if you end up having a million followers on your social media account or just a few. It’s all the same. Because you know yourself, and nothing, and no-one can ever change that.

Stay alert though. Be careful you don’t start bluffing, pretending to be something or someone you’re not, just because you think you will gain more traction and attention – you can slowly and surely get lost and drift away. That’s another well-known trap and the deeper you get into it, the harder it is to get out, which can turn into yet another level of misery. Here, I’m happy to share my mantra with you; you can trust me, it works: ‘Know yourself, be yourself, love yourself.’

Before I end, I invite you to try something out. Next time you receive attention, accept it with gratitude, don’t take it for granted – respond gracefully – pay it forward wholeheartedly! When someone talks to you, listen to them attentively, being fully present. This includes humans and mammals. Only with the attitude and intention that comes from your heart, can the much-needed healing of this deeply rooted, multigenerational issue, that humanity is currently facing, begin. Every intention counts.

I wish you all a beautiful and blessed day!

To Write or Not to Write

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Girls sitting at the table, in a gazebo, writing.

To write or not to write…
Is that a question? Is that even a choice?
When the only way to ease the traffic running through my head
and feelings flowing through my heart
is to take a pen and spill it all out, at once.
It feels too unnatural, stuck,
and sticky when my creative juices are unable to freely flow.

I think we are a bunch of odd ones in this world.
Perhaps we’re spilling it out for the sake of us all
by having this special vocation.
Each of us responds to our innermost calling.
It feels like mine is writing.
And so it is, even though it seems like
I need a break from time to time.

I take a deep breath in, only to breath it all out again.
Noticing my breath makes me feel at ease
and puts me in the place where I feel at peace.

Like rain to the arid earth,
inspiration guides my hands,
A wellspring I desire and need,
it feels magnificent when it flows with ease.

In the drought of life, I seek anew,
the hope, the patience, to pull through.
With willpower, I break the binds,
and get the flow back, time after time.

Each dry spell is a chance to start again,
To ignite the flame within my heart,
I trust in my will to lead the way,
to spark my muse, to let it sway,
and bring inspiration back to play.

The End

Posted in Chapter 2, Year 2022Tagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Woman, watching the horizon

Ever story that has a beginning has an end. It’s inevitable, no matter what.

Beginning and the end – they meet at the same point. Sounds crazy? That’s because it is.

Nothing really happens, apart from the stories happening in my mind. It doesn’t feel that way though. We get so invested in stories that we weave – physically, emotionally, mentally – that it feels real. It has to be, for the sake and for the existence of the illusion.

The more invested we are in the story, the more real it feels, the more real it is. The more infused, the more attached we are to the illusion.

Here’s an opportunity to check where you stand.
What are the areas that get you hooked the most?

Those are your weak spots that keep you away from going free, from being totally free.

It can be attachments, aversions, obsessions, beliefs, habits – anything from work, school, success, health, food, sex, family, children, music, art, relationships, money, fame, sports, spirituality, lifestyle, etc.

What is your drive? Where does your attention flow? Towards entanglement or dissolution? That is the key, because any of those areas above can either be a way out or a way deeper into the matrix.

All the areas are benign on its own. Innocent. It’s us who apply meaning to each area; we are the story writers. The weavers of our reality.

Is the story I have just written offering you a way out or is it locking you further in? It’s that simple.

Use this simple checkmark, every step of the way, with every activity you engage in, to help you understand if you are on your way in or out.

I like this thought, it offers hope – well, at least to me.

I can still have passion for things in life, but my attitude becomes different, my focus is no longer about getting all wrapped in. It’s about taking each opportunity as a lesson, to live and let live. To taste, to experience and to move on (i.e., to be). No stories, no attachments, no aversions. Just like breathing air – breathing in, breathing out, in and out.

The sun simply shines, it never gets involved in any stories. Our minds do. Love is – light as a feather – yet we tend to make it all heavy, complicated. River flows and somehow we like to mess it all up, butt in, interfere with the flow, muddle the waters.

The flowers bloom, the birds sing, the honey tastes sweet. They all are & do what they are meant to be & do. Just like you & me could – and still can. You get the picture?

Life is is an abundant representation of pure energy flow and look what all we’ve managed to achieve.

We reduced it to daily problems, lies, manipulations, dramas, struggles, events of joy or sadness and we marinate there with our presence, fully engrossed – sucked in. We easily forget what life is all about.

Our stories become more relevant than what is – we become most important, so that the illusion can live on. The illusion wins.

The beginning becomes the end.

Try – sometimes – try to let go. See where it takes you… the pure flow.

Om

“All that is gold does not glitter; 
not all those who wander are lost; 
the old that is strong does not wither; 
deep roots are not reached by the frost..” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien

Time is Now

Posted in Chapter 2, Year 20224 Comments
Sundial, park, fountain, sun

Time is now!

Time is always here and now.

The question is,
where are you now?

Are you now?
How much are you now?

Knowing, being, and loving—
the three pillars that lead towards eternal bliss.
Knowing who you are,
Being who you are,
Loving who you are—
the whole of the existence.

How confidently do you know to be yourself? If fragmented – how fragmented? Are you easily taken over by passing thoughts? By changeable emotions? Are you often getting stuck somewhere, marinating, regurgitating, reminiscing?

It’s ok to be wherever you are, as long as you remain aware- watching, being as impartial as you can, seeing what is going on, without reacting, no clinging, aversion, or remorse.
Then, merging back as one whole unity, with more awareness. You disperse your thoughts consciously – only to fuse them back again. You return to your core self.

On the other hand…

When unaware, taken by the whim – unpredictability becomes a poor man’s excuse. A poor man’s choice.

It occurs when you are unable to hold yourself accountable for your actions, and instead, you sink into your unreliable, whimsical reactions.

It simply means you do not know how to hold yourself well and you do not hold yourself long enough to know.

A bitter pill to swallow for the parts of us that like to brag about being unpredictable.
It all comes down to our own instability; lacking balance within ourselves. It’s a useful indicator, part and parcel of our individual progress. As we journey on, strengthening our awareness muscles, our personality is becoming more and more integrated with our true self – the expression of our soul.

Knowing ourselves, no matter what, how long, or where, or who we’re with, is the paramount of a solid backbone. So you don’t get swayed away.

You know the song: “Che sara, sara, whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see, che sara, sara.”
I used to sing that as a child – quite often. Today I know that’s not the tune I want to hum and the attitude I choose to aspire to. On the contrary, I know it’s an attitude that leads to an unsettled, fickle mind.

Knowing, being & loving – they are the three pillars that lead towards eternal bliss.
Knowing who you are,
Being who you are,
Loving who you are and the whole of the existence.

God is Love and Love is God. So are you, and so am I.
Every time I get inspired to write, the purpose is always to bring me closer to where I belong.
Home.

Yeah, I like today’s message. It clarifies my mind like the fire clarifies the butter into most delicious irresistible ghee! I’m very grateful for this precious gift.

In the Midst of the Night

Posted in Chapter 2, Poems, Year 2022Leave a comment
Mermaid, ship and a dragon in the ocean

There are moments in life when we get stuck,
feeling stranded, depressed, emotionally distressed
with no sight of the Rock to wash upon.

There are moments when we get lost
among the sand dunes
as the scorching sun blazes from the sky.
It’s a no man’s land
with eternally burning sand
that sucks life out,
leaving it high and dry.

There’s no sight of oasis
in those bleak moments of seeking truth,
while praying to this God or that Goddess,
with drama stuck in our heads and bodies.

A different aspect of reality,
Buddhists calls it Dukkha.
Many call it misery, sorrow, or suffering.

It’s the place most people fear to face.
We’d rather ignore it or avoid it.
We tune out by choosing
Netflix, ice cream, or a bottle of wine to feel numb—
roll a joint, force ourselves to sleep with a tranquillizer of some kind,
succumb to temptation,
or conjure up a new type of distraction.

Sometimes, it’s ok when it’s too much to tackle all of a sudden,
Yet, there comes a time
when we have no choice but to confront our own face.

Dark moments come – it’s ok.
Let them come.
Let them sway you away,
pull you into darkness.
Let go, slide down, hit the rock bottom.

Feel it, breath it, become it,
let it rip you apart, shred you to pieces,
devour you, until nothing is left.
Until nothing is left of your frightened self.

So, let go, stop resisting, go with that flow.
Look into your black hole – what do you see?

What do you feel?
What are you avoiding,
not willing to see?
Is it the change you’re resisting,
pushing yourself further away?

What would it take to face your own fears,
your demons, your shadows, your hungry monsters?
Simply, by being fully present,
standing on your own?

How about this time, you choose to dive into darkness
without the slightest idea when you will see the light of another day.
Deep into the rabbit hole, willingly choosing to leap in,
to dive deep.

Going to places where the world appears bleak, desolate, cold and hostile,
you stop and wonder: “What have I done to deserve all this—
the agony, complete absence of peace and sanity?“

“Deep into the blue, I choose to dive
as I watch the mermaids swimming by my side,
luring me deeper into the deepest,
darkness of the deep blue.

A place of no return?
I sense death,
I welcome the end,
I fear not,
I don’t mind.
It’s simple to bow down and bend.”

Fool yourself not
by falling for the ingenious plots of your pitiful mind.
Forget not!
There is no end, no death, no escape,
not this sort of “cutting it short”.
Fool yourself not, I dare say.
Snap out, stay with me, do not drift away!

Eyesight splinters
as I receive the insight:
“When you blindly follow your desires,
thinking there are no consequences to your thoughts,
your words, your actions – think twice.
In that very moment,
you have already began charting the course of your next direction.”

To balance the equation and for the universe to maintain in perfect harmony,
everything—every thought, word, or action—has a counter-reflection,
if you want it or not. 
That is not a choice or a question open for discussion.
You reap what you sow.
There is no escape from this perfect mathematical equation.

However, there is a shortcut called vairagya1.
It requires active renunciation.
It means no more chasing after or creating new desires.
It demands arduous discipline,
your fullest attention,
and living according to the principles of yoga,
abstinence, service to others.
There’s no room for projections or reactions.
You are no longer the center of rotation.
More and more, you focus on the world around you
through the eyes of the Creator, Brahma, God, the Force.

Your daily life goes on unaffected.
Your thoughts, habits, behaviors, attitudes – they change.
The real transformation happens from within.
There’s no way to fake it.

There’s no need to feed your ego anymore.
Having to feel good about yourself is gone.
Continuously seeking recognition for your deeds, your acts,
having to make a “difference” in this world – that game is over.

I let what comes come, I let what goes go, I observe what remains.
I am who I am. Thank you, baba Ramana.

“Gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā”
Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone all together beyond, oh what an awakening. All hail!

You are nothing, no thing anymore.
You give yourself up to the force that sustains You
and every other living form.
You are no more.
You are no less.
You are NOT in the form of God,
God IS in the form of YOU.

Contemplate upon this thought.
Find out where you are on your path.
Realize your own truth.

I’m ready to walk.
May the new leg of this journey begin.

Om Namo Guru Dev Namo 
(I bow to the infinite teacher within
and open myself to the infinite source of wisdom
and creativity within me)


1. Vairāgya (वैराग्य): a Sanskrit term used in Hindu as well as Jain philosophy that translates as non-attachment, desirelessness, dispassion, without attraction or aversion.

Life is Your Oyster

Posted in Chapter 2, Poems, Year 2022Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
Sundial

Your life is your oyster,
so live fully
and love wholeheartedly.
Respect all life forms,
even the pesky army of ants invading your sink,
including the blood-thirsty bugs that prick
through your precious skin. 
 
Trust life – there are no mistakes.
Be grateful for all you have and don’t have now or quite yet.
Share your blessings.
Learn to generously give and graciously receive,
whatever it may be.

Swim through your life gracefully;
There’s no need to resist the flow.
Give yourself in, so you can glide effortlessly.
You know that you can,
You know that you will!

Be kind to yourself, to others.
Strive to do the best you can.

Work it out before you act it out. 
Work it thoroughly out.
Let go of the old habits you no longer need.
You have the power to alter and script your old story.
Where there’s wisdom, courage and will, there’s always a way.

Work ardently, patiently, and persistently!
You are bound to succeed.

Find your own pace, your sacred space,
and your inner peace.
Know yourself so you can trust yourself.

At all times, recognize what tingles your heart,
what kindles your flame,
what gives you joy, the spark in your eyes.

Use your time well,
and may your life be an incredible journey
to always be proud of, to behold!
Make sure you never feel remorse.

Before my eve comes to an end,
I say thank you,
I bid you farewell,
I send you my love with a smile,
with hope for another glorious day.
May it be blessed. 

The Sum of Its Parts

Posted in Devotional, Poems, Year 2022Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Sunflower field and butterflies

I wonder,
how on Earth did it all come together?
How did it all start?
Was it the monkeys,
God?
The aliens from outer space?

Somehow it all worked out,
and here I am
and here you are,
marveling over our own perfect imperfections.
Combined elements of earth, fire, water, metal, wood, air…  
All of them are part of who we came to be.

363.000 nerves vibrating in synchronicity,
wired brains,
the all-combining flesh,
the pump that never stops called Heart,
the veins circulating vital sanguine fluid,
limbs that feed us, carry us around,
solid bones and joints that hold us all together,
flexi-muscle tissues giving strength,
all the inner organs serving every night and day…

Seemingly simple yet profoundly complex,
this reality of each and every one of us,
irrespective of our age, religion,
gender, color of our skin, affinity,
belief system, level of awareness.


The sum of all its parts.

The sum of its parts is always greater
than the parts when taken separately.
Every part is tuning in and out.
A harmony of elements,
more enchanting than their parts.
The universal symphony,
greater than its notes,
reverberating in timeless harmony.

The almighty mind,
the brilliant thinking brainpower,
the tool of creation, destruction, completion,

acceptance, rejection, separation, reflection, perception,
causing our heart’s palpitation, expansion, contraction.
Both forming and abandoning beliefs,
the web of countless thoughts,
continuously shaping or dissolving habits.
The bank of memories that come and go.
The sum of all its parts.

Desire to separate, dissect, analyze, prognosticate.
Failing to recognize the “I” relationship,
the wonderful amalgamation melting everything together.
All the parts of my body, the milliards of micro-beings that inhabit my abode,
the heartbeat and my motion,
my breath and my commotion.
Plentiful ways I am able to perceive,
to process information, to seek confirmation.

Your voice that makes me tingle,
your love that stokes my fire,
your touch I so desire.
The joy we share, innate.
The power to invoke.
Connections that our bodies make,
allowing to impress, express, rejoice, create.
The joy of subatomic particles when we accept.
Essentials are invisible to eyes.
What matters, always resonates in hearts.
The sum of all its parts.

The mother and the child,
one giving life to the other,
continuously forming matter.
Nature, striving to do better
for the sake of evolution.
The sum of its parts is its contribution.

The glue between the forming parts,
the ubiquitous love.
There would be none of what we are,
what we have,
what we think, or appear to be,
if it wasn’t for the Mother’s love,
holding, binding, keeping everything together.
The intricate fabric of life.
Not a single bacterium would thrive without the mother’s heart.
Billions of unions between the soul and matter,
one rotating planet full of life,
no matter what the weather.
Velocity of energy buzzing around the clock,
hearts beating,
lungs grasping for precious air,
ears listening to Your eternal song—
sharing, caring for each other,
for every form that life on Earth assumes.

Tears of gratitude that I can be alive,
to have a heart to feel,
to reciprocate your love, to heal.
The sum of its parts and the magnitude that puts me in awe.
The force that binds us all together,
one mighty soul,
split into billions of different forms,
every single one complete perfection, reflection of the whole.

I breathe in, I exhale, I smile, I feel complete.
Thank you, life, for this experience,
for the opportunity to have the choice.

Holding
one tiny grain of sand
in the palm of my hand,
I have it all.

I look at one single wild flower,
and I see all the beauty there is to see in the world.

It may take ages to get there,
yet it only takes one moment in time to realize eternity.

It only takes a heartbeat to understand creation,
to know what God is all about.

For a moment,
I invite you,
to forget the everyday ways of the world 
and recognize that you are beyond duality.
You, awakened one who cannot see the truth of externality
through the distorted lens of separation caused by fallacy—
the one who dwells beyond plurality,
firmly rooted in unbreakable, unshakable, unified reality.

Realize that equanimous is godliness.
When you take no sides,
you cannot be conquered or divided.

No form, no time, no space
can ever take away,
the cognition of who I am. I am the sum of all its parts.

YOU ARE, therefore I AM.