The Immediacy of Belonging

you see it's already happening, the immediacy of belonging without a conscious wish otherwise on our part. There's no effort of acceptance, if it appears, it belongs, if only for the moment of its witness. This is where peace is truly found, not in faith of a better time to follow, but in knowing that right now is all we have at our disposal, and any action taken is not solely for the sake of change but is the directive of what this moment alone calls for us to do. This is the Tao of non-doing, present moment awareness without the baggage of a mindful escape as a passive observer. We know that everything present is allowed and accepted simply by virtue of its appearance - this includes our desire for things to be completely other than what's found right now. All this simply happens, it's an agreement of our openness, just as space is intimate with every object it surrounds, we too offer ourselves as a holding capacity to serve all that appears - no matter what that may one day prove to be. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

A Bhakti For This Moment Alone

a Bhakti for this moment alone, devoted only to the allowance of this, this, and always this - no matter what the moment holds. It's not a yogic path, indeed, it's not a path at all - we are already exactly where awakening occurs, right now, with the opportunity of simply acknowledging ourselves as existing, and more existing and aware of ourselves as life in full and constant happening. Our devotion is deep, regardless of what appears, yet open to the moment when all we cherish passes, and again given to whatever new appearance may arise. In this light, we view devotion as just our own natural openness, a nod to our capacity as aware. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

Until Another Moment's Offered

even my best assumptions are just stories made to fit the moment, an agreement with myself to better understand the shifting moods of reality. But more often now I find there's little need to seek a buffer from the wilds of what's truly offered - reality is always beautiful and often terrifying, an exposure so deep there's nothing left past the bone of our last denial. The beauty is what remains after we've been stripped to this point. So what is it that remains? When every assumption and story is allowed to fall away completely on its own - what will we be left with? I can't really say, or perhaps better to simply allude that what it is, is already being expressed right now. This is it, and for me it's the feel of each key in a smooth greeting to my fingers, it's a quick type as words come without a hint of the mystery they may hold, and it's the smile of having this moment come to a creative point that I find pleasing. In another moment, it will be something else, new, one more unfolding mystery in a different motion of expression. It may again hold stories and assumptions, for these too belong in the case of their arrival. Nothing is denied, there's no need to shove aside what is experienced now for the sake of a better story - this is it. It's all we have. At least until another moment's offered. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

The Only Inspiration Needed

this moment is my only inspiration - to draw breath from the same air that's touched stars, then an understanding that life is shared through its release. I should ask for nothing more than this - yet still so much more is given. That I am aware, conscious of breath, mindful that to even be alive at all is gifted and need not have happened - truly I am inspired. To see this, and to know too that this existence is inclusive, that I am life itself in unique expression of the whole, this than, is the only inspiration needed. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

The Mystery of A Single Blade of Grass

it's not that a blade of grass parts air in its becoming - there is no line to distinguish it from sky, no point of separation, just one thing expressed in the various guises of the world. The full mystery of life is displayed through this single blade, an existence touched by the vast expanse of two seemingly other worlds, surrounded by the likeness of a field so green similar nature, yet still a vibrant, singular expression of this whole. It's all beyond my understanding - but somehow I come to a sense of belonging in my observation, a knowing that I'm part of this expression as well, a display of my own unique potential, yet always, fully, just part of the mystery of it all. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

Why Forgiveness?

Why forgiveness? And to even ask this question implies that we may have come to a choice in this matter. Yet to m it seems beyond this - not a choice at all but a natural occurrence, an immediate acceptance of what is now, and then the unasked for grace of letting go. None of this involves my own doing, it all happens entirely on its own - and all that's waited on is is just my recognition that this is so. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

A Performance of The Whole

it's amazing to think of the innate wisdom of the body alone, functioning independent of our concern, an infinite amount of details, interactions, and processes to keep us in this world. None of which depends on our recognition to perform. From this point too we move to larger functions, how we belong to a world that's fitting for life to be, the perfection of air meeting us in the drawing of a breath, sun against flesh, and every star arranged just so. This is all a mystery - and any speculation fails in its attempt to bring an answer to the mind. It all simply is - and perfectly so, no effort needed for life to be. In this light, perhaps we find that from our own functioning role of self there is no line drawn to separate us from the world at large, just a continuous order of life operating through its own wisdom, a performance of the whole. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

A Peaceful, Truly Grateful, Moment of Existence

a life of gratitude - and not only for what is given, nor obstacles removed from path, but more so for life itself, that I am present, aware, and exist at all. To consider that none of this has to be, the extreme odds against my mere occurrence, and how fragile and brief each moment that we're given. Indeed I am grateful for this world. It's in this view that I find such beauty in daily routines that suddenly reveal themselves as a path to awakening. This moment alone, no matter what it offers, is my clarion call to see, to feel, and always allow, exactly what is present. To refuse the escape hatch of a wishful otherwise, and simply, be myself without excuse or demand for a single difference - is to find a peaceful, truly grateful moment of existence. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

Always One Thing All Along

not removed from the dance at all - there is no transcendence of note to a songs becoming, and even the silence space of listening belongs within the whole. This is the song we dance to. I find myself now in observation of leaves dancing through the wind, swept from trees and gliding upwards from the ground to catch one more moment in the breeze. It's all motion. Here, I witness a  dance of inclusion, from unseen wind, aimlessness of leaves, and my own participation of simply aware. All without choice or direct motivation, nothing but air offering space for life full expression. How lucky am I to be this dance? Even now, hours later as I write these words, sheltered from the touch of wind - it's still just one thing dancing, a guise of traded partners, but always one thing all along. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

Our One And Final Resting Place

and this, whatever is now present - is our one and final resting place. It's here, with every detail found and nothing more excluded, that we come to a natural relief, nothing to attain or further give away. Everything belongs. To rest here, this very moment, is to simply recognize this great completion, that nothing ever has been left out and life has always perfectly flowed through every means and channels. This too includes those moments of despair, sorrow, and then elation. It's all life in constant happening. To know this - is to find rest. It's the end of wishing for a forever, final, point of glory. We are here, now, and nothing more can be added. It's the moment we recognize our completion. 

~

Peace,

Eric  

Only, Once, And Gone

it's this moment only, once and gone, and our world is held in its completion. This, than, provides a span of birth, to death, and again a new becoming. Here, I cease as past appearance and give myself to this life now, yet briefly, for even as I note this time it slips in continuous fashion for something else to be. Another moment, rebirth, a full life lived within an instant. I could fill this lifetime with a story, carry a karmic burden moment to every following moment - or simply accept that right now is complete entirely on its own. Even the story belongs within the flow, and perhaps will reach its own conclusion in the time that its been give. This moment, I am awake to what is, with no concern beyond the death of now. What's reborn - happens always on its own. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

In This Moment - I am Soul

perhaps our true and only soul is found present to the moment, not lasting past this singular point of expression, life simply gathered to what seems our containment of thought and form. In this case we would be continuously reborn, a process of becoming and never repeated, a soul for each moment noticed. This is not my claim, I'm privy to no knowledge other than my experience of right now, and even this is a shifting collage what's given. This is only a speculation of thoughts appearing, a quiet time before an empty page, and a wish to be creative. In this moment there is so much beauty, life affirming itself through my senses, a gentle urge to open myself in complete recognition that I belong fully to all that is right now, in this moment - I am soul. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

Because This Always Is

because this always is - at no point are we never not receptive, fully open to life at play through our existence. To be awake, is to simply be aware that we too are a dynamic aspect of this stream of doing, motion with a temporary identity of self, glimpsing our place amidst the whole. Yet often as well we lose this view, forgetting largeness in focus of the small and details of this daily flow. But we are never removed, and it all continues through every moment we're aware and every instant it's all forgotten. Because this, life in constant happening - always is. 

Peace,

Eric 

A Shared Existence of Which To Be Aware

to exist - truthfully my only conclusion, this gathering of thought and seeming form, lingering to what amounts to be a lifetime. I exist. Nothing more can be claimed that isn't speculation on things outside this moment. Yet I find that the mystery of me being here at all, aware, and knowing the sheer impossibility of every detail that occurred to bring me to this moment - this than is my awakening. I know nothing of what comes after, no wisdom of cosmic proportions, no insights given on important life matters. Just this, that I exist, and that somehow I am aware of my existence. I see too that this is not a solitary occasion - life is shared, it's not my existence alone but life in singular distinctions, arising in some spontaneous fashion, it's all just a mystery of appearance. It's one thing, a shared existence of which to be aware. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

The Unearned Grace of Being

being - and nothing more than 

this at all. 

It really really is that simple, life without an agenda other than to be expressed in full vibrancy, my own participation belonging completely of the whole. This is all without effort, yet dynamic in it's motion. For me, this does not discount any aspect of life, being is inclusive to all that life offers and this may bring a struggle for certain benchmarks of achievement, or perhaps suffering through a length of true depression. But in no way does this affect being itself, life continuing to thrive in the exact point of my lowest time. I don't sit in judgement of how life will be expressed, allowing myself preference, yet knowing too that all will change through the course of time, and that I am no exception to this rule. This comes to what is meant by being, that I am a verb, continuous in interaction with every other aspect of life, yet singular in my own unique reference. At no point do I break from the whole, never separate from that full vibrancy of life. I always belong - and this, the unearned grace of simply being. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

To Simply Notice

to simply notice - unattached to what appears, lingers, and then to pass. This too includes that which is cherished, or what is wished to leave much sooner. It all belongs. We have no role in any of this, life offering itself wholly as it is, an entanglement of possibilities played out entirely beyond control. To notice, marking an event or object as an occurrence of aware curiosity, a seamless happening that holds us in direct participation - this is our moments meditation, and effortlessly, it happens completely on its own. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

The Path Too Is Seamless

the path too is seamless, a desire line traced to the very ground we search for, no turn set apart from the earth of its allowing. So it's true as well with our own seeking, our wish to know a higher truth, to awaken and find that we are enlightened. Our path is always, simply, now - at no point are we removed from the only moment of our awakening. We are on a seamless journey, wandering the same holy grounds we search for, each step the immediacy of our arrival. There is no issue with the path or the journey, and the traveler too belongs exactly where they're found. We only need remember  - there is no place, no path, that is not on holy ground. 

And every step is our awakening. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

A More Restive Inquiry

it comes to be a more restive inquiry, without need, nor want of answers - we simply behold the present moment, aware, and give ourselves the unadorned pleasure of allowing it all to be, exactly and only as it is. Nothing is excluded, indeed we are an open invitation for life in its every conceivable way to meet us again, and again in all its varied forms and guises. Our inquiry is allowing, exploring our own capacity to hold all that life offers. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

And Now Another Moment

and not to mention that we are inseparable from the content of awareness - to trace any object through our line of sight directly back to where this view begins, is to find a seamless flow from form, to formless aware. There's no break to distinguish that one becomes another, at no point is a line drawn to imply a separation of two. It's one existence in the appearance of all things, life simply enjoying its own spontaneous nature of being space and object at once. Of course this is my own inquiry, finding myself shared as capacity for things to be. It's no conclusion to anything other than this moment of seeing. 

And now another moment comes to be....

~

Peace,

Eric 

An Alchemical Problem

without need to make this other - as if this present moment is an alchemical problem in need of a solution, transferring the lead of ordinary suffering into a life of seeming gold. Nothing ever has to be other than what is found right now, indeed, it won't be, can't be, until another moment unfolds to something new. We don't have to like what any moment may hold, yet even our wish for a golden life belongs, and is immediately accepted as what is. But this, exactly, and only this - is present moment reality. Opening ourselves fully to this great allowing is the real alchemy of existence. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

And Then Just Write

it's seldom that I encounter writer's block or feel there's an obstacle in the creative flow of writing. The easiest explanation is that there's nothing that can truly prevent inspiration from reaching it's destination - which in my case is this blog. Even this view isn't entirely correct, inspiration isn't an thing that actually arrives or leaves, it's not a one on event gifted to a select few on a specific moment. No, inspiration is simply life, held in awe for it's continued unfolding of itself in every guise imaginable. It's right now, the sudden appearance of these words from the complete nothing of what previously what thought before. Mystery is always present, giving, and my role is to only be open for a moment of clarity, receiving what is ever here, now. 

And then just write. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

Beauty in Return

we are receptive - in all ways and always, and more so, this is the entirety of our experience of being. At no point is our argument with reality valid, everything is received in equal measure, and this too includes our counter demand to what is present and our wish for things to somehow be other. In this same light - beauty is created by this continuous receiving. We are the alchemic center point of existence, receptive to all offers and matching each with our ability to continue being, to carry the load of a weighted world and somehow still manage one more step, and one more again after. Our one and true nature is simply receiving - and what we give is beauty in return, 

~

Peace,

Eric 

For Just Moments Notice

from first we are given as motion - a seamless, ceaseless, note of being through life's currents. As through every body of water, there is no ripple separate from the whole, no wave apart from the ocean. Simply continuous movement, thoughts fluctuating, flickering for a moments sense of purpose and again passing on to be replaced by another new meaning. Nothing is static, changeless, everything a complete letting go through each and every instant. In this light - what we are is always a temporary identity in existence, gathered for just a moments notice. 

~

Peace,

Eric

To Regain Our Sense Of Motion

it's a never ending inquiry, not to find or determine a final truth of self - but to simply regain our sense of motion, exploring a moment to moment flow of events that require our direct participation by virtue of a shared appearance. Each moment is unique and never again to come our way - to this we give a deep nod of appreciation, inquiring only at the wonder of it all. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

And Seamless Still

and the view is always seamless, distinctions given from the whole, no lines drawn between objects and the space of their surrounding. To this, my sight is simply turned towards its origin, and seamless too I find that emptiness arises, my absence from the view, yet more, and seamless still - now life is found in full belonging. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

On Taking Credit For

of course I'd love to take credit for it, for this success of life, and even for failures and the lessons learned. Yet, mostly what I find is a clear, spontaneous arising of events, my own participation simply being a management of occurrence, perhaps given artistic license through arrangement. Certainly there has always been the appearance of consequence of actions taken - yet in the intricate dynamics of events, seen and unseen, near and far, what role do I truly play in their outcome? Traditionally, we demand our charge as the final say in how life plays. For me, I find this voice shallow, with no authority beyond a shout in empty chambers. Only echoes fading. So it seems that choice is apparent - but real power is not found in appearance, it's not a wish, manifestation of desires. It's simply life, the full allowance of all dynamics in their creative play. This is far too much for one person to demand credit for - most especially as I too, am found amidst this play. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

Never Once Removed

not removed - and so this reverence comes to the inclusion of myself as well. I too am a intricate, essential aspect of the whole. Life is always, only, just one thing, seamlessly expressed as wind and rain, sunlight dappled on the ground - and then found too as my own participation through it all. This is life - and never once are we removed. 

~

Peace,

Eric 

From My Dearest Friend

what to do when there is no self found to harm, no one to condemn, nothing to confront in this alone understanding? Perhaps we could call this "non-dual" depression - or better still, simply allow it to arise without labels, without need to manipulate it to a different state of mind. There is no making light of this - some moments seem to overwhelm me, darkness applies itself through better parts of my days. Not always - but sometimes. I've found ways to cope, navigating this weight to bring on better days. I have also blamed myself when I couldn't bring around a lighter shade of mood. Here's the thing - I have no wisdom to apply in this situation, no truth to give myself to balm a deep set wound, there's no meditation or inquiry to relieve this. But there is the tenderness found within this very moment, a willingness to let things be, broken as is, without a quick fix offered. What I have found is that all this, wounds and all - belong to each moment of their appearance. They arise and stay at their own convenience, no say for my concern, or even well being. I can let them be, or acknowledge their appearance with the same care, the same love and understanding that I might offer to another. I can be my own dearest friend. Sometimes the best we can offer to another is just space to tend their deepest wounds. This is what I am - an offered space, allowing wounds to be. I know this space is given from my dearest friend. 

Peace,

Eric 

Original Belongs (Nature Heals)

it's that we bring less of ourselves to nature, an emptying of what's false in our beliefs of what we are, and return to our original sense of true belonging. Nature heals only in the sense that we feel removed from the intent of life thriving as itself - and once we step clear in our return, we are once more matched in this purpose, we again recognize ourselves as life in motive of simply living. This is the healing we need and deeply wish for - to belong, fully, to this original belonging. 

*written after a long day in the deep woods. 

Peace,

Eric 

Our Freedom

and here's the thing - it's not freedom from anything, we're not removed from any thought, nor dark emotion. We are free, this one very moment, for all of this, and more, to simply be. There is no need to manipulate our inner circumstances to be other than this perfect state of allowing, an innate acceptance of how things are, right now, with wisdom guided to any sense of action to be taken. This is not an earned grace, but simply the natural expression of life, without our concern for things to be other than they are, the wisdom of knowing that they really can't be other, until the very moment that they are. 

Peace,

Eric