Humble

Humble: 

really, we should find ourselves humble, and most especially so as artist of any kind - it's though these creative expressions that it's seen so clearly that we are not solely responsible for words or  the brushstrokes of inspiration, that a greater hand than ours guides us to these ideas. An artist is fortunate to be able to lay claim to their creations, and yet deep within we know that they are not ours alone, that every aspect of our work has been gifted in someway. Of course this doesn't dismiss the hard work that takes place, nor the dedication that's required. An artist deserves their praise and admiration. But the talent isn't ours, it's innate within body and soul, a creative mind and the desire to use it for the pursuit of higher inspiration isn't really a choice that's made, it's simply what an artist was born to do. 

we should be humble by the faith these gifts display.

and honestly in this way, we're all artist of a kind, gifted by ideas and inspirations that guide us through our lives. The only real difference between any of us is in how deeply we've come to listen to that inner voice that steers us towards our highest creative ideals. For me, it's not really a choice of discipline, but more a path of joy, I'm happiest at my desk, keyboard right before me, earliest moments of the morning and my coffee at hand. I know that words will soon arrive and it's just a matter of making myself ready, to be prepared for words and making it easy them to find me each morning. I am here, a writer, a willing instrument to be used by inspiration. I'm humbled by the part I have throughout the entirety of this process, realizing that so much of my time is simply meant for waiting, listening to the silence through which words find their way to me, patiently, and yes, joyfully. This process is in play right now, at this  very moment, with words making their way to me, and I arrange them on the page, properly, and with great with care and honor, humble as I do so. 

it's all such a gift, quite literally so, none of this is my own doing, it's just what I was called to do and for some reason, a mystery really, my soul responded. I easily find myself humble, knowing that I'm simply part of such a larger process here, and yet still I get to sign my name beneath the prose. None of these words are really mine, every single one was gifted to me, rewarded through my patience, appearing from some larger source of inspiration. I have no idea how any of this works, but I continue to show up each morning, joyful, humble...

ready to receive words.

they know exactly where to find me. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Writing Finds Me Here

Writing finds me here: 

writing finds me here, present to the beginning emptiness of the page along with my desire to participate in its fulfillment of words and meaning, perhaps even a few lines of striking beauty, or a particular thought that offers some keen insight. I never really know what's to be written, not even as the words begin to flow, writing remains a mystery until the very end and the page is filled. It's similar to meditation in a way, surrendering any sense of control for something larger to be involved, a greater creativity than my own that stems from a vast inner-world of silence. This is where words arrive from, not from a thinking mind, full of plans and with a set agenda -no, words come from silence, from the truest sense of inspiration, strictly from the spirit world and then gifted to the page. 

writing find me here, in the mystery of it all. 

grateful to receive this gift of words. 

really, it doesn't matter what I write of, I'm always happy just to be within the process itself, involved, thick in the midst of inspiration. The less I control is always better, I've learned to be patient, my eagerness restrained by hard gained wisdom. Writing always happens on its own, or at least that's how words first appear, not through my effort, but only by surrender, letting go of any belief that I have some control. I am only here to arrange the words once they've been given, providing some structure to their flow. It's the easiest job of all, and it's always with a self-knowing smile that take credit for the words. 

writing finds me here, already surrendered...

ready for the gift of words. 

~

Peace, Eric 

We Introduce the Mantra

We introduce the mantra: 

we introduce the mantra gently and easily, not to disturb the present flow of thought, but only to allow another option, a vibration for the mind to naturally find attractive and listen to for a certain length of time. The mantra itself is just a thought, a faint impression that passes on to a silent place beyond the point of thinking, where stillness permanently resides and allows for every thought's passage. In this way we we don't seek to end the mind's natural process, nor undermine it's natural role of thinking - mantra meditation is simply an ever easy method of allowing the mind to return to its preferred silence completely on its own, not using the mantra against the flow of thoughts, only giving a moment of our attention to a vibration that works in silence's favor. 

it's that easy, truly so. 

we introduce the mantra gently to the mind, not chanting, no endless repetition of a magical word - it's all about a vibration, a sound without any given meaning and how it echos through the mind. It's not wielded as a weapon against another thought, it's not meant be used as a replacement for thoughts we find disturbing or that hold our fascination. Meditation is a natural affair, thoughts are not off limit, nothing is forced or even altered by our effort. We introduce the mantra to our mind, always gently, never as anything more than a faint impression, and we place our faith to its currency, the value of its vibration, and how it carries us to silence without any great effort of our own. 

and that's how we meditate.

of course this is just one means of meditation, mantra based, Vedic in origin, ancient. It's worked through the ages for the purpose of a peaceful mind, not transcending thought, nor as a tool for awakening to another state of being, but to simply and only be at home exactly where we are right now. Our peace is ever present, natural, and found here, no effort needed for its return. We introduce the mantra for the pleasure of its vibration, the quality of its silent nature, and for the ease of simply listening as it echos through the mind. 

and with this...

we find ourselves in stillness. 

~

Peace, Eric 

How Writing Sometimes Happens

How writing sometimes happens: 

it's rare that I have nothing to write of, no idea formulating at the back of my mind that readies itself as I reach the keyboards and begin my morning ritual of writing. But it does occasionally happen and I've found myself being okay with this now, more so, seeing it as an opportunity for patience, for being still, and to truly listen to the silence that precedes my every inspiration. It's really just another form of meditation, replacing mantra with sips of coffee and false starts of words that only wish to play against the page without any real sense of commitment, appearing in clusters, yet never following through to any larger theme at all. I'm fine with this, it's how writing sometimes happens - and that I'm here, facing the page, waiting, returning back to the ever present silence...

it's what writers often do. 

this is also an opportunity for my own creative play, there's nothing serious to write of now and I can allow myself the freedom of any expression that comes to mind, no need for any theme or grand inspiration - I use this time to explore thoughts that present themselves to me, to write about the process of creativity, filling the page with a stream of conscious explanations on how writing sometimes happens. I've found that this brings me great joy, writing on the wait for inspiration, on accepting silence as the source of words, and the art of patient listening. It's become a standard theme of mine, useful, and fills the page with a morning's worth of words. 

and yes, it's how writing sometimes happens. 

so to tie this to a larger point, giving this prose some sort of meaning - a writer shows up everyday, whatever time is set to mind, and their only true role is to be present, to accept silence as the source of words, and to find themselves comfortable waiting for their appearance, playing with the false start of inspiration without any sense of frustration, remembering that it all a process, another form of meditation really, and that we always return again to silence. This is where inspiration finds us. It's how writing sometimes happens. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Something Extraordinary

Something extraordinary: 

we're not sure exactly what it is, but it's something extraordinary, some quality of events that gives us an edge of consciousness beyond any other life-form, that somehow we're different, more aware of what we truly are and our place within the world. The chemical actions within our brain is different than other animals, as is its size and complexity, and yet this only explains that process of our thoughts, not really explaining why this difference has occurred. It's here that some might turn to philosophy or theology for their answers, with claims that we've been blessed with divine providence over the world, or some might say we're only smarter animals by a certain measure of degrees, and that we still belong within life's natural order. I'm not a scientist, nor a philosopher and no theological theories fit my views. 

I'm conscious...and aware that this is so. 

something extraordinary indeed. 

so the question for me isn't how I found myself here, or even to ask why - those are inquiries of science and philosophy and for me it's enough to just be alive, aware that something extraordinary has occurred, a miracle really, a gift. I am bewildered by my stance here, a mystery, every moment seems so spontaneous, with life is so freely given, everything simply appearing, and that I'm somehow in the very midst of it all. 

for many years my question was - who am I? 

and now, through the effort of continuously asking, I can honestly say...

I don't know. 

but it's something extraordinary, and completely natural as well, belonging fully to the circumstances of my surroundings, part of the environment itself and that includes an all pervasive intelligence, consciousness. Do I have certain proof of this? It's a bold claim to say that consciousness is all - and yet I only have my life to offer, the mystery of my own existence and that it includes my conscious understanding of the world. I have no answers, no speculations, just this life amidst the seamless display of my awareness. 

I don't offer this as proof.

only that I am...

and it's something extraordinary indeed. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Seen as Maya

Seen as Maya: 

the world is seen as Maya, illusory, confining us to our senses - and yet this description doesn't deny reality, there's no claim that what we see, taste, and touch isn't real, only that it isn't the final say in what is ultimately true.  Quantum physics asks a similar belief from us, describing a manifest world that has its origins as a vast emptiness, not even space or time existing, only an energetic field that somehow gives rise to vibrations, particles emerging, dancing the world into existence. Nothing is really as it seems, or at least as we perceive reality to be, it isn't a solid world at all.

everything's a vibration.

dancing.

seen as Maya.

so does this matter? Does knowing the illusory nature of the world make any difference to the reality that we take for granted? I think so, and certainly the yogic seers who first noted the state of Maya believed so, and they offered us different means of seeing through the clouds of illusion. What they don't offer us is an escape and this is because none is really needed. Maya is reality, only differently perceived. There's no reason to deny vibrations, recognizing the inherent emptiness of a tree doesn't cause its beauty to diminish, but only adds to the magic and mystery of its appearance. Science often sees reality as random, events that happen by chance and carry on to a conclusion that we quantify and measure. Seen as Maya - and there's magic here, not chance, nothing random, but things spontaneous emerging, falling back withing their energetic field of origin, and arising once more as another new appearance. 

seen as Maya...

and it's a magical world. 

with nothing to be denied, no issue of escape - we experience it all, every sorrow and infinite pleasure, beauty, loss, grasping for something permanent for us to hold. No experience is denied us, everything belongs here. Seeing reality as Maya doesn't cause any sense of loss to lose its sting, but only sharpens the beauty and temporary pleasure of the things that we treasure, deepening our appreciation. Seen as Maya...and we truly cherish all the beauty that appears within the world, however briefly its been given for us to hold, and even our sorrow is now seen in the poignant light of love. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Fifth Limb of Yoga

Fifth limb of yoga: 

perhaps what fascinates me the most is the subtle, deeper meaning of these terms, such as pratyahara, the fifth limb of yoga that generally translates as withdrawal of the senses. This is the limb that takes us within, a bridge between the more physical means of yoga and its internal observations. Taken literally, we are meant to withdraw our senses from the outer world of stimulation and distraction and turn attention towards the infinite field of awareness that exists within us. Some may say that this is the true beginning of yoga, the inner-work, our initial approach to meditation and the bliss that's being offered. 

and here's where it grows more subtle, that we're not asked to truly withdraw from the world, nor to abandon the activities that give us pleasure, but simply to observe their incessant tug at our senses and how they keep us focused on the surface of our lives, never questioning their worth or if they truly bring us joy. That's the fifth limb of yoga, pratyahara, observing what pulls us away from our inherent sense of peace and satisfaction, seeing how and where our suffering is born, and being witness to how life unfolds through the lens of our attachments. Nothing needs to done here, no drastic changes made, only observing ourselves with compassion, lovingly, bringing notice to the all allowing field of our awareness. Change happens on its own through our continued effort to bear witness to reality, just being watchful as to how we engage with the world, smiling as we lose ourselves to the grip of our attachments and smiling even more as we return to the reality of our awareness. 

the fifth limb of yoga is a process really, being witness as well as the observed, not splitting between the two, but truly seeing how reality unfolds in seamless wonder, that life flows through this field of awareness, unattached to any outcome other than the simplicity and joy of its participation. Pratyahara is the practice of viewing ourselves in the light of this awareness, withdrawing from our attachments as a means of being more fully engaged with life, gaining a deeper commitment and appreciation to the reality of who we truly are. 

the fifth limb of yoga...is simply bearing witness. 

~

Peace, Eric