MARCH NEWSLETTER~~ UP DOWN ALL AROUND, UNDIVIDED UNO
For the March play class, this was our theme. Up, Down, All Around,
Undivided Uno. It was not only so much fun, it also seemed to lighten
things up for people by the way of being more accepting of the ups and
downs and all arounds that life is made of. It was such a rich
gathering that i have decided to bring it to the newsletter for the
folks who aren't in play class, (which is most of you!)
So, what does this theme really mean? Up, down, all around, undivided
Uno? First i will share that the theme of the year is Surprise! And
then every month, I am 'surprising" my play mates with a new theme that
starts the letter of the word "surprise" -- this month was the "U". And
that's what popped into my head, Up, Down, All Around, Undivided
Uno!
It kind of describes the journey we are all on. In the world of
duality, in which our minds live, where we name and distinguish life
experiences -- we go up and we go down and we go everywhere in between
-- All around! This is what our life stories are about. This is what
we talk about with our friends. This is what we are aware of
experiencing. And, we have all lived long enough to know that when we
are up, we will also go down. And when we are down, we will also go
up.
I remember sitting with my client who was distressed and she was trying
to comfort herself. She said out loud, "It will get better." And ii
blurted out, "And worse." And that is because the roller coaster of
life doesn't end. And if we base our sense of identity and well-being
on the hope that one day it will get better, we are fucked. Because
that one day does come when it is better, and then following that is the
worse, and up and down and all around it goes. From the moment we are
born to the moment we die. When we are babies, life goes up when our
needs are met; life goes down when our needs are not met. It's a very
simple formula. It seems like it gets a bit more complicated as we grow
up. Whose baseline needs aren't met who is reading this newsletter,
and yet, don't we still have our downs?
The mind can not help but to name ups and downs. And they are so
obvious. Most of us are responsive to "outside" events that occur: A
baby is born = up. A being we love is diagnosed with cancer = down.
Falling in love = up. Relationship issues = all around. Crashing and
burning after "falling" in love = down. Someone dies = down. Global
weirding = down. Homeless people and homeless animals = down. Okay,
okay, so the list for downs may appear longer... that in and of itself =
down. Now. Urrrr... turn the mind around -- breathing = up. Blue skies =
up. Spring = up. Blossoming flowers = up. Chicks being born = up.
Chicks born in factory farms = down. Urrrr... turn it around... doggie
licks = up. Cat purrs = up. Children laughing = up. A good talk with
someone you love = up. A fight with someone you love = down and all
around. Taking care of "earth stuff" = all around. Being alive = up.
Being alive = down. Being alive = all round.
In a single day, a single morning, a single afternoon, if we pay close
attentions, there are fluctuations continuously -- sort of like the
ocean waves ebbing in and out all the time... so it is the same with all
of the fluctuations of expansions and contractions in a day. We
exchange smiles with someone, our hearts open and expand. The next
moment we hear something on the news and our hearts hurt and contract.
The next moment the phone rings, we pick up, to deal with this or that
and it's all around. On and on... moment to moment... up, down, all
around.
You can not stop this. Nor is there any reason to try. Enlightenment
is not about not experiencing the ups and downs and all arounds... it is
about not identifying with it. But when i say this, it does not mean
that the mind is simply quiet and detached through it all. Well, maybe,
if you are Don Juan or Shree Guruji Maha Swami.
Part of the trip is that the mind creates its own up and down and all
around without any outside stimulus. Because... that's what minds do.
So, its important to not believe everything your mind tells you.
Actually, you can use the "witness" part of the mind to help you watch
the play of up, down, all around, just by naming it and remembering that
the up or down or all around is part of the endless formula of up,
down, all around, so you don't have to take any of it so seriously!!!
Just name it. And see if you can bring your body into it. Not just
during these two hours but for the rest of the month. When your up, go
"Up" and bring your body into it! And when your down, claim "down" and
bring your body into it. When we bring our bodies into anything, we
experience it fuller.
If we could loosen up our attachment "to be happy" which is just one
piece of the pie -- and instead, embrace all of life experience with
curiosity and interest. All feelings and life experiences are part of
the tapestry of life and "happy" are just some of the threads of the
tapestry -- they don't make up the whole tapestry. Instead, bringing
great witnessing and wonder and love to all of it -- because all of it
is life -- is greater than attaching to "happiness".
So, up, down, all around... Another metaphor is life is like a
stream. Sometimes the stream is clear, other times it goes over rocks,
other times it is murky and other times it is pure. But its all one
stream! Thus, Undivided Uno!
"Undivided. Uno."
Advaita Vedanta is a school of Hindu philosophy and religious practice,
giving "a unifying interpretation of the whole body of Upanishads.
Upanishads are the ancient scripture teachings of the Hindu teachings
Advaita teachings are all about non-duality. Advaita means "not two" -- everything is one. So, here we are -- Undivided, Uno.
So, how to remember the Undivided when everything appears to be
divided? How to remember Uno when it all seems so duo and trio and
quadruple?
This is the question and invitation for all mystics through all of time. Lifetimes are spent on this very issue.
Undivided, Uno. Come sit up in meditation posture. Feel the breath
inhale you (up) feel the breath exhale (down) Notice the flow of the
breath filling you and emptying you (all round) Notice how the prana
breathes you and the up and the down are one breath and how this moment
flows into this very next moment and it's all one. And how your foot is
connected to your neck to your hand to your toe to your tongue and it
is all one body. And the atoms of your body are actually full of space
and intermingling with all the atoms in this room and it is all really
One. And how the ups flow into downs, just like the inhale gives way
into the exhale. And it goes all around. and it is all really One
experience of life and if we released judgement and fear it would all be
Un-divided -- Uno experience. No-one and no-thing is separate.
Undivided uno -- undivided uno -- whisper it over and over... let it beckon you inside...
Go inside. Allow an image to arise that expresses to you the
experience of "Undivided Uno." Allow other words to come to mind that
express this experience to you. Like, Union, or Beloved, Or Acceptance,
Or God/dess. What are your words and image? can you invoke this
awareness of the stream.... all being one experience of life and
worthy'.
Oneness! Uno! We know that we are one -- yet, how do we remember,
when we are cutting each other off driving or wanting people to hurry on
the grocery line or wishing the "other" political party wouldn't get in
the way of getting good things done for our country or worrying about a
terrorist attack or nuclear bombs being made by the "other" countries?
How do we remember? That is why there is sadhana -- spiritual
practices. Or, why people go live in ashrams. Or, why people study
scriptures. Or, why people sign up for The Oneness Experiment or The
Course of Miracles or on and on...
So, how are we going to remember our divine Undivided Oneness? Our Uno spirit?
Since we probably won't be moving into an ashram or studying scripture
cuz we are just so busy with the world of duality that we give ourselves
to 99% of the time... how are we going to remember?
By simply invoking. Undivided... Uno! By having fun with this
invocation so that we can resonate with our own truth of ourselves. Our
souls prevail with the truth -- the Uno -- stronger than the
personality's involvement with the duo!
I invite you to play with the awareness of UP DOWN ALL AROUND UNDIVIDED
UNO. It doesn't matter if we are not always successful of waking up
out of the trance of duality -- coz the dance is up, down all around
undivided Uno, no matter what!
Some quotes about the Uno:
All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man, the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.
Chief Seattle (c. 1786 - 1866)
There is only one breath. All are made of the same clay. The light within all is the same.
Guru Granth Sahib
The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes
within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their
oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that
at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this
center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
Black Elk, Source: Black Elk (1863-1950)
In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create
distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
Buddha (563 - 483 BC)
The only difference between you and me, is "and".
Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi
There is only one moment -- it just keeps getting filled up with different stuff.
Tony Rooney
The choiceless truth of who you are is revealed to be permanently here
permeating everything. Not a thing and not separate from anything.
gangaji, Source: The Diamond In Your Pocket
A person experiences life as something separated from the rest -- a
kind of optical delusion of consciousness. Our task must be to free
ourselves from this self-imposed prison, and through compassion, to find
the reality of Oneness.
Albert Einstein
One experience -- up, down, all around; you, me, everyone, only One...
its all made of the same stuff, if you only look close enough.
Devajoy
Enjoy the Up Down All Around Undivided Uno and embrace all of it with wonder.
Another gorgeous, brilliant dive into(and out of and all around) the ocean of the self. Free therapy from the real deal...Devajoy!
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