There you go again, pretending...

There You Are again

"Ever since I stepped out of imagination
and into the Heart of things
I have become so much less spiritual.
Heaven, hell and earth
hold no meaning for me anymore .
For I am neither coming
nor going
nor staying put.
All I do is notice all the various ways
that Light weaves itself into dreams.

When someone asks me who they are
or what God is
I smile inside and whisper to the Light:
There you go again pretending..."
~ Adyashanti
~)(~
Everybody and everything is very good at pretending to be anything but Light.
Then there's spiritual people/seekers pretending to be Light.
All quite funny, isn't it?

Siesta Key Beach - Sarasota, Fla.

gratitude for the Tao of everything...everything is same same...ah, peace.

"Naming is the origin of all the particular things that make up the world of illusion, the dream world. To break off part of the everything and name it “tree” is the first dream.

I call it “first-generation thinking.” Then thought begets thought, and we have “tall tree, beautiful tree, tree that I want to sit under, tree that would make good furniture, tree that I need to save,” and the dream goes on and on.

It takes a child just a moment to fall into the dream world, the dream of a world, when she first connects word with thing. And it takes you just a moment to question it, to break the spell and be grateful for the Tao of everything—tree, no tree; world, no world."
~ Byron Katie
~)(~

all roads lead home...

 

individual = undivided...

Blue/Tan/Beige Plaid Textured Silk Zafu

"In reality there is neither ‘I’ nor ‘me’, 

but the individual in his totality 

(individual=undivided). 

The ego process with the ‘I-me’ 

division could be called the ‘dividual’. 

In the individual perception is going on 

without the need for a ‘perceiver’ 

to do the job. 

Our language forces us to say

 that a subject is acting on an object. 

Thus we say ‘It is raining”. 

But where is the ‘it’ that is doing the raining?

Similarly we say ‘I am observing.’"

Prof. David Bohm, quantum physicist

Posted by Sarah Nolt, designer of unique zafus, handmade in the U.S.A., owner of ZafuChi on etsy.

Thank you for your patronage.

three treasures to assist us in reaching the Tao...

buckwheat hull zafus - at zafuChi

~)(~

"The primary purpose of meditation is

 to become conscious of, and familiar 

with, our inner life. The ultimate 

purpose is to reach 

the source of life and consciousness."

Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 6

~)(~

"There are two Taoist approaches to immortality: 1) Outer Alchemy, and 2) Inner Alchemy. Outer alchemy works from the outside in, while inner alchemy works from the inside out. It is the same as the difference between external and internal martial art. Generally speaking, outer alchemy strengthens the physical body first with moving meditation, and various herbal formulas. Inner alchemy on the other hand, strengthens the energetic body first with still meditation and cultivating the chi. Although the 2 approaches are different, they are usually used together to complement each other in self-cultivation. This is the same dual-approach that we recommend and encourage here in this web site. Tai Chi Chuan is an excellent example and model of this dual- approach.

Taoists often value the number "3" because the principle to immortality is derived from the "Three Treasure of the Universe". The 3 treasures of the universe are Heaven, Earth, and Mankind. And each "treasure" contains its own three treasures. The 3 treasures of Heaven are the sun, moon, and stars. The 3 treasures of Earth are fire, water, and air. The 3 treasures of mankind are chi, jing, and shen."
excerpted from: Taoist approaches to immortality 

who or what is the wheel of life for?

ANNAMALAI SWAMI - FINAL TALKS

sit. be still, and know. I AM is prior to thought.

"Question: The wheel of life - manifestation, samsara - seems to continue whether one is established in that peace or not. Is there nothing in this manifestation that provides a key to peace?
 
Annamalai Swami: If you understand the true nature of this wheel of life, this wheel that is giving everyone so much alternating happiness and misery, this understanding will lead you to where there is no wheel, no change, no movement. This wheel is spinning in the substratum of the changeless Self. If you take your position in the still, peaceful centre of the Self you will know, simultaneously, that the Self is motionless peace, and the spinning wheel is also the Self.
 
Q: Why is there a need to have this spinning wheel in the Self? Why a need for manifestation at all?
 
Annamalai Swami: This question is only happening in your mind. If you remain in the Self, the question will not arise. Whether you move your hand or keep it still, it is still a hand. Its nature is not changed in either case.Maya is the Self. All is the Self. If you give up all distinctions, you will know this for yourself. That's all you need to do."

Sarah: We've been duped - by the collective consciousness prior to any manifestation. Sometimes I experience this realization as humorous, and sometimes I feel rage, and sometimes I feel absolutely nothing. Humor definitely feels better than rage, in my experience. And nothing just feels like nothing. I am nothing. I AM is everything. Word of caution - I AM doesn't pay the bills. There's that.

Posted by Sarah Nolt, maker of handmade zafu meditation cushions...available at zafuChi on etsy

a house of LOVE, with no limits...

Natural Linen Zafu

"I swear, since seeing Your face,
the whole world is fraud and fantasy
The garden is bewildered as to what is leaf
or blossom. The distracted birds
can't distinguish the birdseed from the snare.

A house of love with no limits,
a presence more beautiful than venus 

or the moon,
a beauty whose image 

close-up of embroidery detail

fills the mirror of the heart."

- Rumi

"The main point to grasp is that you have projected onto yourself a world of your own imagination, based on memories, on desires and fears, and that you have imprisoned yourself in it. Break the spell and be free."
Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 44

"By choosing Love, and letting Love choose for us, we end the internal battle of good vs evil."

(Posted by Sarah Nolt, owner of zafuChi, a small business in the U.S. that makes and sells zafu meditation cushions, bolster pillows and floor pillows.)

sun halos, and divine equality...

This morning, on my morning walk I saw a sun bow, or sun halo as it is also referred to. I felt it might have interesting significance (to me) so I did a little research. The Native Americans speak of it as “The Whirling Rainbow”...(found at the following link) For images of a sun halo, see google images for sun halo.

https://lifeheartandsoulblog.wordpress.com/...

“The Whirling Rainbow – Prophecy

There will come a day when people of all races, colors, and creeds will put aside their differences. They will come together in love, joining hands in unification, to heal the Earth and all Her children. They will move over the Earth like a great Whirling Rainbow, bringing peace, understanding and healing everywhere they go. Many creatures thought to be extinct or mythical will resurface at this time; the great trees that perished will return almost overnight. All living things will flourish, drawing sustenance from the breast of our Mother, the Earth.

The great spiritual Teachers who walked the Earth and taught the basics of the truths of the Whirling Rainbow Prophecy will return and walk amongst us once more, sharing their power and understanding with all. We will learn how to see and hear in a sacred manner. Men and women will be equals in the way Creator intended them to be; all children will be safe anywhere they want to go. Elders will be respected and valued for their contributions to life. Their wisdom will be sought out. The whole Human race will be called The People and there will be no more war, sickness or hunger forever.” 

~Ancient American Indian Prophecy

sincere awareness watching awareness...

~0~ AWARENESS WATCHING AWARENESS  ~0~

"What you really are at your core is awareness. Therefore, in awareness watching awareness, you are for the first time observing yourself and knowing yourself. However, you should not think about that or anything else written in this chapter while practicing awareness watching awareness, because then you would be adding those thoughts to the practice. It is being pointed out that you are doing some thing extraordinary when awareness is watching awareness because at first you might think: “what else?”or “so what?”. Just continue to practice and forget about “what else?” or “so what?”.  Just by turning your attention away from thought and towards awareness watching awareness, you are doing something that will change your life completely, if you are sincere and continue to practice."

- Michael Langford
~0~
❀For ZAFU meditation cushions see: http://www.etsy.com/shop/zafuchi

Bulk Unfilled zafu covers section:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=17676775&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1

Bolster Pillow section:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=17735595&ref=shopsection_leftnav_6

Buckwheat Hull filled zafus:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=17603986&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3

Unfilled Zafu Covers section:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=18268832&ref=shopsection_leftnav_4

Large ZAFUS/Floor Pillows:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=16687127&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2  

nothing can deprive you of your heritage...

"I can see with the utmost clarity that you have never been, nor are, nor will be estranged from reality; that you are the fullness of perfection here and now and that nothing can deprive you of your heritage, of what you are.
You do not know what you are and therefore you imagine your self to be what you are not. Hence desires and fear and overwhelming despair. And, meaningless activity in order to escape.
You are the Supreme Reality beyond the world and its creator, beyond consciousness and its witness, beyond all assertions and denials.
Remember it, think of it, act on it. Abandon all sense of separation, see yourself in all and act accordingly. With action bliss will come, and with bliss conviction."

Nisargadatta, I Am That, Chapter 83

morning - Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota, Fla.

❀For my ZAFU meditation cushions see: http://www.etsy.com/shop/zafuchi

Bulk Unfilled zafu covers section:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=17676775&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1

Bolster Pillow section:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=17735595&ref=shopsection_leftnav_6

Buckwheat Hull filled zafus:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=17603986&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3

Unfilled Zafu Covers section:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=18268832&ref=shopsection_leftnav_4

Large ZAFUS/Floor Pillows:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZafuChi?section_id=16687127&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2