Keshav the Dreamer gracefully rests attention in the impersonal intimacy of the here and now. The character within the Dream named keshav (me), however, has a history of getting lost in the dream of the planet.
A powerful cue to surrender to the clarity of presence, is when life starts to feel like a burden. I am gratefully aware that life can, and does appear that way. (The personalized (keshav) self is still convinced that life would be perfect if only everyone experienced it from his personal point of view.)
The wake-up call from feeling lost in harmful diversions is the very noticing that: A part of me feels lost. Yet, here, is the middle of the perception of being lost, is a causeless lightness of being; and a comforting knowing! How can I be lost, if I am witnessing myself feeling lost?!
This seemingly subtle shift in attention is when I remember that I(the Dreamer) can never be totally lost, just overlooked or over-shadowed. Now, is the perfect time to risk getting totally lost in the vibrancy of the unknown. And, to remember to Leave everything I think I know behind…
Lost and found. With everything going on in the world, it has been easy to feel lost. The past two Thursday meetings have shown me that it is just as easy to be found! Two weeks ago during drumming, I journeyed and re-membered that I can connect and share energy. An act of service – what we do/who we are. I realized I could chose to float rather than fight the current. This Thursday’s chants, opened my heart, connecting and recharging. The love of those HERE and HERE merged. There was no here or there, no me to lose or be found…just love here and now.
Keshav that is incredibly interesting how your watch found you again, not sure if that was what you were looking for? It doesn’t matter, and the fact that a watch is about Time or keeping Time, which you put in the Embers of the Fire is even more interesting. This Story just gets better and better! Are you now just Burning Time up in life? Aren’t we all, and we can’t ever get it back… I see a Russ joke being posted here soon !
Joe: my experience working with: "the fear of exposing my attachments" is that those very attachments are demanding a clearer view of the situation. That same fear exposes its true nature. Accepting the fear can shift attention to the reality that fear only exists because of me.
If I give my full attention to the fear (a mind construct), it also exposes the presence of the fear's home ground.The natural "state" of attention is not dependent on the absence of thought, or time. This quiet and non directive Presence is the home in which thoughts and fears burn away; leaving only Silence.
The Shaman at the gate silently welcomes them home; again.
Terrific sharings!
When I see that I am mislead by the "searcher," the personality that I mistake for myself starts to disappear of its own accord. The desire to be comes directly from the Desired. This insight induces me to abandon my need to accumulate, grasp, or accomplish; which tends to diminish the mind's activity to a more manageable flow.
And, that makes room for a deeper knowing that this natural "state" of attention is what is behind thought. An understanding of the false path brings me back home to present clarity, and a profound sense of Acceptance and Gratitude. What can never be lost, can never be found.
I can look back at a time when I felt lost and wanting desperately to go home. I am now aware that I am always home. Feeling lost can still feel very real, yet the “I†that is observing knows it is an illusion. Now, remembering this, I can choose to drop the filter of the dream that I am lost and I know that I am safe at home. And at other times the dream slips away, and there I am. Often this happens when the dream is interrupted by a sunset or a bird or a song or some other magical creation that captures the illusion which then falls away.
Indeed, Keshav, I often find myself certain that "I" am the only one who is 'real'. When I recover from that bit of irony, I find it much easier to relax into the peace and wonder of all I have created, all that has been created, all that is.
I have fought resistance for most of my spiritual growth, especially when I am around other people. This fear of exposing my attachments has made letting go more challenging. However, as I have continued to practice peace as a mantra, this tightness has become a cue to relax. This effortless action allows for whatever relationship I have with any energy to pass through. I no longer dwell for what feels like eternity on a situation or event that is clearly not in alignment with my true peaceful nature.
Remaining open to the vibrant presence of the moment allows me to explore the space within, without an object of attention. The ardent seeker within me ends his quest to find himself; he clearly sees that he is playing all of the roles within the Dream.