The Inner Journey | Spiritual Forum

sparklekaz

Someone asked me.. What is your religion? I said, "All the paths that lead to the light".

Posts: 3,658

The Inner Journey Jun 12, 2010 15:29:46 GMT

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Post by sparklekaz on Jun 12, 2010 15:29:46 GMT

Hi friends,

I read this passage recently, from the book 'Living Magically' by Gill Edwards. I would like to share it with you.

"When the god's created Heaven and Earth, according to an old Eastern story. They were left with just one problem; Where to hide TRUTH. They did not want it to be too obvious, since observing the search, would provide them with great amusement. One god suggested, placing it at the top of the highest mountain; another on the furthest star. A third god said, it should be hidden in the deepest and darkest abyss, and another the dark side of the Moon; the oldest and wisest god said, 'No. We will hide the Truth inside the heart of each and every human being. That way, they will search for it, all over the Universe, before discovering it."

I loved this story, it made me smile and it illustrates beautifully, how man, continually makes life complicated for himself. We know so much about the world around us, but so little, about ourselves and the world within us.

We would rather climb the highest mountains, foray into the wildest and remote places in this world, then tackle the mysteries of our own psyche. We seem to be more comfortable with the idea of outer challenges, then working on our own spiritual and inner growth.

We simply refuse to accept, that something so important with all its mystical connotations, profound Truth and Wisdom can be found residing within ourselves. We would rather believe that it is hidden away, in some secret location, which to reach, we have to put ourselves through an Indiana Jones type quest, to find.

Why do we find it so hard to believe in ourselves, that within the human heart and mind a treasure lies, just waiting to be discovered. The challenge is, scaling the barriers we have erected within.

The problem is we lack inner discipline, sitting quietly and finding stillness is a problem for people who are used to being active. They feel that striving for something requires movement. The movement required in spiritual introspection is different to movement in action with the outer physical, especially in western cultures. Eastern philosophy has always had a great respect for balance in mind body and spirit, seeing that they were all connected.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this..

Love and light
Kaz

Last Edit: Jun 12, 2010 15:37:03 GMT by sparklekaz

Always live with an open heart. This means being available to both the outer and the inner worlds. The openness of the heart is nothing else but the vastness of pure awareness, the eternity of the present moment. Sahajananda

digby

Posts: 98

The Inner Journey Jun 15, 2010 14:59:56 GMT

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Post by digby on Jun 15, 2010 14:59:56 GMT

It seems to me Kaz that Consciousness has two aspects, Consciousness at Rest, the inner stillness, and Consciousness in Movement, the outer restless character self. So, one aspect of Consciousness IS movement itself, both in the physical world and in the mental world of thoughts, and keeps us forever busy, seeking fulfilment in things of the outer world of people, books and gurus, because that's its job! These two aspects are sometimes called Father Spirit and Mother Earth, or Shiva and Shakti, whose dance together creates the world and everything in it.
After a fruitless search outside ourselves in the world, we come to slow down and begin the inner journey, returning to the source, the stillness from which all this movement began and which it will sink back into. Consciousness comes to RE-cognise itself as the totality, the whole, and no longer seeks anything at all, for when you are One, what is there to seek?
The art of sitting in the stillness is to allow the movement to BE, for attempting to stop it is partaking in the movement is it not? Simply witness the sounds or the movement of thoughts through your mind without owning any of them, and slowly but surely you will step into being the Witness of them and FIND yourself sat in your heart rather than wandering about in your head!
Because this mind/body Consciousness is born into the world, it is bound by space and time, but THAT stillness you seek is the doorway to an awesome NOW, and so can never be found by a time bound you, only by the loss of self identity. Quite a conundrum!
Such is the Way of IT.
It's enough to know that when the fruit is ripe it will be plucked from the tree!

Sai Ram, Digby

sparklekaz

Someone asked me.. What is your religion? I said, "All the paths that lead to the light".

Posts: 3,658

The Inner Journey Jun 15, 2010 20:38:54 GMT

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Post by sparklekaz on Jun 15, 2010 20:38:54 GMT

Hi Digby,

Thank you so much for your well thought out and beautifully worded response. I loved the way you describe, consciousness in movement and consciousness in stillness.

I also loved "After a fruitless search outside ourselves in the world, we come to slow down and begin the inner journey, returning to the source, the stillness from which all this movement began and which it will sink back into. "

Someone said to me recently, that it is as if we are empty and are constantly searching to fill ourselves up again. It is as if, we have lost something incredibly precious, but we cannot for the life of us, remember what it was!!

In my post, I was trying to explain, that the treasures of the mind, heart or soul that we seek, are not to be found outside of ourselves, they are to be found within. To make our way to this place inside, we need to be still.

Every individuals journey will be unique to them, but the goal is the same for us all. But what is a treasure to one person, may not be, to another. The quest or journey, is to discover that for ourselves, through self awareness and growth.

Yes, the aim for me too, is to be a witness to my thoughts rather then motivated simply by the emotion of them. To observe from a place of passive detachment. To love all and to see it as it really is a soul trying to grow, the caterpillar waiting to become the butterfly. Waiting, watching, learning and evolving, ultimately becoming one with everything and nothing.

Lovely to share with you as always..

Love and light
Kaz

Always live with an open heart. This means being available to both the outer and the inner worlds. The openness of the heart is nothing else but the vastness of pure awareness, the eternity of the present moment. Sahajananda

elisa

Posts: 55

The Inner Journey Nov 28, 2012 18:47:42 GMT

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Post by elisa on Nov 28, 2012 18:47:42 GMT

Hello Kaz,

On looking back over the old posts of the forum I found this and wanted to say how relevant it is to me at this moment in my own personal journey. I would agree that it is actually harder to master the mental discipline to seek the silence and not be distracted then it is to do a regular workout. I have been meditating for a long time but still find it hard to get into a regular discipline. But when I succeed, the rewards are a voyage of discovery into myself. I see things and become aware of things in a way that never happens in my 'normal' daily life. In many ways each time I return from one of my inner journeys I am changed and that reflects itself to me in the way the world seems different. I wonder if anyone else feels this way?

Namaste
Elisa

Last Edit: Nov 28, 2012 18:49:29 GMT by elisa

gruntal

Posts: 802

The Inner Journey Nov 28, 2012 19:33:04 GMT

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Post by gruntal on Nov 28, 2012 19:33:04 GMT

I suppose it is true we have what we need internally but how do you know if you have anything going for you until you go out and put it to the test? So on a certain level we might be fleeing from the truth but on another level we become uncomfortable with stasis and need to test our wings; only to come back for refuge when it comes crashing down on our heads.

It is suggested at the final gathering of the saints there will be quite a lot of mangled bodies and gruesome wounds. These will more a badge of honor then a testament of foolishness. I understand why long journeys for enlightenment might come full circle. What I do not understand is why you would go out once again, having achieved enlightenment, to the farthest ends of the Cosmos, where it isn't safe, just to do the deed. And get all banged up in the process.

I guess we were all born to be restless. Pain for a purpose?
If I search within I am afraid I will also find my marching orders and that is not a comforting thought.