A Gift of Love

Today, as our world is facing the “2020 Pandemic”, I come before the Great Spirit with deepest humility and gratitude. I kneel down and bow in great reverence, in the presence of Divine Love. I offer my unconditional devotion, my absolute faith and trust. I believe and I know, in the core of my heart, that I am completely cared for, totally loved and compassionately guided. At the same time, now that we are far enough into the coronavirus challenge to recognize its true threat, I realize that it’s time to take it seriously.

When we really look and see what is happening, instead of burying our heads in the sand or denying the danger, we need to differentiate between fearful overreaction, and a truly appropriate response. The coronavirus is here, and more of it is coming at an exponential speed: gradually at first, and then more quickly. It will happen in the next weeks, so every day counts in our efforts to minimize the damage that it will leave behind. To prevent a completely overwhelmed and dysfunctional healthcare system, a food shortage and fights at your local supermarket for the little that remains and, of course, a high death toll - we need to isolate ourselves as much as possible.

Aside from the fact that this virus can be transmitted directly from person to person in various ways, what’s striking to me is that it can survive on certain surfaces for up to 9 days! This is another possible way of infection via surfaces like metal, ceramics and plastic. Think about the countless surfaces through which you might indirectly come into contact with others, in only one day. Presently, the only way to truly reduce that possibility is with social distancing: Stay home as much as possible, for as long as possible until this recedes. And get others to do the same thing.

Vital to those of us who are serious students of the Spirit, is that this action be motivated by Love rather than fear. As you spend more time alone, meditate often upon your connection to all peoples across the globe and that you are in retreat because you truly care about their welfare, as well as your own. Practice compassionate mindfulness in the way you do–or do not–touch things. Not out of fear of becoming infected yourself, but out of an authentically heartfelt desire not to infect others if you might be an unaware symptom-free carrier. By cultivating this attitude, you will impact your brain activity and blood chemistry in such a way, that you will feel safe, calm, grounded and deeply connected to the Source of Universal Love.

We can do this! As we connect with the human collective, work together and serve Love, we can successfully overcome the coronavirus challenge. May we be filled and surrounded with the protective, healing golden-white Light of Divine Love as we go forward. And when we look back at this moment in retrospect - we may well see it as the catapult that hurled us ahead on the path of evolution beyond being just human, into being more kind, caring, benevolent and… divine. May we all remember. So Be It. Thank You, Great Spirit! Amen.

Who have I made responsible for my emotions?

A deep and continuous sense of serenity is precious to everyone, especially when moving through one of those chaotic or over-challenging days. But most people have not yet realized that they are single-handedly destroying their own inner peace without even knowing it. It’s easy to do; just make something or someone else responsible for the quality of your emotional state. How often do you blame a colleague at work or a volatile traffic incident for making you feel angry, frustrated or even victimized? Remedy this one bad habit, and you may have taken one big step toward enlightenment.

As I go through a normal day, I realize that I can conjure up a multitude of possible reasons to feel justified in harboring negative emotions. Perhaps I’ll hear myself think, “Who does this jerk think he is; stealing my place in line like that?”, or “How dare this idiot make me look like a fool in front of everyone at the table?”. Then my ego, perhaps something like your ego, justifies manufacturing even the most negative emotions in an attempt to make a dramatically potent enough proclamation in its own defense.
      
But no matter how justified my ego feels, science now tells me quite adamantly that the impact of the emotions caused by those thoughts upon my brain activity and blood chemistry is seriously destructive; particularly to myself and my body. And, as you might have also experienced, there are unfavorable repercussions to all other relationships because of the resulting attitudes, behaviors and energy.

So, in an effort to stop pretending that I’m completely deaf, dumb and blind to the latest research findings in the neurosciences*, I observe myself more and more to catch the moments when I begin to overreact emotionally. If I sense that I am nervous, defensive or becoming frightened, angry or aggressive, I quickly intervene with a tried and true solution. I go straight to my Safe Haven.

In my daily meditation, I practice developing this Safe Haven by imagining that I am unconditionally loved, guided, cared for and protected by Universal Love. As I align with this most benevolent Power, I feel completely safe. This feeling is with me throughout most of every day. If there is a moment in my day when I begin to feel unsafe, then I purposefully think thoughts that directly reconnect and realign me with that Sacred Source. For, I believe that there is nothing and no one who could ever be more wisely responsible for the quality of my emotional state, than Love Itself. And therein lies my inner peace.

* “How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain”; The New Science of Transformation (Andrew Newberg & Mark Waldman)

..., and if you don’t think so, then you might want to start thinking differently.

According to some of the latest scientific research*, awe is a fundamental part of being human—making our bodies and minds more receptive to new information, new experiences, and life’s deeper meaning. After all, it was Albert Einstein who said: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead —his eyes are closed.”

Awe affects the autonomic nervous system in such a way, that the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (fight-flight) AND the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and relaxation) are substantially reduced. The only other time that both of these systems’ effects are reduced to this degree, is just after sexual orgasm. Wow; who would have known? Awe also causes us to remember more precisely, whatever we perceived as being awesome.

But what’s even more relevant to me on my spiritual journey, is that it causes us to be more vigilant in how we perceive in the present moment. It seems to reduce our tendency to filter our current experience through what we think we already know. It “blows your mind” in the sense that it breaks free from old paradigms, opening the mind to perceptions and appreciation of beauty, novelty, intricacy, harmony and complexity. Simply put; it disarms us, allowing us to perceive the intensity of life more accurately, and become a part of the experience in the moment. And the result is that it helps us connect with the larger whole, with humility and gratitude. This clearly enriches our sense of meaning in life.

What’s the “moral” of this particular story? It is that instead of waiting for life to show its awesomeness to us, it behooves us to seek out and find the awesomeness in life. If–at first–we can’t find it, we can learn to help create it. If you are interested, I invite you to watch the video above to understand this story on a deeper level.

*Michelle Lani Shiota, a psychology professor at Arizona State University, from extensive experiments she and her graduate students have conducted.

Your heart’s radiance

As the holiday season ramps up, we hear a lot of talk about family gatherings and gift-giving. I know from my own experience that it isn’t always easy to bear the extraordinary variety of–shall we say–unusual personalities that show up for Christmas celebrations. But the more I learn about human nature, the more I realize how our inherent divinity can shine a light upon the deeper reasons we come together at this time of year, and why it is vital to give the gift of Love, above everything else.

We human beings are constantly radiating an electromagnetic field of energy from the heart. That’s what science now unequivocally tells us (as if we didn’t already know). This field not only affects ourselves, but has a powerful impact on every being and thing that come into contact with it, whether we are aware of it or not, and whether or not we choose to be responsible for it. The vibratory frequency of that field directly determines the effect it has upon everything within its range. Indeed, we are far more powerful than our egos care to ponder.

The good news is that there are some simple ways to monitor one’s field of radiance, and recognize when you are impacting your world in a less than favorable way. There are even simpler ways to make adjustments in one’s physical, mental and emotional bodies which–in turn–can raise the vibratory rate of one’s energy so that it has a strikingly positive effect on ourselves and the world around us. Yes; we can choose!

Let’s get to the point: If the “Trumps” in your life (and there are many of them as you well know) make you afraid and angry, then you will be radiating fear and anger. That’s not such a great contribution to the human pool of consciousness. However, when you learn to prioritize, and instead decide to dump a ton of Love onto those people or situations, then you will be radiating unity and compassion. Feels better already, doesn’t it?

You don’t need to agree with the people who might be… unpleasant. But you DO need to love them despite their unpleasantness. Why? Because your brain activity and blood chemistry dramatically changes in a positive way when you do. And yes, you guessed it: THAT is what elevates the quality of your heart’s radiance.

So, no matter how you celebrate this year’s holiday season, pay more attention to your heart’s radiance than anything else. In fact, there is no greater gift that you can give, to yourself or others, than a love-filled energy field. And for every candle on the tree that you set aflame, also ignite the inborn Love that lives in your heart - and let it shine!

Love is relentless

In my previous little story, I told you about the mountain-biking adventure that had resulted in compression fractures of 2 lumbar vertebrae and that I believed that it had been a precious gift given to me by the Source of Love. I want to share with you some of the reasons why I still hold that belief.

While I was still in the hospital, I had plenty of time to review the timeline of events that had led up to the incident, and do some soul searching about my own involvement. I recognized two things that you might find intriguing. The first was an old tendency that I have nicknamed “Mr. Nice Guy”, who needs to show his congeniality in an attempt to be appreciated by the others involved. Another tendency popped up that I’ll call “Don Mucho Macho”, who wants to prove to himself that he is still the man that he used to be. Both inclinations certainly contributed to my having put myself into that dangerous situation, and could easily put me into a wide range of predicaments in the future. So I am deeply grateful to have been reminded (albeit brutally) that I need to stay awake to, and avoid, these two characters in my psyche.

Within a few days after returning home from the hospital, I began physiotherapy. One of the first things my physiotherapist focused on, was to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, also known as the pubococcygeal (PC) muscles. Interestingly, I have periodically integrated PC muscle strengthening exercises into my work over many years because doing so is known to assist in the lifting of sexual energy, inside the body, to upper levels of consciousness. So now I not only have the opportunity to increase that ability, but I must increase that ability as I progressively work toward healing the spinal injury. The Source of Love is relentless as It guides me upward on my spiritual journey. And for that I’m so grateful.

When I felt able enough, I returned to my fitness center for a workout. I had stopped taking any painkillers by that time, so I was intensely aware of when I began to overwork. Of course, I performed far fewer repetitions with much less weight, and some machines I avoided altogether. But one thing was for sure: instead of just counting reps and pushing forward to the end, I found myself listening to my body far more than usual. So now when I’m at the gym–and even when not–I am increasingly mindful of maintaining a balanced mixture of good ole hard work, and self care.

Sometimes, we all might need a firm smack with the “stick of the Zen master”, for our greater growth. According to Zen Buddhist tradition, the initial shock is meant to empty the mind of conceptual thinking. Only then are we able to perceive and experience the gifts of divine Love. Metaphorically, this is exactly how I have chosen to look at my mountain-biking incident and all its residual effects, of which the earlier mentioned examples are only a few.

In fact, I choose to believe that: “Everything that happens is exactly what I need to experience, for my greatest growth.” Yes; EVERYthing, whether big or small, hard or soft, difficult or easy, and anything in between. But please don’t misunderstand. The point of adopting such a belief has nothing to do with whether or not that statement is true or false. And I suggest that you don’t waste your time trying to prove or disprove it.

The point of such a belief is to affect the believer’s brain activity and blood chemistry, so that he or she will be more likely to deal constructively with whatever events might actually occur. Science now tells us that when we practice thoughts that arouse positive emotions such as gratitude, a series of physiological events occur that cause us to respond to life’s challenges with love and care, rather than overreacting with fear and anger. “Shit happens”, as they say. And when it does, our work together is not about proving that it happened for a good reason. It’s about having a good reason to find things to be grateful for, in the wake of its occurrence.

It is exactly this system of values that has helped to strengthen my relationship to the Source of Love and to develop the deep trust and faith I have in It. Over time, I continue to feel safer, unconditionally loved and more deeply cared for. You might ask what good that is, in the cold and cruel world we live in? When I feel safe within myself, then those in my presence tend to also feel safe. I am not seen by them as a threat because they unconsciously sense that I am self-contained; not needing to dominate and not wanting to get something from them. That enables them to relax and perceive me more as a potential ally. In that moment, the world becomes a friendlier, happier and safer place for everyone.

It was the Love that got’em

Living in the very “green” city of Freiburg (where bike-riders abound), it may sound unbelievable that I had not ridden a bike in approximately 16 years. But it was true. So when 6 family members invited me to go e-mountain-biking up by Titisee in the Black Forest, my hesitation was understandable.

It was a perfect, summer day on the morning we rented our bikes and began our tour. I was surprised at how the e-bike made biking so much more enjoyable than I remembered, especially on those uphill stretches. After about 1.5 hours, however, the map we were using led us up some very steep and treacherous trails; the kind you see 26 year-olds scaling in sports documentaries - not 66 year-olds in short pants!

A long story short: As my front wheel hit a large stone, the e-thrust kicked-in and up into the air I soared, flipped backwards, and quickly landed squarely on my back. Really, it must have been quite a sight. The mountain-rescue team finally were able to get me off the mountain, into an ambulance and then to a local hospital.

While lying on the table in the emergency ward the pain somewhat decreased, which allowed me to think once again. I had an epiphany. I suddenly remembered what I always tell my students to do after an unpredictable–and even unpleasant–event occurs: say “thank you”. I recognized that I had to make a quick decision not to entertain victim-oriented thoughts, but to rather find gratitude within my heart for what had just happened. For it is only within my heart (not my head), that I knew that this situation was a blessing, a gift of Love directly from the Spirit.

I simply began repeating the words “thank you” again and again. The deep gratitude that I had purposefully created in my heart made it much easier to accept the diagnosis of compression fractures of two lumbar vertebrae. In fact, when receiving that news I immediately felt deep gratitude that the injury had not been worse, and that no long-term damage had been incurred. But that wasn’t all. In my heart, I honestly felt that–no matter what the diagnosis–it was exactly what I needed, at exactly the right time, even if I had absolutely no idea in my mind of WHY! At least not at that moment.

Within seconds I began to recognize chemicals running through my blood that made me feel completely safe, valued and intimately connected to a thoroughly benevolent and omnipotent Source of Love. No; that wasn’t the effect of painkillers, for none had yet been administered. By using my mind and heart in the way that I had, certain areas of my brain had been activated, which released natural chemicals into my bloodstream that caused those feelings. And as warm relaxation penetrated my lower back, it was crystal-clear to me that the healing process was well underway.

I was in such a good mood that the attending doctor and nurses were not only a bit surprised, but they also joined in with extraordinary kindness, levity and laughter. Afterward, they probably dismissed their altered state as one caused by another “crazy American’s” antics. But I knew different. It was the Love that got’em.

Since that day four weeks ago, I have become acutely aware of many reasons why that precious gift had been given to me. But that’s a story for another time.