We Are Nothing, the Light is All

From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, 
and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all.

                                                                                               ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every wisdom tradition talks about the light and how life comes from it. We are told that we, too, are made of light. In fact, at my recent Yoga immersion weekend, I learned a chant that has become my favorite mantra: I am light, only light, eternal light.

There is something incredibly comforting as these sounds resonate within me. I find myself repeaing them at the most unusual times. While making dinner, I look out the window at the setting sun and softly chant, "I am light, only light, eternal light." Walking through the grocery store, the words ring gently in my ears. Again, driving to an appointment or returning home, I hear this lovely thought. 

This wisdom has woven itself into the fabric of my being. Engaged in conversation, checking email, writing, weeding the garden, walking our dog, watching television, preparing for sleep ~ whatever the activity, this mantra returns reminding me light shines through us all and we are that light.  

Wisdom for Living Each Day...

Yield and overcome, empty and be full.
Have little and gain, Have much and be confused.
Not putting on a display, not justifying,
Not boasting, not bragging.
Be really whole and all things will come to you.

                     ~Lao Tsu~

Over the years I have returned again and again to the teachings of Lao Tsu. The Tao Te Ching is so concise, yet packed with wisdom, the kind you can read differently each time the words appear. This morning what touched me were these: 

                   Be really whole and all things will come to you

Wholeness is basic to who and what we are. But so often we don't recognize we are whole. We feel disconnected, or powerless, or hopeless, or sad. For me being whole isn't about having everything. It's more about yielding, surrendering to that divine source of all creation. Being empty, just being...

Exhale Only Love

Exhale only love.
~ Rumi


Sometimes wisdom comes in three words or less...

We Are All Connected...

Everything that is in the heavens,
on the earth and under the earth
is penetrated with connectedness,
is penetrated with relatedness."

                           ~Hildegard of Bingen


Along the jetties at Venice beach these birds gang out together. Very entertaining, they gracefully fly over the water, then meet on the wooden railing to dance and chat with each other. They seem to know that everything in their world is connected. They seem content, curious, happy. Perhaps they are just a reflection of my own thoughts.


A warm sunny spring day in Florida makes it easy to dissolve into the connectedness of the universe. Sand between my toes grounds me. Blue water reminds me to flow with each moment. The sun energizes and ignites my spirit and imagination. The gentle breeze whispers "all is well."


The ancient wisdom from all cultures reminds us everything is connected. We are all One.

Live the Actual Moment

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves 
- slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future;
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.
                                             ~ Thich Nhat Hahn



In our busy world where accomplishment is revered and just being seldom acknowledged, Thich Nhat Hahn gently reminds us of the present moment. This moment is all we actually have. The earth doesn't rush through it's day, and either the sun. The stars enjoy shining until they are extinguished.


Such a simple pleasure making a cup of tea and slowly drinking it, sip by sip. With each sip the taste washes over the tongue and fills the mouth, then flows like an inner river down the throat. The warmth and the flavor remains and expands into the spaciousness of the body. How wonderful to be alive and aware of such simple wisdom! 

Be Silent and Listen

The inspiration you seek is already within you.
Be silent and listen.
                                                    ~ Rumi

Each day brings more images for this very thing ~ Inspiration. At first being silent is a struggle. How can we do such a thing in our noisy world! But with practice, the listening actually leads us into silence. Because when we travel inward, moving with grace and ease into the sounds around us, we find they expand to allow us entry, and then they melt into a vastness beyond all knowing.

The Secret of the World

Last night I begged the Wise One
to tell me the secret of the world.
Gently, gently he whispered,
'Be quiet, the secret cannot be spoken,
it is wrapped in silence."           ~ Rumi

Last night in the deep silence of that place between asleep and awake, I understood what Rumi meant. Solitude floats softly as if on angel wings and unstruck sounds resonate around and through me. It is everything and nothing; vast and minute; radiating outward to the farthest reaches of the universe and inward to infinity. The Wise One whispers, "See now the Great Mystery cannot be spoken?"

Surrender

One of two things must be done. Either surrender because you admit your inability and also require a High Power to help you; or investigate into the cause of misery, go into the source and merge into the Self. Either way you will be free from misery. God never forsakes one who has surrendered.

                                        ~ Sri Ramana Maharshi (from "Talk 363"; 20th Feb., 1937)

I have wrestled with this concept of "surrender" for most of my life. Perhaps I would be an entirely different person had I surrendered years ago. I grew up a "people pleaser." I always felt I was hiding part of myself in order to be accepted or to keep the peace at home or to achieve whatever perceived goal I had at that moment.

When I began investigating "spiritual" paths, the idea of surrender turned up again and again. Many groups and philosophies that initially held my interest quickly faded when I felt pressure to surrender to someone or something other than myself.

Now my idea of surrender has evolved and I recognize that the only one to surrender to is your inner guru, your own higher self. The ancient wisdom teachings remind me there is an ease of being. This seems natural; it feels "right."


As Ramana so succinctly says, "surrender, and all will be well."

Psalm 121

 

Psalm 121

I look deep into my heart,
to the core where wisdom arises.
Wisdom comes from the Unnameable
...and unifies heaven and earth.


The Unnameable is always with you,
shining from the depths of your heart.

~ A Book of Psalms, trans. and adapted by Stephen Mitchell ~

This is the first year we have tulips. I planted them last fall with great anticipation of basking in their beauty come spring. Little did I know what a long, cold winter we would endure. Now here they are lovely beyond words! 

Each morning they are closed as if to say, "We took the evening to go inward and rest." With the morning sun, they are ready to open and share their joy and beauty with all who are in their presence.

Into the Sky

If you wish your misery to end,
seek also to lose your wisdom - 
the wisdom born of human illusion,
that which lacks the light of God's overflowing grace.
The wisdom of this world increases doubt; the wisdom of Faith releases you into the sky.

- Rumi, Mathnawi, II: 3200-3203, from Rumi: Daylight, posted to Sunlight 


Some days the gratitude is just so strong, it's palpable. Some days it's a struggle to even feel a trace. But always the wisdom of faith releases you into that vast open spaciousness!