March is the month of Guru's birthday

Such blessings of deep compassion and wisdom that flows without self-interest from our dear Guru

How much her presence has blessed our lives!

The time of Guru's birthday is a time to be in deep gratitude

The time is one of great auspiciousness as this light of truth has risen to bring refreshment to souls in the dark.

The time is full of great potential to make progress within and be in stillness.

The time is one of basking in the blessing of good company and rejoicing that the path has come into being ...

as this path carved out by our Guru has brought great changes for the good in our lives.

This path has brought peace where there was once tears and confusion

It has lit the way for us to be out of earthly woes and sorrow

It has brought laughter and fresh life  where once there was confinement.

The blessing of the presence of Guru in our lives is beyond measure

Beyond compare 

No words can ever express the gratefulness

Hari OM dear Guru

the true nature

he came and sat on a simple bed where his devotees 

brought him sustenance that was from the earth 

where all things grow well when tended to with care 

he took the bountiful offerings and regarded them as his own Self

for where were the distinctions of this and that to a one in pristine silence?

he would sit on his bed and give darshan, a look to his eyes that bore thru

the ego with one glance 

oh yes, my dear souls .. one glance is all it takes from a master that is true 

so when he gazed at you, the heavens awakened within and what was false 

as the shadow that rises, would sink low and vanish

that quickly, nothing said, nothing done -- only a look

when a soul came to kneel by him and he sat with an open heart, his heart would 

fill up

like an empty vessel that has waited in the sun for fresh rains 

and when the rains came to this parched vessel, it would be revived and glow of life 

that was sleeping it seemed and waiting 

the seeker then, knew himself to be pure and of one heart and mind 

the first time this happens, it is so stunning and the knowing or understanding that comes

so completely different than mind … like the sky, boundless, yet grounded in 

the life force … no one is there .. no one is home, and yet all moves so gracefully,

spontaneous … 

no death exists here my friends, not even a drop, not even for a moment

and so the seeker basks in this …

one day when he was sitting still and calm, a man came to him and said,

"what is this world? and how can i be rid of this suffering?" 

and the sage said, " this world is like a dream, it is insubstantial as all that is seen for it 

comes and goes… it is here upon awakening and dies in deep slumber … where is it then?"

the seeker knew not what to say, but he could not deny that this world disappeared every night 

and came back to him upon opening his eyes …

"to be rid of suffering, spoke the sage, is not anything you need to worry about.. just simply remain as 

you are. this is all and be quiet, not letting thoughts intrude… self inquiry yes, but not by rote 

mechanical asking… nothing will change this way… an open heart is the best thing, an open settled 

presence and not worrying about when and all of that…. what weight you put on yourself.. why keep

heaping more and more?"

the seeker just sat and sat and eventually bowed deeply thanking the sage and moved on his way…

the sage, when he got up, walked out of the ashram into the open air that smelled of earth and animals 

that roamed about and smoke from the fire pit that was dying away…

the world to him was like all else.. not distinct and separate from the Self … 

when he walked about the grounds, his devotees would walk with him and offer comfort for his 

form and offer water or set down a cloth for him to sit on when he rested…  

he would walk up and around the mountain that he loved so dearly 

he would sit down a long while and be happy there, lit up with radiance and peace …

stillness was his nature

like love that was living, like joy that was living 

stillness was his nature 

and what he spoke of was that stillness is the true nature of ALL

not just in one special soul

this is not true ever 

stillness is 

and is in ALL equally without end 

this is is what is the TRUE nature 

may it become the center for all that are wanting to be free

never away from the source

pour out the world into the heart
it will melt there
like wax melting from a candle
it will melt
and the dross will be washed away
that has come from being in the world
as a *doer*
then, my dear
the mind will not be clouded
and driven by that which is empty
in nature
like phantom mist
that rises above the beautiful heart
and enshrouds it's majesty
it is like this with mind
and as a one that is blind
knows not what this world appears like
so a one that is in ignorance knows not the
one
and in himself has no understanding of what
is truly there
under the darkness
but as one that is blind can see when the
blinders are removed
so one that is purified is freed and knows
this life as it is
a clear, tranquil presence
in which all moves within, but truly goes nowhere
not ever away or apart in reality
this is the truth
that there is no death in reality
for all just simply moves and yet
stays eternally grounded in love and light
as God and in God
and never away from God
or the source

why bother with mind
my dear
the heaven and hell realms are what they are
energies that come and go
like all things
not a reality to a one that is free
for this one
is not moved by that which comes and goes
but remains seated where he is
which is in truth
and that which comes and goes plays on
but the mind remains unattached
like a wheel that turns
but remains motionless in the center
do you see this?

My very Self

i met you at dawn in the rising of the sun

i met you in the wondrous seasons that open

with vibrant life 

i met you in love with the other 

and i met you in love with that which

brings pleasure 

i met you on the road by the beggar 

and with the lonely man that sits by himself 

as if he is separate 

then i saw you standing by the road 

and ran to meet you there 

your skin was glowing 

your eyes sparkled with light and love 

and joy fully found 

i went to hold you my dear heart 

and then you vanished like a dream

and i shook to the bones 

and went to walk away 

from you and the world 

and there my soul of all, i found myself

seated within as silent beauty

where is this mind now? 

i know not so much of the time 

yet you shine as all, my dear heart 

my love that i sought out so long 

you shine as this all

in the simple stones that sit silent 

and the vibrating sound that comes and goes 

in the hills that are rich with life so 

beautiful

and the sky too

how it glows of life and of this one 

the rain on the window 

the bursting of rainbow 

the earth rich and sweet 

the song of the bird and the song of the 

train in the morning 

oh life 

i have loved you without realizing 

that you indeed were my SELF 

and that you are what is the best 

the source 

this life, this love 

my very SELF

she rises

when mental waves die 

what is known is that
Kali is the *all*
the seen and the unseen

the pure life force

and is not something to be seen outside 

she is the heart of hearts 

indeed

she is the center of the wheel

and the wheel

and the whole thing

she is not to be left out of the world 

or the mind 

or the single essence 

how can this be?

when her energy is in all hearts 

and in all things 

and there cannot be life without it 

she is the moon in fullness 

and in shadow 

she is the moon on the head of shiva

and the moon in the heaven

and the moon in the rising of truth

like a moon she rises and rises 

to be not hidden any longer 

away from souls that sleep

and he will wake then and know her

as being his own soul

that has no name or face 

but is undressed and perfect 

glowing in the heart 

as his own soul

when mental waves die 

life is not as it was thought 

a life that has within it a burden

of *doing*

this is not right at all, dear souls 

it is like carrying a heavy sack on

your back that is not needed 

so cast it down and let the mind be 

naked 

without this heaviness

then it will be open and free

like God is 

he knows what to do 

and he will do it 

and do it rightly 

for he is pure intelligence 

know this friend 

and be of good heart 

and be of clarity

and stillness

when mental waves die 

there is nothing that needs protection

for what and who is needing protection?

this is very false indeed 

there is not anything to fear when the heart 

is open and rejoicing in the one 

what could be lost?

if one knows well that he is not a body or 

a mind 

and that all comes from the
very same source

which can never, ever die 

what is there to fear?

when mental waves die 

the time of sorrow dissolves 

like a wave into the ocean

but the ocean never knew of the wave 

that felt itself apart 

not ever 

because the ocean is always as one 

and knows this well

so what else is there to know?

when mental waves die 

Christ is not understood any more 

as a story that is to be inspiring or 

feared 

he is enlivened as truth in the heart 

and is known as the source from which

all springs 

not a story of a persona that came to do this 

or that 

he is understood as a one that pointed the way

to the heart 

which is only grace working to bring the shadows 

down 

and lay to rest the motion of thought 

which is dark truly

as it calls the soul to be apart from the light 

which is always and forever here 

in the quiet center

if a seeker stays steady in his own self
this is always the best way of being
for then the mind is not driven to be
involved in every experience that is taking place
it is instead more inward and quiet
as one that is watching the play, the dance
and not judging it with thought
an experience, is simply another passing show
that is not personal (though it may seem so)
it is simply another experience in the flow of
so many that come and go
so what does keeping a distance in the mind mean?
it means that one is attentive to the moment
without attaching to every little thing
and making a story about it
more like a relaxed seeing
as the wheel turns
one is in the quiet center
and not turning with the wheel

in oneness the mind is like a heart
that is in love *with*
this is very beautiful in it's way
as all seems so expansive and open
however, this is not the thing to be attached to
as it has within it seeds of mind
that will bloom again when there is a challenge
to ego
so if oneness comes to you as an experience
just relax into it, as it is simply another passing phase
of the journey
it is not the final end which is liberation
eventually the mind will end as it's energy is
exhausted in the heart
then when the mind is quiet and no longer dancing
and playing it's tune of me and mine
the heart is what remains
it is very simple at this point
it is like a mystery that is left as is
and there is no one left to make up imaginings
about the way things are or are not
because life is not a story
or something imagined and thought about
it is what it is
without personhood and without colorizations
of mind

if a seeker wants the truth
then he does not doubt what he wants
he does not say, "today i am in the way of seeking"
but tomorrow "i don't know"…
this kind of thing is what is called *lukewarm*
it is not a one that is serious or truly wanting
to come to the end of the journey
it is not a bad thing if one is not hungry for liberation
it is best however to be honest with yourself on this
and not play games *as if* one is putting liberation
over all else…
then one can simply live according to the natural
energy and direction that is there
one cannot force this type of thing
it comes in it's time, when the heart and mind are ripe
it comes like anything in nature
when the conditions bloom
then it is not a struggle to stay on course
it is more like a choice less choice
it is there, and it cannot be changed no matter
if one tried
so may there be honesty in the search
as this will bring the best about for the soul
no matter where the mind-set is …
the best will come and bring the direct experiences
that are needed to keep one going …

clear sky

tonite the sky has no clouds
that drift across to cover it's naked light
and the sea sparkles with life so rich
the mountain sits majestic as shiva
and life is revealed to be true and forever,
without suffering