I deeply resonate with the wise words of the author, David Bullon in this passage: " But a silent voice lures me inward. The deep -now seeks to liberate my meaning -seeking mind." I have been learning the value of silence. Our conditioned mind tends to oscillate between past and future and gets away from the deep flow of here and now. The past is already gone and the future is yet to come. The challenge I face is how to remain centered and go with the flow of the here-and-now consciousness. I have been learning not to get attached to the past experiences and the future aspirations. I have learned to be awakened and say good bye to the past and hello to the present. Such an understanding of the deep now helps me to step outside of my echo-mind and go beyond a search for meaning. I realize it is hard to break the old pattrens of dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. I am gald to know that I am on the path of freeing myself from the grip of the past and the future. I have leaned how to live in the here-and-now consciousness. May we all learn how to flow in the river of here-and-now consciousness!
​Namaste!

Below is my reflection to the Sufi teacher Pir Aga Mir's excerpt:
The foundation of all religions is spirituality. If our religious practices are not expanding our circle of empathy, compassion, love and care , what is their purpose? We need to join hands with each other to create Heaven on Earth. Living in Heaven is living a spiritual life here and now. Being contextually relevant means being relevant to the present times, people, and events, and the world at large. Past is gone, future has yet to come. Living spiritually is practicing spirituality in the here and now.
According to my understanding spirituality is responsive, not reactive to what is happening. Reactivity breaks bridges. Responsivity builds bridges. I daily do self-examination to be aware of my inner world: How am I responding to people different from me in many ways? Am I reacting or responding to people with different religious and cultural orientations? With different political ideologies? The world we live in has been divided into different and opposite worlds generating frustration, anger, and hatred-Me against you. Spirituality, not religiosity, can build the bridges. History shows how many religious wars have been created in the name of religion? How many religious conversions have been made by religious leaders? Spirituality unites, religiosity divides. Heart-to- heart connections with open heart and open mind are the ways to build the bridges of compassion and kindness. May we join our hands with each other to create a peaceful and blissful world!

Namaste!

Based on the article by Toko-Pa-Turner, below is my reflection:
I love the wise Statement of Rumi: "Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment". We are on a journey and we need to keep our mind and heart open to see the bewilderment that unfolds spontaneously without preconceived notions. A mind free from the bondage of preconceived notions shines and helps us see the light. When I face a fog of confusion as I move on the path of life, I face it with clarity, calmness and courage. When I bear witness to what is happening in my life, I do not get attached to and bound by my desires and wishes, by ups and downs in my life.
It is very difficult for me to go through pain of several losses of people in my long life. Bearing witness to such losses in my life has been very helpful to me. Witnessing and accepting what is happening in my life has helped me to remain grounded and centered.
Practicing mindfulness with loving kindness, patience and perseverance has been very helpful to me after a long exile.
Namaste!

I love the way Mark Vandeneijnde shows the integration of Head and Heart. I will quote a couple of statements made by the author:
One to listen and one to talk.
​One to think and one to feel.
One to sense and one to see.
One to Do and one to feel.
This saying reminds me of the Zen Koan: What is the sound of one hand clapping? My response to this Zen question is that we need both hands to make the meaningful sound. They are together. By togetherness of sound and silence, a melody of oneness is created. The greeting Namaste comes to my mind as I am reflecting on this writing. By joining my two hands you and I are becoming one, a Divine Union or Unitive Cosmic Consciousness. Like any new significant learning, realizing the Divine Oneness requires time, patience, and perseverance. With non-judgemental awareness I have been able to integrate both head and heart. Practicing Mindfulness Meditation has been very helpful to me to integrate both aspects of the divide. By holding my hands and touching my heart, I am saying Namaste to all!

Below is my reflection to  Eric Jones' inspiring article:

A long time ago I had read that childhood is the fatherhood of a human being. How I am raised as a 2 to 3 year old child lays the foundation of my adulthood. Seeds of "true self" or authentic self are planted in early childhood. Our "true self" is naturally developed by the unconditional love and positive regard by our parents or care takers. If as children we were raised by adults who were raised in authoritarian ways our adult self will be shaped by such experiences. I was raised by parents who were neither authoritarian or "do as you please"- laissez faire ways. They would let me follow my needs, wishes and passion if that way of behaving did not hurt me and hurt others. This way of being raised by my parents created wholesome balance in my life. There are many examples of narcisstic, self-centered and autocratic leaders in the world we live in. It is very important for us as parents to raise our children in loving, caring and authentic ways. This is a challenging task for us as parents or care takers of our children. Family dynamics is very crucial for the welfare of not only families but for the world at large..

Namaste! 

Based on the article written by J. Krishnamurti, here is my reflection to it:

We need to cultivate and embrace radical thinking to create radical changes in ourselves and in the world we live in. Everyday many of our political leaders are planting the seeds of hatred, violence, divisiveness, and disunity. We are in the self-centered destructive race without awareness of the possibility of causing world wide destruction. Seeds of violence and destruction are planted in our minds. The same way, seeds of peace and construction are also planted in our minds. We need to pay our attention and be mindful of what kinds of thoughts and feelings are going on in our minds. It requires radical thinking to transform our vision to see the truth. Listening to the truth is not easy, especially the truth which may be unpleasant or bitter. We need to keep the window of our mind open to see the light of the truth to dispel the darkness of ignorance, bias or prejudice. As I was growing up my father used to tell me in Sanskrit: Yatha dristy tatha sristy: As is my vision is so is my world. This wise saying has been very helpful to me to walk on the path of Truth and Love which liberates us from ignorance and prejudice. Keeping my mind open and free has helped me to live wisely in the world. It is an inner journey of light and liberty. May we all walk on this path of life mindfully and persistently.

Amen!

The opening statement of this article helps me understand the notion of enlightenment. "Enlightenment is like the moon reflected in the water. The moon does not get wet, nor the water is broken." According to my understanding, when one gets enlightened, he does not get attached to that state of consciousness. There are no clouds of attachment. Enlightenment is like the open and clear sky. Enlightenment is not bound by space and time. It is a pure and free state of consciousness. When we get free from the boundaries of mine and thine, me and you, we experience oneness. Enlightenment frees us from the egotistic and divisive mindset. An enlightened being is a member of the universal family, He has attained a unitive pure state of consciousness filled with eternal bliss. I experience glimpses of enlightenment when I am not bound by my self-created bondage. When I let go of my self-created attachments, my possessiveness, my righteousness. When I transcend my self-created boundaries. When I assume and declare that I am a self-realized being and I am not bound by my inflated ego. I am no longer trapping myself by myself. Awareness of my self-created egotistic mind frees from my self-created prision.
​Namaste!