Spiritual Genius

 If you are seeking, seek us with joy

    For we live in the kingdom of joy.

    Do not give your heart to anything else

    But to the love of those who are clear joy,

    Do not stray into the neighborhood of despair.

    For there are hopes: they are real, they exist –

    Do not go in the direction of darkness –

    I tell you: suns exist.

    - Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

Several years ago, I was taking a yoga class from Nancy Long, Yoga Teacher Extraordinare, who introduced her students to numerous poets, one of such was Rumi.  I loved him immediately. 

Jalal-ud-Din Rumi lived to be 66 years old, passing on December 17, 1273.  He was a great Sufi mystic and poet spending his life in Turkey.  Now 700 years later, Rumi is recognized in the West as easily as in the East.  According to Andrew Harvey, "Rumi is being recognized as the unique spiritual genious he is, as someone who is fused at the highest level and with the greatest possible intensity the intellect of a Plato, the vision, passion and soul-force of a Christ or Buddhas, and the extraordinary literary gifts of a Shakespeare."

Rumi's works have been translated by many, but most importantly, perhaps, by Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, and Jonathon Star.  Andrew Harvey writes, "No other poet or philosopher of whom I know has Rumi's almost frightening intimacy of address, and no one I am aware of in any civilization have conveyed the terror, rapture, and wonder of awakening to Divine Love with such fearless and gorgeous courage, such humility and such unflinching clarity."  (Andrew Harvey quoted from THE DAILY OM)

If you are wondering what to do with those Amazon or Barnes & Noble  gift cards,
check out the many works of Rumi.  He makes for a wonderful companion on a long and cold winter night.  He will reach out to you from every page and you will hear him in every word.  He is a presence not to be ignored.

  .  

Going Within ...

It takes a sensitive ear

to tune in to the

silence of the heart,

but it is there in each one of us.

The Daily Om

Nurturing Body, Mind, & Spirit

There was an earlier time when I believed enlightenment could only be experienced in a mountain monastery or in the presence of a spiritual guru. After years of seeking, I slowly discovered enlightenment residing inside of myself.  

Resources are wonderful ... books, lectures, trainings, mystical experiences ... but you can save a lot of money and time if you simply go within as you already have everything you need.  You just need to quiet your mind and listen.

Simply light a candle sitting comfortably in a chair.  Let your mind be distracted by observing the dance of the flame.  Breathe deeply and slowly while your heart opens spreading love throughout your body.  Feel the calm melting away thoughts and fears.  It is within this created space where silence resides.   Your body relaxes into this solitude and you can hear your heart speak ... maybe without words, or with color and images, senses or feelings, or a strong impression.

It is best to have no expectations and to keep an open mind.  Results may not be noticed for several hours.  If you fall asleep during the process, your heart still speaks as your spirit listens.

Try to maintain an awareness afterwards in order to recognize the synchronicity this experience provides