The Simplicity
of Wonder
One of the things that our minds do all the time is to decide what is important enough for us to notice and what is not. If we didn't discriminate with our perception, we would get overwhelmed with too much information, so our minds are habituated to helpfully sort the wheat from the chaff, so that we notice what it important to us and not the rest. The trouble with the whole system is that mind (if its running the show) thinks what really matters is anything that is a threat, and what doesn't matter are the things that don't change. Things that change and move and have drama get our attention, while the simple unmoving true nature of the people and things around us are not deemed to be worthy of our attention. Mind is just trying to be helpful, but without the influence of our true Self, no wonder we are having a hard time staying calm! If we can notice this process at work we are well on our way to opening our perception out of its habitual narrowness. We can now intentionally put a portion of our attention on that which doesn't change, even while mind is being riled up about something. We are then open to the incredible peace that radiates from the world that is really here, behind all the thinking. Wonder is the best word that I can think of to describe the way to apprehend the world behind thought--the world as it is before we think about it. To meet the world with wonder is to become like little children. This is the way an innocent child will perceive things for the first time. With the eyes of wonder we see without preconceived ideas that would cause us to no longer notice what is there (and only relate to the labels that we give things). We don't pretend that we know all about what we see. We just see. We just feel. We just know and are known directly and simply. This is an experience of utter simplicity. It is an experience of just being Here and whatever we are perceiving being Here too. As in the photo above, we meet the simple branching of a bush just as it is, without labeling it, comparing it, or deciding whether we like it or not. We meet the simple cup we drink from, the computer in front of us, or the tree outside our window with the wonder of being open to what they are, to what is there and simply being there with them. We meet our own selves the same way. We let it all be here with us, just as it is, and we allow the thought-based world that had shrouded it from our view to become the thing that is barely worthy of our notice.
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At Last!!!
Announcing:
Life Beyond Belief!
I am extremely pleased to announce that "Life Beyond Belief, Everyday Living as Spiritual Practice" has been successfully submitted to the printer and in approximately 2 weeks will be available for shipping! To celebrate this, I have set up the website so that it can now take credit card orders, and also put up a paper order form for those who would prefer to send a check to download. On the Awake Publishing and Wide Awake Living websites the book is discounted from the cover price of $16.95 to $14.00. Also, if you are in the US and order more than two copies, the Priority Mail shipping will be free. The book is not yet on amazon.com or anywhere else. The gathering of endorsements to put in the book has been an incredible experience, and one of the last to come was so lovely that I wanted to share it here: “I love this book. It is down to earth and essential-- where heaven and earth meet!” Gangaji, spiritual teacher and author of many books including The Diamond in Your Pocket, Discovering your True Radiance, You are That and Freedom and Resolve. For those of you who are new to this list, feel free to visit the website for more information on what this book is about. To put it into one sentence, it is about how whatever our religion or spiritual path is, our everyday lives can become our most vital spiritual practice. No longer are our everyday life experiences (like work and family) in the way of being spiritual, they ARE the way! Anyone who wishes to help this book find its way in the world in some way may visit the Awake Publishing Pressroom and access whatever marketing materials I have produced. More will be coming as soon as spirit moves that way. Who knows how to write a press release? I don't, but if spirit could write a book, I suppose it can probably write press releases too. :-) This feels like a birth announcement! Now, will the baby be allowed out to play? We'll see what happens!
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