Your Creative Life

Be Quiet and Still

Since it's so difficult to be still in this overly stimulated culture of ours, I've chosen to be still as if my life depends on it. A practice and the practical apply.

Here's more from the How to Listen to God pamphlet -

These are the conditions:
- To be quiet and still
- To listen

So, with these basic elements as a background, here are specific
suggestions on how to listen to God:

I . Take Time

Find some place and time where you can be alone, quiet and undisturbed.
Most people have found that the early morning is the best time. Have with
you some paper and pen or pencil.

2. Relax

Sit in a comfortable position. Consciously relax all your muscles. Be
loose. There is no hurry. There needs to be no strain during these minutes.
God cannot get through to us if we are tense and anxious about later
responsibilities.

3. Tune In

Open your heart to God. Either silently or aloud, just say to God in a
natural way that you would like to find His plan for your life-you want
His answer to the problem or situation that you are facing just now. Be
definite and specific in your request.

4. Listen

Just be still, quiet, relaxed and open. Let your mind go "loose." Let God
do the talking. Thoughts, ideas, and impressions will begin to come into
your mind and heart. Be alert and aware and open to every one.

Do Fish Know They Swim in Water?

I'm sure this has been asked before. More appropriate might be do we humans know we are in and of a sea of love. I find this difficult at times to accept or comprehend. I need evidence being of a somewhat legal, analytical mind. (I asked a lawyer once what are the first 4 letters of analysis? The response was delicious).

However, I'm reminded of Chogyam Trungpa's discussions of Basic Goodness and a portion of the pamphlet by Chaplain John E. Batterson:

"These are a few simple suggestions for people who are willing to make an experiment. You can discover for yourself the most important and practical thing any human being can ever learn--how to be in touch with God.

All that is needed is the willingness to try it honestly. Every person who has done this consistently and sincerely has found that it really works.

Before you begin, look over these fundamental points. They are true and are based on the experience of thousands of people.

1.  God is alive. He always has been and He always will be.

2.  God knows everything.

3.    God can do anything.

4.    God can be everywhere--all at the same time. (These are the important differences between God and us human beings).

5.  God is invisible--we can't see Him or touch Him--But God is here. He is with you now. He is beside you. He surrounds you. He fills the room or the whole place where you are right now. He is in you now. He is in your heart.

6.  God cares very much for you. He is interested in you. He has a plan for your life. He has an answer for every need and problem you face.

7.    God will tell you all that you need to know. He will not always tell you all that you want to know.

8.    God will help you do anything that He asks you to do.

9.    Anyone can be in touch with God, anywhere and at any time, if the conditions are obeyed.

These are the conditions: 

·       To be quiet and still

·       To listen

·       To be honest about every thought that comes

·       To test the thoughts to be sure that they come from God

·       To obey."

Being Present

BE GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE

Without this world, we cannot attain enlightenment. Without this world,

there would be no journey. By rejecting the world we would be rejecting the

ground and rejecting the path. All our past history and all our neurosis is

related with others in some sense. All our experiences are based on others,

basically. As long as we have a sense of practice, some realization that we

are treading on the path, every one of those little details, which are

seemingly obstacles to us, becomes an essential part of the path. Without

them, we cannot attain anything at all -- we have no feedback, we have

nothing to work with, absolutely nothing to work with. So in a sense all

the things taking place around our world, all the irritations and all the

problems, are crucial.

  From "Point Three: Transformation of Bad Circumstances" in TRAINING THE

MIND AND CULTIVATING LOVING KINDNESS, pages 88-89 by Chogyam Trungpa.

Being present in the world is a good place. We only conjure that it is not.