Your Creative Life

A North Star

   Thanks to the miracle of the Internet, I was able to take another look at Scott Peck's classic, The Road Less Traveled. (All my books are in storage, as I patiently wait for two houses to sell so we can purchase a newer, better house - typical.) This book was tremendously important to me because it indicated that there is something to spirit and spirituality. In first reading this book, I think this is where I actually began living a Life in Spirit.

   Surprisingly, Peck talks about discipline. For the past 3 years I've been practicing sitting meditation, thanks to Shambhala Training and to the Centerpointe program of Bill Harris. I've come to appreciate the close connection of the Practical and practice. This morning it came to me that a life in spirit also provides direction, as if I have my own North Star.

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.

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.

Don't Be Afraid of Who You Are

With the practice of sitting meditation, I'm able to begin to have some comprehension of this slogan that is presented in Shambhala Training and written by Chogyam Trungpa.

In meditation I'm able to sit and be with my thoughts, observe how they come and go and are replaced by another thought - a constant stream. This is all there is and I don't have to be afraid of who I think I am.

Time to Review

It's time for me to take a look at what I've learned so far.

• Begin with a question that may turn out to be based on a falsehood.
• Examine core beliefs that don't work.
• Develop a meditation practice.
• Relate everything I do to a higher goal or purpose.
• Acquire the belief that I am connected to a higher power, others and myself.
• Discard the beliefs that I'm not connected, that I'm alone, that I'm not worthy.
• Acquire the belief that I'm creative because I must be/am and that I cannot not be creative.

These compare favorably with Julia Cameron's Basic Principles in The Artist's Way.

Become a Generative Leader

   Become a generative leader. Prof. Ray says that generative leaders pass along their experience of the highest goal and ignite creativity in others. They share the fruits of their quest for the highest goal with others and spread its effect in a beneficial spiral.

  He says further that the ultimate challenge of sharing our gifts is bringing our inner resources, our highest Self out into the world for others. Unless we can find a way to do this at some level, we haven't really achieved the highest goal.

   As we find a way to do this, we begin to receive from others and the universe. As we give and receive, we get into a larger flow than just the flow of absorption in the moment. Our inner resources connect with the systems around us and at the same time these systems nurture us.

   Our quest for the highest goal is fed in a natural way because being in this flow is the highest goal itself. To be of service and make the contribution only we can make to the universe, we must become a generative leader no matter what our role in life.

   We can be a leader to ourselves, to one other person or to the world. But if we start right now with an intention of being generative, of letting our creativity create creativity around us, of giving and receiving, we see remarkable things happen.

Relate from Your Heart

   Relate from your heart. Prof. Ray defines compassion as seeing the highest in your Self first and then seeing the highest in others. He says if we have a full, rich feeling of self-worth, we have already taken the first step toward having compassion. If we see others from this perspective, we begin to change the nature of our relationships for the better. We make connections that move us toward the highest goal.

  He says further that when we experience compassion we experience our vast inner resource in the form of love we have within us. When we experience this we are experiencing the highest goal. This love doesn't come from the other person. It's within us. In fact, he says, a great teacher once said there is enough love in the individual human heart to fill the universe. When we relate with our heart we understand that there is only one way to meet the challenge of relationships with the people in our world: the way of compassion - seeing the highest first in yourself and then in others.

   Somewhat recently I've experienced what Prof. Ray is talking about consequent to sitting meditation. I had been told that I was well-defended by my therapist. I took this as a compliment at the time. I could probably add that I might have been a bit shallow as well. During meditation I noticed that my chest felt like it had been cracked open. I felt joy but also sadness simultaneously. I've come to see this as the experience of compassion. Indeed, my perspective has changed for the better of myself and others.

Turn Fear Into Breakthroughs

   Turn Fear Into Breakthroughs. When we have the grounding of the highest goal, we can see our fears for what they are. Learn from them, and turn their energy into breakthroughs and opportunities of the most lasting kind.

   Prof. Ray says an option is to move toward our fears rather than moving away or fighting them. By approaching them, we get to know them and where they come from. Observe the fear, stay with it, and learn what the most appropriate reaction might be. When fear comes, observe what happens. Note your physical sensation. What can you learn from the fear? It will normally disappear, and the mind becomes clear.

   Sakyong Mipham says in Turning the Mind Into an Ally that many of us are slaves to our minds. Our own mind is our worst enemy. We try to focus, and our mind wanders off. We try to keep stress at bay but anxiety keeps us awake at night. He says further that if we want to undo our own bewilderment and suffering and be of benefit to others and the planet, we're going to have to be responsible for learning what our own mind is and how it works, no matter what beliefs we hold. Once we see how our mind works, we see how our life works too.That changes us.

Find True Properity

   Find True Prosperity. The more we express and experience our highest qualities, the more we are filled with a rich feeling of self-worth, and the wealthier we will become in the truest sense. Find the prosperity that will sustain us through the ups and downs of life and keep increasing, even through difficulties.

   The heart of the challenge is to find true prosperity: In our culture , we look for prosperity outside ourselves, and all the while it waits for us internally. True prosperity is being happy and continuously  experiencing the variety and infinity of qualities that make up our Self. That is the way we can touch the experience of the highest goal. You achieve true prosperity by having a full rich feeling of self-worth.

   Prof. Ray suggests writing a statement of our highest purpose.  Mine is as follows: To be a warrior on the path of service.

   Then respond to the following:

   1. Do only what I love. Now that I'm retired, I can devote my time to a spiritual path.

   2. Love everything I do. If I don't love it, I don't do it. How do I feel inside?

   3. Be conscious of my experience. I can only do this through the practice of meditation.

   4. Get in to the flow of faith, purpose and prosperity. Life has taken on a completely different meaning for me. It's no longer based on the material as a measure of self-Worth. I am worthy, valuable.

Most Meaningful Thing Exercise

   The first question of Prof. Ray's Most Meaningful Thing exercise is: What was the most important, meaningful thing that happened to me this week? I got engaged.

   The second question is: Why was this so important, meaningful to me? I've not been married for almost 30 years and I never thought it would happen.

   Continuing to ask why was this so important? I was able to recognize that it's time for me to do this with this particular person.

   Again, why? Because I'm in love. Why? At 62, time is short.

   Why? Defenses are down. Why? Because I'm able to feel tenderness, an opening heart.

   So, the highest goal for me now is to experience life with an opening heart.

   In future posts I'll look at the 8 steps Prof. Ray presents in his book when we are committed to living with the highest goal in mind. He assures us that if we practice any or all of the steps our lives will be changed for the better forever.