Self-Help

Cool Check

OK — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:47:21 +0000

I don’t know if you’ve ever felt that amazing, soothing cool breeze that flows out of the hands and top of the head after self-realization, but it isn’t just another interesting thing. I’ve known people who’ve felt it clearly and been benefited immensely by the fact, and then somehow forgotten or ignored it.

If you ever get the lucky chance to feel this connection to your subtle self, INVESTIGATE! …
“Hey! Why can I feel a joy-giving coolness flowing from me? It’s obviously not someone doing something to me because I can feel it when I’m alone (and the air-conditioning’s not on). Is there a history behind this phenomena? What is it good for? Can it be increased?”

Our attention is normally sucked so intensely outwards and towards distracting thoughts, that we don’t even know how to watch and enjoy our Selves. Thanks to the revolutionary fact that any human being can now feel the subtlest, life-giving energy that exists everywhere (and no longer just a few enlightened souls), we are in an unprecedented position to manifest all the ideal qualities that can create an existence that truly – well – truly ROCKS!

After meditating this morning, I felt permeated with a sweet, baby-like softness that made my perception clear and my heart sing. The Vibrations were emitting like a seaside breeze. In this state, it’s possible to put the peaceful, steady attention on any problem and spontaneously recognize colorful, doable solutions.

Year after year, it gets better, like an irrigated desert where new life increasingly sprouts into form.

What to say.
Better check it out.

Unexpected internal coolness on a hot Lebanese day

~ self-realization in Raouche, July 2008 ~

the next generation

OK — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:08:05 +0000

A little girl from my hometown spills her heart to the United Nations

and you think YOU’RE having a bad day (5)

OK — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:17:41 +0000

helping hands

OK — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:10:35 +0000

The other morning I went out to our garden for a few moments of meditation before finishing the illustrations for my children’s books. Soon after I sat down on the lawn, I heard scratching sounds coming from inside the metal drain pipe that runs down from the roof. It occurred to me that one of the young birds that recently hatched nearby had somehow managed to get itself trapped in the pipe, and couldn’t fly up to escape. Realizing that it would slowly cook to death once the sun rose, I opened the bottom of the pipe, just below the bend, hoping it would find its way out. A few minutes later I opened my eyes at the sound of frantic wings as the excited bird blasted away into the trees, chirping wildly to its friends about its scary adventure! I’ve never gone out to sit at that particular spot before. How very auspicious.

In a world full of mutual distrust and back-stabbing, it’s an inspiration every time strangers take an opportunity to help each other. I was recently ripped-off by one of those many ‘vanity publishing’ companies out there. (In this case it was Diggory Press, who’s proprietor is being taken to court by many injured writers this summer.) It came as quite a shock to discover that not only was my money up-in-smoke, but that I would not be published in time for my upcoming organized deadlines. Well, as good fortune would have it, my fall was not as hard as it could have been. Through this drama I was lucky to become acquainted with an amiable and enthusiastic educator/writer named Stephen who, with his family, lives on the windswept Atlantic coast of Ireland where he has just started a small but reputable publishing company (CheckPointPress.com). Everything worked out perfectly for me to publish in time, and that with comfortingly transparent, encouraging arrangements.

I just wanted to share these small events to encourage other eager birds like me to keep watch for the helping hand just around the next hard corner.

(p.s.- Something else: Do you usually remember what you just dreamed if you wake up suddenly? I don’t normally remember, but this morning I heard this in deep sleep: ‘There’s a way of waking up in time.’ Then I opened my eyes. Then my alarm rang. There’s a lot that we still have to learn about ourselves.)

Tell it like it is

OK — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:06:03 +0000

Sometimes it becomes necessary to speak out in defense of that which is innocent and good >>>>

don’t dry out

OK — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:33:19 +0000

Mother: “Never mind, dear. You’re too young to understand the difference between heaven and hell.”

Child: “I know the difrinz! Heaven is where you have lots of love and fun, and hell is where everybody just stays serious.”

and you think YOU’RE having a bad day (4)

OK — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:43:30 +0000

reaching in

OK — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:25:36 +0000

Oh, hi – so glad you could drop in!

I was just doing a bit of surfing and was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of messages out there. Unfortunately, those trillions and zillions of statements don’t always steer a person in a constructive direction. The web of words can be our downfall, as our history has so clearly pointed out. If we can just climb up to a higher vantage point to get our bearings, then our life takes on a meaningful pattern and we can head out in the right direction.

As May 5th becomes a specially significant anniversary in the lives of more and more self-realized persons, I would like to offer my best wishes (pure desire) to you on this most illuminating of days. May you have the personal, golden opportunity to reach into the Source – into the Silence – where peace and clarity will recharge your worn batteries. Welcome to the soothing Sahasrara.

As-Salamu Alaykum

defeating that which crushes your enthusiasm

OK — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:34:32 +0000

enthousiasmos, from enthous ‘to be one with a god; inspired’

I spent the first half of my life half alive. Looking back down from the high hillside of middle age, I begin to really appreciate the inner security that has come with years of daily meditation and introspection. Twenty-six years ago today I stepped out of a self-dug grave and made my way steadily into that sunlight which shines deep inside each of us. There have been many milestones on this path; solid, comforting indications that inner progress has been made and maintained.

Like the nightmare I had recently – a real classic, subconscious horror-thriller. I was in a haunted house, actually descending into it’s bowels in a dark elevator with an unseen monster gripping my throat. (The result of a bit of undigested pizza, or the b-movie I watched before sleeping?) I don’t know about you, but when this sort of slide into the extreme left ballpark sometimes occurs, the inevitable result is always sheer panic and helplessness. Imagine my surprise when I heard myself casually remark, C’mon – gimme a break, will ya’? as the vicious creature whimpered away and the lights went on. Somehow, you just suddenly realize that a high percentage of your inferior attitudes (and ensuing aggressive frustration) is in fact just fog giving you a false impression about yourself. Through the peaks of clarity reached with regular meditation, and recurring indications of being established on ever higher levels of stability, your true, lucky state of being becomes obvious (outshining those occasional glitches that blur the inner widescreen, high-definition view of your self.)

It’s amazing to feel how quickly the enthusiasm for living life to its fullest increases as soon as the troubling illusions of self-doubt vanish in the light of your true Self. Agreed, it takes some time to establish the stability of this clarity, but getting there is practically effortless – it just takes some patience and a turn of the key to get the process rolling; and then a keen inner eye to discern what’s real. The automatic, benevolent attitude is then your new Mercedes-Benz for traveling on to unexpected, inspiring landscapes.

(Sketches by Ziya Dikbas – inspired by my recent, inner-breakthroughs)

and you think YOU’RE having a bad day (3)

OK — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:01:43 +0000