Posts tagged life

“Close your eyes and go into your heart. Tell me when you’re there.”

“Okay, I’m there.”

“Good. Now, visualize some stairs in front of you. Tell me when you see them.”

“I see them.”

“Now I’m going to count the steps. As I count, go up the stairs. Alright?”

“Yes, sir.”

“One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Six… Seven. Stop there.”

“Okay.”

“Now, in front of you should be a ledge overlooking a field of blackness. Do you see it?”

“Yes.”

“Somewhere in that field, you’ll see a point of light. Tell me when you see it.”

“I see it.”

“Good. Go ahead and walk toward that light. Go a little faster as you approach it.”

“Alright.”

“Now step into it. It’ll be bathing you all over. You can’t even tell yourself apart from it, it’s so bright. In fact, you aren’t apart from it, are you?”

“No, sir.”

“That light is the source. You call it whatever you want, but that’s that. Does anything matter there?”

“Well… No.”

“Anyone?”

“No.”

“Is there any separation there?”

“No, sir.”

“And where did you find the source?”

“Uhm…in the darkness?”

“Further back.”

“At the top of the stairs?”

“Before that.”

“Oh…in the heart?”

“Exactly. The source—God, universe, whatever the name—is in your heart. It’s right there. All you’ve got to do is remember it.”

Other people can’t carry your happiness for you—it’s just too heavy. After all, you wouldn’t want to be stuck hauling someone else’s happiness, would you? You are responsible for your happiness! Namaste! :)

“Discretion [is] the better part of valor…” —Chief Justice John Marshall

When your peers try to get you into stupid things, they often mean well. They think they’re being polite and encouraging you to do something enjoyable. However, if you recognize an activity as purely moronic and damaging, it’s absolutely fine to turn down the offer. They might not be pleased, but don’t let the idea of standing up for your own beliefs scare you. At the end of the day, what’s bad for you is still bad for you, no matter how many of your friends are doing it with you!

(That being said, don’t forget discretion. If your peers are trying to get you to, say, get tested for STDs or stop cutting yourself, it may be better to listen. Keeping a good head on your shoulders is the key!)

Loosely translated, “namaste” means “the spirit in me recognizes spirit in you.” It is, beyond its use as a greeting, an acknowledgement of oneness. It says, “I see you for all you are beneath the flesh, and I welcome your presence.” It isn’t necessary to start greeting all of our peers with “namaste,” but maybe we could all use a little more of this attitude in our lives.