Living Post Oneness Deepening

I completed the Oneness Deepening Course at Oneness University (OU) March 23 - April 20 2013.
When I got Home I was busy explaining to people what I had been thru. I talked about the climate in India, the food at OU, the Sadhanas and other aspects of the course. I always ended every conversation with a statement that I was glad I went, that I was called to OU by Bhagavan and that my mind had become "De-Clutched". I had a quiet inside of me that I had not know and that I appreciate everyday. I do not have chatter which leads to suffering any more...I have quiet and then purpose when I need it to accomplish tasks. It's been interesting to play with whether my thoughts are purpose driven or "chatter".
I believe the latter is the case. Thoughts come up about what I need to do. Is this my mind trying to regain it's foothold in me again? and maintain itself? I have a marvelous sense of purpose when I do anything that I relish..this makes doing even mundane tasks easier. They are easier because I am just in the act of doing them, not complaining in my mind and heart about the fact that I have to do them...not blaming anyone or chastising them that my doing something is their fault...This is something that Kumargi said would be the case and so far he is right...being liberated from Work. I have been doing Seva in the form of Oneness Awakened Deekshas via Livestream and I held a community night recently for Oneness people in my area to begin building community in the way that Doug said we should be doing it..I'm going to Whole Foods this week to investigate getting on their calendar to do Oneness presentations. I've been doing these things which are enriching to me but they don't maintain my connection with the Divine the way that focused prayer and daily ritual do. This requires time that is spent with intent towards doing this. If I do this, everything else goes more smoothly and my feeling of the connection with Bhagavan and my Antaryamin remains solid and grounding. Bhagavan walks with me each day, all day long and guides me. I am still a human being with flaws and am working to understand where I am going with all this. At times I feel scared that I will lose my connection. As the presence of OU fades over time. I remember the people who were there with me and how I respected them so much for having had the strength to complete the deepening. I appreciated their presence but was going thru my process and with Moana and cultural differences only formed close ties with a few.
I am away from a larger group of people to maintain a connection to Oneness with outside of a gathering that takes place every Tuesday night in a town close by. Thank God I have that!...While the solitude is difficult it also affords me the time to see who I am and to continue this work of Awakening.
I know I was awakened, They told me I was awakened..I believe that I was awakened, I feel it deep within me every moment, I have been changed. I was with many people and doing my process, now I am not with many people but am still doing my process..it's different and I don't have the guides and the energy at OU to help me. I have to believe in myself and that I can do this. The guides told us to allow this to develop and run it's course over the next 6 months to a year...well I'm doing this...and it's hard because I don't have any knowledgeable people to bounce ideas off of or to provide coaching...Maybe I'll reach out to others for sharing and feedback. 

When Family Works

Family's are interesting groups...Nuclear, Blended, Extended...societal...family's that we belong to because of our status and pursuits in life. Some family's we revel in..some family's give us daily support and nurturance, Some Family's we don't know we're a part of..but are...some families are very loose knit...we are a part of them thru business..Some family's we'd rather not be a part of but are..but one thing is clear...we cannot not ever be in these groups..some are derived at birth these we are a part of and we cannot escape that we are related. We can however choose not to be in these families or minimize our exposure to them. The fact that we have these familial relations doesn't mean we have to maintain or nuture them. Family's are working systems and members have responsibilities that must be upheld in order for the family to be functional and nurturing. We are lucky to have family's when they work. When they do..there is nothing that is more supporting and loving in our lives. The fabric of families is diverse...it can look one way one day and look like a different fabric the next...Life causes these changes sometimes..sometimes the universe has it's hand in weaving the color and textures of these "Cloths". The fabric of family's is leaving and breathing..The threads in the cloth are the family members. Each thread changes as needed depending on it's path and direction...so the color of the cloth changes...family members must be aware that they are part of something bigger and that they have a duty to maintain the strength of the cloth by staying strong alone and for the other threads when needed. When all threads are strong on their own and they are strong for the others, the fabric of the cloth and therefore the family stays strong providing love, humor, good times, solace and support in bad times.
-Blessings-

Moving from Work Life to a Self-Directed Life

There are stages we all go thru during our life. For the most part I don't believe we are aware of how we move from age  to age, year to year, we just do it. There are many things to consider in this day and age. What do we do for a living? Where do we live? What do we eat? How much energy does it take to get through each day? The internet is a huge distraction as is TV. These issues are not the totality of what people have to deal with each day. They are just a few...I mention them to highlight things that enable us to move thru our lives without being aware of what is taking place....You hear people say..Wow! where did the time go?...It's a blurr...

I retired from my day job of 38 years recently and have been faced with the recognition of who I was, who I am...and who I want to be...The transition from an identity that was deeply ingrained with fixed time constraints to an open ended landscape has been interesting. The proverbial "forks in the road" and having to decide which ways to go. At this time perhaps due to my age and more experience with life than in past decades, or the fact that I am not raising a family any longer I am able to face conditions and choices in a straightforward manner. I can now do the cause/reaction review of options more clearly. I have been thru periods of being off balance and un-clear as I adjust to this new landscape. Some things have been reviewed easily and decisions made that are valid. Other adjustments have caused a malaise that has been depressing and morose in the feelings that have come up as i have sat in the bubbles that questions put you in while you are "sitting in them"...Your wife, family and friends cannot help you when you are in the bubble...it is so immediate and calling of demons so deep that they cannot be put into words to facilitate discussion. They are sometimes too private to share.

At these times of flux and instability I have found that recognition of what is good in my life and what "was" good about me is still present...there are things about you....good things, that are still there....don't forget this..you are not someone new..you are the same person you have been... remember this before you allow yourself to fall completely in to the "Abyss"..You are creating your new reality..which will be made up of many things you were AND where you want to go.

Personal Courage will help you to get thru this.Trust yourself...you are not MAD!! you're are just treading new ground. This is not easy!...Have courage that you will make the right the right decisions..they are yours to make and adjust as needed. Give it time! don't rush it...You are in the drivers seat. You steer the car. You can change things much as you add salt or other seasoning to any good recipe...Creating each day is challenging when you've been reporting to work M-F for a long time...In the beginning it is like a breath of fresh air..."I don't have to go to work!" feels great when you wake up...You have new enthusiasm with this..you have energy...it sustains you and gets you thru these days...the newness wears off...it then changes to "I don't have to go to work" what am I going to do?  This is where the rubber meets the road! What ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
What do you want to do? what should you do? Do you have obligations that you have created? I am involved with business startups. These always need tending to...and I reached a point where I was feeling overwhelmed and like I used to feel at my day job...mostly resentful..I wasn't self - moderating  and making deliberate choices about what I would do.

Self-discipline is so useful in these matters. Consistency with variation (as needed) is the key...oh yeah...keep guilt in check when you decide what to spend your time on....There are so many "You Better's", "Your Supposed To's" or "You Cant's" that come up...recognize if they are affecting you and more importantly, if you agree with them. Throw them out if needed.

A good friend of mine gave me a saying that is proving to be helpful.."FEAR IS NOT PRODUCTIVE" FEAR DOESN'T HELP WITH ANYTHING!! across the board...I say this with full belief. Living without FEAR and GUILT is hard. Try it.

A close connection with your Divine can assist greatly as you transition to a self-directed life. Drawing on strength from the Divine and FAITH helps to get you thru.

I am now practicing the following in my daily life (Not necessarily in the order given)

1. Time each day for exercise and health related matters
2. Time each day for business pursuits
3. Time each day for meditation/spiritual time  
4. Time for Fun and or study
5. Afternoon Napping time
6. Time with my Wife and fostering that relationship.
7. Recognizing the importance of ALL my family relationships
8. Maintaining an awareness that I am driving my life and and where it goes

I hope this article has provided some ideas to consider as you transition from your work life to spending your days in a self-directed fashion. -Blessings-