Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” Confucius
The valley of my soul is the name I gave to this blog the day I tapped into this spiritual realm inside of myself. I was meditating, as I'd done for several years, but something very different happened that Friday morning 57 days ago. Taoism and Zen say that words are inadequate when it comes to this type of spiritual journey. I find that to be so very true. What I am attempting to do with this blog is to explain to you exactly what happens on my meditative journey.
If I could put it simply, I'd say, I get these unbelievable insights. But you'd probably ask - what's that like? It looks something like this. I rise with the sun, drink a sip of coffee (as this isn't a habit I've been willing to let go of - yet!), fall into the hot tub, or not, stumble upstairs, put the sign on my mediation room door "do not disturb meditation in progress", and close the door. Inside the meditation room I prayer for knowledge and wisdom from the universe as to my souls purpose in this life. As this "purpose" is what I've struggled with for years. I have friends who have "callings". What? Who called you and what exactly did they say? Yes, I go there. I've never understood this...but I want one too. Another reason I meditate. I get caught up in wanting things I really don't want...I call it being swept up!
The act of prayer and meditation center me. I pause, regroup, and gain my composure for the day. Some days I do a yoga warm up, or a specific Kundalini Kriya. Today, I just prayed and meditated. Words come, songs come, phrases pop into my head. I sit. I fidget. I let go. I wiggle. I remember how good I feel when I sit long enough for the miracles to happen. Miracles? To me when I meditate and obtain information that some would call wisdom - I believe that is a miracle. Because there's no way I could come up with this information on my own. Sure I read. I read lots of things about spirituality, spirit, soul, meditation, awakenings. But only I know...my mind doesn't ordinarily work the way it does in the meditation room. My favorite thing that happens is I go on this adventure like journey in my minds eye. It unfolds in similar ways almost everyday.
There are obstacles, which I believe are chakras opening. After I get past the obstacles, I come to this meadow. There's a dirt path. A big tree. A medium sized lake, lots of open field and in the backdrop a majestic mountain. I have been in the tree and under the tree. I have walked the path, run the path, and most recently there have been silhouettes on the path before and after me. I have found baskets on the path filled with virtues and once even a cobra was in one of them. I have swam in the lake many times. In there I find past memories, troubling issues, and even a gate to "hell" where I found lost souls. The most amazing thing to me that's happened it that I found a spirit guide. His name is Lagan. It took me awhile to trust him but after a few trips ...I realized that I was gaining knowledge so logical and rational thinking dictated..."why not...why not trust?"
On the path today, Lagan and I walked. He said, "life is an illusion and you are doing a good job." And yes, I answer him and ask lots of questions. This journey I'm on is about finding the right view. In that I will begin to rid myself of ignorance and misunderstanding. My latest awareness is that I have not had much emotional stability in my life but today I have perhaps more than I had yesterday. I have much more compassion due to my new awareness. I see impermanence and can let go of fear. Today I learned that sometimes all one has to do is replace one negative word with a positive one, and the entire world is a better place. "I hate you...I love you". One takes you to the darkness and one hurls you to the light.
After my journey with Lagan I became still, even more still than I already was. I became so peaceful and calm that I saw sound waves emanating from myself like an aura. And this is what I heard, "look at the big picture. SPIRIT, SACRED, SUFFERING, AWAKENING." I have to be honest and say I'm not exactly sure what some of this means on a cognitive level...but I can tell you that the feeling I get is my soul, at the very core of my being - is bliss!
And for that I am eternaly grateful!
