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As we become more conscious we become active seekers of Truth. In the quest to know and understand Truth, interesting questions arise. And, many seekers come to this same enquiry: Am I expressing truth or belief? One enquirer recently asked:

“My partner and I have been discussing beliefs and thoughts… I was saying something that felt to be from my heart, to be a truth from somewhere higher than my belief system.

Could that be so, or is everything expressed a belief”?

This important enquiry points to the core and intention of enlightenment. The path to enlightenment involves the process of shedding our beliefs about the world and the identity we have constructed with thoughts and formed beliefs. Almost everything that everyone experiences in human consciousness is driven by the ganglia of our thoughts and beliefs.

Yet some people, instead of following the usual mode of behaviour, have committed to surrendering to the silence within — the pure realm of consciousness itself — the beingness that is simply witnessing. Like Buddha, each of these people have reflected a clear state of pure awareness: a way of experiencing the world that is free of our projected opinions and beliefs.

Such beings demonstrate that it is possible to become the living expression of ‘isness’. The more we release our attachment to thoughts and beliefs the more we become a witness to simply what IS.

Imagine two people walking through a forest. A, with an open heart, is deeply breathing in the now, all senses alert to the experience. While B is in the mind, occupied with the noise of mental assessment and sub-conscious thoughts: “trolls live in forests, I get cold in forests, these trees are bigger than the trees in my backyard…” blah blah blah – on and on.

Neither A nor B has to have thoughts or beliefs about the trees for the trees to exist. The trees simply are their own perfect moment and being. And both A and B have a level of their own being which is simply aware of the trees.

A can be so alive to this, so in contact with this, that in a moment, filled with the delight of pure witnessing, A may speak of the encounter. In this instance the mind is simply an instrument: a voice for pure witnessing. Awareness precedes the mind. The mind follows the state of simple awareness.

B can be so sure of what the trees mean to him that he generates within himself (from memory) the emotions that correspond with that meaning. He has lost touch in that moment with the state of direct awareness of the trees that always exists within him. Instead he is engaged with his ideas about the trees. Like A he may speak of this. Yet, for B, it is thought that precedes the statement. The statement is a product of the mind.

There is a great distinction between these two states and yet, for many seekers of Truth, this distinction seems blurry and the enquiry continues.

Even whilst the enquiry continues, we have been blessed with various individuals who are the living testament of our ability to live and breathe as heart awareness. This reminds us all that everyone has the capacity to experience and express a dimension of life that is free of our projected thoughts and beliefs. Such a life is innocent, alive, flowing and radiating with a delight that reaches out beyond any definition — yet still one which we can celebrate in the moment through the voice of our heart. As each individual surrenders deeper into the presence within and the ‘isness’ of the moment, the heart of Truth is encountered. It awakens a gift within – the ability to feel and express the love, lightness and joy of life’s Truth.

Here is a question that has come in from one of the readers that I hear very often.

“How do we instantly drop or see through the ego? How do we “relinquish the stranglehold of the ego”?

Well firstly we have to let go of false expectations to be able to look at our hopes in the right context. The bad news (to the ego!) is that there is no instant solution to the habits of ego. It is not possible to attain an instant cure all for the ego.

Having said that, it is possible to experience a state of freedom from the ego in THE NOW. The more we can centre our self in the state of awareness in the now – the more we become the habit of centred awareness. With centred awareness we loosen the stranglehold that the ego seems to have in our life. With centred awareness we see the ego for what it is – we see through and beyond it.

Naturally this takes a degree of vigilance. We must be able to engage with activities that help us to be centred in the now. Sadly though, most people will still be centred in their thoughts whilst thinking they are paying attention to the moment. Yet whilst the mind is still in dialogue about life or labelling and defining what is happening in the moment the ego is still holding the power.
Being occupied and driven by the mind is the bane of spiritual freedom. It is the construct of our thoughts and how deeply we identify with this construct – and give it belief – that keeps the ego so well rooted.

One of the most simple, immediate and powerful things we can do to disperse the ego’s apparent grip is to centre our self in our breath.

Why? Firstly – the breath has no opinion. The breath is a flow of life force that corresponds with the freedom and pure being of the living moment. It is within us and therefore not a power that is somewhere else, outside, in another person or a separate power. Breath connects us to a state of awareness. This awareness simply is. It is consciousness: un-opinionated, unformed by any identity, agenda or story. Scientifically it is proven that meditative breathing corresponds with a very different state of awareness – which the masters know as the pure Self.
Simply allowing our self to be present to our breath allows us to become still and for the mind to slow down. This is aided further if we have a method that helps us to create a deeper, slower rhythm of breath. I recommend you watch the video clip The Breath of Life  sometime.

Different methods can help release the more deeply rooted habits and blocks caused by ego identification. And, by constantly coming back to your breath you can establish a different habit – really being present in the now without the interruption of the ego.

Try it now – in the next few moments. Just bring your attention fully into the centre of your breathing for a few minutes and allow your self to simply be aware of the moment. Even if this only lasts for a few moments you will notice how clear and light you feel. The weight of the ego vanishes. Why? Because what you think is the ego has no inherent reality. The moment you allow yourself to just connect with what IS you experience your true nature: simply that which is Presence… consciousness… life.

Happy Breathing!

Isira.

P.S. You might like  to join to receive mail outs. I send out a regular heart letter – in which I look into all sorts of priceless tips and practical steps that can help you strengthen your awakening process.
 

Isira teaches a simple and effective breathing technique which can be applied daily.To find out more about the upcoming Breath of Life program, please go to our Events Schedule

 

 Isira speaks on breath [2:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Those of you who pay any attention to the media tabloids would be well aware of the vast array of articles on the topic of sexual offences.

Although it is constant and common to hear of these issues in our society it is very rare for us to take a closer or deeper look at why we see so many issues of perversion, violation and obsession.

Fundamental to all human issues is the inherent lack of understanding of our true self. In this undeveloped and ignorant state we are sorely lacking in social education that helps us grow from youth to adulthood with a deep sense of awareness, integrity and wholeness.

Our indigenous cultures called this rites of passage. It helped every child become acquainted with themselves and with life – exploring all of the wonders, powers and limitations of what it means to be human in every way – and most significantly, in a sacred way. These passages involved a process of cultivating profound respect for our self, each other and life. It allowed each child to embrace themselves first as a child of creation, then as an integral part of a working whole – within family and nature, then as a being of beauty, then as a responsible and valued person, then as a sexual being, then as a creative being, then as a nurturing adult, then as a keeper of wisdom with the responsibility to pass on these sacred ethics. And more specific to sexual development, it was honoured and regarded as something sacred, natural, powerful and beautiful. It was embraced within the holistic framework of what it means to be human. Each person had a deep and fundamental understanding that simply, as a human being they are worthy, beautiful, valuable and powerful.

Our modern society teaches us from the very early stages of development that sex is our most powerful and important quality. If you are sexy you are happy. If you are sexy you get what you want. If you are sexy you will succeed. If you are sexy you are valuable. It’s in our advertising every where, every day. It’s in our music. It’s in our fashion. It’s in our art, our sport and entertainment. It’s everywhere we turn. We have sexualized our humanness. And even more sadly, if you look at our children’s clothing, advertising, music and toys – you see it there too. At a sub-conscious level it drives our most powerful emotions and needs. Yet we are also taught overtly and subtly – that sex is bad, a taboo, something to be ashamed of. These two opposing messages are continuously vying for a position and in the middle is the unaware child, a fragile being absorbing the profound struggle of this contradiction. So is it any wonder as adults our society is sexually disturbed?

I am not suggesting that we can go back to indigenous living. I am suggesting that we need to find a way to renew our developmental experience. And for that we can draw upon the wisdom of our natural cultures. We need to cultivate a way for our children and society to re-unite with the sacredness of being human. Our children and people of the earth need to, once again, feel and know their true nature. We need to share in the power, the purpose and value of what it means to simply be human. We need to cultivate a life of sacred awareness. And we need to give it to our children NOW.

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Life is a blessing in every moment. No matter where we are, or what is occurring, the gift of life is still our cradle. Acknowledging and having gratitude for this opens us deeply to the experience of life truly as a miracle. When we lack this acknowledgment, when we are closed to the gratitude and recognition of the opportunity before us, we obstruct our experiencing of the miracle of life.  

Right now, in this eternal life presence, a miracle is occurring, an infinite miracle, an eternal miracle. Yet with a mind that sees life through the ego, structure, form, story and identity dominate. With this perception, it seems miracles are few and far between. And even those miracles that occur are taken for granted or seen as insubstantial.

Mankind’s greatest obstruction to experiencing the miracle of life is in the misperception of the ego that clings to the idea of life in very limited constructs. In this dependence on structure most of humanity is reliant, addicted to order and organising through mind and form. The ego’s habit is to continually recreate experiences equating greater joy, fulfilment, success, security, pleasure and the idea of unity through the mind’s constructed conditions – a false idea of security and happiness which results in cycles of struggle.

Yet when we relinquish this stranglehold of the ego the weight of our struggles are lifted. When we settle into our deeper heart’s presence, free of the stories, our life seems to be filled with miracles. Actually, it’s not really that life is suddenly miraculous. It’s that once we remove the veils we can see life as it truly is. And when we see life as it truly is we live in synchronous wonder.

For more details about Isira Click here