Monday, April 11, 2011

Primum Non Nocere

copyright2011 Danise Codekas

“Of one thing we can be sure: our own future is inseparable from the larger community that brought us into being and which sustains us in every expression of our human quality of life, in our aesthetic and emotional sensitivities, our intellectual perceptions, our sense of the divine, as well as in our physical nourishment and bodily healing.”-Thomas Berry, The Great Work - p. 162

These weeks are challenging me to look at things in a different way. To let go of that which no longer serves my evolvement into something which I can not foresee in the present. Moments when anger, frustration, fear and despair overwhelmed me. Finding the meaning behind the situations proved futile and I had to let go of the rationalization seeking of my efforts.

So, I washed my kitchen floor, on my hands and knees and began washing the floor. Even that, proved a challenge since the new twisty mop I purchased, fell apart in my hands. It was with a sponge and a cleaning brush, I crawled across the white linoleum floor with for an hour.

House cleaning is one of my least favorite activities. My house cleaner moved away and her replacement not found. As I remember words of my aunts and grandmothers, deep cleaning was something different from just cleaning, vacuuming and dusting. Last week I learned what deep cleaning meant and it had nothing to do with floors, cabinet doors and wood floor polishing. It had to do with my mind, and my heart, deep cleaning the dross within me.

Joel J. Miller says that kneeling in prayer has a qualitative  effect on ourselves and our prayers. Was the urge to wash my floor a nudge from God, that I needed to pray instead of worry? Working out issues in my life, the deep, exhaustive life-changing issues, has always come about through walking, swimming, dancing, or manual labor.

My cellular memory and cleansing requires that I move my body, in a way, that has not been done for a long time. Like raking leaves, shoveling gravel, waxing the car, using movement which re-align chakra connection and bring healing. The actions cleanse organs, muscles and alignments which have sat and absorbed the fear, or stresses, of everyday life.

mandala_pathRemembering that I need to turn to my body for release and activation, which brings resolution, through the physical, rather than the mental, is sometimes the last thing, I do, during transformative processes. I prefer to stay in my head to solve things, forgetting it is my heart and love which gives the answer, through the body.

It is through the body that release comes, clearing the way for peace and clarity. Combined with yoga and mediation, physical labor satisfies and activates movement in a life, which is stuck.

I forget,sometimes, that I am of the earth and like the earth need self-made earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic explosions to clear, re-balance and cleanse when the mind no longer manumits me from my fearful quandaries and everyday challenges.

Your ego is just an idea implanted in your mind. It is poisonous. Your ego keeps driving you madder and madder. - Osho

My anger exploded the night before, with my sister. My dear,sweet, wise sister who came as an angel of transformation to effect my self-indulgent reality. Horrified at my actions with her, realizing she was right to say I was angry, began the earthquakes of transformation. She held up a mirror, in which I saw my anger and I am thankful she was brave enough to do that for me, with love in her heart.

I think, many times in our lives ,we are reminded, by these avenging angels, that there is more good in our lives, than our egos hide from us, during times of challenge. They swoop in and make us face the truth about ourselves and jump start our transformative changes. They are very brave and should be thanked for their self-less dedication, to our release from pain.

This cosmic time is one of transformation and re-alignment with our soul purpose. It divides us between those who will help the earth and all upon it from those who seek to abuse and destroy. The evidence of your perfidy and abuse of what has been entrusted to you, as a guardian of its treasures, challenges everything you have believed to be yours by right, and that which you claim to own.

It is personified in how you use your money, who and what you are connected to ,through contract or vow, and whether you ignore your soul’s purpose vs. a false image, you wish to uphold before humanity.

All the barriers, beliefs, false gods we have bowed to or sought after, are arising before us, in their true nature, and we are horrified with that which we have supported, and upheld, as previously thought and acted upon.

They are our creation and now, as we come into awareness, we are forced to release them, walk away from these situations, and become the all-knowing, powerful, aware beings we have come here to be: spiritual beings in human form.

In some wonderfully challenging, gift from the cosmos, we are all being asked to Do No Harm, in all parts of our lives, NOW. Not only must we do no harm to ourselves, by word, deed and thought, we are also being directed to Do No Harm to other sentient beings on earth, throughout the universe.

Without the soaring birds, without the great forests, the free-flowing streams, the sight of the clouds by day, and the stars by night, we become impoverished in all that makes us human -The Great Work - p. 200 , Thomas Berry

Those deeds and people in our lives, that cause us harm, pull us from peace, an must be released, if we wish to evolve into the beings we have been from the moment, of our first breath on earth.

The pain we bring upon ourselves, continuing down paths which bring us no blessings or love, are being ripped from us, in order to re-balance our lives and the earth.

Many times, those who we have chosen to be with in our lives, must be released, in order for our evolvement and theirs. The work we do, the houses we live in, the people we are engaged to, the contracts we have signed, no longer serve us, nor our soul’s purpose.

The embarrassment, fear, and despair we feel because of what we are letting go, is only in our heads. It is ego. It no longer serves. It is a false idea that we have failed, or that we are being denied a dream. The dream is not who you are, it is a false dream and we are awakening from it now, en mass. Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere).

The longing of the mind is to be extraordinary. The ego thirsts and hungers for the recognition that you are somebody. Somebody achieves that dream through wealth, somebody else achieves that dream through power, politics, somebody else can achieve that dream through miracles, jugglery, but the dream remains the same: - Osho

Monday, April 4, 2011

Meditation and Creativity

Danise Codekas copyright 2011

When a problem first arises, try to remain humble and maintain a sincere attitude, and be concerned that the outcome is fair.--Dalai Lama

I spent last week with one of my meditation gurus, who was visiting from India. Sunday morning, we went to one of my favorite places, for a talk on the affairs of life, and to meditate in the wilderness.

Walking through the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (http://www.fws.gov/Nisqually/), which is where I spend my morning walks, when the beach is too wild, I re-dedicated myself to my 2 daily meditation practices.BW hightide-nisqually

I first studied Eastern meditation, when I lived on DuPont Circle, in D.C., with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. His popularity grew when The Beatles lived with him, in India. The event catapulted meditation, into Western mainline consciousness.

 

 

Before Maharishi, I lived in South America and had the good fortune to be taught different healing/meditation techniques by shamans.

Since Maharishi, I was trained by Tibetan monks and studied with them for many years. There was also an Indian teacher, revered in the world, I followed for a while. That experience revealed the darker side of spiritual mentors’ egos and one that was needed, by me. Darkness likes to hide behind light and always uses bits of truth to fool.

Sunday was a healing experience. I was reminded of the deep, serene feelings, the basis of which, heightens awareness, when around spiritually guided humanitarians.

IMGP0303

 

Walking along the Nisqually Reserve, we talked about simplistic things that have little voice in daily conversation. God, refugees, love, compassion, death, regrets and forgiveness.

A three hour walk, with a humble Tibetan monk, re-calibrated my energy.Meditating in the deep forest, the true nature of life, crystalized into peaceful acceptance of what I am now.

 

Today, Monday, I am back in the world with my car’s Engine Light on. Ascertaining the proper fluid levels, and re-tightening the gas cap, did not extinguish the light.

I know, it is good to have modern cars which speak silently, in warning. Wednesday, the dealership will lay its experienced hands, using wise minds, interpreting the yellow light’s radiant exclamation point.

Trying to extract a resolution, before I learn my lesson, from this event, is futile. There is always a lesson when the world throws a glitch into one’s life. What the lesson is will be revealed, at the proper time. IMGP0306

The way I run my life and my business is based on ancient teachings from the Vedas, Tibetan scriptures, Biblical commandments and Hopi,Mayan,Kabbalah, and Astrological interpreters.

 

 

The guides are there, for me, and yet, free will determines my response to their guidance. A stupid action or word will slip me off the easy path, into murky waters.

I like to throw the I Ch'ing, once in a while. So I thought I would ask about the meaning of the car issue today. Here is the response:

What is the meaning of the car issue?

Yang (New)
Yang (New)
Yin (New)
Yin (New)
Yin (New)
Yin (New)
The present is embodied in Hexagram 20 - Kuan (Contemplation): He should be like the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not yet presented his offerings. There must be sincerity and an appearance of dignity, commanding reverent regard.

The situation is expected to remain the same in the immediate future.

The things most apparent, those above and in front, are embodied by the upper trigram Sun (Wind), which represents penetration and following.

The things least apparent, those below and behind, are embodied by the lower trigram K'un (Earth), which represents docility and receptivity.

So, I wash my hand of the car worry, and will not run rabid with worry about the car, and honor the mechanics who will give me wise counsel, this Wednesday. Until then, I will write, clean the refrigerator, and be thankful, of these two days, of quiet and meditation.  IMGP0337

I have two choices:

(1) be a stressed car owner

or, with dignity,

(2)accept the opportunity to spend more time meditating.

 

 

 

The knowledge needed to identify and repair the problem is already in universal consciousness, and all will be well on Wednesday.  I send beforehand gratefulness to the mechanics who will repair my golden steed.

“Cultivating an attitude of compassion and developing wisdom are slow processes. As you gradually internalize techniques for developing morality, concentration of mind, and wisdom, untamed states of mind become less and less frequent. You will need to practice these techniques day by day, year by year. As you transform your mind, you will transform your surroundings. Others will see the benefits of your practice of tolerance and love, and will work at bringing these practices into their own lives.”--Dalai Lama