JoyChats

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Prior to 1997 I had lived a successful and jet setting life  with homes in Seattle, WA and Melbourne, Australia ... no financial worries ... a seemingly good marriage ...  and many material comforts  ... a life deeply immersed in the highly creative and lucrative world of hi-tech business ...  so at one level all seemed to be going great ... however, there was an undeniable sense of "something missing" or life being "somewhat hollow" ...

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This feeling had been with me since 1987 ... at times it was dormant but gradually it increased in intensity and ultimately demanded my full attention. Not surprisingly '87 is when I started exploring various Eastern and Western wisdom sources for example ... The Bhagavada Gita, The Vedas, Mystical poets like Rumi, various realized beings with their teachings ... Psychology, particularly Carl Jung's work, ... Stan Grof the founder of Transpersonal Psychology, ... and the eminent mythologist Joseph Campbell. And over the years I participated in various workshops, seminars, and retreats ... My journey also led me to the Amazon and some other intriguing, fascinating, and sacred places.

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Spiritual nourishment seems to be a fundamental human need.  It doesn't matter where this nourishment comes from ... what form it takes ...  it is provided for by every culture or mythology ... for example, the Chinese Oracle, I Ching, talks about two such wells of nourishment: an external well like the I Ching and an internal well which "must be our own good character."

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I Ching, is an invaluable and impeccable ... external source of wisdom and advice. It serves this purpose .. eminently ... and has done so for thousands of years. Of course, I Ching has most certainly served as a wise counsel for us over the years. We use it on a regular basis to remind us of the "proper principles." One can develop a deeply meaningful and highly personal relationship with this Oracle if it is followed and used sincerely and honestly. This task may be easy for some and difficult for others but it is certainly doable.

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery.

" ... When every hope is gone, "when helpers fail and comforts flee," I experience that help arrives somehow, from I know not where. Supplication, worship, prayer are no superstition; they are acts more real than the acts of eating, drinking, sitting, or walking. It is no exaggeration to say that they {thoughts of God} alone are real, all else is unreal. ..."

That is a quote from Gandhi.

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Gandhi's words are, of course, profoundly true ... They also remind me of the Sufi zikr "La Illaha Il Allahu" which means "There is no reality but God; There is only God." 

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery.

Enlightenment is a big topic ... I normally hesitate using the word ... or even defining it because it is easy to get caught in the definitions debate of why what how etc ... nonetheless let's explore a little ...

With this episode #13, we continue our journey of  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

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Lets continue the theme from our last episode re "being in the world."

In our own journey, two key principles have stood out over the years: acceptance and dissolving comparison.

With this episode #10, we continue our journey of  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

We've talked about Permanence, Transience, Awareness, Seeking, Seeker's syndrome, Silence, and Self-Inquiry. Of course, a follow on question that may arise is ... how do we live our life in this world ? how do we navigate the multitude of matters that are a natural part of our human experience? ... matters that range from joyful to sorrowful and all that's in-between.

With this episode #9, we continue our journey of  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Today I want to offer certain paraphrased quotes from the wise ones who have had an enduring impact on me and my journey. Ponder on these exquisite and profound words and enjoy the gems within.

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Ramana Maharishi's paraphrased quotes:

"Inquire until there is no one left to inquire."

"What good are gods that come and go?"

"Let my words, like vegetables, be tender and sweet, for tomorrow I may have to eat them." ... a quote  by anonymous.

I discovered this quote ... thanks to my dear niece ... what a great reminder ... anyhow ... let's continue our journey of  ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery.

This episode (#8) is part 3 of "How to resolve the Seeker's Dilemma?".