The One Thing Holding You Back

For a while, I have felt that something was missing from the Witness method that Bill Harris of Holosync mentions.  Just watch the emotions, but there never seemed to be a finishing point to that.  I listened to a Sounds True podcast with Raphael Cushnir, the author of "The One Thing Holding You Back", was intrigued, and found that my local library had the book.

Raphael Cushnir touches on the witness with "Yeah, But" excuse number six, mentioning that emotions need more than witnessing and that they need to be felt and given complete awareness.  This actually seems to match what I recently read in Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" and feels more like the shadow work I've heard mentioned in various places.

Raphael Cushnir talks about emotional connection and the 2 x 2 method for accomplishing that and gives tips, examples, and stories of working with it.  It is something I am going to experiment to see what happens, but it does feel right to me.  I would definitely recommend checking his book out.

Surrender and action

Recently I was wondering when I needed to surrender and let the universe take me where it will and when I needed to make a move. It seems like a very fine line. One can not move when it is needed and thus miss an opportunity or can move too much and sabotage what one is trying to accomplish.

It's still a riddle for me, but shortly after pondering this, the following idea came to me: It first starts with desiring something.  That action places me into a school, where the universe is the professor.  The universe gives the lessons and assignments to help accomplish this task - it could only be a few or many before achieving my desire.  It is then up to me to do those assignments.

Of course, it still brings up the question as to when being still may be the assignment.  It's not like there's always immediate feedback to know if you are heading in the right direction or not.

There is No Enemy

From Buddhist Geeks: Ken McLeod presents "There is No Enemy". He talks about "moving beyond ‘us vs. them,’ embracing the mystery of the human condition, and changing the world. Ken speaks about the futility of fighting our lives, explores what it means to make an something an enemy, and how to realize that there is no enemy."

I especially like his quote: "Obstacles in your path should not be regarded as obstacles. They are simply features of the landscape which have to be negotiated." It makes me think of the concept known as "the Witness" as well as "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.

Awareness, Consciousness, and Technology

Technology can make us unaware of what we are doing, yet at the same time can potentially lead us to be more conscious. Sounds True: Insights at the Edge looks at the interaction of things such as cell phones, social media, awareness, consciousness, and presence.

The ABCs of Letting Go of Attachment

This evening I had a moment that passed by so quickly that I cannot remember all of the details of it. My mind interpreted an emotion as something negative and unwanted. But a moment of awareness bubbled up and I reminded myself: "It is okay to feel this way. Experience it. It will pass." It was only a small step and I realize that I have further to go, but it was very encouraging.

Zen Habits posted an article entitled Letting Go of Attachment, from A to Zen, bring short tips from A to Z on experiencing without attachment, letting go of attachment to people, letting go of attachment to the past, letting go of attachment to outcomes, and letting go of attachment to feelings. I've printed it out so that I might remember to read it when I am forgetting to let go.