The Awakening - By Sonny Carroll

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out...ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on.

Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon. You realize that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself... and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you - or didn't do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn't always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties... and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people... and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything isn't always somebody's fault. It's just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

By Sonny Carroll

The Awakening - By Sonny Carroll

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out...ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on.

Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon. You realize that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself... and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you - or didn't do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn't always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties... and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people... and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything isn't always somebody's fault. It's just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

By Sonny Carroll

God is a Creator of Miracles

It's easy to forget that God can create miracles in one's life. All it takes is some faith and trust in the ways of the Creator and the Universe. The Sanskrit word for faith is "Brosa". Brosa is the most powerful and profound of all ways of being. It is a submission of sorts. It is a grace. It is a state of humility. The state is embedded in the thought that 'we cannot do anything by ourselves, we need help and direction from something higher'. With this thought and a follow-up thought that 'God will pull me thorough any difficulty or challenge that I face', ignites the element of Brosa from the heart-centre. And as the heart bows to God, God bows to one's heart - then all miracles are possible. Through a constant state of submission and faith in God, miracles start to become ordinary and the ordinary becomes a miracle.

Here is a meditation from Kundalini Yoga to help develop the state of Brosa or faith:

Posture: Sit in Easy Pose, or in a chair with a straight spine. Arch the arms up over the head with the palms facing down. If you are male, place the right palm on top of the left. If you are female, place the left palm on top of the right. The thumb tips are together with the thumbs facing back. The arms are slightly bent at the elbows.
Eyes: With the eyes opened very slightly, look down toward the upper lip.
Chant: While chanting the following mantra, form the sounds with the lips and tongue very precisely. Whisper it so that the “Guru” is almost inaudible. It takes about 2½ seconds per repetition. The entire mantra is repeated on a single breath. The tone is a relaxed monotone that varies in emphasis automatically as you proceed through the stages of the mantra.
Time: Continue for 11 minutes
Mantra: Wah-Hay-Guroo
Comments:
"When trust and courage come together, it is called belief. When belief and grace come together it is called faith. We must develop our dignity, our integrity, our courage, our faith and our trust to the extent that nothing can shake it. The most courageous act is trust itself. Humble are those who believe and trust in God’s energy and let it flow." - Yogi Bhajan

Trust is the next step in the process of transformation and without it, nothing can happen. For instance, results may be imminent but not immediately visible, and trust is necessary to maintain the discipline of what you are doing, whatever you are doing in life.

The “Meditation for Brosa” affects the element of trust in the human personality. Trust is the basis of faith and commitment and the sense of reality. It will give you the elevation of spirit so you can stand up to any challenge. It builds and balances the aura from the fourth chakra up. This kriya should be done for a maximum of 11 minutes per day for the first week or two and then may be increased by 1 minute every 15 days of practice until you reach a total of 31 minutes.

God is a Creator of Miracles

It's easy to forget that God can create miracles in one's life. All it takes is some faith and trust in the ways of the Creator and the Universe. The Sanskrit word for faith is "Brosa". Brosa is the most powerful and profound of all ways of being. It is a submission of sorts. It is a grace. It is a state of humility. The state is embedded in the thought that 'we cannot do anything by ourselves, we need help and direction from something higher'. With this thought and a follow-up thought that 'God will pull me thorough any difficulty or challenge that I face', ignites the element of Brosa from the heart-centre. And as the heart bows to God, God bows to one's heart - then all miracles are possible. Through a constant state of submission and faith in God, miracles start to become ordinary and the ordinary becomes a miracle.

Here is a meditation from Kundalini Yoga to help develop the state of Brosa or faith:

Posture: Sit in Easy Pose, or in a chair with a straight spine. Arch the arms up over the head with the palms facing down. If you are male, place the right palm on top of the left. If you are female, place the left palm on top of the right. The thumb tips are together with the thumbs facing back. The arms are slightly bent at the elbows.
Eyes: With the eyes opened very slightly, look down toward the upper lip.
Chant: While chanting the following mantra, form the sounds with the lips and tongue very precisely. Whisper it so that the “Guru” is almost inaudible. It takes about 2½ seconds per repetition. The entire mantra is repeated on a single breath. The tone is a relaxed monotone that varies in emphasis automatically as you proceed through the stages of the mantra.
Time: Continue for 11 minutes
Mantra: Wah-Hay-Guroo
Comments:
"When trust and courage come together, it is called belief. When belief and grace come together it is called faith. We must develop our dignity, our integrity, our courage, our faith and our trust to the extent that nothing can shake it. The most courageous act is trust itself. Humble are those who believe and trust in God’s energy and let it flow." - Yogi Bhajan

Trust is the next step in the process of transformation and without it, nothing can happen. For instance, results may be imminent but not immediately visible, and trust is necessary to maintain the discipline of what you are doing, whatever you are doing in life.

The “Meditation for Brosa” affects the element of trust in the human personality. Trust is the basis of faith and commitment and the sense of reality. It will give you the elevation of spirit so you can stand up to any challenge. It builds and balances the aura from the fourth chakra up. This kriya should be done for a maximum of 11 minutes per day for the first week or two and then may be increased by 1 minute every 15 days of practice until you reach a total of 31 minutes.

Fear

In fear I am afraid. More than afraid. More than scared. I am closed. I shelter myself. I try to protect myself. I fight that which I fear with my head down, my eyes closed. I hope that when I open my eyes that which I fear will have gone away.

I look around now, with my eyes open, head up. I see nothing to fear.

I think. What do people fear? Uncertainty? Death? I have no fear of such things. I feel like the wind. Blown into any direction, it doesn’t really matter. Here one moment, gone another. It doesn’t really matter.

Yet I feel fear. Strong fear. Painful fear. Fear that I am unable to ignore. I try to shelter myself. I still feel it. Stabbing.

And I know it. I fear nothing but myself. I fear my mind. It is strong. It creates. It creates thoughts and on its creations I act. I make judgements, decisions, actions.

I go within myself and I find fear. Deep and dark. I can’t hide from it. It finds me. I find it.

That which I fear is that which is not True. Not True to me. Not my Truth.

That which I fear creates a pain so deep it is like I can feel it penetrating through my heart.

These creations they pierce my heart. They are not my heart. Not True to my heart.

My Truth it must be strong, since I can feel it fighting back.

Faith. I place faith in my heart. Faith it will battle to overcome the fear. Destroy the pain. Kill the fear.

Head up, eyes open. I stand tall. I stand strong. I see the world. I see myself. I am my Truth.

Sat Naam.

Fear

In fear I am afraid. More than afraid. More than scared. I am closed. I shelter myself. I try to protect myself. I fight that which I fear with my head down, my eyes closed. I hope that when I open my eyes that which I fear will have gone away.

I look around now, with my eyes open, head up. I see nothing to fear.

I think. What do people fear? Uncertainty? Death? I have no fear of such things. I feel like the wind. Blown into any direction, it doesn’t really matter. Here one moment, gone another. It doesn’t really matter.

Yet I feel fear. Strong fear. Painful fear. Fear that I am unable to ignore. I try to shelter myself. I still feel it. Stabbing.

And I know it. I fear nothing but myself. I fear my mind. It is strong. It creates. It creates thoughts and on its creations I act. I make judgements, decisions, actions.

I go within myself and I find fear. Deep and dark. I can’t hide from it. It finds me. I find it.

That which I fear is that which is not True. Not True to me. Not my Truth.

That which I fear creates a pain so deep it is like I can feel it penetrating through my heart.

These creations they pierce my heart. They are not my heart. Not True to my heart.

My Truth it must be strong, since I can feel it fighting back.

Faith. I place faith in my heart. Faith it will battle to overcome the fear. Destroy the pain. Kill the fear.

Head up, eyes open. I stand tall. I stand strong. I see the world. I see myself. I am my Truth.

Sat Naam.

Religion and Science - Why and How!

I recently attended a talk about Faith and Post-Darwinism and with the anniversary of Charles Darwin I thought it would make an interesting article.

A lot of people suggest that religion is completely based on faith, which makes it completely incompatible with science because science is based on empirical, provable facts. Although it could be argued that even science needs an element of 'faith' this doesn't hold up very well because a scientific 'faith' is a reasoned point of view that is continually empirically tested. Religious faith is different in that it is unconditional devotion.

Yes, science explains the world around us and yes, religion gives us an element of virtues and morality and yes, both are ways of explaining Truth. That's all well and good but can religion and science truly fit together?

From a non-theistic perspective, the argument that religion is a source of morality/ethics can be more or less equated to 'religion is useless' because one can for example draw on virtue, utilitarian or Kantian ethics for morality. So what's left? Nothing?

From a more theistic perspective, true religion is a way of life. It governs ultimately our behaviour, in an open and non controlling way. The aim of which is to ultimately unite with the Divine (that's probably more of a Sikh take on religion, but I see it as the essence of all religions). OK, so that all sounds very nice and cosy, but what's the divine and what does it mean to unite? Isn't it all just 'faith'?

Science helps answer the why questions. Religion (or more accurately Dharma, way of life) helps answer the how questions. The essence of true religion is spirituality. It is only in the recent few centuries that the why questions have played a more important role in our western societies than the how. The reasons for this are huge but one influence certainly seems to be gradual loss in experiential Dharma. Over the last few hundred years the role of Dharma in our everyday lives has reduced. It has become an idealist theory that people think about. We don't live it, but simply think it. We now and again pop into the religious places of worship and if we're open enough, feel inspired and uplifted. But our habitual day-to-day activities take over soon after. They take over because we have no daily spiritual practice.

With the loss of this we have lost the knowledge of what it means to live Dharma. Obsession with power, control and the ego take the reigns and has now lead organised religion to be thought of as narrow minded, political and external. The paradox is that religion is about returning to the origin, to our origin, our higher conscious, the divine. We are God but we have forgotten that.

The thing is we don't like to simply go back to the experience because now, it has to make 'sense'. It has to fulfil our 'why' questions to stand a chance of changing our behaviour. Its a funny paradox because in an age where we ask why to everything which might challenge our habitual behaviour, we are happy to drink away the problems, get absolutely drunk and act in completely irrational and emotional ways in name of 'fun'. Fortunately, science explains our world, and spirituality is part of that world. So beginning with the questions of why, will eventually end up in the 'how'. Although not fully there yet, the boundaries of science, philosophy and spirituality are gradually merging. I genuinely strive to understand scientifically how these spiritual things work and this knowledge simply adds to my fascination with the 'how'. When you experience you know it works. The why just makes it easier to explain to others and yourself.

Its easy to think science provides us with progress and is more important than how to live a religious/spiritual/dharmic life. Don't get me wrong, its amazing! Its allowed us to as humans shape the world we live in and have all these cool things like the Wii!! But we have to remember to make progress in internally understanding ourselves, within our selves.

We are living in a very fortunate time. We are able to ask why and get empirically proven answers. But until we integrate our spiritual practice into our lives we'll simply not progress spiritually and spiritual progression is part of being a human. Of course that's until we hit our next evolutionary jump as humans and become far more aware of our spiritual selves!

Lets not be afraid of change. We should embrace it. Expand the thirst to understand our environment to our own souls and use religion and science together to progress in a balanced way.

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." - Charles Darwin