It seems to me that everyday I am swimming in an ocean of paradox. And it becomes more and more encompassing as I delve deeper and deeper into the mysteries of the universe... and find ways of applying them to everyday life.
It all has to do with the merging of the physical (world of form) and the spiritual (world of formlessess). Yes, we can walk in both worlds at the same time. All you need is a little bit of practice.
Just the other day, I was plugging away on a particular issue at work, when I got a phone call. That in itself is not unusual, I get calls all the time. The thing about this particular phone call was that the person on the other end of the line was in a state of utmost frustration, so much that off-colour language was exploding at me as if I was running through a mine field.
Immediately, my consciousness shifted from simply an understanding of the work to an understanding of that person's state of being. A voice in my mind whispered soothing words and I became very calm. Words came out of my mouth without me having to think about it. As a result, the person seemed to wake up from a dream ... or nightmare, and calm down. The next day they apologized.
These are the kinds of events that happen all the time. I take a deep breath and let my greater wisdom take over. As a result, I become simply a watcher, a witness, to whatever is happening. It is a very peaceful experience, because you are detached from the situation. Your attitude becomes one of curiosity... as if watching a really interesting movie.
The paradox is that I am the one talking, acting, and yet... I am not. Something else has taken over. I have given myself completely to a power greater than my little self. One that knows what to say, what to do, so that everything turns out for the best.
Some have called it the subconscious/unconscious mind, the spirit/soul, or even the Self with a capital "S". Others have named the experience "flow" or "being in the moment" or "allowing". No matter what the name, it is a beautiful and powerful experience.
As far as I can tell, from personal experience, as one rises in consciousness, one lives more and more in paradox. And not only in the sense that you become simply a witness to yourself, but also that everything you do, everything you are, becomes a paradox. It is the yin and the yang co-existing in perfect harmony. For example:
-The more you release/let go/give, the more you end up having.
-On one level, every little thing matters, and on another, nothing matters at all.
-We are all different/unique, and we are all one - exactly the same.
-Anything can be ugly and beautiful/perfect at the same time, depending on the perspective.
-We are mortal in body and immortal in spirit, living as one.
-The body and the mind are the same.
-One can make tons of money and be enlightened at the same time.
-One can be both physically strong and intelligent (hehe).
-Humour is the best way to teach something serious (haha).
-Sex , sports, combat, or anything else can be the first step to superconsciousness (hoho).
-Reality is fluid.
-The opposite of fear... is love. The more you love, the less you fear.
There are many others, these paradoxi - seemingly contradictory truths- which become visible as one's level of consciousness rises. Eventually, there is no distinction. The fact that both extremes are actually different perspectives of the same circle or sphere is evident.
Then, all there is... is Being.
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Fearless and Sexy
And now, for something completely different.
Well, maybe not...
Let's talk about CONFIDENCE.
Why? Because it is the sexiest thing in the world. Confidence is the number ONE quality that people are attracted to. We are all attracted to those who exude pure confidence. Notice that I said confidence, not arrogance. It's not about believing that you are better than others, that's not attractive. What's sexy is believing in yourself. Knowing your abilities and your power and what to do in any situation.
But is it possible to know what to do in every situation? Well, maybe if you confine yourself to situations where you already know what to do... but when you stop learning and growing (which happens by trying new things) you become fearful and part of you starts to die. So I guess that it's impossible to know what to do in every situation. There are just too many possibilities.
Does that mean that supreme confidence in yourself is impossible? No. There are other ways. One of which is to focus on the basics.
In all situations and all fields of endeavor, there are fundamentals. These fundamental principles are the foundation upon which everything else is built. And knowing the basics like the back of your hand is a sure way to build a strong foundation whithin yourself, a foundation that can withstand any storm.
For example, in mathematics, everything begins with the foundational principles of addition, substraction, multiplication and division. Without them, you can do nothing. With them as a base you can climb to the highest reaches of computational complexity and universal genius. Another example would be learning to stand on your own two feet. If you cannot stand, you cannot fall forward into a walk, or a run, or a dance. With a strong base in well-balanced standing however, you can progress to the most extraordinary spectacular acrobatic display in existence.
The point is this: Master the basics in whatever you are doing and your confidence will grow.
Another important point is that there are a few basic things that you can learn that will make you a well rounded individual, confident in every situation.
These are:
1. Math and Science
2. Reading and Writing
3. History and Geography
4. Music, Dance, and Art
5. Health and Healing
6. Survival and Combat
7. Business and Money
8. Sex and Spirituality
9. Physiology and Psychology
Now this isn't an exhaustive list, and you can add or subtract anything you want. I just find it a good starting point. You'll also notice that some of these things we learn in school (1-4), and some we do not (5-9). Yet how many people walk around in fear of being attacked or killed, or have health issues, or money problems... or are in the dark (sometimes literally) about healthy sex and spirituality? And how many have no idea how their body and mind work, and they spend their entire life with them?
Does it look like wayyyyyyy too much to learn? Maybe at first. But you have to remember... you only need to learn the b-a-s-i-c-s.
That's the key.
Master the basics to handling yourself in any situation and your fear will diminish as you confidence soars.
And finally: you don't need to learn anything at all.
What?
You don't need any of this.
Is this guy mental?
All you ever truly need, to know exactly what to do in absolutely every situation is... to still the mind. From a still mind comes spontaneous mastery in the moment. That is the essence of what we call "intuition" or "gut instinct". It is the goal of all meditation. It is how the greatest individuals in all fields have accomplished their masterpieces, from sports, to science to art. It is being in the place where ALL IS GOOD. Cool. Relaxed. Effortless. It is inspiration. It is being in the "flow". In the moment. In the now.
The difficulty here is that we have not developed a society which supports the finding of inner stillness and the awakening of spontaneous wisdom and mastery. Therefore, developing this skill in yourself demands practice, and lots of it.
In the meantime, why not learn the basics in many fields to become a well-rounded individual?
So you see, there is no contradiction in what I have told you today. A paradox perhaps, but not a contradiction.
Follow these suggestions, and your experience will be of fear melting away... and confidence soaring, more and more and more. Believe in yourself, and believe in others, and the natural irresistible sexiness that you have inside will come forth.
Who would have thought that meditation could make you fearless and sexy?
But only when you have the courage to go... DEEP.
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
Well, maybe not...
Let's talk about CONFIDENCE.
Why? Because it is the sexiest thing in the world. Confidence is the number ONE quality that people are attracted to. We are all attracted to those who exude pure confidence. Notice that I said confidence, not arrogance. It's not about believing that you are better than others, that's not attractive. What's sexy is believing in yourself. Knowing your abilities and your power and what to do in any situation.
But is it possible to know what to do in every situation? Well, maybe if you confine yourself to situations where you already know what to do... but when you stop learning and growing (which happens by trying new things) you become fearful and part of you starts to die. So I guess that it's impossible to know what to do in every situation. There are just too many possibilities.
Does that mean that supreme confidence in yourself is impossible? No. There are other ways. One of which is to focus on the basics.
In all situations and all fields of endeavor, there are fundamentals. These fundamental principles are the foundation upon which everything else is built. And knowing the basics like the back of your hand is a sure way to build a strong foundation whithin yourself, a foundation that can withstand any storm.
For example, in mathematics, everything begins with the foundational principles of addition, substraction, multiplication and division. Without them, you can do nothing. With them as a base you can climb to the highest reaches of computational complexity and universal genius. Another example would be learning to stand on your own two feet. If you cannot stand, you cannot fall forward into a walk, or a run, or a dance. With a strong base in well-balanced standing however, you can progress to the most extraordinary spectacular acrobatic display in existence.
The point is this: Master the basics in whatever you are doing and your confidence will grow.
Another important point is that there are a few basic things that you can learn that will make you a well rounded individual, confident in every situation.
These are:
1. Math and Science
2. Reading and Writing
3. History and Geography
4. Music, Dance, and Art
5. Health and Healing
6. Survival and Combat
7. Business and Money
8. Sex and Spirituality
9. Physiology and Psychology
Now this isn't an exhaustive list, and you can add or subtract anything you want. I just find it a good starting point. You'll also notice that some of these things we learn in school (1-4), and some we do not (5-9). Yet how many people walk around in fear of being attacked or killed, or have health issues, or money problems... or are in the dark (sometimes literally) about healthy sex and spirituality? And how many have no idea how their body and mind work, and they spend their entire life with them?
Does it look like wayyyyyyy too much to learn? Maybe at first. But you have to remember... you only need to learn the b-a-s-i-c-s.
That's the key.
Master the basics to handling yourself in any situation and your fear will diminish as you confidence soars.
And finally: you don't need to learn anything at all.
What?
You don't need any of this.
Is this guy mental?
All you ever truly need, to know exactly what to do in absolutely every situation is... to still the mind. From a still mind comes spontaneous mastery in the moment. That is the essence of what we call "intuition" or "gut instinct". It is the goal of all meditation. It is how the greatest individuals in all fields have accomplished their masterpieces, from sports, to science to art. It is being in the place where ALL IS GOOD. Cool. Relaxed. Effortless. It is inspiration. It is being in the "flow". In the moment. In the now.
The difficulty here is that we have not developed a society which supports the finding of inner stillness and the awakening of spontaneous wisdom and mastery. Therefore, developing this skill in yourself demands practice, and lots of it.
In the meantime, why not learn the basics in many fields to become a well-rounded individual?
So you see, there is no contradiction in what I have told you today. A paradox perhaps, but not a contradiction.
Follow these suggestions, and your experience will be of fear melting away... and confidence soaring, more and more and more. Believe in yourself, and believe in others, and the natural irresistible sexiness that you have inside will come forth.
Who would have thought that meditation could make you fearless and sexy?
But only when you have the courage to go... DEEP.
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
Saturday, June 9, 2007
This Might Be Too Powerful
As some of you know, one of my primary objectives in life is to uncover the most powerful truth(s) and to distill the totality of what I learn and experience into the simplest and most complete package possible.
I know that everything always changes but the mind loves to try to understand.
Anyway, this week I was focusing on the idea of the "best" way to live, as in a "code" or "laws" to follow. The question I asked was:
Is there one way to live, one code or law to follow, which will always, 100% lead to the greatest life possible?
Now, you have to go very deep for this one.
I started on the surface, searching out past cultures: the acient Samurai and their Bushido code, the Spartans, the Monks from different religions, sages, the Jedi Order... And I realized that their code, their laws, were too stiff. There was not enough freedom. Whenever someone tells you that you cannot do this or that and that you must behave like this or that, we are all bound to rebel at one point or another... or destroy ourselves from the inside out trying to fit the mould.
Anything that hampers our freedom in any way is setting itself up to be rebelled against.
So what's the answer? Anarchy? No. The answer lies in finding our true selves. Who we are, and what we are here to do. It is not about following a person, or a career path, or leaving the world a better place than it was when you arrived... unless it is your deep, heartfelt desire to do so.
We cannot force anyone to do anything, including ourselves. I mean, we can try, and it might look like it's going to work, but sooner or later you will have burned up all of your willpower and your fake self will colapse. Either that or you will be miserable, angry and fearful for the rest of your existence here.
So what am I saying?
I am saying that any way of life that puts chains on you will eventually be rejected. I am saying that the only laws that ultimately survive are those which allow us to regain and enjoy our own true freedom. I am saying that the only "best" way to live is to know who you are... and follow your heart.
So I guess for those of us who love something concrete and "set in stone" to follow, these are the simplest and most complete "laws" I have come up with. The ultimate freedom. Something that might be said to come from God, the Universe Itself.
God's First Law: Know Thy Self
God's Second Law: Be Thy Self
Simple, right? Complete? Maybe. Heard it before? Yeah. All I know for sure is that anyone who follows these two laws fully will live an extraordinary life. The only thing is... what does it take to live these laws fully? This might be too powerful for most.
Hmm.
Meditate on this, I will.
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
I know that everything always changes but the mind loves to try to understand.
Anyway, this week I was focusing on the idea of the "best" way to live, as in a "code" or "laws" to follow. The question I asked was:
Is there one way to live, one code or law to follow, which will always, 100% lead to the greatest life possible?
Now, you have to go very deep for this one.
I started on the surface, searching out past cultures: the acient Samurai and their Bushido code, the Spartans, the Monks from different religions, sages, the Jedi Order... And I realized that their code, their laws, were too stiff. There was not enough freedom. Whenever someone tells you that you cannot do this or that and that you must behave like this or that, we are all bound to rebel at one point or another... or destroy ourselves from the inside out trying to fit the mould.
Anything that hampers our freedom in any way is setting itself up to be rebelled against.
So what's the answer? Anarchy? No. The answer lies in finding our true selves. Who we are, and what we are here to do. It is not about following a person, or a career path, or leaving the world a better place than it was when you arrived... unless it is your deep, heartfelt desire to do so.
We cannot force anyone to do anything, including ourselves. I mean, we can try, and it might look like it's going to work, but sooner or later you will have burned up all of your willpower and your fake self will colapse. Either that or you will be miserable, angry and fearful for the rest of your existence here.
So what am I saying?
I am saying that any way of life that puts chains on you will eventually be rejected. I am saying that the only laws that ultimately survive are those which allow us to regain and enjoy our own true freedom. I am saying that the only "best" way to live is to know who you are... and follow your heart.
So I guess for those of us who love something concrete and "set in stone" to follow, these are the simplest and most complete "laws" I have come up with. The ultimate freedom. Something that might be said to come from God, the Universe Itself.
God's First Law: Know Thy Self
God's Second Law: Be Thy Self
Simple, right? Complete? Maybe. Heard it before? Yeah. All I know for sure is that anyone who follows these two laws fully will live an extraordinary life. The only thing is... what does it take to live these laws fully? This might be too powerful for most.
Hmm.
Meditate on this, I will.
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Spiritual Materialism
There seems to be three main groups of people on this earth:
-Those who focus on the purely physical and material (which is most).
-Those who focus purely on the spiritual and immaterial (very rare).
-Those who are in between these two groups (a growing group).
All valid research done on quality of life and happiness clearly demonstrate that those who have a perspective which includes some sort of spirituality or 'higher' values (like a willingness to trust in something greater than themselves and to love others) live more fulfilling lives.
The question that I keep asking myself is, how can we help others awaken?
What do people need to start paying attention?
The answer: people need to be attracted. They need to feel attraction for something, to want something, and to believe that this 'awakening' will help them get it. That's actually how I got into the spiritual dimension. I had a desire to become something more... and the more I searched the deeper I got into teachings about life and enlightenment because everything pointed to the fact that once you reach a certain level of enlightenment, anything truly is possible... effortlessly.
Now, spiritual masters have been saying for ages that we should not seek the attainment of powers or success in any way, to be able to release all resistance to who we really are... yet that is exactly the point that will attract most people. What does everyone want? More success, more wealth, more wisdom, more power, more freedom, more love. Why not attract people to the path with these so that they may taste awakening and thus be hooked for life?
Is it ethical? That depends on how it is presented. Is it needed? Maybe not. But it might help those who are lost to find their way if they know what is possible, what's 'out there'.
Should marketing be used to draw people to the path of enlightenment?
Is'nt it simply the universe talking here when we get these kinds of ideas in our heads? I believe that many people are ready for this. There is much more talk about spirituality in the world these days. It is spreading to all walks of life, permeating all work and play.
Besides, it is high time that we finally merge our reality into a coherent whole.
It is time to combine the highest spiritual truths with day to day work and play. It is time for us to become masters of both the spiritual realm, as well as the physical world, instead of spending only part of our time in each.
Or, as the well-known spiritual teacher Osho described it, to become new human beings (which he called "Zorba the Buddha"), who are "capable of enjoying both the earthly pleasures of a Zorba the Greek and the silent serenity of a Gautama the Buddha".
So do not be afraid of loving all of life, even the material. Just permeate all that you do, all that you have, and all that you are, with powerful spiritual truth and you will find yourself exactly where you have always desired to be.
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
-Those who focus on the purely physical and material (which is most).
-Those who focus purely on the spiritual and immaterial (very rare).
-Those who are in between these two groups (a growing group).
All valid research done on quality of life and happiness clearly demonstrate that those who have a perspective which includes some sort of spirituality or 'higher' values (like a willingness to trust in something greater than themselves and to love others) live more fulfilling lives.
The question that I keep asking myself is, how can we help others awaken?
What do people need to start paying attention?
The answer: people need to be attracted. They need to feel attraction for something, to want something, and to believe that this 'awakening' will help them get it. That's actually how I got into the spiritual dimension. I had a desire to become something more... and the more I searched the deeper I got into teachings about life and enlightenment because everything pointed to the fact that once you reach a certain level of enlightenment, anything truly is possible... effortlessly.
Now, spiritual masters have been saying for ages that we should not seek the attainment of powers or success in any way, to be able to release all resistance to who we really are... yet that is exactly the point that will attract most people. What does everyone want? More success, more wealth, more wisdom, more power, more freedom, more love. Why not attract people to the path with these so that they may taste awakening and thus be hooked for life?
Is it ethical? That depends on how it is presented. Is it needed? Maybe not. But it might help those who are lost to find their way if they know what is possible, what's 'out there'.
Should marketing be used to draw people to the path of enlightenment?
Is'nt it simply the universe talking here when we get these kinds of ideas in our heads? I believe that many people are ready for this. There is much more talk about spirituality in the world these days. It is spreading to all walks of life, permeating all work and play.
Besides, it is high time that we finally merge our reality into a coherent whole.
It is time to combine the highest spiritual truths with day to day work and play. It is time for us to become masters of both the spiritual realm, as well as the physical world, instead of spending only part of our time in each.
Or, as the well-known spiritual teacher Osho described it, to become new human beings (which he called "Zorba the Buddha"), who are "capable of enjoying both the earthly pleasures of a Zorba the Greek and the silent serenity of a Gautama the Buddha".
So do not be afraid of loving all of life, even the material. Just permeate all that you do, all that you have, and all that you are, with powerful spiritual truth and you will find yourself exactly where you have always desired to be.
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
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