The Final Book

I just finished reading The Power of Now, by Eckart Tolle. This is the last "spiritual" book I'm going to read until Summer. I know that sounds weird, being on a spiritual journey. You would think I'd want to read every single spiritual book I can get my hands on. The problem is, I've been so caught up in READING about enlightenment, that I haven't been DOING anything to get there. The Power of Now is an incredible book, I would highly recommend everyone read it, but honestly, it told me things I already know. Granted, it put them in ways I needed to hear right now, I realized while reading it that I need to stop reading. By constantly seeking answers in books I'm not staying present in the now. I'm giving into my mind's trick that enlightenment is something to be found in the future. Enlightenment can only happen now. No exceptions. Because only now exists. This is not a spiritual journey. Journey implies distance and time, neither of which exist. It's time to stop searching and find.

I Am, No Matter What

I've been dealing with a "dilemma," a "problem," since we moved to Connecticut in June. I wanted to re-open my business, but couldn't find a location right away so I start changing my business plans, then got caught in this state of....stalling. I know it's based in fear - fear of failure - but I haven't been able to get past it.

Today, while reading The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, I had what can best be described as an "ah-ha moment" (thanks, Oprah). It doesn't matter what I do, it doesn't change who I am. I can teach at gyms, I can teach at other studios, I can have my own studio, I can teach private lessons, it doesn't change my Being. The "right action" spoken of in The Bhagavad Gita isn't about what venue I teach in, it's simply that I teach. My mind has created this ego-based image of "who I am". It's just an illusion. I don't have to fit in any mold, I just have to Be. And, I need to stop planning out all these elaborate ideas because they're based in time, which is based in ego. I have a situation right now - I'm not working - and it is time for me to take actions to change that. Actions that I can do right now, in the Now. I need to focus on what to do right this moment to start the momentum of right action.

"You can never reach [the point where you are completely free of problems] because you are at the point now. There is no salvation in time. You cannot be free in the future. Presence is the key to freedom, so you can only be free now." - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

My (Current) Beliefs

I personally feel that sharing your beliefs serves no purpose, that everyone needs to form their own beliefs without being persuaded by those of another. Even Buddha is quoted as saying, "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." I am not sharing my beliefs here in an attempt to convert anyone. I just want to illustrate where my current perspective is coming from, as well as set a benchmark to see where my beliefs evolve as I follow this path.

I believe that the purpose of life, all life, is spiritual advancement. That is, each life we live is designed to challenge us in specific ways in order for us to fully unite with our spirit. I believe in reincarnation. I believe that it takes us many lifetimes to reach our spiritual potential, commonly called "enlightenment." However, I also believe that enlightenment is far simpler than we make it out to be. Our souls are already perfect, and eternally present. We just get so caught up in the drama created by our minds that we forget we are already "enlightened beings." The work we have to do isn't the problem solving our minds love, it's transcending that very need to solve and create problems.

I also believe that you have to let go of your beliefs to truly unite with the soul. Beliefs are also a creation of the mind. The mind is part of this world we "live" in; beliefs can either make us a slave to our mind, or liberate us from it. Having steadfast beliefs founded only in what we're told regardless of how they may contradict what we intuitively know, is slavery. Being flexible in our beliefs and allowing them to grow and change if we find them to be lacking or faulty, is freedom.

Finally, I believe there are many, many, many, many, many different paths towards spiritual advancement. Personally, I practice yoga. Not in the, "I go to yoga class once a week," way, in the "I try to live each moment within the philosophical guidelines of yoga." I practice Ashtanga Yoga. It consists of eight limbs (which you can read about here if you're interested) designed to scientifically unite you with your soul, and your individual soul to the Universal Soul. This method works well for me, but it may not work for everyone. Do what works for you.

Welcome & Disclaimer

Welcome to my new blog!

I have many, many blogs but I decided to start this one so I could write about the topics I'm not 100% comfortable sharing on my other "business" blogs. This space is going to be dedicated to chronicling my own spiritual journey, including research as well as personal experience.

I don't know that I'll ever openly share this blog with anyone. Perhaps. At this point I feel that I have so far to go on this spiritual path that I'm not in a position to share it as if it's valuable advice. Some of it may turn out to be complete junk. So, if you're reading this, please take everything I say here with a grain of salt and do your own research and practice. I'll do my best to only report on valuable things I learn, but as perspectives change, so may the value of information I uncover.

So, here we go!