“Can You Tell Me, ‘How Long’…”

Wow, it’s been 6 days since I’ve written! Surely, it must have been something profound to have kept me away from the keyboard for so long. You would be right to assume so, for the experience of “being” is quite profound.

I suppose if I wanted to be really deep, I could end this rambling right there – and we could all just ponder the profound experience of being. But, that’s not really my style most of the time, so I’m going to share a little bit regarding a phrase that popped into my brain over the last week. It was about patience.

The sentence that arose within me was, “If you can tell me how long you’ve been waiting, you haven’t been patient.”

I guess that I had read, or heard a person say, something along the line of, “Well, I’ve been patiently waiting now for close to a year.”  Hmmm. OK, maybe you haven’t made a fuss about your wait for close to a year, but that isn’t necessarily an indicator of patience.

“Waiting quietly,” and “patience,” are two entirely different things. One is a mental contrivance, and the other is a powerful spiritual energy.

Now, to be sure, there is great merit in having control over your mind and it’s propensity toward agitation and anger when you’re waiting for something. It is a good sign that you are steering the ship, and not the other way around – one of the primary, initial goals of most forms of meditation. Patience, however, is in a whole different category.

The state to which I am referring to as true patience has no concept of time, or even an attachment to an expectation of a particular outcome. It is likely that you will encounter very few people who display this characteristic. This patience, true patience, is built upon an unshakable foundation of sublime assurance that EVERYTHING is proceeding in Divine perfection. It springs from the realization that I AM, and that nothing can possibly “go wrong,” or “not happen soon enough.” This true and powerful patience understands that it is Eternity, having no beginning or end.

Is this difficult to understand? Yes, I believe that it is, because it is beyond what the human mind can grasp; it cannot be “known” in the traditional sense. And yet, it is not impossible to realize these Truths – it just requires discovering your own “end-around” play to use on your mind [I wrote about this briefly in an earlier post, found at: http://risinghawk.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/the-tricky-end-around-play/

None of this excludes you from making plans, taking action, and most certainly having faith that you will receive the fruits of that which you have set your heart upon. What it WILL do is remove every impediment to the flow of the Infinite wisdom and power that is ALL, that is also YOU, so that it can work freely. On a more visceral and tangible level, it will alleviate every vestige of stress and anxiety from your life. You will be experiencing that light, blissful feeling that accompanies…being. Nothing more, nothing less. At this stage, even the concept of “patience” vaporizes, as you have given it nothing to cling to. This is freedom at the highest level.

A bit deep for a Monday, I know. The again, what is more important than the ultimate in peace and freedom?

Many Blessings To All…

 

 

“Big Changes!…”

Well, after careful consideration of the input I received regarding a “title” for myself and what I do, I have come to a decision.

I don’t have one! I simply AM, in all of its fullness.

So, now I have re-written the information on the home page for the Rising Hawk Foundation. You can have a look at it at:

http://www.risinghawkfoundation.com

Drop me a line and let me know what you think!

Many Blessings To All…

“On Acceptance…”

The following is an excerpt from my book, Spirit of the Rising Hawk: How to Soar Through Life with Power, Purpose, Perspective, and Peace^© (Copyright 2008 by Greg McGraw. All Rights Reserved.)

“When I finally accepted [that I suffered from] PTSD and set about discovering if there was anything of value in it, I was amazed to discover how many usable attributes it had brought to my path. In fact, accepting and embracing the condition was the definitive factor that led me to my Purpose. But I want to make clear the difference between acceptance and surrender. Embracing and accepting a situation is not the same as rolling over and giving up. There is a difference in the energy used.

Fighting against something is an adversarial stance – a defensive, reactionary, pushing response that requires an overwhelmingly negative energy. It tightens everything up: physical, mental, and worst of all, spiritual. At the time when you need help the most, this reaction effectively slams the door on the Infinite.

Acceptance, on the other hand, is a positive, proactive energy that keeps the physical, mental, and spiritual pathways open and flowing, thus allowing you to work within the situation or challenge as a part of your purpose. This approach takes the power away from the problem and gives it back to you. Better to be for healing and guidance, than to be against sickness and confusion. The rewards of this perspective far outweigh the work that it will take to make it a habitual way of living.“

 

For more information about the book, or to order your own copy, visit:

http://www.risinghawkfoundation/BookPage.html

Many Blessings To All…

“The Tricky ‘End-Around’ Play…”

Why do I do what I do?

Why do I spend my time developing, devising, and teaching people methods to “attain” that which is already present?

I often ask myself this question. The entire premise seems ridiculous when viewed as I just described it. And “What is he talking about,” you may ask.

The term for it that is often kicked around is “enlightenment.” This word conjures up images of half-naked sages in mountain caves, or wise ones in flowing robes, and a whole litany of associated notions. Just for the record, the outward appearance and the actual state itself are not related – at all.

If you come across a half-naked sage throwing dust on his head, or a man or woman in a saffron-colored robe with a bald head, or a person in some other form of “priestly” attire, or a very spiritual tile, you are looking at an advertisement.

I do not mean that to be taken in the often negative connotation of capitalist commercialism, (though that may sometimes be the case). What I mean is that these people are outwardly presenting the fact that they have a story to tell – specifically, about how they “discovered” what was never missing, how it changed their experience of life in a positive way, and maybe how what they learned could help you, too.

Personally, I find myself less and less interested in the idea of “enlightenment” when it comes to sharing and teaching. I AM enlightened…and so are you. The very moment that we take the position of wishing to attain the state, we “lose” it: You get caught in the trap of looking for something that isn’t missing. But there is a challenge. Although you are enlightened, that fact may very well be hidden from you from the master of illusion – your brain.

This is what ALL of the teachings about “enlightenment,” or finding true and lasting deep peace, or being the embodiment of compassion, and so forth, are designed to address. We need a method of “getting around” our brain and selfish egos – and they play AMAZING defense.

You see, if you aren’t worried about anything, and have no expectations, no fear of death or rejection, and move through life without a care – totally at peace with the ebb and flow of existence – well, your ego does not like that at all.

I can recall when I first “realized” a glimpse of this state. The very first, (and immediate), words that arose in my mind were, “I have to re-think everything about my life now!” And that was quickly followed by a panicked, “You can’t do this!”

What is your brain going to do if you aren’t worrying – if you aren’t thinking everything to death? How can you relate to anyone or anything if the precious “identity” that you have worked so hard to build is no longer valid? What happens when you “die” to self, (as Jesus, Buddha, and practically every other spiritual giant has taught us we must do in order to see God)?  I have the answer to those questions: nothing changes except your perspective. All of your interactions are filled with…peace…and Divine love…and compassion.

So, I teach methods to manage that tricky “end-around” play against a stubborn and relentless defense. And I do this in an effort to end the mental suffering and anguish that so many put themselves through every day. And your realization of that dynamic peace will spread like wildfire into every nook and cranny of your existence.

There is nothing to attain – but that “nothing” is hidden from many. My desire is to bring the light into those shadows, and to watch every sentient being break their self-imposed chains and fly free.

Many Blessings To All…

“I’ve Been Whitewater Rafting…Sort Of…”

On December 29, 2010, I posted about being in “Spiritual Hibernation.” I have now come out of it, and will share what I can.

This “spiritual hibernation” was not sleep; no way, no how. It was quite chaotic. On a spiritual level, it was very much like hitting a class four rapid when you are whitewater rafting. Smoothly kayaking long, then “Bam!” – your there.

Whirlpools and eddies and twists and turns – all confusion. It requires all of your attention to navigate through this stretch of rough water – no time for sightseeing. Then, after all of the bumps and bruises, you’re back to a stretch of a more benign flow.

My path is one that is intricately woven with the practice of Sanskrit mantra. I have mentioned this before. During the period that I was “shooting the rapids,” I struggled mightily with what mantra was next for me. I chanted several thousands of many different mantras during this time, and found that none of them felt “right.” This was the confusion of the rapids. I didn’t know where to go next, which was quite unusual for me.

Such is the nature of “advancing” to a new level of consciousness. All of this hub-bub eventually led me to a Sanskrit mantra that was totally “out-of-the-box” from where I had previously been.

You see, up until now, all of the mantras that I had chanted, (numbering now in the millions), had been related to energies that were associated with what would be considered “Hinduistic” in nature. Quite unexpectedly, (and against what my mind wanted), I found myself led to a mantra of Tibetan Buddhism.

Yes, Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism, and in the end, the energy and the power are all the same…but this is a big change for me.

I will not share the mantra here. I suspect that “tradition” holds that it be transmitted through a specific lineage holder, so I will not violate that edict. Nevertheless, I will take what the Infinite has given me, and use it. It is not for me to question the path that is laid before me.

Many Blessings To All…

“I Have A Dream…To Get A New Mattress…”

Wrong dream.

Martin Luther King, Jr., to my knowledge, never risked his life to push forward an agenda to achieve reasonable prices on bedding and mattresses. Nor, for that matter, did he idle away his time in pushing for reform on the pricing of living room furniture sets. But all that he did has, in many ways, been reduced to that.

Lots of folks get a day off from work on Martin Luther King Day; he didn’t take many days off.

This is a short little blog entry. And the “holiday” that recognizes the birth of a man who embodied love and compassion and commitment at a level that most of us cannot even comprehend was short, too…and now past. Was he “honored?”

No. Not if it was fine-sounding rhetoric in a wonderful speech that gushed about his accomplishments. And NO, not if you got a mattress on sale, or a car, or furniture. And NO, not if you didn’t have to go to work that day. NO, NO, NO.

The only honor that you can give to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. is to commit your life to love, to pledge to ceaselessly speak out against the injustices that are imposed upon our fellow human beings.

Dr. King KNEW that his life was forfeit, and judged that love was worth the cost – that the hope of the removal of oppression upon an entire race of people outweighed his personal safety. On April 4, 1968, he gave all that a man can give – his life.

I pray that another “MLK Day” does not pass without you, and me, and all of humanity, thinking upon what he gave, and each of us personally committing to speak out against every form of oppression. You see it, I see it…we ALL know it is happening. Forget the mattress sales – DO something about the hatred and the killing and the racism. It starts with you and me. Be the change.

Many Blessings To All…

The Human ‘Prism’…”

“You are like the light just before it leaves the prism.”

This was the last comment on the post that I had submitted regarding what would be an appropriate “title” for the work that I do. [the post is at: http://risinghawk.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/741/]. It comes from a very wise source, and is worthy of a blog of its own – so here it is!

It is a beautiful description, and what strikes me the most about his words are that they aren’t just a description of what “I” do, but what each and every one of us does…every moment.

I do not have “more” of the light of Divinity within me than you do; you, too, are a prism that is holding the fullness of ALL THAT IS within you. You’ve got it all, right now. And the primary, visible spectrum of colors that comes out of a prism is a list that is likely familiar to all of you: It’s the rainbow.

I learned it in school through the use of a linguistic device – that of a man’s name – “Roy G. Biv.” [They may still teach it that way, I don't know]. It stands for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

These colors also correspond to the colors associated with the 7 main energy centers, (chakras), of the human “subtle body.” Each one is inextricably linked to specific functions of the various mental, emotional, and physical aspects of our lives. These colors have been visible to advanced spiritual adepts for many, many years – long before science “discovered” the phenomenon, and much of our physical health is greatly affected by the condition of these “energy centers.” [There are some Reiki Masters and other healers in this realm that read this blog who could expound on this in much greater detail, and I hope that they do].

What is incredibly important to understand is that “God” encompasses EVERYTHING, and that EVERYTHING is all LOVE.

What? That can’t be! What about that shooter in Arizona? No love there, right? Wrong.

There is only love, but there are degrees of love. It’s like a thermometer – we can call it cold, warm, hot, seasonable, or whatever…but it is still just variations of temperature. There is minimal heat, or there is tremendous heat; but it is all a level of heat. It is the same with love.

That man, who needed help, (and MANY people knew it and did NOTHING), was operating at a minimum, barely perceptible level of love. This blog isn’t about him, but let’s just say that he was a “broken” prism. He was unable to refract the visible light of love. Where love is only present in the tiniest amount, (bitterly cold for the thermometer/heat analogy), there is only darkness – what we have chosen to call “hate.”  Now, what about you?

Every day, you “display” some aspect of the spectrum of the light of love – the light and energy that is “God.” You are always a prism for that unmanifested light. And some days, you are at the lower end of the scale, and on other, “good” days, you project a stronger, more loving light. The key to being on the high-end of the love scale is to reach a stage of realization that YOU ARE THAT. Realization can prove to be difficult to attain. Your mind is the problem. This lump of gray matter is off to the races every day, and you chase after it like a child who doesn’t know any better.

An uncontrolled mind smears mud on the prism, which causes the light/love that is waiting to shoot forth with laser-like power and precision to be diffused. The grime that your mind has dropped on your pristine prism has rendered it ineffective, scattering your light and love, (if it can get out at all). What’s the solution?

Get control of your mind. Do not allow it to run as it wills. Using mantra and meditation, you can train it to “shut up.” Then, when its foolishness is held in check, you, the Divine prism, can send out the light and energy of love that is waiting to get out – and to change your life, and the lives of those you encounter, in the most positive of ways.

“You are the light just before it leaves the prism.” The light is God. That is powerful, amazing, and indescribably beautiful. Keep your “prism” clean.

Many Blessings To All…

“I Am Without Classification…Nothing…”

“That which can be named is not the eternal Tao, and you my friend, exist on the layers just before manifestation. It’s impossible to classify the unmanifested root of all existence, it is all things at once. And I’ve seen ya do it!”

This was one of the responses to my previous post [http://risinghawk.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/i-could-use-your-advice/] regarding a “title” for what I do.

These words came from a good friend and deeply intuitive and powerful soul – I trust his innate wisdom without qualification. I wish that I could say that I knew exactly what he is saying here but, alas, I cannot.

I DO understand the eternal Tao, and that it cannot be “named,” because at that point it ceases to be the Tao. And, I understand that the unmanifested root of all existence can be anything at anytime, anywhere, in accordance with one’s devotion and belief. The Eternal flame of the “hidden chakra,” the Hrit Padma, simply responds to your deepest desire – and manifests as such.

But, I must confess to not fully comprehending my existence  “on the layers just before manifestation.” I have no doubt of its truth, as the person who wrote the words is an advanced spiritual adept, (whether he chooses to see it as so or not). The statement is, however, somewhat of a mystery to me…beyond my experiential knowledge. In any event, I take from this that I cannot be “classified,” which leaves me in the same conundrum that I was hoping to resolve.

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza were pitching the idea for a TV show which was to be about nothing. And so it is that I am nothing…and everything…all at once. There is powerful Truth in that, but it makes for a poor business card.

Then again, what a concept! A blank business card, save for a phone number, or a Web address. Nothing else. No logos, no slogan…nothing. Those who are meant to hear what is given unto me to share would find me – that is the way of the Infinite – and as it should be. A daunting prospect, nonetheless.

I look forward to more input!

Many Blessings To All…

“I Could Use Your Advice…”

I have been blessed, (through consistent and concentrated effort, study, faith, practice, and experimentation), to become a conduit of great spiritual wisdom and power. As egotistical as that sounds, (I’m cringing as I read it again), I base the statement on the simple observation of the results of my interactions with those who have seriously sought out my guidance. I have a passion to do that sort of work – to help people by illuminating immutable spiritual principles and Truths, that in some small way helps to relieve their suffering. It is why I am here.

I fought that “calling” for many years because, frankly, getting rich and “living large” sounded like a lot more fun. And, that was fun at times but, in the end, empty. So, the “spiritual teacher” thing is now my full-time gig. Awesome. But there’s one small problem – I don’t have a “title.” “Spiritual Teacher” is what I call myself now, which is kind of  vague. But, my path has been such that it defies any neat and tidy categorization. The Infinite has made me a bit of a “spiritual alchemist,” wherein I may mix knowledge from many spiritual traditions to arrive at solutions and help, combining them in many ways as the situation merits, always testing and recording the results – like a scientist. Somehow, it all gets put together in my head – on the spot – and then comes out of my mouth to go to the root of the issue. Don’t ask me how it works, because I don’t know. It’s like putting the parts of a thousand different cars into a dumpster, and then dumping it to find a fully assembled car that is just perfect for the situation. I’m the dumpster – the ALL THAT IS does all of the assembly and juxtaposition; I’m sort of just along for the ride.

I don’t channel any “Ascended Masters,” (or if I do, they haven’t bothered to share their name), nor am I a “preacher.” “Teacher” was the best that I could come up with. Consider my challenge, if you will:

- I am not strictly Buddhist, (although I engage in some of their practices and revel in the wisdom of the Buddha”s teachings).

- I am not strictly Christian, (though I have said the prayer of faith, been baptized, and revere the Truth of what Jesus conveyed).

- I am not strictly Hindu, (even though it is “Hinduistic” aspects of the ONE God that adorn my personal prayer altar).

- I am not an Atheist, (despite the fact that I appreciate logic and their adherence to it).

- I am not Muslim, or a Native American Shaman, Master, Priest, Rabbi, Rishi or Rinpoche. I am none of those things and, yet, maybe all of them.

I have written a book which, technically, makes me an author – but that fact doesn’t reveal much about what happens with what I do. I realize that I am not a title. Nevertheless, titles are important in the world in which we live, because it affects our personal commerce: that is, without a title that describes your personal skill set, your physical life doesn’t get financed, and you are left with no paper with which to trade for goods and services. Such is capitalism.

So, here’s where you get to help me out, (I sorely need your advice and input).

If you know me, have worked with me, read my book, (or even most of the postings on this blog), I ask you – what would you say a good title would be? I look forward to your help and responses!

Many Blessings To All…

“Spiritual Hibernation…”

I guess that is one way to describe what I am experiencing of late.

The big flaw with the “hibernation” description, though, is that I am not in any way in a deep sleep spiritually. But I AM going through a period of relative silence as a myriad of changes in my spiritual landscape are working themselves out.

There have not been any pressing problems or issues to speak of, but my “inner path” has recently been passing through a lot of sharp turns, quick direction changes, and a steep and dramatic increase in the “angle of the slope.”

If you can imagine walking on a relatively level, pleasant and open trail, and then suddenly reaching a place where it is much steeper, with rocks and ditches and switchbacks, (like a mini-maze), then you have an idea of what I am speaking of.

The good news is that my mantra meditation is guiding me to “higher places” much more quickly. The “bad” news is that it has been challenging enough to keep me away from this blog, and sharing what I am learning as I traverse this new, (and sometimes confusing), part of my journey.

So, it is “hibernation” in a way, as I have turned inward to process the markers and changes that I am encountering on the trail; to the outside world, my silence may very well appear to be some manifestation of a “long winter’s nap.”

But, I’m still here, and much spiritual energy is circulating. I hope to be able to share more about it in the next few days, (assuming I am blessed with a flat spot somewhere on this ascent!).

Many Blessings To All…