It is difficult for some people to understand the power of focused silence.   It may come from a place of fear- the unknown, a place that goes deep within- seeking.  The procession was visually beautiful, but it lacked the effort, of some, to truly be present with the intention set forth by the Tibetan Monks that led us in prayer and procession.  Maybe I am too hard here in expressing my frustration -which i should say that it does not take away from the profound experience of being there- I got a sense, through observation, that some folks were not even trying to observe the silence.  I feel this is to show disrespect for the sentient beings we came to show solidarity with.
This writing is an observation of the human realm, an inquiry to why we continue to do the things we do,  without conscious knowledge.  We can really only find these answers within, if one is ready to go there- it is not an easy journey, but immensely beautiful!

Taking place- a mass shift of being,

No longer are we looking outside,

For inner happiness shines through-

Free from pride.

Gone are the fears of judgment-

Making space for acceptance and peace,

Free are the fears of alienation-

Vulnerability leading to an open heart,

We witness the fall of self hatred-

Emerges the power of collective expression,

As we are actively moving-

In a culture of ‘we’,

We see the Earth as whole,

Blessed shedding of the ‘I and Me’-

That has taken it’s toll-

Falls away without a cry of resistance,

For abundance lies within-

As collectively we walk together,

Always remembering where we’ve been.

–with wildsynergy, linda moore

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I am neither ego nor reason, I am neither mind nor thought,

I cannot be heard nor cast into words, nor by smell nor sight ever caught:

In light and wind I am not found, nor yet in earth and sky-

Consciousness and joy incarnate, Bliss of the Blissful am I.

.

I have no name, I have no life, I breathe no vital air,

No elements have molded me, no bodily sheath is my lair:

I have no speech, no hands and feet, nor means of evolution-

Consciousness and joy am I, and Bliss in dissolution.

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I cast aside hatred and passion, I conquered delusion and greed;

No touch of pride caressed me, so envy never did breed:

Beyond all faiths, past reach of wealth, past freedom, past desire,

Consciousness and joy am I, and Bliss is my attire.

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Virtue and vice, or pleasure and pain are not my heritage,

Nor sacred text, nor offerings, nor prayer, nor pilgrimage:

I am neither food, nor eating, nor yet the eater am I-

Consciousness and joy incarnate, Bliss of the Blissful am I.

.

I have no misgivings of death, no chasms of race divide me,

No parent ever called me child, no bond of birth ever tied me:

I am neither disciple nor master, I have no kin, no friend-

Consciousness and joy am I, and merging in Bliss is my end.

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Neither knowable, knowledge, nor knower am I, formless is my form,

I dwell within the senses but they are not my home:

Ever serenely balanced, I am neither free nor bound-

Consciousness and joy am I, and Bliss is where I am found.

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I found this sacred writing in Light on Yoga – B.K.S. Iyengar

Om Shanti Shanti Shantih

http://members.aol.com/jajnsn/

http://www.anandamayi.org/map.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinoba_Bhave

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Satyagraha

http://sukha-yoga.org

http://etirth.wordpress.com/

“Satya-truth-implies love. 

Agraha-to grasp-firmness, engenders and therefore serves as a synonym for force.” 

 A firm grasp or force that which is of truth-love.  A force that acts-works for the freedom of all beings. (my interpretation)

“Satyagraha-is a weapon of the strong; it admits of no violence under any circumstances whatever; and it ever insists upon truth”

M. Gandhi

dedication and inward study as i worked through the lesson of my teacher.

timing beautifully her words, released the trepidation around coming to class- knowing i had work to do but also acknowledging to myself that i needed a careful nurturing within the work.

this is exactly what came of todays class, a better understanding of the play between my Mother and i- and what it is i offer, as this is the only thing i can make claim to, and work from there. if i keep breathing, and be aware of when i respond- and where it comes from-the harshness- it melts away.

A clarity that came that day in class, began a process of mending, of forgiving between my Mother and I.  For this I am so grateful.

i must make distinction that i am aware that it is nearly impossible to not make any sound, especially as i go through my day regular like (being out in the urban world). i can be free from talking, using the phone and stereo.

it allows me to listen. to begin to understand the different layers that make up the fabric of our lives. sounds of traffic no longer drown out the song of birds- because i am in tune with the layers. it can be related to a symphony and it can shift the attention- so that the sounds of the city do not disturb the mind- they are apart of the fabric- once this has been achieved i realize that i am not disturbed by the barrage of media messages that surround me- clutter that does not make it’s way into my head- unless i make the conscious choice to take it in.

the sound of my hand brushing against the fur of Jai as i caress his beautiful cat head.

the sound of my feet as i walk- how lightly do i step? is it as lightly as i am able?

it is a calming- even as i enter into it- i begin prior to sleep the night before and i wake slowly to come into the day with full awareness of my intention. today had it’s rough spots- i was troubled by an interaction with my Mother the night before- so my mind was filled with thoughts- and not all calm ones….but through the course of the day, i met a calming. and i had to work for it!

i wear a sign, explaining my silence for the day, and sometimes i am met with bewilderment- folks confuse the fact that they can talk- it is my choice not to. some begin to use hand gestures, in communicating something, and the most interesting one is that it requires that communication happen with eyes making contact- that’s a big one for so many people- we go around, through our day- speaking to people, without the slightest effort to look at the being we are talking with.

i began to notice these things, in a chosen silence.

insights will continue to unfold as i continue this practice.

The weight compares to nothing.

Sadness hits the heart-

bewildered

at how it is to be

that the only one i am to have conflict with

is you-

my mother

one who carries the weight of all her life’s misgivings

one brother with his dark cloud

hands it down to his three daughters

another brother who i barely know

how does he carry his story?

and mine? how do i carry

48 years of my story- it seemed so lifted-

until we begin to go deeper with our understanding

of each other- mother

the way we treat each other today is

so much about our history rather

than this moment.

i love you.

Linda Moore