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Have you been looking for a rock to crawl under or a cave to hide in lately? If so, you’re not alone!

It has been a challenging time for many people - financially, emotionally, mentally and spiritually - and the desire to escape or withdraw is common when feeling overwhelmed by the process of life.  Perhaps you want to run away from the harsh realities of life because you don’t know how to move forward.  You may feel cornered or stuck, and so you look for a place to hide.

While it is normal to pull away from circumstances we experience as overwhelming, there is a very important distinction to keep in mind here. Is that pull a basic drive to escape the pressure, or is it a based on an inner need to regroup?

If you are seeking a cave to crawl into, you may be looking for a way to disconnect from life.  Yet, disconnecting from life will also disconnect you from the Source of life, and will restrict the flow of energy in your life.  It will ultimately leave you even more drained and disconnected!

Pulling away for a while can be very beneficial, provided that we treat it as an opportunity to go within and realign with our Source. There are some beautiful examples of this in the Christian scriptures where Christ pulled away from His disciples to spend time alone in prayer.  He emerged from these times of solitude strengthened and rejuvenated.

If you feel a need to withdraw, acknowledge that as an inner need for renewal.  Give yourself permission to step aside for a bit - not to escape the pressures of life, but to renew yourself. Choose to withdraw from outward activity so you have time for inner reflection. 

As you participate with the process of ebb and flow, there is much to gain.  Effective reflection and regeneration require your conscious participation.  Instead of zoning out, use these basic guidelines to check in with your inner life, and you will emerge renewed.

Reflect on all the areas of your life – the parts that feel smooth and rich, as well as the parts that feel rough and stuck.  Recognize that even in this moment of feeling overwhelmed, you are an eternal soul, and your soul is safe. You are being nurtured and sustained by the very Breath of Life. You have access to the Creator of the Universe, and you are loved beyond what you are able to realize.

Open your heart to the compassion and love of your Eternal Source.  Let compassion flow into you, filling and surrounding you until you are wrapped in its gentle presence like a blanket.  In this space, let the unresolved issues of your life surface one by one.  Instead of resisting them or going into fear, simply observe them from a place of compassion.  Recognize that, despite each one of these issues, you are safe.  You are surrounded by loving compassion. 

Let compassion open up the doorway to forgiveness.  Have you made poor decisions or mistakes?  Forgive yourself.  Have others hurt or wronged you?  Forgive them.

Now take it a step further.  Do you feel scared or overwhelmed? Breathe in compassion and breathe out the fear of these circumstances.  Let all anxiety go as you allow your inner self to re-align with your Source, your Truth and your Peace. Release all the emotions that make you feel disconnected, afraid and alone… and breathe in the boundless love that is available to you instead.

When you feel emptied out, allow Divine love to flow through your being. Give thanks for the healing Presence of your Source as you welcome it into all the areas of life where you need its healing presence: your work, your health, your relationships, your inner being.
 
Step by step, start giving thanks for inner peace.  Give thanks for the things in your life that DO work:  breath, health, food, a place to sleep, the freedom to choose, the ability to move, the gift of love.  Give thanks for the beauty of this earth, for the joy of being alive, for loved ones and friends, for the gifts of hope and healing.  Let gratitude flow until you find yourself carried along its sweet wave of joy. 

Gratitude is the master antidote to fear.  When you give thanks for what works in your life, you move out of fear and worry into a space of faith – a place where miracles can happen.

Once gratitude fills your being, you know that you have been renewed.  You’re ready to step back into life with renewed strength and hope.

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit www.AdaPorat.com

Free Yourself From False Suffering
by Ada Porat

Emotional pain can traumatize us long after the event that triggered it. The more traumatizing the event, the more we tend to think about it and so we keep the pain alive.

Why do we do this?

Most often, we simply do not realize the power of our thoughts. We don’t recognize that it is not the traumatic event, but our thinking about that event, that continues to perpetuate the pain.

The mind does not know the difference between actual events and thoughts about them. To the mind, thoughts are as real as the events they represent, and so we keep reliving the painful trauma of past events as long as we replay these thoughts in our minds.

How can we stop this cycle? Breaking free requires that we recognize the process and choose different responses to it. As soon as we stop giving our life energy to memories or events that seemed to be overpowering, those memories lose their illusion of power. In the very moment of choosing differently, we are also released from the belief that we have to suffer for what had happened to us in the past.

Negative memories, states or events do not have an individual, independent existence. We simply allow ourselves to be hurt or tyrannized by memories of the past because we falsely believe that what happened in the past, has power over us now.

Think about it for a moment: in order for the person who broke up with you to still be able to hurt you now, in this moment, they need to be breaking up with you now, at this very moment! In reality, the event has passed and is no longer taking place in your present reality – yet you continue to suffer because you are replaying the details of the event in your mind, allowing the memories to trigger pain each time you think about them!

Nothing, absolutely nothing can have any power over us unless we give it that power. When we truly understand this principle, we can begin to free ourselves from the painful memories of the past.

Instead of seeing ourselves as victims of circumstances beyond our control, we can begin to recognize our innate power to choose what we focus on. And whatever we choose to focus on, becomes our reality.

Our perception produces what we experience. This perception is made up of many different elements, all of which are based on our interpretation of reality – not an objective reality. When we view events through these filters of our perception, we relate to such events through the filters of our desires, expectations and fears.

In other words, it is the filters of our perception that create our view of any given experience and give it meaning. It is not the relationship breakup that causes our current pain, then, but the painful meaning we attached to that memory. Our perception labeled the event as “heart-breaking” or as our “one and only chance at love” or as a “vicious betrayal.”

The event in itself was simply part of the ongoing unfolding of life – it was neither good nor bad. It's only our interpretation of the event that creates the joy or pain we associate with it.

If it is our perception that causes the pain, then, why we don’t just let events happen spontaneously without grabbing onto them and interpreting their ‘meaning’ from our particular viewpoint? Why do we choose to see pain in what has happened?

I believe that we interpret events through the filters of our perception because we have become so used to pain and suffering that we are not sure who we are without something to suffer over. As strange as it may seem, we welcome the familiar pathways of pain because it makes us feel real.

But who is it that needs to feel pain to feel real? It's always the false self - the ego – that thrives on the drama of emotional pain. At the same time, you and I are not just egos; we are spiritual beings who live in human form with the ego as our constant companion.

This is great news for those of us who wish to free ourselves from false suffering and find a higher way of life! It means that the perception of pain did not originate with our true identity as souls; it stems from the ego’s attempts to resist change and maintain the status quo at all costs. All those conditions that seemed so real and painful are the creation of faulty perception as directed by the ego!

It was our misguided belief that the event had the power to hurt us that made it appear painful and propagated its existence. Once we recognize that we can choose to move our focus away from it, the energy around the memories loses its power and we find grace to move on.

We can greatly accelerate this process by bringing some fresh logic to the situation. Everything that is created has both a beginning and an end; therefore, everything we experience over the course of life, eventually passes to make room for new events and experiences. And so, even the most painful events of our lives also pass with time. We can facilitate this process by not keeping the memories of these events going through our own thoughts.

Even if we have suffered for a lifetime because of the way our perception interpreted what happened to us, we no longer need to suffer this pain. Once we see how the process works, we no longer need to be a victim of our own misunderstanding. We can inwardly say to that suffering ego state,

"Ego, you are not the ruling power in my life – you only think you are. The knots in my life that have me all tied up have no power over me outside of my own perception. It is ego’s perception that led me to interpret these events as pain, but now I choose to see things as they really are."

Once we understand that so-called negative events are not powerful in themselves, we can turn away our focus from the ego’s attempts to re-run the painful perception and causing us relentless suffering. Instead, we can turn toward the place of Truth within to release the past and reclaim our peace in this present moment.

When we release the past to the Source of all creation, we become free at last to embrace our eternal birthright of peace in this present moment.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Seeking Answers To WHY
by Ada Porat

Whenever good or bad fortune strikes, most of us spend some time pondering why it happened. We do this because the conditioned mind reasons there must be some meaning to it, just as it seeks to find meaning behind all of life’s events.

The mind always looks for meaning in everything. In fact, it is not the event itself, but the meaning that the mind attaches to an event, that brings either pleasure or suffering. The event may also be thought to reflect either God's favor or disfavor, which further divides our thinking into a sense of pride or of guilt.

However, the meaning that we attach to a situation is by no means an indication of its true content. We see this principle perhaps most clearly demonstrated at a sports event where the winning team’s fans respond to the score with loud cheers, while the supporters of the losing team respond to the same score with alarm, anger, or frustration. Same score, different responses based on the meaning attached to it by the spectators.

The meaning that we attach to events also brings a value judgment into the picture. No longer do we see the game score simply as a score; we now look for why it happened. Sports commentators spend hours discussing the game to determine who did what to whom. “Whose fault was it that the Lakers lost?,” we ask. “Is that good or bad?” By labeling what has happened, we think that we can deal with it better: it will justify our becoming defensive, or angry, or hurt, or victimized.

So it is the meaning that we attach to the passing parade of life’s events that pulls us into emotional turbulence. It drives us toward separation, from where we no longer respond to the event, but we react to the meaning we have attached to the event. No longer is it just another event; it now becomes personalized as a me and a you; a winner and a loser; a victimizer and a victim; my suffering because of your actions. And because we have attached a value judgment to the event, we now feel justified to react to it. This is the classic cycle of duality that leads to ever more suffering, anger and despair.

Meaning is a product of dualistic existence. The human ego does not like feeling that it has no control and will look for anything to give it a sense of power. When something happens, then, our minds attempt to attach some meaning to it in order to feel some sense of control. In fact, the entire self-help industry is fueled by that desire for personal power and our aversion to suffering.

To summarize, we suffer because not everything goes our way. We suffer because we dread doing the things we don’t want to do but have to do. And we suffer because we can’t have or do the things we want to have or do. We see ourselves as individual personalities with desires that conflict with our circumstances and responsibilities, causing untold pain and suffering.

How do we turn this around?

If we want this suffering to end, we need to move our perspective out of identification with our human personality with its ego-based thinking mind and toward identification with our true nature as souls. For emotional suffering to end, we need to turn inward toward the Source of our being, where happiness is independent of external things.

Indian teacher Ramesh Balsekar stated this process eloquently in A Net of Jewels, where he says,

“Essentially, what the average person wants out of life is just one thing: happiness. It is in this quest that he goes through life day after day, believing that he will somehow, someday find final satisfaction through the things and circumstances of his world. There comes a time, however, when man gets utterly tired, physically and mentally, of this constant search because he finds that it never ends. He comes to the startling discovery that every kind of satisfaction has within itself the roots of pain and torment. At this stage his search cannot but take the turn inwards toward that happiness which is independent of external things.”

The essence of manifest existence is continuous change from birth to death. With physical existence comes the will to live, to survive, to resist threat - and this will resides in the ego. The human ego drives the thinking mind and all our misery in the ensuing attempts to avoid the inevitable.

Life presents problems because our ego nature resists the process of life; we don't accept what is there in the present moment. We want to become something other than what we now are, have something other than what we now have and so on.

Suffering, then, is a consequence of identification with the ego self and its physical domain. If we feel that we are limited bodies of protoplasma, we will feel a need to have control over what happens to us.

When we shift our perspective back to our true nature as eternal souls, we realize that we are limitless. We do not need to control or resist what is happening because what is happening out there, cannot threaten our true nature within. As a result, we also don’t need to label, react or judge anything that happens out there any longer.

Birth, life, good fortune, misfortune, and death simply happen, and have no meaning of their own. Any thought about their meaning is just a thought that has no more meaning than any other thought. The Course in Miracles teaches this principle early on because if we want to find inner peace, it is important to learn to distinguish between what happens out there, and the meaning we attach to it. When we can detach from the meaning we have allocated to any given event, we are able to find a place of neutrality.

In the world of spirituality or non-duality, life no longer requires labels to give it meaning. In non-duality, the essence shows forth its truth and requires no meaning or labels. What it is, is self-evident. It makes no sense to ask what the meaning is of Love, Being, Presence, or Awareness. The very essence of non-duality is Love, Being, Presence and Awareness, so the notion of meaning is superfluous.

Spiritual practice is the discipline of undoing the conditioning of the ego and the thinking mind, and learning to align with higher Truth, the principles that guide our souls. A healthy spiritual practice will consist of learning, devotion (prayer, meditation or contemplation), practice (ways in which you implement what you are learning to integrate it) and interaction with like-minded individuals. You may find a fulfilling spiritual practice within a specific religion, order or teaching; or your practice may be more eclectic and ecumenical. Your practice may look different than that of another; and it is not important. What is vitally important, however, is that you commit to some form of spiritual practice consistently over time.

Effective spiritual practice relieves suffering by quieting the thinking mind. This is necessary for the efficient functioning of the working mind. A quiet mind is also an end in itself since it is always accompanied by the peace of pure Awareness. In fact, this can be a guide to distinguish between effective and ineffective practices. If suffering is relieved by a practice, it is worth continuing. If it does not, and especially if suffering increases, it is better to discontinue it.

Effective practices further help us detach from all forms of conditioning. A quieter thinking mind allows unconscious conditioning to rise to the awareness of the conscious mind from where it can be cleared. The thinking mind ordinarily represses unwanted thoughts, urges, and desires, which are the dark side of the ego (the shadow). When repression ceases, the shadow emerges into awareness.

The Indian sage Papaji described this process by saying that, when you begin to awaken, all the gods and demons of your past come to reclaim you. The potential of these forms of unconscious conditioning to destroy one’s peace is minimized by the deepening realization that their release represents the dissolution of the ego-based thinking mind. It is also helpful to keep in mind that these emerging forms are finite in number, even when it feels as if the stack of emotions that arises is endless.

As we do the work of consistently becoming aware of and clearing all limited patterns of conditioning, we grow in understanding of our true nature. The journey of spiritual awareness requires us to be vigilant and earnest in our commitment to Truth, and to trust the flow of life wherever it takes us; not to enjoy or to suffer, but to gain deeper understanding so we can learn. It is this process of learning that provides favorable conditions in which the soul can realize its highest potential. That realization is the highest purpose your soul could strive for – it is the sole purpose for being in the body.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

By Ada Porat

Truth has a way of expressing itself even when we deny it.  We may try to respond in the way we think others expect us to, but the body never lies.  The tone of voice, the body language, or the facial expression gives us away.

When I ask people, “How are you?” I often hear them respond by saying “Fine, just fine!”  And yet, I cannot believe their words because their eyes are dull - no joy there! The eyes are the windows to the soul and when the eyes are not bright with life, how can I believe their words?  There is no resonance between the inner truth and that which is expressed!

To change this pattern, start watching people. When they say they are happy, watch for another clue. Is the body language communicating the same message or is it saying something else?  Once you are able to pick up on the clues by objectively watching others, step it up a notch and start looking for the same clues in yourself.

Watching yourself takes more skill because it is a more subjective process, but don’t let that discourage you.  Simply observe yourself. When you say you are happy when you are really not, there will be a disturbance in your body language because of the conflict between your emotions and your words. When you repress your true emotions, the effort will change the rhythm of your breathing, tighten your throat, or cause you to look away. The body never lies!

You cannot avoid the truth within. So instead of avoiding or suppressing it, why not embrace your truth?  Once you start living from your inner truth, you step into authenticity.  As the conflict between your inner truth and your outer expression drops away, your body can return to peace.

You will notice that when you speak your truth, your voice carries a vibrant tone and you feel empowered.  The key to personal peace lies in that sense of alignment with your truth.  When you honor your truth, you will find yourself stepping into a place of inner harmony.  You will feel at peace, regardless of the situation you find yourself in.

There is no need to wait for these moments to occur at special times.  They can become a part of your life. When aligned with your inner truth, you can live an extraordinary life in a very ordinary world. You can be perfectly at ease, whether cooking food, washing clothes or addressing a crowd, because you are perfectly present and aligned with truth in each moment.

©Copyright Ada Porat.

This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. Ada Porat is a kinesiologist and life balance coach who uses body/mind/spirit techniques to help clients stand in their truth.  For more information, visit www.AdaPorat.com

Reclaiming Your Forgotten Healing Garden

by Ada Porat

We are a mysterious species of extremes and contradictions. It has been said that we are capable of dreaming the most beautiful dreams while harboring the darkest nightmares.

In the last 100 years we have mastered the secrets of matter, conception, life and death. We are capable of redesigning our genetic code, customizing weather patterns and creating new forms of life - powers historically left to God and nature.

And yet, the irony is that despite miraculous technologies, families are still destroyed by preventable disease, malnutrition, and epidemics. Despite the most sophisticated understanding of peace, we still perpetrate the horrors of war, induced famine and senseless acts of hate.

We may discover that it is precisely the context of these extremes that compels us to search for unity in our world and to find a sense of meaning. We are yearning for a deeper understanding of life and the part we have come to play in it.

This search for meaning draws us inward, away from the hustle and bustle of external life.  Once we start the journey to find truth within, miracles can start to unfold.  The secrets of living a meaningful life are indeed hidden in the heart, where they often lie forgotten, like an abandoned garden waiting to be rediscovered.

By doing the work of reclaiming the inner beauty of that forgotten garden, peace is restored within us.  And as we start making peace with ourselves, our external conflicts shift as well.  As we change our inner perspective on life, the things around us change as well. As Wayne Dyer says, when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at, change! 

The Creator appointed human beings as custodians of this beautiful planet. In each of us resides the power to create our world as an abundant garden, lush and beautiful. 

We can - and must – indeed reach out to bring healing to the Earth. 

Like a journey of a thousand miles, the first step starts within each one of us.  The Hermetic teachings of Thoth show how the nature of the Divine is reflected in everything: as above, so below; and as within, so without.  As we reclaim our connection to the Divine, the effects will radiate out from us to benefit Mother Earth as well.  What a great incentive for doing our inner work!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com

This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

 

The Power of Inner Silence

By Ada Porat

People sometimes ask me, “What’s the use of meditation?”  I love to answer that question because it reminds me of the abundance that comes from our alignment to a Higher Purpose.

Prayer, meditation or meditative contemplation are all intended for the same purpose:  stilling the mind and transcending the realms of ego so we can align with our Life Source from within. Indeed, when we approach meditation or prayer from this perspective of entering the silence within, it can make a powerful difference in our every area of lives.  Whether we’re talking about a lasting relationship, the perfect job, or the healing of disease, the principle is the same.

In that silence that ensues, we become aware of the divine Life Force energy that underlies all of creation.  When we align ourselves with that energy, it reflects back to us from all possible probabilities the outcome that is attracted to the feelings we emit!  This is the highest form of prayer:  a silencing within that allows for the highest purpose to unfold within us and within our lives.  

Sometimes it takes a while for us to learn how to still the mind.  Perhaps we are very attached to a certain outcome and that may prevent us from entering the place of silent surrender. 

In true prayer, there is no begging, bargaining or supplication.  Instead, there is the inner surrender to the silence, and the alignment to divine purpose.  Out of that place of peace, a new vision of what could be, may then arise without manipulation from the fear-based ego. 

Our gratitude for the new image of what could be, often re-contextualizes our limited perspective completely.  Instead of bargaining or begging for a solution, we now experience a deep sense of gratitude, appreciation and joy for the possibility we are shown. 

Once we see that possibility, there is a need to consciously and with intention, embrace it as an option, and to give thanks from the heart for it.  When we can feel the joy, gratitude and presence of this new vision in our hearts—not just think it, but also really feel it—then it activates the quantum resonance field and draws into our lives the desired outcome from among all probabilities!

In the vast field of energy that surrounds our universe, there is enough of everything to go around:  there is enough peace, health, abundance, and peace.  When we experience the opposite outcomes, is simply means that we have been focusing on the wrong things.  To attract more of what we desire, then, we need to simply change our focus!

When we approach life from a place of faith, we are able to see past obstacles and limitations to the Essence of what is – the perfection of all, with appreciation and gratitude. By doing so, we open the door to a greater possibility.

Faith draws us into that place of stillness, the void from where all creation originates; and gratitude enables us to translate our faith into practical results.  Meditation or prayer then becomes the vehicle that enables us to accomplish the change we seek in our world, from within. 

 

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com

This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Meditation As Pathway to The Soul

by Ada Porat

The practice of meditation offers clear physiological, mental and emotional benefits.  It can lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety and depression, aid restorative sleep and promote a general sense of well-being.  Meditation assists with integrating the inner world of peace and joy with the outer world of action and achievement.  This integration produces balance in body, mind and spirit.

The purpose of meditation is to heal and transform; to look deeply within; to listen for messages and guidance, and to realize and accept your wholeness.  In India it is known as 'tethering the drunken monkey,' quelling the babble of thoughts to focus on the profound essence within. It can slow down mental chatter, bringing us back to the present moment from where we can access inner guidance and serenity. 

The process helps us to reclaim inner freedom by letting go, rather than by trying to control our thoughts. Practiced regularly, meditation clarifies the inner voice of truth. It can help you untangle the knots of everyday life and bring about the desired results in life with more ease. 

When coupled with guided imagery, meditation is also used to reprogram thoughts, to provide the body with imagery for healing and to create a new reality to step into.  

Meditation empowers.  With regular practice, our relationship with ourselves and others can become transformed, easier and more joyful. The hopes, desires and manifestations of life all originate from within and shine outward from there. Our hearts show us the truth about ourselves and our potential every time we take the time to see and listen.  As we align with this truth, we discover the guidance, contentment and answers that await within.

Life is the constant unfolding of choices we make.  With regular meditation, we become more attuned to our inner guidance, empowering us to make optimal choices for our highest good.  This can open doors for wonderful things to unfold in our lives. 

While there are many forms of meditation and it may take you a while to find the format that feels most comfortable for you, there are five basic principles common to all forms of meditation.

1. GET GROUNDED

To begin meditation, you must feel that you are wholly in your body. Adopt any comfortable sitting position, preferably with your spine is straight. You should sit solid as a rock, with your centre of gravity low.

2. USE THE BREATH

Allow the mind and body to settle as you sit quietly, by focusing on your breathing and being aware of it. Don't consciously make yourself breathe; rather, become conscious of your natural breathing.

3. BECOME WATCHFUL

While in a state of complete relaxation, it is important to be aware of your thoughts without becoming absorbed by them. Imagine your thoughts like clouds drifting by; watch them and realize that you are not your thoughts.  Become the observer of all.

4. ALLOW THOUGHTS

As random thoughts emerge, don’t resist them.  Resistance feeds opposition; instead, simply acknowledge their presence and allow the thoughts to float across the screen of your mind.  This process can be likened to focusing on the window of a moving car while allowing the scenery to pass by.

5. CONTINUE YOUR PRACTICE

While it is better to meditate for 60 seconds than not at all, the ideal minimum is 20 minutes. Learning is easy; the main reason to keep going is that meditation feels good.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com

This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.