Wisdom Within

The Higher Self
The soul can be likened to a great house with many rooms, each of which makes up an integral part of who we are. One of those rooms, or aspects, is what is known as the higher self, a part of us that possesses a range of perception far greater than that of the conscious mind. Your higher self is aware of both your current existence and numerous otehr possibilities, and cannot be altered or suppressed. It is related to your basic, innate purpos and no matter how much or how often you change, it remains constant. Some believe the higher self is the most evolved, most perfect "self" and thus can act as a guide on life's journey. In that role, it manifestes itself in many ways: as images that flash in your mind inspiring ideas, as a small voice, as intuition, or as a feeling of rightness associated with certain actions.

Becoming aware of an connecting with the higher self is comparable to becoming truly aware of oneself while feeling entirely integrated into the univeres. It is like being in your body while looking down at your life from a high vantage pint. With such insight, you can find the answers to many questions about your own life and the infinite existence. Connecting with the higher self, howere, takes dedication, discipline, and preactice. You may find it difficult because old emotional wounds or negative thoughts block your connection. One technique involves becoming "level" with the higher self through visualization. Being by sitting in a chair with adequate support for the spine. Relax and breath deeply. When you have achieved a level of deep calm, rise out of yourself, turn, and see your seated body before you. Visualize the higher self - it may appear as a pint of white light above your head. Concentrate on it and slowly move it down to your physical body. letting it envelope you until it reaches the floor. Be sure to ground yourself after doing this exercise by eating a meal, or going out in nature.

After connecting with their higher selves, many people report rediscovering their soul's purpose and feel comfortable living in accordance with it. On the other hand, it is possible to fight the higher self, which can lead to tension and lack of energy. Nonetheless, the higher self is our most open and wise "companion" in life, and a source of unadulterated insight, provided we have the perseverance to bond with it.

A Distant Perspective

There Are No Straight Lines in Nature or In Life
If you trek into the wilderness and look around with a careful gaze, you will see that the trees, flowers, and even the rocks have a tendency to flow. There is the curve of the branch that leads to the blossom, the smooth dip in a rock formation, the gnarled knot in a tree trunk, and the forking of shoots. As nature is overflowing with curves, corners, knots, and unexpected directions, so are our lives filled wiht unpredictable twists and turns. While you may find yourself briefly on a straight path, there is sure to be a sudden change in route up ahea. The journey of life dose not necessarily always bring you closer to your goals. In fact, sometimes you may find yourself backtracking or meandering off in a wholly new direction. because there is no way to predict the outcome of your journey (just as there is no way to predict the way a new bud will form), simply living is in itself the path to wisdom.

Like a nature trail, this path can lead to unexpected destinations. You may be face with direct questions like who am I and what is of value to me, or you may find yourself acquiring the answer to these questions throught everyday experiences. The path to wisdom is only blocked when one expects it to be a straight line. It is important ot remember that plans and prediction are not rigid and, as your world grows in complexity, are likely to change. It is therefore necessary to be open a multitude of different paths. Obstacles, weariness, curiosity, or circumstance may cause you to alter yhour direction abruptly. There may be forks in your path, where you will need to make significant decisions based on the counsel of your inner voice.

There are both long and short roads that are sometimes curved and sometims straight. Enjoy and learn from the adventure. Often, when we look at nature, the beauty is in the unexpected. No two plants or minerals are the same and even the samllest plants curve gracefully. The curving path is often the most interesting one. the lesson we can take from that is to avoid becoming attached to what "needs" to happen and to remain flexible as we continue on our journeys. If you are determined to achieve certain goals, you will achieve them, no matter how many twists and turns you must travel to do so.

A Distant Perspective

Benefits of Detachment
Looking out the window while riding in an airplane lends a unique perspective. From high among the clouds, homes and highways appear tiny and toy-like. Suddenly, our crowded and important cities seem like just a small part of a busy universe. According to the Law of Yoga, one of the seven spiritual trughts of Hinduism, we can also see our private lives from a new point of view by practicing detachment. By purposefully letting go of the end result of our actions and learning to watch our own thoughts and behavior impartially, we gain new insight into the diverse choices available to us. The goal of detachemnt is to be able to interact with the world while also watching ourselves, to be both actor and witness at the same time.

Those who renouce the desire for an award, according to the Bhagavad-Gita, attain perfect peace. Being overly focused on the outcome of an action actually ties on down, while being detached enough to view the relativity of the situation sets on free and lends tranquility Being detached dose not mean that on can't enjoy anything or anyone. It just refers to the fact that clinging very strongly to a person, a thought pattern or an emotional habit makes it difficult to cope with life. We begin to think that if we don't get a specific job or have a certain relationship, we will be miserable. Being detached meas saying that if we achieve a certain goal, we will be fine, and if for some reason, we don't, we will still be fine. A Buddhist says describes detachemt as "Not flattered by praise, not hurt by blam."

Once we are able to detach ourselves from difficulty, we gain a broad perspective and a multiplicity of possibilities become apparent. Many solutions that we would never have considered when we were emotionally drowning in the problem now appear. When you are faced with a particularly trying personal problem, try taking some time to consciously detach yourself. Meditation, listening to calming music and taking a long walk are all possible detachment rituals. Traveling to another location either actually or through a favorite book or film are also good ways to finding a new perspective. When you let go of your limited view and gain greater objectivity, you put the law of Yoga into practice. You open the door to greater intuition and increased serenity.