OuiCast JoyChats

JoyChats Bidding Goodbye!

2011-09-01T18:42:13Z

Joychats is retiring ... however all past shows will be available until further notice.

JoyChats ... To be Relaunched after redesign

2011-01-03T18:39:12Z

Due to the redesign of JoyChats we will not be publishing until the Re Launch.

Our apologies for any invonvenience ...

JoyChats Undergoing Redesign

2010-12-02T17:17:41Z

Joychats is undergoing redesign considerations ... so we will not be publishing during December 2010.

Our apologies for any invonvenience ...

Please do stay tuned for news updates later this month ...

Facing Death

2010-10-06T12:03:55Z

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Profound, powerful, potent, life transforming, terrifying, meeting and overcoming fears, exhilarating, liberating, shattering of world views, facing death, ... these are only some of the qualifiers for my 1997 trip to the Peruvian Amazon.

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I had always been drawn to the Amazon so naturally it was one of the answers to my question: "what if I have six months left to live?" Incidentally, the place I ended up visiting in the Amazon used to show up in a recurring dream back in 1987. The full significance of that dream only started dawning on me after my return from this fascinating, intriguing, and mysterious part of the world. I can easily do several episodes re my journey to the Amazon but in this episode I'll focus on only one aspect of that trip .... facing death.

]]> To reach this remote place you first take a flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, which is a small Peruvian village with dirt roads and a tiny airport that has only 1 flight per day. From here you take a 30-45mins boat ride downstream on the Madre De Dios river, which is a tributary of the Amazon river. This remote place or lodge - as it is called - consists of a few huts and walkways built on wooden stilts. If you miss this lodge then you'll drift for a day or so and then hit Bolivia. ... the lodge offers no real man made conveniences except the huts and a crew that provides meals ... you have to be prepared to deal with all kinds of bugs etc ... there is no electricity just oil lamps at night and showers that somehow pump in the river water ... if you walk away from the lodge ... within minutes you are in the thick jungle of the Amazon with all kinds of wild deadly creatures ... one of which is a poisonous ant that is apparently feared more than some of the other deadly creatures like snakes ...

And it is worth noting that there is only one boat ride every morning between the lodge and Puerto Maldonado ... which means that once you are at the lodge it is at least 24hrs before you can get to the village and even so there isn't much available there. As far as I knew it did not even have a hospital or any other form of modern medical assistance.

My intention is not to dramatize or glorify the trip or the Amazon ... the circumstantial or phenomenal aspect of this trip is not that important ... what is important is that the circumstances clearly underscore that you have to be ready and able to meet your fears re various physical matters because the normal societal infrastructure is just not available ... and that is only one of the hidden or implicit gifts of such a journey ... a journey that certainly allowed me to meet some of my deep inner and outer fears.

During my stay I swam in the river which had caymans (or small crocodiles) that are presumably not harmful to humans but then there is no guarantee ... this benign quality of these creatures is only as per the local lore ... in the end you swim at your own risk but I had no reservations whatsoever ... and I mention this only to point out that this act of swimming was one of the small rewards of meeting fear.

Of course, this time was certainly amazing at many levels but more importantly it was instrumental in bringing powerful transformations and profound shifts in perspective through direct experiences ... it was an unplanned, but thankful, "burning" of that which no longer served.

I won't go into any specifics but during this trip as part of a set of experiences, I had to literally face my death ... there was a moment when I couldn't breathe and all of the known events of my life just flashed in front of my eyes ... At one point I thought Oh we can get some help in Puerto Maldonado but then I laughed out aloud at this absolutely ridiculous notion ... even if we could get to Puerto Maldonado then what? In the end I had to simply accept and relax into this meeting ... and the more I accepted and relaxed the more a deep calm and peace settled in ... with an absolute assurance that all was going to be OK.

Gangaji says " ... die to whom you think you are before who you think you are dies ... " I suggest that if you are quiet enough to hear these words and then have the courage to truly absorb and reflect ... then a great underlying gift is revealed.

Here's a question I ask people when we are talking about consciousness, self discovery or related topics....

" ... have you experienced a moment when you are not an American, or Japanese, or Australian, or Indian, or French, or Italian, or Chinese, or whatever is your nationality ? ... or ... have you experienced a moment when you are not this form that is named Sanjiv or James or Mary or Olivia or whatever? ..."

Gangaji's remark and my question is a boundless invitation ... to consciously undertake a meeting of our persona death.

As Nirmala says:

die a little

with every disappointment

or find what never dies

and has no preferences

And as Rumi says:

So you want union?
Union is not something found on the ground

or purchased at the marketplace

Union comes only at the cost of life.

The Nirmala poem is a stanza from Gifts with No Giver, a love affair with truth, Poems by Nirmala. This book is available for free download from Nirmala's website: endless-satsang.com. Nirmala also offers several of his other books for free download from his website.

The Rumi poem is a paraphrased one from "A Garden Beyond Paradise, The Mystical Poetry of Rumi, Translated by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva."

The emphases and the repetitions in the poem reading are my literary liberties.

Gangaji's quote is from "the Diamond in your Pocket, discovering your true radiance, by Gangaji."

The JoyChats series has been brought to you by ouicast i.e., O U I C A S T .com.

You may also enjoy our other channel ... RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir, Nirmala, Hafez (Hafiz), and others.

The Secret we keep from Ourselves

2010-09-02T00:22:35Z

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Prior to 1997 I had lived a successful and jet setting life with homes in Seattle, WA and Melbourne, Australia ... no financial worries ... a seemingly good marriage ... and many material comforts ... a life deeply immersed in the highly creative and lucrative world of hi-tech business ... so at one level all seemed to be going great ... however, there was an undeniable sense of "something missing" or life being "somewhat hollow" ...

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This feeling had been with me since 1987 ... at times it was dormant but gradually it increased in intensity and ultimately demanded my full attention. Not surprisingly '87 is when I started exploring various Eastern and Western wisdom sources for example ... The Bhagavada Gita, The Vedas, Mystical poets like Rumi, various realized beings with their teachings ... Psychology, particularly Carl Jung's work, ... Stan Grof the founder of Transpersonal Psychology, ... and the eminent mythologist Joseph Campbell. And over the years I participated in various workshops, seminars, and retreats ... My journey also led me to the Amazon and some other intriguing, fascinating, and sacred places.

]]> Of course, each example can be the subject of several episodes however my rationale for mentioning these here is not to glorify my background or throw out some distinguished names... The intention is to point out that a multi faceted and unrestricted search was undertaken ... apparently this is quite typical when "something is missing in life." The subject matters of interest are obviously unique to each individual's journey but the fundamental principle of in-depth search is the same.

All of this kept me very busy and was certainly gratifying at one level ... it brought many interesting encounters and conversations ... and also made me feel good about the knowledge and the experiences .... but something still nagged at me ... So much so that in 1996, which was 9 years into the focused seeking, I knew something had to change because I just could not go on with the usual life. Co-incidentally, that same year, as part of an executive seminar, I faced the question "What if I have six months left to live?" and to my surprise, I discovered that I was not living anything that was revealed in my honest and heartfelt answer.

This sobering question was the catalyst of a profound shift away from the life I had known.

Throughout my journey, I was deeply and inexplicably drawn to solitude ... so naturally, over the years, I experimented with several short to extended forays into silence ... but the real deep ones came after 1996 ... Of course, Silence was, and is, the revealer of our True nature .... it was, and is, the dissolver of all kinds of illusions carried over the years. I am reminded of a segment from the last episode, ... Ramana Maharishi's comment that "Mowna is Ishvara Svarupa." ... which also means Silence is the face of God! Indeed... Silence is one of greatest gifts you can give yourself.

Some of my early childhood period illusions probably came through osmosis ... i.e., absorbing the local lore or mythology. Other illusions were created in the later adult years ... sort of as a natural by product of my journey ... the extended and varied nature of the journey seems to create, or solidify, a mental construct as to what the final result of seeking may look like. This may come from our interpretation of ... some realized being's personal story or ... what has been written in ancient wisdom texts or ... our own extraordinary and mind blowing experiences.

Unfortunately, such constructs become one of the key obstacles in seeing That which is always here! The Divine is present in the magnificent and extraordinary but is also and equally present in the utterly mundane.

As Rumi says ... "Why look for God .... Look for the one looking for God ... but then Why look at all? ... He is not lost ... He is right here ... Closer than your own breath!"

And as Nirmala says ...

I always thought you would come to me

in the shape of a beautiful lover

I never dreamed you would steal my heart

with no shape at all

I always pretended I needed arms to hold me

and lips to kiss away my pain

yet I find fulfillment

in the embrace of empty space

I always wished you would speak to me

with words of tender sweetness

now I know you whisper silently

of your undying love

I always knew I would find you

although I foolishly looked with my eyes

you were here all along

hiding just out of sight in my heart

This poem is from Gifts with No Giver, a love affair with truth, Poems by Nirmala. This book is available for free download from Nirmala's website: endless-satsang.com. Nirmala also offers several of his other books for free download from his website.

As usual, the emphases and the repetitions in the poem reading are my literary liberties.

You may also enjoy our other channel ... RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir, Nirmala, Hafez (Hafiz), and others.

Spiritual Nourishment, I Ching, & Our True Nature

2010-08-25T23:20:44Z

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Spiritual nourishment seems to be a fundamental human need. It doesn't matter where this nourishment comes from ... what form it takes ... it is provided for by every culture or mythology ... for example, the Chinese Oracle, I Ching, talks about two such wells of nourishment: an external well like the I Ching and an internal well which "must be our own good character."

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I Ching, is an invaluable and impeccable ... external source of wisdom and advice. It serves this purpose .. eminently ... and has done so for thousands of years. Of course, I Ching has most certainly served as a wise counsel for us over the years. We use it on a regular basis to remind us of the "proper principles." One can develop a deeply meaningful and highly personal relationship with this Oracle if it is followed and used sincerely and honestly. This task may be easy for some and difficult for others but it is certainly doable.

]]> The issue of "our own good character" is potentially more challenging, maybe even elusive, ... and is possibly full of adventure. Why ? because first we must know ourselves before we can assess if our character is good ... and, of course, that brings us home to the fundamental question of Self Discovery. This exercise is not intended to be mental even though one may use the intellect to absorb pertinent information for further consideration ... but the key seems to lie in the solo, silent exploration ... which is indeed subtle but it must be undertaken with sincerity and tenacity.

So here are some remarks for further consideration:

Our true nature is permanence.

Explore this statement on your own. Find out what is not changing in your life.

Are your emotions remaining unchanged?
Are your thoughts remaining unchanged?
Is your body unchanging?

It is being claimed here that something is unchanging ... what is that? Discard any answer that cannot sustain changelessness and see what remains.

Ramana often used to respond to certain questions with silence. Apparently, once such a silent response was explicitly questioned and his subsequent verbal response was "Mowna is Ishvara Svarupa" which means "Silence is the face of God." or it can mean "Silence reveals God."

Once we truly discover ourselves then knowing and following our own good character is not only easy but it offers an endless adventure in every circumstance and every encounter, solo or otherwise.

The more we trust and tap into the "voice within" the more it is available ... ... That which is always here is Always here ... How can it not?

The I Ching remarks are paraphrased and derived from "The I Ching or Book of Changes, by Brian Browne Walker" and come from the hexagram named "Ching or The Well."

You may also enjoy our other channel ... RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir, Nirmala, Hafez (Hafiz), and others.

Gandhi, Trust, & Moray

2010-08-14T22:24:16Z

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery.

" ... When every hope is gone, "when helpers fail and comforts flee," I experience that help arrives somehow, from I know not where. Supplication, worship, prayer are no superstition; they are acts more real than the acts of eating, drinking, sitting, or walking. It is no exaggeration to say that they {thoughts of God} alone are real, all else is unreal. ..."

That is a quote from Gandhi.

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Gandhi's words are, of course, profoundly true ... They also remind me of the Sufi zikr "La Illaha Il Allahu" which means "There is no reality but God; There is only God."

]]> The Divine or The Universe does indeed work in Mysterious ways and it certainly can not be explained by Science or logic. Instead of worship or prayers I would rather use "tapping into the inner voice" or the "voice within" but the principle is same as Gandhi's. And of course, this is about surrendering into That which is Always here!

Gandhi was not just a gifted and extraordinary Socio-Political Leader, but he was also a "Realized Being" like Papaji or Ramana Maharishi. His life work was of social action vs. contemplation. As I had said in one of the past episodes ... The challenge is always to serve the Mystery with our entire life without necessarily knowing the outcome. Gandhi, Papaji, and Ramana certainly did that ... each in his own unique way.

Let me share some parts of a relevant personal story:

In Jan 199, my dear beloved wife and I were returning from Sacred Valley to Cusco with two Peruvian acquaintances in their car. On the spur of the moment we decided to go and see Moray, one of the Incas sacred places which we had missed in our previous trip to Peru .... Moray is a fascinating creation of concentric circles (or "terraced circular depressions" in the earth) going down deeper and deeper into the earth. It is a remote place between Cusco and the Sacred Valley and is reached through long, sometimes winding dirt roads.

On the way up, we gave a short ride to a local woman who disappeared into nowhere shortly after disembarking. This area was a high plateau wilderness with nothing man made visible as far as the eye could see. During the ride, the woman muttered something in her local language ... our friends explained later on that she was saying "it is monsoon season and it could rain soon" ... and that the four of us were "crazy to be out here at this time" ...

We arrived in Moray late afternoon and the magic of the place entranced us and time just flew .... It was getting dark as we were returning and soon it started to rain. The dirt roads with deep ruts were getting treacherously slippery ... Shortly after we navigated a long switchback; we slid off into a ditch ... With some effort, we managed to get the car out but it veered off again into the next ditch some 100 feet further up ... and to make matters worse the car was hopelessly stuck and now it also had two flat tires.

So here we were .... stranded at night, in the middle of nowhere, miles from the nearest village ... in a seemingly impossible predicament. ... and with no hope of any help!

Thankfully, despite all of this, we do remember feeling a deep calm and a distinct sense that all would be OK.

Suddenly I noticed a tiny light on the other side of Moray, far far away, slowly moving towards us. Now this was all wilderness area so a moving light was utterly unthinkable and yet here it was getting closer and closer.

As it turns out it was a local farmer in a truck with his large family ... So, with some more adventure, we were able to get to a small village about 10 miles away and from there, again magically, get to a decent shelter for the night.

The fundamental point is that any help coming from the other side of Moray was utterly unimaginable.

Of course, there is lot more to this story but I won't go into that except to say that its a great source of inspiration for us ... invariably during certain intense challenges, when "every hope is gone ... " this story reminds us and gives us the strength to persevere ... to know that " somehow some help will arrive ... and probably from some unimaginable source ..."

As Gandhi aptly said on another occasion " ... I cannot recall a moment in my life when I had a sense of desertion by God ..."

The above story is not the only one ... we have many such stories from our life when "there was no hope left" but it did arrive mysteriously and most times from an unexpected source. The mention of our stories here is not intended to glamorize us or our life but to point out that the Mystery works in all of our lives ... ordinary lives as well as the extraordinary ones.

The more we trust the "voice within" the more it is available ... ... That which is always here is Always here ... How can it not?

You may also enjoy our other channel ... RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir, Nirmala, Hafez (Hafiz), and others.

Reflections on Enlightenment

2010-08-04T16:10:18Z

You are listening to JoyChats ... your podcasting channel for ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery.

Enlightenment is a big topic ... I normally hesitate using the word ... or even defining it because it is easy to get caught in the definitions debate of why what how etc ... nonetheless let's explore a little ...

Download Reflections on Enlightenment | Pop-up Viewer]]> Presumably the pursuit of the spiritual seeker is to get enlightenment ... which apparently is the state of ... "all knowing, omni present, free from suffering, or transcendent Divine experience."

The commonly held belief or view is that one is normally not enlightened ... which is why the notion of seeking exists ... and that is why we have so many seekers because they are seeking enlightenment ... seeking nirvana ...

So let's start with that and assume that hypothetically on Aug 3rd one is not enlightened ... and then through whatever means, one attains enlightenment after some period say on Aug 30th ... and this attainment is of course transcendent omni presence ... then the question arises who/what was present, on Aug 3rd, when one was not enlightened? ... How could that which is omni presence not be present on Aug 3rd or Aug 4th or 10th or 20th or 29th?

If indeed enlightenment is "That which is always here" then how can anything or any act "bring" it to someone? .... how can any action or set of actions help one attain it ? ... I suggest that these questions merit further reflection.

Here's one of the stories re Ramana Maharishi and enlightenment. He simply posed the question "Who is not enlightened?" to the one stating that he or she is not enlightened. And naturally he posed the reverse question "Who is enlightened"" to the one claiming he or she is enlightened. Again, on the surface this may seem dismissive or simplistic but ... I suggest one ponder this further and ... discover for oneself the gem within this simple yet profound story.

In my RumiTime episode of this week I mentioned that Rumi was utterly grief stricken when Shams was gone and ... he searched for Shams everywhere ... Rumi searched for that ecstatic love of The Divine ... for that sohbet he so enjoyed in the Friendship ... and yet one day he finally realized that no seeking was necessary ... that he was already That which he was seeking ... and That which he was seeking was here all the time .. everywhere ... in every form ... It is no wonder that he spent the rest of his life uttering poems that say this in countless ways ...

If enlightenment is not here then where else because here is what is always present .... and here is all we have. This moment ... this very ordinary moment is also Divine just like that extra ordinary moment of some miraculous phenomenon or ecstatic awakening!

Like Rumi says ... "Why even look for God ... He is not lost ... He is right here ... closer than your own breath."

Or as Nirmala so exquisitely says:

words do not come
there is no need for profound utterances or
deep truths
here is an ordinary evening
why spoil it with dramatic overstatements

the silence amidst the noise
the gem at the core
of every experience
is polished by simple attention
into shining magnificence

The Rumi poem is a paraphrased one from "A Garden Beyond Paradise, The Mystical Poetry of Rumi, Translated by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva." The original poem translation was an episode on RumiTime in April.

The Nirmala poem is from Gifts with No Giver, a love affair with truth, Poems by Nirmala. This book is available for free download from Nirmala's website: endless-satsang.com.

You may also enjoy our other channel ... RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir, Nirmala, Hafez (Hafiz), and others.

Kabir, God, and State-less Joy

2010-07-18T03:34:48Z

With this episode #13, we continue our journey of ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Download Kabir, God, and State-less Joy | Pop-up Viewer]]> Those of you who listen to our RumiTime channel are aware that my poem selection is random .... I just let my fingers flip to a page and invariably I find a gem which becomes the RumiTime episode for the week.

A similar method is used for most episodes of JoyChats, i.e., during the week ... we randomly arrive at a topic or something arises during a dialog between me and my Beloved wife ... and it directly or indirectly leads us to the episode's subject.

As it turns out, nothing had quite struck this past week until today ...

Recently I've been researching into the Indian Mystic poet Kabir because I'll be including his poem readings on RumiTime ...this research is primarily locating Kabir's original Hindi text but it is also refreshing my memory because Kabir was part of my High School education in India ... and I remember he left an impact which ... at the time ... did not do anything out of the ordinary except there was something intriguing about it ... something that would "tug deep within" and it remained lodged in my psyche ... dormant for almost 30 years... until I found Rumi and that of course reminded me of Kabir ... primarily because of the nature and the subject of Rumi poems but also indirectly due to Robert Bly ...

Those familiar with Coleman Barks' Rumi translations would know that Bly is the one who introduced Coleman to Rumi 's poetry ... which is an interesting story in itself ... and this story is mentioned in Coleman's books ... Bly, of course, has done some Kabir translations ... it's truly a Mystery how The Universe works ...Rumi to Coleman ... and Coleman to Bly ... and Bly to Kabir ...

Anyhow you'll be hearing lot more about Kabir on RumiTime ...

For me Kabir has a draw not just because of his simple and profound wisdom but also because he was a "regular man of the world" ... he was a householder ... his life was in the "here and now" ... His poems remind one of simple ways to experience God in the "here and now" ... Here's a sample from his short poems known as doheys in Hindi

दुख में सुमिरन सब करे सुख में करै न कोय।
जो सुख में सुमिरन करे दुख काहे को होय

which roughly translates to .... all are aware of God when they are sad; but not when they are happy ... those who are aware of God when happy; do not have to be sad ...

My interpretation is that when one realizes the Divine in the "here and now" ... then there is no sad or happy because the game of comparison is dissolved ... when one is identified with That which is always here then sad and happy are dissolved ... and one "falls into" or realizes the stateless Joy ... one realizes the peace that is always here regardless of one's feeling state.

There is a subtlety here that is worth addressing ... its not that sad and happy are not felt ... they most certainly are ... it is that these polarities or mental comparisons are no longer directing ... because one is identified with Awareness not the by product of Awareness.

In feeling sad one is aware of sadness, in feeling happy one is aware of happiness ... awareness is present regardless of the feeling state ... awareness is not dependent on the feeling state ... it simply IS!

If one is identified with this ever present awareness then sad or happy simply dissolve back into their source ... The Joy that is effortless ... and this is the Joy that is present when one is sad ... and this is the Joy that is also present when one is happy.

दुख में सुमिरन सब करे सुख में करै न कोय।
जो सुख में सुमिरन करे दुख काहे को होय

We also have two other channels ... PolitOpine re contemporary American politics and the Obama Presidency ... ... and ... RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir Hafez (Hafiz), and others.

Acceptance and Dissolving Comparison

2010-07-10T04:20:41Z

With this episode #12, we continue our journey of ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

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In this episode I want to continue the subject of acceptance and dissolving comparison ... primarily through some personal vignettes from our journey ...

]]> At the outset of JoyChats launch, we had emphasized that we preferred Consciousness dialogs that were grounded in direct life experience vs read or learned. ... The personal brings an "alive" quality, however I always hesitate to delve, too much, into such aspects because the story can "take the stage" vs. the message ... so it is always a tricky and subtle balancing act.

Anyhow ... in the last episode I suggested that acceptance is .. living the life that arises out of stillness ... and I am again reminded of the Indian mystic poet Kabir's remark that he "... glimpsed the Mystery for 15 seconds and spent the the rest of his life serving it ..." and Joseph Campbell's remark that one can "get it only in the here and now ..." and that "...the function of life is to experience eternity right here and now..."

How will you survive? ... how will your basic needs be met? are the key questions when someone is pondering these remarks or considering living a life that is not directed by the mind or the rules of society and culture.

Again, as I've said in the past shows .... the "How" can not be pre-determined ... there is no prescribed formula ... no one knows ... The exhilarating yet terrifying challenge in this journey of Self Realization is to let the "How" be revealed. ... Of course, Joseph Campbell's classic and very well known answer is " ... Follow your bliss ... " and doors will open where they did not exist before.

I am reminded of a moment from our past ... we were pulling out of a gas station in the small town of Dolores, CO after filling up the tank with the last of our money ... and that was the year 2000 ... we had no idea what was ahead ... and how life would unfold and how we would take care of our basic needs ... but here we are ... ten years later, creating this show, in our home in Santa Fe NM ...

Of course, we met countless challenges but obviously we survived ... and we are still meeting some of the challenges from that time but we are also still celebrating the unending joy and gifts from that time.

Grace was unfolding and informing our life then ... and now ... Acceptance was present then and now ... Comparison was absent then and now!

Undoubtedly, there are lots and lots of details to the story but I won't go into all of it other than to mention that in 1999 we had decided to let go of our previous life ... our beautiful home in Santa Fe, NM and a joyful life full of wonder and many many gifts and prized possessions.

This decision arose out of the deepest stillness both for me and my dear Beloved wife ... it was the "voice within" that arose out of Silence yet it was deafening ... It was the ocean of Consciousness ... with its waves gently lapping at the shores of our awareness ... beckoning. ... It was the tsunami of Self Discovery!

We returned in 2006 and, for now, have been making a life here. ... Not all the answers for future are known but we have what we need ... we know what to follow ... Life's "ups and downs" certainly continue ...but peace is ever present in the midst of unbridled joyous moments and also in the thick of the darkest challenges ... this is the peace that is not attained ... but is effortlessly here.

That moment in Dolores CO did have a sense of dread but was thankfully full of trust and devoid of any comparison ... with anything external ... with some imagined ideal ... with some other situation ... and even with our own past.

There are so many story-lines and sub-story-lines in our journey that repeatedly remind us of the magnificent gift of acceptance. ... For us, the fundamental message is that one can indeed go forth and live their unique and Divinely informed yet surrendered life!

So ... I leave you with Rumi ... the one whose many many utterances are about annihilation into the Divine ... the splendor of Self Realization. ... In one of his poems; he asks how do birds learn to fly .... and he himself answers that they fall and in falling they are given wings ...

Joe's paraphrased quotes are from "The Power of Myth" PBS series with Bill Moyers. and the Rumi reference is my understanding and paraphrasing of a poem segment from "The Essential Rumi" by Coleman Barks.

The JoyChats series has been brought to you by ouicast i.e., O U I C A S T .com.

We also have two other channels available: PolitOpine re contemporary American politics and Obama Presidency and RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir and others.

How To Be In The World - Part 2?

2010-06-29T20:05:36Z

With this episode #11, we continue our journey of ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

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Lets continue the theme from our last episode re "being in the world."

In our own journey, two key principles have stood out over the years: acceptance and dissolving comparison.

]]> Acceptance is to resolutely live the life that arises out of stillness ... the life that is continuously revealed as a result of the ongoing inquiry into the truth of who we are ... this is a life that is not just a one time revelation ... instead it is an ongoing, daily, and ever alive exploration that demands discerning truth at all times and then adhering to it even if we don't succeed "at all times." It is having the vigilance and the courage to undertake such an exploration and trusting what is revealed regardless of what it looks like. It requires utmost attention and the deepest form of participation ... participation with "what is here" not what is imagined or what is desired ... or what should have been. ... not with some external source but with one's innermost guides.

For each of us such revelations are unique and very particular to our journey ... here's one of the examples from Joseph Campbell's life:

“Nietzsche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called “the love of your fate.” Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need.” It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment—not discouragement—you will find the strength is there. Any disaster that you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.

Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.”

Joe, of course, is one of the greatest thinkers and wisest elders from the 20th century Western Tradition. As I explored his work in the 80s, I always felt that Joe is one of the rare ones who broke through using the intellect. He used to call himself a "maverick" and he certainly was that. He studied all of the mythologies of the world and naturally concluded that:

"Eternity is that dimension of here and now which thinking and time cuts out. This is it. And if you don't get it here, you won't get it anywhere. And the experience of eternity right here and now is the function of life."

Dissolving Comparison is to not be hooked into the game of comparison whether the comparison is with some imagined ideal or with some situation of others or even with our own past situations. And, again if one is engaged in sincere self inquiry ... in exploring the truth of who we are then comparison simply dissolves and even when it does arise - which it inevitably does - it does not have the same potency or grab. ... and can easily be seen as the unnecessary game it really is.

Whether it is comparison or non-acceptance ... the present moment guidance of the "voice within" is missed ... the present which is alive and particularly tailored to our unique life stream ... the uniqueness that cannot be known in advance .. that cannot be defined by anyone else ... the uniqueness that is beyond anything created out of any-one's imagination, including our own.

Such a surrendered life may not follow any prescribed path or vision and is not necessarily comfortable or safe however it always rests on the ever deepening foundation of peace ... peace that is here despite the highs or lows. ... peace that is refreshingly alive and ... it is the life that is an exquisite invitation to "chart your own course" with the Universe as your navigator!

I was reminded of Joe's 1st quote through one of the recent newsletters from the Upaya Zen Center and his 2nd quote is from "The Power of Myth" PBS series with Bill Moyers.

We also have two other channels available: PolitOpine re contemporary American politics and Obama Presidency and RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir and others.

How To Be In The World?

2010-06-15T01:13:18Z

With this episode #10, we continue our journey of ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

We've talked about Permanence, Transience, Awareness, Seeking, Seeker's syndrome, Silence, and Self-Inquiry. Of course, a follow on question that may arise is ... how do we live our life in this world ? how do we navigate the multitude of matters that are a natural part of our human experience? ... matters that range from joyful to sorrowful and all that's in-between.

Download How To Be In The World? | Pop-up Viewer]]> As I've done before I'd like to explore this topic by sharing some observations stemming from our own life experiences. Observations that are meant to generate and hopefully inspire your own reflections so you can arrive at answers or conclusions that are uniquely yours ... because such answers are the only ones that abide ... and deepen with each deliberation.

As I dealt with this question in my own journey I realized that there really is no set answer ... there is no formula. ... of course, not only was this recognition a great relief but it was also an obvious conclusion because no formula can encapsulate a life ... a life that is lived fully .. a life lived in utter surrender to the Mystery ... to the Divine.

The only guide or formula that I could discern or "arrive at" was to listen to the "inner voice within" and of course such a listening required me to pause and be silent so this voice could be heard. The key seems to be ... to pause and listen regularly! ... so much so that it is just like breathing and is effortless and happens regardless of the external circumstances. ... just like some people have coffee every morning so it can be with pausing, silence, and listening every morning!

Before we found each other, both my dear Beloved Wife and I, used to have our individual daily morning "listenings" ... and now for the last 12 years ... together .. we continue to benefit from the wondrous and joyous gift of such "listenings" on a daily basis. And this listening takes many different and evolving forms such as consulting of the I Ching or Self Inquiry in dialog with each other, etc. And these are just the forms we are drawn to ... each person will find their own preferences ... and that is what we encourage. Such guides are simple and powerful reminders of proper principles that can be applied in every day life.

I can share many stories from our lives where our regular listening helped us celebrate and deepen the gifts of joyous moments ... and also stories that allowed peace to be recognized in the midst of immense challenges and life changes.

Of course, each person has to discover their own form of relationship with their "inner voice" ... and then nurture it with ongoing participation because it is a relationship that is "alive and ever evolving."

Incidentally, it was no surprise to discover that the teachers, that I pay attention to, also do not provide any formula because there is none to give. ... Who is to say what is the "right life" for someone? For some it is a life of action and for some it is a life of contemplation. I was always struck by something Gangaji said {paraphrased} "... Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa led a life of action whereas Buddha, Ramana, and St. Theresa led a life of contemplation ... " Each was drawn and driven by their deep "inner voices" ... Both these very different ways of life - i.e., action vs contemplation - were discovered in the utter surrender to the Mystery. ... to the intention to serve.

The question "how" tends to obscure what can be discovered through the "inner voice" ... through the resolve to live the Truth. First realize the Truth of who you are and then allow the "how" to reveal itself!

The Indian mystic poet Kabir used to say {paraphrased} "I experienced reality for 15 seconds and the rest of my life is spent serving it." These are profound words that invite the deepest form of surrender ... these are words that allude to a map that must be discovered and then followed, by each person.

One of our favorite paraphrased principles from the I Ching is "Suspend the mistrust of the unknown and embody the Sage" - very simple words that contain unending meanings and applications! And that is the exhilarating challenge of living this life utterly surrendered to The Mystery.

Gangaji's quotes come from "the Diamond in your Pocket, discovering your true radiance, by Gangaji."

We also have two other channels available: PolitOpine re contemporary American politics and Obama Presidency and RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir and others.

Gems From The Wise Ones

2010-06-08T00:40:45Z

With this episode #9, we continue our journey of ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

Today I want to offer certain paraphrased quotes from the wise ones who have had an enduring impact on me and my journey. Ponder on these exquisite and profound words and enjoy the gems within.

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Ramana Maharishi's paraphrased quotes:

"Inquire until there is no one left to inquire."

"What good are gods that come and go?"

]]> A story from Papaji: Papaji went to Ramana for help because Papaji had stopped seeing his visions of his favorite Hindu God Krishna ... something he used to see regularly in his meditations. Ramana asked "Can you see Krishna right now?" Papaji said no and that it was only during his meditations. To which Ramana replied "What good are gods that come and go?"

"Be Still and the Universe will be revealed."

If someone told Ramana that he/she is enlightened Ramana would ask "Who is Enlightened?"

Gandhi's quotes:

"It has often occurred to me that a seeker after truth has to be silent. I know the wonderful efficacy of silence."

"After I had practiced silence for some time I saw the spiritual value of it. It suddenly flashed across my mind that that was the time when I could best hold communion with God."

"My life is my message."

Papaji's paraphrased quotes:

"Understanding will not reveal the source because every question and answer arises from the ego .. from the illusion of separateness."

"You can not see God because you are God! How can you search for That which you are?"

"If you want to realize your true nature then .... STOP doing anything ... any thinking or effort ... Surrender and let Silence have you."

Gangaji's quotes:

"Self-Inquiry is not a path that leads you somewhere. It is the path that stops you in your tracks so that you can discover directly, for yourself, who you are."

"The ever present possibility in any moment is to wake up to the truth of yourself as consciousness. That waking up occurs in the mind's surrender to silence."

Joseph Campbell's classic Quote:

"We have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us — the labyrinth is thoroughly known. We have only to follow the thread of the hero path, and where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world. "

Gandhi's quotes come from his writings, Gangaji's quotes come from "the Diamond in your Pocket, discovering your true radiance, by Gangaji," Joseph Campbell's quote is from his classic book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces." Ramana and Papaji's quotes come from my interpretation of their teachings, including various books re their lives and their teachings.

We also have two other channels available: PolitOpine re contemporary American politics and Obama Presidency and RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir and others.

How to Resolve The Seeker's Dilemma Part 3?

2010-05-29T03:22:56Z

"Let my words, like vegetables, be tender and sweet, for tomorrow I may have to eat them." ... a quote by anonymous.

I discovered this quote ... thanks to my dear niece ... what a great reminder ... anyhow ... let's continue our journey of ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery.

This episode (#8) is part 3 of "How to resolve the Seeker's Dilemma?".

Download How to Resolve The Seeker's Dilemma Part 3? | Pop-up Viewer]]> In one of his comments, Chappu Dada raised some legitimate issues that are somewhat distracting when one is exploring silence. His concerns were: environment, physical state, mental state, mental worries or mental chatter.

I acknowledge the truth and legitimacy of these concerns primarily because these issues are typically encountered by many people when they start exploring silence particularly in the early stages ... and of course there are always exceptions i.e., some people do not have such issues.

Regardless, it is important to mention that ... silence can be explored anywhere and under any circumstances ... can be done at home every day while still involved in one's day to day life or at some place away from home for some fixed duration.

Any such concerns, challenges, or distractions are typically overcome with perseverance and deeper exploration allowing one to come to one's own conclusion that ... silence can be explored anywhere and under any circumstances ...! The key is that Silence is not a project that has to be structured or something that can only be undertaken "out there" away from here!

That said, let's take each of Chappu Dada's concerns and see what's possible:

As to environment: If one is exploring at home, the external environment may contain sounds and other distractions. These can be minimized if not eliminated by shifting to either very early mornings or very late at night when the usual daily hubub is not present or is settled ... plus the energy at such times ... is generally quite conducive. Another, possibly better, alternative would be some quiet, remote place away from home where external issues are largely eliminated e.g., some retreat center or some cabins or some place in the woods - whatever one can manage within one's lifestyle. Its also worth noting that, stepping away from one's familiar surroundings, can certainly bring some benefits ... i.e., somewhat easier to not fall into the usual patterns ... however again even one's patterns can be set aside right at home! And obviously any place will have some environmental factors but they all can be managed through pertinent shifts and changes.

As to physical state: If one has some temporary physical condition that is challenging then maybe it is advisable to wait until such condition passes. ... though it can be extremely useful to persevere even with the physical issue because the gem is ever present ... but if the condition is too distracting then simply defer and come back. For terminal conditions I can't really say much from personal experience but my view is that such individuals may already have a deep acceptance of their condition. ... so it is not a distraction ... thus allowing them to explore.

As to mental issues ... we all know how challenging it is to reduce the mental chatter and that's one of the stated objectives or by product of certain meditations ... but the key point and benefit of silence is to reduce or eliminate such chatter ... however it does require perseverance ... of course initially such chatter could be deafening but it does subside with time .... each person's navigation is going to be unique ... there's no magic formula ... but with time and sincere exploration of silence the natural outcome is that chatter is indeed dissolved or becomes quite manageable so as not be a concern any longer. Another way to cut the mental chatter, of course, is to engage in Self Inquiry while remaining in silence ... ask yourself "Who Am I?" and keep going deeper and resist the urge to analyze this question with someone else and see what is revealed.

To give all of this a personal touch ... my own journey evolved gradually both in terms of duration and circumstances or external factors ... Years ago, before going to work, I used to spend several hours very early every morning in a solo meditation and other quiet activities. As I was drawn deeper and deeper to silence, I naturally started experimenting with 15-30mins of silence daily extending it to several days and then increased the duration to 1-2hours and extending that to several days and weeks. I participated in one weekend guided silent retreat with a group and concluded that I'd prefer solo self guided silent retreats of whatever durations. I also stayed at various monasteries, around the country, for 2-3 day durations. Finally, I explored deep and extended silence during two month long solo retreats, 1st at a Monastery in New Mexico immediately followed by a similar stay at an Ashram in the high mountains of Colorado.

My conclusion was ... and still is ... that ... silence is indeed here and now ... can be explored anytime and no special place or circumstance is necessary ... and it can be "deepened and refreshed" at any point in our regular lives right where one is!

Regular forays into silence are immensely beneficial in many many regards ... and, of course, are highly recommended!

Silence allows one to clearly see that ... thoughts simply come, linger and then go ... and if one does not chase after these thoughts or not go into further analysis or not create a story around them or not dissect them and so on ... then one can see - unmistakably - that stillness is here regardless of the existence of thoughts. What a humorous, wondrous, and possibly terrifying journey awaits. Terrifying only because the attachment to the seeking has to be let go and there is terror in that ... wondrous and humorous because one sees the paradox of realizing That which one is seeking ... is already here!

With this episode, I'll close this segment re resolving the seeker's dilemma. And as usual we will revisit as and when appropriate.

We also have two other channels available: PolitOpine re contemporary American politics and Obama Presidency and RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir and others.

How to Resolve The Seeker's Dilemma Part 2

2010-05-23T00:00:16Z

With this episode #7, we continue our journey of ... explorations in Consciousness, ... Silence, ... Self Realization, ... Self Discovery, ... The Mystery ...

This episode is part 2 of "How to resolve the Seeker's Dilemma?".

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In the end, Self Discovery or Self Realization, is really a game ... it is the simplest of games yet it is the most challenging of games ...the challenge lies in accepting the simplicity that truly no doing or understanding is required to resolve this issue.

]]> ... just hearing & absorbing these words ... the mind goes on a tilt and rejects this notion ... The issue is not learning anything or attaining anything or achieving anything .. if anything the real issue is to unlearn ... and the irony ... and also that's where the game is ... the irony is that the seeker continues to learn more and more ... now of course learning certainly has its place but in this context the more you learn the more you have to - in effect - UN-learn ... because again .. and I am going to sound like a broken record: nothing needs to be learned ... nothing needs to be attained ... nothing needs to achieved ...

As i said in the last episode ... I was going to address dear Chappu Dada's comments .... so here's an excerpt of his comment on episode #5:

... But why make all intellectual & spiritual efforts if everyone is already realized. Then question also arises what it means by realization & what it means by being established in Self. Is it so simple or is it so complicated or what. What we are trying to achieve. Is dissolution of mind so a simple process that we can tame such strong energy. What you are driving at. One can have endless intellectual discourses & arrive at nothing. Pl.tell the way to IT in most simple way. ...

For today's episode I am probably not going to be able to satisfy dear Chappu Dada because I am going to again repeat the crucial and key theme from the last episode ... i.e., put aside all of these new questions and then go even one step further i.e., .... stop asking any Questions .... explore silence and see where that leads you.

The natural tendency in anyone is to engage in Questions and Answers whenever a topic is explored... and its a good tendency and is useful in certain contexts but in this context the Q&A can easily keep one trapped in analysis .. because every question will lead to something the mind can grab and analyse further and thus ask more questions ... And very rapidly, something that is inherently simple is turned into something unduly complex! And then that complexity is debated and debated ... Q&A is useful and engaging .... but in the end it will keep one in an endless loop ... regardless of the Q&A one is going to indeed arrive at nothing because in the end there is nothing to be arrived at because one is already .. where .. one is ..... seeking to get to ... and this why the suggestion of silence .... because it is the most direct route to the desired answer ... it allows one to directly experience what is here without any mental story about the "hereness!" ....

Again, this is one of the reasons why I try to cut this cycle of Q&A and which is why, in episode #5, I suggested to temporarily set aside the question of "HOW TO ..." as a matter of fact I'll stretch even more ... I suggest anytime there is a tendency to ask a question I would encourage putting aside the question .... Drop all questions and see what is here ... because That which is here ... was and is indeed here before any question was conceived!

And if you really want to still ask questions then ask only one question i.e., "who am I" and resist the temptation to further analyse or dissect this question with or through someone else. This profound question will help dissolve ALL questions ... and its a question that can only be asked of oneself ... and that's why I say if one is indeed stuck with questions then ask only one question ... and there is a historical evidence of the value of this question because Nisargadatta Maharaj's personal journey shows that he embraced this question with utmost sincerity and resolve .... and lo & behold .. his seeking ended! ... So if you explore Nisargadatta Maharaj's teachings he will always bring you back to this key and fundamental question!

Of course my suggestions, examples, and the points that ... are there to very deliberately take one away from analysis .... Obtaining answers from any source including realized beings can only satisfy the mind .. it doesn't really get one anywhere .. because in the end the exploration has to be done by oneself.

The various questions in the excerpt can certainly be undertaken but that process is going to require perseverance as each answer will lead to the next question so one must be perseverant enough to keep going to come to some conclusion either the conclusion will be that Q&A is pointless or the Q&A will provide some "aha" ... an aha that will unequivocally bring a clear conclusion that no Q&A is really necessary ...

I'm reminded of a story re Ramana Maharishi and another Indian Sage UG Krishnamurti ... UG went to Ramana Maharishi and asked .... "this thing called moksha, can you give it to me?" moksha means freedom, liberation from suffering, another word for self realization (in my book) .... apparently Ramana answered "I can give it but can you take it?" ... and as UG himself recounts .. this answer put him "back on track" and radically changed his spiritual journey .... UG thought the answer was quite arrogant but he fortunately saw the profound truth in it. ... and as the story goes UG never again sought any counsel from "those religious people." .... Of course, this is the paraphrased version of the story and note that UG should not be confused with J Krishnamurti... Also, I believe the actual story can be found in Ramana's wiki page. Ramana's answer is certainly intriguing and we will explore it further in a future episode.

Finally, trying to solve a problem using a tool or a mechanism that is fundamentally inappropriate is also going to keep one in an endless loop ... and that is true of a Q&A or understanding based approach to realization .... this is one of the reasons why the seeker syndrome is a real phenomenon and is part of the so-called cosmic game or leela (or lila) .... one almost has to be tricked out of it... and that's why the Q "who am I' is indeed a question that can trick you out of it .... or through whatever grace if you can truly hear and fully comprehend this suggestion of STOPping the Q&A ... then the possibility of realizing the gem is there ... the gem that is paradoxically already available to you ...

Inevitably the seeker will discover that one IS going to arrive at nothing ... because there is nothing to be arrived at .... and there is nothing to understand ... there is nothing to achieve .... there is nothing to attain!

We will continue exploring this topic of "How to Resolve the seeker's dilemma?" in the next episode.

We also have two other channels available: PolitOpine re contemporary American politics and Obama Presidency and RumiTime re mystical poetry readings from Rumi, Kabir and others.