• by Dawn King • You, too, can experience the wild beauty of a retreat at Sunburst Sanctuary; just give the office a call. Here’s what it’s like early most mornings.
Each morning brings a new opportunity to engage with Life. At Sunburst Sanctuary, we generally start the day in group meditation at the Temple, with residents and visitors in attendance. Most mornings find my husband, Al, and I joining in.
We live not far from the temple on Sunburst’s large property, which is also a wildlife sanctuary. Because deer would eat all the landscaping, some yards, or neighborhoods, and the Temple/Lodge area are fenced. Most mornings we walk to and from group meditations, taking a longer-than-necessary route by staying on the all-weather road. In this way, we begin our day with a beneficial walk immersed in Nature.
Some mornings are quiet with fog shrouding the surrounding hills. Most days, however, reveal the wild animals with whom we share this land. A recent fall day was particularly spectacular.
Just beyond our yard, a flock of noisy turkey hens pecked through the numerous fallen leaves. [See Photo] They called to each other; some were up the hill, some at the edge of the field. A few flew over a fence, and into a neighboring yard. Al and I walked on.
Not far from home, we saw black shapes moving in the big field. These soon turned and ran on—wild pigs in their frequent trek toward a neighboring property. Next there were grazing mule deer, often curious spectators to our daily walks. While eating, walking, or resting, they watch us off and on, and keep their distance. Most of them already know us as harmless passersby.
After morning meditation and during our walk home, normally there are fewer wild creatures to see, but this day was different. Right in the Lodge gardens, the whole flock of turkey hens had gathered. We were nearly stepping over them to make our way out of the side gate toward the road. That was certainly unusual.
In another two minutes we were midway down the main road, and noticing a half-dozen deer running full tilt toward the Lodge. This was strange. We marveled at their graceful giant leaps, as though they had springs on their feet—Boing! Boing! Boing!—resembling the agile bounding of kangaroos. I wished my feet and legs were as springy.
Now they were turning to cross the road on either side of us. This was all taking place very quickly. Now we saw the reason for their flight. A beautiful, darkly marked coyote was tearing across the field in full pursuit. He didn’t even see Al and I; his gaze was fixed on the deer.
The coyote raced far enough behind, that I couldn’t imagine he or she would catch the deer. I said as much to Al, and he responded, “Maybe there’s more coyotes ahead laying in ambush.” Wow! Some wild drama was playing out before us.
Needing to walk on home, we imagined the deer got away; in fact I think I’ve seen the same group since then. Every day isn’t like this. Some days are so quiet you might be startled by a bird pecking in search of an insect, or a lizard scurrying away.
Most mornings we walk silently through the mist, or the breathtaking beauty of sunrise, lost in our own thoughts, or intensely engrossed in the joy of being immersed in Nature. Any nearby horses or cows usually look up to see what we’re doing, and we often exchange hellos.
• by Norman Paulsen, Founder of Sunburst • Researchers tell us that subatomic particles are highly intelligent; like human beings they elude detection when they want to. What does that mean to us? It means that subatomic energy is filled with I Am That I Am, divine mind. Remove the space between the electrons and protons of your own atoms, and you couldn’t be seen. When we look at one another, we are looking at space falsified by magnetism, the swirling particles of energy and light. We’re a mass of particles of light that represent the physical.
We think we have limitations, that we suffer and are weak. We have unfulfilled desires. But we are the instrument I Am That I Am created in which to enjoy Earth! It’s an illusion that each one of us has a personality, a name, desires, likes and dislikes. In reality, we are one divine consciousness which has conceded to be each one of us for a time. On that day when you fully realize this, every face you see will be your own, like looking in a mirror.
Oh, what a miracle to be alive, a glorious thing! The longer I live, the more amazed I find myself at life—in my body, the whole universe, the absolute creation of God. No doubt about it!
Do I know God? I know the Creator like I know the dearest thing within me. Yes, never do I feel lonely for a moment. I know the Father, the Mother, the Eternal Friend, I Am That I Am. These expressions of God include the great Comforter, speaking forth with the sound of AUM—the roar of all the atomic structures, star systems and galaxies in time and space—the voice and witness of God. Yes, it’s the witness that God is alive, that the great cosmic motor is turning, running every subatomic particle in your body. Press your hands over your ears and hear the sound, the roar. The deeper you listen, the greater the sound.
It’s all there if we but seek. Hard it is indeed to seek. Strong are the impressions of the outer world and the gifts it offers. Pursuing these gifts, we do not acknowledge the Giver of All Gifts. Once truly realizing our oneness with God, we have everything. “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all things will be added unto you.”
Immortality? You will taste it. You will feel it. Ecstasy beyond your wildest dreams—beyond your mind’s ability to comprehend. What a fantastic thing it is, this I Am That I Am, this Divine Consciousness which is all of us—here right now and as available as it ever will be for you.
Think of what it would be like to use the full power that your own consciousness can manifest. Yes, if each of us did this, we would walk the earth as gods again, and everything we do would be divine: our structures, arts, sciences. One can hardly image what it would be like in the absence of negativity, and in total possession of ecstasy, of bliss, of eternal love!
• Gregg Braden, talk excerpt • The dark night of the soul is when the bulldozer of change comes through your life and levels everything; then it backs up and makes another run so your ego, your identity, is left with nothing. You may loose all your physical resources, your relationships, your trust in others, but you will be left with your innermost self. And you’ll realize you are actually okay. Then life will get much better after all of that.
The better we know ourselves, the less we fear change in the world. We fear change because we have hinged our wellbeing on the world around us. When deep spiritual awakening leads us, we begin to realize that we’re okay no matter what’s happening out there. We begin to become more self-sufficient, rather than relying on external systems for our wellbeing; whether it’s growing your own food or having a backup power system. We take responsibility for the things that are important to us, rather than giving our power away.
You alone are responsible for yourself. Your friends and the world of activity will not answer for your deeds when the final reckoning comes. – Paramahansa Yogananda
It’s only after you’ve lost everything that you’re free to do anything. – Tyler Durden
You have a treasure within you that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer. – Eckhart Tolle
• Sri Chinmoy, adapted • To be actively calm and calmly active is the essence of a balanced life. We need to be active, but undertake activity with inner peace. As well as working and achieving things, we should not ignore the importance of looking after ourselves and paying attention to our inner life. Here’s some suggestions for being actively calm and calmly active.
1. One Thing at A Time – Whatever you do, you should give it your full attention and focus. With only one thing to do and think about, it is easier for your limited mind to cope. With several things on your mind, you flit from one problem to another and can become overwhelmed at how difficult life seems.
By doing several things at once, you won’t get more done; you will just feel busier and more important. Try to do only one thing at a time and see the difference it makes. Start off with your most important task, breaking it into smaller parts; gradually tick off the things you need to do.
2. Take Time for Relaxation – It’s very easy to feel that life is too busy to spend 20 minutes cultivating inner peace. However, the success of your outer activity depends on your inner state. If the mind is confused and brimming with conflicting thoughts, outer activity will be hard work and you’ll be victim to your own insecurities. If you can clear the mind and achieve an inner state of peace, you will be able to work much more effectively. Time set aside for yourself will not reduce potential, it will give you increased productivity.
