Norman Paulsen, the founder of Sunburst, loved spending time out in Nature. “Mother’s Nature” he called it. He said: “Look at that sun shining out there. Look at that blue sky and the waters upon the earth. What a miracle! Look at the mountains and valleys covered with Mother’s natural images, her garden of life-forms.”
When I am facing difficult challenges, the focus of my attention can become very small. My thoughts and energies center around my problem or situation, making me feel like my brain is stuck in a self-made steam room. It is so helpful at these times to go out into the wide, open spaces of Nature. There, in the cool breezes, I am able to regain a sense of perspective, peace and equanimity. I begin to feel, “Gee, the world is so big, beautiful, and full of God, what I’m going through doesn’t seem so huge a deal after all. You know, everything is all right!”
Ananda Moyi Ma of India encouraged her students to partake of the healing forces of Nature. She told them, “Try always to spend as much time as you can in the open air. Gaze to your heart’s content at the lofty mountains or on the wide ocean. If you cannot do anything else, at least peer at the open sky whenever you have the chance. Little by little the rigid knots that make up your shackles will be loosened and you will find yourself becoming freer. A fully awakened consciousness functions only through and untrammeled mind and body. When both body and mind are light it is easy to attain to Liberation.”
Father-Mother God, help me make time to commune with you in nature. May your cool waters, your warm breezes, and your dappled shade become a healing force in my life. I take the time to heal, to rejuvenate,and to play, that I may all the better serve you. Amen
The symbol for the virtue of equanimity is a woman holding the balance scales, blindfolded, that she may judge without prejudice. (She is not allowed to peek!). One quality that is an opposite of equanimity is that of being judgmental.
How wonderful it would be if I didn’t have any judgment about my challenges. Instead of saying, “Oy vey, not another one!” if I could really live the song: “I like the sunshine; I like the rain; I like the good times; I like the pain, ’cause it’s all the same when you’re livin’ the life!”
Yes, I can see life as a journey of hills and valleys designed by Love for my growth and for my joy. God is with me. God, is for me. This is truly possible when all I want is to be close to God. Rumi wrote, “The snow brings me closer to Your lips.”
When I am sad, I am close to God. When I am happy, I am close to God. So, what do the ups and downs of life matter? I am always close to God! All I need to do is remember this.
Beloved God, I receive my challenges with an open heart, knowing that they make me strong and wise. I embrace the times that are difficult because they bring me closer to you. Today, through your grace, I hope to make someone else’s load lighter. Amen
In hard times, may the Sufi story of “The Good Gardner and the Pea” help to bring us into peace and equanimity.
There once was a Good Gardner who planted the seed of a pea bush. He first chose a spot in his garden where the light would be just right for the bush to grow strong and healthy. He amended the soil and carefully planted the seed. Then the good gardener watched over it, watering it every day and keeping away the weeds. Under his care, the little bush grew until it had large pea pods all over it.
One day, very pleased, the Good Gardner went out and picked his peas. He boiled a pot of water on the stove and shelled the peas into it. One little pea cried out from the boiling water,
“Why are you doing this to me! I thought you loved me!”
The Good Gardner looked into the pot with all love and answered the little pea: “Because, little pea, I’m about to take you into myself.”
May all of us who are facing difficult challenges understand that our pain and suffering is growing us, tenderizing us, and making us ready to be consumed by the Divine Gardener.
Father-Mother God, I thank you that I am on the path homeward. Make me ready for union with you; to see as you see; to love as you love; to be fully united unto your very existence, consciousness, and bliss. Amen
In this month of Libra, I am endeavoring to practice equanimity. Another term for it is “being centered.” It’s not so easy to stay centered through all my life’s challenges, especially if I resist them, and try to push them away as if God has just served me a plate of something I detest. I’ve found the practice of acceptance to be key. I can accept the challenge, the heartbreak, the disappointment, if I realize that it’s part of my journey — an opportunity to be transformed into someone who is ready for Divine Union. God is with me, cheering me on, supporting me, and being my true and ever-present helpful friend.
But why only paddle to keep my head above water when I can walk on water through adding the practice of gratitude into the mix. It brings a great beacon of joy into the nightlife of challenges. My own mother took this biblical practice of gratitude, “giving thanks always, for all things, unto God…” to heart in a profound way.
When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her quiet prayer unknown to anyone at the time was: “Thank You, God.” She knew that God was with her, and that “God causes ALL THINGS to work together for the good of those who love God.”
I recently read another powerful statement: “If the only prayer you ever prayed was to say ‘Thank You,’ that would suffice.”
Walking the Sunburst Path, each month of the zodiac brings the opportunity to celebrate, study, and focus on a virtue. The virtue of Virgo is Continence.
Some of us have had the privilege to take care of our elderly friends and family and so have had the opportunity to visit the incontinence aisle at the drug store. As people get older they sometimes become incontinent, and that means they can’t hold it. The virtue of continence is the ability to hold all of the energies that help us succeed in achieving our aspiration for Divine Union.
Thoughts are energies; emotions and desires are energies. By our conscious effort these energies can become a powerful catalyst towards the Divine. We want to hold them sacred and point them in a positive direction, and homeward.
Ghandi was a lover of the virtue Continence: “I know the Path—it is straight and narrow. It is like the edge of a sword. I rejoice to walk on it. I weep when I slip. God’s word is: ‘He who strives never perishes.’ I have implicit faith in that promise.”
Paramahansa Yogananda is quoted as saying: “Self-Control is the key to a happy life.” Boy, is that ever true!
I look at the times I’ve eaten a big dinner and not had room for dessert, but ate it anyway. We’re not just talking about a piece of pie; let’s not forget the ice cream. I went to bed so uncomfortable that I‘d have nightmares something like being chased by a man carrying a knife, fork, and a spoon!
I was once told that a good yogini never eats to fullness but always saves room for digestion. So, Continence speaks of moderation. We respect our need to eat delicious, healthy food, but we moderate the amount so that we’re also taking care of our body Temple that houses the Divine.
These changes don’t take place overnight. They take place over time—it’s a transformation that begins with a sincere declaration and prayer, saying, “I really want to be a healthy person. I really don’t want to be driven by my desire world. I want to be the master of my senses. Please help me.” Sincere prayer lights the fire that begins the transformation and the outpouring of grace. We are giving God a request he wants to support, and aid us with.
Speaking of the virtue of Continence and the desire realm, Sunburst offers a wonderful affirmation: “I apply wisdom and care in directing the gift of life force. I refrain from the misuse of sexual energy, realizing that this can bring deep suffering. Through my devotion and love for the Divine, I know this powerful force can become the fires of my illumination.”
Moderation of sexual activity allows the reservoir of life force in the second chakra to build and become full. That energy comes up the spine in meditation and is an illuminating force.
How about Continence in the realm of our thinking world? How powerful thinking can be to create and generate good feelings, positive energy, and enthusiasm for life. Continence means not doing what I’ve done so many mornings in the past, lying in bed, dwelling on unpleasant thoughts about the past or the imagined future––thoughts that make me so upset I jump out of bed just to save my sanity.
Mindfulness is another definition for Continence, and it means staying in the present moment. God is always in the here and now. The present is the only place where the Divine can be felt. So, I pay close attention to what I’m doing. Sometimes, to stay present and keep my mind happy, I’ll label what I’m doing: “Washing dishes! Washing dishes!” or “Walking, walking!” and I often feel for the Presence of the Divine.
So, developing Continence in the mental world means developing mindfulness. Developing, Continence in the desire realm means moderation—taking health and spiritual goals into consideration. Our opportunity is to discover that, as Sunburst’s founder, Norman Paulsen said, “Self-discipline is a liberation!” Through our sincere efforts to make our thoughts, emotions, and actions positive and healthy, we receive great benefits and a sense of freedom.
There’s an even more powerful reason why we make an effort to develop the virtue of Continence. There is a benefit even beyond being a healthier, happier person, and this is spoken of by Gerhart Tersteegan in his beautiful prose:
“Within, within, O turn thy spirit’s eyes, And learn thy wandering senses gently to control; Thy dearest Friend dwells deep within they soul.”
The most precious benefit of Continence is that by holding these energies, our Path to Self-Realization and Divine Union is quickened.
Ananda Moyi Ma of India encouraged her students to partake of the healing forces of Nature. She told them, “Try always to spend as much time as you can in the open air. Gaze to your heart’s content at the lofty mountains or on the wide ocean. If you cannot do anything else, at least peer at the open sky whenever you have the chance. Little by little the rigid knots that make up your shackles will be loosened and you will find yourself becoming freer. A fully awakened consciousness functions only through and untrammeled mind and body. When both body and mind are light it is easy to attain to Liberation.”