• John Kiddie • Sunburst’s founder Norm Paulsen loved the sea and wooden sailing ships of all sizes. In August 1991, a crew from Sunburst was restoring a schooner called Star Pilot in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Norm and I were in California at the time. Hurricane Bob was reportedly coming up the East Coast, and it had a projected path right through New England.
Norm was watching the Weather Channel and, as the storm approached, the trajectory remained true for landing very close to our ship. He was extremely concerned about the ship and our crew, exclaiming, “It’s going right over the top. It’s going to hit us!”
One of the crew members, Ross, later recalled the storm raging all around with 110-mph winds. It rained and poured, with the wind whipping everything in sight. Then the eye of the hurricane passed directly over the harbor.
Suddenly everything was calm and still, and the sun was shining brightly, right overhead. Ross went onto the deck; he could feel the warmth of the sun. He was in awe of the spectacle unfolding before him. Looking around, he could see the wall of the eye of the hurricane extending way up into the sky, with a gray turbulent mass all around it. But in the center, the eye, the brilliant sun shone.
That didn’t last long; soon the other side of the hurricane hit with full fury again. It was an amazing baptism for the rebirth of that ship. The vortex was directly overhead.
One night, Norm was taken up in Spirit and shown a vision. As he looked down from high above, all he could see was ocean. Then, his vision descended and he saw a wooden ship sailing. He seemed to come closer still and could see it was himself, Norm, steering the ship.
It wasn’t an ordinary ocean. It was two hemispheres, two halves of a stormy boiling and rolling sea, on either side of the ship. Norm was sailing a course right through the middle—in the calm place “on the razor’s edge,” as he recalled. From that center place, he was steering the ship of his soul through the tumultuous seas of life that lie on either side. He was in the middle, bringing his ship steadily through.
As it was for Norm, so can it be for you. Residing at the observer’s seat within, you can guide the ship of your soul through the ocean of life. By coming to that place of stillness within, you begin to see more clearly the course you need to steer.
How do you arrive at this point of stillness? How can you quiet the seemingly constant bombardment of your mind and senses? Meditation is a proven method for experiencing the peace that passes all understanding. It will bring you to the helm of your ship of life, the true Self within you.
By regular focused effort, you come into harmony with the divine energy that is inside you. Being in this centered place doesn’t give you a free pass through life’s challenges. The rough seas and storms that come your way will still arise; but with the steady hand of your true Self on the wheel, your vessel will be guided to calm waters once again.
Let the wave of memory, the storm of desire, the fire of emotion pass through without affecting your equanimity. – Sathya Sai Baba
In 1939, an article by Paramahansa Yogananda stated (excerpt): Intuition is that directly perceiving faculty of the soul which at once knows the truth about anything. Unless you have the power of intuition, you cannot possibly know Truth. It is the knowing power of the soul without the help of the senses or the mind. Intuition can give you knowledge about things which your senses and understanding can never give. Intuition does not depend upon any outside data whatsoever.
Intuition means “soul-perception.” It shows the difference between true and false reasoning. Many books and courses of study are prescribed for students in school, but nothing is taught them about concentration and the development of the sixth sense–the all-knowing faculty of intuition.
By the development of intuition one can outgrow the law of cause and effect in one’s own life. Intuition tunes the mental radio so that it can intercept all vibrations of future happenings which otherwise are deflected by diverse currents.
In India, Lahiri Mahasaya, revived the ancient meditation technique of Kriya Yoga for our era. He is quoted as saying: “Solve all your problems through meditation. Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance; the Divine Voice has the answer to every dilemma of life. Though man’s ingenuity for getting himself into trouble appears to be endless, the Infinite [Comforter] is no less resourceful.”
Sunburst’s teachings, outlined by founder Norman Paulsen, lead us to a life in greater harmony with the divine creative forces. Norm wrote and spoke of humankind’s evolutionary steps, which include gaining a “moral compass that derives from knowing our oneness with all life.” He goes on: “There will be no doubt of the Absolute Godhead, as every spirit shall see and know God, I Am That I Am, face to face.” There will be “no worry of death, or the future to come.”
Oh Father, Mother, Friend, Beloved God! I will reason, I will will, I will act; but lead Thou my reason, will, and activity to the right things that I should do.
– Paramahansa Yogananda
• by Dawn King • Sunburst, and the world, are starting anew with the Fall Equinox. It is a beautiful opportunity to realign ourselves with our authentic Self, Life, Spirit, Joy. At Sunburst, we celebrated the Dance of Venus with a Sacred Geometry workshop led by Craig Hanson (photo below). We stepped along the beautiful pattern this planet creates as it revolves around Earth and Sun over an 8 year period.
We at Sunburst also enjoyed a transformative labyrinth walk on the morning of the Equinox (9/22, photo at start). This beautiful observance is restorative and life-affirming, as we join in the ongoing cycle of nature. Craig shared with me the story of an autistic boy who spoke his first words after wandering the many turns of the labyrinth. We know it has a psychophyiological effect—mind and body interact. I felt personally renewed and inspired with creative ideas.
Many cultures around the world celebrate this time of year. In the Northern hemisphere we have harvest festivals such as Poland’s Dozynki. Ancient Welsh Druids called this time of balance between night and day “The Light of the Water,” water being symbolic of life, a depth of emotional stillness and contemplation, both of which we can enjoy in winter. In Jewish lore, this is when Adam and Eve were created; it’s also the time when Jews repent and atone for past errors—to be renewed in a new civil year.
To me it is interesting that the Southern Hemisphere celebrates the start of Spring at the same time we see the beginning of Fall. Likewise, the Sun enters Libra at this time of year while the full Moon shines from Aries (opposite of Libra). And so the duality of our plane of existence is observed in every direction this month, as it is in each month that passes.
• by Ischa Beharry • In the silence of my soul, words, sounds, scents, impressions, thoughts and feelings seemed greatly amplified, yet with a gentleness and sweetness almost indescribable. And as I walked slowly and mindfully through the Sanctuary gardens with friends old and new, joy swept over my being in such gentle waves that my only reaction was exactly what our teacher, Sharon Ray, hoped it would be – a taste of what the Silent Retreat should evoke: A journey into the Path of SMILES and a deeper connection to Divine Spirit through silence and mindfulness.
A dedicated practitioner of the teachings of Thich Nhat Hahn, Sharon has embodied the concept of mindfulness in her daily life and needs not verbally extol its incredible effects on her quality of life, spiritual awareness or demeanor—it expresses itself naturally and gracefully in the truths and virtues that are her life’s guideposts, and in her very demeanor, speech and interaction with others.
Thich Nhat Hahn invites us to train ourselves to walk with reverence. Wherever we walk, whether it’s at the railway station or supermarket, we are walking on the Earth and, therefore, upon a holy ground. To walk with reverence everywhere is to find nourishment and solidity with each step. Each mindful step brings us back to the here and now, reminding us that we are alive on this beautiful planet. It propels us into present moment awareness. Ultimately, all of us are looking for our solid ground, our true home. The Earth, and the Present, is our true home. We can’t be grounded in our body if our mind is elsewhere.
Following the Path of SMILES, we are guided by the meaning of this wonderful acronym:
S is for Smile – uplifting my vibration
M is for Mantra – expressing my heart’s desire
I is for Inhale and exhale – aware of my breath
L is for Letting go – of my name and game
E is for Ears listening, Eyes watching – I come to my senses
S is for Sensing – the Presence of the Divine in and around me
Experience being the greatest teacher, I have to humbly agree that for the two days I practiced mindful walking and the Path of SMILES, the beauty and wonder of the Earth and its creatures around me was greatly amplified. Being in the moment was joy unbounded! There was no room in my mind for anything worrisome; my mind was totally absorbed in the moment, whether I was mindfully eating, looking at the beautiful pond and gardens, walking the labyrinth, listening to the birds, or perusing the roadways looking for tiny pieces of quartz crystals amidst the gravel.
As the Master Hahn himself says: No one has lived in the past or the future, only the now. The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. While you are walking, smile and be in the here and now, and you will transform that place into paradise.
Yes! I do enjoy the beautiful sanctuary where I happen to live; however, during every Silent Retreat its beauty, peace, tranquility, and divine resonance is, for me, amplified a hundred-fold! Ah, the power of many together!
• Sunburst blog Editor is on vacation; enjoy this 2011 article by Amanda •
One of the ways I show my love for Sunburst is to mow the rose garden lawn at the Lodge every week. To be honest, it’s not a burden at all. I love doing it.
I used to have a big lawn out in South Suburbia on a third of an acre, and l really enjoyed keeping the grass manicured, soft, and pretty. So when Jim and I came to Sunburst last summer, I saw that cute little square of lawn surrounded by Norm’s roses and I thought, “That’s mine!” I let Heiko and everybody know I wanted to be in charge of that.
I bought one of those old-fashioned push mowers with the spiral blades that rotate around a central axle. They’re so out of style now that people stop me and say, “Hey, I had one of those when I was a kid! Where’d you get that?” (Less than a hundred bucks at Home Depot, by the way.) I’ve even had guests and friends walk by and ask if they can try it out.
The question I get asked most often is, “How come you don’t use a power mower?” Well, at the ranch we have an industrial gas-powered mower that’s about two feet square, runs at roughly 85-90 decibels, and requires its operator to don several different types of safety gear. (OK, I’m including long pants in there—to me, that’s “safety gear,” especially when it’s hot!) We really need it here, with all the brush and ranch land that has to be maintained. I’ve seen The Guys running it out in the fields, and it does a beautiful job. And yes, it would mow the rose garden lawn in about 25 seconds flat.
But if I used it, would I have seen the delicate red dragonfly perched on the tip of a rose leaf who came and watched me work last week? I saw the same one, maybe, with a mate as I mowed this evening! Would I have noticed the huge, swooping brown bat looking for his hidey-hole in the Lodge rafters? What about all the Pacific tree frogs, blue-bellied lizards, and snakes that hop and slide away from my push mower as I slowly cut another stripe?
If I used the power mower, would I get to keep my arms and legs strong, breathe in the fresh, green scent of cut grass, sweat a little, stop and talk to friends, take a break to scoop critters out of the way, or pause to watch the shadow of the Lodge roof advance across the lawn in the late-afternoon sunshine? Would my son Cisco get to see how fast he can make a new swath in the thick, green growth and test his increasing strength?
So while I appreciate and admire the power of the big gas mower, I also see the beauty and value in a slower, gentler way. It may take more time, but I’d never want to miss the gifts I receive every week when I mow the Lodge lawn. (Don’t get me started about the gophers, though—that’s a topic for another time to be posted under “Perseverance.”)
Next time you come to visit, take a moment to sit on the lawn or stand and look around for a few minutes at all the life that surrounds you. If you’re quiet enough, my new red dragonfly friend might stop by to check you out!
• 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.
