by Dawn King • There are many cultural practices for the timing of what we would call a new year. Some call the new year “Spring Festival.” In Tibet the New Year traditionally begins with the barley harvest. Currently, Tibetan New Year (see photos) coincides with Chinese New Year, which will fall on February 12th this year.
This will be the Chinese year of the metal Ox, in case you wondered. The Ox is seen as hardworking and honest, qualities we all hope to see a lot of in our leaders and legislators this coming year. We also pray that honest, hard work (with income) will soon be available to all those currently out of work due to coronavirus.
Tibetan New Year involves house cleaning, food preparation, and prayer, just as beginning a new year might include these activities elsewhere. New prayer flags are hung. Special meals are shared. Everyone takes a deep breath to reflect on letting go of the old and embracing the new with hope for improvement, where it is needed.
For me celebrations on January 1st, February 12th, and in spring (the start of Vedic astrological year on which I’ll write later)—all inspire me to realize each day is a fresh start. Each new day is my opportunity to strive to be my best self.
One way I can be my best self is to sincerely feel gratitude for the things that are good and right with my life, with my environment, with society. There are gifts in every situation. We are in the right situation when we are following divine direction, obeying divine law. When we adjust our vision to see through God’s eyes, we know there is a season and a reason for everything under the sun. The law of Karma is always fulfilled. None of our positive efforts for betterment of ourselves or the world are in vain. We imprint the ethers with our heartfelt prayers and desires. Likewise, divine joy and deep peace are in the ethers, and within our reach.
by Norman Paulsen, Sunburst Founder • In stillness, God’s presence is revealed to us. When the thoughts have quieted down and the breath has become obedient, the soul stirs in us to meet our Maker, our Creator, our Beloved. We are all connected to this Being of Light. We are all children of this Divine Mother and Father.
What a miracle it is that God is with us in our deep meditations, in stillness and in love, as we communicate with the reality of our immortal souls. Yes, God says we are all immortal, dreaming this life in all its beauty and its sorrows. God longs to speak to us in the silence of our meditations, to give us comfort, support, and direction in our lives. As often as we remember that God exists in the center of our souls, we are blessed.
Master Yogananda used to say: “In the humdrum activity of this world, it is so hard to stop and remember that God is the doer, not the individual self.” God is the doer if we allow, if we remember. When we take the time to sit down in silence and talk to Him, to Her, with our heart’s devotion, our love can find its source in God. Our love finds its fulfillment in seeking God.
Follow the breath up and down the spine with your consciousness. This is our inner-dimensional tunnel that leads to God. At the crown of our heads the infinite Christ Light, like the sun, burns so brightly, illuminating our souls. The presence of God descends like a silken garment upon each soul who calls for God to reveal the light of his presence.
by Dawn King • We’re at a crossroads and a rebirth with the new year. There is much of 2020 we probably want to shake off, and put behind us. In many ways this past year has brought us to our knees, humbled us, pointed out our vulnerability, and opened our hearts.
Humanity is being reshaped into the image and personality of its divine Creator, growing in unconditional love, and all that is virtue. As Hafiz states:
You have been invited to meet The Friend.
No one can resist a Divine Invitation.
That narrows down all our choices to just two:
We can come to God dressed for dancing,
Or be carried on a stretcher to God’s ward.*
This life offers us the opportunity to work on ourselves, to perfect our nature, and to uplift all of humanity with our personal efforts. We are learning to see through God’s eyes. The founder of Sunburst, Norman Paulsen put it another way:
I see worlds turn, galaxies spin,
while time moves on endlessly.
Beings come and go like leaves from the trees.
Listen and seek while you have the opportunity.
Think not lightly that God is calling you
because of your own heart’s desires.
Take full advantage of it.
Don’t give up until you find God.
* Hafiz Translation by Daniel Ladinsky from “I Heard God Laughing…”
Norman Paulsen, Sunburst Founder • We refer to life here as being part of the show. In this great show that goes on every microsecond of time, there are heroes and villains, there’s drama and action, and there’s sometimes seemingly insurmountable obstacles. When we go to a movie, we always find ourselves rooting for the hero to overcome the obstacles, to defeat the villain, and to have a happy ending.
Our lives here, our journey, is being witnessed not only by God, but by all those beings that have walked this path before us, who were able to defeat the villain, overcome the obstacles, and attain eternal life. These spirits exist; they are around us all the time. Sometimes they appear to us; sometimes they are called angels. They are all rooting for us, that we too can stay the course and never give up in our quest to realize our oneness with our Creator. They are here to help and encourage us, and if we call upon them, they will come.
Truth must be experienced, must be understood on a cellular level, and we can do this by calming the mind, stilling the body, and going into a deep meditation every morning and every evening. This process will help us all evolve and overcome any obstacles that are in our way. It will give us the strength and courage to greet each day with a smile. Each of us every day should try to treat others like we would like to be treated, to be kind and love others like we would wish to be loved.
O heavenly Father, thank you
for being with us this day and every day.
Instill in us a deep commitment to seek true understanding,
to love one another and to dedicate our lives to finding you,
gazing upon your face and hearing your voice. Amen
Dear Family of Friends,
As 2020 winds down, we take stock of the many challenges we faced, and the inner strength we called upon to navigate the unprecedented circumstances affecting our lives. Outwardly, it has been a year of limitations and temperance, forcing us to simplify our routines and question our impulses. But inwardly, it has been a time to open the doors of our hearts and put our meditation practice to good use. The importance of our connection to one another has become highlighted as we sought and found new ways to communicate with each other.
Time opened up for many to spend more time outdoors drawing on nature’s comfort, beauty, and inspiration. Art became an outlet for the soul as did other forms of creativity, including ways to be of service. As 2021 approaches, challenging times still lie ahead, but we know what to do now, we know how to be.
We can relax into the new normal and let it carry us into a brighter future, a kinder future, and a more reflective future. It is the balance we were all asking for, either consciously or subconsciously. We can’t return to an earlier time. Bigger changes have now taken place. Some people are moving out of the cities to less crowded areas. Many people now work from home and homeschool their children. They are realizing the importance of family, friendships, and community.
At Sunburst we are tilling the soil every day, both spiritually and literally. The permaculture gardens are alive and thriving offering fresh produce to the local community and food bank, and Sunburst is offering more online meditations and inspirational recorded services. We are available by phone, and keeping Sunburst Sanctuary ready in anticipation of a future time of gathering together again, which will certainly take place when it is deemed safe. Meantime, it is up to each of us to turn the wheel of meditation, and dive deep into Spirit’s vast ocean of love.
In closing I leave you with this Gaelic prayer:
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace to you.
Many blessings,
Patty Paulsen, Sunburst Spiritual Director
by John Henry • Sometimes traumatic worldly events cause us to reconsider many of our feelings, hopefully resulting in our recommitment to walking the path home to Spirit. Rejecting a seemingly unjust picture, I’m reminded of my first imaginings of the world and how I wanted it to be when I was young. In light of recent events, I’ve recommitted myself to controlling my thoughts, keeping them focused on goodness, on evolution—not just for me, but for all my loved ones and the planet itself.
I learned how to meditate years ago. Although we can’t escape our karma, I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to face it head-on if you can. Keep your feet on the path, and slowly karma falls away. Each one of us is completely responsible for our own lives and what is happening to us, what we are thinking and feeling.
For me the hardest thing is to stop my mind from thinking. I’ve been successful at many things I’ve tried to do in my life, but I would say that my success at stopping my mind is poor. Yet, I’ve learned that if you make one hundred percent commitment to serving Spirit and walking the path, there’s a certain peace and strength that comes to you. It allows your soul to overpower your mind and not let thoughts take strong hold of you. You can keep going and trying, and watch your success grow.
Knowing the outcome will be better, I think we all want to do God’s will, not our own. We each have our own Star of Bethlehem to follow through life, to get to that place where we meet the Christ Light (and enlightenment), just as the wise men met the baby Jesus. God is always showing us the way. We just need to control our thoughts and make ourselves aware enough to perceive the hints and the little thoughts and signs that God is giving us to lead us home—signs that lead us to being our true, most fulfilled selves.
If you make that internal commitment to serve the Divine one hundred percent, you’ll find that I Am That I Am is providing all the strength and direction that you need to succeed. Nothing short of that will allow your heart to feel right.
