by Barbara McCaughey • I once saw someone demonstrate two types of surrender in body language. The first type had shoulders and head drooping forward, arms limp in the lap. The second type had arms, face, and palms up toward the sky. I thought, “The heart must open, and the arms create a funnel for spirit to enter.” When that happens, we’re guided and more comfortable living in the moment.
Think of surrender as a way of allowing space in your consciousness for the Divine to enter. You can gain a glimpse of what you truly are when you reflect your divine nature.
Letting go of the ego is an act of continuous courage. The self-conscious ego thinks it’s separate from its Creator, and from the creation. Ego wants to amass things, thoughts, and knowledge…and protect it all. Although the self-conscious ego experiences the ups and the downs of life’s drama, it’s afraid to let go. It’s not really sure what will happen when it surrenders to divine guidance.
But when we have the desire to start letting go, then we’re led to a way that helps us. For many of us, that way has been Kriya meditation, which allows us to live our lives more consciously. Norman Paulsen, founder of Sunburst, lived a life that was a beautiful demonstration of surrender. Life, Love, God, his autobiography describes Norm’s spiritual journey in detail. From the time he was a child, he desired to meet God, and this was strengthened when he met his teacher Paramahansa Yogananda, who taught him Kriya Yoga. Later, Divine Mother revealed herself to Norm’s consciousness. He said that then his physical mind, self-conscious ego, and personality had to stand aside. It was his own pure Self that spoke directly to Divine Mother. As she promised, seven days later she returned and presented him to Divine Father.
Norm said he felt no fear. He was able to look within and see that he had no other desires. “There’s nothing else in this world that I want, only you. Only you, Lord!” It was the continuous practice of surrender that led him to that day.
Many years ago I was sitting in meditation; it was a very difficult time in my life. I was lamenting to Spirit, “I’ve got this challenge, and that challenge; what am I going to do?” The thoughts felt like a moving freight train. All of a sudden, it’s like the brakes were engaged. My mind was flooded with thoughts from Spirit, showing me all the blessings in my life—blessings I was ignoring.
I was left feeling, “With all that I’ve been given, how could I not fulfill my mission to be loving, and to keep surrendering to the Divine?” Almighty Spirit, Help me to be very present with You in this moment, that I might see a glimpse of who I truly am. Amen.
by Letha Kiddie•January brings us into a time of reflection and projection each year. Looking back over past months, we notice some of the patterns that emerged of both happiness and suffering. Now it’s time to take note of where we wish to direct our future energies.
We ask ourselves, have we found peace in ourselves and brought peace to others? Have we had kindness for all? Do we carry the deep integrated wholeness of our body/soul connection? And how do we know what our souls’ intentions for this lifetime are?
The main purpose for learning how to meditate in silence, to sit without struggle, to close ones’ eyes without falling asleep, to open and to discover the light of the Pure Self, is all about connecting with our souls’ purpose and simply becoming the most spacious version of ourselves possible.
The cycles of life are continuously working to create, maintain, and transform us. It is not hard to look and notice the advancements in technology, but it is harder to notice the subtler advancements of our own levels of awareness.
This year let us commit to exploring some of these unseen vistas inside of us. Let us commit to learning how to sit in meditation with an open heart and an open mind… empty, yet full.
As we take a deep in-breath and exhale slowly, we begin to let go of the past year, its struggles and triumphs, its victories and its pain. We give way for the New to dawn brightly in our consciousness. Each season gives way to the next bringing us understanding and peace.
Join me in this adventure of inner-discovery, a quest for a full and balanced life. Let us be inspired by the light that illuminates from within. Blessings and Namaste.
Light on Sunburst Sanctuary – Range Management • January
“Do what you love to do, and be around things that make you smile. The cows make me smile every day.” – David Jackson
Sunburst is a sanctuary in nature not only for people, but also for flora and fauna, plants and animals, wild and domestic. Management of 4,000 acres of mostly wild land is a challenge. Potential fires, erosion, and useful resources are all taken into consideration, with permaculture in mind. If the land is healthy, the animal ecosystem prospers too. We are all connected. Overgrowth of flammable foliage is managed with the help of cattle that also fertilizes the land, and develops passable trails for other wildlife and people. Sunburst’s livestock, cattle and horses, are people friendly, especially the horses. You wouldn’t be able to pet a cow, bull or calf, because their tendency is to stay clear of people, although they find people fascinating to watch. Plant communities have developed with grazing animals throughout history, making grazing animals important to the wellbeing of these plants. The goal is a healthy balance of plants and animals.
Light on Sunburst Sanctuary – Agriculture • January
“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.” – Masanobu Fukuoka A large property requires many hands to caretake its acreage. At Sunburst, we look forward to the end of Covid restrictions, not only for the return of Sunday services, but for all manner of events. These will include opportunities to join in our daily activities, including those in permaculture, agriculture and environmental improvement. This is the first of our Wednesday blog pieces to inform you about activities ongoing with Sunburst Sanctuary’s current crew. Everything from hiking trail maintenance, to water systems, agriculture, and more will be covered in text and photos. Last summer we enjoyed delicious fruits from our raspberries and grapes. This year they’ll be even more abundant. Pruning is taking place in the grapes (Al):
and raspberries (Curtis):
The young orchard, which is also being pruned, is a mix of apples and peaches.
A few more years of maturity are required before these trees will bear fruit.
A cover crop protects the soil between the rows of trees.
More on “Light on Sunburst Sanctuary” next Wednesday.
by Valerie & Dawn King• We have the ability to develop the strength of our will, just as an athlete puts forth the effort and turns his or her body and mind into something exceptional. In our own best interest, we can choose to be spiritual athletes. It takes practice, and diligence, but is rewarding beyond imagination.
The more effort you put into it, the stronger a spiritual habit becomes, and the more willpower flows into you. Even when you don’t feel like it, you sit down daily and go deep within, where Divine Spirit resides. You soon find that this is your rock, and your refuge. It becomes your superpower.
Paramahansa Yogananda said love is the greatest motivator because, if you love someone, you’ll do anything to help that person. Unconditional love, like that of a good parent or caregiver, is the grace of Spirit. Once that grace enters your heart, you are magnetically drawn to it. The world around us is so distracting, we have to make the time and place to feel that strong pull of Divine Spirit’s love. We come to realize it’s what we really need most. It’s what we long for, what can give us strength and sustain us.
How joyous to be bathed in the pure light of Spirit. Nothing can compare—nothing. From that incomparable experience comes the desire to bring about heaven on earth—that every soul, every brother and sister, can experience the same thing within themselves.
As we transform ourselves, we transform the whole world. Every soul that attains liberation, broadcasts that vibration out through the whole cosmos. That’s the very best thing we can do for ourselves and each other. Make the effort to develop your relationship with the Divine. Call on your Creator to be with you. This is the moment —right now—where God is, ever-present. NOW is the moment.
Dear Divine Spirit, I call upon you in this very moment. Hear my heart and voice. I want to know you beyond a shadow of a doubt. I want to see your living face shining within me, like a brilliant sun. I want to know your timeless eternity in every moment. When I know this, it will help all beings. Let it be so. Amen.
by John Kiddie•We are all seeking happiness and contentment in this life. This is our quest. Researchers studying the science of happiness have found common denominators in happy people. Physical activity and exercise is important. It releases dopamine, that gives us a sense of pleasure and well-being.
Other components include varying our routines and doing new and different activities; caring about something larger than ourselves; having close supportive friends and family, a feeling of community; having a sense of wanting to make the world a better place. Gratitude is another component of happiness and contentment. In one study, researchers had their group write down, on every Sunday, five things that they were grateful for. This activity increased their feeling of happiness. Acts of kindness yielded the same result. These are all positive things that we can embrace to bring us happiness. When we can turn our attention from seeking our happiness and fulfillment from the external to the internal, we will have set our feet upon the path to true and lasting happiness. Paramahansa Yogananda said it thusly: Seek the unconditional, indestructible, pure bliss within yourself, and you will have found the ever-conscious, ever-new joy of God. Unlike material pleasures, this joy is not an abstract quality of mind. It is the conscious, self-born, self-expressing quality of Spirit. Seek it and be comforted forever.
Last summer we enjoyed delicious fruits from our raspberries and grapes. This year they’ll be even more abundant. Pruning is taking place in the grapes (Al):
