Reentering the Sea

February 4, 2004

Reentering the Sea

If you have seen the movie, Whalerider, you know that there is a scene where the

young girl climbs upon the back of a beached whale and rides it back into the

sea. "I am not afraid to die," she says (or words to that effect). As she goes

underwater, you fear that she will, but she survives and becomes the leader of

her tribe. ("The true you emerges when there is no attempt to prove anything to

anyone." Vernon Kitabu Turner, Soul Sword.)

We are a puny bunch of people these days, are we not? Riding whales into the

oceanic depths is only something that people do in the movies. I have a hard

time driving in traffic. But this story moved me. It is a call to spiritual

warriorship. Turner writes compellingly about warriorship. "There are many ways

to flow with the wind. One way is to trust yourself to be yourself."

Spirituality is that in us which is undivided; the mind cannot go beyond its

element. We must trust the process of surrender if we are to go beneath the

waves of sorrow and resurface with our spirit intact. I have only begun to make

this journey of riding my soul back to its native home. My mind encourages me

to postpone the journey. To stay and argue with people about rules and

regulations, about insurance and appointments shown on the calendar. I do not

have to die to honor these commitments. I can continue living a plastic life,

compartmentalized and sane. But underneath the sea rages.

I have a cd by Herding Cats that I like. There is a line in one song about

"where the black waters roll." I can almost physically feel these black waters

in my body as the song plays. I know these waters well (don't we all?) Where

is our courage on any given day? Bob had to get five vials of blood drawn

yesterday when he exited the trial drug study that he was on. The nurse who was

drawing his blood had great difficulity in getting enough blood to come out.

There were four people watching and we were all cringing. I asked him twice if

he was okay, and he said that he was. Once we got home, I was able to let my

hair down and feel the accumulated stress in my body.

Today we sat and meditated for a while. We talked about regaining our spirit

during the next three weeks that he has off before resuming chemo once again.

We have been violated by a society that values knowledge above spirit and

answers above the process of questioning. It is time for us to ride the whale

back into the sea.

I feel so alone in all of this. The past three years since Bob's diagnosis have

been difficult. But it cannot be otherwise. This is a spiritual journey as

well as a physical one. Only spirit can prove strong enough to endure what lies

ahead.

Vicki Woodyard

http://www.bobwoodyard.com

February 4, 2004

-

skiplaurel

Thursday, February 05, 2004 9:49 AM

Reentering the Sea

Reentering the SeaIf you have seen the movie, Whalerider, you know

that there is a scene where the young girl climbs upon the back of a

beached whale and rides it back into the sea. "I am not afraid to

die," she says (or words to that effect). As she goes underwater,

you fear that she will, but she survives and becomes the leader of

her tribe. ("The true you emerges when there is no attempt to prove

anything to anyone." Vernon Kitabu Turner, Soul Sword.)We are a puny

bunch of people these days, are we not? Riding whales into the

oceanic depths is only something that people do in the movies. I

have a hard time driving in traffic. But this story moved me. It is

a call to spiritual warriorship. Turner writes compellingly about

warriorship. "There are many ways to flow with the wind. One way is

to trust yourself to be yourself." Spirituality is that in us which

is undivided; the mind cannot go beyond its element. We must trust

the process of surrender if we are to go beneath the waves of sorrow

and resurface with our spirit intact. I have only begun to make this

journey of riding my soul back to its native home. My mind encourages

me to postpone the journey. To stay and argue with people about rules

and regulations, about insurance and appointments shown on the

calendar. I do not have to die to honor these commitments. I can

continue living a plastic life, compartmentalized and sane. But

underneath the sea rages.I have a cd by Herding Cats that I like.

There is a line in one song about "where the black waters roll." I

can almost physically feel these black waters in my body as the song

plays. I know these waters well (don't we all?) Where is our

courage on any given day? Bob had to get five vials of blood drawn

yesterday when he exited the trial drug study that he was on. The

nurse who was drawing his blood had great difficulity in getting

enough blood to come out. There were four people watching and we

were all cringing. I asked him twice if he was okay, and he said

that he was. Once we got home, I was able to let my hair down and

feel the accumulated stress in my body.Today we sat and meditated for

a while. We talked about regaining our spirit during the next three

weeks that he has off before resuming chemo once again. We have been

violated by a society that values knowledge above spirit and answers

above the process of questioning. It is time for us to ride the

whale back into the sea.I feel so alone in all of this. The past

three years since Bob's diagnosis have been difficult. But it cannot

be otherwise. This is a spiritual journey as well as a physical one.

Only spirit can prove strong enough to endure what lies ahead.Vicki

Woodyard

Hullo Vicki,

I have just finished reading your note and I think I can well-imagine

the situation that you are in, and I feel for you.

But I want to ask you a very simple question "Do you know, have you at

least had a glimpse of, who you really are?"

You might find the question insulting, and if so, so be it. Read no further and delete this message.

But I don't intend any insult at all.

When I saw who I really am it was a surprise - I had heard about this

"who you really are" business for years, but until I saw for myself

it meant nothing.

It is not difficult. It is not rocket science. I have been able to

show it to others. And if you are interested, I might be able to

guide you to see it.

Seeing who you really are is not the same as "being enlightened", whatever that might be.

It is not the same as being "self-realized", whatever that might be.

It is not the same as an "end to all suffering".

But it is the first step. And once you've seen it it is yours. You may

lose sight of it, temporarily, but it will always return.

As Atmananda says, in Atma-Darshan, "This is not the final word. Work

lies ahead to remove the sense of separateness."

But it is the first and necessary step. And once you have seen this,

things that are said by the Advaita sages become understandable in a

way which they previously were not.

As Atmananda says a few pages on, "For eternal peace, persistent

striving is necessary till enlightenment."

Vicki, some of us here are taking things easy, pretty sure that

everything has been more-or-less figured out.

I fit into the "constant striving category."

And if you are interested in my offer regarding seeing "who one really is", let me know.

Much love

Warwick

February 4, 2004

Dear Vicky,

thanks so much for your openness and courage - it touched me.

You are never alone on your journey back home - never.

If you are ready to see and feel it.

Contact me - if you feel "it"

michael _bindel (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

ride your whale into paradise

peace and love to you

michael bindel

>"skiplaurel"

> >To:

> Reentering

the Sea >Wed, 04 Feb 2004 22:49:18 -0000 > >Reentering the Sea

> >If you have seen the movie, Whalerider, you know that there is a

scene where the young girl climbs upon the back of a beached whale

and rides it back into the sea. "I am not afraid to die," she says

(or words to that effect). As she goes underwater, you fear that she

will, but she survives and becomes the leader of her tribe. ("The

true you emerges when there is no attempt to prove anything to

anyone." Vernon Kitabu Turner, Soul Sword.) > >We are a puny bunch

of people these days, are we not? Riding whales into the oceanic

depths is only something that people do in the movies. I have a hard

time driving in traffic. But this story moved me. It is a call to

spiritual warriorship. Turner writes compellingly about warriorship.

"There are many ways to flow with the wind. One way is to trust

yourself to be yourself." > >Spirituality is that in us which is

undivided; the mind cannot go beyond its element. We must trust the

process of surrender if we are to go beneath the waves of sorrow and

resurface with our spirit intact. I have only begun to make this

journey of riding my soul back to its native home. My mind

encourages me to postpone the journey. To stay and argue with people

about rules and regulations, about insurance and appointments shown on

the calendar. I do not have to die to honor these commitments. I can

continue living a plastic life, compartmentalized and sane. But

underneath the sea rages. > >I have a cd by Herding Cats that I like.