Paul-Illusory -- Is It?

[Guest guest]

As far as the sense of self-consciousness, I thought so, but better

pay more attention tonight! I distinctly remember when I was really

trying to avoid sin and these beauties used to come into my dreams

and I didn't want to sin and I would wake up. I also recall getting

into jams and being pretty much in despair and waking up and being

glad it was not true. I don't know though, will pay more attention

if I can...

 

As far as my own self consciousness since doing yoga, it is a lot

less. It even seems gone sometimes, and then something will happen

to show me how un-surrendered I really am. I recognize the unity of

reality, that all is God, and then in prayer, thank God for the

suffering. I see the apparent " other " as God. Underlying this

suffering is deep bliss. I believe this is the furnace...

 

Enter the Furnace

 

Our Master spoke one day to a nobleman about mystical truth. He

said, " in the state you have attained, you have become gold; now you

must transform even more of yourself into gold; you have to come to a

time when you will enter into the furnace, begin to boil, and offer

yourself up for hammering on the anvil of mortification by the blows

of the Coiner, so you can become a ring worthy of Solomon or an

earring that could adorn an Emperor. Most of the seekers you see are

just imitators; they will become authentic when they dare to enter

the hearth of love, and when they endure on the anvil of patience the

blows of misery and suffer impossible situations; then, after many

ordeals, they will find purity, and become the mirror of God. "

 

Aflaki Andrew Harvey, Shambhala, The Teachings of Rumi

 

and...

 

For Love, Like for a Furnace

 

My Soul's a furnace; it's happy with fire.

It's enough for a furnace to be the house of fire.

For love, like for a furnace,

There's always something to burn--

If you don't see this,

You're not a furnace.

 

Mathnawi, Andrew Harvey, Shambhala, The Teachings of Rumi

 

So, it seems to me we have to burn up all of our samskaras in the

Love of God...

 

Hey, I wouldn't mind a short cut either... but I don't think there is

one.... Maybe there are differing realizations? I believe I better

not stop until there is no one left to do anything... and that is

when I am in Love.

 

 

Paul