As the World Turns

 When you are okay with how it is, you are okay. If you are okay with no matter  how it will be, you are in great shape. If you are okay with all that was, you made it.

Michael Singer

Hmm! The words above certainly offer a gauge for measuring how we are progressing along this path. Basically, the more we can accept Life as it is, will be and was... the closer we are to freedom, which is our ultimate goal, right?  Freedom means we no longer have samskaras blocking our shakti flow.  We can experience free flowing peace and joy as it arises without condition, regardless of what is happening out there.

The process of  opening up to, focusing  our attention on ,and experiencing the nonconditional peace, joy, love within us is the spiritual path. How rapidly will we progress? According to Michael A. Singer, your path will be as rapid as your willingness to accept the truth and to let go of the need for melodrama. 

How can we get to that point where it doesn't matter what is happening out there and to always be able to experience  free flowing shakti?  This is what I got as tips from Singer (though he didn't offer them in this form). 

1. Remember that every single "problem" is self generated and unnecessary. 
2. Remind self daily about how tiny our problems are: We are just micro specks in a tiny speck of time  on a tiny speck of dirt. Our problems then, are just tiny specks in this tiny existence we call "my life." 
3. Stop defining life as a problem.  It isn't a problem anywhere but in our minds.
4. Stop making problems bigger than they are, stop creating suffering  through our need for "melodrama". Soap operas may be fun to watch and we might even enjoy starring as the victim  in a few real life ones, but it only keeps us away from truth. When we add drama to "truth" we make a real mess of our lives
5. Get back to the "suchness" of things, the "what is" of the experience that is unfolding in front of you. 
6. Remember ... It is all about staying open to Life instead of resisting it.  Closing to Life creates resistance and tension.  Tension shows up as suffering. Staying open to what is is acceptance and through that we experience the peace we are seeking.
7. To stay open we need to stop preferring one thing over another. Most of the time, Singer reminds us, we don't even know what we really want.  We just think we do. Our wanting is not a reliable source of information  or a trustworthy means of basing our opening and closing of the doors that let the shakti pour through on . Life, as it is, is much more reliable and trust worthy. Accept all!
8. Learn to enjoy and honor the experience of the experience, no matter what it is! Life is just one big amazing ride we are on.  If we are open to all of it, without preference for some...aversion for other,,,we cannot help but to stay open. 
9. Remember you are the experiencer, the observer of the experience, and not the experience. 
10. Keep reminding yourself that nothing is personal and nothing lasts. All things are impermanent. You are just one of 8 billion and here for a very very short time in comparison to  how long the planet has been here. Your so called "problem" is merely a fraction of a blink of an eye in universal time. Challenges will come and challenges will go.  Again...you are just a  micro speck in a speck of time, on a speck of dirt. How can it be about you and your drama?

Anyway, that is what came to mind when  I listened to today's podcast. You may get something totally different from this when you listen for yourself.  So please do.

All is well!

Michael A. Singer (June 26, 2023) Cutting Through the Melodrama. https://tou.org/talks/