Places in the Inner World
We live within our inner world, using it to sense and interpret the
physical world around us. As our consciousness shifts its focus, it
gravitates toward different centers in this inner landscape.
One such center is the ego. When we dwell in our ego, we tend
to prioritize ourselves over others. Our empathy diminishes, and we
may become self-centered or even narcissistic. People who live
predominantly in their ego often come across as rude, bossy, or overly
controlling.
The mind, on the other hand, is the mechanism that produces the
constant inner voice we hear. This inner voice has many layers—it can
be thoughtful, insightful, and supportive, but it can also become
distracting or even irritating. Beyond the mind, there are the
chakras, which are energy centers that influence our focus. These
centers connect us to spirituality, intuition, knowledge, love, power,
sexuality, and fear, shaping the way we perceive and interact with
life.
Being Happy All the Time
When we shift our consciousness from the ego or the mind to the
soul, life transforms in remarkable ways. The soul is our truest self,
the part of us that is deeply connected to the divine. Living in the
soul brings a profound and enduring happiness. Michael Singer, in
Chapter 15 of The Untethered Soul, discusses this state of
being, describing how some enlightened individuals achieve happiness
all the time. The book's title suggests a powerful truth: to remain
untethered and free, we must reside in the soul as much as possible.
Other inner states, such as the ego or restless mind, tie us down and
rob us of this freedom.
From the perspective of the soul, life becomes a beautiful movie
that we can watch with wonder and appreciation. Even the challenges
and less-than-ideal situations add richness and contrast to the
experience. Without difficult moments, the good ones would lose their
brilliance. Life’s imperfections keep us engaged and allow us to
appreciate its beauty. Imagine a movie where everything went perfectly
all the time—it would become unbearably dull. The interplay of highs
and lows keeps us awake, alive, and connected.
The wonderful truth is that we can all learn to be happy all the
time. Buddhist monks often exemplify this possibility, showing us it
is within reach. The key lies in how we perceive life: by treating it
as a movie we love and refusing to let temporary difficulties pull us
away from joy. If we let our ego take the lead, we’ll find ourselves
crashing whenever life doesn’t conform to our expectations. The same
applies to other parts of the inner world, except for the soul.
Happiness is simpler than we might imagine. It begins with a
decision to value joy as the highest priority. Anything that disrupts
that happiness can be addressed and changed. It’s as straightforward
as choosing to embrace a new perspective—one where happiness becomes
the foundation of life itself.
Limiting the News
One of the greatest obstacles to happiness today is the constant
influx of negativity from the news. Many outlets, driven by the demand
for online engagement, focus on fear-driven stories that can take a
toll on mental and emotional well-being.
Reducing news consumption to just once a day and choosing sources
that emphasize solutions, such as the Solutions Journalism Network or
Yes! Magazine, can help create a more balanced perspective.
True peace, however, arises from within—by managing our mindset and
reactions, we can minimize the influence of external negativity and
maintain inner calm.
Meditation
Meditation is a powerful practice for quieting the mind, deepening
self-awareness, and connecting with higher levels of consciousness.
Rooted in centuries of tradition, it offers a pathway to inner peace,
mental clarity, and spiritual growth. While often associated with
sitting quietly, meditation is more than a posture—it is a state of
presence and harmony with the current moment.
Creating a dedicated time and space for meditation is essential for
establishing a lasting practice. Even a few minutes a day in a calm,
distraction-free environment can have transformative effects over
time. This space could be a quiet corner in your home or a serene
outdoor spot.
Breathing plays a central role in meditation. Focusing on the
breath acts as a grounding force, drawing attention away from
distractions and anchoring the mind in the present. Deep, steady
breaths calm the nervous system, fostering relaxation and helping you
settle into the practice.
The benefits of regular meditation are profound. Physically, it
reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep. Mentally,
it sharpens focus, enhances emotional resilience, and promotes inner
balance. Spiritually, it opens pathways to self-discovery and a deeper
connection with the flow of life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the art of being fully present, aware of your
thoughts, emotions, and surroundings without judgment. In a world
overflowing with distractions and constant demands, mindfulness offers
a chance to pause, reconnect, and find balance amidst the chaos. It’s
not about forcing calm or emptying the mind but about observing life
with openness and acceptance as it unfolds.
At the heart of mindfulness is attention. Whether you are eating,
walking, or simply sitting, mindfulness encourages you to engage fully
with the experience. This might involve savoring the flavors of your
meal, noticing the ground beneath your feet, or feeling the rhythm of
your breath. By focusing on the present, mindfulness breaks the cycle
of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, bringing clarity
and peace.
Breathing is often central to mindfulness practice. Conscious,
rhythmic breathing grounds the mind and fosters relaxation, serving as
a steady anchor for awareness.
Regular mindfulness practice offers transformative benefits. It
helps reduce stress by releasing mental tension and creates emotional
resilience by fostering calm and clarity in the face of challenges.
Mindfulness also improves focus and productivity by training the brain
to concentrate on what truly matters, enriching your experience of
life in meaningful ways.
Basic Instructions
Begin by gently moving into the sacred space of your soul. In this
shift, your perspective transforms, aligning with the divine flow of
love that remains constant, even in the face of difficulty or
uncertainty. See the profound beauty and innate perfection in all
experiences and things, no matter how they appear.
Let go of the ego’s grasp—the need to judge, control, or resist.
Instead, open your heart fully, holding compassion for whatever is
troubling you. As you embrace this tenderness, feel the tension
soften. Let the heart expand and gently release what no longer serves
you. Don't close you heart. When you feel you are closing,
relax and release the closing vibration and its energy. Feel all
the pain, and then let it flow down your arms and legs out of your
body. Repeat this until all the samskara is dissipated..
Be present with the ways you may be resisting. Observe them without
judgment, and allow yourself to relax into the moment. Surrender to
what is, without pushing or pulling, keeping both your heart and mind
open to the flow of life. As you do, feel the negative energy
naturally release and dissipate, like a cloud dissolving into the vast
sky.
Watch the patterns of your mind—the rigid beliefs and attachments
that hold you back. With grace, let them go. Embrace the freedom of
not knowing, the serenity of uncertainty. In this space of surrender,
you align with divine love, where peace and clarity flow
effortlessly.
Awakening to the Infinite Embracing the Divine Within
How can one truly know the Divine? Throughout history, countless
teachings have tried to describe this infinite essence, yet they
remain but faint echoes of what cannot be contained. The Divine is not
something external, bound by doctrines or beliefs; it is the limitless
presence within, the eternal essence of who you are, radiating peace,
light, and boundless joy.
To know the Divine is not to grasp it with the mind, for it lies
beyond thought, beyond emotion, beyond the ego’s restless striving. It
is to awaken to your true nature, a profound remembering of the
infinite love and wisdom that flows through you. In this awakening,
you no longer wander in the wilderness of concepts or seek answers
outside yourself. Instead, you become a vessel for the direct
experience of divinity—a transformation so complete that it reshapes
your very perception of reality.
Imagine a life where every moment is filled with joy—not the
fleeting joy of worldly pleasures but the unshakable joy of simply
being. This is enlightenment, a state untethered from the chaos of the
mind and rooted in the eternal now. In this space, resistance
dissolves, and separation ceases to exist. Life becomes an effortless
flow, like a river merging with the ocean. You come to realize that
you are not merely in the presence of the Divine—you are the Divine
expressing itself in human form.
This sacred experience is neither distant nor mystical; it is as
immediate as the breath you draw or the warmth of sunlight on your
skin. It begins when you quiet the mind and turn inward, diving
beneath the surface of thoughts and emotions into the stillness of
your being. Here, in the sanctuary of your soul, you encounter the
radiant presence of the Divine—not as something outside of you, but as
the truth of what you are. This love is unconditional, infinite, and
all-encompassing, dissolving fear, judgment, and separation in its
eternal embrace.
The mind, though wondrous in its complexity, is not meant to
imprison you in the web of its thoughts. Its higher purpose is to
serve as a gateway, a bridge between the material and the infinite.
When quiet and aligned with the heart, the mind becomes transparent,
allowing the light of the Divine to shine through. You begin to see
with new eyes, perceiving the world not as separate objects and
events, but as a sacred expression of the same infinite love that
flows through you.
Life becomes a dance of divine play. The ordinary transforms into
the extraordinary: a bird’s song becomes a hymn of creation, a
stranger’s smile reflects the love of the universe, and every breath
becomes a prayer of gratitude. There is no longer a need to seek joy,
for you discover that you are joy itself. There is no longer a need to
search for God, for you are inseparably one with the Divine.
This is the essence of enlightenment: to live as the embodiment of
infinite love, fully present, fully alive, and fully free. It is not
an escape from the world but a deep immersion into its sacred beauty.
Each moment, each experience, becomes an opportunity to celebrate the
love and wisdom that flows through all of creation.
Let go of the illusions that bind you and embrace the boundless joy
that awaits within. The Divine is not a distant goal; it is the
ever-present truth of your being, waiting to be rediscovered. Open
your heart, still your mind, and step into the eternal now. Here, you
will find not only the presence of God but the joyful realization that
you have always been part of this infinite love.
