This year continues to be intense but in a different sort of way. Its a spiritual tension that is forcing me to stop clinging to people, beliefs and ideas. I am just moving out of that stagnant, status quo space and I am realizing now that the reason it is so, is because I am not bringing freshness into my life. I am constantly trying to improvise and improve on old situations that continue to be present whether they be relationships, beliefs, ideas, creativity, abundance, etc. I am expecting mutual changes and that is not happening. I have finally got it that without detachment, one can really get stuck in one's spiritual path. So, now I am going through massive inner changes (it never stops!) I'm weeding out my ideas and beliefs. I'm loosing the expectations. I'm choosing to do the creative projects I have in mind solo rather than team up with anyone. I have realized the reason I'm looking for a buddy in my soul travel, is because I am still terrified of the world. I see now so are other people. Many of us hide our fears. We run away from situations. We think if we do service elsewhere, we're covered. I have always resisted this idea for many reasons, one of the most important being is that if I cannot be of service in my own personal home environment, doing it anywhere else gains no merit. I'm just delaying the process. On the other hand, one has to embrace everyone in compassionate love, which will only come when every aspects of our lives are fully embraced and we become fearless by facing the fears that terrify us. In the past I have run away from my situations. I have changed cities, jobs, lifestyles, people and what not all in the name of 'changing my life'. But your life never changes unless you face it. You face Spirit. And do the work that needs to be done. I am still young enough to endure many difficulties, so what could be a better time than this to make a 360 degree change, complete make over and turnaround? Spiritual tension is always good. It can only make your Soul shine brighter!
While being busy with my changes, I came across a wonderful website. The owner is Joan Tollifson and she caught my attention big time. In her words she describes herself as: “Joan has an affinity with Buddhism, Advaita and other forms
of nonduality and meditative inquiry, but she belongs to no particular
tradition”. I loved that description. I can sense complete openness. She also has a wonderful list of recommended books which are really top of the line as far as I am concerned because of its authors. I loved how she described her choices. Here's an excerpt. You can visit her link at the end if you feel the same way as I do and check out the complete list.
JOAN'S ANNOTATED RECOMMENDED READING LIST
This list of recommended authors and books about nonduality and waking up is based on my own tastes and resonances and is in no way intended to be a comprehensive, definitive or authoritative list of nondual or spiritual books. I'm not endorsing every single word spoken or written by any of these authors (including Joan Tollifson). The list includes books from a variety of different perspectives (Advaita, Buddhism, radical nonduality, Taoism, Sufism, Christianity, brain science, and so on). Some of the books and authors listed below may appear to contradict each other. Some of them say that the entire movie of waking life (including you and your whole spiritual journey) is all nothing but a dream-like illusion, while others appear to take the phenomenal manifestation (and spiritual practice) very seriously. Some insist that there is nothing to do other than exactly what is happening, while others offer some kind of apparent process, practice or method for waking up. Some seem to suggest that "you" have the power of choice, while others say there is no "you" and that everything is the result of infinite causes and conditions over which no one has any control whatsoever. Some say liberation is found in the realization of complete impermanence while others insist it comes with the recognition of That which never changes. Who has it right? What should you believe? As soon as you open your mouth, you go astray. No words or concepts can capture reality. Maps are useful, but they can only describe and point to the territory itself. Eating the meal is what nourishes you, not reading the menu. Take what resonates and leave the rest behind. Don't believe anything you read. Question and look and see for yourself. The book that wakes you up one day may lull you to sleep the next. Always be ready to see something new and unexpected. --J.T."
You can find her Recommended List of Books here:http://www.joantollifson.com/recommend.html
What touched me was her complete openness to her spirituality and her ability to stay absolutely present, accepting everything exactly as it is without creating any story. She does'nt judge any other religion or belief and that's what I love about this reading experience. That's the kind of thing that keeps me interested. One should stay focussed on one's own path and if one is a teacher, then one should just teach what one has learned and not get into critical judgement about other people's teachings. I used to do that a lot (not teach, but general unsolicited advise/judgments/comments) - trying to convince people about my new way and new ideas of Spirit, but eventually, I found it to be rather unwise and spiritually immature. It serves no purpose. Every Soul is entitled to do his/her own personal journey the way he/she would like to or is being guided to. The best way to connect with others spiritually is to share impersonally and without attachment and expectations looking for praise or marketing one's self. Well, atleast, that's what works for me now. It is therefore all the more refreshing to come across spiritually matured people through their writings.
I am really enjoying reading the rich material available at her website http://www.joantollifson.com/home.html
and if you want to read a sample from one of her books, here's the link https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0125/1442/t/2/assets/awake-in-the-heartland-sample.pdf
Shalom!
How may I be of service?
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