Are you energetically sensitive?

Sandi - I am in awe of the magnifiscent tree in this photograph.  You were honored to be the caretaker for this Ancient One. 

You aptly named someone who energetically sucks the living daylights out other people by intent or otherwise as an energy vampire.  I, too, steer clear of these folks, cutting them a very wide berth.

Yea I hear ya Sandi, sometimes I would get so lost in vampire land that I began to wonder which feelings were my own any more, you think you are insane, then you find a quite place to sit like under a tree and you hear again. It is like you get grabbed by the hand and dragged around all the while you are saying but.. but… look… wait.. over.. there, eventually you can be dragged like a kid through the mall.
I must say I have had my fill with the vamp's but I can't give up on them, I just don't show them where I live, I let them find that out for themselves most of time it scares the hell out of them or they get so angry they don't come back. You know who wants to live under the trees the sky and the stars.
Thanks

Beautiful tree Sandi.  And like you, I have a special affinity for plant life, especially trees. 

Regarding vamps:  A friend of mine once asked me why I never 'protected myself' in any work that I do?  I responded that I have no need.  I am the only one in the room.

Slow Sandi!?  Hardly. 

Yes, there are two bodies, two minds and two personalities in the room but only one self.  One appearing as many.  This one sees the many but is not confused by appearances.  

So… what comes i nto my sphere of influence I take ownership of  …because what I own …I can bring to wholeness. 

I do not see vamps, Sandi, serious or otherwise.  If I did it would lead me to ask, “In what way or ways am I a vamp.”  It would lead me to ask this because I understand that the external world is simply a reflection of my inner state. 
Nothing comes to me except that which is mine.  For me to think otherwise is to be in denial.  For me to think that someone can take from me that which is mine is to believe I am a victim and …I am not that.

Love the unlovable

give to the undeserving

forgive the unforgiveable   

Your life is a work of art
a craft to be most carefully mastered
for patience has replaced time
and you are your own destination
–Rick Jarow

I love this poem because it states simply how I live.  I am no better or worse.  How can a Rembrandt be better or worse than a Pollack and vice versa.  They are just different.  Like you, I experience and express myself through a mind/body/personality.  In the past, I mistakenly held myself in comtempt.  I no longer do that.  It feels better to laugh.

I hear you, Sandi.  My two best methods of learning are by asking questions and through making mistakes.

I take a similar tack Laurie.  I assume the attitude that I do not know and then I invite life to show me. :) 

Bob – your wonderful statement, “I assume the attitude that I do not know and then I invite life to show me,” compelled me go and grab a chunk from my manuscript, Drop the Bags and No One Will Get Hurt: A Practical Guide To Abundant Living – enjoy!

Not-Knowing
There is tremendous interaction between knowing and not-knowing.  Unfortunately, we live in a world which places great emphasis on knowing; when they both, in fact, have great value.  And just as the ability for knowing can be developed, so can the practice of not-knowing be encouraged.  In his book, The Issue at Hand: Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice, author and Soto Zen priest, Gil Fronsdal, says that the Zen practice of not-knowing is sometimes referred to as “beginner’s mind” – seeing with fresh, unbiased eyes; not being blinded to new possibilities or by preconceived ideas or judgments.

One of my friends had this insightful response after reading about the practice of not-knowing.  “It seems that knowing is important because it ensures that self-reflection will be an ongoing process.  After all, our experience builds over time and our self-reflection should reveal the ever-changing nature of our self.”

How can a person cultivate the practice of not-knowing?  A simple way is to add “I don’t know” to every thought.  Like the bumper sticker which says, “Question Authority,” the phrase “I don’t know” questions the credibility of everything we think.  It allows us to question tightly held beliefs.  Buddhism at its heart is not about answering questions, but about resolving the fear which motivates the questions.  It calls on us to be free from the need to know.

Repeated regularly, “I don’t know” almost becomes a mantra in response to what we think or believe.  It can open up a space in the mind which is filled with stillness.  In turn, this stillness can calm inner chaos.  It is important to make clear that the practice of not-knowing is not the same thing as being confused or doubtful.

The confused person is somewhat lost and removed.  With doubt the mind is agitated by hesitation and indecision.  These states of mind tend to make thoughts baffled and murky rather than clarified and clear.  Doubt and confusion are involuntary.  The practice of not-knowing is a choice which is meant to bring greater peace.

Not-knowing does not mean you do not know.  It does not require us to forget everything we have known or to suspend all interpretations of a situation.  Not-knowing means not being limited by what we know.  Rather, holding what we know lightly so that we are ready for it to be different.  Maybe things are this way; but maybe, just maybe, they are not …

Yes Laurie, very nice.  The only mind that cares to claim “I know' is the egoic mind.  The paradox is that when I rest in 'not knowing' … 'knowing' happens.

Even in confusion and doubt the egoic mind makes this claim.  It says, “I know that I am confused and doubting.”  Better to say, Hmm, perhaps it could be something else.  I wonder what that could be?  This creates space for new thoughts to enter.

With enough practice, the egoic mind becomes quiet, and internally, we live in the silence of knowing.  Again, the paradox.  When I give up my claims on knowing, when I give up my need to know and be right, knowing and rightness happen.

Sandi - Even I feel better now that you've got 1 and 1/2 pounds of chicken litter off you!  Lawdy, lawdy – girl. 

I've had a good day too.  And in the morning it will be my son's 26th birthday.  I'm going to see if we can get a picture together.  In the meantime, here's one that I posted earlier today of Four Generations (Great Grandma, Grandma, Mom and Son).

I can see us all gathered round The Ancient One in a giant tree hug! That is some awesome tree energy. Breathtakingly beautiful and majestic.

Hey Bob, Some people cannot for whatever reason understand wholeness as you put it, they either deny it, are frustrated because they cannot explain it, or want to command it,  and maybe vamps is the incorrect word, harsh and inappropriate for those who fear such light. There just seems  that there are people who know everything where as I know nothing but that we are going there together and I am but a servant to all, not a victim to anyone.
It is like this if I may use a crude example, the customer is always right then the customer knows everything and if the customer knows everything they know how hard the person behind the counter works, the struggles they face to serve, the hours of dedication, they best way to help them and so if the customer complains then those who serve should reflect on what it is they are not doing properly. Examining, is there not enough graditute to the customer, kindness, is the product inproper in some manner and if still after many attemps, discussions with other servants they still are not doing something properly then maybe they need to find another area of employment in which to serve. Leaving  quietly and pleasently and that gosh you just gota go, no hard feeling and grateful the lessons learned. 
 The difference being and what I think Sandi was trying to get at is that some people who are always right never see the portion of possibly being wrong that is right.. and so sometimes though it may appear wrong in part it may be right on the whole to leave…
Thanks
J.M.

I like that view of the tree much more. It is highly enchanting.

“…and so sometimes though it may appear wrong in part it may be right on the whole to leave…”

Hi JJ, thanks for jumping in.  I hope my post didn't give anyone the impression that I was commenting on the rightness or wrongness of anything that anybody chooses to think or do.  That's not for me to say, so please forgive me if I've I've given that impression. 

My personal passion is learning about the mind and emotions.  I find them fascinating.  And, since we all have them, it makes a wonderful self-study course!  To make a long story short, one of the things I've noticed over the years is that my experience of life is directly attributed to what I choose to believe (thoughts).  Some thoughts produce painful effects, some produce nuetral effects and others produce happy effects.  So, I'm vigilant in this practice of noticing my thoughts (at the level of believe) and weeding out the ones that don't work for me.

Thanks JJ  

     


 

 


 

Hey Bob, no offence taken here, like you it is an examination not a judgement, me know what is right, ha.
Thanks for the reply I too am concerned about impressions and perspective and your reply shows the slate from which you  look to learn, I could not agree more, what else can we really do, in fact I wouldn't be suprised if I had to repeat a grade or twelve.
Take Care
Thanks again

Hahaha… here's to riding the small bus JJ!  

With a window to share.
=}