On September 30 2009 I entered the final era of my life. It may last for a year, it may last for 20 years; the time is not an aspect, as time exists only as a form of a concept for the purpose of communicating with others, just like language.

When I got up that day, I was not aware yet that it was going to be a significant day that would change my outlook on my own existence for the rest of the time that was left for me to dwell in my body. Earlier that day, I said goodbye to a group of teachers who I had just graduated and with whom I had spent a whole month in the beautiful wild nature of Golden BC. After my group left, I went through my usual death experience that I often go through at the end of intense courses. Physical sensations of death and loss were whirling in my third chakra, manipura, located in the navel area. Butterflies were fluttering in my tummy, trying to find their way back to their cocoons that were hidden beneath my consciousness. I went to sit beside the river. There I was watching my life streaming through me and away from me, as I was watching the river running alongside. We were one, I and the river, vibrating side by side through death and birth, being in the moment with our crystal clear consciousness. The only difference between me and the river is that I have a mind and the river has just pure consciousness with no interpreter. For a moment I was wondering if the river was watching me just like I was watching it.

After a while, I started walking away from the river, toward the local crystal labyrinth, while chanting Om Namashivaya Guru Dave, to notify the bears in the area that I was around.

I was standing in the entrance of the labyrinth, watching the stones inviting me to enter for my private ritual. As I stepped in, I knew I was entering the final fragment of my life. I was walking towards the centre of the labyrinth in kinhin style (a zen slow walking mediation), shedding my needs to the ground, one by one, stripping myself of my mind’s burden, getting lighter and lighter in my physical and psychic energies. I knew I was going to live my final time in my physical body with the utmost awareness, unlike the years of my youth that had passed through deep sleep. I found it fascinating and quite exciting to enhance my present moments with the knowledge that my time was arriving to its end. The future years were envisioned as cubes of ice rolling towards me at the speed of light. Each ice cube presented a coming year. Not many of them left. As they got closer to me, they melted to dust and time became invisible, untouchable and unreal.

When I got to the centre of the labyrinth, I could hear myself chanting loudly. I was in bliss.

As you are evolving on the spiritual path, while observing your intents and actions, you let go of your primal fears and less and less identify with your emotions. As a result of the above you become freer, joyful and less needy, if at all.

That’s all good, as long as you do not have any expectations to receive an Oscar from your friends or relatives for being freer and for removing suffering from your life. Your friends and family won’t be happy to see you taking off to a blissful life while leaving them behind with their pain and suffering.

So be prepared! The moment you stop taking responsibility for other peoples’ pain by not allowing them to use you as the one to blame for their suffering, they declare war against you and the main weapon is accusation.

If you refuse to be pulled into their drama, they accuse you of being cold.

If you engage with them without a need while they need you, they say you are manipulative.

If you refuse to be swayed by their emotions, they complain you are hurting them.

And the best is when they claim your spiritual practice is selfish because you are not willing to take part in the collective mind’s drama anymore.

You are probably asking: so what to do when your friends and relatives are blaming you for not taking part in the human drama and for being detached? (On your side, make sure that you do not detach yourself from the world, cutting yourself off life. Non-attachment, the spiritual path, means not identifying with anything around you as well as yourself, and still always remain one with everything around you.)

The first thing is what not to do. Do not try to explain where you are at in seeing reality as it is. This will make them even more furious because they do not always have the capacity to experience where you are at. As a result they will start telling you what they really think about you (even though you never asked for their opinion ;-)). Trust me; their description of you is not going to be flattering, as this is their last chance to convince you to go back to reality where no one takes responsibility for their own emotions or actions.

Secondly, do not expect them to even want to understand your new “you”, as all they really care about is what they are going to lose by letting you be free.

But never stop loving them, and don’t become superior to them. Simply breathe and continue doing what needs to be done in each moment.

It is all about love love love
shakti

Sunday July 18^th 7pm – 9pm

Download this poster

A spiritual discourse and discussion about

Spiritual intimacy between lovers

shakti mhi will talk about the conflict many seekers deal with when walking the spiritual path while being involved in a physical relationship.

The discourse will be open for questions relating to the topic.

Pepe Danza is an extraordinary spiritual musician who has the ability to elevate the listener’s consciousness purely through sound and vibration. His meditative playing expands our hearts beyond mind and thought, connecting us to the sound of the inner muse herself.

Open to all by donation

Even though it is not mandatory, we will appreciate your confirmation by email info@pranayogacollege.com or by phone 604-682-2121.

Please let your friends know about this unique evening.

Location: Centre for Peace (1825 W 16^th Ave)

Free parking available