During war and peace we grow & learn

The samurai gets trained during battles as well as in peaceful times.

The samurai takes the sword out only when needed, and keeps it in many more times when tempted

He understand that life is all about sacrifice - transforming the mundane into holy.

Therefore, he watches his stand even when smiling to the neighbours.

Makes serving tea a ritual to honour his guests, and not happy with that, keeps his attention focus on them, so to serve their desires with the kindest gestures.

He knows that battles are unavoidable, because we even ought to fight with ourselves every so often. But a good samurai chooses his battles; only entering those, that despite the result, will bring into his soul honour and growth.

She will always walk as if carrying her uniform and sword, because she knows that the lethal weapon is not hanging from her waist, but residing within. She also recognises that her investiture enters the room before she does.

She also knows that her strength doesn't come from her body, therefore nourished her fearful soul with war tales and music. She creates space for silliness to exist and behaves as if her mental capabilities were gone. She knows that wisdom can only arrive when the blurry line between logic and madness disappears.

The samurais are just like any of us, walking around in a troubling world, chased by the fears of the common live, and succumbing into the insecurities' voids. The only difference is that once the samurais have fallen down, they realise:

That habits, as well as muscles, get developed only with repetitions. So stand up once more and start  again.

V.

How long will it take?

We are sitting on the bench, staring at the emptiness that fills the world.

I dare to ask a question that I know I shouldn't, but can't refrain - when will it be enough?

And there it comes the answer, sharp, straight, merciless:

Have you ever watch humans grow?

It takes them a life time to master the most important, yet basic, principles.  

It takes around 9 months to develop their initial version, one that is far from being able to survive on its own.

Have you ever seen how many years does it take, to any given human, to develop the ability to provide their own food and shelter? - and unsurprisingly enough it takes them longer as we speak.

Do you think 1 year is enough? - go out on the quest to find a toddler that with only 1 year is able to talk fluently.

Do you think then 10 years is enough? - recruit all those kids that can hunt&harvest by themselves at that age

But what am I saying?, if this is something you've already experienced.

It will only take few minutes to ask your mom how long it took you to be half as independent as you are today. 

Or simply ask yourself how many time did you have to repeat the same habit before it stuck with you.

In any case, if that question has to be answer, this will be it best matching pair:

It will be enough the day you have master that quest and the next repetition will be meaningless. How much time will it take is an irrelevant question. We've lost perspective on how long things take, because we don't see trees grow and turtles age that ever so often.

The question was answered, the silence was filled and the silliness released in to the void.
This mere act transformed into a higher form of energy.

I smile, because I know this is the answer I tend to forget.

V. 

Learning together

Would I be protected? - the child asked

Everyday, even those you think you are not - answered the wise man.

If I lose my shelter, would I be covered - asked the teenager

You will my dear child - answer the sage woman.

If the worst come to my life and I can't find my way out of it, would you take me out - asked the adult

I can't move you from where you decide to be, but I can shine the light on you, so the path lightens up - answer the enlightened kid.

What should I do if the ends knocks at my door when I'm not expecting it and asks if I've done all I dream of and completed all those things I've committed to - asked the old men

You should answer the true as there is nothing to hide, because when the end comes, there is no extra day to finish the open stories - answered the angelic baby.

And that what's the way ancient men and women learned from each other.

V.

The messenger

I'm the messenger
Delivering the intangible
Bringing warmth with feelings
And feelings of warmth

I'm the messenger
Dropping a kiss sent from afar
Traveling through space and time
Perpetuating the moment that never occurred

I'm the messenger
Filling the soul with the essence of the unknown
Scaring the mind with uncertainty's veil
Delivering whispers to the closed eyes.

I'm the messanger
The one that connects what distance keeps apart
And as such, I'm here to deliver this message:

In the mist of the unknown 

I can't do for you what you ought to do

I can't promise eternal company

But today, I'll give you my finest thoughts

I'll sent my warmest hug and a tender kiss

And give you company even in the distance.

Tomorrow, we shall see.

V.

The light

When we are asked to turn on the light, we tremble...

We tremble because we believe it might not bright enough.

We shake just by thinking that it could be consumed by others

We fear that it will only attract the bugs and it eventually become darkness

If we could only remember...

That light can't be destroy as it isn't contained anywhere

Even a dim light, will illuminate our path

And the sun shines for us,  yet doesn't get consumed 

V.

Simple pieces of truth

As I travel around, in this particular train, that takes me through different worlds and shows me a window framed reality, I discover simple truths:

- Life is a beautiful experience, stained with preconception that, rather often, have no real foundation.

- A life with purpose is the best companion for Love, as it nourish it with joy. Yet, we tend to nourish Love with bitterness, because we forget about purpose and/or believe Love is a replacement

- Happiness is a status that can be achieved by doing what you want. But "want" has been banned from us since the very beginning.
And still today we think "doing what you want" is a very risky statement...

...and I agree! It might take you out of the routine ;)

- We are afraid of failure, but we don't realize that we are already experts, as we regularly fail to be fulfilled

- A smile, a hug, an act of kindness will soften even the tightest hearts... And still, sharing such things isn't a worldwide practice

- We complain because is the easiest option. And there is a seldom link with the fact that it is our only option and/or there is nothing we can do to change the cause of our complain.

- "This is the way I am" is the sentence that summarizes
"I haven't invested effort/time/money on an engaged/patiently/committed manner; to understand&develop another way, so as a result of that decision I'll  remain on my original way"

... And I agree, the second sentence is just too long :)




If you read this lines to some people, soon you'll find one person that will challenge them, because there are always exceptions, and it doesn't matter if those exceptions represent 10% of the population... They still should be consider with the same weight as the more regular cases.

Conclusion: smile, it will take you sometime to find that 10% and ask them what resonates with them :)




V.

Transformation

Sometimes we believe that, what we are is all there is

We cling to everything we previously had 

Unable to let go, despite the fact that it doesn't belong to us anymore.

Often, we invested so much time and effort on becoming who we are

That we can't believe is no longer true.

Everything around us changes, but we try to stay the same.

Deep inside us we are afraid that changes are going to take away who we are

We don't quite see that a tree is still a tree, even when it loses its leaves every single year.

Transformation happens all over, on our body, mind, soul and planet

It's a constant renewal that happens all around 

And with every shift something comes in and something goes out.

But we try to hold that exchange

Forgetting that if we don't let the roots grow we might never see the tree

And that the tree only become tall and robust after many winters.

We think that holding up to our believes is what keep us being who we are

But who we really are?

Are we the leaves that die every single year 

Or are we the tree that is growing stronger with every change.

V.

We've made it, I'm here

And then I woke up,

I was there

In the place I've dreamed about.

The windows let the light in

My heart absorbed it and served light in return.

I was there...

Nowhere else

I smile,

We've made it

I'm here!

There is beauty on the path

But also beauty when recognising the walked distance.



We've made it, I'm here, thanks.

V.

Re-wiring

Lead your life like a master teaches the pupil:


if you are living the drama

Catch yourself and start all over again

when you complain about that mistake

Catch yourself and start all over again

if you are contemplating the flower and thinking about the birds

Catch yourself and start all over again

if it doesn't make sense now

Catch yourself and start all over again

...

You are re-wiring your brain

V.

An enlightened moment

Enlightenment,

The more I try to explain and understand it the less I can express what it is.

It is like a koan, with no apparent sense or meaning, yet complete and astonishing.

Is feeling fear and breaking free within it.

It is smiling from the heart in a quite challenging yoga posture.
Like a yogi teacher told me once.

Enlightenment is the understanding that happens in the soul.

It is like the wind, the moment you hold onto it, it vanishes.

Is a happy heart, a fulfilled soul and a relaxed mind.



I heard all these words before, and they sounded mystical, beautiful, but far beyond reality.

But sometimes...

Just sometimes, something within me awakes to that reality, and it all simply makes sense.

It happens in a fraction of a second.
During breakfast or lunch.
In madness or comfort.
After hundred meditative hours or after a wild party with friends.

Basically, it could happen whenever and wherever. I can't force it or create it.

All that seems to help is: foster positive thoughts, be open to myself and relax when possible - and yet, I'm not sure if all that really helps.

Ah!

But rest assured that it is worthy.

Because even when you won't understand a thing about it, neither be able to express it fully...

Is in that very moment, when everything seems to make perfect sense.



V.

We are the owners!

We are the owner of our thoughts!

We all tend to think we are not, 
How can we be? - we ask

Let me show you an example:

It doesn't matter how much love you show to a jealous partner, they would always question your love.
Because the lens they would use, is one that doubts they are worth of love...

But, shhh,
Don't dare to tell them.
Recognizing one believes one isn't worthy is a painful moment.



Have you ever washed away a thought?
Saying - you know what? Forget it 

I'm sure we all did and would do it, with  plenty of thoughts.

The question then is:
Why does it seem we don't own all our thoughts?

Simple!

Those that seems to be out of our reach are running in our build in highway - they go fast over the known and pre-rehearsed route, mostly before we can grasp them.

Ah! but that doesn't mean we are not the owner

They still are our thoughts and we can choose to have others.

In order to grasp those, we have to develop consciousness. We need to stay alert, like in a hunting game:

Here it comes! 
catch it, catch it 
quicklyyyy

...

Oohh is gone again...


The more we play, the better we become. 
Once we catch them, as the owners, we can decide if they stay or they go.

We are the owner of our thoughts and have the ability to change them...

Sorry thought, you are out of the game today


V.

Love letter to myself

Dear me,

I write this letter to express my gratitude, apologies and congratulate me on my actions.

Thanks!
For kindly putting up with myself
on those moments when I couldn't trust my abilities,
reminding me that I'm capable and helping me go through.

For listening
to those reckless made up stories, that I tend to pull out,
and even those crazy inconsistent thoughts that I keep bringing in and dumping out,
always with an open and friendly mind set.

Apologies!
For bringing painful situations,
sometimes I think they are needed, others are simply consequence I didn't foresee.

For getting on the way
of brilliant ideas, without a clear explanation.
and then making up excuses - too tired, too difficult, not for me, not right, not true, etc

Congratulations!
For moving forward on adverse time
without giving up even when you could easily have done so.

For being courageous
to try new things and discover new horizons,
mainly on those occasion when fear and/or uncertainty are trying to take over.


Let me just close this letter with one last thought:
I love myself!
and if I forget about it on the way, don't worry, just read the line below.

I'M A WONDERFUL AND EXTRAORDINARY BEING*!

V.

* whether I believe it or not

How

How do you defeat the ego and still think you are wonderful

How do you become enlighten and don't retreat from the common world

How you resign to duality and yet follow the progress toward a better you

How do you release your material attachment and still live in wealth

How?

V.

A place in time

There is a place in time where everything happens simultaneously.

Where the distant between you and me is inexistent. When future, past and present are just one.

But today I'm in that place in time where everything is linear.

So let me tell you this:
When time will move to the place where everything happens simultaneously, these lines won't exist.

V.

The bubble

Boundaries...

The blurry illusion our mind needs in order to be able to define things:

Me -you, 

There - here

This - that,

Possible - impossible

We believe everything has an end:

Our skin is the ultimate layer of us

The soil ends where the sea begins

Countries finishes on their borders

But actually everything is a constant flow:

The air recognize no borders and moves freely 

Underneath the sea there are undiscovered continent where a different type of live reside

We spread ourselves around on every breath - giving away pieces of our genes

 

Have you ever noticed that when you touch the bubble's boundary it vanishes?

Our limits are just a mere illusion that should be set to be a goal 

Because once we reach them they transform

If you believe you can't - you won't be able

But if try to see if you can't, soon would you discover an ability within you

Defy them! 

Over and over again 

Because those limits are your bubble: once you touch it, they disappear.

V.

Image source: http://technode.com/2011/06/19/chinese-internet-bubble-burst/

When the human falls in love with the flower

Sleep left me behind 

With an wakefulness that was more than physical

Greedy for inspiration

Yearning in despair for some insight

What a dreadful game had sleep played with me?!

But Inspiration came

Reveling itself as a beguile mistress

Reminding me the feminine

Washing away my sorrow 

Painting my world in colors

It unveiled the mystery 

That mystery which surrounded my question

It explained to me the cause

And said:

When the human falls in love with the flower

It falls in love with its essence, its fragrance, its beauty, its freedom,

but soon after that, the human would try to capture the intangible

... to fence it

... to retain it 

And is then, when the flower loses its freedom, its beauty, its essence.

Taking away with it the love.

It all sounded clear and well know

Difficult to grasp, indeed

Almost impossible to achieve...

How to let go that, what is dearest to you, without knowing if you will see it again?

V.

Daily Prayer

To you, whom escapes my consciousness...


Guide me through love, even when I fear to be hurt
Hold me still, when I try to escape
Give me peace, when I'm kin to fight
Love me, when I won't
Stand by me, when I'm risking it all


...Trust me, aware that I'll fall

...Defeat me, when I think I have it all


and if all this might fail, make sure I won't stop.


V.

Life as the poker game

Life is similar to a poker game

We know which card we hold
We see the ones on the table
We assume other's players card
We try to predict the deck
We fear to lose a match
We forget we can win in the long run
We bet base on gut feeling and induced reasoning

No matter how strategic we are, luck is always a factor on the equation...

Play!

It's a fun game


V.

The fearful me

Fear...
What a funny thing
It was a mechanism to make you survive in the ancient times
To make you run or hide when life threatening danger will cross your path
But somehow, in modern times, its precision decreased.
Creating a mismatching experience between life threatening events and pure imagination threads.


Apologies if you had to meet the fearful me, well it isn't me.
When fear overtakes me, my legs shake and my hearts bits faster.
But the real problem is, what starts transpiring...

I suddenly lose balance, and in a desperate act of survival, I cling on anyone around me
Is a pure survival instinct, that makes me forget that I will be able to go back up if I fall
One must admit, that having someone clinging on you isn't exactly a pleasant experience, but I can't prevent it

I forget what I know, and all these fear's monologues get triggered; feeding each other like starving creatures.
They are like bugs, multiplying quickly and developing new skills to stay around
These monologues take over as much territory as they can, blurring reasoning and self confidence
Usually building empty theories with false bases, pulled out from their context and mixed together
But can't recognize that at this stage!

It is then when transformation happens.
The reason, unable to see through, concedes control to the basic brain function
Here, one goes back to basic mode, only identifying and experiencing the survival feelings
Active listening is privilege and higher thought are a far away dream
Fight or fly, are the only commands we get access to.

Once in a survival mode, oneself get detached and someone else take place
You look like yourself, but you aren't and people often can't recognize the difference
You are there pressed against the wall, thinking - well if my mind says so it has to be true - even when it isn't
Of course, you will make the wrong decision - decisions need reasoning
And forget about discerning the oblivious ideas that have been planted on your mind



Fear...
Is the way we get reminded we are still humans walking around with hardcore features that have traveled on our gens over centuries.
It let us know, that even in our little civilized world there are things that remained unchanged:

Imagination and Reality intermingle indistinguishable on our minds... so much, that fear can't recognize the difference



V.

Leap of faith

I wake up everyday, some of those, completely sure of what I have gather. Some others, completely oblivious to it.

This journey is a crazy one!
One day I don't clearly know where I'm standing, neither where the journey will take me. Is all completely foggy, my next steps are only few meters apart.

Other, I wake up everyday, with some feelings sticked on my soul, praying for this not to be a fool's game. Knowing what I want, thinking that is possible.

I stumble between those days...
I still doubt I'm capable of grasping the meaning but I try to keep going.

This is, by far, the most unknown territory I'll ever be...
I have to believe on something that I can't fully understand, wonder in areas that people refer as dangerous.

I have to move forward with new reference points. I fear my radars could fail, yet I have to trust they are good enough.

Everything could be a build up from my smart brain, it could be a perfect play. How can I know the difference? I ask myself.

No answer is given...

This is what I call a leap of faith!

Jumping into the unknown...


V.