Seeing The Gifts Of Being

A very big aloha.

My name is Reverend Cindy Palos and I'm recording this today on the second anniversary of the fires that happened here on Maui and Lahaina.

There was also fires that happened and affected people upcountry.

And it's interesting because I've been watching posts and really reflecting on what happened.

And I have to say it was a much more impactful experience for everyone than we could have ever imagined.

And in a way,

I guess that's what has to happen when you have something so powerful and strong happen.

It was 101 or 102 people died.

But beyond that,

Of course,

There was so much more.

People who lost their homes and the cost of living going up and the people that had to move because of the cost of living going up,

And it's still going on.

And I see things like the fire that happened in Los Angeles and I go,

Boy,

There's going to be a long time for healing and understanding how to get back,

Especially with the economy going higher.

So how does this relate to our experience and our state of mind in our meditations?

I think that there's always some lessons that you have to learn.

And it's very hard to hold on to what is gone.

And it's actually only can be held on in memories and lessons learned.

And as time goes,

You learn to appreciate the good in lessons.

And sometimes the hard lessons,

Sometimes the hard lessons are the most important lessons to learn.

I don't know why I've pondered on this and pondered on this.

And I can only think that it's because sometimes we are pretty used to our way of having things and being and we don't adjust well to change the drastic changes,

Especially when the changes that have disasters involved.

And disasters can be relative to what you think a disaster is,

Of course.

But the thing that we have to always remember is that human beings are able,

Very able,

To adapt in an interesting way to survive.

And of course that is made possible because you have to.

There is a limit,

Of course,

Of what you can take.

And each person is more sensitive than others.

And I look at what's happening in the Middle East and I go,

I don't know how.

And you can see the tragedy and how people have tried to make the best of something that would have an impossible time when you see so much death and destruction.

So,

I mean,

It's relative,

Right?

The situation is though that there is a lot of suffering that happens in life.

And the Buddhist philosophy is really developed upon that basic precept.

It's one of the major precepts is that everyone,

Everyone goes through suffering.

And it's what you do to take that suffering and learn your lesson or grow from that suffering.

And how you can take that and go to that place inside,

In our case with meditation,

And learn your lessons and adapt.

And to find out how important it is to be able to have a state of mind that is more open to seeing what can be done,

What is possible,

What isn't scarred,

What isn't bitter,

What isn't resentful.

All the things that can happen when tragedy happens and what we call bad things happen.

So,

That's such a key that I'm seeing happening in the world right now.

I think it seems to me more than ever,

Really,

That we're encountering this.

And so,

The people who learn,

And I hope that's you,

I hope it's me.

If we learn how to adapt with our change of our mindset,

To be able to see the good,

To be able to see what we can do,

To be able to go with the flow.

I was reading just the other day about someone who lost their home in the Los Angeles fires.

And just like here,

There's people that don't know what they're going to do,

Or how they're going to afford rebuilding their home,

Or what they're going to do with that,

And what the cost is going to be.

Instead of just sitting there,

Banging their head against a wall,

They decided to take off as a couple.

They decided to travel,

And they got in their car.

They actually bought a car.

It's more than a car.

It's an SUV.

It's the whole thing.

It's rather large.

I saw a picture of it on TV.

But they're traveling.

They're traveling across the country,

And they are finding that they can meet with people,

Talk with people,

And get involved with people that are really open,

And receptive,

And wonderful.

And they're finding themselves inspired by the people who they can meet along the way.

And that's kind of an example of how we can do the same thing in our life.

I think that this is one of the most wonderful gifts you can have,

Rather than just spinning your wheels.

You can also decide to figure out what you can do that is something that is good,

That is life-changing,

That is positive.

Now,

I've been seeing this here.

There are people that have started non-profits to help other people.

There's been a lot of people that have gone into trying to do some positive things.

And I think those are the people who've been most successful.

The ones who have been able,

In some way,

To help or do something positive in their life after a tragedy.

And I think that that's kind of how we have to look at our lives now.

And we're kind of,

In a way,

Being forced to have to find the alternatives,

Right?

The positive alternatives amidst the tragedy and the hard stuff.

And there's a lot of hard stuff,

But there's also a lot of good stuff that's coming from all the hard stuff.

And I think that's something that we can all go to,

And it helps to meditate.

We know that,

Right?

You know that.

So,

We're going to take a little time here to meditate.

I'm going to just get comfortable and relax,

Right?

Of course,

We relax and just sit in a comfortable way with your spine erect,

And just kind of look at your body in an interesting way from inside with your eyes closed.

Just see how your whole body is aligned.

Is it sitting where there can be a flow,

You know,

From your head down to your toes?

Is there a flow?

The flow is a good thing.

You just do it.

Let that energy flow happen.

And,

Of course,

I always like to start with some deep,

Deep breathing.

Just breathing in and holding and releasing and letting go and letting go and letting go.

And we do this for a few minutes here,

Just being able to breathe deeply in and out,

And just clearing our whole mind and our body and our mindset out by breathing.

Just breathing in,

Holding,

And breathing out,

Allowing a conscious flow of energy and letting your mind just focus on your breath.

And your eyes closed and focus on the breathing in and out and see how the body feels as you do that.

And then taking a moment to put that marvelous white light all around your entire body,

Above you,

Below you,

To the right,

To the left of you,

In front of and behind you,

Until you're completely protected and surrounded in white light.

Okay,

Now,

Go deeper within,

Deeper and deeper into that conscious mind.

And let that conscious mind go to that source that is at the higher source that a conscious mind can connect with,

The higher state of mind.

There's so many levels that the mind can dwell on,

Right?

And we want to go to that dwelling place where we connect with the highest source,

The cosmic consciousness.

And we want to be able to connect that highest source of higher consciousness with our conscious mind.

And we want to merge,

We want to be able to have a bridge that goes from here to there and realize that there is here.

Just breathing that in,

You'll start to feel expanded in your consciousness.

And you'll find yourself in your mind going beyond just the little mind to a higher state of mind.

And as you do this,

Allow more light and more love to flow into that higher state of mind.

To come in as you connect with that source of all light and love.

Bringing that into the entire consciousness of your body and your mind,

Your awareness of that light and love from which you're made of.

Just allowing yourself to be aware.

And now,

Just allow yourself to understand the great gift you have by being able to connect with this love.

And how it can provide the gift of understanding,

The gift of being,

The gift of awareness,

The gift of just this being alive.

How precious is this gift of being able to be here now.

What a great gift you're being given.

Be grateful for that gift.

Breathe it in and allow yourself to feel good.

And allow yourself to be inspired in spirit.

To be inspired with your true purpose in your life.

Breathing in and absorbing what you're thinking on the highest level to your conscious level.

And slowly,

Ever so slowly,

Allow yourself to come to back to that conscious level.

To your body and conscious mind and completely be aware of this great bridge you've created and bring back to your conscious mind any thoughts,

Any inspiration,

Any ideas that might come.

And again,

Don't push it,

Just allow yourself to write down anything,

Even a word or two of what came to you.

This way you help build that bridge and connect.

And when you need to go and call upon that higher self and the source,

It is easier when you have this really beautiful bridge built from your conscious mind to the highest state of consciousness.

And I just want to say thank you.

A deep,

Deep,

Deep bow of gratitude to you.

It's so precious to be able to be here sharing this time together.

God bless you always.