Living the Inner Life

Forgiveness is for the one who forgives. To forgive someone who did something harmful to you does not mean that you approve of what they did. Forgiveness releases you from the chains that bind you to the initial injury or insult. We can carry this around with us for years, re-living and feeling over and over that pain. In Buddhism, this is the second arrow - the first is the injury, the second is licking that wound and keeping it from being healed. We also have to learn to forgive ourselves. We are here to learn, grow and share. Growth comes from learning from our mistakes - and allowing others to learn from theirs.

While the term 'discipline' may often refer to punishment, or self-discipline as being an unpleasant chore, actually the word comes from the same root as 'disciple'. This simply means that we are dedicated and enthusiastic about something. All of us have something we enjoy, spend time being involved with, learning about, and sharing with others. We can actually be disciples of these hobbies or interests. Same is true with our inner life. If we can bring this same interest and enthusiasm toward self-growth and improvement, we can make some of these lasting changes that can be so difficult at times to approach. Be a disciple of health, an apostle of self development, dedicated to being the best you that you can be.

Missing years and Dark Ages are found throughout history, just as there are blank spots and memory lapses in our own individual lives. This 'selective amnesia' can keep us from remembering traumatic events that might otherwise haunt us. Other times, there are memories that we want banished to the shadow. One of the greatest mysteries is that of our own purpose and nature as human beings, and the answer is behind this dark curtain. By sharpening our tools of consciousness and enriching our connection to our inner lives, we can lift this curtain and reveal our destiny.

Anger is something with which we are all familiar - in ourselves and in others. Manly P. Hall defined anger as "an intense emotion caused by real or imaginary injury or insult". The Dalai Lama suggests that anger can be a positive, motivational emotion for good, but when it turns to hatred, it becomes bad. Both these points are discussed in this talk, along with strategies for reducing the anger impulse in ourselves.

In our busy lives, we often wear many hats to do different things. Multi-tasking is an attempt to do several things at once, but can we really? If our attention is divided, we may only be semi-tasking, or doing things half a$$ed. Often, we cycle or flip from one task to the next, and then back again, but not simultaneously. The more we try to multi-task, the less presence and attention we have for any one thing.

Do we actually have free will or are things pre-determined from the start? Einstein believed in immutable, predictable laws of physics, differing from the quantum physics of Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, who instead believed in probabilities that were not always predictable. This has also been a philosophical debate for centuries, perhaps as old as history. In this talk I explore both ideas and share my personal views on the possibility that both - in a way - are true. Like paddling down a river, the current is pre-determined to flow downstream, yet the free will of the person paddling plays a vital part for navigating a safe journey. Same with life. Arch Angel Gabriel

Silence is Golden, Be Still and Know... Our minds can become cluttered with 'voices' and static and a constant ringing of thoughts and feelings. We need to clear inner space to hear the still, small voice within. The wisdom of our inner higher power, or intuition, or creative inspiration often gets drowned out by the endless thought stream and emotional river. Breathing techniques and meditation can help calm the mind and feelings to where we can better function and live more harmoniously in our total lives.

Personal Transformation is a process like Alchemy. It is also a journey - an Inner Hero's Journey - which is also process. Jung's termed this as Individuation - or going from the small 's' self to the capital 'S' Self. In Buddhism, this is releasing the inner Buddha nature. This all points to the fact that each of us have within us the seeds and substance for transformation into something larger and greater. If anything, we play too small, not realizing that our true nature is one that is much more powerful that we believe. This is the 'great secret' that becomes a Great Awakening once the light of wisdom shines upon the darkness.

The story of The Odyssey is the archetype for mythic storytelling. Yet even with the incredible journey filled with dramatic encounters and battles, it is essentially an inner journey of Odysseus. Same with Star Wars. Even though Luke traveled across the galaxy, the real journey was one of him coming of age and stepping into his destiny - an inner odyssey. We take this Hero's Journey many times in life, sometimes many at the same time. In all cases, there is a Departure from the known world and ways, then and Initiation of trials and tests, victories and loss (including an encounter with death), until finally, the hero - that is, YOU - is ready to Return and put everything together for a purpose greater than one's self. Joseph Campbell.

Consciousness can be difficult to define, and William James wondered if consciousness was even a 'thing'. Consciousness is more than just our thoughts and sense of awareness - it is the sum total of our inner lives and all the tools and powers that we can utilize to think better thoughts, and, to think if better ways.