Alive

When was the last time we are thankful for being alive? Perhaps we are taking life for granted for tomorrow comes as usual. Sometimes we had moments that made us feel like saying "it's good to be alive!" I'm sure it is such a wonderful experience, but do we need to wait for it to remind us something to be thankful for? The fact that we could breathe, feel our body and those around it, feel our aliveness, our very own existence, isn't this reason enough to rejoice in every moment?

Weight of Words

I don't understand the meaning behind the songs of Enya, yet listening to her always brings me to this "place", call it peace (or it could be more than that), whatever, the words no longer matter. I just know because I felt it. Life has many ways of bringing us "there", a place where we felt closer to our Being, to God. Listen to a relaxing instrumental piece, look at a painting, or a flower, smell the rain, feel the wind. The list goes on. There is an absence of words, yet they are all capable of taking us "there." Literature, is no different, except that it rely on the power of words. But we shouldn't be too obsessed with words, for it only serves to take us "there" as well. Sometimes we mistakenly attach our sense of self to it. "This is my philosophy!" one might say. Then we start to argue with others over what? A mere difference in a play of words, when probably, both are meant to take us to the same "place." It is sad but true, but such is the case with religion. We put too much weight in words as if it is the most important thing, instead of serving as light, it blinds us, replacing what truly matters. And when that happens, words is all you have, for you have lost touch with the reality for which they point to.

Peaceful day

I do not know if it was the music of Enya, but I felt so peaceful that day. It happened only recently. I was sitting on our veranda, wearing a contented smile. I wasn't even thinking of my achievements, totally unmindful of my past and future. I was simply appreciating the things around me--spending an afternoon playing with our dog and hearing the kids playing on the street. That moment is all I have, yet I felt happy, peaceful. It was something. In my mind, I was wishing good life to all people, even to those unfriendly towards me. I was in a selfless state and it makes me wonder. How could one who hasn't achieve much in the world feel this kind of contentedness and peace? Somehow, it implies that happiness does not lie in the future. Happiness, joy, peace, love, all of these are available to us now, we only need to realize from within.

Do's and Don'ts in Spirituality

As you deepen your spirituality, you may be tempted to fall into your ego's clever trap, and this is to claim spiritual superiority.