Let nothing disturb you.
God alone suffices.
-Teresa of Ὰvila

Great mystics, like Teresa of Ὰvila, Rumi, St. John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart, and Ramakrishna knew what our innermost wisdom tells us: the more the outer world spins out of control, the greater the calling to plunge into the depths of our inner world and allow it to assume total control.

The people I meet in my practice seem to have a passion to connect with the sacred. Most of them have an absolute passion for something; it seems they are longing to be brought to their knees before the divine, to witness a miracle, barely understanding they have only to look into a mirror to find what they think they are seeking.

That which is looking is That which is being seen, as Kabir so beautifully says.

As the winter solstice approaches, turn inward. Turn into the silence that screams for you. Turn to the mystery. Turn inward and realize what you never forgot.

Live simply, meditate daily, eat pure and simple foods, live close to nature, speak only kind words to one another.

Stop the incessant chat. Choose your words carefully. Remember that war begins when we defend. Perhaps with the solstice we might cease – just for a while - believing we must “express” every single thought that comes into our minds.

And perhaps, with thoughts that cause us stress, we might write them down and ask ourselves, in true silence, if they are true. And somehow, out of confusion, clarity may come.

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Lao Tzu, the author of the beautiful Tao te Ching, wrote, somewhere between 449-551, BCE:

There is not greater illusion than fear,
no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,
no greater misfortune than having an enemy.

Whoever can see through all fear
will always be safe.

Merry Christmas,

Love, Gopita