#51 - Establishing Connection with Oneness

Dedicate, devote, surrender.

Whether you believe in "God", "the Universe", "True Self", "Unchanging Reality", "Pure Consciousness", or another higher being or power - to really get connected is about “letting go” and trust.

Recognize and Ask;

• "How does this power manifest itself in your everyday life?",

• "Do I feel connected to something more than just a body and mind?",

• "Do I want to deepen the connection?",

Maybe you don’t believe in anything, and that's okay if it makes you happy. If so -program your mind to cooperate and work towards self-realization.

Trust your inner subconscious part and you will live a fulfilled life as background processes will work for you.

Practicing devotion every day in the form of your thoughts, actions, etc. is a great way to invite abundance and love into your life.

Surrender, let go and accept the ultimate truth. There is something higher, and something more than just us, our bodies, minds. As a matter of fact, each of us has limited processing power to use, and (at least right now, for most of us) it's impossible to be omniscient.

The conscious mind is just a peak of the iceberg. There is much more of who we are.

It's not easy to understand the relinquishing of our illusion of control, honoring the continuous flow of life with deep humility within.

The idea of surrendering is taken to mean something negative, as it implies a sort of weakness or defeat. An army, for example, might surrender to opposing forces, rendering the opposition the victory.

In spiritual development, however, it is quite the opposite. Victory is attained as we willingly surrender our limited idea of who we are (i.e. our name, our jobs, our problems etc.) and create the space needed to feel our true nature of Self, which is one of limitless and boundless joy.

It is like trading in a grain of sand and receiving the whole universe in return. And though it requires great self-discipline, trust and faith to practice it, ultimately it will take far more effort to cling to the smallness of the ego, than it would to surrender to the higher self.

To really surrender means to be fully immersed in here and now. Not worrying about all the alterations of being too much in the future, or still living in the past. Celebrating the stillness of the mind, in everyday scenarios. Living the best of "here and now". That's at least one of many ways to practice it.

A wonderful quote by a Dutch writer Corrie Ten Boom is a helpful daily reminder to surrender and put our energy into the present moment instead of worrying about tomorrow:

"In our daily life can be seen as less of a devotional dedication, or a surrendering, and more of an ‘opening up to what is’, and instead of fighting against life’s twists and turns, remaining open to experiencing life as it unfolds. By continuously offering up our efforts and rewards to something more than just personal gain, we are able to keep ishvara (our own personal form of God) in the forefront of our minds. By putting aside our judgments and criticisms."

Remaining fixed and rigid in our conditioned patterns, habits, and limitations only lead us to a limited vision of life. Surrendering is hugely challenging because it means transcending the ego, and the ego will do everything it can to hold on to some control.

Surrendering to what is requires trust in our deepest self, our intuition and the courage to express ourselves for who we are, as we are, with all of our perfect imperfections, which ultimately leads us to freedom.

This topic is vast and can be approached from many different perspectives. However, I insist to focus on the practical appliance of it in daily life.

Seek for the connection...

Contemplate and feel into the present moment.

"What does surrender mean for me?"

How to apply the practice of surrendering in your life?

• Whether it’s surrendering to a moment of difficulty, or a moment of joy, surrendering the results of our actions, or simply learning to trust the universe a little more; each time we do choose to surrender, we move closer to freedom.

• It’s about reflecting what "God", "spiritual value", "higher state of mind means" to us in our everyday life, every situation. "What does it means to me?" Contemplating "Supreme Being" with wholehearted devotion - close your eyes and let yourself be guided. Trust it. Let yourself flow. Do it. I really mean it.

• From this day forward, let us not waste away the moments of our lives consumed with smallness, jealousy, lust, greed, and false notions of superiority. Contemplate daily the Supreme attributes as you meditate and offer yourself completely as a vehicle for Divine Will (as we actually are, you can agree with it and let the energy flow, or work against it). Peace comes when we relinquish the idea that we are the “doer” and allow the infinite to guide us on our way. Let go...

• For believers: One of the ways to longe for connectedness is through the morning and evening prayers. I recommend talking from the depth of your heart, rather than memorising other poems. Make a ritual out of it. It will create a sacred space, of connectedness. I will let you create a strong association and it will deepen the practice each time. Do it by yourself, deep spiritual practices have to be done in great devotion, and in lack of disturbances.

• For people who like mantras: You can use this mantra - AUM… SURRENDER ILLUSION OF CONTROL. More about how to practice mantras you will find next week.

• Keep on practicing evening gratitude.

• Each morning set the intention: The intention is a mental state that represents a commitment to carrying out actions in the future. Write down for yourself fixed rules which you are going to obey during the day. Always aim for the best version of yourself each day.

One of the key practices on the path of enlightenment is the ability to withdraw five senses from external objects and focus inward. We focus on drawing in. Sense withdrawal means the ability to switch off our focus on senses through concentration. When your mind will be focused, your connection with the external senses will gradually be limited. We can become absorbed in what we are focusing on, that the thing from outside doesn't distract us easily.

It is an important step into internal more subtle practices.

• Technique: Observe you're natural breathing

This can be done by bringing attention inwards, towards the breathing, and observing it without trying to control it.

• Technique: Focus on 3rd eye

Close your eyes. Concentrate on the point between the eyebrows.

• Technique: Observe your senses

Reduce physical stimuli, then concentrate on one sense, such as hearing. The mind has a natural tendency to roam between sensory inputs. In this situation, as there are no longer any other significant sensory inputs the mind gets tired of hearing, it is forced to turn inward. Scan all your senses one by one.

You can start with a timer - 15 minutes every day should be a good starting point.

Controlling senses requires mastery over the energy flow, as this is what drives the senses. Focusing on a single point in the body is a great way to control and harmonize it.

The highest form of this practice in our daily life will lead to mind withdrawal, which is practiced by consciously withdrawing attention from anything that is unwholesome and distracting for the mind, such as withdrawing attention from the senses and directing it inwards.

After all those 6 months you should be able to have enough self-consciousness to separate what is based on love and what stops this natural flow.

This very interesting practice can help you to deepen the connection with your inner Divine space. It's about setting up the intention, you can work to forgive somebody and yourself, develop empathy and kindness, heal shame. In reality, the only limitation is our imagination.

When you first allow yourself to paint whatever wants to be expressed, you might experience even fear connected to self-rejection. Spontaneous paintings often mirror back what you have repressed. It can feel difficult for your censoring social mask to accept what is expressed through spontaneous art-making if it opposes how you prefer to present yourself to others.

Fear of being unlovable might arise when you express positive aspects that were not accepted in the past. You can also fear that you might not be loved for your "golden" qualities. Mirroring your truth to yourself in visual form is a profound act of self-love.

Part 1:

For this exercise, you will need to prepare empty pages A3/A4. Some colour crayons, maybe paint, or other things like stickers, whatever comes to your heart. You can use your fingers, or whatever you like to brush.

Find a quiet place, where you can be only by yourself, make this place cozy, light up some natural candles, or you can burn some essential sticks. Give up any opinions, starting with the mind program: "I am not good enough".

Relax, and let yourself connect with the Divine within you. Just say out loud, "I want to deepen my connection with the Divine within me". If you have other intentions say it out loud. Take few deep relaxing breaths. Focus on our hearts and start painting.

Even if no images are coming to your mind, just paint, let yourself be lead by your hand.

Part 2:

When you feel you have completed your artwork it's time to interpret the painting. Feel it with your whole being rather than rationalising it. Immerse into the present moment.

• What emotions do you feel when gazing at it?

• Which parts of your body are connected to this image?

• What thinking process is triggered?

• What is this painting trying to tell you?

It's best to write down everything on a piece of paper, and you can come back to the painting later to see if your feelings changed over time.

Part 3:

From the depth of your heart focus on the feeling of love and gratitude. The session is over.

There are many techniques in this chapter so take your time. The goal is to remain your true self and to let go of your limited self-created image. Observe your ego, be brave and deepen into your inner self in order to bring out the brightest and the best who makes you - you.

We practice surrendering which basically means to let go and to trust. Look for it deep within you. Contemplate it and seek its practical appliances in everyday life.

Working with senses is also described in this chapter. That's one of the important steps towards self-realisement. It's one of the limbs 8 limbs. It's crucial so we can settle in "meditative absorption". Practice it delicately for seven days, even twice a day - as a separate practice. So you will be well prepared for next following weeks.

Spontaneous painting will help you also to deepen your connection divine and its creative expressions.

Research on spontaneous dancing - to free your body, and spontaneous journaling - to free your mind.

All the Love!