The Boatman

Image Courtesy of Getty Images Turning Darkness to Light Southeastern Texas has been absolutely pummeled with destruction in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. From flooding in Houston to the complete destruction of Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, and Rockport, Harvey has left tens of thousands of residents stranded and in need of help. As a Texan in the impact zone, I know first-hand how much help is needed. Everything from food and water, to toiletries, to batteries, diapers, baby formula, debris removal, lunches for relief workers, and so much more is needed and put to good use in relieving the suffering of those of us who are affected. One thing that has particularly caught my attention is how willing and ready people are to lend a hand. What has been an amazing thing to see is that people have laid aside their differences in an effort to relieve those who are suffering. At this moment, in the affected zones, there is no black, white, brown, rich, poor, upper-class, or lower-...

The Dark Side of Awakening As humans, whether we like it or not, we are in a constant state of spiritual awakening. We are constantly growing, learning, and nourishing our inner-being by continuing to have life-experiences. Even when we seem to be in a spiritual retrograde - or suffer from spiritual fatigue - we are on a path of awakening. Even when we've felt a previous awakening within ourselves, the journey continues. We travel from one awakening to the next - each revealing new secrets about who we are and why we are here. Sometimes, we even return to a previous awakening. There, we learn pieces of the lessons we didn't learn the first time through. And with each awakening, we grow closer to the convergence of our mind, body, and spirit in what is sure to be the ultimate state of being. The Painful Truth Many people think of the terms "Spiritual Awakening" and "Enlightenment" and have a mental image of the sun breaking through the clouds...

Bodhi Talk - Divine Oneness What will it take for the world to unite in harmony and bring an end to wars, world-hunger, homelessness, and poverty? That is a question that has been asked throughout time... and with no real answer. No one seems to put much priority on solving these issues anytime soon. Politics has failed. Religion has failed. What is left? In this Bodhi Talk, I discuss 'compassion' as one possible answer. Watch the video above, or read the transcript below. Then leave a comment and tell me what you think. I would love to hear your thoughts... Transcript - "When compassion becomes our currency, we will solve all the hunger, homelessness, and the like. Wars will end and resources will be devoted to creating a better way of life for everyone… not this hording process that humanity is currently engaged in.  What will it take for that to happen? It will take the realization and TRUE understanding – by each of us – that we are not separate. ...

The Elevation of Human Consciousness Perhaps something has changed inside of you, but you can’t quite describe it or even understand it at this point. You feel different somehow. You feel both elevated and lost. You feel like you're drifting away and it might even scare you a little. Old relationships are falling by the wayside and you're not even interested in them anymore. You are losing interest in material objects and find that the accumulation of 'things' no longer suits you. Your spiritual journey has taken on a meaning so strong that everything else seems trivial. What is going on? Why do I feel this way? Perhaps you are transitioning into a higher dimension of thought. What does that even mean? Dimensions are not places or locations, but levels of consciousness. The more we open ourselves to the flow of the universe, the more dimensions we consciously experience. And in this present day of awakening, we - as humans - are accessing higher dimension...

Learning the Art of Acceptance I sat on my balcony with a hot cup of coffee, lost in the moment, observing dandelion fluff floating through the breeze. As I became mindful of this small wonder of nature, I decided to allow my thoughts to follow it as it drifted gently down to earth.  Its life was over. Its final act? A beautiful gift to me - a reward for a moment of mindfulness. As my thoughts dwelt on the existence of the dandelion, and it impermanent nature, I began to awaken to the idea that the temporary nature of its existence is one of the biggest reasons it was so wondrous. It likely began it's life in an open field near the bay... blossomed into a beautiful yellow flower... and then aged gracefully until the wind carried it away. If the dandelion last forever, it wouldn’t have the same poignant beauty, and we’d take it for granted. The wildflower’s impermanence, its fleetingness, its transience — this is what makes its very existence special. The Awake...

Image courtesy of Getty Images Let Go Suffering Through the Eight-fold Path "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." - Buddha In another article , I wrote about the ' Four Noble Truths ' as taught by Buddha, or at least my understanding of them. In short, they tell us that there will be suffering and that suffering can be relieved through following our ethical and spiritual paths. One of the bases for the cessation of suffering in Eastern philosophy is known as the Eight-fold Path . This is the path that the Buddha described in the Four Noble Truths. For me, the Eight-fold Path is a wonderful beginning to understanding the nature of things "as they are". Although I am not a true Buddhist, the Eight-fold Path continues to be a source of light as I grow to understand my own sufferings and aspire to liberate others along the way. Below, I will give my layman interpretation of the Eight-fold Path, what it means to me, and why I think it...

Suffering is Optional The Four Noble Truths are the very basis of Buddha's teachings. The first teaching ever given by the Buddha was to five student monks under the Bodhi Tree in a deer park. During these teachings, Buddha spoke of four truths he had come to understand during his own search for enlightenment. Although I am not a true Buddhist, many of the Buddha's teachings resonate with me. My own personal journeys from darkness to the light have opened my eyes - indeed my heart - to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Pain and suffering are a part of life. They are... and no amount of positive thinking will keep them at bay forever. As humans, we form attachments, we have desires, and we make judgments, and we feel emotions throughout the entire spectrum. With acceptance of being human, and living in a physical world, we must accept that suffering is a part of our path. In fact, if we don't acknowledge or accept it, our resistance will simply create m...

The Path of A Boatman Bodhisattva Today I’d like to talk a bit about my personal mission, which is to help others with their struggles, and help them transform their suffering and pain into mindful openness, gratitude and joy. I am on the path of the Boatman Bodhisattva. I venture willingly into darkness; because it is there I find those who are searching, and I ferry them to the light. I aspire to become “enlightened” simultaneously with other sentient beings, helping to relieve their suffering, and encouraging them along the way. For those on the path of the Boatman, we do this by allowing the experience and exploring our personal pain and suffering to its fullest extent. Doing so gives us a greater understanding so that we may help others more efficiently. What??? You actually explore your suffering? Yes... I do. Aren't you afraid of attracting more suffering? No... I'm not. Don't let the modern Positive Thinking Movement make you think that you will. T...