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From Anthony - A wise humble soul with life in prison - 22 years as of now: I have practiced formal meditation for many years. Once I calm the mind by following the breath I ask the question what is aware of the body, the sense objects, the thoughts and emotional activity? I then turn the attention toward that Awareness that is always aware of yet unaffected by whatever is going on in the mental realm. What I realized after many years of meditation is that the formal practice is really only training us for our daily walk. I am now able to turn the attention back toward that Awareness that is always present yet often ignored because we are focused on the mental chatter instead. Now it is simply remembering to turn the attention once I realize that I've been swept away by thought. So, there is hope, we can actually experience all of the sense objects without thought and the experience is much richer without the usual mental labeling. An autumn breeze still feels great without the thought, oh what a nice breeze. When I experience complete inner stillness I am aware that everything in nature is synchronized. The cawing of the crow, the flight of the dragonfly, the rustling of the palm fronds all seem to be in rhythm when not obscured by mental chatter. Whenever I sense anxiety or unease I am aware that my thoughts are shaping my experience. I then turn the attention back toward that still Awareness that is aware of the mental/emotional turmoil yet completely at ease. Meditate on that Awareness! Anthony

Oh dear God....LOL I had no idea the spacing didn't come through. That will be the last time I write something that long:). Can't wait to read many of you're entries.

From Anthony - Serving a life sentence in prison A teaching from Ramana Maharshi that has always resonated with me is that anxiety is a creation of the mind our real nature is peace. What I have found is that once my mind becomes still in meditation I experience my true nature which is still, silent peace. I have been in prison for many years the collective energy in here is definitely constrictive. However, I have found that I am only affected by the collective energy when I am identified with whatever is going on in the mental/emotional realm. The language of peace is still silence. When I remember that underlying energy within my own being I can also sense it as the underlying energy of the chaos in my external environment. Anthony From JT - When this beautiful soul says, "many years" that means 22 years in prison. I appreciate his humility and I believe those 22 years are equivalent to PhD or higher in practicing patience, the power of "Let Go" and meditation, and worth a mention. I have learned from my client (and honestly a friend too) that silence is a privilege. He wakes up at 2 or 3 a.m. every day to meditate because it is the only time he has pure silence in the prison to meditate for 1-2 hours. As for me, I appreciate the mention of archetypal energy as my life has been spent in archetypal energy. So much so that when I didn't know if I was going to die, I had a great urge to write my experiences for my daughter. Spending 4 years writing books and sharing with her how the Angel, the Warrior, the Mother and the Siren play a part in my life and many others. We all wear many "faces" and travel through what I see as The Four Pillars in life: Death Illness Sensuality Mothering I love how this article shares that we all have those feelings that go with the archetypes and the places we have been or the people we have been surrounded by. Not assigning whether they are positive or negative emotions but rather be the Witne... [View Full Comment] From Anthony - Serving a life sentence in prison A teaching from Ramana Maharshi that has always resonated with me is that anxiety is a creation of the mind our real nature is peace. What I have found is that once my mind becomes still in meditation I experience my true nature which is still, silent peace. I have been in prison for many years the collective energy in here is definitely constrictive. However, I have found that I am only affected by the collective energy when I am identified with whatever is going on in the mental/emotional realm. The language of peace is still silence. When I remember that underlying energy within my own being I can also sense it as the underlying energy of the chaos in my external environment. Anthony From JT - When this beautiful soul says, "many years" that means 22 years in prison. I appreciate his humility and I believe those 22 years are equivalent to PhD or higher in practicing patience, the power of "Let Go" and meditation, and worth a mention. I have learned from my client (and honestly a friend too) that silence is a privilege. He wakes up at 2 or 3 a.m. every day to meditate because it is the only time he has pure silence in the prison to meditate for 1-2 hours. As for me, I appreciate the mention of archetypal energy as my life has been spent in archetypal energy. So much so that when I didn't know if I was going to die, I had a great urge to write my experiences for my daughter. Spending 4 years writing books and sharing with her how the Angel, the Warrior, the Mother and the Siren play a part in my life and many others. We all wear many "faces" and travel through what I see as The Four Pillars in life: Death Illness Sensuality Mothering I love how this article shares that we all have those feelings that go with the archetypes and the places we have been or the people we have been surrounded by. Not assigning whether they are positive or negative emotions but rather be the Witness and feel how those emotions arise. My life's work and passion revolve around how we integrate the archetypes and the Four Pillars. The media and society (depending on your culture- I am speaking of the one in USA) often hide from death and illness. These pillars in life have a negative connotation. When in reality they can lead to joy, awakenings and release. There is always wisdom within the suffering. Same with the Siren and the Mother - women are often looked down upon if they are a sensual being and a mother (and depending on your culture and upbringing sensuality may always be wrong or bad). My personal story that involves disrupting the inertia has to do with the Siren energy - sensuality and bald spots! I love to play in energies and integrate opposites. For instance, my immune system decided it wanted to attack my hair follicles (my immune system has attacked my muscles, joints, skin, lung ...list goes on and the Warrior and Angel within me are strong because of it). When I saw the 6 bald spots, first I became curious, and then I cycled through grief and sadness for about 30 min. Then I evoked the Siren's sensual energy to get curious and look at these new happening to my body. I have had very thick hair all my life and interesting to lose some of it. As I became curious about my bald spots I thought about how the Siren finds wisdom in unusual places and how she plays with the the five senses. I realized these new bald spots were extra sensitive. I noticed what it was like to get really in tune with the places where there was no hair. It was a cool sensation! Untouched skin is sensitive to heat and cold. I ran through how society might deem bald spots as unhealthy or a sign of aging.....then I sat in curiosity about all the emotions that arise with vanity. All just emotions as I am still the spirit within this skin bag:). This experience makes me want to talk with people with bald spots or who are newly balding and how they have experienced it. I know when hair loss is more apparent it may be harder to accept vs when you can hide it (which I can at this point because I have a lot of hair but don't know what the future brings I may look like a monk:). On my journey with chronic illness I have learned the more I share with the world the less it has a sting or shame...because Light moves through transparent vessels:)[Hide Full Comment]

Feeling love, loss, beauty and life through your words. Connection to the mother and mother earth are so powerful.

I resonate with your response about the archetypal energy and how surprises and disorder shake our world to create disruption and new growth...beautiful

Anthony is in prison for life and appreciates these Awakin' reflections - thanks for all you do! His response: To renounce internally is non-doership. Action, with no sense of I as the doer. Really, all thoughts are ultimately untrue because they are the product of the distorted, conditioned mind. Ramana Maharishi' s spiritual teachings have always resonated with me. Ramana implores us to seek out the source of I through the inquiry who am I? When we inquire in that manner we discover that the I is nowhere to be found. The I is nothing more than a thought so without thought the I ceases to exist. Another teaching of Ramana's is to never focus on the seen but on that which sees. When we turn the attention inward toward that which sees we discover our true essence, Pure thought free Consciousness. JT response - Whenever I am reminded to focus on that which "sees" it takes me to a place of peace.

Anthony appreciated this week's reading and shared this. Thank you all for bringing us such an opportunity to think deeper on What Is:) from Anthony serving Life Sentence: Yesterday we were displaced from our dorm because of the approaching hurricane. We were sent to a different dorm where we will be sleeping on the floor in their TV room until the storm passes on Friday. They brought us new mattresses and pillows late in the day. A guy that lives in this dorm tried to take the mattress that I was given because it is newer than the one he has on his bed. I woke up with a headache which progressively worsened throughout the day. It turns out that I have some sort of nasal infection because by later in the evening I couldn't breathe out of my nose. I just wanted to sleep but it was very noisy because they were watching football and for some reason a lot of people in here like to clap and holler after each play. I was laying on the floor with a constant stream of thoughts of just how bad my life sucks when it dawned on me that I was in full resistance mode to what life was presenting. Once I realized this I was able to accept, relax and finally fall asleep. Everyday of my life provides a lesson in learning to accept what is because resistance in my life situation is futile.Yesterday was a little more extreme than most days but still the internal dialogue is always worse than whatever it happening externally. Take care! I will write later and share my views on the Hindu and Taoist teachings

He is amazing. I have been capturing our correspondence for over a year and my hope (after I learn how to publish my books that I get to publish our back and forth communication). I have to say SS questions and literature REALLY brings out even more of his journey so I am thrilled about this! He is BESIDE himself happy to receive the Awakin literature. I told him I believe he should write a book and he is doing it effortlessly just with our email exchange. I hope he gives me the YES once I figure out the publishing process in my world so I can help him! Fun stuff and feel free to share with your friend anything. He loves to share!

My client and friend who has life in prison (one of the wisest souls I know) wanted to respond to last week's Awakin, but when I saw his response I thought WOW it is perfect for TODAYs! I also sent him today's article and question so he may have a deeper response. I wanted to share his response to Desire from last week here. That service space discussion on desire that was held this past Wednesday interested me. A spiritual teaching that has always resonated with me is When you desire nothing you have everything. When we get the inside right we need nothing external to us to make us feel better. There was a certain act of oppression that I encountered yesterday. I said to the guy I'd been talking with that I wasn't going to allow it to disturb my state. Another guy overheard me and asked, What state is that? I replied, a state of peace. Angrily he said, how the fuck can you be peaceful in fucking prison. Calmly I said, the only thing they can imprison is my body, my mind and spirit are free. His whole demeanor changed and he said, I like that, I'm going to go meditate on that. More and more I'm realizing that the only thing that I've ever needed to change is my own perception. When were vibrating at a high enough rate nothing external can disturb or allure us. Remember the old song that said, Free your mind and the rest will follow? How true that is. Have a great day JT! Anthony

Death was my catalyst at the age of 12. Death taught me to see through these eyes that the author speaks of. Having faced the potential of death as a child and as a mother it’s given me such a deep appreciation for life. I never looked at animals as dumb creatures. The world feels like 5D in my eyes. So much beauty and life. Though I do love my home, not at the point of releasing that comfort!;) interesting the only person he could talk to was his Zen master. My guess is as he continues to walk in life with his new found vision he will find his “people” because Light attracts Light;).

So much Truth. The power within "Maybe". I am loving the word more after reading this. Life...is all about the unknown. The more we embrace the unknown the more we enjoy life. To resist change is to resist life.