Riding the Waves of Happiness

Riding the waves of Happiness!

There is one thing you can be sure of besides change and that is, I am the only one who can make myself Happy.   I am responsible for the way I think, feel and act and that means I am responsible for my own Happiness.  I am the experiencer of my world and therefore I alone have the power to change any negative or unhappy thoughts.  Nobody else knows what I am feeling, thinking or perceiving in my world and when I accept this fact only then can I take responsibility and stop blaming others for my unhappiness and suffering.   
 
If I feel anger, frustration, resentment and so on, it’s natural, but when my reactions and behaviour causes suffering then it’s up to me to recognise and change my thought patterns.  Nature always support when changing old behaviours and patterns.  The intellect is corrected creating new pathways and transmitters to the nervous system.  

Happiness can mean many things e.g. love, contentedness, bliss, gratitude, not suffering, good health and wellbeing, living a frictionless life, creativity, abundance, clearer thinking.  Becoming a giver and not a taker, surrendering preferences and becoming the best version of myself.  

Here are some tips on ways to live a happier, more balanced and integrated lifestyle.  

·  Meditation - Meditation Transcends the mind to greater happiness, to experience “Being” in its most rested, blissful form. 

·  Surrender to Natures intelligence by being present and consciousness.
At the end of meditation we can say - "Continue to use me".  Nature will reciprecate with a flow of thoughts that may or may not have a specific meaning to them.  What we do next is surrender and follow charm.  Nature will open the flow of right doing consciousness, efforlessly surrender then trust comes easily. 

·  Eat well - Use food as your medicine for good health and wellbeing.

·  Sleep – if we sleep too much it creates dullness and fatigue.  When we don’t sleep enough it creates dullness and fatigue.  In Ayurveda, it is recommend going to bed at 10pm and rising before 6am.

·  Recreation – The body should be given the rest it needs, to experience the best while in activity.  We don’t go to the extreme of feeling exhaustion from overworking, playing hard or having too many late nights - nor do we want to go in the opposite direction to be completely inactive.   Recreation should be done in proportion, not too little and not too much.

Today I will take time out of my busy day to think about my own happiness.  When I catch myself blaming other for my suffering, I will take responsibility for my own emotions and feeling and come back to self- referral to look at my own actions and thoughts.

Until next time,
Liz

The new wave of Consciousness

MAY 2020

Dear Meditators
Panditji Baskaran from India, known to us as the Manifestation of Bliss Consciousness sent me the following quote from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.    
“The world is the divine made active, everything rising as a wave on the eternal ocean of bliss consciousness.” Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

As we are slowly coming out of the Pandemic and strict isolation it’s a great time to recognize the Divine in us that is rising like the Ocean.  

We have been at the bottom of the wave rising up now we're at the peak ready to begin sliding down and out the other side.  

What will the World look like from my perspective after the Pandemic is over? 
  
If I choose to go back to how things were before the Pandemic then I may have missed the opportunity for change.  I can choose to ignore somethings and be stuck in the ever-repeating known with negative outcomes or I can embrace new opportunities and take the steps toward being fearless.  Reminding myself that I am are in control of my thoughts and behaviour patterns.  As is the Consciousness of the mind, body and spirit, so is the print out into the Universe.  The Divine/Mother Nature is Manifesting itself again and again- wave by wave.   

Ask these questions –

• What have I learned from the isolation experience?

• Can I embrace the new beginnings?  If not why not- what am I holding onto?

• Can I feel a new excitement rising inside? 

You will have your own questions - take time out, see what is rising up for you in your world. 

For some people there has been sadness and losses perhaps more than usually felt from the collective consciousness of the world, others have felt overwhelmed with loss of freedom because of the restrictions.  For some it’s been a time of contemplation, to reflect and rest, for others it’s been a time for new beginnings.  The feeling of the waves from the Universe cleansing itself, Country by Country and person by person.  

The main thing for us as Meditators is to keep up with twice a day Meditation. All will be revealed at the right time and in the way it is meant to come to me.  
 
Even though this Pandemic has meant many changes, we are about to rise above it. The wave is folding back on itself to become the Ocean again.   Our Meditation is our wave of stillness that is at the core of our Being.  We move from Reality into the Absolute.  On the ride inward we may feel the sense of rest and relaxation with lots of thoughts and maybe some experiences of the release of stress from the Nervous System.  
  
As the mind follows the sound of the Mantra and I move deeper into Transcendence I keep letting go, surrender and let the Divine/Nature take me to the unmanifest where I experience no-thing.  Silence, Contentment, the Absolute depth of the Ocean.   What occurs during this time is not for us to work out or have any expectations.  It’s in the subtle areas of reality that I begin to experience and realise that the changes are due to the Meditation practise.  Thank goodness for Meditation I hear you saying.  Me too! 

I encourage all of us to have an open mind and to take time-out to be quiet.  When I am quiet I can be Present with my thoughts and be aware of what is bubbling up.  I can see everything clearer from the peak, then follow through with the ride of life.  I can do this slowly or fast however this unfolds. Maybe I have some wild new ideas spining around in the head.  Let's see what is possible and if it feels charming then go forward fearlessly.  The ego mind might be saying that this is not right but if I am quiet then new ideas and desires will become clearer.

Take good care, there are many new beginnings on the horizon manifesting for us all.
Love to everyone, keep safe and well.

Rewriting the Software of the Mind

APRIL 2020

Dear Meditators
There have been a number of major changes this year.  History, as we know it has changed forever.  The outcomes from the Pandemic, Bushfires and Floods will rewrite our history books and we are all part of that history.
 
So, how can we rewrite the software of our Mind to come into line with the changes to our world?  We raise our awareness and State of Consciousness, we check in with ourselves.

As Meditators we have a unique gift with our Meditation practice that allows us to go deep within to reach the real source of who we are.  

Here are a few questions you may like to ask yourself.

How I am feeling right now?What am I thinking about?

What will it take to raise my awareness of “Self”?

What is am I ignoring that prevents me from being present?

Am I missing the cues that Nature is offering me?

How can I raise my Consciousness State and change the printout of my body –

*Wake and rise by 6am, to take advantage of the end of the Vata period (2am to 6am).The energy at this time of day is light and fresh. If you wake up too far into the Kapha period (6am to 10am) everyday, you will feel duller and more sluggish throughout the day.

*Live in the present moment be of service in the community (what you give you receive back in abundance)

*Let go of old negative habits – Separate the Mind’s talk (Ego) from your Thinking Mind, be self-referral (come back to the self before blaming everything/everybody else around you).

*Raise my awareness of others by putting myself in their shoes – “What’s it like to be you?”

*Surrendering my preferences in my relationships gracefully and without resentment giving to others what I want to give to myself i.e. if I want affection then give affection, if I want attention then give others our attention. Whatever I want for myself -I give it first -then watch what happens.

*Have no expectations, no judgment, no sarcasm, no negativity give freely and without keeping score.

Everything is conceived, structured and perceived in our consciousness. Remember what I put my attention on grows so be mindful of what you are attracting into your life.  One of my favourite sayings is “As we think so shall we be”. 
 
Today I will follow Nature’s directions and pay more attention to the world around me.  I will ask what I can give rather than what I might take.

Love to everyone, keep safe and well,
Jai Guru Deva
Liz

COMMITMENT - NEVER GIVE UP!

                     
Dear Meditators
Commitment -Never give up!

Commitment means – “a promise or firm decision to do something.”

If we make a commitment to someone or something then we raise expectations that we must fulfill.  If we don’t fulfill them then we're inviting suffering.
 
Sometimes making a commitment brings up the emotions and feelings of fear, anxiety or resistance to change etc.  Fear of failure causes us to resist, fear from past experiences can stop us from moving forward.  Fear creates suffering which is based on expectation that are unfulfilled. 

There are two types of fear responses- one causes suffering, the other protects us from a predator or danger or when facing an audience. 

Life will always demand that we move forward. If we resist change then we are inviting Destruction to come and may end up having no say in the outcome.  

Be careful what you agree to when making a commitment.  Ask yourself some questions- To what extent am I open and willing to commit to what Nature wants? Do I have a willingness and commitment to Grow?  Do I have a curiosity to follow my desires and take a leap into the unknown? 

Gaining knowledge gives us confidence. When we feel the charm (the feel good hormones release into the body) then we have the green light to GO for it.   Nature wants us to succeed and move forward.  If we feel resistance to change then we dig deep inside for the courage and “Never give up.”

Meditation changes the way we think and feel about life.  Sitting for 20 minutes twice per day changes the intellect and gives us the opportunity for progressive change.
 
Today I will make a commitment to listen to the voice within, my Being.  I will commit to Meditating morning and evening.  I will trust that everything is well and wisely set in place and I am exactly where I'm meant to be.  I will “Never give up”. 

This video on You Tube with Dr. Joe Dispenza has a great message –How you think and how you feel is a state of Being.  Go here for the video – How to change your life and why we are stuck. 

Love to all
Jai Guru Deva

NAMASTE

Namaste Dear Meditators

The word “Namaste” was often said when saying Hello in India.  Often used as a greeting or at the finish of Yoga. The meaning of Namaste is “the Divine in me respectfully recognizes the Divine in you.”

Having spent the last 4 weeks in India it’s not easy coming back to the reality of everyday living in the Shire, but very happy to be home.

It was great to meet up with old Colleagues and meet many of the New Teachers.  We were about 40 Teachers in total this time.  Teachers from all over the world – USA, Mexico, London, France, Canada & Australia.  There is something like 150 Teachers in total plus the newbies doing Initiator Training in India this year.

I am one of the oldies who seems to be known as Liz from the Shire.  Funny how one thinks of themselves as the quiet and isolated one.  Then people ask “are you Liz from the Shire”?  “Very happy to meet you etc.” My reaction was “I wonder what they were told about me?”

These days I’m more accepting of compliments but there was a time when negativity dominated my thoughts and mind. Learning the art of receiving is a much better place to be in.  Thinking the best for oneself is a practise.  The more one looks within there is a deeper sense, not of just the human form but a spiritual Being – the essence of what we truly are.

"In order to have a New Year you have to have a New You." Thich Nath Hanh

Happy New Year Dear Meditators
 
As the New Year and a New Decade begins it’s a good time to reflect on both the highlights and challengers of the past ten years.    
 
As I look back over the last 10 years as a Vedic Meditation Teacher, I see all of your shining faces and feel a huge sense of gratitude in my heart for what has been an amazing journey for me. Watching the changes and growth that happens along the way is an absolute delight and an honour to be a part of your life journey.  Some Meditators I see regularly others remain in my awareness and will always be in my heart even though not physically. 
 
As Meditators of this Tradition we are so fortunate to have a beautiful practise that is so simple and yet so profoundly deep and meaningful.  To experience the inner quite place and to find happiness and complete contentedness is such a blessing and gift.   We cannot buy peace and happiness anywhere; it comes from within and how do you put a price on that?  Our lives are changed profoundly and yet so subtly.  It never ceases to amaze. 
 
What I put into practise each day creates the new me and that creates the next day and the next day and so on over the next decade. 
 
I invite you all to join me this year to refresh your meditation practise if it has fallen away.  Learn how to expand and grow in consciousness and awareness from the knowledge of the Veda’s and other courses that I will be running.   This year’s Rounding Retreat will be at Gary Gorrow’s new “Soma Retreat Centre” in Byron Bay.  I will confirm the dates and prices soon.
 
With much love in my heart I will take you all with me to India, to our Vedic Meditators homeland, the Holy City of Rishikesh. I will be in India from 12th Jan to 5th Feb.  During my time away the Meditation Centre will be open for Monday night Group Meditation (see dates below.)  Please join the Meditators for Meditation and the lively discussions that follow.     

 
Looking forward to seeing your shining faces again soon.
Much Love & Jai Guru Deva

Liz 

The Truth about my Life

WISHING YOU ALL MANY BLESSINGS FOR A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Dear Meditators,
The truth about my life is - everything that has evolved up to this moment including all the ups and downs in life, has been structured in my own consciousness.

How do I know this? I can’t blame anyone; I can’t say it was because of this or that or "If only I had done things differently."

“Everything is well and wisely set in place.” What I perceive, what I attract, what I think about, everything, is all structured in my consciousness.

If I focus on the unhappy times, I can get stuck in feeling there is nothing to be grateful for, but when I think of all the amazing, wonderful things that have happened I only feel gratitude.

Life is about evolving and expanding and loving everything about it. Taking responsibility for my own evolution and my own state of consciousness. Every day in meditation I arrive at my inner quiet place, to rest in the most evolved part of myself, Being.

Then, after meditation I come to my fine level of feeling/intuition/charm to listen and watch for the cues that take me in the direction of where I need to be. I keep moving forward with what I know and understand to be purposeful and fulfilling.

Today I will celebrate my life. I will learn from the past, I will seek guidance from God/the Universe and take direction and purpose into the future. Look inside myself for the answers and make life a celebration.

A Quote from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
“The whole purpose of life is to gain enlightenment. Nothing else is significant compared to that completely natural, exalted state of consciousness. So always strive for that. Set your life around that goal. Don’t get caught up in small things, and then it will be yours.”
Jai Guru Deva.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone

How to De-Clutter the Mind & Body

Dear Meditators

During meditation the mind and body come to a deep relaxed state giving the nervous system time to restore and rejuvenate. This process releases stress making way for new consciousness to be expressed in every cell of the body. The mind and body become calmer, clearer, more focused on situations and the ability to react in positive ways when the need arises. The possibilities for success are endless.

How to de-clutter:

• Twice daily 20 minutes meditation practice is the single most important thing you can do for yourself.

• Practicing Pranayama (Breathing technique). Replacing old stale breath with the new prana

• Practicing Yoga regularly

• Exercise regularly

• Having present moment awareness and awareness of the content of your thoughts

• Stop ignoring addictions. Giving up an addiction is not easy, but it can be done through Vedic Meditation. The chemicals released during meditation can bring about change and with time replace an addiction. This will happen when it happens and is different for everyone. Being released from an addiction is life changing. It brings a higher consciousness state, more stability, bliss and happiness.

• Consciously think about what to eat and drink - Ayurveda recommends we leave room to eat more, leave the table feeling ¾ full not overfull.

• You would have heard the expression “Being stuck in a rut” in other words being stagnant in the same ever repeating old rituals and habits. Identifying and making changes to some of these old patterns is a good beginning. Changing thought patterns will start the process rolling for change to happen. Start with small things, then the next and the next like that.

• Removing unnecessary material possessions – De-Cluttering the home, work place, social media, social activites or whatever works for you will feel amazing. By doing this the mind and body will release the clutter making space for new Consciousness to arise. “Do less accomplish more.” We don’t need the clutter.

• There are many ways to create space both inside and outside of us. What is your way?
  
  Today I will make a conscious effort to be in the present moment and aware of my thought patterns. I will replace my negative thoughts and feelings with love and understanding.
  “As we think so shall we be”
  
  Enjoy the changes,
  

Walking SLOWLY

Walk SLOWLY - my Yoga Therapist Therese says - one foot in front of the other up and down the driveway SLOWLY.... It's not easy to walk slowly, so I decided to make it a pleasurable experience and be conscious of my breath and be present as I walk. Almost stopping with each step and taking in Nature's beauty as I walk mindfully. It reminded me Thich Nhat Hanh Walking Meditation practice.

by Thich Nhat Hanh
In the rush of modern life, we tend to lose touch with the peace that is available in each moment. World-renowned Zen master, spiritual leader, and author Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how to make positive use of the very situations that usually pressure and antagonize us. For him a ringing telephone can be a signal to call us back to our true selves. Dirty dishes, red lights, and traffic jams are spiritual friends on the path to "mindfulness"—the process of keeping our consciousness alive to our present experience and reality. The most profound satisfactions, the deepest feelings of joy and completeness lie as close at hand as our next aware breath and the smile we can form right now.

Today I will walk SLOWLY and be present. Take each moment as a gift and be present. Mindful of my thoughts and actions.

Sometimes we need to stop

The picture above is of the Maple Tree outside our house.  The leaves have been dropping for weeks. The Grandkids love running through them to hear the crackling sounds and crushing them easily in their hands.     
 
Sometimes we just need to stop!  Over the last few weeks I’ve had a cold and spent time in bed, which is very unusual for me. I can honestly say I have enjoyed it!  I spent time looking at the Maple and Liquidambar Trees watching the leaves fall to the ground.  Getting back to the simple things and just letting time pass by I found very enjoyable.  I felt detached from everything and contented to just be.  Why did I enjoy it so much?  My thoughts were easy and I took advantage meditating as often as I liked while sick in bed.  My recovery was quicker and I felt energized.  
 
In the old days before meditation I wouldn’t have stopped, regardless of how sick I felt (martyr syndrome).  Stress and sickness always took longer to leave my body.  The price I paid was always feeling burnt out and tired. Never quite getting on top of health issues.
 
When I started meditating, I began to question what I was doing with my life?  Why was I here?

After meditating a while I learned to not look for the answers to my questions outside.  I had an amazing tool, I had my meditation practice.  The stressors and challengers remained but I started to handle things differently.  The answers started to come by transcending my thoughts, not only in meditation but while I was living my busy life. Nature was showing me more and more about how to live life with less suffering.  I didn’t need to over think or analyse my problems.  I just needed to show up twice per day to my meditation.  I felt better each and every time (and still do).  I moved into a deeper realm of consciousness that allowed me to handle stresses differently. I learned to not hid from life but to embrace it. 

The more knowledge I gained the more I wanted to know.  I spent many hours with my Teacher Tim Brown in Paddington, learning the Veda’s and having private consultations with him.  I learned how to let go of fear and to face the challengers of my life. 

Today I have less times of suffering from trauma and stressors from the past.  The stress and fears are like passing thoughts, they don’t stick around long, I recognize them for what they are – just thoughts and I let go of them.  Today right action is part of my day, happiness and bliss is more available.     
 
I don’t advocate to be sick in bed but I do recommend taking time out – a minute, an hour, a day or two to just be with yourself.  Sitting quietly before meditation with the idea of letting go and surrendering to the process.  When thoughts come up during meditation, we let them come, paying no attention to them, just let them pass easily, effortlessly like the clouds in the sky, easily coming back to the mantra. 

Vedic Meditation is the easiest, simplest practice you will ever know, the rewards are priceless and endless.    
 
To gain more knowledge about the Vedic Meditation practice and the Vedic worldview, come to an Introduction Talk - find out how to learn the Meditation practice in one of our 4 day courses then join us for Group Meditation. You will be well supported with ongoing access to private consultations with Liz or read about the courses and events that are available to all Vedic Meditators throught the year i.e. Exploring the Veda course, Sunrise Meditation (for everyone), Rounding Retreats, Ayurvedic Cooking classes and knowledge workshops (for everyone) and much more…...

Until next time

Love & Jai Guru Deva

Liz