The Spiritual Surfer

The sun is always shining. At night you can't see it, yet the sun is still shining. Sometimes the sky is covered by massive rain clouds, yet the sun is still shining on them. Does it really matter?It is ok if you can't see the sun now and then. We sleep at night which is perhaps the most important spiritual activity we can pursue anyway. Rain keeps our trees and grass green and gives us that great excuse to stay at home and read that fascinating book that otherwise we never would have had time for to read. Rain or shine, everything is fine from a spiritual perspective.

Everything is perfect as is from your spiritual development, but that is not how you perceive it. You have many good days followed by some not so good ones. Just accept this fact there is nothing that you can or should do about it. I came up with the surfing theme because an inexperienced surfer might try to get straight to his destination with little regard for the wind, the waves and the environment only to find that his surfing board is flipped upside down by the elements. This is ok; go out and practice, you will get a feel for the sea and the waves soon enough. Follow the fire that burns inside that is all you can and should do anyway.

And then comes the day when you are aware that the sun is shining always no matter which environment you are facing. Or to stay with the surfing theme, you get a feel for the elements and figure out how the round-about route might get you straight to your destination. This spiritual awakening will most likely will be a process, a back of forth of new found consciousness and old-set pattern until the day when you finally break free altogether. A surfer who has once experienced that magic connection never looks back afterwards. Fact the of the matter is that you can experience life just as a surfer, swayed by the ups and downs of life without being emotionally involved and in fact deriving strengths from them rather than being worn down. The Tao invites you to dance daily, without an agenda you enjoy whatever comes your way. Sure, you determine the general direction you want to go - towards the bay or into the ocean - but everything else you leave up to the waves, the wind, the environment you are operating in. For the Tao traveler the sun always shines, and the fires of passion have calmed down sufficiently to fuel a purpose-driven journey full of serenity, laughter and joy.

Be Still

"Be still and know that I am God" is my favorite part in the bible. But alas, how does one manage to be still? Well, if there is nothing in particular you have to accomplish on your own and you actually have a chance to stand still. No bigger house to get, no fancier car, no smart career move, no swapping your life partner with someone more attractive, no wealth to accumulate. I guess you got the point. All the things that get the fire burning in us. The problem is, you have to acknowledge those urges inside yourself and have to do something about them. Just repressing them will not give you any stillness, you will just fool yourself. But if and when you are able to reach this state somehow, you will only surf along life's up and downs but deep inside the core you will be stable. It is only then that you have a chance to be truly still, and before you know it 'I Am' might be around the corner.