Tag Archives: resistance

The Backlog

By | | , , , ,
13 Comments
Filing Pile by Cas

The old texts tell us we have mountains of unresolved experiences (karma) in our catalogue. When we learn how to heal and accept experiences that arise, it can seem like an endless task. And that’s just the “suitcase” we came into this life with. What the heck is the point of doing all this work when we have such an endless backlog? It’s important to understand that the purpose of practices of acceptance and healing are not to fix ourselves. We couldn’t possibly process every unresolved experience from innumerable lives. The point of such practices is to shift how we … Continue Reading… →

Love That Problem

By | | , ,
4 Comments
photo by Simona Dumitru

When a challenge shows up, it can annoy us, disappoint, or trigger fear. It may cause a fight/ flight/ or freeze stress response. This is natural. Just allow this to come up and pass. Don’t try to solve the problem while you’re still reacting. Let things settle out first. If we dwell on our reactions, we’re creating resistance to the circumstance. This does not encourage resolution – of the emotion or the problem. Problem solving means creativity, big picture, and stepping back. I wrote previously about Mark’s approach. It’s always more difficult if we’re constraining ourselves. If we can accept … Continue Reading… →

Self Sabotage

By | | , , , ,
4 Comments

It’s very curious how we develop conflicting inner dynamics that get in the way of our own happiness. For example, we desire career success but sabotage our work by being sloppy or making mistakes because we don’t believe in ourselves. Or we make career choices based on expectations rather than through discovering what we’re good at. Similar dynamics can show up around money and relationships and spirituality. Many single adults desire a partner but are afraid of being hurt again. Or we sabotage the relationships we have by holding on to perceived hurts. You see couples who start off well … Continue Reading… →

Balance of the World

By | | , , ,
2 Comments

As I have written about prior on Dharma, the world needs a balance of forces so it continues as a stable platform for learning and experience. We might call the world a forum for experiences. Even science has discussed ideas like the “Fine-tuned Universe“, suggesting that the dimensionless constants have very specific values that support the emergence of intelligent life. If we have acted against what is arising in the past, we may find that area of life blocked or sluggish. This is to prevent us from moving further toward imbalance. For example, if we have abused power, we may find … Continue Reading… →

Smooth Flow

By | | , ,
5 Comments

There is a way of seeing the world as nothing but the flow of consciousness – of attention and intention. When there is little resistance internally, we are a clear vessel of flow and sattva is high. When there is resistance, then the flow meets obstacles creating eddies and rapids. Because of the activity, this draws our attention. We notice the rapids rather than the flow. Think of the analogy of a clear stream. Where it flows smoothly, you can see right through it. But where there is obstacles, the water is churned. What you see is the churning, not … Continue Reading… →

Our History

By | | , , , , , ,
10 Comments

There’s an old saying in this part of the world – “You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl.” As is true of many such sayings, there are many variations like boy, city, and so on. The basic truth is, our history informs our view of the world and the choices we make. This goes right into the cosmic memory that sustains the world allowing it, and us, to unfold. Clearly, our history runs deep. We have our personal history from this life, our soul’s history through many lives, our … Continue Reading… →

The Subconscious

By | | , , , , ,
3 Comments

Here and there, I’ve contemplated what makes things subconscious. If everything we experience arises in consciousness, what does it mean for something to be “subconscious”? I was reminded of this recently by a talk on Jungian Archetypes* and the “collective unconscious.” How are subconscious influences stored and what makes them subconscious**? There are several factors at play. Overall, the average person lacks internal clarity and is identified with the objects of experience. This limits perception and makes our experience very localized. If we’re only vaguely aware of our various layers of being then they are inherently subconscious. And yet, our … Continue Reading… →

Karma and the Gunas

By | | , , , , , , ,
5 Comments

In the Gunas in Awakening, I talked about how inertia is transformed into clarity with fire, tamas into sattva via rajas. In this article, I’m going to talk more about karma. Karma means action, movement, or energy. When we act in tune with our environment or nature, we are always moving to balance and the energy completes and resolves. We are in dharma, we are keeping the gunas in balance. However, when we act out of tune or get into resistance to what is unfolding – a common habit for many people – we create a boundary, a point of … Continue Reading… →