Loving and Forgiving What Is

It seems that in the last week, everything I've read or every audio recording I have listened to - has given me a similar message. But, I've already said that - haven't I?

It never ceases to amaze me that the messages are there - always - for those willing to still the voices that often hold us captive to allow the Inner Voice to speak its wisdom...

As I drove to teach my yoga class at Willow Street Yoga, on the other side of the river these last two weeks, I listened to excerpts from two CD's - one based on the book, Loving What Is, by Byron Katie, and the other Radical Forgiveness, by Colin Tipping. Both contained very similar messages and practices aimed at the acceptance and forgiveness of what currently exists in our lives, in our relationships, and indeed all of our experiences...

Here are some gems of wisdom I jotted down after listening to Tipping's audio recording:

"Things don't happen to us - but for us... [They happen for us to grow and let go of separation]

Every action is either an expression of love or a call for love...

Everything is perfect as it is. We receive exactly what it is we need. We experience separation to come back union...

If you spot it - you got it. [Meaning, behaviors we see in others we don't like are the very ones we need to own up to or we are not fully aware of]

The people in our lives are mirrors that reflect back to us what it is that we need to work on...

Life itself is a mirror - what shows up for us is what we attract in order to learn what we must learn...

We are one with God...

Matter [reality, experiences, and so forth] manifests from consciousness..."

In order to practice radical forgiveness, Tipping delineates steps to be taken - and offers many helpful and practical exercises which I found myself doing mentally in the car.

Byron Katie is known for "The Work," which enables you to shift resistant perceptions. Both of these authors and speakers, Tipping and Katie, show how all of our suffering is due to not accepting and loving things as they already are in our lives...

From Katie's CD and book:

"You are the teacher you have been waiting for. You are the one who can end your own suffering...

The only time we suffer is when we believe a thought that argues with what is...

Much of our stress comes from mentally living our of our own business...

Every time I had felt hurt or lonely, [Katie speaking], I had been in someone else's business...To think that I know what's best for anyone else is to be out of my business...


A thought is harmless unless we believe it. It's not our thoughts, but the attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering...Most people think that they are what their thoughts tell them they are..."

Through "The Work," or what Katie call "Inquiry," one identifies one judgments and then proceeds to examine them through the thorough application of four basic questions:

  1. Is it true?
  2. Can you absolutely know that it's true?
  3. How do you react when you think that thought?
  4. Who would you be be without that thought? and
"Turn it around"

There is obviously, much more to all of this, and I suggest exploring all of this work in depth.

But, just for today, be willing to entertain - that everything that happens to you is already perfect as it is. Every event and person in your life is an angel sent to you to help you transform - and help you remember your connection to the Divine - however you envision that to be. It certainly, can be a radical way of seeing things and living our lives!

For more information, visit:

www.radicalforgiveness.com
www.byronkatie.com

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