It's all About LOVE. Really.
About a week and a half ago - I had the wonderful pleasure to listen to and imbibe the ecstatic and poetic wisdom of Professor Bill Mahony, of Davidson College - who spoke on his new translation and commentary of the Narada Bhakti Sutras, titled, Exquisite Love. The two days, and 12 hours spent with him and the group that assembled for the occasion, was nothing short of exquisite!
Bill began by telling us - that the subject for the weekend was simply this - LOVE.
He went on to note, that Love is an important topic. This is the season for Love. But, there are many who do not feel or experience Love in their lives, and we need to take the time to acknowledge this. Furthermore, Bill went on to remind us that our true essence is Love - whether we feel it or not. And, this Love that we are - that is our essence - is of the same essence as God. Later on, in the course of the weekend, we were reminded over and over again - that Love is God - and God is Love!
I cannot truly express in words how deeply the weekend touched me - and how it opened my eyes to so much. It held up a mirror to where I needed to do some work, in some areas that had been "speaking to me" for a while, but that I had chosen to ignore, because ironically, I thought it would be the more "loving" response.
Love is sometimes messy. And as Bill observed, more often than not, it is deflected...
I found myself reflecting on - and questioning - what are truly valid expressions of love - and what is "real" Love. Sometimes what we feel is a valid expression of love - or real love - is simply not... Well, I could go on and on here, and write a dissertation on this topic, but this is neither the time nor the place...
Today, as I lay on the table at my acupuncturist, to get a "tune up" in preparation for the Winter Solstice and Christmas, I used the opportunity to meditate and pray, and reflect on this subject of Love, which has been coming up for me - in every reading and experience lately.
Several times, Bill said to us - You are deeply LOVED!" It was, like hearing these words for the first time. I know he meant them, and that he was communicating this for us, directly from the Divine.
Though there is so much I could write on this subject, let me end by sharing a few of my notes from the weekend:
"In the heart resides the essence of God. In the heart are life and light. in the heart are all strands...
As far as the space of this Universe extends - that far extends the space within the heart. Within it are held the heavens and the earth, fire and air... Truly, the Divine Self abides in the heart. Knowing this, the wise person enters daily into the heavenly world. (Chandogya Upanishad)
Bhakti Yoga - simply means and refers to ways of knowing God through Love.
Enter the river - and let it carry you... Point your feet downstream...
Love is of the nature of immortality...
Exquisite is the most subtle - the most refined form of Love...
Love is available to you always...
Love is expressive - it pulls existence out of non-existence...
Love is giving itself to the world our of a yearning to be. It is a non-dual state. It is a pure generosity - generating, creating...
Love is of the nature of peace, of supreme joy...
You are already Love - whether you experience it or not. The practices helps awaken it... and everything in your life is practice..."
Ah, and so it is...
To treat yourself to these wonderful sutras, and Bill's ecstatic commentary and insights, you can buy his book at Anusara Press, at the Anusara Yoga website:
Exquisite Love: Heart-Centered Reflections on the Narada Bhakti Sutras by William K. Mahony
www.anusara.com
Bill began by telling us - that the subject for the weekend was simply this - LOVE.
He went on to note, that Love is an important topic. This is the season for Love. But, there are many who do not feel or experience Love in their lives, and we need to take the time to acknowledge this. Furthermore, Bill went on to remind us that our true essence is Love - whether we feel it or not. And, this Love that we are - that is our essence - is of the same essence as God. Later on, in the course of the weekend, we were reminded over and over again - that Love is God - and God is Love!
I cannot truly express in words how deeply the weekend touched me - and how it opened my eyes to so much. It held up a mirror to where I needed to do some work, in some areas that had been "speaking to me" for a while, but that I had chosen to ignore, because ironically, I thought it would be the more "loving" response.
Love is sometimes messy. And as Bill observed, more often than not, it is deflected...
I found myself reflecting on - and questioning - what are truly valid expressions of love - and what is "real" Love. Sometimes what we feel is a valid expression of love - or real love - is simply not... Well, I could go on and on here, and write a dissertation on this topic, but this is neither the time nor the place...
Today, as I lay on the table at my acupuncturist, to get a "tune up" in preparation for the Winter Solstice and Christmas, I used the opportunity to meditate and pray, and reflect on this subject of Love, which has been coming up for me - in every reading and experience lately.
Several times, Bill said to us - You are deeply LOVED!" It was, like hearing these words for the first time. I know he meant them, and that he was communicating this for us, directly from the Divine.
Though there is so much I could write on this subject, let me end by sharing a few of my notes from the weekend:
"In the heart resides the essence of God. In the heart are life and light. in the heart are all strands...
As far as the space of this Universe extends - that far extends the space within the heart. Within it are held the heavens and the earth, fire and air... Truly, the Divine Self abides in the heart. Knowing this, the wise person enters daily into the heavenly world. (Chandogya Upanishad)
Bhakti Yoga - simply means and refers to ways of knowing God through Love.
Enter the river - and let it carry you... Point your feet downstream...
Love is of the nature of immortality...
Exquisite is the most subtle - the most refined form of Love...
Love is available to you always...
Love is expressive - it pulls existence out of non-existence...
Love is giving itself to the world our of a yearning to be. It is a non-dual state. It is a pure generosity - generating, creating...
Love is of the nature of peace, of supreme joy...
You are already Love - whether you experience it or not. The practices helps awaken it... and everything in your life is practice..."
Ah, and so it is...
To treat yourself to these wonderful sutras, and Bill's ecstatic commentary and insights, you can buy his book at Anusara Press, at the Anusara Yoga website:
Exquisite Love: Heart-Centered Reflections on the Narada Bhakti Sutras by William K. Mahony
www.anusara.com
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