February 27, 2022

A Single Breath

Paula Whang-Ramos

“Nothing separates us from God, nothing, ever - no condition, no belief, no past deed, or impure thought.
We can think we are separate, we might feel like we are, we might even believe that we are, but none of that can ever make it so.
A single Reality expresses as all that is and ever will be. God is our life.”
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration 08/14/2014

During extremely challenging times, it can be so difficult to remember that a greater Wholeness still exists. Our hearts break open as we witness the events in Ukraine. A flood of reactions and emotions can sweep through the mind, and it takes our breath away.

And yet, if we can let our hearts ride all the way through the out-breath, then we may actually experience a moment of letting go into the Source of life that seems so obscured by these current events. In that moment, we can rest in the release from the mind and all its emotions and opinions. In that one out-breath, the heart can open into the eternal Wholeness that is always present. And perhaps the heart can surrender into the Divine Presence in the next out-breath, and the next.

With one breath at a time, we can change our consciousness. And from a heart awareness that is deeply rooted in the Divine, we can offer prayers and possibilities for more peaceful ways of living and being for all life. It is powerful to rest in the remembrance of the eternal presence, power, and wisdom of the Divine, by whatever name we call IT. For the highest good of all life everywhere, join me and let’s breathe into IT now.

Meditate with us at CSE and at Blue Lotus Center. Consciously affirm this year as the one when we claim the courageous spiritual power, presence, and wisdom to realize our worthwhile dreams. Experience the inner radiance, peace, and delight that naturally arises from meditation. Study, meditate and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wisdom. Contribute to the realization of peace in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

February 20, 2022

Claim Your Divine Life

Paula Whang-Ramos

"We can choose to claim the divine life. It is up to us to make choices consistent with being awake or
allow ourselves to be swept away by the tide of circumstances."

~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration 02/18/2022

Could it really be that simple? All we have to do is to claim our divine life, and it is ours? In my experience, the answer is Yes! and no. Choosing to claim our divine lives is an important, but not sufficient, step into our divine remembrance.

Setting a clear intention to live our divine lives aligns our consciousness with our highest good. Through this spiritual lens, we can realize the countless ways in which Wholeness blesses our lives, even during unexpected change. Our daily choice to remember this inner commitment can help us remain in integrity with it. However, I have found that living a spiritually conscious life is not a one-time deal where we make this promise in the morning that we forget by afternoon.

The skillful surrender into our divine lives is best experienced when we repeatedly call on this deeper intention to inform and course-correct our thoughts, words, and actions throughout our day and night. When we remember and return to our spiritual intention, again and again, we can learn to listen into this higher calling and use it to shape how we care for ourselves, others, and all the divine opportunities we are gifted in this life. And when we fall asleep into the tide of circumstances, then in compassion and nonjudgment, we use our spiritual intention to course correct and offer amends. And in so doing, we reclaim our divine lives once again.

Meditate with us at CSE and at Blue Lotus Center. Consciously affirm this year as the one when we claim the courageous spiritual power, presence, and wisdom to realize our worthwhile dreams. Experience the inner radiance, peace, and delight that naturally arises from meditation. Study, meditate and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wisdom. Contribute to the realization of peace in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

February 13, 2022

Live From Soul Courage

Paula Whang-Ramos

“The fundamental changes that last, those that truly matter, come forth from within us
when the splendor of our divine nature is unleashed. What we truly want is within us."
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration 06/26/2020

On February 3, 2022, a wise and gentle man, whom you may have never heard of, made his transition. And yet, if you are reading this BLC newsletter, then he already had a positive impact on your life. Dr. Herbert Benson dedicated his life to empirically revealing the common ground that holds and heals mind, body, and spirit.

In the 1970s, when most western physicians, psychologists, and spiritual leaders perceived their work as unrelated to each other, Dr. Benson, a Harvard-trained cardiologist, heard the inner call to Wholeness. In the face of severe scrutiny and incredible criticism from medical, psychological, and spiritual leaders, Dr. Benson publicly and courageously shared his vision of wholeness with young health professionals, like me.

Dr. Benson's articulation of "The Relaxation Response" expanded the consciousness of health care to consider healing modalities that would later welcome meditation. His steadfast integrity and clear vision helped cultivate a community of respect and cooperation among spiritualists, holistic healers, and western health professionals to serve the whole person, and not just her/his perceived parts. On a spiritual level, Dr. Benson's inner commitment to listen and follow his unique divine calling helped cultivate a lasting shift in our collective consciousness that serves a higher good within us all.

As I reflect on Dr. Benson's impact on my life professionally and personally, I am called to wonder: How can my soul courage express through my life? How can my thoughts, words, and actions serve the highest good of all? How can I surrender more deeply into divine grace and fulfill my divine life purpose? What positive impact do I want to share in the world? I hope you will join me in listening into these questions in your own life. Like beloved Dr. Benson, we each have uniquely awesome gifts to realize and share with all life, for the highest good of all. Many blessings and deep gratitude to Dr. Benson.

Meditate with us at CSE and at Blue Lotus Center. Consciously affirm this year as the one when we claim the courageous spiritual power, presence, and wisdom to realize our worthwhile dreams. Experience the inner radiance, peace, and delight that naturally arises from meditation. Study, meditate and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wisdom. Contribute to the realization of peace in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

February 6, 2022

Choose Balance, Life, Work

Paula Whang-Ramos

“Balanced living is the key that unlocks the gate to freedom. Use it to slip through the lock,
thin as a blade, vast as the meadow in bloom.”
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration 02/05/2022

Honestly, I am confused when individuals tell me they need more “work, life, balance” to increase peace and decrease stress in their lives. Isn't it usually the excessive thinking, talking, and doing of work and daily life activities that promotes the very stress we seek to reduce? When we live from this level of consciousness, then living a balanced life may feel more like a hope or a dream, rather than the reality of our daily lives.

As an alternative, how about if we try living from “balance, life, work” instead? Imagine what our lives might be like if balance was our first priority, instead of the last one? How would living a balanced life inform what and when we eat and drink? How would balanced living guide the length of time we sit in front of a computer without a break? Or what time we go to bed? Or whether we would benefit from a walk outside or time in silence, instead of sitting in front of the television? Or the kindness or criticism with which we speak to ourselves and others?

When balanced living becomes a serious first priority, then it can be a light that guides our individual daily choices. Making more balanced choices in one area of our lives can open us into other areas in which we can live more skillfully. From our own direct experience, we realize that living a balanced life is not a hope or a dream. It is a conscious choice that can lead to the reality of a well-grounded, peaceful, even-minded life in gratitude and joy. Yes, it takes courage and strength to live into this freedom. And, as individual expressions of divine Wholeness, we have within us the courage and strength needed for this worthy adventure!

Meditate with us at CSE and at Blue Lotus Center. Consciously affirm this year as the one when we claim the courageous spiritual power, presence, and wisdom to realize our worthwhile dreams. Experience the inner radiance, peace, and delight that naturally arises from meditation. Study, meditate, and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wisdom. Contribute to the realization of peace in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

Meditation & Yoga Center:

CSE south county meditation center

“If anything disturbs your peace, practice having faith that divine grace is already actively at work restoring wholeness and well-being.

Then make any necessary adjustments in harmony with that insight.”
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian, Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment

Blue Lotus

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