Monday 28 February 2011

Giving It Up

"If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way."
Buddha


Giving is the greatest thing you can do to experience more. That is why many traditions' vows, including the Ishayas, are all about service. Service to yourself, service to humanity.

I have some amazing teachers in giving. All of them are constantly looking for places to give, always asking me if I need anything. Its phenomenal when I'm around people like that because largely the rest of the world isn't.

My Teacher once told us that service was the high road to Unity. When you give you are giving yourself away. The concern with me, with lack, with protection.

So I started giving. At first it was because I wanted to expand my experience. I gave conditionally. I gave because it was good for me. But the more I gave, the more I saw how joyful being of service is. Giving became unconditional. I give because I love to.

Ascension is the greatest act of giving we will ever do. We are giving the grip on our minds, the habit of worry, doubt and fear away. We give our smallness away. In exchange we are given clarity, ease, centredness, presence, God. The more you give, the more you get.

We all start Ascending for some result, something we want. But Ascension, like all giving, is most rewarding when done without regard for result, just for the sheer joy of doing it.

When we Ascend with an eye on a prize, we miss out on the beauty that is right in front of us. And when something unexpected happens, we get grumpy, we get angry. But the more you give yourself away, the more you realise this giving is the prize. Everytime you give your attention to the Ascendant, that choice is the beauty.

The incredibleness of being able to experience the Ascendant is unspeakable. Actually giving your full attention to it is even more so.

So don’t Ascend to get. Ascend to give.