Windows of Perception

by Isha Judd -

A newlywed couple moved to an apartment in a very busy neighborhood. On the first morning in their new home, after she had made coffee, the young bride looked through the window and watched her neighbor hanging sheets out to dry. What dirty sheets! she thought to herself. Maybe she needs to buy a different kind of detergent. I should go and teach her how to wash them properly.

Every few days, she muttered the same thing to her husband with disdain while watching her neighbor hanging out the dirty laundry in the early-morning light.

A month passed, and one day the young wife was surprised to see that her neighbor was hanging out perfectly clean sheets. She exclaimed to her husband, “Look! She finally learned to wash her clothes. I wonder who taught her how.”

The husband replied, “Well in reality, darling, the only difference is that I got up early this morning and cleaned the window.”

Each of us has been looking through a window all our lives. Tainted by the beliefs and ideas we have adopted from the past, its distorted surface creates our world and governs our perception of the universe.

In most cases, our windows are covered in the grime and dust of a lifetime, clouding our vision, blocking the light of the truth from view.

WINDOW OF THE MIND 

The window of the mind becomes dirty when the subconscious is full of self-criticism and fear-based opinions. Unfortunately, this is the case for many of us — erratic, incessant thoughts are our constant companions.

Our adult minds are in perpetual chaos and contradiction. Our thoughts jostle endlessly for our attention, as we jump from one distraction to another. This incessant thinking affects our entire nervous system.

We seldom feel complete in the present moment. In the modern world, people at all levels of society and in every walk of life struggle with a feeling of underlying dissatisfaction and unrest. We often find ourselves yearning for something more — no matter what we have achieved in our lives, the fulfillment we so desire remains elusive.

Many of us find that our attention constantly gravitates toward what is wrong with our lives.

We hardly ever focus on appreciating all the wonderful things we have; instead we habitually criticize our surroundings, blaming the outside for our discontent. We are seldom in the present moment long enough to embrace the magic of the now. 

So how do we reverse this? 

How do we clean our window, and rediscover the beauty of the present moment?

FANATICISM OR FREEDOM? 

One of the greatest tricks of the mind that keeps us in suffering is the need to be right. It’s the cause of so much conflict in the world, because when we are attached to being right, we put our point of view above love, above peace, above compassion. I need to be right.

Not only that, but I also need you to realize that I’m right. I need you to agree with me; then I can be happy. Because my idea, is better than your idea. My idea is more evolved, my idea is more just, my idea is more brilliant; your idea is not good!

This kind of thinking can spiral out of control: My idea is better than your idea; in fact, my god is better than your god. Your god’s got problems. I read your book, and your god isn’t the same as my god.

My god is much more just, he has better ideas, and he’s the only god. I have a good god; you have a bad god. You’re fanatical about your god, and you’re affecting our freedom! So we’ll have to bomb you. That will fix the freedom! But we’re doing it in the name of god!

You create your own reality. You decide what you’re going to choose for. You can choose for the fear, or you can choose for the love.

You can make that choice in every moment, and you can surrender to what is in every moment. Does that mean that “bad” things won’t happen? No.

It’s not about that; it’s about how you’re being within every situation.

• Are you being love within the injustice? 
• Are you being truth within the injustice? 
• Are you taking off your masks and moving through your fears? 
• Are you choosing for the highest point you can be in each moment? 

That’s the question. How you’re being. So choose for the love. When you choose for the love, everything comes in abundance.

We hope for a world free from conflict, but don’t wait for the world to change. Change yourself, and then you will be contributing in the most profound and effective way to a peaceful planet.


whywalkwhenyoucanfly.com

Social and Spiritual Masks

by Isha Judd -

In modern society, we have learned to hide ourselves behind social masks of what we consider to be correct behavior. We constantly ignore what we are feeling or thinking in order to receive the approval of those around us.

We pretend all the time in order to be accepted by others but the irony is that we all do exactly the same thing — everyone else is pretending too.

We think we are doing a great job of convincing everyone that “I really like you — you’re great” while at the same time we are thinking, I hate her so much! I never want to see her again! In reality, we’re not fooling anyone — they can all see through our act because they play the same roles themselves!

It takes courage to put down your masks but surprisingly, when you finally do so, you will receive more approval than ever before because you will be approving of yourself.

One of the pitfalls on the path of self-realization is the adoption of a “spiritual” mask that replaces the old masks we have learned from society.

We get caught up in the intellectual idea of how a spiritual person is meant to look, and we create a spiritual ego. Then, because of our outer appearance, our eating habits, our long hours of practice or our many followers, we consider ourselves to be in a place of enlightenment, when in fact we are not.

We create a new box of ideas and rules about how we are supposed to behave, based on the very teachings that were designed to break our boxes! Absolute completion or enlightenment, doesn’t have a box. It is unlimited totality — it just keeps expanding and expanding, eternally.

Our masks make us feel safe and comfortable but comfort is one of the greatest causes of our discontent.

We think our masks and the comfort they bring make us happy but in reality they cause us to stop growing as individuals, leaving us stifled and dissatisfied. Our masks make us rigid and static. They suck the spontaneity, flexibility, and growth out of life.

The greatest aspect of the human experience is evolution, to become more — more excellence and ultimately more love. Until we cast off our masks, we cannot truly evolve.

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The Nature of Love

by Isha Judd -

On the peaks of the Andes, water turns into snow. It changes form but it’s still water. Then it changes again and becomes a glacier, a river of ice. Then the lake and the sun seduce the glacier and it starts to melt and unite with the river. It too is incredibly beautiful, the bluest blue you have ever seen. Yet it is still water.

Water changes form millions upon millions of times. In each of its forms, it’s splendid, but it is still water; it never ceases to be water. Lapping on the seashore, it is gentle, refreshing, comforting. In a tsunami, it can be consuming and destructive.

As billowing clouds, it casts shadows across the landscape then falls as rain, breathing new life into the earth below. Drunk from a spring it can be healing and nourishing. Yet you can also drown in it as it steals your last breath.

Love is like this too. 

As your consciousness expands, you realize that love is all there is. 

Everything in the universe is a manifestation of this love. The burning furnace at the core of the sun and the warmth of sunshine on your face; it’s all an expression of love.

Once you recognize that there is only love, you see the magic and wonder of everything. 

You see the love in people’s anger, the love in their jealousy, the love even in their hatred. No matter what emotions they express, you recognize that all of it is nothing other than love seeking to break through.

Tears can be running down your face because you think you’re suffering. It’s still love. Or you can be mesmerized by the eyes of a lover and the tears will still be falling. They are still water and it’s still the love. It never, ever leaves. It’s always there.

When you are anchored in love-consciousness, love is all you see and in all its forms, it is perfect.

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What Are You Focusing On?

by Isha Judd -

We really have no idea how powerful we are. 

We tend to see ourselves as tiny individuals in an enormous world, doing our best to sway the tides that come between us and our fulfillment. But there is a truth that can change this perception, destroy the feeling of victimhood and bring true freedom:

What you focus on grows.

Our focus creates our reality. If we are focused on what is wrong in our lives and our worlds, what are we going to see? What’s wrong. But if we are focused on the things we love, the things that inspire us and fill us with joy, we start to see the beauty we were so blind to before.

You can transform your experience of life in an instant, just by choosing to focus inwards. Just by bringing your attention deep into yourself, instead of getting caught up in the dramas and worries of the world around, you can break lifelong patterns of discontent and preoccupation.

So if it’s so simple, why don’t we do it? 

I know why: because we don’t want to. We don’t want to be happy: we’d prefer to fight for what we think should be fixed. We don’t want to surrender: we want to win. We don’t want to embrace our reality: we want to chase our ideas of how things should be, instead of accepting them as they are.

Why? 

Because we are convinced we know best how our lives should be. The truth is, our idea of the perfect world has been forged by the opinions of so many, by the fears and insecurities caused by so many life experiences, that it is not really our idea at all.

Children don’t do this, they embrace what they have without question.

When I lived on the Colombian coast, the local boys would play football barefoot with coconuts. They weren’t moping around thinking, If only I had some Nike runners! then I could play much better. If only we had a real ball instead of this coconut! They don’t think like that: they are having so much fun as it is, enjoying what they have.

I am not denying the importance of working towards a better world. I admire any activity that helps unite humanity and improve the quality of life on this planet. But if we are focused on what’s wrong, even with the intention of making it right, we are perpetuating discontent and inconformity.

Let's Focus on...

• Let’s focus on what we have achieved, on the wonderful, incredible world we live in and the passionate and inspired individuals who are giving their best to humanity every day. 

• Let’s focus on what we can give: on the ways we can lead more joyful, fulfilling lives. 

• Let’s focus on being fully present, on knowing ourselves, accepting ourselves, embracing ourselves. Then naturally we will share that love with those around us.

What are you focused on right now? 

On the frustrations of the past or the worries of the future? Why don’t you try, just for today, to focus on enjoying each moment? On giving the best you can in each situation that is presented to you? Give it a try. Discover the power of focus and in doing so, take responsibility for your own happiness.

whywalkwhenyoucanfly.com