“…Our poverty is our lack of capacity for awe … Trust this moment — it is divinity itself …” ~ Pir Elias Amidon
When you are troubled and want things to be different, tell yourself
to accept things exactly as they are, including your wanting them to
be different. In that acceptance, a way forward is gently given.
Receive what each moment gives. The comfortable and the
uncomfortable. Accept it without comment. In response give
everything possible. Everything that matters to you, the love that
is most dear to you, give that back.
Ask a question. In the infinity of silence that follows comes
a clear silent answer.
Here where time touches timelessness, here in this instant, give
up the idea you possess anything. Now, everything is yours.
Are you waiting for something? Are you hoping that just ahead
things will be better? If you didn’t hold that hope, would this
moment appear the same?
Our poverty is our lack of capacity for awe.
Imagine right now in the space in front of you is the Kindest, most
Familiar and Loving Presence possible in the universe. Open your
heart toward that Presence. Wonder of wonders! It opens toward you!
As these two towardnesses meet, longing vanishes.
Trust this moment — it is divinity itself. Whether it appears harsh
or pleasant, lonely or happy, trust that you are a sparkling wave on
the shoreless ocean of truth.
There’s no need to turn around. The light goes right through you
anyway. There’s no place you are. There’s no place you aren’t.
If you want to be free of your fear, comfort someone.
If you want to be rid of your anxiety, take care of something.
Water a plant. Give.
The good news is we’re already home.
~~ Pir Elias Amidon
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More teachings from Pir Elias Amidon are coming soon … stay tuned.
We are honored to offer this guest post authored by Pir Elias Amidon. It is published here with his gracious permission and is sourced from Open Path/Sufi Way. The text content of this post (without all the images here) was previously published on Open Path/Sufi Way website.
Below is a brief BIO for Pir Elias, excerpted from the The Open Path /The Sufi Way website, and is in lieu of his teacher page on Stillness Speaks, which will be added shortly … and as is typical of our teacher pages, it will provide a comprehensive view about his background, and work:
“Elias Amidon is the spiritual director (Pir) of the Sufi Way. He has been an initiate of the Sufi Way for the past 44 years, and was appointed as the Pir of the order in 2004 by the previous Pir, Sitara Brutnell. His root teacher in the order was Pir Fazal Inayat-Khan. Pir Elias has also studied with Qadiri Sufis in Morocco, Theravaden Buddhist teachers in Thailand, Native American teachers of the Assemblies of the Morning Star, Christian monks in Syria, Zen teachers of the White Plum Sangha, and contemporary teachers in the Dzogchen tradition.”
He “… has worked as a schoolteacher, carpenter, architect, professor, writer, anthologist, environmental educator, peace activist, wilderness quest guide, and spiritual teacher. He founded, co-founded, or helped to develop several schools: the Heartwood School, the Institute for Deep Ecology, the Boulder Institute for Nature and the Human Spirit, the graduate program in Environmental Leadership at Naropa University, and the Open Path.”
He is the “Author of the book The Open Path – Recognizing Nondual Awareness, and co-editor of the books Earth Prayers, Life Prayers, and Prayers for a Thousand Years, he has worked for many years in the fields of peace and environmental activism in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and with indigenous tribes in Thailand and Burma on issues of cultural continuity and land rights. He was instrumental in founding the Masar Ibrahim Al Khalil (Abraham’s Path), an international project dedicated to helping Middle Eastern countries open a network of cultural routes and walking trails through the region. He continues to travel widely teaching Open Path and other Sufi Way programs.”
Images: (all edited and logo added) 1) Twilight Canada by AlainAudet, CCO Public Domain, 2 & Featured) Japan by Moyan Brenn, CC BY 2.0, 3) Winter Landscape by AlainAudet, CCO Public Domain, 4) Sunset by blizniak, CCO Public Domain, 5) Rose by MaxPixel, CCO Public Domain.
