India tales – flowing with the Ganges

One of the things you run into when you’re on a spiritual journey is changing your views, or rather your sight. The way we see things is largely shaped by how our predecessors have been looking at things and their experiences, emotions and thoughts hidden deep or not so much about how the world is. We do a great job at copying such energies from our families, environment, etc. and then extrapolating them to create our world. Usually, this is where we decide to stick with what we know, because we have a basis for functioning. But is this basis for what we want to have in our lives?

If we start asking questions (What can I know about this situation? What is truly happening here?) with the inner openness to receive something else than what we think we know, life provides...

How can we ask such questions? One way is with the intention to open up to our inner truths and accept whatever comes up.

Why is changing our views important? One element would be because we constantly change and beliefs which may have served us in the past may no longer be best at supporting us now. Questioning where we are in our lives and our choices can bring about change, if we don’t fall into the trap of self-judgment, guilt or whatever mechanisms we have learned we need to implement whenever we see there is room from improvement.

Turning to nature is for me a way to facilitate connection with myself and being present, plunging into an environment in which I can receive further information about where I am and what I can change in my life.

Elements such as water, can teach us so much about the natural flow that is or can be within us. One such moment was for me in relation with the Ganges, one of the world’s most sacred rivers, which I had the privilege of bathing in. Imagine that such a flow, revered by so many people, could be contributing to what you are experiencing in the moment and could be regarded as a teacher. Leaving aside what you should be doing there according to one religion or another, would the cold water, vibrant nature and present moment show you how or support you to connect with another part of yourself? Observe what the moment brings, how you may feel inside and what happens on the outside; witness the feelings and emotions or thoughts rushing through and the people or noise around you. What if instead of the automatic response to get annoyed and resist, you would let go? What if you could take a moment and simply be?

Allowing ourselves such moments of connection, not getting stuck to thoughts and emotions, can bring us to hear, see, feel, touch and breathe in new information about ourselves and others. What kind of truths could we become aware of?

In only a couple of seconds, as we did above, we can shift our perspective from being absorbed into what is happening to us (thoughts, feelings, emotions, environment, etc) into being present with what is around and inside us. And choice can follow, as once we realize what is going on, we can reroute our behaviours based on observation. The key is of course, practice, and the willingness to live and be in the process, rather than understanding it.

Breathe. Go deep. Receive.