I have always wanted to write about my life growing up in a spiritual commune in San Francisco, but I wanted to be able to tell a story that was a force for good, not simply one that shocked or entertained. I contacted a personal coach late last year who helped me reconnect with my desire to write and I began doing research on authors I admire such as Louise Hay, Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer. In researching Louise Hay’s website I learned about Science of mind and the Centers for Spiritual Living. I googled the Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas and attended their New Year Day bowl burning ceremony where I was able to ceremonially let go of the things from the past year that had not served me and set a clear intention for the coming year. I have been attending their services since then and feel that I am in the right place and time to begin the process of sharing my experiences from a place of love and gratitude.
I have also been practicing Nichiren Buddhist with Sokka Gakkai International (SGI) for about sixteen years. The things I have learned through my study of Buddhism and the teachings of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda have helped me immensely and I have been blown away by the ideas I have learned about the interconnectedness of all life, the divine nature of all things and the possibility of creating anything you want in your life. I have achieved so much more than I ever thought possible by using these ideas and the practice of chanting nam-myoho-renge-kyo and I know that as I continue to open myself up to new thoughts, ideas and possibilities, even more is achievable.
All the thoughts and ideas that have helped me survive my painful childhood are synthesizing and coming together. As a child, the early work of Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer were lifelines to me that gave me the hope I needed to go on. As an adult my Buddhist practice helped me propel my life forward and achieve my goals. And now, my experience at the Center of Spiritual Living is showing me how it all comes together. I am still doing my daily chanting and meditation practice, which acts as a way to re-align everything in my environment to bring about the highest good, and feel like the two philosophies complement each other perfectly. The theme for the year at the Center for Spiritual Living is Loving the Journey and I look forward to sharing my journey with you this year.
So far it has been amazing and I truly feel like I am on the right path. I don’t believe in coincidences and I know that I am in the right place to take my life to the next level. I have come so far and overcome so much. I am very pleased with where I am in my life today, but when Reverend Petra Weldes walks into the auditorium, the band plays and the chorus sings I feel so much love and acceptance that my heart just opens up, the tears flow and I see how much healing I have left to do. As I release the old through those tears I know I am making room for love, light and prosperity.
Today is my 37th birthday and starting this blog is a gift to myself. I may have continued to procrastinate about writing this, but today is also the Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon), and there is a new moon which symbolizes a good time to start new works in the Hindu religion. With all of these lining up on the same day, it feels like the perfect time to take a leap of faith and start sharing my story. I hope that you will follow along with my journey here as I share daily musing, childhood memories and most importantly the spiritual lessons I am learning along the way about how to live intentionally with gratitude, simplicity and love.
Liza
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