Change is the way of life... do not fear it...

CHANGE
by Brent Lenhard, Redondo Beach, California USA
(my sister Rebecca Lenhard's eldest son and my nephew)

Change is the way of life
Do not fear it
But,
Do not take it wholeheartedly.
Change can bring sorrow,
But,
Do not dwell on this sorrow,
For it will only destroy you.
Nature changes every season.
Does it grieve for the old Bluebirds that die?
No, but, listen to these words, child,
We are part of Nature,
Every one of us.
So, do not despair for the old Bluebird who
has died,
Celebrate his long life.
Remember these words, child,
We are all part of nature.

This poem was written by my nephew Brent Lenhard a few years ago... around the time of my father's passing in March of 2006... Brent was only about 13 years old when he wrote it.. now he is an aspiring literature student who will go to college after he graduates highschool in June 2012.  I believe this poem shows that he is what is called an "old soul",  and that he will be successful as a spiritual writer in due time.

YOU RAISE ME UP .....

You...... raise..... me..... up..................

the formless... the essence... consciousness...

When life takes away the forms that you thought were the foundation of your life, what's left? The life that needs no foundation—that is the foundation. The formless. The essence.-- Eckhart Tolle

Relationships are not here to make you happy-- they are here to make you conscious. -- Eckhart Tolle

 

Eckhart Tolle has long been one of my favorite spiritual teachers.  I began to read his books about ten years ago when they were first being published (THE POWER OF NOW) and the later best seller (A NEW EARTH)... along with his many video recordings.  Finally,  I was blessed to attend one of his live teachings at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in October 2007, along with my sister Rebecca Lenhard of Redondo Beach.  That was a high point in my spiritual journey in fact.  Being in Eckhart's presence was indeed like the darshan I had received in the presence of Hindu saints and satgurus, as well as saints of other religions, such as the Dalai Lama.  There is a certain "vibration", or spiritual energy, or "aura", that emanates from a true master,  and that energy is there in the presence of Eckhart.  

Eckhart's teachings borrow from many traditions,  but I feel the influence of the East throughout his many works.  He has taught me to live in the present moment, the eternal Now. 

Places that call my soul...

The first place that calls my soul... is where I am living now... Ames, Iowa... the university town where I have been living for the past these many years.... of course,  to educate students has been my calling for some time now...

but I am now looking forward to the "retirement" phase of my life.. and in Vedic culture,  that is the time where one retires fully into the forest and beyond the age of 75,  becomes completely engrossed in spirit as a sunnyasi...

now the three places that are calling me home so to speak for this phase of life include,  and not in any particular order..

Rishikesh, India.... Encinitas, California..... Vedic City,  Iowa......

these three places have a pull on my soul....

for travel of course,  Tapanga Canyon, LA, California (where my older son Michael lives) and  Burlington, Vermont  (where my younger son Peter lives now) are all on the horizon..  as is all of India... especially throughout the incredible state of Uttarakhand... not to mention Orlando, Florida and Cabo, Mexico.. exciting timeshare destinations...

and I did resonate well with Sedona, Arizona when I visited there... incredible Red Rock country replete with strange energy vortices sacred to the native peoples of the area...

and so the whole world does beckon me...  for if I was really free to do so... I would visit everywhere on this planet..

namaskar friends