This past weekend was the Quantum Ho’oponopono event led by quantum psychologist Dr. Garland Landrith and myself. It was a meeting of science and mysticism. It was exhilarating. We filmed it and we’ll release the DVD set later. For now, I wanted to talk about something that surfaced at the event.
A few days earlier a woman mentioned that at a dinner party her friends discussed how to tell when you’re enlightened. I thought that was a fascinating topic. It’s certainly better than discussing the latest exploits of actor Charlie Sheen.
Their conclusion was this: if you could resolve a trigger in your emotions in thirty minutes or less, you were enlightened.
Meaning, if someone said something nasty and you got upset, you’ve been triggered. But if you could release that trigger quickly, they said you were enlightened.
I don’t agree at all.
Anyone who can handle emotional upsets fast is simply a skilled psychological technician. They have tools and know how to use them. That’s wonderful. That’s terrific. That’s healthy. That’s inspiring.
But that’s not enlightenment.
So at the Quantum Ho’oponopono event, I asked , “What is enlightenment?”
If you do a Google search, you’ll find the word “enlightenment” refers to an 18th century intellectual movement sometimes called the Age of Reason. I’m sure that’s not what the dinner party was discussing.
If you dig deeper, you find the word used to describe a state of awakening in Buddhism and Vedic thinking. That’s probably what the dinner crew meant. I prefer the word “awakening” over “enlightenment” but let’s go with the latter.
What is enlightenment?
It’s the state where you have merged into the background consciousness of life. You’ve dissolved as ego into the Witness of life. “You” are the Divine.
I describe all this in my book, The Awakening Course. One of my favorite books on the subject is Awakening to The Dream by Leo Hartong. It’s worth reading. (And no, I don’t know the author.)
At the Quantum Ho’oponopono event, I urged people to look past their thoughts…past their emotions…past their body…to the “background” sky to it all.
Something in them (and in you) is observing it all.
What is that?
That “background” in your awareness is the shared quantum field in each of us. When you merge with it and become it, you are enlightened.
I don’t know of any way to make enlightenment or an awakening happen. That would be the ego trying to manipulate the Divine. In my recent books and audios, I say you can prep for it, but you can’t will it.
Enlightenment comes by grace.
How do you prepare for it?
There are countless books, courses, rituals, laws, suggestions, principles, meditations, techniques and more, all created by people seeking to be enlightened (or even enlightened) and wanting to help you achieve that state, as well.
I’m not sure you need any of them. Including my own.
Meditation seems to be the most popular way to invite enlightenment. To help you understand where I’m coming from, let me give you two meditation related insights.
First, here’s the greatest meditation quote of all time:
“Meditation is not what you think.”
Think about that. (Or not.) 🙂
Second, here’s the greatest meditation of all time:
Relax into this moment…
Note what you are thinking but also note you are somehow noting that thinking…
Note what you are feeling and note you are not the feeling but something observing the feeling….
Note how your body feels but also note you are not your body but something inside of it aware of your body….
What all of this “noting” has in common is an observer.
That observer of it all is the source of it all.
The more you can meditate on it — listening to it, watching it, feeling it — the closer you will come to merging with it.
That’s where you will find enlightenment.
That’s where you can experience an awakening.
And it doesn’t take 30 minutes.
It’s there (here) right now.
And it’s free.
Ao Akua,
PS –Another way to find this “background” to life is to look at the off-white space this blog post is set on. The words are on it. The off-white space behind the words is the backdrop to life: it’s a sort of “witness.” You have a Witness in your mind. Note it right now. It’s there. (Here.)
TIP: Bodhidharma said, “Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher‘s help.”
There’s a wealth of tools and processes available for you to do inner work. But over the last two months I’ve been working with select musicians to create what I call “Healing Music.” In short, this is music that does the sweeping in your unconscious house. The results are amazing.
The beauty of this new form of healing is that you don’t have to do much more than relax and listen.
Years ago Pat O’Bryan and I created a series of Clearing Audios that use subliminal statements recorded by me and original music recorded by him to help people “get clear.” These have been very popular. Our first one, The Clearing Audio, is a hands-down all-time bestseller. It’s only ten minutes long, is easy to listen to, and does a great job of kicking out the limitations in the unconscious.
But I didn’t want to stop there. I wondered if full-length, inspired original music, with audible chants or lyrics, could do an even better job at healing.
I teamed up with two of my favorite people — modern Flamenco guitarist Mathew Dixon and singer/songwriter Sarah Marie — and urged all of us to create original healing music: full length audios that will do the job of helping to de-stress bodies and minds and guide us into a closer relationship with the Divine, and on to natural healing.
I also threw my hat in the ring and challenged myself to create my first original music album, too. I hired Daniel Barrett of the band Porterdavis to guide me through the music producing process.
We gave ourselves two months to complete our projects, starting from zero, and using the date of May 1 as our deadline. I was told I’d be on the cover of the May issue of Austin All Natural magazine — and I am as of today– so I figured all three of us could get exposure in the special issue.
We had our goal.
We had our deadline.
The next step was massive action.
Could we pull this off in time?
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” – Plato
What are the results?
Sarah Marie created seven mesmerizing songs on a CD called Opera Mantra. It’s heavenly music inspired by ho’oponopono (the Hawaiian system of healing I wrote about in my book, Zero Limits, coauthored with Dr. Hew Len). Sarah’s angelic, soaring voice, singing the healing phrases that have been proven to resolve problems, is unbelievably soothing. Her tracks invite repeated listening.
I feel my soul brighten as I listen to Sarah sing. One track alone brings happy tears as it opens my heart to Divine love. The whole CD is enchanting. Daniel Barrett said Sarah’s voice is “pure love.” Sarah’s seven tracks are designed to invoke the Divine and then help you merge with it. It’s truly moving. You can hear a sample by going to Opera Mantra.
“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without” – Confucius
Mathew Dixon created ten tracks of inspired guitar playing, called Music from Zero, using his modern Flamenco guitar style to musically wipe out energy blocks and any negativity. He added my voice as a subliminal (below conscious awareness) saying the four phrases in my book, Zero Limits (“I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, and thank you”). Just listening to his beautiful music makes me feel relaxed, at ease, and one with the Divine.
He, too, was inspired by the ho’oponopono healing method to create his original music. No lyrics but plenty of enlightened vibe to free the mind and body to be here now. This is the kind of music that offers the vibrations of bliss. Track names suggest what you’ll experience: “In the Moment,” “Source”, etc. He dedicated the CD to me, which I’ll be forever grateful for. Go to Zero Limits Music to hear samples.
“Music takes us out of the actual and whispers to us dim secrets that startle our wonder as to who we are, and for what, whence, and whereto.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
And me?
I created a CD of five long tracks of healing mojo music called Blue Healer. They’re a blend of blues style music with ancient chants. I played as many as seven instruments to create this music, including a very rare 1915 Gibson Harp Guitar. I also chanted special Hawaiian and Sanskrit phrases designed to heal issues and remove blocks. One track (#4) in particular is so potent that I doubt any problem or issue can remain while you listen to it. I describe it as “a freight train up your spine,” as it opens all the chakras and leads to a satori experience of awakening.
These five tracks are designed to be played as you meditate, work, play, drive, or rest. They are powerful. They move energy. They invoke spirit. Some are relaxing. Some are igniting. The “Gayatri Train” alone can help heal you. It rumbles your energy and stirs your soul. Sarah Marie contributed her enchanting voice to four of the tracks, which creates a beautiful feminine-masculine balance. You’ll love it. Go see Blue Healer.
My CD was out first, so some early reviews are already in:
Marc Gitterle said, “I am inspired by your CD, as it is just so beguilingly listenable, and great sounding.”
Donna Aloia said, “It is truly a work of art.”
Mindy Audlin said, “So cool!!! I LOVE it!”
Donna Fisher said, “I have been listening to the Secret Harp track over and over and over and over in my car. This song is so soothing and I even notice myself breathing more deeply as I feel like I breathe in the energy of the music.”
Again, just go to Healing Mojo Music to order Blue Healer.
“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Please note that having a clear intention, and a deadline, and taking action, led to all three of us getting our CDs done before our May 1st deadline.
“It’s amazing all that you can do…” – Jem
The idea behind all of these breakthrough audios is to allow the high vibration of inspired music to work on you. It’s music as guru. Or music as healer. It’s an easy way to help create the personal transformation you want, right down to healing stubborn issues that used to resist everything else. And again, all you have to do is relax and listen.
To paraphrase Emerson, these three breakthrough new audios are “…secrets that startle our wonder.”
What could be easier?
Ao Akua,
PS – Stay tuned for my next music CD, titled Strut! And other Songs of Motivation, Inspiration and Transformation, due out later this year. And my first public solo performance will be on a Las Vegas stage. (!) Sign up for free email updates right here.
Resources:
The Clearing Audio by Pat O’Bryan and Joe Vitale
Opera Mantra by Sarah Marie
Zero Limits Music by Mathew Dixon
Blue Healer by Joe Vitale
For almost a year I held phone masterminds (at no pay to me) with a client. It was a win-win because we supported each other in our quest to be the best – or so I thought.
We “Nevillized” our goals.
We “What If Upped” our intentions.
We “remembered” our successes.
It was thrilling, energizing, exhilarating and wonderful.
But one day I told my client that I received another standing ovation at a recent talk. I was sharing my success with someone who I thought would be inspired by it.
He was silent.
I later learned he felt sick.
When I explored why, he said my success made him ill.
“How much is enough?” he asked.
Think about this…
As long as we talked about an imaginary success, it was fine. But when I reported an actual success, it wasn’t fine.
What’s the difference?
In my experience, it’s often safe to imagine what you want but not safe to actually manifest it. Obviously, there’s a deservingness issue there.
When success is out of arm’s reach, it’s fair to fantasy having it; but grasp it and now it’s real.
Do you accept it or push it away?
It depends on your comfort level with success.
And how much is enough, anyway?
At what point is success “too much”?
Who says a certain level of success is acceptable but more isn’t?
I’ve been saying for decades that you can have virtually whatever you want as long as you don’t need it. If you need something, there’s never enough. If you’re satisfied with this moment and just welcome more, than “enough” isn’t even an issue. You just enjoy life. You accept more because it’s joyful to do so.
And looking at this issue even deeper, doesn’t concern over “too much” reveal a belief in scarcity?
As I explained in my bestselling audio program The Abundance Paradigm, your perception creates your reality. You can look at life and see scarcity or abundance. It depends on your mindset.
Someone who thinks it’s possible to have “too much” success is coming from the scarcity mindset. That’s fine if that’s what you choose. Most of us don’t consciously choose it, though. And once you realize you have a choice, why would you choose scarcity over abundance?
How good can you stand it, anyway?
My client who confronted me about “How much is enough?” when I mentioned my standing ovation, was pulling back from his own potential success. Self-sabotage stopped him. He hit his comfort zone of deservingness.
Decades ago I was taught to be inspired by someone’s success, not jealous of it.
When I was broke and struggling, I learned to see someone driving the nice car or living in the nice house and feel proud of them and inspired by them. It made a huge difference in how I felt about myself, and released energy that I could use to build my own dreams. Today my success is real.
The lesson here is to go for your inspired dreams without reservation or explanation, surround yourself with supportive people who truly want your success as much as you do, and enjoy your adventure forward as every moment is the miracle you seek.
Steve Jobs said —
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs
There’s no such thing as a ceiling on good, happiness, deservingness or “enough.”
Unless you think there is.
What do you think?
How much do you deserve?
How much is enough for you?
Ao Akua,
PS – I am loving the bubbly music of singer Jem (Jemma Griffiths). Here’s her video for her song It’s Amazing (on her latest CD, Down To Earth), which is a great reminder of all that you can do in your life. Life is amazing. You are amazing. Enjoy.
On a recent private call for students in my Miracles Coaching program, someone asked me how I achieved my level of spirituality and what they could do to attract it, too. I reflected on the flattering question and came up with the following:
1. Reading.
I’ve been a bookaholic since I was a teenager. Over the course of 57 years, I’ve read too many books to count. Not all were great. But numerous titles stand out as ones that influenced my spiritual thinking. Emerson and the Transcendentalists movement gave me a deep spiritual insight into the world back in the 1970s. The early Law of Attraction authors flipped me into the stage of empowerment, from William Walker Atkinson to Genevieve Behrend. Neville, of course, awakened me. So did Robert Collier. I’m a fan of everything by Byron Katie and David Hawkins. The Book of est nailed me, as did Why Is This Happening To Me…Again? I’d add listening to self-help audios also made a difference. Decades ago I drove around Houston, often unhappy and looking for work, listening to many programs from Nightingale-Conant. Today I’m published by them. I still read and listen. All of this education informed and inspired me, as well as made me more self-aware. I attribute this on-going study to my success today.
2. Meditation.
I’ve been doing some form of meditation virtually every day since 1980. At one point it was the Dynamic Meditations of Rajneesh; at another it was sitting in silence and focusing on breathing, or repeating a mantra. Later it was “intentional” meditation, where I visualized what I wanted to have or be. These days it’s usually ho’oponopono. Currently I’m experimenting with drumming as a way to clear and center. I think we need to do whatever it takes to connect to the Divine and hear Its whispered inspirations.
3. Coaching.
You might think I’m just trying to sell coaching, but the truth is my life didn’t skyrocket until I got a coach. An outside loving observer can help you see your limiting beliefs. It’s not likely you’ll see them on your own because your beliefs will appear as reality to you. It doesn’t have to be Miracles Coaching, but some form of coaching will help you move forward. There are many programs available. Miracles Coaching is just one.
No doubt there’s more to attracting spirituality, but the above have worked for me.
What has worked for you?
Ao Akua,
PS – I don’t know if this will help you attract wisdom or spirituality, but it’ll certainly move you: My first music CD, called Blue Healer, is ready. It contains five long tracks of what I call blues meets trance music, all designed to stir your energies and awaken your soul. More on it later, but for now go see The Blue Healer.
People often wonder why the Law of Attraction doesn’t seem to work for them. I’ve addressed topics like counter-intentions many times, which is part of the explanation. (You don’t attract what you consciously think, you attract what you unconsciously think.) But there’s also the issue of how you train your unconscious mind.
Let me explain:
Who’s listening when you say you are going to do something?
When you make an agreement with a friend, who’s listening besides your friend?
When you make an agreement with a company, who’s listening besides the company?
When you make an agreement with yourself, who’s listening besides you?
When you say you are going to do something – no matter how big or small – you best do it. Not only are other people listening, but so is your own unconscious mind. When you don’t keep your word, you communicate that nothing you say can be trusted.
I’m not just talking about legal agreements – though that’s part of the point. I’m talking about any agreement you make. And I’m spelling out that an “agreement” is any time you say you will do something.
Agree to meet for lunch at noon? That’s an agreement.
Agree to turn in the report by Friday at 3? That’s an agreement.
Agree to call a friend over the weekend? That’s an agreement.
So why am I stressing that not keeping these agreements is being heard by somebody other than you and whoever the agreement is with?
Here’s why:
Your own unconscious mind is listening.
When you say you will do something, and you don’t do it, you just taught yourself that you aren’t to be trusted. Or believed.
So the next time you say, “I intend to attract the perfect relationship,” your unconscious mind basically says, “How can I believe you? You didn’t keep your word before.”
As I mentioned above, people often wonder why the Law of Attraction doesn’t seem to work for them all of the time. Part of the answer is in how you trained yourself. When you say you intend to do something, and you don’t, you train your unconscious to distrust anything else you say.
But here’s the good news:
By the same token, when you say you will do something — however great or small — and you do it, you just trained your unconscious mind to trust you.
This is a way to build strength, inner conviction, and high integrity. And the next time you declare an intention or request to the Universe, it will believe you.
When you say you will do something, do it.
After all, you’re not the only one listening.
Ao Akua,
PS — Last year I declared I would create a music CD this year. My first one will be out on May 1st. I’ll be posting an article here soon about it, as well as about other “healing music” that you will love. I played a 1915 Gibson Harp Guitar on one track. (Pictured above) Sarah Marie sang on four of the tracks. Exciting stuff. Stay tuned.