Beloved Children of the Divine:

What are you learning these days? Some of you are recognizing that the path at hand is very "ripe" with opportunities to experience yourself at even more forthright and intensely honest levels. For those of you who feel like you are being required to face new and previously undiscovered personal demons, just be aware that you have much company along the path. This year's theme, it would appear, is coming into focus nicely as we now move into the second quarter of a fascinating 2001.

If you are feeling that you've not quite grasped this theme, I'll here give you the topic for consideration, observation, contemplation and transformation. In short, it comes down to what you might call "Brutal Self Honesty." Now, of course, you do not need to be brutal with yourself or with others - life circumstances will probably provide that for you. What you are learning is how to see through all the controlling and manipulative little games your ego plays on you. Of course, the goal is to liberate yourself from those controlling, manipulating tactics. In so doing, you learn to go free. Since that is the goal of all viable spiritual practicing, the energy configurations of this year should be most helpful, if provocative, as they play out.

If you observe carefully, you will note there is a western preoccupation with feeling entitled to "the good life," however such may be personally defined. This sense of entitlement masquerades as a form of self esteem, but is actually far from that mark. You may notice it when you hear people say, "I deserve" such and such; or "I'm entitled" to this or that. While the one speaking may actually think s/he is speaking from a point of self respect, often such comes only from a place of self indulgence. Because it represents a position that is exclusively "I" focused, it is not particularly beneficial to the Earth process at this time. In fact, this manner of thinking often has the net result of perpetuating the illusion of separation, which has caused so much unnecessary pain and suffering here on Earth. While this sort of thinking certainly be found in individuals the world over, it seems particularly rampant to the western mind in these time.

By now you have probably guessed that if you are getting this lesson, you have been "signed-up" for the course in redefining this particular trickery of mind. You see, it is very important that the transcending of this type of mind manipulation come from this part of the world. Since so many in other parts of the world look to you westerners (in ways you probably haven't even thought of) for signs of leadership, part of your service to Earth is worked out in the transformation and transmutation of collective mind sets. While such may not prove to be an easy task, it certainly will not be a boring task!

Please recall that when I gave you the topic of focus (above), I specifically said "Brutal SELF Honesty." You must recognize that being brutally honest with yourself is a magnificent tool for your own growth. However, being brutally honest at the expense of someone else can set up karmic implications that could likely work against your goal toward personal liberation. One must be careful here, or face the likelihood of becoming judgmental and/or arrogant. It is good, indeed necessary, to strip away your own points of egoic manipulation. However, be sure to recognize itis not your job to disect the lives of others.

As you commit to seeing through the little manipulative ploys of you own ego, there are likely to be moments where you become seduced by its more effective tactics. Remember: the goal is brutal self honesty, not self brutality. Do not indulge the little destructive levels of your ego by flagellating, humiliating, demeaning or condemning yourself. Rather, stand firm in your spiritual maturity, releasing the moments of emotional charge that may arise with the enhanced inner seeing, and simply observe the movement that occurs.

Now what, exactly, are you watching for? You are watching for the ego's point of entrance into your thoughts and feelings. Peer deeply into you own process to see how the ego efforts to exert control in your thoughts, words and actions. Observe it, when you can, with humor and lightness befitting your True Self. Recognize the folly of it's constant vigilance, and promise yourself to become equally vigilant in your spiritual endeavors. Let yourself observe how it tries to imitate the Higher Self in certain settings, and then how it tries to fool you into thinking it is your Higher Self in other situations. Keep your good humor, and learn to face yourself more and more honestly, learning from every step of the way.

As you work your way along this interesting and challenging journey, you will eventually come to recognize that far from being entitled to any sort of charmed life, you actually are indebted to the Giver of Life for the Gift of Life. Your journey will require you to discern both your fate and your destiny, and to live your life in accordance with the Great Mystery that brought you forth, sustains you, and will call you Home.

Please join me, for our listening adventures this month, in considering Fate vs. Destiny, a lecture I recently gave in Denver. Indeed, I hope it will be for you a blessing as you progress on this important segment of your individual and collective spiritual journey. May you have many blessings for your desire and commitment to facilitate Earth at this time.

(Note: this is a good meditation to read slowly into a tape recorder and play back for yourself when your actual meditation time comes): Continue sitting on Sundays from noon to 12:15 in your own time zone. Become aware of yourself just sitting and breathing. As thoughts arise, let them dissolve. Do not engage them. It matters not whether they are exalted thoughts or degraded thoughts. Do not engage them. Let yourself become more and more aware of just you, body and mind, sitting there and breathing. Feel the profound sense of being starkly alone in this moment. No matter how many others are doing this meditation, no matter how connected the Universal flow of Creation, keep your focus on this stark moment: you are alone, simply sitting and breathing. Know well this silent spaciousness.

Move deeper and deeper into the aloneness, but do not engage loneliness. With your full consciousness, observe yourself alone in this moment, just sitting and breathing. See yourself as if you were sitting across from yourself, observing only yourself. As you observe, ask, "Who is this?" In the spaciousness of the moment, ponder the question.

Now shift your focus so the observer self is positioned behind you. From here, observe your own backside. Observe yourself sitting and breathing. As you observe, ask, "Who is this?" In the spaciousness of the moment, ponder the question.

Now move your conscious upward until you can look down on yourself from the ceiling. Again, observe yourself below, alone, sitting and breathing. As you observe, ask, "Who is this?" In the spaciousness of the moment, ponder the question.

Now notice how you feel about what you are viewing. Does your ego like what it sees, or does it dislike what it sees? Does it approve, or does it disapprove of this lone creature who sits and breathes? Does it judge this exercise to be a good exercise? A negative exercise? A boring exercise? A beautifully spiritual exercise? Just notice. Notice also when it gives you a diversionary thought or feeling. Pay close attention to how your ego tries to draw you off track.

Now bring yourself into a fully awakened and attentive state. Choose whichever position for viewing is most workable for you (i.e.: the front, the back or above), and continue to just watch yourself sit and breathe. Keep watching until the ego goes completely quiet; until there is no thought, no feeling, no judgment, no engagement, no wishing for something else. Just watch yourself sitting alone and breathing.

From this neutral space, ask, "Who or What is It that sits here breathing through me?" In the spaciousness of the moment, ponder deeply the question. Then, "When I look thus, what do I really see?" Again, rest in the spaciousness of the moment and consider the question. Should you lose the neutral space, go soft and reclaim it again. Then, repeat these questions, staying fully awake, fully alert, and answer from your most honest self.

Continue in this neutral space, without engaging any egoic preoccupation. Notice the calm stillness from the neutral space and claim it as your natural state. Know that your neutral state encourages the arising of your most honest self. Hold this neutrality, and for your remaining time, let your attention come to the photo below of Tempe, a 40-year old Tibetan man who looks back at you from this photo. Know a piece of his story, that he chose to leave his beloved Tibet and flee to Dharamsala, India, in order to continue his spiritual training and to be close to his beloved teacher, the Dalai Lama. At the time this photo was taken, he had just arrived in Dharamsala, and was beginning his act of supreme service, a lifelong solitary retreat. May you experience dedication as strong as his in your own spiritual training and in your acts of selfless service.

Your beloved Mentor and Friend,
Djwhal Khul

Tempe