Find the voice of your Being.  It will arise out of the silence.  Find that inner place of knowing.  It is at the very heart of silence.

Just a reminder that we need gently used boys and girls coats, hats, scarves, gloves, pants, shirts, sweaters, dresses, skirts, socks, shoes, boots in all sizes. All donations are sent to Waynonaha Two Worlds for distribution to two American Indian Reservations in Maine. It is extremely cold in the most northern part of coastal Maine and they are in dire need of assistance.

Please bring your donation to the Center for Inner Healing, 175 W. Old Country Road, Hicksville, New York until December 31st.

For more information, contact Maria at 516-248-5346.
 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU FROM US.

A SILENT PRESENCE IN A BREATHING BODY

A silent presence in a breathing body, that's what you are! In fact, that's what we all are. Sounds sort of esoteric, but it's actually quite simple and insightful. I learned it from Leonard Jacobson many years ago. I just never fully understood it until recently. I thought I'd share it with you now. Here goes.

To fully appreciate the significance of those words and what they mean, it would be helpful for you to have a physical experience of them. Here's how to do that.

First, find a quiet place. One that will remain quiet for at least five to ten minutes. Sit down, take off your shoes and center yourself. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Let all tension go and take a second breath. This time, hold it for a few seconds until it grows a bit uncomfortable and release it. As you do, release all remaining tension and now release any remaining thoughts from your mind.

Just remain quietly sitting for about 30 seconds until you feel fully relaxed.

Now feel your hands. You use them all day long, every day, but you often don't notice them at all. Notice them now. Without moving them. Just notice how they feel at the end of your arms. Feel them fully. Feel your forearms and then your upper arms. Next, feel your shoulders and neck. Then the back of your head and your face. Now move your silent observation down to your trunk and feel your body with your inner attention. Move further down feeling your legs, knees, calves and ankles. Last, feel your feet as they rest upon the floor or ground. Feel how they feel and how they literally ground you to the surface.

Now, ask the simple question: "Who is feeling this body?" The simple answer is "I am". Who is that you ask? A silent presence. The You that is You is a silent presence within your breathing body. Who is feeling this breathing? Again, "I am".

Consider if you lost one of your limbs, would you still be you? Of course. If you lost all your limbs, would you still be you. Absolutely. The You that is You has nothing to do with your body or even your mind. You are much more than either of them. You are a silent presence, presently residing inside your body. You are immortal. Nothing will ever destroy You, even when your body or mind are gone. You live on forever. You may change form, but you are never destroyed. You are a silent presence.

In short, You are immortal. When you truly get in touch with knowing that simple fact, everything will change. None of the normal daily problems will seem the same and you'll see how trite they are in reality. For you are immortal. When you put everything in perspective, nothing is all that important because you are immortal in the long run. I'll be writing more on this in future letters. You can also write me at ted@tedrobinson.com with questions or comments.

If you want to learn even more about presence, visit Leonard Jacobson's website by clicking here.

IS AN ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE "GREENER" THAN A REAL TREE?