In Pursuit of Balance: How to Join Heaven and Earth

 By Roland Torikian, Mayan Curandero (Healer)

“One moment now will give us more

Than fifty years of reason;

Our minds shall drink at every pore

The spirit of the season. Wordsworth

Working with people from diverse parts of the world over the last decade, from the Maya to Europeans, from the Tibetans to the Australians, from the San Miguelenses to the Gringos who live here in Mexico, I have observed a universal struggle to find balance amongst all cultures; balance at all levels - psychological, physical, emotional and spiritual. It seems human beings have forgotten how to nurture themselves and their environment. Just as the world revolves on a tilt in order to maintain its trajectory through space, perhaps we as humans need to be held between two diametrically opposed forces in order to keep going and not plummet off into a void ourselves. High versus low, left versus right, here versus there. Whatever means we employ to harmonize the conflicting aspects of our lives - ceremony or anti-depressants, religion or science, art or therapy - all of us are caught up in this struggle at some level.

Whatever our life situation, something is always wrong or out of place. “I am always injuring myself!” is a common complaint, along with “I find it impossible to still my mind!” or “I cannot sleep”. A favorite one is “My relationship is a disaster!” The list is endless, for no matter how hard we try, we find our own suffering irresistible, like biting into a delicious cream cake. We are quick to look outside ourselves to find the cause of our problems - the economy, the climate, the phase of the moon or our partners. Absurdly, we prefer conflict over resolution. The other day I spoke with a local resident, suggesting that instead of engaging antagonistically with her neighbours, she let go of whatever quarrel she had and move on. After careful consideration for several days she said, “I really wanted to go round and make peace but I just couldn’t do it, I have to be true to myself first!”

This “poor me” approach to life is rooted in fear and attachment and is a recipe for unhappiness. Fixating on what we want and how we would like the world to be goes against the natural flow. Resisting the way things are creates tension and anxiety. In order to be free of this anxiety we must let go of trying to control the world and surrender to ‘what is’. The idea of renunciation means we are willing to sacrifice that which harms us, being free from degradation. We are also willing to celebrate the inherent richness of life, rather than bemoan the imagined poverty of our existence.

In spite of ourselves, the human condition can be worked out. Or put more plainly, the conditions of our neurosis can be overcome. If we can give up our self-analysis and self-criticism we can cut through the fixation of “poor me” and begin to relate to life situations directly without self-sabotage. Genuiness comes from our desire to communicate with the world as it is, without the trappings of self-importance and personal history getting in the way. Balance comes from making friends with heaven and earth, earth as a grounding force and heaven as open space.

Earth is the ground that supports and promotes life; the place where we grow our food and build our homes. It is what ties us to our origins and traditions. It is our physical body, our daily routine and our connection to our families and friends. It is our vocation and place of worship. It is our supreme life support, for whatever calamities may come our way we only have a few feet to fall back to solid ground. There is a story of a pilot who lost the use of his legs when his plane crashed. Step by step, he learned how to walk again, defying medical science. However lost in our own suffering we become, the trees and rocks, winds and rivers lead us back to our true essence. The more we separate ourselves from this divine connection, the more we lose our way.

Earth symbolizes practicality and receptivity. When earth is grounded in us we feel stable and confident, open and trusting. We feel rooted in the immediacy of our everyday life and our efforts become consistent. We don’t rush or act impetuously but we are able to enjoy taking our time with situations and people: preparing the ground, planting our projects, nurturing them and being patient enough for them to bear fruit. Too often we cut the fruit from the tree before it is ripe, or give up too soon. If we follow the rhythms of the earth and the seasons we will be happy and successful in our lives and enjoy the benefits of a balanced mind and body.

Heaven is the boundless open sky, the realm of the Gods. It represents our experience of vastness or sacredness. The vision of Heaven is what inspires human greatness and creativity, our dreams, ambitions, ideals and aspirations. It is the moment-by-moment connecting principle of life. Without it we have nothing. It is an awareness of and willingness to act for the benefit of the universe. It is that which takes us out of our personal selfishness and problems and helps us act for the good of others. It is what makes us decent human beings.

To embrace Heaven fully we need to cultivate a spacious quality around us. A space so big that our problems can be resolved and illnesses cured; a space that is compassionate and forgiving enough to dissolve all our negativity before we react to situations and engage in conflict; a space to give up the drama and abuse; a space big enough to take brownies round to our neighbours or to make time in our day for meditation.

When Heaven is balanced in us there is room in life. Whatever manifests can be accommodated. We no longer resist what is happening but begin to let go. There is enough time, enough understanding and enough space for our emotions to breathe. We can allow sadness and joy, hope and fear to come and go without attachment. We can enjoy life without clinging to it and embrace change when it comes. Above all, we can learn to appreciate the miracle of the moment now… The spirit of the season.

Wisdom is what joins Heaven and Earth, mind and body. In our daily lives we must find a way to harmonize the opposing forces that prevail. The sitting practice of meditation is the main vehicle to accomplish this. Just sit upright on the ground and let the breath flow. Earth is our gravity and Heaven is the breathing space where we can lift up our chest and shoulders. Inhale; expand…exhale; dissolve. Joining Heaven and Earth means we can experience sacredness in ordinary activities. Whatever we do, we can do simply and directly, with great dignity. Making tea, morning meditation, or going to work all become pursuits of happiness. This morning I passed a very old Mexican on his hands and knees picking up weeds between the cobblestones. Although caked with dust, by the smile on his face I knew he was in Heaven. Since our state of mind determines our experience we must celebrate our state of mind. Daily practice and enlightenment are one. We should learn to walk with one foot in each world - the absolute and the relative, the universal and the particular. If we can learn to live in harmony with the principles of Heaven and Earth, then the four seasons and the elements of the world will conspire to help us find balance as individuals and as a society.

Roland Torikian practices Traditional Mayan Healing and conducts regular ceremonies and sweat lodges in San Miguel. For further information on personal consultations, house blessings or sweat lodges he can be contacted at rtorikian@gmail.com”

I received this by email today and was blown away by it, so had to share it with you on my blog.

If any of you are interested in joining the Nottingham sweatlodge, the dates for the forth coming sweats are:

23rd September, 21st October, 18th November and 16th December.

To get more information and to book email: turtlelodge@btinternet.com

You can get more info on sweatlodges at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat_lodge

http://www.feedback.nildram.co.uk/richardebbs/meditation/sweatlodge.htm