What is Abundance?
February 28, 2007 — rickjarowIn essence, true abundance is freedom. It is fundamental well-being, a fulfillment that is not dependent on exterior conditions. Abundance is learning to trust life. It is reality lived fully— being conscious, present, and whole. Therefore, the quality of your attention is the genuine measure of abundance; and it is your greatest capital asset in any situation.
There is another very important aspect of abundance that may be seen as “the gift of the West,” and I would label it as “Messianic Hope.” Western tradition has been driven by a belief that individual lives have meaning through divine destiny. While such beliefs may be misused as a way of avoiding responsibility for the many social injustices of present-day life, they may also provide a sense of hope that arises from the deepest part of our being. This integral hope is the conviction that behind the despair and darkness, beyond the challenges, difficulties and doubts, there is a divine purpose that is leading us forward; there is a larger design that sustains our reality; there is a reason why we are here, and that our place in this grand design is assured, even though it may be presently obscured.
What we come to understand and affirm is that even through the most difficult circumstances of life, abundant beauty and richness may be found. It is our faith in the goodness and wisdom of things that allows us to work our way through life’s darkest moments. In this way, abundance is also faith in the basic goodness of life. It is saying, “yes” to all that we can know of life—including the suffering that surrounds us. In fact, it is our own sense of abundance that gives us the freedom to participate fully in our lives by doing what we can to assist others. If we do not ourselves feel rich, how can we give to others what has been given to us? In this way, abundance becomes the rainbow shining through the storm, the promise of our divine destiny.
April 2, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Last year, during one of my many trips to the library, I impulsively picked up the Ultimate Anti-Career Guide on cd. I had no idea what it was about, but I hated my current work, and was trying to find anything on changing careers. Little did I know that I was being initiated into something much larger than a mere job change.
The simple idea of a shift in perspective, from scarcity to abundance, completely altered everything!
Returning home after a 2 1/2 year absence (during the past holidays) made me realize that I had been taught, and reinforced over and over my entire life, that existence is scarcity. I really understood things for the first time about my family and friends. I realized why they are so miserable (like I was, when living there). Every day with them showed me how they thought that life is all about scraping by; about living from scarcity. It was really upsetting to witness.
After the holidays were over, and coming back to my new home, I had a lot of issues and confusion to deal with. Now I am beginning to feel okay with how things are. I think that reminding myself daily of the abundance in my life has truly helped me deal with these family issues. And it has made my life into a rapidly transforming process.
I really have to thank Mr. Jarrow for being a teacher, and initiating me into a life full of mystery and discovery!
April 2, 2007 at 10:59 pm
How very inspirational you are Aaron! Don’t forget to thank yourself for making that long journey of first opening your mind and then traveling from head to heart.
I’ve seen the same things in my journey. People living in lack and yet they’ll tell you they want abundance in their life. They simply don’t know how to accomplish it. We are so ingrained and habituated in our patterns that very few people ever break out. [but the beauty is EVERYONE can]
As you said in your message it’s upsetting and it brings up issues, a word of encouragement: the issues will re-occur! Maybe my words don’t appear to be encouraging? I remember the first time an issue came back up for me. Iwas so disappointed in myself because I thought that processing an issue meant that it would never reappear (yes I was naive) What I’ve experienced is as I “dealt with” an issue it came back for processing on a deeper level, or if I cleared that one completely it’ll reveal another one. When that happens:
Remember you already made the biggest shift you’ll ever need….everything from here is a matter of fine tuning your alignment…..and…..
Remember there are whole communities of people right here in blogland that support your change and KNOW that it’s possible for you…no matter where you come from or what you were taught. :)
April 5, 2007 at 12:35 am
Perhaps one aspect of Abundance is being upfront about our lack. We all have “good days” and “bad days,” “good years” and “bad years.” And we all die, and probably get born again.
A novena for Noveed Shakabai - student, workshop participant, constant caller, who could not find a place in this world. He committed suicide awhile back. I just learned of it a few days ago. I am shocked, sad, feel impotent about not being able to “help.” I do not know why.
I choose not to hide behind an ideology or a “teaching.” Sometimes its great to feel bad or exhausted and just crash in front of a t.v. We slip and fall. We get to do it again and again. Its precious, this time on earth. When we can try to hear one another.
I agree with and want to support this ideal of community. In the “old days” community tied people into a way of having to be to fit in. And being ostracized was the worst.
But “freedom” does not equal independence. Doing it alone doesn’t count. Anyway, its impossible. Today’s quote from Henry Miller’s Colossus of Maroussi: “War is only a vast manifestation in dramatic style of the sham, hollow, mock conflicts which take place daily everywhere even in so called times of peace.”
A “community” might have offered other alternatives to Noveed. A community of acceptance.
We meet here in Poughkeepsie on alternate Thursdays. We have no format and we are finding our way. But just breathinjg in and breathing out and acknowledging the possibility of peace, of light, of freedom, of eternity feels good. Art, music, dance, meditation, yoga, samp collecting - anything that illumines - is transgreesive of lack. We looked at some beadwork the other day. Who has the time and patience to make something so attentive to detail, so concerned with every movement, an object holding such meaning.
Whenever I hear or see someone pass, someone who graced my life, it makles we want to get into the fray, and keep trying to get it right.
OM
April 17, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Thank you for sharing this Rick. It felt deeply personal when I read it. It felt devastatingly personal when I read an email a couple days ago with news of Sam Vala’s self termination. I met Sam in 2003 when he came to two 6 day workshops that I set up in the U.S.
I felt shock, sadness, and some guilt and anger as I digested the news. I felt like I had failed to keep my community whole and healthy, and on some level I knew I had. Intellectually I could say that I wasn’t responsible, but my heart asked why I hadn’t been more diligent at being my brothers keeper? I stepped away from Sam, as I have many people through the years, when I perceive them to be too needy or clinging or demanding of my time.
This experience has helped me realize why I’ve mostly been involved in blog communities the last few years, because they feel less messy to me. I want to give and receive support, but I don’t want people calling me all the time with their problems.
What does it mean to be a community of acceptance?