Looking at my own life, I would say that I am on a conscious path of attempting to embody a holistic life. I define holism as emphasizing the vital interconnectedness of all experience both objective and subjective. As in Buddhist terms this could be likened to Dependent Origination or in Pali, Pratitya Samutpada which is similar to the post-modern view of objective and subjective, outer and inner experiences are viewed as inseparable, each shaping each other. This is the philosophy that nothing exists in a vacuum; everything co-arises and falls in conjunction with everything else. I try to live each day as mindful and integrated as possible. I kind of liken this concept of holism to a compass or beacon. When I get off course, it generally shows up in my life as body sensation such as contraction or it can show up in my life like a belief or thought .If one thinks about it, we are always whole, however I do not feel that way very often. Holism to me has something to do with the restoration of the natural mind, body spirit and subtle body. I am already whole as I move towards being even more whole. The more integrated and inclusive I am with everything else the more whole I become. It feels like there is a movement or momentum involved, but holism is beyond the confines of time and space. Are we really moving towards anything and is time involved? Is that just a concept in my mind?

I find it interesting that all of us, except maybe an enlightened person, live and look through a veil of condition consciousness, which tells us that we are separate. Conceptually I know that we are connected; however, to live it authentically and naturally takes real conscious effort of remembering our true nature. I do this by nurturing and creating experiences which involve deep inquiry and curiosity to arise i.e. meditation, yoga, and my studies. For I feel that I must be curious like a child. I feel that karma (action) yoga is key. Currently I am training and practicing Integrative Restoration Meditation (iRest), a contemporary form of Yoga Nirda. Yoga Nidra tells us that there are many sheaths or koshas that make up the human condition. Each sheath is whole in itself and yet works in conjunction with all the other layers. All affect how we see and interpret the world. And in the center, is that part of us is something that is perfect, whole and has not been touch by the world, experiences, thoughts or emotions. It is our true nature, that part of us that will allow or enables us to show up in each moment completely authentically and integrated and whole.

In order to pierce the veil of conditioned conscious the practitioner must “work” with and explore with curiosity each of these koshas. Each contains messages. Everything is a messenger. Yoga Nidra says welcome, meet, greet and learn. I believe we always know what we need in every moment, which is a great way to show up in the world. I believe through our conditioning we have come to believe this is not so. Yoga Nidra takes away everything we are not. We are not the sensations, we are not the emotions, and we are not the thoughts and yet we are of the awareness of which all of this arises.

Everyone on the earth is in engaged in co-meditation. I often point at particular people, paradigms, political parties, and governments and so on in a judging manner. I take a stance of superiority while pointing out their hierarchy. I look at our country and how it engages in war. I often fail to see my own neighbor as a person, with a life, a family, with feelings and emotions, especially the ones I do not “get along with.” If I cannot get along with a neighbor over something petty, then why does it surprise me when our government goes to war. I am blinded by ignorance, which tells me I am separate. I am however, making a conscious effort to see through the veil of delusion so I can show up more authentically in my life. Currently I am working with the following inquiry; I am separate, limited and powerless...question of self inquiry. Who am I? I am potent and unlimited. I am confused and limited in knowledge. Why am I??? I am unlimited and omniscient knowing. I am lacking and incomplete. What am I? I am a perfect being. I am time-bound and aging. When am I??? I am timeless and eternal. I am contracted and limited in space. Where am I?? I am unlimited and all pervasive. These mind states are neither good nor bad, simply a compass, or guide towards healing and holism. These mind states are pointers or messengers. Just like in the poem, “The Guest House” by Rumi. He writes, “Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.”
I learned a lot from the lectures and readings