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https://www.futurehealth.org/articles/Bodhi-Bit-Where-do-You-Li-by-Grant-Lawrence-091102-143.html

January 23, 2010

Bodhi Bit--Where do You Live in Your Mind?

By Grant Lawrence

No matter how we have lived our lives we can "open the gates of heaven" in this very moment by changing the focus in our minds.

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"In what realm do you now live? If you are hungry for power, love, and self-recognition, you live in the Preta world, or hungry ghosts. If you are motivated only by thirsts of the human organism, you are existing in the world of the beast." Source: Buddhist Studies

Religions generally promise some sort of reward for believing or living a certain way. In Christianity and Islam there is a heaven or paradise promised for the true follower. Many believe this heaven is a physical place in which people will live in eternity in some sort of happiness or bliss.

But a previous insightful experience has pointed me to another understanding about heaven and hell.

Once while experiencing a convulsion (the only one in my life), I had a profound revelation. At the time, I became aware of many people around me that had previously died. I thought in a split second that I must surely be dying. At that point, I received a telepathic reassurance from my former family and friends that they were not here for me, but just wanted me to say hello to everyone.

Immediately after coming through that experience, the idea came into my head that "You die where you are." Obviously that was a strange thought but the idea was clear to me.

The insight gained from that experience helped me to understand that whatever level of consciousness a person attains in this life would be what that person carries with them when they pass on to the next phase of existence.

The implications were clear to me. If a person wanted to have a better experience in the after life, then they better be getting about to having a better consciousness in this life.

But even if we don't except the idea of an after life. This idea of expanding consciousness has tremendous implications for our experience in this life.

A zen story clearly demonstrates this:

A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: “Is there really a paradise and a hell?”

“Who are you?” inquired Hakuin. “I am a samurai,” the warrior replied.

“You, a soldier!” exclaimed Hakuin. “What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar.” Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued: “So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head.”

As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: “Here open the gates of hell!” At these words the samurai, perceiving the master's discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.

“Here open the gates of paradise,” said Hakuin. Source: Brave New Traveler

The master in the parable was able to quickly show to the Samurai that heaven or hell were real as states of mind. The master demonstrated that we could attain a hellish state or a heavenly state within a matter of moments depending on our emotional and spiritual focus.

The Samurai "opened the gates of hell" by focusing on his self and his pride. But when the Samurai opened his mind to the master and put away that self focus, he was able to "open the gates of heaven."

The gates of heaven and hell were opened to the Samurai not only in his life time but in a matter of a few moments.

In fact, mental and emotional states do fluctuate. But it is the level of understanding that we come to in this life that helps determine how we cope with difficulties and suffering. No human is able to avoid suffering and, unfortunately, some of us are faced with terrible difficulties in this life. Still, an awareness of our connectedness and relatedness in this web of life and a compassion for all of life raises our consciousness to a blessedness of being.

This blessed being means merely that we are able to be a blessing to others and for that we come to live in a consciousness of Love.

The
Bodhisattvas, saints, and the holy ones are blessed beings that have attained that state of Loving consciousness that seeks to help others. They have learned that their lives are not separate from others and they have opened their hearts and minds to others in selfless service. They have been able to "open the gates of heaven." In the same way, there are numerous other beings that live with very little consideration for others. Some even seek power and enjoyment from harming others. These beings "open the gates of hell" by living in an illusion of 'self.' An illusion of a separate existence, in which their self focus blinds them to the Truth of life.

But I believe that no matter how we have lived our lives we can "open the gates of heaven" in this very moment by changing the focus in our minds. Obviously there will be a certain pattern of physical and psychic activity that we have to experience (Karma) from our past energy choices. But we can experience this Karma with a grace of being in which our focus is no longer on ourselves but on all of us.

This Heavenly mental habit is what will create new patterns of energy. It will enable us to actively help others and experience a consciousness and a life of Love.

Mental habits have to be practiced and cultivated, but if we change our mental focus we can "open the gates of heaven" right in this very life. Yes, even in this very instant.



Authors Website: http://grantlawrence.blogspot.com/

Authors Bio:
I work as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a School Counselor in Gallup New Mexico.
I am an advocate for Higher Consciousness as being the most peaceful and helpful way for humanity to move past present circumstances.

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