Conference hydra::dejavu

    
    	But doesnt not allowing yourself any indulgance in the so called
    "human weaknesses" - ever - put you out of balance too? Wheras the
    alcoholic is out of balance too - but on the other end of the scale.
    *Not* to advocate drinking, but cant being "rock hard strict" be
    as bad as "anything goes" - in it's own way?
    
    	Balance is just that - you tip either "pan" down to the stops
    and something is bound to manefest itself!
    
    	You base note would be a good entry in the Human Relations file
    too -
    
    	Joe Jas
    

         Dejavu!  I was just thinking of entering this topic myself!!
         
         I have never been more balanced (or centered) as I have these 
         last couple weeks.  I attribute that to many, many things, 
         including the love I feel emanating from many people in this 
         conference.  I have also come to some wonderful realizations 
         about *myself* at both this level and at a much higher level.
         
         The more spiritually that I'm focused the more intensely I 
         feel happiness, wonder, peace, and love.  My experiences and 
         friendships are intensified and enhanced in every way -- and 
         being sought out is a wonderful feeling of being needed and 
         brings me much joy.  I had a wonderful, surprising experience 
         yesterday that originally made me think "I can't believe it!"  
         And then I COULD believe it because of my belief that there's 
         no such thing as coincidence, and I realized that it was 
         meant to happen then.  I was on such an energy *high* 
         yesterday that I went into the bathroom several times just so 
         I could laugh out loud!  *8-)  (BTW, I was the only one in 
         there at the time...)
         
         I know that with such lofty mountains come some deep valleys, 
         but my efforts to maintain centeredness IS my focus and what 
         I concentrate all my energies on.  Because when I am focused, 
         I love my job, myself, and everything around me goes *my* 
         way.  And that really does include everything from parking 
         spaces to smiles!  This spiritual centeredness takes love 
         (especially self) and meditation, which for me are 
         simultaneous.
         
         
         "If I had the chance I'd ask the world to dance..."
         
         Carla
         

    RE: .1
    
    For me, it's not so much a matter of not allowing yourself indulgences,
    or being strict with yourself...it's more like many of the things
    that once appealed to you, no longer do.  They don't seem "fun"
    anymore...but the tradeoff is worth it because what I gain from being
    in tune with my Higher Self (the part of you also known as concience)
    is a joy like nothing I've ever experienced...those rare times when
    I am. 
    
    Being quite young (22) and living in a college town, and being one
    who likes his brew, I certainly don't lead a monk-like life at
    all...but I think this is holding me back from the heights I could
    achieve.  When I have been indulging excessively, I do *not* feel
    very spiritual, enlightened, or peaceful...in fact I seem to tune
    in to a part of myself that is more animal than human...but this
    is a topic for another note.
    
    It has never been effective for me to try to force myself to do
    something for "my own good"...suppressing desires seems to make
    them rear their head all the more vociferously at some time in the
    future and I just end up making up for lost time...I have come to
    the conclusion that I just have to get some of these things out
    of my system (better now than when I'm 35 and married with 2 kids)...and
    I think we are much more effective in eliminating "undesireable" things
    from our lives when they just seem to not be giving us as much as
    they are taking and we get tired of it and quit, than forcing ourselves
    to be "rock hard strict" with ourselves.  
    
    DW
    

re: previous

	The "rock hard" denial that you mention is a guideline or
a goal.  I do not consider myself a monk.

I gave up the smoking and alcohol (still may have some wine, rarely)
because of the effect these things have on the body and the higher
self.  I can't really function with the awareness I seek if I am in
an altered state.

I am fully capable of having a wonderful time dancing, playing and 
being.  I don't (personally) get the lift that the stimulants used to 
give.  It is as .3 said, these things don't work for me anymore so
I don't use them.  If I do have something to drink, it is as a result
of conscious thought, not habit and not for getting high.

The fact that one seeks balance in one's life is in my mind the 
beginning to achieving it.

I was in quite a different mindset when I was 22 then now (age 35).  I 
admire your awareness.  Stay with it.  The pieces to the puzzle we 
call life take awhile before they fit into place.

An aside...

I was roller skating last week and there was an old man, at least 60+ 
years, with silver grey hair skating around.  He was wearing a t-shirt 
that said on the back "I am a virgin,  This is an old shirt."

I asked him if any of the young women propositioned him.  He said no, 
but that he was very patient!  He did of course smile.

Let me conclude by saying that one can have a spiritual life and still 
have a great time.  You notice I didn't say anything about limiting 
sex.  I've done my time with celibacy, and that part of the worldy 
passions I still try and deal with. :-)

What this all comes down to is choices and making them work for you so 
that you still FEEL GOOD when their done.

This life is enough of a struggle at times as it is, got to have fun 
down here.  Look how beautiful it is out there with the changing of 
the leaves...

- Howard 

(Got_to_find_a_woman_be_good_to_me_won't_hide_my_liquor_try_to_serve_me_tea)

    
    	An interesting aspect of a balanced system is that it can be
    oscillatory - you can swing one way, then the other, then back again
    - maybe for years...but over all the time, you're still balanced
    - just unstable.
    
    	Joe Jas
    

re: .5

Hey, that's me!  Balanced and unstable.

		Dave

    Darn, ... I was going to say that!

    From the "Wizard of Oz"
    
    Dorothy: "But, how do I start for Emerald City?"
    Glinda: "It's always best to start at the beginning, and all you
    do is follow the yellow brick road"
    
    DW

    Would you believe balanced and unstable?
    
    I would; sounds just like me . . .
    
    Marcia

    Oops!  I got that wrong . . . I meant UNbalanced and stable
    
    -M-

    DOG AND BUTTERFLY  by Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart)
    
   ** the picture on this album cover has a dog chasing a butterfly*
    
    There I was with the old man
    Stranded again, so off I'd ran
    Young world crashing around me,
    No possibilities of getting what I need
    He looked at me and smiled
    And said, "No no no no, child
    (CHORUS)
    See the dog and butterfly
    Up in the air he like to fly
    Dog and butterfly
    Below she had to try
    And she rolled back down to the warm soft ground
    Laughing, she don't know why
    She don't know why
    Dog and Butterfly
    
    Well I stumbled upon your secret place
    Safe in the trees, you had tears on your face
    Wrestling with your desires, frozen strangers stealing your fires
    The message hit my mind, the only words that I could find
    Were see the dog and butterfly
    (Repeat chorus)
    
    We're getting older, the world's getting colder
    For the life of me, I don't know the reason why.
    Maybe it's living, making us give in
    Hearts rolling in, taken back on the tide
    We're balanced together, like ocean upon the sky
    
    Another night in this strange town
    Moonlight holding me light as down
    Voice of confusion inside of me 
    Just begging to go back to where I'm free
    Feels like I'm through
    Then the old man's words are true
    
    See the dog and butterfly
    Up in the air he like to fly
    The dog and butterfly
    Below, she had to try.
    And she rolled back down to the warm soft ground
    A little tear in her eye
    But she had to try
    She had to try
    Dog and butterfly.

    NOTE: "Dog and Butterfly" should have listed S. Elsin along with
    Ann and Nancy Wilson as the writers
    ***********************************************************************
    "MY MAN" written by Bernie Leadon, performed by the Eagles
    
    Tell me the truth, how do you feel
    Like you're rolling so fast that you're spinning your wheels
    Don't feel too bad, you're not all alone
    We're all trying to get along.
    
    With everybody else trying to go their way, 
    You're bound to get tripped, and what can you say?
    Just go along till they turn out the lights
    There's nothing you can do to fight it
    No man's got it made 'till he's far beyond the pain
    And we who must remain go on living just the same.
    
    I once knew a man, a very talented guy
    He'd sing to the people, and people would cry
    You knew that his song came from deep down inside
    You could hear it in his voice, and see it in his eyes
    So he'd travel along, touch your heart and then be gone
    Like a flower, he bloomed till that old 
    Hickory wind called him home
    My man's got it made; he's gone far beyond the pain
    And we who must remain go on living just the same
    
    We who must remain go on laughing just the same.

    
    When I'm in balance, I feel so free,
    Dancing happily as can be.
    
    		- Cindy Painter, Oct.12, 1987