Finding Home and Living There
Chapel Sunday Lecture – May 1, 2022
given by Rev. Suzy Sisler
Home is the foundation on which you stand. Home is where your heart is. Your true home is where you came from, where you are and where you are going to. This is the Golden Thread of Truth that connects many philosophies together.
I want to talk to you this morning about something we are all familiar with. Something that we all do and we have all done. It’s vitally important to your life and well-being. I know that this sounds serious and I am serious about this. I’m not talking about breathing, or eating or drinking enough water or getting out and moving your body…even though all of those things are most important to keeping your body alive and functioning…but this is vitally important.
I am talking about touching into the depths of who you are, into the depths of your very being. Touching the infinite within you and finding your home there. That’s where your home really is…..and then energetically traveling out into the universe beyond yourself and finding your home there, as well. This is a practice that you can do every day, whenever you want to. It’s not hard, it takes a little practice, yes, but when you master it, it’s like stepping off into a soft, warm space of love and acceptance. Because you are OK there, you are always OK there! …It’s your home.
Within this space are healing and wellness, health and vitality. Within this space is the earth and nature and your connection to all other things that you share your existence with on this planet, in this universe, in this lifetime and in all lifetimes. Through this connectedness we find not only love and peace that supports us, but information and timeless knowledge, connection to Spirit and universal knowledge…and most importantly the undeniable knowing that you are part of something MUCH, Much bigger and greater than yourself!
Now you are probably saying to yourself about now – “I want some of what she’s having…..” yeah, I get it! But the truth is ..YOU CAN anytime!! You Do, You Will and you already have!! You came from Spirit- you are Spirit…from the universal void energy, the pool of infinite information and love. All you have to do is to take the time to go there, to be there, to be it within you and you within it.
So…What is IT?? That’s really the crux of the matter, isn’t it? And that’s what I want to share with you today. So now as many of you know, not only am I an ordained Healer at Chapel but I am also a Qigong teacher and practitioner so I am going to bring some Qigong philosophy into this lecture today. Partially so that you have a better understanding of Qigong but also so that Qigong can shed a light on what we teach at Chapel. And maybe you can have a different understanding or a deeper understanding of it. In my many studies and conversations here at Chapel over the years, through my study of Qigong and various eastern philosophies and through my upbringing in this lifetime in Christianity, I’ve come to an understanding of, an agreement with, and a truth of this source of information, power and peace.
I would encourage each of you to take the time to look at who you are and what your beliefs are, where you come from. Find that “stepping off place” to this larger source of power. It’s going to be different for everybody. We are all on different pathways.
My pathway isn’t your pathway, but I can share my experience and knowledge and possibly be a way shower for you. That’s what I am here for. After all - That is our highest calling.
The Chinese have a saying and it is “Zi du, du Ren”. In Chinese it means… Zi - you or yourself - Du - means to carry or ferry yourself across the water, and Ren - means another, someone else…so Zi du, du Ren…means - to carry yourself and by doing so, carrying others across the water. This is a really important concept. It can mean to the other side, to the goal, the information you seek, to healing, to love and wellbeing. What you do for yourself, you ultimately do for everyone else. Your Practice affects Everyone. That’s part of the Golden Thread of Truth.
Yesterday was World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. This started a few years back. It hasn’t been around a really long time but millions of people celebrate it each year. Yesterday at the same time, about 10:00am PST , people all around the world practiced Tai Chi and Qigong at the same time. The idea is that by doing this practice together in oneness, at the same time, we are increasing what we call the Qi field – the healing field. Now those of you who are students here at Chapel know that when we sit in a circle, whether it’s a Dark Circle or we are practicing healing or Spirit communication, the circle, the vibration, the energy that we share when we are working together increases the strength of everyone’s experience. So yes, we share our practice, whether we are practicing by ourselves or within a larger group.
I think one of the most important ideas that I can impart to you from my Qigong studies is the concept of Yi Yuan Ti. Now first of all, for those who are not familiar with Qigong, it is an ancient energy cultivation and healing practice. It goes back several thousand years. Qi is energy, the life force. And a gong is a cultivation or a practice .. so Qigong is the practice of cultivating universal energy to support you in all of life’s many activities.
For those of you who are students at Chapel, you can in many ways liken qi to the white light we use for healing and the universal, infinite source of that energy and all information.
Yi Yuan Ti translates like this – Yi is the mind and its activity. Yuan is oneness and origin. Ti is the physical Body. So Yi Yuan Ti can be described as the mind finding oneness with the origin of all things and simultaneously embodying that information. This concept that there is always information around you is real; you just have to touch into it. It manifests as our true self being aware of everything simultaneously. It is a pure, tranquil and still state of our consciousness without differentiation or any kind of ownership. There is no separation between our self, heaven, earth, society and nature. It transcends our reference system and our ego. It is formless and
infinitely clear. Like a clear mirror, it can reflect any form but is not attached to any thing. Yi Tuan Ti is a special ‘void like’ existence that can reflect anything in the universe back to us. But this void does not mean that there is an absolute emptiness. Don’t feel the word ‘void’ as being emptiness, it means that it is endless. It means it reflects and contains everything. Yi Yuan Ti connects with all energy so it gives us the ability to connect with the information we need in the moment, like having super perception. Things such as being able to touch Spirit, being able to do healing; all those things that we do that some may consider extraordinary, even though they are actually quite ordinary.
That sounds a lot like what we experience with spirit communication, healing work and work that we do in dark circle, doesn’t it? We’ve all touched this space many times, we just didn’t possibly name it. In Qigong we call this Yi Yuan TI…even though the Taoist teacher Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching says “The Tao that can be named is not the Tao.” It’s so vast it cannot be named! It’s such a large concept that it’s difficult to name, it is always moving and transforming. And from Stephen Mitchell’s beautiful interpretation of the Tao de Ching –
“The Tao is like a well: Used but never used up.
It is like the eternal void: Filled with infinite possibilities.
It is hidden but always present.
I don’t know who gave birth to it; it is older than God.”
And “The Tao is called the great mother: empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.
It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.”
Yi Yuan Ti is like that.
You can use it any way you want? There is responsibility in your use of this power, this knowledge. First there is the practice to come into its space. Instilling practices in your life that you choose. Things like qigong and meditation and self-healing…. But there are many others. Stilling the mind and its chatter and balancing the emotions to heighten the awareness of self and the relationship to all things.
Then there is the acquisition of knowledge and love and peace that is found there. There is the choice of what do I do with this? It is like a mirror.. reflecting information within yourself back at you. You have probably had this feeling before; it’s almost like a déjà vu feeling. You’ve felt this before. In daily life, when you don’t have the information you need, become the mirror. Stop… and become the mirror. Absorb and reflect that which you need.
I believe there is a responsibility to act upon this information in ways that are of your choice for the betterment of yourself and for all whom you touch. With time and practice, you can touch into this place and be within it with a thought. At Chapel we say, “Thoughts are things, so you think so you become.”
In Qigong we say “Where the mind goes, the Qi follows.” This leads me to the concept of The Power of Intention because we use intention when we do practice. Often in practice you set an intention- for yourself, the class, the world, ultimately for the whole universe. Often it’s something like I am well or simply to smile or be content or be happy.
But know that an intention informs the energy field around you when you think it or say it. A self-centered, ego centric intention such as I am well becomes- we are well, the world is well, all is well. Yi Yuan Ti mirrors the intention out into the universe. The next time you say or think something negative or destructive or that causes interference, remember this - it is not for your ears only. It is in the Akashic Record. It’s like dropping a stone into a clear pool of water, the ripples move out through the whole pool. Words are things too.
The last concept I want to share with you comes from my qigong teacher, Martha Blane. She shares – “Qigong study and practice inherently supports us in activating an inner awareness of our deep connection to the natural world. By nurturing this connection we naturally cultivate a holistic view of our surroundings, ourselves and of all living beings. With that often comes a greater sense of kindness and compassion.
My earliest memories are of an inner awareness of a deep connection with the natural world. That connection has continued throughout my life in many ways. I have spoken to many people who’ve had similar experiences. Our many wisdom traditions give us insight and encouragement to maintain our connection with the natural world. “
So she was intrigued when she heard of Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment, which was released in June 2015. She wanted to learn more. In doing so it became apparent that it was important information to share.
An encyclical is a teaching document issued by the Pope. It never occurred to her that she might one day be quoting from the Pope, but here are a few passages that she found particularly heartening form the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ Of the Holy Father Francis On Care For Our Common Home:
“In the Encyclical, I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home. I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation that includes everyone, since the environment challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all…. Many things have to change of course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone….From panoramic vistas to the tiniest living form, nature is a constant source of wonder and awe…A sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings.. The natural environment is a collective good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility of everyone….”
This teaching from the Pope seems very much in line with our Chapel teachings and those of Qigong. We are yet again looking at a Golden Thread of Truth.
So, I am going to bring this full circle back to HOME…The home you live in within yourself and the Home we live in on this beautiful planet and within the star studded and awe inspiring universe – Our mutual Home.
I want to remind you that every time you create kindness in your heart and the world, each time you go to the quiet home inside yourself; - you are doing it for us all – Zi du, du Ren. Our practices Are Not Self Centered. You Make a difference in the world each time you meditate, do a healing or self-healing, each time you practice energy cultivation practices- it’s a gift to each of us, to the world. One more ore drop of positivity in the ocean of all energy.
Next time you are too busy to sit down for meditation, or can’t find the time to support your health with healing and energy cultivation - remember the pebble in the pond and the ripple effect. You don’t think practice makes a difference?? Please think about that again!!
Copyright 2022 by Awareness Press (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chapel of Awareness Spiritual Church Corporation -a California non-profit religious and educational corporation.) The right to copy portions is granted to individuals who purchase and use a copy for personal use but not for sale or distribution. Chapel of Awareness, 560 Third Street, Encinitas, CA 92024. www.chapelofawareness.org.