Good Reads

Over the past months, several books have played an integral role in opening my heart and my mind. It is a common message in all of them - and each reminder is so welcome and helpful. One of the books I am reading right now, Choosing Love: A Guide to Spiritual Relationship by Gina Lake, sums up the recurring theme:

"It's an illusion that we are separate at all. There is only one Being pretending to be many, all dressed up in infinite guises. This Being is immensely enjoying the costume party, and the more diverse and interesting the characters are, the better. There is obviously no room for sameness in creation because sameness just doesn't exist, not even in leaves or snowflakes. What there is room for is diversity. That is essence's point of view, but it is not the ego's.

The ego's lack of appreciation for diversity puts it at odds with life. At every turn, it opposes life because it opposes diversity and differences. That is what we are here to unlearn. We are here to overcome this aversion to life as it is and to learn, instead, to embrace its unpredictability and diversity. We are not here to shape and mold it to our view but to shape our view to it. Our view of life must change, not life. But that kind of transformation comes only through life itself, which teaches us that we can't have our way; rather, we must let life have its way with us."

Other books that have been vital companions lately:
A Thousand Names for Joy by Byron Katie
A New Earth: Awakening to You Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle