A Note From Anne

Dear ,

Other than the fact that I now date things 2014 instead of 2013, the coming of a new year seems long gone – yet it was only a few days ago. We live in such a fast paced world. Can our minds keep up? We are under pressures that we don't even notice. If you're standing at the North Pole, the speed that the earth spins is almost zero, but at the equator, where the circumference of the earth is greatest, the speed is about 1,038 miles per hour. I think each new day brings us closer to the equator, and without learning how to stop our minds on a regular basis, we are spinning out of control.

My small contribution to helping us slow down is what I call EZosophy. I have been introducing the idea of ease into the dialogue of the spiritual community since 1989. When I started talking about ease, it was never mentioned. People liked talking about prosperity, health, and love, but ease – it just didn't come up. Yet when I talked about the philosophy of ease, later to be named EZosophy, heads bobbed. It was time to get off the spiritual fast track and to tune into a place where accomplishment was not master. I never suggest that we don't do anything; I just suggest that we need to be doing the right things and we need to do them in a slower, simpler, and ezier manner. After all these years, the ideas of simplicity and ease still feed my heart. A Course in Miracles says "Simplicity is Difficult for Twisted Minds." Maybe it's time to take difficulty out of the equation and to examine our need to make life so hard. Life is hard, but it is not hard all the time, and even when faced with a difficult situation, life can always be EZier. We are the masters of ease, and it's about time we took charge.

Anne

  Heaven on Earth

"The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." - Jesus

"The peace of God is shining in me now. Why wait for Heaven? Those who seek the light are merely covering their eyes. The light is in them now. Enlightenment is but recognition, not a change at all. Light is not of the world, yet you who bear the light in you are alien here as well. The light came with you from your native home, and stayed with you because it is your own. It is the only thing you bring with you from Him Who is your Source. It shines in you because it lights your home, and leads you back to where it came from and you are at home." A Course in Miracles (ACIM)

The words reality, God, now, presence, and enlightenment point to the same place – I call it heaven on earth.  When I read this article to my sister, she said. "When you say heaven, do you mean Nirvana?" "Yes," I replied, but as I reflect on the question, I don't think I'm talking about Nirvana in the traditional way. Buddhists work to achieve Nirvana and I am suggesting there is another way to Nirvana. Nirvana is here and we need not achieve it, because we can tune into that stillness, heaven, right now.  It is always at hand. Spiritual work serves to remove the emotions, beliefs, habits, attachments, and desires that keep us from entering the kingdom and doing this is valid, but there is another way. Heaven is more than a state of consciousness or feeling happy; heaven is reality.

How Can I Experience Reality?

We can tune into reality through the awareness of who we are. So who are we? We are not our characteristics and we are beyond what can be defined by words. Who we are cannot be expressed; who we are can only be experienced. When we actually experience who we are, we are in heaven. Some sacred texts speculate that if we knew who we were, we would fall to our knees in wonder.

Heaven is not a place good people will enter upon death; it is an experience available at any time to those who have the ears to hear. (Mathew 13:16, Mark 8:18, and Revelation 13:9: These quotes refer to the "ears to hear" statement.)

Which Way to Heaven?

Western paths to enlightenment tend toward the intellectual; frequently they ignore the flow of chi and the relationship the body plays in enlightenment. When our chi or energy is blocked, we lose touch with creativity, aliveness, and vision – we can become depressed, feel stuck, or stagnant. When our chi circulates, we move toward heaven, and when our chi slows, we contract (both physically and emotionally).

Meditation works slowly to dissolve many of these blocks. One might think of meditation as mental, but meditation relaxes the mind, and when the mind relaxes, the body unwinds. Exercise, pranayama (conscious breathing exercises), and massage move energy. Other practices, such as yoga and martial arts, are specifically designed to increase this subtle flow, as are techniques such as Do In, shiatsu, acupuncture, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch. The west is slowly integrating energy medicine as we discover the limits of the intellectual pursuit of fulfillment.

Living in Heaven Means Living an Enlightened Life

Ramana Maharshi says there are three ways to reach enlightenment: meditation, though the breath, and Vichara. Vichara is the path of self-inquiry and invites one to ask the question, "Who am I?" The question does not demand we find our likes, dislikes, our roles, or any identity that can be expressed in words. It asks that we stop all mental efforts and tune into what is always present. Vichara relies on realization, and meditation and breath work are instruments that remove the obstacles to enlightenment. Click here for more information on Vichara.

It doesn't really matter how we journey, for each soul is fated in some way to answer an innate call toward heaven. Heaven is our real home, and until we experience our true nature, we will never feel truly at home.

Even though it does not matter how we go home, it does matter that we go on the journey, "Delay does not matter in eternity, but it is tragic in time." (ACIM) We may not be able to tune into the kingdom at hand, at least not in each moment in time, but unless we actively pursue enlightenment and self-knowledge, we begin to wither.

I love that heaven is now. I find comfort that even in the worst situations, there is more than what I see. Knowing that heaven is now reminds me that I have closed my eyes, but the light still shines. It is always here. I can let go of drama, illusions, habitual thinking, and grasping and tune into that which is so much greater. Heaven is not reserved for saints, masters, and mystics; it is here right now for you and me. Why wait for heaven? The light is in you now.

Anne

  Quotes

"If you spot it, you got it."
  – 12 Step Program Slogan

"Always take emergency leisurely.”
  – Norman Vincent Peale

“Most actions that people take, when faced with a perceived drama, spring from reaction, projection, or retaliation – all motivations that rarely obtain worthwhile results. Unless you are sure you have to do something, and can do it with a sense of calm assurance, try doing nothing. You may be surprised at how things seems to work themselves out in the absence of frantic attempts to control.” Except from Enough Already by Alan Cohen. Alan mentions Anne and Hardaholics on page 99 and 100. "I love this book. It’s a great book that assists you in living the EZ life."

  Houston Theosophical Society

Anne Sermons Gillis currently serves as the president of the Houston Lodge of the Theosophical Society.

Meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays at 10 AM Central Time in Houston, Texas.

For more information visit The Houston Lodge or visit our national organization at http://www.Theosophical.org.

We encourage our members to live a life in service to humanity, in stillness through mediation, and in study of ancient wisdom.

  Anne's Books

Standing in The Dark

EZosophy Book

Offbeat Prayers

Click here to see all three of Anne's books

What people are saying about Standing in the Dark:

"Standing in the Dark, by Anne Sermons Gillis, isn't just another positive thinking book. It's a book about the difficult times in life and what we can do to make it through them. It does, however, give us positive ways to make life easier. It's a short book, but it's one that may just turn your thinking on its head, which will probably be the best thing that's happened to your thinking in a long time. It's about how to bring more ease into a life that isn't easy all of the time. Anne discusses six main areas of life: Ease, Mission, Health, Relationships, Money, and Loss."
  – Charles David Heineke

What people are saying about EZosophy: The Art and Wisdom of Easy or at Least Easier Living:

"Although most conscious people understand that life doesn't have to a struggle, the "how to" has been missing... until now. Anne's book makes it "easy."
  – T. Harv Eker - Bestselling author and Founder of Peak Potentials Training

What people are saying about Offbeat Prayers for the Modern Mystic:

"I love your book. It is filled with much wisdom, humor and heart. Really beautiful."
  – Alan Cohen author, Enough Already, mentions Anne and EZosophy on page 99

  What is EZosophy?

Click the graphic above to find out.

NOTE: If you are viewing this on a cell phone, be sure to scroll to the right to see the other column.

  Anne's Services

  Schedule Anne

You may reach Anne by phone at 281-419-1775 or click the button below to contact Anne by email. Anne is also available to officiate at weddings and funerals.

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  Anne's Schedule

January 18, 2014
Sat., 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Noon)
Anne speaks on "Awareness"
Houston Lodge of the
Theosophical Society
1525 Heights Blvd.
Houston, TX 77008
281-561-7013
Open to the public.
$5 suggested donation

January 20, 2014
Mon., 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Purpose and Meaning Group.
Anne speaks on the Ego and EZosophy.
The group meets at
Unity Circle of Light Church
25250 Borough Park
Woodlands, TX 77380
281-681-8883
No charge
J. D. Messinger is the facilitator.

January 26. 2014
Sun., 1:00ish PM
Potluck: Bring favorite healthy foods, snacks, & beverages
Speakers: Mira Dessy (Food), Nichole Mann (Fitness), and Anne Sermons Gillis (Mind/Behavior)
Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church
1370 N. Millbend Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
281-298-2780

January 28, 2014
Tues., 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Life Changing Insights with Dr. Alan Simberg
Listen to Dr. Alan Simberg interview Anne Sermons Gillis. The show starts at 3 PM and Anne will come on at 3:30 PM. Click here to listen online.

February 6 and 13, 2014
Thur., 1:00 – 3:00 PM
"EZosophy"
Lone Star College ALL Program
Kingwood Campus
20000 Kingwood Drive
Kingwood, TX 77339-3801
281-312-1600

February 9, 2014
Sun., 11:00 AM
"Strength"
Unity Church of Practical Christianity
15920 Piper’s View Dr.
Meadow Community Association
Webster, TX 77598-2550
281-520-4047

February 19 and 26, 2014
Wed., 10:00 – 11:50 AM
"EZosophy"
Lone Star College ALL Program
Montgomery Campus
3200 College Park Drive
Conroe, TX 77384-4500
936-273-7000

March 4 and 7, 2014
Tue. & Fri., 10:00 – 11:50 AM
"Alive, Awake, Aware"
Lone Star College ALL Program
Montgomery Campus
3200 College Park Drive
Conroe, TX 77384-4500
936-273-7000

  Healthy Living

Healthy living requires eating good food (most of the time), moving our bodies on a regular basis, managing our thoughts and emotions so we are not blown around by life, and living a life of meaning. If anyone of these aspects of life gets out of whack, life gets a little harder.

I usually give life and health tips in this column. Some may work for you, while others might not be germane to your life. I don't intend to be absolute; I just want to provide information. It is healthy to question what we read, but it is also good to keep an open mind. When we can learn to question without becoming cynical, and can be open-minded without being gullible, we strike a balance. When we don't live in balance, we often fall off the deep end of an extreme. And extreme is hard. Extreme requires endless effort to hold it in place. Extreme can be heartless and pushy and it forms a wall around us that shuts others out.

If you find yourself lonely and shut off from life, look for extreme beliefs in your life, especially those that keep you in fear. A few of these extreme beliefs are: I do not belong, life is always hard, and you can't ever trust anyone. If you can bring balance to any of these thoughts, the healing process can begin. Take the extreme thought that you can't ever trust anyone and bring it into balance. The more balanced thought would be, "Even though I cannot trust everyone, some people can be trusted." Extremes are the positions our ego takes to keep us from living fully. They kept us judging or falling into addictive behaviors. But who wants to be a fanatic?

There is an old EST statement that became part of our culture. "Get off it." I hope you can get off it, meaning your extremes, because when you do, your life will not only be healthier, it will be easier as well.

  Anne Talks

"Celebrating Life" If you think you don't have the time, information, or energy to do the things you love to do, this talk cuts a clear path for you to think again and to start living life in celebration. This talk was given at Unity Church of Practical Christianity in Webster, Texas. (21:08)

"Happy Free to Be Me Day" (3:09)

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Editor/Publisher: Charles David Heineke of TheDoorway.org.