Here are a few words that came through. There is nothing expected from you. I am simply grateful if you're willing to receive this.

Thank you,

Umi.

If you imbibe what Lao Tzu in Tao Te Ching says in this verse then life becomes simple and easy. Everything in your society teaches you not to accept this. "Accept disgrace willingly. "Accept misfortune as the human condition." Accept disgrace willingly? Everything you're taught is to not accept disgrace willingly. You're taught to be ashamed, to avoid, to have revenge, to counter, to correct, to find a way above, to find a way out. You may ask, "What do you mean by accept disgrace willingly?" And Lao Tzu says, "Accept being unimportant. Be ordinary. Be the gardener." This is the way of freedom. This is the way of love. This is the truth about Awakening.  Awakening is so ordinary. It is only through this ordinariness that Enlightenment can happen.  Yes, it is so ordinary, that the mind cannot grasp it. And yet it is so simple. When there is total acceptance, even in misfortune, even in disgrace, then an opening in the Being occurs and Existence enters. This is the Awakening. When this happens, the mind will try to take this experience and put it into its understanding. When this happens, ask the mind, "For whom is this experience?" This will keep the mind occupied, and prevent the mind from owning the experience. If the mind can own all experiences, then it will remain in control. The mind says to an experience, "I'll have that!" But when you ask, "For whom is this experience?" The mind will go searching and be occupied. It'll be searching, because the mind has an appetite, is programmed to always pursue and search for an answer to any question. And while the mind is distracted Grace can enter. Lao Tzu continues, "Do not be concerned with loss or gain." This is called accepting disgrace willingly. It's such a gift to be able to accept totally, and have no concern with loss or gain. This is not being humble, this is not only accepting loss but also accepting gain. Accepting both without concern. This is what most religions have missed.  Accepting your wealth without concern and accepting your poverty without concern. With total acceptance there is only freedom, there is only love.

Love Umi