Susan: Is acceptance simply a matter of the will or does it require a certain amount of strength?

Umi: Neither. Will is a tool of the mind and it supports the ego. And to apply strength for obtaining acceptance, is not to accept that which is happening. As long as you have an ideal as to how things should be, you are not accepting how this is. Acceptance is not difficult in it self, it is not intrinsically difficult, therefore there is no need for will or strength. Acceptance is only difficult when you have an ideal as to how your life should be. As long as you have some dream, some goal, some ideal or an attitude as to how your life should be, then you cannot accept. Then acceptance becomes a mountain, an impossible challenge. But for acceptance to happen, first let go of all your dreams, goals and ideals. Cease living in the world of dreams. In this moment simply say "Yes." to that which is happening. Simply say "Yes, I accept. Thank you." And now live, this ‘Yes, I accept. Thank you'. Whatever is happening in your life at this very moment, is exactly that which you need, for you, to become free, to become at peace, for Consciousness to emerge. And you have no idea what these really are. You cannot truly make these into some ideal. The truth is you do not know what this is, and you can never know what this is. All you can do and say is, "Yes, I accept. Thank you." And this is saying yes to whatever is happening. But there is one addition that is necessary for this acceptance to open. That is Awareness. And Awareness comes through meditation. That is the meditation of watching, and with no thoughts. And this will happen in depth, in the Buddha-field, of an Awaken one. This will happen with ease when you are no longer with others who are continually bombarding you with dreams, goals and ideals. Friends, relatives, teachers will try and help you by giving you some dream, or some goal and certainly trying to impart on to you their beliefs and their ideals. With an Awaken one these distractions will not be attached to you. With an Awaken one, you are accepted as you are. And being in this acceptance, all that is false will melt off you, until all that is left is your truth.

Love
Umi