Any moment which arises is the result of the combination of ourselves and our karma, and also the karma of each person involved as well as those contributing to that moment. We share this moment with them. As each moment is not only dependent upon the people you can clearly see who are involved but also those people who are not obviously present, but have contributed to this moment. For instance an artist paints a beautiful painting, and sends it to the gallery where it is hung on the wall. The artist is not present but when the moment comes for me to see this painting, the artist has contributed to the moment of my seeing it. If we were to look very deeply we could say that not only the artist, but anyone who supported his work, trained, and influenced him these people have all helped this moment to arise just ‘as it is.’ Also any inspiration he received from nature or the environment in which he lives, this environment also impacts upon the eventual unfolding of the moment I see the painting.

In order to dissect the moment you must break it down into it’s smaller parts. It is in essence a shared experience between all beings present as well as all beings who are contributing to the moment, who may not be present. As such this moment brings all beings together in this shared experience of reality, dissolving the separation between us so that loving kindness may be present in abundance.

Just like the lighting of a match. To light a match you need two obvious things and one thing which is not so obvious. You need the match and the flint, this is obvious. But also you need the right amount of volition, or the right amount of energy between the match and the flint to ignite the match head. Too much volition and the match breaks, too little and it does not ignite. This volition or energy with which we ignite, react, respond to life, is called our karma. This energy sets up certain reactions in others, certain outcomes to be experienced, and attracts or repels certain experiences and people from or towards us. We share this with the people present in the moment and also with the people who are not present, who are contributing to this moment. At the deeper level of reality this may in fact include hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people. In very momentous occasions such as a natural disaster, the Olympics, or the act of a very influential person this may include many beings past and present to the point where it is in fact billions of people.

This moment is arising ‘ as it is’ because of the deep connection between people, past and present, who have given their energy, their karma, which is connected deeply with your karma in the present moment, so that this moment arises ‘as it is’. We cannot forget the environment in which the present moment happens also plays a very important part. A moment in time happening in a different environment may have a very different impact on all beings present. The moment you are experiencing with the fullness of your being can also be experienced with the fullness of your understanding. Experience and understanding go together. May every moment, which is so precious and never comes again bring you deep understanding and a rich experience of being deeply connected to your karma, other beings and your environment. May all beings be happy!

The first sacred gift is the life we have been given.

We can be very grateful for our life, our health, our body and any capability we have to give and receive love. If you have full functioning, radiant health, a positive mind and a happy heart you are indeed fortunate. If you do not yet possess these qualities and yet have the possibility to work towards possessing them, you are at least as fortunate.

The second sacred gift is any time we can have to devote to spiritual growth and development of good qualities. If we are involved in trying simply to survive, in providing the basic needs of life for ourselves and to those we are responsible for, a spiritual practice may not be our first priority. If you are able, even for a day, to take the time to make a spiritual practice your priority, or to live your life so that it is beneficial to others and of service, you are very blessed and blessing others with your energy and time. We can be very grateful for this precious time to devote ourselves to spiritual practice.

The third sacred gift is the possibility of the mind. The ability to develop the consciousness of the mind, the positivity of the mind, the level of awareness of the mind. We can be very grateful for the ability to have consciousness, to have choices, and finally to begin to make choices which benefit our personal growth and the happiness of all other beings.

The fourth sacred gift is the torch bearers who have shown the way. We can be grateful for those who have practiced before us, so that there is a linage, a history and a path to follow toward the final goal. To those who have dedicated their lives to the spiritual growth of others, who have written down their practice, their experiences, who have shone a light in the direction of complete happiness, to these people we can be deeply grateful. For if there were no books written, no stories of enlightenment we would find it very difficult to believe enlightenment is possible or know how to begin a spiritual practice.

Fifthly, we can be very grateful for any experience we have had with love. If you have felt love from someone, if your have felt love towards someone, we can be very grateful for the positive power this experience this has in our lives. When we feel love towards someone, this has untold benefits for them as they experience what it is to be loved, and then learn how to give this experience to others. Can you imagine what your life would be like if you had never had the experience of feeling love for someone or being loved by someone? The untold positivity that is created when you feel love and show love towards someone is undiminished by time. You have given someone a precious gift, which they will pass on to others they meet and care for. Love changes they way we live, what we are conscious of and benefits all other beings we come into contact with. We can be very grateful for any experience we have of love.