A Story for David, My Teacher

There was once a man who stood at the edge of a beach, looking across the water, wondering when the sun would rise. He stood all night long, his feet cold in the surf, the air tossing his hair from side to side. He believed in the sun, and in the rotation of the earth. He believed in the surf, and how, at one point on the horizon, it would surrender the sun, in its time. As he waited, others gathered. They, too, were waiting for the sun to rise, and they huddled around him, hoping for a word or two that might warm their souls during the dark night. But just as he was about to open his mouth, and talk to them about faith, there was a dawning in the sky. The darkness that was smitten with stars was becoming creamy with light. He didn't need to say anything but to point to the horizon. There was no sun, but there was the soft orange creaminess of sky that suggested the sun. The people around him sighed, for it was the promise of sunshine that moved them more than the sunshine itself. It was knowing that they were on the cusp that mattered the most.

In this dawning light, the man taught many people about the non-dual nature of the soul, how when one had doubt, one only had to look at a flower, and find the truth. He taught his students how the sun was only a point in the sky, when the entire universe, including the night itself, was worth just as much celebration. For the man believed in the unity of all things. He believed, in his heart of hearts, that every atom of every entity was connected, in one great eternal constellation.

Just as the red tip of the sun was about to appear over the horizon, a cloud bank appeared, veiling the light. The man's students grumbled, and kicked the sand. But the man, knowing that his work here was done, looked through the clouds, and as he did so, he turned into the sun itself. His students looked around for him, baffled. They were not so sure they liked his way of going. But when they looked up, there was the most amazing sunrise. And they remembered his teaching, and they saw him in the clouds, and in the light on the water, and in the sand that was clinging to their feet. They could see that he was a lens through which they could look for a time and see eternity. They were grateful, and cried tears of gratitude for how much he showed them. And now, their eyes clear, their hearts broken open, they saw the raw and gorgeous truth of love. They saw how love makes up everything and how nothing and no one is ever lost, because it is all bound together by a love so profound, it breaks over the water in light.

Note: a blog "www.celebratingdavid.blogspot.com" is managed by his partner, Ananda. Feel free to visit.

Honoring My Dear Teacher

This month has been a month of change. Last week saw the passing of a dear mentor I studied with since 2004. David LaChapelle was a consummate teacher, guide, and friend who guided many hundreds of people in their spiritual path. A teacher of non-duality, the belief that there is no separation between us and the Divine, or between all beings and all things, he was the catalyst for my own awakening to living a Spirit-filled life. Because of his guidance and excellent example, my inner listening grew to the degree that it shifted the lens of my life forever. Because of this shift, I began offering intuitive listening and coaching to others.

David's passing has been a huge sadness, which I am integrating through chant, prayer and gathering with friends. Yet I hear his voice, as if he were whispering in my ear. His teaching in non-duality awakened my belief in the existence of all things in the space of the heart. So there was no place for him to go except in. I can see, now, how his teachings have become more real in the space of a few days than they did in the space of five years. His voice is merging with the voice of the Teacher within.

The day he passed, I heard in my morning meditation, "There is no teacher but the Teacher." David had been seriously ill for over a year, I was beginning to let him go in body. Later in the day, I was writing in my book-in-progress, a book about a vision quest I took under David's guidance. I wrote about his illness and this process I was in of letting go, "There is freedom in surrendering to a teacher. You surrender the aspect of yourself that believes it can do it alone. And none of us can do that. We are social, inter-connected creatures. In surrendering to another, you learn to surrender to life itself. For life, after all, is the consummate teacher. There is no way but the Way. There is no teacher but the Teacher. And now, as we surrender the teacher, we surrender only the form. The teaching will always arise."

Now, looking back, I am grateful that this came on the day of his passing. It is always serendipity of events that increases my faith, again and again, in the belief of our deep interconnectedness. This beautiful alignment of a teaching arising, just as the teacher is going, reassures me that what we need will always arise. Even before we ask for help, help is on the way. Even before the teacher was gone from body, the teaching was on its way. The teaching will always arise.

David was a beautiful servant. To honor him, I am offering soul stories for those who would like them, as a free will offering back to the Universe, in gratitude for my years of knowing such a soul as David. David was a bard, who told stories made up on the spot that stirred the soul and shifted one's perspective. The stories I offer write themselves, inspired by this tradition of mirroring the soul through archetypal stories. If you are interested in a story, just email me, and let me know one brief question that you would like answered.

Love Me Tender

It seems everywhere I turn there are either stories of the destruction of animal habitats or people losing their homes due to the economy. It is hard to hear these stories and not feel helpless. But loving each other and the earth, one head of hair at a time, one blade of grass at a time, is always the one thing that each of us can do to contribute to the betterment of our world.

When we love each other, tenderly, we tap into a greater life force that holds all of life. When we love each other, tenderly, we increase the presence of love in another's life, and in our own. Everyone's life force increases. Conversely, when we view each other with doubt and suspicion -- including the people in our own inner circles -- or when we repeat old stories and thus recreate old patterns, we not only dampen down the life force of others, but that of our own as well.
To trust that this is true requires some guts! It requires stepping out from your comfort zone and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. You must, as my morning Yogi tea bag suggests, allow your head to bow to your heart. This is life upside down. Instead of doing what most people do -- running around protecting yourself from perceived threats --you take a chance on greater love.

Why take a chance? Fundamentally, we are MADE of love, so when we honor what we are made of, our reality changes. It may not change all at once, but it changes slowly, so that we can adapt. We may find that we feel more bouyant. Or that the people in our lives show up with more openness, reflecting our own willingness to be open. We may find new opportunities showing up that we weren't even expecting.

Old patterns are addictive because they are comfortable and involve no risk. This is called the human condition. To undo this addiction we must find something new that feeds us. Something that makes it worth giving up the old stories we carry around about ourselves and others and our world.

How do we love each other tenderly? Invite someone out for tea; buy a pot of flowers for a neighbor; speak some kind words to the person behind the check-out counter. If you are feeling too empty to do even that, then treat yourself to a bath; meditate on the perfection of your toes; contemplate who you are apart from people and culture. We are made of love. Love is the life force that we are made of. Doubt is the only thing getting in the way!