Question: What is the best way to respond to people who are critical of me?

Leonard’s Answer: Whenever you feel criticized, the first thing to do is determine whether you are being criticized or whether you are simply being given feedback about yourself. If it is feedback and not criticism, then you would be wise to listen carefully and respond appropriately. Is there something being shared with you that you need to hear? It is foolish to defend against feedback that might reflect areas of unconsciousness within you.

But in an unconscious world, people are often critical or judgmental. It is important that you do not take on that energy. It has nothing to do with you. If people judge or criticize you, that is a statement about them, not you. They are revealing that they are judgmental or critical. At some level, they feel judged or criticized themselves. They are still living with those energies, which most likely originate in their childhood.

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Question: I’m an architect and I deal with processes and tasks. How can I be present at work?

Leonard’s Answer: If you are sufficiently grounded in Presence, then you can go to work as an architect and your mind becomes your partner. It is an instrument of expression, but it serves you most effectively when it is a clear instrument of expression. If it is full of all your repressed emotions and limiting beliefs from the past, then it is not very effective. If you are concerned with outcome so that your ego is involved, it is not very effective. But if you are able to relax and become present in a way that leads to a silent mind, then the mind will be a very effective instrument of expression.

At times, your work will be mostly mental. Every now and then, drop out of it. Become present. Allow your mind to be still. Allow expression to flow from the source, which exists at the very heart of silence within you. This is where all true creativity arises from. History is full of such examples. Even Einstein reported that his equation of E=mc2 arose from a dimension which was transcendent of the mind. Many great artists and musicians have spoken of similar experiences. There is no reason why this level of true creativity cannot flow into your work as an architect.

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Question: I once woke up in the middle of the night and understood all. I was all. I knew like I have never known before or since, that everyone in my life was an aspect of me. There was only I.  My mind was totally quiet and yet I knew. It lasted but a couple of hours. How can I be in this state always? Is this what being present is or enlightened? Does this happen when the mind is totally quiet for a long period of time?

Another time in the middle of the afternoon after meditating, I felt a joy that was not so intense and for no reason at all! It was bigger than love. I couldn’t help but smile. It too, passed a couple of hours later. Was this being present? I love your teachings. They speak to my heart and quiet my mind. I would like to permanently live in this state of joy.  I never felt like that even when I was most in love.  It was free and for no reason.

Leonard’s Answer: The experiences you describe are awakening experiences. They are peak experiences. You awakened into the truth of life, and the truth of who you are. It is the enlightened or awakened state of consciousness. It is a blessing beyond imagining. It is what is revealed at the deepest levels of Presence when your mind is silent and you are fully present and available to what is here now. It is transcendent of your mind and ego. And it is natural that joy would arise out of the silence. But the moment you ask how to be in this state always, you are taking yourself into the future. You are bringing the mind and ego back into play, which will disconnect you from the very experience you are trying to hold onto. From the perspective of one who is awake, there is no always. There is only now. To remain fully present and awake, we have to release our involvement in the past, including peak experiences, and be available to what is present now, even if it is ordinary.

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Question: How do we remain present in our day to day living?

Leonard’s Answer: To be present in day to day living is as simple as being present with whatever is before you, moment to moment. It does not matter what you are present with. Just notice when you are day dreaming or drifting off into thought and then come back to the present moment. Bring yourself very present with something that is here in the moment with you. If you can see it, hear it, feel it, taste it, touch it or smell it, in this moment, then you can be present with it. And the moment you are truly present with something that is here in the moment with you, thoughts will stop. You will emerge out of the past and future world of the mind. Now you are awake in the truth of life, revealed through the present moment. As you deepen into Presence, you will begin to feel the Oneness.

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