Finding Swamy

#57 – 6 Ways to Cleanse the Mind, Body, & Soul

5:45 am and I am up as the alarm sings tunes from the king of pop (aka Michael Jackson). I grew up during a time where his music prowess was unprecedented, flawless, and life giving. I decided to stay in bed for another 5–10 minutes and opened the window next to me. The sun comes out earlier in the months of April so it doesn’t seem like I’m up that early, but the beautiful chirping melodies from the many birds accompanied with the silence of the city, is a reminder that I am. After a few minutes of being utterly transfixed and inspired by the new day, I started my daily routine of rituals.

#56 The Crisis of Identity

“’The more you make your thoughts (beliefs) into your identity, the more cut off you are from the spiritual dimension with yourself.’” – Eckhart Tolle

As I sit under a tree amongst many in Golden Gate Park, I venture into my backpack and grab a few fruits I packed. I took out an apple and started eating it. As I got to the core I was graced by many seeds. I picked out a single seed and attempted to break it to see what’s inside. I found nothing.

#55 Trust in the Hard Places

The sun was setting as I sat on my usual rock in the sand. Baker Beach in San Francisco, CA has become a spiritual respite for when the traffic and noise of the city become overwhelming.

#54 Gratitude Is All We Need

I was one of the lucky ones. I had two loving parents that gave me more than one could ask for in a thousand lifetimes.

We had some tough times, but what family doesn’t? Even when those tough times were happening, I was never worried. I always had a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on my plate. In a society where seeking more is the norm, it’s easy to take these simple blessings for granted.

#53 – 9 Ways to Stop Being a Fucking Douche

I’m a saint and I’m a hell-bent heathen. I’m Dr. Jekyll and Mr. fucking Hyde. A few of my favorite books include Walden by T-Dub, the Upanishads, Freedom from the Known by Jkish, and Meditations by Marcus A.

#52 How to Find the Path to Joy

We may travel to far places
We may acquire opulence through the material
We may have many lovers, friendships, and a great social life
We may find love in another being to pass our time with
We may have beautiful children that we care for deeply
We may carry deep and strong belief structures about creation, the government, and mankind
We may have dreams, aspirations, and passions

#51 The Essence of Spirituality in 21 Lines

The word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus which means to breathe.

You could say someone who’s spiritual is a breather.

#50 Assertive Spirituality

There is a misconception that when one starts to engage in spiritual practices such as meditation and mindfulness, that it’s necessary to lay a red carpet of passivity.

Since becoming more spiritual and aware of the material world around me, I’ve been able to navigate through the world of 10,000 things, as Lao Tzu would say, with much ease, vigor, and confidence.

#49 What Goes Around Comes Around

When I was younger, I used to think karma was exclusive to the faith I grew up with. As I grow older, I see that many faiths have some written derivative of this concept.

Even those with no faith understand Karmic Law.

#48 The Mark of a Servant

“‘I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.’” – R. Tagore

Yesterday I got to work earlier than normal because a customer from the East Coast requested a call. Just when I was about to get to the office, he canceled. I wasn’t upset in the slightest. The extra time was spent walking aimlessly through the streets of San Francisco, which was a favorite past time of mine before I moved to greener pastures in the Pacific Northwest.