“Look within and approach everything with devotion and gratitude.”
- Papaji
Being impeccable is not going against yourself. When you are impeccable, you take responsibility for your actions, but you do not judge or blame yourself.
Being impeccable with your word is the correct use of your energy; it means to use your energy in the direction of truth and love for yourself.
Being impeccable with your word makes you immune from anyone putting a spell on you as your mind is no longer fertile ground for negative ideas.
Last week, when exploring The Mastery of Transformation, the topic of “boundaries” came up for many of you. For some of the circles, I suggested a book called “Boundaries - Where you End and I Begin”. Though this book is founded on solid research and offers practical advice, there is still something that doesn't sit right with me about concept of “boundaries”. After all, boundary literally means a division, wall or barricade.
So, this past weekend, while attending Pamela Wilson’s Satsang Retreat I decided to sit with her and inquire into the notion of “boundaries”. My inquiry was particularly relevant because, as the organizer of the retreat, I was experiencing some pretty strong discomfort around a few of my personal boundaries. During my inquiry, a message came to me that resonated deeply with me, Pamela and the gathering community. While looking into what boundaries really meant, it came to me that what I was really longing for was the ability to maintain, honour and transmit a respectful field of energy - a field that allows me to see the divine nature in everyone and everything and for me to feel and protect my divine nature in all situations and interactions. We agreed that such a respectful field, if fully honoured, will naturally protect and discern and ensure that the right words and actions arise.
This notion of a “Respectful Field” turned out to be yet another paradigm shift in relationships. And, serendipitiously, it came to me on the eve of our exploration of the First Agreement: “Be Impeccable With Your Word”.
How perfectly perfect!
You see, impeccability of the word can be easy to do, or it can be exceedingly difficult. It all depends on what paradigm you are operating in. If you are living and operating in the current paradigm of human existence, a paradigm built on separation, then it is virtually impossible to be impeccable with your word.
As long as we view the world through a lens of separation and scarcity we will always carry blame, shame, guilt and judgement. And we will never be able to stop using our word against ourselves and others. So, though I could tell you how to be impeccable with your word (i.e. stop gossiping, blaming, criticizing and complaining) this is very unlikely to have a lasting impact in your life. In fact, it will more likely just become another thing you should do that you aren’t doing, and that is the last thing you need…after all, we are trying to release guilt, not add to it!
In his book, The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz uses the term the “New Dream” to describe the paradigm shift that comes as a result of living out the Four Agreements. He also says that you cannot begin to live out the Four Agreements without first realizing that you are living in the old dream. His description of the New Dream beautifully captures the essence of what I have described as the “Respectful Field”.
The dream you are living is your creation. It is your perception of reality that you can change at any time. You have the power to create hell, and you have the power to create heaven. Why not dream a different dream? Why not use your mind, your imagination, and your emotions to dream heaven? Imagine that you have the ability to see the world with different eyes, you see the world around you in a different way.
Close your eyes now, and then open them and look outside.
What you will see is love coming out of the trees, love coming out of the sky, love coming out of the light. You will perceive love from everything around you. This is the state of bliss. You perceive love directly from everything, including yourself and other humans. Even when humans are sad or angry, behind these feelings, you can see that they are also sending love.
Using your imagination and your new eyes of perception, I want you to see yourself living a new life, a new dream, a life where you don’t need justify your existence and you are free to be who you really are.
Imagine living your life without the fear of being judged by others. You no longer rule your behaviour according to what others may think about you. You are no longer responsible for anyone’s opinion. You have no need to control anyone, and no one controls you either.
Imagine living your life without judging others. You can easily forgive others and let go of any judgements that you have. You don’ have the need to be right, and you don’t need to make anyone else wrong. You respect yourself and everyone else, and they respect you in return.
Imagine living without the fear of loving and not being loved. You are no longer afraid to be rejected, and you don’t have the need to be accepted. You can say “I love you” with no shame or justification. You can walk in the world with your heart completely open, and not be afraid to be hurt.
Imagine that you love yourself just the way you are. You love your body just the way it is, and you love your emotions just the way they are. You know that you are perfect just as you are.
Only love has the ability to put you in that state of bliss. Being in bliss is like being in love. Being in love is like being in bliss. You are floating in the clouds. You are perceiving love wherever you go. It is entirely possible to live this way all the time.
Once you feel what it means to live in a state of bliss, you will love it. You will know that heaven on earth is truth - that heaven truly exists. Once you know that heaven exists, once you know it is possible to stay there, it’s up to you to make the effort to do it. Two thousand years ago, Jesus told us about the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of love, but hardly anyone was ready to hear this.
You can see everything with the eyes of love. You can be aware that there is love all around you. When you live this way, there is no longer a fog in your mind. This is what humans have been seeking for centuries. For thousands of years we have been searching for happiness. Happiness is the lost paradise. Humans have worked so hard to reach this point, and this is part of the evolution of the mind. This is the future of humanity.
This way of life is possible, and it’s in your hands. Moses called it the Promised Land, Buddha called it Nirvana, Jesus called it Heaven, and the Toltecs call it a New Dream.
- Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements
But, how do we begin to open our eyes to this new world? We begin by looking at our belief system and agreements, or what don Miguel Ruiz calls our Book of Law.
During our domestication, our parents and siblings gave their opinions about us without even thinking. We believed these opinions and we lived in fear over these opinions, like being good at swimming, or sports, or writing.
Whenever we hear an opinion and believe it, we make an agreement, and it becomes part of our belief system. These belief systems are hard to break. The only way way to break them is to make a new agreement based on truth.
- Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements
The truth is the most important part of being impeccable with your word.
Ho’oponopono Means a Return to the Divine Plan, a Return to Truth
In my experience, I cannot be impeccable with my word so long as I am blaming an outside source for my problems. When I believe the the problem exists “out there” and that I the “other” is wrong then I cannot help but have negative and low energy thoughts about the person or situation. I can try to “bite my tongue” but it is likely that my thoughts will continue to be destructive. To truly be impeccable, we must see ourselves in the problem and wholeheartedly take responsibility.
Understanding and correctly using the Ho’oponopono ritual is a powerful way for us to begin this path!
Ho’oponopono proceeds from an understanding of the unity of everything in the world, which is true even though we feel ourselves to be separate. Because of this unity or oneness, nothing can happen in our own world without creating a resonance in the observer. It follows that we can only influence problems in the external world if we heal the corresponding inner resonance.
Because everything influences everything else, I contribute to harmony if I discover my share in disharmony and enter instead into the healing process. I am part of this world. While I heal myself, I heal the world. If the is a disturbance anywhere, I feel it in myself. If in this way I find my share in the disturbance and enter into harmony again, I am participating actively in the world’s healing process.
You move yourself from separation to union while you say:
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
I love you.
Thank you.
- Ho'oponopono - The Hawaiian forgiveness ritual as the key to your life's fulfillment by Ulrich E. Dupree
Practicing Impeccability of the Word
- don Miguel Ruiz “The Four Agreements” -
1. BEWARE OF COMMON PHRASES AND CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS (example: I’m sick and tired, I’m getting to old for this, I’m dying to, I can’t afford to…) Know that like attracts like when it comes to the word.
2.SELF LOVE BEGINS WITH SELF RESPECT
Notice what you say to yourself about yourself every day, are these words kind, respectful and loving? Treat yourself as you would treat a queen or king, an innocent child, or your favourite pet.
3.PUT AN END TO GOSSIP*
Gossip spreads emotional poison, perpetuates fear, and keeps others down. Make a new agreement about the way you communicate with others. Notice when, where, and with whom you engage in gossip. Notice how gossip makes you feel, notice what you enjoy about gossiping. Take steps to avoid gossiping (changing the subject, saying something positive, staying silent).
4. LET GO OF THE NEED TO DEFEND YOUR OPINIONS AND ALWAYS BE RIGHT
Your opinion is nothing but your point of view. It is not necessarily true.
5. USE THE POWER OF YOUR WORD IN THE DIRECTION OF TRUTH AND LOVE
When you are impeccable with your word, you feel good; you feel happy and at peace.
6. SYMBOLIZE THE POWER OF YOUR WORD
Select a meaningful object to symbolize the power of your word, and to remind you to be impeccable with your word. Place the object where you will see it every day.
Our Closing Meditation
Through divine grace and unconditional love, I open my mind to the higher truth of love. May my mind be cleansed from conditioning and gently opened to the light of love. I am willing to unlearn what no longer serves me. I am willing to receive teachings and information, guidance and assistance from those beings of pure light and unconditional love that can assist me on my life journey, now. May my paradigm shift bring me closer to peace, love, empowerment and happiness. May this process be held in guardianship by the Universe, with grace, mercy and tenderness. Through my own free will so be it.
- Invocation from the Lightworker Oracle Card #4 Paradigm Shift, by Alana Fairchild
OM MANI PADME HUM
“The Opening of the Jewel In The Lotus”