From The Path -

Verses On The Mystic Journey

Two CD Set Recorded by the Author

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"We are all on the path of our lives.  The path that leads from birth to childhood, youth to maturity, work, family, advanced years, death, and
to the life beyond.  Each of us was born with a purpose – with an intention to manifest certain qualities, to learn particular lessons and to share particular experiences with each other.  We are put here together, so that we might discover and share our lives – together - in service and love to each other.  In the end, all our paths lead to the same place, our home in Spirit  But
we each have our own unique way of getting there. 

             I hope that in some way, these poems, which describe my experiences along a portion of my path, will encourage you to embrace your path more fully, understanding that not only the moments of inspiration and joy are to be relished, but that the moments of doubt, fatigue and loneliness are
also a blessed part of your journey.  Suffering is not an easy experience to categorize as a blessing, but in
my life, it has been true. 

           Despite your circumstances, do not give up hope; there is a way.  Do not give up trying to understand and improve.  Do not give up the discovery of who you really are within the core of your being, for you are beautiful, joyful and full of love.  You are a blessing to all along your path.

             Although some of these poems appear to be personal, as if written to me, or about me; it is my conviction that they were equally written to you and all who are walking the path of spiritual unfoldment.  It is my sincere hope that you will find in them continuing inspiration and support as you wind your way along the path."  

- William Simpson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Book:   

From The Path, is written with wisdom and practical understanding of our modern life with its traffic jams, homelessness, pollution and war, and yet at the same time, speaks eloquently and with surprising vulnerability and intimacy of Mr. Simpson's love affair with Spirit.

 The author does not pretend to have arrived at the end of the journey, but rather to be sharing his experiences from his location somewhere along the path.  By offering us this unique perspective, with one hand holding to the practicalities of a wife and four children, while with the other dancing (and sometimes wrestling) with Spirit, he fills the gap between us and our aspirations and provides a clear and inspiring anticipation of our own steps along the path.

Non-denominational and easily accessible, the poetry offers an expansive palette of emotions describing the nature of a contemporary relationship with God.  From a feeling of powerlessness to help another, to the transforming recognition of love and grace embracing us in every moment.  In the end, we are left with a new experience of the ups and downs of our own life, viewed through the immaculate lens of a modern love for God.

The book also includes a bonus chapter entitled  "First Steps" - a collection of practical techniques for growth and transformation including detailed instructions on:  Practicing The Presence, Affirmations, Meditation, Chanting Om, Watching The Breath, Sitting In The Stillness, Love, Giving All Actions To God and Practicing "The Last Day".

Some of The Poems:

The Dance -

The gentle zephyr brushes against the willow branch,
     It drifts in waltzing motion to the thrill.
The ocean tide rolls and slides onto the shore,
     Glistening in its reflected joy.
The cloud imperceptibly transforms its multi-dimensional halo of light,
     Entrancing the souls of children and dreamers.
The motherly dove fluttering to build her spring nest,
     Cooing the mysterious music of birth.
The throbbing heart of the expectant lover,
     Hovering in eager longing for the appearance of her delayed beloved.
The elderly woman, body worn and consumed by years of toil
     Shuffles toward Bethlehem embodied in her tousled bed.
The scuttling frantic thoughts of a fearful youth trapped in turmoil,
     Ensnared outside his reason and wisdom, running away from his self respect.

All these tremulous waves of expanding motion,
Whirling, trembling, wandering, writhing, drifting
All shadows of Your intricate weaving dance,
Lightly moving to the music of ecstasy.

 

As The New Day Dawns -

As the new day dawns
The mist slowly evaporates.
Blending into the morning sun
In an intimate fleeting embrace.
The blossoming flowers dip and pray
Opening to new joy, new life.

So this day opens for me.
I begin anew.
Each breath a new existence
Freshly carved and shaped by
My willingness to share it with You.

As the blossom of my heart
Gently awakens and  turns
Toward the entrancing gleam of
Your radiating presence,
Every goodness awaits me.

I  am new again.
I am healed and refreshed again.
I am united with your persistent love again
I am glorified and redeemed again.
I am Your newborn child.

 

Affliction And Indifference -

Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.

Somewhere in a trash-littered alley
Cracked concrete and wet cardboard providing a pillow,
Lies a brother wearing the dull threadbare coat of despair.

If my joy in Thee does not include
Comforting and care for him
To what end is my joy known?

Somewhere in a small arid village
Cracked sun-parched clay providing a pillow,
A small sunken-eyed child is wearily starving to death.

If my love-delight in Thee does not include
Nurturing and protection for her
To what end is my love known?

Somewhere in a smoky shout-filled street
Cracked upturned earth and shards of metal providing a pillow,
Lies a torn soldier, eyes lost in the shock of  death’s last tremor.

If my tears of tender sympathy for Thee do not include
Consolation and practical succor for him
To what end is my sympathy known?

Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.

Selection From The Bonus Section "First Steps":

The preceding poems are spiritual snap shots – brief glimpses into a particular moment.  Hopefully they have served to inspire and encourage you to begin or continue your own spiritual journey of discovery.

While they may inspire, the poems can not give you the actual experiences that they attempt to describe.  In order for you to experience your own growth and transformation, you must walk the path, not merely view photographs of another’s journey.

This chapter is a brief “how to” of pragmatic preliminary steps that can be taken to begin or deepen your own personal progress to a happier, more aware life.  They are included with my best wishes and with the confidence that you will find that which you seek.

 “Change begets change.  Nothing propagates so fast.  If a man habituated to a narrow circle of cares and pleasures, out of which he seldom travels, step beyond it, though for never so brief a space, his departure from the monotonous scene on which he has been an actor of importance would seem to be the signal for instant confusion.... The mine which Time has slowly dug beneath familiar objects is sprung in an instant; and what was rock before, becomes but sand and dust.”

      - Charles Dickens

Most of us live in a whirlwind created by our thoughts and activities.  Our conscious attention is not on our life, but on the thousand things to do and say.  We have a choice, whether to be driven by our desires for fortune, fame, the right work, doing a good job, finding the right mate, improving our health, or a limitless number of other hopes and desires – or to consider some alternative. 

These hopes and desires, thoughts and actions, create the whirlwind.  And to the degree we are emotionally and physically moved by them, we immerse ourselves in that whirlwind.  Eventually, we forget that being happy is important – that appreciating the beauty of this moment is necessary for our health.  Rather, we continue to be driven deeper and deeper into “doing” and we may lose our “being”.

But, there is another way.  There is a life with more joy, more peace, more health, more sincere appreciation for the constant gifts of life and love.  Where to begin?  Carl Jung said, "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your heart. Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside, awakes."

Meditation

Of all the tools presented here, meditation is the most important.  It is the most effective.  However, it is also the most subtle and may often feel unproductive, if you require an instant perception of progress.

There are a large variety of meditation techniques.  Some involve bodily movement, some looking at an outer object such as a candle flame or mandala, others involve chanting or listening to a sound, such as a gong or bell.  These are all effective and may be appropriate techniques with which to begin.

Your goal in meditating is to allow the mind to relax and for thoughts to slow down and eventually stop – even if only for short periods of time. 

During your meditation, always keep your attention on the meditation technique.  When thoughts intrude, do not get caught in the loop of recognizing that you’re thinking and then have an additional thought that makes a judgment on you for thinking, and then having another thought that you should stop thinking, etc.  This chain of thoughts can continue throughout your meditation time.  This is not meditation – this is thinking about issues relating to meditation.

As you are able to let your thinking subside, you will discover spaces between your thoughts.  These spaces are created by the technique.  Let these spaces expand.  Inwardly, rest in these spaces; embrace them.

The Author and Narrator:  William Simpson

After having been raised in the Christian church since he was 5, Mr. Simpson  began his own personal spiritual search in the 1960s through reading and practicing the principles and traditions of various religions including Chan Buddhism and Zen Buddhism.  He began his meditational practices within the Zen tradition.

In 1975, he began practicing Kriya Yoga meditation, a form of Raja Yoga offered by  Paramahansa Yogananda and Self Realization Fellowship and has continued practicing in that tradition since then.

In early 2002, he founded The Conscious Living Foundation and in addition to directing that organization, has taught several classes including "The Fundamentals of Conscious Living" series.  He is currently at work on his second book, a practical guide entitled "Stepping Out Of The Whirlwind - A Beginner's Manual For A Conscious Life".

In addition to writing, Mr. Simpson has also recorded several of the audio products offered by The Conscious Living Foundation.

Download Audio Samples Here (click on your choice):

"From The Path" is recorded by William Simpson, the founder and director of the Conscious Living Foundation and author of the book.                                                                 

 

 

 

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Customer Reviews:

(5 Stars) Helping Me On My Own Path:  Reviewer:  T. Rook

This is not a book to be devoured at one sitting. I now keep it handy to browse for insights that come from within myself.

The title, “From The Path” intrigued me. And as I first browsed through the pages, I kept thinking of forks in the road, of taking the “Road Less Traveled”. On the cover we see a picture of a country “path” -- bordered by the majesty of trees, with branches showing –– promising color that will fill the branches at some time in the future.

The picture on the cover became a kind “preview” for me of what was about to happen when I looked inside. I was attracted to certain passages and words, and not so attracted to others. So when I took the roads that attracted me –– I found insights that resonated with me. The first resonance was when these words jumped out, 'Imagine a day, when ...'. I resonated with the whole poem.

I don’t know what would attract you, but when I found another poem with these words: “ Dream –– Of encouraging everyone –– Without an agenda”. Wow. This was what was happening to me –– the author was encouraging me –– without forcing any agenda on me. I was taking only those forks in the road that fit for me. We each were going to find only what fit for us, personally.

I continued browsing, and after a few more insightful experiences, I came across the title, 'First Steps'. Once again, I was strongly attracted to this paragraph: “In order for you to experience your own growth and transformation, you must walk the path, not merely view photographs of another’s journey”.

This book really is Simpson’s autobiography of his spiritual growth and learning. But by sharing places of his personal interest, I found myself resonating with some special parts of his path –– which were helping me on my own path. I soon found that this is not a book to be devoured at one sitting, and I now keep it handy to browse for insights that come from within myself. I recommend this for anyone looking for helps on life’s journey -- without wanting to follow any agenda but one’s own.

(5 Stars) Inspiring True Mysticism:  Reviewer:  J. P. Girardi

Simpson succeeds at communicating his love and devotion for the Ultimate Goal, as well as making us realize that we can also reach those heights. That Self- Realization is not only for the saintly and the monk or nun, the Himalayan yogi or the sufi, but for householders like you and me living the spiritual life, humbly, in the world, as he is.

(4 Stars) Route 66:  Reviewer:  W. Cruttenden

From the Path is an uplifting book containing 66 poems and a bit of narrative on how to find your own path. While I have not yet completely finished the book, all the poems I did read spoke of an inner experience or reflection on life that I think most of us can relate to. Some are about seeing through life's stresses or challenges and others about its quiet times or moments of coincidence or serendipity. Almost all of them provide a sweet perspective and hint at a Divine influence. The author's meditative point of view is clear and can't help but bring a sparkle to just about everything he contemplates.

I would recommend this book as a traveling companion. Whether one is moving along the path inward or outward these "verses on the mystic journey" provide a comfort and warmth rare in today's world. Enjoy.

 
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