Growing Ho'oponopono in My Life: With Love for the Gardener
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| This beautiful double hibiscus graces my patio -- cared for lovingly, moment by moment. |
There's an outline of essential information, yet each instructor has his or her own way of conveying it. Momilani mentioned that she responds to inspiration in each class as much as possible, since groups differ in personalities, focus, and patience. I appreciate the individualization.
"I want you to experience the Divine for yourself," Momilani said. "I'm not really teaching you anything. I'm doing the cleaning. Most of all I don't want to say anything that gets in your way."
This attitude differs from what some might expect in a teacher. How can a teacher "get in the way"? There are thousands of possibilities -- including insisting that students revere the teacher's interpretations, rather than encouraging them to find their own way through personal practice. This is such a challenging tightrope to walk: one must provide necessary starting points, while also encouraging people to work with the process individually. Only in that way can the student truly own a new life practice.
Facilitating Self-Identity Through Ho'oponopono is especially tender -- and in this I felt both Momilani and Christine were caring for all of us. I've often heard Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len say that people need connection with Divinity, rather than any human's ministrations. Some might be offended by this, yet it makes complete sense to me. We humans can so easily project and misinterpret; unless we know when to shut up, we can inadvertently make more messes.
Through these classes, we can start knowing and appreciating all parts of ourselves, as well as the relationships between these and others too. When attended to gently, we can begin a lifelong practice of "making things right" -- releasing memories showing up as problems, in a moment-to-moment way.
In some books and web sites, Ho'oponopono is described as a "clearing technique" through which a person can manifest desired outcomes in the world. This is one point of view -- possibly a very limiting one. Divinity has much larger ideas than we humans can ever dream of. Vision boards may have their place, but Divinity's viewpoint far surpasses any collage I might create!
So the attitude we hold in practicing Ho'oponopono is very important too, since trying to "manifest" is very different from practicing simple purity of heart. The latter feels peaceful, warm, and gentle. I am open to inspiration. The former feels more forced, as if trying to make Divinity into my genie.
Another example: nurturing a garden. Can you force a garden to grow? No. One must partner with the soil, environment, and plants. One must observe what's needed, and plant in correct light and surroundings. Watering, weeding, pruning, feeding, and other sustaining care must be provided too. Only then will double hibiscuses bloom fully, and will grapefruit trees grow delicious fruits. Gardening is an excellent teacher for life, I think. Would you ever say, "I already watered that plant once -- why aren't there tomatoes yet?" Yet I've often heard people say, "I cleaned with that problem -- why isn't it gone?!" We humans are real pieces of work, sometimes. :-)
This time, I came away with even more love for the relatedness between myself, other people, material objects, and the natural world. I always had this as a little girl, and used to talk to the flowers. I silenced it when adults and other kids thought it was stupid, though. Yet with Ho'oponopono, I can say "ice blue" to the plants -- talking with them again. It's very nice to be home within myself, these days.
Thank you Divinity, Momilani, Christine, Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, and Morrnah for lovingly sharing Ho'oponopono with the world -- and with me. You are good gardeners, and I am grateful.
Peace begins with me,
Pam
Comments
I really like when you said "I already watered that plant once, why aren't there tomatoes yet?"
It's brilliant but recently I have seen so many people posting here and there that Ho'Oponopono doesn't work for them and that only Dr Len was able to clean the entire pshychiatric ward in Hawaii while for us 'normal' people even after years of constantly cleaning nothing changes.
When I see these comments it makes me doubt: first, because I cannot clean 24/7 like many people claim they do: I keep on forgetting and I have to talk to people, read, type, etc.
Then I get back to my old self that doubts that by cleaning things will ever change.
I am sorry.Thank you. I love you.
Liz
I really like when you said "I already watered that plant once, why aren't there tomatoes yet?"
It's brilliant but recently I have seen so many people posting here and there that Ho'Oponopono doesn't work for them and that only Dr Len was able to clean the entire pshychiatric ward in Hawaii while for us 'normal' people even after years of constantly cleaning nothing changes.
When I see these comments it makes me doubt: first, because I cannot clean 24/7 like many people claim they do: I keep on forgetting and I have to talk to people, read, type, etc.
Then I get back to my old self that doubts that by cleaning things will ever change.
I am sorry.Thank you. I love you.
Liz
We never really know "what" memories we're really cleaning with, but Divinity does. We don't know how things would be if we were NOT cleaning. I have to laugh at myself when I think that I know how things "should" be, or what specific effect my cleaning "should" have. Maybe you can learn to laugh lovingly with yourself at such moments also.
Peace,
Pam