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MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
ON THE COVER
Once Awakening Happens — Does That Mean No More Suffering or Anger? BY HANH NGUYEN There is a common and seductive belief on the spiritual path that awakening marks the end of all suffering, the dissolution of anger, and the arrival into a permanent state of peace. It sounds clean, final, and absolute. But reality is subtler, and far more liberating than that ide- al: Awakening does not erase human experience, it transforms your relationship to it. The Misconception of “No More Suffering” When people speak of awakening, they often imagine a kind of emo- tional anesthesia — a state where nothing disturbs you again. This misunderstanding comes from confusing pain with suffering . Pain is part of being human. It arises in the body and mind: loss, disappointment, physical discomfort, moments of frustration. Awak - ening does not remove these. Suffering, however, is something added. It is the psychological resistance to what is — the story, the identifica - tion, the “this should not be happening.” After awakening, pain may still arise, but suffering no longer takes root in the same way. There is no longer a solid “self” clinging to the experience and turning it into a prolonged inner conflict. As Eckhart Tolle often points to, suffering depends on identification with the mind. When that identification loosens or dissolves, suffering loses its foundation. What Happens to Anger? Anger, too, does not simply vanish forever. That expectation can ac - tually become a subtle trap — another ideal for the mind to chase. After awakening, anger may still arise as an energetic response, but it is seen immediately , without justification or narrative. It does not solidify into identity (“I am angry”); and it passes much more quickly, like a wave moving through open space. Before awakening, anger tends to linger because it is fed by thought: “I’m right.” “They shouldn’t have done that.” “This always happens to me.” After awakening, these mental reinforcements weaken. Without the story, anger cannot sustain itself. So it’s not that anger never ap- A deeper shift happens in your relationship to time. Suffering thrives in psychological time: regret about the past, anxiety about the future. Awakening brings attention into the immediacy of the present mo - ment. In this presence, there is no past to resent, no future to fear, and only what is here now. And in the now, most suffering cannot survive. The Subtle Truth The statement “no more suffering or anger” is not entirely wrong — but it is incomplete. A more accurate way to express it: After awak - ening, suffering and anger may still arise, but they no longer define you, control you, or persist in the same way. There is a spaciousness around all experiences. You are no longer the storm — you are the sky in which the storm appears and disap- pears. One of the quiet dangers on the path is turning awakening into a perfection standard: “I shouldn’t feel this.” “If I were truly awakened, this wouldn’t happen.” This is just the ego re-entering through the back door. True awakening is not about becoming a flawless human. It is about no longer being trapped in the illusion of being only human. A Final Reflection Awakening is not the end of life’s waves. It is the realization that you are the ocean. Suffering dissolves not because nothing ever arises again, but because nothing that arises can truly bind what you are. And anger? It becomes a brief ripple — seen, felt, and released — with - out leaving a trace. Hanh Nguyen, Director of the Center For Self Discovery in Fairfax, VA. https:// center-for-self-discovery.org pears — it simply no longer owns you. The End of Psychological Time
RESTLESS DRAGON
BY ŞERMIN CIDDI
Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging Abbie Rosner Foreword Julie Holland, MD How psychedelics can transform old age into the most meaningful and joyous time of life $19.99 • Paperback • 192 pages ISBN 979-8888503560
Artist Statement: Restless Dragon (from The Dragon and Phoenix Collection ) For mankind to create and live in a better world, we must better understand our true selves and free ourselves from aggression, ego, and ignorance. Only through purifying our souls can we be reborn as the phoenix and liberate ourselves from worldly en- cumbrances. Only through such endeavors can we leave a world for future generations absent of war and full of peace. Symbols of the dragon and phoenix are universally known. In this series of works,
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based on a well-known legend, I begin by drawing attention to war from the dawn of time to the present moment. The constant struggle between the dragon and the phoenix reminds us of mankind’s un - ceasing conflicts across a multitude of arenas. Whilst the phoenix is often interpreted as a symbol of benevolence, wisdom and water, the dragon is often associated with aggression, gold and the underground. In stark contrast, water symbolizes abun - dance, morality, fertility, and cleanliness. According to legend, the mythical phoenix journeys to the under - world to fight the dragon, which has trapped the water and devours humans who are granted it in return. Also, according to legend, the phoenix, a long-living, water-loving bird, rises from its own ashes and, with each rebirth, becomes wiser. Şermin Ciddi is a renowned Turkish artist skilled in contemporary miniature ( minyatür ) painting, one of the highly specialized visual arts of Ottoman and Turkish culture along with the art of illumination ( tezhip ), calligraphy ( hat ) and marbling paper ( ebru ). Born in Istan - bul, Ms. Ciddi takes inspiration from a variety of sources: places she has lived and traveled to, the architectural salience of each location, and finally, their interaction with surrounding nature. Ms. Ciddi studied at the Istanbul State Fine Arts Academy and sub - sequently worked with Turkey’s premier miniature artists, gaining her diploma in the field, before joining their ranks with her first exhibition of her work in 1996. Her art has been displayed in numerous galleries and cultural spaces across Turkey and the United States. She special- izes in acrylic, gouache and watercolor painting. She resides in Alexandria, Virginia, where she maintains an active studio in the Torpedo Factory Art Center (Studio 328). Follow Her Work:
A collection of tributes celebrating the artists who influenced and worked with Ancient Future, including…
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Track 1: Punjabi Jhinzaki … for departed tabla master Ustad Zakir Hussain who was instrumental in the development of Ancient Future Track 2: Spirit of Nirvana … while Ancient Future formed well before Nirvana, they share a surprising syzygy, immortalized in this Nirvana cover Track 3: East of the Sun … featuring wind virtuoso Paul McCandless (of the band Oregon) in his last oboe release
Change your perspectives in the way you view life, end of life, and death to become empowered to live an intentional and aware life
Hemali is a holistic Physical Therapist, Author, Speaker, Intuitive Quantum Energy Healer, Akashic Records Reader, Reiki Master Teacher, Channel, Spiritual Mentor and Death Doula. She is a Life and Death Coach. Hemali Teaches and certifies in Reiki Level 1, 2, Advance, Master and Karuna Reiki. Facilitates International Retreats. Hemali offers one-on-one and group sessions in her studio and virtually.
Website: serminciddi.com Instagram: @serminciddi
Track 4: Tarantas Alap … dedicated to David Easley, guitar student of Ancient Future’s Matthew Montfort, who became a flamenco master but passed away too young Track 7: Purple Haze (Vietnamese Đàn Bầu Style) ... a Hendrix cover incorporating Indian raga and Vietnamese music Listen on Streaming Services: orcd.co/purplespirits About Ancient Future, Purple Spirits Liner Notes, and More: www.ancient-future.com/purplenirvana.html
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76—PATHWAYS—Fall 26
PATHWAYS—Fall 26—77
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