Leela Music Newsletter, September 2008Michael Stribling Here's an overview of what you'll find in this issue:
As an early birthday present to myself, I ordered some new musical gear (tools, not toys!) that I'm looking forward to exploring. I'm excited about the new sonic adventures I'm about to enjoy. It's time to get back into the studio again. I'm also in the process of going back to an idea I had many months ago, putting together an internet-based radio program that features new age music, mine as well as the music of others. It's a slow process, but I'm making some progress. I'll keep you posted.
Life gets too complicated. Simplify. Let go of something. One of my neighbors just moved. I saw all those boxes stacked up, ready for the moving van, and I said to myself, "that's a lot of boxes! If I had to move today, I would have too many boxes! I've got too much stuff! I gotta start getting rid of stuff." Whether we are actually moving or not, it pays to do a little "house cleaning" once in a while, to get rid of the clutter and spider webs that tend to accumulate. Besides the material things, we also tend to accumulate thoughts, feelings, memories, etc. When we do, our minds become as cluttered as our closets. Cleaning house applies here, too. Maybe we bought into the idea that happiness comes from how many things we possess, how many groups we belong to, or how many projects we undertake. Some spiritual teachers have said that the trick is to have (and want) less, not more, and to release or surrender the extra stuff rather than cling to what we have, or strive to attain even more. It's about removing stuff, not adding more of it, whether that involves material things, or the ceaseless stream of thoughts we tend to repeat over and over to ourselves. As it relates to our internal life (mental, emotional, spiritual), the more we sift through all the layers of stuff, the more we see the pure white light that is at the center of each of us, all of us. That center piece is the only thing that really matters; everything else, all the distractions that come from trying to manage all our stuff, just blurs and buries that central reality. It's human nature to value what we think will bring us happiness; it's also human nature that, when a person, thing, or idea loses its perceived value, it naturally loses its appeal and drops away (ever watch a toddler lose interest in a toy?). The reality is that happiness doesn't come from anything external, or outside of ourselves; it comes from higher levels of awareness and consciousness. The ego seeks pleasure and gain, and it thinks happiness comes from that pursuit. What we say we desire is irrelevant; it's really all about the ego process of acquiring, possessing, seeking pleasure. Instead of seeking happiness from without, seek it within. That's the only place we'll ever find it. And it'll be easier to find that happiness in a place that's not cluttered with too much stuff. So, the trick is, when life gets too complicated, simplify. Let go of something. And gain something wonderful in the process.
I love it when people send me silly things. It helps keep things in perspective. In keeping with the ideas presented above, one of the things we probably need to get rid of the most is being too serious. We take ourselves too seriously. We need to laugh more. Ways To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity
Every issue, I give away a free CD (autographed, of course :-). If you're on the mailing list, you're automatically entered in every drawing. This month, the winner is Tammy Anderson. Congratulations! ============================================================ That's it for this issue. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you liked, or didn't like, in this issue, and any recommendations or requests you have for future editions. Thank you for your support. Please invite your friends to visit my website and sign the guestbook. Oh yeah, it's okay to order some CDs, too! They make wonderful gifts :-). I also have a page on MySpace.com. Have a look and join the list of friends at www.myspace.com/leelamusic I wish you peace, joy, and love. Namasté, Michael Stribling If you would like to be removed from my mailing list, please reply to this email and type the word "unsubscribe" in either the subject line or the body of your reply. One more thing: if you change your email address without telling me, I won't be able to send you any more newsletters. So, please keep me in mind if/when you change your email address. Leela Music Newsletters
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