Soft Encounters | Part Seven: Jan

In this audio-recording Ruben is responding for the second time to Jan. She shared another beautiful message in the online classroom of the Insight Timer course 'Don't fool yourself any longer'. Rubens response might be helpful for others to listen to. Connecting with people that also enjoy the effortless practice of 'Short Moments of Softness and Clarity' is very helpful. It is with great joy that Ruben is now sharing a series of conversations and responses between his 'students' (fellow travelers) and him, for those that feel like deepening their effortless practice. This response includes a guided meditation.

Transcript

Hi Jan,

Thanks again.

So beautiful to get in touch.

Reading your name again,

It makes me just very blissful.

Yeah,

So beautiful how we connect through this mysterious classroom.

Yeah,

It's a true joy.

So let me read a little bit what you're writing again.

You are sharing,

Hello Ruben,

I am beginning the course again,

My friend.

This is the online course,

Don't fool yourself any longer.

Lovely to read that you're sharing,

My friend.

I feel the same Jan.

Yeah,

Wonderful.

You are writing,

It is good to hear your messages with more softness inside me now.

It is more quiet in my mind,

Even though emotions continue to surge at times.

It feels at times like I am in a cozy,

Quiet cocoon,

Knowing something beautiful and exciting awaits,

Yet not sure what that will be.

I know you will help me along the way.

And then you continue,

I hope all is well with you,

Dear one.

Jan.

This was February 24th,

2024.

I did respond a little bit earlier through a text message in which I shared that I would come back to you with an audio message.

So here we are again.

I will also share this one on my profile as a free audio recording again.

Since this is a beautiful opportunity for us all,

For you Jan as well,

To ease into something that is so soft.

For me as well,

So beautiful to have this moment again.

And even right now already I can sense a difference,

As if life is showing up in a very soft and loving way.

Less ribbon available right now,

Just a more spacious,

Open,

Loving awareness,

Which feels really non-personal,

So quick,

So easy,

Accessible,

Don't you think Jan?

And you that might be listening right now,

How about you?

Can you also sense that something beyond all words is totally silent,

Soft,

Warm and stable?

And if somehow this message is new to you,

It might be helpful to take another deep breath and notice that when we don't emphasize thinking,

And maybe even stop thinking for a short moment,

And right now something more spacious is showing itself.

And when there is no thought active,

You might be able to sense that you as this person kind of dissolves.

There might be sensations feelable in the body and thoughts might quickly arise again.

But when they do arise and we take another short moment,

Very brief,

In which we do not focus on any thought,

Or feeling,

Or sensation even in the body,

Kind of drop into the heart,

This spacious,

Beautiful heart,

Which at first might feel as a physical heart,

But when you soften more and more,

And allow softness to be your guide,

You might notice that something more spacious,

Loving,

Is already available.

One could say is the heart.

Way beyond the physical heart,

Way beyond the body,

Something way beyond thinking and feeling,

Way beyond all those memories,

Something already is totally silent,

Soft,

Warm and stable.

Warm,

Lovingly present,

One could say.

And for the purpose of this practice,

You could imagine your heart to expand,

To soften.

Imagine the space around your heart softening moment to moment.

Tension leaving the body and simultaneously noticing that something is,

Just is.

And this is-ness,

When tuning into this is-ness,

Might soften you more and more.

It can be like putting things down,

All the stuff that you've been carrying for decades,

Maybe,

And also in the last couple of weeks,

Days.

All that seems to be so heavy,

The weight on your shoulders,

So to speak.

Right now life,

Mysteriously so,

Is giving you this beautiful opportunity to maybe even finally put things down,

Yeah.

The question might arise,

Why even hold on to anything?

It is to be trusted,

To really put things down.

You can trust this,

Life is giving you this beautiful message.

You can trust to let it all go.

You are here,

You will always be here,

You will never not be here,

As this beautiful is-ness,

That is impersonal.

And if it seems to be a little bit scary somehow to let it all go,

Be gentle with yourself,

It's also fine to hold on,

You know,

It's also fine,

All is well.

But maybe,

Maybe,

Right now,

You might be able to sense that somehow it is to be trusted fully,

Somehow it is to be trusted fully,

That somehow life in its essence is okay.

Something in life doesn't want anything from anything.

This is in and of itself so beautiful to notice moment to moment.

This stillness that isn't grasping,

Judging,

Doesn't want anything to change,

Yeah.

And when we as these human vehicles somehow land there,

There,

And we somehow seem to do this over and over again,

Then somehow,

Mysteriously so,

Life seems to be in a much more natural flow for us all,

Less doubt.

Yeah,

Less of a feeling that we are this little me.

Somehow,

When tapping into this more spacious,

Non-personal,

Loving awareness,

As Ram Dass is sharing so beautifully,

Maybe still does,

Who knows,

Loving awareness,

Loving awareness.

Awareness.

Also when thinking,

When doubting,

When having these moments in life where it seems to be undoable,

This loving awareness is the essence of it all.

Isn't personal,

But ever so loving.

Showing that life is to be trusted fully.

Let us all repeat this throughout the day.

Automatically so,

You'll notice suddenly the words loving awareness.

Thank you Ram Dass and others that have been communicating this.

Thank you so much for showing us the way.

May we all be well,

May we all be happy.

May we all be free from suffering.

And may we all notice that life is to be trusted fully,

Moment to moment.

Yeah,

Thank you Jan again for reaching out,

For showing your immense love for life,

For me,

For yourself,

For others.

Thank you so much for this gift that you are sharing.

Yeah,

Let's be in touch.

And as I shared with you before,

I'm not sure if this has reached you,

But it would be lovely to meet you once through Skype or Zoom,

To connect with you in that way.

Love to meet you there and also via this online classroom.

Thank you so much Jan.

Wishing you all a beautiful day,

Until the next timeless moment in time.

Bye.

Reviews

Thank you, my Dear Friend, for your warm comfort and guidance. As I navigate my days seeing myself and the world differently, my heart still tender from a relationship ending, you have helped calm my confusion and held me in loving and kind acceptance.

I listened to your message sitting at my computer, fighting the bright sunshine which made seeing the words on the screen impossible. So, I stopped the struggle, gave into the warm light coming through the window, closed my eyes and let your warm intention and the sun’s rays truly and deeply touch my heart. I let go of the struggle and was blessed by the letting go. Lol.

You are a special soul, Ruben. The more I soften and listen to your words, the more I feel Divinely held and comforted.
Change, as we all know, is inevitable and important. Yet to be helped navigating the unknown, is a blessing and gift I am grateful for beyond what words can describe!

It is always a lovely day to hear your inspiring messages. And to connect with you, my new dear friend. We are, after all, just walking each other home! (Ram Dass) You’ve helped me find peace along the path, Ruben. How precious that is!!
Much love,
Jan
18Mar2024