I almost didn’t do it…but then I did…getting to Enlightenment
I almost walked past this one. Stepped over it, thinking “I have had enough Enlightenment for now…”.
And then I heard “the voice”. Retracing my steps, I heard it before I got there. I just knew what this Teaching was going to be about.
Looking down at a Kukui Nut Shell submerged in the sand. Kukui Nuts – literally used to make light in the old days of Traditional Molokai, Hawaii – are all about enlightenment. Beautifully patterned, I knew before I turned it over, it would be only a half-shell…
…earlier, sitting under the Keawe Tree (an invasive and destructive non-indigenous pest), looking out across the Kalohi Channel toward Lanai in morning calm, this was the conversation I’d been having with the Ancestors…
I knew this important Teaching would be reinforced somewhere as I made my way back home to my Kumu’s hale/house. (Put these 3 things together in the context of this Teaching: the Keawe Tree/ an invasive pest, Kalohi/slow, lingering, becalmed & Kumu – the Source…)
Of course, it would only be half of the Kukui Nut Shell. Of course. Knew it as I turned the pretty thing over. This is the problem we face as a Spiritual Community, and as Teachers of Deep Tradition.
People who only go half-way on the “Path”, thinking they’ve “got enough”, solved their problem, know it all, advice-give to others, think they know enough to teach others.
Going half-way on the Path means there’s still more you don’t KNOW – how could you know, you haven’t completed the Path…
…and if you’re wondering right now “have I…”, then you KNOW you haven’t completed the Path…
The world is full of “teachers” and “seekers” who only have one half of the shell. They sound convincing on the Socials, in their Workshops. They look credible in carefully crafted pics. They sound credible, mostly to people who are just starting the Path, still on the Path, dropped off the Path…
But they only have one half of the shell. They know enough to convince themselves that their work is done, or done enough…
Enlightenment is going the whole length of the Path. Doing whatever it takes. We only know where it ends when we transition into Pō, the place of Origin. And then the Path simply continues but at another level.
We can experience levels before we get to Pō – which is why we “think” we’ve achieved enlightenment, but really what’s happening is we are growing, changing and literally uplevelling our physical experience. It’s enlightenment with a small “e”…
And because we ARE uplevelling, the Path appears to change. Maybe it becomes easier in parts, maybe we become more comfortable with ourselves as we go along it, maybe our KNOWING/Intuition increases, maybe it gets “hard” at times, but we KNOW how to find our way through it.
We know “hard at times” is part of the Path. We KNOW we don’t have to give up and get off the Path, but use what we’ve learned, our Teachings, to get to the other side of “hard”.
The Path seems to change because we do – and because we do, we can change the path through the Path. The Path itself doesn’t change. It’s always going in the same direction – toward Enlightenment.
The Teaching: don’t get caught out thinking you have achieved Enlightenment, and so there’s nothing more left to do. Don’t go through life with only half the shell in your toolkit. Stay on the Path. That’s the only way to get what’s waiting for you within the whole shell. What we call Enlightenment….
☝🏽 What do I do next Kumu?
Take some time to think about where you are and the Path you’re on – take a step back and truthfully ask yourself “am I actually on the Path?” and “If I am, what Path am I on?”. Then take it a step further and check yourself out: “am I where I really need to be, or do I know there’s a few missing pieces in my puzzle?”. And if you’re a Hawaiian Healing Practitioner of Lomilomi or Ho’oponopono who DOESN’T have the Traditional Teachings in place – ask yourself “what is preventing me from learning them?” and “what am I holding onto in my previous training, even if I have a feeling it’s not culturally correct?”.
😊 We’re really interested in working with Spiritual Seekers who want to get on the Path and go the distance in life; we also L-O-V-E–E working with other Healing Practitioners and Teachers…the world needs you and your work, BUT we need, as a deep and culturally esteemed Lineage, to MAKE SURE you have the CORRECT Teachings in place. We are culturally appointed custodians of the Teachings – we don’t decide “hey! I’m going to start teaching this stuff”, the Kumu Pa’a Nui decides on behalf of the Community. And that’s a really significant difference between the Kumu of the SoHAD and most other Spiritual Teachers of Hawaiian Healing.
👉🏽 Development you can do:
- Seekers and Practitioners: develop your Spiritual Intelligence. Join our distance, DIY Courses with help from Kumu and the Wise Guides on tap whenever you need it whilst you are studying with us or join a facilitated class with Kumu Nalani or one of the Wise Guides
- Hawaiian Healing Practitioners: start by joining our Path to Pa’a Course – you’ll be so glad you did. It’s got the Traditional Cultural Teachings you need for your Healing Practice. Two options: in a live online class with Kumu Nalani or Distance Education with help from Kumu when you need it. This training is recognised Professional Development in 39 Countries.
- Join the Hawaiian Studies Club: this is a members only Club – check it out here 👉🏽 Yo! Take me there
- 1:1 Develoment: do regular sessions with one of the Wise Guides, there’s 5 to choose from. They all work in different ways 👉 Wise Me Up!