Love Skool, Love Truth

I wanted to share that my personal experience from Day One of "Love Skool" until now can be described after a long list of adjectives... but one things sticks out is the love. I sometimes find myself sitting alone (always being an observer) during our short meal breaks and admire the togetherness of everybody, if we are "buddies" or not, if we see each other outside of the Lotus or not, we have become friends, and in some cases, family.

We were strangers just over a month ago, most of us, and of course, to live without any expectations or judgments are pitfalls of the human mind, and it is a struggle to not see someone - without having a mere second of getting to know them - to let our purusha do its thing. Without naming names, I have seen the truth of people pour out of their pores. You can't judge a book by it's cover. Just in our skool, our satsang, there are shy people with warm hearts who love to laugh and sing; there are those with stern faces who hide in the crowd and yet have something to share if prompted; there are those who are giving and kind and yet cannot express deep emotion and truly have that burning desire; some who are shy and only when they are in the spotlight do they shine; some who don't know how to be and yet there are amazing just as they are and they just need a little more time to realize it... it goes on and on... And sure, sticking my camera in your faces gets me closer to you, but in those few moments, I can usually see the truth - I have had many strangers (camera shy and/or self-conscious) warm up to me in minutes, their light quickly shining; and if not in the school setting and a more relaxing atmosphere, maybe my photo-relationship with some of you would be more soothing, more chill, and not invasive.

My point of this is to say that you all surprise me every time I see you. Perfect, whole, beautiful beings with pieces of hearts to give, souls to share. Deep love.

My question is: How are we when we are out of Love Skool? Are we the same person? Do we act the same? If not, do we act and play roles? Are we still true? Do we act the part of being true, speak the lingo, riding this wave for these few months, or are we honestly true? That's something to ponder. One experience of my spiritual roller coaster I'd like to share, is that even before applying to the Love Skool, and doing my own reading and meditation sadhana, I was learning the power of now and how to grab a hold of it, and becoming more comfortable with other human beings (strangers), no matter who they were; and now, where I am now on this coaster, with our education and all of your personal influence on me (not to forget your extremely kind words regarding my dad), including the incredible beautiful things that are said that move me greatly, I am becoming a better person and truly-honestly-genuinely-feeling the love.

And as I learned in class today, I will end with my go-to: "Very nice."

Thoughts by

Gabriel Sanders

Namaste.