Deep in a Squirrel's Heart

the Heart of Muffin


If you can be totally quiet while gazing into the eyes of a little squirrel, you can step into the radiant tranquility of his precious heart.

There, deep in that warm and vibrant womb,
you will find:
no tension
no "otherness"
no cleverness.

 You will find only tranquility, contentment and humility.

A squirrel's heart holds no self-importance.
Therefore kindness and humility radiate to the wise and foolish alike.  His gentle demeanor pulls you to him like a love magnet.
And then you find yourself irrevocably and helplessly
surrendered at his feet.

This is the great mystery of squirrelove.

Mr.Nut beaming love

Traveling the Higher Dimensions

Where do squirrels go when they meditate?  You know 
when you look in their eyes and they are looking straight 
at you, but seem to be "somewhere else"?  
Are they awake? What's going on?

Mr.Nut in meditation

Mr.Nut tells me that he does a lot of work on the higher dimensions. He will lay in front of my altar and stare at the lit candles... and then he just seems to go somewhere else. He tells me that he is traveling through the ethers, balancing the energies on our earth. Commander Nut works with the angels, ascended masters, ET's and other light beings to assist with the transformation of consciousness that is occurring on our planet!  He wants you to know that whenever you feel suddenly sleepy, that you should stop and rest because you are being asked to participate in this shift.  When you are asleep, your higher self can assist these Galactic beings of light unencumbered! So please do allow yourself to take a "time out'. 

 

Commander Nut on a mission

Mr.Nut says that during the day we humans get involved in many tasks that really have nothing to do with supporting our true essence.  In this life, Mr.Nut has decided that he would not be involved in the mundane squirrel tasks of nut-burying.  He has committed this life to work on the higher dimensions to help human beings grasp their true essence which is pure COMPASSION.

He encourages us to meditate and do some self

inquiry.  He asks you to ask the questions: "Who am

I without my thoughts?"  and "Who is this one that is 

aware?"   And then just stop and listen. Don't give 

these questions to your mind.... let them rest in your

heart and let the heart answer in its own time.

And then you will see your magnificence!

Infinite Cuteness

Muffin in the morning.

This morning, I was asking Muffin how it could be possible that each day he shows up cuter than the day before.  And on any given day he is the cutest he has ever been! And he told me that's because a squirrel's "cuteness" is infinite!  He said that the Shining One made squirrels for the express purpose of teaching humans what "infinite LOVE" means.

Muffin said that humans have a hard time understanding infinity. For example, humans tend to believe they can only really love one person, one animal, and if this 'special' being dies, then they feel abandoned and suffer.  Muffin said that squirrels don't have the same view.  Squirrels know that there is no end to squirrelove... no end to squirrel cuteness... no end to life.  Squirrels know that love is infinite and so when they run into the street and get hit by a car, they don't even know they got hit.  They keep running but we just don't see this.  When a mama squirrel loses a baby that fell out of the nest, she doesn't suffer.  She knows that she has exactly as many babies as she is supposed to have.  The One Heart is taking care of everything and everyone and there are no mistakes.

Rosie getting a squirrel kiss from her baby.

Muffin said that is why every squirrel is the most beautiful squirrel you have ever seen.  And this is true of every squirrel!  IT's because squirrel beauty is infinite!  There is no end to it!  If you just contemplate this in your meditation,  you will soon realize this Truth!  Just gaze into the eyes of a little squirrel and receive the experience of the Infinite!

                                                            

Just let go!

Little squirrel demonstrates "letting go".

Letting go is easier said than done!  In March I signed up for a silent retreat with my Beloved Mooji in Portugal.  Since the event was scheduled for the end of May, I figured I'd have plenty of time to release two squirrels before I had to get on the plane! 

Little did I know....

I started releasing  Rosie Posie (approx. 7 months old) at the very beginning of April. First she spent a couple of weeks inside her cage which was now outside next to the front door.  Then once her cage was opened, she went exploring.  Usually,  after about a week or two, the new squirrel on the block finds a place to build their own nest and starts to sleep there. 

 But this is not what happened with Rosie!

Rosie did spend a few nights away, but she would always show up the next evening and want to come inside!  Rosie has a sweet cubby hole in the house that she just loves to hide in.  Plus I think she really has grown fond of the 4-star treatment... ie. great food, free massage, clean bedding, and lots of mama's love!

Rosie in her cubby!

The other little squirrel for whom it was time to offer freedom was Muffin... aka Muffington Stinky Poops-a-lot (for fun!).

Muffin, a bit older, had been detained from release last fall due to some teeth issues. His teeth needed trimming and had to be checked again 6 weeks later. We had to make sure his teeth aligned properly so he could trim them himself! 

Once this was certain, he was free to go... but not in winter! So the next opportunity was in spring... alongside Rosie!

Muffin spent a lot of time in the big outdoor cage.  Mr.Nut had first dibs on the cage in the early morning and Muffin went outside in the afternoons and evening.  In the beginning, Muffin seemed to always be hiding.... 

You mean I have to leave here?

Day by day Muffin got more used to the outdoor sounds and activities and started acting like he wanted to test his wings.
On three consecutive days, his door was opened, and he started to explore the area just around his cage.  Then finally on the fourth day, he made it to the roof! Wow! What a surprise that was! Muffin could see all around and could run far and free!  Muffin's favorite part of being free was hanging out in the trees!
 

Happiness is hanging out in a real tree!

Now I think if there were no other squirrels in the neighborhood, Muffin would have done just fine outdoors. However, it turns out that Muffin had no clue on how to interact with the neighborhood squirrels.  So much so, that on two separate occasions he got into fights with them!
Poor Muffin! His first injury was a gash to his left shoulder. At least he came home and could recuperate in the big cage. On the second try, he came back 48 hours later with a sizable scratch from his eye to his nose... (which is now healed into a triangular scar).  It just wasn't looking good for a safe release for the the Muffin man!


Scarface Muffin!

Finally the departure date was a day away! It would be easy for someone to squirrel-sit Mr.Nut... but three squirrels was asking a lot  So it was decided that Muffin would be confined to the big cage outside, Mr.Nut would remain in the house, and Rosie would be kept inside her cage until she made it clear to my sitter that she absolutely had to be released!

Then on the last day, as I was putting food out for Muffin, he ran up my leg and out of the cage! It happened so fast and although I tried to grab him, he was gone!  OMG!
At this point, I had no choice but to let go of the outcome!

Then I realized that they had all got their wishes! Mr.Nut wanted to be in the outdoor cage, Muffin wanted to be free, and Rosie wanted to stay close to home.

On the morning of my flight, Rosie approached me to go outside like she always does, but this time I closed her in her cage.  I felt so bad having to do this, but knew that my sitter would not be able to handle Rosie running all over, coming in and out!  All I could do was let go and pray that they would all be watched over while I was away!  And if he released her, then it was what was supposed to happen.


Mr.Nut keeping watch.

I had truly exhausted myself from the worry over my squirrels and reluctantly had to leave town not knowing how it would all turn out.  If Rosie was released, while I was away, would I ever see her again? And if she was kept in her cage for 8 days, certainly she would flee upon my return!  And Muffin.. would he be able to survive on his own?  My mind was going crazy! Thank goodness the retreat was all about quieting the mind and resting in Silence.  I had to remind myself of my Master's words: 





So I put my squirrels in the lap of God and trusted their physical care to my dear squirrel-sitter.  I boarded the plane without looking back.

The retreat proved to be an oasis of peace and rejuvenation. Being in the Presence of Sri Mooji and listening to his daily satsangs erased all my thoughts. His guided meditations were so expansive that nothing remained but empty space.  So sublime. No words can describe meeting Mooji.  He is the most unconditionally loving being I have ever met.  His gaze erases years of conditioning and his embrace simply melts your heart!
All that's left is gratitude!

Finally, upon my return home, I was delighted to find out that Muffin had worn himself out and willingly let my sitter bring him back inside.  Rosie was so happy to see me, that even though I let her go the next morning, she was back home that very afternoon!  And Mr.Nut took advantage of the massages I offered him... and had several.   LOL. 

"Mind offers you a life with death at the end of it.

But the Heart offers you life without end.

YOU CHOOSE.

If you choose Heart, 

then you become Heart.

When you become Heart,

mind will also become Heart.

But you must make the first move."

~ Mooji

   

The Heart of a Gentle Squirrel

Sweet Mr.Nut

The most amazing thing about Mr.Nut is his gentle demeanor.   He is very different from other squirrels I've rehabbed over the years. He has a serene contentment about him that infuses everyone that comes to visit him. He is certainly a very sweet old soul.

Mr.Nut enjoys watching Mooji videos with me. He becomes very intent and soaks in his Presence.  Mr.Nut practices Mooji's pointing and no matter what chaos occurs around him, Mr.Nut "keeps quiet". 

Watching Mooji on YouTube

This morning I visited with Mr.Nut while he was in  his outdoor enclosure.  He likes to listen to the birds and talk to the outside squirrels that come to visit him.  No matter what time of day or night, you will find Mr.Nut demonstrating pure contentment and happiness. 

Someone asked Mr.Nut...

"I want happiness."

Mr.Nut said:

"First remove "I" that's ego.

Then remove "want" that's desire.

See now you are left with only

"happiness".

And that is why you never see an unhappy squirrel!

Be "Nothing"

Squirrels know how to be nothing.


"Rather than thinking about your being, rest in your being.Be in the joy. There's no special way to be.. simply allow your attention to rest in your being."                                                                                                    ~Mooji 




                             

The Emptiness IS the Vastness

Mr.Nut on standby to answer your questions!

Sometimes people ask me how Mr.Nut is able to answer people's questions with such accuracy and insight.  It's really pretty simple.  Mr.Nut knows he is part of everything and so he taps into the wisdom that pervades all of space.  He is just so relaxed and trusting that all answers become instantly known.  He taps in by being completely receptive.  Another way to say it is that Mr.Nut is completely empty.  And when you are empty, then you can be filled with all knowledge without even trying.

There is an awesome book called "Collisions with the Infinite" by Suzanne Segal in which she describes her experience of awakening.  At one point she feels that she is lost in nothingness… in the emptiness… and believes there is something wrong with her.  She seeks help from several therapists, all of whom are quick to put a label of dysfunction on her experience.  Finally, after many years of witnessing herself through the "eyes of dysfunction", she contacts a Buddhist teacher.  His response was, "Congratulations, Suzanne, it seems you have reached enlightenment."  Not long after this contact, she was driving up the coast of California and suddenly the realization occurred… the void was transformed into the "vastness".  And she saw that except for a thought that she was separate from the ALL,  no separation had ever been true!

The point of all this is…   to just be like a little squirrel.
They don't try to do anything. They just do what they do and that's enough.  It's us humans that are always analyzing everything and trying to figure out how it all works.  

That's why squirrels always have so much more energy than we do… they just act… they don't plan and they don't think about what they are doing.  They just act spontaneously in the moment and enjoy everything!  

It's so simple.  

That's why we need little squirrels to remind us.

And remember… 

if you have any questions

you can always ask Mr.Nut.

Live As A Little Squirrel

I am thoroughly enjoying Robert Wolfe's book, Always Only One. This gem comments on the verses of the Ashtavakra Gita, a very old Vedic teaching text that may predate the Bhagavad Gita and the Buddha. To read the Ashtavakra Gita, is to be reminded of the world of a little squirrel!  I love that they are all little teachers of how to transcend duality! Can you see the squirrel wisdom in the following verses??

     "The liberated one rests in the Self under all conditions; is the same everywhere; does not reflect on what he "has" or "has not" done.

     His nature is free from conditions: acting as he pleases, the wise one is not affected by "honor" of "dishonor." He moves about at his own pleasure, and can only be understood by those Self-realized like him.  Only those like him understand his liberated state.

     Realizing the Self in all-- and all in the Self-- and free from egoism, and the sense of "mine,"  he is happy.

     The man of Knowledge (squirrel) lives happily on whatever subsistence comes as a matter of course.  Where is even fear,  for him who abides in Self?"

     Praised, he does not feel pleased; and blamed, he does not get annoyed:  he neither rejoices in life, nor fears death.

     For me, who am reposing in Self, there is no need of talking about the "end of life."  Reposing on the foundaton of his own Being... he cares not whether his body dies.  He is not perturbed at the sight of approaching death.  Let the body go, even today:  where is there any increase or decrease in You?

     This knowledge of the Truth is shunned by those who want to enjoy the "world." 

Little squirrels know.

In spiritual literature, the terms 

Tao, God, Love, Brahman, Great Mystery, 

The Way, All That Is, are names for the ultimate reality.

  I prefer to use the term Squirreluminosity or Squirrel Light. 

See if you agree with my choice as you 

read the next verse from 

the Ashtavakra:

"As the same all-pervading air is inside and outside a jar, even so the Eternal all pervasive exists in all things-- It in all, and all in It.  The universe is permeated by It through and through.  It exists inside and ouside this body.  The universe, emanating from It, is not different from it and this universe, which has emanated from it, will dissolve into It."

Mr.Nut... my teacher!

     

     
  

Squirrelikalpa Samadhi

Mr.Nut in Pure Bliss

No doubt you have probably heard of the term "Nirvikalpa Samadhi".  This is a state of absorption without self-consciousness to the degree that the knower, the act of knowing, and the object known becomes dissolved...  just like the waves in the ocean.  The difference between this and the other 'samadhis' is that there is no return from this samadhi into lower states of consciousness. Therefore this was understood to be the true final enlightenment....
until now, in 2013, we have the great fortune
 to be witness to:

Squirrelikalpa Samadhi ...
 the highest transcendent state of consciousness. In this state there is no longer the experience of duality. In this state the being perceives the Divine in everything.  There is no difference between inside and outside, between others and self anymore. It may even manifest as a suspension of biological activities, such that even the breath and the heartbeat stops.  There is absolute stillness and yet, a luminous vitality prevails, such that by a simple glance or touch, one is completely transformed.  This energy transfer is also known as squirrel deeksha and is freely given to all that are willing to receive it!  

Until just recently, it was widely believed that squirrels were solely on earth to plant trees and so provide us with the oxygen we require to breathe.  Although necessary, this is only a tiny part of their sacred contract.  The real mission  of a little squirrel is to connect to a human in such a way that their heart is permanently and irrevocably opened to compassion.  The little squirrels are in various states of consciousness.  Every now and then you may run across a squirrel in this very highest state and you may think that there is something wrong with him.  He is not moving and his gaze is steady.   Do not be alarmed!  Instead, thank your lucky stars, for he is resting in perfect stillness and is in total communion with the Cosmos!  
And you are graced to be in his Presence! 

Pure Bliss via Mr.Nut's  gaze

And so, in these transitional times, the little squirrels are arriving in massive fleets to assist our evolution into the new paradigm of PEACE!  All over the globe, baby squirrels are literally falling into the arms and hearts of people and waking them up to their true nature ~  
the Lovingkindness of the ONE SQUIRREL HEART!

What a perfect and simple plan!  
Just be like a little child and receive... 

Doing Nothing... Being Everything!

This morning I was sitting with my squirrel, Mr.Nut, and it was so clear that he is simply always being himself.  Never a pretense, never trying to look good, never "trying" to do anything!  He just is. 

Each morning, we sit together.  When Mr.Nut is not interested in playing our RolyPoly reindeer game, he just rests.  So I pick up one of my favorite books and select a passage to contemplate.

Byron Katie's Losing The Moon is one of these gems.  Not long after her awakening/enlightenment, she had some amazing conversations with friends, sitting in the desert. These conversations were recorded and became the book, "Losing the Moon". This book, now unpublished, can be a difficult read.  However, once there has been some kind of a shift in perception, the book makes total sense.

Here's what lit up on the page today:

"It just is.  It's not my habit. It's not your habit. You tell the story of how it's your habit, or that it happened at all.  There's nothing you can do to not do what you do.  Nothing.  Until you don't.  And you didn't change it.  It changed."

I love that. 

It takes the effort out of everything... it takes the war out of everything. That's why a little squirrel is such a great teacher! They never believe that they are doing anything... they just do what they do without a thought.  

Doing is just happening on its own.

And just for fun....

  

Mr.Nut loves this song!