SOMEBODY’S LISTENING

Preface What has happened to me is truly inconceivable. It cannot be reached or achieved through ordinary thoughts and can only be known through a direct intuitive experience. What I have experienced is not a miracle but rather a joyous expression of wondrous love and compassion. It is celebrated in the visionary offerings of fully realized beings and is a blessing bestowed from the lineage of my teacher. In a moment of complete stillness, having pierced the darkness, I tranquilly awakened at the point where all dualities disappear. As I sat comfortably in meditation, I gazed through the celestial portal and witnessed a passing reflection of what can always be, what has always been. This precious gift is far more enchanting to me than anything I could have ever imagined, and I have been a dreamer and a stargazer since I was born. My awakening comes straight from the pages of a storybook. You hold it in your hands. It tells of my arrival at the steps of the door leading to the presence within—and of what awaited me thereafter. It has all the makings of an unbelievable story, for at its center is my spiritual teacher, a venerable spiritual magician, the wish-fulfilling jewel. ~~~ My teacher, a Taoist-Buddhist priest, embraced a dual tradition. He taught me that our understanding and practice are intended to benefit all beings impartially and that we are to meet the events of our lives with joy and equanimity. This book, therefore, is an offering of two things: my innermost spiritual experiences while on the path and the wisdom I have received as a result of my transformation. Transcending time and the dualistic mind, the flowerings of my awareness are the fragrant petals of my spiritual journey. Although the defining events belong to what now seems like another lifetime, my narrative is aided by the way I remember things—in pictures—so my recall is quite exceptional. True to my spiritual journey, when I first began writing this book, I had no idea of the many blessings that would come to me while bringing this book to life. The answers to several questions concerning my teacher came without me asking them, and a few mysteries surrounding major events while on my spiritual journey with Sifu were revealed to me in a vision. When I humbly asked for Sifu’s permission to write a book about my spiritual experiences with him, he told me it was his secret wish that I would one day write a book. This book, after all, is really about him and dedicated to him. There is not a day that goes by without me thinking of him, and the precious gift of his beloved presence remains with me even now. ~~~ As for myself, it seems I was born to know certain things, and about this there can be no doubt: I was born with the Way-seeking mind. Just as my steps were guided in my ardent quest to find the truth—and, in due course, the way to my teacher’s home—my thoughts were guided numerous times as I searched for just the right words when writing many of the more esoteric passages found herein. I am forever grateful for the wisdom I have received and for the peace that now fills my heart and mind. While there is nothing special or exceptional about me, I believe there is something special about the message I have to share with everyone. It is my hope that the story of my awakening will be an inspiration to others and of great benefit to all. Larry J. Sarantha July 6, 2018 May all sentient beings find peace.