Reflections: Carry Your Heart as Light as a Feather

By Andre Auw, Ph.D.

Reflections is a treasure-trove of insights gained over many years by Andre Auw, Ph.D. Living in Waikiki, this gifted and kind psychologist and counselor at 93 years old remains ever curious. He continues to learn and grow by “listening with the heart.” In this collection of his reflections, we see that he has a gift of words that are clear, penetrating, and often poetic. They reveal not only his inner thoughts and musings, but they also help us to come to know ourselves more deeply in the inner lining of our hearts.

Through the years Andre has sustained the practice of spiritual reading, or the reading of biographies or stories of interest followed by meditation. He often finds that when the reading is especially inspiring that he closes his eyes and reflects on what he has just read. In this way he attempts to apply those lessons to his own life.

It has been through this practice that he has learned the value of “reflection”. As time has gone by, he has come to realize even more the value of reflection. Now in his 90’s, this time out for reflection is something that he continues on a daily basis. He has said, “Reading can inform and entertain and inspire, but only reflection on the material transforms the mind and the heart.” He hopes that sharing this collection of his reflections will serve as a guide to support and encourage you on your own life's journey.

In Andre’s own words, “Reflections are a gathering of insights, mostly stolen from others, as well as a few of my own that served as inspirations and information for me. I felt they needed to be shared. Some are like old friends to be contacted again and again. A few are dramatic or poignant. But all have been important in my own life experience. I hope others may find them to be of value.” May we all benefit from the value of reflection to transform our life and bring us an appreciation for life’s lessons through an expansion of our consciousness.

Over Dr. Auw’s long career, he conducted seminars and workshops in Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. He consulted with business, governmental and educational organizations. With Carl Rogers, he Co-Founded the Center for Studies of the Person in La Jolla, California. Dr. Auw’s previous printed books are: GENTLE ROADS TO SURVIVAL: Making Self-Healing Choices in Difficult Circumstances; and The GIFT OF WOUNDING: Finding Hope and Heart in Challenging Circumstances.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andre Auw, Ph.D.
• Release date: Feb 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370294398

Andre Auw, Ph.D.

Andre Auw, Ph.D. at 93 years old is a retired psychologist, counselor and former Catholic priest who has learned to "Listen with the Heart." He has conducted seminars and workshops in Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. He consulted with business, governmental and educational organizations. With Carl Rogers, he Co-Founded the Center For Studies of the Person in La Jolla, California. Dr. Auw's previous printed books are: GENTLE ROADS TO SURVIVAL: Making Self-Healing Choices in Difficult Circumstances; and The GIFT OF WOUNDING: Finding Hope and Heart in Challenging Circumstances.

Book preview

Reflections

Carry Your Heart as Light as a Feather

Andre Auw, Ph.D.

Reflections

Carry Your Heart as Light as a Feather

Andre Auw, Ph.D.

Copyright © 2017

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PO Box 2488, La Jolla, CA 92038

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About the Author

Andre Auw, Ph.D. at 93 years old is a retired psychologist, counselor and former Catholic priest who has learned to Listen with the heart. He has conducted seminars and workshops in Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. He consulted with business, governmental and educational organizations. With Carl Rogers, he Co-Founded the Center For Studies of the Person in La Jolla, California.

Dr. Auw's previous printed books are: GENTLE ROADS TO SURVIVAL: Making Self-Healing Choices in Difficult Circumstances; and The GIFT OF WOUNDING: Finding Hope and Heart In Challenging Circumstances.

Introduction

Andre’s appreciation for reflection began during his years in the monastery. Each day an hour was set aside for spiritual reading followed by meditation. He often found that when the reading was especially inspiring that he would close his eyes and reflect on what he had just read. In this way he attempted to apply those lessons to his own life.

It was through this practice that he began to learn the value of reflection. As time has gone by, he has come to realize even more the value of reflection. And, now in his 90’s this time out for reflection is something that he continues on a daily basis. He has said, Reading can inform and entertain and inspire, but only reflection on the material transforms the mind and the heart.

Over the years he collected many of the reflections you'll find in this book. Andre truly feels that he has been blessed to be given so much and is now pleased to be able to have this opportunity to give back to you too. With gratitude he now welcomes sharing these reflections with you.

This book was written by Andre in bits and pieces over a few years time. It is hoped that you too will find the value of reflection to transform your life and bring you appreciation for life’s lessons and encourage you to use this technique to expand your consciousness.

~1~ Writer Keith Johnson has a beautiful metaphor for the experience of having a caring mentor. He says it is like finding a banister in the dark.

~2~ Eknath Easwaran, spiritual teacher from India tells of an incident at a famous New York hotel. A woman was disturbed at night by "a loud banging" on a piano in the room next to hers, and she complained to the manager the next morning, saying that the hotel should not permit that kind of activity. The manager apologized to her, but added that the man in the suite next to hers was the famed pianist, Paderewski, who was practicing for the concert in a few days. He added that many people paid huge sums of money to have the privilege of hearing him. The woman replied, Oh, that's different. And that night she stayed up late listening to the glorious music coming from the room next door. Easwaran uses the story to illustrate the fact that it is not an external event or behavior that upsets us, but rather our inner perception of the meaning to us that governs our choice of a reaction.

~3~ A wonderful quote from St. Teresa of Avila: Amor saca amor. … Love brings forth love. So simple, and yet, so powerful.

~4~ A great lesson from the story of the racehorse Seabiscuit. Tom Smith his trainer took him out to the track to test him. The horse was wild and fought every suggestion of the rider. Then Smith said, Let him go! And he ran for two miles at top speed as the rider let him have the reins. Finally the horse stopped, tired, and then headed back to the stable where he got a carrot. … The horse had learned that he would never be forced to do what he didn’t want to do. He never again fought a rider.

~5~ People

So seldom

Say I love you

And then it's either too late

Or love goes away

So when I tell you I love you

It doesn't mean I know you'll never go

Only that I wish you didn't have to

~6~ On the value of failing as a learning experience there is a wonderful quote from Samuel Beckett: Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

~7~ Maria Montessori developed a wonderful gift that became the centerpiece of her system. She became an observant listener. She watched the child's behavior, and noticed things indicating the child was responding to a different drummer. By adapting her responses to what she saw and heard, she was able to create a bond of trust that fostered the child's growth.

~8~ Jack Kornfield tells the story of a young monk who sought enlightenment.