When I asked myself:  How should I think about praise?, I discovered that my thoughts reserved praise for the highest and most perfect loftiness in my consciousness.  Consequently, my inclination to praise was unrealized.  I could not get a grasp on this concept.

Once I consciously switched my thinking perception to thinking with my heart, I began to understand praise as a simple act of recognition.  I would like to qualify recognition as a passive and objective observation without judgment of an object, environment or entity.  To recognize, to give attention to, an externalized essence or situation accomplishes several spiritual objectives:

True recognition, praise, requires a steady attention in the Now Moment.  The result of this practice allows the conscious mind to discern without past memories, prejudices or judgments; or, without expectations of the future surrounding the observed.

I attempted this exercise with all its pitfalls.  I stood at the sink and looked at the cup I was holding from my China dinner set.  I recognized the object in my hand; however, I noticed that my thoughts went directly to the past.  I contemplated the material used to make the china, the people hired to manufacture the item and the artist who created the design.  Then I thought about using this cup for years to come or perhaps of dropping the cup and smashing it into pieces.  Wow, that was everything except the present moment. Then I concentrated on the cup, oops, does it really own the name cup?

Finally, I just quietly and simply gazed at the object without any definition of its existence.  I simply recognized it!  I felt a praise of the object which is difficult to explain.  The cup did not change, but I gained a few seconds of pure acknowledgement.

True recognition, praise, enhances the feelings of unity, merging and circulation.

I wondered how I could feel anything at all outside of myself.  But I was so unaware.  Actually opportunities happen all the time, if we will just stop and recognize them.

I recall watching a touching scene on the Steve Irwin show.  He worked for years with the alligators and crocodiles.  Most of us only think about the primitive and instinctive viciousness of this animal.  Steve recognized their value to living-kind and attempted to alleviate many maligned concepts about this creature.  After many years of working with one of his favorite crocks, the animal un-expectantly died.  When Steve heard of the death, he ran directly into the pond and embraced the dead alligator.  We can think that this is the point of the story, but it is not.  Also in the pond was the mate of the dead animal, a creature that spent his life attempting to catch and kill Steve.  Miraculously, the mate sat quietly by while Steve mourned the loss of his dear alligator friend, all the while Steve was within striking distance of this live alligator.

It seems to me that there was recognition on Steve’s part and we can speculate a possible recognition by the live alligator that something merged, blended into one meaning.  Time stood still while something very profound occurred.  For a few moments, all past stereotypes ceased and only the present moment expressed itself.

It has loomed up in front of my consciousness that the smallest of recognitions demonstrates the greatest of praises.  What resulted in this mind picture I received from this story is an understanding of the great being called alligator.  I have recognized it and therefore this being has become part of who I am.  This personal recognition now demonstrates the essence of unity, oneness and circulation for me.  As I watched the story event, I became one with Steve who became one with the alligators.  There was a unity.  Possibly, it could have included thousands of people all over the world.  The circulation of this tiny event is in perpetual motion and takes on its own life of praise.

True recognition, praise, develops its zenith in the absolute identification of our fellow human being.

How hard is this?  Well, very challenging.  Of all living-kind, we humans are least receptive, tolerant and observant of our brothers and sisters.  We have plenty of opinions, criticisms and pre-judged perceptions about virtually all those we know and don’t know.  We are so busy reacting to all they express in deeds, conversations and mannerisms, that our physical eyes barely notice their appearance at all.

The future must evolve to a time/space where recognition of our fellow humankind will be like a communion, for we will see straight through the physical material essence to the being within.

Believe it or not, it is possible to personally evolve to this point in our own journey.  We can well be advised by Annalee’s mystic words regarding praise which may be practiced today and never tomorrow.  We must understand –as painful as it may be to most of us that we will not get out of this world without our brothers and sisters.  We exist by standing on the backs of multitudes.  We live this day at the expense of others.  We will not be able to sleep knowing that our kin suffer so much all over the world.

How do we take on such a task of offering a helping hand to those in need of our strength?  The answer is by taking on one human being at a time.  Starting with those emotionally close to you may not be the best first step.  Start with those individuals of which you have no emotional ties.

Recognize these individualities with the greatest ability you possess.  Of-course this does not mean being dramatic, theatrical or obvious.  In fact, you must not allow others to understand what you are doing.  Listen very carefully to their voice.  You are politely aware of their words, but your concentration is on their voice vibration.  Listen and feel.  Ask yourself how this noise vibration differs from the sound of an inanimate object like a bell.  Say to yourself:  “If I had lived every moment, breathed every breath of this being, I would know exactly how they are thinking and feeling right now.”  Therefore, everything that this person expresses right here and right now is the result of the sum total of their experiences.  Because of this, I recognize and praise them for standing in their present experience. 

When you meditate on your day’s experience, remember what your thoughts were regarding this person.  Did you bring a stereotypical thought into your mind?  Did you judge them?  Did you compare that person to yourself?  This self evaluation takes practice, but the event will emerge when you recognize an individual and praise them for the tremendous effort they are demonstrating as they progress on our mutual life path.  Their demonstrations become a reflection for you, plain and clear. 

You wonder where the angels are, right?  They are disguised as your brothers and sisters, be they guile and ugly or sweet and loving.  Recognize and praise your sisters and brothers with gratitude and love.  This is one of Annalee’s great messages to all of us.

Warmest regards,

Sonia Easley