FINDING DORY & THE POWER OF THE PRESENT MOMENT

My  5 year old was exited to watch the movie Finding Dory. The movie is wonderful and my son enjoyed it thoroughly. He was literally standing up for few of the scenes.  You can read a lot more about the movie plot here “Dory”
 
At the end of the movie I asked my son what was the take away message from the movie. He said “We can find your way back following the shells”.  This perspective coming from a 5 year old was a moment to pause, cherish and enjoy it. For me finding the path back and the entire movie, In addition to being entertaining,  had some wholesome guidance to swim through life too.  One of the key lessons was the Power of being present in the moment opens up life’s infinite wisdom to work through us.

It starts with “I remember something important “. . In Dory’s case her disability of forgetting everything and having no memory of the past in a way sparks the paradoxical thought of duality – Is this a blessing or a curse?  A blessing because she is not limited by past belief systems and bane because she might not be able to care for herself as normally one would.  Now from some deep corner of her mind she “remembers something important “. This starts off the faint stirrings of desire to find the source of the call. She remembers she has a family and desires to find them. In our evolution of self awareness this remembering is the call from the divine source. It exists and it calls. How do we hear it?  It is not necessary to loose our memory and have the same disability that Dory suffers to hear it. Most of us are blessed to have a sharp memory and ability to use the past clues to navigate through life’s ocean. The flip side of this sharp memory is that  sometimes we get stuck with the preconceived ideas and conditioning of the past.  We limit ourselves and find excuses not to desire and trace our path back to the source. Whether we like it or not we all have to go back to the source we originated from. 
 
How do we take the first step? By creating and simulating the state which Dory is in. Her state is that of complete awareness of the present moment. She is fully alive in the Now. Her every instant/moment is just that “the only moment there is”. For her nothing of the past exists – it is all new/fresh and open ended for life’s inspiration and guidance to work without any baggage of the past. We can be in that moment by suspending our intense attachment to the past thoughts. By being mindful of this state we can hear the faint call of beckoning from the source.  This is the first step that starts us on our way to re-discovering what our souls have forgotten.​

And after the call?– We have to make a Will and get on the quest.   The return journey has to begin. There will be times when we will be facing the most difficult obstacles. A t times even our loved ones might stand in our way and we would want to give up and give in to living a life not aligned with our true calling. In Dory’s case Marlin’s words are one of the obstacles she has to surmount and forge ahead.   
During the journey – As you overcame the very first hurdles you know deep inside that you will not be stopping along the way come.  When you have made up your will and set the course help starts appearing. Most often help starts showing up when you least expect it- Hank appears for Dory and he is with her all through to the very end. The ability to be mindful of the present moment allows us to see from a perspective which is limitless and through time and space. I particularly like the Dr Quantum cartoon of flat lands Dr Quantum – Flatland. When you see from a different perspective the paths that were not visible before are now clearly visible.  
 
Not withstanding the clarity  you get and the help you receive,  there will be times when others try to grab you.  They want to hold you to themselves for their own comfort and well being. At times you are held on to so as to condition you to match their expectations. –  This happens to Dory & Hank in the “touch pool” many hands try to grab Hank and Dory to hold them. During such times we should take the que from Dory- Swim & swim really fast.  We too might have to run and run fast to avoid being captured in the trap of limitations created by other peoples thoughts & beliefs 

 
 Another lesson – this time from Marlin & Nemo- Along life’s journey some of the early detractors might come back to help us on our journey to find the source. Maybe sometimes we have been the detractors to others when they have been on their path to reach certain goals. When we have an intense desire to help it is important not to think with our limited thoughts. It is vital to ask the pertinent question “what would Dory Do?” Not what I would do, with my present belief systems and conditioning.  A complete drop of our preconceived ideas of help and thinking can open the door to be of any value to others.  Most often our help can be in the form of Being there for the other person without judgement 
 
Finally – Life’s insights and guidance will continue leading us along the paths towards the source. It is vital to our journey to remember that the source has called us back, call is not the the end of it. It has also prepared the way. In Dory’s case her parents have been waiting and preparing for her return. The shells are all laid out from the core extending outwards in all directions. When we get closer we start seeing the way back more vividly and brightly. As we become alert we start seeing  shells marking our way back and acting as lighted paths. If we keep following life’s guidance and the markers we will surely arrive at the source.  Life’s infinite wisdom, guidance and markers all exist, its just that we have not found them yet. When we arrive the joy of the re-union can only be experienced and not described I suppose.  

 
A few  questions that could assist :- 
1.         Are we present, mindful & still enough Now to hear the call of what life’s purpose for us is?  “Do we remember something important? 

2.         Do we have the Will to really listen to the call and go after it?  
 
3.         Can we let go of our past conditioning and pre-conceived ideas of how things should work and embrace change and uncertainty? 

4.         Do we have what it takes to tackle difficulties and obstacles – Are we prepared enough to trust in life’s infinite wisdom and guidance that it will help us in our return. Can we swim and swim fast? 

May the Power of the eternal Now bring happiness to all!