Others think only saints can be self-realized, and for it to happen you have to have transcended the realm of desire, and live beyond the need for companionship, physical comfort, sex and any personal wants or preferences.

This is why we don't really like using the term enlightenment. It's such a loaded word, weighed down by many far-fetched stories. We prefer to speak in terms of freedom, or self-realization.

What we teach is that the more you see (recognise What you really are), the freer you are, and the freer you are, the more you're simply present wherever you are -- present without any story.

The freer you are, the more you know yourself as pure consciousness or aware presence, expressing in this unique body, mind, and personality known as "you".

You still have a story, but now you know you're not your story. You still have an ego, an "I", a "me", but now you know you're not your ego. You honor the past, keep an eye on the future, but live right here, now. You feel a tremendous gratitude for the gift of being alive, you're always, essentially, at peace, one with the flow of life.

We say, essentially, because no matter how free we are, we are still human, and subject to human flaws and foibles, like illness, disability, mistakes, errors in judgment, and even occasional residues of old egoic patterns. Part of being free, or self-realized, is accepting and being at peace with our imperfect humanity!

A significant part of what makes up imperfect humanity for Pete and Pearl Sumner is their loss of eyesight,which is quite ironic for couple who lead an enterprise named, Clearsight. (Humor also arises from and in aware Presence)

Canine Companions

To enable them manage, Pete and Pearl each have a faithful guide to assist them as travel-companions in the challenging world of form. Pete's guide-dog is Turlow, Pearl's guide-dog is Debbie, and these 'youngsters' are supervised and mentored by Pearl's lovely old retired guide, Skye.

Pete lost his sight at the age of 19 when he accidentally splashed whitewash into his eyes while on a student-teacher working-bee at Macedon, near Melbourne (S.E. Austalia).

When rehabilitation commenced, Pete trained first with the mobility cane and then, several years later, with his first guide-dog. He's now had the help and companionship of five wonderful dog-guides -- Jasper, Hans, Noah, Luther and now, Turlow -- all male golden Labs.

Pete and Pearl trained with their latest dogs at the Guide-Dogs WA Centre in Victoria Park, Perth, Western Australia.

Pete says: "One of the things I love about Turlow is his presence and how comfortable he seems in just being what he is.

His energy and enthusiasm for his work is remarkable. He will sometimes wake me in the morning with one of my shoes in his mouth as if to say: 'How come you're still in bed? Get these on and let's get going!'

Later, when I've finally go my act together and there's an errand to be done, I'm often touched by the way Turlow sometimes gives my face a lick as I bend down to put on his harness, it's as if he's saying, "Don't worry, we'll be OK together. Life's an adventure.'"

Turlow was generously sponsored by SkyWest Airlines amd professionally trained by Deanne Miller of Leader-Dogs, Michigan, USA, (on contract to Guide-Dogs WA).

Turlow's kennel name was 'Turbo' (after SkyWest's turbo-jet planes), however, Pete, not comfortable with the 'turbo-charged' implication, decided to change it a little to 'Turlow', "I guess I'm looking for a quieter life, these days." he said.

Pearl is now assisted by Debbie, a lively, very intelligent and somewhat mischiefous young guide-dog.

Deb is named after her generous sponsor, Debbie, who sadly passed away not long before Pearl and her new dog were matched as a team. Pearl and Deb were trained by Phil Stanley and Anne-Sophie (originally from France.)

The three dogs, Turlow, Deb and Skye, sleep side by side and often tussle over a toy when off-duty. We refer to them as 'the Three Amigos'.

Pete sometimes comments on his experience with the three dogs and their long-suffering cat, Mr Bates, at Twitter.com/PeteSumner

"We sits an' thinks beside the fire, with all the stars a-shine, an' no one knows our thoughts but me an' that there dog o' mine. We has our john-cake an' scrag, an' finds 'em fairly good; he can do anything but talk: an' wouldn't if he could."
~ Henry Lawson

It's not just those with little or no sight that dogs save from getting lost. As Eckhart Tolle says, "Millions of people who otherwise would be completely lost in their minds and endless past and future concerns are taken back by their dog or cat into the present moment, again and again, and reminded of the joy of Being."

"Dogs," Eckhart says, "offer the precious opportunity even to people who are trapped in thier egos, of loving and being loved unconditionally."

If you love dogs or feel your connectiveness with all nature, you'll love the book, Guardians of Being, with original words by spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle with delightful illustrations by Pat McDonnell, the creator of the acclaimed comic strip MUTTS. Order it HERE

It is a strange destiny that the dog has accomplished for himself. In the whole of illimitable space, no other living thing loves man, believes in him or unquestionably puts the power of life and death for himself in a man's hand."
~ Booth Tarkington

'The Association for the Blind of Western Australia recognises the strong bond between a guide-dog and their owner. This beautiful relationship shows the connection between humans and dogs at its best.

Relationships enrich our lives, and the relationship between a guide-dog and its owner is a special bond allowing greater freedom of movement and independence. Here in the West, an aboriginal word, Babbingur, describes this special relationship perfectly.

Babbingur is a Nyoongar word that describes a very loyal and devoted friendship. And like the Nyoongar people who freely travelled across their land, guide-dogs enable their owners to freely travel the earth.

So, when a new owner and guide-dog complete their training together in Perth, there is a "Babbingur graduation ceremony."

At this ceremony, the new guide-dog owner is presented with a previously created clay plaque, with his or her hand-print and their guide-dog's paw-print, side by side – representing their side-by-side journeyings across the earth.

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Did you know that there are many sincere Christian people who believe, that at any time, while going about their day-to-day (or nightly) activities, Jesus will appear in the sky and they will be suddenly uplifted to meet him? This long-awaited event is called by these faith-filled religionists as The Second Coming or, The Rapture.

Many will have heard of the Rev. Harold Camping, the California-based Christian radio broadcaster, who recently gained notoriety due to his incorrect prediction that the Rapture would take place on May 21, 2011 at 6 p.m. local time everywhere. Followers of Camping claimed that around 200 million people (approximately 3% of the world's population) would be raptured.

A source revealed that some of his followers blew all their money on luxury cars and vacations. One man apparently spent all of his savings to buy an ad campaign for the May 21 Doomsday message. There were other reports that some parents persuaded by Camping who used up money put aside for their childrens' education.

Despite such false predictions (and there have been quite a few over the past two centuries), most fundamentalist Christians who interpret the Bible literally believe that the Rapture could occur at any time. Unfortunately, they believe that it's just the people chosen by 'God' that will be taken up to heaven and so, amongst those left behind, will be their once-loved, and still devoted pets.

When the Rapture finally occurs, you can imagine the dire situation many of these abandoned cats and dogs etc, will be in -- shut inside or left in a backyard with little food or water ... waiting in vain for their owner who has gone for good!

This is where Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, USA can come to the rescue. They claim to be: "The next best thing to pet salvation in a Post Rapture World."

EEBP is a group of dedicated animal lovers, and atheists. Atheists, along with Agnostics, non-fundamentalist Christians and adherants of other religions will definitely not be 'Raptured' so will be in an ideal position to rescue and care for pets left behind.

EEBP is currently active in 26 states of the US and employs 40 pet rescuers. Their representatives have been screened to ensure that they are atheists, animal lovers, are moral / ethical with no criminal background, have the ability and desire to rescue client's pets and the means to retrieve them and ensure their care for the pet's natural life.

This is a serious offer to the literalist Christian community who believe in the Second Coming and honestly care about the future of their pets after the Rapture occurs.

To allay any would-be client concerns, EEBP makes this strict promise: "Each of our representatives is a confirmed atheist, and as such will still be here on Earth after you've received your reward. Our network of animal activists are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus."

Anyone who has 'given their life to Jesus' and is therefore looking forward to The Rapture, and who presently has a pet who will be left behind, can go to the Web site of Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, USA for more information on how to register your pet.

EEBP is also looking for atheist animal lovers in countries other than the USA to open similar rescue services around the world as literalist interpretations of the Bible have now become quite widespread. If you're interested, contact EEBP for helpful advice. (But don't give up your day job.)

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