At midnight I abruptly awakened. At first my mind was foggy, then suddenly that quotation flashed into my consciousness: "I came to realize clearly that Mind is no other than mountains, rivers, and the great wide earth, the sun and the moon and the stars." And I repeated it. Then all at once I was struck as though by lightning, and the next instant heaven and earth crumbled and disappeared. Instantaneously, like surging waves, a tremendous delight welled up in me, a veritable hurricane of delight, as I laughed loudly and wildly: "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! There's no reasoning here, no reasoning at all! Ha, ha, ha!" the empty sky split in two, then opened its enormous mouth and began to laugh uproariously ... Shakyamuni and the patriarchs haven't deceived me!"
~from "The Three Pillars of Zen" by Phillip Kapleau
The White Light...
If I were to spend years and years imagining how to invent anything so beautiful, I could not do it, and I do not even know how I should try, for, even in its whiteness and radiance alone, it exceeds all that we can imagine.
~Saint Teresa of Avila
~Saint Teresa of Avila
Renunciation...
The poverty of one who has renounced is real riches compared with the riches of
one who holds them fast.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
The saints and sages and prophets all had to go through this test and trial, and
in proportion to the greatness of their renunciation, so great have these souls
become. Renunciation is the sign of heroes, it is the merit of saints, it is the
character of the masters, and it is the virtue of the prophets. ... It is as
Fariduddin Attar, the great Persian poet, says, 'Renounce the good of the world,
renounce the good of heaven, renounce your highest ideal, and then renounce your
renunciation.'
He who wants anything becomes smaller than the thing he wants; he who gives away
anything is greater than the thing he gives. Therefore, to a mystic each act of
renunciation becomes a step towards perfection.
Forced renunciation, whether forced by morality, religion, law, convention, or
formality, is not necessarily renunciation. The real spirit of renunciation is
willingness; and willing renunciation comes when one has risen above the thing
one renounces. The value of each thing in life - wealth, power, position,
possession - is according to the evolution of man. There is a time in his life
when toys are his treasures, and there is a time when he puts them aside; there
is a time in his life when copper coins are everything to him, and there is
another time when he can give away gold coins; there is a time in his life when
he values a cottage, and there is a time when he gives up a palace. ...
Every step towards progress and ascent is a step of renunciation. The poverty of
the one who has renounced is real riches compared with the riches of the one who
holds them fast. One could be rich in wealth and poverty-stricken in reality;
and one can be penniless and yet richer than the rich of the world... The final
victory in the battle of life for every soul is when he has abandoned, which
means when he has risen above, what once he valued most... Such is the case with
all things of the world; they seem important or precious when we need them or
when we do not understand them; as soon as the veil which keeps man from
understanding is lifted, then they are nothing.
one who holds them fast.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
The saints and sages and prophets all had to go through this test and trial, and
in proportion to the greatness of their renunciation, so great have these souls
become. Renunciation is the sign of heroes, it is the merit of saints, it is the
character of the masters, and it is the virtue of the prophets. ... It is as
Fariduddin Attar, the great Persian poet, says, 'Renounce the good of the world,
renounce the good of heaven, renounce your highest ideal, and then renounce your
renunciation.'
He who wants anything becomes smaller than the thing he wants; he who gives away
anything is greater than the thing he gives. Therefore, to a mystic each act of
renunciation becomes a step towards perfection.
Forced renunciation, whether forced by morality, religion, law, convention, or
formality, is not necessarily renunciation. The real spirit of renunciation is
willingness; and willing renunciation comes when one has risen above the thing
one renounces. The value of each thing in life - wealth, power, position,
possession - is according to the evolution of man. There is a time in his life
when toys are his treasures, and there is a time when he puts them aside; there
is a time in his life when copper coins are everything to him, and there is
another time when he can give away gold coins; there is a time in his life when
he values a cottage, and there is a time when he gives up a palace. ...
Every step towards progress and ascent is a step of renunciation. The poverty of
the one who has renounced is real riches compared with the riches of the one who
holds them fast. One could be rich in wealth and poverty-stricken in reality;
and one can be penniless and yet richer than the rich of the world... The final
victory in the battle of life for every soul is when he has abandoned, which
means when he has risen above, what once he valued most... Such is the case with
all things of the world; they seem important or precious when we need them or
when we do not understand them; as soon as the veil which keeps man from
understanding is lifted, then they are nothing.
Dzogchen...
According to some schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of every sentient being, including every human being. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is the central teaching of the Nyingma school and is considered by them to be the highest and most definitive path to enlightenment.[1] The Madhyamaka teachings on emptiness are fundamental to and thoroughly compatible with Dzogchen practices.
Our ultimate nature is said to be pure, all-encompassing, primordial awareness. This "intrinsic awareness" has no form of its own and yet is capable of perceiving, experiencing, reflecting, or expressing all form. It does so without being affected by those forms in any ultimate, permanent way. The analogy given by Dzogchen masters is that one's nature is like a mirror which reflects with complete openness but is not affected by the reflections, or like a crystal ball that takes on the colour of the material on which it is placed without itself being changed. Other evocative phrases used by masters describe it as an "effulgence", an "all-pervading fullness" or as "space that is aware". When an individual is able to maintain the dzogchen state continually, he or she no longer experiences dukkha, or feelings of discontent, tension and anxiety in everyday life. (Compare with nirvana).
from wikipedia
Our ultimate nature is said to be pure, all-encompassing, primordial awareness. This "intrinsic awareness" has no form of its own and yet is capable of perceiving, experiencing, reflecting, or expressing all form. It does so without being affected by those forms in any ultimate, permanent way. The analogy given by Dzogchen masters is that one's nature is like a mirror which reflects with complete openness but is not affected by the reflections, or like a crystal ball that takes on the colour of the material on which it is placed without itself being changed. Other evocative phrases used by masters describe it as an "effulgence", an "all-pervading fullness" or as "space that is aware". When an individual is able to maintain the dzogchen state continually, he or she no longer experiences dukkha, or feelings of discontent, tension and anxiety in everyday life. (Compare with nirvana).
from wikipedia
Rigpa...
Rigpa (Tibetan; Sanskrit vidya) is the primordial, nondual awareness advocated by the Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachings.
“ Rigpa is a Tibetan word, which in general means ‘intelligence’ or ‘awareness’. In Dzogchen, however, the highest teachings in the Buddhist tradition of Tibet, rigpa has a deeper connotation, ‘the innermost nature of the mind’. The whole of the teaching of Buddha is directed towards realizing this, our ultimate nature, the state of omniscience or enlightenment – a truth so universal, so primordial that it goes beyond all limits, and beyond even religion itself.
—Sogyal Rinpoche
“ Rigpa is a Tibetan word, which in general means ‘intelligence’ or ‘awareness’. In Dzogchen, however, the highest teachings in the Buddhist tradition of Tibet, rigpa has a deeper connotation, ‘the innermost nature of the mind’. The whole of the teaching of Buddha is directed towards realizing this, our ultimate nature, the state of omniscience or enlightenment – a truth so universal, so primordial that it goes beyond all limits, and beyond even religion itself.
—Sogyal Rinpoche
The Dalai Lama on Dzogchen and Rigpa:..
“Dodurupchen says that all phenomena are quite definitely such that they arise as rigpa’s energy or rigpa’s display. From the point of view of the new schools of tantra (sarma), everything that appears arises as the display of great bliss, and the display of emptiness. In the terminology of Dzogchen whatever manifests arises as the display of rigpa, and that is certain. So the agent responsible for all of this as well as the space and ground for it all, is the single state of Clear Light. Everything, in fact , is the display or array of Clear Light… Such experiences of Clear Light will arise, and when they do, you are left without any fear of falling into samsara: you are left without any hope of attaining nirvana: you are left without any hope or fear whatsoever. All experiences and all feelings, be they good or bad, karma, its results, birth and death and change: all of this manifests as the magical display of Clear Light.
Constructs...
Every presented thing which is seen smelled, heard, felt, or tasted, no less than every representative thought, idea, name, or image, is entirely mental. The streets of busy towns and the forests of lonely mountains are all, without exception, mere constructs of the imagining faculty..........Paul Brunton
The Wall of Separation...
Our limited self is a wall separating us from the Self of God.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
In order to reach spiritual perfection the first thing is to destroy this false
self. First this delusion must be destroyed. And this is done by the ways taught
by the great teachers, ways of concentration and meditation, by the power of
which one forgets oneself and removes one's consciousness from oneself, in other
words rises from one's limited being. In this way a person effaces himself from
his own consciousness, and places God in his consciousness instead of his
limited self. And it is in this way that he arrives at that perfection which
every soul is seeking.
Real justice cannot be perceived until the veil of selfishness has been removed
from his eyes. The least spark of selfishness will prevent man from being just;
he will continue to have a partial interest, because he will be looking after
his own interest. Whatever furthers his own interests, he will call his right
and his justice.
The prophets and the holy ones have all recognized the justice of God as the
only real justice. What is the nature of the justice of God? It cannot be read
in scripture; it cannot be learned from a book; it can only be learned from the
Self within after selfishness has been removed. Our limited self is like a wall
separating us from the Self of God. God is as far away from us as that wall is
thick.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
In order to reach spiritual perfection the first thing is to destroy this false
self. First this delusion must be destroyed. And this is done by the ways taught
by the great teachers, ways of concentration and meditation, by the power of
which one forgets oneself and removes one's consciousness from oneself, in other
words rises from one's limited being. In this way a person effaces himself from
his own consciousness, and places God in his consciousness instead of his
limited self. And it is in this way that he arrives at that perfection which
every soul is seeking.
Real justice cannot be perceived until the veil of selfishness has been removed
from his eyes. The least spark of selfishness will prevent man from being just;
he will continue to have a partial interest, because he will be looking after
his own interest. Whatever furthers his own interests, he will call his right
and his justice.
The prophets and the holy ones have all recognized the justice of God as the
only real justice. What is the nature of the justice of God? It cannot be read
in scripture; it cannot be learned from a book; it can only be learned from the
Self within after selfishness has been removed. Our limited self is like a wall
separating us from the Self of God. God is as far away from us as that wall is
thick.
Thought...
The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love Born out of concern for all beings............Gautama the Buddha
Transcendentalism...
In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his 1842 lecture The Transcendentalist:
"The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine. He believes in miracle, in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light and power; he believes in inspiration, and in ecstasy. He wishes that the spiritual principle should be suffered to demonstrate itself to the end, in all possible applications to the state of man, without the admission of anything unspiritual; that is, anything positive, dogmatic, personal. Thus, the spiritual measure of inspiration is the depth of the thought, and never, who said it? And so he resists all attempts to palm other rules and measures on the spirit than its own....
"It is well known to most of my audience, that the Idealism of the present day acquired the name of Transcendental, from the use of that term by Immanuel Kant, of Konigsberg, who replied to the skeptical philosophy of Locke, which insisted that there was nothing in the intellect which was not previously in the experience of the senses, by showing that there was a very important class of ideas, or imperative forms, which did not come by experience, but through which experience was acquired; that these were intuitions of the mind itself; and he denominated them Transcendental forms. The extraordinary profoundness and precision of that man's thinking have given vogue to his nomenclature, in Europe and America, to that extent, that whatever belongs to the class of intuitive thought, is popularly called at the present day Transcendental...."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Transcendentalist, 1842
"The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine. He believes in miracle, in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light and power; he believes in inspiration, and in ecstasy. He wishes that the spiritual principle should be suffered to demonstrate itself to the end, in all possible applications to the state of man, without the admission of anything unspiritual; that is, anything positive, dogmatic, personal. Thus, the spiritual measure of inspiration is the depth of the thought, and never, who said it? And so he resists all attempts to palm other rules and measures on the spirit than its own....
"It is well known to most of my audience, that the Idealism of the present day acquired the name of Transcendental, from the use of that term by Immanuel Kant, of Konigsberg, who replied to the skeptical philosophy of Locke, which insisted that there was nothing in the intellect which was not previously in the experience of the senses, by showing that there was a very important class of ideas, or imperative forms, which did not come by experience, but through which experience was acquired; that these were intuitions of the mind itself; and he denominated them Transcendental forms. The extraordinary profoundness and precision of that man's thinking have given vogue to his nomenclature, in Europe and America, to that extent, that whatever belongs to the class of intuitive thought, is popularly called at the present day Transcendental...."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Transcendentalist, 1842
The Golden Rule...
Let us treat men and women well; treat them as if they were real. Perhaps they are.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Esoteric Teachings:...
1. God is
2. God is love
3. I am love
4. I am God
5. Everything is God
6. Everything is important and nothing is important
7. Everything is illusion back to God
8. Everything is already accomplished; all you do is bring your Consciousness to it
9. Divine Order is always in place
10. There is no place to go and nothing to do
11. Show up and be lovingly present, no matter what it looks like out there or inside yourself
12. Always speak the Truth of your Heart
13. Have the patience and persistence to practice your Truth
14. Self-Love
from Goddirect.org
2. God is love
3. I am love
4. I am God
5. Everything is God
6. Everything is important and nothing is important
7. Everything is illusion back to God
8. Everything is already accomplished; all you do is bring your Consciousness to it
9. Divine Order is always in place
10. There is no place to go and nothing to do
11. Show up and be lovingly present, no matter what it looks like out there or inside yourself
12. Always speak the Truth of your Heart
13. Have the patience and persistence to practice your Truth
14. Self-Love
from Goddirect.org
The Ego Resistance...
“Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and said, Bob, why are you resisting me? I said, I'm not resisting you! He said, You gonna follow me? I said, I've never thought about that before! He said, When you're not following me, you're resisting me.”
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Sacrifice...
“The sacrifice which causes sorrow to the doer of the sacrifice is no sacrifice. Real sacrifice lightens the mind of the doer and gives him a sense of peace and joy. The Buddha gave up the pleasures of life because they had become painful to him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
You must die, to be Born Again...
The eventual trend of evolution is through and away from personality, as we now know it. We shall find ourselves afresh in a higher individuality, the soul. To achieve this, the lower characteristics have slowly to be shed. In this sense, we do die to the earthly self and are born again in the higher self. That is the only real death awaiting us.........Paul Brunton
The Present Presence...
"Truth or Reality cannot be stored, cannot be amassed--it does not accumulate.
The value of any insight, understanding, or realisation can only be in
the ever-fresh presence of the moment.
Yesterday's realisation is not a bit of good. Now it is dead. Now it
has lost it's vitality.
It is useless to try and cling to or hold onto an insight, an
understanding, or a realisation, for only in it's movement can there
be the enabling of ever-fresh and new insights of Truth or Reality to
appear.
The idea of enlightenment or self-realisation as a onetime event or a
lasting and permanent state or experience is an erroneous concept.
Understand-ING or know-ING is alive in the immediacy which can never
be negated. The emphasis is on the activity of know-ING which is going
on as the immediacy now--not the dead concept 'I understand' or 'I
know'".........."Sailor" Bob Adamson
The value of any insight, understanding, or realisation can only be in
the ever-fresh presence of the moment.
Yesterday's realisation is not a bit of good. Now it is dead. Now it
has lost it's vitality.
It is useless to try and cling to or hold onto an insight, an
understanding, or a realisation, for only in it's movement can there
be the enabling of ever-fresh and new insights of Truth or Reality to
appear.
The idea of enlightenment or self-realisation as a onetime event or a
lasting and permanent state or experience is an erroneous concept.
Understand-ING or know-ING is alive in the immediacy which can never
be negated. The emphasis is on the activity of know-ING which is going
on as the immediacy now--not the dead concept 'I understand' or 'I
know'".........."Sailor" Bob Adamson
The Albigen System...
The Albigen System is a unique path created several decades ago by teacher/author Richard Rose when he first began working with those who wished to find a retreat from error and a vector that would bring them to a full realization of Truth or Enlightenment. Based on his book, The Albigen Papers, along with personal notes and observations he held about the psychology of observation and action, he “prescribed” a ways and means of “Becoming” as he put it – so that one could identify their obstacles and chief feature in order to become the Truth. He would often refer to the phrase, “becoming as a little child,” to bring about the understanding that a person must rid themselves of their “barnacles and bugs” to even begin to develop an intuition and clarity which would eventually bring them to an understanding of their essential nature.
The Albigen System aims directly at Self-Realization or Enlightenment. It is a practical, subtractive system. It is not jaded by political correctness, positive thinking, devotion, dogma or ritual. It is simply based on going beyond illusion, beginning with the self. His system of meditation is likewise simply based on going within and observing your thoughts, humiliations, errors and egos with a detached “massive indifference.” It does not seek for definitions of Truth but instead encourages the individual to develop a vector that leads away from untruth. He referred to this as the Maximum Reversal System. By uncovering and acknowledging the illusions, untruths and inconsistencies in our own lives we stand a chance of stumbling upon our true nature and our very Source.
The Albigen System aims directly at Self-Realization or Enlightenment. It is a practical, subtractive system. It is not jaded by political correctness, positive thinking, devotion, dogma or ritual. It is simply based on going beyond illusion, beginning with the self. His system of meditation is likewise simply based on going within and observing your thoughts, humiliations, errors and egos with a detached “massive indifference.” It does not seek for definitions of Truth but instead encourages the individual to develop a vector that leads away from untruth. He referred to this as the Maximum Reversal System. By uncovering and acknowledging the illusions, untruths and inconsistencies in our own lives we stand a chance of stumbling upon our true nature and our very Source.
Mystic Doctrines...
In the Webster's New Riverside Dictionary it defines Mysticism as, "A spiritual dicipline aiming at direct union or communion with God or with ultimate reality through trancelike contemplation or deep meditation."
That definition is a good place to start. This website will detail the Mystic Doctrines of Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and explore the Secrets of Enoch and other ancient teachings that illuminate the true nature of reality and ourselves.
One of the problems seekers of truth find when researching into inter-faith mysticism, is the use of words difficult to understand. The reason for this is because of the problems in translating ancient texts into other languages. Because there are words in some languages that do not translate well into just one word in another language, the original word is used as a way to avoid misleading translations. Unfortunately only linguistic scholars can use these orginal words and extract meaning from their use. That is why when researching Sufism (Islamic Mysticism) you come across words like nafs, tark and salek. Or when studying Yoga (Hindu Mysticism) you struggle with words like manas, sadhaka, dharana and dhyana. The Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) is loaded with arcane words such as sephiroth, chaya and the upper and lower ruach.
This website will strive to avoid such words, and will either use a good english eqivalent or a word-pair, in an attempt to better communicate concepts at the risk of being slightly inaccurate from the pure original doctrines. In some cases concepts will be formed from blends of Taoism and Sufism or, for example, Yoga and the Kabbalah. Rather than point out the different semantics used from the two sources, the concept or doctrine will be paraphrased in neutral language for the purpose of clarity............from the Reluctant Messenger
That definition is a good place to start. This website will detail the Mystic Doctrines of Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and explore the Secrets of Enoch and other ancient teachings that illuminate the true nature of reality and ourselves.
One of the problems seekers of truth find when researching into inter-faith mysticism, is the use of words difficult to understand. The reason for this is because of the problems in translating ancient texts into other languages. Because there are words in some languages that do not translate well into just one word in another language, the original word is used as a way to avoid misleading translations. Unfortunately only linguistic scholars can use these orginal words and extract meaning from their use. That is why when researching Sufism (Islamic Mysticism) you come across words like nafs, tark and salek. Or when studying Yoga (Hindu Mysticism) you struggle with words like manas, sadhaka, dharana and dhyana. The Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) is loaded with arcane words such as sephiroth, chaya and the upper and lower ruach.
This website will strive to avoid such words, and will either use a good english eqivalent or a word-pair, in an attempt to better communicate concepts at the risk of being slightly inaccurate from the pure original doctrines. In some cases concepts will be formed from blends of Taoism and Sufism or, for example, Yoga and the Kabbalah. Rather than point out the different semantics used from the two sources, the concept or doctrine will be paraphrased in neutral language for the purpose of clarity............from the Reluctant Messenger
The real spirituality ~~ Inayat Khan
The real spirituality is in living a life of fullness, in penetrating all
planes of existence. It is a deep insight into life which is the sign of
spirituality. Spirituality is raising of the consciousness from manhood to
Godhood. Spirituality is widening, expanding of the heart as a bubble
expanding to an ocean. Spirituality is in raising the soul to the greatest
heights and touching the deepest depths. Spirituality is in forgetting
one's false self and realizing one's real self. Spirituality is enjoying
and appreciating all things, understanding and comprehending everything,
using and utilizing everything to its best advantage, surmounting
difficulties, solving problems, clearing clouds of confusion and depression.
Spirituality is fearlessness, joyfulness, calmness and peace.
planes of existence. It is a deep insight into life which is the sign of
spirituality. Spirituality is raising of the consciousness from manhood to
Godhood. Spirituality is widening, expanding of the heart as a bubble
expanding to an ocean. Spirituality is in raising the soul to the greatest
heights and touching the deepest depths. Spirituality is in forgetting
one's false self and realizing one's real self. Spirituality is enjoying
and appreciating all things, understanding and comprehending everything,
using and utilizing everything to its best advantage, surmounting
difficulties, solving problems, clearing clouds of confusion and depression.
Spirituality is fearlessness, joyfulness, calmness and peace.
Ego and Mind...
The thinking mind, the ego, the "me" are all the same. They are different names for the same thing, which is an illusion.
It is the nature of the monkey-mind to jump about and chatter.
Ego is the thinking mind.
Mind is merely a collection of thoughts, or a collection of impressions which makes up this "me", this self image.
The ego is the identified consciousness. When the impersonal Consciousness identifies itself with the personal organism, the ego arises.
Identification with the body is so total that it gives one a sense of separate identity. Now, the separate identity is merely a concept, a concept based on the individual body appearing solid.
All there is is consciousness. That is the Source from which the manifestation has come.
The only truth is I AM - I Exist. That is the only truth. Everything else is a concept. Rebirth is a concept. Your karma is a concept.
What is seeking? Seeking is "you" wanting to know God.
Consciousness is the only Reality.
Seekers continue to practice all kinds of self-torture without realizing that such 'spiritual practice' is a reinforcement of the very ego that prevents them from their natural, free state.
Enlightenment is total emptiness of mind. There is nothing you can do to get it. Any effort you make can only be an obstruction to it.
The same Consciousness prevails at rest as the Absolute and in motion as duality. When the sense of "me" disappears completely, duality vanishes in ecstasy.
Ramesh Balsekar
It is the nature of the monkey-mind to jump about and chatter.
Ego is the thinking mind.
Mind is merely a collection of thoughts, or a collection of impressions which makes up this "me", this self image.
The ego is the identified consciousness. When the impersonal Consciousness identifies itself with the personal organism, the ego arises.
Identification with the body is so total that it gives one a sense of separate identity. Now, the separate identity is merely a concept, a concept based on the individual body appearing solid.
All there is is consciousness. That is the Source from which the manifestation has come.
The only truth is I AM - I Exist. That is the only truth. Everything else is a concept. Rebirth is a concept. Your karma is a concept.
What is seeking? Seeking is "you" wanting to know God.
Consciousness is the only Reality.
Seekers continue to practice all kinds of self-torture without realizing that such 'spiritual practice' is a reinforcement of the very ego that prevents them from their natural, free state.
Enlightenment is total emptiness of mind. There is nothing you can do to get it. Any effort you make can only be an obstruction to it.
The same Consciousness prevails at rest as the Absolute and in motion as duality. When the sense of "me" disappears completely, duality vanishes in ecstasy.
Ramesh Balsekar
Mind and Consciousness...by Remez Sasson
The mind is like a machine that never shuts down. Does the engine of your car or your vacuum cleaner work incessantly, twenty four hours a day? Why does your mind work this way?
Learn to be aware and conscious of your consciousness, and you will find who you really are.
Concentration is the ability to focus the mind on one point.
There is consciousness of the ego and the world around you, and there is consciousness of the Real Self, the Real You.
Stop your agitated thoughts, and find out who it is that stops them.
Concentration and meditation lead to the ability to be without thoughts, but yet retain full consciousness.
In full calmness and peace you experience the unchanging, eternal pure being that you are.
You, the real you, are eternal, not the ego, body, feelings or thoughts, but the spirit beyond them.
You are the the consciousness and awareness beyond words and thoughts.
Upon Self-Realization, you will burst into laughter. You will be amazed how simple and different it is from what you have thought it is.
To realize your inner self is pure simplicity. You do not have to do anything; yet you have to work hard to get it. It may seem a paradox, but it is not.
Freedom is won by throwing away your mental illusions and attachments.
Thoughts are not a necessity; most of the time they are just distractions that obstruct your inner vision.
It is possible, through proper means, to teach the mind to think only when it is necessary, for the period of time you decide.
Without incessant thinking, you become more conscious and alive.
People's experience of the no-thinking state is limited to times of deep sleep or unconsciousness, as in a swoon or under anesthetics.
Being fully conscious, yet without thoughts, is like sleep, but yet being awake.
To understand what inner freedom means, imagine the state of the happiness, calmness, relaxation and peace of mind of deep sleep, but combined with full awakening and awareness.
The waves of the mind lose their power to disturb and distract you, when you still the mind and rise above its desires and whims.
To use the mind when needed, and to switch it off afterwards, is a great art and science.
Cleanse your mind with the soap of concentration, and wash it with the water of meditation.
Consciousness of your real nature dawns, as you start gaining the ability to still your mind.
Learn to be aware and conscious of your consciousness, and you will find who you really are.
Concentration is the ability to focus the mind on one point.
There is consciousness of the ego and the world around you, and there is consciousness of the Real Self, the Real You.
Stop your agitated thoughts, and find out who it is that stops them.
Concentration and meditation lead to the ability to be without thoughts, but yet retain full consciousness.
In full calmness and peace you experience the unchanging, eternal pure being that you are.
You, the real you, are eternal, not the ego, body, feelings or thoughts, but the spirit beyond them.
You are the the consciousness and awareness beyond words and thoughts.
Upon Self-Realization, you will burst into laughter. You will be amazed how simple and different it is from what you have thought it is.
To realize your inner self is pure simplicity. You do not have to do anything; yet you have to work hard to get it. It may seem a paradox, but it is not.
Freedom is won by throwing away your mental illusions and attachments.
Thoughts are not a necessity; most of the time they are just distractions that obstruct your inner vision.
It is possible, through proper means, to teach the mind to think only when it is necessary, for the period of time you decide.
Without incessant thinking, you become more conscious and alive.
People's experience of the no-thinking state is limited to times of deep sleep or unconsciousness, as in a swoon or under anesthetics.
Being fully conscious, yet without thoughts, is like sleep, but yet being awake.
To understand what inner freedom means, imagine the state of the happiness, calmness, relaxation and peace of mind of deep sleep, but combined with full awakening and awareness.
The waves of the mind lose their power to disturb and distract you, when you still the mind and rise above its desires and whims.
To use the mind when needed, and to switch it off afterwards, is a great art and science.
Cleanse your mind with the soap of concentration, and wash it with the water of meditation.
Consciousness of your real nature dawns, as you start gaining the ability to still your mind.
Wisdom of Gautama the Buddha...
If a man who enjoys a lesser happiness beholds a greater one, let him leave aside the lesser to gain the greater.
I reached in experience the nirvana which is unborn, unrivalled, secure from attachment, undecaying and unstained. This condition is indeed reached by me which is deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, tranquil, excellent, beyond the reach of mere logic, subtle, and to be realized only by the wise.
It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.
What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.
In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
The mind is the source of happiness and unhappiness.
As the fletcher whittles and makes straight his arrows, so the master directs his straying thoughts.
To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.
Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine.
Look within, thou art the Buddha.
Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
I reached in experience the nirvana which is unborn, unrivalled, secure from attachment, undecaying and unstained. This condition is indeed reached by me which is deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, tranquil, excellent, beyond the reach of mere logic, subtle, and to be realized only by the wise.
It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.
What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.
In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
The mind is the source of happiness and unhappiness.
As the fletcher whittles and makes straight his arrows, so the master directs his straying thoughts.
To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.
Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine.
Look within, thou art the Buddha.
Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Presence...
Presence is needed to become aware of the beauty, the majesty, the
sacredness of nature. Have you ever gazed up into the infinity of space on a
clear night, awestruck by the absolute stillness and inconceivable vastness
of it? Have you listened, truly listened, to the sound of a mountain stream
in the forests? Or to the song of a blackbird at dusk on a quiet summer
evening?
To become aware of such things, the mind need needs to be still. You have to
put down for a moment your personal baggage of problems, of past and future,
as well as all your knowledge; otherwise, you will see but not see, hear but
not hear. Your total presence is required.
Beyond the beauty of the external forms, there is more here: something that
cannot be named, something ineffable, some deep, inner, holy essence.
Whenever and whenever there is beauty, this inner essence shines through
somehow. It only reveals itself to you when you are present.
Could it be that this nameless essence and your presence are one and the
same? Would it be there without your presence? Go deeply into it. Find out
for yourself.
~ Eckhart Tolle
Excerpted from Practicing The Power of Now
sacredness of nature. Have you ever gazed up into the infinity of space on a
clear night, awestruck by the absolute stillness and inconceivable vastness
of it? Have you listened, truly listened, to the sound of a mountain stream
in the forests? Or to the song of a blackbird at dusk on a quiet summer
evening?
To become aware of such things, the mind need needs to be still. You have to
put down for a moment your personal baggage of problems, of past and future,
as well as all your knowledge; otherwise, you will see but not see, hear but
not hear. Your total presence is required.
Beyond the beauty of the external forms, there is more here: something that
cannot be named, something ineffable, some deep, inner, holy essence.
Whenever and whenever there is beauty, this inner essence shines through
somehow. It only reveals itself to you when you are present.
Could it be that this nameless essence and your presence are one and the
same? Would it be there without your presence? Go deeply into it. Find out
for yourself.
~ Eckhart Tolle
Excerpted from Practicing The Power of Now
Our Relation To the Absolute ...
To keep this origin always at the back of one's mind because it is also the end of all things, is a necessary practice. But this can only be done if one cultivates reactionlessness to the happenings of every day. This does not mean showing no outward reaction, but it does mean that deep down indifference has been achieved--not an empty indifference, but one based on seeing the Divine essence in all things, all creatures, and a Divine meaning in all happenings..........Paul Brunton
Surrendering to God...
So give up your intellectual exercises of trying to know God with the mind or to worship Him with the mind, and live in the constant atmosphere of, "I live, yet not I. Christ liveth my life. God is my being." In the degree that you live in that atmosphere, you give up any pretense that you are accomplishing anything of your own self. Then there is no sense of personal attainment, there is no ego, there is no personal self.
The more you surrender your self that God may function as your mind, you soul, your life, your breathing, your being, your body, the more Divine Grace will be expressed as and through you. The ignorant may say that you are wonderful, noble beautiful. But you, within yourself, will say to yourself, "How I wish you knew that this is not me you see but 'the Father who sent me,' for I and the Father are one." But this is true only when you have surrendered your self to the extent that you are not trying to manipulate and influence God with your mind, not even in your behalf or your neighbor's behalf. It is true only when you accept God as the Being of every being and let Him function through you.
~ Joel S. Goldsmith, Living By Grace
The more you surrender your self that God may function as your mind, you soul, your life, your breathing, your being, your body, the more Divine Grace will be expressed as and through you. The ignorant may say that you are wonderful, noble beautiful. But you, within yourself, will say to yourself, "How I wish you knew that this is not me you see but 'the Father who sent me,' for I and the Father are one." But this is true only when you have surrendered your self to the extent that you are not trying to manipulate and influence God with your mind, not even in your behalf or your neighbor's behalf. It is true only when you accept God as the Being of every being and let Him function through you.
~ Joel S. Goldsmith, Living By Grace
Famous quotes regarding the Bhagavad Gita~
When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe, everything else seems so superfluous.
~ Albert Einstein
When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day.
~ Mahatma Gandhi
In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial.
~Henry David Thoreau
The Bhagavad-Gita has a profound influence on the spirit of mankind by its devotion to God which is manifested by actions.
~Dr. Albert Schweitzer
The Bhagavad-Gita is a true scripture of the human race a living creation rather than a book, with a new message for every age and a new meaning for every civilization.
~Sri Aurobindo
The idea that man is like unto an inverted tree seems to have been current in by gone ages. The link with Vedic conceptions is provided by Plato in his Timaeus in which it states…" behold we are not an earthly but a heavenly plant." This correlation can be discerned by what Krishna expresses in chapter 15 of Bhagavad-Gita.
- Carl Jung
The Bhagavad-Gita deals essentially with the spiritual foundation of human existence. It is a call of action to meet the obligations and duties of life; yet keeping in view the spiritual nature and grander purpose of the universe.
- Jawaharlal Nehru
The marvel of the Bhagavad-Gita is its truly beautiful revelation of life's wisdom which enables philosophy to blossom into religion.
- Herman Hesse
I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
In order to approach a creation as sublime as the Bhagavad-Gita with full understanding it is necessary to attune our soul to it.
- Rudolph Steiner
From a clear knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita all the goals of human existence become fulfilled. Bhagavad-Gita is the manifest quintessence of all the teachings of the Vedic scriptures.
- Adi Shankara
The Bhagavad-Gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is subject not only to India but to all of humanity.
- Aldous Huxley
The Bhagavad-Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to reveal the science of devotion to God which is the essence of all spiritual knowledge. The Supreme Lord Krishna's primary purpose for descending and incarnating is relieve the world of any demoniac and negative, undesirable influences that are opposed to spiritual development, yet simultaneously it is His incomparable intention to be perpetually within reach of all humanity.
- Ramanuja
The Bhagavad-Gita is not seperate from the Vaishnava philosophy and the Srimad Bhagavatam fully reveals the true import of this doctrine which is transmigation of the soul. On perusal of the first chapter of Bhagavad-Gita one may think that they are advised to engage in warfare. When the second chapter has been read it can be clearly understood that knowledge and the soul is the ultimate goal to be attained. On studying the third chapter it is apparent that acts of righteousness are also of high priority. If we continue and patiently take the time to complete the Bhagavad-Gita and try to ascertain the truth of its closing chapter we can see that the ultimate conclusion is to relinquish all the conceptualized ideas of religion which we possess and fully surrender directly unto the Supreme Lord.
- Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
The Mahabharata has all the essential ingredients necessary to evolve and protect humanity and that within it the Bhagavad-Gita is the epitome of the Mahabharata just as ghee is the essence of milk and pollen is the essence of flowers.
- Madhvacarya
~ Albert Einstein
When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day.
~ Mahatma Gandhi
In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial.
~Henry David Thoreau
The Bhagavad-Gita has a profound influence on the spirit of mankind by its devotion to God which is manifested by actions.
~Dr. Albert Schweitzer
The Bhagavad-Gita is a true scripture of the human race a living creation rather than a book, with a new message for every age and a new meaning for every civilization.
~Sri Aurobindo
The idea that man is like unto an inverted tree seems to have been current in by gone ages. The link with Vedic conceptions is provided by Plato in his Timaeus in which it states…" behold we are not an earthly but a heavenly plant." This correlation can be discerned by what Krishna expresses in chapter 15 of Bhagavad-Gita.
- Carl Jung
The Bhagavad-Gita deals essentially with the spiritual foundation of human existence. It is a call of action to meet the obligations and duties of life; yet keeping in view the spiritual nature and grander purpose of the universe.
- Jawaharlal Nehru
The marvel of the Bhagavad-Gita is its truly beautiful revelation of life's wisdom which enables philosophy to blossom into religion.
- Herman Hesse
I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
In order to approach a creation as sublime as the Bhagavad-Gita with full understanding it is necessary to attune our soul to it.
- Rudolph Steiner
From a clear knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita all the goals of human existence become fulfilled. Bhagavad-Gita is the manifest quintessence of all the teachings of the Vedic scriptures.
- Adi Shankara
The Bhagavad-Gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is subject not only to India but to all of humanity.
- Aldous Huxley
The Bhagavad-Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to reveal the science of devotion to God which is the essence of all spiritual knowledge. The Supreme Lord Krishna's primary purpose for descending and incarnating is relieve the world of any demoniac and negative, undesirable influences that are opposed to spiritual development, yet simultaneously it is His incomparable intention to be perpetually within reach of all humanity.
- Ramanuja
The Bhagavad-Gita is not seperate from the Vaishnava philosophy and the Srimad Bhagavatam fully reveals the true import of this doctrine which is transmigation of the soul. On perusal of the first chapter of Bhagavad-Gita one may think that they are advised to engage in warfare. When the second chapter has been read it can be clearly understood that knowledge and the soul is the ultimate goal to be attained. On studying the third chapter it is apparent that acts of righteousness are also of high priority. If we continue and patiently take the time to complete the Bhagavad-Gita and try to ascertain the truth of its closing chapter we can see that the ultimate conclusion is to relinquish all the conceptualized ideas of religion which we possess and fully surrender directly unto the Supreme Lord.
- Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
The Mahabharata has all the essential ingredients necessary to evolve and protect humanity and that within it the Bhagavad-Gita is the epitome of the Mahabharata just as ghee is the essence of milk and pollen is the essence of flowers.
- Madhvacarya
The Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita...
Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice. Better than knowledge is meditation. But better still is surrender of attachment to results, because there follows immediate peace.
Neither in this world nor elsewhere is there any happiness in store for him who always doubts.
Delusion arises from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls down when reasoning is destroyed.
Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is.
The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by practice.
There has never been a time when you and I have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to exist. As the same person inhabits the body through childhood, youth, and old age, so too at the time of death he attains another body. The wise are not deluded by these changes.
Those who eat too much or eat too little, who sleep too much or sleep too little, will not succeed in meditation. But those who are temperate in eating and sleeping, work and recreation, will come to the end of sorrow through meditation.
Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.
The soul who meditates on the Self is content to serve the Self and rests satisfied within the Self; there remains nothing more for him to accomplish.
Fear Not. What is not real, never was and never will be. What is real, always was and cannot be destroyed.
Not by refraining from action does man attain freedom from action. Not by mere renunciation does he attain supreme perfection.
Action is greater than inaction. Perform therefore thy task in life. Even the life of the body could not be if there were no action.
When the sage climbs the heights of Yoga, he follows the path of work; but when he reaches the heights of Yoga, he is in the land of peace.
Whenever the mind unsteady and restless strays away from the spirit, let him ever and for ever lead it again to the spirit.
No work stains a man who is pure, who is in harmony, who is master of his life, whose soul is one with the soul of all.
Neither in this world nor elsewhere is there any happiness in store for him who always doubts.
Delusion arises from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls down when reasoning is destroyed.
Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is.
The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by practice.
There has never been a time when you and I have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to exist. As the same person inhabits the body through childhood, youth, and old age, so too at the time of death he attains another body. The wise are not deluded by these changes.
Those who eat too much or eat too little, who sleep too much or sleep too little, will not succeed in meditation. But those who are temperate in eating and sleeping, work and recreation, will come to the end of sorrow through meditation.
Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.
The soul who meditates on the Self is content to serve the Self and rests satisfied within the Self; there remains nothing more for him to accomplish.
Fear Not. What is not real, never was and never will be. What is real, always was and cannot be destroyed.
Not by refraining from action does man attain freedom from action. Not by mere renunciation does he attain supreme perfection.
Action is greater than inaction. Perform therefore thy task in life. Even the life of the body could not be if there were no action.
When the sage climbs the heights of Yoga, he follows the path of work; but when he reaches the heights of Yoga, he is in the land of peace.
Whenever the mind unsteady and restless strays away from the spirit, let him ever and for ever lead it again to the spirit.
No work stains a man who is pure, who is in harmony, who is master of his life, whose soul is one with the soul of all.
Peace of Mind...
Peace of mind is experienced when the stormy waves of the mind quell down.
Real peace of mind is the companion of the silence of the mind.
You get peace of mind not by thinking about it or imagining it, but by quietening and relaxing the restless mind.
Your nature is absolute peace. You are not the mind. Silence your mind through concentration and meditation, and you will discover the peace of the Spirit that you are, and have always been.
The mind is like a TV screen. There is always movement and action there. As you can switch off your TV, so you can switch off the TV screen of your mind.
When you sleep, you entertain no visitors at your house, and your windows and doors are closed. When you want to enjoy peace of mind you have to let your thoughts go, and close the windows and doors of your mind.
You switch off the engine of your car, so why don't you switch off the engine of your mind?
Inner peace creates outer peace.
The mind is like a room that is always full with stuff. There is no free space there. When it becomes vacant, peace of mind prevails.
Give your brain some rest by switching off the movements of the mind.
Stop your thoughts, but stay awake, and you will experience the great ocean of peace beyond the mind.
You are the consciousness beyond the mind. By stilling the mind you realize this fact. Then peace of mind will be always be with you.
True peace of mind is not dependent on circumstances. It comes from the inside.
The wind causes waves to arise at the sea. Restless thoughts are the winds that bring waves and storms into the mind.
Learn to calm down the winds of your mind, and you will enjoy great inner peace.
Worries, fears, desires, restlessness, nervousness drive peace of mind away.
When you sleep deeply, nothing worries you. You enjoy peace. You can enjoy this same peace while awake and active.
Through concentration and meditation you become the boss of your mind, and gain the ability to tell it when to be active and when to stay silent.
Constant meditation awakens the ability to enjoy peace of mind while talking, eating, walking, working and throughout any other activity.
Negative feelings and negative thoughts keep peace of mind away.
The presence of a true spiritual teacher, reading inspiring words and letting in inspiring thoughts, tend to make the mind peaceful.
Meditate regularly, think only positively, aspire to find the consciousness beyond the mind, and peace of mind will be yours.
Do you need or enjoy fear, worries and restlessness? If you don't, then why do you keep inviting them into your mind?
As the house is cleaned, so the mind can be cleaned. As you enjoy a clean house, you will enjoy a clean and unclutterd mind.
When you unclutter your mind, you enjoy peace of mind..........Remez Sasson
Real peace of mind is the companion of the silence of the mind.
You get peace of mind not by thinking about it or imagining it, but by quietening and relaxing the restless mind.
Your nature is absolute peace. You are not the mind. Silence your mind through concentration and meditation, and you will discover the peace of the Spirit that you are, and have always been.
The mind is like a TV screen. There is always movement and action there. As you can switch off your TV, so you can switch off the TV screen of your mind.
When you sleep, you entertain no visitors at your house, and your windows and doors are closed. When you want to enjoy peace of mind you have to let your thoughts go, and close the windows and doors of your mind.
You switch off the engine of your car, so why don't you switch off the engine of your mind?
Inner peace creates outer peace.
The mind is like a room that is always full with stuff. There is no free space there. When it becomes vacant, peace of mind prevails.
Give your brain some rest by switching off the movements of the mind.
Stop your thoughts, but stay awake, and you will experience the great ocean of peace beyond the mind.
You are the consciousness beyond the mind. By stilling the mind you realize this fact. Then peace of mind will be always be with you.
True peace of mind is not dependent on circumstances. It comes from the inside.
The wind causes waves to arise at the sea. Restless thoughts are the winds that bring waves and storms into the mind.
Learn to calm down the winds of your mind, and you will enjoy great inner peace.
Worries, fears, desires, restlessness, nervousness drive peace of mind away.
When you sleep deeply, nothing worries you. You enjoy peace. You can enjoy this same peace while awake and active.
Through concentration and meditation you become the boss of your mind, and gain the ability to tell it when to be active and when to stay silent.
Constant meditation awakens the ability to enjoy peace of mind while talking, eating, walking, working and throughout any other activity.
Negative feelings and negative thoughts keep peace of mind away.
The presence of a true spiritual teacher, reading inspiring words and letting in inspiring thoughts, tend to make the mind peaceful.
Meditate regularly, think only positively, aspire to find the consciousness beyond the mind, and peace of mind will be yours.
Do you need or enjoy fear, worries and restlessness? If you don't, then why do you keep inviting them into your mind?
As the house is cleaned, so the mind can be cleaned. As you enjoy a clean house, you will enjoy a clean and unclutterd mind.
When you unclutter your mind, you enjoy peace of mind..........Remez Sasson
Thoughts...
Thoughts are impediments to seeing your own face. Don't give rise to any thought, and discover who you are.
What is purification of the mind? No thought. This thought-less mind, sattvic mind, no mind, can be called Consciousness itself. Self itself.
If you address the mind with "Who are you?" it will disappear.
Mind is nothing but thought. You can't separate thought itself from the mind.
When we use the word "I", there is ego. Then there is the mind, then there is a body, then there are senses, then there are sense objects, and then all manifestation arises.
Who is journeying for freedom? The one who is already free. Just get rid of the concept, "I am the body, separate from the source." You return to what you always were.
Nothing arises without Self. All existence is one in one's own Self.
Meditation is to effortlessly turn the mind toward that energy which energizes mind.
The Silence that I speak about is neither meditating nor sitting quiet. The Silence that I speak about has nothing to do with meditation or talking or not talking because then the mind is still running about here and there and everywhere. What I mean by Silence is that should be no thought rising from the mind. No thought rising from your mind is Silence.
Stillness of mind comes from giving up all attachments except that attachment to Self.
When the mind is quiet, all is Self.
When mind moves the world arises, so be still, throw away everything, and be free.
Self is what you are. You are That Fathomlessness in which experience and concepts appear. Self is the Moment that has no coming or going. It is the Heart, Atman, Emptiness. It shines to Itself, by Itself, in Itself.
Self is what gives breath to Life. You need not search for It, It is Here. You are That through which you would search. You are what you are looking for! And That is All it is.
You are the unchangeable Awareness in which all activity takes place.
Papaji - Sri H.L. - Poonja Quotes
What is purification of the mind? No thought. This thought-less mind, sattvic mind, no mind, can be called Consciousness itself. Self itself.
If you address the mind with "Who are you?" it will disappear.
Mind is nothing but thought. You can't separate thought itself from the mind.
When we use the word "I", there is ego. Then there is the mind, then there is a body, then there are senses, then there are sense objects, and then all manifestation arises.
Who is journeying for freedom? The one who is already free. Just get rid of the concept, "I am the body, separate from the source." You return to what you always were.
Nothing arises without Self. All existence is one in one's own Self.
Meditation is to effortlessly turn the mind toward that energy which energizes mind.
The Silence that I speak about is neither meditating nor sitting quiet. The Silence that I speak about has nothing to do with meditation or talking or not talking because then the mind is still running about here and there and everywhere. What I mean by Silence is that should be no thought rising from the mind. No thought rising from your mind is Silence.
Stillness of mind comes from giving up all attachments except that attachment to Self.
When the mind is quiet, all is Self.
When mind moves the world arises, so be still, throw away everything, and be free.
Self is what you are. You are That Fathomlessness in which experience and concepts appear. Self is the Moment that has no coming or going. It is the Heart, Atman, Emptiness. It shines to Itself, by Itself, in Itself.
Self is what gives breath to Life. You need not search for It, It is Here. You are That through which you would search. You are what you are looking for! And That is All it is.
You are the unchangeable Awareness in which all activity takes place.
Papaji - Sri H.L. - Poonja Quotes
Peace and Trust...
The peace in such a man's heart is as measureless as his trust in
Infinite Mind. Indeed the peace is there because of the trust. He has
no need to open the door of the future. The experience he needs or the
thing he must have will, he knows, emerge from its obscurity before
his eyes at the proper time. So he is patient enough to let
circumstances ripen of themselves, when patience is necessary.
Infinite Mind. Indeed the peace is there because of the trust. He has
no need to open the door of the future. The experience he needs or the
thing he must have will, he knows, emerge from its obscurity before
his eyes at the proper time. So he is patient enough to let
circumstances ripen of themselves, when patience is necessary.
~ Does God Exist? ~
Does God exist? The only answer to this question would be:
God is all that exists. It is you and me (as separate entities)
who do not really exist. "I Am that I Am."
There can only be a mystical awareness of God that can never be
proved scientifically for the simple reason that any external or
indirect proof can only be something separate from That (Source)
which is proved. Any external proof could only be circular logic --
a dog chasing its own tail!
In a word, you cannot truly 'think' about God, because it is He who
is the thinker and the thinking. The fact of the matter is that there
is indeed a Reality that exists, but it cannot be reached. That
Reality can reach you.
Therefore, there is an extraordinary consistency in the assertions
of the mystics through all time and space. Their assertions were
totally in agreement with one another, however far apart they may be
in time, distance and culture. Reality can only be experienced.
~ Ramesh Balsekar
Nuggets of Wisdom
God is all that exists. It is you and me (as separate entities)
who do not really exist. "I Am that I Am."
There can only be a mystical awareness of God that can never be
proved scientifically for the simple reason that any external or
indirect proof can only be something separate from That (Source)
which is proved. Any external proof could only be circular logic --
a dog chasing its own tail!
In a word, you cannot truly 'think' about God, because it is He who
is the thinker and the thinking. The fact of the matter is that there
is indeed a Reality that exists, but it cannot be reached. That
Reality can reach you.
Therefore, there is an extraordinary consistency in the assertions
of the mystics through all time and space. Their assertions were
totally in agreement with one another, however far apart they may be
in time, distance and culture. Reality can only be experienced.
~ Ramesh Balsekar
Nuggets of Wisdom
Consciousness...
It is thanks to Consciousness being present that all things can appear to be identified. Things always depend entirely on Consciousness being present to give them their identification.
No thing has any awareness, any intelligence or ability to identify itself. No thing has its own identity.
By themselves, things don’t even know they appear to exist. This book doesn’t know it appears to be here, nor does this hand, nor the sensation of touch. The body doesn’t know it exists.
Not one single thing in the entire universe knows that it exists!
The only One conscious to know anything exists is Consciousness. It is the only one that knows there is such a thing as existing!
You know you exist, which means Consciousness, not any thing, is Your Identity.
Since you are not an identified thing called a body, you cannot honestly take the point of view of the body. Ever. It is not your point of view to take.
Only what is true of Consciousness is true of you.
So never be intimidated by Consciousness, Awareness, or any other synonym, or put them on a pedestal because they are spelled with a capital letter. The Consciousness that is gently being aware right here, now, is never in awe of itself.
Consciousness always is silent, peaceful—yet absolutely certain in being present.
This silent, peaceful certainty isn’t what consciousness is to you.
The silent certainty is You.
From Consciousness is All
Peter Francis Dziuban
Blue Dolphin Publishing 2006
No thing has any awareness, any intelligence or ability to identify itself. No thing has its own identity.
By themselves, things don’t even know they appear to exist. This book doesn’t know it appears to be here, nor does this hand, nor the sensation of touch. The body doesn’t know it exists.
Not one single thing in the entire universe knows that it exists!
The only One conscious to know anything exists is Consciousness. It is the only one that knows there is such a thing as existing!
You know you exist, which means Consciousness, not any thing, is Your Identity.
Since you are not an identified thing called a body, you cannot honestly take the point of view of the body. Ever. It is not your point of view to take.
Only what is true of Consciousness is true of you.
So never be intimidated by Consciousness, Awareness, or any other synonym, or put them on a pedestal because they are spelled with a capital letter. The Consciousness that is gently being aware right here, now, is never in awe of itself.
Consciousness always is silent, peaceful—yet absolutely certain in being present.
This silent, peaceful certainty isn’t what consciousness is to you.
The silent certainty is You.
From Consciousness is All
Peter Francis Dziuban
Blue Dolphin Publishing 2006
On Realization...
"On realization, you feel complete, fulfilled, free from the pleasure-pain complex, and yet not always able to explain what happened, why and how. You can put it only in negative terms: "Nothing is wrong with me any longer". It is only by comparison with the past that you know that you are out of it. Otherwise, you are just yourself. Don't try to convey it to others. If you can, it is not the real thing. Be silent and watch it expressing itself in action."..........Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Mental Projection...
It is not possible to explain intellectually how sensations of the physical world are converted into ideas, how the leap-over from nervous vibrations into consciousness occurs, and how a neurosis becomes a psychosis. No one has ever explained this, nor will any scientist ever succeed in doing so. Truth alone can dispose of this poser by pointing out that sensations never really occur, but that the Self merely projects ideas of them; just as a man sees a mirage and mistakes it for real water merely by his mental projection, so people regard the world as real when they are merely transferring their own mental ideas to the world.........Paul Brunton
Consciousness Merging...
We all have this problem of understanding the meaning of God and how we as
individual consciousness fit into this knowledge.. Entering the state of
Enlightenment only occurs when you have allowed the self to die.. When you have
offered the greatest sacrifice to God.. this sacrifice is individuality.. In the
first stage of Enlightenment, you find your self as Light and Love, existing
with nothing but Light and Love and desireing nothing else.. But, this is not
the final freedom, as you still have a small part of the ego left.. this is the
thought that you still have an individuality.. this belief keeps you from the
final freedom, which is the desolving of this small part of ego and entering the
complete state of non-ego.. This is the state of Consciousness that we call
God..This complete state of non-ego is also called Un-Self-Ish
Love................namaste, thomas
individual consciousness fit into this knowledge.. Entering the state of
Enlightenment only occurs when you have allowed the self to die.. When you have
offered the greatest sacrifice to God.. this sacrifice is individuality.. In the
first stage of Enlightenment, you find your self as Light and Love, existing
with nothing but Light and Love and desireing nothing else.. But, this is not
the final freedom, as you still have a small part of the ego left.. this is the
thought that you still have an individuality.. this belief keeps you from the
final freedom, which is the desolving of this small part of ego and entering the
complete state of non-ego.. This is the state of Consciousness that we call
God..This complete state of non-ego is also called Un-Self-Ish
Love................namaste, thomas
We are God...
Saying that you are God with humility is very difficult.. We have been taught to
believe that God is separate from us and always will be.. We have been taught
that the best achievement is to exist in a heaven that is close to God but not
completely God.. The Secret to understanding this relationship with God and who
you really are is to understand the definition of God..."God Is Love and
Light".. God is not an old man on a throne.. The schools of Philosophy and
Spirituality lead to the end of egoism and the birth of Love..We, in Reality and
Truth are Love and Light, but the belief in the false ego keeps us from this
Knowledge.. This is why, we can state that We are God because there is nothing
but God.............namaste, thomas
believe that God is separate from us and always will be.. We have been taught
that the best achievement is to exist in a heaven that is close to God but not
completely God.. The Secret to understanding this relationship with God and who
you really are is to understand the definition of God..."God Is Love and
Light".. God is not an old man on a throne.. The schools of Philosophy and
Spirituality lead to the end of egoism and the birth of Love..We, in Reality and
Truth are Love and Light, but the belief in the false ego keeps us from this
Knowledge.. This is why, we can state that We are God because there is nothing
but God.............namaste, thomas
Finding Love...
You
can read many books about Love but the feeling of Love is much easier than you
believe.. It is caring about others without caring for yourself.. This is why
Jesus said;" Lose all and follow Me"... the All that you are losing is your
"self".. the self is the only barrier between you and Love.. and Love is
Happiness.. This is why many Saints give up all their possessions and work to
help those that have only poverty as their possession... You do not have to go
to this degree of physical poverty but the poverty of your Soul is extinguished
by the degree of Love that you have become..Do not wait for Love to come to you,
as it will only come to you when you have given it away
first..............namaste, thomas
can read many books about Love but the feeling of Love is much easier than you
believe.. It is caring about others without caring for yourself.. This is why
Jesus said;" Lose all and follow Me"... the All that you are losing is your
"self".. the self is the only barrier between you and Love.. and Love is
Happiness.. This is why many Saints give up all their possessions and work to
help those that have only poverty as their possession... You do not have to go
to this degree of physical poverty but the poverty of your Soul is extinguished
by the degree of Love that you have become..Do not wait for Love to come to you,
as it will only come to you when you have given it away
first..............namaste, thomas
Love...
If you meditate on the meaning of Love, you will find that it is the state of non-ego.. Love cannot exist when ego is present as these two energies are opposites.. This is why we could even give up our own life for that which we Love, as Love is more powerful than ego.. This is why a person without ego is so attractive to others as the Light of God shines from them.. This is the reason that we must eliminate the ego if we wish to rejoin the Consciousnes of God, for God is Love, and will not have any other gods present, especially the false god called "the ego"............namaste, thomas
Negative Thoughts...
Mentalism says that most of one's misery is inflicted on oneself by accepting and holding negative thoughts. They cover and hide the still centre of one's being, which is infinite happiness.........Paul Brunton
THREE STEPS IN HEALING by Joseph Murphy...
1. The first step in healing is not to be afraid of
the manifest condition -- from this very moment.
2. The second step is to realize that the condition
is only the product of past thinking, which will have
no more power to continue its existence.
3. The third step is mentally to exalt the miraculous
healing power of God within you. This procedure
instantly will stop the production of all mental
poisons in you or in the person for whom you are
praying. Live in the embodiment of your desire,
and your thought and feeling will soon be made
manifest. Do not allow yourself to be swayed by human
opinion and worldly fears, but live emotionally in
the belief that it is God in action in your mind and
body. By thought and feeling what you desire is brought
to you, by action you receive it.
After you have imagined and felt the state you desire,
your subconscious will direct your actions step by step
until it is manifested. You won't even be aware that you
are doing what needs to be done in order to manifest it.
It is magical.
the manifest condition -- from this very moment.
2. The second step is to realize that the condition
is only the product of past thinking, which will have
no more power to continue its existence.
3. The third step is mentally to exalt the miraculous
healing power of God within you. This procedure
instantly will stop the production of all mental
poisons in you or in the person for whom you are
praying. Live in the embodiment of your desire,
and your thought and feeling will soon be made
manifest. Do not allow yourself to be swayed by human
opinion and worldly fears, but live emotionally in
the belief that it is God in action in your mind and
body. By thought and feeling what you desire is brought
to you, by action you receive it.
After you have imagined and felt the state you desire,
your subconscious will direct your actions step by step
until it is manifested. You won't even be aware that you
are doing what needs to be done in order to manifest it.
It is magical.
Don’t Blame the Lettuce ...
"When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you
don't blame the lettuce. You look into the reasons it is
not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or
less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have
problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other
person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will
grow well, like lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at
all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and arguments.
That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument,
just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you
understand, you can love, and the situation will change."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
don't blame the lettuce. You look into the reasons it is
not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or
less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have
problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other
person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will
grow well, like lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at
all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and arguments.
That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument,
just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you
understand, you can love, and the situation will change."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Realization...
In August 2004 something happened that corrected a basic mistake in perception I’d lived with all my life. Prior to this occurrence I thought I was an individual consciousness experiencing an infinitely large, infinitely old, external universe of real objects. What I discovered, however, is that the consciousness I mistakenly perceived as belonging to an individual (Me), is in actuality God consciousness, the One consciousness, and that Me, the universe and everything in it are vague, ephemeral thought-forms appearing in and out of emptiness in a timeless, spaceless Now.
an exerpt from from Bart Marshall: Realization
an exerpt from from Bart Marshall: Realization
Empathy...
Empathy with someone else's pain or lack and a desire to help need to be balanced with a deeper realization of the eternal nature of all life and the illusion of all pain. Then let your peace flow into whatever you do, and you will be working on the levels of effect and cause simultaneously.....
Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle
Jnani and Bhakti...
The term jnani means seer, or one who has pursued spiritual growth through wisdom or insight. It is used as a noun to describe a type of person, or an individual like Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), and is also used as an adjective to indicate the concepts and practices of a particular path. In India the term is often contrasted with the term bhakti, meaning devotee or devotion.
Advancement...
If he is not too proud to begin at the point where he finds himself rather than
at some point where he once was or would now like to be, if he is willing to
advance one step at a time, he may realize his goal far more quickly than the
less humble and more pretentious man is likely to realize it.........Paul Brunton
at some point where he once was or would now like to be, if he is willing to
advance one step at a time, he may realize his goal far more quickly than the
less humble and more pretentious man is likely to realize it.........Paul Brunton
Buddha's Last Words...
As the Buddha was dying,
Ananda asked
who would be their teacher after death.
He replied to his disciple -
"Be lamps unto yourselves.
Be refuges unto yourselves.
Take yourself no external refuge.
Hold fast to the truth as a lamp.
Hold fast to the truth as a refuge.
Look not for a refuge in anyone besides yourselves.
And those, Ananda, who either now or after I am dead,
Shall be a lamp unto themselves,
Shall betake themselves as no external refuge,
But holding fast to the truth as their lamp,
Holding fast to the truth as their refuge,
Shall not look for refuge to anyone else besides themselves,
It is they who shall reach to the very topmost height;
But they must be anxious to learn.".........Gautama the Buddha
Ananda asked
who would be their teacher after death.
He replied to his disciple -
"Be lamps unto yourselves.
Be refuges unto yourselves.
Take yourself no external refuge.
Hold fast to the truth as a lamp.
Hold fast to the truth as a refuge.
Look not for a refuge in anyone besides yourselves.
And those, Ananda, who either now or after I am dead,
Shall be a lamp unto themselves,
Shall betake themselves as no external refuge,
But holding fast to the truth as their lamp,
Holding fast to the truth as their refuge,
Shall not look for refuge to anyone else besides themselves,
It is they who shall reach to the very topmost height;
But they must be anxious to learn.".........Gautama the Buddha
a jnani...
One does not become a jnani simply by reading philosophy. That is a great
misconception. Many people believe that you can spiritually unfold or evolve
into a jnani through reading books, through understanding another's unfoldment
or performing meditations that he once performed. Understanding another person's
wisdom does not make us wise. Each has to experience the fullness of the path to
enlightenment himself.
The jnani becomes one who postulates that what he has himself realized are the
final conclusions for all mankind. His postulations are filled with assuredness,
for he has experienced what the Vedas, the Agamas and the Upanishads speak of.
He has awakened the power and force of his own realization. He knows. He becomes
the embodiment of that knowing, of the Truth he once sought as something other
than himself. He finds within the scriptures confirmation of his realization
echoed in the verses of rishis written at the dawn of human history.
misconception. Many people believe that you can spiritually unfold or evolve
into a jnani through reading books, through understanding another's unfoldment
or performing meditations that he once performed. Understanding another person's
wisdom does not make us wise. Each has to experience the fullness of the path to
enlightenment himself.
The jnani becomes one who postulates that what he has himself realized are the
final conclusions for all mankind. His postulations are filled with assuredness,
for he has experienced what the Vedas, the Agamas and the Upanishads speak of.
He has awakened the power and force of his own realization. He knows. He becomes
the embodiment of that knowing, of the Truth he once sought as something other
than himself. He finds within the scriptures confirmation of his realization
echoed in the verses of rishis written at the dawn of human history.
The Gospel of Thomas...
Jesus saw a Samaritan carrying a lamb and going to Judea. He said to his disciples, "that person ... around the lamb." They said to him, "So that he may kill it and eat it." He said to them, "He will not eat it while it is alive, but only after he has killed it and it has become a carcass."
They said, "Otherwise he can't do it."
He said to them, "So also with you, seek for yourselves a place for rest, or you might become a carcass and be eaten."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Jesus is saying that your ego must become a carcass, it must become dead.. A place for rest refers to the state of non-ego and recognition of the peace of non desire..Or, you will stay within the illusion of the ego and body and continue in the life and death illusion and continue in ignorance...........namaste, thomas
They said, "Otherwise he can't do it."
He said to them, "So also with you, seek for yourselves a place for rest, or you might become a carcass and be eaten."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Jesus is saying that your ego must become a carcass, it must become dead.. A place for rest refers to the state of non-ego and recognition of the peace of non desire..Or, you will stay within the illusion of the ego and body and continue in the life and death illusion and continue in ignorance...........namaste, thomas
All Things Change...
If you realize that all things change,
there is nothing you will try to hold on to.
If you aren't afraid of dying,
there is nothing you can't achieve.
Trying to control the future
is like trying to take the master carpenter's place.
When you handle the master carpenter's tools,
chances are that you'll cut yourself.
(Tao Te Ching, trans. by Stephen Mitchell)
there is nothing you will try to hold on to.
If you aren't afraid of dying,
there is nothing you can't achieve.
Trying to control the future
is like trying to take the master carpenter's place.
When you handle the master carpenter's tools,
chances are that you'll cut yourself.
(Tao Te Ching, trans. by Stephen Mitchell)
Time...
He should not be discouraged because others have gone ahead on the path more quickly than he, any more than he should be gratified because some have gone ahead more slowly than he, for the fact is that the goal he seeks is already within his grasp. He is the Overself that he seeks to unite with, and the time it seems to take to realize this is itself an illusion of the mind. Let him, therefore, go forward at his own rate and within the limits of his own strength, leaving the result in the hands of God..........Paul Brunton
Liberation...
"A door swings open in the center of our being and we seem to fall through it into immense depths which, although they are infinite, are all accessible to us; all eternity seems to have become ours in this one placid and breathless contact. Where already, supernatural instinct teaches us that the function of this abyss of freedom, which has been open within our midsts, is to draw us utterly out of our own selfhood and into its own immensity of liberation.".........
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton
Who is Wise?
"Who is wise,
The eloquent or the quiet man?
Be quiet,
And loving and fearless."
"For the mind talks.
But the body knows."
"Gray hairs do not make a master.
A man may grow old in vain."
"The true master lives in truth,
In goodness and restraint,
Nonviolence, moderation and purity."
Gautama the Buddha
The eloquent or the quiet man?
Be quiet,
And loving and fearless."
"For the mind talks.
But the body knows."
"Gray hairs do not make a master.
A man may grow old in vain."
"The true master lives in truth,
In goodness and restraint,
Nonviolence, moderation and purity."
Gautama the Buddha
Heaven...
A concern that I have is the belief by others that Heaven is the destination
that we must enter.. I believe that there are many levels of Heaven and that
Heaven is not the final freedom.. In this state of Heaven, you are still
separate from God.. you are still experiencing Duality.. You are still not aware
that you and God are One.. you still see other souls as separate from you and
from God.. this is why I believe that the Heavens are actually schools of
Spiritual learning for your next incarnation into the material planes, until you
are finally able to surrender the ego and have the courage to face the death of
the ego and enter Reality with the Knowledge that you and God are One... As
Jesus said:" You must die, to be born again".. He was speaking of the death of
the ego and the birth into Reality..........namaste, thomas
that we must enter.. I believe that there are many levels of Heaven and that
Heaven is not the final freedom.. In this state of Heaven, you are still
separate from God.. you are still experiencing Duality.. You are still not aware
that you and God are One.. you still see other souls as separate from you and
from God.. this is why I believe that the Heavens are actually schools of
Spiritual learning for your next incarnation into the material planes, until you
are finally able to surrender the ego and have the courage to face the death of
the ego and enter Reality with the Knowledge that you and God are One... As
Jesus said:" You must die, to be born again".. He was speaking of the death of
the ego and the birth into Reality..........namaste, thomas
The Fear of Death...
The fear of Death is actually the Ego fearing that it will not exist any longer.. Fear is mentioned many times in Spiritual writings because it not only causes pain in the physical life but also is the reason why many connot achieve Enlightenment.. To enter the Enlightenment experience, you must conquer the greatest Fear.. and that is the Fear of Death.. You must want to mentally die.. If you have a strong belief in life after death, then it will be easier to accomplish this.. But, the main point is that the only way to enter Enlightenment is to sacrifice your desire for life and truly want to become Nothing.. Once, you have achieved this state of mind and surrendered the Ego, then and only then, you will enter the state of non-ego, which is the state of God Consciousness.. you will then Realize that becoming Nothing is becoming Everything..............namaste, thomas
The Trap of Meaninglessness...
There are other traps that are inherent in within this process of going from the initial glimpse of awakening to real abiding awakening. There are several of them that come up and again these traps or these cul-de-sacs, these delusions aren’t inherent to awakening itself but they arise with the mind’s relationship with the awakened view because the awakened view is so far beyond the mind that the mind truly can’t contain it but the mind’s inherent nature is to try to contain everything that it sees. And so one of these very common traps that people can get into is a sense of meaninglessness.
Now this can arise because from the stand point of reality we are free from the egoic desire to find meaning. We see that the egos desire to find meaning in its life is actually a surrogate, a substitute for having a direct connection with life, for having the perception of ‘you are life itself.’ But if we don’t feel that, if we don’t know that , we don’t experience that, then we need surrogates, we need something to stand in to fill the gap as it were. And as egos, what the ego uses is meaning, ‘I’m trying to find the meaning in my life, what’s the meaning to my life. Only someone who is disconnected from life itself will seek meaning. Only someone that’s disconnected from life will look for purpose. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t look for meaning or shouldn’t look for purpose. Actually they are probably wise strategies that are used to help people cope with life. But remember that these egoic yearning for ‘what’s the meaning of my life?, what’s the meaning of my existence?, what’s the purpose of my existence?’ are ultimately derived from a state where we have no real knowledge of what we are, where we’re disconnected from our true nature. I don’t mean actually disconnected, I mean unconscious of.
So when there’s a true realization, when we wake up from the dream state, when we wake up from the ego, what is realized, part of the realization is the search for meaning is now no longer appropriate. When one has a direct connection with life, all of a sudden to find one’s meaning, to find one’s purpose seems to be a rather paltry thing, to be a small thing, to be insignificant. It’s no longer really a drive in our life. The drive for meaning and purpose falls out of our life because we are literally in a different perspective. In a perspective where such things don’t really exist or certainly they don’t exist in the old way, they don’t exist from the egoic standpoint.
Now the mind will perceive this, this truth, this truth that when we wake up from the dream state we see that the dream state is a dream state. How could a dream state have meaning? How could a dream state have purpose. It’s a dream. And that’s very true but as I say over and over, there’s still a human being and there’s still a human mind. And the mind is trying to make sense of all this. The mind is even trying to make sense of awakening itself. It’s trying to make sense of the view of awakening. And as I have also said, for most people there’s not a total disappearance of the ego, of that which is the experience of division. And so the mind is in relationship with the insights of reality, at times. And the mind will start to say, ‘Oh God, there’s no meaning!’ And what’s left of the ego will say, “There’s no meaning! I now have no purpose or meaning! Its like you’ve seen too much of Reality to believe in purpose or meaning.
From The End of Your World - Adyashanti
Now this can arise because from the stand point of reality we are free from the egoic desire to find meaning. We see that the egos desire to find meaning in its life is actually a surrogate, a substitute for having a direct connection with life, for having the perception of ‘you are life itself.’ But if we don’t feel that, if we don’t know that , we don’t experience that, then we need surrogates, we need something to stand in to fill the gap as it were. And as egos, what the ego uses is meaning, ‘I’m trying to find the meaning in my life, what’s the meaning to my life. Only someone who is disconnected from life itself will seek meaning. Only someone that’s disconnected from life will look for purpose. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t look for meaning or shouldn’t look for purpose. Actually they are probably wise strategies that are used to help people cope with life. But remember that these egoic yearning for ‘what’s the meaning of my life?, what’s the meaning of my existence?, what’s the purpose of my existence?’ are ultimately derived from a state where we have no real knowledge of what we are, where we’re disconnected from our true nature. I don’t mean actually disconnected, I mean unconscious of.
So when there’s a true realization, when we wake up from the dream state, when we wake up from the ego, what is realized, part of the realization is the search for meaning is now no longer appropriate. When one has a direct connection with life, all of a sudden to find one’s meaning, to find one’s purpose seems to be a rather paltry thing, to be a small thing, to be insignificant. It’s no longer really a drive in our life. The drive for meaning and purpose falls out of our life because we are literally in a different perspective. In a perspective where such things don’t really exist or certainly they don’t exist in the old way, they don’t exist from the egoic standpoint.
Now the mind will perceive this, this truth, this truth that when we wake up from the dream state we see that the dream state is a dream state. How could a dream state have meaning? How could a dream state have purpose. It’s a dream. And that’s very true but as I say over and over, there’s still a human being and there’s still a human mind. And the mind is trying to make sense of all this. The mind is even trying to make sense of awakening itself. It’s trying to make sense of the view of awakening. And as I have also said, for most people there’s not a total disappearance of the ego, of that which is the experience of division. And so the mind is in relationship with the insights of reality, at times. And the mind will start to say, ‘Oh God, there’s no meaning!’ And what’s left of the ego will say, “There’s no meaning! I now have no purpose or meaning! Its like you’ve seen too much of Reality to believe in purpose or meaning.
From The End of Your World - Adyashanti
Being finite and Limited...
When the Bible says, "No man hath seen God at any time," it means that the sense and thought perceptions of man, being finite and limited in range, cannot comprehend what is infinite and unlimited. That Jesus knew of a Real beyond intellection may be gleaned from his saying, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" which is curiously reminiscent of an Indian saying by Ashtavakra: "A million thoughts will only yield another thought." Simply because it eludes conscious grasp, we can form no conception of Mind as reality. For consciousness of anything particular is a signal that the thing is intellectually graspable--that is, finite and limited. But that whose holy presence itself makes thought possible, cannot be expected to step down to the level of denying its own grandly immeasurable and timeless infinitude. The moment particularized consciousness appears, that moment there will also be relativity, and the moment relativity appears, that moment duality with all its transience and destructibility must be there too. Consequently, we cannot have our Overself with all its nonduality and non-limitation and have this kind of consciousness too...........Paul Brunton
Success or Failure...
Our success or failure depends upon the harmony or disharmony of our individual
will with the Divine Will.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
It is the Divine Will that is manifested throughout the whole universe, which
has created the whole universe; and it is part of the divine will that manifests
itself through us. Everything we do in life is governed and directed by that
power. ... Now coming to the question of the will of man as opposed to the will
of God: which is which? We understand the difference when we perceive that the
nature of will power differs only according to whether it exists in its
fullness, or whether it is limited. The will power in its fullness is divine
power; the will power in its limited state is the individual will.
Resignation is a quality of the saintly souls. It is bitter in taste but sweet
in result. Whatever a man's power and position in life may be, he has always to
meet with a more powerful will, in whatever form it may manifest. In truth this
is the divine will. By opposing the divine will one may break oneself; but by
resigning oneself to the divine will one opens up a way.
We come to understand that there are two aspects of will working through all
things in life. One is the individual will, the other the divine will. When a
person goes against the divine will, naturally his human will fails and he finds
difficulties, because he is swimming against the tide. The moment a person works
in consonance, in harmony with the divine will, things become smooth.
Sometimes things are accomplished without the least effort. When it is the
divine will it is like something floating on water; it advances without effort.
Problems and actions may be achieved in a moment then, whilst at other times the
smallest problem cannot be solved without great difficulty. One finds that some
persons are very clever and experienced in industrial work or in politics; and
they have striven very hard to attain their goal, and yet have accomplished
nothing; they are always a failure. And there are others who take up a thing,
and without much effort, without much worry on their part they complete it and
attain their goal.
All this is accounted for by harmony with the divine will. Everyone experiences
such a thing at some time or other. When things are in harmony with the divine
will, everything is there; we just glance towards a thing and it is found, as in
the saying, 'Word spoken, action done.' When we strive with all the material in
our hands and yet cannot achieve our desire, that is when the matter is contrary
to the divine will. Our success or failure all depends upon the harmony or
disharmony of our individual will with the divine will. ... Contentment and
perfect resignation open up a harmonious feeling and bring the divine will into
harmony with our own. Our blessing now becomes a divine blessing, our words
divine words, our atmosphere a divine atmosphere, although we seem to be limited
beings; for our will becomes absorbed into the whole, and so our will becomes
the will of God.
will with the Divine Will.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
It is the Divine Will that is manifested throughout the whole universe, which
has created the whole universe; and it is part of the divine will that manifests
itself through us. Everything we do in life is governed and directed by that
power. ... Now coming to the question of the will of man as opposed to the will
of God: which is which? We understand the difference when we perceive that the
nature of will power differs only according to whether it exists in its
fullness, or whether it is limited. The will power in its fullness is divine
power; the will power in its limited state is the individual will.
Resignation is a quality of the saintly souls. It is bitter in taste but sweet
in result. Whatever a man's power and position in life may be, he has always to
meet with a more powerful will, in whatever form it may manifest. In truth this
is the divine will. By opposing the divine will one may break oneself; but by
resigning oneself to the divine will one opens up a way.
We come to understand that there are two aspects of will working through all
things in life. One is the individual will, the other the divine will. When a
person goes against the divine will, naturally his human will fails and he finds
difficulties, because he is swimming against the tide. The moment a person works
in consonance, in harmony with the divine will, things become smooth.
Sometimes things are accomplished without the least effort. When it is the
divine will it is like something floating on water; it advances without effort.
Problems and actions may be achieved in a moment then, whilst at other times the
smallest problem cannot be solved without great difficulty. One finds that some
persons are very clever and experienced in industrial work or in politics; and
they have striven very hard to attain their goal, and yet have accomplished
nothing; they are always a failure. And there are others who take up a thing,
and without much effort, without much worry on their part they complete it and
attain their goal.
All this is accounted for by harmony with the divine will. Everyone experiences
such a thing at some time or other. When things are in harmony with the divine
will, everything is there; we just glance towards a thing and it is found, as in
the saying, 'Word spoken, action done.' When we strive with all the material in
our hands and yet cannot achieve our desire, that is when the matter is contrary
to the divine will. Our success or failure all depends upon the harmony or
disharmony of our individual will with the divine will. ... Contentment and
perfect resignation open up a harmonious feeling and bring the divine will into
harmony with our own. Our blessing now becomes a divine blessing, our words
divine words, our atmosphere a divine atmosphere, although we seem to be limited
beings; for our will becomes absorbed into the whole, and so our will becomes
the will of God.
Zen...
Nothing is born, nothing is destroyed.
Away with your dualism, your likes and dislikes.
Every single thing is just the One Mind.
When you have perceived this,
you will have mounted the Chariot of the Buddhas.
-Huang Po, "Zen Teaching of Huang
Away with your dualism, your likes and dislikes.
Every single thing is just the One Mind.
When you have perceived this,
you will have mounted the Chariot of the Buddhas.
-Huang Po, "Zen Teaching of Huang
The Mystical "I"...
All discord, all inharmony, and all error are experienced because of a sense of separation from God. But this sense of separation from God is not your fault personally. It is the universal belief that has come down to us from the allegorical experience of Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden. Nevertheless, this universal sense of separation from God is responsible for our sins, diseases, death, lack, and limitation. Therefore, immortality and infinity can be returned to us only as we return to the Father's house.
This means to realize that what you are looking at with your eyes is not "I". "I am" invisible; "I am" omnipresence; "I am" omnipotence; "I am" omniscience. You prove this by not taking thought, by being still, and by letting the Omniscience that "I am" reveal to you whatever wisdom, guidance, or direction is necessary at this moment. You prove this by being still in the listening attitude, letting Omnipresence prove Itself to be the only power. You prove this by taking no thought for your life or anything that concerns your life, and letting Omnipresence prove Omnipresence.
This cannot be done intellectually. It can be done only through unknowing, through silence. Silence is your resting place. Silence is your abiding place, your living place. Live and move and have your being in silence, and then the still small voice will utter itself and live your life.
~ Joel S. Goldsmith, The Mystical "I".
This means to realize that what you are looking at with your eyes is not "I". "I am" invisible; "I am" omnipresence; "I am" omnipotence; "I am" omniscience. You prove this by not taking thought, by being still, and by letting the Omniscience that "I am" reveal to you whatever wisdom, guidance, or direction is necessary at this moment. You prove this by being still in the listening attitude, letting Omnipresence prove Itself to be the only power. You prove this by taking no thought for your life or anything that concerns your life, and letting Omnipresence prove Omnipresence.
This cannot be done intellectually. It can be done only through unknowing, through silence. Silence is your resting place. Silence is your abiding place, your living place. Live and move and have your being in silence, and then the still small voice will utter itself and live your life.
~ Joel S. Goldsmith, The Mystical "I".
The Unawakened Ego..
The unawakened ego submits passively to the lower influences which come to it out of the shadows of its own long past and to the sense-stirring suggestions which come to it out of the surroundings in which it moves. But when it has found and surrendered to the Overself in the heart, this blind, mechanical responsiveness comes to an end and an aroused, enlightened, fully aware, inner rulership replaces it...........Paul Brunton
Snow Geese...
Oh, to love what is lovely, and will not last!
What a task
to ask
of anything, or anyone,
yet it is ours,
and not by the century or the year, but by the hours.
One fall day I heard
above me, and above the sting of the wind, a sound
I did not know, and my look shot upward; it was
a flock of snow geese, winging it
faster than the ones we usually see,
and, being the color of snow, catching the sun
so they were, in part at least, golden. I
held my breath
as we do
sometimes
to stop time
when something wonderful
has touched us
as with a match,
which is lit, and bright,
but does not hurt
in the common way,
but delightfully,
as if delight
were the most serious thing
you ever felt.
The geese
flew on,
I have never seen them again.
Maybe I will, someday, somewhere.
Maybe I won't.
It doesn't matter.
What matters
is that, when I saw them,
I saw them
as through the veil, secretly, joyfully, clearly.
~ Mary Oliver ~
(Why I Wake Early)
What a task
to ask
of anything, or anyone,
yet it is ours,
and not by the century or the year, but by the hours.
One fall day I heard
above me, and above the sting of the wind, a sound
I did not know, and my look shot upward; it was
a flock of snow geese, winging it
faster than the ones we usually see,
and, being the color of snow, catching the sun
so they were, in part at least, golden. I
held my breath
as we do
sometimes
to stop time
when something wonderful
has touched us
as with a match,
which is lit, and bright,
but does not hurt
in the common way,
but delightfully,
as if delight
were the most serious thing
you ever felt.
The geese
flew on,
I have never seen them again.
Maybe I will, someday, somewhere.
Maybe I won't.
It doesn't matter.
What matters
is that, when I saw them,
I saw them
as through the veil, secretly, joyfully, clearly.
~ Mary Oliver ~
(Why I Wake Early)
The Invisible...
What we see is not the most important.
Could dust rise without the invisible
hand of the wind?
Could a fan turn without any current?
Could lungs breathe without breath?
Tell me
What is the shape of Love?
How much does Joy weigh
when held in the palm of your hand?
Can you catch the Spirit of Life in a jar?
All things seen depend
upon the Unseen.
All sounds depend upon Silence.
All things felt depend
upon what is not felt.
. - Adyashanti
Could dust rise without the invisible
hand of the wind?
Could a fan turn without any current?
Could lungs breathe without breath?
Tell me
What is the shape of Love?
How much does Joy weigh
when held in the palm of your hand?
Can you catch the Spirit of Life in a jar?
All things seen depend
upon the Unseen.
All sounds depend upon Silence.
All things felt depend
upon what is not felt.
. - Adyashanti
God is Active...
The Energy and Consciousness that we call God has found Itself "Bored" by
existing within Itself without sharing the Energy that is called "Love"... This
is the Power and Energy of Non-Ego.. This is the Power of "Selflessness".. This
is the power of Unity...This is the Energy and Power called Creativity.. This
creativity is the sharing of Love.. This is why Humans create music and art, and
in Truth, they will tell you that this talent flows through them instead of from
them.. This Creativity within us is actually the flow of the energy of Love from
God.........namaste, thomas
existing within Itself without sharing the Energy that is called "Love"... This
is the Power and Energy of Non-Ego.. This is the Power of "Selflessness".. This
is the power of Unity...This is the Energy and Power called Creativity.. This
creativity is the sharing of Love.. This is why Humans create music and art, and
in Truth, they will tell you that this talent flows through them instead of from
them.. This Creativity within us is actually the flow of the energy of Love from
God.........namaste, thomas
He who wants to understand, will understand...
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
In India it is considered a great sin to awaken anyone who is asleep. If a man
is asleep, do not wake him; let him sleep; it is the time for him to sleep; it
will not do to wake him before his time. Thus a mystic understands also that a
person who is taking his time to wake up must not be awakened to give him the
mystic's idea. It would be a sin, because he is not prepared to understand it,
and his beliefs would be shaken. Let him go on thinking God is in Benares; let
him think He is in the temple of Buddha; let him think He is in heaven; let him
think He is in the seventh heaven above the sky. It is the beginning; he will
evolve in time and arrive at the same stage. The rest he is having just now is
good for him. The awakening comes, all in its good time.
This explains what is meant by saying that Sufism is a religious philosophy; the
philosophy is clothed with religion, that it may not break the ideals and faiths
and beliefs of those who are beginning their journey towards the goal.
Externally: the religion, inwardly: the philosophy. The one who wants to
understand will understand. 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'
In whatever form, life expresses its meaning, if only man is able to understand
it. The one who does not understand this will not understand life's meaning. His
inner sense is closed; it is just like being deaf. In the same way his sense of
communication with things has become dull, he does not understand them. But if a
person does not hear he may not say that life is not speaking. In the same way,
if a person cannot sense the meaning of life, he may not say that life has no
meaning. The word is everywhere, and the word is continually speaking.
A mystic removes the barrier that stands between himself and another person by
trying to look at life not only from his own point of view, but also from the
point of view of another. All disputes and disagreements arise from people's
misunderstanding of each other. Mostly, people misunderstand each other because
they have their fixed points of view and are not willing to move from them. ...
If we are willing to understand, then understanding is within our reach. Very
often, however, we are not willing to understand, and that is why we do not
understand. Mankind suffers from a sort of stubbornness. A man goes against what
he thinks is coming from another person. Yet, everything he has learned has come
from others, he has not learned one word from himself. All the same, he calls it
his argument, his idea, and his view, although it is no such thing. He has
always taken it from somewhere. It is by accepting this fact that a mystic
understands all, and it is this which makes him a friend of all.
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
In India it is considered a great sin to awaken anyone who is asleep. If a man
is asleep, do not wake him; let him sleep; it is the time for him to sleep; it
will not do to wake him before his time. Thus a mystic understands also that a
person who is taking his time to wake up must not be awakened to give him the
mystic's idea. It would be a sin, because he is not prepared to understand it,
and his beliefs would be shaken. Let him go on thinking God is in Benares; let
him think He is in the temple of Buddha; let him think He is in heaven; let him
think He is in the seventh heaven above the sky. It is the beginning; he will
evolve in time and arrive at the same stage. The rest he is having just now is
good for him. The awakening comes, all in its good time.
This explains what is meant by saying that Sufism is a religious philosophy; the
philosophy is clothed with religion, that it may not break the ideals and faiths
and beliefs of those who are beginning their journey towards the goal.
Externally: the religion, inwardly: the philosophy. The one who wants to
understand will understand. 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'
In whatever form, life expresses its meaning, if only man is able to understand
it. The one who does not understand this will not understand life's meaning. His
inner sense is closed; it is just like being deaf. In the same way his sense of
communication with things has become dull, he does not understand them. But if a
person does not hear he may not say that life is not speaking. In the same way,
if a person cannot sense the meaning of life, he may not say that life has no
meaning. The word is everywhere, and the word is continually speaking.
A mystic removes the barrier that stands between himself and another person by
trying to look at life not only from his own point of view, but also from the
point of view of another. All disputes and disagreements arise from people's
misunderstanding of each other. Mostly, people misunderstand each other because
they have their fixed points of view and are not willing to move from them. ...
If we are willing to understand, then understanding is within our reach. Very
often, however, we are not willing to understand, and that is why we do not
understand. Mankind suffers from a sort of stubbornness. A man goes against what
he thinks is coming from another person. Yet, everything he has learned has come
from others, he has not learned one word from himself. All the same, he calls it
his argument, his idea, and his view, although it is no such thing. He has
always taken it from somewhere. It is by accepting this fact that a mystic
understands all, and it is this which makes him a friend of all.
Inward Seeing...
The translation of the Sanskrit phrase antardrishti is literally "inward seeing" in the sense of seeing beneath appearances what is under them. It does not refer to clairvoyance in the psychic sense, but rather to the metaphysical or mystical sense. It can be particularized as meaning entering into the witness state of consciousness. The ordinary person sees only the object; penetrating deeper, he enters the witness state which is an intermediate condition; going still deeper, he reaches the ultimate state of Reality when there is no subject or object, whereas in the witness there is still subject and object, but the subject no longer identifies himself with the object as the ordinary man does.........Paul Brunton
Meditation and Purification...
Student reads from PB: "Meditation without purification may be dangerous."
S: What kind of meaning would he put into purification?
AD: It covers the gamut. Purification is something that you gradually keep adding to. You don't try all at once to do everything. But you try to live a more ethical life, you try to take care of your body. You attempt to leave out any unethical actions. If there is hatred in a person's heart he really can't meditate. If there is preoccupation with some greed or lust, all these things must gradually be weeded out. So it is in the grand sense that purification must be taken. We can only do it a little at a time. As long as a person is constantly striving to improve his ethics, his character, his morality, then it is all right.
But some people sit to meditate and their heart is full of envy or hatred or something. They are asking for trouble, because it boomerangs, comes right back. Do you remember we pointed out that meditation is very creative, the kind of thoughts you think in those periods when your mind is concentrated inevitably have to get manifested? So meditation without purification may be dangerous.
-- Anthony Damiani and student 8/83
S: What kind of meaning would he put into purification?
AD: It covers the gamut. Purification is something that you gradually keep adding to. You don't try all at once to do everything. But you try to live a more ethical life, you try to take care of your body. You attempt to leave out any unethical actions. If there is hatred in a person's heart he really can't meditate. If there is preoccupation with some greed or lust, all these things must gradually be weeded out. So it is in the grand sense that purification must be taken. We can only do it a little at a time. As long as a person is constantly striving to improve his ethics, his character, his morality, then it is all right.
But some people sit to meditate and their heart is full of envy or hatred or something. They are asking for trouble, because it boomerangs, comes right back. Do you remember we pointed out that meditation is very creative, the kind of thoughts you think in those periods when your mind is concentrated inevitably have to get manifested? So meditation without purification may be dangerous.
-- Anthony Damiani and student 8/83
'Does the devil exist or not?...
'He exists as a temporary idea but not as a permanent Reality.
I'll explain. When you think of the devil, what do you really
have? Only a thought. Now, if it remained only a simple idea
no harm could come to an individual. But the idea of a devil
gets wrongly mixed up with self-reference, fearful imagination,
a hypnotic attraction to danger, and other harmful states.
So now the careless person is taken over and controlled by this
directionless mass of wild energy which is called the devil.
This is the cause of all human violence and suffering.'"................Vernon Howard
I'll explain. When you think of the devil, what do you really
have? Only a thought. Now, if it remained only a simple idea
no harm could come to an individual. But the idea of a devil
gets wrongly mixed up with self-reference, fearful imagination,
a hypnotic attraction to danger, and other harmful states.
So now the careless person is taken over and controlled by this
directionless mass of wild energy which is called the devil.
This is the cause of all human violence and suffering.'"................Vernon Howard
Purity of Heart...
Whenever the wavering and unsteadfast heart wanders away, then so often let him subdue it and bring it back to the control of the soul; For supreme happiness comes to the Yogin whose heart is at rest, in whom passion is tranquilised, who is one with Brahma, and free from sin. The Yogin thus uniting his soul (to Brahma), who has ceased from sin, enjoys easily the boundless happiness of union (lit. contact) with Brahma.
Bhagavad Gita 6:26-29
Bhagavad Gita 6:26-29
Attraction...
The secret of attraction is to love yourself. Attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. They are open to gestures of love. They think about love, and express their love in every action. They know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe.” ......
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
In the depths of falsehood there is Truth...
When a man looks at the ocean, he can only see that part of it which comes
within his range of vision; so it is with the truth.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
As there is water in the depths of the earth, so there is truth at the bottom of
all things, false or true. In some places, one has to dig deep; in other places,
only a short distance; that is the only difference. But there is no place where
there is no water. One may have to dig very, very deep in order to get it; but
in the depths of the earth, there is water, and in the depths of all this
falsehood that is on the surface, there is truth. If we are really seeking for
the truth, we shall always find it.
Man with his learning becomes so proud that he thinks there is nothing else
worthy of attention. He does not know that there is a perfection of wisdom
before which he is not even like a drop in the ocean. Man looks at the surface
of the ocean, yet he is so small that he cannot even be compared with one of its
drops, limited as he is in intellect and knowledge. He seeks to find out about
the whole of creation, whereas those who have touched it have bowed before God,
forgetting their limited selves. After that God remained with them and spoke
through them. These are the only beings who have been able to give any truth to
the world.
When we consider the mystics and thinkers who look at life from a spiritual
point of view, they all agree, be they Yogis, Sufis, Buddhists, or Christians --
it does not matter which. When they arrive at a certain stage of understanding
they all agree, they all have the same experiences, they all have the same
realization to which they come in spite of all differences of form: those who
look at the surface see variations, but those who look below the surface see one
and the same truth hidden beneath all religions, which have been given at
different times by different masters. Naturally, therefore, the method of
expression is different, but when one comes to the essence it is all one and the
same, and those who are spiritually evolved come to the conclusion that they do
not differ one from the other in their belief.
All beliefs are simply degrees of clearness of vision. All are part of one ocean
of truth. The more this is realized the easier is it to see the true
relationship between all beliefs, and the wider does the vision of the one great
ocean become. Limitations and boundaries are inevitable in human life; forms and
conventions are natural and necessary; but they none the less separate humanity.
It is the wise who can meet one another beyond these boundaries.
within his range of vision; so it is with the truth.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
As there is water in the depths of the earth, so there is truth at the bottom of
all things, false or true. In some places, one has to dig deep; in other places,
only a short distance; that is the only difference. But there is no place where
there is no water. One may have to dig very, very deep in order to get it; but
in the depths of the earth, there is water, and in the depths of all this
falsehood that is on the surface, there is truth. If we are really seeking for
the truth, we shall always find it.
Man with his learning becomes so proud that he thinks there is nothing else
worthy of attention. He does not know that there is a perfection of wisdom
before which he is not even like a drop in the ocean. Man looks at the surface
of the ocean, yet he is so small that he cannot even be compared with one of its
drops, limited as he is in intellect and knowledge. He seeks to find out about
the whole of creation, whereas those who have touched it have bowed before God,
forgetting their limited selves. After that God remained with them and spoke
through them. These are the only beings who have been able to give any truth to
the world.
When we consider the mystics and thinkers who look at life from a spiritual
point of view, they all agree, be they Yogis, Sufis, Buddhists, or Christians --
it does not matter which. When they arrive at a certain stage of understanding
they all agree, they all have the same experiences, they all have the same
realization to which they come in spite of all differences of form: those who
look at the surface see variations, but those who look below the surface see one
and the same truth hidden beneath all religions, which have been given at
different times by different masters. Naturally, therefore, the method of
expression is different, but when one comes to the essence it is all one and the
same, and those who are spiritually evolved come to the conclusion that they do
not differ one from the other in their belief.
All beliefs are simply degrees of clearness of vision. All are part of one ocean
of truth. The more this is realized the easier is it to see the true
relationship between all beliefs, and the wider does the vision of the one great
ocean become. Limitations and boundaries are inevitable in human life; forms and
conventions are natural and necessary; but they none the less separate humanity.
It is the wise who can meet one another beyond these boundaries.
The Source is Within...
The source of wisdom and power, of love and beauty, is within ourselves, but not within our egos. It is within our consciousness. Indeed, its presence provides us with a conscious contrast which enables us to speak of the ego as if it were something different and apart: it is the true Self whereas the ego is only an illusion of the mind.......... Paul Brunton
The Flow...
Do not struggle. Go with the flow of things, and you will find yourself at one with the mysterious unity of the Universe.......
By Chuang Tzu
By Chuang Tzu
There is No-one else but Thee..
This is the door to Freedom.. to Know that there is no one else but thee.. Know this well and realize that this is the final Knowledge to learn.. This is the end of Pain and Ignorance.. This is Truth and Reality.. This is You.. This is your goal and your Reality..Love is the Energy of Thee................namaste, thomas
Early Enlightenment...
In the early stages of enlightenment, the aspirant is overwhelmed by his discovery that God is within himself. It stirs his intensest
feelings and excites his deepest thoughts. But, though he does not know it, those very feelings and thoughts still form part of his ego,
albeit the highest part. So he still separates his being into two--self and Overself. Only in the later stages does he find that God not only is within himself but is himself....... Paul Brunton
feelings and excites his deepest thoughts. But, though he does not know it, those very feelings and thoughts still form part of his ego,
albeit the highest part. So he still separates his being into two--self and Overself. Only in the later stages does he find that God not only is within himself but is himself....... Paul Brunton
The Transparency of Things - Rupert Spira ...
The mind is a series of abstract concepts that appear within Consciousness.
Every thought is an object and therefore the objectless
Consciousness in which thoughts appear can never itself appear as
a thought.
All thoughts are objects. Therefore, it is impossible to think of Consciousness.
When we think of anything other than Consciousness (or Truth or
Reality or whatever word is used) we end up with a concept, an idea
of that thing, which is not the thing itself. It is a representation of
that thing in the mind’s code – that is, it is a concept.
However, the thought about Consciousness or Reality is unique
amongst all thoughts. When we try to think of Consciousness, it is
like looking into a black hole. It is not even black. The mind simply
cannot go there. It cannot go to that objectless place because the
mind is itself an object. How could an object fit into a space that has
no dimensions?
So as the mind tries to turn itself towards Consciousness, it dissolves.
It is consumed in what is, from its own point of view, the nothingness
of Consciousness. However, its dissolution is the revelation of
Presence, the revelation of that in which thought dissolves.
So the thought about Consciousness is unique in that it does not
lead to a concept, to a substitute for the thing itself, but rather to the
Reality of Consciousness itself. It leads directly to its referent, not to
a symbol. It leads to the direct experience of Consciousness knowing
itself, knowingly.
Nothing objective is known in this placeless place of Consciousness.
It is a knowing but not a knowing of something. It is pure Knowingness.
The seeking thought, which looks for Consciousness, merges with
Consciousness. It reveals Consciousness.
The seeking thought is like a sugar cube. Looking for Consciousness
is like putting the sugar cube in a cup of tea. The tea dissolves the
sugar cube. Likewise Consciousness dissolves the seeking thought.
A more accurate metaphor would be that of a drop of milk in a jar
of water. The milk is essentially the same substance as the water,
although it is coloured by a slight taint of objectivity. It is white,
not colourless. As we watch the drop of milk, it expands into the
water, losing its form by degrees, until it is utterly merged into the
surrounding water...............Reflections on Mind, Thought and Nondual Awareness
Every thought is an object and therefore the objectless
Consciousness in which thoughts appear can never itself appear as
a thought.
All thoughts are objects. Therefore, it is impossible to think of Consciousness.
When we think of anything other than Consciousness (or Truth or
Reality or whatever word is used) we end up with a concept, an idea
of that thing, which is not the thing itself. It is a representation of
that thing in the mind’s code – that is, it is a concept.
However, the thought about Consciousness or Reality is unique
amongst all thoughts. When we try to think of Consciousness, it is
like looking into a black hole. It is not even black. The mind simply
cannot go there. It cannot go to that objectless place because the
mind is itself an object. How could an object fit into a space that has
no dimensions?
So as the mind tries to turn itself towards Consciousness, it dissolves.
It is consumed in what is, from its own point of view, the nothingness
of Consciousness. However, its dissolution is the revelation of
Presence, the revelation of that in which thought dissolves.
So the thought about Consciousness is unique in that it does not
lead to a concept, to a substitute for the thing itself, but rather to the
Reality of Consciousness itself. It leads directly to its referent, not to
a symbol. It leads to the direct experience of Consciousness knowing
itself, knowingly.
Nothing objective is known in this placeless place of Consciousness.
It is a knowing but not a knowing of something. It is pure Knowingness.
The seeking thought, which looks for Consciousness, merges with
Consciousness. It reveals Consciousness.
The seeking thought is like a sugar cube. Looking for Consciousness
is like putting the sugar cube in a cup of tea. The tea dissolves the
sugar cube. Likewise Consciousness dissolves the seeking thought.
A more accurate metaphor would be that of a drop of milk in a jar
of water. The milk is essentially the same substance as the water,
although it is coloured by a slight taint of objectivity. It is white,
not colourless. As we watch the drop of milk, it expands into the
water, losing its form by degrees, until it is utterly merged into the
surrounding water...............Reflections on Mind, Thought and Nondual Awareness
Mysteries, Yes...
Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
~ Mary Oliver ~
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
~ Mary Oliver ~
Shiva...
Through the red eye
of Shiva
beyond the Absolute
and into the realm of the spirit
does the mystic travel
transcending matter
and reconciling opposites
into One..............Sananda
of Shiva
beyond the Absolute
and into the realm of the spirit
does the mystic travel
transcending matter
and reconciling opposites
into One..............Sananda
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad ...
‘The Immortal is veiled by the real. The Spirit of life is the immortal. Name and form are the real, and by them the Spirit is veiled.’
The Bhagavad Gita...
"The blessed Lord said,
'The mind absorbed in me, Partha,
practicing union relying on me,
without doubt how you shall know me completely: hear that.
I shall tell you without omission
this knowledge with discrimination, which having understood
nothing more remains here to be known.
Of thousands of people hardly anyone strives for perfection;
of those striving, even of the perfected,
hardly anyone knows me truly.
"'Earth, waters, fire, wind,
space, mind, intuition, and ego,
thus is this divided nature of mine eightfold.
This here is the lower, but know my other highest nature,
the life-being, great-armed one,
by which this universe is sustained.
Understand this to be the womb of all beings.
I am the origin of the entire universe, also its dissolution.
There is nothing whatever higher than me, wealth winner.
On me all this is strung like pearls on a thread.
"'I am the flavor in the waters, Kaunteya;
I am the radiance of the moon and sun,
the sacred word in all the Vedas,
the sound in the air, the virility in men,
and the pure fragrance on the earth;
and I am the brilliance in flame,
the life in all beings,
and I am the austerity in ascetics.
"'Know me as the primeval seed of all beings, Partha.
I am the intuition of the intelligent;
the brilliance of the brilliant am I.
And I am the strength of the strong,
freed from desire and passion;
I am the desire in beings
that is not contrary to duty, Bharata bull.
"'And the good states, the active and the slow
which come from me, know them thus:
I am not in them, but they are in me.
Because of these states formed by the three qualities
all this deluded universe does not recognize me
as higher than these and eternal.
"'Divine indeed is this quality-produced illusion
that is difficult to penetrate;
they attain me who transcend this illusion.
Deluded evil doers, the lowest people, do not attain me,
their knowledge robbed by illusion,
attached to demonic existence.
"'Four kinds of benevolent people worship me, Arjuna:
the suffering, those wanting knowledge,
those wanting success, and the wise, Bharata bull.
Of them the wise, eternally united,
devoted to the One, is the best.
I am extremely fond of the wise, and this one is fond of me.
All these are noble, but the wise is considered my soul.
Staying in this soul union with me is the supreme goal.
'The mind absorbed in me, Partha,
practicing union relying on me,
without doubt how you shall know me completely: hear that.
I shall tell you without omission
this knowledge with discrimination, which having understood
nothing more remains here to be known.
Of thousands of people hardly anyone strives for perfection;
of those striving, even of the perfected,
hardly anyone knows me truly.
"'Earth, waters, fire, wind,
space, mind, intuition, and ego,
thus is this divided nature of mine eightfold.
This here is the lower, but know my other highest nature,
the life-being, great-armed one,
by which this universe is sustained.
Understand this to be the womb of all beings.
I am the origin of the entire universe, also its dissolution.
There is nothing whatever higher than me, wealth winner.
On me all this is strung like pearls on a thread.
"'I am the flavor in the waters, Kaunteya;
I am the radiance of the moon and sun,
the sacred word in all the Vedas,
the sound in the air, the virility in men,
and the pure fragrance on the earth;
and I am the brilliance in flame,
the life in all beings,
and I am the austerity in ascetics.
"'Know me as the primeval seed of all beings, Partha.
I am the intuition of the intelligent;
the brilliance of the brilliant am I.
And I am the strength of the strong,
freed from desire and passion;
I am the desire in beings
that is not contrary to duty, Bharata bull.
"'And the good states, the active and the slow
which come from me, know them thus:
I am not in them, but they are in me.
Because of these states formed by the three qualities
all this deluded universe does not recognize me
as higher than these and eternal.
"'Divine indeed is this quality-produced illusion
that is difficult to penetrate;
they attain me who transcend this illusion.
Deluded evil doers, the lowest people, do not attain me,
their knowledge robbed by illusion,
attached to demonic existence.
"'Four kinds of benevolent people worship me, Arjuna:
the suffering, those wanting knowledge,
those wanting success, and the wise, Bharata bull.
Of them the wise, eternally united,
devoted to the One, is the best.
I am extremely fond of the wise, and this one is fond of me.
All these are noble, but the wise is considered my soul.
Staying in this soul union with me is the supreme goal.
Mystical Principles...
As we put off 'mortality' in each of our meditations, by
standing still, letting the mind see that we are not joining
with its thoughts just now; by relaxing from taking thought,
by opening that inner door, and simply remaining receptive;
we listen, we wait, we observe, we are quietly aware; this
is the vacuum into which the Living Spirit flows and reveals
Itself as a Presence in the midst of your consciousness.
Suddenly, as thoughts drop away, you discover you are
living in the conscious awareness of Eternity - you have
stepped out of the human belief in time. You feel your own
Omnipresence - you have stepped out of the human belief
in space. You silently commune with the Immortal One
that God manifested in the beginning before the world was.
you realize, that you have slipped out of the "parenthesis,"
and are once more dwelling in "the temple not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens."
Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven has entered your
consciousness, and the tabernacle of God is with men..........Bill Skiles
standing still, letting the mind see that we are not joining
with its thoughts just now; by relaxing from taking thought,
by opening that inner door, and simply remaining receptive;
we listen, we wait, we observe, we are quietly aware; this
is the vacuum into which the Living Spirit flows and reveals
Itself as a Presence in the midst of your consciousness.
Suddenly, as thoughts drop away, you discover you are
living in the conscious awareness of Eternity - you have
stepped out of the human belief in time. You feel your own
Omnipresence - you have stepped out of the human belief
in space. You silently commune with the Immortal One
that God manifested in the beginning before the world was.
you realize, that you have slipped out of the "parenthesis,"
and are once more dwelling in "the temple not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens."
Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven has entered your
consciousness, and the tabernacle of God is with men..........Bill Skiles
Jesus teaches the eleven...
NOW, after Judas had gone forth to meet the emissaries of the priests and to betray his Lord, 2 The master said, The hour has come, the son of man will now be glorified. 3 My little children, I am with you yet a little while; soon you will seek me and will find me not, for where I go you cannot come. 4 I give to you a new command: As I love you and give my life for you, so shall you love the world, and give your life to save the world. 5 Love one another as you love yourselves, and then the world will know that you are sons of God, disciples of the son of man whom God has glorified. 6 And Peter said, Lord, where you go there I will go, for I would lay my life down for my Lord. 7 And Jesus said, Boast not of bravery, my friend; you are not strong enough to-night to follow me. 8 Now, Peter, hear! you will deny me thrice before the cock shall crow to-morrow morn. 9 And then he looked upon the eleven and said, You all will be estranged from me this night. 10 The prophet said, Lo, he will smite the shepherd of the sheep; the sheep will flee and hide away. 11 But after I am risen from the dead, lo, you will come again, and I will go before you into Galilee. 12 And Peter said, My Lord, though every other man forsake you I will not. 13 And Jesus said, O Simon Peter, lo, your zeal is greater than your fortitude! Behold, for Satan cometh up to sift you as a pan of wheat, but I have prayed that in your faith you shall not fail; that after trial you may stand a tower of strength. 14 And the disciples all exclaimed, There is no power on earth that can estrange, or cause us to deny our Lord. 15 And Jesus said, Let not your hearts be sad; you all believe in God; believe in me. 16 Behold, for there are many mansions in my Fatherland. If there were not I would have told you so. 17 I will go unto my Fatherland, and I will prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be. But now you do not know the way unto my Fatherland. 18 And Thomas said, We do not know where you intend to go; how could we know the way? 19 And Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life; I manifest the Christ of God. No man can reach my Fatherland except he comes with me through Christ. 20 If you had known and comprehended me, then you would know my Father-God. 21 And Philip said, Show us the Father and we will be satisfied. 22 And Jesus said, Have I been with you all these years and still you know me not? 23 He who has seen the son has seen the Father has revealed himself. 24 Lo, I have told you many times that what I speak and what I do are not the words and works of man; 25 They are the words of God, who lives in me and I in him. 26 Hear me, you faithful men: He who believes in me and in my Father-God shall say and do what I have said and done. 27 Yea, more, he shall do greater works than I have ever done, because I go to him whose works we do, and then I can reach forth my hand in helpfulness. 28 And in my name, through Christ, you may petition God and he will grant you your request. 29 Do you believe what I have said? Yes, you believe, and if you love the Christ and follow me then you will keep my words. 30 I am the vine; you are the branches of the vine; my Father is the husbandmen. 31 The branches that are worthless, bearing naught but leaves, the husbandmen will cut away and cast into the fire to be burned. 32 And he will prune the branches that bear fruit that they may yield abundantly. 33 The branch cannot bear fruit if separated from the vine; and you cannot bear fruit when separate from me. 34 Abide in me, and do the works that God, through me, has taught you how to do, and you will bear much fruit, and God will honour you as he has honoured me. 35 And now I go my way, but I will pray my Father-God and he will send another Comforter to you, who will abide with you. 36 Behold, this Comforter of God, the Holy Breath, is one with God, but she is one the world cannot receive because it sees her not; it knows her not. 37 But you know her, and will know her, because she will abide within your soul. 38 I will not leave you desolate, but in the Christ, which is the love of God made manifest to men, I will be with you all the way..........from the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ
Letting Go...
The desire to be in control, the illusion of being in control, and the hope
of being in control are all based on the megalomaniacal belief that you know
when and what the outcome should be.
Obviously, you can control many things to a greater or lesser degree, but
there is nothing that you can totally control. You can control your bodily
functions to a degree, as well as circumstances, thoughts, emotions,
position, and survival, but you can never have complete control.
You need no model for letting go. You cannot 'do' letting go. Neither is
letting go a kind of saintly passivity, not being bothered by anything. The
mind is very slippery and can even use the desire to let go as a tactic for
control.
Letting go of control is a deeper relaxation, a floating on the ocean. You
can become aware of where you are holding on, and you can just let go and
allow the ocean to hold you. You can become aware that all your tension and
clinging are unnecessary, and then relax and let yourself be supported.
~ Gangaji
From: 'The Diamond in Your Pocket."
of being in control are all based on the megalomaniacal belief that you know
when and what the outcome should be.
Obviously, you can control many things to a greater or lesser degree, but
there is nothing that you can totally control. You can control your bodily
functions to a degree, as well as circumstances, thoughts, emotions,
position, and survival, but you can never have complete control.
You need no model for letting go. You cannot 'do' letting go. Neither is
letting go a kind of saintly passivity, not being bothered by anything. The
mind is very slippery and can even use the desire to let go as a tactic for
control.
Letting go of control is a deeper relaxation, a floating on the ocean. You
can become aware of where you are holding on, and you can just let go and
allow the ocean to hold you. You can become aware that all your tension and
clinging are unnecessary, and then relax and let yourself be supported.
~ Gangaji
From: 'The Diamond in Your Pocket."
Grace...
Grace is the benign effluence of the Overself, the kindly
radiation from it, ever-present in us. The theological use of this
term to mean particular help given by God to man to enable him to
endure temptation and act rightly is a serious and arbitrary narrowing
down of its original meaning. It may mean this sometimes, but it also
means the loving mercy God shows to man, which appears variously as
enlightenment of the mind or relief of the heart, as change of outward
physical conditions or a dynamic revolution-working energy acting on
the aspirant or on his life......Paul Brunton
radiation from it, ever-present in us. The theological use of this
term to mean particular help given by God to man to enable him to
endure temptation and act rightly is a serious and arbitrary narrowing
down of its original meaning. It may mean this sometimes, but it also
means the loving mercy God shows to man, which appears variously as
enlightenment of the mind or relief of the heart, as change of outward
physical conditions or a dynamic revolution-working energy acting on
the aspirant or on his life......Paul Brunton
The Overself...
The Overself is neither a cold metaphysical concept nor a passing
wave of emotion. It is a Presence--sublime, sacred, and
beneficent--which grips your heart, thought, and body by its own
mysterious power, making you regard life from a nobler standpoint.....Paul Brunton
wave of emotion. It is a Presence--sublime, sacred, and
beneficent--which grips your heart, thought, and body by its own
mysterious power, making you regard life from a nobler standpoint.....Paul Brunton
Illusion of Time...
"Rise above the illusion of time and you will have tomorrow's
wisdom today."
Cosmic Command, # 1323.......Vernon Howard
wisdom today."
Cosmic Command, # 1323.......Vernon Howard
The Tao...
Truthful words are not beautiful.
Beautiful words are not truthful.
Good men do not argue.
Those who argue are not good.
Those who know are not learned.
The learned do not know.
The sage never tries to store things up.
The more he does for others, the more he has.
The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance.
The Tao of heaven is pointed but does no harm.
The Tao of the sage is work without effort.
- Lao-tzu
Beautiful words are not truthful.
Good men do not argue.
Those who argue are not good.
Those who know are not learned.
The learned do not know.
The sage never tries to store things up.
The more he does for others, the more he has.
The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance.
The Tao of heaven is pointed but does no harm.
The Tao of the sage is work without effort.
- Lao-tzu
The Real...
O lord! Lead me from unreal to the Real, from darkness to Light, and Lead me from the fear of death to Immortality.” -- Brihad Aranyakam Upanishad
Everything in the world that is perishable, changing and undependable is considered unreal or delusive like a mirage. “There is no happiness in the finite,” according to Chhandogya Upanishad. The Real is Imperishable, Unchanging and Dependable. It is our very Self called “Atman.”
Darkness is the ignorance of our inner power, strength and potential. Lust, greed, desire for name and fame, pride, arrogance, jealousy and narrow mindedness represent darkness, just as the thirst for illusive physical pleasures represents blindness. Those who have not experienced their True Self are blind. Light is Self Realization. It is free from the gimmicks and deception of maya.
Fear of death will remain with those who worship the body, sensual pleasures, mind, intellect and ego. We, as our Atman, are above these. The only purpose of this invaluable human life is to realize true and lasting Love as Mirabai and all saints have realized. There is no other goal or way for man to be truly happy.
May we act now and make a sincere effort to practice spiritual truth because God’s grace is always available to us. We need only to open the sails of our heart. There, the wind of love is constantly blowing. The inner voice is constantly broadcasting, if only we would tune in and plug ourselves into that Power that is also all around us!
-- Swami Radhanandaji
Everything in the world that is perishable, changing and undependable is considered unreal or delusive like a mirage. “There is no happiness in the finite,” according to Chhandogya Upanishad. The Real is Imperishable, Unchanging and Dependable. It is our very Self called “Atman.”
Darkness is the ignorance of our inner power, strength and potential. Lust, greed, desire for name and fame, pride, arrogance, jealousy and narrow mindedness represent darkness, just as the thirst for illusive physical pleasures represents blindness. Those who have not experienced their True Self are blind. Light is Self Realization. It is free from the gimmicks and deception of maya.
Fear of death will remain with those who worship the body, sensual pleasures, mind, intellect and ego. We, as our Atman, are above these. The only purpose of this invaluable human life is to realize true and lasting Love as Mirabai and all saints have realized. There is no other goal or way for man to be truly happy.
May we act now and make a sincere effort to practice spiritual truth because God’s grace is always available to us. We need only to open the sails of our heart. There, the wind of love is constantly blowing. The inner voice is constantly broadcasting, if only we would tune in and plug ourselves into that Power that is also all around us!
-- Swami Radhanandaji
Existence...
Once a person has realized how he can exist without the physical body, it
produces a faith that gives an ultimate conviction that nothing can change.
From the Teachings of
HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN
produces a faith that gives an ultimate conviction that nothing can change.
From the Teachings of
HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN
Compassion...
Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their
suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.........Gautama the Buddha
suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.........Gautama the Buddha
The Mental State...
How can a mental state be the final realization? It is temporary.
Mystic experience is such a state. It is something one enters and
leaves. Beyond and higher is realization of unchanging truth.........Paul Brunton
Mystic experience is such a state. It is something one enters and
leaves. Beyond and higher is realization of unchanging truth.........Paul Brunton
Animal Dharma...
"Non-rational creatures, as Aldous Huxley put it, live in the animal eternity of
a perpetual present. Instinct is their animal grace and constant inspiration.
They are not worried about right or wrong. They are never tempted to live
otherwise than in accord with their own animal dharma, or immanent law. The
human being, on the other hand, relies on personal cleverness (reasoning) rather
than on instinct and intuition. And this is what Nature intended. This
"wearisome condition of humanity" is a prerequisite of enlightenment. Cleverness
and reason "are not and cannot be a proximate means of union with God". They
are, however, necessary to bring about first, the intellectual understanding of
our real nature that could lead to a deeper understanding in the
heart....Advises Jalal-uddin Rumi: sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment;
cleverness is mere opinion, bewilderment is intuition. The fact of the matter is
that such transaction can take place only at the appropriate time, when the
realization dawns that the human being does not live, but is being
lived........Such simplicity or "purity or maturity of intellect" leaves the
intellect open or vacant to receive the apperception that all there is is
Consciousness..."Self-realization is not available to those who are weak"
(Ashtavakra Gita). What "weakness" truly means is a lack of courage to give up
those traditional routines which were prescribed for when one was a spiritual
beginner. It is the lack of courage to accept the intuitive promptings of the
basic, fundamental Truth in its totality that all there is, is Consciousness. -
Ramesh Balsekar
a perpetual present. Instinct is their animal grace and constant inspiration.
They are not worried about right or wrong. They are never tempted to live
otherwise than in accord with their own animal dharma, or immanent law. The
human being, on the other hand, relies on personal cleverness (reasoning) rather
than on instinct and intuition. And this is what Nature intended. This
"wearisome condition of humanity" is a prerequisite of enlightenment. Cleverness
and reason "are not and cannot be a proximate means of union with God". They
are, however, necessary to bring about first, the intellectual understanding of
our real nature that could lead to a deeper understanding in the
heart....Advises Jalal-uddin Rumi: sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment;
cleverness is mere opinion, bewilderment is intuition. The fact of the matter is
that such transaction can take place only at the appropriate time, when the
realization dawns that the human being does not live, but is being
lived........Such simplicity or "purity or maturity of intellect" leaves the
intellect open or vacant to receive the apperception that all there is is
Consciousness..."Self-realization is not available to those who are weak"
(Ashtavakra Gita). What "weakness" truly means is a lack of courage to give up
those traditional routines which were prescribed for when one was a spiritual
beginner. It is the lack of courage to accept the intuitive promptings of the
basic, fundamental Truth in its totality that all there is, is Consciousness. -
Ramesh Balsekar
Sufi Poem...
What a day today.
There are two Suns rising!
What a day,
Not like any other day.
Look!
The Light is shining in your heart,
The wheel of life has stopped.
Oh, you who can see into your own heart,
What a day,
This is your day.
Rumi
There are two Suns rising!
What a day,
Not like any other day.
Look!
The Light is shining in your heart,
The wheel of life has stopped.
Oh, you who can see into your own heart,
What a day,
This is your day.
Rumi
Realization...
Q: I understand everybody is under the obligation to realize. Is
it his duty, or is it his destiny?
M: Realization is of the fact that you are not a person. There-
fore, it cannot be the duty of the person whose destiny is to dis-
appear. Its destiny is the duty of him who imagines himself to be
the person. Find out who he is and the imagined person will dis-
solve. Freedom is from something. What are you to be free
from? Obviously, you must be free from the person, you take
yourself to be, for it is the idea you have of yourself that keeps
you in bondage.
From Chapter 86
I Am That.........Nisargadatta
it his duty, or is it his destiny?
M: Realization is of the fact that you are not a person. There-
fore, it cannot be the duty of the person whose destiny is to dis-
appear. Its destiny is the duty of him who imagines himself to be
the person. Find out who he is and the imagined person will dis-
solve. Freedom is from something. What are you to be free
from? Obviously, you must be free from the person, you take
yourself to be, for it is the idea you have of yourself that keeps
you in bondage.
From Chapter 86
I Am That.........Nisargadatta
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