Tonight, I sat in meditation. After I did Hong Sau, I called to Swami Yogananda to help me stay focused. I felt "sit still" and for the rest of the meditation, I didn't move. From time to time my mind wondered but it was brought back.
At one point I wasn't breathing. The awareness of that was fast. like a split second... and I jerked forward, feeling shocked by the no breath.
After that, I filled my heart with love and touched into the feeling and brought it to my 3rd eye. Then expressed love to all my I know as difficult people, those I care for and to the beings that inhabit this world.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Truth Will Speak For You
I was talking with a friend of mine today.
He told me how someone we both know, betrayed his friendship and started lieing about him, behind his back. This person was trying to destroy his image, to their mutual friends.
It was rather frustrating to hear. It made me upset.
I took a break today and read from "How to have Courage, Calmness and Confidence" and on page 41 I read about his situation he's going through:
He told me how someone we both know, betrayed his friendship and started lieing about him, behind his back. This person was trying to destroy his image, to their mutual friends.
It was rather frustrating to hear. It made me upset.
I took a break today and read from "How to have Courage, Calmness and Confidence" and on page 41 I read about his situation he's going through:
Praise does not make you better, nor blame worse, than what you are. Then why heed these two? Don't pay attention when people praise you, but survey yourself carefully when they blame you. If you are at fault, free yourself from error quickly; but if you are not guilty, laugh and forget it. Truth will speak for you.
Truth Will Speak For You
I was talking with a friend of mine today.
He told me how someone we both know, betrayed his friendship and started lieing about him, behind his back. This person was trying to destroy his image, to their mutual friends.
It was rather frustrating to hear. It made me upset.
I took a break today and read from "How to have Courage, Calmness and Confidence" and on page 41 I read about his situation he's going through:
"Praise does not make you better, nor blame worse, than what you are. Then why heed these two? Don't pay attention when people praise you, but survey yourself carefully when they blame you. If you are at fault, free yourself from error quickly; but if you are not guilty, laugh and forget it. Truth will speak for you."
He told me how someone we both know, betrayed his friendship and started lieing about him, behind his back. This person was trying to destroy his image, to their mutual friends.
It was rather frustrating to hear. It made me upset.
I took a break today and read from "How to have Courage, Calmness and Confidence" and on page 41 I read about his situation he's going through:
"Praise does not make you better, nor blame worse, than what you are. Then why heed these two? Don't pay attention when people praise you, but survey yourself carefully when they blame you. If you are at fault, free yourself from error quickly; but if you are not guilty, laugh and forget it. Truth will speak for you."
Could you not wait, even an hour?
I began the day in a mood. I was upset with someone at work, who promised to stay up with me at midnight while we did some special testing. Then after anhour of waiting he just logged off leaving me to do all the work. I was up to 3am. He never appologized. He never said anything.
As I got to work, I felt frustrated and realized i was angry with this guy.
So I sat and thought about it. I thought, "Man, this co-worker couldn't even wait with me an hour."
Then I remembered a passage in the Bible where Jesus says that about his followers in the garden.
That's when it hit me. The reason I went through this - I haven't been spending time with God... in meditation. I've been cheapening out. I used to give 20min 2 times a day. Now i give 4-10min maybe once a day. I can't even sit in meditation for more then a few min. I put other things as more important.
But nothing is more important then God.
So, this co-worker was a symbol of who I am... a reflection of my actions against God.
In that regard, I thank them. For showing me the error of my ways.
As I got to work, I felt frustrated and realized i was angry with this guy.
So I sat and thought about it. I thought, "Man, this co-worker couldn't even wait with me an hour."
Then I remembered a passage in the Bible where Jesus says that about his followers in the garden.
That's when it hit me. The reason I went through this - I haven't been spending time with God... in meditation. I've been cheapening out. I used to give 20min 2 times a day. Now i give 4-10min maybe once a day. I can't even sit in meditation for more then a few min. I put other things as more important.
But nothing is more important then God.
So, this co-worker was a symbol of who I am... a reflection of my actions against God.
In that regard, I thank them. For showing me the error of my ways.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Dream of my Fathers Passing
At 4:44am I woke this morning with a dream that my father passed. I felt weird lightheaded ...
In the dream I was in my fathers house withy wife. My father came downstairs. The left side of his face and body was frozen. He was looking for medicine. I was helping him take his medicine when I looked in the back yard. Through the kitchen window. Outside was a ship. His navy ship from ww ii.
I pointed to it. I knew he was firing at that point.
He he got on it. He was the only person on it. I walked beside it as it shoved off into this mist.
I looked at him. He was happy as he steered it at the wheel.
I said "Dad... I love you."
He said he loved me then he got serious, "Listen, I want you to know. The last few years, I've seen your mother the happiest I've ever seen her."
I told him I'd miss him.
Then he was gone.
I tried to follow him but couldn't go far.
I began to feel light headed.
I saw himas though on a dream. He was young like 25. He was dressed like a sailor. He ran up to someone and asked "sir what can I do" and he was given instruction regarding a ship from war.
A voice told me "he is going through his own karma."
In the dream I was in my fathers house withy wife. My father came downstairs. The left side of his face and body was frozen. He was looking for medicine. I was helping him take his medicine when I looked in the back yard. Through the kitchen window. Outside was a ship. His navy ship from ww ii.
I pointed to it. I knew he was firing at that point.
He he got on it. He was the only person on it. I walked beside it as it shoved off into this mist.
I looked at him. He was happy as he steered it at the wheel.
I said "Dad... I love you."
He said he loved me then he got serious, "Listen, I want you to know. The last few years, I've seen your mother the happiest I've ever seen her."
I told him I'd miss him.
Then he was gone.
I tried to follow him but couldn't go far.
I began to feel light headed.
I saw himas though on a dream. He was young like 25. He was dressed like a sailor. He ran up to someone and asked "sir what can I do" and he was given instruction regarding a ship from war.
A voice told me "he is going through his own karma."
Monday, July 25, 2011
Inner Peace - Stay Inside
Want inner peace?
Stay inside.
No, not inside your house... inside your soul.
After going through the wonderful course on Inner Peace at ananda.org (click here for more info), I came to understand some real deep truths about peace and stability. I also see similar teachings radiating in Yogananda's teachings found in the book, "How to achieve Courage, Calmness and Confidence."
Inner Peace is being centered. When we think of ourselves as a tree, the branches radiating out are various desires and aspects of our life. Some branches are family, jobs, finances... others can be drinking, smoking, lust, desire. When we live in the branches, we loose our center. Branches break and snap. The strength of the tree is it's center.
According to the teachings of Yogananda - Nature has it's ebbs and flows. It's ups and downs. It's unavoidable. The crest of a hill, has a trough on the other side. But, the GOOD NEWS is that, by going inward, we are not effected by the ups and downs of nature - why?
BECAUSE THE SOUL IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS.
Joy experienced in the soul, has no opposite. Whereas, emotional joy is a branch.. you're reaching out to the branches for that. that causes off center movement, which has it's own reverberation. Back and forth we go... emotional joy - then emotional frustration - then emotional joy... back and forth. BUT in the soul, there is no reaction.
From the Inner Peace course's teachings:
The natural world is dualistic. As it's taught in the course, and quite interestingly true - every poisonous plant has it's own antidote growing nearby. But the soul doesn't have this dualistic nature.
Keep flowing
Keep that energy flowing upwards. Be aware of the energy inside, and keep moving it up.
From the Inner Peace course at Ananda.org:
Stay inside.
No, not inside your house... inside your soul.
After going through the wonderful course on Inner Peace at ananda.org (click here for more info), I came to understand some real deep truths about peace and stability. I also see similar teachings radiating in Yogananda's teachings found in the book, "How to achieve Courage, Calmness and Confidence."
Inner Peace is being centered. When we think of ourselves as a tree, the branches radiating out are various desires and aspects of our life. Some branches are family, jobs, finances... others can be drinking, smoking, lust, desire. When we live in the branches, we loose our center. Branches break and snap. The strength of the tree is it's center.
According to the teachings of Yogananda - Nature has it's ebbs and flows. It's ups and downs. It's unavoidable. The crest of a hill, has a trough on the other side. But, the GOOD NEWS is that, by going inward, we are not effected by the ups and downs of nature - why?
BECAUSE THE SOUL IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS.
Joy experienced in the soul, has no opposite. Whereas, emotional joy is a branch.. you're reaching out to the branches for that. that causes off center movement, which has it's own reverberation. Back and forth we go... emotional joy - then emotional frustration - then emotional joy... back and forth. BUT in the soul, there is no reaction.
From the Inner Peace course's teachings:
When joy is experienced in the soul, then there is no opposite to it. This is true joy. Emotional joy, on the other hand, involves reaching outside of yourself. When you reach out into the world to grab your joy, you will find that it will always be followed by a sadness or depression. There always has to be some kind of compensation. We think that if we push further and further, it will become more real and permanent —that in pushing the limit of our joy as far as we can, we'll break away from the whole pattern of unhappiness and get into total joy. We keep hoping and trying but none of it ends up lasting. The more you push towards finding joy outside yourself, the more you have to experience just as intensely the opposite pain.
The natural world is dualistic. As it's taught in the course, and quite interestingly true - every poisonous plant has it's own antidote growing nearby. But the soul doesn't have this dualistic nature.
Keep flowing
Keep that energy flowing upwards. Be aware of the energy inside, and keep moving it up.
From the Inner Peace course at Ananda.org:
When the thought of self-indulgence in sense pleasures and taking for oneself
predominates, the energy moves downward rather than upward. The more sense-oriented
and selfish an experience, the more it deadens one’s spiritual sensitivity.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Handling Anger (cycle chart)
From the course on Inner Peace at Ananada - is this page on how to handle anger...
Ink, Paper & a Stamp
That's all it took... those three things: Ink, Paper and a Stamp. That's all it took for me to loose my center yesterday.
I've been doing so well with anger. Totally free of it throughout the week - then yesterday, as i'm about to head out, I pick up the mail. In the mail is a letter from my Dr.'s office. I'm assuming it's a small bill for my recent blood test.
It's a bill all right. A bill I expected at $15, was well over $400. I was shocked. Outraged. Pissed off. I yelled. I screamed. I cussed.
my peace of mind was shaken. I said, "Why does God curse me with every blessing!" I couldn't reframe this in the moment. I was stuck in the rage.
I fell far fast.
Then, to make it worse, I calmed down outwardly, but only built up more repression of my anger. I dwelt on it. In the next hour after reading this, I was obsessing on it. I was thinking, "how can i make a few hundred bucks to pay for this? Will they say it's a mistake? How can i fight this?"
Then my wife did something normal, and I took out my anger on her. She gets quiet, and we go home early, instead of having a great anniversary weekend.
I get home, i'm looking for some source of satisfcation and peace and instead, indulge in over=eating and other bad habits.
It was about an hour after that I started to feel guilty. guilty for everything I did.
Now, beyond the guilt, I see the reality. God brought me that. it was a test to my tithe. Each paycheck, I give 10% to spiritual groups that teach and edify me. One source is Ananda.org another source is Agape. A third source is a small church I go to with my wife.
Here it would be a test of giving - with this bill in my face. I was upset because...
get this...
i was upset because I was caught up in my LITTLE SELF... and I was caught up in my SEEMING lack. But the reality of Tithing is, "God will provide." It's the true test of belief in God.
I failed in that moment. But now I see clearly. Next time, maybe I'll stay calm and clear.
I've been doing so well with anger. Totally free of it throughout the week - then yesterday, as i'm about to head out, I pick up the mail. In the mail is a letter from my Dr.'s office. I'm assuming it's a small bill for my recent blood test.
It's a bill all right. A bill I expected at $15, was well over $400. I was shocked. Outraged. Pissed off. I yelled. I screamed. I cussed.
my peace of mind was shaken. I said, "Why does God curse me with every blessing!" I couldn't reframe this in the moment. I was stuck in the rage.
I fell far fast.
Then, to make it worse, I calmed down outwardly, but only built up more repression of my anger. I dwelt on it. In the next hour after reading this, I was obsessing on it. I was thinking, "how can i make a few hundred bucks to pay for this? Will they say it's a mistake? How can i fight this?"
Then my wife did something normal, and I took out my anger on her. She gets quiet, and we go home early, instead of having a great anniversary weekend.
I get home, i'm looking for some source of satisfcation and peace and instead, indulge in over=eating and other bad habits.
It was about an hour after that I started to feel guilty. guilty for everything I did.
Now, beyond the guilt, I see the reality. God brought me that. it was a test to my tithe. Each paycheck, I give 10% to spiritual groups that teach and edify me. One source is Ananda.org another source is Agape. A third source is a small church I go to with my wife.
Here it would be a test of giving - with this bill in my face. I was upset because...
get this...
i was upset because I was caught up in my LITTLE SELF... and I was caught up in my SEEMING lack. But the reality of Tithing is, "God will provide." It's the true test of belief in God.
I failed in that moment. But now I see clearly. Next time, maybe I'll stay calm and clear.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Money Money Money
Sometimes, society pressures make us want to "keep up with the Jones'" or "be like the next guy.
Recently, a good friend of mine, got a new job. It's an amazing opportunity. Since we do the same job, the first thing through my mind was a craving to be like this guy. It was a hallmark of success.
BUT - wait. I have my own karma to get through.
I can't live another person's life. It may not be what's "right for me" or what God wants for me at this point.
This desire, if not the right path, could end in futility. Thus Frustration.
My friend had the Karma to get into a great gig. That's awesome.
If I were to live someone else's life and goals and get a boost in pay, if it's outside of God's will either A) be a frustrating exercise or B) it won't happen, and be frustrating.
That's not to say, don't go for an opportunity. Go for it, without expectations. BUT if you know you're where you're supposed to be, there's no reason to move.
In my recent past - starting around 2008 I started trying to make extra income... I ran a few side businesses, and got into day trading. All of it, ended in ruin. I also tried selling my photography and art, and that ended in ruin.
Not only did my ventures fail, but then when I tried to stabilize and stop the ventures, I got hit with enormous problems that cost me a lot of money.
I would get an extra $5000 only to get hit with an emergency requiring $8000. It was a repeat of a problem, that was so coincidental, I began looking for a deeper reason behind it all.
I recently discovered, I had a deep seated desire to be "free" of debt so I could be "free" of relying on God for my daily life.
We are IN FACT, taught this from an early age. "Save your money," "Invest in a 401k," "Prepare for rough times." I'm not saying that's bad, but if the motivation is to be self reliant - then our need and dependency upon God is weakened.
We can be out of debt. We can have the money to meet our needs. But with the right motivation. If we are close to God, living a spiritual life - God will take more interest in guiding us. This can initially be frustrating. But once we see what's going on, it's liberating.
For me, I strive to never accept something that isn't paid for. Movies, DVD's, Music - I wont take it, if it's copied. I don't want the karma of 'theft' on my mind.
I also began Tithing. 10% given to a source of spiritual knowledge or inspiration. I currently divide the 10% of my earnings amongst 2-3 sources.
Pray believing that God will assist my needs.
Maybe God will give me a job that's as good or better then this friend of mine. OR, maybe that's the WORST thing for ME. The most important facet of life, for me, is being in God's will. I've had points in my life where I got enormous wealth, and squandered it, and left the spiritual path I was on. Those were incidents and lessons, due to having wrong motivation.
The motivation must be pure. The desire of having something, just to have it, is impure. For me, the reason to be out of debt (however I can achieve that) must be for goals that do NOT take away from God.
Recently, a good friend of mine, got a new job. It's an amazing opportunity. Since we do the same job, the first thing through my mind was a craving to be like this guy. It was a hallmark of success.
BUT - wait. I have my own karma to get through.
I can't live another person's life. It may not be what's "right for me" or what God wants for me at this point.
This desire, if not the right path, could end in futility. Thus Frustration.
My friend had the Karma to get into a great gig. That's awesome.
If I were to live someone else's life and goals and get a boost in pay, if it's outside of God's will either A) be a frustrating exercise or B) it won't happen, and be frustrating.
That's not to say, don't go for an opportunity. Go for it, without expectations. BUT if you know you're where you're supposed to be, there's no reason to move.
In my recent past - starting around 2008 I started trying to make extra income... I ran a few side businesses, and got into day trading. All of it, ended in ruin. I also tried selling my photography and art, and that ended in ruin.
Not only did my ventures fail, but then when I tried to stabilize and stop the ventures, I got hit with enormous problems that cost me a lot of money.
I would get an extra $5000 only to get hit with an emergency requiring $8000. It was a repeat of a problem, that was so coincidental, I began looking for a deeper reason behind it all.
I recently discovered, I had a deep seated desire to be "free" of debt so I could be "free" of relying on God for my daily life.
We are IN FACT, taught this from an early age. "Save your money," "Invest in a 401k," "Prepare for rough times." I'm not saying that's bad, but if the motivation is to be self reliant - then our need and dependency upon God is weakened.
We can be out of debt. We can have the money to meet our needs. But with the right motivation. If we are close to God, living a spiritual life - God will take more interest in guiding us. This can initially be frustrating. But once we see what's going on, it's liberating.
For me, I strive to never accept something that isn't paid for. Movies, DVD's, Music - I wont take it, if it's copied. I don't want the karma of 'theft' on my mind.
I also began Tithing. 10% given to a source of spiritual knowledge or inspiration. I currently divide the 10% of my earnings amongst 2-3 sources.
Pray believing that God will assist my needs.
Maybe God will give me a job that's as good or better then this friend of mine. OR, maybe that's the WORST thing for ME. The most important facet of life, for me, is being in God's will. I've had points in my life where I got enormous wealth, and squandered it, and left the spiritual path I was on. Those were incidents and lessons, due to having wrong motivation.
The motivation must be pure. The desire of having something, just to have it, is impure. For me, the reason to be out of debt (however I can achieve that) must be for goals that do NOT take away from God.
God is the Doer...
In everything God is the Doer.
This was told to me by some instructors from Ananda.
It has really helped me deal with stress at work. The whole "Why is this guy not pushing back on the project?" or "Why is he saying that?" or any other of endless complaints can end with this premise.
If God is the doer, don't complain. There's a lesson here, from God to me, so look for it.
The problem ceases being a problem, and becomes instead a reference point to freedom.
An example of this:
This past week - I had a situation at work, where I was getting frustrated. I look back on it now and I see the initial reason why I became upset.
It started like this: Someone at work, wanted to push more and more into something we were trying to release. This added pressure and stress on everyone to try and meet these changing goals. But if God is the doer, then this is occurring under the will of God. As such, I can't call this person names, or think negatively of this person. I can't. I see them only as doing the work of God. But what could the purpose possibly be?
Judging from my reaction - I must have a problem with being "pushed around" or in handling Greed/Desire. I say this because I had a reaction. Reactions in us are pointers to internal problems. In this case, I'm having a reaction to someone's greed. This guy was apparently "greedy" to get more things out in a release. This greed caused me to feel "pushed around."
First question I ask: Do I ever act this way with others? Do I ever throw my weight around to get what I want?
If so (invariably things that bother us are reflections of what's inside us) then this is a lesson to help me overcome my own tendency to do the same thing.
Second question I ask:What's the root cause or motivator that frustrates me? In this case, this person appears to have the root motivator of greed/desire. I have the same root problem, in other areas of my life.
So simply - this is a life lesson, not a frustrating person in my life. **Important Note: Life lessons aren't about the problems in others! They are always about the problems in US!** A lesson will never be "Oh i discovered this co-worker is a true dick." That's not a Life Lesson. A Life Lesson would be, "I see my own mistakes now, now I must find a way to work and resolve my similar problems."
It's hard to get to that conclusion in the moment. But start where we're at. If it takes a week to realize this. Great. In time, it will take less and less time - till you see the life lesson in the moment. You see, as the Buddhist's say, the emptiness of the situation.
Once we see the problem, then what?
So far, we've hit the nail on the head of where the problem is. But how do we fix it? In this case, I worked on issues of Greed and Desire - by uses of chants, meditation and prayer.
One mental chant that helped me is this one:
"I am Strong in myself. I am Complete in myself. The joy and perfection of the Universe await Inner Discovery."
Meditation, twice daily (morning and evening) for even a mere 15min at a time, helps tremendously. What I meditate on is either Universal Love or Expanded Consciousness. Expanded Consciousness, is meditating that you are not in the body. You are outside it, then expand your awareness... further and further expand - it removes the "I" and "ego" of self. It helps realize a universal oneness.
One Last Thing (perhaps the most important):
Don't forget to Thank God for the Life Lessons.
This was told to me by some instructors from Ananda.
It has really helped me deal with stress at work. The whole "Why is this guy not pushing back on the project?" or "Why is he saying that?" or any other of endless complaints can end with this premise.
If God is the doer, don't complain. There's a lesson here, from God to me, so look for it.
The problem ceases being a problem, and becomes instead a reference point to freedom.
An example of this:
This past week - I had a situation at work, where I was getting frustrated. I look back on it now and I see the initial reason why I became upset.
It started like this: Someone at work, wanted to push more and more into something we were trying to release. This added pressure and stress on everyone to try and meet these changing goals. But if God is the doer, then this is occurring under the will of God. As such, I can't call this person names, or think negatively of this person. I can't. I see them only as doing the work of God. But what could the purpose possibly be?
Judging from my reaction - I must have a problem with being "pushed around" or in handling Greed/Desire. I say this because I had a reaction. Reactions in us are pointers to internal problems. In this case, I'm having a reaction to someone's greed. This guy was apparently "greedy" to get more things out in a release. This greed caused me to feel "pushed around."
First question I ask: Do I ever act this way with others? Do I ever throw my weight around to get what I want?
If so (invariably things that bother us are reflections of what's inside us) then this is a lesson to help me overcome my own tendency to do the same thing.
Second question I ask:What's the root cause or motivator that frustrates me? In this case, this person appears to have the root motivator of greed/desire. I have the same root problem, in other areas of my life.
So simply - this is a life lesson, not a frustrating person in my life. **Important Note: Life lessons aren't about the problems in others! They are always about the problems in US!** A lesson will never be "Oh i discovered this co-worker is a true dick." That's not a Life Lesson. A Life Lesson would be, "I see my own mistakes now, now I must find a way to work and resolve my similar problems."
It's hard to get to that conclusion in the moment. But start where we're at. If it takes a week to realize this. Great. In time, it will take less and less time - till you see the life lesson in the moment. You see, as the Buddhist's say, the emptiness of the situation.
Once we see the problem, then what?
So far, we've hit the nail on the head of where the problem is. But how do we fix it? In this case, I worked on issues of Greed and Desire - by uses of chants, meditation and prayer.
One mental chant that helped me is this one:
"I am Strong in myself. I am Complete in myself. The joy and perfection of the Universe await Inner Discovery."
Meditation, twice daily (morning and evening) for even a mere 15min at a time, helps tremendously. What I meditate on is either Universal Love or Expanded Consciousness. Expanded Consciousness, is meditating that you are not in the body. You are outside it, then expand your awareness... further and further expand - it removes the "I" and "ego" of self. It helps realize a universal oneness.
One Last Thing (perhaps the most important):
Don't forget to Thank God for the Life Lessons.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Seek Ye First...
"How do I get out of debt?" I ask the image of Swami Yogananda... and mentally I remember, "Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God..."
What does that mean? Let me give an example - in my life I've tried desperately to get out of debt. Upon each attempt, I end up in greater debt! Years ago, I thought it was my fault. Then I got money, saved money and paid off debt - only to have a bizarre circumstance force me back into debt. Again and again this repeated. I realized God wanted me to take note of something...
So recently, I meditated about my debt. I realized that what I was really seeking was Freedom. Freedom from God. I wanted to have "freedom" from needing God to take care of me. I wanted to have ownership of my own destiny. Of my own welfare. When I could live where I pleased without fear of job insecurity I would have freedom. But I was using the situation of "debt free" as giving the lack of fear. Instead, I should "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God..." meaning, I should look at it as "God will provide."
"But," the ego will say, "your debt is so great... how will you retire? How will you take care of your family?"
Just say, "God will provide."
"But," the ego will say, "You barely get by..."
Just say "God will provide."
Seek first God... and all this will be given. That's how it should be. To look for a solution to life's problems in our own selves, outside of God, is to seek "freedom" from God. To look for solutions by believing in God, is to find solutions through God.
What does that mean? Let me give an example - in my life I've tried desperately to get out of debt. Upon each attempt, I end up in greater debt! Years ago, I thought it was my fault. Then I got money, saved money and paid off debt - only to have a bizarre circumstance force me back into debt. Again and again this repeated. I realized God wanted me to take note of something...
So recently, I meditated about my debt. I realized that what I was really seeking was Freedom. Freedom from God. I wanted to have "freedom" from needing God to take care of me. I wanted to have ownership of my own destiny. Of my own welfare. When I could live where I pleased without fear of job insecurity I would have freedom. But I was using the situation of "debt free" as giving the lack of fear. Instead, I should "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God..." meaning, I should look at it as "God will provide."
"But," the ego will say, "your debt is so great... how will you retire? How will you take care of your family?"
Just say, "God will provide."
"But," the ego will say, "You barely get by..."
Just say "God will provide."
Seek first God... and all this will be given. That's how it should be. To look for a solution to life's problems in our own selves, outside of God, is to seek "freedom" from God. To look for solutions by believing in God, is to find solutions through God.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Devotion to one, is Devotion to All
From the Art and Science of Raja Yoga:
The bhakti yogi thinks of God first in personal, human terms: as Father, Mother, Friend or Beloved. Such a personal view helps him to awaken an direct love towards God. Ignorant followers of this path waste much energy in arguing over the respective merits of their chosen deities. They see not that Spirit is all forms, and no form (because essentially beyond all forms.) It is not what we love, but how we love, that is important if our devotion is to lead us to enlightenment.
Church last Sunday: Love and Law (and my response.)
Last Sunday (yesterday) I went to my wife's church. It's a nice enough place, but theologically I tend to disagree with their teachings.
Last Sunday the pastor was reading from Romans 13 - the sermon being about the need for Jesus as the only way to God.
One thing I take as a mistake on the pastor's part, was his logic that God can not nullify a law of His own creation. While that may be true, his error was in saying, "Because God Loves you doesn't nullify the fact we must be judged! Judgement must happen!" I could use his same premise (that God's law can not nullify another law) and say, "Because God believes in judgement, that doesn't nullify the Law of Love."
With his statement of faith firmly placed in his teaching, the pastor then leads the congregation down the path of saying "Ok yes we need Jesus only, as that fullfills the law of Love and the law of judgement."
To his viewpoint, he has made the equation work.
However, we could easily flip this and say that Ernest Holmes has it more right... that the Law of Love can not be mooted. To believe that Jesus (the physical embodiment only) is the only way, is saying that God basically came up with a Divine plan to save a few thousand people, while millions not being born in the Middle East would burn in hell. That would in deed violate the law of love. If the pastor is right that one law can not violate another. Then this couldn't be possible as it would violate the Law of Love.
True balance then would be, in my viewpoint, that God loves us, and wants us to avoid the karmic return we sow for yourselves. To free ourselves from reincarnation and return to the world of cause and effect. So God, sent many examples - Jesus being one of many - to help guide humanity.
I don't argue these points. I note it in this journal, to note my state of mind and philosophy. I respect the ideas and beliefs of others.
Last Sunday the pastor was reading from Romans 13 - the sermon being about the need for Jesus as the only way to God.
One thing I take as a mistake on the pastor's part, was his logic that God can not nullify a law of His own creation. While that may be true, his error was in saying, "Because God Loves you doesn't nullify the fact we must be judged! Judgement must happen!" I could use his same premise (that God's law can not nullify another law) and say, "Because God believes in judgement, that doesn't nullify the Law of Love."
With his statement of faith firmly placed in his teaching, the pastor then leads the congregation down the path of saying "Ok yes we need Jesus only, as that fullfills the law of Love and the law of judgement."
To his viewpoint, he has made the equation work.
However, we could easily flip this and say that Ernest Holmes has it more right... that the Law of Love can not be mooted. To believe that Jesus (the physical embodiment only) is the only way, is saying that God basically came up with a Divine plan to save a few thousand people, while millions not being born in the Middle East would burn in hell. That would in deed violate the law of love. If the pastor is right that one law can not violate another. Then this couldn't be possible as it would violate the Law of Love.
True balance then would be, in my viewpoint, that God loves us, and wants us to avoid the karmic return we sow for yourselves. To free ourselves from reincarnation and return to the world of cause and effect. So God, sent many examples - Jesus being one of many - to help guide humanity.
I don't argue these points. I note it in this journal, to note my state of mind and philosophy. I respect the ideas and beliefs of others.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Bible, Revelation & Reincarnation
In reading Crystal Clarity's publication "Karma & Reincarnation" (Yogananda's teachings), he has a passage about the Bible. He quotes Revelation thusly:
His commentary is very interesting. He suggests this is about reincarnation - that the overcoming person is the one who overcomes their desires, and ends the cycle of reincarnation - and that they become a pillar in the temple of God (meaning fixed) and they no more go out (reincarnate.)
I find this very spot on.
Many will quote the Bible as saying, "it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgement." They use this to say the Bible is not about reincarnation as a viable reality. But really that doesn't say reincarnation doesn't exist. That says that each person dies. Yes we die once in each lifetime. Upon dieing our Karmic seeds ripen and we are reborn in a spiritual realm, physical realm, etc.
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
His commentary is very interesting. He suggests this is about reincarnation - that the overcoming person is the one who overcomes their desires, and ends the cycle of reincarnation - and that they become a pillar in the temple of God (meaning fixed) and they no more go out (reincarnate.)
I find this very spot on.
Many will quote the Bible as saying, "it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgement." They use this to say the Bible is not about reincarnation as a viable reality. But really that doesn't say reincarnation doesn't exist. That says that each person dies. Yes we die once in each lifetime. Upon dieing our Karmic seeds ripen and we are reborn in a spiritual realm, physical realm, etc.
The Land of No Desire Part II
I consulted my good friend and teacher, David Shoemaker. He's a great student of Thelema. I asked him about this passage from Liber LXV Chapter III. He sent me a quote from Crowley's own commentary.
It seems Crowley's commentary on the inspired writing is that one must travel the ocean of their own pleasures and fettishes until they are of no more power over them.
Personally - I disagree. I respect Crowley's view, but there are many examples in many different traditions where the participant overcomes pleasure to great degrees through the use of meditation. The Dalai Lama, Paramhansa Yoganada, my friend Lama Marut, and many others.
Crowley's methodology seemed to work for him - despite the naysayers he didn't die of a drug overdose. he was a heroin addict but overcame his addictions prior to his death. But how many people can do that? it's a match to gasoline. There's a much safer approach, that's tried and true for 3 thousand years - the path of Meditation.
Yogananda spent a lot of effort to get to a point of non desire and non attachment through a) Affirmations b) meditation c) yoga.
Either way, Crowley was also in the the same vein that Desire and Attachment MUST be overcome.
"CHAPTER III
This chapter is attributed to Water; it deals with the preliminary reflections of Truth as apprehended by intuition, beyond any intellectual apprehension; and with the nature of the Understanding and the sexual instinct.
1 - 2
The sea is the Sensorium of the Soul, and the currents his tendencies -- those activities in which he finds pleasure. Until one has passed through the totality of possible experience (as divined by estimation of the actualities available in one's own case) one cannot reach the state in which all Desire is recognized as futile. Only when this is fixed can one perceive the Unicorn -- de Astris -- the single pure Purpose (it is white) whose name is written in the way now to be explained.
The collar represents completeness -- the ``infinity'' or ``eternity'' symbolized by a ring. It is round the neck, i.e., the seat of knowledge (Death -- the Visuddhi cakkra) and made of silver -- the metal of the Virgin Isis-Urania, who informs Pure Aspirations.
The name of this Unicorn (whose horn signifies the creative power) is ``The Green Line winds about the Universe.'' Note the etymology of Viridis, connected with vir and vis; also the idea of gyrat, reminding one of the aphorism ``God is He with the Head of the Hawk, having a spiral force.''
The Green Line, here chosen to connote the Limit of the Universe, suggests the Girdle of Venus. The boundary of Existence is thus not a fixed idea, but an ever-growing Vegetable Principle of Life, of the nature of Love. Summing up the doctrine, one may say that the intelligible expression of the pure creative Idea is the omniform principle of Growth."
It seems Crowley's commentary on the inspired writing is that one must travel the ocean of their own pleasures and fettishes until they are of no more power over them.
Personally - I disagree. I respect Crowley's view, but there are many examples in many different traditions where the participant overcomes pleasure to great degrees through the use of meditation. The Dalai Lama, Paramhansa Yoganada, my friend Lama Marut, and many others.
Crowley's methodology seemed to work for him - despite the naysayers he didn't die of a drug overdose. he was a heroin addict but overcame his addictions prior to his death. But how many people can do that? it's a match to gasoline. There's a much safer approach, that's tried and true for 3 thousand years - the path of Meditation.
Yogananda spent a lot of effort to get to a point of non desire and non attachment through a) Affirmations b) meditation c) yoga.
Either way, Crowley was also in the the same vein that Desire and Attachment MUST be overcome.
The Land Of No Desire
I've been waking up with this phrase in my mind. It goes back to a fellow, who's image is rotating on this blog. Aliester Crowley. I haven't written much about him, and in deed I think he's been mostly misunderstood.
But in looking up this passage via Google, i found the exact reference. It comes from Liber LXV - which was an "inspired work" (meaning it is not attributed as Crowley's own writing, but the spiritual inspiration working through him to write it) and it comes from Chapter III:
Yogananda states that ego is the Identification with a Physical Body - it is eternal and thus attaches to body after body, upon death. It is fueled by desires, fears, etc.
The Kabbalah Center states a similar idea of the ego:
When reading this passage, from that point of view, it seems the doctrine here is about overcoming the ego. The Land of No Desire.
But in looking up this passage via Google, i found the exact reference. It comes from Liber LXV - which was an "inspired work" (meaning it is not attributed as Crowley's own writing, but the spiritual inspiration working through him to write it) and it comes from Chapter III:
1. Verily and Amen! I passed through the deep sea, and by the rivers of running water that abound therein, and I came unto the Land of No Desire.
Yogananda states that ego is the Identification with a Physical Body - it is eternal and thus attaches to body after body, upon death. It is fueled by desires, fears, etc.
The Kabbalah Center states a similar idea of the ego:
2. Awareness of the ego is important: It is a voice inside all of us that directs us to be selfish, narrow-minded, limited, addicted, hurtful, irresponsible, negative, angry, and hateful. It is the force that tells us to do things that feel good in the short term, but in the long term brings us down. The ego is the source of all of our problems because it allows, even encourages, us to believe that others are separate from us. It is the opposite of humility.
When reading this passage, from that point of view, it seems the doctrine here is about overcoming the ego. The Land of No Desire.
Radiation - ending in stillness
This morning, as I woke up - i heard the sound outside. I had the bedroom window open, and from our 3rd floor apartment, I can hear sounds in the pool area. I heard the sound of a gate closing.
I keyed into the sound and heard the clank of the gate closing reverberating till there was no sound. It went: CLANK, Reverberating CLANK, Softer CLANK, Reverberating CLANK... until the sound was no more.
The whole process came to my mind as God talking to me, giving me a lesson: To become still, match every movement with it's opposite. For every desire, with no desire...
It also gives a macrocosmic life lesson - that the very existence of a human, ultimately ends in union with God (stillness) ... as every cause is nullified by it's effect... ultimately there is no more cause. It may take 10 million years naturally or it could take a single lifetime with spiritual work.
I keyed into the sound and heard the clank of the gate closing reverberating till there was no sound. It went: CLANK, Reverberating CLANK, Softer CLANK, Reverberating CLANK... until the sound was no more.
The whole process came to my mind as God talking to me, giving me a lesson: To become still, match every movement with it's opposite. For every desire, with no desire...
It also gives a macrocosmic life lesson - that the very existence of a human, ultimately ends in union with God (stillness) ... as every cause is nullified by it's effect... ultimately there is no more cause. It may take 10 million years naturally or it could take a single lifetime with spiritual work.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Ananda's Online Classes
After taking Ananda's Online Meditation course and being part of their Virtual Community... I was sold on their services.
They have a list of classes offered here:
http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/
I've studied a lot of different perspectives on meditation... having been a Buddhist, studied with the Golden Dawn, studied with Thelemic groups, Rosicrucian Orders and a variety of others.
But Ananda's course really connected with me. What's surprising, it connected so deeply with me, and it was remote (online, not a physical course I attended.) Perhaps I just am in tune with Yogananda's teachings... or perhaps it's the personal teachers Ananda has - who are supportive, caring and helpful. But this online 6 week course got me into a daily routine of meditation. A focus on the spiritual aspects of life. I learned techniques I hadn't heard of before, to move energy to refocus the mind and mental states to the higher. I also learned techniques to work the body (energy exercises) that prepare someone for longer and more refined meditation.
After finishing the meditation course, I picked up the course on Raja Yoga and a course on Inner Peace. Each course has it's own flavor, but each is run by dedicated teachers who really care and are very responsive to their students.
If you're interested in the Hindu or Spiritual path of Yogananda check out:
http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/
They have a list of classes offered here:
http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/
I've studied a lot of different perspectives on meditation... having been a Buddhist, studied with the Golden Dawn, studied with Thelemic groups, Rosicrucian Orders and a variety of others.
But Ananda's course really connected with me. What's surprising, it connected so deeply with me, and it was remote (online, not a physical course I attended.) Perhaps I just am in tune with Yogananda's teachings... or perhaps it's the personal teachers Ananda has - who are supportive, caring and helpful. But this online 6 week course got me into a daily routine of meditation. A focus on the spiritual aspects of life. I learned techniques I hadn't heard of before, to move energy to refocus the mind and mental states to the higher. I also learned techniques to work the body (energy exercises) that prepare someone for longer and more refined meditation.
After finishing the meditation course, I picked up the course on Raja Yoga and a course on Inner Peace. Each course has it's own flavor, but each is run by dedicated teachers who really care and are very responsive to their students.
If you're interested in the Hindu or Spiritual path of Yogananda check out:
http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/
Ananda Online Community (Review)
I started with Ananda Online Community a few months ago. I went through a course (Meditation) and started a few others. Since I've gone through one full course, I felt I got a good enough vibe to give a brief review for anyone who might be considering joining their Online Community.
Ananda has this page that gives details of their services offered:
http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=768
I'm quite impressed with Ananda Online Community. I've participated in many online communities of a spiritual focus (including Ram Dass's group, Eckhart Tolle's, Yogiraj, and a variety of others.) What separates Ananda from the rest is the following:
+ it's inexpensive (for less then the price of a pizza each month, you get full access to all their content) You don't need to pay for old content. Being a member gives a lot of access.
+ They have vast amounts of weekly content (sometimes 3 or 4 events a week)
+ Live events are interactive and very useful
+ It's a "community" - meaning people communicate. Many online "communities" forget this, and perhaps due to abuse, they turn off people's ability to communicate with one another. Ananda's community is very uplifting and positive. I've never seen anything negative between members.
+ Teachers are amazing: The teachers are very encouraging, supportive and very attentive to their students.
+ Huge selection of audio mp3's, and videos. Users are given the ability to download the audio or stream it.
+ Once classes are finished you can refer back to the coursework later (it's still available.)
+ Your progress is tracked with certifications of courses you've taken
All in all it's well worth the price. For $20 a month (or $180 a year), you have access to so much material, real people (who are there for you and answer your questions in a quick, responsive and caring way) and tons of weekly live events... I've seen nothing like it.
I think if you are in tune with Yogananda's teachings, the Aannda Online Community is a great place to plug into. At $20/month, it's not that much money to try it out for yourself and it may just transform your life. How's that for an investment...
Ananda has this page that gives details of their services offered:
http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=768
I'm quite impressed with Ananda Online Community. I've participated in many online communities of a spiritual focus (including Ram Dass's group, Eckhart Tolle's, Yogiraj, and a variety of others.) What separates Ananda from the rest is the following:
+ it's inexpensive (for less then the price of a pizza each month, you get full access to all their content) You don't need to pay for old content. Being a member gives a lot of access.
+ They have vast amounts of weekly content (sometimes 3 or 4 events a week)
+ Live events are interactive and very useful
+ It's a "community" - meaning people communicate. Many online "communities" forget this, and perhaps due to abuse, they turn off people's ability to communicate with one another. Ananda's community is very uplifting and positive. I've never seen anything negative between members.
+ Teachers are amazing: The teachers are very encouraging, supportive and very attentive to their students.
+ Huge selection of audio mp3's, and videos. Users are given the ability to download the audio or stream it.
+ Once classes are finished you can refer back to the coursework later (it's still available.)
+ Your progress is tracked with certifications of courses you've taken
All in all it's well worth the price. For $20 a month (or $180 a year), you have access to so much material, real people (who are there for you and answer your questions in a quick, responsive and caring way) and tons of weekly live events... I've seen nothing like it.
I think if you are in tune with Yogananda's teachings, the Aannda Online Community is a great place to plug into. At $20/month, it's not that much money to try it out for yourself and it may just transform your life. How's that for an investment...
Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath
Awhile back, I posted about this spiritual teacher: Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath
At the time, my post probably seemed very on the fence or somewhat negative. Keep in mind I was very wary.
Since then, I have talked with people - people I have come to respect who have vouched for Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath.
I have yet to meet him, but he is coming to Culver City in August - to give a talk at a place I am very familiar with: Agape International. Aagpe is a GREAT place.
I'll check him out. I've taken more time with his teachings and I find them quite genuine and in the same vein as Yogananda and other spiritual teachers of the past.
I don't have the "magnetic pull" to him as some. Some have had him in their dreams.... others have had supernatural events at his events.
I think that people who are interested in this spiritual path should visit the events that are free or inexpensive and make up their own minds for themselves.
Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath has his own online Sangha: http://hamsayoga.ning.com/
He also has his own site with more information:
http://hamsayoga.org/
They also have put up video's of his teachings on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/HamsaYogi
At the time, my post probably seemed very on the fence or somewhat negative. Keep in mind I was very wary.
Since then, I have talked with people - people I have come to respect who have vouched for Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath.
I have yet to meet him, but he is coming to Culver City in August - to give a talk at a place I am very familiar with: Agape International. Aagpe is a GREAT place.
I'll check him out. I've taken more time with his teachings and I find them quite genuine and in the same vein as Yogananda and other spiritual teachers of the past.
I don't have the "magnetic pull" to him as some. Some have had him in their dreams.... others have had supernatural events at his events.
I think that people who are interested in this spiritual path should visit the events that are free or inexpensive and make up their own minds for themselves.
Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath has his own online Sangha: http://hamsayoga.ning.com/
He also has his own site with more information:
http://hamsayoga.org/
They also have put up video's of his teachings on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/HamsaYogi
Balancing Work and the Spiritual Life
I was really impressed with Jyotish and Devi's talk on balancing Work and the Spiritual Life - at Ananda Online Community.
I had a terrible day at work! I was running late... got into the talk 10min late... I was frustrated with my job tonight... and I listened to their great advice. I took some notes below... but I also did more. I asked a question on their interactive form.
What impressed me, was they responded to my question without any pause. It was like BAM! here's the answer... it was very cool. They have a great energy and I hope they have this recorded so people can hear the advice they gave.
see work as a service
prioritize things in life
- meditation comes first
- make time to meditate
- take time throughout the day to sit in mediation and prayer (lunchbreak, etc.)
remind yourself that all you do is for God
- organize emails so they don't stack up.
if work is difficult, consider how it can serve God... i.e. how can this difficulty help me be a better person, because that's what God wants (my improvement.)
watch yourself throughout the day and see if there's any stress... relax shoulders, etc.
do things that are uplifting in relaxation after work
I asked this question, "I get frustrated at my job... when that happens and I realize i'm in or going into a negative state of mind - how can I get out of this state back to a center?":
don't try to think your way out
breathe your way out...
stand up...
do energy exercises...
walk...
break the momentum of the train of thoughts that you're running...
Frustration is energy blocked - the easiest thing is to say "you know maybe my expectation is wrong. maybe that person should behave the way they are."
try to reframe the picture
remember that "God is the doer, not us" - this helps us not to get so involved - that we have to get something done a certain way and getting frustrated. when people praise you say "God is the doer" if people blame you "God is the doer" this disconnects you from the situation whether perceived "good" or "bad."
I had a terrible day at work! I was running late... got into the talk 10min late... I was frustrated with my job tonight... and I listened to their great advice. I took some notes below... but I also did more. I asked a question on their interactive form.
What impressed me, was they responded to my question without any pause. It was like BAM! here's the answer... it was very cool. They have a great energy and I hope they have this recorded so people can hear the advice they gave.
see work as a service
prioritize things in life
- meditation comes first
- make time to meditate
- take time throughout the day to sit in mediation and prayer (lunchbreak, etc.)
remind yourself that all you do is for God
- organize emails so they don't stack up.
if work is difficult, consider how it can serve God... i.e. how can this difficulty help me be a better person, because that's what God wants (my improvement.)
watch yourself throughout the day and see if there's any stress... relax shoulders, etc.
do things that are uplifting in relaxation after work
I asked this question, "I get frustrated at my job... when that happens and I realize i'm in or going into a negative state of mind - how can I get out of this state back to a center?":
don't try to think your way out
breathe your way out...
stand up...
do energy exercises...
walk...
break the momentum of the train of thoughts that you're running...
Frustration is energy blocked - the easiest thing is to say "you know maybe my expectation is wrong. maybe that person should behave the way they are."
try to reframe the picture
remember that "God is the doer, not us" - this helps us not to get so involved - that we have to get something done a certain way and getting frustrated. when people praise you say "God is the doer" if people blame you "God is the doer" this disconnects you from the situation whether perceived "good" or "bad."
I lost a battle...
This morning I lost a battle with my mind and it's attachments.
It's very frustrating, because the same thing happened just the day before. I felt then, that I wouldn't repeat the same mistake... and here I was repeating it again this morning!
One thing I've noticed is that when I first wake up, i'm at my most vulnerable mentally. I'm more easily to get frustrated, bothered, attached, desire driven. It's at these moments I need to prepare.
Ananda Online's class: Inner Peace has the advice of saying an affirmation out loud and mentally before going to bed and upon arising. That would help I'm sure. I think another thing I could do is get active once I open my eyes.
Ananda's class (Inner Peace) has several other techniques. The following is taken from the course material of the online class: Inner Peace from Ananda Online:
Techniques That Work
- When you first feel a strong emotion coming on, catch it, and divert the energy before
it takes hold of you and is impossible to shake. Reasoning doesn’t work. Reason follows
feeling, and your feeling has already turned into agitated emotion.
- Do not make decisions or even try to talk things out when you’re upset. It’s too easy to
say something regrettable. Wait until the intensity has passed, and then come back to it.
- Get calm and centered in yourself. Do some deep breathing.
- Begin tensing and relaxing your body. Energetically breathe in when you tense, breathe
out as you relax. When inhaling visualize light coming into you, and on the out-breath
expel all darkness and negativity. Do this 4-6 times.
- Leave the situation and take a walk or do something active.
- Visualize your emotion lifting upward within yourself from the heart chakra to the
spiritual eye. Clean and purify your heart, cutting off all attachments.
- Focus your gaze at the spiritual eye, and at the same time watch your breath going in
and out. Let your mind go blank for a moment, and feel that state of perfect quietude.
Now allow only positive and peaceful thoughts to enter your mind. Think of a happy
memory, a joyful experience or something you are glad about.
- For long-term solutions, avoid emotional people as much as possible. Mix with people
who are calm, uplifted, joyful, and centered. If you have to be around negative or
emotional people start being strong in your center. Be the dominant calm, peaceful
energy that can’t be swayed by their reactions. As you change you will find that others
around you change.
- Get out of self-involvement through service. Volunteer somewhere, help a friend,
phone someone who is lonely.
- Watch what you eat. Certain foods heat up the nervous system and cause negative
emotions.
- Get plenty of exercise. Exercise can ward off depression and sometimes even cure it.
Getting enough exercise helps to calm, balance, and even eliminate negative emotions.
- Sing, listen to uplifting soothing music (not rock and roll, rap or heavy metal.)
- Find and develop an uplifting hobby to channel your creative energy. Work with plants
and animals. Limit the amount of television and movies you watch. What may seem
stimulating at first quickly becomes enervating.
- Train yourself to think positively. Don’t accept negatives thoughts when they enter
your mind. Learn to speak with positive words and inflections.
- Live from your heart. Visualize your heart opening, letting go of all fear and negativity.
The more you live from your heart, the more the world will respond positively to you.
- Don’t have expectations. Give up thinking that people and the world should respond to
you the way you want. Be realistic and get yourself into perspective.
It's very frustrating, because the same thing happened just the day before. I felt then, that I wouldn't repeat the same mistake... and here I was repeating it again this morning!
One thing I've noticed is that when I first wake up, i'm at my most vulnerable mentally. I'm more easily to get frustrated, bothered, attached, desire driven. It's at these moments I need to prepare.
Ananda Online's class: Inner Peace has the advice of saying an affirmation out loud and mentally before going to bed and upon arising. That would help I'm sure. I think another thing I could do is get active once I open my eyes.
Ananda's class (Inner Peace) has several other techniques. The following is taken from the course material of the online class: Inner Peace from Ananda Online:
Techniques That Work
- When you first feel a strong emotion coming on, catch it, and divert the energy before
it takes hold of you and is impossible to shake. Reasoning doesn’t work. Reason follows
feeling, and your feeling has already turned into agitated emotion.
- Do not make decisions or even try to talk things out when you’re upset. It’s too easy to
say something regrettable. Wait until the intensity has passed, and then come back to it.
- Get calm and centered in yourself. Do some deep breathing.
- Begin tensing and relaxing your body. Energetically breathe in when you tense, breathe
out as you relax. When inhaling visualize light coming into you, and on the out-breath
expel all darkness and negativity. Do this 4-6 times.
- Leave the situation and take a walk or do something active.
- Visualize your emotion lifting upward within yourself from the heart chakra to the
spiritual eye. Clean and purify your heart, cutting off all attachments.
- Focus your gaze at the spiritual eye, and at the same time watch your breath going in
and out. Let your mind go blank for a moment, and feel that state of perfect quietude.
Now allow only positive and peaceful thoughts to enter your mind. Think of a happy
memory, a joyful experience or something you are glad about.
- For long-term solutions, avoid emotional people as much as possible. Mix with people
who are calm, uplifted, joyful, and centered. If you have to be around negative or
emotional people start being strong in your center. Be the dominant calm, peaceful
energy that can’t be swayed by their reactions. As you change you will find that others
around you change.
- Get out of self-involvement through service. Volunteer somewhere, help a friend,
phone someone who is lonely.
- Watch what you eat. Certain foods heat up the nervous system and cause negative
emotions.
- Get plenty of exercise. Exercise can ward off depression and sometimes even cure it.
Getting enough exercise helps to calm, balance, and even eliminate negative emotions.
- Sing, listen to uplifting soothing music (not rock and roll, rap or heavy metal.)
- Find and develop an uplifting hobby to channel your creative energy. Work with plants
and animals. Limit the amount of television and movies you watch. What may seem
stimulating at first quickly becomes enervating.
- Train yourself to think positively. Don’t accept negatives thoughts when they enter
your mind. Learn to speak with positive words and inflections.
- Live from your heart. Visualize your heart opening, letting go of all fear and negativity.
The more you live from your heart, the more the world will respond positively to you.
- Don’t have expectations. Give up thinking that people and the world should respond to
you the way you want. Be realistic and get yourself into perspective.
Gratitude and Giving - Antidotes to Negativity
From a course on Inner Peace from Ananda Online Classes,
"Gratitude and giving to others are antidotes to harmful emotions. When your heart is
filled with love and appreciation there’s no room for negative sentiments to reside. Be grateful for everything that comes, even, and especially when, it seems unfortunate—for those times often end up being rich with blessings and spiritual growth."
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Lesson Learned in Silence
On my lunch break today, I walked out to a small area with some trees, plants, very beautiful area. I sat down and began meditating and i realized ... or it came to me as a thought, "don't meditate here... people have been smoking. smoking brings in a lower vibration." Although it was very peaceful and no one was around, it was a smoker area, and so i picked up my things and walked off.
As I was walking I got my first lesson... I looked at a tree in this little area, and up through the leaves I saw the rays of the sun glitter. I realized that the Sun, like God, is above us, but the leaves of my restless mind obscure Him. But on occasion, the leaves part and His essence reaches me directly. Meditation would be the clearing of the leaves... where there is no obscuration to God.
As I sat down at a new location, devoid of smokers, and equally private, I had a wonderful experience where nature seemed to be teeming with life all around me.
There I got my second lesson:
According to "Karma & Reincarnation" by Paramhansa Yogananda there is a way to communicate with great saints: there's a visualization practice where one visualizes the spiritual eye as a brilliant star in a field of blue... and calling the saint into the Light.
At any rate, I got this message... I was thinking "boy i really want to be out of debt... that's what I really need." and I got a surprising answer... "The only reason you want to get out of debt, it to have less reliance on God... and to have more reliance on the world." How true it was. it cut to the heart of the matter.
While I sat, the wind carried a little feather, it flew right to me. I took it and put it in my book on Karma and Reincarnation. As I walked back to work I got this inspiration that the feather represented the bird no longer needing to use the small feathers and let it go, to gain a bigger, stronger feather. So to, I have grown from old ways to take on new spiritual ways.
Finally I watched the movements of a very bizarre creature. perhaps a worm. 2 inches in length perhaps, thin as a thick hair... and moved around the table where I sat. I watched his endless movements... tapping with it's head for solid ground, then lurching forward... repeating the process over and over... amazing. I felt connected to the strange creature.
What a wonderful and rejuvinating lunch break.
As I was walking I got my first lesson... I looked at a tree in this little area, and up through the leaves I saw the rays of the sun glitter. I realized that the Sun, like God, is above us, but the leaves of my restless mind obscure Him. But on occasion, the leaves part and His essence reaches me directly. Meditation would be the clearing of the leaves... where there is no obscuration to God.
As I sat down at a new location, devoid of smokers, and equally private, I had a wonderful experience where nature seemed to be teeming with life all around me.
There I got my second lesson:
According to "Karma & Reincarnation" by Paramhansa Yogananda there is a way to communicate with great saints: there's a visualization practice where one visualizes the spiritual eye as a brilliant star in a field of blue... and calling the saint into the Light.
At any rate, I got this message... I was thinking "boy i really want to be out of debt... that's what I really need." and I got a surprising answer... "The only reason you want to get out of debt, it to have less reliance on God... and to have more reliance on the world." How true it was. it cut to the heart of the matter.
While I sat, the wind carried a little feather, it flew right to me. I took it and put it in my book on Karma and Reincarnation. As I walked back to work I got this inspiration that the feather represented the bird no longer needing to use the small feathers and let it go, to gain a bigger, stronger feather. So to, I have grown from old ways to take on new spiritual ways.
Finally I watched the movements of a very bizarre creature. perhaps a worm. 2 inches in length perhaps, thin as a thick hair... and moved around the table where I sat. I watched his endless movements... tapping with it's head for solid ground, then lurching forward... repeating the process over and over... amazing. I felt connected to the strange creature.
What a wonderful and rejuvinating lunch break.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Desire in the shape of an iPad
I came to work today, and they gave a drawing for an iPad 2. In the contest, my submission was not taken as the winner. In fact the winner was 11 people who had the same concept. Each one got a brand new iPad 2.
I found in my heart a hardness... a jealousy. I found I had an issue. It bothered me for hours. I felt the desire for the iPad and felt "I deserve one too!"
Then I realized and remembered "I'm not this little self that cares so much about a electronic device. I'm a spiritual seeker."
I let it go. I called my daughter in France and talked to her and sent her a little book today.
Wrong desires, desires of the ephemeral or of the negative, can so warp our true calling.
I found in my heart a hardness... a jealousy. I found I had an issue. It bothered me for hours. I felt the desire for the iPad and felt "I deserve one too!"
Then I realized and remembered "I'm not this little self that cares so much about a electronic device. I'm a spiritual seeker."
I let it go. I called my daughter in France and talked to her and sent her a little book today.
Wrong desires, desires of the ephemeral or of the negative, can so warp our true calling.
When you no longer have fear...
Tonight I was listening to a lecture from a online class at Ananda's Online. This particular class was on Raja Yoga. I was listening to a lecture on Class 2. It was by Swami Kriyananda and it was titled: "Pathways to God, Heart, Head and Hands."
He says something really great... he says:
He says something really great... he says:
When one looks at the inner self trying, not at the outer self threatening... When you no longer have fear in your own heart you no longer feel a sense of judgement or anger against other people because you don't care how they treat you. If they want to hit you, threaten you, talk about you - it doesn't matter... it's all God
Need to see Namaste in Real Time
After work today, I came home in a mood. i was upset with some things going on at work... and i felt angry while driving home.
however, there was an upside... rather then stay in anger, i turned on whispers from eternity and listened to it and realized that everything occurs for a reason. There was a lesson in the situation that upset me. i just didn't see it yet.
when i got home i was calm and happy.
i just need to catch the reaction before the reaction... to see "Namaste" in real time...
however, there was an upside... rather then stay in anger, i turned on whispers from eternity and listened to it and realized that everything occurs for a reason. There was a lesson in the situation that upset me. i just didn't see it yet.
when i got home i was calm and happy.
i just need to catch the reaction before the reaction... to see "Namaste" in real time...
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Daily Inspiration from Ananda.org
This inspiration quote was taken from:
http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/daily/
Depend on nothing outside yourself.
Find freedom inwardly, by letting no outer circumstance condition your happiness.
If a desire arises in your heart, and suggests that something outside yourself will bring you happiness, offer the desire to God. For it is utterly certain—this knowledge is derived from mankind’s experience throughout all known history—that in Him alone lies true happiness.
http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/daily/
Depend on nothing outside yourself.
Find freedom inwardly, by letting no outer circumstance condition your happiness.
If a desire arises in your heart, and suggests that something outside yourself will bring you happiness, offer the desire to God. For it is utterly certain—this knowledge is derived from mankind’s experience throughout all known history—that in Him alone lies true happiness.
Types of Darkness
In Yogananda's book, "The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of Christ Within You" Yogananda mentions the two main types of Darkness. Darkness as he defines it is delusion. The two types are:
Maya (Illusion)
Avidya (Ignorance)
Maya is a global or mass hallucination - that we often call "reality."
Avidya gives an individual illusion or ignorance. It's a support for the Ego.
Darkness is a confinement - a limitation.
All aspects of the physical world (Maya) are part of this darkness - including (but not limited to) the light of our Sun. The true Light - is the Spiritual Divine Light of God that is ever shinning - and glimpsed with eyes closed in meditation.
Maya (Illusion)
Avidya (Ignorance)
Maya is a global or mass hallucination - that we often call "reality."
Avidya gives an individual illusion or ignorance. It's a support for the Ego.
Darkness is a confinement - a limitation.
All aspects of the physical world (Maya) are part of this darkness - including (but not limited to) the light of our Sun. The true Light - is the Spiritual Divine Light of God that is ever shinning - and glimpsed with eyes closed in meditation.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Theme for July (From Ananda Online)
This month of July the theme at Ananda is Self Control. Below is an excerpt from this theme (taken from Affirmations of Self Healing, by Swami Kriyananda.)
In looking at the affirmation, I'm reminded of what Eckhart Tolle often speaks about - feeling the inner energy within the body.
Self-Control
If a lake is made to feed into too many streams, it will soon become drained.
Similarly, if a person’s heart energies are fed into countless streamlets of
desires, he becomes drained, eventually, of even the power to feel. Sated
with pleasure, he grows dry, blasé, and indifferent to even the greatest
wonders.
The sensualist imagines that by giving up his pleasures he would renounce
happiness. But in fact, the more one restrains his senses and learns to live in
the peace of the inner Self, the more he finds himself glowing with
happiness, good health, and a radiant sense of freedom and well-being.
Affirmation
I am strong in myself. I am complete in my Self. The joy and perfection of
the universe await discovery within my inner being!
Prayer
I crave nothing that the world can give me, Lord. O Infinite Perfection, make
me one with Thee!
From Swami Kriyananda’s Affirmations for Self-Healing
Crystal Clarity Publishers
In looking at the affirmation, I'm reminded of what Eckhart Tolle often speaks about - feeling the inner energy within the body.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Essential Bhagavad Gita 3:34 (Swami Kriyananda)
Quoting from Chapter 15 of this text by Swami Kriyananda, there's a lot of good wisdom here - where he gives commentary on verse 3:34 -
(3:34) Attraction and repulsion (regarding) sense objects belong to the natural ebb and flow of duality. Beware equally of them both, for they are man's greatest enemies!
Attraction and repulsion are extreme forms of likes and dislikes. To like anything excessively is as great an error, virtually by definition, as to dislike its opposite. The realization of God depends on neutralizing all one's reactions, leveling out their peaks and their valleys, and seeing the one, changeless Spirit at the heart of everything.
The secret is not to cease from enjoying anything -- a "solution" which leads only to apathy, and consequently, to a deadened awareness. The secret, rather, is to center every enjoyment in the heart: to feel that its cause lies there, in your reactions; and then to draw that energy consciously upward in the spine, from the heart to the brain.
Ordinary likes and dislikes are not man's enemies, as such. Rather, they are like troublesome neighbors. Extreme forms of these emotions, however -- any strong attraction or violent repulsion -- can plunge one into violent storms of emotion that toss him helplessly about on great waves of delusion. Never let yourself become infatuated (infatuation is extreme attraction) with anything or anyone. Never let yourself hate anything or anyone. Develop an attitude, rather, of accepting the cosmic dream as it is, even when it becomes a nightmare! Your only hope is to escape to a higher level of consciousness.
Some people do have ugly traits. Don't waste energy in reacting to them, neither by dislike nor by abhorrence. Don't welcome them into your "galaxy" of interests. Move through life, rather, like a swan off whose back the rain flows lightly, never touching its body.
Protect your heart's feelings from the excitement of all extreme reactions. Surround those feelings with emanations of peace and good will. Relax in the heart. Relax also outward from the heart, to the shoulders. Then direct the heart's energy upward through the spine to the brain. When there are people around you, for instance, shouting angrily -- and especially when they shout at you personally -- relax inwardly; be centered in the Self; smile in your heart, and remind yourself, "I love God alone!"
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
I am only here for God
At Agape International (www.agapelive.com) there's a song they song, which has the phrase, "I am only here for God."
Today, I woke up a bit depressed. I just got back from visiting my parents this past Monday. I was tired, and sad. Sad to see my father in his health state. Sad to see him not care about his health. Sad to be away from my mother. Sad to feel my brother's weariness. I felt like I had unfinished business... like I should have done more, done something or said something to make people feel alive.
Then I thought about my daughter.... living in france ... how i don't see her. depressing.
Then this morning, on the way to work, I realized in the car - that i'm not were I am because of me. I didn't decide "Oh I'll live in Marina Del Rey" or "Oh I'll work for this company making $X a month." God determined all of this. I am here for God. God put me here. God/Spirit had a reason. I'm here for God's reason.
Maybe someday I'll be someplace else. But for now, I'm here. I need to open my eyes and see what I need to do for God.
Maybe it's work on myself. I see this job gives me great opportunity to work on myself. Maybe my wife and child on the way will be the work I need to do on myself.
Hesitantly, I mentioned this to a friend of mine. I told him i dont know why i'm were i'm at, but that i'm where i need to be. He responded:
you're doing well
: you're settling down
: in a new place
: and getting control of your health
: and finances
: (believe it or not, that's huge)
: and growing your relationship with your wife, by growing your family. so there
: you are validated, despite your worst fears
He brought up the good. It was encouraging and I thank God for letting me talk with him that I could get that encouraging word.
There are things I need to improve upon. But, I do know that I am here for God.
Today, I woke up a bit depressed. I just got back from visiting my parents this past Monday. I was tired, and sad. Sad to see my father in his health state. Sad to see him not care about his health. Sad to be away from my mother. Sad to feel my brother's weariness. I felt like I had unfinished business... like I should have done more, done something or said something to make people feel alive.
Then I thought about my daughter.... living in france ... how i don't see her. depressing.
Then this morning, on the way to work, I realized in the car - that i'm not were I am because of me. I didn't decide "Oh I'll live in Marina Del Rey" or "Oh I'll work for this company making $X a month." God determined all of this. I am here for God. God put me here. God/Spirit had a reason. I'm here for God's reason.
Maybe someday I'll be someplace else. But for now, I'm here. I need to open my eyes and see what I need to do for God.
Maybe it's work on myself. I see this job gives me great opportunity to work on myself. Maybe my wife and child on the way will be the work I need to do on myself.
Hesitantly, I mentioned this to a friend of mine. I told him i dont know why i'm were i'm at, but that i'm where i need to be. He responded:
you're doing well
: you're settling down
: in a new place
: and getting control of your health
: and finances
: (believe it or not, that's huge)
: and growing your relationship with your wife, by growing your family. so there
: you are validated, despite your worst fears
He brought up the good. It was encouraging and I thank God for letting me talk with him that I could get that encouraging word.
There are things I need to improve upon. But, I do know that I am here for God.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
RS affirmative Prayer
From:
http://www.scienceofmind.com/practices
Science of Mind uses a five-step affirmative prayer called spiritual mind treatment. The five steps are:
1. Recognition—know that God is all there is.
2. Unification—know that you are one with God.
3. Declaration—state your word for the circumstance you want to manifest.
4. Thanksgiving—give thanks for your word being acted upon by the Law of mind.
5. Release—“And so it is!”
There is no beseeching to or urge to compel an outside entity in spiritual mind treatment. As Ernest Holmes states in The Science of Mind:
Effective mental treatment is propelled by a consciousness of love and a realization that the Creative spirit is always at work....A treatment should be given in a calm, expectant manner and with a deep inner conviction of its reality, without any fear or any sense that the human mind must make it effective. The work is effective because the Law is always in operation.
http://www.scienceofmind.com/practices
Science of Mind uses a five-step affirmative prayer called spiritual mind treatment. The five steps are:
1. Recognition—know that God is all there is.
2. Unification—know that you are one with God.
3. Declaration—state your word for the circumstance you want to manifest.
4. Thanksgiving—give thanks for your word being acted upon by the Law of mind.
5. Release—“And so it is!”
There is no beseeching to or urge to compel an outside entity in spiritual mind treatment. As Ernest Holmes states in The Science of Mind:
Effective mental treatment is propelled by a consciousness of love and a realization that the Creative spirit is always at work....A treatment should be given in a calm, expectant manner and with a deep inner conviction of its reality, without any fear or any sense that the human mind must make it effective. The work is effective because the Law is always in operation.
4th of July weekend and my parents church
I've been visiting my parents. Today (7/3/11) my mother requested I attend church with her. We went to her conservative church and the pastor read from Romans 13:1-5.
What I found very odd was this mixed message:
- the pastor praised America as the best country in the world and wore the American flag on his tie, etc.
- he read Romans 13 and spoke against "rebellion" against the country
But the 4th of July is a celebration of rebellion. The rebellion against the Brittish.
I found his message to be mixed in meaning. Like those churches who defend war and preach love.
Perhaps he had to adopt a frame of reference for his membership. Perhaps he had to step into their world a bit, in order to give a teaching. I'm not sure, but I did find the message conflicting.
What I found very odd was this mixed message:
- the pastor praised America as the best country in the world and wore the American flag on his tie, etc.
- he read Romans 13 and spoke against "rebellion" against the country
But the 4th of July is a celebration of rebellion. The rebellion against the Brittish.
I found his message to be mixed in meaning. Like those churches who defend war and preach love.
Perhaps he had to adopt a frame of reference for his membership. Perhaps he had to step into their world a bit, in order to give a teaching. I'm not sure, but I did find the message conflicting.
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