There is a saying in Yoga which is Sat-Chit-Ananda and it means, being consciousness bliss. The safety of our everyday existence is, we are not confronted by Profound Ideas. Ironically, we are safely trapped in ignorance, and, while this is miserable, it is often safer than venturing outside what we know to new areas. There is a saying that Buddha is supposed to have said which goes something like this:
"I will not let you give up the responsibility of your own freedom."
In other words, to take a step towards freedom, is also a step towards responsibility, and sometimes, danger, but remember, ignorance is bliss but truth is freedom. Truth eventually leads to a bliss which cannot even be compared to the bliss of ignorance, but few take the time to realize this. In any case, I also want to point out something else Maharaj said:
"You would get maturity quickly if you would stay in your nothingness...."
Staying in the consciousness means what? We are always in the consciousness aren't we? But the point is, to identify with consciousness or the Ocean of Awareness instead of "just" this individual identity. That in itself is the Sat+Chit+Ananda and they are all One, not separate.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Contradictions Aplenty
You've probably figured out by now that, in my view there is NO "right way" to act, think, be, or practice. The finality of the book "I Am That" is that it is a Negating force which does not pander to the thoughts and concepts of people. It's alright, in other words, to talk about karma, and know the reality of it, but to reject the idea completely is probably even better.
As you look through the book "I Am That" you're bound to find some serious contradictions. I did, when I first read it. It can be frustrating because you think, "Hey, how can I trust this guy if he's contradicting himself." This can be chalked up to two things, mainly, in my opinion.
1. The teaching is different for every person he talks to. Because he's literally reacting to what is going on in that person's world at that moment.
2. The teaching is a teaching which transcends logical thought. By its very nature the Absolute is beyond the mind, so, the teaching would naturally be beyond that which the mind is capable of grasping. However, just as you can have two different key signatures in the same song without it being two songs, or many different interpretive paintings of the same biblical scene, so too a couple of different angles may be necessary to view the same exact mental landscape.
I'm saying this to give you a glimpse into the world that appears when you begin to step out of the mind and into the soul, so to say. Its true we have all had soulful moments, some more than others.
As you dig into this, don't be surprised if you begin to have reactions. That's normal. Its part of the process of digging out what is within.
As you look through the book "I Am That" you're bound to find some serious contradictions. I did, when I first read it. It can be frustrating because you think, "Hey, how can I trust this guy if he's contradicting himself." This can be chalked up to two things, mainly, in my opinion.
1. The teaching is different for every person he talks to. Because he's literally reacting to what is going on in that person's world at that moment.
2. The teaching is a teaching which transcends logical thought. By its very nature the Absolute is beyond the mind, so, the teaching would naturally be beyond that which the mind is capable of grasping. However, just as you can have two different key signatures in the same song without it being two songs, or many different interpretive paintings of the same biblical scene, so too a couple of different angles may be necessary to view the same exact mental landscape.
I'm saying this to give you a glimpse into the world that appears when you begin to step out of the mind and into the soul, so to say. Its true we have all had soulful moments, some more than others.
As you dig into this, don't be surprised if you begin to have reactions. That's normal. Its part of the process of digging out what is within.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Violence, Anger, and the negative emotions....
Many spiritual traditions warn against the dangers of violence, anger, and other things which stem from or cause negative emotions. But few people realize just why its important to check yourself, so to say, when it comes to anger.
A lot of people I've known seem to enjoy getting angry, (it can sometimes be satisfying, at least in the short-term) but very few people enjoy that anger directed towards them. This is precisely why its important not to put it out. Because, what goes around comes around. That's the principle of karma. But karma is much more than the universe's way of punishing people. Its quite literally the Self treating the Self to what it deserves, in other words, far from others being simply your brothers and sisters in humanity, your fellow humans (and indeed all creatures) are quite literally, your very Self. Treating them well leads to you being treated well, and treating them badly likewise.
As it says in the Sublime song, "try and test that, you're bound to get served...."
You can try and test it, and I can promise you, you will come to this same conclusion. At any rate, many of us have had other people in our lives who had anger trouble, and its a good way to learn what not to do.
In the dhammapada it says, "He who checks rising anger as a charioteer checks a rolling chariot, him I call a true charioteer. Others only hold the reins."
To truly think about how you would want to be treated, is a very interesting exercise. And it can be very eye-opening. Another transcendental thinker, Maynard James Keenan, who is the lead singer for the band Tool, once mentioned in an interview that he sometimes writes down all the mean things he thinks about somebody and then imagines that he's actually talking about himself. It might be an interesting practice for you to try.
If you want to buy the Dhammapada, this is the best version I think.
It's full of wisdom you will continue to think about. It can make your life better, and the world better...that's a fact!
A lot of people I've known seem to enjoy getting angry, (it can sometimes be satisfying, at least in the short-term) but very few people enjoy that anger directed towards them. This is precisely why its important not to put it out. Because, what goes around comes around. That's the principle of karma. But karma is much more than the universe's way of punishing people. Its quite literally the Self treating the Self to what it deserves, in other words, far from others being simply your brothers and sisters in humanity, your fellow humans (and indeed all creatures) are quite literally, your very Self. Treating them well leads to you being treated well, and treating them badly likewise.
As it says in the Sublime song, "try and test that, you're bound to get served...."
You can try and test it, and I can promise you, you will come to this same conclusion. At any rate, many of us have had other people in our lives who had anger trouble, and its a good way to learn what not to do.
In the dhammapada it says, "He who checks rising anger as a charioteer checks a rolling chariot, him I call a true charioteer. Others only hold the reins."
To truly think about how you would want to be treated, is a very interesting exercise. And it can be very eye-opening. Another transcendental thinker, Maynard James Keenan, who is the lead singer for the band Tool, once mentioned in an interview that he sometimes writes down all the mean things he thinks about somebody and then imagines that he's actually talking about himself. It might be an interesting practice for you to try.
If you want to buy the Dhammapada, this is the best version I think.
It's full of wisdom you will continue to think about. It can make your life better, and the world better...that's a fact!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
The Flow - Witness - Love
Of all the barriers that exist between us, the primary barrier is the illusion that we are separate. This comes from the primary concept-illusion known as "I Am". This "I Am" "appears" as we get older and become adults. Without it we would not have the idea of separateness and hence would not suffer all the bondage that such separateness causes. But it gets to a lot more than that, this "I Am" illusion is the source of all Karma, it's the source of all suffered, it is, also, the only thing which could be called "God". Behind this is the Absolute which is Who You Are.
At any rate, the flow of life is what I'm talking about, and that's this:
FLOW
Which is all that is or will be, flowing out eternally. Witnessing this, is wisdom, to feel you are not separate from other is love, so love is important in this also.
I talked recently to a relative about the concept of "a reserve" of thoughts which we prize, cherish, and refuse to accept are actually part of the same bullshit as the rest of our thoughts. The truth is, everything that enters our minds is either trash or about to be trash, because if it was real, it wouldn't be a thought, it would be an actual thing, thoughts are not real, you are not your thoughts, and they are nothing but bubbles of consciousness.
Consciousness itself, and the mind, the full potential of humanity is one and brilliant, beautiful, and full of potential. But to hold on to one single thought over another is a damaging mistake. It can be so damaging as to cause a huge amount of chaos both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
We have the benefit of living in a world where things are available to us, the wisdom of past and present, and we should take full advantage of it. We have only to jump into the ocean and the rest will take care of itself. Whether we know it or not, we are all capable of breathing underwater (figuratively speaking) and handling the chaos of what happens.
In the final analysis we are neither conscious nor unconscious, neither real or unreal, and the distinctions made are of the mind only this binary talk (10101010111001) is of the computer, that is to say, the human mind, and cannot last. What does last is the infinite intelligence which gives life and meaning to the mind. And this is where your journey ends, and, begins.
Fit and formed mightily, it is rightly unright, justly unjust, it is only when the mind accepts that it does not belong to itself, but belongs to the world, the people, the universe, that it begins to see the infinite possiblities contained therein, and reject the simple poorly constructed formation of its finite self for the ever-superior greater Self from which it came and to which it will one day, inevitably, merge. All is one.
At any rate, the flow of life is what I'm talking about, and that's this:
FLOW
Which is all that is or will be, flowing out eternally. Witnessing this, is wisdom, to feel you are not separate from other is love, so love is important in this also.
I talked recently to a relative about the concept of "a reserve" of thoughts which we prize, cherish, and refuse to accept are actually part of the same bullshit as the rest of our thoughts. The truth is, everything that enters our minds is either trash or about to be trash, because if it was real, it wouldn't be a thought, it would be an actual thing, thoughts are not real, you are not your thoughts, and they are nothing but bubbles of consciousness.
Consciousness itself, and the mind, the full potential of humanity is one and brilliant, beautiful, and full of potential. But to hold on to one single thought over another is a damaging mistake. It can be so damaging as to cause a huge amount of chaos both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
We have the benefit of living in a world where things are available to us, the wisdom of past and present, and we should take full advantage of it. We have only to jump into the ocean and the rest will take care of itself. Whether we know it or not, we are all capable of breathing underwater (figuratively speaking) and handling the chaos of what happens.
In the final analysis we are neither conscious nor unconscious, neither real or unreal, and the distinctions made are of the mind only this binary talk (10101010111001) is of the computer, that is to say, the human mind, and cannot last. What does last is the infinite intelligence which gives life and meaning to the mind. And this is where your journey ends, and, begins.
Fit and formed mightily, it is rightly unright, justly unjust, it is only when the mind accepts that it does not belong to itself, but belongs to the world, the people, the universe, that it begins to see the infinite possiblities contained therein, and reject the simple poorly constructed formation of its finite self for the ever-superior greater Self from which it came and to which it will one day, inevitably, merge. All is one.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Problem of Letting GO
In maharaj's teachings there is a recurring theme. When people ask him: what should I do? He says: do nothing. Which is not very helpful to somebody looking to be put to work. What he meant is, do not effort, just flow, do what comes naturally. You'll notice this over and over and he is completely uncompromising with it, as with every other aspect of his message. There is no superstition and very little belief involved in Maharaj's teachings. But there is some belief, so what is it? Another quote, and again, I'm paraphrasing:
"What I'm giving you is the scientific method, so current in Western science...." That's from I Am That.
And the reality is, he's telling you the truth. All you have to do is follow what he said as if it was an experiment, and you'll see what results you arrive at.
There is a problem in modern society in letting go of control. There is a scary feeling as though by letting go we are putting ourselves at risk of doing some crazy. As Wolinsky said, "you won't do it." But don't take the word from me, just go there and see.
Finally, I want to explain the idea of the Guru. The Guru IS within.
And when you do EVERYTHING the Guru tells you to do, you can cross the barrier into true Wisdom.
So who is the Guru?
You.
:)
"What I'm giving you is the scientific method, so current in Western science...." That's from I Am That.
And the reality is, he's telling you the truth. All you have to do is follow what he said as if it was an experiment, and you'll see what results you arrive at.
There is a problem in modern society in letting go of control. There is a scary feeling as though by letting go we are putting ourselves at risk of doing some crazy. As Wolinsky said, "you won't do it." But don't take the word from me, just go there and see.
Finally, I want to explain the idea of the Guru. The Guru IS within.
And when you do EVERYTHING the Guru tells you to do, you can cross the barrier into true Wisdom.
So who is the Guru?
You.
:)
Monday, April 16, 2012
Islamic Meditation Program
I haven't had a chance to look at this yet, but check it out if you're interested:
Islamic Meditation Program
Islamic Meditation Program
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Personal Reflections of a Meditative Nature
There is one moment, that moment is now. How is your moment? You see, this is forever. After the concept of birth and death is gone, after all the ideas about oneself are gone, the idea that remains is the ever-present state, the NOW. In this moment you are in pain, or perhaps, you are in pleasure. You have never been anywhere OTHER THAN this moment, nor will you ever be. This can feel sometimes limiting and other times liberating, but in the end...relaxing. This is all that was or will be. This is NOW.
In the flow of the stream, in the flow of eternal consciousness, the thing which prevents you from seeing this NOW are all the troubles and issues in your life. Had you the courage to flow with life, these would be seen as they are: ripples on the surface of consciousness.
No, no need to wander off into the woods, to do irrational or stupid things, no need to feed the dragon of fear and self-doubt. One simply has to live conscious and aware, willing to let go of the bad habits in order to enter the stream. The stream is Life, the stream is Self, have you secrets you are hiding? have you monsters under the floorboards? You know the type, the ones you knew you would never reveal, consider bringing them into the forefront, bringing them up for speculation, sort through the mechanism of being and thought.
I am moved by Cosmic Forces which exist beyond and Through me, but, they can only work through me if I put up no force, if I am willing to fulfill my own desires, pay attention to my heart, and stay aware. But most importantly, never to break this chain of knowing. The world is filled up, brimming with problems, issues, things which must be confronted. Are you willing to make the sacrifices necessary to give to people you hardly know? To be generous with people who might as well be your worst enemies, to be strong enough within yourself to be independent, to do things for yourself and not ask for charity?
"A day will dawn when you will laugh at your past efforts. That which will be the day you laugh is also here and now." - Ramana Maharshi
There is nothing to do because you are complete, here and now. Just be.
In the flow of the stream, in the flow of eternal consciousness, the thing which prevents you from seeing this NOW are all the troubles and issues in your life. Had you the courage to flow with life, these would be seen as they are: ripples on the surface of consciousness.
No, no need to wander off into the woods, to do irrational or stupid things, no need to feed the dragon of fear and self-doubt. One simply has to live conscious and aware, willing to let go of the bad habits in order to enter the stream. The stream is Life, the stream is Self, have you secrets you are hiding? have you monsters under the floorboards? You know the type, the ones you knew you would never reveal, consider bringing them into the forefront, bringing them up for speculation, sort through the mechanism of being and thought.
I am moved by Cosmic Forces which exist beyond and Through me, but, they can only work through me if I put up no force, if I am willing to fulfill my own desires, pay attention to my heart, and stay aware. But most importantly, never to break this chain of knowing. The world is filled up, brimming with problems, issues, things which must be confronted. Are you willing to make the sacrifices necessary to give to people you hardly know? To be generous with people who might as well be your worst enemies, to be strong enough within yourself to be independent, to do things for yourself and not ask for charity?
"A day will dawn when you will laugh at your past efforts. That which will be the day you laugh is also here and now." - Ramana Maharshi
There is nothing to do because you are complete, here and now. Just be.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Two Masters - Nisargadatta Maharaj, Bhagawan Nityananda
What is the connection between these two masters? Bhagawan Nityananda and Maharaj "met" that is to say Maharaj met Bhagavan, and he said about him:
"not a day goes by when I do not think of him"
It's hard to know exactly what these two have in common, but I found out about Bhagavan through Wolinksy. The video I posted of Wolinksy has Maharaj on the right side, and Bhagavan on the left. Their teachings were in the same vein, but different. BN had a teaching that was derived more from the siddha tradition while Maharaj's was unmistakably Advaita. The basic difference is that the Siddha tradition relies far more on the Guru and on the Self (including sometimes worship of the Guru) wereas Advaita is not about the personal as much. That's how I have interpreted it, anyway.
At any rate, what do these dead Indian men have to do with you, you ask? I am introducing them into your psyche because I plan to talk about each other teachings in order to go deeper into the ideas that their teachings contain and what the teachings reveal about yoga in general.
Here are some books I recommend about these two masters:
Bhagawan Nityananda: Nisargadatta Maharaj: Also please visit NetiNetifilms.com for copies of all of Stephen Wolinsky's work and other great work.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Further Explorations of the Bhagavad Gita
Forsake all dharmas (teachings)
I was trying to explain earlier about what the message of the Bhagavad Gita is...what I believe it is. My belief is that the Gita is essentially supposed to be about ACTION. It discourages inaction, but even more that the Gita is about bravery and facing one's fears. That's why Krishna told Arjuna to go into battle even though Arjuna didn't want to. For perfectly legitimate reasons, by the way...Arjuna didn't want to HURT anybody. Krishna said, do it, Arjuna...it makes no difference. That's why I love it, because it's a huge contradiction because in actuality India by and large is very peaceful. Krishna wasn't saying START a war, he was saying, just do your duty, and you'll find out sooner or later what the truth is and your confusion will subside.
The reality is, this is a fact: we all have to face fears, we all have to do things which we don't really WANT to do, not only because they are difficult but because we're not sure if they're right or right for that particular moment. In light of this, we often hesitate, and Krishna says, like Nike, just do it.
This is the essence of a new vocabulary term I'm going to introduce: Karma Yoga. Karma Yoga says: surrender the fruits of your labor to me (Krishna) and don't think about what you're doing, just do it. Don't worry about if it goes well, don't think about getting anything from it.....
Just do it. Do what you have to do. That's the teaching. That's all for today.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Stretching for Meditation
This is a great site (the best I have found) for instructions on how to stretch in order to achieve a full lotus position while in seated meditation.
How to Grow a Lotus
I found it several years ago and it is still ranking first in google so I assume it's very popular. :)
Have a NICE day and remember to...
SMILE... :)
Here is the link again in case you are clinically blind: click here!
How to Grow a Lotus
I found it several years ago and it is still ranking first in google so I assume it's very popular. :)
Have a NICE day and remember to...
SMILE... :)
Here is the link again in case you are clinically blind: click here!
Zen Master's Work Ethic - Three Gunas - The Middle Way Pt. 2
"If you focus your mind on me
and revere me with all your heart,
you will surely come to me; this
I promise, because I love you."
and revere me with all your heart,
you will surely come to me; this
I promise, because I love you."
~ Lord Krishna
The book Siddhartha is a book that was written to illustrate the changes that one (that is to say, a seeker) of any time or place undergoes when trying to find the truth. Just like the historical Siddhartha Guatama buddha, the main character in Herman Hesse's book Siddhartha undergoes radical changes in order to become the man that he eventually becomes. He starts off being very monastic, then goes into the work, meets women, makes money, eventually gets fed up and leaves, only to find himself once again rediscovering himself. This is a great illustration of the "middle way" which I was talking about yesterday.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says (and I'm paraphrasing from memory) "There is the man who wants power, there is the man who wants happiness, both these men are wise men, but the one who is wise and detached is, not clinging to anything, is most like me, therefore I love him most." This is also a reference to the middle way... the "sattvic" quality.
The version of the Bhagavad Gita which I highly recommend is translated by Stephen Mitchell and can be found here. It's wonderful...and it may just capture your imagination like it did me. There are some things to look out for with the Bhagavad Gita that may surprise you...and Stephen does a good job of explaining these things to a Western Audience.
The strange things....
First of all, the weirdest thing about the Bhagavad Gita which I am only too happy to point out (because I love shattering people's pardigms) is that it is not a doctrine of Non-violence.
Picture Ghandi with his broken teeth....
It is not in fact, a doctrine of non-violence. Not only that, it is a book which actually ENCOURAGES a soldier to fight in war. This is one of the things which I absolutely love about it... which will bring me right into tomorrow's talk, I'll explain why.
The second thing is, the book is sexist. VERY. Hindus, at least during the ancient times, believed that to be born a woman was a lesser state. That it was the result of bad karma (I know....) this may put off some if not all women. However, there is no mention that women are any less capable of attaining divine knowledge, but still the implication is still there.
Thirdly, Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita that he in fact founded the "four caste system" which means that hindus (at various times in history, not as much today) believe that the caste system is divinely ordained...which is a bit strange. And you might say racist. If not racist certainly class-ist (?.)
So with all these set-backs, why do I like it? I'll go further into it in lessons in the future and you will understand more and more why I like, but for now I'll just say, it's ancient, and there is a wisdom in it that is absolutely unshakable, and can save you from literally ANYTHING no matter how messed up your life is, no matter how insane you feel, it will be there, telling you everything is okay and how to get out of your situation. So for that reason, I have to like it. But I'm not sexist, or racist. I promise!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Zen Master's Work Ethic - Three Gunas - The Middle Way
"You expect me to explain everything right from the beginning? Right from kindergarten class?"~ Nisargadatta Maharaj
What is the work ethic of the zen master? How is he able to work so hard? How is he able to have such discipline? What motivates him?
The Three Gunas idea comes from Hinduism and more or less works out to something like this:
The three Gunas are: Tamas, Sattvas, Rajas.
In Tamasic energy, you've got sloth, muddiness, perversion, laziness....
In Rajasic energy you have passion, anger, urgency, restlessness.....
In Sattvic energy is the "between" or "just right" where you're not overly passionate, and you're not slothful.
Much like goldilocks....
Yes, in addition to disturbing the every day life of three bears, goldilocks also illustrated a Zen concept in typical Zen parable form. The best kind of energy is the "middle way" energy which is the most peaceful. Nothing that is sattvic in nature can be of any harm, while the tamas and rajas seek to reek all kinds of harm on us every day. However it's also important to note that this does not make them "bad" but merely part of the every day float of elements.
This is also called "dispassionate awareness" by Maharaj. And this concept of "Just right" comes up over and over again in any enlightenment doctrine that is worth its salt (or porridge).
After all, didn't the Buddha himself find enlightenment only after realizing the "middle way" between excess and self-denial? This concept is illustrated wonderfully in Herman Hesse's beautiful novel based on the Buddha's life called Siddhartha. It's a wonderful book that should be read by everybody, especially young men in search of purpose.
Frequently its in the energy known as love that this Sattva Guna truly flourishes. So the idea of being in a close relationship might be a divine mandate just as much as it is a societal expectation, and personal inclination.
"When you're warm, really warm, well you get things done, like they've never been done...."
~ John Lennon "Hold on"
Monday, February 27, 2012
Infinity
"This is the place where the intellect gets annihilated...."
~Nisargadatta MaharajThis is a Zen drawing which has its roots deep in Japanese history and culture as well as buddhist. I once had a vision where I saw this circle as being the universe...I don't know the real "academic meaning" but I take it to mean, basically, infinity.
The void universe IS a circle which includes all things, yet, is never finished because, it has no beginning nor end, and is therefore infinite.
If we think about our fundamental thinking as having to change, in order for us to appreciate the difference between buddhism and Christianity, for example, it would certainly make sense that the Christian idea of a "beginning" and also a "final judgment" comes from the fundamental belief in Birth and Death, which is something that doesn't exist in Buddhism. Once you get that that reincarnation is infinite, an infinite loop, then you also see that there never was a "beginning" nor will there be an "end". It was all a mere illusion.
The idea of infinity may be one of the most important ideas to grasp because if there is no birth, and no death, there is no reason to DEFEND one's existence. There is no longer any reason to fight for survival. There is no reason to fight for what you want out of life. And yet, we do. Which comes to the idea of non-doing. Non-doing exists in taoism, buddhism, and hinduism in different guises but basically comes down to: "doership" is an illusion, created by desire. If you are doing things for others, you essentially forget the fundamental separation between yourself and the world. Non-doing does not mean no action, but it means no SELFISH action, only action for others. In the process of thinking only about others, one forgets oneself, naturally seeing the witness behind and beyond the individual identity, and merging thereafter with the ocean of awareness which sets the background of our existence. This is also known as "enlightenment." To realize you exist beyond time and space (are not limited by birth and death) that is enlightenment. To reach the state where there is no longer any more CREATION of karma at any level, is Parinirvana or simply NIRVANA.
But as Stephen Wolinsky is fond of saying: "Nirvana Means Extinction." Literally...the word Nirvana means:
EXTINCTION.
Of what? Personal identity. Separation consciousness. Limited consciousness. Finite consciousness. The idea to ponder is, the circle. Which is, void universe, Infinity. All sentient beings are emptiness.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Advaita Vedanta, Nisarga Yoga, Non-Duality...An Introduction
First of all a small note. If you happen to use Google plus, please click the "plus one" button at the bottom on posts you like. If you use any other social media and like one of my posts, please share it with others. Thank you very much !
If you go to India, you might hear people talking about advaita. Advaita is a broad term which can encompass a range of teachings....
I interpret advaita as I have heard it explained as being basically "one substance, not two." That everything is in fact one substance, and not two substances. Vedanta means "the end of the vedas" the vedas being the teachings. Perhaps this video will help you understand.
This is a disciple of Maharaj whom I met at one of his (Wolinsky's) conferences. He is very into quantum physics and neuroscience as a way to explain and understand Advaita Vedanta, or the teachings of Maharaj.
There is another component to Maharaj from which Maharaj himself derived his name (Nisargadatta). Nisargadatta was not his real name, but was a name he appointed himself after his realization because it was a name that came up for him when he was writing poetry. The word Nisarga which means natural (roughly translated) in this context is from the idea of "Nisarga Yoga" which is basically the yoga of living. Maharaj called it the only natural Yoga. It is a non-yoga if you will, it is the yoga of living, the yoga of everyday life. You live your life, contemplate the teachings and then become self-realized. Maybe you would be given a few instructions, perhaps a mantra, and told to meditate and think on the teachings but that's it.
Maharaj was himself part of a nine master lineage in India. He had a guru from whom he got his teaching and who told him to do Bhajans which are devotional songs to him every day as a kind of tribute. Which he did, every day, until he died which was in his eighties.
In Tantric Yoga (which has very little to do with sex, btw, although the West has interpreted it that way) they talk about how everything is consciousness, and nothing exists outside of consciousness, meaning, everything, including the Observer you are, the person you are, and your world, is part of the same ONE consciousness, which is to assert the underlying UNITY that is present in these kinds of teachings and religions. This is the essence of Non-Duality, also, since obviously the fundamental duality comes from our belief in ourselves as Individuals, separate from our Environments, and each other. Are you tripped out yet? If not, you will be soon.
For more info, check out NetiNetifilms.com.
Or check out one of Wolinsky's self-help books here: Trances People Live
That's all for now, I hope this has been helpful. Remember, if you like the posts, share them or google PLUS them!
"You are not your thoughts, memories, emotions, associations, perceptions, attentions, or intentions...." ~ Stephen Wolinksy
If you go to India, you might hear people talking about advaita. Advaita is a broad term which can encompass a range of teachings....
I interpret advaita as I have heard it explained as being basically "one substance, not two." That everything is in fact one substance, and not two substances. Vedanta means "the end of the vedas" the vedas being the teachings. Perhaps this video will help you understand.
This is a disciple of Maharaj whom I met at one of his (Wolinsky's) conferences. He is very into quantum physics and neuroscience as a way to explain and understand Advaita Vedanta, or the teachings of Maharaj.
There is another component to Maharaj from which Maharaj himself derived his name (Nisargadatta). Nisargadatta was not his real name, but was a name he appointed himself after his realization because it was a name that came up for him when he was writing poetry. The word Nisarga which means natural (roughly translated) in this context is from the idea of "Nisarga Yoga" which is basically the yoga of living. Maharaj called it the only natural Yoga. It is a non-yoga if you will, it is the yoga of living, the yoga of everyday life. You live your life, contemplate the teachings and then become self-realized. Maybe you would be given a few instructions, perhaps a mantra, and told to meditate and think on the teachings but that's it.
Maharaj was himself part of a nine master lineage in India. He had a guru from whom he got his teaching and who told him to do Bhajans which are devotional songs to him every day as a kind of tribute. Which he did, every day, until he died which was in his eighties.
In Tantric Yoga (which has very little to do with sex, btw, although the West has interpreted it that way) they talk about how everything is consciousness, and nothing exists outside of consciousness, meaning, everything, including the Observer you are, the person you are, and your world, is part of the same ONE consciousness, which is to assert the underlying UNITY that is present in these kinds of teachings and religions. This is the essence of Non-Duality, also, since obviously the fundamental duality comes from our belief in ourselves as Individuals, separate from our Environments, and each other. Are you tripped out yet? If not, you will be soon.
For more info, check out NetiNetifilms.com.
Or check out one of Wolinsky's self-help books here: Trances People Live
That's all for now, I hope this has been helpful. Remember, if you like the posts, share them or google PLUS them!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
20-minute meditation
Just finished a 20-minute meditation...this is a cool website to time your meditation sessions: http://www.onlinemeditationtimer.com/. Cheers!
~AA
~AA
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Nobody Reads Anymore!
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" ~Lao TzuI'll admit. I consider myself a pretty decent writer. I write this blog in the hopes that there are some people left on the planet who like to read. But I also plan to include a lot of video, and a lot of things for people who don't like to read, or don't have the time to. My goal is to guide the reader in their meditation path as easily as I can, from the knowledge I have gathered. I hope you can find some help in these pages, and if you are going to come by frequently, I hope you'll support my work by buying something from one of my links.
The things included in this blog will be:
-Overall review of concepts included in the study of meditation, eastern mysticism, oneness, non-duality, and a lot of other cool stuff. I shy away from Christianity and most of the Monotheistic religions, but you may hear an occasional mention of it.
My Goals:
-To create posts that are fun and interesting as well as being soothing, the kind of thing that will inspire you to meditate, to keep a meditation journal, to pay attention to your dreams, to find the inner artist, etc. I hope also to be entertaining, rich with content, variety, and I assume you will tell me what you like or dislike (during those rare times when I ask!).
Please don't be offended...
-I don't do this blog to incite criticism, debate, or even conversation... meditation is about silence. I am not "an authority" on anything except for maybe Jimmy John's menu or the Solo work of John Frusciante. I do hold a degree, but it has nothing to do with meditation. It is in Music Production. A lot of what I present is my opinion or personal interpretation of a concept or idea. Other times I will resort to "facts."I am not presenting a public forum for you to tell me about how "wrong I am" about "this or that." I hold nothing against you, but I tell you that my interest simply lies elsewhere. I am not your priest, your dentist, your doctor, lawyer, or your daughter's boyfriend, so please, keep the chit chat to yourself, this is my opinion, take it or leave it. :)
Having cleared that out of the way, let me tell you a little about myself:
I started on my path at the age of 15. I remember getting a book by the Dalai Lama called "How to Practice : The Way to a Meaningful Life". This was a crossroads for me. And at the time, somehow before I started reading, I knew it would be. I read a few interesting books after that, but the one that shook up my world was called "I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj". This was something that literally hit my nervous system like a FIRE STORM and consumed me, drug me into hell, sometimes into heaven, but always made me question. Here I am six years later, and I find quoting the book as easy as reciting my own name. Though I rarely look through it at all anymore....
But the other side of this, for those of us who are intellectually inclined, is the old tradition of SCRIPTURE that is, the written word, upon which we might think. In tandem, these two things can take you to "NIRVANA" as fast as a speedboat can run out of gas during the Arab Winter.
That's about it for the first post. Comments are disabled. :) -_- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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