Meditation and Spiritual Growth (62 - 67)

Contents A seaside morning meditation (Kabbalah) ....................................................................... 2

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1917 – 2008), Transcendental Meditation, and the Spiritual Regeneration Movement ............................................................................................... 11

Good night dear children, and sweet dreams ................................................................ 20

What a beautiful sight .................................................................................................... 25

An iceberg on the ocean, two aspects of the same reality ............................................ 30

What day is it anyway? .................................................................................................. 38

This document is free and yours to distribute. I hope that it will serve as an inspiration and source of knowledge for your spiritual journey. Not for resale. All rights reserved by John Kirszenberg. (c) 2010 & 2011 John Kirszenberg

A seaside morning meditation (Kabbalah)

The Dead Sea

It was a short 2-hour drive from Tel Aviv, passing south of Jerusalem, and then traveling via the

Ma‘aleh Adumim highway directly to the Dead Sea Valley. The desert terrain was hilly and

spotted with multiple rock outcroppings typical of this arid climate. Buildings and other

structural signs of human civilization dotted the landscape. The sun was still young in the

morning sky as the tour bus made its way down the winding road.

Joshua gently applied the brakes to the motor coach as the vehicle descended on the long

winding path. The 46 tourists peered out the bus windows in marvel of the scenery. Excitement

was building as the Dead Sea was coming into view.

As an employee of the Holy Land travel agency Joshua made this run almost every morning.

After spending a few hours at the Dead Sea, he would reload the bus and take the tourists onto

Masada. He had pictures of his family; wife Adira, daughters Kataniya, Levana, Rivka, and sons

Yizrach and Shevi on the bus dashboard to add brightness to the trip. He loved them dearly.

They had arrived at the lowest level on the earth‘s surface, 423 meters (1,388 feet) below sea

level. The Dead Sea is a vast salt lake bordering Jordan to the east, and Israel proper to the west.

It‘s almost 9 times as salty as the Atlantic Ocean. The bus doors opened as the coach came to a

stop in the parking lot, all 8 wheels now standing still.

How did the Dead Sea, once connected to a mighty ocean, get this way?

An arm of the Mediterranean existed in this area before continental rifting started about 15-

million year ago. As the land rose the waters drained off, both eastward through the Haifa

Channel to the Mediterranean, and southward into the Gulf of Elat.

The moving African tectonic plate and the Asia/Arabian plate caused a rift valley to develop.

The African plate is tending to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, so when there is northward

movement the segment is shifted slightly eastward. The Asia/Arabian plate has moved northward

65 miles along a strike-slip fault system, with 18.6 miles of those having been in the last five

million years alone.

The rifting started in the early Miocene, crossed this residual arm of the sea isolating a portion of

it, which became the Dead Sea segment. The area originally grew in size as it was in a wet

period and became known as Lake Lisan. Varying levels of Lake Lisan came and went as

recorded on the sediment on the walls of the rift.

With time, the sinking of the graben (an elongated, relatively depressed crustal unit bounded by

faults on both sides) and evaporation reduced Lake Lisan to a smaller area which became known

as the Dead Sea.

As the passengers made their way down to the Sea with their tour guide, Joshua settled down to

meditate at his favorite spot. It was a small hill overlooking the majestic view. He and his family

were practitioners of Kabbalah, and he often did his morning meditation at this same place. He

closed his eyes, and the wonders of the subtle worlds began to reveal themselves once again.

The practice of Kabbalah meditation generally involves a morning meditation, plus a recitation

of the 3 blessings, and meditation verses.

Morning meditation:

Kabbalah meditation enables the seeker to directly interact with the higher worlds and bring

about positive changes in life. It is also the quest for the transcendent eternal absolute value of

life.

Its various forms:

» Wrapped in a prayer shawl, sit and shut your eyes and transcend the physical as if your soul

has left your body and is ascending to heaven.

» Introspection and visualization to improve moral character.

» Concentration, do not focus on the Sefirot (Divine emanations) per se, but rather on the light

from the Infinite (―Atzmut‖-essence of God) contained within the emanations.

» Mental recitation on a sequence of Hebrew letters and words, permutations and combinations,

coupled with giving thanks to God. The Hebrew letters have significant numerical values.

» Techniques that elicit visionary experiences of the angels and their resident chambers.

» Guided and experiential listening to Kabbalistic music.

» Breathing exercises in four stages corresponding to the four letters of the ineffable name of the

Creator.

» A series of head movements and breathing, combined with pronouncing the Divine name.

» ―Hear Oh Israel‖ prayer with deep and internal intention and devotion, and understanding the

logic and spiritual structure of prayer, as an authentic and uplifting experience for the soul.

» Intellectual analysis of philosophical and mystical concepts.

The 3 blessings:

These blessings are intended to invoke the healing power of spirits, allowing them to descend

upon you and give you their strength. They are:

May Hashem bless you and protect you

May Hashem shine His face upon you

May Hashem lift His countenance towards you, and grant you peace

(Hashem in Hebrew is ―God‖)

Meditation verses:

This is usually recited at night, as a way of beseeching the powers that be to return your soul to

your body in the morning. Kabbalistic thought holds that the spirit leaves the body during sleep

to inhabit a higher plane of consciousness. In Kabbalah tradition it is believed that every night

the soul ascends to the upper worlds and returns to the body in the morning.

The Kabbalah tradition is old and ancient. It has always been taught through oral instruction,

even though there are books and texts that expound its philosophy. Although associated with

Judaism it contains universal truths applicable to all people of all times. It prescribes a method

for rising above suffering and egoism. It can be considered to be the musical notes of creation, as

well as the silent pause between each note. The true nature of God is transcendent and cannot be

described, except with reference to what it is not.

Some Jews consider the Kabbalah to represent the true meaning and teachings of Judaism, while

others do not. The actual term ―Kabbalah‖ may have first been used by the Jewish philosopher

Solomon Gabirol around the year 1040 AD. Today it represents Jewish esoteric knowledge and

practices.

Its literature developed over a period of time. During the 1st and 2nd centuries the Hekhalot texts

and Sefer Yetzirah appeared. During the 12th-13th century the Zohar, the mainstay of

Kabbalistic thought and philosophy, was written. In the 16th century there was a revival of the

knowledge led by Isaac Luria. In the 18th century the Eastern European Hasidic groups took the

knowledge under their wing and spread its teachings.

Today, Kabbalah literature consists of these primary texts:

Hekhalot, the Heavenly Palaces:

These texts primarily focus either on how to achieve a heavenly ascent through the Hekhalot

(heavenly palaces) and what to expect there, or on drawing down angelic spirits to interact and

help the adept.

Sefer Yetzira, the Book of Formation/Creation:

This book describes how the universe was created, through the 32 wondrous ways of wisdom.

» the 10 Sefirot; the 3 elements air, water and fire, plus the 6 directions and center.

» the 22 letters (3 mother letters, 7 double letters plus 12 simple letters) of the Hebrew alphabet.

The book relies on the 32 ways to explain the makeup of the universe and the laws governing its

function.

Bahir, the Illumination/Midrash:

This is a summary of the essential teachings of Kabbalah literature.

Raziel Ha-Malakh, Raziel the Angel:

Most likely written in the 13th century by Elazar Rokeach, it explains Kabbalah astrology along

with the mystic alphabet and formulas.

Zohar, the Book of Splendor:

This book is the Kabbalistic commentary on the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, and is the most

important Kabbalistic text.

Quotes from the Zohar:

―The entire lower world was created in the likeness of the higher world. All that exists in the

higher world appears like an image in this lower world; yet all this is but One.

All souls must undergo transmigration and the souls of men revolve like a stone which is thrown

from a sling, so many turns before the final release…Only those who have not completed their

perfection must suffer the wheel of rebirth by being reborn into another human body.

Before God manifested Himself, when all things were still hidden in Him… He began by

forming an imperceptible point; that was His own thought. With this thought He then began to

construct a mysterious and holy form… the Universe‖.

Pardes Rimonim, the Garden of Pomegranates:

Written in the 16th century this book by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero is one interpretation of the

Zohar.

Etz Hayim and the Eight Gates, the Tree of Life:

This consists of a primary introduction to the remainder of the Lurianic system.

There are subtle differences between the Kabbalah of Moses Cordovero and the Lurianic

Kabbalah (the primary school in Eastern Europe).

The basic principles of Kabbalah:

1) There is a basic universal eternal (upper) force that we all live in. We are the egoistic parts

that are opposite to it. Our egos evolve in this world but in the end we reach a state where we

have to unify with this force.

2) Who are we? The upper force is good. We were created in opposition to it in order to reveal

that the nature of the ego is destructive. We want to break free from this (the ego) to become like

IT. We can accomplish this through the method of Kabbalah.

3) We are one soul, one egotistical desire, created by the upper force to enjoy. We were shattered

into millions of parts called individual souls. They are what develop during this whole process on

earth in time/space.. We have to correct ourselves to become like the creator, so we all need to

unify together back into one soul. Realize that our ego is destructive, and strive to reconnect back

together with everyone.

The Tree of Life

The Kabbalah tree of life is a mystical symbol that describes the attributes/properties of life and

defines a path to Hashem (God). It describes how the universe was created, continues to exist,

and the process for human reunification with Hashem.

The 10 Sephiroth are the attributes that God created for space/time/causation manifestation.

1) Keter – supernal crown, representing the above consciousness and will, humility

2) Chochmah – the highest potential of thought, wisdom

3) Binah – the understanding of the potential

…… Da‘at – intellect of knowledge

4) Chesed – sometimes referred to as Gedolah-greatness, loving-kindness

5) Gevurah – sometimes referred to as Din-justice or Pachad-fear, severity/strength and power

6) Tipheret – beauty, mercy, adornment

7) Netzach – victory/eternity

8 Hod – glory/splendour

9) Yesod – foundation

10) Malkuth – the kingdom, physical reality

From the lower primal universal energies (Malkuth) to the higher levels of human soul

individuation and spiritual union with the divine (Keter), the Tree of Life depicts the unfoldment

and levels of realization of our world, similar to the way that Chakras and the Pingala Nadi

(right) and the Ida Nadi (left) channels do.

Fractal Kabbalah

The Kabbalistic teaching refers to the 7 gates of heaven, which are the different states of

consciousness.

Kabbalah seeks to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose

of existence, and various other ontological questions.

The Maggi of Mezerich has said:

―A man should actually detach his ego from his body until he passes through all the worlds and

becomes one with God, till he disappears entirely out of the bodiless world‖.

Kabbalah Afterlife Chart

One can easily spend a lifetime learning Kabbalah and mastering it principles and meditation

practices. The various levels of the relative world and the absolute transcendent can thereby be

realized.

Joshua and his family were born in Israel and have followed the Kabbalistic teachings for years.

It is their guide and foundation for spiritual development.

Meditation opens our awareness to new vistas and greater intellectual understanding. As we

journey through life, challenges and adventures open our heart and mind to the field of all

possibilities. Wondrous lands are within and afar. The joy of finding the timeless value of life

within a delicate flower, in the majesty of the mountains and seas, and in the smile of your loved

ones, is unbounded.

Posted by John Kirszenberg on January 30th, 2011

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1917 – 2008), Transcendental Meditation, and the Spiritual Regeneration Movement

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was born as Mahesh Prasad Varma, in the city of Jabalpur, India. From

an early age he was interested in spiritual matters and regularly visited saints and other sadhus.

He became a disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati in 1941, but continued his studies at

Allahabad University where in 1942 he graduated with a degree in Physics. After getting his

degree he became the Swami‘s full time student and secretary.

The Swami had recently filled the northern Shankaracharya (spiritual leader) seat of Jyotirmath

in the Indian Himalayas. At the age of nine Brahmananda left home is search of the spiritual

path. At age fourteen he found his chosen master and lived most of his life in the forests,

remaining in silence. At age 70 he accepted the Shankaracharya seat. He is reverently known as

―Guru Dev‖ to Maharishi.

After the passing of his beloved Guru Dev in 1953, Maharishi retired to the caves of Uttar Kashi,

high in the Himalayan Mountains. In 1953 he ―felt‖ that for some reason he needed to travel to

southern India, so he left his home and journeyed to the south not knowing what to expect. Some

people saw him and asked that he speak about spiritual matters. He reluctantly agreed. News

quickly spread that a ―saint‖ from the Himalayas was visiting, and so one lecture after another

was setup. Maharishi just went with the flow feeling that it was natures need.

Beginning in 1955 Maharishi began to introduce the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique

and other related programs and initiatives to the world. In 1957 the Spiritual Regeneration

Movement was born in Madras, India. He spent time touring and teaching in many of the cities

of India.

His first global tour began in 1958. He visited Burma, Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong

and Hawaii. Every step along the way people greeted him with love and enthusiasm. He didn‘t

plan it, but one thing led to another. He would often get on the plane not knowing who, if anyone

was going to meet him at the next destination.

In 1959 while in San Francisco, the movement was rename The International Meditation Society.

His meditation technique, from Guru Dev and the tradition of Masters, became then known as

Transcendental Meditation.

In 1961 he visited Austria, Sweden, France, Italy, Greece, India, Kenya, and England. He

appeared on the BBC, and in that same year held the first TM teacher training class in India.

There were 60 students.

In 1962 he visited Europe, India (again), Australia and New Zealand. He also completed the

book; The Science of Being and Art of Living.

In 1964 he toured the World for the fourth time. In 1967 he presented a talk at Caxton Hall in

London, which was attended by George Harrison‘s wife. In 1968 the Beatles spent time with

Maharishi at his center in Rishikesh, India.

In 1972 the World Plan was introduced with the following seven goals:

1. To develop the full potential of the individual

2. To improve governmental achievements

3. To realize the highest ideal of education

4. To solve the problems of crime, drug abuse, and all behavior that brings unhappiness to the

family of man

5. To maximize the intelligent use of the environment

6. To bring fulfillment to the economic aspirations of individuals and society

7. To achieve the spiritual goals of mankind in this generation.

In 1972 the pioneering research done by Dr. Keith Wallace on Transcendental Meditation

opened the floodgates to further scientific discovery. Prior to that only a few Buddhist monks

were available for participation in research, but in the 1970‘s the rapidly growing number of TM

practitioners made finding subjects easier. The study also conclusively showed for perhaps the

first time that the rest gained during the practice of TM was deeper than that of sleep.

Since then more than 600 scientific studies verifying the wide-ranging benefits of the

Transcendental Meditation technique have been conducted at 250 independent universities and

medical schools in 33 countries.

In 1974 Maharishi International University was established in Fairfield, Iowa. In 1995 the school

was renamed to Maharishi University of Management.

Advanced TM Techniques and the TM Sidhi program (1976) are also available.

In the year 2000 Tony Nader was named to be Maharishi‘s successor. Dr. Nader has a medical

degree from the American University of Beirut where he studied internal medicine and

psychiatry. He received a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the field of

brain and Cognitive Science, and has worked as a clinical and research fellow at the

Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

After the Maharishi‘s passing in 2008, Dr. Nader was given the title ―Maharaja Adhiraj

Rajaraam.‖

Today Peace Palaces and TM centers can be found in almost every country of the world. More

than 6 million people have learned Transcendental Meditation and about 40,000 students have

been trained as teachers.

§§

The TM Technique Defined:

The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless process practiced 15-20

minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with eyes closed. It is unique among techniques of

meditation, distinguished by its effortlessness, naturalness and profound effectiveness.

TM does not require:

Any belief system, special diet or change in life style, concentration or mind control, or special

ability / mental aptitude. Anyone can do it.

§§

from the book – The Science of Being and Art of Living

Experience shows that Being is bliss consciousness, the source of all thinking, of all existing

creation. It lies out of all relative existence where the experiencer or mind is left awake by itself

in full awareness of itself without any experience of an object. The conscious mind reaches the

state of pure consciousness which is the source of all thinking. The almighty creative intelligence

of the absolute is the source of all intelligence. Being is the source of all power. It is the source

of all nature and all the natural laws which maintain the different forms and phenomena in

creation.

The essential nature of Being is absolute bliss consciousness. Without the knowledge of the

fundamental of life, absolute bliss consciousness, life is like a building without a foundation. All

relative life without the conscious basis of the Being is like a ship without a rudder, ever at the

mercy of the tossing sea. It is like a dry leaf on the ground left to the mercy of the wind, drifting

aimlessly in any direction the wind takes it, for it has no roots to anchor it. The life of the

individual without the realization of the Being is baseless, meaningless, and fruitless …

…There is one law of the universe which never changes, and there are innumerable laws which

are responsible for all the changes in creation. The law that never changes ever maintains the

integrity of the ultimate, essential constituent of creation. So this cosmic law is such that it never

changes; yet, even while it never changes, it keeps on bringing forth newer and newer laws at

different strata of nature. This results in the different states of creation, the different forms and

phenomena …

… We have seen that Being lies beyond the subtlest stratum of creation in the transcendental

field of absolute existence. In order to experience this transcendental reality, it is necessary that

our attention be led in a concrete manner through all the subtle strata of creation. Then, arriving

at the subtlest level, it must transcend that experience to know the transcendental Being …

… Life is the light of God, the expression of Divinity. It is divine. It is the stream of eternal

Being, a flow of existence, of intelligence, of creativity, of purity, and of bliss …

… The laws of nature cannot be deceived; the reaction will come. If a man is jealous of you, you

will find, when you search your heart, that you have been jealous either of him or of someone

else sometime in the past. Be kind to him, and the surroundings will be kind to you; be loving to

him, and the surrounding will be loving to you; begin to doubt, and the surrounding begin to

doubt you. If you hate, the surrounding begin to hate you. If the surrounding begin to hate you,

do not blame the surroundings; blame your own inner conscience …

… The all-permeating eternal existence of the Being is the basis of the body, mind, and

surroundings of the individual, as the sap is the basis of all branches, trunk, leaves, and fruit of

the tree. But when the sap fails to reach the surface levels of the tree, then the outer aspects of the

tree begin to suffer and wither away. Likewise, when the Being is not brought onto the conscious

surface level of life the outer aspects of life begin to suffer.

… If health and harmony are to be enjoyed in life, somehow the transcendental value of Being

must be brought out and infused into all aspects of life – body, mind, and surroundings …

… Speech is the expression of both the heart and mind together. Therefore, for the speech to be

right, it is necessary that the man be right in his heart and mind …

… Joyfulness is a quality that cultivates and spreads love. And again, that is the result of the

overflowing love of the heart. Joyfulness, love, kindness, and tolerance should be cultivated.

With all these qualities comes the contentment and overflowing love of the heart and mind which

is the basis of good social relationships …

… When the individual as risen to cosmic consciousness, all his thoughts and actions are part of

the cosmic purpose. Then, whatever he does, speaks, and thinks help the process of evolution.

They help to neutralize the unnatural influence created by those minds that are not integrated…

… Nature moves on and on in evolution, and this process of creation is eternal. It is therefore not

possible to bring nature to the level of the transcendental Being. But, because the eternal ever-

changing field of nature is eternally permeated by the state of Being, it is possible to make the

transcendental Being vibrate in the surroundings. This is possible by eliminating the disharmony

that might be radiated by the individual who is not cosmically evolved. This disharmony should

be properly understood…

… The bliss consciousness of the absolute Being and the relative joys of the variety of creation

should be lived hand in hand. This means the fulfillment of life in cosmic consciousness…

… The fulfillment of religion lies in gaining for man a direct way to God realization and all that

is necessary for making him a complete man, a man of fully integrated life, a man of great

intelligence, creativity, wisdom, peace, and happiness…

… The ultimate fulfillment of psychology lies in enabling the individual mind to attune itself and

remain tuned with the cosmic mind, in bringing a fast coordination of the individual mind with

the cosmic mind, so all of the activity of the individual mind is in conformity with cosmic

evolution and with the purpose of cosmic life…

… The fulfillment of philosophy lies in making a man realize that the transitory values of day-to-

day coexist with the permanent and imperishable values of eternal life…

To the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Bhagwan Shankaracharya,

Jyotir-Math, Himalaya, and as blessing from him this book is presented to all lovers of life

desirous of enjoying all glories – Worldly and Divine.

§§

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at Lake Louise Canada, 1968

The depth of the lake and the ripples, and the beautiful reflection of the glacier, reminds me of

the story of inner life. The mind is deep like a lake, the ripples on the surface represent the

consciousness mind, the activity of the mind on the surface. And the whole dept of the lake is

silent. And that is the subconscious mind, which is not used by the wave.

But if, the wave could deepen and incorporate more silent levels of the water, the waves would

become the waves of the ocean, the mighty waves. This is what happens in transcendental

meditation. The surface activity of the conscious mind deepens and incorporates within its fold

the depth of the subconscious. And with practice, nothing remains subconscious. The whole

subconscious becomes conscious. And a man starts using full potential of the mind…

**

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on ―What is Transcendental Meditation (TM)‖ 1970

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi:

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a very natural procedure of experiencing the finer state of the

thinking process and to arrive at the source of thought, which is the pure field of creative

intelligence; pure awareness, unbounded awareness is at the source of thought. And through the

practice of Transcendental Meditation, the awareness reaches that source of thought. One feels

relaxed, one feels happy inside. The bodies anxieties disappear.

Transcendental Meditation is a practice for 15 to 20 minutes morning and evening; and everyone

feels fresh throughout the day; more vital more energetic. So Transcendental Meditation is a

procedure for enrichment of life, for betterment of life, for more success and more progress and

more joy of life.

Question: Which is the technique used to teach Meditation?

The technique is taught in seven stages. A man is told how much physically he‘ll become better,

mentally he‘ll become better. His behavior will improve. All this anger and anxieties, they will

disappear. So a man is told in the beginning what benefits he gets. And then he‘s told how

reliable is the practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM). For the last fifteen years I‘ve been

teaching throughout the world. Seven, eight hundred thousand people now are practicing

Transcendental Meditation in different countries. So it‘s a reliable thing. People should know

that it is something which is reliable, something which is simple; everyone can do it, and the

effects are great. And when they know this, they want to practice it.

**

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on ―How Transcendental Meditation Restores Balance in Society‖

Question: How does TM help with stress and aging.

MMY:

Large amount of scientific research has shown that release from stress is the first effect that

comes from TM. It just quiets down the mental activity and releases stress. This in terms of the

Vedic literature is called balance. Stress means imbalance; imbalance in the relationship of mind

and body. Mind and body relationship gets strained and through TM it gets rebalanced…

**

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on ―Why is it important to practice Transcendental Meditation.‖

Question: I‘m trying to ask some basic questions because our readers don‘t have the

understanding of what‘s going on; so I‘m going to have to go back to the beginning.

Maharishi: No no, your readers want basic things. Because if you control the base, everything

will be self-controlled. Your readers are intelligent in this country.

Question:

I just want to know, basically, what is TM, and why should people practice it?

Maharishi:

TM takes the mind, the conscious mind, to Transcendental Consciousness. This Transcendental

Consciousness has come-out to be known as, Unified Field of all the Laws of Nature. Now,

Transcendental Meditation is the first step to opening the door of all possibilities; because it

takes human awareness — takes the human conscious mind — to be that which the physics has

declared to be the Unified Field of all the Laws of Nature. Now, why should people practice

Transcendental Meditation? The reason is that everyone wants to fulfill one‘s desires; and if one

has this technique to think from the Unified Field, then one would be thinking from that ground

where all the Laws of Nature are active. In order to get the support of Nature, we want absolutely

everyone in the world to practice Transcendental Meditation.

§§

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi speaks about Love in a 1967 recording:

Love is the sweet expression of life. It is the supreme content of life. Love is the force of life,

powerful and sublime.

The flower of life blooms in love and radiates love all around. Life expresses itself through love.

The stream of life is a wave on the ocean of love. Life is expressed in the waves of love, and the

ocean of love flows in the waves of life.

What a comfort love brings to the heart. The heart tickles with the thought of love, and waves of

life begin to roll on the ocean of love.

Love is highly sensitive. It is the most delicate power of life. And life is a most dynamic

expression of love.

The silent force of love knows no barrier. It takes the life from the ruggedness of mountains, to

the roughness of the sea, and there, in silence of wilderness, and even so in the noisy horizon of

the sea, the vast expansion of the unbounded love from a distance brings a breeze cool and fresh

to cool the heart and soothe the pangs of separation.

Let not the din of the world, and the thick and thin of life disturb the fullness of love in us. Let us

be full of grace, and full of light.

No drop of precious love is ever wasted. For every drop of love flows the unbounded ocean of

bliss. And the ocean of bliss unfolds the love divine and fills the heart.

The divinity of the heaven dwells in our hearts as love. Love in the heart of man is the shrine of

God on Earth.

With age and experience, the tree of love grows. It grows with the growth of life and evolution,

and finds its fulfillment in the eternal love of the omnipresent God, which fills the heart and

overthrows the darkness of ignorance.

Love as love is universal. Personal love is concentrated universal love.

Simple, innocent, natural, normal state of love, without inhibitions, is a divine quality, which is

the natural quality of graceful life.

Love shall save us from wrong, and guide our part in life. Love shall forever shine on our way,

and the light will guide our steps whether we go slow or fast.

The light of love shall forever be with us on our way. Love shall forever be the anchor of our

life. We shall be in love, and love shall be in us. We shall live in love, shall grow in love, and

shall find fulfillment in love eternal.

§§

Quotes from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi:

Whatever we put our attention on will grow stronger in our life.

When we think of failure, failure will be ours. If we remain undecided, nothing will ever change.

All we need to do is want to achieve something great and then simply to do it. Never think of

failure for what we think, will come about.

Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower, and draws all good things toward you.

Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others. Do not strain after the needs of life. It is

sufficient to be quietly alert and aware of them. In this way life proceeds more naturally and

effortlessly. Life is here to Enjoy!‖

The whole purpose of life is to gain enlightenment.

Nothing else is significant compared to that completely natural, exalted state of consciousness.

So always strive for that.

Set your life around that goal.

Don‘t get caught up in small things, and then it will be yours.

Having the Kingdom of Heaven within you, you have no right to suffer in life; you only have to

enjoy the grace of God.

Consciousness is the basis of all life and the field of all possibilities. Its nature is to expand and

unfold its full potential. The impulse to evolve is thus inherent in the very nature of life.

We are not responding to this instant, if we are judging any aspect of it.

The ego looks for what to criticize. This always involves comparing with the past.

But love looks upon the world peacefully and accepts.

The ego searches for short comings and weaknesses.

Love watches for any sign of strength. It sees how far each one has come, and not how far he has

to go.

How simple it is to love, and exhausting it is always to find fault, for every time we see a fault

we think something needs to be done about it.

Love knows that nothing is ever needed but more love.

It is what we all do with our hearts that affects others most deeply.

It is not the movements of our body or the words within our minds that transmit love.

We love from heart to heart.

The goal of the Transcendental Meditation Technique is the state of enlightenment. This means

we experience that inner calmness, that quiet state of least excitation, even when we are

dynamically busy.

It (prayer/wisdom) is not through logic but through love; it is not through words but through a

wordless state called meditation-a state of no mind.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we

become.

Enlightenment is the normal, natural state of health for the body and mind. It results from the full

development of consciousness and depends upon the perfect and harmonious functioning of

every part of the body and nervous system. When one is using the full potential of the mind and

body in this way, every thought and action is spontaneously correct and life-supporting. This is

life free from suffering; life lived in its full stature and significance.

§§

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi dedicated his life to teaching Transcendental Meditation to the World.

He humbly proclaimed that this ancient wisdom (TM) was revived by his master Swami

Brahmananda Saraswati, and that he was just a conduit for spreading the message.

Today more than 6-million people practice TM. It is an exemplary transcending meditation

technique, and well worth your while to investigate further.

Posted by John Kirszenberg on January 25th, 2011

Good night dear children, and sweet dreams

Koala Bear

The two brothers, Thaba and Lesedi were exhausted after spending many hours at the beach. It

was nearing the end of summer and their mother Nomalanga had promised the 8 year olds twin

boys one more swim before school started. The sun was shining and the weather fair, so today

was just that day.

Long Beach just outside of Cape Town was the family favorite. They didn‘t see any dolphins in

the water all afternoon, but it was still a special excursion. They made a partial climb up

Chapman‘s Peak to catch the majestic panoramic view of the white Atlantic sand. They had their

favorite fruit along with some Tamatie Bredie stew for lunch. They played in the surf, swam,

dove beneath the waves, raced on the beach, skipped their boards across the water, and had a

great all around time.

By the end of the day they piled into bed, tired but happy. Mother got many hugs before the

lights were finally turned off and the bedtime story was finished. They were a close knit family

and shared life‘s many ups and downs. But today, content and joyful, they closed their eyes and

drifted off to sleep.

We all know about sleep because we do it every night, and sometimes even during afternoon

meditation.

Sleep is very important to life and necessary for maintaining good health. Although human

newborns can require up to 18 hours of sleep every day, the average adult only needs about 8

hours. On one end of the scale is the giraffe which sleeps for only about 3-hours each day, and

on the other end of the spectrum is the Koala that sleeps between 18 to 22 hours a day.

Bears hibernate during winter but aren‘t sleeping the whole time. Hibernation for bears simply

means they don‘t need to eat or drink. But weather does play a role in governing this habit. In the

cold climate of Alaska and the Arctic Circle bears hibernate about 7 months of the year. In

warmer locals and coastal regions it may only be for 2-5 month, but would be extended if the

bears are caring for newborn cubs.

Plant seeds and nuts can be buried (a kind of sleep) for many years before germination. When

conditions become favorable (water, oxygen, temperature, light – darkness) seeds will start to

sprout. Many species of plants have seeds that delay germination for many months or years. The

oldest documented germinating seed was nearly 2000 years old based on radiocarbon dating.

To maintain the Earth‘s biodiversity and precious resource the Svalbard Global Seed Vault,

located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, was established in 1984. The Global Crop

Diversity Trust, organizations, and the governments of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and

Iceland maintain this seed stock in a cavern protected from any nuclear threat/contamination.

Why do we sleep?

The physical brain gets tired and requires sleep for rest and rejuvenation. Without it we cannot

live. During sleep we go through periods of rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye

movement (NREM or non-REM). During this heightened anabolic state there is a reduction in

bodily awareness, suspended sensory perception, and inactivity of our voluntary body muscles

(i.e., arms and legs).

Our relationship with mind is most intimate. Managing that affiliation and eventually

overcoming the mind‘s binding influence is a goal of our spiritual development.

» The eternal absolute (Brahman) is the proprietor of our mental factory. Subordinate to that is

the intellect (Buddhi) which acts as a manager, and subsidiary to that is the mind (Manas) which

acts as the head clerk; who gets orders directly from the manager and supervises the workmen

(organs of action and sensory perception).

» The universal cosmic mind does not require sleep (the physical brain does).

» Mind and prana (energy) are both necessary to have thoughts.

» The human mind is a collection of Samskaras (mental imprints), habits, desires, cravings,

feelings, and ideas.

» Conscience is ones convictions arrived at either instinctively or by reasoning. Cultural

conditioning, family influence, and life experiences play a great part in shaping attitude.

» During surgical procedures which administer anesthesia, the mind is disassociated with the

physical body (as in deep sleep), so pain is not experienced.

» When the breath (physical prana) ceases, the link between the physical body and mind is

broken. But since the link between breath (etheric prana) and the subtle body/mind continues, so

do thoughts.

» The mind and body are intimately connected. What happens to one affects the other. We see

this is meditation; as the mind settles down so does the body.

» For some people the body controls the mind, while for others the mind controls the body.

Which life do you live?

It is through mind that the absolute manifests as the multifarious universe and field of relative

causation. According to Sankhya philosophy the manifestation of the Eternal Absolute into

time/space/matter takes place via ever progressive layers of unfoldment:

From the most subtle/sublime to the most gross the Absolute manifests as:

Mahat, cosmic or universal mind

Ahankara (egoism)

from Sattvic Ahankara comes mind

from Rajasic Ahankara comes Prana

from Tamasic Ahankara come the Tanmatras ((the five subtle properties of energy/matter

(sound, touch, form, taste, and odor) whose objects are the five senses (hearing, tactile

perception, vision, taste, and smell.))

… from Tanmatras come the gross elements (space/either, air, fire, water and earth)

… from gross elements come the gross universe (all subatomic and atomic particles in the

various states of plasma, solid, liquid or gas).

We have heretofore learned that the three agents of nature (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas guna)

transform into ego, mind, senses, the body and the external world of objects. With reference to

the human mind that implies that its constitution consists of some combination of these

tendencies.

Is your mind predominately Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic?

the Sattva mind:

is light, blissful, one pointed, steady, easygoing, and finds contentment within itself. You keep

friendships for a long time and usually live in one place. You are pure, strong and have a

determined will.

the Rajas mind:

is filled with passion and motion. You do not sit by idly, but rather prefer to be busy with work,

seek new friendships, travel to new places, buy new things, are judgmental and look for defects

in others, like crowded cities, do a lot of talking, favor the luxurious life, read romantic novels,

and other such activities.

the Tamas mind:

is filled with inertia, darkness, passions, appetites, procrastination, craving and searches for

material riches.

Meditation will transform any mind into a pillar of stability, bliss and eternal freedom.

The center of gravity (location) of the mind in the body changes depending upon what state of

consciousness we are in.

Waking State (Jagrat):

The individual soul is considered to be awake when it is connect to, and actively functions

through its external physical system (body). At this juncture the seat of the mind is centered at

the right eye, or Ajna Chakra in the brain.

The waking state is sometimes referred to as ―the long sleep.‖

Dreaming State (Svapna):

While dreaming the seat of the mind is the neck. The subjective dream world is created from

within itself.

Deep Sleeping State (Sushupti):

The seat of mind in deep sleep is the heart. Although consciousness and the state of personal

existence still persist, the mind of man has no experience here. The senses are shut down and

thought has ceased.

South Africa - Long Beach

A beautiful mind (Sattvic) casts a net of bliss upon all in the world. Iridescent thoughts bring

fulfillment to the hearts of children and parents. What was once prized is no longer of any value,

as peace of mind and true contentment is a greater treasure than any amount of gold. The infinite

diversity of life and liveliness of nature sparkles. You are set free.

Some things you can only see by opening your heart. No matter where you are in life today,

meditation can effortlessly draw your awareness to the finest and most sublime values of

thought, and then to transcend even that. Saturated in the absolute, open your eyes and act in the

world. Rise to the value of life that you were always meant to live.

Posted by John Kirszenberg on January 20th, 2011

What a beautiful sight

View from the top of Mt. Everest

200 million years ago it was just a high plateau before continental drift caused the India land

mass to collide with Asia, thrusting the mountains skyward. For centuries the mountain was

called Chomolungma by the Tibetan native population. And in 1865 Everest was given its

English name by the Royal Geographical Society. Andrew Waugh recommended that the peak

be named after his predecessor, Colonel Sir George Everest.

The view from the top is incredible. On a clear day you can see features 211 miles away.

So far about 400 climbers have completed the trek. But these mountaineers stand on the

shoulders of many others who paved the way:

In 1852, stationed at the survey‘s headquarters in Dehradun, Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian

mathematician and surveyor from Bengal, was the first to identify Everest as the world‘s highest

peak, using trigonometric calculations based on Nicolson‘s measurements.

In 1885, Clinton Thomas Dent, president of the Alpine Club, suggested that climbing Mount

Everest was possible in his book ―Above the Snow Line.‖

In 1921 the northern approach to the mountain was discovered by George Mallory.

In 1922 a British expedition led by George Finch climbed using oxygen for the first time. He

ascended at a remarkable speed – 950 feet (290 meters) per hour, and reached an altitude of

8,320 meters (27,300 ft); the first time a human climbed higher than 8,000 meters.

In 1924 an attempt by Mallory and Bruce was aborted due to bad weather.

Sir Edmund Hillary

In 1953 a ninth British expedition led by John Hunt returned to Nepal. Tom Bourdillon and

Charles Evans came within 100 m (300 feet) of the summit on 26 May 1953, but turned back

after becoming exhausted. Two days later, the expedition made its second and final assault on

the summit with its second climbing pair, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing

Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa climber. They reached the summit at 11:30 a.m. local time on 29 May

1953 via the South Col Route. Hillary had put his foot on the summit first. They paused at the

summit to take photographs and buried a few sweets and a small cross in the snow before

descending.

The sense of sight allows us to distinguish separate objects and distance in the field of

time/space. It is the most active of our human senses. It functions through the mind/brain

which in turn is lively due to breath. As sight is the most dominant of our senses, stilling its

function calms down and settles all of the others. That‘s why it is beneficial that we close our

eyes while meditating.

The physiology of sight depends upon the proper functioning of many systems. The lens of the

eye (biconvex) and the cornea focus the light on the retina; that image is upside down. 150

million light-sensitive cells called Rods and Cones convert the image into electrical signals, and

the Optic Nerve connects the eyeball to the brain.

The brain does the interpretation. Even though the image is delivered up-side-down, the brain

flips it back right-side-up. If you remain up-side-down for about two days, the brain will flip

your sight right-side-up again.

In classical terms, we have five basic senses – sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. But the

body functions by employing other receptors as well – balance through the vestibular sense,

temperature via homeostatic thermal receptors in the brain, the kinesthetic sense for spatial

orientation, pain receptors, pulmonary and a host of other functions.

The bread toaster, cell phone, television and air conditioner are examples of inert constructs of

metal and wires that do not function without an energy source. Electricity brings them all to

life. The human body is a biological living organism (self repairing, directed by the intelligence

of nature) that also in turn functions only when associated with it source, the vital energy, Qi or

Prana.

Although we as humans build our own subtle bodies, the physical body is not ours to construct.

We don‘t tell our heart when to beat, or direct the repair of skin tissue and organs, or oversee the

actual fight of white blood cells against invading bacteria. The forces of nature (the three gunas –

Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) created and maintain this on their own.

And through the practice of meditation we transcend the field of time/causation to realize that we

are not even the vital energy that animates our body. We are the eternal absolute Self.

―I am not that which is called vital energy, nor the different components of the body. I am not the

different limiting adjuncts that like sheaths cover the soul, nor am I the organs of action. I am the

all-pervading Self.‖

(Sri Sankaracharya‘s Atmapanchaka)

―This Self, who is omniscient and all-knowing, and whose glory is manifest in the universe,

dwells in the body the abode of the Divine. He is of the nature of pure consciousness manifesting

through the mind. He is the controller of the vital energy and the body. He dwells in the body,

being seated in the heart. By knowing Him, the wise realize that which is bliss and immortality.

(Mundakopanishad, II, ii, 7, 8.)

From a spiritual standpoint we can describe the physiological process of vision in these words:

The instrument (Karanas) of vision is the eyes

Behind that is the organ of vision (Indriyas) – the optic nerve and its centers

The mind (Manas) must attach itself to the organ

The sensation must be carried to the intellect (Buddhi)

The reaction is the flash of the external world and egoism, perception materialized and made real

All of this takes place on a mental screen background, projected and shrouding the soul, the

Purusha or Atman.

Our personal concept of spirituality and what our relationship is to the universe, or a supreme

being (i.e., God – if any), is directly correlated to how we see ourselves. Our vision is based

partly upon teachings, but more so upon direct personal experience. The one universal and

adamantine foundation of all our knowledge is – direct experience. Meditation brings to light

that verifiable and undeniable experiential truth.

Our concept of God evolves with the growth of consciousness.

My personal concept of self

My state of consciousness

My corresponding concept of God

My resulting life actions and understanding

I am this body, mind an ego.

Waking, dreaming and sleeping.

God exists outside the universe and resides in heaven (or somewhere). He governs all creation and judges with reward and punishment.

I am the servant (the sheep) and God is the Master (the sheppard) creator. I want a personal relationship with him/her as my heavenly father/mother.

I am the Transcendental Spirit.

Transcendental Consciousness (TC)

All consciousness is One.

I am eternally present.

I define myself as a Part and the Whole.

Enlightenment AND Glorified Cosmic Consciousness (GC)

God is omnipresent and is the soul of all souls.

Having reached moral perfection, freedom from desires and eternal bliss consciousness, all action is in accord with the laws of nature.

All this is an expression of Myself

Unity Consciousness (UC)

I and the Father are one.

I am Brahman, all This is That.

During meditation our encounter with bliss takes away all fear. Inner joy bubbles over, and all is

forgiven as the world is now just and perfect. The knots of the heart break asunder as all doubts

disappear. The Self is now my treasure, graced by the brilliant sun during the day and the moon

and stars by night.

The unreal never is, the real is never not.

The turbulent senses (sight) carry away the mind and discrimination is lost. But coming back to

my source and knowing him (Brahman) places me beyond the cycle of birth, death and sorrow.

Close the eyes (meditate) and bask in eternal freedom.

Posted by John Kirszenberg on January 15th, 2011

An iceberg on the ocean, two aspects of the same reality

We were fourteen days out from the New Zealand harbor, traveling the ocean toward Antarctica.

Our ship the ―Nimrod‖ had been retrofitted for this cold weather back in Liverpool two years

earlier. Although making only 6 knots running to windward just off a beam reach, we had made

good progress across the beautiful placid blue waters.

Our expedition leader, Sir Ernest Shackleton, was born an adventurer at heart. Raised by a

Quaker family, his vision of life included a curious mind, a strong personal drive, and a quest for

knowledge – to expand his awareness of the world.

It was January 14, 1908, officer John Davies sighted the first iceberg. From that day forward the

floating mountains of ice grew more numerous in the waters. The quarterdeck, normally the

exclusive domain of the ship‘s captain Lieutenant Rupert England, a first officer and helmsmen,

were open to Sir Ernest and surgeon/cartographer Dr. Eric Marshall.

The lookouts kept a sharp eye. By the 16th we entered the Ross Sea. Concerned about being

trapped by the ice we headed for the safety of McMurdo Sound where we landed on January

28th

. The shore party unloaded the equipment and provisions from the Nimrod, and setup base

camp. Sir Ernest prepared to lead a smaller contingent to the South Pole.

Sir Ernest Shackleton

The Shore Party:

Bernard Day, electrician and motor expert

Ernest Joyce, in charge of general stores, dogs, sledges and zoological collections

Dr. A. F. Mackay, surgeon.

Dr. Eric Marshall, surgeon, cartographer

G E. Marston, artist

James Murray, biologist

Raymond Priestley, geologist

William Roberts, cook

Frank Wild, in charge of provisions

An iceberg is frozen water, which is an alternate form of H2O. Whether we find water as a

solid, liquid or gas, it‘s still the same substance. Like that, the world of form that we encounter

in our day-to-day lives is just an alternate view of the one single absolute reality, transposed onto

time and space.

Form is an expression and manifestation. With the birth of mind/time/space/causation and

guided by the agents of nature (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas guna) the field of form becomes

progressively more diverse. Human identification with form bolsters the ego and hides our

eternal Self (by the veil of Maya). The eternal imperishable consciousness is perceived to be

finite while in the state of ignorance (not knowing).

The great sage Sankaracharya has said; ―Maya is neither absolutely existent nor non-existent, nor

does it partake of both characters. She is most wonderful, and her nature cannot be defined. She

can be destroyed by the realization of pure Brahman, the one without a second, just as the false

perception of a snake for a rope is removed by the discrimination of the rope.‖

Human views of the universe and the understanding of our relationship to it – changes as we

change. As we gain more knowledge and become more spiritually evolved the same questions

often yield different answers. Based on our newfound growth and expanded understanding, we

have new insights and discover even yet deeper meaning.

Civilization today classifies the human relationship with the Universe in three ways; dualism,

qualified-dualism and monism.

Dualism:

We are separate and distinct from the Universe.

There is me and everything else.

Two parts exist; the relative and the absolute, yin and yang, bad and good, matter and spirit, self

and Self.

God has a personal form and is the extra-cosmic personality living in heaven (or somewhere).

The Universe functions like a machine, directed by the will of God.

Qualified – Dualism:

We are separate but a part of the whole.

God is both personal/impersonal and immanent in Nature.

The universe passes through gross and subtle states in a cyclic order (involution and evolution).

We are the ego which gives rise to desires, pride, attachments, and anger; but we are also the

Universal Cosmic Self.

The ultimate reality is neither physical nor mental. Instead, it can be called Spirit, God,

Emptiness, the One, the Self, the Dao, or the Absolute.

Monism:

There is only the Whole, and we are That.

The Divine is impersonal and transcendent, and appears as the universe through the power of

Maya. Through creative ignorance is appears with its limitations of time, space and causation.

Its forms, as it were, are the matrix of matter and mind.

The universe is only one thing, despite its many appearances.

This manifestation is taken to be real as long as the soul is in ignorance, but it is realized to be

unreal with the dawn of true knowledge.

These are three distinct and different views. As knowledge is structured in consciousness each is

true depending upon where (your level of consciousness) you are standing.

The human personality is composed of the non-Self. The three gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas)

are the forces of nature that transform into ego, mind, senses, the body and the external world of

objects.

All activity is the domain of the gunas. The ego is deluded into thinking that he/she is the doer

of action. But in reality, the gunas are the agents of action.

Human personality is usually dominated by one of the three gunas, even though you are a

combination of all three.

Sattva guna– purity, knowledge and happiness

Rajas guna– attachment, activity and pain

Tamas guna – impurity and ignorance

Freedom is a necessary prerequisite for personal growth, so that you can choose and act to

enliven Sattva guna. Meditation is a very purifying experience.

**

As we continue our exploration of different meditation practices, I would like to take this time to

briefly review some of the Buddhist techniques. There are far too many to cover in detail, but

here is a short summary that will help you navigate the waters and better decide which practice

you may wish to try.

There are two main branches of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. They are Mahayana with

sub-branch Vajrayana, and Theravada.

Meditation if often practiced in a Buddhist community called a Sangha.

———————————————————————————————————————

Mahayana Buddhism, ―The Great Vehicle.‖

Mahayana is found throughout East Asia and includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren

Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en.

Native Mahayana Buddhism is practiced today in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, parts of

Russia and most of Vietnam. This is commonly referred to as ―Eastern Buddhism.‖

In some classifications Vajrayana, a subcategory of Mahayana practiced in Tibet, the Himalayan

regions and Mongolia, is recognized as a third branch. This is commonly referred to as

―Northern Buddhism.‖

In Japan they form separate denominations with the five major ones being: Nichiren, peculiar to

Japan; Pure Land; Shingon, a form of Vajrayana; Tendai; and Chan/Zen.

In Korea, nearly all Buddhists belong to the Chogye School, which is officially Son (Zen), but

with substantial elements from other traditions.

**

Chinese Buddhism Meditation Practices

Chan Buddhism practices were used to develop an unfettered and detached mind that would not

cling to anything. Emphasis is on finding the Buddha mind.

Korean Buddhism Meditation Practices

Seon:

Recitation of Buddha‘s name for the purpose of awakening to the Buddha, inherent in all of us.

Zen Buddhist Meditation Practices

Zazen:

Sitting, just ―opening the hand of thought‖. This is done either through Koans, Rinzai‘s primary

method, whole-hearted sitting (Shikantaza), or the Soto method.

- Concentration; Focus on the breath, counting, repetition of mantras with the breath until some

experience of initial Samadhi is achieved. After that, one moves onto Koan introspection and

Shikantaza.

Shikantaza:

From the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, sitting/resting in a state of highly brightly alert attention

that is free of thoughts, directed to no object, and attached to no particular content. The highest

or purest form of zazen.

**

Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism Meditation Practices

Tantra:

Vajrayana techniques; while on the path to full enlightenment, these techniques allow one to

identify with the three vajras; i.e., the enlightened body, speech and mind of a Buddha. This

enlivens the four purities of a Buddha (environment, body, enjoyments and deeds).

Ngondro:

These are preliminary and preparatory practices (sadhana) for disciplines common to all four

schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

- Consisting of contemplations, reflections or meditations on:

1. The freedoms and advantages of precious human rebirth

2. The truth of impermanence and change

3. The workings of karma

4. The suffering of living beings within Samsara

- And other practices for, Opening the Heart, Meditation on Impermanence, Admitting Misdeeds,

Bodhicitta, Refuge, Mandala Offering, Purification Through Mantra, Offering the Body and

Guru Yoga.

Tonglen:

The Tibetan practice of giving and receiving. It involves all of the Six Perfections; giving,

ethics, patience, joyous effort, concentration and wisdom, through the practice of:

- reduce selfish attachment

- increase sense of renunciation

- create positive karma by giving and helping

- develop and expand loving-kindness and Bodhicitta

These are the practices of a Bodhisattva.

Phowa:

Involving the transference of consciousness at the time of death. This method can be applied at

the moment of death, to transfer one‘s consciousness through the top of the head directly into the

Buddha field destination of one‘s choice; Sukhavati, Abhirati, Ghanavyuha, Atakavati, Mount

Potala, the Copper-Colored Mountain, etc.

Chod:

Overcoming fear by confronting it. Based on the Prajnaparamita sutra. It combines philosophy

with meditation and tantric rituals.

Mahamudra:

The appearance of the phenomenal world (mudra) and its source (maha) which lies beyond it

concept, imagination or projection. The goal is to enter the all-pervading state of non-duality.

The Mahamudra Vipassana ―insight practices‖ are unique in Tibetan Buddhism. They involve

looking at or pointing out the nature of the mind.

The five practices for ―looking at‖ the nature of the mind are as follows:

- Looking at the settled mind.

- Looking at the moving or thinking mind.

- Looking at the mind reflecting appearances.

- Looking at the mind in relation to the body.

- Looking at the settled and moving minds together.

Dzogchen:

According to this system, the ultimate nature of all sentient beings is said to be pure, all-

encompassing, primordial awareness or naturally occurring timeless awareness.

Their meditative practices are similar to those of Mahamudra. Central to the teaching is

contemplation. When stabilized and mature it remains unbroken and the non-dual nature of

realty is experienced.

The Four Immeasurables & Metta:

Also known as the sublime attitudes, this meditation cultures those qualities; loving kindness,

compassion, joy and equanimity.

———————————————————————————————————————

Theravada Buddhism, ―The School of the Elders‖

Theravada—the oldest surviving branch—has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and

Southeast Asia,

Theravada is primarily practiced today in Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia as well

as small portions of China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bangladesh. It has a growing presence in

Europe and America.

**

Theravada Meditation Practices

Anapanasati:

Mindfulness of breathing.

Meta:

Meditation on compassion, loving-kindness, friendliness, benevolence, sympathy and love.

Kammatthana:

The place within the mind where one goes in order to work on spiritual development. It refers to

the forty canonical objects of meditation:

- The ten objects of perception; earth, water, fire, air, wind, blue, green, yellow, red, white,

enclosed space, and bright light.

- The ten items of repulsion.

- The three Jewels; Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

- The three virtues; morality, liberality and attributes of Devas.

- The recollections of; the body, death, breath and peace.

- The four are stations of Brahma; unconditional kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy over

another‘s success and even mindedness.

- The four formless states; infinite space, infinite consciousness, infinite nothingness and neither

perception nor non-perception.

- The perception of disgust of food.

- Analysis of the four elements; earth, water, fire and air.

Samatha:

A calm abiding concentration practice that develops sustained attention.

Vipassana:

Insight into the nature of reality. It is a practice of self-transformation through self-observation

and introspection.

Mahasati:

Also known as Dynamic Meditation, it was developed by Thai Buddhist reformist Luangpor

Teean Jittasubho. Mahasati Meditation uses movement of the body to generate self-awareness.

———————————————————————————————————————

Shackleton at the South Pole

A strong wind and weary team caused Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men to head back to base

camp after coming within 97 miles of the South Pole. They planted the Union Jack, a brass

cylinder containing stamps, camera, glasses, compass and documents to mark their farthest

venture south.

The ocean materializes icebergs, and then reclaims it back again. The rich heritage of Buddhist

meditation practices offer the means for a walk in the absolute realm of bliss consciousness.

Each day that passes the Earth spins on its axes, and affords us the opportunity for growth. Look

forward to life, joy and true contentment as the Self blossoms. Beauty is truth, and can forever

be found on the wings of a butterfly, in the silent whisper of the wind, in the dew upon the grass,

in the waters so blue, in the sunshine upon your face, and in the handiwork of creation.

Practice your meditation every day to rise to the highest level of human freedom and spiritual

potential.

Posted by John Kirszenberg on January 11th, 2011

What day is it anyway?

Stonehenge

My name is Viridomarus. The last bluestone from the Preseli Hills quarry was finally laid into

its place a few months ago. Although weighing more than four tons, the engineers on my team

and high priests had no trouble placing the monolith into the Vernal Equinox sighting position.

This was the last of the double set Sarsen stones, comprising the five Trilothons.

The astronomers reviewed their calculations and were content that the markers were correctly

set.

We have been building on this site for many generations. We constructed sacred burial mounds

and astronomical pointers to keep track of the first day for spring planting, the first day of

summer, the first day for fall harvest, and the first day of winter. We used the stones to mark the

dates of our holy festivals which were also centered on the major/minor moon rise and setting

times, as well as other auspicious movements of the stars and planets.

A geometric circle consisting of 36 small stone demarcations surrounded the entire site. We

choose to represent a circle as 36 segments because the Sun travels once around on its path in

about 360 days. And 360 is a great number easily divisible by multitudes of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

But the Aubrey holes which we planned to use for predicting eclipses were only partially

finished.

I watched as the sun was rising in the south east and the rays illuminated the central avenue. I

could see the sun over the Heel Stone and between the vertical inner walls of the middle

Trilothon. The Summer Solstice was here, and it was time to celebrate. My Celtic kin were

already preparing for the feast. My wife and children stood by my side in fascination of the

event. The clear sighting meant that it would be a good year for all of us. We were hopeful for

humanity.

Stonehenge bluestones

Keeping track of the day of the year has been very important to civilizations from time

immemorial. As we now embark onto the new year of 2011 it‘s important to understand what

factors calendars play in our lives, and how we can best use the passing hours to further our

development of cosmic consciousness.

How did you celebrate New Year?

Our practice of meditation aims to place us beyond the influence of time, but let‘s review the

different systems currently used in the world.

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Western Civilization Timekeeping

Julian calendar:

The Julian calendar was adopted in 45 BC by a proclamation from Julius Caesar, to replace the

existing Roman system. The calendar has 365 days, divided into12 months, and adds an extra

―leap day‖ to February once every four years. So each year is 365.25 days long.

But since the Solar year is about 11 minutes shorter than 365.25 days, it was noticed 400 years

later that the Roman calendar was then three days ahead of the actual seasons. So in the 16th

century our current Gregorian calendar was adopted, which drops three leap year days across

every four centuries to correct this discrepancy.

Gregorian calendar:

But even though we follow the Gregorian calendar, Christian churches calculate Easter as the

first Sunday after the first full moon, on or after the March equinox. The Easter date determines

the date of Ash Wednesday, Ascension, and Pentecost.

The 24 hour day comes from ancient Egypt. That‘s because they counted in base 12, rather than

in base 10 as we commonly do today. We have ten fingers, so we count in base 10. But we also

have 12 finger joints, which the Egyptians decided to base their mathematics on. 12 also has a

larger number of integer factors than 10 (i.e., 12/6=2, 12/4=3, 12/3=4, 12/2=6, while 10/5=2 and

10/2=5 are the only ones for the number 10).

Prime Meridian:

The Prime Meridian (0º longitude) passes through the Old Royal Observatory at Greenwich,

London. It was established in 1884 to serve as a global reference for sailors, so that oceanic

vessels referencing the current time and an Ephemeris (a book containing the calculated

positions of stars and planets in the sky), could be used to determine where in the world they

were. Precision mechanical clocks were developed and carried aboard ships for this very

purpose.

International Dateline:

Opposite the Prime Meridian, at about 180 º longitude is the International Dateline. Traveling

over the line heading westward adds an additional day. Traveling the other way, from West to

East subtracts time and gives you the opportunity to enjoy a day longer than 24 hours. Although

never officially recognized as a demarcation zone, most nations in the world currently subscribe

to using it.

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Middle Eastern Civilization Timekeeping

Mecca Time:

Mecca Time is based on longitude 39°49′34″E, which traverses through Mecca, the holiest city

of Islam in Saudi Arabia. A clock based on this meridian would differ from that in Greenwich,

England, by approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes.

Islamic calendar:

The Islamic calendar, or the Muslim/Hijr calendar is lunar based, and consists of 12 lunar

months in a year of 354 or 355 days. A lunar calendar is synchronized to the motion of the

Moon (lunar phases).

According to that calendar the twelve months of the year are – Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal,

Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada al-Thana, Rajab, Sha‘ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-

Qa‘da, Dhu al-Hijja.

Persian calendar:

The Persian calendar (Solar Hejri) is Solar and begins on the Vernal Equinox as observed in

Iran. This 360 day calendar is based on the Babylonian model (the Babylonian Calendar was

lunar) but modified to fit their beliefs. The days of the week were not named. The months had

two or three divisions depending on the phase of the moon. Twelve months of 30 days were

named for festivals and activities. A 13th month was added every six years to keep the calendar

synchronized with the seasons.

Zoroastrian calendar:

The first calendars based on Zoroastrian cosmology appeared around 500 BCE. They were

modeled after the Egyptian calendar, with 12 months of 30 days each.

» 4 days per month are dedicated to Ahura Mazda

» 7 days are named after the six Amesha Spentas

» 13 days are named after Fire, Water, Sun, Moon, Tiri and Geush Urvan (the soul of all

animals), Mithra, Sraosha (Soroush, yazata of prayer), Rashnu (the Judge), Fravashi, Bahram

(yazata of victory), Raman (Ramesh meaning peace), and Vata, the divinity of the wind.

» 3 days are dedicated to the female divinities, Daena (yazata of religion and personified

conscious), Ashi (yazata of fortune) and Arshtat (justice).

» 4 days are dedicated to Asman (lord of sky or Heaven), Zam (earth), Manthra Spenta (the

Bounteous Sacred Word) and Anaghra Raocha (the ‗Endless Light‘ of paradise).

Jewish calendar:

The Hebrew or Jewish calendar is luni-solar in nature. It‘s used to determine Holidays, when

portions of the Torah should be recited, and when to commemorate a death. Since there is an 11

day differential between 12 lunar months and 1 solar year, the calendar varies by repeating a 19

year cycle of 235 lunar months, with an additional lunar month added according to defined rules

every two or three years, for a total of 7 times per 19 years. Because the Hebrew year is longer

than the solar year by about 6 ½ minutes, every 231 years it will fall 1 day behind the Gregorian

calendar.

The Jewish Passover usually falls on the first full moon after the Northern Hemisphere vernal

equinox, although occasionally (7 times every 19 years) it will occur on the second full moon.

We are currently in the Hebrew year of 5771 (9 September 2010 and ends on 28 September

2011)

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Eastern Civilization Timekeeping

Buddhist calendar:

Based on the original Surya Siddhanta (a dissertation on Indian astronomy, 3rd

century CE), the

Buddhist calendar is lunisolar in nature, which in an average year is 365.25875 days long. The

year is a bit longer than the sidereal year and substantially longer than the tropical year. There

are four types of lunisolar years; of 354, 355, 384, or 385 days. The Hindu version adds extra

months and days (or removes months and days) as soon as the astronomical formulae require,

whereas the southeast Asian versions delay their addition.

Some Buddhist holidays correlate with lunar phases:

Vesak:

The last full moon day of Visakha highlights a three day celebration of the birth, enlightenment,

and death of the Buddha. This usually falls in April or May.

Waso:

This holiday is the Buddhist equivalent of Lent. It generally occurs between July and October.

It starts with the full moon in the month of Asalha, and ends with a festival during the full moon

of the month of Thadingyut.

The Baha‘i calendar:

The Baha‘i year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (361 days), with the addition of

―Intercalary Days‖ (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the eighteenth and

nineteenth months to adjust the calendar to the solar year.

Thai calendar:

The solar calendar was adopted by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1888 as the Siamese

version of the Gregorian calendar.

In the Rattanakosin Era version, year 1 began 6 April 1782, with the accession of Rama I, the

foundation of the Chakri Dynasty and the founding of Bangkok as capital (Rattanakosin). King

Chulalongkorn decreed this as the epoch (reference date) for the counting of years in 106 RE,

AD 1888.

In the Buddhist Era version, year 0 from 11 March 545 BC, believed to be the date of the death

of Gautama Buddha. King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) changed year counting to this Buddhist Era

(BE) and moved the start of the year back to 1 April in 2455 BE, AD 1912.

The Hindu calendar:

A ―luni-solar calendar‖ is based on a combination of both solar and lunar reckonings. The

months have 29 or 30 days, depending upon the movement of the moon. There are 12 lunar

months. An extra month needs to be added every 32.5 months because the year length is

approximate 356 days, while solar year has 365 or 366 (in leap year) which creates a difference

of 9 to 10 days – which needs to be offset every 3rd year.

Each New Year starts on April 14/15.

The days of the week are similar to what is currently used in the West:

» Ravi (Sun) – Sunday

» Soma (Moon) – Monday

» Mangala (Mars) – Tuesday

» Budha (Mercury) – Wednesday

» Guru (Jupiter) – Thursday

» Shukra (Venus) – Friday

» Shani (Saturn) – Saturday

There are regional variations of this calendar; Vikrama and Shalivahana.

According to the Eastern view of time, the age of the Universe is measured in terms of the

countless lives of Mother Divine:

1 life of Mother Divine = 1,000 lifetimes of Lord Shiva

1 life of Lord Shiva = 1,000 lifetimes of Lord Vishnu

1 life of Lord Vishnu = 1,000 lifetimes of Lord Brahma the Creator

1 lifetime of Brahma is conceived in terms of 100 years of Brahma

1 year of Brahma = 12 months of Brahma

1 month of Brahma = 30 days of Brahma

1 day of Brahma = 1 Kalpa

1 Kalpa = 14 Manus, and 1 Manu is called a Manvantara

1 Manvantara = 71 Chaturyugis

1 Chaturyugis = the total span of the 4 Yugas (Satya + Treta + Dvapara + Kali)

1 day and night of Brahma calculates out to 8.64 billion years.

There are 4 eras, or Ages in Hinduism. They are:

Age Description Length in years Ratio Average Human lifespan

Satya Yuga The Golden Age: The veil between the material and the transcendent realms becomes almost see-through, as the illusion of different densities of vibration is dissolved.

1,728,000 years 4 400 years

Treta Yuga This is the mental age, magnetism is harnessed, men are in power, and inventions dissolve the illusion of time.

1,296,000 years 3 300 years

Dvapara Yuga Science flourishes, people experience the spiritual in terms of subtle energies and rational choices, and inventions are abundant.

864,000 years 2 200 years

Kali Yuga The Dark Age: Most people are aware only of the physical aspect of existence, the

432,000 years 1 100 years

predominant emphasis of living is material survival.

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Astronomical Timekeeping

The Tropical or Solar Year:

This year is based on the apparent movement of the sun along the ecliptic, from vernal equinox

to vernal equinox, or from summer solstice to summer solstice.

The mean tropical year as of January 1, 2000 was 365.2421897 or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes,

45.19 seconds.

The Sidereal Year:

A sidereal year is the amount of time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun once, with respect to the

fixed background of stars. It is also the time taken for the Sun to return to the same position with

respect to the fixed stars after apparently traveling once around the ecliptic.

It was equal to 365.256363004 days, as of noon 1 January 2000 (J2000.0). This is 20 minutes,

24.5128 seconds longer than the mean tropical year.

Universal Time (UT):

Is a timescale based on the rotation of the Earth. It is a modern continuation of Greenwich Mean

Time (GMT), i.e., the mean solar time on the Prime Meridian at Greenwich

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Relativistic Timekeeping

Albert Einstein published his theory of Special Relativity in 1905. Since then it has reshaped the

foundation of how we perceive our world of space and time.

He stated that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion relative to one

another, and that the speed of light (in a vacuum) is the same for all observers, regardless of their

relative motion, or the motion of the light source itself.

That implies:

» Two events, simultaneous for one observer, may not be simultaneous for another observer if

the observers are in relative motion to one another (simultaneity).

» Compared to a stationary observer, the traveler‘s clock runs slower (time dilation).

» Compared to a stationary observer, objects become shorter in the direction of motion for the

traveler (length contraction).

» Energy and mass are the same (E = MC squared).

» No physical object can travel faster than the speed of light (maximum speed is finite).

Our current universe is thought to be 13.7 billion years old. Theory states that it started with the

―big bang.‖ At the onset it occupied a very small space, and the material was immensely dense,

under very high pressure and extremely hot. It has since expanded at an astounding pace.

Today there are over 100 billion galaxies in the universe.

It is said that our Universe is the dream of the God, whom after 100 Brahma years dissolves

himself into dreamless sleep, and the universe dissolves with him. After another Brahma century

he stirs, recomposes himself and begins again to dream the great cosmic dance.

The Cosmic Dance of Shiva

This is often depicted as the cosmic dance of Shiva. Shiva has four hands; the upper right hand

is a drum whose sound is the sound of creation, and the left hand is a tongue of flame, a reminder

that the new universe will eventually be destroyed.

Universe after universe, there are also an infinite number of universes.

A recent scientific discovery by astronomers suggests that the ―big bang‖ still represents the

beginning and birth of our universe, but the ―big bang‖ may actually be a result of the dissolution

of the prior universe – caused by the gravitation collapse of all matter into a single point.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/12/101227-universes-circles-cosmic-

background-radiation-big-bang-science-space/

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Absolute Timekeeping/non-timekeeping

Our experience in meditation teaches us that there is only the eternal present. From the

standpoint of the absolute, the passage of time is fictional and is the play and display of creative

intelligence. The One becomes the Many to revel in bliss and happiness.

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You have a precious opportunity to change the current trend (Kali Yuga) of time. Meditate

every day to usher in a better life for the entire human race.

Posted by John Kirszenberg on January 6th, 2011