One of the biggest problems that people must get over is to stop blaming others. God never has and never will do anything to you that would upset you. Plus, no one is able to do anything to you either without your will. Actually, we are constantly setting ourselves up for imprisonment, helplessness, sickness, etc. and we forget to pay attention to our thoughts and actions in order to notice it.
I could very easily say that God forced me to be tormented by my bipolar incident, and most people would see that there is nothing wrong with that. They also feel helpless and cheated. I would probably still be in pain if I decided to blame God. Now that I know it was my doing, I am in complete control of my life. I am now the happiest I have ever been.
It is all our choice! Would you rather live in your own hell or see perfection in everyone and everything? You will remain mesmerized by the illusion of pain and loss as long as you want. No one is really controlling that, and God never made a hell so he could enslave you for your dreaming. Hell is an illusion, so is separation, loss, fear, and all negativity.
Bliss can be achieved in an instant. Ask for inner guidance; stay present. You will start to love everything once your body becomes full of light, and it can only attract perfection. If you love, you will feel loved. If you hate, you will feel hated. The reason for this is because the outer world is a mirror of yourself and is not really separate from you. Your will be done. However you see the world is how you will see yourself.
If you realize that you are really protected and perfect, you will know that all sense of loss is an illusion. You will no longer need to feel attacked by the outer world, and there will be no reason to hate it. Stay in the present moment and remind yourself of your constant perfection. The past is their for you only to help your will be done, but undesirable thoughts might be repeated by thinking of them. Just know that the past is illusion, and the present is perfection.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Unity or Individuality?
Even though unity is surely the greatest thing possible, people still have the sense of wanting to decide on their own. Our spiritual concepts of nirvana, unity, eternity, and constancy seem boring to some, because there is no change in activity. We want to be doing something different all the time. But if we were to experience how God wills us to be, there is no way we would decide not to have it that way. It is the highest joy and love that is incomparable to anything experienced in the physical world. However, that still seems like we have no choice. But yes, we do!
Our situation was created because of the desire to live individually. God's Heaven has always been and always will be, but when this false desire arose in our consciousness, God allowed it to happen. This existence is the effect of that thought, and remains as a lesson for us to return back to the Source. We had complete freedom to do whatever we wanted with our creativity, and we created a whole universe from it. We started playing with form and projecting ourselves into form to experiment with it. From there, we started becoming too distracted by our world of form and forgot our inherent unity with God. We started identifying ourselves with the bodies we made and lost sight of our spiritual existence. Our desire for individuality made us overlook our unity.
So what do we do now? Individuality is great, but it is never better than what God wills for us. As long as we focus on separation and individuality, we will be afraid. Luckily, God set us up instantly after our mad idea for individuality. He created the Holy Spirit to bring us back to Him whenever we are quiet enough to listen. He also made it so we can use our individuality as a gateway for others to return back to the unity of God. This is what Jesus did, and his assistance is known as Christ consciousness. We can all use this when we return to the unity of God and start loving instead of fearing. We will then know that we are the Son of God, and that we have always remained in the perfect state of unity behind our made-up world of separation.
Our situation was created because of the desire to live individually. God's Heaven has always been and always will be, but when this false desire arose in our consciousness, God allowed it to happen. This existence is the effect of that thought, and remains as a lesson for us to return back to the Source. We had complete freedom to do whatever we wanted with our creativity, and we created a whole universe from it. We started playing with form and projecting ourselves into form to experiment with it. From there, we started becoming too distracted by our world of form and forgot our inherent unity with God. We started identifying ourselves with the bodies we made and lost sight of our spiritual existence. Our desire for individuality made us overlook our unity.
So what do we do now? Individuality is great, but it is never better than what God wills for us. As long as we focus on separation and individuality, we will be afraid. Luckily, God set us up instantly after our mad idea for individuality. He created the Holy Spirit to bring us back to Him whenever we are quiet enough to listen. He also made it so we can use our individuality as a gateway for others to return back to the unity of God. This is what Jesus did, and his assistance is known as Christ consciousness. We can all use this when we return to the unity of God and start loving instead of fearing. We will then know that we are the Son of God, and that we have always remained in the perfect state of unity behind our made-up world of separation.
Friday, July 20, 2007
The Power of Satan
If we must use the word Satan, we must also define his power. We do experience a lot of negativity and fear on our planet, and so it seems to some that a force is manipulating us. There is the belief that we become possessed, that God abandons us, and that we are powerless because of Satan. Satan is known as God's opposing force, and there is spiritual warfare going on... that we have to fight off the devil. Who would've known that Satan is actually powerless?
Satan is not an entity that can actually do harm. He has no power at all over anything. He is really an illusion - the ego in action. We are the only one's that cause evil and pain, and this never happens to only others but firstly ourselves. If you had a strong, evil will, you would be putting yourself in your own hell.
The mind is a very powerful device, but when used through your ego, it can be very hurtful. I have experienced this in the hospital when I was at the apex of my manic cycle, and I became so self-destructive that I became paranoid. I was in hell, and I wasn't able to get out until I realized that I put myself inside that illusion of pain. So using the words Satan and the Devil suggests that this force is coming from outside of yourself. It is not at all! You are making the pain, and you are completely in control of it.
Satan is not an entity that can actually do harm. He has no power at all over anything. He is really an illusion - the ego in action. We are the only one's that cause evil and pain, and this never happens to only others but firstly ourselves. If you had a strong, evil will, you would be putting yourself in your own hell.
The mind is a very powerful device, but when used through your ego, it can be very hurtful. I have experienced this in the hospital when I was at the apex of my manic cycle, and I became so self-destructive that I became paranoid. I was in hell, and I wasn't able to get out until I realized that I put myself inside that illusion of pain. So using the words Satan and the Devil suggests that this force is coming from outside of yourself. It is not at all! You are making the pain, and you are completely in control of it.
Anyone who works "evil" has the weakest power. For the ones who have divine, spiritual will, or "good," all power is theirs. Since their laws are love, light, and wisdom, it unites instead of separates and destroys. Those who follow these laws are all-loving, omnipresent, all-knowing, all-seeing and perfect. They can bless and heal all while enjoying the bliss of God, can remain ever-youthful and immortal, teleport, change form, bilocate (actually, they can be in as many places as they want at the same time), and instantly manifest anything they desire. Their possibilities are endless.
These powers can seem scary if their will is evil, but it is a natural law that self-destructive will is powerless. To be omnipotent, you must have the highest good. Do not be afraid anymore of demons, the devil, hell, or Satan, as they are all your own illusion and don't even exist.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Humanity is Divinity
There is a small struggle that people have with deciding if we are human or divine. With Jesus, some think that he has to be one or the other; either a divine being or a human being. There is also the belief that to be divine we need to mortify our physical body and refuse to eat. There is also the belief that sex is wrong - that's why traditional Christian priests cannot marry. The church also didn't accept some of the gospels that hinted that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. Why can't we be divine and still be human?
The divine can be easily applicable to our lives. We are truly divine, and it is only the ego that makes ridiculous demands. Everything of the ego is not truly human, but ignorance and corruption of our natural divinity. We can live without it and still be married and have children. We do not have to abuse the body and refuse to eat; we can have a healthy diet. We can be a householder with a profession, and at the same time express divine love to all, enjoy the bliss of our core being, praying, forgiving, and healing incessantly.
For the people who don't believe in their own divinity, then they will live that way. If they laugh at the ideas like immortality, "miracles," and freedom from all limitations, they will never encounter any of that. Yes, they will be right - we are not divine. They will be completely unaware of the subtle, hidden divinity because of the fears, grievances, and doubts of their ego.
For those who have seen or heard about their true, unlimited state of being, don't deny it. You will go far enough to experience it yourself as long as you unfold your unconditional, uniting love constantly. Yes, you will be right - we are undoubtedly divine. You will incorporate that freedom into your life and still live normally and simply.
Still, either your prayer for limitation will be fulfilled, or your prayer for illumination will be answered. Are we divine human beings, or are we not?
The divine can be easily applicable to our lives. We are truly divine, and it is only the ego that makes ridiculous demands. Everything of the ego is not truly human, but ignorance and corruption of our natural divinity. We can live without it and still be married and have children. We do not have to abuse the body and refuse to eat; we can have a healthy diet. We can be a householder with a profession, and at the same time express divine love to all, enjoy the bliss of our core being, praying, forgiving, and healing incessantly.
For the people who don't believe in their own divinity, then they will live that way. If they laugh at the ideas like immortality, "miracles," and freedom from all limitations, they will never encounter any of that. Yes, they will be right - we are not divine. They will be completely unaware of the subtle, hidden divinity because of the fears, grievances, and doubts of their ego.
For those who have seen or heard about their true, unlimited state of being, don't deny it. You will go far enough to experience it yourself as long as you unfold your unconditional, uniting love constantly. Yes, you will be right - we are undoubtedly divine. You will incorporate that freedom into your life and still live normally and simply.
Still, either your prayer for limitation will be fulfilled, or your prayer for illumination will be answered. Are we divine human beings, or are we not?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Philosophy and Claims vs. Science and Practice
Some of these posts have only been claims or philosophies, while others have been techniques that can be practiced without any intellect involved. There are some authors that talk about ascended masters or siddhas doing unbelievable things, and we aren't even sure if it's true or not. We also have different religions that have seemingly contradictory philosophies while they're actually all contacting the One behind each other's backs. But how do we know that's not made up as well? Well, the important thing is the science of religion; the practice that leads to the truths of philosophy.
This is a very important point, because it pulls away from intellectual claims and goes straight to the experience. Many people choose a religious standpoint to intellectually destroy the "competition." Hey, they could be right, but they are not even sure that what they say is true because they haven't experienced it. The arguing really stops through divine experience - you are no longer worried of being destroyed by claims when you feel the Source as strongly as a slap in the face.
Words can never explain spirituality perfectly. When different religious figures attempt to explain their experience, they still look contradictory to each other! However, it is never the case that these spiritual masters are going to argue - sorry, Jesus wouldn't jump Krishna or vice versa because you think they should! Most likely, they're buds! The reason is because they have found the same thing. How do we know? By their fruits you shall know them.
The important things from these religions are the techniques, teachings, methods, practice, science - not necessarily the philosophy or the stories. This is what has made the Zen masters so successful: their religion is completely the practice of zazen meditation and simple living. Eckhart Tolle wrote a great book, the Power of Now, by bringing together East and West and avoiding religious terms like God. Seriously, the technique of staying in the present moment is enough to make the divine connection.
Osho used an interesting example of why the "how" of science is more important than the "why" and "what" of philosophy. Let's say a blind man asks, "What is light?" Responding with words like "bright" and "illuminating" doesn't help at all. Instead, offering a technique to practice in order to see the light is what is important. Things like loving everyone unconditionally, working with no attachment to the results, staying in the present moment, meditation - this is the science of religion. This is what should be focused on. All philosophy and stories about religious figures will prove true or false through inner sight and divine experience. Keep on practicing - if you do, you will eventually let go of all limitations.
This is a very important point, because it pulls away from intellectual claims and goes straight to the experience. Many people choose a religious standpoint to intellectually destroy the "competition." Hey, they could be right, but they are not even sure that what they say is true because they haven't experienced it. The arguing really stops through divine experience - you are no longer worried of being destroyed by claims when you feel the Source as strongly as a slap in the face.
Words can never explain spirituality perfectly. When different religious figures attempt to explain their experience, they still look contradictory to each other! However, it is never the case that these spiritual masters are going to argue - sorry, Jesus wouldn't jump Krishna or vice versa because you think they should! Most likely, they're buds! The reason is because they have found the same thing. How do we know? By their fruits you shall know them.
The important things from these religions are the techniques, teachings, methods, practice, science - not necessarily the philosophy or the stories. This is what has made the Zen masters so successful: their religion is completely the practice of zazen meditation and simple living. Eckhart Tolle wrote a great book, the Power of Now, by bringing together East and West and avoiding religious terms like God. Seriously, the technique of staying in the present moment is enough to make the divine connection.
Osho used an interesting example of why the "how" of science is more important than the "why" and "what" of philosophy. Let's say a blind man asks, "What is light?" Responding with words like "bright" and "illuminating" doesn't help at all. Instead, offering a technique to practice in order to see the light is what is important. Things like loving everyone unconditionally, working with no attachment to the results, staying in the present moment, meditation - this is the science of religion. This is what should be focused on. All philosophy and stories about religious figures will prove true or false through inner sight and divine experience. Keep on practicing - if you do, you will eventually let go of all limitations.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Soul and Spirit
People have explained soul and spirit in different ways, but I would like to state how I define them. Some say that they are the same, but I will point out why I define them differently. Basically, there is one eternal spirit, and it is constantly kept at maximum joy, bliss, knowledge, and love. However, there are many souls, each thinking and acting on their own, all with their own free will. But the existence of souls are illusory, since we are all truly one in spirit.
Our true existence as the one spirit of God has always been, and always will be. This can never change, and we should be grateful of that because if it could, that means we could die. God wills us to be this way for our own safety. God created us as one spirit, and he knows that it is what is best for us. It is our true free will to remain perfect in spirit.
The soul never existed, and never will. It is all an illusion that we have requested. It is the request from God for free will to be afraid. Luckily, he still has kept our reality of spirit intact, and we will not know it until we accept it. The illusion of the soul was made from ego, or individuality. With the soul and the ego came the division of planes of existence and states of mind where we can dream we are. We will not become anointed, or Christ, until we discover our true existence. We can then appear in the universe of the soul as Christ and assist the Holy Spirit to awaken other souls to the reality of spirit.
This is the meaning of life. We must understand that we cannot find eternal happiness without God. Souls are always afraid until they find the spirit of God. Awakening to spirit, or our ascension, is just the beginning of our journey. We will then appear as an individualized soul in the world of separation to assist other souls to wake up. It is a very, very long process, but it will be effortless once you identify yourself as the one spirit, as you will see the end and enjoy its bliss. The world of separation can no longer hurt you when you know that it is illusion. You will see heaven everywhere.
Our true existence as the one spirit of God has always been, and always will be. This can never change, and we should be grateful of that because if it could, that means we could die. God wills us to be this way for our own safety. God created us as one spirit, and he knows that it is what is best for us. It is our true free will to remain perfect in spirit.
The soul never existed, and never will. It is all an illusion that we have requested. It is the request from God for free will to be afraid. Luckily, he still has kept our reality of spirit intact, and we will not know it until we accept it. The illusion of the soul was made from ego, or individuality. With the soul and the ego came the division of planes of existence and states of mind where we can dream we are. We will not become anointed, or Christ, until we discover our true existence. We can then appear in the universe of the soul as Christ and assist the Holy Spirit to awaken other souls to the reality of spirit.
This is the meaning of life. We must understand that we cannot find eternal happiness without God. Souls are always afraid until they find the spirit of God. Awakening to spirit, or our ascension, is just the beginning of our journey. We will then appear as an individualized soul in the world of separation to assist other souls to wake up. It is a very, very long process, but it will be effortless once you identify yourself as the one spirit, as you will see the end and enjoy its bliss. The world of separation can no longer hurt you when you know that it is illusion. You will see heaven everywhere.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Saint Germain
There are Ascended Masters that could also be considered perfected beings like the siddhas. Jesus is definitely one of them, and there are many more. They work out of our sight, trying to awaken the Son of God. We already know about the siddhas of the East like Mahavatar Babaji, but there are Western ones, too.
Saint Germain is an Ascended Master that has been around for centuries. He primarily assists America in entering the Golden Age, where we will become a loving example for the rest of the world. Guy Ballard encountered Saint Germain while on a hike up Mount Shasta in northern California. Guy was suddenly aware of a hiker scaling the mountain behind him, just as he became thirsty. The hiker offered to fill his cup, and as he was handed the cup, he instantly filled it with a strange, creamy liquid. Guy took it, and was amazed to find it quite refreshing and at the same time feeling energized by an "electric current" through his body. The hiker explained how he was able to manifest anything from the Universal, and he then revealed himself in his divinity as Ascended Master Saint Germain.
Ever since that first encounter, Guy Ballard met more Ascended Masters, their hidden retreats in locations like Yellowstone, and remarkable crystals, stones, gold, light-forms, and other technologies. Yellowstone was explained as being named after a stone that contained yellow crystals and a glowing blue flame in the center. Guy Ballard also learned about ancient civilizations like Atlantis and the 70,000 year old Sahara Desert civilization. This ancient civilization was during the Golden Age, and Saint Germain reassures us that this will happen again very soon in America.
These civilizations were so much more advanced than our current ones because they identified themselves with the God Self within them. Unfortunately, their downfalls came from ignorance and the desires of the senses. Even though they were governed by multiple Ascended Masters, they slowly became blinded from their inner Truth. The Ascended Masters needed to consequentially leave from them so they can learn from their mistakes.
All of this might sound to you like it was made up, but Saint Germain gives us instruction on how to bring out our inner reality of our God Self. There is an organization called the "I AM" Activity that has 13 volumes of teachings and Guy Ballard's experiences. It is very, very reassuring. I recommend reading the first book, "Unveiled Mysteries."
Saint Germain is an Ascended Master that has been around for centuries. He primarily assists America in entering the Golden Age, where we will become a loving example for the rest of the world. Guy Ballard encountered Saint Germain while on a hike up Mount Shasta in northern California. Guy was suddenly aware of a hiker scaling the mountain behind him, just as he became thirsty. The hiker offered to fill his cup, and as he was handed the cup, he instantly filled it with a strange, creamy liquid. Guy took it, and was amazed to find it quite refreshing and at the same time feeling energized by an "electric current" through his body. The hiker explained how he was able to manifest anything from the Universal, and he then revealed himself in his divinity as Ascended Master Saint Germain.
Ever since that first encounter, Guy Ballard met more Ascended Masters, their hidden retreats in locations like Yellowstone, and remarkable crystals, stones, gold, light-forms, and other technologies. Yellowstone was explained as being named after a stone that contained yellow crystals and a glowing blue flame in the center. Guy Ballard also learned about ancient civilizations like Atlantis and the 70,000 year old Sahara Desert civilization. This ancient civilization was during the Golden Age, and Saint Germain reassures us that this will happen again very soon in America.
These civilizations were so much more advanced than our current ones because they identified themselves with the God Self within them. Unfortunately, their downfalls came from ignorance and the desires of the senses. Even though they were governed by multiple Ascended Masters, they slowly became blinded from their inner Truth. The Ascended Masters needed to consequentially leave from them so they can learn from their mistakes.
All of this might sound to you like it was made up, but Saint Germain gives us instruction on how to bring out our inner reality of our God Self. There is an organization called the "I AM" Activity that has 13 volumes of teachings and Guy Ballard's experiences. It is very, very reassuring. I recommend reading the first book, "Unveiled Mysteries."
Friday, June 29, 2007
Reincarnation
What is the belief of reincarnation? How does it work? Is it real? It is a very interesting subject, but most people in the Western world believe it to be false. It says in the bible that man dies once and then comes judgment. To me, that view can be both helpful and hurtful. It can motivate us to stay present, but it can also disturb our mind with the fear and hate that comes with judgment. Also, what kind of god would refuse to give you a second chance and instead keep you in hell for eternity? That is anything but the loving God that we know.
The reason why I don't believe the traditional view of the Christian afterlife is because life will not be any different than it is now after we die. Someone who "deserves to go to hell" would already be living a hellish life before they die, and someone who "deserves to go to heaven" would already be living a heavenly life before they die. Our thoughts are making up our situation and determine how we feel. This will never change until we stop creating more thoughts, desires, and attachments. So, there is no reason to worry about the afterlife, since it won't feel any different than how we have already made up our life-situation to be.
The reason why reincarnation makes sense is because it is human desire. The people who are attached to the world will want to be there again. God doesn't wish us to be here, and He isn't forcing anything on us that we wouldn't truly want. God has a reality for us, but we decided to make up a crappy imitation to believe in instead. We made the decision to be in the world in the first place, and we are hurting ourselves again and again by our worldly desires and attachments. The wise know not to be attached to our own making and accept our true reality, knowing that God cares for us more than we do.
In the Eastern world, people undoubtedly accept that we have had past lives. The great yogis have been able to remember everything that has happened in earlier incarnations. Reincarnation also explains why we have had fears, desires, attachments, and aversions ever since birth. To believe that these were all functionings of the brain and that God forced us to be born leads to a conclusion that we have no control. Believing that you are not in complete control of your life brings more pain. I would know; paranoia has taught me a lot.
But is reincarnation real? Nope. Neither is our bodies, our world, our universe, our mind, or our ego. That is completely our mad idea. God's reality is waiting quietly behind our seemingly endless suffering. God's judgement is the same for everyone, and it is this: "You are forever my child of Love, Bliss, Light and Joy."
The reason why I don't believe the traditional view of the Christian afterlife is because life will not be any different than it is now after we die. Someone who "deserves to go to hell" would already be living a hellish life before they die, and someone who "deserves to go to heaven" would already be living a heavenly life before they die. Our thoughts are making up our situation and determine how we feel. This will never change until we stop creating more thoughts, desires, and attachments. So, there is no reason to worry about the afterlife, since it won't feel any different than how we have already made up our life-situation to be.
The reason why reincarnation makes sense is because it is human desire. The people who are attached to the world will want to be there again. God doesn't wish us to be here, and He isn't forcing anything on us that we wouldn't truly want. God has a reality for us, but we decided to make up a crappy imitation to believe in instead. We made the decision to be in the world in the first place, and we are hurting ourselves again and again by our worldly desires and attachments. The wise know not to be attached to our own making and accept our true reality, knowing that God cares for us more than we do.
In the Eastern world, people undoubtedly accept that we have had past lives. The great yogis have been able to remember everything that has happened in earlier incarnations. Reincarnation also explains why we have had fears, desires, attachments, and aversions ever since birth. To believe that these were all functionings of the brain and that God forced us to be born leads to a conclusion that we have no control. Believing that you are not in complete control of your life brings more pain. I would know; paranoia has taught me a lot.
But is reincarnation real? Nope. Neither is our bodies, our world, our universe, our mind, or our ego. That is completely our mad idea. God's reality is waiting quietly behind our seemingly endless suffering. God's judgement is the same for everyone, and it is this: "You are forever my child of Love, Bliss, Light and Joy."
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Zen: the Solution to Atheism
Zen Buddhism is a wonderful approach to spirituality. It generally avoids philosophy and serves more as "direct pointing." It's practice of zazen (meditation) simplifies life enough for us to live spontaneously. It is the religion that I would call the most natural and easiest to approach for even Atheists.
Experience is very important in Zen, and the reason why it avoids philosophy is because it doesn't depend on ideas. There is a lot of cloudy religious beliefs that don't make much sense for people, and since the ideas come from the mind, they are quite distorted from the reality. When Zen masters are asked questions like, "What is Buddha nature?" they avoid answering with thought answers and bring attention to the present moment instead.
Living in the present moment without mind input, like fears, doubts, attachments, etc. is the key to Zen, since it brings out our true nature. Interactions with the world flow freely and smoothly, spontaneously like intuition. This is really how we are supposed to live in order to be free from the ego mind. You could say that being spontaneous is really the Holy Spirit taking over for you, since the Holy Spirit is much closer to your true nature than yourself (well, your idea of who you think you are).
The reason why Atheists dislike religion is because they see it as strange ideas that cause fear and pain, such as God judging whether you should go to Heaven or Hell. Really, this is only an idea, and it doesn't involved any direct experience. That skepticism is rightfully used, but it unfortunately leads agnostics and Atheists away from spirituality completely. However, Zen Buddhism is a solution for suffering, and shows that our true nature solves the problem. If we were to dig under our layers of attachment and aversion, pleasure and pain, lust and greed, a silent mind will reveal to us this true nature. If only agnostics and atheists were to still the body and mind, they would find the treasure of spirituality without using doctrine or dogma.
Experience is very important in Zen, and the reason why it avoids philosophy is because it doesn't depend on ideas. There is a lot of cloudy religious beliefs that don't make much sense for people, and since the ideas come from the mind, they are quite distorted from the reality. When Zen masters are asked questions like, "What is Buddha nature?" they avoid answering with thought answers and bring attention to the present moment instead.
Living in the present moment without mind input, like fears, doubts, attachments, etc. is the key to Zen, since it brings out our true nature. Interactions with the world flow freely and smoothly, spontaneously like intuition. This is really how we are supposed to live in order to be free from the ego mind. You could say that being spontaneous is really the Holy Spirit taking over for you, since the Holy Spirit is much closer to your true nature than yourself (well, your idea of who you think you are).
The reason why Atheists dislike religion is because they see it as strange ideas that cause fear and pain, such as God judging whether you should go to Heaven or Hell. Really, this is only an idea, and it doesn't involved any direct experience. That skepticism is rightfully used, but it unfortunately leads agnostics and Atheists away from spirituality completely. However, Zen Buddhism is a solution for suffering, and shows that our true nature solves the problem. If we were to dig under our layers of attachment and aversion, pleasure and pain, lust and greed, a silent mind will reveal to us this true nature. If only agnostics and atheists were to still the body and mind, they would find the treasure of spirituality without using doctrine or dogma.
Monday, June 25, 2007
The Divine Play
There is really no point in separation. This is the world that we live in, and it couldn't be here without the thought of separation. What is the meaning of all this? In itself, it means nothing. It was a useless wish, a mad idea, that caused ourselves to forget our unity resulting in a dual existence of separation and time. We have lost sight of our Reality, but once we reclaim it, this world will be a divine play.
It is a lot like a video game programmer that forgets he made the game and identifies himself as the character. The video game as a whole sprung from his idea, and he has all power over it. He forgot about it, and he's now limited to the struggles of role-playing. This is what happened with us. The God-realized are in no way limited by lila, "the divine play." If we were to realize that our true nature is not a dual nature, then we would awaken from it and become a "free actor" as Jesus, Buddha, and many others have done.
How do we know that reality is unity and not separation, and how can we see it as a divine play? If we look at a wave at the beach, we can identify it as an object when we're surfing. But if we realize that the wave comes from the ocean and is formed by the water bunching up in front of the wave and the rest of the water behind it, as well as the ocean currents and wind currents, this is all connected. The wave cannot exist without these other elements. Another example is if we see a woman walking. That woman is not an object by herself, because she cannot be walking without the earth, the ground or sidewalk below her. She cannot also exist without the air she breathes, and all vital aspects of her body. She couldn't have a healthy, working body without the food and drink she consumes, and she couldn't have a body without the sperm and egg of her father and mother. There are so many links and connections to everything, so it is impossible for them to be separate. It is false thinking to identify with the body if it is so linked to everything else.
This whole universe of separation could not be held together if we have no thoughts to support it. Whenever we have dualistic thoughts, of good and bad, of subject and object, and so on, we are holding together the world of separation. Identifying our body as the subject and something else as the object indicates in our mind that we aren't united with everything. We are as much the body as we are everything else. So if we were to have non-dual thoughts, we would awaken from the dream of the divine play. We would not be limited by anything because we know we are everything. This is when we can use our role as the "free actor" to help free others from the illusion of separation.
It is a lot like a video game programmer that forgets he made the game and identifies himself as the character. The video game as a whole sprung from his idea, and he has all power over it. He forgot about it, and he's now limited to the struggles of role-playing. This is what happened with us. The God-realized are in no way limited by lila, "the divine play." If we were to realize that our true nature is not a dual nature, then we would awaken from it and become a "free actor" as Jesus, Buddha, and many others have done.
How do we know that reality is unity and not separation, and how can we see it as a divine play? If we look at a wave at the beach, we can identify it as an object when we're surfing. But if we realize that the wave comes from the ocean and is formed by the water bunching up in front of the wave and the rest of the water behind it, as well as the ocean currents and wind currents, this is all connected. The wave cannot exist without these other elements. Another example is if we see a woman walking. That woman is not an object by herself, because she cannot be walking without the earth, the ground or sidewalk below her. She cannot also exist without the air she breathes, and all vital aspects of her body. She couldn't have a healthy, working body without the food and drink she consumes, and she couldn't have a body without the sperm and egg of her father and mother. There are so many links and connections to everything, so it is impossible for them to be separate. It is false thinking to identify with the body if it is so linked to everything else.
This whole universe of separation could not be held together if we have no thoughts to support it. Whenever we have dualistic thoughts, of good and bad, of subject and object, and so on, we are holding together the world of separation. Identifying our body as the subject and something else as the object indicates in our mind that we aren't united with everything. We are as much the body as we are everything else. So if we were to have non-dual thoughts, we would awaken from the dream of the divine play. We would not be limited by anything because we know we are everything. This is when we can use our role as the "free actor" to help free others from the illusion of separation.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Immortality
Its easy to say that the meaning of life is God-realization. If we are of God, then God must be our reality. To forget this truth is to be living in a cloud of illusion. God is truly our Source, so we must be able to manifest His Reality since God is our innermost being. We live knowing that we are going to die, but we can't truly die because God can't. Our soul is immortal; why is it that our physical body isn't?
If we were to realize God, we would know of our complete unity with Him. So we are really just like Him! Once we know our spiritual reality through nirvikalpa samadhi, Nirvana, Heaven, or whatever you like to call it, we can manifest this on every level of existence - down to even this physical existence. This is called soruba samadhi: the attainment of physical immortality.
There are eighteen siddhas (perfected beings) from the Tamil civilization of Southern India that have attained physical immortality and have past their teachings unto others. These siddhas seemed to originate from Shiva, the lord of Yogis, who taught Nandi and Agastyar. Nandi taught Boganathar and Patanjali. Boganathar (who was also known as Lao-Tzu) taught the young Mahavatar Babaji, who later learned advanced yoga by Agastyar and became a siddha at 16 years of age. There are more recent people as well, like Ramalinga Swami who have reached soruba samadhi.
All of these people are alive today, either on the physical or astral level. They are secretly working behind the scene towards evolving humankind. They are Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute, and are the essence of Love. Jesus Christ and other spiritual masters have a united will with these siddhas. Mahavatar Babaji has stayed in the physical plane for the benefit of all, and has sent many people out into the world to teach the ancient Kriya Yoga.
These perfected beings are waiting for us to awaken, and will never give up their effort for unconditional love of all. They are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, and Babaji promises that if you "take one step, i will take ten steps towards you." They are offering everything that they are so we could be the same. Why are we still making the choice of disbelief?
If we were to realize God, we would know of our complete unity with Him. So we are really just like Him! Once we know our spiritual reality through nirvikalpa samadhi, Nirvana, Heaven, or whatever you like to call it, we can manifest this on every level of existence - down to even this physical existence. This is called soruba samadhi: the attainment of physical immortality.
Shiva, the Lord of Yogis
There are eighteen siddhas (perfected beings) from the Tamil civilization of Southern India that have attained physical immortality and have past their teachings unto others. These siddhas seemed to originate from Shiva, the lord of Yogis, who taught Nandi and Agastyar. Nandi taught Boganathar and Patanjali. Boganathar (who was also known as Lao-Tzu) taught the young Mahavatar Babaji, who later learned advanced yoga by Agastyar and became a siddha at 16 years of age. There are more recent people as well, like Ramalinga Swami who have reached soruba samadhi.
All of these people are alive today, either on the physical or astral level. They are secretly working behind the scene towards evolving humankind. They are Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute, and are the essence of Love. Jesus Christ and other spiritual masters have a united will with these siddhas. Mahavatar Babaji has stayed in the physical plane for the benefit of all, and has sent many people out into the world to teach the ancient Kriya Yoga.
These perfected beings are waiting for us to awaken, and will never give up their effort for unconditional love of all. They are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, and Babaji promises that if you "take one step, i will take ten steps towards you." They are offering everything that they are so we could be the same. Why are we still making the choice of disbelief?
Thursday, June 21, 2007
No Faith or Trust = No Action or Progress
Some people find it childish to believe in spirituality. Unconditional love, healing, miracles, immortality, channeling, deities, God - all childish. People write books on the strange beliefs that other people have. People think of it as fantasizing. Because of that, they make no spiritual progress, and unfortunately, don't find unlimited joy.
In my case, I have had to believe that God exists and that I cannot truly die in order to make a change in my life. It is really funny how people hesitate in believing in spiritual things because people might think you're weird or wrong or something. Nevertheless, hesitating for that reason is defending your ego. Who cares about that? You are cutting yourself off from mind-blowing, never-ending bliss in the meantime!
Once you realize that worldly pleasure is never permanently fulfilling, atheistic or agnostic thinking will keep you in fear of never escaping pain. This is where people make the spiritual jump. Faith is needed until you make the first encounter with the reality of the divine.
What is upsetting is that most people are still attached to worldly desires, resulting in the prevention of encountering God. Even though they might believe in God, it only remains a belief for them. For this reason, people stay in their minds and never encounter spirit, and this is what causes the battle of religions. People argue over who is right, but they forget that religion is a path to happiness. The desire to be right blinds people from the truth and purpose of their religion!
Just as long as you use your beliefs to later encounter God, your desires will finally be fulfilled. Some people are religious because they have experienced God, and it is no longer belief for them. If you stop identifying with the ego, you will find what you have always been looking for, no matter what religion you choose to follow.
In my case, I have had to believe that God exists and that I cannot truly die in order to make a change in my life. It is really funny how people hesitate in believing in spiritual things because people might think you're weird or wrong or something. Nevertheless, hesitating for that reason is defending your ego. Who cares about that? You are cutting yourself off from mind-blowing, never-ending bliss in the meantime!
Once you realize that worldly pleasure is never permanently fulfilling, atheistic or agnostic thinking will keep you in fear of never escaping pain. This is where people make the spiritual jump. Faith is needed until you make the first encounter with the reality of the divine.
What is upsetting is that most people are still attached to worldly desires, resulting in the prevention of encountering God. Even though they might believe in God, it only remains a belief for them. For this reason, people stay in their minds and never encounter spirit, and this is what causes the battle of religions. People argue over who is right, but they forget that religion is a path to happiness. The desire to be right blinds people from the truth and purpose of their religion!
Just as long as you use your beliefs to later encounter God, your desires will finally be fulfilled. Some people are religious because they have experienced God, and it is no longer belief for them. If you stop identifying with the ego, you will find what you have always been looking for, no matter what religion you choose to follow.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Spirit-Giving
What is so great about spirit is that it is inexhaustible. If we give through the spirit, we do not experience loss; we only gain. That is why Buddha says we should be selfless, since that is how you realize the Self. Whenever we have a sense of loss, we should know that it is not real. Our spirit is perfect because it is everything!
We do have a Self, but there is truly only one Self. There is no separation at all in reality, so we are really only giving to our Self. You are in everything, and everything is in you. We are all one. There cannot be any loss if you are already everything!
You should only give without expecting anything back. If you want something back, you are not trusting reality. You already have and are everything, and you must be delusional to forget this. The material existence runs on the belief of losing by giving and gaining by taking. The spiritual existence demonstrates that you gain by giving only, and taking is impossible. You will be giving and people receiving without any loss.
Recently, I was meditating in my room, and afterwards my Dad told me of an interesting experience that happened simultaneously. My Dad was a few rooms away when he felt this strange force, and he walked into my room to see me meditating on my bed. So, he decided to tune in with it, and after three seconds he reached a state that would take him usually ten minutes to reach. I was completely unaware of this while I was meditating, getting deeper and deeper into it. There was no sense of loss at all, no sense of anyone taking anything from me.
We do have a Self, but there is truly only one Self. There is no separation at all in reality, so we are really only giving to our Self. You are in everything, and everything is in you. We are all one. There cannot be any loss if you are already everything!
You should only give without expecting anything back. If you want something back, you are not trusting reality. You already have and are everything, and you must be delusional to forget this. The material existence runs on the belief of losing by giving and gaining by taking. The spiritual existence demonstrates that you gain by giving only, and taking is impossible. You will be giving and people receiving without any loss.
Recently, I was meditating in my room, and afterwards my Dad told me of an interesting experience that happened simultaneously. My Dad was a few rooms away when he felt this strange force, and he walked into my room to see me meditating on my bed. So, he decided to tune in with it, and after three seconds he reached a state that would take him usually ten minutes to reach. I was completely unaware of this while I was meditating, getting deeper and deeper into it. There was no sense of loss at all, no sense of anyone taking anything from me.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Artificial vs. Natural
When people say that nature is what is natural to the world, I think of it as self-enslavement. If we say that we should act natural, for instance, that we should act the way the world naturally would, then we would never find inner peace and never get a break. This belief of "nature" is saying that both fear and separation are natural, but that miracles are not natural. Doesn't that also mean that Jesus isn't natural?
I will redefine what natural is. What is natural is God. The Truth is natural, which means that unity, love, peace and joy are also natural. Everything that is not natural is artificial, because it is "man" made or ego. If you didn't already know, the ego made up the whole universe of separation, of degrees, aspects and intervals. Subject and object, duality, fear, and time are all artificial. Even the mind is of the ego, which is also artificial!
Even the techniques of the Secret are artificial techniques, because it completely involves the mind. It leaves God completely out of it and instead uses ego. The ego is our own idea, but we identify with it in order to get what we think we want. God is truly what we want, and we will only realize this once we believe it and trust it! Only He is natural; the ego is completely artificial.
Once you start sticking to what's natural, everything in the artificial world will fall into place. Joining with God is beyond words, but no one would say He is unnatural or artificial. He will wrap you in a cocoon where you can rest in bliss, and move you through the artificial mind and body smoothly, without worry. Everyday I stay present long enough to at least step into this cocoon of bliss, and I am no longer stressed or afraid or worried. I will eventually live in this cocoon, unfortunately while everyone else runs around holding on for dear life. However, I can't keep quiet about this. I want the whole world to find nature.
I will redefine what natural is. What is natural is God. The Truth is natural, which means that unity, love, peace and joy are also natural. Everything that is not natural is artificial, because it is "man" made or ego. If you didn't already know, the ego made up the whole universe of separation, of degrees, aspects and intervals. Subject and object, duality, fear, and time are all artificial. Even the mind is of the ego, which is also artificial!
Even the techniques of the Secret are artificial techniques, because it completely involves the mind. It leaves God completely out of it and instead uses ego. The ego is our own idea, but we identify with it in order to get what we think we want. God is truly what we want, and we will only realize this once we believe it and trust it! Only He is natural; the ego is completely artificial.
Once you start sticking to what's natural, everything in the artificial world will fall into place. Joining with God is beyond words, but no one would say He is unnatural or artificial. He will wrap you in a cocoon where you can rest in bliss, and move you through the artificial mind and body smoothly, without worry. Everyday I stay present long enough to at least step into this cocoon of bliss, and I am no longer stressed or afraid or worried. I will eventually live in this cocoon, unfortunately while everyone else runs around holding on for dear life. However, I can't keep quiet about this. I want the whole world to find nature.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Duality and Judgement
Separation is never the answer in any situation. There is a basic mode of thinking that the world follows right now, and it runs on separation. This is duality, and it can be seen in the concepts of good and bad, heaven and hell, right and wrong. If the interpretation is dual, then that means that there is something other than God, like Satan, that is just as real as Him.
This view has really caused many problems, not only for others but for themselves. It gives a sense of powerlessness, because of the belief that bad can sometimes overcome the good, and that darkness can put out the light. Percieving separation in any sense of the word is the only problem we have. If we could only see unity, that we would be seeing truly. There is only one God, so you must see only unity, wholeness, and completeness. Believing yourself to be an individual is a false perception. Since only God is, so you must be one with Him in reality, and not separate.
This false perception creates fear, pain, and all other negativities, because it is the belief of being separate from God. Another problem is having enemies. Seeing that there is good and bad in the world makes you believe that there are bad people in the world. This leads to blaming people for being sinners and evil people, so much so that we don't realize that they aren't really that way. Like I said, the desire for separation blinds us from the truth.
I find it funny that the two main philosophies of the Enlightenment were either that people are inherently good and become bad from world influence, or that people are inherently evil and become good through experience. They both use good and bad, and believe them to be equally true concepts. I have to say that they are equally untrue. We are actually the Son of God but identify with the ego, the false sense of individuality. We are inherently one, but become delusional and believe in separation.
This is not an issue about right and wrong. If we were sane, nothing truly desirable would come from separation, from good and bad. True perception brings unspeakable peace, joy, bliss, wholeness, and completeness. Once you know that there is no separation from God, you won't be so little and helpless anymore.
The prison system in the United States has become corrupt because of false perceptions. The US government has punished so-called "bad" people, and believes that to help. Not only have these "bad" people hurt themselves immensely, the prisons are doing even more damage to the prisoners and themselves. They hate these "sinners," and thereby cut themselves off from the Source. We are a Christian nation, so I would think that the teachings of Jesus Christ would be taken into consideration. He demonstrated for us that we should love everyone, even our "enemies." If we were doing that, then we would have psychotherapists available for the prisoners. We wouldn't be declaring death penalty!
You could say that the US seems to rather throw away the prisoners instead of recycle them. I would rather call us the Separate States of America; the United States is a lie. If we call ourselves the United States, then let's awaken to our unity!
This view has really caused many problems, not only for others but for themselves. It gives a sense of powerlessness, because of the belief that bad can sometimes overcome the good, and that darkness can put out the light. Percieving separation in any sense of the word is the only problem we have. If we could only see unity, that we would be seeing truly. There is only one God, so you must see only unity, wholeness, and completeness. Believing yourself to be an individual is a false perception. Since only God is, so you must be one with Him in reality, and not separate.
This false perception creates fear, pain, and all other negativities, because it is the belief of being separate from God. Another problem is having enemies. Seeing that there is good and bad in the world makes you believe that there are bad people in the world. This leads to blaming people for being sinners and evil people, so much so that we don't realize that they aren't really that way. Like I said, the desire for separation blinds us from the truth.
I find it funny that the two main philosophies of the Enlightenment were either that people are inherently good and become bad from world influence, or that people are inherently evil and become good through experience. They both use good and bad, and believe them to be equally true concepts. I have to say that they are equally untrue. We are actually the Son of God but identify with the ego, the false sense of individuality. We are inherently one, but become delusional and believe in separation.
This is not an issue about right and wrong. If we were sane, nothing truly desirable would come from separation, from good and bad. True perception brings unspeakable peace, joy, bliss, wholeness, and completeness. Once you know that there is no separation from God, you won't be so little and helpless anymore.
The prison system in the United States has become corrupt because of false perceptions. The US government has punished so-called "bad" people, and believes that to help. Not only have these "bad" people hurt themselves immensely, the prisons are doing even more damage to the prisoners and themselves. They hate these "sinners," and thereby cut themselves off from the Source. We are a Christian nation, so I would think that the teachings of Jesus Christ would be taken into consideration. He demonstrated for us that we should love everyone, even our "enemies." If we were doing that, then we would have psychotherapists available for the prisoners. We wouldn't be declaring death penalty!
You could say that the US seems to rather throw away the prisoners instead of recycle them. I would rather call us the Separate States of America; the United States is a lie. If we call ourselves the United States, then let's awaken to our unity!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Yoga: Union with God
I find it funny how Westerns tend to bend things from their true purpose to use it how they prefer. For example, yoga is known in the West as stretching excercises used in order to attain a healthy body. That's not exactly it. Yoga as we know it is a certain type of yoga called Hatha Yoga, and it focuses on using asanas (postures) in order to attain union with God. Yoga means union, just to make sure that's clear.
There are many other types of yoga that are used differently. Bhakti Yoga is devotion, usually worship. Karma Yoga is work that is done for God, without being attached to its results. Jnana Yoga is spiritual discrimination, which distinguishes between the real (Atman) and unreal (maya or illusion). Each of these are methods of attaining union with God, and anyone can choose to follow any of these methods.
However, there are a couple techniques that are more efficient in attaining this union quickly. Two of them are Raja (Royal) Yoga, which was brought forth by Patanjali, and the other is Kriya Yoga, which seems to originate from Mahavatar Babaji. These are disciplined forms of yoga that get down to business with its true purpose. They are used strictly to attain complete union with God with no distractions, and they incorporate the other forms of yoga so well that it is undoubtedly one-pointedness towards God.
This is not supposed to be some side hobby that you do once in a while to stay healthy. If you see it truly, it is a way of living. It can be incorporated into every area of your life, just as long as the goal is always God. Even Tantra Yoga uses sex in order to grow spiritually. Paramhansa Yogananda tries to explain that yoga can be very valuable for the Western world. We are the most advanced nation materially, and if we are able to incorporate spirituality into everything we do, we would be completely set. All we have to do is bring all of our attention to God, since He is the Creator of everything. Desiring anything less than His fullness leads to dissatisfaction. This union with God is exactly what we need.
Below is an image showing the spread of Kriya Yoga from Mahavatar Babaji. There are many books on yoga written by these people, and they have also made organizations based on this type of yoga.
There are many other types of yoga that are used differently. Bhakti Yoga is devotion, usually worship. Karma Yoga is work that is done for God, without being attached to its results. Jnana Yoga is spiritual discrimination, which distinguishes between the real (Atman) and unreal (maya or illusion). Each of these are methods of attaining union with God, and anyone can choose to follow any of these methods.
However, there are a couple techniques that are more efficient in attaining this union quickly. Two of them are Raja (Royal) Yoga, which was brought forth by Patanjali, and the other is Kriya Yoga, which seems to originate from Mahavatar Babaji. These are disciplined forms of yoga that get down to business with its true purpose. They are used strictly to attain complete union with God with no distractions, and they incorporate the other forms of yoga so well that it is undoubtedly one-pointedness towards God.
This is not supposed to be some side hobby that you do once in a while to stay healthy. If you see it truly, it is a way of living. It can be incorporated into every area of your life, just as long as the goal is always God. Even Tantra Yoga uses sex in order to grow spiritually. Paramhansa Yogananda tries to explain that yoga can be very valuable for the Western world. We are the most advanced nation materially, and if we are able to incorporate spirituality into everything we do, we would be completely set. All we have to do is bring all of our attention to God, since He is the Creator of everything. Desiring anything less than His fullness leads to dissatisfaction. This union with God is exactly what we need.
Below is an image showing the spread of Kriya Yoga from Mahavatar Babaji. There are many books on yoga written by these people, and they have also made organizations based on this type of yoga.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
The Depth of Religion
Religion rarely turns into spirituality in our lives. For most, all religious beliefs remain only ideas. These ideas are often manipulated in order to prove the ideas of others wrong. There are so few that are outside beliefs and instead know the truth. There is no doubt, and their beliefs cannot be attacked because they actually experience them.
Religion is not only moral and ethical systems of belief; there is much more to it than that. All religions lead to God, the Existence-Bliss-Absolute. It is freedom from the duality of this world, from all fears and pains. All religions lead to true knowledge, but those who do not follow that road are blinded by the veil of ignorance. Unfortunately this is surely the case for the majority of people in the world.
However, there are those who have delved deep into a religion and reached all the way to truth. They do not need to worry about the beliefs in other religions, because they see how they all link to the truth. We would call these people spiritual rather than religious, since they don't defend their beliefs. Therefore, they can't be knocked of their feet by insults.
For most people, when they are asked if they believe in God, they say yes, but they aren't really sure. They can be knocked off their feet. If you believe in God, you would see Him more real than your own body. He is the Creator and the Source, where everything else has sprung from. If you don't get the chance to feel this Source, you might tend to defend your beliefs.
Those who truly believe in God know Him. Those who say they believe in God usually are agnostic. If you say you believe in God, then seek to know Him! You can follow your religion to do so, and that should be done in a defenseless way. Don't worry; all religions are correct when belief systems become personal experience. If you've used a religion to find God, you have used it correctly and will reach God. If you use religion to prove others wrong, you have only skimmed the surface, building your house on the sand instead of on the rock. Find God! Only then will you undoubtedly believe in Him.
Religion is not only moral and ethical systems of belief; there is much more to it than that. All religions lead to God, the Existence-Bliss-Absolute. It is freedom from the duality of this world, from all fears and pains. All religions lead to true knowledge, but those who do not follow that road are blinded by the veil of ignorance. Unfortunately this is surely the case for the majority of people in the world.
However, there are those who have delved deep into a religion and reached all the way to truth. They do not need to worry about the beliefs in other religions, because they see how they all link to the truth. We would call these people spiritual rather than religious, since they don't defend their beliefs. Therefore, they can't be knocked of their feet by insults.
For most people, when they are asked if they believe in God, they say yes, but they aren't really sure. They can be knocked off their feet. If you believe in God, you would see Him more real than your own body. He is the Creator and the Source, where everything else has sprung from. If you don't get the chance to feel this Source, you might tend to defend your beliefs.
Those who truly believe in God know Him. Those who say they believe in God usually are agnostic. If you say you believe in God, then seek to know Him! You can follow your religion to do so, and that should be done in a defenseless way. Don't worry; all religions are correct when belief systems become personal experience. If you've used a religion to find God, you have used it correctly and will reach God. If you use religion to prove others wrong, you have only skimmed the surface, building your house on the sand instead of on the rock. Find God! Only then will you undoubtedly believe in Him.
Friday, June 8, 2007
How to Incorporate Spirituality Into Our Life-Situation
We should all be grateful how spirituality can be incorporated into our lives almost effortlessly. Anyone can have a spiritual path, no matter who they are or what they do. You can choose a monastic life or be a householder; it doesn't matter. By walking the spiritual path, you need only to seek happiness and love everyone. Nothing on the physical level needs to be changed, but hobbies and undesired habits will start to naturally fall away. For example, instead of sitting on your butt to watch TV for, let's say, 7 hours, you can spend that time to join with God instead! Oh, and how much greater it is!
Escaping the world is unnecessary. By living spiritually, you will bring peace to your life and the lives of others. Do not run away from the world! We could use your help. The actions needed to finish work everyday do not need to be changed. Instead of being stressed, peace will constantly flow from you. Nothing needs to be said. If you choose to be a householder, you still have the power to forgive everything in every life-situation.
If you decide to be a monk, then that shows your intense desire to know God, as you want Him above all. Householders, however, can advance just as fast on the spiritual level by not being tempted by worldly pleasures in their midst. Yes, you can still do pleasurable things and enjoy them, but if you are able to refrain from coming back for more, then that shows that you have non-attachment, a great spiritual virtue. Take it when it is offered, but don't constantly seek it. By seeking God instead, you will start to awaken from maya, the illusion of the world. You will be free.
Spirituality is not so much an action as it is a change in perception. If you start to see things differently, allowing love to be omnipresent in your life-situation, you are having great spiritual success. From this change in perception, your change of action will come. You would understand more and more to want God instead of his "toys." This is where you start to "roll up the blinds" in order to have the "sun" illuminate your "home," the inner body. It will stay there until you "roll down the blinds" to play with God's "toys" again, which could eventually lead to anger and depression. Leave the blinds up! Don't live in darkness just because everyone else is!
Escaping the world is unnecessary. By living spiritually, you will bring peace to your life and the lives of others. Do not run away from the world! We could use your help. The actions needed to finish work everyday do not need to be changed. Instead of being stressed, peace will constantly flow from you. Nothing needs to be said. If you choose to be a householder, you still have the power to forgive everything in every life-situation.
If you decide to be a monk, then that shows your intense desire to know God, as you want Him above all. Householders, however, can advance just as fast on the spiritual level by not being tempted by worldly pleasures in their midst. Yes, you can still do pleasurable things and enjoy them, but if you are able to refrain from coming back for more, then that shows that you have non-attachment, a great spiritual virtue. Take it when it is offered, but don't constantly seek it. By seeking God instead, you will start to awaken from maya, the illusion of the world. You will be free.
Spirituality is not so much an action as it is a change in perception. If you start to see things differently, allowing love to be omnipresent in your life-situation, you are having great spiritual success. From this change in perception, your change of action will come. You would understand more and more to want God instead of his "toys." This is where you start to "roll up the blinds" in order to have the "sun" illuminate your "home," the inner body. It will stay there until you "roll down the blinds" to play with God's "toys" again, which could eventually lead to anger and depression. Leave the blinds up! Don't live in darkness just because everyone else is!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Center yourself in your Self
All mind-activities and life-situations are distractions from your Self. Peace, joy, bliss and happiness only come from Self-realization, which means that anything of the world will only make your life-situation difficult. It is when you find your Life that the life-situation is no longer a constant worry or burden.
Our minds have created every aspect of our life-situation, including our body. This doesn't mean, however, that there is only mind. There is only God, and everything else is illusory. Your Self is the Son of God, "high above" everything of the world. It dwells in core of your being, the innermost existence, and the only true reality. You cannot find this by using the mind, but by staying in the present moment, you will eventually find your Self and have the true thoughts of God.
Throughout our day, we seem to constantly have problems, like being stressed, nervous, worried, afraid, hurt, angry, etc. The first step towards finding the Self is to be aware of these problems. If you do not become aware, you will always live unconsciously, identifying with the ego. You need to stop acting as the thinker and be the Observer. The Observer is beyond all problems, and sees the life-situation in the same way as we watch a movie. The unconsciousness, or the ego, is identified with when people forget that they are sitting in the audience and start identifying with the character on the screen and their life-situation. This is how we have forgotten God and our Self.
Becoming the Observer is to find your Self, our utmost responsibility. When you realize that your thoughts were left unwatched while they made problems, you become the Observer. However, if you are disturbed by a certain thought or action, don't start become upset about it! If you do, it'll become a vicious cycle, where you get upset about an upset, causing you to be more upset. It would never end! Just rejoice when you become aware, as that will eventually lead to Self-realization.
Our minds have created every aspect of our life-situation, including our body. This doesn't mean, however, that there is only mind. There is only God, and everything else is illusory. Your Self is the Son of God, "high above" everything of the world. It dwells in core of your being, the innermost existence, and the only true reality. You cannot find this by using the mind, but by staying in the present moment, you will eventually find your Self and have the true thoughts of God.
Throughout our day, we seem to constantly have problems, like being stressed, nervous, worried, afraid, hurt, angry, etc. The first step towards finding the Self is to be aware of these problems. If you do not become aware, you will always live unconsciously, identifying with the ego. You need to stop acting as the thinker and be the Observer. The Observer is beyond all problems, and sees the life-situation in the same way as we watch a movie. The unconsciousness, or the ego, is identified with when people forget that they are sitting in the audience and start identifying with the character on the screen and their life-situation. This is how we have forgotten God and our Self.
Becoming the Observer is to find your Self, our utmost responsibility. When you realize that your thoughts were left unwatched while they made problems, you become the Observer. However, if you are disturbed by a certain thought or action, don't start become upset about it! If you do, it'll become a vicious cycle, where you get upset about an upset, causing you to be more upset. It would never end! Just rejoice when you become aware, as that will eventually lead to Self-realization.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Dream, The Game
The people who don't realize that our life-situation is a game consequentially suffer all the time. Forgetting the reality of unity causes separation and entropy. Everything seems to fall apart, and we need to hold it together. People might see it as their lives are being destroyed by everything and that nothing is ever perfect.
We must wake up to our unity with God. Through this unity, everything of God is what we are created from. So, God is our strength. Why aren't we using it? It comes from the fear of God and the Truth, ultimately our Self. So we made a false self, the ego. We play in this game as if it is a dream, where we forget who we are. Therefore, we suffer from false perception.
Do our spiritual masters convince us enough that this is just a game? If we knew who and what we are, we would not be manipulated by anything of this world. We would be doing what Jesus was able to do. Even crucifixion could not kill us! God is with us, so much so that we are one with Him! If you were aware of this, you would be free from all limitations! You would know that this is a game!
As long as we depend on and identify with the body and mind, we will be hiding from the Self. If we are to quiet are mind and be aware of the present, we will feel God. Any thoughts will prevent the Light from filling the body. We will realize how much we are capable of doing. In dreams and games, we are able to control the environment instead of giving it authority over us. So depend on God.
Don't listen to the ego. Don't let it limit you by telling you that I am making a ridiculous statement. I have already experienced enough to tell you that it is true. This is for your benefit, not mine. Paramahansa Yogananda calls our life-situation God's game of seeing if we will depend on Him. The universe is not important in itself; knowing the Source of the universe is. A Course in Miracles tells us that the reality is Heaven, and this is the dream of separation from God. Open mindedness will save you from suffering! Quiet your mind, and awaken from the dream.
We must wake up to our unity with God. Through this unity, everything of God is what we are created from. So, God is our strength. Why aren't we using it? It comes from the fear of God and the Truth, ultimately our Self. So we made a false self, the ego. We play in this game as if it is a dream, where we forget who we are. Therefore, we suffer from false perception.
Do our spiritual masters convince us enough that this is just a game? If we knew who and what we are, we would not be manipulated by anything of this world. We would be doing what Jesus was able to do. Even crucifixion could not kill us! God is with us, so much so that we are one with Him! If you were aware of this, you would be free from all limitations! You would know that this is a game!
As long as we depend on and identify with the body and mind, we will be hiding from the Self. If we are to quiet are mind and be aware of the present, we will feel God. Any thoughts will prevent the Light from filling the body. We will realize how much we are capable of doing. In dreams and games, we are able to control the environment instead of giving it authority over us. So depend on God.
Don't listen to the ego. Don't let it limit you by telling you that I am making a ridiculous statement. I have already experienced enough to tell you that it is true. This is for your benefit, not mine. Paramahansa Yogananda calls our life-situation God's game of seeing if we will depend on Him. The universe is not important in itself; knowing the Source of the universe is. A Course in Miracles tells us that the reality is Heaven, and this is the dream of separation from God. Open mindedness will save you from suffering! Quiet your mind, and awaken from the dream.
Monday, June 4, 2007
The Source
I have to say, even though the New Atheists are very logical, they somehow do not understand the logic behind an existing Source for our physical existence. As I have said in an earlier post, your initial speed for throwing a ball up into the air is always greater than it is after you release it. Yes, the Atheists would say that this existence came from nothing by mere chance, and they are correct; it came from nothing. But it is called "nothing" because it is formless. The source is so much grander than form by being formless. For example, how can you have a planet without any space for it to fill?
We have forgot the Source and have called it "nothing." It seems like nothing to us, but that is becuase we are unaware of it. We have become unconscious and have forgot the divine power that created us. We forgot what we are. How do I know this is true? Through meditation, I have found that "nothing." I would now prefer to call it "everything." It is truly the Source, and it is undeniable. My greatest wish is for everyone to wake up to their own divinity and their Source.
Words cannot explain the Source, but don't dismiss it! You will miss it! All of our problems have come from forgetting the Source. We all know what it's like to know that you're dreaming, and we also know what a nightmare is like. Those experiences relate to the real world greatly. In nightmares, we have forgot that we made the dream, and it is a complete hell. It is the same for our waking life! Whenever we are stressed, worried, afraid, sick, in pain, etc., we have forgot that we are doing this to ourselves! If we know that this is surely true, we will be fearless. We will remember our Source.
When we dream, we think we are someone in the dream. But, when we wake up, we find ourselves in bed, in a body. We mistook ourselves to be a character in the dream. But we made the dream, and everything in it. It is applicable to our waking life, too! We think we are a body, but we are actually the Source. We made all contents of the physical existence! We not the body, but really everything!
Know this to be true, and go meditate. If you sincerely want the experience, you must be devoted and open to tapping into the Source. You will find your Self.
We have forgot the Source and have called it "nothing." It seems like nothing to us, but that is becuase we are unaware of it. We have become unconscious and have forgot the divine power that created us. We forgot what we are. How do I know this is true? Through meditation, I have found that "nothing." I would now prefer to call it "everything." It is truly the Source, and it is undeniable. My greatest wish is for everyone to wake up to their own divinity and their Source.
Words cannot explain the Source, but don't dismiss it! You will miss it! All of our problems have come from forgetting the Source. We all know what it's like to know that you're dreaming, and we also know what a nightmare is like. Those experiences relate to the real world greatly. In nightmares, we have forgot that we made the dream, and it is a complete hell. It is the same for our waking life! Whenever we are stressed, worried, afraid, sick, in pain, etc., we have forgot that we are doing this to ourselves! If we know that this is surely true, we will be fearless. We will remember our Source.
When we dream, we think we are someone in the dream. But, when we wake up, we find ourselves in bed, in a body. We mistook ourselves to be a character in the dream. But we made the dream, and everything in it. It is applicable to our waking life, too! We think we are a body, but we are actually the Source. We made all contents of the physical existence! We not the body, but really everything!
Know this to be true, and go meditate. If you sincerely want the experience, you must be devoted and open to tapping into the Source. You will find your Self.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Ten Commandments: "Thou Shalt" Instead of "Thou Shalt Not"
I found that the Ten Commandments shows you how the Self-realized would act. However, the Commandments do not tell you how to drop all false desires and act the way it proposes. People might interpret it as the things you are asked not to do are bad things, instead of explaining that by doing them you are only hurting yourself. God is not demanding us to do these things; he wants us to follow them in order to find Him in Heaven. God doesn't need us; we need Him. And since there is one God, we must be one-pointed. We need to focus on one thing. We become really disfunctional if we have to focus on many things to reach Him. Therefore, I rewrote the Ten Commandments, showing what we should do instead of not do. If you become one-pointed and find God, you will automatically be following the original Ten Commandments. Here's my version:
1. There is God the Absolute and God in form.
2. He is everywhere and everything, omnipresent and omnipotent.
3. Idol worship is only used in order to reach God the Divine. All other idols are worship of His effects, and not Him, the Cause.
4. Instead of swearing, find God and know whose name you are swearing. Repeat the Word of God: Aum (Amen).
5. Every day is the Sabbath; devote all your work to Him, and meditate, staying presently aware of Him at every moment.
6. Have humility for God, and you will see Him in all, including your family and enemies.
7. Love all, and know that you are the Son of God.
8. The love for all will drop any worldly desires.
9. You must accept the Now to see completeness and perfection.
10. In order to realize the Self, you must have only the desire to know God, the Cause of all worldly effects.
1. There is God the Absolute and God in form.
2. He is everywhere and everything, omnipresent and omnipotent.
3. Idol worship is only used in order to reach God the Divine. All other idols are worship of His effects, and not Him, the Cause.
4. Instead of swearing, find God and know whose name you are swearing. Repeat the Word of God: Aum (Amen).
5. Every day is the Sabbath; devote all your work to Him, and meditate, staying presently aware of Him at every moment.
6. Have humility for God, and you will see Him in all, including your family and enemies.
7. Love all, and know that you are the Son of God.
8. The love for all will drop any worldly desires.
9. You must accept the Now to see completeness and perfection.
10. In order to realize the Self, you must have only the desire to know God, the Cause of all worldly effects.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
What Happened?
"How did I get into this situation? Why do I find myself so miniscule within this cosmic existence? Why am I constantly afraid, upset, hurt, depressed and in pain? Why am I so limited?" These are perhaps questions that we all have. Its funny how we live as if we are a certain individual in a certain place while there is infinitely more out there that is not us. We are limited by physical laws, and we must fight to survive. "Why can't we just fly off into the air? Why do we have to eat to live? Why do we constantly have conflicts? Why is the majority of people more often stressed than happy? We are completely manipulated by everything. God screwed us over."
This is what I feel the everyone's response to our situation has been. "Nothing seems to go our way, we are so little... we are in hell." Guess what? That was all in your hands! If that's the way you feel, then you must know that you've made it that way. Out thoughts are making everything. "I have a headache." "No, you don't!" "No, it's true, I really do!" "You think?" "Yes!" "Well, you're right. It is a thought." Nothing really happened. If you have a thought about it, then it was merely a thought.
However, true thoughts will come when you experience something that is really true. If you are able to stop thinking and only be aware of silence, you will feel God. And God is everything. This shows you that you really aren't someone somewhere at sometime; you are everyone everywhere at everytime. Stop making up your fairy tale of hell, which is really the ego, and listen to what God has to say. Then you will no longer have problems.
This is what I feel the everyone's response to our situation has been. "Nothing seems to go our way, we are so little... we are in hell." Guess what? That was all in your hands! If that's the way you feel, then you must know that you've made it that way. Out thoughts are making everything. "I have a headache." "No, you don't!" "No, it's true, I really do!" "You think?" "Yes!" "Well, you're right. It is a thought." Nothing really happened. If you have a thought about it, then it was merely a thought.
However, true thoughts will come when you experience something that is really true. If you are able to stop thinking and only be aware of silence, you will feel God. And God is everything. This shows you that you really aren't someone somewhere at sometime; you are everyone everywhere at everytime. Stop making up your fairy tale of hell, which is really the ego, and listen to what God has to say. Then you will no longer have problems.
The Trinity, Allah, the Self, and Nirvana
People seem to be confused about which religion has explained God truly. Muslims say that there is no god but God (Allah) while the Hindus believe in countless deities. Christians have the Trinity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Hindu philosophy Vedanta says that there is only Brahman (God the formless), and Atman (the Self). However. Buddhists don't believe in God, and they say we are selfless, but they do believe in Nirvana. So many different ideas; which one is true?
They are all true; you just have to know how it all links together. They are all terms to explain God, and the more you understand one of them, the easier it is to understand God. Of course, the explanation of God will not tell you anything about Him until you have experienced Him. Nevertheless, you need to know where to look.
Muslims disliked the idea of a Trinity because they are strictly monotheistic, and wanted to explain that there isn't three of Him; only Allah. They Judeo-Christian beliefs don't respect the Hindu's worshipping many deities, and this is what sets them apart. This is pretty funny, considering that the Trinity explains different aspects of God while the Hindu deities are exactly that. The Hindus primarily believe in the unity of God, the all-pervading existence, which they call Brahman. Atman, the Self, is what you really are, and there is not separation between Atman and Brahman anyway. Brahman is the ocean, while Atman is the immersed in it in the same way as a drop of water joins with it.
How are Hindu beliefs the same as the Christian Trinity? The Son of God is the Self, the Atman. The Father is the all-pervading aspect of the Trinity, Brahman. The Holy Spirit is the Messenger, the Savior. The Holy Spirit is different for everybody, but He appears to you in the way that will help you the most. This is why the Hindus worship different deities; they can relate to them. They appear to them in visions. Some people don't prefer the Holy Spirit to appear in form, so instead He would work directly through them, as intuition does.
Even though that all fits together, Buddhist beliefs seem to still contradict. They only believe in Nirvana, and Buddha explains there to be no-Self, or the Anatman. He says that we are selfless, and we don't keep anything separate from everything else. Nirvana makes the same point as Muslims do, in the sense that there is only God and no separation of things. There is no-Self, because there is no separation between it and Nirvana. It is all one in Nirvana. Nirvana means "blowing out," explaining that every thought of this world is only covering up the awareness of no-thing. It must be extinguished so we are aware of Nirvana; we must be all-pervading. So there you go! Nirvana is also the same thing as Brahman, since it is all-pervading! It is God the Absolute.
It is all the same, just different ways of categorizing Him. Still, don't depend on this to know God. Go experience Him.
They are all true; you just have to know how it all links together. They are all terms to explain God, and the more you understand one of them, the easier it is to understand God. Of course, the explanation of God will not tell you anything about Him until you have experienced Him. Nevertheless, you need to know where to look.
Muslims disliked the idea of a Trinity because they are strictly monotheistic, and wanted to explain that there isn't three of Him; only Allah. They Judeo-Christian beliefs don't respect the Hindu's worshipping many deities, and this is what sets them apart. This is pretty funny, considering that the Trinity explains different aspects of God while the Hindu deities are exactly that. The Hindus primarily believe in the unity of God, the all-pervading existence, which they call Brahman. Atman, the Self, is what you really are, and there is not separation between Atman and Brahman anyway. Brahman is the ocean, while Atman is the immersed in it in the same way as a drop of water joins with it.
How are Hindu beliefs the same as the Christian Trinity? The Son of God is the Self, the Atman. The Father is the all-pervading aspect of the Trinity, Brahman. The Holy Spirit is the Messenger, the Savior. The Holy Spirit is different for everybody, but He appears to you in the way that will help you the most. This is why the Hindus worship different deities; they can relate to them. They appear to them in visions. Some people don't prefer the Holy Spirit to appear in form, so instead He would work directly through them, as intuition does.
Even though that all fits together, Buddhist beliefs seem to still contradict. They only believe in Nirvana, and Buddha explains there to be no-Self, or the Anatman. He says that we are selfless, and we don't keep anything separate from everything else. Nirvana makes the same point as Muslims do, in the sense that there is only God and no separation of things. There is no-Self, because there is no separation between it and Nirvana. It is all one in Nirvana. Nirvana means "blowing out," explaining that every thought of this world is only covering up the awareness of no-thing. It must be extinguished so we are aware of Nirvana; we must be all-pervading. So there you go! Nirvana is also the same thing as Brahman, since it is all-pervading! It is God the Absolute.
It is all the same, just different ways of categorizing Him. Still, don't depend on this to know God. Go experience Him.
Friday, June 1, 2007
You Are Everything
When trying to meditate, it might hard to believe that you can attain bliss. It seems like the laws of the world will not permit it, and that everything is against. Meditation will be a struggle if this is what you believe. Any limiting thoughts will limit you.
How do you get around it? The first step is to sincerely wish the best for everyone and everything. If you can't do that, then you will not find your Self. Awareness of unity won't come when there you still have a thought of separation. So, once you can do that, you're ready for the next step. You must be confident. You must believe that it is possible to change your life and the lives of others, since you are asking for a blessing of the world. That is the second step. Then, you must know that nothing is against you. The truth is: you are really everything.
The reason that this is true is because there is only God, and everything else is illusory. Being the Son of God, you must also be everything. If you weren't, then God, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit wouldn't be united. But, if you see everything as one and know that it is all you, then you know you have the authority to bless everything.
Once you reach this state of feeling free and unlimited, it will be a lot easier for your body to fill with light. Feel everything without judging it, and know that you are free. It will inevitably come as long as you don't lose this awareness.
How do you get around it? The first step is to sincerely wish the best for everyone and everything. If you can't do that, then you will not find your Self. Awareness of unity won't come when there you still have a thought of separation. So, once you can do that, you're ready for the next step. You must be confident. You must believe that it is possible to change your life and the lives of others, since you are asking for a blessing of the world. That is the second step. Then, you must know that nothing is against you. The truth is: you are really everything.
The reason that this is true is because there is only God, and everything else is illusory. Being the Son of God, you must also be everything. If you weren't, then God, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit wouldn't be united. But, if you see everything as one and know that it is all you, then you know you have the authority to bless everything.
Once you reach this state of feeling free and unlimited, it will be a lot easier for your body to fill with light. Feel everything without judging it, and know that you are free. It will inevitably come as long as you don't lose this awareness.
The Use of Body and Mind
Just because the body and mind aren't real doesn't mean that they're bad. They can be used in order to assist others. Our situation has been said to be similar to a child having a nightmare in bed. The Father, or God, needs to wake the child up without causing further fear to the child. This is why the Holy Spirit never talks louder than the shrieking ego. Once we tune in to the Holy Spirit and finally wake up, we can assist as the Holy Spirit in the effort to wake up the rest of the universe. This is how our minds and bodies can be used effectively.
People like Jesus have become the awake Son of God, or Christ. All Christs have joined their will with that of the Holy Spirit. Their bodies and minds are like voices from outside of a dream. How they are perceived in the dream is not really who they are because of the distorted mind, but they can still cause the Son of God to awake.
Waking is very natural, so you don't have to do anything different on the physical level in order to attain God-realization. Our bodies do not have to be mortified or anything unnatural like that. However, our perceptions have to be changed for the better. Waking can only help you more, as it is our true Nature. Its even more Natural than nature, so it is completely applicable to our life-situation.
Once you strive for God-realization, your mind and body will be one with God. You won't have to worry about them anymore; God will use them in the most effective way possible. This isn't something to reach, because you are spirit. Spirit is unchangeable and way past the limitations of the mind and body. So, if you identify with spirit, then the mind and body will be directed in the right direction.
People like Jesus have become the awake Son of God, or Christ. All Christs have joined their will with that of the Holy Spirit. Their bodies and minds are like voices from outside of a dream. How they are perceived in the dream is not really who they are because of the distorted mind, but they can still cause the Son of God to awake.
Waking is very natural, so you don't have to do anything different on the physical level in order to attain God-realization. Our bodies do not have to be mortified or anything unnatural like that. However, our perceptions have to be changed for the better. Waking can only help you more, as it is our true Nature. Its even more Natural than nature, so it is completely applicable to our life-situation.
Once you strive for God-realization, your mind and body will be one with God. You won't have to worry about them anymore; God will use them in the most effective way possible. This isn't something to reach, because you are spirit. Spirit is unchangeable and way past the limitations of the mind and body. So, if you identify with spirit, then the mind and body will be directed in the right direction.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Presence is Beyond Matter (pardon the pun)
We will never find out who we are by identifying with form of anykind. We are really formless, which means that we aren't the body or the mind, since they are both form. We are what we are, and this never changes, as our reality is eternal. Once you realize that, then you know who you are through being present. Time cannot change you!
What you will find cannot be found in the world, and even the mind cannot understand it. It has nothing to relate it to. Don't think about it! Do it! It will come to you when the mind is quiet. The mind is a delusional device made to distract you from who you are, and you can't think your way into bliss.
Thinking positive is not the goal, as it usually relates to your life situation. Presence is the cause, positivity is the effect. You will run short if you search to attain the effect, and if you get it, you won't be satisfied. Choosing the effects is avoiding the cause, which is you. Searching for effects will get you stuck in the world, and it is only a dead end.
Presence might not sound very appealing, because it can't be explained. Don't miss it because of that! This isn't an opinion in the same way as liking death metal is. You won't be disappointed when you find it. You are being when you are present, which means you are done doing. This is not a dead end; it is a life end. All the effects that you wanted beforehand will fall into place. You can finally rest.
What you will find cannot be found in the world, and even the mind cannot understand it. It has nothing to relate it to. Don't think about it! Do it! It will come to you when the mind is quiet. The mind is a delusional device made to distract you from who you are, and you can't think your way into bliss.
Thinking positive is not the goal, as it usually relates to your life situation. Presence is the cause, positivity is the effect. You will run short if you search to attain the effect, and if you get it, you won't be satisfied. Choosing the effects is avoiding the cause, which is you. Searching for effects will get you stuck in the world, and it is only a dead end.
Presence might not sound very appealing, because it can't be explained. Don't miss it because of that! This isn't an opinion in the same way as liking death metal is. You won't be disappointed when you find it. You are being when you are present, which means you are done doing. This is not a dead end; it is a life end. All the effects that you wanted beforehand will fall into place. You can finally rest.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Mistakes of the Gnostics
Gnosticism basically states that man is truly divine, but has been manipulated by an evil spirit, trapping us in the material world. One interpretation of Gnosticism says that spirit is good and the physical is bad, which leads to say that we should mortify the physical. Another interpretation has been that, since we are permanently divine souls as our birthright, we can get wasted.
The Gnostic movement, in my opinion, has hit the spot in some areas. But both of these interpretations are in no way beneficial. They lead down the road that only leads to trouble. However, speaking of Gnosticism as a whole, I fully agree with the statement that we are truly divine. We can't change how we were created by God, and we should be grateful that we can't accidentally destroy ourselves. That is where I think they hit the spot.
But I still disagree with the idea of good and bad, as well as the evil spirit enslaving us and limiting us to this world. I am agreeing with many others when I say that divinity is beyond good and evil. Nothing is really good and bad; those are judgements that we have made ourselves. The same goes for the idea of an evil spirit limiting us, because we are only limiting ourselves. We have to give up our own idea of how to live in order to be free from the mess, and let God take over, since He created us.
The judgements of good and bad are all our idea. There is no evil, except for that which we think is evil. It's the same for good. Since there is only one God, the duality of good and bad cannot apply to Him. And by the Gnostics saying that the material world is bad, they are living in their own hell.
The only thing that resembles the evil spirit idea is the ego, but there are some major differences. The ego was our own tiny mad idea, and we only let it manipulate us by giving it authority. But, as I have said in earlier posts, the ego is not real. Neither is the physical world; it is only a dream, our own little game. By believing it to be real, we forget that we have the authority over what happens in the game. Reality is our own divinity, the Self. The meaning of life is to wake up to God's reality.
Another funny Gnostic belief was that the darkness overcame particles of the light, therefore enslaving us. This is obviously not true, as darkness cannot remain in the light's presence.
The Gnostic movement, in my opinion, has hit the spot in some areas. But both of these interpretations are in no way beneficial. They lead down the road that only leads to trouble. However, speaking of Gnosticism as a whole, I fully agree with the statement that we are truly divine. We can't change how we were created by God, and we should be grateful that we can't accidentally destroy ourselves. That is where I think they hit the spot.
But I still disagree with the idea of good and bad, as well as the evil spirit enslaving us and limiting us to this world. I am agreeing with many others when I say that divinity is beyond good and evil. Nothing is really good and bad; those are judgements that we have made ourselves. The same goes for the idea of an evil spirit limiting us, because we are only limiting ourselves. We have to give up our own idea of how to live in order to be free from the mess, and let God take over, since He created us.
The judgements of good and bad are all our idea. There is no evil, except for that which we think is evil. It's the same for good. Since there is only one God, the duality of good and bad cannot apply to Him. And by the Gnostics saying that the material world is bad, they are living in their own hell.
The only thing that resembles the evil spirit idea is the ego, but there are some major differences. The ego was our own tiny mad idea, and we only let it manipulate us by giving it authority. But, as I have said in earlier posts, the ego is not real. Neither is the physical world; it is only a dream, our own little game. By believing it to be real, we forget that we have the authority over what happens in the game. Reality is our own divinity, the Self. The meaning of life is to wake up to God's reality.
Another funny Gnostic belief was that the darkness overcame particles of the light, therefore enslaving us. This is obviously not true, as darkness cannot remain in the light's presence.
Monday, May 28, 2007
The Ego
We have ourselves wrapped up in this delusional package. We identify ourselves with the unreal. Basically, the whole illusion falls under the ego influence. The ego is our sense of individuality. It is what makes us perceive separation instead of our unity. It makes the "I," the "mine," the "you," the "them," the "that." It is fear and all negative emotions, it is attachment, it is aversion, it is ignorance. The ego tries to overthrow God and escape from Him. It is the meaningless ripple in the grand ocean. It is the patch of desert in the expansive garden, where the desire to be separate allows nothing to grow. It is limitation, and the false self. It hides in the darkness of the past and future, trying to escape the present. People can live their whole lives identifying with the ego and the physical body. This the source of all troubles.
How do we escape the ego influence? Don't identify with it. Once you know you are not the body, mind, or the ego, you will inevitably find your true Self. Your senses make you perceive everything except reality. You will not find reality through your five senses. The ego, however, demands that you use your senses to as your seeking device. But know that the ego's rule is this: seek but do not find. You know this to be true; you have probably lived your life this way. Seeking and never finding. If you are somehow attracted to this way of seeking and are afraid of finding completeness, you can use as much time as you want to continue searching and never finding.
You must not keep on identifying with the ego if you desire to be free. This is the only way to overcome it. If you fight it, you are still using the ego. You can't destroy the ego by using it! Its weakness is awareness and light. If you watch what you feel, like anger, pain, fear, etc. without judging it, it will fade away. Presences is awareness, awareness is light. If you are not aware of the ego, you have your back to the light. It is different if you have pain in your leg and aware of it, but are worried about it and are trying to avoid it. Both pain and worry are ego devices, so pure awareness without judgement is how you use the light to dispel the darkness.
Know that the ego is not a battle against God. Everything of the ego is not real. It will only trample on the sleeping Son of God. So be aware. The ego is not evil or good; it is insane darkness. God is not good or evil either, as there is nothing but God; He is the truth and the light. Wake up to the truth! Don't be trampled by darkness!
How do we escape the ego influence? Don't identify with it. Once you know you are not the body, mind, or the ego, you will inevitably find your true Self. Your senses make you perceive everything except reality. You will not find reality through your five senses. The ego, however, demands that you use your senses to as your seeking device. But know that the ego's rule is this: seek but do not find. You know this to be true; you have probably lived your life this way. Seeking and never finding. If you are somehow attracted to this way of seeking and are afraid of finding completeness, you can use as much time as you want to continue searching and never finding.
You must not keep on identifying with the ego if you desire to be free. This is the only way to overcome it. If you fight it, you are still using the ego. You can't destroy the ego by using it! Its weakness is awareness and light. If you watch what you feel, like anger, pain, fear, etc. without judging it, it will fade away. Presences is awareness, awareness is light. If you are not aware of the ego, you have your back to the light. It is different if you have pain in your leg and aware of it, but are worried about it and are trying to avoid it. Both pain and worry are ego devices, so pure awareness without judgement is how you use the light to dispel the darkness.
Know that the ego is not a battle against God. Everything of the ego is not real. It will only trample on the sleeping Son of God. So be aware. The ego is not evil or good; it is insane darkness. God is not good or evil either, as there is nothing but God; He is the truth and the light. Wake up to the truth! Don't be trampled by darkness!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Wisdom
Wisdom is perhaps the greatest virtue for every situation. It lets us think before we dive in to something that can hurt us and trap us. If we go living our lives without wisdom, then life is not worth living, as we are only abusing ourselves. Intelligence isn't as important; the wise will be much more successful in his life situation. However, spending our lives trying to learn everything in the world in order to gain wisdom is too long of a route to take. The truly wise would know not to take the long road to wisdom. Well, where should we start?
Solomon is known as the wisest man in The Bible. He asked God for wisdom, and he got much more. He is wise enough to not to become attached to the effects of God, such as wealth. This is why he asked for wisdom instead of wealth. What made him so wise? It was the wisdom and knowledge of God.
Like I said, there is a shortcut to wisdom, and it is indeed the wisdom of God. You could say that wisdom of many things in the world is vital, so that suggests that we should be pointed in many directions to attain diversity. What is so great is that your focus doesn't need to be multi pointed in order to get the same effect; it can be one-pointed toward God. Since he is the cause of all effects, knowledge of Him is knowledge of all his effects.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, there is a section named Powers. It shows the effects of yoga. Yoga means union (with God), and that shows that being one-pointed toward God is basically yoga. A yogi is given all the powers needed to serve as the aware Son of God. There are no limitations at all. Yes, you are granted all of the occult powers. These wise yogis knew that they shouldn't seek occult powers, since they are God's effects. Nevertheless, they are granted all of them anyways from seeking the wisdom of God. This is what Jesus did.
A living example of this, however, would undoubtedly be Mahavatar Babaji. He has passed all limitations, and knows exactly how to help every single individual. For people who have sought spiritual guidance from him, he knew everything about them before talking to them. He knew exactly how to help them the most, whether it was touching their base of the spine or yelling in their face. He has used his followers for certain spiritual purposes through the ages, as seen on the Sanskrit Classics website, http://www.sanskritclassics.com/OmPage.htm
"He has been serving the world for a long time through many people and by revealing so many disciplines, as follows:"
Jnana Yoga: Through Dakshina Murti
Hatha Yoga: Through Maha Buddha Baba
Raja Yoga: Through Sankara in the eighth century
Raja Yoga: Through Kabir in the fifteenth century
Kriya Yoga: Through Yogiraj Sri Sri Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasay
Tantra Yoga: Through Brahmani
Nada or Sabda Yoga: Through Burua Baba
Bhakti Yoga: Through Paramhansa Brahmananda
Mansa Yoga: Through Hairakhan Baba
Mantra Yoga: Through Nim Karoli Baba
Pasupat Yoga: Through Sombari (Somari) Baba
Purna Yoga (Purna Kriya Yoga): Through Swami Satyeswarananda Vidyaratna Babaji.
Be wise, and seek the wisdom of God.
Solomon is known as the wisest man in The Bible. He asked God for wisdom, and he got much more. He is wise enough to not to become attached to the effects of God, such as wealth. This is why he asked for wisdom instead of wealth. What made him so wise? It was the wisdom and knowledge of God.
Like I said, there is a shortcut to wisdom, and it is indeed the wisdom of God. You could say that wisdom of many things in the world is vital, so that suggests that we should be pointed in many directions to attain diversity. What is so great is that your focus doesn't need to be multi pointed in order to get the same effect; it can be one-pointed toward God. Since he is the cause of all effects, knowledge of Him is knowledge of all his effects.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, there is a section named Powers. It shows the effects of yoga. Yoga means union (with God), and that shows that being one-pointed toward God is basically yoga. A yogi is given all the powers needed to serve as the aware Son of God. There are no limitations at all. Yes, you are granted all of the occult powers. These wise yogis knew that they shouldn't seek occult powers, since they are God's effects. Nevertheless, they are granted all of them anyways from seeking the wisdom of God. This is what Jesus did.
A living example of this, however, would undoubtedly be Mahavatar Babaji. He has passed all limitations, and knows exactly how to help every single individual. For people who have sought spiritual guidance from him, he knew everything about them before talking to them. He knew exactly how to help them the most, whether it was touching their base of the spine or yelling in their face. He has used his followers for certain spiritual purposes through the ages, as seen on the Sanskrit Classics website, http://www.sanskritclassics.com/OmPage.htm
"He has been serving the world for a long time through many people and by revealing so many disciplines, as follows:"
Jnana Yoga: Through Dakshina Murti
Hatha Yoga: Through Maha Buddha Baba
Raja Yoga: Through Sankara in the eighth century
Raja Yoga: Through Kabir in the fifteenth century
Kriya Yoga: Through Yogiraj Sri Sri Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasay
Tantra Yoga: Through Brahmani
Nada or Sabda Yoga: Through Burua Baba
Bhakti Yoga: Through Paramhansa Brahmananda
Mansa Yoga: Through Hairakhan Baba
Mantra Yoga: Through Nim Karoli Baba
Pasupat Yoga: Through Sombari (Somari) Baba
Purna Yoga (Purna Kriya Yoga): Through Swami Satyeswarananda Vidyaratna Babaji.
Be wise, and seek the wisdom of God.
Time and Eternity
You cannot use time to reach eternity. These are mutually exclusive, and only one of them is true. Eternity is the true form of God, which means that there is only eternity. The rest is illusory. You don't reach eternity by the death of the body. You can't use your past to reach eternity, and you will never be in eternity in the future. The only gate to eternity is through the present.
Our thoughts are always relating either to the past or future, as everything we see right now comes from past experiences. The ego uses time by rewrinting the past in the future, which means that it will control our destiny as long as we identify with it. Your whole life will go by like this unlees you stay in the now. Focus on what you feel in your body, as well as the unchanging. Instead of listening to what you hear, listen to the unerlying silence. If you have pain in your body, avoiding it and making a problem out of it will make it grow. All you have to do is feel it without labeling it, and eventually it will dissolve into bliss through being present.
Presence always comes from the inner world, where eternity is. This is why yogis can meditate for hours without being aware of the passing of time. That's because only the outer world runs on time. If you like time, don't be present. The ego will take care of you, making you stressed, angry, upset, afraid, and controlled. You will be aware of the passing of time, and will worry about the past and future. Just to let you know, time will be there as long as you want it. If you're not present, however, the ego will take the past, and jump right over the present, into the future. Do you like your past? If you think about it a lot, it will happen again in a different form.
You don't even know what eternity will be like until you can stay present. Once you find out what you really are in the present moment, you won't worry about staying that way for eternity. You are finally aware of your completeness, perfectness, your holiness, and your wholeness. You will know God's love, peace, bliss, and joy for eternity in heaven. So, you can identify with the ego and stay in time, or you can find eternity through the Self by staying present!
Here's a couple diagrams of the ego or "red donut" clouding the awareness of the eternity of God. This was made by the podcast called A Cloud Does Not Put Out the Sun. Check out their website at http://www.cloudsun.com/
Our thoughts are always relating either to the past or future, as everything we see right now comes from past experiences. The ego uses time by rewrinting the past in the future, which means that it will control our destiny as long as we identify with it. Your whole life will go by like this unlees you stay in the now. Focus on what you feel in your body, as well as the unchanging. Instead of listening to what you hear, listen to the unerlying silence. If you have pain in your body, avoiding it and making a problem out of it will make it grow. All you have to do is feel it without labeling it, and eventually it will dissolve into bliss through being present.
Presence always comes from the inner world, where eternity is. This is why yogis can meditate for hours without being aware of the passing of time. That's because only the outer world runs on time. If you like time, don't be present. The ego will take care of you, making you stressed, angry, upset, afraid, and controlled. You will be aware of the passing of time, and will worry about the past and future. Just to let you know, time will be there as long as you want it. If you're not present, however, the ego will take the past, and jump right over the present, into the future. Do you like your past? If you think about it a lot, it will happen again in a different form.
You don't even know what eternity will be like until you can stay present. Once you find out what you really are in the present moment, you won't worry about staying that way for eternity. You are finally aware of your completeness, perfectness, your holiness, and your wholeness. You will know God's love, peace, bliss, and joy for eternity in heaven. So, you can identify with the ego and stay in time, or you can find eternity through the Self by staying present!
Here's a couple diagrams of the ego or "red donut" clouding the awareness of the eternity of God. This was made by the podcast called A Cloud Does Not Put Out the Sun. Check out their website at http://www.cloudsun.com/
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Preparation before Self-Realization
There needs to be a significant change in perception before you are able to feel God. Basically, we need to stop identifying with the ego and thinking the way it does. You can't just start meditating right now and have your body fill with light. After I had experienced the ego to the extreme while I was manic, I knew that I wanted to see thing differently. I was somehow curious about spirituality and our true nature after being delusional. I started in a strange category, reading things like Ramtha and New Age sorts, and even though I learned that we are a lot grander than we think we are, I still didn't know how to manifest that greatness.
Luckily, after running into Gary Renard's books, I was introduced to A Course in Miracles. This book has probably caused the most change in my life than any other source. Since I've started that book, I have only seen more of the same. The statements are in such a clear package that I can see every major religion fit into it. Since I already knew quite a lot about Western belief-systems from being born Christian, I decided to investigate Eastern thought. What I have found there has also influenced me a lot, after reading about Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Some great Eastern scriptures are the Dhammapadda, The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and The Tao te Ching. My favorite translators are Swami Prabhavananda and Eknath Easwaran. Besides the classics, there are some recent spiritual masters that should be read about also. Paramahansa Yogananda's books are phenomenal and anyone works from Ramakrishna's disciples were great, too. Here's an image I made that shows the relations of the Eastern masters:
Besides those, I recommend everyone experience A Course in Miracles. Read the whole thing, and you'll see how the ego can't take it. This shows that you are changing your perception for the better. Once you start doing the workbook, you might have some interesting experiences. The book might be hard to tackle and hard to understand for most, but there are so many secondary resources that can help immensely. Gary Renard's books focus on A Course in Miracles, and Eckhart Tolle's works have helped me a lot. While I was reading his book, The Power of Now, I experienced this intense peace in my whole body before I fell asleep. It's beyond words. And I know it's just the beginning for me. Another author that might help is Kenneth Wapnick. He has been the main teacher for A Course in Miracles ever since it was written, and was one of the main people of the Foundation for Inner Peace. You can also check some Podcasts on iTunes that are free and help a lot. One of them is Gary Renard's podcast, and the other is called A Cloud Does Not Put Out the Sun.
As reading A Course in Miracles is bound to change your life, you will inevitably get in the habit of forgiving things that bother you. I have talked about this before in an earlier post, and it is perhaps ACIM's main focus. I'd like to say that forgiveness works the same way as Jnana Yoga does, which focuses on discrimination. This type of discrimination is not the negative type that we are familiar with - it sifts out Atman from non-Atman, or the real Self from the false Self. This is really important to use when something in the world is bothering you at the moment, because it will take your worries away. You will know that anything material is not real, so it can't affect you since the Self is unstained by what happens in the world. Like I said, this is very similar to ACIM's forgiveness.
Luckily, after running into Gary Renard's books, I was introduced to A Course in Miracles. This book has probably caused the most change in my life than any other source. Since I've started that book, I have only seen more of the same. The statements are in such a clear package that I can see every major religion fit into it. Since I already knew quite a lot about Western belief-systems from being born Christian, I decided to investigate Eastern thought. What I have found there has also influenced me a lot, after reading about Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Some great Eastern scriptures are the Dhammapadda, The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and The Tao te Ching. My favorite translators are Swami Prabhavananda and Eknath Easwaran. Besides the classics, there are some recent spiritual masters that should be read about also. Paramahansa Yogananda's books are phenomenal and anyone works from Ramakrishna's disciples were great, too. Here's an image I made that shows the relations of the Eastern masters:
Besides those, I recommend everyone experience A Course in Miracles. Read the whole thing, and you'll see how the ego can't take it. This shows that you are changing your perception for the better. Once you start doing the workbook, you might have some interesting experiences. The book might be hard to tackle and hard to understand for most, but there are so many secondary resources that can help immensely. Gary Renard's books focus on A Course in Miracles, and Eckhart Tolle's works have helped me a lot. While I was reading his book, The Power of Now, I experienced this intense peace in my whole body before I fell asleep. It's beyond words. And I know it's just the beginning for me. Another author that might help is Kenneth Wapnick. He has been the main teacher for A Course in Miracles ever since it was written, and was one of the main people of the Foundation for Inner Peace. You can also check some Podcasts on iTunes that are free and help a lot. One of them is Gary Renard's podcast, and the other is called A Cloud Does Not Put Out the Sun.
As reading A Course in Miracles is bound to change your life, you will inevitably get in the habit of forgiving things that bother you. I have talked about this before in an earlier post, and it is perhaps ACIM's main focus. I'd like to say that forgiveness works the same way as Jnana Yoga does, which focuses on discrimination. This type of discrimination is not the negative type that we are familiar with - it sifts out Atman from non-Atman, or the real Self from the false Self. This is really important to use when something in the world is bothering you at the moment, because it will take your worries away. You will know that anything material is not real, so it can't affect you since the Self is unstained by what happens in the world. Like I said, this is very similar to ACIM's forgiveness.
Cause and Effect
Most people have rearranged cause and effect in the opposite order. By doing this, we seem helpless. It seems that our lives are always at stake, and that we need to defend them. This rearranging of cause and effect is what made us think we are bodies. Atheists and agnostics will not accept that they are spirits, therefore cutting themselves off from their divine reality. As I have said in an earlier post, we are told to consist of a body, a mind, and a spirit. And listing these consistencies in this order suggests that the body comes first. It suggests that the body is also the mind because the brain is in the body, which means that we will not exist any longer if our body is not alive. Also, some might say that the spirit was made by the the mind, or the brain. But how could we live after the body dies if the spirit was made by the body, which is very limited?
The reason why we are truly spirit is because it is constant, and never changes. We can't have a mind and a body that always changes without something that never changes. Another example is that there could be no planets, solar systems, galaxies and universes without there first being space for it to use. Also, the minuscule cannot create the grand. Therefore, all the great things in life cannot surpass its source in greatness. This means that spirit is ever-new, endless joy to the utmost extreme. If you throw a ball in the air, it will not go faster in that direction than the speed of the force you gave it initially.
One of the excuses that people make to limit themselves is that the mind comes from the brain. When scientists have observed brainwaves, they have seen that it starts in the brain and moves into other parts of the body. But, does this mean that its original starting point was in the brain? No. The brain is only a device to pick up thought waves, the transmitter into the physical. Just as our brain tells us to move our hand, our mind, transmits thoughts into the brain. If we identify with the body and die, we will still have continuous thoughts.
But, the further question is, what made the mind? The mind changes every moment, so it must come from a source that does not change. That is spirit. And the spirit is unlimited. It is the same spirit in everything, the ocean to cause the waves. If we perceive ourselves as the body making the made up mind and spirit, we are limited and enslaved. If we know that we are spirit, and the mind and body are only waves instead of the false identifications as the whole sea, then we are limitless and free.
Please, don't read my posts if you prefer to think of yourself as limited.
The reason why we are truly spirit is because it is constant, and never changes. We can't have a mind and a body that always changes without something that never changes. Another example is that there could be no planets, solar systems, galaxies and universes without there first being space for it to use. Also, the minuscule cannot create the grand. Therefore, all the great things in life cannot surpass its source in greatness. This means that spirit is ever-new, endless joy to the utmost extreme. If you throw a ball in the air, it will not go faster in that direction than the speed of the force you gave it initially.
One of the excuses that people make to limit themselves is that the mind comes from the brain. When scientists have observed brainwaves, they have seen that it starts in the brain and moves into other parts of the body. But, does this mean that its original starting point was in the brain? No. The brain is only a device to pick up thought waves, the transmitter into the physical. Just as our brain tells us to move our hand, our mind, transmits thoughts into the brain. If we identify with the body and die, we will still have continuous thoughts.
But, the further question is, what made the mind? The mind changes every moment, so it must come from a source that does not change. That is spirit. And the spirit is unlimited. It is the same spirit in everything, the ocean to cause the waves. If we perceive ourselves as the body making the made up mind and spirit, we are limited and enslaved. If we know that we are spirit, and the mind and body are only waves instead of the false identifications as the whole sea, then we are limitless and free.
Please, don't read my posts if you prefer to think of yourself as limited.
Friday, May 25, 2007
False Idols
Idols seem to be a big issue for some and a gift for others. Speaking through various religious beliefs, people are devoted to "idols" (like in Hinduism), and others might have such an opposite opinion, stating we should not enough have an image in our minds representing an idol (as believed in Islam). What's pretty ironic about this is that an idol, in western beliefs, is something that does not represent the true form of God. This means that even our desire of something trivial, like sex, music, movies, surfing, shopping, etc., is replacing God within our minds.
Aspects of Hinduism practice Bhakti, or devotion. It is tradition that families choose certain deities to worship, like Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu, and the Divine Mother, so that they can become closer to God. These are seen by others as false idols, and not God. However, these devoted Hindus are focused more on something divine than we are, as all of these worshipped deities are personal forms of God.
Most of us are constantly thinking about useless things and are addicted to them. It seems to be that the biggest false idol that America is attached to is American Idol (pardon the pun). Even I sometimes want to read books, but I am not attached to them. If I were, I wouldn't be able to experience what these spiritual books are trying to teach! I find it funny that we overlook the most immediate thing that we have, which is God, and replace Him with things that are hard to maintain. And God is so much better that he can't even be compared! However, don't take my word for it. You have to experience it for yourself.
From left to right: Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha, Ramakrishna Paramahansa
In order to find God, it helps most to be devoted towards Him in some sort of image, so it can be related to. Christians might say that the polytheistic religions are worshipping false idols while they themselves could always be thinking of Jesus. Jesus is just the same as Krishna, since they were both considered incarnations of God. Other examples would be Buddha and Ramakrishna. However, focusing on these beings are just a tool for devotion towards God. This doesn't mean that it is at all necessary; many other people, like myself, don't require an image and it might not feel right. I just focus on what is; what I feel in my inner body. This way of doing it is most preferable for Muslims, but someone from any religion might feel the same way. Still, other people like thinking of Jesus and praying to him, since he is referred to as Christ, as Gautama is referred to as Buddha.
False idols are most often sense-objects that can only be fulfilled in certain situations. So, worshipping Shiva would be okay, since that can be done in any situation. Addictions are false idols, as you can't instantly receive them at any moment. For example, if someone is addicted to sex, they can't have sex again instantly when they're done, and a partner isn't always available anyway. Same thing with drugs, and even people and video games, no matter how "innocent" you might consider them. You can't play video games without a screen. People, friends, and family aren't always available, and they can greatly hurt you emotionall when they perish. It is okay, however, to know that everyone is in your presence at all times, only as long as you're present. In this way, people aren't considered false idols because you don't require for their bodies to be close to your own body.
Don't sweat any of these things. This is only useful when trying to be spiritual. Video games or people obviously won't be considered a false idol if you're an agnostic or atheist.
Aspects of Hinduism practice Bhakti, or devotion. It is tradition that families choose certain deities to worship, like Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu, and the Divine Mother, so that they can become closer to God. These are seen by others as false idols, and not God. However, these devoted Hindus are focused more on something divine than we are, as all of these worshipped deities are personal forms of God.
Most of us are constantly thinking about useless things and are addicted to them. It seems to be that the biggest false idol that America is attached to is American Idol (pardon the pun). Even I sometimes want to read books, but I am not attached to them. If I were, I wouldn't be able to experience what these spiritual books are trying to teach! I find it funny that we overlook the most immediate thing that we have, which is God, and replace Him with things that are hard to maintain. And God is so much better that he can't even be compared! However, don't take my word for it. You have to experience it for yourself.
From left to right: Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha, Ramakrishna Paramahansa
In order to find God, it helps most to be devoted towards Him in some sort of image, so it can be related to. Christians might say that the polytheistic religions are worshipping false idols while they themselves could always be thinking of Jesus. Jesus is just the same as Krishna, since they were both considered incarnations of God. Other examples would be Buddha and Ramakrishna. However, focusing on these beings are just a tool for devotion towards God. This doesn't mean that it is at all necessary; many other people, like myself, don't require an image and it might not feel right. I just focus on what is; what I feel in my inner body. This way of doing it is most preferable for Muslims, but someone from any religion might feel the same way. Still, other people like thinking of Jesus and praying to him, since he is referred to as Christ, as Gautama is referred to as Buddha.
False idols are most often sense-objects that can only be fulfilled in certain situations. So, worshipping Shiva would be okay, since that can be done in any situation. Addictions are false idols, as you can't instantly receive them at any moment. For example, if someone is addicted to sex, they can't have sex again instantly when they're done, and a partner isn't always available anyway. Same thing with drugs, and even people and video games, no matter how "innocent" you might consider them. You can't play video games without a screen. People, friends, and family aren't always available, and they can greatly hurt you emotionall when they perish. It is okay, however, to know that everyone is in your presence at all times, only as long as you're present. In this way, people aren't considered false idols because you don't require for their bodies to be close to your own body.
Don't sweat any of these things. This is only useful when trying to be spiritual. Video games or people obviously won't be considered a false idol if you're an agnostic or atheist.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Key to Heaven and the Bliss of God
This title is kind of funny because we were actually never locked out of Heaven - we're are it. We don't need to do anything to be in Heaven. But that's exactly what you have to do! No-doing. Our whole situation was made up in favor of something other than how God made us. This whole world is an insane idea. How could we make something better than what our Creator created anyway? We are truly no better and no worse than God. Everything perceived with your made-up senses is not real. When we desire and our attached to sense-objects, we are enslaving ourselves to limitation. Clinging to life and our bodies suggests that God did not create us in safety. These worldly perceptions need to change if you want to be aware of Heaven.
I cannot correctly explain what Heaven is like, but knowing what it is not will help you to be aware of it. You must know that it is non-dual, and you must be non-attached to everything of the world. You must be in a state of no-doing, which means that your mind must not wander and you should only be focused on being. Heaven is being instead of doing, real instead of unreal, unity instead of duality and separation, eternity instead of time.
You can be in Heaven and still be on earth. This is what Jesus, Buddha, Ramakrishna and many others have done. You must be present enough to be aware of Heaven. So, you must be know that the present moment is the only way to get there. You will never be in Heaven in the future or the past, because you are presently in Heaven. It is similar to how you think you are flying in a dream or having a nightmare when you're actually in bed, except Heaven feels so grand that you can't put it into words. You also have to know that everything is God, and that you must not struggle to be in Heaven because God is everywhere.
Meditation is vital before you are able to feel Heaven throughout the rest of your days. Never give up the effort to be non-attached and meditate. Even when you just get a taste of Heaven, know that there is a lot more to experience. Meshed within our bodies is a "spiritual thermometer." It runs from our navel to our brain. There are three kundalini centers at our navel, one at the level of our heart, one at the throat, on at the tongue, and finally one at the brain. Deep meditation will cause the coiled kundalini energy to spring up our body and eventually pass through all seven centers. Once it reaches the brain, we will be completely awake to Heaven. Don't just read this and say, "Well, that's an interesting opinion." Try it. If not, you will surely miss the permanent bliss of God.
One thing about this is that people might think that the body and the mind are being wasted because of this. "If you say they aren't real, then how are they useful at all?" Nevertheless, when your minded becomes one-pointed towards seeing God in everything and only desiring Him, you will realize Him as well as devote your body and mind for His use. He will do everything for you; you don't have to move your feet or struggle to think. It will be done by God for the most benefit spiritually for everyone. Again, this is how Jesus lived. Go for it.
I cannot correctly explain what Heaven is like, but knowing what it is not will help you to be aware of it. You must know that it is non-dual, and you must be non-attached to everything of the world. You must be in a state of no-doing, which means that your mind must not wander and you should only be focused on being. Heaven is being instead of doing, real instead of unreal, unity instead of duality and separation, eternity instead of time.
You can be in Heaven and still be on earth. This is what Jesus, Buddha, Ramakrishna and many others have done. You must be present enough to be aware of Heaven. So, you must be know that the present moment is the only way to get there. You will never be in Heaven in the future or the past, because you are presently in Heaven. It is similar to how you think you are flying in a dream or having a nightmare when you're actually in bed, except Heaven feels so grand that you can't put it into words. You also have to know that everything is God, and that you must not struggle to be in Heaven because God is everywhere.
Meditation is vital before you are able to feel Heaven throughout the rest of your days. Never give up the effort to be non-attached and meditate. Even when you just get a taste of Heaven, know that there is a lot more to experience. Meshed within our bodies is a "spiritual thermometer." It runs from our navel to our brain. There are three kundalini centers at our navel, one at the level of our heart, one at the throat, on at the tongue, and finally one at the brain. Deep meditation will cause the coiled kundalini energy to spring up our body and eventually pass through all seven centers. Once it reaches the brain, we will be completely awake to Heaven. Don't just read this and say, "Well, that's an interesting opinion." Try it. If not, you will surely miss the permanent bliss of God.
One thing about this is that people might think that the body and the mind are being wasted because of this. "If you say they aren't real, then how are they useful at all?" Nevertheless, when your minded becomes one-pointed towards seeing God in everything and only desiring Him, you will realize Him as well as devote your body and mind for His use. He will do everything for you; you don't have to move your feet or struggle to think. It will be done by God for the most benefit spiritually for everyone. Again, this is how Jesus lived. Go for it.
Speaking of the Devil (and heaven and hell)
Many people believe in demons, devils, Satan, and hell. Many think it's a bunch of bogus. Here's what I have to say.
I think that demons, hell and so on are just as real as the universe, the world, your body, and your mind. These things, however, are not real. It was our tiny mad idea that created all forms, separation, and time. We made our bodies and our mind. We also made all planes of existence except for Heaven, which was created by God. Heaven has always been, as well as God, the Son of God (which is us), and the Holy Spirit. All of these are one and eternal, and the only true reality.
We have made the physical realm and the astral realm. Within the astral realm, there is a dual existence - a heaven and hell. However, this heaven is not God's true Heaven; it is a very cheap imitation of it. The physical realm is just a densest realm where all realms are incorporated into it. We don't have to worry about how God is going to judge us or where we are going to be when we die, because we are already in the realm that we will be in. We seemingly put ourselves where we are, even though we are truly in Heaven.
So, for the people who are depressed, in deep pain, afraid, angry etc., they put themselves in hell. Those who feel great all the time, they put themselves in heaven. This is their choice and opinion when ignorant towards God's opinion. But, these are not permanent; only God's Heaven is permanent. Therefore, people will be in heaven or hell until their opportunity to be in a physical body again is fulfilled through their remaining desires and attachments to the world.
People's thoughts and motivations are so strongly negative that demons and pain manifest in their dreams and worldly life. For example, Paul Schroeder's negativity has caused his own made-up demons to attack him. Here's a picture that his wife took of a light in a cave crevice:
People become possessed through their own strong desire. And the pain consequentially comes. They will become delusional and perceive Satan, while everyone else is unaware of it. If you believe your body and the world is real, then Satan and hell will be real for you too. Don't worry; you can't be hurt by merely being. Jesus says "I grant you the power to tread over serpents." Don't forget that, or you might put yourself in hell.
However, we enter heaven through the power of positive thinking. We are free to get whatever we want instantly, and have it manifest. This is where someone who practices The Secret diligently will probably end up. If you are able to do this successfully in the physical realm, it will happen for you. You could have everything you would ever want instantly, and over and over again. Here's the thing: it's not what God willed for you, which is where and what you really are: Heaven.
I think that demons, hell and so on are just as real as the universe, the world, your body, and your mind. These things, however, are not real. It was our tiny mad idea that created all forms, separation, and time. We made our bodies and our mind. We also made all planes of existence except for Heaven, which was created by God. Heaven has always been, as well as God, the Son of God (which is us), and the Holy Spirit. All of these are one and eternal, and the only true reality.
We have made the physical realm and the astral realm. Within the astral realm, there is a dual existence - a heaven and hell. However, this heaven is not God's true Heaven; it is a very cheap imitation of it. The physical realm is just a densest realm where all realms are incorporated into it. We don't have to worry about how God is going to judge us or where we are going to be when we die, because we are already in the realm that we will be in. We seemingly put ourselves where we are, even though we are truly in Heaven.
So, for the people who are depressed, in deep pain, afraid, angry etc., they put themselves in hell. Those who feel great all the time, they put themselves in heaven. This is their choice and opinion when ignorant towards God's opinion. But, these are not permanent; only God's Heaven is permanent. Therefore, people will be in heaven or hell until their opportunity to be in a physical body again is fulfilled through their remaining desires and attachments to the world.
People's thoughts and motivations are so strongly negative that demons and pain manifest in their dreams and worldly life. For example, Paul Schroeder's negativity has caused his own made-up demons to attack him. Here's a picture that his wife took of a light in a cave crevice:
People become possessed through their own strong desire. And the pain consequentially comes. They will become delusional and perceive Satan, while everyone else is unaware of it. If you believe your body and the world is real, then Satan and hell will be real for you too. Don't worry; you can't be hurt by merely being. Jesus says "I grant you the power to tread over serpents." Don't forget that, or you might put yourself in hell.
However, we enter heaven through the power of positive thinking. We are free to get whatever we want instantly, and have it manifest. This is where someone who practices The Secret diligently will probably end up. If you are able to do this successfully in the physical realm, it will happen for you. You could have everything you would ever want instantly, and over and over again. Here's the thing: it's not what God willed for you, which is where and what you really are: Heaven.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Religion Relationships
Many people see religion as a bunch of strange beliefs that are always in conflict with each other. There have been so many wars and conflicts through history and today about religious differences, and it seems that it will never stop. However, is this view of religion the correct one?
There are a couple "family trees" of where our major religions came from. One of the "trees" started with Judaism of Israel, of which the base transferred into Christianity, which also later led to Islam. The other "tree" started from the traditions of Hinduism in India, which evolved into Buddhism, and was then spread to China and other countries to mesh with religions like Taoism and become Zen Buddhism.
With religions like Judaism and Hinduism, the leaders of the movements were many. Judaism had Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, etc., while Hinduism had Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, etc. The more recent religions focus more on one person who caused the movement: Christianity had Jesus (Christ), Islam had Muhammad, Buddhism had Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), and Taoism had Lao Tzu. Nevertheless, all of these leaders have always referred to their former teachings, and they always serve as a fulfiller or a clarification of those teachings. Jesus never desired to abandon Judaism for his new religion, and Buddha never disrespected or disagreed with the teachings of the Hindus so much to suggest an intent to make a separate religion. They were merely there as a guide during a period in time of corrupt religion and belief systems.
Now, all of these conflicts between religions were not influenced by the leaders of the religions; it comes from the people who desire to be right, and thereby use their particular religion to prove others wrong. Jesus wouldn't attack or insult Buddha if they were standing next to each other, and neither would Abraham do so with Krishna! The people who desire war and conflict are falsely associating spirituality and religion with something else.
When someone experiences the ultimate truth and feels God "in every atom," they will be in utter bliss, joy, peace and unity; at that point, there is no more conflict and no opposing side. This is what our spiritual leaders experience, and where their belief system comes from. For them, it is not a made up idea - they are reporting back what they experience. Also, they are able to see the truth in all major religions, and the experience they have is no different than what the leader of another religion has experienced. Buddha and Jesus experienced the same exact thing. The seeming differences are only from culture, terminology, and past references to former leaders.
(From left to right): Jesus the Christ, Sri Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Gautama the Buddha
None of these religions is wrong or worse or better than the other; they all have the same beginning and reach to the same goal. There are saints from every religion that have been capable of experiencing the ultimate truth. It makes no difference if they are from former religions or later religions, such as Judaism > Christianity > Islam or Hinduism > Buddhism. This is because religious corruption is corrected eventually by newer saints who still follow the older religion.
There's no reason to make a conflict! We should examine all religions and use the Middle Way, connecting the similarities and the harmonious message. Religions from different areas of the world have been joined, such as Taoism and Shintoism with Buddhism. Zen Buddhism was started in acknowledgement of the identical message and teachings of Buddhism and Taoism. So the goal is to experience Self-realization, or the Ultimate Truth; then the harmony of all religions will be seen and lived.
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