Dwelling In Yoga…

———————————————————————————–
By Dr. Jessie Mercay, PhD, PhDmst
posted by Ganesh

Most people think of yoga as being a Hindu system of exercises involving body postures that purify and strengthen the body, bring peace to the soul, and create connection with the Divine. While this is true, there are other forms of yoga aside from body postures. For example, there is the yoga of breath (pranayama), mantra yoga (meditation and/or chanting), yogic medicine (Siddha Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine), and the yoga of architecture (Vaastu Shastras and Sthapatya Veda). What all of these sciences have in common is the goal to create Union with the Divine while living in the material world. For some, yoga is a lifestyle that includes many of these components. When one takes this lifestyle seriously they become a yogi or yogini. Many cultures around the world have historically had members of their society who strived for spiritual perfection –union with the Divine – even if it wasn’t called yoga per se. These people sometimes lived as hermits in the forest and in caves while others were householders with families. They became shamans, medicine people, yogis, and yoginis, both within society and away from society.

Temple Cottage built by AUM S&T students

One thing many of these yogis had in common is that most of them recognized that there was a special place that they preferred to do their practice. Often that place was in a cave or temple. Those householders who were fortunate lived in homes that were specifically constructed to have a special feeling or frequency that supported their goal for Union. Ramana Maharishi, the great Indian sage, became awakened from meditation in a temple (Thiruvanamalli, India). The great sage Patanjali who wrote the Yoga Sutras had his awakening in the temple Rameswara, Tamilnadu, South India. He also spent long periods of time at the temple of Chidambaram in South India, as did Thirumular, the great exponent of the seminal spiritual text, Thirumaintiram. Nearly all of the famous 18 Siddhars (enlightened sages of whom Pantangali and Thirumular were numbered) gained their awakening at Vaastu Temples in Southern India. It is widely known that the sages of India made extensive pilgrimages to various temples to strengthen their spiritual life. Those temples were not just buildings to house deities. They were special forms constructed under strict guidelines of Vaastu Shastras and Agamas.

What most people don’t know is that it was not necessarily the deity of the temple that they sought to strengthen their spiritual life. Rather it was the building itself that held the frequency that uplifted their consciousness. “The image of God, rendered in accordance with Shastric measures, shines forth with vibrancy, of its own accord”. (P. 16 Makutagama Agamic Shastra). In other words, if a form is rendered (sculpture, deity, house, temple, dance, music) using proper Shastric rules and measure, it becomes a living vibrating form on its own.

Vaastu Temple Cottage in New Mexico built by Jessie Mercay and AUM S&T students in 2008.

As strange as it may seem, properly constructed temples (and other buildings including houses) designed and built using the specialized mathematics and building codes – from the ground up – designated by the Vaastu Shastras become sacred spaces that vibrate with specific energies, which resonate with individual Atman (jivatman) and elevate the individual to spiritual bliss – Union or Yoga. This has been a little known ancient secret – held in confidence by none other than the architects of these buildings. The knowledge of how to build a building that will vibrate in such a way as to elevate the very soul of a person has been kept secret for thousands of years.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is a story of the architect who built King Solomon’s temple – Hiram. Hiram was a Phoenician King. He was part of the ancient tradition of temple and house builders (Sthapati’s) who were sworn to keep silent about their specialty. His workers approached him and asked him to tell them the secret of building a building that vibrated with God essence. He refused and was subsequently killed for his refusal. This knowledge was so sacred and secret because it could be used for good or evil. That is, the architects could build a Godly building that uplifted humanity or they could build a building that would vibrate in such a way that it destroyed a community.

One of the first considerations for building this type of building is the building site. The ancients (Sthapatis or Architects) knew how to select a site that already contained specific qualities that would vibrate in a positive way. Highly evolved Yogis and Sages knew how to select these sites and did throughout the world. They were taught how to select a cave or natural setting that contained the energy that would support their growth in connection with the Divine. Some, like Buddha, instinctively knew how to select such a site.

In that same way, these special builders were taught how to select a site that would support spiritual growth if built space was constructed on that site using specific building codes from the Vaastu Shastras (textbooks). In southern India alone there are over 35,000 of these buildings in the form of specially constructed temples. What most people don’t know is that there are also thousands of homes in Southern India built using the same principles applied to temples. Those villages that were constructed using these special building codes also had a village temple that was a pure and unadulterated form (no interior walls etc), which vibrates with immense power.

People through the ages and especially in modern times have attempted to assess the qualities of these houses and temples in order to replicate them. The problem with that is that they only saw the general physical properties of the building (room placement). They failed to see or comprehend the non – physical properties and the specific physical properties that caused the vibration. Without that knowledge, the principles that they observed were misunderstood and misapplied causing random results and sometimes
damage. In fact, in modern times we have adulterated versions of this deep and profound science.

About twenty years ago, a traditional Indian architect who came from an unbroken lineage of more than two thousand years of architects and builders who knew these ancient secrets began to reveal this knowledge publicly in an effort to find students to reawaken this incredible science in its pure form. Very few of these architects (known as Sthapatis) live today as most families from the clan that preserved this knowledge were forced to seek other means of livelihood due to alien rule. This Sthapati is Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati of Chennai, India. He is the single most respected Sthapati in the world today. He is highly decorated as an artisan and builder. He is known far and wide for his expertise and artistry and is referred to as Vaastu Vyasa.

Dr. Sthapati brought this knowledge to the west through a small University he cofounded with Dr. Jessie Mercay called The American University of Mayonic Science and Technology http://www.aumscience.com. This University offers classes that reveal these ancient secrets to individuals who are willing and motivated to gain the knowledge needed to properly apply these sacred building codes.

Why was this seen as such an important thing to do? The science behind this knowledge and the Rishi who cognized it reveals that an individual can gain Union or enlightenment by dwelling in a building built using these special ancient codes. Saints and yogis have known this for thousands of years. When a person lives in one of these buildings they are literally dwelling in yoga for the entire time they are in the building.


The effects are cumulative and the person becomes fully integrated over time. A little known fact is that in India today and throughout history people go to buildings built with these codes for healing and rejuvenation. It is known as a special technique called temple sleep. While the large homes built using these special codes are too expensive for a poor person, the community temple is always available for rejuvenation. And, smaller homes may be built using these building codes.

This body of knowledge is called Mayonic Science and Technology (at the request of the former President of India). The yogic Rishi who cognized this science, Siddha Brahmarishi Mayan, called it the Luminous Path. He is mentioned throughout Vedic literature (Mahabarata, Bagavatam, and elsewhere) and is known as the cognizer of the first Veda – the Pranava Veda.

His fundamental achievement was to observe within his own nature, the process that Consciousness or the Divine undergoes in its transformation of energy (Itself) into matter – the material world. Mayan was able to use the elements of that process (which is mathematically based) to replicate that process and manifest specific frequencies or qualities of consciousness in various art forms. He applied this knowledge to music, dance, poetry, sculpture and architecture. He declared that architecture was the highest form because it had the greatest influence over an individual dwelling in specifically designed built space.

The science of this body of knowledge is found in the Pranava Veda and the Aintiram –both written by Mayan (he authored more than 32 texts). The technology that follows this science is found in various treatises on sculpture, dance, music, drawing and painting, poetry and grammar, and architecture (Vaastu Shastras and Agamas). This knowledge of living or meditating in vibrant buildings is missing from the understanding of what it takes to become an awakened yogi. The general frequencies or vibrations of today’s world and today’s houses are overwhelmingly abrasive to the growth of Union. In this science, Union is concerned with resonance with the Divine. One’s own Atman must become resonant with the Divine Cosmic Atman in order to experience enlightenment. It is almost impossible for that to happen fully today with all of the events happening in the world around us that produce numerous discordant frequencies. These special houses and temples (large and small) provide a barrier to the damaging environment. They offer a frequency that offsets environmental influences. In addition, if they are built properly, they elevate the inhabitant to spiritual bliss and wellbeing.

The mechanics of this are straightforward. A special mathematical order (mathematical formulas) and special building codes that mirror the principles of Consciousness manifesting itself as the material world are applied to building architecture. The building then becomes vibrant with specific qualities designated by the architect or consultant based upon specific mathematical formulas. The building vibrates or becomes alive with these qualities (among which is Spiritual Bliss). The vibration of the building then affects the vibration (at the level of jivatman) of the individual. Over time, the individual jivatman vibration raises to the level of the building that is considered a divine form. This is called resonance or Bhakti.

Simply stated, because the building was designed and built to vibrate with specific qualities of the Divine, the inhabitant then becomes in Union with the Divine. These building codes include factors such as site selection, slope of land, vibrancy of land based upon special tests and analysis, existing water bodies, placement of out building, trees and other vegetation, perimeter and elevation of the building, special roof slopes, numerous interior considerations such as room placement, flow of incoming and outgoing water, placement and flow of electricity, plumbing, placement of bathrooms, orientation of building on plot, primary and secondary door placement, and numerous other considerations.

The actual building must be accomplished under the supervision of a trained Vaastu consultant who has been certified by a Shilpi Guru (at present there is only one living Shilpi Guru – Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati) or his representative. The building process is very specific and must be done to 1/16th of an inch. While that may seem impossible, it is routinely done under proper supervision. A properly trained consultant knows how to make sure that happens.

An important point to bring up before closing is that in modern times, there are many people attempting to “rectify” existing homes using gadgets, yantras, and other such gimmicks. They have reduced the ancient knowledge found in the Vaastu Shastras to something akin to Feng Shui – a very different practice.

Some people even say that putting up special mirrors or burning special incense will do the trick. This science is much more than smoke and mirrors. It is only meant to be practiced in building from the ground up. No manner of device will correct the frequency of an already existing building. It is the orientation of the building and the mathematics of the main wall and elevation that create the frequency. And all of the above mentioned codes and assessments that contribute to and maintain the frequency. No gadget can alter that. The fact is that not one of these people has actually read the Vaastu Shastras directly nor have they studied at length with an authentic traditional Indian architect who comes from the ancient tradition. Currently there are only about thirteen certified authentic Vaastu consultants and architects in the western world.

A home can be built using these codes or a small (about 10×10) mathematically perfect temple cottage built with specific building codes taken into consideration for your back yard. Like the ancient yogis of the past we must find a way to individually or collectively obtain a living vibrant structure so that we too can dwell in yoga. Some communities in the US already have properly built structures. (Not all temples are properly built in the US). Here are some places where there are properly built structures (built by Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati) in the US: Hindu temple in Omaha, NE; Shiva Vishnu Temple in Washington, DC; Chicago Hindu Temple; Miami; St. Louis, and Hindu Temple on Kauai, HI.

You can find out more information about how to build such a structure for your self or your village by contacting aumcourses@aumscience.com You will need the help of a trained consultant who is recognized by a traditional Shilpi Guru. You can also purchase a book that describes these concepts more thoroughly by ordering Fabric of the Universe, by Dr. Jessie Mercay from jmercay@vastu2vaastu.com You will never be the same after living in, meditating or doing yoga in one of these forms. In fact, over time, you will be a complete yogi living in Union.

Oneness and Goodness…

The Path of Oneness

Oneness is the fundamental nature of the universe. Everything is connected to everything else. We cannot see it with our eyes. We cannot feel it with our skin. Only when we dwell in silence, in meditation, can we come to this ultimate realization. Our essential nature is One.

  • Buddhists call it Emptiness.
  • Hindus call it Brahman.
  • Christians call it God or the Holy Spirit.

Beyond the world of lights and shadows, beyond words and forms, beyond names and shapes, the mystics have unveiled this Oneness and declared it to be the unchanging truth. Oneness is not a philosophy but rather the numinous aspect of religion. It has been unveiled again and again to sincere seekers of every faith.

The firsthand realization of Oneness is not easily accessed. Veils, comprised of thoughts, emotions, energy, body, and external activities cloud our true nature and cause a perception of division. The path is introverted in nature. It seeks to explore the veils and detach from them until nothing is left except that which is always present.

The Path of Goodness

Alas, Oneness is not easily accessed and duality is a powerful veiling force. We feel separate, alone, at odds with each other. That is why all of the world’s religions have primarily focused on the dual path of Goodness through the cultivation of love, compassion, generosity, and kindness.

These are not easy to come by. Our animal nature is strong. As human beings, we are intensely sexual, possessive, and more prone to violence than any other species on Earth.

We need to cultivate Goodness. Each one of us is born with the seeds inside of us—but they are only seeds. They need to be nurtured and cared for, otherwise, the weeds of anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, laziness, despair, pride, lust and gluttony will overtake our internal life. Strife on the inside will cause strife on the outside.

Religions of the world have asked us to be compassionate, fair, just, loving and giving. These attributes are not given. They must be nurtured and earned. Only when Goodness has reached a flourishing state can it be shared with the world. Only an overflowing cup of love can truly be shared with another. As Christ said, thou shalt “love thy neighbor as thyself.” If you do not love yourself, how can you love your neighbor?

Practiced Together or Separately

Most human beings have an inclination to practice one path over the other. Those who seek peace of mind are more likely to trek the Oneness path. Those who seek to be more loving, compassionate and relational are more likely to travel the Goodness path. Only a few have ever mastered both, but we call those who have prophets, gurus or exemplars.

Understanding and Acceptance

As I mentioned earlier, my Experifaith model seeks to show the experiential connection between religions and spiritual paths. For the longest time, I thought that all the world’s religions had the same goals, but when I unveiled these two paths during my studies, I realized that most theological conflicts, both internal and external, stem from an inability to discern between the two.

The paths exist side-by-side in all the major religions but they should not be conflated and seen as the same path. Neither path is wrong, because each path navigates a separate terrain. One is nondual in nature, the other dual. Therefore, both paths should be practiced and appreciated on their own terms.

Here is the main takeaway. Both paths are found in all the wisdom traditions. The Oneness path is usually reserved for the mystics while the Goodness path is preached to the general population. They each serve a purpose. We should respect them as such.

– Gudjon Bergmann

Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/interspirituality/2018/04/the-spiritual-paths-of-oneness-and-goodness/

The Heart of the Soul…

———————————————————————————–
By Dr. Jessie Mercay
posted by Ganesh

The Heart of the Soul: Mystics and scientists agree about the heart of all matter – The God Particle – Higgs boson by Dr. Jessie Mercay

“While I was beseeching Our Lord today… I began to think of the soul as if it were a castle made of a single diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.” — St. Teresa of Avila

This description of the soul by St. Teresa of Avila, found in the book “Interior Castles” is extremely similar to the description of the Cosmic Soul and the individuated cosmic soul (Atman) described by Brahmarishi Mayan thousands of years ago. Mayan called this “microabode”. Or smallest abode of consciousness in living beings. He diagrammed the Atman and Cosmic Being through the Vaastu Purusha Mandala with its’ divisions of 8×8 grid (Cosmic or unmanifest level) and 9×9 grid (manifest level). The book “Fabric of the Universe” by Dr. Jessie Mercay describes this in detail. available at aumscience.com bookstore.

Understanding that the Soul is not just a vague idea of some aspect of our self opens the door to direct experience. This direct experience then becomes the doorway to the Infinite Being we all seek. Our aware connection with our own Atman (Soul) changes our life, our goals, our wishes, and our sense of well being. Mystics from all faiths agree that this form called Soul exists literally in the heart of all beings. Certain and specific meditation in a specific environment opens access to this Inner Being. Once that access is there a change in thinking occurs. Thoughts cease to flow from the mind of the brain and one begins to operate on a subtle level where thought arises directly from the mind of the heart. Thought becomes very faint or even imperceptible and one begins to operate from Divine motive rather than individual motive.

At the very least this is a relief because one is not hampered or stressed due to constant thinking. If one has more conscious thoughts, they are direct and pure emanations of the divine. No, it is not as if God is talking to you. That is simply a reflection of duality an not a reflection of oneness. It is more like you are living Gods’ thoughts. That is, this Unity with the Divine through the Atmic experience is a living experience of “let thy will be done.” Let thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven becomes a living reality in that one acts through divine will rather than individual will/personality. Ones true nature is then out-pictured rather than ones personality nature. There is a caveat regarding ones own nature but it is too much to cover here.

Brahmarishi Mayan developed his Vaastu Shastras to create environments that vibrate with an ambiance that promotes ones spiritual well being. These environments cause a specific vibration that causes the human vibration (via the thread of consciousness in the Atman) to become enlivened and in resonance with the Cosmic qualities of spiritual bliss. This enhances ones connection with the heart of the soul – Atman.

Now, to give a little relief to those who are more scientifically minded I will put this in different terms: Brahmarishi Mayan (and apparently St. Therese of Avilla and others) cognized within their selves that there is a field that all material forms arise from called the Quantum Field. This field is one of infinite potential and is the field within which all the material world exists. Physicists say that this Field is infinitely vast and contains the gross material world and minute particles of light and sound – these are also described by Brahmarishi Mayan (about 10,000 BCE).

When these particles become orderly they pulse or vibrate causing specific qualities of energy based upon their wave form. These qualities of energy emerge and become individuated and make up the entire material world.

The juncture of time when the sperm and egg unite begins the life of an individuated being. This act of creation has at its’ root the ignition of these light and sound particles. There is a point at which there is an energy transference from unmanifest Quantum Field to material form. At this point or location there is a light/sound particle some call Atman and that particle multiplies itself and creates flesh around it that we call the physical organ – heart. This initial particle that out pictures the heart and other organs including the entire body, is in fact a tiny particle that can ultimately be identified by physicists. This particle may already be identified at the atom smashing research done at CERN where the so called “God particle” has been discovered. Mayan says this form he saw is indeed as St. Therese described. Mayan also said that this particle goes from a cuboidal shape to a polygonal shape (shown as octagon), and then to a round shape as it becomes fully manifest. (This sequence is demonstrated by the well known image called lingam, which begins with a square bottom, octogonal mid- secetion and circular top). In the picture below from National Geographic, the process of atom smashing reveals this “God particle” (also called Higgs boson) born of immense light and formed into a round form. This coincides with what Mayan described. Researchers in particle physics say that this particle is at the “heart of all matter.”

Finally, we can access this “God particle” within the cave of our heart as described by the mystics and yogis. In accessing this, thoughts cease and we are overcome by a peace beyond all understanding. Living in a Vaastu home or having a small vaastu garbha (building) in your yard increases your opportunity to experience your own “God particle”, your source, and gain this profound well being.

Source: Dr. Jessie Mercay, http://www.aumscience.com, http://www.vastu2vaastu.com

21 Rules to Live Your Life

In the final days of his life, the mythical Japanese samurai Musashi Miyamoto retreated to a cave called the Reigandō. (Spirit Rock Cave) In that cave he spent the final months of his life meditating and writing his views on the world. While secluded in the cave he wrote, “Dokkōdō”. The Dokkōdō contains his very own soul.

The Dokkōdō means “The Path of Aloneness” or “The Way to be Followed Alone” . Musashi wrote this work a week before his death. It is 21 lines long, each line containing a different idea one would live by.

21-rules-of-life

1. Accept Everything Just The Way It Is.

Beautiful advice. Rather than worry or fret about what’s going on around you, accept it.
Too often we struggle trying to change things that cannot be changed. When one accepts things as they are, they are free to pursue their true purpose as opposed to fighting against the unchangeable.The time you’ve spent dwelling on it is better spent improving yourself.

2. Do Not Seek Pleasure For It’s Own Sake.

Seeking out the pleasurable things in life quickly become a distraction from the overall goal. In time, the pursuit of pleasure may become the goal itself and all effort towards your true purpose is lost. Avoid constant pleasure if you would stay true to your path.

3. Do Not, Under Any Circumstances, Depend On A Partial Feeling.

You must be sure of where you put your foot before you step. The meaning here is not to get confused, to keep your head clear, and only act when you’re certain.

4. Think Lightly Of Yourself And Deeply Of The World.

Being humble. How are you to hear wisdom if you only hear yourself? If you only walk around with eyes for yourself, you’ll miss the details of the world around you. Paying attention to the world let’s you better appreciate the results of your actions, as well as giving you insight into things you would otherwise miss.

5. Be Detached From Desire Your Whole Lifelong.

If you spend your life chasing a dream you may be running forever. Live your life to be content, have goals but don’t let them rule you. Don’t dwell on what others have when you can make your own.

6. Do Not Regret What You Have Done.

Understand your actions. If you disprove of how you are, don’t constantly regret the past and be bitter. Work to understand yourself, put it past you, and live your life how you should.

7. Never Be Jealous.

It’s a waste of time. Spend your energy productively. All that time scheming could achieve a lot of other things.

8. Never Let Yourself Be Saddened By A Separation.

Just by living life people will come and go. It’s not the distance that matters but how you remember them. Keep them close to your heart and they are always living in your footsteps.

9. Resentment And Complaint Are Appropriate Neither For Oneself Nor Others.

Both happen because of an inability to accept and are a waste of time. It is far more efficient to change things without resentment or complaint and accepting what cannot be changed. Better to focus your energy on bettering yourself or them then causing useless grief.

10. Do Not Let Yourself Be Guided By The Feeling Of Lust Or Love.

Act with respect to yourself. If one studies the irrational behavior of humans it becomes prevalent that most of it is caused by love and lust. As wonderful as love can be, it can be equally as hurtful and distracting from one’s primary goal and, all to often, the same goal can even be forsaken. Lust will also become a bar to one’s path and will be no less of an obstruction as love. Never allow either to guide you.

11. In All Things Have No Preferences.

Have an open mind, be ready to try all things and desire none.If you always act a certain way you will never experience anything new.

12. Be Indifferent To Where You Live.

Living is living. If your unhappy with where you are, move, but in time you’ll realize it’s not where you live but how you live. A palace or a parking garage; be happy of shelter and warmth.

13. Do Not Pursue The Taste Of Good Food.

You can see this in evidence today. Eat for nourishment and eat to be full. Living the life of a ronin Mushashi learned the value of appreciating a full stomach. A taste for good food can be as harmful as any addiction.

14. Do Not Hold On To Possessions You No Longer Need.

Everything has its use, but eventually things run their course and become broken or unusable. If it no longer benefits with you, part with it freely. Give it to someone who can appreciate it. Let go of what is no longer useful and move forward. You’ll feel better for it.

15. Do Not Act Following Customary Beliefs.

Think and act for yourself. Act how you think you should act not how others say you should. You only have one chance to decide for yourself.

16. Do Not Collect Weapons Or Practice With Weapons Beyond What Is Useful.

A tribute to his time but apt advice depending on how you apply it. As with other possessions, it becomes burdensome to the Way when the desire for weapons becomes prominent. Keep what is useful and discard what is not.

17. Do Not Fear Death.

This may be the hardest one for some to do.  Everyone dies, Everyone comes to terms differently. Great deeds can never be accomplished so long as death holds sway over your decisions. A true warrior carries death in his heart daily and, when the time comes, fully embraces it.

18. Do Not Seek To Possess Either Goods Or Fiefs For Your Old Age.

What good will they do when you’re gone? Apt advice as well, Live usefully and collect what is useful. When you make plans for material possessions, you lose focus on what is truly important and do what you can to live and enjoy wealth. This can lead to cowardice and other loathsome actions that will further you from the Way.  Don’t waste your time when you can spend your time bettering yourself.

19. Respect Buddha And The Gods Without Counting On Their Help.

Count on yourself, Don’t count on luck or gods to pull you through. Tackle the endeavors you know are within your capabilities. If you pray to them for strength then they will put you in situations to find it.

20. You May Abandon Your Own Body But You Must Preserve Your Honor.

Don’t do anything you can’t live with for the rest of your life. Your actions make you. If you become old and weak, not far from the drink; live still with the actions and character that made men respect you.

21. Never Stray From The Way.

If you live a certain way, Either devote yourself wholly to it or cast it aside. If you can’t bring yourself to place complete conviction in your actions then why do them?

Source:

1. https://letterpile.com/books/Dokkodo
2. http://sorrowfulkain.tumblr.com/post/97518922984/prior-to-his-death-miyamoto-musashi-wrote-one

Experience the space between…

Universal Space

Perhaps you’ve never thought about having a gap between your thoughts and maybe cannot imagine it right now. After all, our thoughts tumble one right after the other, oftentimes overlapping. I’ve heard we can entertain hundreds of thoughts per minute but only about 5 or 6 ever reach our mind to register as a thought. So how could there possibly be any gap between thoughts? There is always a gap, or space between every thought just as there is a gap between every step into the next step that you take. You never think about it most likely; you just do it without realizing there is a gap.

Think about a trapeze artist. Everyone watches in awe as the performer let’s go of one bar as he/she flies through the air, grabbing for the bar swinging towards him. But think about it – there was a momentary, split second gap between the release of one bar and the grabbing of another. A lot can happen during that split second. The performer can actually grab hold of the bar swinging towards him and wow his audience, or completely miss the bar and experience a catastrophic result. The same is true in our lives – we can experience a wonderful success or experience a catastrophe through our gaps.

In the gap is your realness, the space in which for that moment there is silence. This is where you can quiet your mind and meditate. You’ve probably heard that it’s important to meditate every day, but if you’re like many individuals, you just can’t seem to squeeze it into your busy schedule. Or perhaps you are like some individuals who find they cannot quiet their mind chatter so simply give up trying to meditate. Yet meditation is life’s most powerful tool!

So why is it so difficult to stay in the gap? Our minds have been conditioned to be active and continually moving from one thought to another. We have created the busy schedules for ourselves because we have been programmed that this is the norm and what is expected of us. But when we do this we never have a chance to discover who we really are or what our truths are, for it is in the silence that these things are revealed…in the gap. Nor can we calm our brains and our bodies if they are always in action mode.

Deepak Chopra has been an advocate of meditation for many years and teaches various forms of meditation in his centers and programs. Many other healers and teachers follow suit with meditation programs as well, and this is due to the realization of the good it does for anyone when they regularly meditate. Dr. Michael Lam promotes meditation as part of recovery for adrenal fatigue and Dr. Henry Emmons tells us that meditation is critical for calming and balancing the brain. In my own life, I was a procrastinator about taking the time to meditate, but every time I made the time for even 5 or 10 minutes of meditating, I felt so much lighter and uplifted, and my body was calmer.

Meditation really has no rules. It simply means sitting quietly for a period of time without thoughts or movements. Many assume the lotus pose, but as soon as you sit down your mind doesn’t stop running thoughts through. Your goal is to acknowledge the thoughts but not to put any feelings to them…just let them be and slip right on through your mind. Here are some tips that were sent to me when I participated in Deepak Chopra’s 21-day Meditation Challenge a few months ago. They were tremendously helpful to me and I hope they will be beneficial to you as well.

1. Have no expectations. Sometimes the mind is too active to settle down. Sometimes it settles down immediately. Sometimes it goes quiet but you may not notice. Anything can happen because the goal is not to control the session.
2. Be easy with yourself. Meditation isn’t about getting it right or wrong. Surrendering to whatever happens is also an indication that you are on the right track. It’s about letting your mind find its true nature.
3. Really be there. If your attention is somewhere else, thinking about your next appointment, errand or meal, gently shift your attention back to the “So Hum (I AM)” mantra. Focusing on your mantra will help lead you back to the gap between thought.

Using the So-Hum mantra was a big help to me. As you sit quietly, taking slow, deep breaths in through your nose and then quietly exhaling through your nose, you simply think in your mind “So” as you inhale and “Hum” as you exhale. If you find your mind wandering, simply focus back on your breathing and the mantra. You may have to do this a lot in the beginning, but over time you will get the hang of this and be able to stay in the gap more readily.

The wonderful part of the gap (silence) is that it is only pure love. We want to operate our lives from love but often find ourselves operating from the fear of the world. In the space of love is where we know our truths and can create the desires of our heart. It is here that you can shift your beliefs, and inner silence is the place where you can heal. In her book Embraced by the Light, Betty Eadie, who experienced a near death experience and whose spirit traveled through death to the other side and back, said she discovered this on the other side: “Above all, I was shown that love is supreme. I saw that truly without love we are nothing. We are here to help one another, to care for one another, to understand, forgive and serve one another, and we are here to have love for every person born on earth.”

Sometimes while sitting quietly some old unpleasant experiences (stories) may surface. This is a great time to notice an experience and feel the negative feelings connected to it, but recognize it serves no purpose in your life and let it go. You can release the weight from around your neck and be free from it in this space of love.

Another benefit of daily meditation is that it has been proven to provide deeper levels of intuition and creativity. If you want to wake up your intuition and connect with the realm of spirit, or revive your stagnant creativity, this is a way to open up the channels within you. Additionally, it provides relief from stress, more restful sleep, more inner calm, and many health benefits. It has been noted that a deep meditation can literally revive the body just as sleep can!

So why wouldn’t you want to make use of this amazing gift of the gap between thoughts, given all the benefits it can provide in your life? Why not try it for just five minutes to start? The key is to simply begin, and once you get the momentum rolling, I believe you’ll see the benefits in your life and won’t want to live a day without meditating. Remember, there are no rules and there is no time-frame requirement…that is your choice. But even ten minutes per day can dramatically change your life for the better.

– Dr. Carolyn Porter

Source: http://wheremiracleshappen.com/the-gap-between-your-thoughts/#

You Are Unique!

you are unique!

You Are Unique in the Eyes of God, Blessed Atman! The key to blessedness lies in being aware of blessedness. If your awareness is turned in different directions, towards what you do not have, or what you think or imagine you do not have, then this wrongly directed pattern of thought will make you unaware of the many things that you have.

Each one is distinct and unique in the eyes of the Creator; there is none like that particular being, there is no second. So each one is precious and specially valuable to the Creator. In the eyes of God, therefore, each one is something special. This should always be remembered. No one can replace you in the role that you fulfil in God’s creation at any given place and at any given point in time. You are most necessary and indispensable for that particular set-up, in that particular time-space context. And therefore rejoice and be grateful to the Lord that He has given you a role to perform.

Whether you perform your role perfectly and in a meaningful manner or not is irrelevant, because God expects each one to do what One is capable of, at any point, at any time. God does not expect an ant to haul a great timber as the elephant does in the forest. Nor does God expect the elephant to fly gracefully in the air as do swallows and doves. He expects birds to fly and He loves them for what they do. He expects elephants to fulfil their role, giving dignity to the forest and doing incredible jobs of strength. And He expects man to live as man. And each one in his own place, in his own sphere, can fulfil a task and gladden the heart of the Maker and contribute something to His plan on earth.

And this is the truth. And to be aware of the truth is to be worry-free, anxiety-free. To be aware of the truth is to be grateful to God: “You have made me unique, You have given me a role, and You have prompted me and brought to me all helpful factors to fulfil my role and play my part. For that I ever give thanks”

No one is dispensable. No one is useless. No one is lesser in the eyes of God or in the eyes of those who try to avoid human judgement and human standards of criticism, who accept God’s creation as it is, because God created it. For them, whatever God thought fit to make, in any manner whatsoever, is perfect; there is nothing wrong in it, and it is acceptable. For them, whatever emanates from God partakes of His divinity and perfection, and therefore in God’s own plan, and in God’s own way, is fully complete.

In this way, if we accept this truth that to God we are unique, and so we are to all those who are trying to look with the impartiality of God’s vision, then in the presence of God and of those who are devotees of God, we must feel at home, we have arrived; we may no longer feel distressed in heart. One should rejoice in serene calmness of spirit: “I have arrived, I am at home, I am in the presence of God and I am totally accepted.”

Things are as they should be. The Lord is in heaven and all is well on earth. This is the faith, the firm belief of those who have faith in the infinite love of God, who have trust in the infinite goodness of God and who are sure that in God’s heart they have a special and unique place. This is ever kept reserved for them and no one can take it away from them, because God’s infinite heart is large enough to hold the entire cosmos and everything within it.

Thus knowing, we should have great comfort in our heart, great satisfaction and contentment. And that is the secret of inner joy, the key to blessedness and the pathway to peace, serenity and inner calm, where there is no fretting, agitation or restlessness.

The peace of God pervades the entire earth; the peace of God pervades everywhere, without and within. The peace of God is the one great truth underlying all things, ever-present, ever-accessible and available, ever-full and inexhaustible.

Try to live in the light of this truth, and the heart and mind will be at ease. Never compare and contrast, because there is no comparing and contrasting amongst unique things. Every little fledgling hatched from an egg is unique to its parents; so is each being unique in itself, for God is the parent of all. Hence, sages and saints and men of wisdom look upon all with equal vision.

Therefore, rejoice that you are special to God in His infinite love. Rejoice that you have your own special place and role to perform in this creation of God. And rejoice that His love is immediately available to you, for He is not a remote reality, but He is the indwelling Reality, nearer to you than anything else on earth. And rejoice that within you is the peace of God as your own Self. You are God’s peace and you have a duty to perform, that is, to spread this peace which you are to one and all. Live to spread this peace!

– Swami Chidananda, Inspiring Thoughts

Shiva and Shakti – Awareness and Aliveness…

shiva and shakti

Source : clipartsmania

“Utterly fearless and uninhibited it is this consciousness that brings into manifestation and sustains the infinite variety of beings, from the creator to the blade of grass. It is ever dynamic and active, yet it is more inactive than a rock and is more unaffected by such activity than space.” ~ Yoga Vashishtha

Shiva is often called the awareness and Shakti is the aliveness. Shiva represents the unmanifest and Shakti the manifest; Shiva the formless and Shakti the formed; Shiva consciousness and Shakti energy, not only in the cosmos as a whole but in each and every individual. Shiva is the sacred ground on which Shakti creates. The roots of Shakti is in Shiva. Without the stillness and groundness of Shiva, the creative potential of Shakti becomes unmanageable. Without the creative potency of Shakti, Shiva becomes an observer lacking the ability to create or manifest. Shiva and Shakti merge to create Oneness and dissolve into this oneness where the masculine and feminine cease to exist and the pure consciousness of creation manifests in its place.

Shiva and Shakti symbolize an intrinsic duality, balance, and the freedom to embody and dance with our devotion and prayer in any form. Though one is manifested and the other unmanifested, they are in the ultimate sense one and the same One is the principle of changelessness and the other, the principle of change – Shakti is change within changelessness while Shiva is changelessness as the root of change. The experience of perfect unity of the changeless and the changeable, the dissolution of duality, is the aim of Tantra, and thus of Yoga.

Everything you see around you, whether physical, psychic, mental or whatever, is Shakti, both individually and collectively. This includes everything from a pebble to the sun. All manifestations of Shakti come from the underlying substratum, Shiva. Shiva and Shakti continue to unite and separate for eternity, just like we, in our humanness, oscillate between wholeness or oneness and separateness.

One energy with many names and forms. There is one energy that keeps taking on new shapes and forms. In Tantra the name of that energy is Shakti, which is the manifesting, or feminine force that is actually one and the same with its only apparent companion Shiva, the latent, or masculine. Each time the energy takes on a new form, we give it a new name. Shakti becomes Kundalini Shakti, or simply Kundalini. Kundalini becomes the energy of Prana, which flows in patterns or channels called Nadis, and concentrates itself by forming intersections known as Chakras. The subtle energies condense and become known as earth, water, fire, air, and space, forming our experience of the gross world. With Kundalini awakening, the primal energy of Shakti awakens in its true form.

Seek to experience that one energy. To know, in direct experience, that unchanging truth, the one energy that is the substratum of all of the names and forms, is one of the ways of describing the universal goal of spiritual life. It is the experience of the union of Shakti and Shiva, creation and its ground, feminine and masculine, even though they were never actually divided in the first place. It is like wetness that is never separate from water, sweetness that is never separate from sugar, and warmth that is never separate from sunlight.