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July 2003 -
August 2003
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"My Secret for Happiness"
"Grand Union Hotel Circa
1895" Oil on linen, 36 by 48 inches, © Jenness
Cortez Perlmutter
Namaste. We pray to the Divinity in you.
My Secret
for Happiness
by Swami Bua
Even happy people often look for change in
the ordinary routines of their lives. Although they
are dutifully consumed in the daily challenges of earning a
living, they admittedly fall prey to moments of
introspection--even during the busiest of schedules--when they
feel that deep, soulful urge to try something new. A few come to
know of great powers lying latent within and fancy they might
cultivate some of that potential themselves.
Typical advice for invoking these inherent powers stresses the
need for sitting in still concentration and living in a calm
state of mind while not dwelling on past or future. One practice
commonly advised to achieve this rare tranquility of mind and
body is the daily repetition of mantras. But there are a great
many other practices as well.
Western aspirants of the contemplative arts are not unfamiliar
with a variety of meditation techniques now being taught.
There’s transcendental meditation, super conscious meditation,
raja yoga meditation, bhakti yoga meditation, karma yoga
meditation, kundalini meditation, candlelight meditation, chakra
meditation, yantra meditation and tantra meditation. Even as I
am writing this article, the list keeps growing with more and
more innovative titles.
In moments of inspiration, would-be meditators dive into one or
more of these practices with great enthusiasm. Many, however,
give up almost immediately. Some conclude that such pursuits are
just not for them. Others claim there is something wrong with
their mantra or their method. Still others finally assert that
meditation is just not a worthy activity. But if questioned they
would all admit one thing: It’s not easy!
After sitting for some time in the first attempts at meditation,
young enthusiasts find that their minds begin to wander and they
become distracted. Perhaps they fall sleep. When this seems
to become a pattern that may not improve, they begin worrying
and wondering, “Is this working? Will it ever work?
Am I making progress?” They start talking to
friends who are trying to do the same thing. “Do you still
meditate?” they ask. ”Are you able to
concentrate?” They conclude that although they were given some
sort of technique--perhaps they spent a significant amount of
money for it--they needed something more.
Those that arrive at this point might be surprised to learn that
they have actually gotten off to a good start. They have
realized that being still requires effort. This knowledge is a
distinct gain. Most ordinary people would never have the
opportunity to discover even this much.
Hundreds of years ago, one of India’s great Tamil saints said,
“It is easy to tame the rogue elephant. It is easy to tie the
mouth of a bear. It is easy to mount the back of a lion. It is
easy to charm poisonous snakes. It is easy to conquer the celestial
and noncelestial realms. It is easy to trek the worlds
invisible. It is easy to command the angelic heavens. It is easy
to retain youth eternally. It is easy to enter the body of
others. It is easy to walk on water and sit in burning
fire. It is easy to attain all of the advanced siddhis (yoga
powers). But to remain still is very, very difficult indeed.”
To those earnest souls seeking the great stillness of yoga, I
would ask, “What is the purpose and goal of meditation?”
Without purpose and goal, there can be no meditation--or even
concentration. Certainly, there is a deep soulful urge spurring
us on, but that urge is usually so vague, so blurred in its
outline, so difficult to confine within the four corners of a
definition, that even its existence cannot be easily
acknowledged. It is no wonder the mind succeeds in escaping all
attempts at its mastery by a method so ill-defined.
The wise ones of ancient times can help us here. They assert
that there is one great Master Mind of which our individual
minds are but a part. If such is the case, the obvious purpose
of meditation is to achieve the goal of discovering this Master
Mind. This is, indeed, the purpose and goal of meditation
generally advocated by those who know.
There is a saying in my native Tamil language which translates
roughly as follows: “Without concentrated practice, nothing
tangible can be achieved.” Meditation is a long-term practice.
Stillness of mind in the oneness of all is its crowning
achievement.
We are less inclined to worry about the unsteadiness of our
concentration when we realize that it is the nature of
concentration to be unsteady. It might even seem at times that
we do not possess a mind at all, but rather that a mind
possesses us. The mind, it seems, has a mind of its own. Certain
experiences just continue simultaneously without even asking our
permission. A slight stomach ache. A small itch on the forehead
or near the armpit. A burp. Obviously, the life processes of the
body--like breathing and digestion--must keep going. Although
this can be disconcerting for a beginner, the experienced
meditator sits unwavering. After much practice, he finally
begins to master concentration.
The mind in its natural state is steady. This natural state is
not so far away. Look at little babies who with very little
effort steady their attention on objects of attraction for long
periods of time. Animals do this, too. It is natural. However,
modern-day man lives a very complicated life. His concentration
does not become easily fixed on any one thing for any length of
time. He is just too busy. Yet, there are moments when he is
completely absorbed. Perhaps a business problem demands his full
attention--or a family tragedy, or a crisis with a friend. At
some point everyone in every stratum of life experiences a
steady mind resulting from focused attention. This focus of
attention is the central theme of sadhana or spiritual practice.
Sadhana is the road to the discovery of the Master Mind.
Well-trained yogis experience meditation as a state of being.
This state of being can only rise up of its own accord and in
its own timing--never by force. After we have made the effort of
focusing our concentration in the consistent practice of sadhana,
the deep stillness of perfect meditation will be difficult to
resist. No one can claim to teach meditation and certainly no
one can ever sell such a commodity. It is not transferable in
this way. Meditation is each individual’s personal state of
being his true Self.
In service - with love,
Leonard Perlmutter & Jenness Cortez Perlmutter.
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Attaining Victory on the Battlefield of Your
Life
“Krishna and Arjuna in the
Battle at Kurukshetra,” Oil on Panel, 24 by
16 inches
© Jenness Cortez Perlmutter
We pray to the Divinity in you.
Don’t be misled.
The war on terrorism and the war in Iraq are really
consequences of an inner conflict that is always being
waged in our own hearts and minds. Since we all suffer
from this protracted subtle warfare, the question
arises: What does it take to win this perennial battle?
Every successful military engagement
is defined by four essential ingredients: knowledge
of the enemy, resolve, a coherent overall strategy,
and specific tactics that defeat the enemy and establish
peace. To truly attain the life, liberty and happiness
of which our founding fathers so eloquently spoke,
each of us must recognize that in a very real sense,
all of life is a battlefield. To be victorious, we
must employ the same formula for success as the military
warrior. We must know our enemy, have sankalpa (determination),
and we must adopt a philosophy of life which assures
that every arrow which flies from our bow is released
as a means to lead us closer to our ultimate goal
of life.
No human being consciously desires
to live in fear and pain. No one intentionally tries
to create obstacles for himself. Everyone wants to
be happy, healthy, creative, loving and nurtured to
the fullest extent possible. To be successful in our
battle for happiness, our tactics must reflect the
yogic teaching of “including all and excluding
none.” Why? Because every experience (including
the war in Iraq) comes into our awareness as a means
of delivering some important teaching which will become
helpful on the path toward Self-realization and freedom.
As we have observed the images of
the Iraqi war through the television media, we have
seen what is required to prevail in an armed struggle.
From the very first days of conflict, United States
military experts have attributed a projected coalition
victory to an ability to gather “reliable intelligence”
and to deploy precise laser-guided missiles with powerful
consequences. If their assessment is accurate, we
can learn from the military’s experience by
gathering our own “reliable intelligence,”
and using it as the basis for performing each of our
own actions with precision.
All living beings must continuously
act. All life is action, and for every action---including
our thoughts, words and deeds---we experience a consequence.
Every action, therefore, has the potential to lead
us closer to fulfillment, or to lead us farther away
from our goal of life. This truth, known as the law
of karma, recognizes that every action (which will
inevitably bring about a consequence), begins with
a thought. The mind moves first and the body follows.
Long before an action is performed outwardly, it is
performed subtly in the world of thoughts, desires
and emotions.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the
real enemy of peace and tranquility exists in the
subtle world of the mind. The enemy of peace is desire---the
seductive delusion that certain objects and relationships
have the power to make us happy. By projecting this
alluring quality onto various objects of the world,
human beings unwittingly ensure enslavement to pain
and misery.
All desire is born of ignorance---we
ignore the intuitive wisdom of our own Divinity when
taking a specific action. Desire and its progeny,
fear and anger, can make it impossible to base our
actions on “reliable intelligence.” The
more desires we have, the more we remain discontented
prisoners of war. Desires are endless. Every desire
begets another desire, and when a desire is fulfilled,
we fear that we might lose what we have attained or
might not get what we want. When desire is thwarted,
it burns to anger. As Swami Rama teaches, “When
one puts fuel into a fire, the fire is not quenched
but burns more fiercely.”
To guarantee our success on the battlefield
of life, we must learn from the advice of the military
generals: if we know our enemy, base every action
on “reliable intelligence,” and perform
those actions skillfully, like a “precision
laser-guided missile,” we will be victorious.
Having recognized self-willed desire
as the enemy, it’s essential to obtain “reliable
intelligence.” Certainly, there are many sources
of intelligence competing for our attention, and they
are relentless in their mission to influence our actions.
The senses clamor to be satisfied. The ego tries to
steer us toward the pleasant and away from the unpleasant.
The stored, unconscious power of fear, anger and greed
are habitually rising to the surface with great emotional
force.
The most reliable source of intelligence
upon which to base our actions is the conscience or
buddhi. In yoga science this “reliable intelligence”
is referred to as guru, and its knowledge emanates
from an intuitive library of wisdom stored in the
super-conscious mind. Metaphorically, this knowledge
is depicted as a universal force of light that can
transform the darkness of those contracting habits
that have previously enslaved us to physical, mental
and emotional dis-ease. During the decision-making
process, it is Guru, acting through the mirror-like
functioning of a purified buddhi, that can discriminate,
determine, judge and decide which thoughts, words
and deeds will lead us to the end of sorrow.
In addition to the five fundamental
elements of space, air, fire, water and earth, which
form the basic constituents of the material world,
the light of guru is a sixth element---as reliable
as fire or water, and unfailingly present in every
experience and relationship. But unlike the physical
elements, the Guru principle exists as a constant,
an illuminating guide star---always available to help
correct our ignorance, re-direct the trajectory of
our actions and cure our dis-ease. If we learn to
exercise the requisite amount of will to employ this
“reliable intelligence,” the consequences
of our actions will lead to victory and peace of mind.
If our actions serve unreliable intelligence, based
on the pernicious enemies of fear, anger and greed,
the consequence will be painful.
Pain is the shadow of the outstretched
hand of the Divine Reality. Pain is what dissuades
us from unconsciously traveling in the passing lane
of life at one hundred miles an hour. The pain of
war and the fear of terrorism encourage us to travel
consciously at a much safer speed---in the right-hand
lane of life---where it’s easier to base our
actions on the “reliable intelligence“
of buddhi.
Unlike animals, human beings can
perform actions freely --- without being controlled
by the four primitive fountains of food, sex, sleep
and self-preservation. Discrimination and will power
enable us to understand, evaluate and control the
desires that eventually motivate actions and their
consequences. By basing our actions on “reliable
intelligence,” we learn to serve only our deepest
driving desire for happiness. Then, as we willingly
surrender the passing pleasure of preya, the inherent
power of desire is transformed into strategic reserves
of energy, willpower and creativity. The more we experience
this profound truth, instead of being the enemy, our
desires become a necessary means to assure victory.
Inner conflict is the mother of all
problems. As long as there is conflict within the
mind, conflict will continue to exist in the world.
When we reduce inner conflict by basing every action
on the “reliable intelligence” of buddhi,
we reduce conflict in the world. The more we practice
this skill, the more we will know inner peace and
change the consciousness of the entire planet. The
more we can eliminate fear (worry), anger and greed
from the battlefield of our own mind, action and speech,
we become the instrument which will end terrorism
and war.
Every sage from every tradition echoes
the same truth. You already have every capacity to
be victorious in this battle for peace and happiness.
You can become a light to the world, and if it’s
not going to be you, then who will it be? If real
peace is not going to begin now with you, when will
it begin? Dear brothers and sisters, get up and fight
this battle! This is your dharma, and the whole world
is waiting for you to become the light that will end
the darkness.
In service - with love,
Leonard Perlmutter & Jenness Cortez Perlmutter.
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How
American Meditation Benefits You
If you did not desire your present situation,
you would not be doing everything possible to maintain
it.
Leo Tolstoy
Namaste. We pray to the Divinity in you.
In March, 1775, a group of patriots
convened at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.
At that convention a thirty-nine year old man rose
to his feet to deliver one of the most inspiring speeches
in world history. Although he spoke about the desire
to be free from the tyranny and oppression of the
British Crown, Patrick Henry’s words could very
well apply to the stressful, complicated and uncertain
nature of modern American life and our own personal
desire for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“They tell us that we are weak, unable to cope.
But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next
week or the next year? Shall we gather strength by
irresolution and inaction---by lying supinely on our
backs hugging the delusive phantom of hope---until
our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir,
we are not weak---if we make a proper use of those
means which the God of Nature has placed in our power.”
Names and forms have changed dramatically
since Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty
or give me death” speech, but most human beings
are no less plagued today by the painful stress of
daily life, the desire for freedom from worry and
the endless search for happiness. In addition to our
own personal duties and responsibilities, the world
around us presents many challenging uncertainties.
With apologies to Thomas Paine, “These (too)
are the times that try men’s souls.”
With history as our guide, it’s
easy to conclude that the desire to end pain, misery
and bondage is universal and timeless. How to fulfill
that desire---in the midst of every circumstance and
relationship---is the essence of American Meditation.
Concerning such provocative questions,
Henry David Thoreau offers some helpful insight. “I
went to the woods,” Thoreau explains, “because
I wished to live life deliberately, to front only
the essential facts of life, and see if I could not
learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to
die, discover that I had not lived.” Unlike
Thoreau, American Meditation does not require
that we “go to the woods . . . to front the
essential facts of life.” True freedom and happiness
can only be experienced from within our own constellation
of relationships. Toward that goal, life itself is
the greatest of all teachers---if we can develop an
ear to hear and an eye to see.
American Meditation provides
the framework to experience the peace of mind and
happiness we seek. Unlike the physical sciences which
investigate the laws of the external universe, American
Meditation is a tool for knowing our internal landscape, the
nature of our consciousness. The sages teach that
we are citizens of two worlds---the outer world of
names and forms and the inner world of thoughts, desires
and emotions. To be free, we must learn to act skillfully
according to our objective knowledge of both worlds.
American Meditation provides
step-by-step instruction on how to create a bridge
between these two worlds. By employing scientific
techniques, American
Meditation teaches how to access the wisdom
of the inner world, and how to employ that knowledge
skillfully in our relationships through mind, action
and speech. American
Meditation teaches how to control, conserve
and transform our greatest human resource---the energy
of the mind---to attain our most deeply held desires.
As we learn to master our internal
states through regular meditation
practice, the vast,
hidden, habitual power of the unconscious mind is
slowly transformed into healthy, creative, loving,
nurtured and rewarding relationships and experiences.
This bridge between the inner and outer worlds coordinates
all our assets by harmonizing the body and mind with
the Divine wisdom of the spirit.
Though the basis of American Meditation
is the ancient Himalayan tradition of India, its truth
is echoed in every major religion and indigenous tradition:
Hebrew, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Native
American. But American Meditation is not a religion.
It is an educational body of knowledge that does not
interfere with any religious or cultural belief. On
the contrary, American Meditation enhances the
understanding of, and appreciation for, every religion
and culture.
In practical terms, American
Meditation provides
the technology for creating new mental software that
empowers us to make conscious, discriminating choices---choices
which unerringly lead us for our highest and greatest
good. The basic American Meditation instruction
is found in Psalms: “Be still and know that
I am God.” This is accomplished through the
practice of seated meditation. The root of the word
meditation is related to the root word for medical
and medicate. It means attending to or paying attention
to something. In seated meditation, you pay attention
to inner dimensions of yourself that are seldom observed
or known. Meditation involves an inner attention that
is concentrated, quiet and relaxed. There is nothing
strenuous or difficult about creating this inner attention.
In seated meditation, we try to let
go of all the many mental distractions, preoccupations,
and the fleeting thoughts and associations of our
normal waking experience. We do this, not by attempting
to stop or repress our thoughts, but by encouraging
the mind to focus on one subtle element or object
in the present moment. This internal focus of attention
helps the mind cease its other constant and stressful
mental processes.
In seated meditation, you are fully
alert, but the mind is not thinking about a problem
nor analyzing a situation. Instead, the mind is asked
to slow down its usual chatter by letting go of its
everyday tendencies to solve problems, analyze, remember
or focus on the memories of the past or concerns the
future. American
Meditation is not letting the mind wander aimlessly,
nor having an internal conversation with yourself. American
Meditation is simply a quiet, effortless, one-pointed
focus of attention and awareness.
The skills we gain in seated meditation---to
witness and transform the power of our thoughts, desires
and emotions, can then be employed in all our relationships
throughout the day through the practice of meditation
in action. Instead of always reacting impulsively
to our fears, anger and desires, we learn through
meditation how to observe and transform their energy
into thoughts, words and deeds which bring us to a
level of greater happiness and contentment.
For individuals recuperating from
any kind of surgical procedure or emotional trauma,
meditation is therapeutic from the very beginning.
Meditation helps relax the tension of the gross and
subtle muscles and the autonomic nervous system, and
it provides freedom from mental stress. Individuals
who meditate attain a tranquil mind, and this helps
the immune system by limiting its reaction to worry
and anxiety.
After just a few days of sincere
efforts, meditation will begin to establish new, healthy,
habit patterns. These skills increase individual willpower
and help a person to make beneficial choices in life.
Sound decisions concerning a beneficial diet, daily
exercise, diaphragmatic breathing and lifestyle selection
all become possible when the mind is not controlled
by habit.
In life everything is constantly
changing, and yet the habits of the mind resist that
change. To facilitate positive change, American Meditation
practices have one singular goal: to know the true
Self in every circumstance and relationship. After
all, if you don’t know your true essence; if
you don’t know who you are, it's impossible
to make reliably beneficial choices.
To put an end to stress and dis-ease
we must begin the earnest exploration of the frontier
that lies within. To find true joy and contentment,
we acknowledge and serve the wisdom of our spiritual
core by learning to steward the power of our thoughts,
desires and emotions. American Meditation is
a roadmap for this inward journey. American Meditation
is a program of holistic practices and time-honored
techniques to improve mental, emotional and physical
well being. The only two requirements for benefiting
from its use are your own personal determination and
earnestness.
In service - with love,
Leonard Perlmutter & Jenness Cortez Perlmutter.
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How To
End Terrorism
By Changing the
Software of the Mind
A
Practical Message for our Time
By Leonard Perlmutter
“A
problem cannot be solved on the same level at which
it arose.”
Albert Einstein
Before
the printed word, the ancients used icons to teach the
philosophy of yoga science. Nataraja, the “Lord
of the Dance,” is depicted as having both masculine
and feminine attributes symbolizing the Absolute Perfection
in the merging of all opposites. His cosmic dance
powers the various seasons of creation, maintenance,
destruction and liberation. In this famous sculptural
sermon, the Lord, in the form of Nataraja, exhibits
infinite love and wisdom by crushing the dwarf of ignorance
with His mighty foot. The pain, wrought by Divine
Providence, rouses Ignorance from his infatuation with
the charms, attractions and temptations of the material
world with which he has been playing, and calls his
attention toward the raised foot of Nataraja --- symbolizing
that true happiness can be experienced only by attaining
a higher state of consciousness.
In the wake
of 9-11, the ever-present threat of terrorism and a potential war with
Iraq, it’s critical that we contemplate the meaning of the pain we’ve
experienced. How can we honor those who died, and what can we do to
assure that such cancers will not grow in the human organism?
For guidance,
New York Times reporter Tom Friedman turned to one of his mentors, Rabbi
Tzvi Marx. The rabbi offered a Biblical analogy. “To some extent,” said
Tzvi, “we feel after 9-11 like we have experienced the flood of Noah ---
as if a flood had inundated our civilization and we are the survivors.
What do we do the morning after?”
Well, the
Rabbi asks, “What was the first thing Noah did when the floodwaters
receded and he got off the ark? He planted a vine; made wine and got
drunk.” That’s right. Noah’s very first reaction to the flood’s
devastation and the many challenges he faced was to numb himself to the
world.
“But what is
God’s reaction to the flood? It’s just the opposite,” says Tzvi. God’s
reaction was to offer Noah a new set of rules to regulate and change
previous human behavior.
And this is
where the analogy with our present situation begins. After the hell and
“deluge” of 9-11, we have two basic choices. We can either numb ourselves
to the world, continuing our habitual busy-ness, or we can become
motivated to change the world.
If we choose
to transform the world; to make it a safer, saner place for all to live
peacefully, we immediately discover that we’ve got a major problem. Why?
Because if we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we
always got. According to Albert Einstein, “A problem cannot be solved on
the same level at which it arose.” To heal our world, each of us must
think beyond the norm. The unimaginative, habitual recommendations to end
terrorism offered by politicians, military strategists and television
personalities may be well intentioned, but they will fail to bring about a
creative and lasting resolution because both the “solutions” and problem
are products of the consciousness of duality and separateness. Effective
solutions can only be found on a higher level of consciousness.
When we
examine the overriding consciousness of the planet, we discover that most
human thought is limited by the concepts of time and space; a condition of
our profound sense of separateness. Space exists only when a subject
perceives an object, and time is the way the mind deals with space. Time
is merely the space between two thoughts or objects. Since its initial,
blissful experience of nursing at mother’s breast, the human race has
continued to compound its first, ignorant, dualistic perceptions: I am a
separate entity; Mama is a separate entity, and objects and relationships
bring me happiness and eliminate my pain. Relying on this faulty
software, we forever remain “outsiders.” We never fully understand
ourselves, and yet we try to know the external world. Sadly, duality
software inevitably gives rise to fear --- the fear that we won’t get what
we want, or we might lose what we have. Fear exists when we acknowledge
someone else’s existence while forgetting our own true Self; not realizing
the One unity in the diversity --- the One Absolute Truth . . . here,
there and everywhere.
But if human
beings were willing to experiment with an updated software program of the
mind, one which could help annihilate the space between the “subject” and
the “object,” we’d begin to see every “other” object and relationship as
part of the One Absolute Reality. In every spiritual tradition, the sages
explain that beneath all physical, mental, and cultural differences, there
is an underlying Reality which is not different, nor subject to change,
death, decay or decomposition. When we become aware of that One Divine
Reality, knowing that both we and the “other” are a part of It, who
is there to fear, and what is there to fear . . . if there is only One
Reality? But as long as we view ourselves separate from “others,”
including terrorists, we will experience fear. And, sooner or later, that
fear will invite danger.
When you
speak with another person, do you ever feel as though you’re speaking to
yourself? Probably not. Most of us even willingly lie to others because
we believe that they are different from us. But Jesus the Christ teaches
us to “love thy neighbor as thy Self,” not because it’s a morally sound
idea, but because on the highest level of consciousness thy neighbor is
thy Self. When we come to know this One underlying principle of
all existence --- the Christ of which the early Christians speak
--- then we will be free from our fears and we will stop inviting danger,
including terrorism. However, this is not work to be done by politicians
nor governments, but by each individual mind; by each human being in the
midst of our own personal relationships, knowing that the Self within is
the Self of all.
Since 9-11,
we have wrestled with strategies to deal with terrorists without knowing
ourselves first. But it is impossible to accurately know a world which
constantly changes, with a mind which is constantly clouded. To clarify
our vision, we must free ourselves from the tyranny of time, space and
duality. Before we consider taking any action, we must have some
knowledge of who “I am” who entertains the thought of taking this action.
To experience
the truth of a higher consciousness; to know the Self, we must be willing
to update the software of the mind, for it is the mind which facilitates
perception, discrimination, action and its resultant consequences. The
mind is our most powerful instrument. It can be our greatest friend, but
with the current software, it represents an impossible challenge. Why?
Because it is the mind and its bundle of habit patterns which stands
between us and the unbounded happiness we seek.
Once a new
software program is installed, one which enables us to recall who we are
at all times and in every circumstance, we automatically gain access to
the conscience --- “free, 24-hour, on-line technical support.” When
employed, this intuitive library of super-conscious, discriminative
knowledge creatively guides our mind, body and speech for our highest and
greatest good. By consistently relying on the conscience for every
thought, word and deed, the habits of the mind will no longer pose an
obstacle to our vision of the world. Instead, we will begin to see every
one and every thing, including ourselves, as part of the Perfection of One
Divine Reality having innumerable experiences.
By relying on
this new, unifying software, each of us can begin to think, speak and act
in non-habitual, non-injurious ways --- because we will always be
interacting with our Self. As we become more accustomed to seeing the
unity in the diversity, we will become increasingly capable of healing
every relationship, putting an end to terrorism and transforming the life
of the planet so that each of us can realize our fullest creative
potential.
Top
The Sages Speak on Consciousness
As we cannot think of our beginning or of the time when we did not exist, so we cannot think of the time when we shall cease to exist. Consciousness is the inherent essence of our being, and it is deathless. It was never born. The Absolute Reality that is birthless and deathless is beyond the process of beginning and dissolution. Anything and everything in this world that is subject to birth must go through the process of constant change, must decay and die. A plant is born of a seed. It grows, decays, and dies. So also birth is followed by growth, decay, and death. Our Atman is never born, it does not grow, nor is it ever subject to decay and destruction. Perfection belongs to our vital stuff. If we do not feel it, it is because of our lack of insight into the truth of our immortal nature. He who knows and realizes that he is divine, a part of the Absolute which is perfect, knows that he is the child of Immortal Bliss. Of course, it takes a long time, and ceaseless practice and patience, to understand the illimitable potentialities, in one's personal life, of our Atman. Most of us mechanically repeat the great truth that we are the children of God without knowing its deep meaning --- but once we grasp its true import, we tend to become perfect.
Swami Rama of the Himalayas
What you appear to be is the outer body; what you are is consciousness. Evil is the shadow of inattention.
Nisargadatta Maharaj
When you have achieved the consciousness that God is in you, with you and for you, that consciousness must reshape every thought, word and deed, and make you wish good, speak good and do good.
Satya Sai Baba
Our understanding is limited by the perspective of our consciousness and, in most cases, our consciousness is lens-like. It distorts reality by narrowing down the picture.
Vilayat I. Khan
The crisis is in our consciousness, not in the world.
J. Krishnamurti
There is nothing about any level of consciousness which is right or wrong, good or bad, pure or evil.
Ansari
A person is but consciousness. Even if a hundred bodies perish, consciousness does not perish. Consciousness is like space, but it exists as if it is the body. The infinite appears to be divided into infinite parts, with and without form. This is because countless particles of experiences shine within that consciousness.
Anonymous
A lake that is absolutely calm gives to you a perfect reflection. The moment it becomes disturbed in the least, the reflection is distorted; and if the agitation is increased, the reflection will be completely lost. Your consciousness is the lake.
James B. Schafer
The chief delusion of man is his conviction that there are other causes at work in his life than his own states of consciousness. All that happens to him, all that is done by him, comes to him as a result of his states of consciousness.
Paul Twitchell
The oceans surge, the rivers roll . . . in me, in me, in me.
The flowers smile, the zephyrs blow . . . in me, in me, in me.
Big fairs are held and battles raged . . . in me, in me, in me.
The mountains heave and Nature blooms . . . in me, in me, in me.
The comets fly, the meteors die; cold winds sigh and thunders cry . . . in me, in me, in me.
The foe contends, the friend defends; the mother sleeps, the baby weeps . . . in me, in me, in me.
Swami Rama Tirtha
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Important Messages
Internal Revenue Service Approval Received
On February 5, 1999, the IRS officially recognized the American
Meditation Institute as a tax exempt 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation.
This means that individual and corporate donations to the Institute
are now tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. If you
would like to know more about how this ruling can positively impact
the growth of our teaching efforts, please feel free to contact
Jenness or Leonard at the Institute.
Guided Meditation Audio Tape:
A 17 minute Guided Meditation Audio Tape is now available.
The cost is $12.95. If you are interested, please call the Institute
at (518) 674-8714.
Should I Take the Meditation Class Again?
Several of our students have taken our American Meditation
class more than once. With each class, new material is covered,
but more importantly, you are now a different person. It's interesting
that we hear different messages at different times. Perhaps now,
with the preliminary information already assimilated, you might
benefit greatly from a second go 'round. If you or someone
you know is interested, send us their name and address and we'll
mail them a schedule of upcoming classes and registration information.
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Questions
& Answers
Q: I have just completed your six week "American Meditation"
class. Is there some additional advanced course you now offer?
A: Yes. Throughout the year we offer numerous one-day
wellness seminars on various subjects in addition to a new "Intermediate
Meditation" class. As the dates for one-day seminars get closer,
you will be notified by the newsletter and through the mail. Additionally,
you might want to consider two very real options. First, take
the six-week class again. Many of our students have found that
having taken the course once before, they were better prepared
to assimilate more of the knowledge. Remember, with each day of
practice, your personality is transformed and your negative attachment
to fears, anger and self-willed desires is diminished. By taking
our "American Meditation" course
a second or third time, you'll be more focused and one-pointed
in your attention and the information presented will be of even
greater value to you. Secondly, as we've so often mentioned in
our classes, the post-graduate course which will be of greatest
benefit to you is how you react to your next thought. If you have
been conscientious in your practice, when a thought comes into
your awareness, the power of your mantra will come forward to
supply you the necessary amount of love, fearlessness and strength
either to withdraw your attention from the preya or, to give your
attention to the shreya. That process is called "meditation in
action," and it is an ongoing process, occurring moment by moment
by moment.
Q: I am often angry at people. Sometimes I'm angry at
those with whom I share close, personal relations and sometimes
I just feel angry at politicians who do stupid things. I know
that being angry will only cause me more pain, yet at the moment
of anger, it is very difficult for me to withdraw my attention
from the emotion. Could you make a specific recommendation?
A: Anger, like fear and selfish desire, is a root cause
of illness and dis-ease. When you give your attention to an angry
thought, a torrent of hormones is released which, in turn, harm
the body. The time to begin dealing with your anger samskara is
not in the midst of an angry reaction, however. Practice japa
(repetition of the mantra) continuously every day. The action
of repeating your mantra will generate love, fearlessness and
strength to help you deal with the anger when it surfaces. Think
of this practice the same way you think about putting money away
in your IRA. You're banking energy now to be used at a later date
when you'll need it. Second, when you do find yourself aware of
a thought which evokes an angry response, seek the good counsel
of your buddhi. Remember, every thought is only a suggestion of
what to give your attention to. If your discriminatory capacity
advises that the angry thought you're attracted to is a preya
(short-term ego or sense gratification), then lovingly, but firmly
take hold of that subtle object and humbly offer it back to the
Divine Reality from which it has been manifest. You can accomplish
this by visualization. Simply imagine taking the angry thought
and offering it into a fire in the "cave of your heart." As you
do this, fashion a little personal prayer: "O, Inner Dweller, right
now I feel so angry because of this thought. But I hear the advice
of my buddhi and I know this anger is not leading me for my highest
and greatest good. Please, Dear Lord, accept this offering which
I give to you lovingly, earnestly and humbly. Please consume it
in the fire of your light and lead me for my highest and greatest
good." Then, after you've given the thought back to the Divine
Reality from which it has come, repeat your mantra for all you're
worth. If you can, go for a brisk fifteen minute walk, repeating
your mantra. By freely and consciously giving up the thought of
anger, that samskara is weakened and some of its energy is transformed
into positive, useable energy which can be accessed later in service
to the shreya. But don't take our word for it. As a yoga scientist,
begin to experiment for yourself and mentally record your experiences.
That's the only way you'll ever begin to know the truth
of the knowledge of yoga.
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Tell a Friend
about Meditation
If you know someone who might benefit from our American Meditation
class, let them know about the AMI program or call us with their
name and address and we'll send them a brochure with our current
class schedule.
Can you help grow the teaching with "Karma Yoga?"
Karma Yoga --- the practice of selfless and skillful action
If, as part of your practice, you have a few extra hours during
the week and are interested in helping grow the American Meditation
Institute, we need your dedicated, volunteer energy. As a student
of yoga science, you are already familiar with the kinds of practical
services the Institute provides. Each month we write, edit and
publish this newsletter, teach an average of thirty new meditation
students and present stress-reduction seminars to various businesses
and organizations. We also invite visiting speakers of interest
to our area, organize seminars on yoga science and do continuing
personal counseling.
Our immediate needs include press relations, seminar management,
clerical assistance and general delivery work. Remember, whatever
time or talents you possess will be put to meaningful, productive
use.
If you have the time, please call the Institute at (518) 674-8714.
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