American Meditation Newsletter: "Transformation".

Monthly Essay: "Where is God?"
How American Meditation Benefits You
Sages Speak on God
AMI Yearly Memberships
2004 Weekend Retreats
Classes, Workshops & Special Events
Important Messages
Questions and Answers
Tell a Friend About Meditation
Sign-up for this newsletter

"Where is God?"

"Peace and Plenty," Oil on Mahogany Panel, 24 by 30 inches © Jenness Cortez Perlmutter

Namaste. We pray to the Divinity in you.

Where is God?

Every practice of yoga science has the same goal: to know the Divine Reality at all times--in every circumstance and relationship. Why? Because if you are aware of the Absolute Reality in the present moment and base your thoughts, words and actions on Its intuitive wisdom, you will always be led for your highest and greatest good.

Regardless of differences among religions, the basic concept of the Divine Reality, a.k.a. God, is universal. All traditions describe God as being omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. No matter what other religious, cultural or historical characteristics may be assigned to God, every tradition agrees that these three qualities always are true: God is all-powerful, all knowing, and exists everywhere--simultaneously.

Omnipresence means that God is more than the traditional Judeo-Christian concept of a wise, old, bearded man or celestial being residing out in deep space--perhaps somewhere between Neptune and Pluto--even though God is, indeed, in deep space somewhere between Neptune and Pluto. Yoga science says it’s equally true, however, that all the nine planets of our solar system, including Neptune and Pluto, and every other manifestation of the material universe, including you, are all manifestations of the One Absolute Reality.

Omnipresence means that the Divine Reality exists everywhere simultaneously, including existence within each and every human being. The eternal capacity to be present in the moment to witness all gross and subtle objects as they appear is the Divine Reality. Although atheists and agnostics may exhibit an allergic reaction to the existence of a Divine Reality, this truth remains indisputable because even disbelievers admit to believing in themselves--the thinkers of their thoughts; the experiencers of their experiences. The very Self of the atheist or agnostic also is the Divine Reality.

All gross and subtle objects in your awareness are, by definition, transitory: subject to change, death, decay and decomposition. For example: I am tall or I am short, I am rich or I am poor, I am happy or I am sad, I am stressed or I am calm, I am fearful or I am fearless. The physical, mental and emotional landscape is constantly changing. Any and all objects--gross or subtle--appearing in your field of awareness, are not the real you. Nothing you can perceive is the real you. You are essentially consciousness Itself. Your awareness, the Eternal Witness, is the Divine Reality.

All the world’s ancient scriptures, including the Old and New Testaments, have various levels of meaning. The level we’re most familiar with is represented by the Sunday school stories we learned as children. But the deeper our sadhana, the more these elementary tales yield a richer, deeper tapestry of meaning. What we previously considered ancient historical texts are miraculously transformed into living, breathing, practical teachings on experiencing life more fully, freely and happily.

In the West, for instance, the most basic misconception concerning man’s relationship with the Divine Reality starts with the first chapter and verse of Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The pronouncement implies that “in the beginning” there was God (an eternal, Divine force), and also a pre-existing supply of cosmic stuff (which was not God), that God used to fashion the heavens and the earth. This inherently dualistic concept of creation always leaves man isolated, estranged and fearful. Right from the beginning, man is taught that he is a separate entity, apart from God, and left alone to find his own happiness and to eliminate the pain he experiences.

Yoga science would state it differently. Since nothing exists but God (consciousness), the process of creation is simply God manifesting into various forms--including our own human form. He, She or It (whichever personal pronoun you prefer) is the Fullness from which fullness comes, yet His original Fullness is never diminished by the multitude of the manifestation. God is, therefore, all things--while simultaneously remaining the One, without a second. We cannot possibly be separated from the Divine Reality. We are an integral part of It.

Listen to how Jesus the Christ explained this teaching in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas: “I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty. (Then) His disciples said to him: On what days will the kingdom come? Jesus said: It will not come by expectation; they will not say: ‘See, here,’ or ‘See, there.’ But the kingdom of the Father is spread upon the earth, and men do not see it . . . I am the Light that is above them all, I am the all, and all came forth from Me and the all attained to Me. Cleave (a piece) of wood, I am there; lift up the stone and you will find me there.”

To underscore Jesus’ teaching, a story is told about an earnest child who began to learn about numbers. When his teacher finished explaining the number one, she proceeded to explain the number two. This advance, however, caused the youngster some consternation. He didn’t feel that he had comprehended the number one fully enough to proceed to the number two. He began asking endless questions about the nature of one, which held the teacher back from her scheduled curriculum. After persistent interruptions, the schoolteacher suggested that the child go off on his own to learn more about the number one while the class was taught the higher numbers. When the boy completely understood the number one, the teacher said, he’d be welcome to rejoin the others.

After many years of study, the student did revisit his teacher. Recognizing the grown boy, the teacher asked him to share with her class all he had learned about the number one. With steadfastness of purpose, the young man marched up to the chalkboard. As he began to write the number one, the board, wall, school, universe and every manifested distinction disappeared--revealing only the awesome totality which is One.

The essential key to understanding the nature of the Divine (within and without) is to study the lives of the great sages from all traditions, including--but not limited to--Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Native American. Logic tells us that if one human being has become one with the “Father which art in heaven,” then human beings possess that potential. If an individual is earnest, the requisite willpower and transformative insight will come--but not through the five cognitive senses and the ordinary intellect.

As Albert Einstein aptly observed, “A problem cannot be solved on the same level at which it arises.” Curiosity and the willingness to experiment with our mind, action and speech introduces us to that higher level of understanding. Sadhana acts as a transformative agent, helping any earnest seeker to unlock the mysteries of life both here and hereafter and to appreciate the richness and essence of all paths. Although the roadmaps of various traditions may look different, the actual territory of the “promised land” is always one and the same.

In service - with love,
Leonard Perlmutter & Jenness Cortez Perlmutter.

Top

AMI YEARLY MEMBERSHIPS

Dear Fellow Seeker,

Since its founding in 1996, the American Meditation Institute has been able to serve over 1,500 students--teaching practical skills to enhance personal, professional and spiritual growth.

During this past year, AMI has hosted such notable visiting speakers as 115 year-old Swami Bua, Vedic scholar Swami Veda Bharati, Vedic astrology author Linda Johnsen, Ayurvedic physician Dr. Abbas Qutab and Swami Hariharananda. In addition to its annual Guru Purnima celebration and bi-weekly dinner and movie series last winter, the Institute has offered weekly courses and retreats on meditation, hatha yoga, the Bhagavad Gita, chakras, Yoga Sutras and Katha Upanishad.

As you can clearly see, Leonard and Jenness's vision of building a spiritual community has become a reality. Now it is our turn to support this sacred teaching.

We are currently asking for your financial support for the American Meditation Institute. Won't you please take time from your busy schedule to become an active member of our AMI family? Whatever membership level is comfortable for you will help immensely. If you are in a financial position to make a contribution beyond the basic membership rate, many people will benefit. But no amount is too small. And the love, prayers and good wishes accompanying your membership will be just as important.

The mission of AMI is simple: to help uncomplicate modern American life. If you have personally benefited by reading the Transformation newsletters or by attending any of our classes or workshops, we humbly ask for your support now--to keep the teaching of yoga science alive in our community.

With love and respect,

Mary Balsam, Dan Beer, Kathie Carroll, Melanie Gloeckner and Jim Whiting,
Membership Committee for the American Meditation Institute

AMI Membership Benefits

• 10% Discount on all books, tapes and Meditation Supplies
• 10% discount on all classes, seminars and retreats
• Use of the Institute library of books and video tape lectures

• Complimentary Individualized Self-Therapy Counseling
• Subscription to the AMI newsletter, Transformation

Your Membership Supports

A 6,000 year-old tradition

The perennial knowledge as taught by Leonard and Jenness Perlmutter

AMI newsletter, Transformation

A variety of classes, seminars and retreats

Special seminars with visiting national and international teachers

An authentic spiritual perspective in the midst of our busy, modern lives

A unique environment to enhance your personal meditation practice

The new AMI Home Center and teaching facility

The production of instructional videotapes on various aspects of Yoga

Science Essential office supplies and equipment

Classes for corporate, government and religious organizations

AMI Speakers' Bureau

The Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, which serves the rural poor of the Himalayan Mountain region of India

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.

Click to view our
2004 Weekend Retreats Schedule

November 2003 - December 2003

In This Issue:

"Where is God?"

Sages Speak on God

AMI YEARLY MEMBERSHIPS

Important Messages

Guided Meditation Audio Tape:

Questions & Answers

Tell a Friend about Meditation