Question:Yoga philosophy opened up a new world to me a new dimension of life that I wanted to share with my husband and family members, but they are just not interested. What can I do?
Answer: Respect them and their views, and do not try to force your beliefs upon them, or any one else. It is an admirable thing that we want to share with others something that we believe can enrich their lives.
But it is morally wrong to try and force someone to eat something that they do not want to eat,_____no matter how nutritious the food. There is a fine line that separates the physician from the fanatic, one that we should always be careful not to cross. If you really want to influence your loved ones, let it be by your positive example, not by proselytizing.
“Nothing is so infectious as example”_____Charles Kingsley
Question : Can we speed up our spiritual development, and how?
Answer: Actually the term ‘Spiritual development’ is a misnomer, because no ‘development’ can take place in man’s Spiritual Being.
What is really taking place is ‘mental development,’ or evolution, whereby the mind is systematically cleansed of all its impurities, so that divine essential nature, the Spiritual Self can find more and more expression.
But, to try and answer your question, yes indeed we can speed up our development if we so desire. We must first determine what it is we want. Is it Self-realization, liberation, Salvation, that we are looking for, or is it a kind of curiosity, goading us to investigate various spiritual practices.
If it is the former, then there are sufficient genuine spiritual avenues that can be followed and will lead the neophyte to his objective. If it is only mere curiosity, or a desire to develop psychic powers [siddhis], then the seeker will usually become quickly disappointed and renounce his/her ‘spiritual quest,’ even before it really gets going.
Even if the seeker sincerely wants to attain Self-realisation he/she must put their admirable intentions into practice by following some tried and tested system of self-discipline, such as yoga and Vedanta philosophy.
Select what is for your personality a suitable method and STICK TO IT, with full confidence and trust. Do not waver or falter in your practice. Each and every day stick tenaciously to your spiritual practices,[sadhana].
Relentlessly pursue the goal that you have set yourself and remind yourself daily that NO EFFORT IS EVER WASTED.
In the beginning, because you are going against old entrenched habits, it may be a little hard, but keep going and reinforce yourself by the thought that ALL the world’s greatest saints, sages and yogis have tread the same arduous path before you, ______ and they succeeded, and so will you if resolve to do so. Don’t delay, begin now to walk consciously the path of spiritual evolution.
Remember that a thousand mile journey begins with the first step.
Have a nice walk!
Question:If I practice yoga for long enough will I be able to see auras?
Answer If you practice yoga for long enough you will discover the Eternal light of God, or Self Consciousness. But, if you only seek to see light radiation’s, we suggest that this can more easily be achieved simply by turning on a light switch, and much more enlightening!
Sorry if this reply sounds flippant, and your interest in auras is understood, but the seeing of these kinds of phenomena have very little value when compared with what yoga can bestow upon you.
Practice yoga by all means, and walk in the light of divinity.
Question:
How can I help this troubled world?
Answer:
By first helping yourself. Discover who or what you are . Irradicate your own spiritual ignorance. By doing this, we ourselves cease to be a trouble or liability to the world. The creator of the world HE, SHE, or IT will look after it. No individual can ever change the world, but we can change ourselves. Let us change for the better our troubled self, and by doing so the troubled world will be accordingly less troubled.
Questions and Answers
Question 1
I am constantly suffering from the ‘common cold’.
Can you offer any advice for alleviating, or preventing the return of this affliction?
Answer:
This highly contagious vital infection is perceived by probably most people as a disease that is to be endured with patience and with little possibility of any relief or cure.
Some people however regard this malady as not a disease at all, but rather as an attempt by the body’s own natural defense mechanisms to return the body to a healthy condition. Although it is probably true that there are psychological factors involved in producing this ailment, a major contributing factor is WRONG DIET.
The excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates and dairy products will tend to produce increased amounts of mucus, and therefore should be avoided on a permanent basis. Other substances also contribute to body toxicity and unfortunately are found routinely in the average diet, i.e. food colourings, preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, polluted water and other toxic additives,
The attack upon the body is amplified and sustained by the constant use of tobacco. Alcohol, recreational and therapeutic drugs, plus a lack of exercise and stress.
The common cold, it is believed by some medical professionals is a manifestation of the body’s attempt to purify itself. It is therefore deemed wise not to suppress the cold symptoms by the use of drugs, but assist it by the use of bed rest, fasting, sufficient amounts of pure fresh water and if deemed necessary, the use of medicinal herbs.
Along with this kind of natural therapy the cause of the problem must also be addressed. This will necessitate the establishment of a health-promoting lifestyle by the use of daily exercise, healthy diet, [vegetarian preferably], correct breathing habits, meditation and positive thinking.
Along with this, the daily use of the yoga technique of cleansing the nose with water, [Jala nenti] is advised.
Be self-reliant as much as possible and feel responsible for establishing and maintaining your body-mind attributes at an optimum level of well-being.
Remember the wise advice of the American Longfellow:
“Joy, temperance, and repose,
Slam the door on the doctor’s nose.”
Keep slamming!
Question:
Since I began practicing Yoga seriously, I began to see coloured lights during my meditations, also frequent jerks of the body occur usually when I’m in bed.
What is happening?
Answer:
These are not uncommon phenomena with students who practice asanas [postures]
And pranayama [breathing exercises], regularly. The ‘coloured lights’ that you refer to are called ‘Tanmatric lights’ in yoga, they are vibrations in the Astral body that are experienced as lights. Depending upon which rudimentary element is seen will determine the colours. Usually the colours seen are yellow, white, red, blue and others. There is no need for alarm because of this experience, it just indicated that your meditation is becoming deeper.
Nor must we feel disappointed if we do not encounter this phenomena, or indeed any phenomena.
The purpose of true meditation is not to see or hear any form of psychic phenomena, it is to lead us to Self-realisation, and only that.
Visions, sounds lights, are only incidental occurrences, that may, or may not occur, depending on factors of development, personal temperament, meditational technique used and a variety of other things.
The ‘Jerks’ that have been occurring are due primarily to a cleansing process within the Astral body, technically, within the nadis or subtle nerve tubes through which the prana or vital energy flows. This prana, as it begins to force its way through the incompletely cleansed subtle nerve tubes, causes a muscle spasm to occur in the physical body and hence the Jerking occurrence,
Along with this nadi-cleansing there is a re-formation of the brain taking place that may lead to various occurrences, including some of the above phenomena.
To help speed up the cleansing process, put more emphasis upon pranayama, [breathing exercises], and adopt a vegetarian diet.
Question:
My life is empty. Even though I am a very wealthy person, “something” is missing in my life. I feel lost and do not know what to do. Can you help?
Answer:
Your question is “Can I help you?” The reply is “you can help, you.” “How?”
It’s simple, by adopting a SERF philosophy. Relax! We are not suggesting that you dispose of all your wealth,_______{unless you feel that you should.]
Nor are we proposing that you adopt the sack-cloth and ashes routine, ___no! Not at all. What we are recommending, is the Yoga-Vedantic guaranteed-to-succeed method of Seek-Enter-Rest-Find programme.
But you have no training in Yoga-Vedanta, you reply.
Are you suffering? Are you sad? Are you unhappy? _________YES! OK, then you are highly qualified.
First of all ‘S’=”SEEK”. This means search actively for the meaning of life. Search for the means to attain this purpose, and preferably with a guide or guru.
“It is good for us to meet troubles and crosses now and then, because they recall us to ourselves, and teach us that we are in a state of banishment, and must not put hope in anything in this world.” [The imitation of Christ].
The world is only a schoolroom to teach us lessons and assist our spiritual evolution.
This she does well and relentlessly, listen to her.
The emptiness that you feel is the voice of your higher Self beckoning to you, to SEEK and find yourself, listen to IT.
‘E’=”ENTER”- penetrate and pierce the veil, or curtain, that conceals from you your pure and essential nature.
Enter the Sanctum Sanctorum of the One transcendental Consciousness, which is the Real Self.
Enter into the true and higher life, nay, the ONLY life.
‘R’= “REST”- There can be no ‘rest’ in this entire creation until the divine mission of Self-realisation is accomplished.
We are all creatures who live move and have our being within the river of spiritual evolution. Only when we reach the Self-ocean will we find rest.
“Thou hast created us for Thy Self and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee”
‘F’=”FIND”- The freedom that heart and soul cries out for.
Within the space-time world there is no such thing as Real freedom. Only freedom from the jaws of birth and death, from the body and mind can bring peace to our troubled hearts.
Absolute freedom can only be attained when there is total emancipation from the confines of ego and destruction of desires.
When we FIND this sublime freedom all “emptiness,” dryness and restlessness, will disappear in a blaze of glory that springs from the silent conquest of ourselves.
HAPPY ‘SERFING’!
Question I suffer so much from loneliness. No one cares if I exist or not. Is there any way to help overcome it?
Answer Dear friend, of all life’s pains and afflictions few, if any, are more difficult to bear than that of loneliness. Our Western society [now being zealously emulated by our Eastern brothers and sisters], motivated as it is by the competitive ethic with it’s subsequent philosophy of ‘self-welfare’ and ‘survival of the fittest,’ is not one that cultivates or encourages compassion and concern for others.
It is a callous, insensitive and unsympathetic symptom of egoism, in one of it’s worst manifestations.
Ego is a stage in the evolutionary process, it cannot be avoided, but we need great and continuous guidance during the transition to a higher form of consciousness, otherwise rampant ego-centric behavior will lead us inexorably toward self-extinction. No my friend I did not forget your original question, but those above comments attempt to highlight the scenario in which you, I and all life on this planet are at present embedded, and therefore affected by.
Loneliness is a symptom of our inner separation [apparent separation] from our essential being. We are all suffering from spiritual amnesia and in our ignorance we seek in the world of objects and beings outside, for something which is only to be found within us.
WE ARE ALL LOOKING [in the main unconsciously] FOR OUR ‘SELF,’ but the mind and senses due to millions of years of cultivated habit, force us to look outside in the attempt to fill this terrible [but temporary] void.
Philosophical, or mystical explanations of this spiritual malady that is loneliness, are often in the beginning not well or gratefully received by a person still immersed in this painful condition.
However, if we can develop the patience and the fortitude to look into this affliction, then we have taken not only the first steps that will take us out of it, but will eventually also raise us into a realm of consciousness wherein ALL loneliness, emptiness and pain, will be transcended,
THESE WORDS ARE NOT RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL PLATITUDES they are based upon the experience and wisdom of beings who have also walked and wept their way through this ‘valley of tears’.
One of the world’s mystical treatises, [The imitation of Christ], offers guidance through this inner state when it says: “My child, if you rest your peace on any person, from affection or desire for companionship, you will be unsettled and in many ways entangled. But if you converse with the ever-living and abiding Truth you will not be greatly grieved if a friend forsake you or die. Your love of your friend should begin in Me; it is for My sake that you must love anyone who seems to you to be good, and to whom you feel affection in this life.
Without Me friendship is profitless, without Me it cannot last; and that is no true or holy love which I have not cemented”…
What is speaking these words is the One Self that abides in all creatures. It should not be interpreted as some historical figure speaking to members of his own religious flock. It is the One Eternal Being that is not confined by any or all religions, but stands as the abiding, immortal support and origin of all of them.
This SELF it is that is speaking and beckoning to us to return to It, in a voice that we call loneliness.
The entire creation is in a state of flux, of constant incessant movement.
The Alone is looking for the Alone. Look within yourself, for the remedy for the spiritual sickness of loneliness can only be found there.
“A wise man is never less alone
Then when he is alone.”______Jonathen Swift
Question: What does Vedanta philosophy mean when it refers to ‘THE SELF’?
Answer: The term ‘SELF’ when used in Adviata [non-dualistic] Vedanta philosophy is a reference to the ATMAN, the One common Consciousness of all beings.
Although there are apparent differences between individual bodies and minds, there is only One pure, essential substratum, Consciousness underlying all conscious entities and this is the Divine Supreme Soul which is indescribable, ineffable, unthinkable, transcendent, ever-joyful, full-of-bliss.
The ‘Self’ is the One unchanging Reality underlying all changing phenomena.
It is the One unchanging ocean amongst the many changing waves.
“The One remains the many change and pass” Shelley reminds us.
It is this divine core of our being that we in or ‘mortal sleep’ have forgotten, and throughout many lives in our ignorance woefully identify with our body-mind accoutrements. To transcend body-mind identification, and awaken to the truth of our divine ATMAN-SELF nature, is the one and only purpose of life, ________all life!
Question: I suffer terribly with insomnia, do you have any helpful suggestions?
Answer:
Insomnia, or the chronic inability to sleep, or to constantly awaken throughout the night, is one of the scourges of our modern lifestyles.
Its causes may be of a physical or psychological nature These include anxiety, emotional stress, drug abuse and dependency, worry, tensions, fears, cerebral dysfunction and a host of other causes,
After consulting a health-care professional, [Allopathic or Alternative medicine practitioner] and receiving their diagnosis, you may want to supplement their recommended therapy by a little of your own.
This can include a few herbs such as Chamomile tea or Hops, which are mild sedatives. There are even stronger herbal remedies that you can consult the Herbalist about.
Hydrotherapy can offer some relief in the form of Warm baths [not hot], hot-foot baths, and alternate hot-cold showers.
Music also can help induce a relaxed state that is conducive to sleep.
Here you will need to experiment with various musical pieces that are calming, until you discover some that are appropriate, and play them for 30 minutes or so before retiring to bed each night. Make sure that the phone is disconnected, and that as far as possible you have taken precautions that you will not be disturbed.
Yoga also can help, by practicing meditation once or twice a day [morning and night]; tratak or candle gazing can be useful.
A few simple exercises can be helpful while sitting namely:
Rotating the head slowly clockwise then counterclockwise [6 times].
Tilting the head to the right and left [6 times]. Moving the head forwards and backwards [6 times].
Next extend the arms out in front at shoulder level, open and spread the fingers, then close the fingers into a fist and slowly tighten to a maximum.
Repeat this exercise 12 times.
With the arms still extended, flex and extend the hands by pointing the straight fingers first to the floor then up toward the ceiling. Repeat 12 times.
ARMS
Alternately raise and lower the straight arms, first in the front of the body and then at the sides. Repeat 12 times.
ELBOW ROTATION
Rest the fingertips on the shoulders with elbows pointing out from the sides.
Slowly rotate the elbows on one direction 12 times and in the opposite direction 12 times.
ALTERNATE LEG RAISING
Lie on the back with feet together and arms by the sides.
Slowly raise the right leg to 90 hold for 5 seconds, exhale and slowly lower to the starting position. Repeat with the opposite leg.
Practice 6 times with each leg.
RELAXATION
Practice consciously relaxing systematically the entire body from the toes up to the top of the head for 10 to 15 minutes [no less].
Ideally you should attend some simple yoga exercises [asanas] class, to imbibe the spirit as well as the technique of the postures.
REMOVE FROM YOUR LIFE
Tobacco, drugs [social], coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks.
FINALLY
Investigate the yoga way of life and repose
And the diary of insomnia you then can close!
Question:
Do you think that spiritual beings may exist on other planets, and if so will they have Gurus as we have?
Answer:
When you next go to the beach, pick up a handful of sand and look at it.
In your hand at that time you will be holding approximately the same number of grains of sand as you see stars in the sky on a clear night.
Now further imagine All the grains of sand on All the beaches of the Earth,
And even these many sand particles will not equal the number of stars in the Universe. There are an estimated ten Billion trillion stars in the observable universe, and if our solar system with its none planets is basically an average one, this would mean the universe contains 10 x 9 planets. Imagine what arrogance we earthlings display by even presuming that we may possibly be the only self-conscious life forms in this entire gigantic ocean of space-time.
Are there spiritual beings out there? All beings are spiritual, even the ones on this planet who have slaughtered an estimated 3 thousand 500 million people over the last 5,500 years.
‘Spiritual’ means ‘of the Spirit’ and the entire universe is Spirit.
There is nothing other than Spirit, according to the mystics yogis and Vedantins.
No doubt just as on this planet, there will be in other Solar systems and other galaxies beings at different stages, or levels of development, with of course physical bodies totally different than our own. But, beneath all outer forms of carbon, silicon, or whatever the outer envelope consists, the One divine transcendental Self resides.
Mind it is that sees only difference and diversity where there is only unity, many where only one exists. Mind and Intellect are only finite tools that present us with only finite knowledge. Reason can take us along way towards the gates of Heaven, or Truth, but it cannot take us through the gates. Only the higher spiritual faculty of Intuition can do that.
Just as we see only a minute part of the full electro-magnectic spectrum with our eyes and experience limited range of audibility with our ears, so also our mind with its conditioned prejudice and impurities, is unable to comprehend the essential nature of the beautiful ocean of life that we call the universe.
It would be a sad reflection on that Infinite power that people call God, if this little grain of sand we call Earth, embedded in this boundless ocean of space-time was the one solitary island of life.
We must learn to think in a more unrestricted and cosmic manner when dealing with matters spiritual, and with the illumined Blake, “see a world on a grain of sand.” As for Gurus? They arise whenever and wherever they are needed.
The Infinite Lord is not limited by the notions and theories born from the finite mind of man, nor is His reflected image confined to the residents of planet Earth.
“The stars are mansions built by nature’s hand, and, haply, there the spirits of the blest dwell, clothed in radiance, their immortal rest”… Wordsworth.
Answer: Respect them and their views, and do not try to force your beliefs upon them, or any one else. It is an admirable thing that we want to share with others something that we believe can enrich their lives.
But it is morally wrong to try and force someone to eat something that they do not want to eat,_____no matter how nutritious the food. There is a fine line that separates the physician from the fanatic, one that we should always be careful not to cross. If you really want to influence your loved ones, let it be by your positive example, not by proselytizing.
“Nothing is so infectious as example”_____Charles Kingsley
Question : Can we speed up our spiritual development, and how?
Answer: Actually the term ‘Spiritual development’ is a misnomer, because no ‘development’ can take place in man’s Spiritual Being.
What is really taking place is ‘mental development,’ or evolution, whereby the mind is systematically cleansed of all its impurities, so that divine essential nature, the Spiritual Self can find more and more expression.
But, to try and answer your question, yes indeed we can speed up our development if we so desire. We must first determine what it is we want. Is it Self-realization, liberation, Salvation, that we are looking for, or is it a kind of curiosity, goading us to investigate various spiritual practices.
If it is the former, then there are sufficient genuine spiritual avenues that can be followed and will lead the neophyte to his objective. If it is only mere curiosity, or a desire to develop psychic powers [siddhis], then the seeker will usually become quickly disappointed and renounce his/her ‘spiritual quest,’ even before it really gets going.
Even if the seeker sincerely wants to attain Self-realisation he/she must put their admirable intentions into practice by following some tried and tested system of self-discipline, such as yoga and Vedanta philosophy.
Select what is for your personality a suitable method and STICK TO IT, with full confidence and trust. Do not waver or falter in your practice. Each and every day stick tenaciously to your spiritual practices,[sadhana].
Relentlessly pursue the goal that you have set yourself and remind yourself daily that NO EFFORT IS EVER WASTED.
In the beginning, because you are going against old entrenched habits, it may be a little hard, but keep going and reinforce yourself by the thought that ALL the world’s greatest saints, sages and yogis have tread the same arduous path before you, ______ and they succeeded, and so will you if resolve to do so. Don’t delay, begin now to walk consciously the path of spiritual evolution.
Remember that a thousand mile journey begins with the first step.
Have a nice walk!
Question:If I practice yoga for long enough will I be able to see auras?
Answer If you practice yoga for long enough you will discover the Eternal light of God, or Self Consciousness. But, if you only seek to see light radiation’s, we suggest that this can more easily be achieved simply by turning on a light switch, and much more enlightening!
Sorry if this reply sounds flippant, and your interest in auras is understood, but the seeing of these kinds of phenomena have very little value when compared with what yoga can bestow upon you.
Practice yoga by all means, and walk in the light of divinity.
Question:
How can I help this troubled world?
Answer:
By first helping yourself. Discover who or what you are . Irradicate your own spiritual ignorance. By doing this, we ourselves cease to be a trouble or liability to the world. The creator of the world HE, SHE, or IT will look after it. No individual can ever change the world, but we can change ourselves. Let us change for the better our troubled self, and by doing so the troubled world will be accordingly less troubled.
Questions and Answers
Question 1
I am constantly suffering from the ‘common cold’.
Can you offer any advice for alleviating, or preventing the return of this affliction?
Answer:
This highly contagious vital infection is perceived by probably most people as a disease that is to be endured with patience and with little possibility of any relief or cure.
Some people however regard this malady as not a disease at all, but rather as an attempt by the body’s own natural defense mechanisms to return the body to a healthy condition. Although it is probably true that there are psychological factors involved in producing this ailment, a major contributing factor is WRONG DIET.
The excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates and dairy products will tend to produce increased amounts of mucus, and therefore should be avoided on a permanent basis. Other substances also contribute to body toxicity and unfortunately are found routinely in the average diet, i.e. food colourings, preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, polluted water and other toxic additives,
The attack upon the body is amplified and sustained by the constant use of tobacco. Alcohol, recreational and therapeutic drugs, plus a lack of exercise and stress.
The common cold, it is believed by some medical professionals is a manifestation of the body’s attempt to purify itself. It is therefore deemed wise not to suppress the cold symptoms by the use of drugs, but assist it by the use of bed rest, fasting, sufficient amounts of pure fresh water and if deemed necessary, the use of medicinal herbs.
Along with this kind of natural therapy the cause of the problem must also be addressed. This will necessitate the establishment of a health-promoting lifestyle by the use of daily exercise, healthy diet, [vegetarian preferably], correct breathing habits, meditation and positive thinking.
Along with this, the daily use of the yoga technique of cleansing the nose with water, [Jala nenti] is advised.
Be self-reliant as much as possible and feel responsible for establishing and maintaining your body-mind attributes at an optimum level of well-being.
Remember the wise advice of the American Longfellow:
“Joy, temperance, and repose,
Slam the door on the doctor’s nose.”
Keep slamming!
Question:
Since I began practicing Yoga seriously, I began to see coloured lights during my meditations, also frequent jerks of the body occur usually when I’m in bed.
What is happening?
Answer:
These are not uncommon phenomena with students who practice asanas [postures]
And pranayama [breathing exercises], regularly. The ‘coloured lights’ that you refer to are called ‘Tanmatric lights’ in yoga, they are vibrations in the Astral body that are experienced as lights. Depending upon which rudimentary element is seen will determine the colours. Usually the colours seen are yellow, white, red, blue and others. There is no need for alarm because of this experience, it just indicated that your meditation is becoming deeper.
Nor must we feel disappointed if we do not encounter this phenomena, or indeed any phenomena.
The purpose of true meditation is not to see or hear any form of psychic phenomena, it is to lead us to Self-realisation, and only that.
Visions, sounds lights, are only incidental occurrences, that may, or may not occur, depending on factors of development, personal temperament, meditational technique used and a variety of other things.
The ‘Jerks’ that have been occurring are due primarily to a cleansing process within the Astral body, technically, within the nadis or subtle nerve tubes through which the prana or vital energy flows. This prana, as it begins to force its way through the incompletely cleansed subtle nerve tubes, causes a muscle spasm to occur in the physical body and hence the Jerking occurrence,
Along with this nadi-cleansing there is a re-formation of the brain taking place that may lead to various occurrences, including some of the above phenomena.
To help speed up the cleansing process, put more emphasis upon pranayama, [breathing exercises], and adopt a vegetarian diet.
Question:
My life is empty. Even though I am a very wealthy person, “something” is missing in my life. I feel lost and do not know what to do. Can you help?
Answer:
Your question is “Can I help you?” The reply is “you can help, you.” “How?”
It’s simple, by adopting a SERF philosophy. Relax! We are not suggesting that you dispose of all your wealth,_______{unless you feel that you should.]
Nor are we proposing that you adopt the sack-cloth and ashes routine, ___no! Not at all. What we are recommending, is the Yoga-Vedantic guaranteed-to-succeed method of Seek-Enter-Rest-Find programme.
But you have no training in Yoga-Vedanta, you reply.
Are you suffering? Are you sad? Are you unhappy? _________YES! OK, then you are highly qualified.
First of all ‘S’=”SEEK”. This means search actively for the meaning of life. Search for the means to attain this purpose, and preferably with a guide or guru.
“It is good for us to meet troubles and crosses now and then, because they recall us to ourselves, and teach us that we are in a state of banishment, and must not put hope in anything in this world.” [The imitation of Christ].
The world is only a schoolroom to teach us lessons and assist our spiritual evolution.
This she does well and relentlessly, listen to her.
The emptiness that you feel is the voice of your higher Self beckoning to you, to SEEK and find yourself, listen to IT.
‘E’=”ENTER”- penetrate and pierce the veil, or curtain, that conceals from you your pure and essential nature.
Enter the Sanctum Sanctorum of the One transcendental Consciousness, which is the Real Self.
Enter into the true and higher life, nay, the ONLY life.
‘R’= “REST”- There can be no ‘rest’ in this entire creation until the divine mission of Self-realisation is accomplished.
We are all creatures who live move and have our being within the river of spiritual evolution. Only when we reach the Self-ocean will we find rest.
“Thou hast created us for Thy Self and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee”
‘F’=”FIND”- The freedom that heart and soul cries out for.
Within the space-time world there is no such thing as Real freedom. Only freedom from the jaws of birth and death, from the body and mind can bring peace to our troubled hearts.
Absolute freedom can only be attained when there is total emancipation from the confines of ego and destruction of desires.
When we FIND this sublime freedom all “emptiness,” dryness and restlessness, will disappear in a blaze of glory that springs from the silent conquest of ourselves.
HAPPY ‘SERFING’!
Question I suffer so much from loneliness. No one cares if I exist or not. Is there any way to help overcome it?
Answer Dear friend, of all life’s pains and afflictions few, if any, are more difficult to bear than that of loneliness. Our Western society [now being zealously emulated by our Eastern brothers and sisters], motivated as it is by the competitive ethic with it’s subsequent philosophy of ‘self-welfare’ and ‘survival of the fittest,’ is not one that cultivates or encourages compassion and concern for others.
It is a callous, insensitive and unsympathetic symptom of egoism, in one of it’s worst manifestations.
Ego is a stage in the evolutionary process, it cannot be avoided, but we need great and continuous guidance during the transition to a higher form of consciousness, otherwise rampant ego-centric behavior will lead us inexorably toward self-extinction. No my friend I did not forget your original question, but those above comments attempt to highlight the scenario in which you, I and all life on this planet are at present embedded, and therefore affected by.
Loneliness is a symptom of our inner separation [apparent separation] from our essential being. We are all suffering from spiritual amnesia and in our ignorance we seek in the world of objects and beings outside, for something which is only to be found within us.
WE ARE ALL LOOKING [in the main unconsciously] FOR OUR ‘SELF,’ but the mind and senses due to millions of years of cultivated habit, force us to look outside in the attempt to fill this terrible [but temporary] void.
Philosophical, or mystical explanations of this spiritual malady that is loneliness, are often in the beginning not well or gratefully received by a person still immersed in this painful condition.
However, if we can develop the patience and the fortitude to look into this affliction, then we have taken not only the first steps that will take us out of it, but will eventually also raise us into a realm of consciousness wherein ALL loneliness, emptiness and pain, will be transcended,
THESE WORDS ARE NOT RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL PLATITUDES they are based upon the experience and wisdom of beings who have also walked and wept their way through this ‘valley of tears’.
One of the world’s mystical treatises, [The imitation of Christ], offers guidance through this inner state when it says: “My child, if you rest your peace on any person, from affection or desire for companionship, you will be unsettled and in many ways entangled. But if you converse with the ever-living and abiding Truth you will not be greatly grieved if a friend forsake you or die. Your love of your friend should begin in Me; it is for My sake that you must love anyone who seems to you to be good, and to whom you feel affection in this life.
Without Me friendship is profitless, without Me it cannot last; and that is no true or holy love which I have not cemented”…
What is speaking these words is the One Self that abides in all creatures. It should not be interpreted as some historical figure speaking to members of his own religious flock. It is the One Eternal Being that is not confined by any or all religions, but stands as the abiding, immortal support and origin of all of them.
This SELF it is that is speaking and beckoning to us to return to It, in a voice that we call loneliness.
The entire creation is in a state of flux, of constant incessant movement.
The Alone is looking for the Alone. Look within yourself, for the remedy for the spiritual sickness of loneliness can only be found there.
“A wise man is never less alone
Then when he is alone.”______Jonathen Swift
Question: What does Vedanta philosophy mean when it refers to ‘THE SELF’?
Answer: The term ‘SELF’ when used in Adviata [non-dualistic] Vedanta philosophy is a reference to the ATMAN, the One common Consciousness of all beings.
Although there are apparent differences between individual bodies and minds, there is only One pure, essential substratum, Consciousness underlying all conscious entities and this is the Divine Supreme Soul which is indescribable, ineffable, unthinkable, transcendent, ever-joyful, full-of-bliss.
The ‘Self’ is the One unchanging Reality underlying all changing phenomena.
It is the One unchanging ocean amongst the many changing waves.
“The One remains the many change and pass” Shelley reminds us.
It is this divine core of our being that we in or ‘mortal sleep’ have forgotten, and throughout many lives in our ignorance woefully identify with our body-mind accoutrements. To transcend body-mind identification, and awaken to the truth of our divine ATMAN-SELF nature, is the one and only purpose of life, ________all life!
Question: I suffer terribly with insomnia, do you have any helpful suggestions?
Answer:
Insomnia, or the chronic inability to sleep, or to constantly awaken throughout the night, is one of the scourges of our modern lifestyles.
Its causes may be of a physical or psychological nature These include anxiety, emotional stress, drug abuse and dependency, worry, tensions, fears, cerebral dysfunction and a host of other causes,
After consulting a health-care professional, [Allopathic or Alternative medicine practitioner] and receiving their diagnosis, you may want to supplement their recommended therapy by a little of your own.
This can include a few herbs such as Chamomile tea or Hops, which are mild sedatives. There are even stronger herbal remedies that you can consult the Herbalist about.
Hydrotherapy can offer some relief in the form of Warm baths [not hot], hot-foot baths, and alternate hot-cold showers.
Music also can help induce a relaxed state that is conducive to sleep.
Here you will need to experiment with various musical pieces that are calming, until you discover some that are appropriate, and play them for 30 minutes or so before retiring to bed each night. Make sure that the phone is disconnected, and that as far as possible you have taken precautions that you will not be disturbed.
Yoga also can help, by practicing meditation once or twice a day [morning and night]; tratak or candle gazing can be useful.
A few simple exercises can be helpful while sitting namely:
Rotating the head slowly clockwise then counterclockwise [6 times].
Tilting the head to the right and left [6 times]. Moving the head forwards and backwards [6 times].
Next extend the arms out in front at shoulder level, open and spread the fingers, then close the fingers into a fist and slowly tighten to a maximum.
Repeat this exercise 12 times.
With the arms still extended, flex and extend the hands by pointing the straight fingers first to the floor then up toward the ceiling. Repeat 12 times.
ARMS
Alternately raise and lower the straight arms, first in the front of the body and then at the sides. Repeat 12 times.
ELBOW ROTATION
Rest the fingertips on the shoulders with elbows pointing out from the sides.
Slowly rotate the elbows on one direction 12 times and in the opposite direction 12 times.
ALTERNATE LEG RAISING
Lie on the back with feet together and arms by the sides.
Slowly raise the right leg to 90 hold for 5 seconds, exhale and slowly lower to the starting position. Repeat with the opposite leg.
Practice 6 times with each leg.
RELAXATION
Practice consciously relaxing systematically the entire body from the toes up to the top of the head for 10 to 15 minutes [no less].
Ideally you should attend some simple yoga exercises [asanas] class, to imbibe the spirit as well as the technique of the postures.
REMOVE FROM YOUR LIFE
Tobacco, drugs [social], coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks.
FINALLY
Investigate the yoga way of life and repose
And the diary of insomnia you then can close!
Question:
Do you think that spiritual beings may exist on other planets, and if so will they have Gurus as we have?
Answer:
When you next go to the beach, pick up a handful of sand and look at it.
In your hand at that time you will be holding approximately the same number of grains of sand as you see stars in the sky on a clear night.
Now further imagine All the grains of sand on All the beaches of the Earth,
And even these many sand particles will not equal the number of stars in the Universe. There are an estimated ten Billion trillion stars in the observable universe, and if our solar system with its none planets is basically an average one, this would mean the universe contains 10 x 9 planets. Imagine what arrogance we earthlings display by even presuming that we may possibly be the only self-conscious life forms in this entire gigantic ocean of space-time.
Are there spiritual beings out there? All beings are spiritual, even the ones on this planet who have slaughtered an estimated 3 thousand 500 million people over the last 5,500 years.
‘Spiritual’ means ‘of the Spirit’ and the entire universe is Spirit.
There is nothing other than Spirit, according to the mystics yogis and Vedantins.
No doubt just as on this planet, there will be in other Solar systems and other galaxies beings at different stages, or levels of development, with of course physical bodies totally different than our own. But, beneath all outer forms of carbon, silicon, or whatever the outer envelope consists, the One divine transcendental Self resides.
Mind it is that sees only difference and diversity where there is only unity, many where only one exists. Mind and Intellect are only finite tools that present us with only finite knowledge. Reason can take us along way towards the gates of Heaven, or Truth, but it cannot take us through the gates. Only the higher spiritual faculty of Intuition can do that.
Just as we see only a minute part of the full electro-magnectic spectrum with our eyes and experience limited range of audibility with our ears, so also our mind with its conditioned prejudice and impurities, is unable to comprehend the essential nature of the beautiful ocean of life that we call the universe.
It would be a sad reflection on that Infinite power that people call God, if this little grain of sand we call Earth, embedded in this boundless ocean of space-time was the one solitary island of life.
We must learn to think in a more unrestricted and cosmic manner when dealing with matters spiritual, and with the illumined Blake, “see a world on a grain of sand.” As for Gurus? They arise whenever and wherever they are needed.
The Infinite Lord is not limited by the notions and theories born from the finite mind of man, nor is His reflected image confined to the residents of planet Earth.
“The stars are mansions built by nature’s hand, and, haply, there the spirits of the blest dwell, clothed in radiance, their immortal rest”… Wordsworth.