Post by Sanatani/Martin on Mar 21, 2011 11:49:53 GMT -5
On Transcending Suffering and Accepting the Purification Process:
So many people are suffering in the world during this difficult astrological period we are currently passing through. Everything from the large scale suffering we see in Japan, to the abuses and atrocities we see in the middle east, to families trying to make it through with little or no money, homes taken away, daily hunger and lack of adequate medical care, just to site a few examples. There is so much suffering.
How can we deal with this period of time that I have been calling "the great purification" ? How do we deal with our own suffering and how do we reach out and deal with the suffering of others? How can we be of service even when we suffer personally?
Here are some things that I have found helpful and inspirational as we pass though these challenging times:
As Devotees (followers) of God:
* See God in Every Being.
* Be Aware of God in Every Moment of Existence
* Be Immersed in the Bliss of this Awareness.
* Be Merged in the Relationship of Profound Love & Devotion to God.
* Offer to God all acts, Big & Small.
* Everything from Beginning to End,
* With Renunciation of All Fruits & Attachments to the little self.
* Perform all acts
In the Spirit of Worshipful non-attachment.
Purification is an inevitable part of the spiritual path; but to accept suffering willingly is not easy. How do we deal with this process when it comes to us?
"Life is like a game of cards. You must try to win the game with the cards that you are given." ~Ammachi~
Accepting the Purification Process:
Practicing Dharma (our spiritual responsibilities) makes us face trails and tribulations that purify the mind and heart. We must overcome laziness and inconveniences, deal with egotistical people and with our own egos, and confront adversity and failures. In addition, we are challenged with tests to release ourselves from false ideas and concepts about who we are (such as it relates to money, power, and position, etc.) To understand and accept this process assists us in dealing with pain and suffering when it comes our way.
*Follow the Master (God)
*Face Ignorance within ourselves
*Keep on fighting and never give up
*Finish the race
Through the process of purification we can cultivate One-pointed Love for the Master, an all consuming Love that transcends all worldly experiences.
Other ways of Transcending Suffering:
* Constant Repetition of Her Names
* Practicing Sense Control
* Reading and Contemplating God's Teachings
* Practicing Silence
* Practicing Selfless Service to Others who are in need
* Remembering Past Experiences with The Master
* Satsanga
* Service to the Master
* Healing Work to remove stuck Karmic Patterns; Utilizing the Violet Flame
* Advanced Spiritual Practices such as Yagnas, Homas, Puja, Yoga, Mantra Japa, Austerities such as fasting
* Practice Compassion for Yourself & Others
The Four Great Mahavakyas (Declarations of Truth) found in the Vedas:
* Tat Twam Asi means "I am One with All"
* Ayam Atma Brahma means "I am God"
* Prajnanam Brahma means "I am Constant Integrated Awareness"
* Aham Brahmasmi means "I am God"
"Only when the mind is immersed in God can it be controlled and transcended."
The Fruits of Transcending Suffering through Inner Communion with God:
It is said that in total silence all knowledge can be transmitted to us. There is a story of Dakshinamurthi, a young, beautiful & radiant form of Lord Shiva. Three great renunciates were walking in the forest and came upon Lord Shiva in the form of young Dakshinamurthi, sitting cross legged and in deep meditation. He was exquisitely breathtaking in His beauty and effulgence, eternal wisdom emanating from deep within. The holy men immediately seated themselves in Lotus posture, falling into a state of deep meditation in the presence of the Supreme. In total silence, all knowledge was transmitted to the renunciates from the silent emptiness of the nothingness of the Great Dakshinamurthi. Through the process of purification, we are given the opportunity to empty the mind of dross and conditioning. Upon doing so, the emptied vessel can then be filled to overflowing with Knowledge of the Divine, the Fruit of Purification. Although we are often scared of letting go of attachments, including lust, pride, greed, jealousy, anger, hatred, etc., it is amazingly liberating to experience the perfect presence of nothingness, for it is in this state of nothingness that we are filled with Divine Love, which is everything.
The image above is Shiva, the Lord of yogis. Here he is specifically Jnana Dakshinamurti, teacher of all wisdom.
The word "Dakshinamurti" means "one who is facing south (Sanskrit dakshina)," which is the direction of death and therefore change. True to form, the image you see here was found on the south wall of the Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple in Little India.
In the form of Dakshinamurti, Shiva is shown seated under a banyan tree (the same kind of tree under which the Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment). Around him are seated sages whom he is instructing. His right foot rests on a demon called "Apasmara," who signifies ignorance. (He is the same one seen under the foot of the well-known Shiva Nataraja, the "Dancing Shiva.")
Each hand of the image is significant. His upper right (to our left) holds a snake, signifying Tantric knowledge (think of the serpent that ascends the spine in Kundalini). In some forms of Dakshinamurti, this might be a set of beads used in prayer. The upper left hand holds the flame of illumination. Below that, the lower left grasps a book (a scripture). In other forms of Dakshinamurti, this might be a bundle of kusha grass, out of which a seat can be fashioned for a meditator.
The lower right hand looks similar to our modern "OK." This is Jnana Mudra ("Knowledge gesture"). It can be interpreted thus: the thumb is God, the index finger Man. When they are joined, knowledge (wisdom) is achieved. The three raised fingers represent three impurities (perhaps arrogance, illusion, and the bad karma of past deeds); when one achieves knowledge, these are removed (indicated by their separation from the God-Man union). Note that in some forms of Dakshinamurti, the lower right hand may be simply in the Abhaya Mudra, raised palm out, meaning "fear not."
"Everything is Nothing, and Nothing is Everything" (SSB)
Sometimes, when life is full of suffering, we must learn to simply "Be" in the presence of the "now". I have found this practice to be so simple, yet so very powerful. Have you ever spent time with someone who is dying? When confronted with the annihilation of the self, there is nothing that can be said or changed; there is nothing to be done. In that profound sense, the power of the Now is very potent, and words are no longer necessary, or useful. In these moments, it is the power of presence that is most profound. Sharing the power of presence with the person who is dying is such a gift, and is, in and of itself, a great teacher, and a great healer as well. This practice can be applied to may things in life, especially in times when there is nothing to be "fixed". Acceptance and silence are very powerful practices, and in those moments, the Truth of our own Eternal Self shines through, for the ego drops in those moments. In those moments, Pure, Unconditional LOVE can overflow from the Heart and we then become Love itself. We are then Incarnations of Love. Give it a try.
The violet flame is the essence of one of the "seven rays." Just as a ray of sunlight passing through a prism is refracted into the seven colors of the rainbow, so spiritual light manifests as seven rays. Each ray has a specific color, frequency and quality of God's consciousness. The violet ray is known as the seventh ray.
When you invoke it in the name of God, it descends as a beam of spiritual energy and bursts into a spiritual flame in your heart as the qualities of mercy, forgiveness, justice, freedom and transmutation.
Saint Germain is known as the Lord of the Seventh Ray. Saint Germain said that after centuries of keeping the knowledge of the violet flame secret, the Masters had decided to release its use to the public during this crucial time. Saint Germain has said, "The use of the violet consuming flame is more valuable to you and to all mankind than all the wealth, all the gold and all the jewels on this planet".
St. Germain & The Violet Flame
The violet flame works a little like soap. Soap gets dirt out of your clothes by using the positive and negative charges of atoms. It works because each of its molecules has two sides-a side that is attracted to dirt and a side that is attracted to water. The dirt-loving side attracts the dirt, like a magnet attracts paper clips when it is dragged through a box of them. The water-loving side sticks to the water, carrying the dirt with it.
But unlike soap, the violet flame does not simply surround and remove the debris; it transforms it into pure light-energy. Freed of this debris, the electrons begin to move more freely, thus raising our vibration and propelling us into a more spiritual state of being, thus greatly assisting in the work of spiritual purification at this spiritually pivotal time in history.
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarva Santu Niramaya
Sarve bhadrani Pashyantu
Ma Kashchid Dukhabhad Bhavet
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Om
May all Beings be Happy.
May all be Free from Sickness
May all see what is Good and Beautiful in Life!
May No One Be Unhappy.
With Love to All, & May Her Blessings Flow to All Beings, Everywhere! Jai Maa!
Sanatani XOXOXO
So many people are suffering in the world during this difficult astrological period we are currently passing through. Everything from the large scale suffering we see in Japan, to the abuses and atrocities we see in the middle east, to families trying to make it through with little or no money, homes taken away, daily hunger and lack of adequate medical care, just to site a few examples. There is so much suffering.
How can we deal with this period of time that I have been calling "the great purification" ? How do we deal with our own suffering and how do we reach out and deal with the suffering of others? How can we be of service even when we suffer personally?
Here are some things that I have found helpful and inspirational as we pass though these challenging times:
The Grace of the Sat Guru
As Devotees (followers) of God:
* See God in Every Being.
* Be Aware of God in Every Moment of Existence
* Be Immersed in the Bliss of this Awareness.
* Be Merged in the Relationship of Profound Love & Devotion to God.
* Offer to God all acts, Big & Small.
* Everything from Beginning to End,
* With Renunciation of All Fruits & Attachments to the little self.
* Perform all acts
In the Spirit of Worshipful non-attachment.
Purification is an inevitable part of the spiritual path; but to accept suffering willingly is not easy. How do we deal with this process when it comes to us?
"Life is like a game of cards. You must try to win the game with the cards that you are given." ~Ammachi~
Accepting the Purification Process:
Practicing Dharma (our spiritual responsibilities) makes us face trails and tribulations that purify the mind and heart. We must overcome laziness and inconveniences, deal with egotistical people and with our own egos, and confront adversity and failures. In addition, we are challenged with tests to release ourselves from false ideas and concepts about who we are (such as it relates to money, power, and position, etc.) To understand and accept this process assists us in dealing with pain and suffering when it comes our way.
*Follow the Master (God)
*Face Ignorance within ourselves
*Keep on fighting and never give up
*Finish the race
Through the process of purification we can cultivate One-pointed Love for the Master, an all consuming Love that transcends all worldly experiences.
Other ways of Transcending Suffering:
* Constant Repetition of Her Names
* Practicing Sense Control
* Reading and Contemplating God's Teachings
* Practicing Silence
* Practicing Selfless Service to Others who are in need
* Remembering Past Experiences with The Master
* Satsanga
* Service to the Master
* Healing Work to remove stuck Karmic Patterns; Utilizing the Violet Flame
* Advanced Spiritual Practices such as Yagnas, Homas, Puja, Yoga, Mantra Japa, Austerities such as fasting
* Practice Compassion for Yourself & Others
The Four Great Mahavakyas (Declarations of Truth) found in the Vedas:
* Tat Twam Asi means "I am One with All"
* Ayam Atma Brahma means "I am God"
* Prajnanam Brahma means "I am Constant Integrated Awareness"
* Aham Brahmasmi means "I am God"
"Only when the mind is immersed in God can it be controlled and transcended."
The Fruits of Transcending Suffering through Inner Communion with God:
Dakshinamurthi
It is said that in total silence all knowledge can be transmitted to us. There is a story of Dakshinamurthi, a young, beautiful & radiant form of Lord Shiva. Three great renunciates were walking in the forest and came upon Lord Shiva in the form of young Dakshinamurthi, sitting cross legged and in deep meditation. He was exquisitely breathtaking in His beauty and effulgence, eternal wisdom emanating from deep within. The holy men immediately seated themselves in Lotus posture, falling into a state of deep meditation in the presence of the Supreme. In total silence, all knowledge was transmitted to the renunciates from the silent emptiness of the nothingness of the Great Dakshinamurthi. Through the process of purification, we are given the opportunity to empty the mind of dross and conditioning. Upon doing so, the emptied vessel can then be filled to overflowing with Knowledge of the Divine, the Fruit of Purification. Although we are often scared of letting go of attachments, including lust, pride, greed, jealousy, anger, hatred, etc., it is amazingly liberating to experience the perfect presence of nothingness, for it is in this state of nothingness that we are filled with Divine Love, which is everything.
The image above is Shiva, the Lord of yogis. Here he is specifically Jnana Dakshinamurti, teacher of all wisdom.
The word "Dakshinamurti" means "one who is facing south (Sanskrit dakshina)," which is the direction of death and therefore change. True to form, the image you see here was found on the south wall of the Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple in Little India.
In the form of Dakshinamurti, Shiva is shown seated under a banyan tree (the same kind of tree under which the Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment). Around him are seated sages whom he is instructing. His right foot rests on a demon called "Apasmara," who signifies ignorance. (He is the same one seen under the foot of the well-known Shiva Nataraja, the "Dancing Shiva.")
Each hand of the image is significant. His upper right (to our left) holds a snake, signifying Tantric knowledge (think of the serpent that ascends the spine in Kundalini). In some forms of Dakshinamurti, this might be a set of beads used in prayer. The upper left hand holds the flame of illumination. Below that, the lower left grasps a book (a scripture). In other forms of Dakshinamurti, this might be a bundle of kusha grass, out of which a seat can be fashioned for a meditator.
The lower right hand looks similar to our modern "OK." This is Jnana Mudra ("Knowledge gesture"). It can be interpreted thus: the thumb is God, the index finger Man. When they are joined, knowledge (wisdom) is achieved. The three raised fingers represent three impurities (perhaps arrogance, illusion, and the bad karma of past deeds); when one achieves knowledge, these are removed (indicated by their separation from the God-Man union). Note that in some forms of Dakshinamurti, the lower right hand may be simply in the Abhaya Mudra, raised palm out, meaning "fear not."
"Everything is Nothing, and Nothing is Everything" (SSB)
Sometimes, when life is full of suffering, we must learn to simply "Be" in the presence of the "now". I have found this practice to be so simple, yet so very powerful. Have you ever spent time with someone who is dying? When confronted with the annihilation of the self, there is nothing that can be said or changed; there is nothing to be done. In that profound sense, the power of the Now is very potent, and words are no longer necessary, or useful. In these moments, it is the power of presence that is most profound. Sharing the power of presence with the person who is dying is such a gift, and is, in and of itself, a great teacher, and a great healer as well. This practice can be applied to may things in life, especially in times when there is nothing to be "fixed". Acceptance and silence are very powerful practices, and in those moments, the Truth of our own Eternal Self shines through, for the ego drops in those moments. In those moments, Pure, Unconditional LOVE can overflow from the Heart and we then become Love itself. We are then Incarnations of Love. Give it a try.
Journey of Purification: The Violet Flame of Saint Germain & The Work of Purification & Transmutation:
The violet flame is the essence of one of the "seven rays." Just as a ray of sunlight passing through a prism is refracted into the seven colors of the rainbow, so spiritual light manifests as seven rays. Each ray has a specific color, frequency and quality of God's consciousness. The violet ray is known as the seventh ray.
When you invoke it in the name of God, it descends as a beam of spiritual energy and bursts into a spiritual flame in your heart as the qualities of mercy, forgiveness, justice, freedom and transmutation.
Saint Germain is known as the Lord of the Seventh Ray. Saint Germain said that after centuries of keeping the knowledge of the violet flame secret, the Masters had decided to release its use to the public during this crucial time. Saint Germain has said, "The use of the violet consuming flame is more valuable to you and to all mankind than all the wealth, all the gold and all the jewels on this planet".
St. Germain & The Violet Flame
The violet flame works a little like soap. Soap gets dirt out of your clothes by using the positive and negative charges of atoms. It works because each of its molecules has two sides-a side that is attracted to dirt and a side that is attracted to water. The dirt-loving side attracts the dirt, like a magnet attracts paper clips when it is dragged through a box of them. The water-loving side sticks to the water, carrying the dirt with it.
But unlike soap, the violet flame does not simply surround and remove the debris; it transforms it into pure light-energy. Freed of this debris, the electrons begin to move more freely, thus raising our vibration and propelling us into a more spiritual state of being, thus greatly assisting in the work of spiritual purification at this spiritually pivotal time in history.
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarva Santu Niramaya
Sarve bhadrani Pashyantu
Ma Kashchid Dukhabhad Bhavet
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Om
May all Beings be Happy.
May all be Free from Sickness
May all see what is Good and Beautiful in Life!
May No One Be Unhappy.
With Love to All, & May Her Blessings Flow to All Beings, Everywhere! Jai Maa!
Sanatani XOXOXO