Meaning of Life - Conclusion, Core Teachings

Warning on the path to Truth

Asking the questions that this page and site deals with is a serious matter, no joke. Monks would cleanse and purify themselves before contemplating some of the deep questions of life.

In the Ancient Mystery Schools of Egypt one would spend at least twelve years on the left brain, & twelve years on the right brain (left and Right Eye of Horus). In Tibetan Buddhism one prepares and learn for years before being shown certain teachings and being initiated / empowered into higher spiritual practices.

However the chances are you have already been thinking about it (consciously or unconsciously), otherwise you wouldn't be here. Even if you think you are here by accident / pressure / politeness I would hazard a guess that there is a deeper meaning to your presence here. But then again I could be wrong! Time will tell!

By seriously contemplating important questions in life your life may more than likely change at rapid, but not too uncomfortable pace - But once you start becoming conscious it is difficult to turn back. Relationships change as people try and hold you back or as other's don't know how to deal with you

However if you decide to embark on this journey,

Be aware that you will uncover many parts of yourself that you didn't know existed and /or tried to hide from self and others.
Be aware that you may change friends or your friends may change too!
Be aware of the pace of your learning,
Be balanced and integrated in your approach - mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual levels
Be aware of negative ego, fears, desires, greed, jealousy - 'know it all' ego
Be aware of ignorance, delusion, greed, changeability, gullibility, anger / hatred / ill-will, jealousy,
Be aware that change is inevitable - so resistance is futile
Be aware of timing - timing is everything
Be aware your day to day responsibilities & necessities - but try to gradually cut these down
Be aware that there are no guarantees, and this is a pathless path - teachings are only a map - not the territory - finger pointing to the moon, not the moon itself.
Be aware of cults, giving away personal power, blind faith - faith without reason/ experience
Be a student not a follower
Don't believe anything - Experience it for yourself. Knowing is more powerful than belief
And don't be attached to the trappings, psychic powers, increased power & charisma
Be aware that you are probably reading this page for a reason - the time maybe right for another boost to your life!
Be aware it is worth it! (bit no guarantee)
BE AWARE OF AWARENESS!!! Be aware when you lose your rag / centre / balance.
JUST BE, BE RELAXED & ALERT- Rest in the 'clear & knowing state', rest in 'mere experience', abide in pure luminosity - true nature of mind.

Do your best to assist others on the path and in life, helping those in need, starting as much as possible with those closest to you. However if you can't assist others then at least do no harm to any other sentient beings.

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation , Dying peacefully

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge , Prayer and Seeking

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY OR DANGER

If life is too hectic

Affirm:' My life is simple and easy!' and believe it. Look to see where it is simple & easy.
Ask higher self / angels / guides to slow down the process of self realization.
or perhaps you are simply going through the dark night of the soul and need to learn endurance, stamina, patience etc.
or perhaps it is just a phase or cycle [Old Yin to young Yang etc.]

If start losing your mind or losing a grip on everyday reality

Seek professional guidance - counselor's, psychotherapist (I am not a medical practitioner)
Check your expectations on life / God / self / others against reality - what truly is!
Don't read into signs and symbols too much, but acknowledge them
Don't ask abstract questions that can't be answered eg. if hitler was alive today...
Be present in the moment - focus on the scenery, flowers, sunset, body, birds, animals, friends, thoughts, emotions, actions, breathing, seeing, hearing, feeling, dancing etc.
Do something active - sport, gardening or exercise
Serving others is a good way to get over neurosis - but be careful this often scares people if you force help on them
Meditate - become aware of your thoughts - madness / disturbances, know that they will soon pass
be tranquil & relaxed but be focused & alert

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation , Dying peacefully

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge , Prayer and Seeking

Are you ready?

Do not read any further unless:

you want to learn and
are open minded but healthy sceptical (USA: Skeptical)

Each question or step leads onto another one.

Hopefully you've already looked at or contemplated some of the following topics because it's a bit 'full on' and in note form (summarized, essential, concise, to the core). It might be a good idea to contemplate a section for a little, while really thinking about it, but then detach and release, and be open for insights & realizations.

If you have any aha! realization moments - stay with this feeling, relaxed but be aware.

Pray to be shown the true meaning of the lessons, and apply the wisdom don't just theorize. Become an inner scientist.

Pray for divine guidance, divine protection & divine strength.

Each section will have some related pages for further reading as below:

GOD, Buddhism, Zen, Tantra, Dzogchen ,

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation , Dying peacefully

Success, Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, True Purpose, Balance Male-Female, Balance Brain, Relationships, Going with the flow, Synchronisity & Coincidences,

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

Meditation, Mindfulness, Concentration, Prajna

Mastery, Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out, Non-Self , Compassion

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge , Prayer and Seeking

Definition of Life

Oxford Dictionary Definition - Life - state of functional activity and continual change peculiar to organized matter -

Physical life is activity and constant change - this is observable and verifiable

'Change is the only constant' Chinese Proverb [This fits with Buddhist 'Law of Impermanence' ]

As many experience at peak times in life - Life can be described as an amazing flow of interconnected events and relationships bringing friends and family together and apart in the cycle of pain and pleasure, brith and death [and possibly rebirth - who knows].

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation , Dying peacefully

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge , Prayer and Seeking

So how does life change?

Seems that everything that is born into existence / given life goes through several stages:

birth, growth, peak, maturity, decline, death

It seems entropy / eventual death and decay is inevitable.

Physical Mortality is one of the few guarantees we have in life! [Well as the saying goes - 'Only Death and Taxes are certain']

As observable in Nature our Life experiences move in cycles - much like the seasons, the orbits of planets, day - night, and there seems to be an observable polarity too in nature and science ie. male - female, positive - negative.

If we look more closely Life / Nature seems to evolve in spirals - like the galaxies, fractals, plants - pine cones, shells etc

Life seems to evolve from dense matter to lighter matter, from within to 'without' [evolution in consciousness, physical / mental / emotional / spiritual evolution.

Life and sentient beings wants to survive - our bodies are set up to procreate and survive - animals either fight or flight - this is the primordial basic instinct..

and thus it can be observed that Life, nature, and all sentient beings seem to obey certain laws - Natural laws, Universal laws, Physical laws etc. Such as Law of conservation, Gravity, Newton's Laws and cause and affect - [ and some would argue there is a Law of Karma (see below)].

Some of these natural laws we can change, manipulate, bend some it seems perhaps we cannot.

Understanding laws of nature, allow us to ride the wave / rhythm of life a lot better.

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation , Dying peacefully

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge , Prayer and Seeking

Organized Matter

Life shows signs of organization -

physical - all natural life plants, trees, humans, grow with a certain ratio - phi - golden mean ratio - (this fits in with spirals above) grow at a certain rate - see sacred geometry
emotional - social (families, relationships), ethical,
mental - logic, maths, morals, ethics, principles , art, etc.
Life show signs of 'chaos' - eg. seemingly irrational, freak weather,
This is the paradox - maybe chaos is divine law, beyond our rational mind!
Maybe Life / God is organized chaos
Maybe Life / Nature is simple, rational minds complicate things
Life is ruled by natural law - this leads on to next section

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation , Dying peacefully

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge , Prayer and Seeking

How does life operate / function?

What is the activity?

There are universal laws of nature that govern the world of phenomena.

l. The Principle of Mentalism - "The all is mind: the universe is mental."

2. The Principle of Correspondence - "As above, so below; as below, so above."

3. The Principle of Vibration - "Nothing rests: everything moves: everything vibrates."

4. The Principle of Polarity - "Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled."

5. The Principle of Rhythm - "Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates."

6. The Principle of Cause and Effect - "Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause; everything happens according to the law; chance is but a name for law not recognized; there are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the law."

7. The Principle of Gender - "Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles; gender manifests on all planes."

SOURCE: THE SEVEN GREAT EGYPTIAN HERMETIC PRINCIPLES

As above so below, as within, so without - Hermetic Law

Life is a mirror - Our experiences are attracted to us consciously and unconsciously (from subconscious)

People that irritate us are there to show us we have an imbalance in our personality - you don't like in others what you don't like about yourself!

Life is chaos - don't be attached to control, logic and order

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation , Dying peacefully

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge , Prayer and Seeking

Interconnectedness / Interdependence
/ Oneness / Unity of Life

We are all connected on all levels -

Physical / Material / Economical Level

Economically, Financially - Global financial markets, resource - technology, oil, labour we are inter-dependent
by our environment - we are all on the same planet - walking the same Earth, drinking water that is connected to the whole world - Global Warming
by our actions - eg. by touching, feeling, hurting
by our food chain, ecological web / systems
by our breath - we breath the same air as Jesus and Buddha breathed (however there's probably less oxygen and more pollution now!)
we exchange neutrinos every second, in fifty years you will have a different set of molecules in your body, in a month your liver will have new set of cells
by our composition - we are all made up from the Same stuff Stars are made of - carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

So water, hydrogen, breathing, and the Sun are very close to our true physical essence / source

Emotional Level

Laughter & Crying are contagious
People are affected by moods of others -
We are constantly transferring energy
We are triggered by similar predictable phenomena

so the potential for laughter and sadness is in our true nature

Mental Level

when people meet in crowds / groups - people act as one - ie. 'group think'
people can tap into Collective unconscious / subconscious
telepathy - (although not strictly limited to the mental level) people can read other people's minds - or so it seems - also people get the same thoughts at same time - eg. patents - DNA Double Helix
Astral projection traveling, remote viewing, - seeing / feeling other space-times
People with still, peaceful minds influence a shift in consciousness in others eg. Jesus, Mother Teresa etc.

peace, tranquility, boundlessness, non-locality, are close to our true essence

Spiritual Level

We are one, we always were and will be one - the Great Breath of Life, The Great Spirit,
Our higher self awareness is as close as we can know about our true essence - which is all pervading, non local, not limited by time or space
Inspiration, Enthusiasm, Courage, Patience, Vigilance, Justice, Non-Judgment, Generosity, Compassion, Honesty, Integrity, Unconditional Love, are contagious and our natural state of being

Karmic Level

While in existence we are connected through Karma - Law of Cause & Effect how you sow shall you reap, - on physical, mental, emotional, levels. On spiritual level there is no karma, there is just pure being and non being / un-manifest - pure potential for Karma to arise

So we see that no act is insignificant - a butterfly's wings can seem to cause a avalanche on the other side of the globe - we are all interconnected whether we like it or not!

In fact as one gets into it one realizes - where does self finish? where are the boundaries of self - where does the mind finish? who set the boundaries?

some teach there is no self / non-self - as in no separate entity from the oneness of being

others teach we are individuals simultaneously in union

We are always in balance and connected. Imbalance and separation is an illusion.

We are always in union with GOD / Higher awareness / Absolute Reality - we just need to be in the position to experience it

Non-Self , Compassion, GOD, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Reality, Truth, Belief, Polarities, Emptiness, 7 levels, Tao, Reincarnation

Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

Every profession has a filter

Generalizing a fair amount:

A comedian may see everything through a filter of humour and how to build it ito a comedy routine or just to make people laugh.

A lawyer may see things through the filter of an adversarial legal battle with a win / lose orientation.

A business person may work through the filter of making money while an artist does so through the filter of beauty, which ties into the effect of the rays, each of the seven major rays being a lens that affects the soul and monad.

A healer may look at everything in terms of energy, and a social worker through the filter of social implications

A family counselor is focused on the family unity in terms of relationships and children.

An astrologer works through the astrological horoscope, and that is how all experience is organized.

As you can see we stack filters on top of filters on top of filters until very little if any light gets through. The ideal is to become crystal clear about which filters are affecting our consciousness, which means still being inclusive ie. accepting all filters as a part of the whole

Seek and you shall find -
(Selective Attention)

GOD, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Reality, Truth, Belief, Polarities, Emptiness, 7 levels, Tao, Reincarnation

Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

We see with our minds not our eyes

Everybody perceives a different reality - based on subjective or relative experience - as verified by quantum mechanics. eg. the picture of the old woman / young lady or the duck / rabbit etc. Even when confronted by a Holy Being some people may see Jesus, others may see only a badly dress homeless person. It depends on your relation to the experience.

So our relative view is our subjective view. The most gross relative truth would relate to the lowest level.

How we perceive life relates to how we will experience it. How we perceive life is based on our levels of consciousness and filters or as Dr Joshua David Stone calls 'Psycho-epistemology'. Through experiences, beliefs, attitudes, training in a particular profession etc. we develop a way of looking at life.

If you are living on the lowest level of consciousness, living mainly attached to the first body / level then you will be concerned with food, money, sex, survival, security.

Unfortunately this is where most of us are at! Most of us are operate no differently to what some perceive to be the lowest forms of life!
The journey of evolution / enlightenment / ascension is up the ' Tree of Life' to - union with the divine / limitless and un-manifest. Below is a simplified table of seven level of consciousness for full table see here. Obviously we can split the categories into 7, 12, 14, 18 etc, levels but the point is the same -

move from - service to self / survival / ego
to - service and devotion to others, developing generosity, patience, compassion, respect, understanding, wisdom, insight, unconditional love - developing bodhichitta (buddha nature mind-stream) and High Virtues
to - union with the Divine / non being / Void - leaving the wheel of Karma, gaining status of 'Never Returner' or as you can choose to stay until all sentient beings are enlightened - Bodhisattva's

Most of us react to the environment and our negative egos and instead of responding with inner guidance.

The Seven Bodies - Maitreya Ishwara

Seventh Body is nothingness, the beyond. The inconceivable.
Divine Death, non-being, nirvana

Sixth Body - cosmic body revealed when being transcended.
Consciousness, witnessing, pure awareness

Fifth Body - spiritual body is the Being, revealed when ego dissolves.
Unlimited by space/time - being touched through meditation

Fourth Body - mental / psychic body - heart / love meditation, prayer, devotion & non-doing

Third Body - Astral Body - Power, creativity, work, intelligence, expression,

Second Body - emotional body -relating, sharing, intimacy - emotional healing

First Body - physical - Food, sex, money, security

This shows us a configuration of filters that we use to perceive life. So if you are operating from the first body / chakra - you will react / respond by either fight or flight - in order to survive. If you operate from higher levels you will respond from higher morals / values / virtues / awareness.

The aim is to be able to see that there are many different ways of looking at a particular situation. Be detached and see all perspective

You can even imagine a board meeting of all of these bodies - each giving their perspective. Choose the right response - for the highest good of all.

Obviously we can chose different filters to look at life. eg, archetypes / rays / star signs / attitude / beliefs / prejudice.

So once we are aware of this we have an array of responses available to our disposition - we are empowered. We become more mature and we can be more detached

The journey of life (or many lives) is realization and integration of all seven levels. No level is necessarily better than any other - you need to have balance. eg. many psychics are not spiritual and don't necessarily believe in God.

Other systems have different numbers (10, 12, 14, 22, 144, 352 etc.) however the principle remains the same - evolve consciousness, drop negative ego - ascend the Tree of Life - back to the Godhead / Para Nirvana / Great Tao / Unknown / Limitless Light. This journey is known as the path of - self realization, enlightenment or ascension.

We will discuss more on filters in what is reality' below.

GOD, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Reality, Truth, Belief, Polarities, Emptiness, 7 levels, Tao, Reincarnation

Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

Is there a God?

People don't like this word. Maybe because the God they prayed to let them down some time in the past, or they think life would be like this if there is a God.......who knows?

As we saw above - The God you look for or expect, will be the God you find - based on your filter / ray / archetype / star sign / level of awareness / meme etc.How we perceive God, is based on which level of awareness we operate from. Eg. which of the 7 levels of consciousness are we at.

If deep down you believe God is a nasty, judgmental old man with a beard then that is one that you will perceive as controlling reality - you will see reality through that lens. If you feel GOD is the divine Ultimate Artist, Fair and Just then that is the one you will experience.

Here are seven possible stages of God. (from How to Know God, by Deepak Chopra)

Stages of God

God of Pure Being - "I Am", God is As We Are

God of Miracles

God the Creator

God the Redeemer

God of Peace

God the Almighty

God the Protector

Source: How to Know God by Deepak Chopra

We are the Children of God. We are made in the image of God.

We are holographic -containing the whole within the part.

We are the microcosm of the macrocosm. We are cells on the body of God.

Inside us is the potential for creation, destruction & sustainability. From ideas comes creation, but requires effort, courage, patience, discipline etc.

We've created & destroyed so much - now we need to sustain balance & harmony.

We are responsible - we are the hands of God - here on Earth. God has given himself / herself in the way of creation & the elements - and this can especially be seen with Water - which Lao Tzu sates. 'Water is the highest form of goodness'. 'Why is the Ocean the king of the river's? Because it lies lower than them!' 'To serve is to rule'

The elements can be seen as a states.

Water changes from ice to water to steam. God can be like this. The most crystalline being the physical.

Matter is frozen light. David Bohm

We need to align with Heaven & Earth. God has given us the ability to choose our own fate / destiny / karma. We need to let God into our hearts. Jesus / Buddha nature is waiting patiently in our hearts - ready for us to reawaken the seed of compassion.

God is Vital force / The Great Breath / Spirit

On the most concrete, material, crystallized form we can interchange the word God with Life or Existence.

Life is God - if there is Life / existence there must be God - to be intelligent enough to create, preserve, sustain, organize, govern - organisms / energy beings and natural laws of life like Karma.

God is Law. Laws encompass things. God is at least the law of life, the law if nature, the law of karma.

However God is also beyond Life and existence. God includes the Quantum Foam, or Field of pure potential as well as beyond.

GOD equals Man minus Ego
Sai Baba

The way to be and experience GOD, moment to moment, is to release negative ego -drop the self grasping, conceptualizing, over analyzing mind

The attachment to ego , the separate sense of 'I' and other , causes so much suffering - This separation is an illusion. In Truth we are always one with GOD.

GOD is all there is,
I AM not separate from That

When one realizes: God is all there is, everything changes. It means there is no one other than you. You are the whole, including all the unconscious, ignorant people. This means your sense of self expands to include everyone and everything. It means other people are also God. It means you are the world. Separation from existence is the human reality. To understand Advaita is to be free from separation. To miss the point is the hell of the ego.

We are children of God, Integrated parts of the whole.

The mother - is laid out for our use - in service to the highest good - eg. Mother Earth, Divine Feminine

Our father waits patiently.

First there was the Word and the Word was God, (John 1:1)
or as the Rishis taught the Word was the primordial sound 'OM' or 'AUM'
- the super-string from which all manifestations stem from

GOD, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Reality, Truth, Belief, Polarities, Emptiness, 7 levels, Tao, Reincarnation

Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

Who am I?

Most people haven't really contemplated this question enough.

Meditate on it. Contemplate it.

I am whatever I identify with!

"Identification means that we mentally or emotionally lose ourselves in something inside or outside of ourselves. We become absorbed in a person, a place, our career, a hobby, our personal viewpoints... When we identify with our thoughts, we call it day dreaming... Identification also means to wrongly take something as being part of our essential selves. Take your name. That is only a label attached at birth. If you change your name, it would not make you any different. Take the physical body. That is merely a vehicle for living on earth. Your True Self does not consist of name, body, money, home, career, or your personal beliefs. You are something entirely different from these attachments."

Most people identify with their body, ego, job, fears, memories, beliefs. Most people think they are their ego / personality roles - eg. Mother, Businessman, Poor me, Intimidator, Aloof, Caretaker, Parent, Child,

Most people react without thought, acting out roles - automatic like robots!

Most people let their minds go on and on without contemplation, mindfulness, attention or thought about what they are thinking, saying, feeling, tasting, knowing, learning, eating, doing with body, speech & mind.

The roles we play are not the essence of who we really are. We are a river of many things, (& pure potential for anything), however here, as always I am interested in the pure essence of who we really are.

It is said, The ultimate realization is

- I AM THAT I AM

- God is That, I AM not separate from THAT -

"GOD could be likened to the Sun which shines down upon the forest and creates beams of sunlight upon the forest floor. We each are a beam or ray of GOD's infinite Light. Let us not try to be a beam of light that is in truth not what GOD created us to be. Let us instead see all the beams of light stemming from the same source, all being of equal value and importance. GOD's Divine Plan cannot be completed unless each and every single person on planet Earth fulfills their puzzle piece as GOD would have it be!"

From Embracing your puzzle piece" by Dr Joshua David Stone

I Am the pure potential to be Creator, Destroyer or Preserver (3 Hindu Aspects of GOD)

We truly are made in the likeness of GOD.

Our individual highest awareness is always one with GOD awareness

GOD realization, as I perceive it, is being fully conscious moment to moment, not clinging to anything, being in the presence of GOD / LOVE / ONENESS, feeling reverence and gratitude, and compassion and serving others - seeing the prism / diamond of life and it's refractions / reflections simultaneously - beyond our comprehension.

Aware of the pure, subtle level of awareness, simultaneously aware of what is in the moment - Not of this world but in this world! Aware of the bird, sky, and the self simultaneously

Many Hindus believe one day we will wake up, as if from a Cosmic dream

GOD, Buddhism, Zen, Tantra, Dzogchen, Who am I? ,

Reality, Truth, Belief,Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

Success, Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, True Purpose, Balance Male-Female, Balance Brain, Relationships, Going with the flow, Synchronisity & Coincidences,

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

Mastery, Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out, Non-Self , Compassion

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

What is Life then?

LIFE IS NO-THING. LIFE IS AN ENDLESS CHAOS OF POSSIBILITIES. BY SELECTING SOME OF THOSE POSSIBILITIES WE WEAVE A WEB DETERMINED BY A PATTERN WE CANNOT KNOW BEFOREHAND. IT IS THIS SELECTION OF POSSIBILITIES, OR THE WEAVING, OR THE WOVEN WEB, WHICH PEOPLE MISTAKENLY LOOK UPON AS LIFE. YET REALISE THAT LIFE REMAINS FOR EVER UNTOUCHED BY THE WEAVING OF MAN. WE MAKE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE WHAT WE WILL, BUT LIFE IN ITSELF IS A TRANSCENDENT STATE OF FLUX HAVING NO FORM, AND YET GIVING RISE TO ALL FORMS.

From the above analogy it is clear to see that life is not at all what most people believe it to be. As the aphorism at the beginning of this chapter indicates, life for the average man and woman is nothing more than a dream, and their actions nothing more than folly. And yet this does not imply that life is not real, or that it cannot be real, nor does it imply that our actions are useless. What this aphorism does imply is that life is not what men and women believe it to be, and that if we base our actions on this false sense of reality, then our actions must perforce amount to folly.

The aphorism above describes life beautifully, even though it is perhaps one of the most radical statements with which any apprentice has to contend. People have been so conditioned into believing that they know what life is, that it is not easy to put aside all the many misconceptions, preconceived ideas and prejudices with which all of us have grown up.

Source: The Mists of Dragon Lore by Theun Mares, p50

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

Success, Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, True Purpose, Balance Male-Female, Balance Brain, Relationships, Going with the flow, Synchronisity & Coincidences,

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

Mastery, Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

What is Reality?

There are many schools of philosophy and masters who teach on the subject of Reality. eg. Buddhism - Sravaka, Madhyamaka (middle way), Shentong. Vedanta, Yoga - Patanjali, Shankara, Yogacara.

SEVEN SYSTEMS OF EASTERN PHILOSOPHY

1. VEDANTA
2. YOGA
3. SANKYA
4. VAISHESHIKA
5. NIMAMASA
6. NYAYA
7. BUDDHISM

A good Buddhist approach to understand reality is to see that there are two levels of reality or truth. One is the relative level of reality and the other is the absolute level of Reality or Truth (or True Self). (for full article on the two truths see reality page)

The relative level is the conventional world we all see and experience, and is governed by laws of nature such as Karma, Impermanence, Life & Death, habit and space-time.

The absolute level is beyond concepts and may be known as God, Clear Light, Dharmatu, Rigpa, Tao, Nirvana, Complete Enlightenment, Self Realization or Gnosis.

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

Success, Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, True Purpose, Balance Male-Female, Balance Brain, Relationships, Going with the flow, Synchronisity & Coincidences,

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

Mastery, Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

RELATIVE TRUTH

The relative level is ultimately not real. It is like a dream, like a film on a screen, like an image in a mirror, like a wave on an ocean.

"…..Take the instance of moving pictures on the screen in the cinema-show. What is there in front of you before the play begins? Merely the screen. On that Screen you see the entire show, and for all the appearances the pictures are real. But go and try to take hold of them. What do you take hold of? Merely the screen on which the pictures appeared. After the play, when the pictures disappear, what remains? The screen again.
So with the Self. That alone exists, the pictures come and go. If you hold on to the Self, you will not be deceived by appearance of the pictures. Nor does it matter at all if the pictures appear or disappear. Ignoring the Self the ajnani thinks the world is real, just as ignoring the screen he sees merely the pictures, as if they existed apart from it. If one knows that without seer there is nothing to be seen, just as there are no pictures without the screen, one is not deluded. The jnani knows that the screen and the pictures are only the Self. With the pictures the Self is in its manifest form; without the pictures it remains in the un-manifest form. To the jnani it is quite immaterial if the Self is in the one form or the other. He is always the Self. But the ajnani seeing the jnani active gets confounded." Sri Ramana Maharshi

- The Life we experience has the meaning that we superimpose on it.

- look for good / light and you will find it, especially if you are focused and determined enough. Likewise look for bad in people and experiences and you will always find it.

What we see & experience is just like a dream. In a dream we think it is real, but then when we wake up we laugh or are relieved as we say 'I was only dreaming'.

Life is like this, when we finally wake up to the cosmic dream we know that what we thought was real is actually not the ultimate reality.

- we project our own meanings onto a blank slate, a mirror, an enigma.

What we see is a mirror of our own making. Like a moon reflected on water. What we think is real (the reflection of the moon) is a projection, created by our minds, onto the mirror which is the pure ultimate level. We are actually one with the mirror, like waves on an ocean.

The ultimate level, beyond concepts alone is said to real, permanent, unchangeable, beyond Space-Time. (and even those are superimposed labels and concepts)

Many schools of Eastern philosophy state that the Ultimate Absolute nature of reality - is 'Emptiness-Bliss' - not as in an empty vacuum, but full of potential and with inherent goodness, loving - kindness, compassion and bliss.

"In Buddhist systems of ideas, there are many interpretations of what exactly these two levels of truth are. They are set forth as the four Buddhist schools of philosophy.
In the most profound school, the Middle Way Consequentialist school, just what is emptiness or the ultimate? It is this: that in fact nobody or nothing, anywhere, has anything that inherently makes it what it is. Nothing has its own personal mark. Everything exists simply through language, through ideas.
The absence of something, the total absence, the total not-being, non-existence of anything that is not there through the power of language and thought is shunyata, emptiness, the ultimate truth."

Quote: "One of the fundamental views in Buddhism is the principle of
"dependent origination." This states that all phenomena, both subjective
experiences and external objects, come into existence in dependence
upon causes and conditions; nothing comes into existence uncaused. Given
this principle, it becomes crucial to understand what causality is and
what types of cause there are. In Buddhist literature, two main
categories of causation are mentioned: (i) external causes in the form of
physical objects and events, and (ii) internal causes such as cognitive and
mental events."

......The fact that our inner experiences of pleasure and pain are in the nature of subjective mental and cognitive states is very obvious to us. But how those inner subjective events relate to external circumstances and the material world poses a critical problem. The question of whether there is an external physical reality independent of sentient beings' consciousness and mind has been extensively discussed by Buddhist thinkers. Naturally, there are divergent views on this issue among the various philosophical schools of thought. One such school [Cittamatra] asserts that there is no external reality, not even external objects, and that the material world we perceive is in essence merely a projection of our minds. From many points of view, this conclusion is rather extreme. Philosophically, and for that matter conceptually, it seems more coherent to maintain a position that accepts the reality not only of the subjective world of the mind, but also of the external objects of the physical world."

Q & A with Sri Ramana Maharshi

Q. What is reality?
A. Reality must always be real. It is not with forms and names. That which underlies these is reality. It underlies limitations, being itself limitless. It is not bound. It underlies unrealities, itself being real. Reality is that which is. It is as it is. It transcends speech. It is beyond the expressions 'existence, non-existence', etc.

The reality which is mere consciousness that remains when ignorance is destroyed along with super-knowledge of objects, alone is the Self (atma). In that Brahma-swarupa [real form of Brahma], which is abundant Self-awareness, there is not the least ignorance.
The reality which shines fully, without misery and without a body, not only when the world is known but also when the world is not known, is your real form [nija-swarupa].
The radiance of consciousness-bliss, in form of one awareness shining equally within and without, is the supreme and blissful primal reality. Its form is silence and it is declared by jnanis to be the final and unobstructable state of true knowledge [jnana]

Know that jnana alone is non-attachment; jnana alone is purity; jnana is the attainment of God; jnana is the attainment of God; jnana which is devoid of forgetfulness of self alone is immortality; jnana alone is everything.

Q. What is this awareness and how can one obtain and cultivate it?
A. You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you. Since you are awareness there is no need to attain or cultivate it. All that you have to do is to give up being aware of other things, that is not-self. If one gives up being aware of them then pure awareness alone remains, and that is the Self.

Q. If the Self is itself aware, why am I not aware of it even now?
A. There is no duality. Your present knowledge is due to the ego and is only relative. Relative knowledge requires a subject and an object, whereas the awareness of the Self is absolute and requires no object.

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Absolute Truth

Truth is the pathless land - Krishnamurti

Realization of Truth is in the realization, understanding and awareness of is-ness / such-ness / pure awareness / Impermanence / cessation / emptiness of the pure essence of phenomena

The ultimate realization, as many mystery schools teach / transmit is the realization of Emptiness / Void-ness of reality - The awareness of No-thingness, No-thought, No-attachment to senses, Just Pure Being, Pure Potential, Transparency, Non Duality, Non-Self

The thing that never dies ( as many teach), the thing that which is not bound by time or locality, which is Unchanging, causeless, all pervading, all knowing is the Pure intrinsic primordial awareness! Known as Rigpa in the Dzogchen Tradition.

That is what links us all! We all have Awareness / consciousness and Existence! From little ants to Mother Earth!

That is our essence, or as close as many can get

The teachings suggest we focus on the emptiness / void-ness of form / senses / reality

Focus on your breath, thoughts, feelings, emotions moment to moment -

We can get to the awareness of awareness and possibly further.

Most people are unaware of what they are doing moment to moment. Most people are unconscious / asleep acting out of preprogrammed habits and self hypnotized attitudes and filters. Living from one perspective only, unaware and no respect or understanding for the other perspectives.

In day to day life checking your motivation for doing things. Responding rather than reacting. Practicing generosity, patience, moderation, and so on see below.

As yet Science suggests that there is no real objective view, only observer-objective view

Relative and Absolute Truth

Looking at our 7 level model - a being on level one would be most relative,acting from fight or flight. A being on levels 5 - 7 would be more spiritual, open minded and objective.

level seven would be acting most objectively - acting from unity consciousness -absolute truth / reality / such-ness /as it is!

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Why Suffer?

"If you don't transform your suffering you transmit it". Richard Rohr

Life / God is difficult & chaotic,
beyond logic and the rational mind.
Once this truth is understood & accepted,
the fact that life is difficult, no longer matters!

GOD can't just instantly solve all our problems, GOD works through us - so we solve our problems for ourselves or realize these problems are just opportunity for growth

Buddha taught Life is Dissatisfaction / Suffering -but he also taught how to end suffering.

We suffer because of our attachment to the cycle of karma / rebirth - Birth / Death, Pleasure & Pain - Duality & Polarity.

We suffer because we are identified with and attached our little ego self - which is continually grasping, separating, self-centred.

After pleasure / birth comes pain /death - natural law

You only suffer if you are attached to something, some action / non-action, outcome, or person.

eg. the degree to which you are annoyed by somebody breaking your arm is the degree to which you are attached to your body!
you would be more annoyed if your writing hand was broken!
But you wouldn't be so annoyed if were a school kid who didn't want to take notes!!

Likewise if you are attached to and co-dependent with your boyfriend and he dumps you might be devastated.

I didn't say 'if you love boyfriend...' - because true love is unconditional - based on acceptance, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude - you would understand your boyfriend dumping you would probably be for the higher good of all. (after all he's / she's dumb enough to dump you, right?!! ha ha)

In fact it is your ego that is hurt and crying - self pity - crying that you are alone - however separation is an illusion - see unity of life below.

Detachment makes a better poker player.

Enquire into who is the one who is suffering?!

The ego, or identification with self causes suffering.

God created man, but man created ego.

All the joy the world contains
is through wishing happiness for others
All the misery the world contains
has come through wanting pleasure for oneself
(8.129 - Shantideva - Bodhicharyavatara)

Everything is mental!

Ultimately our ego is not real. It has no real self.

Pleasure & Pain both arise in mind
Everything arises in mind,
like waves on an ocean, like pictures on a movie screen, like our dreams.

What you experience and perceive as reality
is based on memory, habits, beliefs, karma,
level of awareness, and attitude etc.
You filter unconsciously what you want to see / not see

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Meditation, Mindfulness,

Karma
The Law of Cause and Effect

'As you sow shall you reap' Saying of Jesus

Karma is linked in with synchronicity - it works through subtle ways -
this is Divine Law - often working mysteriously beyond rational logic

However once you are aware of karma and it's consequences your life changes

Just try it. If you steal or do something something just be aware for the next half hour, hour, day /week / etc. for any things that either get stolen from you or any unexpected payments / fines / losses / bad experiences

Karma and a relates to your thoughts, actions, words, feelings and even thoughts!

Where thought (yi) goes, energy (chi) follows

If prayer / positive intention is proven to work then it stands to reason that negative intention will also effect other people. So imagine every time

There are obviously varying degrees of good / bad karma.

Different levels of Karma - Personal, Group, Race, etc,

Karma also extends over past and future lives.

For verify I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled -Matthew 5:18

And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail - Luke 16:17

Karma holds and is a true law -

Thus Buddhists recommend that we build good karma as soon as possible -
if anything it is like sweetness around hot chilies!

Accumulating Good Karma

To gain good karma practice the perfections / virtues / paramitas - generosity, patience, praise, silence, honesty etc. (See buddhism)

Also always have a pure intention / motivation - eg. for highest good of all

Take refuge with the Three Jewels - The Buddha, Dharma (teachings) and the Sangha (Community)

Service to Others / GOD / LIFE / SOUL / MONAD

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Living in Harmony with self & others

OK so the relative is not ultimately real, but we all still experience it on some level. So how do we just get along with others.

The following guidelines will help you live in harmony with others.

The His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama on Life

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

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Ultimate Aim of Life -
Bahai Faith Perspective

The ultimate aim in life of every human soul, the Bahai writings state, should be to attain moral and spiritual excellence--to align one's inner being and outward behavior with the will of an all-loving Creator.

That each individual has been bestowed with a unique destiny by God--a destiny which unfolds in accordance with the free exercise of the choices and opportunities presented in life lies at the center of Bahai belief.

In particular, it is through the moral exercise of our divinely conferred free will that opportunities are provided for spiritual advancement. "All that which ye potentially possess," Bahá'u'lláh confirms, "can...be manifested only as a result of your own volition."1

In a poetic passage, Bahá'u'lláh described the actions of the moral individual and urged His followers to live accordingly:

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.

Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face.

Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge.

Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech.

Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men.

Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts.

Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive.

Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.

Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.

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Laziness

How many of us are swept away by what I have come to call an “active laziness”? Naturally there are different species of laziness: Eastern and Western. The Eastern style consists of hanging out all day in the sun, doing nothing, avoiding any kind of work or useful activity, drinking cups of tea and gossiping with friends.

Western laziness is quite different. It consists of cramming our lives with compulsive activity, so that there is no time left to confront the real issues.

If we look into our lives, we will see clearly how many unimportant tasks, so-called “responsibilities” accumulate to fill them up. One master compares them to “housekeeping in a dream.” We tell ourselves we want to spend time on the important things of life, but there never is any time.

Helpless, we watch our days fill up with telephone calls and petty projects, with so many responsibilities—or should we call them “irresponsibility's”?

Sogyal Rinpoche

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Quick Tips

See the order in chaos,
pleasure in pain,
stillness in movement,
unity in diversity,
balance in imbalance,

Enjoy every experience!
see the good / divine in all
Surf the Waves of Life, Like a Dolphin
Be the eye of the cyclone

Forgive, accept, don't judge,
give thanks and praise, bless,
have compassion, understanding, respect

Take responsibility for actions, thoughts & words

Be aware moment to moment of your
thoughts, feelings, actions, words.
Checking motivations, filters, archetypes

Responding from higher perspectives
instead of reacting from subconscious habits

Detached but Involved
centered, at peace,
innocent but wise,

but don't even be attached to that, be free from fixed beliefs or perspectives

Know for yourself. Examine everything. Be an inner scientist - yourself being the lab!

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Stress and Irritation,

"Stress is wanting what is to be something it isn't."
Eckhart Tolle

'Hell is other people'
Quite often people that annoy us the most, or rub us the wrong way may be the ones who inadvertently show us something within ourselves may not be in balance.

become aware of any control dramas people are playing out
for example 'poor me, aloof, interrogator, intimidator'
Don't become a victim, don't fall for the game

~ be independent of the good opinion of others
Don't take things personal - realise that people often make projections onto us based on their own beliefs, perspectives, upbringing filters etc

If you lose balance, or stressed take a few deep breaths
look at the situation from a wider / deeper / alternative perspective
~ increase self-esteem

become aware what this feels like and just watch it
[Mindfullness Meditation]
unattached and without judgment or reaction

"If you don't transform your suffering you transmit it". Richard Rohr

Sometime you can distract the 'source of irritation'
like a spider flicking hairs, by changing the subject or attracting attention to something else -
like dealing skillfully with an infant or elderly person.

However this doesn't deal with the problem but it is useful short term tool

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Changing the World

Be the Change that you want to see - Mahatma Gandhi

You can only make others better by being good yourself. Hugh R. Hanels

If you want peace in the world, be peaceful with yourself first. Then you will realize you don't need to change the world but you will automatically want to - for the highest good of all, as a servant of the mysterious divine - or to end the suffering of all sentient beings.

By looking after yourself, that's one less person for others / society to worry about.

When you are healed / whole & happy - you will be in a much better position to deal with obstacles.

That is a worthwhile goal - become aware of your ego dramas /roles / archetypes / sub-personalities, attitudes, patterns beliefs, motivations, intentions, fears etc.

Train your mind and suffering will disappear and all virtues fall in your hand.

Buddhists and many others teach that the lives we lead are based on previous karma. So accumulate merit - serve others, donate to charity, be generous, patient, silent, tolerant etc.

Reality now is based on future expectations, motivations and intentions (eg. stock exchange)

So if we live in harmony, understanding, acceptance, gratitude and peace with ourselves, our family, our community, our society, nature and environment we will literally have heaven on Earth!

In fact an enlightened being has no boundaries between 'I' and 'other' - all are one. The enlightened being has developed and then released his / her negative ego.

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So how do I actually live?

We cannot direct the wind...But we can adjust the sails.

Failure is not the worst thing in the world. The very worst is not to try.

There are four steps to accomplishment:
Plan Purposefully. Prepare Prayerfully. Proceed Positively. Pursue Persistently.

The harder you work the luckier you get. Gary Player - Golfer

Life is my college. Louisa May Alcott.

Practically, you are responsible for living in harmony with your neighbors& developing your talents and creative abilities for the highest benefit to all. Not wasting your abilities & potential through laziness.

Spiritually, you understand that nothing is in your hands. You allow the energy of the moment to guide you in all things, with the awareness that this is a gift from Source.

Surrender, be detached and let God / Heaven / Higher Self / Life take care of your spiritual evolution. Align yourself with The Tao - the flow of nature

True happiness comes from service to others / God / life /spirit and from realization of Truth and being / expressing that Truth - and from being able to cope with situations and relationships.

namely having a quiet, centered mind - detached from ego desires but involved and serving others doing what needs to be done right now in the current moment - developing perfections (virtues) and acting for the the highest good of all.

'God is other people'

Perfect Health / Body / Accumulation is worth nothing without Peace of Mind

"The wealthiest person is the one who needs the least" Lao Tse

As Caroline Myss put it -
"Our Challenge is to be Contemporary Mystics without Monasteries"

Be equally comfortable and centered, with
Birth or Death, Day or Night,
Good or Evil, Order or Chaos,
for these are the prerequisites
of physical life / samsara / existence

The unexamined life is not worth living.. PLATO

The rational mind is a faithful servant and the intuitive mind a divine gift. We have created a society that worships the servant and has forgotten the gift. ALBERT EINSTEIN

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Living in Harmony

The most important person is
the one you are with in the moment

Rather than thinking or saying - 'What's in it for me?'
Maybe Say, think, feel - 'How can I help?'

Rather than 'My will be done'
accept that 'Thy will be done'

Life is 'like this now' -
(Insight of such-ness, Vipassana)

However note that 'this too shall soon pass'
No-thing is permanent,
'Change is the only constant'
(Law of Impermanence)

'Be Happy with what you have,
or you will not be happy when you get what you want'

No act is insignificant
'How you sow, shall you reap'

Live fully present,
Moving gracefully from moment to moment,
clinging to no-thing,

taking responsibility for actions,
in reverence, gratitude, devotion, service to Life / Consciousness / God / Others

Aware of the Oneness, Interdependence and interconnectedness of all our lives

"To serve is to rule!"

The goal is the process!

Consciousness / God is That, I am not separate from That

'One candle can light many others' -
just don't burn yourself out too soon!

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More Quick Tips & Truths

The sea has got power, but the tides are governed by the pull of the moon!

Life is a Like a Mirror - Essenes (Jewish ascetics)

What You don't like in others you aren't comfortable with in yourself! Herman Hesse

- As Above, So Below - As Within, so Without - Hermes

Life is what you make it; you are a co-creator of your own reality: you are where you are now because you chose to learn these lessons
- you get what you need, not necessarily what your ego desires
Your reality is based on your word, thought and deed

your life experiences become what you focus on - you attract situations that symbolize internal relationships. Therefore be aware of and dissolve negative thoughts / subconscious blocks - Chi follows Yi eg. if you are violent & aggressive - then you will attract these situations and project your reality onto outside events
What you resist will persist - resistance causes friction

Life is about learning, without learning there is no progress or evolution; experience is a great way to learn - learn about SELF - mind, fears, beliefs, patterns etc. The body dies, the level of consciousness doesn't -it continues to the next life - until it ultimately merges with its maker.

Do what you are inspired to do; strive for happiness in work and play but with respect to others (those who cross your path, our planet) - avoid being selfish or arrogant

Love what you do or do what you love, preferably helping others, for the benefit of others

Treat others how you want to be treated - we are all equal - we are all the same inside (we all have bones, organs, muscles etc,) - let's start acting that way and start sharing and harmonizing with our neighbors (including poor & developing world) -integrating and transcending our differences

don't do unto others that you don't want done unto you - (in fact you can't - what goes around comes around - Law of Karma) (you are one with others)

Be aware of and minimize fear, worry, doubt, anger, hate and all other negative thought and emotions. You're only harming yourself!

Practice non- judgment and
communing with nature - stop and smell the roses!! watch the sunset

Become a silent observer / witness, detached from the outcome - surrender to the Flow of Life; 'JUST WATCH' - passive awareness

Grow spiritually, leading to a grander version of yourself, however don't get into the spiritual ego trap

Be spiritually discerning instead of judging

Have preferences instead of desires

There is no right and wrong only consequences

Belief is restricting whereas knowing is empowering (Dr. W. Dyer)

Be a love finder not a fault finder!

Forgive and accept self and others, now!!

Love self, 'Love all, Serve all!' Sai Baba

We are One, I Am That I Am

Know that you are worthy of love, happiness, health, prosperity and abundance

' Two simple rules for life: Know thyself, take nothing in excess.' Socrates

Increase your consciousness level through some form of meditation and all this will come naturally. Virtues will flower as the causes and conditions ripen through sincere effort.

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Just a couple more thoughts

Coincidences happen for a reason - to help us on a path - evolution - destiny

This physical life is training - we have to progress through many different levels to reach a higher level of consciousness / vibration

Everything bad for a reason? Law of Karma? Law of Cause and Affect

Is there time? Is it important? Don't know - waste time thinking about it?

We are interested by things that we don't know or can't fully understand or doubt - that is the core of intelligence. However, I believe many of the unanswered questions will be answered soon, as we move from an information age towards a more spiritually aware society and as science is focuses more on the invisible unexplained paranormal.

Perhaps it's pointless asking certain questions, so get up of your backside and -

'Just Do It' .......

do what? ........

do what's important to you and what makes you happy!!!

[Prioritize - see below!]

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Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

List your priorities of life

1. Self survival, Self preservation - food, clothes, home

2. Family - Relationships

3. Money - survival

4. Happiness

5. Help friends and others

or perhaps

1. Know thyself, Be Healthy, Have Inner Peace / inner bliss

2. Help family, friends and those who cross my path

3. re-Learn to give and receive Love - happiness

4.Professional Satisfaction

5. Money & material possessions

Make a list that suits you!

or maybe

1. Acceptance & surrender : giving without expecting to receive (after you have enough self love)

2. Attain Nirvana = End of suffering = Truth shall set you free = Light is the Way = The Way is Love = Love is God = God is life

3. Develop Virtues - such as generosity, patience, tolerance, silence, humbleness, purity

However I can practically guarantee: if you follow your heart, and do what you are inspired to do, helping others -then all of the above qualities / priorities will manifest with effortless ease! You will find it hard to distinguish between work and play!

There seems to be a higher force that is directing our lives in certain directions. Whether these are group, planetary, government forces who knows.. but when we find the right path and we know what we want - we are unstoppable, everything that we desire is just attracted to us. Just know that you'll have it - and you will - (see Law of Dharma)

Be alert & Aware - Follow coincidences & signs - 'Drive slowly enough to see the signs!'

See good / divine in all people

Treat people how you want to be treated

What goes around comes around!!

Let's anchor Heaven on Earth!

Be the best you can be!

Go with the flow!!

JUST WATCH!

Success, Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, True Purpose, Balance Male-Female, Balance Brain, Relationships, Going with the flow, Synchronisity & Coincidences, Control dramas

Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

What is your True Purpose?

I don't just want to get by. I want to attain, realize, experience, understand,know, be, embody the ultimate!!

I want to actualize my potential!

It is said our fundamental nature and our ultimate destiny / final destination / potential is Enlightenment / Self-Realisation / Nirvana / God Realization.

First meditation, the supreme antidote to distraction, brings the mind home and enables it to settle into it's natural state.

Second, deep practices of purification, and the strengthening the positive karma through the accumulation of merit and wisdom, start to wear away and dissolve the emotional and intellectual veils that obscure the nature of mind.

As master Jamyang Khentse wrote:"If the obscurations are removed, the wisdom of one's own Rigpa will naturally shine."

Success, Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, True Purpose, Balance Male-Female, Balance Brain, Relationships, Going with the flow, Synchronisity & Coincidences, Control dramas

Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Meditation, Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out,

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

PATHS TO ENLIGHTENMENT -

"My Religion is simple. My religion is Kindness." H.H. 14th Dalai Lama

'My religion is to die with no regrets' Buddhist Saint

People the world over are always seeking secret or mystical spiritual techniques, hoping they will provide a short cut to enlightenment. There are no special techniques other than the basic principles revealed here.

If you turn to the Christian contemplation practices espoused by St Augustine you'll find cessation and contemplation.

If you turn to the Jewish Kabbalah, or the self-remembering techniques of Gurdjeff, or even the practices for moral self-improvement advocated by Benjamin Franklin, you'll find cessation / contemplation practices once again.

Most of the spiritual practices are based on the principles of stopping (samadhi) and observation (prajna), so if you really wish to master the road of spiritual cultivation, there's no way you can accomplish this feat without understanding the priciples of cessation and contemplation, and applying these in your spiritual sadhana (cultivation practice).

p17 - Twenty Five Doors to Meditation, A Handbook for Entering Samadhi, William Bodri & Lee Shu-Mei

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A Guide to Approaches to Enlightenment [in the Buddhist tradition]
by Tathang Tulku

Generally the wide variety of traditions and paths in Buddhism reflects the numerous dispositions and capacities of its followers. Within the Nyingma tradition they are all synthesized into nine, of which Dzogchen of Ati yoga is the supreme, the others being considered as tools or adjuncts to this. Just as there are disciples at varying stages of spiritual development, there are also varying of spiritual paths, and these paths reflect the type of practice which is emphasized at such levels.

Out of the nine vehicles or Yanas, the first and second, that of Hearers, Shravakas, and that of solitary realizers the Prateyekabuddhas both belong to the lesser vehicle or Hinayana. Their training consists mainly of cultivating pure moral discipline. The third is the vehicle of the Bodhisattva, the Awakening Warrior. Here the cultivator mainly cultivates the Awakening Mind, the alturistic thought to bring ultimate benefit to others. This way and the successive vehicles belong to the Greater Vehicle or Mahayana. These first three Yanas are known as causal vehicles, because the practice is directed towards those activities which act as a cause for the attainment of Enlightenment. They are also known respectively as the lower, middle and higher spiritual paths of beings on the ordinary level of capability.

The last six vehicles, which include the Action or Kriya, Performanace or Carya and the Yoga Tantras, and the Maha, Anu, and Ati Yogas, are all part of the Tantric Path. They mainly involve the training in the purification of the appearances of existence. The first three are known as the resultant Vehicles because the practice primariliy centers on the result of the path itself, being taken as the practice. This is the path for those of exceptional ability, who are endowed with excellent or superlative capacity.

In the Tantra Known as Heruka Kalp it states:

"By the Causal Vehicle it can be understood
That the mind is the cause of Buddhahood.
By the Resultant Vehicles meditate
That the mind itself is Buddhahood."

In the Causal vehicles the mind will accumulate the mental and physical merit, and by practicing the path of the Bodhisattva's conduct the result will be obtained. Thus it is considered that the mind is just the cause of the result and that the cause and the result precede and follow one another. Thus they are known as the Causal Vehicle.

The six vehicles of the Tantras are viewed in such a way that the essence of the mind is the final attainment or the result, and that this has been within oneself from the very beginning, yet is covered by fleeting defilements and negativities. If these are uncovered and the recognition of one's self-nature arises, that is the attainment of the ultimate result. So in this case there is no discrimination of "preceding and following" in the idea normally associated with cause and result. Therefore it is called the Resultant Vehicle. These six higher vehicles are more extraordinary than the lower ones by virtue of the wide variety of profound and rapid skillful means with their practice.

The Three Causal Vehicles

i. Shravakayana or the Way of the Hearers

ii. Prateykabuddhayana or the Way of the Solitary Realizers, the Self-Enlightened or Silent Buddha's

iii. Bodhisattvayana

The Six Resultant Vehicles

The Three External Tantras

a) Kriya or Action Tantra

b) Carya Tantra or Upa Yoga Tantra

c) Yoga Tantra

The Three Internal Tantras

a) Maha Yoga - Father Tantras

b) Anu Yoga Tantra - Mother Tantra

c) Ati Yoga - Great Completion

Source: The Dzogchen, Innermost Essence Preliminary Practice by Jigme Lingpa, Translated by Tarthang Tulku, LTWA

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Other methods & Paths of Awakening

Quick Methods - Established

Zen - Thich that Hanh - Zen - Direct Experience, Zen Stories, Zazen, Koans Direct Spontateous Realization
Dzogchen - Rigpa, Also - Base, Path, Fruit - Dzogchen
Ramana Maharshi - Self Enquiry -Who am I? Develop prajna & jnana
Patanjali - Yoga Sutras, meditation
Shiva's 112 Tantra Methods - Tantric meditation
Vajrayana - Tantra - Full Enlighentment in one lifetime, guru yoga & deity yoga
Shingon Buddhism - Esoteric Japanese Buddhism, Vajrayana
Taoist Yoga - Elements, Divine Child, Immortality, microcosmic orbit & macrocosm, jing (sexual essence), chi (prana / winds) , shen (spirit), mai (channels)
Advaita -non-duality

Other

Osho - dynamic meditation
Eckhart Tolle - Power of Now - Doorways into now! - Presence in Present Moment, Space, Inner Body Realization
Sufi - dancing Swirling dervishes
Kabalah - Zohar, Sephiroth
Shamanic Death initiation - sacrifice, death of old, rebirth of new
Vipassana / Insight / mindfulness meditation
Astrology

Through the senses:

through sense receivers - eye, ear, nose, tongue, skin
sense perception - sight, sound, smell, taste, touch

Through Examining the Nature of elements

Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Space
Solidity, Transformation, Pervasiveness
Wind

Through Yoga

Raja Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Tantric Yoga
Pranayama - breathing

Through Mindfulness

Mindfulness of death, impermanence
Mindfulness of breath
Mindfulness of body, speech & mind

Through Visualization, generation & completion

Guru yoga, deity yoga
Inner Skeleton Visualization

Through Mantra Recitation, Jipa

'gate, gate, parasamgate'

In Vedanta Philosophy

Kriya Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Karma Yoga

Through Virtue - the path is the fruit

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Preliminary Practices - [Buddhist Approach]
'Ngondro' - pp154-55

For the masters introduction to be fully effective however the right conditions or environment. Only a few special individuals in history, because of their purified karma, have been able to recognize and become enlightened in an instant; and so the introduction must always be preceded by the following preliminaries. It is these preliminaries that purify and peel away the ordinary mind and bring you to the state where in your Rigpa can be revealed to you.

First meditation, the supreme antidote to distraction, brings the mind home and enables it to settle into it's natural state.

Second, deep practices of purification, and the strengthening the positive karma through the accumulation of merit and wisdom, start to wear away and dissolve the emotional and intellectual veils that obscure the nature of mind. As my master Jamyang Khentse wrote:

"If the obscurations are removed, the wisdom of one's own Rigpa will naturally shine."

These purification practices, called Ngondro in Tibetan, have been skillfully designed to effect a comprehensive inner transformation. They involve the entire being - body, speech, and mind - and begin with a series of deep contemplations on:

the uniqueness of human life
the ever presence of impermanence and death
the infallibility of the cause and effect of our actions
the vicious cycle of frustration and suffering that is samsara

These reflections inspire a strong sense of "renunction," an urgent desire to emerge from samsara and follow the path of liberation, which forms the foundation for the specific practices of

taking refuge in the Buddha, the truth of his teaching and the example of its practitioners, and so awakening a confidence and trust in our own buddha nature
giving birth to compassion (Bodhichitta - alturistic intention - the heart of the enlightened mind) and training the mind to work with yourself and others, and the difficulties of life
removing obscurations and "defilements" through the visualization and mantra practice of purification and healing
accumulation merit and wisdom by developing universal generosity and creating auspicious circumstances

All these practices build up to and center around Guru Yoga, which is the most crucial, moving and powerful practice of all, indispensable for the opening the heart and mind to the realization of the state of Dzogchen.

Third, a special meditative investigation into the nature of mind exhausts the mind's restless hunger for thinking and research, and its dependence on analysis, and references, and awakens a personal realization of the nature of emptiness.

I cannot stress strongly enough how important these preliminaries are. They have to work hand in hand systematically, to inspire the student to awaken the nature of mind, and to enable the student to be ready and prepared when the master chooses the time to show him or her the original face of Rigpa.

Source: Above excerpts from "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying ~Sogyal Rinpoche Rider Paperback - 7 May, 1998 - Paperback - 440 pages new edition (7 May, 1998) Rider; ISBN: 0712671390 (read more - amazon.co.uk)

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

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Virtues and the Practical Intention to Become Enlightened
- Freedom from Suffering

When your aspiration to become enlightened is firm, you should implement it in deeds. These are called Bodhisattva deeds, and principal among them are the six perfections:

1. Giving includes (1) donating material things such as money, clothing and food (2) Giving love (3) giving the teachings of spiritual doctrines and practices; and (4) giving relief from fearful situations to all beings - including animals; help even an ant out of a puddle

2. Morality; which refers mainly to the alturistic attitude and behavior of Bodhisattva's

3. Patience, which is exhibited in stressful situations, or used to sustain difficult endeavors, such as learning teachings and practicing over a long period

4. Effort, which maintains enthusiasm for virtue and assists all the other perfections.

5. Concentration, which is the practice of stable and intense meditation

6. Wisdom, which is necessary for understanding the nature of cyclic existence and impermanence, as well as dependent arising and emptiness

The six perfections, in turn, can be condensed into the three training's of Bodhisattva's - training in the perfection of morality (which includes the perfections of giving and patience), training in the perfection of concentration, and training in the perfection of wisdom. The perfection of effort is required for all three training's. This is how the six perfections are included in the three-fold practice of morality, concentrated meditation, and wisdom.

Source:How to Practice The Way to A meaningful Life, by His Holiness Dalai Lama, Translated by Jeffrey Hopkins, Shambhalla Publications

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The Three Bodhisattva Training's [Buddhism]:

Ethics & Morality - perform only wholesome actions based on pure alturistic motivation / intention. Cause no harm to others or self.
Meditation - Develop Concentration / Shamantha Meditation (to stabilize mind) & Analytical / Insight Meditation (to experience the true nature of things)
Wisdom & View - Having the right paradigm or view of life, Knowing the true nature of cyclic existence, dependent arising, impermanence and emptiness (lack of inherent existence)

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

Mastery, Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Sort Our Planet Out, Non-Self , Compassion

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

The Five Paths [Buddhism]

There are five successive paths on which a bodhisattva develops:

The path of accumulation (sambharamarga)
The path of training or preparation (prayogamarga)
The path of seeing (darshanamarga)
The path of intense contemplation (bhavanamarga)
The path of liberation or no more training(vimuktimarga)

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

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Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

Morality & Vows

Morality is for our own protection. It purifies us, stops us accumulating more karma and promotes a harmonious lifestyle.

The precepts, vows, 10 non virtues, 10 commandments align us with pure goodness - ripening the conditions for our awakening to our true nature (which is pure inherent goodness - bodhichitta)

There are many levels of vows & commitments. But many people of society don't even know the 10 commandments or their equivalent.

Vows bring us into the moment and make us aware of our actions. Many monks from various religions make a vow to always be in the present moment.

Marriage vows are there to keep harmony, trust and serve as sound foundations to a stable happy marriage. However it seems many forget these vows and lack discipline.

Marriage is about surrendering the little 'I' (own negative ego) for the good of the relationship / family.

However these vows require discipline, vigilance, sincere effort, patience, tolerance etc.

We need to be realistic & authentic with ourselves.

In order to realize our true nature we need to purify ourselves / our minds - from the mind poisons - eg. attachment, aversion, ignorance.

In order to have a peaceful mind, we need to simplify our lives - reduce the number of responsibilities & necessities. This is why beings choose the path of renunction. Giving up (attachment to) worldly possessions.

A sadhu - is a spiritual seeker, a renunciate who has given up worldly possessions.

Contentment is the order of the day. In monasteries, monks have only one or two robes.

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

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Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

TAKING REFUGE / PROTECTION / SUPPORT [Buddhism]

There are many different refuge vows.

For instance in the Buddhist tradition:

'OM NAMAHO SHIVAYA' I take refuge in Shiva

I pay homage to all the gurus, from all times.

Until I am enlightened I take refuge in the Three Jewels - The Buddha, The Dharma (Doctrine), and the Sangha (Spiritual community)

Be a student not a follower. Find a master that is qualified & recommended.

Your The ultimate master is your inherent Buddha Nature / Inherent Goodness. Follow your heart.

Validate teachings with inner experience.

Accumulate merit - Serve Others - Karma Yoga

Our present reality is based on our previous karma, memories, imprints & our future expectations.

So in order to have a more positive future, sow positive seeds now. Use the weeds to feed flowers.

When you become aware and start serving others mysterious beyond chance occurrences happen - you will be guided if you are aware enough to see and read the signs.

from that higher perspective serve others on a practical level and live in peace and harmony with natural / divine law.

- serve with the knowing that by serving others you are indeed serving yourself (karma) - be spiritually selfish, enlightened self interest - aim for Win-Win instead of just what's in it for me.
- or with the knowing that there is no-self or suffering - so you might as well occupy moments with serving GOD / Others

Reality, Truth, Belief, Who am I? , Polarities, Realizing Emptiness, 7 levels of Consciousness, Tao , Reincarnation

Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body , Mysticism

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Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Ego, Attachment, Awareness, Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

Dedication & Offering
[Buddhist Approach]

Dedicate merit, accumulated through practicing the 6 / 10 paramitas / virtues - towards your enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.

Make offerings internal (give up thoughts, self-centredness, visualizations etc.) and external (incense, candles, flowers, food- not animals!)

WISDOM - CORRECT UNDERSTANDING - RIGHT VIEW
[Buddhist Perspective]

Understanding the true nature of things. The Yogi's, Teachers, Saints, Buddha's, Krishna's, of all times teach the same things.

For example - understanding the law of karma, realizing emptiness,

The Sutras are believed to be the Teachings of the Buddha. Although written around One hundred years after his paranirvana. The Hinayana Thervada - Pali Cannon - varies from the Mahayana Selection of Sutras.

Quite often the commentaries on the sutra's by great Indian Yogi's are studied more than the Sutras' themselves.

The essence of all teachings is contained in various sutras -eg. The Heart Sutra, The Lotus Sutra, The Diamond Sutra, Yogi Sutra's of Patanjali, Shiva's 112 methods.

Tantra is about transformation. Action.

The ultimate wisdom is realizing emptiness of all things, and realizing that form and emptiness are one. Method and Wisdom is united.

Right view is seeing things clearly, as they are.

PRAJNA - DISCERNING WISDOM

In order to integrate the bliss Realization into everyday life you need to become an inner scientist - observing without judgment how your mind works in day to day situations. You will soon see the nature of things when you see how your mind blocks and filters reality!

Hence the phrase you see what you want to see, you hear what you want to hear & 'let those who have ears listen'

Know the things that are worthwhile - eternal. Know the right place, purpose and timing of things.

Know the things that you can change. Accept the things you can't.

Become a conscious breather. The more mindful we are in our waking hours the more mindful we will be in our dreams. Experienced Yogi's and spiritual practioners are awake even in their dreams.

related pages: Prajna, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

CULTIVATE COMPASSION, LOVING KINDNESS, LOVE & JOY

'The aim of religion is a warm heart - Compassion, loving kindness, respect, acceptance, patience, tolerance, service, sharing, generosity, charity - basically cultivating all the virtues.

The alturistic intention is at the core of the awakened mind. It is our true inner nature - Our inner goodness, divine within, Buddha Nature, Christ Consciousness etc. However it is often obscured by our delusions & mind poisons (greed, attachment, hatred, jealousy, envy, self-centredness)

In the Buddhist tradition, Bodhichitta , the alturistic intention, is cultivated through 'Tonglen' practice.

The essence of Tonglen practice is to:

'Give all profit and gain to others,
Take all loss and defeat on yourself.'

The holy secret of the practice of Tonglen is one that the mystic masters and saints of every tradition know; and living it and embodying it, with the abandon and fervor of true wisdom and true compassion, is what fills their lives with joy. One modern figure who has dedicated her life to serving the sick and dying and who radiates this joy of giving and receiving is Mother Teresa. I know of no more inspiring statement of the spiritual essence of Tonglen than these words of hers:

We all long for heaven where God is, but we have it in our power to be in heaven with Him at this very moment. But being happy with Him now means:

Loving as He loves,
Helping as He helps,
Giving as He gives,
Serving as He serves,
Rescuing as He rescues,
Being with Him twenty-four hours,
Touching Him in his distressing disguise.

Sogyal Rinpoche, Glimpse of the day, Sept 21st, rigpa.org

As you can see cultivating compassion and the alturistic intention is the opposite of the self-cherishing attitude.

The Eight Verses on Transforming the Mind [Buddhism]
by Geshe Langri Tangpa Dorjey Sengey

With a determination to accomplish
The highest welfare for all sentient beings,
Who surpass even a wish-granting jewel
I will learn to hold them supremely dear.

Whenever I associate with others I will learn,
To think of myself as the lowest among all,
And respectfully hold others to be supreme,
From the very depths of my heart.

In all actions I will learn to search into my mind
And as soon as an afflictive emotion arises
Endangering myself and others,
Will firmly face and avert it.

I will learn to cherish all beings of bad nature
And those oppressed by strong sins and sufferings,
As if I had found a precious
Treasury very difficult to find.

When others out of jealousy treat me badly
With abuse, slander, and so on,
I will learn to take all loss
And offer the victory to them.

When one whom I have benefited with great hope
Unreasonably hurts me very badly,
I will learn to view that person
As an excellent spiritual guide.

In short, I will learn to offer to everyone without exception,
All help and happiness directly and indirectly,
And respectfully take upon myself,
All harm and suffering of my mothers.

I will learn to keep these practices,
Undefiled by the stains of the eight worldly conceptions,
And by understanding all phenomena as like illusion,
Be released from the bondage of attachment.

The Eight Verses on Transforming the Mind
by Geshe Langri Tangpa Dorjey Sengey

The Key - 'Just Watch' - 'Simply Be!'

'JUST WATCH'. This means conscious recognition of your inner reality without any subtle attempt to change it. This passive awareness of your inner world leaves the ego unemployed.

Rest in the spacious, peaceful , open, relaxed but alert, awareness nature of mind. Rest in mere experience, the clear and knowing nature of mind - without adding anything or removing anything. Don't condemn or judge yourself, your thoughts, feelings, - just accept them.

Practically, you are responsible for living in harmony with your neighbors.

Spiritually, you understand that nothing is in your hands. You allow the energy of the moment to guide you in all things, with the awareness that this is a gift from Source.

Don't just believe or reject what I have to say,

EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF!!

Know Yourself and Be Yourself! Your true self!

Nobody is better or worse than anybody else - we are all have equal potential for good. Anger, greed, hatred etc. are fleeting emotions. It is difficult to find someone who has no goodness or love within.

Some beings may just be on a different path, or on a different stage on the journey that is life. We all have our own paths. Don't Judge, but be spiritually discerning. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

It seems that we have a deeper meaning to why we are here on Earth. An obvious answer is we are here to evolve. If we did evolve from the amoeba, what is next, what is the next stage. To me it seems that the next stage is higher awareness. Many experts in the field, believe that the next age is going to be the psycho-spiritual age. That is the logical progression, as we look back at our past.

However from certain perspectives eg. Krishnamurti & David Bohm - there is no journey, nowhere to go, except to be right here - present, attentive but relaxed. There is only this eternal presence -primordial intrinsic awareness. When one is enlightened there is nowhere to go. Nowhere better. No need for hope, because one is whole / healed / holy / full-filled - Manifesting & Anchoring Heaven on Earth.

The only path is inward. The path inward is through meditation & self-enquiry.

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MEDITATION

There are many techniques of meditation but the aim is the same - be fully present, aware and mindful in a state of even mindedness - without judgment or interpretation or mind chatter.

To develop meditation one needs to cultivate - attention, introspection, mindfulness, concentration, clarity, & compassion.

For mind training

Developing concentration - samantha - calm abiding - one pointed-ness of mind
Vipassana - Insight meditation - analytic meditation
Dzogchen - contemplation, 'non meditation', no distraction
Loojong - Thought transformation - to develop compassion

Pick a style that suits you - eg. Chi Gong, Tibetan Buddhism Meditations - Tantra, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Taoist Yoga,

By meditating and by learning to meditate we interiorize our focus -we become aware of the true nature of our minds. We realize that we are thinking the same thoughts over and over.

We realize that actually we are in a hypnotic daze / trance most of the time - thinking about past or future ie. what's for dinner, or what to do in a situation, or what happened years ago.

At home we are thinking about work. At work we are thinking about home.

We realize that our thoughts, based on (beliefs, perceptions, filters, and attitudes) shape how we react to external things.

We realize that we have been slaves of our mind / body (thoughts / temptations) instead of being in control of them. When we meditate we become more conscious and alert.

When we are more conscious and alert we notice the signs, receive intuition and act accordingly. Sins drop off and virtues flower - as the right causes & conditions ripen.

We realize that reality, happiness, bliss, love is available here now - and it is only our thoughts / ego that are stopping us from experiencing bliss. Our constant grasping, desiring, clinging, fearing - stops us from pausing, just for a few seconds and observing and experiencing the beautiful miracle that is Life!!

A natural by product of meditation is relaxation, increased intuition, insight into the nature of things, (prajna wisdom) and fore-sight - we can predict the outcome of events - this is due to understanding the true nature of reality -ie. the laws of nature - ie. Yin / Yang, Cycles, Ego etc. the place and purpose of things...

By meditating one realizes how to be back in control of ones life and choices - instead of being a victim of ones unconscious choices. One grabs control of the reigns on the senses. Instead of reacting to impulses from our senses we will be steadfast - using the rational mind as a secondary tool. The primary mind being the natural, pure clear mind.

If you have difficulty meditating, perhaps you are restless, try heavy physical exercise / dancing or mental enquiry and then just lay back - our mind and body will need the break. see Osho Dynamic Meditations.

Or become aware of your restlessness / distraction - without trying to change anything

Or become aware of who is being distracted /restless. (see page on meditation for more tips)

To stay in a meditative state it helps if we develop concentration and one-pointed-ness of mind along with mindfulness. Stay focused on one thing for as long as you can. When you get distracted, come back to the support eg. breath / icon / image / mantra / mudra / feeling / sound / smell etc.

Studies have shown that after 21 days of practicing something regularly, the exercise will soon become habit. For example driving a car. At the beginning you may panic that there is so much to do (eg. mirror signal brake gears steering etc.) . However after a while it becomes natural (second nature).

The mind and body can learn something and then it becomes spontaneous - second nature eg. learning arithmetic, times tables - through discipline, effort & practice becomes spontaneous.

Obviously aspire to have positive habits instead of negative ones. (positive habits lead to pleasure for self & others, negative habits are selfish and based on wrong understanding (ignorance / delusion / hatred etc.)

From a state of no-mind, compassion and bliss arise naturally. According to many teachingsemptiness and bliss truth are one and the same.

You can apply this to meditation or practicing non-judgment or communing with nature.

read pages about mindfulness, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

MORE TIPS FOR MEDITATING

In order to have true inner peace - bliss - consciousness on a regular basis you need to directly experience and integrate the Realization. of Emptiness / Void-ness / Bliss - by staying relaxed, open, free and spacious. The root of our pleasure or pain, samsara or nirvana is in the mind. When we are distracted, agitated, or lazy and dull our true nature is obscured.

Nirvana, Samsara, Good, Evil are concepts of the mind.

Time to train your mind -

tame mind by developing concentration and mindfulness.
transform mind - through lojong mind training - cultivate Bodhichitta - the enlightened mind of compassion

Integrate the state of meditation into everyday work. Be aware and mindful 24 hours a day.

Taking meditation with us.

through preparing yourself ie. purifying, cleansing yourself & accumulating merit. ie. renunction/ non-attachment, ethics & morality etc. and developing right view we now need to develop stability in our practice.

It's one thing to experience temporary enlightenment. It is much harder to integrate this state into everyday life.

In order to do this we need to develop concentration or one-pointed-ness of mind - equanimity - calm abiding - zhine practice.

read pages about mindfulness, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

CALM ABIDING - SHAMATHA - SAMADHI - MENTAL CESSATION - ONE POINTEDNESS- Concentration meditation

Pick a support -eg. breath and stick with it as long as you can. Don't over concentrate. become one with your object of focus.

eg. look at the Flame - then close eyes - stay with the flame in your mind.

If you are carried away by thoughts, don't judge or criticize, make a mindful note and return to your object of focus.

Start with short periods, and then extend practice.

There are at least nine levels of Samadhi.

Some mistake Samadhi meditation as the ultimate Realization. and become attached to it.

One aim of Samadhi is to realize that we are not our thoughts. In order to attain enlightenment we also need Vipashyana meditation.

read pages about mindfulness, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION - VIPASSANA / VIPASHYANA - INSIGHT MEDITATION

"How to light the lamp of mindfulness and shine it on each moment, each act of the day. You do everything in the light of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the presence of God, is the energy of the Buddha within us, the element of holiness within us" (p. 41). (The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-Day Mindfulness Retreat
~Nhat Hanh, Thich Nhat Hanh Parallax Press Paperback - 1 June, 2000 (.co.uk) (.com)

Mindfulness 'sati' literally means to stop. This is about stopping regularly - looking at our thoughts.

It is developing mindfulness of the present moment that brings us back to the moment when we are distracted.

It is the observer mind - pure attention that notices the activity mind.

in one sense mindfulness & concentration are the same. If your are concentrated, alert but relaxed, (focused on form / non form in the present moment) you are mindful.

read pages about mindfulness, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Worthwhile Goals

Ultimately you need to pick your own goals however I have found the following to be worthy of contemplation:

Worthwhile Goals:

All with an alturistic intention. ie. for the sake of all sentient beings, for the highest good of all, in the name of Jesus.

Discover your True Purpose
Develop talents and creative abilities
Understand your True Self,
Develop Wisdom (Truth in Action) and the Right View / Attitude
Be Calm, serene yet focused and alert Mind - Inner peace - deep calm
Healthy mind-body-spirit balance
Act with Enlightened Self Interest / Be spiritually selfish

Realise your true potential, Mysticism, Religion

Master and purify your thoughts, speech and action
Develop inner Virtues eg. Patience, generosity etc.
Experience state of Samadhi, Satori, Enlightenment -
see through the lens of God, Christ / Buddha, and the Holy Spirit
Serve others for the highest good of all

No Goal, Not Knowing

Have no goal except to be in the moment fully; just be / act, just observe - the goal is the process
let the goal arise from your soul / intuition
Enjoy the process - the goal is the path
Be comfortable with not knowing your goal

Success, Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, True Purpose,

Mastery, Enlightenment, Rigpa , God Realisation , Ascension, Rainbow Body ,

Being Spiritual, Karma, Virtues , Bodhicitta, Christ Consiousness, Service to others, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Pitfalls of the spiritual path , Delusions , Taking Refuge and Seeking

Source: Healing With Angels Oracle Cards - Doreen Virtue, PH.D.

FOCUS:

Think about what you want, not what you don't want. Guard Your thoughts carefully, because they create your experiences. Sometimes it seems that our thoughts choose us, but this is never the case. We always choose our thoughts-every moment. Our thoughts always have an effect, and there are no neutral thoughts. One-half second before you hold a thought, you decide to hold it. So, with practice, you learn to monitor and alter your thoughts. This is the equivalent of putting your hands on the steering wheel of life.

You may believe that your concentration abilities are impaired, yet the fallible mind of God is within your own mind. You can experience remarkable feats of concentration by affirming:
"I am now able to focus my mind at will. I hold only loving thoughts, and my angels act as my gatekeepers in establishing a steady stream of thoughts of love."

FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON...

* The Oneness of ALL Life
* The Limitless Abundance of God
* The Realms of Illumined Truth
* The Harmony of your true Being
* Your Divine Birthright as a Beloved Child of God
* Your infinite ability to Love
* Vibrant Health and Eternal Youth
* Being a Peace Commanding Presence
* Your ability to make a positive difference
* Actions you can take to improve your family, your job, your community
* Actions you can take to change the World
* Your gift of Healing and your loving touch
* Your nurturing Motherhood or Fatherhood
* Your Oneness with the Angelic Kingdom and the Nature Kingdom
* The Transfiguration of the Planet
* Ascension, Sacred Knowledge and Divine Wisdom
* Self-empowerment, Enlightenment
* The fulfillment of your Divine Plan *
Heaven on Earth
* And every other thought, word, action or feeling you can focus on to make a positive difference.

This is the clearing work we are all involved in, and is this process requires great introspection, self examination, and vigilance.

Don't be attached to one point of view / perspective / attitude
- be free, look from as many perspectives as possible

Every book, every poem, every song, and every artwork has been filtered through, and is a the product of, a particular perception of life.

The entire world is a gigantic mishmash of filters, some stressing feelings, some thinking, some intuition, some of the five senses, some the right brain some the left brain, others heaven, still others earth and so on.

related pages: meaning of life definition, belief, reality, psychology, mind

What I have found is that the Way to Live is by living in harmony with the Tao / The Way - Heaven & Earth.

The goal is the path. Be Here Now, fully present and aware - centered moment to moment, with only positive habits, Christ / Buddha thinking / mind stream. Living in presence of eternal awareness.

Although one may touch on temporary bliss, samadhi, Mystical Union - the aim is to bring the divine into the mundane.

Some goals

Meditation - experience cessation, samadhi, stabilization, stillness - bliss, no-thingness, no mind, pure awareness (there are said to be nine levels of samadhi)
Ethics & Morality - be harmless, accumulate merit, be good to others -
Wisdom - View, develop 'jnana' - self -knowledge / Non-conceptual Mind & 'prajna' - supreme wisdom - Vipashyana, Insight
Method - Master and purify our body, mind, actions through cultivation practices and align with Christ / Buddha / Goddess / Divine Within - consciousness - thus maintaining alertness / nirvana constantly - full enlightenment
Compassion - Alturistic Intention

The first goal is to stabilize our monkey mind. After all how can we learn anything if our minds are unstable, and distracted. First we need to tame our minds to make them pliable - so we can apply our mind to anything.

In order to have a pure mind we need to be ethical and need to eliminate obstructions such as greed, jealousy, envy, etc.

The second goal is to contemplate our true essence & our true condition.

The third goal is to purify our remaining karma.

The fourth goal is letting our innate buddha nature shine through - characterized by the alturistic intention to do good.

In reality all these are One.

The first stage is characterized by a series of aha! moments, realizations, epiphanies, insights, moments of clarity / peace / oneness / inspiration / thoughtlessness - cessation/

The second stage happens over a long period of time - this is where a lot of the learning about self and unlearning previous knowledge, negative habits.

(It can help to take refuge with a Perfect Guru Buddha -find a qualified teacher / master - ultimate refuge is your self)

True knowledge is transmitted through intuition - direct knowing - spontaneous realization.

Intuition, although ever present, gets clearer as the seeker becomes purer and develops virtue. Thus cultivating virtues is very important - to pay off karma, and for self realization. It is in the giving that we receive and learn about ourselves.

Right action is discovering our True Nature, when we release our thoughts, we see the World through God's eyes.... thus standing in awe of God's Love, Inherent Goodness, Mercy, Grace and many Virtues (Generosity, Patience etc.)

The only freedom is to detach yourself from the mind / body / emotions, realize that God is the only doer, and take a step back, watching the drama of your life unfold. This does n't necessarily mean that you do nothing, rather you are involved in life but detached from your ego desires and expectations. You still have thoughts, fears etc. except you don't react to them.

You do your best with no attachment to the fruit.

read pages about Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, mindfulness, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Rediscovering the state of Enlightenment - Bliss - Truth- Consciousness

Enlightenment is the state of pure consciousness - seeing things as they truly are , with no clinging, grasping, fear, desire or attachment. This is our natural state of being. We just have to clear out the debris, and still the muddy water, to return to our homeostasis.

To achieve this on a regular basis one needs the Fire Within, courage, patience and diligence. This is because we really need to be honest with ourselves and face our shadow side, ego and hypocrisy.

One should also enquire into who is doing the seeking?! Too much searching is also attachment / suffering.

The Spiritual Journey gets tougher, as subconscious blocks arise, but at the same time it gets easier because you gain the tools to deal with newer more delicate / subtle levels, and you realize that all comes from Consciousness / God, is Consciousness / God, and returns to Consciousness . God, so everything becomes an ever refreshing joy.

It just depends if you are ready to accept the ultimate challenge / goal / realization.

read pages about Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, mindfulness, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

FINAL NOTE

Treat everyone as your equal, (we are have the inherent potential for good / compassion / love)
share more and experience unconditional love!

Know the Truth for yourself - become an inner scientist - and you will then KNOW,
not believe, the Truth of Creation.

Just Be - Passive Awareness - just watch -
surrender - detach - accept what is,
but be involved

Be aware of awareness
Listen to the Listener
Enquire Who Am I?

Buddhist insight of Such-ness; 'It's like this now!', 'As it is'
This too shall soon pass!

Do your best,
but don't be attached to the outcome!

Live in the Present moment:
Drop your thoughts of the past & future.
But use your memory & imagination for good.

Dance / Live / Act / Be fully -
lose your 'self-conscious' feeling and inhibitions in the music / beat / rhythm / drumming
- be as if the only one on the dance floor!
- let your presence fill the room / landscape

THE WAY OUT IS IN!
(ie. through internalizing focus - becoming aware of your own mind / reactions / self)

Take something from what you have read. Apply it! Don't just fall back into the same routine of life. Take a deep breath, step back, look at yourself from an external perspective.

Look at your own reactions / over skeptical doubts to this text.

Doubt your doubts. Where are your doubts coming from?

Are your beliefs firm, based on knowledge - or have they been blindly accepted over the years

Visualize where you want to be....

TRY IT OUT! GIVE IT A GO!
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE!

Peace and Happiness

Love and Light.

Greg

PS. Say "How can I help you?" rather than "What's in it for me!"

also "As you wish" and "Thy Will be done" (Thy will, not my will)

pps. Do your best to assist others on the path and in life, helping those in need, starting as much as possible with those closest to you. However if you can't assist others then at least do no harm to any other sentient beings.

read pages about Happiness, Problems, Suffering, Stress, mindfulness, meditation, enlightenment, Emptiness, Buddhism, Zen, Dzogchen

Source of Information, Articles, Quotes & Teachings

This 'guide' is the essence of what I have been studying, observing, researching, experiencing throughout my life. This entire website brings together many perspectives - esoteric teachings from the mystery schools in the East as well as cutting edge science from the West. Much of this knowledge and information may have been hidden (occult) [may be for good reason] until the 19th century.

The Theosophical society opened in the west in the 1920's - spreading previously unknown teachings from the Orient. Also since the 1950-60's when Tibetans were forced out of Tibet and the Vatican opened it's Libraries - there has been much more information that what previously hidden knowledge.

Yet this has all been said before - there are no new teachings here, nothing new can be added. Nothing more can be said. I am just re-hashing what others have said before me.

However now science is backing up what the mystic's have been saying for years. Only the vocabulary and state of the world is different.

As I mentioned - 'timing is everything' & 'nothing is more powerful than an idea who's time has come'

Do not blindly believe what is written here...try it out and see for yourself, and ask a quantum physicist!

The truth cannot be said, but you can be lead to the point from where you can see it. OSHO

This page and indeed the whole site is parallel to the teachings of many mystical and ancient wisdom traditions, schools & teachings. However the site is not promoting any one particular tradition, sect, dogma etc. The choice of path, dedication, discipline, attitude, view, perserverence, patience is yours

This site / page has influences from:
(in no particular order)

Christianity - Gnostics - Nag Hammadi Library, Gospel of St Thomas
Buddhism - Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, Nyinmapa, Dzogchen, Hinayana / Theravada, Mahayana, Bodhisattva, (Bonpo)
Judaism - Kabbalah, Sepher Yetzirah, Zohar, Essenes - Dead Sea Scrolls
Islam - Sufism - eg. Rumi
Hinduism - Vedas, Upanishads, Bhaghavad Gita, Rishis, Yogis,
Shamanism, Native Amercan Indians - Earth Medicine, Bonpo's
Magick, Druids, Wicca, Paganism
Taoism - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
Jainism Mahavira, Zorastrous,
Reiki - Traditional & Non traditional
Meditation - Vipassana (insight), concentration & calm abiding (shamantha / samadhi)

No tradition is left out on purpose. Don't be put off by any of these traditions. If you have something against any of the above, ask yourself why? What is the real reason I don't like...... Is it past experience? social conditioning? prejudice (pre judgment)? Or is it something else?

Also from modern day schools of thought

Science - Quantum Theory, David Bohm, Dan Winters, Sacred Geometry,
Consciousness movement - evolution
Psychology - soul psychology, Buddhist Psychotherapy, Transpersonal, Psycho-synthesis, Carl Jung, Assagioli, Freud, Dr Stone
Golden / New Age Movement - Theosophy - Madame Blavatsky, Alice Bailey, Djwhal Khul
Ethical, Ecological, Environmentally Friendly, Sustainability, Permaculture

and from many teachings of modern and old Masters, Teachers, Guru's, Yogis, Ascended Masters, Adepts, Bodhisattva, Sages, Saints et cetera.

Jesus, Buddha, Mary, Krishna, Mohammad
Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Dalai Lama
Osho, Maitreya, Sri Rama, Sai Baba,
St Germain, Djwhal Khul
Vywamus, Mahatma, Metatron, Melchizedek
and all fully enlightened beings and positive beings of light

and modern teachers - The author has attended teachings, workshop's with many of the following & more

Deepak Chopra
Wayne Dyer
Neale Donald Walsch
Eckhart Tolle
Dr Joshua David Stone
Diane Cooper
Manuel Schoch
Mantak Chia
Andrew Cohen
Stanislaw Grof, Dan Winters, Ram Dass
Dalai Lama, Ammachi, Shri Mataji

and also ancient Healing Arts and Yogic Systems

Tai chi, Chi Kung
Reiki, Spiritual Healing
Meditation - Dr J. Stone, Mantak Chia
Chinese Medicine - five elements
Yoga - kundalini, Raja, Bhakti, Karma, and many more

I pay homage to, salute, respect and revere all teachers and gurus of all times & dimensions - for treading the path of Self Realization before us - showing us the Light, The Way, The Absolute Truth. Our brothers and Sisters. Thank You.

related links & Articles

The 25 Spiritual Wisdom Pillars of the World's Religions - Dr J. Stone
http://www.premamusic.com/sai.10foldpath.html Sai Baba's 10 fold Path to Divinity
http://www.premamusic.com/sai.9pointcode.html Sathy Sai Baba's 9 Points of conduct

related books & Authors

SEE MAIN BOOKS SECTION

A guide to the basic steps of enlightenment, demonstrating how to practice morality, meditation and wisdom. His Holiness, The Dalai Lama provides guidance on mental calm, altruism and compassion, refraining from harm and focusing the mind, together with his more general teachings and wisdom.
(January 2002) Pocket Books; ISBN: 0743427084 (Europe /

The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-Day Mindfulness Retreat
~Nhat Hanh, Thich Nhat Hanh Parallax Press Paperback - 1 June, 2000 (.co.uk) (.com

"Each of us is a river"--twenty one days in Vermont., June 14, 2001
Reviewer: G. Merritt (see more about me) from Phoenix, Arizona
In May 1998, Thich Nhat Hanh led a three-week mindfulness retreat in Burlington, Vermont, at which he delivered dharma teachings on the "Sixteen Ways of Breathing" from THE DISCOURSE ON THE AWARENESS OF BREATHING. This 279-page book is the transcribed record of that retreat, including three question-and-answer sessions. Thay offers lessons here on cultivating "the seeds of mindfulness, enlightenment, understanding, joy and loving kindness" (p. 97).

It is no surprise that Buddhist scholar, Robert Thurman, calls Thich Nhat Hanh "one of the greatest teachers of our time." This book provides easy-to-read instructions on "how to light the lamp of mindfulness and shine it on each moment, each act of the day. You do everything in the light of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the presence of God, is the energy of the Buddha within us, the element of holiness within us" (p. 41). Anyone can practice mindfulness. "You don't need to be a Buddhist," Thay says; "you don't need to be a Dharma teacher" (p. 43). Mindfulness is "deep looking" and "living deeply" (p. 66). Like the sun, when it touches something, it brings about transformation (p. 109). For instance, it allows us to discover everything in the cosmos in a flower: "the sunshine, a cloud, the earth, time, space, everything . . . except . . . a separate existence, a separate self" (p. 172).

Through mindfulness, we walk "the path of emancipation:" "We are free from birth and death. Our true nature is no-birth and no-death. We realize the ground of our being by looking deeply and touching reality deeply. This is the only way to dissipate our fears. If we have this deep insight, we will be liberated from our anguish and fear of being and nonbeing. The Buddha said that all fears and cravings are born from ignorance. Through knowledge and insight, we gain emancipation. We cannot have insight if we don't practice looking deeply. Looking deeply is the practice of meditation" (pp. 208-9). I have read more than a half dozen of Thich Nhat Hanh's books, and I will be adding this one to my list of favorites: BEING PEACE (1988), LIVING BUDDHA, LIVING CHRIST (1995), THE MIRACLE OF MINDFULNESS (1996), and GOING HOME: JESUS AND BUDDHA AS BROTHERS (1999).

How to Practice The Way to A meaningful Life, by His Holiness Dalai Lama, Translated by Jeffrey Hopkins, Shambhalla Publications
Above excerpts from. 'Awakening the Mind, Basic Buddhist Meditations, by Geshe Namghyal Wangchen
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
by Dalai Lama, et al (Hardcover - November 1998)
A Simple Path by Dalai Lama, et al (Hardcover)
The Four Noble Truths by ~Dalai Lama HarperCollins Paperback - 19 January, 1998
An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
by Dalai Lama, Nicholas Vreeland (Editor) (Hardcover)
The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-Day Mindfulness Retreat
~Nhat Hanh, Thich Nhat Hanh Parallax Press Paperback - 1 June, 2000 (.co.uk) (.com
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
by Thich Nhat Hanh, Arnold Kotler (Editor) (Paperback - March 1992)
***** What the Buddha Taught, by Walpola Sri Rahula
*****Mindfulness in Plain English By the Venerable Henepola Gunaratana free book on line - http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/mipe/mipe_2.htm
****Twenty-Five Doors to Meditation : A Handbook for Entering Samadhi William Bodri, Lee Shu-Mei (UK / US)
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying ~Sogyal Rinpoche Rider Paperback - 7 May, 1998 - Paperback - 440 pages new edition (7 May, 1998) Rider; ISBN: 0712671390 (.co.uk) - see 'bestselling section'
****Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand : A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment (Spiritual Classics) ( UK / US)
Bodhisattva of Compassion : The Mystical Tradition of Kuan Yin John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld (UK /US)
Waking Up - A week inside a Zen Monastery - Jack Maguire
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, Hilda Rosner (Translator) (Paperback)
The Heart of the Buddha's Path ~The Dalai Lama HarperCollins Hardcover - 4 October, 1999

*****The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
by Eckhart Tolle, Russell E. Dicarlo, Marc Allen (Preface) (.com
Diamond Mind, A Psychology of Meditation by Rob Nairn
****Awaken to Superconsciousness by J. Donald Walters
****Enlightenment: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali A New Translation and Commentary (UK /US)
****'Book of Secrets' by Osho (science of Tantra) (UK / US)
****Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, W. Y. Evans-Wentz (Designer) (Uk / US)
Tao Te Ching: A New English Version by Stephen Mitchell (Paperback - October 1992)
The Four-Fold Way : Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer, and Visionary Angeles Arrien (UK / US)
**** The New Dawn Maitreya Ishwara

There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem by Wayne W. Dyer (Hardcover - September 2001)
Conversations with God : An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1)
by Neale Donald Walsch (Introduction) (Hardcover - November 1996)
Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield
Samadhi, Personal Journeys to Spiritual Truth By Derek Biermann (UK / US)
Instant Enlightenment: 10 Fun Ways of Realizing You are already Awake by J Twyman
Meister Eckhart
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
by Jon Kabat-Zinn (Paperback - September 1995)
The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino (Mass Market Paperback - November 1988)

Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl, Gordon W. Allport (Preface) (Mass Market Paperback - January 1998)
Way of the Peaceful Warrior, 20th Anniversary Edition: A Book That Changes Lives
by Dan Millman (Paperback)
In Tune With the Infinite: Fullness of Peace, Power and Plenty
by Ralph Waldo Trine (Paperback - September 1995)
Moments of Grace by Neale Donald Walsch (Hardcover - July 2001)
Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul: 101 Stories to Celebrate, Honor and Inspire the Nursing Profession (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Paper))
by Jack Canfield (Editor), et al (Paperback - August 2001)
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
by Don Miguel Ruiz (Paperback - November 1997)
A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles
by Marianne Williamson (Paperback - May 1996)
The Gnostic Gospels
by Elaine Pagels (Paperback - October 1989)
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (Hardcover)
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
by Melody Beattie (Preface) (Paperback - July 1996)
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams
by Deepak Chopra (Hardcover - January 1995)

Dr Joshua David Stone

Soul Psychology : How to Clear Negative Emotions and Spiritualize Your Life Joshua David Stone
Maitreya Ishwara - God's Vision
Krishnamurti
Donald Neale Walsch
Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Kyabje Pabonka Rinpoche
OSHO