09 November, 2014

Reflections from Eye of the Storm



The following reflections are written for three main reasons.

firstly for those who attended the Day of Reflection and expressed a wish for a record of some of the poems and material used

secondly, for those Satsang companions who could not attend


and finally for other readers who may benefit from some of the material and/or are interested in the spirituality of the Satsang Association and its Members in the  UK Midlands


 LIVING IN THE

Eye of the Storm

Reflections on our Satsang Meeting of Sat 8th Nov 2014

The lure of the distance can be deceptive
The great opportunity is where you are.
Examine the ground where you stand
Sister Ishpriya



The Spiritual Journey can be long , at times lonely, and it is certainly challenging.
Although it is ultimately an individual  journey that we all  make ,it is helpful to share it with others. In doing so we gain support, encouragement and share examples of useful practices ( Sadhanas) and experiences.

Throughout the ages each generation, culture and tradition produces men and women who are spiritual masters and mistresses. In short they are mystics. Mystics are those who have had a genuine encounter with the Source, the Mystery or Ultimate Reality , referred to by many Faith Traditions as ' God' . This encounter, no matter how brief, changes them forever and influences their approach to creation , people and the Source. They are non-dualistic and thus see the inter - relatedness and connectedness of everything.. 


Dualism is a serious issue in  our world. It is based on the 'false' idea that everything is Either : Or. This causes unnecessary conflict in every area of life, be it religion, politics, culture, ethnicity etc. It is particularly 'rampant' in Western  Society and influences all forms of Education and Training.  Arguably we have elevated 'Thinking' and Academic Learning above all else  and tended to suppress the  importance of feelings, emotions and our ability to have instinctual or imaginative knowledge. It also relegates 'experience'  and promotes  theory. I am reminded of that famous saying by the philosopher Engels ' An Ounce of Practice is worth more than a Ton of Theory '

 This Dualistic Approach  also infects spirituality and more particularly religion. This is particularly true of the Western Monotheistic Religions. It has led many a religious adherent into a false state and a false dilemma regarding the nature of the Mystery referred to as the Ultimate Reality. This Mystery or God is often seen either as Immanent  or Transcendent, that is Inside or Above and Outside.


Yet all the  ancient spiritual traditions  have always opposed dualism and much of the writings of the sages and mystics, as well as the Sacred Scriptures, contain warnings about this false dualistic separation.  One of the oldest recorded comes from the Hindu Vedas. Here the Sages talk a lot about Advaita ( non-dual or more correctly ' Not Two ').  In summary , the Mystics of the past and the present warn us of the dangers of Dualism which is a very ego centred approach to life. It is an approach that  can lead to us creating a ' God' in our own image.


Developing an awareness of both the falsity and seductive power of Dualism, is a solid basis for developing our ability to find the Still Centre. This is the stillness at the eye of the storm. So our Day of Reflection was informed by input from several Spiritual Masters which provided some key reflections of finding the Still Centre.  Our 'guides' were :-

Sister Ishpriya - The Spiritual Guide of the International Satsang Association and a renowned and gifted Spiritual Teacher

Deepak Chopra -  a scientist and spiritual teacher from the Hindu Tradition.

Eckhart Tolle - a renowned Spiritual Teacher

The central theme from each of these Spiritual Guides was the need to focus on the 'space' that could be found within . Each approached it from a slightly different angle and provided us with a viewpoint or entrance into the non-dualistic approach to finding that Still Centre or Space where we encounter the inter-connectedness of  all. It is in this 'space' that each individual could meet with and relate to the real self, others, the environment , the Cosmos and  the Mystery  that is the Source of all creation.

This blog can merely give an outline or taste of the experience and contains only one  of the video clips. However, it is hoped that it will  be helpful and give a flavour of our Satsang meeting




We gathered in silence and sat around our centre piece, designed by Angela Creagh, to light a candle and become present to each other, our surroundings and the theme of our Day of Reflection.

Light is a Universal Symbol in all traditions that reminds us that we are born in this Body - Psyche in light and it is to that Light or Source we return when we exit from this Body - Psyche 

Each of our input video clips were preceded by and ended with a short poem in  the form of a reflection. 

So our 1st clip from Sister Ishpiya was preceded by the following poem composed by her.




                  CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT OF HALF LIGHT

O Lord
I am caught in that moment of half-light, 
the breathless point of balance between sun and moon.  
As I bid farewell to the cold purification of the night, 
in that same movement, 
I fling wide my arms to be embraced by the warmth and glory of the sun,
 knowing that in due time I will bow to the receding light
 and open my arms to darkness once again.


Thus, O Lord,

You come into our lives, in the blaze of splendour,

the certainty of Your presence,

in the times of aridity and isolation,

even to the point of despair.

Throughout this continuing journeying,

from the zenith of midday

to the depths of midnight and back to blinding noontide,

we grow towards You, the true light,

that shines like the sun beyond darkness, forever. 

Sister Ishpriya rscj

Our opening video clip, from Sister Ishpiya ,designed to outline the theme, can be viewed below before reading on.



Ishpriya, reflects upon how science and cosmology has enabled us to leave our planet and begin to view it from space. Satellite pictures can now show us ,what previously we had guessed or intuited, that there is a still centre to a hurricane. She uses this as an analogy for the 'storms of life' that beset the spiritual traveller and the possibility of  finding that still centre within each one of us.

The storms of life , like hurricanes, cannot be stopped. They are part of the natural order.  It can be unwise to set out to avoid or ignore the 'storms'. Many Spiritual Masters advise us that this is a form of 'spiritual bypassing'.  In short , we seek to find a short-cut or easy way , a form of an ' Elysian field'  where everything is wonderful  and storms either don't exist or merely happen to others. In short, we try to find and live in a world where there are no storms.

We can see this  tendency in all traditions and Jesus the Christ warns about this in his parable of the Sower and the Seed.  Those who fail to put down strong roots either wither or get tossed about by the storms of life. We need to be wary of the modern commercial world offering to sell us easy ways out. Yes, practices such as  yoga, pranayama, Tai Chi, Mindfulness, Reiki and many others, can be helpful but they can only form part of our Sadhana and our lived experience is a truer guide than spiritual 'theory' You cannot 'buy' your way out of the storms of life. It requires effort and above all the development and awareness of self.

However, just as with hurricanes, there is a still centre that moves with the storm and Ishpriya advises us on the wisdom of finding a way or a door into the Still Centre. She outlines three possible 'motivators' or way. These are the way of conviction, Curiousity and Trauma.

Conviction is when we are convinced that there is a Source or Mystery  and this encourages and aids us in our spiritual search for this Reality, Curiousity is  a natural human response and it entices and interests us. This interest , enticement and curiosity drives us on  in the search for Ultimate Reality. Finally, many find the Still Centre after suffering a trauma or tragedy. But whether by conviction , curiousity  or trauma,  all three can lead us towards that Still Centre and it is our responsibility to find opportunities and practices to help us on the journey into awareness that leads to the still centre.

After Ishpriya's input we had a short pause that was to lead us into both our next input and our 1st period of personal reflection. This next input was from Deepak Chopra. However, as with all of our main inputs, we paused as Angela read us a reflection from Rabindranath Tagore - a Hindu Poet and Mystic. This would be repeated after Deepak's reflections.




SILENT STEPS

by Rabindranath Tagore




Have you not heard his silent steps?
He comes, comes, ever comes.

Every moment and every age,
every day and every night he comes, comes, ever comes.

Many a song have I sung in many a mood of mind,
but all their notes have always proclaimed,
`He comes, comes, ever comes.'

In the fragrant days of sunny April through the forest path he comes,
comes, ever comes.

In the rainy gloom of July nights on the thundering chariot of clouds
he comes, comes, ever comes.

In sorrow after sorrow it is his steps that press upon my heart,
and it is the golden touch of his feet that makes my joy to shine,

He comes ever, ever comes.


Rabindranath Tagore


Deepak Chopra , is a Teacher who integrates his understanding of Scientific discoveries with his deep roots in his Hindu Tradition. Like many others, he both recognises and realises that 'spiritual revelation' is not static but is dynamic. Our recent discoveries in science, cosmology and other areas are all part of the ongoing revelation. This is non-dualistic and avoids any tendency to separate religion from science. All is revelation and creation in on-going. In addition, a sentient, conscious and self-reflective beings, we are co- creators in this on going revelation and creation.

Deepak focused on human consciousness and warned us of the 'distortions' of both our perceptions and our , so called ' awake' consciousness. Our senses deceive us and the real journey is inwards to find the 'Presence' of the Mystery within.  He reminded us how science reveals that everything in the Cosmos exists in a binary sense , that is  it is On or  Off. Yet we perceive things as being constantly On. We have much to learn as the real 'presence' can be found in  the Off. It is in those Off times that we can find real consciousness and our deep sense of inter-connectedness. We ended Deepak's input with a short time of inner meditation before taking time for personal reflection.

QUESTIONS TO AID REFLECTION

Some questions designed to aid personal reflection and to lead the sharing of those gathered in Satsang  are shown below. Readers of this Blog may also find them helpful.

The following questions could aid our reflection concerning the Still Centre at the heart of the storm

n
How could my curiosity help me find gateways into the Still & Silent Centre ? 


What are my convictions about the Still & Silent Centre ?


Perhaps more importantly – what has been my experience of finding the Still Centre where thoughts, feelings and emotions  are quieter and (hopefully) sometimes  become silent ? 


After a time of Personal Reflection we shared before breaking for lunch. Sharing at any of our Satsang Meeetings is private and we tend not to comment but merely listen with a compassionate, open and receptive heart. We do so in the spirit of the Satsang Logo.

Satsang - 

Seeking together - Helping to Create - A Planetary Vision - A Universal Heart of Compassion



 
Afternoon Session

We began our afternoon session with an audio clip from Sister Ishpriya, taken from the Hindu Vedas. This supports and reinforces the theme of going within to find the Still Point. Note the term 'fullness' which paradoxically is the same as the Buddhist concept of 'emptiness'  This place or more properly state , is infinite or vast . It can only be experienced and is not open to intellectual perception.


Then we used the following quote from Ishpriya and had a time of quiet reflection with some Celtic Music
A view from Die Quelle - the Satsang Sadhana Ashram


To prepare for the afternoon setting and focus on our theme of looking within , into the place where we  really are and thus  finding the Inner Still Point,  we listened to a song in the Celtic Tradition of 'Presence' based on the words of the Christian Mystic , Juliana of Norwich - All Shall Be Well



We then moved on to our main input from Eckhart Tolle, a renowned Spiritual Teacher. Eckhart focuses on the power of the Now - the Presence that can be found within in an immense inner space.. Before and after his video input we had a reading, by Angela, from the work of John O Donohue.  This is copied below.

The Cliffs of Moher


A Blessing for  PRESENCE

John O Donohue

a Celtic Scholar and Spiritual Teacher






May you awaken to the mystery of being here  and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
 May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.


May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

 May you respond to the call of your gift and find the courage to follow its path.

May the flame of anger free you from falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.

May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.
John O Donohue

Eckhart Tolle is a German Canadian who is a renowned Teacher. His input focused on the power of the Now - the Present Moment. It is similar to the teachings of both Buddhism and Celtic Spirituality. He contrasted the endless focus on the mind and its seductive thinking with the real presence one can find in awareness.  Just like Ishpriya and Deepak Chopra, he reminded us that most thoughts were speculative and bore little resemblance to reality. We can spend so much time being imprisoned and enthralled by the mind and its endless stream of thoughts. Many of these were rooted in the past or imagining a future that will never arrive. The only 'time' we have is now- the present moment and we so often fail to live in this moment. 

This was both a dualistic and Ego- Centred approach to life.  In addition, finding the 'spaces' in the stream of thoughts ( just like Depak Chopra's  On - Off  analogy ) was where we could enter the gateway into deep stillness and awareness.  He likened the Ego Centered approach to that  of a person who only lived in a  horizontal plane. This was a plane focussing mainly on the Past or Future while trying to live in the present or now. Thus we were not really living in the NOW!

 He emphasised that going within and living in  the now, the present moment,  required us to go deep to find the expansive and vast space of awareness. This was a state of living that involved the vertical plane. In this vertical plane we lived in the present moment. In short, to paraphrase Ishpriya, we examined the ground on which we stood. From this position we could go deeper and plummet down into the depths of awareness that led ultimately to a  vast space ( in Hindu terms) within the heart. The doorway into this 'heart space'; was to be found in the spaces between the constant stream of thoughts.

Yet the majority never focus on the 'spaces' and remain  over-whelmed by the constant stream of thoughts. Most of these  thoughts are not only very negative but have little to do with the present moment or reality. Modern Neuro-Psychology is also teachings us about the dangers of this negative stream of thinking. They actually re-wire and change our brain and can lead to a lot of unnecessary mental trauma and ill health . They can cause overdoses of cortisol and Adreniline which can damage us both physically and mentally.

Towards the end of his talk, Tolle reflected on how the great Teachers and Masters like the Buddha and Jesus had tried to show us where true enlightenment could be found. Eckhart, teasingly challenged Christianity, as he reminded us of a central teaching of Jesus ' The Kingdom is not without but can be found within' . He wondered how  little Christianity and Christians  had really understood this in the past 2000 years. They seemed to be focusing on the exterior and failing to see the interior and implicit within each individual. As for the Buddha, when questioned about the existence of God ( The Mystery) it is said ' The Buddha kept Noble Silence'. It is in that deep inner noble silence that we can find the Inner Still Point a place of great spaciousness.

Our second period of reflection was informed by the following questions.

The following questions could aid our reflection

How do I respond to ‘ the entire life only consists of the NOW’  (which is so often overlooked ) ?
How aware am I of ‘the grip of the thinking Ego Mind’  and how could I quieten it and find the ‘spaces’ in my life ?
What ONE  thing struck a challenging chord in me ?

Readers of this Blog may find the above questions both helpful and relevant for their own reflections.

Our three 'guides', Ishpriya, Chopra and Tolle, all point to the same reality - the need to find that inner Still Point that is accessed through our growth in awareness of the present moment. This is a journey into the vast space within , that leads to endless possibilities and a deeper relationship with the Source or Mystery. It is a journey that lasts a lifetime and, although ultimately an individual journey, it can be helpful to share in Satsang with other travellers

I want to end these reflections within an extract from the Hindu Upanishads. This demonstrates that the teachings of the modern mystics regarding the nature of the inner journey are remarkably similar to ancient wisdom.  Wisdom is both perennial and Universal. Below is an extract from the Chandoga Upanishad. This 'describes' , albeit in poetical language, the space within that Ishpriya, Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle all refer to.


In the centre of the castle of Brahman ( God) , our own body, there is a small shrine in the form of a lotus flower, and within can be found  a small space. We should find who dwells there, and we should want to know him.

And if anyone asks who is the One  who dwells in a small shrine in the form of a lotus flower in the centre of the castle of God ? Whom should we want to find and to know ? ‘   we can answer.


The little space within the heart is as great as this vast universe. The heavens and the earth are there, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars; fire and lightning and winds are there;  and all that now is and all that is not : for the whole universe is in Brahman the one who dwells is the shrine  and that One  dwells within our heart ‘

                                    Chandoga Upanishad ( Hindu Scripture)

Thank you for reading this Blog


08 November, 2014

BE HAPPY - Knowing Awareness



BE HAPPY


The Spiritual Sages of all the great Faith Traditions remind us that two great qualities required by the Spiritual Seeker are JOY and GRATITUDE. They also remind us that these qualities result in greater happiness. 

The Sages remind us  that Practicing happiness is a wonderful Spiritual Practice ( Sadhana).

A useful Sadhana or Spiritual Practice is to pause, become aware of the present moment and re-mind   yourself of something , in your awareness, that is positive, acknowledge this positive. It could be a 'thing', a feeling, a thought, etc in the present moment.

Then let that acknowledgement widen and deepen into both an appreciation and a joy.

Then express your gratitude for this.

The above simple practice can be done first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

It is an ancient mindful practice based in all the Spiritual Traditions. 

This short  blog ends with a reflection from the sages of Hinduism


The following reflection comes from the Hindu Vedas.

Be Happy!
Love yourself but don’t judge others.
Forgive, always be simple
And don’t make distinctions

Be still !
But above all be Happy
And in the end you will find yourself
Just by knowing how things are.
Be Happy!

 The Aschtakakra Gita

07 November, 2014

Developing Spiritual Resilience

Spiritual Resilience


We live in and are part of an evolving Cosmos. In addition, modern discoveries and technologies are constantly changing. Consequently, modern psychology places places an increasing emphasis on the need for us to develop , what it terms, emotional resilience. But what does the term 'resilience' mean ? . The Oxford English Dictionary gives us two definitions that  suggest an ability or quality that assists us in riding the storms or waves of life:

1.                  the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity
2.                  the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

However, I prefer the analogy of the following Japanese Proverb   The winds may fell the massive oak, but young  bamboo, bent even to the ground, will spring upright after the passage of the storm. 

So in psychology, the term ( Emotional) Resilience refers to an inherent ability that allows us to adapt and respond to stressful and potentially traumatic situations or crisis. The possession of Resilience allows us , like young bamboo, to bend with the storms of life and winds of change and yet return to a steady centre. Or in other words, as so ably put by Sister Ishpriya, attain and maintain the ability to remain in 'the eye of the storm'  

Now we are more than just our emotions, we are, so to speak,  PIES people That is we  have physical, intellectual emotional and social aspects to our being.  Unfortunately, our body begins to wear out as we grow old but our intellectual and emotional abilities can remain quite high much longer. Modern neuro-science now tells us that we can continue to grow and alter our brain - this is referred to ass neuro-plasticity. Therefore we need to develop resilience in all these areas.. Most importantly, the spirit never dies and both outlasts and transcends the body-psyche. Consequently, it is inportant  that Spiritual Travellers focus on the area of Spiritual Resilience.

Further reflections in this series  will begin to focus on ten important aspects or pointers that can assist us in developing, attaining and maintaining a healthy Spriitual Resilience.