Η Γιόγκα δεν είναι απλώς μυικά τεντώματα

Από τον Σουάμι Σεβαράτνα

Το ότι σχεδόν κάθε άνθρωπος έχει σήμερα πια ακούσει τη λέξη Γιόγκα είναι ένα ευχάριστο γεγονός. Θα ήταν πολύ πιο ευχάριστο αν είχε και τη σωστή πληροφόρηση για το τι περιλαμβάνει αυτή η θεϊκή επιστήμη. Σχεδόν σε κάθε Γυμναστήριο μπορεί να βρει κανείς σήμερα Γιόγκα, η οποία όμως γίνεται με έναν τρόπο που την κατατάσσει στο fitness, αποκομίζοντας τα ευεργετήματα του fitness, τα οποία είναι βεβαίως σεβαστά. 

Η Γιόγκα όμως δημιουργήθηκε σαν σύστημα πριν χιλιάδες χρόνια (κανείς δεν ξέρει με βεβαιότητα την ακριβή ηλικία της) με στόχο την αυτο-πραγμάτωση ή φώτιση. Αυτή η ύψιστη κατάσταση συνοδεύεται από το υπέροχο συναίσθημα της ευδαιμονίας. Στην πορεία προς τα εκεί βιώνει κανείς μια πληθώρα ευεργετημάτων, όπως η τέλεια σωματική και συναισθηματική υγεία, αρμονικές σχέσεις, επίτευξη στόχων κλπ

Αν όλα αυτά τα πανέμορφα ευεργετήματα δεν τα ζητάει κανείς, είναι σαν να αγοράζει ένα πανίσχυρο υπολογιστή και να τον χρησιμοποιεί μόνο για προσθέσεις και αφαιρέσεις, πράγμα που μπορεί να κάνει κι ένα απλό calculator...

Στις συγκλονιστικές αλλαγές που έρχονται σύντομα, το πέρασμα σε έναν Παράδεισο όπου όλα τα τωρινά προβλήματα (ανάμεσα σ'αυτά και η φτώχεια) θα είναι παρελθόν, η Γιόγκα μπορεί να παίξει σημαντικότατο ρόλο όσον αφορά την προετοιμασία για το πέρασμα στην 5η Διάσταση (ascension) με ισχυρές τεχνικές ενεργειακού καθαρισμού μέσω διαλογισμού. Αυτός ο απαραίτητος καθαρισμός αφορά τα αρνητικά συναισθήματα και κυρίως τον φόβο που είναι το κυριότερο αρνητικό συναίσθημα. Όταν φύγουν τα αρνητικά συναισθήματα από το ενεργειακό πεδίο ενός ανθρώπου, τότε ανατέλλει ανεμπόδιστα η ευδαιμονία.

Με αγάπη και φως

Άλλο Χαρά, Άλλο Ευδαιμονία

Άρθρο του Σουάμι Σεβαράτνα 

Δύσκολα θα βρείτε άνθρωπο ακόμα και σε μια πάμπτωχη χώρα του Τρίτου Κόσμου (ποτέ δεν κατάλαβα γιατί ποτέ δεν γίνεται λόγος για τον Δεύτερο ή Πρώτο Κόσμο) που να μην έχει δοκιμάσει τη χαρά με κάποιο τρόπο. Στα πέντε ταξίδια μου στην Ινδία πάντα με εντυπωσίαζε το γεγονός ότι ΟΛΑ τα παιδιά και ιδιαίτερα στα χωριά όπου η φτώχεια είναι δεδομένη, ήταν με τη χαρά της ζωής στο πρόσωπό τους (βλ. εικόνα). Μια χαρά που δεν την βρίσκεις στα παιδιά μιας δυτικής μεγαλούπολης. 

Η χαρά όμως πάει χέρι-χέρι με τη λύπη. Ένα κοινό παράδειγμα αυτής της μεγάλης αλήθειας που σημαδεύει τη δυαδικότητα, είναι το roller coaster των συναισθημάτων που βιώνει ένας οπαδός ποδοσφαιρικής ομάδας. Όταν βάζει γκολ η ομάδα του, η χαρά του κτυπάει «κόκκινο», ενώ όταν δέχεται γκολ, βυθίζεται στα βάραθρα της λύπης. Μπαίνοντας στην κατάσταση του οπαδισμού είναι βέβαιο ότι θα έχει κανείς αυτά τα ανεβο-κατεβάσματα. Τα έζησα όλα αυτά στην εφηβεία μου σε υπερθετικό βαθμό και στα 24 μου τα άφησα πίσω μου. 

Ένα άλλο κτυπητό παράδειγμα είναι οι συναισθηματικές μεταπτώσεις των επενδυτών στο Χρηματιστήριο. Ανεβαίνουν οι μετοχές, η χαρά κτυπάει κι αυτή limit up. Πέφτουν οι μετοχές, η λύπη κι απογοήτευση πάνε limit down. Εξαρτημένες καταστάσεις που έχουν ως βάση τους ότι για να αισθανθώ χαρά, κάτι πρέπει να γίνει στο εξωτερικό επίπεδο. Δηλαδή, δεν γίνεται να το φτιάξω αυτό μόνος μου, χωρίς βοήθεια από κάποιο εξωτερικό γεγονός. Αυτό είναι μια πλάνη, όπως ξέρει πολύ καλά όποιος έχει κάποια σημαντική (κι όχι περιστασιακή) θητεία στη Γιόγκα. 

Το ότι η Γιόγκα επέζησε τόσες χιλιάδες χρόνια, τουλάχιστον πέντε χιλιάδες, οφείλεται όχι τόσο στα πολύ καλά τεντώματα των Ασάνων, αυτό άλλωστε το κάνει και το Pilates, αλλά σ’αυτό που είναι το «βαρύ πυροβολικό» της, τα στάδια 5, 6, 7 και 8. Κι επειδή μπορεί να μην ξέρετε τι ακριβώς είναι αυτά τα λεγόμενα ανώτερα στάδια, συνεχίστε να διαβάζετε. Αυτά τα ανώτερα στάδια είναι απίθανο να τα βρείτε στα γυμναστήρια. Άλλωστε ο πελάτης ενός γυμναστηρίου δεν τα ζητάει. Εκεί απλώς θα πάει κανείς για να τεντώσει το «κορμί» του (για κάποιο λόγο δεν το λένε ποτέ σώμα, αλλά πάντα ‘κορμί’) λες και δεν υπάρχει τίποτα άλλο να τεντώσει, όπως π.χ. το νου του, ο οποίος επίσης μπορεί να χρειάζεται 'σύσφιξη'. 

Το στάδιο 5 έχει να κάνει με το αποτράβηγμα των αισθήσεων από τα εξωτερικά αντικείμενα. Ένα εγχείρημα μεγάλης δυσκολίας για έναν δυτικό άνθρωπο, καθώς έχει μεγαλώσει μέσα σ’ένα περιβάλλον που χαρακτηρίζεται από εξωστρέφεια. Η Γιόγκα δεν χάνει ευκαιρία να τονίζει ξανά και ξανά ότι όλο το ενδιαφέρον είναι προς τα μέσα. Εκεί θα βρει κανείς όλες τις απαντήσεις στα αγωνιώδη υπαρξιακά ερωτήματα. Τώρα αν δεν σας απασχολούν υπαρξιακά ερωτήματα, εγώ δεν σας φταίω τίποτα. Όπως στρώσεις, έτσι θα ξαπλώσεις. Χωρίς στοιχειώδη αναζήτηση στα υπαρξιακά, είναι κανείς βέβαιο ότι θα ζει επιφανειακά, με αποτέλεσμα να είναι «φτερό στον άνεμο».    

Το θρυλικό Αποτράβηγμα των Αισθήσεων οδηγεί με μαθηματική ακρίβεια στο στάδιο 6 που είναι η Συγκέντρωση. Η ικανότητα συγκέντρωσης του μέσου ανθρώπου σύμφωνα με έρευνες που έγιναν σχετικά, είναι (κρατηθείτε) μόλις 3-5 δευτερόλεπτα. Μετά από αυτό το διάστημα, ο κακο-μαθημένος νους παρεμβαίνει και στρέφει την προσοχή σε κάτι άλλο, σχεδόν πάντα κάτι άσχετο με το αντικείμενο που επιλέξατε να συγκεντρωθείτε. Το θέμα λοιπόν είναι τι κάνουμε μπροστά στη διαπιστωμένη αυτή τάση του νου. Η Γιόγκα παρέχει τα αναγκαία εργαλεία και είναι στο χέρι σας να τα αξιοποιήσετε. 

Ένας έμπειρος εκπαιδευτής σκύλων ξέρει πολύ καλά για ποιο πράγμα μιλάω. Αρχικά, ο σκύλος κάνει ό,τι θέλει ανεξέλεγκτα, κυρίως επειδή ο κύριός του του έχει αδυναμία και δεν κάνει τίποτα που μπορεί να δυσαρεστήσει τον σκύλο του. Με ένα έξυπνο σύστημα ανταμοιβών, ο σκύλος γρήγορα καταλαβαίνει ποιο είναι το συμφέρον του και συμμορφώνεται. Κάτι ανάλογο πρέπει να κάνουμε κι εμείς με το νου μας, ο οποίος είναι εξ ορισμού ταγμένος στο ρόλο του υπηρέτη κι όχι του αφέντη. Ο αφέντης είστε εσείς, μόνο που δεν σας πολυ-εμπνέει ο ρόλος του επιβλέποντος. Αν ένας προϊστάμενος σε μια υπηρεσία δεν κάνει κανένα έλεγχο στους υπαλλήλους του, αυτοί είναι βέβαιο ότι θα λουφάρουν, κάνοντας τα δικά τους κι όχι αυτό για το οποίο πληρώνονται. 

Όταν τελειοποιηθείτε στη συγκέντρωση, σας περιμένει στο 7ο στάδιο ο διαλογισμός. Το πέρασμα από τη συγκέντρωση στο διαλογισμό είναι σχεδόν αόρατο. Μπορεί να μην το συνειδητοποιήσετε, παρά μόνο όταν έχετε μπει πλέον βαθιά στον διαλογισμό. Μια υπέροχη εμπειρία, που δυστυχώς ο μέσος άνθρωπος δεν βιώνει ποτέ κι ούτε την κυνηγάει, γιατί δεν ξέρει καν ότι υπάρχει. 

Το αποκορύφωμα του διαλογισμού είναι το Σαμάντι, το 8ο στάδιο της αυτό-πραγμάτωσης ή φώτισης. Μπορούμε να βοηθηθούμε στην προσέγγιση αυτού του θέματος, από το ότι όλοι μας χωρίς εξαίρεση πριν ξεκινήσουμε αυτό το ταξίδι που είναι η ζωή, βρισκόμασταν σε μια τέλεια κατάσταση υπέρτατης ΕΥΔΑΙΜΟΝΙΑΣ που είναι απόρροια της ΕΝΟΤΗΤΑΣ. Στην κατάσταση αυτή, που είχα την ευτυχία να βρεθώ για δύο μήνες, όλα είναι όπως θάπρεπε να είναι, μια ανείπωτη αρμονία των πάντων. Δεν υπάρχει τίποτα που θα μπορούσε να την κάνει καλύτερη. Μια απίστευτη ευδαιμονική πληρότητα. Δεν επηρεάζεται από το ότι δίπλα μπορεί να συντελείται ένα όργιο διαφθοράς. 

Μα πως μπορεί να γίνει αυτό; Είμαι βέβαιος ότι αυτό το ερώτημα δεν γίνεται να μην σας προκύψει. Μοιάζει με απονέκρωση των αισθήσεων. Ακριβώς το αντίθετο. Οι «κεραίες» σας δεν έχουν χάσει τίποτα σε ευαισθησία. Απλώς είστε στο σημείο εκείνο της εξέλιξης που μπορείτε να δείτε πίσω από τη διαφθορά ή το χάος. Να δείτε πού οδηγούν όλα αυτά, έχοντας πρόσβαση στην ευρύτερη εικόνα των πραγμάτων. 

Αυτά για σήμερα. Καλημέρα σε όλους. Και να θυμάστε ότι τα καλύτερα δεν ήλθαν ακόμη. Μερικά από αυτά σας περιμένουν Ήρας 36, Γλυφάδα. 

Σουάμι Σεβαράτνα

Yogaspirit, Ήρας 36, Τηλ.: 210 - 96 81 793   και   6986 – 700 663

Yogaspirit: Εγκαίνια της σεζόν 2013-14

Αγαπημένες ψυχές, ο Σουάμι Σεβαράτνα σας απευθύνει θερμούς χαιρετισμούς με την ευκαιρία της έναρξης μιας ακόμη σεζόν στο Yogaspirit.

Ήλθε η ώρα για άλλο ένα ξεκίνημα. Τη Δευτέρα 2 Σεπτεμβρίου, από τις 6.30 μμ και μετά, σας περιμένουμε, παλιούς μαθητές και νέους ενδιαφερόμενους, στη νέα μας διεύθυνση, Ήρας 36, Γλυφάδα. Μια συνάντηση γνωριμίας για τους νέους ενδιαφερόμενους και ανανέωσης της έμπνευσης για τους παλιούς μαθητές, για να μοιραστούμε εμπειρίες, για ανάλυση των τρεχόντων συνθηκών στον πλανήτη και τον ρόλο της Γιόγκα σε όλα αυτά που μας συμβαίνουν.

Ως γνωστόν, η Γιόγκα δεν δημιουργήθηκε απλώς για μυικά τεντώματα. Αυτά αποτελούν βεβαίως αναπόσπαστο τμήμα ενός τυπικού μαθήματος, αλλά αυτό που κάνει τη Γιόγκα ένα μοναδικό σύστημα είναι από εκεί και πέρα, δηλαδή από την Πραναγιάμα (το 4ο σκαλοπάτι) και μέχρι τα πνευματικά υψίπεδα του Σαμάντι (8ο σκαλοπάτι). 

Υ.Γ.: Όπως μπορείτε να δείτε και στις Ώρες Μαθημάτων' υπάρχουν 2 πρωινά, 2 απογευματινά, 2 βραδινά και 2 νυκτερινά τμήματα. Κάθε τμήμα μπορεί να δεχτεί το πολύ 5 μαθητές. Έτσι, είναι σημαντικό να κλείσετε έγκαιρα τη συμμετοχή σας σ'εκείνο το τμήμα που σας ταιριάζει.

Achieving Your Dreams and Goals

By Remez Sasson 

Achieving your dreams and goals depends on several factors: 

1. You should have a specific goal. 
2. You have to be sure that you really want to achieve your goal. 
3. You need to have a clear mental image of your goal. 
4. You need a strong desire. 
5. You need to disregard and reject doubts and thoughts about failure. 
6. Show confidence and faith and persevere until you gain success. 

How many people fulfill all the above-mentioned requirements? Just a few! Most people do not know that there are laws governing success, which should be followed. 

It is so easy and simple to daydream and then say, "Well it is just a daydream. It will never come true". It is so easy to give up due to lack of faith. 

Achieving your goals shouldn't be a tough ordeal. In fact, it can be fun and pleasure, if you go in the right way. It is not hard physical work that brings success. Great success does not require hard physical labor. In fact, you need to do mental work. 

Visualization and repeating affirmations make up this mental work, and are important stepping stones to achieving success. When you visualize and affirm, you focus and channel your energies toward your goal. Your mind is geared toward finding solutions to bring your goal into manifestation. 

By thinking in a positive manner on your goal, and not letting any doubts enter your mind, your intuition starts working, you see opportunities, and you have energy at your disposal to follow your goals and dreams. 

Some people listen to subliminal messages, for programming their minds for success. There are many CD's available today, which implant subliminal messages into the mind, so as to activate its power. Some people prefer to use them, because this does not require any effort on their part. It is said that these subliminal messages, which go straight to the subconscious mind, bring faster results. Maybe they do, but then you have no control on what goes into your mind. 

When you visualize and affirm your goals, you gain much more than just programming your mind passively with subliminal messages. The attention, intention and energy you channel toward visualizing and affirming, develop in you inner strength, concentration, willpower and self-discipline. You actively develop your inner powers. 

One of the advantages of visualization and affirmations is that you can use them wherever you are, at any time, without the necessity of any external instruments. All you need is your mind. 

Success appears in various ways, sometimes in a miraculous way, sometimes in an ordinary way, and sometimes through an opportunity that appears. A door opens, but you have to get in and take advantage of the opportunity. 

Correctly following these methods will bring you more ambition, inspiration and motivation, which would enhance your chances of success. 

Remember, there are big goals and there are many small daily goals, which visualization and affirmations can make them easier and faster to achieve.

Mandalas in Nature

Source: http://www.meaningofmandalas.com

Sanskrit for circle, Mandalas represent our life journey, spirit and soul. Seen throughout all of history across many cultures, the Mandalas have a center that houses the culture’s God(s). The center brings one closer to total enlightenment. Mandalas not only come in this religious form, but can also be found in nature. 

When you see circles encompassing other patterns or hosting their own sacred geometry in nature, you are viewing a natural Mandala. You can see Mandalas everywhere if you take time to look. Plants and flora, trees, fruit, vegetables and even animals can hold the power of the Mandala within them. 

A sunflower, as well as all the Compositae type flowers, offers an amazing Mandala in nature. Look for something with a circular center with a pattern radiating outwards and you have found yourself a natural Mandala. Stop and smell the flowers! They’re a perfect example of what we’re talking about. You can see this in the way in which a rose gently folds its petals one upon the other, or a sunflower with its seedy center and bright yellow petals radiating outwards. Chrysanthemums are another prime example of a floral Mandala. 

Are you getting your daily intake of veggies yet? Cauliflower, a head of lettuce and Brussel sprouts are readily seen as natural Mandalas. Cut up a tomato, take a look at a strawberry and you will see more of these spirited shapes. An onion is a never ending Mandala, circles upon circles upon circles. 

When was the last time you took a walk through a forest? Check out the trunks of the trees: their rings radiate out from the center and represent the lifecycle of the tree itself. When you turn a mushroom over with the stem pointing up, look down and you will see the Mandala. Pinecones have the lovely layers on the cone that become beautiful within its Mandala. 

We don’t know if an apple a day will keep a doctor away, but there are other fruits that have natural Mandalas. Have you ever paid attention to that orange you’re peeling? Yep, Mandala. A kiwi is one of the best looking Mandalas in nature you can see. 

Within sea life and wildlife we can see the Mandalas in nature as well. Take a look at a starfish, an octopus or even a jellyfish. Tigers and zebras can show us their natural Mandalas. A killdeer’s eggs come with a disruptive colorization that is used for protection that offers up the sacred geometry we look for. Their eggs are often arranged in the nest as a set of four with their smaller ends pointing to the middle. 

There are landscapes across the world that offer us the spirit and energy of this mandalic geometry. The tufa towers in Mono Lake of California spring up from the surrounding water in a 3D Mandala. Formations of rock millennia old within the Olympic Peninsula show us their spirit. A beautiful sight to see, Grand Prismatic Spring has colors that attract the eye. 

The list is endless as you find yourself fulfilling the wanderlust in you, traveling the world to and fro, of the nature Mandalas that can be found. Each has its own journey and can offer you a quiet meditative moment, as you focus on the beauty of the Earth that surrounds you. Your God(s) will smile upon you as you become one with the planet. You and the center will work in synergy and peace. The Mandala is yours to find if you just watch.

Elongating breath

Source: http://swamij.com/breath.htm#retention

In basic breathing, one eliminates the pause between the breaths. For one doing retention practices, which are different practices, a pause is intentionally created so as to arouse energy. 

Eliminate the pause completely: However, there is another way to deal with the pause and retention. That is, eliminate the pause completely, and then gently, over time allow the breath to elongate. Reflect on this for a moment, and you will come to see that elongating the breath gradually leads to a virtual retention of breath, though without actively restraining it. When the breath naturally becomes very slow, it is as if, it is not moving at all. 

Allowing breath to slow: Lie on your back in the corpse posture, and put your attention on the navel center, or going up and down the spine. You can gradually allow the speed of breath to slow, though still having no pause. 

• 10 second breath: When you notice it naturally slow to about a 10-second breath (exhalation and inhalation), there will be relaxation. 
• 15-20 second breath: When it slows naturally to about 15-20 seconds (3-4 breaths per minute) you will be quite relaxed (presuming it feels natural, not forced). 
• 30-60 second breath: When it naturally slows to about 30-60 seconds for one breath (1-2 breaths per minute), you will be at the doorway of deep meditation, provided you are not straining, and do not sleep. 
• 90 second breath: A rate of 90 seconds for one breath can be used as a target to aim for, allowing six months or more to reach this level. To do this naturally, without straining will probably require having a well balanced life, regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, and regular sleep. 
• Towards Samadhi: These slower breathing rates gradually move one towards deep meditation and Samadhi. 
• The masters: A Yoga master might have only one breath in 10 minutes (though we need not pursue this, or feel that this is necessary to have deep meditation or Samadhi; actually it comes as a result of Samadhi) 

The practice of eliminating the pause and elongating the breath
is a most direct route,
or short cut. 

A short cut: This process of Elongating the breath is thus a short-cut (direct route) for most people. It is very gentle, and very loving to your body, nervous system and your mind. It allows you to progress at your own, natural rate. 

The simple is advanced: Oddly, this practice seems too simple, too basic, but this simple practice is profound and is quite advanced. This is one of the reasons that people are usually told to not meditate lying down. Usually you will go to sleep. For meditation, the corpse posture is an advanced practice. However, if you can lie down in the corpse posture, and yet remain wide awake while the breath slows, it will take you very deep. The key is to be gentle, patient, and to stay awake. Remember that it is best to have a healthy lifestyle, good food, exercise, and regular sleep.

Genetic Evidence of Yoga’s Impact on the Immune System

by Tom Jacobs

Norwegian researchers find a strong and immediate genetic response to yoga practice. 

Newly published research from Norway suggests that a comprehensive yoga program rapidly produces internal changes on a genetic level. The results help explain the well-documented health benefits of this ancient practice. 

“These data suggest that previously reported (therapeutic) effects of yoga practices have an integral physiological component at the molecular level, which is initiated immediately during practice,” writes a research team led by Fahri Saatcioglu of the University of Oslo. The team’s study is published in the online journal PLOS ONE. 

Researchers first reported five years ago that practices such as yoga, which elicit the “relaxation response” may have a long-term effect on gene expression. That’s the scientific term for whether a specific gene is “turned on,” meaning its protein or RNA product is being made. This latest study confirms those findings, links them to the body’s immune system, and suggests this effect may be instantaneous. 

The University of Oslo experiment featured 10 participants who attended a week-long yoga retreat in Germany. For the first two days, participants spent two hours practicing a comprehensive yoga program including yogic postures (Asanas), yogic breathing exercises (Pranayama), and meditation. For the next two days, they spent that same time period going on an hour-long nature walk and then listening to either jazz or classical music. 

Immediately before and after each of the four sessions, the researchers drew blood from each participant. They then isolated and analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which play a key role in the body’s immune system. The researchers found that the nature walk and music-driven relaxation changed the expression of 38 genes in these circulating immune cells. In comparison, the yoga produced changes in 111 genes. 

Fourteen genes were affected by both exercises, which suggests “the two regimens, to some degree, affect similar biological processes,” the researchers write. That said, they note that yoga’s impact was far more widespread, which indicates the practice “may have additional effects over exercise plus simple relaxation in inducing health benefits through differential changes at the molecular level.” 

So, if your yoga mat has been gathering dust, this research provides an incentive to take it out of the closet. It suggests that, as far as the immune system is concerned, walking in nature is good—but yoga might be substantially better.

Source: http://www.psmag.com/health/genetic-evidence-of-yogas-impact-on-immune-system-55994/

What is the Difference Between Enlightenment and Ascension?

Posted by Steve Beckow for 31 August 2012 

A listener of InLight Radio has asked to have the differences between Ascension and Enlightenment clarified. Please allow me to do that here. 

There is no difference per se between Ascension as a generic process and Enlightenment or Illumination. 

The Ascension we’re going through on Dec. 21, 2012 (or later) is an Enlightenment. However, it has some extra features about it that make it different from the generic process of Enlightenment associated with it, that persuade me to call it “Enlightenment Plus” and I’ll get to those differences below. 

By the same token, there are many levels of Enlightenment stretching all the way up to the final mergence with God. That comes to us so many lifetimes down the road that we have no conception of that event. 

In just the Third-Dimensional range, there are at least four stages of enlightenment: 

(1) spiritual awakening, which occurs when the Kundalini reaches the fourth-chakra, 
(2) Savikalpa Samadhi, when the Kundalini reaches the sixth chakra, 
(3) Brahmajnana or God-Realization, seventh chakra, and 
(4) Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi, spiritual heart or Hridayam. 

We can have each of these enlightenment experiences and still remain in the Third Dimension. But Ascension will mean that we leave the Third/Fourth Dimension of our physical and spirit lives and migrate to the Fifth Dimension. This is a difference between Enlightenment per se and our present Ascension. 

If we were on the spirit side of life, an Ascension would involve the passage from one dimension to another. So, when we pass from the Astral Plane (Fourth Dimension) to the Mental Plane (Fifth Dimension), we’re said to have ascended, because we’ll shed our astral body for our mental body. But when we pass from the Middle Summerlands of the Astral Plane to the Higher Summerlands, we’re not said to have ascended, because we retain our astral body.  Movement from one subplane to another does not involve Ascension. It is movement from one dimension to another that does involve Ascension. 

That is why Shankara would say: “When all the five coverings are removed, the pure Atman [the Self or Christ] is revealed.” (1) By successive Ascensions, we remove the five coverings or bodies associated with the previous plane or dimension until, well after the experience Shankara is referring to, all that is left is God Himself/Herself. We have uncovered or revealed God by successive Ascensions. 

In our Ascension on Dec. 21, 2012 (or later), we’ll ascend with the physical body, which is a first and new development in Ascension. Because we will, we’ll need to raise the vibrations of that body gradually as it changes from carbon-based to crystalline-based, so that it can exist in the higher vibrations of the Fifth Dimension. But in all Ascensions on the spirit side of life, we would have simply shed the previous body. 

But where our Ascension on 21/12/12 resembles all other Ascensions is that we’ll pass from one plane or dimension to another; in this case, from the Third/Fourth Dimensions associated with our usual physical and spirit lives to the Fifth Dimension. So, because it represents a dimensional shift, we call it an Ascension. 

So, yes, it does involve a process of Enlightenment. Whether that is the Enlightenment associated with the seventh chakra, which is called Brahmajnana and does not result in a permanent heart opening or liberation from rebirth or the Enlightenment associated with the spiritual heart or Hridayam, known as Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi, which does result in a permanent heart opening and liberation, I don’t know. I should probably ask Archangel Michael about that. 

That’s my understanding. There’s no difference between Ascension and Enlightenment in many respects. But our 21/12/12 Ascension is Enlightenment Plus, because in it we also get to take our physical bodies with us (renewed, of course), need not die, get to leave the Third Dimension for the Fifth (whereas in ordinary enlightenment we would not get to leave), etc.

Footnotes
(1) Shankara in Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher lsherwood, Shankara’s Crest-Jewel of Discrimination. Hollywood: Vedanta Press, 1975; c1947, 56. There are countless levels of enlightenment beyond the one Shankara is discussing here.

Connecting to your Joy and Happiness

Channeled Message from the High Council of Orion 12 April 2013 

Greetings, Dear Ones. We are the High Council of Orion. We’re here to speak to you today about a topic we’ve spoken about many times before, and that is of happiness. Many on the planet right now are wondering where happiness has gone, for they are feeling too much stress and strain and discomfort and uncertainty. 

We would like to share with you more about reconnecting with your natural buoyant, ebullient state of internal happiness. Not from a false or externalized point of view, but from one of tapping into the deep resources of your inherent nature of joy, which expresses itself outwardly as happiness. 

Simply put, what we will say today is, if you watch young children playing with abandon, skipping, singing, lost in their own world, and you tap into and allow yourself to see them, through the eyes of your memory of when life was as simple as being fully present in your moment, where you too could skip and play, and sing to yourself and talk to yourself with un-self-conscious abandon. 

Those days were pure and joyful, for you were still fully connected with your inherent state of joy, and so what we ask you to do, as we’ve said before, is use the models of the things around you on the planet. If you are struggling with accessing joy and happiness in your life, go sit at a park and watch children play. Just allow yourself to energetically feel connected to them, and feel the joy they express as they run, as they swing on the swing, as they slide, as they meet new accomplishments, as they build a sand castle, that from an adult point of view might be slightly average, and yet their squeals of joy and enthusiasm are infectious. 

Re-connect with that energy of joy also through the animals that you have around you, if you watch dogs for example. They have a natural joy and enthusiasm that they love to share with others, they easily get fully immersed in what they are doing and experiencing, and can play ball for hours with that again wild abandon of being fully present in the moment and experiencing it. There are no worries that slow the dog down to wonder if dinner will be on the table. For it is fully engaged in the moment, just as the children are as they express their joy. 

From this place of wanting to connect with joy and happiness in the moment you connect with that fountain of unbridled energy that comes flowing into you from the universe. 

Living in the now is the place where the joy and happiness can reside, for as you are fully present to yourself in the moment connecting into your heart, you open up the pathway for the Creator energy to flow into you. For if your mind is cluttered with worry and concern, with fear and constriction and with uncertainty, it creates, if you will, a block to that natural flow. 

Does that mean live in a state of denying what might be reality in your life? Absolutely, no! But what we suggest is, in moments whenever you can, you allow yourself to set the worries aside, place them on the shelf to rest for just a few minutes, and come fully present to yourself, and allow that present moment awareness to connect in with any thought or feeling that brings you joy. 

So, that takes going to the park to watch the children and just be lost in the moment of seeing their joy. Then, we suggest, you do it. If it takes going to another park in watching the dogs play, and seeing how engrossed they can be in the moment and for some for many moments on end, with the utter abandonment of who they are to the joy of the moment, through the running, through the playing, through the chasing. 

Allow yourself those moments every day, regardless of what’s going on in your life, to just connect with the feeling of joy by setting aside the worries, allow that flow from the universe to come down into you, and as you connect through your heart with that feeling of joy, of happiness, even if it is for 30 seconds or two minutes or five minutes, it shifts your inherent resonance to allow more of that in. 

It keeps the gateways open a little bit more, if you will, and as you practice you might find yourself seeing and observing more joy, perhaps allowing things that might have brought on more frustration to just slide off you, and not bother you as much. For you are shifting your baseline resonance, as you connect with those moments of joy, allowing the joy and the happiness to seep in and become more embedded in your inherent resonance. There is much to be joyful for, regardless of what’s going on around you in your world. 

We ask you to pay attention to the things that bring you joy and literally do not pay attention to the things that do not. If you get sad and worried about the state of affairs in the world, because you need to listen to, or watch the news every day, we would suggest that you don’t. For ultimately the greatest place of power, the greatest place of change in your life in your world happens with you and many of you know this, but it requires taking different steps and different actions to bring about those different results. 

We encourage you each in the next week to spend that time connecting with joy, seeking it out, looking for it, being on the treasure hunt of finding expressions of joy, and maybe it’s just because you witnessed some people having a positive exchange and each person smiling. Perhaps it’s because you witness a parent lovingly hugging their child, allow the warmth and the good feelings to seep inside, and connect with that more than you connect with the things that might make you feel less than joyful. 

Be Blessed. 

We are the High Council of Orion. 

Author: Holly Hawkins Marwood 

www.AkashaHealingStudio.com

Love yourselves as we love you

Message from Archangel Michael channeled by Ron Head for 13 March 2013

Meditation will be our topic this morning. Our purpose will be to show you that you can do this as well as anyone else can. 

Simplify, please, your perceptions of what meditation is. You have read and heard descriptions of meditational experiences told by others. They tell of things which amaze you, and because none of these things seem to happen to you when you close your eyes, you believe that you cannot meditate and you cease trying in disappointment. 

Dear ones, you have lives to live. People, your children and spouses, depend upon you. You have not spent a lifetime in developing this skill, and do not have the time to do so. That is alright. It is understood. If this does not fit, and you are an accomplished meditator, we applaud you. But the overwhelming majority of you will not be cave dwelling hermits nor lifelong meditators. So, let us dispel your misgivings and give you a chance to use this magnificent tool to move yourselves forward from wherever you are. 

And that phrase is key, my friends, wherever you are. It is impossible to begin a journey from anywhere else than wherever you are. So, here is a new goal we propose you adopt. “I will meditate each day.” It is very simple. It is where to start. 

You will learn more, just as you have in every other area of your life. You may indeed find yourself at some time having those marvelous visions and experiences. That this may happen is not important. What is important is for you to find, in your hearts, peace and freedom to know yourselves for who you truly are. And of those two things, we emphasize peace. It is very hard to achieve that in your world. And when you are able to feel that, you do, in fact, share it with all others, whether you know it or whether you do not. 

Now, since you are reading or listening to this message on an electronic device of some sort, we tell you that it is perfectly fine for you to use the thousands and thousands of meditational sound tracks and videos to guide and help you in this process. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to spend time each day with you and only you. We add a little humor to lighten this up. It should be light. We are offering you a release and a relief, not a new chore. You should feel, “Ah, now I can meditate for a bit.” not “Now I have to meditate.” 

Peace and self-discovery. Make those the only considerations and you will have done wonders for yourselves. Make this first step and we promise you that in very short order you will miss it on the days when you need to skip it. And, by the way, do not beat yourselves up over that either. 

Love yourselves as we love you and we will speak again soon. Good day. 

Copyright © Ronald Head. All Rights Reserved. You may copy and redistribute this material so long as you do not alter it in any way, the content remains complete, and you include this copyright notice link: http://oraclesandhealers.wordpress.com/

Meditation for Freedom from Financial and Spiritual Slavery

By anonymous on 25 January 2013

Instructions: 

1. Relax your mind and body by watching your breath for a few minutes. 

2. Visualize a pillar of electric blue Light emanating from the Galactic Central Sun, going through your body to the center of the Earth. Keep this pillar of Light active for a few minutes. 

3. Then visualize all negative entities around the Earth being removed from etheric and astral planes along with all their negative spiritual technologies and magical tools and all those entities being escorted into the Light by the non-physical freedom fighters of the Light. Visualize this process taking place worldwide peacefully and smoothly. Visualize the world finally being free from spiritual slavery, free from all evil Archons, Reptilians, demons, elementals and other negative non-physical beings. Visualize the vibration of the etheric and astral planes getting lighter and brighter, until all dark beings are gone and only Light remains. 

4. Visualize members of the physical dark Cabal, such as central banking criminals Rothschilds and Rockefellers, and other members of this Cabal such as Henry Kissinger, George Bush, the Jesuits etc. peacefully surrendering and stepping down from their positions of power, releasing control over the financial system and the mass media. Visualize civil authority arresting those members of the Cabal that do not wish to surrender. Visualize this process taking place worldwide peacefully and smoothly. Visualize the world finally being free from financial slavery, free from all evil dictators and corrupt politicians. 

5. Visualize bright new future for humanity, with new and fair financial system put into place, with all debts canceled, prosperity funds for humanitarian projects released, advanced technologies introduced, ecosystem healed and human beings finally being free from all oppression. 

6. Visualize bright spiritual Golden Age with angels, fairies, dolphins, unicorns, spiritual guides and other beings of Light inhabiting etheric and astral planes. Visualize all wounds of humanity being healed, all humanity being inspired and guided with everybody having their own connection with their own Soul and the Source.