JAI BHAKTI™ Blog: Tapas, Trust, And Grace

Dearest Ones,

I went through a period of profound purification caused by tapas (spiritual austerities) the past two months.

While we go through this heavy, dark period of angst and depression,

the mind is not fickle about helping us forget that the purifying aspects of tapas is not only a part of the 

spiritual journey,

but an essential clearing out of samskaras--old habits/tendencies etched in the fabric

of our subconscious minds.

In the midst of this round of purification,

the elephant I was wrestling in the dark was unadulterated fear.

Fear, in any form,  always comes back to fear of death. Always.

For me, it was not so much my own mortality I was fearing. I made peace with

my mortality years ago. I would have to in order to navigate my way through life

with these spinal cord injuries and severe nerve pain.

A decade ago I used to say I had no fear of death,

I only had fear of living the rest of my life

in this hellish pain.

I was not wrestling with fear of my own death, it was more a fear of those around me dying.

Not being physically able to care for myself compounded the angst. (It's not surprising to me that dealing with unadulterated fear was at the center of my tapasya. In the past ten months, 13 friends and family members have died. Yama's been a busy god of death in my area as of late.)

During the purifying process, we tend to feel once removed

from the Self within-- the Atman, our truest and highest Self (aka God, Pure Consciousness, insert your word of choice here ______).

It's not that we forget that the Self/God dwells within the Heart Center,

we simply cannot access this sanctuary freely. Our mind helps us forget the portals of entry, be it chanting, meditating, practicing hatha, kriya, or jnana yoga. We don't feel it's innate pull, the longing to get back. This causes more angst, and, as mentioned above,

the mind is not going to remind you how to access the Self within.

Ha! No.

The ego enjoys dragging us back down

to its state of ignorance.

It's at this time that some lose faith;

they feel forsaken.

It's at this time we must Trust.

If God, in the form of Pure Consciousness,

has created everything, everywhere,

how could God ever leave?

Where could he go that he is not already?

If God is everywhere,

within everything,

He cannot leave.

Hence, there is no "finding" God/The Self within and without,

only discovering and remembrance of That which always was present, even if we weren't.

Once we realize that our angst, depression, and heaviness of Heart

is a causal effect of tapas--

once we remember what we forgot (that we are the Self within),

we sometimes get angry at God for hiding His presence from us.

This is a good time to contemplate the word grace.

The Nataraj, the murti (sculpture) of Lord Shiva dancing while

crushing the ego under foot,

has a five-fold function,

one of them being the ability to veil Himself from us, and

another being the giver of grace that enables us to experience Him again.

At the moment we remember the Self within--

that glorious energy center within that sages, seers, and mystic poets

have aptly coined the ocean of bliss,

that is when we bow our heads below our Hearts

and say thank you. Thank you for taking us back to ourSelves.

As the residual ash of tapas disappears,

we find ourselves back in union with our true nature.

I experienced this today in the form of crying tears of joy

45 minutes into meditation.

I Witnessed myself not as my body,

but as the one who knows I have a body.

Not as the one who is in pain,

but as the one who knows I experience pain.

I became The Witness, experiencing pure awareness.

Jesus revealed Himself in my Heart Center,

along with Hanuman, Krshna, Bade Baba Nityananada, Baba Muktananda, Swami Chidvilasananda Paramahansa; all of the great bhaktas were dancing within,

reminding me they had never left,

but were only shadowed by the ignorance of the small mind.

And so I say Thank You

For showing me what I need to hold on to,

and what I can leave behind.

Thank you for this gift of tapas that felt like hell,

but left me stronger and wiser.

And perhaps chipped away at that pesky ego that keeps me bound.

So Much Love,

Bhakti

Namo Namah

Photo & Essay © 2015 D.L. Bhakti Brophy

All Rights Reserved. Jai Bhakti™

What Is The Small Mind / Ego?

A student just asked me to explain the difference between the word ego as used by Freud, and the small mind/ego as it relates to raja yoga/meditation. Here's my reply.

Namo Namah,

Bhakti

JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG: Silver Linings Amidst Disability

Dear Ones,

"'Tis almost the season
to recline outside
And commune with the sky!"

I love when words flow through me, like the above poem. AUM.

Once you have experienced and lived from the hub of ALL creation, you see definitively that there's always a silver lining, no matter the level of chaos you are experiencing in the objectified field of awareness.

Chaos, too, is a manifestation of the One: Pure Consciousness.
Everything is a manifestation of the One.

This is what Subramuniyaswami refers to as DANCING SHIVA, and Baba Muktananda (as well as Vedic and Sufi mystics before him) called The Play of Consciousness.

Being 100% physically disabled and not able to sit up, one of my silver linings is becoming One with the sky (not that we have ever been parted!).

Find the One.

Discover WHO YOU ARE...your Truth...and meditate. Contemplate this Truth.

(Fifteen years ago, while on personal retreat at the now famous Omega Institute, a fellow devotee/bhakta recommended I read the back cover of TALKS WITH RAMANA MAHARSHI. I suggest you do the same. Read everything Ramana wrote...and watch the layers of your small self peel away.)

Find forms of remembrance because, friends, there are many levels of "enlightenment", and when maya tests your will, chances are you will need to remember what you have forgotten. (My quote, "I forgot to remember" sums up the dark night of the soul quite well. There is the dark night that lasts awhile, different for every seeker, and then, as has been my experience, we fall back into that place from time to time on our journey towards freedom from the cycle of birth and death.)

Twenty seven glorious years since I became
immersed in the glorious, cognitive pursuit of who, what, when, where, and why (jnana yoga);
glorious is an apt word, to be sure.

For me,  ever since childhood, the epiphanies  and experiences always came first, and then the pursuit of meaning, relativity...etc.
The journey through the fields of maya have been challenging, but as my beloved Guru said to me eleven years ago: "Sadhana is sweet, like a flower." Life may kick me down often and a lot...but indeed, my sadhana is sweet. So much grace.

How can I look out at this sky and not believe that everything is in perfect order--even while immersed in legal battle with Medicare to get my spinal meds paid for? (Thank you to my lawyer, from Maricopa, AZ, who is helping me pro bono. You see...right there: grace! More on that later.)


Eternal Blessings to you, as my very own Self.

Namo Namah
Bhakti




JAI BHAKTI ™ BLOG
CELEBRATING OUR TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

BHAKTI BROPHY QUOTE #0.1 "THE CIRCLE"

"Every one of us is the center of the circle." 

~ Bhakti Brophy





©2014
All Rights Reserved

THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME HOME (2005)

ॐ नमः शिवाय 

FOR YOU

Thank you for calling me home...

My beloved.

Your warmth, Your love, Your grace

Carry me beyond the mind,

Beyond the body,

Beyond the pain.

You heal me with Your loving Shakti--

After a while, I surrender.

You uphold me,

You cleanse me;

I sway to the rhythm of Your tender caress.

An ocean of nectar envelops me--

A fireball of grace

Rejuvenates me.

Your love transforms me

Until I no longer exist;

Until there is nothing

But Your love.

Thank You for calling me home.


-- Bhakti Brophy 
    जय भक्ति ™





© 12/29/2005 DL Bhakti Brophy
All Rights Reserved
(Originally published in 2005, JaiBhakti™, जय भक्ति ™)

WITNESS CONSCIOUSNESS. JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG

The One who Knows
You are Reading this
Is your True Self.
The Knower.
The Witness.

The purpose of life
Is Union with The Self.
Witness Consciousness
Is key.

Hari Om Tat Sat!




Journal entry ©2008 DL Bhakti Brophy

THE INFINITE SUN

While in meditation, I heard myself referring to The Self Within as THE INFINITE SUN.
I find this quite fitting--perhaps this will be the title of my new book.
Here's an excerpt from the journal entry written while coming out of this joyous meditation. Enjoy!



THE INFINITE SUN

My Heart Center on Fire
with cool rays of the Infinite Sun;
The Self Within.
Source of Infinite Love and Light.
Life.

No body.
Nobody.
Just am.





 © 2013 DL Bhakti Brophy
All Rights Reserved
(Excerpt from new book.)

THE CHOICE IS YOURS. (JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG ARCHIVE)

Peace or Drama
Love or Fear
Heart or Mind
YOUR CHOICE.



©2013 DL Bhakti Brophy
(Excerpt from new book.)

JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG Reader Question Regarding My "Anger Management" Quote

A dear friend and fellow blogger, Judy, asked an interesting question regarding my "Anger Management" quote.
Here is my quote:

"Oh anger. I will stare you in the face until you bow down and melt back into Pure Consciousness. How Dare you veil my joy?"

Here is Judy's question:

"Is this your anger? Someone else's?"


Here is my answer to Judy's question:

What an interesting question!
In this case, it was indeed my anger.

Yesterday, I was experiencing a high level of physical pain, yet, I was still highly aware of the Divine Love swimming and dancing around in my Heart. This is an interesting experience, because I'm Witnessing both the physical and spiritual aspects of my being at both times. What a gift.Often when I am in a higher level of physical pain than normal, I cognitively "know" that this place within my Heart exists, yet the pain sensations veil the actual experience of being enveloped in Divine Love.

What happened was, while in this state of Union, I went onto YouTube and watched the Good Morning America interview with the jury foreman of the Jodi Arias trial, and while listening to him speak, I noticed this surge of anger welling up inside. As you probably know, when this type of anger wells up, the anger (ego) tries to take center stage. Being in the Witness State of watching my emotions, I literally "watched" and was totally aware of this anger consuming every part of my being: my face getting heated, thoughts racing, etc.

At that moment, I was left with a clear choice: react to the anger (feed the anger, by reacting to my thoughts, maybe leaving a disgruntled comment on YouTube) or simply continue watching the emotion of anger until it burns itself out and subsides. And that's what I chose to do.

All emotions are balls of constricted energy. They come from Pure Consciousness, and, ultimately, return back into pure consciousness. What happens in between those two points is ...well, it's usually a hot mess of drama! And more uncomfortable, un-enlightening emotions. 

Because I was connected to my Inner Self, I was able to see the exact moment when I was given the choice to react or observe.

I chose to observe and ride out the tsunami of anger until it dissipated.

I found your question so interesting.

The SAME technique, of observing, rather than reacting, can be employed when we are experiencing other's anger. 

I must admit, I often DO get caught up in my emotions and react. That's part of the human condition. People often talk of spiritual "practices" or their meditation "practice", and that's just it: until we become completely liberated form the trappings of the ego, we practice the techniques that keep us connected to our Inner Self, the Self of All (aka God, Pure Consciousness, Divinity, our Buddha nature, etc.).


And thank you for that enlightening question. It was quite interesting to go back and deconstruct yesterday's experience with the heated anger. The funniest thing is: I don't even know why the anger got so intense! What triggers us is not important; how we react is key. 

Quote #10

Where are you grace?
Come out an play!


The above quote is an excerpt from one of my poems.
To read the entire poem click here or visit www.bhaktilovepoems.blogger.com 

Have a fabulous day!
Love,
Bhakti

MILIIONS

During the past winter, I spent a lot of time watching movies. My plan had always been to write reviews of my favorites, such as DOUBLE INDEMNITY and BRICK, but my cramped hands wouldn't allow me to type and I never got around to it. This morning, however, I watched a movie in which the lead character, Damien, reminded me so much of me that it brought tears to my eyes (and no, it wasn't THE OMEN--even though, strangely enough, the lead character's name is Damien and he's a Christian mystic). Throughout the movie, Damien sees Saints everywhere: they are guiding him. His mystical experiences differed from mine in content, but his intention in life is the same: at one point in the movie he says to a Patron Saint--"I just want to be good."

The name of the movie is "MILLIONS". It's about this young English lad who's family thinks he's a bit loony because of his mystical inclinations (save for two scenes in the movie, they don't see or hear the Saints that Damien interacts with during the rest of the film and don't quite understand his being spiritually bent). That's not to say that he is not loved: MILLIONS is a wonderful story about familial love. The story unfolds with Damien, his older brother Anthony, and his father moving from one part of England to another.

One day, while sitting beside some railroad tracks in a cardboard fort made from moving boxes, a large bag of money comes crashing down from the sky and lands on his fort. Damien believes the money was sent to him from God and wishes to share his 'millions' with the poor. He shows his older brother the money and, right away, Anthony begins thinking of ways to invest the money to make a profit, for example by purchasing real estate. We are immediately introduced to the different personalities of these brothers.

The filming is extraordinary--eye candy if there ever was such a thing. Alex Etel, the young lad who played the role of Damien, is by far the most talented child actor I have ever seen. How do you get a child to look as though he sees everything everywhere as Divine? During the film's conclusion, the whimsical look in young Etel's eyes brought tears of joy to mine. Brilliant. Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) creates a visual story completely in sync with the story being told, yet he manages to leave enough room for the viewers imagination to take flight as well. There's one scene in particular where Damien crawls into bed with his father after stating "I don't like having my own room". I cannot recall ever seeing a scene in which the acting, directing, lighting, and music are so perfectly choreographed. I rewound this scene several times to catch every nuance.

(For a beautifully crafted, indepth review of MILLIONS, click here.)


This movie reminded me that it is vitally important to remember that we are all good; we should never allow ourselves to forget that--never allow ourselves to lie to ourselves. Goodness is an innate trait each of us carries within our hearts. Some of us get blinded by the 'vanities' of the world; and by the labyrinth of the caverns of the mind. It's so dangerous to give our power of knowledge away--and by 'knowledge' I am referring to the spiritual knowledge.

Yesterday; I received a catalog in the mail from the Vedanta Society. On the first page I found the following quote. It's relative to the movie MILLIONS in that it resolves the conflict between Damien and his brother in that no matter what actions nor paths either boy chose to take, they were still, ultimately, on the path to Truth:

"Right and Wrong Conduct: All ethics are merely a means to the end of finding God within ourselves. "Right" action is action which brings us nearer to the knowledge of God. "Wrong" action leads us away from that knowledge. Our ideas of "good" and "evil" are therefore only relative values and must not be used as an absolute standard to judge others. All of us have our own problems and our own path of development. But the goal is the same for all."

"'Wrong' action leads us away from that knowledge." That is the part of the quote that cheered me up. The medications I'm on make it difficult for me to think clearly, and I obsess over things that are not necessary--nor productive--to obsess over. The above quote reminded me that following and listening to this obsessive train of thought is a 'wrong' action. Listening to the 'chatterbox mind' is a direct train out of the town of freedom in our lives (both mental and physical freedom).

Getting back to MILLIONS; we all know children are blessed with innocence. This movie is a celebration of the many personality types that live together (or try to, at least) -- and shows the place and importance of the mystic within the scheme of things. While subtly addressing the loneliness of the mystic, it ultimately celebrates the joy of this open-hearted, compassionate person.

This movie has the power to remind us of our innate goodness; I believe it may also have the power to ignite the fire of this recognition in those who never believed it to be so.

MILLIONS illustrates the epitome of the word 'bhakti' (love and devotion).

Enjoy! And, as always, please let me know what you think about the movie.

Warm regards,
Bhakti

tags:Jaibhakti, Bhakti Brophy, Millions,Danny Boyle, Bhakti, Divine Love, Alex Etel, mysticism, Vedanta Society

No Matter How Much Physical Pain I Must Endure Before I Am Healed and Set Free--I know the following verses to be the TRUTH.

SHVETASHVATARA UPANISHAD

Forgetting our divine origin,
We become ensnared in the world of change.
And bewail our helplessness. But when
We see the Lord of Love in all his glory,
Adored by all, we go beyond sorrow.(br)

What use are the scriptures to anyone
Who knows not the one source from whom
they come,
In whom all gods and worlds abide?
Only those who realize him as ever present
Within the heart attain abiding joy.(br)

Chapter IV; Verses 7 & 8

Dearest Friends, I am so happy to be back online. I went through the 9th Gate of Hell with my physical pain and am now crawling out the other side. I am working patiently yet diligently with Dr. Kam Yuen--a Master Healer who is helping me free myself from the chains of my current physical ailments; those which keep me a bound soul. Love to you, Bhakti
tags: Jaibhakti, Bhakti Brophy, Shvetashvatara Upanishad, spirituality, mysticism, Vedas Vedic Hinduism, /Divine Love, Bhakti,

TODAY...ON MY MIND:

I like to think of everyone and everything everywhere as Shiva (the Lord) with a costume on. I see things this way and I believe it to be true. If Christians were to study the Gospel of Thomas, they would come to know that Jesus is not someone or something outside us, but He IS ourselves. Thomas quotes Jesus as saying "Anyone who drinks of My cup becomes Me, and I him." I have come to know that everything everywhere is a manifestation of the Divine.

If one were also to compare the Gospel of Thomas to basic Hindu texts--say the Katha Upanishad--one would find that our two religions are basically saying the same thing, but with different symbols and languages. Joseph Campbell was right in saying that all 'myths' tell the basic need of each culture to make sense of their own existence/divinity. And as one of my teachers, Baba Muktananda, says--"All paths lead to the same door."

This is lovely! It is my contention that if people stopped paying attention to the mere words of their religious texts, but took them to be symbols of a deeper meaning, more people would realize that most of the major religions are talking about the same concepts. It is the language and the cultural plurality (and the human interpretation) that cause the differences and the strife. Think about it: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are ALL Biblical religions (that is, they use the 5 books of Moses as a basis of their religion)--and yet they are the three religions that are causing the conflict in the Middle East.

Literal interpretation of the Bible is dangerous. My experience of Jesus 'ascending to Heaven' means that He ascended above the solar plexus chakra (energy field/circle) and rose higher to the Heart Center, Ajna Chakra (Third Eye), and then finally to the Sahasrara, located at the top of the head. To me, this is the literal meaning of 'ascension'. Science (not to mention mere logic) has proved that a physical Heaven couldn't possibly exist. Think about: what is above us? The sky. Other Universes. Other Galaxies. What is below us? There is no 'below', because the Earth is round. There is only the center of the Earth.

That is not to say that Dante was wrong in his description of the 12 gates of Hell. I believe in the existence of Hell, although not a physical place. Hell, to me, is when we descend into the lower chakras. These are the energy places in the body where, when situated there, they allow us to cheat, lie, steal, murder, etc. This is NOT, by any measure, anywhere near the seat of the Lord. The purpose of our being born is to find the path that leads to the ascension of our spiritual energy to union with the Lord within (hence the word 'yoga').

Since globalization is the wave of today, and is obviously going to be the way of the future, we (the collective people inhabiting planet Earth) need to start taking into account that we come from not only different places, but we have different stories. Our forefathers all told different stories based on their own experiences. The story of Jesus of Nazareth is not going to make as much sense to a Native American as it does to a Christian European. Native Americans have their own myths and legends (in using the word 'myth', that is not to say that I don't believe that Jesus was an actual man); their stories illustrate the pursuit of man in finding his own Divinity; his own purpose; his highest good.

Let's come together and start comparing our religions before we wage wars over signs and symbols that may have the exact same inherent meaning, even when written in different languages, by different cultures. The time is now. There are no more excuses for faith based wars. We are ONE world.

""It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, 'Look, here!' or 'Look, there!' Rather, the Father's kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people don't see it." --Gospel of Thomas

"The self-existent pierced the openings outward;therefore one looks outward, not inside the soul.A certain wise person, however, seeking immortality,looking within saw the soul." --Katha Upanishad

Heaven is right here, right now. Look inside and find it.

Love,

Bhakti

TAGS: Jaibhakti, Bhakti, mysticism, Joseph Campbell, Bhakti Brophy, religious war, peace, spirituality,

FOR GURUMAYI...

* These poems were written on January 23, 2007 during and after in intensely Divine-Love filled meditation. May they inspire the immense joy in your heart to spring forth and overwhelm you. May they bathe you in the nectarean ocean of the Divine's Love--a reflection of your own pure heart. Love, Bhakti.

A Loss For Words....

O Bhakti,

what can you possibly write?

A loss for words...

The joy and bliss and love

Have shattered my being

And refuse to let me

reassemble myself

into something small!

A loss for words...

Can there be greater bliss than this?.

______________

.

Someone Smashed My Ego!

'See through my Eye

completely now.

'Understand what it means

to fall back into the physical realm.

'Understand the need for forgiveness all around:

'Their eyes are veiled;

'Hearts encased in stone.

Long ago,

An artist with a chisel

took my ego by the hand--

And recently smashed it

into 1,000 pieces!

In slow motion--

shards of grayish-blue glass

flew in every direction.

'No more questions.

Nothing to do now

Except renounce the suffering--

as a part of this grand affair!--

and take refuge

in the sultry Sun of the Heart.

So be it.

.

________________

.

Sitting In The Boat With My Beloved

Is there no

end to this

Divine Love?

The gift of

the bounty

within -

Clear as day.

'See the

peaceful calm;

a sea of stillness

radiating Divine energy.

C

O

N

S

C

I

O

U

S

N

E

S

S

Supreme Bliss!

O, Gurumayi--

I would ride this wave

to your shore

if you weren't already

rowing the boat!

.

________________

.

The Gift

My face cannot

contain the smile

my Gurumayi elicits.

I laugh aloud

in wondrous joy

At the gifts she gives...The Gift!

.

______________________

.

Won't You Excuse Me, Please?

I must go

Put down this pen

And melt into

My Guru's LOVE.

.

.

.

.

.

(All poems written and ©January 23, 2007 D.L. Bhakti Brophy

Please do NOT reprint without written permission.

Thank you.)

TAGS: Jaibhakti, Bhakti Brophy, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, poetry, mysticism, spirituality, Bhakti, Divine Love,

RUMI MEETS JOSEPH CAMPBELL WHILE PLAYING CHESS AND DREAMING OF THE BLUE PEARL OF CONSCIOUSNESS! AND BHAKTI SMILED.

What a week of synchronicity it has been for me. One minute I'm caught up in the turmoil of the physical world, only to be swept away by a surge of my Beloved’s love. Om Namah Shivaya.

The long and short of it is that I have once again been reminded that everything is in perfect order, and that no matter what happens in the ‘outside’ world, there is space within me in which nothing exists but LOVE: transcendence of all dualities, as Joseph Campbell would say.

I speak of this place often: the Heart Center. I have learned that I must live there if I am to remain sane. Why flit back and forth between turmoil and peace, transcendence and duality when you don’t have to? I say that if I continue to let myself slip back into the physical realm of opposites that I shall merely slay the same dragons repeatedly: to what end? Insanity. There could be no other end. Would you choose to live in a life that bounces back and forth between Heaven and Hell if you knew that the key to Heaven was within your reach? You merely committ yourself whole heartedly and say-- “That’s it! I’m sick of these dragons!”

Until next time, may you rest in the innate state of transcendence that is closer than a heartbeat away.

Love,
Bhakti
tags: Jaibhakti, Bhakti Brophy, mysticism, Joseph Campbell, spirituality

The Coin

"Heaven and hell:

flipsides of the same coin."

--Bhakti

January 6, 2007

.

.

.

.tags: Jaibhakti, Bhakti Brophy, mysticism, Heaven, Hell,

PUBLIC NOTICE: TODAY I MET A SOUL...

Hello friends. This is a notification to let you know that I will be offline throughout the month of August. I am currently doing tremendous inner work, and I need some quiet time (which would seem incredibly confusing to anyone who knows that I have spent MOST of the past year in the house, by myself! However, I spent that time trying to get better...you know, pushing the river. Now it is time to live in the present and see what is really going on.) I leave you with a poem that my great friend Sadiq and I wrote last week.

Be well, and enjoy your summer (or winter, depending on which hemisphere you live in ).

Blessings,
Bhakti

Today i Met a Soul™…

1 Today i met a soul,
whose light showered my path
even from the other side of the world
2 Today my love of Self as One
became realized as a love of One
Oneness without boundary3 Today i spoke with a soul,
the voice came rushing
right into my heart
and melted my whole existence
4 Today, a faraway stranger
rekindled my love for the knowledge
that nothing is neither near nor far
here nor there
just is.
5 one heart sang in tune with another.
who said, we are far?
6 The Light of God
raining upon two souls
focusing their vision of Oneness into Reality
7 i know i have been given this blessed touch
to reunite with a close soul, i knew already
long back in some unknown lives.
8 ‘Just about giving up sharing my mysticism
for fear of being deemed MAD
in an outward looking world
9 So, we unfolded our wings of love eternal
embracing to unite the two souls
and looked at the Glorious Light,
the Source from where all souls descend.
10 And the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, and ‘why’ disappeared
into the ether
and all that was left was
nothing
but
Light.© July 18, 2006, Bhakti Brophy and Sadiq Alam

(Odd numbered verses written by Sadiq, even numbered verses written by Bhakti.)


tags: Jaibhakti, mysticism, Inspirations and Creative Thoughs, Bhakti Brophy, Divine Love

The Madness of the Mystics!!! Hurray for OSHO!!!

Below is an excerpt from some words spoken by Osho:

"It is better to be mad in a divine way
than to be sane in a human way."

---
You can check out the entire quote at Inspirations and Creative Thoughts, which is a powerfully moving blog written by my fellow mystically mad friend, Sadiq.

Enjoy!
Much Love,
Bhakti

tags: Jaibhakti, mysticism, Osho, Inspiration and Creative Thoughts, Oneness, Divine Love, Bhakti+Brophy

The Mind Can Free Us or Enslave Us: The Choice is Yours!

“When will you live today?” is one of my favorite quotes. I have it written on the wall in the basement, right next to my drum set because I used to play the drums when I was trying to escape feelings like anger, anxiety, fear, etc. The quote reminded me that every moment I spent being angry, anxious, or fearful, I lost the precious moments of the day at hand. This quote reminds me that if I spend my time being upset about the past, or worrying about the future, then I am NOT living today. I am not living in the present moment.

Many of us have a million and one diversions that keep us from dealing with our strong emotions and negate our ability to live in the present moment. I live with chronic pain due to an incurable spinal disease. Yesterday was a particularly bad day—I could not handle the pain level and it made me intensely angry and mentally stressed. Instead of doing a meditation practice that I knew would dissolve the energy of the strong emotions, I walked up to the ice cream shop and got a double dip of coffee ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. At the time, this seemed like a much easier way of pacifying the horrible day I was having than doing a simple meditation practice. On my way home from the ice cream shop, I sat upon the steps of my local church and prayed for help with the current situation. As I truly allowed myself to feel and experience the mental pain and anguish caused by the physical pain, I cried, and the intense emotions dissipated. The rest of the day was pleasant, and I was able to interact with others—and myself-- more lovingly. I had reconnected with the peace within. The key to finding this peace is living in the present moment. The only place where peace truly exists is in the present moment. Moreover, the only way to connect with the present moment is through mindfulness meditation.

Most people cringe when I mention the word ‘meditation’. They get this look of fear on their face, tell me they have tried to meditate once or twice before, and inevitably say things like:

“I couldn’t stop thinking.”

“My mind was driving me crazy. There was no peace anywhere to be found. My mind was thinking more than usual!”


“All I could hear was my heartbeat and it nearly drove me insane. Plus, I kept thinking the same thought repeatedly.”

“I gave up trying to meditate because I couldn’t get my mind to stop thinking. I’m just not cut out for it.”


Friends, allow me to clarify one thing with regard to the mind: the mind is not the enemy. It is the innate function of the mind to think, reason, acquire and apply knowledge. Therefore, when sitting for meditation, the key is not to stop the mind from doing its job, but to ‘Witness’ the mind. The key thing to remember is that the beginner’s goal in meditation is to watch the thoughts that arise in your mind. Simply be aware of the thoughts as they arise and disappear, and do not get ensnared by their drama. Just because you have a thought does not mean that you have to react to it. It is the mind’s job to think, so no matter what, unless you give it some downtime (i.e. meditation) and give it the space to turn in on itself, it will just keep thinking, and thinking, and thinking.

I know from experience that this may not be the easiest concept to grasp. The thought of ‘not being attached to thoughts’ and merely ‘witnessing’ them may seem rather odd, or even impossible. Thoughts come and go; it is as simple as that. As the Buddhists say, just think of them as clouds passing by in the sky. Alternatively, you can think of them like this: imagine that you have just poured yourself a tall glass of seltzer. You stare at the glass and watch as the bubbles at the bottom of the glass rise up, reach the top, hang out there for awhile, and then—POP—they’re gone. This is the way of thoughts: they are pulsations of energy that come and go.

When I say that the mind is not the enemy, I must make one thing clear. If you stay attached to your thoughts 24 hours a day, then the mind does enslave you. You have become a slave to your thoughts. However, if you learn some mindfulness techniques to help you begin a simple meditation practice, you will find that your mind is the vehicle that sets you free. You need your mind for Self-Realization. Your mind takes you to the Truth (peace) within yourself. Your mind is always seeking for something, always attaching itself to some sensory desire. As Osho says in his Book of Secrets, “The mind has to be turned from seeking to nonseeking.” This is done through meditation. The mind stops reacting to the world outside and begins to explore the incredible world within.

In future columns, I will be teaching you mindfulness techniques, simple meditation techniques, as well as sharing with you some important life lessons I have learned on my spiritual journey. For now, I would like to share with you the most simple meditation technique that you can do anywhere.

Find a comfortable position, perhaps sitting cross-legged on the floor with your back straight and your knees supported, or sitting upright on a chair with your feet hip width apart and your arms comfortably positioned at your side. Now, take a deep breath. While breathing in, count to four-- fill your entire lungs with air. Hold the air inside the lungs for a moment, and then slowly exhale—for approximately six to eight counts. Repeat this process three times. Feel as if you are filling a jar with water, and then slowly emptying the jar. This practice will help still the mind.

Close your eyes. Now, breathe naturally, and simply. Sit quietly and focus on your breath, not forcing anything, just watching your breath as it comes in and goes out. If you like, you can even say to yourself ‘breathing in’ on the inhalation, and ‘breathing out’ on the exhalation. Continue this practice for as long as you feel comfortable. If you begin to focus on your mind and become carried away with thinking, that is perfectly okay—your mind is used to being the focus of your attention. Just come back to your breath. Simply breathing in and breathing out.

Again, if you find yourself being enmeshed in your thoughts, please do not beat yourself up, be thankful that you have become aware of being caught up in the thought process and then go back to focusing on the breath.

You can do this exercise with your eyes open, as well. You might want to try it while waiting in line at the bank or the super market, or during commercials while watching TV. You can even do this practice as a walking meditation, being mindful of your breath and your surroundings. Of course, please do not try this or any other meditation while driving.

Until next month, be mindful of your breath as much as possible. The breath is the life force. It is the key to finding the freedom and peace we were born to find. The TRUTH that we are all searching for is closer than you could ever imagine. As Lao Tzu said in the Tao te Ching, “The greatest journey starts with one step”. Consider your new mindfulness breathing exercise your first step to innate freedom, joy, and bliss absolute.

Warm Regards,
Bhakti Brophy

PS HAPPY GURUPURNIMA!!!!

tags: Jaibhakti, Meditation, Bhakti Brophy, Osho, Siddha Yoga

Mystical Union With My Beloved Guru: A Poem

Communion with Gurumayi.
Sweet Communion.

I have been doing a
"Silent Weekend Retreat" at home.
Reflecting on The Self.
Contemplating the fact that I see
God everywhere, in every thing that exists.
(Why me? How did I get to this state?
Many lifetimes of inner work?
I am blessed beyond belief! Amen.)
Feeling the love and joy of the World
Pouring through my veins
While sunbathing in the backyard.

Earlier in the day, a doe pranced up to me--
She stopped about twenty feet away.
We gazed at each other for several precious moments.
I instantaneously recognized the doe
as a manifestation of Gurumayi.
(Gurumayi has an affinity for deer.)

Several hours later,
While lying on my stomach
Basking in the rejuvenating rays of the sun,
An image of myself sitting across
from Gurumayi entered my mind.
I felt her presence sitting across from me--
Her in a light-golden silk robe,
Sitting with her bare feet on the floor.
We were at her ashram
In a vanilla ice cream colored room.
I sat silently,
Absorbing her presence.
I was basking in OUR energy-
Our Love.

I drifted out of the lovely darshan
And began wondering if I could ever
Get a privite sitting with Gurumayi.
I began contemplating writing
to her ashram with this inquiry in mind.
I got only so far as beginning to wonder
What I would write in this letter
When I realized that
I WAS in the presence of my Beloved Gurumayi.
She WAS sitting before me,
Blessing me with her darshan.

We sat across from each other--
Gazing into each other's eyes.
I was absorbing our energy--
While she sat reflecting my purity, my spirit,
my light, and my innate Love.
No need for answers;
There are no more questions to ask.

(Two years ago,
I had already thanked her for
Everything she has already given to me--
Mainly igniting the dorment
Light of God within.)

This current darshan was pure LOVE.
I contemplated bowing down and kissing her feet.
She made it clear that this was not necessary.
Gurumayi sat across from me
And she slowly became transparent--
I, too, dissolved.
Our energies merged.

Gurumayi blessed me with her darshan
In such a graceful way
As to bless me with my own darshan.
We are One.
We have merged.

Our love is beyond words.
Our love is the purest form possible--
Indescribable,
And all intoxicating.
Our love is the reflection
of the light of God within.

Om Namah Shivaya.
Sadgurunath Maharaj ki Jay!

My wish is that everyone, everywhere realize that the light of God (please substitute whatever name you give to the sustaining force of the universe) is right within your own heart. You possess the light of God. You are a manifestation of God. No matter how 'bad' or 'sinful' you think you are, the light within your own heart is ten-million times stronger than any transgression. No matter how much pain and suffering you are undergoing, remember that
there is a calmness underneath that 'storm'. Meditation is the key in finding that peaceful place within.


Life is good.
My love,

Bhakti


For guidance in understanding the mystical experience of 'darshan', here is the Wikipedia definition: Darshan is a Sanskrit and Hindu (also used to some extent in Urdu) term meaning sight (in the sense of an instance of seeing something or somebody), vision, apparition, or a glimpse. It is most commonly used for visions of the divine; that is, of a god or a very holy person or artifact. We could have a "darshan" of the deity in the temple (at the gross level) or have a "darshan" in that inward eye of a light or awareness (at a subtle plane).

Definition of Guru: One who dispels the darkness of ignornance. (On a personal note, I would like to personally add that a 'true' Guru is one who ultimately teaches you that what you are searching for is right inside yourself. I would be weary of any guru who teaches otherwise. My Guru (Gurumayi) has showed me the light within myself. I am forever grateful, as I believe the above poem reflects. )

tags: Jaibhakti, mysticism, Gurumayi, poetry, darshan, Self-realization