Yogi Bhajan's Birthday

 

Yesterday was Yogi Bhajan’s birthday.  We woke up after a couple hours of sleep, if that, and trekked to our various 3HO communities and gathered to chant what we call Long Ek Ong Kaurs for 2 ½ hours.  “There is only one God, Truth is God’s name, Oh My God, wow, that is extreme!” is a loose translation.  I was in total chant mode for the first half, then layed down on my side and napped for a bit, regathering strength, lying in bliss, absorbing the Naad, which is the spiritual sound current that heals and transforms.  Others napped as well, and at 6am, as we were gathering our belongings to leave, a few people mentioned that they were not able to keep up perfectly for the whole 2 ½ hours.  Oh, but you did, I replied, you showed up, for Yogi Bhajan, for God, and for yourself. Yogi Bhajan, was known to be a tough teacher.  He wanted his students, each of us, to excel, and we did, and we are, and we do. He knew in his heart that we are all keeping up, no matter where we are at with our practice, because it is just that, practice, not perfection.

The Dance

Always learning, always changing, always  growing; in all ways.

Manifestation

Aug. 10, 2012

The first 3 steps are a formula for manifestation.  In the first step we are asking.  We are asking for help. In being honest with ourselves, and admitting that we have a problem that is seemingly insurmountable, we are asking Someone, Something, Somewhere, for help.  Anytime that we want to manifest anything, we must be clear about what it is that we want; and then we ask for it.  Now the second step is very important, because we must believe that Someone, Something, Somewhere will be able to help us manifest what it is that we want, especially if we know in our heart that it is what is best for us.  Is the Universe benevolent? Does Source really want to provide for you?  Of course She does.  Then let Her! The third step is crucial.  One reason that our desires often do not come to fruition is because we have not worked a proper third step, turning it over…letting go.  When we let it go, let go of the attachment to the outcome, we put it in the hands of our higher power to make it happen.  If we are not doing this, we are muddling the affair by getting in the way, and delaying the manifestation.  All that we truly desire is waiting for us, all we have to do is ask, believe, and let go (and let God).

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Spirit Within

In the midst of self will, we are searching for healing.  We are looking for relief.  We think we know best how to fix ourselves.  Or we ask “others”, those authorities that we can put in charge of us.  There has got to be something out there that can fix us.  Then, when we realize what it is that we are doing, we can go back in.  We can give our will, and our lives, over to the care of God, Spirit, Source, to awaken within us that which we know will provide the healing that we seek.  We know what is best for us, and what is worst.
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Retrograde

Mercury promises to go direct tonight, this feels like the relief that I have been waiting for.  I am a Leo, and Mercury has been retreating in Leo, taking a rake over my mind, my behavior, my outlook, and my centeredness.  Still out of synch and out of sorts. Guru Singh likes to point out that this is an ideal time to reboot our systems, or to get the most out of the reboot as it happens.  It is never easy, unless perhaps one is born during a retrograde, and then it may seem natural and comforting.  So what have I learned?  That I can regress, and that sometimes it feels like one step forward, two steps back.  That knowledge can be comforting at times, but will not get the job done.  That we are never done, yet we have forever to do it.  That mass murder can feel very close to home, and that white clothes are going to stain.

Japji First Step

The First Step is described in Japji Sahib in the 33^rd stanza:

No power to speak, or silence to keep.

No power to beg, no power to give,

No power to die, no power to live.

No power to rule

Or enlighten the mind,

No power to awaken my soul to Thee,

No power to find the way to be free.

By one’s own will, O Nanak, none can be good or bad.

He alone has the power to reveal the way.

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MonkeyMind

I have been leading from the head these past few days, way too much self-indulgent thinking followed by self-indulgent behavior, as we approach this full moon in Aquarius. My monkey mind is at work, distracting me from my Self.  Perhaps something is troubling me; which triggers distraction rather than self-care and in depth analysis.  I did some writing, perhaps I will do more, but today I want to lead from the heart.  I want to hear the joy that speaks to me in that still, small voice.  I want to let go of these fears and anxieties and lead my mind astray.  I want to relax in the love of the moment.  Oh, that’s right, just do it.

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Breath

Just be grateful for this breath, for this breath is a gift.  Each of us has asked in times of abandonment and sorrow, “Why was I born?”  Each of us has asked in times of wonder and amazement “Why was I born?”  Slowly take in this next breath, though your nose, filling your lungs, allowing your stomach to swell.  What is this life?  It is a gift from the breath.  What is this breath?  It is sustenance, it is spirit, it is love.

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Ego

The ego thinks it is god, Spirit knows that We are God.

More

If you are not grateful for what you have, why would you want more?

No Holes In This Donut

It all comes down to this.  We all have this longing inside of us that calls out for fulfillment, and we are continually sidetracked with the belief that there is something missing in our lives.  The mind reaches out for that which we believe that we do not presently have.  Whether it is that relationship, that financial gain, that mind altering “medicine”, that thing, that place, or that donut; but we cannot put a band aid on our heart  and expect it to fix that hole, or the whole.  When the mind says “Donut”! the soul is crying “God!”

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Faith

Have faith in faith.  Trust trust. Love love.

New Moon

May today’s new moon warm your belly as you breathe a sigh of relief, as you realize that you are going to be ok, that you are not alone in your thoughts, feelings and dreams. May She nurture you and protect you, love and adore you, wrap you in a warm blanket of divine light, feed you with her bounty and encouragement. May She speak softly in your ear, reminding you that it is not too late to learn what love can truly be. Reaching out to those that you love and care for, whether you are male or female, with children by birth or circumstance, be a Mother to all.  We are all God’s children, so reflect that love, as the moon reflects the life of the sun, unto all.

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Seek

What is this insistent longing in my soul that cries out for you, when, yet, it is but You that satisfies my soul.  I look for another, and yet, there is no other but You.  Alone in a desert there is You.  Each face in the crowd, every phrase uttered aloud, longing for You.  And here You are, and here You are, and here You are, You are here.  Am I sleeping?  Am I blind?  I am lost when not chanting your name.  I am in fear when I forget.  I face false realities.  Let them fall from me, until You is all that I see.  For You is all I can be.

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Saint

You don’t have to be canonized to become a saint.  I know many saints, some of whom were born saints; others were sinners who have turned it around.  Christ came to work with those that were troubled and in need of healing.  When you have been healed by Christ, sainthood is probably just a matter of time.  Being a saint is not something meant for a select few, it is our destiny.  Each and everyone one of us will become a saint.  It may not happen in this lifetime, I grant you… but why not.  Why shouldn’t we devote our lives to sainthood?  It would mean putting God first, at the forefront of our existence.  It would mean being of selfless service to others, by seeing God in every set of eyes and devoting ourselves to uplift all so that they may see God in themselves. It would mean loving unconditionally.  It would mean setting asides prejudices and judgments.  It would mean being grateful and content.  I may not be quite there, but this is my prayer.

Fear

Last evening at the men’s meeting the theme of the discussion turned to the nature of good and evil.  As several people mentioned that evil was a very real force in this world, I noticed fear creeping into the ambiance of the room. Subjects ranging from Hitler, predators and exorcisms became the topics for discussion.  We all know stories to this effect.  We know people, or people who know people, who have had horrible tragedies in their lives that can only be explained as the result of pure evil.  If we turn the word around what do we find?  If we live in fear, who, or what wins?  It is in our courage, it is in our faith and our trust, that we must live each day.  If life is a manifestation of our thoughts, feelings and beliefs, it is our responsibility to focus on what is good, loving and supportive.  When we bring fear into the room, into our hearts, we may be setting the stage for a nightmare.  God will give us nothing that we are not able to learn from, grow through, and conquer; even our greatest fears.

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Infinite

We are infinite, you and I.  We are boundless beings brought forth to love and serve one another until we realize that we are loving and serving ourselves in doing so, all the while, loving and serving God, which is all that we are, one in God.  Living in the delusion of duality and separation, the ego will not grasp this concept, as it has no bearing on its needs, which is to survive and conquer.  Pay it no mind. Through your daily spiritual practice, develop the instincts of Universal Consciousness.  Meditate on So Hung as you inhale and exhale. Infinity, I am Thou.

Journeys

The fireworks were too much for Sandi, my elderly German Shepard, last night.  When I returned home and the garage door opened, she walked out, as she generally does, to sniff around the alley; but last night she just continued to hobble down the alley and didn’t stop.  She just kept on going She was medicated and disoriented; was she was just fed up?  Maybe she needed to see what the racket was all about.  Ariel, my son, went looking for her, and finally found her in front of the house; maybe just needed a walk around the block, maybe she wanted an adventure. I am glad that she decided to find her way back home. I missed her. Yesterday I said goodbye to Amar Rattan and Amrit Preet. Sigh…

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Mind the Heart

The mind cannot fix the mind; that is the job of the heart.

Recourse

I no longer want what God does not want for me.  I have been coerced, fed lies and slander; I have bought into tragedy, sickness, dishonesty, all of my own doing. I have hurt all those that I love. I claimed the higher moral ground while digging my grave. I looked into the eyes of someone that I hurt terribly.  I have cried in pain and in fear. I no longer want what God does not want for me.  I have been crippled and cursed.  I have been a criminal.  I have coveted, coerced and worse.  I have had expectations.  I have been disappointed. I no longer want what God does not want for me.  I have loved and lost, repeatedly.  I have given while taking.  I have begged while breaking.  I have stood at the seashore and wanted more. I no longer want what God does not want for me.