“There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe. Don’t confuse power-driven, self-centered people with true mentors. A genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to himself or herself and will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as transparent as glass. They let the light of G-d pass through them.”
What books do I want to read? Well, anything with a spiritual bent, especially teachings that have been around for hundreds, or even thousands of years. I mean, what could possibly be better than this for my growth as a human being?
Some of my favorites have been works by Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Francis of Assisi, and Rumi. I also love The Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad-Gita. I tend to be more skeptical of newer books, because I wonder what they could possibly have to say that’s better than the tried-and-true spiritual classics.
I’m totally enamored by the book, Jnana Yoga, by Swami Vivekananda. It’s a classic of Advaita Vedanda (non-dualism). It’s a series of lectures he gave in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1890s. I find that this book answers every question I’ve ever had about life in this world, and gives me the confidence I need to go about doing good in the world. I’ve read the book multiple times and never get tired of it. Jnana Yoga rests on my nightstand so I can read a few pages before going to sleep.
Two months ago, my husband and I attended a retreat with Rupert Spira at the Garrison Institute in New York. The retreat included daily 90-minute meditations in the mornings, plus 2-hour Q&A sessions with Rupert in the afternoons. We also had plenty of free time for journaling, yoga practice, and hiking on the beautiful trails near the Hudson River.
The following is a reflection from one of my journaling sessions based on what I was hearing and experiencing at the retreat:
At some point, all religions fail us. They can’t give us what we truly desire because we already ARE THAT! We already have what we most desire. It’s like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. After all her wild adventures, she realizes there’s no place like home. That “home” is our True Self, our Being Itself.
Spiritual seekers have given up seeking in other areas of life — status, money, power, relationships, etc. — and instead, focus all their seeking in the spiritual realm. This, then, becomes a difficult habit to break.
All we REALLY want is the experience of ultimate peace and pure unconditional love. And really, all we need to do is look deeply within ourselves and rest there. THERE is peace, love, and joy!
Giving up spiritual materialism, teachings/practices, and teachers is the most difficult step for seekers. This is the Buddhist teaching: “If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him!” Also: Use the raft (teachings, practices, beliefs, teachers) to get to the other side of the river, but once there, leave the raft behind; don’t continue to carry it. Know that it has served its purpose.
The journey is complete in pure Being. We were already there as infants but we didn’t consciously know it. Now, we can KNOW and BE in pure Being.
What does this feel like? Sometimes it feels like nothingness. This is Peace. We only have to recognize the experience as Peace rather than boredom or some other mistaken perception. Sometimes pure Being feels like fullness, full of something like energy or Love. This is joy, bliss (ananda in Sanskrit).
Pure Being is BOTH Peace and Bliss/Love. It is both and perfect. WE are both and perfect already! All we have to do is remember this, our True Self. The more often we look deeply within and remember, the easier it is to live our lives from this center of Being.
And this is what the world needs more than anything: People who are living their lives from Pure Being: Peace, Love, Joy! May it be so! Amen! OM… OM… OM…
My husband and I like to discuss – and meditate on – the Buddhist concepts of bliss and emptiness, particularly the teaching on the union of bliss and emptiness. We all have our ideas of what “bliss” might be, and what “emptiness” seems to be, but since they are opposites, how could there be a union of these opposites? Maybe it’s like a yin-yang sort of situation. Maybe it’s like two sides of the same coin.
Earlier this month, during our retreat with Rupert Spira and friends at Garrison Institute in New York, I was surprised to hear Rupert give very simple suggestions during a meditation session. He was pointing out our very obvious experience in meditation upon Pure Being.
When we rest in Pure Being, we notice that Being IS emptiness “which we call peace.” At the same time, while resting in Pure Being, we notice that Being IS fullness “which we call happiness or bliss.” I recognized this instantly. Yes! Sometimes, when I look deep within my Being, there seems to be nothing there. Being is empty. But this isn’t dull or boring. It’s peaceful! Sometimes, when I look deep within my Being, I seem to be full of life or energy or love. This fullness is blissful! It feels wonderful – like I have everything I could ever possibly want.
Sometimes I see the emptiness, and sometimes I see the bliss. But if I look carefully, I have to admit they are both there all the time. Being IS the union of bliss and emptiness. WE are the union of bliss and emptiness. Both. And perfect. All the time.
I often come across relevant teachings from the Enneagram Institute: “Once we have identified with our ego-consciousness, it is difficult for us to imagine any alternative, even though it brings no relief and causes us to behave in ways that hurt ourselves and others. Ignorance and fear, rather than evil and ill-will, are therefore at the root of much of our suffering and the suffering of mankind, as many of the great spiritual traditions have taught.”
Yoga practice helps us identify and live our lives from a place of Higher Consciousness where we can slow down and really listen to each other, and share understanding and compassion. May it be so!
Holistic Yoga & Spiritual Guidance 