Gaia Community: SantMat_Mystic_(James)'s Blog

Return Again, Awake, O Soul of Splendor!

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:18:17 GMT

Return Again, Awake, O Soul of Splendor!

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/santmat.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship
http://www.Facebook.com/SantMatRadhasoami
http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SantMatFellowship
http://SantMatRadhasoami.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RADHASOAMI-REALITY

Youtube Video: Bhajan of Guru Kabir: "Where do you search for Me?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrguJTi40iY

Meditation is the soul's Portal to the Divine, a Doorway to God and the Heavens that are within. Place your mind before the mirror of eternity. Place your soul in the brilliance of glory. Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance and transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead itself through contemplation. Meditate upon the Love, Light and Sound of the Positive Power within you.

When darkness is no longer dark, when the stillness of the night gives birth to a faint Celestial Melody, know this: one more soul is being summoned to awakening, one more soul hears the Call, one more soul ascends to the Place of Life. (from my article, 'Seeing Heaven as a Real Place': http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpiritualAwakening/message/1938 )

0 Surat [soul]! You have had enough sleep.
Now get up and proceed on. Why do you waste your capital here.

Come under the protection of Satguru. Hold fast to Nam and get rid of all evils.

Kal strikes at you every moment. Associate yourself with Shabd, and throw away the load of karmas.

Why do you not wash off the impurities of your mind now? Why do you not merge your Surat in Shabd?

Behold the marvelous Jyoti (flame) within yourself. Radhasoami has opened the spring of Bhakti.

-- Swami Ji Maharaj (Sant Radhasoami Sahab), Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Volume One, Published in Agra, India)

On Inner Light and Sound Meditation Practice

Below is Excerpted from a Sant Mat Satsang Discourse of Parampoojya Shri Shahi Swami ji Maharaj, Translated by Pravesh Kumar Singh

Shahi Swami ji Maharaj

Kabir Said: "BAsa surat le AvaI, shabda surat lai jAya. Parichaya shruti hai sthire, so guru daI batAya."

[Cravings bring or drag the jiva (non-liberated individual soul) into this world, while the Sound (the Quintessential Unstruck Melody) takes us beyond, back to its true, original home. The surat [attention-faculty of the soul] becomes still (becomes free from movement into endless cycles of birth & death) as it gets acquainted with or meets Him. Guru has taught me (says Kabir) the technique for this (making the surat still).]

Shri Shahi Swami Ji Maharaj: "When our sight becomes fixed, the World or Domain of Light opens up, a spotless Sun is seen. And, thus, "raina andherI miTa gayI, bAjai anahad tUra" (The dark night has come to an end, and countless varieties of enchanting sounds are heard reverberating.), as described by Sant Kabir, is realized in practice. The art to this practice is secret or confidential (has to be learnt from an adept master or Guru). However, obstinacy won't help here (It is to be noted here that obstinacy is distinct from tenacity of purpose – Translator). For this, one has to begin with `Manas Jap' – reciting internally or mentally, with full concentration, the holy mantra given by the Guru – and then has to internally visualize the gross form of the Guru (known as `Manas Dhyan'). Manas Jap puts a brake on the restlessness, flirtatiousness or naughtiness of the mind, whereas Manas Dhyan orients the mind in one particular direction, and, thus, one becomes introverted. `DrishTi SAdhan' or Drishti Sadhan (The Yoga of Light, which has to be practiced after Manas Dhyan) helps accomplishing the single – mindedness and one can testify to the veracity of the Sants' claim "Vindu (Bindu) me tanh nAda bolai" (Nada or Sound reverberates in the Light or Vindu). `Nada Dhyan' enables to realize the Supreme Sovereign Soul. This is what Sants and Great Souls teach."

Meditation: God Resides Inside - Look, Listen for Him There

"My soul, 0 most Splendid One...where have you gone? Return again. Awake, soul of splendor, from the slumber of drunkenness into which you have fallen...follow me to the place of the Exalted World where you existed in the beginning." (Mandaean Gnostic psalm from Iraq quoted in, The Gnostic Religion, by Hans Jonas, Beacon Press)

"The individual soul has decended from the Soundles State to the essence of Sound,from Sound to Light, and finally from the realm of Light to the realm of Darkness.....[In meditation] we travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from the Light to Divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the Soundless State." (Swami Sant Seviji Maharaj)

"Look for and search for God within yourself, within your own body. God resides inside - look for him there. The white point shines straight ahead and twinkles. You must concentrate in sushumna [inner passage or tunnel, central channel, middle path**] by leaving the restlessness of the mind behind. Where the subtle sounds vibrate in the ajna chakra [third eye center, point between the eyebrows**], stay and make your dwelling. The Door is subtle and sushumna is the Point or Window. With great effort, you can go through." (Sant Maharishi Mehi)

** NOTE: ajna chakra, sushumna nadi tube: Accessing the Third Eye Center and the tunnel of Light, in meditation with eyes closed, has been described as like looking at a blank tv screen waiting for the program to begin. In this case, the "video" is inner vision: the manifestation of Divine Light. Maharishi Mehi described a bright white twinkling light. This has been called by the Sants of India: "Jagmag Jyoti" or the Twinkling Light that emanates from the astral Thousand Petal Lotus region (Sahans-dal Kanwal).

The Third Eye Center is also known as The Seat of the Soul. When one goes within, in addition to the possibility of contemplating Divine Light, in this world of Inner Space there is also the possibility of hearing "subtle sounds vibrating" (Maharishi Mehi). This is referring to the Inner Sound Current or Music of the Spheres, the Sound coming from Beyond the Silence (Logos, Word, AUM, HU, Tao, Nada, Shabda, Saunt-e Sarmad, Song of the Creator). Often people first hear the Astral Bell Sound, a kind of ringing, like a bell that has been struck that keeps on reverberating .... forever. This ringing comes when we concentrate, and like the Light, seems to "disappear" when we loose concentration and leave off our meditation practice. The Sound and the Light are really still there, are always there. It is only our attention (surat) that comes and goes.

Important Teachings from the Anurag Sagar (Kabir's Ocean of Love)

"Oh Dharam Dass! The soul which is a part of God has been imprisoned in this human body. This soul has fallen in love with mind which is a negative power and it (soul) has forgotten its own Home and Supreme Master ...(God)."

"KAL is very clever. He knows many methods to trap the souls. He deceives them and swallows them."

"Under the influence of KAL a human being has forgotten his own identity. KAL has put him under illusion and entangled him in worldly pleasures. So he does all bad deeds. Though he was given this human life to drink the nectar of 'Naam', instead he is drinking poison."

"Kal has entangled people in illusions to such an extent that they have totally forgotten their real Home. Kal has woven such a net that now it is difficult to get released from it. These traps are rituals and rites, scripture reading and worship, and performing Yagyas (oblations). These have nothing to do with realisation of God."

Kabir Sahib said, "If a person understands the tricks of KAL and realizes that mind is the real enemy, then after getting initiation he can conquer mind and come out of the cycle of 84."

"Illusion is like a deep well where there is all darkness. The mind (Kal) throws the souls in that deep well and eats them up."

Internal Illusion of Kal -- Lower Kal-Light -- False Light

"When we collect the scattered thought and focus it behind the eyes, we first see a light called "Sakha Jot" and then at that very place appears "Jhilmil Jyoti". Showing these lights, Kaal arrests the souls (Jeevas) there. The third "Jagmag Jyoti" or the Twinkling Light is in the Thousand Petal Lotus region. Only the saints see this Light. This is above the eyes and below the "Turiya Pad". This real Light is known only to the saints." (Anurag Sagar)

Dharam Dass: "Oh My Master, during meditation, some persons see Jhilmil Jyoti (flickering light). Which is that stage of meditation where this 'Jhilmil Jyoti' is visible? Kindly explain to me about that". Kindly tell me about the stage where this 'Jhilmil Jyoti' appears as well as about the god who manifests there."

Kabir: "Dharam Dass, mind is the agent of Niranjan and performs in our body just like Ashtangi (the primordial power) doing work of Niranjan. This secret is revealed only through a Guru."

"Light at the region of Sunn is due to mind and various doubts arising within are due to mind."

"Mind, created by KAL, rules over the three regions (Bhulok, Pata Lok and Akash Lok). It has full control over them. It is not under any other power. Only Naam (Word) can control it."

"Mind, created by KAL, rules over the three regions (Bhulok, Pata Lok and Akash Lok). It has full control over them. It is not I under any other power. Only Naam (Word) can control it."

"In reality there is only one Naam or Word or power but due to the confusion created by mind, we recite various names during worship. Since we have not recognised/realised our SELF, we are deceived."

"People worship various gods and goddesses to fulfill their wishes. But to come out of the cycle of 84, we require the help of SATNAM (True Name, Word)." (Anurag Sagar)

Initiation and Protection from Above, Following the Path of Sants

Kabir Sahib said, "If Naam or Word given during initiation is manifested within and the Light emanating from It is seen, then all ignorance goes and KAL cannot come near that soul since Word manifested Guru is the Master of the whole creation. Till one hears the unstruck Sound (Word) within, Kal in the form of a snake, does not leave the soul. Caught in the illusions, the soul has forgotten the Real Home. It is difficult to escape from the powerful KAL. Naam (Word) is the only Power to control him. Just as a snake charmer controls a snake by reciting a mantra, similarly Word given by Guru can control KAL."

"Naam" is the remedy for all ailments."

Kabir Sahib said, "Kal cannot come near the power of Word and Sumiran Bhajan."

"If a person adopts a Master and having faith in him, gets himself initiated, does meditation with devotion then he can become a hans (pure soul). Such an attainment is priceless. His Master (the personification of Word) will take him step by step to Sahansdal Kamal, Trikuti, Daswan Dwar, Bhawar Gupha, Sach Khand and after a short stay, to Alakh, Agam and Anami Desh which is the highest eternal Region, the Ultimate Abode."

"Oh Dharam Dass! If a person gives up all doubts, meditates regularly on Naam imparted by the Master, and behaves in the manner the saints behave and follows in their footsteps, that is, he listens to the Sound Current within himself, then he can tread the path of saints in search of the Highest Truth. There is a Sound Current coming from the Final Abode and calling you to come. So if you listen to that Call, then you can ascend like saints." (Anurag Sagar)

RADHASOAMI -- The Ocean of All-Love

Swami Ji Maharaj: "From one step to another the soul beholds strange things which cannot be described in human language. Every region and everything is utterly beyond words. What beauty and glory! How can I describe them? There is nothing here to convey the idea. I am helpless.... Love plays the supreme part. It is all love. So says RADHASWAMI."

Tags: living master, near death experience, out of body, gnostic, mandaean, mystics, sant mat, radhasoami, spiritual awakening radio, inner light sound meditation surat shabd yoga

January Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Chand Mat: Baba Faqir Chand

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:53:42 GMT

January Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Chand Mat

Baba Faqir Chand's Commentary on the Esoteric Instructions of Swami Ji Maharaj (Hidayatnama)

Program Length: 41 Minutes

*Click to go to Blog Talk Radio Page and Listen or Download:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2010/01/24/january-2010-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

"The sages of India discovered the truth of man's potential perfection and his ability to actualize it in their thousands of years of spiritual experimentation. They wrote down the steps for this attainment for their followers. The tradition of passing, from master to disciple, this spontaneous achievement of living in God in our waking life has continued in almost all the cultures of the world, but the secrecy and mystery of this mysticism have often led to confusion even until the present day.

"Some paths and techniques of meditation are indirect, vague, complicated, and difficult.

"The uncovering of this secret and the simplest explanation of this universal way of man's union with God is the fundamental purpose of this book.

"The epitome of the pathway of God-realization is expounded in Surat-Shabda Yoga, or Union with God through the technique of Light and Sound. This path has been present, although concealed, in all major religions of the world. Recently however, its direct revelation and practical application have openly emerged." (I.C. Sharma, from the Introduction to, Instructions For Seekers-Surat Shabda Yoga-The Yoga of Light and Sound)

Baba Faqir Chand, Radhasoami Satsang Hoshiarpur (Manavta Mandir Ashram)

The theme this month is "Chand Mat", that is to say, the teachings of the Baba Faqir Chand branch of the Radhasoami Faith, with readings from: The Sar Bachan Poetry of Swami Ji Maharaj, including from the Esoteric Instructions (Hidayatnama) of Swami Ji, a prayer from Light On Ananda Yoga by Shiv Brat Lal, readings from Dr. Ishwar C. Sharma and Baba Faqir Chand from Instructions For Seekers-Surat Shabda Yoga-The Yoga of Light and Sound (Chand's Commentary on the Sar Bachan), Baba Faqir Chand from Jeewan Mukti (Liberation In Life), Enchanted Land from the chapter dedicated to Yogani Mata Ji, and a satsang discourse from J.L. Chaudhari.

Swami Ji Maharaj: Sadguru Khojo Ri Pyari, Jag Main Durlabh Ratan Yahi."My dearest aspirant! Continue your research for a true and perfect master, because he is rare like a precious diamond."

Baba Faqir Chand: "The masses adopt a Guru, merely on reputation, without making thorough research themselves. That is why they do not find real Gurus. If such rare saints are difficult to find, one should associate with those saints who are on the way to perfection. Only those persons are capable of uniting with God, or Truth, who consider other human beings equal to themselves and hold no jealousy, hatred, or other negative ideas in their mind....

"Disciple: But, most of the disciples have been associated with their Gurus for a very long time. Why then, have they not attained anything that is granted by a saint? Also, the Gurus have been engaging their disciples in different kinds of services. Why do they advise some disciples in one way and others in a different way?

"Faqir: In fact, a true master knows very well why a special disciple has come to his refuge. Some Gurus, who are keen to recruit as many disciples as they can, to exploit those people who are in trouble. But a true or perfect master never exploits his dear disciples. He loves them and advises them according to their respective backgrounds and capabilities, which are different for different people. He tells his disciples to be engaged in different kinds of activities, which either help them to fulfill their worldly desires of material things, or to rid themselves of those desires after a good deal of experience. A person can never realize Truth, or attain peace, as long as he is a slave to passions and desires. That is why Hidayatnama clearly says that first a devotee should resign his desires for wealth, prosperity, and family to the will of God and then go to the saints for guidance. In this way all his problems will be solved. Those who do not follow these instructions take a longer time to resolve their problems. The order of the perfect master and the path suggested by him should be considered as supreme. The seeker would experience peace and bliss by applying the instructions of his master to his practical daily life....

"Many Gurus are concerned with accumulating wealth and fame and their disciples are equally motivated by worldly desires. So instead of being enlightened and liberated, seekers are more and more involved in material things and thus subjected to the cycle of birth and death. When a Guru who is the true practitioner of The Yoga of Light and Sound is found by a disciple who is truly desirous of being freed from the spatio-temporal world, then and only then the relationship of the disciple and the master has some significance."

Yogani Mata Ji

Jai Guru Radhasoami,
James,
Email:
James@SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com

Website:
http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/announce.html

Tags: baba faqir chand, sant mat satsang podcast, blog talk radio, james bean, radhasoami, sant mat, gurus, truth, God

Primary Text For Understanding Sant Mat: Philosophy of Liberation

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:23:31 GMT

Primary Text for Understanding Sant Mat: The Philosophy of Liberation

Maharshi Mehi Related Guru Lineage Chart
(Swami Achyutanand Ji is also part of the same lineage.)

Sant Mat Book Review: The Philosophy of Liberation

Param Sant Tulsi Sahib (older)

The ocean of existence is unfathomably vast and without any port of safety. It cannot be crossed --- If you meet Satguru, the boatman, then only will you get across and reach your Abode.
Listen, O friend! Great is the status of Sants. In that region of Sants there is neither sound nor any form. It is beyond Sunn [void] and Maha-sunn [great void].
Says Tulsi, he knows the True Name of the Abode of the August, Nameless and Infinite Being. (Shabdavalli of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)

Sant Mat Radhasoami:
http://www.Facebook.com/SantMatRadhasoami

Sant Mat Fellowship:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship

Param Sant Tulsi Sahib (younger)

The soul (Surat), seeking to glimpse the Absolute, concentrates through its gaze at the tenth door,

Watching the luminous point, the pole star, the Moon and the Sun,

Surat hears many sweet sounds of the five spheres;

Mehi says, this is the quintessence of Santmat;

And he has only repeated the words of the saints,

He has understood and tested them fully,

They are so very true and are of great benefit to all.

-- Maharishi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj

Param Sant Tulsi Sahib (meditating)

Mixed Media: Book Reviews, Website Reviews, Music Reviews
By James Bean
Book Review: The Philosophy of Liberation
Copyright © Februrary 2007. All Rights Reserved.

"The Philosophy of Liberation"
By Maharishi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj

The Philosophy of Liberation

This is the first book in English featuring the teachings of Maharishi Mehi, in the lineage of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib, the famous Saint of Hathras, India. The lineage began with Sant Tulsi, then the torch was past to Baba Devi Sahib. Mehi was the next teacher, the third guru. Soon more writings from this lineage of Masters will soon be published and made available in English to spiritual seekers in the West.

Baba Devi Sahab

This is an intriguing book that provides some surprisingly technical details about meditation practice. Anyone interested in developing their own successful daily meditation practice will greatly benefit from the wisdom and depth of, "The Philosophy of Liberation", as it systematically covers all aspects of the philosophy of the path and the technical details of spiritual practice rarely ever seen in print from any source outside of India. It is not light reading, and that is precisely what I like about it!

Maharshi Mehi Paramhansa (younger)

There are several techniques described, the specific details of which are taught to students at the time of their deeksha (initiation) into the practice: 1) developing a daily routine, the habit of meditating at the same time or times each day; 2) proper posture so that one is truly focused at the Third Eye and remains alert and awake; 3) Manas Japa [simran], a mantra repetition of a sacred word done mentally; 4) Manas Dhyan, the technique of mentally visualising a form of God or one's teacher; 5) Drshti Yoga, the technique of focusing upon an infinitesimal point. This point will eventually blossom into inner Light or visions of Light. One gazes into the middle of the darkness or the Light one sees while in meditation. Think of the infinitesimal point as being like a laser pointer or cursor keeping one focused. One passes from scene to scene and vision to vision always looking toward the center; 6) Nada Sadhana, the practice of inner spiritual hearing [Surat Shabd Yoga]; and, 7th) reaching the State of Oneness with the Supreme Being in the Pure Conscious Realm. The ultimate goal is to merge into the upper level of Kaivalya known as the Ocean of Love and Compassion, the Ultimate Reality of God in the Nirguna or Formless State, also described with terms such as Anami (Nameless) and Anadi (Soundlessness). Maharshi Mehi stated in the Philosophy of Liberation: "The center of the realm of Kaivalaya (Oneness or Pure Consciousness) is the Supreme Sovereign Itself." He also said: "Beyond the Realm of Oneness, there is only the Supreme Sovereign."

Maharshi Mehi Paramhansa (older)

Below are Excerpts from the Book: Moksha-Darsan (Philosophy of Salvation or Liberation), a Primary Text for Understanding Sant Mat (The Path of the Masters)

The Philosophy of Liberation
By Maharishi Mehi
All rights reserved ©2006 Santmat Society of North America

1. Stillness or steadiness is the essence of Shanti.

(Shanti is a Sanskrit word with several English meanings: peace, tranquility, bliss, etc. The peace which results from some degree of communion with God is Shanti.)

2. He who has attained Shanti is a saint.

3. Sant Mat encompasses the thoughts and way of saints.

4. The desire for attaining Shanti is natural in human beings.

In the Upanishads the formula for the attainment of Shanti is expounded by the seers and saints of these ancient works. Similar views have been expressed by the saints of all times, including such saints as Guru Nanak Sahab and Kabir Sahab who expounded their views in the Punjabi and Hindi languages respectively. Such expressions are for the inspiration and edification of all people.

Shahi Swami Paramahansa Ji Maharaj

However, the Upanishads uniquely and fully describe the means for attaining Shanti and describe the means for attaining the Highest Wisdom. That is why the Upanishads are considered the foundation of Sant Mat. Further, a comprehensive exposition of the Divine Word-Sound is given in the Upanishads which leads to the Highest Wisdom. The Upanishads explain the yogic techniques and systematic views of transcending thought and attaining the Absolute through the use of sound (Yoga of Surat-shabda). Sant Mat follows the yogic path as prescribed in the Upanishads and specifically employs Surat-shabda-Yoga in its practices. The result of such practice is the attainment of the Highest Goal, the knowledge of the Supreme.

Swami Harinandan Baba

This is not to undermine the teachings of other saints, but rather to say that in the Upanishads are found the basis of the teachings of these saints. Often the teachings of various saints would, on the surface, seem contradictory to each other or even contradictory to the principles of the Upanishads. In fact, there is an unbreakable unity in the spiritual views of all saints. In different times and in different places saints appear, and their followers name their tradition in respect to the particular saint. The appearance of differences can be attributed to time, place and language, giving varied labels to views which are in reality the same. Likewise, due to excessively zealous followers these seeming differences are often accentuated. When all sectarianism and the forms of the particular time or place of the writings of a saint are removed, the basic principles of Sant Mat are in unity. The Ultimate, Unbounded, Infinite state (as described in section 11) is the unique possession of a saint. Further, the means to attain this state (as described in section 59 and 61) are found in the writings of the saints. Even though there are differences in the name and form of the Deity of worship, the underlying unity of the Unbounded dissolves these seeming differences (according to the idea expounded in section 86).

Swami Bhagirath Baba

Surat-Shabda-Yoga as a means to attain the Unbounded state is an integral and indispensable aspect of the Sant Mat tradition. Any tradition devoid of this essential aspect is not true Sant Mat. Various saints describe the Yoga of Surat -Shabda, and from these descriptions we become aware of the significance of Surat-Shabda-Yoga. The following are some words of the great saints, concerning the importance of Surat-Shabda-Yoga:

Guru Nanak Sahab states:

"The invisible and supra-sensory name of God (Divine Word-Sound) is extremely sweet and lovely."

Tuls-Das states:

"I offer homage to the Divine Name of the Universal Being, Ram, which is the cause of the sun, the moon and the fire. That Divine Universal Name is the form of the creator,
maintainer and destroyer."

............One will not succeed in Yoga if purity of character is disregarded. Lying, stealing, smoking, taking of drugs (including alcohol), violence, and adultery are all obstructions to the successful practice meet the Supreme Sovereign).

53. Listening to and study of the discourses on this sacred knowledge is an important step in the Sant Mat tradition. Listening to satsanga (spiritual discourses) is prescribed as an essential activity.

Swami Bhagirath Baba (meditating)

54. The personal and private instruction in the art of this spiritual practice should be received from a Sadguru (an accomplished spiritual master). Once the technique has been learned, one should practice it regularly and daily according to the instructions given by the master.

70. Through constant practice of the Meditation of Sound, the practitioner also experiences the Divine Light. Just as upon attending a concert, one cannot help but notice the beautiful setting, of Upper Nature, the plurality of sounds ceases to exist, and only then can the Essential Divine sound be experienced. Other sounds of the various Realms are not experienced at this level of the State of Oneness because diversity does not exist in the state of Oneness.

Swami Achyutanand Ji Maharaj

75. The State beyond Sound is acknowledged in the writings of saints as the goal of their teachings. In addition, their writings accept repetition of a Divine name, concentration on a form of the Divine, fixing the mind on a point and concentrating on the inner sounds of the different spheres as a means to reach the Soundless State. These four techniques are therefore essential in Sant Mat.

76. Without achieving perfection in the Yoga of Sound, the realization of the Supreme Sovereign God or the Knowledge of the Self cannot be achieved.

77. Without resolute devotion to the guru (a spiritual master), even by means of the Yoga of Sound, the realization of the Supreme Sovereign God is not possible. Without the help of the master, it is not possible to attain the full devotion for the Divine and the highest good.

82. The recognition of a true spiritual master is the most difficult of tasks. However, the one who has purity of character (rectitude), who practices diligently the Yoga of Sound, and who can explain clearly Sant Mat (the path of saints) can be accepted and trusted and given devotion as a spiritual master. A person without rectitude or purity of character, regardless of the other qualities just mentioned, should not be regarded as a true master.

If one has accepted a spiritual teacher and later finds him or her lacking in rectitude, that teacher should be abandoned. In spite of the teacher’s exquisite knowledge, association with that teacher is not desirable if he or she is lacking in moral character. As the aspirant is particularly affected by the teacher’s moral character, it is imperative to avoid teachers without moral virtues. Purity of character is the essential quality of a teacher and if purity is lacking that teacher is no better than an animal. A teacher lacking purity of character or other essential virtues is a false spiritual teacher. The fruits of accepting a true master are immense. Unfortunately, true teachers are few and difficult to find. A spiritual master who is wise, pure and a practitioner of the Yoga of Divine Sound gradually imparts his or her virtues to the student. The good will of the spiritual teacher cannot but help affecting the aspirant in a positive manner because one is affected by the power of a higher vibration. Section 77 describes the qualities of the teacher and how the aspirant benefits from his or her relationship with the teacher.

The master who practices the Yoga of Sound but is negligent in his moral character and in his spiritual knowledge is harmful to the seeker of spiritual knowledge. If one has accepted such a master, disregarding the importance of rectitude and knowledge, the aspirant would be deprived of the benefits of the association with a true preceptor, mentioned in the previous paragraph. In addition, in following an immoral teacher the aspirant would have the difficult task of not going astray, much less advancing on the spiritual path. However, without the aid of a true teacher this spiritual task can be undertaken by a few steadfast learned disciples. For most it is almost impossible to undertake this task. of gaining grace as described in the writings of the saints.

83. The aspiration to serve with love and behave humbly before the teacher arises naturally in the hearts of students. Therefore, devotion to the spiritual teacher is also natural. To say anything against devotion to the teacher is pointless. And also, the wise will not give devotion to an unworthy teacher and will influence other aspirants to do the same.

84. The four essential elements an aspirant of the spiritual path needs are the following: one, association of saints and hearing of things spiritual; two, moral rectitude; three, dedication to the teacher; and four practice of meditation. These essentials have previously been discussed; association is referenced in section 53; moral rectitude is addressed in section 60; meditation is referenced in sections 54 through 59. In Sant Mat an intense eagerness to acquire these essentials must be present. However, devotion to the teacher is paramount to the other three essentials and is the key to achieving the other three.

85. The desire of an individual to be free from sufferings and to attain the happiness of absolute peace is naturally present in the hearts of all. The purpose of Sant Mat is to provide a system which fulfills the desires of attaining absolute peace.

87. The practice of Nadanusandhana (the Yoga of Sound) is not mere child's play. Its full practice cannot be exercised by one who lacks Yama and Niyama (virtues and moral rectitude). See the following section 88 for more detail on Yama and Niyama.

There are sounds due to gross vibrations in the material body. To meditate on these gross sounds and believe it to be as the full practice of the Yoga of Sound shows a lack of knowledge of Yoga. According to the literature of the Sants (Saints), Yama and Niyama are essential for mastery in the practice of the Nadanusandhana (Yoga of Sound [Nada-nu-sandhana, the spiritual practice of inner Sound meditation, also called Surat Shabd Yoga]).

88. Yama consists of five disciplines: satya (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacarya (continence), and aparigraha (control of greed or non-possessiveness).

Niyama also consists of five practices, which are the following: sauca (internal and external purity), santosha (contentment), tapas (penance), svadhyaya (study of spiritual matters) and lsvara pranidhana (meditation on God).

89. In following Yama and Niyama, one exercises aversion from the five sins, serves the spiritual master, attends satsang, and practices meditation as referred to in section 60.

90. A comfortable asana (a pose of sitting or posture) of keeping the head, neck and trunk straight and steady is a must for meditation. Without the ability to sit in such a steady posture for prolonged periods, meditation cannot be practiced.

91. Meditation should be practiced being alert, without being drowsy, shutting the eyes comfortably and without turning the eyeballs or pressing them in any way.

92. The practice of meditation should be an essential part of the practitioner's daily routine. The preferred time of meditation is Brahmamuhurta ([Hour of God: Brahma-mu-hurta, or Amrit Veela: Hour of Elixir]: very early in the morning: 3:00 A.M.). Likewise one should meditate at mid-morning and then again in the evening time. While falling asleep, one should also engage his mind in meditation. Further, it is good to practice Manas japa [Simran] or Manas dhyana [Dhyan] while working.

Swami Vyasanand Ji Maharaj (in his meditation cave)

93. Before learning the Nadanusandhana (meditation on inner Sound) in practicing Manas japa (mantra repetition), Manas dhyana (focusing on the form of the master or deity) and Drshti Yoga ([inner Light meditation in the Third Eye Center or Eye-Focus] focusing on a Point that is practicing one-pointedness), one should meditate with eyes and mouth shut. Upon learning Nadanusandhana (Yoga of Sound [Inner Sound meditation]) from the Master, one should also close the ears.

94..........In the initial stages of dhyana (absolute concentration), pratyahara is practiced. [Note: Pratyahara means to bring back. Bringing back or refocusing one's attention during meditation, bringing the mind distracted by worldly thoughts back to the Focal Point during meditation.] Through the means of pratyahara, the mind is brought back repeatedly to the Focal Point. By this constant practice of pratyahara, one is eventually able to concentrate for a short period on the Focal Point. This state of concentration is called dharana (steadiness of concentration or absorption). When absorption is maintained for longer and longer periods of time, then it is dhyana (absolute concentration). Then in this state of dhyana, one is able to grasp the Streams of spiritual Sounds (described in section 60) and finally achieves samadhi (Unity [Union, Absorption, Oneness in deep meditation]). Drshti Yoga (seeing the inner Light---the Yoga of Vision) will greatly facilitate pratyahara and dharana......

............The saints and true teachers are known to be impartial; their blessings fall like the rain. However, the rain, while falling on all, tends to collect in deep pools just as the grace of the saints while showering on all flows rapidly and collects in the deep pools of the aspirants who are devoted. It is not surprising that the aspirants through their devotion draw the grace of the master towards them. Aspirants who give great attention to the ways of the teacher are worthy of the gift of knowledge. Obviously, not the careless one, but the one who honors the gift and cares for the receiving bowl receives the gift of the grace of the teacher. Making oneself worthy is the secret of devotion to the master, and will greatly facilitate meditation explained in detail in section 59.

105. The means to attain the direct knowledge of the Supreme Sovereign

Swami Vyasanand Ji Maharaj

God (Summary of the Philosophy of Liberation).

Before learning the technique to attain the direct knowledge of the Supreme Sovereign, intellectual understanding of the essential nature of the Supreme Sovereign God and one’s own self is necessary. Through hearing and studying the discourses of spiritual teachers and contemplation, such knowledge can be acquired. Along with knowledge of the order of creation, the reason for not having the direct knowledge of both should be sought. Through intellectual understanding of the essential nature of the Supreme Sovereign, it is determined what needs to be attained. One should be able to discern whether it is the body which realizes the Supreme or the Self, Knower within the body.

Also, for this realization should the practices be of an external nature (outwardly devotional practices) or internal nature (Yoga of Vision and Yoga of Sound)? Having come to an understanding, these wanderings will be left behind. After gaining the intellectual knowledge of one’s Self, one will understand whether one is suited for attaining this Knowledge. Once, intellectual knowledge of the order of creation and the reasons for not having direct knowledge of God and one’s own Self are understood then the means will be brought to light. With this revelation one will be able to go be ultimately merging in Soundlessness or the Supreme Sovereign God. The internal practice of meditation ends here: the Supreme God is realized and the work is completed.

98. The practitioner should support himself in gainful employment, living on one’s own earnings. The aspirant is best content with a few things.

99. The aspirant should keep himself free of impulses such as lust, anger, greed, delusion, egotism, jealousy and fear. In his interest for spiritual progress, the practitioner should create pure mental habits: compassion, mercy, contentment, forgiveness and humbleness.

100. The following should be avoided because they cause unsteadiness of the mind: intake of intoxicants, including alcohol and various non-prescription drugs, and eating of meat and fish.

101. Through association of saints, the hearing of spiritual talks and study, wisdom can be acquired. Wisdom is essential in determining what is the right way to live your life. Without wisdom one can make poor decisions, which result in undesirable consequences.

...........In conclusion, as has been stated the microcosm and macrocosm are interconnected as they are completely permeated by the realms described above. Likewise, to go beyond all the realms is to go beyond all concealments. Further, in whatever realm the individual dwells, he dwells in that realm both in the microcosmic sense as well as the macrocosmic sense. In addition, if one ceases inhabiting one of the Realms, then he leaves behind both the microcosmic as well as the beyond the concealments of Causal Nature imposed on the creation and the Self and then will meet with the Supreme and experience direct knowledge of the Supreme Sovereign God. (The Philosophy of Liberation, By Maharishi Mehi)

Maharshi Mehi Paramhansa (young)

Mystic-Verses from the Padavali of Maharishi Mehi

Fully plunged into such a practice one becomes extremely cool and calm,
And forgets all about one's material body;
Paramhans says such introvert-aspirants remain completely unaware of morning, day and night.
And are effortless as if dead from outside,

Paramhans says, sounds like the beating of drums and roaring of clouds are heard in the cosmos,
Above Trikuti, are colourless, shapeless compartments, where there are only resounding sounds;
The true spiritual aspirant remains in Dhyana Yoga,
And with Yoga of Sound reaches the Highest Realm;

The Yoga of Sound causes such wonderful experiences;
On getting such a perceptive Guru, one knows how to do meditation upon inner Sound,
That Matchless Sound which never changes is the Quintessential One,
And that Quintessential Sound is finally changed into the Soundless One.

Saints describe it with words such as "Soundless", "Nameless" or "Wordless",
The Quintessential one along with surat [soul] at the final stage disappears,
The very stage of Soundlessness, Wordlessness or Namelessness is entirely different,
According to Mehi that stage is devoid of dualism,
Surat, merging with the Absolute, never returns to the physical world.

Maharshi Mehi Paramhansa Ji Maharaj

Tags: the philosophy of liberation, God, salvation, anami, maharshi mehi, path of the masters, meditation, shanti, peace

Seven Stages of Mystic Ascension to Heaven According to Sant Mat

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:27:36 GMT

Seven Stages of Mystic Ascension to Heaven According to Sant Mat

Sant Mat Radhasoami:
http://www.Facebook.com/SantMatRadhasoami
{"Repeat the Name of your Beloved, day and night, again and again.
With care in thought, word and deed, you will cross to the other shore." -- Dadu}

Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj

The Seven Stages of Mystic Ascension to Heaven Are:

1) Praise or Bhakti (hymns),

2) Prayer,

3) Manas japa (simran, praying without ceasing, repeating the name of God -- mantra, the first stage of meditation),

4) Manas dhyana (visualising the form of the Master, second stage of meditation),

5) Dristi sadhana (seeing Inner Light at the Third Eye Center, third stage of meditation),

6) Nada Sadhana (hearing the Inner Sounds --- Surat Shabd Yoga, fourth stage of meditation),

7) Reaching Kaivalya (Oneness with Soundlessness, the Nameless One, Formless Supreme Being, the Supreme State, The Ocean of Love -- the Goal)

Three Important Requirements: Praise, Prayer, Meditation
By Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj
The Harmony of All Religions

There are three important requirements to be met in the practice of a person who pursues devotion to the Divine and seeks to attain liberation. First is praise; second is prayer; and third is meditation. We know that when we are indebted to someone, we should express our gratitude and appreciation. God has blessed us bountifully.

Although we are unable to repay God for his generous blessings, we can acknowledge this goodness by singing praises to the Divine Being. When we exalt God through song, we declare the glories of the Divine. In doing this, we remember the grandeur of God. As a natural result, our faith in God increases. Unless we acknowledge someone's qualities, it is impossible to be faithful to that person.

Tulsi Das Sahab says:

"Without having the knowledge of the nature of God it is impossible to know him. And without understanding his qualities we can not have love for God. Without love we cannot have devotion and true faith. This is as unattainable as the mixing of water and oil [which is impossible]."

Therefore, in order to have devotion and faith in God it is necessary to know the grandeur of God. Once the glory of God is known, our heart is attracted to God. This is a great way to keep your heart in devotion to God. Thus, it is through praise that we extol the divine powers of God and draw our mind toward God.

After singing praises to God we, then, pray. Prayer is supplication with deep humility. In general, people have desires and make demands. Only the great sages do not have wants.

Kabir Sahab said:

"My desires are gone, as are my worries. My mind is filled with detachment. One who does not want anything is the king of kings."

Sant Tulsi Das says:

"People desire sons, wealth and fame in this world. Why do people desire that which taints the mind?"

Why do we desire these things? Sant Tulsi Das considers this:

"[Fleeting] pleasures come to us without asking, whether we are in heaven, hell, house, or forest. Why then do people work so hard to get these pleasures while they ignore the advice of the sages [to seek permanent joy?]"

Why do we invest so much effort in acquiring these worldly pleasures which come to us naturally? And let us consider as well that there is always pain involved in acquiring worldly objects, and that an even greater exertion is required to sustain them. And further, when these very same insidious sensory pleasures leave us, the distress is even more intense. This is why, the wise do not ask for things which are transitory. The truth is that our desires should only be for something which would eliminate the desire [for worldly pleasures] itself. In reality, the only thing we should be asking God for is to achieve union with the divine. After realizing the Divine, there is nothing left to be achieved. This is the end of all wants.

Prayer and invocation are not merely concerned with the mindless muttering of requests, but rather, prayer should be the voice of our heart. God always listens to the one who calls out with a pure heart.

In the Yajur Veda (chapter 20) it is said:

"Oh God, even as we unknowingly commit various sins, day and night, please forgive these offenses and ill desires. You are omnipresent, like the pervasive wind."

We have previously spoken about prayer in both Christianity and Islam [chapters of, The Harmony of All Religions]. Christians refer to this practice as prayer, and Muslims call it ibadat. We see that in all theistic religions there is a great emphasis on prayer.

Communion or Meditation Practice

The practices of praise and prayer-glorification and invocation-are followed by communion through the practices of contemplation and meditation. The Sanskrit word upasana literally means sitting near God. The saints distinguish four categories of upasana. The four basic practices are:

1) Manas japa,

2) Manas dhyana,

3) Dristi sadhana and

4) Nada-nu-sandhana.

--- Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, The Harmony of All Religions

Meditation Practice (Sadhana) According to Sant Mat Mysticism

There are several meditation practices in Sant Mat. There are several techniques described, the specific details of which are taught to students at the time of their deeksha (initiation) into the practice:

1) developing a daily routine, the habit of meditating at the same time or times each day;

2) proper posture with back straight so that one is truly focused at the Third Eye and remains alert and awake;

3) Manas Japa (Simran), a mantra repetition of a sacred word or words chanted mentally;

4) Manas Dhyan, the technique of mentally visualising a form of God or one's teacher;

5) Drshti Yoga (Yoga of inner Light), the technique of focusing upon an Infinitesimal Point. This Point will eventually blossom into inner Light or visions of Light. One gazes into the middle of the darkness or the Light one sees while in meditation. Think of the Infinitesimal Point as being like a laser pointer or cursor keeping one focused. One passes from scene to scene and vision to vision always looking toward the center;

6) Nada Sadhana (Yoga of inner Sound or Bhajan), the practice of inner spiritual hearing; and,

7) reaching the State of Kaivalya: Oneness with the Supreme Being in the Pure Conscious Realm. The ultimate goal is to merge into the upper level of Kaivalya known as the Ocean of Love and Compassion, the Ultimate Reality of God in the Nirguna or Formless State, also described with terms such as Radhaswami (Lord of the Soul), Anami (The Nameless One) and Anadi (The Soundless State beyond Light and Sound).

The poet-mystic Param Sant Tulsi Sahib describes the interior journey this way:

"There is a Being who is Inaccessible (Agam), unfathomable (Alakh), and Nameless (Anami), and who has no locality, location, and is not confined to space."

Sant Tulsi Sahib also often uses the Sufi language of love or bhakti, describing this Timeless Spiritual State of Oneness as the Abode of the Beloved:

"On having found the teacher, I shall adopt his refuge, and I shall follow the path to my Beloved's Abode. The way to the Beloved lies within. My heart's desire, says Tulsi, is that my soul may meet the Beloved.

"The love-intoxicated soul is bubbling with joy. The darling of the Beloved has prepared and bedecked the bed and, imbued with the Beloved's bliss (ananda), has cast away all bondages. The soul prepared the Beloved's bed, and, lying there, enjoyed great bliss." (The Shabdavali of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib)

Tags: sant mat, radhasoami, facebook, praise, hymns, prayer, meditation, surat shabd yoga, ascension to heaven

Spiritual Awakening Radio: Inner Wisdom and Guidance

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:27:19 GMT

The 1-15-2010 Edition of Spiritual Awakening Radio is Archived and Available-On-Demand

Contemplative Silence, the Art of Tapping Into Our Source of Inner Wisdom and Guidance -- Also: The Teachings of Yogani Mataji, Sufi Poems of Hazrat Sultan Ba-HU, Living in the Source of All-Energy -- Nanak's Vision For Life on Earth, and, Kabir on Not Being A Prisoner of Our Own Thoughts.

Click to Listen:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ASXGenerator.aspx?mediaSKU=RuuXZuCarbjWHMnivJTPvg%3d%3d

All for the love of Wisdom and Radio,
James
http://www.Twitter.com/ArchivedShows

Tags: wisdom, guidance, silence, soul, sikh, sufi, thoughts, mind, yogani mataji

Light and Sound on the Path: Week of January 17th

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:46:52 GMT

Light and Sound on the Path: The Week of January 17th, 2010

Sant Mat Radhasoami Blog:
http://santmatradhasoami.blogspot.com

The Monthly Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Are Here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship

Sant Mat recognizes the great Sages, and Saints of the different traditions who are accomplished in the spiritual goal of human life. Sant Mat respects the Saints, Prophets, and Sages of all traditions: Buddha, Mahavira, Jesus Christ, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Rumi, Bahá'u'lláh, Mira Bai, etc. Furthermore, Sant Mat believes in the uninterrupted continuation of the emergence of Saints (Masters, Sant Satgurus) on this Earth.

Contemplative Silence -- The Art of Tapping Into Our Source of Inner Wisdom and Guidance
By James Bean
Copyright, December 2009 - All Rights Reserved

"Deep within us all there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center, a speaking Voice, to which we may continually return. Eternity is at our hearts, pressing upon our time-torn lives, warming us with intimations of an astounding destiny, calling us home unto Itself. Yielding to these persuasions, gladly committing ourselves in body and soul, utterly and completely, to the Light Within, is the beginning of true life. It is a dynamic center, a creative Life that presses to birth within us." (A Testament of Devotion, Thomas Kelly, Quaker mystic)

In this matrix or labyrinth of existence we can become quite habituated into remaining as surface-dwellers living inundated by all the outward distractions that life on earth provides. We may ask of ourselves, "Am I availing myself of the spiritual direction and wisdom that comes from within?" This would be a source of wisdom that not only provides an inner perception of bliss, insight, or affirms a "Truth" of some sort that one believes in, but an inner intuition that can also make a positive contribution to one's outward life on the physical plane. Mystics teach that the inner and outer life are not separate. There is a relationship between one and the other. A life-affirming state of being on the inside leads one to making the outward life into something more heavenly too.

There are both outward and inward avenues to wisdom. There is the wisdom of living teachers with us now, as well as the wisdom left behind in the form of world scriptures and spiritual classics by teachers of previous generations. "Through association with Masters, the hearing of spiritual talks and study, wisdom can be acquired. Wisdom is essential in determining what is the right way to live your life." (Maharshi Mehi) "Let thy house be a place of meeting for the wise, and dust thyself with the dust of their feet, and drink their words with thirst." (The Mishnah, Jewish text) "Approach someone who has realized the purpose of life and question him with reverence and devotion; he will instruct you in this wisdom. Once you attain it, you will never be deluded. You will see all creatures in the Self, and all in Me." (Krishna, Bhagavad Gita) "The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby." (Confucianism. I Ching 26: Taming Power of the Great) "Without proverbs [traditional wisdom], the language would be but a skeleton without flesh, a body without a soul." (Zulu Proverb, South Africa) "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death." (Yeshua, Gospel of Thomas) "Absorbed in the Scriptures and their purport, he transcends the cycle of birth and death." (Jainist Sutra)

Outward instruction and inspiration is priceless, and there is also an inner Voice of the Silence we can tap into. "There is a speaking of God in the core of the soul where no creature can enter or speak, for only God lives there and only He speaks. God speaks there when the soul puts aside all that is created, when she silences her powers and gains a vision into the foundation of her pure essence. In this pure and silent soul God the Father speaks and she hears His Voice." (Meister Eckhart, German mystic) "The imaginations of the mind are just as innumerable as the innumerable waves of an ocean. If somehow this mind can become quiet by itself, attainment of true knowledge -- like diamond will become easily possible [everyone in this world is sad and restless because of lack of true knowledge. This true knowledge can be attained only when the mind becomes quiet]." (verse from, The Sakhi Granth of Kabir) Through silence meditation we can "step outside the box." Silence speaks volumes. The practice of receiving inner guidance or hearing the Voice or Life Impulse of God in the silence of contemplation is a universal teaching of all great saints and mystics.

In, "The Way of the Saints", speaking to both the need for guidance about more temporal matters as well as inner wisdom that leads to the eternal experience of Ultimate Reality, Kirpal Singh said, "There is a cardinal need for developing inner receptivity. The Master-Power, as you all know, is not confined to any particular place. It is working in and around you. You have but to turn your face towards Him inwardly to get the required help and guidance wherever necessary. Learn to sit still and be mentally still, and the silence thus generated with be more vocal than words spoken and written; and you will have an instantaneous solution not only to your own personal problems but to the problems of others as well........

"God is the Ocean of utmost and restful silence. So long as we cannot have this restful silence within us, the soul cannot listen to the Voice of silence arising out of the greatest depths of Silence. By following that Voice we can reach the source and fountainhead of the Great Silence called God and be blessed forever.... In silence the heart illumines; veil after veil is removed. In the heart shines the Light, and the very silence becomes vocal giving vent to the Music of the Spheres reverberating in all creation."

From the Depths Within, Living From the Center of One's Being

The art of listening/seeing/perceiving/being introspective in the silence of meditation provides us with countless opportunities to see clearly without the usual day-to-day distractions, perceiving the events of our life from a higher vantage-point. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: "Silence gives us a new way of looking at everything." Silence allows angels to whisper advice into our ears. It also makes it possible for the authentic self to rise to the surface, introducing a new divine power or grace into this dimension of reality. It imparts insight, and ultimately, wisdom borne out of the depths or womb of contemplative silence gives birth to the realization of the soul itself. "There was within me a stillness of silence, and I heard the Blessedness whereby I knew my real self." (Book of Allogenes [The "Stranger" or "Foreigner"], Nag Hammadi Library)

A Diet of Kindness and Compassion

"Be gentle of heart and fill your mind with compassion if you want to attain the supreme purpose of life." (Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry)

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...no matter the species.

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." -- Albert Einstein

Our Reason to Be Here

"We are the pearls of the shoreless ocean, sometimes the waves and sometimes the sea. We came into the world for this purpose -- that we might show God to His creatures." (Kamal, one of Kabir's sons)

Giving Life Meaning

"Ponds, rains, trees, and Saints -- all these four give meaning to their existence by helping others. A pond is meant to quench the thirst of living beings. The rains cause crops to grow and fills the world with greeneries. A tree gives cool shade, fruit, and wood. A Saint gives meaning to the lives of others by imparting True Knowledge to them." (The Saakhi Granth of Kabir, an ahimsa ethics manual of Sant Mat)

"The Master always tends and protects his disciples as a gardener nurses his seedlings. In his divine presence, he nourishes them with his merciful glance. It is only appropriate to use the name 'Master' for someone who shows you the Lord within your own body, O Bahu!" (Hazrat Sultan BaHU)

Meditate Daily

"No big deal if you had to live for a day without meals, but never live a single day without meditation!" - Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj

Explore the Currents of Sound

"It is the highest duty of every individual to acquire experiential Knowledge of this Shabd [inner Sound Current], and to investigate or explore the Origin or Source from where this Shabd flows out". (Baba Devi Sahab)

"The other Music or Sound is internal and the way to listen to that is by focusing our attention on the internal `Shabd' or Sound which is Ringing within each one of us. Shabd is a highly precious wealth in the life of every human being. So long as this Shabd is present in a man he is alive; as soon as the Shabd exits, it is the end of him." (Baba Devi Sahab)

"Who else is Christ but the Sound of God?" (Acts of John, Gnostic Christian scripture)

True Simran Practice in the Sant Tradition

By James Bean
http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/simran.html

The Many Names of the Nameless (Anami) One

The Nameless God has been given many names over the centuries. There are countless divine names used in various schools of spirituality. Some are given "The Five Names" (panch naam) consisting of five holy names of God. These are revealed at the time of Initiation into Sant Mat or Shabd Yoga meditation. These same five names have been used for centuries in certain branches of Sant Mat connected with Kabir and Sant Dharam Das, Sant Dariya Sahib, Sant Tulsi Sahib, and Sant Radhasoami Sahib. Others have been given five Sufi names of God at the time of Initiation into Surat Shabd Yoga meditation. These five Sufi or Islamic names have the same essential meaning as the five Indian names used in Sant Mat, and, as with the Indian names, also correspond to five basic inner regions. (In one of the Jewish Gnostic paths of antiquity, a group known as the Sethians, there was also a five-named or panch naam mantra approach, only with five Hebrew names. Those were associated with certain heavenly regions: Harmoz-el, Oroia-el, Daveithai, El-eleth, and another word meaning, the "Self-Begotten One".) Others are given the name RADHASOAMI (Ra-da-Swam-e, "Soul-Lord" or "Lord of the Soul") to use in simran practice along one's journey though all of the various states and stages within. Other Sant Mat lineages use a two-syllabled sacred word revealed at the time of Initiation, and it represents a name for the Soundless One, the Most High God.

In the classic bhajans and banis of the Sants of India appear numerous names of God. One can read verses exhorting devotees to repeat many names of the Formless One:

"Repeat the Name of Raam".
"Repeat the Name of Radhaswami".
"Repeat the Name of Hari".
"Repeat the Name of Govinda".
"Repeat the Name of Vitthala".
"Repeat the Name of Allah".
"Repeat the Name of HOO (HU)".

Many names have used by various Sants: Param-Atma, Hari, Alakh, Allah, Raam or Rama, Rahim, Agam, Purushotama, Khuda, Gobind, Panduranga, Pandhari, Vitthala, Narayana, Vitthoba, Sat Purusha, etc... Some of these names are used by Hindu paths too, and have different meanings. As Sant Dariya Sahib once said:

"Consider the four meanings of Ram,
The first Ram (1) is our inner self.
Parashu-ram (2) is said to be the second one.
The third one lived in Dasharath's (3) home.
The fourth Ram is the Primeval Sat Purush (4)
Call Him (Sat Purush) Ram or call Him Naam, Ram and Naam are one. Both are mutually indistinguishable; Satguru's Sound Current reveals this wisdom."

______
NOTES:
The Life Principle that pervades everywhere, permeating, witin all. Parashu-ram, the son of Sage Jamadagni, is regarded as the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Ancient king of Ayodhya, the father of Ram. Rama: the seventh incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the great epic Ramayana (Adventures of Rama). The Nirguna or Formless Raam, All-Spirit. (Sant Dariya Sahab)

For the Sants of the East, all names of the One God represent the Nameless, Formless (Nirguna) God of Love and Compassion Who is Timeless (Akal), Spirit, and Eternal (Sat).

The True Spirit of Simran Practice is Bhakti

"Simran" is a term which means "Remembrance", the spiritual practice of remembering or being mindful of God by repeating his Name. Devotees sing or chant various names for God. Higher spiritually, and more "within" is the practice of "manas jap", the mental repetition of God's name or names "with the tongue of thought" - in other words, chanting names of God within one's mind. The Sants have always placed much greater emphasis upon mental Simran over vocal chant.

There is however, more to Simran than the repeating of sacred names. Simran must be approached with the right attitude, the right spirit, for one's intent determines how successful the practice will be, and what effect it will have upon one's consciousness. Simran has never been intended to be a dry or lifeless mantra practice. The path of the Sants is a bhakti path, a path of love and devotion for the Supreme Being. Thus, the true Masters have always instructed their students to repeat God's Name with love and devotion, as a lover calling out to one's Beloved, the Lord of Love.

Guru Kabir

"Keep your mind ever engrossed in the Name of the Lord as the lover's mind is ever engrossed in his beloved. He never forgets her for a single moment - Through day and night he remembers her.

"Happiness rests in ever-repeated simran,
Sorrow and suffering is removed by simran.
Kabir declares with utmost force and clarity:
Practise this simran and be one with the Lord." (Kabir)

What, then, is the practice of the Name? It is a form of interior prayer by which a person learns to keep his or her attention always in the Lord, in every circumstance and situation, at all moments, through day and night. It is a form of inner remembrance that leads to a heightened awareness beyond the limitations of the physical world and the portals of death.

Through meditation on the Name, or Nam bhakti, one learns to draw one's attention away from the outer world.

Sant Namdev

Always be in rapport with the Lord
And enjoy true contentment -
This is the state of ineffable serenity.
There is no peace except in the Name of the Lord -
Meditate on it with one-pointed attention.

Experience the state of superconsciousness
Where the Lord's love surges
And you will see your own form
In each particle of the creation.

0 Nama, the Lord will make
The pupil of your eye his home,
And your eye will expand
To contain the entire universe.
(Saint Namdev, Mystics of the East Series)

The Simran of God's Name Will Lead One to the True Name: The Sound of God

The repetition of the holy Names is the truest spiritual technique. An uninterrupted inner repetition of the holy Names given by the living Master has to be practiced daily with love, devotion, and one- pointed attention. One thereby transcends one's body and is transported to the realms of Light.

The repetition develops into an ever-going spontaneous process, and one catches the unceasing inner Music which takes one to its Source, and reveals God face to face. One is, therefore, exhorted to search daily for the Source of this Unstruck Music. Whatever one does and wherever one happens to be, one is asked to be a sacrifice unto His Name and to have ardent longing to behold Him and hear His voice.

Sant Dadu Dayal

From within, the indwelling Lord Himself
tells me.
"The repetition of My Name alone
is true; all else is delusion."

The Name, the essential Truth of the
three worlds, alone is efficacious.
0 Dadu.
With discrimination, repeat it exclusively
day and night, 0 mind.

At every breath be devoted to it, and
thy Beloved will meet thee one day.
Repetition is the path leading to bliss;
thus hath the Master explained.

Be dedicated to God moment by moment,
even if thou art to lose thy life.
No other way is there to support
the self.

Who is that ill-fated one preaching some
other means?
Without the Name, tell me, where can
one find a foothold? asketh Dadu.

Let not the Name be separated for
a moment from within thy heart,
0 Dadu.
Millions have been purified by
repeating God's Name alone.

Be dedicated to God while the body
is in good condition,
Else later on, when the body and mind
are worn out, thou shalt repent,
sayeth Dadu.

The whole world is full of poison; rarely
someone is free from it, 0 Dadu.
He alone will be free from poison
who is steeped in the Name
of the Supreme Lord.

Repeat the Name with the pang of
separation, and sing its glory with
love and devotion.
Fix thy mind in repetition with joy and
dedication, 0 Dadu.

While speaking or listening, giving
or taking, eating or drinking,
Repeat the Name of God at all times,
0 Dadu, thus shalt the self rest
in the inner lotus.
(Encyclopedia of Saints of India, Volume 25: Sant Dadu Dayal)

Several Bhajans (Hymns) of Kabir. Good audio quality:
http://www.ideas2ignite.com/kabir/?q=taxonomy/term/13/all

Importance of Initiation

"The process by which the secret of how to realize God is taught is called deeksha or initiation. It is always rewarding to seek initiation from a Satguru or preceptor." (Swami Achyutanand Ji)

Radhaswami: The Lord of Love

"Great emphasis as been made by the Masters on the generation of love for the Supreme Being, the Supreme Master who is all love. Love is the prime source of boundless energy. Love is bliss, and thus the Supreme Being is Supreme Bliss. Love is Light and Truth and from them emanates intelligence. Thus, the Supreme Being is an infinite Ocean of bliss, intelligence, energy, truth and light. He is eternal and unchangeable, the sole director of the whole creation. Such a Supreme Being is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. He is all-pervading. The entire universe is the creation of His own Current and as such He is present at every stage in the creation." (Agam Prasad Mathur, "Petals of Love", new book)

Creating the Golden Age, Why Wait for the World to Catch Up?

There have always been a few enlightened enclaves in the world, here and there over the centuries, a few ashrams of Essenes, Gnostics, and Saints living ahead of their time. I like the idea of personally stepping into the Sat Yuga or Golden Age as an individual choice. Rather than waiting for the world to catch up -- a mighty long wait indeed, we can live more and more from our spiritual Ideals, of meditation, vegan or vegetarian diet, spiritual community, enlightened activities, rising up to a higher octave, here and now. Calendars will be always be calenders, but we are free to create the Golden Age today, can step into Sat Yuga in this present moment.

Standing at the Crossroads of Time

Kirpal Singh: "Standing at the crossroads of Time, we must make a firm resolve to do better from day to day; at least from the New Year's Day that beckons us on with a promise of rosy dawn. As there are landmarks on earth, so there are landmarks in Time. The past and future are like sealed books to us: the one is in the limbo of oblivion, while the other is in the womb of uncertainty. It is only the LIVING PRESENT that is ours, and we must make the best use of it, ere it slips away through the fingers and is lost forever. Human birth is a great privilege and offers us a golden opportunity. It is for us to make or mar the same, for it is given to each individual to forge his or her own destiny as best he may."

Tags: santmat, sant mat, radhasoami, surat shabd yoga, inner light and sound meditation, james bean, books, blog talk radio, God, India

New Years Message from the Kabir Association

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:22:04 GMT

New Years Message from the Kabir Association

[Forwarded Message Below.]

To all family, friends, devotees and supporters

The year 2009 has now gone. It saw great turmoil still besieging the world.

May 2010 give the peacemakers of the world greater influence, and weaken the resolve of those who are violent, so that the world may progress towards peace, love, harmony and goodwill for all. May all the human and material resources being squandered for negative and destructive purposes, be redirected towards the betterment of humanity, especially those who are materially disadvantaged.

God has given us enough wisdom that, when properly used, will make our lives sublime. Let us all re-connect with our spiritual nature, make our karmas pure, and develop a life of gratitude, love, compassion, sharing and understanding. We all owe it to God and ourselves and family to make the world a better place.

Blessings to all.

J. Das
Kabir Association

Tags: happy new year, 2010, new years message

Delightful Paradoxical Poem of Sant Radhasoami Sahib

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:28:55 GMT

Delightful Paradoxical Poem of Sant Radhasoami Sahib (Soami Ji Maharaj)

Radhasoami Reality:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Radhasoami-Reality
{Radhaswami Dayal ki Daya Radhaswami Sahai:"Grant Merciful Radhasoami Thy Grace and Protection"}

(Saw this poem posted at the [radhasoamisatsangi] group, which I'm a member of. It's very special. Had to forward it, plus I have included another translation of the same poem from the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry [as four .jpg images, S.D. Maheshwari translation, Agra, India], which also provides commentary.)

Soami Ji Maharaj, from the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Volume Two, Chapter 41 Shabad 21:

[radhasoamisatsangi]

Everything the Master has taught me is paradoxical.

He has taught me things unwisely.

Sleep and you shall build up treasure

Stay alert and you will loose your savings

Sit still and you will reach your destination

Walk fast and you will go nowhere

The earth rises above the sky

The sky sinks into underworld

Thieves are rewarded by the owner of the house

The honest are punished

Fire shivers because of cold

The rain withers the tree branches

The food gets pangs of hunger

Water is dying of thirst

The cot is laid on the sleeper

The awake are in deep sleep

The barren women are tired of giving birth

The fertile are now called barren

The earth is galloping on horse

Then riding the camel it blasts into the sky

Radhaswami by his grace

United the soul with Shabad

Tags: radhasoami, shiv dayal singh, soami ji maharaj, sant radhasoami sahab, agra, sar bachan, poetry

Jainism and Surat Shabda Yoga (Meditation on Inner Sound)

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:23:53 GMT

Namo arahantanam Namo siddhanam Nomo ayariyanam. Namo uvajjhayanam Namo loe savvashunam. Obeisance to the Worthy souls. Obeisance to the Liberated souls. Obeisance to the Preceptors (Spiritual Guides). Obeisance to the Spiritual Teachers. Obeisance to all the Saints in the world. (Lord Mahavira, Saman Suttam, Jainist Scripture)

Jainisim and Surat Shabda Yoga (Yoga of Divine Sound)
By Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj
The Harmony of All Religions,
Excerpted from the chapter on Jainism

Sant Mat Mysticism Blog:
http://santmat.gaia.com/blog

In the Yoga of Sound (Surat Shabda Yoga), the gross material sound manifests initially, and thereafter the Essential Inner Divine Sound (Anahad), also know as OM or Pranava. It is the Cosmic Sound of the beginning.

There are several references to the essential Cosmic Sound in the context of Lord Mahavira’s teachings:

"Taking hold of this essential Anahat element (the Sound of OM) or Shivanam, the ascetics have gone across [beyond] this world of delusion and pain."

In this way meditation upon the mantra and the Essential Sound are described. Also the technique of meditation on the OM Sound is elaborated:

"O Ascetic! Meditate on the Cosmic Sound of OM because it is like rain for extinguishing the fire of suffering. And it is also like a lamp which illuminates the subtle essence of the sacred teachings. It is the governance of good deeds." (Jnanarnva, sarga: 38)

Acharya Tulsi says:

"From the infinitesimal point and the Divine Sound the subtlest waves (vibrations) reverberate."

In his book, The Method of Using Preksha Dhyāna, Acharya Mahapragya writes:

"Close both ears with your hands and listen to the Inner Sounds."

The Jnanarnva (sarga 36) says:

"The mendicant with purified mind should meditate on the sky with rainbow, lightning, and the sound of thunder, and full of clouds."

Swami Jnananada says in the Pandita Puja:

"In the Divine Sound of God (Bhagawan) all the mysteries are revealed."

Shri Jinendravarni states:

"What does one hear with these ears? It is a sweet Sound. . . Closing my eyes, as if I were united with God, I was away from this world. Only my Peace incarnate and dispassionate Lord (Mahavira) and I existed [ego and worldly concerns had vanished in the state of complete tranquility]."

Tags: jainism, yoga, mahavira, surat shabd yoga, meditation, sound current, comparative religion, mysticism

Ten 2009 Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Available at Blog Talk Radio

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:39:22 GMT

Ten 2009 Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Available For Listening or Downloading at Blog Talk Radio

Sant Mat Mysticism Blog: http://santmat.gaia.com/blog

December Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Hear readings from the following sources: a new book called "Petals of Love", by Professor Agam Prasad Mathur of Agra, on the history and spirituality of the classic Sants of India; verses of the Devotional Poetry of Saint Namdev from a text known as the "Hindi Padavali"; "The Harmony of All Religions", by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, on the primary goals of this living school of spirituality from India known as Sant Mat; also a reading about the astral plane or region known as The Thousand Petalled Lotus (Sahas-dal-kanwal), from the book, "Enchanted Land". That reading includes a passage from the "Sar Bachan Poetry" of Soami Ji Maharaj, Volume One. On the ahimsa ethics of the Masters, there is a reading from the "Saakhi Granth" of Guru Kabir: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/12/19/december-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

October Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: hear a Spiritual Discourse of Shri Swami Sant Bhagirath Baba. Shri Swami Sant Bhagirath Baba has authored four books that are full of spiritual insight, namely, "Maharshi Mehi ke Dincharya Updesh" (Life and Teachings of Maharshi Mehi) , "Santmat Tatva-Jnaan Bodhini" (Quintessence of Santmat), "Maharshi Mehi Leelamrit", and "Maharshi Mehi Chaitanya Chintan": GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/10/16/october-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

September Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Guru Kabir says, "The imaginations of the mind are just as innumerable as the innumerable waves of an ocean. If somehow this mind can become quiet by itself, attainment of the true Knowledge-like Diamond will become easily possible (everyone in this world is sad or restless because of lack of Knowledge. This true Knowledge can be attained only when the mind becomes quiet)." One of the effects of adhering to the ahimsa ethics of the Masters is a reduction in tension, in agitation of mind. The program begins with sixty seconds from an old recording of a Bhajan (chant) of Baba Somanath (disciple of Huzur Baba Sawan Singh), which is quite haunting and otherworldly. Then there is a reading from an ancient Hermetic-Gnostic text from Egypt titled, The Greatest Human Evil is Unacquaintance With God, followed by satsang readings from: The Bijak of Guru Kabir Volume Two (The Shabdas); The Bijak of Guru Kabir Volume One (The Ramainis); The Saakhi Granth of Guru Kabir; Songs of Kabir, by Rabindranath Tagore. The Bijak and Saakhi Granth of Kabir have always been considered primary texts of Sant Mat, and are genuine "Satsang Templates" providing a holistic approach to life on earth following the Path of the Masters. Other readings are from: The Philosophy of Liberation (Moksha Darshan) by Maharsihi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj; a Shabd in contemporary English from a recent translation of the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry Volume Two, by Swami Ji Maharaj; a list of essential Sant Mat principals and techniques for a successful spiritual journey, a Bhajan (chant, hymn from India) by Guru Arjan Dev, and a meditative Bhajan of Sant Surdas titled, "Hai Govind." Additional unlicensed music comes courtesy of my musician friend Paul Alexandre John, who performs Indian classical ragas playing the Bansuri flute, giving me permission to make use of his music on the air: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/09/12/september-inner-light-and-sound-satsang-podcast

August Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Often a spiritual path coming from one cultural context and language is not fully understood by those from afar in another part of globe. Of course those with a heavy-handed "new age" perspective seeking to impose their own spin on the teachings of others, unnaturally mixing Sant Mat with countless other techniques, paths and practices instead of respecting the Path on it's own traditional terms, simply adds to the misunderstanding and confusion, and I would argue, is a form of Western colonial imperialism that thinks it knows best, when in fact, it does not! Genuine Sant Mat (The Path of the Masters) in it's traditional Indian context has much wisdom to offer about life in-the-body, and not only about out-of-body travel during meditation. The Masters do have much guidance to share about those 22 hours each day that take place between meditation sits! A life limited to action alone is missing literally many other dimensions, yet a life of only contemplation would not fully be alive either. The Eastern Vision is to live a life of both contemplation and action, to be open to all states, physical, dream state, unconscious, and spiritual states. Hear Bhajans of Kabir and Jayadeva. Readings are from the following sources: Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose, by Swami Ji Maharaj; Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry (the Forgotten or "Lost Gnostic Gospel" of Sant Mat), by Swami Ji Maharaj, both volumes translated by S.D. Maheshwari, Agra; An Ahimsa Prayer of Ramesvarananda Sahab found in the book, Praises to a Formless God, by David Lorenzen; The Dawn of the Third Millennium by Kirpal Singh; Prem Patra Radhasoami, by Huzur Maharaj Rai Saligram, Agra; The Philosophy of Liberation, by Maharshi Mehi; The Five Precepts; and from the chapter on Right-Speech from an ethical manual of the Sants known as the Saakhi Granth of Guru Kabir, translated into English by Kunwar Anil Kumar, in, 1008 Kabir Vani, Manoj Publications, New Delhi, India: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/08/16/the-august-sant-mat-satsang-podcast-by-james-bean

July Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Readings from The Adi Granth and from the Dadu Panch Vani: verses from Sant Dadu Dayal; the article: "Do Simran -- Do the Meditation", by Swami Sant Harinandan Baba, translated from Hindi into English by Pravesh Kumar Singh; The Ethical Foundation of Sant Mat: The Five Precepts and Meditation Requirements; a reading from a quintessential manual of Sant Mat teachings and practice known as, "The Philosophy of Liberation", by Sant Maharshi Mehi on: the inner spiritual technology, steps, stages, and stairway of heaven known as "The Eight Limbs of Yoga": YAMA: satya (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word, and deed), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacarya (continence), and aparigraha (control of greed -- non-possessiveness). NIYAMA also consists of five practices: sauca (internal and external purity), santosha (contentment), tapas (penance), svadhyaya (study of scriptures and wisdom of the Sants), and isvara pranidhana (meditation on GOD); ASANA: correct posture in meditation; PRANAYAMA or breath control, which is, for the most part, not emphasized in contemporary Sant Mat Meditation; PRATYAHARA: withdrawal or sensory transcendence, as well as it means to bring back, as in refocusing oneself again whenever one notices that one has lost focus during their meditation sit; DHARANA: an increment of time characterized as quality meditation -- good concentration; DHYANA: one-pointed attention, stillness, also meaning true meditation or contemplation - not to be confused with the term "Dhyan" (visualizing or seeing the form of a Master, though of course that too is part of, or a stage of, traditional Sant Mat Meditation); SAMADHI: the bliss of being completely absorbed in meditation, unity, union with God, oneness. There are also readings on Amrit Veela/Brahmamuhurta/The Hour of God, and a list of some of the Sounds of Surat Shabd Yoga: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/07/06/july-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

June Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: A Bhajan (hymn) of Mirabai, a reading from, The Last Discourse of Soami Ji Maharaj of Agra about Huzur Maharaj (Rai Salig Ram), a thirty-minute reading from, Radhasoami Faith - A Historical Study, authored by Agam Prasad Mathur (Dada Ji) of Agra, India, featuring excerpts from Chapter Five: a most excellent summary of the Spiritual Teachings and Goals of Sant Mat Mysticism, the Path of the Masters, on: The Creation (Planes, Grand Divisions or Levels), The Supreme Being, Origin of Evil - The Concept of Kal Niranjan (Gnostic Demiurge or Negative Power/Lord of the Matrix of Illusion), The Soul (Surat, Spirit Entity), Salvation (Moksha) of the soul, The Four Essentials or "Sats" of Sant Mat: Sat Shabd/Sat Naam (True Eternal Sound Current or Positive Power of God), Satguru (True Eternal Teacher), Sat Anurag (True Eternal Love), and Satsang (True Eternal Association). After that a short reading titled, The Principles of Santmat: on the nature of God, the soul, our condition as a jiva-soul at the level of the physical plane, the practices of Sant Mat Meditation, the ethical Precepts of Ahimsa, and the requirements in order to attain liberation (Moksha). The program concludes with chant from the Morning Prayer (Jap Ji) of Guru Nanak: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/06/03/june-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

May Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Readings from the Dasam Granth, a Bhajan of Guru Kabir, The Four Meditation Practices of Sant Mat, Encyclopaedia of Saints of India, Volume 19: Radhasoami - on the practice of Dhyan - contemplation of the form of the Master - also about Inner Light and the Radiant Form of the Master (Inner Guide), Two Reflections on the Spiritual Journey: 1) 'There is No Vatican of the Spirit', and 2) 'Do You Remember Who You Were Before Time Began?' and, Readings from the Sant Dariya Website about the Life and Teachings of Sant Dariya Sahib - also mentioning that Sant Dariya appointed two spiritual successors/Sat Gurus to carry on after him, and that this Dariya Branch of Sant Mat is still alive, still exists in India, and has "two hundred Sants" according to the webmaster of the Sant Dariya website: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/04/30/may-sant-mat-radio-satsang-podcast

March Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Know Thyself: A wide variety of readings from the writings of the Sant tradition on knowing one's Self and God, the recitation of several bhajans (mystical hymns, devotional poems) from recent or classic Sants including from the Adi Granth, Dasam Granth, Huzur Maharaj (Rai Saligram); also the theme of knowing yourself found in, The Bijak of Kabir, Saakhi Granth of Kabir, The Stranger of Galilee by Russell Perkins (who has some great passages from Kirpal Singh), also a couple of selections from the sayings of Lord Mahavira (Jainism) and the Gospel of Thomas (Gnostic); a Bhakti Approach to Simran (Radhasoami Naam) according to the Founder of the Radhasoami Faith. Satsang is an Eastern term used by Indian spiritual paths including Sant Mat for a meeting or spiritual gathering either facilitated by a living Master (Sant Sat Guru), representative or group leader affiliated with such a living teacher. The facilitator reads from the writings of various Masters, perhaps making some comments. The focus is always the words and the wisdom of the Masters about the essential truths of the spiritual journey, knowing God, Bhakti (love and devotion), right conduct and ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word and deed), effective meditation practice: Soul Travel: Surat Shabd Yoga: Inner Light and Sound Meditation, the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God or Inner Space: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/03/28/march-sant-mat-radio-satsang

February Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Reviewing Several Steps and Stages of Inner Light and Sound Meditation: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/02/21/Sant-Mat-Meditation-Practice

January Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: A Satsang Talk by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj (Hindi with English translation provided), given at the Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/01/12/Sant-Mat-Satsang-Part-Two-a-Satsang-Talk-

Tags: podcasts, blog talk radio, sant mat satsang podcasts, james bean, spiritual awakening radio, downloads, lectures, spiritual books, readings

The Magnificence of Inner Sound Meditation, By Swami Achyutanand

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:04:30 GMT

The Magnificence of Inner Sound Meditation (Nada Dhyan), By Swami Achyutanand Ji Maharaj

Sant Mat Mysticism Blog:
http://santmat.gaia.com/blog

Below are translated excerpts from the book, "Vindu – Nada Dhyan", authored by the octogenarian Sant Revd. Swami Achyutanand Ji Maharaj, one of the eldest living disciples of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans, as well as an eminent scholar in the tradition of Santmat founded by Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras. Swami Ji has had the rare fortune of very prolonged close serving association of more than three decades with Maharshi Mehi who appointed him as the founder editor of the spiritual monthly "Shanti Sandesh" (Message of Peace) published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India. Swami Achyutanand Ji even at this ripe age has dedicated his life to propagating the ideals of Santmat by widely travelling across the length and breadth of India, his mother country. He has a number of books to his credit like, "Vindu – Nada Dhyan", "Santmate Ki Baten", "Navadha Bhakti", "Bandaun Guru Pad Kanj", "Maharshi Mehi Ke Ashirwachan Aur Upadesh", "Sukti Sudha Sagar", etc. He also is the current editor of the quarterly "Adhyatma Prakash" (Light of Spirituality) published by Maharshi Santsewi Dhyan Yogashram, Agarpara, Kolkata, India.

- Translated into English by Pravesh K. Singh

(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati
http://profiles.yahoo.com/praveshksingh)

The Magnificence of Nada Dhyan (Inner Sound Meditation)

It is essential to practice bindu-dhyan, Drishti Yoga -- the Yoga of Inner Light -- before doing Nada–Dhyan [Yoga of Inner Sound], because with continued practice of Drishti Yoga (meditation on the Inner Light), the ability to practice Nada meditation is truly gained. The mind gets completely controlled with Nada–dhyan. The mind does not merely become controlled, it actually dies down. Sant Charandas Ji has depicted it exquisitely:

"jabase anahad ghora sunI |
indri thakit galit mana hUA, AshA sakal bhunI||"

[Since when I perceived the Divine Sound echoing within, all the organs became completely quiet, the mind got dissolved, and all longings ceased. ]

How did this happen? Charandas Ji further elaborates,

"ghUmat naina shithil bhayi kAyA, amal jo surat sanI |
roma roma Ananda upaj kari, Alas sahaj bhanI ||"

This means, on turning the Drishti (vision or gaze) inward (i.e. practicing Drishti Yoga), and on perceiving the Inner Sound, the body turned motionless, every pore of it got soaked in Divine bliss, and all lethargy, quite naturally, fled away.

It is why Kabir Sahab taught,

"shabda khoji mana basa karai, sahaja yoga hai yehi |
satta shabda nija sAra hai, yaha to jhUThI dehi ||"

[Subjugate the mind by finding the Inner Sound; this is the sahaja (natural) yoga.] |
The True or Unstruck Word is our essence; this body of ours is otherwise illusory or impermanent. ||]

Sant Charandas Ji further says,

"karate anahad dhyAn ke, Brahma rUpa hoi jAya |
Charandas yon kahata hai, bAdhA saba miT jAya ||"

[By meditating on the Word, the practitioner becomes the same as God or Brahman. |
Practicing this way, says Charandas Ji, all obstacles are removed. ||]

In the Nadabind Upanishad it has been said about the Inner Sound (Nada) meditation that,

"sarvachintAm samutsrijya sarvachesTA vivarjitah |
nAdamevAnusandAdhyAnnAde chittam vilIyate ||
nAdAsaktam sadA chittam vishayam na hi kAnkshati |"

That is, sidelining all worries and all efforts, one should mainly focus on the exploration of Nada; by doing thus the mind gets dissolved in the Nada, and the mind thus absorbed in the Nada does not crave anymore for the sensory objects.

Nada itself is Brahma. We should absorb our mind in this very Nada. Shrimadadya Shankaracharya has stated in Yogataravali:

"sadA shivoktAni sapAdalakshyalayAvadhAnAni vasanti loke |
nAdAnusandhAna samAdhimekam manyAmahe mAnyatamam layAnAm ||
nAdAnusandhan namostu tubhyam tvam manmahe tattvapadam layAnAm |
bhavatprAsAdAt pavanena sAkam vilIyate VishNupade mano me ||
sarva chintAm parityajya sAvadhAnena chetasA |
nAda evAnusandheyo yoga sAmrAjyamichchhatA ||"

[Lord Shiva, the propounder of the Yoga Shastra, has listed 1,25,000 ways of dissolution of mind. |
Amongst these Nadanu-sandhana (meditation on the Inner Sound) is the best, as well as the easiest way. ||
I bow to thee, O Nada! You lift me on to the Highest Throne. |
It is only with your grace that my prANa-vAyu (vital life-air) and my mind get dissolved in the Highest echelon of the Supreme Lord. ||
(Therefore,) renouncing all sorts of worries and with an alert and focussed mind...|
Those who yearn for the union with the Highest should meditate on the Divine Sound within. ||]

Balayogi Shri Bala Swami Ji Maharaj has beautifully expressed his views regarding Nada-dhyana, "This is such a means that enables us easily experience that supreme bliss that is our very own. Nada has a unique power. All of us know of the joy we experience while listening to melodious music in the outer world, but so unique and unparalleled is the bliss of this Inner Melody that the mind gets completely dissolved, and all its cravings get annihilated."

`indriyANAm manonAtho manonAthastu mArutah |
mArutasya layo nAthah sa layo nAdamAshritah ||'

[Mind is the master of all the organs; prANavAyu (vital life-air) is the lord of the mind. |
`Manolaya' (dissolution or absorption of mind) is the boss of prANavAyu, and this dissolution is accomplished with the help of Nada, the Inner Sound.||]

"Perseverance in the practice of Nadanu-sandhana leads to the dissolution of the mind. By sitting in a proper posture and consistently practicing looking within, with the eyes closed, one gets to listen to the Nada." (Kalyana Yoganka, p 325)

Sant Kabir sings prolific praise of Shabda-sadhana or Nada-dhyana:

"Kabir shabda sarIr mein, bin gun bAjai tAnt |
bAhar bhItar rami rahA, tAtein chhoTI bhrAnti ||
shabda shabda bahu antarA, shabda sAra kA sIr |
shabda shabda kA khojanA, shabda shabda kA pIr ||
shabda shabda bahu antarA, sAra shabda chita deya |
jA shabdai sAhaba milai, soi shabda gahi leya ||
shabda shabda sab koi kahai, wo to shabda videha |
jibhyA par Awai nahIn, nirakhi parakhi kari deh ||
shabda hamArA Adi ka, pala pala kariye yAda |
anta falaigI mAnhi kI, bAhar kI sab bAda ||
yahi baDAi shabda kI, jaise chumbak bhAya |
binA shabda nahin ubarai, ketA karai upAya ||
shabda binA sruti AndharI, kaho kahAn ko jAya |
dvAra na pAvai shabda kA, firi firi bhaTakA khAya ||"

[The Word, says Kabir Sahab, keeps ringing in the body |
It is pervading within and without; this alone can destroy all confusion. ||
There are many Words, each different from the other, the Quintessential Word is the crown of all. |
One Word is explored through the other, as one Word is the Guru of (or leads to) the other. ||
Words are much different from each other; focus yourself on to the Quintessential Word. |
Grasp that Word that would take you to the Supreme Lord. ||
Though everyone talks of the Word, that Word is without form. |
The tongue can't pronounce it; it has to be perceived within the body. ||
The Word has been there before we came into being, remember (meditate on it) constantly.|
This Word alone that is found within will prevail in the end, rest all being of least significance. ||
The beauty of the Word is that it acts like a magnet. |
One can't be liberated without the Word however hard one might try. ||
The soul is blind without the Word, knowing not which way to go. |
Not finding the Word, the soul keeps wandering again and again. ||]

Tags: nada yoga, surat shabd yoga, inner sound meditation, auditory, mysticism, theosis, santmat, dhyan, samadhi

How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian-Vegan with Betska K-Burr (Radio)

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:58:46 GMT

How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian-Vegan with Betska K-Burr - Spiritual Awakening Radio Announcement

12/18 How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian-Vegan with My Guest Betska K-Burr, Part One
Click to Listen to Archived Show-On-Demand:

http://view.liveindexer.com/ASXGenerator.aspx?mediaSKU=spAjKjEizi7ulzDKZkgA1g%3d%3d

12/25 How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian-Vegan with My Guest Betska K-Burr, PT 2 -- Part Two Will Air Christmas Day, December 25th, at:

1 PM Eastern Time, Noon Central, 11 AM Mountain, 10 AM Pacific Time, Which is 6 PM in the UK via:

http://www.HealthyLife.net -- Positive Talk Radio. At the HealthyLifeNet page, click the blue "Listen Live" button for the streaming audio.

Vegetarian Vegan Empowerment -
PDF Files Related to These Shows

1) A Special Vegan Holiday Meal:
http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/ASpecialVeganHolidayMeal.pdf

2) How to be a Healthy Vegetarian:
http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/How_to_be_a_Healthy_Vegetarian.pdf

3) Vegetarian Vegan Recipe Book:
http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/Vegetarian_Vegan_Recipe_Book_06Feb09.pdf

All For the Love of Wisdom and Radio,
James Bean
Spiritual Awakening Radio Productions

Tags: spiritual awakening radio, james bean, vegetarian, vegan, betska K-burr, life coaching, supreme master ching hai association, quan yin method, climate change

Non-Attachment, Even to One's Own Spiritual Path

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:30:31 GMT

Non-Attachment, Even to One's Own Spiritual Path

Non-attachment is liberating, and to the ears it might sound strange to say this perhaps but, one of the greatest gifts is to be non-attached even to one's "own" spiritual path in order to truly be a devotee of it. It's essentially like saying, give up Christianity in order to follow Christ. There is wisdom in remaining aloof from organizational politics, intrigue in the palace court and institutions, in order to be a sincere lover of the Beloved. Good to be on guard about overbearing mental impulses and attachments. No putting on airs -- in simplicity there is genuineness. When he first arrived in Hathras, Tulsi Sahib at night slept in the hollow of a banyan tree that was located about a mile out of town. In that spot he also spent much time in meditation.

The Buddha was once asked: "To what extent can a person be a speaker of the Way?" He answered: "If a person teaches the Way in order to transcend the tyranny of material things and to teach how to transcend feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness -- teaching non-attachment with regard to these -- then that person can be called a speaker of the Way. If he is himself trying to transcend the pull of the material world and to feel non-attachment toward it, then it is fitting to say he is living in accordance with the Way. If he is liberated by this transcendence and non-attachment, then you can say he has found Nirvana here and now. (Samyutta Nikaya)

"Effortlessly" by John Astin, Youtube Music Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGLCprEizRE

The truth is that happiness
already exists right here,
in all things appearing
each thought and every feeling,
that blow like the wind inside
the vastness that's looking
from no place and everywhere
the vastness is loving each moment
appearing and resolving effortlessly.

Awareness shines, so effortlessly.
No beginning, no end, unceasingly.

Tags: buddha, sant mat, radhasoami, genuineness, nonattachment, john astin, perceptions, name and fame

December Sant Mat Satsang Podcast at Blog Talk Radio

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:57:00 GMT

December Sant Mat Satsang Podcast at Blog Talk Radio, Saturday the 19th, Online @ 1 PM Eastern--10 AM Pacific Time--6 PM UK Time

WHAT: The December Sant Mat Satsang Podcast explores the Path of the Masters, Inner Light and Sound Meditation (Surat Shabd Yoga), the Journey Back to God: Sat Purush Anami Radhasoami, The Formless, Timeless, Nameless Supreme Lord of Love, Given Many Names.

WHEN: Saturday, December 19th at 1 PM Eastern Time, which is NOON Central, 11 AM Mountain, 10 AM Pacific Time, and 6 PM in the UK.

WHERE: BlogTalkRadio/SantMatFellowship:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship

NOTE: A short time (30 minutes or so) after the live program concludes on Saturday, it will become available via the same page as a podcast, which can be heard anytime 24/7, along with several earlier podcasts of 2009 at the site.

HOW TO LISTEN: At exactly 1 PM Eastern Time the audio should automatically begin playing when you visit the page. If not, refresh the page a couple of times, or click the red "play/chat" button. You can also hear the audio stream via phone by dialing this number: 646-595-3924

PROGRAM LENGTH: 35 Minutes.

CONTENTS: During this November-December 2009 Radio Satsang, hear readings from the following sources: a new book called "Petals of Love", by Professor Agam Prasad Mathur of Agra, on the history and spirituality of the classic Sants of India; verses of the Devotional Poetry of Saint Namdev from a text known as the "Hindi Padavali"; "The Harmony of All Religions", by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, on the primary goals of this living school of spirituality from India known as Sant Mat; also a reading about the astral plane or region known as The Thousand Petalled Lotus (Sahas-dal-kanwal), from the book, "Enchanted Land". That reading includes a passage from the "Sar Bachan Poetry" of Soami Ji Maharaj, Volume One. On the ahimsa ethics of the Masters, there will be a reading from the "Saakhi Granth" of Guru Kabir.

Am Wishing You All Salam/ShalOM/OM Shanti/Peace,
James,
James@SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com
http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/santmat

Tags: sant mat satsang podcast, james bean, radhasoami, inner light and sound, meditation, satsang, books, blog talk radio, spiritual awakening radio

Gospel of Mary Magdalene - This Week on Spiritual Awakening Radio

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:02:51 GMT

This Week on Spiritual Awakening Radio: All About the Gospel of Mary Magdalene

As Streaming Audio via HealthyLife.Net's Channel - All Positive Talk Radio

Friday, 1 PM Eastern/10 AM Pacific Time/6 PM in the UK,

Repeated Sunday at Noon Eastern Time/9 AM Pacific/5 PM UK Time

Streaming Online via http://www.HealthyLife.net

At the radio website click the blue "Listen Live" button.

Archived Editions of Spiritual Awakening: Shows-On-Demand

Usually by Friday evening each week, the latest show gets archived by HealthyLife.net, added to my list of shows-on-demand. All editions of Spiritual Awakening Radio are archived and available online for 13 weeks at my archive page. Whether you catch the show live or not, you can always hear them at my archive page along with all the other recent shows. Go to:
http://www.healthylife.net/RadioShow/archiveSPA.htm

Podcasts

In addition to hearing shows live, or clicking and listening to an archived show, podcasts are also available from HealthyLife.net. Scroll down the page for a list of Spiritual Awakening Radio podcasts:
http://www.healthylife.net/RadioShow/Podcasts.htm#SPA

The Mary Magdalene Branch of Mystical or Gnostic Christianity

"Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her brethren, Do not weep and do not grieve nor be irresolute, for His grace will be entirely with you and will protect you....Mary answered and said, What is hidden from you I will proclaim to you." (Gospel of Mary Magdalene)

A few copies of the Gospel of Mary have been found in Egypt. The preeminence of Mary Magdalene in this Gospel gives one excellent example of the leadership roles of women in early Christianity. Mary is described as an apostle, equal in every way to the twelve apostles and part of the inner circle of Jesus. But more than that, Mary was a kind of spiritual successor to Christ, taking over His role as the spiritual teacher of the other disciples. In every way, the text affirms that her leadership of the other disciples is based upon superior spiritual understanding.

As a recipient of the secret teachings of the resurrected Christ, Mary, in her Gospel teaches the other disciples spiritual knowledge and gives detailed accounts of her visions and travels through the higher planes or heavens accompanied by the Radiant Form of her Master, the resurrected Christ. She relays to the other disciples the spiritual instructions, the words of Christ that she heard during these encounters, which probably took place during times of deep prayer - long periods of meditation. (from my article, Lost Books of the Bible)

All for the Love of Wisdom and Radio,
James
http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com
Spiritual Awakening Radio Productions

Tags: mary magdalene, gnostic, christmas, jesus, yeshua, women, equal rights, spiritual awakening radio, james bean, podcasts

Music and Bhakti Poetry of Saint Namdev

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:49:38 GMT

Music and Bhakti Poetry of Saint Namdev

Vitthala Aawadi - Naamdev Maharaj विठ्ठल आवडी - Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvwytphVbYM

Why wander deluded my heart? Meditate at the feet of Ram [God], All-awareness.

Chant Ram, the great mantra. These are the days of Kali and death is in a hurry. You waste the day in worldly things and dark comes the night. The goal is far and the path is wild. How can you cross it alone? Yes, the Lord is the path in the wilderness. Call out his name or even half of it. He will come to your assistance, says Namdev.

Rejoice in Ram. Sing his name joyfully. Do not let these brutes make you feel ashamed. I love such fortunate mortals who sing the praises of the Supreme Brahma. Such is the glory of being mortal: never forget Ram, says Namdev.

The body is false says Sant Namdev. And yet it is real if God is your lover.

You have been my lover since childhood O Govind. Do not leave me now. My heart lies with you. There is no one for me but you.

-- Sant Namdev, The Hindi Padavali of Namdev, Winand M. Callewaert, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi

Tags: namdev, bhakti, poetry, india, santmat, youtube, bhajans, banis, praise, God

Necessity of Sincere Love and Prayer -- Radhasoami Reality

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:17:20 GMT

Necessity of Sincere Love and Prayer

Radhasoami Reality:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Radhasoami-Reality
{Radhaswami Dayal ki Daya Radhaswami Sahai:"Grant Merciful Radhasoami Thy Grace and Protection"}

Necessity of Sincere Love for the Supreme Being

By Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash

Great stress is laid in the Radhasoami Faith on engendering love for the Supreme Being. This can only be done when all worldly desires are gradually eradicated from the mind, and it becomes impressed to the inmost core, with the unbounded bliss that might be attained approaching the Supreme Being, Radhasoami. Love being attraction, it is quite plain that the devotional practice for approaching the Supreme Being will become very easy indeed, if there is true love for Him, and devotion, instead of being a thing of duty, will be the highest and most blissful work in this world.

Necessity of Sincere Prayer

By Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash

Prayer is necessary to obtain blessing and mercy to help human being’s perfect salvation, but it must be offered from the innermost of heart and not confined to mere utterance. It must also be backed up by works of faith and charity performed through love and affection for the Supreme Being.

An Example of Prayer

By Huzur Maharaj, Prem Bani Radhasoami, Volume Two

O Merciful One! Take me across. Great is the glory of your mercy. I have been wasting my life in this world, going astray all the time in this desolate region. Extend your compassion towards me. Transport me to your holy feet. Reveal to me the secrets of the Sound Current. This mind gives rise to troubles everyday. Transform it completely so that getting purified and drenched in the color of love, it may proceed to the abode of Trikuti [Causal Plane]. When you bestow immense mercy upon me, my surat [soul] will proceed on the path to the Inaccessible Region [Agam Lok]. O Beloved Radhasoami! Show your grace and compassion on me now. Most sublime and exalted is your status. Ferry me across in an instant. I dedicate my body, mind, wealth, and everything to you. Beloved Radhasoami, the perfect Satguru has liberated me.

Tags: radhasoami, agra, hazur maharaj, rai saligram, prayer, prem bani, radhasoami mat prakash, bhakti, God

Tuning the Cosmic Radio Dial - Sound and the World Religions

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:55:10 GMT

Tuning the Cosmic Radio Dial - Heavenly Sound and the World Religions - Spiritual Awakening Radio

Click to Hear Archived Edition of Spiritual Awakening:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ASXGenerator.aspx?mediaSKU=j%2fq82nFRT7wnAPG4fYjv%2bA%3d%3d

(Clicking the link above should activate your Windows Media Player or default audio player for .ASX files -- streaming audio.)

No doubt, years ago many of you saw the movie Contact, based upon the book with that same title authored by the late Dr. Carl Sagan. The story was about SETI - the search of extraterrestrial intelligence. In this film scientists intercepted radio signal emanating from another part of the galaxy. These broadcasts were being beamed directly at the earth by an alien civilization trying to get our attention. After many years they finally succeeded. Their message was eventually deciphered; it contained schematics for constructing a transportation device which would allow humans to travel to the distant world where the signals were coming from. After viewing this philosophical film, I couldn't help comparing the parallels between this SETI scenario and one of the world's oldest forms of yoga-meditation: Shabd Meditation, the Yoga of the Sound Current. Shabda is an ancient Sanskrit word for divine or cosmic Sound, heavenly music. For thousands of years, human beings around the world have been tuning into a Sound which comes from beyond the stars. For the practitioners of the Yoga of Sound, this heavenly music is also a means of transportation. By becoming one with the Holy Stream of Sound, souls during their meditation practice find themselves ascending in spirit toward the place where the Sound emanates.

Hear readings from the scriptures and spiritual classics of most all the world religions, based on my article, Tuning the Cosmic Radio Dial, the Yoga of Sound, Parts 1-5:

http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/cosmicdial1.html
http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/cosmicdial2.html
http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/cosmicdial3.html
http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/cosmicdial4.html
http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/cosmicdial5.html

All for the love of Wisdom and Radio,
James

Tags: spiritual awakening radio with james bean, hindu, gnostic, islam, seti, buddhist, bahai, native american, christian, taoism

Leaving the Matrix: Religion vs. Mysticism - Download and Listen

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:38:09 GMT

Leaving the Matrix: Religion vs. Mysticism - Spiritual Awakening Radio

Click to Hear Archived Edition of Spiritual Awakening:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ASXGenerator.aspx?mediaSKU=LnhNt6%2fHap38AdGT9aH3YA%3d%3d

(Clicking the link above should activate your Windows Media Player or default audio player for .ASX files -- streaming audio.)

Hear readings from the mystic-poetry of Saint Namdev, a prayer from the Hindu Upanishads, Kabir, Rumi, the Gnostic Gospel of Judas, Yeshua in the Gospel of Thomas, Tao Te Ching of Lao Tsu, Sant Dariya Sahib, Kirpal Singh, Guru Nanak, The Bezels of Wisdom by Sufi philosopher 'Ibn Al' Arabi, the Prayerbook of the Mandaeans, and my article, "Leaving the Matrix, Religion vs. Mysticism":
http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/leavematrix.html

All for the love of Wisdom and Radio,
James
Spiritual Awakening Radio Productions

Tags: matrix, spiritual awakening radio, james bean, spirituality, gnostic, hindu, sikh, rumi, mysticism, tao

Fixing One's Attention on the Music of the Inner Sound

http://SantMat.gaia.com — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:33:41 GMT

Fixing One's Attention on the Music of the Inner Sound

Sant Mat Mysticism Blog: http://santmat.gaia.com/blog

"Some train themselves to hear the Saut-i Sarmad in the solitude on the sea shore, on the river bank, and in the hills and dales; others attain it while sitting in the caves of the mountains, or when wandering constantly through forests and deserts, keeping themselves in the wilderness apart from the haunts of men. Yogis and ascetics blow Sing (a horn) or Shankha (a shell), which awakens in them this inner tone. Dervishes play Nai or Algosa (a double flute) for the same purpose. The bells and gongs in the churches and temples are meant to suggest to the thinker the same sacred Sound, and thus lead him towards the inner life.

"This Sound develops through ten different aspects because of its manifestation through ten different tubes of the body; it sounds like thunder, the roaring of the sea, the jingling of bells, running the water, the buzzing of bees [humming], the twittering of sparrows, the Vina, the whistle, or the sound of Shankha [conch shell or sea shell] until it finally becomes HU, the most sacred of all sounds." (Inayat Khan, The Mysticism of Sound)

Shiv Brat Lal: "The devotee in his spiritual journey upwards hears sweet melodies which attract him. The melodies are a powerful magnetic force which draws the attention inwards and makes it fully attuned to proceed up and up. We hear external instrumental music like the sitar, sarangi, violin, harmonium, fiddle, flute and veena. We become attracted by them and almost acquire a semi-rapturous condition. One can well imagine how charming the Dhun-Atmic Shabda (internal Music) emanating from both subtle and causal regions can be. It is a thousand times more enchanting and absorbing! All one needs is to get the know-how of this simple method of the Saints."

Whatever we put our attention on will grow stronger in our life. This principal is also true within during meditation, as we focus on certain inner Lights or Sounds. It says in the Adi Granth: "The one who fixes their attention on the Nectar-Word, in them rings the Music of the Word."

Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj: "The Sound possesses a quality that attracts the attention of the listener. Every central Sound flows from the highest realm downward to the lower realm and then directly connects to the center of that realm. The aspirant enters the process by attending to the Sound of the gross realm, centering, and then following
that Sound as it leads to the realm above, which is the subtle realm. Upon reaching the subtle realm, the Sound of the causal realm is experienced. This Sound will eventually draw the practitioner from the subtle to the causal realm. And so the aspirant proceeds until reaching the Highest realm. Thus, the practitioner progressively grasps increasingly subtler and more powerful inner Sounds and thereby progresses to the realm immediately higher.

"In the final stages of this practice, the aspirant goes beyond the veil of material creation and reaches the realm of Kaivalya (a State of absolute freedom from conditioned existence). This is where the soul comes to experience God. But even in this realm there is a thin veil, and complete union with God is not yet possible. Upon acquiring the final essential Sound in Kaivalya, the soul ascends upward to the Nihshabad (Soundless State of Absolute Unity). There the soul becomes one with God." (The Harmony of All Religions, Chapter Seven, on Sant Mat)

Kabir: "From the firmament, someone has uttered the authoritative Word. From that Word, all things have arisen. In every heart, it dances its dance.... The Word is the root of all worlds, and of the sun, the moon, and stars. Kabir says, 'Know the speaker of the Word -- and he will ferry you across the ocean of this world.'" (Kabir -- Songs of the Divine, Jagessar Das, Kabir Association, Urban Mystic Books)

Tags: kabir, nanak, adi granth, harmony of all religions, santsevi, shabd yoga, hazrat khan, hu, inner sound meditation