FAITH – Faith is very necessary to give us some direction and support. The word faith imbues strength; strength which is divinely given and found in the very core of our being.

HOPE – Hope helps us to develop a feeling of trust. Trust in the Divine, trust and confidence in ourselves and in those close to us. If we have no hope we are lost. We hope that all will be well no matter what we have to face. Hope that this New Year will bring us all that we need.

CHARITY = LOVE – Love of those who like us walk the path of life, who suffer as we do, who care as we do, who comfort as we do. If we love, we give of ourselves freely. Some say charity begins at home! Home for us is this body and mind, so take care of them and you can forget them and become truly selfless; a pure charitable being.

Satchidananda Ma

Gifts

The best gifts cost nothing yet are priceless, like;

giving time…time to listen, time to play…time to share in all that life brings…

time to understand and to lend a helping hand.

When the heart is open, it becomes unselfish, it sees all that is before it as a God-given opportunity to love and serve. To love and serve not only those immediately around, but the greater family as well for all is one.

Satchidananda Ma

The language of the heart is silence. In the silence which is heart-centered we find our inner strength; we can listen to the inner voice, the voice of the spirit which will guide us and help us understand the needs of others as well as ourselves.

When we enter the chakra of the heart our world changes, we see and hear more clearly; touch and react more sensitively, all our senses are heightened as distinct from those which are necessary for survival i.e. gut reactions through the senses.

Someone who is heart centred does not need many words; they have no need to hide away behind words. You see truly who you are, pure Divine spirit.

Devotion springs from a pure unselfish heart, devotion to the Divine and seeing the Divine in all things.

Satchidananda Ma

You are a Star, a star in the firmament and one that should be seen shining forth, giving light and guidance to all.

That is we would be if we could but shed those veils of ignorance that hide our light away, that prevent the spirit (the star) from being seen or showing its true essence.

Dance the cosmic dance with Shiva and slowly and surely discard those veils of prejudice, envy, jealousy, misguided concepts….

They all hang like a chain around the neck, preventing not only ourselves but others from seeing us in our true light, from seeing the beautiful spirit that resides deep inside.

Yogic philosophy speaks of the ‘cave of the heart’; the spirit resides here waiting for you to find it. It’s like Aladdin’s cave for when you have found yourself the light of your spirit which dwells there; you have also found all the treasures as well. These treasures are priceless – unconditional love, goodness, compassion, sharing, caring….

You will forget yourself, for you will then become that light, that love etc. You will shine so brightly.

Satchidananda Ma

There is a veil of ignorance which blocks our view of the Divine and all that we would call morally good. This veil of ignorance can cause some people to appear evil by doing acts that we would call morally evil.

They are notnecessarily inherently evil; ignorance has distortedtheir view of life, they have forgotten how to live happily and peacefully. Until the veil is lifted with knowledge and understanding change will not come about. Help not condemnation is needed.

It is important for all of us that we seek an understanding of ourselves and those who share this earth with us and very importantly, of the earth itself.

Satchidananda Ma

P.S.   veil – evil – live!!!

‘In meditation we consider carefully divine things and we pass from one to another, so that the heart may feel love, it is as though we would strike a flint, to draw a spark of fire. But in contemplation the spark is struck – the love we were seeking is here. The soul enjoys silence and peace, not by many reasoning’s but by simply contemplating the truth. Meditation is the means, contemplation is the end. The one is the path, the other is the end of the path’.

St Peter of Alcantara

The word meditation from latin = meditari – to think, to dwell upon or exercise the mind and mederi to heal and medha a Sanskrit derivation = wisdom. In Tibetan language it means to become familiar with and to cultivate positive thoughts.

There has been an increasing interest in meditation for some time and people have taken up meditation for a variety of reasons. Some feel that it is a means of reducing stress and tension, for others a means to increase their ability to concentrate or become more spiritually aware.

The workings of the body and mind are intimately connected and the quiet, relaxed mental state reached during meditation has corresponding effects on the body. The quieter the mind becomes the more rested and still the body grows. Meditation has a wonderful soothing effect on the nervous system, which benefits all the bodily systems.

It is generally agreed by people who meditate, that the quiet state of mind reached during meditation leaves a feeling of relaxation, a renewal of energy and is very uplifting. This then gives much more meaning to life.

What meditation actually is cannot be answered in words alone, it is something to be experienced through practice, rather than be described. People who begin meditation automatically alter their approach to life as it brings about a change in the individuals perception of reality.

Anyone with an interest in meditation must realize that discipline is required; the giving up of a little time each day is important. This is not easy at first but there will come a time when you would miss your quiet time if it was denied you. We all know how important practice is; Swami Sivananda says that ‘ an ounce of practice is of much more benefit than a ton of theory’.

The second aphorism of Patanjali is – ‘Yoga is the control of the thought waves of the mind’.

(read Mascaro’s Upanishads P60, part 3)

So, what do we need to do to help control this wayward mind? We can: –

1. find a quiet place; one that is draught free and warm enough, for it is very difficult to meditate in a place that is either noisy or cold. A place that you can keep solely for meditation, where you may put some flowers and a candle; a place that is conducive to a feeling of well-being.
2. find a comfortable seated position that can be held without strain for about twenty minutes; so you may need a cushion, a stool or a comfortable upright chair.
3. cultivate a passive attitude, not expecting an instant state of concentration/meditation for it takes time to gently draw the mind back to the object of concentration. Patience is needed before total one-pointedness is achieved and it could be that this only occurs after many ‘sittings’, but like Robert Bruce we try and try again.
4. find a means whereby concentration is encouraged i.e. through the means of a mantra, or some pranayama/breath control, etc.

‘Day after day, let the Yogi practice the harmony of the soul; in a secret place, in solitude, master of his mind, hoping for nothing, desiring nothing.

Let him find a place that is pure and a seat that is restful, neither too high nor too low, with sacred grass and a skin and a cloth thereon.

On that seat let him rest and practice Yoga for the purification of the soul; with the life of his body and mind in peace; his soul in silence before the One’.

Bhagavadgita ch6v10

There are many different methods of concentration that lead us into meditation. We need to choose that which suits us best. These different ‘paths’ or ‘methods’ can be divided into three areas: – Sight, Sound and Breath.

The use of sight, involves the focusing on a visual object like a lighted candle, crucifix, concentrating on a colour or visualization.

When sound is used it is often by use of a mantra or gong.

‘With upright body, head and neck lead the mind and its powers into thy heart; and the OM of Brahman will then be thy boat with which to cross the rivers of fear’.

Svetasvatara Upanishad.

The use of pranayama, breath control is a very good way to quieten the mind. Simply observing the slow movement of the breath is help in itself.

‘And when the body is in silent steadiness, breathe rhythmically through the nostrils with a peaceful ebbing and flowing of breath. The chariot of the mind is drawn by wild horses and those wild horses have to be tamed’.

Svetasvatara Upanishad.

We can also concentrate/meditate on abstract ideas, such as love, peace or compassion. This is not so easy, so may be practiced later than subjective meditation.

As with everything else, practice makes perfect. Perseverance is important.

“During concentration, one keeps a tight rein on the mind, during meditation the rein is no longer necessary for the mind stays of its own accord on the single thought wave”.

Vishnudevananda

“Meditation is a movement of thought limited within a circle but in contemplation there is a silence of thought. Meditation is the mental activity of the thinker, contemplation is the silence of the poet”.

Mascaro

Many of you will have seen the above before, so please forgive the repetition

Eventually/hopefully, unless our routine is broken, the above discipline will mean that mediation stays with us. In other words we are constantly in a state of meditation or shall we say more often than not ‘for Yoga comes and goes’. As stated in my last message (July), it is a state of watchfulness.

Mantra practised for some time becomes part of our consciousness just as the peacefulness felt in meditation. Those of us who use mantra regularly know how it just surfaces unexpectedly and those times when all around is in turmoil, we are relatively unaffected and can act from our still small centre, decisively and purposefully because we are not troubled by the constantly incoming multitudinous thoughts and feelings that are contagious.

Practise of any kind is important, we are given techniques to follow until one day we do not need them anymore as we live in a state of constant watchfulness. We become the mantra which keeps us constantly in tune with the infinite. Even here we can slip back for already said ‘yoga/union comes and goes’. So vigilance is needed for it is too easy to be complacent.

No need to search anymore for answers or different approaches for if you have to keep searching it could be because your practise/discipline or faith has not been adequate of that life’s traumas have kept you away from your practise. You may have spent a long time endeavouring to practise techniques that do not suit your temperament.

To recognise the Divinity which is ever-present, the essence of all is not an easy task. To believe that we are pure divine spirits can be difficult. We live in two worlds simultaneously, the world of the spirit and this material world. The material external world tends to restrict our view of our true nature which is pure spirit. Meditation can be a way to understand and become in tune with both.

Meditation has many added advantages, just to name a few – it helps us to see more clearly, listen more attentively and walk a little slower!

Yoga – to yoke, to bring balance between the two worlds in which we live but also to realise the union between what we call ourselves, the Divine and all that is.

Satchidananda Ma

Action in non-action –

We all need to develop the ability to watch and observe, and to be in the moment. We need to obtain a state of watchfulness. This watchfulness could be likened to watching a play on screen or on stage; it is like watching life as it unfolds around us. Watching, taking note, being involved – yet not being involved is something that needs to be nurtured. It is like watching the play of the emotions, the senses and our reactions to all situations without allowing them to rule our lives. Without this watchfulness we become totally involved with whatever is going on around us and within the psyche judgement can easily become marred and we can become subject to irrational behaviour or actions which we later regret.

This watchfulness could be called detachment. Detachment does not mean becoming insensitive, unfeeling. It can mean the opposite for if you are detached you can observe more carefully, clearly and so act more purposely and sincerely. The most difficult time to be detached is with our own families, with those closest to us, because the emotions seem to rule the situation and cloud our vision. We can let the emotions dictate instead of common-sense. When we let the emotions rule over common-sense they can result in pain.

“This calm steadiness of the senses is called Yoga. Then one should become watchful for Yoga comes and goes”.   Katha Upanishad

 Satchidananda Ma

Sent with love.

Words like ‘tolerance’ ‘love’ ‘compassion’ ‘sharing’ ‘giving’ and many more like them seem to be used often these days. Why? Why is there such a need to use them so often? Is it to remind us that they exist? These words express something of our essential nature. Has their true meaning been forgotten? We shouldn’t need to be asked to show some compassion, to send a little love, to share what we have or to give some time – we should just do it.

Money cannot buy what should come from people to people. People need people. Maybe it’s time we stopped being so insular, we are a world-wide community. We may seem divided by continents, colour, race, language. Break down the body into its natural constituents and you will find we are all made of the same stuff. We all breathe, talk, walk and eat. If the scientists could find that elusive principle (the spirit) that gives this body life they would find that all life has the same origin, we come from love Divinely given. At some point in our lives we all have a wish to seek that which is Divine, the Truth.

So how different are we? Why cannot we be friends? Why cannot we try to understand one another?

There is a real need to dispel ignorance by gaining knowledge about other races and religions, making time to stop and talk to a neighbour, giving a little time to a good cause. Never question what we might get out of a relationship but what we can put into it, whether it is in a one to one situation or nation to nation.

Please delve into your heart and let the true nature that is within show itself.

 Satchidananda Ma

 To control our own lives

We have a need to control our own lives; to take responsibility for ourselves and the only way to do this is to let go and allow!

Involution has placed us in a world of illusion so that we think that we do everything and that without much effort on our part and much intellectual knowledge – nothing will happen.

We feel very separate one from another- you and me, us and them. We see all the other living things around us as being very different.

All things in the universe and beyond are imbued with the same life force, given to us by the One Divine power. It is from that one Divine power that all that we know exists.

It is said that what goes up must come down, yet have you considered that what comes down must go up i.e. the seed falls (involves) then grows (evolves)?

Look around and see the beauty of nature, the trees and the flowers, all-aspiring upward and outwards towards the Light. They do not stop and say ‘now do I want to go this way – or maybe that’. No, they do what comes naturally to them. They are true to their nature, true to themselves and they enjoy being themselves not wishing to be another.

Our bodies have a similar consciousness to the above. If allowed they would heal themselves, take their natural shape and move freely.

To identify with the body and the external world only is limiting, we need to identify with the spirit that dwells within, for this will enable us to see the need to release the body to function freely. Only then can we really know that we are an individualized part of the great Divine Spirit/consciousness.

Our spirit is clothed in Divine Light, we are beings made of Divine love, yet generally we experience ourselves as limited beings. Yes of course we are limited beings because we live in a physical body, but our true nature is Divine. If we could but surrender to Divine will, we may know That Light and feel the warmth of That Love and realise that all things are possible. We would be able to see more clearly what has to be done and how to do it for the benefit of all.

 Satchidananda Ma

‘To be or not to be. That is the question’

How many of us can just be ourselves? Much of the time is spent trying to be what others want us to be; the perfect mother/father, the perfect son/daughter, brother/sister, or husband/wife. The expectations others place on us are their image of what they expect us to be and this can be a selfish image. More often than not we cannot live up to it even if we try. And most of us do try and in the process negate ourselves.

This is why when sons and daughters leave the family home or brother and sisters drift away or mothers and fathers die or the husband or wife deserts the other, we feel at odds with the world. We have forgotten who we are, why we are and where we are going. We seem to be without purpose and are lost. It can be very difficult to adjust, although with a philosophy; a religion, a devotion to the Divine, which is sincere, we can have our security. If we are going to lose ‘ourselves’ it should be in devotion to an ideal.

There are other considerations when we view the question above. Some seem afraid to be themselves so they play a part. Children can do this very well, one day he/she can be Andy Pandy, the next the Lone Ranger. The child in each of us might also play a part. This can be a danger as one enters a different world and its not always easy to come back from it. There is also the world of daydreams, living in a permanent fantasy. Maybe we are a person who talks too much, hiding ourselves away behind words, or in talking, trying always to appear clever when underneath we feel insecure and unwanted.

The real need is to know and understand ourselves on every level. We shouldn’t be afraid of being alone, of being quiet, of feeling unloved or unrecognised. We shouldn’t be afraid being ourselves. There is a power beyond all of us, the source of all life, love and comfort, which is Divine. When we can be ourselves, when we can enjoy being quiet, when we are not being demanded of, when we sit in meditation, we realise that we are never alone. That power, the Source of all life is omnipresent, always with us. It (for want of another word) loves us, It must as It gave birth to us and It will care for us just like a caring ideal mother/father would, allowing us freedom to live, learn and grow. It recognises our talents and encourages us in them.

The latter can only happen if we are true to ourselves, if we can be ourselves. This does not mean being selfish, in fact, just the opposite. Rather it means that we are not pretending anymore, and the rubbish that was covering our true nature has been removed.

It can take some time to clear the rubbish and there are many ways to do this. One way is to meditate which helps to shed light. Meditation helps us to see and understand. Firstly though we have to recognise the need. Then we must have the courage to do something about it.

 Blessings, Satchidananda Ma