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To know yourself means to know that you are a spiritual being, with the consciousness of God dwelling within. Realization of the true self gives immense peace and bliss, and fills the heart with abiding love for all.

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“The soul is without taste, colour and cannot be perceived by the five senses. Consciousness is its chief attribute. Know the soul to be free of any gender and not bound by any dimensions of shape and size.”

— Acharya Kundakunda, “Bhavapahuda”, gatha 64 (Sutra of Jainism)

Podcast — Listen Anytime: My guest is Robert Atkinson, author of the book, “Mystic Journey, Getting to the Heart of Your Soul’s Story”: Spiritual Awakening Radio — Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Begin Streaming: http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSLAO.aspx?indexSessionSKU=dZOuhSHFYjW1qA%2bicTJ2tw%3d%3d

Or Download MP3: http://download.liveindexer.com/podcasts/HealthyLifeOD/Audio//ECI_AUTO/Apr2013/SPA040213_wma.mp3

The Soul Free to Fly — The Message of the Masters

“‘By living in the Pinda Desh (physical universe or multiverse) for a long time, the Surat (Attention-faculty or awareness of the soul) becomes a servant of Maya or illusion and gets completely enmeshed in Maya. In such a state, it becomes extremely difficult for the Surat-soul to extricate itself from the clutches of ‘Vasanas’, the creation of Maya for numerous lives (the wheel of transmigration and reincarnation).

“‘As a free bird becomes accustomed to the cage after it has lived there for a long time and loses its power of flying freely, so the Surat-soul or Attention, having lived as a slave of Maya for so long, also loses it freedom to fly and forgets its Original Abode. Although the human soul was pure and free, attachment to illusory objects of creation, the pleasures of the senses, have deluded it and enslaved it. Now, it continues in bondage for birth after birth and is dancing to the tune of mind and illusion (manas and maya) in the three qualities or Gunas…..

“‘The Saints advise that so long as the Attention is not attached to the Shabad or Naam [the Positive Power of God seen as inner Light and heard as inner Sound or Music], peace of mind cannot be achieved. The Surat-soul is in pain and suffering because it is separated from the Shabad. So long as the Surat-soul does not recognize Shabad and unite itself with it, it will never get real happiness nor will it discover the mortality or falsehood of the worldly objects. This is the import of eternal and peaceful life. This is called Surat Shabad Yoga [inner Light and Sound Meditation]. Therefore, the way by which the Surat-soul has descended, it must retrace, and ascend by the same route under the guidance of the Saints. Only then, the aim of human life will be fulfilled and real happiness attained.’

“On hearing these words, there arose a fresh enthusiasm and interest in the hearts of the devotees for meditation. All of them imbibed the Divine Words in their hearts and felt really blessed. The Fourth Master enlightened such a path to the devotees, by treading which, they could attain divine bliss. He told them again and again, ‘Open the Divine Eye’ and thus infused in them a new spirit to go within and try their best to open the Divine Eye.”

— The Fourth Master, Shri Paramhans Advait Mat Granth, Shri Anandpur

Receiving Inner Guidance in the Silence of Meditation, Part One

Exploring the World Religions, By James Bean, Copyright, February 2013 — All Rights Reserved, SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com

“Within each of us there is a silence, a silence as vast as the universe. And when we experience that silence, we remember who we are.” (Gunilla Norris)

“The God who speaks to the human spirit in the silence is not limited by language, because the language of the spirit is universal. Whoever listens to this God-without-words, by means of faith, inspiration, contemplation, tuning in to the wavelength of the Spirit, recognizes that God sends out continuous messages.” (The Lord of Silence, Quaker publication)

“I will come to you in the silence.” (Acts of St. Thomas in India)

Gnostic Prayer Found in Egypt: “….Bestow upon us a spirit of knowledge for the revelation of your Mysteries, to come to a knowledge of ourselves: where we have come from, where we are going, and what we should do in order to live.” (Book of Allogenes — The Stranger in a Strange Land, The Nag Hammadi Scriptures)

“Wisdom is essential in determining what is the right way to live your life.” (Shri Maharshi Mehi Paramhans)

“The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.” (Solomon Ibn Gabriol)

Today, wisdom from the Masters or Mystics of the East and West on the power of silence to guide our every step, so each step brings us closer to our most noble goals, leading us into a life of love, peacefulness, an enlightened existence.

“To be pure and still means to be open to purity and stillness — as a result you can intuit the truth. Detach yourself from what disturbs and distracts you, and be as pure as one who breathes in purity and emptiness. This state is the gateway to enlightenment — It is the Way to Peace and Happiness.” (Da Qin Scripture — Jesus Sutras)

What a magnificent verse from the Jesus Sutras, a collection of Nestorian scriptures found in China that reveal this amazing synthesis of Taoist, Nestorian (Church of the East), and Buddhist spirituality!

Most of the time we human beings are distracted surface-dwellers. We live from the levels of conscious mind and ego, with our attention hopelessly held captive by the turbulence and agitation of our day-to-day circumstances. If we can develop a daily meditation practice, learn to take a break and detach ourselves, allowing some space for the silence to speak to us, we will gain access to a higher wisdom. If we can pause and listen, taking time each day to meditate, this will provide opportunities for angels, the Inner Master-Power or the Great Invisible Spirit to communicate, to whisper into our inner ear.

“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.” (Kirpal Singh, The Way of the Saints)

Insight will come to us in the silence of meditation. We will be inspired in ways we never thought possible. Creativity will flow as never before. A Divine Voice will lead us in new positive directions, and ultimately will guide us Above.

“It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you are speaking with your own Spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your Spirit and the Spirit answers: the Light breaks forth and the reality is revealed.” (Abdu’l-BAHÁ of the Bahai Faith)

By giving birth to our selves in the ‘womb’ of silent meditation, the higher Self or Spirit becomes not only a theoretical center of our being, but a reality we directly experience. We learn to begin living from the center of our being, tapping into a higher wisdom coming from the level of the Self or Spirit, soul and Oversoul.

“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.” (Kirpal Singh, The Way of the Saints, published by Sant Bani Ashram of New Hampshire)

The Wisdom of Abdu’l-BAHÁ of the Bahai Faith on the Power of Silence

Abdu’l-BAHÁ was a mystic and the second leader of the Bahai Faith. One of my favorite Bahai texts features Abdu’l-BAHÁ’s talk given at a Quaker Meeting House at Saint Martin’s Lane, in London, Sunday, January 12th, 1913. It’s an incredibly wonderful talk that, for me, sums up the mystical, contemplative journey rather nicely.

Of this path of inner guidance and revelation he says: “About one thousand years ago a society was formed in Persia called the Society of the Friends, who gathered together for silent communion with the Almighty.

“They divided Divine philosophy into two parts: one kind is that of which the knowledge can be acquired through lectures and study in schools and colleges. The second kind of philosophy was that of the Illuminati, or followers of the inner Light. The schools of this philosophy were held in silence. Meditating, and turning their faces to the Source of Light, from that central Light the Mysteries of the Kingdom were reflected in the hearts of these people. All the Divine problems were solved by this power of illumination.

“….When they assemble in their meeting-house they sit silently and contemplate; their leader opens with a certain proposition, and says to the assembly ‘You must meditate on this problem’. Then, freeing their minds from everything else, they sit and reflect, and before long the answer is revealed to them. Many abstruse divine questions are solved by this illumination…..

“Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life; through it he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit—the bestowal of the Spirit is given in reflection and meditation.

“The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation; through it affairs of which man knew nothing are unfolded before his view. Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives heavenly food.

“Meditation is the key for opening the doors of Mysteries. In that state man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves. To illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight is being used the outward power of vision does not see…..

“This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the sciences and arts. Through the meditative faculty inventions are made possible, colossal undertakings are carried out….. Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom of God.

“Nevertheless some thoughts are useless to man; they are like waves moving in the sea without result. But if the faculty of meditation is bathed in the inner Light and characterized with divine attributes, the results will be confirmed.”

Note: The statement above mentioning the philosophy “of the Illuminati” is not about conspiracy theories or nefarious secret societies. In this case, “Illuminati” is referring to those enlightened or ‘illumined’ by the inner Light. Abdu’l-BAHÁ was speaking at a gathering of Quakers or Society of Friends, and they describe themselves as followers of the inner Light — an important teaching in Quakerism, and Quakers have also cultivated the same spiritual practice of seeking guidance about the affairs of life and eternity in the silence of contemplative meditation.

Good to make time every day for being self-introspective, to ponder the meaning of the events in one’s life and be genuinely inspired by the insights revealed during meditation. The silence is speaking volumes to us. If we can tap into this inner wisdom, it will transform our lives, allowing us to be more spiritually centered. Ego, mind, karma and fate only go so far. Divine grace busts into the world of time and space offering something higher, a way forward.

“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.” (A Testament of Devotion, by Thomas Kelly, Quaker mystic)

(To be continued in Part Two, which will provide more details about developing our own daily meditation practice.)

The Spiritual Journey and Meditation Practice According to Sant Ravidas

Below is from the book, “The Life and Works of Raidas (Ravidas)”, by Winand M. Callewaert, Manohar Publications, New Delhi.

Regarding the Holy Name or Names, one may wonder what they are, how they are obtained, when and how they are repeated, and with what result.

The Holy Names are the sacred utterable words, imparted by the Satguru. These Names are so surcharged with power by the Satguru that through the practice of repeating these spoken Holy Names one can come in contact with the true Naam (the Unutterable Word, Logos, or the Unstruck Divine Music).

This repetition of the Holy Names must be carried on at all times. Apart from one’s normal sitting hours (for meditation), even when one is walking or doing odd jobs with one’s hands and feet, one must continue the repetition by the inner tongue, namely, the mind. With some maturity in this practice of repetition, it becomes so much ingrained in the practitioner that it automatically goes on all the time.

The repetition is to be carried on internally by the mind with one-pointed attention. It is the most potent means to cleanse the mind of its impurities, and with the mind being cleansed, the lustrous Internal Light and the Unstruck Divine Music appear, which ultimately lead the aspirant to God, the Almighty, the Light of all lights and the Source of all bliss.

Mystic-Verses of Sant Ravidas from the Adi Granth and the Vanis of Ravidas

Non-duality

Jap Raam Naam kahi gavaiga

After repetition, when thou shalt sing the Lord’s Name,

Then thou shalt enter from duality into non-duality.

The Bliss that lies in contacting this Nectar,

In what words shalt thou sing its praise?

Only by the grace of the Guru

is this inner experience attained.

Simran, Remembering God’s Name

He who remembereth God’s Name,

Having sought the company of a Saint;

His miseries are averted,

Thus doth Ravidas proclaim.

My (inner) tongue is constantly preoccupied with repeating God’s

Name,

And my hands are constantly engaged in doing my work.

Thus have I become carefree,

God will take care of me, sayeth Ravidas.

The threefold miseries of the world

Fleeth away from him

Who carries on repetition of the True Name,

Fixing his attention within, 0 Ravidas.

Steeped in meditation with one-pointed attention,

Practice devotion to God, 0 Ravidas.

Let the automatic repetition be continued within,

Reverberating the True Naam.

When the soul (surat)

mergeth into the Sound (Shabd)

and becometh one with it,

Then one obtaineth the supreme Bliss.

The lamp burneth inside, 0 Ravidas,

And Divine Bliss ariseth within.

Have mercy on me, 0 Lord.

With every breath I repeat Thy Name,

My mind will be delighted only on meeting Thee.

Thou art merciful, gracious

and the Ocean of Compassion,

Thou art the Lord and the companion of the poor.

Grant me Thy shelter night and day,

Let me not wander about anywhere else,

0 my Lord.

Only by Thy grace can vanity and pride be removed,

And the Nectar of the alchemy of God’s Name

be obtained.

Such an intellect I beg of Thee, 0 Merciful One,

That it may not go anywhere else leaving Thy Holy Feet.

Ravidas hath taken refuge in Thy Holy Feet,

Take him to Thy heart considering him Thine own.

Seeing the Beloved,

Brightness prevaileth within the temple

of my mind.

From a humble hut, I have now acquired the ninefold treasures,

Lord, the Creator, hath showered His grace.

I have obtained my Beloved,

separated for myriads of births,

The entanglement of life after life is over. 

Importance of Saran (Taking Shelter Under the Protecting Care of the Supreme Being, the Merciful Lord of the Soul), By Huzur Maharaj, Prem Patra, Volume One

A devotee should consider Radhasoami Dayal [Ra-Dha-Swa-Mi, Merciful Lord of the Soul, Ocean of Love and All-Consciousness] as the Supreme Lord, Omnipotent, All-merciful and the Prime Mover of everything, and be should seek the protection of His Holy Feet in such a way that, whatever he may do, the result of it all may be left to His Mauj or Holy Will. Whatever be His Mauj, he should be pleased with it. As far as possible, he should devote himself to Bhajan, Sumiran and Dhyan [Inner Sound Meditation, Inner Light Meditation, and Repetition of the Holy Name/Simran/Manas Jap], and reading of holy books, service of the Guru and Satsang. He should place implicit faith in His mercy. In this way, all those, who act up to it, will be able to carry on smoothly. If one leaves the result of everything, one does, to Mauj [divine will], there will be no attachment. While doing anything, he will be free from the effects of such actions. If by internal devotional practices he has adopted such a Saran, then by the grace of His mercy all the past and Sanchit Karmas will be gradually eradicated, and whatever actions are done with reliance on Mauj, no Kriyaman Karmas will result from such actions, and the force of Prarabdha Karmas will also be appreciably lessened. In this way, a smooth life and salvation will be within easy reach, and a devotee, during his own life, will be able to see all the three classes of Karmas being rooted out. If the attainment of the Holy Feet of Radhasoami Dayal is his goal, with a firm determination not to halt at any intermediate stage and not to rest till he has attained that goal, and if he continues his devotional practices, always increasing his love and faith in the Holy Feet of Radhasoami Dayal and detaching his mind from this world, except to the extent, it is necessary to do so, then it is possible for him to reach the highest spiritual region, the abode of the true Supreme Being in one life or in two, or in case of any deficiency, in three lives. But the next birth will be better than the present one, in as much as, the spiritual attainment will be greater, so also the worldly comforts; he will surely meet Sat Guru and by attending His Satsang, even in a day or two, he will regain the progress made by him during the course of his previous life.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/120762480/Prem-Patra-Radhasoami-Volume-One

O Surat [Soul]! Who are you and whence have you come? This world is a net spread by the mind. Why do you get entangled in it? You are a ray from the Purush (the Supreme Being) and an inhabitant of the purely Spiritual Region. Kal [lord of time] has put a noose round your neck. Turn back and go to your Home, by the grace of Sat Guru and in the company of Sadhs (those who are engaged in Parmath [spirituality]). Listen to Anhad Shabd* within, says Radhasoami.

— Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Radhaswami Poetry, Volume One

NOTE: *Anhad Shabd: The Unstruck Melody or Sound Current. Swami Ji was a spiritual Master/Sant Satguru who taught Surat Shabd Yoga: Inner Light and Sound Meditation.

Conversation between Soul and God

Soul: I am in the world, God, and I feel lost.

God: But you are in My world!

Soul: How come I do not see you then?

God: You cannot see me because you are looking outside. I am in you.

Soul: How am I to find you? My senses can perceive outside only.

God: To find me you do not need your senses.

Soul: Then tell me what I need to do to find you.

God: Put all your senses to rest and go into deep silence.

Soul: How can silence help me to find you?

God: Silence is my language, and Spirit is my being.

Soul: How will I know that I have found you?

God: You are Spirit and I am Spirit. You will know me when you experience that you are Spirit. Then you will see that we are one.

Soul: Will that take away the feeling that I am lost in the world?

God: Certainly! You see, I am not lost. I am everywhere. You feel lost when you are busy in worldly pursuits only. Know me and we will always be together!

J. Das (of the Kabir Association)

Ages Have Passed Since the Soul Arrived Here in this World

The soul (jiva) as well as his Creator, both are in the human frame (pinda). The soul is not required to search for his Creator anywhere else. Ages have passed since the soul arrived here in this world. His attention having been diverted by the objects of Maya [illusion], he has lost all knowledge of his Creator. If he now gets the company of the Satguru, hears His discourses attentively, ruminates upon them, and performs the spiritual practices (abhyas) taught by Him, then, of course, he can have vision (darshan) of the Creator within himself. 

(Huzur Maharaj, “Prem Updesh Radhaswami”)

A disciple asks the Satguru:

When, according to the Saints, Shabd [the inner Light and Sound Current] is everywhere and is the Creator of all things, and even the soul itself is a part of the Shabd, why is it that the Surat (Soul) does not catch that Shabd?

The Satguru replies:

In reality, the Shabd is all-pervading; but since the soul’s descent into Pinda (the physical realm), it has acquired an outward tendency and has become engrossed in external sounds. But for that, the work of the world could not go on. Now, the soul cannot get at the Shabd within until it comes in contact with a perfect Satguru and submits to Him. By depending on parents, the soul has become ensnared in this world. When it submits itself to the Satguru and Satsang, it will come out from the snares of this world. 

(Soami Ji Maharaj, “Sar Bachan Prose”)

Without Shabd humanity has gone blind —

who will cut them free of their bonds of attachment?

Without Shabd all activity is futile; 

deprived of Shabd the soul is shackled with chains. 

Shabd has created the sun and the moon; 

without the touch of Shabd the soul remains tainted. 

Other than Shabd practice all counsel is bad counsel, 

for Shabd itself is the best preacher, itself the best sermon.

If you practice Shabd, you will receive bliss; 

without Shabd all are condemned. 

So you should practice Shabd day and night, 

and contemplate nothing but Shabd. 

Obtain the secret of Shabd from the Master, 

then merge yourself into that Shabd. 

The Light of Shabd shines within —

look into the world of Shabd 

through the window of your heart. 

Shabd sustains all souls 

and yet remains detached. 

Know that Shabd is the essence of everything —

adopt the Path of Shabd and attain salvation.

My friend, apply yourself to the practice of Shabd 

and defeat Kal with the might of Shabd. 

Reach the harbor of Shabd in your own heart 

and see your Beloved, whose real form is Shabd, 

nothing but Shabd. 

Shabd will repeal the decree of karma, 

Guru’s Shabd will unite you with the primal Shabd. 

Without Shabd all knowledge is deception, 

without Shabd all contemplation is fruitless. 

Do not abandon the path of Shabd, 0 thoughtless one —

so Radhasoami explains to you. 

(Swami Ji Maharaj, “Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry”)

Scientists Unveil Quantum Theory of Soul’s Existence

London: A near-death experience occurs when quantum substances which form the soul leave the nervous system and enter the universe at large, according to a ground-breaking theory proposed by two eminent scientists.

According to this idea, consciousness is a programme for a quantum computer in the brain which can persist in the universe even after death, explaining the perceptions of those who have near-death experiences.

Dr. Stuart Hameroff, Professor Emeritus at the Departments of Anesthesiology and Psychology and the Director of the Centre of Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona, has advanced the quasi-religious theory, the Daily Mail reported.

It is based on a quantum theory of consciousness he and British physicist Sir Roger Penrose have developed which holds that the essence of our soul is contained inside structures called micro-tubules within brain cells.

They have argued that our experience of consciousness is the result of quantum gravity effects in these micro-tubules, a theory which they dubbed orchestrated objective reduction.

Thus it is held that our souls are more than the interaction of neurons in the brain. They are in fact constructed from the very fabric of the universe — and may have existed since the beginning of time.

The concept is similar to the Buddhist and Hindu belief that consciousness is an integral part of the universe — and indeed that it is really all there may be, a position similar to Western philosophical idealism, the paper said.

With these beliefs, Hameroff holds that in a near-death experience the micro-tubules lose their quantum state, but the information within them is not destroyed. Instead it merely leaves the body and returns to the cosmos.

“Let’s say the heart stops beating, the blood stops flowing, the micro-tubules lose their quantum state. The quantum information within the micro-tubules is not destroyed, it can’t be destroyed, it just distributes and dissipates to the universe at large,” Hameroff told the Science Channel’s ‘Through the Wormhole’ documentary.

“If the patient is resuscitated, revived, this quantum information can go back into the micro-tubules and the patient says ‘I had a near death experience’,” Hameroff said.

“If they’re not revived, and the patient dies, it’s possible that this quantum information can exist outside the body, perhaps indefinitely, as a soul,” Hameroff added.

http://zeenews.india.com/news/space/scientists-unveil-quantum-theory-of-soul-s-existence_808671.html