Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Leaving for Japan
We are leaving for Japan soon. If you have friends in Japan, please let them know about our work by sending them the following link: http://teachingsinjapan.tripod.com/
I am the Voice of Truth
I will speak words nobody else will speak.
I will speak words people will be afraid to say or hear.
I will speak words so true,
it will cause people to cringe with discomfort.
I too will speak words lighter than light,
touching and opening the hearts of those
who dare not have a heart.
I will speak words that are stealthy like a thief in the dark of night, stealing from you all hesitations to be kind.
The Voice of Truth I am,
designed to shake and wake you up once and for all.
I will speak for all the hearts that know me,
but are too fearful and weak
to say the emperor has no clothes.
The Voice of Truth I am.
Hear me and be changed forever.
Listen to me and be inspired
to act with courage and wisdom.
Let me into your heart and know that I am your soul.
Know that I am Your Self.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
More Q & A
Q: How do you view the conflicts as the play out on our global stage? What do you consider the root of those conflicts?
A: The conflicts that we see are actually not so much ideological in nature, even though they appear to be. Rather, what we see is the confrontation between wealthy/greedy individuals and poor/envious individuals. I am using the term "individual" very deliberately. It drives home the need for the individual to act with responsibilty. To trigger the ability to respond. If I refer to nations or other groups, nobody feels addressed. So, I am addressing YOU.
Never before have we seen on this planet such a large number of individuals whose total worth is now reaching into TRILLIONS OF $$$. And yet, there is the disease of wanting still more. If one allows the feeling of wanting still more, this will engender a feeling of not having enough (I have seen millionaires with deep fears that tomorrow will find them lacking). Consequently one will feel that one cannot share and give. Therefore, greedy/wealthy individuals are guilty of the crime of ommission. They believe that the problems of starvation, illness and poverty of billions of people --- are unrelated to them. They believe that those problems take place in dimensions that will never be able to reach and affect their lifestyle bubbles.
Besides constituting a cold-hearted lack of compassion, this attitude simultaneously represents a very grave error of thinking. Grave indeed. The French royalties lived for a long time in utter disregard of the poverty and suffering of their people. In fact, they taxed them into abject starvation to afford themselves a lifestyle of astounding luxury and decadence.They believed they existed in a world that could not be touched by that type of utter misery. When the people finally exploded in flaming rage, despair and hunger, their revenge was swift and merciless.
Living in France, I was very surprised to note that many food items were very cheap compared to U.S. foods! Bread, cheeses, meats and other basics I discovered to cost only a fraction of what they cost in the U.S. Apparently the French Revolution caused a longlasting impact and memory on all the governments that followed. They never forgot.
Even if wealthy individuals don't know how to find the compassion to help others, they should consider what Caesars have understood a long time ago. To protect their position and continued lifestyle, it was imperative to give the people bread and games. Consider feeding people to be a selfish act: Down the road they will not come and burn down your house in rage.
This rage is now growing and unleashing unparalleled forms of violence that will make the French Revolution look like child's play. What we are looking at is the beginning of a Global Revolution. The have-nots are rising up and are uniting, across barriers of culture, language and religion to form a very dangerous and capable alliance against those who have more than enough.
It would be wise for wealthy individuals to join and bypass political leaders. They should create a roundtable and address the grievances of those who have not enough and ask: "How can we help?"
This might cost some money, work and time. But in the end it would protect the remaining abundance. If every wealthy individual would only contribute 10% of their wealth to fighting global starvation and suffering, this would implement massive, positive and world-wide changes.
And mankind would be a giant step closer to heaven on earth.
Truth vs. Falsehood
The falsehood most difficult to recognize is the one that comes packaged in truth.
If you have a book that contains one falsehood or lie after another, it is simple to detect. However, if you have page after page containing statements that one would absolutely have to agree with, such as ... establish peace, clarity, friendliness, etc, which are then followed by sudden statements of a different nature, the reader's mind, rather than immediately detect and reject the falsehood, will be seduced to think... well, all the other statements are clearly true, so maybe this is true also?
This creates an inroad to bypass the reader's common sense and possibly accept concepts that are impossible to prove or disprove. Therefore, it is important to ask oneself, again, the question "On a scale from 1-10, how true is this? The answer will arise inside.
The most important thing to ask oneself, however, is the question, Does this serve me on my path of transformation?
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Going Beyond Limitations
Most modalities of the spiritual quest take place within the context of our personal schedule and our list of agendas. Should the Divine ever call, we will suggest a more convenient time next month because we happen to be busy right now.
The restructuring of one’s life that is necessary in order to accommodate a process that provides a chance for Samadhi is highly inconvenient. Therefore, the structure supporting the continuation of the soul’s dream exists in direct, hostile opposition to the structure supporting the soul’s awakening.
The vast majority of all spiritual activities and endeavors is insincere, inefficient or a combination thereof. This applies to the currents of the New Age, Buddhism, Hinduism and any other form or name of religion and spirituality that exists out there.
Historically speaking, the Great Work takes place mostly in small groups outside the mainstream of spirituality and religion.
There were exceptions where individuals found awakening within the context of mainstream religion, but this often meant they were in great danger of being killed by religions leaders as a threat to their position of power and ruling. Good examples were Theresa of Avila and St. Francis. They lived (by a small margin) but other mystics were not so lucky.
Most modalities of mainstream religion simply represent another form of governing and controlling people. There exist four forms of controlling people: political, religious, corporate and military. Agreements or discords among these four determine when and where there is peace or war.
For a soul to awaken, it becomes necessary to step outside of any form of control. Buddha was not a Buddhist and Christ not a Christian. They were both highly unique individuals who both radically rejected the status quo of their respective times and environments. Perhaps in order to have the same revolutionary insights they had, we need to live in that same spirit that rejected what did not work for them, what they thought was inefficient or downright false.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Q & A
Q: This thing you call Samadhi – Can a person feel it in somebody else?
A: Rarely. Most people’s sensitivity does not reach this far. If you can feel it in some way, you most likely “have” it, in the sense that it is somehow part of your life and therefore you “can feel the vibe” in somebody else.
Q: If I work hard, can Samadhi happen to me?
A: Whether Samadhi becomes part of your living depends on many things. There need to be right methods, the ones that apply to your situation. Then there should be the right level of effort in the application of the methods (not too high, not too low). Buddha talked about “Right Effort.” He should know, because he engaged in wrong effort to discover the meaning of the term.
And even if you do everything right, there is simply no guarantee, because in the final analysis you depend also on help from others. And most finally, you depend on Grace to complete all your efforts.
As said before, many things have to come together to create the Climate wherein Samadhi can bloom. If you can afford to release inside yourself the Longing For Samadhi, perhaps the Universe will rearrange itself to accommodate you. Maybe.
The Universal Laws
In fact, each time we hear a statement, we can ask quietly inside, “On a scale from 1 to 10, how true is this?” You will hear the answer inside your own being immediately.
Life is very patient in the way it teaches us. If we refuse to listen, it does not take it personal. I simply presents and repeats the same lesson over and over again until we finally get it. We may get bruised in the process.
We may get bruised because we may have broken Universal Laws we did not know about or if we knew, we thought we could get away with breaking them without getting caught and paying the price for our transgression.
Life is about learning the Universal Laws and acting in harmony with them. This requires becoming very alert and aware every second of the day. Pay great attention to what you say and do. Don’t break any Universal Law in thought, speech and action. Follow the greatest Universal Law of them all: Be kind and wise, with others and yourself.
Heaven On Earth
Be compassionate. Be generous. If you are in a fortunate position, share some of your fortune without compromising your way of life. Act in this ways and your fortunes will expand. Assist in this fashion and bring Heaven to Earth. Don’t hesitate a second.
The Universal Mind
By Andreas Mamet
© 2007
With the minds ceasing, magical doors open into many wondrous and astonishing dimensions impossible to anticipate. After the mind’s ceasing, a different kind of Mind begins to reveal its Presence. This is the Mind with Capital M. The Universal Mind is revealed in the disappearance of the small mind and begins to communicate in modalities that far surpass the limited capacities of the latter.
The small mind functions in the context of duality. It supports the I-though experience and all the dynamics that come in its wake. The small mind serves the self-absorbed egoistic mode of being but also allows you function in practical ways that help you to get from point a to point b.
The small mind exists in a primal mode in that it protects the interests of the body module. It initially seeks safety and later on attempts to broaden that sense of safety by extending its territory, thereby building a position of superiority in relation to other body modules. It exists in competition with others. It is concerned with winning over others. In that respect, the mind of the average man simply functions in a very animalistic style. It is not concerned with others and their well-being. It merely protects and promotes its own interest and at best those of its immediate family and tribe. This mind tends to not share.
When the Universal Mind is allowed expression through the human form (by the small mind’s ceasing) it engenders a radical new quality of being.
The Universal Mind is capable of expressing in three different ways and combinations thereof.
Intelligence
The Universal Mind manifests as Intelligence of such luminosity and depth as to easily penetrate the vast and subtle complexities of life, its multidimensional mysteries, and explain them in a way understandable to humanity.
The Universal Mind can translate the Wordless Language and the Secret Blueprints of Creation into the languages of humanity. It can do so because it is intrinsically interwoven with All That Is in a way that is electrifyingly alive beyond anything we can imagine.
Love
The Universal Mind manifests as Love and Compassion so vast, when it expresses through the human form, we see unparalleled generosity and modes of giving, aimed at comforting and uplifting.
Power
The Universal Mind manifests as Power to amplify and tangibly transmit the aspects of Love and Intelligence. For example, if Love wants to see alleviation of suffering, it must find Power to extinguish suffering. This may be expressed by a soul who can touch you and terminate for you an illness or some other form of suffering. Here Love and Power combine to implement sudden and radical shift.
Power combines with Intelligence when you hear Awakened Speech and as you hear the words, their deepest meaning become an existential experience for you. A gate opens and liberating insight arises in the Presence of Awakened Speech.
When you experience any or all of these aspects, it is the Wings of Grace that are touching you.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Mind's Agenda For Its Continued Existence
In one of my writings I have begun using the term "Dimension of Significant Cultivation." I have stated that this dimension has been reached with the arising of Samadhi or No-Mind Experiences.
Today I wish to elaborate on another specific point that is most important for the soul to consider.
All things in life are imbued with a tremendous desire to live. The most microscopic for of life will instantly shrink away from something it considers a threat to its survival.
Viewing the mind in this context of sentient existence, it can be said that it is equally imbued with this very same drive for the continuation of its unaltered form of being.
Every once in a while there arise situations when the mind comes face-to-face with a situation or a soul that presents the possibility for the mind's cessation. From the mind's point of view this is death.
To get close to an Awakened Soul, to get close to a Buddha - this the mind consders a serious threat and it will activate multiple strategies to protect itself. It will do so just like a seasoned chess player. The mind must act with extreme cunningness to prevent its cessation. And its cessation will become a tangible possibility in meeting a Buddha, or even a Soul That Has Entered The Dimension of Significant Cultivation.
The soul inherently wants to awaken in the Divine. The mind does not, since the Soul's Awakening is tied in the cessation of the mind. The mind functions as a veil between the Soul and the Divine. This is the Number One Universal Problem of humankind. And mostly this problem remains entirely unidentified.
Once the Soul's Longing has become powerful enough to override the mind's moves of sabotage, the mind will then embrace the new direction and build new identities as seeker of the divine. It will put on new clothes of philosophy, religion and spirituality.
This is simply designed to prevent the soul from allowing or seeking out modalities that will stop the mind.
As far as chess goes, this is truly a fantastic move. The veil remains in place, but now we have the words "holy stuff" written on it as to not touch the veil.
The mind will use the words of a Buddha to prevent the soul from awakening in Silence. It will become proficient in quoting divine scriptures to prevent meeting the Divine.
Shine laser-like beams of discernment into the functioning of your mind. Contemplate and deeply understand the above an be on your way to Real Freedom.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Images People Project
By Andreas Mamet
Copyright 2007
A long time ago I saw a Monty Python movie. In it there was a scene that portrayed Jesus standing on a balcony and preaching to the masses who adored and admired everything he said.
As he was finished giving his sermon, he came back inside the house. There was a tiny old woman, his mother, who then exclaimed: "Oh, he is just a naughty boy!"
The scene was truly hilarious and I could not stop laughing. However, for me it also pointed toward the psychology of perception as it plays out in the daily interactions between people.
As we communicate with others, we take snapshots of information and build a file that contains "The Story" of another person. This process of gathering information about another human being is generally not concerned with gaining a true and objective understanding of who the other is.(There usually exists no overriding program that might ask, "Is this really true?"
Rather, it is influenced by the emotional, psychological and spiritual limitations of the opinion-forming observer. For example, if the shadow is present in the mode of an inferiority complex of the observer, the file he will build will focus on the shortcomings and flaws of another human being, real or imagined, in order to establish for himself a position of superiority in relation to the other.
As this process of compiling a file of info snapshots continues (sometimes even including images provided and distorted by others) over months, years and decades, each time we meet a person, we immediately access those files and base our communication upon them that are now beginning to hang invisibly in mid-air.
At this point we are relating, not to the actual person before us, but to the file of info gathered in the past and we use the person before us as a screen to project upon him the data files of the past.
Within the context of this modality there exists no true meeting of minds, hearts and souls. Nothing connects. Sadly, we can observe this form of (no) communication taking place every day in myriad forms and expressions.
Once we become aware of this, we can initiate steps to eliminate such limiting modalities. However, it becomes a little bit more challenging when members of our own family are plagued by the above described ... illness.
An explosion of consciousness can have taken place for a soul, yet the family members remain utterly asleep beneath a heap of info files that tells them who this person is. Ah, it is just mom; we know her ways...
The solution to cure this illness us using old info files as base of relating is to erase our databases. Imagine you have never met the person (you believe you know). Arrive completely in the moment. Be present. Wake up to the newness of the present present moment.
Then let communication arise without any agenda. Try this and see what happens. There may be astounding developments.
However, there is a caveat to this. As you are allowing yourself to fully anchor in the moment, listen to your gut instincts also. By that I mean, if you meet a person with a history of abusing you, it would be naive, utterly inappropriate and perhaps even dangerous to ignore those files that say "Dangerous, stay away." There is information also that arises in the Present Moment. This information is meant to guide and protect you. Do listen to it.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Clarity
As the soul falls upon itself, clarity becomes spontaneous and self-arising. Consequently, what comes before the soul is recognized, without judgment, for what it is.
As more and more Samadhi events occur for the soul and the momentum toward critical mass points continues, the soul generates a climate around the body that gradually increases in transparency and range.
The Evolution of the Soul
The spiral is an agreeable image to depict the evolution of the soul. As the soul (hopefully) moves up on the spiral of evolution of consciousness, it gradually moves from the mode of dreaming toward the mode of awakening. As the dream mode becomes weaker and the awakening mode stronger, it naturally moves into a form of existential disagreement with those modules of consciousness that remain attached to dreamtime and desire its continuation. Even if this existential disagreement finds no outer expression, it remains an inner, hidden reality.
If the awakening soul remains entangled with souls committed to the continuation of the dream, much unnecessary conflict may ensue.
Therefore, the awakening soul should pay attention to this phenomenon and consider if it wants seek an existential dimension, a specified matrix, that allows for the heightened possibility of exchange with souls capable of relating to it as it is in a fashion that is harmonious and fruitful, thus supporting and continuing the Momentum of Awakening for itself and others efficiently.
Grace
As the Soul comes face-to-face with the Divine, it breaks out into an explosion of tears at the recognition of having been found worthy. This event of having been found worthy is Grace. It is possible to in engage in spiritual practices, prayer and meditation until one is blue in the face and nothing happens. In the end even the most formidable will requires the meeting with Grace.
It is interesting to note that Grace can intervene and explode forth at any moment in time and terminate the dream of the soul. The soul dreams during waking and during sleep time dreaming. Grace can explode and trigger Awakening during any moment of the day or night and rupture the dreaming, in whatever mode of dreaming.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Quoting the Light to preserve the shadow
Certain Masters leave behind large volumes of teachings. It is actually possible for the ego-mind structure to specifically select statements from the Master aimed at building for oneself the China Wall of a personal philosophy so that one can excuse oneself from the tremendous work and changes necessary to experience the Master’s Silence and continue life as usual.
Vade Retro
Do you know people in your life who are in the habit of defining you and telling you WHO YOU ARE and consequently you feel shrunk, like having been put into a limiting box?
Do you know people who appear TO NEED OTHERS TO BE LESS SO THEY CAN BE MORE? Identify such people in your life and know that you are facing a soul shrinker.
Eliminate such people (and your pattern to attract them) from your life with ruthless determination and watch your life flower and prosper.
The 1001 ways of the shadow
It is most difficult to connect with the Divine, since initially it is intangible.
However, if you also cultivate the practice of tracking and eliminating the shadow and its various expressions in your life, the Divine will reveal itself as a byproduct. Most people who engage in some mode of spirituality or religion are unwilling to do this, because it is a potentially unpleasant and painful process. Compare it to removing a boil from your body just with a knife and without anesthesia.
Therefore we prefer to say the shadow –our shadow- is not there and it continues to influence our lives unchecked and unhindered. Unconscious behavior continues. This turns into a painful satire of cosmic proportions if this unconscious behavior is justified in the name of spirituality or religion.
Chronicles of Samadhi:
By Andreas Mamet
© 2007
I would like to pick up the bow and arrow of in-depth communication and focus on one of the subjects that remain close to my heart.
I would like to talk about what the term “Buddha” stands for. In my view the term stands for the experience of Samadhi.
If one were to know Samadhi, one would understand, from within, the meaning of the word “Buddha.” A person who has truly “met the Buddha” - knows Samadhi.
However, there exist degrees to that knowing. For example, the element of water can be experienced in different ways. You can experience it in a bathtub, a small brook or a small pond. You can experience it in a lake or the ocean. And if you experience it in the ocean it makes a considerable difference whether you swim at the beach or suddenly find yourself dropped in the middle of it, with the next island 1,000 miles away.
In the same way there exist degrees to the experience of Samadhi.
The Shakyamuni Buddha asked four disciples to describe their experience of the nature of reality. Each one summarized his realization in his own way.
In response, the Buddha said to the first disciple: “You have my skin.”
To the second he said: “You have my blood.” To the third, “You have my bones.” To the fourth, “You have my marrow.”
Samadhi can be experienced in these multiple ways. All the way from the skin – which is more than 99.99% of humanity has ever known – to the marrow, which is utterly rare, not one person in 50 million has tasted it.
Having said this, one has to nevertheless accentuate the fact that this near-impossible experience remains a possibility. Just like climbing Mount Everest is not going to be a reality for most, it is a possibility for those who generate the superhuman determination and consequent training to prepare themselves to meet the requirements of the journey.
Or, to express it in gentler terms, the ultimate Samadhi remains a possibility if many conditions come together to bring about the climate wherein the Flower of Deepest Samadhi can bloom.
It is most interesting to note that most of the Awakened Ones have agreed to say that the nature of reality cannot be described. (For example, Lao Tzu said that the Tao that can be described, is not the Tao. This of course is a description.)
It cannot be described because it is an experience that entirely transcends the mind. It is the experiencing of No Mind. And for any kind of description, we are forced to use the mind. This may be compared to writing the word WATER in the medium of SAND or using the sound “Silence” … to describe silence. You are using one element to describe the element of the opposite polarity.
Having stated that it cannot be described, many Buddhas then went straight ahead in the attempt to create 360 different ways to describe what cannot be described, but more importantly they also worked on creating a climate wherein certain people could experience the indescribable. This climate could be called a “Buddha Field” or a “Mystery School.” I would like to call this climate a “Field of Samadhi.”
The process of describing the indescribable then became intimately intertwined with what I believe to be an exercise of an individual’s intelligence. There were Awakened Ones whose intelligence was developed to a point of dazzling brilliance. Their capacity to analyze, summarize and present spiritual complexities to the seeker made them spiritual giants whose minds did indeed operate on a genius level. They were utterly devoted to the process of passing on the flame of enlightenment and therefore bestowing the ultimate gift of healing to those capable of receiving.
It is necessary to note that the experience of Awakening is not necessarily tied to the presence of a keen intelligence. The experience can happen also to very simple people who do not possess the capacity to communicate or transmit the event of Samadhi. While their existential state remains utterly precious, they are not Masters.
The process of becoming a Master is an entirely separate process, as it is concerned with acquiring Divine Intelligence and Wisdom Discernment and all the necessary tools that are required in the service of teaching.
This process itself will span many lifetimes and will ultimately find expression in the individual’s brain being flooded by the Presence of Illumination. In other words, enlightenment will also take place in every atom of the brain.
This brings me back to a point previously mentioned. Samadhis don’t just somehow happen. They originate in very specific points of the body. They originate in the Hara, the Heart, the 3rd Eye and the Point Just Above The Head.
Therefore, each Samadhi experience, each experience of Infinity, will differ radically if they originate in those different points of your body. This is important and needs to be stated.
Tremendous power will be felt with an individual who has tasted Hara-originating Samadhi (it would be called “Satori” in the context of Zen). Yet perhaps there may not be much love and intelligence.
Tremendous love will be felt in a heart-originating Samadhi and perhaps there may not be much power and intelligence.
Tremendous wisdom and intelligence may be felt if you are near a person who knows 3rd Eye-Originating Samadhi. But perhaps it may also feel cold and not compassionate.
Therefore, Awakening requires being cultivated in the Hara and the Heart, and the 3rd Eye, and the Top of The Head.
Some people are under the highly erroneous impression that the journey ends with the experience of Samadhi. In my view, this is not true at all. With the arising of Samadhi, the journey merely begins by having reached the evolutionary dimension of significant cultivation. Quite a bit of time may still have to pass for the individual to find balance and integration of many experiences of timelessness. And indeed, in Samadhi there is no time. In Samadhi there is no mind. In Samadhi there is Silence.
Many, many experiences of Samadhi will precede the Ultimate Samadhi.
In the stream of experiencing the Ultimate Samadhi, there is no more fluctuating consciousness. There is the Presence, fully established and fully anchored in itself.
Only this unwavering, utterly indescribable Oceanic Presence is. The drop is gone.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Believes
Track your belief systems and you will find your shadow. Find your shadow and you will meet your willingness to bring injury to others in the name of something "higher" (never in the name of your own limitations and your need at times to turn your environment into a therapy room).
Friday, January 05, 2007
The Bodhisattva Meditation
The New Year has arrived and I would like to set the tone for this new beginning by introducing the following Bodhisattva Meditation. The technique arose in my practices and I am sharing it here.
Sit quietly for a few minutes. Then, as you breathe in think the words I AM and feel Universal Power enter into the top of your head, filling you completely.
As you breathe out, think RELIEF OF ALL SUFFERING and visualize Planet Earth between your hands. See the Universal Power stream into the whole of Earth, erasing suffering. Do this for 30-45 minutes.
The effect of this technique is immense and will connect you immediately with the collective presence of all Bodhisattvas. This technique has powerful impact, even if you do not feel this for a while.
Practice it daily for 40 days and see what happens. Since you have committed to erasing planetary suffering, it will affect your daily life intensely.