Category: Perceptions

A Charmed Life (Good Fortune)

The charm of life is your good fortune

It is life which charms, which is attractive.
What we are always seeking for is life.

As a poet has said, ‘The heart of man, if once expanded, becomes larger than all the heavens’. The deep thinkers of all ages have therefore held that the only principle of awakening to life is the principle of emptying the self. In other words, making oneself a clearer and more complete accommodation in order to accommodate all experiences more clearly and more fully. The tragedy of life, all its sorrows and pains, belong mostly to the surface of the world. If one were fully awake to life, if one could respond to life, if one could perceive life, one would not need to look for wonders, one would not need to communicate with spirits; for every atom in this world is a wonder when one sees with open eyes.

Good Fortune

Runs in my veins

Every heartbeat a blessing

What wonder

This journey of love and tears

In rapture and lust

I have thrown my arms

Around so much life

Relished and savored the bitter and sweet

Now, my embraces

Are much more delicate

My astonishment – soft and exquisite

Dear One

If you travel further

Than the tip of your nose

You have gone too far

To kiss what is

Truly Precious

What the world is seeking, what human souls yearn for, is that life, whether it comes through music, color, lines, or words. What everyone desires is life. It is life which is the real source of healing. What is really needed is the life which comes from the expanded consciousness, from the realization of the divine Light which is the secret of all true art, and which is the soul of all mysticism.

Quotes are from Volume II of The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan.

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January 11
Music of the Spheres in a Word

All the religions have taught that the origin of the whole of creation is sound – the music of the spheres.

The following quotes are from Volume II of The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan. The comments are mine.

Music is not only life’s greatest object, but it is life itself. Hafiz, The great and wonderful Sufi poet of Persia, says, ‘Many say that life entered the human body by the help of music, but the truth is that life itself is music’. And it is told that Hafiz said, ‘People say that the soul, on hearing that song, entered the body; but in reality the soul itself was song’!

Drunkards are running amok tonight

Friends are passing the Cup of Light

The Beauty and Beast within us all

Are merged as one in the dancing hall

Twirling and spinning out of time

Hearts intoning a wordless rhyme

Beggars and princes sharing Wine

The Beloved’s essence from the Vine

Everyone’s laying their burden down

The passing Cup helps us drown

Dancing and dancing to Heart’s delight

Turning, turning makes us bright

The Flute singing a one-note song

The beat of the drum deep and strong

The ancient rhythm enticing the soul

Blending all into the Whole

Ecstatic cries fanning the fire

The Guest arrives on a funeral pyre

Sapphire eyes, an emerald gown

Grace is blessing all in town

The Friends are losing all control

Annihilation is taking Its toll

Listen, O! listen beyond these words

This endless Breath can be heard

It’s calling to all alive and dead

Leave the comfort of the sleeping-bed

Hearken, Hearken one and all

The ground of HU is this hall
JH

Every activity of vibrations produces a certain sound, according to its Dome of resonance, and according to the capacity of the mould in which the form is shaped. This explains the idea behind the ancient Hindu word Nada Brahma, which means sound, the Creator God.

Cleansing Time

Three a.m. — a downpour

What is this that drenches

  leaving no drop in the hair

  nor puddle on the floor?

A mystery

  that falls from head to toe

  spiralling an ecstatic return

  lifts us from this sleeping hall

On golden arrows whisked

  across the mighty moat of heaven

  where within the deep ravine

  a live translucent mist

All who enter

Know

  the Name.
JH

Music according to the ancient people was not a mechanical science or art; music was the first language.

Vowels play a great part in the name and its influence. E and I denote Jemal, the feminine quality of grace, wisdom, beauty and receptivity, O and U denote Jelal, the masculine quality of power and expression. A denotes Kemal, which is significant of the perfection in which both these qualities are centered. The above named vowels in the composition of the name have an effect according to their place in the name, whether in the beginning, center or end.

The deeper one sees into life, the wider life opens itself to one, and every moment of one’s life then becomes full of wonders and full of splendor.

Ah Love

Love is

IS-ing me

I am loving

the taste and wonder

of the loving

In the loving

all tastes

are tastes of loving

Wonder

spins and swoons

as love rushes

into and out of

Itself. – JH

January 8
Planes and Dimensions of Reality
Reality is greater than the multiverse

Are spiritual dimensions and planes of existence/reality the same, similar, different?

Exploring and discussing the dimensions and planes of existence of the two spiritual paths i have studied.

The map and cosmology of the Diamond Approach addresses five boundless dimensions. These dimensions are coemergent, meaning they interpenetrate each other and all of manifestation down to the tiniest particulars, visible and invisible, this world and the other worlds. These dimensions are a ‘oneness’ and only artificially separated and conceptualized to discuss the contribution of each to the experience of reality. They are:
- The Absolute – The absolute dimension is the boundless, infinite expanse whose nature is the black mystery of the absolute. When we experience it we experience the absolute, because it is the absolute that is appearing as a dimension; whereas the absolute is not a dimension, but rather the ultimate mystery and source of all dimensions, the unmanifest true nature. Because of this differentiation it becomes ambiguous sometimes to say that the absolute is the unmanifest when we are experiencing the absolute dimension, because a boundless and infinite dimension is necessarily a manifestation. – A. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home
- The Logos – The logos is the boundless dimension of true nature that is both presence and creative dynamism. Logos refers to the fact that true nature is inherently dynamic and creative. Logos is the creative matrix of all manifestation. Logos is the manifesting dimension, but it is also all manifestation, for it manifests everything from its own substance, its own presence. – A. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home
- The Nameless – The nature of the Nameless is pure consciousness, consciousness that is conscious of consciousness, without labeling or knowing anything. There is consciousness, but there is no knowing of what is known, or what knows; there are no conceptual categories. – A. H. Almaas, The Pearl Beyond Price
- The Supreme – On the level of the Supreme (the dimension of Pure Presence or Pure Being), for example, you realize that everything is a translucent Beingness. You see that it is not as though translucent Beingness is in everything or that everything exists in it, but that everything is the translucence. It is inside things, outside things, and in between them. There is no place that is not translucent Beingness. On this level of the Supreme, there is no separation between what we call appearance and reality, the form and the meaning. They are all one thing; there is a unity. – A. H. Almaas, Facets of Unity
- Divine Love – Divine love is the dimension of true nature responsible for the arising of qualities, feelings, and affects in experience. It is not only light, which is consciousness, but also love. Love is the primordial feeling, the source of all affects. – A. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home
The cosmology of Eckankar includes “lower worlds” and “higher worlds,” or planes of existence. In this post, I will only mention the higher worlds as they are nondual in nature as are the boundless dimensions discussed in the Diamond Approach.

As you see in the partial graphic of the Worlds of Eck ( ECK (Hindi word for “one;” Sanskrit eka ) is defined as “the totality of all awareness,” “the audible life stream,” “the living power that embraces the whole universes of God;” in brief, the essence of the Divine.) each plane is a “lok.”

Loka (world) refers to the various planes of consciousness within and beyond the mind. Lok: to see; to perceive; to shine; to acknowledge; to know. So a lok is dimension or plane of consciousness that includes attributes of awareness, radiance and knowing.

Anami (Sanskrit) “the endless plane of God.” It signifies the idea that there is always another stage of enlightenment.

Agam (Sanskrit) origin “Light of god”.

Hukikat means ‘reality.”

Alaya a Sanskrit word meaning “abode, dwelling.” In the Yogacara school of Buddhism it is usually employed in connection with the word vijñ?na (consciousness) as ?layavijñ?na (“store-house consciousness”).

Alakh means “one which cannot be seen (perceived);” beyond identifying features.

Atma a Sanskrit word which means “essence, breath, soul.”

Eckankar teaches that each plane or lok has a lord or purusha (Sanskrit) a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic being or self, consciousness, and universal principle.

Eckankar also teaches that each lord or plane creates the one below it. This is seen and understood as the cosmic current/sound morphing to a lower vibration or frequency. It is one continual current of sound/vibration but it manifests different planes or dimensions of frequencies.

The lords of these planes can be understood as personifications of their respective frequency or “a face to the consciousness.”

What has changed in my orientation to planes of existence and dimensions of reality over the years is a shift from “travelling to have experience” to “openness to be affected and changed.”

All religions and spiritual teachings address dimensions or planes of existence/reality/heaven. Often one has to trace references back to original language and context to get the insight hidden in plain sight.

In my Father’s house are many mansions.
January 7
Magic that Liberates

The Miraculous: more magical than Harry Potter

Human beings seem to have a love and fascination for the magical and miraculous. Look at how many books, TV shows and films have themes of magic and miracles: from Harry Potter to Merlin to Gandalf to Dr. Strange; from Excalibur and Bewitched to Jumanji and Hocus Pocus. Magic pervades our stories. Even lottery ticket sales reflect a certain amount of magical thinking.

In comparison to fancy thoughts of magic and miracles, daily life may seem a bit too ordinary, even boring. A little magic or a now and then miracle would certainly help to spice up the ordinary. And yet, when we look more closely at what science is revealing about the universe, the subatomic world, the human brain and the potential for technological and biological evolution – well, it all seem spectacularly magical and miraculous.

Recently, I attended a retreat with A.H. Almaas, founder of the Diamond Approach to Self-Realization. The theme of the retreat was The Magic of Realization. In his talks, Almaas addressed how we lose sight of the magic in everyday life, how the mind orients toward magic like everything else – externally and as a means to control external events; and how ordinary life from the perspective of deep realization is astoundingly magical and miraculous. By seeing the magic in everyday life, we can be continually inspired by our personal experience.

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August 17
Self-realized Enlightenment Blues

The Upside of Hopeless Hopelessness

“Hope is for people who can’t see the Truth.” ? Jeff Lindsay, Dexter Is Dead

Hopeless hopelessness is one of the great challenges we face. When we come face to face with the realization that the ego-self is powerless and helpless to resolve our suffering or to “get” us wholeness, completeness or peace.

Hope keeps ego-activity spinning – always seeking that which eludes us. A taster here, a moment there – fuel for more seeking.

“The truth is that you already are what you are seeking.” ? Adyashanti

We hear, we think we get it – and yet, the seeking continues. It really is hopeless – we can’t stop the mind from doing what it does. It’s like a lawnmower – that engine is going to keep on running until it runs out of gas. It can’t turn itself off.

“Truth is more in the process than in the result.” – Jiddu Krishnamurit

Interesting how these three quotes revolve around truth. I didn’t consciously select them with truth in mind, but they do point to something fundamental, but back to the hopelessness blues.

Feeling hopeless can give rise to the ‘blues’ – depression, sadness, unhappiness, melancholy, misery, sorrow, gloom, dejection, despondency, despair; the doldrums, the dumps, a blue funk. Hopelessness is a state without hope. Hopeless is an affect. Hopeless hopelessness is more like an active noun, but the energy is more a sense of collapse, a vacuum of energy, a of loss of aliveness and vitality.

In hopeless hopelessness lies an opportunity for clarity, for seeing the truth of the fulcrum of suffering and peace.

If you look at it closely, you’ll see that the fact is that nothing can be done. The situation is completely and totally hopeless, and the sooner you realize that hopelessness, the better for you. When you see it is 100% hopeless, only then will you stop. Now you have some hope: “If I work harder and understand all this stuff about hopelessness, then things will change.” But what are you saying? It’s the same attitude. So nothing can be done about it. You can’t get rid of it because the movement of wanting to get rid of it is, itself, the problem. You can’t try to get something else because that is the same thing as rejecting what is there.

What we are talking about is not an academic issue. It is an issue at the very heart of each one of us all the time. It is always operating. Your mind is always engaged in it. If you look at your feelings, at your thoughts, your ideas, there is always this division. There is always a part that negates another part. There is always a movement of rejecting something and hoping for something new. Every thought you have, every feeling you have, every action you take is directed toward rejection or motivated by hope. – A. H. Almaas, Diamond Heart Book II: The Freedom to Be

The normal view of hopelessness is pretty much summed up by this quote:

Hopelessness is a really toxic and dangerous state. – Cory Booker

It is so true, from the perspective of ego-identity and ego-activity – it is totally toxic and dangerous to ego. It is not something to be taken lightly. Without support, guidance and understanding we may not be able to allow transformation. Which brings to mind one of my favorite insights – we cannot change, but we can be changed.

The transformative power of hardship, therefore, lies in your ability to understand your role and see beyond the hopelessness. “It’s very liberating,” Adyashanti says. “The keys to your happiness are no longer in somebody else’s pocket from the past. They’re in yours. And that’s empowering.” Full article and video»

St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul – “Now that I no longer desire all, I have it all without desire.”

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March 26
Alchemy & the Philosophers’ Stone
Harry Potter, Russia, The Flash, Getty Research Institute and A. H. Almaas share an interest in alchemy and the philosophers’ stone.

Shambhala will be releasing A. H. Almaaas’ eighteenth book, The Alchemy of Freedom: The Philosophers’ Stone and the Secrets of Existence, in late February 2017.

A quick search on Google reveals:
- Harry Potter: The Philosophers’ Stone is in the news as an extremely rare first edition of the book, which includes 43 annotations and 22 original drawings by the author, is set to go on display at Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum.
- Dr. Alchemy, a villain on CW’s The Flash, has come into possession of mystical artifact, the Philosopher’s Stone – I assume a villain in possession of the Philosophers’ Stone is not good news for planet earth.
- Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, is hosting an exhibition titled ‘The Art of Alchemy’, on view through February 12, 2017.
From The Alchemy of Freedom book description:

For millennia alchemists sought the philosophers’ stone, the miracle substance believed to be the key to all the secrets of existence. The quest was fueled by some of the prime questions of human existence: What am I? Why am I here? How has this world come to be?

This quest is mentioned in Anika Burgess’ article How Alchemy Has Been Depicted in Art through the Ages on Atlas Obscura:

In the 1738 edition of Physica subterranea, written by German alchemist Johann Becher, there is a particularly intriguing illustration. Titled The Body as an Alchemical Laboratory, it depicts a figure framed by drapes and surrounded by floating symbols. To an untrained eye, these symbols are indecipherable. But for those that studied alchemy—primarily known for attempting to turn base metals into gold—they codify formulas, elements, planetary metals and ingredients.

Some of the symbols shown relate to Venus (linked to copper), Mercury (linked to quicksilver), along with “primary catalysts” like sulfur. Their design is almost mystical, akin to the hidden codes of a secret order. It’s a fascinating example of how alchemy has been depicted over the centuries.

In his new book, Almaas, founder of the Diamond Approach, shows that the tremendous liberating power of the mysterious philosophers’ stone is closer to us than we realize. In fact, it is the true nature of all reality—in all times and all places, without being limited to being anything in particular. Through the philosophers’ stone, real transformation can happen, our consciousness can become free, and we can open to all the possibilities of reality.

Of course, many are still curious about turning lead into gold – perhaps the Russians are coming closer to that reality: Turn Coal into Gold? Russia Scientists Say They’ve Discovered Alchemy Process.

Leaving that quest to others, Almaas discusses factors that are involved in igniting the catalytic property of the philosophers’ stone and then begins to unpack the properties of true nature when it is free of constraints. Finally, we are left with the revelation that true nature is endlessly knowable, and yet nothing we can know or say about it exhausts its mystery and power. The result is a new understanding of what liberation and practice are—and a view of what it’s like when seeking ceases and life becomes a process of continual discovery. We begin to appreciate that the freedom of reality expressed in the complete and fulfilled life all human beings seek—and few find—is actually the simplicity of the ordinary.

“I am just loving The Alchemy of Freedom. A. H. Almaas tells it like it is, without neglecting how it seems to be. He eloquently describes the indescribable ‘true nature’ of reality as the ‘philosophers’ stone,’ the key to the secret of existence, as enlightened, extraordinary ordinariness. He seems intriguingly to speak as if enlightened, yet, most importantly and blessedly, he does not claim ‘enlightenment’ as his possession. He does not trap himself in what the Chan masters of old called ‘the demon ghost cave’ of considering one’s self to be enlightened, and so, set apart from life and above others. In fact, he manifests himself as open-minded, open-hearted, and ever curious. He clearly enjoys life through the exquisitely equalizing wisdom experience. The inconceivable voidness’s compassionate, clearlight way seems to unfold him as its oracular mirror. I so much appreciate his teaching. I could go on, but better that he goes on with his lapidary guidance, and best that you all continue your own journey of discoveries with this great gift of a book!” —Tenzin Robert A. F. Thurman, founder and president of Tibet House US and author of Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet

For those in the San Francisco Bay Area, Almaas has scheduled two public book talks and signings in 2017 to share more of his insights on alchemy and the philosophers’ stone as keys to the secrets of liberation.
December 16