by Michael Mamas | Monday, January 6, 2014 | Favorites, Spirituality |
I have been working with a fitness coach/trainer for a while now. It has been a lot of fun. He is excellent. I have noticed that I am quite sensitive to how he responds to me. I sometimes wonder how he feels about a question I have… if he feels like he has already answered it or it is silly, etc. I recall, years ago, feeling similarly with my spiritual teach, professors, etc. The image of me that they held was important to me.
These recollections and current experiences with my coach/trainer have been good. It has brought to light (again) the sensitivity I am sure a number of you have with respect to your interactions with me. I think this is particularly true in the spiritual area when the path is often viewed as one of Neti, Neti, Neti… not that, not that, not that. It could feel like everything you say is wrong. I know that such a response, even from my coach/trainer would be difficult for me.
I want to make it very clear to you all, that the path to enlightenment leaves one with nothing, NO-THING, to cling to. The transcendent is an abstraction, not a concrete concept or ‘thing’. Though infinitely solid and stable, it is also infinitely boundless and without edge or handle to cling to. Any ‘thing’ is not it… not that… neti, neti, neti. You rest into it, rest upon it, like a sort of cosmic cushion. It lies beyond relativity. So it is out of my love and devotion for you, that I keep pointing you in the direction of that which lies beyond all relativity. I love all your questions. I never judge you for them. I am your devoted helper.
Remember that every point has a counter point. Every notion has an equally valid yet contradictory notion. My job is to free you. Anything you cling to is Not That. Please do not forget, that my corrections or introduction of contradictory points to what you may be holding on to is not a judgment of you. Please do not feel that I have made you wrong. It is only to keep you moving forward… to keep your vision looking beyond the horizon and not locked on to a fixed notion, position, or principle. You are the transcendent, the divine, the absolute. My purpose is to awaken you to that. Enlightenment is not about adding anything, it is only about taking away reliance upon that which is Neti, Neti, Neti.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, January 1, 2014 | World View |
2011 was The Year of Change.
2012 was the Year of Positivity.
2013 was the Year of Realization.
2014 is the Year of Manifestation. A couple days ago, that came to me ‘from out of the blue’. It seemed a pretty bold declaration, but somehow I knew it was right. Just yesterday, I came to realize why that is so.
Regarding New Years Resolutions, my favorite fitness coach offered the following:
“It’s NOT about quick fixes. It’s about the LIFE-long journey.”
Wishing you all a happy, fulfilling, and evolutionary LIFE-long journey through higher and higher levels of enlightenment.
Happy New Year!
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, December 29, 2013 | Favorites, Spirituality |
“So long as you have faith in your Guru, nothing will be able to obstruct your way.” — Vivekananda, 1896
This quote (that Marty provided) is one of the most beautiful things I have recently seen. It immediately made me think of my teacher. Through his presence and his words, he touched a place within me. It is as if he somehow lit a candle deep within me that once lit, could never go out. The guru lights the way. It has struck me over the years to see people who have read and studied Vedic knowledge without the influence of a true, real, and living guru. It underscores for me the understanding that real spiritual knowledge can not be attained from books. It is too subtle. Such knowledge succumbs to the ‘I get it syndrome’. People think they ‘get it’, but they do not. The words may be there, but the understanding is not. As it is said, knowledge exists in the gaps between the words. It is the guru that clarifies the knowledge.
The spiritual tragedy of our time is that so many think of themselves as spiritually knowledgeable, when they are not. Then many of them go out and teach, leading so many well intended people astray.
Finding a real guru is far more challenging and precious than many understand. All too often people are swayed by the drama or presentation: flowing robes, an appealing accent, a trip abroad, an awe inspiring moment and they are convinced they found a real living guru. Real gurus are far rarer than most spiritual seekers can even imagine.
The truth is, finding a real guru has more to do with the depth of their being and knowledge than any superficial criterion you may be holding on to. And depth of knowledge does not mean volume of facts memorized. More is not better. Better is better.
Now why would Vivekananda say ‘so long as you have faith in your Guru…?” Isn’t faith in your guru a given? Well, not always. I have seen people walk away from a real teacher for the most ridiculous reasons. Maybe they projected on to the guru that he did not like them. Maybe the guru’s correction of the person’s behavior or thinking pushed the ego too much. Some people cannot tolerate the idea that they were wrong or behaved in a not ideal manner. When you are too vested in the ego, it can seem intolerable at times to even have a guru.
Once someone said to my guru, “I love you so much, but what if you asked me to go jump off a cliff? Should I do it?” My guru responded with a shaking of his head “no”, as he said, “You know me by my teachings.” Faith in the guru means knowing him by his teachings… knowing him by what he touches deep within you through those teachings. There will be times when a glance or action of the guru may not sit completely right with you. That may be more about you than him. He is a being that is acting in this world… a world of imperfection. To live better, you must look deeper. By all means, be discerning. Any real guru would insist upon that. But be clear on who and what he really is and do not judge him by inane criterion that you have, in reality, come to him to help you overcome.
More than a few times throughout the years I have been told I live in accord with my teachings and never contradict myself or those teachings. My teacher was that way. It resonated with the divinity within me and has guided my life all these years. Divinity is within you. It IS you. The guru just more fully awakens you to it. Stay with that and “nothing will be able to obstruct your way.”
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Saturday, December 28, 2013 | Favorites, Personal Growth |
I have two personal offices in my home. One is a traditional sort of office. The other is my home gym. It is a place where I go not just to workout, but also to hangout. It gives my mind some space… a different type of space to reflect, ponder, and plan my day. Before I exercise, I warm up with a foam roller, etc. Often during part of the warm up, I will put on the television and tune in and out of listening to the news. One newly added and essential part of that space is my dry erase board. Currently, I have the following written on that board:
Better is better.
Earn it. Mean it.
Let’s get serious.
Regarding ‘Better is better’, it points out that more is not better. Better is better.
Now this for me is all about one thing: Fascination. The quotes (simple as they are) fascinate me. To may they say a lot about the human psyche.
If I have a secret to my life, it is that I pursue what fascinates me. Of course, along with that path are things I do not like but must do… such as paying taxes. However, I do not allow those things to cloud my fascination. Furthermore, for something to really, really fascinate me, it must be something I really, really believe in.
Just this morning my daughter asked me to check her math homework for her. As usual, when she began reading a math problem, I stopped her. I told her that I need to have control of my mind when I do math… i.e. to read at my own pace and rhythm. As I usually do with my kids (sometimes eliciting a roll of their eyes) I, waxing philosophical, generalize the point. I told her that she needs to be able to take control of her own mind in life. That is called focus.
So if you want my suggestion for a possible New Year’s Resolution: Find something that really fascinates you. See what is in it that you believe in. And then focus on making it so in your life.
Belief and fascination are the fuels of passion and progress.
This time of year a common resolution is to exercise and get healthy. That is not enough. Why you believe in it… well… that is probably simple enough… good health, feel better, look better, etc. But that is not enough. Find the fascination in it. Fascination with how the human physiology works… Fascination with how your psyche works in relation to it… whatever it may be that fascinates you about it. THEN you are ready to take control of your mind and focus. Part of the focus may include research. The Internet makes that easy. Just remember that life is a string of failures as you pursue what you believe in. That is called the churning process, like when the Gods and Asuras had their tug of war, out of which came the nectar of immortality. Remember: Forward, forward, always forward. And do what it takes to accommodate YOUR process, if it is having to read the math problem for yourself, or finding a way to ease in to the gym… like saying you will just go roll around on the floor for a few minutes with the tv on. Work with your psyche – don’t fight it.
If you fight your psyche, you will lose.
Lastly but importantly, I read an article today about habits. The idea was the neurons in the brain become linked so that when one fires, the other automatically fires as well. This conditions your mind to function a certain way and is the source of bad habits. Freeing up the nervous system is the way out of this. I call that clearing the samskaras, the programming of how you function. The best way of doing that is through proper meditation, which you can learn free on this website. Now there is a New Year’s Resolution for you: meditate regularly. But hold on here. First get clear on why you really believe in meditation [many good reasons like evolution, health, freedom from any and all bad habits, etc… just take your pick]. Then find your fascination with that: fascination with the notion of enlightenment, health, etc. etc… whatever works for you. Then focus… and do whatever YOU need to do for YOUR psyche to keep it going… maybe even a dry erase board would help inspire you to keep up your belief, fascination, and focus.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, December 25, 2013 | Mount Soma |
Regardless of religious affinity or nationality, Christmas is a time we can all celebrate the birth of a great soul. Whatever degree the accuracy of facts that surround his life, they wax insignificant in proportion to the Truth of the Absolute he has touched in the lives of so many throughout the centuries. With dignity and courage, he stood up for the Divinity that dwells within us all. What greater thing could be asked of any being?
And in that regard, you all have my deepest respect. The path to enlightenment does indeed require dignity and courage. Your commitment to that is most honorable. It is not always easy. But forward, forward, always forward we go. We at times stumble, yet we again stand tall and continue. I could not be prouder, nor could I be more grateful than to have the opportunity to be by your side as we continue upon this most laudable path.
With deeply heartful gratitude and joy, a Merry Christmas to you, one and all.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
