Mount Soma and Sri Somesvara Temple will be featured in a segment of North Carolina Weekend on UNC-TV. It airs at 9:00pm tonight, November 2, 2017. The segment is also available on YouTube – see below. Enjoy!
Perhaps my favorite comment about the Advanced Techniques came from a student who said it is as if they don’t even ‘do’ the Advanced Techniques anymore. Rather, it is as if the Advanced Techniques have transformed their meditations. That is perfect. Really, the Advanced Techniques just happen naturally. However, learning them and ‘doing’ them for a while opens the door to the universe of consciousness and its potential.
Having said that, it is still a good idea, from time to time, to ‘feel into’ one of the techniques of your choice when you sit down to meditate, before you actually start your meditation. That tends to facilitate the experience of that technique. Yet, once done, the meditation goes in whatever direction it goes. It is all an effortless practice.
Generally, my meditations go into Phase 2 or 3 of the Advanced Techniques. However this morning, it was all Phase 1 and it was wonderful. What the Advanced Techniques do for a person’s meditations is marvelous. I am so excited to teach Phase 1 this winter to more students! I hope all students can attend!
I am thrilled to teach Phase 2 to the Ashram and staff this winter and to the Phase 2 students this upcoming summer! And then onto Phase 3 the following year! It is such a great adventure! The ultimate frontier! The exploration of the unbounded universe of consciousness!
Human beings are incredibly vulnerable creatures. The depth of our soul reaches all the way into the Transcendent, the most refined and delicate level of existence. We all feel things very deeply. In some way and to some degree, everything touches the depth of our soul.
Though we all feel deeply, as we evolve, we become more in balance, more capable of experiencing our feelings without tumbling. People tumble in response to all sorts of emotions, be they positive or negative. Hurt can tumble into rage. Joy can tumble into a state of hysteria, frenzy, or delirium.
Our vulnerability, then, must be grounded in the strength of our inner being so that we don’t tumble. It is important to note that as we evolve and the strength of our being grows, it’s not that we don’t feel deeply. If anything, we feel more deeply. In fact, we are able to go into the depth of our feelings without shrouding them with denial, diversion, defiance, or rationalization. In other words, we become capable of handling and holding our vulnerability.
When people’s vulnerability is not rooted in the depth of being, they simply can’t handle the intensity of the waves of emotion and feelings that come along with life. Their behavior becomes erratic and inappropriate. It’s most unfortunate that so many of life’s decisions are founded upon that imbalanced state.
But it’s important to understand that everyone tumbles from time to time. What matters is how quickly and responsibly people are capable of coming back into balance.
When rooted in the stability of our own soul, our vulnerability becomes a tremendous asset. We are able to openly and honestly experience those subtle feelings that reach into the depth of our soul. We are then able to act, feel, and think from a place of wisdom. We no longer tumble, but instead, embrace, hold, and act in harmony with the undenied Truth that lies deep within. For example, if someone hurts you, you don’t act through anger, resentment, or disparagement. Instead, you are capable of articulating and communing in a sincere and loving manner, free from blame or degradation.
We can all aspire to live that sort of life on a day-to-day basis. When you tumble, you can do your best to regain balance and to right any wrongs the tumbling elicited. This is called maturity. To never make a mistake is asking far too much of yourself. But to strive to come back into balance and on that level, to embrace your vulnerability and feel your feelings, is most noble.
What underlies anger and judgment is hurt. It is often easier to feel your anger and judgment than your hurt. In so doing, you live a life of denial: a life not in harmony with the Truth and vulnerability that lies at the depth of your soul.
To be able to come from that place of vulnerability (unencumbered by any tumbling) is to live a fulfilling life: a life where you can respect yourself and a life which will gain the respect of others. If that respect is not gained immediately, it will be gained as others overcome their tumbling, and behave in a manner in harmony with the depth of their own soul.
Too many people suppress their vulnerability for the simple reason that they can’t handle it. Living your vulnerability from a place of stability within your own being is to live a life of fulfillment, wisdom, integrity, and human decency. So, even though at times vulnerability may feel like a curse, it is indeed a great blessing.
As you look to the sky,
Mercury is always within 30 degrees from the Sun.
Venus is always within 60 degrees from the Sun.
All the other planets can be a full 180 degrees from the Sun. When you think about it, this just makes sense, because Mercury and Venus are the only two planets whose orbits are closer to the Sun than our Earth’s orbit is.
Years ago, while watching the movie African Queen with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, a line in the movie struck me like a lightning bolt. Bogart justified his behavior by saying it was his nature. Hepburn’s character responded: “Nature… is what we are put in this world to rise above.”
A fundamental understanding of the implications of that quote could transform society’s perspective on human behavior, psychotherapy, allopathic medicine, and spiritual development…
“Good manners are just the latest casualty in the ongoing collapse of Western civilization.”
Someone sent me this quote from the TV show, Two and a Half Men.
I may start a series of ‘What I find funny’ blogs: sayings or situations that make me chuckle, smile, or even laugh out loud.
Some of you may remember the time I took a wrong turn, and ended up outside New York City, in a pretty rough, spooky, and dangerous ghetto area. When I stopped at a gas station to ask how to get to my Manhattan destination, the attendant responded by saying, “You can’t get there from here.” I immediately burst out laughing.
Well, someone just sent a response to one of my emails that made me laugh with sort of a similar response, when it said, “I’ll let you know when I get here.”
“When I get here” is funny. Firstly, just on face value: If you’re ‘HERE’, you’re already ‘THERE.’ Right? But it is also funny in a profound sort of way. We are all already ‘HERE’ (or is it ‘THERE’?). We just don’t know it, which is why we are not already ‘HERE’ (nor ‘THERE’). But I guess ‘THAT’ is neither here nor there… or is it neither ‘HERE’ nor ‘THERE’?
Thank you to all who tuned in to watch the live YouTube streaming today!
Here is the recorded video:
We have begun broadcasting live on YouTube. Initially, it was done only for the Advanced Techniques Course follow-ups. However, it has been so enjoyable that we are also going to be doing broadcasts for everyone. The first broadcast for everyone will be this Saturday, September 30th at 11:30am EDT. It will be the final gathering of this year’s Mother Divine Retreat at Mount Soma. You will be able to watch the recording after the live showing, so no need to be concerned if you are busy at the time of the live broadcast.
The live streaming will appear on my YouTube home page.
If you are watching live, you can email in questions to doug@mountsoma.org. If you have your own YouTube channel set up (instructions here), you may also use the chat feature to ask questions.
The format will, as usual, be freeform. Among other things, the question of how to attain clarity in the complexities of life will be discussed. Enjoy!
The members of a healthy community share a similar identity. In times past, it would have been a similar ethnic background or religion. Today, by virtue of far-reaching communication through television, Internet, etc., many of those boundaries have melted away, leaving people with no sense of identity…
The Truth about Religion and Flatlining
