by Michael Mamas | Monday, September 25, 2017 | Spirituality |
This whole world is a world of imagination. It was all imagined into being through a play of Consciousness. So we have a very profound distinction between imagination and fantasy. Or maybe we would say “Imagination” with a capital “I”, and “imagination” with a small “i”, which is fantasy. But I prefer to say, “This is all imagined into being.”
There is an article we link to in the previous blog in which someone was asking Maharishi, “What do you mean this is all imagination?” and the article sort of downplays relativity. However, there is a foundational reality, which is the Transcendent, and then the self-interacting dynamic of pure Consciousness that structured the whole universe. All those different facets, those different levels, those different manifestations, are different realities. A table is real. It becomes more real because you can’t go around it, like that song says… “So high you can’t go over it, so low you can’t go under it, so wide you can’t go around it, you gotta go through the door”. The only way you are going to fathom this reality is to go through it.
It’s really beautiful, because even when it comes to bringing Transcendental Knowledge to this world, there’s a certain level to which you’ve got to go through this world. The opposition to that is the Rakshasa value, and so you have to contend with it.
For you as an individual, the time will come when you have the ability to dissolve this entire universe with the snap of your finger. But you won’t do it. Because, concurrent with the cultivation of that ability, is the awareness that on the Transcendental level, all is well and wisely put. I would say that a number of my students have the ability to perform miracles. But they won’t, because the time isn’t right. How did Maharishi put it? “If it wasn’t for world consciousness, we’d be able to fly through the air already.” Do you see how all of that connects?
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, September 24, 2017 | Spirituality |
A friend recently wrote me:
One of the criticisms of Vedanta is that “the world is just illusion”. Christians and others use this to say that the Vedic tradition doesn’t care about helping people. This is untrue, of course. Quite often, they know that, but they don’t care.
The proper term in this context is not “maya” but “mithya” which was discussed by Shankara and others in Advaita. It is the proper approach to take in refuting this criticism.
Here is a great discussion by Maharishi about this: Is Creation just an imagination?
This talk by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is good. But fortunately, we have been able to further explain the reality continuum, with greater fullness, clarity and rigor. Add in the fact that the continuum is in not just in the vertical, but the horizontal, and it gets even better…
A student read all of this and responded:
Thank you for sending. Once again, I am happy you are my teacher because your explanations are rigorous, concise, easy to understand, and they feel complete. They are integrated with both science and our everyday experience.
However, Maharishi’s talk helps me understand terms used in spiritual texts and by traditional spiritual teachers:
1) Imagination – Regarding a plant, “we accept its essence, and we accept the obvious face.… “when it is not what is appears, then what appears is only imagination.”
2) Temporary existence, no substantial existence – “We could only say about the world that it has temporary existence. It has no substantial existence. No substantial existence” because [it is] that which is changing…”
3) Real and unreal – “real means permanent” “…unreal means [that] which doesn’t exist.” “The world is…Neither real nor unreal.… That means, it has its existence but that existence is not permanent.”
4) This and That – “…Creation has been, and will be, and it has been temporary on the basis of that permanent field… and like that it will continue. That is why the real statement about the world is “This and That”.” “This is also true, and That is also true. This [cycle] is also eternal and That is also eternal.”
5) What I am – “This and That, both taken together is what I am.” “the “I”, the individuality belongs to both of them taken together – the material and the spiritual, both taken together.”
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Saturday, September 23, 2017 | Mount Soma |
It happened again on my way to the temple this morning: I saw a deer, a buck with antlers this time. Many times when stepping out of my home, I see one or more deer. Upon seeing them, I put my palms together and stand respectfully in their presence. The deer stop scurrying, turn, and look at me peacefully, yet with interest. They stay calmly with me until I begin to walk away. They are also most intrigued when I chant a Mantra softly. They listen attentively until I finish.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Tuesday, August 22, 2017 | Personal Growth, Uncategorized, World View |
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
– Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, August 20, 2017 | Announcements, Meditation, Mount Soma |
We really enjoyed talking to the Advanced Techniques students and look forward to doing it again! We also look forward to video streaming with the entire student body as well as the public at large.
Please feel free to make comments to this blog.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Saturday, August 19, 2017 | Announcements |
Because it is Shravan Maas (Shiva month), Shani Shanivar (auspicious Saturn day during Shravan Maas), and Pradosham – Maasa Shivarathri (auspicious day of the month for Shiva), today’s auspiciousness is considered equal to Mahashivarathri (Great Night of Shiva).
The Shani (Saturn) Puja just finished, after that a Rudrabhishekam, and there will be a Rudrabhishekam this evening at 5:30 pm at Sri Somesvara Temple. We hope you can join us!
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Friday, August 18, 2017 | Meditation |
At times, people have mentioned that they would almost prefer to not practice the Sutras. The practice can, at times, feel almost uncomfortable. Just meditating and not doing the Sutras can seem easier.
Why? Because the Sutras enliven the structured aspect of the Absolute, and that wells up through your physiology. It is powerful. There can be a resistance to that. Just be easy with it and ride the wave. That makes it not only comfortable, but highly evolutionary. I will talk more about this in the upcoming classes.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Thursday, August 17, 2017 | Announcements, Meditation
This Sunday at noon, we’ll be doing the first follow-up video stream for those who took the Advanced Techniques Course, Phase 1. If you took that course, you will receive an email right before it starts with instructions.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Thursday, August 17, 2017 | Health |
Regarding the Arm Swinging technique, it is good to note that it can be done not only when you are standing still, but also when you are walking. Most every morning, I walk down to the temple and Student Union as I swing my arms and silently chant some Mantras.
And, just a reminder that according to the ancient Qigong masters, physical health has to do with development of connective tissue rather than muscle.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, August 6, 2017 | Health |
Watermelon is very cooling and good for Pitta. I understand that according to Chinese Medicine, the seeds are extremely cooling. Once one gets over the programming that the seeds are to be spit out, the crunch is actually enjoyable… like popcorn!
Watermelon is also, according to Chinese Medicine, very purifying… flushing out all sorts of toxins. They say that eating a large amount can result in a great excretion of fluids at first (even loose stools) which are Pitta and toxins. But then, everything normalizes as the Pitta disperses.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
