I very much like Kahneman’s phrase, “Theory of Induced Blindness”. Identity with a paradigm, simultaneously valid yet contradictory realities, transgradient flexibility, conditioning, preconceived notions… How many ways have we said it?
Really, with just a little thought, it is self-evident… isn’t it? Education at some point is more about indoctrination than true education. Right? I think everyone actually knows it. However, it is like gravity. Everyone knew about gravity before Newton named it. Yet there is power in the naming of it. Once named, it is more easily focused upon, worked with, and more fully understood.
It is the same with spirituality. Every person, every religion, understands it, feels it, with some degree of clarity… or vagueness, depending on how you look at it… the glass half full or half empty. A belief system is identified with, thereby limiting people from seeing the bigger picture.
True learning is about expanding awareness, so all paradigms, all perspectives, all belief systems are understood… used or abandoned based upon the need of the moment…. i.e. transgradient flexibility. It is important to understand this, yet ultimately living it is a state of physiology, a level of consciousness, as opposed to just another belief system.
How did Emanuel Lasker, the ‘grandfather of chess’, put it? “I spent the last half of my life trying to forget what I learning in the first half.” Of course, you do not really try to forget. You just evolve your relationship with it. You become less identified with it. You see beyond it. You understand it on a deeper level.
We just filmed a YouTube video series that you can access with the link below. It is created with the modern, 30-second, sound bite mentality in mind.
Of course, there are risks involved with it (as with everything). My primary concern is that the videos are so short that they might be misunderstood and projected upon. The ‘I Get It Syndrome’ may compromise the videos.
However, I hope that they serve as inspiration for people to look deeper and listen more carefully… perhaps visit MountSoma.org, learn the Surya Ram Meditation, read some of the books we offer, visit Mount Soma, and perhaps attend classes and/or retreats.
Comments, giving a “Thumbs Up”, and Facebook/Twitter/Google+ sharing after viewing the videos would be appreciated, as that helps with our online presence. If you haven’t already, you may wish to subscribe to my YouTube Channel so that you’re notified of new videos (requires a Gmail account).
Be sure to view the video descriptions, as they have links to articles, blogs and other videos on that topic.
A new set of videos is in the works so start sharing!
Yesterday Barbara, Marcia, and I had a planning meeting at Barbara’s house for the Enlightened City design. After a telephone conversation with the Sthapatis in India, we decided to walk down to the temple to report the latest developments to Panditji. Walking down the path by Hanuman Park, I mentioned that we all felt light-hearted as children going for an adventurous walk on a summer day. We were not embarked upon a task, we were enjoying a pure hearted adventure… light as feathers. They both agreed. They could feel it. One of us commented that this is how life should always be.
Later that day, my daughter mentioned a book title to me, “The Blinding Absence of Light”. Though I still have little idea of what the book is about, the title inspired me with a flood of thoughts. As adults, the lightness of heart, the innocence of childhood, is all too often absent. It seems that has almost become a requirement for adulthood. In moments of retaliation, adults may attempt to reclaim that lightness in unnatural ways. The truth is, lightness is more an inner state than an outer behavior. Too many are blinded by the absence of such light-hearted simplicity in their daily life. The company you keep, where you put your attention, and your attitude in general, all have profound effects on your psyche, your health, and your happiness.
Do we even have a word for mature, adult, inner light-heartedness? It is simple but not simplistic. It is playful, yet more about an inner state than an outer behavior. It is not blinding, but eye-opening to the blessings of life. The absence of such lightness is blinding, but has overtaken the belief systems of many. The solution is simple, not complex. Favor simplicity but do not be simplistic. Favor innocence but do not be naive. Remove the blinders of a burdened worldview. Your boat can be in the choppy waters of life, but no need for those waters to be in the boat of your Being. Favor a light relationship with life over a heavy, burdensome worldview. This need not be an overt act. It is just a matter of not getting in your own way and allowing yourself to enjoy life in a simple, innocent, and feather-light manner.
Of course, ‘light’ has another meaning as well. From deep within you, unencumbered by conventional views, indoctrinations, or self-imposed manipulations of your inner wisdom… there lies what may be called your inner light, your inner knowing, your inner sight. To deny it, even in the name of what you have learned to be a better way, is to impose upon yourself the blinding absence of light. Truth lies within you. Yet truth is easily obscured when you allow life’s complexities to blind you to your own inner truth. To be free is to live in harmony with that inner knowing, that inner wisdom, those inner instincts.
Now combine these two meanings of ‘light’ and simply live your life. Remember, Truth is light. All the tools I have given you facilitate the culturing of that. It is a process. Enjoy the light!
So much has been happening here at Mount Soma lately!
The Student Union parking lot is now paved, as is the driveway between Hanuman Park and Sri Somesvara Temple. Mount Soma Boulevard repairs are complete. It all looks amazing!
Next week, we will begin filming a video series specifically for the Michael Mamas YouTube channel. The YouTube videos are now just excerpts from various lectures. Finding short clips that do not require the context of the full talk is not so easy. The upcoming videos will be short, to the point, and progressive in their order. While a short segment is necessary in this 30-second, sound-bite oriented world, it does run the risk of being misunderstood. The best we can do is explain that as the series progresses, all the pieces of the puzzle will come together. Once the big picture is seen, confusion around the separate points gets resolved. Making a series that can be heard by all – atheists, religiously devout, spiritual scholars, agnostics, emotionalists, and extremists – is quite a challenge! However, I believe it can be done.
We have resumed working with the Sthapatis (Vedic architects) to refine the details for the other temples as per the Vaastu Shastras.
Planning for the TV show to be filmed in India is still in the works.
Early planning regarding the construction of a second Mount Soma Enlightened City in Africa has begun.
Some say it is not a good idea to announce things that have not yet manifested. They argue that it can lead to disappointment if those things don’t actually happen. I prefer to keep you in the loop. I think there is a good learning here. Not every seed that is planted bears fruit. This is simply the real world process of manifestation. As I have said many times, you put something out, see what comes back, and adjust accordingly. This is a major component of the mastery of life.
The ashram program has really blossomed into a solid group of people. It is truly remarkable to see their incredible rate of refinement. It is humbling, astounding, awe inspiring, and affirming… all at the same time. As their individuality shines forth, hand in hand with their unity with all that is, they stand as outstanding examples of evolution. The Mount Soma community as a whole is also inspiring. Each individual is following their own walk of life while, at the same time, enjoying the mutual support, friendship, and love of community. In this day and age with so many people on the move, the value of community in this nation seems to be eroding away… here it is on the rise. People often feel they need to get married and have children so they are not alone in their old age. Of course, marriage and children are a beautiful thing, but when the community value is solid, no one ever needs to fear being alone.
I once visited an ashram in India where people of all ages lived. I remember in particular an elderly woman. She was so full of life, love, and contentment as she slowly moved through her daily routine. In fact, everyone there lived a life of fulfillment… acting in harmony with their own unique individual nature and stage of life… their own interests, their own song. It was very moving to witness. “This is community,” I thought to myself. I wanted to create that for the world, and now at Mount Soma it has happened.
Based upon phone calls, bookings, and the nice weather forecast, this Memorial Day weekend appears to be shaping up as the biggest weekend we have ever experienced here at Mount Soma. It should be inspiring, profound, and also a lot of fun.
I was asked the following question (edited slightly for completeness):
You say:
Most of your karma is between your ears and in your heart .
One’s chart is one’s karma.
I would like to hear how to reconcile the two. How does one get beyond each, both??
To which I respond:
Your chart is a ‘map’ of that which is mostly between your ears and in your heart. You get beyond it by doing the things I offer: Surya Ram Meditation, transgradient personal process, cultivation of discernment, and living in an environment that supports these processes, which is why I created Mount Soma.
“…the Reality Continuum is a much deeper theory than the simple notion of multiple realities and parallel universes. Our universe is a Reality Continuum: an infinite number of simultaneous realities coexisting in an uninterrupted spectrum permeating every point in existence.
“To understand the notion of a Reality Continuum, it is essential that we understand the concept of a continuum, sometimes referred to as a gradient.”
One need look no further than to a mother holding her child to know that this is not a man’s world at all. This world is held by the Mother. It is Mother Divine that holds our world together, holds our universe, holds our hearts.
Sri Vidya, Knowledge of the Mother, is known to be the highest knowledge. The Mother is the upholder of dharma. She holds us all in her heart. She understands us all. She stands-under, upholds, all of life and the entire family dynamic of humanity. It is her love and understanding that holds us all with tenderness.
On this day, we celebrate in gratitude to our mothers.
There is a very common practice that creates a lot of senseless problems for good people everywhere. It involves two E’s… Emotions and Extrapolation. Extrapolation is the continuation on a trajectory. For example, if the temperature drops 5 degrees in one hour, by extrapolation you would think that in 24 hours we would all be freezing.
Combine an emotional response with extrapolation and you build things up in your mind and emotions, creating terrible fantasy worlds for yourself that have essentially nothing to do with reality. You get terribly troubled over small insignificant things that through extrapolation inflate to become the source of huge upsetting conflicts, traumas, hurts, angers, etc. etc.
A word to the wise, you take a HUGE step forward in your relationship with yourself, with people and with all of life when you can catch yourself before you get hooked by the Double E. Watch for the Double E and you will be amazed to see how often it overtakes good people everywhere.
Genuine spiritual growth has been said to be as elusive as traversing the razors edge or passing through the eye of the needle. To understand this, you do not need to look any further than the technique of meditation. Thoughts are a part of proper meditation. Proper meditation is a very natural process. So sometimes when you meditate, you may feel like nothing is happening. As a result, you may be tempted to stop meditating or look for something that is more emotionally engaging or exciting. In so doing, you just let true spiritual growth slip through your fingers. I am often asked what more a person can do for their evolution. I answer by saying, “Be consistent. Do not be distracted. Keep a steady hand on the rudder!”
It takes time to, for example, lose weight or to get good at playing a musical instrument. However, true spiritual growth is the ultimate challenge. Give it the commitment and time it deserves, and you will attain the results you desire.
"Take the time to reflect on what is said here. If you find yourself associating this material with things you have heard elsewhere, please take the time to diligently explore how they are different. This knowledge is elusive. I share it here because I have seen how much this knowledge helps people – the potential is enormous." – Michael Mamas
"True knowledge slips through the fingers of those not willing to ponder…" – Michael Mamas
"Take what I say and work with it to develop a deeper understanding of life, rather than taking what I say and forcing it into the mold of your current relationship with life." – Michael Mamas
"Evolution means change." – Michael Mamas
"Your disposition is the tone with which you hold yourself, your cells, your psyche, your beliefs. More than anything else, it determines your life." – Michael Mamas
I very much like Kahneman’s phrase, “Theory of Induced Blindness”. Identity with a paradigm, simultaneously valid yet contradictory realities, transgradient flexibility, conditioning, preconceived notions… How many ways have we said it?
So much has been happening here at Mount Soma lately!
Over the next few days there will be a jyotish influence of conflict.
One need look no further than to a mother holding her child to know that this is not a man’s world at all. This world is held by the Mother. It is Mother Divine that holds our world together, holds our universe, holds our hearts.
There is a very common practice that creates a lot of senseless problems for good people everywhere. It involves two E’s… Emotions and Extrapolation. Extrapolation is the continuation on a trajectory. For example, if the temperature drops 5 degrees in one hour, by extrapolation you would think that in 24 hours we would all be freezing.
