Kiss of Awareness

in winter the earth is dry and all is starkly bare 

as that which lays dormant

awaits the first kiss of the sun

when it comes, this kiss

it awakens the life that has fallen to sleep

for awhile in the depths of the earth

and life is moved to begin to grow

little bits of green poke it's way out of the soil

and miracles occur within and without 

and all around 

for the soul too, this is the way

it sits in slumber

and awaits the first kiss

which is awareness

untouched by any forces

that are of the personal

and with this kiss of awareness

life begins to stir in the soul and something

else begins to move the being 

which is grace

then, the holdings in consciousness
come to the surface to be seen

like bits of flotsam and jetsam on the waters 

of pure life 

and the soul is then made aware of all that has 

been occluding pure vision

this is a good thing to see what is there  

that has been driving one to be in circles 

of worry or defensiveness or comfort 

or what have you

because without first seeing what is there,

there can be no cleansing

and how mother cleanses, does she not?

for she is like a goddess of the heart

in her way, she is like 

the most chaste presence

that comes in and through

and gives one a chance to see
what is true and what is false 

she comes this way to all in every moment 

with a kiss of wake up and see dear one 

for you are my love 

you are my child of the spirit and i know you

as the sun only

i do not know you as a shadow not now, not ever 

you are my child that i have given life to

and  i will take your soul to the place of rest 

when you open your heart to me 

and then i will make you be still

i will not ever leave your heart dear one 

i will not ever be away and forget you

but my child 

you forget me, by going out into the world 

of the false 

and when you are there, you do not know who 

you truly are 

you forget that you are One only

and that God is your very Self

there (in the world), souls speak of this and that 

and me and you 

and you are lost in that 

but know that every breath that comes in your form

is my heart only

and every tear too

and every word that you speak is my creation

but words are not this at all

they are only bits of shakti that rise and fall on this 

heart so pure and so real

so, my child, when you go in the world, can you know 

the one?

if you love me like your very own soul

you can know always this one that is here 

for i love the one that is not afraid of me (Kali)

i love that one with heart and soul and a force of fire 

that can never die 

and i love those that are away in the world too the same,

but they are not really in the way of seeing the real

they are playing in the world as if it is a playground 

for fulfilling their desires 

this is fine and well -- for it will bring life lessons to them

but for those in the way of wanting to be free

these ones i call to me 

come home and love me true

for i know the way and the path is in you to be walked 

stay sturdy and upright in your character 

and do not let worry and fear rule your reality 

then you can settle into this moment 

and feel the wind purely and feel the sun purely

and feel the sweet smile of a friend purely

and feel the heart as the shining one 

come dear child 

and be as you are 

i am your mother always 

and nothing can compare to this type of love 

but do not love me as an object 

for i will melt like wax and die there 

love me as your own soul

and i will burn bright as the brightest star

for you to be guided to the heart 

and i will burn bright as the brightest moon

that cannot be denied in the dark sky

and i will burn like a lantern and a torch and 

fire so strong and so filled with life

that you will not be able to return to the shadowland 

you will be moved to be true and well like you are 

so well and so filled with life and love and compassion

that will tear the walls of ignorance down 

so come now 

be free and do not roam in the land of the lost 

come and be the life that you are 

the life that can never die 

scythe of knowledge

kali is not having any mind

to her, 

the *one* is what is true 

and when the mental waters 

are not still

she will be what haunts you 

with a sting 

she will be what calls to you

in your dreams that are 

made only of emptiness

she will put more 

(delusion) out there
or cut the imaginary ego

to bits with her scythe of knowledge
(if the heart is surrendered)
then she will live

in quietude (like she always does)

as the 

gem of greatest worth

when she is like this in your soul

there is no more suffering

there is nothing more to do or say

or know 

for the one has risen strong and enduring 

like the mantra that has dissolved into 

the source 

or the ray that drowns in the sun

or the wave that dies in the ocean

then there is strength in being 

then there is strength in light 

then there is strength in grace 

there is nothing that can shake this kind of peace 

that burns of it's own source 

as a fire that needs no fuel 

burning

burning 

in pure consciousness 

this one that is silent..

has she come to you?
this one that is silent as the green grass
and the open fields and mountains
in their splendor?
silent as the moon
on a dark night that is
so undeniable when simply seen
with eyes that are not clouded over

has she come to you?
where you are seated or walking or
talking or working
or playing?
no matter what you are immersed in
any moment this beauty that is of
her blessing may be born in you..
so do not say that you are different
and cannot know..
because she is your very being
and she cannot be away from you
for even a moment
one will not see though if
chasing after thoughts
and building structures of
me and mine identities
then she will not be known
but she cannot leave you
not even in the most turbulent
moments
for she forever lives
under the dust of mind
as the sighted one
as the clear reality
as the open valley that is empty
filled with life so bright
as the majestic mountain range
and the golden colored sky
she lives as this
as all that is seen and unseen
without being changed
by it

has she come to you?
my friend
she has and is within you now
breathe in this light that is
she will be
she will be what you are
in your finest way
as God
as love and light
as shanti
as sat chit ananda
as one without a second

has she come to you?...

black goddess..

kali,
black goddess
rich with earth of life
as she moves in her way
the mind is freed from shackles
of *me and mine*
the mind is stripped of that which
speaks of other worlds and other times and
haunting memories of the past
and fantasies of the future
her way,
is the way of life
with it's potent sting of *wake up!*
*be still!*
this is the way of the black goddess
feared by many and misunderstood
she is the seer and the seen
and the one that keeps blinders in place
when the mind is externalized into
this and that,
here and there...
me and other...
for her my dear, there is no night
there is no day ---
there is no death
only the timeless now
untouched by change and shadows
which goes unseen by those
entranced with the ephemeral
world
kali
frightening to ego
yet nothing is
different than her...
no matter mind in play or not..
how very deceptive she can be
mother ..
how very clear and beautiful too..
oh mother
how very wealthy within wisdom and spirit
so sturdy, unshaken
mother
still...

living waters

the sadhu in the morning light
goes to bathe in the ganges
where he sets his coverings on the bank
he goes in naked and
does not look back at the steps
that lead into the world
he takes his form into the rushing waters
and sinks down deep where there is
simply the beauty of the absolute
he then
puts his head in the water
like a baptism
that sheds the impurities of
worldly attachments that
he has come to know
and he allows the waters to
take away from him his burden
that has been heavy to his soul
he does not resist the waters
for this is what his soul is made
of in truth
purity
and he is to be made unto this light
the sadhu has put to rest his
personal world
this is not his anymore
nor was it ever
he puts it down into the earth
at the bottom of the water
to be carried away with the current
for his personal life is not at all real truly
it is what has taken him somewhere else
out to the land of shadows
what then is he to do now
that his mind is purified in grace?
he does nothing at all
simply lives free without the false ways
he lives as a man that is pure
in mind and heart
he lives like a sage of beauty
he is light
and joy and truth
what else can he be?
when the ground is entered
for there is nowhere else to go

the sadhu that enters the waters of ganga
has within a burning desire for freedom
he is a man of desire
that is of only *one* desire
not many that are pulling him in opposite directions
he burns to know the truth
as a one that is thirsty and hungry
and trembling inside with the desire to know
and to be free of what it is that is unwell in heart and mind
he is a seeker of heart
not a seeker of the world and heart
this cannot be steady
it is to make a man wobbly on his feet and in his
mind because one cannot walk in two directions at once
he is a man that is on ONE road only
to the truth
he comes into the waters and dies there to the light
this is why his initiation is like his funeral truly
because he is not to return to his old life of mundane
experience in which he was a such and such
with a name and role and all of that
he is now a sadhu which is nameless and not
of an identity that can be put in a box anymore
so he merges with the waters of the divine
as if he was the *offering*
he *is* the offering
his attachment to body and mind are what are to go to the waters
and be dissolved there (within the light)
the sadhu then walks away into the world
but is not of it
he places his feet on the earth
and walks into the lands of the transient way
but he is not any more within the changing tides
his being is still and absorbed always in quietude

so this my friends is the way of the sadhu
that is sincere
it is not different than one the comes into the light
within and is surrendered in heart and mind
it is the living waters within
that will clean the mind of dross
and purify the soul
it is the living waters within that will drown
the separation
and so onward now
without the baggage and the thoughts that say
i am not good enough or right enough to go into
the waters
it is these thoughts that will block you from your
pure self
for there are none that cannot enter
only the heart and mind are to be purified
with honesty and good character
and steady ways --
this will bear fruit in time
for sure
but for now go on and love what is here
be in love with the pure soul
that is so fresh
be in love with this moment
and go on

no more mind...

kali

make the man of shadow 

see where to go clearly

and forget the cares of the world 

that has no truth 

it is not real to be away..

it is a dream

and you are in the dream 

not apart 

take your child 

and seize this one to your breast 

for the heart to awaken 

in your love 

never to leave it roam about lost 

this has never been truly

but is an illusion 

a shadow of mind 

not haunting in truth 

just echoes of empty space 

mother 

you are putting blinders in place 

for those unsighted ones to come finally

in the way of saying "enough!"

i am ready now for you to take over 

oh pray, for i cannot take another step this way

oh so much heart ache 

and am filled up with it

mother 

i give back what i took as mine 

for it gave only pain and unrest

Kali
i give this mind to the heart
and give it up willingly
to walk in the light that i am
so free of suffering in truth
so in the way of life itself
so in the seas and earth and sky
and clear being
i give it up to the o ne
so that i can be freed of all that
was never mine

mother 

the earth bed 

the sky

the sun

the seas

the hills 

the mountains 

the clear rivers 

the open lane 

the cool wind 

the rains 

the blossoms 

the dying 

the living 

the in between

the perfection

the zero

Kali

returning to the core

those that come to know the real
are the ones that wear the cloth for the right reasons
these ones are not playing about with externals
and seeking to make a show of the tradition that is rich
and filled with mystery and tapasya of the honored masters
that have a carved a way to the cave of the heart
where shiva presides as light and rich stillness that
is unwavering and filled with majesty
these ones have walked in the fire and burned the illusion
to ash for it to die away completely as if it never was
these ones walk with intensity within and do not go around
in idle ways seeking to flaunt and gossip
or call themselves to be the center of attention
but stay within their own counsel to ride the waves of desire
and passion in steadiness and graciousness within
and have come the end of the games of mind with it's false show
and shadow nature
to rest in the eternal light of all

like the Buddha who came in as a prince but was not satisfied
with this lifestyle as it did not ring of the real
for him who was to be the awakened o ne
he was to go onward into the dark night of the soul to encounter himself
and see what was there that was true and held up as a constant
and what was false and died away with enquiry and holding steady
this is what Buddha means to be *awake*
which is what consciousness in it's purity is always within
and not divided our owned by any soul
no matter how honored or upright standing
still it is only the one that has set the tides of mind to be stilled
that can only be called *awakened*

Buddha found himself under the Bodhi tree
he did not find something other but reality in its naked purity
this is what all wandering ones of heart are seeking
pure waters that are of the non-dual jewel nature
and sit resting stilled and perfect within always
not out in the exterior where mind plays about and creates
haunting imagery and thought formations that rise and sink
and jostle about to create a world of dream ...a web work
of opposing energies ...
this is the playground of maya --
the goddess of deception and unending reflections that pass thru
the mind and are seized by the unawakened and called real
but the mind is only made of chit which is pure consciousness
in reality
what passes through is a reflected appearance that has been gathered in
and turned into something else by the one that is called persona or ego
(which means *mask* in latin) --
a covering of the false -- a face and a name that is contained in a body
called *me*
this is what the ones in the world are transfixed with and many are not even
aware or looking for what lies at the depths of the soul which is *light* only
these ones move unconscious of the truth
and migrate onward to realm upon realm in shadow
the soul that seeks in earnestness and love will begin to unfold unto itself
what is real in time
but before this the bardos of mind are passed through like a death in which
layers of consciousness are traversed and moved thru --
the Guru's pointings are to not be taken in by these layers of consciousness that
have as there base no-thing and are truly not a support in themselves
but like mist that rises over the seas and waters and dissipate again
and cycle about -- ghost like, truly and made of no-thing in reality...
the mind when entranced by this imagery creates more and more of the same
but the when the heart is abided in as the Guru points out -- then these mental
concepts can be lost as they are not attended to by mind ...

so the sage is the one that traverses all of these layers -- sees them and releases them
to abide in the absolute reality which is the heart of all and not separate
or living in one place or another
but completely free as the sky and open air --
impartial, impersonal and living in this moment as a light without covers or
a body or a name or an agenda or anything else that is of mind ...
this the chudamani or jewel of the heart that Shankara speaks of in his writings
he is a great one that came in to clean up the advaitic watered down ways
that were taking place and bring it back to it's true nature ---
what an amazing accomplishment in such a short life he lived
as GuruSwamiG has taken religion, shorn it clean of all the nonsensical
ritual along with the watered down teachings that come from confused minds
cleaned it of the false and breathed fresh life into these very precious teachings
as well as put original practices into place that are powerful and majestic
and breathe grace and beauty into stale energies that have lurked about
unprecedented is this Guru's place here on earth -- like all that have came
and rocked this world and cleaned out the false coward type personalities that lurk
and seek to latch on to confused, feeble minds that seek attention and do not know the right way
this Guru will not stand for this kind of nonsense and will take it and put it down
where it lay helpless not to come again and attempt to replace the dark for light
what a thing to even imagine that could happen --
when Guru's like this one are here now ...
Kali in her beauty laughing at the false and that which carries misdeeds that feed on
ignorance ...
never will this be acceptable to Kali -- never will this take place when the light of all
is forever victorious in the ones that are here to burn the untruth away

Kali Mandir Temple

The Kali Mandir Temple in india
makes animal sacrifices on a regular basis
this is shocking to many to hear
but is not an uncommon practice with those
set on rituals that bring purification
the animal nature is what is to be destroyed
this is one of the deeper meanings of this ritual
the animal nature is what creates vibrations that come
from a lower plane
in the way of looking for physical connections and
hungering for pleasures that are not
of spirit or lead to anything holy
the animal nature is cravings, seeking always to satiate the
appetites in one way or another
this is what takes place in the world for many ongoing
...unending in it's pressing desire
so to sacrifice this nature of animal is what is offered over
to grace
to be burnt in the fires that purify...

The Kali Mandir Temple
makes goat sacrifices -
Guruji has spoke on this many times
that it is the stark taking away of life in one instant
in one breath, it is here, and the next gone
never to return as that unique manifestation
this is what death is --
no joke
coming at a time unknown --
and at *any* time...
completely impartial ..
not more lenient with one, than another ..
this is why some of the Buddhist rituals
truly live each moment as if it could be the last
always prepared within and without for death
to take the form-
this is also how the path is to be walked ..
staying in the heart and savoring each moment
without attachment...

The nandi bull is set on the altar facing
the Shiva Lingam
why?
because this is the animal/physical type of nature that is to be subservient
to the absolute --
and to be destroyed in the heat of Kali which is Guru's grace

The body is a vehicle truly and gives an opportunity
to enter into that which has never been born
and never dies ...
this is the end that is the beginning
and is the fruit that comes when one continues..
until then..
one holds steady in the moment ..
one breath at a time ..
one step at a time...

Om

Shiva, blessed light

Shiva the blessed light
free within as the self
without covers
thou is within all
now

Shiva the blessed light
sitting inside as beauty and peace
everlasting
substantial in fullness and glory
what all is made identical to
minus the drama driven way
thou is within all
now

Shiva the blessed light
that cannot come under the spell
of maya
that is without separation
and has no name, face or form
and nothing to prop itself up
or take itself down
as there is nothing other within
only this
thou is within all
now

Shiva the blessed light
beautiful as the manifest
in emptiness
and as spirit pure and holy
undying
untouched by sorrow or change
eternally free
thou is within all now

Shiva the blessed light
that does not come or go
that does not fear, pray or lament
being happiness and joy
unencumbered in itself
what is there to do
or to seek?
when all is pure peace
and has never not been
beauty that is
uncovered
when mind stills
thou is within all
now

Shiva the blessed light
filled with grace
glorious as the open sky
deep as the oceans
and steady as the mountain
range
filled with majesty
unsoiled by personal experience
at rest eternally
thou is within all
now

Shiva the blessed light
untouched by birth and death
distinctly different in nature
than mind
not taking or giving
not adding or subtracting
not following
or staying behind
only here always
within stillness
and light
thou is within all
now

Shiva the blessed light
equal in heart and grace
unto all
true to all
here as pure presence
for all to come into
and be set free
never to sorrow again
or be reborn as shadow
thou is within all
now

Lord Shiva praise

shades of mind
robbers of peace
you are to be captured
by Shiva the mighty one
that is so beautiful
and majestic
like the sky
open and
untainted by cloud cover
Shiva
you are the sky
a perfect being
that will set souls free
in the living waters
to breathe air of beauty
and refreshment
as your being does
never ending in grace
a light unto itself
cry not friends of heart
Shiva
is in you

Shiva
i beseech you
let this mind blow away
for now my soul
filled with devotion
and love for thee
sing your praise
day and night
i have little to give
and to you
it matters not
heart of all
what is needed in your being
forever complete?
it is your precious grace
that will let me be
out of this suffering
and so i wait for your
beloved presence
to move the mind
in the direction of the good
and halt this dream
in your life giving waters
i wait now

Shiva
may i let the mind
dwell within your beauty
majestic as the mountain
quiet as still waters
unfolding unto the sun
of wisdom
may i rest my
weary being
inside your heart
where the soul
is unveiled
banished of suffering
set free within
happiness and peace
that has no end
may i give the mind
to you
where the skies are to
swallow it up
keeping the beauty
of your light
as the best of all
i say to you
dear Shiva
may i be inside you
eternally?

flowering life...

serpent kundalini

mother 

thou has opened the river that cleans

the dust 

from the heart and head

thou has brought fresh flowering of life 

to the dry earth bed 

and sown joy 

from tears 

thou has made of the dark

a light so real

and broad 

as to swallow the unrest that rose

of its own

thou has breathed fire of burning heat

into the consciousness where me and mine sat

like a haunting energy
so as to destroy this rising

and blew shimmering vibration 

of om and deep mercy
into the heart

so strong 

mother of truth

thy will is what remains 

for this power will rise victorious always

it lives in all

and does not settle for the small ray ego

to be at the center

thou lives as the sea

and open meadows of pure glory

so free in itself 

so free...

mother...

though mother is a precious gift to all, she cannot set free that
which does not want to give up the burden
she can only save those that want to save themselves
what a thing to finally *get*
what a thing to finally be revealed ...
the powerful one that is mother
can only right the wrongs that are let go of ...
for all have a right to hold to suffering if that is the choice
mother cannot free a heart that is not surrendered...

more on Kali

kali is the shining one

she casts out sin

she dispels darkness

she haunts the dream

she makes of the night a bright new birth

she lives in all

she lets nothing sting her as a dark predator

she puts the scent of her joy inside the seeker

she lets this one follow her to paradise

she severs the knots of worldly bonds

she creates a world and then destroys it 

she moves the night and brings forth the day

she shrinks the energy of shadow 

and pries open the mind that has been enclosed

she is a mother 

and a friend 

as well as a great deceiver and a demon

she is all and none 

kali is the seas, the rivers and the flowing waters 

she flows as beauty and stilled powerful presence 

and will never let the energies of dark rest until 

each and every speck is captured and put down 

never to haunt again 

not ever...

energy and light

as kali lives as the mother of all

she also lives as the great deluder 

she will cover the light if the soul 

objectifies the world

then this one loses rightful seeing 

and clarity of mind 

this obscuring of light is not a true reality

it is a dream that appears to be in form or

different aspects

like an original light that breaks up 

into many spectrums of color that

vary in intensity and hue

this is all that creation is ...

varying forms of energy and light..

true mother..

show your true mother your face, friend
as she is the one that brought you here
she is the earth bed of all creation
and has made of your soul perfect like hers
a rich nest of love and joy
show her your beauty
minus the clinging thoughts
for she will lay you down
among still waters
and set you free to live as purity
she will not pray for you
dear child
she is only here to save you
from yourself
this is the highest maternal love..

Kundalini

kundalini is the serpent energy that lays dormant at the base of the spine
it can be opened by spiritual practices and a heartfelt desire to know the truth
or by transmission from Guru or many other less pure means such as drugs, reiki and tantric practices...
a shock to the system can also awaken kundalini --
when the goddess energy is aroused, all sorts of havoc can come forward as mental holdings
for lifetimes are unleashed and burn in the fires of Kali --
these impressions or vasanas rise forward and are in the face constantly ....
when kundalini is active, there is an opportunity to clear away all of the mental dross very quickly,
if this pure flow of energy is grounded in Gurus grace and transmission and the seekers heart is sincere...
Kali is shakti -- she lives in the manifest and unmanifest as the cosmic divine force of creativity --
eternally present within each soul .. when dormant, the vision is externalized ...
when active, consciousness is opened and many experiences come forward to show that one is
not the body or the mind, and ego is not the true commander in no way shape or form...
Kali can, as Guru says…."be your worst enemy or your best friend"..  depending on where the focal point rests...
within a heart and mind that is surrendered, there can be progression towards liberation and a clearing away of the mental dross...
if the mind is attached to obtaining powers and harbors misguided motives or consumed by fear, then indeed there can be
a very different outcome as more dark energy will be born...
this is how it works .. where the focal point is, the mind will create more of the same and
shakti is very creative indeed and worlds within worlds can be born with no end ...
this is why it is so important to have the right foundation in place...
if the heart is indeed sincere then the anchor is to be within the heart and the practices as this
keeps kundalini in balance...
one is not to feed the rising phenomena or give it life in any way...
but to stay grounded in the practices, balanced breath and pure experience of what is taking place
in this moment...
the goal of kundalini is liberation -- like the snake eating its tail...
mind consumes itself this way until no energy is left there
and only  everpresent stillness of no-mind remains
with no more thoughts or phenomena to rise and overshadow pure reality...
this is why Kali is the destroyer as she will keep going at it until the head of ego is fully
severed and mind is no longer its playground..
indeed a true awake kundalini runs 24/7 ... there are no breaks.....
some of the spontaneous phenomena that can rise up
** kriyas, mudras, asanas (involuntary movements )
**spontaneous verbalizations and mantras
**speaking in foreign tongues
**visions
**seeing flashing lights and colors
**seeing auras
**perceptual shifts (feeling taller or smaller)
**shifts in consciousness
**emotional shifts
**the nad (hearing bells, ringing, birds, clapping, popping sounds)
**heightened hearing and vision
to name just a few....

it is important to eat meat when kundalini opens as it gives this potent energy something to chew on
and helps tremendously to keep one grounded...
otherwise the mind can get airy fairy and way off on tangents...

kundalini can be a great boon if the right direction is in place and one is willing to follow thru
with what is given and be open up to letting go...

maha shanti om

holding the center...

in the golden era munis wandered the land of india

with their practice of being completely silent within and without

many rishis or far seers roamed as well  --

this was the time that India was fertile ground for spirituality 

and devotional practices were more common than not

wandering was the main practice of seeking

the householder aided the path by giving food to the sannyasis 

and sadhus that were sincerely absorbed in sadhana

and seeking earnestly the light of truth 

as it was known their efforts would aide humanity...  

there were very few fraudulent sadhus then ...  

and a genuine energy of sincere desire for truth permeated the air

this was quite a different mentality and feeling that is present now...

and speaks to what could be if humanity let go of clinging to wealth, status

and desire for bodily pleasure.... 

this focal point drains the energy of spirit --

waters it down and deconcentrates it to the point where it becomes buried very deep...

so now there is Kali Yuga or the time of great shadow and covering over of beauty and light...

the true sadhus, sannyasis and sages of the golden era were awesome in presence and skillful

at cutting through the thick mentality of dualistic thought...  

this type of mastery of mind is indeed what comes from serious seeking in which the world

is completely forgotten and not entertained at all....  

one cannot describe the openness of the scene at this time --

but it was sure to have been a great meeting of no-minds which held the center of 

energy beautifully....  if you can imagine

Guruji has said often that it has never been the  wordly type Gurus in

in the ashrams that are what gives strength and backbone to spiritual energy ..

it is the sincere sadhus and sages that live in the caves that are unknown in name and form to humanity...

they come out and wander sometimes holding the dandi (spiritual staff) and with this energy of 

meditation and no-mind ....

keep the fires of purification glowing as bright as possible...

so now, even with the world as it is 

the seekers of truth are to honor the same heart as the ones

that came in as naked wanderers of the earth ...  

this is very possible because the pure core is the same ---

and of course the Guru is the one holding the central transmission which makes it all happen...

maha shanti om

Time with Guru (part 3) - the early days...

During the first several years

especially of being

in the presence of Guruji

there was so much generous sharing of

her life and wisdom which was such

an awesome honor

after our first meeting,

i spent the days with her while

the body and mind were

recovering...

here and there, she would open

a spiritual text

and read out loud

passages that substantiated

her pointings ...

When she read the books, she

would pause intermittently to

explain what was being said

and the meaning and worth it

had for the spiritual path...

She read the Guru's sandals,

books on Hindu deities,

Buddhist/Zen scriptures

Christian texts and passages

from the Bible as well as

many books having to do

with self-discovery ....

her readings and explanations

were soaked in immensely and

greatly cherished

it really opened the heart up

to the beauty and depth of

spiritual symbology and

gave clarity as to where the

passages actually pointed to --

***the heart of all sincere spiritual

writings are the same -

and are meant to point the way

to the non-dual

nature in which all personhood

is dissolved...

this was made so very crystal

clear while listening to Guru..

Even symbols like the Guru's sandals

speak to what lies within

all hearts ---

(liberation and absolute pure

peace)

which is to be cherished

and held the most dear...

what Guru put much stress on

was seeing the purifying energies

such as Kali, Kundalini, Ganesha

Christ or what have you as

not separate from your own being..

and not to project out into feeling

there was something outside

that was to save you

or make things right...

this mentality only serves

to further duality and suffering..***

if a picture came up in a book

of Ma Kali or any other deity

or spiritual image

Guru would point out what the

the meaning of the symbology was

in the framework of how it

related to the spiritual search

and clear away any misguided notions

or superstitions around it that

the world at large appears to

carry much of the time...

she gave honor to the

images in a way that gave

them such vibrant

life and rich meaning...

really so very beautiful...

all of the discussions like this

with Guruji were completely

spontaneous and unfolded

on their own..

there was never anything planned

and it was so absolutely

clear that there was

no self-interest in her being

all was given freely with

no expectation or feeling

of ego present ...

what was given was given

and then forgotten...

this was so refreshing and

lacking of any burden of mind

simply, pure grace....

i learned quite early to not

always be asking

"what does this mean?" or

"what does that mean?" because

it seemed to throw a wrench on the

spontaneity of the flow ..

by doing this some other

jewel of information got missed...

and in time the questions that were

there (well most of time

they were forgotten)

but came

forward in the right time....

Guruji used so many words that i

had never come across before

(i really mean it when i say there

was truly no prior experience of

all that she was speaking of )

she used words like *satsang*

*flow*, * surrender*, *diksha*

*sadhaka*....   all sorts of

foreign feeling terms that i did

not ask her about, but waited

and of course the meaning became

clear eventually....

all in it's own time....

Kali/Shiva symbology

Shiva and Kali (shakti) are distinct and separate

in some ways --

but are truly not two, not two

Kali stands on Shiva
her energy is grounded in him
he is the steady, pure unchanging presence
she is rooted to
her foot is placed *lightly*

on his chest
as a symbol that his essence cannot be harmed or touched
even amongst the most stormy phenomena

Kali is the beauty of mother, the seen and unseen

Shiva the pure core and ground of being

this is why he rests like the earth 

his face and form are beautiful representing

the beauty of pure consciousness 

there is no movement within his essence

He is at rest and perfect peace

Kali is the life force

the manifest as well
as unmanifest kundalini energy
She is the one that does the work of clearing
debris in consciousness when kundalini has awakened
this is the meaning of the many hands
which symbolizes her power and universal presence
within all beings and the ultimate force
that moves all things
Shiva is what remains when her work is done
he is pure consciousness, stillness, boundless peace
sat-chit-ananda

Kali - meaning and purpose

Hindu symbology is so very rich
it is quite wondrous and pointing within always
though so many do not see the depth of these symbols
and worship them to grasp at externals and gain
something for themselves
this is not what the symbols are meaning in any way
at all
but like all beauty created it can only be seen
and relished in accordance with the mind set of the one
that is present

so what is the meaning of the Hindu symbols
and how do they serve on the path?

Kali is the fiery Goddess that comes to wipe the
mind clean of ego
She is accompanied by many weapons that help
to fight and destroy impure energies within
she comes as pure energy in the form of kundalini
which rises when the mind has been opened by spiritual
practices or by other less pure means -
when this energy rises, it brings up all the collected
dross that one has carried for lifetimes in the consciousness
much like a strong current of water that lifts everything
buried from the depths to the surface...
what surfaces are the makings of grasping at the false
which is the dream type of uprisings --
all having to do with duality....

Kali does not have a motive, but is pure intelligence
and moves in relation to the resistive forces
she can move through much easier when there
are less internal guards up and low resistive forces
her purpose always is to
wash the mentation clean of separative energies

Kali looks fierce and foreboding  
to the one that does not understand her aim
her tongue is out in a whimsical manner really
as she does not care at all what the world of duality thinks
she is simply the pure energy and will not cater
to ego in any shape or form --
so this symbol speaks to her aloofness to the world and
its antics ---
the skulls around her neck represent collecting death
in the way of releasing souls from the bondage of suffering
and attachment to form
it also symbolizes the inevitability of resting in her essence
sooner or later as everything passes
the head in her hand displays the power of her energy
she captures the head and with this goes all thoughts
which is liberation --
it is not a gruesome type of thing like it looks
it is freedom from form, thinking, ego (attachment to body/mind drama)
and suffering
it is a showing of success as the  seekers journey
has ended and there is no more searching
no one left to search ---
this one is done, finished, completed and there are no more
seeds of duality left
what remains is the peace of non-dual bliss that is the truth within
all beings