let go, your world

the saints that come to know truth

walk alone thru the land of shadow 

they do not look back to see what is left behind

because by doing so the world is set in motion again

and this makes the journey much more arduous 

and lengthy

it is stated clearly in the scriptures that those that keep going 

into the death that brings life 

will be freed eternally 

as the bible rightly states the same:

"whoever tries to keep their life shall lose it

and whoever loses their life shall preserve it"

the ones that let go of their world are indeed 

the ones that will be freed 

friends of the heart this is the time now 

to move forward into the  fires

that will purify

and bring the soul to peace and light 

if you are seeking to be free 

this is the way

if you are playing with the world 

and wanting peace too, then no

you are not a man that is true on the path

you are a one that desires connection 

and feeling good

there is no one that can have their cake and eat it too

as far as reality is concerned 

and those that go on

well, they are rare in stamina and strength

and surrender

but this is not because of the rarity of freedom

it is always present 

it is just a rare one that tends to this fire of truth

and leaves it to burn the separation to ash

but the fact is...

freedom is open to all that make efforts 

not just here for some 

in the heart of all 

this freedom is

may it ring boundless and 

grow to consume the shadows

 

the time of awakening

in what is called knowledge

the man of ignorance awakens into light

which is what the soul is in reality

this one then is free and forever in peace 

he has no burden to carry again

he has no pride or shame or unrest

he has no worries that ripple the clear water

he has no judgements or thoughts that come and go

he is like a beautiful body of water 

that has been cleared of mud and sludge 

and now embodies the glory of that which is true

he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt 

that truth is not a body

or a mind 

or an appearance that comes and goes

what is truth is here as light and pristine 

consciousness 

this is not understood as a concept

but is lived *directly* as non-dual awareness 

a man that is this way --

clear and purified 

is a saint, a master, a buddha 

he takes away not a thing 

he leaves no trace 

he is pried open and unleashed of all that binds 

though he looks to be ordinary

and moves about in ordinary ways 

inside he is still and always still...

in what is called knowledge

the man of ignorance awakens

to himself 

this time of great auspiciousness 

is not known by mind 

it is not understood by a thought or concept

it is not to be marked on a calendar

like an event

it is not to be awaited for 

because it cannot be known

it is *unknown*

and so why fret about it?

stay with efforts and in the heart 

and let grace do the work that 

only grace can do...

and simply flow with life as it is ...

oh Sadhu....

oh sadhu,
have you been to the ganges today and left your coverings on the bank
to bathe bare and naked like first born?
oh sadhu,
have you taken the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to your heart
and brought them to fall like rain in the soul
so sweet flowers can grow for humanity?
oh sadhu,
have you lived your days within grace and blessed the earth with
your bright words and silent presence?
oh sadhu,
when the devotee comes by to touch your feet have you looked at him as
the same SELF and graced him with beauty that lives?
oh sadhu,
have you meditated on the hard earth with the creatures of God
and sat not in the temples to hide away from the world?
oh sadhu,
have you let Shiva take away your suffering thoughts that come about
by mistaken knowledge?
oh sadhu,
have you lived to make your life to merge with the divine
and forgotten the world with it's shadow?
oh sadhu,
have you placed the rudraksha beads on your form and thought not
of the body again?
oh sadhu,
are you abiding in kevala or absolute aloneness in the vastness that is not
to go away?
oh sadhu,
do you know yourself as one and undivided and never to die
no matter the changing world?
oh sadhu,
has the dream vanished in your mind leaving clarity to shine like the sun?
oh sadhu,
have you sat on the many petaled lotus in the heart,
gazing in emptiness, breathing pure life in the lungs?
oh sadhu,
have you walked in the fire of kali and let the division within burn to ash?
oh sadhu,
have you laid all that is known in the sacred waters to be washed clean
by the mother of all?
oh sadhu,
have you died to the truth to find that death is only a shadow that cannot touch
the pure soul?
oh sadhu,
blessed one that is to be a light for all that come near...
are you free eternally?

sannyasi life (continued)...

the one that comes into the sannyasi life is

to sit in the heart 

there is no other place to reside that is more pure 

the sannyasi comes into the death that leaves the former life behind 

not to entertain it in mind again

as it is what the sages call the *unseeing* way

it does not have any light that will bring freedom within it

no matter what the form is doing..

whether the feet are placed on the earth to move or one 

is seated and still

the body is not to be identified with as it is not the real

it does not have any substance that is holy or pure 

and is made only of impurities and soiled compounds that rise and fall 

it is not the absolute that is untainted

when the sannyasi speaks, his mind is to be within equanimity

not attached to what is being said 

energies are not to be spent attempting to *figure out* an experience 

this is a waste of the moment --

it will not bring about a still mind, but keep the wheels turning 

towards understanding that is of logic and intellect

when the sannyasi is asked to do something 

he is to get to it right away and not dawdle about in idle wasting of time 

because life is not on his time table --

this type of mind-set is ego-based and has no place within the spiritual realm

**what does the sannyasi wear?

nothing truly

he is naked within and seeks nothing to cover over pure beingness
**what does the sannyasi give up?

the inner personal world that is separative in nature

**what does the sannyasi learn?

he is to transcend learning of collected knowledge
and come into no-mind
which is *knowledge stripped bare of intellect*
**what does the sannyasi hold onto?

the staff of truth and light -

until all wears away within, leaving non-dual consciousness to reign

**what does the sannyasi posses?

a burning desire for truth that is not tainted with desire for worldly pleasure 

and fame 

*what does the sannyasi love?

the truth that is the same as is own heart without waves of personal desire
**what does the sannyasi build?
a foundation of honesty, transparency and integrity
to walk a path that brings internal freedom in the end..
**what does the sannyasi find happiness in?
contemplation of the o ne --
unbroken quietude ....
**what does the sannyasi befriend?
the company of the good and pure hearted
as well as the opening up to all that comes in life
as a matter of course without attachment or aversion..
**what does the sannyasi bring to humanity?
words of spirit and beauty that live beyond suffering
his presence is what continues to incite souls towards the good..
**what is the sannyasi's  final end like?
if his mind is completely still, there is no end to this o ne
he lives forever as eternal light and pure presence
*what are the sannyasi's steps towards?
freedom always
everlasting wholeness that is within beautitude
and non-dual reality

-Maha Shanti Om-




more on this subject under *sannyasi/sadhu life
                                          *sannyasi life and ceremony

beyond appearances

a man came today

he carried with him a book

that was dusty and old 

it read on the cover 

the non-dual scriptures

he set it down on a rock 

and the wind came up strongly

and blew the pages 

away 

leaving very little left of the book

the man said he had no need for reading anymore 

as his mind was sunk in the light of brahman

he *was* a living light 

absorbed always in brahman

what is the need for books then?

a man came today

he wore old clothes and seemed decrepit

hunched over 

with smiling eyes,

he said, all is o ne and cannot be otherwise 

this body is not who and what i am

it is now wasting away

and will be gone soon

but this pure consciousness that 

i truly am lives on forever 

i have no fear about anything 

in this moment, 

or the next, may this body fall

i am undivided always 

and can never perish

a man came today

radiant in face and form

he wore on his head the marks of Shiva

he donned the robes of saffron

and wore the rudraksha beads around his neck

he walked barefoot 

behaving rather odd 

singing and dancing 

without self-consciousness

and then falling silent 

he said he was forever still within

and cared not what he wore 

tomorrow, he said 

i may be in a business suit or naked

it matters not 

for i am not this form that you see

i live forever beyond appearances 

free as the open sky

and glorious full moon

i live eternally

within peace
as Shiva

a man came today

he looked troubled 

as his friend had just died 

he wept and wept 

with his face in his hands

he said he was an enlightened master 

and though he looked sorrowful on the outside 

he was at perfect peace within

not troubled at all

he said the exterior play is not real

only the beauty of truth 

is what is real 

though emotions still flow

this pristine essence 

remains forever untouched
without a drop of sorrow 

never to die away...

rishikesh (india part #4)

rishikesh is where Guruji spent the majority of her time while in india..
it is a crowded place filled with a constant flow of colorful life of all sorts and varieties.... a steady stream of indians, tourists, sadhus, cows, monkeys and beggars line the walkways...
devotional worship and rituals
are constantly taking place near the ghats or along the dirt paths that are laden with cow dung and mud from the last rains..
as usual Guruji escorted us to a decent place to stay that had a restaurant downstairs...
... one could even order american style food..
the area  in rishikesh that we hung out much of the time was relatively small
it made for easy travel on foot with market stalls and cafes lined up throughout..
have written about rishikesh in the first post entitled india (part # 1) ...
this is where we spent the majority of our time ....  wandering about and relating to the sadhus,
market vendors and beggars...
though we spent our days in the thick of sadhu life... it was not near to the degree that Guru lived several years back when she was in rishikesh...
she lived on the banks of the ganges for a time with a group of sadhus (this is where she entered realization)
it was a very rare thing for a sadhvi (female sadhu) to live in the *raw* open land with just a little sparse hut set up ...
she would bathe in the ganges early every morning and that water was *COLD* she said many
times....
(i can attest to this as did dip the feet in awhile and brrrrr)...
one of the sadhus she lived with  (who has now entered maha samadhi) was very dear to her and took the role of watching over her ....he took this role *very* seriously it sounded like from the stories
she told about him....
there are many different sects of sadhus in india -
each dons a different style and color of robes (or lack thereof as in the case of the naga babas who roam stark naked)...
one sect of sadhus are called aghoris -- some these sadhus wear all black...
they are Shiva devotees and engage in extreme practices and austerities as a means to break through
mental conditionings and attachment to form...
there were a group of aghoris in rishikesh that we met... one of these sadhus had a very peaceful
presence and did appear to be absorbed in sadhana and deep contemplation...
we would see him along our route everyday and Guruji would praise him for holding his concentration
within....

most of the sadhus in rishikesh, Guruji was well acquainted with and they recognized her

and called to us to come over as we walked along...
(with the exception of the ones that knew of her strong presence and tough love style manner.. these ones would run away )....
Guruji gave several diksha ceremonies on the ghats of the ganges during our stay there...
initiation was given to a sadhu as well who claimed that he was going to change his ways...
which meant that he would stop smoking cannabis and hanging out with the wrong crowds ..
he vowed that he would immerse in sadhana and try to be honest...
the spiritual name given to him by Guruji was Kali das  --
when diksha was given in the early years, the spiritual name given always ended in das which
means *servant of* ...  so his name meant *servant of Kali* or to be surrendered to that energy that
cuts thru conditionings ....  a great name indeed ....
this sadhu hung out with us much of the time we were there...
he was rather endearing, but one could still feel the mischief in him and unsteady energy that he carried...
Guruji was very generous with him and gave him some clothing and food ..
some of the sadhus we encountered appeared to be in need of hospital care .. they had wounds
or illnesses...
to live outside and sleep on the hard earth with the mosquitoes and rainy seasons and barely a cover or wrap can be brutal on the form...
so the majority do give in to smoking cannabis as a means to numb out from the rough lifestyle...
so many are very thin as food becomes secondary...
but even when money was given to take care of the needs ..  it was found out that they did not go
to the hospital at all, but spent their money on more smoking and nonsense...
this is when Guruji would get after them for their dishonest actions and she did not speak in a
shy voice about it ...
Kali das was no different... even though he was given such grace .. he was found later smoking and
hanging with the group of babas that were not good influences....
of course he was caught by Guruji and you can bet that this was addressed ...
(at the end of our stay there,  it was not looking promising that Kali das would clean up his act)...
it is a *very* strong pull for sadhus to go back to the old ways that one is used to ....  especially when
this area was saturated with fake sadhus and so many masquerading as Gurus or seekers ..
along our daily walks we also saw some sadhus engaged in austerities of all sorts...
one sadhu was found with his arm held straight up in the air everyday -- he said so far he had held it there several weeks..
and was working towards holding it up for several years or more...
there was another little sadhu in his hut who attended to his needs and appeared very devoted to aiding
this sadhu in his laborious task...
after several days we walked further into rishikesh ...  Guruji showed us where she used to live

with the group of sadhus on the banks of the ganges...
the little hut was gone --
she said a lot of the babas had been run out of the area due to their dishonest ways and lifestyle...

we walked over the suspension bridge across the ganga called lakshman jhula..
it took quite awhile to make it across as
every bit of space was crowded with motorcycles, cows, monkeys, beggars and droves of people of all types
and forms....
Guruji said this is where the beloved sadhu that watched over her entered maha samadhi --
the mind fell away easily while walking over this bridge ... an indescribabale feeling of peace entered.
the energy there was extraordinary...
Guruji said within her journey while walking across it, she lost body consciousness... this is understood...

in the early morning hour, we went to one of the temples in which rituals were performed to the
shiva lingum --
liquid and flowers was poured over the lingam as a means to honor shiva and shakti...
devotees chanted *om namah shivaya* which means "i bow to Shiva.. the lord of the yogis..
the spirit that dwells within all hearts"...

this is all the flow that is coming for now...
our next stop was to be dharmsala -- up in the foothills of the himalayas where the Dalai Lama and buddhist monks reside...
om shanti

for more on rishikesh see india - rishikesh (part #1)

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

dear wanderer...

dear wanderer,

tread with an open mind and heart

through the land of the transient..

do not sit by the signposts that are only showing

of a reality much broader than body and mind...

rise in the morning and drink of waters that are pure

in the way of imbibing the teachings -

sit in the day as a one that is detached and a mere observer

of this empty appearance in which the body is no different

do not cling to the past or nourish future imaginings

as a wanderer there is no true home for beingness to lay its head

there is nothing to call your own

and no shade or sunlight that will distract one from the search

to enter into freedom

there is no word or deed however good or bad that will turn one away

from the straight and narrow road of the razors edge...

the hills and valleys of experience are a call for one 

to come deeper ...  

and an opportunity to see that there is nothing real and lasting

in the world of movement and change....

stay in the fires of purification and live freely

without fear of what is to come

or not come...  

as both have no meaning in the present moment...

the journey is so very long friends

and may feel to have no end to it...

but indeed the end is the beginning 

and the last step is the first into eternal light

though it is the longest journey ever of your life --

you will indeed arrive right here 

where you have always been...

and the past identity that appeared to act in the world and 

carry so much of a separateness ridden with sorrow

joy and everything in between 

will vanish away

like it never was....

om shanti

detachment is primary ...

What is spoken about by the masters is
a putting away of those things that
cause the heart and mind to be in shadow
what this means is the the disciple that walks the path
is not to be desirous of sensual pleasure or
impure company
or wanting to collect wealth and objects that
ring of pride
as this will serve to make of your life one in
which attachment has a fast hold on the
mind and heart..
and will make of your reality one
in which these coveted objects are
to be safeguarded

it is not at all the externals
that are the problem
but the inner attachment that is to be seen
and let go of
because attachment is what creates a feeling
of ownership
and in turn creates delusion
or the feeling of *me and mine*
and with this there is fear (of loss)

if there is indeed a desire within to be in peace
then one is to lay down all that
has been held onto within...
and not to pick it up and cling mentally..

without detachment
one will indeed tread water on the journey
there is no doubt..
this is because attachment is ridden
with waves of unrest...
and will keep the mentation circling
about...

so my friend,
may you look at this
and let loose of thoughts about yourself
and your world all the time
as this will only serve to keep the wheels of
karma and mental grasping central in nature

what is spoken is what all sages, masters,
Buddhas, rishis and Christ have spoken

to be free
detachment is primary
may you see this dear seeker
and may there be a freeing up in your reality...

Great Peace and Om

the heart of seeking...

in ancient times
the rishis spoke of mountains
and rivers that were
very pure
and to go there would
be greatly auspicious
in those times
there was so much
rich joy
in spiritual seeking
so as to be an honored
way
where the broad stretching
forest
that held such quiet
mystery
and fresh wonder
was the temple
the rocks, trees and
hard earth fresh with
the cycle of life -
the house of worship
this is really so beautiful
and raw to behold
it is what the heart of
seeking is
to find beauty in
this moment
in open eyed wonder
and allow this perfection
to enter in-
leaving the hardened ways
of personal experience behind....

maha shanti om

munis, rishis and sadhus

what the munis call the one essence
is the ripe now
it is not the past or future
but the glory of living in freedom
within the o ne heart

the munis are wandering sadhus
that take a vow of silence
they do not rest for long in any particular place
they pick up their few belongings
(a mat, a staff and gourd for eating and
drinking)
and rise with the dawn
and continue
wandering without a set destination in mind
this is the heart of non-arriving
or aimlessness
where all is a spontaneous flow
not apart from nature or the life force
in complete harmony with this --

the rishis are the far seers that also
wander
sit when the body is tired
and get up and wander when the early
morning light hits ---
it is a *raw* and open way of living
not protected by even clothing much of the time
completely bare to the elements
and open earth --
not separate from it
eating like the wild creatures do
which is very primitive, but also very
natural and free when this life is imbibed in
with joy and love

munis, rishis and sadhus are the ones that have mystical
experiences and have written of kundalini
as well as the non-dual reality --
it has come out of direct experience
which is indeed what the seeker on the
kundalini path also encounters and experiences
(minus the wandering piece and externals)
it is the path of the renunciate
and it is thru the hardship and tapasya
of these seekers that the scriptures were
written
as well as the map and foundation
of the renunciate life and the path --
which is such a jewel for the
seekers that are drawn to and ready
to come into this lifestyle...

---  maha shanti om--