What is Lost is Gained
Recently, I ran into more of the story of Bernadette Roberts. When she was a Carmelite nun, she had a superior who believed she was deceived or under Satan’s grasp for experiencing pure silence. As …
The Event Horizon
Recently, I ran into an interesting science article that illustrates how science can come ever closer to a consciousness model, yet not even be considering that as its conceptual framework. Our world may be a …
The Battle to Surrender
It recent readings, it occurs to me there is 2 opposite approaches to the spiritual journey here. The Bhagavad Gita presents the spiritual journey as a battle to overcome ego, mind and sense control. In …
Heaps of Identification
In a completely unrelated browse, I ran into the Buddhist concept of Skandhas. This is similar to what I was just reviewing around Yogananda’s discussion of the levels of ego identification – physical, astral, causal …
Deeper I-Ness
Another process Yogananda reviewed was the evolution of the ego self. What we might call the concept of self or the level of identification. First thing to note is that he describes our person as …
The Seat of the Soul
Recently, I was reading some of Yogananda‘s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (the Song of God, a key section of the Mahabharata where Krishna teaches Arjuna about the ways of action, yoga, etc.) In it, …
Samskaras
In Getting It Straight, I spoke of the process of clearing old habits of mind. The eastern perspective on this can add some further clarity. “A thought or physical act once performed does not cease …
Getting it Straight
We carry so many habits of mind… As we move along our spiritual journey, circumstances bring various habits of thinking to the surface to be seen. Some habits are good ones. To be nice. To …
Clearing Clarity
Sometimes, we can be disturbed by surfacing emotions. Or a sense of something being unresolved, incomplete. A shadow is cast over our day. We may even notice physical sensations. This is something we just allow. …
Peace Pandemic
INNER PEACE SYNDROME by Saskia Davis, R.N. First identified 25 years ago, the INNER PEACE SYNDROME is sweeping nations, worldwide. Insidious and highly contagious, it creeps silently through societies, infecting one heart at a time. …
Practical Maya
In the past, I’ve written about the 3 forms of Maya, the dream of the world. When inertia (tamas) is dominant, Maya presents a covering. It hides. When activity (rajas) is dominant Maya is the …
The Bestest Present Ever
I’d like to give you a gift. The best present you’ll ever have. But it’s not something I can give you because you already have it. But perhaps I can point it out to you. …