​In English we address the consciousness essence of man as soul. So the question that comes to many is if that be the case, then how come we are all the same and considered to be similar to our creator. I.e. we are all supposed to be similar and at the same time are very different and have our own individual tendencies which we carry thru many lifetimes.

The original Sanskrit word helps us understand this better. Soul or Atma is our consciousness-essence and for a manifested individual it is called as Jivatma. Jivatma is made of two words, Jiv (or Jeev) and Atma.

The “Atma” part of the Jivatma, is the microcosmic representation of the macrocosmic divine Consciousness. It is the same in essence and so at this level we are all the same.

Then what makes each one of us unique in our soul journeys is the Jeev part. If you have read the article on our numerous bodies then you understand that we carry all our karmas and samskars (i.e. karmic memory impressions) in our Causal body.

​This causal body makes up the Jeev part of the Jivatma. Since each one of us have had different experiences and our interpretations of life scenarios and resulting actions have been different; we each have our individual Causal body and in this way are an “individual Jeev”. The word Jeev in its most literal sense means a “living form”. Such a living form or Jeev is our basic individual identity.

When we speak of cleansing our karmas and learning our lessons, we are basically working on this part of ourselves. As we progress, we come to the stage of “Enlightenment” which is nothing but true understanding that even this existence of “Jeev or Life-Form” exists because of the delusion of Maya (what maintains the manifestation of separateness and duality).

At this point one is truly aware of the Atma aspect of one’s being. I.e. one is truly aware of our “Atmic Self”- this is nothing but a microcosmic drop of the macrocosmic Consciousness.

But till one is living a physical life, Enlightenment is as high an energetic state one can be in- since without letting the body go, which includes the Causal form and Jeev aspect, one cannot truly and completely merge in the macrocosmic Consciousness. This requires not just the awareness of one’s Atma but also detachment from one’s “Jeev-self”.

​If one has reached that stage of realization, then at the end of that lifetime, their Jeev would drop off! I.e. their Causal body along with its karmas and samskars would get dropped off and their Atma, their very essence will merge with the macrocosmic Consciousness. This is called moksha. It is ONLY after moksha that one will not be entangled with any further cycles of birth and death- since there is no “jeev- karmic causual body” creating the need for further births (and deaths)!

What I have observed is there are several folks who reach Enlightenment in their lifetime and continue on their “Soul Energy (Atmic) journey” for further understanding and awareness of their Cosmic self. Such folks are at higher energy states than of Enlightenment, but since they still have their physical life-form, it is imperative that they continue to lead their lives with non-action, i.e. without incurring any karma or creating any further karmic samskars. If they are able to do so, then at the end of that life-time they can reach Moksha.

In case, they incur karma or get caught in any delusions of the Maya, then their causal body will not drop off at death and will continue with their Atma- leading to further cycles of birth and death.

So, along with understanding one’s true nature of “Consciousness” it is important for us to lead our life in non-action: i.e. action which does not incur karma or create any forms of “attachment”! We will address this concept of Non-Action in another post.

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Ancient Wisdom,   Ascension,   Conscious Living,   Sounds And Mantras, Spiritual Awareness   and    Tantra Traditions
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Namah is very commonly seen in many mantras. Particular in the ones where we are seeking a Bhakti- resonance with any particular energy-deity. E.g. Om Namah Shivaya or Om Gam Ganapatey Namah. 

Namah is colloquially said to mean “salutation” or a way of greeting, which is a way of paying obeisance. But then, there are several other words in Sanskrit which mean greetings or salutation such as Pranaam. Why don’t we find those being used in mantras?

​Also, the actual root word for salutation is Nama without the ‘h’ or the visarga- i.e. the two dots at the end. So, what does Namah really mean and when you say them in mantras, what does that really mean?

As we know Sanskrit is a very scientific language and the words are meaningfully created from its constituting root words or root-alphabet-combinations.

In this case- Na means “Not”. It is an alphabet used to indicate negation. Ma indicates “Mine”. So basically- Nama means “Not Mine”. Which makes sense as a form of greeting (acknowledging) “another” who is “not me”! That is why it is the root word in the famous greeting term “Namaste”.

Now comes the key part- visarga or the two dots at the end. It indicates letting go or sending forth. This is why it is key that Namah is used in mantras. Since it indicates, “I am letting go of all that’s not mine”. This reinforces detachment. Nothing in the physical world is mine and so I am letting it go. Then what is left? That which is NOT of this physical world. My very consciousness-essence.

So, when we say Namah in mantras what we are saying is that- I greet/pray/pay obeisance to you with my consciousness-essence (while letting go of all that is not me- this physical manifested world).

Next time you say any mantra which includes “Namah”. Say it while truly understanding this meaning of Namah. It is a very powerful experience. If you are finely tuned to experiencing energy, you will notice an even higher vibration and be able to “palpably” feel the energy of the deity you are praying to.

​This will also help you to more easily achieve “siddhi” of that mantra, which is to experience and maintain resonance with that energy-deity.

Categories:
Ancient Wisdom,   Ascension,   Conscious Living,   Sounds And Mantras, Spiritual Awareness and    Tantra Traditions
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There are many things that we all “think” we know! It could be about a particular topic of expertise where we may feel like we know all that there is to it. When it comes to people around us, most of us tend to think we know those people.

What we fail to realize is that there are many facets to each person and even if you have spent a lifetime in close proximity to someone like your parent or spouse, you probably still don’t know all there is to them. 

And, unfortunately many a times, we don’t know our own self either! We are always immersed in activities and never take the time to simply be with our self in contemplation and meditation. Really figure out who we are and what is our real nature.

Whenever you meet someone, take a moment and ask- what you think of them? Try to really question your perception of them, your inference about them with an unbiased mind.

Try to observe them, really listen to what they are saying and see if your conclusion/your branding of “who they are” is different than who they seem to be as they are speaking to you.

Take some time out to also reflect on your own self. Whenever you have a few minutes or during your meditation session- reflect on your true-real self!!    After all, most of the time, people tend to conclude about their own self too- "I am beautiful", "I am smart", "I am rich" and so on. 

See, if you can find that gap between your conclusion of who you think someone is and who they possibly could be!

Categories:   
Ascension,   Guidance,   Journey To Oneness,   Our Path Our Journey,   Spiritual Awareness   and   Spiritual Lessons  

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We may think that we did such and such thing. But in reality, it is always the divine that is living thru us.   We feel like we have a free will and that we are free to choose whatever it is that we want to do and then be able to do it. Is that really so?? 

Rousseau once said- Man is born free and is everywhere in chains! Lord Krishna explained the reason behind this several hundreds of years ago. We are identified with being the do-er, without realizing that the divine is the dancer and we are the dance. Because of this deluded thinking, we end up getting caught in the karmic cycle of repeated births and deaths.

In our ancient Vedic texts, it is said that the Divine is the dancer and we are the dance.  It is important to differentiate between taking   responsibility for right action with mistaking oneself as the do-er. 

Though we may think of our self as a do-er, in reality, we are the outcome or result of all that is going on. This does not mean that one shirks responsibility! In fact, it is essential that we take responsibility for all that we do- in mind, body and spirit.

​But at the same time, when we conduct all the actions with the knowledge that it is the divine that is truly living and acting thru us, then those very same actions, become our path of Karma Yoga.

Are you holding someone responsible for something negative they did to you? E.g. lie to you… cheat on you and so on. This does not have to be in any profound way.

​There are many instances in life where we may not outright blame someone else for our problem or situation, but deep within, we believe they are responsible for our peril and because of it, we resent them. It could be parents, friends, coworkers, a stranger or even the government.

Do whatever action you need to take in the situation AND let go of your negative impression, resentment and blaming behavior. Know that ultimately all that happens to you, is part of the divine will and learn to surrender to this divine intension.

You will be surprised as to how this one simple action on your part will open up many opportunities for you that could never have been possible otherwise. Once you see the Divine as the real do-er, it frees up all the energy that you are currently wasting to uphold your false paradigm. You can then start achieving success and recognition beyond your wildest of dreams!!

Categories:   
Ascension,   Guidance,   Journey To Oneness,   Our Path Our Journey,   Spiritual Awareness ,   Spiritual Lessons  and   Yoga

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​“It is not the outside circumstances, but the inner blossoming of wellbeing which transforms our lives. It can be experienced as an intrinsic benefit of practicing Yoga.”

Most of us tend to live our lives from outside-in. By that I mean, we tend to think that when such and such thing occurs, I will be happy. When I achieve this or that I will feel better. And such thoughts are not just about accomplishments and achievements, but also we think the same about other aspects such as feeling better, not worrying, addressing physical or emotional pain and so on.

But the key lesson in life is that- it all works from inside-out. That is, whatever is inside of us, will manifest in time to what we experience in the outside world.

I am sure many of you will say that hey- I did not “choose” this pain or that I did not “want” this negativity, hurt and anger in my life. But- Universe does not function with our chosen labels for these thoughts and emotions. The key questions to consider are: are you worried about what will happen to you or a dear one? Are you angry at someone including yourself?

​Even though we may think of them separately, they all in a way are negative emotions and the Universe is going to reflect back to us what we send forth. So, if what we are sending out thru our thoughts, emotions and actions is negative then those are the very things we will receive back. By the same token, if we are to send out positive thoughts, emotions and actions then those are the things we will receive.

I can almost hear you say: “hey- you don’t understand. I just lost my job and I have kids to feed and a mortgage to pay- of course I am worried. Am I not human?” It is true that such “worrying” is considered quite acceptable in our society as “normal”. But does it really serve any purpose? We all know the physical impact of stress and worrying.

So, irrespective of spiritual reasons- think about this for a minute purely from a material-logical standpoint. When you don’t have a job, do you want the added expense of medical bills, not to mention bad health, which will further prevent you from efficiently and energetically searching for a new position?

Now, do you see- how worrying is a wasteful emotion? It is not only meaningless, but in fact aggravates the very situation which initially caused it!! Even though I have taken worrying as an example here, the same holds true for other negative emotions like anger, greed and so on.

Then why do we as humans engage in this behavior? In a way, it is to make ourselves feel more worthy! You see, deep down we all want to be recognized- this is not about fame, but simple recognition of “being-ness”. Unfortunately who we identify as “us” is not our true being-ness, but “an identity” of what we think is our “true self”.

This false sense of our identity or individuality is called as the ego- or ahamkara in Sanskrit. It is Ego that wants to feel that it (which for you is you) exists! When things are good, it leads to one type of ego boost- where all the recognitions and praise, make you feel like you exist- and when things are not as good and you feel ignored and left-out by the world- your own mind creates emotions like worry (“what will happen to me”?), anger (“how can they do this to me?”), greed (“how can I get this for me?”) and so on…

Till we are alive in our human bodies, ego is a mandatory and required aspect. And if left unaddressed, ego will want to continue to “exist and expand” as survival is the most basic instinct in all of creation. There are countless spiritual books which indicate that we need to live consciously and “stop identifying with the ego”. Many of us truly try. But how do we go about denying something, which is the “only thing” we have ever known as us!!

By that I mean, all your experience and understanding of this world about you is as “you”. And the only you, you have ever known is you- with the identities of name, family, race, caste, creed, sex and so on. So, it’s one thing when spiritual guides ask you to stop identifying with who you are and it is true that as one advances in one’s spiritual pursuits, one can start to realize that there is more to us than what we had previously thought. But when one starts on the journey, it gets difficult to learn to dis-engage from the ego.  

That is why Yoga helps in addressing the ego. Yoga means to be in unison with the supreme energy of the universe. Each time you do Yoga, somewhere you are expanding and at the same time rarefying your ‘sense of identify’. And like all facades when you start removing these fake layers (your identity about you or the ego) your true “being-ness” shines forth. And this being-ness will over time (linearly speaking) slowly merge into the Universal consciousness.

By doing Yoga, particularly in the initial stages of your spiritual journey, you start becoming conscious of a greater dimension than your own self almost like a higher harmonic/octave of your current note. This sense provide the assurance of “existing” to your ego, so in a way your ego identification need is addressed or should I say tamed so that you don’t feel the urge to indulge in negativities that boost it. For this reason, Ashtanga Yoga, which means the eight limbs of Yoga is the best approach, where asanas, what is usually taught in the west, is one of the limbs.

I will address the eight limbs of Yoga and how they can be utilized in this rarefying of our identification in another post. Hope you start with Yoga. Even a little bit of asanas, a little conscious breathing (called Pranayam) will all go a long way in setting you on the right path of your own spiritual pursuit.

​Categories:   
Ascension,   Guidance,   Journey To Oneness,   Our Path Our Journey,   Spiritual Awareness ,   Spiritual Lessons  and Yoga

Keywords & Tags:   
#DissolvingtheEgo #RemoveNegativeFeelings #AshtangaYoga #YogaforEmotionalWellbeing   #ascension #spirituallesson #spiritualjourney #Karma   #FruitsofAction #Regression #situationalanalysis   #dealingwithdifficultpeople