suffering and resplendence

Why Is There Suffering in the World?

The nature of the world is duality. It contains each thing and its opposite: joy and sorrow, goodness and evil, love and hate. Through experience of these, we learn and evolve, finally seeking Truth beyond all opposites. Aum.

This is the dramatic moment in the life of Gautama the Buddha when he saw, for the first time, illness, old age, death and suffering. While Buddhists view suffering as the root obstacle to liberation, Hindus see it as part of God’s divine purpose.

There is a divine purpose even in the existence of suffering in the world. Suffering cannot be totally avoided. It is a natural part of human life and the impetus for much spiritual growth for the soul. Knowing this, the wise accept suffering from any source, be it hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, famine, wars, disease or inexplicable tragedies. Just as the intense fire of the furnace purifies gold, so does suffering purify the soul to resplendence.

Upanishad Four, Mandala 11: Sin and Suffering [Papa-Duhkhe] Sloka 51, Why is There Suffering in the World?
http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/dws/dws_table_of_contents.html
What are Upanishads? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishads

the heart has a brain

Neuroscientists have recently discovered exciting new information about the heart that makes us realize it’s far more complex than we’d ever imagined. Instead of simply pumping blood, it may actually direct and align many systems in the body so that they can function in harmony with one another.

These scientists have found that the heart has its own independent nervous system – a complex system referred to as “the brain in the heart.” There are at least forty thousand neurons (nerve cells) in the heart – as many as are found in various subcortical centers of the brain.

The heart communicates with the brain and the rest of the body in three ways documented by solid scientific evidence: neurologically (through transmissions of nerve impulses), biochemically (through hormones and neurotransmitters), and biophysically (through pressure waves). In addition, growing scientific evidence suggests that the heart may communicate with the brain and body in a fourth way – energetically (through electromagnetic field interactions). Through these biological communication systems, the heart has a significant influence on the function of our brains and all our Systems.

This new scientific evidence shows that the heart uses these methods to send our brain extensive emotional and intuitive signals. Along with this understanding that the heart is in constant communication with the brain, scientists are discovering that our hearts may actually be the “intelligent force” behind the intuitive thoughts and feelings we all experience.

Thanks to the discovery of heart intelligence, with its premise of the heart as a primary source of emotions, we have a new paradigm for understanding our emotions. With the strong scientific tie established between our wellness factor through emotional management. The more we learn to listen to and follow our heart intelligence, the more educated, balanced, and coherent our emotions become. And it naturally follows that the more balanced and coherent our emotions become, the less likely we will be to experience sickness and disease.

Because of the ever growing scientific research on heart intelligence, it may be time we developed a new personal attitude about following our hearts.”

Tips for learning to recognize our heart’s intelligence:

Think positive thoughts throughout the day to increase your personal energy.  Our internal power, or the amount of physical, mental, and emotional energy we have, is a determining factor in the quality of our lives. Internal power translates into vitality and resiliency. Positive thoughts and feelings add energy to our system. Negative thoughts and feelings deplete our personal energy.

Encourage your deepest heart feelings.  There are many positive heart feelings including love, compassion, nonjudgment, courage, patience, sincerity, forgiveness, appreciation, gratitude, and care. Experiencing these feelings increases synchronization and coherence in our heart’s rhythmic patterns. Each of these heart feelings has a powerful, beneficial effect on how we relate to life.Our internal power, or the amount of physical, mental, and emotional energy we have, is a determining factor in the quality of our lives. Internal power translates into vitality and resiliency. Positive thoughts and feelings add energy to our system. Negative thoughts and feelings deplete our personal energy.

Reduce your stress.   The less stress we feel, the less internal confusion we will experience, and the easier it will be to hear our heart’s intelligence. When we are relaxed, we don’t need to strain our body to stay focused and productive.

Focus on recognizing your heart’s intelligence and realize the importance of listening to it before making choices.   The brain operates in a linear, logical manner that works great for many problems but can limit us in others. Often we need more than logic to solve a problem, especially if it is an emotional one. …Heart intelligence provides us with an intuitive awareness that is expanded beyond linear, logical thinking. As a result, our perspective usually becomes more flexible, creative, and comprehensive.

Use meditation or calm, quiet moments to reflect on your heart’s intelligence and listen for intuitive thoughts.   Make time each day to sit quietly and focus on your heart. Imagine you are breathing through your heart. Calm your mind. Try to not think of anything but breathing through your heart. When your mind is clear, you will begin to receive impressions and ideas. These are coming from your heart. Pay attention.

Reprinted from Young Living Essential News, February, 2002.

Bhakti : Devotion

What is Bhakti?

We all have our views about who or what “God” is. In researching definitions for bhakti, the sanskrit word for devotion, divine worship and love of God, I came across many interpretations. I pulled these concepts out of all those I read. They were written by Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), chief Indian disciple and mystic of the nineteenth century. I like the concept of devotion to love as the highest ideal of what God is.

~ When a man gets it he loves all, hates none; he becomes satisfied forever. This love cannot be reduced to any earthly benefit because so long as worldly desires last that kind of love does not come.

~ Bhakti is its own fruition, its own means and its own end.

~ In every mind, it is conditioned by its own peculiar wants. To those, therefore, who never rise higher than eating, drinking, begetting progeny, and dying, the only gain is in sense-enjoyments; and they must wait and go through many more births and reincarnations to learn to feel even the faintest necessity for anything higher. But those to whom the eternal interests of the soul are of much higher value than the fleeting interests of this mundane life, to whom the gratification of the senses is but like the thoughtless play of the baby, to them, God and the love of God form the highest and the only utility of human existence.

~ There is Bhakti within you, only a veil of lust and wealth covers it, and as soon as that is removed Bhakti will manifest by itself.

~ But theorizing about God will not do; we must love and work. Give up the world and all worldly things. Day and night think of nothing else as far as possible. The daily necessary thoughts can be thought through God. Eat to Him, drink to Him, sleep to Him, see Him in all. Talk of God to others; this is most beneficial.

Aparigraha : non-grasping

In a world that is reeling from economic issues, the concept of “aparigraha” is essential to grasp and to live by. Aparigraha is the Sanksrit word for non-grasping, coming from the word parigraha which means reaching out for something and claiming it for oneself. Aparigraha is about taking only what is truly necessary, and no more. Could it be that as a society, our moral compass is being forced in this direction as we see the effects of greed all around us and as we listen to the world news?

atma vichara : self-inquiry

This morning as I sat in meditation under the dome of a crystal clear blue sky, I contemplated this anniversary of September 11. It seems many are struggling with the how to make sense of “then” and “now” and the meanings and messages of that day.

Lately the spiritual teachers’ works I have been reading are pointing in the same direction. The message seems to be that “atama vichara,” or self-inquiry, is a powerful tool for our lives. Meditation and yoga are processes by which to cultivate mindfulness which in turn assist in self-inquiry.

We begin with ourselves and radiate outward. Start by finding acceptance within ourselves. Come to think of it… plug in any word there:

Finding ________within ourselves…. love, peace, happiness, contentment…

Imagine the world filled with people who are at home and comfortable with themselves first. Look inside, do the work that needs to be done, and then move in a radiant way outward, rippling the effects.

As I sat in church today, I doodled this diagram. I was thinking that these spiritual teachers are coming from the same general idea that through self-inquiry we can find liberation and then, possibly unity.