Today: Contemplate – from the I Ching

Contemplate.  Within you lie the answers to direction, advance and retreat.  Forget the naive forms that come from the world that always presuppose a viewpoint and offer inherently limited options.  In this paradigm shift, realize a state of grace.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“This is the place of transition. We no longer look outward to receive pictures that are more or less limited and confused, but direct our contemplation upon ourselves in order to find a guideline for our decisions. This self-contemplation means the overcoming of naïve egotism in the person who sees everything solely form his own standpoint. He begins to reflect and in this way acquires objectivity. However, self-knowledge does not mean preoccupation with one’s own thoughts; rather, it means concern about the effects one creates. It is only the effects our lives produce that give us the right to judge whether what we have done means progress or regression.
By contemplating the forms existing in the heavens we come to understand time and its changing demands. Through contemplation of the forms existing in human society it becomes possible to shape the world.
“

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“In the spiritual world, the words of a teacher are very precise” Yogi Bhajan

“In the spiritual world, the words of a teacher are very precise. The job of the spiritual teacher is to be a warning. A spiritual teacher is not your guide and your destiny-maker. The teacher knows what your destiny is. He knows who you are in consciousness, in spirit and in circumstance.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Great power comes from your inner worth – from the I Ching

Great power comes from your inner worth.  Use it for righteous causes and for justice.  Apply it from within without grand external gestures.  Your greatness with then go unchallenged.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The hexagram points to a time when inner worth mounts with great force and comes to power.  For that is truly great power which does not degenerate into mere force but remains inwardly united with the fundamental principles of right and of justice. When we understand this point – namely, that greatness and justice must be indissolubly united – we understand the true meaning of all that happens in heaven and on earth.
If a man goes on quietly and perseveringly working at the removal of resistances, success comes in the end. The obstructions give way and all occasion for remorse arising from excessive use of power disappears.
The sage is inexhaustible in his readiness to teach mankind, and just as the earth is boundlessly wide, sustaining and caring for all creatures on it, so the sage sustains and cares for all people and excludes no part of humanity. “

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Today: I Ching

“The only thing that is communicated and is heard as it is at the same time is the truth” Yogi Bhajan

“The only thing that is communicated and is heard as it is at the same time is the truth. That is a power of your mind. It can penetrate the subtlety and intention behind someone’s words and it can project and fill yours with a truth beyond any fear or need.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Be flexible – from the I Ching

Be flexible.  You can overcome any obstacle.  You can go around, you can go through it, you can merge.  No need for struggle.  Teach others the same.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Water reaches its goal by flowing continually. It fills up every depression before it flows on. The superior man follows its example; he is concerned that goodness should be an established attribute of character rather than an accidental and isolated occurrence. So likewise in teaching others everything depends on consistency, for it is only through repetition that the pupil makes the material his own.  “

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“If you can listen and hear the power of your own spoken word” Yogi Bhajan

“If you can listen and hear the power of your own spoken word, your own committed language, and if it is remembered by you, it becomes you. Say it and listen to it consciously. That is the work of the mind. It should listen consciously and help you be surprisingly successful.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Hold your course – from the I Ching

Hold your course.  You can expect ultimate success.  There is no need for precipitous action now.  The promised rain will come.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The situation is not unfavourable; there is a prospect of ultimate success, but there are still obstacles in the way, and we can merely take preparatory measures. Only through the small means of friendly persuasion can we exert any influence. The time has not yet come for sweeping measures. However, we may be able, to a limited extent, to act as a restraining and subduing influence. To carry out our purpose we need firm determination within and gentleness and adaptability in external relations.  “

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“When you lose your elevation” Yogi Bhajan

“When you lose your elevation and have no habit to listen to your consciousness, then it seems like you have no choice. You do not understand it because your mind is doing this to you. Your mind is not supposed to do anything to you. Your mind is supposed to do things for you. Now you are caught in the game of mind and ego. Between the two you can be stretched until nothing is left.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Embrace simplicity – from the I Ching

Embrace simplicity.  Be frugal.  Draw on the strength of your inner attitude to balance what is lacking in externals.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretence. If a time of scanty resources brings out an inner truth, one must not feel ashamed of simplicity. For simplicity is then the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings. Indeed, there need be no concern if the outward beauty of the civilisation, even the elaboration of religious forms, should have to suffer because of simplicity. One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the content makes up for the simplicity of form. There is no need of presenting false appearances to God. Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed. “

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“We are actually subject to trends and tendencies” Yogi Bhajan

“We are actually subject to trends and tendencies, not to our originality and reality. If we do not have originality and reality, we don’t have royalty. And if we don’t have royalty, we can’t elevate.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: Look for success in small things – from the I Ching

Examine the nature of current conflict. Reflect on your position in it.  Be sure that you are aligned with what is right, and not merely exploiting someone in a weaker position.  Look also at what you can reasonably expect to accomplish.  In this time, do not go after lofty goals.  Look for success in small things.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“CONFLICT DEVELOPS when one feels himself to be in the right and runs into opposition. If one is not convinced of being in the right, opposition leads to craftiness or high-handed encroachment but not to open conflict.
If a man is entangled in a conflict, his only salvation lies in being so clear- headed and inwardly strong that he is always ready to come to terms by meeting the opponent halfway. To carry on the conflict to the bitter end has evil effects even when one is the right, because the enmity is then perpetuated.
This refers to a person whose inner attitude at first lacks peace. He does not feel content with his situation and would like to improve it through conflict.  He is dealing with a weaker opponent and might therefore succeed. But he cannot carry on the fight, because, since right is not on his side, he cannot justify the conflict to his conscience. Therefore he turns back and accepts his fate. He changes his mind and finds lasting peace in being at one with eternal law. This brings good fortune.
Exceptional modesty and conscientiousness are sure to be rewarded with success; however, if a man is not to throw himself away, it is important that they should not become empty form and subservience but be combined always with a correct dignity in personal behaviour. We must understand the demands of the time in order to find the necessary offset for its deficiencies and damages. In any event we must not count on great success, since the requisite strength is lacking. In this lies the importance of the message that one should not strive after lofty things but hold to lowly things.

 “

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“Poke, provoke, confront, and elevate ” Yogi Bhajan

“Poke, provoke, confront, and elevate. This is how your life must be.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Recap: Healing Intensive at Park Slope Brooklyn June 2-3, 2017

“Healing and Prana”
Prana holds together the elements that allows our physical existence.  Prana is the flow that comes from the earth through the hara and is transmuted into life energy that can be projected back into the world from the higher chakras.

“Healing Perception”
Many conditions that interfere with the flow of existence and the healthy flow of prana are due to a bias associated with one’s perception.  If we can find the point of perception that holds a viewpoint, it can be “flipped” to allow for a new configuration that leads to self-healing.

We held a meditation and healing intensive at Kundalini Yoga Park Slope, Brooklyn on June 2-3, 2017.  Here is a recap of the meditations we performed.

Increase the Flow of Earth Within You

Pranic Energy – the Earth Element Balanced by Ether

NM0394 – Live Above Denial

The Alchemist

Meditation: LA741 – 921125 – Dance of Shiva

Shuniya Meditations as Taught by Yogi Bhajan, Yoga West, 1994

LA0967-Division and Oneness

LA004 780109 Innocent Thumbs

Milarepa’s Song to Lady Palderboom

Today: True fellowship must be based on concerns that are universal – from the I Ching

True fellowship must be based on concerns that are universal. It is not the private interests of individuals that create lasting fellowship, but rather the goals of humanity (see yesterday).  When personal or egotistical interests coming from the leadership dominate, the fellowship will be broken and factions will form that are in conflict with each other.  Though difficult, the constituents must inform the leadership of the error of their ways.  This will not be taken kindly, but with enough decorum and grace the message will get through and have an impact.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“True fellowship among men must be based on a concern that is universal. It is not the private interests of the individual that create lasting fellowship among men, but rather the goals of humanity. That is why it is said that fellowship with men in the open succeeds. If unity of this kind prevails, even difficult and dangerous tasks, such as crossing the great water, can be accomplished. But in order to bring about this sort of fellowship, a persevering and enlightened leader is needed – a man with clear, convincing, and inspiring aims and the strength to carry them out.
There is danger here of formation of a separate faction on the basis of personal and egotistic interests. Such factions, which are exclusive and, instead of welcoming all men, must condemn one group in order to unite the others, originate from low motives and therefore lead in the course of time to humiliation.
The situation is really difficult. That which is strongest and that which is weakest are close together. The weak follows behind the strong and worries it. The strong, however, acquiesces and does not hurt the weak, because the contact is in good humor and harmless.
In terms of a human situation, one is handling wild, intractable people. In such a case one’s purpose will be achieved if one behaves with decorum. Pleasant manners succeed even with irritable people.
 “

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“Life is not set up for us to suffer ” Yogi Bhajan

“Life is not set up for us to suffer. Happiness is the birthright of the person, provided you feel ~ at least a little honestly ~ that God is within you. God is prana, life. If God is not life, then what is God? Dead? There is no dead God. God is alive. His existence is alive. As long as you live, there is a God for you. The moment you don’t live, forget it.” Yogi Bhajan
(via Ram Anand)

 

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Today: A fellowship requires a spiritual basis and a strong leader – from the I Ching

A fellowship requires a spiritual basis and a strong leader.  Only a strong moral force can unite the world.  Then, great achievements can be realized.  Recognize the obstructions and join with friends of like mind.  From this organic convergence, leadership arises.  Unswerving inner purpose will bring good fortune in the end.  Obstructions that last only for a time are useful for self-development. This is the value of adversity.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching
“The gathering together of people in large communities is either a natural occurrence, as in the case of the family, or an artificial one, as in the case of the state. The family gathers about the father as its head. The perpetuation of this gathering in groups is achieved through the sacrifice to the ancestors, at which the whole clan is gathered together. Through the collective piety of the living members of the family, the ancestors become so integrated in the spiritual life of the family that it cannot be dispersed or dissolved.
Where men are to be gathered together, religious forces are needed. But there must also be a human leader to serve as the centre of the group. In order to be able to bring others together, this leader must first of all be collected within himself. Only collective moral force can unite the world. Such great times of unification will leave great achievements behind them. This is the significance of the great offerings that are made. In the secular sphere likewise there is need of great deeds in the time of GATHERING TOGETHER.
Often a man feels an urge to unite with others, but the individuals around him have already formed themselves into a group, so that he remains isolated. The whole situation proves untenable. Then he ought to choose the way of progress, resolutely allying himself with a man who stands nearer to the centre of the group, and can help him to gain admission to the closed circle. This is not a mistake, even though at first his position as an outsider is somewhat humiliating.
Here an individual is confronted by obstacles that cannot be overcome directly. In such a situation it is wise to pause in view of the danger and to retreat. However, this is merely a preparation for overcoming the obstructions. One must join forces with friends of like mind and put himself under the leadership of a man equal to the situation: then one will succeed in removing the obstacles. This requires the will to persevere just when one apparently must do something that leads away from his goal. This unswerving inner purpose brings good fortune in the end. An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self-development. This is the value of adversity.  “

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