Vipassana means ‘to see things as they really are’.

I waited expectantly for people to begin talking to one another. It had been ten days without the luxury, and as the silence continued outside a meditation hall, an hour north of Auckland, I began to wonder whether somewhere in the last ten days, we had all lost the ability to initiate conversation. After a few minutes, small groups of people formed and the silence came to an end. Feeling slightly left out, I approached two guys I had spoken to at dinner the night before ‘Day One’ and uttered just three words; ‘ Talk to me’.

After nine months of travelling up the east coast of Australia, I was ready for a well earned rest. After a couple of recommendations from fellow travellers, I filled out the online application form to take part in a ten day silence retreat. As I arrived at the centre I realised that apart from the vow of silence that was to last the duration, my understanding of the course was limited. I knew that ten days without talking may be challenging, but knew with my background of living alone, it was a challenge I would be able to rise to. At the induction we were told that to commit to the course fully we were to adhere to certain rules, the vow of silence being one of them. We were also asked to abstain from killing, stealing, telling lies, drinking alcohol and taking part in any sexual activity. Some of the rules would prove easier to follow than others.

According to the daily schedule, the majority of the day would be spent meditating. Only once the course had finished, did I allow myself to calculate how many hours each day I had spent in meditation. I was shocked when I counted twelve and did a recount in case I had made a mistake. Mathematics had never been my strong point.

Throughout the course, rarely was I physically alone. However at times I experienced an overwhelming feeling of separation from the rest of humanity. With nearly all input taken away, there was nothing external to fill the time, nothing to distract myself from my thoughts. I could no longer ignore them with the help of a film or a book. I began searching for input. I read the fire procedure sign and the introduction leaflet, front to back, countless times. After exhausting the small amount of literature available to me, I realised I had a choice. I could either think or meditate. I crossed my legs, wrapped myself up in a blanket, closed my eyes and followed the instructions given by the teacher every evening at seven ‘o clock.

On the fourth day, I walked out of the communal meditation hall feeling like I was walking on air. I had found a state of being I thought was only reachable with the aid of substances that the code of conduct had prohibited. I was high. Everything was brighter, cleaner and sharper than before. After a few minutes of indulging in my fantasy of like always being this way, I remembered the advice of the teacher, “the pain is in the craving and aversion, everything in life is impermanent, stop reacting to that which will leave you”. I realised that this happy high would soon leave me. I wanted this feeling to go away as soon as possible, because the longer it was with me the more I would miss it when it was gone. I started purposefully thinking of sad things to trigger its departure. I sat in my room and realised that in the past I had been more comfortable with sadness than joy, because with sadness I knew where I stood. Joy was an inconsistent stranger who I would rather not know. I now understood on an experiential level that my pain was not in my emotions but in my reaction to them.

On the way back to Auckland a new friend and I stopped off at a beautiful seaside town filled with shell shops and a farmers market. We both agreed that it felt strange to be talking again. As we marvelled at how similar our experience with Vipassana had been, we ate cupcakes, drank chai latte and watched the butterflies.

Contact Matthew on www.iamlimitless.co.uk

In today’s society the complete family unit is becoming rare. Parents divorce and re-marry and families separate. Extended families begin to form and quite often pressures can build establishing relationships with people who have been forced together due to circumstances.

‘Do we have to be related to be part of a family unit’?

Many people find their family unit within their groups of friends or with people they share a common interest with, but whether we are related or not the majority of us share our home or work space with at least one other person.

It is natural for humans to disagree and have communication breakdowns.  Making a commitment as a group to participate in regular yoga sessions will enhance the bond between each individual and open the door to healthy, happy and harmonious relationships.  Conscious communication

‘Do not utter words in friendship that can be used in animosity’….yogi bhajan

When we communicate it is important to do our best to communicate from the heart, it takes practice and involves being aware of what you say to others before you actually say it. Try not to speak unnecessarily.  Words can have a profound effect once they have been spoken.  Treat those around you with the respect you wish to be treated with and communication will flourish between you and your family members.

Yogi Bhajan the master of Kundalini yoga created five rules for Harmonious Communication.

You are communicating for a better tomorrow not to spoil today.

Whatever you are going to say is going to live forever and you have to live through it, therefore take care you don’t have to live through the mud of your communication.

One wrong word said can do much more wrong than you can even imagine or even estimate.

Words spoken are a chance for communication – don’t turn them into war.

When you communicate you have to communicate again – don’t make the road rough.

Group practice 1:

These five golden rules are a perfect way to establish a strong bond between a group.   Using open discussion talk about what these words mean to each and every one of you. Consciously listen to what each family member has to say, although answers may vary use this as a learning experience and open your heart, acknowledging and respecting each persons individual view.

The practice of yoga as a family unit is not restricted to a yoga studio or class situation although this is a beneficial place to start.  It is important to set aside weekly time together as a group. In time the benefits of family yoga sessions will become apparent throughout daily life as the group begins to strengthen and grow together.  When difficult situations occur or communication breaks down then the ‘yoga tools’ are available to solve these issue before conflict arises.

Creating a connection

Creating connections with people outside the family can often be easier than connecting with those who are closest to us.  There is no right or wrong in this, but without to much thought we can take our family for granted, presuming they will always be there when we need them.  A strong connection is important and alongside conscious communication comes a good sense of trust and the ability to have fun.  Below is a group practice that can be performed with a minimum of two people.  If you are not in a class situation you may find it beneficial to nominate a family member to guide the practice so that disturbance is kept to the mimimum.

Group practice 2:

Begin by forming a circle.  Place a candle in the centre of the circle to create a peaceful atmosphere.  If a candle isn’t available reduce lighting to a minimum.  Sit with the legs crossed in easy pose and lengthen the spine.  Alternatively sit on the knees resting the buttocks on the heels in rock pose.  If the group involves elderly people you may prefer to use chairs, adjust seating to suit the needs of the group. Sit close enough to the person next to you so that you are able to touch their hands, keep the circle tight.

To begin:

Rest your left palm facing upwards on your left knee and your right palm facing down on your right knee, close your eyes and watch the breath as it moves in and out of the nostrils.  Keep the mouth softly closed and as you inhale expand the abdomen and the ribcage outwards, the diaphragm moves down gently massaging the abdominal organs.  As you exhale the abdomen contracts and the diaphragm moves up massaging the heart.  Continue for two minutes keeping your awareness on the breath.

After two minutes connect palms with the person next to you, right palm facing down left palm facing up.  Keep the intimate connection within the group.  Continue to focus on the breath.

Inhale: visualise the breath moving in through the right hand up the arm and across the chest.

Exhale: visualise the breath moving down the left arm and out through the left hand.

Let the breath pass around the circle from right to left, being aware of every emotion, sensation and feeling but keeping your focus on the movement of the breath. Continue for five minutes.

After five minutes become aware of one colour, either the first colour that comes into your mind or a colour that is significant to you.

Continue breathing up the right arm and down the left seeing your breath as a beautiful coloured light.

Pass your coloured light around the circle.  If you find it difficult to visualise colour continue focusing on the breath moving up the right arm and down the left arm.  Continue for five minutes.  This practice works intensely on opening the intuitive mind.

Keep your eyes closed and after five minutes release your hands.

Take two minutes to observe the breath and be aware of the feelings inside of your physical body.

Bring the palms of the hands together and rub the palms to create heat, make the movement fast and vigorous.

Stretch the arms out in front at shoulder level and turn the palms inwards towards the centre of the circle.

Take a deep breath in through the nose and as you exhale round the lips and slowly let out the breath. Repeat this sequence 3 times, rubbing the palms, stretching out the arms and hands and projecting the breath.

When you have completed rest your hands on your knees and embrace the stillness inside and outside your body, take a few moments and then lie down in shavasana with the feet pointing in towards the centre of the circle.

Relax and soak up the benefits of this powerful group practice. After relaxation, take time to speak individually about your experiences during this deep meditation.

I waited expectantly for people to begin talking to one another. It had been ten days without the luxury, and as the silence continued outside a meditation hall, an hour north of Auckland, I began to wonder whether somewhere in the last ten days, we had all lost the ability to initiate conversation. After a few minutes, small groups of people formed and the silence came to an end. Feeling slightly left out, I approached two guys I had spoken to at dinner the night before ‘Day One’ and uttered just three words; ‘ Talk to me’.

After nine months of travelling up the east coast of Australia, I was ready for a well earned rest. After a couple of recommendations from fellow travellers, I filled out the online application form to take part in a ten day silence retreat. As I arrived at the centre I realised that apart from the vow of silence that was to last the duration, my understanding of the course was limited. I knew that ten days without talking may be challenging, but knew with my background of living alone, it was a challenge I would be able to rise to. At the induction we were told that to commit to the course fully we were to adhere to certain rules, the vow of silence being one of them. We were also asked to abstain from killing, stealing, telling lies, drinking alcohol and taking part in any sexual activity. Some of the rules would prove easier to follow than others.

According to the daily schedule, the majority of the day would be spent meditating. Only once the course had finished, did I allow myself to calculate how many hours each day I had spent in meditation. I was shocked when I counted twelve and did a recount in case I had made a mistake. Mathematics had never been my strong point.

Throughout the course, rarely was I physically alone. However at times I experienced an overwhelming feeling of separation from the rest of humanity. With nearly all input taken away, there was nothing external to fill the time, nothing to distract myself from my thoughts. I could no longer ignore them with the help of a film or a book. I began searching for input. I read the fire procedure sign and the introduction leaflet, front to back, countless times. After exhausting the small amount of literature available to me, I realised I had a choice. I could either think or meditate. I crossed my legs, wrapped myself up in a blanket, closed my eyes and followed the instructions given by the teacher every evening at seven ‘o clock.

On the fourth day, I walked out of the communal meditation hall feeling like I was walking on air. I had found a state of being I thought was only reachable with the aid of substances that the code of conduct had prohibited. I was high. Everything was brighter, cleaner and sharper than before. After a few minutes of indulging in my fantasy of like always being this way, I remembered the advice of the teacher, “the pain is in the craving and aversion, everything in life is impermanent, stop reacting to that which will leave you”. I realised that this happy high would soon leave me. I wanted this feeling to go away as soon as possible, because the longer it was with me the more I would miss it when it was gone. I started purposefully thinking of sad things to trigger its departure. I sat in my room and realised that in the past I had been more comfortable with sadness than joy, because with sadness I knew where I stood. Joy was an inconsistent stranger who I would rather not know. I now understood on an experiential level that my pain was not in my emotions but in my reaction to them.

On the way back to Auckland a new friend and I stopped off at a beautiful seaside town filled with shell shops and a farmers market. We both agreed that it felt strange to be talking again. As we marvelled at how similar our experience with Vipassana had been, we ate cupcakes, drank chai latte and watched the butterflies.

Contact Matthew on www.iamlimitless.co.uk

Sitting in your usual meditation position, begin to centre yourself with your breathing.

Now focus on your breath. Close your eyes. Begin to concentrate on your breathing.

Always focus on each breath. If you become distracted return to your breath.
Take a few minutes of this breathing relaxation to prepare for your mindful meditation. Inhale and exhale…

You breathe out and as your breath goes out into your Aura, you are aware of your auric field. You feel as if your Aura is a bubble of energy surrounding you.

Now focuses on your breath again breathe in and out.

Feel the cool air at the tip of your nose, warm breath as you breathe out. Follow the breath into your chest and heart centre. Feel yourself bathed in golden sunlight.

Then you find yourself rising upwards, with in your aura. The Golden light surrounding you lifting you .You feel as light as a feather…

The atmosphere within your aura is peaceful and you feel refreshed and energised.

Then you become aware of the presence. Before you stands Archangel Michael. Surrounded with golden light, like the sun. You might see him as a colour, a vibration or as he is usually painted in pictures. However you see him or sense him, you know he is there.

Archangel Michael has come to you to help you to removal of any old stuck energy connected to old memories, events or people or any negative energy you may hold with in you.

When you are ready to be released from these old stuck situations, ask Archangel Michael uses his sword of light to remove these old chords that can tie you to the past. Ask him now to remove anything that keeps you stuck in the past. See the sword flashing its light all around you to cut these old chords or ties. Then Archangel Michael gives you the sword to hold. It’s not heavy. It is weightless, made of pure light. As you hold it, its light fills every part of you. Feel it filling your feet, legs, body, arms, neck and head. You become filled with light, and the shadows of old energy dissolves. Ask Archangel Michael to send protection into the areas that have been healed.

You can always ask Michael to come to you when you need it to remove any stuck situations in your life. You give the sword back to Archangel Michael.

It is time to return now. Thanking Archangel Michael for all that has been released and protected. You feel the energy change Archangel Michael has gone. You are back within the Golden light of your aura. Take a deep breath in until you find yourself sitting in your room again. Begin to ground yourself by breathing more deeply, feel the solidity of the floor, the ground and start to stretch and open your eyes.

by Aurora Brierley

Stress has become an almost inevitable consequence of the travails of modern living. And stress is the biggest factor contributing to widespread prevalence of ailments like heart diseases, hypertension, insomnia, depression, anxiety to name but a few. Most of the mental disturbances and psychosomatic diseases that people have these days are secondary to the fact that our mind is not stable, not balanced and we don’t know how to access the immense potentiality of our mind.

It is always mind over matter. A disturbed, unstable mind will inevitably lead to disturbed functioning of the body. So it goes without saying that a healthy mind is the key to a healthy body.  These days, people have increased awareness towards taking care of their body and the health conscious ones do try to take care of their diet, exercising etc. However, there is still insufficient awareness in maintaining a healthy mind and coping with stress.

So, what is Yog-Nidra?

Yog-Nidra is an ancient tantric method, which can open up the latent potentiality of the human mind.  Yog-Nidra literally means yogic sleep which in essence is conscious sleep or rather, dynamic sleep. It is a kind of deep sleep in which you don’t lose consciousness; it is sleep with a trace of awareness. It is a state of mind which is in-between wakefulness and the state of dreaming.

Ordinarily there are three states of consciousness viz waking, dreaming and state of deep sleep. In the waking state the conscious mind is working, in the state of dreaming the subconscious mind is working and in a state of deep sleep, the unconscious mind is working.

Most people are either awake or sleeping; but between the two there is a stage when one is neither fully awake nor fully asleep – this stage is extremely subtle and Yog-Nidra takes you into this very subtle, very fine middle stage.

In this state the mind is tremendously relaxed. The practice of Yog Nidra results in releasing of all muscular, emotional and mental tensions. It is a very effective form of complete psychic and physiological rest and rejuvenation.

Normally, when you sleep, you do not unburden totally. One carries the frustrations, conflict, pain, and turmoil; and hence, sleep never goes deep. The practice of Yog-Nidra not only relaxes but restructures and reforms our whole personality from within. We burn old habitual tendencies and in a way, are born anew with every Yog-Nidra session.

There are several techniques available to achieve the state of yog nidra. The practice devised for beginners is a simple process that lasts for around 35 minutes. The best part is that it is done lying down in a relaxed position, eyes closed. Then one simply follows the instructions given by the master who has designed this technique.

In brief, there are four stages: first one lies down in the right position, relaxes the body and keeps it still. This is followed by making a resolve mentally – this can be anything like good health, peace, spiritual upliftment etc. However, the resolve should be from the realm of spirituality – because chasing the material world is what has caused stress in the first place!

Then awareness is rotated from one body part to the other. One just becomes aware of the said body part but don’t actually move that part. This is followed by breath awareness and reverse counting of the breath as explained in the CD.

The third stage is of mental visualization wherein one is asked to imagine and recall all memories related to that word (if any) for e.g., white clouds, walking on an isolated beach, a vast desert etc.

The last stage is to repeat the same resolve one had made earlier and finally, you will again be taken to the level of body awareness before the process of Yog-Nidra is over and you can then sit up.

In Yog-Nidra, you do not have to concentrate or focus, instead you move your consciousness from one part of the body to another effortlessly; concentration will rather create obstruction. Sometimes, you will be close to your senses and then you will glide away; when consciousness is suspended for a few moments, periodically, which means that it alternates between sub-conscious and unconscious states.

It is a powerful way of reshaping your entire personality and gives a new direction to your life. The sub-conscious mind and the unconscious mind are the most powerful forces present in the human being. Sub-conscious mind has limitless potential and is a very obedient disciple.

Benefits of Yog Nidra in brief:

Releases all types of tensions: muscular, emotional and mental

 Enhances ability to learn:

Teaching the subconscious mind is as easy as, teaching the conscious mind is difficult. A practical angle of Yog-Nidra is that it increases the capacity to absorb knowledge from external sources.

 Yog-Nidra as a tool to enhance spiritual practice:

It is a unique method of meditation and is an extremely useful state for enhancing one’s spiritual evolution.

 Yog-Nidra & Freedom from Fear

 Yog-Nidra relaxes the muscles, mind and intellect. When you reach such a state of total relaxation, you can release and destroy all afflictions lying deep in the subconscious and unconscious mind. Visualization is the most important step in Yog-Nidra. In this step, you see every scene on your mental screen and experience the emotions associated with it. Whether it is a rising sun, a rose or a lake, when you visualize a scene at the level of consciousness, the experiences and past mental impressions associated with it are aroused. Yog-Nidra can help to get rid of phobias.

 Yog-Nidra & Creativity:

When you get physical, mental, emotional and intellectual rest and relaxation in Yog-Nidra, there is a complete equilibrium established between the mind and the brain. Creativity – music, painting, art, singing, and dance – all these talents take birth in the brain. If your brain is not in harmony, all these faculties will lie dormant.

 Yog-Nidra and Insomnia:

Sleeplessness or insomnia causes irritability, sadness and tension, amongst other things. Insomnia is, in fact, a serious disorder which leads to all kinds of diseases and Yog-Nidra is a wonderful way to treat it. Once your sleep pattern is set right, the same Yog-Nidra can be used to increase your power of concentration, and to experience deep meditation. If you do it just before going to bed at night, you will sleep well; if you do it during the day, your memory and concentration levels will go up.

Yog Nidra is not hypnotherapy. In Yog-Nidra you are fully alert and aware, and you move from one stage to another with this full awareness.

Yog-Nidra is not auto-suggestion

As soon as the body relaxes, you may fall asleep. At times you will reach the breathing stage and then fall asleep while doing the counting. This is why you should never do Yog-Nidra on your own

Yog Nidra is for one and all

Yog Nidra can be performed by people of all ages including young children and helps them to calm down, to relax and enhance their learning and grasping ability.

There is more to Yog-Nidra than the information that has been provided here.  It should be done by everyone, regardless of whether you are an insomniac or not, regardless of whether you are diseased or not, regardless of whether you are stressed or not; whether you are a spiritual aspirant or not.

It will rejuvenate you fantastically on all planes: physical, emotional and mental. So, get ready to be completely invigorated, completely de-stressed, and enter the remarkable realm of Yog Nidra for wholesome, peaceful, joyful and creative living.

About the author: The advocated technique of Yog Nidra has been created by the enlightened master, Anandmurti Gurumaa for beginners and has benefited scores of people world over

For any more information, please contact:

Dr Urmila Pandey MD, FRCPath, FEBP, Consultant Histopathologist, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Nuneaton CV 10 7DJ

Urmila.Pandey@geh.nhs.uk

Or visit the website: www.gurumaa.com

And did you know that your endless search for happiness and love won’t be fulfilled until you discover just who you are not?
Unknowingly, our lives are a product of the ‘me’ that we think we are. This ‘me’ consists of a mass of uninvestigated beliefs that tells us what reality is.

We think that reality occurs externally from and independently of the mind, but that’s not true. Quantum physics has a theory called the “observer effect” which illustrates that no reality exists externally from or independently of the mind because we, as ‘observers’, affect reality: we make it. As the ‘Law of Attraction’ rightly teaches, we do have the power to manifest.

The challenge we all face is that the uninvestigated ‘me’ is the ego, the one that’s plagued by intermittent fears, relationship break-ups, financial difficulties and ill-health. It’s a false-self, a mental construct and one that’s life mantra is seek and never find. Until we’re brave enough to undo this self-image we can use the law of attraction all we want but it will be manifesting from the unconscious mantra, ‘seek and never find’. Yes, you’ll probably attract a new love, car, wealth, or career however the ego will make sure you lose in another area of your life. It sets us up for repeated suffering. This way we stay ever focused on the cycle of ‘desiring, having and becoming’…but you won’t have peace.

According to ‘A Course in Miracles’, we effectively introduced an alternate mind reality (dream) which we call the human ego. Its claim to fame was that it truly believed that it should play the role of God by usurping God’s power. The cost of this universal charade was immense. Massive unconscious guilt was the legacy of shunning the Creator to make this often loveless reality we call the cycle of life and death. The monumental guilt we felt just had to be placed somewhere where we did not have to face it; where it was unseen and that’s when we came up with the ‘projection’ idea. In projecting the concept of separation (duality) we off – loaded our deep unconscious guilt by projecting it onto others thus believing that we were the victims of others & external influences.

Where Are You on the Guilt Meter?
The reality you see out there is made by your own ego-mind’s projection. It’s an outward manifestation of your unconscious beliefs. Every person, every thing or situation is your movie. What you perceive out there is a product of what you believe. So, trusting what you see ‘out there’ to be the truth is fallacy. Your mind together with the collective minds of the world have made this reality, so if you want externals to change there’s only one central place from which to make that change; your own mind. We are the ‘cause’ of our life, and life is the ‘effect’, not the other way around. The ‘Guilt Meter’ below (taken from ‘Take Me to Truth, Undoing the Ego’) is an attempt to help us quickly identify any unconscious guilt that causes suffering in us. It shows us, in some ways how the ego’s unconscious guilt manifests in our lives. You can gauge any unconscious guilt to the degree that you still experience the following:

· You either judge others or perceive them judging you
· You react negatively to a perceived offence ( with anger, defense, frustration or judgment etc,)
· You judge yourself
· You experience seeming injustice in the form of perceived attack
· You perceive threat or anxiety in the case of personal or worldly adversity
· Your perceived needs appear not to be met (money, relationships, etc)
· You experience “doubt” in the beneficence of your life. 
· You perceive struggle or sacrifice
· You feel physical discomfort or uneasy

Guilt is the core and the fuel of the ego. Most of this guilt is not observable to us; it’s hidden. Where? Most of it appears outside and in others! Your own unhealed guilt is hidden in everyone and everything else. And anytime you judge another, or feel attacked, is when you are ‘projecting’ your very own guilt. There is only one of us in this ego dream, appearing as many.

There is an all-loving Creator, perhaps not unlike an infinite holographic mirror. We just happen to have forgotten that we are all fragments of that one mirror. An all-loving Creator is LOVE, that means that no-thing other than LOVE exists, period. Fear & suffering do not exist except in a dream, one that we’re having right now. We are dreaming that we separated from God and made a world where we each appeared to be separate. To begin healing our perception we need to recognize that whatever may upset us presents us with a useful catalyst to help us undo the ego. Undoing our old perception through forgiveness reveals true love, peace and happiness; the kind that can’t be affected by anyone or anything. Struggle, sacrifice and suffering must fall away when we undo the ego, the false-self.

Recently, there has been an evolutionary leap in our collective search for ‘purpose and meaning’. Beyond the confines of organized religion, a surge of independent spiritual seekers are questing for Truth. Heaven is not a place we go to after death; it’s a state of mind that is our natural inheritance once we have demolished our ego’s perception. Infinite love permeates every particle of our existence, because anything that is not love does not exist. If we see or feel anything other than love, then we literally perceive illusion. To the degree we still perceive suffering of any kind is the degree to which we must undo the ego.

By: Take Me to The Truth

Footnote: Nouk Sanchez & Tomas Vieira, authors of ‘Take Me to Truth, Undoing the Ego’. Visit: www.takemetotruth.com

In fact it is our normal, natural state. If we break it down, being enlightened is about living a life of extending ourselves in love and forgiveness, which I need to qualify. By forgiveness I mean that nothing really happened! It doesn’t mean that I’m big enough to forgive you, which implies that something really did happen! Being enlightened is also about not investing in the daily fears our ego subjects us to.

What? Could it be that simple? Yes it is. The only difficulty is our investment in our ego, which we believe to be real. In fact our body, our job, our perceptions and judgments….this whole life we think we are living is just a charade, all a massive investment we made up to hide our shame because we believe we have betrayed God!

Yet clues and aides to living an enlightened life abound. In fact they are right before us every waking moment of our lives. As soon as we wake up, we have a choice to let the day’s worry fill our space or realize that regardless of what we do, we are and have always been, safe at home with God. We realize that this day is in fact an illusion save the opportunities to offer love and forgiveness.

At work, we interact with our fellow staff and customers. Here we are presented with multiple opportunities to offer only acceptance and forgiveness. When someone is seemingly causing conflict, it is an opportunity for us to extend forgiveness and love because we realize that the other person does not realize who he/she is. By not reacting, we mirror to them who they are and we reclaim another part of our Unified Self. When challenged to assert our self, it is a signal that we have temporarily forgotten who we are and we should be grateful rather than react with attack or defence.

Back at home in the evenings, the news entertains us with stories of terror and loss and the occasional ‘saving a cat from a tree’ story. Notice how we take sides depending on our values and beliefs. Here again is a wonderful opportunity to forgive on a global scale, which is no different to forgiving our family members, work colleagues or clients.

I’ll bet I can hear your mind going through the motions, “Yes, but….there are always exceptions.” In fact there are no exceptions. There are no degrees of error or forgiveness! Herein lays the core of the ego. It loves judgments and degrees of right and wrong, because its whole being is based on duality. So long as you embrace duality you maintain separation from The Unified Self.

Here’s another often spoken statement – “The devil’s in the detail.” I like this one. For me this is a true statement if I substitute ‘ego’ for devil. The ego is always looking for degrees of right and wrong and levels of love and forgiveness. It constantly looks into the details to find ways of separating you from others and yourself and making you unhappy!

Our illusions of duality maintain our separation from one another and prevent us from seeing our Oneness by keeping us in perpetual conflict. Forever judging and maneuvering. Just stop for a few minutes and ask yourself how much energy you invest in making and maintaining judgments every day? How much effort is spent on trying to change others perceptions of you? How much conscious effort goes into ‘doing the right thing’ by your partner, workmate, customer? Do you think it’s natural to have to spend so much time and effort maintaining relationships and making sense of your world?

If our natural state is enlightened already, then can you imagine just how much the ego’s belief system has obscured from our awareness? Enlightenment therefore is a demolition project. We can’t get there without dismantling everything we think we know to be real. It’s about unlearning anything that keeps us tied into believing we must maintain control.

There is only here and now. Our Unified Self is already enlightened; everyone is. This is not a state or experience to accomplish through external searching and accumulated knowledge. And it doesn’t come closer just because you’re improving your self-esteem or meditating more. The most difficult challenge to removing the blocks that conceal our enlightenment, is the act of surrender. This is the unconditional acceptance of ‘what is’.

We remember who we are by seeing the Truth in everyone, no matter what their ego projects. While we perceive reality from behind the lens of our false-identity, we haven’t a clue as to ‘who’ we are, nor anyone else! We will find our Self through training ourselves to overlook error in others. As we begin to see others without their ego projections, we’ll be seeing Truth beneath the illusion. Now, watch for the miraculous transformation as our very own enlightened state begins to be revealed.
Clearly, there is no peace where duality resides and how can that be a normal state for us?

In truth, we have never left Home and being enlightened is really just remembering who we are and the eternal peace that comes from that space.

By: Take Me to the Truth

Nouk Sanchez and Tomas Vieira- ‘Take Me to Truth, Undoing the Ego’. Release: Sept.2007
For more info on workshops, visit: www.takemetotruth.com
We’d love to hear from you, contact us at: info@takemetotruth.com

This is a fundamental question which will tell me whether there is any trace left of the innocent, trusting child you once were. Life has a habit of chipping away at us until we can hardly recognise ourselves any more. However, if you still believe in magic, then there may be hope for you.

If you find yourself resisting the idea that magic exists, then I want you to suspend your disbelief for a short while and pretend that you really do believe. I want you to take your doubts, your cynicism, your fears of looking foolish, and put them all away in a small box at the back of your mind – you can always get them back again whenever you think you might need them. Now let’s play a game of make believe.

Let’s pretend that you can do magic. Let’s pretend that you can conjure up anything your heart desires. What would you do? I know that everyone’s initial reaction will be to create a great big pile of money, enough to pay off all your debts, quit your lousy job, buy the home of your dreams and take a really long holiday somewhere warm and wonderful. Okay, now you have all that – what else do you want?

Let me guess. You want to be beautiful and slim and healthy and successful. You want to be happy and fulfilled and loved by all who know you. You want to find your soul mate and spend the rest of your days with them, in blissful abandon, enjoying all the wondrous things that life has to offer. You have chosen well, but you can have more if you want.

How about having the whole enchilada? Why not fulfil every dream you ever had? Didn’t you once want to be a famous singer, star in the movies, write that bestselling novel? I remember you – weren’t you going to change the world? Well, what ever happened to all those dreams? Are they gone for good or can you get them back again? This is make-believe after all, so you can have all your dreams come true.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. I know we have just been playing make believe and it has been a lot of fun, but now we need to decide if simply dreaming of a better life is enough for us. Remember, if you believe in magic, then there is hope for you. For if you believe in magic then these dreams you have do not have to stay in your imagination, you have the power to make them real. Yes, it’s a big leap to go from daydreaming to actually doing, but it can be done, I’ve seen it done, I’ve even done it myself.

How do you do it? Well, first of all, you believe it can be done. This is crucial, and without this step you will not be able to realize your dream. Next, you think about what you desire for a long time, planning every tiny detail. When you feel ready you take that first small step, followed quickly by another and another. Progress will be slow at first, but you must not give up, even when it looks as if you will almost certainly fail. You must refuse to let go of your dream, and I promise you, one morning you will wake up and find, as if by magic, it has come true.

Then you know what you do next? You have another dream.

By Sue Vincent

Okay, I hear you all saying – so what’s this got to do with us? Well, I think that in seeking spiritual answers to your problems and questioning what you have been taught by society, you have chosen to walk the road less travelled. Be warned, this is not an easy path – it is steep, it is jagged and there are rocks strewn all around.

Doing nothing is easy, change is hard. Why not just settle for less? Why not just accept that for you, this is the most life has to offer? Everybody around you seems to be satisfied with just putting in the hours and collecting their pay cheque. They seem to think that the minimum wage is all that they can achieve, and sign their lives away on 25 year mortgages and debt consolidation loans. They are glad to get four weeks holiday a year, and steal an odd day off pretending they’re sick.

They have made their choice, and it’s enough for them. They’ve joined the masses on life’s highway and are too busy keeping their head down and just getting by to notice that life has anything more to offer. You, on the other hand, have raised your head up and looked to the horizon. You have glimpsed another way. You have seen individuals dotted here and there, dropping out of the trudging mass and looking about them with a strange expression on their faces. Relief, excitement, happiness or maybe it is hope.

Suddenly, before you fully realised what was happening you had pushed through the crowd, and broken free of the many. Like us, you had chosen to walk with the few. Other people wonder why you do it, why you choose to expose yourself to the risks on that road, surely it’s better to follow everyone else. But that life is not for me, and something tells me it is not for you either. It doesn’t matter if you stumble or fall, it doesn’t matter if you can’t walk as fast as others, and it doesn’t matter if you sometimes feel lost or unsure of which direction to take. What matters is that you are embracing life.

It’s not your imagination – the air is sweeter, the water purer, the sun hotter, the winds colder, the whole world is suddenly more exuberant. Yes, it’s hard work. Yes, it’s risky. Yes, it could get a lot worse before it gets any better. But, I’m glad I took this road. I don’t mind if it challenges me, I don’t care if I keep slipping, and I’m not bothered if I can’t get there today. I am happy just to be on the journey. Look at that blue sky, feel the warmth of that sun, breathe in that pure air – isn’t life grand? Don’t hesitate, don’t waste another moment, and don’t throw away your life on someone else’s dream. Come walk with us on the road less travelled.

By: Suzanne Vincent

SCRIPT FOR THE GUIDE: (To be read in a gentle trance-inducing voice). Make yourself comfortable and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths to help you relax. Feel the tension disappear stage by stage from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Let your surroundings fade away as you gradually sink backwards through time and actuality and pass through the gateway of this reality into the dreamtime. (When the participants are fully relaxed, begin the next stage).

You find yourself standing in the open air, in the countryside, a place you know well, a place that you have visited many times before, either in your everyday life or in your dreams. You look for an opening into the earth – maybe a rabbit warren, maybe a cave, maybe a hole in the ground – and you find one. You find one that feels just right for you. And from there you start to lower yourself down, lower and lower you go, out of the darkness and into the light, until eventually you feel the solid ground under your feet once again. At first the light blinds you after the darkness, but gradually you get accustomed to it. Look around you. What do you see, what do you hear, what do you taste on your lips, what do you smell, and what you feel? Take a minute of clock time, equal to all the time you need, to explore this special place, this place of power for you …

And now, coming towards you, you see a figure, not a human one. What kind of creature is it? This creature is your friend and is coming both to support you and give you guidance. Take a minute of clock time, equal to all the time you need, to get to know each other, and find out what special qualities your Helper has to offer…..

And now perhaps you have a question you’d like to ask, either a personal; question, or a question of global concern. Take a minute of clock time, equal to all the time you need, to ask, and listen to the advice your new friend has to give. Before you leave, make sure you thank your Helper, promise to honour the advice you’ve been given, and also that you’ll return again. And now that the purpose of your journey has been accomplished, now that you have been given the support and encouragement that only your Helper can give you, the time has come to make your way back home. Higher and higher up to your everyday world you climb, higher and higher until you reach the surface once again, and back to the place you started from.

Take a deep breath, let it all out slowly, open your eyes, and smile at the first person you see. Stretch your arms, stretch your legs, stamp your feet on the ground, and make sure you’re really back, back in …, back where you started from. Welcome home!

Now take a few minutes in silence to make some notes on the experiences you had on your journeys, which you can then share with the rest of the group.

Now take a few minutes in silence to make some notes on the experiences you had on your journeys, which you can then make a note of in your dream journal.

And now you might like to turn to the person sitting next to you and share some of the experiences you had on your journeys

By: Michael Berman

Bibliography

Ford, J. (2008) Never Point at a Rainbow, Newtown, Powys: Superscript Books.

King, C. (2008) The Ghost of Freedom, New York: Oxford University Press Inc.

Wardrop, M. (1894) Georgian Folk Tales, London: David Nutt

Michael Berman BA, MPhil, PhD (Alternative Medicines) works as a teacher and a writer. Publications include A Multiple Intelligences Road to an ELT Classroom and The Power of Metaphor for Crown House, The Nature of Shamanism and the Shamanic Story for Cambridge Scholars Publishing, and Tell Us A Story (a resource book for teachers on storytelling) for Brain Friendly Publications. Shamanic Journeys through Daghestan and Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus are both due to be published in paperback by O-Books in 2009. Michael has been involved in teaching and teacher training for over thirty years, has given presentations at Conferences in more than twenty countries, and hopes to have the opportunity to visit many more yet.

Although Michael originally trained as a Core Shamanic Counsellor with the Scandinavian Centre for Shamanic Studies under Jonathan Horwitz, these days his focus is more on the academic side of shamanism, with a particular interest in the folktales with shamanic themes told by and collected from the peoples of the Caucasus. For more information, please visit www.Thestoryteller.org.uk

If you have enjoyed this article or any of Michael’s articles please check out his books (covers below) on Amazon.

These teachings were not only true in ancient times, but are also true now and are used by many Hawaiians today, even though they may not be aware of the source. Most Hawaiians live western lives and culture, and sadly are unaware of their marvellous heritage. However, there is a growing resurgence, and these teachings are growing stronger after a long dormant period., to come back to help us all to live our lives more easily. Some would say that in order to even read this you probably have a past life in Hawai’i.

The Huna system of healing, spirit and wisdom is as complete as any other system on the planet. We share with you today a small part of the ancient traditions of Hawai’i, and the respect we have for the culture, for the wisdom of the elders and our ancestors. We share from an unbroken lineage stretching back thousands of years. Some say 35,000 years, from before Atlantis and before even Lemuria.

Lineage is very important, and I am delighted to be able to pass this on to you. All wisdom is from my teachers, and all mistakes are my own. From Tad & Matt James, and ‘Uncle’ George Lanakilakeikiahiali’I Naope, Kahuna Po’o O ka Hula, and Hula Masters Etua Lopes of Kona, and John Ka’imikaua of Molaka’i, with additional teachings from Serge Kahili King of Kau’i.

This is why Huna has correspondences with most other systems: guardian spirit – native American; 4/5 elements – alchemy, hermetic, celtic, Egyptian; Dream-time – maori, aborigine, native American; spell-casting – wicca; ho’omanaloa energy healing –Philippines, Reiki; herbal healing and astrology – most systems; and many more.

The principles of Huna are powerfully simple: if something increases your life force energy, then do more of it and if something decreases your life force energy, then do less of it. So just for a moment go ahead and fully consider, how easily you can change your life to follow this timeless advice?

Each island, and even each family, had its own traditions, so you may see variations on the teachings given here. This does not make one better or worse, only different. Like a new overcoat, try on each idea. Some will fit straight away, some you will grow into with practice. Do not do these because I say so, try them because they work for you.

You are in good company. Millions all over the world are awakening to the great joy and resurgence in these most ancient teachings. I’m sure you’ve noticed more and more people are tuning in, connecting and paying attention to the usefulness of these ancient timeless truths in these high-stress, over-busy, fast-paced modern times.

Unfortunately when the missionaries arrived, they did not understand what they found, and sadly these teachings were banned in the ‘land of the free’ until 1989, so this may well be your first discovery of these powerful and uplifting teachings.

The Kahuna or specialist experts/Professors, knew that although we are one holistic whole, it is extremely useful to understand ourselves as having 3 minds, each with differing roles. Very briefly:

Firstly there is your conscious mind, that you are thinking with right now. This is where you direct your life, make decisions and understand concepts.

Secondly, you have an unconscious mind, which runs your body, maintains your habits, values and beliefs, stores your memories and is the seat of your emotions and feelings.

Thirdly your higher conscious mind or higher self. This is your connection to the infinite universal energy, or God as some call it, sometimes called higher spirit, holy spirit, guardian spirit or guardian angel.

However, one mind may not tell another what to do, which is why you can’t just tell yourself to quit smoking or lose weight instantly.

We are fortunate to be able to teach a most beautiful ceremony in our classes where most students are able to easily connect with their higher self, a very powerful and uplifting experience.

However, for many of us in the west, we are so caught up in conscious mind activities such as work, computers, TV or reading that we create blockages to our unconscious self. This means that we are less in touch with our inner feelings and emotions, and so we feel unhappy but don’t know why, or we do things we regret later. Huna teaches you how to easily clear these blockages to live a simpler, happier, less anxious and less angry and more fulfilled life.

The Hawaiians didn’t stop there, but invented numerous ceremonies and techniques to enhance their life force energy, including breathing, meditation and Hulahula.

Hula isn’t just about grass-skirted dancers in Elvis Presley movies, although it can be. This style is called ‘Hula Mele’ and is considered akin to our pop music.

Hula Kahiko is the more ancient style, and is more chant-based, similar to our hymns, although with dancing and music is a lot more lively and fun! These dances, singing and chants are considered a ‘body-prayer’, an offering of fun, light-heartedness to the ‘goddess’ Laka, spirit of the Hula.

Once again, the missionaries misunderstood the Hawaiians who appeared to revere carved wooden poles, one for each spirit. In fact, the Hawaiians believe that we are all part of one whole, unifying and connected universal energy, of which there are many aspects, and therefore many ‘gods’.

Each place has its own spirit, and each wind, each rain, each tree, each rock, each animal and each human. So we humans and the land are one indivisible whole. Humans are not superior to any part of nature, and the Hawaiians go to great lengths to always give back, whenever they take anything from nature, often giving gifts or offerings of flowers or chants to the spirits of the ancestors.

In a way, we do this too, naming mountains and lakes as well as hurricanes (eg Katrina).

At the deepest and highest levels, the universe consists of a pure potentiality of both everything and nothing. A dichotomy known as  IO. This splits into the greater male energy, known as the creator-god Kane, representing form, action, and structure, whilst the feminine aspect of the universe is called Na Wahine, representing pure energy, the spark to ignite Kane into action.

There are many gods and goddesses, or aspects to spirit in the Hawaiian system. Probably the best known is Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. The Hawaiian islands have all been created by volcanic action, and Pele is still active in the south of the Big Island of Hawai’i, spewing out molten lava and creating new land mass as the lava cools.

Having walked through the Kilauea crater, it is hard to overestimate the power of Pele, and settlers who get too close have seen their houses go up in flames as the lave changes direction. Each year, tons of volcanic rocks are returned by mail to the Park Rangers as tourists have found the fast transformational energy of cooled lava to be too much upheaval for them. One lady who planted lava rock all around her garden, and was then surprised when her house caught on fire!

In such a short space it is not possible to give you a full flavour of the power and depth of the healing and spirit of the Hawaiian traditions. I have seen a paralysed man regain full use of his arm and leg in an hour, arthritis and rheumatism reduced and IBS and many other ailments cleared in just minutes.

Everyone who experiences Higher-Self Connection finds it to be a deeply touching and uplifting experience to literally touch the face of Spirit.

The best way to learn Huna is to do it. Either an introductory workshop, or even better, a spiritual retreat in Hawaii itself, as the energy there is fabulous!

Mahalo, thank you for reading, if you would like to improve your relationships, your health or your wealth, I would love to hear from you!

By Gary Plunkett © 2007
Student and Certified Teacher of Hawaiian Huna, 0800 458 56799

www.spiritofhawaii.co.uk

So what is Meditation?

The word meditation simply means to think or to heal. A lot of people believe that to meditate is to stop thinking but this is not the aim although it is true that when a person has had a lot of practice at meditating thinking often stops and there is the experience of just ‘being’. Meditation also heals the hurt in the soul, hurt which has been inflicted by life on this world. Even if we only spend a few moments in silence each day this will remind us of who we are, spiritual beings, and that our true state is peace.

I have been practicing and teaching with the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University for 26 years now, and as a result of this, my life has completely changed for the better. My first experience gained from meditation was one of peace and a feeling of being uplifted. People often say to me that after meditating for the first time that they didn’t have an experience but when I ask them if they felt peaceful whilst meditating they reply that they did. I then point ouT that to feel peaceful is a good experience in itself!

There are many different ways of meditating and the one practiced by the Brahma Kumaris is somewhat different to the others. Firstly we meditate with our eyes open. The reasons for this are very practical. Keeping the eyes open helps to prevent one from falling asleep – sleep is not the intention – rather we want to be balanced on a thin line of awareness. Secondly we meditate whilst walking along and carrying out simple tasks which don’t require much concentration, and especially whilst cooking our food. So you see, it makes sense to have our eyes open because otherwise we would walk into something or trip over some obstacle.

When someone first comes to the Brahma Kumaris to learn to meditate they take the foundation course in meditation which is free. The course includes the method and experience of meditation and how to make meditation and spirituality a part of daily life. Also students gain a grounding in spiritual knowledge, an understanding of the nature of the self and God and the philosophy of karma and the cycle of time.

The student learns that they are not really this physical body but a spiritual being, an eternal soul, a tiny point of energy and this spiritual being just happens to be in this body at this time but it is not the body. The body is entrusted to the soul for the period of a lifetime and the soul gives life to the body. They also have the opportunity to sit and meditate with an experienced Raja Yogi and it is in this way this easy but uplifting method of meditation is learned.

When beginning to meditate, we turn our thoughts inward to a point behind the forehead where the spiritual being, the soul, sits and begin to realise the wonderful innate qualities of the soul which have become hidden during life on this world. These qualities are peace, love, light, happiness, contentment and many more. The practice of meditation brings out these qualities so that we can use them as values in our lives.

We go on to make contact with the higher source of power – the Supreme Soul, God, and to create a link with that one. This is something too beautiful to describe in mere words. This experience is known as yoga and it is the power of this yoga, which enables us to bring about transformation in ourselves eliminating weaknesses, building on strengths and reclaiming the soul’s original state of total peace. We cannot change others or the world, but when we change then this will bring about change in the world.

Raja Yoga isn’t only a method of meditation; for those of us who take up the practice, and want to bring about change in our lives, it is a total way of life. Of course, we still live in the world, have jobs, families, friends but our spiritual life is very important, and we carry with us the awareness of who and what we are.

The basic foundation course is just the beginning and we have an opportunity to go on to study further, being encouraged to study ourselves and we soon see how we can create a new and beautiful way of being.

The Brahma Kumaris also offer free courses in Positive Thinking, Self Esteem, Anger Management and Stress Free Living, as well as offering self-development talks, workshops and seminars. We also have a very beautiful Retreat Centre – Global Retreat Centre, at Nuneham Courtenay, Oxford where there is the opportunity to experience day and weekend retreats.

The benefits of Raja Yoga meditation include inner peace, relaxation of body, mind and spirit, new attitudes and responses to life, positive relationships, a deep sense of self worth, a sense of purpose, contentment and better concentration.

By Sheila Hammond

To find out where your nearest Brahma Kumaris representative is located please telephone 0191 284 7681 so that I can pass this information on to you or go to our website www.bkwsu.org.uk and www.bkpublications.com
Sheila Hammond