Tuesday, October 29, 2019

All is Well



“ The softest thing in the universe overcomes the hardest thing in the universe.
That without substance can enter where there is no room.
Hence I know the value of non-action.
Teaching without words and work without doing
Are understood by very few.”

 Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching


Birds need to fly so that they can figure out what the sky is like.
Fish need to swim to figure out what the ocean is like.
Human beings need to live in order to figure out what this world is like.

Birds don’t need to think…they just fly. Fish don’t need an education…they just swim.

Live like that.
Do what comes naturally.
Drop all the unnecessary baggage.

Breathe. Sit. Eat.Walk. Work. Love.  Sleep.
No effort, just go with the flow.

Cultivate the field of the heart and Life will plant the right seeds.
So think less, feel more.
The deeper you let yourself feel, the more you understand the joy of Being.

See with your gut, not just your eyes.
Experience the world directly without the distorting filter of the mind.

Return to innocence – unlearn!
Approach life openly with love and wonder – be aware, be awake.

Just be.


All is magic. All is well.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Glance of Grace


“I found in the glance of the Maharishi, the sizzling brilliance of the sun. My breath seemed to stop and my mind was elevated into some spiritual realm of unutterable peace and happiness.” Swami Madhavatirtha


“ For half an hour, I looked into the Maharshi’s eyes which never changed their expression of deep contemplation. I began to realize somewhat that the body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. I could feel that this master’s body was not the man; it was the instrument of God, merely a sitting, motionless corpse, from which God was radiating terrifically. My own feelings were indescribable.” Frank Humphreys, British police officer, one of the first Westerners to meet Ramana Maharishi

That lightning flashing from the Master’s eyes, burning away all illusion,
That compassionate look, like radiant moonlight, filled with unconditional love,
That gentle benediction healing all wounds and bestowing perfect ripeness,
That glance of grace, granting fearlessness and immortality;
The Guru’s gaze is itself the greatest blessing.

When I fell at his feet in total surrender,
the lotus of my Heart blossomed before the rising sun of the Self:
What a wonder! Such an infinite ocean of blissful peace!

Beyond matter and mind, nothing exists but the vast space of his Light.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!

Master, disciple, God and world are all ONE .



“To the seer, all things have verily become the Self: what delusion, what sorrow, can there be for him who beholds that oneness?” – Isa Upanishad

“By your very look, you granted me total fearlessness, sublime joy and infinite peace ;now I rest in my true divine nature, endlessly singing your praise!” Murugunar, devotee of Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Only ONE


The mystics and wise men of all religions and races, throughout time, spoke with one voice. The quotes below speak for themselves…..please read slowly and ponder.


“Beyond all the barriers of race or creed or language we can all unite, because we are all part of one God.” Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sufi mystic.

“In God we live and move and have our being. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.” Holy Bible

“The eye with which I see God is the same with which God sees me. My eye and God's eye is one eye, and one sight, and one knowledge, and one love.” Meister Eckhart, Christian mystic.

“The question is not if God exists apart from you; the question is do you exist apart from God?” Arthur Osborne, devotee of Ramana Maharishi.
“However quietly we speak, He is so near that He will hear us: we need no wings to go in search of Him but have only to find a place where we can be alone and look upon Him present within us.” St. Teresa of Avila.

“The very pure spirit does not bother about the regard of others or human respect, but communes inwardly with God, alone and in solitude as to all forms, and with delightful tranquillity, for the knowledge of God is received in divine silence.” St. John of the Cross.

“Silence is the most powerful form of teaching transferred from Master to adept. The soundless voice is pure intuition. It is the voice of the spirit speaking in our innermost being. Self -enquiry is the only path we have in order to eliminate spiritual unconsciousness, which is widespread. Self-enquiry brings consciousness of the Divine, the universal truth and the Light that governs the universe. All this must be known, felt, lived and realised, by eliminating the thinking mind by dissolving it in the Universal Self.”Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi.


“The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it, even a large one. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of his goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying.” St. Teresa of Avila.

“That which is consciousness alone which is all-pervading, which is eternal, which is all-full, which is of the form of bliss and which is indestructible, is the only true brahman (infinite consciousness).” – Varaha Upanishad


“I, the fiery life of divine essence, am aflame beyond the beauty of the meadows. I gleam in the waters. I burn in the sun, moon, and stars. With every breeze, as with invisible life that contains everything, I awaken everything to life. I am the breeze that nurtures all things green. I encourage blossoms to flourish with ripening fruits. I am the rain coming from the dew that causes the grasses to laugh with the joy of life.” Hildegard of Bingen, Christian Mystic, 1152 AD

“As rivers, flowing down, become indistinguishable on reaching the sea by giving up their names and forms, so also the illumined soul, having become freed from name and form, reaches the self-effulgent supreme Self .”– Mundaka Upanishad.

“Listen, O drop, give yourself up without regret,
and in exchange gain the Ocean.
Listen, O drop, bestow upon yourself this honor,
and in the arms of the Sea be secure.
Who indeed should be so fortunate?
An Ocean wooing a drop!
In God's name, in God's name, sell and buy at once!
Give a drop, and take this Sea full of pearls.”
― Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi



“ In the stillness of the mind , I saw myself as I am : unbound, infinite! “ Nisargedatta Maharaj, Hindu Mystic

“ Nothing in all creation is so like God as stillness.” Meister Eckhart, Christian Mystic

“Since I began to love, love has never forsaken me. It has ever grown to its own fullness within my innermost heart.” St. Catherine of Genoa, Life and Doctrine, 1551

“A fish cannot drown in water,
A bird does not fall in air.
In the fire of creation,
gold does not vanish,
the fire brightens.
Each creature God made
must live in its own true nature,
how could I resist my nature,

that lives for oneness with God?” Mechthild of Magdeburg, 13th Century Christian mystic.

“Perfect humility tends to the annihilation of self. Grace is from God and works in the depths of the soul, whose powers it employs. When the Divine Light penetrates the soul, it is united with God as light with light.” Meister Eckhardt
“It is only by the death of self that the soul can enter into Divine Truth, and understand in part what is the light that shineth in darkness.” Jean Guyon, Christian mystic.

“Can you coax your mind from its wandering
and keep to the original oneness?
Can you let your body become
supple as a new-born child's?
Can you cleanse your inner vision
until you see nothing but the light?
Can you love people and lead them
without imposing your will?
Can you deal with the most vital matters
by letting events take their course?
Can you step back from your own mind
and thus understand all things?
Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control:

this is the supreme virtue.” Lao Tse, Chinese Mystic,Tao Te Ching (Stephen Mitchell translation)


“ When you realise how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the vast blue sky!” “ Leap and the net will appear!” “In Zen, we don’t find the answers: we lose the questions!” “The obstacle IS the path.” “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Zen Buddhist quotes

“The art of a warrior is to balance the terror of being human with the wonder of being human.” Carlos Castaneda, Journey to Ixtlan



“Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.” Robert M. Persig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Be Who You Truly Are

( In loving memory of dearest Rami Aunty. .who now shines as Brahman forever! )

"Life and death are of supreme importance. Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. Each of us should strive to awaken. Awaken! Take heed, do not squander your life.”
― Zen Master Dōgen


There is but one Reality.
Beyond body or mind or soul, this is the root, the substratum underlying all that seems to exist.
Smaller than the smallest, yet greater than the greatest, atoms, planets, stars and galaxies are but expressions of its playful joy.
It is the mystery of all mysteries, the seed that contains infinity, the One that exists as the life-spark in every living being.

Ever-present, self-luminous, aware, whole,
this is the Perfection that is the source and the substance of all things.
Call it God or Brahman or Self, Tao or Buddha-mind,

it is beyond all names or forms, beyond all words and concepts - 
indescribable, unknowable, effulgent.

It is infinite and eternal, almighty and all-merciful, pure and divine.
It is that vast sky of possibility, that heaven free of all fear and suffering, that sweet, intoxicating elixir of immortal, conscious bliss.

This is your inheritance, your birth-right.
Every night you sink into it so gladly in your deepest, dreamless sleep.

This is who and what you really are.


So wake up!
Discover the mystery of waking sleep, the joy of freedom from mind.

Before this body dies, embrace your true nature
and be that which you were always meant to be.

“ Abide in perfect stillness, with no movement of tongue or mind or body. Behold the effulgence of the Self within – the complete absence of fear, the vast ocean of bliss. Ha, so simple is Atma Vidya!” Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi, Atma Vidya Keertanam.

 https://lightsongs.blogspot.com/2019/06/who-you-really-are.html

Monday, October 7, 2019

Mother


The soft spring wind of the New Day raises fresh waves of joy;
Gently it carries to the earth the fragrance of God's Love,
Till all the yogis, drunk with bliss, are lost in ecstasy.
Upon the sea of the world unfolds the lotus of the New Day,
And there the Mother sits enshrined in blissful majesty.
See how the bees are mad with joy, sipping the nectar there!
Behold the Mother's radiant face, which so enchants the heart
And captivates the universe! About Her Lotus Feet
Bands of ecstatic holy men are dancing in delight.
What matchless loveliness is Hers! What infinite content
Pervades the heart when She appears! O brothers, says Premdas,
I humbly beg you, one and all, to sing the Mother's praise!” Bhajan to Divine Mother.

Om Shri Maatre Namaha.

O great Mother of all creation,
You of a thousand names and forms,
I sing your praises with every beat of my heart.

All Gods are but babes at your feet, the elements are your humble servants, the three worlds are mere playthings created by your Divine glance.

You are the fierce destroyer of ignorance, the infinite ocean of compassionate grace, the lotus that blooms as Self in the Heart.

You are the womb of infinite possibilities, the embodiment of unconditional love.

You are the beginning and the end, the source and the substance of all things – who can ever describe your beauty, your power, your infinite mystery?

Jai Jagadambe! Jai Ma!

O Divine Mother, may I bow forever at your feet!

https://lightsongs.blogspot.com/2017/09/prayer-to-devi.html

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Sweet Surrender




“ It is enough that one surrenders oneself. 

Surrender is to give oneself up to the original cause of one’s being.

Do not delude yourself by imagining such a source to be some God outside you.
Your source is within yourself. Give yourself up to it.
This means you should find your source and merge in it.

Surrender can take effect only when it is done with full knowledge as to what real surrender means. Such knowledge comes after enquiry and reflection and ends invariably in self-surrender. Therefore, there is no difference between jnana and absolute surrender to the Lord, in thought, word and deed.” Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi

The older I get, the more I realise how little I know.
When I let go of trying to be in control,
I discover how great a mystery everything truly is!

The birth of humble and heartfelt surrender is the dawning of wisdom.
When the stream of loving devotion meets the ocean of divine grace,
the lotus of jnana blossoms in ecstatic bliss.

O Bhagawan,  your compassionate blessing,
like a radiant sunrise,
Dispels the darkness of ignorance that is my ego
And reveals the precious jewel that is you
shining eternally in the cave of the Heart.

No words can ever describe the joy and the wonder of this!


“ To attain the flourishing immortal life in which death no more exists there is no means other than absolute surrender. Bliss comes to you by sweet grace through self-surrender performed lovingly in the heart.” Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi