As the current year heads to a close (already?!), a lot of people are probably furiously writing down the latest batch of resolutions to greet the year ahead. Of course, are we going to write down a new set of resolutions or a rehash of the previous year's unaccomplished ones?
And yet despite whatever difficulties we may have faced, it's always important to maintain that sense of gratitude not only for the year that has passed, but also for the year that's coming. We're alive, at the very least, and that in itself is enough to be grateful for. In the esoteric sense, it means we're still here to accelerate whatever lessons need to be learned, so we have the chance to really progress faster.
A lot has changed for me, not just in comparison to the beginning of this year, but also looking back over many years. I used to be part of the daily grind of trying to work my ass off for culturally conditioned goals such as the career climb, more money in the bank, etc. But then I discovered pranic healing and my life went in a different direction.
I'm lucky in the sense that I have a job that is home-based and so I have more opportunities to pursue my true interests. And if the job does not give all that one may have been conditioned to expect by working (travel perks, a house, car allowances, etc.), it at least allows me to earn enough to pay the bills while still allowing me to do what I really want (esoteric studies), as long as I live modestly. Ideally, one's job should be there to support one's abilities and life interests, although realistically most people spend majority of their waking hours at their jobs.
By normal standards, my life can be said to be pretty boring. But from where I stand, I'm actually so excited about every day that comes. And I guess that's something that everyone has to assess every year. What do you really want to get out of life? Are you working to merely pay the bills, day after exhausted day, in the pursuit of some goal that you don't really relish once you get it? Are you frustrated at not being able to pursue your childhood dreams? I know of many people who wanted to be something else, like a painter or singer, but were discouraged because "there's no money in it" and so are forced to become dentists or call center agents.
But as year passes year, are you really where you want to be, and more importantly, are you on your way to it? The answer is as varied as the number of people on the planet, and each life plan works its way out differently, but it's a question that can't be ignored and one must always keep this in mind. Life gives us hard choices, and circumstances may derail us, but just be honest with your inner self, and perhaps this new year will bring you a renewed sense of purpose...and hope.
And so I end with this blessing: May you all be blessed with waves of Divine Light, Divine Love and Divine Power, so that you and your family may properly and rapidly achieve and accomplish your true purpose in life. May this be a life filled with joy, prosperity, good health, happiness, accomplishment and spirituality. With full faith, so be it!
Happy New Year to all!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Interactions with Polarity
Last week I took advantage of the holiday by heading to the nearest cinema to watch Megamind. I was looking for something light and funny, hence the choice of movie.
I hope I'm not giving too much of the story away to those who haven't watched it yet, but the movie is told from the perspective of Megamind, an alien refugee turned into a super villain. He has an archrival in the form of Metroman, also an alien refugee from a planet near Megamind's homeworld. They constantly battle for control of Metro City, with Megamind always getting the short end of the stick until one day, he unexpectedly wins and suddenly finds himself grappling with his purpose in life now that his opposite is gone. In several scenes in the movie, it was mentioned that for every yin, there needs to be a yang, otherwise life would have no meaning.
I don't know if the writers knew it, but they were touching upon a subtle esoteric truth. What gives this plane meaning as a place for learning lessons is the concept of duality, the so-called Hermetic Principle of Polarity which states that everything has opposites, or two poles. Yes, here I go again, launching into a discussion of metaphysics, using a comedic movie as basis, no less! But one does what one does.
It is a paradox, because it is hard to imagine how pain, loss, hardship or any of the other negative manifestations can give meaning to life. And yet they are a necessary part of this existence. Hermetic scholars call this the Divine Paradox, which is an aspect of the Principle of Polarity. The concepts of Good and Evil are examples of this polarity.
There are many facets by which we could look at polarity. Just so we can get a glimpse of its meaning, I will discuss three facets. Polarity as it appears in interactions with other people, polarity in nature, and polarity within the context of the Greater Reality.
As anyone who has ever been married would (or should!) know, one can never always get one's way. And even if there are instances where one somehow managed to get one's way, it would not be in the way that one exactly wanted it to be. Everytime you want to do something or buy something, you will more often than not hear an opposing view, and if you want the marriage to last, you compromise.
We often see opposition or opposing views as a bad thing. However, since we are not perfect, then our own views may not always be the best or most appropriate, and this is where an opposing force plays a role. The opposition can come in the form of someone arguing against your views, or in the form of a setback. If you learn from the setback or from the argument, you come out the better for it. You also become more flexible and adaptive. But if there was no opposition, then there would be no way for you to know what may be lacking with your own point of view. You would also tend to be too rigid or hidebound.
Before I go on, I'm not saying that you should go about arguing with everyone or pursuing negative situations in some sort of sado-masochistic spiral. All I'm saying is that polarity (positive and negative) has its place, and the purpose is for one to grow and learn. So there should always be balance within the opposites (another paradox!).
Polarity, or opposition, can even be seen in how Nature works. For example, if there was no traction between your shoes and the ground, you would slip. If an astronaut was on a space walk without a lifeline, if he drifted even one inch away from the satellite or spacecraft he might as well be a million miles away. He won't be able to propel himself towards the object simply because he would have nothing to push against, nothing to oppose his force and put Newton's Third Law into effect (i.e. for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction). Interestingly, cause and effect is basically what karma is. Without duality, there is no way for karma to take effect.
In the Testament of Solomon, different forms of illness and disease have guiding intelligences, often called "devils" with their particular names, and to cure illness one simply had to call on the angel that is the opposite of the particular devil. Seeing how Nature works, with the interaction of both building up (positive) and breaking down (negative), a particular passage in The Magus of Strovolos makes more sense, where it says that in Nature, angels and devils actually work in harmony together.
Controversial as it may be for some (or maybe a lot), Franz Bardon says that good and evil are constructs that man has made in order to rationalize one's existence, but in reality, everything is interconnected and has its place in Creation.
Imagine if there was no decay on Earth (decay often being categorized as a negative force). The Earth would absolutely be filled over with everything from leaves, fruits, feces, and all manner of things that would normally have decayed! Imagine also if food never got digested. Remember, breaking down or "destroying" is a negative activity, therefore if your food could not be broken down, then you would starve to death. And so, positive and negative have their places and their roles.
All of the above explains somewhat the operations of duality, but does not really try to explain why bother with it all. Why do we have to incarnate into duality, anyway? And so we touch upon another facet of polarity.
An inkling may be found in various esoteric texts that state that one can only ascend to planes of existence that one is in similar vibration to. This is simply the Law of Attraction at work, which says that "like attracts like, opposites repel." So if in this life you were always tormented with jeers and insults, you would not encounter these people in the higher astral realms. You are in oneness with those you are in vibration with.
Spiritual evolution involves learning lessons, and working towards a greater understanding of Creation. But apparently, not all lessons can be learned by remaining in the higher planes. Let's say for example that one used to be a slave with a cruel slave master. You are basically a good person except that you really hated your slave master before you died. In the higher realms, you wouldn't encounter the person who used to be the slave master, because you are in different vibration from each other. Yet you need to learn the lesson of forgiveness.
How then may these two dissimilar vibrations be brought together to interact? That's when the souls of both the slave and slave master reincarnate on this physical plane. Perhaps this time the slave master incarnates as the child of the former slave. As a parent, the former slave now has power over the former slave master, and has the choice either to forgive or to mete out centuries-old payback (in which case the two will remain in close proximity for several more incarnations until the lesson is learned). You cannot say you are a forgiving person if you haven't found yourself in a situation that tests your ability to forgive.
I hope I'm not presenting things too simplistically, but I hope I was able to show, even a little bit, how polarity fits in with our physical reality. Hopefully, now you are able to maintain a more positive outlook every time you encounter situations that may seem negative to you at first, because there are always two sides to a coin, and if one side seems dark, all you need to do is to look at the other side*wink*.
I hope I'm not giving too much of the story away to those who haven't watched it yet, but the movie is told from the perspective of Megamind, an alien refugee turned into a super villain. He has an archrival in the form of Metroman, also an alien refugee from a planet near Megamind's homeworld. They constantly battle for control of Metro City, with Megamind always getting the short end of the stick until one day, he unexpectedly wins and suddenly finds himself grappling with his purpose in life now that his opposite is gone. In several scenes in the movie, it was mentioned that for every yin, there needs to be a yang, otherwise life would have no meaning.
I don't know if the writers knew it, but they were touching upon a subtle esoteric truth. What gives this plane meaning as a place for learning lessons is the concept of duality, the so-called Hermetic Principle of Polarity which states that everything has opposites, or two poles. Yes, here I go again, launching into a discussion of metaphysics, using a comedic movie as basis, no less! But one does what one does.
It is a paradox, because it is hard to imagine how pain, loss, hardship or any of the other negative manifestations can give meaning to life. And yet they are a necessary part of this existence. Hermetic scholars call this the Divine Paradox, which is an aspect of the Principle of Polarity. The concepts of Good and Evil are examples of this polarity.
There are many facets by which we could look at polarity. Just so we can get a glimpse of its meaning, I will discuss three facets. Polarity as it appears in interactions with other people, polarity in nature, and polarity within the context of the Greater Reality.
As anyone who has ever been married would (or should!) know, one can never always get one's way. And even if there are instances where one somehow managed to get one's way, it would not be in the way that one exactly wanted it to be. Everytime you want to do something or buy something, you will more often than not hear an opposing view, and if you want the marriage to last, you compromise.
We often see opposition or opposing views as a bad thing. However, since we are not perfect, then our own views may not always be the best or most appropriate, and this is where an opposing force plays a role. The opposition can come in the form of someone arguing against your views, or in the form of a setback. If you learn from the setback or from the argument, you come out the better for it. You also become more flexible and adaptive. But if there was no opposition, then there would be no way for you to know what may be lacking with your own point of view. You would also tend to be too rigid or hidebound.
Before I go on, I'm not saying that you should go about arguing with everyone or pursuing negative situations in some sort of sado-masochistic spiral. All I'm saying is that polarity (positive and negative) has its place, and the purpose is for one to grow and learn. So there should always be balance within the opposites (another paradox!).
Polarity, or opposition, can even be seen in how Nature works. For example, if there was no traction between your shoes and the ground, you would slip. If an astronaut was on a space walk without a lifeline, if he drifted even one inch away from the satellite or spacecraft he might as well be a million miles away. He won't be able to propel himself towards the object simply because he would have nothing to push against, nothing to oppose his force and put Newton's Third Law into effect (i.e. for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction). Interestingly, cause and effect is basically what karma is. Without duality, there is no way for karma to take effect.
In the Testament of Solomon, different forms of illness and disease have guiding intelligences, often called "devils" with their particular names, and to cure illness one simply had to call on the angel that is the opposite of the particular devil. Seeing how Nature works, with the interaction of both building up (positive) and breaking down (negative), a particular passage in The Magus of Strovolos makes more sense, where it says that in Nature, angels and devils actually work in harmony together.
Controversial as it may be for some (or maybe a lot), Franz Bardon says that good and evil are constructs that man has made in order to rationalize one's existence, but in reality, everything is interconnected and has its place in Creation.
Imagine if there was no decay on Earth (decay often being categorized as a negative force). The Earth would absolutely be filled over with everything from leaves, fruits, feces, and all manner of things that would normally have decayed! Imagine also if food never got digested. Remember, breaking down or "destroying" is a negative activity, therefore if your food could not be broken down, then you would starve to death. And so, positive and negative have their places and their roles.
All of the above explains somewhat the operations of duality, but does not really try to explain why bother with it all. Why do we have to incarnate into duality, anyway? And so we touch upon another facet of polarity.
An inkling may be found in various esoteric texts that state that one can only ascend to planes of existence that one is in similar vibration to. This is simply the Law of Attraction at work, which says that "like attracts like, opposites repel." So if in this life you were always tormented with jeers and insults, you would not encounter these people in the higher astral realms. You are in oneness with those you are in vibration with.
Spiritual evolution involves learning lessons, and working towards a greater understanding of Creation. But apparently, not all lessons can be learned by remaining in the higher planes. Let's say for example that one used to be a slave with a cruel slave master. You are basically a good person except that you really hated your slave master before you died. In the higher realms, you wouldn't encounter the person who used to be the slave master, because you are in different vibration from each other. Yet you need to learn the lesson of forgiveness.
How then may these two dissimilar vibrations be brought together to interact? That's when the souls of both the slave and slave master reincarnate on this physical plane. Perhaps this time the slave master incarnates as the child of the former slave. As a parent, the former slave now has power over the former slave master, and has the choice either to forgive or to mete out centuries-old payback (in which case the two will remain in close proximity for several more incarnations until the lesson is learned). You cannot say you are a forgiving person if you haven't found yourself in a situation that tests your ability to forgive.
I hope I'm not presenting things too simplistically, but I hope I was able to show, even a little bit, how polarity fits in with our physical reality. Hopefully, now you are able to maintain a more positive outlook every time you encounter situations that may seem negative to you at first, because there are always two sides to a coin, and if one side seems dark, all you need to do is to look at the other side
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The 90-10 Phenomenon
There is an esoteric law called the Law of Correspondence which, in hermetic parlance, states that "As Above, So Below; As Below, So Above." In material science, we see this principle reflected in the concept of fractals. Whatever pattern or design that you see on the macro level, will also be the same underlying pattern in the micro level.
This esoteric law forms the basis of all patterns, proportions and progressions, and by keeping this law always in mind, one is able to clue in to some important patterns and perhaps derive some insight into the workings of the universe. It also allows one to make sense of the different symbolisms found in many esoteric works. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life is one such pattern that can be applied to many fields of metaphysical thought. The Power of Three is another such example.
But for the purpose of this article, I would like to focus more on the 90-10 phenomenon (as I call it), simply because of some observations I was able to pick up that carry this pattern. For instance, it is often stated that our conscious mind only represents 10% of our mental power, the remaining 90% being our subconscious.
In terms of religious custom, we are asked to keep 90% of our income, while tithing 10% to the church. When we are asked to roughly measure success or progress, more often than not, we instinctively say that "we're 90% there." And here's more, the tip of an iceberg is typically only one-tenth (10%) of the total volume of the whole thing, the other 90% being underwater!
What is the significance of this particular proportion? Why not 80-20 or 95-5? Why does the 10% usually represent what is manifest or visible, while the 90% is the hidden portion?
Let us return to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life since its symbolism can help us. The tree of life is typically depicted with ten sephira, with one hidden sefirot (for a total of 11). According to Kabbalah, reality is made up of ten dimensions, and our physical reality represents only one of those dimensions. The lowest sefirot in the tree of life is called Malkuth (Kingdom) and is often taken to represent this physical dimension.
Since Malkuth represents one-tenth of the number of sephira found in the tree of life, and in Nature we find that 90% represents the hidden, then if we apply the symbolism of the tree of life, it follows that the 9 other sephira (or dimensions) is hidden or veiled.
In one of my previous articles, I discussed the theory of why we tithe, and in the article I included the Kabbalistic explanation of why we tithe in the proportion of 10%. Since physical reality is the lowest of the ten dimensions, it is the dimension of the Adversary. Therefore, giving away 10% cuts away the force of the Adversary from our income and our lives.
But to me the proportion holds an even deeper symbolism. Although majority of people's consciousness can only encompass our physical reality, it is not the whole story. In fact, physical reality only forms a fraction of that story. It is also the part that is temporary and that we let go off upon death. Therefore, by giving away 10% of one's income, one acknowledges the impermanence of physical possessions and should recognize that the greater portion that is not perceived by our physical senses is our true treasure.
This is all well and good, but is there any scientific basis for all of this? Interestingly, scientists, through their calculations, have also speculated that there are 10 dimensions. In quantum science, this is posited in string theory.
And here's one other interesting tidbit: scientists have discovered that matter as we know it only represents 10% of the universe! The other 90% is the so-called dark matter, which scientists are still trying to detect but which their calculations show should be there. It seems the 90-10 phenomenon is pointing us to something more fundamental about the make up of the universe after all.
This is the beauty of symbolism, which instantly reminds us of certain lessons via condensed imagery and structure. Unfortunately, you must be aware of what the lesson is in the first place, otherwise the symbol has no meaning for the person who sees it. Why is there a need to remind ourselves of lessons? So that it imparts firmly into our subconscious, which is 90% of our mind, by the way!
This esoteric law forms the basis of all patterns, proportions and progressions, and by keeping this law always in mind, one is able to clue in to some important patterns and perhaps derive some insight into the workings of the universe. It also allows one to make sense of the different symbolisms found in many esoteric works. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life is one such pattern that can be applied to many fields of metaphysical thought. The Power of Three is another such example.
But for the purpose of this article, I would like to focus more on the 90-10 phenomenon (as I call it), simply because of some observations I was able to pick up that carry this pattern. For instance, it is often stated that our conscious mind only represents 10% of our mental power, the remaining 90% being our subconscious.
In terms of religious custom, we are asked to keep 90% of our income, while tithing 10% to the church. When we are asked to roughly measure success or progress, more often than not, we instinctively say that "we're 90% there." And here's more, the tip of an iceberg is typically only one-tenth (10%) of the total volume of the whole thing, the other 90% being underwater!
What is the significance of this particular proportion? Why not 80-20 or 95-5? Why does the 10% usually represent what is manifest or visible, while the 90% is the hidden portion?
Let us return to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life since its symbolism can help us. The tree of life is typically depicted with ten sephira, with one hidden sefirot (for a total of 11). According to Kabbalah, reality is made up of ten dimensions, and our physical reality represents only one of those dimensions. The lowest sefirot in the tree of life is called Malkuth (Kingdom) and is often taken to represent this physical dimension.
Since Malkuth represents one-tenth of the number of sephira found in the tree of life, and in Nature we find that 90% represents the hidden, then if we apply the symbolism of the tree of life, it follows that the 9 other sephira (or dimensions) is hidden or veiled.
In one of my previous articles, I discussed the theory of why we tithe, and in the article I included the Kabbalistic explanation of why we tithe in the proportion of 10%. Since physical reality is the lowest of the ten dimensions, it is the dimension of the Adversary. Therefore, giving away 10% cuts away the force of the Adversary from our income and our lives.
But to me the proportion holds an even deeper symbolism. Although majority of people's consciousness can only encompass our physical reality, it is not the whole story. In fact, physical reality only forms a fraction of that story. It is also the part that is temporary and that we let go off upon death. Therefore, by giving away 10% of one's income, one acknowledges the impermanence of physical possessions and should recognize that the greater portion that is not perceived by our physical senses is our true treasure.
This is all well and good, but is there any scientific basis for all of this? Interestingly, scientists, through their calculations, have also speculated that there are 10 dimensions. In quantum science, this is posited in string theory.
And here's one other interesting tidbit: scientists have discovered that matter as we know it only represents 10% of the universe! The other 90% is the so-called dark matter, which scientists are still trying to detect but which their calculations show should be there. It seems the 90-10 phenomenon is pointing us to something more fundamental about the make up of the universe after all.
This is the beauty of symbolism, which instantly reminds us of certain lessons via condensed imagery and structure. Unfortunately, you must be aware of what the lesson is in the first place, otherwise the symbol has no meaning for the person who sees it. Why is there a need to remind ourselves of lessons? So that it imparts firmly into our subconscious, which is 90% of our mind, by the way!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Become a Lawyer!
No, I'm not referring to the type where you need to pass the bar exams to become one, but rather the one where you become a spiritual lawyer! Before I go on, I'm not referring to church dogma, either. A theologian or canon lawyer is not necessarily a spiritual lawyer.
Life is governed by a set of spiritual laws just as surely as Nature is governed by a set of physical laws, such as the law of gravity. Actually, the term "spiritual" law is a misnomer, because they are also natural laws, meaning they are part of Nature. It's simply the way things are.
Let's take a step back first. Why is it important to be knowledgeable of the law? If you're referring to the law within a certain country, it's obvious that you need to have a rudimentary knowledge of it so that you don't get in trouble with the authorities. For the engineer, there is no way he can design an aircraft, for example, without knowledge of certain fundamental scientific laws, such as how lift is generated by Bernoulli's principle and Newton's Third Law (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction), so that the wing should push air down, in order that the opposite action will then push the wing up, creating lift.
If then a basic understanding of laws, whether legal or scientific, is necessary to accomplish important things in life, then it is amazing how many people ignore or are unaware of the natural laws that govern the very fabric of life itself. As Franz Bardon says, the universe is a very legal universe. So a basic knowledge of its workings goes a long way to allowing us to manage our lives well and ensure our development.
Unfortunately, the disillusionment of many people with organized religion has driven many to disavow anything of the spiritual, thus throwing out the baby along with the bath water, so to speak. The sacred scriptures contain a lot of valuable esoteric knowledge, if one but had the key to deciphering them. Unfortunately, within the ranks of organized religion, the knowledge has mostly been lost and dogma has taken its place.
Okay, you may say, this is all very good in theory. But does it actually work? One only has to look at the different prosperity courses and programs by several "life coaches" (e.g. Breakthrough seminar, Firewalk seminar, etc.) to see that there is something to this. These programs actually make a lot of use of the Law of Attraction, building the confidence of students so that only positive thoughts and affirmations are entertained. And this, by the Law of Attraction, brings about the desired prosperity. Watch The Secret, because it's very inspiring. And this is just one law. What if you also gain a working knowledge of the other laws?
It would take too long to expound on all the laws, but with enough research, one should be able to get a basic grasp of them. For those who have read my article about The Master Key System, the following short list is taken from that book and should give enough of an idea what these spiritual laws are about:
1. Law of Attraction - like matter will attract like matter; negative thoughts attract negative circumstances, while positive thoughts attract positive circumstances.
2. Law of Cause and Effect - whereby you reap exactly what you sow.
3. Law of Compensation - which is why you must first give in order to receive, because anything not merited is eventually taken away since Nature seeks to find equilibrium.
4. Law of Periodicity (may also be called Law of Cycles or Law of Rhythm) - Charles Haanel says that this law is governed by the Septimal Law (Law of Sevens), whereby everything happens in cycles of sevens (seven days, seven weeks, seven months, seven years, etc.). For those familiar with Master Choa Kok Sui's Management Through Kabbalistic Cycle, which involves 7 cycles as well, you will appreciate this section. In fact, given Master Choa's prolific reading, I wouldn't be surprised if he had read The Master Key System.
5. Law of Growth - anything given thought is given life, therefore it must build upon itself.
This only scratches the surface, so I encourage you to do some research on the different esoteric laws. The Kybalion is highly recommended reading.
One of the questions that I'm sure all of us have asked at least once in our lives is, if God is perfect and good, how could He have created such an imperfect world, with all its pains and sufferings?
Since we are already on the subject of The Master Key System, let me discuss one of the entries in the Question and Answer portion found at the end of the book, because it has something to do with the question at hand.
The question was: Since the real "I" is spiritual and therefore perfect, and since it "controls and directs both the body and mind," how is it that we see such imperfect results?
Charles Haanel's answer: We see no imperfect results. We see nothing but perfection. Perfection means that the Law operates with immutable precision. Spiritual law always operates perfectly. If the individual thinks constructively, results are constructive and harmonious. If he thinks destructively, he reaps exactly what he sows. The Law works perfectly. We see no imperfect results whatever. We may freely choose what we think, but the result of our thought is governed by an immutable law.
This is important because if we stick to a purely material view of the universe, none of life makes sense. But if we begin to grasp the operation of these hidden spiritual laws, then it sheds new light on the way we live our lives. Just because you imagine one thing doesn't make it any less real, because thought has real power. An architect first thought of the building he wanted to construct, before he ever put it on paper. So everything starts from thought, and makes its way from there.
Therefore, do we continue in ignorance and blunder our way through life? Or do we try to understand Nature's secrets and thereby penetrate into the beauty of all Creation? The choice lies within each and every one of us.
Life is governed by a set of spiritual laws just as surely as Nature is governed by a set of physical laws, such as the law of gravity. Actually, the term "spiritual" law is a misnomer, because they are also natural laws, meaning they are part of Nature. It's simply the way things are.
Let's take a step back first. Why is it important to be knowledgeable of the law? If you're referring to the law within a certain country, it's obvious that you need to have a rudimentary knowledge of it so that you don't get in trouble with the authorities. For the engineer, there is no way he can design an aircraft, for example, without knowledge of certain fundamental scientific laws, such as how lift is generated by Bernoulli's principle and Newton's Third Law (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction), so that the wing should push air down, in order that the opposite action will then push the wing up, creating lift.
If then a basic understanding of laws, whether legal or scientific, is necessary to accomplish important things in life, then it is amazing how many people ignore or are unaware of the natural laws that govern the very fabric of life itself. As Franz Bardon says, the universe is a very legal universe. So a basic knowledge of its workings goes a long way to allowing us to manage our lives well and ensure our development.
Unfortunately, the disillusionment of many people with organized religion has driven many to disavow anything of the spiritual, thus throwing out the baby along with the bath water, so to speak. The sacred scriptures contain a lot of valuable esoteric knowledge, if one but had the key to deciphering them. Unfortunately, within the ranks of organized religion, the knowledge has mostly been lost and dogma has taken its place.
Okay, you may say, this is all very good in theory. But does it actually work? One only has to look at the different prosperity courses and programs by several "life coaches" (e.g. Breakthrough seminar, Firewalk seminar, etc.) to see that there is something to this. These programs actually make a lot of use of the Law of Attraction, building the confidence of students so that only positive thoughts and affirmations are entertained. And this, by the Law of Attraction, brings about the desired prosperity. Watch The Secret, because it's very inspiring. And this is just one law. What if you also gain a working knowledge of the other laws?
It would take too long to expound on all the laws, but with enough research, one should be able to get a basic grasp of them. For those who have read my article about The Master Key System, the following short list is taken from that book and should give enough of an idea what these spiritual laws are about:
1. Law of Attraction - like matter will attract like matter; negative thoughts attract negative circumstances, while positive thoughts attract positive circumstances.
2. Law of Cause and Effect - whereby you reap exactly what you sow.
3. Law of Compensation - which is why you must first give in order to receive, because anything not merited is eventually taken away since Nature seeks to find equilibrium.
4. Law of Periodicity (may also be called Law of Cycles or Law of Rhythm) - Charles Haanel says that this law is governed by the Septimal Law (Law of Sevens), whereby everything happens in cycles of sevens (seven days, seven weeks, seven months, seven years, etc.). For those familiar with Master Choa Kok Sui's Management Through Kabbalistic Cycle, which involves 7 cycles as well, you will appreciate this section. In fact, given Master Choa's prolific reading, I wouldn't be surprised if he had read The Master Key System.
5. Law of Growth - anything given thought is given life, therefore it must build upon itself.
This only scratches the surface, so I encourage you to do some research on the different esoteric laws. The Kybalion is highly recommended reading.
One of the questions that I'm sure all of us have asked at least once in our lives is, if God is perfect and good, how could He have created such an imperfect world, with all its pains and sufferings?
Since we are already on the subject of The Master Key System, let me discuss one of the entries in the Question and Answer portion found at the end of the book, because it has something to do with the question at hand.
The question was: Since the real "I" is spiritual and therefore perfect, and since it "controls and directs both the body and mind," how is it that we see such imperfect results?
Charles Haanel's answer: We see no imperfect results. We see nothing but perfection. Perfection means that the Law operates with immutable precision. Spiritual law always operates perfectly. If the individual thinks constructively, results are constructive and harmonious. If he thinks destructively, he reaps exactly what he sows. The Law works perfectly. We see no imperfect results whatever. We may freely choose what we think, but the result of our thought is governed by an immutable law.
This is important because if we stick to a purely material view of the universe, none of life makes sense. But if we begin to grasp the operation of these hidden spiritual laws, then it sheds new light on the way we live our lives. Just because you imagine one thing doesn't make it any less real, because thought has real power. An architect first thought of the building he wanted to construct, before he ever put it on paper. So everything starts from thought, and makes its way from there.
Therefore, do we continue in ignorance and blunder our way through life? Or do we try to understand Nature's secrets and thereby penetrate into the beauty of all Creation? The choice lies within each and every one of us.
On the Nature of Illusion
For those of us who have done even the most casual reading about Buddhism, one of its most recognizable precepts is the assertion that everything we perceive as reality is actually maya, or illusion. This idea is not actually limited to Buddhism, because it can be found in the esoteric works of many cultures worldwide, often couched in different terms.
Reality as illusion is quite a baffling concept for the average person. After all, how was I able to type up this article if my computer was an illusion? And won't I get squished if I step in front of a speeding 10-wheeler?
Quantum physics is able to shed some light on this matter. Physicists agree that everything is energy. But while everything is in a state of flux, there are certain concentrations of energy in the universe. The basic form these concentrations of energy take is the torus.
Discussing the torus in detail would take us into the realm of sacred geometry, but since that is not the main focus of this article, it would suffice to say that the torus is a 3-dimensional donut shaped field of energy that is found in all matter. Meaning, if one had the equipment, one would see torus fields in the atoms, and even in the human body. Since a torus is a concentration of energy (energy bent into itself, with a "zero point" at the center), one can say that matter is simply condensed or stabilized energy. If you want a more detailed discussion of the torus, quantum physics and sacred geometry, you may read Souls of Distortion Awakening by Jan Wicherink.
This is the quantum physics view of reality, but it may still be too abstract for most people. So let's take it a step further. According to esoteric teachings, one can only interact with something that one is in similar vibration to. This is the Law of Attraction or "like attracts like". But to apply it to the nature of reality, let's use an example that is familiar for most people: the computer game.
You can think of your favorite computer game, whether it be a first person shooter, RPG or even MMORPG. What are common themes among computer games? There are different goals or missions to accomplish, and accomplishing these quests "levels up" your character, giving you added skills, equipment and abilities. But there's one other common thing: THEY'RE NOT REAL.
At least, not real in the sense that we can physically reach into and interact with the program. A computer dragon's fire will in no way burn you, the player, but you can't slay it either. That's why you need to create an avatar (also called a character), because the avatar, being of the same substance as the computer game, is able to interact with the program and slay the dragon, that is, unless it slays your character first!
So using the conceptual framework of the computer game, transpose it to our reality and the Buddhist concept of maya, and you begin to see the picture. Your soul is the player, and your bodies are the vehicles that your soul uses in order to interact with this world. Your physical body allows you to interact with the physical vibrations of the world (which is why you can get squished by a speeding 10-wheeler), your astral body allows you to process emotions, while your mental body is able to interact with the different ideas being conveyed in this reality, and all of these send signals to your soul, and your soul sends signals back depending on the action that needs to be taken.
The difference, of course, is that our consciousness doesn't reach so far as to encompass the true nature of reality. Some yogis have spent lifetimes (yes, plural) just to be able to get a glimpse of this Greater Reality, writing about it later so that we have something to guide us.
We know about computer games and we say "tut, tut" everytime we see computer game addicts who spend most of their time in front of the computer, the game being more real for them than the people around them. And yet many people spend their whole lives on purely material pursuits such as social status and monetary power, and accolades are given all over, and we often exert all our efforts to earn these accolades. But not one person has succeeded in taking even one cent into the Great Beyond. And so happens the greater tragedy of becoming earthbound. Earthly desires attract the soul so much, but now lacking a physical body, there is no way to interact with the riches, wine, food and mistresses that so enthralled the soul while he had a physical body. Instead of being able to move on, the soul is stuck here, in the physical realm that is not even real for him anymore.
In Georg Lomer's Seven Hermetic Letters, there is one particular exercise that is applicable here, called the death and burial exercise. Basically, you are to imagine your body as it would look like in death, as it is laid out on the coffin. And once the coffin is buried, imagine the body (your body!) decaying, being eaten by worms. Imagine the clothes that the body is wearing decaying as well, the coffin itself starting to crumble. Morbid imagery aside, Georg Lomer writes, "And you have often betrayed your better part (your soul) for this picture of misery, and you were to this body more obliging than it deserved - you pampered it as if it were your most precious possession. And what is your reward? What you see before you!"
Why bother, you may say. What's the use of thinking that this is all one big simulacrum? And assuming this is so, what's the point of it all? The point is to gain a proper perspective about life.
I'd like to end with some food for thought from Franz Bardon, one of the foremost (if not THE foremost) hermetic adept of the 20th century. The following was written in the concluding pages of The Key to the True Quabbalah:
"Everybody must go the way by himself; no one else can do this work for him....On earth every human being has two teachers: first, himself or herself and, secondly, fate. What man is not able to achieve by his own diligence, practice, renunciation, pain, grief, etc., will be served up to him by disappointments and buffets of fate. Life is a school, not an amusement fair. Over and over again, man on this earth is challenged to learn, to develop, to perfect himself. He may enjoy the good; he should learn from the evil; but he must never say die, for nothing on this globe happens without good reason: everything that befalls him happens with good reasons and always at the right time. It is up to man himself to encounter all events courageously and to gain a wealth of knowledge therefrom for his own advancement."
No matter what your belief system may be, there is no denying the wisdom of Bardon's words.
Reality as illusion is quite a baffling concept for the average person. After all, how was I able to type up this article if my computer was an illusion? And won't I get squished if I step in front of a speeding 10-wheeler?
Quantum physics is able to shed some light on this matter. Physicists agree that everything is energy. But while everything is in a state of flux, there are certain concentrations of energy in the universe. The basic form these concentrations of energy take is the torus.
Discussing the torus in detail would take us into the realm of sacred geometry, but since that is not the main focus of this article, it would suffice to say that the torus is a 3-dimensional donut shaped field of energy that is found in all matter. Meaning, if one had the equipment, one would see torus fields in the atoms, and even in the human body. Since a torus is a concentration of energy (energy bent into itself, with a "zero point" at the center), one can say that matter is simply condensed or stabilized energy. If you want a more detailed discussion of the torus, quantum physics and sacred geometry, you may read Souls of Distortion Awakening by Jan Wicherink.
This is the quantum physics view of reality, but it may still be too abstract for most people. So let's take it a step further. According to esoteric teachings, one can only interact with something that one is in similar vibration to. This is the Law of Attraction or "like attracts like". But to apply it to the nature of reality, let's use an example that is familiar for most people: the computer game.
You can think of your favorite computer game, whether it be a first person shooter, RPG or even MMORPG. What are common themes among computer games? There are different goals or missions to accomplish, and accomplishing these quests "levels up" your character, giving you added skills, equipment and abilities. But there's one other common thing: THEY'RE NOT REAL.
At least, not real in the sense that we can physically reach into and interact with the program. A computer dragon's fire will in no way burn you, the player, but you can't slay it either. That's why you need to create an avatar (also called a character), because the avatar, being of the same substance as the computer game, is able to interact with the program and slay the dragon, that is, unless it slays your character first!
So using the conceptual framework of the computer game, transpose it to our reality and the Buddhist concept of maya, and you begin to see the picture. Your soul is the player, and your bodies are the vehicles that your soul uses in order to interact with this world. Your physical body allows you to interact with the physical vibrations of the world (which is why you can get squished by a speeding 10-wheeler), your astral body allows you to process emotions, while your mental body is able to interact with the different ideas being conveyed in this reality, and all of these send signals to your soul, and your soul sends signals back depending on the action that needs to be taken.
The difference, of course, is that our consciousness doesn't reach so far as to encompass the true nature of reality. Some yogis have spent lifetimes (yes, plural) just to be able to get a glimpse of this Greater Reality, writing about it later so that we have something to guide us.
We know about computer games and we say "tut, tut" everytime we see computer game addicts who spend most of their time in front of the computer, the game being more real for them than the people around them. And yet many people spend their whole lives on purely material pursuits such as social status and monetary power, and accolades are given all over, and we often exert all our efforts to earn these accolades. But not one person has succeeded in taking even one cent into the Great Beyond. And so happens the greater tragedy of becoming earthbound. Earthly desires attract the soul so much, but now lacking a physical body, there is no way to interact with the riches, wine, food and mistresses that so enthralled the soul while he had a physical body. Instead of being able to move on, the soul is stuck here, in the physical realm that is not even real for him anymore.
In Georg Lomer's Seven Hermetic Letters, there is one particular exercise that is applicable here, called the death and burial exercise. Basically, you are to imagine your body as it would look like in death, as it is laid out on the coffin. And once the coffin is buried, imagine the body (your body!) decaying, being eaten by worms. Imagine the clothes that the body is wearing decaying as well, the coffin itself starting to crumble. Morbid imagery aside, Georg Lomer writes, "And you have often betrayed your better part (your soul) for this picture of misery, and you were to this body more obliging than it deserved - you pampered it as if it were your most precious possession. And what is your reward? What you see before you!"
Why bother, you may say. What's the use of thinking that this is all one big simulacrum? And assuming this is so, what's the point of it all? The point is to gain a proper perspective about life.
I'd like to end with some food for thought from Franz Bardon, one of the foremost (if not THE foremost) hermetic adept of the 20th century. The following was written in the concluding pages of The Key to the True Quabbalah:
"Everybody must go the way by himself; no one else can do this work for him....On earth every human being has two teachers: first, himself or herself and, secondly, fate. What man is not able to achieve by his own diligence, practice, renunciation, pain, grief, etc., will be served up to him by disappointments and buffets of fate. Life is a school, not an amusement fair. Over and over again, man on this earth is challenged to learn, to develop, to perfect himself. He may enjoy the good; he should learn from the evil; but he must never say die, for nothing on this globe happens without good reason: everything that befalls him happens with good reasons and always at the right time. It is up to man himself to encounter all events courageously and to gain a wealth of knowledge therefrom for his own advancement."
No matter what your belief system may be, there is no denying the wisdom of Bardon's words.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Finding Ourselves
Last weekend I was browsing through the selection of Book Sale at Megamall while waiting for my wife. Then I came across this book Memoirs of a Spiritual Outsider by Suzanne Clores. It looked interesting so I decided to buy it.
I recently finished reading the book. Sometimes you come across a book that you feel compelled to read, and this was one of them. It was also in narrative format, making it easy to read, so it was a welcome diversion from some of the heavy esoteric treatises I usually read.
The book is about the journey and struggle of a typical Gen-Xer trying to find spiritual meaning in a life where religion had failed her. She couldn't accept the dogma of her Catholic religion and there were so many questions that couldn't be answered, especially from the point of view of a female in the midst of a patriarchal religion, so she simply rejected it. She calls herself an "outsider" because she does not follow the tenets that everyone around her have accepted and had taken for granted. And yet she could still feel an emptiness that longed to be filled, and this eventually prompted her spiritual journey.
Her quest for answers wasn't easy. Her experience with Catholicism has left her deeply suspicious about any system that would require her to make too many changes in her life, or might seek to control her too much. But she was still envious of the inner peace exuding from people practicing different spiritual systems. Unable to commit to any one system, over the years she investigated Wicca, shamanism, hatha yoga, vodou, Sufism (Sufism Reoriented), Shambhala and even the Burning Man, while still remaining an outsider looking in.
Because of her inner resistance, she dips her fingers into all these systems yet doesn't commit to each. She takes a little from each tradition, just those aspects that she finds useful for her. Nothing unusual here, since eclecticism has been successfully practiced by different spiritual aspirants. Yet because she has no spiritual foundation to stand on, the experience leaves her stretched and confused. I would say that this is one of the dangers of too much dabbling. A certain foundation is necessary if one is to follow the eclectic path.
Eventually, however, she comes to terms with herself and achieves a certain level of inner equilibrium. Although not all her questions have been answered, and many more still simmer up, at least she seems to have found a more stable outlook with which to pursue and understand her spirituality.
A few would recognize the author's situation as so-called "spiritual restlessness." This happens when the soul feels the urge to start moving towards the spiritual path when the personality is still too immersed in wordly affairs.
All of us, at one time or another, have raised questions such as "Who am I?" and "What's it all about?". Reading the book got me thinking about my own response to these calls. In some ways I'm lucky that I didn't have to undergo such a tumultuous process, and yet on the other hand, one can see how difficulties can forge a clearer understanding about one's place in life.
We all get these soul urges with varying degrees of intensity, and our responses differ accordingly. Yet in the bustle of life, it's easy to forget that there are other things, other realities that exist beyond the ken of our five physical senses.
Whatever our response may be, the challenge of finding answers will always be there. For those of us who are bent on our careers and various mundane pursuits, the question will come about the meaning of all we are doing. If we project ourselves to 10, 25, 50 or 100 years from now and look back, will we see if what we did now matters? Was it really that important to have devoted our life to that particular goal? By what means do we define ourselves?
Even those on the spiritual path come face to face with these questions. Are we actualizing what we are studying? Or do they remain on the mental level? It's easy to think of oneness, peace and love for all while meditating. It's another matter entirely to remember this once faced with an abusive officemate or an overdue bill.
Whatever our particular life situation may be, no matter how much we may deny it, some form of answer is called for. Each one of us is free to choose what our answer will be, and this will determine the course our life will take from that point. Our choice can be a conscious one or not, and not doing anything is a type of answer in itself. So do we go through life as a robot, or open our eyes and make meaningful change in our life? Therefore, it makes sense to become aware of our soul calling us, and reflect on what our answer will be and what it will mean for us and those around us.
I recently finished reading the book. Sometimes you come across a book that you feel compelled to read, and this was one of them. It was also in narrative format, making it easy to read, so it was a welcome diversion from some of the heavy esoteric treatises I usually read.
The book is about the journey and struggle of a typical Gen-Xer trying to find spiritual meaning in a life where religion had failed her. She couldn't accept the dogma of her Catholic religion and there were so many questions that couldn't be answered, especially from the point of view of a female in the midst of a patriarchal religion, so she simply rejected it. She calls herself an "outsider" because she does not follow the tenets that everyone around her have accepted and had taken for granted. And yet she could still feel an emptiness that longed to be filled, and this eventually prompted her spiritual journey.
Her quest for answers wasn't easy. Her experience with Catholicism has left her deeply suspicious about any system that would require her to make too many changes in her life, or might seek to control her too much. But she was still envious of the inner peace exuding from people practicing different spiritual systems. Unable to commit to any one system, over the years she investigated Wicca, shamanism, hatha yoga, vodou, Sufism (Sufism Reoriented), Shambhala and even the Burning Man, while still remaining an outsider looking in.
Because of her inner resistance, she dips her fingers into all these systems yet doesn't commit to each. She takes a little from each tradition, just those aspects that she finds useful for her. Nothing unusual here, since eclecticism has been successfully practiced by different spiritual aspirants. Yet because she has no spiritual foundation to stand on, the experience leaves her stretched and confused. I would say that this is one of the dangers of too much dabbling. A certain foundation is necessary if one is to follow the eclectic path.
Eventually, however, she comes to terms with herself and achieves a certain level of inner equilibrium. Although not all her questions have been answered, and many more still simmer up, at least she seems to have found a more stable outlook with which to pursue and understand her spirituality.
A few would recognize the author's situation as so-called "spiritual restlessness." This happens when the soul feels the urge to start moving towards the spiritual path when the personality is still too immersed in wordly affairs.
All of us, at one time or another, have raised questions such as "Who am I?" and "What's it all about?". Reading the book got me thinking about my own response to these calls. In some ways I'm lucky that I didn't have to undergo such a tumultuous process, and yet on the other hand, one can see how difficulties can forge a clearer understanding about one's place in life.
We all get these soul urges with varying degrees of intensity, and our responses differ accordingly. Yet in the bustle of life, it's easy to forget that there are other things, other realities that exist beyond the ken of our five physical senses.
Whatever our response may be, the challenge of finding answers will always be there. For those of us who are bent on our careers and various mundane pursuits, the question will come about the meaning of all we are doing. If we project ourselves to 10, 25, 50 or 100 years from now and look back, will we see if what we did now matters? Was it really that important to have devoted our life to that particular goal? By what means do we define ourselves?
Even those on the spiritual path come face to face with these questions. Are we actualizing what we are studying? Or do they remain on the mental level? It's easy to think of oneness, peace and love for all while meditating. It's another matter entirely to remember this once faced with an abusive officemate or an overdue bill.
Whatever our particular life situation may be, no matter how much we may deny it, some form of answer is called for. Each one of us is free to choose what our answer will be, and this will determine the course our life will take from that point. Our choice can be a conscious one or not, and not doing anything is a type of answer in itself. So do we go through life as a robot, or open our eyes and make meaningful change in our life? Therefore, it makes sense to become aware of our soul calling us, and reflect on what our answer will be and what it will mean for us and those around us.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Reminiscing
Earlier today I was chatting with my best friend via Yahoo Messenger. He has been working in the US for a little over a decade now although he still manages to come home regularly at least once a year. There are times we would end up chatting via instant messenger, and it helps him bear the hardship of being by himself in a foreign land.
We usually talk about our hobbies and interests, which range from sci-fi, military, airsoft and roleplaying games. But over the last two years, I've also started to introduce to him my growing interest in esoteric topics. While in no way a real enthusiast like me, at least he is open to discussing these things and even has a few questions that I attempt to answer in the best way I can. In fact, sometimes I order hard-fo-find books through him so that he can bring them via balikbayan box when he visits. I tell him to feel free to read the books since they'll just be sitting at his place anyway until his visit, but he frequently has a hard time getting through all the topics, and that's where all the explaining comes in.
Anyway, today the topic turned to the discussion of how much I've diverged from the range of interests of our particular circle of friends. On the one hand, my old group of friends want to see more of the old me, the one they are more familiar with. But as I get more active with esoteric subjects, there certainly comes a point when one needs to choose how one's time is to be spent, and which activities to prioritize over others especially when there is a conflict of schedule. For me, esoteric activities have lately taken priority and I suppose it must sound strange to some people, such as those in my airsoft team.
For my best friend though, he's not that surprised because although my level of activity in esoteric stuff has definitely increased, he says that I've been into these things as far back as he could remember (and we were already friends as early as Grade 2). That statement took me a bit by surprise, so I asked him to elaborate some more.
He says he can remember my interest with those pyramids that energized water. He was referring to the Ernie Baron pyramid. It had a lot of uses aside from energizing water. There was also a version you could wear on your head to make your memory better.
My friend also said he remembers one particular instance during 1st year high school, I told him about astral projection and he couldn't sleep for a while after that because I told him that whenever we dream of flying, that was actually us going off. I also told him about the silver cord, that if it got cut while we were out of the body, our physical bodies would die. It was that and the "what if I don't come back" thing that gave him a few sleepless nights.
I remember I once tried to do astral travel after reading it from a book, but I don't remember telling anyone about that experience. I was on the 2nd floor of our house and it was a weekend morning. I remember my dad was also in the living room and I decided to try it out and lay down on the couch. I could feel myself getting lighter, but I got scared and stopped. My friend told me how excited I was when I related it to them, how it was so cool but how it scared the shit out of me. He said it reminded him of a kid who thought it was cool to poke a bear to see if he could outrun it! Another friend of ours who happened to be there when I related the story also commented that I was crazy to try it out, but I was quite nonchalant about it. Apparently, I wasn't as nonchalant as I sounded, because I never repeated that experiment.
Interestingly, he also had an idea during that same time period in high school that if you vibrated yourself fast enough, you could disentangle yourself from this dimension and see other planes. It was in the context of alternate ways to travel. I was talking of astral projection and he was talking about his idea in a sci-fi sort of way. Knowing what I know now about energy and vibrations, it reinforces my belief that my friend and I were both doing this stuff before in a previous life.
As my friend related all these details, I could only sit back in wonder. I remember reading my brothers' books on ESP and the paranormal, and particularly Doctor From Llhasa by T. Lobsang Rampa, but I don't remember getting into these discussions with my friend.
I always saw pranic healing as heralding my foray into the esoteric. Everything else before that was just general info that anyone with a modicum of interest could read about. But apparently, that wasn't the case. I looked at those ESP books as a small phase of my life, a passing curiousity during that time, but I didn't realize it made such a big impact on me and also on my friend. As is consistent with the onrush of puberty, the thing I could remember most about that time was my fascination with girls. Luckily, my friend has a better memory for those times otherwise I wouldn't have recalled such an important part of my past.
Finally knowing all this, I started to reflect why I had forgotten such important events, at least in the context of my stronger esoteric participation nowadays. I suppose it was part of the social programming of that time. We were studying in a Catholic school, and after a while even Dungeons and Dragons (all the rage that time) was frowned upon for being "satanic." For some reason, "satanic" groupings were quite in vogue in our school that time.
There were also the pressures of ensuring one's academic achievement. All the way until I graduated from college, a lot of my time was preoccupied with doing well academically. There was of course recreation, but studies were the main priority, under the stern watch of my parents. Beneath the bustle of all this activity, all memory of the esoteric got lost in the scatter, and it didn't help that I hadn't managed to encounter a group that would nurture this interest, not until I discovered pranic healing in 2008. Prior to that, D&D and The Lord of the Rings pretty much defined the extent of my esoteric knowledge (at least, that's what I thought, until I chatted with my friend today).
Despite a certain wistfulness at remembering all of this and the apparent loss of time (i.e., what if I had gotten into it much earlier?), I do realize that everything happened in its own time. One particular incident underlines this premise. Back in 1994, we had this summer job practicum in college. Those enrolled in the subject would be assigned at random to work at certain Top 100 companies, then the class would meet once a week on Saturdays to discuss each week's experience.
I was assigned to a company that had its main office in Makati. Since the first day was just an orientation, I was given the rest of the day off. But before I continue, let me put in a side story. My best friend, who wasn't enrolled in the summer job practicum subject, was also working in the company I was assigned to. It was also just for that summer, for experience. His dad happened to be working in that company and got him in. We hadn't discussed our plans for the summer so I was understandably surprised to see him there. Just goes to show you how much our lives were intertwined during that time period.
To continue, I was supposed to meet my dad at Greenbelt 1, but since he wasn't there yet, I passed the time at National Bookstore. I saw this book that I now know was Initiation Into Hermetics by Franz Bardon. Since it was about the practice of magic, I bought the book and started reading it when I got home.
I hadn't gotten far with the book when my mom noticed it. During that time her attitude about magic and the esoteric was a bit more negative than it is now, so she said that she didn't agree with my reading about magic, about how such stuff was dangerous and all. So I stopped reading the book and set it aside on my table, intending to read it later on (when my mom wasn't looking). However, I never saw the book after that, even after searching all the places where the book could be stored, so I assumed my mom threw the book away when I was out. Looking back on it, I should have hidden the book instead of having just left it on top of the table like that, but I digress.
Fast forward to 2008, the time I got into pranic healing, and I buy the complete set of Franz Bardon books. I didn't realize then that Initiation Into Hermetics was the same book I bought back in 1994 because the cover was already different, but the picture of Franz Bardon was tantalizingly familiar and I remember getting to the description of the white and black soul mirrors. I still thought I had a different book in 1994 that had a similar methodology as the one I was reading.
Everything came together after Typhoon Ondoy when I lost all my books. One of my friends from my esoteric study group kindly gave me another complete set of Franz Bardon books, but these were the old edition books, and when I saw IIH with the old cover that's when it all clicked that it was the same book I had encountered back in college. It obviously wasn't the right time back in college, so the information was taken out of my hands, although I can't help but wonder how my life would have been influenced if I had continued reading it back then.
To those reading this, it would be a good time to reflect on things that might have unintentionally been suppressed when you were younger. It might give insight into the things you are doing now, or they might lead you to an alternate path from the one you are taking now. Either way, everything in its own time.
We usually talk about our hobbies and interests, which range from sci-fi, military, airsoft and roleplaying games. But over the last two years, I've also started to introduce to him my growing interest in esoteric topics. While in no way a real enthusiast like me, at least he is open to discussing these things and even has a few questions that I attempt to answer in the best way I can. In fact, sometimes I order hard-fo-find books through him so that he can bring them via balikbayan box when he visits. I tell him to feel free to read the books since they'll just be sitting at his place anyway until his visit, but he frequently has a hard time getting through all the topics, and that's where all the explaining comes in.
Anyway, today the topic turned to the discussion of how much I've diverged from the range of interests of our particular circle of friends. On the one hand, my old group of friends want to see more of the old me, the one they are more familiar with. But as I get more active with esoteric subjects, there certainly comes a point when one needs to choose how one's time is to be spent, and which activities to prioritize over others especially when there is a conflict of schedule. For me, esoteric activities have lately taken priority and I suppose it must sound strange to some people, such as those in my airsoft team.
For my best friend though, he's not that surprised because although my level of activity in esoteric stuff has definitely increased, he says that I've been into these things as far back as he could remember (and we were already friends as early as Grade 2). That statement took me a bit by surprise, so I asked him to elaborate some more.
He says he can remember my interest with those pyramids that energized water. He was referring to the Ernie Baron pyramid. It had a lot of uses aside from energizing water. There was also a version you could wear on your head to make your memory better.
My friend also said he remembers one particular instance during 1st year high school, I told him about astral projection and he couldn't sleep for a while after that because I told him that whenever we dream of flying, that was actually us going off. I also told him about the silver cord, that if it got cut while we were out of the body, our physical bodies would die. It was that and the "what if I don't come back" thing that gave him a few sleepless nights.
I remember I once tried to do astral travel after reading it from a book, but I don't remember telling anyone about that experience. I was on the 2nd floor of our house and it was a weekend morning. I remember my dad was also in the living room and I decided to try it out and lay down on the couch. I could feel myself getting lighter, but I got scared and stopped. My friend told me how excited I was when I related it to them, how it was so cool but how it scared the shit out of me. He said it reminded him of a kid who thought it was cool to poke a bear to see if he could outrun it! Another friend of ours who happened to be there when I related the story also commented that I was crazy to try it out, but I was quite nonchalant about it. Apparently, I wasn't as nonchalant as I sounded, because I never repeated that experiment.
Interestingly, he also had an idea during that same time period in high school that if you vibrated yourself fast enough, you could disentangle yourself from this dimension and see other planes. It was in the context of alternate ways to travel. I was talking of astral projection and he was talking about his idea in a sci-fi sort of way. Knowing what I know now about energy and vibrations, it reinforces my belief that my friend and I were both doing this stuff before in a previous life.
As my friend related all these details, I could only sit back in wonder. I remember reading my brothers' books on ESP and the paranormal, and particularly Doctor From Llhasa by T. Lobsang Rampa, but I don't remember getting into these discussions with my friend.
I always saw pranic healing as heralding my foray into the esoteric. Everything else before that was just general info that anyone with a modicum of interest could read about. But apparently, that wasn't the case. I looked at those ESP books as a small phase of my life, a passing curiousity during that time, but I didn't realize it made such a big impact on me and also on my friend. As is consistent with the onrush of puberty, the thing I could remember most about that time was my fascination with girls. Luckily, my friend has a better memory for those times otherwise I wouldn't have recalled such an important part of my past.
Finally knowing all this, I started to reflect why I had forgotten such important events, at least in the context of my stronger esoteric participation nowadays. I suppose it was part of the social programming of that time. We were studying in a Catholic school, and after a while even Dungeons and Dragons (all the rage that time) was frowned upon for being "satanic." For some reason, "satanic" groupings were quite in vogue in our school that time.
There were also the pressures of ensuring one's academic achievement. All the way until I graduated from college, a lot of my time was preoccupied with doing well academically. There was of course recreation, but studies were the main priority, under the stern watch of my parents. Beneath the bustle of all this activity, all memory of the esoteric got lost in the scatter, and it didn't help that I hadn't managed to encounter a group that would nurture this interest, not until I discovered pranic healing in 2008. Prior to that, D&D and The Lord of the Rings pretty much defined the extent of my esoteric knowledge (at least, that's what I thought, until I chatted with my friend today).
Despite a certain wistfulness at remembering all of this and the apparent loss of time (i.e., what if I had gotten into it much earlier?), I do realize that everything happened in its own time. One particular incident underlines this premise. Back in 1994, we had this summer job practicum in college. Those enrolled in the subject would be assigned at random to work at certain Top 100 companies, then the class would meet once a week on Saturdays to discuss each week's experience.
I was assigned to a company that had its main office in Makati. Since the first day was just an orientation, I was given the rest of the day off. But before I continue, let me put in a side story. My best friend, who wasn't enrolled in the summer job practicum subject, was also working in the company I was assigned to. It was also just for that summer, for experience. His dad happened to be working in that company and got him in. We hadn't discussed our plans for the summer so I was understandably surprised to see him there. Just goes to show you how much our lives were intertwined during that time period.
To continue, I was supposed to meet my dad at Greenbelt 1, but since he wasn't there yet, I passed the time at National Bookstore. I saw this book that I now know was Initiation Into Hermetics by Franz Bardon. Since it was about the practice of magic, I bought the book and started reading it when I got home.
I hadn't gotten far with the book when my mom noticed it. During that time her attitude about magic and the esoteric was a bit more negative than it is now, so she said that she didn't agree with my reading about magic, about how such stuff was dangerous and all. So I stopped reading the book and set it aside on my table, intending to read it later on (when my mom wasn't looking). However, I never saw the book after that, even after searching all the places where the book could be stored, so I assumed my mom threw the book away when I was out. Looking back on it, I should have hidden the book instead of having just left it on top of the table like that, but I digress.
Fast forward to 2008, the time I got into pranic healing, and I buy the complete set of Franz Bardon books. I didn't realize then that Initiation Into Hermetics was the same book I bought back in 1994 because the cover was already different, but the picture of Franz Bardon was tantalizingly familiar and I remember getting to the description of the white and black soul mirrors. I still thought I had a different book in 1994 that had a similar methodology as the one I was reading.
Everything came together after Typhoon Ondoy when I lost all my books. One of my friends from my esoteric study group kindly gave me another complete set of Franz Bardon books, but these were the old edition books, and when I saw IIH with the old cover that's when it all clicked that it was the same book I had encountered back in college. It obviously wasn't the right time back in college, so the information was taken out of my hands, although I can't help but wonder how my life would have been influenced if I had continued reading it back then.
To those reading this, it would be a good time to reflect on things that might have unintentionally been suppressed when you were younger. It might give insight into the things you are doing now, or they might lead you to an alternate path from the one you are taking now. Either way, everything in its own time.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
All About Soul and Infinite Possibilities
When it comes to the discussion of the soul, the topic of soulmates eventually comes up. A lot of romantic people dream of finding their "soulmate." And I think most people would append the title of soulmate to any friend or partner that they can closely identify with on almost all levels.
Locally, Jaime Licauco tackles the subject through his book Soulmates, Karma & Reincarnation (he even conducts a regular seminar going by the same title). From here we can see that although most people are not aware of the philosophy behind the concept, the idea of a soulmate is engaging enough that it still captures the attention and imagination of a lot of people.
According to most esoteric philosophies, we are all sparks from the One Infinite Source, identified by different religions and peoples as the Supreme God, the Universal Mind, Parabrahman or whatever appellation that most closely fits the mental understanding of the culture or religion. These sparks are our souls, and just before incarnating, the soul is separated into two halves, one male and the other female. It's interesting that a part of this concept is seen in Genesis, where Eve is formed out of the rib of Adam.
Supposedly, once a person encounters his or her soulmate, both parties will experience a practically irresistible attraction towards each other. There will also be a feeling of intense joy whenever the two are together. It is these signs that make the idea of meeting a soulmate so attractive for most people. The Kabbalistic view extends this further, stating that as the two halves grow spiritually, they are increasingly drawn together no matter where in the world they may be, finally uniting when the time is right.
Although encounters with soulmates are supposed to be events of great joy, Kabbalistic belief also states that it is possible for one to encounter one's soulmate, albeit briefly, as a nemesis! This occurs if one needs to learn certain lessons important for one's soul development. Although this view runs counter to the romantic view of soulmates, it makes sense when looked at from the esoteric perspective. The more one needs to learn a lesson, the more one encounters situations that bring those lessons to the fore. Since encounters with soulmates are supposed to be intense, it is a definite way to impart the intensity of a particular life lesson.
And then I encountered The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav. In case the name of the author sounds familiar, it may be because he has made a few guest appearances in Oprah, though I wasn't aware of that fact before I bought the book. In any case, he states that the soul experiences physical reality through the personality. He further emphasizes that the soul is quite distinct from the personality, because the soul is eternal and pure, while the personality is transient and has a lot of imperfections. This is similar to other esoteric philosophies, but Gary Zukav goes further in saying that the soul can have several personalities existing and experiencing life at the same time. This certainly goes beyond the normal concept of soulmates, because there could be several aspects of your soul, in different personalities, existing in the world. I guess you could call this a group soulmate.
According to Gary Zukav, what happens to one personality impacts the lives and development of the other personalities. For example, if one personality lives a life of wanton slaughter and rapine, the consequences of this negative lifestyle will spill over to a certain extent to the other personalities. Conversely, a personality that takes on the spiritual path will also influence the other personalities into that positive direction.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find out what path of spirituality Gary Zukav follows, so it's hard to cross check some of his statements. But curiously, the only other work where I encountered a similar concept is the Thiaoouba Prophecy, where it is mentioned that the Higher Soul divides itself into nine souls in order to experience incarnated life.
Despite the uncertainty of the statements above, theoretically it should be possible. After all, we are all from One Infinite Source despite apparent differences in form. And since the Hermetic principle states that "As above, so below" then if the One Infinite Source was able to emanate different sparks (human souls) from Itself, then these individual sparks should be able to emanate subdivisions of themselves.
If we take into account the different theories about parallel universes, then the concept of the existence of different personalities makes more sense. Perhaps those who suffer from multiple personality disorders had the veils between the different personalities torn asunder, either through a defect of birth or trauma, hence all personalities surface at one time or another in the same body. It's an intriguing thought.
Nevertheless, the concept of "one soul, several personalities" may give light to some of the questions I have regarding a past life reading I heard. Without divulging the details, different lives and events were described, but based on some of the descriptions of the events, some of the timelines should have intersected for all of it to have made any sense. If we look at reincarnation as purely linear where one personality life ends before another one can begin, then questions arise about the seeming inconsistencies of described events and places. But if the soul incarnates several personalities, or at least incarnates one personality before the death of the other, then one can see how it is possible for several timelines to intersect.
While the concept of somehow having lunch with oneself is intriguing, the important thing is that we should simply focus on spiritually developing ourselves. We may not know everything that happens in the inner world, but for sure we are always being guided by a higher power and everything happens for a reason. Perhaps one is meant to meet one's soulmate in this lifetime, or perhaps not, but either way, everything is happening as it should be.
Locally, Jaime Licauco tackles the subject through his book Soulmates, Karma & Reincarnation (he even conducts a regular seminar going by the same title). From here we can see that although most people are not aware of the philosophy behind the concept, the idea of a soulmate is engaging enough that it still captures the attention and imagination of a lot of people.
According to most esoteric philosophies, we are all sparks from the One Infinite Source, identified by different religions and peoples as the Supreme God, the Universal Mind, Parabrahman or whatever appellation that most closely fits the mental understanding of the culture or religion. These sparks are our souls, and just before incarnating, the soul is separated into two halves, one male and the other female. It's interesting that a part of this concept is seen in Genesis, where Eve is formed out of the rib of Adam.
Supposedly, once a person encounters his or her soulmate, both parties will experience a practically irresistible attraction towards each other. There will also be a feeling of intense joy whenever the two are together. It is these signs that make the idea of meeting a soulmate so attractive for most people. The Kabbalistic view extends this further, stating that as the two halves grow spiritually, they are increasingly drawn together no matter where in the world they may be, finally uniting when the time is right.
Although encounters with soulmates are supposed to be events of great joy, Kabbalistic belief also states that it is possible for one to encounter one's soulmate, albeit briefly, as a nemesis! This occurs if one needs to learn certain lessons important for one's soul development. Although this view runs counter to the romantic view of soulmates, it makes sense when looked at from the esoteric perspective. The more one needs to learn a lesson, the more one encounters situations that bring those lessons to the fore. Since encounters with soulmates are supposed to be intense, it is a definite way to impart the intensity of a particular life lesson.
And then I encountered The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav. In case the name of the author sounds familiar, it may be because he has made a few guest appearances in Oprah, though I wasn't aware of that fact before I bought the book. In any case, he states that the soul experiences physical reality through the personality. He further emphasizes that the soul is quite distinct from the personality, because the soul is eternal and pure, while the personality is transient and has a lot of imperfections. This is similar to other esoteric philosophies, but Gary Zukav goes further in saying that the soul can have several personalities existing and experiencing life at the same time. This certainly goes beyond the normal concept of soulmates, because there could be several aspects of your soul, in different personalities, existing in the world. I guess you could call this a group soulmate.
According to Gary Zukav, what happens to one personality impacts the lives and development of the other personalities. For example, if one personality lives a life of wanton slaughter and rapine, the consequences of this negative lifestyle will spill over to a certain extent to the other personalities. Conversely, a personality that takes on the spiritual path will also influence the other personalities into that positive direction.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find out what path of spirituality Gary Zukav follows, so it's hard to cross check some of his statements. But curiously, the only other work where I encountered a similar concept is the Thiaoouba Prophecy, where it is mentioned that the Higher Soul divides itself into nine souls in order to experience incarnated life.
Despite the uncertainty of the statements above, theoretically it should be possible. After all, we are all from One Infinite Source despite apparent differences in form. And since the Hermetic principle states that "As above, so below" then if the One Infinite Source was able to emanate different sparks (human souls) from Itself, then these individual sparks should be able to emanate subdivisions of themselves.
If we take into account the different theories about parallel universes, then the concept of the existence of different personalities makes more sense. Perhaps those who suffer from multiple personality disorders had the veils between the different personalities torn asunder, either through a defect of birth or trauma, hence all personalities surface at one time or another in the same body. It's an intriguing thought.
Nevertheless, the concept of "one soul, several personalities" may give light to some of the questions I have regarding a past life reading I heard. Without divulging the details, different lives and events were described, but based on some of the descriptions of the events, some of the timelines should have intersected for all of it to have made any sense. If we look at reincarnation as purely linear where one personality life ends before another one can begin, then questions arise about the seeming inconsistencies of described events and places. But if the soul incarnates several personalities, or at least incarnates one personality before the death of the other, then one can see how it is possible for several timelines to intersect.
While the concept of somehow having lunch with oneself is intriguing, the important thing is that we should simply focus on spiritually developing ourselves. We may not know everything that happens in the inner world, but for sure we are always being guided by a higher power and everything happens for a reason. Perhaps one is meant to meet one's soulmate in this lifetime, or perhaps not, but either way, everything is happening as it should be.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Some Notes on The Master Key System
Just recently, I finally finished reading The Master Key System. For those of you not familiar with the book, it was written by a man named Charles F. Haanel. It first came out as a mail order course in 1912 and was published in book form by 1916. Despite its being written just after the turn of the 20th century, the timelessness of the concepts found in The Master Key System is evidenced by the fact that even today, almost a hundred years later, it continues to inspire countless people throughout the world. The book heavily influenced Rhonda Byrne, who eventually wrote The Secret.
There is also a popular rumor that while still studying at Harvard, Bill Gates found a copy of the Master Key System in the library and it so inspired him that he opted to drop out in order to found Microsoft. Although it seems there is no factual basis for the rumor (Bill Gates himself hasn't mentioned anything about it), the rumor has helped the recent popularity of the book.
So who was Charles Haanel? Regarded by many as the Father of Personal Development, he was definitely a testament to his own teachings. He was a successful businessman who owned several companies and was active in the Louisiana business community in addition to being affiliated with many groups. Incidentally, Charles Haanel was also a Freemason and had links with the Society of Rosicrucians, which explains the heavy metaphysical content of the Master Key System. Even then, the beauty of the book is that it has something for everyone, whatever background one may be coming from.
When The Secret broke into the market several years ago, life coaching programs and self-empowerment seminars were catapulted into the forefront of mainstream consciousness, and it popularized the Law of Attraction (also called the Law of Love by Charles Haanel) as well. Although most of the focus has been geared towards prosperity, a lot of attention has also been given to building up the confidence of people and getting them into the mindset that leads to positive changes in their lives. If you are familiar with this trend and concept, then you have a basic idea of what The Master Key System has to offer.
But for serious esoteric students, the book is so much more. While reading The Master Key System, some of the discussions, particularly those of the different esoteric laws, reminded me of The Kybalion (a work about various Hermetic principles; it came out in 1908). Incidentally, a friend mentioned to me that The Kybalion also appears in Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Unfortunately, I haven't read The Lost Symbol yet (couldn't find any hardcopies), but I do hope to get a copy soon.
Since The Kybalion came out a few years earlier, it is plausible that Charles Haanel could have read it, given his links to the Freemasons and Rosicrucians. What esoteric laws does Charles Haanel discuss? Here is a basic listing:
1. Law of Attraction - like matter will attract like matter; negative thoughts attract negative circumstances, while positive thoughts attract positive circumstances.
2. Law of Cause and Effect - whereby you reap exactly what you sow.
3. Law of Compensation - which is why you must first give in order to receive, because anything not merited is eventually taken away since Nature seeks to find equilibrium.
4. Law of Periodicity (may also be called Law of Cycles or Law of Rhythm) - Charles Haanel says that this law is governed by the Septimal Law (Law of Sevens), whereby everything happens in cycles of sevens (seven days, seven weeks, seven months, seven years, etc.). For those familiar with Master Choa's Management Through Kabbalistic Cycle, which involves 7 cycles as well, you will appreciate this section. In fact, given Master Choa's prolific reading, I wouldn't be surprised if he had read The Master Key System.
5. Law of Growth - anything given thought is given life, therefore it must build upon itself.
While the average reader may be left scratching his head at all these metaphysical discussions, if you have managed to benefit from The Secret or The Master Key System itself, then you know that there is something in operation that makes things happen the way they do. What Charles Haanel does is explain why they do happen, so that one may consistently take advantage of them.
Mr. Haanel is quite insightful and poignant in his writing. For instance, at the end of the book is a question and answer section, and one of the questions posed is that if the "I" is spiritual and therefore perfect, why is it that we always see such imperfect results? Mr. Haanel's answer is that we see no imperfect results, and that all around us is perfection. He says that spiritual laws operate with immutable precision and perfection. If an individual thinks constructively, then the results are positive and harmonious; if the individual thinks destructively, then the results are negative and disastrous. You sow what you reap, and since we are free to think as we wish, then we perfectly and exactly get what we give out. This is what is meant by the Law working perfectly.
This is really interesting, because anyone familiar with the publications of The Kabbalah Centre will find this same theme (not in the exact same words, of course) in their different books. Try to grab a copy of The 72 Names of God, and turn to the page that discusses the 51st Name, titled "No Guilt."
Which brings me to the next point. As a practitioner of Arhatic Yoga, I could recognize the very spiritual concepts found in the book, such as the discussion of the "I" and connecting with the spirit. While I am not familiar with other systems of yoga or other spiritual disciplines, I am sure that they would recognize the concepts I am referring to should they have the chance to read the book.
For pranic healers, it's also interesting to note that Charles Haanel mentions that everytime we breathe, we vitalize our body with pranic ether, which is life itself. According to him, we could not exist a moment without this pranic energy or pranic ether. Interesting, isn't it? He has some very interesting discussions about personal health that will benefit anyone.
Lastly, as is typical with many esoteric works of that time, Charles Haanel also hints at the coming changes, whereby the old structures will be replaced by the new. It's a very Aquarian concept, and those familiar with this theme will recognize this. Otherwise, just read the book in its entirety to appreciate its content.
As I previously said, the book has everything for everyone, no matter what background. For those just discovering these wonderful concepts, the benefits of reading The Master Key System are obvious. How about for those who are already versed in esoteric studies? The benefits are bigger still, because although the book discusses concepts that may already be familiar, they are in no way redundant. We always benefit from looking at the same thing from different perspectives, because as Charles Haanel says, although there is one Truth, there are many conceptions of the Truth and many ways of interpreting this Truth.
In case you're getting ready to jump up and head straight for the bookstore, hold your horses for a moment. The Master Key System has been out of print for a long time, and although some independent publishers have decided to print it again, it's still not widely available.
But luckily for us, since the book was published before 1923, it's now in the public domain and you can easily download an ebook for free. I would recommend the one given by Kallisti Publishing. According to the publisher, he transcribed the ebook directly from an old copy of The Master Key System that his friend had, so it would contain all the original words of Charles Haanel. Other versions have supposedly changed some phrases or removed "disagreeable" content, and I have identified some of this when I compared one version to the ebook given out by Kallisti Publishing.
You will need to register your name and email to download a free copy of the ebook, but I haven't noticed anything bad that came out of that, so it should be okay. Try to read the other sections of the site, such as the FAQ, because it gives some additional info. Anyway, enough of the preliminaries, you can get your copy here.
Did Charles Haanel write any other books? Yes he did. These were Mental Chemistry, The New Psychology, A Book About You and (with Victor Simon Perera) The Amazing Secrets of the Yogi. While it may be difficult to get copies of these books, I'm sure the treasurehouse of information is well worth the effort of finding them.
Happy reading!
There is also a popular rumor that while still studying at Harvard, Bill Gates found a copy of the Master Key System in the library and it so inspired him that he opted to drop out in order to found Microsoft. Although it seems there is no factual basis for the rumor (Bill Gates himself hasn't mentioned anything about it), the rumor has helped the recent popularity of the book.
So who was Charles Haanel? Regarded by many as the Father of Personal Development, he was definitely a testament to his own teachings. He was a successful businessman who owned several companies and was active in the Louisiana business community in addition to being affiliated with many groups. Incidentally, Charles Haanel was also a Freemason and had links with the Society of Rosicrucians, which explains the heavy metaphysical content of the Master Key System. Even then, the beauty of the book is that it has something for everyone, whatever background one may be coming from.
When The Secret broke into the market several years ago, life coaching programs and self-empowerment seminars were catapulted into the forefront of mainstream consciousness, and it popularized the Law of Attraction (also called the Law of Love by Charles Haanel) as well. Although most of the focus has been geared towards prosperity, a lot of attention has also been given to building up the confidence of people and getting them into the mindset that leads to positive changes in their lives. If you are familiar with this trend and concept, then you have a basic idea of what The Master Key System has to offer.
But for serious esoteric students, the book is so much more. While reading The Master Key System, some of the discussions, particularly those of the different esoteric laws, reminded me of The Kybalion (a work about various Hermetic principles; it came out in 1908). Incidentally, a friend mentioned to me that The Kybalion also appears in Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Unfortunately, I haven't read The Lost Symbol yet (couldn't find any hardcopies), but I do hope to get a copy soon.
Since The Kybalion came out a few years earlier, it is plausible that Charles Haanel could have read it, given his links to the Freemasons and Rosicrucians. What esoteric laws does Charles Haanel discuss? Here is a basic listing:
1. Law of Attraction - like matter will attract like matter; negative thoughts attract negative circumstances, while positive thoughts attract positive circumstances.
2. Law of Cause and Effect - whereby you reap exactly what you sow.
3. Law of Compensation - which is why you must first give in order to receive, because anything not merited is eventually taken away since Nature seeks to find equilibrium.
4. Law of Periodicity (may also be called Law of Cycles or Law of Rhythm) - Charles Haanel says that this law is governed by the Septimal Law (Law of Sevens), whereby everything happens in cycles of sevens (seven days, seven weeks, seven months, seven years, etc.). For those familiar with Master Choa's Management Through Kabbalistic Cycle, which involves 7 cycles as well, you will appreciate this section. In fact, given Master Choa's prolific reading, I wouldn't be surprised if he had read The Master Key System.
5. Law of Growth - anything given thought is given life, therefore it must build upon itself.
While the average reader may be left scratching his head at all these metaphysical discussions, if you have managed to benefit from The Secret or The Master Key System itself, then you know that there is something in operation that makes things happen the way they do. What Charles Haanel does is explain why they do happen, so that one may consistently take advantage of them.
Mr. Haanel is quite insightful and poignant in his writing. For instance, at the end of the book is a question and answer section, and one of the questions posed is that if the "I" is spiritual and therefore perfect, why is it that we always see such imperfect results? Mr. Haanel's answer is that we see no imperfect results, and that all around us is perfection. He says that spiritual laws operate with immutable precision and perfection. If an individual thinks constructively, then the results are positive and harmonious; if the individual thinks destructively, then the results are negative and disastrous. You sow what you reap, and since we are free to think as we wish, then we perfectly and exactly get what we give out. This is what is meant by the Law working perfectly.
This is really interesting, because anyone familiar with the publications of The Kabbalah Centre will find this same theme (not in the exact same words, of course) in their different books. Try to grab a copy of The 72 Names of God, and turn to the page that discusses the 51st Name, titled "No Guilt."
Which brings me to the next point. As a practitioner of Arhatic Yoga, I could recognize the very spiritual concepts found in the book, such as the discussion of the "I" and connecting with the spirit. While I am not familiar with other systems of yoga or other spiritual disciplines, I am sure that they would recognize the concepts I am referring to should they have the chance to read the book.
For pranic healers, it's also interesting to note that Charles Haanel mentions that everytime we breathe, we vitalize our body with pranic ether, which is life itself. According to him, we could not exist a moment without this pranic energy or pranic ether. Interesting, isn't it? He has some very interesting discussions about personal health that will benefit anyone.
Lastly, as is typical with many esoteric works of that time, Charles Haanel also hints at the coming changes, whereby the old structures will be replaced by the new. It's a very Aquarian concept, and those familiar with this theme will recognize this. Otherwise, just read the book in its entirety to appreciate its content.
As I previously said, the book has everything for everyone, no matter what background. For those just discovering these wonderful concepts, the benefits of reading The Master Key System are obvious. How about for those who are already versed in esoteric studies? The benefits are bigger still, because although the book discusses concepts that may already be familiar, they are in no way redundant. We always benefit from looking at the same thing from different perspectives, because as Charles Haanel says, although there is one Truth, there are many conceptions of the Truth and many ways of interpreting this Truth.
In case you're getting ready to jump up and head straight for the bookstore, hold your horses for a moment. The Master Key System has been out of print for a long time, and although some independent publishers have decided to print it again, it's still not widely available.
But luckily for us, since the book was published before 1923, it's now in the public domain and you can easily download an ebook for free. I would recommend the one given by Kallisti Publishing. According to the publisher, he transcribed the ebook directly from an old copy of The Master Key System that his friend had, so it would contain all the original words of Charles Haanel. Other versions have supposedly changed some phrases or removed "disagreeable" content, and I have identified some of this when I compared one version to the ebook given out by Kallisti Publishing.
You will need to register your name and email to download a free copy of the ebook, but I haven't noticed anything bad that came out of that, so it should be okay. Try to read the other sections of the site, such as the FAQ, because it gives some additional info. Anyway, enough of the preliminaries, you can get your copy here.
Did Charles Haanel write any other books? Yes he did. These were Mental Chemistry, The New Psychology, A Book About You and (with Victor Simon Perera) The Amazing Secrets of the Yogi. While it may be difficult to get copies of these books, I'm sure the treasurehouse of information is well worth the effort of finding them.
Happy reading!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
An Interesting Movie Weekend
I haven't been able to post in my blog for quite some time now. That's because I've been helping out on a little project for the Pranic Healing Foundation of the Philippines, which will hopefully launch within the month of August.
Anyway, last weekend I decided to relax by finally watching The Sorcerer's Apprentice. As someone interested in esoteric subjects, I couldn't help but be curious about the film's take on magic. Of course, my expectations weren't high, since it's difficult to come across some really good magic-themed movies. Still, as long as it's entertaining enough, it should at least be worth the price of a ticket.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a live-action adaptation of the 1940 Disney animated classic Fantasia. Fantasia features eight animated segments, with a classical music selection for each segment. One of these animated segments is the original Sorcerer's Apprentice in the form of Mickey Mouse. While I haven't seen the original movie, I read in one review of the live-action movie that the scene where Dave magically animates a mop to help in cleaning but soon gets out of control is a tribute to the original film where Mickey Mouse does the same.
The premise of the new Sorcerer's Apprentice is interesting enough, though during some of the magical combat scenes I was half-expecting someone to shout "Hadouken!" or "Kamehameha!" (that's Streetfighter and Dragon Ball Z terminology respectively, for you uninitiated ones). They certainly got some of the postures down pat.
Be that as it may, I found quite an interesting dialogue between Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) and his apprentice Dave (Jay Baruchel). Balthazar was explaining the concept of magic, of how it all starts in the sorcerer's mind. The discussion then turned to the difference between fire and solid matter, and the answer was vibration. Balthazar said that everything is in different states of vibration, which gives the illusion of solidity. By increasing the rate of vibration, one can produce fire. The way to do this, get this, is to clear one's mind.
To anyone who is already familiar with the esoteric, that movie lecture just touched on some fundamental esoteric concepts. Of course, there's more to it than what was shown in the movie, but the essence is obvious to anyone who knows anything about the subject. What's more is that some of these concepts of vibration are supported by quantum physics. Even this little topic will require a lot of space to expound on it, so I'll leave it for a future post.
Later on in the movie, Balthazar also tells Dave that his rubber shoes are insulating him from connecting to the energies of the ground. This is another esoteric concept that found its way into the movie. I guess whoever wrote that part of the script at least did some research on magic and alchemy.
Incidentally, during that same weekend I also got to watch The Last Airbender. As you may have figured out, I like watching movies. There were times I would carefully choose what movie to watch first in the theater, so that as soon as I come out I could catch another movie just before it starts.
In any case, although I haven't watched the cartoon, I know there are a lot of negative reviews of The Last Airbender. I'll refrain from saying anything more about the technicalities of the movie and the plot and focus instead on the whole concept of elemental control. The idea of controlling the elements is an intriguing one. After all, who hasn't thought of throwing a few fireballs or flying on air?
In case you haven't watched it yet, in the movie there are special people who have the ability to "bend" one element to their will. These people are grouped according to nation, i.e. Water Nation, Fire Nation, etc. One person, called the avatar, has the ability to control all the elements and bring balance to all nations. For some reason, the avatar is some sort of United Nations rolled up into one person. Once the avatar dies, the soul reincarnates and it is the duty of the monks of the Air Nation (the avatar always has to start as an Air bender) to discover the reincarnation. This follows Tibetan belief where after the reigning Dalai Lama passes away, a search is conducted for the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama.
In the movie, the reincarnated avatar (still a child at this time) disappears, and this leads to war amongst the nations, instigated by the Fire Nation.
Interestingly, in some traditions of hermetic magic, it postulates that humans are made up of four basic elements: fire, air, water and earth. The fifth element, ether, pervades all. Any imbalance in the proportion of the elements is detrimental to the health of the person, manifesting either as physical, emotional or mental disturbances.
I find it interesting that all these different esoteric concepts managed to surface in a couple of movies. I suppose this is part of the effect of the coming Age of Aquarius, whereby previously hidden knowledge now becomes accessible to the masses.
Anyway, last weekend I decided to relax by finally watching The Sorcerer's Apprentice. As someone interested in esoteric subjects, I couldn't help but be curious about the film's take on magic. Of course, my expectations weren't high, since it's difficult to come across some really good magic-themed movies. Still, as long as it's entertaining enough, it should at least be worth the price of a ticket.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a live-action adaptation of the 1940 Disney animated classic Fantasia. Fantasia features eight animated segments, with a classical music selection for each segment. One of these animated segments is the original Sorcerer's Apprentice in the form of Mickey Mouse. While I haven't seen the original movie, I read in one review of the live-action movie that the scene where Dave magically animates a mop to help in cleaning but soon gets out of control is a tribute to the original film where Mickey Mouse does the same.
The premise of the new Sorcerer's Apprentice is interesting enough, though during some of the magical combat scenes I was half-expecting someone to shout "Hadouken!" or "Kamehameha!" (that's Streetfighter and Dragon Ball Z terminology respectively, for you uninitiated ones). They certainly got some of the postures down pat.
Be that as it may, I found quite an interesting dialogue between Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) and his apprentice Dave (Jay Baruchel). Balthazar was explaining the concept of magic, of how it all starts in the sorcerer's mind. The discussion then turned to the difference between fire and solid matter, and the answer was vibration. Balthazar said that everything is in different states of vibration, which gives the illusion of solidity. By increasing the rate of vibration, one can produce fire. The way to do this, get this, is to clear one's mind.
To anyone who is already familiar with the esoteric, that movie lecture just touched on some fundamental esoteric concepts. Of course, there's more to it than what was shown in the movie, but the essence is obvious to anyone who knows anything about the subject. What's more is that some of these concepts of vibration are supported by quantum physics. Even this little topic will require a lot of space to expound on it, so I'll leave it for a future post.
Later on in the movie, Balthazar also tells Dave that his rubber shoes are insulating him from connecting to the energies of the ground. This is another esoteric concept that found its way into the movie. I guess whoever wrote that part of the script at least did some research on magic and alchemy.
Incidentally, during that same weekend I also got to watch The Last Airbender. As you may have figured out, I like watching movies. There were times I would carefully choose what movie to watch first in the theater, so that as soon as I come out I could catch another movie just before it starts.
In any case, although I haven't watched the cartoon, I know there are a lot of negative reviews of The Last Airbender. I'll refrain from saying anything more about the technicalities of the movie and the plot and focus instead on the whole concept of elemental control. The idea of controlling the elements is an intriguing one. After all, who hasn't thought of throwing a few fireballs or flying on air?
In case you haven't watched it yet, in the movie there are special people who have the ability to "bend" one element to their will. These people are grouped according to nation, i.e. Water Nation, Fire Nation, etc. One person, called the avatar, has the ability to control all the elements and bring balance to all nations. For some reason, the avatar is some sort of United Nations rolled up into one person. Once the avatar dies, the soul reincarnates and it is the duty of the monks of the Air Nation (the avatar always has to start as an Air bender) to discover the reincarnation. This follows Tibetan belief where after the reigning Dalai Lama passes away, a search is conducted for the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama.
In the movie, the reincarnated avatar (still a child at this time) disappears, and this leads to war amongst the nations, instigated by the Fire Nation.
Interestingly, in some traditions of hermetic magic, it postulates that humans are made up of four basic elements: fire, air, water and earth. The fifth element, ether, pervades all. Any imbalance in the proportion of the elements is detrimental to the health of the person, manifesting either as physical, emotional or mental disturbances.
I find it interesting that all these different esoteric concepts managed to surface in a couple of movies. I suppose this is part of the effect of the coming Age of Aquarius, whereby previously hidden knowledge now becomes accessible to the masses.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
A Lesson in Generosity
When we became the victims of Typhoon Ondoy last year, we were forced to stay for a few days at my cousin's place in Fairview, Quezon City while we figured out what to do next. Unlike most of my relatives, this cousin of mine is the only one I know of who exhibited an entrepreneural bent, and was quite successful at it.
He has a clothing company he runs with his wife and their company supplies a lot of RTW (ready to wear) clothes to some big name brands. So you can say that while not extravagant, my cousin has quite a comfortable lifestyle for his family.
It was a relief to stay at their house after the devastation we went through just the previous day. Not many were as fortunate as we were. And then I found out that my cousin was not totally spared from the floods, because his factory was located in one of the areas that experienced flooding. A lot of inventory was lost and a lot of machines went under. The factory was their income-earner so needless to say, it was a big financial blow for him and his wife. And yet here they were, sheltering us, even if only for a few days.
But what really amazed me was what I saw a few days later. My cousin arrived at his house after being out shopping, and he was bringing in boxes and boxes of relief goods. Later, he and his family started segregating them into relief kits for distribution to some families affected by the flood.
To me that was really amazing. I'm sure that most, if not all, of us would like to think that we are generous people to some extent. Esoteric practitioners are even taught that we receive what we give. But how many of us would admit even to ourselves that in practice, we only give out what is from our excess? "Giving until it hurts" is fine as a concept unless one is brought into a situation that calls for it.
My cousin's generosity was really a lesson for me, one I was glad I had. This lesson has showed me that personal loss is no excuse not to help other people or not to be generous. Here was a guy who lost a lot, but could still find it within himself to give help to other people. He wasn't even an esoteric student, but he was living the teachings more faithfully than some long-time practitioners! And now I could understand why he was so blessed with prosperity. In fact, his business was able to bounce back from that loss.
Ever since that time, I have also tried to go beyond my comfort zone when it comes to giving and helping. All through life we've built around ourselves certain expectations about ourselves and other people, but I've learned that you constantly need to challenge those expectations if you want to really improve yourself. Sometimes it involves going exactly against "your nature."
I am again reminded of Mark 12:41-44, where the widow who offered all she had was considered to have given more than those who gave from their excess. Hopefully we remember to reflect on this any time we are faced with a situation that calls for giving help, especially when it's not convenient or is financially burdensome to do so.
He has a clothing company he runs with his wife and their company supplies a lot of RTW (ready to wear) clothes to some big name brands. So you can say that while not extravagant, my cousin has quite a comfortable lifestyle for his family.
It was a relief to stay at their house after the devastation we went through just the previous day. Not many were as fortunate as we were. And then I found out that my cousin was not totally spared from the floods, because his factory was located in one of the areas that experienced flooding. A lot of inventory was lost and a lot of machines went under. The factory was their income-earner so needless to say, it was a big financial blow for him and his wife. And yet here they were, sheltering us, even if only for a few days.
But what really amazed me was what I saw a few days later. My cousin arrived at his house after being out shopping, and he was bringing in boxes and boxes of relief goods. Later, he and his family started segregating them into relief kits for distribution to some families affected by the flood.
To me that was really amazing. I'm sure that most, if not all, of us would like to think that we are generous people to some extent. Esoteric practitioners are even taught that we receive what we give. But how many of us would admit even to ourselves that in practice, we only give out what is from our excess? "Giving until it hurts" is fine as a concept unless one is brought into a situation that calls for it.
My cousin's generosity was really a lesson for me, one I was glad I had. This lesson has showed me that personal loss is no excuse not to help other people or not to be generous. Here was a guy who lost a lot, but could still find it within himself to give help to other people. He wasn't even an esoteric student, but he was living the teachings more faithfully than some long-time practitioners! And now I could understand why he was so blessed with prosperity. In fact, his business was able to bounce back from that loss.
Ever since that time, I have also tried to go beyond my comfort zone when it comes to giving and helping. All through life we've built around ourselves certain expectations about ourselves and other people, but I've learned that you constantly need to challenge those expectations if you want to really improve yourself. Sometimes it involves going exactly against "your nature."
I am again reminded of Mark 12:41-44, where the widow who offered all she had was considered to have given more than those who gave from their excess. Hopefully we remember to reflect on this any time we are faced with a situation that calls for giving help, especially when it's not convenient or is financially burdensome to do so.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Quandary of Knowing
A few weeks ago I started watching this TV series called Flash Forward, starring Joseph Fiennes and John Cho (of Harold and Kumar fame), who play FBI agents in the show. This may turn out to be a spoiler for some, but the whole premise of the series is that everyone in the world blacked out for exactly 2 minutes and 17 seconds. In those 2 minutes and 17 seconds, majority of the world's population saw themselves 6 months into the future. Anyone who didn't see anything during the blackout are destined to die before 6 months have passed, that's why they didn't see anything at all.
Seeing the future changed everything for everyone, for good or bad. Some people saw things that gave them hope and a strength to push through despite the troubles of the present. For these people, they want the future they saw to happen. Others saw things that were not so good, and so they are dreading every minute that the appointed day comes closer, and are desperately trying to prevent that particular future from happening. This is especially true for those who didn't see anything at all, and so are destined to die before the six months are up. The idea of going through each day knowing there is a looming death sentence over their heads is almost unbearable.
This highlights the inherent problems of knowing too much of the future. If the future one sees is bad, more often than not, it is the anticipation that is worse than the event itself. Imagine each day being lived in fear and anxiety of the supposed future event. Even if the future one sees is good, there is an underlying anxiety that perhaps it won't happen or that it was all a mirage.
What is further intriguing about the series is that in one of the earlier episodes, when they were interrogating a long time inmate in Germany, the inmate made a reference to 137 seconds, which is the equivalent of 2 minutes and 17 seconds. The interesting part is that he correlated it to the Hebrew letters that make up the word "Qabalah." Every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical equivalent, and it so happens that when you add up the letters that spell "Qabalah" you get the number 137. There's someone in that show who knows a thing or two about esoteric subjects. Incidentally, the number 137 also corresponds to the God of Truth (Elohi Amen) in Isaiah 65. The number 137 in gematria can also refer to upheavals and a pushing forth.
Despite the fact that it's a TV show, one of the characters said something that is still significant for us in the everyday world. The character commented that everyone seems so focused on living for the future that people are forgetting to live in the present. Admit it or not, the future occupies our thoughts to one degree or another. From deciding what to wear tomorrow, to worrying about which course to take, who to marry or what direction our careers will take, the future captures our imagination like nothing else can.
There is nothing new about this. People have always been obsessed with the future. Since time immemorial, wise men and sages have been highly valued for their ability to foresee or predict the future. Although they often had other skills and functions, it was their ability to foretell the future that made these sages much sought after. All mythologies of various ancient cultures and peoples, and even the Bible, tell stories of oracles, prophets and seers who had a high degree of access to knowledge inaccessible to almost everyone else. They gave counsel to king and peasant alike, providing bits of information that would affect the fate of nations or the bounty of the next harvest. Like a blind man being guided across the road by someone who can see, these adepts helped people avoid pitfalls and traps that they would otherwise stumble into.
Today, people still read newspaper horoscopes and seek the advice of feng shui experts. Divinatory methods such as tarot card reading and palmistry have never really gone out of style. However, one method of foretelling the future that always catches the attention of people are those predictions made by psychics through the use of clairvoyant sight.
Clairvoyance is that ability to perceive things normally hidden from the physical senses. It is not limited to the ability to see spirits or auras, but also extends to remote viewing and reading the thought forms of people, among other things. Truly skilled and powerful clairvoyants can look into the past lives of an individual or access the Akashic Records to view scenes from far back in the past, even before recorded history. This same ability allows clairvoyants a glimpse into the future, which is imprinted in the astral realm. Before anything materializes on the physical plane, it first takes an astral form. By looking at this astral signature, future events can be detected in advance. It is like skipping forward to look at later chapters in a DVD video disc.
Clairvoyance is attributed to the so-called "third eye" which is associated with the development of the pineal gland. In Lemurian and Atlantean times, the pineal gland was highly developed, hence everyone's third eye was fully opened. As humankind sunk into lower and lower levels of spiritual consciousness, so did the pineal gland entropy into the form it takes in humans this day and age.
With its various uses, it is not surprising why clairvoyance is such a valued ability among the ancients. Even today, people are quite taken with individuals who display any psychic ability. Of course, this only holds true among people who believe in such things. Many psychics I know are usually apprehensive about displaying their abilities among people they don't know, because derision can follow if one is surrounded by unbelievers. People, even believers, also tend to look at psychics differently, but a lot of psychics want to be treated normally just like anyone else.
Most clairvoyants are born with the ability, with varying degrees of power. Some are limited to random flashes of precognitive dreams, while others have a fully opened third eye. But hard as it may be to believe, clairvoyance is a trained skill. With hard work and training, it is possible to develop one's clairvoyance. Of course, if you combine natural ability and training, the effects are even more astounding (the same way that natural athleticism combined with Freddie Roach's training made Manny Pacquiao into the boxer he is today).
In his book Initiation into Hermetics, Franz Bardon says that people who retain their clairvoyance into adulthood have worked at developing this ability in a previous life, and the fruits of labor show themselves in the present life as an inborn clairvoyant ability.
Clairvoyants inspire attention because they can perceive things that others simply can't. And here often lies the folly with our perception and understanding of clairvoyance. A clairvoyant is like a person with eyesight in a room full of blind men. As such, anything the clairvoyant says will be treated with the weight of authority.
But what most people don't realize is that because clairvoyance is a trained skill, there are varying degrees of proficiency. There is a world of difference between the eyesight of a person suffering from near-sightedness and that of a fighter pilot with 20-10 vision, but the blind man wouldn't understand the difference. In Master Choa's book The Origins of Modern Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga, he cautions that seeing is not the same as understanding. You can give a toddler detailed blueprints on how to build a 747 jet, but without the capacity to understand what is seen, the plans will just be a collection of lines and scribbles on a piece of blue paper. Therefore a lot of what is clairvoyantly seen will be colored by the interpretation that the clairvoyant attributes to the vision. If the interpretation is wrong, then it can cause a lot of distress for nothing.
All form of knowledge is a responsibility, for it can either build or destroy, inspire others or cause despair. For the clairvoyant, the burden of responsibility is even heavier if it involves the future. This is especially important nowadays where predictions of doom are so prevalent. Discovery Channel and History Channel have all played it up, so a lot of people are sensitive to anything that might be said about it.
To a clairvoyant who has seen the future, there are several complicating factors to deal with.
1. First factor is the accuracy of interpretation. Let's say you're riding a car, you look to the side as you pass an alley just in time to see a man punch another man in the face before the scene is taken out of view as the car speeds away. Was the guy being punched getting mugged? Was the aggressor a jilted lover getting back at the guy who got the girl? Or perhaps the guy getting punched was a mugger who had the tables turned on him by a quick-fisted victim? Some flashes of clairvoyance are like that, quick views of a scene before disappearing from view. If you take the scene out of context, then chances are you will have a mistaken interpretation of the vision.
Of course, if other psychics and clairvoyants see the same things you saw, and are interpreting them similarly, then chances are there's something to it though it's no guarantee.
2. The next factor to consider is the belief or unbelief of the audience. Getting a reputation as a nut job among people who don't believe in the paranormal can severely limit one's options and movements, especially if those people happen to be colleagues at work. On the other hand, if people do believe what one says, then get hysterical or panicked, the resulting pandemonium will certainly fall on one's head.
3. And of course, the most complicating factor of all is that the future can be changed. How can this be so? Let's say a person is diagnosed with a severe form of cancer that can kill him in 6 months. If left untreated, then the diagnosis will come true. However, if the person explores all avenues of treatment, both allopathic and homeopathic, it's possible for the cancer to go into remission and allow the person to live many more fruitful years in good health. Predictions are just like the diagnosis. They present an event with a high probability of happening, but it's not yet set in stone until it has already come to pass. Of course, if the future is changed, it does nothing for the credibility of the clairvoyant who came out with the original prediction, unless the whole principle is explained clearly and understood by the people who hear it (which often is not the case).
If you want a concrete example, it is said that 1998 was the year that a pole shift and global disasters were supposed to happen. Psychics around the world saw it. Edgar Cayce, the sleeping prophet, also predicted it. People were so sure it would happen, that according to one person I recently met, he migrated to Australia and bought property high up in a mountain. He and his wife waited for the disaster there until the appointed day passed and nothing happened.
People around the world who knew of the prediction were confused. What happened? As it turns out, the event was delayed because of the efforts of the Light Workers and the continual raising of consciousness among people in the world.
The fact that the 1998 event did not push through is a testament to the progress being made in spreading spiritual knowledge among the masses, but the flip side is that proponents of the 1998 prophecy lost credibility. Incidentally, the 1998 event is the only prediction of Edgar Cayce's that didn't come true. It's really a difficult situation, knowing the future. A clairvoyant has to discern between letting people know too little and giving away too much.
But how does this all affect the ordinary person, who doesn't have the ability to see any of this? It's easy to get caught up in all the hoopla about supposed disasters and dire predictions. But we need not be so fatalist.
The average person is to a large extent subject to the ebb and flow of astral forces that regularly push and pull on one's life stream. These forces stem from the karma that one needs to work out in this life. In order to rise above the tides, it is necessary to inject a certain amount of spirituality into one's life. I'm talking about something more than just piety, which involves diligently following the tenets of one's religion and its attendant dogma. One needs to also understand the teachings. Just as an understanding of natural laws allows scientists to come up with wonderful inventions that seem almost magical to us, so does a spiritual person use an understanding of even deeper esoteric laws to inject order into one's life, a level of control that seems incredible to the average person.
I have written several articles relating how these esoteric laws can be applied to one's life. You can read the article on taking control of one's life and the one about the Meditation on Twin Hearts. They should give an idea of how one is to start.
Although it is easier said than done, before much progress can be made, a person will also need to deal with one's fears. It's not just a fear of the unknown, but also the fear generated by knowing exactly what is to come. The fear of death tends to fall under this category, though I have heard some people say that it was not death itself they were afraid of, but any extended and agonizing pain preceding the actual death itself. For these people, they would rather that it happened quickly.
I've slowly come to realize that nothing about life, especially times of trial and hardship, will make much sense unless looked at from the point of view of soul consciousness. Therefore one must realize one's true nature, that we are all immortal souls and that our physical life constitutes only a small chapter in the journey of our existence. There is an esoteric maxim that says as a man changes clothes day by day, so does a soul change bodies from lifetime to lifetime.
Looked at in this context, physical existence is simply the sum total of all our previous choices from past lives expressed in terms of the karma we need to work out, yet at the same time it is also an opportunity for us to participate in the Divine Plan. There is really nothing to fear about the future because everything is happening according to whatever soul purpose is being followed. All the fears and anxieties are illusory thought forms that are insignificant as far as soul development is concerned. If this sounds so confusing, it really is if one is making a sudden shift from the physical and material perspective. But we all have to start from somewhere.
Kabbalistic belief teaches that whatever outside conditions one sees or are immersed in are simply reflections of the inner state of the person. Being given a hard time by others could be a reflection of one's own tendency to be harsh and unforgiving to others. If people are impatient with you, it could be a reflection of the anger and impatience you have on others as well. Therefore, by changing one's inner state, one can change the outside conditions that one finds oneself in. In essence, you define and create your own future by the choices you make each minute of every day. There is a science to this, and it's called the spiritual path. Kabbalah and yoga are just some examples of systems that guide students on this path. Don't expect any quick fixes, though. The whole process of completely liberating oneself from the cycle of rebirth often encompasses several lifetimes. However, it is still possible to witness certain improvements even in the current lifetime.
To people already on the spiritual path and have studied these concepts, we need to simply trust the teachings and continue to follow our spiritual practice. Trusting in the ancient wisdom is also a form of practicing the teachings.
Concern should not simply be on saving one's skin, but rather on finding out how one can be a better channel for the fulfillment of the Divine Plan on Earth. If one still has a part to play in the Plan here on the physical plane, then it doesn't matter where one is. Conditions will align themselves so that the person survives whatever disaster there is. On the other hand, if one's time is up, then it's up. People can die from earthquakes and flood, but they can just as easily die from slipping and falling on the bathroom floor.
Psalm 91:1-16 (Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD) is quite appropriate for this:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.” (From the New American Standard Bible)
Although the self is always the start, it is not enough to stop there. One of the characteristics of Light is that of expansion, so it cannot be bottled up inside. So it is also important to share this realization and bring this Light to others. I'm not suggesting missionary work or sermonizing, because unless executed just right, they can become one of the fastest ways to close people's minds. Rather, one can simply provide opportunities for others to be a witness to the effects of change. This can be done by leading a life of example, and simply practicing right thought, speech and action towards other people.
Or, to put it succintly let me relate a story I've read in one of the Kabbalah Centre books:
A student once approached a sage who was well-versed in the spiritual doctrines and mystical arts. He asked the master to teach him all the sublime secrets of life - to explain all the magnificent mysteries of the cosmos that are hidden in all the holy books.
And he asked if all this could be done in the time that a person can remain balanced on one leg.
The great sage carefully considered this request. He smiled warmly and replied:
"Love thy neighbor as thyself. All the rest is commentary. Now go and learn."
All of this seems like such an extensive and heavy discourse to draw out from a TV show, but we also need to recognize the gems in everything we see and encounter.
Seeing the future changed everything for everyone, for good or bad. Some people saw things that gave them hope and a strength to push through despite the troubles of the present. For these people, they want the future they saw to happen. Others saw things that were not so good, and so they are dreading every minute that the appointed day comes closer, and are desperately trying to prevent that particular future from happening. This is especially true for those who didn't see anything at all, and so are destined to die before the six months are up. The idea of going through each day knowing there is a looming death sentence over their heads is almost unbearable.
This highlights the inherent problems of knowing too much of the future. If the future one sees is bad, more often than not, it is the anticipation that is worse than the event itself. Imagine each day being lived in fear and anxiety of the supposed future event. Even if the future one sees is good, there is an underlying anxiety that perhaps it won't happen or that it was all a mirage.
What is further intriguing about the series is that in one of the earlier episodes, when they were interrogating a long time inmate in Germany, the inmate made a reference to 137 seconds, which is the equivalent of 2 minutes and 17 seconds. The interesting part is that he correlated it to the Hebrew letters that make up the word "Qabalah." Every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical equivalent, and it so happens that when you add up the letters that spell "Qabalah" you get the number 137. There's someone in that show who knows a thing or two about esoteric subjects. Incidentally, the number 137 also corresponds to the God of Truth (Elohi Amen) in Isaiah 65. The number 137 in gematria can also refer to upheavals and a pushing forth.
Despite the fact that it's a TV show, one of the characters said something that is still significant for us in the everyday world. The character commented that everyone seems so focused on living for the future that people are forgetting to live in the present. Admit it or not, the future occupies our thoughts to one degree or another. From deciding what to wear tomorrow, to worrying about which course to take, who to marry or what direction our careers will take, the future captures our imagination like nothing else can.
There is nothing new about this. People have always been obsessed with the future. Since time immemorial, wise men and sages have been highly valued for their ability to foresee or predict the future. Although they often had other skills and functions, it was their ability to foretell the future that made these sages much sought after. All mythologies of various ancient cultures and peoples, and even the Bible, tell stories of oracles, prophets and seers who had a high degree of access to knowledge inaccessible to almost everyone else. They gave counsel to king and peasant alike, providing bits of information that would affect the fate of nations or the bounty of the next harvest. Like a blind man being guided across the road by someone who can see, these adepts helped people avoid pitfalls and traps that they would otherwise stumble into.
Today, people still read newspaper horoscopes and seek the advice of feng shui experts. Divinatory methods such as tarot card reading and palmistry have never really gone out of style. However, one method of foretelling the future that always catches the attention of people are those predictions made by psychics through the use of clairvoyant sight.
Clairvoyance is that ability to perceive things normally hidden from the physical senses. It is not limited to the ability to see spirits or auras, but also extends to remote viewing and reading the thought forms of people, among other things. Truly skilled and powerful clairvoyants can look into the past lives of an individual or access the Akashic Records to view scenes from far back in the past, even before recorded history. This same ability allows clairvoyants a glimpse into the future, which is imprinted in the astral realm. Before anything materializes on the physical plane, it first takes an astral form. By looking at this astral signature, future events can be detected in advance. It is like skipping forward to look at later chapters in a DVD video disc.
Clairvoyance is attributed to the so-called "third eye" which is associated with the development of the pineal gland. In Lemurian and Atlantean times, the pineal gland was highly developed, hence everyone's third eye was fully opened. As humankind sunk into lower and lower levels of spiritual consciousness, so did the pineal gland entropy into the form it takes in humans this day and age.
With its various uses, it is not surprising why clairvoyance is such a valued ability among the ancients. Even today, people are quite taken with individuals who display any psychic ability. Of course, this only holds true among people who believe in such things. Many psychics I know are usually apprehensive about displaying their abilities among people they don't know, because derision can follow if one is surrounded by unbelievers. People, even believers, also tend to look at psychics differently, but a lot of psychics want to be treated normally just like anyone else.
Most clairvoyants are born with the ability, with varying degrees of power. Some are limited to random flashes of precognitive dreams, while others have a fully opened third eye. But hard as it may be to believe, clairvoyance is a trained skill. With hard work and training, it is possible to develop one's clairvoyance. Of course, if you combine natural ability and training, the effects are even more astounding (the same way that natural athleticism combined with Freddie Roach's training made Manny Pacquiao into the boxer he is today).
In his book Initiation into Hermetics, Franz Bardon says that people who retain their clairvoyance into adulthood have worked at developing this ability in a previous life, and the fruits of labor show themselves in the present life as an inborn clairvoyant ability.
Clairvoyants inspire attention because they can perceive things that others simply can't. And here often lies the folly with our perception and understanding of clairvoyance. A clairvoyant is like a person with eyesight in a room full of blind men. As such, anything the clairvoyant says will be treated with the weight of authority.
But what most people don't realize is that because clairvoyance is a trained skill, there are varying degrees of proficiency. There is a world of difference between the eyesight of a person suffering from near-sightedness and that of a fighter pilot with 20-10 vision, but the blind man wouldn't understand the difference. In Master Choa's book The Origins of Modern Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga, he cautions that seeing is not the same as understanding. You can give a toddler detailed blueprints on how to build a 747 jet, but without the capacity to understand what is seen, the plans will just be a collection of lines and scribbles on a piece of blue paper. Therefore a lot of what is clairvoyantly seen will be colored by the interpretation that the clairvoyant attributes to the vision. If the interpretation is wrong, then it can cause a lot of distress for nothing.
All form of knowledge is a responsibility, for it can either build or destroy, inspire others or cause despair. For the clairvoyant, the burden of responsibility is even heavier if it involves the future. This is especially important nowadays where predictions of doom are so prevalent. Discovery Channel and History Channel have all played it up, so a lot of people are sensitive to anything that might be said about it.
To a clairvoyant who has seen the future, there are several complicating factors to deal with.
1. First factor is the accuracy of interpretation. Let's say you're riding a car, you look to the side as you pass an alley just in time to see a man punch another man in the face before the scene is taken out of view as the car speeds away. Was the guy being punched getting mugged? Was the aggressor a jilted lover getting back at the guy who got the girl? Or perhaps the guy getting punched was a mugger who had the tables turned on him by a quick-fisted victim? Some flashes of clairvoyance are like that, quick views of a scene before disappearing from view. If you take the scene out of context, then chances are you will have a mistaken interpretation of the vision.
Of course, if other psychics and clairvoyants see the same things you saw, and are interpreting them similarly, then chances are there's something to it though it's no guarantee.
2. The next factor to consider is the belief or unbelief of the audience. Getting a reputation as a nut job among people who don't believe in the paranormal can severely limit one's options and movements, especially if those people happen to be colleagues at work. On the other hand, if people do believe what one says, then get hysterical or panicked, the resulting pandemonium will certainly fall on one's head.
3. And of course, the most complicating factor of all is that the future can be changed. How can this be so? Let's say a person is diagnosed with a severe form of cancer that can kill him in 6 months. If left untreated, then the diagnosis will come true. However, if the person explores all avenues of treatment, both allopathic and homeopathic, it's possible for the cancer to go into remission and allow the person to live many more fruitful years in good health. Predictions are just like the diagnosis. They present an event with a high probability of happening, but it's not yet set in stone until it has already come to pass. Of course, if the future is changed, it does nothing for the credibility of the clairvoyant who came out with the original prediction, unless the whole principle is explained clearly and understood by the people who hear it (which often is not the case).
If you want a concrete example, it is said that 1998 was the year that a pole shift and global disasters were supposed to happen. Psychics around the world saw it. Edgar Cayce, the sleeping prophet, also predicted it. People were so sure it would happen, that according to one person I recently met, he migrated to Australia and bought property high up in a mountain. He and his wife waited for the disaster there until the appointed day passed and nothing happened.
People around the world who knew of the prediction were confused. What happened? As it turns out, the event was delayed because of the efforts of the Light Workers and the continual raising of consciousness among people in the world.
The fact that the 1998 event did not push through is a testament to the progress being made in spreading spiritual knowledge among the masses, but the flip side is that proponents of the 1998 prophecy lost credibility. Incidentally, the 1998 event is the only prediction of Edgar Cayce's that didn't come true. It's really a difficult situation, knowing the future. A clairvoyant has to discern between letting people know too little and giving away too much.
But how does this all affect the ordinary person, who doesn't have the ability to see any of this? It's easy to get caught up in all the hoopla about supposed disasters and dire predictions. But we need not be so fatalist.
The average person is to a large extent subject to the ebb and flow of astral forces that regularly push and pull on one's life stream. These forces stem from the karma that one needs to work out in this life. In order to rise above the tides, it is necessary to inject a certain amount of spirituality into one's life. I'm talking about something more than just piety, which involves diligently following the tenets of one's religion and its attendant dogma. One needs to also understand the teachings. Just as an understanding of natural laws allows scientists to come up with wonderful inventions that seem almost magical to us, so does a spiritual person use an understanding of even deeper esoteric laws to inject order into one's life, a level of control that seems incredible to the average person.
I have written several articles relating how these esoteric laws can be applied to one's life. You can read the article on taking control of one's life and the one about the Meditation on Twin Hearts. They should give an idea of how one is to start.
Although it is easier said than done, before much progress can be made, a person will also need to deal with one's fears. It's not just a fear of the unknown, but also the fear generated by knowing exactly what is to come. The fear of death tends to fall under this category, though I have heard some people say that it was not death itself they were afraid of, but any extended and agonizing pain preceding the actual death itself. For these people, they would rather that it happened quickly.
I've slowly come to realize that nothing about life, especially times of trial and hardship, will make much sense unless looked at from the point of view of soul consciousness. Therefore one must realize one's true nature, that we are all immortal souls and that our physical life constitutes only a small chapter in the journey of our existence. There is an esoteric maxim that says as a man changes clothes day by day, so does a soul change bodies from lifetime to lifetime.
Looked at in this context, physical existence is simply the sum total of all our previous choices from past lives expressed in terms of the karma we need to work out, yet at the same time it is also an opportunity for us to participate in the Divine Plan. There is really nothing to fear about the future because everything is happening according to whatever soul purpose is being followed. All the fears and anxieties are illusory thought forms that are insignificant as far as soul development is concerned. If this sounds so confusing, it really is if one is making a sudden shift from the physical and material perspective. But we all have to start from somewhere.
Kabbalistic belief teaches that whatever outside conditions one sees or are immersed in are simply reflections of the inner state of the person. Being given a hard time by others could be a reflection of one's own tendency to be harsh and unforgiving to others. If people are impatient with you, it could be a reflection of the anger and impatience you have on others as well. Therefore, by changing one's inner state, one can change the outside conditions that one finds oneself in. In essence, you define and create your own future by the choices you make each minute of every day. There is a science to this, and it's called the spiritual path. Kabbalah and yoga are just some examples of systems that guide students on this path. Don't expect any quick fixes, though. The whole process of completely liberating oneself from the cycle of rebirth often encompasses several lifetimes. However, it is still possible to witness certain improvements even in the current lifetime.
To people already on the spiritual path and have studied these concepts, we need to simply trust the teachings and continue to follow our spiritual practice. Trusting in the ancient wisdom is also a form of practicing the teachings.
Concern should not simply be on saving one's skin, but rather on finding out how one can be a better channel for the fulfillment of the Divine Plan on Earth. If one still has a part to play in the Plan here on the physical plane, then it doesn't matter where one is. Conditions will align themselves so that the person survives whatever disaster there is. On the other hand, if one's time is up, then it's up. People can die from earthquakes and flood, but they can just as easily die from slipping and falling on the bathroom floor.
Psalm 91:1-16 (Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD) is quite appropriate for this:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.” (From the New American Standard Bible)
Although the self is always the start, it is not enough to stop there. One of the characteristics of Light is that of expansion, so it cannot be bottled up inside. So it is also important to share this realization and bring this Light to others. I'm not suggesting missionary work or sermonizing, because unless executed just right, they can become one of the fastest ways to close people's minds. Rather, one can simply provide opportunities for others to be a witness to the effects of change. This can be done by leading a life of example, and simply practicing right thought, speech and action towards other people.
Or, to put it succintly let me relate a story I've read in one of the Kabbalah Centre books:
A student once approached a sage who was well-versed in the spiritual doctrines and mystical arts. He asked the master to teach him all the sublime secrets of life - to explain all the magnificent mysteries of the cosmos that are hidden in all the holy books.
And he asked if all this could be done in the time that a person can remain balanced on one leg.
The great sage carefully considered this request. He smiled warmly and replied:
"Love thy neighbor as thyself. All the rest is commentary. Now go and learn."
All of this seems like such an extensive and heavy discourse to draw out from a TV show, but we also need to recognize the gems in everything we see and encounter.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Meditation on Twin Hearts Up Close
Most people nowadays are familiar with the many benefits of meditation, so it does not always sound so exotic if one encounters it somehow. All pranic healing graduates know about the Meditation on Twin Hearts, or MTH as it is commonly called, because it is taught at the Basic Pranic Healing seminar, which all pranic healers pass through. For most of the students, it is the first meditation they have ever encountered.
Although the MTH is the first meditation taught to pranic healing students, it is actually an advanced meditation technique. Why is it considered advanced? And if so, why is it even being taught to new students?
Before we answer those questions, let's take a closer look at the origins of the Meditation on Twin Hearts. A lot of what I will say comes from Master Choa's books such as Miracles Through Pranic Healing (formerly The Ancient Art and Science of Pranic Healing), Om Mani Padme Hum - The Blue Pearl in the Golden Lotus and The Origins of Modern Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga. They all mention the MTH at some point, but each book offers a different perspective each time, therefore it is helpful to refer to all of them.
According to Master Choa, the Meditation on Twin Hearts is a higher form of the Buddhist Meditation on Loving Kindness. In Buddhism, loving kindness is called metta. Metta is a state of mind that seeks to unselfishly cultivate the welfare of others. The process of achieving this state of mind is called Bhavana, which one may translate as meditation. Therefore the Meditation on Loving Kindness is called Metta Bhavana in Buddhism. You may read more about it at this website.
Metta Bhavana develops and activates the heart chakra. All positive emotions and traits such as joy, love, unselfishness, generosity and compassion are attributed to the heart. This is why in Filipino, generous and kind people are called ginintuang puso or golden-hearted. Makes you wonder if the person who coined the term was clairvoyant, because the heart chakra does exude a golden aura when you consistently practice generosity, kindness and compassion to others.
In the MTH, not only is the heart chakra activated, but the crown chakra as well. The "twin hearts" refers to the heart chakra, the center for human love or love for others, while the crown chakra is the other "heart" or center for Divine love. Before the crown chakra can be activated, the heart chakra must be activated first, because how can one experience universal love if one does not even have love for one's fellow human beings? Activating the crown chakra opens the door for spiritual illumination and cosmic consciousness. This is why the MTH is considered a higher form of the Meditation on Loving Kindness. The Meditation on Twin Hearts is in fact based on a small section of Arhatic Yoga Level Two.
Before we proceed, it is interesting to note that in the Catholic tradition, there is reference to the two hearts of Jesus. Esoteric concepts are consistent the world over, so it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that early Christianity was aware of the importance of the twin hearts. A lot of spiritual truths can be found in the Catholic religion, though many have forgotten their meaning and significance and have been reduced to following tradition by rote.
So we go back to the question, if the MTH is such an advanced technique, why is it the first meditation taught to pranic healing students? The answers encompass several levels.
1. To produce more powerful healers.
During the meditation, an intense amount of divine energy pours down upon the person. This energy not only partially activates the chakras and expands the person's aura, but also flushes out all negative thoughts, feelings and energies within the person. After the meditation, the person feels refreshed, blissful and more energetic. The person is then able to use this divine energy to become a channel of healing for others.
Some time after the meditation, the size of the aura and the chakras decrease, but remain at a level higher than before the meditation. Done regularly, the MTH allows the person to project more and more powerful healing energy, sometimes resulting in immediate or miraculous healing among patients. It is like regularly going to the gym, where one's muscles continuously develop until heavier and heavier weights can be lifted and for longer periods. The MTH does the same thing for one's chakras and energy body.
2. To cultivate peace and harmony in a person's life and relationships by balancing self-interest with love and compassion.
Among most people, the instincts for self-preservation, sex drive and tendencies to react with lower emotions are quite prevalent. One book I read even describes peoples' lives revolving around eating, sleeping (shelter), sex and defending (one's possessions or social standing). Modern technology has changed the way we experience these things, but the basic drive has not changed since the time of the cave-dweller.
The educational system has also contributed to the imbalance by over-emphasizing the concrete and abstract mind, but for the most part lagging behind or even forgetting the development of the heart (compassion, mercy, generosity, selflessness, honesty, etc.), and also the crown (spirituality and a deep reverence to the Divine). This is why one may encounter people who are very smart, cunning and intelligent but are very abrasive and insensitive to others. The problem can even be seen at the national levels with government leaders who may be intelligent, but use their minds to benefit themselves at the cost of bringing more misery and suffering to their country.
Take note that self-interest and development of the mind are not bad per se. It is when they start to rule a person's life that the problem happens. The key is to balance everything. By practicing the MTH regularly, a person is able to balance one's own drive with the consciousness of being others-oriented. Thus, spiritually balanced people who are intelligent as well as loving and compassionate are produced, who can then use their gifts for the benefit of many people.
3. As a form of world service, for the healing of Mother Earth.
Part of the MTH involves channeling the downpour of divine energy towards the Earth and all its inhabitants. This results in a wonderful healing energy that can not only be used to heal a small community or a country, but the whole world as well. And looking at the news, there is no doubt that the Earth needs a lot of healing. Centuries of abuse, ignorance and neglect are finally exacting its toll and the MTH is one of the most powerful tools to mitigate the effects of all these Earth changes.
By performing this world service, people who practice the MTH earn good karma that they can also use to improve their own lives. Meditating as a group has an exponential effect compared to meditating alone, therefore people and families are encouraged to meditate together. The healing of Mother Earth is in fact so important that the spreading and teaching of the Meditation on Twin Hearts is encouraged even among non-pranic healers (though under the guidance of a pranic healer, who is aware of all the precautions and guidelines).
To the skeptic, the first reaction to the concept of healing the Earth can be "YEAH, RIGHT!". After all, how can an individual or even several individuals influence something as massive as the world? Amazing as it may seem, there is evidence that points in this direction.
In quantum physics, it has been shown that at the subatomic level, the consciousness of the observer influences how subatomic particles move and place themselves. For some reason, Newtonian physics ends at the atomic level, and we enter a whole new reality once we go deeper beyond the atom, sort of like Alice entering the rabbit hole. This is just one example that shows how the mind can influence reality. Science subjects can be boring for most, so if you want an entertaining yet informative documentary about quantum science, I recommend that you watch What the Bleep Do We Know on You Tube. It's quite long, though, so you might want to download all the segments first before playing the whole documentary. It should be about 2 hours long.
Going up a little higher to another level, starting in the late 90's, Masaru Emoto has published several books entitled Messages from Water. The basic premise is that thoughts, feelings and music can influence the molecular structure of water, which can be seen when the water is frozen and viewed from a microscope. Water samples that were exposed to loving thoughts, feelings and beautiful music had beautiful crystalline structures, while those samples exposed to a lot of negative thoughts, feelings and music had barely any structure at all.
How about the whole world, then? Even if the mind can influence small material objects, how can it change the world? To answer this, I would like to quote directly from the book of Gregg Braden, Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age, because he says it best. The following quotation is from pages 193-195 of the said book:
--Start quote--
While there is a lot that we don't know about consciousness, there is one thing that we do know for certain: it is made of energy. That energy includes magnetism. While we can explore the magnetic nature of consciousness for another hundred years and still not solve all of its mysteries, we can apply what we've learned so far to help us meet the conditions of a changing world. A growing body of evidence now suggests that Earth's magnetic field plays a powerful role in connecting us with one another, as well as the planet.
In September 2001, two geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) orbiting the Earth detected a rise in global magnetism that forever changed the way scientists view our world and us. The GOES-8 and GOES-10 each showed a powerful spike of Earth's magnetic-field strength in the readings they broadcast every 30 minutes. It was the magnitude of the spikes and the time they occured that first called them to the scientists' attention.
From a location of about 22,300 miles above the equator, GOES-8 detected the first surge, followed by an upward trend in the readings that topped out at nearly 50 units (nanoteslas) higher than any that had been typical for the same time previously. The time was 9 A.M. eastern standard time, 15 minutes after the first plane hit the World Trade Center and about 15 minutes before the second impact.
The correlation between the events and the readings was uncanny. And it was undeniable. In light of the data, two questions had to be asked: Were the attacks on the World Trade Center and the satellite readings actually related? If so, what was the link? It's the answer to the second question that sparked the research, and the ambitious initiative, that has followed.
Subsequent studies by Princeton University and the Institute of HeartMath, an innovative nonprofit institution formed in 1991 to pioneer research and development of heart-based technologies, have found that the correlation between the GOES readings and the events of 9/11 are more than coincidences. Following the discovery that the satellites had recorded similar spikes during events of global focus in the past, such as the death of Princess Diana, the factor that seemed to connect the readings was clear: the indications pointed to the human heart.
Specifically, it's the heart-based emotion of the world's population that results from such events that seems to be influencing the magnetic fields of the earth. What makes this discovery so significant is that those fields are now linked to everything from the stability of the climate to the peace between nations.
Among the new findings are two discoveries that give new meaning to what the satellites showed us on September 11, 2001:
-- Discovery 1: It is well documented that the human heart generates the strongest magnetic field in the body, nearly 5,000 times stronger than that of the brain. This field creates a doughnut-shaped pattern that extends well beyond the physical body and has been measured at distances of five to eight feet from the physical heart. Data suggest that this field may be so large that we end up measuring it in miles; however, it's beyond the scope of the equipment used to detect such fields.
Implication: The heart's magnetic field responds to the quality of emotion that we create in our lives. Just as the intuitive link between feelings and the body seems to suggest, positive emotions increase the physical balance of hormones and heart rhythms, as well as mental clarity and productivity. Just as intuitively, studies show that negative emotions can influence as many as 1,400 biochemical changes in the body that include hormonal imbalance, heart-rhythm chaos, mental "fogginess," and poor performance.
-- Discovery 2: Certain layers of Earth's atmosphere, along with the earth itself, generate what is now being called a "symphony" of frequencies (between .01 and 300 hertz), some of which overlap the same ones created by the heart in its communication with the brain. It's this apparently ancient and almost holistic relationship between the human heart and the shield that makes life possible on Earth that has led to a beautiful theory and the project exploring it. In the words of HeartMath researchers, the relationship between the human heart and Earth's magnetic field suggests that "strong collective emotion has a measurable impact on the earth's geomagnetic field."
Implication: If we can learn the language of the heart - the same one that Earth's protective magnetic shield recognizes and responds to - then we can participate in the effects that the field has upon all life. This is where such a futuristic-sounding relationship becomes even more exciting. Changes in the magnetic fields that we access through our hearts have been associated with shifts that include the activity of the brain and nervous system, memory, and athletic performance; the ability of plants to create vital nutrients; human mortality from heart conditions; and the numbers of reported cases of depression and suicide, among others.
These two discoveries have opened the door to a new era of understanding our relationship with the earth. From the revelations the question has shifted from Is there an effect between collective emotion and the earth? to Why not? If a large enough portion of Earth's population were to focus the strongest magnetic field of the human body upon one emotion in the same period of time, it makes tremendous sense that such a focus would affect the portion of the planet that operates in the same range of frequencies as the emotions.
The relationship is clear: A change in the way we feel about ourselves and our world has the potential to affect the world itself. If the change is a positive one, then the effect of the emotions that result should be positive as well. Such a change is known to create coherence between the heart and the brain, and it now appears that the effect extends into the fields that support life on our planet. In the words of the HeartMath researchers, "Regulating emotions is the next frontier in human evolution."
--End quote--
Amazing, isn't it? If there was any scientific basis to the Meditation on Twin Hearts, this would be it. It hints at the relationship between the heart and the brain (which is connected to the crown chakra), as well as hints why the MTH is an instrument of world service, and why it is ideally done as a group.
Interestingly, the Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception has a section that discusses the different levels of the Earth. There is what is called the "reflecting ether" whereby all activities of humanity upon the Earth are reflected back upon them. If good is done, there is peace and bounty, but the cumulative results of evil would reflect as chaos and catastrophes. It's curious that Gregg Braden's description about the Earth's magnetic field is similar to what the reflecting ether does. Just goes to show that just because science may not be able to explain it, doesn't mean that the ancients didn't know what they were talking about. All too often, later on science stumbles upon a "new discovery" that happens to confirm something that has been in ancient texts for thousands of years.
Before I end this article, I want to relate one case where the MTH was able to effect change in a violent neighborhood. During one seminar, our instructor told us a story about a pranic healing center in South America (I forgot the country, but it was somewhere there). The general area where the healing center was located was notorious for being filled with criminals, drug-dealers and other dangerous people. It was like Tondo in Manila or being in The Bronx in New York. From the time the center was put up, the people at the center did the Meditation on Twin Hearts everyday, and at the end of the meditation specifically blessed the whole neighborhood. After a few months, all the criminals were gone, either captured by the police or somehow decided to move out, such that it became a normal neighborhood. The lesson is that you can bless your workplace, your home, your loved ones, even people you don't get along with. Such is the power of the MTH.
In case you are already raring to start practicing the Meditation on Twin Hearts, you should be aware of certain precautions. The following should not do the meditation:
- Persons below 16 years of age.
- Patients with severe heart ailment, hypertension, glaucoma, or kidney and liver problems.
- Pregnant women.
- Heavy smokers.
- Heavy meat eaters (particularly pork).
- Persons with excessive alcohol consumption or use of addictive and hallucinogenic drugs.
The energy from cigarettes, red meat such as pork, lots of drugs and alcohol are gross energy, while divine energy is very refined. The gross energy is clairvoyantly seen as energy congestions within the body, so once divine energy pours in, the congestions could worsen (like having a sudden inflow of high pressure water in a dirty pipe; the pipe could burst).
One should also do at least 5 minutes of physical exercise before and after the meditation, to make sure the energy channels remain clear of any energy congestion. If you will be doing this meditation for the first time, it is advisable that you visit a pranic healing center nearest you so that they can advise you better on what to do. At the very least, they can do healing on you first in order to loosen up those energy congestions, though a certain change in lifestyle will have to follow if you want to do the meditation regularly. Even better would be to attend a Basic Pranic Healing seminar so that you are given all the details.
That being said, if you would like to hear or experience the meditation, you may download a free audio stream at the US pranic healing website.
Meditate now...and change the world!
Although the MTH is the first meditation taught to pranic healing students, it is actually an advanced meditation technique. Why is it considered advanced? And if so, why is it even being taught to new students?
Before we answer those questions, let's take a closer look at the origins of the Meditation on Twin Hearts. A lot of what I will say comes from Master Choa's books such as Miracles Through Pranic Healing (formerly The Ancient Art and Science of Pranic Healing), Om Mani Padme Hum - The Blue Pearl in the Golden Lotus and The Origins of Modern Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga. They all mention the MTH at some point, but each book offers a different perspective each time, therefore it is helpful to refer to all of them.
According to Master Choa, the Meditation on Twin Hearts is a higher form of the Buddhist Meditation on Loving Kindness. In Buddhism, loving kindness is called metta. Metta is a state of mind that seeks to unselfishly cultivate the welfare of others. The process of achieving this state of mind is called Bhavana, which one may translate as meditation. Therefore the Meditation on Loving Kindness is called Metta Bhavana in Buddhism. You may read more about it at this website.
Metta Bhavana develops and activates the heart chakra. All positive emotions and traits such as joy, love, unselfishness, generosity and compassion are attributed to the heart. This is why in Filipino, generous and kind people are called ginintuang puso or golden-hearted. Makes you wonder if the person who coined the term was clairvoyant, because the heart chakra does exude a golden aura when you consistently practice generosity, kindness and compassion to others.
In the MTH, not only is the heart chakra activated, but the crown chakra as well. The "twin hearts" refers to the heart chakra, the center for human love or love for others, while the crown chakra is the other "heart" or center for Divine love. Before the crown chakra can be activated, the heart chakra must be activated first, because how can one experience universal love if one does not even have love for one's fellow human beings? Activating the crown chakra opens the door for spiritual illumination and cosmic consciousness. This is why the MTH is considered a higher form of the Meditation on Loving Kindness. The Meditation on Twin Hearts is in fact based on a small section of Arhatic Yoga Level Two.
Before we proceed, it is interesting to note that in the Catholic tradition, there is reference to the two hearts of Jesus. Esoteric concepts are consistent the world over, so it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that early Christianity was aware of the importance of the twin hearts. A lot of spiritual truths can be found in the Catholic religion, though many have forgotten their meaning and significance and have been reduced to following tradition by rote.
So we go back to the question, if the MTH is such an advanced technique, why is it the first meditation taught to pranic healing students? The answers encompass several levels.
1. To produce more powerful healers.
During the meditation, an intense amount of divine energy pours down upon the person. This energy not only partially activates the chakras and expands the person's aura, but also flushes out all negative thoughts, feelings and energies within the person. After the meditation, the person feels refreshed, blissful and more energetic. The person is then able to use this divine energy to become a channel of healing for others.
Some time after the meditation, the size of the aura and the chakras decrease, but remain at a level higher than before the meditation. Done regularly, the MTH allows the person to project more and more powerful healing energy, sometimes resulting in immediate or miraculous healing among patients. It is like regularly going to the gym, where one's muscles continuously develop until heavier and heavier weights can be lifted and for longer periods. The MTH does the same thing for one's chakras and energy body.
2. To cultivate peace and harmony in a person's life and relationships by balancing self-interest with love and compassion.
Among most people, the instincts for self-preservation, sex drive and tendencies to react with lower emotions are quite prevalent. One book I read even describes peoples' lives revolving around eating, sleeping (shelter), sex and defending (one's possessions or social standing). Modern technology has changed the way we experience these things, but the basic drive has not changed since the time of the cave-dweller.
The educational system has also contributed to the imbalance by over-emphasizing the concrete and abstract mind, but for the most part lagging behind or even forgetting the development of the heart (compassion, mercy, generosity, selflessness, honesty, etc.), and also the crown (spirituality and a deep reverence to the Divine). This is why one may encounter people who are very smart, cunning and intelligent but are very abrasive and insensitive to others. The problem can even be seen at the national levels with government leaders who may be intelligent, but use their minds to benefit themselves at the cost of bringing more misery and suffering to their country.
Take note that self-interest and development of the mind are not bad per se. It is when they start to rule a person's life that the problem happens. The key is to balance everything. By practicing the MTH regularly, a person is able to balance one's own drive with the consciousness of being others-oriented. Thus, spiritually balanced people who are intelligent as well as loving and compassionate are produced, who can then use their gifts for the benefit of many people.
3. As a form of world service, for the healing of Mother Earth.
Part of the MTH involves channeling the downpour of divine energy towards the Earth and all its inhabitants. This results in a wonderful healing energy that can not only be used to heal a small community or a country, but the whole world as well. And looking at the news, there is no doubt that the Earth needs a lot of healing. Centuries of abuse, ignorance and neglect are finally exacting its toll and the MTH is one of the most powerful tools to mitigate the effects of all these Earth changes.
By performing this world service, people who practice the MTH earn good karma that they can also use to improve their own lives. Meditating as a group has an exponential effect compared to meditating alone, therefore people and families are encouraged to meditate together. The healing of Mother Earth is in fact so important that the spreading and teaching of the Meditation on Twin Hearts is encouraged even among non-pranic healers (though under the guidance of a pranic healer, who is aware of all the precautions and guidelines).
To the skeptic, the first reaction to the concept of healing the Earth can be "YEAH, RIGHT!". After all, how can an individual or even several individuals influence something as massive as the world? Amazing as it may seem, there is evidence that points in this direction.
In quantum physics, it has been shown that at the subatomic level, the consciousness of the observer influences how subatomic particles move and place themselves. For some reason, Newtonian physics ends at the atomic level, and we enter a whole new reality once we go deeper beyond the atom, sort of like Alice entering the rabbit hole. This is just one example that shows how the mind can influence reality. Science subjects can be boring for most, so if you want an entertaining yet informative documentary about quantum science, I recommend that you watch What the Bleep Do We Know on You Tube. It's quite long, though, so you might want to download all the segments first before playing the whole documentary. It should be about 2 hours long.
Going up a little higher to another level, starting in the late 90's, Masaru Emoto has published several books entitled Messages from Water. The basic premise is that thoughts, feelings and music can influence the molecular structure of water, which can be seen when the water is frozen and viewed from a microscope. Water samples that were exposed to loving thoughts, feelings and beautiful music had beautiful crystalline structures, while those samples exposed to a lot of negative thoughts, feelings and music had barely any structure at all.
How about the whole world, then? Even if the mind can influence small material objects, how can it change the world? To answer this, I would like to quote directly from the book of Gregg Braden, Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age, because he says it best. The following quotation is from pages 193-195 of the said book:
--Start quote--
While there is a lot that we don't know about consciousness, there is one thing that we do know for certain: it is made of energy. That energy includes magnetism. While we can explore the magnetic nature of consciousness for another hundred years and still not solve all of its mysteries, we can apply what we've learned so far to help us meet the conditions of a changing world. A growing body of evidence now suggests that Earth's magnetic field plays a powerful role in connecting us with one another, as well as the planet.
In September 2001, two geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) orbiting the Earth detected a rise in global magnetism that forever changed the way scientists view our world and us. The GOES-8 and GOES-10 each showed a powerful spike of Earth's magnetic-field strength in the readings they broadcast every 30 minutes. It was the magnitude of the spikes and the time they occured that first called them to the scientists' attention.
From a location of about 22,300 miles above the equator, GOES-8 detected the first surge, followed by an upward trend in the readings that topped out at nearly 50 units (nanoteslas) higher than any that had been typical for the same time previously. The time was 9 A.M. eastern standard time, 15 minutes after the first plane hit the World Trade Center and about 15 minutes before the second impact.
The correlation between the events and the readings was uncanny. And it was undeniable. In light of the data, two questions had to be asked: Were the attacks on the World Trade Center and the satellite readings actually related? If so, what was the link? It's the answer to the second question that sparked the research, and the ambitious initiative, that has followed.
Subsequent studies by Princeton University and the Institute of HeartMath, an innovative nonprofit institution formed in 1991 to pioneer research and development of heart-based technologies, have found that the correlation between the GOES readings and the events of 9/11 are more than coincidences. Following the discovery that the satellites had recorded similar spikes during events of global focus in the past, such as the death of Princess Diana, the factor that seemed to connect the readings was clear: the indications pointed to the human heart.
Specifically, it's the heart-based emotion of the world's population that results from such events that seems to be influencing the magnetic fields of the earth. What makes this discovery so significant is that those fields are now linked to everything from the stability of the climate to the peace between nations.
Among the new findings are two discoveries that give new meaning to what the satellites showed us on September 11, 2001:
-- Discovery 1: It is well documented that the human heart generates the strongest magnetic field in the body, nearly 5,000 times stronger than that of the brain. This field creates a doughnut-shaped pattern that extends well beyond the physical body and has been measured at distances of five to eight feet from the physical heart. Data suggest that this field may be so large that we end up measuring it in miles; however, it's beyond the scope of the equipment used to detect such fields.
Implication: The heart's magnetic field responds to the quality of emotion that we create in our lives. Just as the intuitive link between feelings and the body seems to suggest, positive emotions increase the physical balance of hormones and heart rhythms, as well as mental clarity and productivity. Just as intuitively, studies show that negative emotions can influence as many as 1,400 biochemical changes in the body that include hormonal imbalance, heart-rhythm chaos, mental "fogginess," and poor performance.
-- Discovery 2: Certain layers of Earth's atmosphere, along with the earth itself, generate what is now being called a "symphony" of frequencies (between .01 and 300 hertz), some of which overlap the same ones created by the heart in its communication with the brain. It's this apparently ancient and almost holistic relationship between the human heart and the shield that makes life possible on Earth that has led to a beautiful theory and the project exploring it. In the words of HeartMath researchers, the relationship between the human heart and Earth's magnetic field suggests that "strong collective emotion has a measurable impact on the earth's geomagnetic field."
Implication: If we can learn the language of the heart - the same one that Earth's protective magnetic shield recognizes and responds to - then we can participate in the effects that the field has upon all life. This is where such a futuristic-sounding relationship becomes even more exciting. Changes in the magnetic fields that we access through our hearts have been associated with shifts that include the activity of the brain and nervous system, memory, and athletic performance; the ability of plants to create vital nutrients; human mortality from heart conditions; and the numbers of reported cases of depression and suicide, among others.
These two discoveries have opened the door to a new era of understanding our relationship with the earth. From the revelations the question has shifted from Is there an effect between collective emotion and the earth? to Why not? If a large enough portion of Earth's population were to focus the strongest magnetic field of the human body upon one emotion in the same period of time, it makes tremendous sense that such a focus would affect the portion of the planet that operates in the same range of frequencies as the emotions.
The relationship is clear: A change in the way we feel about ourselves and our world has the potential to affect the world itself. If the change is a positive one, then the effect of the emotions that result should be positive as well. Such a change is known to create coherence between the heart and the brain, and it now appears that the effect extends into the fields that support life on our planet. In the words of the HeartMath researchers, "Regulating emotions is the next frontier in human evolution."
--End quote--
Amazing, isn't it? If there was any scientific basis to the Meditation on Twin Hearts, this would be it. It hints at the relationship between the heart and the brain (which is connected to the crown chakra), as well as hints why the MTH is an instrument of world service, and why it is ideally done as a group.
Interestingly, the Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception has a section that discusses the different levels of the Earth. There is what is called the "reflecting ether" whereby all activities of humanity upon the Earth are reflected back upon them. If good is done, there is peace and bounty, but the cumulative results of evil would reflect as chaos and catastrophes. It's curious that Gregg Braden's description about the Earth's magnetic field is similar to what the reflecting ether does. Just goes to show that just because science may not be able to explain it, doesn't mean that the ancients didn't know what they were talking about. All too often, later on science stumbles upon a "new discovery" that happens to confirm something that has been in ancient texts for thousands of years.
Before I end this article, I want to relate one case where the MTH was able to effect change in a violent neighborhood. During one seminar, our instructor told us a story about a pranic healing center in South America (I forgot the country, but it was somewhere there). The general area where the healing center was located was notorious for being filled with criminals, drug-dealers and other dangerous people. It was like Tondo in Manila or being in The Bronx in New York. From the time the center was put up, the people at the center did the Meditation on Twin Hearts everyday, and at the end of the meditation specifically blessed the whole neighborhood. After a few months, all the criminals were gone, either captured by the police or somehow decided to move out, such that it became a normal neighborhood. The lesson is that you can bless your workplace, your home, your loved ones, even people you don't get along with. Such is the power of the MTH.
In case you are already raring to start practicing the Meditation on Twin Hearts, you should be aware of certain precautions. The following should not do the meditation:
- Persons below 16 years of age.
- Patients with severe heart ailment, hypertension, glaucoma, or kidney and liver problems.
- Pregnant women.
- Heavy smokers.
- Heavy meat eaters (particularly pork).
- Persons with excessive alcohol consumption or use of addictive and hallucinogenic drugs.
The energy from cigarettes, red meat such as pork, lots of drugs and alcohol are gross energy, while divine energy is very refined. The gross energy is clairvoyantly seen as energy congestions within the body, so once divine energy pours in, the congestions could worsen (like having a sudden inflow of high pressure water in a dirty pipe; the pipe could burst).
One should also do at least 5 minutes of physical exercise before and after the meditation, to make sure the energy channels remain clear of any energy congestion. If you will be doing this meditation for the first time, it is advisable that you visit a pranic healing center nearest you so that they can advise you better on what to do. At the very least, they can do healing on you first in order to loosen up those energy congestions, though a certain change in lifestyle will have to follow if you want to do the meditation regularly. Even better would be to attend a Basic Pranic Healing seminar so that you are given all the details.
That being said, if you would like to hear or experience the meditation, you may download a free audio stream at the US pranic healing website.
Meditate now...and change the world!
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