One atom must stick to another otherwise life would fall apart. But what is this glue that holds and keeps everything together? It’s love, says Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger

An ancient Greek philosopher once said: “If everybody, every creature, every human being – who is the most powerful of all – hated at the same second, the world would disintegrate”. The Source, The Divine, Brahman, has given us this power of holding the universe together, called love. And this is the cosmic phenomenon that, like breath, is something given to us and yet we spend our lives never realising or contemplating its cosmic nature.

If man could only understand this concept that love holds the world together, even with a small part of our consciousness, a new world would open up, and we would begin to look at life from a different perspective. It may be strange at first, but you begin to realise that, “Ah! This is what I have to learn; this is what I have got to exercise; this is what I have got to develop!” The cosmic phenomenon of consciousness in me, an unconditional state of being – this is the state we call love.

Let us examine the way most of us consider love, the way I call “committed clinging”. We like to regard everyone around us as our children and, as such, we like to give the orders and tell them what to do and what not to do. Or, we like to regard ourselves as a helpless child and leap into somebody’s lap. This “lap” can belong to an individual, an organisation, a community, a teacher, a person – any parental concept – and so, this love relationship takes one of two patterns – either we are fed by someone or we are feeding others.

But this is a false, distorted kind of love. This is a love of clinging and not the kind of real love that holds this world together at all. The saying goes that “He that clings to anything, suffering must come”. Clinging means to get or use something for our own happiness. Love means to give – loving, we learn, is about the “other” and not the “I”. In clinging you are important; in love you make yourself an instrument of that love and a channel to higher love.

The urge to committed clinging, to belong, to be someone’s child, or them to be our own child, is easy and yet tremendously powerful – we are either jumping into somebody’s lap for protection and advice, or we are giving protection.

While these patterns of love have the potential to give us pleasure, it is merely to entertain. It may be used in as simple a case as a casual friendship, a search for excitement, a means for escape, or as complicated as marriage or, our choice of career. Either we want to control the pleasure or we want to become part of it.

There is another way to love and it involves simply being whom and what you are. The sacrifice in love is your ego. Love is surrender while clinging is aggression. Look lovingly at any object and it gives it special life. Whom or whatever is beautiful, whatever is creative, is so delicate that if you try to grab it directly you will destroy it.

We must simply be what we are in this world, in life – no acting, no motivation – just loving. Neither the lover nor the beloved be, be the loving! Be that where there is no motivation and then, if you can be what you are, situations will be as they really are, automatically. Then you can start to communicate directly, accurately, not indulging in any kind of nonsense, any kind of emotional or philosophical, logical, interpretations about love.

This way of loving allows tremendous space and room for creative development – space in which to dance, to exchange love. Then we will not be playing the game of hypocrisy, of self deception, entertainment or clinging for a purpose. We will be loving and creating a new world for others and for ourselves.

By Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger

SWAMIS
Every swami belongs to the ancient monastic order. By vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the spiritual teacher, many Catholic Christian monastic orders resemble the Order of Swamis. The title “swami” represents the attainment of supreme bliss through some divine quality or state – love, wisdom, devotion, service, yoga – and through harmony with nature. The ideal of selfless service to all mankind, and of renunciation of personal ties and ambitions, leads the majority of swamis to engage actively in humanitarian and educational work. Ignoring all prejudices of caste, creed, class, color, sex, or race, a swami follows the precepts of human brotherhood. His goal is absolute unity with Spirit. The swami roams contentedly in the world but not of it. Thus only may he justify his title of swami – one who seeks to achieve union with the Swa or Self.

But, a swami, formally a monk by virtue of his connection with the ancient order, is not always a yogi.

YOGIS
Anyone who practices a scientific technique of God-contact is a yogi; he may be either married or unmarried, either a worldly man or one of formal religious ties. A yogi engages himself in a definite, step-by-step procedure by which the body and mind are disciplined, and the soul liberated. Taking nothing for granted on emotional grounds, or by faith, a yogi practices a thoroughly tested series of exercise which were first mapped out by the early rishis, seers or sages. Yoga has produced men who became truly free.

YOGA
Like any other science, yoga is applicable to people of every clime and time. Yoga is a method for restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts, which otherwise impartially prevent all men, of all lands, from glimpsing their true nature of Spirit. Yoga cannot know the barrier of East and West any more than does the healing and equitable light of the sun. The ancient rishi Patanjali defines “yoga” as “control of the fluctuations of the mind-stuff”.  His very short and masterly expositions, the Yoga Sutras, form one of the six systems… the six systems formulate six definite disciplines aimed at the permanent removal of suffering and the attainment of timeless bliss.The common thread linking all six systems is the declaration that no true freedom for man is possible without the knowledge of the ultimate reality. Yoga Sutras contain the most efficacious methods for achieving direct perception of truth. Through the practical techniques of yoga , man leaves behind forever the barren realms of speculation and cognizes in experience the veritable essence.

The Yoga system as outlined by Patanjali is known as the Eightfold Path:

(1)   Yama – avoidance of injury to others, of untruthfulness, of stealing, of incontinence, of gift-receiving (which brings obligations)

(2)   Niyama – purity of body and mind, contentment, self-discipline, study and devotion to God

(3)   Asana (right posture) – the spinal column must be held straight, and the body firm in a comfortable position for meditation

(4)   Pranayama (control of prana [energy], subtle life currents) – [through breath]

(5)   Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses from external objects)

(6)   Dharana (concentration) – holding the mind to one thought

(7)   Dhyana (meditation), and

(8)   Samadhi (superconscious perception)

This is the Eightfold Path of Yoga which leads one to the final goal of Kaivalya (Absoluteness), a term which might be more comprehensibly put as “realisation of the Truth beyond an intellectual apprehension.”

“Which is greater,” one may ask, “a swami or a yogi?” If and when final oneness with God is achieved, the distinctions of the various paths disappear.  The methods of yoga are all-embracing. Its teachings are not meant only for certain types and temperaments, such as those few who incline toward the monastic life; yoga requires no formal allegiance. Because the yogic science satisfies a universal need, it has a natural universal applicability.

A true yogi may remain dutifully in the world. To fulfil one’s earthly responsibilities is indeed the higher path, provided the yogi, maintaining a mental uninvolvement with egotistical desires, plays his part as a willing instrument of God.

Text Extracted from Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananada

CONSCIOUS – Limited entirely by the functions of the five physical senses. It contains that which contacts the physical world. The conscious mind pours into the subconscious a constant stream of mental images … which is our reasoning, our guessing and wondering. It deals with everything that happens to us, together with the feelings that these happenings arouse within us.

SUBCONSCIOUS – This is the area of intelligence that controls and directs the general functioning of all the organs of our body. It is also ruled by our fears and worries, our hates and destructive tendencies, and can be upset in it’s functioning by these destructive emotions.

MEMORY – A storehouse for all impressions of our outer world experiences, received from one or more of our five senses – impressions that exist as mental pictures. Associated with each picture is the feeling we had at the time of it’s inception, and these can be drawn on as needed… good or bad.

CREATIVE  POWER – The electromagnetic area of the mind, which reacts instantly to our strongly felt desires or fears. It sets up a power of attraction to draw to us closer to whatever we have been picturing. Using these pictures as a builder would use a blueprint, our creative power works to opportunities or to detriment – it is important to learn how to use it in the best capacity.

HEALING – Contains “life energy” – a reserve of recreative energy which permeates every cell of our body and revitalizes it.

INTUITIVE – Extra sensory perception faculties are located here that are not limited by either space or time, or aspects of the physical senses. It functions through our conscious mind level in the form of intuition and has a guiding and protection faculty, most often in great need of development.

COSMIC  CONSCIOUSNESS – The deepest part of us, our link with the universe that makes possible  instant knowing. It is the level of God Consciousness, true illumination and inspiration. It is reached only when the other levels of mind are stilled and the body is relaxed.

Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger

END OF YEAR REFLECTIONS

Years ago in India, a group of seekers called themselves the authorities on “Yogism”. It is troubling to wonder what they mean by that.

Yoga is fast becoming a fashion and it will soon be regarded as a status symbol, a qualification for obtaining a job or getting married. People have always aspired to dominate over others. Some people with the “know-how” of yoga will soon “capture” the field, create a cult, put a hedge of rules around it – and now an “ism” is born.

Already, the simplicity and the meaning of the technique of yoga are forgotten. When the “ism” is born, the spirit of yoga would have evaporated, leaving the empty bottle of rituals and formalities, organisations and headaches.

Yet one can not do without rituals and formalities, organisations and, if you please, headaches too! They are life’s vehicles and vexations. Wisdon lies in using the positive and if not eliminating at least the negative aspects of the necessary evils.

Yoga is a technique for self-realisation and God-realisation. Words do not matter in the very least if you get the idea right! Keep the spirit of yoga. Use the form. But where “the letter killeth the spirit”, be bold enough to revive or resurrect the spirit.

By Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger

It is helpful sometimes to take the time and concentrate on each part of ourselves in turn, that is the PHYSICAL, MENTAL and SPIRITUAL. An idea would be over a three week period to concentrate on each area separately but yet as a whole. Let us keep in mind that our bodies’ are our temples and the living God.

WEEK 1 – PHYSICAL

Listen to the physical body and its needs:

1. Get enough rest and relaxation.

2. Do Hatha yoga for at least half an hour each day.

3. Get plenty of fresh air.

4. Eat only foods that you know are good for you.

5. Meditate for at least 15 minutes each day, using the affirmation “My body is a temple of God. It is in proper condition to receive Divine wisdom.”

WEEK 2 – MENTAL

1. Watch your thoughts, maintain a postive outlook as much as possible.

2. Read something inspirational each day.

3. Be accepting of yourself and others and be non-critical.

4. Let fear and self-doubt fall away, and move to a sense of internal peace.

5. Meditate.

WEEK 3 – SPIRITUAL

Try maintaing the posirive thoughts and feelings from the first two weeks.

1. Meditate at least twice, three times if you can. Use positive affirmation as “God is love and therefore so am I”.

2. Visualise each day that you are a channel through which the positive and creative forces may flow.

By Adele Adamson

A recipe that begins in one’s being and ends in the place beyond one’s being:

• The realities of life are most truly seen in everyday things and actions.
• Everything exists in relation to other things.
• The self and the rest of the universe are not separate entities, but one functioning whole.
• True insight does not issue from specialised knowledge , from membership in coteries, dogmas or doctrines. It comes from intuition of one’s whole being, from one’s own code.
• In emptiness (meditation) forms are born. When one becomes empty of the influences, assumptions and judgements one has acquired over the years, one become’s close to the original nature and then is capable of conceiving original ideas and reacting freshly.
• Man arises from Nature (Pakriti) and gets along most effectively by collaborating with nature rather than trying to master it.
• Everything exists according to its own nature. Our individual perceptions of value, beauty, size, correctness, right and wrong exist inside our heads, not outside of them.
• Being the spectator while one is also the particpant spoils one’s performance.
• Once can only live in the present moment.

By Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger, written on his 85th birthday

“As long as man stands in his own way, everything seems to stand in his way” Thoreau

The ego is the one thing that all teachers try to subdue in their followers since one may not see God in many things if the injured ego blocks the vision, nor may one go very far if the injured ego requires appeasement every few steps along life’s journey. If controlled, all else is good. However, constructive thoughts may not be held if the ire of a slighted or baffled ego intervenes.

None are free of the ego, here’s how to help you recognise it:

• The ego is responsible for all negative reactions
• It says “no” to all things not first siggested by itself
• It disapproves of most things presented by another
• It sees success in little and obstacles in abundance
• It causes fierce anger which nullifies all good for long after it is spent
• It destroys all things and eventually its possessor
• It is the low in eternal conflict with the high
• It is the one against the all
• It feeds on pettiness and strives to hide and rule from behind the high walls of seclusion
• It runs away when privacy is invaded
• It takes refuge behind ramparts of cold silence or a barrage of load shoutings
• It refuses to hear what it does not like
• It twists the facts to its own likingthe ego is responsible for killing people

By Nellie Snyders

The Road That’s Right for You

Be assured you are on the road that’s right for you – if the gate you have unlatched swings wide to let you through

But when you find the gate is barred where thorns and nettles twine – turn your back along the track and seek another sign

Seldom do things as imagined at the start – but there is a compass in the mind that leads the faithful heart…

Through gates that open on the work you must do. Trust and you will be guided on the road that’s right for you.

Author Anon

This is where yoga is so personal and subjective in the sense of being inner and creative. This whole awakening within oneself of an inner sense of one’s consciousness, and not depending on others, enables us to create a world of eternal harmony and beauty – this is awakening!
You can pick it up even in an inarticulate sound, a subtle remark, an asana, watching a flower bloom or in the encountering of any trivial everyday incident such as stumbling, using a fan, watering a garden, standing upside down or taking a deep breath. These are all sufficient conditions to awaken one’s inner sense.
You have now found yourself, but from the very beginning nothing has ever been kept away from you! It was yourself that closed your “eye to truth and to fact”. Unless it grows out of yourself, no knowledge is of any use to you of no value!

Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger