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Blossom Goodchild - May 23, 2015
Hi, my friends. Well, as you are aware, I hit rock bottom for
a few days this week. I don’t doubt you … I don’t doubt me … I just didn’t know if I could do
this anymore for one reason or another. However … there was a FEELING inside me of ‘Why jump ship, when any minute
now, someone is going to shout ‘LAND HO!’ So, here I am … I have no agenda for today … I would just
like to see where you take it. The warmest of greetings to you Blossom and to all who encounter
these words offered. We are certainly aware of the ‘energy slump’ that hit you where it hurts. And therefore, aware of my little outburst to you? Indeed. Yet, we understand that
we are not having to endure the barrage of negativity that is aimed directly at us … for it is you that must bare the
brunt. The fact that you are sitting here talking with us today is a most uplifting turn of events … for we felt perhaps
you were about to hand in your notice. I was. Yet, let’s not dwell on that …
although it needed to be addressed I guess. Onward! The plain and simple fact Blossom and
ALL … is that Each Divinely Blessed Soul has their own interpretation of Each and Everything that is offered them. We
do not presume that, that which we offer shall be accepted by ALL immediately … and ‘all in the garden shall be
rosy.’ That is not our business as to how we are received. WE KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHY
WE OFFER THESE WORDS. That is ALL we need to KNOW … and for as long as you continue
to willingly assist us, we shall willingly continue. So, let us move ahead as you say. You mention of 'jumping ship' just before spotting land … A perfect interpretation of what is ahead. SO CLOSE NOW, SO VERY CLOSE TO THE WINDS OF CHANGE GUIDING YOU SAFELY INTO SHORE … and what delights are there
for you … to Gracefully receive. We know too, that the mission those of Earth undertook
has been one of intense mastery. Yet, you ALL KNEW you were/are capable of ‘Delivering the goods’. That is what
you came to do. That is what you ARE doing. There are many souls now walking into the shoes
that FEEL comfortable. More and more each moment, are rising into a Brighter, Lighter FEEL for/of themselves. And when you
yourselves … allow this FEELING to connect with Each New Awakening … you gather strength within. STRENGTH THAT KEEPS YOU KEEPING ON … FOR THE KNOWING INSIDE IS NOT A WHIM OR PASSING FANCY … THIS KNOWING
THAT THIS CHANGE WILL COME … LIES DEEP AND SETTLED IN A PLACE THAT YOU KNOW SO WELL … HOME. Ladies and Gentleman … who receive these words from a place in which they are sent … May we help you to KNOW? May we help you to KNOW YOURSELVES? May we help you to understand that the ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF ALL THAT IS … shall be brought forth to you in A BRAND
NEW DAWN? Can you not FEEL it ever closer? I guess that would
depend on where one is at. Some would have no clue. I think that is an issue for many. Not so much that they are losing faith
and hope and Trust within themselves, yet, the frustration that so many are still asleep and the longer they snooze the longer
this ‘transformation’ is going to take. We can only do what we can do … and it seems to be taking forever! And yet … And yet? HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS! We have used this expression over and over and now we tell you the meaning behind it. That
which is to come … that which is to unfold … literally before your very eyes … will not only ‘Blow
you away’ … using a term of Earth … Yet, it shall lift you into a place that FEELS like all your birthdays
have come at once. This place that you shall rise to … shall allow you … due to
its Vibration … to BE WHO YOU ARE … without the restrictions that are put upon you by those who chose to FEEL
control of all … is better than control of self. We send Love to these souls. We send Love to ALL souls. That is what WE ARE … LOVE … That is what THEY ARE … LOVE … That is all there is . I so look forward to this. Funny how one questions that it is ever going to occur and yet, we keep on keeping on
until we get there! For this is in your make-up. When YOU came to Planet Earth … when
YOU made that choice … YOU understood that it would not always FEEL the way you would prefer to FEEL. Yet, YOU KNEW
also, that what it involved was also, the most selfless/selfish offering you could undertake. THIS
DIVINE PLAN CAN DO NO OTHER THAN BENEFIT THE SELF AND THEREFORE, THE WHOLE. It is odd! It
is odd to me sometimes, that … yes, we know all this … the Higher part of us just KNOWS ALL that you say will
come about … Well, that’s how it is for me anyhow. I JUST KNOW THAT … It’s the lack of patience we
have. The eternal tomorrow in which we sometimes ‘beg’ that The Change will come. Most of us have cottoned on
to ‘enjoying every moment (we can)’ … and I put it that way … because, I for one, am not yet in a
place of enjoying ‘every’ moment. If we have to wait for all of us to do THAT … then the ‘Land Ho’
call would surely be a mirage … and on we sail! Yet, the land you seek is merely shrouded
by mists. As the heat rises … it clears away the curtain … and there before you … … …
is Home. Is it home though? This next phase we are moving into? Let
us say … that it will certainly FEEL more like you are sitting in your garden … as opposed to NOW … when
you may FEEL sometimes, you are in a foreign country where no one understands what you are trying to communicate. HANG ON! Even if sometimes, it may FEEL by only a thread. You are still hanging on … and as a spider
regains strength and starts again to rebuild its home … coming from that which accumulates with inside of it …
so too, our Dearest Family … shall you find yourselves in a stronger more vibrant residence … that YOU created. Well, all I can say is … in our own way … all of us are doing our best … and we can’t do
better than that! Your beautiful Invocation is slowly rising in numbers and therefore, lifting
Ones and Everyone’s Vibration as it does so. This I know is its point … to help us arrive at our destination.
For it is only there, that we are able to view such a Light Show. To me , it feels like the reason we can’t have it
NOW, is that although the equipment is ready, it would be like putting it on in a local town hall … when it would be
of so much more benefit and rapture in Wembley stadium … if you get what I mean? At this point, we probably have raised
the energy for a few Light bulbs! I am unsure as to whether to offer it out for us all to do it in harmony on a particular
date? What do you think about that? We think that if EACH ONE who listens to it … more
and more … offer their intention of ITS TRUTH … then more and more shall find it. It
goes without saying , we are not the only ones on the planet putting this level of Energy out … so, I have to TRUST
also, that through so many other avenues, souls are choosing to walk in the shoes that feel comfortable and in the Divine
Knowing … that each Avenue leads us all to the same place. Each one holding hands with another as we share the journey
for a time … and then perhaps crossing paths for a different outlook, and to hold hands with others they would not have
met had they not done so. MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS MOMENT RIGHT HERE AND NOW … WE DESIRE YOUR HEARTS TO FEEL OUR TRUTH … WHEN WE TELL YOU THAT ALL THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU OF … REGARDING
THIS CHANGE … IS TO TAKE PLACE. I KNOW. I just wish we had an idea of what
decade! What and ruin THE SURPRIZE? So, does This Change encompass
THE EVENT you have previously spoken of? Indeed, it does. Once the show begins …
you will behold one act after another … with maybe an interval in between. THE SHOW
IS SOLD OUT IN ADVANCE. There are no seats available. There never have been … for most shall be on their knees
in wonder and joy. ‘AT LAST’ … your hearts shall say … ‘AT
LAST!’ And there shall be much Jubilation and Celebration … as hearts recognise
each other once again … and silently … in reverence …. through sparkling eyes … you say to each other
... ‘WE DID IT’. Hallelujah for that day! Many thanks. I really mean that! It
was touch and go there for me for a while! WE KNOW THIS. Did
you think I would hand in my notice? We have to say in LOVE … we were unsure. So was I! Yet, ONWARDS WE MARCH … ALL OF US … UNITED IN LOVE. INDEED
… INDEED … INDEED.
Website: Blossom Goodchild
An audio version of Blossom's channelings can be found here.
 | Heavenletters™, bringing
Earth closer to Heaven.
HEAVEN is here to reach every soul on earth to reawaken:
* Our connection to God *
* Our
belief in ourselves *
* Our awareness of our shared worthiness to God *
* Peace on Earth *
God is always bringing
us closer to Him. | Heavenletter
#5293 You’re Not Done Yet , May 23, 2015 God said: Unless you are moving forward, you are simply holding on or perhaps going
backwards. Past practice may consume your seeing and thinking and responding. You relive the past in the present. Pretty much
you tend to play out the present as, once upon a time, you did the past. You tend to hit the same obstacles. You flounder
as you floundered before. Life presents itself to you the way it used to. It brings out the same things within you that it
used to do. Beloveds, it is not meant to be this way. Hit the road, Jack. Hit the road. You are meant to see differently
and then grow until you burst all boundaries. Imagine all that you learned in the first year of your life. A bushel.
It’s phenomenal. Now that you are adult, your life is to continue to grow. You’re not done yet. To grow
means to expand. To grow means to learn. To grow means to grow up. To grow means to change. Even when growing means you have
to be sadder and wiser, grow. Grow in the direction you want to grow in. You cannot stay the same. You can’t stand
still. Not even dead matter stays the same. But you are alive. You can hang on to a rung of a ladder or you can climb up a
rung. When you’ve come this far, keep climbing. This is how to gain independence. I won’t say going
out on a limb, though you may see this as letting go of the limb you presently hold onto. Beloveds, there is no status quo.
Move ahead or slip back. Go higher or fall back. There is an expression: “Knock some sense into your head.” Let’s
phrase this differently and say: “Knock some old sense out of your head.” Cells grow and change in life.
Skin flecks off in order to be new. Hair falls out. New hair grows in. Entropy seems to mean trying to stay the same. Let
laughter ring. And, yes, let tears fall because today you are wiser than yesterday. Something has to happen. You often wonder
what is the meaning of life. Life means to grow. The words Life and Light begin with the same sound. Say just the first syllable
and hold it with a little diphthong as if the beginning sound holds two syllables, and you will begin to feel it, this long
note with a rising and a beginning leading to a landing above itself. And if you make mistakes and have to go back,
well, then, go back and start over again. What you were adamant about yesterday, today you may be appalled about. You
can’t stay the same as yesterday. Try to stay the same and you turn your back on yourself. You disavow yourself. Better
to catch up with yourself or even get ahead of yourself. Truth is ahead of where you have put your feet in the past.
Everyone knows there is nothing like an apple fresh from the tree. Why would you assert that stale thoughts you hold onto
must be better than anything you could come to next? You can’t rehash the past forever. Old thinking fades and
dries out. It’s unlikely that the past will satisfy forever or even until tomorrow. The last epigraph you would want to be said about you would be: “He
held onto to his old thoughts as if old thoughts preserved him.” Better to have the last words said about you
every day be: “He arose like the phoenix from the ashes, and how he grew!” |
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Read Online Download Audio Version The Presence of Now by Archangel Michael Channelled through Natalie Glasson- 22nd May
2015- Sacred School of OmNa 
Greetings and Angelic
love extends from my presence into your being and your pathway. I, Archangel Michael, am present as a protector, a guide,
to anchor and enhance the divine will of the Creator within you and to ensure the purpose of your soul is carried out upon
the Earth. I come to be present with you now as an expression of the Creator so you may be present with yourself as an expression
of the Creator. My purpose is simple and yet magnificent as I encourage you to be as one with the Creator both consciously
and unconsciously, with a powerful knowing of the truth within your being. There are many steps, pathways and processes of awakening which
lead you to greater oneness with the Creator, yet there is a focus I wish to share with you to support your further experience
of the Creator. I invite you to be present with others, which is to be observant and aware of those you speak and share with,
give them your attention while simultaneously inviting yourself to hold the presence of truth within your being. I invite
you to be present with yourself, to take time to listen, observe and share with yourself thus being present with yourself
as you hold within you an all knowing presence of the truth. Awakening the presence of truth within your being can be seen
as recognising all and yourself beyond illusions as the truth which is beyond this world. In order to develop the presence of truth within
your being you may wish to affirm this affirmation: ‘I am the truth, I allow myself to be free from illusion, eternally
recognising the Creator.’ When you allow yourself to resonate with the affirmation during your quiet time and meditation
you will feel, sense or acknowledge the energy awakening within you like an active presence. As you place your trust in the
active presence of truth and the Creator within your being you will be able to bring your focus to a place of truth within
you thus viewing, sensing and awakening the world around you and within you from this space. This will encourage you to move
beyond the illusions created by others and yourself allowing the truth of the Creator to be eternally present. There is simply
a need to spend time connecting into this space of truth within you, then you will find you carr y it as an active energy
eternally wherever you are whatever you are doing, thus you are more able to be of service to yourself and others. The space of truth I am speaking
of I wish to label it as ‘Your Presence of Now.’ You are aware that time encourages you to move forth and yet
there is in truth only your present moment. Every present moment is filled with energy of now, meaning that in each moment
everything within the universe of the Creator and upon the Earth exists. There is no escaping that everything you are and
all that is the Creator is present, active and conscious in every moment. Each moment is not stagnant or lifeless; lacking
purpose or divine presence, each moment is alive and filled with the Creator. Within each now moment there is a presence,
the presence is the Creator and yet the concept of ‘Now,’ is also filled with the life fulfilling and life giving
aspect of the Creator. ‘Now,’ is not a moment in time, it is simply the eternal presence of the Creator. ‘Th
e Presence of Now,’ means that within every focused moment there is an opportunity to connect with the expansive presence
of the Creator, which is an active presence or manifestation within you which is timeless. You are a part of the powerful presence of
truth and the Creator which is present now within your being. You are also the deliverer and expression of the powerful eternal
presence of the Creator. Your greatest purpose and potential is to give, provide and present the universe of the Creator,
in truth all that is the Creator to yourself and others as a tangible energy or presence which can be absorbed and accepted,
however it does not require to be understood. It is only your mental body which holds the need and the desire to understand
the Creator. We can see that to understand the Creator is impossible and only creates more forms of illusion. Acceptance allows
for understanding of the Creator beyond the mind and mental body, bringing the truth of the Creator and the universe to be
a presence within your being. Truly what I wish to share with you is that there is a presence within your being which is active, alive
and conscious, this presence is an aspect of who you are as a physical being and an inner planes being. This presence is your
gateway to the divine flow of the Creator and emanates the truth of the Creator with great magnitude. It has the ability to
listen to the truth within your own being and within others, illuminating the beauty of the Creator to give space to its further
expansion and presence within all and upon the Earth. This presence can only be recognised in the now moment. It is only in
the now that you can connect with this presence encouraging yourself to experience it more fully and absolutely. To comprehend
the ‘Presence of Now,’ is to comprehend the entire universe of the Creator in one cycle of your breath. Each new
cycle of your breath offers a new opp ortunity to comprehend all that is the Creator, expressing it as a single vibration,
light and love wave from your being with the ability of connecting with everything it greets. I wish to share with you an invocation to further
your connection and acceptance, which can be said within your mind or out loud in order to lead you into a space of deeper
truth within your being: ‘I now recognise this moment of my existence as all there is. I recognise this moment as my Now, filled with
the abundance, truth, love, consciousness and all that is the Creator. This moment is special as it offers me the opportunity
to recognise the Creator and all that is the Creator as my companion within me. A powerful active presence within my
being of which I am a part of, which nurtures all forms of life and exists beyond illusion. This powerful presence has the
ability to see, sense and acknowledge the truth within myself and others with ease, I now recognise and enhance this ability
grounding it into my physical being and expression. I acknowledge that it is in every present moment, meaning every Now moment
I have the opportunity to connect with and deliver forth the powerful presence of the Creator within me. This is my service
to myself and all, I honour myself for this powerful service. Thank you.’ Take a few deep breaths and allow each breathe you inhale
to carry your attention deeper into your being, maybe into your heart, soul or wherever you feel guided to be present within
your being. You are allowing yourself to be focused in this moment, to be focused within your being seeking and accepting
an active presence of truth which you can allow and encourage to overflow into your entire being. Please do not judge yourself
at any time, this is something to focus upon regularly allow yourself to strengthen your connection with the presence of truth
within you. Then you will discover it is your companion in every minute of your day, you become this presence and allow this
presence to work through you. It is not a separate part of you simply a fuller part of your truth and all that you are. It
is through practice and focus that you will allow yourself to move to a place of greater c ontemplation and experience of
that which I express to you. The process of recognising the ‘Presence of Now,’ will encourage you to realise you are eternally supported;
your life is so full and filled with all you could possibly require as this is born from the magnitude of life and existence
within you. It is simply your purpose to project, manifest and reflect this in your own embodiment and reality upon the Earth. With love and in truth, Archangel Michael
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24 May Posted: 22 May 2015 10:00 PM PDT Mantra is Power There is an indescribable power in the mantra
(God's name). Shakti is the energy or form of the mantra, i.e., the vibration form set up by its sound which carries a man
to the devata that is worshipped. A mantra accelerates and generates the creative force. Mantra produces harmony in body and
mind and awakens supernatural powers. If you repeat the mantra with concentration and meaning you will attain God-realisation quickly.
The glory of the name cannot be established through the intellect. It can be realised only through devotion and faith and
constant repetition. That which shines above all, having made the whole world equal to a blade of grass, full of the light
of consciousness, bliss, purity is only the sweet name of the
Lord. Sweeter
than all sweet things, more auspicious than all auspicious things, purer than all pure things is the name of the Lord. OM
is everything. OM is the name of God. Name is the bridge that connects the devotee with God. God's name is the way and the
goal. Name is the weapon to destroy the mind. The name has the power to burn sins and desires. As you repeat the mantra feel that the Lord
is seated in your heart, that purity is flowing from the Lord to your mind. The name serves as gate keeper; it never allows
worldly thoughts to enter the mind. - - - Remembrance of God also includes hearing stories pertaining
to God at all times, talking of God, teaching to others what pertains to God, meditation on the attributes of God, etc. God
is to be remembered at all times, without a break, as long as one has consciousness intact. Right from the time he gets up
from sleep in the morning, until he is completely overpowered by sleep in the night, a person is to remember God. He has no
other duty in the world but to remember God. Remembrance of God alone can destroy all worldly samskaras. Remembrance of God alone can turn
the mind away from sense objects.  | Raja Yoga, Message 25 Posted: 22 May 2015 10:00 PM PDT The section ‘Physical Obstacles’ now resumes... ---------------------------------------------------------------- If the yoga student develops some diseases on account of his failure in
observing the laws of health and indiscretion, and says that his disease has arisen from the practice of yoga, this is the
first obstacle. Laziness
and fickleness of mind are two great obstacles in meditation. Light sattvic diet and the practice of pranayama will remove
laziness. Do not overload the stomach. Walk briskly in your compound hither and thither for half an hour. As soon as you have
made a firm resolve, you must carry it out promptly at any cost. This will remove fickleness of mind and develop your will-power. The
mind does two things: it ceaselessly thinks of sensual objects, and when it is tired of thinking of objects it goes to sleep
and rests in the primal nescience. If sleep tries to overpower you during meditation, be on the alert, awaken the mind by
the practise of chanting, japa and long OM chanting. If there is attachment to any object, wean the mind, make it unattached
through enquiry and vigilance. Again and again think of Brahman. When the mind has become completely calm, do not disturb
it even a bit. Continue the meditation vigorously. Tahdra is a half-sleepy state. Alasya is laziness. Nidra is sleep. Alasya
and tandra are the precursors of sleep. These three are great obstacles in the path of realisation. Sleep is a powerful force
of maya. You will be imagining that you are meditating. The mind will immediately run through its old grooves in the twinkling
of an eye. You will be doubting: "Did I go to sleep? Or did I meditate now? I think I had a small nap, as I feel
heaviness of the eye-lids and body now." Sleep is the greatest obstacle as it is very powerful. Even though a sadhak is very
careful and vigilant it overpowers him somehow or other. This is a very strong habit. It takes time and demands great strength
of will to tear this old, old habit. Arjuna
is called Gudakesha or 'Conqueror of sleep'. Lakshmana also had conquered sleep. Besides these two persons we have not heard
of anyone. However, there are people such as yogis and jnanis who have reduced their sleep to two or three hours. Sleep
is a psychological phenomenon. The brain needs rest at least for a short time, otherwise man feels drowsy and tired. He can
neither work nor meditate. The sleep of a jnani is different from the sleep of a worldly man. In a jnani, the powerful impressions
(samskaras) of God-contemplation are there. It is something akin to being established in the direct knowledge of God. One
should be careful in reducing his sleep. Reduce your sleep gradually. For the first four months go to bed at 11 p.m. and get up at 4 a.m. Have sleep for five hours. For the next
four months, go to bed at 12 p.m. and get up at 4 a.m. Have sleep for four hours. For the next four months,
go to bed at 12 p.m. and
get up at 3 a.m. Thus,
gradually reduce the hours of sleep. Sadhaks can gain time for their sadhana by reducing sleep. The practice of reducing
sleep will be very troublesome in the beginning. When the habits are changed, it will be pleasant in the end. Give
up rice and heavy meals at night. Take light food such as milk and fruits at night. You will be able to get up in the early
morning. Sleep will not overpower you during meditation. Aspirants do meditation in the morning for one hour between 4 and 5 a.m. Then they are overpowered by sleep.
They begin to sleep again after 5 a.m. This is a general complaint. Do 10 or 20 rounds of pranayama at 5 a.m. Do sirshasana for two minutes. Again you
will be fresh for meditation. Use your common-sense always. The old habit may recur again and again. Get rid of it again and
again by suitable practices, strength of will, prayer, etc. Practise yoga postures — sirshasana, sarvangasana, bhujang-asana,
salabhasana and dhanurasana — and do a little pranayama before you start meditation. Then you will not become sleepy
during meditation. Sometimes during the course of meditation the mind suddenly slips into its old grooves for
sleeping. Aspirants think that they are meditating, while they are actually sleeping. Dash cold water on the face. Stand up
and sing, and do vigorous chanting (kirtan) for five or ten minutes. Do ten or twenty mild breath retentions (kumbhakas).
You can drive off sleep easily. Keep the light burning if you feel sleepy. Repeat the mantra loudly for some time. Sit in
the kneeling posture (vajrasana). When meditation becomes habitual, when the habit of getting up at 4 a.m. is well established and when you take light
food at night, sleep will not trouble you at all during meditation. The practice of keeping vigils on Sivaratri and Sri Krishna Janmastami is
highly commendable. The Christians also keep vigils on Christmas and New Year's night. Do not mistake drowsiness for savikalpa samadhi and deep sleep for nirvikalpa
samadhi. The glory of the fourth state of consciousness (turiya) is ineffable, its splendour is indescribable. If the body
is light, the mind is clear and there is cheerfulness, know that you are meditating. If the body is heavy, if the mind is
dull, know that you were sleeping, not meditating. Aspirants should not overload the stomach. Ninety percent of diseases take
their origin in immoderation in diet. People have developed a strong habit of eating more food than is actually necessary,
from their very childhood. Hindu mothers stuff the stomachs of their children with too much food. This is not the way of caressing
and loving children. Over-loading brings drowsiness and sleep immediately. If there is no hunger you must not take any food.
Overloading is the chief factor in bringing about night-pollutions. A diet of milk renders the body very very light. You can
sit in one asana for hours together with ease and comfort. If you feel weak, for a day or two you can take a little rice and
milk or barley and milk or any light diet. Those who are in the field of service and who give platform lectures and other
intense spiritual propaganda activities, need solid substantial food. 'Man is as old as his arteries' is a truism in physiology and surgery. The
salt that is present in food-stuffs is quite sufficient, you need not take any extra salt. You need not add any salt to curries
and soups. If there is an excess of salt in the blood, the arteries lose their elasticity and cannot withstand the slightest
increase in blood-pressure. The important organs such as the liver, kidneys, stomach, heart, etc., lose their elasticity.
Excess salt in the blood produces a dry sort of itch, thirst, constipation, inability to bear the sun's heat and headache. Those
who eat meat have a crematorium in their stomachs. They are unfit for yoga practices and spiritual contemplation. You
cannot live on roots alone. To live on roots alone is a foolish imagination of an emotional man who has no idea of spiritual
life. Extreme asceticism and self-torture are not necessary for the attainment of the Self. You will have to adopt always
the middle course. Live on milk and fruits on Sundays and Ekadasi. Too much fasting brings weakness and retards vigorous spiritual
sadhana You can occasionally have mild fasts. Sannyasins and aspirants should take their bhiksha from the hands of those householders
who earn their livelihood by honest means. "In pure food there is
a pure nature, in a pure nature there is firm fixation of memory, in a firm memory there is release from all the knots of
the heart." —Chhandogya Upanishad: 7-26-2. Mind is formed out of the subtlest portion of the food. If you eat impure
food, the mind also becomes impure. This is the dictum of sages and psychologists. Food plays an important part in the evolution
of the mind. It has a direct influence on the mind. Meat, fish, eggs, stale unwholesome food, onions, garlic, etc., should
be avoided by spiritual practitioners, as they excite passion and anger. The food should be simple, bland, light, wholesome
and nutritious. Liquors and narcotics should be strictly abandoned. Chillies, condiments, spiced dishes, pungent articles,
hot things, things that are sour, sweetmeats, etc., must be rejected. In the Bhagavad Gita you will find: "The foods that augment vitality, energy,
vigour, health, joy and cheerfulness, that are delicious, bland, substantial and agreeable, are dear to the pure. The passionate
desire foods that are burning and which produce pain, sickness and grief. That which is stale and flat, putrid and corrupt,
left-overs and also unclean, is the food dear to the dark." (XVIII-8, 9, 10) As is the food, so is the mind. Food exercises a tremendous influence on
the mind. Look at the tiger which lives on flesh. How ferocious it is. Behold the cow which lives on grass. How mild and gentle
she is. You can get good nutrition and energy from milk, fruits, vegetables, almonds, butter, cream, green gram, dhall, etc.
Milk is a perfect food. Sattvic food helps concentration of mind. It renders the mind pure. Purity of food leads to purity of mind. This implies that all objects which
are grasped by the senses must be pure. The ears should hear sublime utterances of the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Bhagavatam,
Upanishads and the names of God. The eyes must behold the form of God. Let your clothing be sattvic or pure. Let your speech
be pure. Let your companions be sattvic persons. Let the books you study be pure. Let the place you live in be sattvic. Let
the meditation room be decorated with sattvic pictures of the Lord. Then only will you attain God-consciousness. You will
find in the Peace Chants also: ''O Gods, may we with our ears hear what is auspicious! Oh, ye fit to be worshipped, may we,
with our eyes, see what is auspicious!" Yoga can be practised only by those who are very earnest about it and who
are ready to annihilate their little ego and its demands. There is no half-measure in the spiritual path. Rigid discipline
of senses and mind, rigorous tapas and constant meditation are necessary for the attainment of God-realisation. The hostile
forces are ever ready to overwhelm you if you are not vigilant, if you give the least sanction or the smallest opening for
them. You
cannot lead a double life. Pure divine life, a life of yoga, cannot co-exist with a mundane life of passion and ignorance.
Divine life cannot conform to your own little standards. You must rise above the petty human level, you must raise yourself
to a higher level of divine consciousness. You cannot claim freedom for your petty mind and little ego if you want to become
a yogi. You should not affirm your own thoughts, judgements, desires and impulses. The lower nature with its retinue —
arrogance, ignorance and turbulence — stands in the way of descent of the divine light. So-called friends are your real enemies. You cannot find even a single unselfish
friend in this universe. Your real friend in need who attends on you sincerely, is God, the Indweller of your heart. Worldly
friends come to you to get money and other comforts when you are rolling in a Rolls Royce, when you have got plenty of money.
When you are in adverse circumstances no one will care to look at you. Even your sons and wife will forsake you. This world
is full of avarice, hypocrisy, double-dealing, flattery, untruth, cheating and selfishness. Be careful. Friends come to have
idle talks with you and to waste your time. They have no idea of the value of time. They want to pull you down and make you
also worldly. They will say: "Friend, what are you doing? Earn money as much as possible. Live comfortably now. Eat, drink
and be merry. Let us go to a cinema. Today there is a good new production running at so and so theatre. There will be beautiful
modern dancing. Who knows about the future? Where is God? Where is heaven? There is no rebirth, there is no liberation. It
is all imagination and gossip. Enjoy now. Why do you fast? There is nothing beyond this world. Give up all sadhana and meditation.
You are wasting your time." You will get this sort of advice from such worldly friends. Cut off all connections ruthlessly.
Don't talk to any of your friends, however sincere they seem to be. Hide yourself away. Live alone at all times. Trust only
in that immortal Friend who dwells in your heart. Then alone are you perfectly safe. He will give you whatever you want. Hear
His sweet counsel from within with one-pointed mind, and follow it. Very often depression comes in meditation in neophytes, owing to the effect
of previous tendencies (samskaras), the influence of astral entities, evil spirits, bad company, cloudy days, bad stomach
(indigestion) and loaded bowels. Treat the cause. Remove the cause. Do not allow depression to overpower you. Immediately
take a brisk long walk along the seaside or riverside, or run in the open air. Sing divine songs. Chant OM loudly for one
hour. Play on the harmonium if you know the art. Have cheerful thoughts, good laughter. If necessary you can take a purgative
and a dose of carminative mixture. Do some breath retention (kumbhakas) and sitali pranayama. Drink a small cup of
orange juice or hot tea or coffee. Read some of the elevating portions of the Avadhuta Gita and the Upanishads. When
depression comes and troubles you, the mind will revolt. The undercurrent of desires will gush to the surface of the mind
and torment you. Sensuous thoughts will agitate the mind and try to overwhelm you. Be bold, stand adamant, face these passing
shocks. Keep your mind cool. Do not identify yourself with these obstacles. Just as clouds screen and obstruct the sun, the cloud of gloom and despair
will stand in the way of your practice. Even then you must not leave the practice of japa, concentration and meditation. These
small clouds of gloom and despair will pass off soon. Give the suggestion to the mind: 'Even this will pass away'. Doubt
is your great enemy. It causes restlessness of mind. It will again and again raise its head to mislead the aspirant. It should
be killed beyond resurrection by certainty of conviction and firm unshakable faith based on reasoning. Destroy all doubts
through enquiry and wisdom. There are three kinds of doubts — feeling of suspicion, spiritual doubt and
perverted understanding. When the aspirant is not established in his own essential nature all of a sudden he doubts if there
can be an all-pervading Brahman. Then he wonders how the individual soul, with a limited perishable body, can identify himself
with the supreme all-pervading Substance. Then he begins to identify himself with the body, in spite of all his meditation.
Hearing of the scriptures destroys the first doubt, reflection on their meaning destroys the second and deep meditation destroys
the third kind of doubt. Lack of faith is a dangerous obstacle in the spiritual path. The student slackens
his efforts when these doubts crop up. Maya is very powerful and mysterious. Mind is maya. Mind deludes the student through
doubting and forgetfulness. Sometimes he gives up his sadhana altogether, which is a serious mistake. Whenever doubt tries
to overpower any student he should at once take recourse to the company of mahatmas and remain with them for some time under
the influence of their spiritual currents. He should clear his doubts by conversing with them. Generally an aspirant starts
his sadhana with expectations of so many siddhis within a short time. When he does not get them he gets dejected and stops
his practice. This is the trouble in almost all cases. He thinks that kundalini will be awakened within six months and that
he will have clairvoyance, clairaudience, thought-reading, flying in the air, etc. He entertains so many fantastic and queer
ideas. Do not bother about doubts. There is no end to them. Purify your heart. Go on vigorously with purificatory processes
such as japa and meditation. Meditate regularly. The doubts will be cleared by themselves in a mysterious manner. The great
Teacher or inner Ruler is with you. He will illumine you and remove your doubts. Various sorts of fantastic dreams trouble some aspirants very much. Sometimes
there is a mixture of meditation and dreams. As the phenomenon of the dreams is very peculiar and inexplicable, it is very
difficult to control dreams unless you wipe out all the subconscious impressions in the causal body and control all thoughts.
As you grow in purity, discrimination and concentration, dreams will decrease. The presence of dreams denotes that you are
not yet well established in deep meditation, that you have not removed tossing of the mind and that you have not done constant
sadhana. Intense desire or attachment to sensual pleasures or sense objects is one of the greatest of all obstacles. The
mind refuses to leave sensual pleasures completely. Through the force of dispassion and meditation the desires get suppressed
for some time. All of a sudden the mind thinks of sensual pleasures through force of habit and memory and mental disturbance
arises. Concentration decreases and the mind moves outwards to sensual objects. There cannot be an iota of happiness for a
man who is thirsting for sensual objects. Only when this thirsting dies does man enjoy peace. Then only can he meditate and
rest in the Self. In the Bhagavad Gita you will find: "The turbulent senses, O Arjuna, violently carry away
the mind of a wise man, though he be striving to control them; for the mind which follows in the wake of the wandering senses
carries away one's discrimination, as the wind carries away a boat upon the waters.'' (11-60, 67). ''The objects of the senses
turn away from the abstinent man, leaving the longing behind: but this longing also turns away on seeing the Supreme." (11-59). Some
desires lurk in the corners of the mind. Just as old dirt comes out from the corners of the room when you sweep, so also through
the pressure of yoga practices these old lurking desires come out. The sadhak should be very careful, he should be ever watching
the mind vigilantly. He must nip the desires in the bud by developing his dispassion and discrimination and by increasing
his period of japa and meditation. He must observe unbroken silence and do vigorous meditation and pranayama. He should live
on milk and fruits for forty days and observe fast on ekadasi days. He should completely give up mixing with anybody. He should
never come out of his room and should plunge himself deep into his sadhana. Hidden desires and worldly ambitions of all sorts
also come under this category. Ambition makes the mind very restless. Man should have the one laudable ambition of getting
Self-realisation. Sex impulse and ambition are two great disturbing factors in meditation. They carry on guerrilla
warfare, they attack again and again. They appear to be thinned out for some time but they get revived often. They should
be extirpated by great effort — enquiry, the power of discrimination between Atman and anatman (Self and non-Self) and
the feeling that all is God. If the mind constantly dwells on sensual objects the conception of the reality
of the universe will surely increase. If the mind ceaselessly thinks of the Atman (Absolute), the world appears like a dream.
Meditate and behold the imperishable Atman. Rest yourself firmly in the Self. Nothing can hurt you now. You can become invincible. When
you meditate, when you develop divine or sattvic virtues, a spiritual road is constructed in the mind. If you are not regular
in meditation, if your dispassion wanes and if you become careless and non-vigilant, the spiritual road will be washed away
by the flood of impure thoughts and evil desires. Therefore be regular in your meditation. Regularity in meditation is of
paramount importance. Anger is a gate to hell. It destroys the knowledge of Self. It is born of rajas. It is all-consuming
and all-polluting. It is the greatest enemy of peace. It is a modification of lust. Just as milk is changed into curd, so
also lust or desire becomes transmuted into anger. When a man's desire is not gratified he becomes angry, then his mind becomes
confused and he loses his memory and understanding. He perishes. A man when he is angry will say anything he likes and do
anything he likes. He commits murder. A hot word results in fighting and stabbing. He is under intoxication. He loses his
senses for the time being and does not know exactly what he is doing. He is a prey to anger, he is under the sway of anger.
Anger is a form of divine power (shakti) or Devi. In Chandipat you will find: "I bow to that Devi who is seated in all beings
in the form of anger." Resentment, indignation, fury, wrath and irritation are all varieties of anger, according
to degree or intensity. If a man wants to correct another man and use slight anger unselfishly as a force to check and improve
him, then it is called 'religious anger'. Suppose a man molests a girl and tries to outrage her and a by-stander becomes angry
towards this criminal, then it is called 'righteous indignation'. This is not bad. Only when the anger is the outcome of greed
or selfish motives is it bad. Sometimes a religious teacher has to express a little anger outwardly to correct his disciples.
This is also not bad. One has to do it. But he should be cool within and hot and impetuous outside. He should not
allow the anger to take deep root in his inner consciousness for a long time. It should pass off immediately like a wave in
the sea. If a man becomes irritable for trifling things very often it is a definite sign of mental weakness. One should
control irritability by developing patience, right thinking, forgiveness, love, mercy and the spirit of sincere service. When
anger is controlled it becomes transmuted into an energy that can move the world. It becomes changed into effulgent power,
just as heat or light is changed into electricity. Energy takes another form. If an aspirant has controlled anger completely,
half of his sadhana is over. Control of anger means control of lust also. All vices, evil qualities and wrong actions take
their origin in anger. If anger is controlled, all bad qualities die by themselves. He who has controlled anger cannot do
any wrong or evil action. He is always just. An easily irritated man is always unjust. He is swayed by impulses and emotions.
Too much loss of semen is the chief cause of irritability and anger. The root cause of anger lies in egoism. Egoism should
be removed by right knowledge, then only can one control anger completely, to the very root. Through development of the opposite
virtues such as forgiveness, love, peace, compassion and friendship, it can be controlled to some extent. The force can be
reduced. Only direct knowledge (jnana) completely fries all tendencies. The practice of silence (mauna) is of great help in
controlling anger. It is very difficult to say when a man will be thrown into a state of fury. All of a sudden
he gets a terrible fit of anger over trifling matters. When the anger assumes a grave form it becomes difficult to control.
It should be controlled when it still has the form of a small ripple in the sub-conscious mind. One should watch the mind
carefully, whenever there is a sign of irritability. Then it becomes very easy. When a man is furious he has lost all control. Anger gains strength by repetition.
If it is checked man gradually gains strength of will. An aspirant should direct all his attention towards conquest of this
powerful enemy. Sattvic food, japa, meditation, prayer, satsang, right thinking, service, kirtan, celibacy and pranayama will
all go a long way in eradicating this dire malady. A combined method should be adopted in its removal. When a man abuses you,
try to keep quiet. Bear the insult. You will gain strength. Check the impulses and emotions to begin with. Whenever there
is likelihood of a burst of anger during conversation or debate, stop your speech. Always try to speak sweet, soft words.
The words must be soft and the arguments hard; but if the words are hard it will bring discord. If you find it difficult to
control anger, leave the place at once and take a brisk walk. Drink some cool water immediately. Chant OM loudly for 10 minutes.
Smoking, meat-eating and drinking of liquors make the heart very irritable. Therefore they should be completely abandoned.
Tobacco brings diseases of heart. It gives rise to 'tobacco-heart' which gets easily irritated. Be careful in the selection of your companions. Talk little, mix little.
Plunge yourself into spiritual sadhana. Think that the world is a long dream, that the world is unreal. This will prevent
anger. Enquire: "What is abuse? What do I gain by getting angry? It is only a waste of energy and time. I am not the body.
The Atman is the same in all." This will completely remove anger. Anger spoils the blood. It throws various poisons into the
blood. Instances are recorded of women who have killed children by nursing them with breast milk when they were in a
fit of anger. In the light of modern psychology, all diseases take their origin in anger. Rheumatism, heart diseases and nervous
diseases are due to anger. The whole nervous system is completely shattered by one fit of anger. It takes months before it
is restored to normal equilibrium. A social nature is good for doing karma yoga, but it is extremely bad for practising
meditation. It drags you out and makes your mind restless. It invites many friends who disturb you in a variety of ways. When
you sit for meditation, thoughts of your friends and office work or the memory of a conversation that took place in the previous
evening with your friends and relatives will disturb your mind and cause distraction. You will have to withdraw the mind again
and again cautiously from these extraneous worldly thoughts and fix it again and again on your object of meditation or goal.
You will have to disregard and ignore the worldly thoughts. Be indifferent, do not welcome these thoughts or identify yourself
with them. Say within yourself: "I do not want these thoughts. I have nothing to do with them." They will gradually vanish. Bad
surroundings, obscene pictures, obscene songs, novels that deal with love, cinemas, theatres, the sight of pairing of animals,
words which give rise to bad ideas in the mind — in short anything that causes evil thoughts in the mind — constitute
evil company. Aspirants generally complain: "We have been doing sadhana for the last fifteen years. We have not made any solid
spiritual progress." The obvious answer is that they have not totally shunned evil company. Newspapers deal with all sorts
of worldly topics. Aspirants should entirely give up reading of newspapers. Reading of newspapers kindles worldly samskaras,
causes sensational excitement in the mind, makes the mind out-going, produces an impression that the world is a solid reality
and makes one forget the Truth that lies underneath these names and forms. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The section ‘Mental Obstacles’ will resume next week.  |
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