THE PRESENT MOMENT AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

The Present Moment and Spiritual Practice # 1

Meditation

“To continue with a spiritual practice that no longer serves you, is to carry a raft on your back after you have crossed the river.” 

The Buddha

If we are to make any progress in our spiritual transformation, we need to have a spiritual practice that helps us get there. If the practice we choose is not doing that, we need to think again. It is helpful to review what the Ancestors and others teach. 

 

“Meditation is inward work for restoration. It varies in accordance with the character and temperament of each disciple.” Arizal

It is not helpful or healthful to dwell in monkey, survival mind and to keep escaping the present moment.

 

“The Kundalini in the form of latency is coiled like a serpent. One who impels this Shakti to move will attain liberation.”
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Ultimately when the sun and moon channels that spiral around the central channel of the spine are in complete balance, energy can enter the central channel, awaken the dormant serpent, feminine, Shakti energy, causing it to move up the central channel. This  induces altered states of consciousness. If it reaches the Crown chakra – the place of Shiva – the male principle, the two can fuse together causing Unity Consciousness or the Oneness Experience. Maslow described this as a peak experience which many of us have had if only for a few moments. It occurs when the Knower (that's you) – the Known (say a rainbow) and the Process of Knowing (the dynamic) fuse into one thing and you become the rainbow.

We all have this potential energy. It has different descriptions in varying traditions. The Zulu call it the Umbilini, the San Bushmen Num. Most Southern African tribes recognize it also as a snake in the lower belly which is key to spiritual power and fertility.

There are many variations of the Kundalini experience including; being transported beyond oneself, feelings of intense love, empathy or compassion, out of body and shamanic states, connecting powerfully with spirit guides and many others. The commonest experience of Kundalini is heat, vibrational or electrical, lightning like energy moving up the spine and in the body. It has also been described semi-scientifically as a cathartic conversion experience. It is often life changing. It also has the potential to be very disruptive if not channeled properly.

Balance is achieved by harmonizing polarities. 
Dualities come into harmony by negotiating a third or middle path, a path not of assimilation but a path of coexistence.

 

Somewhat less dramatic, but just as vital, is maintaining balance, harmony and equanimity in a challenging world. We need to navigate our boat down the river of life, keeping to middle and not setting up camp on either bank, be it light or dark, good or evil, happiness or sorrow, sacred or profane. We must learn to coexist ( ... a path of coexistence) with the negative and not to assimilate it. Moreover, to also not be attached to the positive aspects because of their impermanence. We require a dedicated spiritual practice in order to stay in mid-stream. We cannot think our way into this equanimity and state of balance – the method must be experiential.

Re going inward; “To achieve is to be externally oriented but to attain deeper effects we need to let go of the attachment to accomplish anything.
Goal orientation, rapture and equanimity are mutually exclusive in the present moment.”  Dave Cumes  

You must be in the moment and not think of the past or the future. Learn from the past but forget it or take from the past then leave it behind. Ancestors live in the moment.

Spiritual practice is also key to the spiritual hero/ine’s journey and becoming who we truly are. This is also the middle way of the Buddha.

 

“May the hero/ine awaken from forgetfulness and transcend all anxiety and sorrow.”  The Upanishads

   

Our spirit guides live in the present moment in a non space-time reality. In order to connect with them and their “Field” of potential it requires a dedicated spiritual practice to awaken the “Snake” or Kundalini, raise our vibration and open our Third intuitive Eye. This is how we navigate the ups and downs of life. Conflicts encountered along the way can be considered tests of our spiritual practice as well as of our karma.

Any practice done 

for its own sake, 

not to perform or look good, that turns us inward and that is enjoyable, regular and sustainable can be a spiritual practice. It does not have to be Eastern or exotic in origin . It can be playing a musical instrument, painting, walking on the beach alone and in silence. 

 

All must be done for its own sake, 
not for reason of an outcome. 
All is a journey not a destination and it is a continual arriving.

 

The most needful time for spiritual practice is when you feel you have no time.

God most delights when you are 

most you, when you are being most yourself.

There are many forms of transformation just as there are many sacred prayers and holy paths. You are to find the one that is made for you.

God looks not only to your willingness to His call but to your creativity in responding. This honors and delights Him.

 

In the eyes of God Himself personal insight is more valuable than Divine revelation for if we depend only upon scriptures and the teachings of masters but have no personal insights of our own, all is worthless.

  

The menu is only the menu.
It offers, it describes, it suggests.
When the meal arrives do not put it aside.
Absorb the reality of your choice.
If you do not taste the nature of God or Self in your selection, you must choose another dish…
You need to choose the offering S/He has prepared especially and selectively for you.

The sages teach that all that happens; happens as it must.
What occurs cannot occur contrary to the conditions of its occurring or contrary to its nature.
A cedar tree does not spring from an acorn.

Others agree that we are all totally unique and have to find our own way of going inward. This will also help us find our own unique, divine given destiny.

 

“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” Emily Dickenson

         

“Everyone has access to God but each person has a different access.”     M. Buber

 

In next week's blog we will discuss these various spiritual practice options.

Click and play

06_Cosmic_Meditation..>