THE TREE OF LIFE'S THREE TRIADS

     AND THE CHAKRAS #1

The Tree of Life is an ancient archetype embraced by many cultures including the Celts. This blog will introduce us to the critical Three Triads inherent in this Tree of Kabbalah and attempt to correlate them with the Chakra system of Yoga. Understanding the polarities within both systems is key to spiritual transformation.

Creation arose from Nothingness out of the Ein Sof (Infinity) from the Light of Infinity generated by the Divine. The Big Bang (Tzimtzum in Kabbalah) occurred when the Infinite One insinuated Him/Herself into the void for the sake of the creation. 

After the initial expansion, the universe cooled sufficiently to allow the formation of subatomic particles which formed atoms. These primordial elements over time coalesced forming the stars and galaxies and our planet.

There were four main stages in the Creation.

 Emanation - the intention (in the beginning was the word...)

Creation - the mysterious formation of the elements and much more.

Formation - how they all began to come together to create the universe and all the Beings as well as our planet.

Actualization - everything actually coming into being. This is represented by the yellow arrow (which has been described as a "lightning bolt" - an energy of huge proportions)

According to Kabbalah this phenomenon also resulted in the ten energy centers or sephirot on the Tree of  Life with their interlinking 22 pathways. 

There were two trees in the Garden of Eden (metaphoric or otherwise.) The Tree of Knowledge (T.O.K.) - of acquisitiveness and ego and

The Tree of Life (T.O.L.) by which we can ascend and regain "Eden," the realm of perfected souls (the Pure Land in Buddhism, the Causal realm in Yoga.) The blue arrow like figure pointing upwards.

It is not easy to reenter Eden but knowing these maps can help. We have to be worthy and the Creator placed angels in the Garden with their flaming swords to guard the way to the T.O.L. 

The gates are wide but few will enter

and

"Kabir says; friend - there are few who find the way."

These three main triads resulted from the Creation and can assist us in our ascent back into "Eden.".

The Chakra system has seven chakras with 72.000 nadis or energy channels connecting to them. The central channel ends at the crown chakra (Keter in the T.O.L.) The Sun and Moon join at the sixth chakra or Third Eye. Each chakra is also in balance between the Sun and the Moon energies. The Sun, the sympathetic (Flight of Fight,) expansion,  red, masculine, channel or the Moon of contraction, cool, feminine, blue, and parasympathetic (relaxation response.) This dynamic also results from three energies working at every level- Chakra, Sun and Moon.

The key to balance and moving energy up the system is the Kundalini in yoga which is primal energy that we all have within us. Indigenous cultures have differing names or descriptions for it. The Kundalini is feminine, dormant, serpent like, Shakti energy residing at the base of the spine. When spiritual practice creates balance between the Sun and Moon, She can be made to move into the central channel and ascend empowering and awakening the chakras. In Kabbalah this feminine component of the divine is called the Shechina which resides at Kingdom (Earth) at the base of the T.O.L. 

The Sun and Moon channels are not linear but spiral up the spine. The chakra model resembles the Caduceus and can literally be superimposed on it. Our D.N.A.is also spiral in form and can support the movement of this vital energy. 

As below so above - as above so below,

As within so without- as without so within - the Law of Correspondence. 

Kundalini is also key to facilitating our life force as well as our Inner Healer. 

The Zohar teaches that we are all animated by the spirit, or breath, or wind, or Ruach of the Divine (Prana, Chi or Moya in Zulu.) How we manage this "Wind" is also key to our "Becoming" ( the Ancestors prefer the idea of Becoming to that of enlightenment or Self-Realization which implies a finite point of achievement.)

Num is the San-Bushmen, and Umbilini the Zulu equivalent for Kundalini.

These two energy models help us to find the middle way of the Buddha between the polarities of light and dark, good and evil, positive and negative, expansion or contraction. We have to coexist with the negative but not assimilate it. For this, spiritual practice is essential.

 

 JOY # 2

Daniel Kahneman won the Noble prize for his works - one of which was on joy and happiness. He talks about our "Two Selves." 

The Experiencing Self and the Remembering Self.

It is the Experiencing Self that experiences true joy. 

Joy is an in the moment exuberant experience. Some folks are inherently more joyful than others.

  For many it might be a good belly laugh when endorphins are flowing and one is almost rolling of the floor. 

I have often experienced joy during indigenous rituals with the San Bushmen and sangomas. I am always struck by the sense of joy that one feels in this environment, often from those who possess so little materially.

 Africans say "We pray by singing and dancing" and there is a Chassidic saying that with song one can open the gates of heaven. 

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” de Chardin

The Ancestors say that the Creator wants to participate in these joyful events and one can sometimes almost feel His/Her presence

Happiness on the other hand is more of an evaluation of the past, present and the future and the 

Remembering Self. It is our story and how we keep score. 

For many of us moments of joy are infrequent so that we rely on the Remembering Self which rationalizes for its happiness. Kahneman calls this Synthetic Happiness.

He gives an example of someone moving from back East to California where his/her synthetic happiness looks for all the reasons to be happy in the Golden State; the climate, the people that are so friendly, that you can turn right on a red light etc. - putting aside maybe about how much s/he loved the seasonal changes and that they knew who their real friends were - but rather remembering the hardships of shoveling snow and getting the car to start in the freezing cold. Kahneman states that they are not really happier - they just think that they are - its more of a mind trip.

 The key for us is to realize that the Remembering Self has a Reset Point. Moreover, that the last thing that happens to us is what stays with the Remembering Self and therefore it is vital for us to reset that memory. For instance you have a perfectly wonderful vacation and a horrendous return on the way back; cancelled flights, lost luggage etc. The latter is what will be remembered.

Simply speaking it is about getting back on the horse when one falls off, to reset. This way a traumatic experience can be morphed into the rider again enjoying the exilaration of riding again, (as well as overcoming any fear that could sabotage any future riding.)

We need to find those "Hidden Recesses" that the Ancestors talk about to help us reset. These will be highly individual.

“The highest form of bliss is living with a certain degree of folly.” Erasmus

…put out to sea! Save your boat’s journeying soul 

and your own pilgrim soul, cost what it may.” 

Dom Helder Camara

Sometimes it is good to take a chance, a leap of faith and do something that one has never done before that will make you happy - as long as it does not hurt you or anyone else.

The one thing that is clear is that all the principles of karma, if attended well, not only enhance one another but also ultimately create serenity, well being and happiness.

“Joy is not incidental to your spiritual quest … it is vital.” 
Rev Nachman

One could also say that love is the main catalyst and all follows from that principal. The Ancestors say that love is the one truth, Notably the Creator's love for all the Beings of nature including us with all of our blemishes and flaws.

In spite of all the positive things we do and actions we take, things may not work out the way we hoped.

 

You cannot decide outcomes, only your choices. You cannot control results, only your actions, so it is best that we practice non-attachment to outcome.

We are here to enjoy the whole conundrum and turn crises into opportunities.

These are some simple rules that go a long way in helping us with our karma.

Do things for their own sake.

Practice random acts of kindness 

Be in gratitude.

"Sweeten" the judgments and "try to walk in the other's moccasins for a day."

And as the Ancestors say;

It will be given to you according to ...

The measure of your humility (subordinating ego)

The measure of your love (opening the heart to others)

and 

The measure of your faith (faith in the teachings of ancient wisdoms).

 As well as

You will come from doubt to belief, from belief to understanding from understanding to knowing and from knowing to feeling (being heart-felt).

This is the way.

Click and play, be in joy and ...

Dance like no-one is watching

7:36Baka Beyond - Eeya Be ( Elephant Song ) ( 1993 )YouTube · JM LetaSep 7, 2018

  

 

 

THE KARMIC REQUIREMENT OF JOY #1

Joy has a different flavor to it than happiness. Happiness has many synonyms: Happiness, Serenity, Well Being, Equanimity, Harmony, Balance, Inner Peace, Connection, Meaning...

 

Cleanse the lens, adjust the focus, rid what clutters and impedes.
Shed and shie what keeps the soul from joy.

 

Remember that you are made not for brokenness and sorrow but for wholeness and for joy.

 

Sometimes I go about pitying myself and all the time I am being carried on great winds across the sky.” Ojibway

 

“In the song of the rushing torrent hold onto the joyful assurance: I will become the sea. And this is not a vain supposition, it is absolute humility because it is the truth.” Tagore

 

“A truly wise person is always joyful. The best way to live joyfully is to believe that life was given for joy. When joy disappears, 

look for your mistake.” 

Tolstoy

We need to find equanimity in amongst the play of light and dark. 

It if was not for this tension, life would be like spiritual diabetes. There can be no growth without conflict. Toomy below is teaching us that serenity means being active and aware. It is something that requires our attention and our effort. For the rare few this comes naturally but for most of us not so much.

“Serenity is not a passive condition but an undisturbed peace of mind, active and aware which can be 

quiet joy, sometimes ecstatic joy, 

always deep within spirit and light of heart.” Father Toomy

We need to be able to coexist with the negative all around us without being discouraged. The temptation is to give up hope and be influenced by the challenges in the ebb and flow of life which may seem to be getting worse day by day. We must resist going to the dark side when there is just as much light around us - if we look for it. Avoid too much social media, TV and toxic movies. A regular meaningful spiritual practice, done almost daily and also whenever needed is essential for maintaining harmony and balance.

“Indifference to the sublime wonder of living is the root of sin“ Joshua Heschel

We need to be able to savor the moments between the sacred and profane, the light and the dark, striving to coexist with the negative but not to assimilate it. It is not easy, spiritual practice can save us.

“Savor! Give yourselves to savoring, even the doubting, even the struggling. Savor it all. You are only to savor it to be worthy of it. It is the way of actualizing.” Father Toomey

But also

Be careful of what you touch, what touches you, and where you immerse.

The Ancestors teach;

Attend to your well being especially happiness which is 

sometimes found in hidden recesses always in 

GRATITUDE.

Your gifts are only gifts if you find them thus to be - your heart makes them so. Be grateful and you will be happy. Happiness leads to great empowerment.  

Spacious mind is about gratitude and joy. Narrow mind is about acquisitiveness.

There is no joy as transforming as the joy of gratitude.

Where there is gratitude there is light.

“Reflect on your present blessings of which every person has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all people have some.” Charles Dickens

  

Gratitude creates light, happiness, empowerment and spiritual transformation.

Research in gratitude has found that gratitude facilitates a positive feedback loop - gratitude leads to more gratitude. It also increases  endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin as well as neuronal density in the prefrontal lobe of the brain in the F.M.R.I.'s of the practitioners. The latter is also found in advanced practitioners of meditation. 

Gratitude is spiritual practice and prayer at the same time (rather than supplication in our "prayers," where we ask for something.) Prayer should usually reflect gratitude. When we supplicate, we should be sure it is for the greater good, and not ourselves.

Research on gratitude by Emmons and McCullough has shown that a gratitude practice can profoundly effect our well being, equanimity and happiness. It helped the participants to pay their gratitude forward in random acts of kindness.

Apart from gratitude what are other hidden recesses? 

These can be found in:

Forgiveness

Forgiveness of ourselves and others and asking forgiveness of others we may have harmed - cleaning the karmic slate. Taking off the albatross around our necks.

Nature

 The senses and the Three S's (both in and outside of Nature)

Sun

"If you do not want to see the shadow turn your face to the sun." Aboriginal saying

"No matter how long the night, the dawn is sure to come." African proverb

Sound - Music

The mantra of the bush; the wind in the trees, the sound of falling rain or ocean waves, a babbling brook ...

Smells 

 Scents, aroma, incense. Aromatherapy.

Connection and doing Service

“Wherever you turn you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember you do not live in a world all of your own.” A. Schweitzer

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me. If I am only for myself then what am I ?(a narcissist). And if not now, then when?"

Hillel

The search for the Self, the Higher Self, is at the core of human motivation whether we know it, or practice it or not. This search is not selfish. It will lead to more selflessness. Practicing gratitude will do the same thing.

Buddhism tells us to take our suffering and make something useful out of it. To turn the crap into manure. It's not what happens to us but what we do with it. Pain is inevitable, suffering, optional. Service makes us happier.

“… Do your work, then step back, the only way to serenity.”

Tao Te Ching

Laughter

Watch funny movies.

Body Work

Have a massage, acupuncture etc...

Meditation 

(Active meditation for some is more powerful; Yoga, Tai Chi, painting, playing an instrument, dancing, hiking...)

For others exercise is enough.

We will complete this section on Karma and Joy next week.

 

 

THE KARMIC REQUIREMENT OF LOVE

“Love is the most universal, formidable and mysterious of all the cosmic forces.” de Chardin

Regarding love and karma at its most inclusive;

God’s love does not seek worth, God’s love creates worth.

God is not a test of love, God's love is not a test.

The Creators loves us all and all of the other Beings of nature. Karma is built as a default into the soul so that we are accountable to our-Selves (as in Higher Self and the law of cause and effect. God continues to love us in spite of our failings. S/He wishes us to return whole just as the prodigal son or daughter did in the scriptures.

 

If the law does not serve love do not serve the law.

 

The Ancestors do not tell us to disobey the law because the penalties could be spiritually counterproductive. We do not serve an unjust law if we have right thoughts, intent and opinions even if we cannot do anything about it. During these crazy times the only recourse we may have is to vote and hope for the best. 

Those on the other side of the veil in the Astral loose free will. The only way they can exercise their intent is through the free will of a living loved one or another one chosen for them. In this way they can do service and complete work they never did in their previous life time.

It is a loving gesture to help them by allowing them to help us. Love is the catalyst that allows them to cross the veil between worlds and send messages of support.

What is not sought by the heart, do not seek What is not given with the heart do not offer What is not received with the heart do not take in…

Determine well your heart’s desire for in releasing your intention its energy will effect its holiness or unholiness.

 

But I say to you; deeds of love are worth as much as all the commandments of the law… not learning but doing (service) is the chief thing.” Talmud

"We are here to help others, what on earth others are here for I do not know." Auden

 

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”  Rumi

 

“Love implies generosity, care, not to hurt another, not to make them feel guilty, to be generous, courteous, and behave in such a manner that your words and thoughts are born out of compassion.” Krishnamurti

Love embraces compassion, empathy and forgiveness.

We need to be compassionate with those younger souls who maybe further back along the spiritual spiral than we are. We may have been even worse in prior lifetimes.

“Forgiveness is the most completing gift we can experience for we all have its sweet need.” J. O’donahue 

“We are all climbing toward the summit of our heart’s desires. Should the other climber steal your sack and your purse and wax fat on the one and heavy on the other, you should pity him. The climbing will be harder for his flesh and the burden will make his way longer. And should you in your leanness see his flesh puffing upward, help him in a step; it will add to your swiftness.” Anonymous

 

The yogis say that the most difficult chakra to open is the heart chakra. Kabbalah teaches that the student who has mastered Tiferet - the heart of the Tree of Life and the sephirah (energy center) of love - can then teach him/herself. 

“Love heals people… both the ones who give and the ones who receive it.” Karl Menninger

 “Only love can generate the healing fire.” Agnes Sanford

The San Bushmen healers say that to be a powerful healer one must love everyone no matter what you think of them. 

This is love as a commitment, not necessarily a feeling or a sentiment. One also need not like them or have anything more to do with them other than giving them a helping hand in that moment.

In other words the yoga greeting - "Namaste" - I see the divinity in you. We all are made in the image of the Divine and even the worst of us, have a spark of divinity within us - hidden or not.

The Ancestors expand on the teaching - love your neighbor as yourself and say that this may not always fit the person you are attending. That individual may not want to be loved in the way that you love yourself. Rather we should rather love them as they would like to be loved without enabling them. 

This applies especially to those close to us, those whom you do not intend to walk away from afterwards. To them the Ancestors urge; of love, be a little more careful.

I have been given more songs on love by the Ancestors than any others  for good reason. If we can love fully all the other requirements of karma come naturally.

You will come from doubt to belief, from belief to understanding, from understanding to knowing and from knowing to feeling.

This is the way.

Concerning romantic love we need to ask ourselves three questions:

Are we in love with this person?

Do we love this person and if so for what reason? Is it because of how they look to us, what they bring to us or what they do for us?

Is this love or lust - the heart chakra's energy or the second chakras "chemical" energy? 

We cannot mess with chemistry but chemistry can mess with us!

09 Love is Blind.mp3

04_Love.mp3

05_Learn_Love.mp3

01 Heart.mp3