Heart Breathing Meditation

This is another wonderful Meditation from Greg Penn and the Aspire Website.







We are going to combine breath work and imagery. First I want you to "breath through your heart" by imagining that the way you take in air is through the center of your chest. Just breathe in and out, through the chest, allowing yourself to open up ever so gently.

A mantle of softness and kindness envelops you. Let yourself sink deep inside yourself. I want you to go down, down, down, to that beautiful, secret place of the most high within you. Everyone knows where it is inside of them. We all have different ways of visualizing it. For you it may be a garden. For others it can be a stream, a river, an ocean - wherever it is that you feel safe.

And while you are there, as you sit, you are willing at this very moment to do everything you can to make love possible. And call forth that within you that will guide you and bring you to love.

You feel a tap on your shoulder, and as you turn, there is a luminescent being standing there. This being looks at you with such kindness and truth that you cannot avoid contact with it. You feel an absolute pull toward it. And this being asks for you to give to it everything that you value. It puts before you a bowl, and it says,

"Please pour everything that you value into this bowl."
You say, "I have not brought anything with me."

But the being is asking you for pride ...attachment ...emotion ... passion ...memories... guilt... shame. Things you hold within yourself about being victimized.

Please, pour it all in. Everything. All your successes, all your failures. Right now. Your work, your mate, your children, your ideas, your hopes and ambitions. And you see that the moment they touch the bowl, they disappear. Because the energy we are pouring into it is dream stuff. It is unreal... This luminescent being asks, "Is this all you have?" Have you held back from it? Pour more.

And now, pour yourself into the bowl.

There is nothing left.

In truth, the being tells us that we can keep nothing in this life. Everything is neutralized in the ocean that is love. The drop becomes the ocean. We become one with everything. Let yourself dissolve into the bowl and feel that sense of humility wash over you. Humility is the space for silence. And silence is the space for love.

Let yourself have this moment. And wherever it is leading you right now it is good, be it in tears or in laughter. This is not about a high, but about a space.

All that exists for you right now is this moment. If you feel like moving, move. Sway. You have found the very core of your own presence. You are free. Take this feeling. And in everything you do and every moment that you have, today, tonight and tomorrow, this celebration exists in you. This celebration is who you are. This celebration is your life.

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Ham Sa Meditation

There is a wonderful breathing meditation technique I practice called Ham Sa. I first learned of this technique through the teachings of Yogananda and the Self Realization Fellowship Lessons. He called it Hong Sau though. (I am not entirely sure why he modified the sound of the mantra, since every other source seems to suggest Ham Sa or Ham So).

The process is quite simple: one sits in a comfortable position (although I also practice standing sometimes as well) take a couple of deep breaths then breathe naturally.

When inhaling silently say "Ham." while exhaling, silently say "Sa."

It is that simple. It is said that this is the natural sound of the breath.

Lama surya Das speaks about this very effective technique in his book LETTING GO OF THE PERSON YOU USED TO BE:

Long before Hinduism and Buddhism, the wise masters of India practised and transmitted powerful mantras of which the Hamsa meditation is said to be foremost.

This timeless wisdom mantra belongs to the ancient Vedic spiritual tradition. The Vedas are the oldest of man’s scriptures, ancient holy texts passed down through the generations. The mantra itself is part of the oral tradition that has continued through these many centuries. Although it is not a Buddhist meditation, it belongs to the Indian yoga tradition that the Buddha himself practised during the six years of austerity in the wilderness that led up to his enlightenment; I think therefore that it is probably safe to surmise that the Buddha himself used this mantra at some point in his practice.

The mantra itself is deceptively simple. All we need to do is breathe in and out through the nostrils. As we do this we repeat to ourselves the syllable Ham on the in-breath, and the syllable So on the out-breath.

So simple. So natural. So freeing.

Repeat on the in-breath: Ham.

On the out-breath: So

The syllable Ham represents and embodies the expansive masculine yang energy; the syllable So represents the centripetal yin, feminine energy.

Hamsa means white swan. The swan, of course, is an ancient symbol of spiritual grace and purity. The mantra is called White Swan because when the in-breath and out-breath are freed and purified, they are like the wings of a swan helping our spirits to soar. The Hamsa mantra helps us find the grace within and carries us beyond our limited concepts. It helps us shed negative feelings that we are ugly ducklings and reminds us that we are all graceful and pure swans. It can help our spiritual lives take wing.

Ancient teachings say this mantra is a vibration of infinite consciousness, uniting us each with the divine source. It is said that this mantra helps us erase duality and the sense that we are different or separate from each other. We cannot find the enlightenment we seek until we realize that we are all one; there is no ‘other’. The Hamsa meditation helps us connect with the divine love and profound energy that flows through the universe and through each of us.

The Hamsa meditation is also known as the ‘I am that’ meditation. This means that the Hamsa meditation gives us an awareness of the connection between the divinity within each of us and the greater infinite divinity. The mantra is also sometimes called the SoHam meditation since it makes little difference which syllable comes first.

Once Ramana Maharshi had his disciples contemplating his favourite spiritual practice of questioning and self-inquiry, asking themselves ‘What Am I?’ One of his students, as if in answer, said, ‘So ham'. He said true. So hum! So ha!

When I was given this mantra decades ago by the Hindu Swami Krishnananda at his ashram in Rishikish, I was told that it would help me realize God. I was told to practise it 108 times every morning at dawn. As the light rose, the mantra should arise and spiritual energy would likewise awaken. I found this a great way to practise, there on the Ganges. It works as well here on these shores.

This mantra embodies the ultimate question as well as the answer. It is said that, in each being, the mantra Hamso/Soham continuously throbs and pulsates subconsciously, and that in each twenty-four-hour period the breath or the heart repeats this mantra 21,600 times. It naturally circulates between the throat and forehead chakras as a radiant energy sphere or spiral, which when visualized and breathed completes the cosmic circuit and illuminates all the higher chakras and psychic vortices, awakening us into cosmic consciousness.

We can visualize the mantra written in a circular clockwise fashion around the petals of the lotus-shaped heart chakra, with one syllable inscribed on each petal. Imagine the lotus wheel of the chakras spinning as the mantra turns, spinning off dazzling radiance of light rays and blessings.

We can also use the mantra to ‘bring down' the blessings from above, evoking it from the divinity within. We do this by breathing in and saying Ham as we visualize light streaming down from the infinite higher power source above the head. Watch it travel down through the crown aperture and instantly descending down the central energy channel into one's heart chakra, making it blaze brightly with light and higher consciousness. Then on the so, as we exhale, we visualize all that love and light radiating out from the heart chakra. We do this again and again – hamsohamsohamsoham – with light and consciousness coursing through and purifying everything. Indian Vedanta masters teach that the Hamsa mantra is all pervasive and dwells within all beings and all forms, like the ultimate self-nature of the universe.

Check out these other links for more insight into Ham Sa:

How to Meditate

The Hamsa Meditation

Ham Sa Breath

The Essence of the Ganapati-Ganeshvara Sutra

Sanskrit:Aryaganpatihridaya-sutra

Tibetan:‘Phags pa Tshogs kyi dDag po’I sNiying po

English:Essence of Ganapati-Ganesvara

Tibetan To English Translator Unknown

Homage to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

Thus have I once heard: The Blessed One was dwelling in Rajagriha together with a great community of 1250 monks and of Boddhisattva-Mahasattvas. At that time the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda: “O Ananda, the tasks of anyone who comprehends the Essence of Ganapati-Ganesvara will all be accomplished. One’s wishes are fulfilled by comprehending it and every mantra will bring attainment:

“Tadyatha/ Namo stute-maha-ganapataye svaha/Om kata kata/ Mata mata/ Dara dara/ vidara vidara/Hana hana/ Grihna grihna/ Dhava dhava/ Bhamja Bhamja/Stambha stambha/ Jambha jambha/ Moha moha/ Dehi dehi/Dapaya Dapaya/Dhana dhanya sidhi me prayaccha samaya-manu-smara maharudra vacaniye svaha/Om kuru kuru svaha/ Om turu turu/ Om muru muru svaha/Om bava samti vasu pushtim kuru svaha/Adguta bindu kshabhita mahavidara/ Sama-gacchati mahabaya/Mahabala/ Mahavarakra/ Mahahasti/ Maha-dakshini-ya praci-dayami svaha/Om kuru kuru/ Curu curu/ Muru muru/ Om ga ga ga ga ga ga ga ga/Om namo nama svaha/”

O Ananda, when any son of noble family, daughter of noble family, monk, nun, lay man or lay woman goes to a place of worship other than where the Three Jewels (are worshipped) or enters the palace retinue of a king and practices the mantras (recited in that place) and begins with this Essence of Ganapati-Ganesvara all one’s tasks will be accomplished. Have no doubts about it. If one is mindful (of this mantra) in fights, arguments, confusions, and wars, they will all be pacified. If you get up early each morning and recite it, you will attain learnedness. Yakshas, rakshasa and dakini will not rob your health but will promise to stay far away."

After the Blessed One proclaimed these things, the gathering and everyone in it, along with the world with its gods, men, demigods, and gandharvas, rejoiced and praised the Blessed One’s teaching.

This completes the Essence of Ganapati-Ganesvara Sutra.

Kanjur (Pejing#338) Vol NG

Persistence

A path alone can't bring salvation.
One who walks on that path with steady feet
attains salvation.

It doesn't matter what path you choose
it will take you to the same God.

--Baba Hari Dass

Personal Responsibility

It's hard to be responsible for our own progress.
We always seek for someone to carry us and
put us on some higher level.

We have to understand that our progress is
based on our own efforts.

--Baba Hari Dass

The Way

A way can be a guide,
but not a fixed path;
Names can be given,
but not permanent labels.

--Tao Te Ching

The Path

Everything is laid our for you.
Your Path is straight ahead of you.
Sometimes it is invisible, but it's there.
You may not know where its going
But you have to follow that path.
It's the path to the Creator.
It's the only path there is.

--Chief Leon Shenandoah

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Shiva and the Chilum Mantra Pt. 2

Excerpt from Sadhus: India's Mystic Holy Men
by Dolf Hartsuiker Inner Traditions, Int'l. (1993), p. 97-98

A common ritual [for devotees of the God Shiva] is the smoking of a mixture of tobacco and charas (hashish) in a chiam (pipe). Although this undoubtedly serves the more earthly purpose of socializing with Sadhu-brothers and devotees, the smoking of charas is nonetheless regarded as a sacred act. Intoxication as a 'respected' – amongst Babas anyway -- method for self-realization is related to the drinking of soma, the nectar of the gods, which is recommended in the Vedas as a sure means of attaining divine wisdom.

Mythologically charas is intimately connected with Shiva: he smokes it, he is perpetually intoxicated by it, he is the Lord of Charas. He is invoked before taking the first puff by shouting one of many chilam-mantras:

"Alakh!"; "Bam Bam Bholanath!"; "Bom Shiva!"

Babas offer the smoke to him; they want to take part in his ecstasy, his higher vision of Reality. As a final gesture of devotion, a Sadhu may mark his forehead with the chilam-ashes, or even eat them, as Prasad from Shiva. Charas may be used by Shaivas (Shiva worshipers) and Vaishnavas (Vishnu worshipers).

Lord Balarama & Ganja

Worshipers of Shiva traditionally offer their ganja to Shiva before smoking, but what about followers of Krishna? Krishna generally does not accept ganja offerings, although He clearly states that He is the healing essence of all herbs. In ancient India, the temple incense was infused with hashish so worshipers could inhale the sacred smoke and experience love of God. Although hash incense is no longer available, Krishna worshipers offer ganja smoke to Krishna's brother, Balarama, and receive the Lord's blessings.

Mantra for offering ganja to Balarama:



Ganja Baladev Baladev Hara Hara

She brought out a heavy auburn cone of clay which had an inner rod that fit snugly inside the hollow cone. She ripped a tattered fragment off of her orange sarong and tied it around the thinner end of the cone, brought out a small cup made from an immature ash-blackened coconut in which she crumbled up a 1:2 mix of charas and rare ganja which she tightly packed into the wide end of the chillum.

"Om Shiva Shankara Hari Hari Ganga!"

I mimicked her mantra and we began. "I got this pipe from a baba who resides in the Shiva Temple at Hampi."

My first goal was to find the Baba who taught Eleanor the art of chillum smoking. Before we slept she gave me the full story of the Baba, how he dosed her whole body with blue ash, dabbled salt on her eye lids, blew incense on meridian points of her body and quivered with joy when she told him that she was to pack a chillum of only cannabis as opposed to partitioning it with tobacco. "It will please Shiva most!" she said.

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Shiva and the Chilum Mantra

He is invoked before taking the first puff by shouting one of many chilam-mantras:

"Alakh!"; "Bam Bam Bholanath!"; "Bom Shiva!"

Mantra for offering ganja to Balarama:

Baladev Baladev Hara Hara Ganja.

Other: "Om Shiva Shankara Hari Hari Ganga!"

In India, the Aghora sect of Tantra and a significant section of Shaivite Tantrics ritually partake of marijuana as part of their sadhana (spiritual exercise).

"With the first drag, Shiva (a Hindu deity) made the sky. With the second, he made the earth and with the third he made this world." This, according to Dr Molly Kaushal, research officer at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi, is how the Gaddi tribals of the northern Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh describe he act of Creation. The 'drag' here, of course, refers to a puff of cannabis.

As she tells me this, an excited Madhusudan Baul, a folk singer from the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, chips in: "These three puffs are extremely important. There is a proper ritual involved in taking them. There should be a gap of at least 90 seconds between each puff. And the high that you reach after three puffs is the climax. No further smoking will make any difference."

And what does he feel when he is on such a high? Madhusudan closes his eyes in bliss as he recalls: "We all know that God resides everywhere. But we see Him in bits and pieces. Cannabis makes me see God in His entirety. It is a sight of such unalloyed joy that tears well up in my eyes."

Neem Karoli Baba forwarded a similar view when he was asked by one of his disciples whether taking hashish helps spiritual development. "You should smoke hashish like Lord Shiva," he said, "only to be with God. But smoking hashish is not necessary to reach God. The effect only lasts a short while. Devotion to God is an addiction that lasts all the time."

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Godzilla Zen

I was just reading Brad Warner's Blog Hardcore Zen. I envy Brad Warner. He has found a way to practice Zen, and make a living at something that is very cool: Japanese Kitsch Culture. He also clings to his Punk Rock days as the Bass Player for the non-famous band Zero Defex. This is his motivation for the label "Hardcore," he shrewdly exploits for his teachings.

Anyway, his blog is very good. Like his books, he doesn't attempt to appeal to the mainstream narrative of Traditional Buddhism. Although, some would accuse him of focusing on only peripheral aspects of Traditional Japanese Zen Buddhism, rejecting other, just as essential aspects. I personally don't have a problem with that tack the way I would have back when I was a monk in a Chinese Order. This is exactly what Buddhism needs right now. Brad would argue back that his focus isn't peripheral at all, but actually cuts right to the Heart of the Matter.

How Buddhism in America eventually develops probably won't be known to any of us alive today. It certainly wouldn't be a leap to say it will not look much like it does now. Maybe Brad Warner will be remembered, maybe not. Maybe the Temple altars of the future will display statues of Godzilla.

Whether one method works or not is all a relative thing, is it not?