Lion Cubs!!

They are arriving...

Farewell to Summer

The other week I heard the beat of wings above me. Looking up I saw a flock of geese on the wing, headed south to warmer climes. A tear rose in my eye for I did not want any goodbyes and I wished instead to go with them. Grab a ride or grow my own wings and follow them on the journey south. I didn't envy them for I know their journey will be long and arduous. I wished them well, wished them safe, wished them luck championed their heart and freedom.
I watched them for as long as I could follow with my eye as they flew on silently by. In the distance I heard them calling, imagined they were shouting out farewell to summer's warm glow of nests and green things that grow here. They don't know the ice, shouldn't really, its not their natural environment. They should only recall deep green water filled with lovely algae, nesting grounds in dark, tea black rivers where red wing blackbirds keep watch for all. Where the yellow leaves fall for other reasons besides the cold. Farewell my friends til spring returns, my heart goes with you as I also turn inwards to the other lands beyond the ice and snow covered sands.

Friends...

Advice from Atisha

(Compilation of dialogues, words of advice, and reflections of Palden Atisha.) Translated under Geshe Wangyal

One time Atisha was asked by his disciples, "What is the highest teaching of the path?"
Atisha replied: "The highest skill is in the realization of egolessness. The highest nobility is in subduing your own mind. The highest excellence is in having a mind which seeks to help others. The highest precept is continual mindfulness. The highest remedy is in understanding the naturelessness of everything. The highest activity is not to conform with worldly concerns. The highest accomplishment is the lessening and transmutation of the passions. The highest giving is found in non-attachment. The highest moral practice is a peaceful mind. The highest patience is humility. The highest effort is to abandon attachment to activities. The highest meditation is the mind without pretension. The highest wisdom is not to grasp anything as it appears."

Upon leaving the Western province of Nari, Atisha gave the following parting advice to his assembled disciples: "Friends, until you have obtained enlightenment, the spiritual teacher is needed; therefore depend upon the holy spiritual teacher. Until you fully realize the nature of voidness, you must listen to the Teaching; therefore listen closely to the precept of the teacher. Merely understanding the Dharma is not enough to become enlightened, you must practice constantly:

"Go far away from any place that is harmful to your practice; always stay in a place that is conducive to virtue. Clamour is harmful until you obtain a firm mind; therefore stay in an isolated place.

Abandon friends who increase your fettering passions; depend on friends who cause you to increase virtue. Bear this in mind. There is never an end of things to do, so limit your activities. Dedicate your virtue day and night, and always be mindful. "Once you have obtained the precept of the teacher, you should always meditate on it and act in harmony with his speech. When you do this with great humility, the effects will manifest without delay. If you act according to the Dharma from the depths of your heart, both food and necessities will come naturally. "Friends, there is no satisfaction in the things you desire. It is like drinking sea water to satisfy thirst. Therefore be content. Annihilate all forms of pretentiousness, pride and conceit; be subdued and peaceful. Abandon all that which some call virtue, but which is really an obstacle to the practice of Dharma. As if they were stones on a narrow slippery path, you should clear away all ideas of gain and respect, for they are the rope of the devil. Like snot in your nose, blow out all thoughts of fame and praise, for they serve only to beguile and delude. "As the happiness, pleasure and friends you have accumulated are of but a moment's duration, turn your back on them. Future life is longer than this life, so carefully secure your treasure of virtue to provide for the future. You leave everything behind when you die; do not be attached to anything. "Leave off depising and deprecating others and generate a compassionate mind to those who are your inferiors. Do not have deep attachment to your friends and do not discriminate against your enemies. Without being jealous or envious of others' good qualities, with humility take up those good qualities yourself. Do not bother examining the faults of others, but examine your own faults. Purge yourself of them like bad blood. Nor should you concentrate on your own virtues; rather respect those as a servant would. Extend loving-kindness to all beings as though they were your own children. "Always have a smiling face and a loving mind. Speak honestly and without anger. If you go about saying many senseless things, you will make mistakes; thus speak in moderation. If you do many sensless things, your virtuous work will cease; give up actions that are not religious. It is useless to make effort in unessential work. Because whatever happen to you comes as a result of your karma from long ago, results never match your present desires. Therefore be calm. "Alas, it is far better to die than to cause a holy person shame; you should therefore always be straightforward and without deceit. All the misery and happiness of this life arise from the karma of this and previous lives; do not blame others for your circumstances. "Until you subdue yourself, you cannot subdue others; therefore, first subdue yourself. As you are unable to ripen others without clairvoyance, make a great effort to achieve clairvoyance. "You will surely die, leaving behind whatever wealth you have accumulated, so be careful not to gather defilement due to wealth. As distracting enjoyments are without substance, adorn yourself with the virtue of giving. Always keep pure moral practice, for it is beautiful in this life and ensures happiness in future lives. In this world-age of the Kaliyuga, where hatred is rampant, don the armour of patience, which nullifies anger. We remain in the world by the power of sloth; thus we must ignite like a great fire the effort of achievement. Moment after moment your life is wasted led by the lure of worldly activities; it is time to meditate. Because you are under the influence of wrong views, you do not realize the nature voidness. Zealously seek the meaning of reality! "Friends, samsara is a vast swamp in which there is no real happiness; hurry to the place of liberation. Meditate according to the precept of the teacher and dry up the river of samsaric misery. Always keep this in mind. Listen well to this advice, which is not mere words but comes straight from my heart. If you follow these precepts you will make not only me happy, but yourselves and all others as well. Though I am ignorant, I urge you to remember these words." At another time, Atisha stated: "This Kaliyuga is not the time to display your ability; it is the time to persevere through hardship. It is not the time to take a high position, but the time to be humble. It is not the time to rely on many attendants, but the time to rely on isolation. Nor is it the time to subdue disciples; it is the time to subdue yourself. It is not the time to merely listen to words, but the time to contemplate their meaning. Nor is it the time to go visiting here and there; it is the time to stay alone." When the venerable Atisha was staying in Yerpadrak, near Lhasa, he gave the following precept: "Noble sons, reflect deeply on these words. In the Kaliyuga lives are short and there is much to be understood. The duration of life is uncertain; you do not know how long you will live. Thus you must make great effort now to fulfil your right desires. "Do not proclaim yourself a monk if you obtain the necessities of life in the manner of a layman. Though you live in a monastery and have given up worldly activities, if you fret about what you have given up, you have no right to proclaim, 'I am a monk living in a monastery.' If your mind still persists in desire for pretty things and still produces harmful thoughts, do not proclaim, 'I am a monk living in a monastery.' If you still go about with worldly people and waste time in worldly, senseless talk with those with whom you live, even though you are living in a monastery, do not proclaim, 'I am a monk living in a monastery.' If you are impatient and go about feeling slighted, if you cannot be even the least bit helpful to others, do not proclaim, 'I am a bodhisattva-monk.' "If you speak thus to worldly people, you are a great liar. You may get away with saying such things. However, you cannot deceive those who have the boundless sight of clairvoyance, nor can you deceive those who have the Dharma eye of great omniscience. Neither can you deceive yourself, for the effects of karma follow after you. "To stay in a monastery it is necessary to give up worldly ways and attachment to friends and relatives. By renouncing these, you are getting rid of all the co-operating causes of attachment and longing. From then on you must seek the precious mind of enlightenment. Not even for an instant should you allow your past obsession with worldly concerns to arise. Formerly, you did not properly practise the Dharma, and under the influence of past habits that sapped your strength, you continually produced the concepts of a worldly person. Because such concepts are predominant, unless you make use of strong antidotes to them, it is useless to remain in a monastery. You would be like the birds and wild animals that live there. "In short, staying in a monastery will not be helpful if you do not reverse your obsession for fine things and do not renounce the activities of this life. For if you do not cut off these inclinations, thinking that you can work for the aims of both this and future lives, you will perform nothing but incidental religious practice. This type of practice is nothing but hypocritical and pretentious practice done for selfish gain. "Therefore, you should always seek spiritual friends and shun bad company. Do not become settled in one place or accumulate many things. Whatever you do, do in harmony with the Dharma. Let whatever you do be a remedy for the fettering passions. This is actual religious practice; make great effort to do this. As your knowledge increases, do not be possessed by the demon of pride. "Staying in an isolated place, subdue yourself. Have few desires and be contented. Neither delight in your own knowledge nor seek out the faults of others. Do not be fearful or anxious. Be of good will and without prejudice. Concentrate on the Dharma when distracted by wrong things. "Be humble, and, if you are defeated, accept it gracefully. Give up boastfulness; renounce desire. Always generate the compassionate mind. Whatever you do, do in moderation. Be easily pleased and easily sustained. Run like a wild animal from whatever would entrap you. "If you do not renounce worldly existence, do not say you are holy. If you have not renounced land and agriculture, do not say that you have entered the Sangha. If you do not renounce desire, do not say you are a monk. If you are without love and compassion, do not say you are a bodhisattva. If you do not renounce activity, do not say you are a great meditator. Do not cherish your desires. "In short, when you stay at a monastery, engage in few activities and just meditate on the Dharma. Do not have cause for repentance at the time of death."

Hermes Where Are You?

The lifework of Hermes seems to have been in the direction of planting the great Seed- Truth which has grown and blossomed in so many strange forms, rather than to establish a school of philosophy which would dominate the world's thought. But, nevertheless, the original truths taught by him have been kept intact in their original purity by a few men in each age, who, refusing great numbers of half-developed students and followers, followed the Hermetic custom and reserved their truth for the few who were ready to comprehend and master it. From lip to ear the truth has been handed down among the few. There have always been a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the earth, who kept alive the sacred flame of the Hermetic Teachings, and such have always been willing to use their lamps to re-light the lesser lamps of the outside world, when the light of truth grew dim, and clouded by reason of neglect, and when the wicks became clogged with foreign matter.
There were always a few to tend faithfully the altar of the Truth, upon which was kept alight the Perpetual Lamp of Wisdom. These men devoted their lives to the labor of love which the
poet has so well stated in his lines:

“0, let not the flame die out! Cherished age after age in its dark cavern–in its holy temples cherished. Fed by pure ministers of love –let not the flame die out!”

Where is Hermes? He's still with us in these words. It is through these words of truth and wisdom that he follows us down the halls of time, ever walking with us until we can walk alone. He is the true father whom we must look to for an example of how to be.

Sky follow up

The sky has been empty of all cloud traces for four days. It is supposed to rain tomorrow and I will enjoy the clouds then too. P.K.

LOVE

Love knows how to go into unseen and unknown, to conquer the unfamilar and uncharted, knows how to surrender and how to rise. Love is the greatest courage.Trust Love. Dont just fall in it, rise in it. (S.S.)

WHAT IS LOVE?

The eternal question that arises time and again. The closest I have heard to the truth that reverberates in my heart is that Love is a verb, an action. To love someone means not just that you feel tenderness and joy with them but that you show them by your actions, by the way you treat them, what is in your heart.
In Buddhist philosophy, which I follow, it is said that there are many kinds of love, perhaps expression is a better word. The love of a mother for her child, the love of a child for its parents, examples of this can be found in nature, the animal kingdom. If love is instinctive, as in the protection of one's own offspring then all beings have access to it. Even a spider will protect its young, some keep them close to their own bodies until the eggs hatch. Scorpions, snakes and crocodiles too.
That pure feeling arises in many different forms. The love of friends, spouses, devotion to beliefs or ideals, lovers, nations, pets. Sometimes people can even emote towards objects which are for our purposes without responses, like cars, boats and the like. Some pets have better lives than most people in the world, being lavished with love, affection, tenderness and every wish fulfilled.

When I punched in Love to the image section of Google I was astounded by the 3.9million response of images. Actually just taking a tour of this menagerie of visuals on love was in itself a teaching on the subject.

Here is a story I read about an amazing feat of love. This was actually witnessed by scientists in the field who were studying these animals.
One day there was a mother rhino with her baby who stopped at the watering hole to get some precious water during the dry season. Because it was drying up though, the baby rhino only a couple of weeks old became marooned in the very deep mud beside the watering hole. The mother raced frantically back and forth, watching helplessless as her baby sank deeper in with its struggles. The baby was crying and the mother was snorting and pacing not knowing what to do. All this commotion served to attract a herd of elephants who were moving through the area. Now elephants and rhinos are known enemies. So the herd respectfully kept its distance. Except for one female at the back. She paused and reviewed the situation. The mother rhino began making ominous charges at this intruder but not wanting to leave her baby she would race back and call to it from the banks. The elephant made her decision. She pushed into the deep mud and with her trunk she tenderly removed the baby rhino and placed her within safe distance of her mother on drier land. The elephant then turned and rejoined the herd.
The scientists observing this were astounded. They had not expected such behaviour from an animal who was not only from another species but one that is usually in direct conflict with the rhinos. One simply cannot explain this except by love which reaches beyond our boundaries, beyond our beliefs about the world, beyond our conceptions.

Again, another example is the story of the lioness and the oryx. She almost starved to death protecting the baby that was of the species she would usually eat. (please see link) There are many examples of this behaviour within the animal kingdom and our own culture.
Will this bring us closer to Truth? I believe so for if love surpasses all our notions and we strive to understand it then that shall bring us closer to the Noble heart of Truth.

SKY

Blue skies

A couple of days ago an acquaintance asked me about my first memory. Coincidentally my father and I had been discussing the same topic that very morning. So I mentioned that my first memory was of watching the blue sky through a window. I recall the white curtain was blowing in the breeze and I could see the clouds moving slowly across the deep endless blue. Somehow it was a reverent feeling that accompanied this. I estimate my age to be around 2- 3 years. It could have even been younger, I just remember this feeling of quiet bliss and the sense that there was little besides my own consciousness and this image. I was happy, I didn't need anything else in that moment. Peaceful. My acquaintance commented that the first memory usually sets a tone for that image for the rest of one's life. I laughed and said " I guess that's why I always feel peaceful watching the sky and must see it everyday through my window. I guess that's also why blues have always been my favourite colours because they evoke that feeling I had with the memory."

This past week and a half I have gotten angry because the white ribbons of jet chemtrails swelled up like tissue paper in water and spread in a fine mist or haze obliterating the view of the pure blue sky. In fact I raged about it. Something I don't do very often. I vowed with my intention that the sky wouldn't be touched by their poisonous ribbons. The thought even arose that I might somehow start a timed intention session with others all over the planet to eradicate the sky pollution. "Bring back the light" I would call it. I know intention is powerful, I may as well use it for a non harmful process.




Last night I had a dream that was so vivid it almost scared me awake. I was standing outside and the sun hadn't yet arisen. I looked up into the sky as was my usual custom. It was dark, deep indigo, velvet with stars clustered here and there. Suddenly I was large, larger, the sky was bending down to meet me. Then I was out in space. I looked back over my left shoulder and saw the earth a beautiful blue green marble. I started to cry. So fragile and precious, so beautiful! Then looking ahead the sky was deep dark space that began to enfold me as I moved further into it. I was consumed with the sensation of falling into that nether region even though a small part of my mind knew that there was no where to fall to. Vertigo and fear ensued as well as the feeling of growing vaster in the star filled void. I shut my eyes. When I opened them again I was once more on the earth in my ususal size. I looked to the east and saw the first rays of the sun reaching over the horizon toward me and as they caressed me bliss flooded my being.
The dream ends here.

Today even though I was very tired I smiled. The sky was a vast endless blue void. There was no trace anywhere of clouds. No wisps, no haze, no trails, nothing at all. Just empty stainless metal sky. Ah Ah Ah! Bliss!

The Undiscovered Country

W E L C O M E
Put simply, for there is no other way to put it, the superpowers of the human biomind are defined as those indwelling faculties of our species which can transcend space and time as one major category of activity, and energy and matter as another major category. The concept that human powers and perceptions are locked into and only accord with the known laws of matter and energy and time is not correct -- although such has been the dominant concept of the last two centuries. The full extent of our species faculties of memory, for example, transcend the known laws of matter and time, as do the faculties for human imagination. Memory and imagination, therefore, are among the many superpowers -- although they have not been identified this way within the prevailing wisdom of the Modern Age...

WAVES OR WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

The Law of Attraction in the Thought World






Prof. Elisha Gray, an eminent scientist, says in his little book, "The Miracles of Nature":
"There is much food for speculation in the thought that there exist sound-waves that no human ear can hear, and color-waves of light that no eye can see. The long, dark, soundless space between 40,000 and 400,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, and the infinity of range beyond 700,000,000,000,000 vibrations per second, where light ceases, in the universe of motion, makes it possible to indulge in speculation."

We are sending out thoughts of greater or less intensity all the time, and we are reaping the results of such thoughts. Not only do our thought waves influence ourselves and others, but they have a drawing power - they attract to us the thoughts of others, things, circumstances, people, "luck," in accord with the character of the thought uppermost in our minds. Thoughts of Love will attract to us the Love of others; circumstances and surroundings in accord with the thought; people who are of like thought. Thoughts of Anger, Hate, Envy, Malice and Jealousy will draw to us the foul brood of kindred thoughts emanating from the minds of others; circumstances in which we will be called upon to manifest these vile thoughts and will receive them in turn from others; people who will manifest inharmony; and so on. A strong thought or a thought long continued, will make us the center of attraction for the corresponding thought waves of others. Like attracts like in the Thought World - as ye sow so shall ye reap. Birds of a feather flock together in the Thought World - curses like chickens come home to roost, and bringing their friends with them.
The man or woman who is filled with Love sees Love on all sides and attracts the Love of others. The man with hate in his heart gets all the Hate he can stand. The man who thinks Fight generally runs up against all the Fight he wants before he gets through. And so it goes, each gets what he calls for over the wireless telegraphy of the Mind. The man who rises in the morning feeling "grumpy" usually manages to have the whole family in the same mood before the breakfast is over. The "nagging" woman generally finds enough to gratify her "nagging" propensity during the day.
This matter of Thought Attraction is a serious one. When you stop to think of it you will see that a man really makes his own surroundings, although he blames others for it. I have known people who understood this law to hold a positive, calm thought and be absolutely unaffected by the inharmony surrounding them. They were like the vessel from which the oil had been poured on the troubled waters - they rested safely and calmly whilst the tempest raged around them. One is not at the mercy of the fitful storms of Thought after he has learned the workings of the Law.

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False-Imaginations and Knowledge of Appearances
Then Mahamati the Bodhisattva-Mahasattva spoke to the Blessed One, saying: You speak of the erroneous views of the philosophers, will you please tell us of them, that we may be on our guard against them?
The Blessed One replied, saying: Mahamati, the error in these erroneous teachings that are generally held by the philosophers lies in this: they do not recognize that the objective world rises from the mind itself; they do not understand that the whole mind-system also arises from the mind itself; but depending upon these manifestations of the mind as being real they go on discriminating them, like the simple-minded ones that they are, cherishing the dualism of this and that, of being and non-being, ignorant to the fact that there is but one common Essence.

Build a Better World

The way to a better world for us is to have an intention to make a better world. Simply sitting by and critisizing the efforts at those who are attempting to be destructive is not enough. We must be active in our intent, by this I mean we must visualize each day, each moment the peace and the wonder that we would like to see around us. If you wish to change the world you must change yourself first. Your own perceptions are what help to build the world that each of us experiences. Remember the song Imagine. Its like that, very simple, nothing complicated about it. What resides in our hearts and minds constantly is what we become and what we become is what the world is an echo of. If each person worked on maintaining only 5 minutes each day of peaceful and loving thoughts the world would simply BE a better place. What's more these feelings and thoughts are contagious like a virus. So the more people thinking positive, harmonious and loving thoughts the brighter the atmosphere of our world will be. And if you feel that this is all mushy nonsense, give it a try, experiment. Try it on a group of people you know. One day be cheery and up beat and say nothing negative in their presence, in fact radiate thoughts of love and peace no matter what comes at you. The next day try the opposite and watch the effects. You may be surprised. Or not.

If you read this and agree I'd be very honoured if you would pass it on to others.

We are the world.
P.K.

TRUE POWER

The Power of Thoughts
By Remez Sasson
One day, a yogi and his disciple arrived to the big city. They had no money with them, but they needed food and a place to stay. The disciple was sure that they were going to beg for their food, and sleep in the park at night.

"There is a big park not far from here. We can sleep there at night", said the disciple. "In the open air?" Asked the yogi."Yes", responded the student.

The yogi smiled and said: "No, tonight we are going to sleep in a hotel and eat there too".

The student was amazed. "How?"

"Come and sit down", said the yogi.
They both sat down on the ground and the yogi said:"When you focus your mind intently on any subject, it comes to pass."
The yogi closed his eyes and started to meditate with full concentration. After about ten minutes he got up and started to walk, with his disciple following him. They walked through several streets and alleys, until they arrived to a hotel.
"Come, let's enter inside", the yogi said to his disciple.
They just set foot in the entrance, when a well-dressed man approached them.
"I am the manager of this hotel. You look like traveling swamis and I believe you have no money. Would you like to work in the kitchen, and in return I'll give you food and a place to stay?"
"Fine", responded the yogi.
The disciple was perplexed and asked the yogi: "Did you use any magic? How did you do that?"
The yogi smiled and said, "I wanted to show you how the power of thoughts works. When you think with full and strong concentration about something that you want to happen, and your mind does not resist the subject of your thought, your thought materializes."
"The secret is concentrating, visualizing, seeing details, having faith and projecting mental and emotional energy into the mental scene. These are the general prerequisites. When your mind is empty from thoughts, and only one single thought is allowed to enter, it gains a very great power. One should be very careful with what he thinks. A concentrated thought is powerful, and exerts a very strong influence."
The disciple looked at his teacher and said: "I see that I have to sharpen my concentration in order to be able to use this power."
"Yes, this is the first step", responded the yogi.

SYMBOLS: THE HEXAGRAM

THE HEXAGRAM

KING SOLOMON'S SEAL
The legend of King Solomon's Seal, of the wondrous signet ring which he received from heaven, is common to Judaism, to Christianity and to Islam. King Solomon's Seal, whose base is on the ground and whose tip reaches heaven, symbolizes a harmony of opposites, whose significance is manifold as much as it is multi-cultural. It reflects the cosmic order, the skies, the movement of the stars in their spheres, and the perpetual flow between heaven and earth, between the elements of air and fire. The Seal, therefore, symbolizes super-human wisdom and rule by divine grace.
On the walls around Jerusalem are stone decorations in the form of two interlocking triangles Stars of David, known to Moslems as Khatam Suleiman and to Jews as Khatam Shlomo (King Solomon's Seal) whose function was to protect the city. The symbol of the hexagram, the star-like figure formed by two triangles, has many connotations, especially when it is enclosed by a circle; super-natural powers have been attributed to it in many parts of the world since ancient times.
Beyond the Jewish national associations which have only become attached to it in the last few hundred years, the abstract element of the figure (which is connected to the celestial stars) and its geometrical completeness make it a universal symbol. Together with the five-pointed star (the pentagram, which is of much earlier origin) the hexagram represents the development of mathematics and geometry by the Greeks and their successors around the Mediterranean.

Through geometry, in which the Pythagoreans and their followers saw cosmic symbolism, the hexagram and the pentagram became an expression of heaven and its reflection on earth, the divine and its reflection in creation and of the connection between heaven and earth, between the macrocosm and the microcosm, and between spirit and matter.


THE STAR TETRAHEDRON

The Star Tetrahedron, the 3-dimensional version of a 2-dimensional six-pointed star, is found around living organisms in the form of a subtle electromagnetic field. Although this is not something that conventional science accepts yet, it will be the case in future once they are able to detect and measure this field. (Recently, science has made some progress by for the first time detecting the Star Tetrahedron field around a planet.)

The knowledge of this geometry relating to life has been with us for longer than could be imagined by some people, as it has always been kept from the public. For example, more recently, people such as Leonardo da Vinci had knowledge (as passed on to him by his mentor) of the relationship between geometry and the human form. [A template for the six-pointed star can be found in his drawings, i.e. Leonardo's famous Proportions of the Human Body]
This is also an example of a geometric shape containing the golden ratio: The average of two ratios found in this form is equal to PHI.

JOY!

JOY IS FOUND IN THE ULTIMATE STATE OF SURRENDER TO SILENCE, THE SILENCE WHICH ISN'T QUIET AT ALL, THE SILENCE FROM WHICH ALL PERCEPTIONS AND REALITY ARISES. IT IS FREE OF CLINGING TO A SELF WHO EXPERIENCES THIS STATE. pk(AKA THE UNIVERSE SPEAKING THROUGH MY MIND)

http://www.powertoshare.com/dropzone/articles/2004/06/the-power-of-inner-silence/

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“Truth should be self-evident, and in no manner dependent upon the personality of its teachers.”
Yogi Ramacharaka

THE UNIVERSE IS ETERNAL...OR IS IT?