786. . . Vajrayana – guru yoga

Thus, Vajrasattva, on the crown of one’s head, dissolves into one. Imagine that one also
becomes Vajrasattva; regarding appearances, sounds, and thoughts (three) as the play of the deity
mantra, and dharmata, while reciting the quintessential (mantra) which is the inner manner of
purification of obscurations. Finally, even the conceptualization of deity and mantra is dissolved
into luminous clarity being pure from the beginning awareness/voidness is the real meaning of
seeing the self-face of Vajrasattva. This is the secret, unsurpassable manner of the purification of
obscurations. . .

Thus, having recited the dedication, aspiration, and auspicious (prayers), at this point, one enters
into everyday conduct. Also, in the between all sessions, think that the “freshness” of drink and
food’s nature is amrita and (all) clothes are divine garments offered to the lama on one’s crown.
Whatever arises as the phenomena of the six senses, do not follow with ordinary thoughts but
preserve radiant, natural, awareness of the deity, mantra, and primordial wisdom. In the evening
when going to sleep, pray to be able to hold the luminous clarity. Afterward, the teacher on the
crown of one’s head passes down through the aperture of Brahma to one’s heart which is in the
form of a four-petaled lotus. The mind, focusing on the light that fills the whole body, is
absorbed in the naked, luminous clarity of void/awareness. In this state, without dullness,
without being disturbed by other thoughts, one falls into sleep. If one should awaken, then cut off
all the erratic, wild, scattered, wandering, and various kinds of thinking and by preserving the
radiant state of luminous clarity, one will be able to hold the luminous clarity of sleep and
dreams. Again, at dawn, when rising, think that the teacher ascends through the central channel
and is joyfully seated in the sky in front above one’s head, etc., and resume former practice.
Also, at the time of death, by the mingling of luminous clarity, awareness and space, one remains
in meditation which is the supreme transference (phowa) practice. However, if one cannot arrive
at this, then in the Bardo, by recalling the three yogic procedures, one will be come liberated.
Therefore, through keeping at all times very pure faith, devotion, and samaya vows, diligently
develop and increase the practice of the union of the two accumulations.
In the manner as shown above, (practice) the four ways of turning the mind, the stages of
accumulation and purification, striving until one experience the results of each and especially the
Guru Yoga because it alone actually is the profound, essential extraordinary path of the
Vajrayana. So, by holding to this vital practice of the main practice and practicing this with
extreme diligence, there is no need to care about the other practices of the arising and perfecting
yogas, and one will draw breath in the pure land of Nga Yab Pema Od. Like magic, one will
traverse (the stages) of the four vidyadharas and will certainly reach the level of the wholly
perfect primordial wisdom teacer. . .

om ah hung vajra guru padma siddi hung

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786…what is the Self?

what is the Self? who am “i” ? from beyond duality the Self shines pure Light, truth, bliss, and consciousness.

in all of the uni-verse the greatest thing one can know is the Self. in knowing the true Self one will know God !!!

dreaming the illusion of a separation between Self and God, man/woman exist in a state of pure ignorance. removing the

“idea” of a separate existence of the Self from God, is to awaken to the true nature of BLISS.

Om Ah Hung

ya Latif

the wave and the Ocean are

ONE

from Self to Self

 the Divine effulgent Being

in an attempt to Know it-Self

manifested it Self

in a perfect form

know as

YOU

drop all notions of other-ness

I, U, ME, AND MINE

ONLY EXIST IN THE

MIND

accept and KNOW

the ONE BE-ing

that exist as

YOU

drink from the Source

love and light— sufi ananda

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this week we will begin an in-depth study of an ancient non-dual advaita  text devoted to knowing the Self-Atman-Brahman-Allah.

the series of essays will be called “Drinking from the Source.”

are you ready to drink….until the point of intoxication?

786… 7 principles of Self Realization

                 

“Herein is expounded the means of attaining

APAROKSHANUBHUTI-SELF REALIZATION

for the acquisition of final liberation. Only the pure in heart should constantly and with all effort meditate upon the truth herein taught.” – Sri Sankara

From this day forward know that the true Self(atman) is God(Brahman)! The worst slavery in the world is the false teaching that God is outside of Self. May this wisdom of Self Knowledge rid us all of this poison, and be an aid to Self-God Realization. Non Dual Advaita is the science of God based on ONEness. Advaita does not see duality between man and God. One of the founders of this school of philosophy was Sri Sankara. A Hindu proverb says that “knowledge is a benefit to people, and Sri Sankara was a benefit to knowledge.” Sri Sankara’s thought was revolutionary in the time period that he came. Hinduism has 108 deities. Sri Sankara clarified the understanding that all of the Deities that the Hindus worship are manifestations of the ONE Supreme Brahman. Just as in Islam we worship Allah who has 99 attributes. In Hinduism Brahman has 108 attributes, that are worshiped as individual Deities. The 7 principles for Self realization are explained in Sri Sankaras short text “Aparokshanubhuti-Self Realization.” This text serves as a summary, and introduction to my favorite philosophy, Non Dual Advaita. In reality, the 7 principles are qualities that a seeker must have to take the journey to Self Realization.

The first principle is indifference. Indifference means that the seeker should have no attraction to the material things of this world. The example in the text given is that the things of this world should be viewed on the same level as cow dung. Pure indifference means that the seeker is not even interested in the rewards and blessing one may receive from the Creator in another life time or heaven. Ckeikh Abdul Qadir Jilani alluded to this level of pure indifference when he said “sufism is two steps, a step out of this world into heaven, and a step out of heaven into the Divine Presence.

The second principle is discrimination. Discrimination is having the knowledge to know the difference between what is Real, and what is illusion.  In Budist dharma, this is almost the same as the concept of impermanence, which says that all things in the universe are impermanent, and therefor have no real existence. Discrimination is the ability to know/see God as the only reality, and untimely to see and know that the Self is God. One of Sri Sankara’s famous teachings is that “a rope may be mistaken for a snake, but upon finding out that it is a rope, the false existence of the snake disappears.” In his philosophy, the universe and the false self, ego, are represented by the snake. Upon Self realization the Self, God, and the universe are seen as ONE and the same Being, Brahman.

The third principle is abandonment of desires. In the text Sri Sankara says that this means turning away completely from all sense objects. It is previous impressions laying dormant in the mind as well as the contact of the mind with external objects that creates desires. To abandon these desires the mind must become disassociated with the two main causes of desire by purification and meditation. Impressions laying dormant in the mind can be purified  and removed by the use of sufi zikr or sacred mantras from Hinduism and/or Buddhism. Meditation, and the development of focusing the mind on the Divine, through developing one pointedness of the mind, remove the mind from contact with sense objects.

The fourth principle is endurance of all sorrow and pain. One sufi master from our sufi order, Cheikh Ibra Fall used to say “the harder the better.” Our beloved prophet Muhammad(peace be upon Him) has said “if you love Allah, prepare for trials.” In the Holy Quran Allah says ” I test those who try to come close to me. Do not think that you can come close to Me without being tried like those who came before you.” The sufi way is patience during test and trials, and thankfulness  during times of affluence and blessing. From the viewpoint of Non Dual Advaita test and trials are the same as affluence and abundance.

The fifth principle is implicit faith in the words of the Holy scriptures and teachers(Gurus or Cheikhs). It is said in the sufi way “if you doubt you are out.” The seeker must have faith in the teacher, and the method he/she is teaching for Self Realization. The first level of faith is belief. The seeker must believe in the words of the scriptures and the teacher. The seeker must travel from the level of belief, to the level of certainty. It is at the level of certainty that the fruits of the path come to fruition. In this faith principle we find the subtle implication that the scriptures alone are NOT enough for Self Realization. One must find a Self Realized spiritual guide to help guide them on the path.

The sixth principle is concentration of the mind on God, the ONLY Reality. This principle is the end result of Realization. The mind of a Self Realized being is absorbed in God. The mind of a Self Realized being does not see any existence other than God. In the sufi way one of the main mantras/zikr is LA EE LA HA ILL ALLAH. The esoteric meaning of this zikr is God is the only Reality. Constant repetition of this zikr is one way to bring the mind to absorption in God.

The seventh principle is burning desire in the heart for God. This burning desire in the heart for God is the ONLY desire that a seeker should have. This burning desire is a flame in the heart that burns all and everything, leaving only the presence of God. This burning desire for God is a flame that has the power to burn the negative karma of a seeker, opening the way for the seeker to reach Self Realization. Once while sitting with our beloved master Cheikh Betchio in Senegal he said ” I can do anything for a disciple on the path, but if the disciple does not have the internal desire to reach God, there is nothing I can do for him.”

These are the 7 requirements that a seeker must have to journey on the path. Before Sri Sankara starts his explanation he says “only the pure at heart” should meditate on theses teachings. So in essence the 1st and most important unstated principle is having a pure heart. In the Holy Quran Allah says “he indeed succeeds who purifies it.” It, refers to the heart.

living in the light of love…sufi ananda                                                                                http://www.786sufiwisdom.com