|
|
 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Frank-in-SanDiego
USA
363 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 26 2006 : 1:07:03 PM
|
Hari Om
~~~~~~
Hello folks,
We have discussed diet several times on this forum… I would ask about your 'intake' from another point of view.
When we talk of food, there's the stuff we stick down our mouths and doesn't matter if you are a carnivore, herbivore,or the like. But then there is the 'food' we’re consuming by the other 4 senses - eyes, ears, touch and smell.
Why should you care or even have an opinion on this?? Because it influences the purity of thought. This intake is known as ahara shuddhi (ahara means what is brought near and shuddi is purity). Purity of thought is the 'engine' to finer levels of perception in consciousness…this is why this merits discussion. Your meditations is all about finer levels of perception and getting comfortable operating from these finer levels, closer and closer to the Transcendent. So the notion of purity, removing obstacles, stress, the 'knots' in the nervous system is all 'bout shuddhi, purification of the speed bumps.
You can say, "…well who says this is of any importance?" I look to the Chhandogya Upanishad and it points out " In purity of nourishment (ahara) lies the purity of the stuff of being"
How do I connect the dots to thinking then as in 'food for thought' ? … Well this 'being' the Upanishad points to is sattva or the essential stuff of being. This sattva is made up of 3 elements (called dhatu's for the etymologists and verb-ivores out there).
They are vak or power of expression (some call voice, but voice is the tool of expression), prana or our life-force that permeates this whole creation, and last is mind ( manas). What we consume then influences our being, or state of sattva. Is it not easy to look around then, world wide, and see what intake is being consumed… the violence, unrest? sorry, but I digress.
We all know What you eat then is what you become. I have heard many on this forum say they have tried being a vegetarian and seen no difference … Yes, this could be true, but this 'ahara' is only 1/5th of the total consumption engine. We also brought up pornography - another intake of the sense.
My conversation is NOT a value judgment of what a person chooses to do with their gift of free will - its all about progress to Moksha.
So that said, if anyone is interested and sharing their thoughts, ideas, banter, and the like, its warmly welcomed.
agnir satyam rtam brhat
Frank in San-Diego
|
Edited by - AYPforum on Feb 07 2007 09:56:39 AM |
|
|
Jim and His Karma
2111 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2006 : 5:07:27 PM
|
One random note.
If you have symptoms of overdoing, and need to pull back, one thing to consider is doing the opposite of what's recommended to move "forward" in yoga.
Heavy foods. Grounding. Like ballast. |
 |
|
|
Frank-in-SanDiego
USA
363 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2006 : 7:33:04 PM
|
Hari Om
~~~~~~~
quote:
Originally posted by Melissa
What, in your opinion or book knowledge is the level of responsibility for you and I to "carry" (or feed) the world in a spiritual sense?
Hello Jim, Hello M,
Jim, good point on overindulgence.
Melissa, I think we have the power collectively to change the world. The question is can we get to 'critical mass' to make a difference? The collective consciousness is a powerful thing. That is why what we take in is of great import. Every thing , every thing is inter-connected.
The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad explains this connected-ness as Madhu Vidya or the Honey-knowledge. I mention this, because of this inter-relatedness of everything. As we progress in cleaning out the knots a.k.a. increased purity ( from the ahaha shuddhi of the last post) , we contribute to the overall purity of society. This makes me rethink the notion when people say, ' ...what ever I do, as long as I am not hurting anyone, is my business'. This whole connectedness suggest, your 'hurt' may not be physically seen, but the quality of your thoughts and deeds contribute to the overall collective health of our society. What you do does make a difference, even in your home, because consciousness is everywhere.
So, the question must be how many people are needed to get this collected purity going?
Its analogous to how many ice crystals are need to be in a glass of water before it causes a switch into ice? Or for a nuclear reaction to take hold? In physics , this can be measured. In society as whole I am sure we have the knowledge. In years past, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi suggested it takes 1% of the total population to influence the total collective consciousness. Meditating together , or at the same time, is a good thing. I am not sure of the 1%. I would have hoped it as 0.00001%.
What does the Veda say:
In the 10th Mandala of the Rk Veda , it talks of doing just that: "Meet together, talk together, let your minds apprehend alike … common be your intentions and common be the wishes of your hearts, and your thoughts, so there will be thorough union among you."
This clearly suggests to me the collective consciousness approach is doable and worthy of the effort i.e. makes a difference, lets not stop.
agnir satyam rtam brhat
Frank in San-Diego
|
Edited by - Frank-in-SanDiego on Mar 26 2006 7:48:34 PM |
|
|
|
Etherfish
USA
3615 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2006 : 8:55:58 PM
|
Melissa wrote:
"I am loosely associated with two different groups who perform full moon meditations each month with the purpose of sending spiritual energy to all to bring world peace"
What is the significance of the full moons?
I thought new moons were to start new things, and full moons were for crazy excess energy. |
|
|
|
Frank-in-SanDiego
USA
363 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2006 : 10:19:59 PM
|
Hari Om
~~~~~~~
quote:
Originally posted by Etherfish
What is the significance of the full moons?
I thought new moons were to start new things, and full moons were for crazy excess energy.
Hello Ether (akasha),
I thought I would address this question, if Ms M does not mind....
Full moon (Chandra) and new moon are Gap times. there is some info on gaps if you care to look: http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic....TOPIC_ID=727
There are various things one can do during these times. As moon represents mind, mother, fluids, and is a luminary ( as is sun, or surya), fullness, milk, pearls, etc. Krsna (Universal Self) says I enter into each planet … I become the moon and supply the soma (rasa-atmaka) to all plants/vegetables [BG 15.13]
This is significant …this notion of soma. Many see this as an 'elixir' ...yet on the spiritual level this soma is extremely profound. This soma is 'sarva anubhuti rasam' or the essence and delight of all experiences. This is from the Rik Veda. Everything in this universe exist because of this 'essence of existence' in it, this delight. Note this was also written about from the standpoint of Sara+swati http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic....TOPIC_ID=825 and the 'rasa' conversation there.
So, you are say'n 'Hey Frank , net it out for me, eh?'. Ok, during full moons there is more of this influence produced in us, and in the environment, our surroundings. We as meditators can influence, as we operate from finer levels of thinking or being. The Full moon + Gap + soma influence is more conducive for uplifting others, positive influences, and profound experiences within the sadhu and within this creation. Other times ( gaps) are also conducive for this sattvic influence. The deal is, no action is personal-independent action, even though it looks like it to us innocent bystanders. We are all connected. This is much more then a '60's figure of speech. The Rik Ved points this out, yet is beautifully written about in the Chhandogya Upanishad as Vaishvanara. This is the universal SELF… Vaishvanara is made of Vishva or universe, and nara, which means person, and in vedic Sanskrit means hero or leader. So, this is all one mass of SELF, the seers call it consciousness that is everywhere without any lapse or seem in it…
Here's the esoteric part … they say when you touch ONE thing , you are touching everything. When Melissa and group meditate , they influence all of creation…Sattva from the mediation goes throughout. NO action is independent, there is no such thing as a local event…but to us, the innocent bystander it looks as such.
I leave you with a quote on this, by Swami Krishnananda -
everything is all things…. And and anything is everywhere.
To the ignorant ( that would be me) all things look independent and time bound… this is why its ignorant - we do not 'see' what is really transpiring as do the enlightened.
agnir satyam rtam brhat
Frank in San-Diego
|
Edited by - Frank-in-SanDiego on Mar 30 2006 10:34:44 PM |
|
|
|
AYPforum
351 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2007 : 09:56:39 AM
|
| Moderator note: Topic moved for better placement |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| AYP Public Forum |
© Contributing Authors (opinions and advice belong to the respective authors) |
|
|
|
|
Food for Thought..... really!
