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Time Of Great Spiritual Change
April 29, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
There is at this time a massive effort going on to raise the collective vibration of human consciousness and more help available than we imagine.
It is important that we ask for help, in many cases it is only when we do that it can be forthcoming in all the ways possible. It is also advantageous if we are really clear on exactly what we want help with. For example if we have an area in our psyche where we experience contraction, fear or any kind of limitation, that is a good thing to ask for help with. As I have written about all over this site we evolve by unwinding and transmuting these energies of limiting past.
There are very real and disastrous potentials if we don’t. So all spiritual endeavor at this time is for the good of all. The ‘reward’ for reaching a certain degree of spiritual evolution is that we then actively begin transmuting collective karma as well as our own. Pain is pain and fear is fear whether it’s experienced in your body or mine and at a certain level there is no difference if it is experienced here or there.
The potential to Awaken to Truth is also greater than it has ever been, right now. Many many souls evolutionary process has been focused on being at the point of Awakening in THIS life for this reason. There is an unimaginably vast intelligence at play behind all of this. And we have been given this enormous gift of free will, we get to choose, and we collectively have brought ourselves to the brink of destruction.
Let’s be very honest about this and not go all positive thinking head in the sand. We collectively have been systematically destroying the planetary ecosystems that sustain life on earth. If that isn’t the definition of insanity I don’t know what is. I am sure that many of you reading this are not actively participating in this destruction and are probably making choices from a position of sustainability.
This is a collective issue and not an individual one. We can’t believe in Oneness and Unity as some spiritual concept that we then separate from life and aspire to like the idea of heaven.
As I see it there is a single energy at the root of all negative tendencies. It is fear. Fear limits us, and the presence of fear in us allows our emotional manipulation on every level from the personal to the collective. It is also the root cause of our own efforts to manipulate life to our own ends. So probably the greatest good we could do is to identify where and how it vibrates in us and to use all the tools that we have, and ask for all the help available, to heal and release it.
We don’t need to do this to the exclusion of anything else, it is of course equally important to give attention to and express what in us aligns with our true nature, expansive, joyful and creative. Invariably when we open into these places in ourselves through our spiritual practices, or the expression of our spirituality in whatever form, new layers of fear will sooner or later present themselves. It is a process, it’s all process. The process is Consciousness evolving, through us, as us.
We are only just beginning to understand life in vibrational terms. The long dominance of fear in the human psyche has also been borne by mother Earth and there is stress in the entire system as a consequence. The increasing number of natural disaster is a direct consequence of this stress. On the other side of the equation more ‘light’ is being held in the planet than ever before and we are engaged in a precarious act of maintaining equilibrium in the midst of transformation.
It is my belief that there is nothing more important or responsible than our engagement in our spiritual evolution, a process of healing and awakening. It is also my belief that to fully embody this we have to live it and express it in how we live, what we say, what we think. Every single choice that we make increases or decreases our vibration, and never before in the Earths history have the consequences of that ever been greater.
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation – Treatment For Memory Loss?
April 29, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
Normally when we see something, it is kept in our visual short-term memory for only a brief amount of time (images will begin to fade in a matter of seconds). However, there have been reports of Buddhist monks who have exceptional imagery skills and are able to maintain complex images in their visual short-term memory for minutes, and sometimes even hours. Led by psychologist Maria Kozhevnikov of George Mason University, a team of researchers investigated the effects of different styles of Buddhist meditation on visuospatial skills.
The researchers focused on two styles of meditation: Deity Yoga (DY) and Open Presence (OP). During DY meditation, the practitioner focuses intently on an image of deity and his or her entourage. This requires coming up with an immensely detailed, three-dimensional image of the deity, and also focusing on the deity’s emotions and environment. In contrast, practitioners of OP meditation believe that pure awareness cannot be achieved by focusing on a specific image and therefore, they attempt to evenly distribute their attention while meditating, without dwelling on or analyzing any experiences, images, or thoughts that may arise.
Read the complete article here
Or take a look at the same story in the New Scientist and find out what the Dalai Lamas role was in how the experiment came about. Dalai Lama’s brain challenge produces split decision
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
Can Yoga Fix Health Care?
April 29, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
Most of us agree that America’s health care system is broken. Disease management is a more accurate way of putting what we have in our country’s operations. Have a pain? Take a pill. Don’t worry about why or where the pain came from in the first place or what it could develop into without behavioral change. If Americans were healthier, doctors and pharmaceuticals would lose business. So what is the solution? Many Americans aren’t covered anyway, or spend too much of their income on insurance premiums. Millions of people pray they don’t get sick because who knows what their insurance won’t cover when they really need it.
Americans are catching on, or at least becoming aware of something that can make a major difference in our collective health. A regular yoga practice keeps the body strong, vibrant, and sharpens and calms our minds. It also keeps you healthy, and mends a lot of the chronic problems for which standard medicine hands you a prescription and mountain of nasty side effects. You probably won’t need those pills during your lifetime if you practice yoga regularly and eat well. Healthy eating is one of the many benefits of practicing yoga. Yoga keeps us enjoying and treating our bodies well.
Read the complete article here
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreI Don’t Want To Do Yoga
April 27, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
Let’s admit it, there are days when we all say I don’t want to do yoga today. It would take much time to go into all the reasons why we might feel this way, instead I want to look at what we do.
Obviously I can only really speak for myself, so I will tell you what I do.
Sometimes I just don’t do any yoga practice. I’m finding that I’m much more relaxed and easy going as I get older. I also find it helpful to break the habit of my morning asana practice, just like breaking any habit. It is interesting to notice how my body feels without the benefit of my practice in the morning. So this option kind of works both ways.
Sometimes I do a practice that is even more yin than usual. The way I practice asana is pretty slow and contemplative anyway, but there are days when going even slower and deeper feels like the right thing. For me practising asana very easily becomes meditation and I tend to just go with it.
The push through it and work even harder option, as you may have guessed by now isn’t one that I often take any more.
At least once every week or two I like to use my Earthlite back roller. It’s amazing how quick the time passes when you start slowly working it up the sides of your spine. Because it is underneath you and the pressure is created by your own body weight you can work into those old knotty areas with great precision and control. The feeling when you finish is really quite amazing, and there have been many times I have felt so grateful that I owned this fabulous tool. Back in the days when I used to travel all the time I really wish I’d had a mini back roller which are perfect for throwing in your bag when you travel.
Let me know what you do when you don’t want to do your yog a practice.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreThe Magic Of DOING What You Are Doing! (2)
April 25, 2009 by Kate Mathers · 1 Comment
By Kate Mathers www.magicofallowing.com
Some more ‘spot meditations’, this time oriented to those that may be as relevant for men as for women. ‘Spot’ or ‘Mini-Mindfulness’ Meditations work to defuse tension on the spot by bringing you right into the present. Note that they all involve tuning in to the world of the senses and allowing yourself to really notice what you are doing while you are doing it!
Tuning in to the present moment this way can rejuvenate soul, mind and body in seconds. The power of the present moment cannot be overestimated.
TRY: doing a mini-mindfulness or spot meditation when you clean your teeth each morning: mindfully note how your arm and hand reaches for your toothbrush, how the brush feels in your hand, the texture and shape and colour of it; and do the same with the toothpaste tube and its contents; observe the colours and design on the tube, the way it yields its contents as you squeeze the paste out of the tube, and the minty aroma; notice the sensation of the brush and the paste once in your mouth; is there a zinging sensation? Enjoy it. Check to make sure you are not already holding unnecessary tension in
Spiritual & Philosphical Tweets
April 25, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · 2 Comments
Twitter is a buzz phenomena on the internet right now and I have been tweeting for a while as @consciousone. I have ‘met’ some really interesting, gifted and talented people on twitter that I sincerely hope I meet in person some day.
For anyone who doesn’t know what it’s all about it is communicating, sharing and connecting using 140 characters or less. Basically a sentence.It isn’t much to work with but it can help hone an idea to it’s essence.
Below are some of my past tweets loosely on the themes of Spiritual and Philosphical musings, I will also make posts of tweets on Mind & Meditation and another of Love, Unity & Oneness
◦ What one thing can you do everyday to raise your consciousness & vibration? Can you do it more?
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◦ God has been at play a very long time, for humans to think we are the peak of his creation is beyond arrogance
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◦ Having someone open the door is very different from knowing how to open it yourself
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◦ Just Be It
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◦ How would u be different if every word, thought & deed led to either the demise or salvation of human life?
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◦ If this moment could be the one of your enlightenment, how much more attention would you give it
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◦ I invite you to believe in the real possibility of enlightenment in this life
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◦ The Stillness i salways present. Do you feel it?
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◦ The Silence is always calling, do you hear it?
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◦ Non of the maps & models of reality are reality or truly map or model it, reality is too big, too simple & yet also too complex
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◦ Awakening is to realize you always were, you just didn’t notice
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◦ Not this body but this body,not these feelingsbut these feelings,not these thoughts but these thoughts.To be human is a paradox of wonder.
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◦ Imagine a world that does not operate on the exchange of money!
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◦ If there were no need to earn money, what would you do with your time on earth?
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◦ Fundamental change only comes from Raising Consciousness, for which there is no ceiling
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◦ Balance is static = death – Equilibrium is fluid = life
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◦ The only place to get anywhere is from exactly where you are
You can follow me on twitter for more waxing lyrical by clicking on the icon top right of the home page.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreMind & Meditation Tweets
April 25, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
Twitter is a buzz phenomena on the internet right now and I have been tweeting for a while as @consciousone. I have ‘met’ some really interesting, gifted and talented people on twitter that I sincerely hope I meet in person some day.
For anyone who doesn’t know what it’s all about it is communicating, sharing and connecting using 140 characters or less. Basically a sentence.It isn’t much to work with but it can help hone an idea to it’s essence.
Below are some of my past tweets loosely on the themes of Mind & Meditation , I will also make posts of tweets on Love, Unity & Oneness and another of Spiritual and Philosphical musings
◦ Meditation is the doorway to the Mystery of life beyond the realm of the mind, only the Mystery itself can pull you through the door
◦ mind exists within reality, it isn’t reality, it just thinks it is
◦ Where we experience problems or conflict in ourselves, the conscious mind, the subconscious and the superconscious are out of alignment
◦ Free you rmind – get rid of the TV
◦ It’s not all in the mind, it is all mind
◦ If meditation is only something you do on your meditation cushion, something is missing
◦ Practicing a meditation technique isn’t necessarily practicing meditation, meditation lies beyond the technique
◦ Imagine a world where meditation, self-awareness r integral to all education & life pursuits, business and relationships =respect & support
◦ Where there is absolute certainty, there is delusion
◦ It is a grand delusion to believe we can control reality
◦ When you are uncertain or confused, return to what is true and obvious
◦ Our ‘feelings’ register our direct experience of each moment, and they do this whether we are paying attention to them or not.
◦ The ego’s greatest fear is the truth that it doesn’t exists – hence constant striving to prove it’s existence
◦ Behind the smile that says – please like me – what is the fear?
◦ Start paying attention to the body breathing, choose to ‘let go’ & soften with each out breath, imagine breathing in peeeace
◦ When you really understand the question no answer is necessary
◦ where does desire come from, what gives it it’s energy?
◦ where do thoughts come from?
◦ are you thinking yoru thoughts – or are they thinking you?
◦ where do your beliefs come from? take a moment to ponder.
◦ all wounds are one, and all healing is one, the stories are irrelevant
◦ It is from separation consciousness that we toxify the earth, water and air; destroy eco-systems that sustain life, and harm ourselves
◦ if the world is on the edge of chaos, every intention, thought & act has immense power that can’t be forseen ‘be the change’ truer than ever
You can follow me on twitter for more waxing lyrical by clicking on the icon top right of the home page.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreLove – Unity – Oneness Tweets
April 24, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · 3 Comments
Twitter is a buzz phenomena on the internet right now and I have been tweeting for a while as @consciousone. I have ‘met’ some really interesting, gifted and talented people on twitter that I sincerely hope I meet in person some day.
For anyone who doesn’t know what it’s all about it is communicating, sharing and connecting using 140 characters or less. Basically a sentence.It isn’t much to work with but it can help hone an idea to it’s essence.
Below are some of my past tweets loosely on the themes of love, Unity & Oneness, I will also make posts of tweets on Mind & Meditation and another of Spiritual and Philosphical musings
◦ The only authentic source of love is within our own heart, all else is mind chasing itself
◦ Some count breaths, some mantras, some count money, some twitter followers – God isn’t an accountant & you can’t count love
◦ Love is the source of healing – the means of healing – and the result of healing
◦ What did you do that brought you closer to love today?
◦ Truth is not found in the mind, it is experienced in the heart.
◦ It’s all about heart, everything else is the way there
◦ Imagine living in a world where the truth of Unity – Oneness is a simply a given- Inherent in every part of living- You just felt the future
◦ The way we treat the earth reflects the way we internally treat ourselves, treat our bodies, and treat each other. Oneness – its amazing!
◦ Meditate on this – If Oneness was lived & embodied, what would U no longer do, think, say, feel, see, or hear?
◦ How is the ONE experiencing itself through you now?
◦ If you believe all is One, where do you not match your belief?
◦ A deeper relationship with yourself allows deeper relationships with others.
◦ Do you act in the world to get what you can or give what you’ve got?
◦ Enlightenment is just the Beginning, Sri Aurobindo – Humbling isn’t it!
◦ God is all that is=everything you experience is God. How are U experiencing God Now. Carry this thru the day- It’s All God -U too
You can follow me on twitter for more waxing lyrical by clicking on the icon top right of the home page.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
On Retreat With Adyashanti
April 22, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · 2 Comments
It is a couple of weeks ago now since the retreat with Adyashanti finished, and I finally feel ready to write about it. It was a truly powerful experience, not in a dramatic flashing lights and fireworks kind of way, but in a subtle and deeply penetrating way.
The retreat was held at Mount Madonna Retreat centre, nestled in the Redwood cloaked hills above San Jose. A beautiful space built with love and dedication over many years. The retreat was in silence which for some may sound like a challenge, for myself a blessing and effortless. My hermit nature loves silent retreat. What a gift it is to have all your basic needs taken care of, and the only requirement is silent meditation.
It has now been more than half my lifetime that I had been doing spiritual practice and that spiritual evolution has been central to my life. In that time I have met and seen many spiritual teachers of different persuasions and philosophies. Many hold satsang in the manner that Adyashanti does, where there is a dialogue process of self enquiry, many sadly are doing little more than spiritual theatre. Adyashanti is the real thing, he is
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreHow God Changes Your Brain
April 21, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · 6 Comments
Mark Robert Waldman is an associate fellow at the Center for Spirituality and the Mind at the University of Pennsylvania. His latest book is called "How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist." The book was recently featured in a major "Time" magazine cover story. If his interview on PBS is anything to go by this book is a must buy.
Personally I really love the sciences exploring spirituality. Walderman and his co author on the book Andrew Newberg go deep into the kind of territory that could potentially begin to unify our understanding of some of the aspects of religion and spirituality from a non dogmatic or ideolagized view. That is of course from the perspective of their own scientific ideology. Within it though there is a clear intent to explore and explain within the parameters of psychology and neuroscience.
So how can these scientists help in the ways I’ve suggested?
"What we’re finding is that, if you engage in contemplative spiritual practice or meditation or prayer or even focusing intently on a positive thought and a positive affirmation, you can begin to make permanent changes in both the structure and the function of your brain in ways that enhance memory, cognition, awareness, consciousness, compassion, and it simultaneously suppresses the neuromechanisms in your brain that cause anxiety, depression, fear, anger and rage."
Sounds good doesn’t it, and here’s where the ‘unify our understanding of some of the aspects of religion and spirituality’ part comes in.
"what we’ve done is that we’ve distilled from all of the world’s religious traditions a set of 12 basic exercises that we have in Chapter 9, I believe, that anyone can do. And if you do these exercises for 12 minutes a day for eight weeks and we put you into a brain scan machine, we can show you that changes are being made in your brain that make all of the improvements that I just talked about."
So what he’s saying is that they have identified the aspects of religious and spiritual practices that have the greatest physiological and psychological benefits and….
"Thirty years of research shows that this is the most effective way to eliminate serious forms of depression and anxiety, and when you apply these types of spiritual techniques, you can take the theology out of them and use them in a secular form and, if you want to, you can take the theology from a different religion and put them back in. You still get the same neurological benefits."
Going further Waldman and Newberg asked thousands of people how they would describe God and their spiritual experiences and virtually nothing was held in common. The meaning they came to from this is that "God or spirituality is a profoundly unique experience."
So by distilling what works from the perspective of their own understanding of the human brain/mind/experience they have come up with things like exercises in compassionate communication that will be relevant and acceptable and more importantly effective for people of any religious, non-religious or spiritual persuasion.
Then instead of getting hung up on the differences that divide we can realize our common humanity. How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist
You can read an interview with the authors here
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
