Let's embody sages' wisdom!

[okulele]

Making wisdom my own

For the last 3 years I have been passionately devouring books, videos and other types of media full of wisdom. I have learned a lot.

It was a long time ago when I saw Leo's video about contemplation. I did not take it really seriously and only lately have I realized what a power-tool it is.

This journal is devoted to my notes and insights which will come up from contemplating the teachings that I studied across the years and the teachings that I will study in the future.

My contemplation will be based on Jnana Yoga theory of Advaita Vedanta:
 

Quote

 

Jnanayoga for Advaitins consists of three practices: sravana (hearing), manana (thinking) and nididhyasana (meditation). This three-step methodology is rooted in the teachings of chapter 4 of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

Sravana literally means hearing, and broadly refers to perception and observations typically aided by a counsellor or teacher (guru), wherein the Advaitin listens and discusses the ideas, concepts, questions and answers.

Manana refers to thinking on these discussions and contemplating over the various ideas based on svadhyaya and sravana.

Nididhyāsana refers to meditation, realization and consequent conviction of the truths, non-duality and a state where there is a fusion of thought and action, knowing and being.

 

Pasted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jnana_yoga

 

The purpose: Make a habit of deep understanding and expressing myself.

The method:

1. Take in the information
2. Contemplate
3. Meditate on the experience gained

      + Express in the journal

 

Edited December 4, 2018 by okulele

[okulele]

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”  ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Stepping into Freedom

(30 min)

Feelings are quite exciting. They come in countless colors, tastes and varieties, and it is very natural to get charmed by them and get pulled in into their little world. But ultimately, they are like clouds in a windy sky. Even the prettiest, most precious feeling quickly disintegrates, is harder and harder to recognize and ultimately gets replaced by another one, which might not be desirable at all.

After recognizing the patter of excitement and disappointment that always comes with feelings, something in us can start to long for something more reliable. At that moment, the breath comes to the scene.

We make a decision. The decision to put our breath to the forefront of our experience, regardless of how we feel. And then magic can start to happen.

The breath introduces itself as the feelings of air touching the organs, but soon reveals that this is only the gateway to its true nature. This gateway leads us to another dimension, a dimension of dynamic life in the body. The breath is the boss here, conducts the process. The person is quite oblivious to the rules of this dimension and all he can do is watch with fascination the breath's immense intelligence in awakening the body.

The clouds in the windy sky are left far behind...

[okulele]

Bhakti Yoga

(40 min)

Bhakti Yoga is the science of developing worship.

Worship seems to have three very useful functions. One, it open's up the gateway of emotion, which can flow freely. Two, it brings forth the capacity to dissolve emotion in a safe way. Three, it brings great joy resulting from the release of emotion.

Worship is not a thing but a process, a continuous movement. It is the feeling of being small, insignificant, and ultimately forgotten in the face of something great. The breath changes automatically , becomes a sigh, full of relief and release, the focus is on the exhale. As the heart is bared, life instantly becomes sweet, warm and every object is glistening with beauty. The state of worship, of having one's emotions unstuck is a bit like a continuous orgasm.

There is an impulse in an individual to worship. It is instinctual, not intellectual. It happens by itself when allowed or encouraged. If an individual is not in touch with this impulse, Bhakti Yoga advices to develop it by first worshiping something more tangible, easier to concentrate on, like a picture of a saint or god. After it becomes more natural, worship can be sustained without an object.

 

Edited December 4, 2018 by okulele

[okulele]

Karma Yoga

(30 min)

The Karma Yogi wakes up not knowing what he will do. He knows one thing only. He will serve Life. He goes through his day with this thought and humbly awaits orders.

Karma Yoga is the realization that there is something greater at play here than our own little plans, ambitions, dreams and hopes. There are great principles waiting to be honored and fought for. These principles are truth, justice, goodness, love and freedom. Completely abandoning any ideas about what my life should be and focusing on serving these principles at every moment is Karma Yoga.

We don't do what we want to do, what we think we should do, what someone told us to do or what we read we should do. We do what must be done.

Some Karma Yogis in movies:

Frodo decides to go take the ring to Mordor with no regard to his life.

 

Dragonet gives his life for his fellow warriors.

 

Spartans march towards death for their land, for their families, for their freedoms.

 

"I am the knight of Light,

 with no will of my own.

 I am the servant of Love,

 only your orders I know."

[okulele]

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”  ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Stepping into Freedom

(30 min)

This short quote is a meditation manual. Each sentence represents a step of mediation.

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. - This invites us to look at our experience. What are we focusing on? Is it a thought? An emotion? If so, we can recognize it is like a cloud in the sky. Gone with the wind. With this recognition, we can let go of it and become empty, free.

Conscious breathing is my anchor. - This invites us to choose our point of focus. Once we are empty and free, we can consciously choose an anchor for the mind. An anchor holds tightly, doesn't let go even for a moment, it is a continuum. Breath is a good anchor.

Once we are empty and anchored to our breath, the breath slowly takes of its mask of being only a pump for air. It reveals its ability to be deep, not meaning strong and full, but deeply penetrating to the subtle dimensions of the body.

[okulele]

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”  ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Stepping into Freedom

(30 min)

This short quote is a description of a particular state of consciousness.

There is nobody doing anything in this state. Feelings and thoughts come and go, but are not the focus. The breath is the director in this state.

Just as we don't have to continually check and make sure that the anchor is holding, we don't have to worry about the conscious breathing being there for us. A certain faith is held that the breath will be there. There is zero fear of the wind, there is infinite trust in the anchor.

It is a state of relaxed concentration where the breath is either at the center constantly or keeps coming back to the center by itself.

The clouds are a beautiful scenery to the life of breath.

Edited December 7, 2018 by okulele

[okulele]

THE END

This journal was based on selfish motives. It won't do.