Categories of Indian Thought , PEACE AND ART • ISSUE 27 WINTER 2020 2021

NĀMARŪPADIGITAL & PRINT-ON-DEMAND NĀMARŪPA Categories of Indian Thought Publishers & Founding Editors YOGA, PEACE & ART ISSUE 27 • WINTER 2020-2021 Robert Moses & Eddie Stern Advisors for Today 4 Keshav Venkatraghavan Dr. Robert E. Svoboda Dr. Robert Svoboda 6 Living with Reality Meenakshi Moses Jocelyne Stern Eddie Stern 16 States of Consciousness Editors Moses interviews 24 Nara Allsop Eddie Stern & Robert Moses Steven Rosen 32 Vaishnava Art Design & Production Robert Moses Jadurani Dasi 36 Everything Around Us is Temporary Editing & Proofreading Dr. Robert Svoboda 44 Maintaining Sanity Meenakshi Moses Eddie Stern 56 Obstacles in Yoga Melissa Stephenson 64 Inner Peace Conference Day 1 Website www.namarupa.org by Roberto Maiocchi & Robert Moses Suzanne M. Culhane, Wessel Paternotte, Radhanath Swami, NaRon Tillman, Judy Lief, Rick Hanson, Jana Long, Articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Maarten von Huijstee, Eddie Stern 90 Inner Peace Conference Day 2 Cover: Vira ©Nara Allsop Dena Merriam, Bob Roth, Agapi Stassinopoulos, Sharon Salzberg, Back cover: Bhairava (detail) ©Satya Moses AnnaLynne McCord, Adam Bucko, Laurie Anderson, Veet, Eddie Stern NĀMARŪPA Categories of Indian 9,23,89 Artwork Thought, established in 2003, honors Satya Moses the many systems of knowledge, prac- NĀMARŪPA uses tical and theoretical, that have origi- अ आ इ ई उ ऊ diacritical marks, nated in India. Passed down through a ā i ī u ū as per the chart, for the ages, these systems have left tracks, ए ऐ ओ औ the transliteration of paths already traveled that can guide e ai o au all Sałskŗta words. us back to the Self—the source of all Many of the articles names NĀMA and forms RŪPA. The ऋ ॠ ऌ ॡ अं अः ŗ ř ļ ĺ ał aģ do contain these publishers have created this journal marks, but it is not a out of a love for the knowledge that it क ख ग घ ङ universal occurrence reflects, and desire that its content be ka kha ga gha ńa in the magazine. In clear and inspirational, without any those cases where particular agenda or sectarian bias. च छ ज झ ञ ca cha ja jha ña authors have elected NĀMARŪPA is published in both not to use diacritics, print-on-demand and digital versions. ट ठ ड ढ ण Sałskŗta words NĀMARŪPA YATRA guides annual ţa ţha ďa ďha ņa remain in their pilgrimages to sacred places in India. romanized form. NĀMARŪPA BANDHĀVA त थ द ध न helps raise ta tha da dha na funds for the education of children in the Uttarkashi and Gangotri regions of प फ ब भ म the Himalayas. Learn more and donate. pa pha ba bha ma NĀMARŪPA is funded by sales & donations. Contributors have offered य र ल व their work freely. Editorial and all ya ra la va production assistance is voluntary. श ष स ह NĀMARŪPA LLC śa ša sa ha "Gauri – Nitai" P.O.Box 271, Dublin, NH 03444 USA � � � [email protected] kša tra ña ©Śyāmarānī dāsī (Jadurānī dāsī) www.namarupa.org www.bhaktiart.net

2 Issue 27 Winter 2020-2021 3 KRISHNA FOR TODAY KESHAV VENKATRAGHAVAN

When you paint a canvas...it is a journey... in a new light, without in any way disre- it is a process. You plan your content; what specting customs and traditions. For more you are going to draw, how you are going to than a decade, it has been my endeavour draw it, will tell a lot about who you are. It to present Krishna in various avatars, is finding oneself. showing his various facets (often called Leela or sport) through my drawings and rishna has been represented vi- paintings. These were shared in social me- Ksually for thousands of years—in dia and now extended to a website. literature, sculpture, painting, dance and Krishna for Today is an exploration into other folk arts. Indian art uses symbols to realms of divinity. communicate complex philosophy and About us. About the world. And our abstract ideas contained in our epics. For relationship with the Supreme. me, it was a treasure waiting to be discov- I hope you experience the divine ered in a long and exciting journey. It cul- through these works of art. minated in Krishna. Krishna represents Ananda—Infinite My parents were very liberal. I had a bit Joy, Eternal Peace, Everlasting Ecstasy, of a problem with money. I couldn’t buy Unbounded Compassion, Unlimited materials to paint, not even paper! So my Love, Unfathomable Knowledge. father used to get notebooks which were half Indian thought treats the whole Uni- complete, etc; I would draw on the backs of verse as one big family—Vasudaiva Ku- calendars and regularly with chalk on the tumbakam. And Joy is a natural aspira- floor. My parents helped—whatever they tion for all of us. Hence, universal. As could do to help, they did. And they never these ideas speak the eternal truth, they said no. Despite being from an orthodox are relevant today, more than ever before. family, my father’s thinking was liberal and It is a beacon, solace to the trou- he had a broad outlook. My parents and my bled soul. wife encouraged and facilitated my work. This is an attempt to visually inter- Without family support it wouldn’t have pret the infinite qualities that Krishna been possible. represents and to give the viewer a pleas- ant experience­—Krishna Anubhava— www.krishnafortoday.com through Indian Art. Instagram:@krishnafortoday According to the Indian treatise on Faceboook page: painting, Chitrasutra, the purpose of art is facebook.com/Keshav61 spiritual. A painter should be conversant Twitter: @Keshav61 with dance, sculpture, music and archi- January 2020 tecture to mature into a complete artist. At this confluence of art and divinity A sampling of Keshav’s daily Krishna for began the journey of Krishna for Today. Today paintings are featured in this issue It seeks to decipher and understand what of NĀMARŪPA. our wise men of yore wanted to convey. Krishna for Today aims to show Krishna

4 Issue 27 Winter 2020/2021 5 LIVING WITH REALITY DR. ROBERT SVOBODA Talk given at the Nāmarūpa Living with Reality virtual retreat in the Spring of 2020, transcribed and edited.

iving with reality: go off and try to do that. This is sadly you put it through all sorts of process- LFor me the living part is not too what happens when fake news inter- es to get out the gold, in addition to difficult, because all of us who are sects with real reality. obtaining the gold you will also obtain here participating today are alive. We Now, a big challenge in the world a giant amount of waste. So the very are certainly a lot more alive than the in which you and I live is that there is fact that there is a real reality in the corona virus, because the virus, strict- ultimately only one reality and that is universe puts the rest of the universe ly speaking, is not alive. It’s parasiti- the reality of the Supreme Conscious- into a sort of shadow, into a profound cal in the extreme; it’s nothing but a ness. That Reality has no limitations, depth of darkness. This permits the little packet of genetic material. This no qualities, no characteristics. No great light of Consciousness to create virus is an RNA virus—slightly dif- nothing, in fact, except Itself. Some- a starkly enhanced difference between ferent from a DNA virus — but it’s times it’s described as sat-chid-ananda, those two realities—even though they just genetic material that’s wandering sat meaning true or real, chit in this are but one reality. This emphasis on around looking for cells to penetrate context meaning awareness and anan- both the relative reality of the differ- and use as factories to create more of da meaning joy, here the joy of being ence and the absolute reality of the itself. That’s its reality. That’s the real- aware of its reality and its existence. unity is the reason why, when it comes ity of the virus. Sometimes it is instead referred to to advaita, I adhere to the Shuddad- How it impacts us helps to generate as satyam ritam brihat, satyam again vaita approach of Vallabacharya. our reality. At the moment, the reality meaning true and ritam meaning har- that all of us are living with is the real- monious. Ritam and rhythm sound al- t’s always nice to have a text ity of this nonliving thing that is hav- most the same and mean roughly the Iwhen exploring an Indian vidya. ing a tremendous effect on a few other same thing. Brihat means immeasur- You go to your text, take a line or two species like bats and felines, but chief- ably vast, gigantic. Satyam ritam bri- or three from it and discourse upon ly on humans. This virus, even though hat means that the Supreme Reality is it; you unpack it, explicate it. Here it’s not alive, is directly influencing real, is gigantic and is harmonious. It is a simple piece of text from the Ve- the reality of many other things like is thanks to the Supreme Reality that dic literature: ekam sat vipra bahudha you and me that are alive. So that’s a we enjoy balance, resonance, and har- vadanti. Each of these words is very good place to start—a place where we mony in our universe. Even though meaningful because in the no experience the hopefully accurate per- there’s plenty of opportunity to expe- energy was wasted; every utterance ception of our own reality. rience disharmony in our world, the was designed to reflect reality pithily And our reality today is the reality Supreme Reality promotes harmony. but accurately. There is no fake news of the intersection between the human The second law of thermodynamics, in the Vedas. When used properly, the species and this virus. There’s no ques- the law of negative entropy, states that Vedas create an environment that as- tion that the virus is real. The question the universe always moves from more sists people to directly perceive real- is, to what degree is it real? Of course, order to less order. Order was gener- ity and, that done, to hopefully find this is a question that we have to ask ated at the time of the organization a way to live in a healthy relationship ourselves about everything. Some of the universe but, ever since, things with that reality. The fact of being things are fairly easy to discount. At have been moving in the direction of embodied means that if the Supreme the moment, I would say that would greater and greater disorder. We can’t Reality has no qualities and you and extend to the vast majority of the pro- even talk about the Supreme Reality I have qualities, as long as we are liv- nouncements made by our current being ordered, because it’s a singular- ing, we are not identical with that Su- president. It’s possible, of course, that ity. It is completely more subtle than preme Reality and we have to find a he meant it as a joke, but to suggest to the subtlest manifested “thing” in the way to manifest it as much as possible, people that they inject disinfectant is entire universe. The very fact that the but not be overwhelmed by it, not be rather ludicrous, as it is far from what singularity is so perfect suggests that destroyed by it. would be a desirable reality, except that the manifestation is going to have to To be overwhelmed by the Supreme we know that there are people who be imperfect, and not merely because Reality is to fail to do the job for would take that pronouncement at face if it were perfect, it would never have which we human beings were evolved: value, who would take it literally and manifested. If you mine gold ore and to act as a mirror for that reality. The

6 Issue 27 individual who introduced me to this has to believe that it is not part of truth, the Ultimate Reality is in that concept was the great Jnaneshvar itself in order to act as a good mir- individual tiny, itsy-bitsy, minuscule di- Maharaj, the most beloved and well- ror. So each one of us has to evolve mensionless point that is the singularity; known saint of Maharashtra who was ourselves individually to act as a good that is the real sat. And that’s why they born 745 years ago and lived until mirror for that reality. In order to act can say it is only one. There’s one sin- about the age of 21. His commentary as a good mirror, we have to maintain gularity; from that singularity, the entire on the —officially -ti sufficient separateness during the peri- universe emerged in the Big Bang. tled the Bhavarthadeepika, but usual- od that we are alive. So we are trying, There is one and only one sat. ly referred to as the Jnaneshvari—is a each one of us individually, to live as However, ekam sat vipra bahudha truly great book. In another book of best as we can. I hope we’re trying to vadanti. Vadanti is a third-person his called the Amritanubhava which do that. We should start doing so if plural verb form, present tense: means both The Nectar of Experience we’re not yet doing so. they speak. And what do they speak? and The Experience of Nectar, Jnane- Living as best we can is finding the They’re speaking about truth. And shvar says that in the same way that a best balance between having our ener- what do they say about it? Bahud- human being can only see his or her gy be identified with us as individuals ha. Bahudha means in many ways. face in a mirror, the Supreme Reality and having our energy being identi- So, when individual, manifested that has no qualities, no attributes, no fied with the Supreme Reality, which embodied beings speak about truth, characteristics, cannot perceive itself. has no individuation other than itself. they will speak about it in many There’s nowhere outside itself from ways. You cannot, as an embodied which it can look in on itself; to do he first word in ekam sat vipra being, speak truth; as an embodied that it had to create an outside of it- Tbahudha vadanti is eka and eka being you cannot actually convey self. That’s the manifested universe, means one. Ekam sat; sat means true, the real truthiness of truth because which even though it is part of itself real. The ultimate sat, the ultimate you’re an embodied being, and the

Winter 2020-2021 7 actual truth has no qualities what- you’ll just be taking a mirror and I like being in the water, I like being soever. No matter how astute your putting it in front of another mirror. in the ocean, but you have to be very words are—especially these words Then you will see images of mirrors careful of waves, because even though what we call vaikhari, externalized receding infinitely in both directions. a wave is very much not a permanent words, but also the words you speak If you’re only talking without having thing, it can still kill you. For that to yourself and that are charged with personal experience, you’re just em- moment that it exists, it is very real. emotion, called madhyama and even ploying words to create images that are It’s just that it’s not permanently real. the words down at the naval that are reflecting one another and, of course, For the moment that you and I exist, pashyanti, that are visual speech, and that’s the world in which we’re living. we’re real; it’s just that we’re not per- even intention, paraa—you can say We’re living in a world in which screens manently real. While we’re alive, we something that is close to the truth. are reflecting and being reflected and have to find a good way to live with With paraa you can come very, very, those screens are reflecting the reflec- the reality. The problem, of course, is very close to the truth—but you tions of those reflections. It’s extending that there are many different ways to cannot speak the truth. You can- in all directions everywhere, but it’s not perceive reality and we have to try to not speak the truth because you are connected to reality because it is super- find ways that we can perceive reality trying to describe that truth to it- ficial. It is not getting down to the deep, that are going to assist us to know how self while being separate from that to the hridaya, to the hrid, to the heart to live properly with reality. truth. You can come very close. You of where that reality actually is. can mirror it very accurately, but That’s why in the Vedas it says don’t n the modern world, scientists you’re still a mirror and the image waste your time listening to anybody Iare very enthusiastic about per- in a mirror is never exactly the same talk about reality who’s not a vipra, ceiving things in the material world. thing as what the mirror is imaging. who’s not been stirred from within. They’re very focused on the material It is only an image. We can, at best, And how are you stirred from within? world. They’re convinced that the only create an image of truth. By your prana. Only when your prana things that are real are the things that As for the word vipra, a vipra is is circulating properly and only when exist in the material world and they someone who is very knowledgeable, that prana is aligning, first of all, with spend a lot of time developing instru- very wise. The only people we really the prana of the environment around ments that enhance the ability of our want to have talking about truth are you and, second of all, with the prana sense organs to perceive things in the the people who are knowledgeable of the astral environment of the de- material world. Which is great except or wise. There are several words in vatas, like Ganesha, who are around that there is a problem. That problem that mean knowledgeable or you—once your prana is aligned with is that our perceptions of the material wise—the word nishnata for example, all of these manifestations of reali- world are very imprecise if you have a and the word pandita, which we have ty, then you can say, yes, I am posi- universe like we do. adopted into English as pundit. This tioning myself in a way where I can The universe is composed of vibra- word vipra is however a particularly have some experience of reality. That tions. Some things have very dense interesting word. Remember that in doesn’t mean your experience will be vibration. Some things have very, very the Vedas no words are random. Each of the totality of reality, because as a refined vibrations. We are in the phys- word has been carefully chosen so as to human being, as a manifested being, ical world; this is very dense vibra- provide as precise a reflection of reali- that’s not possible. If you have an ex- tion. But even in our physical world, ty as is possible. Vipra comes from the cellent experience of reality, you either we have some very powerful (and very root vip, a root which means to trem- dissolve back into that reality totally dense) vibrations which we call the ble, shake, shiver, vibrate, quiver, or be or you bring back an image of a teeny electromagnetic spectrum. The elec- stirred. The word vipra literally means tiny piece of that reality. tromagnetic spectrum is effectively to be stirred or incited internally—to be People asked Ramakrishna Param- infinite in both directions from zero inspired. When we talk about a vipra, hamsa what it was like to go into sa- vibrations per second we go to higher we’re not referring to someone who madhi and he said a doll made out of and higher vibrations that culminate has only book learning; instead we’re salt wanted to experience the ocean, in gamma rays. The vibrations that speaking about someone who has had so it walked into the ocean and was chiefly affect us extend from sub- some manner of direct experience, dissolved. The end. sound to the ultraviolet. what is called in Sanskrit pratyaksha— We are dolls made out of salt. We Some vibrations we can hear. One in front of the eyes—someone who has can get some connection to the ocean, cycle per second is one hertz (Hz), had direct experience of reality and but that ocean is going to wear us and we humans can hear from about only after that experience tries to de- away, dissolve us away and eventually 20 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. That scribe reality. Until you have direct we’ll be dissolved back into that ocean. covers three orders of magnitude experience of reality, there’s no use That’s the way things need to happen, (one order of magnitude is 1 to the in your trying to describe it because the way that waves move in an ocean. power of 10). We can hear three or-

8 Issue 27 ders of magnitude of vibration. 20 ook into the —principles here should we go? We can Hz is so low you can barely hear it L —of the Sankhya Yoga philoso- Wtry going to sattva because sat and 20,000 Hz is so high you can phy—these include purusha, prakri- means real and tva means possessing of. barely hear it. For us that is a gigan- ti, mahat, ahankara, sattva, rajas, Sattva means that thing that is char- tic span of vibration, much larger tamas—and you will find that the acterized by reality. Not identical to than the relative size of the visible five mahabhutas emerge from tamas: reality, but at least possessing some spectrum which is 405–790 THz., prithvi, apah, tejas, vayu, akasha— reality. Remember that the three gu- which is significantly less than three earth, water, fire, air, space. Those nas, sattva, rajas and tamas, come orders of magnitude. five mahabhutas have emerged from from . A is the first Sanskrit Now, the electromagnetic spectrum the five tanmatras. Ta n is actually letter, ha the last Sanskrit letter. So itself is commonly thought to cover tat, which means that, and matra aham covers everything in the mani- 24 orders of magnitude, which is 21 means a portion. Here tamas means fested universe. In the context of the orders of magnitude greater than the everything that has been manifest- individual, ahamkara means the thing portion of that spectrum that we can ed, everything that has been project- that creates I-ness, the thing that creates hear. Twenty-one orders of magnitude ed out from sat-chid-ananda. Five identity. Each individual is ultimately is one sextillion = one billion trillion. portions of tamas become the five a manifestation of that Supreme Real- We are sampling with our ears one sex- subtle elements, then evolve into the ity but each individual has an identity. tillionth of the electromagnetic spec- five dense elements. All of life has Individual identity is very, very min- trum. If we want to be more conserva- co-evolved with the manifested uni- imal in the case of bacteria and very tive we can remove from the spectrum verse that hosts our planet. We have substantial in the case of humans, es- all the X-rays and gamma rays which pecially very egoistic, narcissistic hu- are lethal to us and consider only that mans. portion of the electromagnetic spec- Vimalananda used to talk about trum that is meaningful to us without identity all the time, not in the con- being damaging, that portion that is text of things like identity politics but still a colossal fifteen orders of mag- rather that human beings are always nitude (one quadrillion). We can hear trying to create identities for them- about one trillionth of that portion of selves. Very few people have one con- the spectrum, and see even less. sistent identity for everything in their Note that we use our ears to sample experience. If you have one consistent the lower extremes of the electromag- identity, then it will be easy for you netic spectrum and our eyes to sample to experience equipoise or equanim- the upper extremes of the portion of ity, whether you interact with a sage the electromagnetic spectrum that is or a dog or an eater of dogs, because not lethal to us. We use two very dif- your one personality will be coherent. ferent senses to experiencing only tiny, Most people don’t have coherent per- tiny portions of what is available to be co-evolved sense organs that grab sonalities. Most people have one per- experienced. And our other senses are hold of tanmatra—tiny, tiny por- sonality for their parents and another similar. Our organisms are not de- tions of what there is to perceive— personality for their children and one signed to tell us what’s actually going and have created pathways via which personality for the boss and another on out in the world; they are designed we can interact with our environ- personality for their subordinates, one to tell us what we need to know. By ment. It is fundamental to embod- personality when they go out bar hop- us, I mean all sentient beings that ied life that all living beings interact ping, another personality when they have sense organs, vertebrates and in- with their environments. Life itself, go to the temple, the mosque, or the sects alike. Each of us takes in tiny, in the face of this manifestation, has church. tiny amounts of information from the found a way to select slices of reali- Most people are able to shift from outside world and from that informa- ty and create sense organs that assist one personality to another without it tion creates a perception that we think us to generate images of reality out being obvious that they’re doing that is real. It’s a good start to understand- of those slices. So when it comes to and without other people figuring out ing what is real and what is not real living with reality, we have to under- that they’re wildly different in one to understand that fundamentally we stand that what we can take in from situation than in another situation. as human beings project more reality the outside is real, but it’s a teeny, George Gurdjieff used to talk about onto our perception than it actually itsy-bitsy amount of reality. If we this quite a lot and if you like reading possesses. We’re much more attached want to actually have some better books, take a look at In Search of the to those concocted realities than we idea about what reality is, we have to Miraculous by P.D. Ouspensky, which should be. go elsewhere than our sense organs. is an account of Ouspensky’s study

Winter 2020-2021 9 with Gurdjieff in Russia during the else interrupts its progress or friction ished by prana, thrown out of balance First World War and the Russian Rev- slows it down or it is otherwise inter- by improper circulation of prana and olution. That was a time when peo- fered with. What is immobile tends to put back into balance by proper circu- ple’s identities were being transformed remain immobile and what is mobile lation of prana. dramatically. Consider Nicholas II: tends to remain mobile: this is tamas. The third of the sheaths is the born a prince, he became tsar and Tamas does not promote change. manomaya kosha—manas means mind identified himself with his title, mak- Rajas means activity. The Sanskrit and mind is more subtle than prana. ing decisions on the basis of his con- word for dust is rajas; the Sanskrit How can mind be more subtle than ception of himself as monarch. Then word for menstrual blood is rajas. prana if prana is the force that creates in 1917 he went from being the most Menstrual blood is very active, it can life in the organism? That can happen powerful man in Russia to being the create a child; dust is always moving. because prana creates life by bringing least powerful man in Russia. Nothing Rajas is therefore extremely active, al- both life and consciousness into mat- changed for him in his capacity as a ways ready for something new; that’s ter. Matter emerges when conscious- human being, but everything changed its chief quality. Tamas avoids change, ness interferes with itself and becomes dramatically in the context of his role rajas embraces change, sattva tries to very, very knotted up, very dense. Pra- in life; he shifted from one identity to figure out when to change and when na is consciousness that actively man- another identity with minimal transi- not to change. These are the three ifests in matter and the manomaya tion time, a day or two at most. It was actions that ahamkara can perform. kosha is like a reflection of that con- almost instantaneous: one moment he Why would ahamkara want to per- sciousness on a yet subtler level, a lev- was tsar and the next moment he had form these actions? Because ahamka- el from which mind can either assist to abdicate. ra is always trying to figure out what prana to move properly or interfere Most of us don’t have that sort it should be identifying with, always with the proper movement of prana. of experience. Many people are the asking the question “Who am I?” The manomaya kosha is created out same sort of person from childhood “Who am I?” is the question that of all of our thoughts, emotions and through adolescence into adulthood ahamkara is asking all the time, wheth- impressions, cultural aspects, the ar- and then old age. Others are one va- er you’re aware of it or not. Ahamkara chetypal world and other such stuff. riety of child, another type of ado- is always wondering: Am I my body? It’s nourished by those things, it’s lescent, a different kind of adult and To what extent am I my body? Am thrown out of balance by those things, finally an elder of yet another sort. I my prana? Am I my thoughts? Am and it’s brought back into balance by Such people will experience reality I my karmas? How do I connect all those things. in different ways according to their these things together? More subtle than the manomaya current perspective—their drishti or kosha is the vijnanamaya kosha. The darshana. In Sanskrit we use the word n the Taittiriya Upanishad we vijnanamaya kosha is also known as darshana to mean both philosophy and Ihave the description of the five the or the viveka, the mahat. sight. How you see the world is how koshas; kosha means sheath. The five It is the ability to discern. Again, in you see reality. koshas are the five levels of existence; the yoga sankhya philosophy, when How you see reality will determine these are five realities and they are all ahamkara splits into tamas, rajas and how you live with reality. So it’s im- part of the one reality of the human sattva, with tamas, it becomes the five portant to try to see reality as accu- being. At the same time they’re five tanmatras and the five mahabhutas, rately as possible, which is where sat- different aspects of that reality. When the five elements. Sattva evolves into tva comes in. we talk about living with reality, we manas—the thinking mind, the five have to examine the different levels senses of perception and the five sens- hamkara has three powers, the and layers and aspects of reality and es of action. The job of manas is to Athree maha gunas, one of which is this is one way to do that. Annamaya manage the sense organs. tamas, the power of inertia. Inertia is kosha is the physical body, made out Why do we have sense organs? We of two types: dynamic and static. Stat- of food, nourished by food, put out have sense organs because the prana ic inertia means that something that of balance by improper food, brought has activated the five elements, has ac- is not moving will tend to continue back into balance by proper food. tivated all of the matter that is turning not to move. That’s why I can hold a Anna means food. us into individuals. And it has created cup in my hand and not worry that it’s More subtle than the annamaya ko- sense organs because jivo jivasya jiva- going to start dancing a little jig in my sha and therefore having a strong in- nam—life lives off other life. For us to hand or jumping over and trying to fluence on the annamaya kosha is the stay alive we have always to be stealing walk back to the kitchen. The oppo- pranamaya kosha. Prana means the life prana from other living creatures. We site is dynamic inertia, which means force, the thing thanks to which the have sense organs that we may steal that something in motion tends to body is actually alive. The pranamaya prana effectively and not have our remain in motion until something kosha is created out of prana, nour- own prana stolen. The only job of the

10 Issue 27 ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 11 sense organs, or rather the only job We of course get into trouble when by about 220,000 times, by more than that the sense organs should have, is to our minds start to try to do more five orders of magnitude—by a whole identify where food is and to identify things than they are engineered to lot. We’re taking in all of this informa- dangers that might turn us into food. do. A troublesome mind will corrupt tion through the sense organs and the These two basic, natural, physiological the influence of the vijnanamaya ko- information is only a tiny sample of tasks form the basis for what is often sha—of buddhi and viveka. It will what we have available to us to sample called in yoga raga and dwesha. These take intelligent advice and corrupt it and we’re then reducing that tiny sam- are , things that create misery in because its drishti, its darshana, its ple by another 220,000 times to come us. Why? Because raga, meaning pas- perspective, will not allow it to pay up with those 50 bits of information sion, arises in you when you identify attention to reality. The job of sattva that we’re then going to plug in to our something desirable that you want to is to try to give us the best possible sense organs to give us an image of move in the direction of. Originally perspective on reality. There’s one big what the world is like. it was food, and occasionally, in sea- problem with that. When you take in That’s why it’s so difficult to live son, a mate, but now it’s also a new information with your sense organs, with reality. I’m holding a cup in my house or a new car or a new mate or your sense organs are mostly sattva, hand. The very fact that I’m holding whatever. Passion moves us in the di- but the thing that you are taking the on to the cup means that I am of the rection of what we crave. Similarly, information from has become your opinion that the cup is solid and that what started off as, “Let me avoid all sense object and objects by definition I can hold on to it. I am getting that of the predators in the neighborhood” are made out of tamas. Therefore impression not according to the actual has become generalized dwesha, aver- whenever your organ of sight goes solidity of the cup because the cup is sion—multiple things we’re trying to out to look at a thing, it is treating not solid in the way that we think of avoid, including those people who it as a thing made of tamas. It is pro- it as being solid. We think of its re- have different languages, different jecting tamas onto it by saying it’s an ality as being solid but it is not sol- religions, different skin colors; those object, and by taking in that reflec- id. Why is it not solid? It is not solid horrible “other” people over there. tion, it is creating more tamas on the because nothing in our world is solid. They must be very dangerous; they’re inside. Why? Because you are taking An atom has approximately the same surely conspiring against us, they’re in a snapshot of what that object is relative structure as the solar system, trying to destroy us. Therefore we at that moment. You’re taking in, which means 99.999999999999 per- must avoid them and, if possible, let moreover, a snapshot of only a teeny, cent of it is empty space. Theoretically us kill them. We won’t have to avoid itsy-bitsy, tiny amount of what that it would be very easy for our hands them then since they will be dead. object is, sufficient for you to be able to pass through the cup without the It is not the job description of the to get some perspective on it that may nuclei of the various atoms ever run- mind to have thoughts like that. The be useful to you. But, of course, that ning into one another. Why does that job of the mind is instead simply to be perspective tends to be colored by not happen? That does not happen be- able to take in the information from your own worldview. You will think cause the forces of the electrons in our the sense organs which, remember, are about whether it’s aesthetic or not, fingers and the forces of the electrons giving us only a teeny, tiny, itsy-bitsy how useful it might be, is somebody in the material that makes up the cup fragment of the amount of possible going to try to steal it. You’ll have a resist each other so much that we in- knowledge, to try to take that in and bunch of different thoughts about it, terpret it as being solid. We interpret arrange that data in a meaningful way even though those thoughts may not liquids in a different way; gases in a in order to come out with a represen- be assisting you to make use of it in different way. It all has to do with tation of reality that it can send to the the best way. force fields, and only very marginally vijnanamaya kosha, to mahat or bud- with actual matter. We’re completely dhi, so that via viveka we can answer s if that were insufficient to confused in so many ways, and we’re the question, “What do I do?” Agive us difficulties in perceiving trying to live with reality. If viveka, buddhi, is working prop- reality, much less trying to live with it, This is why Vimalananda said that liv- erly it will say, You should do this, there’s another reality that you have to ing with real reality is really important. or that. You should stand up or you consider and that is that we as human It’s not that we can rely on our sense or- should sit down. You should move beings are taking in approximately 11 gans to give us what is really real, but we ahead, or possibly backwards. You million bits of information per second can take in what we can from our sense should wait for more information, and our ability to manipulate data is organs, then get the sense organs to be whatever it may be. Armed with this only about 50 bits per second. So 11 controlled, to move inward, instead of information it is then the job of the million down to 50. 11 million is sev- projecting our attention—remember mind to get the organs of action to en orders of magnitude; 50 is almost wherever your attention goes, your pra- act accordingly. That’s what the mind two orders of magnitude. We’re reduc- na will go—instead of projecting our should do. ing 11 million to 50; we’re reducing it prana externally, to bring the prana back

12 Issue 27 internally so we can focus it, make it co- not do, to understand the limitations that fascinating, and even performing herent, and then try as best we can to of your personal , what you your duty was really trivial, ultimate- use it to sense where reality is. are obligated to do during this life- ly; all these things may have been This doesn’t mean in any way that time, the reason why you were born significant for you, but not for the the physical body is not real; it is real. into this life. You must understand Supreme Reality. Moham kshayati iti Our perception of it is different from that you have certain duties to per- mokshah, taught Vimalananda: mok- what its reality is, so we can’t say that form, and you must also understand sha is the destruction of the delusion our perception is real, but our percep- that those duties are probably going that anything can be more important tion is all we have so we try to make to interfere to some degree with your than awareness of the Supreme Reali- our perception as accurate as possible. quest for life, liberty and the pursuit ty. Therefore we hope that by the time An important way to do that is to of happiness. you get to the age when you are going make sure that you eat good food and to depart from this life you will have you don’t accumulate a lot of toxins in hat motto should be “life, relinquished all of these secondary your organism. That’s more difficult to Tliberty and the pursuit of duty”. things that you have been busy with, do nowadays because there’s so much The great heroes of great cultures like because it is at the end of your life pollution of all kinds. You have to find India have always focused on duty, that you will confront the real reality a way to adjust for all these things so not personal gratification. Vimala- of life, which is the reality of death. that you can get the sense organs to nanda also liked to say. “Life is Duty, give you as clear a perception as pos- not Beauty”. A successful life is not, or Vimalananda, one giant as- sible and you can test that with your “Let’s enjoy as much as we possibly Fpect of living with reality was to intuition to find out whether in fact can and pamper the sense organs”. It’s always remember that you’re going to your perception is accurate or not. rather, “Let’s discover our duty and die. He taught that everyone should When we talk about living with then move ahead on the path that it prepare for death because death can reality, we’re talking about trying as blazes for us”. One fundamental re- come at any moment. This is funda- best we can, with very imperfect sense quirement of trying to find out how mental to living with reality, some- organs that are compressing the data to best live with reality is to try to thing that every human needs to be they bring in dramatically, to end up understand your own personal dhar- aware of. Everybody needs to appre- with images of what reality is. We’re ma, to understand what you were put ciate the fact that no matter how well basing everything we do on certain here to do. Once you know what you they are or how many life extension images of reality. One aspect of living need to do, you will gain an idea of practices they are performing or how with reality is to make sure that we re- what you will need to accomplish that many supplements they’re taking, the member that, in fact, we are creating goal, and on that basis you will be reality is that at some point none of images of reality: What we’re perceiv- able to procure the appropriate tools these things are going to work any- ing with our senses is not real. There for the job. Those tools are called, in more, and that will be the end of is a reality out there but we need to the collective, artha. Artha can mean them. perceive it in a much more subtle way money; artha can mean any kind of This is the basis of all of the Indian in order to be able to actually get more object. Once you know what you need vidyas. For example, in ayurveda, we knowledge about it. to do, you’ll need certain objects to do have four prognoses. A prognosis is a One of Vimalananda’s favorite say- it with. projection as to how things are going ings was, “It’s always better to live Dharma, artha, kama. Only once to go with the patient and the disease. with reality because, if you don’t, you you are performing your duty and you The first is sukha sadhya. Sukha means can be sure that reality will come and have procured what you need to per- easy; sadhya in this context means cur- live with you.” He would say this of- form that duty can you start to think able. Sukha sadhya is the prognosis for ten, casting the same sentiment in about what you would really like to mild, acute conditions that are easy to differing forms according to the point do in life. Rather than plan what conquer. In such an illness not much he was trying to make. Sometimes he you’d like to do first, you plan instead has to be done to return the person would talk about it in context of the to first do what you’re responsible to a state of wellness. Moreover, if the planet Saturn because, as both he and for getting done and only thereafter disease is easy to cure then it is im- my jyotisha mentor Mantriji always think about what you would like to portant not to treat it boldly, lest the said, the only important graha, the do. Finally, after doing your duty and treatment itself perturb the individual only important planet in astrology, is addressing your deeply-held desires, more than the disease did. You should Saturn, because Saturn represents ev- you move in the direction of , apply simple measures only when the ery limitation in your reality. One re- which means you realize that, in fact, prognosis is sukha sadhya. The com- ally important aspect of living with re- achieving your “heart’s” desires really mon cold is sukha sadhya because it ality is to understand your limitations, didn’t satisfy you that much, the ob- does not kill its victims. If you treat a to understand what you can and can- jects you accumulated were really not cold it will last for a week, and with-

Winter 2020-2021 13 out treatment it probably will last for gressively deteriorate, then die. That’s So my teeth are not good, and since seven days. Colds come and go and also a reality. For a small percentage I don’t want them to get any worse, I they just aren’t a big deal. of people Covid-19 is asadhya, usu- have to make sure that I floss two to The next prognosis is kricchra sad- ally in people who are aged and who three times a day, brush at least twice hya. Kricchra means with difficulty. have pre-existing medical conditions. a day, apply various substances to my You can treat such a disease, you can Sometimes death comes suddenly gums, and get my teeth cleaned every cure it, but you will only be able to do with Covid-19; sometimes it is after three or four months. I have to be so with difficulty, meaning serious di- prolonged suffering. Rarely is it easy. very proactive if I want to retain my etary limitations, strong purifications, Though everybody is going to die, it is remaining teeth. If I slack off, then I powerful medicines, and repeated in- always preferable to die calmly. will have to have more implants and terventions, including possibly sur- crowns done which will be expensive gery and other radical treatments. It hough these categories of and painful. This reality is my person- may take quite a while to cure a dis- Tprognosis refer to disease, we can al reality. Do I want to live in this re- ease that is kricchra sadhya, which im- also extend them to other aspects of ality? I do not. But whether I want to plies an extended period of restricting reality. We have all had the experience or not, here I am, in this reality, and yourself. This applies to epidemics as that certain situations in which we if I want to continue to enjoy having well, of course, during which personal find ourselves are easy to deal with— at least some teeth remain in my head, limitations may have to continue for sukha sadhya. We have a method to then I have no alternative but to ad- months, as is proving to be the case deal with them, we know how to em- dress this reality meaningfully. with the Covid-19 pandemic. ploy the method, the method is nei- Happily, for most people Covid-19 ther very expensive in time or money big aspect of living with reality is is sukha sadhya. Many people who or effort nor is it very detrimental to Ato be able to discern—to employ have the virus don’t even notice that us or anyone else, and we are able to the vijnanamaya kosha—to be able to they have it, which is good for the vi- implement the method. All these cri- identify in which aspects of life you don’t rus because then it spreads in all di- teria should be met to judge a situa- have to put too much effort, in which rections without attracting attention, tion as being sukha sadhya. aspects you have to put extra effort, in which is what the virus wants. The Other situations are kricchra sad- which aspects you have to put effort on virus is not really interested in making hya. In such instances I cannot just sit an ongoing basis, and how much effort. people sick. Why should it do that? A back and watch everything set itself You will have to plan: “When do I have virus just wants to travel from host to right. Instead I must make purpose- to do it? Let me organize it so I don’t host, continuously replicating itself. ful, meaningful, consistent effort. I have to think about it all the time. Let That’s its agenda. Causing disease is an have to have a plan and be ready to me figure out the right effort and the unintended side-effect of this agenda. change the plan whenever conditions right times to apply that effort and then Unfortunately, Covid-19 is for some change, and will likely need advice I’ll be able to do it and not have to think people kricchra sadhya. Such people and assistance in order to implement about it too much.” can survive the disease, but only with the plan successfully. But if I do all There will be certain areas in life intensive intervention, maybe in in- this and persist then I will solve the where no amount of effort will do any tensive care on a respirator. problem and will be able to stop hav- good and you have to acknowledge The third type of disease is yapya. ing to worry about it. that. That’s also part of your reality. Yapya describes a disease that you Some areas in life though are going Not just your death, but the death of can’t cure but you can manage. As to be either yapya or asadhya. Some loved ones, or the death of your abili- long as you take treatment, you’ll be things are asadhya from the begin- ty to do something that you’ve always okay; when you stop taking treat- ning, others can progress from being been able to do, whatever that might ment, then you die. Insulin-depen- yapya to asadhya. If I am lucky I will be. There will always be things that dent diabetes is a good example of a only have to deal with these facets of will trip you up, obstruct you, things disease that is yapya. Without insulin living every day to prevent them from that you can’t blame on anybody else, you’ll definitely die, but with insulin, becoming seriously disturbed; that’s that you can’t wriggle out from under. there’s a good likelihood that you will yapya. If I neglect them, they can be- This, of course, is where Saturn live. You will have to take insulin for come asadhya. For example, I person- comes in, because Saturn forces you your entire life, and serious complica- ally have not such good teeth, partly to experience everything that you tions may ensue anyway. But at least because I ate way too many sweets wanted very much to escape from you’ll survive. when I was young but apparently also but could not avoid. Saturn insists on The fourth type of prognosis is asad- because I had measles when my per- rubbing your nose in those realities, hya, which means incurable, and often manent teeth were coming in. Accord- on forcing you to move ahead even unmanageable. Asadhya is the worst ing to my doctor at that time, measles when you know that moving ahead kind of disease. It will cause you to pro- damaged my tooth buds. will be painful. Reality is a very real

14 Issue 27 thing. I have found that when you it will be Allah; if you are Christian, Nama Rasiyare — He gets his try to avoid living with reality, or you maybe it will be the Father, the Son, juice from the name of Rama. sort of dance around it, hoping that the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Mother Prabhu Mana Basiyare — Please O you’ll be able to avoid it, very often of God. Lord come and sit in my mind. Jaya reality will come to live with you at If you follow the sanatana dhar- Hanuman! the LCM—the least convenient mo- ma—and I don’t mean the political sa- And if that’s too complicated for ment. Then you have to figure out natana dharma but the real sanatana you try this one: Sri Ram Jai Ram what to do under less than optimal dharma, the dharma that is truly eter- Jai Jai Ram, which you can sing to so conditions. If you wait to figure out nal, sanatana—then you have many many tunes. what to do until it’s the least conve- gods and goddesses to choose from. But wait, maybe even that’s too nient moment, until it’s a crisis, then The term trayastrimsati koti is men- complicated. One helpful attitude it’s going to be much more difficult, tioned in the Vedic literature, which in the sanatana dharma is that you which is why Patanjali went out of can be interpreted either to mean should do what you are able to do, his way to say, Heyam duhkham ana- “330 million” or “33 supreme”, de- however simple or complicated that gatam: Evade that duhkha that has not pending on whether you translate the may be. If you are capable of it, then yet arrived. In the word duhkha, kha word koti as meaning supreme or ten recite the entire Veda. If you can’t do means space and duh means unpleas- million. To say that 33 supreme dei- that, then recite one shakha—one por- ant, disordered. Duh in Sanskrit and ties exist in India is probably accurate, tion—of the Veda. If you can’t do even dis in English mean the same thing. though Vimalananda used to say that that, then recite one shloka, one verse. In English we have disorder, dissatis- there were 330 million devatas in In- And if you can’t do even that, then fy, disturb, disgruntle, disappoint, all dia when the country’s population was you recite just one word: Rama. words whose Sanskrit equivalents be- 330 million because every individual gin with duh. So duhkha means bad is (deep inside) a devata. By this calcu- Sri Rama Rama Rameti, space; it means space that is not har- lation India now hosts more than 1.35 Rame Rame Manorame; monious, not equanimous or equable. billion devatas, and counting. Sahasranama tattulyam, That space could be in the room here But even 33 supreme deities is a Rama Nama Varanane or inside us, inside a blood vessel, or lot, because any one individual can the respiratory tract, anywhere. sincerely worship only one. “Sincere The Sahasranama is a hymn There will always be bad space, worship” means to worship with that contains one thousand names of which is why Buddha said, Sarvam full faith, and faith involves prana. Vishnu. It takes about forty-five min- duhkham duhkham sarvam. He didn’t When you have faith in something utes to recite. This verse informs us mean that there is always misery be- your prana is directly connected to that if reciting the entire hymn is too cause often duhkha is translated as that thing. And so if we’re looking much for you—if the Sanskrit is over- misery. What he meant is that things for something to keep us proper- whelming, or you just don’t have the are always unsatisfactory. Why are ly aligned with reality, we should time—then repeat the single name of they unsatisfactory? Because we were consider directly connecting to Rama, for it is equivalent to the entire hoping they would be one way and that Supreme Reality via a , thousand names of Vishnu. To recite instead they ended up being another via a name of God, any name that Rama a thousand times, which you way. But this is what living with real- is meaningful to you as a name of can do more easily and more quickly ity is all about. We keep hoping that God, any name that takes you to than reciting the entire Sahasranama, things are going to be as we project that place where you can feel your- will give you the equivalent effect. they ought to be according to our per- self to be in the presence of the Su- Moreover, you can recite Rama in any ception—our drishti, our darshana— preme. Any name that can do that rhythm and to any tune, and if you but instead we keep being reminded will assist you to maintain an appro- recite Rama and you remember Hanu- by our karma that things are, in fact, priate alignment with reality. man, then Hanuman remembers you, not the way we want them to be but because Hanuman is always listening rather the way that they actually are. oday is Saturday. Saturday is for the name of Rama. Rama Rama Tthe day of Hanuman. Jaya Ha- Rama … . You can use any kind of ccording to Vimalananda, one numan! It was only about 18-ish days rhythm, any kind of melody. That’s Aof the biggest aspects of living ago that we had Hanuman Jayanti. So the beauty of Rama. with reality is to remember that in Hanumanji is now still a small baby Jaya Hanuman! Thank you very Kali Yuga the thing that is most real monkey but is developing very quick- much. Om Namah Sivaya! for the average person is the name of ly. One very simple song that I’ve God, whatever that name may be. If learned is: Robert Svoboda offers a wealth of you are Jewish, maybe that will be Jai Hanuman — Victory to Hanuman knowledge relating to Indian sacred lore Hashem; if you are Muslim, maybe Ati Balavan — Extraordinarily Powerful at www.drsvoboda.com

Winter 2020-2021 15 STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS EDDIE STERN Talk given at the Nāmarūpa Living with Reality virtual retreat in the Spring of 2020, transcribed and edited.

Gannaanaam Tvaa Ganna-Patim Right now with the coronavirus, in Havaamahe regards to the nervous system both Kavim Kaviinaam-Upama East and West, there are some things Shravastamam | that occur that are sort of blanket Jyessttha-Raajam Brahmannaam statements. Part of the way we have Brahmannaspata evolved over many millions of years is Aa Nah Shrnnvan-Uutibhih to perceive threat for the sake of sur- Sida Saadanam vival. Even as single-celled organisms, we would move away from danger and riod of time, that fear, when it doesn’t Maha Ganapataye Namah move towards safety and nourishment. subside, can turn into panic when we We would move away instinctively, or really feel on this conscious level that Prano Devi Saraswathi Vajebhir according to the programming of the my safety, my life, is being threatened. Vajinivathi Dhi Nam Avitriyavathu cell, away from things that would cut Then that panic will lead to irrational Vag Devyai Namah short our survival and always move to- behavior. The irrational behavior then wards the things which would encour- will serve as a feedback loop not only Om Akhanda Manadalakaram age our survival, which is perhaps one for continuing to keep us in a state of Vyaptam yena Charaacharam of the reasons we developed into mul- panic and stress and fear, but also to Tadpadam Darshitam Yena ticellular beings. In every single cell be contagious to the people around us Tasmai Sri Guruve Namah in our body—we have 37.2 trillion as well. So, as we could see with all cells—we have this instinct to survive. of this coronavirus, in America, when OM Shantih Shantih Shantih The survival instinct is built into ev- the stress was initiated, it very quick- ery cell of our body which means that ly turned into fear and then the fear ood afternoon from New York we instinctively will move away from was stoked through the media and by GCity and hello from the hallway danger and move toward safety. That messaging and that fear led to the ir- of our apartment building where I has developed in our nervous system rational panic-buying of toilet paper, teach most of our yoga classes from as our threat perception so that we are stocking up on supplies, hoarding right now. I thought I would follow able to perceive when something is masks, causing a shortage in hospitals up a little bit on Dr. Robert’s presen- going to threaten our survival. and all other types of things like that. tation—he is an extremely hard act to When our threat perception begins We can trace all this behavior back follow. I will talk a little bit about the to become heightened, we will then to disregulation of the nervous system. three changing states of consciousness have other emotional responses to it. A lot of what we want to do within from the perspective of the Mandukya For example, the sensation of percep- yoga, within pranayama, within medi- Upanishad. tion of threat will lead the fight-or- tation, is begin to regulate our nervous The whole topic ofvedanta is some- flight aspect of our sympathetic ner- system in such a way that we respond thing that Robert Moses knows a tre- vous system to kick in. That will hap- in an appropriate manner to external mendous amount about and so does pen very quickly and very automati- events, to be able to perceive them for Robert Svoboda. Whatever parts I get cally at a preconscious level. When what they are, to read the danger lev- wrong or things I miss, they can fill in that happens, we process an emo- el appropriately, and that means to be later in their talks and in the question tional reaction along with it, which discriminating about where we find and answer period. is fear, that we then begin to process our information and who we listen to One thing that I thought I would and think about on a conscious lev- and what news sources we’re grabbing mention also since the title that we el. Then, physiologically, it will man- information from. All these types of put down for the talks—I hadn’t ac- ifest in our body in different ways. things were covered amazingly by Dr. tually given a talk topic to Robert Our palms will get sweaty; our body Robert in the previous talk in terms even though he asked me for one— temperature will heat up. The heart of what kind of a bandwidth we have was about the nervous system East rate will increase; our blood pressure that allows information into the mind and West. We’ve covered that a lot in might go up. The blood will begin to that we then respond or react to. the past already so I thought I’d just move away from the visceral organs of I’d like to continue along in that move on to this other topic because the thoracic cavity and move towards vein, moving to a little more of a dis- it was relevant to following up Dr. the arms and legs to get us ready to cussion about how all these things are Robert’s talk. flee. If that continues for a longer pe- happening on a conscious or waking

16 Issue 27 level and then also how they’re hap- visible manifestation of the Supreme since the time when human beings pening on a dreaming level, when Reality. The Supreme Reality, oth- began to question themselves and the we’re not awake, but we’re asleep and erwise known as Brahman or Con- universe is: Who am I? What am I do- dreaming. Then onto what happens to sciousness, is beyond name, beyond ing here? What do I do next? What is them when we move to a deep sleep form, beyond perception. It has no my purpose? What is the meaning of level, what that state is like. time, space, or location. Therefore, it all of this? What is the meaning of the can’t be spoken of or even imagined universe? Where is the universe? All of he topic now is going to be or verbalized. Therefore if we’re going these types of questions have been go- Tthe three states of consciousness. to talk about it, we need something to ing on for a long time. The word state is not a super fantastic use that we can talk about so we can In the , the way that or accurate or descriptive word to use come to an approximate estimation these topics are broached is to say well, but it’s a word that is used a lot, so I’ll or an approximate way of convers- we can’t exactly describe what all this continue to use it too. It would be bet- ing, conveying, thinking, elaborat- is, but we’re going to do our best to do ter to say the changing states and not ing on it. So, here in this Upanishad, that. In order to do so, we’re going to to think that there are three separate that is given as the word OM. OM is have to use language and language is things that exist independently, but pratyaksha. It is the visible manifesta- limited. But one of the things limited rather that they are permutations of tion of all that is. As well, it’s a sound language can contain within it is the each other. We’re going to go through form. It’s a visible manifestation as a idea or the feeling of something ex- these three states and we’re also going vibration, as a sound vibration. pansive. So, again going back to Yoga to cover the three sub-states which In the Yoga when Patanjali Sutra, when Patanjali speaks about the are less talked about. Let’s begin here speaks about purusha, he defines pu- five different states of mind and that with the Mandukya Upanishad which rusha as a special type of being that is some of those states are helpful and is the first upanishad that really elabo- untouched by all the types of ways that some are not helpful, the third one he rated on these three changing states. It we suffer called kleshas and is untouched mentions is imagination, vikalpa. He is in the mid-range of the upanishadic by karma, or action–which we are com- says that vikalpa is imagining some- period. The very early ancient Upani- pletely bound with–and therefore com- thing which maybe doesn’t exist in a shads are Taittiriya, Katha and Chan- pletely untouched by the effects of kar- literal sense, but you use words in or- dogya Upanishad and the Mandukya ma, which is what our entire life is. That der to describe it. One of the examples comes in a little bit of a later period, particular special type of purusha is given in the commentaries is that vi- before the Common Era, probably signified, as well, by the sound of OM. or imagination can be very help- somewhere in the area of 400 to 200 We’ll see in different places, in different ful in particular ways and one of those years before the Common Era. types of texts, that OM is equated with ways is to describe things that can’t In this Upanishad, we see the first either a Supreme Being, Supreme Real- be described. For example, Brahman real detailed explanation of the wak- ity, Supreme Consciousness, or some- or the Absolute or Reality can’t be de- ing, dreaming, and deep sleep states thing like that. scribed but yet we can use analogies or changing states and the concept and metaphors to try to do so in order of turiya which is not a state but is The second verse says to come to a greater sense of under- the underlying substratum of all that standing. So that’s what happens in a moves and all that changes. Within ll this, verily, is Brahman. The lot of these Upanishads. itself, it could be another word for Su- ASelf is Brahman. This Self has four One of the things that also occurs preme Reality or the reflective being quarters. (1:2) and that we find happening in sank- of the Supreme Reality that Dr. Rob- ya and all of the tattvas and the five ert was talking about earlier. Brahman is the not visible part of elements and the tanmatras is how all that is. There’s a visible part, sig- awareness and identity and intelli- he Upanishad begins: nified by OM. Then, there’s an invis- gence and the creation of the ele- T ible part that was woven into all of it. ments begin to overlap within them- That is Brahman and our inner self is selves to create patterns. So earth, M! This imperishable word is nondifferent from this Brahman. Even water, fire, air, and space don’t just Othe whole of this visible universe. though this Brahman is everything spontaneously come and exist in and Its explanation is as follows: What has that there is, it can also be divided up of themselves. They’re actually all become, what is becoming, what will into four parts or four quarters. The made up of each other. Space, for ex- become—verily, all this is OM. And reason that it’s divided up into four ample, is said to be intricately born what is beyond these three states of the quarters is for the sake of investiga- from prana, or from mind as well in world—that too, verily, is OM. (1:1) tion, so we can have a conversation different sources. Air is made part- about these types of things. ly of space and also has a little bit Here, the word OM is used as the One of the oldest conversations, of all the other elements within it

Winter 2020-2021 17 as well. Then fire is primarily made he first quarter is Vaisvanara, Remember that all this is primari- of fire but has a quarter of each of Tits field is the waking state. Its ly happening for our experience and the other elements and so on and consciousness is outward-turned, and is on a waking level. These are the seven so forth. So when you look at each seven-limbed and nineteen-mouthed. It limbs: mind, prana, earth, water, fire, of the elements, they’re primarily enjoys gross objects. (1:3) air, and space. They’re not all separate one of them–earth, water, fire, air, vis a vis each other. Nothing is an in- or ether–but that’s only about half In our waking state, which we are dependent entity here. Everything is a of their substance. The other half is all basically in now, we are enjoying pattern of each other. The idea of sep- going to be made up equally of all the outward world of gross objects, aration, of independence, of distinc- the other elements. So all of the oth- meaning they have substance and tive form, is only apparent. Actually er elements overlap with each oth- form. We’re perceiving this through it’s all the same stuff. er to create patterns that will then the seven limbs and the nineteen take form. We are also made up of mouths. We’ll go on to see what all of ow, onto the nineteen chan- an innumerable number of patterns those things are. Nnels. The individual cognizes that have been overlapping and ex- According to the Upanishad, the through the four functions of mind. pressing themselves as our identity whole becomes differentiated somehow. Mind operates through the five pra- or our perceived identity, including There’s some movement within it which nas. The five pranas activate the sense thinking that we’re this body. With- causes the whole to become differenti- organs and the sense organs compel in those patterns, we think we’re ated. One of the ways this is described the organs of action to act. This is separate from other patterns. From is that the Consciousness is infinite and our waking state. There is an individ- a larger perspective, a yogic perspec- being infinite it has an infinite number ual sense of being and it’s using the tive, basically what we are is a bun- of ways to become aware or to become four functions of mind to perceive the dle of overlapping patterns that are self-conscious. One of the ways that world and act within it. The mind is expressing themselves as a whole. it becomes aware is through using the operating through the five pranas and Those patterns could be samska- mirror of the mind in human beings the five pranas are using the sense or- ra, meaning memory. They could be like us. At a more substratum level, one gans and the sense organs impel the karma, the actions that we have per- of the ways that Consciousness becomes organs of action, our limbs, to do formed and that we’re reaping the aware is as a ripple of awareness which something. benefits or reactions of now. It can be causes movement so that sattva, rajas, What is the individual here? The in- a bunch of other things as well—the and tamas begin to move out from equi- dividual is ahamkara. Consciousness ideas that society holds at the time librium and start to pattern with each is using ahamkara to do all of these that we’re born, etcetera, etcetera. But other. Whether or not that’s a satisfacto- things as well. Another way you could basically what we are is a bundle of ry explanation is another conversation. say it is that Consciousness uses the patterns, a bundle of overlapping kar- One of the traditional ways that this mind and the mind uses the brain and mas, actions and memories that are movement or creation has been spoken the brain uses the body to perceive the perceiving themselves to be separate of is that there are an infinite number of world. and acting accordingly and thinking ways that creation can occur; there are Let’s look at all these things. Num- that we are separate from the other an infinite number of universes. One of ber one, we have the four functions of patterns that we see around us—the the ways Consciousness can move into mind. This is from a vedantic perspec- other people, the animals, the planet, awareness is through this ripple. One tive; yoga uses these things different- etc. Part of the journey of unity con- of the things that becomes differentiat- ly. There is manas which is where we sciousness is to begin to experience ed within this ripple is mind. From the sense, we measure, we process infor- that we, ourselves, the world around whole comes the mind. From within mation. You could use Dr. Daniel Sie- us, and all the people in it are an ex- mind is prana which the mind uses in gel’s prescription of S.I.F.T., which is tended pattern or integrated into the order to begin to make use of the ele- Sensation, Information, Feelings, and pattern of the whole which everyone ments for the sake of self knowing. Thoughts. All of that is occurring in is part of. Anything that you can see, In this particular Upanishad, the field of the mind. The mind just anything which is manifest, has inter- they’re saying that from the whole measures stuff and processes incom- acted with elements to perform this came this differentiation, which was ing information. The buddhi, or the assumed separate shape or object, but called cosmic mind. And cosmic intellect, is discriminating and decides we are an extension of those objects as mind had inherent within it prana, what to do with the incoming infor- well. We are all part of this oneness of which is the vitality that then makes mation. The chitta is the storehouse of patterning at the same time. That’s the use of space and then air, then fire, all of the impressions from the infor- basic idea here, especially within the then water, then earth, to begin to mation coming in. When information waking state. create the manifest world for the comes in through the sense organs, sake of self knowing. chitta stores it as samskara, as memo-

18 Issue 27 Puri Sri Jagannatha -Gajendra moksha Besha ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 19 ry, constituting ahamkara, the I-sense. lating experiences, and if we’re able to balance the pranas—eating really bad The ahamkara is literally the owner of express ourselves clearly. All of these food, eating food which isn’t good for the I. pranas—it’s not just breathing, but us, not sleeping enough, never exer- For example, if I say I am Eddie, I am it’s the whole way that we have bal- cising, hanging out with people who a teacher. I like eating spicy food. I like ance and harmony within our organ- really aren’t good for us, and putting going to India. I like doing yoga. I like ism that allows us to have balance and ourselves into stress overload situa- my friend Robert Moses. If I say any harmony with the world that we think tions all the time, that will throw off of these things the last part of the sen- to be outside of us. all of our pranas. So the habits that we tence—Eddie, yoga, spicy food, India, These are largely the operations of see within the yoga practices, all of the Robert Moses. All of these are basically the nervous system because the ner- habits that are encouraged in most of add-ons; they’re changeable. The ‘am’ vous system is coordinating the activi- the yoga texts, are basically addressing part of that sentence is a verb; it’s ac- ties of our entire cellular body of 37.2 these five pranas which are, in fact, tive. It’s always going to be correspond- trillion cells and coordinating that ac- operations of our nervous system. ing with something that is going to be tivity with our external environment. Next we have the five organs of changing. But the I doesn’t change; It’s organizing and coordinating the knowledge: the eyes, the nose, the the I is not an add-on; the I is always internal activity and organizing the tongue, the skin, and the ears. We’re consistent. It’s always a sense of being. communication with the outer en- going to see, smell, taste, touch, and The owner of the I-sense, before any vironment. If any of the pranas gets hear through them. They’re bringing add-ons or change is attached to it, is thrown off—if we’re eating food, but in information. And again, this in- occurring with the sense of ahamkara. it’s not nourishing or we’re eating it formation is very limited bandwidth It’s not a negative thing. It’s just a sense and we can’t digest it, then prana gets and therefore, very unreliable, gener- of being, the sense of existing. So these thrown off. If we are constipated and ally speaking. However, since it is the are the four functions of mind—manas, we’re not getting rid of waste, then ap- bandwidth which is very specific to buddhi, chitta, ahamkara— according ana gets thrown off and that throws our human experience, it will be re- to this Upanishad. Again, in yoga it’s a off the rest of the body. If we’re eating liable for some things, but not for all little bit different. good food but we can’t assimilate it, things. We have to know how to use Then we have the five pranas. The then we’re not getting nourishment the sense organs to begin to support an five pranas are part of these nineteen and that begins to throw us off. These inward journey which might be more channels. Prana, which is going to be things all happen with things like reliable than getting lost in only what our inhale, is bringing in nourish- food, but the same thing can happen we’re perceiving through the organs of ment; apana which is associated with with breath. It can happen with re- sense. For example, now we’re here on the exhale is removing the waste of the lationships that we find ourselves in, a yoga and philosophy workshop for breath that we don’t need—CO2—as relationships that are not nourishing the entire weekend. We’re using our well as elimination of feces and urine, for us. But yet we stay in them and sense organs to take in information childbirth; vyana is, when we take in that throws off things on an emotional about things that are going to encour- nourishment, we need to distribute it level for us. We might have work rela- age us to think about our highest self, through the whole body—vyana vayu tionships which are angry or abusive our highest purpose, the best ways we does that; samana vayu is the assim- or filled with conflict and there’s so can live our lives and relate with oth- ilation of nourishment that has been much of it that we can’t assimilate and ers. We’re using our sense organs now brought in; and udana is the expres- can’t begin to rise above or manage the to pull in information which is going sion of all these things together, how situations we find ourselves in. to be helpful for us to transcend the we live in the world. The inability to assimilate because binding relationship many of us have So we have the four functions of there’s too much stuff coming at us with our sense organs. mind that allow us to perceive the is going to throw off our pranas and Next we have our five organs of ac- world, what we think of as reality, but our relationship with the rest of the tion: the mouth, the hands, the feet, it’s not really, it’s just a sliver of it. And world as well. Stress will occur at the the genitals, and the anus. This is how then the five pranas are the things that level of these five pranas in the ner- we are interacting with the world and allow us to balance all of that incom- vous system from a Western point of balancing our existence with the world ing information so we can form either view and it will also be fixed within that we live in. We need to take food a positive or a negative relationship this level too. Things like eating good in through the mouth. We need to let with it. That’s going to be determined food, getting enough sleep, doing a go waste through the anus. We need by the type of nourishment you bring little bit of yoga, or meditation, or to create new people through the gen- in, how much waste we’re getting rid exercise, and having positive relation- itals so they can work out their karma, of, if we’re distributing things through ships, these basic things are going to and we need to walk around on our our body well, if we’re assimilating in- help to balance all of our pranas and feet and get stuff done with our hands. coming nourishment, if we’re assimi- the opposite of them is going to im- These are the organs of action.

20 Issue 27 The organs of action, the organs of to have form, they don’t really. In a we come as close as we can come to knowledge, the pranas and the four dream state, we think the things that Pure Consciousness, more than we do types of mind—all of this is relegat- happen to us are real, whether it’s in any of these other changing states. ed to our waking state. Basically our strong emotions such as love, or fear, In the waking state, we’re quite far body is a house with ten doors: five or frustration, or anger. We will feel away from it except for when we be- entry doors—these are the sense or- them as real in our dream as we do come awake to the perceiver and we gans—and five exit doors, the organs when we’re awake. Yet when we move meditate on the senses. In the dream of action, through which we act in the from the dream into the waking, we state we are still so far, for lack of a world. realize the things that we had been better word, from Pure Consciousness Now one of the things that we want experiencing on the subtle plane were except when we can wake up within to do with the sense organs in an in- not really as real as we thought they our dreams. But in the deep sleep with ward journey is become aware of what were. We take this level that we’re an absence of content, an absence of is behind sense organs. This is how we in now, the waking state, to be the desire, we don’t see ourselves as sepa- use the organs of sense, which are nor- most real. But when we wake up to rate from anything. We are very close mally not trustworthy and unreliable, the perceiver, we wake up from this to Pure Consciousness, which is bliss. to begin to go inward, for lack of a waking state that we’re in now into a better word. If you question, “Who state of being where we think all that he one who experiences these states is it now who is hearing?” “Who is it I thought was real while I was awake Tis the Lord of All, the Omniscient, that listening right now?” And if you is as much of a dream as the dream I the Indwelling Controller, the Source of feel that you’re sitting down on a chair had when I was asleep and dreaming. All. This is the beginning and end of all or against the wall, or your hand is All of the same things are still hap- beings. (1:6) resting on a pillow, “Who is the one pening: the mind, prana, the five ele- who’s touching?” “Who is one who’s ments as well as the four actions of the All beings come out from this feeling?” And if you’re looking at your mind, the five pranas, and the organs source; all beings resolve back into computer screen, you can ask your- of action and organs of knowledge. this source when it’s time for them self, “Who is seeing?” Every time you These are all occurring and operating to resolve. This is the perceiver, this ask a question about who it is which in the dream state. is pure Consciousness. That level is is hearing or touching or seeing or known as the fourth quarter, neither tasting or smelling, then you become he third quarter is prajna, where inward-turned nor outward-turned a little bit awake to the perceiver, to Tone asleep neither desires anything Consciousness, nor the two together. that Consciousness which is resting nor beholds any dream: that is deep It’s not an undifferentiated mass of behind all of the changing states, all sleep. In this field of dreamless sleep, one Consciousness because, as a mass of of the changing forms. It’s not terri- becomes undivided, an undifferentiated Consciousness, it’s still a thing. It’s bly difficult to begin to become awake mass of consciousness, consisting of bliss neither knowing nor unknowing. Here to the perceiver; all we need are little and feeding on bliss. we see something which is a presenta- touch points and the sense organs act His mouth is consciousness. (1:5) tion of philosophy, which is basically as those touch points. Now let’s move saying it’s neither this nor that; it can- on to the second quarter and this is The next state is the Deep Sleep not be described. We’re going to use the dream state. State. This is called prajna which means words now to tell you that it cannot wisdom or intuition. In Yoga Sutra this be described and here are the things he second quarter is taijasa. Its is a vritti, or activity of mind, which is that it cannot be described as. When Tfield is the dream state. Its con- absent of any content. In this field of you meditate on these, automatically sciousness is inward-turned. It is sev- dreamless sleep one becomes undivid- the logical discursive mind will begin en-limbed and nineteen-mouthed. It ed. Now, in the waking state, we are to quiet or disappear because there’s enjoys subtle objects. (1:4) divided; we separate things off. In the nothing for it to hold on to. dreaming state, we also separate things The dream state is exactly the same off from ourselves. We feel, if we are nvisible, ineffable, intangible, devoid as the waking state. There are still attacked in a dream, that we’re really Iof characteristics, inconceivable, in- seven limbs and nineteen mouths of being attacked. If we have success in a definable, its sole being the con- Consciousness being used, but the dream, we feel that it’s really our suc- sciousness of its own Self; the coming to Consciousness, rather than being out- cess. But in the dreamless sleep, one rest of all relative existence; utterly qui- ward-turned, its inward-turned. What becomes undivided. “An undifferen- et; peaceful; blissful: without a second: is the enjoyment during the dream tiated mass of Consciousness consist- this is the Atman, the Self; this is to be state? It’s not objects which are gross; ing of bliss and feeding on bliss. His realized. (1:7) it is objects which are subtle. That mouth is consciousness.” What this means that, even though they appear means is that in the Deep Sleep State In turiya, Consciousness remains as

Winter 2020-2021 21 its own self alone. In the other states sound of OM together, you can’t dis- self as pure Consciousness, but in Consciousness begins to form a rela- tinguish the akara, ukara, and maka- bhagavad chetana, you see all beings tionship with deep sleep, with dream- ra. The sound of OM is a combination as divine. ing, and with waking and it takes on of these three sounds basically at the After that comes turiyatata, which the form of those things and identifies same time. Only when we begin to is Cosmic Consciousness where the with it. Consciousness will self iden- split OM apart, do we examine all of perceiver becomes awake in all of the tify with being awake, or dreaming, the components of it. Basically what three states, the perceiver is awake in or being in deep sleep. Therefore it’s we’re doing now is we’re examining deep sleep, the perceiver is awake in going to be separate from itself and the components of something which dreaming, the perceiver is awake in experience suffering. But when it rests is actually one thing. the waking state. That is turiyatata. in itself only as its own self, then suf- Next is brahman, which is Unity Con- fering is gone as well as the illusory [OM] is something which exists by sciousness, where we experience only nature of change. its own right…that which exists not oneness with everything. There is no because it has reference to anything else individual left anymore. The one who “The coming to rest of all relative but because it is something by itself. We thinks he is the individual has disap- existence; utterly quiet; peaceful; do not create OM by a chanting of it, peared and only being remains. That blissful: without a second: this is the but we only produce a vibration sym- is brahman or Unity Consciousness. Atman, the Self; this is to be realized.” pathetic with the vibration that is al- You don’t really see these states spo- ready there by its own right and which ken about in other places. I haven’t All of these that we’ve been is called OM. been able to find a source for them. going through here are traditionally OM is a cosmic vibration. It is not a I’ve asked other people if they know things that you memorize. Remember chant made by us, created by us, or ini- where the source is and they haven’t that all of this was part of the oral tra- tiated by us. Why do we chant OM? To known. It remains an enigma. dition. An oral tradition means there’s establish a connection between ourselves Let’s quickly go through the four a speaker and there’s a listener. When and that which exists by its own right, states according to Alan Watts before we’re listening, our job is to remem- and which manifests itself as a sound-vi- we finish. According to Alan Watts, ber what’s being said and then repeat bration in the form of OM. —Swami the states that we go through are, it back. That’s how mantra instruc- Krishnananda number one, the world around us. tion is given. There’s repetition back We’re shaped by the culture that we’re and forth between the guru and the When we chant the sound of OM, born into, the country we’re born sishya. After a while, you automatical- we are creating a vibration within into. Whatever happens to be happen- ly internalize the mantras, you repeat ourselves which is aligning us with ing at the time we’re born, whether them, you meditate on the meaning, a vibration that already exists as the we’re born in the time of coronavirus, and then you start to get your own entire manifest universe and as all of or born in the time of World War II internal understanding of what it is our changing states. When we become or born in the time of relative peace— that you’ve been meditating on. All perfectly in alignment with this vibra- which I’m not too sure when that’s of these things aren’t supposed to be tion, when we match up our vibration happened—we will be shaped by that. things that we just read in a book and with the vibration of what is, then we Second, we are also shaped by the understand. They are things that were are in tune with the universe. That’s world that we choose. For example, supposed to memorize, meditate on, what the chanting of OM is for. we all have turning points in our lives and then have pratyaksha, own direct We have the four quarters, which are where we move from a world that our experience of them. akara, ukara, and makara. Akara is the parents have chosen for us to a world waking state, ukara is the dream state that we decide is the one that we want his identical Atman, or Self, in the and makara is the deep sleep state to inhabit. That will be an external Trealm of sound is the syllable OM, and the silence which comes after the change. For me, it was not going to the above described four quarters of the chanting of OM is turiya. It can’t be university or college, depending on Self being identical with the components voiced. It can’t be expressed. Turiya is what part of the world you live in and of the syllable, and the components of a whole other larger topic; we’ll not how you call it. At that time, in the the syllable being identical with the four address that for now. 1980s, if you didn’t go to college, you quarters of the Self. The components of had no chance of getting a job. I prob- the syllable are A,U,M. (1:8) aharishi Mahesh Yogi taught ably still have no chance of getting Mthree additional states, which I a job. Thank God I can teach yoga. This is called Akara, Ukara, and Ma- quite like. The next one, after turiya, That was a big concern of my parents kara. Now we come back to OM and is bhagavad chetana where we see all but that was the world that they had how OM is a representation of these beings as Consciousness. In turiya, chosen for me. It didn’t speak to me. changing states. When you chant the they sometimes say, you perceive your And the world I chose was the world

22 Issue 27 of learning yoga and going to India. The same thing can be done within we’re not bound by cause and effect. That was my second state where I your yoga practice too. When you We can simply be free and the expres- chose consciously a world that I want- do an asana, when you remain in an sion of whatever we do. Otherwise, ed to live in. asana, in sthiram, in steadiness, and we’re stuck with worrying about out- And then, the world that I chose in sukha, in an expanded space, you comes. to live in, I had external ideas about let the asana have its effect on you. The world disappears when there is it that over time and even especially Don’t try to do the asana so well and no thought such as in deep sleep and now are becoming more shaped not so perfectly that you’re the one doing in transcendental Consciousness. Hu- by what I’m superimposing on it or it, that you’re the one imposing your man beings are divine and their real what is being superimposed by the will on the asana, that you’re imposing nature is brahman which is infinite, yoga world on me, but on what I want your will on the body. Do the form, pure, and eternal. All of the pairs to make of yoga and what it means to breathe, rest there, and see what the of opposites: good and bad, success me, how it speaks to me and how I form of the asana has to teach you. and failure, shame, blame, victory want to express that. Now I’m at the Then you can feel the yoga is doing and defeat, hot and cold, etc. are the stage of my life where the yoga world you rather than you trying to do yoga. dwandas, the pairs of opposites that inside me is becoming mine and not That will give you a completely differ- we exist in, that actually are defining the world that I chose. That was still ent experience of practice, unless of our limitations. What these pairs of being dictated by other people’s dia- course you’re already doing that. opposites are is an incomplete know- logues. ing of who we truly are. Right now Then the last world Watts spoke we are in the field of avidya. Avidya about is the world you can change. means not a full knowing of who The world you can change is basi- you truly are. We know partially cally your own perception of real- or a little bit who we are but we ity, your own perception of your- don’t know the whole ball game. self, the world, your identity, and That’s why avidya is often defined all these changing states. He has as ignorance. We’re not ignorant nice lectures on this. You can hear of everything. We’re just igno- them on YouTube. rant of this one essential thing. To sum up, Alan Watts said, Avidya will disappear when the “You are something the whole pure knowledge of being awakens universe is doing in the same way within us, or when we remove all a wave is something that the whole the things that are covering that ocean is doing”. I’m particularly pure light. The way to recognize fond of that quote. Even though this and to actualize the things we have these four different states in the Upanishad are through the that we are going to cycle through four paths of yoga, which can be as individuals, the ultimate reali- karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, bhak- zation is that the whole universe is ti-yoga or raja-yoga, also known as doing us, we are not doing any of o sum up. ashtanga-yoga—not the Ashtanga this. We think we’re doing all of this, TBrahman is the ultimate reality, yoga of Pattabhi Jois, but the all-in- but we’re not. It’s actually the uni- beyond space, time, name and form all general ashtanga-yoga. We’ll con- verse doing us. In the same way that and this is what we have been talking clude with how Dr. Robert began his an ocean wave is not an independent about in this Mandukya Upanishad. talk. Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti. ego-driven being that decides, “I want Brahman manifests through maya as Truth is universal and can’t be limited to be the best wave that there ever was. the multi-creation, thus the universe by race, religion, or personal choice; it I’m going to be an unparalleled wave. is illusory, constantly changing. Space is expressed in many, many different When I rise high, I’m going to stay up begins when we have a body—we per- ways. there forever and no one’s going to be ceive the space around us to find our- OM—listen to the silence at the able to touch me or do anything about selves in accordance with things when end of the OM and let your thinking it!” No wave says that. A wave is just a we have a body. Time begins when we subside with that silence—OM. response of the entire ocean, swelling start thinking because when we start OM Shanti Shanti Shantih and doing what it does. thinking, we start creating memory Sri Guruhyo Namah Hari Om Tat Sat When we can feel that we are some- and then past and future are set apart thing that the whole universe is doing, from each other. Causation begins Eddie Stern is a Yoga teacher, author, then a lot of the stress that we have when we apply limitations. When we lecturer and co-publisher of Namarupa. about our lives begins to diminish. feel we are without limitations, then www.eddiestern.com

Winter 2020-2021 23 NARASIMHA ALLSOP INTERVIEW by SATYA MOSES

atya Moses: Could you tell us was too distressed to go anywhere or the grasp of conceptualization! As the Ssomething about your personal ar- do anything, I began to have visionary Prajna Paramitra mantra says “Beyond tistic history? Were you already an artist encounters with specifically Hindu Dei- the beyond and even beyond that, ah before you first traveled to India? How ties. I became transfixed by these cosmic bliss”. did that initial visit change how you un- entities. They felt very familiar, alive derstood and practiced art? and accessible through the agency of SM: What does darshan mean to you? their form as seen in traditional paint- ara Allsop: I had done a little ing, statuary and, very definitely, poster NA: We are aiming for internal Dar- Nstudying and enjoyed contempo- art. I began to feel art had an important shan. The Deity reveals herself as a Be- rary art of all kinds. I painted but had function in introducing people to the ing of Light within the heart. The loving many blocks and little confidence. Also, sacred. response to that opens us to a more and I would say my world was pretty safe more wondrous Darshan, eventual- and small. India ended that. There was SM: How do you conceptualize the ly we loose ourselves in that Presence. more beauty back then, not the snarl- reality of the deities you depict? External Darshans are good for getting ing traffic and omnipresent motorcycles us inspired to do the inner work. We snagging up the ancient lanes of Benares NA: The Deity is there as a guide and look into the eyes of the empowered and Vrindavan. There was more music, a source of blessings. Often, we take a object and soften so as to receive grace. incense and chai, many more images of mantra but do not do the work of visu- Of course it does not have to be a De- the Gods smiling down from posters alizing the correspondent Deity in the ity as such. One of the most powerful and shop pujas. There was charm. Sad- various chakras. This is a shame as it re- Darshans I ever had was at the ly, things have really changed and I am ally enhances the practice and develops shrine of Anandamayi Ma in Kankhal not sure it’s so easy to fall in love with sensitivity to subtle energy. The Deity is near Haridwar. Her light engulfed the India of today. A rich visual envi- us in transcendental form, a potent body me. Life is paradoxical; the next time ronment engulfed you, traditional dress of light radiating compassion, bliss and I visited Her Samadhi, the Pujari was was also everywhere. power. The Deity helps us align with the crashing around metal buckets which Anyway, a strange thing happened as essence of Deity-mind which is vast, lu- reverberated stunningly off all the white soon as I set foot outside of what was cid and free. Always imagine the Deity marble surfaces! I felt little except irrita- then Bombay airport. A lady who was emanates love and light which assists us tion. That was another kind of Darshan. begging approached me and when I in the alchemical work of refining our So anyway Darshans for me are to put looked into her eyes, my consciousness coarse feelings into sublime ones that yourself into the company of something left my body and entered hers. I was do us and others much good. It requires or someone who is tangibly sacred. then her looking at me and she was an adventurous attitude to work with a me looking at her. Inexplicable. This Deity; it’s a love affair full of ups and SM: Your style employs visual ideas small experience began to open me to a downs! from all over the Indian subcontinent, broader sense of things. After this event, For me, also, the Guru and the Dei- from the sculpted gopurams of South I had the unfortunate experience of be- ty are one. For example, if you have the India’s great temples to Pahari minia- ing pretty badly assaulted in Goa. The very good fortune to take Neem Karoli tures to Nepalese iconographic paint- experience devastated me and I went Baba as your Guru, then automatically ing. How did you arrive at your current into shock. It took months to recover you are brought into relationship with style of artistic expression? Tell us about and, as others who have been through Hanuman as they are so intertwined. your influences and mentors. a serious trauma know, you are differ- Yogi Ramsuratkumar is a Deity to me ent afterward. You kind of mourn the and all Deities are part and parcel of NA: First I want to say that proba- loss of innocence. There was, in fact, Him as my Ishta Devata. In short, I bly I would not be painting at all but an extraordinary silver lining. During conceptualize them as the personifica- for the encouragement of my Guru, the the long days of recuperation, when I tion of wisdom and as a reality beyond fabulous and challenging Mr. Lee Lozo-

24 Issue 27 Ladoo Gopal ©Nara Allsop Winter 2020-2021 25 wick. Lee had a total love for and com- Ucchista Ganapati (see pp. 26-27), NA: Swami Sivananda used to say mitment to the sacred art of all cultures which took close to three years to that the purpose of yoga is to keep the but particularly India and Tibet. complete. After that I wanted a break body strong for meditation. I like the This is what happened. One night and was drawn to simpler North In- simplicity of this definition! Yoga is a I had a dream in which a message ap- dian styles. tool to help us relax into a capacity to peared; it said in bold typeface “Paint I long had a love of the wall paint- open up into what is already there, our Buddhas”. Just that, nothing visionary, ing traditions of Orissa, Madhya essential non-dual awareness. However only a headline. I was a student of Lee Pradesh and Rajasthan. They were no that awareness is super subtle and can’t and he asked us to write him any un- less powerful than the sophisticated be caught in any kind of framework. usual dreams, so I did. At that point I visionary art of South India and had That is the downside of the path as the had some obedience. Lee wrote back an appealing vigor. At this time, on a path is an event we encounter within and asked me to learn Tibetan trip to visit my good friend Siddhar- the problem itself, dualistic thinking painting. I had Keith Dowman’s book tha in Gujarat, I had the opportuni- (the mechanism that has us applying Masters of Enchantment which was full ty to meet the artist and writer Amit labels to everyone and everything and of Robert Beer’s gorgeous paintings of Ambalal who Siddhartha had a family then reacting to those self-created labels Mahasiddhas and also a lovely poster of connection to. Amit, as well as being a in an endless cycle of thought and emo- Padmapani. I revered his work and had gifted contemporary artist, had a very tion). poured over it for many hours. By great extensive knowledge of the art of the There is nothing wrong with having good fortune, Robert’s phone number Vallabhacharya tradition of Krishna a flexible, healthy body and the radiant was on the back of the poster. Pre-In- worship. I had his book Krishna as sense of well-being that a yoga lifestyle ternet days of course. I called and amaz- Shrinathji which anyone would love! can give us, but identification with all ingly got through to him. I told Robert I had been to Nathdwara, where Shri- of that, or anything really, thoroughly I wanted to learn thangka painting and nathji resides, a few times and been ensures that we miss the point of yoga he said “Forget it!”. However, because very touched by the lively art and pu- entirely. Art included! Anyways as all I was desperate and because he is kind, jas. Amit told me that if I kept doing your readers already know, Yoga means eventually Robert invited me to visit. the same work, it was ok but I would Union. In Union there is no me, only His talent was vast, his line meticulous, be like the baker making the same vast open spacious light beyond the his painting sublime. He has a four- bread every day. I was inspired by comprehension of the thinking mecha- armed white Chenrezig that blows my him to do some different work. Still nism. It’s a very tall order to approach mind to this day. I was awkward, shy Deities though! Somehow the works and yet simultaneously it is already true and only an ok, if that, artist. Robert of Shyamdas had escaped me and I of us. What to do? had to draw me out and encourage me. had no knowledge of his writing on Yoga without Union is, at best, a After about five years, I started to do the Pushti Marg. Lee, however, had preparation for Yoga with Union, that some good work. encouraged his students to study Fa- is if we are dedicated, relaxed and have For about seven years I painted ther James Reddington’s translation at least something of a relationship with Buddhist Deities, but always the mys- of Vallabhacharya’s commentary on humility. The latter is like gold and I tic connection had been to the Hindu the Love Games of Shri Krishna and can only claim to have a whisper of a form. Just labels, but still, that was the notion of sweetness, Ras, sunk in. relationship to it after thirty years of my inner experience. Particularly, af- That is what I decided I needed, in art practice… ter reading The Gospel of Ramakrishna, and life, sweetness. That is the mood Our egos blow it, naturally, and then we Kali loomed large. Then in1997 on a you see in so much , Pa- have to re-dedicate, re-relax and re-hum- trip with Lee to visit Yogi Ramsurat- hari and Kishangarh painting. So all ble. This is how it is for everyone and no kumar in Tiruvannamalai, I was ex- of that is influencing what I am doing one is exempt. Yoga is assiduously cutting posed to Vijayanagara-era art in the now. Also I want to mention the writ- a path through the wild and thick jungle great Arunachaleswara Shiva temple. ings on Indian art of Shri Aurobindo. of our absurdly disordered minds to arrive The sculpture so impacted me, I found His expert dismantling of Western at an opening that the sunlight of peace it incomparable and wanted to paint notions of art and good taste super- can actually reach. Then we have to stay in an equivalent style. I took a long imposed on Indian art and thought there rather than dart back into the jungle trip visiting scores of famous and al- is helpful, especially now as we hope- of thought and desire. most forgotten temples all over Tamil fully truly challenge prejudicial views. My art is essentially a practice of Nadu. I was absorbed in the iconog- Art history is full of them! Bhakti yoga. The aim is to link myself raphy and mood. I met sculptors here and the viewer to the inspiring and sub- and there, one of whom passed on a SM: What does yoga mean to you? lime energy of Divine Beings. That re- book of iconometry which I learned How do your artistic and yogic practic- quires sensitivity and lots of it! We learn from. After that trip, my style devel- es intersect? it ourselves through thousands of hours oped culminating in the painting of on the meditation cushion or couch!

26 Issue 27 Hanuman Lifting Mount Dronagiri ©Nara Allsop

Winter 2020-2021 27 Uchista Ganapati ©Nara Allsop.

28 Issue 27 Winter 2020-2021 29 SM: Is there a place for innovation to which we are not tied by direct cul- The Shyam Dases, Krishna Dases and in traditional art? And is there a place tural inheritance? Robert Beers of this world are authenti- for observance of tradition in contem- cally servants of the Indic wisdom heart- porary art? NA: The question of cultural appro- mind, helping profoundly to keep invalu- priation is important if we wish to raise able and esoteric traditions alive. If we NA: Everything here depends on the our level of awareness. It is a wonderful want, and indeed if it is fated to be so, we artist’s level of skill in relation to the thing to witness at this time that Black also can serve something that transcends tradition they seek to innovate within. and Brown people are becoming more common cultural appropriation. Often it can be a flashy superimposition sophisticated in revealing to white peo- and the tradition remains untouched. ple how their prejudice operates; we are SM: What makes something sacred? Innovation, to my mind, happens when cornered by the truth of that if we listen. Have you had a personal experience skilled artists, who are already fluid in a The recent phrase “white fragility”, for which really drove home for you the re- traditional form, begin to expand their example, helps us to look at our mecha- ality of divinity? own unique capacity for expression nisms of avoidance. As Westerners with through the growth of skill and under- a love of Indian culture, we may assume NA: In 1997 my Guru Lee Lozowick standing of mood. that we are free of common bias—and took me as part of a group to visit Yogi I personally am not moved by thang- indeed that may be somewhat true— Ramsuratkumar, the beggar saint of Ti- kas with Hello Kitty included or by Ha- only to find out that the toxic idea of su- ruvannamalai. Sitting in his presence, numan with headphones. Ganesh with periority lurks beneath our yoga facade. consciousness exploded and I witnessed a birthday cake? No, not my favorite, See it, feel the remorse and be deepened. thousands of forms of Ganesha emanat- but you know live and let live! I do like If you come to India and move in an ing from him, flooding the room with the work of some of the modern tantric entirely white crowd that assumes that it light. That indeed drove home the real- painters, but if I am honest, probably knows more about devotion and Advai- ity of divinity. It is easy for us to forget more from an interior design point of ta than your Indian taxi driver, I would how great the state of a true Guru is. view! suggest that cultural appropriation has That moment has reverberated Generally we in the West take on the occurred. To feel deeply into a culture throughout my life since it occurred, 22 burden of a kind of artist identification and learn from it, to drink from the nec- years ago. I have had my share of spir- system with its need for original expres- tar of its wisdom, take a slow approach. itual experiences. They come and they sion at all costs. Why? It isn’t just the saffron clad that we can go. I have known what it is to foolishly I mainly feel uncomfortable talking to learn from. grip on to them and despair wildly at artists outside of my field as they seem So the idea, which is in fact a reality, their ephemeral nature. The Real does to feel I am enslaved to an outmoded is relevant to us all. For myself, I be- not change; it is constant and over the system that stifles expression. Whereas lieve that it is possible to actually serve course of our spiritual efforts, we notice I feel that all that need to rigorously ex- the host culture if you bring clarity and that it has always been there. Slowly we press one’s vision is a headache. Quiet integrity to your work or worship. We melt into it if we keep our faith, mean- innovation can occur in the most subtle all have to start somewhere and awk- ing interest, alive. ways, like finding a color palette unique ward collisions are inevitable. Keep Everything is sacred, the rocks be- to you. A shade of turquoise only you refining. If you study and practice an neath our feet as much as the stone know how to mix for example. Rather Indian art form or wisdom tradition Deities in temples. Yet being as we are, than Deities with extra heads wearing for years and interact with the culture ordinary stones do not draw our atten- baseball caps and contemporary pierc- sincerely, you are honoring that tra- tion so a form is provided and yet that ings. dition not desecrating it. Traditional form has a mysterious something that Occasionally I have felt the pressure forms of Indian art are in desperate magnetizes attention. to do some work with a more modern need of propagation and protection What we love becomes sacred. What expression but every time I try, the from disappearing altogether. This a culture loves becomes sacred and car- Muse deserts me! is why Indian Masters of traditional ries the power of that love and shares it dance, singing or yoga are happy, most- with the sensitive perceiver. SM: Nowadays many of us have be- ly, to take on Western students. You come hyper aware of the idea of “cultur- are helping and can become a kind of Narasimha Allsop trained in Thangka al appropriation”. Do you feel that this ambassador for the form. Always credit painting under the tutelage of idea has any relevance to you? How can your sources; if your spiritual wisdom Master Iconographer Robert Beer. Westerners who feel alienated or dis- is in fact just a rehash of Nisargadatta His devotional heart resides with the connected from our own religious and Maharaj or, more commonly, Ramana Hindu Pantheon which he continues mystic traditions but feel an affinity for, Maharshi, say so! Then you are sharing to paint from a Hermitage in the hills say, Indic traditions, best and most re- and people can go to the source having of Arizona. His prints are available spectfully engage with those traditions received your blessings! from Narasimhadeityart.com

Uchista Ganapati detail ©Nara Allsop. 30 Issue 27 Winter 2020-2021 31 VAISHNAVA ART How the form of Krishna is perceived in the Material World STEVEN ROSEN - SATYARAJA DASA Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does, the better. –André Gide

hen one thinks of God, one tion, Vaishnavas often speak of God’s Now, exactly when the transition Wnaturally thinks of limitless “spiritual form”. He has form, they occurred from literary description spirit, without restrictions or param- say, but, inconceivably, it is not belea- to concrete images, or icons, which eters. Consequently, according to this guered by the limitations of material then, in turn, facilitated the painting line of thinking, God must be form- form. of Krishna’s form—this is a matter for less. And in the Western religious tra- Most of the confusion arises from scholarly research. The tradition it- dition, it is generally taught that God one particular assumption: that spirit self, while upholding the eternality of is, in fact, without form, or that, if He must be formless. This idea arises be- Krishna’s visage, would—at least from has any form at all, it cannot be per- cause matter—the opposite of spirit— an historical point of view—point to ceived by living beings. (See Exodus is virtually defined by form. Moreover, Vajranabha, Krishna’s great grandson, 24.10, Exodus 33.20, John 1.18). In say the Vaishnava sages, spirit is by as being among the first to share with India, such ideas are often endorsed as nature eternal (sat), full of knowledge the world exactly what Krishna looks well, as in, for instance, the Svetashva- (cit), and blissful (ananda), whereas like. Upanishad (Adhyaya 4, Text 20): matter, again perceived as spirit’s op- It is said that just under 5,000 years na samdrise tisthati rupam asya na cak- posite, is temporary, without knowl- ago, Vajranabha constructed the first susa pasyati kascanainam—His form edge, and unable to experience bliss. visual images of Krishna (though there cannot be seen, for no one can perceive When matter is infused with spirit, as are some extraordinary exceptions and Him with the naked eye. when a human being is alive, we are instances of Vishnu murtis and other That being said, of course, an alter- allowed a hint of the spiritual qualities incarnations that manifested in prior nate tradition of personal theism ex- mentioned above, and when a person ages). Tradition further tells us that ists in these texts as well: In the Bible, dies, those qualities dissipate. he never actually saw Krishna, but for example, see Exodus 33.11 and But rather than go off on this phil- that his Deities were carved accord- Deuteronomy 34.10. For upanishad- osophical tangent, let us consider the ing to the firsthand version of Uttara, ic texts, see the Isopanisad and others following related truth as articulated the mother of Maharaja Pariksit. She espousing personalistic teachings that in the Vaishnava tradition: The oppo- shared with Vajranabha certain details go back to the Rgveda (1.22.20). In site of material form is not “no form,” of form and dimension, as did other the end, both the Bible and the Vedic but, instead, it is spiritual form. elder babas in the Vrindavan area (all traditions have saguna (personalistic) In other words, what if spirit is not of whom knew Krishna personally), and nirguna (impersonalistic) com- formless, as many assume, but instead including Uddhava, Krishna’s cousin, ponents, but for the sake of our ar- partakes of another type of form al- who was almost identical to him in gument, we have initiated our analysis together—a transcendent form that appearance. with the rampant impersonalistic side defies the limitations we normally Hundreds of Deities graced the of these traditions. associate with the world of three di- Braj area because of Vajranabha’s Still, sages from time immemorial mensions? desire to spread the worship of his have provided vivid descriptions of the Lord, but three were most import- Absolute in extremely personal terms his is how Vaishnavas think ant: Madan Mohan, Govindadev, and and their perceptions have been record- Tof Vishnu, or Krishna. The par- Gopinath. Perfect though these icons ed in scripture and in personal writings ticulars of such transcendent forms, were, none of them, Uttara later told for the benefit of all. The Vaishnava tra- moreover, are passed down in disciplic Vajranabha, fully captured Krishna’s dition, for example, offers us visual par- succession, so that masters who have visual attributes. Madana Mohan ticulars about Krishna and Vishnu and themselves seen these images reveal closely matched Krishna in terms of their many incarnations. them to their disciples, establishing the lower half of the body, from the How does the notion of God’s form what the Supreme looks like for those navel down to the feet. Govinda cap- tally with His stated formlessness? who sincerely want to know. Usually, tured the facial features, and Gopi- Well, for one, God must be com- these descriptions coincide with that nath caught hold of the thoracic area, plete by definition, and completeness of the scriptures, and the teachers also from the upper waist to the shoulders. would indicate that He is both form- compile texts for their disciples to Thus, Braj tradition today states that less and “full of form” as well. In addi- study. to get a complete vision of Krishna,

32 Issue 27 one must visit and offer devotion to for Krishna’s pleasure. The primary t is from these early images— all three Deities in a single day. (Gov- example is Vishakha, who is said to be Iand the numerous scriptural texts inda and Gopinath are currently in Sri ’s “other self”. It is she who and subsequent outpourings of Vaish- Jaipur, while Madan Mohan is in Kar- is specifically known for her artwork, nava sages—that we have come to oli; both are provinces in Rajasthan.) among other things, and she is famous know what Krishna and his various The Story of Vajranabha and the for having drawn a picture of Krish- manifestations look like. Everything, three main Deities of Braj is popularly na that is mentioned in early Gaud- from bodily hue to preferred cloth- retold today in Shrivatsa Goswami’s iya texts. Perhaps she is responsible ing, is visualized with great detail and book, Celebrating Krishna (Vrindavan, for the picture in Radharani’s locket. passed down in esoteric lineages. U.P.: Sri Chaitanya Prema Samstha- Indeed, the tradition acknowledges Indeed, the color of various di- na, 2001, pp. 22-3) and in Bhakti Vishakha’s drawing as perhaps the first vine forms has become central: We Chaitanya Swami’s Vrindavan: The illustration of Krishna ever produced read that Rama is emerald green (as Playground of God (Kolkata, India: on the earthly plane. opposed to blue)-complexioned (See Touchstone Media, 2010, pp. 14, 30, In Rupa Goswami’s Vidagdha Madha- Tulsidas, Ramcharitmanas 2.116.8), and 42). Originally, the narrative is va (Part 2, Act 1, Scene 1, Text 17), for and that Krishna, of course, is pieced together using segments found example, we find Paurnamasi, the elder ghanasyama—he is “dark” (syama) in the , the Bhagava- go-between in Braj who facilitates the like beautiful monsoon clouds (gha- ta-mahatmya of the Purana, intimate exchanges of Radha and Krish- na). The compound ghana-syama as a and local Braj tradition. Although the na, saying, “Please ask the skillful artist name for Krishna is found in the ear- story as cited here is its most common Vishakha to draw, for the pleasure of her liest of Vaishnava texts, like the Vish- version, it is also told in an alternate friend’s [Radha’s] lotus eyes, a picture of nu Purana (5.18.39), and also later, in way, with Madan Mohan represent- Nanda’s son [Krishna].” Then again in the , where he is described ing the feet, Govinda, the mid-range Act 2, we find Radha herself saying, “I as the very form (murtimat) of the of the body, and Gopinath, the face. am disturbed with overwhelming de- rainy season, i.e., the dark rain-cloud This less popular reading would more sire…Alas, I cannot bear the thought (ambuda-syama). accurately correlate with Gaudiya that I might never again see the alluring The Brahma-samhita beautifully Vaishnava siddhanta, since it has the face of Krishna, which is as brilliant as summarizes the abundant details re- deities correspond to their theological the moon, and whose beauty bewilders garding Krishna’s form and color as station—Sambandha (relationship), all the inhabitants of the three worlds.” articulated in the Vaishnava tradition: Abhideya (activities that nourish the [Full of longing, she adds,] “Be merciful I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, relationship), and Prayojana (the ulti- unto me, please—I beg you to show me who is adept in playing on His flute, mate goal)—in proper order. his picture again.” To which Vishakha with blooming eyes like lotus petals and But this is just a tangent. responds, “O friend, there is no paper head decked with peacock’s feather, with here on which to draw a picture.” And the figure of beauty tinged with the hue nother early depiction of so Radhika concludes with an anxious of blue clouds (-ambuda), and His AKrishna is traceable to Sri Rad- heart, “Then I will simply meditate on unique loveliness charming millions ha herself, Krishna’s divine female him, and in this way bring his image be- of Cupids. (5.30) Or further: I wor- counterpart who serves as his consort. fore my eyes.” ship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who Gaudiya Vaishnava mahant Rupa Vishakha’s drawing is again men- is Syamasundara, Krishna Himself, Goswami (1489–1564) tells us that tioned in Srila Rupa’s Ujjvala Nilama- with inconceivable and innumerable she wears a locket around her neck ni (Chapter 15): “After seeing a pic- attributes, whom the pure devotees see containing Krishna’s picture (Sri-Sri ture of Krishna drawn by Vishakha, in their heart of hearts with the eye of Radha-Krishna-ganoddesa-dipika, Part Sri Radha uttered the following devotion tinged with the salve of love. 2, Text 201). Incidentally, Krishna, words, ‘As brilliant as sapphire and (5.38) too, wears a locket on his chest con- decorated with a peacock feather, the However, it should be noted that taining a picture of Sri Radha (Sri- boy in this drawing emerged in the both his form and color are indicators Sri Radha-Krishna-ganoddesa-dipika, real world and gazed at me with his of a larger spiritual perception that Part 2, Text 128), and one might eas- dancing eyebrows. His glance made only advancement in bhakti can af- ily wonder where this picture comes me fall madly in love with Him, and ford. In his commentary on the Brah- from. In fact, although Radha is often I found myself laughing like a crazy ma-samhita verse cited above (5.38), envisioned as the ultimate artist, ex- person.’” According to the Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati makes this pert in the 64 arts enumerated in the Purana (10.62.18-19), Chitralekha, clear: The Syamasundara form of Krish- Vaishnava tradition, the Brahma-sam- too, would often compose drawings of na is His inconceivable, simultaneous hita (37) adds that her immediate ex- Krishna, , and other contem- personal and impersonal self-contradic- pansions, the Gopikas, are the ones poraries in the Vrishni dynasty. tory form. True devotees see that form in who often display her artistic ability their purified hearts under the influence

Winter 2020-2021 33 of devotional trance. The form Syama is can show those who view their works ly spiritualized, depicting Krishna in not the blue color visible in the mun- what Krishna looks like in the mind’s all his completeness, without any lack dane world but is the transcendental eye of those who have seen Him. whatsoever. Is it possible? The Vaish- variegated color affording eternal bliss, The key to understanding the De- nava sages affirm that it is. And, ap- and is not visible to the mortal eye. ity (icon) or a painting of the divine parently, whether we are talking about as actually being non-different from the artist or the viewer of the art, there espite this fact, devotion- Krishna and at the same time being are ways, it seems, for this vital trans- Dal artists cannot help but use a pointer in a particular direction formation to take place. It all relates known colors, issuing forth from our comes from realization and learning to the prema-netra, discussed above. standard spectrum of light. They nec- how to see with the eyes of love. In If the Vaishnava painter, for exam- essarily make use of chromatics avail- Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswamin’s sev- ple, is guided by bhakti scriptures and able to their vision. It is a limited pal- enteenth-century work, the Chait- self-realized souls, or if the artist her- ette, no doubt, but it is the only one anya-charitamrita (1.5.21), we read self is self-realized, the “blue of this we have. In light of this, one might about the prema-netra, or the eyes of world” at the tip of her paintbrush legitimately ask, “Are they actually love, and how one can only perceive goes through a sort of alchemy, en- depicting God with their artwork?” God through the lens of bhakti, or abling her work to purify anyone who Yes and no. While God’s presence is transcendent devotion. In the words views it: By looking at her work, the no doubt fully invoked, they are also of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabh- viewer is seeing Krishna himself. pointing in a particular direction. upada: Of course, by the same token, if the When this is done under the guidance Then how is it possible to see Him? viewer’s eyes are beautified by bhakti, of self-realized souls, the tradition Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau: If we train the painter’s qualifications become ir- tells us, their depictions are non-dif- our senses, if we purify our senses, those relevant. As it is sometimes said, “The ferent from the Supreme, embodying purified senses will help us see God. It is taste of the wine depends on the tast- the Lord’s essence. Thus, the work of just as if we had cataracts on our eyes. er, not on the winemaker.” There is a such artists is purifying, both for the Because our eyes are suffering from cat- similar idea in the viewing of Vaishnava artists themselves and for all onlook- aracts, we cannot see. But this does not art: the transcendental rasika, the con- ers who gaze at their creations. On mean that there is nothing to be seen— noisseur, the spiritual aesthete—this the other hand, in a sense, they depict only that we cannot see. Similarly, now is the one who really sees Krishna, re- what might be called a facsimile of we cannot conceive of the form of God, gardless of what is actually being looked transcendence, indicating for the mass but if our cataracts are removed, we can at. If the viewer’s eyes are tinged with of people what the Lord looks like to see Him. Brahma-samhita says, pre- the requisite love, Krishna will appear self-realized souls. Vaishnavas call this manjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena in the midst of the artwork, for such a Dig-darshani, i.e., “showing a particu- santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti person sees Krishna everywhere. Chait- lar direction,” or “pointing the way.” [Bs. 5.38]: The devotees whose eyes anya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533) is the In Indian logic, this calls to mind are anointed with the love-of-God perfect example. He appeared in Ben- both arundhati-darshana-nyaya and ointment see God, Krishna, within gal, India, some 500 years ago as the shakha-chandra-nyaya. Let me ex- their hearts twenty-four hours a day. combined form of Radha and Krishna plain. In order to see arundhati (a So, it is required that we purify our in the guise of Their own devotee. In- small star), one first points to a bigger senses. Then we’ll be able to understand deed, as the perfect devotee, when he star in the same constellation, thus al- what the form of God is, what the name looked at Lord —a form of lowing a person to locate the star they of God is, what the qualities of God are, Krishna who, from an external point of are actually looking for. Shakha-chan- what the abode of God is, and what the view, does not even remotely resemble dra-nyaya—pointing to the branches paraphernalia of God are, and we’ll be Him—Sri Chaitanya saw Krishna in of a tree to show the moon in between able to see God in everything. — The His familiar cowherd form, with His al- them—indicates something similar. Journey of Self-Discovery (Los Ange- luring stance, incomparable lotus eyes, It enables one to locate the moon by les: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1990, and raven black hair. Because Mahapra- seeing it in relation to clearly visible “Making Friends with the Mind,” p. bhu viewed the Lord with bhakti, the branches. One might say, “If you 147.) threefold-bending flautist appeared be- look at this branch and now this oth- What does all of this have to do with fore him in full regalia as the highest of er branch, and now look in between Vaishnava art? In short, it explains all divinities. May all viewers of Vaish- them, you will find the moon.” Need- how we come to see God, not merely nava art be so blessed! less to say, the moon is not really in by looking at spiritual paintings and between those particular branches, such, but by purifying our conscious- Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa) is a but it can be located by the branches’ ness. The above philosophy is really biographer, scholar and author in the specific placement. In a similar way, telling us how “the blue color visible fields of philosophy, Indic religion, Vaishnava artists depicting divinity in the mundane world” becomes ful- and comparative spirituality.

34 Issue 27 Maha-Visnu’s Cosmic Breathing by Syamarani dasi ©The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

Winter 2020-2021 35 EVERYTHING AROUND US IS TEMPORARY JADURANI DASI

t was a Friday, the last day of asked, “Do I have to become like these to change the world and redefine the Ithe workweek in early September, adults? Do I have to dress up and wear political and social realities of the day. 1966. I was on my summer job as a lipstick, go to work and then, after all My dream was of a world free from secretary-clerk to help pay for my up- is said and done, die, and that’s it?” oppression, so I joined a left-wing po- coming semester’s college expenses; “Of course not, dear,” my mother litical group and picketed against the my lunch break was almost over. As I calmly answered, not even slightly Vietnam War. hurried past The New York Public Li- distracted from watching her TV pro- Though I was part of the 1960s youth brary on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, gram. culture, I also felt estranged from it. I I was engulfed in the large crowd I felt like a misfit. Question after felt like I was watching a TV show in swarming across the metropolis. question surfaced. “Was I alive before which I played a fictitious part. In a Young secretaries in high heels I was in my mother’s womb?” “Do I sense, it was like I wasn’t really there. laughed together as they strolled have a form only now, or did I have an Yet, I took certain things very seri- along. Somber businessmen in pin- identity before this birth?” Thoughts ously. My friends and I strove to reach stripes strode purposefully as their like these plagued me throughout the a kind of utopian reality through the leather briefcases swayed by their next day and increased when I went use of mind-expanding drugs like sides. A young couple argued ve- home to relax in front of the TV. LSD and marijuana; we hoped this hemently as they walked through a As I watched a panel discussion would somehow change the world. red light, groups of teenagers darted between a group of psychologists, My aim was to achieve a sense of one- artfully across the busy intersection anthropologists, clergymen, and phi- ness with the universe. amidst speeding cars and trucks, and losophy professors on the subject Even though each LSD trip ended no one looked twice at the old woman of death and dying, I was dismayed in depression, I always experienced mumbling to herself. when they admitted, directly or indi- a few beautiful moments when the This was life in the big city, which, rectly, that they had no clear idea what world appeared astonishingly colorful on that day, disturbed me to no end. I happens after death. and profound, with ever-changing vi- had been dissatisfied for several weeks, Later that evening, I asked my sions that seemed to indicate a higher not knowing why. I had been trying mother, “Mom, if I wasn’t born from reality. I came to believe that my new, to ignore the vague but penetrating you, would I still exist?” animated, imaginary perceptions of questions drifting in and out of my “Well... uh, I don’t know,” she stut- the world were an ultimate truth in mind, but on that Friday they shout- tered. “I guess so.” It occurred to me themselves, and that I was the orches- ed out at me: Where are we all really that she had no answers, and that few trator of that reality. I came to believe going? Where are we really coming people do. I wondered, “Where can I that I was not my body, but instead from? What does it all mean? What is find the answers to these questions?” some kind of all-pervading IT, the su- the point of it all? preme creator and controller of every- y mid-September my summer thing around me. I alternated between few days later I was sitting at Bjob was over and I returned to being God almighty and a depressed A my parents’ home in the Bronx, school. I was nineteen years old and girl from the Bronx. leafing through the pages of Life mag- just beginning my sophomore year at I had a few outfits in my closet that azine. The photos somehow no longer City College of New York. I planned I thought would help me look more looked like photos of living people, to major in art and history. like God, and I wore them on ap- but of clones or robots. Struggling Like many of my fellow students propriate occasions. My favorite was with a sense of the world’s futility and and friends, I was politically con- a 1920s-style long, beige dress and falsity, I turned to my mother and scious to a certain degree. I wanted black cape, and I also liked wearing

36 Issue 27 Damodar Lila by Syamarani dasi ©2006 Syamarani dasi

Winter 2020-2021 37 my well-worn jeans with either an tion in the grimy window, trying, as it and European women in fancy ker- olive green or maroon turtleneck— were, to see my soul in the glass. All I chiefs and heavy sweaters. these were colors and styles consid- saw was blackness as the train entered Throngs of children also joined the ered ‘transcendental’ by my peers. a tunnel and shot along the darkened crowd, and stray dogs, too; everyone tracks. I silently called out, “Who am seemed focused on this sound and uch was the course of my life I really? If I’m the cause of everything, where it was coming from. I was in- Suntil one Thursday afternoon in if I’m in some sense God, why can’t wardly pulled in the direction of the mid-October. Intending to buy a large I control anything? Why can’t I just crowd, not realizing that what I was quantity of LSD, I withdrew the few mentally transport myself downtown about to see and hear would change hundred dollars saved from my sum- rather than taking this disgusting my life forever. mer job. My plan was to sell most of train?” I gently pushed through the gath- the acid to make my money back with Emerging from the subway system, ering for a better view, and then I profit, and I would keep some for my I walked to 9th street, heading to- saw him. He was dressed in pale own use. The previous time I did this wards Tompkins Square Park. It was a peach-colored robes, playing a bon- I was cheated, ending up with plain large park, stretching several blocks; it go drum, and chanting what sounded sugar cubes instead of LSD. To recoup was in the middle of the East Village like an ancient hymn. my loss, I’d played a similar ruse on and was the centerpiece of its eclec- He sat crossed legged on an oriental my own customers. tic neighborhood. It was a famous rug under a huge oak tree. His eyes I didn’t want this to happen again, playground and personal backyard of were closed and his demeanor was so I took care to ensure that this new sorts for hippies and counterculture peaceful yet intense. He seemed com- dealer was ‘the real deal’. I’d met him intellectuals—to smoke marijuana, pletely absorbed in his chanting, as if at a party, and he seemed honest. I ar- discuss left-wing politics, play music, experiencing a different reality. He ap- ranged to meet him outside an apart- and get to know each other. It was a peared ageless, timeless, and yet right ment on the Lower East Side. When place where I, too, had spent many an here in our midst. In stark contrast to I arrived, he said he didn’t want to evening looking for happiness. the people gathered around him, he attract attention. He told me to give On this particular occasion, I had looked like an effulgent jewel. Here, him the money and wait outside while no intention of casually socializing perhaps, was the person who knew the he went upstairs to get the LSD. I with anyone. My depression weighed answers to my deepest questions. waited for what felt like hours, un- on me so heavily that I hurried Four to five rows of singing and til finally someone in a neighboring through the park, anxious to reach my dancing hippies and European refu- apartment told me he’d seen that man boyfriend’s house. gees encircled him, and there was an going down the back fire escape. I heard guitars twanging, bongo inner group of about fifteen young I was devastated! My whole summer drums beating their African rhythms, American men who were clearly his pay check was gone; my entire two and transistor radios blasting the sounds followers. One of them was wearing months at a job I hated was wasted! I of the famous mid-sixties rock bands — Indian robes, very much like his, and was burning alive in my anger towards the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Simon the others wore Western street clothes. a man I didn’t know, and I certainly and Garfunkel, Jefferson Airplane, Bob They all danced barefoot in a small couldn’t go to the police. “Isn’t there Dylan, and Joan Baez, among others. I circle on the oriental rug. A few played anyone out there who can help me?” I regularly sheltered in this conglomerate finger cymbals and others played bells shouted in a whisper. of sounds, but that day I simply wanted or tambourines. The rhythmic drone My plea seemed to reflect a greater peace from my own mind. of a tambura, combined with the deep urgency—my life wasn’t developing tones of a hand-pumped organ, creat- into the utopian ideal I had hoped ll of a sudden, a very differ- ed a sound that seemed reminiscent of for. I bought a new pair of knee-high Aent sound attracted my atten- a primeval era long forgotten. It was black leather boots to cheer myself up, tion. It was soft and hypnotic, exotic as if a voice called me from deep in my but this didn’t help. in some sense, and yet hauntingly fa- soul, beckoning me in ways that were A few days later I decided to visit my miliar. Something buried deep inside new and refreshing, and yet as ancient boyfriend, who lived in the East Village. me responded to it: “That old sound as time itself. I was mesmerized. Boarding the IRT train, I made the is emerging again.” I had no idea what Their leader, the one who had ini- journey downtown once again. On my I meant. tially caught my eye, looked so mysti- way, I remembered the recent drug deal I had to find the source of the mu- cal that I could only compare him to turned bad and my life in general, caus- sic. It wasn’t difficult, for halfway into what I thought of as ancient India—a ing me to ask myself, “If I’m all-know- the park, a large crowd had formed genie flying in on a magic carpet. ing, why am I so gullible?” around some central spectacle. Gath- Imagining him to be coming from an- Tossed back and forth on the sub- ering to listen were elderly European other planet, I listened intently as his way seat, I stared at my own reflec- men dressed in old-fashioned suits mysterious chant filled the air:

38 Issue 27 Jaya Sri by Syamarani dasi ©2005 Syamarani dasi

Winter 2020-2021 39 Hare Kŗšņa, Hare Kŗšņa, Kŗšņa friend, I left the park with this strang- came so curious to understand these Kŗšņa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma, Hare er who, speaking little, brought me to colorful images. Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare a small storefront at 26 Second Ave- I was so enamored by the pictures, As the chanting came to an end, that nue. I noted the hand-painted sign dancers, music, and the room itself central Buddha-like figure stood up. above the front window, “Matchless that I didn’t notice when my guide He was not tall—a little over five feet, Gifts”, which looked suitably psyche- had left. I decided that my ‘inner perhaps—but his poise, stature, and de- delic, and my guide announced that self’— whatever that meant—would meanor exuded authority and dignity. this was the temple. take that guide’s place, showing me At the same time, he was complete- Through the window I saw four all I needed to know. Trusting the su- ly unassuming as he stood humbly be- young men in the center of the nar- preme ‘It’, I resolved to be a passive fore the crowd, his hands folded like row 10 by 50 foot temple room, danc- witness, to let whatever was destined a student standing at his desk. With ing and singing that same chant I had to happen happen. kindness emanating from his eyes, he heard in the park. Their hands were Two young men standing near me thanked us all for participating. He raised in the air as they danced, their began speaking to each other. Their explained that because the chanting faces gazing upward. I was determined voices sounded friendly, so I listened of the Hare Kŗšņa mantra was coming to know what this was all about. as one told the other, “Swamiji just from the depths of the soul, there was The storefront had been trans- said that when god-brothers quarrel, no need to understand its language. It formed into what I imagined an In- it’s just like clouds passing by; it’s not was universal; all nationalities could dian temple would look like, with just at all significant.” I wondered what benefit equally. a few simple pieces of furniture. A that meant. After all, there was so I couldn’t imagine the whereabouts wooden platform at the front of the much fighting in the world, between of the soul’s depths, but that saintly room was covered with a dark velvet countries, races, and even within my person’s voice was so sonorous and cloth, the lectern upon it flanked by own family. Was the torment not in- commanding that it sounded as if it flower vases and ornate plaster candle- escapable? had surely come from there. “There sticks. A large metal gong hung from Another young man came in from is no cost,” he continued. “No one the side of the platform, and dark pur- the side door and invited me upstairs to will tax you for chanting or stop you ple curtains covered the wall and win- meet “the Swami”. I followed him to the from it. There is no loss, and the gain dows behind it. Oriental rugs lined courtyard and then to the building be- is sublime.” He completed his short the long floor, decorative Indian silk hind the temple. We climbed a dim flu- speech by saying that chanting Hare cloths hung on the walls, and Indian orescent-lit stairway to the second floor Kŗšņa would make us happy, uncon- poster prints further ornamented the and entered the apartment on the right. ditionally. silk cloths. I noticed a heavenly incense fra- One of his followers distribut- I was attracted to the Indian prints: grance and several men and women ed flyers to the crowd. I recognized a cloud-complexioned youth danc- sitting on the floor chanting with the words as a take-off on LSD guru ing joyously on a large, multi-hood- rosary-like beads in their hands. Al- Timothy Leary’s decree to tune in to ed serpent; that same youth feeding though their words were indistinct, the need for another reality through ball-shaped sweets to a calf; that same the mystical drone once again evoked LSD, turn on to it, and drop out of bluish youth sitting on a rock; and remembrance of some primeval place. mainstream society. But this flyer was that youth, a little older, standing promising something more profound. by a beautiful, golden-complexioned he Swami, that same glowing A few minutes later, the chanters young lady, a cow standing between Tpersonality I’d seen in the park, packed up their drums and cymbals, them. sat in their midst, looking simulta- rolled up their rug, and started to I also noted some prints of mod- neously ascetic and aristocratic. He walk out of the park. I wanted to fol- ern Indian ladies with clay pots on bowed his head on the ground, which low them, but the crowds blocked my their heads and a print of Lord Jesus to my mind confirmed my belief view and I could not see which exit as well. I stared at a large circular that everything, including the floor, they took. painting just above a grand sitting is God. As the chanting continued Bewildered, I simply gazed at the place that looked like the seat of around him, he stood up and, fol- oak tree. I felt stranded. At that mo- honor; it depicted that same blue lowed by a few others, walked into ment, an onlooker tapped me on the boy and a golden girl who appeared the next room—the ‘greeting room’. shoulder. “Hi. Would you like to visit intoxicated by being together. His name, I was told, was Swamiji, or, the temple to meet Swamiji?” Another picture caught my eye. more formally, Oł Višņupāda Śrī Śrī- he tap and invitation seemed This one showed a six-armed person- mad Bhaktivedānta Swami Mahārāja. Tto be an arrangement of the same ality; two of His arms holding a bow He would later become known all force that drew me to the chanters. and arrow, two holding a flute, and over the world by the honorific title Totally forgetting about my boy- two holding a staff and bowl. I be- Śrīla Prabhupāda.

40 Issue 27 I watched as he interacted with each dangerous. Still, the conviction in the that I cannot, so please appoint me in of the guests. If someone folded their Swami’s voice made me want to try. Your service.” palms in respect, he returned the same How could I say no? Using the cloth-covered scripture gesture; if someone offered to shake At that point, I asked him a total- on his lectern for reference, he confi- his hand, he extended his hand to ly unrelated question, “Do I have to dently explained that we are not these them; if someone waved good-bye, he come down from LSD?” He looked physical bodies. We are atomic spirit waved in return. at me quizzically. Remembering the souls within the body, he said, and When he finally turned his attention trance-like state of the dancers in the it is only due to the presence of the to me, it was electric. His radiant eyes park and in the temple, I said, “Is soul that the body is active. He gave pierced through me, as if in attempt there a way I can stay high on it for- the analogy of a glove moving only to cut my speculative misconceptions. ever?” because of the hand inside it. As the I felt he could see my very soul and “No. It is material and therefore body appears alive only because the that he already knew me thoroughly, temporary. Only Kŗšņa consciousness soul is present within, so death occurs but I fought the feeling and looked can give lasting pleasure; it is spiritual when the soul leaves the body. away. I told myself, “You’re making and therefore eternal.” I congratulated my intuition. This all this up. This person is your own Somehow I believed him. I knew saintly person was able to provide an- creation”. I had taken LSD earlier that that my LSD days were over. swers to my heart’s questions. day, which would account for my ex- It was getting late, so I said good- In a resonant voice filled with what aggerated sense of self. night, went downstairs, and looked seemed like a sense of urgency, he He looked squarely into my eyes for my new boots. They were gone. revealed that we, lost souls in this and spoke calmly: “This is not a con- After a quick look around the store- world, are wandering and transmi- cocted process, or something that we front, I accepted that they’d been sto- grating through 8,400,000 species of have made up. This process is very len. Perhaps someone was trying to life, throughout innumerable univers- old, simple, and sublime.” He sat tell me something? The boots were es. We are suffering in different bod- back comfortably and slowly looked leather, a product of animal violence, ies and bodily conditions due to our around the room. “We are eternal,” he not compatible with spiritual con- past activities. When, in the course continued, “and everything around us sciousness. I left barefoot, relieved of of such wandering, we become for- is temporary.” Though he spoke soft- more than just my leather boots. tunate, God—Kŗšņa—arranges that ly, his words penetrated my being. I we connect with His representatives, found myself anxiously waiting to hen I finally reached my His pure devotees. Then, by the grace hear what he would say next. Rather Wboyfriend Mike’s house, I en- of those pure devotees, we may attain than expound on other philosophical thusiastically told him about the Swa- direct service to Kŗšņa and intimate truths, however, he politely asked me, mi and the transcendental mantra I’d association with Him. “Do you live near here?” just heard. He could not relate at all; Although there were so many new I was nervous, not knowing exact- he simply wasn’t ready for it. Frustrat- ideas that I could catch only fragments ly how to reply in a way that would ed and wanting to recapture the mood of each, the concepts intrigued me. The demonstrate how ‘enlightened’ I was. of the temple, I sat down and tried to idea that I was not this small shell of a I deliberately drew out my words in memorize the mantra from the fly- body was not new to me, but I’d come a strange, affected way. Trying to im- er I’d been given: Hare Kŗšņa Hare to think I was the whole cosmos. I was ply that I, as the ultimate divine be- Kŗšņa Kŗšņa Kŗšņa Hare Hare / Hare relieved to learn that, far from being the ing, lived everywhere, I answered, Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare unlimited Godhead, I am a minute eter- “Yeeeeess, I live veeeery near.” Again, Hare. Mike thought I was in a stupor nal soul, His beloved part and parcel, it was more the LSD talking than me. and left the room. one in quality with Him. “Good,” he said, smiling. “Then The next morning, I returned to My mind shot to my young school you will be able to attend the morning the temple for the 7:00 a.m. program, years, when I’d been taught that our program at 7:00 a.m.” where sixty or so followers and guests universe is the only one, and that, of I immediately realized my blunder. sang Sanskrit chants along with the the nine planets existing within our I lived in the Bronx, an hour and a half Hare Kŗšņa mantra. The Swami began solar system, this Earth is the only one subway ride away! The idea of waking his lecture with a simple translation that maintains life. It now struck me up at 5:00 in the morning and taking of the mantra: “O energy of God, O as absurd to consider that our universe five trains was untenable, especially God, I am suffering in this world due is hanging in a void, with no other considering how late I usually went to to serving Your illusory material ener- venue for life in all its forms. There bed. Besides that, it would be scary to gy. Please pick me up and engage me must be many places to accommodate ride the subway that early; there were in the service of Your spiritual ener- the countless souls who are wandering many drug dealers, thugs, drunkards, gy, so I can be happy. O Lord, I have from body to body. But why were we and others who made traveling alone come to this world to enjoy, but I find wandering in the first place?

Winter 2020-2021 41 My new teacher tended to explain nal servitorship to the Supreme Lord, Jadurani Dasi (Syamarani dasi) is a that our wandering in this world was Śrī Kŗšņa, we will know that we can master painter of Bhakti Art and a result of our sins. I had a hard time never truly be lost. A person who has one of the most stalwart teachers of with that word, probably because of lost all his money may feel completely bhakti-yoga in current times. She is its Christian hellfire-and-brimstone lost, but in reality he is not lost; only among the first disciples of Srila A.C. connotations, but I couldn’t think of his money is lost. It is his attachment Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the a better one. to the money that causes him to think world-renowned founder-acharya of I thought of lots of words I could that he himself is lost. ISKCON (the International Society for more easily resonate with, especially be- Recalling the money that I’d recent- Krsna Consciousness), and she is also a cause I’d engaged in numerous activities ly lost to the unscrupulous drug deal- prominent student of Srila Prabhupada’s described by those words— dishonesty, er, my subsequent despondency and close associate, Srila Bhaktivedanta indecency, immorality, corruption, and dishonest dealings with others, I be- Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. Under lack of ethics—but I knew of no single gan adjusting to this new and sooth- their expert spiritual guidance, she has word that summed it all up. I acqui- ing way of thinking. created nearly 300 works of devotional esced, “Okay, let it be.” He went on to explain that the con- art and is recognized as one of the I was hearing that we souls had per- cept of becoming one with the Su- most influential artists to emerge out formed harmful acts, we had hurt oth- preme Lord is another symptom of be- of the Hare Krsna Movement and its ers in our past lives and in this one, ing lost in false ego, in a misconceived subsequent school of art. by our body, mind, and words. The identity. We erroneously believe that concept of having been sinful in pre- we ourselves are the Supreme when in vious lives, thus causing reactions in fact we are merely His servants. this life, was at first difficult to accom- I would very soon learn that the modate; even the idea of past lives in word “merely” did not actually mean general was hard to imagine. “merely”; it meant “great.” It is our Still, the teaching of reincarnation greatness to realize this, he told us. did seem to answer my question about The late President John F. Kennedy is existing prior to being my mother’s accepted as great because of his service daughter. If I were to accept the expla- to the mission of his great country, nation of this saintly guru about the America, and now we see memorials, reasons for the world’s pains and plea- airports, streets, parks, schools, bridg- sures, it would also mean that nothing es, buildings, and so on dedicated to happens by chance, not even the fact him. Similarly, Jesus Christ is wor- that I had been born into my family in shiped as great due to his service to the Bronx. It was a lot to take in, but God, the great. One becomes great by it was fascinating and illuminating. I service to the Great. One after anoth- kept wanting to hear more. er, Śrīla Prabhupāda saw my miscon- ceptions and corrected them. uring the question and an- Later that morning, as I was leaving Dswer period at the end of the the temple, I noticed the large sign in class, a young, very tall and lean man the front window: stood up and asked, “Isn’t this world a dream? When we become self-real- International Society for ized, don’t we merge with the ‘All’ and Krishna Conscousness lose our individual identity?” I’d had A.C. Bhaktivedanta lectures on the same question. the Bhagavad Gita Monday “Yes, this world is a dream,” this October 17, 1966 7 pm. clearly enlightened personality said, Krishna as He Is “but when I wake up from my dream, Daily Morning Class 7 am. I am still here. Although I am not the person I thought I was in the dream, I decided to keep coming back. I have not lost my identity. I am still here, still a person.” He explained that only in ignorance do we perceive ourselves as lost; if by receiving transcendental knowledge we come to our real position of eter-

Radha Alone by Syamarani dasi ©Syamarani dasi 42 Issue 27 Venu Gita by Syamarani dasi ©Syamarani dasi

Winter 2020-2021 43 MAINTAINING SANITY DR. ROBERT SVOBODA

Talk given at the Nāmarūpa Living with Reality virtual retreat in the Spring of 2020, transcribed and edited.

oday’s topic is Maintaining Sanity. instead the extended family, com- viously much more grounded in the THere is a question from yester- plemented by everyone else who be- earth element which creates stability; day’s Q&A: longed to the clan. If you’re not yet stability really is an important factor, “I have been aware during the pan- familiar with Dunbar’s number, take especially nowadays. demic that when I focus less on the a look. British anthropologist Robin It is utterly natural and very appro- outside world and more on my imme- Dunbar did some research comparing priate that an individual should feel diate family, I feel much happier and other primates with humans with re- much more grounded and real and more productive. When I connect to gard to brain size and average social healthy when interacting with the what’s going on elsewhere, I fall easily group size. He discovered that for any members of his or her family. Please into a sense of despair and fear. I’m primate species, there is a limiting note that “family” does not necessarily trying to find some middle ground number of individuals that members mean blood family; instead it means through my metta practice, but it’s re- of that species can have in their imme- whoever you have taken as part of your ally challenging. diate, closest possible social group— own personal real honest-to-goodness “I’m also aware in my sadhana that individuals whom they actually know family, the people who are integral I seem to be carrying a large invisible and interact with and feel they have a parts of your world. weight that I’m ignoring in my daily re- genuine relationship with. When we consider what’s happen- ality. I’m not sure how to carry this load In humans, Dunbar suggested, that ing in the rest of the world, there’s better since my functionality as a parent number is approximately a hundred bound to be despair, grief and the like; seems to depend in part on ignoring it. and fifty. This is of course an average, but it is not as immediate as what hap- “Thanks so much for sharing your and other researchers have proposed pens to our families. For human be- time and wisdom with us.” numbers up to two hundred fifty, but ings, the rest of the world is real, but And thank you for your question. for now let’s take one hundred fifty to a lesser degree than the reality that as standard, particularly since a paco is generated by that group of rough- o restate: When focusing less (shaman) of my acquaintance who is ly a hundred and fifty people that is Ton the outside world and more a member of the Q’ero tribe of Peru our “village”. And of those? Dunbar on the immediate family the question- lives in an extended family of about mentioned two more numbers: five- er feels happier and is more produc- that size. ish people who are involved in maybe tive but, when trying to connect with This number is physiological, it is 40% of our socializing and ten more what is going on elsewhere, easily falls a reflection of how many people your people who are involved in another into a sense of despair and fear. brain can connect together as part of 20%. Of what remains, in my esti- For the moment let’s put aside the your social reality, not your “social mation, between thirty and forty oth- “large invisible weight”, which may network”, but the people who interact er people, take up about 30% of our indeed be real and may also—espe- with you in an ongoing, meaningful, social time leaving 10% for the other cially given the currently profound in- practical way in the physical world. hundred. The bottom line is that we fluence of Rahu—be not so real at all. Note that I am not denying that devote about two-thirds of our social The first thing is that focusing on virtual relationships can be real. They lives to fifteen people (more or less). one’s immediate family being produc- certainly can be. But while virtual re- That’s just the way it is. tive and happy is how humans were ality is real, it is a different kind of re- For your own edification you may evolved. We evolved not to take care ality than the “real” reality of actually want to invest a little time discovering of our personal nuclear families, since being in the same location, breathing for yourself who those fifteen closest- humans really didn’t live in nucle- the same air, eating the same food, to-you people are, the ones you inter- ar families until very recently. It was doing the same things, etc. That’s ob- act with the most, the ones you trust

44 Issue 27 Guruvayoor Kesavan ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 45 the most, the ones you rely on the no one need feel isolated. Humans are he is feeling is not directly connected most and who most rely on you. Un- hyper-social animals and for us to feel to reality because the tiny amount of consciously and subconsciously you isolated is one of the most fundamen- information coming through his sens- know who they are, but it’s good to tal causes of serious disease. es has already been filtered. A person know them consciously as well, that living there would have access to more you may appreciate them for all that ack to the question: “I feel information, would have a better idea, they do for you. Bhappy and more productive when but still would never know precisely I focus less on the outside world and what the situation is. At this time ne very important task that more on my immediate family and Mother Nature herself is saying loudly Othey perform—other people when I connect to what’s going on else- and clearly that everybody needs to be help out with this as well, but chiefly where, I easily fall into a sense of despair focusing on where they are right now, it is those closest to you—is to assist and fear.” It is easy nowadays to connect focusing on their immediate reality— you to maintain your sanity. It has to what is going on elsewhere—or rath- the reality of where they are—and not been said by Jordan Peterson, author er, to connect to our image of what’s to project out globally. Yes, we can of 12 Rules for Life, that we outsource going on elsewhere. Unless we actually pay attention to what’s going on else- the problem of our sanity. He said this are elsewhere we really can’t know what’s where, but Nature herself is telling us in the context of other people, i.e. going on elsewhere. India is a good ex- not to try to connect your awareness that by their reactions other people ample of “elsewhere”. I lived in India for to the entire world right now. Instead, help us maintain an awareness of how ten years, and over the past forty-seven Mother Nature is handling that. She to behave in society. But the truth of years I’ve spent a total of at least twenty wants you instead to do everything this statement goes beyond what its years there. On this basis I can assure you can to make your relationships author envisioned. you that until you actually go to India with your family members healthy. We also outsource our sanity to our yourself you have no idea what it’s like; That’s why she has returned everyone sense organs. We’re always sensing if you have been there, then you have home now, because this is what you solidity and gravity via the sense of some idea of what it’s like. If you live need to be doing right now. touch, for example. All five senses are there you have even more of an idea, but Doing this properly will assist you always generating information about nobody really knows what is going on to maintain your sanity. Trying to our surroundings, always remind- there, not even people who were born connect too much to what’s going on ing us that we are alive here in this there, because it’s not one place. It’s elsewhere will not benefit your sanity, five-element world. These constant re- many, many, many places. because everybody elsewhere needs to minders are crucial to our sanity. This When you’re connecting to what’s be figuring out what’s going on there is why, in my opinion, it’s a complete happening in other parts of the world, themselves. hallucination to think it will ever be whether it’s good or whether it’s bad, possible to export a human person- you’re connecting to a sample. We’re here are so many things we ality into a machine somewhere and taking tiny, tiny samples and we’re Tcan be thankful for. I often repeat expect that it will be a living, func- trying to evaluate on the basis of those something my mother was fond of say- tional personality. It could perhaps be tiny samples. The first thing to re- ing, something that’s really good advice: a cluster of recorded behaviors, but member whenever you’re dealing with “There’s always something to be thank- not a living personality because it will something that is not in your immedi- ful for, and things can always be worse.” not be a living organism. It will no ate neighborhood is that you are work- The pandemic for example could be longer be getting perpetually remind- ing with very limited information. It much worse. If the Covid-19 death rate ed where it is and what it exists in the is an amount of information that can was as bad as for MERS, which is also context of, it will not perpetually be give you a glimpse of what’s going on, a coronavirus and whose death rate is having its sanity maintained. but for you to try to draw conclusions around 30%, that would be truly cata- I think it is very important never to from that sample—that everything is strophic. Or, if we lacked the ability to forget that we outsource the manage- under control or everything is going act, if we didn’t have the medical and ment of our sanity and that, if we are to hell—your conclusions are likely to surgical interventions that we have, the lucky enough to have good relations be inaccurate. death rate would be much higher. I’m with our family members, we out- It is unfortunate that people are pretty sure nobody can even imagine source quite a bit of it to them and dying. It is unfortunate that people what it would be like to have six per- they outsource quite a bit of it to us. are sick. We may not be able to save cent of the world population die, which That’s an important part of what it these people, but what we can do is is more or less what happened during means to be a family member—that to send metta, just as the questioner the Spanish flu. Even if only 10% of we have one another’s collective backs, does. We can send metta to everyone. the world population got the disease— we support one another, we are there What I encourage the questioner to that’s 780 million people, and even if to provide support in a crisis so that remember is that the grief and fear only 5% of those patients died, we are

46 Issue 27 still talking about 39 million people. there are fewer distractions. Things are mote life by facilitating a cure, and Thirty-nine million corpses are simply coming up that you have to deal with, a quack doctor can make the disease inconceivable today; people everywhere and that’s rarely a pleasant thing. worse and promote death. This is why would be going insane. Thank you Na- When you consider all the things in you always want to work with doctors ture! Thank you for being so generous yourself that are coming up that you who know what they are doing. I like with us. have to deal with, that you’ve been the Hindi proverb: neem hakeem, kha- Or suppose we were going through able to avoid dealing with by being tra jaan—in the hands of an incompe- this pandemic fifteen years ago when busy externally and now have to face, tent doctor your life is in danger. everybody had dial-up Internet and and when you consider that three, or If you want to be a sane doctor, you little flip phones; we wouldn’t be able even two billion people—two thou- have to study well, remember what to communicate so easily because we sand million people—are also sud- you’ve studied, then gain experience. wouldn’t be so able to connect. We denly having to deal with stuff that The Charaka Samhita stands first wouldn’t even be able to worry about they’ve been avoiding, then it is a piv- among the Brihat Trayi, the Big Three what was happening in other places otal moment. of ayurvedic texts. Charaka means a because we wouldn’t know; we’d know Part of that pivot is to carefully eval- wanderer. Those who wander, espe- a tenth or hundredth of what’s going uate how much you can open yourself cially in a forest, will find all kinds of on now. Things can always be worse, to the external world—physical, astral plants, all sorts of animals interact- so we really do need to be thankful. or spiritual. You can certainly go in- ing with various plants, maybe eating Let us be thankful that we are in safe sane if you try to go so far into spirit them as food, maybe consuming them places, with food, with our loved ones. that the sanity of your body becomes as medicine. These may be loved ones that we can corrupted. Mens sana in corpore sano Since nowadays most of us wander rely on for mutual support or maybe is what you should be aiming for: A in the forest of human beings rather they are loved ones that we have trou- sound mind in a sound body. than in a forest of trees, what students bled relationships with that we can To understand better what that im- of medicine most need to know now- work on right now. There’s so much to plies let us turn to the definition of adays is how to interact meaningfully be thankful for. Gracias. Gracias. health in the Sushruta Samhita. with human beings. My distinguished co-author Hart de Fouw likes to say, he “large invisible weight” ushruta wrote the book on “For physicians and astrologers, the Tthe questioner referred to is Sayurvedic surgery; surgery has laboratory is the world”—we have something that Nature is trying to been a part of ayurveda for at least to always be alert, finding out what’s make the entire planet aware of. That 2500 years. Sushruta invented plas- going on, gaining knowledge, experi- large invisible weight is made up of all tic surgery; in the modern world, the menting so that we can best help our the immense damage that the human first ever plastic surgery operation was clients. The Charaka Samhita suggests species is responsible for, a big part of performed in Germany in the early wandering as an effective way to learn. which is degradation of the environ- 19th century after Sushruta’s book The meaning of the name Sushruta, ment. had been translated into German. the ayurvedic surgeon, is listened well. Humans have actively tortured the Even today textbooks on surgery still You want your surgeon to be experi- entire planet in so many ways. Con- describe that operation. It’s called a enced, but also to have paid attention in sider the slaughtering of farm animals pedicle graft. class. You want somebody who actually for food. Humans account for about But Sushruta’s treatise covers more attended that lecture on appendicitis 36 % of the biomass of all mammals than just surgery. He also consid- because if you require an appendecto- on Earth today. Domesticated live- ers what it means for a person to be my you want somebody who has been stock, mostly cows and pigs, account healthy, because surgery is a wonder- exposed to the perspectives of many for 60 %, and wild mammals for only ful thing—if it is necessary and if it is surgeons, not just one. When you open 4 %. Only 4 %! done well—but surgery alone cannot someone up you can’t always know what And that’s just one form of torture cure the patient. What it can do is you’re going to find; sometimes you may that we have been inflicting on Nature. remove something that is obstructing discover a very unusual presentation or Many people are not able to be aware the patient’s movement in the direc- a very unusual pathology. You may only of this consciously at all, but things tion of good health. get one of these in your career, and if are going to come up from people’s The Charaka Samhita, the most fa- you have never even heard of it before unconscious and subconscious—they mous text on ayurveda, states clearly you may not know what to do with it. are coming up. Because now you can’t that since the beginning of time no And that may be the end of the patient. distract yourself by moving around so doctor has ever healed a patient. The Sushruta listened well, he took in all the much. Now things that you’ve been patient is healed by life itself, by Na- information that he could about the ex- able to avoid by distracting your- ture. Doctors can only participate in periences of other surgeons and includ- self you can’t as easily avoid because the process; a good doctor can pro- ed that data in his text.

Winter 2020-2021 47 Along with experience and learn- For svasthya, Sushruta says that to connect to which makes them feel ing—which is basically hearing about there are two main factors to consider: good, makes them feel like they need other people’s experience—we also the mind and the body. For the body nothing from the outside. A lack of have to remember, which is where to be healthy, it has to be sama; it has craving makes the spirit, the mind and Vagbhata comes in. Vagbhata means to be balanced. Sama means same. All the senses healthy, because for them Mister Language Expert, and his book of your physiological processes have to what is unhealthy is craving. Crav- Ashtanga Hrdayam is a condensation be harmoniously integrated, harmoni- ing itself is innate, and some craving of Charaka and Sushruta done in ously working with one another and is natural, like the cravings for water, beautiful poetry. A little prose does functioning and then you can say your food, air, sleep, shelter. But the fact appear here and there, but mostly it is body is healthy. That also applies, in- that these cravings are natural makes easy-to-memorize poetry that acts as a directly, to your mind because of how it easy for us to conclude wrongly that mnemonic; when you remember that your mind and body interact. But Su- craving itself is natural. verse, it helps you to remember all the shruta says that another factor is more So long as we’re getting, on an on- other information that you have been important for your mind, your sense going basis, sufficient water, food, and taught about it. This applies both to organs and your atma. When he says air then we will not need to bother to treatment and to health in general. atma here he doesn’t mean the para- crave them. Instead there will be an The following verse is from Sushru- matma, the Supreme Soul; instead he expectation on the part of all parts of ta, and it goes this way: means the jivatma, your personal soul. our organism that they will be deliv- Let’s not argue here about whether ered those essentials regularly. A sig- Sama dosha sama agnischa sama the soul really “exists” or not—the nificant part of having your organism dhatu mala kriyaaha| Buddhists say it doesn’t, most Hin- be balanced and of having your spirit, Prasanna atma manaha dus say it does. Whether that soul is your mind, and your sense organs feel swastha iti abhidheeyate permanent or not, everyone possess- satiated is that they should feel con- es a “spirit” that is beyond both body fident that they are being taken care There are three main words in and mind, beyond the chatter of the of. They should in particular feel con- ayurveda for health. Arogya means rational thinking process; something fident that prana will be delivered to lack of disease. This is the sole con- that connects you to that reality that’s them on time all the time, and that cept of health in modern medicine. bigger than all of us. they will receive extra prana when “If you’re sick we’ll treat you. If you’re Modern medicine focuses on the they really need it. not sick then we can do nothing for physical existence, pays secondary at- you because you have no pathology tention to the mind, and disregards o sanity comes down to prana. that we can work with.” Arogya, lack the soul entirely. But human beings SIt comes down to prana because it’s of disease, is important but it is not a cannot be healthy if they ignore the prana that brings consciousness into the complete description of health. spirit, and because care of the soul is organism. Therefore, the very first place Ayurveda teaches that you never want being neglected it is not surprising to begin maintaining your sanity is mak- to wait until the pathology develops. that people are becoming increasingly ing sure that you’re doing everything you Instead, you should work with the pa- unhealthy, when what they need to do can to have prana enter your organism tient while the imbalances are devel- to promote their health is to gain and well, circulate well, and be nice and stable oping, not wait until they’re developed maintain harmony at all levels. there. This means that it’s essential for you and manifested. The rule is to bring the to breathe well, to breathe calmly, slowly, organism back into balance while the hen your physiology is bal- regularly and to have a healthy relation- imbalances are not yet evident. Wanced and your personal soul, ship with the air outside, which you can The second word is for health is your thinking mind and your sense do, no doubt, if the air is decent air. Right svasthya, which comes from the word organs are prasanna—prasanna atma at the moment, we can enjoy the air be- healthy, which in Sanskrit is svastha. indriya manaha—then you can really cause there’s so much less pollution. We Sva means self and stha means to be say that you are healthy. Prasanna is a can enjoy much cleaner air than many of established in, so svastha means to be Sanskrit word that means gratified or us have enjoyed for a long time. Now we established in yourself. satisfied, that sense that you have when can take in that nicer air and we can be The third word for health issukha , you are not craving anything, when thankful for the blessing of decent air. Oh which means good space. Sukha means you’ve had enough to eat, enough to great goddess, thank you for improving the space inside you is good, the space drink, to see, to taste, to smell. You’ve the air! Please assist us to enjoy even better outside you is good—all the different even had enough of touch and hear- air! We are appreciative; we’re being grate- spaces that are part of your reality ing. Your sense organs are not over- ful, and being grateful is a very important are harmonious, including the spir- loaded, they’re not exhausted, they’re part of remaining sane. it. Only then can you really say that just not craving. They have enjoyed One of the first pairs of Sanskrit you’re truly healthy. a judicious amount of sense objects words I learned when I was in the

48 Issue 27 ayurvedic college were the words for So ingrates are not just ungrateful, very easy for concepts like “I’m very grateful and ungrateful. The word for they are unfriendly, disagreeable, un- generous, I’m helping everyone” to be- grateful is krtajna. Krta means done, pleasing. Love plays no part in their come part of your self-definition, be- accomplished; jna means wisdom, reality. And, sadly, when it comes to cause then it becomes self-aggrandize- knowledge. Krtajna means that you the relationship that humans have ment. Then it’s not genuine, because understand, appreciate and acknowl- with our natural environments, we it’s gone from being “Here’s a fellow edge what has been done for you. The are ingrates. We have not been giv- human that I can help” to “Here I am opposite of krtajna is krtaghna. The ing back to the environment as much helping out”. Then it goes from genu- two words sound almost the same, ex- as we’ve been taking; instead we take ine giving to becoming give and take, cept that ghna means to kill. Here is and take and take, and we complain. which is karmic: “I” am assisting you a basic principle of the karma nyaya, We’ve been extremely ungrateful and because it enables “me” to reinforce the law of karma: When you acknowl- the results of that ingratitude are re- my good opinion of “myself”. Then edge what someone has done for you, turning to us at this very moment. it’s all about me. you’re acknowledging that karmic Let us abandon the ingrate persona And anyway the best generosity is debt, that rnanubhanda, that align- and start the process of returning to often not at all dramatic. Sometimes ment that is causing the two of you right relationship with our world by be- just a gesture means a lot. I like to to be interacting in one place at one ing grateful for the air that we breathe, stroll about, and now that people are time. You are facilitating the working grateful for the water that is provided to not able to wander around so much, out of that person’s karmas and that us, grateful for the gravity that keeps us lots of other people are going out for a person is facilitating the working out stable and safe on the ground. There’s walk too, and are interacting with one of your karmas. so much to be grateful for, so much to another. Many of these are people I’ve Whether this will be pleasant or be thankful for, starting with this: We’re seen but never spoken to because it is unpleasant depends very much on alive, we’re moving. a busy world and until recently most the nature of those karmas, but that people didn’t take the time to talk. is a different matter from the fact that here is a lot for us to ac- Now everybody has time, and people people keep meeting one another be- Tknowledge. We’re must acknowl- who would never have thought about cause people share karmas that they edge that everything is not great in the being friendly with strangers are now need to work out with one another; world, not great with the human spe- saying, maybe we need to get to know that’s what rnanubhanda is. cies, not great in general. Can we as one another better. Maybe we need to So krtajna means that I acknowledge individuals fix this? No, we can’t. But appreciate what people like the hos- the karmic relationship that exists be- what we can do is to encourage things pital staff, the garbagemen, the utility tween you and me and that when you to move in a better direction, even if workers, the delivery people, and so do something nice for me, I am grateful only by a tiny amount. And as Vimala- many others are doing for us. Maybe for it. I appreciate it and it is according- nanda always used to say, charity begins we need to appreciate all of the peo- ly my desire, automatically and without at home. There are all kinds of problems ple who function to actually keep the any calculation, to do something good everywhere, he would say. There’s no fabric of society together. That sense for you, because what we’re trying to do, lack of problems; we will never run out of generosity is an extraordinarily im- implicitly or explicitly, is to balance our of problems. There will always be poor portant part of being genuinely sane. karmic accounts so that we will not be people, sick people, needy people. They obligated to continue all this back and all need help, and you may be able to orrying about what is hap- forth business. We can instead relate help some of them, but start by working Wpening in the outside world is in a much more genuine way that’s not with the people in your own space. Do not an important component of sani- based on this commerce, this karmic what you can that is appropriate for you ty. Doing what you can do, acknowl- give and take. to do to help them to move in the right edging that you’re not in control of Krtaghna is what happens if someone direction. The best way to help them everything, and making sure that you does something for you and you do not move in the right direction is to make are submitting yourself to the will of feel grateful. By being an ingrate, you sure that you’re the best person you can the Supreme Reality while at the same are disconnecting yourself from that be. Once you’ve put yourself in order time requesting the Supreme Reality positive karmic give and take; you are and done what you can for your family to assist things to move in the right di- taking things without giving anything members, then use what time and ener- rection is, in my opinion, the positive back. I love that word ingrate, which gy you have remaining to make yourself and sane way of doing things. was first used 350 years ago. Once it available to other people who can make This, of course, requires you to have meant unfriendly, and it comes from the use of what you are able to offer them. faith in the Supreme Reality. Stabili- Latin ingratus—unpleasant, disagree- But don’t start thinking of yourself ty of awareness is based in stability of able—which literally means in (not) + as being generous just because you oc- body and stability of mind, and an gratus (pleasing, beloved, dear, agreeable). casionally display some generosity. It’s important part of stability of mind

Winter 2020-2021 49 and body is not only that you are re- main words in Sanskrit for faith. One ganism—physical, pranic, mental and ceiving prana but that all of your cells, is vishvasa, the other is shraddha. Vish- causal—enjoy good movement of the human as well as microbiome, as well vasa literally means a special way of air element within that space, and when as your sense organs and your mind— breathing—not just the movement of space is bad, it impedes the free, healthy all are confident that they will contin- gas in and out of your lungs, but an movement of prana therein. The air el- ue to receive prana. When they have openness to the prana of the universe, ement’s job is to move things around, faith that prana will come to them the qi of the cosmos. Vishvasa means and the space element creates a location they don’t have to be fearful, anxious, allowing the life force to flow into and in which things can move about. agitated. And if they are not fearful, out of you without your doubts and So the promotion of good or bad space anxious, agitated, then automatically anxieties and other intense emotions means the promotion of good or bad prana. all parts of you are going to be more getting in its way. Shraddha comes If the prana is good, then the internal fires in harmony. If they are fearful, anx- from the root hrt, which emerged in of the organism will be healthy. That fire el- ious, agitated, you will have less pra- English as the word heart. The heart ement is in charge of discernment, because na in your organism and more vata. takes the incoming prana and sends the fire is always transforming one thing Vata and prana both come from vayu, it out to all the parts of the body, all into another, and what does discernment the air element, but prana is deep and the way to the periphery. The heart mean? It means to take one situation and to regular and nourishing, and vata is does the job of circulating the prana, extract from it information that allows us to eccentric, superficial, and destabiliz- while the lungs and large intestine do perform an appropriate action in some other ing. Grief and fear create vata; vata the job of taking it in. A lot of prana situation. The fire element does actual trans- enhances grief and fear. comes to us from our food, but the mutation, converting this thing into that We must be compassionate to oth- intake of that prana into the system is thing and that thing into this. ers, and we need to grieve when we delayed, whereas we get prana imme- Good discernment permits you to lose a family member, but we also diately through the air. understand what you should be doing need to sit with that grief, to feel it So if you have good air but crap- and what you shouldn’t be doing, how fully, and then to let go of it and per- py food that’s a problem, or if you you should be working and how you mit it to depart just as that loved one have crappy food but good air that’s should not be working, in any situa- did. It’s not healthy to identify with a problem. Most people nowadays, tion. For example, right now, in my your grief, nor is it healthy to identify though, have bad air, bad food and opinion at least, discernment involves with your compassion. You should be bad habits, yielding all manner of im- understanding that we need to focus able to feel compassion without tell- balances. Their bodies are not sama, on our immediate families. We need ing yourself you are a compassionate they’re not harmonious anymore, and to be compassionate for everybody person. You can instead identify your- they are always craving things because else, but our major focus right now self as a person who is open to the their prana can’t get into all parts of needs to be the immediate family be- cosmic force of compassion moving their bodies to reassure them and tell cause we are now “sheltering in place”. through you, moving out in all direc- them, “Do not worry. You are alive But we should be able to understand tions to assist those in need. You can’t you’re going to remain alive. You can that Mother Nature is telling us that, assist anyone any more than a doctor move forward, remain calm.” They even after she frees us from our deten- can cure anyone. It is the Supreme Re- literally cannot remain calm, because tion, we need to allot as much time as ality that assists people through that no parts of their organism are calm; if necessary to interact with the people faculty of compassion that is pres- you want to be sane, sanity requires a in our Dunbar number group so that ent everywhere in the universe at all certain degree of calm. those relationships will be maintained times. Nature is compassionate even in a healthy, non-craving, kind of way. when it appears otherwise. Animals n ayurveda, three principles There will always be people who will slaughter one another all the time, Iform the foundation of a healthy crave your attention in an unhealthy that’s how nature is organized, how mental structure. The first is dhi or way; those people always have to be the law of karma works. It may seem buddhi which means the ability to dis- managed. I’m saying this from person- brutal, but it is the reality of karma. cern, to determine what is appropriate al experience. Some people never grow Only humans are deliberately sadistic, or inappropriate behavior in any situa- up; they remain dependent, needy because only humans identify them- tion. The first portion of the definition children until their dying day even if selves with their brutality. of ayurveda in the Charaka Samhita is they make it to 90 or 100. If you have You need faith to be able to feel hitahitam sukham dukham, meaning such a person in your “clan” you need compassion, and you either have faith ayurveda is the science of understand- to acknowledge that reality, and figure or you don’t. You can’t purchase faith, ing what will promote (hita) or inhib- out how much attention to give them, or have it donated to you, or have it it (ahita) good space (sukha) and bad then give them that much. Just as with fall on your head. How then do we space (duhkha) in an individual. Good a needy child, you have to be patient get faith? Consider that there are two space means that all spaces of the or- with them but you can’t spoil them.

50 Issue 27 Vatsalya ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 51 Such a relationship may never nourish Santosha. Santosha means being sat- they are to grow up with the ability you because of all the demands that isfied with what you’ve got, which is to concentrate. Healthy continuity are being put on you from that needy precisely what Sushruta is saying as assists kids to become aware of their person, but if that person is a fami- well. Prasanna and santosha are very dharma, their path through life, and ly member, you will have to maintain similar in meaning. helps them focus on following that that relationship somehow, preferably Sadly, I have met people who are dharma as they move forward. As Mr. in a way that disturbs you minimally. never satisfied, who’ve never been Robert Moses described yesterday, For example, I can’t say that I really satisfied, and who will never be satis- even when he was released blindfolded like to brush my teeth. I do it because fied, and I can understand why. When in an unfamiliar forest in the middle I want to preserve my teeth, as my you’re a very, very small child and of the night he was able to get back teeth are part of my bodily family and you are mistreated, you will tend to to the campsite simply by following are useful to me. Not all your family become a very, very unsatisfied adult. the sound of a drum because he let his members may be useful to you, but Once in Peru, in the context of some “inner tracker” take over, he allowed they are still family members, and are shamanic work, I met a woman from himself to be taken over by the conti- still maintaining your sanity, in one the Netherlands who had been born nuity of awareness that is available to way or another. Using your faculty of during the Hunger Winter, the win- all of us provided that we know how discernment you have to find a way to ter of 1944-45, when, after D-Day, to tap into it. position yourself so that the problems Allied armies were headed towards I venture to say that he was able to coming to you are minimized and Germany and the Nazis basically took do this because, from a young age, he the appropriate things going towards all the food from the Netherlands and had developed some continuity. This them are enhanced, for your karmic left the people there to starve. It was allowed him to open into that space benefit if not also for theirs. a really brutal winter and people wast- where he could connect to that drum The faculty of buddhi, the first ed away. It was terrible, especially if acting as his beacon of awareness and principle of sanity, is ruled by the ele- you were a growing child then. This move along guided by it. But if you do ment of Fire. woman I met was a “hungry ghost”, not learn how to maintain continui- though her hunger for food had mor- ty of awareness when you are young, he second principle is dhriti. phed into a hunger for other sense it’s going to be very difficult for you TDhriti means stability, stability objects. I remember there being mo- when you are older and something of prana, stability of food. It means ments when I saw her possessed by, or other is always trying to capture generating whatever kind of stability taken over by, her craving, her desire. your attention. Then it’s going to be you need in order to be stable. Stabil- At such moments she was no longer very difficult for you to maintain that ity of prana, of course, has to come herself; she had become the hunger, continuity of awareness and return to first because if your prana is not sta- because of this tremendous damage safety when you’re trying to negoti- ble, then no part of you is going to that had been inflicted upon her at a ate the perilous forest of the modern be stable. And if the rest of you is tender age, damage that she’d never world. Like discernment, stability is a stable, then somehow the prana is go- been able to heal from. critical component of sanity. We need ing to be more stable. So this is why Most small children in the world are not only to be able to know what is ayurveda talks so much about charya, not literally starving now, but most appropriate and what inappropri- behavior—ritucharya and dinacharya of them are being damaged, though ate, what is good and bad, right and in particular: having a daily routine not deliberately, through our screens. wrong; we also need to be able to re- and a seasonal routine. Monthly and Children are growing up now with member that discernment in the next weekly routines are also good, which screens, exposed to them from early moment, and then the next, and the is why limb number two in Patanjali’s on in their young lives. I have person- next. We need to be able to identify it, eight-limbed yoga is niyama. Vimala- ally watched a one-year-old pick up an maintain it in awareness long enough nanda emphasized niyama. Niyamas iPad, take herself directly to YouTube, that we can get into the flow and then are actions you should perform be- find the video that she wanted, and have that very appropriate energy and cause they promote stability. Yamas start watching it. Why is this bad, you that we’ve tapped into move us are actions you should not perform will ask? There are many reasons that in the direction in which we need to because they will create more unfortu- this is not good; one noteworthy rea- go. If you can’t do this you may never nate karmas for you, karmas that will son is that these devices do not pro- be able to be satisfied with anything in come back to bite you at inconvenient vide continuity. What they provide your life, much less be able to negoti- moments. Stop doing that! Let those instead is discontinuity—attention ate the woods at night without light. karmic reactions come to you, but do goes here, attention goes there, atten- Therefore, if you have not been ter- not react. Remain calm, and observe tion goes here, attention goes there. ribly damaged as a child, you should niyama. And what is one of the most Infants require ongoing healthy be grateful to Nature that you possess important of Patanjali’s five niyamas? continuity from the very beginning if the capability to be satisfied. You may

52 Issue 27 have trouble being satisfied, and if you sanity,” the ability to perform actions seemed to be important at that mo- do then please start by being a little that don’t demand conscious atten- ment. Every time you bring up that satisfied, then work up to being a little tion. Though thanks to the pandem- memory you reinforcing those aspects more satisfied, then a little more and a ic, I am at the moment not driving of it that seem important at that time little more and a little more. Then you much, I have driven quite a bit during and you de-emphasize those things can extend your satisfaction, which my life, on many continents. If every that seem rather less important. will enhance your health. time I sat at the wheel I had to con- Every time you bring up a memory Dhriti is therefore all about main- sciously go through the entire process you change it. Unimportant memo- taining continuity. of motions involved in driving, that ries should be recalled as best you can. would be exhausting and infuriating. I With important memories, make a he third aspect of awareness learned on a standard transmission ve- serious effort to have the right align- Tthat is critical to sanity is smriti hicle—which I think everyone should ment and attitude towards that mem- or smara. Smriti means memory. Shiva do—and while I was learning I would ory that you may recall it accurately. is called Smarahara. Hara in this case always be thinking, okay, now I put You may think, “Now that I can take means he who takes away. Shiva takes my foot on the accelerator and now I videos with my phone I’ll remem- away your memory. That’s how he kills take it off; now I put on the brake, de- ber everything really well.” Howev- you. He makes you forget that you are press the clutch and shift gears, then er, while the video may allow you to this body. He disconnects from you the slowly release the clutch, then slowly remember the superficial part of that awareness that you are associated with release the brake. I had to repeat this event, it may ironically impede you your body by suddenly making you mentally to myself, repeatedly, until it from remembering the more import- aware of something else, which causes became muscle memory. Now I don’t ant parts, like what was going on be- you to completely forget that you had a have to think about it, which is good neath that surface. body. Maybe you remember this after- because it is very tedious, and some- Vimalananda used to say that life wards, but then it’s too late: you’re dead. times dangerous, to forget what to do is nothing but memory. It may be This is why he’s called Smarahara. when you are driving a standard on a a bitter memory, it may be a sweet Smarahara also means the Conquer- mountain road. memory, but life itself, the reason or of Eros, Destroyer of Lust. Smara or But it’s not just memory in the why we’re able to be alive as human smriti means memory in general, and head or in the muscles. It’s neurolog- beings, is the totality of all the mem- also means strong desire—particularly ical, endocrine, and even microbiome ories of all the different sheaths of our sexual, but any kind of desire. Why memory too. There’s all manner of being, of all the different players in- does it mean desire? Because it’s un- memory maintaining stability by re- side the organism. The totality of that likely—possible, but unlikely—that membering things all through your memory creates an identity, an iden- you will experience a strong desire for organism. Each of your cells remem- tity is constantly changing. Based on something you have not already expe- bers its identity: This is my home, this our memories we create one identity rienced. Strong desires often arise due is my job, this is how I help out. Each to use with one individual or group to lack of santosha, satisfaction. Then cell remembers this all day long, and of individuals in our lives and other your cravings drag you through life, if any cell stops remembering what it’s identities to use with others. To be as they did the “hungry ghost” wom- supposed to do, which could happen sane requires all these identities to be an, always making you feel that you’re if it fears for its life, and decides in- adequately harmonious, to play nice- missing something, always making stead to preserve its life at all costs, ly with one another. This requires an you look outside yourself for some- then you have cancer. ability to accurately discern. thing that you imagine will satisfy you So good memory is essential—ex- or complete you. Lord Shiva blesses cept that you don’t want to be over- ometimes, even with the best you when he kills you because at least whelmed by memory. Then you can’t Sfocus and intention, discernment for that moment he disconnects you do anything other than remember; does not work properly. India has two from all your raga, all your hungers then you have PTSD or something great epics: the and the Ma- and thirsts that are manipulating you. equally disabling. And then there’s habharata. The Mahabharata is all about Sanity requires reliable memory, the question of false memory, and sincere people, many of them experts in smriti, because of all that we need to also the problem that every time—not their fields, trying and often failing to remember, like your name, address, occasionally, but every time—you re- do the right thing. And sometimes, once phone number, place of work, and all member something, you remember it they realize they’ve made a mistake and the other essential details of our lives. slightly differently. The reality is that try to fix it they make another mistake, But memory is not limited to what we even when you created the memory an even bigger one. So it’s not just you can consciously recall. Good muscle you did not remember all the details and me; this imperfection is characteris- memory may not be essential to sani- of the situation perfectly and com- tic of the human species. Each one of us ty per se but it is crucial to “practical pletely. Instead you remembered what does what we can, but we acknowledge

Winter 2020-2021 53 that there are some things that we are sumption that all the human beings Three gunas are recognized because not going to be able to properly dis- involved will be able indefinitely to each of them is essential to the workings cern. We need to be able to acknowl- keep the whole scheme quiet. of the cosmos, not because one guna is edge when we’ve made a mistake and good and the other two gunas are bad. then immediately try to fix it somehow, e human beings are always In ayurveda we say that sattva is the nat- whatever that entails. Vimalanada regu- Wtrying to discover “the truth”, ural condition of the mind and rajas and larly said, “You’re a human being. You’re always trying to figure out what we tamas are its doshas. But even this state- going to make mistakes. Always try to can believe in. What can we have faith ment doesn’t imply that rajas and tamas make different mistakes so that you in when we can’t perceive reality per- are bad. Instead it explains that in excess do not repeat the same mistakes each fectly? Everyone has a blind spot. We rajas and/or tamas will unbalance your time.” This is really valuable advice, can definitely have faith in the belief mind. Sattva, the balancing principle, because the more you repeat a mistake, that the basis of everything is the Su- can also unhinge you, though. An excess the deeper will be the neurological rut preme Reality. When you rely on the of sattva will prevent you from identify- you’re creating that will be available for Supreme Reality, when you say to that ing and dealing with the tamas and rajas you to fall into so that you will continue Reality, I know that I’m working from a that are within you. Meaningful change to make that same mistake. This is what limited amount of input, from which my is impossible without the action of rajas happens to people who are easily swayed brain is generating an image of what is. and tamas—rajas to free you from your by politicians who tell them, “Every- I will commit to doing my best to move set habits and tamas to create new pat- body else is lying to you. I’m telling you in the right direction, whatever that terns—but meaningful change is also the truth.” The more lies, the more the direction may be, but I am relying on impossible when rajas and tamas exist belief. Belief in something is good, so you to make sure that I move the right in excess. A surfeit of rajas prevents you long as you have used your discernment direction—if this is the basis of your from creating stable new patterns, and to make sure you’re actually believing in existence, then your blind spot will be disproportionate tamas will render pat- something that is worth believing in. minimal, and probably manageable. If terns resistant to dismantling. Someone was telling me today not, then there will definitely be areas One passage in the Srimad Bhagav- about a movie she had watched about of life in which your blind spot will atam discusses the types of enjoyment some conspiracy theory and I reflected balloon to a dangerous size. A small that humans can experience. Enjoyment on how these global conspiracy theo- blind spot may damage you and oth- guided by sattva involves pain first and ries change but still remain the same. ers, but it is better than having a blind pleasure afterward. First you do the Ten or twenty years ago black helicop- spot so big that you can see nothing work, then you take a break and enjoy ters from the UN were going to take but blind spot. your lunch in peace. The enjoyment of over the entire United States suddenly That blind spot can manifest via rajas is pleasure first, pain afterwards. and subject us to a world government. any combination of sattva, rajas and You relax until almost lunchtime, then The UN? The UN can only rarely get tamas. Contrary to the opinion of work like the devil to meet your dead- itself sufficiently organized to con- many practitioners of yoga, tamas is a line, which cuts into your lunch hour. duct often-ineffective peacekeeping good thing; it promotes stability. Ra- Pleasure first, then pain. Why is sat- operations in third-world countries— jas is also a good thing; it promotes isfaction at the end better than at the and it’s going to suddenly and utter- change. We need to be stable without beginning? Because your memory tends ly take over a giant complex country being stuck, and we need to be able to to connect you to peak events and to like this one? I am indeed thankful change without being destabilized by the last thing that happens to you in a to Edward Snowden for showing us it. We need sattva to keep rajas and situation. If satisfaction happens at the what the NSA has been doing, and to tamas in balance, but too much sattva end, you are more likely to retain the other courageous whistle-blowers who can also be problematical. An excess memory of that satisfaction rather than have informed us of all the crimes of sattva can create overconfidence, of the effort that preceded it because the that the CIA and other agencies have vanity. Just look at the devatas, so satisfaction happened last. Even if most been committing for decades. But to smug in their conceit of belonging to of the day is difficult but it ends well, assume that there’s a massive, well-or- a superior astral race that they are only you will tend to remember the end. This ganized, global conspiracy being flaw- roused from their complacency when is how humans work, it is natural to us. lessly executed by thousands of human confronted by the asuras. On an indi- Almost every film that succeeds ends beings who are all so disciplined that vidual basis each of them keeps rein- with some sort of denouement. Every- none of them ever dreams of “doing a forcing this opinion of self-greatness body may have problems all throughout Snowden” and letting everyone else in until their good karmas expire and the movie, but if you walk out feeling on the plot—that’s going a little too they fall from heaven down to Earth good at the end, you are much more far for me. For me, it assumes way too to start the process of creating heav- likely to feel good about the whole mov- much cleverness and efficiency on the en-worthy karmas again—but who ie than if you walked out uneasy. part of the plotters, based on a pre- knows how long that will take? Tamas promotes pain in the be-

54 Issue 27 ginning, pain in the middle, pain at ual in the West and among western- to understand but not so simple as to be the end. Tamas makes life miserable ized peoples you have to individuate easy to immediately discount. It is always because tamas promotes unhealthy yourself away from everybody. You reassuring to find someone to blame for habits that you either can’t escape have to separate your identity from, your problems, whether that someone or (worse) have no desire to escape. and make sure that you are indepen- might be reptilian beings or other space These could be drugs or other intox- dent of, your mother, father, siblings, aliens; corrupt, depraved politicians; or icants, alcohol, bad food, deleterious grandparents, children, and from ev- the blacks or reds or yellows or whites activities, corrupt thoughts, anything. erybody else who has contributed to or some other perilous race in general. Tamas provides you what you believe your construction. You have to declare Once you can find someone to blame, to be pleasure but what is in fact pain. to the world that you are a unique you immediately gain membership in a But since you’re convinced it’s plea- individual whose individuality is be- group. You’re not alone anymore. Now sure you won’t let it go and aren’t will- holden to no one, and if you do hap- you’re part of the group that really knows ing to try anything else. pen to be so strongly connected to one the truth. This makes you feel more sane, You have to be willing to let go of the or more of your relatives or friends, and also explains why satsanga is superior. things that you believe to be pleasure, even your spouse, you may well be One of the first sayings we were taught in especially if you can’t really tell the differ- considered to be co-dependent, or suf- the ayurvedic college was Satsangati kim ence between what is good for you, what fering from some similar pathology. na karoti pumsam: What can satsanga not is appropriate for you and what is bad or In the traditional East, it’s exactly do for human beings? Satsanga creates a inappropriate for you. This is why it is the opposite. If you differentiate away temporary community whose purpose is a good thing to regularly fast. Fast from completely from your family mem- to try to perceive reality accurately, to try food once every week or two, fast from bers and your Dunbar group, if you to move in the direction of sat. Sometimes devices for a day or half a day once a week, are not sharing portions of your “self” this will be easier, sometimes less easy, but fast from going out and being really active with your loved ones, then you are re- at all times participation in a group that is in the world (the pandemic is doing this garded as suffering from a pathology genuinely seeking truth will actively pro- for us now). Disconnect yourself from all of self. Please note that I am not argu- mote your personal sanity. that you normally do and you will be able ing that family and personal dynamics That’s assuming of course that to perceive more clearly what habits you in the East are inherently better than you’re doing all the things you need to have created, identify which of them are in the West; not at all. There are plen- do to facilitate sanity, which include useful and which are not so beneficial. ty of unhealthy families in the East, establishing a healthy relationship Then you can accentuate the positive ones many of which refuse to permit their with and having faith in the Supreme and eliminate those that affect you detri- members to display any individuality Reality, eating food that is right for mentally. whatsoever and from which individ- you, doing regular healthy exercise— uation is essential for the good of all mental, physical, and spiritual—and he word sanity, interestingly concerned. However, I do believe that maintaining samata (equanimity). Tenough, is very similar to sanus, the traditional Eastern concept of self In conclusion, I’d like to thank the the Latin word for health, and though is fundamentally a healthier concept Supreme Reality for being supreme, experts don’t agree on the origin of than is the concept of individuating and for being real, and I would like the word sanus, some believe that it yourself away from every other hu- to reiterate that the most important comes from a root meaning well-struc- man being, if for no other reason that thing for anyone to do is to repeat tured, well put together. This would re- such a process can create tremendous God’s name. Today is Sunday and in flect Sushruta’s definition of svasthya loneliness. The intensity of the Covid honor of Sunday let us bring to mind (health). If you want to be sane, you pandemic is worsening the ongoing Rama, born in the Ikshvaku Vamsa, want to be sva stha, established in the pandemic of chronic isolation that in the Solar Race. Rama’s distant ances- self. Please note that that self is a very itself discourages sanity because we as tor was the sun himself, Lord , negotiable thing, one that is not really humans are always requiring the assis- and so offering obeisance to Rama is the same in the East and in the West. tance of others to maintain our sanity. yet another way of saluting the sun. When I say “the West” I mean every- If you have no one who can serve to as- one who is westernized, everyone who sist you to maintain your sanity, you are Om Sri Rama Jaya Rama has been educated and who thinks in going to find it extremely difficult to ac- Jaya Jaya Rama a postmodern way, no matter what tually maintain that sanity. You will find Om Sri Rama Jaya Rama their location or ethnicity, as opposed it easy to become possessed by something Jaya Jaya Rama. to people from the East—India, Chi- that offers you the illusion of sanity: a re- na, Japan, Korea, Vietnam in partic- ligion, a guru, an ism, an ethereal being. Bhagavan Ramachandra ki jai! ular but other cultures and countries Conspiracy theories are especially popu- as well—who are not yet westernized. lar nowadays because they are presented To be regarded as a healthy individ- to people in a form that is easy enough

Winter 2020-2021 55 OBSTACLES IN YOGA EDDIE STERN

Talk given at the Nāmarūpa Living with Reality virtual retreat in the Spring of 2020, transcribed and edited.

Om Akhanda Manadalakaram an elimination or stilling doesn’t mean tire Hindu tradition, as being an Vyaptam yena Charaacharam that, first out of the gate, we’re trying ongoing dialogue that’s been occur- Tadpadam Darshitam Yena to get rid of all of the activities. What ring for the past several thousands of Tasmai Sri Guruve Namah we’re trying to do is eliminate all of the years—5,000, maybe 10,000, years— activities that are not helpful to us in and within that dialogue there’s a lot Sri Gurubhyo Namah Hari OM the obtaining of a calm, clear, focused of development and there are a lot of mind. In order to do that, there are cer- advances and hatha yoga has come ood afternoon everybody tain vrittis that we’re going to hold on to out from that tradition. In Hatha Yoga Gand good evening to those who and others that we’re going to eliminate; Pradipika, it says: might be in evening-like places. I we’ll go through what some of those are. thought I would give a little talk, as Just as an obvious example, when Hathasya prathamam gatvad best I could, on the obstacles in yoga you’re doing any type of yogic prac- asanam provam ucyate and how the different practices help tice, for example, say you meditate us to face those obstacles. I know and in your meditation you’re using a Kuryat tadasanam sthairyam there’s a lot of information coming at mantra—a mantra is a particular type arogyam cangalaghavam you during this entire weekend so as of vritti that you are using as an an- best I can I’ll keep it all in the same chor for your awareness so that you Among the hathas (or the determi- kind of vein. stay with that one particular vritti of nations or intentions that bring us Things that we’ll look at today are the mantra and you don’t go with all to practice yoga), asana is said to be the purpose of asanas, what the mind the other vrittis like “When is this the first thing that we do. And by is, what the obstructions to the mind going to be over?” or “What should I the practice of asana, we are going to are, and how they can be removed. All have for dinner?” or “I forgot to send obtain steadiness which means our of this is covered in Yoga , chap- an email to my mother.” or whatever nervous system will become calm ters 1 and 2, and that’s basically what any of the vrittis are that might arise. and balanced. We’ll gain health, we’ll be focusing on. You’re going to save all those for when which means our immune system you’re going to deal with them but for will be strengthened and function- irst, we have a definition of the time being you just want to be ing and responding properly to the Fyoga: yogaschittavrittinirodhah— with that one vritti. environment. And we’ll get lightness Yoga is the selective elimination of the of limb, which means that our phys- fluctuations in the field of the mind. he definition of yoga to begin ical body as well as our mind will be This is basically an equation: yoga Twith is that it is an elimination of light so that we can manipulate the equals the nirodhah of the vrittis in chit- all vrittis that are not helpful to samadhi, limbs of our body as we choose. We ta. Nirodhah basically means to stop or the deepest states of concentration. see all the traditional asanas—pas- to still or to eliminate; a vritti is an ac- Asanas are said to be the first stage of chimottanasana, mayurasana, pad- tivity and chitta is the entire field where learning how to deal with vritti. Hatha masana—mentioned in Hatha Yoga activities are occurring. If a calm ocean is Yoga Pradipika is a much later formula- Pradipika. like a field (chitta), then a wave arising tion of yoga. Hatha yoga comes along In the discussion of the benefits of from it would be a vritti, would be an thousands of years after the first types of asanas—steadiness, health and light- activity. We have lots of different types yoga were suggested and offered in the ness of limbs—there is also this idea of activities that are occurring. Patanja- Vedas and in the Upanishads. that they’re related to the nervous sys- li identifies five of them and they have You can think of yoga and philos- tem, immune system and to the mind many subcategories as well. Nirodhah as ophy in general in India, in the en- for the lightness of them all.

56 Issue 27 Patanjali Maharishi ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 57 Asanas are said to steady the mind etc. The text is very particular about We know that the goal of practice is as well. We see that in cangalagha- what it is that is being steadied. Some nirodhah, the elimination of all the vam—lightness of limbs. At the same will say ahamkara which is the sense of types of thought forms that are not time we want to develop a lightness I-ness, but what is ahamkara made up supportive of samadhi or focus. There of mind or a lightness of being, you of? It’s made up of kama–desire, kro- are basically only two things we need could say. dha–anger, lobha–greed, moha–delu- to do. Number one, we need to do sion, mada–pride, and matsarya–envy. abhyasa, which is a practice, any type. ajnavalkya said: These are identifications. The word as- And number two is vairagya which Y mita means when purusha mistakes it- means non-attachment to when our Tritiya kalasto ravih svayam self for buddhi, for the faculty of iden- mind goes away from our chosen samharate prabham tification and of the intellect. When point of focus. tritiyangasthito yogi na those two are mixed up together, The description of abhyasa is ta- vikaram manasa tatha that’s when we have ahamkara which tra sthitau yatno’bhyasah. Abhyasa, is called asmita in Yoga Sutras. There is or practice, is the yatnah, the effort, As the sun in the third quarter of the a confusion of identity and that con- of keeping your mind sthitau, which day pulls back its brightness, so the yogi fusion of identity is projected out into means steady or placed, tatra, there— practicing the third stage of yoga will the world. So we desire things and wherever you want it to be. Practice is not have agitation of mind. certain things make us angry and if the effort of keeping your mind sta- we see things that other people have, bilized, placed exactly where you want Imagine a sun in the middle of we get greedy for them. We have delu- it to be. When it’s not there, it goes the day in India, burning extreme- sion and thinking that we know stuff somewhere else, you recognize that ly bright. You can’t go outside with- like, for example, the lecture I’m giv- and you have the control of mind to out getting burned in that heat. You ing right now. We have pride at times bring it back to where you want it to can’t even do any work. All you do sit thinking that we know more than oth- be, and that is vairagya. around and digest the food from your er people or our accomplishments are Now, along the way to practice, lunch. There’s a tremendous amount worthy of praise. And then for people there are going to be particular obsta- of tamas that comes during that time, who are doing better than us, we have cles that present themselves. So tatra after lunch in the heat of the day in envy. So all of these—kama, krodha, sthitau yatno’bhyasah makes it sound India. You can barely think sometimes lobha, moha, mada, matsarya—which like practice is not that difficult. It’s when it gets so hot. And then, in the are called the six poisons relate to only simply the effort of keeping your third quarter of the day, towards dusk, things in the world which appear to mind where you want it to be. In fact, the sun begins to set and begins to be outside of us. to get nirodhah, to get this stilling withdraw his rays. At that time the Thinking that the world is outside of the mind, I only need to do two temperature begins to cool down, of us, of course, is the first of the illu- things. I only need to do abhyasa and your energy starts to come back up. sions that we are given to. As soon as vairagya. How hard can this be? I just It’s a beautiful time in India where we believe that there’s a world outside have to do those two things and I only you want to walk outside and hear the of us that we are separate from, then have to keep my mind in that one evening-time birds and be able to en- all of these poisons naturally arise. So place. What’s the big deal? joy the day. Yajnavalkya likened this the thing that we’re trying to steady We know that there are many big time of the day to the stage of asanas, are these six poisons and they’re said deals that create obstacles in our whereby the practice of asanas gives to surround the spiritual heart. As we minds and a lot of small deals as well. the same feeling in the body and mind begin to weaken them, then love and Patanjali goes on to say later in chap- as does this third quarter of the day compassion and kindness and self-ac- ter one that there are some predict- when the sun begins to cool its rays ceptance begin to flower forth from able obstacles that are going to pres- and the agitation of the mind begins the heart and they begin to overtake ent themselves and if we are aware of to lessen. In the heat of the day, the these six poisons. these predictable obstacles when they heat of the moment, the mind is very arise, we’re going to know what to do agitated or the opposite, very tamasic. hat does Patanjali mean by with them. But in this third stage, the stage of Wpractice? We have to practice asanas, if we do them in such a way something in order to begin to get the he obstacles are: vyadhi styana where we’re steadying our mind while benefits in order to start to weaken ei- Tsamshaya pramada alasyavirati we’re doing them, of course, the agita- ther the five kleshas or the six poisons. bhrantidarshana alabdhabhumikatva tion will begin to diminish. We have to do something; we have to anavasthitatvani citta vikshepa te an- In particular, what is it that is be- apply some effort. tarayah. These are sickness, mental ing steady? We hear all the time that What Patanjali defines as practice is laziness, doubt, carelessness, sloth, yoga is going to steady the mind, etc, abhyasa vairagyabhyam tan nirodhah. non-abstention from addictions, con-

58 Issue 27 fusion of philosophies, inability to things are going well and then all of a or to nature, if you happen to be athe- obtain stages in practice which means sudden something gets in our way and istic. The idea of ishvara pranidhana inability to progress in your practice, we miss a couple of days and then that is a new thing within yoga in com- and a failure to maintain levels of couple of days turns into a week and parison to how Patanjali is using the practice once you have gotten there. before you know it a bunch of time sankhya philosophy. Sankhya is athe- These are vikshepas; they’re chitta has gone by and you haven’t been do- istic. No god is mentioned in sankhya, vikshepas, which are just distractions. ing the practices you said you wanted only the two eternal principles of pu- But if you dwell on them, they be- to do. So in small ways we can see that rusha and prakriti. Purusha doesn’t come antarayas, which are obstacles. all of these things, at one time or an- create anything and it doesn’t act and They become a little bit more fixed. other, will come into our lives. it doesn’t cause anything else to act That means that any of the things on Those are the predictable obstacles. so therefore it can’t be a creator god. this list, if we begin to dwell on them A distraction becomes an obstacle And prakriti does everything from and identify them as “This is who we when you dwell on it and when you within herself. She is the infinite po- are”, they become obstacles. I doubt identify with it. A chitta vikshepa, a tential of nature. Patanjali introduces and I become very beholden to what I distraction of mind, becomes an an- ishvara pranidhana as a special type doubt, because the doubt that I have taraya, an obstacle. of purusha. Through the surrender is part of my identity, it’s defining my to the Lord or to the unknown—the narrative. If I’m a lazy person and I hat indicators do the dis- surrender of the results of all of the like being lazy and I identify with Wtractions exhibit? When dis- outcomes of your efforts—all of these that, that will then become an obsta- tractions are coming up, there are cer- distractions can basically be remedied cle. If I give in to all of my addictions tain things which we’re going to see so Ishvara is the panacea for all ills. because I have no other strategies for at the same time. Patanjali describes dealing with them and I continue to these in the next verse. He says these ithin that is also the sug- do that again and again, that will be- are dukhadaurmanasyangamejayatv- Wgestion that if we practice sur- come an obstacle. asvasaprasvasa viksepasahabhuvah. render to the Lord, in that practice we Dr. Robert quoted Vimalananda We will have physical or mental begin to focus our mind in one direc- that it’s okay to make mistakes; you pain. We’ll have sadness or dejection; tion. just don’t want to keep making the we’ll have shaking of the limbs which same mistakes over and over again. It’s could be anxiety, stress, or restlessness, Tat pratishedhartham okay to make mistakes, but just keep and interruption of the breath. These ekatattva abhyasah. making new ones. ‘Cause if you make accompany the distractions. When the same mistakes again and again and you notice that your breathing’s not For the stoppage of all of these again, that will become a new sams- even, when you notice that your body distractions, concentration on a kara for you, a new memory, a new doesn’t feel strong and stable—maybe single principle should be made. imprint. Then you will be stuck with there’s even a little shaking of your that predictable way that you’re going limbs—this could be a result of anxi- This could be either doing one prac- to make a mistake every time the sit- ety, stress, or restlessness. If you feel a tice or holding onto a single principle uation arises. little bit dejected or you have physical that you’re applying to all the different All of these are Patanjali’s sugges- or mental pain, these are indicators of practices that you do. For example, a tions of things to look out for, that, a distraction. They’re indicators that single principle could be that you if you give in to them, are going to something’s going on that you need hold the belief or value system that solidify and become more problemat- to take a look at because if you don’t consciousness has taken the form of ic for you. If you try to transcend or take a look at it, you’re going to as- everything in the manifest universe. move past these nine things, then they sume that it’s okay for it to be there Everything that we see changing is il- won’t become obstacles. They’re just and then it will really become an ob- lusory. Underneath it or driving it is a going to be momentary distractions stacle. These are the four things that coherent principle which is transcen- that you’ve identified in advance and we look at to see if we exhibit any of dent of thought or ideology or sepa- now you can move on from. Again, these distractions and if we don’t have ration. It can’t be named. It can’t be that’s hard to do but given encourage- any of those things, then we can say formed. Nothing can be done with it. ment, we can. that okay our mind right now is posi- It just is pure being. If you practice Failure to maintain your level of tioned for actually doing abhyasa, for all of the things you do with this idea practice. I think many of us have ex- doing practice. that you’re trying to form a relation- perienced where sometimes we decide Now most of these can be remedied ship with pure consciousness, then we’re going to practice something and through ishvara pranidhana, which is that will be the thing that your prac- we do it for one or two days or two surrender to the Lord, if you believe in tice begins to move you towards. or three weeks or a month or two and God, and surrender to the unknown Tat pratishedhartham ekatattva

Winter 2020-2021 59 abhyasah. Ekatattva—the single princi- ple, the vritti of imagination can be meditation, that are going to work in ple that you’re practicing could either helpful when you’re trying to describe opposition to the thought patterns be that you choose to do one prac- brahman as satchidananda which is, that keep us stuck. tice to completely focus your mind for lack of a better word, reality. You Distractions such as sickness and la- in a chosen direction or you practice couldn’t really describe brahman be- ziness are to be expected. We should with this underlying idea that ev- cause brahman is indescribable, but assume that we are going to become erything that you’re doing is for the when you use the words truth, con- distracted during our lives, during sake of liberation. That is one of the sciousness, and bliss, or you say brah- our days when it comes to doing the ways where all practices can become man is the uncaused bliss or brahman practice. That’s normal. If we let the an offering to Ishwara, where every- is pure being without any limitation, obstacles upset us, then they’re prob- thing you do, you do for the sake of these are ways that we use imagination lematic. If we do not let them upset liberation. You’re not doing it for the to describe something that can’t be de- us and we work around them, or we sake of types of outcomes other than scribed. Imagination can still be help- allow them to be until we’re ready to knowledge of who you are. Any of ful for moving our minds in the direc- work around them, until they dis- the other outcomes you leave aside. tion of brahman. But then there can solve on their own, then they won’t be All offerings of the practice are made be other types of imagination that are problematic. to Ishvara and then your mind stays not helpful. Say we imagine ourselves There are several strategies we can focused on Ishvara as the purpose of to be enlightened, or imagine our- use to reduce and remove the distrac- your practice. selves to be more advanced than we tions and bring about a mental fitness Generally speaking, what Patanjali really are, or imagine ourselves to be for meditation. They include breath is suggesting as we move into the next much worse than we really are. Imag- awareness, sensation awareness, inner verses is: Focus on the positive, focus ination, or vikalpa, in and of itself is luminosity, stable mind, and contem- on lifestyle changes through yama and not klishta or aklishta. It can be either plating the stream of mind. This is all niyama and examine our thoughts and depending on how it’s being used and from chapter one of Yoga Sutras. emotions through swadhyaya. When how we’re using it. Harmful vritti with imagination is we begin to do these things, we en- when we imagine things that do not courage our innate ability to begin he next thing that comes exist. There is a New Yorker comic, to focus in one direction and in ekat- Talong after we talk about ekatat- “Of course I care about how you imag- attva. This is a key part of the yoga tva is the preparation for meditation. ined I thought you perceived I wanted practice. Without that ekatattva, our How are we going to prepare our mind you to feel.” This is a jumbling of the mind will go in too many different in order to be perceptive of what truth use of imagination and how it can be directions, we’ll be drawn by a di- is? To be perceptive of who we are and harmful (and funny) at the same time. verse number of practices and we’ll who we are not? To begin to unmix try them all for short periods of time, this mixing of purusha with buddhi, atanjali says there are four but they won’t reap results. We only where asmita and false identification Pattitudes we can take with peo- begin to reap the results when we fo- come into play. ple and there are five suggestions for cus on that one principle and devote First we address the distractions of focus. All of these will help create a ourselves to it. Quite often focusing the mind. After we go through the meditative mind through which we on one principle comes in the guise distractions of the mind and we’ve can perceive ourselves and perceive re- of focusing on one particular practice. begun to prepare ourselves through ality. The four ways that we can relate All of these things are just entryways ekatattva, then a meditative mind is with others are: into knowing who we are but we can’t possible. Meditation will not auto- go through all the gates. We have to matically remove the distractions, but maitri karuna upeksanam go through one gate at a time. it will help with them. sukha dukha punya apunya visaya- Just to recap: Vrittis are thought nam bhavanatah cittaprasadanam et’s go back to the vrittis for patterns. They are observable in the La moment. The vrittis are thought field of consciousness. We can use The mind becomes clear and bright patterns and they’re going to be klish- them in a way which is helpful, or we by feelings of friendliness towards the ta or aklishta. That means they’re go- can be ruled by them in a way which happy, compassion towards the sor- ing to be harmful, which is where the is not helpful. The six poisons also are rowful, sympathetic joy towards the word klisht is from, or non-harmful. types of vrittis. These are unhelpful virtuous, and equanimity towards the They’re going to be helpful or not thought patterns which we feel bound unvirtuous. These are the four types helpful. by at times. Then there are other of people whom we are going to en- All of the five vrittis that Patanjali thought patterns such as the thought counter in the world. Some people are speaks about can be klishta or aklishta pattern of practicing an asana, or tak- going to be very happy. Some people in different types of ways. For exam- ing a conscious breath, or practicing are going to be sad. Some people are

60 Issue 27 going to be doing great things. Some those who are virtuous and those who feel where the impulse for the breath people are going to be doing not are unvirtuous. This is the relationship arises from and that’s very calming great things. For those who are hap- with four types of people. Why rela- for the mind. py, sometimes we feel jealous of them. tionships with others? Because people We wish that we were that happy. To throw us off all the time. One of the ow on to meditating on the counter that, we should feel feelings main ways that we get thrown off, that Nsubtleties of sensory experi- of friendliness towards them. Friend- our mind gets shaken, is through our ence. Vishayavati va pravrittirutpanna liness, in chapter three of the vibhuti relationships with people. manasah sthitinibandhini. The devel- pada, is considered to be one of the opment of higher objective percep- greatest super powers that we can n relation to breath in our ner- tions, called visayavati, stabilizes the have. When it comes to super powers Ivous system, Patanjali says, prac- mind. This is the meditation on the or attainments, friendliness is the best chardana vidharanabhyam va pranasya. tanmatras which are preceding the one to have. This means that we can also attain to mahabhutas, the five elements. The Sometimes we want to move away nirodhah, or stillness of mind, by ex- meditation on the potential of expe- from those who are sad because their haling and holding the breath out, re- rience through sight, sound, smell, sorrow and their suffering is too great straining the breath. This is a an inter- taste, and touch is the meditation on for us to handle. But towards those, esting type of pranayama. It’s not even higher objective perceptions. Who is we should practice compassion and really called a pranayama. Simply, all the perceiver of these things? What feel that their pain is our own. To- you do is inhale a long comfortable is perception and who is perceiving wards the virtuous who do amazing breath, you exhale a long breath and them? This will stabilize the mind be- things that sometimes we wish we then you let the breath remain out cause otherwise we’re lost in the actual could do, we can imagine that their until it’s ready to come back in on its experience. When we get lost in the joys and successes are ours as well. own. It’s quite a nice practice. I do experience, then we get lost in suffer- We feel the same joy for them in their this on a daily basis. I really enjoy it. ing, but when we pull back and we ask success as we would feel in our own Through the lengthening of your who is the one who is having this ex- success. In that way for everyone’s suc- exhale, you’re down regulating the perience, then we automatically take cesses in the world, we feel sympathet- stress response in the sympathet- one step deeper in and we can recog- ic joy within us, that we share in the ic nervous system. By holding the nize suffering as a transitory phenom- joy that they are feeling. breath out and pausing, you’re al- enon. The meditation on these higher Towards the unvirtuous—people lowing the relaxation response of principles brings us to that state. are doing terrible things—quite of- the parasympathetic nervous system Visoka va jyotismati. I love this ten we get righteously indignant and to upregulate and the mind gets very verse. This is where you meditate angry and we wish ill will on them. calm. You hold the breath out un- on that which is sorrowless and ef- This is not a good frame of mind to til you feel the impulse to breathe fulgent. Effulgent means self-lumi- have; this will not help chitta vritti again. When you feel that impulse, nous, shining on its own without nirodhah. Patanjali doesn’t recom- you allow the breath to flow back in. being brightened by anything else. mend here that we ignore them or that It’s not a restraining of the breath The jyotismati and visoka—the ab- we allow our bad thoughts to develop. like in pranayama where you decide, sence of sorrow—are a very big topic What he suggests is that we have to- here’s the fixed measure of breath in the Yoga Sutras and the commen- tal equanimity of mind, that we don’t that I’m going to breathe along with. tary on this is extremely long. But, form a judgment, we don’t form an Sometimes we cause a little bit of to sum it up, that which is sorrow- opinion. We remain unmoved, com- strain by trying to fit our breath into less and effulgent could be an idea pletely unshaken by the activities of those particular patterns unless you of the divine. It could be meditation the unvirtuous. Why? Because there’s proceed very slowly and carefully, so on purusha. It could be meditation probably nothing we can do about there’s no strain as you go along. If on a deity. It could be meditation them. And if there’s nothing we can there’s any straining of the breath in on a saint who appears to you to do about them, there’s no point being pranayama, you’re going to actually have no sorrow and to be a shining upset by that. I think probably right exacerbate the stress response in the light of humanity or of animal life. now we have a very good opportunity nervous system. The exhaling of the It could be meditating on the cave to practice that on a daily basis with breath and then pausing and then within your own heart where the some of the leaders of America. just waiting until your nervous sys- light of awareness is said to shine So these are the suggestions: mai- tem tells you to breathe again allows as well. You can meditate on your tri–friendliness, karuna–compassion, the parasympathetic nervous system heart as being self-luminous, always mudita–sympathetic joy, and upek- to upregulate. At the same time, it shining and without any sorrow, be- sa–equanimity of mind towards those brings you to a very natural relation- cause it’s filled with brightness and who are happy, sorrowful or suffering, ship with your breathing, so you can self-effulgent, or you can meditate

Winter 2020-2021 61 on someone else who inspires that is because we have these three states here, “I might have left some stuff in you. You look to them and that of consciousness that are changing out. There might be some stuff that is how you see them, so they inspire states. They are waking—the state I don’t know about.” There might that back in you. Or it could be on we’re in now—dreaming, and deep be some stuff that you’ve come up an idea of god as well. This is visoka sleep. All of the meditations we’ve with that hasn’t been shared with the va jyotismati. covered so far have to do with the world yet. If that works and brings Meditating on the mind itself is waking state—How do we contem- you to nirodhah, then go ahead and vitaragavisayatva cittam. We’re medi- plate while we’re awake in relation do those. How do you know if they tating on the chitta as vitaraga, with- to the world around us? What Patan- work? Well, the proof is in the pud- out raga—without desires—visayam. jali is saying here is really interest- ding. If you attain samadhi by them, Contemplating chitta as free from ing. That this isn’t the only way that then they’re valid means of knowl- desires. What does that mean? That we can meditate. We can also con- edge. means to meditate on the field of your template our true nature, get ideas own mind and to understand the ba- about it, from meditating on what oing back to where we start- sis of chitta as actually not having any it’s like to not have any thoughts Ged: Yogascittavrittinirodhah— desires connected to it. Desire arises because there’s no content in the Yoga is the selective elimination of the in the mind the same way that a wave mind, which happens during dream- fluctuations or thought patterns in the arises from the ocean. It is an activity, less sleep and the deep sleep state. field of the mind. but it is not the mind itself. You rec- You can meditate on that. What We’re going to choose to elimi- ognize desires as an activity, but not does deep sleep feel like? Where am nate those thought patterns that are as the actuality of the substance of the I when I am in deep sleep? Was any- not helpful to us and we are going mind. one perceiving anything? And what to choose to stick to those that are At the end of chapter two of the does the perceiver perceive when helpful. We’re going to decide which Gita, Krishna talks about the sage as there’s no content? That’s a real- ones are helpful based on some of the being one into whom all desires can ly interesting meditation. So is the teachings from the sages and the gu- enter, but the sage is unmoved by meditation on your dreams them- rus that have been passed down. The them just as all rivers will enter into selves because dreams can give us first principle that we have to remem- the ocean but the ocean’s volume will some idea about what’s happening ber is ekatattvabhyasah, the choosing not change. It just absorbs the water in our subconscious mind. Whether of one principle. That’s going to be of into it. So what this verse says is that they’re happy dreams or sad dreams paramount importance to us. Then desires don’t necessarily stop but the or conflicting dreams or maybe we the next thing will be the choices that sage is not moved by desires because don’t have many dreams, but medi- we can practice, whether it’s maitri- the sage doesn’t identify with them or tating on dreams will give us insight karunamudito’peksha or any of the even see them as a problem. They see into the state of our mind as well. In five different ways we can meditate that they are not the substance of be- most dreaming, as it’s said, we are on the mind. These are going to help ing; they’re not the substance of mind. trying to assimilate into our subcon- with our thought patterns as well as They’re a natural activity that occurs scious mind the things that are oc- the kriya yoga of tapas, svadhyaya and as a result of being a person, as a result curring during the waking state that ishvarapranidhana. of interacting with the world. They’re we haven’t assimilated or worked out After we have attained to a level of going to come but you don’t have to while we’ve been awake. chitta vritti nirodhah and the word act on them and you don’t have to be If none of those meditations are yoga in this definition is being used worried about them. appealing to you, then yathabhi- synonymously with samadhi, which Or you can medicate on the matadhyanadva. This verse is tre- is a deep state of concentration, then stream of mind during sleep. Svap- mendously interesting. If all of those tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam— na nidra jnana alambana va. Svapna don’t work for you, from maitri- the seer abides its own form. That is dream and nidra is the sleep state. karunamudita all the way to meditat- means that consciousness self-iden- We can meditate on the knowledge ing on dreamless sleep, then you can tifies as consciousness and not as that we get in dreamless sleep or in contemplate on any verified prac- other stuff. our dreams. How do you meditate tice, whatever you like that’s going The process of yoga, the chitta vritti on knowledge from dreamless sleep? to help you with nirodhah—contem- nirodhah, is the process of distinguish- This is to meditate upon or imag- plate on that. The reason Patanjali is ing what is changing from what is not ine or recall what it’s like to be in a able to say this is because the Yoga changing. When those two things deep sleep with no thoughts. Rarely Sutras are a compilation of different have been completely understood do we use that as an object of med- practices that were existing all the through something called viveka khya- itation. The reason why it’s an ab- way up until the time that he put the ti—the final discrimination between solutely valid object of meditation Yoga Sutras together. So he’s saying what changes or is made up of nature

62 Issue 27 and what is not made up of nature velop the tools and strategies to deal own hearts the visoka va jyotishmati. and doesn’t change. Then tada drash- with them in the best way possible. This is the jnanadiptih—the sorrow tuh svarupe avasthanam the drashtuh, less, self-effulgent state is the light of the seer, or pure consciousness or be- hat is the best tool accord- knowledge. And how do we do this? ing, remains in itself as being, as con- Wing to Patanjali to accomplish By vivekakhyateh, through the dis- sciousness, and doesn’t get mixed up this? There are two of them. The first crimination between the seer which in the changing forms of nature. This is kriya yoga, which are the practic- is consciousness and the seen which is is the culmination of yoga: We abide es of tapas which are disciplines and nature and all of the patterns of nature in ourself as our self alone and not as swadhyaya which are mantras as well as that we get lost in. Through yoga, we other things. But if we’re not doing self-evaluation and ishvara pranidha- use patterns in a way which is going to that, then vritti sarupyam itaratra— na which is surrender to the Lord or, if create harmonious patterns. We avoid consciousness mixes with prakriti, you don’t believe in God, surrender to patterns which are not harmonious, with nature, and con- which are convoluted and forms with the vrit- cloudy, which cause con- tis. Consciousness fusion. The patterns that will take on the shape we want to use to lead to of all of the different viveka khyati are the pat- vrittis that will be- terns that are going to be come either obstacles harmonious and lead us or distractions or the closer towards recognizing six poisons or any of ourselves as consciousness the different things and move us away from that we listed as the the harmful patterns, obstacles to pure self which are the ones that we knowing. These are get stuck in quite often. categorized so we can So patterns are important. recognize them and We can use them in pos- understand how to itive ways. But if we take deal with them, to the patterns to be real, understand what is then we get lost in them. not us and what is us. The patterns also are illu- Again, these are sory, even the good ones. the six poisons of These are the two things desire, anger, greed, that we have. Abhyasa and delusion, laziness, vairagya are the only two and jealousy. Those things we need to work with are the first six of in yoga to get nirodah, the the vrittis. Then we stillness of mind. Abhyasa have the five differ- is Never give up. We always ent forms of mind have to keep practicing. that Patanjali speaks And Vairagya is Always let about including right The Seer ©Keshav Venkatraghavan go. Don’t be attached to perception, wrong the things that you think perception, imagination, sleep, and nature or divinity or to the unknown. are going to get you there or the pat- memory. Then we also have nine This is the first of the ways to accom- terns that you’re stuck with or patterns distractions: Vyadhistyanasamsay- plish the conformity with self. The of judgment or criticism. Whatever the apramadalasyaviratibhrantidarsanal- second way is yoganganusthanadasud- pattern might be, vairagya is letting go abdhabhumikatvanavasthitatvani cit- dhiksaye jnanadiptiravivekakhyateh. of those patterns, even the pattern of taviksepaste’ntarayah. If we’re not con- Through the limbs of yoga, the yoga thinking that this is the practice which forming with who we truly are then anga—anusthanad—the disciplined is the best one and this practice is going we’re conforming with the vrittis. And and dedicated practice of them, we to get me towards nirodah. Even that what are the vrittis? All of that list that can ashuddhikshyaye, remove the im- idea needs to be let go of eventually. So, Patanjali gave us. We know what they purities which are the thought pat- Abhyasa—Never give up—Vairagya— are, and when we know what they are, terns that are harmful. This will lead Always let go. then we can recognize them when to jnanadiptih, the light of knowledge they come up and then hopefully de- that is going to awaken within our

Winter 2020-2021 63 INNER PEACE CONFERENCE - DAY 1 Talks given at the Inner Peace Conference online May 8th & 9th, 2020, transcribed and edited.

Welcome address: Suzanne M. Culhane, Wessel Paternotte Speakers: Radhanath Swami, NaRon Tillman, Judy Lief, Rick Hanson, Jana Long, Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Maarten von Huijstee Moderator: Eddie Stern

ddie Stern: Good morning, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, she before you in gratitude. We offer our Eeverybody. As is customary in the supports 131 parishes and seven mis- bodies and minds today as channels of Hindu tradition, we will begin with sion organizations in funding God’s your grace, for we know that you are a very short invocation to Ganesha, mission of peace and unity. With the source of true understanding and the remover of obstacles, to Saraswati, expertise in counseling religious and guidance. the goddess of wisdom, learning, el- social service organizations, she teach- Speak your words of wisdom to us, oquence and articulation, and to the es organizational development and for your language transcends all cultures guru through whom we gained all the leadership capacity building across and lands, gives voice to the voiceless, knowledge that we have. the country. She seeks to live a life and speaks intimately to our hearts. grounded in prayer and meditation, We humbly ask your blessing on this Gannaanaam Tvaa Ganna-Patim and enjoys praising God with diverse , that we may be a united body Havaamahe forms of worship. of transformation and positive social Kavim Kaviinaam-Upama Suzanne’s discipleship includes action for all corners of the earth, from Shravastamam | decades of study of classical ballet, Amsterdam to New York, across the vir- Jyessttha-Raajam Brahmannaam ashtanga yoga and yoga, and she tual sphere and far beyond it. Brahmannaspata is currently enrolled in Rod Stryker’s Grant us your peace, that disease Aa Nah Shrnnvan-Uutibhih ParaYoga Master Training Program. and oppression and division may rule Siida Saadanam She’s a native New Yorker and fre- no more. Help us to plant the seeds quently meets the divine on the streets for peace on earth, where freedom and Maha Ganapataye Namah of Brooklyn and in the mountains of health will reign, where we may meet Colorado. We are absolutely delighted and honor one another in harmony, Prano Devi Saraswathi Vajebhir that she is here to open this confer- just as you have created us to be. In- Vajinivathi Dhi Nam Avitriyavathu ence for us with words of inspiration spire us to pursue compassion, and re- Vag Devyai Namah and divinity. So Mother Suzanne, I move all obstacles to inner peace and give it to you. global peace. Above all, breathe your Om Akhanda Manadalakaram spirit upon us, and bind us to service Vyaptam yena Charaacharam other Suzanne M. Culhane: and witness in your holy name, we Tadpadam Darshitam Yena MGood morning, all. Thank you pray. Amen, alleluia. Tasmai Sri Guruve Namah very much, Eddie. I am quite honored to offer this opening. Please join me in ES: Thank you so much, Mother OM Shanti Shanti Shantih silence as we bring ourselves into the Culhane, for that beautiful opening presence of the divine. and blessing. Thank you all so very much for Lord of all life, source of all wisdom, I would now like to introduce Wes- joining us. We have two amazing days prince of peace, we gather in homage sel Paternotte, who is the co-creator of planned of talks from spectacular speak- to your holy name. For we trust that Delight Yoga in Amsterdam, as well as ers and leaders in the world of peace and we meet you in silence and in stillness. the visionary behind the Inner Peace spirit and meditation. We would like to We know that divine truth is revealed Conferences. And he is a dear, dear begin this morning with Mother Su- in community. With the great sag- friend, and we are all gathered today zanne M. Culhane, who is an Episcopal es and saints, our spiritual ancestors, because of the vision that he had, priest, a stewardship specialist, a recov- companion students and teachers of along with his partner Maarten who ery warrior and a passionate yogi. all lineages, all traditions, we gather will speak later today. And so Wessel, As a canon for stewardship in the at your high altar. We bow and kneel thank you so much for the vision of

64 Issue 27 the Inner Peace Conference that you ing your wisdom with us. And thank adhanath Swami: brought to the world and that we are you, Eddie, for organizing this togeth- R all able to delight in right now. I give er with us, and thank you for your Om ajnana timirandhasya it to you now for some opening words trust and faith in doing this together Jnananjana shalakaya of guidance. in peace and love and wisdom for all. Cakshur unmilitam yena Thank you. Tasmai shri gurave namah essel Paternotte: Thank you. WThank you, Eddie. Thank you, ES: Thank you very much, Wessel. Salutations to that Guru who applies everybody. Thank you, brothers and We’re so thrilled that we can all be here the collyrium of knowledge sisters for joining us for this first In- remotely together. We will now begin with a sharp needle ner Peace Conference online. We or- with our first speaker. It’s like a dream to open the eyes blinded ganized the first Inner Peace Confer- come true that Radhanath Swami ac- due to ignorance ence about four years ago, my partner cepted our invitation to come speak at Maarten and I. We spoke often about the Inner Peace Conference. He is an how can we contribute to having more inspiration not just to me, but to hun- nama om vishnu-padaya peace on earth, and we concluded that dreds of thousands, if not millions, of krishna-preshthaya bhu-tal the best way to do that is to find in- people around the world. srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin ner peace and to share that with a lot Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s life is iti namine of people. We started to organize this a testament to living a life of peace. conference in beautiful churches in He was part of the Civil Rights Move- namas te saraswate deve Amsterdam. These churches were, of ment in Chicago in the 1960s, and gaura-vani-pracarine course, designed to receive universal spent his youth wandering through nirvishesha-shunyavadi- wisdom. And we gathered there the many countries and cultures yearning pashchatya-desha-tarine best teachers that we could find to for an experience of truth. After final- sri-krishna-chaitanya teach their practices of inner peace. ly meeting a spiritual teacher in India, prabhu-nityananda It’s kind of a crazy idea, but it’s he’s spent about the last fifty years in- sri-advaita gadadhara worked out wonderfully to have ternalizing that spiritual practice in srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda people practicing in these different his heart and sharing it from his heart Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, churches simultaneously, yoga, medi- with everyone whose path he crosses. Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare tation and other contemplative prac- Rooted in his study of the ancient Hare Rama, Hare Rama, tices. And it was beautiful to see ev- bhakti tradition, India’s mystical de- Rama Rama, Hare Hare erybody dive deep into this experience votional tradition, Radhanath Swami’s of peace. And it was also very beauti- message is as profound as it is simple. I am truly grateful and deeply hon- ful to see this also becoming a collec- By cultivating a rich inner life of self ored to have this opportunity to be tive experience, where everybody was awareness and a genuine practice of in this auspicious assembly of people, joined in this experience of peace and service, we can become instruments of spiritual leaders and seekers from all love and connection. compassion and agents of sustainable over the world. My special gratitude One of the people that was definitely change in the world. And in fact, his to Eddie Stern for being such a dear, feeling the love was Eddie Stern. And life is really a testament to that sus- lifelong friend and well-wisher, and he was teaching there, and I remem- tainable change. With the Annamrita for including me. ber very clearly one moment we were feeding program that feeds about 1.2 Peace is not just an external condi- bicycling from one church to the oth- million children every day in India, the tion of particular circumstances in the er. And he was delighted with what he Bhaktivedanta Hospital which is serv- world around us. True peace is a state saw, and he enthusiastically said, “We ing people from very under served and of the heart and the mind. It’s a con- should do one in New York.” And that poor and disadvantaged communities sciousness that is experiencing a reali- was how the seed was planted. We start- in Mumbai, the amazing Govardhan ty within ourselves that is true peace. ed planning it years ago, and we looked Ecovillage, his New York Times best- According to how we connect to that at different churches in New York. We selling books, and the solace that he peace within ourselves, we could be stumbled upon the beautiful St. Bar- brings to his devotees in his temple instruments of that peace wherever we tholomew’s Church. Sadly, we cannot and around the world, we could not are, whoever we’re with, and in what- organize the conference there today. But ask for a better opening speaker and ever situation we may be. I’m very happy and delighted to see ev- a more pure-hearted servant of peace This world is always changing. That erybody here today on this first online and of God than Radhanath Swami. is one thing that is unchanging, the Inner Peace Conference. So I turn the Zoom video over to Ma- truth that this world is always chang- So thank you everybody for joining. haraj, and again, I thank you so much ing. By the power of time, nothing is Thank you, all the teachers, for shar- for being with us today. stagnant. Whether we can perceive it

Winter 2020-2021 65 with our senses or not, everything is understand and experience, to what- Interestingly, the coronavirus is at- under the influence of higher powers ever extent, the nature of our own tacking without any type of physical that control us. true self, then we can appreciate and discrimination. Whether one is old To some extent, for a small amount respect that that same life—living, or young, whatever the color of one’s of time, we do have the ability to con- seeking pleasure—is within everyone’s skin, whatever one’s nationality, what- trol some things. But in a larger per- heart. ever one’s social status, whatever one’s spective, we’re always being controlled The idea of yoga or religion is to rec- religion or no religion, this coronavi- by powers beyond our own mind and ognize harmony—the harmony of our rus is attacking. In order to respond senses. In this condition, how to find body, which is a sacred vehicle that really effectively, in a holistic way, we peace? God has given us, in which we could also need to create solutions that are According to the Vedic literatures, do wonderful things for ourselves, for without discrimination of whether there’s birth and then inevitable old nature and for other living beings. one is male or female, or whether one age, disease and death for the physical —to live in harmony with the body, is of one social status or another, na- body. And the mind is changing much the mind, with the true self, with the tionality, religion, whatever one’s race. faster than this body. The beginning living force, with the spirit within The problem needs to be addressed in of the search, or let us say the quest, us. When we make that harmonious a holistic way, similar to the way the for real peace is that journey within connection, then we naturally realize problem is affecting us. ourselves. In essence, this is the prin- our harmony with God, our harmony Simplicity—simplicity of mind, of ciple of all the great spiritual paths with all living beings, and our harmo- heart and of life—is such a virtue. in all the great religions throughout ny with nature. Mother Nature. Simplicity in the sense that we don’t history. The essence of spirituality or In this state of harmony, when we have selfish ulterior motives. Simplic- religion is not a sectarian affiliation experience that joy, then we don’t ity in the sense that even the simplest, or a crutch to feel oneself superior to need to exploit. We don’t need to be most basic things in life can give us others. It is a path to awaken the true arrogant or greedy to find happiness. joy. We don’t need endless complica- potential that’s within each and every Then we awaken to the truth that our tions. And I know people who have one of us. real happiness is in feeling God’s love, some of the most complicated occu- The Bible tells, “What profited the and in sharing that love. And in that pations. CEOs of international corpo- person if they gain the whole world but love, the mystery of compassion is re- rations, doctors on call 24 hours a day. they lose their eternal soul?” The Bhaga- vealed to us—that in uplifting others, But they’re truly simple, because they vad Gita describes na jayate mriyate va that is truly the joy of the soul. have simple, well-wishing hearts. kadacin, that the soul is without birth, But we cannot really uplift others It’s a time when we can reflect. I’d without death. The soul is by nature sat unless we’re uplifted ourselves. And like to briefly cite a particular event chit ananda, eternal, full of knowledge, that is why it’s so important for bal- that is described in the eleventh canto and full of happiness. To find that hap- ance in our lives. The tendency for of Srimad Bhagavatam. It’s spoken by piness within ourselves is actual wealth. many of us, living in a world where Krishna to his very dear friend Uddha- Unfortunately, although all the different there are so many pressures and so va. He’s explaining how, if our hearts fields of occupations and activities are, many stresses and so many changes, is are open, if we’re really on a quest for to a large extent or smaller extent, re- we lose our balance. Sometimes situ- higher truths, if we’re seeking out the quired in this world, the sadness is that ations come that give us an opportu- company of people who enlighten and the culture of compassion, the culture nity to put our focus on what is truly inspire us, then even the simplest ex- of what is real wealth, is so much for- meaningful, what is truly purposeful periences in life can spiritually trans- gotten. in our quest in life. And in that state, form us, can emotionally uplift us. True wealth is happiness. The high- we can learn. He talks about a person who was liv- est of all happiness, the deepest of all Today, the world has been very ing in the forest. A great king named pleasures, is to love and to be loved. much struck down by this coronavi- Yadu saw this person in the forest and Everyone—whoever we are—we’re all rus. And many people that we know, asked, “Please explain to me how you looking for this happiness. We’re look- that we love, have departed from this can be the way you are. You don’t have ing for the joy of love. Things can give world. Others are sick. Others are proper clothes. You don’t have a home. some pleasure to the mind and to the afraid, confused, and many are very You don’t have any of the things that body, but things can never give true isolated. In this sadness, there’s also people are striving for to get hap- fulfillment to the heart. Only love can an opportunity: an opportunity to piness in this world. But yet you’re do that. That is the essential principle grow individually and collectively so the happiest-looking person I’ve ever of life, the pursuit of love. that we can have a more meaningful seen.” And the person living in the Often, we’re distracted in so many purpose in our lives in actually recon- forest explained what he had learned ways; we forget the very crying of our necting with God’s love and being an from different gurus. He described own hearts for that truth. When we instrument of that compassion. twenty-four gurus. One of them is the

66 Issue 27 Krishna Satyabhama ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 67 moon. The moon is always changing; he learned from the trees. The tree ful. Even the challenging situations of it’s waxing, it’s waning, sometimes it’s is always giving, in whatever situa- diversity become opportunities. a quarter moon, half moon. But actu- tion. In the summertime, the tree will My beloved guru Srila Prabhupa- ally, the moon is always a full moon. stand in the burning heat of the sun da would tell us the Vedic literatures It’s only our perception of the moon and give you and me shade to be re- have essentially one purpose. And, in that changes. freshed. When it’s very hot and we’re this sense, all the spiritual scriptures And similarly, when we come in very thirsty, the tree will provide fruit throughout history have one essential contact with the living force that is to refresh us. Even if we break the purpose: Sarve sukhino bhavantu—to seeing through our eyes and hearing tree, the tree will give those limbs for actually come to a state of conscious- through our ears and tasting through us to build a house so that we can have ness where our greatest wish, our our tongue and loving through our shelter. This idea of the humility, the deepest fulfillment, is in building our hearts, when we come in contact with tolerance and the giving-ness of a tree life around a principle. Sarve sukhino that consciousness, we understand it we cannot imitate, but it’s something bhavantu—Let all beings be happy. is forever. It’s full of happiness. It’s full we could learn from. The joy of life is We’re all searching for happiness in of God’s love. From the appearance in giving, because giving is an expres- every situation. perspective, like the moon, sometimes sion of love. At this particular time, with so we’re little babies and sometimes we’re Giving should be situated and built many people throughout the world in children and sometimes we’re mid- on a foundation of the truth that we quarantine or lockdown, in isolation, dle-aged and sometimes we’re really all are part of God, we all are children I’ve heard from so many different peo- getting old; then inevitably, like the of God. And to help each other, to re- ple giving their experiences. Some, moonless night, we don’t appear to be ally help each other physically, emo- they’re driving each other crazy in alive. But actually, our life is always tionally and socially and spiritually, is this situation and others are restoring full. What we could learn from the the culture of true spirituality and the relationships that have been so much moon! greatest need in the world. forgotten. Then the forest dweller turned to- Another type of tree is the red- In the pursuit of career, in the ward the sun. The sun is shining for wood tree. The redwood tree is the pursuit of studies, sometimes we be- everyone. The sun does not discrimi- tallest tree on the planet. How does come very consumed and distracted. nate who to give its light to. We have it keep growing through earthquakes But when we take a step back, when the choice whether we come into the and windstorms and snowstorms? Un- there’s a reset button pressed in our sunlight or not, but the sun is radi- der the ground, the roots of the red- lives, then we have an opportunity to ating unconditionally. The sun will wood trees, they search for each other. reevaluate, to take inventory of our take water from the ocean, evaporate When they meet, they embrace. They values and how we spend our time. it, create clouds and then bring that form a permanent bond. Every tree in Balance. We have family and friends water for the wellbeing of others who the redwood forest is directly or indi- and loved ones. We need to give quality need it. rectly giving support to every other at attention to our personal relationships. In a similar way whatever we have— the level of their roots. And therefore We have our spiritual obligations, our our abilities, our intelligence, our re- they keep growing under any situa- duties to God, to living a life with char- sources, our influence—its true value tion. Such a lesson. acter and with integrity, and to cultivate is in how we utilize it for the wellbe- Whether it’s a sunny and nice day, those values within ourselves. We also ing of other people. And when I say or whether there’s a pandemic or an have our responsibilities to our occu- other people, I mean that all living earthquake, whatever the situation, pation, to our physical bodies and our beings are other people. and so many situations come and health, and to society. If we neglect any When we understand the sacredness go in our lives, we need each other. of these, everything else goes off bal- of life itself, we can recognize, appre- Personal relationships, the basis, the ance. We need to give special time every ciate, and love the inherent sacredness roots or the hearts of our respect and day to cultivate our inner awareness, our wherever there’s life. Then to serve, affection for one another, is so much loving relationship with the supreme. In seva, becomes the true joy of life. And a need of the world. It has always our tradition, we chant the names of the enthusiasm to acquire, whether been. Sometimes in times of crisis, for God. There’s meditation. There’s prayer. knowledge or wealth or resources or those who open their hearts and their There’s or ceremony. There’s yoga. strength—whatever it may be—the minds, it becomes more apparent. Whatever the particular process is, its pursuit is to fulfill not our greed but There’s such a need for us to be unit- true purpose is to awaken our spiritual our love, so that we can share it with ed with all of our diversity. When we potential so that we can be instruments our loved ones. As we make spiritual understand the unity we all have on of God’s compassion. progress, we recognize humanity and this spiritual level of God’s love, of the Then we have our family members all beings as loved ones. eternal life force of the soul, then the and our loved ones. So often, without The forest dweller described what diversity in the world becomes beauti- even knowing it, we don’t appreci-

68 Issue 27 ate them. We don’t respect them. We Our next speaker, Pastor NaRon the crack era, which compounded a don’t acknowledge their value in our Tillman, is a rare combination of lot of emotional anger inside of me, lives and their value to the world. To deep Christian faith, traditional pa- where there was no inner peace, no give quality time to actually under- storing and transformational yoga harmony. There was no thought of stand that whatever, whoever is in my and teaching in severe- peace or thought of harmony. life is God’s gift to me, and whatever ly under served areas of New York. But as I began to grow and develop I have in my life, it’s been put in my Faith, practice, and open-mindedness and I found my purpose in life, I was care for a higher purpose. It is so im- form the bedrock of his church, and led to find peace. It’s a weird journey, portant with our family members, our his community work takes him from because it started on the streets and friends and our loving associates, to boardrooms and investor meetings to it ended up with me being a tradi- actually give quality time, to go deep- at-risk schools, shelters, senior centers tional pastor or preacher in a pulpit. er and deeper into those relationships. and more. I was always overwhelmed; I was al- And the relationships go deepest when He’s a graduate of Drake Business ways overwhelmed with fear, fear of the center that is the very basis of it School, where he received a diploma losing God’s favor, fear of my neigh- is our united spirit of serving God in in businesses systems. Pastor Tillman borhood and my conditions, fear of one another. helps churches develop financial inde- being broke again. So I had all of these There’s a saying, “The family that pendence, self-sustained revenue. He’s built-in fears that were chipping away prays together, stays together.” To ex- an advocate for change. He’s also the at my mindset. tend on that, a family that dines to- New York leader of the Urban Yogis, I was in the middle of preaching. gether, shines together. And a family which is a yoga and meditation train- I was already preaching, was already that dances together, advances togeth- ing program based within the LIFE helping out other people, but I still er. How important are our personal Camp program in Queens, which didn’t really have peace within my- relationships! is basically a gun violence reduction self. It’s really difficult when you are This is a time now when we can re- organization that has been doing tre- summoned to help someone else and ally focus on that, tune into it, and mendous work in Queens for the past you don’t really have the tools to help give some time for our spiritual prac- twenty years. yourself. One of the first scriptures tice every day in such a way that we Pastor Tillman is a very dear friend that really, really put me on the path make quality time for God within our of mine. He and I met on the streets of finding inner peace was where Jesus hearts. Then, with the inspiration, of Far Rockaway during Hurricane says, “Think not on tomorrow, what with the compass of our aspirations Sandy. It was in the early days right you shall eat, what you shall drink, in the right direction, through good after Hurricane Sandy when it was an where you shall live.” So, in other association, through loving relation- absolute nightmare in Far Rockaway, words, Don’t let your mind go to to- ships and through spiritual practice, which is where Pastor Tillman is from. morrow. Because as you’re thinking we can perform our occupation, our I had a truck filled with bread, and he about tomorrow, fears start to come social activities, with character. We had a car filled with water. And we up. Someone who’s thinking about can perform them with integrity. We randomly met on a completely blown- what they’re already going through can perform them, ultimately, with out street. And he said to me, “What’s right now, they start to get anxious. compassion. a white guy like you doing in a place And I’m like, “Well, how can we I’m so grateful to have this oppor- like this?” And I said, “I’m looking to live by not thinking about tomor- tunity, and I’m so grateful that this give some people some food.” And he row?” All my life I was told to plan beautiful sangha is taking place, where said, “Come with me.” And we have for a rainy day, set something aside, spiritual teachers from so many great been traveling together ever since think about these other things. Now traditions and so many seekers can ac- then. So Pastor, it’s a delight to have for the first time I’m being challenged tually find true unity in diversity—the you here, and I now give the stage to not to think about tomorrow, but be unity in our shared spirit of wanting you. in the present. At that time I didn’t to make a contribution of love and know what it meant to be in the pres- compassion individually and collec- aRon Tillman: Thank you, ent. It wasn’t until after I met Eddie tively in our lives. I thank you so very, NEddie. Thank you, all of you Stern that I found out how to navigate very much. guys who have put this conference and to get in the present moment, to together. We are excited with antici- be mindful of my present moment, ES: Thank you so much Maharaj, for pation about how we can help people to be mindful of my environment, that supremely beautiful and inspir- to navigate and find inner peace. As to be mindful of the things that were ing talk. It’s such a pleasure and joy to Eddie told you all, I grew up in Far around me. have you opening the conference, so Rockaway, Queens, New York, where In that scripture, found in the book thank you again and again. the violence and the crime rate were of Matthew, spoken by Jesus Christ, really, really high. I grew up during he gave us an example and he pointed

Winter 2020-2021 69 us to earth. Again, I didn’t understand merce, building businesses myself, How do we now develop and un- the connectivity between me being I started to get into yoga. Yoga put pack the fact that once we have peace, a human and culture or creation or me into a position where I was un- we have a responsibility? Because for the trees or the birds. Because in my comfortable. Being in a room where me, I was like, “Well, why can’t I have neighborhood, no one really told us probably 90% of the time I’m the only it to myself? It works for me. I don’t that we were interconnected and har- Black male in the room made me feel need to deal with other people.” I’m a moniously created with all of these uncomfortable. But I went anyway, bit of an introvert. I don’t really want creatures and that we needed one an- because I understood the benefits of to shake hands or be around. Now other in order to build a harmonious going through a practice. As I began we’ve got to do elbows and distancing. life, in order to find the peace that we to go through the practice, I found That’s kind of more my speed. But also seek. the next level where I started to un- how can I share this peace, and how Jesus said, “Look at the fowls in derstand the importance of medita- can we package it in a way that will the air. Doesn’t God feed them, and tion. In our culture, in our Christian be helpful to other people? I began to they never toil? Look at the flowers in context, we often talk about the Holy really search within myself and look the field. He clothes them and arrays Spirit. Now, in my upbringing, we at the systems and things that I’ve them with such beauty. And he does look to the Holy Spirit to fall down learned. this all for you. Would he not give you on us. You go into a church and peo- I always read the scripture, but it what you have need of?” ple will be crying out for the Spirit never really illuminated itself to me Now, growing up in an area where to fall and the Spirit to lead us, and until I was going through this set of you were worried about what you were the Spirit to guide us from outward circumstances. I was having service at going to eat, worried if you were go- in. It wasn’t until I really understood the Brooklyn Yoga Club, when Eddie ing to make it home, this brought me the nuances of settling down and be- allowed us to build our church out comfort. Because I knew that there ing quiet and still, that I understood of the Brooklyn Yoga Club in Clin- was somebody bigger than me that that the Spirit that we sought was not ton Hill. Here we were, a bunch of really, really cared about my everyday something that would fall on me; the Christians meeting in the basement wellbeing. My peace started once I re- Spirit I sought was already in me. at the Yoga Club. We had to take off ally started to realize that I didn’t have Once I really started to understand our shoes; it was a cultural dynamic. to make something happen for myself. that, it took my work to whole other We were coming in and people were Not necessarily, be lazy. Not necessar- level—my work with spirituality and going out. We were blending two ily, don’t do the things necessary in my work with other people. Because I communities. You can imagine that at order to feed our families. But not to realized that it wasn’t about me. And times it was uncomfortable. ‘Cause a worry about those things because the for the first time I had peace within lot of people who were with me never scriptures also teach me that my steps myself. practiced yoga, had never been to that were ordered. I didn’t meet Eddie by Someone may be listening to this particular type of setting. In normal chance. I’m not here by chance. There and may be wrestling with some stuff. circumstances, they would probably is a designed plan for me. I want to tell you this. You cannot just walk by the door. But now we In that designed plan, there will share something that you don’t have. were in this place where we’re fellow- be people that I will interact with. We often talk of peace, but if you shipping with people that may or may At first, it started denominational- don’t have peace, then you can’t give not believe in the same things that we ly. When you get entangled with re- peace. If you’re looking for someone believe in. ligion, you only see those that think on the outside to give you peace, then There was the scripture that Paul like you. Is there really peace in that? I you’ll never find it. If you’re looking wrote to the church at Philippi, and had to really start to look within my- for a practice to give you peace, then it says, “Look out not for the affairs self and say, “Is there peace with just you’ll never find it. You have to come of your own, but look on the affairs of going around with people that always to the realization that the peace that others.” And it was at that time when agree with you? Can you really find you seek after, the peace that you en- Eddie so graciously opened up his harmony when you’re just culturally deavor to have, the peace that you en- doors to us that I realized that here it connected with people that under- deavor to be connected to, is already is, a person doing what the scriptures stand your background? Can you re- somewhere within you. I can’t give have advised us to do for so long. ally find your purpose in life by just it to you. Eddie can’t give it to you. Can you imagine if we were at peace connecting with people that will tell None of these other wonderful, great with ourselves and we did not just you you’re right when you’re wrong, minds that are coming up today can selfishly look after our own affairs. or give you pats on the back when give it to you. We can point you to- There would have been no war. Can they need to chastise you?” ward peace. But what you’ll find out you imagine if we were at peace with As I started to expand my mind ultimately is that the peace that you ourselves and did not just selfishly through looking at business and com- seek is within. look after our own affairs, how there

70 Issue 27 Navaneetha Krishna ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 71 would be no violence in the streets in inner schools. I do it myself. I can say, honest with God that I’m praying to. the midst of separation, in pandemic. “Someone else go,” but I feel it is my “Why am I here?” “Why did you put When we should be social distancing responsibility to go and look at some this on me?” “Why are you allowing and finding harmony, we are finding young man and say, “I used to do the me to go through this?” “Why am I ways to be violent, because there’s no same things that you did, but I tell restless?” “Why can’t I sleep?” “Why peace within ourselves. And there’s no you that there is a way out.” It might am I taking Ambien?” “Why am I tak- peace within ourselves because we’re not be yoga for them, and it might ing pills to find peace?” “Why am I not looking after the affairs of other not be religion for them, might not be self-medicating with alcohol or drugs people. whatever things we want somebody or opioids?” Why am I doing these I echo the sentiment and the value else to do. The path that someone else things that we never really talk about that the presenter before me brought: has to go on is their path. It’s my job in these settings, because we want the You cannot harmonize within yourself to shine a light that the path exists. glamour, but there’s people that are and just your family. In this hour, we So as we’re coming together in this listening that are really, really hurting. have to learn how to harmonize with great congregation with these great People who don’t really have harmony. one another. Meditation allows us to minds, you’re all going to hear these Family members are not calling, no look within ourselves and to identify same things echoed. You’re going to one is checking in on you, you’re not our flaws. Sometimes, when we come hear that peace starts within. You’re checking in on anyone else, then you out of meditation, we feel a little bit going to hear that we to have to val- go to the Wal-Mart and you’re fight- worse than we did when we came into ue ourselves and our practice. You’re ing over tissue, you pull out a gun, it. Because we think that we have it all going to hear that you have to begin bam. And now everyone wants to stop together, but as we’re looking within to start to share, begin to covenant and pause and say, “Oh, Kumbaya” ourselves, we start to see the flaws and relationship with other people. You’re when we’re not really talking relevant- the chinks in our armor. And we real- going to hear of harmony and talks ly about situations. ize that “there are some things that I of righteousness, as we all have been So this is what I do in my practice. really need to start working on.” summoned to do. Because this is what One, I identify my weaknesses, be- Now we have two things that we we do for a living, most of us. This is cause my weaknesses are always glar- can do. One, we can either begin to our vocation. This is our passion. So ing to me. And then after I can iden- work on those things, or we can ig- we’re going to say it. But something tify my weaknesses, I start to say, Is nore them. Nine times out of ten, we has happened in these settings where this something that I can deal with? ignore them and we leave them on these things become more talk and af- Are there tools that are available to our mat until we pick it up the next ter we close our computers, we don’t me that I can use in my practice to day. Then we go into our yoga, and we really pick up the practices and live really focus in on it? Is this something start to find arrogance in the fact that them. And as we are teaching, and as that is in my DNA, that I’m going to we can get through certain moves. We we are teaching others, let us not mis- die with, that I just have to learn how look over and see someone else strug- construe the void that may be in us. to live with and suppress? Or learn gling through their moves. They’re Let us not overlook the void that may how to live with, and become buddies not finding their balance. And we say, be in us. Let us not overlook the fact with? Or is this something that I’m “Ah, look at me, I can stand on my that we tell others to practice when tucking away and hiding somewhere head. I can balance myself, I can move we sometimes don’t practice. Let us in my body, that I don’t want to deal around, and you can’t do it.” not overlook that we tell others to be with, that will rise up at a time that Instead of lending a helping hand, encouraged when sometimes we hon- is most inconvenient?—because our which is what we are summoned to estly are not encouraged. Let us not flaws never rise up at a time of conve- do, we start to look down on other overlook the fact that sometimes we nience—that’ll rise up at a time when people that are next to us, or we start tell everybody else that everything’s it’s most inconvenient, cause me to be to judge ourselves according to some- going to be all right, and when we get embarrassed, cause me to embarrass one else’s flaws. But when we start to into our own practice, we don’t real- my practice? acknowledge the fact that we are all ly know if everything’s going to be all So I need to work on me. Then I flawed, that I’m still that little boy right. can be a good steward to work on who grew up in Far Rockaway who The thing I’ve tried most in these someone else. And as I begin to work didn’t know that I would ever be on last few years of my life is to be hon- on other people, I’ve learned in my such a platform as this, that it’s my est with myself. To be honest with twenty years of ministry how not to job not to take what God has blessed myself when I’m not feeling good, to highlight others’ flaws. Because when me with and hoard it for myself; it’s be honest with myself when I’m on they come to me, they’re coming vul- my job to share my sentiments with the mat and I really don’t want to get nerable. They’re coming empty. And someone else. It’s my job to share my through a practice, to be honest with when they leave me, they should not experiences. That’s why I go into the myself when I’m praying, and to be feel depleted and dehydrated and

72 Issue 27 hungered. When they leave from me, me confidence. If Eddie would’ve similate that “I used to be this, this they should feel inspired. When they took me through an hour and a half year, and now I’m here. I used to be leave from me, they should feel like practice, I would’ve never come back this that year, and now I’m here.” And they can make it. When they leave, because I would’ve been falling over anyone who’s close to me knows that they should be able to go read Eddie’s and looking at Mike D. with his feet every year I study something different, book, Yoga and Science, and find out around his neck rolling back and forth whether it’s finance, whether it’s some different nuances. When they leave, and saying, “I can’t do this.” But he variation of yoga, whether it’s some they should feel optimistic, even when met me where I was. variation of . I study some- it seems all grim. Because I’m remind- And that’s the teacher that I aspire thing different because I want to find ed that the Lord is my shepherd and I to be. The kind that can meet peo- a level of peace in something that I shall not want. It does not say that I ple where they are, give them small was uncomfortable with before. would not seem to have wants. It does chunks, bite-sized chunks that they I understand that peace is an onion, not say that I would not be in the val- can deal with in the moment. Not all and we’ll never really get to the core ley of wants. But yea, though I walk the Bible. Not all the yoga moves. Not of it, because after we learn how to be through the valley of the shadow of all the nuances of meditation. Don’t peaceful, then our bodies start to ache death—and this is where some of us have to necessarily talk about the hy- and we’ve got to go to the doctor, and are right now—fear no evil. Why? Be- postatic nature of Christ and all of then we start to be afraid about dying cause he’s with me. He’s not with me those things that may confuse a per- and all that other stuff that happens. on the outside externally, where I have son. I have knowledge of them, but to look around and look to someone what I do is say to them, “My job is ES: We’ll take a question for you, Pas- else to help me to find him. He’s with- to look out for your affairs. As I look tor, “What can you do when you want in me. And his goodness, and his mer- out for your affairs, we’ll draw a com- to harmonize with others but they cy shall follow me. And I will dwell in mon bond. Don’t have to come to my don’t want to harmonize with you?” the house of the Lord forever. church on Sunday. My job is to look These are the things that keep me out for you.” NT: Because this is a peace confer- going when it seems as if all hope is The first state that you really real- ence, I won’t say what I would say. It gone, when it seems as if my value is ize, when you’re in what I’m going to depends on the setting. Because some- low, when it seems as if I can’t make it. call a state of chaos, what we call in times in business, we have people that These are the things that I remember. the Christian faith, “sin,” what science we don’t like and don’t like us. But we I remember walking into Bowery, calls “negative bias,” what I’ve coined, don’t have to feel because someone for the first time. I drove all the way because of our upbringing, “com- doesn’t like us that we have to give off from Queens and I got on the yoga pounding negative bias.” So if you that same energy, right? If it’s a work mat for the first time with Eddie. I take the fact that negative bias exists setting and I have to get along, I’ll get thought I was doing yoga before and in the brain, and we lean towards the along. If it’s a social setting and I don’t then I met Eddie Stern and I realized negative, compound that with when have to get along, I won’t get along. I never did yoga before in my life. I you’re living in a housing project and I’ll just stay in my corner. But what drove there and I parked my car in the everybody around you is negative. I won’t allow to happen to me is that lot that was across the street. And I’m Then you turn on the news, and ev- someone walks into the room and dis- running up the steps, and I’m so ex- erything there is negative. So you have rupts my peace. cited to do a practice. Eddie says, “Do to go in layers to find peace. Your first When I was younger, the bul- this five times.” And I did it five times. level of peace may not be one where ly would come into the room, and “Do this three times.” I did this three you find fearlessness. Your first level when the bully came in the room ev- times. He said, “Pastor, you’re done.” of peace may be just having calm for erybody’d go like, “Oh man, here he I thought, What in the world? I drove a minute and a half, quiet for some comes. Wonder who he’s going to pick all the way out here to do sun salu- time. Your next level of peace may be on now.” And we all would cower. And tations? My shoulders are burning. where you start to be able to identify as we started to cower, he saw the fear I’m like, I’m ready for the good stuff. that “I can turn off. Everything can be in our eyes, and then he knew that “I Where’s the stuff that I saw on You- chaotic around me and I don’t have can pick on you, because you aren’t Tube? ‘Cause I did my research before to engage or be entangled.” We move going to fight back.” But I learned at I went. from faith to faith, or we move from an early age that I couldn’t go home But I found out that it was brick by levels of peace to levels of peace. if I didn’t fight back, ‘cause then the brick, five, three at a time. Seven or In this modern day of the micro- beating my mother would give me was eight years later, I come now to prac- wave peace, we just want to press the worse than the one that they would tice four to five times a week, an hour button, read two books and become give me. So I learned how to at least and a half a day within each practice. teachers. But that’s not the way that fight back or not to identify fear with- It was those small chunks that brought it happens. It takes time for us to as- in my eyes. So I never allow anyone’s

Winter 2020-2021 73 presence to disrupt my peace. I never the teachings of the dharma into her moment to moment, and fears, and allow anyone’s presence to disrupt my everyday life. finding peace within that whole array peace, and I also know when to leave. Additionally in her teaching, Judy of moment to moment experiences. You learn when to leave. concentrates on how the insights and Sometimes I think we need to set I have four minutes but I’m only meditative techniques coming from up special situations. People go into going to use one and a half. There’s the Buddhist tradition can be used retreat, or people simplify their lives a song that I sing to myself, and I’ve in everyday life and in solving global and take time out from the pressures never sung at any of Eddie’s confer- problems. For many years, she’s been and busy-ness of life to find yourself, ences or anything. So I’m just going to offering workshops to provide people to have the space or the luxury of sing a little bit of it. And this song is with the contemplative tools that can simply being alone with your state of helpful for me. In my tradition, I usu- transform the way they face death and mind, with your emotional patterns, ally sing before I pray. Singing gets me care for the dying. She’s the author of with your physical sensations, and set- into a state of calm. And I don’t put it Teachings of the Tibetan Book of the tling into a more peaceful state. But on my resume, but I was in music for Dead, Making Friends With Death: that can be misleading as well. It’s singing and writing. And then I pray, A Buddhist Guide to Encountering easier to be in a state of peace when and then I’m quiet. I just learned how Mortality, and she continues to write you’re not in the thick of interactions to be quiet. I usually talk to God so books and articles for periodicals. In with other people, and with the chal- much that I start to forget how to lis- addition, she’s a lecturer on pilgrim- lenges of ordinary daily life. ten. Thanks to you guys, I’ve learned age to Asian countries such as Tibet, I was in a conference a couple days how to listen. But the song that usu- India and Bhutan. ago. People were talking about differ- ally touches my heart the most, says, She is extremely well-known and ent ways they’re reacting to the Covid (SINGS) loved in her field, and we’re so thrilled virus, to the shelter-at-home, to the Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that you’re with us today, Judy. sense of frustration of leadership, frus- that saved a wretch like me. I once was tration of not being able to have phys- lost but now I’m found, was blind but udy Lief: Thank you, Eddie. It’s ical contact with those they love, and now I see. Jso wonderful to have a chance to the pain of people suffering alone be- Praise God, praise God, praise God, meet you. It’s an honor to be here cause of the nature of this pandemic. praise God. Praise God, praise God, with all of you esteemed speakers and Many people who had been practicing praise god. Praise God, praise God, all of the people that I can’t see but meditation, practicing in a very spir- praise God, praise God. Praise God, I assume are there in the audience. itual tradition, for quite some time, praise God, praise God. I’ll try to visualize you in this Zoom were finding that when it gets right Thank you for allowing me to share. world in your little boxes. I probably down to it and you bring your prac- I pray that this day is a blessing to all. couldn’t have participated if it had tice from your mat or from your cush- gone as planned in the city of New ion into the world, the world comes ES: Pastor, thank you so much. That York. I had a conflict. But because of crashing in, and you find anger, and was beautiful and awesome in every the Zoom world, here I am. find frustration, and fear and all that. way. Crazy inspiring. Beautiful sing- Being invited to be a participant So where is the peace? ing. One of my favorite songs as well. brought me to really reflect on inner Looking at inner peace I think, peace, particularly in this era of the what kind of peace is it that is a reli- NT: Thank you. Thank you. pandemic, the Covid era. I was think- able thread that doesn’t flicker in and ing, how can there be inner peace in out depending on your circumstanc- ES: You’re welcome, Pastor. Thank such a chaotic, un-peaceful world? es—if your circumstances line up just you so much for joining us today. And can you have inner peace that right, then you can feel peaceful and opens out but does not close down? as soon as your circumstances take a ES: Our next speaker is Judy Lief. Judy I started thinking about it within turn, out the window goes the peace. is a new friend who I met through my tradition of Buddhism. One of The reactivity comes storming back Dena Merriam, who started the Glob- the principal ways of cultivating some in. There was a question about the dy- al Peace Initiative of Women, who’s kind of more peaceful mind, which is namic and more static sense of peace. one of our partners for the Inner considered to be so essential for living My sense is it’s dynamic, coming back Peace Conference. Judy is a Buddhist a good life and for being of benefit, into balance over and over again as we teacher, an author and practitioner. is a practice which is called just being encounter different situations in our She spent about 35 years applying the peaceful. It’s a fundamental training, lives. deepest principles of Buddhism to re- how to practice being peaceful. This is Sometimes you can achieve peace lieve suffering to every aspect of her done by working with what is within by, you could say, shutting down. life. From spiritual care to the dying, us that is restless, that is un-peaceful, You could say, “Okay, this makes me to solving global problems, Judy seeds that is arising as emotional dramas un-peaceful, so I’m just not going to

74 Issue 27 relate. This person is difficult, I’m just takes, so that they can be fully open thing, we try another thing, we try not going to relate. I’m going to hold and accepting of the people around another thing, endlessly, on and on my peace.” And you could say, “Don’t them. There’s a great danger in trying and on. Buddhist teachings have a lot bother me. I’m meditating. I’m being to create as your possession a partic- of jokes from my perspective, or hu- peaceful. Don’t bother me. And if ular state of mind. True peace is not mor, in the sense that, okay, you keep you do, you’re going to piss me off, manufactured, even by the most clev- trying to find it. The Reverend talked because I just maintained this quali- er or profound teachings or practices. about looking around to try to find ty of peace, and now I’ve got to hang If it has to be manufactured, then it God outside, and not realizing that it’s onto it and protect it.” So, there’s a has to be protected and maintained. within you already. I could mention positive sense—you can protect qual- Then it, by definition, is engaged in a the Buddhist thing of trying to find ity of peace—but there’s something a struggle and defensiveness of whatever peace doing this practice, doing this little fishy about your peace and those might threaten that situation. study, noticing your various restless forces outside you that you can blame We are working and changing all qualities and taming the mind, trying for disrupting it. Maybe this “inner the time, but when you do a medi- to draw in from distractedness and peace” is not the best phrase. It’s not tative practice or a spiritual practice lost quality. But the breakthrough is at an inner possession from my perspec- and you begin to have a greater sense the point of giving up, the point of re- tive. From my perspective, there’s a of inner strength, inner flexibility, of laxing, the point of dropping the no- sense of a stream of peacefulness that’s responsiveness, or a sense of greater tion that there’s something out there part of our human heritage or the her- accommodation of the extremes of ex- to attain that’s going to work. There itage of all beings, that we can align perience—you can call it “big mind”. is nothing out there to attain that’s with. But it’s not our peace. This kind Big mind can hold our own world of going to work. There doesn’t need to of peace cannot be disrupted, cannot thoughts, sensations and emotions, be something out there to attain that’s be swayed by the external circum- can hold the sufferings and pain with- going to work. It doesn’t exist. So the stances we talk about. Can you have in us and within all beings. A big sense of, “Maybe that’s okay.” a situation where you could be busy, mind can attain so much. There’s so much distrust, inner dis- you could actually be willing to listen Then, the test is in our interaction. trust that we actually already have to horrid news shows? You don’t have I think that spiritual awakening and within our nature an awakened qual- to say, “Okay, I have to defend my spiritual sense of peace is very much ity, a compassionate heart. It’s a fun- little mound of peace from this scary, an activity that can arise when we’re damental teaching that all beings are upsetting world.” challenged. From a manufactured Buddha; all beings, fundamentally I’ve just been thinking as well, as situation, we sometimes need to step in their deepest core, are fully awake has come up in the other inspiring back. We need to create retreats. We beings, worthy of love and able to talks, you could have everything and need to go into deep practice. But love. But to actually believe that is have no peace. You could have noth- then we need to come back out of very, very difficult. Because we keep ing, and basically be at ease. Some- that. And that’s where so often the thinking, “That can’t possibly be true, times this is talked about, or could be true learning happens, when we are because I get up in the morning and talked about as, Can you make friends not in a situation that is ideal, when I feel in a bad mood.” Or, “I get up with yourself, and can this state of we’re not with people that are neces- in the morning and I should’ve done peace include your foibles? Include sarily wonderful, when we’re not nec- this and I didn’t do it.” We think of your vulnerabilities? Include the areas essarily in a job situation where things all the reasons why we are inadequate. of your being that could cause you are just flowing along duckily. When So many people feel inadequate on worry or trouble? Or your flaws? we are interrupted, then we see where many levels, let alone in the sense of As a Buddhist, I run into this. If our attachments lie. We could be at- something that sounds so grandiose as people think Buddhists are like Teflon tached to maintaining a sense of, we’re inner peace. Inner peace people—they never feel upset; they spiritual people, we can deal with ev- Nobody wants to be hurt. Nobody never feel like losers; nothing fazes erything, or attachment to not being wants to make mistakes. Nobody them; they can deal with everything— bothered. I just want to deal with my wants to be alone and unloved. But if it starts to merge into a sense of striv- thing, what I like to do, practice and we have to get rid of all that in or- ing and perfectionism that you should study; just leave me alone and let me der to have true peace, we’ll just keep not feel strong emotions, you should do my spiritual hobby, whatever you struggling forever and ever as far as not be upset by anything. Your heart want to call it. I can tell. Within that, can there be shouldn’t be torn apart by so many Oddly enough, there’s a discussion peace? Within our flawed inner world, things that you see. of, everybody wants to be more peace- our flawed outer world, what does Much of the time, I try to encour- ful, everyone wants to be more hap- peace actually mean? age people to invite in their flaws and py. And the more we strive to be so, It’s hard to talk about something their hesitations, their fears and mis- the less it seems to work. We try one like inner peace, ‘cause it’s not held

Winter 2020-2021 75 within language. It is beyond lan- can always come back. We get lost and it’s going to be harming you. So if you guage. It’s not graspable by our words, are always coming back—point of re- can step away, you step away and work even by our brilliant, profound words turn. Each time there’s that coming on that. Because in life, you’re going held in the best scripture. Those are back, that point of return, which is to have to deal with harmful and ag- all, as someone pointed out as well, what more deeply matters, we develop gressive people because they’re there. those are pointers. They’re pointers to spiritual and emotional strength. Certainly we’re going to have to deal something; they’re mirrors. They say, with annoying people, because there “Can something mirror to you your ES: Judy, would you like to take any are many of those as well. So how to innermost nature?” That is the role of questions? interact in a way that spreads peace teachers. In that beautiful story from rather than feeds the aggression? What the Hindu tradition, it comes through JL: Oh, I’d love to take a question. feeds the aggression is buying into it, the trees and the sun and the moon and kind of tossing it back, you could and the natural world, the of ES: “How can we, highly sensitive say. Which happens so easily. interconnectedness. people, stay at peace with aggressive I’ve been particularly thinking about people while constantly being both- ES: Thank you very much, Judy. If boundaries. You could say there’s in- ered, people who do not go away you’d like to say any closing words, ner peace and outer chaos. Sometimes when we set our boundaries in a nor- we’d invite you to say those, and it seems the opposite. Inner chaos and mal way, but still act aggressively to- then we’ll carry on. I’d like to say one maybe there’s some outer peace. The wards us?” thing, that Veet, one of our partners practice that I find the most potent in in the conference, just told me that some ways is that meeting point. You JL: If we have an aggressive person in your last name, Lief, is the Dutch do your practice in the morning, you our lives, how can we maintain any word for love. go out into the world, and boom, you peace? hit a boundary. Boom. Your practice JL: I’ve heard that, yes. hits the world. And then it can go one ES: And maintain some boundaries in In terms of any final things, I think way or another. a normal way. my main thing is that there’s room Where does that peace fall away, for the strong emotions—for sorrow, and why does it fall away? Then comes JL: From my perspective, that’s con- for love, for anger, for frustration. a question, stepping back, what is it nected with a certain quality of kind- There has to be room for them with- you try to maintain? Is inner peace ness to ourselves, and self-knowledge. in a space of real peace. Peace doesn’t something that can be maintained, or As has come up many times, the spir- mean subduing all the emotions and does that maintaining actually under- itual practice is a dynamic, lifelong smoothing everything out. To me that cut the thing itself? It’s sort of like try- thing. And one of the things that is is an important aspect of how I view ing to preserve a flower. You can have important to learn is when we need peace. It’s an inviting of the reality of an artificial flower, and it lasts, except to step back. It came up as well with worldly energies, though within in a that you have to dust it or something the Reverend. There are times we have very vast, expanded sense of space, every so often. But a real flower, you to remove ourselves from the situation which to me, holds true peace. That’s can’t keep it. It just dies and dries up. that we’re not ready to deal with. We all I had to say. Or relationship. You can’t hold it. get a clear message. Other times, we’re When you hold it, you kill it. always deciding, “Am I being coward- ES: Beautiful. Thank you so much, That’s been interesting, for me. ly or am I being realistic? Am I being Judy, for joining us. It was an absolute Something so important, the most phony, or am I being real in this mo- pleasure to have you here with us. fundamentally important in some ment?” Our next speaker is Dr. Rick Han- ways—inner harmony, inner peace, Of course, with this virus, if we’re son, who has tons and tons of acco- inner loving, basic goodness, inner stuck in a small apartment with a per- lades to his name. He is a psychologist nature—we want it so much, and we son like that—oh no!—then you have and a neuroscientist, a summa cum want to hold it so much, and in hold- to find some way of letting the per- laude graduate of UCLA. He’s the ing it, we destroy it. son’s own issues, their own insecurity founder of the Wellspring Institute It’s almost like in the martial arts, and violence, be theirs. I’m a sensi- for Neuroscience and Contemplative you can’t directly go for something. tive person, and sometimes it’s a drag Wisdom. He’s spoken at NASA, at You have to relax. You have to relax ‘cause we tend to take on what comes Google, Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and receive, not create and manufac- at us very directly into the body in so many universities. He’s a medita- ture. That takes great confidence and kind of an empathic distress. tion teacher, and he’s taught all over great trust. I think a lot of what is so Working with that quality of, it’s the world. His work has been featured important is to give people that trust. not your problem. It’s not your prob- on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and on so They can relax. They can accept. They lem a person’s being that way, unless many other different media outlets.

76 Issue 27 He has a newsletter called Just Young put it, keep on rocking in the is a transcendental process or matter One Thing with 150,000 subscribers, free world. entwined with ordinary natural reali- which you can also subscribe to. He What I’d like to do with you is a ty; but other than that, this moment has an online Foundations of Wellbe- practice in four steps. It’ll be experi- of hearing, this moment of wanting, ing program in positive neuroplastici- ential. But I’d like to frame it first in this moment of craving, this moment ty that anyone with financial need can terms of what’s called positive neu- of freedom from craving, this mo- do for free. His books are wonderful roplasticity. When things are really ment of inner peace, this moment of and amazing. The Buddhist Brain and hard, in other words, when the world inner agitation, is being constructed, Hardwiring Happiness are two of my is most challenging, and also when the conditioned and constrained contin- favorites. His newest book is called world is least helpful, such as at this ually by the living body, primarily in Neurodharma, which came out on current time, what we most need to the nervous system, and especially its May 5th. You can go online and order do is to draw on strengths of various headquarters, our own brain. So it’s that book. It’s an amazing book. kinds inside, and develop these and really important to pay attention not One of the things which is so phe- use them well. Strengths like cour- just to being experientially subjective- nomenal about Rick’s work is how age or grit, determination—scruffy ly mindful of the body, but to recog- he can help people to experience and determination, one of my favorites— nize with insight and wisdom that we understand that our mind and our compassion—compassion for others, are continuously, actually, objectively, body are one thing. And that by do- compassion for ourselves, gratitude, body full of mind. ing something to your body, it hap- insight, wisdom, the capacity to drop We’re having an experience—let’s pens to your mind; and by doing to into meditative concentration. All suppose that we’re feeling some com- your mind, it happens to your body. kinds of strengths of various sorts. passion, or we’re feeling some clarity He can help guide us in ways that How do we develop these strengths? about how we want to act, and these you can begin to feel that viscerally, Because that’s what we draw upon are the two strengths that I want to and then wire that into your everyday to be truly resilient while preserv- talk about integrating here, compas- present-moment awareness. ing some kind of wellbeing in the sion and clarity together. We’re expe- Rick, we are thrilled to have you core of ourselves. We develop these riencing it. We’ve gotten those neu- here. Congratulations again on the re- strengths neurologically in two very rons firing together. Then in the sec- lease of your book. simple, straightforward steps. But we ond step of positive neuroplasticity, routinely forget the second one. The the second step of lasting cultivation, ick Hanson: Thank you very first step is to experience whatever we genuine in Sanskrit and Pali, Rmuch, Eddie. Thank you to the want to grow. To get that experience we need to help the experience we’re organizers of this Inner Peace Confer- occurring along with, in terms of the having actually sink in. Actually leave ence. My respectful bows to the teach- body-mind integrated process that a lasting physical trace of neural struc- ers on this panel. It’s really an honor Eddie was speaking to a moment ago, ture or function, without which the to be part of this. My respectful bows the underlying pattern of neural acti- experience might have been pleasant to all those who are participating in vation. Those neurons and synapses, or useful at the time, but it was truly this conference. I think that we prac- there are about 85 billion of them in- impermanent. It left no value behind tice for others, of course, as well as for side our heads along with another 100 in terms of any development, any ourselves. One of the things to take billion or so support cells, connected healing, any learning, any movement, into account as we practice, as we take in a network with typically several any conversion from state to trait. a breath, as we be a little more mind- thousand connections each, giving us That second step of internalization, ful, as we be a little more patient, as right now—right now!—several hun- of genuine learning can be accom- we keep on going in ways that are dred trillion—wow!—little micropro- plished very simply, ‘cause the brain skillful for others and ourselves too, cessors sparkling away. As the neuro- is so fast. If we just stay with an expe- is that we practice alongside so many scientist Charles Sherrington put it, rience for a breath or two or longer, other beings. Even though we’re do- “The brain is like an enchanted loom, we’re going to keep those neurons fir- ing this, as it were, virtually, we can continually weaving the fabric of our ing together, so they’re going to tend tap into what is called intersubjectivity consciousness.” to be wiring as well. The more we ex- among developmental psychologists, Apart from whatever may lie mean- perience something in the body, the I include myself in their number. It’s ingfully beyond or distinct from or- more it’s going to tend to leave traces that capacity to have a felt sense of dinary reality, the big-bang universe behind in terms of social, emotional, the being behind the eyes in the other that we’re in, which includes a lot of motivational, even spiritual learning. person, that there are others who are extraordinary stuff; apart from what- The more that we focus on what is en- with us who, like us, suffer and hope ever that may be, and it’s the view of joyable about the experience, what is and dream and enjoy and sorrow, and some that it’s not at all, it’s the view of rewarding about it, the more it’s going can even, as my great teacher Neil others, including me, that there really to tend to leave lasting traces behind.

Winter 2020-2021 77 There are other methods we can ond step of learning, internalization, al, perhaps. Both together, the bitter use, or other mental factors that we to help those experiences become last- and the sweet. But it’s important to can draw upon, such as being aware of ing traits inside us. Then as we move not get swallowed up by the bitter, why an experience is actually person- from state to trait, those traits become and to keep renewing, calling upon ally relevant, why it would be salient, easier to access. And over time we the lovingness, the compassion, the worth paying attention to. There are develop trait compassion, trait grati- support, including for yourself. We’re other factors that will increase the tude, trait wisdom. dealing with a lot these days, and it’s conversion from states to traits. And I Let’s begin. I suggest, if you like, okay to acknowledge it. Perhaps with talk about them a lot, and I have tons that you bring to mind someone that’s soft thoughts like, “May I not suffer. of freely offered information about easy for you to feel compassion for, a May I feel less anxious. May I also be that. But really, the essence is simple. felt sense of their burdens, their diffi- grateful. May I be at peace with this It’s two steps: Have it, enjoy it. By en- culties. Could be a friend, a partner, pain.” joying it, I mean, very, very broadly, could be a group of people, a pet, an Then, in the third step of this am- take it into yourself. aging parent, a frontline health care bitious practice, call to mind what Now, some of what we take in may worker. With that empathy, that felt could be called the difficult person. not be enjoyable in the moment. It sense of, “Wow, some of what they’re Frankly, some translations will refer to might be a moment of healthy re- dealing with…,” there’s a benevolence. this traditionally as the enemy, the ad- morse, realizing, “Wow, I’ve landed There’s a supportiveness; there’s a wish versary—someone who is challenging really hard on another person. I need that they not suffer, along with, often, for me in this time, in our politicized to not do that the next time.” We need the wish to help if one can. In fact, in time, or with people we’re living with to let that sink in. We may also inter- this first of four steps, we’re meditat- or dealing with around us. Find some- nalize notions that are more neutral ing on compassion for a friend. There one who is challenging for you. With- but really useful. In my 20s I realized might be other feelings alongside the out waiving your rights at all, see if that growing up I’d been a nerd, but compassion, such as friendliness or you can have some sense of how they not a wimp. That was a useful idea for love, maybe a sense of injustice that’s are burdened too. They are scared too. me. That too is something—to de- landed on that person. We might like They are stressed too. velop conviction in, or, in a healthy them as well as have compassion for Compassion is independent of judg- sense, a kind of faith in, useful ideas. them. You might want to put a hand ment or affection. We can have com- Including, for example, the idea that on your heart, or touch your heart; passion for those we oppose fiercely. someone’s alcoholism is not our own this might strengthen the experience. Being aware, keeping it simple, dis- fault, for example. Then, in the second step of this engaging from complicated stories or We internalize. We move from state practice, which you can come back movies— just them; there’s a being to trait. Now I’d like to apply this to again and again, and these steps over there, vulnerable like me, doesn’t general approach to cultivating and might also be familiar to you—see if want to die, like me, feels pain, feels developing traits of compassion for you can be aware of some of your own pleasure. Can you feel compassion for those who are easy to feel compassion burdens. Your own stresses, pain, loss, this person? You might be aware of for; second, the trait of compassion worry, stuff you’re dealing with. In our the ways in which that compassion for for someone who might be harder to common humanity, it’s normal to feel this person can actually relieve some feel compassion for, oneself; third, these things. Along with this sense of of the upset you might feel related to the trait of having compassion for, or the suffering, the difficulty, there can them. If you like, you can bring soft the capacity for compassion for, those be a supportiveness, a tenderness for thoughts to bear about them, maybe who are difficult; and then fourth, a oneself, much as we might feel that something really quite specific. “May sense of clarity amidst that compas- for another person. You might have you not suffer.” “May there be less sion about what one sees and how one simply a sense of wishing yourself pain in your body.” “May you be more will act. That’s what I’m really going well, perhaps a feeling of wanting to in touch with wellbeing.” Keep it sim- to aim for here. help yourself in some ways. Keeping ple. “May you not suffer.” I’ll do this experientially for you. It’s it simple, focusing on the feelings of It’s okay if it’s hard. It might be use- a little ambitious. If we’re truly going caring and respect and supportiveness ful to pick someone who’s just a little to have inner peace and outer peace, for yourself. difficult or challenging for you, and we need to be ambitious. I invite you Compassion, in effect, is bitter- then extend outward. There can be the to do a bit of an experiential practice sweet. There is both the bitter of the sense that the compassion and related with me here. sense of the suffering, and the sweet of feelings of kindness or good wishes, of We have the ability to evoke, call the caring, the support, rippling out peacefulness radiating out from you, forth, open into, various useful expe- maybe in waves, maybe with a sense are unconditional. They’re not depen- riences, states of being. Then as we ex- of it being lived through you, even, dent upon others. It’s a little bit like perience them, we can engage the sec- tapping into something trans-person- a WiFi base station of warm-hearted-

78 Issue 27 Tiruppavai 11 - Meghashyama ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 79 ness radiating in all directions, omit- There might be a compassionate As more and more people have this ting none, the seen and the unseen, clarity about actions you’re going capacity, including all of us involved in all directions, through which others to take, such as supporting different in this marvelous conference, and go- move. Your compassion, your loving- political groups, or sending an email ing forward, rippling out more and ness, your strong heart is independent that’s simple and clear. In this com- more, seen and unseen, I think that of who they are or what they’ve done. passionate clarity, there might be an- is a major thing that will be helpful to They’re moving through the field of ger amidst it. But it’s not anger in the us going forward in this century that your radiant caring, spreading in all driver’s seat. It’s a passenger, maybe, in is both full of challenges and full of directions. the back. Calm, compassionate clarity. wonderful opportunities. I want to In fact, your compassion is not You can do this with another difficult thank you all for the opportunity to about them, even though it is about person if you like, or challenging situ- be here with you, and to thank my them. Fundamentally, it’s offered ation. Really anchor in yourself. Real- benefactors, Eddie et al, who have en- freely, omitting none. And this com- ly receive into yourself this feeling of a abled this to happen, people I respect passion that is free can be an easing grounded, unconditionally kind, fair greatly on this panel. And all of you. I of one’s own suffering. There can be way of being that is clear about what really wish you the best. May we all be a sense of liberation from the partic- you see, what you value, and what you safe, healthy, happy and live with ease. ularities of what other people do or will do. The feeling of this can sink in. Thank you very much. who they are as you rest, mainly, in As I finish here over the next few this wellspring of caring, compassion, minutes, I myself, who have been do- ES: Thank you so very much, Rick. kindness living through you as you, ing this with you, with a person who That was just wonderful, and very ef- no matter who they are. I find really quite difficult in my life, fective as well. It’s a delight to have Then, the fourth step, the most chal- I find it useful to bring to mind peo- you with us, and thank you for lead- lenging of all perhaps, the most ambi- ple who are models for me of this way ing that meditation. It was absolutely tious, is to stay in touch with—with of being, who seem like exemplars of apt. Folks, definitely check out Rick’s regard to this particular difficult per- embodying in their way of being and new book, Neurodharma. We look son, and you could do this with oth- in the feeling you get around them of forward to doing more with you in the ers—to stay in touch with this open this kind of calm, courageous, com- future, Rick. heart, the strong heart, while finding a passionate action. clarity. A clarity about the way it is, all For me, Thich Nhat Hanh stands RH: Definitely. of it. The complexities of it with you out. There are certainly others. I think and this other person or these groups of a teaching from the Buddha as best ES: I’m going to invite our next speak- of people. Clarity about what you see. we know that one is not necessarily er up, Jana Long. I met Jana through Without righteousness, and still with wise who can just recite the scriptures. both my friend, psychologist Dr. Gail clarity. And a calm knowing of what One is truly wises who is peaceable, Parker, and also Dena Merriam from you’re going to do with regard to this friendly and fearless. I just love that the Global Peace Initiative of Wom- challenging person, or, more general- combination: peaceable, friendly and en. Jana is the director of the Power ly, challenging situations or settings. fearless. There may be anxiety. We are of One Yoga Center, which is just an Compassionate clarity. See if you human animals. It’s natural to have amazing name for a yoga school, I can find a sense of this. Heart is open, anxiety arising around the edges. But love that. She has so many interesting not poisoned by ill will, not poisoned in the core of one’s being, one is not facets of her training, including being by hatred. Resentments, anger, out- cowed or bowed, and one can step for- an astrologer and being certified by rage may arise. It’s okay. It’s perfect- ward, resting in and finding in, Duke Integrative Medicine in thera- ly normal. It’s part of what’s passing sinking roots into, this sense of calm, peutic application of yoga for seniors. through the sky of mind. Meanwhile, compassionate clarity—the sweet She has several different levels of yoga in the core, in the center, there’s a spot. With repetition, in that second certifications, having studied with the calm, compassionate clarity, a sim- necessary step of any kind of lasting Bihar School of Yoga and Sivananda plicity of clarity about what you’ll do, learning, any kind of movement from Yoga. Also, she’s skilled in Ayurveda which might be nothing. It might be passing states to lasting, beneficial and in so many other types of things. simply letting it be, or realizing there’s traits, we can let it land again and One of the things that struck me nothing you can particularly, usefully, again. We can open our bodies. We most when Jana and I were speaking do. Or, in your clarity, you might only can have a receptive intimacy with our before this conference was how she know what the next step is. And that’s experience in the moment to receive related to me that, when she began all you really need to know—the next into ourselves the feeling of this sweet her journey into yoga and was study- step. Perhaps reaching out to oth- spot of calm, compassionate clarity. ing Vedanta and the different yoga ers, allies, resources, advisors maybe, And then we increasingly live from philosophies and aspects of friends. there out into the world. in yoga, she didn’t see herself in those

80 Issue 27 teachings. Yoga was profound to her, I listen to their music— their lyrics this story about what’s shifting for me. but from the culture and background often are like sutras that are the songs Eddie’s suggestion about loving re- she came from, she didn’t see herself they’ve created for our contemplation lationships brought me to an album in those particular traditions, if I’m and consumption. that I have in my collection by Billie using your words properly. I found Since this Covid-19 pandemic Holiday. It’s her Lady in Satin album. that to be really interesting. emerged and we’ve been mandated to It was released in 1958 and it was What Jana related to me was that stay at home, I’ve been going through the last album that came out during she went to Ghana, West Africa, my vinyl record collection and se- her lifetime. I first heard this album which is where she’s from, to learn lecting music to listen to. I still have in 1958. I was a precocious six-year the traditional healing and spiritu- a turntable. When Eddie first invit- old attending first grade at St. Joseph’s al practices of the Akan people, and ed me to be part of the Inner Peace Catholic School in Cincinnati, Ohio. study the yoga and spiritual traditions Conference, I had a totally differ- At the time I lived with my maternal of West Africa, and then combine that ent presentation in mind. I thought grandmother and my great grandfa- and assimilate that into how she per- we would be gathering at St. Bart’s ther. He used to walk me to school ceived, valued and taught yoga. She Church, and I was going to do one of and pick me up from school every day. went on to become the executive di- my signature workshops. But then the When the school year ended, my rector and the co-founder of the Black event switched to being online with mother, who had left Cincinnati in Yoga Teachers Alliance. the overarching themes of discovering search of a better lifestyle, a better way It’s an absolute delight to have you peace within loving relationships and of living, came to Cincinnati, got me here today. Thank you very much, conscious living. And Eddie actually and brought me to Washington D.C. Jana, for being with us. The floor is sent an email to me—and I’m reading for the summer. She had just landed a all yours. directly from it—it said, “It might be job at Howard University. Most days, valuable to have you speak on the top- when she came home after work, one ana Long: Thank you Eddie. I don’t ic of loving relationships, in particular of her favorite albums to play was Jknow if what I have to say will take such ideas as deepening our relation- Lady in Satin. I heard it so much as a up the whole thirty minutes, so I’m ships with self and others, establishing child that I guess through osmosis, I happy to take any questions if there’s bonds of understanding and connec- learned the words to the songs. When time leftover. First, I’d like to extend tion through dialogue, appreciating I pulled out my Lady in Satin album, I my greetings to all the other present- a diversity of values, ideas, traditions immediately went to one of my favor- ers. Thank you for what you shared and religions, and expanding percep- ite songs. It’s cut three, side one. Billie this morning. I’ve been taking notes, tions through storytelling, sharing sings, “You don’t know what love is”. so thank you very much. For the par- and listening.” Now, I’m not going to pretend that ticipants out there, first of all, thank Honestly, if these topics had been at six years old I had any idea what you for being part of the Inner Peace suggested to me before Covid-19 Billie Holiday was singing about when Conference. emerged, I might have been able to she crooned, “You don’t know what I’d just like to ask you all to take address them with some degree of love is”. But I will say this, at six years a deep breath with me, ‘cause I need substance and clarity. But the pan- old I felt something about what she one. If we could just settle into our demic has created a lot of shifts in my was singing, from her jazz phrasing bodies and soften our bodies out. Let consciousness, and I’m sure many of and the interpretation. What I felt was your buttocks soften against whatever you out there who are listening are go- she was singing about something she you’re sitting upon, and take a deep ing through the same thing. And some didn’t have or couldn’t get. Most kids breath in. Let the exhalation relax of those shifts for me are around the know what that feels like. It was love you. I’d like to ask you to relax your concepts of love. lost, not found, never found. Love giv- attention, as opposed to paying at- As a contemplative person, I’m will- en, not received. Love as fulfillment, tention. Just relax your attention and ing to allow whatever is arising in me love as sacrifice. Now, of course, I’ve hear what I’m saying. to bubble up, to look at it even when come to understand all of these nu- Music sustains me. Music supports it’s scary, even when it’s what I don’t ances in various aspects in the lyrics of me in times of difficulty. Music is want to see. I don’t have to judge it, I this song as an adult and as I’ve moved something I use to support my inner just notice and watch, and I’m aware, through my own life, because this song peace. It helps me to cope with life’s and I observe my own thoughts. I’m in has lived with me for 60 years. Billie’s challenges. I often turn to the jazz id- this process—this coronavirus moving voice, scratched with pain and living a iom as the primary genre of music. I around the world and all that it’s re- life of hard knocks, sings, “You don’t was raised on jazz; it’s in my blood. It vealing about who we are, how we are, know what love is until you’ve learned brings me a lot of peace. I see the art- our ways of thinking and being, real- the meaning of the blues, until you’ve ists of jazz and blues as gurus and gri- ly has me asking myself that question lost the love you had to lose, you don’t ots. I learn time and time again when again about love. I’ll do my best to tell know what love is.”

Winter 2020-2021 81 Collectively, we are learning the really miss, even my beloved family India and got my contemplation on. meaning of the blues. Many of us, members I haven’t seen, like many of That was an experience that reshaped thousands of people in a short amount you. I haven’t seen them face to face me in many ways. One of the teach- of time, have lost loved ones and are since February. All connections are ers I had there talked about love, how in the process of grieving, grieving in virtual now. The physical distance, love often, he explained, in the West a way that they can’t gather and cele- it’s hard as a human being not to be has become somewhat of a disposable brate those lives lost—grieving with- able to reach out and touch another word. We use it like “Hello”, Good- out closure. Then there are others of person. As I contemplated that and I bye”. “Hello, I love you.” “Goodbye, us, we are losing places that we loved lived with that, I thought about this I love you.” Do we really think about and things that we did. It’s uncom- song called Trying Times by Rober- what that really means, to love? fortable. ta Flack. It came out in 1971 on her I thought when I left India that I’d Many people, like Billie, are accus- debut album that’s called First Take. sort of settled into being a one-way tomed to living the blues on a day to 1971 is a special year for me, because vessel of love, just love would pour out day basis. But those who know lit- that’s the year yoga came into my life. of me without any need for reciproc- tle about the blues are venting their That’s when I began to explore and in- ity. It was a one-way street. But since anger and lashing out, because they vestigate this practice called yoga. this pandemic, what shifted for me is don’t know how to deal with the dis- I put on Roberta Flack First Take that, I have to confess, I don’t think comfort of it. The blues ain’t easy. The to listen to Trying Times. I turned up I love human beings unconditionally. blues is not easy. Loss of freedom to the volume. She says in the first line, Maybe I never did. This is what I’m come and go as we please brings on “Trying times is what the world is grappling with. Perhaps it’s been there the blues. Mandates to stay at home talking about. We got confusion all all along and I just didn’t want to ac- bring on the blues. The blues arise over the land”. As I listened to this al- knowledge that I didn’t love human when we think about what we’ve tak- bum, I was listening to the song, my beings unconditionally, because I’m en for granted now that we don’t have television was on, but I put it on mute a yoga teacher and I’m trying to live it anymore. Procrastination is rooted so that I could listen to the music. The from a loving place, and express and in the blues and the assumption that visuals on the screen were of people experience myself as loving. And it there will be tomorrow. in Michigan and California and Geor- hurts me to confess out loud and in I used to say I saw an infection be- gia, and even here in Maryland where the presence of other human beings, fore Covid-19 coronavirus. There was I live, protesting, wanting to get out, that I do not love you uncondition- an infection that was already spread- crazy, can’t stay at home. To mask or ally. It makes me feel like a dismal ing amongst us. It was an infection of not to mask, that is the question. I person. I have to almost choke down incivility and crassness. We began to saw a scroll, “President advises injec- saying that. But as I witness from my normalize that. It started from the top tions of disinfectant to kill the virus”. direct experience and the indirect in- down, and it spread amongst us. This Health care workers needing PPE. On formation that I’m getting from vari- doctrine of separateness—that’s what and on and on. Redefining what is an ous forms of media, it makes me won- I call it—has been more or less pro- essential worker, the people who are der if, as a species—Are we even ready moted to us en masse. Well, children going out every day to be of service for love? were separated at the border, let us not to us, who work lower-wage jobs that There’s been a video running on TV forget about that, from their families barely sustain them. And if they get of just still another young, unarmed and this idea of tribalism, more trib- sick, they have no health care. black man shot down by someone in alism, and “these people” and “those Then Roberta says, “Maybe folks a truck who looked like he was on a people”. wouldn’t have to suffer if there was big game safari hunt. And the update Coronavirus is like a genie that more love for your brother. But these is that yesterday, that man and his son came out of the bottle. As the say- are trying times.” There was that word were arrested. The shooting happened ing goes, be careful what you ask again, “love.” So here I am. I’m at in February. They were arrested yester- for, because the coronavirus gets the home alone. As I said, all contact is day. Whether they will come to trial, last laugh right now. We thought we virtual. The only people I see on a reg- and if they have a trial by a jury of could pick and choose our together- ular basis are the postal delivery per- their peers, well, we’ll see what hap- ness. Some, not others. Those people, son and the sanitation workers. I run pens. but not them over there. Coronavirus, to my door, and when they’re at least We humans certainly don’t make it Covid-19, came out and said, “No- six feet or more away I run out and I easy to love or to be loved. Of course, body can get together.” We got what wave and I say hello and thank you, there are people in my life I do have we asked for. Ask, and ye shall receive. ‘cause I’m hungry for that contact. unconditional love for. And I have a Now that we’re here in our spaces, Before the pandemic, I thought I big circle of friends and acquaintanc- individualized, not being able to con- was down with love. I thought I had es, and I have loving feelings for them. nect with each other— something I love together. I’d gone to the ashram in But I’m trying to be—from what I’ve

82 Issue 27 heard from the other teachers here belongs to everyone, the best things I would just ask you to take time ev- this morning, I want to have a big- in life are free. The stars belong to ery day, sit with yourself, just sit and ger basket of love. And I’m finding it everyone, they gleam there for you breathe two to three minutes, three to really difficult right now. I have con- and for me. The flowers in spring, five minutes. It doesn’t have to be a ditions for my human love. This may the robins that sing, the moonbeams long time. Relax and explore your in- sound harsh, but I don’t know if it’s that shine, they’re yours, their mine. ner world. You never know what may even necessary to love humankind. And love can come to everyone. The emerge. When the pandemic is over Are we worth it? When I ask myself best things in life are free.” and we’re able to come out again, who that question, I don’t have an answer. When I relate to that song, I feel will you be? Who will you be? It’s something that I’m sitting with. peace, I feel hope. Because it’s opened I want to extend my gratitude for And that’s what I mean: Sometimes me to a first realization that there’s everyone who registered. And thank things bubble up. They’re not pleasant more to love than people. Perhaps my you for inviting me to participate in to deal with. But I’m sitting with it. focus has been misplaced. There are the Inner Peace Conference. Thank And I’m not judging myself for it. I’m other living things for which I can say you to all those who have supported just looking at it. I have unconditional love, like plants, the conference. And just as a remind- Our popular media promotes this the foliage and the fauna, those things er, I would ask you to please be good idea since this virus that we’re all in that sacrifice their lives so that other to yourself. Be kind to yourself. Thank it together. Are we? Are we in this to- life forms can survive. The love I have you. gether? Or is this just another slogan for them is deep and true. I have un- that soon will appear on a Covid-19 conditional love for the true source, ES: Jana, thank you so much. I think T-shirt for sale? We are all experienc- this planet that we live upon. This there’s thunderous applause from ev- ing the pandemic, but our suffering planet, our home, our mother, that eryone’s computer in their houses. plays out in different ways. Some peo- we have wreaked havoc on out of our That was a really honest and beautiful ple are at home, like me. I’m waiting avarice and over-consumption, makes talk. I think that you said what you for a vaccine, ‘cause I’m in the vulner- me feel pain when I see her surface had to say wasn’t going to take thirty able group. Some folks are anxious penetrated and dug into and drilled minutes, but we could keep listening and wanting to connect socially—so- into. We’ve raped and debased her, to you and listening to you. They’re cial media, emails and online and vid- and we’ve lost our connection to what deeply profound truths that you were eo calls, it’s just blowing up. It’s a mad is real and true. We now value the ar- sharing. Thank you for bringing up frenzy going on. The angst is palpable. tificial. Ahmaud Arbury who was senseless- Coronavirus is asking us to be still, to I have deep respect for Covid-19 ly killed in February, another tragic be still. Just for a moment, to be still, for locking me down so that I can sort name to be added to the senseless and to breathe. You have a chance to relax, out what is really important. The air horrific racist violence of our country. just for a moment. Can you do that? is fresher. It’s quiet. I hear birds sing- Thank you for your love of the The good news is, I’m not com- ing, rather than trying to squawk over mother earth and I love your use of pletely back at square one on the the din of traffic noise. Animals whose music as well in your spiritual jour- love thing. In my attempts to un- habitats we’ve encroached upon are ney. Thank you so much for joining derstand the roots of love, and that’s coming out more freely. I see less road us, and we look forward to doing how I’m phrasing it: What’s the root kill whenever I’m out foraging for more with you, Jana. of love? I recently was looking at, food. As human activity decreases, the I think it was Netflix, there was a activity of the natural world increases. JL: Thank you very much. documentary about the singer Sam This pandemic has increased my Cooke. Sam is mostly known for his gratitude. I’m enjoying basking in na- ES: Our final speaker for the day is Tio- ballad A Change Is Gonna Come. But ture, working in my garden, doing my kasin Ghosthorse. I think of Tiokasin that’s not my favorite song. The song due diligence to be responsible and as one of the treasures of New York. that inspires me by Sam Cooke, the respectful of our mother, this home He is a member of the Cheyenne Riv- song that is supporting me through we call earth, and the life, this spe- er Lakota Nation of South Dakota, this contemplation of love, is a song cial experience of life on earth. I see and has a long history with indige- that he sang on his 1964 album Live more clearly now that it is only when nous activism and advocacy. He is the at The Copa. And it’s called The Best we can love and respect our mother, host and producer of First Voices Radio Things in Life Are Free. He didn’t this earth, that we will be able to love for the last 27 years, and was selected write this song. I think it was in a and respect each other. I believe that’s for many different awards and nomi- 1927 musical. I don’t remember the the root of love. This is the founda- nations. He received a nomination for name of the songwriters. But the tion of the wisdom teachings and tra- the Nobel Peace Prize from the Inter- musical was called Good News. The ditions of indigenous people all over national Institute of Peace Studies and words of the song go, “The moon the world. Global Philosophy. He was awarded

Winter 2020-2021 83 New York City’s Peacemaker of the iokasin Ghosthorse: Thank you. We think about how in the hierar- Year in 2013. He’s a master musician, THi everybody, thank you so chy of today’s structures, even in how a teacher of magical ancient and mod- much. To all my relatives out there, we think about this virus, we are using ern sounds. He performs worldwide, and that’s not just including humans, such words and domination concepts. and has performed at Cathedral of St. and I say that mostly because the fact When I’m introducing myself in this John the Divine, at Lincoln Center, is that there is no exclusion in these way of English—my default is not En- Madison Square Garden, the Met- languages, these earth languages. So if glish. My default is not concept. My ropolitan Museum of Art, the Apol- you feel exclusion, maybe it’s that we default is not a noun. My so-called lo Theater, the United Nations, and should look at the language that we’re default is more of emotion. Emo- many, many other venues. He’s on the using, and how conceptual it is, to tion—things are in motion. Things board of several different charitable conceive everything out of that mind. are not stagnant as we would see every organizations. There is not a place in this language day. Before I came into this little box One thing also that I’d like to say to hold those movements, those mo- here of right angles, I went out to the about Tiokasin. He’s another gentle- tions, those quantum physics coming nearest fire that I had last night. And I man who I’ve met through Dena Mer- from the earth, describing all the con- asked her, I asked Mother, I asked all riam, through the Global Peace Initia- sciousnesses that we know of. Main- those elemental consciousnesses that tive of Women. One of the things that ly chante’, which, in Lakota, is of the I named before, “What do you want so struck me the first time I heard him heart, which is of the tree, knowing me to say?” ‘Cause obviously I’m here speak was this reminder that language that the tree and the heart have the not knowing what to say. If I have all and the way we use language frames same heartbeat. Also, the conscious- of these consciousnesses around me, how we perceive the world around nesses of all elements, the thought giving me, showing me, helping me, us. As a white person growing up in processes of the elements— the rock, assisting me,—those processes are the New York in the area I grew up in, the the fire, the plants, the water. Jana was ones that we have missed by speaking type of language I learned taught me referring earlier to the fact that we the self-centered languages of I, me, to perceive the world through the lens were disrespecting the earth. We were my, mine and ours. The possessiveness of that language I was using, which is digging it up. We were thinking that of all those thought processes meant very often filled with pronouns such the world was ours, so we developed a that we severed our spiritual umbilical as “I” and “Mine.” language around possessiveness. cord to those processes. What I heard from Tiokasin about To think out of that less-than When we do that, we’re only put- language and about the Lakota lan- quantum physics thought process is ting the human with this value, on guage was so profound that it had a to always center it on the individu- this pedestal. As if we were the only lasting effect on how I perceived how al—the I, the me, the my, the mine ones that mattered, because it’s hap- I used language and how we all use or ours—as if we were lacking some- pening to us. But when you’re out language as well. I won’t say anything thing. When I think about, Wow, how there with what you call nature, more about that, because he’s the one am I going to describe this? Am I just which we call nurturing, we have no who can say that. But I would like to going to hand over the answers for word for nature. We are nurturing or read one quote, Tiokasin, if I may. those who think in I, me, my, mine being nurtured by the nurturing, the And this is from your website, but it’s and ours? That we’re so lacking that Mother. completely apt. we forgot how to be truly generous. We think in verbs. We feel in verbs. “We have to stop with the idea Not just with self, but with your see- And to think in concepts where there’s of creating peace on earth, and be- ing the consistent generosity of earth. a beginning and an ending and there’s gin with creating peace with Mother I like to start it that way. Are we using a hierarchy and there’s subjectiveness Earth. We’ve tried the first alternative the same language to try to wake up and there’s objectivity, and therefore for thousands of years, but look where that has gotten us into this position in we can name it and label it and put that has led us. Now is the time of the the first place? it in a dictionary and an encyclope- original ways, the Native ways. After So I’m speaking in this foreign lan- dia—we lose the process of really un- all, it is coming this way, that we all guage, which I’d say is English to me. derstanding the expression earth is must make peace with Mother Earth. Lakota is one of many thousands and giving to us all the time, through our There is no more altering the Native thousands of indigenous languages bodies, through the water, through way.” across the world that are the majori- the air, through all of that. So you see It’s a beautiful quotation. And with ty of languages. The language that I’m the relational values of these languages that, I turn the microphone over to speaking to you is a dominant lan- that we are ignoring and want to bring you. Thank you so much for joining guage. I begin this with saying that in back into the box or the default box of us today, and we eagerly look forward our language, and in many indigenous I, me, my, mine and ours. to listening to you now. languages, there’s no need and no value We want to bring those outside of or no concept or word for domination. the box in, so we can explain our exis-

84 Issue 27 Hayagreeva ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 85 tence. Once we are in the box, we ra- relational language with has no au- feel it. And you understand what’s be- tionalize why we are this way, why it’s thority. Once you understand the re- yond the clouds, what’s beyond a full a reset button that the system is going lationship, your language, your energy moon that was here last night. You through, that we have to continue the of generosity opens up. Your language understand these things. But there same dichotomy— the dichotomy of of abundance opens up. is no knowledge and information to dichotomies—which is part of the All of these conceptual, feel-good say it. And out of that box we’re say- cause and effect. It’s the extreme of words we have, in this language at ing, “Well, there’s confusion. There’s binary thinking. Intelligence means least, are no longer applied to some- lack of control. What are we going to between the lines. If we’re speaking thing that we can’t ever figure out or do? Are we going to save earth? Are between the lines, we’re talking about comprehend. Because the language we going to save the human beings?” the mystery. I think part of the essence that I’m speaking now, most of it has Because it’s all about the I, me, my, of knowing the mystery is the fact that to do with knowledge and informa- mine and ours; it’s about the human. the Western mind tries, and is always tion. When you’re coming into this And there’s no being there. Being with trying, to solve the mystery. So much society, from a culture to a civilization earth, or even “to be” doesn’t exist in so that they think that they can define that has rules, it’s difficult to put all of a lot of indigenous language. To be what the mystery is in religion and that understanding, all of the dimen- what? To be other than what you are? science and government. sionals that we understand in our lan- To be what? So that doesn’t exist, that But in indigenous languages, there guage, to bring it into knowledge and vernacular of “to be”. It’s because that is no trying to solve the mystery. information. means you’re disrespecting what your There’s more of an acceptance of it. Not having an alphabet is part of gifts, your talents are, and the respon- We’re living the acceptance. We’re that. The symbology of A to Z and sibility of those gifts and talents. living the mystery. We’re living the capturing concepts between those The statement that Eddie read earli- generosity of what earth is already giv- letters and symbols. You see how we er is really apropos. Because yes, we’re ing. We say that at this time of fear, think about uneducated people in going to have to simplify our languag- panic, and pandemic, all of those pan this Western society is that they don’t es and not rationalize why we have words—Pan, the Greek god who ter- know enough. Of course, we’re not to conceive of the virus as an enemy, rorized the people in the forest—they going to know enough, because that something to be conquered and dom- come out of panic. Pandemic. I think knowledge and that information is inated. Because that’s exactly what it’s about, as coming from the indigenous controlled by the authority. And yet, doing to us, you see. So many people folks here in Turtle Island, the history if we think in this way—that earth is have been hundreds of generations that we don’t know before 1492. Most the authority—she knows more about from relationship, even with the virus, Americans, we refer to 1492 or 1620 us than we will ever know about her. even with the bacteria, even with so as, “This is a country like no other”. And yet, this knowledge and informa- many viruses in the earth. The virus So it’s all this idealism going on. But tion of authority is trying to control is with the earth. It’s all what Mother there’s no practicality of the mystery. what earth is already understanding Earth is able to balance. How do we understand what has about us. The elemental intelligence In our ways—I’m speaking general- been before 1492? And what is going that is out there, the mystery that is ly now of a lot of Native people—this to be after this state that we have now? there is very much acceptable within is the time of cleansing. These next We really have to work with the pres- indigenous folks. We don’t have to few years, starting from 2012, which is ent, which is twenty-four hours ago to speak it. We’re already understand- not really the date—it’s an off because twenty-four hours tomorrow. That is ing that. And it’s nothing to do with that’s done by some foreign calendar, the present for us. It’s the past and the the brain, this sensor up here. Every- Julian or Gregorian calendar. We have future. thing that we come from is the earth, an earth calendar, and she will always Yet, I do understand the concepts is here, is coming from that New Age balance herself. I know that we could in English. We’re into prophecy, we’re word vibration. say, “Oh, the earth is cleaning up be- into prediction through economics, And so our information is, as you cause we stopped our human thing.” through religion, through govern- might probably have guessed, “What Yet that human thing is still going on. ments. We’re all laying our energy is Tiokasin talking about? He’s talking We’re still building the walls. We’re out there. We’re not ever centered. like he’s coming from everywhere.” still thinking in the Western way of Our way of being is that the center of It’s not a streamline consciousness. how to take care of the earth, how to the universe is everywhere. And that’s It’s not a beginning and ending, and steward her, right, which is another coming from the elders of the Lako- it doesn’t streamline. It’s everywhere. false idea of ownership. ta. So we understand that all things, Information is available in these lan- Letting go of all these tethered con- without thing-ifying them, have con- guages everywhere. Just as you go into cepts and allowing that understanding sciousness and they’re also the center nurturing or into nature, and that the earth is bringing to us—so intel- of the universe. Therefore we have this information is everywhere and you ligent. Even if we start spiritually as

86 Issue 27 infants, the innocence is always there. that normal means right angles. As our mother. As children, how are we No matter what age we are, we all are original peoples, we’ve never fit inside behaving? Are we still planning to innocents. But we don’t see the re- that right-angled viewpoint. It sounds go back into the same structure, and sponsibility that innocence is giving oppositional, the way I’m speaking. wipe our foreheads because, whew, to us. And we base it on guilt. And But yet in the indigenous languages, we’ve been through it, now we can so we feel bad about what we did to it’s is all about relationship with all deal with this? But I say no. A lot of the earth and yet we’ll all be wanting that is. Human beings are part of that. indigenous folks have been thinking, things to go back to the old way, so Not just that we can hold court, so to feeling post-paradigm, post-coro- we can run to the store out of conve- speak. na, post-Western, post-democracy, nience, and get all our knowledge and It’s only within our value-ship as post-communism, post-socialism, put it in books, and so that we have humans, thinking, “Well, we have post-I, me, my, mine and ours. the answer. When we’ve been con- more knowledge, and I have more It’s a relationship. And that’s the cluding with the wrong answers over knowledge, I have this Ph.D., and I’ve language that I’m expecting you all this millennia or so, I suppose, ever done so and so.” None of that matters. out there to somehow feel, instead of since Western democracy came what, None of that will matter. coming up with an explanation and an 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 years ago? And It’s really, what we’ve always said, argument as to why we have to think conceived of putting the earth below “Be here now”. We’ve always had the way we do now. Because down the and being dominated. that—we say that we are the beings of line, you’re going to see that all of our A lot of those peoples who are in the ancient future now. We’ve always talents, all of our gifts that we will the panic, they’re in that boat. I’m been this. So that listening ability of assume responsibility for, will come not on that boat. I’ve never been on the earth, who listens to us. Now, into play. And they will all come from that boat. The opening statement—I think about that. Earth listens to us. the earth. Everything that we breathe said that 20, 30 years ago. Because we How is she doing that? It’s not that we and eat. The food grows us. The food on the outside of the box kept seeing, have to go listen to the earth, because blesses us. We don’t bless the food. We Well, that’s not the way to live with we take that sort of arrogance, saying, don’t bless the earth. The earth blesses the earth. ‘Cause you’re living on the “Oh, we, the humans, can go listen to us. earth. You’re speaking and thinking the earth”. Yet all of the animals, all of We listen to the earth underneath. the domination of on the earth, and the life out there has been listening to She has the intelligence to upload to your gods are sky gods, and that some- us and answering every question that us, ‘cause we’ve been doing this other thing out there, salvation point men- we have, even before we had the ques- way for thousands of years, waiting for tality, is going to come to save you. tion. She answers. They answer every- something to come out of the sky and We thought, “Well, if you just al- thing, and provide everything. save us. It’s always the balance of that. low earth, leave her alone, she can save Therefore, our language is one of Right now, the balance of the earth is us.” It’s always been that way for us. abundance. Not take. “What’s your coming through. Just the human part And so you have to understand, there take-away?” No. What did you give of me is confused when I’m thinking are different ways of thinking. There away? The generosity is unappreciated. here, ‘cause I always have to separate are different ways of feeling. It’s not The generosity of the coronavirus, you myself when I’m speaking this lan- in the emotional context of fear and look at the generosity that little, tiny, guage; it feels like I have to separate. love and all those things that actually microscopic intelligence brought. Which is sad to me. Because it feels sound kind of cliché for us, because She’s changing everything, even how that we’ve forgotten the earth languag- it’s not a new language. It’s the old we’re talking to each other. You can es, the earth languages that don’t need language. social distance, but that’s what we’re an alphabet. Those understandings, of The earth languages, compelled by used to as Native people. We’ve been the quantum physics, the dimensional earth, will come through this whole socially distanced from this civiliza- languages or the dimensionals, many dimensional effect of everything being tion. We’ve been socially distanced dimensions that we can’t put into this all jumbled and mixed up politically, ‘cause we’re stuck out on reservations, one- or two-, three-dimensional lan- scientifically. All these are jumbled. ‘cause we have a culture, not a civiliza- guage of English, the right angles. We don’t know whether we’re going tion. We have a culture of earth. That’s You see, it’s not just a brain in- forward or backward, the same way, what she’s looking for. The commu- volved here. It’s that the brain is com- another way, a new way. But no one nities are coming through now. The ing from the heart. The brain is a seed is here. We’re exacerbating our tragedy communities, but not neighborhoods. of the heart. And our root, our tree by saying, “What’s wrong with us?” by You see, it’s a community of the earth. of consciousness is coming from the saying, “What’s happening to us?” by And she will define that. And she is heart. And we could say, “Oh, it’s a what this coronavirus has caused. defining that all over the place. heart language.” But no, it’s the lan- And we do it in right angles. You I can say that we’re not in the same guage where our feet are rooted with want things to return to normal, and boat, we are with the same earth. She, the earth. And if we feel left out of

Winter 2020-2021 87 this, I think we have to all understand friend, a visionary, an amazing design ence. I hope this is the beginning of that maybe it’s part of our severing the artist, a kind and gentle human being. something beautiful. We like to call tethering to that way of thinking that I will turn it over to Maarten to close it the Inner Peace Network of friends Mother Earth will identify and say, out our first day of Inner Peace New and family and people that find and “Welcome back, ‘cause I’ve missed York, online edition. search for something which is true. you all this time.” Let inner peace lead to world peace. aarten Von Huijstee: Thank you Thank you. ES: Well, Tiokasin, that was so beau- MEddie for hosting us all today. I tiful. And it is a truth, I’m not even want to close off with two small prac- ES: Thank you very much, Maarten. going to call it a message, I’m going to tices. During the conference I wrote I loved your poem. Thank you every- call it a truth that the world needs to this little meditation, of which every one who attended today. The speakers hear. Thank you for these words com- line is stolen from all the speakers. It’s today were tremendous and inspiring, ing through you. first and foremost a big thank you to beyond our imagination. Have a nice all the speakers and participants, but rest of today, and we look forward to TG: The consciousness and generos- also to the organizers. First, thanks seeing you tomorrow morning for day ity has always been present, and has Wessel for founding Delight and be- two of Inner Peace online. Thank you always been showing us how to listen, ing the source of the things that came all very much. if we could just stop presuming that out of it, one of which is the Inner we already know, or that we already Peace Conference. do listen. This other way of listen- Thanks Veet, Yanica, and Quinten ing comes from the ancients. If we in particular for making this all hap- understand that civilization goes by pen, for realizing or manifesting this. rules and regulations and tiers of au- And then above all, Eddie for being thority, and that the relationship is so generous and being the person that what comes from respect—respect for you are. You always unite these amaz- earth, respect for honoring all that is ing people around you, and it’s an before us. honor and a pleasure to be amongst Those elders that I went out to were them. all the elements. They were here before I just want to conclude with a little me. They’re my elders. Where is our meditation. If you would all close your language to know that without having eyes, then I will take you through the to make it scientific all the time? To day with some of the quotes and mes- really understand that truer spiritual sages that came out, and in that way, technology comes from relationship conclude. So please, let’s take a deep with the land, peace with earth, not breath and go for a little ride through peace on earth, you see. Why are we the day in meditation, go into our in- thinking dominant all the time when ner space, this place of peace. there’s no such concept in relationship Let us find unity in diversity. as we speak those languages that we’ve Let us dance together to advance forgotten? together. It’s good for us to be here. All is in Don’t think about tomorrow; just relationship, and beyond e=mc2. It’s live in the now. not stated fact or science or a formula. Inner peace is beyond language. No one’s going to figure it out, so why You can just break through by giv- try? Why make yourself crazy? Accept ing up. it. It makes us stronger. A big thank Let’s keep on rocking in the free you from that place we know as be- world, with calm, compassion and yond. Thank you. clarity. Until we lost love that we had to ES: Profound gratitude, Tiokasin. lose, we don’t know what love is, so Thank you. now we learn the blues. Now I would like to introduce We are the beings of the ancient fu- Maarten von Huijstee who is the ture now. co-founder of Delight Yoga and the co-creator of Inner Peace Confer- Thank you for being here today for ence and Wisdom in Business. A dear this first online Inner Peace Confer-

88 Issue 27 Hanumanji ­— Open Heart ©Satya Moses Winter 2020-2021 89 INNER PEACE CONFERENCE - DAY 2 Talks given at the Inner Peace Conference online May 8th & 9th, 2020, transcribed and edited.

Speakers: Dena Merriam, Bob Roth, Agapi Stassinopoulos, Sharon Salzberg, AnnaLynne McCord, Adam Bucko, Laurie Anderson, Veet Moderator: Eddie Stern

ddie Stern: folks are signing friend Dena Merriam to give the Ein from all over the world. It’s opening remarks today. Dena is the ena Merriam: Thank you, and amazing; we can reach so many more founder of the Global Peace Initia- Dwelcome everyone. I’m so grate- people than we would have if it was an tive of Women (GPIW), which was ful for the whole team of Inner Peace in-person conference. There are folks launched after recognizing the ab- for making this possible via our friend signing in from all over Europe, from sence of feminine perspectives and Zoom. Thank you Eddie for that love- Iran; someone from Auroville just leadership in both religious and polit- ly introduction, and for inviting me signed in. People from New York City, ical life. Her response was to organize to make some opening remarks. This Stockholm, Philippines, Brazil—it’s the very first World Summit of Wom- second day of this Inner Peace Con- really quite wonderful. en Religious and Spiritual Leaders in ference is really about how to bridge As we did yesterday, we’ll start with Geneva in 2002, which then led to the our inner and outer world—spiritual a short invocation to Ganesha, the re- creation of GPIW. activism. We’re all engaged in society mover of obstacles; to Saraswati, the Among the many goals of Glob- in some way. How do we bring our goddess and patroness of the arts, elo- al Peace Initiative of Women is to practice of inner peace into the world? quence and language; and to the guru bring youth and elders together to When I think about activism, ac- by whose grace we have all the knowl- listen, reflect and explore ways to tually, I think about my meditation edge that we do. foster new means of creating loving practice—any spiritual practice. For and respectful relationships with me, it’s my meditation practice. Be- Gannaanaam Tvaa Ganna-Patim each other and the earth. Dena holds cause to me, that is the strongest form Havaamahe dialogues in conflict zones around of activism that I can engage in. Kavim Kaviinaam-Upama the world, aiming to bridge conflicts We live in a vibrational field. The Shravastamam | through communication, listening vibrational field is composed of all Jyessttha-Raajam Brahmannaam and understanding. the thoughts, not just of humans Brahmannaspata She’s the author of two brilliant but of animals too—all the feelings Aa Nah Shrnnvan-Uutibhih books. The latest one is The Untold and thoughts. That creates the field Siida Saadanam Story of : An Empowering Tale For in which we operate. We know now Our Time, which I highly recom- that this field is filled with fear, and Maha Ganapataye Namah mend everyone read. It’s a remark- we know that this field also has a lot of able book, and a very unique take on anger in it. So how do we counter this Prano Devi Saraswathi Vajebhir the story of Sita. fear and this anger? There’s a lot we Vajinivathi Dhi Nam Avitriyavathu I’ve been working with Dena can do out in the world, but the most Vag Devyai Namah and the Contemplative Alliance for powerful thing we can do is our inner many years and taken part in her di- practice, because the inner practice Om Akhanda Manadalakaram alogues, which she leads with an un- connects you to this field. The deeper Vyaptam yena Charaacharam paralleled clarity and genuineness. you go in your inner practice and your Tadpadam Darshitam Yena Her work is tremendous and we are meditation, the more impact you can Tasmai Sri Guruve Namah delighted to have her here today, not have in clearing away the negative en- only as one of our partners in the ergies that are clouding this field, the OM Shanti Shanti Shantih Inner Peace Conference, but also as more you can put positive energies of the person who shall welcome and love and thoughts of kindness into Good morning and welcome. I give our opening address today. So this field. would like to invite my very dear Dena, I give the floor to you. For me, activism begins on the in-

90 Issue 27 ner plane. I think there’s a call now for were talking about climate change. I in a certain way. The whales may be all of us to go much deeper, because went to the session on oceans. There trying to seek entry to many, many we’ve reached a critical phase in our was not one mention of ocean life. Ev- humans. But because of my practice, social development where we have to erything was about the impact on hu- for some reason, not just me, I’m sure make some radical transformations. man life that the changes in the ocean it’s happened with other people too, That can only happen if we change are going to cause. The depletion of they were able to access an openness thoughts, thoughts that lead to chang- the fish, not for the sake of the fish, in me. And I found that much more es in behavior. Working at the thought but for the sake of human life. powerful than anything I could do in level is very important right now—be- I thought to myself, “Okay, I just the external plane. ing conscious of the thoughts that we had this experience, where I said to It’s thinking, again of not so much put out, and being extra conscious, as the whale, ‘I hear you.’ How can I what I can do, but what I can be. Then we go into our meditation, of clearing bring that voice into this forum?” As also reflecting on how we can shift our thoughts and going to that deep I reflected on it many, many days af- from a human-focused society to a space, that thoughtless place where we ter, I realized that the experience I had life-based society. A society that looks clear ourselves and can enter the space with the whale was much more pow- at all of life and the flourishing of all of joy and peace. erful. I’ve been going to these UN Cli- of life. Everything within our field is To me, that is the greatest activism. mate Conferences for over ten years, about how it affects humans, with very Now, we’re also called to do other organizing sessions. We feel we make little attention paid to how humans things. We don’t just sit in medita- a little dent, we reach a few people. are affecting the rest. All those in the tion all day long. Hopefully we have But the power this transmission had environmental world know this, and I a good time in the morning, and then on me was lasting. I have not lost it know there’s a lot of frustration with- we have to go out into the field. The after eighteen months. I still feel con- in the activist world, because we feel deeper we go in our meditation, the nected to the whale world. There was like we’re not making a dent. more we’re able to carry this into our a transmission that took place. But actually, that’s a trap to think work life. I’m accompanying the whales on the we’re not making a dent. We are mak- I want to share a story from my journey that they’re going through. ing a dent. And the only thing that’s own life of something that happened And the interesting thing to me is that needed is persistence and a deepening to me about eighteen months ago. Ev- there was no anger coming from that of our practice. Because the deeper we ery year I bring a group of spiritual whale. It was pure information: “This go, the more powerful our thoughts teachers to the UN Climate Confer- is what’s happening.” Now, of course, are and the more we’ll be able to ences to organize a session on the spir- with our global pause that we’re all change minds. Just as the whale was itual dimensions of the climate crisis. experiencing now, the sounds in the able to enter my mind, we’re going Eighteen months ago we were heading ocean have decreased enough so that to be able to enter the minds of the to the climate conference, which that the animal life in the oceans is able to collective who are so receptive to year took place in Poland. As we were return to places that they had left. thoughts. The reason why so many en route to the conference, I had a A lot of changes are taking place people are in fear now is because dream vision. It was just before wak- within the animal world because of there’s a lot of fear energy being put ing. It was a very vivid dream vision. this pause. Basically, we’ve given the out. They’re just vulnerable and recep- In the dream vision I was standing animal world and the plant world a re- tive to that fear energy. in my apartment, which overlooks the cuperation time of just a few months. It’s the same thing with anger. A lot East River, standing by the window. The question is, what happens when of people who would not necessarily As I was looking out at the river, a we go back? What happens when the be angry are being fed thoughts of an- very large whale swam up the river, pause begins to ease? Can we be on ger. And so they’re reacting to that an- stopped right in front of my apart- a permanent pause? There’s a lot of ger energy. The more we can put out ment, and looked up at me. It was reflection that needs to take place thoughts of encompassing and caring eye to eye contact. And a transmission during this time. We’ve been given for the whole of the life community, took place where I suddenly grasped this opportunity to really look deeply and not just being so self-focused on everything that was happening, all at things. the human community, I think the that the whale community was ex- For me, the two things that jump more likely we are to see changes in periencing. I, in thought, said to the out are that it’s not so much what I the thought patterns. whale, “I hear you.” And the next day, can do, as what I can be. In the ex- When we think of activism, I think I arrived in Poland for the UN Cli- perience that I had in that transmis- we have to think about more than mate Conference. I didn’t know what sion from the whale, we were com- just what we do on the outer plane. to do with this experience. Here I was, municating and I was allowed entry If a patient comes into the hospital now connected to the whale energy, into their world—I attribute it to my with fever, of course you’re going to to the whale life forms. And here we meditation practice which opened me try to bring that fever down. But if

Winter 2020-2021 91 you don’t deal with the cause of the helped make the world a kinder, more be drawn inward. Towards what? To- fever, the fever will come back. Other thoughtful and gentler place. His wards transcendence. Transcendence. symptoms will show up. Putting out New York Times bestseller Strength in You look up the definition of the word a fire, we’re always dealing with the Stillness is an absolute must-read for transcendence in the dictionary, and it symptoms. This pause is giving us an anyone who meditates or doesn’t med- says, “To go beyond all human lim- opportunity to look deeper into the itate. Every time I hear Bob speak, I itations, all ordinary limitations.” And causes of the dysfunction and to try learn something new. I look forward where is transcendence? It sure ain’t to address those. And the way we can to that as well today. out there. Transcendence ultimately, address those is through our medita- I would like to say that Bobby is my as Dena was saying, is in deeper med- tive power. meditation teacher as well. He taught itation, more truthful, deeper. As the Think of meditation as an energy me TM a number of years ago. It’s a attention is drawn inward, we fill up force, as a way of putting out thought practice that I hold dear, and he is a with that connectedness. We fill up forms into the collective—to me, person I hold dear to my heart as well. with that energy. We fill up with that that’s the greatest form of activism. love which is the nature of those deep- That’s how I want to introduce the ob Roth: I was most honored er levels. And then we’re in a position theme. I hope we hear more from oth- Bto be asked to speak here and to really transform the world. ers about how they bring their inner join you for this amazing conference, When I was a kid, when I was life into the outer field. Thank you. and feel very honored to be joining so young, I wanted to change the world. many wonderful speakers. I’m a child of the ‘60s. I worked for ES: Thank you so much, Dena. That I feel what’s going on in the world Senator Bobby Kennedy. I wanted to was a beautiful introduction to the right now, the big transition is the na- become a US senator like Bobby Ken- day. I love how you showed this tran- ture of the mind. The nature of the nedy, and change legislation so you sition from “What I can do” to “What mind is to want happiness, to be to- could change the world. I learned to I can be,” and from creating a hu- wards more. I want more happiness, I meditate back in 1969. Right away man-based society to a life-based so- want more pleasure, I want more joy, I had a thought, “Oh, this is a tool ciety, based on change of thought pat- I want more stability. That desire for I want to bring to kids.” That was terns to create change in the world. A more has been driving us outward June 28th, 1969. Now I look back, little last word on Dena, also she’s a through our senses into the world. and I have the good fortune to run a student of Paramahansa Yogananda, The way nature is organizing now is foundation that was started by David and she’s been practicing Kriya Yoga that out there ain’t doing it anymore. Lynch, and we’re bringing it to a mil- for over forty years, even though she’s There’s no stability, there’s no strength, lion children. But a million children is only about 43 years old. there’s no reliability. The experience a drop in the bucket. There are sixteen outside doesn’t create dopamine in the million children in America who live DM: That’s right. reward center in the brain. at or below the poverty level, and the I see in this whole thing that’s going number two cause of death among all ES: Our first speaker of the day is Bob on now—this shelter-in-place—that teenagers in America is suicide. Roth, another dear friend and one of nature is bringing everybody down. There’s a real emptiness. And I the most experienced and influential It’s just settling down. For some think it’s all of our responsibility, all Transcendental Meditation teachers people, that experience of settling is of our dharma, all of our joy, to bring in America, though he would balk at rough, ‘cause they have to deal with whatever we can to help that next gen- that description, of course. He’s the stresses. But it’s a huge retreat that eration. All of us are overwhelmed by CEO of the David Lynch Foundation the world is being put into. I find, the demands and the challenges and and Center for Leadership Perfor- and maybe you do too, so much more the stresses and the craziness and the mance, and he has helped bring TM interest in meditation these days than disinterest—Dena’s discussion about to literally a million school children, ever before. Because the desire for people talking about, “Oh, we’re not veterans and families who suffer from happiness has to turn within. The de- going to have enough food from the post-traumatic stress, women and sire for satisfaction, for joy, for stabil- ocean for ourselves” to say nothing children who are survivors of domes- ity, for knowledge has to turn within. about the poor fish. We have a new tic violence, and victims of trafficking. The same desire that pulls me out as generation that’s coming that doesn’t Bob first met his guru, Maharishi I’m sitting in a room hearing some have any filtering. All these experienc- Mahesh Yogi, in 1968, and in 1972 terrible music and in the other room es are overwhelming them. We could became a meditation teacher. He has some beautiful music comes on, my lose a generation. taught untold thousands of people attention is drawn to that beautiful The tools of transcendental medi- how to meditate, and his work in music just automatically. In the same tation, of mindfulness, of vipasana, schools, the military and with vic- way, give the attention of the mind yoga, natural approaches to health tims of abuse has most definitely an inward direction and it will just care, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda—

92 Issue 27 Radha Krishna ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 93 any of these approaches that have been each school day with ten minutes of but Charlene ran for her life. Char- shown to work have to be brought to meditation. They get there on time, lene had no safe place to run to—not the next generation. Equally import- the school bell rings, they’re sitting home, not a church, not a community ant, I think—because Eddie wanted in their chairs. Every kid actually has center—other than school. That was me to talk about ancient and modern a choice. They could meditate, they her safe haven. So many schools these approaches—is what modern science could do silent sustained reading, or days are breeding grounds of trauma. can give, a validation to these ancient they could nap. But the school rec- That was her safe haven. She didn’t approaches, these ancient meditation ognizes the importance of silence, want to miss her meditation. techniques, these ancient health care that we just can’t jam everything into I think to myself, how many Char- systems, these ancient systems of vas- these kids’ heads. So they start with lenes are there in the world? You can tu architecture, that we all have about ten minutes of silence, ten minutes of tell me it’s karma, but I don’t buy it. how we live in harmony with nature quiet time. Fine. But it’s our job to change that in our built environment. Now, in this one school in south situation. How many little girls are What we’re doing with the Da- San Francisco, in one of the tough- like that? Those of us who have these vid Lynch Foundation is subjecting est neighborhoods, overlooking Cow skills—and it’s not just transcenden- the meditation to the same rigorous Palace and Hunters Point if you know tal meditation, it’s not just mindful- studies that any medicine would be San Francisco, the kids had to be in ness, it’s not just this or that, it’s ev- subjected to. Because our vision is to the school, sitting in their chairs by erything—we have to bring what we have this be available as a medical in- 8:20 when the bell rang in order to know out. This is the time when peo- tervention as part of the health care get to meditate with their fellow stu- ple are listening. This is the time when system, as part of the employee assis- dents. Otherwise they’d have to do people are going to yoga. More than tance programs, as part of Medicare. it in another room. And all the kids ever, this is the time. So my message is It’s time for new medical interven- wanted to meditate together. I got a democratization. This is the time. tions that can actually prevent disease phone call from a teacher at noon, Mr. I want to tell you two stories, and and promote health, rather than just Harrison. Mr. Harrison called me up then I could take a question if you fight a losing battle against the spread and said, “I have to tell you about this have, or else we can move on. But I of these diseases. little girl named Charlene. We were had the opportunity to spend a lot of For me, the democratization of these meditating this morning, quiet time, time with Maharishi. There was one approaches is what is most important. and Charlene came running into particular day when he was being in- That it’s not just limited to people on the classroom at 8:23. And she, out terviewed by this reporter. Maharishi the Upper West Side, or people who of breath, dropped her books on the had already spent forty years bringing have the luxury and the time to be floor, and her backpack, and sat down meditation. The reporter said to him, able to do some meditation. I want it and started meditating. I thought, “You know, you should really dial to be included in a company, so the should I make a big deal out of it? down your claims about meditation. single mom who has some job, part- Should I just let her meditate? Don’t It’s too much. I think your meditation time work, temp work because she has be so fussy, she’s here.” But then he is great, but it’s too much. The world children she takes care of, can learn to said, “We really want to teach kids dis- has been in violence, the world has meditate on company time. The com- cipline. They really need to know the been stressed, there’s been crime, sick- pany pays for the meditation. And she requirements.” So, he said, “I walked ness, suffering for forever. And you’re meditates on company time. And the over quietly to her and I whispered, saying people can meditate, and then same with kids, learning to meditate ‘Charlene, you’re late, you’re going their lives can be transformed within during the school day, and then medi- to have to step outside and meditate a few weeks or months? It’s too much. tating during the school day. outside in the hallway with some oth- How do you justify that?” And Maha- I want to give you one experience er kids.’” He said Charlene stood up, said, “You can have two rooms. that I’ve had that happened ten years and he noticed that she had red paint One room that’s been in darkness for ago that I have never forgotten, day splattered on the side of her white one night and another room that’s after day after day. It fuels my desire to sweatshirt. They walked outside, and been in darkness for a hundred years. make a change. That desire to make a he said, “Charlene, you’re also going You can light a candle in both rooms change is on the basis, as Dena said, of to have to call your mom to get a and the darkness disappears just as my own inner practice. It doesn’t hap- clean sweatshirt because you can’t be fast.” It’s not like the one where it’s pen unless I live it. Unless I’m rooted dressed like that.” And Charlene start- been dark for a hundred years takes an in that, it doesn’t happen, there’s no ed to cry. Turns out, it was not paint. extra three seconds. Because darkness power to it. She had been standing next to her un- is just the absence of light. Darkness We do something called quiet time, cle at a bus stop, and that was her un- is just the absence of the divinity, the which is where all the kids in the cle’s blood. Her uncle had been shot light which is within every human be- school and the teachers begin and end in a drive-by shooting. He was okay, ing that transcends religion, that tran-

94 Issue 27 scends philosophy. I’m talking to the the different yugas. He didn’t. Why to transcend, or I’m going to take a converted here. I’m just telling you is there so much suffering? Maharishi spin class, or I’m going to join a dra- what’s in my heart. You all know this. gave this talk about cause and effect. ma club. I’m going to challenge my- But that transcends philosophy, that Anything you look at, there’s a cause self. Break boundaries. transcends culture, that transcends somewhere. It’s a law of nature: cause But those are on a horizontal lev- nationalities. It’s there. and effect. When the guy said, “Why el. That sort of transcendence is on a We have to provide the tools so that is there so much suffering in the horizontal level. And what is extraor- people know it’s not just going to be world?” Maharishi’s first answer was dinary quickly becomes ordinary. found out here, rushing like crazy peo- quite shocking. He said, “Everything Outside. But inside, if you use an ple—“If I own that, if I buy that.” You is as it should be.” And then the re- analogy of an ocean, choppy waves on can’t tell people not to do that. Their porter said, “Then why are you and so the surface, and the ocean is silent and mind is drawn that way. But you can many other people working so hard to unbounded at its depth. Pretty silent. give them a taste of that inner. Then change it?” And Maharishi said, “Be- We can say the mind is the same way. what happens is, serotonin increases. cause everything is as it should be.” Surface of our mind is active, some And the amygdala, the reactivity cen- There are reasons for this fear, for people call it the monkey mind, they ter, calms down. And blood pressure the trauma. The first thousand days call it the gotta-gotta-gotta mind—on goes down. Cortisol decreases a lot. of a person’s life, the trauma that they the surface, tense, agitated, heated. Then they start looking around and experience from conception through But just below the surface, mind is they start going, “Oh, I like this inner their second birthday really governs more settled, more expanded, and set- experience, and it brings more long- the decisions they’re going to make in tles down to that unbounded silence. standing satisfaction than the outer.” their lives. So many of the decisions I think it’s not an either-or. I think And it creates a balance. Because the that are being made in society today that there are many mindfulness tech- outer is necessary. This is how we live by our leaders are trauma-informed, niques and I think you could look our lives. It’s a world. So that was Ma- trauma-driven, separating, dividing. at TM as another mindfulness tech- harishi’s first statement, “When we But there’s neuroplasticity in the nique. I don’t like it when people say, bring the light, darkness disappears.” brain, and the brain can be healed “I do this meditation and I don’t do The darkness is just absence of light. with these tools. that.” I think it’s a yes-yes. I’m not being foolish and naive I am honored to be part of this dis- In this particular type of meditation, here. I know that there’s a lot that cussion. So thank you. I just wanted you get a mantra, which is a word or has to be done. But the basis has to to share those thoughts with you. a sound in TM that has no meaning. be that awakening of consciousness. If it had meaning, then you’re stuck The basis has to be that awakening of ES: Thank you so much, Bob. That up here in the head. It’s very simple. the light. Then everything else we can was beautiful. A question has come Then the teacher teaches you how to do. We can wake up the creative net- in: “Could you describe the process of experience that sound, that mantra, works in the brain. It’s in the front, what happens in the mind when you at deeper, more abstract levels—fine the middle and the back of the brain. meditate or when you transcend, and levels of the mind. When you medi- They used to call it the default mode what does the word transcend really tate with a mantra, it’s a faint idea. It’s network; it was just your boring mind mean in this context?” not a clear pronunciation. Some peo- wandering, lazy mind. Now they have ple have said to me, “Well, what does two new names for that network. It’s BR: It’s a beautiful question. Tran- that mean?” And I said, “When you called the imagination network, and scend, If you look transcend up in have the thought, ‘I’m going to the it’s called the genius lounge. Isn’t that the dictionary, it says, “To go beyond store,’ it’s very clear. But when you’re a great term? The genius lounge. That’s ordinary human limitations”. Now, walking to the store, you’re not going, where the real creative ideas are going we’re constantly looking for transcen- ‘I’m going to the store, I’m going to to come from that are going to change dence in our lives. From the simplest the store, I’m going to the store,’ ev- our health care system, that are going thing—“Let’s go to a different restau- ery step of the way. No. It’s an inten- to make it fair and prevention-orient- rant”. We get bored. Just the same old tion. It’s a faint idea.” So when you ed, that are going to change our eco- boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. learn TM from a teacher, then you’re nomic system. It’s not going to come We want to mix it up. So I’m going given a mantra and you’re taught how from just bashing heads. It’s going to to go to a different restaurant. Or we to think it in a way that just takes come from an awakening. go to a different place on vacation, or advantage of the mind’s desire to go The second quote: The reporter see a movie, or date night or whatev- to something more satisfying, which went on and said, “But why is there so er it is. We live life through channels, in this case is to come back Home to much suffering in the world? Why are boundaries. That’s an anathema to yourself, capital H. And you’re taught there so many problems?” Maharishi the mind, so the mind wants to break how to use it properly. So to transcend could’ve talked about Kali Yuga and those boundaries. And so that desire in this instance means to go deeper.

Winter 2020-2021 95 It’s a very comfortable experience. It’s I would just say whatever you do, to just really remind ourselves that an effortless experience. whatever your passion, just keep do- there is a place of peace in each one Afterwards, I find that I’m naturally ing it. of us. So thank you, Bob, for bring- more mindful, naturally more pres- The Persian poet, said, “Even after ing this wisdom. My dear friend Bob, ent, naturally more compassionate, all this time, the sun never says to the I love you and you’ve been such a light all these wonderful things. So long earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what hap- to my family. I can’t wait to hug you answer to the idea of just easy settling pens with a love like that. It lights the again. The same for everybody. Being down to that unbounded nature of whole sky.” a Greek woman who is asked to do so- your quiet self. cial distancing right now, it’s hard. I ES: Beautiful. Bobby, thank you so do hug my family a lot. ES: Another question. “We’re seeing much for joining us today, and for As we come together, I wanted an increase in ideological and politi- your inspiring words. to speak about my favorite subject, cal polarization, ‘us versus them’. How which is love. As we address the con- do you see us evolving through this to ES: We’re going to move on now to sciousness of inner peace—how do we greater unity and common purpose?” Agapi Stassinopoulos, another dear find ourselves in peace and how do we friend. Agapi’s name actually means bring our peace in the world?—I want BR: It has to start from within. And unconditional love, and she definitely to read you a quote. I’m writing a new I ultimately think it has to start with tries to bring the meaning of her name, book on the power of prayer, prayer kids. Because their traumas are not as to embody it completely, through her beyond religion. Prayer that has to do etched. It’s not like us in our 30s, 40s, entire life and everything that she with the humility of the reverence of 50s. William Yeats said, “Education does. She is a meditation teacher and the human being for the divine being, has to be more than just filling a pail, a bestselling author. She inspires au- which is accessible to all of us 24/7. it has to be lighting a fire.” We give diences around the world with her My spiritual teacher has a quote that these kids this fire of their own inner workshops and her talks where, if you I live by: “Heaven is not a location. self. Then they wake up. So we need to have ever had the pleasure of seeing Heaven is a vibration.” This is what create a new generation of leaders who her present, she gets people dancing brings me to my peace every day. are inclusive—diversity doesn’t fright- and singing and moving to music in Heaven is here right now. It’s a higher en them, diversity’s just seen to be a amazing ways. Her previous book, consciousness, it’s a higher vibration. celebration of one’s underlying unity. Unbinding The Heart: A Dose of Greek But most of us have been living in the At the same time, David Lynch Wisdom, Generosity and Uncondition- lower vibration. In order to move into Foundation right now has an office al Love, shares the wisdom from her the higher frequency of love, we must on Capitol Hill, and we’re teaching life’s adventures and her multitude come into the peace of our heart. And members of Congress on both sides of of experiences. She brings home the in order to come to the peace of our the aisle to transcend. More candles, importance of self care, practicing heart, we must forgive everything that brighter light. gratitude, generosity and self-love to is not of that. enhance performance and productivi- How do I do that every day? Be- ES: And another: “Would TM help ty so we can experience happiness and cause every day we are challenged, with all the mental health issues that fulfillment. every day we hear the news and we so many kids have today?” But truly, her message and her aim get disturbed, we hear people who are in life is to awaken feelings of love in going through horrible times and way BR: A hundred percent. ‘Cause so all of us, in our own hearts. She has bigger challenges, maybe, than any of many of these mental health issues are a wonderful book called Wake Up To us, or maybe some of you are going born of that trauma in the first thou- The Joy of You, which is 52 different through big challenges. How do we sand days from conception. The seeds meditations, one you can follow ev- find that peace? To know, as the phrase are planted there. We start teaching ery week of the year. I definitely rec- says, that God is within, that stillness, kids from the age of four to do a walk- ommend it. Agapi, we thank you so that power is inside, we must practice ing meditation, and then at ten to do much for joining us today. it not only in meditation, but unceas- a sitting meditation. It’s absolutely the ingly throughout the day. My mother time to catch them, early on. gapi Stassinopoulos: Thank you, used to say, “Meditation is when you AEddie. What an amazing thing are fully attentive when you’re wash- ES: Would you like to tell people a you’re doing, putting everybody to- ing the dishes, or you’re mopping the website they can go to if they want to gether with their wisdom. Thank you floor, or you are listening to some- learn TM? to all those people who have been able body.” It’s not a separate thing, “Oh, I to join us. I am speaking to you from meditated in the morning and now I BR: Yes, you can go to TM.org and Los Angeles, California. I am so filled can go back to the frequency of being you can find a teacher in your area. with the joy of coming together today myself in my daily life.”

96 Issue 27 Srinathji ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 97 The extraordinary thing that’s hap- Don’t let religion confine your faith. Nature is trying to get our attention. pening right now in these times is that We can’t change the world by going to I think it is imperative that we real- we are given an golden opportunity church. We need to be the church and ize that this vulnerability that we all for each person to move to that high- become the walking prayer. I feel this have in front of the powers of nature er soulful place inside of us. You, my is the call of the times. I do feel that is to our benefit. That it’s something friends, each one of you has the blue- this conference of the Inner Peace is that we can work with because that’s print. It’s not going to be found— just the beginning of what is going to the thing that will bring us the inner maybe the books will bring you in- be happening in our world for those peace that we’re looking for. spiration, and maybe listening to who choose to become the walking Whenever you find that you’re not teachers will bring you guidance—but prayer. We have about, I think, 1,300 at peace, ask yourself, “What am I ultimately you’ve got to do the work. people right now on this webinar. If judging? Who am I judging? What You’ve got to go there. You’ve got to each one of you comes to this place am I against?” Because if we open the go to that deeper part, maybe the part and evokes it every day, and is mak- field of our acceptance, if we open the that hurts. Maybe that part that for- ing the commitment to say, “What is field of our kindness or our tender- got that you are more than enough. this time for me? If I’m challenged, ness, we find that we are in peace. If Maybe the part that feels, “They have can I reach out? Can I ask for help? we’re judging everything that’s going it but I don’t”. Maybe that part that Can I listen to people who can advise on, and if we are consuming the news feels you are alone. me, who can help me, who can pray so that we become so fearful that we That is a human habit, that we for- for me?” Because a lot of people are can be paralyzed from fear and the got that we walk with the divine. I’ll having a very, very hard time, and you absolute questioning—what’s going tell you how I explain it and how I un- might be one of them. This might not to happen next, how are we going to derstand it. There’s an intelligence in be the time where you know how to come out of this—then we will lose us that has 37.2 billion trillion cells. become more kind and loving to your- the most precious thing that we have These cells are making life in us. That self. I do talk to a lot of people, and right now, which is the connection energy of love, that energy of life is we thrive. We have a lot of people who with our inner peace, with our soul. way beyond what we can understand. are challenged in managing their jobs, And that, my friends, is always But if we come into the peace, if we managing their families, managing there, like your breath. Your breath come into the kindness, into the ten- their children, and being able to re- never leaves you till we pass from this derness of ourselves, then we find that ally feel, “My god, I managed another earth. In the same way, our peace is we move into that other consciousness day.” They might need your help. connected to our breath, to our heart which is present all the time. At this time we’re called to be the right now, and how we open our For me, a lot of it has to do with givers and the receivers. The “receiv- hearts and how we love, it starts at accepting every part of myself, how- ers” first comes with you connecting home, right here. ever I find me. Basically, you’ve got to to your source. If you don’t know Every morning, start your day with love yourself exactly where you find your source, and if you’ve been living putting your heart in your heart. Why you. And you’ve got to do these lit- your life maybe up until now think- don’t we just do this all together right tle things, that are not little, that tune ing you’re by yourself, then this is the now? Why don’t we come on a little you in, like a violin. If you’ve seen the time to say, “Let me find out who else journey to find our peace, and to col- orchestras before they play, they all is here with me, walking me, breath- lectively—imagine how powerful is tune their instruments. For me in the ing me, digesting my food, putting me that—that all of us here, we do not morning when I get up, other than to sleep, waking me up. Who is that?” see each other, but we can transmute having my coffee— I’m Greek, I can’t That is what my mother used to call, this love to each other. Right now if start my day without my coffee, my “Know yourself, and know something we come into our heart, and make cappuccino, my espresso—I have mo- larger than yourself”. That larger than a commitment right now to access ments of just coming into the presence yourself makes us very humble. We our spirit, to access our soul, which and asking for the divine to be with now all face humility, because we can’t is present. The invisible force that is me. I bring myself into my vulnerable understand the crisis and we feel a our support system, the invisible force openness, into my ability to really say, sense of helplessness. I was listening to of life, of the divine, of what we call “I know that I’m not alone, because Jerry Seinfeld on Jimmy Kimmel Live God, is here right now. right now I’m being breathed.” That the other day, and Jimmy Kimmel As we evoke it, it comes and con- to me is the prayer; the prayer is a way said to him, “Jerry, what do you think nects with us. All it takes, my friends, of community with God. You don’t this time is all about? What do you is a willingness to go there. God is not have to be in a church or a mosque or think we’re learning?” He said, “This a being, it is a state of being, a state of a temple to pray. You can pray in the is nature’s big way of saying, ‘You’re being accessible to us. Come into your car, the shower, the coffee shop, the nothing.’” Dena addressed the expe- heart; rest in your heart for a moment. gym, in conversation with strangers. rience that nature is speaking to us. Right now, we ask that we connect

98 Issue 27 with our breath. We give thanks for as you are. poems by : this moment. We give thanks to all For this moment, we are willing to the people who are gathered here to- give up the struggle, the pain. We are Are you looking for me? I’m in the gether. And we ask with all our hearts giving it up. Let each one of us be the next seat. My shoulder is against yours. to move into a place of calm, a place peacemaker, divine, loving, the silent You will not find me in the , not of peace. We ask that any disturbance, one that walks in peace. See yourself in Indian shrine rooms, nor in syna- any fear, any separation or judgment, with your life right now, whatever gogues, nor in cathedrals, not in masses, may leave us and be transmuted. In you’re doing, the tiniest little action, nor kirtans, not in legs winding around its empty place, where there was fear, see that, through your hands, love your own neck, nor in eating nothing we place peace. And where there was comes. Peace comes through your but vegetables. When you really look separation, we place love. eyes, through your voice. Let love for me, you will see me instantly. You If you would like, you can place flow through. And from your heart, will find me in the tiniest house of time. your hands on your heart or on your know that there’s always peace, there’s Student, tell me, what is god? He is the belly where the emotional center lies, always love. Keep going out into our breath inside the breath. and feel the light coming in right now, beautiful planet, all around the globe. in all levels of our consciousness. We We are sending beams of peace and Let’s all go there. Because we know turn our attention inward. We feel the love and healing energy. it’s available to us. Thank you. loving presence pulling us more deeply You don’t have to know. You just into ourselves. Wherever the beloved become conduits, emissaries of peace. ES: Agapi, thank you so much for that is inside of us, we turn our gaze to Make this your commitment right beautiful meditation and beautiful that which breathes us. And we bring now, that from this moment on, you presentation. that love, that light, that unspeakable, will be an emissary of peace. First powerful energy of the soul and who for you, for your life, then for those AS: Thank you, Eddie. I’ll be with we are at the depth of our being. And around you, for your friends, your you, watching for the next speakers we ask for grace for each person here coworkers, and then for all those you till we all meet together. Please feel today, wherever we are, and however don’t even know. free to give my email, agapi@unbind- we meet ourselves in our conditions or Take a deep breath. Breathe it in ingtheheart.org. I have a lot of medi- challenges, to God we ask grace. Help all the way. Feel that energy down to tations that I give for free. Unbinding us understand what we cannot under- the soles of your feet. Feel it in your the heart is what I’m all about, and stand. And help us to give. Help us belly. Remember connecting your what I think the world needs now is accept everything in ourselves, and to heart with your solar plexus, where unbound hearts. Stay in touch, stay have compassion, love, kindness. And the emotions can disturb you. Your connected. My deepest gratitude to all please give us patience. Somewhere in peace from your heart can come there. of you for doing this together. Thank our consciousness, we know joy. Please, Feel that place in your belly right now. you so much. right now, activate our joy. Activate the There is calmness. There is peace. part of us, even in the midst of all that’s Make the commitment that you ES: Our next speaker is Sharon Sal- going on, and find the peace. will be calm throughout all this. And zberg, who as you all know is a With your breath, my friends, that, if you are not calm, you will world-renowned meditation teacher, a breathe alive the consciousness of evoke your calmness. In the midst of visionary, a New York Times bestsell- peace right now, as if you’re entering the fear, your calmness will be big- ing author. She’s one of the early pio- a zone or field of peace, filled with ger. Your peace will be bigger. Your neers who set the stage for our present peace like a field of beautiful daisies. acceptance will be bigger. Because meditation culture that is immensely Walking hand in hand with each oth- as my beautiful mother Ellie used to popular today, and is the co-founder er, imagine this unity of inner peace. say when she faced the Nazis in the of one of the most prestigious and Imagine your hands are opening up, Second World War, “I am bigger than respected meditation retreats in the your arms are opening up, your heart this”. We are bigger than this. world, the Insight Meditation Society is opening up. Feel that energy com- I send you all my love. I pray for all in Barre, Massachusetts. ing from you—because it can—and of us to stay in that place and see our- We all know the word “mindful- touching others. selves through this, so when we come ness” now. Meditation has worked Extend this consciousness to others, out of this, we will come out stronger, itself into the fabric of Western cul- your family, your friends. Like a blan- more resilient, more awakened to who ture. But in the 1970s and in the early ket of love. A blanket or canopy of we really are. I love you. Eddie knows 1980s, when Sharon started meditat- peace that covers the first responders, where you can reach me if you need to ing, and when she started bringing all covers the doctors and hospitals. It reach me. I’m here for you. I support these teachings to the West, it was not covers your home. This energy holds you. God bless us. well known. Right now you can say you, envelops you, embraces you, just I will read you one of my favorite “meditation” and “mindfulness” wher-

Winter 2020-2021 99 ever you want, and people think they was reading the book for an excerpt, or, the pressure, the difficulty. And know what you’re talking about. But and while I believe he really liked the then there’s the resource with which thirty, forty years ago, that wasn’t the underlying themes of the book, he it’s being met. We know that just from case. Sharon truly was one of the peo- said—this was really in the beginning life, right—from ordinary life. You ple who was at the forefront of what of a lot of anxiety and dread about can be in a beautiful place, surround- we now call the mindfulness move- things—he said he would read the ex- ed by loving friends, but you’re feeling ment. amples and would think, “That’s what cut off and alone, and you’re not al- She has a fabulous podcast called made you anxious back then? Whoa. lowing them to help you. You can’t ac- The Metta Hour, which you can find Wait till you see what’s coming”. tually receive the helping hands reach- on her website which is packed with I realized that I had to somehow try ing towards you. Or you’re so fright- information and teachings. She has to land the effort I had put into creat- ened, or something is going on so that a vigorous teaching schedule. Her ing the book in the present moment, you’re not taking in, you’re not able to eleventh book, Real Change, is com- and contextualize it in some way. The absorb, the joy or the beauty around ing out on September 1st. It exam- question for me became, what’s still you. And we also know we can be in a ines how, and I quote this from her true in the midst of disruption and time of tremendous adversity and dif- blurb about the book, “meditation is chaos and grief and loss and anxiety ficulty, but not feel so alone. You feel a not a replacement for taking action, and all of these things? What’s still sense of community, you have a sense but rather a way to practice generosity true? What can I rely on? What am of meaning or purpose, even through with ourselves and summon the cour- I counting on? What’s sustaining me? that. It’s a different experience. age to breathe through boundaries, What’s supporting me? What I’ve seen is that what has al- reconnect to a movement that’s bigger That became such a profound re- ways been true for me is still true for than ourselves, and have the energy to flection for me that it’s actually a lot me: that somehow reaching within stay active”. of the context in which I’m teaching and cultivating that sense of inner She definitely embodies all of these these days—and in a few minutes strength is a big part of what gives me things. We’re delighted and honored maybe we’ll get to just sit and each some sense of resource. The other part to have her with us today. More than do that reflection: What’s still true for is connecting to others, is recognizing that, I think we’re all immensely me? What hasn’t been broken? What that we live in an interconnected uni- grateful to what she has brought to hasn’t been shattered? Because I think verse—and is this is not necessarily the world meditation stage and how, that’s actually what keeps us going, just a spiritual understanding; eco- largely because of her work and her not just surviving but finding a way to nomics shows us this, and environ- dedication, we can all freely say the come through and really express our mental consciousness certainly shows words “mindfulness” and “medita- deepest values and have that sense of us this, and even epidemiology shows tion” in public, and it’s accepted now. meaning, even in the midst of a tre- us this—I was saying this way back Sharon, thank you for that. mendous amount that is unfamiliar. when, and people used to say to me, What would be true for me to be- “What’s epidemiology? Why are you haron Salzberg: Thank you so gin with is a sense that I am counting talking about that?” Actually, the rea- Smuch. How delightful to see you, on my meditation in order to sustain son I was talking about it is that I had and know that all of you are here. I’m me. What I’m seeing is this practice— friends who were very involved in the speaking to you from snowy Massa- which I’ve done through good times smallpox campaign in India. And so chusetts, which is a really odd thing and bad, and through very ordinary it’s always been part of my conscious- to say on May 9th. It’s one of the times—of using something like even ness. strangenesses in the midst of a lot of just the feeling of the breath to stabi- We can think that what happens strangeness. And it’s beautiful, Eddie, lize my attention, and of remembering over there is nicely going to stay over that you’ve brought people together, certain things like: I have a capacity to there. And it never does. It comes over to get us to really look so deeply with- step back when I feel immersed and here. And what we put our energy to- in and with one another at what we lost and overwhelmed and just driven ward, what we care about, it matters really care about. by the circumstances around me. Oh, because it too will ripple out along It is true, I have a book coming out. let’s just take a breath. Let’s just step these lines of interconnection. There The book was originally supposed to back and return. are so many ways in which right now come out on June 2nd. And then with What I’ve found is that when I re- what is being revealed to us is the kind everything that happened, the pub- turn to the breath, something like of terrible face of interconnection. lishers postponed it to September 1st. that, I return to myself. And then my The other face of interconnection is What that meant was that I’ve been values can shine forth, and the things our capacity for compassion and rec- given the chance to write a preface. I really care about can shine forth. I ognition of everybody, of all of life— So I’ve been really pondering a lot of always think of the stress dynamic, that we can go there as well. things in this period. A friend of mine which is a dynamic, there’s the stress- I think this is very important. In

100 Issue 27 my pondering of what’s still true, I it can be very difficult to recognize joy think that’s enough. Let’s aim for two remembered this quotation from the or happiness. We seem to be wired, to three a day. Something like that.” Buddha, which has always been a little according to evolutionary biologists, And that doesn’t come natural- bit awkward in a way for me, where to look for threat, for danger. That’s ly to me. My personal conditioning, he said, “Hatred will never cease by just where our attention goes. But my familial conditioning would lend hatred. Hatred will only cease by love. ultimately, and especially now in me more to come to the end of the This is an eternal law.” It’s awkward in stressful times, we get exhausted and day and complain. What do I have that it’s difficult. But what was real- depleted; there’s plenty of danger to to complain about? I didn’t show up ly awkward for me was the last sen- look out for. And yet, remember, it’s in the way I had hoped to. This oth- tence. “This is an eternal law.” Here’s the meeting, it’s the dynamic. What is er person disappointed me. In the Mr. , who spent his life the resource with which we’re meet- old days, there was always an airline teaching about impermanence and ing that? And it needs to involve a few or something like that to complain change and letting go, saying, “This things. One is rest. One is taking in about. That’s just where my condi- is an eternal law.” I thought, whoa. the joy, not being completely obses- tioning would leave me. It takes, not What is that about? sively focused on what’s wrong. This force, not coercion, but just some in- But here we are. What’s still true? It takes some intentionality. tentionality to say, “Okay, what else would be so convenient and so easy if Somebody sent me a link to an ar- happened today?” It’s not being con- hatred could cease by further hatred ticle written by a disaster survival spe- flict avoidant, it’s not being in denial. on our parts. Wouldn’t that be easier cialist. I didn’t know there was such It’s recognizing, “I give so little air- a lot of the time, perhaps? Or at least a field, but apparently there is, and it time to the good. What if I just turn some of the time? But what if hatred was a really good article. Among the my attention to include that?” can never cease by hatred? What if ha- things I got from it were two things in What that brings us to is actually tred can only cease by love? What are particular. One was the author made a a truer picture of life, even in very we then called upon to do? comment like, Stop judging yourself difficult times. One of the interesting I also find what is still true for me so harshly. No one is going to get an things about gratitude is that it’s often is that my first acquaintance with the A+ in pandemic survival. There will be decried. Many people say, “If you do a Buddhist teaching was about inclusiv- times you are overwhelmed, you’re ex- practice like that, you get stupid and ity. It remains to this day, in the sense hausted, you do the wrong thing, you complacent, and if you’re in an op- that no one is left out of this possibil- waste an afternoon, whatever. But just pressive situation you’re just grateful ity of being able to connect and care as I have learned in meditation prac- for the crumbs thrown your way.” and grow and be wiser and stronger tice, you can always begin again. You It’s not like that. Research very re- and have this kind of love, even in the don’t have to define yourself as that cently has been done on different face of hatred. We are all said to be person who’s gone off the rails; let’s kinds of gratitude practice, showing capable of that. Then the rest is up to start over. We can let go and we can that it actually makes you stronger. It us. What do we execute? What do we start over, just like in meditation prac- fortifies us. It picks us up so we’re not prefer? What do we prioritize? What tice, or any practice, where you lose it, so exhausted. It also makes you con- do we remember, maybe even after and then you have to begin again. If cerned about the wellbeing of others, having forgotten for a good long time? you spend forty hours judging your- because you would like to have others For a few minutes right now, just self for having lost it, that’s a waste of enjoy more of the bounty of life or the sit comfortably, and in a relaxed way, time. And it’s very demoralizing. good things of life. you can close your eyes or not, how- Then the author said, interestingly In many ways, a practice like that is ever you feel most at ease, settle your enough: Do some gratitude practice. a practice of generosity. It’s like gener- attention into your body, perhaps into In the midst of all this difficulty and osity of the spirit. It’s very clear in the your breath. And see what arises for perhaps much sorrow and anxiety, just Buddhist teaching as well that the best you, just as that kind of reflection. spend a little bit of time looking for kind of generosity comes from a sense What’s still true? What’s upholding what you have to be grateful for. Many of inner abundance, or at least inner you? What’s not broken or shattered psychologists will say that one of the sufficiency. So that you don’t feel you in current circumstance? most healing things any of us can do are losing by offering, by giving. And If something came up in your mind, is make a list at night of three things that doesn’t have to be material. It’s I would cherish it and see what hap- that we are grateful for from the day. thanking somebody. It’s recognizing pens as you remember it throughout I always say that it doesn’t have to be somebody. It’s listening to somebody. the day. grandiose or magnificent. Some small Even if it’s not grandiose, we can Another thing that is still true for thing, even. Although somebody told be engaging in that kind of activity, me is recognizing the power of aware- me once that they were thinking of which will return us to that sense of ness—you can call it mindfulness—in trying to find one thing a month to inner sufficiency or wholeness. the sense that even in ordinary times be grateful for. And I said, “I don’t People are telling me incredible sto-

Winter 2020-2021 101 ries. I have a friend who’s 85 years old, and then if our sense of them and our at a six-day seminar somewhere. The and he’s in New York City. He told me connection changes in any way as a re- first evening I was taking apart that that he got the management company sult of the meditation. So probably for phrase. This young woman raised of his building to give him the phone thirty-five or forty years, my colleagues her hand and she said, “I never knew numbers of, as he put it, “all the old- and I have been saying, “Choose the that was the phrase. I always thought er people in the building.” He didn’t checkout person in the supermarket. people were saying, ‘It’s a doggy dog say, “all the other older people in the That would be a good person. The world.’” Like, puppies jumping up building,” but, “all the older people in kind of person we usually look right and down in meadows and having a the building”. And he calls them just through. We’re completely indifferent good time. She said, “What a horrible to see how they are. to. We don’t care about, really, at all”. thing to say.” And then six days went Another friend in New York City And so I’m reading this out loud, and by, and it was the closing. And she tells me that she never knew her I thought, “Whoops. Wait a minute.” came up to the microphone and she neighbors’ names, even, and now ev- Talk about interdependence. How said, “I’ve decided I’m not going to erybody’s exchanged phone numbers could we hold such beings in indiffer- live in a dog eat dog world. I’m going so that if they need one another, they ence? How do we think we get food? to live in a doggy dog world.” can reach out to one another. I had Look at the current conditions under What are we taught about where this really incredible experience, also, which they’re working. It was such an happiness is to be found? Our own in terms of the book and the pref- interesting moment for me. I thought, urge toward happiness is not the same ace, because I was reading one of the metaphors are dissolving. Imagery is thing as craving or greed. It’s wisdom. guided meditations in the book to be all shaken up. The stories, the exam- We should be happy. And not just us, recorded. The passage that the jour- ples don’t necessarily hold true. But either. If we can combine that with nalist chose was a meditation on lov- what is true is that to hold beings in some understanding, then it can cut ing-kindness which in a lot of ways is neglect or that kind of indifference is through many obstacles. Everybody similar to that kind of gratitude prac- really a result of not paying any at- wants to be happy. The other insight tice. It’s a shift in awareness to be pay- tention. Because that food didn’t just is that everybody is so vulnerable. ing attention in a way that may not miraculously appear. And now, real- Look at where we are. We can think be that common for us, but is very ly think about the farmers and those of a quality like compassion as being important for us. who transport that food and prepare very hierarchical, like, “I, who have In doing loving-kindness prac- that food, perhaps, for us. this perfect life which is so intact and tice, we offer well wishes. Things We live in this interdependent uni- together, am bestowing some kindness like, “May you be happy, may you be verse. If we are willing to pay attention on you way down there ‘cause your life peaceful, may you be safe” through differently, we can take on that beau- is falling apart and mine never could.” the silent repetition of phrases like tiful face of recognition, of finding But guess what. We don’t all share the that. There’s a certain sequence that is ourselves in one another. In the Bud- same measure of pain, that’s clear, but very classical. We offer those phrases dhist tradition, recognition is based we are all vulnerable. There’s a tender- to ourselves, because that’s important. on a couple of different things. One is ness in that, so that we can reach out We offer those phrases to a category remembering that everybody wants to to one another, and we can care about of beings, someone who’s helped us, be happy. Everybody. Not happy in a one another. That knowledge should remembering to thank them and ap- superficial sense, but everybody wants bring us together, so that we have a preciate them. Things like that. We go a sense of belonging. We want a sense whole different worldview and a sense through these categories, and we come of having a home somewhere, in this of what is motivating us to action. to this place called “a neutral person”. body, in this mind, with one another, Those things are all still true for me. That was the passage that the jour- on this planet. We all want that. I think they are all still true, actually. nalist wanted me to record. A neutral The problem is ignorance; we are I would really urge you just to come person is someone we don’t especially fed so many myths and even distor- back to that. There’s so much to do like or dislike. It’s somebody we feel tions and lies about where happiness each day just to get by and manage kind of indifferent to. They’re usual- is to be found: endless acquisition. things and so on. Even in the midst ly the sort of person, maybe they play One of my favorite phrases to take of all of that, see if you can just return a role in our lives, and we look right apart is, “It’s a dog eat dog world”. I every now and then through reflec- through them, or we discount them, mean, that’s a really ludicrous phrase, tion, through contemplation, through or we look around them. We objectify right? “Don’t help anybody else, ‘cause just pausing and bringing your atten- them in some way. We’re asked in the they’re not going to help you.” “Step tion within, and just see what are the process of that meditation, over time, on anybody you need to step on to get guiding lights for you. What is the to choose someone who does play a ahead. It’s the only way to get ahead.” North Star that you really want to role in our lives, so that we can just Many of us have that conditioning, be spending your day with. Even if see as we’re running into them now right? But is that true? I once co-taught the manifestation is going to be very

102 Issue 27 unusual—it’s not going to be what it Dena, who’s been practicing for over women and children to happen. This once was and what it may yet be in the forty years, and Bobby who learned is a collective thing that we all need to future—it’s something. We can find in the 1960s, as well as Sharon. I move past. It’s not just that we need meaning in that expression, even if it fall somewhere right in the middle. I to save and protect these people from is calling somebody to see how they’re started practicing around 1986, ‘87. harm’s way. We need to save and pro- doing, or doing some loving-kindness, Now we’re going to hear from two tect ourselves from harm’s way as well. holding someone in your heart and amazing people who are bringing a And this is truly what AnnaLynne’s wishing them well, not looking the whole new generation into the prac- work is about. AnnaLynne, thank you other way because they’re struggling. tice of meditation and contemplative so much for joining us today. Remember that we are an important life, into the worlds of activism. Not recipient of that kind of consideration, only is it a whole new generation, but nnaLynne McCord: Thank you. so that we also count. Without having it’s a generation of their peers that AI’m so grateful that you men- that sense of honoring ourselves and they reach in particular ways. tioned the youth part, ‘cause I was taking care of ourselves, we’re not go- I would like to introduce An- sitting over here, and I’m like, “I’m ing to even have the energy to have naLynne McCord, who is a new friend. literally twelve. What do I have to of- this kind of comprehensive view of I met her through an old friend of fer with all these amazing people who what’s possible. All beings want to be mine, Stacey Bendet, who’s a designer have brought so many years of exper- happy. What about me too? It’s okay, for Alice + Olivia. AnnaLynne and I tise to the table?” I was feeling myself right. That’s the funniest thing, that struck up a quick friendship over our get nervous. I’m like, “Wait, how can our own wish toward happiness can mutual love for meditation and activ- you be nervous listening to Sharon make us so awfully squeamish and ism. She is an actress, a writer, a direc- Salzberg speak? I don’t even under- embarrassed. But it’s correct. Let’s just tor and a producer. She’s the founder stand how your body can get anxious. combine it with wisdom, with intelli- of Together1Heart, which empowers She’s so beautiful and calming.” gence, so that it can really give us the women and children victimized by To that point, the mind and the inner strength and the kind of energy human trafficking and sexualized vio- voice inside that ensnares us imme- we need, not only for our own wellbe- lence. She launched The Love Storm, diately was going like, “What do you ing but to really start to make a differ- which is a global awareness world tour know? You’re just a thirty-something ence with others. featuring a compassion meditation little actress. How are you going to Thank you. May you be happy. May in twenty-two cities across six con- talk about inner peace? Look at how you be safe. I don’t know exactly who tinents, with the aim to end slavery not peaceful you are right now. You’re you are, but I see you at the top of my from the inside out. This is a tour, of all anxious.” But this is actually the screen and I know you’re all around course, which has been slightly inter- point, right. This is a practice. It’s the world, contributing to this won- rupted by the coronavirus but is still not something that you arrive at. It is derful gathering. So thank you. going on in other ways. something that can get easier. I love AnnaLynne was awarded a US Con- what Bob Roth said: it doesn’t matter ES: Thank you so much, Sharon. That gressional Medal of Honor for her if you have a dark room for one day or was really helpful. It was a very touch- work in ending human trafficking. for a hundred years, you light a can- ing and meaningful contemplation on She has appeared in about forty-two dle in that room and immediately it’s what’s still true. I think that was really movies and TV shows. She’s extremely light. It happens like that. I think that helpful for everybody. You’re a voice of devoted to meditation. She is a yoga I lived a lot of darkness in a short pe- comfort in what can be really difficult practitioner who spends a tremendous riod of time. It’s relighting that candle times. I really appreciate that you took amount of time and energy working for me that is the move to fight the the time to join us today. I know you’re to end the slavery of the mind that has chains that have been on my brain, doing so much. ensnared our world. I think this is one personally. People who are listening, please of the key things that is so important I think one of the biggest things check out all of Sharon’s books if you about her approach to activism. It’s that we have a really hard time with no haven’t read them already. You have not just that she wants to end human matter who we are is that lovely little up until September to finish ten of trafficking and all sexualized violence, voice in our head that keeps us so en- her other books, and in September but she recognizes that we eight bil- snared and tells us, “Oh, okay, you’re you can read the newest one. lion people who share this planet, all too anxious to be talking at an Inner Our next two speakers are going to of our minds collectively, are ensnared Peace Conference. It doesn’t matter if represent—I don’t want to call them by a type of mental slavery which has you’re in your own house. What are the younger generation, but in some led us to have this apathy and bypass- you going to offer?” Then click by ways they are. We’ve heard from the ing that allows for trafficking and cli- click, if we attach, those chains begin original line of meditation defense in mate change and the destruction of to build up, and we believe it. Then America and around the world, from our natural world and abuse towards we’re in a prison again, and we silence

Winter 2020-2021 103 Krishnapremi VanviHari ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

104 Issue 27 ourselves as a result. Kaplan here in Los Angeles. It requires talking at an Inner Peace Conference One of the things that is the hard- us to dive deep into those still waters, should’ve done. I’ve done things that est to look at, I think, is our darkest and be okay with the waves still at the I wasn’t proud of. I got into a tiff with parts, right. It’s our shadow. The parts top. That’s the part that I had a hard my older sister, and I said things that of us that say if we’re going to be the time with. I wanted to be a perfect I wish I hadn’t said. And we had to president of an anti-trafficking orga- meditator, where no thoughts ever oc- work through that. Those parts of me, nization, people can’t know about our curred at all. I love the way Bob talks I can easily feel the chains of guilt and proclivities. We can’t be the things we about it, and that’s how the David shame and the immediate need to are in private. We have to portray this Lynch Foundation teaches TM. The make this the end of the world, that saint-like whatever. And I don’t fit waves don’t stop. The waves are beau- there’s not a comeback from this, and into that, ‘cause I’m not a saint, right. tiful. I love waves. Oh god, I got in I’ve gotten it all wrong. And yet, how And I often would feel like a fraud as late last night because I raced straight can I see those parts of myself if they a result. Should I not be in this role? to the beach, because, due to pollu- don’t happen? What a gift, that I made Because I mess things up all the time. tion, it’s been twenty-five years since a mistake. Something more to look at. I’m always getting it wrong. How am I bioluminescent plankton has been in Something to dive deeper into. We’re in a position where things can be said the beaches of Southern California. problem solvers. We definitely have a of me, and Congressional honors and Thanks to COVID-19, our waves negative bias, biologically hardwired, all that stuff? When Eddie was reading were bright blue last night. I went up right? Rick Hanson talks about that. that, my ego was like, “Oh, yes, I have with a couple of my friends, and we Love that. done things. Oh yes, I am important. were just screaming every time the But it’s in our ability to see that— Listen to Eddie.” wave crashed, and it was bright blue, not unlike what Sharon was saying. There’s this back and forth between and the plankton were lighting up. Maybe we can just say thank you to it. this “I’m nothing” and “I shouldn’t be I was sitting there, and people Thank you that I have a negative bias allowed on the video conference” over would come out. My friends are like, and I can immediately highlight all here to “Aha, I’ve gotten the piece of “Get out of the way!” “Don’t splash, the problems. Thank you. If I can do paper that says I’m important from we’re trying to watch.” I was think- that, then I’m also capable of seeing the United States of America.” So ing, Wow, nature just goes on. It is their opposite. Let that negative bias which one am I? Where do I fall in resilient, and it moves away when it’s be the waving flag that reminds you to between these two very, very different toxic, right. It returns when it’s safe. see the positive. It’s literally what I was ends of the spectrum? If we could do that ourselves, if we doing when I started to feel nervous I’m the dark room with the candle could see the moments with a begin- listening to Sharon, I’m like, “I have in it. Sometimes when we open the ner’s mind, the way nature shows us to follow Sharon Salzberg. Arrgh!” window, a draft comes in and the light it can. Twenty five years. Someone And then I was like, “I’m grateful that goes out, and it feels dark again. I’ve hurts me for twenty-five years, I’m not I’m on a video conference with Sharon got to feel around for my matches, but trying to rush out there and be with Salzberg”. How ‘bout that? Let’s split I can light that candle. The lighting them the second that everything’s this around. I’m grateful that I’m here of the candle is that returning, it’s a okay, you know what I mean? I’m with you, Eddie, with Bob, with who- dropping back in. The things that Bob like, “I don’t trust you. I’ve got to put ever is here. said about the youth in our world, the you through some hoops.” And that’s All of a sudden, all that little bub- sixteen million kids in American pov- all the chains on the mind, holding bling up just started to fizzle out. erty—I was one of those kids, right. onto these things. Yet nature is like, Then I was present again. I do this all Number two reason that teenagers “You have systematically destroyed day long, every day. Because I lived in die? Suicide. I was attempting that. me,” and two months of safety, after a very, very dark, dark place for a very Bob said something that made me twenty-five years, there’s the biolumi- long time. I experienced sexual trau- cry, that we could lose a generation. nescent plankton brightening up my ma as a child and assault as a teenager, That weighs heavily on my heart, be- night, and certainly the waves. all things that put you in a position to cause I’m a part of that generation. What does that look like for the in- not just be in darkness, but very well They’re my friends, and they’re my dividual? For me personally, right? I potentially remain in darkness for the peers, and they struggle with this con- have to look at the toxic parts of me. rest of your life, or end your life. All sistent feeling that they don’t matter I can’t run away from myself and not these things are actually what broke and this need to run into the arms of come back. I have to also look at the me to light, because they were so dark the ego when someone says anything moments when it’s safe, and brighten that I couldn’t be there anymore. And nice about them. It’s just this back and up my blue bioluminescent lights. Be it wasn’t true. I’m not dark. I’m not forth, back and forth. in the moments as they are. And em- damaged. Something I believed about I love the David Lynch Foundation. brace the toxic moments. This week I myself for years and years and years That’s where I learned TM, from Lynn did things that I don’t think someone and years, something that caused me

Winter 2020-2021 105 extreme anxiety, something that threw that would be able to be filmed at my this person who had done this to me me into the arms of the ego whenever own home. They’re going to set up the for years, it had happened to him. I could think that I was something; I whole film crew and the whole thing, And the little boy that he was—the would have to buy into both sides, all and it would involve these types of first, what, thousand days of a child’s the ugly things about me, if I wanted talks, but in a more news kind of ca- life is what Bob said determines—that to hear that I did anything right. pacity. And I’m like, Wait, I worked type of trauma affects them long-term I’ve started to do what I like to so hard. I trudged. I left home at throughout their life. Attachment is- call this dance with my shadow, I fifteen years old, and I was going to sues and such. dance with her. She whisks me away make it as an actress. And all of these So this perfect little boy that some- sometimes, and other times I’m like, things. And I literally lay on my couch one tainted would then go on to send “Come back over here. I’m just go- during COVID-19 and meditate for me to a point where I almost downed ing to make you a little less shadowy. six hours, and suddenly offers are like, a bottle of pills and ended my life, Just a little more light on you.” But “Hey, AnnaLynne, you want to do right. We have the same pain. We I don’t shame her. I do not guilt the this?’ “You want to do this?” And I’m went in different directions. If I can parts of me that get it wrong. I do not like, there’s something that we don’t take what’s inside of me that’s so angry tell that part of me that there’s some- know enough about. and so hurt, and in a moment look in thing inherently wrong with me. I say, I’m in the middle of Rick Hanson’s the face of who he could’ve been, not “This is a moment.” For twenty-five book right now. I just finished reading who he became but who he could’ve years there was a moment where the MetaHuman. And it’s very interesting, been, all in that moment I am love. plankton wouldn’t show up, right. what has transformed inside of me— That is what I am. I am the most pow- And then in one moment, they were this belief that I had no support, that erful energy in the universe. And I am back. Sometimes twenty-five years is a I was an island, that I had to make a force. moment. And you might lose it again, it on my own because I couldn’t trust The Love Storm, which, Eddie, and it might be another twenty-five anybody, because unlike the plankton, thank you for mentioning that, The years. But I’m so grateful for the mo- there’s no way I was giving anybody a Love Storm is still going to happen. ments, for all the moments. The steps chance to get any of my pretty blue We’re not flying on planes and tak- that I take to remind myself of that light. That wasn’t going to happen. ing trains and stuff right now, but I are—I’m a little bit of a nerd, I like People had hurt me, and it was a dog am love, and I’m a storm. That’s what to create neural associations, like “I’m eat dog world for sure. This trans- The Love Storm is about. It’s that you going to consciously use my mind formation occurred when, about 18 don’t have to give up those fierce parts powers to neural associate my nega- months ago, my memories returned of yourself, those parts that you had tive, toxic triggers to dive deep into about my childhood abuse. The only to become to break those chains. You my meditative or mindful practice.” way out of this was the only way out had to be a storm. You had to wash During this whole period with of anything. The most difficult and away the toxicity on the streets and COVID-19 and everything—Bob was yet the most beautiful, transcendent all around. You had to do a cleansing, talking about how a lot of us are turn- moment of my life was inviting, first, right. Don’t lose that part of yourself. ing to meditation, and I’m so grateful compassion for myself—that this was That storm is beautiful. But transmute for that. I’ve been meditating several my narrative and I didn’t know and it. And you can do that. And the only hours, as much as six hours a day. Yes, all those things—then, compassion way you can do that, in my opinion I don’t have much going on, okay. Ac- for the person who did what he did and in my experience, is with compas- tresses are really shut down right now. to me when I was a kid, for all those sion. But I have never had more opportuni- years. And realizing that chains are The Metta meditation is what we ties that, as soon as this frees up, come contagious, but we don’t have to have lead The Love Storm with. And it’s, into my life, while laying on my couch them bind us. They can link us, right. “May you be happy, may you be at doing absolutely nothing. Literally His pain, my pain, your pain, their peace, may you be free from suffer- nothing. I’m not going after things. I pain, the earth, Mother Nature’s pain. ing.” And when I think of the face of think I’ve missed a couple of tapings It can unite us if we let it. It can make this person who hurt me so much, and that I was supposed to do ‘cause I was you know that I feel you, and I get it, I imagine him as the adult who was probably laying there—“I am in the and that it doesn’t have to be put on a hurting me and the child he had been unified field, in the quantum”—and scale—“Technically my pain is a little before he became what he became, I I’ve missed things. But I’ve had movie heavier than yours is, so you need to take everything that it stirs up in me, offers come in. I’ve had opening up of feel me,” when it’s not like that, right. the angst, the intensity, the pain, the opportunities like this, that is really Pain is felt in the exact same place in sadness, the heartbreak, all of it, and I where my heart is now, and this shift the brain. It’s all relative. let it conjure into this intense storm. is happening. For me, in this moment when And then I’m like, WHOOSH. “MAY I’ve just been offered a huge project something clicked inside of me that YOU BE HAPPY. MAY YOU BE AT

106 Issue 27 PEACE. MAY YOU BE FREE FROM part.” It’s as if I was reading it for the that is actually when my memories re- SUFFERING.” My Metta medita- first time. And what I’ve realized is, turned. Eighteen months ago I under- tion is very not-Buddha-like. It’s not when we’re learning, when you read went EMDR, which is a PTSD treat- very quiet, and it is a storm, for all something and it affirms something ment. Eye Movement Desensitization intents and purposes. But it’s a very you already know inside yourself, and Reprocessing is a very powerful AnnaLynne way. In those moments, I that’s what most guiding words are. way to release trauma from the body, sometimes feel like I’m lifting off. If I could affirm something for you which is oftentimes what we’re dealing This is a very scary time for a lot of in the moment that you’re in, where with when we’re dealing with PTSD. people. It’s a lot of things for a lot of you’re at, that would be the angle I It’s not really what happened to us, people. But for me, it shows the pow- would want to go about. But most of but it’s our survival instinct unreal- er of how fast something can spread the time, we aren’t at that space. ized. We weren’t able to run or fight, around this planet. Just as much as I was joking with my mom, and I and it got trapped inside of us. fear is contagious, so is love, so is was like, “I should do a book called I have a lot of tools. First and fore- freedom. My little message, I guess, The Surefire Path to Misery.” She was most, I would like to say thank you if there’s anything, is that as a human like, “What? What do you mean?” for opening up and sharing that—it’s being, as a social being, I found some- And I was like, “No, no. I’m going to not easy to do—and taking a step thing that makes what was such a dark tell you all the ways to have the most towards your own healing. One of room just a little bit brighter. I can miserable life possible. And when you teachers that Jack Kornfield talks shine my blue bioluminescent light start reading it you’re going to be like, about was like, “It’s already too late now without fear. That’s because I fi- ‘Wait, I do that.’ ‘Wait, I do that.’ for you. You already took a step in nally, after all this time, set my mind ‘Wait! Am I on the path to misery?’” the right direction.” So it’s too late for free. And I hope to share that, because Which would be my joking way to you. You’re going to find the healing we’re social beings. We want to share do it. But I think that sometimes, if that you need, because you’re moving what we have. Freedom is contagious, we come from the standpoint of the in that direction. I would love to be a and that’s the virus that I’m spreading. teacher, then we lose the experience part of your journey. Thank you for Thank you, Eddie. Thank you, every- of learning from the student. And if sharing that, and we’ll get you out of body. a student reads a book thinking, “This those chains in no time. ES: Amazing, AnnaLynne. Thank you is my teacher,” then they don’t always so much for your honesty and vul- open themselves up to teach them- ES: Great. Check out The Love Storm nerability, and I think that there’s an selves and to become the teacher. So and together1heart.org. AnnaLynne, entire generation of young men and maybe I affirm those parts that you thank you so much, again, for joining women who’ve watched you in so might want to look at a little deeper us, and for everything that you have many of your movies and shows and and then you do the work. Because brought to the Inner Peace Confer- 90210—I know my daughter did. You the brain will do it immediately. It’ll ence. We really, really appreciate it. were her favorite character. They need be like, “Oh, that’s a path of misery? to hear these things from you. Thank No, thank you. I’m going to skip AM: Thank you, Eddie, for doing you for providing that. that.” There’s been some little dab- this. I’m so grateful to be a part of it. I know that you read a lot, and you blings with that. I’ll get back to you like to characterize yourself as a neu- on whether or not it’ll turn into some- ES: We are going to move on to my roscientist nerd. My question for you thing. friend Adam Bucko, who is another is, do you have plans to write your excellent human being I met through own book about this type of thinking ES: Brilliant. I think you should do Dena Merriam. Adam is a newly or- and experiencing and what you think it—Stuff You Already Know by An- dained reverend. He’s an activist and the world needs to hear at this stage of naLynne. author, and the director of the Center the game from your generation? We have one difficult question:. for Spiritual Imagination at the Epis- “AnnaLynne, I went through sexu- copal Diocese of Long Island. This is AM: Maybe, if you’ll be my guide al trauma and assault, many events. a new office; one that has never ex- through the process. I would love to How can I reach out, or where can I isted before. One of Adam’s primary share my thoughts on this. I write find stuff to help me feel better? I’m a roles will be the development of this down a lot of stuff when I’m process- PTSD survivor.” new initiative. Through a rich variety ing and going through things. There’s of innovative gatherings, programs definitely a compilation of a lot of AM: You can reach out to me, for and services, the Center for Spiritual stuff that I’ve experienced. Recently, one. [email protected]. Imagination will be a catalyst for the during COVID, I’ve been rereading I would love to be a support however integration of contemplative prayer so many books. And I’m like, “Oh I can. And I have a lot of tools, obvi- and just practice into daily life. my god, how did I miss this? Yes, this ously. Because of PTSD showing up, Adam has been devoted to serving

Winter 2020-2021 107 homeless youth. He is the co-founder could engage in a conversation. I of- parents often tell me that when I was of the Reciprocity Foundation, which ten find that when we talk with other a kid they were often afraid, ‘cause ev- serves homeless and marginalized people, sometimes we kind of notice ery time I went outside I would always youth in New York City. He has ex- ourselves saying things that were just bring back home some posters of the amined what an engaged monasticism discovered in the moment. So let’s see. resistance—at that point you could go for the 21st century looks like, and To begin this talk, I think that I to jail for that, for just having those he’s at the forefront of a new move- would like to just share a few stories kinds of materials at home. ment for contemplative Christianity. from my life. Stories of heartbreak, Early on, I knew that my purpose in He is definitely a very influential voice but also stories of discovery—dis- life was to engage with this reality of in the movement for the recovery and covery of God, a God that I tried to the world, and to make it just a little renewal of Christian contemplative find in my early twenties in different bit better. In Poland, all of our resis- spirituality. monasteries in the West, in some Hi- tance to the systemic injustices were Adam has written an award-win- malayan hermitages in India. But then very alive, because probably 60 or ning book called Occupy Spirituality: in the end, in my case at least, I was 70% of us literally existed outside of A Radical Vision for a New Generation, able to find that God on the streets of the official system, with our own net- and The New Monasticism: An Inter- New York City, in the broken bodies works of distribution of food, with our spiritual Manifesto for Contemplative and hearts of New York City home- own networks of sharing information, Living. less kids. I want to share some of etcetera. All of that was somehow con- When I first met Adam, it was after these stories, not because I think that nected to the church. Churches were Occupy Wall Street started happen- they’re unique, but rather because we really the only places where we were ing. Frankly, I was a little bit cynical all experience pain and suffering in able to go and feel free, where we were about the whole Occupy movement. our lives. Most of us also experience able to voice our dreams and longing It was started by Adbusters, a maga- glimpses of God, who, like a loving for a better tomorrow, where it was zine in Canada. There was no organi- mother, sometimes shows up unex- safe to do that. So early on, I start- zation, and there were no stated goals, pectedly where we least expect it, and ed looking into these priest-activists there was nothing. It started splinter- just leads us into moments of peace who were proclaiming the message of ing off into different parts. Eventually where we feel completely held, where nonviolence, who were in many ways at one point, the Occupy movement we feel completely cared for, where inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. They had disappeared. You didn’t see it, and all of the broken pieces of ourselves were bringing some of these messag- nothing really happened with Oc- that we struggle with on a daily basis es to Poland, and talking about love, cupy Wall Street. One day I said to are all of a sudden transfigured into talking about nonviolence, talking Adam, “You know what, the Occupy something that maybe could become about speaking truth to power. movement, it didn’t even last. Where our unique gift to the world. As a kid, I was observing those is it now?” And he said to me, “It’s When I look at my life, and when I priests and just wanted to mimic everywhere.” And he was right. One think about the theme of this confer- them. I remember one of my favorite day when I walked into the Reciproc- ence which is Inner Peace—inner and activities at home was to essentially ity Foundation to do a class with the outer peace—I think about my child- build an altar and try to do mass like youth there, a huge heart was drawn hood. I grew up in Poland during— those priests. Maybe that’s why now on the chalkboard. Just above it, it I’m 45, so late ‘70s, early ‘80s. When I’m a priest. said, Occupy your—and then there was I was growing up in Poland, my coun- Something that became very clear a huge heart. I thought, “This is real- try was essentially occupied by a total- to me was that everything around ly Adam’s message. Occupy your own itarian regime. Things were not that me was falling apart. The system was heart.” That’s where we need to be. great. We were under a Communist falling apart. Young people were at Adam, it is a great pleasure to have regime. When I looked at some of my times committing suicide or drinking you here today with us. Thank you for friends in my neighborhood, very ear- themselves to death. There was a lot making the time. ly on, it became very clear to me that of violence. Then at some point when basically, when thinking about my I was a kid, the Chernobyl disaster dam Bucko: Thank you, Eddie. life, I have two choices. One of those happened, which also our govern- AThank you so much for inviting choices was to become an alcoholic ment didn’t tell us about. We found me here. It’s a joy to be part of this and just basically give up, which many out later on. Everything was collaps- gathering. Initially we were planning of my friends did. The other choice ing. I needed to find something in my to do it in person, but I’m so hap- was to become an activist, and to try life, something that could hold me, py that this is happening online. I to engage with some of those structur- something that could convince me thought that maybe I’ll just talk for al realities that were really making our that even though there is all this chaos about twenty minutes, and then if lives very hard. around me, nonetheless, life is worth there are any questions, or maybe we I chose to become an activist. My living.

108 Issue 27 I remember building a little altar of the trauma was kind of taken care outside of Delhi, and living with peo- at home and trying to do mass, and of. And so I began practicing medi- ple who were rescued from the streets, wrapping myself in some kind of a tation and my life literally changed working with homeless kids. I think blanket. I think my parents were very within weeks. And I remember ask- that that was really what gave me my frightened by that. My grandmother, ing my counselor, “What should I do calling in life, in some ways. Because who was a very religious person, loved now? Everything changed. Should I be prior to that moment, even though I it of course. That was probably one of a monk?” And I remember she gave had those experiences in Poland where my first experiences of God, where all me a name of a bookstore. It was East I knew that my spirituality needs to be of a sudden, standing there at that al- West Bookstore. I’m sure some of you engaged with the world, the moment tar, I felt like everything stopped and remember. I remember going into I started getting into meditation, into there was this peace. There was this that bookstore, by then I was able to contemplative prayer, I felt like I kind power that literally held me. Even speak English, and picking up the first of exited the world. Left the world, so though everything around me was book that I could see. I opened it, and to speak. All of a sudden, the ideal for falling apart, nonetheless I was safe. there was this Himalayan yogi inside a spiritual life became this ideal of a I continued to follow those priests. with long, long dreadlocks, down to guy who sits on the top of the moun- Both of the priests that I especially was the floor. I looked at it and I was like, tain, and he’s completely free of any attracted to were killed by the system. “Oh my goodness, this is my guy. This suffering. He’s completely pure, and One of them was my parish priest. is what I want to do with my life.” he’s completely disengaged. And so early on, it became very clear So eventually I ended up in India. I I think what the experience of liv- that, number one, I need to be faith- went to India essentially to become a ing in that community did for me ful to that presence that I experienced Christian sadhu. I had a spot reserved was to help me realize that yes, I was in my prayer. Number two, looking at the hermitage, Jivandhara Hermit- peaceful. Meditation gave me this gift at those priests, to be truly faithful to age, which is a Hindu-Christian her- of peace. But that peace was kind of that presence, to truly say yes to God mitage at the foothills of the Himala- a detached kind of a peace. It was al- means saying no to everything in this yas outside of Rishikesh, run by this most like I was in some kind of a spir- world that violates God’s love and jus- wonderful old nun who was both a itual coma. That experience brought tice and compassion. And then the Hindu swamini and a Catholic nun. me back to life, brought me back into third lesson that I learned from them Those things only happen in India, I the world, and showed me that if I can is that living your life that way, there think, where you can kind of partic- show up and be present to those who are consequences. They paid the ulti- ipate in both traditions so beautifully are suffering, be present in a way that I mate price. On some level, choosing and with such integrity. would be present to God, showing up that path was also very frightening. On my way to that hermitage, ev- for them in the same way that I show The next stage of my discovery of erything changed. Because when I up for prayer, showing up with my spiritual life and this God of peace arrived in Delhi, I had an experience open heart, bearing witness to what is was when I came to the States. We that I think almost everyone has when there, showing up without any kind came essentially running from Poland, they go to India. I was approached of buffer, seeing their pain, accom- trying to find a better life. We came as by a homeless kid, this little girl who panying them into the depths of the undocumented immigrants, we end- came up to me, took my hand and pain, sometimes breaking with them ed up in New York without knowing started walking with me, asking me to as we experience this pain, and then in any English, without having any kinds buy her something to eat. You know, the midst of that, when we are broken of connections. Because I had dread- everyone sees those kids. I was also into pieces, discovering that under- locks, my way of just getting into the told before going to India never to neath all of that there is this motherly New York City culture was to go to give them any money, that they’re hus- presence of God that is always able to the Village every day and hang out tlers. Things you hear. But something show up, pick up the broken pieces with some Rastas on Broadway. That’s happened for me. I think it’s easy to from the floor, and reassemble them how I learned English, by just sitting ignore someone’s words, but the mo- into something that could become our with some of those guys who sold in- ment there’s that connection, the mo- offering to the world. All of a sudden cense on the street in the 1990s. ment there’s that touch, looking at the our pain, our mistakes and everything But what happened was that after face of this child, her face burned with else that we’ve experienced could be awhile, this alienation that I felt and cigarettes, she was just skin and bones, useful to serve the world. some of the post traumatic stuff that dressed in this very dirty dress. Some- That became really a big and an im- was happening, things that I was car- thing happened. And all of a sudden I portant thing for me. Because it helped rying in my body from Poland—I es- realized that she is a call that I needed me to integrate prayer and meditation sentially collapsed. I found a counselor to answer. and contemplative practice with ser- who started teaching me meditation. Eventually, that led to me moving vice in the world. Eventually, that led Almost immediately, I felt like some into a Christian ashram in the slums to some work on the streets of New

Winter 2020-2021 109 York City, founding that center that imbalance, every cry including the cry think that was on purpose. So Oper- Eddie described, which was really of the earth, as a call for us, to be an- ation Feed The Front on GoFundMe. a very special place. A place of love swered. You can donate. You can also go to where kids from all over the city were And so this is my work now. One of our website, spiritualimagination.org, able to come and experience what it the things that we’re doing right now, which just launched, and simply email feels like to be loved. What it feels like especially during this COVID-19 cri- us. to discover that their heartbreak could sis, thanks to the leadership of Father At this particular point in time, still be transformed into something Michael Sniffen who’s the dean of the we’re trying to do things with as few that could enable them to serve the cathedral, who has done a wonderful, volunteers as possible. The food is pre- world. really beautiful job putting things to- pared in kitchens in different country Right now, I just took a little bit gether, and who was one of the lead- clubs around Long Island. People live of a break from my life, so to speak, ing organizers of Occupy Sandy, the there and normally they wouldn’t ‘cause I was training for priesthood. I mutual aid network that emerged out be able to work, but because of our spent three years living in a quasi-mo- of Occupy Wall Street after the Hur- fundraising activities, we’re able to es- nastic setting in Wisconsin, being sent ricane Sandy disaster—one of the sentially pay those people to prepare to probably one of the most conser- things that our community does, be- meals and to have work. And it’s very vative places. For someone like me, cause we can’t do very many things, safe. And then one person delivers, who on a political spectrum probably we are serving anywhere from 1,500 the other person picks up. This way, falls somewhere left of Karl Marx, to 2,000 meals to frontline health all of it is very safe. that was a big deal. But now I’m back care workers in different hospitals that My guess is that within the next few in New York. I’m at the Cathedral of serve the poor around New York City, weeks, things might change and we the Incarnation. And we just founded especially in Brooklyn, Queens and may need more volunteers and more the Center for Spiritual Imagination, Long Island. people to be involved. My hope is that and also a new monastic community And slowly, as the medical crisis is some of the structures that were cre- that essentially is going to be teaching stabilizing, we are moving slowly into ated to support the frontline health these practices of contemplation and supporting poor communities. If the care workers could be maintained to how to learn and practice engaged headline of a recent article from the support the poor. In my experience spirituality, and then as a result, be New York Times is correct, it’s not the working with street kids, I know that sent back into the world. coronavirus that will kill us, but hun- whenever big crises happen, there’s a We have two mottos. One is that ger. We need to really worry about lot of interest. But the moment some we believe, as Father Bede Griffiths hunger, because people are losing jobs. of our media channels are beginning believed—this Benedictine monk who A lot of our networks for the distribu- to talk less about the suffering that the lived as kind of a Christian sannyasi tion of food have been destabilized. people are experiencing, usually there in India for more than forty years—he And so we feel that it is our obligation is less interest. And so the goal here, called this, universal call to contem- to put our resources to work, to mobi- considering that so many people are plation. Essentially, we believe that lize volunteers and to essentially serve losing their jobs, and especially the intimacy with God does not belong people on the streets of New York poor communities are going to be re- to a special group of religious profes- City in communities, especially those ally deeply impacted by this, the goal sionals, but is available to all. We try communities that are really suffering for us is to keep on going at this and to democratize, essentially, the gifts right now. to keep on building structures that of monastic spirituality, and translate I thought that maybe I would stop can support people. them into something that everyone my rambling and that maybe we could could live. engage in some kind of a conversation. ES: You have a question. “My ques- In addition to that, our other motto tion to Adam: Do you still have any is that, given today’s crisis the world ES: Definitely. That just has been so connections to church in Poland, and over, we can no longer afford to hide beautiful, Adam. It’s wonderful to would you share your perspective? I our contemplatives in comfortable hear your story, starting from Poland am from Poland too, living abroad, monasteries. We need to reunite con- and all the way through the streets and I feel the church in Poland is now templation, meditation and action. of New York to where you are today. very far away from what you are doing We need spiritual activists, and real- How can any of the people present and where it was in the 1970s.” ly, spiritual warriors on the streets of today support the activities of the our cities and in all of our professions church in feeding people? AB: Yes. I agree with that. It’s very and institutions. We need them to re- unfortunate, what happened with the invent those institutions with spiritu- AB: We have a GoFundMe. Opera- church in Poland. When I was grow- al values, and to teach us how to see tion Feed The Front, it’s called. Which ing up, it really felt that the church every person in need, every structural has a very punk rock name, and I was this kind of loving mother that

110 Issue 27 Krishna retrieves the Shyamantaka from Jambavan ©Keshav Venkatraghavan

Winter 2020-2021 111 really was there to hold us. Then, im- unless we find out what that one thing What breaks my heart? That’s number mediately after the system changed, is. And there’s no one else in the world one. the church tried to replace the Com- that could fix that one thing. So our Number two, “What makes you munist Party and run the country. lives are very valuable, especially if we truly alive?” And again, it’s not just And that was not good. Essentially, it say yes to our true purpose. about answering and making a list. It’s moved from playing the role of a lov- How do we essentially distinguish about holding it, holding that ques- ing mother to an abusive parent. So I between all of those thoughts and im- tion with every cell of your body. don’t have many connections with the pulses of the ego that we feel and what And then, “Who inspires you, and Polish church. I know a couple of Pol- is the true calling? I know every time I why?” And also thinking about it. In ish priests who live in America, Pol- close my eyes, I hear a lot of different my discovery, what happens when ish Catholic priests—I’m an Episco- things, but it takes some time to get to we really approach our heartbreaks pal priest—who are doing wonderful the bottom of things, to sort through and our aliveness, and when we hold work. But, as a whole, I think some- those things. them simultaneously, something hap- thing happened in Poland. Unfortu- A very quick story. Almost every- pens. I saw it so many times. All of nately, the church has not been able to one, in the initial days of Reciprocity, a sudden, something clarifies, and the go beyond its own needs for self-pres- was coming into our office and saying, operating system in our head breaks ervation, power and control. And that “I want to become famous. Can you for a moment, and there’s this impulse is very unfortunate, I think. It really help me to become famous?” I didn’t of creativity that usually gives peo- breaks my heart, because I feel like, as know anything about helping people ple some guidance as to how they’re a kid, I received so much from that to become famous. Also, it didn’t re- seeing themselves in the world. What church, so much spirituality. I saw so ally feel like part of my calling was are they called to do? And then once many examples of heroic activism, of to help people to become famous. they start getting in touch with that what it means to essentially manifest They wanted to be fashion designers impulse and once they start basically Christ’s love and nonviolence in the and musicians and you name it. And getting a download of what their call- world. But now I find that it’s very dif- so I struggled with it a little bit be- ing might be, there is a final question ficult to find that in the Polish church. cause it felt like here I am trying to which is, “Is this thing that is emerg- live a spiritual life, and all these kids ing in me, are my gifts, are my talents ES: The next questioner asks how one are coming to me basically with these being used here in service of com- can discern a call from our ego. materialistic dreams. What the heck passion and justice, or are they being am I supposed to do? As I began lis- used in service of my own self?” AB: That’s a very good question. tening to them, I discovered that with In my experience, working with When I was learning how to work this line, “I want to become famous,” some of those questions really helps to with street kids in New York, I had what they’re really saying is, “I want a sort through this question, “What is this very unusual mentor who was a life of meaning, purpose and signifi- my ego telling me, and what is God Hasidic rabbi. He mentored me qui- cance.” It’s just that the only theolo- telling me?” As someone once said, it’s etly, because he said that these teach- gy they have is a reality TV theology, when our joy and when our longings ings never get out of the community so to speak. Within that framework, and our heartbreaks meet in our of- that he was in. And so we would just that’s what you say when you want to fering to the world, that’s when our gather, and he would read this Yiddish accomplish something that matters. calling is being addressed. and Hebrew text. Of course, I didn’t As I began paying attention to their know any of those languages. I didn’t dreams, as I began paying attention to ES: Wow, Adam. That was one of the also know much about Judaism. But things they were saying, including, “I best answers I’ve ever heard for how there was this kind of transmission in want to become famous,” I discovered to determine the difference between the air that I feel like I really received these three questions that guided my your calling and ego. something. And one of the teachings work with people in helping them to that I received was, he kept on repeat- discover their vocation, to discover AB: Well, thanks. I learned it from be- ing to me this old Jewish teaching their calling. ing with homeless youth. ‘Cause every that everyone comes to this world to Number one was, “What breaks time I would ask them questions, I fix just one thing. I think this is met- your heart?” Essentially, when you had to work through the same ques- aphorical, perhaps. But nonetheless, think about your life, when you think tions. ‘Cause you know how young we’re here to fix that one thing. And about the world, what breaks your people are. It’s like they see it immedi- our job here is to figure out, is to find heart? This question is not about just ately when you’re not on it. out what are we here to fix. Because coming up with some kind of an an- Thank you so much for inviting me we could do a lot of things. Maybe swer. Spend a week fasting and pray- here. It’s a real joy. some even really amazing things. But ing and crying with God, holding that our life will be not really all that great question with every cell of your body. ES: Our final speaker of the day is Lau-

112 Issue 27 rie Anderson. Laurie is one of Amer- was absolutely terrifying. Of course, lot of live concerts. When I do these ica’s most renowned and daring cre- I never told this to Laurie. And then concerts, I depend on seeing people ative pioneers. She is an avant-garde later, Lou wanted me to go teach Lau- in the audience. People in audienc- artist, a composer, a musician, a film rie some yoga also. I had her do the es think they’re invisible, but I make director. Her work spans performance most simple things because I felt she sure to light the first few rows, and I art, pop music and multimedia proj- was tired. And she was like, “That’s use people as editors. If the whole first ects. She’s not only one of the early it?” And I was like, “Oh my god, Lau- row looks like they’re falling asleep, pioneers of electronic music, but she’s rie Anderson hates me.” I just take that part out. I work in a also invented several electronic musi- I’m so thrilled that she accepted medium that happens in the moment. cal instruments, including something our invitation to come speak today. It doesn’t happen later. Now, maybe called the tape-bow violin, which uses When we were going to be in St. Bar- people think about it later, but unless magnetic tape instead of horsehair on tholomew’s Church, we wanted there it happens right then it just doesn’t the violin bow, the talking stick, and to be talks and meditation and mu- happen. Also, as an improviser, I nev- her special voice filters. sic and poetry. And of course, Laurie er know what note will be next. So Laurie has published eight books. brings all these things to the table. music, both playing it and listening The most recent is All Things I Lost We had all these things planned out to it, turned out to be a pretty good In The Flood. She is a Grammy-win- for the narrative arc of our day that training for living in the state of con- ning artist for the Best Chamber Mu- was going to be an entire inner peace stant uncertainty that is our present sic/Small Ensemble Performance for experience. You know the saying: reality in the pandemic. Landfall. And she was also the first The best way to make God laugh is Now that we’re in the time of coro- artist in residence for NASA, which is to make plans. Our plans, of course, na, we no longer have the faces of oth- just a phenomenal thing. didn’t come to pass. And here we are, er people to tell us what they think. The list of people that she has col- online together. You know how it is. You might be laborated with is tremendous. Any- Laurie, as our final speaker, thank losing a grip on who you are. Because one who’s familiar with any small you so much for accepting this invita- among other things, we use reflection bits of the New York City or Ameri- tion. I’m really, really thrilled that you in other people’s faces to learn who can avant-garde or downtown music are here. You have been a big inspira- we are. And we learn that affirmation scenes will know the names of Wil- tion for so many people in all of the and connection, really, when we’re liam Burroughs, Jean Dupree, Arto fields that you touch, from art to mu- babies, when we’re little kids. If you Lindsay, Bill Laswell, Ian Ritchie, sic to performance and to your new watch a two year old try to get this Peter Gabriel—who of course is not painting profession as well. Thank confirmation from their parent, you a downtown music name—David Syl- you, we look forward to everything can see how important it is. “Mom, vian, Jean-Michel Jarry, Brian Eno, that you have to offer to us. look, I’m on the swing.” And Mom Philip Glass, Nona Hendryx, Bobby says, “Yes, you’re on the swing.” And if McFerrin, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dave aurie Anderson: Thanks Eddie. those words aren’t said, it’s almost like Stewart, Peter Gordon, Adrian Belew, LI really love you. Thanks for in- you never were on the swing. And so Hector Zazou, and, of course, her late viting me to be in this conference. we’re finding ourselves more connect- husband Lou Reed. And hello to all of you who showed ed to other people than we thought. She has a very disciplined tai chi up today. Thank you for coming too. Defining what’s real is not something and meditation practice. She’s a de- I really enjoy being with people in this we always do by ourselves, alone. voted student of Buddhism. I met way. You’re all completely invisible, We’re also finding ourselves more in Laurie some years ago through my but I can feel your presence, like lit- solitude, and that means finding paths friend Julian Schnabel when Julian tle sparkling lights all over the globe. into ourselves in new ways, and learn- wanted me to start teaching yoga to By the way, there’s a beautiful Dutch ing how to trust the person that you Laurie’s husband Lou. Of course, site that I’ve been using called Radio are now, in the midst of this. growing up in Greenwich Village and Garden, and you might want to check And you know what? I really miss being a young club kid from 1982, it out. You can spin the globe around, playing music for people in physical 1983, I knew who Laurie was. We and you can listen to thousands of live places. But when I think about it, I’m all knew who Laurie was. Her video radio stations around the world. If actually not talking to the people who for O Superman, which was on MTV, you’re in the mood for 24-hour Hin- come to these concerts, the people was iconic and amazing. And frankly, di chanting, there’s a place for you on who buy tickets, the people who get I was scared to death to meet both her this globe. The site was made in col- up, get dressed, drive to the festival, and Lou because they were such an in- laboration with the Netherlands Insti- sit down in the audience, the people fluence in my early years in the clubs tute for Sound and Vision. So thank who have personalities and styles and and downtown music scene. Going you Holland for that. ways of expressing themselves. I’m ac- over to their house for the first time So anyway, I’m a musician. I do a tually talking to the part of the per-

Winter 2020-2021 113 son who doesn’t ever speak, the part think the word lockdown is one of the can’t find a word, stay with that feel- who’s back there listening. The part worst words to describe the experience ing. And if you need to call it some- of you who already knows everything. that we’re having. It comes from a cul- thing, make up a word. But there’s The part of you who has always been ture in which mass incarceration and also the German waldeinsamkeit. And there, and who already has perfect prison and punishment are central to that’s forest loneliness. Which is not inner peace. Always has, always will. our ways of social control. In so many like trees getting lonely, but it’s the joy And it’s this part of you that comes ways, our Puritan heritage comes out you feel when you’re in the woods all peeking out now at a time like this, in corona. Our reactions to corona are by yourself. Which, by the way, brings looks around and says, “Whoa, you’ve fear and soap. So very American. Fear me to the big confession that I feel I got to be kidding. This is different.” of being touched and physicality, fear want to make to you, and it’s one I’m It’s the part of you that’s centered and of touching our own faces, even. sure a lot of you share, probably with calm, and doesn’t have to do the bad Like peace and freedom, the words similar feelings of guilt. And that’s acting that you’re often forced to do as loss and love are also full of new mean- that I’m actually right now having the a person when you’re walking around ings. But there are so many holes in best time of my whole life. This in- in the world playing your various the English language. We’re just miss- sane merry-go-round of projects I was roles. And you know what I’m talking ing so many words. So many of the doing has stopped. Obligations, the about. That you. things in the world just aren’t real. things I was chasing, stopped, gone. Anyway, I usually live in New York They’re made of nothing. They’re just The email I was supposed to answer, City, which I really miss now. But I’m thoughts in the back of your mind. over. Time has opened up to me in in the countryside about a hundred Words are even more abstract than a way that I always dreamed of, and miles away. There’s a lot of wind to- that. So take the word snaux. It’s ac- freedom to look at many things that day, and a lot of birds, and the ocean tually a newly-coined word in En- I was putting off. This is finally the is nearby. Today I just want to talk glish, and it’s spelled S-N-A-U-X. It’s rainy day we’ve all been waiting for. about a few of the things that I’m not like Eskimo, where we need more And it’s changing me in fundamental learning here, and how some of that words for snow. This word is new and ways. might relate to what might be going specific, and it means a combination Like many of my friends, I say, on with you. of snow and faux, F-A-U-X, which is “I’m never going back, even if there’s I’ve been able to hear some of the French for false or fake. So it’s faux something to go back to, this is really speakers in the conference, which has snow, or fake snow. It sounds like how I’m going to be from now on.” been great. All these stories about snow, but it isn’t snow. Something And then I think, “Hmm, that sounds whales and plankton, and this idea that looks real but isn’t real. It’s the familiar.” It sounds a lot like another that we’re each here to fix one thing. I snaux that piles up in store windows plan. Do you think you have so much like that so much. I’ve been thinking at Christmas and on the shoulders of control? Isn’t that what you’re running about words that we’ve all been us- plaster mannequins who are standing from anyway? ing, like peace and freedom and anger in snaux—S-N-A-U-X—drifts wear- The Koreans have a word, not for and love and loss. And they’re all such ing real fur coats. It’s the snaux on things that you’re looking for but the tricky words. It’s like we don’t have model trains or on Christmas trees. things that come looking for you. enough words for a situation now. But here’s another word that’s miss- And they tend to be somewhat on the We have to find them or invent them ing in English, although it exists in negative side. Remorse, free-floating to make them real. It makes me ask Inuit. And it’s iktsuarpok. I-K-T-S-U- guilt, various highly contagious flus, myself not what peace or freedom is, A-R-P-O-K. It means the feeling of numerous kinds of linoleum glues but more like how they make me feel. edgy anticipation that makes you keep that stick on your shoes. But anyway, How I experience them. For example, looking out the window to see if an back to the present moment. peace. I call that feeling of peaceful- unexpected visitor is coming up the First, there’s the shock of the sud- ness, peace. But really, peace is a state path. We know what that feels like, den pause. This screeching halt. Ev- in which I’m not there. It’s not that but we really just don’t have the words erything stopped. We’re hanging sus- I feel peacefulness, it’s that I’m gone. for it. And then in Swedish, there’s pended between two realities, almost There’s no longer a me who’s thinking fika, which is a coffee break in which like the , this pause after death something. There are no boundaries. you’re not allowed to talk about busi- while consciousness shifts and takes It’s like music. You just disappear into ness. Really good idea from Sweden. another form. There’s the great Bud- it. You sink into it. You’re gone. There’s something many of us are dhist teacher, Bob Thurman, who re- For me, the word freedom has a sim- feeling right now. The Turkish have ally elucidates the bardo. And you re- ilar sense of gone, of absence. The way a great word for this. It’s called uzun, alize that the bardo he’s talking about you can be free of something, like this which is gloomy political dread. We is also this period of time. This short dog is free of fleas, or this man is free know what that means, and we need to span of dreams and reality between of disease. And speaking of freedom, I understand where we are. Also, if you the time we were born and the time

114 Issue 27 we die, also known as life, the bardo na.” Something to think about. But go into that state. Another would be of life. this is a good time to be curious about every time she brushed her hair back In the middle of this solitude, we the feeling words like fear. or looked at her shoes, she would go begin to define the feelings that we I have a friend who has a five year into that state. have for others in new ways, some- old boy. He didn’t know the word vi- I was saying, “Wow, that wouldn’t times called compassion. But some- rus. And he just kept hearing about the work for me. It would take me some times it feels too solid. Because it al- coronavirus, but he thought people time to go into that.” She said, “Let’s most feels like borders are dissolving. were saying “corona pirates”. The sto- try it.” She was already looking down And is there a word for that? I don’t ry really made sense to him, because at her shoes. And so I did that too. know. Probably a German compound the whole world is being attacked by And then only for a minute, we word that’s just an assembly, like a list the corona pirates, and so we have to looked at our shoes sitting on the floor of single-syllable words, rather than a wear masks and stay back, and we’re like that down there. It did that for real blend. Kind of like a British des- all doing this fighting everywhere in me. It put me back into that present sert. You know how they make that the world. He could see the essential moment. Actually, the only moment dessert with various things arranged drama in a way that’s completely lost that we actually have. on a plate. Some sponge cake, a little on adults sometimes. So recently, I’ve But anyway, during this time I need dab of custard, a few little hard can- just taken to hearing the word pirates all the help I can get, so I truly trea- dies. This is called dessert, or pudding when I hear the word virus. sure my teachers. And one of the med- in British English. But these items, How then can we use our minds in itations I find the most useful is called they never actually cohere. The parts this moment? I remember as a child “The Jewel Tree.” It’s a tree, you form don’t add up, unlike, on the other being a kind of untutored sky-wor- it in your mind. On this tree you put hand, the French éclair, which be- shipper. I would walk along on my all the people you love and who also comes a whole new thing, a whole way to school, and I’d look up at the love you. Philosophers, your mother, new complete thing made of the parts sky—and this was the Midwest, so that crazy dog down the block, your of custard and chocolate and pastry there was endless amount of sky. We’re sweet and generous third-grade teach- but transcending the parts it’s made never going to run out of it. I’d think, er, Buddha, James Brown, whoever of. I don’t know why I started talking “This is where I came from”. And I re- you want to put. You just put them about that. Maybe just food is more member how clear I was about this. all up there, and just keep this in your interesting now than at times when I This has really never left me, this feel- mind, your jewel tree—all the people used to go to restaurants. It’s harder ing. When I look at the sky now, it’s who love you so much, and are help- to get. an immediate trigger, a kind of fast- ing you now. What is it that we have in com- track passport to freedom. I wrote a song for William Bur- mon now, other than hunger? I have a Especially now, I’m looking for oth- roughs once, as Eddie mentioned. friend who’s a writer, and she’s looking er ways to keep me in the state of what This is a guy I really admired very for something all humans share. She we have to call awe. A few months much. It was called Language Is A is looking for some emotion or trait ago, I decided to start a meditation Virus From Outer Space. And it’s a that’s common to everyone. She spent group in New York City. I called a few strange thing for a writer to say, that a long time looking for that. And she friends but they were all so busy. We language is a disease communicable said, “Is it love?” No, not everyone has finally found a time slot, Wednesday, by mouth. But over the last especially that. Curiosity? There are plenty of 6:00 to 7:00. We all agreed we could three years, we’ve seen that language people who just aren’t curious. Hun- each wedge in a session if we really is a virus that can truly infect you. ger? Yes, but she’s looking outside the planned ahead. There was one more That it’ll just worm its way into your purely biological. Is it generosity? No. person I wanted to invite to be part ears. When someone says, “I can kill Greed? No. And what she found was of the group, and we were in line for you on the street and get away with fear. And with something so basic, this a restaurant waiting for a table. It was it” or when people say, “Women is such a good time to see what part really loud, crazy, noisy. And she said, don’t matter as much as men,” up is fear plays in our minds, to try to see it, “I just don’t want to sit in one place down. Orwell’s come home to live in to identify it, maybe even to befriend and meditate. I can’t do it. I just like our language now, and this Orwel- it. And see how it’s used by leaders to to do it wherever I am.” She said she lian language virus creeps into your batter people into obedience, and how was teaching herself how to use cer- brain, and it hammers you, it insults then it enters the language, and how tain situations that would remind her your mind, it brutalizes you. We have it’s its own thing, and how it’s part of to go quickly into that frame of mind. to figure out either how to dissolve it some things and not part of others. Let’s call it a state of calm. Let’s call it or disinfect it or relegate it to some As my teacher Rameshwar Das says, inner peace. So one day, the reminder junk pile. But it takes a lot of energy. “ contains some sorrow. But method would be every time she puts And then there’s the energy you need some sorrow does not contain nirva- her hand on a doorknob, she would to continue, to generate compassion

Winter 2020-2021 115 instead of hatred. This is the alchemy ing that way, but we didn’t really put What is required of us now? How of meditation. it into words. Our towns disappear- can we take what we’re learning here Of course, a virus itself is also a lan- ing. In Indiana I have a friend whose and what can we do with this? I’m of- guage. It’s very complex. It works in hometown used to be dairy farms; the ten asked from the point of view of many of the same ways. It can repli- dairy farms and the industrial-sized an artist, “What will the future look cate, it can pretend to be something chicken coops have all become fentan- like?” I do have a crystal ball. It’s kind else, it can go wild. It’s also not alive, yl labs. For years, everybody knew this of a cheap knockoff and I forgot how but it can kill you. But this virus, was unsustainable. They knew this to use it. But I do know that there are this plague, of course, it’s not new. was coming. And then it broke. those who want things to be normal. For years, I’ve been waking up every And now, in this broken time, we People are so eager to get out of the morning with a combination of dread try to find a way to be here, and also present that they can’t wait to get back and disbelief. Did the Amazon actual- to be with our anger about it, to ac- to the normal of burgers and cars and ly burn? Did one billion animals just knowledge our anger. Sometimes, if problem solving. die in Australia? Did this actually hap- we keep looking farther and farther I have a friend who is in isolation in pen, or was it just some kind of story? and farther and farther down inside at the UK, in the Norfolk countryside. Reality just shifted, and living became the anger, weirdly, it stops looking like He hasn’t seen anyone for weeks. Yes- so stressful. You just had to keep reca- anger. You keep going and going past terday he went out to a nearby high- librating every event you heard of so any sense of normal, past any sense of way, and he saw these cars. And he was you wouldn’t get too wound up. The real, past any sense of “You’re safe”, like, “People are going so fast. It was entire Russian parliament resigned? past all the words, going and going frightening how fast they were going, No big deal. And one billion people and going down and down until your how angry they seemed, how literally are now homeless? Okay, that defi- heart breaks. Then we find something driven they were.” I have to say not nitely went up. Hottest year ever? that’s so broken, and we’re broken what I see but what I hope for: to find Okay. I see that. more than we could’ve imagined. And new ways to see and feel despair, and We saw something coming, many of what to call this? Call it grief. But it to see and feel new ways to learn to us did. For years, we’ve been saying, will no longer be anger. And you will love our brothers and our sisters. of course, that this is not sustainable. find it there. This is also, of course, a moment It’s the biggest story of our time, and This is, for me, when a very key to remain suspended in the present, when we try to tell the story we keep teaching comes into play. My teacher if we can, and to recognize that that’s running out of words. The end of the Mingyur said, “Try to prac- all we’ve got anyway, and to see it as world, and climate collapse, and the tice how to feel sad without actually a moment of real opportunity. Our collapse of our ecosystem, is a story being sad.” This is an incredibly im- chance to wake up, to befriend our that’s just as hard to tell as, really, the portant distinction. To feel sad with- fears, to live without expectation, to story of the beginning of the world. out actually being sad. Because there live with gratitude. Both are shrouded in myths and su- are very many really sad things in the I want to just read one of my favor- perstition and fear and awe. world. If you pretend they’re not there, ite poems by Allen Ginsberg. Because And in fact, we are the very first hu- you’re an idiot. They will come and he wrote about love and death and mans to look at the possible end of life they will find you, they’ll get you. He how they intertwine. It’s called The on earth, and then try to tell that sto- is, by the way, technically the happiest Weight of The World. ry. But here’s the thing about stories, person in the world according to the The weight of the world a story is usually something you tell University of Wisconsin Neurological is love. to someone else. And if you’re telling Department. But anyway, as things Under the burden the story to nobody, if nobody’s there continue to get weirder and more out of solitude, to listen to that story, is it still a sto- of whack, I often think, “What would under the burden ry? This is our awesome job. We are my heroes do?” And fortunately, I of dissatisfaction the first humans to try this, to tell the have a lot of heroes, and one is Phil story to nobody. It’s so hard to tell the Glass. And so I think, “What would the weight, story of collapse when you’re in the Phil Glass do?” I think his answer may the weight we carry middle of it. To feel it, to understand be, “Make music.” What would John is love. it, to put it into words, to be part of it Cage do? And his answer might be, and to remain calm. “Listen”. And what would Gandhi do? Who can deny? At home, the radio’s on, the names “Resist”. Then I wonder, what would In dreams of the dead are being read out. There’s James Brown, the godfather of soul, it touches almost unbearable grief for the wreck- do? And I think the answer is, “Get the body, age around us. Millions of people up, get on up, get on the good foot, in thought without work and hungry. It was go- do your thing”. constructs

116 Issue 27 a miracle, I wanted, and Swami Ashokananda . We have a in imagination I always wanted, tremendous amount of gratitude for anguishes I always wanted, all the support you’ve given us. And to till born to return the many others who have helped us in human– to the body along the way as well. looks out of the heart where I was born. burning with purity– eet: Thank you, Eddie. I was for the burden of life Thanks Eddie for giving me this Vvery excited when we started, and is love, chance to join you all. Thanks every- now I’m very quiet. I think just lis- body. I had such a good time today, tening to the teachers and taking it in but we carry the weight listening to everybody’s ideas about gives me much more inner peace. So wearily, where we are and what to do. Good to thank you, teachers and speakers. I’m and so must rest just try to think of the job that only I so inspired by your honesty and your in the arms of love can do. Such a good idea. vulnerability, your bravery and your at last, wisdom. I think I internalized a lot must rest in the arms ES: Thank you so much, Laurie. That already, just listening to you. of love. was beautiful. I loved how you talk- Yesterday and today, more than ed about language. It really wrapped 2,500 attendees joined us. We were No rest up the conference beautifully from with a lot of people, together. We are without love, yesterday when Tiokasin Ghosthorse the inner peace community from all no sleep was talking about how in his Lakota over the world. I’m so grateful that ev- without dreams language they only use verbs. And you erybody joined us. I think if we can of love– closed the conference today with how give hope and inner peace to people be mad or chill language is creating our reality, and all around the world, our mission is obsessed with angels new words that are coming. complete. or machines, We’ll close by chanting Om Shantih We will have many more programs, the final wish three times, which of course means so you can follow us on our website is love Peace. Lastly, within the Inner Peace New –cannot be bitter, York team, there was Yanica. I’m so cannot deny, Om Shanti Shanti Shanti grateful, Yanica, for you, that you cannot withhold Om Peace, Peace, Peace were there. Your radiance is enor- if denied: mous, and your warmth is infections. I’m going to turn the microphone So thank you for that. the weight is too heavy over to one of my co-organizers, Veet, And last but not least, Eddie. I didn’t who has been the instrumental in ev- know you, but I was so fortunate to –must give erything which has happened here in get to work with you. Only to be in for no return New York. It’s been an absolute de- your space enlightened me already. as thought light to work with him and to have So that is a big presence. I found out is given his guidance. that stress is an illusion. You taught in solitude Of course, we have a great team: me that. You’re never stressful. You’re in all the excellence Wessel and Maarten who created De- always there, you’re always in yourself. of its excess. light Yoga and the Inner Peace Confer- That is great. The way you accommo- ences; Jost, who’s one of the partners dated us for the last two days is really, The warm bodies at Delight; Yanica, our assistant for really amazing, and very inspiring. So shine together getting all of the communication and thanks for that. in the darkness, groundwork done here; and Quint- And thank you everybody for at- the hand moves en, also a partner in Delight Yoga, for tending. to the center tech and support with the website and of the flesh, everything. the skin trembles Thanks to our partners from Chat- in happiness wal Hotel, Global Peace Initiative and the soul comes of Women, The Well, the New York joyful to the eye– Open Center, and the Integral Yoga Center, spearheaded by Ashish Verma yes, yes, and Dena Merriam, Rebecca Perrick, that’s what Ross Gutler, Walter Beebee, Chandra,

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