A Journal for Spiritual Living ek Published by the Blue Blue Mountain has been called one of the fore- most teachers of meditation Center of Meditation in our times. From his arrival & Nilgiri Press Mountain in the United States in 1959 on www.easwaran.org ESTABLISHED BY EKNATH EASWARAN the Fulbright exchange pro- Summer 2012 FOR PRESENTING HIS EIGHT-POINT gram until his passing in the fall of 1999, he taught to mod- Volume 23, Number 2 PROGRAM OF PASSAGE MEDITATION ern men and women his eight- point program, based on his unique method of meditation farthest galaxy to the lives of individual on memorized inspirational human beings. Rita is closely connected passages from the world’s Life Is a Trust with dharma, the central law that all of life great religions. Many thou is one indivisible whole. The word dharma sands of people representing By Eknath Easwaran comes from the root dhri, “to support”: the full range of cultural and dharma is what supports us, what holds us religious backgrounds attest to the benefits of his teaching. together. This universal law is inscribed on He continues to teach through n my university days, graduation was every cell of our being, and the proof of it is his thirty books on spiritual always one of the highlights of spring. that the more we live for others, the health- living – over a million cop- In India the ceremony of awarding ier our body becomes, the calmer our mind ies in print in twenty-seven degrees is called convocation because becomes, the clearer our intellect becomes, languages – and through the I ongoing programs and publi all the faculty of the university are expected the deeper our love and wisdom become. to attend, on display with cap and gown The second pillar is yajna, “offering”: not cations of the organization he founded in 1961 to carry on and the other colorful medieval regalia a ritual offering in this context, but the prin- his work: the Blue Mountain retained through centuries of tradition. It ciple of service, giving of oneself Continued Center of Meditation and was a deeply satisfying sight to see our stu- for the welfare of others. In on page 4 its publishing arm, Nilgiri Press. dents march in solemnly with their bright From our archives: Eknath Easwaran, 1979 young faces shining with confidence, full of faith in the future, looking forward to what they were going to do with the rest of their lives: enter a career, perhaps help their par- ents or pay for a younger sister’s education, or make a contribution to a newly indepen- dent India. In the last convocation I attended at the University of Nagpur, degrees were adminis- tered in Sanskrit. It was an appropriate reminder that this is a very ancient rite of passage: entry into the second stage of life in the traditional Indian scheme of things, the “householder” stage, in which one takes up a worthy occupation in the heart of society and is expected to marry and raise a family. This is the traditional view, and not only in India. Every young man or woman enter- ing this stage of life is expected to find a good job, marry well, and generally contribute to the honor and well-being of family and com- munity. And, of course, a good job means the one that pays well or offers a ladder to increasing prestige or influence. India’s ancient scriptures, however, put this into a spiritual perspective. In this view, life is said to rest on two unshakable pillars. The first is rita, the universal order that keeps the cosmos in harmonious balance from the BLUE MOUNTAIN
blue mountain 1 Life Is a Trust Blue Mountain Center of Meditation The quarterly journal Eknath Easwaran looks at The Center offers instruction in meditation and one of the biggest ques- allied living skills, following the eight-point program of the Blue Mountain tions we face on entering of passage meditation developed by Sri Eknath Center of Meditation the second stage of life: Easwaran. The approach is nondenominational, finding the right job. But nonsectarian, and free from dogma and ritual. It can Summer 2012 what is the “right job”? be used within each person’s own cultural and reli- India’s ancient scriptures gious background to relieve stress, heal relation- ©2012 by The Blue offer a surprising perspective, as relevant ships, release deeper resources, and realize one’s Mountain Center of today as ever. highest potential. Meditation, Inc. 8 Finding a Path Home Passage Meditation: An Eight-Point Program founder According to the 1. meditation on a passage Silent Sri Eknath Easwaran Buddha, none of repetition in the mind of memorized inspirational us is unemployed. passages from the world’s great religions. Practiced for one-half hour each morning. board of trustees Everyone has 2. repetition of a mantram Silent Christine Easwaran the same real job: realizing repetition in the mind of a Holy Name or a hallowed Nick Harvey the unity of life. phrase from one of the world’s great religions. Practiced whenever possible throughout the day Sultana Harvey Sri Easwaran’s or night. Diana Lightman comments are accompanied by 3. slowing down Setting priorities and Terry Morrison reducing the stress and friction caused by hurry. quotations from Beth Ann O’Connell a few friends in our eSatsang describing 4. one-pointed attention Giving full how they found their way to passage concentration to the matter at hand. blue mountain meditation. 5. training the senses Overcoming executive editor conditioned habits and learning to enjoy what is beneficial. Christine Easwaran 13 Presenting Meditation to College Students 6. putting others first Gaining freedom from selfishness and separateness; finding joy in Post Office Box 256 Invited to give a brief introduction to students helping others. Tomales, ca 94971 at a nearby college, we 7. spiritual fellowship Spending Telephone 707 878 2369 came up with a script that time regularly with other passage meditators for Facsimile 707 878 2375 other students can use as mutual inspiration and support. Email [email protected] well. Two email selections 8. spiritual reading Drawing inspiration from writings by and about the world’s great Web www.easwaran.org narrate the beginning of what we hope will become a very long story. spiritual figures and from the scriptures of all Printed on recycled paper religions.
The Blue Mountain Center Eknath Easwaran depends on donations to Schooled in both Eastern and Western traditions, carry on its work. Every Eknath Easwaran took to the spiritual life amidst a gift, large or small, is successful career in India as a professor of English much appreciated and The Blue Mountain journal is free. Postage literature, a writer, and a lecturer. After coming to put to good use. The the University of California, Berkeley, on the costs apply for delivery outside the US. Blue Mountain Center of Fulbright exchange program, he established the For a two-year subscription to Canada or Meditation is a 501(c)(3) Blue Mountain Center of Meditation in Northern Mexico, the cost is $15. California nonprofit California in 1961. His 1968 Berkeley class is believed For all other countries, the two-year corporation. Contributions to be the first accredited course in meditation at any subscription cost is $25. Please visit our to the Center are deduct- Western university. His deep personal experience website, www.easwaran.org, to sign up to ible from state and federal and his love for his students have made the ancient receive the journal. income tax. art of meditation accessible to those who hold jobs and lead active lives among friends and family. 2 PUBLISHER’S PAGE
although I like my job at the moment, tourist – or just plain being lost – and there may come a time when I am looking here and there for something looking for other options as well.” we can only find at home. It takes What Shall I Sri Easwaran never tired of answer- some experience of life to learn that ing this question. For him, too, it had we must turn inwards to find happi- Do With My little to do with getting a good job, ness, and then it is that we take up securing fame or fortune, or finding what he calls “our essential vocation”: Life? Mr. or Miss Right. He approached it meditation. from a spiritual perspective based on Easwaran’s article is accompanied timeless values, as he explains in our by a small sample of stories from lead article, “Life Is a Trust.” From this friends in our eSatsangs describing point of view, we are given life for the one of life’s great mysteries: how, just purpose of giving back to life. We when the time is right, we find the come into this world to serve, and a right path and teacher to engage our Christine Easwaran good job is one that enables us to hearts. Of course, we can only quote make the world a little better by draw- from the people we hear from: those e are continuing our ing on the education, skills, and abili- who choose the path that Easwaran series on the stages ties we have. taught. The important thing is to find a of life, devoting way that enables us to unify our this issue to one desires around realizing the W “This [recent retreat] made me realize how impor- of the most important decisions unity of life. Easwaran often faced on entering the second stage: tant it is for us to have a young adult passage medi- emphasized that it is a diverse What shall I do with my life? number of us ordinary people This is a perennial question, so I tator fellowship group, if for no other reason than taking to the spiritual life that was not surprised when one of our will enable the renaissance of friends posted this appeal on one the fact that we have unique problems and con- spiritual values the world so des- of our forums: perately needs. cerns. Not that we are necessarily so much different “I have a lot of students who One can take to the spiritual come to me asking for career because of our age, but because we often encounter life at any age, but Easwaran had advice. Many of my colleagues a special place in his heart for advise our students to go after different issues that are not so much a part of an those we now call “YAs”: young profit, prestige, and power. I do adults in their twenties or thir- think it’s important to ask whether older person’s life. For example, for those of us in a ties who don’t need much expe- a career pays enough to allow you rience of life to feel ready for to lead a comfortable (but not college-like setting, the exposure to excessive alcohol meditation. While the funda- extravagant) life, and whether use, or just generally hedonistic lifestyles, is some- mental issues are the same for there is enough demand to ensure everyone – the mind is, after all, a minimal amount of job secu- thing that’s more difficult to completely avoid. . . .” the mind – the strengths and rity. But, of course, it is also very challenges of this stage of life are important to feel that in your job – From the YA email forum special, as the quote boxed on you are contributing to the welfare this page insists. In response to of others (or at least not harming this need, we are beginning to others). Unfortunately this often does The last word on this subject, offer more YA retreats and have cre- not come up in most advising my stu- Easwaran says, comes from the ated a template for an introductory dents receive. Buddha. Our essential job in life – program that young people anywhere “So I would love to hear your everyone’s essential job in life – is to can offer on their own. Pages 12–13 tell thoughts, suggestions and stories discover what life is for, that is, to the story of how this program got about various kinds of jobs and their attain Self-realization. Most of us, of started and one student’s response. I good and bad points. I am hoping that course, don’t even think of making this hope we will hear from many more. this discussion will also be helpful to a priority. We have other things to do. others on this list, since I’m sure some In “Finding a Path Home” (p. 8) of you are looking for work; and, Easwaran compares this with playing For the Board of Trustees 3 LIFE IS A TRUST
Continued practical terms, yajna dignity and self-respect in order to the most basic law of life. I am a from page 1 means that everything encourage us. Nobody likes being a vegetarian, for example, not merely we do should be for the welfare of all parasite. Everybody likes to contribute because of age-old custom, but those around us. This principle of ser- something. When people do you a because I know that the divinity that is vice is what upholds the order of the favor, you like to find a way of doing present in my heart and yours is pres- world, and when it is ignored, the them a favor in return. And when it ent in every living thing. Bhagavad Gita says – that is, when we comes to our relations with the guid- When we begin to look at life this ignore the welfare of others in the pur- ing principle of the universe, Sri way, we may well find that we have got suit of personal motives – the very Krishna is kind enough to spell out to ourselves involved unwittingly in work foundations of a society are shaken. us human beings, who tend to be for- that the Buddha would call “wrong getful of these things, just what we can occupation.” This can be a distressing Life Is a Trust do in order to return these magnificent discovery with very awkward conse- “At the time of creation,” the Bhagavad favors. We can use the energy he gives quences. There is no point in blaming Gita says, “the Lord gave humanity the us, he says, to live for all, thereby pro- ourselves if we find that in ignorance path of selfless service.” In other words, moting the cause of unity among all of the unity of life, we have taken up we are not given life for our own enjoy- creatures. a job that is at the expense of life. Yet ment. Our highest duty is to give back This is far more than a subtle hint. once we realize this, it is incumbent to life. Life is a trust, and each of us is a In no uncertain terms the Lord is let- on each of us to withdraw from such trustee whose job is to use the assets ting us know that this is his law, the activities, even if that entails a cut in entrusted to us for the greatest benefit underlying law of life. To the extent we pay or a turbulent period of looking to all. It follows that the real mark of live in accordance with this law, every- for work where we can use our skills an educated man or woman is not uni- thing will tend to work in our favor, in more beneficial ways. versity degrees but how much they and thus to favor the whole. All we If followed sincerely, this one simple contribute to the welfare of others, and have to do is live by the rule. principle – “first, do no harm” – could the question to ask at graduation is not In this sense, none of us is ever transform our society. Imagine what “What job will bring me the best salary unemployed. We always have a job to would happen if all the talent, time, or the most prestige?” but “How can I do. We are sent into life for one task: to and resources that now go into mili- help to make the world a little better enrich the lives of others. tary research, violent or sensate enter- for my having lived?” tainment, and the production and In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna “First, Do No Harm” marketing of products that are harm- tells Arjuna, who represents you and The very first criterion for a good job ful to health were diverted to solving me, “I have asked the sun to give you in the Gita’s view, then, is that it not the problems of unemployment, life, the sea to give you water, the be at the expense of others. The Bud- homelessness, abuse, and violence that clouds to give you rain, the winds to dha considered this so important that plague this country, the richest on the purify the air you breathe, and the he made Right Occupation part of his earth. Even if our paying job does not trees and plants to give you food. I Eightfold Noble Path. It reminds me make much of a contribution, there have asked all the forces of nature to of the physician’s oath: “First, do no are many opportunities for selfless give you everything to satisfy your harm.” I think that is a very good oath service where we can offer our time, needs. Therefore, if you try to live for for all of us to swear by. If we want to energy, skills, and enthusiasm to a yourself without returning this to me – improve the quality of our lives, the cause bigger than ourselves. drinking my water, eating my food, very first step is to be sure that our doing everything with my energy all livelihood is not gained at the Personal Dharma the twenty-four hours – what is the expense of life. Any job that brings When the prefix sva is added to difference between you and a thief?” injury or suffering to any other crea- dharma, the word becomes sva- When the Lord hits hard like this, ture should be shunned as unworthy dharma, our own personal dharma. I imagine Arjuna scratching his head of a human being. This is our present context, our pres- self-consciously like Laurel of Laurel “All creatures love life,” the Buddha ent assets and liabilities. On the spiri- and Hardy used to do. It is as if he were says. “All creatures fear death. There- tual path, we start from where we thinking out loud, “I never thought of fore do not kill, or cause another to stand by fulfilling our present respon- it like that before!” It is easy to identify kill.” Even if we only lend support to sibilities: on the campus, at the office, with Arjuna’s embarrassment. Sri activities that bring harm to other peo- or in the home. This personal dharma Krishna is appealing to our sense of ple or other creatures, we are violating is not fixed; as our spiritual awareness 4 LIFE IS A TRUST
Easwaran with students, UC Berkeley, 1967 deepens and our capacities grow, our private motives. Although I was that we have thought, done, and responsibilities and opportunities for devoted to my students, there was a desired, our upbringing and our edu- service will become greater. What is measure of personal motivation also. cation – has brought us to that job and the right occupation now may not be But I went on giving my very best to to those co-workers, and that makes it right later on, but as long as it is not at my meditation and my students, and just the situation we need to grow. the expense of others, our job or pro- gradually, through a lot of effort, I With growth will come a new context fession can be made a part of our con- found that my personal motives were to work in, new people, new chal- tribution to life. dissolving in the overwhelming desire lenges, greater opportunities for ser- It is important to understand that to be of service. vice. all of us begin work with mixed Is there any job that is 100 percent motives. We want to contribute to the The Secret of Work perfect? Is there any position where welfare of others; but at the same time, Here the Bhagavad Gita gives us a you do only what you think you we are concerned with ensuring our precious secret: how we work is as should, where your employer gives own private advantage. It takes quite important as what we do. Your job you meditation breaks and allows you a while for most of us to become fully may be nothing more glamorous than to tell her how to conduct her business aware that our welfare is included in a janitor in a hospital, but if you are according to your interpretation of the the welfare of all and to realize that following right occupation and doing eternal verities? Every job has its when we are working for everybody, your best to put the welfare of those requirements that are not our own. we are also ensuring our own well- around you first, you will be contrib- Very few jobs are pure. No occupation being. uting to other people’s lives, even is free from conflict; no task guaran- We all begin the spiritual life with though you may not see it happening. tees to protect us from stressful situa- action that is partly egoistic, partly These are spiritual laws. tions or from people with different egoless, and none of us need be dis- We don’t have to envy others views. And no job is free from drudg- couraged when we find in the early because the jobs they do seem to be ery; every line of work has a certain days that there is some motive of more prestigious or creative or amount of routine. So the Gita says, enlightened self-interest driving us on because other people seem to have Don’t ask if you like the work, if it is to action. Without this motive in the more skill. We are where we are, doing creative, if it always offers something beginning, action may be difficult. It is what we are doing, because we have new. Ask if you are part of work that good to accept this from the first. I, too, something to learn from that particu- benefits people. If you are, Continued on started my teaching work with some lar context. What and who we are – all give it your best. In that next page 5 LIFE IS A TRUST
Easwaran with students from UC Berkeley, 1997
Continued from spirit, every beneficial job dom: knowledge is about things; wis- thing they valued, a sudden reversal of previous page can become a spiritual dom is about living. There is no neces- fortune, a tragedy in the family. The offering. sary connection. An astronomer may mystics ask, What use is a ship that is know all about black holes but not seaworthy only in good weather? And The Attainment of Wisdom know how to be patient at home. And for most of us, the best test is not the In other words, the Gita would say, the mystics of all religions ask, which big storms but the innumerable little the purpose of work is the attainment is more important? After all, it is possi- squalls of daily living. of wisdom. Modern civilization hasn’t ble to get along in life without know- If you want to apply this to yourself, caught up with this idea, which turns ing about black holes. But if we do not it’s very simple: look at your home economics upside down. It doesn’t know how to be patient or loving, life when everything is at sixes and sevens. deny the need to support ourselves is a miserable affair – not only for us, The children have to go to school and and our families, to have a sense of but for those around us. Jackie has just got up; her hair hasn’t personal fulfillment, and even to pro- Our lives have become so physically been combed yet, breakfast is cold, vide the goods and services on which oriented that we expect the spiritual and Ira has hidden her homework. society depends. But there is a higher person to have some kind of insignia, Then the car won’t start, and when you purpose for work, and that is self- some special aura. The only aura that go back into the house to call the purification: to expand our con- the spiritual person emits is kindness. garage, there is the gasman at the front sciousness to include the whole of One Western mystic sums up the spiri- door wanting to settle last month’s bill. life by removing the obstacles to Self- tual life in one short phrase: “Be kind, Everything is hemming you in; what realization. And there is no way to do be kind, be kind” – kind to those who do you do? There are people who this except in our relationships at are kind to you, kind to those who are freeze over when something like this work and at home: by being patient, not kind to you. It is one of the surest happens; they go around under a little being kind, working in harmony, tests of wisdom. A ship is not tested in storm cloud for the rest of the day, never failing to respect others, and the harbor, where the water is quiet; it chilling everybody they meet. But look never seeking personal aggrandize- is tested on the open seas. The greatest at the mystics: the harder things get, ment. scientist, the bravest soldier, the most the kinder they become. It’s not that There is a simple distinction we can brilliant artist can go to pieces in times they like to suffer; they just aren’t make between knowledge and wis- of personal trial – the loss of some- thinking about themselves: they don’t 6 LIFE IS A TRUST
want to pass the storm on to us. They objectively while his boss rants and “I know of only one way,” I said: “the attend to each little problem with com- raves. Afterwards, instead of the coals, practice of meditation.” plete attention: staying calm, skillful, such people often get the red carpet. She laughed. “Why did I think you unhurried but efficient, without get- They are an asset everywhere: because were going to say that?” ting rattled or losing their tenderness they cannot be agitated, they help I had to agree: there, I am highly or respect. everybody around them to stay calm predictable. I know of no other way to When you go to work, it should be too. transform consciousness than the sus- the same. Wisdom is not simply for tained, systematic practice of medita- the home; if it is genuine, it will show Our Real Vocation tion and its ancillary disciplines. Until everywhere. It’s easy to smile when In the long view, the Buddha would we make this commitment, the Gita Ebenezer remembers your birthday say, each of us has only one essential says, the decisions of life “are many- with a card, but that is no test; your obligation: to realize the unity of life. branched and endless”; but once we do ship is still in harbor. What do you do Until we do this, whatever else we make this commitment, everything when he takes an early vacation and may accomplish, we haven’t done begins to fall into place. When we leaves all his old files in your box of what we came here to do. practice meditation regularly and fol- things to do? How do you respond This is what attaining wisdom low the allied disciplines to the very when Rosie asks you to watch her means, and rightly understood, it can best of our ability, we have only to do desk for fifteen minutes and comes free us from all kinds of worries. The our best; the opportunities we need for back an hour later with a big shop- Buddha is telling us that whatever our spiritual growth cannot help but come ping bag on her arm? What do you do day job is – and whatever our boss when the time is right. when your boss calls you in at five might think! – it consists essentially Whatever our occupation, we can minutes to five and wants to rake you not in making things or providing ser- make our whole life a work of art, so over the coals? The person who is vices, but in training the mind and that everybody who comes in contact established in wisdom won’t become reducing self-will: the purification of with us benefits from our patience, our defensive; he or she will slowly try to consciousness. understanding, our love and wisdom. calm the storm. He knows he gives Once, when I said this to a small In this way, everyone who is practicing his best to his work, so he is secure; group of students, one of them meditation is making a lasting contri- he can remain courteous and listen objected, “Well, how are we to do this?” bution to the rest of life. •
Easwaran with students, 1993
7 FINDING A PATH HOME
wishing at every turn that we were ever-increasing love, and nothing back home. short of this will satisfy us. In the The nostalgia of world travelers is words of Mechthild of Magdeburg, Finding a ironic, because it is usually a feeling “The soul is made of love, and must very like nostalgia that has launched ever strive to return to love.” There is Path Home them in the first place: something an inward tug in everybody, a persis- by Eknath Easwaran about the brochures at the travel tent voice that calls, “Come back to the agent’s, the pictures of swaying coco- source.” nut palms that beckon so seductively, n every time and every place that makes us want to say, “There, Lifelong Learning where people have thought deep that’s where I’ll find my paradise. That’s As an educator, I like to think of this and hard about life, they have what I’ve always yearned for.” We each as lifelong learning: a long series of Ileft some record of a haunt- have our own versions. To some it’s the experiments and explorations that ing sense of being in exile, of being a arched ways of Oxford University, to leads to Self-discovery. wanderer far from home. We are all others the gleaming white islands of We know what a struggle it is to tourists in this world – looking about the Aegean. “There – there I could be understand a school subject that seems ourselves trying to figure out what h appy.” alien. I remember that I could look at we ought to be feeling when we stand Exiles all, we know very well that we the same theorem in geometry a thou- before this statue or that palace and are meant to live in permanent joy and sand times and it would never reveal
“Meditation? Blah” I don’t mean to make it sound like every- I came across Easwaran’s book on passage medita- thing suddenly turned up hunky-dory in my life. tion many years ago at the local library. Practiced a Sometimes I still don’t want to meditate, and I have little, then quit. Did that again a few years later. And my negative moments like anyone else, but the a third time, too! Spiritual reading has never been eight-point program has given me tools to work a problem for me, but meditating . . . well, frankly, with that I’ve never had before. I wish I’d stuck blah. I hated it. with Easwaran’s teachings way back when I first I waffled around for a couple more years, and found them! But you know what they say about finally came back to Easwaran’s teachings and got wishes. J • serious. I loved his practical approach, and the way “When you are ready” he integrated the teachings of mystics and saints The old saying “when you are ready to learn some- from different religions. thing new, a teacher appears” played out for me when I’m fortunate enough to have a special room for I picked up a Blue Mountain newsletter in a coffee shop meditating, and it took a couple of months before I three thousand miles from Tomales. An urgent need to stopped feeling grumpy and put-upon every time I cope with my own impatience and temper when per- walked past. Suddenly – or so it seemed – I caught sonal and world events didn’t go my way was my moti- myself smiling when I looked in there and thought vation in attending a regional workshop. of meditating. Now if I’m having a bad day, “St. The 8PP is practical and the writings of Sri Teresa’s bookmark” or St. Francis de Sales’ “Do not Easwaran are inspiring and gentle. I am making look with fear” helps me look at my emotions with measurable progress in evolving from a worried, clarity and understanding. My relationships with controlling person to an peaceful, accepting one. other people are calmer and less judgmental. (Particularly regarding myself!) •
8 FINDING A PATH HOME
its secrets; each time was like the first. are going to be satisfied. Yet when we quite what she was looking for; when We can go through life like this, facing talk to people who have done these we last saw her, she had moved on the same lessons over and over but things, they often confide that what again to someplace new. unable to get it right. It’s as if we had to they wanted has slipped through their All of us do this, one way or read a language in an unknown script, fingers. another, and the Gita asks simply, “For or make sense of a message that we Christine and I had a friend in India how long? When will you tire of play- don’t realize is in code. who was given to building beautiful ing this game of seeking happiness On the other hand, everyone finds homes. She had money, good taste, and outside? Don’t you want to know who it a thrill to master something difficult. plenty of imagination, and when we you are and what life is for?” In every Life can be like that too if we approach met her she had just finished a new country, there are a few people who it in the same way: not asking “What home, decorated it beautifully, and have gone through the smorgasbord of can I get?” or “Why does this happen moved in expecting to be happy the life and are fed up. Making money, to me?” but “What can I learn from rest of her life. After a year or two, she they decide, is child’s play. Enjoying this? How can I learn to manage this reached the realization that this wasn’t pleasure – where is the challenge? And better?” going to happen after all. She moved as for fame, who wants “a food that Most of us start adult life under the out, went to another locality, and built dead men eat”? They have tried these impression that if we can make a lot of another beautiful home in a different things and found no meaning in them; money, own a nice house, do things style, again under the honest impres- now they want to know why they are we like, and enjoy a reasonable mea- sion that she could live there happily here and whether life has any Continued on sure of prestige in our chosen field, we forever. This too turned out to be not overriding purpose. Most next page
“Come to Me“ of my mind I knew that I had to start meditating Two years ago I was at an exercise class. There was without the music. a new instructor. At the end of the class, she put That Christmas, a friend of mine introduced me on a beautiful song called “Come to Me.” I fell in to Easwaran’s book Upanishads. I read it and moved love with the tune, searched for it online and down- on to the Gita which has become my ultimate guide loaded it; it made me feel peaceful. to life. I kept purchasing his books and couldn’t put Two weeks later, my husband had a major heart them down, it was as if he was speaking to me. I attack and had to be flown out on an air ambu- decided to try passage meditation and get more lance. I grabbed my iPod and listened to this song serious about my meditation. for the next 24 hours. I started paying closer atten- My father passed away and things at work got tion to the words of the song: “Come to me, I will overwhelming. I felt like I was falling apart. I was take away your sorrows . . . come and you will find doing my meditation, but was having a very hard the inner one you want to . . .” time focusing on the passages and keeping my I realized then that the Lord had sent me this mind from running around like crazy. So I signed song as a call for me to start meditating. up for a BMCM retreat. This was the best gift I When I went home, I went back to the gym to could’ve given myself. I left the retreat feeling like a thank the instructor for giving me this song that new person. It made me understand that the other kept me sane, but she had left town; I have never steps of the program were also as important and seen her again. they would help me with my meditation as well The next few months I would get up every morn- as allow me to make the necessary changes in my ing and listen to this song in silence, but in the back life. . . . •
9 FINDING A PATH HOME
Continued from important, they see that napped and left tied and blindfolded questions: Why am I here? What is life previous page death is walking behind miles and miles from home. He blun- for? What happens when I die? What- them, closer every day, and ders here and there, bumping into ever the reason, the need to change they have no idea what to do. trees and stumbling over roots and direction builds up deep in the uncon- For those who are sensitive and have fallen branches, crying desperately for scious until finally it breaks through some capacity to learn from their expe- help, but no one responds. Finally a into conscious awareness. We go along rience, it takes only a little playing with stranger passing by hears his cries and for twenty or thirty years playing pleasure and profit to conclude that comes to remove his blindfold and games at school, traveling about, going such things cannot bring fulfillment. untie his hands. “There lies the way,” surfing, making money, learning all These are life’s fast learners, and they he tells him, pointing. “Follow that kinds of skills without a thought of save themselves a great deal of suffer- path. Ask for directions as you go, and meditation. Then one day we go to the ing. The rest of us go on playing the you will surely make your way home.” bookstore and see the Bhagavad Gita same game over and over and over Sooner or later, that is just what or hear a talk on the Imitation of Christ without learning from it. We get caught happens with each of us, except that and something clicks. Some words in this search for happiness outside and what makes the blindfold fall from our from the book or talk get in and we go cannot change. eyes varies from person to person. For home dazed. We think about them, The Upanishads have a haunting some it may be suffering. For others, it ponder over them, and a little window story about finding a way out of this is a thirst for meaning in a world that in consciousness opens; we say to our- maze. We are, they say, like a man from seems to make no sense, or the deep, selves, “Maybe I should give this medi- a far-off country who has been kid- driving desire for answers to age-old tation a try . . .” •
“It took a crisis“ to follow the 8PP. Every morning, after waking up, I have been leading the typical overstressed life both of us sit in “our special corner” to meditate. I of a professional. It took a marital crisis to cause feel it is the best way to start the day! • me to wake up. I did a lot of reading from many sources on how to change my life because I needed “The Hound of Heaven“ to change it or die way too early. I got many My self-image was “I can’t meditate.” In my good ideas. Then I read about the Eight Points in church we’re supposed to meditate and I’d tried Easwaran’s book God Makes the Rivers to Flow. I real- many times, but monkey mind always took over. ized he had put it together in one straightforward At a peacemaking class the trainer loaned me The way. I have a long ways to go but am feeling much Compassionate Universe, my first encounter with better about myself and my life just in the short Easwaran, and I devoured it in one evening. I knew time I have been doing it.• Easwaran had the answer. But – “I can’t meditate.” I read more of his books and watched his “Dynamics “Things come when you most need them” of the Mind” talks – BUT . . . Two years ago I was about to start a silent weekend Finally this year a dear friend invited me to attend retreat and I went through our bookshelves look- a regional retreat. I sat at the retreat, thinking ing for something to read during those days, when the St. Francis prayer over and over, tears pour- Meditation by Eknath Easwaran caught my atten- ing down my face in the dark. I was meditating. tion. My husband had already suggested I must Easwaran, the Hound of Heaven, had finally caught read some of EE’s books but until then I had not fol- me! Now my self-image is: “I have this unruly mon- lowed his advice. I think things come at hand when key mind AND I can meditate – as long as I’m will- you most need them. From that day on I started ing to sit with its antics.” And so I do. • FINDING A PATH HOME
Easwaran’s retreats helped men and women of all ages find a path to Self- realization. (1990)
“Now I have a purpose“ “Like a homecoming“ I live at college, where I am doing my bachelors Recently I retired and have been floundering from degree. Coming here left me without goals (accep- a loss of purpose. A friend had given me Easwaran’s tance to the school had been my goal) and without eight-point program book some years ago, and idols (all the famous people around here have the this time when I picked it up, to my great joy and same problems as anybody else). I didn’t know what relief, it felt like a homecoming. I realized that in to do – how I should direct my life. all my searches in life, as passionately felt and well I began meditating at the Tibet House [and] at intended as they probably were, they have all been the same time, I was watching a nonviolence course far too narrow in scope. on YouTube. Soon, I found a clip about passage The first book I read from the recommended meditation. I read the whole book online (now reading was Aldous Huxley’s The Perennial I have the book) and chose my mantram before Philosophy, and when I read the sentence “The aim finishing. and purpose of human life is the unitive knowledge Now I have a purpose – to search for God in of God,” I knew that that is the structural basis of meditation and through others. At one point I con- life that I had been groping towards but unable, sidered leaving this college, but now I understand until now, to find. I understand that in turning to that we can never leave our problems. Our inner- God we must at the same time turn away from our- most needs must be addressed right here, wherever selves and therein lies the key to that unitive pur- that “here” is. . . . • pose. I embrace this with a full and open heart. • Presenting Meditation to College Students When Eknath Easwaran brought meditation to the university campus in 1968, it was a full-credit, three-unit course – a significant commitment. Considering the pressures on students today, we wondered, might there be a place for just a simple, one-hour introduction to what passage meditation can do? Recently we got an opportunity to test this idea. Here are messages from our YA (“young adult”) email forum telling how the story began.
Two of us here at the BMCM recently gave a presenta- passage meditation is a simple and effective technique tion about passage meditation at a local college, and they can start using at any time. I’d like to share how it went in case you would like to Then we asked ourselves, “How can we accomplish do something similar. this in 50 minutes?” The opportunity came from a professor concerned The key seemed to be lots of interaction with the about her first-year students, who are dealing with students – to really listen to them and understand who stress, financial worries, and academic pressures while they are and what their needs are, and to give just coping with a culture of partying, alcohol, and drugs. enough information about the practice so they could She asked us to talk to two different classes for 50 experience what it was like and know where to go next minutes about meditation. As you can imagine, we if they wanted to learn more. We came up with an out- jumped at the opportunity! line we’ve posted to the Web at http://www.easwaran. We considered carefully what the needs and levels org/howtohelp. of interest would be from these 18- and 19-year-olds. The end result? It was a big hit! There was lots of At BMCM retreats people come wanting to learn about discussion, insightful comments, and honesty, and they meditation, but these students were simply turning really enjoyed being drawn out and listened to. I got up for a class they had to attend, so they would be the feeling that this was a very unusual experience for unlikely to know why meditation would be of interest them. And by the time we introduced the instructions or benefit to them. in meditation, you could hear a pin drop. We decided that our goal was to plant a seed: to At the end of the presentation, the whole atmo- give them a taste of what meditation is like and see sphere had changed. Many recognized for the first why training the mind is valuable, how meditation can time how fast their minds are. They reported that help them with specific issues they are facing, and why just 5 minutes of meditation had made them feel much calmer. Many had never done anything like So, my YA friends, if you are interested in doing this before; it made a big impression. And the pro- something similar, feel free to use this template and fessor, who had been in the presentation twice, said adapt it to your timing and audience. We’ll be trying that she had been haunted all week by the line in the out these presentations at more colleges and improving Dhammapada: “All that we are is the result of what we the curriculum based on what we learn, so if you do try have thought.” it, tell us how it goes!
And One Student Responds
Dear friends, five minutes. We only had to make a couple of changes to Over twenty-five people the script to personalize it. came to our 1-hour pre- Eleven people took Blue Mountain journals and ten sentation last Sunday. signed up for my new mailing list. That list has now grown These were people my to 23. What a blessing, however, if just one person comes age – fellow students. I away from this endeavor knowing that it is possible to had never led an hour- train the mind to live in harmony with the world! long presentation before. Before I close, I just want to share with you the things I remember getting a dry throat five years ago when I had students came up with when asked, “Why aren’t we deliri- to explain a composition for a couple of minutes to a few ously happy all the time?” others and not being able to talk. This passage meditation * distractions (like shopping, social media) presentation could have been similar. Right? * overwhelming potential (there’s so much to do!) Nope! All of you were right there with us, and Sri * impatience Easwaran was shining through us all the while. How do I * lack of security know? The me I know can’t give presentations like that. * dwelling on the future This was eloquent and enthusiastic. I knew that all of us * not allowing ourselves to be present want to see peace in the world – so much desire for a spiri- * superficial (we feel we always have to appear happy) tual renaissance in one room! The students were atten- * expectations to be happy from outside tive, and through repetition of the mantram I was able to * dwelling on problems wipe off enough fear to let Sri Easwaran’s teaching shine We were able to circle everything when we asked the through without getting a dry throat. students, “Which of these issues would disappear if our Our audience responded. The college-presentation script minds were completely trained?” It shows how sensitive is an interactive one, and from the first question we posed people can be when asked honest questions. to the last, answers and comments were forthcoming, thoughtful, and polite! To see the script for college students, please visit I was surprised when nearly everyone raised their hand www.easwaran.org/howtohelp. If you have a group that is to the question, “How many of you think it might be worth already interested, you can find our standard trying to train our minds?” Wow – what a good desire one-hour presentation at coming from a couple dozen people! The script led us from www.easwaran.org/retreatpromotion one idea to the next, and finally it led them to meditate for Would you be willing to give this page to a young adult friend who may be interested in meditation, or post it at a college campus, bookstore, library, or café? Young Adult Retreat: Learn Passage Meditation
How do I base my life on my highest ideals? What contribution should I be making to the world? How can I effectively manage stress and problems in my life? How can I be at my best more often?
f you are interested in find- I ing answers to these questions, come to this weekend retreat about the practice and benefits of passage meditation. This form of meditation is uni- versal and asks for no change of beliefs. Whatever faith tradition “Here are some of the benefits or spiritual ideals you aspire to, Eknath Easwaran, who I am currently experiencing: developed passage meditation, passage meditation can help you * I am more productive and is known as an authority on access your own inner resources efficient meditation and timeless * I have more sustained energy wisdom. More than 1.5 million to become the person you most * I am sleeping better at night of his books are in print, and his want to be. People attend our translations of the Bhagavad * I am more giving, under- Gita, the Upanishads, and the programs from all over the world, standing and forgiving Dhammapada are all of all ages, lifestyles, and cultural * I am training my mind to be bestsellers in their field. peaceful and quiet. backgrounds. The BMCM is the best-kept secret around. After learning Young Adult Retreat (ages 18–35) about this, the last several November 2–4, 2012 months have been among At the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation the most rewarding of my life. in Tomales, California (about 1 hour north These tools have the power to affect every aspect of your of San Francisco) life, no matter what you are Sliding scale and scholarships available interested in.” – From a recent For more information call us at young adult retreatant 800 475 2369 or visit www.easwaran.org
A free online course to learn passage meditation is also available at www.easwaran.org/learn How to Meditate: A Short Ebook Introduction to Easwaran
With the emergence of ebooks and e-readers such as the Kindle,
Nook, and iPad, we’ve been trying to find new ways to help more readers to discover Easwaran’s method of passage meditation.
We were also looking for something short that could serve as an introduction both to Easwaran’s classic Passage Meditation and to the free online meditation course on our website.
So in June last year we published a new ebook titled How to
Meditate, containing just the chapter on meditation and the short essay “Invitation to a Journey,” both from Passage Meditation. This ebook is available for 99 cents or the equivalent in 32 countries, in a range of formats for all the popular e-readers.
We followed up with three more short ebooks to introduce new readers to Easwaran’s teachings: How to Understand Death, How to Find Happiness, and Learning to Love. All three are based on extracts from journal articles and other published works by Easwaran. We’ve called the series
Easwaran Inspirations, and plan to publish more titles in this series later in the year.
Easwaran Inspirations: eshorts for your e-reader Inspiration and instruction from eknath easwaran Available from all major ebook vendors – Amazon, B&N, Google, Apple, and Kobo – for $.99 each. Page heading Blue MountainMEDITATION Center of Meditation RETREATS Nonprofit Nilgiri Press U.S. Postage BLUE Box 256, Tomales, California 94971 paid Santa Rosa, CA MOUNTAIN Permit #191
A JOURNAL FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING BASED ON EKNATH EASWARAN’S
EIGHT-POINT PROGRAM To receive an electronic edition of this journal, please visit www.easwaran.org/bluemountain OF PASSAGE MEDITATION or contact us at [email protected] or at 800 475 2369.
The Blue Mountain Center of Meditation
Retreats in Tomales, California, and across the US in 2012
Spend a day, a weekend, or a week In Tomales, California Across the US learning how passage meditation can help you to bring calm June 8–10: Returnee Weekend [FULL] June 15–17: New York (Ossining) Weekend and replenishment into your daily life. July 7–13: In-Depth Weeklong w/YA [FULL] June 16: New York (Ossining) One-Day
We offer programs at our retreat house August 4–10: In-Depth Weeklong August 3–5: Denver Weekend on California’s beautiful north coast & at various locations around the US. August 17–21: Senior Half-Week August 4: Denver One-Day
Weekend retreats run from August 24–26: Introductory Weekend September 8: San Diego One-Day 4:00 p.m. Friday to 2:00 p.m. Sunday. September 21–23: Returnee Weekend September 28–30: Chicago Weekend September 29–10/5: In-Depth Weeklong September 29: Chicago One-Day For full information, or to enroll, visit us at October 13–19: In-Depth Weeklong [FULL] November 10: Sacramento (Auburn) One-Day www.easwaran.org/retreats November 2–4: Young Adult Weekend or contact us at 800 475 2369 or November 9–11: Introductory Weekend [email protected] November 30–12/2: Returnee Weekend