A Journal for Spiritual Living ekh Published by the Blue esr Blue Mountain has been called one of the fore- most teachers of medi ta tion 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 ex change pro- Spring 2013 FOR PRESENTING HIS EIGHT-POINT gram until his passing in the fall of 1999, he taught to mod- Volume 24, Number 1 PROGRAM OF PASSAGE MEDITATION ern men and women his eight- point program, based on his unique method of meditation Deep in the hearts of all he dwells, hidden on memorized inspirational Behind the gunas of law, energy, passages from the world’s The Path of And inertia. He is the One; he rules great religions. Many thou- Over time, space, and causality. sands of people representing Meditation the full range of cultural and I am a very ordinary man who has made religious backgrounds attest by Eknath Easwaran to the bene fits of his teaching. the common mistakes most of us commit He continues to teach through in our ignorance. But through the blessing his thirty books on spiri tual here is nothing like medita- of my spiritual teacher, my mother’s living – over a million cop- tion on earth. Each day it is new mother, I was enabled to turn inwards in ies in print in twenty-seven to me and fresh. I find it difficult search of “the Lord of Love, who dwells in languages – and through the to understand why everyone the heart of every creature.” In my search I ongoing programs and publi- Tdoes not take to it. Millions dedicate their followed a systematic program utilizing ca tions of the organiz ation he founded in 1961 to carry on lives to art, music, literature, or science, every aspect of daily living, not withdraw- his work: the Blue Mountain which reveal just one facet of the priceless ing from family and society but Continued Center of Meditation and jewel hidden in the world. A life based on participating in life to the fullest on page 5 its publishing arm, Nilgiri Press. meditation on the Lord of Love within pen- From our archives: Eknath Easwaran, 1993 etrates far beyond the multiplicity of exis- tence into the indivisible realm of reality, where dwell infinite truth, joy, and beauty. In meditation I see a clear, changeless goal far above the fever and fret of the day. This inner vision fills me with unshakable security, inspires me with wisdom beyond the reach of the intellect, and releases within me the capacity to act calmly and compassionately. Until I took to meditation, I could not even conceive of the existence of this higher dimension. Once I began, I had to search for it through years of apparently unre- warding labor and recurring periods of anguish and agony, doubt and despair. It took many years of systematic, sustained practice to dispel the enveloping fog pro- duced by the restless mind in its frantic search for fulfillment in the world without. When this fog is dispelled completely, the Shvetashvatara Upanishad tells us what we shall see: In the depths of meditation, sages Saw within themselves the Lord of Love, Who dwells in the heart of every creature. BLUE MOUNTAIN blue mountai 1 The Path of Meditation Blue Mountain Center of Meditation The quarterly journal In one of his earliest The Center offers instruction in meditation and pieces as founder of the allied living skills, following the eight-point program of the Blue Mountain Blue Mountain Center of passage meditation developed by Sri Eknath Center of Meditation of Meditation, Eknath Easwaran. The approach is nondenominational, Easwaran gives inspira- nonsectarian, and free from dogma and ritual. It can Spring 2013 tion for achieving the be used within each person’s own cultural and reli- supreme goal of life and instructions in gious background to relieve stress, heal relation- ©2013 by The Blue the eight-point program of meditation he ships, release deeper resources, and realize one’s Mountain Center of followed himself. highest potential. Meditation, Inc. 8 Meditation: Questions & Answers Easwaran enjoyed fielding Passage Meditation: An Eight-Point Program fouder practical questions from 1. meditation on a passage Silent Sri Eknath Easwaran serious students. Here we repetition in the mind of memorized inspirational present some of the passages from the world’s great religions. Practiced answers that throw light for one-half hour each morning. bord of rusees on the instructions in his 2. repetition of a mantram Silent Christine Easwaran books, especially the one most urgent to repetition in the mind of a Holy Name or a hallowed Nick Harvey new students: "Can he still be my teacher phrase from one of the world’s great religions. after he has passed away?" Sultana Harvey Practiced whenever possible throughout the day or night. Diana Lightman 3. slowing down Setting priorities and Terry Morrison 10 A Living Teacher In our email forums, re ducin g the stress and friction caused by hurry. Beth Ann O’Connell students who never met 4. one-pointed attention Giving full Easwaran tell how they concentration to the matter at hand. blue mountai find him a living presence 5. training the senses Overcoming execuive edior in their lives. conditioned habits and learning to enjoy what is beneficial. Christine Easwaran 6. putting others first Gaining freedom from selfishness and separateness; finding joy in Post Office Box 256 helping others. Tomales, c 94971 7. spiritual fellowship Spending Telephone 707 878 2369 time regularly with other passage meditators for Facsimile 707 878 2375 mutual inspiration and support. Email [email protected] 8. spiritual reading Drawing inspiration from writings by and about the world’s great Web www.easwaran.org 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 much successful career in India as a professor of English appreciated and put to good The Blue Mountain journal is free. Postage literature, a writer, and a lecturer. After coming to use. The Blue Mountain the University of California, Berkeley, on the costs apply for delivery outside the US. Center of Meditation Fulbright exchange program, he established the For a two-year subscription to Canada or is a 501(c)(3) California Blue Mountain Center of Meditation in Northern Mexico, the cost is $15. nonprofit corporation. California in 1961. His 1968 Berkeley class is believed For all other countries, the two-year Contributions to the Center to be the first accredited course in meditation at any subscription cost is $25. Please visit our are deductible from state Western uni versity. His deep personal experience website, www.easwaran.org, to sign up to and federal income tax. and his love for his students have made the ancient receive the journal. art of meditation accessible to those who hold jobs and lead active lives among friends and family. 2 PUBLISHER’S PAGE and follow the instructions. But pose behind this series is to make this Easwaran was an experienced teacher. legacy available to our readers. He knew that basics need repeating, One of these questions is particu- Passage and that the basics of meditation are larly urgent today: If, as he says in his absolutely critical. In the 1960s he used books, everyone needs a teacher, can Meditation to repeat his instructions in medita- those who never met him still be his tion every Saturday night, week after students? Can he guide our practice week, to students who must have when he is no longer around? heard them dozens of times already. As it turns out, Easwaran was actu- And he urged everyone practicing ally asked this question several times his method of meditation to read the while he was still very much alive. His book again once a year. answers are the heart of this section. Toward the very end of his life, For myself, I might add that since his Christine Easwaran after months of silence imposed by his passing, many new students have told illness, Easwaran announced that he us that they find him a living presence in their lives. We ih his have included issue we begin Many questions about meditation can be some of their testi- a series on Sri monies, taken Easwaran’s answered by one simple reminder: Read the book mostly from our Weight-point program of medi- Young Adult email tation, starting with medita- carefully and follow the instructions. But one group, in the box tion and the program itself. on pages 10–11. In 1978, when books on the question is particularly urgent today: Can he still When Sri subject for the general reader be my teacher? Can he guide my practice when Easwaran was were few, it seemed natural to alive, we would title Easwaran’s contribution he is no longer around? often go to his eve- simply Meditation. Today, ning talk troubled buyers facing hundreds of by some unspoken choices look at the cover and ask, wanted to give a very special talk. The question and find that question “What kind of meditation?” So many hall was overflowing. And what was answered, indirectly but clearly, with- things are called meditation now, and the surprise topic? The basics of medi- out it even being asked. Today people there are so many methods! That is tation and his eight-point program: who never met him say they have the why, in 2005, we decided to retitle his always the same, but powerful in their same experience when watching a book and his eight-point program simplicity, quite sufficient, he assured video of those talks.