The Ishaya Foundation Newsletter - March 2010 Busy Mind The scientists studying the human brain have found that the usual condition of the brain is one of incoherence and that it has varying frequencies that are not compatible with each other. Our brain is like a thunderstorm of activity and lightning. This reflects very much the state of our mind in the waking state world. The mind is busy racing from one thought to the next one. We are so used to this experience that very few people question if it is natural to us. The truth is that it is not the natural state of our mind or our brain. The heavy reliance on linear thinking and ego driven personality has created this imbalance in the brain and the disconnection between the mind and the heart. One thing that speaks of the power of the Ascension Attitudes is the fact that by simply thinking an Attitude we instantly change the pattern that runs through our physical brain. And this is something that a good doctor can see in the graph as an actual shift. The brain becomes coherent; the left and the right side are balanced within one frequency that runs throughout the entire brain. The more that we practice Ascension by simply introducing the Attitudes both eyes open and eyes closed, the more quickly this new groove is established in the brain. A remarkable transformation occurs in our physical body with the brain creating new connections based on Praise, Gratitude and Love in reflection to what we do with our mind. As this coherence becomes more and more grooved into the physical structure of the brain, the more easily we can use it even in a busy active life. The coherence of Praise, Gratitude and Love become the foundation for our thinking, feeling and any actions that we take. If we do not use the Ascension Attitudes consistently then we are left with the busy mind as it returns to its old patterns of chaos. It is vital that we understand that regularity is what stabilizes the coherence at all levels of our being. It is like a muscle that needs to be used consistently or else it atrophies. Because the natural state of our mind is the ‘Peace that passes all understanding’, thoughts can never stop or even slow Ascension. The Ascendant is beyond the thinking mind. Our surface experience does nothing to the Ascendant, but the Ascendant has the power to change everything about our surface experience, if we just give it a chance. There is no need to curse the busy mind and try to beat it into submission, or try to have some experience or mood of stillness that we project from our mind. Know that the Truth in you is forever present. It has all the power to transform your life very quickly, if you but allow for that. This allowing is the simple choice to fill your mind with coherence from the Ascension Attitudes, and become ever more intimate with that peace inside of you that is beyond anything created here on earth. Nataraja Ishaya The Clear light of the Ascendant When the old programs that sustain the waking state are rewritten, the energy that is locked in stress in the body is released. When this happens, the mirror of the mind is cleansed: the Clear Light of the Ascendant, the true nature of the mind, shines forth spontaneously. And then life begins to transform at a faster and faster pace. What contributes to this growth is letting go and flowing with the forces of Evolution; what detracts is attempting to hold onto the past. Holding onto the old behavior patterns and beliefs causes evolving life to suffer; letting go and falling into the new reality blossoming inside creates joy. This is a simple choice, one much easier than commonly realized. When one starts rapidly evolving, there may be tendencies from the old behavior matrix – from the environment, from past relationships, from old internal beliefs and patterns – to resist the change. Guilt is often employed to keep the change from occurring. “How could you do this to me?” is the cry of the embittered parts of the past. “How could you be so thoughtless, so uncaring?” It takes real dedication and commitment when challenged by the past in this way to stay firm with a new direction. MSI, Ascension! Busy Mind Syndrome Do you have a busy mind? Maybe you remember the part of the Arthurian legend of King Pellinore in his rusty armor continually wandering through his kingdom looking for his throne. This is a precise representation of the busy mind. Since it is natural for the mind to seek greater happiness, the busy mind is simply seeking its Source, or its Throne. This is both natural and normal until it finds It. We give the busy mind a tool, the Ascension Attitude. There are 108 absolute statements of Truth that will take the mind directly to its Source. The Ascension Attitudes in the First Sphere are the most universal of these statements. Each time one uses the Ascension Attitude, the mind begins to restructure allowing it to sit for longer and longer periods. This is what structures enlightenment. MSI said, “The rate of growth of consciousness could be accelerated almost without limit. This is the primary reason for advanced Ascension Attitudes.” There are 16 advanced Ascension Attitudes we teach that are more subtle than those of the First Sphere. We use those in addition to the First Sphere to speed the restructuring and to charm the mind even further to move inward and sit upon its Throne for longer periods. If the mind seems to be busy during your closed eyed Ascension, this occurs because stress is being released and the body is healing. This is also a very important step in the restructuring process to assist us in changing habits that reside in cellular memory. Remember, Ascension constantly changes. Whatever the experience during Ascension, we just do it. Jyoti Ishaya Crossing the bridge When I was a child I grew up on this beautiful piece of property that was edged on three sides by a little river. It was far out in the countryside with few neighbors around to play with. In order to get to the closest house with young children I would have to cross a bridge. For whatever odd reason, I decided crossing that bridge was the scariest thing I could ever do. I tromped through endless forests by myself listening to the squeaks and creeks of the wild life without any trouble, but when I came to that bridge a terrible fear welled up inside my stomach. Was it the stories of ghosts told to me by my elder sisters? Did one of those siblings come up and grab me from First Spheres 12th-14th March Reno, NV 26th-28th March Everett, WA 26th-28th March Dallas, TX 2nd-4th April Leppäkoski, Finland 9th-11th April Salem, OR 9th-11th April Naperville, IL 16th-18th April Corning, NY 23rd-25th April Traverse City, MI 7th-9th May Retreat center, MO First Sphere retreat weekend 7th-9th May Hämeenlinna, Finland 14th-16th May Seattle, WA 14th-16th May Moscow, Russia 21st-23rd May Vancouver, WA 21st-23rd May Tampere, Finland 28th-30th May Helsinki, Finland Retreats 3rd-10th April 2010 7 nights retreat Lincoln City, OR 24th-31st April 2010 7 nights retreat Switzerland, Muothatal 17th-24th April 2010 7 nights retreat Lincoln City, OR 10th-17th April 7 night intensive Lincoln City, OR Questions about a course? contact@theishayafoundation.org 1-888-474-2921 For full course schedule click here. under my crib leaving me with the impression that something was going to get me if I was suspended in the air? Was it even my thoughts or just ones I had inherited from my parents? As I grew older I would try to figure out my feeling of fear, that feeling that had caused me to run as fast as I could from one side to the other any time I had to cross it alone. One day, I decided I was too old and mature to keep running across the bridge like a foolish child. My desire to “grow up” made the transition past the fear much easier. I decided I could not think about why it was I became so afraid; I just had to do something different. There was still a period of time when crossing that bridge caused all of the same thoughts and fears to surface inside of me. I wanted to run just like every other time. Yet, my silent determination to expand was bigger and more important to me than those fears. I put more focus on what I wanted and let go of all the thoughts and fears that had been creating the situation. This can be the case when we are Ascending and facing the experience of the active mind. You know, one of those experiences when a great deal of stress is being released and the mind doesn’t know what to do with it, so it picks up an old thought pattern. We are told to continue with the practice of Ascension for our twenty to thirty minutes no matter what the experience. Well what if the thoughts are scary or uncomfortable, then do we still continue with the practice? The answer is a simple and unequivocal YES…keep Ascending. This is the way to rise beyond those thoughts and fears. This is where the desire to expand can be so significant in simplifying the process of stress release. You see it was the desire to grow past my childish behavior that allowed for me to eventually walk calmly across the bridge. Similarly the desire to expand into a greater experience of life can make those uncomfortable moments a bit easier to tackle. When the focus is on what we want, we can gain a greater perspective and the choice becomes so much easier to make: expand in Love or continue the old pattern of contraction and fear. Sivani Ishaya Inner conversations One of the most Joyful results of my Ascension has been the change in my inner conversations. My inner voice has changed from a harsh self-judging one to a more loving understanding one. I used to say that no one could be more critical of me than me. I would beat myself up on a regular basis. Now that voice is comforting. It is quicker to guide me to the lesson, to the better thought/feeling, to the wisdom of events unfolding. Now when the wild thought horse of worry, fear, inadequacy, judgment or guilt arrive, I rarely give it a glance. If I do happen to hop on one of those horses, I am quicker to say “this does not feel good and this does not serve me” and I dismount by choosing the Ascension Attitude that leads me back to praise, gratitude, love and compassion. Then my inner conversation can take me to a place with a totally new and wiser perspective. Not only does this give me more joy, but it has also freed me from the judgment of others’ behaviors and intentions as well. Wow, what a relief! I have read lots of books and listened to many CDs designed to teach me how to reach for the better thought/feeling only to find the improvements to be minimal, or to have them wane in only a few short weeks. In contrast I find that regular Ascension is providing a rapid steady forward progression of improvement in my inner conversations and my inner peace. In Gratitude, Louis Hagene DC Excerpt from Shamara, The Oblation Bearer “There is much we all regret. It performs no service to dwell on mistakes; that only damages the future. Rather we must transmute Contrary to what many might believe or think, thoughts can never stop or even slow Ascension. Correctly practiced Ascension leads the mind back to its source. The Ascension Attitude takes us beyond even the most subtle thought or experience we can have. This is precisely why we do not want to judge Ascension by our surface experience. The surface will move and change always. In the depth of the pure consciousness, in the Ascendant, one finds that which does not move or change. The simplicity of the Practice is that we do it regardless of the experience. Sometimes there are many thoughts, sometimes there are few. Each time it will be different according to the state of the mind and the body when we Ascend. Simply introducing the Ascension Attitude and relaxing for the inward ride brings us all the Good. After all, it is only our active attention on stress or judgment that keeps the Good from flowing in our lives effortlessly. the past through the crucible of present free will. Then hope and love will bequeath us a better world.” MSI Question & Answer Where is the Goddess in the teachings of Ascension? I guess that would depend on where you are coming from with the Goddess. Within the independence and opinion of the new age movement the term Goddess seems to represent everything that is holy, nurturing and good opposing everything that is stagnant, or negative and bad, and is surrounded by judgment. In the representation of the Christian Cross the vertical represents the masculine or unchanging Absolute, whereas the horizontal represents the feminine ever-changing reflections of the Absolute. In the Yin and the Yang, the Yin is the feminine destroyer to the masculine yang creator. When Yin and Yang are working with the support of love, creation unfolds. Love supports creation and destruction as change or movement. The masculine aspect of consciousness is Isha; Ishani is the feminine. The masculine potential within the Absolute is inspired by the feminine, which is desire. In the terms we use to describe the masculine and feminine halves of the brain, the masculine is the analytical and logical side whereas the feminine is the holistic and intuitive. One without the other creates an imbalance as does too much of one and not enough of the other. I suppose it should be noted that the Absolute Ascendant is neither masculine nor feminine, but rather embodies both concepts at any level of belief or opinion. One who is enlightened or conscious is neither established within a principle that is feminine or masculine, but embodies the principles that support both. It would appear, thru the analysis of trends, that the male dominant desire to control and master everything is balanced with the intuitive side of the brain when consciousness awakens. This is described in the mechanics of Ascension when the left and right hemispheres come into coherence using the Ascension Attitudes, creating something similar to what the psychologist Abraham Maslow describes as the "Peak Experience." Mahadeva Ishaya ------- We welcome any questions that you readers may have concerning the practice of Ascension so that they can be addressed here as part of the newsletter. You can email your questions to contact@theishayafoundation.org with the title ” Question & Answer”. If you wish to participate in an online dialog about Ascension, we invite you to join teachers on the Ishaya Foundation Bulletin Board. Of course you can call or email us at any time for a more immediate personal response. Is Ascension a meditation or prayer? Ascension is both. Ascension Attitudes are tools that redirect the mind to an inward movement into the seat of Consciousness itself. This is the essence of both prayer and meditation; the inward direction of knowing the Self and knowing the Absolute Good. These tools are powerful pure statements of Truth that are deeply personalized by the user. They contain the essence of praise, gratitude, love, and compassion. These pure Truths apply to all aspects of the individual's life, the relationship of Spirit and humanity in belief and experience. These Ascension Attitudes align the user's heart and mind to the Infinite, the Absolute--beyond all concepts and limiting beliefs, beyond all fears, into the pure Truth of what is Real in each heart--expansive Innocence and Purity. The essence of all meditation is to know the Self. The essence of all prayer is to also know or commune with the Self. To be able to apply this to every situation lived on earth is the goal of human life. The Truest objective of prayer is the connection of the heart and mind to the Divine and the ultimate goal is to unite with the Divine. The same is true of meditation, to transcend all previous ideas and limitations, and free the soul to live its' True nature here on earth. Science of busy mind Most of us know by the time we begin Ascending that we desire a way to still our busy minds. Ascension is a tool that aids in being able to pay attention to that which is useful and to discard the rest, so that we can become more effective in our choices for how we live our lives. Well, our brains are actually designed to help us change to more effective living. This is found in the brain stem, a part known as the reticular activating system (RAS). As part of our central nervous system, the RAS has duties that are varied and essential. One doctor described it as the “ignition system” of the brain. It helps get you from sleep to higher levels of activity so you can get up and start your day. In addition to our waking up and sleeping, the RAS helps with our breathing, the beating of our heart, walking, eating, sex, and elimination. But one of the most interesting functions of the RAS is as a filter for all in-coming stimuli. It acts to dampen the effect of repeated stimuli by helping to prevent the senses from being overloaded. It helps us make the decision based on the incoming stimuli whether we attend to something or ignore it. Think of the reticular activating system as a sentry, constantly looking out for conditions which require a conscious response. Anything important or relevant snaps the brain into alertness, even from deep sleep. It has been described as the focusing mechanism of the mind. For example, imagine yourself in a busy airport heading towards your gate. There are noises and sights everywhere. Your body is busy, maybe walking fast to get where you want to be. Your mind is busy (hopefully using the Ascension Attitudes), but suddenly you hear an announcement on the loudspeaker. Over the crying baby and the smells of the cinnabons and the feelings of your sore feet, you hear the message about your flight and you automatically move into more alertness about this announcement. You are able to still the other noises and sensory perceptions easily and retain the knowledge of the announcement making the necessary changes for your destination. Your reticular activating system helped you do this. This RAS is like a filter between your conscious mind and your sub-conscious mind. It has several interesting facets. You can program your RAS by choosing the exact message you send it. The more thoughts you use focused on something specific, the more this filter sorts to use these thoughts. The RAS cannot discriminate between “real events” and “synthetic events”. In other words, the thoughts you think generate its action in your life. It works from the messages you give it. It begins to filter out all the background “noise” and brings to the forefront that which is most commonly thought. What triggers the RAS to do its work? Well, there are four major categories; hearing your name, a physical need, something new and your own choice. What we choose to think is so important because it leads directly to our actions. This is where the Ascension Attitudes are vital. The regular practice and use of Ascension, closed-eyed and open-eyed, helps the natural state of our body tune inward to the Infinite, the Self. It is our Self that then chooses to Ascend. The mind responds to this thought, and then our body follows that. From Spirit or Self: to the mind: to the body: an orderly and beautiful flow. With Ascension, as we simply think the simple Attitudes, it is Appreciation, Gratitude, Love and Compassion that direct the parts of our mind to filter for that. The RAS looks for that in our life bringing it to the forefront, because we are telling it to do so. We direct our lives. We have a choice. We can make it easily move upward with the practice of Ascension. Mayasakti Ishaya New Book Covers & Formats Ascension! new ISBN-13: 978-0-9843233-0-2 Enlightenment new ISBN-13: 978-0-9843233-1-9 Ascension! and Enlightenment now have newly designed covers, lay-flat bindings, and are re-formatted to be the same size (6x9). The Thunder Books series are going through the same transformation and will be available this spring. Shamara, the Oblation Bearer, Third Thunder Book II will then be published this summer. In addition to the books being more appealing and user-friendly, they will be an attractive set together. To buy them direct, visit our online bookstore. While at our store, you will find other great books and posters that you might like to have. If you desire to order them from your local bookstore, be sure to request using the new ISBN. Our Websites The Ishaya Foundation http://www.theishayafoundation.org Hong Kong website http://www.theishayafoundation.asia European website http://www.theishayafoundation.eu ------------------------------------------------- This is the 55th edition of the Ishaya Foundation newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe please email mailinglist@theishayatradition.org. To contact us, please email contact@theishayafoundation.org or phone 1-888-ISHAYA1