Subtlety and Inward Focus
The greatest secret on this earth, the most powerful ally, the source and the goal of all our desires is so very close. In fact it is hidden so close that we go on ignoring it every day. Looking at the surface and trying to find fulfillment in it, we wander around carrying the answer to all our questions already inside of us.
The Ishayas, through the Teaching of Ascension, have given us a direction and even the vehicle to start the inward journey. They say that as long as we are completely simple and natural Ascension will work for us. It will lead us directly inward back to the Source where we all come from. The Ascension Attitudes lead us into the Ascendant that underlies all things. And there, when the mind finds the peace it is looking for and the body finds its deepest rest, there lies the power far greater than any human accomplishment or endeavor.
We once thought that the earth is flat. We once thought the sun circles the earth. And then a greater understanding and experience changed our view on those things. Most of humanity still believes adamantly that the greatest power and influence is somewhere outside of us, but just like any other limited thinking this is changing as we speak. The Practice of Ascension is what opens our minds and our hearts to a new paradigm where we recognize that the true power and strength and love are within us. The Source is the ultimate subtlety. Every one of us can experience it, every one of us can unite with it. We only need to choose for the inward direction, to choose for the Ascension Attitudes, easily, always, always easily.
Nataraja Ishaya
Enlightenment
Pada I Sutra 22
Subtlety and inward focus must also join that intensity
to create extraordinary and wonderful results.
From the previous sutra, one might infer that the only requirement for the evolution of consciousness was fanaticism. This sutra clarifies this misconception. Subtlety, mrdu (which can also be translated, “gentleness,” “tenderness,” “mildness” or “delicateness”) is also required to reach the goal of Ascendant consciousness. Sleeping on beds of nails is not required. Mortification of flesh is not required. Any sort of mental, emotional or physical abuse is not required. Moderation is recommended for those who seek enlightenment. And that moderation should be applied to moving inward, to subtler and subtler levels of experience.
Where, then, is the appropriate placement for zeal? It must be zeal for ever-subtler levels of reality, zeal for inward development, not striving to reform the world. Often, those interested in converting others to their beliefs are doing so to mask to themselves the fact that they hardly believe what they are teaching. Zeal for the goal, yes; but that is directed inward. The focus of attention must be delicately and gently applied in an inward direction, Zeal is what inspires one to do it Any other interpretation of this verse distorts maharishi Patanjali’s teaching at best and at worst transforms it into meaninglessness.
MSI
The inward march of the mind
Perception in the outward direction is the result of a progressive increase of activity of the nervous system. And perception in the inward direction is the result of diminishing activity of the one eternal existence, oneness of eternal life, oneness of the nervous system, until the entire nervous system ceases to function and reaches a state of stillness, a state of restful alertness. This brings the realization of “Be still and know that I am God.”
The inward march of the mind, thus,
mechanically brings the mind to the state of full enlightenment. This mechanical process of perception in the inward direction, causing the nervous system to arrive naturally at the state of restful alertness, is the mechanical path to God realization.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Science of Being and Art of Living
Remarkable machine
The human mind is a fascinating tool. It is sufficiently complex to do anything, anything at all. The number of possible combinations and permutations of the neurons in the human brain is larger than the number of atoms in the entire Universe. This is a truly amazing, nearly infinitely complex machine, capable of realizing any truth, of having any experience. The human brain is sufficiently subtle that it can even experience consciousness itself, the most abstract essence of everything.
If this remarkable machine can act in a completely unified manner, the power of its thought force is strong enough to do anything. This is what Christ was speaking of when he declared that if your faith is like a grain of mustard seed, you can move mountains. The power of the perfectly concentrated mind is quite literally unlimited.
But the power of the divided mind is weak, ineffectual. If we desire a thing, the trick to accomplishing the desire is not to undermine the desire with a myriad of counter-desires. This, again, is a habit.
We are not trying to have a positive feeling or a mood when we are Ascending. Feelings change and sometimes they may be uncomfortable and sometimes enjoyable. There is no reason to try to change the experience we are having while Ascending. We simply let whatever happens happen. We simply think the Ascension Attitude and allow that to do the work for us.
|
|
 |
The mind can be trained to think one-pointedly, or it can continue to think as most human minds think, in conflict and diversity. Ascension’s simple suggestion is that this process of re-training is not only effortless but easy, completely natural and extremely quick.
Part of the secret is to charm the mind during every phase of this transformation. The mind is always greedy for more experience, more love, more peace, more stimulation, more knowledge -- always more. The fortunate fact is that the field of most already lies within -- the mind just needs to learn how to take the correct angle, then the entire process is perfectly automatic.
|
Indeed, it will be impossible to stop the new grooves in the brain from deepening and intensifying until the older grooves are overshadowed and eventually erased.
The reason for this is that the natural state of human consciousness is enlightenment! The human mind would rather function with flawless and one-pointed desiring than in any other way. It would rather permanently experience its most expanded state than any more limited quality of its being. This requires only the slightest of modifications in the way it has been taught to view itself and its world; this miraculous transformation occurs automatically.
MSI
Soma
Soma is called the “glue of the Universe:” this molecule allows us to develop perception of the subtlest level of creation, that level of reality which holds everything joined to the Ascendant. When soma increases in the body, the senses of perception gradually improve their abilities.
- MSI
Enlightenment, Pada I Sutra 40
The Ascendant has dominion over every limit;
It is beyond the smallest and the largest.
The all-pervading nature of the Ascendant is here described. It lies beyond the furthest limit of the Universe; it is larger than the largest; yet it is also smaller than the smallest, more subtle than the subtlest. Remove every scrap of matter and energy and what is left is the Infinite. It is all-pervading and the same everywhere.
One who has stabilized the experience of Ascendant Consciousness knows the underlying Reality of everything. This is dominion; this is mastery. One has recognized the omnipresence of the Absolute — not as a dry, intellectual understanding but as a direct, living, continual experience. The Ascendant is beyond space; it is also beyond time. There never was a time when it was not, nor will there ever be a time when it ceases to be. The world may end, the sun may burn out, the entire Universe may cease to exist, but still the One Ascendant will continue on, unchanging, forever.
MSI
Kingdom within
The other evening I watched a short video on Yahoo about the significant percentage of people who are over 100 years old in a small village in China. Tourism is now becoming a big industry in that little village of only 500, with people coming from all over to experience the climate and the crystal blue water, thinking that has something to do with their longevity. Hotels are being built and tours arranged bringing numerous people, who either stay for a short time or hang around much longer in hopes of getting something from the place and the people that they can take back into their own lives, and thereby make a difference.
I talked with a couple recently and they shared with me the wonderful natural energy juice and perfect water that they are taking. The molecular structure of the water is changed so that it is immediately absorbed into their muscles and blood streams, and they become more flexible and able to exercise longer and be less tired.
The desire to live longer and healthier and look good is universal. More and more now there are numerous procedures and exercises and pills and vitamins being advertised to get rid of the wrinkles, to lose the fat, to have more energy, to enhance the lips, to look younger, ad infinitum. There seems to be no end to the possibilities for change, which is really an out-picturing of our individual and collective desire, the desire to live longer and healthier.
It all sounds so good. And then I ask the question "so what?" So what does it really matter if we become so healthy and strong and live longer, and then still die in ignorance only to be reborn again and do it over, as we have done so many times before, hopefully somewhat more consciously however.
What if there is another way to think, to believe and to live? What if the result of that way is inner Peace and Joy and Contentment regardless of what the outside looks like? What if the desire to live longer and healthier actually comes from a deep knowing inside of us, the fact that we already are immortal, and we have simply forgotten.
Most of humanity is still so engrossed in things outside of themselves, something or someone that they hope will change their lives for the better in the future, and are completely missing this moment. As your awareness goes out you abandon the only place where you can find what your heart is truly yearning for. So, rather than spend so much time and energy out on the branches of the Tree of Life, why not go directly to the main root, to the Source. “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all else will be added unto you” is a clear and direct path. As you make that the primary goal and focus, the branches will grow healthy and blossom, just like watering the root.
The Ishayas offer you a way to go directly to the Source, one that is simple and extremely effective. The Ascension Attitudes are the Keys to the Kingdom within. They will only work as you use them consistently. Regular practice creates a new habit, a way that actually works for your greater good, simply, naturally and effortlessly. Stress automatically dissolves and the struggle ends as clarity on what to do and what to say and how to live then comes easily. We invite you to join us in the Source, the Field of unlimited potential, as Immortality dawns.
Nandisvara Ishaya
Subtlety
Our life operates based on our most subtle thoughts and most subtle desires. We are often too busy running at the surface level of the mind to be aware of these subtleties. One of the most important subtleties that impacts our life dramatically is whether our mind is outward directed or inward directed. An outward directed mind tries to satisfy others, has conflicting beliefs and is scattered. Hence, the body becomes tired or falls ill as a by-product.
Many think that an inward focus has to do with looking at our thoughts, emotions, or our bodies. But, these are still directed outward.
The True Inward movement is directed toward the Absolute, or Being, we call it the Ascendant. The Ascension Attitudes drive the mind beyond all thought to a direct experience of the Absolute, your Divine loving Self. In fact, no matter how far the mind is in its outward movement, the Praise Attitude is powerful enough to take the mind all the way back to the Source.
It is only by touching upon That on a regular and repeated basis that all other misguided and misdirected thoughts and desires, even the most subtle, are quickly annihilated. MSI said, “By touching the Source, the energy contained in the Ascendant automatically moves to purify the nervous system. Said another way, the perfect orderliness contained in the Absolute disallows the continuance of any disorder.”
Jyoti Ishaya
Teacher Training 2009-2010
Teacher Training begins October 1, 2009 to April 1.
The full fee for the course is $14,800.
A $2,200 non-refundable deposit holds
your space
for this course.
Space is limited and will be reserved
in the order deposits are received.
The Ishaya Foundation
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 50th edition of The Ishaya Foundation newsletter.
If you wish to unsubscribe please email mailinglist@theishayafoundation.org.
To contact us, please email contact@theishayafoundation.org or
phone 1-888-ISHAYA1
|
|
|
|
