Finding The Fabric of Self

"Without love you are an empty shell. You may work, hope, dream, seek riches and power but your conflicts and suffering will continue. The absence of love creates an emptiness that cannot be filled by any ambition, success, pleasure, or possession. Fear grows in this emptiness. But where love exists, there is fullness and life. "

Once again, I found another rare book in one of my favorite used bookshops. The Fabric of Self, Meditations on Vanity and Love by John McAfee. It contains reflections on Awareness, Meditation, Love, Listening, Joy, Guru, Healing... In the first few pages, the authors states, "...As the world appears to me, original thought springs, not from the individual, but from the moving totality of life. As such, I claim no ownership of any part of this book. You are free to copy, alter, excerpt, or claim authorship of whatever follows."

Rightly so, as McAfee (yes, the founder of the anti-virus software...) has apparently "retired" from yoga and has gone through his own journey, as life would have it. He no longer practices, it seems and in one of the articles about him, he says he “wouldn’t suggest that you or anyone else bother reading” the four books he's written on Yoga (Beyond the Siddhis: Supernatural Powers and the Sutras of Patanjali and The Fabric of Self). I haven't seen the other three but I will be on the look out when I hound the bookshops...

The Fabric of Self, though, is a pleasant find and is worthy of reprinting. Truth and Wisdom are constant, afterall, no matter what happens to the medium. And anyway, John McAfee is currently on a search for antibiotics and female viagra in the jungles of Belize...

Here's the first reflection on Awareness.

Awareness is the fundamental force of change for the self. When we become aware, deeply and completely, of the attachments, prejudices, arrogance, bitterness, fears, and all the other vanities that make up our daily existence, then true change is realized.

For more interesting articles on John Mc Afee:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/145/fantasy-island.html
http://www.tomclynes.com/files/Featme.aero.pdf

Hello Saturday!

I just finished my home practice and as I rest, let me dig up one of my rare finds in a used books shop... Complete Works of Ram Chandra Volume 1. It contains the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg and the book has a commentary for each maxim. The book has an online version too...

Meanwhile, here are the Ten Maxims. May your Saturday rejuvenate your Spirit!

1. Rise before dawn. Offer your prayer and puja (meditation) at a fixed hour, preferably before sunrise, sitting in one and the same pose. Have a separate place and seat for worship. Purity of mind and body should be specially adhered to.
2. Begin your puja (meditation) with a prayer for spiritual elevation, with a heart full of love and devotion.
3. Fix up your goal which should be 'complete oneness' with God. Rest not till the ideal is achieved.
4. Be plain and simple to be identical with nature.
5. Be truthful. Take miseries as Divine Blessings for your own good and be thankful.
6. Know all people as thy brethren and treat them as such.
7. Be not revengeful for the wrongs done by others. Take them with gratitude as heavenly gifts.
8. Be happy to eat in constant divine thought whatever you get, with due regard to honest and pious earnings.
9. Mould your living so as to rouse a feeling of love and piety in others.
10. At bedtime, feeling the presence of God, repent for the wrongs committed. Beg forgiveness in a supplicant mood, resolving not to allow repetition of the same.

For more information on Sri Ram Chandra Mission, visit http://www.srcm.org/index.jsp

Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) was registered in India in the year 1945. The Mission is a non-profit spiritual organization in India, and in all the countries where it is registered.

Over the years, the Mission has grown enormously, and now has more than 1000 centres in India, and is present in 90 countries spread over all the continents. The Mission now has more than 200,000 abhyasis worldwide practising the Sahaj Marg system of meditation.
The Mission does not charge any fees of any kind for this spiritual training.
The Mission is the skeleton around which the spiritual edifice of the Mission is built. As such, it is meant to be virtually invisible, but must nevertheless support the spiritual work of the Master, and provide the services that are required by the abhyasis.

Sahaj Marg translates to "The Natural Path." It is a natural, simple system of Raja Yoga meditation and spiritual practice that helps one realize the ultimate potential within oneself. Regular spiritual practice under capable guidance enables aspirants to progressively experience the sublime presence of the divine in their daily lives. The Sahaj Marg system is freely offered to seekers worldwide through the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) under the guidance of current living Master, Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (also known as "Chariji"), and is effectively practiced by individuals from all walks of life - diverse nationalities, religious backgrounds, and various social conditions.

Guruji Led Primary Series

This morning, I practiced the full primary to Guruji's voice from 1993 (inserting Utthita Parsvakonasana B...) and I was able to stay longer in Sirsasana, breath by breath. Each practice is truly unique. This one took me firmly through Utthita Hasta Padangustansa and Urdvha Mukha Paschimottanasana. 

There really is beauty in a morning practice and I think I should move my after office home practice to 5 am. It's worth a try. 

 To preview the video, click on this link...

Thinking on my Feet

My thoughts today are on healing (yet again). With my Piscean Sun Sign and my Aquarian Moon Sign, I am told by various books and websites that my feet and ankles are vulnerable. I did not pay too much attention to that until last week. For days, it has been difficult to be on Samastithi as it is with one sprained ankle. The amazing thing to rediscover and reflect on during days these days is the body's immense capacity to heal. It never ceases to amaze me. Bones and sinew and muscles and skin can break and tear and swell and scar but ultimately, it can heal. It is a gift to be ensconced in such a strong, resilient shell with which we can experience life...

Tonight, I was able to go back on the mat. My ankle, I believe, is almost completely healed. I attribute this to Reiki, Sabai oil and nightly elevation. Reiki is such a powerful gift and I am inspired to go for the next level. That's the plan for August when I go back to YT. I am looking forward to a two-week retreat on Gita and chanting and asana and pranayama. It's going to happen, I know. The subtle shifts are happening.

This year, there is one thing I would like to start...I know I am waiting for something. I'm just not sure what it is. May the intention be blessed...

That Boracay Weekend in May

I did get to practice by myself at the Patio Pacific Studio during my weekend in Boracay. I also got to spend some time chatting with the yogis at Real Coffee. :)

Check out http://news.boracayyoga.org/

Took a photo of the Ganesha poster at the studio