Painted 19th century Tibetan mandala of the Naropa tradition. Vajrayogini stands in the center of two crossed red triangles, Rubin Museum of Art.

Note: This image is in the public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons. - ed.

This is a great and wonderful book, also highly recommended by Dr. Deepak Chopra. It explains how raising individual awareness towards cosmic expansion lifts world consciousness to a higher plateau.

The illuminating experience of 8 hours of meditation...

... at the local Yogananda spiritual center (Tucson Meditation Group of Self-Realization Fellowship on 1702 East Prince, Suite #140) we MEDITATED for 8 hours interspersed with live devotional music and the occasional recorded talk by Yogananda himself (whose physical form perished in 1952 ). Overall it was a pleasant experience and the music was great . I did my normal meditation even though Yogananda gave meditation instructions on the tape that was played. He emphasized the use of the 3rd eye ( a.k.a. the Ajna chakra, 10th door, Tisrstill , Shiv natra etc).

On the first session of meditation my mind was somewhat active, by the third session I was so well focused that there were no thoughts and no effort involved in my meditation -- so much so that I did not want to disturb myself to go for lunch. If I had not had a friend with me [blog editor Steve Minton. - ed.] I would have continued on with meditation.

We finished the day nicely at about 6pm; the people were very friendly. I had fallen in love with Yogananda after I read his great book Autobiography of a Yogi which I recommend strongly for everyone to read. Years ago I took his correspondence course and had been taught Kriya Yoga.

I was wondering how I would feel after such a long session of MEDITATION? The next day was pretty normal, but I entered a state of bliss on Monday that stayed with me all day and is still with me. When you enter bliss, you have more love and energy to give out to others -- almost bursting with energy and happiness. I recommend a long meditation for all meditators once or twice a month. It gives you a good boost.

I add one word of caution: if you are a beginner and you have a history of psychological stress, then it's best to work up to long a session gradually --because a lot of anxiety can get released. I give this advice as a medical doctor with experience in the release of stress. (If you were diagnosed with a mental or psychological problem, meditation will tend to heal it in the long run. However, you should be under the care of a doctor who understands meditation from direct experience. )

I'd like to welcome spiritual seekers to discuss the subtler things of life...

God is not a belief; God is a direct experience of inner awakening. People under the umbrella of religion usually have a belief in God but little or no direct experience of the ground or essence of all life that is located within themselves at the core of their existence -- which can be actualized by and through the practice of MEDITATION. This reality is what lies at the SOURCE of everyone's consciousness, at the source of YOUR own very BEINGNESS. Religious believers typically have little or no inner awakening or transcendental experience. This unawakened state cuts off their inner reference point of DIRECT KNOWLEDGE, and leaves them at the mercy of all kinds of emotionalism and untested and unscientific belief systems (sometimes handed to them by religious and other authoritative organizations). Their fundamental security derives from their ideology or unexamined perspective, which makes them susceptible to much emotional and intellectual limitations. Such narrow views are usually undertaken by dependent unawakened personality types (although we are all dependent in one way or another on the sustaining Life or God Force ). These individuals are also often dependent on outer organizations and not inner realizations for their knowledge and stability.

On the other hand, we have the rationalists, skeptics and materialists who also subscribe to an equally strong belief: that there is no God. These beliefs are equally as unfounded in reality as the convictions held by the religionists. Both BELIEF systems are nothing but concepts in the mind, and as such they are not the REALITY...only a symbol of the real thing. We must concede that in many areas the skeptics are, by definition, more rational and objective than most of the religionists. Consider the truths of evolutionary biology; the indisputably 4.5 billion year earth; the technological marvels brought about by the application of the scientific method; and the valiant efforts of the secular humanists to lift man out of the dark ages and superstitions imposed by the Church. It seems to me that the rational movement arises from a reaction to the close-minded irrationalisms and the political authoritarianism imposed by the Religious Right. In this respect, we cheer their efforts. Unopposed religious fanaticism will always result in a theocratic and tyrannical government, as we currently see in Iran. We certainly do not want this type of religious political control in the United States.

However, the skeptics limit themselves to an intellectual inquiry into the natural world. In this respect, they lack direct TRANSCENDENTAL EXPERIENCE of their own inner and deeper awakening. Therefore they are in no OBJECTIVE position to determine, on the basis of experience, whether there is or is not a God. They base their judgement on a merely COGNITIVE discernment, and not on the inner pure awakening and intuition on which faith and true enlightenment is based. If they were TRULY objective, they would classify themselves as agnostics and not atheists. Furthermore, they refuse to fairly examine or allow the possibility that they might discover laws of nature which are thus far unproven and hidden. Little more than a century ago, most of humankind would not have believed that we could fly through the sky. Then came the discovery and application of the laws of aerodynamics. Similarly, the true believers of dogmatic science fail to see future possibilities, such as: physical immortality, translocation of the physical body, contact with non-human forms of intelligence, and most importantly, the ability to activate the subtle laws of nature within our own consciousness and reach the inner bliss of God Consciousness.

Without the foundation, the house becomes unstable and easily crumbles. Without the REAL FOUNDATION, people cling to unfounded belief systems for their individual security and shut down to new realizations.

Direct experience through meditation adds stability and the missing foundation to individual life. With this fundamental connection to all life everywhere comes liberation from dogmatic ideas and unrealistic beliefs. Now we're moving into a world of universal awareness and feelings, and away from dogma. This process of EXPERIENTIAL MEDITATION increases the intuitive sensitivities necessary for true communication between one brother or sister and the next. This is very conducive to inner peace and harmonious relationships -- on a personal and on an individual basis.

On this blog in upcoming postings, we will discuss and encourage visitors to add their own insights into these topics -- particularly with reference to meditation. Areas to be covered will include:

- The relevance and irrelevance of organized religion
- The difference between religion and spirituality
- How meditation can help your energy and your health (from a scientific point of view)
- Problems with meditation techniques and problems encountered on the spiritual path
- Changes in consciousness and values as we progress on this path of expansion
- How meditation impacts personal relationships, removes emotional and mental blockages and allows for deeper communication
- Its relevance to individual and world peace
- The full capacity to experience God and Bliss Consciousness
- The definition of God or the ultimate ground of all being
- We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various teachers and masters, as we understand them...including Sant Rajinder Singh, Paul Twitchell of Eckanckar, Giordano Bruno, Ramakrishna, Ramana Maharishi, Sufi mystics as typified by Rumi, Patanjali, Eckhart Tolle, Yogananda and the controversial Adi Da and the Hare Krishna movement.
- We will explore some of the world's greatest spiritual writings and scriptures, such as the Upanishads, the Tao De Ching, the Christian Bible, the Koran, the Guru Granth Sahib, Autobiography of a Yogi, as well as investigative works such as Monkey on a Stick.

Please visit us regularly and lend us your insights and experiences to this discussion.

This blog will continue to be edited by T.S. Steve Minton - www.tsmintonweb.net