There’s a world deep inside us

As a gentle kindly dream

Where Love is ever present

And beauty is always seen

It’s the spirit of Christmas

When remembered all the year

That brings joy, peace and laughter

Of life’s music to our ear

So Christmas is inside us

An expanding, growing dream

Of love forever present

And beauty everywhere seen

Echo of Christ within us

Outwardly seeking new birth

As human beings perfect

Creating a heaven on earth.

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All those inclined to believe in God as Love come to experience expansions of their heart’s growth and personal capacity to love, rather than allowing a contraction of feeling.

But as we know, love is a very real primal emotional force and feeling that  has to be cultivated and directed into the various avenues of personal life as we see is appropriate, as well as existing as a general state or attitude.

Although the example of the traditional Bhakti is often used as a point of reference in Yoga, it is in fact the universal path we humans all traverse in seeking spiritual realities beyond the material world. We all dream of a greater and more beautiful life -a world that is at peace and we are loved.

World values fall short of reflecting our aspirations for noble human lifestyles. Yet in the freedom of each individual and because of our free will, we can if we wish, succeed in fulfilling our human potential for expressing goodness, peace and love.

Beyond the limitations that religions and dogma impose we all share the  the heart of all wisdom teachings and agree that love is the vital key and common inspiration – for our personal life, for that of the community and for our spiritual evolution as a civilization.

But we must feel love and as our emotions and feelings grow and extend outside the limitations of our personal ego, we gradually move into closer association with the Creator of all Love… to realize and experience Universal Love.

Is it that simple?

The aspirant undertakes certain self disciplines when following the spiritual path of Yoga. These are essential for everyone who wishes to apply themselves to the art of living with spiritual values replacing the material ones that dominate at present.

Classical yogic disciplines have remained unchanged for centuries. Although they can be adopted and also adapted by people of any culture or religion, the fundamental principles do not alter. Many aspects are incorporated in the lives of people of every nation and culture.

Indians and Hindus in particular, are fortunate to have the essentials imbued in the home life from infancy and their earliest education. Individuals in western countries must seek out information about this method that is most importantly a universal teaching outside any religion.

The spiritual quest in exploring and elevating individual consciousness and expanding it to full potential of human intelligence, culminates in the state of awareness known as Samadhi.

It begins with our familiarity with the 3^rd dimensional world around us that gradually extends to the unseen and less known spheres of life including human consciousness.

Following integration of our personality to the extent there is no internal warring between our physical, emotional and mental nature allows us to experience more awareness of the subtler spheres both of human nature and of the total natural environment in which we play a part. We are only fully satisfied when we are aware of our own small role in the universal scheme. This can only be experienced directly as we discover ourselves to exist as sparks of the Creative Essence or great Life Source we call God.

Such spiritual realization comes to us each differently and in degrees but the highest is a dramatic and intense consciousness that is of life changing quality and magnitude, that is called in Yoga terms, Samadhi.  The factor that is common to all who expand to embrace life and in so doing diminish the sense of personal ego are rewarded with a conscious identification with the greatness, the power, the beauty and the Oneness of all life – the great universal ocean of energy we understand as the Absolute Reality.

Here we lose our sense of importance as an individual by surrendering to the magnitude and yet receive encouragement of our own power and importance simultaneously.  Some describe themselves as a droplet in the universal ocean, others as a spark of the divine fire; others find perfect release in a freedom beyond material imagination. In whatever way we ultimately come to know the supreme spiritual truths it is certain that we must genuinely experience an expansion of our own consciousness that is rewarding and enriching. We can anticipate positive results to follow in our character, our health, our extended abilities, sensitivities, our understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of life.

When the practical yogic disciplines are sincerely practised as part of our spiritual Sadhana, it may be described that a more loving self begins to shine through the personality. As the great Law of Nature decrees that each of us grows through our own efforts, we are encouraged to apply ourselves to what we understand of the Yogic philosophy and practices that we may come to benefit as those exponents before us have done – having found that human consciousness can grow and experience new and exciting spheres of exploration.

If we undertake personal self discipline for the purpose of allowing better and clearer reflection of our higher of nobler self it demands a degree of self analysis as a starting point. It will help us to comprehend the character of the ‘clay’ that we seek to mould and re-shape to our design.

So we need to acknowledge our present personality.

We need a vision or design in order to perform our transformation.

We need to understand our present self yet be inspired by what we believe is our special potential latent in our future self.

We need persistence and patience to accomplish our ideal.

We may also need some of the fervour or spiritual enthusiasm that is traditionally required for the task.

We need to seek to blend all aspects of our consciousness harmoniously – physical awareness and sensory appreciation of natural life; emotional expression, particularly our loving, compassionate  feelings; our mental thoughts and attitudes so that our mind is clear of superficial chatter. Only then can we hear the whispering wisdom of our soul.

It is not forceful ambition, even though it may be attuned to spiritual purpose, that will allow spiritual growth. Rather it is a gentler approach of persistent cultivation required, knowing that in time our efforts and care will come to fruition.  As in any training, gentle persuasion is better than the whip. We are reminded of the need to be as kind to ourselves as we are to others.

Above all, we need to rely upon special words or phrases to keep our minds tuned in to the channel we desire. The experiences of many people are recorded for our reference and we must learn by heart statements that appeal to us.  We must also be creative and enjoy creating or encapsulating our own private message to ourselves through simple words or symbols that help us stay true to ourselves.

One final reminder is a powerful guide. The body is transient, as are our changing moods and thoughts.  Our soul that is anchored in the heart is our enduring consciousness. Should our thoughts and feelings be in conflict remember, thoughts can lead us astray but the deeper feelings of the heart cannot and it will be by love and intuition that we learn to find our way through life experiences.

Whether we seek for relief from pain and suffering, or for courage to melt our fears, or for enlightenment and understanding, or look towards a recipient for our aspiration and devotion, we turn to prayer.

Although it is generally formulated in religious observances and rituals, it is something that arises in us spontaneously from our hearts and most intensely when we feel the need for a power we cannot generate ourselves when seeking to relieve the pain of another.

Prayers can sometimes be very lengthy, sometimes poetic, brief or even reduced to a condensed mantric form. As prayer represents our individual link and communication with the Divine, it is essentially personal and considered a private experience other than in communal prayer forms.

Due to the extensive research of the scholar Manly Palmer Hall and others, we have some refreshing translations of ancient texts that are not limited to any religious doctrines. The following is a beautiful example that may help to balance up what seem to be gaps in the traditional classical Christian prayer form.

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JESUS’S INSTRUCTION FOR PRAYER

This excerpt from the ancient scroll “The Essene Gospel of Peace”, said to have been the writing of Jesus as translated from the parchment by Manly Palmer Hall being an instruction to His followers regarding prayer.

“And pray every day to your Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother, that your soul become as perfect as your Heavenly Father’s holy spirit is perfect, and that your body become as perfect as the body of your Earthly Mother is perfect. For if you understand, feel, and do the commandments then all for which you pray to your Heavenly Father and your Earthy Mother will be given you. For the wisdom, the love, and the power of God are above you.

“After this manner, therefore pray to hour Heavenly Father: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever. Amen.

“And after this manner pray to your Earthly mother: Our Mother which art upon earth, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, and thy will be done in us, as it is in thee. As thou sendest every day thy angels, send them to us also. Forgive us our sins, as we atone all our sins against thee. And lead us not into sickness, but deliver us from all evil, for thine is the earth, the body and the health. Amen”

It is not that we need more knowledge about the mind as much as finding how to construct a life- saving bridge from our minds to the knowledge deep in our hearts.

Stranded on the shores of knowledge of the intellect alone, we eventually find ourselves lonely and devoid of real life satisfaction and experience regardless of our accumulation of information.

If we should choose to depend upon our emotions and consciousness of our hearts alone, we soon learn that we need the mind to channel our affections and sympathies appropriately.

We may pay lip service to the importance of the heart and soul but are inconsistent in our references and often suffer some confusion in identifying how to apply this aspect of our nature.

It is not by alternating between our thought activity and our emotional states but by a blending.   We come to realize that it is only the harmonious cooperation between our minds and hearts that will produce the faculty we should cherish – that of ‘common sense’ where the two spheres are blended.

Common sense is capable of serving us as a good friend and guide through the maze of events and circumstances of our lives and throughout its duration.

There are frequent times in our lives when we place more emphasis upon either mental pursuits or emotional needs and perhaps are left wondering which sphere of our intelligence we should listen to – our thoughts or our feelings. It is likely that there are times where our mind says one thing and our emotions another and we must make choices.

In this, it may help to recall that the knowledge of the mind is ever active, changing and growing in our search for truth.

The knowledge of the heart, where the deeper knowledge of life experiences and wisdom resides in stillness is related to our enduring, immortal soul and our capacity to love.

Bhakti Yoga accents Love as Raja Yoga accents Truth. We need them to blend.

What a wonderful thought that our soul is immortal and embarks upon a new chapter and learning curve with each successive human lifetime!

There are many who intuitively feel that subsequent human births will follow this one. Others cannot consider the idea of ‘having to return’ to endure all they have had to this life and totally reject the idea of recycled souls as unfortunately the opportunity for fresh and brighter experiences.

There are occasional people who fancy that they have lived a previous life of great fame and splendour with magnificent achievements that allow them to identify with heroes of the past and regrettably all too often is Cleopatra or Napoleon the selected claim.

Yet many of us remember past lives, or parts of some, that filter through into present day habits, personality talents and sometimes as unreasonable fears, instant likes and dislikes of people and require reason and balanced attitudes in self discipline, or a skilled philosopher or psychotherapies to help reduce the negatives and be free to experience the positives. There are also strong happy memories recovered spontaneously without any apparent outer cause. Both happy and tragic times and experiences are naturally most heavily engraved in the soul.

At certain stages of individual enquiry into spiritual matters, it becomes important that we recall a difficult lesson from the past for some reason we can only speculate about, as this usually is a matter directed by greater intelligences beyond our understanding.  Sometimes it may be to observe our physical death in a previous life in order to be convinced of the immortal nature of our soul. Or it may be to recall a humble role in a previous life to balance a dominant place in society at the moment.

But certainly we must hazard a guess that previous life recall is not for our indulgence or entertainment but to help us face up to our responsibilities in this present life.

Only when we are progressing in overcoming our material nature and are better attuned to our soul do we earn a likelihood of seeing a speeded up spiritual ‘video’ of our soul’s total journey to this point.

The reluctance to face reincarnation as a natural law was instilled in those of Christian faith following the deliberate eradication of the concept from the early church doctrinal teachings. There is no such hesitancy in other religions and philosophies. In the Hindu culture it is a simple custom of parents to encourage infants to express any dim memory of a previous life should they wish to communicate about matters that do not relate to the present. This is unlike western parents whose habit is often to punish such recall as mere fantasy or lies.

Memories of all kinds, recent or long term are important. But it is our beliefs and ideas that guide us in our present lives together with our innate sense of moral and ethical values stronger than any assumed codes or unproductive reminders of the past.

For most of us who sincerely love this planet Earth, there is the motivation to appreciate the wonderful gift of life opportunity in our wondrous natural environment and will yearn to return here following the completion of our present life. If it is love and appreciation that determines our fate, then perhaps this is likely to recur as an attractive proposition.

Those who seek the truth will consider the concept and perhaps realise the perfect order and justice that accompanies our advances through the ‘classroom ’we share on earth, sharing an equal opportunity we all have to grow in intelligent understanding of life.  This right of free will functions regardless of our inherited material circumstances that reflect our debits and credits in the divine justice we know as the Law of Karma. It is this law that spiritual teachers of all eras have referred to when in their wisdom as they instruct us to “Have faith in The Law”. It is this justice and fairness that permits no ‘favourites’ that our secular law seeks to emulate, however poorly.

In accepting the natural law of reincarnation and our future incarnations as inevitability within the natural justice system of Karma that functions to give each of us our due, brings comfort to allow greater advances in spiritual growth to be made. We are inclined to reduce our chaffing against the seeming injustices of human society and soothe any feelings of impatience and anxiety regarding limited life time. We have all the time in the world!

Just as a member of society must acquire knowledge of the established laws of a country before functioning within it, so we all must acquire knowledge and be familiar with the universal laws of life that apply throughout in the moral and spiritual life environment in which we share.

When we find our way through the many adventures, experiences and discoveries that result from use of our free will and that require our wise choices… we find that it is way well trodden. It is lit by the wisdom of others who have gone safely before us, as well as by our own inner wisdom – the spiritual wealth of life experience accumulated by our soul, life after life….

There is no better proof of the soul stimulus that is given to us than to watch someone enjoying something of beauty.

When reading a beautiful message or story we eagerly digest the silent melody of the words.

When an audience is entranced by a superb performance of visual art such as ballet, it is obvious in the whole atmosphere that becomes hushed.

Beautiful classical music can uplift the spirit almost quicker than anything else, if we are sensitive to sound and can surrender to its influence.

The beautiful form and perfume of a rose can transport us by its classical beauty to help us feel uplifted by an inhalation.

Whether we are eager for enjoyment of scent, sight or sound or appreciate our inner world of  thought and imagination as we read, we all crave to be nourished by beauty.

Creating a beautiful atmosphere, a beautiful home, or a beautiful world is a work of art and must be also a task of love.

Although nothing we create can rival Nature’s beauties, we seek inspiration from it and remember our beautiful experiences as we attempt to channel its beauty or even to replicate it.

But this vital nourishment for our soul and for our whole sense of well being is threatened by various influences in our modern lifestyle….such as  violence, ugliness, raucous noise, toxic smells, and lack of time given to beautiful creations. Beauty has also been rejected as an indicator of quality of life and if we are to be able to continue to be nourished by it, we must champion and encourage beauty in all things and to resist any attitude or trend that seeks to usurp its place by encouragement of discord and lack of grace in our culture.

Nature’s beauty gives silent pleasure

Hatha Yoga System

Why the system was developed – that of Hatha Yoga to enable the body to last long enough to study of the deeper purposes and the higher spiritual Laws behind life and arrive at a  satisfactory degree of knowledge of the universe. To aspire in this way, we must first have health if we wish to enjoy many years of life enquiry.

Psyche has Seven Sheaths – Koshas

These are the layers of the human psyche -the material or physical sheath, the energy body or vital sheath, the emotional self, the lower mental sheath (practical), the higher mind (intellect), the soul, and the spiritual identity.  It is wise to study the etheric and physical in relation to the whole psyche.  The first provides our protective shield and the flow of prana through the nadis and vital channels will be found to have close correspondence with traditional acupuncture and the defined nervous system of today.

Yogic Approach to Psychology

Western approach to psychology arrives at knowledge through analysis and the Yogic way is through synthesis – they are opposite approaches. However, to discipline and train any aspect of our nature gives us control over it. This applies whether it is commanding the physical body, asserting our mind over our emotions or training our minds through mental exercises, concentration and imagination. The supreme control of mind is considered to be the cessation of restlessness and ability to calm our ocean of thought that it may reflect clearly the truth of things.  It is when our mental activity ceases that we can become aware of our inner voice of intuition that serves us as our ultimate guide.

The human psyche is understood as not merely the personality (lower self) but the over- riding, directing, individual intelligence that we know as our soul (higher self).

The practices of Yoga are designed to integrate these aspects of ourselves.

Teaching Ancient Wisdom

Patanjali was first in writing of Yoga techniques as far as we know. Before that time,  knowledge passed on from Guru to chela through unbroken traditional lines of the ancient wisdom.  It was the chela’s privilege to personally inherit valued spiritual knowledge and had to prove his worthiness, unlike the indiscriminate, mass distribution of knowledge as it is today. Such knowledge was then linked with a deep sense of responsibility.

The Master Guru or Adept chose his pupils, or chelas as we are reminded in the saying “When the pupil is ready, the Master comes. Along with other traditions, there are many modifications and changes in present day practices and teaching, but the spiritual principles endure.

Truths of Life

The essential natural laws and truths of life do not change whether expressed through the Vedic lore or the ancient texts of great religions and passing philosophies.  These spiritual insights have not changed for thousands of years – unlike the many divisions and eruptions within religions and cults of many kinds.  The degree of understanding and expression of the  those truths is left up to the wisdom of the modern western teacher.

Devotion to the teacher and to God was once the keynote essential to a happy transmission of spiritual knowledge from teacher to pupil through the language of the heart.

We have developed as a materialistic humanity to the point where we seek to function from the mental level of the intellect. We may wish to reach the Source – but each one for himself. Personal devotion is limited and spiritual devotion is difficult for many.

The very simplicity of Yoga teachings, because of the fundamental truths which are accented,  has a universal appeal and provides a technique for better physical, emotional and mental health – the three which are essential before ever the spiritual life can become a known reality.

The yoga student or sadhaka is prepared to undertake a programme of self discipline in order to improve his character, achieve psychological cleansing of past difficulties, and follow the traditional methods of Yogic practice that will lead to spiritual experience and realization of the truths of life.

The natural law that determines each of us grows through self effort is recognized and adhered to and it is up to the aspiration and determination of each student that personal spiritual progress is made under the watchful eye of the Guru. This classical system is still followed by some but in western adaptation of the training process there are some considerable modifications.

Firstly, there are many professional teachers to guide a student in Hatha Yoga but in western life it is a very rare relationship to find a devoted life student who reveres a wiser person as his mentor and spiritual teacher. It is equally unusual to find a wise individual who is prepared to undertake the responsibility of such a personal charge that embraces physical and spiritual training of another. Consequently any transmission of wisdom and guidance is based upon impersonal general philosophical teachings rather than through spiritual intimacy. The individual aspirant is forced to a large extent to rely upon his own integrity and his own intuition in applying the spiritual directives in the Yogic system.

These principles apply and are a reliable guide to those who wish to advance their self culture and invite further understanding of life through their own development of spiritual consciousness. The prescribed common disciplines and exercises are practised according to individual enthusiasm and sense of purpose. Each of these should be studied carefully.

Yamas/Niyamas are moral and ethical values. It is usual to accept these as they are inherent in all cultures and civilizations and every enduring religion is based upon the restraints that are demanded that we do not behave with violence or by stealing for instance and the need to cultivate the nobler qualities of loving kindness and truth.  There are corresponding guidelines applied to health in Hatha Yoga.

Asanas – teach us of the need for correct attitudes of mind and body

Pranayama – demonstrates many practical ways of increasing and directing energies constructively through respiration

Pratyahara – reminds us of the need to cultivate and control all of our senses that we are not enslaved by them but apply our sensitivities appropriately

Dharana – is then able to be achieved without distraction as we learn how to cultivate the mind and control our emotional and thinking processes through psychological self- understanding

Dhyana – is the passive control of the mind to allow a calm and receptive state in which we find soul refreshment through meditation and contemplation

Samadhi – indicates the arrival at a state of being beyond activity and effort where we become receptive to the Universal spiritual energies and wisdom of our human race. This is a unique, sublime spiritual experience.

Through our personal self culture, self discipline and personal aspiration, known as Sadhana, we have opportunity to assure our physical and psychological health and to directly experience spiritual consciousness.