The Individualized Universe - Where Man & God are One.

Labelling is attempting to
box the ocean,
while the truth is that we
are similar to magnificently complex
picture puzzles,
which
when completed
illustrates the
Universe.

The search for union passes into the realization, not that we are just with or in, but that we are of God. One with, or One in, implies separation. The great realization is that we are of that which is, we are some part of it.

The aim of our search is to discover that the Universe is individualized in each one of us and that individuality within each of us has the possibility of expanding to the universalization of the Self.
Ernest Holmes "A Year of Daily Wisdom"

More The Buddha and Meditation Quotes

. . . a generous heart, kind speech and a life of service are the things which renew humanity . . . The Buddha

dr.mike, what I learned was the importance of "equanimity" (again Jeanne has a good answer to that discussion above) and the "middle road" - acceptance of what there is, observing it and letting it go. Here is another of our Vipassana Wisdom-holder's quotes (luv ya Jeanne), which reminded me of the excellent doc. (I am going to order it): speaking of 'bolting'...

I was thinking about how often people think that 'bolting' sankara as an expression of freedom... and yet, we can see that it is actually a reaction to trying to maintain the status quo,,, it is resisting change and growth.

taking on the yoke of discipline seems to be the way toward freedom... toward liberation. whereas bolting, escaping, running away, avoiding... are all part of maintaining the chains of enslavement to ignorance.

The other day someone said they couldn't see the benefit of sitting still and not moving a muscle... the old me might have tried to explain or persuade... but with vipassana... I've come to learn that if the seed of interest is there, if the karma of that person is ready, they will respond with interest. So I simply agreed that the daily zen is life itself.

My initial reaction upon hearing about the 10 days of silence necessary to fulfill a vipassana course was "whoa! ...you people are really serious". My meditation experience prior to vipassana consisted of driving long distances through city traffic to go and sit in someone's living room, meditate, break bread and share community. It gave the worthwhile lift I sought, but only touched the surface of my wounded soul.

Vipassana cut through to the roots of the wounds... and they were able to dissolve and float away... good-bye little fears and phobias, your work is done.
Metta, ron

Ron adds:
"He who givens himself to vanity, and does not give himself to meditation, forgetting the real aim of life and grasping at pleasure, will in time envy him who has exerted himself in meditation." The Buddha

Jeanne replies:
Love that Buddha quote... I'd never heard that one before. It is so true. Reminds me of the aged meditators I see at the courses... with their beautiful posture and clear sparkling eyes. Inspiring... and something to aspire to.

it seems we are forever going back and forth...
with the either/or.
Such is the beauty of the middle path
it is receptive to both light and dark, cold and hot, male and female...
and always seeking balance.
We modern folk are not even close to a state of balance... we ingest polluted air, water, food and chaos daily. And accept conclusions based on theory... not direct experience - which we mistrust... it is without data. We are walking, talking blobs of confusion, spouting half-truths.
That said... I was long confused - about the role of the warrior in this culture. A culture that makes them both heroes and villains. ...more of the either/or. It was upon learning about Tecumseh and the Shaolin monks, that I found a middle place to balance such a controversial matter.
I'm just trying to say that right and wrong doesn't have an edge we cross, knowing we are one or the other...
but rather gradient shades of light and dark.
and circumstances.
and love to consider.
and monks don't serve familial love, but rather, a greater, grander,
more pervasive form of love
metta. Jeanne

Ten Days of Silence & Equanimity @ Vipassana Retreat

Hi Ron,
Great to hear that you were accepted into the Vipassana 10 day meditation. I've done it on an island off Washington state - incredible breakthrough experience.
Namasté, Phoebe

Thank you, Pheobe. Actually, I am an "old student" and this is my second go-around. My first experience was last year after the feeling so rejected by being virtually left out of the will (my last brother died last year so I did end up with some inheritance). I am so looking forward to less samskara this time - needless to say, the first ten days was a very painful difficult time, and of course very needed.

My breakthrough this time is that Vipassana is Self-Deeksha! (What do you think?) I have never liked the idea of me being responsible for "giving" anybody anything. Now, I feel I need to integrate the two. The best Deeksha group was when I led out with a Vipassana-type meditation. A posiitive thing is that Sri. AmmaBhagavan approve Vipassana as a meditation leading up to the Oneness Blessing Giving. When I am part of the Chakra Dyana or Moola Mantra (pranayama),. my kundalini builds up so much that I am ungrounded.

Something appears to be going right, as I get great feedback from the fellow Givers and Receivers - this time I was seen as a "Big Buddha" by a fellow One, so I think BuddhaNature is coming through.
I plan to go to a lot of ten dayers and even more. I may even hang out at one for a 30 day program?
My original goal was to get the Dhamma Brothers(have you seen this documentary? google it) experience to my nephew in prison, but his inherited money, my aunt and his highly paid lawyers have kept him out so far despite being arrested for two serious violent incidents(while he was out of his mind drunk).

Here are some correspondences with Jeanne on the Vipassana group on Architects of a New Dawn
I assume you watch that site as it was created by Carlos Santana with the help of Jerry & Dianne.
This was an article i wrote for Unity (they only wanted 200 words)
Ten Days of Silence for Peace of Mind
Ron Alexander

After I returned from a ten day silent Vipassana Retreat, I have been asked "Why would you even want to be in silence for ten days?" That was a good question. I would have thought it crazy, if I had not seen the "Dhamma Brothers" documentary, about the amazing transformation of lifer prisoners (some convicted murderers), after they spent ten days of silent Vipassana Meditation.

Vipassana means to see things as they really are, and was started by Gautama Buddha 2600 years ago. "...Buddha taught: an art of living. He never established or taught any religion, any 'ism'. He never instructed those who came to him to practice any rituals, any empty formalities. Instead, he taught them just to observe nature as it is, by observing the reality inside. Out of ignorance we keep reacting in ways which harm ourselves and others. But when the wisdom arises-the wisdom of observing reality as it is-this habit of reacting falls away. When we cease to react blindly, then we are capable of real action-action proceeding from a balanced mind, a mind which sees and understands the truth. Such action can only be positive, creative, helpful to ourselves and to others." S.N. Goenka "The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation".

Science also supports the premise behind the Buddha’s meditation, as can be read about in Tolle’s books –specifically identifying with inner space (formlessness) instead of form.

Daily eleven hours of meditating was not easy, many times I felt like just bolting. However, I am glad I didn’t. I am meditating more and more effectively experiencing much more peace and joy.

Goenka advises practice – “persistence, and you will succeed." Also, we are to end each sitting with a ‘Metta’ (Loving Kindness) prayer:
May all beings be happy, be peaceful and be free!”
TReply by Jeanne on September 9, 2009 at 7:46am

speaking of 'bolting'...

I was thinking about how often people think that 'bolting' sankara as an expression of freedom... and yet, we can see that it is actually a reaction to trying to maintain the status quo,,, it is resisting change and growth.

taking on the yoke of discipline seems to be the way toward freedom... toward liberation. whereas bolting, escaping, running away, avoiding... are all part of maintaining the chains of enslavement to ignorance.

The other day someone said they couldn't see the benefit of sitting still and not moving a muscle... the old me might have tried to explain or persuade... but with vipassana... I've come to learn that if the seed of interest is there, if the karma of that person is ready, they will respond with interest. So I simply agreed that the daily zen is life itself.

My initial reaction upon hearing about the 10 days of silence necessary to fulfill a vipassana course was "whoa! ...you people are really serious". My meditation experience prior to vipassana consisted of driving long distances through city traffic to go and sit in someone's living room, meditate, break bread and share community. It gave the worthwhile lift I sought, but only touched the surface of my wounded soul.

Vipassana cut through to the roots of the wounds... and they were able to dissolve and float away... good-bye little fears and phobias, your work is done.
Equanimity
Posted by Ron Alexander
Not transcendance, not trance, not out-of-body, not egolessness, although these states happen in meditation, in Vipassana, our goal is equanimity according to Goenka.

To me equanimity is real peace, real joy, real balance, and is the middle road that Buddha teaches.

Agree? or not?
Reply by Jeanne o

I agree... equanimity is a result of practicing mindfulness in our daily walk.

The various states we experience while meditating are interesting... but isn't the point of personal improvement, to be a happier, more creative human being? To be able to love more fearlessly? To be better communicators and citizens? We benefit from the discipline of meditation - and the barometer of that activity is how equanimous we are while existing in the world of agitation.

The Buddha (PBS Wed. at 7 pm) - Vipassana Meditation

Comment by Jeanne Great quote! from Ernest. "...cannot remain young unless... we are one..."
Thanks Capt. Ron... have a very merry Monday.

Preview Trailer, The Buddha, PBS Video
video.pbs.org
Airs Wed., April 7, 8PM ET/PT

Comment by Ron Alexander
Jeanne, Becoming a Deeksha (Oneness Blessing) Giver, I have often wondered how we can teach others to give themselves that Gift! Then I was meditating this AM, and realized Vipassana Meditation is indeed that Gift! I am going to set a date soon for another ten dayer. thanks for the inspiration, ron

Comment by Jeanne Something about this being a journey that no other can do for you... Vipassana is a gift you must give yourself. I tell everyone I know about it... but have come to realize that its like a calling... and we're all called to different paths. Though for most of us who have done a 10 dayer, theres an unspoken understanding, a knowing... like one young woman said... "there's your bio-family and there's your vipassana family." We are also planning another 10 dayer in May...

Ron adds:
"He who givens himself to vanity, and does not give himself to meditation, forgetting the real aim of life and grasping at pleasure, will in time envy him who has exerted himself in meditation." The Buddha

Jeanne replies:
Love that Buddha quote... I'd never heard that one before. It is so true. Reminds me of the aged meditators I see at the courses... with their beautiful posture and clear sparkling eyes. Inspiring... and something to aspire to.





Thank you, Lesta - How thoughtful & appropriate! "I intend to become the "path" myself. What I really like about Buddhism is the "direct experience" instead of having to have "faith" or" belief".

I am on the path hoping to be the "Path"!
I love Oneness Blessing Giving and Vipassana Meditation - one is giving the Gift - the other is receiving the "Gift" directly! commitment to One Love, ron

Thoughts are things; form things, the finger pointing to the moon.

"Thought' this went with Rita's wise enigmatic quote below:


Comment by Rita O'Gorman
Thoughts are things; form things, the finger pointing to the moon.

"Thoughts are things; form things, the finger pointing to the moon." Rita, this quote is very meaningful to me. As I was recovering from the shock of Mom shockiingly virtually leaving me out of her will last year, I started reflecting on quotes like "the best and most beautiful things in life are not things." Then I heard from a friend who travels to the Amazon that a Shaman told her that "thoughts are things." in gratitude, ron
By the way, I have successfully reframed the inheritance into a Divine One, using a Jesus quote - "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and All shall be added." This has delightfully proven true to me.

have a warm & fuzzy Easter

WORD FOR THE DAY(
gratefulness.org)
Saturday, Apr. 3

Gratitude is twofold -
love coming to visit us and
love running out to greet a welcome guest.

Henry Van Dyke

Realization of Oneness with the Divine - the True Fountain of Youth

In Him, we live, move, and have our being.-Acts 17:28

"It is an interesting fact that, whether we know it and whether or not we like it, our lives are so tied in with God, the living Spirit, that we cannot remain young and enthusiastic unless we know that we are one with that which knows no age and no burdens.
Let us make up our minds that yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet arrived, but today can be filled with wonder if we know that we stand on the threshold of that which is wonderful and new."

Paraphrased from a day in "Daily Wisdom" by Ernest Holmes



Below is a day in "Daily Wisdom" by Ernest Holmes



Comment by Jeanne Great quote! from Ernest. "...cannot remain young unless... we are one..."
Thanks Capt. Ron... have a very merry Monday.

Comment by Ron Alexander
Jeanne, Becoming a Deeksha (Oneness Blessing) Giver, I have often wondered how we can teach others to give themselves that Gift! Then I was meditating this AM, and realized Vipassana Meditation is indeed that Gift! I am going to set a date soon for another ten dayer. thanks for the inspiration, ron

Comment by Jeanne Something about this being a journey that no other can do for you... Vipassana is a gift you must give yourself. I tell everyone I know about it... but have come to realize that its like a calling... and we're all called to different paths. Though for most of us who have done a 10 dayer, theres an unspoken understanding, a knowing... like one young woman said... "there's your bio-family and there's your vipassana family." We are also planning another 10 dayer in May...

Ron adds:
"He who givens himself to vanity, and does not give himself to meditation, forgetting the real aim of life and grasping at pleasure, will in time envy him who has exerted himself in meditation." The Buddha

Jeanne replies:
Love that Buddha quote... I'd never heard that one before. It is so true. Reminds me of the aged meditators I see at the courses... with their beautiful posture and clear sparkling eyes. Inspiring... and something to aspire to.