Chap.3 part 2 excerpt as recently written.

Super – enlightenment?

Vedanta says Aham Brahma Asmi. I am the Divine or Cosmic Consciousness and the world is Maya. (Illusory). This can be seen as religion without a God, and has similarities to Buddhism, which evolved in India post Upanishads. (The scriptures defining Vedanta, which were written at a later stage of the Vedas. (Veda plus anta = Vedanta).

Yet the other core component of my spiritual practice has been the worship of the Goddess as my personal Deity, which in practice has entailed engaging in Kundalini Yoga. This for me is working with the centers of the body, the chakras, through which the kundalini passes as it arises from the base of the spine.

This practice is also about Shakti, the Divine Goddess energy, which can be invoked using mantas, especially “seed” mantras.  So in some respects this combines both a personal deity with an impersonal deity and some practice of working with bodily centers using the yogas of meditation, mantra and yoga postures.

This all may seem contradictory but has been in common practice from ancient times as per the writings of the sages and seers in India.

Previously I had human gurus that guided my practice as a monk and into later years. Also I have been guided or helped by a number of counselors and therapists, in regards to psychological mental components.

The Guides are another source for the Gnostic philosophy, which to me seems close to Vedanta. The Guides speak channel directly through the unedited books of Paul Selig. The words that come across sounds to me very much like my philosophy of the Vedanta, placed into modern terminology and perspective. (With some Christion perspectives).

The Guides say we are all Divine, and we all live in a Divine world that is undifferentiated in the sense that this perspective/belief is for everybody. All persons are all by birthright Divine beings, in their bodies and human lives. Vedanta which was really the domain of sannyasins and swamis initially in India. It is still often seen as a philosophy in the domain of renunciation and monastic leanings.

The goal the Guides propose is to stay or live in the Higher Rooms where one lives as ones higher self, which then allows all the answers to life questions to flow spontaneously.

Then ones way of living automatically changes to one of living in the light, and one gets out of the darkness. Two key things for me have made me continue with readings of, so far, six books in the series. Firstly, the goal is to be free of fear, totally and unconditionally, as when one is in the light in the darkness doesn’t exist. As I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and fear therefore this has been my goal. (Even as probably if I am honest, when I was a monk in India for those ten years). Secondly I see the teachings as being completely open to anyone at any stage, without any necessary background. No previous knowledge. My time as a monk counts for nothing, my spiritual practice today to counts for nothing! Unless I make the free choice of surrender to the purpose of living in the Higher Rooms, and unconditional accept my birthright to be a Divine being. (Under all circumstances).

I still do this also through my devotion to the Goddess along-side of my monotheistic or non-dualist philosophic practice. The mantras are the activity, and these refer to specific goddess forms, (of the one Divine Shakti). As they are directed to specific chakras in the body, this repetition of mantras, purifies and bring light to the human realm. They also work subtly on mental health issues, addictions and obsessions.

It is also a surrendering process. That is to leave it up to the Goddess, or rather give it over to the Goddess. This can be replicated of course in whatever one’s pathway or religion is, and as I am multi-faith I have absolutely no issue whatsoever with doing the same process through any religion or any spiritual practice. I don’t have any issue or energy to discuss the benefits of one way or another, and I am simply not interested in debating my religion/s, (or politics). It is irrelevant, get on with the job, and attain enlightenment and realization.

Life events can be seen as an actions directed by a force, based on which choice is made by the individual. Such choices, and then endeavors, range from choosing a totally materialistic or even animalistic life style, to choosing a spiritual one, with all manner of variation in between.

The concept of destiny does not make me fatalistic, rather more optimistic, cheerful and serene, due to knowing the true role of the outcome of that destiny. Destiny is my self-responsibility, and what happens is a function of the cosmic laws. Because I believe and feel the central Divinity of the Cosmos, I accept the pain as well as the pleasure of life equally and with equanimity, (because all experience is part of that Divinity).

I discovered that we all walk towards our Nirvana, and simply the ability of the world is to provide the necessary learnings. We can sit back when we see life “as it is and ourselves as we are”. This does not cure or even deny room for change or personal growth. Just that one is able to work, without being affected dramatically by success or failure. Also that any objective is already present as the perfect Self (The Atman as one with Brahman). The journey, the effort is also the goal. Do you live in terms of being self-realized, when what we want is already achieved, and anything else is also certainly achievable? (Within the realm of the dream Maya).

The True Self within is so near and yet so hard to find. All the yogis and gurus, they must recommend you ask the question:

Who am I?

Also seek the guru within as well as without. The Vedanta teachers say that when we ask ourselves, who am I, we are trying to find out what the true nature of the “I” is. Not mind, not body, but an unchanging entity, that remains constant through childhood to old-age. It is the self within the Atman which is the same substance as the Cosmic Soul. All the teachers of this way point out not only the importance of the guru, but also of the Deity that one surrenders to.

I have realized that the minds activities are transient and fickle, and the light of yogic awareness burns steadily behind the mental screens. We reach the transcendental through the awareness of the light. Through our deepest subconscious, we can return to our chosen life of being one with Divinity flowing down to all levels of our human endeavor.

My years long ago in isolated huts and villages, gave me time and space to consolidate a core foundation Awareness. However I came to realize one part only of my spiritual journey, which was of a reclusive isolative nature. That I was 50% complete or 50% incomplete! It did take me another forty years to resolve the rest.

The underlying and sometimes automatic subconscious thread of devotion to God still worked for me to enable a Grace that made practical the therapy, recovery, mental wellness, and strength or fortitude. The Western world and my ordinary existence of family, work, and finances has enabled me to understand how the esoteric Eastern based philosophy of Shaktiis providing true understanding or spirituality. It’s at all levels, through all cultures, and also props up the formless non-dual concepts of Vedanta enabling it to be, not just for monks, as traditionally it had been.

The Guides words have made it very clear to me that this “I am Divine’, is for the present times for all. This is what we need now in what is a chaotic world of darkness. I had never seen my divine Shakti in a concrete vision, but have felt the presence for a long time of a male spirit that has guided me or at least supported me. This personal presence completely resonated in agreement with what the Guides were saying, and I could re identify with elements of my “monk person” that I had held for so many years in India.

I have made my choices and then sat back unable to process Life and the Universe. My life was unmanageable, and that is when the Divine has come down in the form of grace. And this is spirit guidance. It’s a surrender thing!

Transactions of ego in the matters of psycho-sexual, and romantic leanings after I left India, required of me to accept any mental discomfort experienced. That meant that the type of existence I continued with for many years thereafter submerged my spiritual journey into a mode of survival. I forgot any kudos I had gleaned as an ex-holy-man. I think though I had to become a humble-man not a holy-man.

My guru in India, Swami Muktananda, was somewhat scathing when I turned up to his ashram in my robes speaking Hindi and looking like a Swami. He said in about two sentences: “you’re always going to be English, no matter how Indian or Hindu you try to be. And what’s wrong with Christianity”? I did not really except he had said those words. I pretended he hadn’t. It took me a long time to see what he said was absolutely true.

The work of the Divine Goddess is this spinning of us into the web of Maya, seemingly on the surface.

Then to trip us into mundane activities, but really to eventually liberate, as the Divine works happen in the world, and not in some cave or monastery.

We are led to Practical Enlightenment or Realistic Realization eventually, as long as we are “on the pathway”. We are all full of subconscious material relating to needs and desires, but need to experience life through the physical persona in order to transcend the ego. Of course free will and choice is involved, and I had to make a choice to surrender to the Higher Power, even if it was born of desperation.

The mantras that I repeat as part of my spiritual way, led my individual self into an awareness of Universal Self, expressed as the Cosmic Sound. Eventually this sound can be experienced beyond meditation and bought right down through the chakras of the body to the toes and into all aspects of my life, “out there”. Life and the Universe.

With attraction to the Divine comes a natural tendency to serve others, even if one is still a bit driven at times by excessive, obsessive, or pleasure seeking type common human behaviors. I can see the goodness in the mistakes I made, but now can say it’s no longer about mistakes, they are just enriching experiences. I prefer to say: learning experiences.

Although I feel and talk of the Divine Spirit, it is also useful in to place it in life experiences in terms of mental wellness, addictive behaviors, and pleasure seeking lifestyles. (All the baggage that goes with normal human behaviors out there in life and the universe). The real need is to remain focused on the goal of coming to the Divine awareness, and then realize the inner true guru that you know you are in essence.

Your guides: they are you and have purpose as separate, only to take you to awareness of the Truth, which coincides with the loss of the lower self through transcendence of your ego tendencies. Then you don’t need gurus, you are the Guru!

This is the wakening to the day of the light. Whatever religion or spiritual pathway has got you so far. The purifying benefits in terms of ego transcendence leads to dimming or disappearance of the psycho emotional and addictive tendencies that cause so much havoc in so-called civilized society.

Because I see the Universal Spirit as manifesting through a power of the Shakti or Goddess creative Maya, I accept that the energy of Shaktihas to be brought into real life. I see the need to deal with and understand this energy as essentially a female aspect of Divinity.

The marble form of the idol in the temple is a means to help with spiritual practice. It is not worship of a piece of marble, rather a useful means of purifying a psycho emotional mental deficit, and an activity done with a view to developing concentration and awareness. The purpose of any external devotion still is that the true nature of ones Divine self becomes self-evident into all levels of one’s human form and existence.

The Goddess then represents both Maya in the whole world of human suffering, searching and pleasure seeking, and she also represents the link back to the Universal Being, which is formless, pervasive Cosmic Consciousness. Some people call it God. The Goddess is the energy represented by the Kundalini force, which rises up the spine with the human awakening, to break through at the crown of the head, so as to allow the liberation of the soul.

The Goddess is also the focus of the Tantric way that includes the world in worship. Instead of exclusion, there is inclusion of “money food and sex”. (Which needs to be dealt with appropriately). The Goddess is the link for me. A means of transferring human identity to Divine identity and to allowing the understanding of what my gurus and guides are talking about.

Now my awareness is of no religion, or even no spiritual belief that I have to defend. I do not have to follow any path, but I am simply aware of my own choices in this matter. I have opened up to any religious or spiritual experience that helps, and accept the need for the many forms that religion and spirituality take.

The detail regarding meditation on the chakras.

Best not to over interpret anything. Scientific data or possible clinical implications, or what I am writing – in my view! Also as a Multi Faith practitioner, & Mental Health Profession, I reserve my choice to change my mind any time about what I believe, regarding holy books, guru teachings, and even current trends in mental health treatments! Remember what ones Truth is. One’s heart knows it. If you don’t know – seek. There are guides, gurus and angels. If you pray for them to appear-they will. The darkness will pass when the light comes back.

I have found a new understanding of God. For me it is the Goddess and my Mantras with use in kundalini yoga.

I use seed mantras “attaching” them as the meditation goes downwards through the chakras. As energy is released the kundalini then goes upwards to the crown of the head.

In this order here are my version of how to use Bija or seed mantras with chakras of the Kundalini energy.

Crown                                             Sahasraram Chakra – OM

Brow (3rd eye)                           Ajna Chakra – OM

Throat                                            Vishuddha Chakra – Aim

Heart                                               Anahata Chakra – Hrim

Solar plexus                                  Manipura Chakra – Shrim

Sacral                                              Svadhisthana Chakra – Krim

Root                                                Muladhara Chakra – Klim

Om (Source of all)

AIM – (pronounce Aiim), the bija mantra of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. Has the power to enhance cognition & understand complex teachings.

HRIM (pronounced Hreem) is is the mantra of the Divine Maya. Through it we can control the illusion power of our own minds. Mahamaya, the goddess of power over the created universe (of illusion). Has the power to awaken and purify the heart, and overcome obsession with illusory life content.

SHRIM (pronounced Shreem) is a mantra of love, devotion and beauty, relating to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Beauty and divine grace, to give us the good things of life, including health. It aids in fertility and rejuvenation. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth (in its broadest sense). Has the power to engender wealth in all its forms

KRIM (pronounced Kreem) is the great mantra of Kali, has a special power relative to the lower chakras, which it can both stimulate and transform. It a main mantra of the Tantra. It should be used with care. Kali, the fierce goddess, who has power to destroy. Power & control over all sexual issues.

KLIM – (pronounce Kliim), the bija mantra of Kameshwari, the goddess of desire or contentment and satisfaction.

*Thus the mantra is: OM AIM HRIM SHRIM KRIM KLIM (In that order)

These seed mantras are not rigidly applied but rather can be attuned to how you meditate. Thus they could be used for personal wish or desire gratification. In tantric view this is not necessarily “bad’ – just practice at a base level. Ultimately in the Tantric view, such diversions are temporary, as the repetition of mantra will always want to lead to the high purified spiritual levels. At such levels one is moved more into the heart & higher chakras, & the Divine etheric space, above & around. Then the mantras of choice would change. OM or SOHAM are preferred. N.B. Some consider that Kundalini arises up and down fully and naturally in one continuous cycle.

Meditation and Mantras: Summary & refresher

This part is about using mantras to enhance enlightenment.

We are already Divine. Part of the Divine World. However we find ourselves in darkness.

Immersed in addictions, fear, depression, and anxiety. We don’t find or see our true nature until we can move past the darkness into the light. The darkness is still part of the universe and a very necessary part also. So our journeys in darkness and out, have been necessary as part of our learning. We are now ready to be in our true space and place, and to experience this throughout our daily life and activities.

The mantra has made my Enlightenment a practical experience. Something I can do through the body and mind down to the tips of the toes and through all emotional mental and physical states. I use mantras that will work through the chakras.

Its centres that take in and give out energy. Traditionally there are sounds associated with the chakras called bija mantras or seed mantras. However the traditional seed sounds for the centres are not commonly used as “every day” mantras for chanting. (But certainly as a meditation aid). There is however another way that I access the energy of the chakra so that the negative energy is moved up and out of the body, and the divine energies move down to the specific chakra that I focused upon.

I get this focus with a of seed mantra, allied to the Goddess Energy per chakra, and to the Shakti, (Divine Energy seen as female in presentation). This is in essence a Tantric form of using mantras, as tantra is “go out into the world”. By using these seed mantras which relate to specific Divine energy or forms, which are also specific to a chakra, we can put our enlightenment to practice throughout the whole body.

As I meditate on all the chakras I we release the negative power and receive the divine power. Tantric mantras can produce almost instantaneous results, due to the awakening of the kundalini, the primal energy or Shakti. (As I initially experienced in India). This was a clearing process, but it seemed “weird” temporarily. It can be also problematic if a person is practicing tantric kundalini awakening, using bija mantras without guidance. That is why the teacher, guides or guru are important throughout the journey.

Unlike all the others OM is not specific to female/male energy.

This is the sound of the universe, the Cosmic Soul, the Brahma, that transcends everything.

The Maya energy is in the heart chakra. Maya or Mahamaya as the Goddess, is the loci of our illusion, the world and the created universe. Seems real! Then seems to change, then vanish. Our dreams disappear. Our lives disappear! It’s real enough to the unenlightened person, but really we are not solid bodies at all! (Check Quantum physics for the scientific perspective regarding the atom “dance” of so-called solid matter).

The seed mantras are part of tantric lore. Goddess worship via Shakti/ Kundalini accesses a power for practical material & spiritual purposes. Thus the seed mantras should also be considered in terms of both external focused meditation and for the “reverse” flow of energy back down the body through the chakras. This flow took me to the life experiences that I needed to learn from, & sometimes suffer. This is an essential concept of Tantra & helps spirituality to be intimately connected to all parts of the body based life journey.