Spiritual Magazine | Wellness Magazine

In the Field, September 2018 / 31 Aug 2018
Convergence in the land of origins
Highlights from REVEREND DEBORAH MOLDOW’s account of the U Day Interfaith gathering in Ethiopia. To ignite a Global Fire of One Love, first you need a powerful spark! The flame was lit in February 2018 in Ethiopia, the Land of Origins, by 65 cultural, spiritual, religious and musical ambassadors from around the world who gathered for a ‘Convergence of Fire’. Unity Earth, in partnership with the United Religions Initiative, the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia and the World Peace Prayer Society, brought together the indigenous peoples of Australia, North and Central America; Buddhist monks from Thailand; Sikhs, Baha’is, Sufis and Hindus from India; and Jews, Christians and Muslims; all standing for unity, peace and compassion. January 30 to February 7, 2018, was World Interfaith Harmony Week. Highlights of the 7-day U Day festival included visiting sacred sites in Lalibela and Shashamane, a ‘Convergence of Fire’ torch-lighting ceremony, and an impressive event at the African Union. The mission of the U Day gatherings is to bring people into joyful harmony through interfaith understanding and the common language of music. The group journeyed to the UNESCO World Heritage site at Lalibela, and were warmly welcomed by the priests in an ancient, moving ceremony. They visited the extraordinary 13th century churches carved into stone, offering prayers in this special atmosphere infused with deep faith. Mr Qumelachew Muluneh Taye of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, observed: “You have done here a very historical work. It was the first time in the history of our country that many faith-based organizations speak together in one language according to their religion.” This journey of the heart demonstrated beyond any doubt that when people of goodwill gather together with the joy and conviction of their individual religious and spiritual traditions, they will produce a ‘Convergence of Fire’, igniting a Global Fire of One…

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Be inspired, September 2018 / 31 Aug 2018
Samyama – part 4
ASHTANGA YOGA SERIES What if someone told you there was a simple set of practices that could help you manage every aspect of your daily life, and at the same time take you to a level of human potential beyond your wildest imagination? Would you be interested? Most people would at least be curious. That is in fact an accurate explanation of the practices of Yoga, but most people don’t realize it. Yoga includes a holistic set of practices for overall self-development and the well-being of the body, mind and soul. A few thousand years back, the great sage Patanjali compiled the current yogic practices of that time into a simple framework consisting of eight parts or limbs, and that framework is still used today. It is known as Ashtanga Yoga. But the practices of Yoga have evolved since Patanjali was alive, in response to the needs of the time and especially during the last 150 years. So in this series DAAJI explores each limb of Yoga in the light of the modern day yogic practices of Heartfulness. He shows us how to integrate inner spiritual practices with living in the world and refining our personality, so as to create that true state of Yoga – skill in action and integration of the spiritual and worldly aspects of life. SAMYAMA – part 4 Dharana • Dhyana • Samadhi Samadhi is the eighth limb of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga. It is considered to be the goal of Yoga, an inner experience of purity and balance that is one with the original state that existed before creation. During our yogic practice, we also encounter various stages or glimpses of Samadhi as we progress on the journey towards this original state. In the final article of this series, DAAJI explains this unfolding experience of Samadhi and…

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Focus, September 2018 / 31 Aug 2018
Who am I?
A PERSPECTIVE Knowing the self is a topic of great interest in psychology and also in philosophy. VICTOR KANNAN reflects on this question that has been intriguing us from time immemorial, and shares the insights he has gained from introspection. All aspects of existence – temporal and real – are included in this question, who am I? The idea of who I can be and who I ought to be are also part of this larger question. A simple 10-minute introspective exercise takes us through several answers that reveal our roles, temperaments, achievements and relationships, and eventually our potentiality. Mel Schwartz, blogger of ‘A Shift of Mind’, writes in Psychology Today, “The universe purportedly exists in a state of flowing potential. And it is essential to understand that we are indeed part of that universe. The goal then is to access that potential, keeping the parts of our identity that continue to serve us well and shedding the old, habitual pieces that constrain us. This process is known as positive disintegration. This permits us to find balance between the extremes … and enter into a relationship with self that commits to our personal evolution.”1 Swami Brahmavidananda, in his expositions on the Bhagavad Gita, writes, “The search for identity is nothing new; it is as old as the human race. One recognizes instinctively that one is more than what one has believed oneself to be. ‘Who am I?’ is the most fundamental question. … If you understand that, everything in Vedanta is answered.”2 I am a manifestation of where I put my attention, which is supporting my intention. In the past I have explored God as a principle instead of a named entity: what is God rather than who is God? There have been several attempts to define God by various philosophers and…

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Interview, September 2018 / 31 Aug 2018
A personal journey – part 1
Spirit Matters Podcast is a very popular site showcasing an eclectic mix of talks about contemporary spirituality. The hosts are DENNIS RAIMONDI and PHILIP GOLDBERG. On July 1, 2018, together they interviewed DAAJI about his life, spirituality and his new book, The Heartfulness Way. Here we highlight excerpts from the interview. DR: This is Dennis Raimondi with my co-host, Philip Goldberg, author of The Life and Times of Yogananda, and our guest today from India is Kamlesh D. Patel, known to many as Daaji. He teaches Heartfulness Meditation from his personal experience as a devoted student of spirituality. He’s gone from his work as a pharmacist to a spiritual seeker and teacher, and we are very excited to speak with him today. So Daaji, thank you so very much for taking the time to come on, and I want to mention your latest book, The Heartfulness Way. PG: Welcome Daaji, you came to our attention through mutual friends, and you have an interesting life. Why don’t you fill in our listeners before we get into your new book and Heartfulness Meditation? Tell us how you came to become a teacher of meditation. You were born in India, you lived in America, and you’re a pharmacist by trade. Give us a little bit about that history. DAAJI: Well, I was born in India, as you said. I was educated here and then I studied and got my license to practice in two states, in New York State as well as in California. I started a pharmacy career in Brooklyn, and over a period of time, over 30 years, I must have started almost 20 drugstores. And my way, my spiritual path began a long time back. We don’t know when we begin but officially, to my senses, it began when I…

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It changes everything, September 2018 / 31 Aug 2018
When fear knocks
A MADHUSUDHAN REDDY explores the role fear plays in holding us back from success. He also shares some tips on how to overcome fear and develop courage and confidence. Everybody wants to be successful, but we succumb to things that are hurdles on the path of success. Though our hearts aspire for success, there is always some fear consciousness deep inside that keeps pulling us back. So if the fear is removed at the outset, we will come closer to success. The whole world sometimes kills your enthusiasm. In those times it is better to follow your inner voice than listen to others. We have fear of failure, fear of enormous future. We fear people may ridicule us – that either we are too old for the job or too young and immature, that we don’t have the required qualifications or we are inexperienced, that we lack the intelligence. Thinking that we are inadequate in some way, most of us lose the opportunities we have in hand. When we hide behind such pretexts, opportunities are closed to us. How to get rid of fear and fill yourself with courage? Take time and question yourself: What is the cause of my fear? Why am I taking shelter behind these pretexts? If you want to be successful, taking risks is unavoidable. So how to take those risks now? The whole world sometimes kills your enthusiasm. In those times it is better to follow your inner voice than listen to others. When you are in complex situations, even if others discourage you by saying it is useless, continue to try. Think on your own. Once you understand the facts thoroughly and take the risk, it can pave your way to success. But make sure that on your own you try to understand the situation. Once…

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September 2018, Thought in action / 31 Aug 2018
Vibrations
JAMIE BUTLER, healer and medium, founded The Lighter Side Network over a year ago. Here she speaks with EMMA IVATURI about consciousness, belief, feeling stuck, growing pains, intuition and synchronicity. Q: Can you elaborate on how the brain works as a receptor and filter for the countless vibrations around us every moment? JB: Our brain is not just an organ that runs neurons and sends messages throughout our body. It is also a great transmitter and receiver, much like a radio. In fact, many of our thoughts are not originally ours, but come because of our ability to receive the energy vibrations from all around us. Working this way, our brain can easily be overwhelmed and bombarded with information. Our ability to focus on what we want to attract is how we filter out all the unwanted vibrations on a daily basis. But it is also the way we are able to attract all the things we don’t desire, because we spend time worrying, living in fear and feeling victimized. What you are focused on is what your energy field resonates with. Like attracts like. Let’s say you are pretending to ‘play small’, whether you are pretending to be a mouse or you are pulling in your great charisma to allow someone else to shine. When you do this, you are saying you are willing to receive all the energy around you – from people, from the room, from conversations, from the history of the room, from plants and animals that match this version of ‘playing small’, even though it is not your true nature. The energy you are receiving is going to be the energy you are putting out. We can see now the vicious cycle this can create. We can take this in another direction too. Let’s say you…

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September 2018, Taste of life / 31 Aug 2018
Blackberry learnings
LESSONS FROM THE GARDEN ALANDA GREENE witnesses a lot while working in her garden. This time it’s the ripening of blackberries that provide the lesson on patience and acceptance of the processes of Nature. The blackberries are abundant this year and they’re ripe for picking. At least they appear to be. They challenge me more than any other berry in the garden, for where black and red currants, gooseberries, blueberries and raspberries reveal their ripeness with color, blackberries don’t. They are masterful at appearing ripe when they aren’t, their glossy black nubs fooling me over and over. My sense of sight is deceived and I must rely on touch – giving the berry a light tug such that if it comes free into my hand, it’s a yes, and if it doesn’t, it’s not ready. Using my sense of sight with other berries, I can reach between stems and branches to pick ones that don’t deceive; I’m not disappointed. With a blackberry, I find too often that my effort to get to it has been for naught. My slight tug meets resistance. I notice my impulse to pull it from the stem anyway, to give just a bit more force to my tug so it will release, even though I know it won’t be sweet and the taste will be undeveloped. But sometimes I’ve reached between a lot of branches for just that berry. I don’t want to have to come back to the same one tomorrow or maybe again the day after that. Over and over I keep finding berries that are not quite ready. But I find impatience too, wanting what isn’t ready to be so, because I don’t want to have to do it again. The willingness to accept a situation that is given, not trying to…

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THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

It changes everything

When fear knocks

in It changes everything, September 2018

A MADHUSUDHAN REDDY explores the role fear plays in holding us back from success. He also shares some tips on how to overcome fear and develop courage and confidence. Everybody...

JAMIE BUTLER, healer and medium, founded The Lighter Side Network over a year ago. Here she speaks with EMMA IVATURI about consciousness, belief, feeling stuck, growing pains, intuition and synchronicity....

Lessons in a divided world: empathy

The heartfulness negotiator – part 8

Focus

Consciousness

in Focus, September 2018

KAREN O’ NEILL Heartfulness Fellow New Delhi, India ‘Consciousness’ is derived from the Latin words conscius, meaning ‘to know’ or ‘to be aware’, and conscrire, meaning ‘to be mutually aware’....

Who am I?

The potency of a seed

Be Inspired

Samyama – part 4

in Be inspired, September 2018

ASHTANGA YOGA SERIES What if someone told you there was a simple set of practices that could help you manage every aspect of your daily life, and at the same time...

Samadhi and superconsciouness

Samyama – part 3

Taste of Life

Interview

A personal journey – part 1

in Interview, September 2018

Spirit Matters Podcast is a very popular site showcasing an eclectic mix of talks about contemporary spirituality. The hosts are DENNIS RAIMONDI and PHILIP GOLDBERG. On July 1, 2018, together...