30 November, 2011

LIGHT IN OUR BROKEN WORLD - Part 1

PART 1 of a SERIES OF REFLECTIONS

This is the first of several parts that will be published on the BLOG over the next few weeks. The complete article will then be uploaded to the RESSOURCES PAGE on the Website.

LIGHT IN OUR BROKEN WORLD


This is the 3rd in a series of personal reflections that emerged from my time at Die Quelle, the International Satsang Association ( ISA) Sadhana Ashram. It explores some of my responses to a quote from Sister Ishpriya. These reflections focus on some of the roots of the current crisis facing humanity and how both  as a member of the ISA and a Spiritual Traveller,  I could begin to undertake the responsibility of bringing some light into our broken world. For further details on the ISA visit http://www.international-satsang.org/   and for a copy of other reflections visit the Resources Pages of   http://www.satsang-companionship.org.uk  and also its Blog Pages  http://midlands-satsang.blogspot.com/



I recently attended the Board of Trustees meeting at Die Quelle the Sadhana Ashram of the International Satsang Association (ISA) near Dechantskirchen, Austria. There I met with Sister Ishpriya, the spiritual guide of the ISA, and other Board Members for a series of meetings. Whenever, I attend an event at Die Quelle, I look forward to Sister Ishpriya’s morning talks as inevitably they give rise to seriou7s and useful personal reflections. This time was no exception and the following notes are the third in a series written on my return from  the Sadhana Ashram. This one has the title ‘Light in Our Broken World.’ The other two in this series are : ‘Walking in the Mist – The Gift of Not Knowing’   and ‘Tips on the Spiritual Journey’.

Before we commenced our first meeting of the Board, Ishpriya gave us a short reflection. I want to focus on a few points she made and on my responses to these and how these could  influence and effect daily life.


LIGHT IN OUR BROKEN WORLD

In her opening remarks, Ishpriya reminded us of the main purpose for the existence of the ISA. A paraphrase of her words is ‘the ISA exists to bring a desire and compassion to our broken world. She then spoke a bit more about desire and compassion and focused back on the Satsang and its Members. Satsang Members work to become light in our broken world. We do so through our commitment to the Satsang’s main spirituality, namely our task of reading the signs of the times’ I was struck by the phrase ‘bringing the light of compassion into our broken world’

In so many ways, our world is ‘broken’. It is a world divided between the haves and the have nots. It is a world of stark opposites. It is a world where some people frantically and constantly diet to lose weight, caused mainly by over-eating. Yet, this is also a world where so many suffer from malnutrition and starvation. Our world struggles with many problems, not least those of pollution, disease, war and poverty.



Our way of life, with its tendency towards greed and consumerism  is in danger of estranging us not only from one another but also from our environment. In short we are failing to live in harmony with the planet, each other and even ourselves.

Many believe that both humanity and our planet are at a ‘tipping point’. On one side lies disaster on the other side the possibility of a breakthrough in compassionate consciousness.  We have reached a state of critical balance.  We will either tip over into increased hatred, intolerance and slavery or into love, compassion and freedom.
The choice is ours. However, we need to be mindful of the slogan, so often used by environmental protestors, ‘there is NO PLANet B ‘



OUR BEAUTIFUL BLUE PLANET :
There is no Planet B’


I often reflect on the wonder, awe and beauty of the cosmos and the magnificence of our Blue Planet. We are so fortunate to live on a planet that is rich in its diversity of flora, fauna, geography and geology. It sustains and supports a rich variety of life in countless forms. Then we have ourselves – the human family. We have a reflective consciousness that is so complex, so wonderful and so powerful. We are currently at the frontier of our understanding of consciousness. Yet, all of this wonder, complexity and beauty are marred by humanities increasing failure, fuelled mainly by greed and not need, to live in harmony with the planet, our environment and each other.

When faced with this challenge many people either throw their hands up in despair, as if the issues are far to complex to solve, or they seek to apportion blame and avoid any responsibility. Neither of these responses is helpful. Each of us needs to begin to face these issues and to take some responsibility for who we are, where we are and the consequences of our daily choices. Of course, the reasons for our current situation are complex and deep rooted. In the remainder of these reflections, I would like to focus on the following four issues that contribute to our present state.

Ø     Paternalistic Domination

Ø     Religion

Ø     Post Modernity

Ø     Responsibility


 TO BE CONTINUED
Further Parts  WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THIS BLOG IN THE NEAR FUTURE




10 November, 2011

WALKING IN THE MIST - The Gift of Not Knowing


Please note : this can be downloaded as a PDF file from the document section of the



WALKING IN THE MIST

The Gift of ‘Not- Knowing’

These reflections were written in October 2011 during my stay at Die Quelle – the ISA Sadhana Ashram, in Austria. The ’threads’ that run through these reflections occurred during my walk in the mist. I realised that my experiences in the misty mountains and forests were a metaphor for life’s journey.

In the mist near Hohenau in Austria
  ‘Let the silence embrace us as the mist embraces the trees’ 

                                                       (Ishpriya October 2011)

We are all formed and influenced by our environment and culture. Our experiences form and shape the person we are and influence our responses to life and its challenges. Our modern 24/7 world with its frenetic pace, its focus on consumerism and its growing over-dependency on modern communications has entered a stage in its evolution where instant answers and solutions are both expected and demanded.  In short, we live most aspects of our life using the same approach we often adopt with food. It must be fast! This rushed and hurried approach to life leads to increased stress and a tendency to both rush to judgement and to finding false solutions. 

Confine yourself to the present

 So taking time out, as I recently did at Die Quelle, gave me time to ‘pause for thought’. I am often drawn to a simple sign that is in the Zen Garden, at the front entrance to Die Quelle. It has a simple message ‘confine yourself  to the present.’ These words contain a deep and lasting wisdom. They are a useful reminder of the need to focus on being present to what I’m doing.  So as I left Die Quelle  in a very heavy mist, with visibility in places down to 15 metres I was forced to slow down and walk carefully.

The slower pace aided my reflections and so my thoughts turned to the busyness of life and its sharp contrast with my current pace here on a misty mountain side in South East Austria.  Here I had to take my time and carefully assess my chosen path. Although I am familiar with this part of Austria, having walked  in this area for over 10 years, hasty answers and choices were now not an option. Feeling alone, isolated and wrapped in the cold misty air, I began to understand the gift or value of not being too sure, of not knowing for certain where I was. The silence and the stillness of the misty surroundings seemed to enfold me in ‘bubble’ where I managed to get in touch with my Inner Self. This sense of space and timelessness brought my mind back to our modern tendency to live life on the run and to rush to judgement, seek solutions and avoid uncertainty, almost at all costs.

I reflected on how modern society approaches problem solving. With our access to the Information Super- Highway, Google and other World Wide Web sources, we expect immediate answers to very often extremely complex questions. In fact Google, like most web Search Engines, proudly proclaims its speed at accessing sources e.g. 350,000 sources in 0.175 seconds or something like that!   This demand for speed touches all aspects of life including politics, socials, psychological, personal and spiritual.  We are not happy with the feeling of ‘Not Knowing’.


The Mist Thickens
Several times as I continued my journey down the mountain the mist lifted slightly to reveal more and then returned to gently envelop me like a cold and wet blanket. I stopped in the shelter of the trees to pause for reflection. I realised that just as the weather can change at any time, it is a common human experience  for the ‘clouds of not knowing’ to drift into our life. I resumed my journey down the mountain via a very misty path and I was vividly reminded that in the Celtic Tradition,this concept of travelling within the clouds of unknowing’ is often referred to as ‘walking in the mist’.  For those familiar with Ireland and its often wet and misty climate, this metaphor will make sense.

Despite the wet and chilly air, there was something comforting about the silence and the sense of isolation of that mist filled mountain. As Sr. Ishpriya remarked to us during our time at Die Quelle, ‘Let the silence embrace us as the mist embraces the trees’ I certainly felt embraced!

I stopped once more to reflect on some of the major experiences in my life. Like many others, I have had several long periods of living life in the ‘clouds’  and  only now and then having periods of sunshine and clarity. These times of uncertainty have been extremely difficult but the lessons learned have deepened my self-awareness, compassion and understanding.

However, I feel that giving oneself permission to ‘ not know’ and learning how to relax into a state where ‘not knowing’‘of throwing the baby out with the bath water’

Nature either recycles everything or only retains things that work and are in harmony with the environment.  We could learn much from this. Whilst we must wisely re-assess the past and plan 
 our own future and, if necessary, discard that which is no longer of any use or value, we also need to retain the richness of the learned wisdom of the past. 

In therapeutic psychological approaches, the skills and/or gift of ‘not knowing’ are becoming increasingly more relevant and important. They are seen to ‘mirror’ the client’s confusion. Thus therapists, who can authentically model the acceptance of ‘not knowing’, can normalise the natural confusion of life. This normalisation can then prove very therapeutic.  I feel that spiritual travellers could also find a practice of ‘the acceptance of not knowing’ very helpful. This is because, if we both trust and believe that we live in an evolving and expanding Cosmos, whose Source is Mystery, then being open to the mystery of not knowing  can be a gift.

Furthermore, as I walked down the misty pathway, I realised that even the birds were silent, as if they too were co-operating with their environment. This reminded of the time many years ago when Ishpriya introduced me to the concept of humanity accepting the responsibility of being co-creators with the Mystery and that this required each of us to co-operate with our environment. Since then, I have increasingly found, that accepting this responsibility of being a ‘co-creators, has helped me to become more comfortable with ‘not knowing’   and I am finding this to be a reassuring and liberating gift. 

Our post modern age, with its rejection of formal religion, has to some degree filled the vacuum with a religion of consumerism and modern technology. It has made a ‘God’ out of technology and the importance of amassing vast quantities of ‘information.However, my past experience as a Computer Programmer has  taught me  the difference between DATA and INFORMATION. The latter is PROCESSED DATA.  Much of the ‘so called’ information that we all collect has not been processed. It is merely vast quantities of unchecked data. In addition, as anybody can upload information on to the  Web much of it is often inaccurate and sometimes totally false. Yet, some people  place greater ‘faith’ in this source than believers do in their Sacred Scriptures!    

Perhaps this blind reliance on vast amounts of digital information is our modern equivalent of the child’s ‘comfort blanket’.  It seems to me possible that ii is rooted in two main areas. These are our feelings of discomfort if we do not know something and our cultural need to have instant answers to increasingly complex questions.  Because of our 24/7 access to news and visual media  we are challenged and confronted with problems which  other generations had little knowledge of.  All of this causes us additional and often unnecessary stress because our modern culture demands knowledge and instant solutions.

Yet, there can be a great wisdom in sitting with our unanswered questions and not rushing to judgement.  Sometimes, having the ability to pause and reflect on our confusion can give space and time for more fruitful and imaginative responses to ‘bubble up’ in us. There can be a freedom in giving ourselves permission to ‘not know’. It is a useful and humbling reminder of our humanity, its limitations and our place in the vastness of the mystery of creation and the cosmos.

We live in an expanding cosmos. We know that our understanding of this cosmos is limited; we are quite simply merely at the ‘frontiers’ of its exploration.  We also live in a time where our knowledge of our own ‘Inner Cosmos’ is only at an early stage. In the past 50 or 60 years we have learned more about the mind/brain system than in the whole of previously recorded history. We are standing at the frontiers of ‘not knowing’.

Yet, here again, we can learn much from the wisdom of the past.  Mystics from the many Faith and Spiritual Traditions have, from their lived experience, given us a rich inheritance of advice and ‘travel tips’ for the journey into mindful awareness.  In addition, the growing understanding by both modern Neuro-science and psychology is opening up and exploring the frontiers of the mind and consciousness. We now know that the mind can not only be trained but that we can also rewire our brain. There is great quote in Neuro-psychology train the mind, change the brain’  

Recently, the growing understanding from science is being integrated with the Mystical Tradition to generate further advice and ‘tips’ for developing awareness. So we can readily find much to help us to sit more comfortably with the difficult and hard to answer questions.  We can thus become more aware of the ‘Who’ that is ‘not knowing’ of the being rather than the doer

Learning the skills and gifts of ‘Not-Knowing Acceptance’ can be extremely useful and rewarding.  Sitting with ‘not-knowing’ and patiently waiting for a response to ‘bubble up’ can be beneficial.  It certainly helps to reduce the stress caused by our modern fad of constant movement, activity and the demand for instant answers. Ultimately, I believe that this acceptance of sometime ‘not- knowing’ can help us to find the depth within, teach us the value of mystery and could lead us into deeper union with the Mystery or Source at the heart of creation.

So learning the skills and gifts of ‘not knowing acceptance’ can not only reduce stress but can retrain the mind and thus prove both rewarding and successful. Like many others, I find the practice of sitting with this ‘felt sense’  of not knowing can result in responses bubbling up from deeper consciousness One of the fruits of the practice is that I become more aware of myself and  begin to realise that it is OK to not know. It has taught me the following lesson; that as I begin to value staying with the challenge of uncertainty, this can lead me into a greater depth of awareness of self and others. This not only has value for me at the personal and spiritual level, but also in my professional work as a therapist. It assists me to meet people at relational depth.

As a member of the International Satsang, whose basic spirituality is that of ‘reading the signs of the times’, it is important that I first learn to begin to read myself. Only then, in a spirit of humility, compassion and awe of the mystery within, could I be of any use or support for others who may be struggling, in these uncertain times, with the challenge and uncertainty of not knowing. I believe that our world could benefit if more of us began to face this uncertainty and its challenge. Facing this and beginning to find times for the practice of not-knowing acceptance could relieve much of our current stress and confusion. It could liberate us from the self-imposed and culturally influenced tyranny and pressure of having to know.


Die Quelle looms out of the mist
By now I had been walking in the mist for several hours and I realised that I needed to return to Die Quelle, both for a period of Meditation and then a warm lunch, which I knew was being lovingly prepared by one of my fellow members of the Board of Trustees. This service or SEVA of cooking for others is an integral part of the ethos and values of Die Quelle and its adherence to the spirit of being a Sadhana Ashram. Everything is part of Spiritual Practice or Sadhana.

So  I retraced my steps back up the mountain and eventually was delighted to see Die Quelle looming out of the mist. It was wonderful to step back inside the warmth and safety of its interior and to spend some time in meditation in ‘ the cave’ . This is the special place reserved for both the morning and evening Aarti ceremonies and for group Meditation.

After a wonderful lunch, appreciated both for the care and skill of the cook and the appetite caused by my time in the mist,  I sat quietly in my room writing these  reflections. They arose from  my morning walk in the mist . I now end these reflections with a brief summary.

It seems to me that we are all born out of Mystery, we are part of the continuing enfolding and evolving of this Mystery and the ongoing mystery and we all return to this Mystery. In the words of the Tao Poem all beings return to the One Source – returning to the Source is tranquillity

The final lesson for me in all these reflections is this; the how, when and why (of this return to the Source/Mystery) I do not fully know and, thankfully – that is OK!





02 November, 2011

TIPS ON THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY



5 Practical Tips for the Spiritual Traveller

REFLECTIONS ON THE SPIRITUALITY OF DIE QUELLE

Two Satsang Companions at Side Entrance
Die Quelle - A Sadhana Ashram

‘All persons return to the One Source. Returning to the Source is tranquillity’ Tao poem)


People often ask me, ‘What is Die Quelle?  And ‘Why is it so important for your spiritual life as a Satsang Member?  

These reflections are an attempt to provide some answers to these two questions.  They are based on my personal experience of visiting Die Quelle the Satsang Sadhana Ashram over many years and on my understanding of points made by Sister Ishpriya in her many conferences at Die Quelle. But first of all, for some readers, a simple explanation of some terms.

Satsang   The word Satsang is a term used in Eastern Spiritual Traditions. It is derived from two Sanskrit words , Sat  meaning Truth ( a term often used for God – Ultimate Reality) and Sangha meaning a meeting or coming together. Thus a Satsang has come to mean a ‘ companionship of seekers after Truth. It is a term used by Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.

For further details about Satsang and the International Satsang Association (ISA) click on this link to visit the website. You can also download a leaflet ( in PDF format) by visiting  the Resource Page of the local UK Midlands Website . Look under documents and print it out.

Sadhana    This is a Sanskrit term meaning Spiritual Practice or Discipline.

Ashram     An Ashram is an Eastern term , denoting a place where Spiritual Seekers go to seek the teaching of a wise teacher  and to find the time and space to reflect on their Sadhana in the company of other Satsang Members.
It is also a place where the daily rhythm and way of life – Seva, Teaching, chores etc are all designed to provide spiritual food for the journey back to the Source that is Mystery.

Die Quelle (The Source)    is a Sadhana Ashram and a Resource Centre for the International Satsang Association. It is also a place that welcomes any Spiritual Traveller. It is place where one can receive teaching and spiritual from Sister Ishpriya, the Spiritual Guide of the ISA.

Further details on Die Quelle (The ISA Sadhana Ashram) and a downloadable Programme of events can be found at http://www.international-satsang.org/ 




The Spirituality of the Satsang` The central purpose of the ISA and its underlying spirituality is designed to assist spiritual   seekers to ‘read the signs of the times’. So how does Die Quelle play its part in this? What can the spiritual Seeker, who visits Die Quelle, take away from his/her time in Satsang?  How might others who have, as yet, not visited Die Quelle gain some useful, practical and simple ‘tips’ for their Sadhana?

Die Quelle- Garden - Outdoor Meditation Area
In our current times of vast changes we are as a human family is exposed to constant changes, business and vast amounts of data streaming (and sometimes screaming) at us from modern technology.
*                 
Consequently, many spiritual travellers wisely decide to take time out for deeper reflection. They do so in places like Die Quelle. There in the stillness and beautiful surrounding, the reduction of the ‘outside’ noise begins to calm down the inner noise. During these times of increasingly deeper reflection, responses from the real self begin to rise up into our consciousness. However, as I have so often found, and perhaps others do too, we return to our busy lives and these deeper responses seem to drift away just as morning haze is burnt off by the rising sun.  

So what could we all take away from our time at Die Quelle that could more easily be incorporated into our everyday lives? What practical tips could help? Here I return to my reflections on several Pravachan (Spiritual Conference Talk) given by Ishpriya on the importance of the Daily Rhythm and Seva at Die Quelle and also to several Pod casts the at are available either ion you Tube or the ISA Website.


Five Simple Tips for the Journey

Aarti Flame: light in our darkness
Ishpriya often emphasise the importance of a daily rhythm. We live in a world that is naturally rhythmic. It is governed by the Seasons and the constant cycle of light and dark – dawn and dusk. So the first and very one important spiritual tip is to begin to get as much rhythm of flow into life as possible. This reminds me of the Daily Aarti. This is a simple Eastern Ceremony of marking important points in the daily cycle with Light, burning camphor. . At Die Quelle this is done in the early morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart. It places ‘markers’ in the daily rhythm and provides a short time to pause and remember that we are part of a greater environment and the eternal ‘cycle of life’


Now, it may not be possible to have an Aarti Ceremony in our life. However, we could pause each morning when we arise and each evening and notice the light growing or fading. This could be a simple ‘practice’ or Sadhana in our busy life. We could use the lighting of a candle if that helps.


Spiritual Tip 1    ‘ Sharing our resources and using them wisely’


I would now like to outline four further tips based on Die Quelle’s daily rhythm.


Food and the Preparation of Meals

We live in a world where in the Third World many suffer from malnutrition while many in the First World struggle with the consequences of over-eating and poor dietary choices. Our modern world encourages consumerism and greed. We are constantly pressurised to indulge or ‘wants’ and not our ‘needs’   One of the more important slogans or mantras that we could encourage in our life is Need not Greed’

Kitchen SEVA at Die Quelle
At Die Quelle, the lifestyle is simple and satisfying. Because it is around 5 miles or 8 km up a mountain, there are no Convenience Stores around. Consequently, we cook for ourselves and the rest of the Community at Die Quelle. We take turns to be ‘the cook of the day’ Thus we, of necessity, encouraged to co-operate with the other cooks to decide how to share out the provisions in the larder. In addition, nothing is wasted. In the spirit of our mothers, we use every scrap of food to its best advantage; this includes anything left-over.



This simple, yet necessary practice is NOT just about meals, it is designed to make us more aware both of our choices and the spiritual value of sharing and using resources sparingly and wisely. Ishpriya remarked once, that this practice of sharing could remind us of a message so many of us have received from our mothers. Mothers often say to their children ‘Be nice and share your toys’. Well, whether its toys, time or the world’s resources, perhaps we could become more aware of our need to share at its importance if we are to live in harmony and compassion with our neighbours and our environment. So I find this part of the Rhythm at Die Quelle a reminder and challenge, not just about food and diet, but also about my use of other resources.


Spiritual Tip 2     ‘ Sharing our resources and using them wisely’




Water


Water - A Precious & Life Giving Resource
Water is an essential element for survival. In fact we can survive longer without food. It is a precious and free resource but it needs to be purified and used wisely. Die Quelle, like many places in our world, depends upon its own ‘source’ or well. It is not connected to a permanent water supply provided by a Utility Company. In parts of our World wars break out about water rights, millions of people die or are ill because of inadequate clean water


Consequently, the Rhythm at Die Quelle, of filling the water jugs at mealtimes, washing, cleaning and cooking are a reminder that the water supply is not endless and we need to be mindful of using it wisely.  It also reminds me of my need to be grateful for clean water and be compassionately mindful of those who don’t have access to clean water.


Spiritual Tip 3    ‘Each day have an awareness of using water moment’


Disposal of Garbage

Space - We are using it like a Garbage Can
Ishpriya often reminds us of our human tendency to use our environment as a giant Garbage Can This does not jut effect our planet and its environment but also space. Scientists warn that we are currently scattering the debris of space craft all over our universe. So we have moved from polluting our planet and environment to polluting space.








This is yet another sign of the duality of our thinking and philosophy. It shows how removed we are from any sense of Oneness or connectedness, not just with each other but also with our environment and the Cosmos.


Die Quelle is in an area that is well aware of the beauty and balance of its Environment. Consequently, part of rhythm and practice at Die Quelle is careful recycling of as much as possible. From paper to plastic, garbage, milk cartons, batteries, glass, wood, metal etc. It was an eye opener for me, coming from the UK where recycling is still in its infancy. Many could see this as either a mundane task or a necessary but time-wasting chore. However, Ishpriya reminds us that this is a simple spiritual practice



Spiritual Tip 4    ‘ Regularly recycle old ideas, thoughts, garbage and clutter’




SEVA - Selfless Service to and for Others

I have left SEVA until the last. It is a Sadhana that encompasses all the others. Now SEVA is one of the few Eastern terms which has been retained by the ISA. Sister Ishpriya lays great stress upon this as an essential spiritual practice in the Sadhana Ashram.

SEVA is a well known Sadhana in Indian Spirituality. In Hindu tradition it is referred to as Nishkam Karma. This is a  self-less action performed without any expectation of rewards  or results. It is a central tenet and practice of  Karma Yoga.

It is also a wonderful practice in Sikhism. Their founder Gurudev Nanak placed great emphasis on SEVA. Consequently, wherever you travel in the world and meet Sikhs own practice is that of the you will be impressed by their dedication to SEVA. One of their best known practices is that of the tradition of the Langar. This is attached to all their Temples or Gurdwaras and their everybody, regardless of race, station or faith, are served a free meal. These meals are prepared by Sikhs as part of their SEVA.it is  best not to view it  merely as a task or chore that is either enjoyable or mundane. Undertaking SEVA is a Sadhana, where one approaches the particular task with joy, mindfulness and a willingness to serve others.




Cleaning for the joy of cleaning

Undertaking SEVA is a Sadhana, where one approaches the particular task with joy, mindfulness and a willingness to serve others. In others words, doing things for the joy of doing and its potential for service to others.

This is a practice that one can take home. I have begun to see tasks like,  dishes, ironing, cleaning toilets ,washing the dishes, cooking etc as daily opportunities to practice mindfulness. They are opportunities to serve others This attitude is beginning to help me to reduce my tendency to view some tasks as ‘chores’ , which I try to avoid, and others as enjoyable, which I try to  reserve for myself.






Spiritual Tip 5       ‘ Begin to see everyday tasks as an opportunity to both
                                  serve others and to be mindfully present to Reality’


These 5 tips are extremely practical. In themselves, each are quite simple. However, it is the simplest things that so often make the biggest difference. For me, theses simple experiences  from the daily rhythm at Die Quelle  can prove to be extremely important. They suggest that small and relatively simple changes can make a big difference.


I wish all who read this the very best  and a successful and happy Seva.
Peter Creagh




These 5 simple ‘tips’ can readily be integrated into life regardless of how busy it may seem. As Ishpriya often says  ‘  The task is soul-sized . Begin it today ! ‘

HAPPY SEVA     from Peter Creagh