Today: “We have to understand the basic fundamental existence of ours” – Yogi Bhajan

“We have to understand the basic fundamental existence of ours – to understand the spirit. Once you understand the spirit you are all right.” Yogi Bhajan

 

 

Meditation

Today: “Advance or retreat according to your duty” – I Ching

Know the time to advance or retreat from your sense of duty.  Living your duty will maintain your strength.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching

Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression. Duration is rather the self- contained and therefore self-renewing movement of an organised, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in exhalation, diastole, expansion.
Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. The seasons of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce effects that endure.
So likewise the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.
A woman should follow a man her whole life long, but a man should at all times hold to what is his duty at the given moment. Should he persistently seek to conform to the woman, it would be a mistake for him. Accordingly it is altogether right for a woman to hold conservatively to tradition, but a man must always be flexible and adaptable and allow himself to be guided solely by what his duty requires of him at the moment.
Conditions are such that the hostile forces favored by the time are advancing. In this case retreat is the right course, and it is through retreat that success is achieved. But success consists in being able to carry out retreat correctly. Retreat is not to be confused with flight. Flight means saving oneself under any circumstances, whereas retreat is a sign of strength. We must be careful not to miss the right moment while we’re in full possession of power and position. Then we shall be able to interpret the signs of the time before it is too late and to prepare for provisional retreat instead of being drawn into a desperate life-and-death struggle. Thus we do not simply abandon the field to the opponent; we make it difficult for him to advance by showing perseverance in single acts of resistance. In this way we prepare, while retreating, for the counter- movement. Understanding the laws of a constructive retreat of this sort is not easy. The meaning that lies hidden in such a time is important.

Meditation

Tao Te Ching – Verse 42

Previous readings
Today: I Ching

 

Today: “Compassion is nothing but realization…” – Yogi Bhajan

“Compassion is nothing but realization of adjustable values. Nobody is bad. If one does not act or understand well, or he is limited, you should have compassion, not negativity. Why does somebody harm you? Why does somebody slander you? Because he doesn’t know any better.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation

Today: “Hold an inner consistency that transcends hope and fear” – I Ching

Hold an inner consistency that transcends hope and fear.  Then you will not be blown about by circumstances beyond your control.  Your inner control will turn misfortune into great fortune.  You will be liberated.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching

Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression. Duration is rather the self- contained and therefore self-renewing movement of an organised, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in exhalation, diastole, expansion.
Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. The seasons of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce effects that endure.
So likewise the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.
If a man remains at the mercy of moods of hope or fear aroused by the outer world, he loses his inner consistency of character. Such inconsistency invariably leads to distressing experiences. These humiliations often come from an unforeseen quarter. Such experiences are not merely effects produced by the external world, but logical consequences evoked by his own nature.
This refers to a time in which tensions and complications begin to be eased. At such times we ought to make our way back to ordinary conditions as soon as possible; this is the meaning of “the south-west.” These periods of sudden change have great importance. Just as rain relieves atmospheric tension, making all the buds burst open, so a time of deliverance from burdensome pressure has a liberating and stimulating effect on life. One thing is important, however: in such times we must not overdo our triumph. The point is not to push on farther than is necessary. Returning to the regular order of life as soon as deliverance is achieved brings good fortune. If there are any residual matters that ought to be attended to, it should be done as quickly as possible, so that a clean sweep is made and no retardations occur.

Meditation

Tao Te Ching – Verse 41

Previous readings
Today: I Ching

 

Today: “Bad people are taking over” – I Ching

Bad people are taking over.  There is nothing to do but wait.  The tide will turn.  Support and provide nourishment to those who are worthy.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching

This pictures a time when inferior people are pushing forward and are about to crowd out the few remaining strong and superior men. Under these circumstances, which are due to the time, it is not favorable for the superior man to undertake anything.
The right behavior in such adverse times is to be deduced from the images and their attributes. The lower trigram stands for the earth, whose attributes are docility and devotion. The upper trigram stands for the mountain, whose attribute is stillness. This suggests that one should submit to the bad time and remain quiet. For it is a question not of man’s doing but of time conditions, which, according to the laws of heaven, show an alternation of increase and decrease, fullness and emptiness. It is impossible to counteract these conditions of the time. Hence it is not cowardice but wisdom to submit and avoid action.
Inferior people are on the rise and stealthily begin their destructive burrowing from below in order to undermine the place where the superior man rests. Those followers of the ruler who remain loyal are destroyed by slander and intrigue. The situation bodes disaster, yet there is nothing to do but wait.
In bestowing care and nourishment, it is important that the right people should be taken care of and that we should attend to our own nourishment in the right way. If we wish to know what anyone is like, we have only to observe on whom he bestows his care and what sides of his own nature he cultivates and nourishes. Nature nourishes all creatures. The great man fosters and takes care of superior men, in order to take care of all men through them.

Meditation

Tao Te Ching – Verse 40

Previous readings
Today: I Ching

 

Today: “Behave constantly and strive on the path of righteousness” – Yogi Bhajan

“Behave constantly and strive on the path of righteousness, giving your total self unto the fire of purity and maintaining the flame of light to the end; your karma will be done, giving will be complete, blessings will exist, awareness will be thy gift. That is the rightful right of every man. That is the truth in you.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation

Today: “The conscious regulation of the breath is to bring about a balance of energy” – Yogi Bhajan

SSSYWa“The conscious regulation of the breath is to bring about a balance of energy in the nervous system.” Yogi Bhajan

 

Meditation

Today: “Support the eradication of the last evil influences” – I Ching

Support the eradication of the last evil influences.  As long as they persist, the good are held hostage and everything is in decay.

From the Tao Te Ching:

In harmony with the Tao,
the sky is clear and spacious,
the earth is solid and full,
all creatures flourish together,
content with the way they are,
endlessly repeating themselves,
endlessly renewed.
When man interferes with the Tao,
the sky becomes filthy,
the earth becomes depleted,
the equilibrium crumbles,
creatures become extinct.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching

Even if only one inferior man is occupying a ruling position in a city, he is able to oppress superior men. Even a single passion still lurking in the heart has power to obscure reason. Passion and reason cannot exist side by side- therefore fight without quarter is necessary if the good is to prevail.
In a resolute struggle of the good against evil, there are, however, definite rules that must not be disregarded, if it is to succeed. First, resolution must be based on a union of strength and friendliness. Second, a compromise with evil is not possible; evil must under all circumstances be openly discredited. Nor must our own passions and shortcomings be glossed over. Third, the struggle must not be carried on directly by force. If evil is branded, it thinks of weapons, and if we do it the favor of fighting against it blow for blow, we lose in the end because thus we ourselves get entangled in hatred and passion. Therefore it is important to begin at home, to be on guard in our own persons against the faults we have branded. In this way, finding no opponent, the sharp edges of the weapons of evil become dulled. For the same reasons we should not combat our own faults directly. As long as we wrestle with them, they continue victorious. Finally, the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.

Meditation

Tao Te Ching – Verse 39

Previous readings
Today: I Ching

 

Today: “Create the environments in which man can speak to man” – Yogi Bhajan

SSSYWa“Creative meditation is the situation in which man can create the environments in which man can speak to man.” Yogi Bhajan

 

Meditation

Today: “Tear down the walls, merge as a family with your brothers and sisters.” – I Ching

Tear down the walls, merge as a family with your brothers and sisters.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching

Religious forces are needed to overcome the egotism that divides men. The common celebration of the great sacrificial feasts and sacred rites, which gave expression simultaneously to the interrelation and social articulation of the family and state, was the means employed by the great rulers to unite men. The sacred music and the splendor of the ceremonies aroused a strong tide of emotion that was shared by all hearts in unison, and that awakened a consciousness of the common origin of all creatures. In this way disunity was overcome and rigidity dissolved. A further means to the same end is co-operation in great general undertakings that set a high goal for the will of the people; in the common concentration on this goal, all barriers dissolve, just as, when a boat is crossing a great stream, all hands must unite in a joint task.
But only a man who is himself free of all selfish ulterior considerations, and who perseveres in justice and steadfastness, is capable of so dissolving the hardness of egotism.

Meditation

Tao Te Ching – Verse 38

Previous readings
Today: I Ching

 

Pran Sutra – for Dying

It has been said that all yoga is preparation for the moment of death.  That in the instance that our final breath expires, the soul is confronted with the choice to move on into oneness or continue on with the world it knows.  Yogi Bhajan referred to this time as “choosing the cold path”.  He said the soul would confront two roads, one cold and unfamiliar, one warm and cozy.  The cold path would lead the soul onwards and the warm familiar path would lead one back into the womb for rebirth.  To escape the wheel of karma is the goal of each soul, and so the moment of death is incredibly important, as that is when the choice is made. The discipline of sadhana, cold showers, waking up before the dawn and keeping up in meditation…all of these practices train the mind to follow choice and intention rather than laziness and ease.  We are literally training ourselves to take the difficult but ultimately more rewarding road.

In the moment of death, mantra can help a soul move into the blue ethers and escape the electromagnetic field of the earth.  The difference between dying with a swear word on your lips and dying with “Waheguru” can make all of the difference. There are many stories from India of parables about this.  One story that I love is that a very bad man, a thief and liar was killed by a man named Ram.  In surprise he exclaimed “Ram!”  (a name of God in addition to the man’s name) and was surprised to find himself elevated in a more powerful incarnation, such was the power of the vibration of the name.

Whether you believe the parables or not, Yogi Bhajan gave a mantra called the “Pran Sutra” which literally means the “Teaching of Life Force” and refers to teaching the life force what to do at the moment of death to train and focus the mind onto a higher vibration.

The Pran Sutra mantra is “Nanak too(n) lehanaa too(n) hai Guru amar too(n) veechaariaa Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur Jin sireeaa tinai savaariaa” (from Spirit Voyage).  This mantra brings you through the energy of the first four Sikh gurus, ending at Guru Ram Das, Lord of Miracles and the Guru associated with the heart chakra.  It focuses the consciousness of the reciter onto the energy of the heart, the energy of miracles, and entreats divine assistance with the passage of life.

The Pran Sutra is a tool given by Yogi Bhajan to prepare our soul to take the right steps in the moment after we pass.  It is a beautiful gift that we can give to ourselves and a wonderful teaching to include in our life as well as our death.

via Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa

Today: “Confront yourself to eradicate all remnants of compulsion” – I Ching

Confront yourself to eradicate all remnants of compulsion.  Even when hidden, emotional indulgences bring forth bad behavior and undesirable consequences.  It’s like a pig raging about with his pig nature.  As humans, we can transmute base compulsions into compassionate intentions.  This path leads to great success and wealth.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching

This hexagram indicates a situation in which the principle of darkness, after having been eliminated, furtively and unexpectedly obtrudes again.
If an inferior element has wormed its way in, it must be energetically checked at once. By consistently checking it, bad effects can be avoided. If it is allowed to take its course, misfortune is bound to result; the insignificance of that which creeps in should not be a temptation to underrate it. A pig that is still young and lean cannot rage around much, but after it has eaten its fill and become strong, its true nature comes out if it has not previously been curbed.
The sun in heaven above, shedding light over everything on earth, is the image of possession on a grand scale. But a possession of this sort must be administered properly. The sun brings both evil and good into the light of day. Man must combat and curb the evil, and must favor and promote the good. Only in this way does he fulfil the benevolent will of God, who desires only good and not evil.
The time is favorable – a time of strength within, clarity and culture without. Power is expressing itself in a graceful and controlled way. This brings supreme success and wealth.  

Meditation

Tao Te Ching – Verse 35

Previous readings
Today: I Ching

 

Today: “You run after wealth and glory and glamour” – Yogi Bhajan

SSSYWaYou run after wealth and glory and glamour. But it will run after you, providing you are an open channel.” Yogi Bhajan

 

Meditation

Today: “Allow for unplanned deviations from your duty’s path” – I Ching


If fulfilling your duties in the traditional ways does not work out, allow the deviation from the prescribed path and follow it.  We are sometimes derailed by things we do not see, yet they serve everyone the best in the long run.

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching

Exceptional modesty and conscientiousness are sure to be rewarded with success; however, if a man is not to throw himself away, it is important that they should not become empty form and subservience but be combined always with a correct dignity in personal behavior. We must understand the demands of the time in order to find the necessary offset for its deficiencies and damages. In any event we must not count on great success, since the requisite strength is lacking. In this lies the importance of the message that one should not strive after lofty things but hold to lowly things.
The structure of the hexagram gives rise to the idea that this message is brought by a bird. In Ta Kuo, PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT (28), the four strong, heavy lines within, supported only by two weak lines without, give the image of a sagging ridgepole. Here the supporting weak lines are both outside and preponderant; this gives the image of a soaring bird. But a bird should not try to surpass itself and fly into the sun; it should descend to the earth, where its nest is. In this way it gives the message conveyed by the hexagram.

She passes by her ancestor
And meets her ancestress.
He does not reach his prince
And meets the official.
No blame.

Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression. Duration is rather the self- contained and therefore self-renewing movement of an organised, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in exhalation, diastole, expansion.
Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. The seasons of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce effects that endure.
So likewise the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.

Meditation

Tao Te Ching – Verse 37

Previous readings
Today: I Ching

 

Today: “Make your temple clean” – Yogi Bhajan

“Make your temple clean. Make your heart open with love so that He can come and sit in it. Whosoever live in fear has not seen the light. We have forgotten who we are. We are one and there is One to whom we belong. The aim of life is to inspire each other to God-consciousness.” Yogi Bhajan

 

Meditation