Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching
#5 WAITING is not mere empty hoping. It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal. Such certainty alone gives that light which leads to success. This leads to the perseverance that brings good fortune and bestows power to cross the great water. One is faced with a danger that has to be overcome. Weakness and impatience can do nothing. Only a strong man can stand up to his fate, for his inner security enables him to endure to the end. This strength shows itself in uncompromising truthfulness [with himself]. It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are, without any sort of self- deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events, by which the path to success may be recognized. This recognition must be followed by resolute and persevering action. For only the man who goes to meet his fate resolutely is equipped to deal with it adequately. Then he will be able to cross the great water – that is to say, he will be capable of making the necessary decision and of surmounting the danger. Clouds rise up to heaven:
The image of [calculated] waiting.
Thus the superior man eats and drinks,
Is joyous and of good cheer.
WHEN CLOUDS rise in the sky, it is a sign that it will rain. There is nothing to do but to wait till after the rain falls. It is the same in life when destiny is at work. We should not worry and seek to shape the future by interfering in things before the time is ripe. We should quietly fortify the body with food and drink and the mind with gladness and good cheer. Fate comes when it will, and thus we’re ready.
“The strength of the man does not lie in what he has. The strength of the man lies only in what he can give. Only those can give who have the capacity to tap into the universe. If the universe is not in your mind, your heart cannot give.” Yogi Bhajan
You must overcome fear and doubt and a lack of confidence. They lead to inaction and paralysis and bring harm to you and your family. Do not lunge forward blindly, however. Use your intuition.
Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching
#4, line 4, #10 This is a time of interchange between a mentor and pupil.
Whether you are the teacher or the student, it is a time of companionship along a mutual path.
This hexagram also emphasizes the eternal, cyclical nature of the mentor/student relationship — a mentor is merely a more seasoned pupil, further along on the journey.
A pupil holds within himself the seed of a future Master.
You are so terrified of being wrong, you leave no room for learning what is right.
You have reached a perilous point in your journey.
This is a real gamble — not a maneuver, not a calculated risk.
The outcome is uncertain.
If it goes as you hope, you will gain — but if it turns against you it will cause serious injury, at least to your plans.
The best tack is extreme caution and a healthy respect for the danger involved..
“A man of God should develop a reliance on truth, on self, on higher self, on wisdom, on spirit, on mind, on physical abilities and capacities. And a man of God should develop and guide this reliance so that when he walks out and faces the world, he is wise.” Yogi Bhajan
The Projective Meditative Mind
We held a workshop at Yoga West on May 1, 2019. In this class, we stabilized and developed the projective meditative mind.
In our healing tradition, healing begins when we can adjust our awareness to a specific aspect that we call the projective meditative mind. Other names for this are shuniya and the sacred space. Once we stabilize that position of awareness, we begin to relate with the patient (event) in a way that produces healing in the event. We call the aspect projective because in that position of awareness our intention becomes projective, in that it manifests in our relation with the event. Our intention to heal impacts the relation.
Literally, shuniya describes an aspect of mind that is empty. Not void as in nothing, as there is always activity in the mind, rather empty of any tendency to move or direct the experience. Sitting in shuniya, our mind allows the flow of our experience without interfering with it or imposing any bias or preconception on the experience. See Milarepa’s Song to Lady Palderboom. Shuniya is a most profound state of being. It is most effective for healing.
Arriving at this awareness is not an accident. Nor is it likely that we should recognize it without preparing the mind with certain exercises, or kriyas. Of the many kriyas that come from the tradition of Kundalini Yoga, many deal directly with the development of shuniya.
If we could arrive at shuniya by thinking it or by verbal instruction, we would. Instead, we allow our practice of the kriyas to instruct our mind subtly. The kriya tricks our mind into moving our awareness toward shuniya, giving us a direct experience of being empty. With the repetition of kriyas, we practice accessing that place in our awareness, ultimately allowing us to stabilize it at will.
In this workshop, we performed a shuniya meditation. This particular one is the first in a series of four that Yogi Bhajan gave to us when he visited Los Angeles in the Fall of 1994:
Meditation: Shuniya Meditations as Taught by Yogi Bhajan, Yoga West, 1994.
Then we practiced some healing exercises with partners. After a couple of rounds, we performed the meditation:
Meditation: LA004 780109 Innocent Thumbs.
As we sit in shuniya, our perceptive field tends to “crank up the volume”, so we begin to become aware of minute sensations in a big way. They can be distracting to us if we become caught up with them. This kriya helps us not to engage, judge, or otherwise interfere with the flow of experience. As result, we become completely neutral as an observer of our experience. Then, the experience is allowed to flow freely as we simply observe sitting in shuniya. The healing intensifies as we increase the projective power of our intention.
After the healing exercises, we considered a next step to refining our projection. Just as we are able to train ourselves to develop and stabilize shuniya at will, we are able to merge that awareness with our radiant body. The radiant body impacts all who stand in our presence. Its effects are instant, so we can quickly heal people with our presence. The homework for this practice is:
Meditation: NM345- Strengthen and enhance the radiant body.
The class audio begins after the first meditation. It continues through the healing exercises through the end of class.
See a recap of other workshops,
posts related to the meditative mind
and posts related to shuniya
Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching
#37, line 5, #27 One in this situation must be keenly aware of his influence on others.
Maintain a healthy respect for the ripple effect of your words and deeds.
To some you serve as a role model.
You can either help shape their world or tilt them into chaos.
Show temperance and consideration to all.
A good ruler tempers justice with mercy.
This is best for a household as well.
Endure and good fortune will come.
Nurture others in need, as if you were feeding yourself.
Take care not to provide sustenance for those who feed off others.
Stay as high as possible on the food chain. You are a conduit in this instance, able to provide the sustenance needed by others. Position yourself to nourish the truly needy and worthy.
Avoid situations where you might be coerced into supporting the parasites and vermin who deprive your true charges.
Your own nourishment is an issue here, too. Remember Lao Tzu’s three Great Treasures: Only the person possessed of Compassion, Modesty and Frugality can remain fit enough to stay free of desperation and keep control of the situation.
“Man is basically unlimited because the soul is unlimited. Man is basically unlimited because his mind is unlimited. Only the physical structure is limited, but the structure is priceless. Nobody can manufacture it.” Yogi Bhajan
It is a time to rise from obscurity to a place of prominence among your peers. Show your radiance and trust your intuition. You will find success and bring peace to the world.
Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching
#46, line 1, #11 pushing upward is associated with effort, just as a plant needs energy for pushing upward through the earth. That is why this hexagram, although it is connected with success, is associated with effort of the will. In PROGRESS the emphasis is on expansion; PUSHING UPWARD indicates rather a vertical ascent-direct rise from obscurity and lowliness to power and influence.
PUSHING UPWARD has supreme success.
One must see the great man.
Fear not.
Departure toward the south
Brings good fortune.
The pushing upward of the good elements encounters no obstruction and is therefore accompanied by great success. The pushing upward is made possible not by violence but by modesty and adaptability. Since the individual is borne along by the propitiousness of the time, he advances. He must go to see authoritative people. He need not be afraid to do this, because success is assured. But he must set to work, for activity (this is the meaning of “the south”) brings good fortune.
This is the situation at the beginning of ascent. Just as wood draws strength for its upward push from the root, which in itself is in the lowest place, so the power to rise comes from this low and obscure station. But there is a spiritual affinity with the rulers above, and this solidarity creates the confidence needed to accomplish something.
This hexagram denotes a time in nature when heaven seems to be on earth. Heaven has placed itself beneath the earth, and so their powers unite in deep harmony. Then peace and blessing descend upon all living things.
In the world of man it is a time of social harmony; those in high places show favor to the lowly, and the lowly and inferior in their turn are well disposed toward the highly placed. There is an end to all feuds.
Inside, at the centre, in the key position, is the light principle; the dark principle is outside. Thus the light has a powerful influence, while the dark is submissive. In this way each receives its due. When the good elements of society occupy a central position and are in control, the evil elements come under their influence and change for the better. When the spirit of heaven rules in man, his animal nature also comes under its influence and takes its appropriate place.
The individual lines enter the hexagram from below and leave it again at the top. Here the small, weak, and evil elements are about to take their departure, while the great, strong, and good elements are moving up. This brings good fortune and success.
Heaven and earth unite: the image of PEACE.
Thus the ruler
Divides and completes the course of heaven and earth;
He furthers and regulates the gifts of heaven and earth,
And so aids the people.
Heaven and earth are in contact and combine their influences, producing a time of universal flowering and prosperity. This stream of energy must be regulated by the ruler of men. It is done by a process of division. Thus men divide the uniform flow of time into the seasons, according to the succession of natural phenomena, and mark off infinite space by the points of the compass. In this way nature in its overwhelming profusion of phenomena is bounded and controlled. On the other hand, nature must be furthered in her productiveness. This is done by adjusting the products to the right time and the right place, which increases the natural yield. This controlling and furthering activity of man in his relation to nature is the work on nature that rewards him.
“When you become light and you radiate, there is no darkness. A candle has one future, to spread the light. How does the candle spread the light? By burning itself, the candle spreads light and consequently knows the future. If you burn yourself, you will radiate and will spread light. The job of the human being is to radiate through the finite self the infinite light.” Yogi Bhajan
Your creative powers have become viable to the point where your presence will spark fire and enthusiasm among your peers. Rather than looking to others for leadership, look to yourself.
Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching
#1, line 5, #30 Heaven above and Heaven below:
Heaven in constant motion.
With the strength of the dragon, the Superior Person steels himself for ceaseless activity.
Productive Activity.
Potent Influence.
Sublime Success if you keep to your course. The time for action has come.
You now have the focus and the stamina necessary for accomplishing great tasks.
The path before you is being cleared and reward lies ahead.
Here the great man has attained the sphere of the heavenly beings. His influence spreads and becomes visible throughout the whole world. Everyone who sees him may count himself blessed.
Confucius says about this line:
Things that accord in tone vibrate together. Things that have affinity in their inmost natures seek one another. Water flows to what is wet, fire turns to what is dry. Clouds (the breath of heaven) follow the dragon, wind (the breath of earth) follows the tiger. Thus the sage arises, and all creatures follow him with their eyes. What is born of heaven feels related to what is above. What is born of earth feels related to what is below. Each follows its kind.
Fire sparks more Flames:
The Superior Person holds an inner Fire that ignites passion in every heart it touches, until all the world is enlightened and aflame.
With so searing a flame, success will not be denied you.
Take care to be as peaceful and nurturing as the cow in the meadow; you are strong enough to be gentle. A Promethean flame is delivering light and heat to the situation at hand. This radiance will cause such an alchemical transformation of circumstances that the changes will seem magical, miraculous.
Yet they are only shifts of perspective and attitude that bring clarity.
The passions kindled by this fire must be harnessed and used judiciously, or they threaten to consume your hopes and dreams..
“The whole world is to realize yourself what you are and to be what you are. Do not inflate and do not deflate. Find the median point. The problem with man is that he is asked, “Are you this or are you that?” But you are not this nor that, you are as you are.” Yogi Bhajan
A meditative mind gives one the intuitive ability to realize the consequences of a sequence of actions and therefore gives one a guideline for dealing with cause and effect and minimizing karma. 1:00 min.
First Hold:
Sit in Rock Pose on the heels with a straight spine.
Press the palms together, with the fingers and thumbs pressed together, and stretch the arms straight up over the head with the elbows locked and the upper arms pressed against the ears; apply about 15 pounds of pressure against the ears.
Eyes are 1/10th open.
Deeply inhale, suspend the breath and mentally vibrate any mantra you wish.
To End:
Quickly exhale. 1:00 min
Second Hold:
Repeat the inhalation and suspend the breath.
To End:
Quickly exhale. 1:00 min
Third Hold:
Repeat the inhalation and suspend the breath.
To End:
Quickly exhale, and then relax.
Comments: Repeat the series three times total. The inhalation and retention, together, should last 60 seconds per repetition. Exhale completely between inhalations.
Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching
#10, line 2, #12 You tread upon the tail of the tiger.
Not perceiving you as a threat, the startled tiger does not bite.
Success. You have reached a perilous point in your journey. This is a real gamble — not a maneuver, not a calculated risk.
The outcome is uncertain.
If it goes as you hope, you will gain — but if it turns against you it will cause serious injury, at least to your plans.
The best tack is extreme caution and a healthy respect for the danger involved
The situation of a lonely sage is indicated here. He remains withdrawn from the bustle of life, seeks nothing, asks nothing of anyone, and is not dazzled by enticing goals. He is true to himself and travels through life unassailed, on a level road. Since he is content and does not challenge fate, he remains free of entanglements.
A man of modest independence treads a smooth and level path.
Good fortune if you stay on course.
It is natural to assume that, if Earth above Heaven forms the hexagram for Peace and Paradise, then the opposite configuration, with Heaven over Earth would represent the antithesis of Paradise, Hell.
Not so.
This hexagram is actually the Dark side of Peace, its unsavory byproduct, Stagnation.
In a time when most of our wants are provided, there is little need for the heroes, the artists, the great thinkers and innovators.
As they recede into the shadows, Idleness, Apathy, and Lassitude come to the forefront.
Peace has become boring, bland, unchallenging — Stagnant.
Now our attention turns to the quick fix, the instant celebrity, the fad, the one-nighter, the current buzz.
There is no room for depth.
If you are a passionate soul, you must wait for a better time to find kindred spirits.
In these times, they are only curious legends, bas-relief, dead poets…
Sit in a cross-legged position. Fold your hands in front of the heart. Eyes are closed. Chant the mantra, “Raa Maa Daa Saa, Saa Say So Hung”(“Ra Ma Da Sa” by Gurunam). Be very sincere, very devout and solid. Continue for 11 minutes singing with a full voice, then for 5 minute in a whisper and then for 1 minute in silence. To end, Inhale deeply, hold, and give this breath to those who need it. Exhale and relax.
Many times we may have differences between our concepts but, when the time comes, we must stay together.
This is not a small tragedy. The insanity is around the corner and we have to act right and fearlessly, being alert.
Lecture – Attack on America Yogi Bhajan, Ph.D. – September 11th – Espanola, NM, USA
You must have watched the tragedy. So it comes true, that it takes one thought to make an enemy or a friend. It was the thought of animosity against the openness of the United States. We do not know how many people have died, but America is under attack. They have attacked our symbol of trade; they have attacked our symbol of strength and, if that plane had not fallen, they would have attacked the White House. So there’s no might, there’s no superpower. A handful of people, when they put their life at stake can do all this. Don’t be amazed at what reaction there will be tomorrow. There will be a very severe tragedy to face for the people who have done this.
It is true that we have a collective responsibility. That is why Guru Nanak gave credit to sangat. We are one.
We will also suffer as one and we’ll act as one. All these people who died had not even a thought. Their only crime was that they were Americans. It was a well-planned attack, hijacking our own civilian planes full of gasoline and diverting them into the act of terrorism. Now you figure it out, that when I’m crying that the Age of Aquarius is coming, this is a period of insanity in between. See what has happened, and many more things are expected. It’s a tragedy we have to face.
What we can offer is one minute of prayer in our silence, with our heads bowed to the Almighty seeking His protection, kindness and compassion for those left behind. Seeking the healing energy for those who are injured. Let us pray from our hearts to God Almighty.
Now it is up to us not to react but to root it out. Sometimes it is better to root out the tooth. By filling the cavity, the temporary pain will go away, but the danger shall still be there. In World War II, it was Japan who attacked Pearl Harbor. We could have pocketed it, but we didn’t. It’s the faculty of every American to keep on pocketing a lot of things until it goes over the line. Then we won’t pocket anymore. Pearl Harbor brought World War II, and made us participate. Our whole lifestyle changed. We were not the same again and we are not going to be the same again. Similarly, this attack has done it. This attack is going to change our lifestyle.
America will never be the same. You will have to go at least two hours earlier to the airport. Things will look rough. The policy in the domestic world will be changed and everything will be searched out. Similarly, in the foreign world everything will be changed that way.
That is what religion is all about. Search your inside, give yourself a chance, eliminate your fantasies and your imaginations. Don’t live in a dream world. Things can happen, and that is what has happened. When the World Trade Center was attacked a couple of years ago it was not much of a damage, but the method was not very sophisticated. So, they have been planning. Remember that the enemies do plan all the time. You have to defend a thousand times; the enemy wants one chance, which they got today. Now it is upon the nation to respond.
If America does not respond these kinds of things will be repeated. It’s very unfortunate for those people who have done this that our whole country is not divided at all. Because everything has been glued together–America will act with one voice, with one determination and with one strength, which is huge.
Our spirit of America does not lie in those towers and that side of the Pentagon. Those are symbols, which have been disturbed. Now there is a time for reaction. That’s why the concept of saints and soldiers, which was given by Guru Gobind Singh, comes in handy. People used to say, “What do we have to be a soldier for?”
We have to be a soldier for this insanity. And we have to be a saint for this kind of insanity. What Guru Gobind Singh said was that there can be a possibility where you have to defend yourself in a very saintly, firm way.
There are a lot of religions that say if somebody hits your left cheek, turn your right. And I used to say, if somebody hits your left cheek, hit his right cheek so there should be no cheek. Otherwise, some other poor fellow will get it. We must have an applied spiritual strength. Time is on us, and we are walking into that time where we have to relate to our inner and outer strength both.
You’ll be hearing a lot of talk about it in the next few days, but I can assure you that they are planning quite a big number. Don’t get into your hippie mood. They’ll put you behind bars such that you will never be heard from again. Everything is on candid camera; every word said will be seen. So I’d like you to be very cautious. Learn in sympathy that life is a commanded sense of coordination, cooperation and projection. You have to survive as an individual, and you have to survive as a collective individual. When you, inbetween yourself, do not find the cohesiveness, exclusiveness, and strength, you can’t survive.
The circumstances which are going to face us will tell us that the world has really changed. You can learn it the hard way, or you can learn it by the collective way. It is up to us whether we have peace of mind and we can live collectively to face the tragedy, or to be shattered individuals. This is a very condemnable act, but when you leave tomorrow for your offices or for work or sit down and talk with your colleagues, keep your spirits high and be effective.
At this time with the sorrow there is a great anger. Throughout the world there is a frustration and this act has triggered that frustration. Sometimes, being naive, we start talking about something which is not responsible.
Please avoid such conversations and discussions. It will not benefit you; rather, it may put you into jeopardy.
This whole thing has hurt every American. Whether we like it or not, there shall be a reaction. Don’t become victim to that reaction. It has to happen. World shall act insane. There’s no sanity in what has happened. Nobody among you could believe that this would happen. Still it has happened. Unknowingly, people are attacked personally, collectively, and nationally for no reason. We should send the healing energy to those who are still in pain. We should show our oneness of that heart.
What has saved us in the past cannot be counted on in this time. We must find a new path to salvation. We must wait and be careful not to become mired in the mud. Stay clear and determined.
Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's and subsequent translations of the I Ching
#48, line 1, #5 Wood is below, water above. The wood goes down into the earth to bring up water. The image derives from the pole-and-bucket well of ancient China. The wood represents not the buckets, which in ancient times were made of clay, but rather the wooden poles by which the water is hauled up from the well. The image also refers to the world of plants, which lift water out of the earth by means of their fibres.
The well from which water is drawn conveys the further idea of an inexhaustible dispensing of nourishment.
If a man wanders around in swampy lowlands, his life is submerged in mud. Such a man loses all significance for mankind. He who throws himself away is no longer sought out by others. In the end no one troubles about him any more.
WAITING is not mere empty hoping. It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal. Such certainty alone gives that light which leads to success. This leads to the perseverance that brings good fortune and bestows power to cross the great water. One is faced with a danger that has to be overcome. Weakness and impatience can do nothing. Only a strong man can stand up to his fate, for his inner security enables him to endure to the end. This strength shows itself in uncompromising truthfulness [with himself]. It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are, without any sort of self- deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events, by which the path to success may be recognized. This recognition must be followed by resolute and persevering action. For only the man who goes to meet his fate resolutely is equipped to deal with it adequately. Then he will be able to cross the great water – that is to say, he will be capable of making the necessary decision and of surmounting the danger.
