Meditation Photography

Photo copyright Suresh Gundappa 2007 Buy this photo from My gallery!

I first met him during “Kumbhmela” The greatest Pilgrimage on Earth. He was a Aghori. He looked at me and said “God Is a drug addict” . I must have looked into his eyes with disbelief. He said he didn’t finish his sentence, he took a deep breath of Ganja and said

” God is a drug addict and his drug is Love, This whole universe is filled with Drug called Love. If you can be a drug addict with Love then you have arrived my friend” and he walked away. This was almost 15 years Back. After that I had many encounters with Saints,Drugs and God . Here are few notes based on my insight.

LSD and other drugs hold out great possibilities. There are good reasons to hope that these two things can be successfully used to enable the human consciousness to have a glimpse of the new awareness. I do not accept that one can attain the state of samadhi (cosmic consciousness) through them, yet these can certainly give its glimpses. And once one gets a glimpse, the thirst for true ‘SAMADHI’ arises. It is no exaggeration to say that deep beneath the strong attraction in the West today for yoga and meditation lies the under-current of LSD. Hundreds of thousands of people reach the amphitheatre of yoga through the by-lanes of LSD.

When someone takes a tablet of LSD, then for some hours he gets, so to speak, transported into a completely different world. To my mind the ‘SOMA RASA’ or the nectarine drink of the Vedic period must have been something similar to it. Aldous Huxley has written a book in which he has given the psychedelic drug to be developed after 2000 A.D. The name of ‘SOMA,’ on the basis of ‘SOMA RASA.’ and those who have had a trip of LSD or mescaline came to realize for the first time how the Vedic sages could see their gods and goddesses traversing the earth in flesh and blood.

For instance, as we read the poetry of Sufi’s, we begin to feel that he paints his imagery with colours such as are unknown to us. He sees such dimensions in a flower which are not manifest to us. LSD Transports you to the same world. Each and every leaf becomes delightfully green, and each and every flower appears unique. The human eye then seems to possess a depth such as it has never before experienced. An ordinary chair becomes a living entity. The whole world takes on a new look, for that length of time at least, as if lightening has flashed in a dark night. And for a moment the whole scene — the tree, the flower and the winding path may become illumined. The lightening may disappear after a short while and darkness may again envelope everything, yet we cannot be the same men as we were before the lightening flashed.

Doctor Leary is a unique personality in this field who has done tremendous work in the direction of making it possible for man to attain the experience of ’samadhi’ by the use of drugs. And those who have made such experiments become different persons altogether; they were just able to turn over a new leaf in their lives.

Lot of these saints used to live in remote places of Himalayas and Forests. Over a period of time working on their body and mind they found out certain chemical changes transport you to different world. Before coming to real world they wanted to experience the world of Psychedelic drugs. These drugs gave them glimpse of Consciousness where they were in absolute surrender. Suddenly in absolute surrender and undistilled awareness they found the beauty of nature and God. Unfortunately they could not sustain the momentum or the beauty of the vision. As along as the drug effect was there they could feel immense possibilities. the moment drug effect came down then came back to mind world. Sadhus felt seperated at birth and tehy felt seperated from God.

The diffrence was Consciousness. In drugs you they were un-conscious. With consciousness you will see the same experience of world as drugs but then Consciousness is GOD!. Sadhus who started their journey with drugs all took their shelter in consciousness.

Recent researches in this field have revealed startling facts. If a person fasts for a protracted period, the resulting changes in his body will only be chemical. Though at cursory glance it may appear that Sages were against the smoking of ganja; yet if we analyze their insistence on fasting, we may conclude that the changes caused in the body after thirty days fasting are also chemical and quite similar to those caused by smoking ganja. There is no difference at all. The changes resulting from PRANAYAM (the science of breath) are also chemical.
If a person breathes in a certain way, changes in the proportion of oxygen begin to take place. A profuse supply of oxygen causes some elements to burn down and others to be preserved. The changes inside are chemical.

In order to reach cosmic consciousness not thru drugs but thru other means Sages Invented Yogasanas and Fasting. If you look at the history of Indian masters then you will realize both fasting and discipline of yoga is very important in most of their teachings.

Even Now lot of religions across the world use drugs as a source of glimpse to divine. You can get enough records of this usage in Aghori, Essenes, Sufiana, Tibetan traditions. But then this was a mystic science which got lost over a way and Drugs found a way with hippies as substance of abuse. Only in deep Tibet experiments are still carried on in scientific manner.

Drugs are addictive because the experience of the world is unparalleled in its experience. People do not know how to get that experience without drugs. Once you do not know the path to this experience you fall back into drugs experience. It’s unfortunate one of the most mystical part of human history got lost in translation. It’s not accidental while describing enlightened masters in our history records we use often words like “drunk with Divine”.

MY NOTE: SAY NO TO DRUGS. I AM AGAINST ANY DRUG USAGE AND GO GET HELP IF YOU NEED ONE. SAY NO TO DRUGS! I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING FOR DRUGS. DRUG IS NO WAY MEANS TO REACH GOD.

For others hope I gave you a glimpse of plight of drug addicts. It is an unbearable experience of separating from divine and helplessness in not finding the same without drugs. Drug addictiveness is beyond words because experience is beyond words. that’s why you can never be communicative with drug addicts. You need as much as compassion to cure them.

Love is GoD and I am a GoD addict!

Suresh

Photo copyright Suresh Gundappa 2006 Buy this photo from my Gallery

In India, the innermost part of the temple is called GARBHA, womb — very meaningfully. Where the deity of the temple sits, the innermost shrine is called GARBHA — the womb. In olden days Temples were built by Mystics not just by stone cutters. There is a bigger mystical science behind than you can imagine.

Whatever I am saying applies similarly to Churches and Mosques, I am taking temples as an example because I have grown around them.

Today let me share two important components of Indian temples

Garbha: Which is where deity of the temple is kept and it’s the most sacred place of the temple.

Second is,

Temple bell: Most of the old temples have large bell at the entrance of the temple and you need to ring it before you enter temple.

Let me start with temple bells first. A Temple bell is another scientific phenomena; it is not just your ordinary metal. It is made of various metals including cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium and. manganese. The proportion at which each one of them mixed is real science behind a bell. Each of these bells is made to produce such a distinct sound that it can create unity of your left and right brain. The moment you ring that bell, bell produces sharp but lasting sound which lasts for minimum of seven seconds in echo mode good enough to touch your seven healing centers or chakras in your body.

The moment bell sound happens your brain is emptied of all thoughts. Invariably you will enter state of Tran’s state where you are very receptive. This Trans state is the one with awareness. You are so occupied in mind that only way to awaken you is with a Shock! And trust me Bell works as Anti-dote to your mind.

Before you enter temple - to awake you and prepare you for taste of awareness is the real reason behind temple bell. In other words “it helps to ring to wake yourself Up!” . To an extent Fragrant generators, Low light lamps all form Ecosystem to create awareness. I’ll brief you some other day about mysteries behind each one of them

Bells had other reasons also, as most of the old temples never had doors and were located near hills and forest there would have been distinct possibilities for animals, Insects, birds to take shelter. But bell sound doesn’t allow any of the living creatures to sustain inside for a long time. So don’t be surprised if you find Old temples still brimming with energy inside with less dust, no sign of insects or animals.

As soon as you come close to innermost center of the temple you come to “Garbha Gudi” or “Womb center” Or “Place of origin”. Now to be honest deity is an excuse to create effect on you. Deities work as your focal point. Idea is to remind you of your womb and your nine months. Idea here is to remind you of true potential! Idea of Garbha is to reminnd you of your inner source!

Womb also signifies tremendous potential of a child when he is born. As Zen say “everyone is born as a Buddha But you just forget it”.

And this is what Jesus says ” be a child like to enter heaven” he says be child like in potential not childish which you end up becoming mostly.

In silence your thoughts have tremendous potential to become reality. This is why people say “My prayers have come true”.

Indeed every prayer has potential to come true provided you prayed in deep awareness. My friend Deepak Chopra in his book calls this phenomenon as “Law of intention” This is also known as “synchronicity”.

In deep silence your silent consciousness is ripened field. But in this ripened field , your mind enters and creates evil ways as you pray for money, house, wife and other selfish needs. All your wishes are too self-centered and it can create conflicts with other people wishes. Other people are also asking for money wife and everything you are asking.

So mystics found another way of encountering this issue. In order to create more cosmic thoughts and avoid mind created local thoughts – they created Mantra’s – In origin the very reason of mantras is to create certain vibrations in you. Mantras were created with intention to override your thoughts and include more Cosmic thoughts. That’s why in temples they tell children not to speak but listen to mantras! But the Priests have forgotten the art of throwing energy into words or Mantras. That secret art of saying Mantras is a separate topic for another day.

Now coming back to deity, Deity itself has no meaning unless you create. Deity is used more as a focal point or to attack your Mind.

But then larger idea behind the mystics has been lost partly due to priests and partly due unawareness. Mystics Idea of temple was to keep alive the flame of Meditation or awareness in you. Temples are used as reminders to your inner source.

Temples does’t belong to any religion, temples does’t belong to Hindus. Temple does’t belong to any beliefs. Temple is just a Roadside rest place for people on path. Churches, Mosques also serve you same way. All roads leads to just one place!.

Once you have deepest experience of Meditation then you forget temple and move on: Then You create temple inside you.Then you forget bell and create sound of silence inside you. That’s the sign of yogi or saint. Saint is the one who has dropped all worshiping places and found one in his heart.

Next time when you visit Temple, Church or a Mosque don’t focus on your prayers and dream wishes. Leave God alone for sometime and go deep inside. Get taste of awareness and get taste consciousness. Suddenly you will find godliness inside you

I love you and Love is my message

Suresh

Photo Copyright Suresh gundappa 2007 Buy this photo from Gallery !

In nature a repulsive caterpillar turns into a lovely butterfly. But with humans it is the other way around: a lovely butterfly turns into a repulsive caterpillar. ~Anton Chekhov

Butterfly is a mystic phenomena but you may not understand it. Butterflies can create more flutters in your heart than any other flying insect. Butterfly is also symbolic of man’s own existence.

Man lives in a cocoon. His cocoon is full of Ego,Goals and Misery. Man keeps on building his cocoon with false materials, He doesn’t realize one day everything will disappear. He keeps building walls of security built on foundation of greediness. Man is a caterpillar destined to butterfly. and Only man and I repeat- Only man never realizes his potential to become butterfly.

Caterpillar needs to die to become a butterfly. Caterpillar needs to go through metamorphosis to become a Butterfly. Trust me Caterpillar has no knowledge about colors he can produce in his death. But he still moves with trust towards unknown.

In death, caterpillar explodes into millions of colors. In living in this moment ugly caterpillar becomes beautiful butterfly.

Remember to Live in this moment. Live this moment with so much intensity that every death of a moment gives rise to beautiful next moment. Live this moment is such ecstasy that you have no option other than getting out of your cocoon.

Live this moment with so much love that you have no choice but to explode into butterfly. Just be in Love with everything you see, be in Love with nature, be in love with existence , Be in Love in your deep acceptance. Love alone can give you wings. Love alone is enough to make you butterfly.

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” Richard Bach

Love is the only substantial thing in life, all else is illusion. Let love grow in you and God will be growing on its own accord. If you miss love you will miss God and all.

There is no way to God without love. God can be forgotten — if love is remembered, God will happen as a consequence. It happens as a consequence. It is the fragrance of love and nothing else.

Be in Love and I wish - you become a butterfly

I Love you and Love is my message

Suresh

Photo Copyright Suresh Gundappa 2007. Buy this photo from Suresh’s Gallery.

Yoga has nothing to do with exercising , It is more to do with awareness. Like most of things borrowed from East are misunderstood, Yoga has become commercially abused exercise. People are suffering more from yoga than benefiting from it.

Yoga also comes from root Sanskrit word Yony; Female organ, it means unity. Our scholars are clever, they say Yoga comes from word “Yuj” which also means unity. Again scholars conspiracy!. I tell you they are wrong . In eastern scriptures “Yony” word also has been used in poetic terms as symbol of unity. It has to be so as the creation point is treated with highest respect. In deepest experience of Yoga you also meet creator. Yoga is a creative union of creator and you. Yoga means inner union of yin and yang.

Now coming back to Yoga. Yoga was meant to create awareness of Body and Mind. Yoga cannot be of any benefit to you unless you make progress in awareness. Let me share with you science of yoga and how it benefits you.

When you do yoga and when you do all the yoga-asanas, If you can be aware of breathing couple of things happens to you. First breathing awareness eliminates all the unnecessary “must have’s” out of your life. Once you are aware of breathing you are aware of the body. Normally Body sends lot of signals and sends lot of messages to you everyday and every moment. You normally ignore it because you do not know how to read body signs. For example once you learn breathing awareness you will identify all the foods which brings happy energy to you and you will discard food which gives you unpleasantly feeling. But for this to happen you need to be aware of breathing. Each food has inherent character of energy in them to uplift you but to know that you need understand deeper mysteries of awareness.

Normally you consume food without awareness. that’s why you stuff yourself because you are not able listen to body, you keep stuffing food. Food and fattening is a by product of lack of awareness. Once your awareness of breathing increases then your food intake goes thru drastic change which results in lower consumption of Food. This is how you become slim. Now in west; people have missed completely focusing on breathing but their focus has been on slimming and exercising. When you miss focusing on breathing your basic problem remains grounded.

Vegetarianism is a by product of breathing awareness. Every food particle feeds you different energy apart from calories. It is not accidental that on spiritual path lot of teachers recommend vegetarianism. Because meat feeds you energy of the killed animal. you will find it difficult to move into awareness with collection of such hyper energy of meat in your body. However as you move higher in awareness plane then your vegetarianism or non vegetarianism doesn’t matter. You will learn a inner alchemy and awareness to transform any energy. So don’t think I am telling you eating meat is wrong it’s just takes little longer to move on awareness path if you are meat eater.

Now to watch breathing you need to be surrounded by silent atmosphere. All yoga studios blast music so much that you miss your own breathing sound. Yoga once becomes just a body exercise then you consume more food because you are burning more. “pranayama” science of breathing also has been taught in such a wrong way that it has become just breathing exercise.

There is no inner alchemy happening with you in curretn way of Yoga. So more people are becoming Fat & Frustrated with with yoga because they are following wrong principles. Since you are doing half baked yoga there is bound to be side effects as yoga postures are derived from the highest state of meditativeness. Each of this postures create vibrations in your body. These vibrations can be used positively or negatively based on your awareness. it’s dangerous to work on a science you have not understood properly ; it is like a chemist mixing two wrong liquids to create a solution. Effects can be negative.

Yoga is deep form of Mystical science. Borrowers have been “lost in translation” . If yoga doesn’t improve your awareness then you will still substitute Food for love, food for misery, food for money, food for happiness and you will go on stuffing food at every opportunity.

Next time you practice yoga make sure you pay attention to breathing, pay attention to awareness. if you are not improving in your awareness then stop pursuing Yoga. Better go to gym and pump some weights. at least you are not on wrong track.

Once your breathing comes to your awareness thru Yoga you will unravel the mysteries of Body and Mind. You will suddenly find the interface between Body and mind. The moment the unity of Body and mind happens then you are in union with God. this is the inner alchemy of Yoga. This is the only Alchemy you need to know.

Love and lots of it dear ones

Suresh

Photo copyright Suresh Gundappa 2007 buy this photo from My Gallery.

I GOT FLOWERS TODAY…

I got flowers today.
It wasn’t my birthday or any other special day.
We had our first argument last night, and he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn’t mean the things he said,
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
It wasn’t our anniversary or any other special day.
Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare. I couldn’t believe it was real. I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I know he must be sorry, because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today, and it wasn’t Mother’s Day or any other special day.
Last night, he beat me up again. It was much worse than all the other times.
If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of my kids?
What about money? I’m afraid of him and scared to leave.
But I know he must be sorry, because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
Today was a very special day. It was valentines day .It was the day of my funeral.
Last night, he finally killed me. He beat me to death.
If only I had gathered enough courage and strength to leave him,
I would not have gotten flowers today.

Poem source: unknown

Poem note: This poem was sent to me by one of the wordpress bloggers and regular reader of my Blog. She requested me to post it. This poem is pretty much her own story. She said she got this poem from the web but she doesn’t know the poet. Every Valentine’s day has become remembrance of nightmare to her.

On this day I wish her to find Love again!

I wish her Love which can erase all pains of her life!
I wish you all Love which brings you Happiness and Joy!

Love and Lots of it

Suresh

PS: As before like any of my earlier stories I am committed to maintain dignity of my source. Please do allow me.