HOLISTIC INTEGRATION RETREAT

Introduction

Human beings are the masterpiece of God. God created them in His own image and likeness. Vedic and Upaniśadic traditions, therefore, addressed the relationship between humans and God as sacred. Vedāntic traditions expressed it too in various relations: ‘aṁśa-aṁśī bhāva,’ ‘śarīra-śarīrī bhāva,’ ‘biṁba-pratibiṁba bhāva,’ and ‘deha-ātma bhāva.’ At times, they identified human beings as ‘tatvamasi’ and ‘aham braḥmāsmi.’ St. Paul called human beings as, ‘the Temple of the Holy Spirit.’ The same intricate relation is further explicated by scholars like Panikkar in modern times as ‘cosmotheandric’. Therefore, what needs to be understood here is the basic advaita in each and every Human Being. God is closer to human being than he/she is closer to him/herself.

Human Being is not just the body and spirit, but also mind and heart. He is the microcosm hidden in the macrocosm and macrocosm hidden in the microcosm. Everything is inter-connected and inter-related. Disturbance created in any one part, disturbs the equilibrium of the whole Being. The authentic wellness is, therefore, in the integral well-being.

Awareness of one’s own self, of cosmic self and universal self enables ones to transcend and achieve much needed tranquility. To realize this awareness one needs to meditatively reflect various aspects of reality which the Indian traditions calls ‘nidhidhyāsana’. This kind of meditation puts one in touch with the Greater Self which is called Paramātman. Paramātman is nothing but the divine or God which is the heart-center of every Human Being. It is here one finds peace, harmony, love and joy. When this is achieved, the person becomes ‘enlightened’ and ‘transformed’. In other words, the person finds the ‘Resurrection Experience.’ This is called the state of ‘sthithaprajña’, says the Bhagavadgītā.

When one meditates, realizes the dark areas or shady patches of one’s own existence. When one is in touch with these negative areas of one’s life and starts to re-live those moments in meditation, body shows certain areas of tension created in the form of sensations. Our body does not tell lie, it reveals interiorly what we are. The unconscious self which is 99% of human beings is revealed in body sensations. Sensations can be tears, cry, body aches, pain or any other problems in the body. As we experience them, we try to maximize the sensation and then release using certain body dynamics. This technique is called AMR technique (Awareness-Meditative Relaxation). With this the person gets healed.

When God created Human Beings, everything was perfect. It was the original blessing. Awareness of this perfect state brings miracles in our life. The original awareness is lost due to the overwhelming shadows of our life. If we lack the awareness of the original blessing, we would be hiding behind the trees covering leaves around us. Healing begins when one realizes both light and shadows in one’s life. The awareness leads one to transcend both light and shadow and become the Good News and shares that Good News with the Cosmos, Theos and Andros. It is in the sharing one actually lives the message, creates life and finally unites with the divine. This is nothing but self-actualization or in terms of Teilhard de Chardin ‘entering into the Omega or the Christosphere.’

1. Original Blessing

1.1 Orientation

The Miracle of awareness of Divine presence and perfection in our lives is manifested in the creation in its pristine clarity and innocence. It is the light of God’s love embracing whole creation in its original blessing.

1.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands on the day of Onam in your home where all your family members are there. You contemplate the life that has created your near and dear ones, brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents and generations. You feel the love and happiness to be united with your family at such a special time. Each one is special, unique and the image of God. You share varieties of food with different flavors, relate with friends and relatives. After the lunch, you go near the backwaters where you enjoy the varieties of boats, sports and games and also people. You realize that you are related to nature, people not just now onwards but from the beginning of time and all are your cousins. You are universal.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and goes back to seventh century and lands in a jungle where the great Andaman tribal people live. Amidst flowing crystal clear water, river, ponds, greenery, trees, fruits, bees and animals tribal people are playing and dancing naked. You enter their company and start dancing and relating with them. The children take you to a pond, and you take a dip and you also become one of them and feel the oneness with the Andaman tribes. You realize the original blessings and harmony there.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and enters a beautiful garden. You see a beautiful house, well decorated. You enter the house and see a beautiful statue of yours fully naked. You enter into the statue and pass by all the major organs one by one, the brain, the lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine, and all the organs. Finally you enter the heart and enter into the heart center. See how you feel when you locate yourself there. Experience the wonder of this experience.

1.3 Texts for Prayer

“God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth. One also is their final goal, God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness, His saving design extend to all men, until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light” (Nostra Aetate, No. 1).

hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartatāgre bhūtasya jātaḥ patirekāsīta |

sa dādhāra pṛthvīṃ dhyāmutemāṃ kasmai devāyahaviṣā vidhema   (Rig-Veda,10: CXXI.)

In the beginning was the Divinity in his splendour, manifested as the sole Lord of land, skies, water, space and that beneath and He upheld the earth and the heavens (trns. Griffith)

2. Light and Shadow

2.1 Orientation

There is a dichotomy in life between joy and sorrow, good and evil, blessings and curses, reward and agony. Shadow is nothing but our false-self and light is our true self. We witness these things in our lives.

2.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a market place, full of noise, chaos, traffic jam and various vendors selling things. You are thirsty and see a man selling juice. You buy a glass of juice not knowing what kind it is. You taste and drink one glass. It is bitter-gourd juice. You experience the life’s difficulties, panics, anxieties, sadness, anger, fear etc. As you walk further you see a lady selling sugar-cane juice. You drink one glass and experience all the joys, happiness and peace in life.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a forest. You see a mango tree, full of ripe fruits. You are hungry and you climb the tree to pluck mangoes. As you were about to pluck the fruits, a strong wind blows and shakes the tree, lighting and thunder begins and starts raining heavily. You are in panic, frightened and in utter helplessness. Suddenly you see a heavenly being coming near to you, holds you in his arms and lands you safe. He gives you a few delicious mangoes which he brought along with him. You eat them and feel happy and peaceful. Your fear, worries and helplessness go away.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and enters a beautiful theater. You enter it and see there hanging several beautiful pictures of drama performed in that theater. You enter the green room. You see black jacket and wear it. It is the jacket of anger. Then you wear red mask. It is the mask of sadness. Then you see a staff. It is the staff of anger.  As you experience these things in life, you see a shining gown, in dazzling white colour. You wear it and feel light and happy. You see an image where it is written, “happiness, joy and peace.”

2.3 Texts for Prayer

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

“Life and death, joy and sorrow, gain and loss; These dualities cannot be avoided. Learn to accept what you cannot change.” (Ramayana, book 2)

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one's existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquility; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor — these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature. Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance — these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Pṛthā. The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the demoniac qualities make for bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pāṇḍu, for you are born with the divine qualities. O son of Pṛthā, in this world there are two kinds of created beings. One is called the divine and the other demoniac” (Bhagavad Gītā 16: 1-6).

3. Healing

3.1 Orientation

True inner light shining in our core of Being, which is God’s unconditional love, heals the tainted self. The rigid layers of structures which are absorbed through senses, are now decoded by the infusion of love, joy and peace replacing fear, sadness and anger.

3.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands near a beautiful mall. You enter the mall. Inside you see a bathing room of confidence. You enter and take a shower and feel light, wonderful and confident. Then you enter costume room and pick a jacket of freedom and wear it. You feel inner freedom. Then you enter another room where heavenly being gives a drink of knowledge. Now you are wise. As you come out of the mall, a heavenly being sprinkles some heavenly perfume which heals all the unhealed areas of life and instantly you are filled with Love of God.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and enters a heavenly palace. You see a band of winged people dancing to the tune of heavenly chorus. They are all happy. You are surprised. One of them asks you to join their singing and dance. You are unable to dance. Now you understand the reason. You explained to him that you are burdened by earthly worries and tensions. As you learn singing and dancing, you are freed from all worries and tensions. As the times goes on, you are fully able to dance and sing as the heavenly being. You realize that your wings are growing now. You have become one among the heavenly being. 

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a thick forest. As you sit near a stream and enjoy the beauty, you feel your body is becoming long and long and finally became a snake with thick scales around. The skin is rough. Therefore, you scratch and pull it between a rock. You see, the old skin and scales are releasing from your body and you feel lighter and lighter. As your scales are going off, your darkness and negative things are vanishing and you feel fresh and peaceful. Suddenly you see a light falling on you and become a human being, that you are now fully healed.

3.3 Texts for Prayer

sarva-dharmān parityajya, mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja;

ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo, mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear (Gītā 18.66).

He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." (Ex 15: 26).

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life  (Ps 56: 13).

4. Beyond Light and Shadow

4.1 Orientation

Creation is filled with God’s majesty, beauty and wonder. The true reality is divine where neither there is joy nor sorrow, neither good nor evil; but full of Love, freedom, joy and peace.

4.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a sea shore. You sit on a rock and see the wonder of creation. You see the beautiful sky, gorgeous waves, eagles flying high, some birds searching for food, fishermen in boats casting their nets, make you feel the divine beauty and goodness. Suddenly, a big fish appears, calls you for a ride and you sit over it, hold its fin and go deeper and deep into the water. There you see the whole of aquatic world in its beauty and divinity. After a good ride, the fish brings you back, you thank the fish and again sit in contemplating divine love.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a thick forest. You see the beautiful birds, flowers, animals and trees. You enjoy the rivers and lakes. You see deer cubs playing and you join them in their fun. They welcome you as their friend too. As you move ahead, a tortoise attracts you. With it colourful design, shape and size brings wonder in your being. You lift the tortoise, speak to it, and both thank and praise God for the wonderful life.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a crowded Bombay street. You see people are rushing for their duties, busy streets, crowded buses and trams, shop venders selling their goods, children going to school, politician addressing a rally, and many more such incidents. You are not disturbed by them. You see them as a beauty of life. Suddenly a sage wearing saffron clothes with a bowl and rosary attracts you. His face is full of peace, joy, freedom and love. You go to him and the sage pointing to the world around says, “God dwells in all. He is Love. He is present in our suffering and joy.  You can see God running, playing, travelling, speaking and doing many such incidents.”

4.3 Texts for Prayer

Lord of all creation of water earth and sky

The heavens are your Tabernacle

Glory to the Lord on high

God of wonders beyond our galaxy

You are Holy, Holy

The universe declares your Majesty

And you are Holy Holy

(Poem by:  Melissa Orme http://ormepsalm119.blogspot.in/2008/04/god-of-wonders.html)

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Ps 19:1-4).

5. Good News

5.1 Orientation

As we travel beyond light and shadow we experience Divine in our core of our being. Becoming aware of this, is nothing but the Good-News of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is with us, and is within our reach.

5.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a field. You see a farmer tilling the land to cultivate potatoes. Potato seeds are kept near the field. As you gaze at the seeds, you become one of those seeds. The farmer with love picks you, kisses you and keeps it in the tilled soil to germinate. He waters and manures every day. As days go by, you break your skin, shrink your body, and at the same time become a green herb. Farmer opens the soil around you, manures and covers it again. Day sun heats you, night cold make you shiver, but yield plenty of potatoes. You feel that you are yielding in hundred folds.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a place where a violin consort is going on.  People are gathered to hear the music. As you gaze at it, you become that violin. The artist tunes you, pulls the strings and plays a heavenly song. The song sung is, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in front of a mega mart. It is biting winter. A poor boy hungry, shivering, having no shawl, no shoes in legs, is begging in front of the mall. You go inside the shop, pick up a huge pizza, a thick shawl and a pair of shoes and give to the boy. The boy asks you with tears in his cheek, “Are you the son of God?”

5.3 Texts for Prayer

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5:17).

“A man of the present day, whether he believes in the divinity of Christ or not, cannot fail to see that to assist in the capacity of minister, governor, or commissioner in taking from a poor family its last cow for taxes to be spent on cannons, or on the pay and pensions of idle officials, who live in luxury and are worse than useless; or in putting into prison some man we have ourselves corrupted, and throwing his family on the streets; or in plundering and butchering in war; or in inculcating savage and idolatrous superstitious in the place of the law of Christ; or in impounding the cow found on one's land, though it belongs to a man who has no land; or to cheat the workman in a factory, by imposing fines for accidentally spoiled articles; or making a poor man pay double the value for anything simply because he is in the direst poverty; not a man of the present day can fail to know that all these actions are base and disgraceful, and that they need not do them. They all know it. ” ― Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God Is Within You

6. Living the Good News

6.1 Orientation

As we realize that the kingdom of God is within us and within our reach, we begin to live it in every concrete situation, be it in market place, slums, villages, or forest. Love, peace, joy, compassion, freedom, equanimity flows from us when we see and experience the world around us.

6.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a tribal populated area where the people have not heard the Good News at all. You become a missionary. You have a rosary, a Bible, a Cross, a hymn book and some chapattis in hand. You collect people and teach about the Kingdom of God. As the evening approaches, an old lady invites you to her home. Accepting her invitation, you go and stay with her that night. There you see her sick and bedridden husband. They have nothing to offer you. You pray over the sick man and the man recovers from sickness. Then you share your chapattis with the family. News spreads around and you become a zealous missionary.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in front of a huge church on a Sunday morning. People are waiting for the mass, no priest is present there. It is raining heavily. You are a priest. One of the parishioners identifies you and you are the ‘God’s sent angel’ for them. As you break the bread you see a poor family struggling to erect their house just in front of the church. Their house was collapsed due to rain. Soon after the consecration you address the people about the family who needed help. Leaving the mass half-way, all go and erect the house and then all come and continue the Mass. As the mass is over, you say good-bye to them and come back to your place.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in front of a hospital. You go around the hospital and see people suffering due to various sickness. You pray over them, console them in your own way. Your presence and words heal many. As you are moving around, you see a widow in utter desolation. People are trying to console her. Her only son, a sole bread winner of the family is suffering from kidney failure. You go the widow and say, “God will heal your son, he will be alright.” Then you go to the operation theater, give one of your kidneys and he recovers. You bring the man outside and offer him to the mother saying, “sister, here is your son.”

6.3 Texts for Prayer

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk 4: 16-19).

vidyā vinaya sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini; śuni chaiva śvapāke paṇḍitāḥ samadarśinaḥ. The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste (Gītā 5:18).

7. Participation in Suffering

7.1 Orientation

As we begin to live-in-the-world we begin to live-for-the-world. Living for-the-world is nothing but participating in the suffering of the world, and the people of the world. In other words, we share the suffering of Christ in and through the world.

7.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a forest where you see a man carrying a log of wood. You help him to carry the wood. As you carry the wood, you go back to the time of Jesus where Jesus was carrying his cross. You become Jesus. Allow yourself to be mocked, chained and scourged.  A crown of thorn is placed on your head. You are led to crucifixion. Go through the agony and experience it. (In the second part of the meditation, you can become the resurrected Jesus).

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in front of an Old-age Home run by Missionary Sisters of Charity (MC). You see elderly people there. Some are sitting and looking at the gate, some are watching the sky, some are in pain, some are talking loudly and some are in the bed-ridden state. You go and sit near every person and listen carefully what they are saying.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in front of a śiśu Bhavan, a home for new-born babies. As you enter the gate, you see some kids playing and shouting in joy. You also hear a cry of a baby. You move towards the cry. There you see in a cradle seven week old baby crying. You lift the child and speak gently and sing a Lully by. As you sing, the child feels happy. Then you spend some time with the child. Talk to the child and hear the story the child has for you.

7.3 Texts for Prayer

Bless the hands that bring wholeness to lives blighted by sickness.

Bless the saints who in sad and desperate places bring a sense of hopefulness.

Bless the Christians facing daily opposition showing a faithful witness.

Bless the generosity of the rich and powerful for the gift of thoughtfulness.

Bless the peacemakers working in conditions that are often hazardous.

Bless the politicians whether good or bad for decisions affecting all of us.

Bless our words and actions as we carry your light into places shrouded in darkness.

Bless your children whoever they might be with the warmth of your love and grace.

Source: http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_peace.htm#ixzz2yNZ8hhbr

8. Participation in New Life

8.1 Orientation

When we participate in the suffering of the world, the world begins to sprout and have a new spring. This new spring is the emergence of New Life. In other words, it is participating in the creation of ‘new heavens and new earth.’ Now, the universe experiences the divine love to be shared by all human beings.

8.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a forest. You see a butterfly laying eggs on a leaf. You become one of those eggs. You hatch and become a caterpillar. You move around, eat leaves and grow bigger and bigger. Then you spin a silk cocoon and metamorphose into a tiny butterfly. You start pollinating the flowers as you enjoy the nectar from the flowers. And soon see plants with fruits and seeds. People come and enjoy the delicious fruits.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a beautiful garden. You are attracted to a fragrant jasmine flower bush. You see bees sitting on it and sucking the nectar. The whole area is fragrant. As you inhale the jasmine fragrance, you become one of the jasmine plants. You become one of the tiny buds, grow slowly, and become a mature bud and gradually you open up into a beautiful jasmine. As you become a fragrant white jasmine feel the excitement within you, the fragrance you are spreading and the life you are imparting to the world. Morning dew is bringing coolness, morning sun energizes you and cool surrounding puts you in a heavenly peace. As this happens, your heart center opens and you feel that you are participating in the creative work of God.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and land in a hill side of Ranchi. You see a marshy area and as you walk around slowly, see a lot of grass and green bushes around. In your surprise you see a small stream is formed there and water is flowing downwards. As you gaze at it, you become one with it. You flow and flow. As you flow you become bigger and bigger, larger and larger, longer and longer. More water joins you and you become a huge Subernarekha river. You are called by different names in different places. People come to you and fetch water, you irrigate the land. In one place they block you, but you are not worried. They call this block ‘dam’. You have become a life-line for thousands of people, in cultivation, electricity generation, research, and conservation of biodiversity. Further, you overflow from the dam and reach out others and join the ocean.

8.3 Texts for Prayer

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Rev 21:1-4).

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladnes”’ (Is 65:17-18).

9. Wellsprings of the Spirit

9.1 Orientation

When we participate in the creation of new heaven and new earth, we acknowledge the divine role in our life and the life of the other. We become aware of the Spirit of the Lord hovering over all. This enables us to face the world with new energy of faith, hope, love, compassion, forgiveness, and courage in contrast to fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, worries, tensions etc.

9.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a busy railway platform. You are hungry and thirsty. You see a mongoose eating the leftover food thrown out there. You see a crow eating the food left by the mongoose and a rat follows it. As you gaze at it you enter into a deep slumber. A man in a dazzling white cloth, with radiant face wakes you up and gives you a packet of food, clothing and some money and disappears. You open the packet and see your favorite food and clothes and have enough money for your travel.  You wonder at the person who fed you. As you contemplate you become aware of your feelings and times of your distress, longing, anxiety and worries. You become aware of the Word of God, “My Father in heaven feeds them all.”

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in the Himalaya. As you wonder at the beauty of the place, you see a seer. His face is radiant, and is wearing a saffron dress looking at you with compassion. You greet him in your own way. The seer invites you to his ashram. You stay with him. You feel relaxation and your heart is in peace. You are feeling light and free. The seer leads you in to a meditation and your heart center opens and see blue colour everywhere. You also see a fragrant jasmine bud within your heart. Watch it opening and gradually unfolding and emanating fragrance. You have become ‘THAT’ now.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a beautiful mansion. It is a mansion of a richest man in the world. You see all the modern gadgets and facilities are there in the mansion. You meet the man. In the evening both of you go for a walk in the street discussing the current issues of the world. Suddenly you see a leper sitting and begging. You are moved with love and compassion. You remove your shining cloth and give it to the leper. You also take out some money and give it to him and embrace the leper. As you do this, the rich man too feels compassion and embraces him. Suddenly you realize that some power has gone out from you, yet you have become strong. At the same time, leper is totally healed, so too the rich man from his pride.  You realize the Spirit of the Lord within you. All three of you embrace and come to the mansion.

9.3 Texts for Prayer

Om Bhur Bhuva Svah; Tat Savitur Varenyam; Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi; Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat. (Om - Earth, Atmosphere, Heavens;   we meditate on the sacred Light of the effulgent Source.   That it may illuminate our minds).

Hymn: Pāvan ātma, antaryāmi, barsādo apni kṛpa…..

10. Love and Compassion for all Beings

10.1 Orientation

I become the original blessing for whole of cosmos and the beings in it. I see thing with equanimity, compassion and love. The whole universe becomes my home, a great family of God where I am an active contributor for its well-being.

10.2 Three Creative Meditations

i.    In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in Bodh Gaya. You see a huge Banyan tree. As you marvel at its size, you see a sage sitting under it telling something to people who are around him. As you gaze at the sage, you become the sage. He is Gautama Buddha. As you are preaching to them, you see group of people fighting. You go to them. Hear their problem. They were fighting over a caste issue. You see them with compassion and preach the Gospel of equanimity. Your radiance and peace within overflows towards them and people are moved by it. The people who were fighting are now compromising and vow to live as brothers and sisters. You go to another town and there you and your followers eat the food cooked by low-castes in the society. They feel happy for being recognized and they too join you in making the people brothers and sisters.

ii.   In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in a crowded city of New Delhi. You see a young man in his thirties. You recognize him. He is Jesus looking at you gracefully. As you look at him, you become Jesus. You become the healing and charitable power of Jesus. You heal the sick, look after the poor and widows, downtrodden, rich and healthy with compassion and love. You have a greater concern for the sick and suffering. You heal the blind and free the oppressed. You become the light of love to all humanity.

iii. In your astral travel your body flies high into the sky and lands in the town of Assisi in Italy. You see a man wearing brown, rough, torn gown. He is looking like a mendicant. He is carrying a cross in one hand and a Bible in the other hand. A bird is sitting on his shoulder. Though the appearance is like this, looks like a heavenly being. As you look at him, you become Francis of Assisi. You go to the forest, start talking to trees, birds, flowers, animals, jackals, wolves, lions, rabbits, and all the creature of the earth. You protect them and preach to them. People name the forest ‘Francis Home’. You feel one with it. You feel God is in everything and enjoy the life in the garden in the presence of God.

10.3 Texts for Prayer

Sarveśām Svastir Bhavatu; Sarveśām Shāntir Bhavatu; Sarveśām Pūrnam Bhavatu; Sarveśām Maṇgalam Bhavatu. Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah; Sarve Santu Niramayaah; Sarve Bhadrani Paysantu; Ma-Kaschid-Dukha-Bhag-Bhavet.

May there be happiness in all; May there be peace in all; May there be completeness in all; May there be success in all. May all be happy; May all be free from disabilities; May all look to the good of others; May none suffer from sorrow.

Conclusion

Īśa Upaniśad says, “This is fullness, that is fullness; from the fullness only fullness arises; from the fullness if you remove fullness, only fullness remains.” When we recognize the divine within each one of us, we realize that we are nothing but divine. A person who is aware of one’s own divineness within, sees everything in equal footings, sees the reality in equanimity, “samaḥ paśyanti sarvatra”. Such person does not make any discrimination as superior or inferior, rich or poor, dalit or high class. For such people, the earth is a home, the rich flora and fauna are brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Earth is not an object of manipulation but a subject of nourishment and co-creation. It is a ‘new heaven and new earth.’ This is what each one is called to become.

These thirty meditations for ten days are like “three pills per day for ten days” to heal one’s wounded soul and re-connect the person with one’s own real self. Once the person reaches one’s own real self, will identify the self (atman) as Spirit (Self / Atman), and ultimately will culminate in uniting with the divine (Brahman).

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta
05, May 2014

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