Eros, Fire, and Transcendence: On Death, Desire, and the Middle Path

Even in the drama of creation, a hundred million sperms die before one gets a chance to live; it is as if all the dead life forms are trying to get a chance to live once again. Life proceeds through such massive death. Love of life is also love of death; thus eros is the same as fear of death — it is the same energy of manifestation through time.

The purpose of sacred sacrifice can be two-fold. One, to consume the seed to bring forth fruit — that is, to bring transcendence into the field of time. Two, to preserve the seed to freeze time itself, and achieve transcendence.

The first is the external heat of sacred sacrifice: of sex, of Bhoga, of enjoyment.
The second is the internal heat of transforming the sex urge itself into transcendence, immortality.

In either case, fire is the medium for connecting the Transcendent to Nature, the Male to Female. Fire is the middle flow of awareness, the river (nadi) of Sushumna, the warm current, the middle breath of Yoga.

There is no essential difference between Bhoga (enjoyment) and Yoga; Bhoga is Yoga. There is no essential difference between transcendent immortality and immanent mortality. Mortality is also immortality in a syncretic view of time, where past, present and future can be viewed as here, here and there; where time has lost the property of flow and is like space.

Death loses its sting when it can no more destroy. Death cannot destroy when there is no flow of time; nor can birth take place when there is no flow of time.

Right Attitudes: The True Aim of Education

The purpose of education is to build the right attitudes towards life. Religious education is no exception. What are the right attitudes? What is right and what is wrong? Who is to decide?

Right and wrong can only be seen in the light of yourself and the society in which you function. What promotes your unfettered growth and creativity and happiness AND what promotes the same for your environment is right; what does promote limitation, confinement and misery for you OR the environment is wrong. You alone decide what is right and what is wrong, because you only know your true intent or purpose in doing something. True, society and law sit in judgement; even Jesus Christ lamented, “Judge not lest thou shouldst be judged.” In short, right promotes happiness and wellbeing for all; wrong does the opposite.

If you were living all alone in a jungle, you could, in principle, make your own laws, and live life exactly the way you want it. But, unfortunately, that is not the case. Most of the time, you have to consider the impact your actions have on the society around you. This is where the rub is. You are prevented from doing what you really want to do by the society around you, because it feels that your actions create some unhappiness for it. You can't smoke, you can't drink, you can't even watch TV. Even the simple pleasures seem to be denied to you by a heartless and cruel society, is it not?

Not if you care to think for a while, “Why can't I do what I want?” Instead of thinking it out, you start condemning the society, or condemn yourself, which is even worse. THAT IS PRECISELY HOW YOU START BUILDING THE WRONG ATTITUDES. Why can’t I smoke? Because it burns my heart; not because my Mom wants to deny me even the simple pleasure of smoking. I should not drink, because it causes a depression, and a lousy hangover later on. Why can't I watch TV? Because it affects my analytical ability, vital for my creativity, not because my Dad is an idiot.

Only I can check my thinking patterns and encourage those that foster my personal growth as well as the growth of the society. WRONG ATTITUDES ARE CREATED AND SUSTAINED BY YOUR THINKING PATTERNS! That is an age-old fundamental discovery. The importance is being recognized afresh now. It is equally important to realize that RIGHT ATTITUDES ARE ALSO CREATED AND SUSTAINED BY YOUR THINKING PATTERNS!

So you see, if only you can discover what exactly your wrong attitudes are, it is easy to reprogram your attitudes for YOUR JOY.

Amritananda, 1993

The Oldest Religion: Love and Freedom from All Bonds

Mathas, temples, spiritual movements and social welfare organizations are only traps, which slow down the real jijnasu; the seeker who is able to go it alone. Go where you will, be with whom you will, but do not become bound anywhere or to anyone – and that includes this peetham or this matham or this Guru.

Attachment to any physical form slows us down. The real feet of the Guru, which you must not leave, are analysis and enlightenment. We never, ever try to coerce or tie down in any way the people who come to seek near us. It is because we really love you that we want to set you free.

When you are with me, I give you my undivided attention. And when you leave, it’s as if you never existed for me. So act in the living present. The past is gone, is gone, is gone. Do not think even for a moment about the past. That way you will overcome the feelings of guilt, shame, and unnecessary worry about them.

Do not worry about the future either. Do not cling to your possessions, including your own body. The unwise consider that their practices alone are correct, and that the practices of others are incorrect. The wise person knows that the habits, customs, lifestyles and food habits of all peoples in all places and at all times, of all traditions, all races and ethnic groups, are mine alone. (Thus such a person is both a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian, even though he or she chooses not to eat meat.)

The “new” religion is in fact the oldest religion there is. It is the religion of love. It is the unconditional and universal love, which begets unconditional and universal love. It is your nature to love everyone – every living being. The expressions of love differ, but love itself is one. You must love, and you must receive love. Only in the flow of love are you nourished from your very root. I nourish my love by expressing it, not by containing it. The more I give love, the more I receive it. It is my nature to give, to share my love, peace, and happiness with everyone. Not silently in my mind, but by and through actions. I nourish my negatives – such as fears, lust, anger, greed, possessiveness, pride, jealousy and hatred – by containing them, not by expressing them. I transform them into fearlessness, love, peace, sharing, non-attachment, humility, fun and regard by not lending my awareness or energy to them.

Such a person is a Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and everything else, all rolled into one. Such a person is cognizant of the identity of all with Brahman. And therefore there is no attachment or repulsion towards any path.

Amritananda, 1991

Religion Is Not the Cure

• Is religion the remedy? Pay for the puja — $100 for navagraha shanti; this shanti; that shanti. At best these are anesthetics. They are no cure.

• A guilty conscience must assume a hell’s existence. Hells are created for “the other fellow,” the nonbeliever. Out of the brooding shadows, priests and prophets hold the candle of hope. Men fall at their feet, thanking the priests for the hope they peddle.

• God, the wrathful and god, the vengeful bring revenues for priests — but god, the merciful?

• The purpose of religions is to convert the mental concept of god into something that is real to experience.

• The pity about Christ’s life is that no one bothers about his life and teachings. Everyone focuses only on his death at the cross. He did not come to die at the cross. There were so many miracles in his life.

• Islam means peace — the law of god.

• Asceticism is not at all required for spiritual development.

• To put on a distinctive garb and set oneself apart from the rest of mankind certainly flatters the vanity of the class. But is that spirituality?

• Austerities are a waste of time; so is an over-full belly.

• Ethics may clean the mind and prepare one to knock at the inner door; but they will never open the door.

• Gates can only be opened by the master.

Amritananda, 1990

None Hold You but Yourself

Man is a king, prostrating before his servants. He is a prisoner, walled in by his own ignorance. He is the master of the universe, going around begging for a crumb of bread. Would he be free? None hold you but yourself!

Ills of human race: whirl of passionate sensations leading to bankruptcy. Every kiss has its price. Every pleasure is to be paid for. Pay! Pay! Pay! Chase the mirage; become tired of the sham, counterfeit and hypocrisy. Turn homewards — and find more turbulence.

The cause for sorrow is desire. But can you prevent desire and hence sorrow? What is the cure for desire? The key to eliminating desires lies with the master. He finds out or has to find out what desires you have. Then he gives you the means to overcome those desires.

Amritananda, 1990

Amritananda, 1990

Sri Vidya: Removing the Separation Between Life and the Absolute

Guruji:

Sri Vidya is the Mantra, Sri Chakra is the Yantra, and Sri Kalpa is the Tantra, which give material benefits as well as being one with the Universal Life. Practitioners of Sri Vidya see physical as single continuum with spiritual, God-Goddess indivisible pair. Individual life is the same as cosmic life, like in a hologram; the part is the same as whole.

Sri Chakra is the symbol of Siva the space, in union with Sundari creating-Kali destroying life. It is worshipped in pairs: Universe-God, Saraswati-Brahma, Lakshmi-Vishnu, Sakti-Siva, Radha-Krishna, Woman-Man. Every living person is thus a temple; life Kali in union with the insentient body Siva. The central idea of Sri Vidya is to remove the separation.

We don’t see life itself, except through a body which has it. So, when we worship a person, actually life receives the worship. Women have the attributes (linga) of Shakti while Men have attributes of Siva. The best forms of living Sri Yantras are therefore considered to be persons receiving worship. The yoni and linga (both needed to create life) are worshipped in external worship of Sri Chakra. Such external worship is the gateway to internalizing meditation on the joy of creation, Brahma’s ananda.

Worship, chanting of mantras and remembering the myriad attributes of the Goddess are all means for the movement from darkness of ignorance to the light of unlimited awareness. The Guru is the gateway to surrender pettiness into the largess of cosmic life. When all is one, the duality Disciple-Guru cannot exist; they are just one God. But they enjoy their separate roles in the drama of life. Guru worships the disciple as guru, because of the God in the disciple. In that very process, empowerment happens.

Here come angels

Ganapathy blowing conch. Says Here come the angels.

Group of angels come running.
G. asks who are you?

Chorus: We are Shaktis. We are Siddhis.

1. I am Anima. I make you an atom. So you can't be seen.
2. I am laghima. I make you lighter than air. So you can float.
3. I, Mahima. With my help, you can become a galaxy. What power on earth can shake you?
4. Isitva. You can control the environment.
5. Vasitva. You can control yourself.
6. Prakamya. You will cherish great desires.
7. Bhukti. I give you health so you can enjoy.
8. Ichcha. Your will becomes the will of Goddess.
9. Prapti. You will surely get what you want.
10. Sarva kama. I will fulfill all your desires.

G. If I want misery for others or myself?
Chorus: We can surely give you that. But what is the point?

G. Some times I feel like it.
Chorus: Be careful what you ask! Because you will get it!
G: Like Midas?
C: Yeah, like Midas.
G: How will I know what to ask?
Isitva: Good question. I can help you find it. I will teach you how to control your tongue.

Chorus: We will teach you how to control your tongue. Your senses. And moods. So Don't be afraid to ask.

G: What brings you here?
Chorus: People in this world have lost their hearts. We want to bring the light of love into their hearts. So they can love more and hurt less.

Isitva: Too much violence and anger.
Vasitva: Too much loneliness and suppression.
Prakamya: Totally unnecessary.

Chorus: Together we can cure the ills of people here.

G: How? I have been trying. Not much success yet.
Chorus: By bringing love into the hearts.

We will teach you how to love, sing with the colors float on air and dance with us.  We will teach you to love all and become light. that's what you need that's what you are, but forgot it a lover first and a lover last.

G: Yes, I sometimes feel very heavy.
I can use some weight reduction. Do you run a health spa?
Chorus: You just ask! We do anything.

G: Why are you, (coughs), uh, not wearing any clothes?

Chorus: We don't? Oh yes, we forgot what they are long ago.
It is below our dignity to wear clothes.

Tell me why, my friend,
The sky doesn't wear clothes,
the winds are naked,
the fires are nude,
the lakes don't have cover
the vegetation doesn't cover bosom of the earth.
And why, why, why,
people cover themselves.
Perhaps to hide imperfections.
Beauty doesn't need clothes.

Isitva: I will tell you why. To separate themselves from one another. We are one and we know it.

G: Are you not ashamed to expose your bodies?
Vasitva: What is shame? I don't understand it.

Chorus: It is our will to be seen as we are.

The flowers are the source from which the fruits come.
Are they ashamed? Would you rather cover them ?
In Mother's creation every thing is pure, nothing is sinful nothing pretends to be what it is not.

G: Are there more of you? Or just ten ?

Chorus: Of course there are.

Each of us is a billion yet the million thousands are one.
Like each of you is a billion of living cells.
Thousands dying every second, thousands born, yet, are you not one individual?
Whose life are you living my friend?
When cells die in your body are you dying with them?
There is one life flowing through all of us.

G: Is that the Mother?
Curtain closes.

Sudden change of weather. Sounds of thunder. Bolts of lightning. Winds raising dust. First drops of water falling. Sweet smell of earth hungry for
rain. Sounds of lashing rain.  More thunder, more lightning. Sahasrakshi appears in a lightning. Radiant, glowing, smiling. Zoom into Her face.

She speaks: Her lips don't move, but She speaks.

I come to this world to spread the wings of love and make you fly like angels.

I am the energy of love, life and light.

Surrender to me. I will lead you to the realization that you are God, You are me.

There is no you, no me. We are one. That is the truth. Love brings people together.

Respect love. Do not degrade it with anger violence or lust. Making love is my worship.

This earth torn by fear. I bring my angels to help you with your journey to greatness.

Do not resist them. They are here to help in your darkest hours of melancholy. Hrim.