dharma . devotion

Candlelight flickers across the worn pages, and the Sanskrit characters dance rhythmically, like graceful maidens chanting ancient hymns. Transfixed, the young boy follows their motion, and his soul sings in unison with them:

A mass of radiance, glowing all around,
I see thee, hard to look at, on every side;
Glory of flaming fire and sun, immeasurable,
without beginning, middle, or end of power.
Infinite arms, whose eyes are the moon and sun,
I see thee, whose face is flaming fire,
burning the whole universe with thy radiance.

Quietly another voice enters the song. It is a gentle, beloved voice, calling him, calling “Sundar,” drawing him out of the chant, away from the dance. Slowly closing his inner eyes, he looks up into the candlelit face of his mother. “Come, Sundar! It is past midnight already. Soon it will be morning. You are only eight years old, my son. You must rest.” Obediently, reverently the boy returns the holy books to their place and seeks his mat. The candle flickers one last time and dies. Later he remembers:

Although my family was Sikh, we had great reverence for the Hindu scriptures. My mother was a living example of the love of God and a devoted follower of Hindu teachings. Every day she awoke before dawn, prepared herself with the cold water of the ritual bath, and read either from the Bhagavad Gita or from one of the other sacred writings. Her pure life and her complete devotion influenced me more strongly than it did the other family members. From the time of my earliest memories, she impressed upon me one rule above all others: when I woke from sleep, my first duty was to pray to God for spiritual nourishment and blessings. Only then could I break the night’s fast. Sometimes I objected to this rule and insisted on having breakfast first, but my mother would never relent. Usually with coaxing, but when necessary with force, she impressed this rule deep onto my soul: Seek God first and only then turn to other things.

At that time, I was too young to recognize the true value of this education, and I resisted her. Later, however, I came to appreciate her example. Whenever I think back now on her loving guidance, I cannot thank God enough for her. For she planted in me, and tended in my early life, a profound love and fear of God. She carried a great light within her, and her heart was the best spiritual training anyone could have: “You must not be careless and worldly,” she would say. “Seek peace of soul, and love God always. Someday you must give yourself fully to the search, you must follow the way of the sadhu.”

With pleading eyes, the boy looks up at his father:

Please help her, Father! She is so old and the weather is turning cold. I spent all my pocket money to buy food for her, but I did not have enough for a blanket. Please give me money to buy her a blanket.

Sardar Sher Singh retorts:

Listen, Sundar! Over the years I have given that widow all manner of help. We are not responsible for her. The other people in town should also help look after her. They must also learn charity. You cannot be responsible for everyone all the time. Others must learn to play their part. Do not worry about her now. You have done more than enough for her.

Downcast, the boy turns away. Agony of conscience.

Has not Mother always said we should show compassion and pity? Has Father no heart? What if no one else helps her? She might freeze in the night. Is there nothing I can do? Maybe…No, I mustn’t! That would be wrong. But then again, Father has so much; he will never miss a few rupees. It is for a good cause; I’m not stealing for myself…

Sundar was wrong. Father does miss it. In the evening, Sardar Sher Singh calls together the household and announces that he is missing five rupees. “Has anyone taken money from my purse?” he asks, gently but firmly. Each one answers in turn. Sundar  quietly says, “No Father, I didn’t do it.” The day closes somber and unresolved.
Sundar sleeps fitfully. He tosses and turns. In his dreams, he sees the stern face of his father, hears the disappointment in his voice: “How could you steal from me, your father? How could you secretly disobey me? Even now, after I ask for the truth, still you lie to me.” Sundar knows this is not dharma – devotion. This is adharma – sin.

It is evil. The holy books speak of karma – the relentless cycle of sin and death by whose law every sinful act burdens the soul and carries painful consequences. The holy books warn that we will reap what we sow, in this life or the next. How can I escape this karma? How can I undo what I have done? What good is compassion for others in need if my own soul is burdened?

Sardar Sher Singh hears a quiet, frightened voice:

Father! Wake up, Father! Something terrible has happened. It was I, Father. I stole your money to buy a blanket for the widow. Forgive me, Father. I want to escape the karma; I am ready to accept punishment; I am ready to accept it as penance for this sin.

Now awake, Sardar Sher Singh sees the anguish in the boy’s face and sees the hours of anguish behind it. He takes hold of the boy – not to punish him, but to take him up into his strong arms; not with anger, but with love. Gently he says: “I have always trusted you, my child, and now I have good proof that my trust was not misplaced. Sleep in peace now, for you have shown courage to choose what is right. In this way, you have turned the wrong to good. I, too, am sorry that I refused you money for the widow. I will not refuse you such a request again.”

Life has many challenges, but do you think you can get past them? Of course you can!

Avoid letting other people – or your own thoughts – tell you that you can’t do whatever you have in mind. A challenge isn’t a problem, it’s an opportunity to excel and move forward. But you must see your challenge in a positive light or it may not offer you the forward movement you’re really looking for.

Do you tackle challenges by getting stressed out and aggravated? If so, it’s time to learn how to avoid that conflict and deal with stress effectively. Anyone can learn to do it, but the mindset is very important. Most of the struggles you face come from not looking at things through an optimist’s eye.

Seeing your challenges as opportunities will help you make it through with flying colors.

The way a challenge is presented to you might be uncomfortable, but you can take that and turn it around to your advantage. Then, things that try to take you down can actually build you up and be used for your good, instead. You may even begin to look forward to your challenges to move ahead in life and accomplish even more.

Continue Reading….

TEACHINGS OF SUNDAR SINGH

compiled and edited by kim comer

Seek not to understand so that thou mayest believe, but believe so that thou mayest understand.
Augustine of Hippo

to the reader

As a large, red sun rises from the Punjabi plains, the solitary figure of a sadhu – an Indian holy man – comes into view, trudging along a dusty road. In another frame the figure appears again, this time toiling to reach a remote Tibetan village along a narrow, icy track better suited for goats than for humans. In yet another, the man appears at the edge of an ancient marketplace at dusk, mingling with the crowd as he seeks a place to sit and rest. Wherever this sadhu appears, those who look into his eyes immediately sense his extraordinary humility and peace. They discover a mystic…
Just as Sundar Singh appeared in such scenes again and again – without prior announcement, without introduction, without credentials – so he appears in this book. “Scenes,” the first section, contains impressions from key events in his life. It is based both on accounts by Sundar Singh himself, and by writers who knew him. “Conversations,” the second, contains dialogues that draw freely on material from all six of Sundar Singh’s books, as well as interviews and articles. Both sections are interspersed with parables that punctuate the themes. Though structurally unusual, the resulting collage allows us to encounter the sadhu in the way his contemporaries did: not as a systematic thinker, but as a personal teacher.
In his teachings as in his life, Sundar Singh offers little by way of rational orientation. He defies categorization and critical analysis. The impact of his message, however, is always direct and immediate. His voice rings with a clarity that rises from the deepest, clearest sources of life itself.
K. C.

1. scenes

PARABLE
the hungry birds

Once as I wandered in the mountains, I came upon an outcropping of rocks, and as I sat on the highest rock to rest and look out over the valley, I saw a nest in the branches of a tree. The young birds in the nest were crying noisily. Then I saw how the mother bird returned with food for her young ones. When they heard the sound of her wings and felt her presence nearby, they cried all the more loudly and opened their beaks wide. But after the mother bird fed them and flew away again, they were quiet. Climbing down to look more closely, I saw that the newly hatched birds had not yet opened their eyes. Without even being able to see their mother, they opened their beaks and begged for nourishment whenever she approached.

These tiny birds did not say: “We will not open our beaks until we can see our mother clearly and also see what kind of food she offers. Perhaps it is not our mother at all but instead some dangerous enemy. And who knows if it is proper nourishment or some kind of poison that is being fed to us?” If they had reasoned thus, they would never have discovered the truth. Before they were even strong enough to open their eyes, they would have starved to death. But they held no such doubts about the presence and love of their mother, and so after a few days, they opened their eyes and rejoiced to see her with them. Day by day they grew stronger and developed into the form and likeness of the mother, and soon they were able to soar up into the freedom of the skies.

We humans often think of ourselves as the greatest living beings, but do we not have something to learn from these common birds? We often question the reality and the loving nature of God. But the Master has said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Whenever we open our hearts to God, we receive spiritual nourishment and grow more and more into the likeness of God until we reach spiritual maturity. And once we open our spiritual eyes and see God’s presence, we find indescribable and unending bliss.

The Human body is one big energy generator, it radiates energy through mystical Chakra points on the Body. These radiating chakra energy points, make up the Aura, Through these energy points we attract and repel people and events into our life through a process known as radionics, or projection. Our lives are a reflection of what we think, believe, and take to be true.

In this section we provide a Chakra Chart to the 7 main chakra points, an overview of their place and counter balances, and explanation to the Inner Flute.

Overview : The Aura is a colour image projected from the emanations of several energy points on the body. Each energy point is Known as a “Chakra”; a Hindu word meaning “Spinning Wheel”. Each Charka Spins in and out radiating a vibration of basic energy. The energy it radiates is governed by the place of the charka, and its ensuing function indicated on the chart. The actual projection of any one chakra will include the basic energy and how that energy is currently understood by the person owning that chakra, therefore it reveals what it holds, and signals its condition; Positive or negative, understood or repressed, interactive or isolated. Through this signalling, the chakras attract and repel people and events into our lives, depending on the lessons we need to learn to aid in the growth or expression of that energy centre. Some Psychics known as sensitive’s read these signals by feeling out the projections from the chakras and interpreting them into a useable language to achieve an understanding of the person and their situation. Healers also work on these points by feeling the condition of the chakra, and its relationship to the other energy points, then using various forms of energy such as; Crystals, Oils, herbs, colours, sound, Reiki, or Chi adjust the chakra and chakra system to a more harmonious state.

Working with Chakras is an excellent method of attaining more understanding of the self it encourages one, to be more sensitive to them selves, and to take action in aiding the flow of energy throughout the whole of the energy system. Such sensitivity promotes good health, a positive mind, a cleaner emotional centre, a positive sense of self.

The Chart fig 1, indicates the chakra points and their position on the body, their colour vibration and relationship to the three forms of self. Fig2 outlines their names, basic natures, and corresponding balancing chakra points. The next two areas of knowledge are not often mentioned in Chakra books therefore I really wanted to include them, as I have found that many people do get stuck without little extra bit of information on the Chakra Counter balances, and Three forms of self.

Chakra Counter Balances Fig 2, Shows that the Heart is the Centre of the Chakra energy system. It’s the centre because of its nature, its nature is the same as Tao, the same as our spiritual path which is to Love in the unconditional sense, all of the self and world we create for ourselves; to create a harmony and balance between opposites, allowing, understanding, forgiving, accepting where required. Uniting and blending bringing all into a flow of harmony & oneness.

The same drawing also indicates the balances above and below the heart. These balances represent the path of growth. One builds this growth not from the bottom of the charka tree, but from the middle out, from the heart outward so that growth opens like a flower from the heart. All energy points require the heart to survive, without it there can be no balance. Solar Plexus & Throat This makes the first point of growth a positive sense of self. A positive sense who we are (Solar Plexus) balanced with a positive self expression of the self (throat). Building a positive sense of self is the first goal, before delving into the lower self or higher self. Learning to accept who we are, for what we are. There can be no growth before one accepts themselves, and takes a positive view of who they are. Naval & Brow The Naval, our emotional and sensational centre is balanced by the Brow. This balance is built on the first goal being achieved. The navel is full of current sensations and emotions as well as the deposit of all previous emotions and sensations; the build up those feelings relates to our subconscious mind, hence its association with the brow chakra. The Naval only feels, it can not think. Feelings need to be balanced by rational which is the domain of the Brow, therefore the link between the two allows one to see, and to personify their feelings. Working with the Heart chakra the two can be balanced. To attempt to delve higher or lower before attaining a positive sense of self can lead people to delusions of grandeur, or feelings of paranoia. The subconscious mind contains all of our experiences, hopes and dreams, fears and doubts, with out the light of self it’s a dark place. Root & Crown Are the final areas. These are purely diametrically opposed for one contains the ideal of perfection, and the other contains the animal of being human and the necessity of survival. This does not mean that the human animal is negative, certainly not, it only means that the animal needs to be enlightened too. The animal in us again does not have higher brain functions, and wont surrender it’s self unless coxed to do so gently by the heart and the building of the previous realms.

Three forms of self Fig 1, divides the charkas into forms of the self. Lower Self is governed by the Solar plexus, the ego, and acts on earthly will, for the sake of sensation and survival. Largely reactive, and acting upon the programming of the subconscious mind, locked into reoccurring patterns of behaviour. Self is also governed by the Solar plexus, the ego, however it also includes a love for the self and positive self expression. Largely innovative, creative, and lives for self expression, Spontaneous and energetic. Higher self is governed by the Crown; it has vision knowledge, thoughts and expression. Acts for the good of all, has no sense of individual self only considers the whole self. Its idealistic, patient, understanding, allowing, and loving to all aspects of the self.

The Inner Flute: The Inner flute is a mystical channel that connects all chakra points in a straight line. The channel works in both directions. This channel is used for drawing energy in, or to expel energy. It’s the same channel associated with the raising of Kundalini, and the central nervous system. Energy can be drawn in, by means breathing through the crown and down to the feet. Energy can not be expelled through the root, energy can only be expelled through the crown. This means that what ever is expelled travels through the heart and brow, so that it can be seen, understood, and changed. The same channel is used in Tantra, Yoga, and magical practice.

Just sit down & close your eyes. Try to stop thinking about your daily life and try to clear your mind.

In the beginning, quieting the mind may seem difficult. But with practice you will be able to do that.

Meditation is not about performance. It is about letting things flow.

What is the best way to meditate? Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. It does not matter if you sit down, lie down or stand up –feeling relaxed is all that is required.

Wear something simple and comfortable that will not distract you. Close your eyes to block out the senses.

Stopping your thought processes takes discipline, but it is not impossible. As thoughts appear do not pay any attention to them. You will not be able to keep hundreds of thoughts from popping up into your mind.

Let the thoughts come. Do not hang on to them. Just let them go. They will come and go. Just witness them. Count ONE silently in your mind. Keep counting ONE gently & continuously ….. ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE …….

Thoughts are bound to appear again in mind. Let them come & go. Witness them and just let them go.

Keep repeating in mind ONE, ONE, ONE continuously & slowly….. If mind wanders and it will, gently bring your attention to repeating ONE, ONE, ONE………

Bring your awareness gently back to counting ONE, ONE, ONE …..when mind wanders and next thoughts keep coming.

With this practice, number of thoughts will decrease. Progressively you will experience more & more peace.

Practice this for 20 minutes a day.

By definition, an affirmation is a statement repeated time and again either verbally or mentally — or written down. The words of the affirmation statement – in themselves -when spoken, thought of, or written *without* a pictorial (visualized) or emotional connection — make a very weak affirmation.

Daily Positive Affirmations, when worded correctly — and when emotionally charged – are able to tap into the unlimited creative power of your subconscious mind, and manifest your desires.

Affirmations are not all created equal. Some are, of course, better than others. There are *power affirmations* that have been proven again and again to work – and I’ll reveal some of them in a moment.

When you examine the structure of these power affirmations, you, too, can learn how to create your own powerful affirmations for your specific purposes.

Consider the following:

“I am what I choose to be.”
“All my needs are met instantaneously.”
“I love and accept myself exactly as I am.”
“_____________ comes to me easily and effortlessly.”
(Fill in the blank with what you desire.)
“I am now perfectly healthy in body, mind and spirit.”
“I now create my wonderful, ideal life.”

What do the above power Daily Positive Affirmations have in common?

1) They’re stated in the present tense.

An affirmation is more effective when stated in the present tense. For example; “I now have a wonderful job.” Avoid affirming something in the future tense, e.g. “I am going to have a wonderful job” or the results will always be waiting to happen.

2) They express a positive statement.

Daily Positive Affirmations need to be stated in the most positive terms possible. Avoid negative statements. Affirm what you do want, rather than what you don’t want. For example: “I am no longer sick.” This is a negative statement. Instead, affirm: ”I am now perfectly healthy in body, mind and spirit.” This statement is much more powerful as it is positive and reinforces your desired goal and doesn’t confuse your subconscious mind with the mention of the undesirable condition.

3) They’re short and specific.

Short affirmations are easy to say, and have a far greater impact at the subconscious level than those which are long and wordy. Keeping them specific and to the point adds power as the idea is uncluttered by extraneous elements.

The mechanics that make affirmations powerful are:

* Repetition
The importance of repetition cannot be overemphasized. It imprints the affirmation into your subconscious mind.

* Emotions
Get involved, be passionate, and use your emotions. Think carefully about the meaning of the words as you repeat them rather than just writing, typing or saying them.

* Persistence
Practicing affirmations with persistence achieves results much sooner than practicing them periodically. Successive sessions will have a compounding effect.

· May God the One, bless and keep you all, this day and every day to come! AMEN.

I did not understand what made me free, nor what my freedom is, nor where to look to find it.  Father, I have searched in vain until I heard Your Voice directing me.  Now I would guide myself no more.  For I have neither made nor understood the way to find my freedom.  But I trust in You.  You Who endowed me with my freedom as Your holy Son will not be lost to me.  Your Voice directs me, and the way to You is opening and clear to me at last.  Father, my freedom is in You alone.  Father, it is my will that I return.

Today we answer for the world, which will be freed along with us.  How glad are we to find our freedom through the certain way our Father has established.  And how sure is all the world’s salvation, when we learn our freedom can be found in God alone.

Father, unless I judge I cannot weep.  Nor can I suffer pain, or feel I am abandoned or unneeded in the world.  This is my home because I judge it not, and therefore is it only what You will.  Let me today behold it uncondemned, through happy eyes forgiveness has released from all distortion.  Let me see Your world instead of mine.  And all the tears I shed will be forgotten, for their source is gone.  Father, I will not judge Your world today.

God’s world is happy.  Those who look on it can only add their joy to it, and bless it as a cause of further joy in them.  We wept because we did not understand.  But we have learned the world we saw was false, and we will look upon God’s world today.

Prayer is a way offered by the Holy Spirit to reach God.  It is not merely a question or an entreaty.  It cannot succeed until you realize that it asks for nothing.  How else could it serve its purpose?  It is impossible to pray for idols and hope to reach God.  True prayer must avoid the pitfall of asking to entreat.  Ask, rather, to receive what is already given; to accept what is already there.

You have been told to ask the Holy Spirit for the answer to any specific problem, and that you will receive a specific answer if such is your need.  You have also been told that there is only one problem and one answer.  In prayer this is not contradictory.  There are decisions to make here, and they must be made whether they be illusions or not.  You cannot be asked to accept answers which are beyond the level of need that you can recognize.  Therefore, it is not the form of the question that matters, nor how it is asked.  The form of the answer, if given by God, will suit your need as you see it.  This is merely an echo of the reply of His Voice.  The real sound is always a song of thanksgiving and of love.

You cannot, then, ask for the echo.  It is the song that is the gift.  Along with it come the overtones, the harmonics, the echoes, but these are secondary.  In true prayer you hear only the song.  All the rest is merely added.  You have sought first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all else has indeed been given you.

The secret of true prayer is to forget the things you think you need.  To ask for the specific is much the same as to look on sin and then forgive it.  Also in the same way, in prayer you overlook your specific needs as you see them, and let them go into God’s Hands.  There they become your gifts to Him, for they tell Him that you would have no gods before Him; no Love but His.  What could His answer be but your remembrance of Him?  Can this be traded for a bit of trifling advice about a problem of an instant’s duration?  God answers only for eternity.  But still all little answers are contained in this.

Prayer is a stepping aside; a letting go, a quiet time of listening and loving.  It should not be confused with supplication of any kind, because it is a way of remembering your holiness.  Why should holiness entreat, being fully entitled to everything love has to offer?  And it is to Love you go in prayer.  Prayer is an offering; a giving up of yourself to be at one with Love.  There is nothing to ask because there is nothing left to want.  That nothingness becomes the altar of God.  It disappears in Him.

This is not a level of prayer that everyone can attain as yet.  Those who have not reached it still need your help in prayer because their asking is not yet based upon acceptance.  Help in prayer does not mean that another mediates between you and God.  But it does mean that another stands beside you and helps to raise you up to Him.  One who has realized the goodness of God prays without fear.  And one who prays without fear cannot but reach Him.  He can therefore also reach His Son, wherever he may be and whatever form he may seem to take.

Praying to Christ in anyone is true prayer because it is a gift of thanks to His Father.  To ask that Christ be but Himself is not an entreaty.  It is a song of thanksgiving for what you are.  Herein lies the power of prayer.  It asks nothing and receives everything.  This prayer can be shared because it receives for everyone.  To pray with one who knows that this is true is to be answered.  Perhaps the specific form of resolution for a specific problem will occur to either of you; it does not matter which.  Perhaps it will reach both, if you are genuinely attuned to one another.  It will come because you have realized that Christ is in both of you.  That is its only truth.

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