Editor
In the book, Pagan: the Origins of Modern Burma by Michael Aung-Thwin (University of Hawaii Press, 1985) the author says that written on one of the many hundreds of pagodas and temples that dot the plains of Pagan are the words, “A thousand monks, a thousand religions.” I read this book about twenty years ago, and yet this phrase has always remained with me. I have introspected on this over the years and now, as a Sahaja Yogi, perhaps I know what it means.
Its meaning is that within each of us is the religion, innately built. However, each person’s interpretation of religion is unique. The same Truth refracted through the prisms of our beings takes on myriad hues.
The monk is symbolic of the asceticism that we have to have on the inside because a monk is not created by a change of dress alone. It is the inner part that has to be changed; the outer part is just a reflection of what is happening within.
In Sahaja Yoga the innate religion is realised and actualised through the awakening of our Divine Mother, the Kundalini. Her main task is to give us Self-realisation so that this innate religion, the dharma or right conduct, manifests within us.
Each of us has a Guru Tattwa, i.e. the principle of the Divine Guru. It is called the Void or the Ocean of Illusion. Its physical location within us is the soft part of our abdomen with the navel as its centre. It has ten valencies corresponding to the Ten Commandments given to us by Moses. The ten valencies are unique to human beings, and for the understanding of each of these, an incarnation came on Earth. The first incarnation came ten thousand years ago in the form of King Janaka, with the last being Sai Baba of Shirdi. In between were Abraham, Moses, Lao Tse, Confucius, Zarathustra, Socrates, Mohammed and Guru Nanak.
The Adi or Primordial Guru principle is the combination of the quality of innocence of the three male deities, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The Adi Guru principle is for the purpose of guiding the human beings across the Void, the Ocean of Illusion which is the place of our evolutionary process.
Once we attain the Guru Tattwa, we can become our own guru. The analogy of the monk is to show that the road to becoming one’s own guru is not easy. The journey has to be taken alone because it is our habits and conditionings that have to undergo transformation and/or transmutation to take on their hues of dharma.
Greta More
© June 2007
(Picture courtesy of Divine Life Trust, www.dlshq.org)
A small group of Sahaja Yogis gave realisation at the Woodford International Indigenous Dreamtime Festival over the Queen’s Birthday weekend held on 8-11 June 2007. In all, about forty people received their self-realisation. Of these people, about seven were identifiably Indigenous.
There was, as always, great joy at the transmitting of this priceless gift. We also felt very privileged to be part of the Festival itself. Ancient rhythms and ceremonies combined with the vibrant, contemporary Indigenous music scene.
Original Australians from all over the country and more recently arrived races mixed freely and equally in a manner so rare in the recent history of this country. We were honoured and delighted to be there to share our Mother’s Love, and to learn from an ancient wisdom.
Sue Boyer
First of all, you have to be austere with yourself;
just separate yourself from yourself.
Separate yourself as a Spirit and look at your ego and superego.
Now you start watching the ego and superego –
do not maintain it; they are the destroying forces.
Now when you see the play as a witness of these destroying forces
you will know how to also maintain yourself better.
To separate yourself is easier when you take to austerity.
Shri Mataji, 1985
Love all God’s creations,
Both the whole and every grain of sand.
Love every leaf, every ray of light.
Love the animals, love the plants,
Love each separate thing.
If you love each thing
You will see the mystery of God in all.
Feodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881), Realised Russian author
(Photograph curtesy of Paul Candlin and the Australian Department
of Environment and Heritage)