The misguided search for happiness

Dear Vedic Meditators
THE MISGUIDED SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0zCUPH4_oU

It’s all about us – what we think, how we percieve happiness to be and what my desires are and how I am manifesting them to make myself Happy?

“As we think so shall we be.”

I have been listening to Thom Knoles talks for a very long time and I never tire of listening to his talks on Happiness.  
 
This YouTube video I came across is from 2014 at the Conscious Club.  Some of you were probably there at the old Bondi Pavillion as it was in those days.
 
They were the good old days when Tim Brown and Gary Gorrow hosted many events that attracted hundreds of people, especially when Gary interviewed Thom. 
 
Love to all,
Until next time
Jai Guru Deva
Liz

Losing a loved one & depression

Losing a loved one and depression.

These are not an easy topics to write about but something that we all as humans have experienced.
 
What we say in the Vedic World View (VWV) when someone dies is they have dropped their body.  It’s a funny saying but why we say this is important to understand.  Consciousness is not body dependent; our bodies are conscious dependent.  To understand more of the VWV-consciousness continues on in another state after the body dies.  If consciousness has not reached fulfillment in this lifetime it will return again to live as many life times as needed until one day consciousness becomes part of the Unified Field and does not return again. 
 
It’s not the person who leaves the body who suffers it is the people that are left behind.  The grieving process needs to happen.  This is a very private process and happens in the person’s own time.  What we know as Meditators is it’s important to continue our twice daily meditation practice. 
 
The VWV says – When we drop our bodies the consciousness state is described as being the same as when we experience the nothingness state during meditation. Pure Transcendence with no thoughts no mantra.  A feeling of no suffering, no thinking, no ego chatter and no body feeling.  This is the state of pure contentedness, happiness, bliss.   It is a nothingness which we call Being.  It can also be described as when we're falling asleep and being unconscious.    
 
Talking about depression is not an easy but it is so important to be taken seriously and not ignored.  There is no shame in reaching out for help.  Depression is a state of mental suffering that can happen to anyone at any time during one’s lifetime. 
 
Some examples of depression –
The mistaken intellect – the egoic mind self -talk interfering negatively with the thinking process can result in thoughts becoming distorted and giving the wrong message.  Some people develop a chemical imbalance in the brain needing prescribed medication and ongoing close monitoring.  The use of drugs and alcohol changes the chemicals in the brain and can lead to long term depression.  Accumulated stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness can bring on depression if not treated. 
 
Meditation helps but is not a cure. Meditation is a tool that assists in releasing stress levels in the nervous system and clears the pathways.  Meditation brings about calmness, clearer thinking and deeper layers of the Self. Some people may never experience depression and for others it can be a real problem.  And thinking this shouldn’t happen to me!  Unfortunately, it can and does happen to anyone of us.  Please seek professional help from a Phycologist or Physiatrists, this is very important.  
 
If anyone would like to discuss this topic further with me, I can be contacted for mentoring or advise on were to seek professional help. Email and I will respond liz@beyondthinkingmeditation.com.      
 
Until next time!

My True Nature

Dear Vedic Meditators
My True Nature
I wrote about the Liquidambar Trees in our front yard back in 2013. Ten years on here are pictures of the same trees with the same story happening recently.

Two big branches broke again.  As you can see the tree is still standing tall and is as beautiful.  The leaves are blowing in the wind so proudly and the broken branches that fell are being chopped up and joining the other trees in the bush below.   It’s all about Creation, Maintenance and Destruction (the three Guna’s.) 
 
Nature is taking good care of these trees and wants them to survive.  We don’t need to do anything, we appreciate every year they are here for us to enjoy.  The Grandkids love running and jumping on the dead leaves.  So many shapes, sizes and colours.  When the leaves have all fallen the trees will be bare again, vulnerable and dark but inside something wonderful is happening.  New growth, new branches and the promise of Nature’s support. To be once again strong, to keep their cycles repeating. 
 
That’s us too right?  The body shed’s skin every 30 days and we make new organs every 7 years.  Everything is new and yet we have our memories in consciousness. As humans we have our breakages along the way just like the trees.   These are necessary for new growth and knowledge to occur.   If we embrace the new and trust that Nature is taking good care of us, our inner Nature (Bliss) reminds us to create new pathways every time we do our twice daily meditation practice.
                                                                      
Sitting in meditation we move into a deeper realm of consciousness and then we take that consciousness state out into action.  We may become fearful about some things but it’s not until we let go of fear and move into the unknown that we experience courage, inspiration and charm.  Right action becomes part of our day, happiness and bliss are more available to us. The Ego mind is still there keeping us safe and secure but we move beyond it into the unknown.
 
Be the experiencer of our Being - walk the walk and talk the talk of who we really are- My true Nature.

Until next time!

The Vedic Worldview about Arrogance

Dear Meditators

Vedic worldview about arrogance.

I recently listened to a talk on arrogance with Thom Knoles –

Go here to listen

If I believe I am unworthy or not good enough or I behave as if I am different/better.  To think I am something other than what I really am is a form of arrogance.  Behaving in a negative way to gain attention is arrogance.  
 
When I first heard about this topic, I didn’t think of arrogance as low self-esteem.  Arrogance to me was someone who’s behaviour was smug, a know it all, someone who belittled people in order to feel better and more important than others. 
 
The following scenario happened to me a long time ago – A colleague used my ideas about a project and had received all the praise for it.  They were MY ideas not theirs.  I suffered and reacted inwardly.  I had created a situation where I would not speak up and I felt angry and frustrated.  I had my own insecurities which began to show in my work and in my relationships.  My strategy was not sharing my ideas at all with anyone, but that didn’t stop the suffering or have the desired effect.  I had to learn a different way of thinking.
 
Then, I learned to meditate and I learned that I was causing my own unhappiness.  I learned that I had to change my behaviour and communicate differently.  My behaviour changed and the way I felt about myself changed. This had the desired effect and I thank Vedic Meditation for that.
 
When someone is behaving with arrogance, I know it’s not about me. I ask myself the question “what’s it like to be you?”  If I can offer some knowledge to that person I say- “I’ve had some experiences in this area if you would like to chat about that?”  I wait to be asked first then I chat with them.  I don’t react, I send them love instead because I know there is a reason for their behaviour.  I learned to have compassion and empathy for others.

As we know – people will always behave from their own level of consciousness they are in at that time. 
 
Today I will share my knowledge rather than taking offence or reacting. I remember that the negative thoughts about  myself cause my own suffering.  I know from my own experiences that my thought patterns about myself changed because of my twice daily meditation practice.  I have learnt to say “STOP” to negative thoughts. I have learnt to listen to my inner Nature, my intuition, to go with my fine level of feeling called charm and follow the ideas and thoughts that come to me from there.  My thinking process changed and the thoughts about myself and of others changed. 
 
I also liked reading the explanation of arrogance @ Psych Mechanics  

Love to everyone, Jai Guru Deva
Liz  

Devotion & Hanuman

This time of the year reminds me of Hanuman, the Devotee Monkey God who was devoted to Lord Rama.  Hanuman is depicted in the mythical stories - The Mahabharata and The Ramayana.  

 Hanuman symbolizes pure devotion, surrender, strength, hope, looking beyond the Ego – “lower self” and giving service to others unconditionally.

The 'Ramayana' is an ancient Hindu epic about Rama and Sita. It is one of the two most important ancient epics of [India], the other being the Mahabharata..written by Valmiki of Ancient India.  

The story of the Ramayana is about Prince Rama who has been exiled from his kingdom of ([Ajodhya]) with his wife

Sita and his brother Lakshman. He goes on to kill [king] Ramayana of Lanka in a long battle to get back his wife Sita.

I highly recommend reading both of these books written by Ramesh Menon.

The Ramayana story is one of the most celebrated times of the year in India.  It’s one of the most famous and successful stories of all times.   The link below is an animated version that gives some insight into the story.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mer0SA5gu9E

Love & Jai Guru Deva

Tapas- Self Discipline

Tapas is a discipline to reach Self Realization.  Tapas in Sanskrit means Discipline– allowing oneself to feel discomfort.
 
My Tapas is that sometimes I don’t feel like writing a newsletter.  Writing has never been my strong point.  In fact I have always avoided it in the past.  But over the years my writing skills have improved and I keep going.  We all have something we don’t like doing.  Some have said they find it hard getting out of bed early to Meditate.  When we don’t feel like doing the very thing that is best for us, we do it anyway, this is self discipline - Tapas.   
 
Patanjali wrote that we need to do Tapas – to surrender, practise delayed gratification, do something that takes us out of our comfort zone in order to change a situation or to behave differently etc.  Sometime starting with one small thing, then over a period of time it can become easier without even thinking about it. 
 
Ask ourselves these question –
What is my end goal?
Am I self motivated or am I stuck in repeating things that are not uplifting or spiritually enlightening?

Tapas is good for us – Why?  Because it teaches us self discipline, it gives life contrast. When I do a tapas, I feel happy, I feel lighter, I feel healthy and more complete and able to move forward.  Feeling the internal heat that drives me to succeed in my goals and dreams.  What do I need to do in order to succeed?  In ancient times some men would stand on one leg for years or they would go without food and drink for months. These are extreme tapas’s but they did these things to gain spiritual enlightenment and reach fulfilment. 
 
Tapas can also be done to prepare us for something that we want to happen- be it small or big doesn’t matter we set our intension and say what we will give up – i.e. getting out of bed earlier to have our Meditation before Sunrise or not engaging in the world by driving a car or interact with anyone until we meditate.  Sitting to do a meditation twice daily is a form of Tapas.  The benefits speak for themselves so for this reason we keep going and never give up. We do the morning Meditation then plan when the evening meditation will happen.    
 
Always coming to ourselves to look within to find out what’s next? What tapas can I be doing next? Don’t give up on doing a tapas because the more we do them the closer we come to awakening the inner self and connection with Being.  That quiet place within that never changes, that is always silent, that is Transcendental, Pure, eternal and is oneness with all things inside and outside of us.
 
Once I have set the goal then I begin.  Don’t hesitate or put it off to the next day.  Just start and watch the laws of Nature support.   The outcome may be better than what you had hoped it to be. 

Love & Jai Guru Deva

Stability as our baseline

Stability in mind, body and heart is present as we navigate challenges, move through unexpected transitions, or confront change.  We know that stability and our adaptability strengthens from our twice daily meditation practice. 

The attributes for stability:
Stamina – the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort.  We are what we eat, drink and Be in our environment.  Exercising the mind and body.  Following a daily Ayurvedic Routine is good for creating a strong physical and mental stamina.    

Capability -to the extent of someone's or something's ability. Capable of recognising our thoughts and what is happening around us.  Being present with our senses.  Feeling when something or someone around us is in low grade consciousness, then we are capable of Compassion and Empathy.   
Also, when we're called to action that we are capable of responding with single pointedness like the arrow that shoots directly to the target from within.   

Preparedness for action – A state of readiness to move through and achieve whatever is happening in life. When we sit to meditate we are strengthening that preparedness for action by releasing the stress, tension and fatigue from the mind and body.  When a Rushi (a wave in consciousness) is coming toward us that we prepare and be ready for the challenges.  Sometimes this is not easy to do at the time but we take courage from our inner strength, respond the best way we can and move forward knowing that everything is well and wisely set in place.  
 
Truth – is that which doesn’t change – it is within all of us.  As meditators we cultivate a strong feeling of the Knower within.   Nature will always reciprocate but we must let go in order to hear, see, feel, touch, taste and smell.  It’s through our senses that Nature communicates with us. 
     
Accepting change – Displaying open mindedness for desires to come through via new ideas and proposals.  Demonstrating a willingness to do things differently. As meditators we draw back the bow string to move beyond the ever repeating known into a state of consciousness where one’s individuality moves from stagnation or perhaps rigid attachment into letting go.  No longer ignoring the truth but the willingness to grow and raise our consciousness state.  We either progress and make positive changes or keep repeating and risk deterioration and destruction. 
 
Yoga (meditation) is a state of Consciousness.  The place where individuality meets the Absolute, Pure Consciousness, engaging fully in the Truth of everything we need to know. 
 
How we adapt to change is important.  If we have high grade stability, we have good adaptability.  In -low grade stability and adaptability the world (Universe, Nature) does not reciprocate well.   Integrate well inside –all goes well.  No integration - things are not orderly.  Stability and the ability to adapt well in different situations enables the flow of life to go smoothly and we don’t suffer. 
 
We know that the connection between the mind and body are intimately connected, that the body needs to rest to allow the restoration process to happen, to rid itself of stress, tension and fatigue on a daily basis– we do this through sleep but mostly through our twice daily meditation practice. 
Love & Jai Guru Deva

Happy New Year 2023

Dear Meditators       

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MAY 2023 BRING YOU JOY, LOVE AND HAPPINESS.

2022 has been a huge year for everyone world wide - it's been a challenging time but also a time remembering the positives and the opportunities for learning and growth.

What is your Vision for 2023? 
These words from Maharishi might give you food for thought.

Maharishi’s Five Points for Living Heaven on Earth.
1. Know yourself. Be aware of yourself as the creator of all you experience. Aham Brahmasmi  “I Am That.”
2. Adopt the standard of perfection because it is a perfect universe
3. Be self-referral. Don’t go by outside prompts.
4. When Desires rise up - Trust the universe to take care of details.
5. Make Bliss a primary motivation for doing anything.

Please allow me to indulge in some nostalgia as I celebrate 20 years of practising Vedic Meditation in 2023.  The words I use to describe how I feel today about my meditation practise is, it has been a profound life changing experience, l learnt to love myself and to have a happiness inside that surpasses anything that I have ever experienced.  There are still life’s challenges, and sometimes there are sad days (I call them my sad bird days).  Today I see and feel beyond my humanness to find the truth about not only who I am but what I am.  Ahum Brahmusmi  (I am Brahman, I am Totality).
 
It has been 20 years since I sat in front of my teacher Tim Brown to receive my Mantra.  It doesn’t feel that long ago.  I remember how I felt in the weeks after learning. I had been sceptical about learning because I had learnt many other types of meditation but this one felt different.  I remember having lots of thoughts coming and going and my body being perfectly still.  I felt relaxed, awake and deep but with many thoughts at the same time.  I remember thinking this was crazy – how could I be feeling so relaxed with peace and calmness inside whilst still in my very stressful job.  Add on six years of Meditation and I started thinking about becoming a teacher and here I am today almost 14 years later, still here, still feeling passionate about Teaching Vedic Meditation and still meditating twice every day. 

What Nature has given me to celebrate is a trip to India.  I'm very excited and grateful and look forward to celebrating with you all soon. 
 
On 6th January I fly to the Holy City of Rishikesh which sits at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains on the Ganges River.  I will spend time meditating and being inspired by this wonderful spiritual place.  I will be on Retreat for 10 days then Teacher training for 5 days with my Colleagues from around the world. Spending time with my amazing teacher Thom Knoles will be very special. Thom has spent over 50 years teaching and sharing his knowledge of the Veda with people all around the world. First with the TM organisation then as the Master of what we call Vedic Meditation.  Thom was with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for 26 years and spent most of that time as Maharishi’s personal assistant.  Thom lived here in Sydney for 30 years until he returned to his families homestead in Flagstaff Arizona USA where he resides today.
 
Love to all and Happy 2023
Jai Guru Deva
Liz  
 

Turning up Nature's Volume

Dear Meditators       

Turning up Nature’s Volume

Listen…… to desires, new ideas and thoughts!! They come to you through Meditation, through the senses or through the environment and other people. 

By listening to Nature we go first from Being-our Big Self into action then become aware of our actions through our thoughts. 

December is a great time to review the year that’s past.  To celebrate all that the year has been even if it’s sometimes challenging.   It’s a time to celebrate with family and friends and to reach out to the people around us. 
 
Why turn up the volume that Nature is offering?  Because by listening to Nature we are letting go of the ego mind and the chatter in the head.  The ego wants to make sure we’re safe and to protects us, to comfort us which can bring some happiness but can also bring suffering and lost opportunities.  Better to listen to the Big Self that is speaking to us through our small self, our individuality.   When we turn up the volume and listen - our inner emotions and feelings feel charmed and right moving forward.  We trust that our Cosmic compass that lies within has the right answers and guides us on the path we need to be on right now, in this present moment.  
 
How do we turn up the Volume of Nature’s communication?  First, we meditate twice daily. This brings us closer to Nature’s cosmic talk.  We come to the present moment and place our attention on what’s happening around us through our senses - what can I see, hear, feel, taste and smell?  As I write this newsletter, I stopped to be in the present moment and to look out at my garden.  The white butterflies are pollinating, birds are singing, a neighbour has her grandchildren weeding in her garden and they are laughing, someone is cooking and it smells very pleasant, I feel loved and contented. 
 
When we practice turning up the volume of happiness we let go of negativity and blame, we can come to a very different state of consciousness very quickly.   Let’s turn up the volume by giving thanks for those around us.  Ask Nature to shine our beautiful lights and spread our loving kindness with everyone we meet.     
FYI - I will be on holiday from 20th December returning for our first Group Meditation on Monday 13th February 2023.
I’m travelling to India for our Annual Retreat with Thom and our Meditation Teacher Training with the Initators from around the world.  We will be in Rishikesh at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains.  I’ll be posting pictures of the trip onto our Meditators Community Facebook page.
 
Merry Christmas to you all dear Meditators, have a wonderful holiday and festive season.
Thankyou all for a wonderful year.  Keep shining your beautiful lights.
Love & Jai Guru Deva
Liz   

What does ‘Jai Guru Deva’ mean?  
‘Jai Guru Deva’ (pronounced ‘Jay Goo Roo Dave’) is a meditators salutation - we use it to say hi, bye, when greeting other meditators etc. or anytime we feel grateful for the supreme knowledge of life we have received as meditators - (we can say it to ourselves silently when we feel this swelling of gratitude in our hearts). 

It literally means:

Jai:  Glory to, Joy, Hail.

Guru Deva:  In our case we are referring to Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (the person you see in the picture during your initiation) but in every generation the teacher is referred to as

Guru Deva.  Guru Deva is really a title that has become a name.

Guru; Gu - means darkness, and Ru - means a remover.

Guru means a remover of darkness.  

Deva means a shining one and is the source of the English word, Divine.

When we say Jai Guru Deva, we are giving thanks to whoever we feel is the source of supreme knowledge to us and in our generation that is ultimately Swami Brahmananda Saraswati.

The Soma energy Bandit

What do we mean by Soma Bandit – the flow of consciousness (Soma) is interrupted, energy levels may feel depleted.
 
Maybe someone you know fits this description? A family member, friend or an acquaintance who emotionally drains us– the Soma (Energy) Bandit.  

Some people just wipes us out because they are "needy".  They may not internationally sap our energy but it happens and we can be left feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.  Making a quick exit may not be an easy option when it comes to family or close friends.. 

What happens very quickly is the body starts to print out what is happening inside of us.
At this point we can go through a check list -
* What am I thinking about?
* What am I feeling inside my body?
* Do I feel an aversion with this person/situation?
* Do I want to fight or flee? 
* Are my reactions to the person/situation showing up in my behaviour and body language?

At this point I may not be listening but reacting by wanting to avoid or remove myself.

So what can I do?
First step is self referral.  Notice my feelings and emotions. 
Do I feel an aversion from past experience (Premiture Cognitive Commitments or PCC’s)?
Do I recognise that I have similar traits or characteristics that need to be corrected and that is why
I am feeling the aversion?

So, what can we do?  We have a choice at this point - do I avoid (flee) the situation? There is nothing right or wrong with this option but you may want to stay and play, listen consciously and feel empathy.  We can always learn from others when we look at ourselves first.  Practise compassion and learn to understand from another persons perspective.  See the experience as an opportunity for growth and having a positive reaction.  When we choose love consciously it multiplies and grows very quickly.  The other person will notice you are not reacting the same way.  What may also happen is the person or situation is defused and the outcome becomes a positive one.  Happiness bubbles up rather than the feeling of depleted energy. 

Over time change begins to happen to the way we think.  Situations do not bother us so much.  Our twice per day Meditation practice changes the nervous system, the feeling of calmness remains with us throughout the day. The intellect changes the script and the mind and body begin to print out a different response.  The mind sends a different message to the brain. 

Meditation become such an important part of our day.  Without it the changes and lifestye we have cultivated are not sustainable we may revert back to being stressed and blaming others for how we feel again.  Our health suffers and the people around us suffer.    

These wise words are from my Teacher Thom Knoles. 
“When people learn to meditate, their adaptation capacity expands.  Their tolerance for change expands.
Their recognition expands that they are, in themselves, the source and cause of their own experience. Meditators progressively let go of the conviction that, “someone else caused my
experience”.   
 
Radiate love and joy for all the world to see.
Love and Jai Guru Deva

What does ‘Jai Guru Deva’ mean?  
‘Jai Guru Deva’ (pronounced ‘Jay Goo Roo Dave’) is a meditators salutation - we use it to say hi, bye, when greeting other meditators etc. or anytime we feel grateful for the supreme knowledge of life we have received as meditators - (we can say it to ourselves silently when we feel this swelling of gratitude in our hearts). 

It literally means:

Jai:  Glory to, Joy, Hail.

Guru Deva:  In our case we are referring to Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (the person you see in the picture during your initiation) but in every generation the teacher is referred to as

Guru Deva.  Guru Deva is really a title that has become a name.

Guru; Gu - means darkness, and Ru - means a remover.

Guru means a remover of darkness.  

Deva means a shining one and is the source of the English word, Divine.

When we say Jai Guru Deva, we are giving thanks to whoever we feel is the source of supreme knowledge to us and in our generation that is ultimately Swami Brahmananda Saraswati.