Applying Consciousness to Education

I watched something quite transforming in witnessing a brief lesson on pranam to a group of school children. Normally, I try not to include ashram members in the blog for the point of privacy, but this was to the core of my heart from this new view of devotion. The children were pouring in to offer their version of pranam which is full of energy and quite delightful to watch in itself--the joy of young people.  I snapped a few photos and then turned back to watch Gurudev and the Priests.  The scuffling feet behind started to slow, so I turned back around to witness a group lesson in pranam.  The visual and level of order was transfixing in itself.  Just someone taking a few minutes to explain, direct, and add guidance from the heart. No orange robe, just someone who is thoughtful, caring, and devotional.  Thank you for the life lesson in applying consciousness to education. Pranam. Both ends of the room were bathed in light.

Youthful exuberance!

A little bit of helpful guidance

Next group--all transformed in just minutes of coaching

All guidance applied with kindness and thoughtfulness.

Into The Inner Silence

Reading is crucial for part of my learning curve. Fascinating to read about Ramakrishna's pain from being in the material world surrounded by separation from Source--even at His level.  He viewed it as part of his path of awareness both inner and outer.  Into the inner silence is the only true "solution" for where a place, state, or answer can be assimilated with minimum distortions. Every turn of his teaching is about inclusiveness--even doubts, "bad" behavior, and more.  Before sitting down to read, acceptance of separation had surfaced in my meditation.  Also, the observation of following an inquiry path gives the mind lots of opportunities to have activity, and not always desirable, so I can appreciate the beauty of the devotional path for living in the heart. The groundwork appears different, so there are a different set of obstacles at times, but no surprise that it all takes focus and self-discipline.

Amusement park ride for the inner world is mesmerizing.  Astounding the amount of pull for the unknown and a state of "nothingness." Instead of pain being the nut cracker for the spiritual heart there appears to be a shift to pure energetic explosions.

Navratra Day Four--Pink

Navratra Day Three--Viewing Perfection

Viewing Perfection
My new favorite photo- Source, Guru, grace, devotion, humility, wisdom, ... and more all in one shot!

As I post this first photo, how could I ever look for something more beautiful through the view finder of my little camera.  I am frozen just viewing it myself. The preciousness and the depth it touches my limited heart is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Grace!  The daily, self-imposed photo assignment of finding beauty has been a significant teaching that there always is something beautiful to be found or observed. It has been an important anchor in my walk through many unpleasant aspects of the physical Earth. Thank you Gurudev for your encouragement to start and continue with this search--and so much more...

Orange wardrobe today

Step stool details

It is so touching to watch these priests so delicately and thoughtfully decorating the wall of the Divine Genealogy!

New (big) statue

The details...

Earth Plan's Ultimate Job

(Note: I have not enhanced any of the photos from Navratra--just the natural intensity!)

Making a point not to go out in the "outer" world, exercise in my room, and just walk down the street for a few days to get the full effect of the overlays--I thought. With a growing sense of my outline made of dots instead of a thick, heavy line, the sensitivity to separation is growing intensely.  Why are the men and women sitting separately on the floor in front of the holy festivities?  Why are the men going ahead in the line to the Guru's feet without even a sideways glance at the back up of women wanting to touch the ground near his feet too?  Why is the man who cleans the bathrooms and picks-up debris not invited to sit inside the eating area, but is sitting on the ground outside?  Yes, all of this has been examined before, but now it shows up as pain in my heart rather than a question in my head.  No doubt, I will observe points of separation at home (a big one is not having a spiritual container with Gurudev present...), but they will only appear differently. Capacity building.  The explanation was in the evolution of the culture and not what the initial point of respect was for women, caste, and more.  Yes, the evolution of the world through the state lacking consciousness which came up in my reading today regarding the Kali Yuga. Not dwelling on the why, but will keep examining and working on my small patch of inhabited energetic field.  Plenty of homework.

The growing sensitivity to separation keeps motivating the straight and narrow path to Source.  At least, now there is a path where before it all just appeared as scratchiness. Even to contemplate today's lesson plan is driving me inward, so thank you! The Earth Plan is doing Its' ultimate job of leading to the land of no separation.

The exercise from the video I posted yesterday, was answered in the first paragraph (pg. 102) of the section I was reading today. Thank you! Other questions answered even ahead of them forming as questions which is a new scheme.

The privilege of sitting in the amazing overlays of spiritual openings are breathtaking.  Tears could be found at every turn. As I continue to understand more through the reading of Ramakrishna,  I continue to be so humbled and in awe of the grace of Gurudev's presence.  How could he be asking me if the evening food is too spicy when just looking at him is almost overwhelming at times.

Overlays

Overlays within the overlay

Nothing like a Navratra celebration to drive home the benefits of overlays.  Walk down the quiet street in the morning, pranam to Gurudev, head upstairs to sit with the priests and their ceremonial process, meditate, wander down stairs and read a book on Ramakrishna while looking at Gurudev reading, go back upstairs to hear the beautiful voices of the priests and watch them in their duties....  Spiritual drowning I would say or how to be a spiritual puddle.  Interesting to experience each Navaratra at a different level of understanding spiritually.  I see how the overlays are what continue to be transformed. The overlays being the physical, mental, and spiritual states until they all become One.  Everyone will have a different pattern of overlays and which one will become prominent and so on.  When my overlays started to line up and support one another, there was a big shift, (of course, they have always been lined up, but there was a lot of separation in my orientation to living.) One activity stopped becoming exclusive or destructive to the others and now I can appreciate the strategy of submerged focus to get a taste of the path and how to help it continue straight. The strategy for staying "connected" when I am not in the submerged environment is emerging and one day, I may be permanently stabilized in the inner state. The original "goal" was to be be able to be in any situation, any place in the world, and with anyone and still stay in a state of inner peace.  Gurudev had said it was possible (Grace as he points upward) when we met and he asked why I wanted to come back to his feet.  Even with my level of ignorance, I am starting to understand and experience how it will be possible.

Stories like this are a challenge for my heart even though my mind can shift the story:
(click on link for video, please)

 

Angelina Jolie visits Syria refugees

by CNN

Gurudevs discussions on madness have been very insightful. I can feel the overlays at a new state of transparency with the spiritual one covering over the mental and physical states. His attention to detail about eating has been unexpected, but tremendously supportive while experiencing this new state of being.  Plus, his continued support to stay focused on what I am doing and not worry about joining the Indian herd. A growing, glowing feeling of being nuclear in stillness is the nature of it, but the body still requires care. My little, pink room just down the street is perfect for tottering home spiritually drunk every night.

Navratra Day Two--Such Beauty In The Details

Morning start

Yellow cloth today

Transformed King Cobra

Caution while viewing--the overlays may create a submerged spiritual state!