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Noor Inayat Khan (part 2)

05/18/2012 17:15:00

Noor parachuted into France, and began sending messages from Paris. Her network was

soon discovered by the Gestapo, in what has been termed the most devastating coup they

were to make in occupied France. Noor refused the order to return, given in light of her

imminent capture, expressing the desire to rebuild the network, becoming the only radio

link between Paris and London. She was ultimately betrayed, and spent 9 months impris-

oned in Germany. She did manage to escape from prison, but was recaptured. She was

subject to repeated torture, starvation, beatings, and humiliations, yet, according to her

interrogators, "...she gave no information whatsoever, either to her work, or her col-

leagues..."

Subsequently, she was transferred to Dachau, where, according to a witness, "...she was

undressed, and beaten until she was a bloody mess. She did not cry, neither said any-

thing. When Rupert got tired, he told her then he would shoot her. She had to kneel, and

the only word she said, before Rupert shot her behind through the head, was 'Liberte'."

Days later, the camp was liberated by Allied troops.

Noor was posthumously awarded France's Croix De Guerre, for bravery, and Britain's George

Cross, it's highest award for gallantry, and the MBE (Member of the British Empire). In 2011,

a campaign was begun to raise a bust in central London - the first memorial in Britain to a

Muslim or Asian woman. A biographical film, by Indian director Shyam Benegal, was in pre-

production in 2007, based upon Shrabani Basu's biography.

Amazing true story (part 1)

05/04/2012 00:00:00

Noor Inayat Khan, (1914 - 1944), born into an aristocratic Indian family, was the

eldest child of Hazrat Inayat Khan and an American, Ora Baker, and, the great,

great-granddaughter of Tipu Sultan of Mysore. By 1920, the family had settled

outside Paris. She studied at the Sorbonne, and the Paris Conservatory, under

Nadia Boulanger. In 1939, her book 'Twenty Jataka Tales', inspired by the Jata-

ka tradition of the early lives, both human and animal, of the Buddha, was pub-

lished. In 1940, the family fled the Nazi invasion of France, and moved to England.

Hazrat, (1882 - 1927), bringing the mystical teachings of the east westward, founded

the International Sufi Movement, focused on the themes of love,harmony, and beauty,

and taught that blind adherence to any book renders religion void of spirit - "There is

one holy book, the sacred manuscript of nature, the only scripture that can enlighten

the reader", and "There is one path, the effacement of the limited self in the Unlimit-

ed." He emphasized the role of music as a means of promoting spirituality. Noor, and

her brother Vilayat, believed in the principle of ahisma (non-violence), but were in-

spired to join the fight against Nazi oppression. Within six months, of arriving in Eng-

land they had enlisted - Vilayat in the Royal Navy, and Noor in the Woman's Auxiliary

Air Force. She was later recruited into the recently formed SOE,the forerunner of MI6,

intended to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconaissance across occupied Europe.

She was the first female wireless operator parachuted into France, and according to the

head of the SOE, the principal, and most dangerous post, with a job-life expectancy of 6

weeks.

Noor was quoted as saying, " I wish some Indians would win high military distinction in

this war. It would help build a bridge between the English and the Indians." Due to her

spiritual values, she was scrupulously comitted to telling the truth, and also told the En-

glish that after the war, she would return to India, to fight against the British for Indian

independence.

Mantras (part 2)

04/13/2012 18:57:00

Thomas Ashley-Farrand translates the Gayatri Mantra (long form) as follows:

In that realm of truth which is beyond human comprehension, in that place where all

the celestials have received enlightenment, kindly enlighten our minds. Light that

has given birth to the luminous planes of consciousness, that informs these lokas and

appears through the spirtual lens of the sun, also illumine our intellect. Such a state is

worthy of enlightenment, so, light, come, and inform our intellect in every way.

Further, '...it is the most revered mantra of the Vedic tradition, called supreme in bestow-

ing enlightenment. For pure spiritual potency in the accumulating of the highest spiritual

light, there is nothing to compare with the Gayatri....it brings luster to the aura, and pro-

motes the accumulation of spiritual light at the cellular level... Where there is spiritual

light, there can be no disease...It invokes spiritual light into your heart, mind, and body,

producing the highest state of spiritual illumination.'

There is a profound relationship between sound and light. As a vibration, metaphysically,

sound produces light. And God 'said', "Let there be light". In a spiritual sense, enlighten-

ment is literal, not a metaphor, however, we have Jesus as the light of the world, the

Buddha as the light of wisdom, Moses was bathed in light as he came down from the

mountain, and others have been portrayed surrounded by a halo.

To acheive spiritual advancement is to refine our level of vibration. Higher forms of vibra-

tion, therefore, lead to a state of enlightenment. The significance of the Gayatri is that

it arouses the vibrations of the seven upper, luminous spheres of light, each one progres-

sively more advanced than the previous one, and, chanting it, we begin to make an

attunement with each one of them.

Earth, Bhu, is the lowest of the upper luminous spheres. It represents the 1st chakra, and

the sound of the earth plane. Bhuvaha represents the earth to the sun, through the atmos-

phere, and the 2nd chakra. Swaha, the sun, and 3rd chakra, spiritually represents both a

door ( to the upper non-physical luminous realms), and a lens (through which the energy

from those realms reaches us). Maha, the 4th chakra, represents the 1st spiritual, non-

physical, realm beyond the sun. In Janaha, the 5th chakra, the power of the Divine word

becomes manifest. Tapaha, the 6th, represents the sphere of the progenitors. It is the

realm of the highest possible spiritual understanding, while still identified with an individ-

ual existence. Satyam, the 7th, is absorbtion into the Supreme, where we can choose to

dissolve into the Supreme, or come back, and retain existence at the 6th chakra, where we

have individual existence. Consequently, the Gayatri calls for the celestials to shine their

light of awakened consciousness on all of the physical and spiritual realms, as represented

by our chakras.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

04/12/2012 12:52:00

" I gave up my music because I had received from it all I had to receive. To serve God one

must sacrifice the dearest thing, and I sacrificed my music, the dearest thing to me.

I had composed songs, I sang, and played the vina. Practicing this music I arrived at a

stage where I touched the music of the spheres. Then every soul became for me a mu-

sical note, and all life became music. Inspired by it I spoke to the people, and those who

were attracted by my words listened to them instead of listening to my songs.

Now, if I do anything, it is to tune souls instead of instruments, to harmonize people in-

stead of notes. If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one

must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others.

I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought, harmony

in every feeling, and I have tried to interpret the same thing with clear and simple words

to those who used to listen to my music.

I played the vina until my heart turned into the same instrument. Then I offered this in-

strument to the divine Musician, the only musician existing. Since then I have become

His flute, and when He chooses He plays His music. The people give me credit for this

music which, in reality, is not due to me, but to the Musician who plays on His own

instrument."

Narayana Guru

03/29/2012 16:25:00

Narayana Guru, wrote, in his 100 Verses of Self-Instruction, verse 1:

The one who knows beyond knowledge/gnosis..., and gains control of his 5 senses,

from within, when he looks without, will be able to understand the ultimate truth

- neither the self exists, nor the other exists - all humanity is one.

The phrase 'knows beyond knowledge' is intriguing. One of the most striking Buddhist doctrines concerns the 'going beyond'. This doctrine is based upon the Prajna Paramita: Gate, gate, paramgate, parasamgate Bodhi, Swaha! It represents a class of scriptures known as the perfection of wisdom sutras. Tibetans, Chinese, and Indians have given this doctrine different meanings. Alexandra David-Neel translates the Chinese version as:

O Wisdom which has gone beyond, gone beyond the beyond, to Thee homage.

Indians refer to it as 'excellent wisdom, the best, the highest wisdom', whereas Tibetans translate it as 'going beyond wisdom'. As an example, for the concept known as the 6 (later 10) excellent virtues, Sanskrit translations are:

'excellent charity, excellent morality', whereas Tibetan translations read: 'to go beyond charity, to go beyond wisdom/knowledge'. They say none of the virtues are able to produce liberation, which consists of going beyond virtue and vice. It is a question, in Tibetan Buddhism, of, after having practiced the excellent virtues, to go beyond them, because they are ineffective (in producing transcendent wisdom). Nagarjuna says, as well, we must go beyond the idea of being and non-being, and the Buddha, 'there is no is, and no is not for him who perceives wisely'.

A Buddhist parable relates - a traveler, finding his road blocked by a river, will use a raft to reach the opposite shore, but he will not carry the raft on his shoulders while continuing his journey. He will abandon it as something which has become useless.

Narayana Guru's ultimate truth parralels the Buddha's . From verse 100

I am neither this nor that nor the content of what is perceived as being...Be brave

with such clear vision, discard all attachment to being and non-being, and gently,

gently merge in that Truth that fills all with enlightenment and serene joy - AUM.

Zen (Rinzai) Meal Meditations

03/16/2012 15:35:00

At every morning and midday meal, (dinner is traditionally not offered in Japanese Zen Buddhist monasteries), the Five Reflections are chanted:

First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of those who brought us this food.

Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds as we receive this meal.

Third, what is most essential is the quality of mindfullness, which helps us transcend

greed, anger, and delusion.

Fourth, we appreciate this food, which sustains the good health of our minds and bo-

ies.

Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings, we accept this offering.

Eido Shimano Roshi, Abbot and founder of the Catskill Dai Bosatsu Zendo, says "Cooking is not only the preparation of food but a practice of spirituality....The tenzo (cook) works in the kitchen as if it were a zendo....When the tenzo is good, the rest of the sesshin goes well. If he is sloppy, the other monks find it difficult to go on. Working behind closed doors in the kitchen , the tenzo himself remains inconspicuous, but his work is most conspicuous, most influential'

Before every meal, monks place food on a board that is passed down the tables. After the meal, this offering is taken outdoors and put at the feet of the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The animals that live in the mountains around the monastery help themselves to this food. This offering symbolizes that we have all we need, and more.

Before eating, the monks chant: The first morsel is to destroy all evils

The second morsel is to practice all good deeds

The third morsel is to save all sentient beings

May we all attain the path of Buddhahood.

After eating, the monks chant: However innumerable all beings are

We vow to save them all

However inexhaustible delusions are

We vow to extinguish them all

However immeasurable dharma teachings are

We vow to master them all

However endless the Buddha's way is

We vow to follow it

Anandasagar

03/04/2012 14:22:00

A word about Anandasagar. One thing he has is a serious lineage pedigree in both India and Nepal, something that, because certain teachers have passed, could not be duplicated today. Anyway, he is a Kundalini master, but also exposed me to the Shatkarma purifications - the ones we avoid at all costs, and other disciplines, that we also avoid. His example has caused me to stick with most of them, but some of them - oh well. Anyway his most difficult lesson was how to take your sadhana into the real world, a real work in progress.

Mantras - part 1

03/01/2012 15:40:00

The Gayatri Mantra may be the oldest chant that has been continually recited in the history of the world ('Pandit' David Frawley), with an antiquity of at least 5,000 years. Roughly translated: "We meditate upon the radiant splendor of the Divine solar Creator, that he may direct our minds". It is recited by both Buddhists and those in the Vedic tradition. For all Vedic mantras, there are three primary factors, and, for the mantra to be fully effective, it is said that one should know and honor all three factors. First is the deity to which the hymn is being addressed. Second is the meter, regarded as feminine in nature, and reflecting the Shakti of the hymn. Third, is the rishi who first received the hymn, usually in a state of deep meditation. One should chant the mantra according to an inner communion with the Devata, a feeling of the meter, or energy power of the chant, and a regard for the rishi.

The Gayatri Mantra is to Savita, who represents the Purusha/Consciousness within the sun (or the sun's rays) as symbolic of the Divine light, especially its transformative power. This is why the mantra is chanted at the transformative times of the sun's movement: sunrise and sunset. In Vedic thought, the sun is a source of Divine grace.

Somewhat confusingly, there are about 250 Vedic hymns in the Gayatri meter. Harish Johari's 'Sounds of Tantra' cd reproduces 25 of them - Shiva Gayatri, Durga Gayatri, for ex. However, the Gayatri mantra is apparently never mistaken for any other. The Gayatri meter represents the power of the Goddess to move through all difficulties, and causes her energy to arise within us.

The Gayatri mantra was revealed to/by the seer King Vishvamitra. He was originally motivated by anger, envy, and revenge, sidetracked by lust, and seduced by ego-bound ambition. Even after visitation by Brahma, he was still violence prone. Nevertheless, his effort was pure enough to overcome these obstacles, and he became a rishi. After sitting in meditation, he received the Gayatri.

At the highest level, the Gayatri opens our minds and heart to the Supreme Light, and grants Self-Realization.

The Story of Tara

02/25/2012 15:55:00

Transcribed from the CD 'Red Tara: The Concise Practice and Commentary'

Countless eons ago, in a time beyond the beginning of our time, a buddha appeared in a worldly realm called 'Various Lights'. A princess in that realm, called Moon of Wisdom, (Tibetan - Yeshe Dawa), developed great faith in, and devotion towards, the buddha. She payed homage in body, speech, and mind, making immeasurable offerings to him and his retinue. When, by virtue of her vast accumulations of merit, and pristine awareness, the thought of supreme awareness and enlightenment awakened in her, the monks of the realm advised her to pray for rebirth in a male body, for they thought that such a body would be a superior vehicle for enlightenment. Because Yeshe Dawa had realized the empty nature of all phenomena, she recognized that there is no inherent reality in either the male body or the female body. Confronted by the relative reality of ignorant insistence on such differentiations,however, she made the commitment to always take rebirth in female form. Eventually she obtained a profound meditative state from which she was able to place innumerable beings in realms beyond suffering. In our own world system, she manifested as Tara, through the compassion of Avalokiteshvara, (Tibetan - Chenrezig), and here she made the particular vow to liberate beings from... any fear of samsaric suffering. For this reason she is called the Swift Savioress.

Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche

Meditation problems.

02/21/2012 17:51:00

The Buddha found the religious world of his day, the 6th c. B.C., to be one of pure dogma, book knowledge, and obscure rules. The Indian religious environment was ossified, ritualised, caste-based, sacrifice-ridden, and heavy on the worship of powerful gods. Further, society believed its welfare derived more from the Brahmin's correct performance of rituals than on the gods themselves. The Buddha came from eastern India, in a time of reactions against the ruling priestly class and slaughter of animals, in favor of more ascetic ideals of insight into oneself. He revived a pre-Vedic, non-theistic tradition, and, as a result of his popularity,meditation became the main form of spiritual practice on the entire subcontinent. A thousand years later, around the 5th c. A.D., as was the case with the Shaolin monks (see other post), some Indians began to dispute that you can start meditation without preparing oneself physically. They culled yoga out of its tantric roots, and made it center on purifying the body and its elements. This was codified most completely in the book Hatha Yoga Pradipika, (15th c. A.D.) concluding that before yoga can be acheived, or meditation, the whole body - stomach, intestines, nervous system, etc., or, more specifically, its subtle energy channels- must be purified. In other words, the mind (that herd of wild horses/monkeys) is too unruly to be controlled by the mind, but only by the body - which we can control. Nevertheless, those physical purification techniques require a determined, lengthy commitment, and profound dedication in and of themselves.

Swami Muktibodhananda's commentary on verse 77, chapter 3, H.Y.P:

Enlightenment...has never been interpreted in a religious fashion in the tantric tradition. It has always been known as a physiological possibility which can be induced within the body by certain practices. This is why in the tantric system, as opposed to religious philosophies, purification of the body...is considered a prerequisite for enlightenment. If the body is loaded with toxic elements...or the five chakras are not purified, then enlight-

enment can not occur.