I, Evan started to study consciousness just as the millennium was kicking off. I was finding the 60′s really novel and appreciating the architecture, art, furniture and literature of the time. I was a collector of books that appealed to the 60′s sensibilities and that’s how Ram Dass’ Meditator’s Guidebook came into my collection.
Actually I traded a zen poem for it. I was devoted to my spiritual development although I hadn’t met a Guru yet. Only after reading “Mantra and the Power of Initiation” have I realized that Ram Dass was my Guru. After all he is the first person I learned about Yoga from. It’s interesting to note that that qualifies him as my Guru.
I’d have to say that it was a moment of miracle synchronicity. I was just following my gut when I went out of town and for clearing my head and finding meaningful passages of the Tao. So what I did, in the vocabulary of the times, was step out of the synthetic synchronicity of the Matrix, and I found a Guru.
The high didn’t last too long, and coming down from a spiritual high and dealing with it was always going to be hard. Thank goodness I had my little guidebook written and compiled by Ram Dass.
I started to read from the guidebook and meditate on this little part of it or the other and that was my spiritual work. I followed Ram Dass’ easy instructions, creating space in my life for meditation and focusing on the internal stuff, but also finding the beauty, humour, joy, and ultimate reality of the external stuff.
Thinking back on how that book came into and out of my life, (passed it on to my best mate,) because of all the ups and downs I experienced with it, I realized that Ram Dass had the Guru’s touch that opened me up for all kinds of highs and lows. I might even be opening you up for the rocky road of the spiritual path!
I don’t mean to mislead you, but the meditator’s path is 3 inches off the ground and to the left. And it is about returning to God, and the funny thing is try telling someone where it is. The vaguer the directions the more believable the path.
Like one time I was meditating in my special meditator’s spot, which Ram Das had recommended. My special technique was to meditate in the closet with a candle(it was more magical then it sounds here). I just read something in the guidebook while I was on a fantastic high (Read – Godhead!) and something about it took me down, all the way down, back to reality.
And I was like, “WOW, MAN!” and it was late at night/early in the morning so I figure I can run to my friend John’s house and tell him. There is just some guy outside crazy with a knife talking about how he’s going to kill me! So I ran away, and then I can’t take that and I go antagonize him, back and forth, and the whole thing was terrible and silly. I found the passage a few times again, but it was lost and forgot! The experience had been too dramatic.
Reading is such a lucky thing that people can do. I was finding great meanings and timeless experiences. As I grew spiritually, I wondered why Ram Dass would include messages from all the different religeons? On one hand, it was a little overwhelming with messages, on the other hand, it didn’t have any. The book was really good at pointing the way but poor at telling you what to look for.
I recommend Ram Dass for the inspiration he gave me to devote myself to my spiritual path; as a Guru, who gave me the most possible wiggle room for finding the practices and meanings that were going to work for me. It worked so well I have to share something with you.
Meditation strengthens the mind for yoga, and yoga strengthens the body for meditation, and vice versa.
Because of Ram Dass book I took my meditation work seriously and enjoyed it. I could have enjoyed it better if I was taught to have the discipline of a Yoga practice to support the meditation. That resulted in lots of ups and down. Ram Dass book introduced me to Asanas and meditation, but I didn’t understand that these two practices were indispensable to each other.
So if you aren’t a meditator, it is time to awaken to the jewel of consciousness within you that shines eternal light in it’s many facets. And if you are a meditator, I must tell you from experience you’ll be happy once you have a dedicated, disciplined yoga practice.
Either way, it is important to have the clear, calm mind of meditation, and the resonant, powerful, flexible body of yoga.
Combing these is the essence of Kundalini yoga.
Look for experience and inspiration Here.
Look for specific teachings and techniques Here.
