One Mystical Monkey

AvalokiteÅ›vara (Sanskrit), known in many forms including that of Chenrezig (Tibetan) and Quan-Yin (Chinese), is the Boddhisattva Buddha of Compassion. According to Mahayana tradition, AvalokiteÅ›vara, after witnessing the suffering of beings here opted to postpone his own full Enlightenment until all sentient beings had been liberated from samsara (the illusion of the physical world; the cycle of birth-suffering-death-rebirth). He is often depicted with 1,000 hands and 11 heads to help him with this task. The all-encompassing “Om Mani Padme Hum” mantra is often attributed to him, as are the Lotus Sutra and the Diamond Sutra texts.

A yantra is an object or tool used for and with meditation practice to help improve focus and aid progression to deeper levels of meditation and spiritual understanding. Yantras represent the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, and each one has its own specific focus or intent - perhaps that of a particular God(dess), state of consciousness, or focus on and understanding of a specific energy vibration.

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Circle of Compassion Circle of Peace
Directed and Edited by Lisa Niedermeyer: “Tibetan nuns from the Keydong nunnery in Katmandu create a sand mandala at Trinity College. Hartford, CT 2005.”

Sand mandalas are a traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice, normally undertaken by a team of Buddhist monks or nuns, and ritually constructed over a period of days or even weeks. An entire mandala is painstakingly constructed out of dyed sand. Once the closing ceremonies have been completed, the mandala is systematically destroyed, and the sand released to the world, bestowing blessings upon all as the sand returns to nature. The creative process, and the mandala itself, are opportunities for reflection and meditation, and each specific mandala has its own message to teach and blessings to confer. The dismantling of the completed mandala symbolizes the impermanence of life.

The mandala being constructed in the video is that of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara / Kuan-yin ), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. According to legend, Chenrezig vowed not to rest until he had liberated all beings in all the realms of suffering. Chenrezig is considered the patron Bodhisattva of Tibet, and his well-known mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, is said to contain all the teachings of the Buddha. It is believed that whenever we feel love or compassion for anyone or any part of the natural world, we experience our connection with Chenrezig.

Namaste.

As we grow and evolve emotionally and spiritually, we often encounter times on the Path -crossroads, if you will- where it is simply time to let go of old habits and embrace new perspectives so that we may continue to grow. But our habits and our ego can be sneaky… they come out at odd times and in subtle ways. And sometimes letting go and going on is not an easy thing for us to do. Habits of body, mind and emotion, ego (in the form of selfish wants and often disguised as “needs”), and cynicism about the world in which we live or in ourselves to make the necessary changes often halt our progress. But this hesitation, although part of the human condition, need not be more than a temporary stopping point on the pathway to personal growth. We do not need to subscribe to what may seem “overwhelming odds” or the “manifestations of the majority”. We are free to make our own choices, our own decisions, free to come to our own conclusions, and free to choose our own realities. All this is part of the growth process, and if we recognize it as such, we may then re-evaluate our beliefs, our habits, and make conscious decisions to take the next steps (or not) in our evolution, in our existence.

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As I continue the search for the pieces of the Path, looking for the whole, I stumble across something that resonates. Another piece of the path work puzzle. Posted, to share…

Native American Code of Ethics…

• Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
• Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealously and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
• Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

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So, for one reason or another, I’ve missed yoga for the last week, and now my body is screaming “Go to yoga! I feel all squished and crampy and … just not riiiight!”. So it’s back to yoga I go, hoping the remnants of a head cold don’t land me on my face in the middle of class during ‘tree’ pose or something. I’ve been getting used to Spirit yelling at me lately, and this new twist of having the body yell about missing a couple yoga classes is a bit of a shock. We get messages like this all the time, though -whether physical or metaphysical- and generally speaking, there’s some truth to what is being ’said’. (Hint: If it’s your body yelling for junk food or you’re getting angry and frustrated at something, it’s probably not what you need to be doing… *wink*).

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Yesterday, I posted that it is time for humanity to take the next step towards our spiritual evolution. Welcome to part 2! *wink*

Metaphorically, flight has always intrigued mankind. For a long time, it was something for which to strive - it sparked our imaginations, our creativity, our bravery, inventiveness and ingenuity. And eventually, with the help of tools and machines, we gained the skies. Flight speaks of freedom, of ascent, of a breaking with the physical. It conjures images of angels and light, of strength and higher self. In many ways, it defies definition or description. But it exists nonetheless. And once more, it is time for humanity to reach for flight; this time however, the flight is of a not-so-physical sort.

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Lately, I’ve been getting messages (lots of messages, in various forms) that it’s time to take the next step. It’s time to fly… to soar… to remove the tethers binding us to the physical plane of illusion that is all too real for so many of us. It is time to reclaim our more natural state of energy, of spirit, of goodness. It is time for the natural (re-)evolution of Spirit - a return to truth.

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I probably gained 10 pounds over the weekend. Yep, 10… well ok, maybe it was more like 3… and it’s not the kind of weight you’re likely thinking of, but it surprises me every time it happens - even though I really should know better by now. What’s more, I bet it happens to some of you too! Any guesses? Yes, that’s right! - I went to the metaphysical bookstore. And came out with 2 more books to read (I’m already reading something like 5!) and three more rocks to join the assortment of others that end up stuffed in various pockets at some point during the day (I need a better belt!). Sound familiar?

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