Question or choice.."To be or not to be"

In living Life, everything around you in the physical world is constantly changing. You and who you think you are is based on the beliefs of who or what you are, and what the world is.



If you believe that you are a victim to circumstance and that things happen in and around the world that are not of your control and doing, then all you can be is a person in a world amongst the changing experiences waiting for your inevitable human death.



What you focus on grows.



If you become aware of yourself amongst the changing thoughts, desires and experiences and you wish to know more of what or who you are then you will focus on the Self which does not change with the thoughts, desires and experiences.



Once you become aware of the Self and its presence, if you do nothing then you will let your awareness go where it will go without any discipline. The chances of it moving from its immersion in the activity of the senses and outward activity of the world on its own are slim to none. To do nothing in this case means that you will take what you know and experience in this now and project it into the future and your experiences of the future will contain the past impression of your idea of who you are.



Because life is change and the mind follows the ideas it experiences it will pick and choose what it likes in what to identify with. Because we have a habit of distracting ourselves by the beliefs we have been taught it is not an automatic habit to JUST BE.
To the waking state mind to just be means to relax into the experience, but the mind which holds onto past impressions cannot be still and present when it is carrying so many thoughts about the world and itself and is bringing them into the present experience. To be without changing the present experience of the self means you will be what you believe yourself and the world to be and since we know that beliefs inevitably change then who you are being based on a belief is just illusion.



To know the Self means to be intimate with the Self. As you know, in any relationship that you have with anyone it takes a bit of time to know the other person. You must be open to listen and set aside your own beliefs to know another and their beliefs and feelings. To understand how another person thinks means diving into their world and their understandings, their past and their feelings. Otherwise you can only assume that you know the person based on your own experience of life and most probably you will be projecting onto them that they will have the same reactions, thoughts and feelings about each moment as you do.

Excerpt from the Library, continue reading: HERE

An Introduction to the Art of Ascension

"The high mission of any art is, by its illusions, to foreshadow a higher universe reality, to crystallize the emotions of time into the thought of eternity.”



Since the beginning of the human race, we have engaged the mind and the senses to perceive the world around us, and to recognize a relationship between the world and our own human interaction.
 We begin this relationship at birth; from our first recognition of our growing sensory perceptions we learn to recognize our parents. From them, we learn to recognize the world around us and from what we perceive of that, develop a relationship with that world through our experiences.
 We all have experiences, that is what being human is all about. Yet we do not always have the same experiences. What makes us so unique is our ability to integrate experience into life and to socialize with others and their experience.
 We have the mind to take experience and integrate it into our perceptions of reality and improve our perceptions, or to put it in other words, we can choose to evolve.



From the very beginning we have tried to see the world and ourselves in the best way we can. Everyone always, and at all times, does the very best they are capable of doing to live life in a way that will create happiness, or fulfillment through satisfaction.
 In retrospect it would appear that some do better than others, but the truth is we will try to do the best we can rather than to intentionally choose to create suffering in our lives.

Excerpt from the Library, read the rest of this article: HERE

Ride the Tiger

 Inspired by “Life of Pi”

What is the story of my life? Whichever one I choose to make real or bring into my focus. There are the events played out and the experiences that I have had in my life… and yet were you to ask me that question, I would have to choose which story to tell you and from what angle.

The secret is that you can as if rewrite your entire story from this present moment. You can change the past and you can direct your future to wherever you want it to go. None of us live in a life created by somebody else or something else. This gives us both the freedom to change and it also dissolves our victim-consciousness.

Some of the most liberating experiences in my life have been those moments where I have been able to rewrite the script. To see how an entire chain of events has shifted into one of appreciation and love instead of the dreadful march through the darkness of ignorance. The slightest change in the inner environment towards what is real changes everything.

No one can make this change happen for me as it does not come from the outside, but I have never been alone with it either. The story of my life, the original draft of it, is created from Unconditional Love, Infinite Wisdom, Unyielding Strength. Connecting with That through direct experience is what changes everything. Every single moment of my life is seen in a different light, it becomes enlightened through clear perception of reality.

That story is worthy of telling. It is worthy to be found and experienced. Unique to each individual and yet born from the One source.

Ride the tiger into the night, have the courage of a thousand, dive into the depths of the great waters. Live a life worthy of who you really are.

Nataraja

The World is Your Mirror

Life may seem very unpredictable at times in our modern society; filled with surprises, ups and downs and mixed messages.  In actuality, there is perfect order in the world around us; it is like a mirror that is continually responding to our thoughts, feelings and actions.  The more that we connect to the greater truth of who we are on the inside, the more we start to see that we have a choice in our thoughts and ultimately in how we view the world. 

The universe is forever giving and will constantly provide us with opportunities to see the world anew.  Perhaps it is time that we have more self-love and, courage in being who we are, and express ourselves unapologetically to others.  Ascending allows us to gradually and effortlessly move from victim-consciousness to creator-consciousness where we know that we have a choice in life, and that we are not helpless victims to the world around us, but powerful Creators with the ability to view and experience the world in whatever way we choose.  As we practice turning inward and clearing the mind and body of stress, we will start to create less chaos on the outside as the universe responds to our one pointed minds and hearts.

The Ascendant is everywhere.  It permeates and underlies everything. There is nowhere that the Ascendant does not reside.  That is why everything that is happening on the outside is the Ascendant, and is being created for our higher growth.   As MSI writes, “At all times, there is only good. What a relief to a tired mind to think such a simple thought!  Entertaining this one thought challenges us to see the good in that which the surface mind has judged to be bad or unworthy.  Entertaining this one thought propels us deeper and deeper into the growth of our individual consciousness.  Entertaining this one thought inspires us to learn of the good in all things.”  (Ascension!, p. 106).  

Mind and Healing

In this current frame of human experience we are very identified with the physical body and its varying conditions. There is little understanding of the reality of the mind-body continuum that we experience. And even if it is intellectually understood, there are only a few who really tap into the potential that we have inside. 
 


The true healer is inside of us, but this kind of healing does not create profit for business, nor does it recognize a reality of victimhood. The healing that manifests as we let go of our limiting beliefs and stresses is profound and lasting. It happens through individual choice for Reality. One only needs an efficient tool such as the Art of Ascension to activate this choice.
 


The body is much slower to change than our mind. Yet, a mind that is focused on Reality will change the body and ultimately the entire world we live in. There is a giant leap occurring in human consciousness right now. Soon we will know what True Healing means; we will experience it and know what is the source of it.

The Changing World – The Unchanging Self

So much attention has gone into the ending of 2012 and the possible scenarios of different prophesies and their interpretations. Yet the world is forever changing, despite any calendars, despite what we think about it. The world is moving and flowing in the current of creation and we get to choose what part we play in that flow. Are we going against it or with it? Are we opening up more for the creative potential in us or clamping down to safeguard what we think we have?

To really have the ability to be fully in this world fully requires one thing: we need to know that we are beyond this world of the five senses. And when that awareness begins to grow, our perception of reality will naturally evolve to greater vistas.

The enlightened masters describe this state of being as “being in the world, but not of the world”. In this state of being, one can step into the changing world and experience the wonder of it in growing Appreciation. Then there is no need to lean on prophecies or other people’s interpretations, but simply to experience more of life.

Illusions and Separation of Time and Space:

Time being a relative system created by the ego, appears to create points of reference within the identification with self, creating beliefs in the difference of who we are in this lifetime and who we might be in a future or past life. In reality the Ascendant Self traverses all imagined boundaries of ego and time and IT (Self) is eternally active in the NOW, or all lifetimes. Whether they appear to be past or present or future from the identification of the ego, all lifetimes are interactive. What you are doing now is affecting what is happening in the past and the future and vice versa.




The ego thinks very small. It's boundaries lay within the identification of one single lifetime whether it can imagine itself or not in other lives. It separates its beliefs as the self in this lifetime with the beliefs of the ego in alternate realities or other lives. It does not include the infinite perspectives of all of its lives any more than it can integrate the knowledge, experience and beliefs of all humanity in its present life.
 

Even if it could it would fall short of the potential that exists in what can or could be experienced if the mind could traverse the entire lifespan of humanity within the created lifespan of the created universe just on one dimensional level. There are many more systems within the universe that support human life than our earth bound solar system.



Infinite wisdom cannot be contained any more than can one contain the Ascendant. One cannot stand in the relative and bring the infinite into the relative. It is impossible. No one can stand in the relative and claim to be enlightened and hold onto their experience of their enlightenment. It will change and so will their idea of enlightenment. You could try, but you will die trying.

To read more on this topic and join in on the discussion visit “The Ishaya Foundation Forum”

The Mind is the Master that Molds and Makes



If you had no previous knowledge, or any idea of who or what you are, who would tell you who or what you are, or where would you get your information from? 



As newborn babies our humanity is defined for us by our parents and all of the societal influences that color their beliefs in the way they interact with us. Television, radio, the internet (the media) and even our public school systems can prescribe systems of belief which become our social mores.
 Our parents beliefs, filtered into their language is filled with the unconscious acceptance of what reality is, in the definitions they have chosen to accept, at their level of conscious awareness as they either experience it, or believe in it regardless of experience.
  From the standpoint of the ego living in the waking state, this is inclusive of the fears that are imagined by the superstitious mind which is lacking in experience.
  Beliefs and superstition, are easily passed down from generation to generation, and as good children we so often accept what we are told by the accepted authority without much thought.



If we are born in Russia and we call ourselves Russian, or in England we call ourselves English, or America we call ourselves American. How do we differentiate our character, our heritage, or our intelligence?

- Mahadeva Ishaya

To Read this article in full, visit The Ishaya Foundation Forum

The Unmanifest – the Key to Higher Consciousness

What is the Ultimate?  Is it Happiness; Peace; Joy; Contentment?  I submit to you that these are by-products of experiencing the Ultimate. The Ultimate lies in the Unmanifest, the Source, That from which everything is created.  The easiest explanation for this is to consider Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth”--- What was there in the beginning?  The Unmanifest, Unlimited Potential, the Source, Universal Mind --- it goes by many names.

This is not only the key to higher consciousness; it is the key to transformation in one’s life.  Many have tried method after method to make changes in their lives, but wonder why methods sometimes work  and sometimes don’t work.  Or, they work, but sometimes it might take a long time.  Why is that?

Many methods can lead to higher consciousness or transformation because they touch ever so briefly on the Unmanifest. However, most often the goal of these methods or the aspirant is the external outcome --- the healing, the loving feeling, the peace, the revelation --- in other words the experience.  Because that is the intent, or goal, reaching higher consciousness takes longer.

Ishayas’ Ascension is a very unique tool.  This tool develops tap roots into the Unmanifest, The Source, thereby developing higher consciousness in a short amount of time. Ascension actually restructures the mind to tap into higher consciousness as its normal mode of operation.  The more we practice, the more we can tap into that Infinite Source that brings All Good to our lives.   From that, the by-products are endless because they are all coming from the Source --- the Ascendant.

Jyoti Ishaya

A Point of Surrender

Picture a tree, a vast tree with many branches growing in all directions, standing on the corridor of time. It is very large because the message of life has to be given in all directions, to reach all corners of the Earth and to elevate every human no matter where he or she may be, and this must continue generation after generation. The branches of this Tree of Life extend on all sides. Those in the East enjoy the teaching and glorify the eastern branch, while those in the West enjoy the teaching and glorify the western branch. If it were to happen that all those in the East and West, while enjoying the fruits of the tree, kept on glorifying and singing the praise of the branch feeding them, and forgot to water the main root, then in time, the eastern and western branches would begin to show signs of decay and all the branches, old and new, would begin to wither and die.

This is exactly the situation of all the different religions in the world today. It is true of every religion without exception. The followers of every religion sincerely adore their religion and are proud in locating points of distinction from others, but the truth of all religions is that they represent different branches of the same tree. The same Eternal Truth of the Ascendant has been the essence of every religion. How many religions there were and how many of them have passed into oblivion even history seems to have forgotten. How many more will be born in the Infinity of time? Each spring gives rise to some new branch of the Eternal Tree; every age gives rise to new religions. The main trunk of the Tree of Life naturally continues to support the birth of new religions. New branches emerge, but they are always nourished by the same sap issuing forth through the main trunk.

The same truth of life will be broadcast in different names at different times in different lands, but the life of all of them forever depends on the strength of the sap coming from the main trunk. If the main trunk is kept watered, the sap of Truth will keep alive the branches of religions arising in different times. The truth of the integration of life is handed on from generation to generation in great clarity, completeness, naturalness and simplicity through the Holy Tradition of the Ishayas. It is this Teaching that forms the main trunk of the Tree of Life from which different religions take their life to guide humanity through generation after generation.
 
When we invoke the Holy Tradition, we are watering the main trunk of the Tree of Life, the universal religion, which is responsible for keeping the Eternal Truth of life alive in all generations at all times and according to the need of the time manifesting in new religions. We feel honored to have been given the opportunity to water the main trunk. We rise to bring the Truth to every person, no matter what his/her religion or way of life. We water the main trunk and supply nourishment to all the branches. We maintain the universal spirit of all religions and feel happy to bring nourishment to the people of all religions, all sects, all faiths.

We take our stand at the universal and central point. If anyone wishes to call this a religion, then call it the Universal Religion to support all religions; if anyone wishes to call this a faith, then call it the Universal Faith to support all faiths; if anyone wishes to call this an ism, then call it the Universal Ism to support all isms. We cling fast to the main trunk to propagate the universality of fully integrated consciousness.

This is our stand on the spiritual side of our movement. What are we on the organizational side? We are an international and universal organization, The Ishaya Tradition, created solely to bring the ancient and flawless knowledge of the Ishayas into the world. Any organization, even though universal and international, has to have specific rules governing it. Rules and procedures are followed for the purpose of safeguarding the universal character of this precious teaching. These rules and codes of conduct of The Ishaya Tradition have been framed to maintain the universality of purpose of our movement. Therefore we feel proud in binding ourselves to the string of discipline that enables us to hold onto the universality of our purpose. We consciously adopt specific boundaries in order to live Eternal Freedom in Divine Consciousness.

A thorn is needed to remove a thorn. Bondage is needed to come out of bondage. Rigidity is needed to hold onto the Unbounded universal flexibility. Thus we are rigidly bound to Eternal Freedom; with our consciously chosen and accepted guidelines, we safeguard our own path to enlightenment and that of all people everywhere for all time to come. These are the ties that bind us to the Universality and Eternity of the integrated state of life. With this, there is nothing we cannot accomplish, both for ourselves and for our world. There is no disease of heart, mind, body or soul we cannot heal. There is no dream we can fail to live. We are the Masters of Time, incarnated here to lead the Earth into the third millennium, the Age of Immortality.

-MSI-

Appreciation Creates Connectedness

In the work that I currently do, I am in therapy situations with people who have massive brain injuries. As a result of their condition they often have difficulties with communication or understanding and severe lack of bodily movement. In other words a lot of their ability to communicate and express is simply not intact. These people are, in a very literal sense, buried underneath the symptoms and the people around them begin to treat them as a conglomeration of various problems. There seems to be very little appreciation for who or what they really are.

The Art of Ascension Practice opens up a pathway that is truly amazing. Simply using the praise technique with my eyes open, without having to really try to “communicate”, creates a rapport – a connection of mutual respect. It helps me to see through the appearances of physicality and that has proven time and time again to open the other person as well.

Once I worked with an 83 year old man who had been mute all his life. He had had an aneurysm that paralyzed him on his left side, along with the added difficulty of how to determine how much he actually understood cognitively. So I literally had very little to go with as far as communicating. Yet in the few weeks that we worked together – almost without words, silently – a bridge was built on appreciation. That simple Attitude was acknowledging that which connects him and I and where physical conditions are of no importance.

The many experiences with the people that I work with have shown me that appreciation is far more than seeing a surface thing and talking about it. It reaches all the way to the core of who we truly are; and as I focus on that in myself, the more the connectivity with people around me increases. Ultimately, whatever therapy I do with those people, is in a way less important than the energy or the Attitude that I approach them with. Appreciation not only affects my inner experience, it also naturally helps the other because we are so intimately connected with each other, and with everyone and everything else.

Nataraja Ishaya

Life can be so Exhausting

There is a natural harmonious rhythm to life when it is in accord and in tune with the whole - the totality of life. Yet, so many people are exhausted and feel that life is moving at an overwhelming speed. It is not only that life is so demanding and fast, but that the thoughts in our minds are equally busy and chaotic. And do you know what sucks most of our energy? Do you know what creates the exhaustion we experience?

It is the mind that is running a huge number of thoughts every day - the incessant hammering of the same repetitive thoughts. Our inner life is out of tune and lacking connection to our natural state of being. The way we use our minds and our bodies is much like if we were to drive our cars in first gear and never shift. Imagine driving down the highway and the engine is stressed to the max and you are only driving 30mph. This is the way a lot of us live life. Is it a wonder that we feel exhausted?

The way to escape from an exhausting life is not to be found on the outer conditions. It is the inner life that holds the key to transforming our outer life. Our mind is the greatest tool in the universe, but we need to learn how to use it as it was designed to be used; in harmony with the whole for our good and the good of all. The tools of the Art of Ascension naturally train the mind to work coherently; deep rest, inner peace and endless potential are natural byproducts of regular practice.