A Minute of Meditation

It is wiser to play the fool. Consider the Lynx: She pretends she is blind. Disguise your ears -- now you are deaf. Be polished, but look dull among the dull. And you will survive.' - Lal Ded Maybe the time has come to challenge yourself with the words of Lal Ded. She is one of the few female mystics of her time (1320-1389) and also one of the few spiritual leaders who defied classification into one of the major religions of her time. Some say she blended Islamic and Hindu thought. Others say she brought a humanist view to Indian religion. Still others see her as the standard of post-Buddhist Kashmiri philosophy. You may want to explore each of these possibilities as you study her careful metaphors. All I ask is that you do study them. She spoke clear simple words but carried a powerful message. She gives guidelines for life, but continuously seeks the meaning of the afterlife. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

You tricked people by keeping your hair long and unkempt, drugging yourself into those deep trances. You made false pilgrimages in a show for the gods and goddesses. O Yogi! In your greed, you forgot the discipline of Yoga. You did not love Truth so all your years of hard work produced nothing. O foolish mind! You cheat others when you pretend to be one of the holy. You can not reach bliss just by wearing their clothes. You worship stones, but God is not inside a stone Empty religion does not grow fruit. You have wasted years worshipping stones and became weaker because of it. By acting holy without meaning it, you achieved nothing but were not ashamed O foolish intellect! You did not understand the True Spirit and have wasted your life in vain.|21|. - Guru Gobind Singh (Swayyas, Dasam Granth) Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th and last of the Sikh Gurus. Since his sons were all killed by India’s mughul invaders, he turned over religious guidance to a written text, the Adi Granth. In its current form as the Guru Granth Sahib, it features the work of Sikh Gurus but also includes verses from a variety of prophets and poets of several other religions too. It is revered as one of the world’s greatest spiritual texts even today. We should all be inspired by the value Guru Gobind Singh gave to literature. He not only compiled the definitive Guru Granth Sahib but also wrote a great deal of his own poetry in a variety of languages. And if you visit India, you can visit his poetry court (Kabi Darbar in Paonta Sahib) where his appointed scholars collected and transcribed an extensive collection of classic literature, myths and folk tales from Punjab and other surrounding lands. Their work was very likely the greatest epic work of Punjabi literature, but is stuck in controversy. Some claim that the entire collection was lost. Others claim that only a part were lost but some stories were compiled with the Guru’s own writings into the Dasam Granth. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

O Great Shiva, grant my wish -- that I will never be afraid to do good, and never be afraid to fight evil. With your courage I will win. Put yourself in my mind because I want to praise you And when my life must end, it will be while fighting bravely. -- Guru Gobind Singh This is the most famous poem of the 10th Sikh Guru, but is truly a puzzle. It excites the people of Punjab even though it is written the language of another land. Sikhs sing its verses as holy prayers even though it describes a Hindu epic. It has become a uniting anthem even though it comes a text so controversial that it has deeply divided the community for the past 300 years. Many of us are surprised to see how much Indian spiritual literature refers to military battles. We expect religion to support peace and criticize fighting. But the great Hindu deities are commonly famed for the fighting skills that protect the innocent. In myth, Rama and Krishna are worshipped for their victories in war. And in Sikh history, Guru Gobind Singh is honored for fighting India’s Mughal oppressors. Both Hindu and Sikh religions are based on calmness, not violence. So you might interpret violent spiritual writings as a symbolic fight for inner peace. But this approach often ends up with complicated, awkward translations of simple direct words. Take some time to see it from both sides but don’t expect a clear answer; this debate will continue for a long time. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --

A person achieves the state of yoga when he has renounced all material desires, he does not take his actions to satisfy the senses, he does not take actions purely for enjoyment. What you call ‘renunciation’ is the same as yoga; you are connecting with the Supreme. No one can become a yogi unless he renounces the desire to first gratify his senses. ||2|| -Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 5) The Bhagavad Gita is one the most widely accepted guides to the Hindu religion. In it, Krishna teaches us how to live our lives to free ourselves from the suffering of the physical world and escape reincarnation. It tells us Karam Vairagyay Yoga will help us reach the ultimate goal of living by emphasizing the importance of renunciation. You should not be attached to the pleasurable results of your efforts. Simple sensory pleasures are a short term goal. Free yourself from the birth/death cycle by focusing your attention past the senses. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

Men will work hard to reach their desires. Women go to their husbands and cling to them. They mingle and intertwine, both pouring out and pulling love from each other. This is nature that you see across all Heaven and Earth. -Rig Veda 1.105.2 You might find it hard to think of Hinduism as a religion. It contains many different beliefs and subdivisions, covering politics, health, and military beyond just spirituality and religion. Hindu philosophy is based on the Vedas, a set of compilations of prayers and poetry. The oldest and most important of these, Rig Veda, was developed at the decline of the Harrapan civilization (c. 1000 BC) by the new ruling class of the Indus River Valley to summarize the words of the Gods and to comment on daily life. By no coincidence, it also put themselves in the highest position of society. Brahmans used these words to solidify their leadership of India as being ordained by the Gods in developing their caste system. You can chant the verses of the Rig Veda to your God or you can interpret the hymns as guidelines to life. Its words will tell you about honor and sacrifice, humility and pride, life and death. But it will also talk about the physical world -- animals, food, even sex and drugs. In some cases, you will be surprised how sexual behavior is told in detail. Don’t block out the descriptions of sex acts; I only ask that you interpret them in context of being guidelines to all parts of life. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

Through his presence, God has abolished the concept of “uncleanness” where some things or people might be called impure. He is Ever-Forgiving and Most Generous. All things were cleaned in the sea of purification on the first day. This is a gift from His kingdom that includes all the worlds. Join forces with the followers of all religions to proclaim the true words of the Highest Power. - Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas The Kitáb-i-Aqdas was revealed in its entire form to Bahá’u’lláh in the mid 1800’s. The Baha’i value the wisdom of all sacred texts but consider the .Kitáb-i-Aqdas as the purest message from God and consider it their most holy book. Bahá’u’lláh is the most recent of the world’s major prophets and so is possibly the most forward thinking as well. He emphasized one common message to all the world’s religions and resisted putting people into castes or sects. Today, you can see that its members come from all races and countries. The many rules inside the Kitáb-i-Aqdas do not try to divide humanity but instead improve it -- combining all paths to reach the same goal. Forget your differences and open your mind to all forms of enlightenment that surround you. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

The people of the world are fast asleep. If they ever wake up, they would run to the all-knowing Master. They would give everything they have just to hear one word from Him. The full tablet of knowledge belongs to the all-powerful protector of the world, but every one is so busy with their wicked plans that they don’t even recognize their True Lord. Someday soon, treacherous voices be raised in many lands. Shun them. Do not follow not the evil-hearted. Open your own heart! Hear the voice that calls from every direction “There is none other God but Me, the Mighty and All-Wise.” - Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is literally the “Purest Holy Book” of Baha’i, the world’s most modern religion. It gives clear guidelines to life through instruction, laws and prayers. It even discusses the future of Baha’i by the succession of leadership. No matter what your own path is, your philosophy probably has a place in Baha’i religion. It accepts messengers, prophets, gurus and masters of most of the world’s religion. All paths combine to reach the same goal. As you study the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, you will see many rules and laws but you will also find simplicity and learn the importance of humility as the key to a better world. Pondering Bahá’u’lláh’s message of unity will strengthen your path to knowledge. front of us to find true freedom. You may not be satisfied, but know that living on the true path in the material world guides your spirit to great heights. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

You can repay a bad action with a bad one of your own. But he who pardons a bad action and instead puts it right will get his reward from Allah. You should pardon and overlook evil acts. Wouldn’t you want Allah to forgive your own? Allah is Ever-Forgiving and Most Merciful to those who can control their anger and instead forgive.” -Holy Quran Believers and non-believers disagree on morals. Believers want to understand principles refined through more wisdom than any one person could invent in one lifetime. Non-believers feel they build more honest guidelines since they can’t lie to themselves and do not blindly follow a given set of rules. But isn’t morality really how we are responsible to one another? Muslims believe the messages of the Quran were given to the Prophet Mohammed through divine inspiration and contain the purest guide to life. It considers human nature as well. Even though we first think about revenge when something wrong happens to us, Mohammed reveals that Allah wants you consider the path of forgiveness. You have heard this message before, no matter which spiritual path you follow or even if you follow none at all. The message is the same: If everyone was to forgive errors made against them, this will include others forgiving errors that you have made against them. -Holy Quran Downoload the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

What does 'freedom' mean? Does the eagle feel limited by the sky and want to swim in the sea? Does the fish not see enough in the river and want to dance on the wind? The sky is freedom for the bird but death for the fish. The sea is wide for the fish but will drown the bird. We ask for freedom but freedom to do what? We have the whole ocean to swim and the horizon goes into the next life. But we would rather search for a prison to call freedom. -Holy Quran We search for so much in our lives, but never seem to get as much out of it as we put in. Maybe we are looking in the wrong places for the wrong things. There is so much that is right within our reach -- often right in front of us. But we skip that, looking for harder goals instead. Wise prophets have come before you and can predict your thoughts. You want to conquer the world. Mohammed reveals the message from Allah that we have all the tools right in front of us to find true freedom. You may not be satisfied, but know that living on the true path in the material world guides your spirit to great heights. Downoload the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

“A monk came to Sekito and asked how he could be freed. Instead of answering directly, the master replied 'Who has put you in prison?' The monk tried to understand but couldn't. He asked again a different way: 'How can I become pure?' The master did not hesitate to reply. 'Who has made you impure?' The monk was surprised but tried a third way: 'What is Nirvana?' The master Sekito simply asked the monk 'Who has trapped you in the cycle of rebirth?' - Ch'an Master Shi-T'ou (Sekito) The Ch'an master Chen Hsi-ch'ien (700-790) was known as Shi-T'ou (literally “Stone Head”) because he built his humble hut on a flat rock instead of the ground. His landmark book “Transmission of the Light” features the question-answer format you commonly find in Buddhist wisdom. Here, we will use his Japanese name Sekito to honour his importance to Zen Buddhism -- he is considered one of its two major leaders. Listen to message that lies beyond his words. Imagine the dialog and the thought that led up to this point. Avoid distractions and think about the message of who is responsible for your peace of mind. Let it stay with you. Become the monk and become the master. Downoload the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

"Toyo was a young child who stayed at Kennin temple. He saw the master Mokurai ask koans of the disciples and wanted one also. Mokurai said he was too young. Toyo insisted, so finally Mokurai said to him 'I know the sound of two hands clapping. What is the sound of one hand clapping?' Toyo listened to his hand for the rest of the day..." --Shaseki-shu (Collection of Stone and Sand), written late in the thirteenth century by the Japanese Zen teacher Muju (the "non-dweller") By the 12th century, the Japanese had revived the Chinese Ch'an Buddhism under the name Zen. It teaches its lessons through the Koan, basically an extension of the master-disciple dialog. You know them commonly as puzzling stories often with no clear meaning or possible solution. But koans were originally told as simple riddles and more emphasis was on the discussion the student had with his master as he tried to solve it Zen Buddhism has expanded and grown greatly in the Western world over the past century, possibly because its principle of focused meditation over ritual and idol worship compares well to modern Christian ideals. I hope you will think about more than this one story by the great master Muju. Think about the purpose and structure of the koan. I hope it can it help you focus your mind. Downoload the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio.  

“To find a buddha, you have to see your own nature. Whoever sees his own nature is a buddha. If you don't see your nature, invoking buddha is useless. Reciting sutras, making offerings and keeping precepts are all useless. Cause and effect is nonsense and Buddhas don't practice nonsense.As long as you look for a Buddha somewhere else, you'll never see that your own mind is the Buddha." --Bodhidharma (Ch’an master) No matter where you live in the world, you have heard about Zen Buddhism, but most people don’t know it was derived from Chinese Ch’an Buddhism of the 6th century AD. The Chinese version, in turn, came from India. In fact, the words “Zen” and “Ch'an” are both corruptions of the Sanskrit Dhiyan, meaning “focus” or “concentration.” The first Chinese Ch'an master, Bodhidharma, arrived from South India with the major Buddhist teaching of his homeland -- the Lankavatara Sutra. He became the first of a series of leaders who each taught its basic message of consciousness through self-realization. Bodhidharma also stressed the master - disciple relationship as the path to enlightenment, which kept the movement under strict control. However, after about a hundred years the religion eventually weakened and Taoist influences started to mingle in. Ironically, this process let survive the religious persecution of the 9th century while most forms of Buddhism died out. In fact, it became the dominant Chinese philosophy. We are lucky to be able to listen to the words of the master himself. You can learn much from his message; it is simple and direct but inspired an entire nation. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

“To be a Bodhisattva you must want inner self-realization of wisdom, not mere words. First, understand that all things are products of your mind. Second, forget about birth and death. Third, you must lose all ego. Fourth, truly understand self-realization. Self-realization is identity. Oneness. Before you can enter this state you can’t have any assumptions about it. You cannot be attached to any thing, not even ideas. Not even self. -- Lankavatara Sutra (Chapter 7) The Lankavatara Sutra represents Buddha’s teachings being accepted by Ravan, the god of the South Indian island of Lanka. As you read, your attention will be caught through a fantastic mythic tale in which Buddha has magical powers. Then your conscious mind will be challenged as you try to understand a detailed practical guide to focused meditation. Its main goal is to define consciousness as the ultimate reality. When the monk Bodhidharma carried the Lankavatara Sutra to China, this aspect became very popular. Later, Japanese monks would make it the basis for Zen Buddhism as you know it today. Please take time to stop and think about Buddha’s message here as it relates to your own study of the Zen. Downoload the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

“The secret to wisdom is Dhiyan, or consciousness. Also you can call it concentration or mindful thought. To reach dhiyan, first go to a quiet place where you are alone. Your old habits will not change so fast that you can concentrate in the wrong environment. There are different kinds of dhiyan. Ignorant dhiyan is the one done by people who are copying the masters but don’t understand why. They see suffering and know they are impure but are afraid to let go of their ego. So instead of trying to reach consciousness, they try to stop all thought. Their minds are vacant.” -- Lankavatara Sutra (Chapter 7) The Lankavatara Sutra (literally, “The Lanka Castle Teaching”) is an important Buddhist writing. The exact origin of this sutra is unknown, but its setting is definitely Lanka, the closest major island south of India (today it is called Sri Lanka). As you probably already have read, Indian myth calls Lanka the home of the god Ravan . This sutra teaches valuable lessons in the form of a series of questions asked by the Bodhisattva Mahmati and the answers from Buddha. This format reinforced the theme that if you want to find enlightenment, a master must guide your path. The South Indian monk Bodhidarma made this an important part of the Ch’an branch of Buddhism that he started in China. The word Ch’an is a Chinese approximation of the Sanskrit word Dhiyan -- the other major theme of the Lankavatara Sutra. I ask that you combine these themes yourself. Listen to the master’s words as he guides your path to Dhiyan. Downoload the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. --  

"All people are fragmented into many different aspects.  We don't know who we really are.  What is our true identity? What do we believe in? So many contradictory voices and feelings fight for control inside us that we find ourselves scattered everywhere, in all directions, leaving nobody at home." Can you hope to reach the same level of understanding as Sogyal Rinpoche? He mastered all forms of Tibetan Buddhism before producing 'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying', one of the most respected works of its kind. With his knowledge, he could have gone over all of our heads. But he chose to use his skill to simplify teachings, not complicate them. The true genius reaches for depth, not height.   Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio.  

"It is too often that people come to meditation hoping to see miraculous results like visions, lights, or something supernatural. When this does not occur, they are disappointed. But the real miracle of meditation is more ordinary -- it is most useful in easing your mind." -Sogyal Rinpoche In your voyage through Eastern spiritual wisdom, you must have discovered the landmark text The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. This book was the product of one of Buddhism great visionaries, Sogyal Rinpoche. He thoroughly studied Tibetan Buddhism in all its forms, but also carefully studied other religions and even non-religion. I suggest you look at his work as the product of someone who sincerely searched for meaning and relevance to all people in the modern world. You will find his message touches the common interests of everyone including your own. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio. -- http://septicradio.com/meditation.php  

"He who is afraid to harm anything, even the wind, truly appreciates pain felt by all living things. He who knows what is bad for himself knows what is bad for others. He who knows what is bad for others knows what is bad for himself. Keep this in mind -- that anything you do for others you also do for yourself. When you understand why it is wrong to harm the wind then you become the wise one who truly understands karma." -Acaranga Sutra   So many people search far for a spiritual guide but the teacher has been there the whole time. The Acaranga Sutra has guided the Jain people of India for well over 2,000 years. If you read its text, you will find that it is a series of lessons on proper behavior in your life. Through the words of this holy book, Lord Mahavira guides you through different definitions of right and wrong, urges humility and emphasizes the importance and benefits of non-violence to all living things.   Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio.  

"All of your thoughts and words tell only half the truth. The Buddha had to divide the universe into Samsara and Nirvana, but only to teach the world about them. Nobody is enitrely Samsara or enitrely Nirvana; and neither is anyone enitrely a saint or a sinner. The universe has more than one side. It only seems to because we believe that time is something real." Wise words are true whether they come from the east or the west. Ancient wisdom and modern wisdom tell the same truth. Today I share words adapted from Herman Hesse’s 1622 novel "Siddhartha" which tells the story of the Buddha. Hesse was a Christian, but his family spent much time in India -- he was deeply inspired by the Buddhist prayers his father translated into German. In the novel, the Buddha looks at time through the point of view of the river. Nothing in a river stays the same for more than a fraction of a second, but we still consider it to be one constant, real thing. Too often, we search for a guide to take up through the river. Today, let the river be your guide. Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio.

"You used to feel passion and called it evil. But now you have only your virtues left: they grew out of your passions. In the end all your passions became virtues; your devils became angels. Now, nothing evil will come from you any more, unless it is the evil that comes out of the fight between your virtues. Oh my brother, if you are lucky enough to have only one virtue and no more, you will pass over the bridge more easily" Today's meditation is motivated by the words of German writer Friedrich Nietzsche written in his late 1800's novel "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." Nietzsche is commonly connected with Nihilism, but please take some time to think about his book again.  He uses the real Persian philosopher Zarathustra as his main character to discourage conventional traditions. Was his only message to criticize the lack of substance behind society’s customs as pointless? Or was he also encouraging you to experience the reality of the physical world as an unconventional but more effective path to true morality? Download the Guru Guide and listen to other episodes at A Minute of Meditaion -  http://septicradio.com/meditation.php A production of Septic Radio.  

"Take the first step with a good thought, the second with a good word and the third with a good deed. This is the best way. Do not go in any other direction and you will reach Paradise" - Zarathustra Zarathustra led the ancient philosophers and poets. He came to Earth before Socrates and Plato, even before Confuscius.  His actual birthplace is unknown but the languange of his poetry point to the eastern part of today's country of Iran. Zarathushtra was not a prophet but wrote truly groundbreaking devotional poetry to his God, Ahura Mazda. His life and words inspired many people around him.  His followers (Zoroastrians) thrived in the Persian empire until the Muslims took over.  Those who wanted to keep their religion moved to India where they are known as Parsis (Persians). Think about their journey from their homes to a new unknown land and how their leader’s words kept them focused on their path in order to reach their goal.