Updated... The Power Behind a Light Bearer - Pt. 3 Concentration

Concentration is the first thing to learn in life. Everyone has some degree of concentration but it can always be stronger, the stronger it is the more power one has to accomplish in life.  Concentration is what builds Will-Power and Will-Power is the motive force of the entire universe.

“The only subject that matters is getting an understanding of Truth, developing our souls; but in order to develop our souls we must have some knowledge of the power of concentration. If you can learn and practice right concentration, there is no good thing in the universe that you cannot attain. Concentration means literally "bringing to a common center." Until you can put your attention where you want it you have not become master of yourself. You will never be happy until you can determine what you are going to think about for the next hour.”

Emmet Fox

Now I must confess that when I was first told I had to develop concentration, I really didn't want to hear it. Yuck, I thought, this is going to be hard, too much work, but when I actually started to practice concentration I enjoyed it.  The trick, I found, is not to force it, rather to relax and only practice as much or as long as is comfortable weather that be 10 seconds or 10 minutes.   So I actually found that my concentration practices were an enjoyable and effective way to progressively build mental power and the ability to focus my intention. I don’t believe I ever had enough concentration ability and as I grow older I find I really want to go back to some of my favorite concentration practices once again! 

What is concentration?

 Emmet Fox, (a spiritual teacher born in 1886,) said: ”People imagine that concentration means holding on to one thought. The human mind is so constituted that it is impossible to do that. True concentration is a movement of the mind along a predetermined path. Nineteen people out of twenty people who say they have failed in concentration have been trying to stand still mentally. All people do have good powers of concentration, but not when they want them. You always concentrate on what you are interested in.”

Hazrat Inayat Khan says that "Concentration is an exercise to train the mind to hold a certain object steadily, without wavering; and by the power of concentration there is nothing in the world that cannot be attained." 

There are three main stages to develop good concentration: (1) Observation of an object; (2) Re-creation of the object in the mind with as much detail as possible; and (3) using the power of creative imagination to improve upon the object or stay focused upon it.            

The first step to concentration is observation.  The one who lacks observation cannot concentrate well. Observation depends upon steadiness of mind, and this steadiness can be brought about by interest. As long a time a person observes an object, so long in proportion its memory lasts and comes at every time by his desire before the eye of his perception.  When we think of a certain thing and cannot recall it to our memory, at that time either our mind is unsteady or there has been a lack of observation of that object when we saw it. Inayat Khan

 Concentration: Observing a Flower or Plant

For the first stage...

An enjoyable practice is observing a beautiful flower or plant and practice becoming very interested in it.  Perhaps you buy a rose, now set some time aside to appreciate it, begin to observe it keenly, look at all its parts, look at its color, enjoy its shapes, its form, its smell - simply, become very engrossed and interested in what it is. If you wish you can go ahead and touch to see how it feels. Ask yourself about it: How does it feel, how does it perceive its surroundings, does it know you are there, can it sense things, why is it shaped as it is, why does it have thorns, etc.?  Do this until your mind wanders off then stop - you're done with that part.

 For the second stage...

Simply close your eyes and try to picture the flower or plant in as much detail as possible, in your mind’s eye recreate the rose and once the image fades stop.  It may only last 3 seconds but that is a start.

Finally for the third stage (as given by Sufi Amin)...

Use a rose or flower for the same practice. Let us use a rose as an example. First examine the rose with the five senses. Smell it, feel it, rub and hear it, look at the various shades of light. Then project your consciousness very small until you can walk on the petals, climbing in and out between the beautiful colored, sweetly scented and soft petals. Become even smaller as you enter or crawl inside the leaf of the rose. Begin to see the lower and upper epidermis of the leaf. Then concentrate on the flower, does it have an etheric aura? Look beyond it as though you were daydreaming.

Note: This third stage may be done after the first two stages but also just by itself because it incorporates in a shorter form the first two stages as well. 

Come back to this practice on a regular basis and you will find many of your mental abilities growing. You can do with this practice with many objects, sculptures, pictures, gardens, landscapes, etc. – there is only one caveat – whatever you choose to concentrate upon should be beautiful or harmonious to you.

Concentration Practices: Using Imagination to Concentrate

Sufi Amin called this practice the “Salt Shaker”, it can be done almost anywhere, enjoy it, make it fun.

THE SALT SHAKER - I use to do this often when I was in restaurants – a good use of time while waiting for your food.

      Take an ordinary salt shaker and begin to examine it. When you have used as many of your senses as possible to examine it, then imagine yourself becoming very, very small until you can jump in the salt shaker and wade through the grains of salt. Then let yourself become even smaller, until you can crawl between the molecules of the salt. What do the crystals feel like? Become even smaller, until you can stand on a molecule of salt.

TRIP IN TIME

Using your wristwatch or electric clock that has a rotating sixty-second hand, imagine yourself sitting on a hanging swing. Watch each number as you pass by it. The ride would be similar to a Ferris Wheel ride. Close your eyes and picture this.

1.       Then climb up to the center of the hand and imagine yourself walking to the back of the watch. Walk through a little tunnel in the center pivot pin. Examine the motor and gears that rotate the clock. Close your eyes and re-picture this.

2.       Now examine the numerals in the first quadrant, one through three. Once you have pictured them clearly, then close your eyes and retain that image of the numbers. Do this several times until you can clearly picture these numbers.

3.       Do this with all four quadrants: 4,5,6, and 7, 8,9, and 10, 11, 12. As stray thoughts enter your mind, try to pull your attention back to the clock by using two or more senses to concentrate with. As an example, sight and sound. Try to increase your daily practice period by ten seconds each day. Start with 20 seconds.

 There are many, many more of these types of practices in Sufi Amin’s book, Opening the Door to your Life, published by the Fraternity of Light however these few will get you started. 

The Power to behind a Light Bearer - Pt. 2

Developing Faith, Self-Confidence, Determination and Will-Power - this is the power behind a light bearer for to hold light in the world takes strength.

(please, don't be turned-off the word 'faith' - read on, it may not be what you think)

First let me be very clear that when I speak of faith I do not mean a belief in something like God, Dharma, religion or some philosophy. The Faith I speak of is a divine quality of knowing and trust in a powerful omnipotent part of reality that is beyond our belief systems. It is an awakening awareness to this all powerful part of the One Reality to which we are an expression – this is the ultimate self-confidence.

Success is in store for the faithful, for faith ensures success.

Self-confidence is the true meaning of faith, and in faith is the secret of the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of every desire.

–Inayat Khan

The development of true Faith results in a progressive uncovering and reclaiming of a powerful part of what we really are rather than what we think we are. This Faith becomes an inherent knowing that one is an intimate expression and manifestation of a great universal reality that one can always trust and rely upon. It is part of our divine heritage.

Faith reaches what reason fails to touch.

Faith reaches beyond the limit of human comprehension.

- Inayat Khan

I was raised in an environment that, not on purpose, completely undermined my sense of faith and self-confidence. By the time I met my spiritual teacher Amin I was the poster child for insecurity - the first "spiritual" practices given to me were all about developing faith and self-confidence in my life.

How do we develop greater faith and self-confidence?  The process is simple but requires persistence.  Four kinds of practices will help develop faith and self confidence in you: Affirmation, Concentration, Meditation, and Wazifa.  Although there are many forms of these types of practices, I will share one of each, focused specifically on faith, that I have personally found works.

Concentration - Everything is made stronger and more potent according to the strength of our concentration, therefore it is most important to develop this ability.  This is a big topic in itself so I will share it in the next blog.

Affirmation - The use of affirmation is a powerful tool, completely under our control, to reprogram our consciousness.  The key to successful affirmation is, quite simply, not to think the affirmation but to feel the affirmation manifesting; to feel you becoming what it says. The affirmations I am talking about represent aspects of our self, and by repetition and feeling their reality emerge from the super-conscious into the conscious part of us.  Always remember, what you focus on, you become. 

Faith Affirmation I

Sufi Amin

I demand of myself complete and total self-confidence, and I will never stop trying until I have attained it.

Daily I will feel and picture myself filled with faith and confidence. I will picture it as a radiant, blazing light about my body. I will then feel the strength of accomplishing my goal.

Faith Affirmation II

Hazrat Inayat Khan

“Let my faith be as firm as mountains, Lord, standing unshaken through wind and storm.”

Faith Meditation - this is a visualization practice, takes a little more effort, but goes more directly into our consciousness.  This comes from Sufi Amin...

"Slowly breathe in very deeply through the nose to a count of 5 or 6 relaxing heartbeats, as you inhale imagine or be aware of yourself being drawn up into a point at or just above the top of the head.

Then, when you are ready, retain the breath for 5 or 10 seconds, imagine and feel that you are floating in a sea of light that radiates faith. If you let go, you can feel the buoyancy of the light, it is like you were floating in water, but instead of water, you are floating in light and the light just radiating FAITH.

Then as you exhale, imagine your breath like a cool breeze radiating faith, filling your entire aura, heart and consciousness with the faith; with every breath you are filled more and more, it is as though one were breathing out the energy of faith rather than breathing out air. Do this for 8 or 10 breaths."

Wazifa - repeat: Ya Maumin, Ya Maumin, Ya Maumin; or as you walk breath in Ya Maumin and breath out Ya Maumin coordinating your breath with your steps - breathing in 3 or 4 steps Maumin, breathing out two or three steps Maumin.

As you do this remembering that this is the power of divine faith bringing your whole aura in resonacne with its vibration of Divine Faith.  Note, it is acceptable, repreating a wazifa on the breath (called Fikr) you can drop the inovcatory 'Ya'.

The Power Behind the Light Bearer - Pt. 1

Faith and determination are essential in our lives, both inner and outer, for they allow us to succeed - which we are all meant to do.

Ah, but what is success? Simply to feel inside that, in general, you feel like you are fulfilling your life. Success is not something determined by comparing oneself to others – it is only how you feel inside about your life!  

Of course there are always ups and downs and tests, but if we don't generally feel satisfied with our life then there is something more that we need to do.  You and only you can determine what that is, no one else. What I can tell you is that it is Faith and Determination that will give you the confidence, determination, strength and energy to do it.

Today’s daily contemplation from the “Bowl of Saki” says:

“Success comes when reason, the store of experience, surrenders to will.”- Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

Hazrat Inayat Khan tells a story of when his master would bless him with faith …

“The golden words of my murshid which I remember, when he blessed me every day I met him, he said: “May your faith be strengthened”. I was a young man at that time and it made me think if my faith was so little that my murshid must says this. I sometimes wondered why he does not say: “May you be prosperous, healthy, may you live long. May you make a success, may you be happy, may you attain a very high spiritual attainment”. Why does he say such a simple thing: “May your faith be strengthened”? And it is now that I am beginning to see what really it meant. It was everything. In the strength of faith there is everything and in the absence of that there is nothing.”

Swami Rama says of the quality of Faith and Determination...

“Determination is the power that sees us through all frustrations and obstacles. It helps in building willpower, which is the basis of success within and without.  The scriptures say that with the help of Sankalpa Shakti (the power of determination) nothing is impossible.

Sufi Amin wrote…

“Well what can be done to set Faith into everyday life expression? Just as a good foundation is necessary to build a solid framework for one’s house, so too is self-confidence a beginning point in the mastery of everyday life.”

In my life, Sufi Amin would always tell me I needed more faith and self-confidence. When he did this I would get very upset because I thought I was failing in my life – and maybe I was, but he would not leave me hanging, he would tell me how to increase these qualities and I became stronger and stronger as a result.

So what can help us to develop faith and determination?  That will be in the next BLOG for it will make this Blog too long!

To Be a Light Bearer

To enter the Sister/Brotherhood of the Light Bearers requires only a committment to work for light in the world.  To strive, to the best of ones ability, to bring or uphold light in the world in whatever way works for you. There is no right or wrong way, there is no perfect way and we are accepted into this cosmic initiative just for our sincere desire to be a part of it.

Once the cosmos accepts our committment, it will show us the way to work and it will strengthen us with its light in our life.  Our committment is accpeted if, or once, it becomes sincere (which does not mean that we still don't slip and fall) but it is a committment between ones heart and God - and you can't fool God :-)

The source of the Light Bearers' is the Divine Light; the emobdiment of the Light Beares' is all the illuminated souls, most prominant among them being all the Prophets for this is a prophetic, cosmic initiative.

One of the best ways to become a Light Bearer is to simply make a pledge to do so.  Pir Vilayat once said that the power of a pledge was that it is like "a sharp sword that cuts the guilt of the past and the pre-configuration of the future". In other words it frees one from the past and opens a door to a future that is not conditioned (Ya Fatah, is the Opener of the Way).

I wish to offer this "Pledge of the Light Bearer" which you can make, and if made sincerely from the heart will admit you into the Sister/Brotherhood of the Light Bearers:

"In the name of God, and all the Illuminated Souls who hold aloft the light of Truth, I pledge to uphold light in the world that I may be strengthened and guided by the light of Divine Truth."

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If you are interested, below are some further words to comtemplate by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, a Vice Regent of Light, regarding the power of a pledge.

"It is a pledge that makes a break in the continuity of your life and opens up new possibilities. So a pledge is a definite determination; it affirms your free will. I would say that it's the pledge that makes you into a knight in the tradition of chivalry which in that of the Sufis, it is called Futuhat, which is chivalry. And that has the power of absorbing your shadow. Because it is action which determines the way that qualities unfurl and defects are absorbed. It's action. There is the determination but that determination is with reference to action: I will do this; it's always with regard to action."

"Can you imagine taking a vow to become a knight of light as part of your spiritual practice? The work would entail protecting the victims of manipulation and greed; in addition, you would act to counter the actions of those who cause suffering to others. Assuming a role on a cosmic knighthood of service, however, requires attuning to the spiritual power that flows all the way down through the hierarchy of beings who form the spiritual government of the world to those on the earth plane working to better the human condition."

MLK - A Great Light Bearer and Lamp Lighter

His vision was vast, his being illuminated an entire country if not the world.  His consciousness is a part of the stream of light that is the living consciousness of the Rasul.

Those of us who have made the pledge to be Light Bearers will find a powerful connection to his being as part of the Sister/Brotherhood of light.

Take a moment, if you want, to reflect upon his presence in the world: his great Compassion, Self Sacrifice, Love, Wisdom, Breadth of Vision, Faith in God, Unity of perception, Humility which gave Strength, and all this directed toward fulfilling a critical evolutionary mission acted out within the United States.

I leave you with these two inspiring quotes from him:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." (1963)

"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." (1967)

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When I desire to attune to the great stream of illuminated consciousness that is the Rasul, the Prophetic stream, I contemplate the prayer Rasul:

"Warner of coming dangers, wakener of the world from sleep, deliverer of the Message of God, thou art our Savior.

The sun at the dawn of creation, the light of the whole universe, the fulfillment of God's purpose, thou the life eternal, we seek refuge in thy loving enfoldment.

Spirit of Guidance, source of all beauty, and creator of harmony; love, lover, and beloved lord, thou art our divine ideal."

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri

Your Enlightenment is Free

Making a connection with that part of ourselves that is already awake or enlightened costs nothing - it is freely given to each of us who claims it!  How wonderful!

In fact, I believe that this part of ourself is pushing to make this connection within us more strongly than we are seeking to connect with it.  This is because we are an expression of the One Reality and that reality is constantly awakening through all of its parts, in fact through the awakening of its parts the whole evolves and awakens and vise-versa!

Consider a flower, the force of Nature (of Love actually) is constantly moving the plant to bud and the buds to open.  It actually takes no effort on the part of the plant or bud except to 'go with the flow'.  The bud awakens into the flower as part of a natural unfoldment - thus we too are constantly evolving and awakening, often in spite of ourselves - I find this thought very heartening!

Our special privilege, being human, is that we can consciously participate, not only in our own awakening, but in the awakening of all beings.

The Hypnosis of Perception

The fact is we are enlightened already! There is nothing nothing we need to learn or aquire that is not already there.  So what are we doing in the process of awakening?  We are unlearning and clearing that which blocks our ability to be what we are.

That which blocks this ability has been call by many names in many mystical orders:

• In Buddhism they are the Three Poisons: Attachment, Averson, Delusion
• In Yoga they are the 5 Kleshas: Ignorance (avidya), Ego (asmita), Attachment to Pleasure (raga), Aversion to Pain (dvesa), Fear of Death (abhinivesah).
• My teacher Amin simply said that we have been hypnotized or conditioned into believeing we are something we are not.

How do we break the hypnosis?  By connecting with that part of ourselves that is free of these poisions. The contact must be direct, not intellectual. By making this connection eventually the real in us overcomes the unreal and we remember once again who and what we are!

Yes, this is a lifetime practice because awakening really never stops but as Ram Das once said, ultimately its the only dance there is.  This is the power and purpose of  Spiritual Practice, Meditation, Prayer, Zikr, Zazen, Yoga.

Can't Concentrate - Try ZaZen

Having trouble centering - no worries, do a little Sitting :-).

Personally when I can do no other practice I turn to the simplicity of Zazen. I find Zazen to be such a wonderful practice when my mind or emotions are very tumultuous or I can't seem to focus, because in Zazen I can simply ignore them, they become irrelevant.  How cool is that.

So just sit and be aware of your breathing - nothing more - in and out - nothing more, nothing more.
Crazy thoughts, crazy emotions - so what, it doesn't matter - let everything go by just sitting and breathing.

What is Zazen?
Zazen is not a meditation technique. It is simply the Dharma gate of joyful ease, it is practicing the realization of the awakened way. Here, the open mystery manifests, and there are no more traps and snares for you to get caught in. - Dogen from Fukanzazenji

There is a delightful description of the prctice of Zazen or Shikantaza (just sitting) given by Master Dogen Zenji that I wish to share, this description has set the practice of Zazen on firm ground since the 11th centruy and it continues today.

Instructions on Zen by Dogen Zenji
For practicing Zen, a quiet room is suitable. Eat and drink moderately. Put aside all involvements and suspend all affairs. Don't think about "good" or "bad". Don't judge true or false. Your mind, intellect, and consciousness are spinning around - let them have rest. Give up measuring with thoughts, ideas, and views. Have no designs on becoming a Buddha. How could that be limited to sitting or lying down?

When you sit, spread a mat and put a cushion on it. Sit either in the full-lotus or half-lotus position. In the full-lotus position, first place your right foot on your left thigh, then your left foot on your right thigh. In the half-lotus position, simply place your left foot on your right thigh.  Tie your robes loosely and arrange them neatly. Then place your right hand on your left leg and your left hand on your right palm, thumb-tips lightly touching.

Straighten your body and sit upright, leaning neither left nor right, neither forward nor backward. Align your ears with your shoulders and your nose with your navel. Rest the tip of your tongue against the front of the roof of your mouth, with teeth and lips together both shut. Always keep your eyes open, and breathe softly through your nose. Once you have adjusted your posture, take a breath and exhale fully, rock your body right and left, and settle into steady, immovable sitting. Think of not thinking. Not thinking: What kind of thinking is that? Letting thoughts go (Nonthinking). This is the essential art of zazen. 


To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things. -Dogen

Oneness: The Continuity in Change

Teilhard de Chardin said, in regards to our interdependent actions on the planet: “The day is not far distant when humanity will realize that biologically it is faced with a choice between suicide and adoration.” 

Juan, an Andean Paco (teacher) I’ve studied with once said: 'we think that if we don't change we are going to destroy the Earth - we are not going to destroy the Earth, the Earth will survive, we are going to destroy ourselves.'

Most all of us, who are even partially awake from the hypnosis of self-centeredness, agree that a major change is needed in the way humanity perceives existence and the social/political/monetary power structures that maintain this perception.

Llewellyn Vaughn-Lee offers a nice description of this paradigm shift in his book Light of Oneness:

Dynamics of duality have embedded our world in conflict and patterns of opposition… A different archetype is emerging within the collective psyche of humanity, an archetype not defined by the constellation of opposites...Can we leave behind the attitude that sees opposites creating conflict, and instead become open to the potential of opposites to unite?  The era of the warring brothers is over—its dynamic of winning or losing is past. Now we need to welcome a paradigm in which consciousness does not constellate the opposites but recognizes their deeper union. Only then can the elements that contain this new way of being come into life...

To make such a radical shift in “the masses” will require massive change. This massive change will require a massive de-construction of the structures of consciousness, both internal and external, that support the current paradigm. We are all a part of it, willingly or unwillingly, we are all affected by this change.  Yet, the divine purpose and the flow of cosmic intelligence are working to guide us, individually and collectively, in the next steps to take so we are not left alone to suffer as mere causalities of this change.

 What can we do to help ourselves in handling these changes?

     1. Celebrate awakening in whatever ways present themselves to you;

     2. Become a Light Bearer – Shine your light in the world, see how you help birth the light of this paradigm shift;

    3. Remember your life as a continuity within this change, not a single ‘blip’ in time on the planet. You are a flow of life that will participate in birthing this paradigm shift over what might be lifetimes.

We can take this step by becoming more conscious of the energy of oneness, of how it connects all life and how it reveals the hidden meaning of each moment.  This awareness can help unblock obstructions in the flow of energy through life and help life reflect our inner knowing of divine unity. – Vaughn-Lee

A Mantra blessing that can help us gain this realization that we are a continuity in change is: Ya Ahad-Ya Samad-Ya Hayyo-Ya Qayyum.  I discover myself in The One, as Eternal, and within this eternal oneness I recognize myself as a continuity of life ever flowing and self-subsisting.

Then, to help us birth this perception of unity and oneness, allowing it to do its work in and through us in the world: Ya Wajid-Ya Wahid – I find and perceive Unity - and then I bear witness to it as Ya Wahid-Ya Shahid.

There is such power in bearing witness to something - it is not a passive act but an act of affirmation and manifesting!

The Love of Love

The Love of love begins as a personal emotion that deepens with the awakening of the heart into a selfoverwhelming consciousness of Oneness.

To deepen in this way allow your heart to surrender to 'Ishk Allah Mabood Allah' as often as possible.

Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. - Rumi

The Opening Heart

What Opens the Heart?  Pain and Love.

Pain melts or breaks the heart, creating a condition that allows it to be reborn; Love, where we feel utterly carried beyond ourself, overwhelms and expands the heart.

We live in a condition of various degrees of open heartedness, but in the process of awakening the heart must always open further.

There are different wells within your heart.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far too deep for that. -Hafiz

You will notice that in both of the conditions (love or pain) there is something in us that is dissolved or shattered to allow for the heart to continue to open - herein lies the rub, for it is not easily that we go into that good night. Great pain or love shatters the self-centeredness of the ego, breaking down long held foundational values, perceptions, judgements, and opinions all upon which we have built our security, life and personality.

"Either the lover exists or the beloved but not both." - Khan

Once the heart has begun to open it becomes very sensitive and then, naturally, we try to hide or protect ourselves from the thousands of blows we now feel coming from living in the world and once again we rebuilt barriers that were torn down.  So the trick then is how can we become strong enough not to do this, to allow the heart to stay open and not become afraid, or bitter or closed off?

 "The pain of life is a price paid for the quickening of the heart." - Khan

Well this is much easier said than done and no one is perfect about it! This is a major challenge of awakening in life, and in order to do this I think we must consciously practice allowing our hearts to expand and become great. We need to practice remembering that there is an aspect of our heart that is like an ocean capable of embracing, integrating and harmonizing all the influences that flow into it.  Ultimately with this practice we will find our perception becoming more and more inclusive of all beings - in a state of unity with all beings.

One Wazifa that is a Blessing to help with this is: Ya Khabir - Er Rahman,
may our hearts ever expand and become great in their capacity for harmonization through the mercy, compassion and magnanimity of God.  This is what it means to be a great being.
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Pir Zia Inayat Khan of the Sufi Order International once gave a beautiful visualization/concentration practice that I use often to help me remember how expansive my heart can become.  I wish to share this visualization with you:

The heart can feel like a clenched fist that needs relaxation. It needs the experience of the love that surrounds it – the nurturing womb of the divine love. It needs to know that it was loved ever before it loved.

Inhale, become present to the heart and draw breath and love (Ishq) into the heart. Feel it becoming supple and sensitive. Soft like clay that has been heated. Maybe you’ll feel an almost ticklish feeling. Inhaling, one is converging the love, the energy of love that moves the stars in their orbits, the love that gives birth to the stars – converging that love in the heart.

Upon Exhalation, the heart begins to expand. It presses against the cavity of the chest so full does it become in the presence of this divine love. One feels more and more that the heart is not contained within ones body but ones body is contained within the heart.  Exhaling – expanding, feeling your own heart expand to embrace all of humanity, all of creation. To fly upwards, flying into the furthermost reaches of space and the universe on the waves of an emotion that is simultaneously joy and pain, an emotion that has no name.

Words of Power - Wazifa and Mantra

On Wazifa and Mantra

In this blog you will find me referencing words of power, which in Sufi terms are called Wazifa and in Yoga terms Mantras. These are not normal words; they are words that manifest divine attributes or qualities. The essential point is that each word (for example Ya Nur, meaning Light) is a living cosmic vibration, and that vibration IS the reality of that divine attribute so that when it is spoken (Dhikr), wispered (Fikr) or thought (Fikr-Asir), it manifests.

The power of a wazifa or mantric word is beyond what our minds can comprehend but they are not beyond what the heart can know. These divine attributes are centered in the One Reality, the Only Being, they are the universal living expressions of this One Reality and thus, in the mystical schools and orders, they are considered quite scared. It is like holding an aspect of the divine beloved in ones arms; The Sufi Master Pir Vilayat has called them ‘the signature tune of angels’.

In past times is was forbidden for these sacred words to be given in public, only passed on as deep spiritual practice from teacher to initiate (a practice that still exists today).  However, due to a need and a key aspect of the awakening consciousness of humanity, a seal has been opened on this divine treasure giving those who are attuned to these sacred names permission to share them as appropriate because they function to empower ideas and concepts with reality. This is what I call the ‘direct manifestation’ of concept. Ideas and concepts are mental constructions, they are useful but they are not direct reality, a wazifa is the reality itself.  It’s like the difference between someone telling you that the water in a lake is wonderful and refreshing versus you jumping in the lake!

The divine names I use will largely be from the Sufi tradition of Asma`ul Husna, the ‘Ninety Nine Beautiful Names of God’ and there are a number of wonderful books written explaining the meaning of these beautiful names (see references below). 

So what does this mean to you?  Probably not a great deal, and that is perfectly ok, I simply ask that you treat these wazifa or mantric words with respect as you would a prayer.  Thanks.

A few good references to the 99 Names of God:

Physicians of the Heart: A Sufi View of the 99 Names of Allah,
By Wali Ali Meyer, Bilal Hyde, Faisal Muqaddam, Shabda Kahn - Sufi Ruhaniat International (2011) - Paperback - 432 pages - ISBN 1936940000.


The Name and the Named, 293 pages - ISBN 1887752293

By Tosun Bayrak, Tosun Bayrak Al-Jerrahi, Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti, William C. Chittick, Ghazzālī - Fons Vitae (2000) - Paperback.

The Sufi book of life: 99 pathways of the heart for the modern dervish, 304 pages - ISBN 0142196355
By Neil Douglas-Klotz - Penguin Compass (2005) - Paperback.

Affirmation of Light

Knowingly or unknowingly, Light Bearers are those who bring light into the world simply by considerate thought, kind speech and beneficial actions.

The ultimate source of the light I'm speaking of is perfection and it manifests unity, love, harmony and beauty.

Some Light Bearers bring light into the world through meditation and prayer, some are trained specifically to work on the inner planes with the catalyzing and manifestation of light in the world.

This daily affirmation of the 'Light Bearer' is good for all:

In the One, united with all the illuminated souls,
I will hold aloft the light of Truth.

The power of this simple affirmation is that as one uses it, it draws this light directly to oneself. 

So there is actually an implicit ending to this affirmation which might read:
... and in so doing I am fortified and strengthened by this light and in my ability to bring light to the world.

Many will naturally ask ... 'what do you mean by "Truth", whose "truth"?  In answer to this question I defer to the words of Hazrat Inayat Khan:

• Truth is the light which illuminates the whole of life; in its light all things become clear, and their true nature manifests to view.
• When one touches the ultimate truth one realizes that there is nothing which is not in oneself.
• It is no use saying you know the truth; if you knew the truth, you would keep silent.
• Truth that disturbs peace and harmony is worse than a lie.
• Truth is a divine inheritance found in the depth of every human heart.

Awakening is Like Boiling Water

I read a Koan this morning that said: "Water heats slowly but boils suddenly."  My reaction was: Thus is awakening!
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Meditation, prayer, contemplation, Zikr are a special fire we can make to heat and transform this water which is our awakening. 

The water of our lives is heated to boiling many, many times in the continual process of awakening.  It is easy to get discouraged or impatient, yet take heart for the water will boil and we will awaken!

New Year's Blessings 2012

New Years Day 2012

Blessings for a wonder-full New Year!

Actually, I think New Years day is really the day after the Winter Solstice but nothing wrong with honoring it twice!

Today we honor the start of a new year, a new ‘you’ – still in the seed state, but now something new will begin growing within the womb of our awakening evolution. The seed of the future year, infused with the fruits of the previous year, is awakening - its purpose will form and grow protected by the deep stillness of winter.

May our purpose grow strong in the coming New Year, may it be informed by the wisdom and achievements of our past and the potentialities yet to come in the future, so that in the Spring we may rejoice in the rebirth of yet another new dimension of our being and purpose in life.

A blessing for this may be found in the Martra/Wazifa: Ya Razzaq - Ya Mussawwir
(The Divine nourishing and fashioning our being)

The New Year prayer of Hazrat Inayat Khan:

O Thou who abidest in our hearts,

Most Merciful and Compassionate God, Lord of Heaven and Earth;

We forgive others their trespasses and ask Thy forgiveness of our shortcomings.

We begin the New Year with pure heart and clear conscience, with courage and hope.

Help us to fulfil the purpose of our lives under Thy divine guidance. Amen