Prema Jyothi June 2024

1 Jun

Newsletter of the Sacred Earth Community

Harmony and Balance

“Today man is a contradiction in himself. His thoughts, words and deeds are incongruous. Without this harmony how can he contribute to harmony in the community and in the world? He can only create chaos. That is the misfortune in the world today. Man has therefore to understand himself, his own dignity and his inner spiritual reality, then only will he have the right perspective. Sathya Sai Baba 1981

How do we create harmony? Sai gives the answer that it begins with the inner harmony, the alignment of thought, word and action. We live in a world where people strive for peace.

There is a sense that war, disruption and violence, be it among humans or between humans and nature, is no longer acceptable. Naturally there are those who say it is simply the way of the world. But is it?

The science of biology has accepted the theory of evolution for nearly 200 years. This theory postulates the survival of the fittest, the one who gets on top of all the others (the top dog if you like). However, science is now hearing new voices that echo the theory of Jean Baptiste Lamark, who postulated organisms adapt to environments in a cooperative way, rather than a competitive way. A modern voice for this view is Bruce Lipton, who has championed the potential for humanity to be a positive force for creating harmony on this planet. Sai’s declaration that we have to understand ourselves, our own dignity and our inner spiritual reality, will allow us to develop the right perspective, the right view.

Within the body there are trillions of cells, which make up a number of organs and tissues. When all of these components of the total organism work together, the body is healthy. Add the additional influence of the mind and emotions also working in harmony with the body, and we see further aspects of health and happiness arise. If we also consider the potential of the spirit – the wairua, having a subtle but powerful influence and we arrive at a place of inner and outer harmony. Such harmony, when extended out into the environment and, ultimately, the planet, the transformative potential of inner harmony becomes highly evident. But what does it take to create the inner harmony?

In this month’s edition of Prema Jyothi, we explore facets of the creation of inner and outer harmony. - Satyavan

Harmony expressed as Dharma

How is the word dharma derived? It comes from the root ‘dhrit’, which means to uphold or sustain. Dharayati iti dharma (that which sustains is dharma). Dharma is therefore that which supports everything. The entire world is sustained by dharma. Dharma binds the entire universe into a unified whole and rules it. Sathya Sai Baba

With these words Sai gives us an insight into the operation of the universe. When He states that the universe is sustained by Dharma, He implies that there is a harmony that underlies creation. Dharma is often cited as being duty, or it is linked to religion. This view limits Dharma to human beings alone and offers a superficial understanding of what dharma is.

Having observed Sai, and studied the lives of great masters, I have personally come to the understanding that their actions and words are totally spontaneous and totally consistent within themselves. In other words, they are living embodiments of dharma and, as such, live harmonious lives. It is common these days to hear talk of ‘flow’.

Csikszentmihalyi and Csikszentmihalyi (1988) interviewed a research participant about flow, and this is what they said:

“My mind isn’t wandering. I am not thinking of something else. I am totally involved in what I am doing. My body feels good. I don’t seem to hear anything. The world seems to be cut off from me. I am less aware of myself and my problems.”

Imagine if we lived our whole life this, how much harmony would we experience? Our life would become one of spontaneity and joy. This does not mean that we would not face problems and difficulties. But we would respond to them with the spirit of dharma. The space between stimulus and response would be seamless. This is what Sai means by dharma being that which sustains. Dharma and flow are always there. Our task is to attune ourselves to this operational software of the universe and to align our thought, word, and actions to that, not in a forced manner, but allowing the response to arise from the depth of being, from the heart.

Dharma is our natural state, our natural purpose, and our natural interaction with creation. To be unaligned to dharma means that we are out of harmony with the universal creative principle and the atmic reality of who we really are. If you like, dharma is the song we sing when we are being true to ourselves in every sense.

If we let dharma arise from within us, arise from the heart of truth that is the core of beingness, our lives naturally become harmonious and free. To watch birds flying in perfect unison is to remind us of how having all our facets and faculties in alignment can not only provide integrity, but also creates a beauty in our character, a wholeness in our being. My perception of Sai’s life has been one of incredible beauty. His form, His voice, His radiant energetic presence, and His teachings, all in perfect alignment enable me to experience a beauty that crosses all mental contracts and to enter a realm of harmonious presence. This is Dharma in its purest manifestation.

To live in harmony with all creation is to live in harmony with ourselves – our true nature, the Self. - Satyavan

Natural harmony – the song of nature

Natural harmony is an elusive concept as it arises when we attune ourselves to nature in the most subtle way. In a sense, our inner harmony has to guide the senses to experience harmony around us. This experience is most prevalent when we are immersed in the natural world. It is as if the elements (space, air, fire, water and earth) provide a key to our own inner harmony.

The above picture is of a tree known as a Bristlecone Pine. This tree lives in the spare and rocky environment of the White Mountains between California and Nevada. The Bristlecones thrive in the white rocks but grow only incrementally each year. The oldest of these trees has been gauged to be well over 4,000 years! To walk among the old ones is a journey of wonder and magic. I have been privileged to visit these matriarchs and patriarchs twice and still I long to go back to talk once again to the oldest beings on the planet.

In Aotearoa, we also have our ancient trees. In the Waipoua Forest, Northland, live two very ancient ones, known to be well over 2,000 years old. Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere are wise beings, full of ancient wisdom.

When we meet these ancient beings, not only can we sense an aura of great power, the very air also that surrounds them feels fresher and healthier. There is a serenity that pervades the atmosphere, and we are taken to that place within ourselves where all the levels of being seem in harmony with creation.

It is also noticeable that within the shade of these big trees there are plants, small as they are they appear (to the intuitive mind) to complement the magnificence of the trees. The gnarly appearance of the Bristlecone reflects the harshness of the environment of the White Mountains. The deep peace and wisdom of ancient Kauri, reflects the stillness of the ngahere (forest) in Aotearoa. All nature is in harmony.

Not only trees reflect the harmony of nature, but all life, in fact all the cosmos, reflects the natural harmony that exists. Last month I talked of the flocks of birds that all fly as one, and the fish that swim as one being. (See video below)This harmonious expression of life fills us with awe and wonder. We are taken outside of our day to day reality into a universe that is alive, that operates on a level of harmony and balance.

The world appears to us to be in chaos, and harmony and balance seem to be unreachable where there is war, aggression, imbalance of power and wealth and climatic disasters. If we have too narrow a focus, we will only see what the mind selects to be the truth, and that truth is limited to what is forefront in the mind. We consume images and sounds of imbalance all the time. Living on the modern world, they are almost impossible to ignore. Where can we experience peace? If we turn to nature and immerse ourselves in her healing presence, we can come into a different relationship with ourselves.

“The sages drew the inference that the beginning and the end are One, which is the Divine. They declared that this One is the beejam (seed) of the cosmos. No seed exists without husk. Because the grain is covered by husk its parts are not visible to us. For the cosmos, Prakruthi (nature) is the husk. The seed of divinity is within it (and enveloped by it). We cannot experience the seed of divinity within as long as it is covered by the husk of Nature. We have to endeavour to get at the truth about Nature. The Upanishads declared: "Isavasyam idham sarvam" (All this is permeated by the Divine). That means, there is only one thing that is immanent in the entire universe. If the truths declared by the Upanishads are to be understood, we have to seek the truth of everything in our daily lives. For instance, why has Nature come into being? Nature's role is to help man, the crowning achievement of the evolutionary process, to realise the Divinity immanent in creation. Mountains help man to build houses by using stone slabs, quarried from them. Trees provide the timber for constructing houses and also firewood for domestic use. Among animate beings, every creature, from an ant to an elephant, is of assistance to man in one way or another. Cows provide nourishing milk to man. Bullocks are useful for ploughing the fields and helping to grow food crops. All other creatures like birds, fish, sheep and others are serving man in different ways. Seen in this light it will be clear that all things in creation are helpful to man in leading his life. Even the sun and the moon are serving man. The sages regarded the Sun as an important deity and worshipped him through the Gayatri mantra.” - Sathya Sai Baba

Restoring harmony – coming back to balance

“Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

In physiology, there is a term called homeostasis. Interestingly it is not about homogeneity, nor is it about stasis. This term refers to the body’s ability to adjust itself to external and internal influences. As these are always changing, the process does not involve remaining in the status quo, but rather it is about dynamic balance. The see-saw is often used as a metaphor for the process. The see-saw is still when there are no children interacting with it. However, once the children come to play, it springs into action, moving up and down, but always coming back to the central position. Our body does the same thing. When we utilise all our energy and are tired, the body impels us to eat to restore energy. When our stomach is full, the desire to eat reduces. It is a dynamic process. This process is also occurring in the mind. When we desire stimulation, we seek sensory input. However, it is a chore to sit through several hours of movies, or listen to loud music for the whole day. We wish for peace following this stimulation. We always seek balance.

Balance is also sought in our spiritual lives as well. In the Vedic path, there are three main approaches: karma yoga – the yoga of service, bhakti yoga – the yoga of devotion, and jnana yoga – the yoga of self-inquiry and wisdom. Some prefer one, others another way. (In truth we all have our own unique approach.) The reality is that these strands of yoga are interwoven, and we cannot choose one over the other, but rather follow the intuitive urgings of our deepest nature at any particular time. Seva or service can be done with devotion and insight. Mother Theresa is a great example of such service. She was devoted to the poor in Calcutta because she saw her beloved Jesus in their hearts and was moved to action. But she also realised that the Jesus in their hearts was the same Jesus in her heart, wisdom personified.

To live the spiritual life is to become harmonious with all creation, for all creation is experienced as one indivisible whole. Gradually we begin to align ourselves with that wholeness and goodness. Our lives become not only transformed, but transformative. They reflect the oneness, and we become, as the Hopi termed it – the One-Hearted People. - Satyavan

Harmonising through Breath

In many traditions breath is central to both the spiritual imagery and the practices. Mindful breathing or the more structured practices of pranayama have been utilised in meditative and rejuvenating methodologies over many thousands of years. In yoga, it is taught that the breath is linked to the flow of prana (life force) within the energetic channels (nadis). The three main nadis are ida, pingala and sushumna, which are located in the region of the spine. The ida (moon channel) is a cooling and calming flow. The pingala (sun channel) is an energising flow. The simple practice of nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) balances the pranic flow in these two nadis. (See below for a description of one of the nadi shodhana techniques.) The sushumna (the central channel located in the central canal of the spinal cord) is the passageway for the flow of kundalini (the energetic form of the Shakti – the Divine Feminine). With the balancing of ida and pingala many people experience a gentle sense of balance and peace.

Nadi Shodhana Method

There are many ways to practise nadi shodhana. A simple, yet potent, method is to place the thumb of the right hand on the right side of the nose, with the ring and little finger of the left hand on the left side. The middle two fingers touch the place between the eyebrows (third eye centre). With the right nostril closed, breath in through the left to the count of two (slow count). Close both nostrils to the count of eight. Then open the right nostril and breathe out to the count of four. Repeat this action breathing through the right nostril and out through the left. This pranayama practice will calm the mind and settle the body. It is useful to do in the morning to set the energy for the day, and prior to meditation.

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment. - Thich Nhat Hanh

Breathwork at Sacred Earth

Kia ora everyone, my name is Darran Ingram, and I’ve recently arrived with my partner at the Sacred Earth Community. It been a great 4 weeks, connecting to the people and beautiful land.

I'm a Certified Somatic Trauma Therapist, Transformational Life and Leadership Coach and Certified International Breathwork Facilitator. I'm also certified and trained under the International Coaching Federation, which is the “gold mark” of Transformational Coaching.

I was an Aircraft Avionics Engineer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, promoted to the rank of sergeant. I was honoured to lead numerous teams in various humanitarian efforts, such as providing aid to a plethora of people in Afghanistan.

I was also privileged to lead the very first aid team to arrive in Indonesia during the devastating 2004 Tsunami. On this mission, I led teams who were providing support to families and individuals through daily airlifting of essential aid, and rescuing people from displaced or damaged areas; this helped in significantly speeding up the recovery process for all the people involved in this devastating event.

Somatic Trauma Therapy can mean helping you to release any pent-up trauma that has become “trapped” in your body and addressing the feedback loop that continually runs between the mind and the body. So how do these emotions get caught in the body? After a traumatic event, the event of that event can get stored inside the body and the nervous system can get stuck in survival mode. Stress hormones, such as cortisol, are continually released, leading to an increase in blood sugar and blood pressure, which can weaken the immune system.

Somatic therapy can help rewire your brain's neural pathways. It gets you out of survival mode and into a conscious state of emotional balance. It can help you take back your life from negative thoughts, feelings, and patterns. I want you to achieve your goals and live a more fulfilling life, working towards your highest potential.

I’ve also found that breathwork helps us to connect deep within, moving from the outside world to our inner world. When we create the space to work on our inner world, we quickly start to shape our external outer world, which then impacts and shapes our reality. Your breathing really does have a massive impact to your life. We are learning more and more everyday about how it can change your body down to the cellular level.

Your breathing can help you to recover and boost your immune system, lowering oxidative stress that causes ageing. power you up and fuel every cell in your body. When you start to breath properly by trying different breathing exercises, take the time to know and feel that you are nourishing your cells with oxygen, which is optimising your body and the way it functions on all levels.

One of the most effective breathing techniques that you can do every day is a grounding breath. You can do this by finding a place in nature and bare foot, standing tall, place your hands on your thighs, engage your toes into the ground and pull your crown up to the sky and start to be aware of each breath. Place your awareness on your belly rising and then your chest (80/20) taking fuller breaths. Continue this pattern until it becomes a natural rhythm.

Start to focus all of your attention on the breath coming into your body, with your body rising each time and allow yourself to feel the rhythm. You might just get to this stage and allow yourself to enjoy this for as long as you want, knowing the positive impact you’re making. Continue to place your awareness on the inbreath and then place your awareness on the outbreath, following the breath going into your body, exploring it dropping lower each time until you make it to the ground. Then stay in this rhythm.

Look forward to meeting you and please come and say hi. Many blessings and aroha

Darran https://impactcoach.co.nz/

Invitation to a Whakawātea (Blessing Ceremony)

The Rishi Sanctuary - Te Whakamaurutanga o Nga Tohunga Tuauri will be inaugurated this winter solstice 22nd June 2024 at 4.00pm.

The sanctuary is a wahi tapu (sacred) site on the land at Sacred Earth. Overlooking the ocean, it is established within the traditions of Aotearoa and the Himalayan Rishi tradition.

A sacred pou whenua will be installed adjacent to the circle of stones. This pou will complement the pou that that is located nearby (Hei Pou Rerenga Wairua). The two pou are male and female and the female pou is the one being blessed at this time.

Also, special one (soil) from Kawai Purapura will be scattered to signify and ground the Prema Charitable Trust moving its operations from Albany to Sacred Earth. Stones from the awa at Kawai Purapura (Wai Kahikātea) will be blessed before they are given to the awa at Sacred Earth (Wairere) as well as stones from Wairere will be blessed to travel to Wai Kahikātea.

All are welcome. Please park in the carpark indicated (at Tapovan 132 Lone Kauri) and walk down to 132 Lone Kauri Rd.