PEACE LOVE YOGA: Lakshmi, Goddess of Love & Beauty

Burnt To Ash

"All Inquiry is meant for one purpose; to take you experientially into the unknown as efficiently as possible. Once you get there, simply be still because inquiry has delivered you to its destination. The rest is up to Grace. Do not hold onto any knowledge that comes your way. Even the greatest revelations much not be clung to, or you will end up with a head full of memories and a heart empty of substance. The truth is ever new, existing only in the now. The highest truth is beyond knowledge and experience. It is beyond time and space, and beyond beingness, consciousness, and oneness. Just remember that all direct path techniques are meant simply to undermine, to cut away, the one who is performing them. No matter what spiritual path you've walked or what teachings you've followed, they must lead you back to no path and no teaching. A true teaching is like a blazing fire that consumes the itself. The teaching must not only consume you, but consume itself as well. All must be burned to ash, and then the ash must be burned. The, and only then, is the Ultimate realized. True Enlightenment destroys enlightenment. As long as you can refer back to yourself and say, 'I'm enlightened', you not. Enlightenment is authentic only when there is no one left to be enlightened. Even to say 'I am nobody', is one too many. There's a point when you intuitively realize that to be Free you have to give up your attachment to Freedom. You have to quit asking yourself: Is it still there? Am I okay? You have to decide to never look over your shoulder again to see if you're free or if others know you're free. You just have to let yourself burn there - no matter what. This isn't something I can help you with. I can tell you what you need to do, but you have to do it. In the beginning, teachers can help a lot. But the deeper you go, all they can do is point, and clarify, and tell you what you need to do. Only you can take this step. Nobody can push you in to this place."

- Adyashanti

No Expectations

A spirit that lives in this world

and does not wear the shirt of love,

such an existence is a deep disgrace.

Be foolishly in love,

because love is all there is.

There is no way into presence

except through a love exchange.

If someone asks, But what is love?

answer, Dissolving the will.

True freedom comes to those

who have escaped the questions

of freewill and fate.

Love is an emperor.

The two worlds play across him.

He barely notices their tumbling game.

Love and lover live in eternity.

Other desires are substitutes

for that way of being.

How long do you lay embracing a corpse?

Love rather the soul, which cannot be held.

Anything born in spring dies in the fall,

but love is not seasonal.

With wine pressed from grapes,

expect a hangover.

But this love path has no expectations.

You are uneasy riding the body?

Dismount. Travel lighter.

Wings will be given.

Be clear like a mirror

reflecting nothing.

Be clean of pictures and the worry

that comes with images.

Gaze into what is not ashamed

or afraid of any truth.

Contain all human faces in your own

without any judgement of them.

Be pure emptiness.

What is inside that? you ask.

Silence is all I can say.

Lovers have some secrets

that they keep.

(Rumi)

21.5.08

Trust the divine power, and she will free the godlike elements in you, and shape all into an expression of divine nature.

~Sri Aurobindo

I've deeply grown to admire the qualities of the Goddess Lakshmi. When initially having an interest in Hindu philosphy, and passionately devouring the practice of Ashtanga yoga I naturally gravitated toward the characteristics and power of Shiva. Always desiring the appearance of strength and self-sufficiency of course that would have been my first choice. Constantly reinventing myself, and switching gears, change...the way I viewed it or desired it, was something I welcomed. Now, however, coming to a place of softening, and release, honoring my feminine energy has come to the forefront. Being fiercely independent before...not wanting to ever rely on anyone or anybody I've learned the importance of surrender, compassion, and the beauty of community. There's been a letting go of the fear appearing weak, and the realization that its okay to lean on others in times of need. I've had to learn willingness, and that an openness with one's feelings and emotions are not a sign of weakness...but a sign of strength. Its the holding on...the locking up...the resistance that block of the flow...When sitting in THAT space...the inner light shines through with no effort. Simply beautiful.

Practice Notes:

Digesting these qualities brings new energy and vitality to the practice. This morning, took my time to feel every movement...no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Amazingly, with all the conscious internal surrender proceeding in my day to day life, backbending has never felt this good in a long time. After my last drop back, when walking the hands in toward the feet for a final 5 breaths...I wanted to linger there...

Laskshmi's Characteristics: Goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity and generosity. The embodiment of beauty, intelligence, grace and charm. The manifestation of strength, peace and balance. The paragon of opulence, wisdom and auspiciousness. The Goddess of light and good fortune. The essence of prosperity, both material and spiritual.

The Goddess of Flow.

Female energy of the Supreme Being.

Consort and creative energy of Vishnu.

Portrayed as a beautiful lady with golden complexion, dressed in red attire and adorned with jewels. Lakshmi has four hands representing the four ends of life, Karma (desires), Artha (wealth), Dharma (righteousness), and Moksha (liberation). Holds a lotus bud in two hands, which stands for beauty, purity, spirituality and fertility. She sits on a fully blossomed lotus, a seat of Divine Truth.

Two elephants shown standing next to her denotes that ceaseless effort, in accordance with one's dharma, when governed by wisdom and purity, leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

An aura of Divine happiness, mental, and spiritual satisfaction and prosperity always exists around her.

Resides in a place where virtue, righteousness, truth and compassion prevail.

Mantra: Om Sri Maha Lakshmyai Namah

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PEACE LOVE YOGA

R. Sharath Jois

Burnt To Ash

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Lakshmi, Goddess of Love & Beauty

21.5.08

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