My trip to Portland, Oregon last week was awesome.  I’m so glad I got to go there.  I visited lifelong friends, explored the city and even got to go to the beautiful coast. (pictured here)  Portland is called the city of roses.  I thought that was awesome.  Roses are the flowers which are associated with Paramahansa Yogananda.  It felt like that was a reminder, while I was there, I was right where I needed to be and on the right path. 

Sometimes it’s hard to express in the written word everything I want to say.  That’s why, eventually, there will be online videos on the True Yoga Blog to be able to express in other ways, as well, everything that’s coming through for me.  I’m looking forward to sharing my Yoga practice with you through online videos, as well. That will all be coming in the next several months by the time the book I’m writing is published in early Spring of next year.  I’m really excited about the book.  I have begun writing it and I submitted my first chapter about a week ago and the editor liked it.  So, that’s good.  The book is about cleansing and healthy living practices.  Once we have a picture of the cover I’ll post it for you here.  I’ve received a couple of requests to share information on the True Yoga Blog, so, I’d like to start with those and then share with you the information about POWA: The Yoga of Death and Dying, which, I’ve been meaning to share with you for several weeks now.  It was such a powerful talk by the monk, Tashi Nyima, and I really believe you’ll find this information to be beneficial.  I know it’s not normally the most uplifting topic, but, it’s a good one to cover since it’s going to happen with all of us. 

A new cd being released by Putumayo features renowned Yoga musicians such as Krishna Das, who is the best-known US performer of traditional Indian kirtan-style music, demonstrates call-and-response chanting on “Hanuman Baba (Dub Farm Remix).” Costa Rican group Amounsulu create a serene atmosphere by blending sitars and glass bottles on the song “El Bosque Eterno de los Niños (Children’s Eternal Rainforest).” On “Bolo Ram” celebrated western devotional musician Wah! sings a tranquil verse that is believed to bring bliss to all who chant it. Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band are known for their beautiful, melodic chanting as displayed on “Om Hari Om/Sharanam Ganesha (Refuge).” 

If you would like to listen to samples of the music, just click here. 

This is fabulous.  I love spiritually inspired music and musicians.  Thank you for sharing this news with us Putumayo.

So, what can I share with you about POWA?  Well, there was a lot of information the monk Nyima gave to us, but, I’ll talk about the parts that resonated the most…

Let’ see, first of all, he said that it’s important to not touch a person’s hands or feet when they are dying.  It is best to place your hand at the crown of the head.   The reason for this is, by placing your hand on their head, it draws consciousness upward into the higher centers of awareness and away from the senses.  When my father was passing away, I did place my hand on the top of his head.  A friend suggested I do that.  I didn’t know why he had suggested that at the time, but it’s powerful to understand why that’s best now.

Also, they said it’s better to not be in the room if you are struggling with being able to let someone go.  In other words, if you are attached in a way where you are not able to peacefully release them.  Sometimes people struggle with that.  So, it would be better to not be in the room if someone is struggling with being able to let someone die.  When a person is passing away, it’s important to be able to encourage them energetically, or, with touch and the gentle caress of their head that it’s ok to pass on and let go.  Also, the monk said if you are the one passing away and someone is in the room you are attached to and are not able to be ok letting go of, it would also be a good idea to not have that person be in the room with you.  I think both of those examples are really for extreme situations.  We can all understand those situations where a family member or loved one is in extreme emotional distress over the passing away of someone they love.  In those moments, it would be better for a person who is having an experience like that to not be in the room, which, makes sense.  Obviously that could be upsetting to everyone. 

He also said if the person if receptive (if awake), or if unconscious, recite om mani padme humin the ear of the dying person as often as possible, with the intention of blocking unfavorable rebirths. 

Monk Nyima also said the time period for a soul to reincarnate is 49 days.  No, that doesn’t seem like long at all.  It is recommended to recite prayer every day for those 49 days to help the person’s soul transition into the pure land or heaven.  Here is more information on one of the prayers you can say.  And, here is the prayer. 

He also spoke about the afterlife.  He said many Christians (which I consider myself to be) believe they will automatically be with Jesus when they die.  But, he said the requirements to be in the pure land of Jesus are very high.  He said the enlightened being, Amitabha, visited all of the pure lands and created a pure land with the lowest requirements where all truth seeking souls can enter and know liberation from death, disease and suffering.  Monk Nyima said when a person dies it’s important they go into the brightest light of all.  He said the Bible even talks about this.  It talks about a terrible light.  He said the word terrible doesn’t mean ‘bad.’  It means, scary or terrifying.  The Bible also talks about ‘terrible’ sounds.  When a person dies it’s important they move toward these sounds and the brightest light of all, if there is more than just one bright light.  I hope I will get to be in the place where I’m surrounded by my loved ones and especially my father.  And, I would wish I would get to be near Jesus.  But, it’s good to know there is salvation for all of us, even if we don’t end up hanging out with Jesus right away or whatever your spiritual aspirations or visions might be. 

He said once death happens a person is in their astral or energetic body.  And, often, they do not even realize they have died.  This place is called bardo and this is the place where a soul can end up staying for 49 days if they do not move into the light.  He said bardo is not a place you want to be.  Apparently, there are 6 dimensions one can fall into in bardo.  I’m not sure what those are exactly, but, I’m sure you can research it if you are interested in learning more.  All I know is he said those are not the places you want to go. That’s why it’s important to say some kind of prayer and many faiths teach the importance of this including Judaism.  So, pray for your loved ones after they pass away that they will transition to the pure land or heaven where they are meant to be.  And, go into the light.  Even if it’s scary, go toward it.  It’s understandable a person would be afraid if they aren’t aware and could turn away from it because, apparently, it’s that unbelievably bright.  He said this is where people get stuck and if they don’t go into the light then they will end up in bardo and there soul will eventually reincarnate. 

Monk Nyima said in the pure land there is no sex.  He said it is sex which tangles people’s hair.  He also said there is no desire for sex even.  If you picture buddhist nuns and monks, often, you aren’t able to tell the men from the women.  Even the women have shaved heads.  In heaven, there is no identification with sexuality.  It is neutral, basically.  Everyone is beautiful but there are no distinguishing characteristics between men and women.  And, there is no death, disease or suffering.

He said many enlightened souls, or Buddhas, who have ascended and realized enlightenment will often choose to return to earth.  This is something I first heard several years ago from Master Yogi Sri Dharma Mittra.  He said he wants to come back as much as possible to help other souls realize enlightenment and the ascension of their soul.  Monk Nyima said sometimes an enlightened soul will return to earth to help only one person.  I asked how if how we help them to evolve and ascend is through unconditional love and compassion and he said yes.  Can you imagine a love so powerful?  I can.  Can you imagine that your unconditional love for another human being could be that powerful?  I can.  This is completely in alignment with the teachings of Jesus so keep loving…all of you Divinely-incarnated-Beings-of-Light.  Even when it’s difficult or even when you must have space or distance between you and someone you love, just keep loving.  That’s all there is to do.  Make sure you honor yourself, but find a way to keep your heart open and love EVERYONE unconditionally, those people you are challenged to love and those people it’s easy for you to love.  Love everyone.  Let loving-kindness be your religion. 

I love the song by Matisyahu called Warrior.  If you don’t have it, download it from itunes.  You’ll love it.  I am getting to know more and more of his music and it’s incredible.  The songs I’ve really connected with so far are Warrior, Sea to Sea, I Will Be Light, Lord Raise Me Up and One Day.  He also does a cover of S.O.S. by Sting which is awesome.  Here are the lyrics for Warrior.  Such an amazing song.  Matisyahu is absolutely a warrior of Light.  Here are the lyrics:

You’re a warrior fighting for your soul
Taken from the world above and brought down the world below
You’re the son of his majesty
Remember how it used to be
In the light of day it’s easy to see
Now it’s nighttime
You had to leave

Separated from the king
Now the water’s rushing and you keep trying to swim against the stream
And it seems, like your not moving the many water’s gushing you gasp for air
Almost drowning ears ringing, once upon a time we were singing
One day those trees will stand and clap hands
Stream of thought getting caught in the klipa, this place is just a shell, external
Egos swell, that one’ll burn ya, we fell a long way down, that eternal frown’ll get you down
You look vexed it’s the dregs, the yetzer hara’s lurking
Trying to make you forget we got a job to do
You’re a priest and a prince and you can’t be moved

[Chorus:]
You’re a warrior, Fighting for your soul
Taken from a world above, and brought down to a world below
Re-united, re-united return the princess to the king,
Re-united, re-united, she’s been taken for so long
Re-united, re-united and then she’ll be filled with joy
Re-united, re-united like the days of her youth

Descended to the pit
What’s this feeling can’t get rid of it
Soul sick
Can’t seem to shake it
When one retires at night weeping, joy will come in the morning
You made my mountain stand strong

[Chorus]

Like and ancient memory
Remember how it used to be
Close your eyes and breath in
That’s the scent of freedom
Ringing across the sea
Land of milk and honey
One day will wake up from this dream and we’ll stop dreaming,
Oh, yo, then we’ll see clearly

I love what he says in the live version of the song, too.  He says:

See like this, ya know.  Hasidics explain that everything in this world, everything in this life has an inner essence, an inner soul.  And, when it started out before the soul was reincarnated into this life, into this body and time and place that we find ourselves, it was basking above in the rays of Godliness.  And, it comes into this world for one reason, that it should transform the darkness into Light, it should take the darkness of this world and make it Light.  So, lift it up, lift it up, lift it up. 

Can you imagine that is your souls purpose, your purpose for being here?  Through our life experiences we become increasingly purified in our hearts and minds so we can love others purely, selflessly and unconditionally.  Selfless love is the only kind of love there is.  There’s a poem from Hafiz I’ve been reminded of recently called The Sun Never Says.

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
“You owe Me.”
Look what happens
with a love like that,
It lights the Whole Sky.”
~Hafiz

And, the Hafiz poem on my calendar for September 2010 is also incredibly beautiful and powerful.  (And, of course, there is, not coincidentally, a picture of a rose for this month.) 

I do not want to touch any object in this world

without my eyes testifying to the truth

that everything is my Beloved. – Hafiz

I love Hafiz, I love all, for everyone is my Beloved.  Everyone is my guru.  Everyone, even those I thought or felt had hurt me, were only always pointing me toward the Light of Consciousness/Love.  They were showing me the way to Love selflessly and unconditionally for the benefit of all beings.  The Dalai Lama says:

“Every day, think as you wake up.

Today I am fortunate

to have woken up.

I am alive.

I have a precious human life.

I am not going to waste it.

I am going to use

all of my energies to develop myself,

to expand my heart out to others,

to achieve enlightenment for

the benefit of all beings.

I am going to have

kind thoughts toward others.

I am not going to get angry

or think badly about others.

I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”

His Holiness The XIVth Dalai Lama

What will you do with your life?  How will you serve others, all, in the best way possible?Here are the lyrics from another Matisyahu song I love called I Will Be Light.  It’s so powerful also.  Even better, you can listen to it here on Youtube.com .  Also, the Dallas Free Day of Yoga is this Monday.  If you live in the area and will be in town, it’s definitely something to check out.  FREE Yoga classes all day long.  That’s awesome!  Alright, I’m off to write the book.  I’ll be back soon.  Infinite Light-filled Blessings to all of us.  Remember, whatever you wish for yourself, wish for EVERYONE else.  Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu.

May I be filled with joy, peace and love

May you be filled with joy, peace and love