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When I was in college back in the 1980s (Willamette University in Salem, Oregon), I majored in Philosophy and so I learned about many interesting philosophers. One of my favorite philosophers was Rene Descartes, who is especially known for his question “to be or not to be?”. Here, Descartes is proposing the most profound of questions - is life worth it? To be means to live and to experience life in its fullest sense - pain, happiness, joy, sorry, anger, rage, peace, sleep, victory, loss, etc. The other end of the spectrum is “not being” which implies an absence of ALL things - not just an absence of the negative things. Life is just that - a combination deal - if you are going to study - you will experience both success and failure as a student (at least I did). As a professional, you will similarly experience both sides of the coin - challenges, successes, failures and disappointments. So, Rene Descartes asks us, which one is better - to be or not to be?

The answer for the Vedanta Philosopher (like me ) is quite easy: OM. The Sacred Syllable OM is the sound that represents BOTH being and non-being. OM is a monosyllable expression for the Absolute Presence of Existence which is transcendent to being and non-being alike. That is the power and amazing nature of OM - totally transcendent. So, the next time I run into a philosophy student who is perplexed at Rene Descartes’ philosophical dilemma - I will point him or her to classical Vedanta Philosophy of ancient India - which transcends even the great Tao of Chinese Philosophy, because ONE is the essence all TWO or dualistic ways of thinking. Give OM a chance - meditate on OM and soon you will experience for yourself the absolute oneness of all existence.

Indeed, OM says it all.

Written by Keith Johnson August 13th, 2008 1 Comment »

Many of us on the “spiritual” path end up getting really stressed out because we work hard to fulfill what we believe is important, from the perspective of ideology. However, we cannot forget that our bodies are mortal and limited and deserve a rest from time to time. For those of you who also subscribe to my Great Documents Technical Writing blog, you will see basically the same suggestions there as well

The following ten tips will offer you a chance to relax, recharge, refresh, and re-enter your spiritual activities with new vigor and sense of direction:

One. Go for a walk and take some deep breaths.

Two. Go for a swim and allow your body to stretch, allowing for blood flow to all body parts.

Three. Go for a drive - new scenery is always refreshing.

Four. Go see a movie - find the movie you most want to see and experience it completely.

Five. Go call a friend - it is always great to connect directly with good friends and hear their voices.

Six. Go pray for someone - if you know someone that need prayer, they will be immensely grateful.

Seven. Clean your home - spring cleanings are for anytime - helping to release all negative energies.

Eight. Get a massage - this will help you to get relief from any physical pain you might have.

Nine. Read a good book - inspiration is the heart of all spiritual works. Good books have good lessons.

Ten. Laugh and Smile - go see some stand-up comedy or rent a cartoon movie - let go and laugh!!

Written by Keith Johnson August 12th, 2008 Add Comment »

Sacred Syllable OM, you are the greatest, most comprehensive revelation of Divine Spirit.
Sacred Syllable OM, the realized yogis say you are the first manifestation of Divine Spirit.
Sacred Syllable OM, you have been praised directly and indirectly by countless Masters of the past.
Within you is the sound of creation, the sound of A.
Within you is the sound of preservation, the sound of U.
Within you is the sound of dissolution, the sound of M.
Within you is acknowledgment of the past.
Within you is acknowledgment of the present.
Within you is acknowledgment of the future.
Before you, Brahma, the Lord of Universal Creation, bows with reverence.
Before you, Saraswati, the Goddess of Universal Learning, bows with reverence.
Before you, Vishnu, the Lord of Universal Preservation, bows with reverence.
Before you, Lakshmi, the Goddess of Universal Wealth, bows with reverence.
Before you, Shiva, the Lord of Universal Dissolution, bows with reverence.
Before you, Shakti, the Goddess of Universal Love, bows with reverence.
Before you, the Buddhas of all ten directions acknowledge limitless wisdom.
Before you, the Buddhas of all ten directions acknowledge limitless compassion.
Before you, the Buddhas of all ten directions acknowledge perfect Buddhahood.
Because of you, Rama received initiation into Gayatri and defeated the demon Ravana.
Because of you, Krishna concluded the Bhagavad Gita with “OM, That is the Truth”.
Because of you, Sankara concluded that OM meditation takes you face to face with the Absolute.
Because of you, Jesus Christ himself said “I AM, before Abraham was.”
Through you, scientists marvel at the incredible gift of life.
Through you, musicians experience immense grace in musical expression.
Through you, yogis of countless millenia have found liberation from material suffering.
Through you, the authors of the Bible wrote “The Word was with God and was God.”
Who can rightly condemn you? Who can rightly praise you?
Nobody! We must sit in silence and stillness to experience your presence.
We must let go of human ambition to experience your immortal and timeless presence.
Take me away, Sacred Syllable OM!

Written by Keith Johnson August 11th, 2008 Add Comment »

The Sacred Syllable OM is probably, in my opinion, the greatest divine revelation that one could share with another. Why is this? It is because OM, unlike many other divine stories, myths, or theologies, is something that you can experience directly. Its credibility and essence is not based upon anything socially or culturally driven. After more than twenty years of deep philosophical and theological investigation into the nature of our existence, God, the universe, and exploration of questions to difficult answers, the Sacred Syllable OM is the only audible “truth” that is discussed and well received from the side of hard science as well as spirituality. Most scientists scoff at religion and similarly most religionists scoff at hard science. However, OM is something phenomenal. It has been explored and analyzed by both science and religion alike, and both sides seem to have something good to say about OM.

First, OM is not something that depends upon a social or cultural organization. Whether you are in the mountains, on the beach, in your home, or on the street, you can hear the Cosmic OM. Just sit in silence and stillness and eventually you will hear the roar of the Cosmos - singing OM.

Secondly, OM is a direct vehicle that can liberate you from all sense of limitations and experience the fullness of Divine Spirit, of which the Himalayan yogis say OM is the original manifestation. According to these great men - sound is the first actual manifestation of Divine Spirit, our Existential Source. This truth is echoed in the Bible, when the Gospel according to St. John reads “The Word was with God and the Word was God.” Fundamentalist Christians say that “the Word” is actually Jesus, but if you dig a little farther, you will see that Jesus also declared “I AM” which is another conceptual way of saying “OM”. It takes a bit of language and religious history to understand this, but once this is assimilated, it is easy to see how OM is the original sound of the planet, the solar system, all music and arts, the universe, and eventually our very existence.

So, why do I say that OM is the highest divine consolation? It is this because most people seek fulfillment from limited concepts of self - friendship, amorous love, career, status, cultural recognition and acceptance, and the list goes on. However, all of these experiences cannot grant us the eternal beatitude. For this, the Sacred Syllable OM is necessary. Because OM is infinite in nature, all prayers, meditations, processes to “connect” to God or the Infinite are inherently there. There is nothing else necessary - just meditate on OM or contemplate OM according to your personal style and way of life. By understanding, at least academically, that OM is the monosyllable expression that stands for God or the Infinite Divine which is our Source of Being, you have made monumental progress, spiritually. The next step is to devote time to OM, to experience it, understand it, commune with it, etc. This will take you to a personal revelation of OM and in this way you will be consecrating your existence and giving it meaning beyond anything that lesser concepts of self can offer. At some point of your life, alot of the props previously enjoyed will either leave or be taken away. You might think that life is now boring or worthless. However if you understand OM, then you will not think this way. You will say “how fortunate am I that I understand my existence, that I am an expression of the Infinite OM.” You will then welcome silence, stillness, aloneness, and the chance to listen to the original manifestation of Divine Spirit: OM.

Written by Keith Johnson August 9th, 2008 Add Comment »

As I came home tonight after work, I received a letter from my condominium board. The letter stated that the entire complex needs a new fire-alarm system, elevator improvements, and a few other things, and so the overall assessment to owners like myself will be two million dollars. I, personally, will have to pay $6000, as the owner of a modest one-bed, one-bath condo, and for others with bigger units, they will have to pay even more. So, you see, friends, to work hard to save is almost impossible today. Just when you think you have some breathing space, to take a simple weekend away, society hits us with things like this. So, the message of this blog is do not live for money! Live your life, and literally, let the bills pile up. We live in a society where greed is the norm, and so as far as I am concerned, I will pay this as I can, and not a penny before the day I absolutely must pay without penalty. Our entire financial system is corrupt and only those at the very top are well off, because they endorse the financial assault of everyone under them. So, fellow OM devotees, chant your OM mantras, live in peace, and do not let the forces of the world get you down. Let them pressure you, but do not just give away your power.

An assessment like this only tells me that there is corruption involved, because the building I live in is extremely simple, and has mostly middle class people. I am sure there are kickbacks involved here. As I posted last time with the Book of Ecclesiastes of the Old Testament, once again, this book tells us something very important that Krishna and Buddha would agree with: the futility of material riches.

Riches Are Meaningless

“As goods increase, so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?
The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much.
However the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.”
(Ecclesiastes 5:8)

Written by Keith Johnson August 7th, 2008 Add Comment »

As a proponent of the new-thought movement, I usually do not read the Bible anymore, because I feel that the literal reading of the Bible, like the literal reading of any religious book, is what causes fanaticism and narrow-mindedness and ultimately negative feelings towards others who do not share in your world-view. However, there are a few passages which, if read carefully, do provide us with a glimpse of truth. This passage for me is sort of like watching the sun rise over the horizon. You don’t see the whole sun, but rather you see light as it emerges out of the darkness. This passage is from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes (Verse #3) entitled “A Time for Everything”.

There is a time for everything.
There is also a season for every activity under heaven.
There is…
* a time to be born and a time to die.
* a time to plant and a time to uproot.
* a time to kill and a time to heal.
* a time to tear down and a time to build.
* a time to weep and a time to laugh.
* a time to mourn and a time to dance.
* a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.
* a time to embrace and a time to refrain.
* a time to search and a time to give up.
* a time to keep and a time to throw away.
* a time to tear and a time to mend.
* a time to be silent and a time to speak.
* a time to love and a time to hate.
* a time for war and a time for peace.

The secret to living, I believe, is in knowing which of these is going on in our lives, and then acting and thinking appropriately. We need to live with awareness and this will help us choose the right action for the moment. It is hard to believe that this passage comes from the Bible, with all of its Old Testament horror stories. It seems more like a quotation from Buddha or Krishna. But indeed this comes from the Bible’s Old Testament. Let us affirm our individual commitments to a life of awareness so that we make the right choices as life’s circumstances change.

This way, we promote peace and goodwill at all times. Namaste, Keith

Written by Keith Johnson August 2nd, 2008 1 Comment »

Better than a thousand meaningless verses is one meaningful word,
Which, having been heard, brings peace.

Better than a thousand meaningless verses is one meaningful line of verse,
Which, having been heard, brings peace.

Better than reciting a hundred meaningless verses is one line of Dharma,
Which, having been heard, brings peace.

Greater in combat than a person who conquers
A thousand times a thousand people
Is the person who conquers himself.

Certainly it is better to conquer oneself than others,
For someone who is self-restrained
And always lives with mastery,
Neither a god nor Mara nor Brahma together
Could turn conquest into defeat.

Better than a thousand ritual sacrifices offered every month,
For more than one hundred years,
Is one moment’s homage offered to one who has cultivated herself.

Better than a hundred years in the forest tending a ritual fire,
Is one moment’s homage offered to one who has cultivated himself.

Whatever sacrifice or offering a merit seeker might perform in an entire year,
Is not worth one fourth as much as expressing respect to those who are upright.

For the person who shows respect and always reveres worthy people,
Four things increase: life span, beauty, happiness, and strength.

Better than one hundred years lived with an unsettled mind and devoid of virtue,
Is one day lived virtuous and absorbed in meditation.

Better than one hundred years lived with an unsettled mind and devoid of insight,
Is one day lived with insight and absorbed in meditation.

Better than one hundred years lived lazily and lacking in effort,
Is one day lived with vigor and exertion.

Better than one hundred years lived without seeing the arising and passing of things,
Is one day lived seeing their arising and passing.

Better than one hundred years lived without seeing the Deathless,
Is one day lived seeing the Deathless,

Better than one hundred years lived without seeing the ultimate Dharma,
Is one day lived seeing the ultimate Dharma.

Inspired Source: Dhammapada by Gil Fronsdal

Written by Keith Johnson July 26th, 2008 Add Comment »

In the first three months of this year (2008), I composed a book that summarizes my views and also experiences regarding the Most Sacred Syllable OM. According to great spiritual masters like Paramahansa Yogananda, Swami Sivananda, Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Ramakrishna, Swami Yukteswar, Lahiri Mahasaya, and others, the Sacred Syllable OM is the definitive sound that “denotes” our Cosmic Source, beyond all time and space. Therefore, by meditating on OM, we are connecting in mind, body, and spirit with “THAT” which is our source… “THAT” which is beyond all limiting names and forms and definitions, however, according to the Masters, OM perfectly connects us with “THAT” Source. So, it is not wrong to chant OM or meditate on OM, since the Masters say that Cosmic Sound is the true essence of all things in this universe.

It was alot of fun to write this book, and I hope you are inspired by it. If you are having extreme economic difficulties and cannot afford the $4 download, contact me using the form on the menu bar of this website, tell me about your situation, and I’ll send you a complimentary copy of the book (in electronic form). Sometimes when we are down materially is the best time to reconnect with our Divine Source, and gain new strength and optimism. Namaste, Keith

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE WEB PAGE.

Written by Keith Johnson July 24th, 2008 Add Comment »

In his recently published book Buddha - A Story of Enlightenment, Dr. Deepak Chopra carefully describes the life and trials and eventual enlightenment of the historical Buddha, who lived in India around 300 B.C. or around three-hundred years before Christ. At the end of this great work is a section that I wish to share with you - it is called the art of non-doing (a practical guide to Buddhism). In this section are several questions and answers. This post will reveal several of these interesting questions and answers, and reveal the great wisdom that Deepak Chopra has not only as a doctor, but also as a spiritual mentor. Indeed, he learned alot from his guru, the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Here goes…

How am I supposed to follow someone who constantly insisted that he was no longer a person and didn’t have a self?
Ideally, you follow him by losing your own self. Which seems impossible, since it is your self that is fascinated by him. It is your self that is suffering and wants to be rid of suffering. The primary message of Buddhism is that this self cannot accomplish anything real. It must find a way to disappear, just as Buddha did.

The self reaches its goal by not being the self. This sounds like a paradox, right?
Yes, but Buddhists found three ways the live the wisdom that their teacher left behind. The first way was social, forming groups of disciples into a Sangha, like the group of monks and nuns that Buddha gathered during his lifetime. The second way to follow Buddha is through ethical living. Buddha was known as the Compassionate One because he loved all of humanity without judgment. The third way to follow Buddha is mystical. You take to the message of non-self. You do everything possible to break the bonds of attachment and live with non-attachment.

So, enlightenment is the same as having no desires?
You have to understand “no desires” in a positive sense, as fulfillment. At the moment a musician is performing, there is a state of no-desire because he feels fulfilled. At the moment you are eating a great meal, hunger is fulfilled, too. Buddha taught that everything desire is trying to achieve exists in Nirvana already. You must go to the source of being to be totally fulfilled and enlightened.

What is Nirvana, then?
Ordinarily, silence and thought are considered opposites, but when you go beyond opposites, they merge. You identify with the timeless source of thought rather than the thoughts emerging from it.

What advantage does merging with our Source have?
You gain peace and you no longer suffer. Death no longer holds any fear. You stand unshakably on your Own Being. In your own way, you walk the path to peace, non-suffering, fearlessness, and everything else Buddha exemplified.

Written by Keith Johnson July 22nd, 2008 Add Comment »

Today’s post is simple! I am giving you ten great links that you can check out.

Each of these links is to a great spiritual site that features OM in some way.

Let me know your comments after visiting.

Swami Krishnananda

Exiled Government of Tibet

Written by Keith Johnson July 21st, 2008 Add Comment »