Ascension ~ Moving into Soul-Living

Namaste and Love  ~

The following is shared from my own experiences for the benefit of those who are awakening.

The trials and experiences continue within our ascension path. Some trials can go on for some time before we realize just what we're experiencing is all about. Each soul will have their own aspects of Earth-Self to transcend, which means to be aware of what exactly you need to let-go of that may be keeping you from seeing your Real Self through the eyes of your Soul.

The soul who is ascending will have become the observer of their earth life by now. This is when one discovers they are not just a physical being controlled and manipulated by their senses, emotions and egos. We have begun, at times, to see through the eyes of our Soul. Every now and then, until the physical side of life has been fully transcended, we will continue to visit that part of life where we live back in third dimensional living.

The observer aspect of our Self is still under the guidance of the higher-self, or the highest-self. That higher aspect of our being is the director of our earth play and knows exactly what part of us needs to be spiritually awakened. We cannot bring with us any addictions from living our personality self. Addictions are not only harmful substances that alter our consciousness, but habits that were formed throughout our lifetime, up to this point. Every part of our physical self is carefully investigated by our highest self. There is no "next stage" up from that past way of life until every detail is examined and rectified in a way that does not impede our further ascension out of physicality. If this process is not done, then we can be easily drawn back down into 3D living once again.

The third dimensional world was created for the specific purpose of the Godself to know itself fully from the lowest point of existence, physicality, back to God/Source Essence. Once you have raised yourself sufficiently in vibration, many of these facts are automatically known to you because it is all part of your Soul. The Soul knows everything when in its highest frequency. The levels of frequency, as you would find from one dimension to another, hold and release the information you need because it is already within that consciousness. When living in higher spirit form, we live within our consciousness. This enables us to move very quickly from one place to another through thought form. Thought form is the way of manifesting and the way of travel on the higher dimensions of Spirit, and I might add, the way we communicate with each other as well.

So the ascension continues in a way that is unique to each Soul. The reason we go back and forth in frequency and awareness is because of the lessons and transcending that needs to be done. We need to be completely free to fully ascend, so patience and faith and love toward our higher aspect of Self needs to be remembered. The journey is of course as long as it takes. Being the observer makes it very interesting, I think ! As we transcend another aspect of life, our auras continue to expand with Light. The aura needs to expand sufficiently to make the final exit out of 3D existence. All that hard work is indeed worth it..........

Blessings ~ Tara *~

The Feeling of Oneness ~ Tara

                    *~*     If you wish to raise the vibrations of Love on Earth - BE Love.     *~*
          ~*   When you pass a 'stranger on the street,' send them Love straight from your heart.   *~
                 ~*    When you hear some tragic news on the radio or television, send Love.   *~
                       ~*    All that one needs is to be conscious of the Love in their hearts    *~
                                                        *~*     and it flows freely.     *~*

                *~*   Wear a smile on your face everywhere you go, it really is contagious when   *~*
            ~*   you walk around looking happy, and giving smiles away to those who meet our gaze -   *~
                  ~*   I have been doing this for years and have met many lovely and lonely people    *~
                                    *~*     who don't feel so alone in this world anymore.     *~*

                *~*   When sitting having coffee in a Foodcourt, I project love and light to everyone.  *~*
                                ~*    It is working when someone turns around and smiles back!      *~
                    ~*    I have seen babies in their highchairs suddenly turn round and wave to me,     *~
                           *~*        and also smile at the parents with their shocked faces!         *~*

                 *~*    All humans on Earth are really not that different - just having life experiences    *~*
                       ~*     in different bodies with different families, but our needs are the same.      *~
                     ~*     We all came from the one Source of Creation which connects all souls.    *~
               ~*   When everyone can realize this Oneness, we will see others as we see ourselves -   *~
                                   ~*    Another sojourner of Life on this very beautiful planet!       *~
                                           *~*        And you will never stop.........smiling!         *~*

                                               **    Have a most wonderful day  ~  Tara   **

Waking-Up With Clear Concepts

Hi Every-One ~
Just another personal sharing about Concepts - pertaining to our own personal journey of wanting to understand, through our Earth Self, about the many intracacies of Life. Even while living in the Now, I can still mull-over certain aspects of life in my mind wanting to see and understand them better, through my own eyes.

Everything on Earth, and in our Earthly life, is expansive! Just as energy expands, our life and what we understand also expands. Concepts can have different meanings to each soul, but with our own journey we search for clearer meanings. There is so much to learn it is virtually a smorgesbord of delicacies out there in what appears to be an 'ordinary world.'

I try to work with higher aspects of my-Self to teach and guide me in what I seek to understand. I am free within myself to let go of physical worries of this 3D world, knowing that what I need will be provided, and this allows me to focus on expanding my concepts of certain aspects of life.

What I awoke with today was a clear view of an aspect I had been 'working on' within. Why I am sharing this is because it doesn't just come through as 'words' or a vision in my mind, it came through my eyes and showed itself through my vision as I looked outside to a beautiful clear blue sky.. This assures me that it's not just the mind working things out, this is permanent and clear concepts that will stay with me forever.

The mind is like a sponge and can put you through the mill after taking in everything you read, see, and hear.  Trying to work things out only using the mind may not give you the correct answer for You. When I ask a question, think a little about it, then leave it, it allows for space to enter. When the mind is quieted it allows for a higher energy to come through and gives me the answer I am seeking. Now it comes through my vision, seeing the world through different eyes including the many concepts that life has within its complex woven web.

Have a wonderful day  ~  Tara

Engaged Buddhism in India ~ Mahabodhi School & Meditation Center

     *~*~*   ENGAGED BUDDHISM IN INDIA: A conversation with Ven. Sanghasena      *~*~*

The Mahabodhi International Meditation Center stands out as a model of socially engaged Buddhism in India. Perched high in the Himalayas, this vibrant spiritual community consists of a residential school for more than 400 poor children drawn from surrounding villages, an institute for the blind, a home for the aged, a monastery, a nunnery and more. The vision to form a community based on socially engaged Buddhist principles belongs to Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, a Buddhist monk and spiritual leader from India’s northernmost region of Ladakh. He kindly sat down with me to answer some questions about the community.

 

 Who inspired you towards this vision of socially engaged Buddhism? 

The Lord Buddha is the main teacher who inspired me. Not exactly in terms of socially engaged Buddhism, but the Buddha inspired me. He was full of compassion. I think many Buddhists do not properly understand the Buddha’s teachings. Many people keep on reciting the Buddha’s teachings of “love compassion,” “love compassion,” but those ideals must be brought into action. This is what we are trying to do. One of our slogans is “Compassion in action, meditation in action.” Not just simply going around sitting in the high seat and talking about compassion without action. We don’t believe that. The Buddha’s teaching is compassion in action. It is meditation in action. That is what we are trying to do.

Then, while visiting several countries, I got inspired by some other great people in India like Sathya Sai Baba. He is another wonderful role model. He built the best hospital offering free treatment for the poor. He also offers the best free education for the people, as well as meditation teachings for foreigners. I also met some great masters in Taiwan and Thailand. I got inspiration from many others, but mainly the Buddha.

  Mahabodhi’s motto states: “We make the very best use of our time and seize

     every opportunity to work with diligence for the welfare and happiness of all
          beings through spiritual and humanitarian services and activities.
          Thus we consider ourselves to be truly non-sectarian socially engaged Buddhists.”
     How is socially engaged Buddhism being practiced at Mahabodhi?

The Buddha’s teachings are very much socially engaged, but slowly, over the course of time, camps dividing the monastic orders and society developed. With the monks living in monasteries far away from society, lay people didn’t have much contact with them except when going to the temple to seek some blessings, or occasionally when hearing sermons. I feel they have to come closer and work together. Monastics have a distinct role to play, but they have to work together. Unless they come together and work together, the Buddha’s message cannot be spirited effectively among the people. So I saw that clearly, and felt that there is a need for a Buddhist organization where we can reduce the gap. I’m very glad that Mahabodhi has been able to bring these two worlds together. Today, our monks and nuns living on this campus are working very closely with the people while not losing their own distinct identity or their own role as a monk or a nun.

                                          How do they work closely with the people?

About 400 or 500 are living at Mahabodhi, including monks and nuns. Of course, the number of monks and nuns is very small, but for every activity we come together. For the morning prayer, meditation, or whenever we have activities, we come together and share our experience and ideas together. So this is how we work.
When I think of socially engaged Buddhism and Mahabodhi, I tend to think more about the community helping poor villagers by giving them a home, food and schooling than bringing everyone together and living according to the dharma.

Helping the poor in the remote villages is one part of socially engaged Buddhism. Socially engaged means engaged in society. Poor people in the village are also part of society. People in the city are also part of society. And here what you are thinking is not wrong; you are right. The children and other underprivileged people—the elderly, the visually handicapped—they come from the villages. The people who live on the campus are from more than 65 different villages scattered throughout the mountains. Most come from remote, far-flung areas on the China and Pakistan borders. But we cannot build a school and a campus in every village, nor is it necessary. Our focus right from the beginning has been the poorest of the poor people. The underprivileged people. And then, afterwards, offering yoga and meditation for foreign visitors. Yoga and meditation is not a priority for the poor children. For them the best dharma, the best religion is food. The best dharma for the thirsty is water. The best dharma for the sick is medicine and doctor, not philosophy and guru. The best dharma for the homeless is a home.

  The Mahabodhi Residential School opened its doors in 1992

  with 25 female students and no males. Can you tell me about
  Mahabodhi’s emphasis on educating women?

Right from the beginning, Mahabodhi has been emphasizing educating girls. The main reason is that in the history of the world, women have been discriminated against and did not enjoy equal opportunity for education or work. They are always left behind, even today in many parts of the world. Every religion has this kind of belief. Even in Buddhism there is discrimination between monks and nuns. It feels very strange. Even if I find something to that effect in the holy scriptures, I don’t agree. I’m sure the Buddha would agree with me.

                                      What role do youth play in the world?

Youth are a very important part of society and the world. Today’s youth require proper guidance and inspiration. Many youths are lacking this. Unfortunately, our education system is terrible. Our schools, colleges and universities are not giving the correct guidance to youth. They go to colleges and universities and learn how to develop greed in the name of knowledge and wisdom. We are taught how to go into space and how to work in space without knowing how to live here on this Earth. They do not use the word greed, but they teach greed. So the youth do not have proper guidance, and they get caught up. They don’t know. That’s why so many young people get addicted to drugs and commit suicide. You need guidance, and this guidance comes from spiritual education, not from universities and colleges.

                                 Can you tell me about the spiritual education here at Mahabodhi?

Unavoidably, children have to acquire the general education, which I personally am not in much favor of, but it cannot be avoided. The whole society is based on this education system. After finishing their studies, students have to get a job and earn something. They will be asked, what’s your qualification, what’s your certificate. For that reason they have to get the general education. Along with that aspect of education, we very much emphasize the moral education, the spiritual education, the meaning and purpose of life.
The most important thing is to realize the true nature of existence. The true nature of existence is that we are all temporarily here. We are like visitors, we are like guests. We are not going to live thousands of years. During your visit you cannot afford to spend your time fighting and quarrelling and accumulating more than you need. Once we realize this, then the unnecessary greed, desire, and ego, which are the sources of all problems, will disappear, and our life will be different. We will learn to live a contented life.

                             What are some of the specific differences between the spiritual
                          education a student receives at Mahabodhi and a general education?

Spiritual education comes from the teachings of the enlightened one. So we emphasize, we inspire and encourage the students to study the teachings. Through the spiritual teachings, children learn how to grow in love, compassion and goodwill. Every morning they meditate, pray and attend regular dharma lessons, which other schools do not do. Other schools emphasize getting higher and higher 100 per cent marks and then announce to people: “Children from our school are first ranked.” [claps]

Through spiritual education, students here learn how to open their hearts toward all of humanity — not just Buddhists, Indians, and Asians, but open up to all brothers and sisters. We are all sharing the same planet, living under one sun, one moon and one sky.

For more information on Mahabodhi visit www.mahabodhi-ladakh.org.

Choosing to Take One Day at a Time

Good Morning Friends ~

It's a human trait, I must admit, to want to know everything about our life in one instant! Or to know where all of this change is going to take us. When I get tired of all the lessons I get thrown into each day, I vow to myself upon going to bed, that I won't do this or that again, ever! Then a moment arises in another day where my path has led me back to experience an aspect of life all over again. The difference is, with those days of retracing steps, there is a brand new awakening at the end of the day that explains it all. Then I awaken the following day feeling cleared and refreshed and grateful for those "stepping stones."

               "I am that supreme and fiery force that sends forth all the sparks of life ...
                I shine in the water, I burn in the sun and the moon and the stars.
               Mine is the mysterious force of the invisible wind ... I am life."
                                                         ~ Hildegard of Bingen, De Operatione Dei

I love this paragraph from Angela Peregoff in "Be Heart and Soul Wise" ~

" Let go of that human made energy and replace it with the knowledge that Absolute Truth and Perfection are spiraling continuously upon the Inner Sanctuary of Self. Magnetize to you the radiant energetic signature of pure Creator Essence by intentionally dispelling the myth that you are but a mere mortal. Decide to move each day as Spiritual Divinity in the authentic flow of an ascending paradigm. Allow your Divine Spark to daily guide your feet and order your steps. Such mental attitudes are the raw material that opens the path to the intuition and recognition of your Inner Spirit.

These times call for new measures, are you willing to work for the grandest "expression of humanness" that you can conceive? "

                                           She's a wonderful writer  ~   Enjoy your day
                                                           Love and Blessings, Tara *~~

A Meander Through Life to Divinity ~ Personal Story

Divinity is the Essence of Creation.

The most difficult place to connect with Divinity is in the physical earth plane of third dimensional life. A physical life puts many demands on our lives in order to satiate its needs. In fact, our whole day is taken up with doing physical things, thinking about physical things, making plans for our physical health routines/activities, and getting away to another physical location......... for a holiday !

Now that last bit sounds kind of funny in today's environment as we (those who are serious about ascension) raise our vibrations in order to become less physical and less third dimensionally minded.
The most commercialized and over-stated dimension is the physical way of life. All it is is a slowing down of vibrations to create a solid form. Hasn't humanity taken hold of this fact that we need all kinds of 'things' and 'stuff' in order to make ourselves comfy-cosy while we hang around this third dimension?

The birth of commercialism and the mammoth focus on making money has been the biggest trap for souls more so than any other level of existence. Haven't we spiraled out of control for long enough? Aren't YOU sick of the traps of this world yet?

Throughout the ages there have been enlightened souls incarnating on earth to spread the message that we are far more than needy physical beings having to constantly struggle to survive. The development of the physical world throughout the ages with its inventions, industrialization, higher education, scientific advances, astrological discoveries, etc., has filled mankind's consciousness with everything other than who and where they really came from.

Yes, the outer world had taken over to a degree that even hearing spiritual beings talk about our divine roots was looked upon as 'insanity.' We had become fully immersed in the outer world for thousands of years.

In our present spiritual age of awakening, it is evident that many will not let go of the physical world they are accustomed to. The fear is grounded deep within the self that does not remember being anything else but a physical human being. Unless there is some memory or the desire to inquire whether one has come from a non-physical world, there will be many clinging on tight to the world they already know.

Going one step further on our spiritual path is the awakening to our divine nature. After realizing our oneness with Nature and the planets, and indeed each other, the next stage in our journey back to authentic self is the awareness of our divinity.

Divinity is our innate essence which links us to Source/God/Creator. Our divine atma in Hindu spirituality. The part of us that came from that Source that supplies life and everything it needs for its survival. If one is brought up in an atheist household, then this concept of Self does not exist........for that person! If one sticks to the concept of atheism then that divine awareness will never happen. What doesn't exist to a person will never be able to be realized.

Realizing one's divinity is like a coming Home to Real Self. On the spiritual path I feel it is always best to drop any preconceived ideas of what we thought was God, ourselves, and our connection to the All. This releases blocks put there by well-meaning parents or teachers from childhood. If one is serious about awakening to the Real Self then one has to be totally open-minded.

The main reason for this is because within your spiritual body, your soul - your lightbody, you already carry the information you need. When one is relaxed and/or meditating, it is a perfect time for the spiritual self within to release what you need to know. And friends, it is as simple as just asking ! When information is coming from within your-Self you know that it is truth. Spending quiet-time each day dedicated to self-inquiry can be the best gift you can ever give to yourself. And one day, when the time is right for you to awaken to your divinity, it will be your higher-self that orchestrates the whole event. Life will never be the same again after you have connected within to your true Self ............. a divine being who has traveled back to their divine essence which will sustain them for eternity. A day of Joy and Celebration ! Yes, it really was worth all that hardship after all !

Written by Tara in Sept. 2012
from my own observations of experiencing Life  ~

                                                      *~*   Love  ~  Joy  ~  Peace   *~*