Michael's Blog
I created this page to share with you some of my day to day thoughts.
Topics may range from my private reflections to current celebrity news, the
economy, politics, or important international affairs. I hope this casual
format meets with your liking.
A Lovely Email: Posted January 3
I received a beautiful email the other day. It touched my heart to hear the process of a student who has lived with my teachings for so many years. It speaks of commitment, self-honesty, discernment, courage, maturity, and hard work, all essential ingredients on the path to enlightenment.
Dear Michael,
I know you tell it like it is; that's why we have the core group we do. People have a lot of preconceived notions of what a "teacher" looks like. Conditioning and transference obscure the picture. Recognition of who you are is at the depth of every individual’s being. No one had to tell me what and who you are. I knew it the day I met you.
Many think they are doing the deep work needed, but they don't engage with you and go deep where the healing can take place, or don't stick with it and your teachings. The good-feeling, “love guru" makes it seem so much easier to feel good about yourself.
I have seen you soften a bit over the years, which is good to keep some of those from running. Yet sometimes it takes tough love. It takes a lot of pressure to make a diamond, you once said. Perhaps a blog? What an enlightened teacher chooses to do, as the task, is not the same for each student. In this challenging time, Kali Yuga, there is no time to just pick daisies and play feel good.
Hard work must be done to till the fields, remove the stones and boulders, brambles, weeds, kudzu, to ready the field for that bountiful garden to blossom. Many have heard it before, but forgotten, it's not just what you do, but what we do also. Not just in the head, but in the heart. Discern, till, ponder, and feel. Does one want to evolve, or just live for a momentary good feeling?
It must be frustrating, after 15 years of polishing and grinding away at the boulders, to be so close to fulfilling your dream with Mount Soma. Being this close, I can’t help feeling that something will soon happen to bring us to the plateau you referred to in your blog.
New Year's Greeting: Posted January 1
I am going to Mount Soma today. My wife is taking the kids to Mema’s for a family get together but I am under time pressure to try to get the next building up so we have sleep space and showers for people in March (and hopefully February). The lot (just to the north of the Learning Center) is huge so we should have plenty of room for a 45 x 90 building and parking for 50 or more cars. I will be doing the layout today with Bill on site.
Happy New Year!!
Happy New….
Faith and belief are nothing other than “Inner Knowing.”
Jesus addressed the people in a time when he knew that faith and belief gave people the best chance for the cornerstone of human decency. We live in a time when His purpose will find its fulfillment. People will not just have faith and belief, they will Know!
“Happy New… Life !!!”
Mount Soma: Posted December 31
I’ve been reflecting a lot on Mount Soma—where it is in the greater scheme of things and its whole development and progress. We sent out an email recently, saying that we are about to ascend to the next plateau and we’re just on the verge of doing that—we’re about to attain it. We are so close. At the time, I didn’t feel like I had the words and the phrase to adequately express what I’m feeling. In a word, it’s “self-perpetuate.”
All these years, every step forward with Mount Soma was like pulling teeth. One obstacle, one challenge, one seemingly insurmountable difficulty after another. But what I’m seeing now is that we are on the verge of bringing Mount Soma to the place where it will self-perpetuate. It feels to me like I will no longer need to pick it up and carry it every inch forward. Instead, it will be like a flower that blossoms from within its own self.
I say this, not just from a feeling level, but also from a pragmatic one. Soon the film studio will be completed. At that time, a high-quality video broadcast over the internet will become a regular thing. It feels like we are only inches away from having our own panchakarma clinic with excellent, highest quality herbs available. Housing will be available for people to stay at Mount Soma, regardless of income level. The temple will reach completion. Once all this is in place, Mount Soma will carry itself. Business will thrive. That magnificent feeling that everybody experiences when they visit Mount Soma will multiply a thousand-fold.
Approximately fifty-four ladies have volunteered to do once-a-week sadhana to help bring this about. I have assembled an altar with all of their photographs. It’s quite a remarkable experience to look at all of the pictures and through their pictures, to feel their presence and the incredible gift their group consciousness is offering the world. They are doing a great thing. We are all doing a great thing. Mount Soma is a beautiful flower we’re offering to the feet of Mother Nature.
Western Sky: Posted December 29
It is now 6:08pm EST. If you look to the SouthWest you will see Venus and the moon about 20 degrees apart. Go another 6 degrees in a straight line past past the moon and you will see Jupiter. Now go down about 4 degrees and a little to the left and you will see Mercury. Beautiful! Watch for it after sunset in a few hours in CA. You can also moniter for the next few days right after sunset.
Wisdom: Posted December 28
Emotionally based living is common.
Most cloak it in logic.
Few can discern the relationship between the two.
Wisdom based living is rare.
Merry Christmas! Posted December 25
It is 5 p,m, Christmas day and my family and I are having a wonderful Christmas.
We are all now coming together to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life" with popcorn and hot chocolate in front of the Christmas tree and fireplace.
My heart has been with each and every one of you, all day long.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
Love to you all,
Michael
Winter Solstice: Posted December 22
We had a winter solstice get-together yesterday at Mount Soma. The feeling was wonderfully relaxed, loving, friendly and happy. Marlene did a fantastic job preparing the Learning Center. After my talk we had a marvelous potluck. There was a wide diversity of dishes and treats. I did my best to at least sample everything and enjoyed it all. I must say, we have many excellent cooks among us! Once we have enough housing, I think almost every Sunday should be a potluck day at the Learning Center! My wife and kids enjoyed themselves very much.
After the potluck, I walked out on the building pad that is being cleared for the Student Union building we expect to break ground on soon. Also, with luck, the first duplex will be going up soon as well.
The feeling at Mount Soma continues to be magical. With all the construction of houses and buildings we are planning, 2009 should prove to be quite exciting!
Happy Holidays!
Jupiter and You: Posted December 18
You have probably noticed that along with the challenges in the world economy, there came an increase in tension and psychological challenges for many individuals. During these times, it is common for people to turn their back on spirituality and cling to base instincts. However, it is actually a time when one benefits greatly by doing the opposite. It is a time that tests the strength of one’s commitment to the spiritual aspect of their being. I have seen a number of people struggling with this. Some would call that a lack of faith. Personally, I prefer the idea of ‘inner knowing’ over ‘faith.’ During these times, one’s inner knowing can be overshadowed by one’s fears and base instincts. As I have said many times, most of your karma is in your heart and between your ears. I implore you to stand firm and fight your karma with all you’ve got. As it has been said, “These are times that try men’s souls.” I received an e-mail from my friend, Jyotishi Sanjay Rath, regarding this, which included: “Jupiter has just gone into debility and the world teachers, the real great ones, are going to feel some burning as they have accumulated the karma of their students... that’s destiny.” He also referred to the following material on his website (http://srath.com):
BRIHASPATI NITI SHASTRA
By sending them on errands, the ability of servants can be known; sincerity of kinsmen can be known by their behavior during our adversity; the genuine friendship can be understood when some mishap occurs…
As well as his following article:
Jupiter swamped in Capricorn
Jupiter is in its fall in Capricorn implying that it is at its saddest, least expansive position in this Saturn-ruled sign. This affects the World Teachers. My Holy Mother (GuruMa), Pravrajika Sri Shraddhaprana ambe, has fallen seriously ill at Sri Sarada Math, Calcutta, just as Jupiter entered Capricorn. May I request all readers to offer a sincere prayer for GuruMa -om namo bhagavate ramakrishnaaya LinkJupiter enters its debility; then the great teachers of the world shall be disrespected, people will suffer from egotism and will ignore wise teachings and instead will start believing in their own judgment emboldened through little knowledge. They will lose faith in leaders of all types, be they political or spiritual, and will demand equality without fully understanding that there can never be perfect equality as the karma is never perfectly equal for all.
During this period, teachers of the world are advised not to indulge in unnecessary debates and arguments with their students as this can lead to conflict, especially for those having Libra and Cancer Lagna.
Jupiter progresses through this sign at great speed and this is called bhita avastha - *running scared* is the correct translation of this state. What you should not do is to run - don't run away from problems, calmly study them. The alligator (Capricorn) bites into the foreleg of the elephant (Jupiter) resulting in bleeding. Health issues resulting in bleeding can occur. The jaws of the alligator are hard to open and his tail is even more dangerous. You have just one option - recite *hari om* and wait calmly till January 8, 2009. It’s just a month from the entry date of December 9, 2008. Garuda has already started flying with Jagannath and should reach the sincere teacher (elephant) anytime after that date when Jupiter enters Abhijit nakshatra.
For those crocodiles who take a bite into the feet of the elephant, beware of the chakra of Jagannath Krishna. The discus is very sharp and can cause severe suffering for 1 to 12 years. Please do not fight now and instead, just sit back, defer vital decisions and finish your homework. (Yes I said homework because Jupiter aspects Cancer, its exaltation sign).The Greeks also associated Jupiter (Zeus ~ dyaus) with the eagle and in Hinduism we have Vishnu as the devata of Akasha tattva which is the binding force when the death-like separation experiences occur. Try bringing people together rather than breaking them apart.After Jupiter crosses 7deg30 Capricorn, the crocodile loses its tight grip on the right foreleg and tries to catch the left foreleg... Let’s hope the elephant gets out of the swampy water at this time. Politicians, take this clue and choose to withdraw temporarily - you will have another day and time to settle.
The Big Picture: Posted December 14
It is important to view all the challenges of the world today in proper context. There is a rise in purity. There is a coming forth of a great new era for humanity. Today’s challenges are like the cracking of the shell of a seed. That cracking manifests in many ways: interpersonal conflicts, global conflicts, natural catastrophes, etc. Many people are experiencing emotional and psychological conflicts within themselves. Negativity, anger, fears, and judgment have overtaken them.
We are striving to bring forth this global transition as quickly and smoothly as possible. However, keep in mind that by so doing, we put ourselves at the tip of the arrow. Obstacles and conflicts are the inevitable outcome. Do not allow them to overtake you. Keep an eye on the bigger picture of what is happening and who we are. Stay one pointedly focused on the objective of bringing forth a better world. Though your challenges may be great, do not allow them to cloud your vision. Only one thing matters, and that is the purity, the beauty, the love, the Divinity that lies deep within you and within all beings. By remaining united in our dedication to that, this world will achieve a great new era as quickly and smoothly as possible. During this holiday season, please take time to reflect upon this. With so many daily tasks seemingly mandated upon you, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the big picture. Do not allow yourself to be distracted. These winter months are a natural time to go inward and rejuvenate… to realign and recommit… to celebrate that which you truly are. The holiday season is a natural time of renewal, a time to embrace and dedicate to the wonder and beauty of life. |
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