Celestial, subtle planes, visions of angels

[Guest guest]

Dear Harshaji,

just a brief note of gratitude and appreciation for your wise and

balanced views. This clarification was sorely needed, and very well

expressed. Thank you so much.

Kindest regards,

Michael

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----Von: Harsha

[harsha (AT) cox (DOT) net]Gesendet: Saturday, April 06, 2002 01:16An:

NondualitySalon; ;

advaitinBetreff: Celestial, subtle

planes, visions of angels

Recently questions have come up about celestial and subtle planes and

the truth of their experiences. Although mention of such things is

made in every religious and spiritual tradition, many people doubt

such accounts because these are not common everyday experiences in

the usual sense.

These experiences of subtle heavenly and celestial planes are

associated with Kundalini Shakti rising and activating of certain

charkas. Many people have such experiences, although typically they

come to a mature aspirant after many years of earnest spiritual

practice. Such spiritual practices include devotional prayers,

meditation, mantra, pranayama, etc. Many people are compelled to

engage in spiritual practices by their nature at a young age. Such

experiences come to them more easily. Beyond a certain point,

however, these things cannot be forced. Meditative techniques become

useful only when the engine of motivation (eagerness for understanding

the mystery of life) drives the practice.

The purity of the state of the conscious mind at the time of

meditation determines the superconscious realms that one will

experience. The more pure, quiet, and serene the mind is, the higher

the superconscious experience. Serenity of the mind is obtained

through understanding and practicing Ahimsa (non-violence) which is

the cardinal principle in all yogic traditions. When the mind of a

yogi is agitated, the possibility of experiencing lower realms is

there as well.

Advaita Vedanta does not attach significance to experience of

celestial planes, visionary experiences of angels, gods, and the

Goddess. However, Jnanis commonly have such experiences and

acknowledge them freely. Since Jnanis have no one to impress, they

enjoy being devotees as well.

Many people ask that if someone is on the Advaitic path or

Self-Realized then why should such a person sing praises of the

Goddess. Such questioners do not understand the depth of the

Advaitic state. When we even have a neighbor come over, we show

respect and offer them tea. We do not say, “you are unreal, get out

of my house”, etc. Similarly, when divine beings, saints, or the

Goddess appears in the superconscious mind of the Sage, they are

shown due respect and devotion and love. It is only the Self loving

It Self in different forms. A Jnani sees no point in resisting

devotion and love.

Love to all

Harsha

/join

All paths go

somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions,

and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back

into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of

Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It

is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the

Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of

Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self.

Welcome all to a.Your use of is subject

to the

[Guest guest]

Yes, Harsha, let me add my thanks and gratitutude to that of Mazie, Greg, Mike

and others for the beauty, clarity, and depth of this post.

 

Love,

 

Jill

>>> MikeSuesserott 04/06/02 16:05 PM >>>

Dear Harshaji,

 

just a brief note of gratitude and appreciation for your wise and balanced

views. This clarification was sorely needed, and very well expressed. Thank

you so much.

 

Kindest regards,

 

Michael

 

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

Von: Harsha [harsha]

Gesendet: Saturday, April 06, 2002 01:16

An: NondualitySalon; ;

advaitin

Betreff: Celestial, subtle planes, visions of angels

 

 

Recently questions have come up about celestial and subtle planes and the

truth of their experiences. Although mention of such things is made in

every religious and spiritual tradition, many people doubt such accounts

because these are not common everyday experiences in the usual sense.

 

These experiences of subtle heavenly and celestial planes are associated

with Kundalini Shakti rising and activating of certain charkas. Many people

have such experiences, although typically they come to a mature aspirant

after many years of earnest spiritual practice. Such spiritual practices

include devotional prayers, meditation, mantra, pranayama, etc. Many people

are compelled to engage in spiritual practices by their nature at a young

age. Such experiences come to them more easily. Beyond a certain point,

however, these things cannot be forced. Meditative techniques become useful

only when the engine of motivation (eagerness for understanding the mystery

of life) drives the practice.

 

The purity of the state of the conscious mind at the time of meditation

determines the superconscious realms that one will experience. The more

pure, quiet, and serene the mind is, the higher the superconscious

experience. Serenity of the mind is obtained through understanding and

practicing Ahimsa (non-violence) which is the cardinal principle in all

yogic traditions. When the mind of a yogi is agitated, the possibility of

experiencing lower realms is there as well.

 

Advaita Vedanta does not attach significance to experience of celestial

planes, visionary experiences of angels, gods, and the Goddess. However,

Jnanis commonly have such experiences and acknowledge them freely. Since

Jnanis have no one to impress, they enjoy being devotees as well.

 

Many people ask that if someone is on the Advaitic path or Self-Realized

then why should such a person sing praises of the Goddess. Such questioners

do not understand the depth of the Advaitic state. When we even have a

neighbor come over, we show respect and offer them tea. We do not say, "you

are unreal, get out of my house", etc. Similarly, when divine beings,

saints, or the Goddess appears in the superconscious mind of the Sage, they

are shown due respect and devotion and love. It is only the Self loving It

Self in different forms. A Jnani sees no point in resisting devotion and

love.

 

Love to all

 

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsor

 

 

 

 

/join

 

 

 

All paths go somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights,

perceptions, and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside

back into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of Awareness.

Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It is Home. Home is

where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the Finality of Eternal

Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of Self-Knowledge, spontaneously

arising from within into It Self. Welcome all to a.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Ahhhhh, Harsha,

 

I enjoyed it too. Say, how are you doing, you old thug, you?

 

LOve, Mark

ps Yikes, I promised myself I wouldn't use that word anymore. I'd

better get back to the meditation room.

 

 

, "Jill Eggers" <eggersj@g...> wrote:

> Yes, Harsha, let me add my thanks and gratitutude to that of Mazie,

Greg, Mike and others for the beauty, clarity, and depth of this post.

>

> Love,

>

> Jill

> >>> MikeSuesserott@t... 04/06/02 16:05 PM >>>

> Dear Harshaji,

>

> just a brief note of gratitude and appreciation for your wise and

balanced

> views. This clarification was sorely needed, and very well

expressed. Thank

> you so much.

>

> Kindest regards,

>

> Michael

>

>snip

[Guest guest]

Hi Harsha and all --

 

Back after a few days wandering about.

Enjoyed your input on this subject.

All true, as you say.

Such descriptions of experiences occur

with striking similarities in various

religions and cultures, led Jung to

postulate a "collective unconscious"

which might even be called a

"totality consciousness," who knows?

 

Posted this on NDS about this topic:

 

Experiences may be labelled high or low,

but regardless of label, it's clear

that experiences are always experience.

 

What is beyond an experience isn't known

in terms of an experience.

 

Of course, speech about what is beyond an

experience, is an experience. So speech

can't go there, nor can we assume there

must be a "there" to go to -- "there" is

an experience, as is "here."

 

When there is the labelling of "high,"

the label "low" comes along for the ride.

 

The mirror isn't the reflection that

occurs in the mirror, and all pictures

require that a definition be given.

 

Obviously, a poor metaphor -- because

a mirror has an outside, as does any

word.

 

All love,

Dan

 

 

 

> Recently questions have come up about celestial and subtle planes

and the

> truth of their experiences. Although mention of such things is

made in

> every religious and spiritual tradition, many people doubt such

accounts

> because these are not common everyday experiences in the usual

sense.

> These experiences of subtle heavenly and celestial planes are

associated

> with Kundalini Shakti rising and activating of certain charkas.

Many people

> have such experiences, although typically they come to a mature

aspirant

> after many years of earnest spiritual practice. Such spiritual

practices

> include devotional prayers, meditation, mantra, pranayama, etc.

Many people

> are compelled to engage in spiritual practices by their nature at a

young

> age. Such experiences come to them more easily. Beyond a certain

point,

> however, these things cannot be forced. Meditative techniques

become useful

> only when the engine of motivation (eagerness for understanding the

mystery

> of life) drives the practice.

> The purity of the state of the conscious mind at the time of

meditation

> determines the superconscious realms that one will experience. The

more

> pure, quiet, and serene the mind is, the higher the superconscious

> experience. Serenity of the mind is obtained through understanding

and

> practicing Ahimsa (non-violence) which is the cardinal principle in

all

> yogic traditions. When the mind of a yogi is agitated, the

possibility of

> experiencing lower realms is there as well.

> Advaita Vedanta does not attach significance to experience of

celestial

> planes, visionary experiences of angels, gods, and the Goddess.

However,

> Jnanis commonly have such experiences and acknowledge them freely.

Since

> Jnanis have no one to impress, they enjoy being devotees as well.

> Many people ask that if someone is on the Advaitic path or Self-

Realized

> then why should such a person sing praises of the Goddess. Such

questioners

> do not understand the depth of the Advaitic state. When we even

have a

> neighbor come over, we show respect and offer them tea. We do not

say, "you

> are unreal, get out of my house", etc. Similarly, when divine

beings,

> saints, or the Goddess appears in the superconscious mind of the

Sage, they

> are shown due respect and devotion and love. It is only the Self

loving It

> Self in different forms. A Jnani sees no point in resisting

devotion and

> love.

> Love to all

> Harsha