Thanks for the responses and welcome to the new members/ Celestial, subtle planes, visions ofangels

[Guest guest]

Dear Sangha friends:

 

I have been a bit busy. I noticed we have over 525 members now. We welcome

the new people. Please feel free to post. The new members are initially

moderated for a short time. This has really helped and minimized spam on

this list.

 

Thank you Jill, Mazie, Mike, Antoine, Greg, Dan and others for your warmth

and nice comments about celestial planes post. I love seeing all your names

pop up on my screen.

 

I really enjoyed the recent conversation between Mike and Big Bob. What an

example of civility, modesty, and wisdom you guys set for the rest of us

Mike and Bob! You two are really great and wonderful human beings! I can't

tell who is wiser or more humble, which makes you both totally lovable in my

book . Thanks. (I am nominating you both for the Life Time

Achievement Award - I know it is a bit early in your careers as you will all

be around for a long time but we need to start with someone).

 

Thank you David, Jody, Big Bob, Bruce, Mark, Jan, Gloria, Infinite Freedom

(of the Urlove fame?) for your recent posts.

 

Thank you Vicki and Gabriele for some beautiful posts and quotes about Sri

Ramana and Ramana devotees.

 

Love you all. Even if I can't write frequently sometimes, enjoy reading your

thoughts and your name standing in for you always puts a smile on my face.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

 

 

Jill Eggers [eggersj]

Saturday, April 06, 2002 4:54 PM

Re: Celestial, subtle planes, visions ofangels

 

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