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Times of change

When I go through times of transformation and change it seems the flow of creativity and even sense of connection to myself ceases. Its like everything is upside down and inside out. I suffer an immense amount of fear, doubt, and emotional pain.

These are my strategies for dealing with such times;

1) Keep active. I am trying to keep up with doing Bjj, surfing, yoga, and some form of daily exercise. I really start to slump and grump if I dont!

2) Mantra meditation and Kirtan. Honestly without these who knows where I would end up. Keeping centred on the absolute vision of reality(Vaishnavas call that vision Sri Krsna) helps me weather difficulties, heartbreak, and the instability that comes with an empathic/meloncholic heart.

3) Friends and Family. Although I tend to withdraw and isolate myself, I have a few deep deep connections with friends and family(especially my wife) who I can fully open up to and process the raw energy of negative emotions like fear, hopelessness, lonliness, anxiety, and frustration without being overly judged or pandered to. This is immensely healing as it reminds me that I am not alone and that I dont have to hold all of this on my own.

Thanks for reading!

#jainitai

[abhimanyuh-blog]

For a bhakti yogi, coming to vraj is the prime experience for entering into the correct attitude of sadhana. Everything is simple, practical and down to earth. Krsna is here, you can feel it in the joy of the people. Krsna has made himself a member of every household. The vraja vasis devotion to him is manifest in every interaction. This is the true heart of earth. Its time we start appreciating it throughout the world.

#jainitai

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This is where I am right now. The holiest place in the world for people who know Sri Krsna. Its called govardhana dhama, near Vrndavana inNJ uttara pradesh. Here I am experiences constant meditation in every action because everything and everyone is full of bliss. Nobody in the west knows about this place, that is the saddest thing in the world to me.

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Entering braja means taking blessing from Mahadeva sadashiva. Without his glance the ego blocks love from entering the heart! #jainitai (at Vrindavan - वृन्दावन, UP, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtAekbiALxI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jk1drexkvlkw

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Daily practice

I don’t want to state the obvious when I stress just how important daily practice is for progressing in our individual crafts. Meditation, rituals, study, and yoga were and still are key elements of my daily routine. I need my practice. It keeps me balanced and sane. From an early age, I suffered from mood swings and even depression and without these practices I would simply drown in the chaos and melancholy which my mind is prone to. However, sometimes it becomes tedious, repetitive, and even impossible to achieve consistency, to push passed our tendency to procrastinate, to stop scrolling vacant eyed and pointlessly. To solve this, I have a “Code of 3″ which I remind myself of in order to stay on track; 1) Remember the words and behaviour of my mentors who always made use of their time to improve themselves and achieve their goals. 2) Remember the nature and needs of my body, mind, surroundings, and continue to show love and attention to these by making the time and effort to do my practices and exercises.  3) Remember my spiritual and material goals, the steps I need to take to achieve them, and the consequences of not taking correct action on a daily basis. I still fail and miss days, I still procrastinate, I still hear that voice urging me to do more, but I forgive myself and keep going. I aim, I shoot, I miss...I don’t give up. I take up the bow again. What strategies do you use to encourage your daily practice and routines needed for you overall well-being? Some of us deal with mental health issues like stress, anxiety, depression, low-self esteem, and feelings of meaninglessness, what are some of your strategies? Please leave a comment and share you approach to daily practice and coping with life. My hope is that we can get to a place where we no longer have to cope with life, but actually engage with it in LOVE and I believe the path to that is sharing our own experiences in finding that state of being; reminding all of us that It can be done, it is achievable. Lets find love. #Jainitai

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I Ś T H A D E V A #Jainitai (at Casuarina, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs11gIrgWrW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mspppqb7m8kf

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I always loved reading the thoughts of C.G Jung. He seems sees things in a very direct and pristine way which reminds me of the teachings of Buddha and Sri Krsna. His understanding of the mind was so advanced for his time. The beauty of this quote is the call to action he presents us with, Shine on brothers and sisters!

[abhimanyuh-blog]

Consciousness is, according to the Veda and Agama, a Self replicating, fractal, spiraling, pattern of being called "The universe". The upanishads say it has four parts;

1) Jagrat, or the waking state universe experienced through the 5 senses.

2)Svapna, dreaming sleep, the universe experienced through the internal faculties.

3)Susupti, the deep sleep state, the universe experienced as a merger of knower, knowing, and known. It is only known by recollection after waking up.

4) Turya, the transcendent, all pervasive, supra-subjective, absolute Conscious universe.

Thats what the symbolic word "om" refers to!

Become conscious of consciousness and you can access all aspects of your Self. It isnt difficult, just be present to the feeling of being alive and awake!

The universe is you!

#Jainitai

-Abhimanyuh

[abhimanyuh-blog]

Self is pure consciousness

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“The Supreme Lord is self-luminous, unborn and immeasurable. He is pure transcendental consciousness and perceives everything. One without a second, He is realized only after ordinary words cease. By Him, the power of speech and the life airs are set into motion.”  -Lord Krishna to Uddhava Srimad Bhagavatam 11/28/35 The last post was about “Sri Krishna” being the “Absolute truth” or at least the idea of the absolute principle, the universe or totality as it is, both specifically personal and impersonally all-pervasive. This post is about how the highest aspect of that principle is pure transcendental consciousness. According to the Vedas and Agamas, that pure consciousness is the true identity of what we all refer to as “The Self” both individually and universally. Since the mind/ego complex creates an effect wherein we perceive the Self to be the body/feelings/Id, the true Self can only be realized or experienced when ordinary words (both internally or externally audible) cease, since it is our internal dialogue which is constantly creating and imposing its bias, preferences, and perceptions onto consciousness in the form of the subject/object duality and limited egoic Self-appearance. The result of this mistaken identity is called “Suffering” by the wise like Sri Krsna, Buddha, Shiva, and many of the great Rishis, and saints of the east. Pure consciousness, however, is beyond words or constructs and cannot be experienced through them. Trying to perceive the Self via the senses, mind, or ego is like trying to capture the entire universe, through all time and space, in a single insta post. Can’t be done!!! Yogis have developed a vast array of techniques, mantras, and mediations to directly quiet the noise and impositions which cloud our perceptions of reality as such.

The simplest technique I can suggest is to begin to watch your breath and establish your mind in its ‘ever-coming and ever-going’ as a perfect metaphor or illustration for life cycles. The Self is called Pranava, which means that which rides/dwells in the breath. By slowing down the breath, the mind will slowly become still, and when the mind naturally stills, all there is left is called “Pure consciousness” by the yogis. Let me know if you practice meditation and tell me something about your experiences meditating! Have you ever experienced “The Self”? Stay tuned for more! #Jainitai

-Abhimanyuh

[abhimanyuh-blog]

Truth

The previous post was the first verse of the “Srimad Bhagavatam”, a text rich in spiritual wisdom, beautiful and enlightening stories, as well as instructions on mysticism and yogic meditation. I shared that quote because it does something very interesting to me. It explains the highest being to be the “Absolute truth”. An “Absolute truth” is a truth which is always and will always be. It is a constant. A principle which pervades every state, every potential, and everything.

It also tells us that the absolute truth has a name! Sri Krsna!

If we analyse the meaning of that name according to Sanskrit dictionaries it is explained to mean many things, such as; Black, All-attractive, effortless blissful existence, absorption in the centre, etc.

Therefore, without having to understand the mythologies or practices of the Vedic/tantric world, we can get a glimpse of the Bhagavatam’s vision of Godhead as being something like this; “The highest principle is that which is constant, containing all principles within it, like blackness containing all colours. It is spontaneous, Self-caused, and always absorbed within itself, That principle is the absolute truth, and he is a person with and without form named Sri Krsna” The truth has been given in every tradition, according to taste, mood, and culture, but we should understand the truth to be one and not many. The Absolute truth is all containing, and thus everything is harmonised in the mesmerising and enchanting form of Sri Krsna. #jainitai

-Abhimanyu

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O my Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmājī, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I, therefore, meditate upon Him, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.

Bhagavata Purana Vyasa deva

[abhimanyuh-blog]

Lineage

So now that I’ve introduced the purpose of this blog, I’d like to explain the source of knowledge that I am going to try to present, In the simplest terms possible. I grew up in a small but growing religious organisation called ISCKON(The International Society for Krsna Consciousness). Growing up in this tradition I was able to begin learning to meditate, practice mantra recitation, conduct various rituals, and gain first-hand experience of various levels of consciousness and the spiritual emotions which go along with them. It is only because of the experiences I have had, that I have decided to try to communicate what I understand to be the essence of this tradition.

My father was a disciple of “ISKCON” founder Acharya Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The spiritual lineage he has linked traces back to one of the oldest Vaishnava traditions of India still flourishing today called the Brahma-Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya. This tradition has many famous Indian saints among its teachers such as; Madhvacharya, Madhavendra Puri, Sripada Nityananda Avadhuta, Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sanatana Goswami, Rupa Goswami, and many others held in high esteem throughout Bengal and north India, especially in the town of Vrndavana.

The tradition is a mixture of Vedic(Hindu orthodoxy) and Tantric(Hindu shamanism or unorthodox individual practice) thought and practices which include meditation, philosophical inquiry, austerities, mantras, and of course the worship and adoration of Godhead in one of his/her many manifestations. Philosophically, the tradition relies primarily on the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita. However, it also refers to various Upanishads and Sattva-Puranas, for textual support and philosophical understanding. The tradition also has its own commentary on the Vedanta-sutras but it doesn’t place a lot of focus on it. Practically, the tradition relies on a few Vaishnava tantras or treatises on metaphysics, meditation, mantras, Kundalini, worship of the deity, and common rules and regulations for living within this world. Unfortunately, most of these texts aren’t yet translated. However,  the “Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa” is translated and it draws from many of the previously mentioned sources to create a compendium of Vaishnava practices, festivals, and rituals.

All that being said, this blog is not seeking to convert anyone to religion or institution. I am going to try to express the meaning which I have understood through my life's journey through this process and tradition. So that hopefully, the practices which have helped me in this life will begin to make sense to you and perhaps become part of your journey towards Self-realisation! Feel free to ask any question and always hit that like button!

Please share anything that made you think deeply about yourself!

Follow me to keep getting little snippets or bread crumbs back to your true, authentic, and spiritual self.

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An introduction to “I”

Dear reader,

This blog is about uncovering aspects of your self, “The Self”, which have, until this time, remained completely beyond your everyday perception. By exploring the symbols, mythologies, mantras, and meditations of the “Self-knowledge” traditions of India, Nepal, and Tibet, I hope you to introduce you to a vision of your very own Self, and thereby re-ignite your zest for living, devotion to being, and acceptance of who you are, right now. That divine spark of life which you call “I” is said to have an eternal responsibility to serve the whole of being with all of its heart, to make the world a better place, and to enjoy spiritual bliss along the way.

Stay tuned for more of Abhimanyu's “Tremors from the heart”

Jai Nitai! (That's Sanskrit for victory over your worries and anxiety!)