We rode our mountain bikes every day around Green Lake Park in Seattle.
I was on the hunt for new experiences and trying to make some changes in life. One day while browsing Craig’s List I run across an ad:
WANTED: Electrician wanted for some basic electrical work in trade for a 3-day meditation retreat. Learn to meditate with us on our beautiful grounds in Tacoma, Washington.
I pick up the phone and give them a call. A nice woman answers and we strike a deal. The following day I take the short bus ride to Tacoma and they pick me up in town.
We arrive at their house and about ten others have showed up for the retreat. About 4 people are hosting the event—they greet us and offer some snacks. Everyone chats a while and are shown the backyard, winding pathways, fountains and benches in a Zen atmosphere.
People gather in the living room after a while and are told to take a seat anywhere. “Comfort is key”. We all grab throw pillows and blankets and lounge around making ourselves at home.
A little old lady takes the podium and uncovers her whiteboard. On the whiteboard are these words:
Praise * for my life
Thank * for my body world
* loves me
She begins to explain the theory of “monkey mind”—the 100,000 or more thoughts that flood through our head each day. Each action, each experience in life creates a physical imprint on the mind. These imprints wreak havoc on our well-being and we never have a clear enough head to connect with ourselves or the world around us.
These racing thoughts are actually physical impressions on the brain cells and can be removed just as easily as they were acquired. All day long we hear ourselves thinking, “When are my bills due? What will I do tonight? I gotta do those taxes! Wonder what Sarah’s doing? What will I DO!”
She explains that the mind naturally craves heavenly, pure thoughts and that there is a set number of these types of thoughts that exist. Ascension is to ascend upwards and through the repetitive, useless thoughts that cloud your happiness and judgment by repeating heavenly phrases. These phrases erase imprints, clean your mind and allow you to experience true bliss and less stress.
It’s not that interesting to me yet.
God, or the “Creator”, means something different to everybody. For some it could be your Mother, or nature, or a Hindu God, etc. Basically the mind and body are reacting to the same principle, what you consider to be the Creator.
The stars in the phrases of Enlightenment are to be replaced with whatever you feel is your Creator.
Now, we are told to relax and get comfortable. “Comfort is key” is repeated many times. The lights are dimmed and we lay back and close our eyes. She tells us to watch our brains, witness and pay attention to each thought entering and leaving our minds.
She then tells us to interrupt these thought patterns by saying one of these phrases out loud in your head. One or all of the phrases can be used during the process. I start with the first one and most meaningful. Since “God” means anything and everything to me I choose this word. God is ingrained in most of our minds as the Creator, whatever it may be.
“Do not stop. Keep going, paying attention to each thought entering your mind and interrupting it with a phrase. We’ll do this for 45 minutes.” she says. We begin.
“What the hell am I doing here?”
Praise God for my life.
“I can’t wait to stand up”
Praise God for my life.
“I wonder if this is affecting anyone?”
Praise God for my life.
“Can’t wait to get back home”
Praise God for my life.
I do this for about 15-20 minutes, really trying. Recently I had been reading about the Mayan concept of Itz, the sap of the World Tree and excrements of the human body, blood, sweat, tears and rain from Heaven that is sent down during rituals.
After about 20 minutes of repeating the phrase out loud in my mind I quickly dissolve into a relaxed state.
My body seems to disappear and I’m unaware of my surroundings. Almost instantly I enter into a dream state and have a crystal clear vision, exactly like a dream.
I am propelled through the air towards a large tree in the forest. On the side of the tree hangs a huge drop of amber gel. I am sucked into the drop of sap and everything becomes sepia, like I’m in an old brown and white movie.
I feel like a magical being and am inside this large teardrop stuck to the side of a tree. I’m looking out momentarily at this beautiful forest through a concave amber screen.
A rush of excitement causes me to open my eyes and wake up, feeling refreshed and alive as if rising in the morning. I stretch out my arms and yawn, look up at the lady and she’s smiling at me gesturing to remain quiet. I begin to giggle and motion to her that something strange just happened. I wait for the timer to wake the others.
I can’t wait to speak. I give a detailed description of what just took place. Everyone goes down the line and gives their account. For some nothing happens. For most it was just another mediocre meditation experience. For me it was an introduction to a new world of what can be felt with a clear mind free of monkey mind.
You’re free to exist in the true natural state of bliss intended for humans to experience before being introduced to problems and thought.
15 minutes a day, three times a day. You can get pretty good at it. It takes time and effort. Don’t give up. Keep going. For me it was instantaneous—the power of suggestion. It fades and doesn’t work sometimes and it’s easy to fall off, but when you have that first experience of a free mind you want to go back. You try not to get excited and stay in the zone for as long as possible.
Stress dissolves with this removal of thought.
The next day I do some work on the breaker box for my part of the deal. I fix a few lights then cross some wires and make a spark. They decide to call in a professional and my work is cut short. That’s okay I’m excited to get home. They say that once you’re aware of Ishaya’s Ascension that you will come back to it at least once a day for the rest of your life.
©2012 Cosmic Saké
A very thought-provoking and interesting book-
Enlightenment: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, MSI
