THE VALUE OF NOW

 

                                                              NOW.....

                 I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT TRUE ENLIGHTENMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE EXCEPT THROUGH LOVE IN A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. ISN'T THIS WHAT MAKES US WHOLE AGAIN? HOW CAN ONE'S LIFE BE FULFILLED UNTIL THAT HAPPENS?

               IS THAT TRUE IN YOUR EXPERIENCE? HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?

              NOT YET, BUT HOW COULD IT BE OTHERWISE? I KNOW THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.

            IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE WAITING FOR AN EVENT IN TIME TO SAVE YOU. IS THIS NOT THE CORE ERROR THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT? SALVATION IS NOT ELSEWHERE IN PLACE OR TIME. IT IS HERE AND NOW.

           WHAT DOES THAT STATEMENT MEAN, SALVATION IS HERE AND NOW? I DON'T UNERSTAND IT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT SALVATION MEANS.

         MOST PEOPLE PURSUE PHYSICAL PLEASURE OR VARIOUS FORMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL GRATIFICATION BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WILL MAKE THEM HAPPY O FREE THEM FROM A FEELING OF FEAR OR LACK. HAPPINESS MAY BE PERCEIVED AS A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF ALIVENESS ATTAINED THROUGH PHYSICAL PLEASURE, OR A MORE SECURE AND MORE COMPLETE SENSE OF SELF ATTAINED THROUGH SOME FORM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL GRATIFICATION. THIS IS THE SEARCH FOR SALVATION FROM A STATE OF SATISFACTORINESS OR INSUFFICIENCY. INVARIABLY, ANY SATISFACTION THAT THEY OBTAIN IS SHORT- LIVED, SO THE CONDITION OF SATISFACTION OR FULFILLMENT IS USUALLY PROJECTED ONCE AGAIN INTO AN IMAGINARY POINT AWAY FROM THE HERE AND NOW. WHEN I OBTAIN THIS OR AM FREE OF THAT- THEN I WILL BE OKEY. THIS IS THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND-SET THAT CREATES THE ILLUSION OF SALVATION IN THE FUTURE.

              TRUE SALVATION IS FULFILLMENT , PEACE, LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS. IT IS TO BE WHO YOU ARE, TO FEEL WHITHIN YOU THE GOOD THAT HAS NO OPPOSITE, THE JOY OF BEING THAT DEPENDS ON NOTHING OUTSIDE ITSELF. IT IS FELT NOT AS A PASSING EXPERIENCE BUT AS AN ABIDING PRESENCE. IN THEISTIC LANGUAGE, IT I TO KNOW GOD NOT AS SOMETHING OUTSIDE YOU BUT AS YOUR OWN INNERMOST ESSENCE. TRUE SALVATION IS TO KNOW YOURSELF AS AN INSEPARABLE PART OF THE TIMELESS AND FORMLESS ONE LIFE FROM WHICH ALL THAT EXISTS DERIVES ITS BEING.

            TRUE SALVATION IS A STATE OF FEEDOM- FROM FEAR, FROM SUFFERING FROM A PERCEIVED STATE OF LACK AND INSUFFICIENCY AND THEREFORE FROM ALL WANTING, NEEDING, GRASPING, AND CLINGING. IT IS FREEDOM FROM COMPULSIVE THINKING, FROM NEGATIVITY, AND ABOVE ALL FROM PAST AND FUTURE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED. YOUR MIND IS TELLING YOU THAT YOU CANNOT GET THERE FROM HERE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN, OR YOU NEED TO BECOME THIS OR THAT BEFORE YOU CAN BE  OR COMPLETE, YOU SEE TIME AS THE MEANS TO SALVATION, WHEREAS IN TRUTH IT IS THE GREATEST OBSTACLES TO SALVATION. YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM WHERE AND WHO YOU ARE AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT YET COMPLETE OR GOOD ENOUGH, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT HERE AND NOW IS THE ONLY POINT FROM WHERE YOU CAN GET THERE. YOU "GET" THERE BY REALIZING THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO SEEK GOD. SO THERE IS NO ONLY WAY TO SALVATION. ANY CONDITION AWAY FROM THIS MOMENT. YOU ARE LONELY AND WIHTOUT A PARTNER? ENTER THE NOW FROM THERE. YOU ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP? ENTER THE NOW FROM THERE.

                     THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN EVER DO OR ATTIN THAT WILL GET YOU CLOSER TO SALVATION THAN IT IS AT THIS MOMENT. THIS MAY BE HARD TO GRASP FOR A MIND ACCUSTOMED TO THINKING THAT EVERYTHIN WORTHWHILE IS IN THE FUTURE. NOR CAN ANYTHING THAT YOU EVER DID OR THAT WAS DONE TO YOU IN THE PAST PREVENT YOU FROM SAYING YET TO WHAT IS AND TAKING YOUR ATTENTION DEEPLY INTO THE NOW. YOU CANNOT DO THIS IN THE FUTURE. YOU DO IT NOW OR NOT AT ALL.

                     

ABOUT WOMEN

                                                               WOMENS..

 

  

              ARE THE OBSTACLES TO ENLIGHTENMENT THE SAME FR A MAN AS FOR A                    WOMAN?

  

         YES, BUT EH EMPHASIS IS DIFFERENT. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT IS EASIER FOR A WOMAN TO FEEL AND BE IN HER BODY, SO SHE IS NATURALLY CLOSER TO BEING AND POTENTIALLY CLOSER TO ENLIGHTENMENT THAN A MAN. THIS IS WHY MANY ANCIENT CULTURE INTINCTIVELY CHOSE FEMALE FIGURES OR ANALOGIES TO REPRESENT OR DESCRIBE THE FORMLESS AND TRANSCENDENTAL REALITY. IT WAS OFTEN SEEN AS A WOMB THAT GIVES BIRTH TO EVERYTHING IN CREATION AND SUSTAINS ANS NOURISHES IT DURING ITS LIFE AS FORM. IN THE TAO TEACHING, ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND PROFOUND BOOKS EVER WRITTEN, THE TAO, WHICH COULD BE TRANSLATED AS BEING, IS DESCRIBED AS " INFINITE, ETERNALLY PRESENT, THE MOTHER OF THE UNIVERSE, NATURALLY, WOMAN  ARE CLOSER TO IT THAN MEN SINCE THEY VIRTUALLY "EMBODY" THE UNMANIFESTED. WHAT IS MORE, ALL CREATURES AND ALL THINGS MUST EVENTUALLY RETURN TO THE SOURCE. ALL THINGS VANISH INTO THE TAO. IT ALONE ENDURES. SINCE THE SOUCE IS SEEN AS FEMALE, THIS IS REPRESENTED AS THE LIGHT AND DARK SIDES OF THE ARCHETYPAL FEMININE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND MYTHOLOGY. THE GODDESS OR DIVINE MOTHER HAS TWO ASPECTS. SHE GIVES LIFE, AND SHE TAKES LIFE.

             WHEN THE MIND TOOK OVER AND HUMANS LOST TOUCH WITH THE REALITY OF THEIR DIVINE ESSENCE, THEY STARTED TO THINK OF GOD AS A MALE FIGURE. SOCIETY BECAME MALE DOMINATED, AND THE FEMALE WAS MADE SUBORDINATE TO THE MALE.

           I AM NOT SUGGESTING A RETURN TO EARLIER FEMALE REPRESENTATION FO THE DIVINE. SOME PEOPLE NOW USE THE TERM GODDESS INSTEAD OF GOD. THEY ARE REDRESSING A BALANCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE  THAT WAS LOST A LONG TIME AGO, AND THAT IS GOOD. BUT IT IS STILL A REPRESENTATION AND A CONCEPT, PERHAPS TEMPORARILY USEFUL, JUST AS A MAP OR A SIGNPOST IS TEMPORARILY USEFUL, BUT MORE A HINDRANCE THAN A MAP OR A SINGPOST IS TEMPORAILY USEFUL, BUT MORE A HINDRANCE THAN A HELP WHEN YOU ARE READY TO REALIZE THE REALITY BEYOND ALL CONCEPT AND IMAGES. WHAT DOES REMAIN TRUE, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE ENERGY FREQUENCY OF THE MIND APPEARS TO BE ESSENTIALLY MALE. THE MIND RESISTS, FIGHTS FOR CONTROL, USES, MANIPULATES, ATTACKS, TRIES TO GRASP AND POSSES, AND SO ON. THIS IS WHY THE TRADITIONAL GOD IS A PATRIARCHAL,CONTROLLING AUTHORITY FIGURE, AN OFTEN ANGRY MAN WHO YOU SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR OF, AS THE OLD TESTAMENT SUGGESTS. THIS GOD IS A PROJECTION OF THE HUMAN MIND.

            TO GO BEYOND THE MIND AND RECONNECT WITH THE DEEPER REALITY OF BEING, VERY DIFFERENT QUALITIES NEEDED. SURRENDER, NONJEDGEMENT, AN OPENESS THAT ALLOWS LIFE TO BE INSTEAD OF RESISTING IT, THE CAPACIY TO HOLD ALL THINGS IN THE LOVING EMBRACE OF YOUR KNOWING. ALL THESE QUALITIES ARE MUCH MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE FEMALE PRICIPLE WHERE AS MIND- ENERGY IS HARD AND RIGID, BEING - ENERGY IS SOFT AND YIELDING AND YET INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL  THAN MIND. THE MIND RUNS OUR CIVILIZATION, WHEREAS BEING IS IN CHARGE OF ALL LIFE ON OUR PLANET AND BEYOND. BEING IS THE VERY INTELLIGENCE WHOSE VISIBLE MANIFESTATION IS THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE. ALTHOUGH WOMEN ARE POTENTIALLY CLOSER TO IT, MEN CAN ALSO ACCESS IT WITHIN THEMSELVES.

               

                AT THIS TIME, THE VAST MAJORITY OF MEN AS WELL AS WOMEN ARE STILL IN THE GRIP OF THE MIND. IDENTIFIED WITH THE THINKER AND THE PAIN- BODY. THIS, OF COURSE, IS WHAT PREVENTS ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE FLOWERING OF LOVE. AS A GENERAL RULE, THE MAJOR OBSTACLE FOR MEN TENDS TO BE THE THINKING MIND, AND THE MAJOR OBSTACLE FOR WOMEN THE PAIN- BODY, ATTHOUGH IN CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL CASES THE OPPOSITE MAY BE TRUE, AND IN OTHERS THE TWO FACTORS THE TWO FACTORS MAY BE EQUAL.

YOGA TELL ABOUT YOUR CONCENTRATION

                                                       CONCENTRATION

                     MORTIFICATION, STUDY, AND SURRENDERING FRUITS OF WORK TO GOD ARE CALLED KRIYA YOGA.

                     THOSE SAMADHIS WITH WHICH WE ENDED OUR LAST CHAPTER ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN, SO WE MUST TAKE THEM UP SLOWLY. THE FIRST STEP, THE PRELIMINARY STEP, IS CALLED KRIYA YOGA. LITERALLY THIS MEANS WORK, WORKING TOWARDS YOGA. THE ORGANS ARE THE MEANS WORK, WORKING TOWARDS YOGA.  THE LITERALLY THIS MEANS WORK, WORKING TOWARDS YOGA. THE ORGANS ARE THE HORSES, THE MIND IS THE REINS, THE INTELLECT IS THE CHARIOTEER, THE SOUL IS THE RIDER, AND THIS BODY IS THE CHARIOT. THE MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD, THE KING, THE SELF OF MAN, IS SITTING IN THIS CHARIOT.

                      IF THE HORSES ARE VERY STRONG, AND DO NOT OBEY THE REINS, IF THE CHARIOTEER, THE INTELLECT, DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THE HORSES, THEN THIS CHARIOT WILL COME TO GRIEF. BUT IF THE ORGANS, THE HORSES, ARE WELL CONTROLLED, AND IF THE REINS, THE MIND, ARE WELL HELD IN THE BANDS OF THE CHARIOTEER, THE INTELLECT, THE CHARIOT, REACHES THE GOAL. WHAT IS MEANT, GUILDING THIS BODY AND MIND. NOT LETTING THE BODY DO ANYTHING IT LIKES, BUT KEEPING THEM BOTH IN PROPER CONTROL. STUDY. WHAT IS MEANT BY STUDY IN THIS CASE? NOT STUDY OF NOVELS, OR FICTION, OR STORY BOOKS, BUT STUDY OF THOSE BOOKS WHICH TEACH THE LIBERATION OF THE SOUL. THEN AGAIN THIS STUDY DOES NOT MEAN CONTOVERSIAL STUDIES AT ALL. THE YOGI IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FINISHED HIS PERIOD OF CONTROVERSY.

                     HE HAS HAD ENOUGH OF ALL THAT, AND HAS BECOME SATISFIED. HE ONLY  STUDIES TO INTENSIFY HIS CONVICTIONS. VADA AND SIDDHANTA ARE THE TWO SORTS OF SCRIPTUAL KNOWLEDGE, VADA( THE ARGUMENTATIVE) AND SIDDHARTA ( THE DECISIVE). WHEN A MAN IS ENTIRELY IGNORANT HE TAKES UP THE FIRST PART OF THIS, THE ARGUMENTATIVE FIGHTING, AND REASONING, PRO AND CON, AND WHEN HE HAS FINISHED, HETAKES UP THE SIDDHARTA, THE DECISIVE, ARRIVING AT A CONCLUTION. SIMPLY ARRIVING AT THIS CONCLUTION WILL NOT DO. IT MUST BE INTESIFIED. BOOKS ARE INFINITE IN NUMBER, AND TIME IS SHORT, THEREFORE THIS IS THE SECRET OF KNOWLEDGE, TO TAKE WHICH IS ESSENTIAL. TAKE THAT OUT, AND THEN TRY TO LIVE UP TO IT. THERE IS AN OLD SIMILE IN INDIA THAT IF YOU PLACE OF CUP OF MILK BEFORE A RAJA HAMSA(SWAN) WITH PLENTY OF WATER IN IT, HE WILL TAKE ALL THE THE MILK AND LEAVE THE WATER. IN THAT WAY WE SHOULD TAKE WHAT IS OF VALUE IN KNOWLEDGE, AND LEAVE THE DROSS. ALL THESE INTELLECTUAL GYMNASTICS ARE NECESSARY AT FIRST. WE MUST NOT GO BLINDLY INTO ANYTHING.

                    THE YOGI GAS PASSED THE ARGUMENTATIVE STAGE, AND HAS COME TO A CONCLUSION, WHICH IS LIKE THE ROCKS, IMMOVABLE. THE ONLY THING HE NOW SEEKS TO DO IS TO INTENSIFY THAT CONCLUSION. DO NOT ARGUE, HE SAYS, IF ONE FORCES ARGUMENTS UPON YOU, BE SILENT.

 DO NOT ANSWER ANY ARGUMENT, BUT GO AWAY FREE, BECAUSE ARGUMNENTS ONLY DISTURB THE MIND. THE ONLY THING IS TO TRAIN THE INTELLECT, SO WHAT IS THE USE OF DISTURBING IT ANYMORE. THE INTELLECT IS BUT A WEAK INSTRUMENT, AND CAN GIVE ONLY KNOWLEDGE LIMITED BY THE SENSE, THE YOGI WANTS TO GO BEYOND THE SENSES. THEREFORE THE INTELLECT IS OF NO USE OF HIM. HE IS CERTAIN OF THIS, AND THEREFORE, IS SILENT, AND DOES NOT ARGUE. EVERY ARGUMENT THROWS HIS MIND OUT OF BALANCE, CREATES A DISTURBANCE IN THE CHITTA, AND THIS DISTURBANCE IS A DRAWBACK. THESE ARGUMENTATIONS AND SEARCHINGS OF THE REASON ARE ONLY ON THE WAY. THERE ARE MUCH HIGHER THINGS BEHIND THEM. THE WHOLE OF LIFE IS NOT FOR SCHOOLDBOY FIGHTS AND DEBATING SOCIETIES. BY " SURROUDERING THE FRUITS OF WORK TO GOD" IS TO TAKE TO OURSELVES NEITHER CREDIT NOR BLAME, BUT TO GIVE BOTH UP TO THE LORD, AND BE AT PEACE.

       

FEEL ABOUT NATURE

                                                            THE NATURE

                    GOOD DEEDS, ETC., ARE NOT THE DIRECT CAUSES IN THE TRANFORMATION OF NATURE, BUT THEY ACT AS BREAKERS OF OBSTACLES TO THE EVOLUTION OF NATURE, AS A FARMER BREAKS THE OBSTACLES TO THE COURSE OF WATER, WHICH THEN RUNS DOWN BY ITS OWN NATURE. 

             WHEN A FARMER IS IRRIGATING HIS FIELD, THE WATER IS ALREADY IN THE CANALS, ONLY THERE ARE GATES WHICH KEEP THE WATER IN. THE FARMER OPENS THESE GATES, AND THE WATER FLOWS IN BY ITSELF, BY THE LAW OF GRAVITATION. SO ALL HUMAN PROGRESS AND POWER ARE ALREADY IN EVERYTHING, THIS PERFECTION IS EVERY MAN'S NATURE, ONLY IT IS BARRED IN AND PREVENTED FROM TAKING ITS PROPER COURSE. IF ANYONE CAN TAKE THE BAR OFF, IN RUSHES NATURE. THEN THE MAN ATTAIN THE POWER WHICH ARE HIS ALREADY. THOSE WE CALLED WICKED BECOME SAINTS, AS SOON AS THE BAR IS BROKEN AND NATURE RUSHES IN. IT IS NATURE THAT IS DRIVING US TOWARDS PERFECTION, AND EVENTUALLY SHE WILL BRING EVERYONE THERE. ALL THESE PRACTICES AND STRUGGLES TO BECOME RELIGIOUS ARE ONLY NEGATIVE WORK TO TAKE OFF THE BARS, AND OPEN THE DOORS TO THAT PERFECTION WHICH IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT, OUR NATURE.

            TODAY THE EVOLUTION THEORIES OF THE YOGIS WILL BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD IN THE LIGHT OF MODERN RESEARCH. AND YET THE THEORY OF THE YOGIS IS A BETTER EXPLANATION. THE TWO CAUSES OF EVOLUTION ADVANCED BY THE MODERNS, VIZ., SEXUAL SELECTION AND SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST, ARE INADEQUATE. SUPPOSE HUMAN KNOWLEDGE TO HAVE ADVANCED TOO MUCH AS TO ELIMINATE COMPETITION, BOTHE FROM THE FUNCTION OF ACQURING PHYSICAL SUSTENANCE AND OF ACQUIRING A MATE. THEN, ACCORDING TO THE MODERNS, HUMAN PROGRESS WILL STOP AND THE RAVE WILL DIE. AND THE RESULT OF THIS THEORY IS TO FURNISH EVERY OPPRESSOR WITH AN ARGUMENT TO CALM THE QUALMS OF CONSCIENCE, AND MEN ARE NOT LACKING, WHO, POSING AS PHILOSOPHERS, WANT TO KILL OUT ALL WICKED OF COMPETENT PERSONS, AND THUS PRESERVE THE HUMAN RACE! BUT THE GREAT ANCIENT EVOLUTIONIST, PATANJALI, DECLARES THAT THE TRUE SCRET OF EVOLUTION IS THE MANIFESTATION OF THE PERFECTION WHICH IS ALREADY IN EVERY BEING, THAT THIS PERFEFCTION HAS BEEN BARRED, AND THE INFINITE TIDE IT IS STRUGGLING TO EXPRESS ITSELF. 

              THESE STRUGGLES AND COMPETIONS ARE BUT THE RESULTS OF OUR IGNORENCE, BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW THE PROPER WAY TO UNLOCK THE GATE AND LET THE WATER IN. THIS INFINITE TIDE BEHIND MUST EXPRESS ITSELF, AND IT IS THE CAUSE OF ALL MANIFESTATION, NOT COMPETITION FOR LIFE, OR SEX GRATIFICATION, WHICH ARE ONLY MOMENTARY, UNNECESSARY, EXTRANEOUS EFFECTS, CAUSED BY IGNORANCE. EVEN WHEN ALL COMPETITION HAS CEASED, THIS PERFECT NATURE BEHIND WILL MAKE US GO FORWARD UNTIL EVERYONE HAS BECOME PERFECT. THEREFORE, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE HAS BECOME PERFECT. THREFORE, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT COMPETITION IS NECESSARY TO PROGRESS. IN THE ANIMAL THE MAN WAS SUPPRESSED, BUT, AS SOON AS THE DOOR WAS OPENED, OUT RUSHED MAN. SO, IN MAN THERE IS THE POTENTIAL GOD, KEPT IN BY THE LOCKS AND BARS OF IGNORANCE. WHEN KNOWLEDGE BREAKS THESE BARS, THE GOD BECOMES MANIFEST.

ABOUT INDEPENDENCE

                                        YOGA TELL ABOUT INDEPENDENCE

           THE SIDDHIS (POWERS) ARE ATTAINED BY BIRTH, CHEMICAL MEANS, POWER OF WORDS, MORTIFICATION OR CONCENTRATION.

          SOMETIMES A MAN IS BORN WITH THE SIDDHIS, POWERS, OF COURSE FROM THE EXERCISE OF POWERS HE HAD IN HIS PREVIOUS BIRTH. IN THIS HE IS BORN, AS IT WERE, TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THEM. IT IS SAID OF KAPILA, THE GREAT FATHER OF THE SANKHYA PHILOSOPHY, THAT HE WAS A BORN SIDDHA, WHICH MEANS, LITERALLY, A MAN WHO HAS ATTAINED TO SUCCESS.

          THE YOGIS CLAIM THAT THESE POWERS CAN BE GAINED BY CHEMICAL MEANS. ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT CHEMISTRY ORIGINALLY BEGAN AS ALCHEMY, MEN WENT IN SEARCH OF THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, AND ELIXIRS OF LIFE, AND SO FORTH. IN INDIA THERE WAS A SECT CALLED THE RASAYANAS. THEIR IDEA WAS THAT IDEALITY, KNOWLEDGE, SPIRITUALLY AND RELIGION, WERE ALL VERY RIGHT, BUT THAT THE BODY WAS THE ONLY INSTRUMENT BY WHICH TO ATTAIN TO ALL THESE. IF THE BODY BROKE NOW AND THEN, IT WOULD TAKE SO MUCH MORE TIME TO ATTAIN TO THE GOAL. FOR INSTANCE, A MAN WANTS TO PRACTICE YOGA,, OR WANTS TO BECOME SPIRITUAL. BEFORE HE HAS ADVANCED VERY FAR, HE DIES. THEN HE TAKES ANOTHER BODY AND BEGINS AGAIN, THEN DIES, AND SO ON, AND IN THIS WAY MUCH TIME WILL BE LOST IN DYING AND IN BEING BORN AGAIN. IF THE BODY COULD BE MADE STRONG AND PERFECT, SO THAT IT WOULD GETRID OF BIRTH AND DEATH, WE SHOULD HAVE SO MUCH MORE TIME TO BECOME SPIRITUAL. 

               SO THESE RASAYANAS SAY, FIRST MAKE THE BODY VERY STRONG, AND THEY CLAIM THAT THIS BODY CAN BE MAKE IMMORTAL. THE IDEA IS THAT IF THE MIND IS MANUFACTURING THE BODY, AND IF IT BE TRUE THATIF THE MIND IS MANUFACTURING THE BODY, AND IF IT BE TRUE THAT EACH MIND IS ONLY ONE PARTICULAR OUTLET TO THAT INFINITE ENERGY, AND THAT THERE IS NO LIMIT TO EACH PARTICULAR OUTLET GETTING ANY AMOUNT OF POWER FROM OUTSIDE, WHY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OUR BODIES ALL THE TIME? WE SHALL HAVE TO MANUFACTURE ALL THE BODIES THAT WE SHALL EVER HAVE. AS SOON AS THIS BODY DIES, WE SHALL HAVE TO MANUFACTURE ANOTHER. IF WE CAN DO THAT,WHY CANNOT WE DO IT JUST HERE AND NOW, WITHOUT GETTING OUT? THE THEORY IS PERFECTLY CORRECT. IF IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE LIVE AFTER DEATH, AND MAKE OTHER BODIES, WHY IS IT IMPOSSIBLE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE POWER OF MAKING BODIES HERE, WIHOUT ENTIRELY DISSOLVING THIS BODY, SIMPLY CHANGING IT CONTINUALLY? THEY ALSO THOUGHT THAT IN MERCURY AND IN SULPHUR WAS HIDDEN THE MOST WONDERFUL POWER, AND THAT BY CERTAIN PREPARATIONS OF THESE A MAN COULD KEEP THE BODY AS LONG AS HE LIKE. OTHERS BELIEVED THAT CERTAIN DRUGS COULD BRING POWERS, SUCH AS FLYING THROUGH THA AIR, ETC. MANY OF THE MOST WONDERFUL MEDICINES OF THE PRESENT DAY WE OWE TO THE RASAYANAS, NOTABLY THE USE OF METALS IN MEDICINE. CERTAIN SECTS OF YOGIS CLAIM THAT MANY OF THEIR PRINCIPAL TEACHERS ARE STILL LIVING IN THEIR OLD BODIES. PATANJALI, THE GREAT AUTHORITY ON YOGA, DOES NOT DENY THIS. 

            THE POWER OF WORDS. THERE ARE CERTAIN SACRED WORDS CALLED MANTRAMS, WHICH HAVE POWER, WHEN REPEATED UNDER PROPER CONDITIONS, TO PRODUCE THESE EXTAORDINARY POWERS. WE ARE LIVING IN THE MIDST OF SUCH A MASS OF MIRACLES, DAY AND NIGHT, THAT WE DO NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THEM. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO MAN'S POWER, THE POWER OF WORDS AND THE POWER OF MIND.

          MORTIFICATION, YOU WILL FIND THAT IN EVERY RELIGION, MORTIFICATIN AND ASCETICISM HAVE BEEN PRACTISED. IN THESE RELIGION CONCEPTIONS,THE HINDUS ALWAYS GO TO THE EXTEEMES. YOU WILL FIND MEN STANDING WITH THEIR HANDS UP ALL THEIR LIVES, UNTIL THEIR HANDS WITHER AND DIE. MEN SLEEP STANDING, DAY AND NIGHT, UNTIL THEIR FEET SWELL, AND , IF THEY LIVE, THE LEGS BECOME SO STIFF IN THIS POSITION THAT THEY CAN NO MORE BEND THEM, BUT HAVE TO STAND ALL THEIR LIVES. I ONCE SAW A MAN WHO HAD RAISED HIS HANDS IN THIS WAY, AND I ASKED HIM HOW IT FELT WHEN HE DID IT FIRST. HE SAID IT WAS AWFUL TORTURE. IT WAS SUCH TORTURE THAT HE HAD TO GO TO A RIVER AND PUT HIMSELF IN WATER, AND THAT ALLAYED THE PAIN FOR A LITTLE. AFTER A MONTH HE DID NOT SUFFER MUCH. THROUGH SUCH PRACTICES POWERS CAN BE ATTAINED.

                 CONCENTRATION. THE CONCENTRATION IS SAMADHI, AND THAT IS YOGA PROPER, THAT IS THE PRINCIPLE THEME OF THIS SCIENCE, AND IT IS THE HIGHEST MEANS. THE PRECEDING ONES ARE ONLY SECONDARY, AND WE CANNOT ATTAIN TO THE HIGHEST THROUGH THEM. SAMADHI IS THE MEANS THROUGH WHICH WE CAN GAIN ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, MENTAL,MORAL OR SPIRITUAL.

MEDITATION

                                               OUR BODY AND THE SOUL

          AT THE TIME ( THE TIME OF CONCENTRATION) THE SEER ( THE PURUSA) RESTS IN HIS OWN (UNMODIFIED) STATE. AS SOON AS THE WAVES HAVE STOPPED, AND THE LAKE HAS BECOME QUIE, WE SEE THE GROUND BELOW THE LAKE, SO WITH THE MIND, WHEN IT IS CALM, WE SEE WHAT OUR OWN NATURE IS, WE DO NOT MIX OURSELF BUT REMAIN OUR OWN SELVES.

         AT OTHER TIMES(OTHER THAN OF CONCENTRATION) THE SEER IS IDENTIFIED WITH THE MODIFICATIONS. FOR INSTANCE, I AM IN A STATE OF SORROW, SOMEONE BLAMES ME, THIS IS A MODIFICATION, VRITTI, AND I IDENTIFY MYSELF WITH IT, AND THE RESULT IS MISERY. THERE ARE FIVE CLASSES OF MODIFICATION, PAINFUL AND NOT PAINFUL. THESE ARE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE, INDISCRIMINATION, VERBAL DELUSION, SLEEP AND MEMORY. DIRECT PERCEPTION, INFERENCE AND COMPETENT EVIDENCE ARE PROOFS.

       WHEN TWO OF OUR PERCEPTIONS DO NOT CONSTRADICT EACH OTHER, WE CALL IT PROOF, I HEAR SOMETHIN, AND IF IT CONTRADICTS SOMETHING ALREADY PERCEIVED, I BEGIN TO FIGHT IT OUT, AND DO NOT BELIEVE IT. THERE ARE ALOS THREE KIDS OF PROOF. DIRECT PERCEPTION, PRATYAKSHAM, WHATEVER WE SEE AND FEEL, IS PROOF, IF THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO DELUDE THE SENSES. I SEE THE WORLD THAT IS SUFFICIENT PROOF THAT IT EXISTS. SECONDLY, ANUMANA, INFERENCE, YOU SEE A SIGN, AND FROM THE SIGN YOU COME TO THE THING SIGNIFIED. THIRDLY, APTAVAKYAM, THE DIRECT PERCEPTION OF THE YOGI, OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN THE TRUTH. WE ARE ALL OF US STRUGGLING TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE, BUT YOU AND I HAVE TO STRUGGLE HARD, AND COME TO KNOWLEDGE, BUT YOU AND I HAVE TO STRUGGLE HARD, AND COME TO KNOWLEDGE THROUGH A LONG TEDIOUS PROCESS OF REASONING. WHEREAS THE YOGI, THE PURE ONE, HAS GONE BEYOND ALL THIS.

         BEFORE HIS MIND, THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE, ARE LIKE ONE BOOK FOR HIM TO READ. HE DOES NOT REQUIRE TO GO THROUGH THIS TEDIOUS PROCESS, AND HIS WORDS ARE PROOFS, BECAUSE HE SEES KNOWLEDGE IN HIMSELF, HE IS THE OMNISCIENT ONE. THESE, FOR INSTANCE, ARE THE AUTHORS OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES. THEREFORE, THE SCRIPTURES ARE PROOF, AND IF ANY SUCH PERSONS ARE LIVING NOW, THEIR WORDS WILL BE PROOF. OTHER PHILOSOPHERS GO INTO LONG DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS APTA, AND THEY SAY, WHAT IS THE PROOF THAT THIS IS TRUTH? THE PROOF IS BECAUSE THEY SEE IT, BECAUSE WHATEVER I SEE IS PROOF, AND WHAEVER IT DOES NOT CONTRADICT REASON AND PAST HUMAN EXPERIENCE, THAT KNOWLEDGE IS PROOF. ANY MADMAN MAY COME INTO THIS ROOMS AND SAY THAT HE SEES ANGELS AROUND HIM, THAT WOULD NOT BE PROOF. IN THE FIRST PLACE, IT MUST BE TRUE KNOWLEDGE, SECONDLY, IT MUST NOT CONTRADICT KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAST, AND THIRDLY, IT MUST DEPEND UPON THE CHARACTER OF THE MAN. I HEAR IT SAID THAT THE CHARATER OF THE MAN IS OT OF SO MUCH IMPORTANCE AS WHAT HE MAY SAY, WE MUST FIRST HEAR WHAT HE SAYS.

           THE THREE SORTS OF PROOF, ARE THEN DIRECT SENSE PERCEPTION, INFERENCE, AND THE WORDS OF AN APTA. I CANNOT TRANSLATE THIS WORD INTO ENGLISH. IT IS NOT THE WORD INSPIRED, BECAUSE THAT COMES FROM OUTSIDE, WHILE THIS COMES FORM HIMSELF. THE LITEREAL MEANING IS "ATTAINED". 

  

ABOUT YOGA

                                                 KNOW ABOUT YOGA

           A GOOD DEAL OF EXPLANATION IS NECESSARY HERE. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CHITTA, AND WHAT ARE THESE VRITTIS. I HAVE THIS EYES DO NOT SEE. TAKE AWAY THE BRAIN CENTRE WHICH IS IN THE HEAD, THE EYES WILL STILL BE THERE, THE RETINA COMPLETE, AND ALSO THE PICTURE, AND YET THE EYES WILL NOT SEE. SO THE EYES ARE ONLY A SECONDARY INSTRUMENT, NOT THE ORGAN OF VISION. THE ORGAN OF VISION IS IN THE NERVE CENTRE OF THE BRAIN. THE TWO EYESWILL NO BE SUFFICIENT ALONE. SOMETIMES A MAN IS ASLEEP WITH HIS EYES OPEN. THE LIGHT IS THERE AND THE PICTURE IS THERE, BUT  A THIRD THING IS NECESSARY, MIND MUST BE JOINED TO THE ORGAN. THE EYES IS THE EXTERNAL INSTRUMENT, WE NEED ALSO THE BRAIN CENTRE AND THE AGENCY OF THE MIND.

           CARRIAGES ROLL DOWN A STREET AND YOU DO NOT HEAR THEM. WHY? BECAUSE YOUR MIND HAS NOT ATTACHED ITSELF TO THE ORGAN OF HEARING. FIRST THERE IS THE INSTRUMENT, THEN THERE IS THE ORGAN, AND THIRD, THE MIND ATTACHMENT TO THESE TWO. THE MIND TAKES THE IMPRESSION FARTHER IN, AND PRESENTS IT TO THE DETERMINATIVE FACULTY BUDDHI WHICH REACTS. ALONG WITH THIS REACTION FLASHES THE IDEA OF EGOISM. THEN THIS MIXTURE OF ACTION AND REACTION IS PRESENTED TO THE OBJECT IN THIS MIXTURE. NATURALLY WE SEE THAT THE MIND IS NOT INTELLIGENT, YET IT APPEARS TO BE INTELLIGENT. WHY? BECAUSE THE INTELLIGENT SOUL IS BEHIND IT. YOU ARE THE ONLY SENTIENT BEING, MIND IS ONLY THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH YOU CATCH THE EXTERNAL WORLD.

             IT IS THE SUGGESTION THAT GIVES A BLOW TO THE MIND, AND THE WATER, THE WATER IS THROWN AGAINST IT IN THE FORM OF WAVES, THE REAL UNIVERSE, IS THE OCCASION OF THE REACTION OF THE MIND.

            WE CANNOT SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE, BECAUSE ITS SURFACE IS COVERED WITH RIPPLES. IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN THE RIPPLES HAVE SUBSIDED, AND THED WATER IS MUDDY, THE BOTTOM WILL NOT BE SEEN, IF THE WATER IS AGITATED ALL THE TIME, THE BOTTOM WILL NOT BE SEEN. IF THE WATER  IS CLEAR, AND THERE ARE NO WAVES, WE SHALL SEE THE BOTTOM. THAT BOTTOM OF THE LAKE IS OUR OWN TRUE SELF, THE LAKE IS THE CHITTA, AND THE WAVES ARE THE VRITTIS. AGAIN, THIS MIND IS IN THE THREE STATES, ONE DARKNESS, WHICH CALLED TAMAS, JUST AS IN BRUTES AND IDIOTS, IT ONLY ACTS TO INJURE OTHERS. NO OHTER IDEA COMES INTO THAT STATE OF MIND. THEN THERE IS THE ACTIVE STATE OF MIND, RAJAS, WHOSE CHIEF MOTIVES ARE POWER AND ENJOYMENT. I WILL BE POWERFUL AND RULE OTHERS.

             THEN, AT LAST, WHEN THE WAVES CEASE, AND THE WATER OF THE LAKE BECOMES CLEAR, THERE IS THE STATE CALLED SATTVA, SERENITY, CALMNESS. IT IS NOT INACTIVE, BUT RATHER INTENSELY ACTIVE, IT IS THE GREATEST MANIFESTATION OF POWER TO BE CALM. IT IS EASY TO BE ACTIVE. LET THE REINS GO, AND THE HORSES WILL DRAG YOU DOWN. ANYMORE CAN DO THAT, BUT HE WHO CAN STOP THE PUNGING HORSES IS THE STRONG MAN. WHICH REQUIRES THE GREATER STRENGTH, LETTING GO, OR RESTRAINING? THE CALM MAN IN NOT THE MAN WHO IS DULL. YOU MUST NOT MISTAKE SATTVA FOR DULLNESS, OR LAZINESS. THE CALM MAN IS THE ONE WHO HAS RESTRAINT OF THESE WAVES. ACTIVITY IS THE MANIFESTAION OF THE LOWER STRENGTH, CALMNESS OF THE SUPERIOR STRENGTH. 

 

OUR GOOD THOUGHTS

                                        WHAT YOU THINK YOU BECOME....

       1. THE ONLY REMEDY FOR BAD HABITS IS COUNTER HABITS, ALL THE BAD HABITS THAT HAVE LEFT THEIR IMPRESSIONS ARE TO BE CONTROLLED BY GOOD HABITS. GO ON DOING GOOD, THINKING HOLY THOUGHTS CONTINUOULSY, THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SUPPRESS BASE IMPRESSIONS. NEVER SAY ANY MAN IS HOPELESS, BECAUSE HE ONLY REPRESENTS A CHARACTER, A BUNDLE OF HABITS, WHICH CAN BE CHECKED BY NEW AND BETTER ONES. CHARACTER IS REPEATED HABITS, AND REPEATED HABITS ALONE CAN REFORM CHARACTER.

     2. VIVEKANANDA WAS BORN ON JANUARY 12, 1863, IN CALCUTTA. FROM THE BEGINNING HE WAS A PRECOCIOUS BOY OF EXPECTIONAL ENERGY. YET HIS INNATE TENDENCY TOWARD MEDITATION SHOWED ITSELF EVEN IN HIS EARLY LIFE. FOR ALONG WITH THE ORDINARY CHILDHODD GAMES, HE WOULD PLAY AT MEDITATION.

    3. IT IS ATTACHMENT, IDENTIFICATION, WHICH MAKES US MISERABLE. THAT IS THE SECRET, TO THINK THAT I AM THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE BODY, AND THAT THE WHOLE OF THIS UNIVERSE WITH ALL ITS RELATIONS, WITH ALL ITS GOOD AND ALL ITS EVIL, IS BUT A SERIES OF PAINTINGS- SCENES ON A CANVAS- OF WHICH I AM THE WITNESS.

  4. BE GRATEFUL TO HIM WHO CURSES YOU, FOR HE GIVES YOU A MIRROR TO SHOW WHAT CURSING IS, ALSO A CHANCE TO PRACTISE SELF RESTRAINST, SO BLESS HIM AND BE GLAD. WITHOUT THE MIRROR, WE CANNOT SEE OUSELVES.

  5. THE MIND UNCONTROLLED AND UNGUIDED WILL DRAG US DOWN, DOWN, FOR EVER REND US, KILL US. AND THE MIND CONTROLLED AND GUIDED WILL SAVE US, FREE US.

  6. FIRST HEAR, THEN UNDERSTAND, AND THEN LEAVING ALL DISTRACTIONS, SHUT YOUR MINDS TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE, AND DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO DEVELOPING THE TRUTH WITHIN YOU. 

 7. WHAT IS MEANT, THEREFORE, BY THIS MORTIFICATION? HOLDING THE REIN FIRMLY WHILE GUIDING THE BODY AND THE ORGANS, NOT LETTING THEM DO ANYTHING THEY LIKE, BUT KEEPING THEM BOTH UNDER PROPER CONTROL.

 8. THERE MUST BE  A CONTINUOUS STRUGGLE, A CONSTANT FIGHT, AN UNREMITTING GRAPPLING WITH OUT LOWER NATURE, TILL THE HIGHER WANT IS ACTUALLY FELT AND THE VICTORY IS ACHIEVED.

 9. AS TO THE THIRST AFTER KNOLEDGE, IT IS AND OLD LAW THAT WE ALL GET WHATEVER WE WANT. NONE OF US CAN GET ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT WE FIX OUR HEARTS UPON.

 10.MAN IS A SLAVE OF NATURE, AND SLAVE ETERNALLY HE HAS GOT TO REMAIN. WE CALL IT KARMA. KARMA MEANS LAW, AND IT APPLIES EVERYWHERE. EVERYTHING IS BOUND BY KARMA.

 11. HE WHO IN THE MIDST OF INTENSE ACTIVITY FINDS HIMSELF IN THE GREATEST CALMNESS, AND IN THE GREATEST PEACE FINDS INTENSE ACTIVITY, THAT IS THE GREATEST( YOGI AS WELL AS THE WISEST MAN)

 12. IN SEARCH OF WEALTH IN THIS WORLD, THOU ART THE ONLY WEALTH I HAVE FOUND. I SACRIFICE MYSELF INTO THEE. IN SEARCH OF SOME ONE TO BE LOVED. THOU ARETHE ONLY ONE BELOVED I HAVE FOUND, I SACRIFICE MYSELF UNTO THEE.

 13. WE THINK AND OUR BODIES DO NOT FOLLOW. OUR ACTIONS DO NO HARMONISE WITH OUT THOUGHTS.

 14. ANIMALS CANNOT HAVE ANY HIGH THOUGHTS, NOR CAN THE ANGELS OR DEVAS ATTAIN TO DIRECT FREEDOM WITHOUT HUMAN BIRTH.

 15. EVEN SO THE SAGE CAN DRAW ALL HIS SENSE ORGANS INSIDE, AND NOTHING CAN FORCE THEM OUT.

 16. NOTHING CAN SHAKE HIM, NO TEMPTATION OR ANYTHING.

 17. WHERE IT IS DARK NIGHT FOR THE (SENSE BOUND) WORLD, THE SELF CONTROLLED (MAN) IS AWAKE.

 18. THE HEART AND CORE OF EVERYTHING HERE IS GOOD, THAT WHATEVER MAY BE THE SURFACE WAVES, DEEP DOWN AND UNDERLYING EVERYTHING, THERE IS AN INFINITE BASIS OF GOODNESS AND LOVE.

 19. GOD GAVE ME NOTHING I WANTED HE GAVE ME EVERYTHING I NEEDED.

 20. PEOPLE LAUGH AT ME BECAUSE I AM DIFFERENT, I LAUGH AT PEOPLE CAUSE THE ARE ALL THE SAME.

 21. THE SUCCESS SOMETIMES MAY COME IMMEDIATELY, BUT WE MUST BE READY TO WAIT PATIENTLY EVEN FOR WHAT MAY LOOK LIKE AN INFINITE LENGHT OF TIME. THE STUDENT WHO SETS OUT WITH SUCH A SPIRIT OF PERSEVERANCE WILL SURELY FIND SUCCESS AND REALISATION AT LAST.

 22. OUR DUTY IS TO ENCOURAGE EVERY ONE IN HIS STRUGGLE TO LIVE UP TO HIS OWN HIGHEST IDEA, AND STRIVE AT THE SAME TIME TO MAKE THE IDEAL AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE TO THE TRUTH.

 23. A FEW HEART- WHOLE, SINCERE, AND ENERGETIC MEN AND WOMEN CAN DO MORE IN A YEAR THAN A MOB IN A CENTURY.

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PROBLEMS

                                         ILLUSIONS OF THE PROBLEMS

 

      IT FEELS AS IF A HEAVY BURDEN HAS BEEN LIFTED. A SENSE OF LIGHTNESS. I FEEL CLEAR. BUT MY PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE WAITING FOR ME, AREN'T THEY? THEY HAVEN'T BEEN SOLVED. AM I NOT JUST TEMPORARILY EVADING THEM?

       IF YOU FOUND YOURSELF IN PARADISE, IT WOULDN'T BE LONG BEFORE YOUR MIND WOULD SAY "YES, BUT ,,," ULTIMATE, THIS IS NOT ABOUT SOLVING YOUR PROBLEMS. IT'S ABOUTREALIZING THAT THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. ONLY SITUATIONS-TO BE DEALT WITH NOW, OR TO BE LEFT ALONE AND ACCEPTED AS PART OF THE "ISNESS" OF THE PRESENT MOMENT UNTIL THEY CHANGE OR CAN BE DEALT WITH. PROBLEMS ARE MIND-MADE AND NEED TIME TO SURVIVE, THEY CANNOT SURVIVE IN THE ACTUALITY OF THE NOW.

     FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE NOW AND TELL ME WHAT PROBLEMS YOU HAVE AT THIS MOMENT.

    ALL NEGATIVITY IS CAUSED BY AN ACCUMULATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME AND DENIAL OF THE PRESENT. UNEASE, ANXIETY, TENTION, STRESS, WORRY- ALL FORMS OF FEAR- ARE CAUSED BY TOO MUCH FUTURE, AND NOT ENOUGH PRESENCE. GUILT, REGRET, RESENTMENT, GRIEVANCE, SADNESS,BITTERNESS, AND ALL FORMA OF NONFORGIVENESS ARE CAUSED BY TOO MUCH PAST, AND NOT ENOUGH PRESENCE.

      MOST PEOPLE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT A STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS TOTALLY FREE OF ALL NEGATIVITY IS POSSIBLE. AND YET THIS IS THE LIBERATED STATE OF WHICH ALL SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS POINT. IT IS THE PROMISE OF SALVATION, NOT IN AN ILLUSORY FUTURE BUT THE RIGHT HERE AND NOW.

      YOU MAY FIND IT HARD TO RECOGNIZE THAT TIME IS THE CAUSE OF YOUR SUFFERING OR YOUR PROBLEMS,YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE CAUSED BY SPECIFIC SITUATIONS IN YOUR LIFE, AND SEEN FROM A CONVENTIONAL VIEWPOINT, THIS IS TRUE. BUT UNTIL YOU HAVE DEALT WITH THE BASIC PROBLEM- MAKING DYSFUNCTION OF THE MIND- ITS ATTACHMENT TO PAST AND FUTURE AND DENIAL OF THE NOW- PROBLEMS ARE ACTUALLY INTERCHANGEABLE. IF ALL YOUR PROBLEMS OR PERCEIVED CAUSES OF SUFFERING OR UNHAPPINESS WERE MIRACULOUSLY REMOVED FOR YOU TODAY, BUT YOU HAD NOT BECOME MORE PRESENT, MORE CONSCIOUS, YOU WOULD SOON FIND YOURSELF WITH A SIMILAR SET OF PROBLEMS OR CAUSES OF SUFFERING, LIKE A SHADOW THAT FOLLOWS YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. ULTIMATELY, THERE IS ONE PROBLEM, THE TIME BOUND MIND ITSELF.

      I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I COULD EVER REACH A POINT WHERE I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF MY PROBLEMS.

      YOU ARE RIGHT. YOU CAN NEVER REACH THAT POINT BECAUSE YOU ARE AT THAT POINT NOW.

     THERE IS NO SALVATION IN TIME. YOU CANNOT BE FREE IN THE FUTURE. PRESENCE IS THE KEY TO FREEDOM,SO YOU CAN ONLY BE FREE NOW. 

   

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND INNER PEACE

                                        HAPPINESS AND INNER PEACE

         IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND INNER PEACE?

       YES. HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON CONDITIONS BEING PERCEIVED AS POSITIVE, INNER PEACE DOES NOT.

     IS IT NOT POSSIBLE TO ATTRACT ONLY POSITIVE CONDITIONS INTO OUR LIFE? IF OUR ATTITUDE AND OUR THINKING ARE ALWAYS POSITIVE, WE WOULD MANIFEST ONLY POSITIVE EVENTS AND SITUATIONS, WOULD'T WE?

    DO YOU TRULY KNOW WHAT IS POSITIVE AND WHAT IS NEGATIVE? DO YOU HAVE THE TOTAL PICTURE? THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE FOR WHOM LIMITATION, FAILURE, LOSS, ILLNESS, OR PAIN IN WHTEVER FORM TURNED OUT TO BE THEIR GREATEST TEACHER. IT TAUGHT THEM TO LET GO OF FALSE SELF-IMAGES AND SUPERFICIAL EGO- DICTATED GOALS AND DESIRES. IT GAVE THEM DEPTH, HUMILITY, AND COMPASSION. IT MADE THEM MORE REAL.

    WHENEVER ANYTHING NEGATIVE HAPPENS TO YOU, THERE IS A DEEP LESSON CONCEALED WITHIN IT, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT SEE IT AT THE TIME. EVEN A BRIEF ILLNESS OR AN ACCIDENT CAN SHOW YOU WHAT IS REAL AND UNREAL IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT ULTIMATELY MATTERS AND WHAT DOESN'T.

     SEEN FROM A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE, CONDITIONS ARE ALWAYS POSITIVE. TO BE MORE PRECISE, THEY ARE NEITHER POSITIVE NOR NEGATIVE. THEY ARE AS THEY ARE. AND WHEN YOU LIVE IN COMPLETE ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT IS WHICH IS THE ONLY SANE WAY TO LIVE- THERE IS NO "GOOD" OR "BAD" IN YOUR LIFE ANYMORE. THERE IS ONLY A HIGHER GOOD- WHICH INCLUDED THE "BAD". SEEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE MIND, HOWEVER, THER IS GOOD, BAD, LIKE - DISLIKE, LOVE - HATE. HENCE, IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS, IT IS SAID THAT ADAM AND EVE WERE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO DWELL IN "PARADISE" WHEN THEY ATE OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.

                            

            WHAT IF IT IS A SITUATION THAT I DO SOMETHING ABOUT? HOW CAN I ALLOW IT TO BE AND CHANGE IT AT THE SAME TIME?

      DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. IN THE MEANTIME, ACCEPT WHAT IS , SINCE MIND AND RESISTENCE AS SYNONNYMOUS, ACCEPTANCE IMMEDIATELY FREES YOU FROM MIND DOMINANCE AND THUS RECONNECTS YOU WITH BEING. AS A RESULT, THE USUAL EGO MOTIVATIONS FOR "DOING"- FEAR, GREED, CONTROL, DEFENDING OR FEEDING THE FALSE SENSE OF SELF- WILL CEASE TO OPERATE. AS INTELLIGENCE MUCH GREATER THAN THE MIND IS NOW IN CHARGE, AND SO A DIFFERENT QUALITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS WILL FLOW INTO YOUR DOING.

      ACCEPT WHATEVER COMES TO YOU WOVEN IN THE PATTERN OF YOUR DESTINY, FOR WHAT COULD MORE APTLY FIT YOUR NEEDS? THIS WAS WRITTEN 2000 YEARS AGO BY MARCUS AURELIUS, ONE OF THOSE EXCEEDINGLY RARE HUMANS WHO PASSESSED WORLDLY POWER AS WELL AS WISDOM.

     IT SEEMS THAT MOST PEOPLE NEED TO EXPERIENCE A GREAT DEAL OF SUFFERING BEFORE THEY WILL RELINQUISH RESISTENCE AND ACCEPT- BEFORE THEY WILL FORGIVE, AS SOON AS THEY DO, ONE OF THE GREATEST MIRACLES HAPPENS. THE AWAKENING OF BEING-CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH WHAT APPEARS AS EVIL, THE TRANSMUTATION OF SUFFERING INTO INNER PEACE. THE ULTIMATE EFFECT OF THE EVIL AND SUFFERING IN THE WORLD IS THAT IT WILL FORCE HUMANS INTO REALIZING WHO THEY ARE BEYOND NAME AND FORM. THUS, WHAT WE PERCEIVE AS EVIL FROM OUR LIMITED PERSPECTIVE IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE HIGHER GOOD THAT HAS NO OPPOSITE. THIS, HOWEVER DOES NOT BECOME TRUE FOR YOU EXCEPT THROUGH FORGIVENESS. UNTILL THAT HAPPENS, EVIL HAS NOT BEEN REDEEMED AND THEREFORE REMAINS EVIL.

        WHOEVER OR WHATEVER ENTERS THAT FIELD OF CONSCIOUSNESS WILL BE AFFECTED BY IT, SIMETIMES VISIBLY AND IMMEDIATELY, SOMETIMES AT DEEPER LEVELS WITH VISIBLE CHANGES APPEARING AT A LATER TIME. YOU DISSOLVE DISCORD, HEAL PAIN, DISPEL INCONSCIOUSNESS- WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING- SIMPLY BY BEING AND HOLDING THAT FREQUENCY OF INTENSE PRESENCE. 

    

 

HISTORY OF PLANTS

                                                         JUICY FRUIT

             SOME SEEDS GROW INSIDE FRUIT, BERRIES AND NUTS. THESE SEEDS ARE SPREAD BY BIRDS AND ANIMALS. WHEN BIRDS EAT FRUIT AND BERRIES, THEY EAT THE SEEDS TOO. THEY FLY AWAY AND THE SEEDS ARE SPREAD IN THEIR DROPPINGS. THERE ARE ABOUT BLUEBERRY. CHIPMUNKS EAT FRUIT AND NUTS. THEY TAKE THEIR FOOD INTO THEIR BURROWS TO EAT. THE SEEDS ARE SPREAD IN THEIR DROPPINGS. SQUIRRELS OFTEN BURY NUTS IN THE GROUND TO EAT LATER. THEN THEY FORGET ABOUT THEM AND THE SEEDS START TO GROW.

                                                                    NEW PLANTS

     SOME PLANTS HAVE SPECIAL WAYS TO MAKE NEW PLANTS.  A SHOOT CALLED A RUNNER GROWS OUT SIDEWAYS FROM A STRAWBERRY PLANT. WHEN IT TOUCHES THE GROUND IT GROWS ROOTS. A NEW PLANT GROWS FROM THE ROOTS AND THE RUNNER ROTS AWAY. A SMALL, NEW BULB GROWS ON THE SIDE OF A DAFFODIL BULB.ONLY ONE OR TWO FLOWERS GROW FROM EACH DAFFODIL BULD. THE NEW BULB GROWS BIGGER AND THE TWO BULBS SPLIT APART. 

                                                               HOT DESERTS

   SOME DESERT PLANTS DON'T GROW WHILE THE SOIL IS DRY, BUT THEIR SEEDS LIE IN THE GROUND. AFTER RAIN, THE SEEDS GROW QUICKLY INTO FLOWERS. THE FLOWERS MAKE SEEDS AND THEN DIE. THE NEW SEEDS WILL GROW WHEN IT RAINS AGAIN. 

OLD MAN CACTUS PLANTS ARE COVERED IN WOOLLY HAIR TO SHADE THEM FROM THE SUN

    WHEN IT IS DRY THE LEAVES FALL OFF AND OCOTILLO PLANT. NEW LEAVES WILL GROW AGAIN AFTER IT HAS RAINED. ALOE PLANTS STORE WATER INSIDE THEIR THICK, SPIKY LEAVES. 

                                                             WATER PLANTS

          SOME PLANTS GROW IN PONDS AND LAKES. MANY HAVE ROOTS WHICH GROW ON THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE. SOME WATER PLANTS HAVE ROOTS WHICH FLOAT IN WATER. A WATER LILY'S FLOWERS FLOAT ON THE SURFACE, SO THAT INSECTS CAN REACH THE POLLEN. 

  MOST WATER PLANTS DON'T GROW IN RIVERS, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE WASHED AWAY.

    WATER LILIES HAVE FLAT LEAVES WITH A WAXY SURFACE. THIS HELPS THEM TO FLOAT. THEY DON'T SINK EVEN IF A FROG SITS ON THEM.

                                                              KLLLER PLANTS

      SOME PLANTS CATCH INSECTS AND TURN THEM INTO JUICE, WHICH THEY SOAK UP. A FLY LANDS IN A VENUS FLYTRAP'S SPIKY LEAVES. THE TRAP SNAPS SHUT AND THE FLY SLOWLY ROTS INSIDE. SUNDREW PLANTS HAVE STICKY HAIRS WHICH TRAP INSECTS. PITCHER PLANTS HAVE LEAVES WHICH LOOK LIKE CUPS AND ARE FILLEW WITH WATER. THERE IS SOME NECTAR ON THE RIM. ANTS CRAWL INTO PITCHER PLANTS TO LOOK FOR MORE NECTAR. 

MONKEYS LIKE TO PICK PITCHER PLANTS AND DRINK THE WATER INSIDE.

IRCHIDS, LIKE THIS ONE, GROW IN RAINFORESTS. THEY ATTRACT INSECTS WITH THEIR BRIGHT PETALS

        HERE ARE SOME OF THE WORDS IN UNDER YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW, WHAT THEY MEAN

      

    SEED           -  A HARD SHELL WITH A YOUNG PLANT INSIDE.

   SEED POD - THE PART OF A FLOWER WHERE THE SEEDS GROW.

  BULB          - SPECIAL UNDERGROUND LEAVES WHERE SOME PLANTS STORE THEIR                                   FOOD

  STAMENS   - LONG TUBES IN THE MIDDLE OF A FLOWER WHERE POLLEN IS MADE.

  POLLEN      - A POWDER WHICH PLANTS SWAP WITH OTHER PLANTS TO MAKE SEEDS

  NECTAR     - A SWEET JUICE INSIDE FLOWERS WHICH ANIMALS, BIRDS AND INSECTS DRINK.

 RUNNER     - A SPECIAL STEM WHICH GROWS OUT SIDEWAYS FROM SOME PLANTS.

    

WAKE UP WITH SUCCESS

                                             READ THIS POSITIVE LINES 

    1. WITH LOVE THERE IS NO PAINFUL REACTION, LOVE ONLY BRINGS A REACTION OF BLISS, IF IT DOES NOT, IT IS NOT LOVE, IT IS MISTAKING SOMETHING ELSE FOR LOVE, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA.

    2. DO NOT SPEND YOUR ENERGY IN TALKING, BUT MEDITATE IN SILENCE, AND DO NOT LET THE RUSH OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD DISTURB YOU. WHEN YOUR MIND IS IN THE HIGHEST STATE, YOU ARE UNCONSCIOUS OF IT.

   3. SO NEVER MIND THESE FAILURES, THESE LITTLE BACKSLIDINGS. HOLD THE IDEAL A  THOUSAND TIMES, AND IF YOU FAIL A THOUSAND TIMES, MAKE THE ATTEMPT ONCE MORE... THERE IS INFINITE LIFE BEFORE THE SOUL. TAKE YOUR TIME AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR END.

  4. ABOVE ALL, BEWARE OF COMPROMISES, HOLD ON TO YOUR OWN PRINCIPLES IN WEAL OR WOE AND NEVER ADJUST THEM TO OTHERS FADS, THROUGH THE GREED OF GETTING SUPPORTERS.

  5. PERSEVERANCE, TREMENDOUS WILL. I WILL DRINK THE OCEAN, SAY THE PRESEVERING SOUL, AT MY WILL MOUNTAINS WILL CRUMBLE UP, HAVE THAT SORT OF ENERGY, THAT SORT OF WILL, WORK HARD, AND YOU WILL REACH THE GOAL.

  6. RAJA- YOGA IS THE SCIENCE OF RELIGION, THE RATIONALE OF ALL WORSHIP, ALL PRAYERS, FORMS, CEREMONIES, AND MIRACLES.

  7. EVERY MAN SHOULD TAKE UP HIS OWN IDEAL AND ENDEAVOUR TO ACCOMPLISH IT. THAT IS A SURER WAY OF PROGRESS THAN TAKING UP OTHER MEN'S IDEAL, WHICH HE CAN NEVER HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH.

  8. SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY WE ARE TO TRAIN OURSELVES. IT IS NO JOKE- NOT A QUESTION OF A DAY, OR YEARS, OR MAY BE OF BIRTHS. NEVER MIND! THE PULL MUST GO ON. INCH BY INCH WE WILL GAIN GROUND. WE WILL BEGIN TO FEEL AND GET REAL POSSESIONS, WHICH NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM US- THE WEALTH THAT NO MAN CAN TAKE, THE WEALTH THAT NOBODY CAN DESTROY, THE JOY THAT NO MISERY CAN HURT ANY MORE.

  9. RELIGION CAN BE REALISED. ARE YOU READY? DO YOU WANT? YOU WILL GET THE REALISATION IF YOU DO , AND THEN YOU WILL BE TRULY RELIGIOUS. UNTILL YOU HAVE ATTINED REALISATION THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ATHEISTS. THE ATHEISTS ARE SINCERE, BUT THE MAN WHO SAYS THAT HE BELIEVES IN RELIGION AND NEVER ATTEMPTS TO REALISE IT IS NOT SINCERE.

  10. LIFE IS ITSELF RELIGION.

  11. IF YOU WANT THE REWARD, YOU MUST ALSO HAVE THE PUNISHMENT, THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE PUNISHMENT IS TO GIVE UP THE REWARD.

  12. EXISTENCE CAN NEVER BE NON-EXISTENCE NEITHER CAN NON-EXESTENCE EVER BECOME EXISTENCE... KNOW, THEREFORE, THAT WHICH PERVADES ALL THIS INIVERSE IS WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END. IT IS UNCHANGEABLE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE UNIVERSE THAT CAN CHANGE ( THE CHANGELESS). THOUGH THIS BODY HAS ITS BEGINNING AND END, THE DWELLER IN THE BODY IS INFINITE AND WITHOUT END.

 13. YOU MAY SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO ME BY THE HOUR EVERY DAY, BUT IF YOU DO NOT PRACTICE, YOU WILL NOT GET ONE STEP FURTHER. IT ALL DEPENDS ON PRACTICE.

  14. BY ALL MEANS MAKE A START- EVEN IF IT'S FOR THE WRONG REASON.

  15. THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE WE CANNOT SEE, BECAUSE ITS SURFACE IS COVERED WITH RIPPLES. IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE FOR US TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE BOTTOM, WHEN THE RIPPLES HAVE SUBSIDED, AND THE WATER IS CALM.

THE SILENCE

                                              LIKE GOD AS SILENCE

 

        ARE THERE ANY OTHER PORTALS APART FROM THOSE YOU JUST MENTIONED?

       YES, THERE ARE. THE UNMANIFESTED IS NOT SEPERATE FROM THE MANIFESTED. IT PERVADES THIS WORLD, BUT IT IS SO WELL DISGUESED THAT ALMOST EVERYBODY MISSES IT COMPLETELY. IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, YOU'LL FIND IT EVERYWHERE. A PORTAL OPENS UP EVERY MOMENT.

      DO YOU HEAR THAT DOG BARKING IN THE DISTANCE? OR THAT CAR PASSING BY? LISTEN CAREFULLY. CAN YOU FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE UNMANIFESTED IN THAT? YOU CAN? LOOK FOR IT IN THE SILENCE OUT OF WHICH THE SOUNDS COME AND INTO WHICH THEY RETURN. PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE SILENCE THAN TO THE SOUNDS. PAYING ATTENTION TO OUTER SILENCE CREATES INNER SILENCE, THE MIND BECOMES STILL. A PORTAL IS OPENING UP.

       EVERY  SOUND IS BORN OUT OF SILENCE, DIES BACK INTO SILENCE, AND DURING ITS LIFE SPAN IS SURROUNDED BY SILENCE. SILENCE ENABLES THE SOUND TO BE. IT IS AN INTRINSIC BUT UNMANIFESTED PART OF EVERY SOUND, EVERY MUSICAL NOTE, EVERY SONG, EVERY WORD. THE UNMANIFESTED IS PRESENT IN THIS WORD AS SILENCE. THIS IS WHY IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS SO LIKE GOD AS SILENCE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PAY ATTENTION TO IT. EVEN DURING A CONVERSATION, BECOME CONSCIOUS OF THE GAPS BETWEEN WORDS, THE BRIEF SILENT INTERVALS BETWEEN SENTENCES. AS YOU DO THAT, THE DIMENSION OF STILLNESS GROWS WITHIN YOU, YOU CANNOT PAY ATTENTION TO SILENCE WITHOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY BECOMING STILL WITHIN. SILENCE WITHOUT, STILLNESS WITHIN. YOU HAVE ENTERED THE UNMANIFESTED.

  

PLEASE TRY IT NOW

                                                           TRY NOW

          PLEASE TRY IT NOW. YOU MAY FIND IT HELPFUL TO CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR THIS PRACTISE. LATER ON, WHEN BEING IN THE BODY, HAS BECOME NATURAL AND EASY, THIS WILL NO LONGER BE NECESSARY. DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION INTO TE BODY, FEEL IT FROM WHITHIN. IS IT ALIVE? IS THERE LIFE IN YOUR HANDS, ARMS, LEGS, AND FEET- IN YOUR ABDOMEN, YOUR CHEST? CAN YOU FEEL THE SUBTLE ENERGY FIELD THAT PERVADES THE ENTIRE BODY AND GIVES VIBRANT LIFE TO EVERY ORGAN AND EVERY CELL? CAN YOU FEEL IT SIMULTANEOUSLY IN ALL PARTS OF THE BODY AS A SINGLE FIELD OF ENERGY? KEEP FOCUSING ON THE FEELING OF YOUR INNER BODY FOR A FEW MOMENTS. DO NOT START TO THINK ABOUT IT. FEEL IT. THE MORE ATTENTION YOU GIVE IT, THE CLEARE AND STRONGER THIS FEELING WILL BECOME. IT WILL FEEL AS IF EVERY CELL IS BECOMING MORE ALIVE, AND IF YOU HAVE A STRONG VISUAL SENSE, YOU MAY GET AN IMAGE OF YOUR BODY BECOMING LUMINOUS. ALTHOUGH SUCH AN IMAGE CAN HELP YOU TEMPORARILY, PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE FEELING THAN TO ANY IMAGE THAT MAY ARISE, AN IMAGE, NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL OR POWERFUL, IS ALREADY DEFINED IN FORM, SO THERE IS LESS SCOPE FOR PENETRATING MORE DEEPLY.

          THE FEELING OF YOUR INNER BODY IS FORMLESS, AND UNFATHOMABLE. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO INTO IT MORE DEEPLY. IF YOU CANNOT FEEL VERY MUCH AT THIS STAGE, PAY ATTENTION TO WHATEVER YOU CAN FEEL. PERHAPS THERE IS JUST A SLIGHT TINGLING IN YOUR HANDS OR FEET. THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE MOMENT, JUST FOCUS ON THE FEELING. YOUR BODY IS COMING ALIVE. LATER, WE WILL PRACTICE SOME MORE. PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES NOW, BUT KEEP SOME ATTENTION IN THE INNER ENERGY FIELD OF THE BODY EVEN AS YOU LOOK AROUND THE ROOM. THE INNER BODY LIES AT THE THRESHOLD BETWEEN YOUR FORM IDENTIFY AND YOUR ESSENCE IDENTIFY, YOUR TRUE NATURE. NEVER LOSE TOUCH WITH IT. 

FLOWERS HISTORY

                                               POLLEN AND NECTAR

   

           INSIDE A FLOWER THERE IS A SWEET JUICE CALLED NECTAR. AS INSECTS AND BIRDS DRINK NECTOAR, THEY TAKE POLLEN FROM ONE FLOWER TO ANOTHER. WHEN A BEE DRINKS NECTOR, POLLE STICKS TO ITS FURRY BODY. IT FLIES TO ANOTHER FLOWER OF THE SAME KIND AND SOME OF THE POLLEN DROPS OFF. THIS FLOWER NOW HAS SOME POLLEN FROM ANOTHER FLOWER. POLLEN CAN RUB ONTO A HUMMINGBIRD'S BEAK AS IT DRINKS NECTAR. THE POLLEN RUBS OFF INTO THE NEXT FLOWER THAT THE HUMMINGBIRD VISITS.

      BEES CAN COLLECT NECTAR FROM OVER 1000 FLOWERS BEFORE THEY FEEL FULL!

   MAKING SEEDS

          PLANTS START TO GROW SEEDS AS SOON AS THEY HAVE SOME POLLEN FROM ANOTHER PLANT. WHEN POLLEN LANDS ON A POPPY, A POD GROWS IN THE MIDDLE. SEEDS GROW INSIDE THE POD AND THE FLOWER BEGINS TO DIE. THE PETALS FALL OFF, LEAVING A POD FULL OF SEEDS. ALLIUMS ARE MADE UP OF LOTS OF TINY FLOWERS. EACH FLOWER BECOMES A TINY SEED POD. CHINESE LANTERN SEEDS GROW INSIDE A HOLLOW CASE. 

  SOME CATERPILLARS LIVE IN SEED PODS. WHEN THE CATERPILLARS MOVE, THE PODS SEEM TO 'JUMP'.

      SPREADING SEEDS

          SEEDS NEED LOTS OF SPACE TO GROW, SO THEY HAVE TO BE SCATTERED FAR APART. BURDOCK SHARP, SPIKY HOOKS. THEY GET CAUGHT ON AN ANIMAL'S FUR AS IT BRUSHES PAST. WHEN THE ANIMAL SCRATCHES, THE SEEDS FALL OFF. CRANE'S BILL PLANTS HAVE SEED PODS ON THIN STEMS. THE STEMS CURL UP AND SHOOT THE SEEDS OUT OF THEIR PODS. DANDELION SEEDS FLOAT ON THE WIND LIKE LITTLE PARACHUTES.

 WHEN ANTS CAN SEEDS INTO THEIR NESTS TO EAT, SOME OF THE SEEDS BEGIN TO GROW.

      RAINFOREST FLOWERS

         RAINFORESTS ARE WARM, WET PLACES. TREES BLOCK OUT SUNLIGHT, SO IT'S DARK ON THE GROUND. THE LEAVES OF GLORY LILIES HOOK INTO TREES, SO THEY CAN GROW UP TO THE SUNLIGHT. 

TANK PLANTS TRAP RAINWATER IN THEIR LEAVES. FROGS LIVE IN THE POOLS OF WATER.

     A RAFFLESIA BUD GROWS ON THE GROUND. IT GROWS AS BIG AS A CABBAGE. ITS FIVE RED PETALS START TO UNFOLD. RAFFLESIA FLOWERS ARE AS BIG AS THE WHEELS ON A TRUCK AND HAVE NO LEAVES OR STEMS. THEY SMELL OF ROTTING MEAT TO ATTRACT FLIES WHICH SPREAD THEIR POLLEN.