What happened to me in India

The dirt, the filth, the colours, the music, the praying, the inequality, the food, the traffic!!!

When we visited Jaisalmer, the golden city, we visited a Jain temple. There were ‘holy men’ asking for money inside the temples… there were signs up saying do not give money to the holy men… put it in the box. It was out right hypocrisy… and in the middle of my rage of indignation that they ‘dare to’ pollute the Jain temple with their materialistic desires…. I was suddenly eye to eye with a statue … a statue very typical of the Jains.. and it was peaceful and smiling and I literally heard the message ‘its ok. Don’t worry about that. Don’t let them upset you. Keep your calm. Stay centred. Let it roll off your back without touching you.’ And a feeling of SUCH love and understanding … honestly, it has helped me SO much.

There were moments when I was totally outside of myself and over taken with pure awe. (I feel like I learnt nothing, just to be amazed). We were in Sarnath, where The Buddha was suppose to give his first talk after enlightenment. I didn’t expect anything there, and as we approached one of the main temples, I began to see flashes of a Golden Buddha floating in front of me… and then we entered the temple.. and the REAL statue was almost exactly what I saw in my minds eye… I started to walk towards it and was EMPTY of mind.. just filled with amazement… after some time… I read that they say that the remains of the Buddha are enshrined there… (of course I’m not sure if I believe that, but I certainly felt something amazing… )

I’ve always been a bit against images… and have felt that the statue ‘becomes’ like a ‘god’ to people…. … however, I have experienced something else!

I was in Dharamsala, and entered into one of the temples and suddenly, my eyes fell on the ‘green tara’ – one of the bodhisattvas and I was overcome with love and compassion and something outside of myself….

I read a bit about her, and the Buddhist method of meditating on Buddhist statue images, and felt that all of the qualities of the TARA were embodied in her… in a symbolic way.. something that reached out and touched me beyond ration… purely symbolically…

After I understood the symbolism better, I was able to break down my resistance to many of the deities that we saw in India…

(they are EVERWHERE)

And this leads to the last story…. :D

I was becoming more and more against Hinduism while I was there… all of the different deities, the selfishness in the praying.. the traditions and stupidies that go on in the name of GOD… and in the last place we stayed… in Mallampurum, there was a statue of Ganesh in the garden… every time I went near it I felt warm and peaceful… when I had a bit of time, I went to the statue to feel it, and see what was there… and it was again something welcoming, something positive and loving… It was living in the garden. It seemed absolutely real to me… and alive. And I lost my negatives reactions to the deities of the hindus… and understood the need for each person to find the images and symbols that suit them, and they can respond to….

Thank you India. You gave me so much

This post originally came from World Nomad Journals.

Answering a Vision from Jaisalmer

The Vision

I was sitting in meditation. I was practicing a technique whereby one paints the symbols that they see in their minds eye. One of the visions I saw, and painted, was of a city, ablaze with gold. A desert city. But it was old and something I’ve never seen before. It seemed to be alive, from the inside. There was nothing around it. No greenery. Just white space.

I thought that the vision was symbolic. I tried to think about what the vision could mean. I didn’t see it again and after some time, I forgot about seeing it.

When Albert was planning our trip to India, he often showed me pictures of different places. One of the photos he showed me was of

a golden city.

It wasn’t until later that same night that the image popped up in my mind again, and made me think about it. It seemed familiar. And just like that, I remembered. I started digging through old folders trying to find the painting.

It wasn’t identical, but it was pretty close. I started to do a bit of research on the area, trying to figure out what was special about a place that called to me from two years earlier.

I read about the Jains. I read about the city being just about abandoned because the old trek across the desert that livened the place up, was replaced by a more modern route. Jaisalmer was a well placed resting spot. It grew in wealth by taxing the caravans passing through.

It was the

Jains that interested me. They say its one of the oldest religions in the world, and they are strict vegetarians with non-violence as one of their main dictates. Of course, there are a few that go to extremes, like all religions, but generally, I liked what I read.

The Reality

We arrived in Jaisalmer in the early morning. We were staying at The Fifu Guest House for four days. We had a suite and I remember the stay as particularly restful and rejuvenating. I was still suffering from stomach problems and could only eat porridge and toast. The mention of Chai had my stomach clenching in negation.

On the second day, we visited the

Jain temples. There were quite a few people around. Foreigners and Indians alike. I was expecting to see another set of prettily carved statues.

Albert and I had already discussed the possibility of me being slightly disappointed in the city. It’s a special place, but for me, it was a bit dead and obviously painted up like a old call girl to get the new trade in. The city, like Venice, seemed alive only for the tourists to ohh and ahh. Its not necessarily a place that sold itself to me immediately.

And then we entered one of the two main temples. And I saw figures, resembling typical Buddhist meditational pose, but obviously different. I was transfixed. There was a stillness in the face, a smile, a knowledge. Some Brahmin ‘holy’ men came to talk with us about money and donations. There were signs saying ‘Please do not give the holy men money. Put it into the donation box.’ I was standing in absolute awe of the special atmosphere in the temple, and these ‘holy’ men were giving me photo tips for the special price of 10 rupees, and by the way, have you got a pen, or maybe a lipstick for my daughter, she collects them.

Pause while I practice my OMM.

I felt outrage building up. The idea that so called holy men were going to ruin my experience of the ‘sacred’ had, needless to say, my back up. And I looked beyond the man and looked into the face of one of the main statues, and I heard distinctly ‘Don’t worry about it. Don’t let them disturb you. Come in and be here. Welcome. We are here for always, but these men will come and go. The softness in your heart is always there. Don’t let yourself be caught up in it.’ (or something very like this) And the words were accompanied by the most warm, gentle smile. A knowledge that knew no bounds. An understanding that was beyond my comprehension. Compassion for my small woe. And it just glowed from out of the centre of that temple.

I wasn’t concerned with the holy men any more. We wondered around at our leisure, and when the men asked for money, I felt the same smile on my face. It didn’t matter.

Since we left, the face of the smiling Jain has appeared before me in situations where I lose my cool. Where I start to judge and get upset at silly and inconstant things.

Sometimes I meditate upon the smile of the figure. Wishing myself the patience, the understanding, the smile.

When I think of Jaisalmer, I don’t see the end of a train line to a pretty but pointless tourist trap. I see the embodiment of the endless, timeless wisdom mind. Full of love, compassion, understanding, knowledge.

Rigpa.

This recollection was first posted on the World Nomad's Journal.

Audio Books

I've started listening to audio books.

I listen to affirmations, psychic guided meditation, chakra clearing, cleansing and balancing and meditational.

Its the first time I've been drawn to the medium, and I'm having powerful responses.

I listen to at least two thirty minute sessions a day - usually a bit more.

I feel strong, vibrant and positive. Its exactly what I've needed to help kick start my new oaths to disciplined study.

For parents

If you are a parent -

listen more and judge less.

The more you judge them, the more the child feels

1) insecure

2) secretive

3) alienated

4) resentful

5) misunderstood.

Advice - love them, help them to feel safe with what they have as a personality - and this requires you, the adult - to shut up more and listen.

Three Minute Guided Relaxation

In this first podcast (mp3) for Patheya Blogspot, I’m aiming for a quick physical relaxation meditation that can be done anywhere, at any time ywhen you have three minutes spare.

You can download the podcast here: Tiffany Jones - 3 minute guided relaxation.mp3

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Written and spoken by Tiffany Jones

Music by Jaden Jones

Produced and Mastered by Albert Vila

Category - physically relaxation

The following is the transcript.

Find yourself a comfortable position.

Take a deep breath.

Let yourself settle into your body.

Relax your head.

Feel your face muscles, your scalp and even your hair relax.

Notice your jaw and the backs of your eyes.

Soften your ears.

Relax your shoulders. Move them if you need to.

Imagine the long line from your earlobes to the length of your shoulders become long and soft.

Take in a deep breath. Relax your chest and the front part of your body.

Let there be space in your chest. Notice the space around your heart. Perhaps you can feel your heart’s beat. Soften the area. Notice your shoulders. Breath deeply.

Mentally follow the curve of your chest. Notice how natural your breathing is.

Relax your back. Feel all the muscles loosen. Notice the length of the back of your neck and up into your skull. Take a breath, and become soft.

Relax your arms right down to the finger tips.

Stretch your fingers to help loosen them up. Release tension from your forearms.

Move down into your stomach and hips. Feel that you are comfortable. Run your minds eye around the pelvis area. Notice any tightness, and release.

Relax your legs right down to your toes. Feel all of your tension running out of the soles of your feet. It moves quickly and easily.

Breathe deeply.

Notice your entire body. Soft, at east, and comfortable.

Relax your thoughts.

Breath deeply, and on each out breath, let your body softened and release.

When you are ready, begin to stretch and move, bringing energy back into your body. You will remain relaxed, refreshed and full of positive energy.

All feedback, comments, positive and negative, will be greatly appreciated.

This post has been adapted from an earlier post.

Important to Remember

All of the visualisation tools, all of the psychic tools that we use are purely that – TOOLS. They are not the ‘real’ thing that creates the psychic state.

The tarot cards, for example, are not magic. They are merely a tool to use to help stimulate the mind. Everyone feels themselves drawn to their own tools.

For me, I like cards, but I love and feel the highest benefit from visualisation exercises, especially linked to guruyoga – or devotion to a master.

I was turned off by this kind of ‘worship’ when I was younger – and it took courage and honesty to face the fact that it’s the practice that filled me with the right love and energy to continue.

I first discovered and surrendered to this type of meditation after reading the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.

Good luck

Morning cleansing

Practice – This morning I did the guided meditation on the John Edward Unleashing your Psychic Potential cd – the elevator one.

Problems – I have been waking up lately, and having immediate open third eye. Lots of visions – and it has been difficult to turn off.

Questions – How to turn off the psychic ‘powers’?

Discovery – Of course, the main thing is to practice. I liked that Edward spoke about the psychic ability as a playful puppy. And at the moment – it does what it wants – and we need to practice more and learn how to control it. That’s exactly where I am at the moment.

Personal – I have a strong visual impression – so that would make me clairvoyant. I have a strong ‘feeling’ of other people’s pain in my own body – and that would make me clairsentient. I have no ability to hear anything as yet (clairaudient), or smell. Taste Clairgustance, Clair scent. For more info, have a look at this link. Its not a clear website, but it describes these terms well enough for the purposes.

After finishing the session, I pulled down the blind over the third eye window – and it worked. I feel like its turned off now – and yet, I feel aware and strong within my self. Full of energy.

Benefits – I like the strictness of Edward’s entrance into the sanctuary. Its just what I need – to feel the seriousness of it and ‘force’ myself to be disciplined and honest with myself and my negativities. I like the exercise at the door – to let go of all of the ‘problems’ – not to let them come with me into the white light… Its important and I can feel already, that it’s the ‘right’ course for me to take at the moment.

Why start this mirror blog?

I started this blog – and I have so many – because I wanted to document what was going on with my spiritual growth. The other blogs don’t seem to leave an opening for this kind of information – its not exactly main stream – though, perhaps it is, more than I am aware… If Oprah believes in angels, and so does Princess Martha? Maybe I need to be more honest about this stuff.

Anyway – basically, I had a bit of a crisis a few weeks ago, and I realised I was feeling trapped and depressed and locked into ‘this’ world. I couldn’t see a way out. Then suddenly, I started seeing visions, like I did when I was younger, and it pointed to the change I needed.

Every day since then, I have been seeking and searching for the right path to begin with – and its started already –

Chakra cleansing
Disciplined Meditation
Open Heart, Open Mind
Practice
Discipline
Mind and Body together
Forgiveness

Its all great. I even started on a spiritual forum – which I link to here…

So – instead of writing in my meditation diary – I will write here – and perhaps, I can be of some help to anyone who is interested in these things too.

Love

Psychic Practice

Today I practiced with John Edward – Unleashing your Psychic Potential, for the first time.

I found him safety obsessed, but I understand it, in his circumstances, of sharing energy with spirits.

I went into the spiral stair case, and up the chakra coloured stairs – and came to the wall. Behind which is my sanctuary.

I’d just built a sanctuary – using a different exercise – but I was willing to have two – and to do this Edward’s way, considering he is so well known and seems quite powerful.

The experience of letting all of the negatives into the chest – or container was powerful, and worth while for me.

I could see all the colours of the stairwell well – but lost it a bit when we came to the violet. The top colour.

I had no trouble – everything was clear – the different visions and different parts of the room.

The relief I felt, at having let go of some things, was palpable. I appreciated that he took his role seriously – and I felt confident with his guided meditation – however – it was a little too fast for me.

I know I need to practice more – and I know I need discipline. So – with these two things – onwards and upwards.

Advice for the Clumsy

I came across this on another blog. It put a smile on my face. Now you can have one on your face.