What Is New Age?
The New Age movement has spread from its beginnings in the West a few years ago to embrace the globe. It began as more and more intelligent, well-educated people became dissatisfied with existing social and religious organizations. They felt traditional practices were too dogmatic and rigid to meet their needs.
Progressive thinkers and Spiritual practitioners began pulling bits and pieces out of all religious traditions, both living and dead, mainstream and ethnic, to form their own, highly individual, practices. These individual practices are extremely fluid. Besides incorporating religious thought, they also include ideas from modern psychology, physics and cutting edge science. Practices constantly evolve and change as each practitioner’s needs and skills change and develop.
A New Age enthusiast might begin her day with a Japanese Reiki self-treatment followed by a bit of Chinese Chi Ne Tsang stomach massage and a little Thai Buddhist Anapanasatti meditation –all before getting out of bed to practice Hindu Hatha Yoga exercises and enjoy a hurried organic breakfast. A Christian prayer makes sure her car starts. A Tibetan Buddhist Mandala hangs from her rearview mirror to ward of accidents. She uses a little White Light to clear her way through traffic and find a parking space. A Rose Quartz crystal adorns her desk to promote a harmonious workspace. When she gets stuck, she channels an answer from an Ascended Master or consults her Angel Guide. After work she goes off to a Pagan full moon event to practice a witchcraft ceremony that’s preceded by Muslim Sufi dervish whirling, incorporates Native American Shamanistic rites and is followed by South Pacific fire walking!
No wonder so many of us are confused!
It’s an exciting time to be alive and practicing. Even though we’re often confused by the plethora of choices available, today we can each be our own priest or priestess, picking and choosing the path that best suits our own individual personality.
A little simple structure and basic knowledge is highly useful to guide us through the maze of available practices. We’re all human, have the same basic needs and are going to the same place with our Spiritual work. It’s only our individual paths that differ slightly.
Eventually all of us will realize that our entire Universe, including each of us, is one living, intelligent organism. There’s no separation or difference between you and a rock or a far off galaxy. We’re all just cells in one vast being. Realizing this Oneness is currently being called Enlightenment or Unity Consciousness or Christ Consciousness.
There are some basic skills we can all find useful on our individual paths to Oneness. Meditation or prayer will quiet and focus your mind. Exercise and good diet will keep your body healthy. Energy work heals, cleanses and grows your energy body. Spiritual practice keeps you on track and growing. Many of us find that the most difficult, important and fruitful area to work on is our personal relationships and emotions.
A good understanding of your physical body and how it works is very helpful. Just as important is actually experiencing your six basic emotions of love, peace, joy, anger, sadness and fear. A working knowledge of your energy system will simplify your practice, enabling you to watch your energy body grow and progress. Knowing about your chakras, front, back and central energy channels, three Tan Tiens and your connections to Heaven and Earth will allow you to see how a new practice may fit in and benefit you.
If your practice includes some aspect that addresses each of these five human components –mind, body, energy, Spirit and emotion- then you have what you need to be successful. Simply examine each choice that appears before you in this delightful New Age to see which area the new practice fits into. Then decide if it serves you better than something you already have.
A simplistic view of our metaphysical universe will help you understand your path to Oneness. Physicists tell us that our physical universe comprises only four percent of the entire Universe. Subtle energy, or energy particles too small for science to observe, comprises the other ninety-six percent. Our minds have what modern science doesn’t. Our minds are able to both observe and work with all energies.
The subtle realms above the Earth plane are the Celestial, or Heavenly Realms. There are millions of levels, each inhabited by living beings without physical bodies. All are on an upward path, but not yet finished with their own Spiritual work.
Above these levels is the Realm of Ascended Masters. These beings have already attained full realization and have no need for future rebirths. Along with Angels they are there to help and guide us.
Above all is The Source from which all energy, love and creation in our Universe emanates. Once Angels or Ascended Masters have guided you to The Source, you have direct access to the most powerful energy in existence. Through using it in everything you do, you enter into the process of becoming an Ascended Master yourself. White Light from The Source brings you rapid transformation.
Below our Earth Plane are the Lower Realms inhabited by beings that have lost their way, overcome by ignorance, cravings or negative emotions. These layers are populated by demons and evil spirits. The deepest of them comprise the hells that so many people deny the existence of.
The most important facet of all subtle realms is that our awareness can observe them entirely. Our minds can control these energies to create anything we want. We can communicate with and learn from Angels and Ascended Masters as they guide us to The Source. We can observe and help beings trapped in the Lower Realms by cleansing and healing their energy fields, then guiding them upwards.
Many traditions in the past have led followers to either The Source for power or Oneness for wisdom.
Today, you can have both!
Dwelling in The Source gives you the power to create and shape your own reality as White Light transforms you into an Ascended Master.
Attaining Oneness means that you actually experience being the living, intelligent organism that is our Universe. You experience becoming all the realms, beings and energy fields just as if they were your own body –which they are. After realizing Oneness, all the glory of the entire Universe awaits your exploration as you go deeper and deeper into the energy fields.
Many New Age practitioners around the world have already realized both Oneness and The Source. You can too!
Namaste! (The God in me salutes the God in you!).
Eventually all of us will realize that our entire Universe, including each of us, is one living, intelligent organism. There’s no separation or difference between you and a rock or a far off galaxy. We’re all just cells in one vast being. Realizing this Oneness is currently being called Enlightenment or Unity Consciousness or Christ Consciousness.
There are some basic skills we can all find useful on our individual paths to Oneness. Meditation or prayer will quiet and focus your mind. Exercise and good diet will keep your body healthy. Energy work heals, cleanses and grows your energy body. Spiritual practice keeps you on track and growing. Many of us find that the most difficult, important and fruitful area to work on is our personal relationships and emotions.
A good understanding of your physical body and how it works is very helpful. Just as important is actually experiencing your six basic emotions of love, peace, joy, anger, sadness and fear. A working knowledge of your energy system will simplify your practice, enabling you to watch your energy body grow and progress. Knowing about your chakras, front, back and central energy channels, three Tan Tiens and your connections to Heaven and Earth will allow you to see how a new practice may fit in and benefit you.
If your practice includes some aspect that addresses each of these five human components –mind, body, energy, Spirit and emotion- then you have what you need to be successful. Simply examine each choice that appears before you in this delightful New Age to see which area the new practice fits into. Then decide if it serves you better than something you already have.
A simplistic view of our metaphysical universe will help you understand your path to Oneness. Physicists tell us that our physical universe comprises only four percent of the entire Universe. Subtle energy, or energy particles too small for science to observe, comprises the other ninety-six percent. Our minds have what modern science doesn’t. Our minds are able to both observe and work with all energies.
The subtle realms above the Earth plane are the Celestial, or Heavenly Realms. There are millions of levels, each inhabited by living beings without physical bodies. All are on an upward path, but not yet finished with their own Spiritual work.
Above these levels is the Realm of Ascended Masters. These beings have already attained full realization and have no need for future rebirths. Along with Angels they are there to help and guide us.
Above all is The Source from which all energy, love and creation in our Universe emanates. Once Angels or Ascended Masters have guided you to The Source, you have direct access to the most powerful energy in existence. Through using it in everything you do, you enter into the process of becoming an Ascended Master yourself. White Light from The Source brings you rapid transformation.
Below our Earth Plane are the Lower Realms inhabited by beings that have lost their way, overcome by ignorance, cravings or negative emotions. These layers are populated by demons and evil spirits. The deepest of them comprise the hells that so many people deny the existence of.
The most important facet of all subtle realms is that our awareness can observe them entirely. Our minds can control these energies to create anything we want. We can communicate with and learn from Angels and Ascended Masters as they guide us to The Source. We can observe and help beings trapped in the Lower Realms by cleansing and healing their energy fields, then guiding them upwards.
Many traditions in the past have led followers to either The Source for power or Oneness for wisdom.
Today, you can have both!
Dwelling in The Source gives you the power to create and shape your own reality as White Light transforms you into an Ascended Master.
Attaining Oneness means that you actually experience being the living, intelligent organism that is our Universe. You experience becoming all the realms, beings and energy fields just as if they were your own body –which they are. After realizing Oneness, all the glory of the entire Universe awaits your exploration as you go deeper and deeper into the energy fields.
Many New Age practitioners around the world have already realized both Oneness and The Source. You can too!
Namaste! (The God in me salutes the God in you!).
Buddha Meditation
by
Richard Pope
[The next part uses more than imagination and visualisation, it requires inner hearing, feeling and smell as well. Endeavour to make these as strong as possible. I suggest that you take one bit at a time and when visualised go to the next bit and take it slowly. By which I mean 20 to 30 minutes or so for the whole process]
Using spiritual power, go to the Tuschita Heaven, which is two levels of heaven up, to the Great Palace which is richly adorned by hundreds of trillions of exquisite jewels, flowers, garlands, tapestries and brightly lit with rainbow lights. In the Palace, is a Lion Seat for the Buddha made of celestial jewels made from roots of goodness cultivated in the past. This throne, resulting from pure actions is indestructible and endlessly delightful to all beholders. Surrounding it are trillions of balconies all richly adorned with jewels, garlands of jewel flowers, celebration flags, precious robes, nets of pearls and jewels, ornaments and canopies. Surrounding this throne are hundreds of trillions of celestial jewel lotuses in full bloom with glorious light. Pervading all is an exquisite fragrance that delights everyone. Hanging in the air are hundreds of jewel chimes moving gently producing harmonious elegant sounds. Everywhere there are huge wish fulfilling gems. All around are hundreds of millions of jewel trees providing shade. Hanging from the trees are hundreds of talismans to prevent all forms of evil or impurity. In every direction, as far as the mind can reach there are these celestial jewels, garlands of flowers, musical chimes, radiant lights and exquisite perfumes. Everywhere in the Tuschita heaven are millions of pleasing songs giving offerings, singing praises of the actions and virtues of the Buddha. Sounds of utmost purity that lift all that hear them to higher and higher levels.
Filling this heaven, on the balconies and terraces, waiting for the Buddha to come are countless Buddhas, Gods and Goddesses, Celestial Kings and Queens, Bodhisattvas, and deities. Also, filling this heaven are trillions of newly inspired enlightened beings who on seeing this throne immediately double their determination for omniscience, to prepare the ground, to purify their minds and fill themselves with joy, and to perfect their understand and skills. All diligently cultivating the path of enlightened beings; filling themselves with profound faith, purity, correct recollection, transcendental self-control, and teachings. Beings whose minds did not wander, who kept the moral precepts, who carry out infinite efforts for emancipation and whose minds are imbued with the shining light of infinite meditations.
Then see the King of the Tuschita Heaven respectfully greet the Buddha together with countless gods and goddesses of the Tuschita Heaven who shower the Buddha with countless flowers of innumerable colours. And because of his mystical power all the assembled beings see the Buddha as though he is directly in front of them and they are filled with supreme joy. All bow in respect and shower him with heavenly flowers and celestial jewels and divine fragrances. Then by an inner wish of the Buddha, all the beings present see the Buddha in his infinite form with his infinite bodies manifesting in all directions filling countless universes in all ten directions.
Regarding all beings impartially his mind, having no attachments, is always quiet and stable, never distracted nor disturbed. Abiding in omniscience he produces infinite treasuries of virtue and wisdom and he constantly illumines the entire cosmos with countless networks of inconceivably great light beams of countless hues causing all sentient beings to rejoice, increase their faith, have pure aspirations, to develop respect and honour, to become pure and to walk on the path. Then using his transcendental powers the Buddha causes the same events to occur in all the Tuschita heavens throughout all the ten directions; and you watch all this talking place in sheer delight and awe. Profound love and joy radiate out from you adding to the celestial harmony.
Now, having used your spiritual power to shift your mind to a much higher vibration, become peaceful and still in this heaven and allow your most pressing question to surface in your mind, and then invite the Buddhas, God, Goddesses, Deities and Enlightened ones who can best help you at this time to come and guide and teach you. Whilst you may not be able to see them yet, they will hear your mind and they will come. Ask them sincerely, with deep reverence, to come and they will come. Bow before them in your mind’s eye even you don’t see them. Imagine next the entire blue sky reaching out to infinity. Fill it with fragrant roses and valuable gems all radiating light and offer these gifts to them. Then present your question and let it hang in space for a short while and then let it go from your mind and become still again whilst still seeing the Tuschita Heaven. Ask that they use whatever transcendental powers they have to communicate the answer to you and trust that within the next day or so you will have the answer that you requested.
Finally, thank all the Buddhas, Gods, Goddesses, Bodhisattvas and enlightened beings for assisting you in this process. And then return to your usual space.
There is a much, much longer more complicated version but I think this is enough. Please consider trying it and if you do let me know how you get on. I would welcome the feedback very much.
Lots of love from Richard
Vivekananda’s 12 Levels of Spiritual Growth
by
Richard Peeler
These levels are usually experienced by most practitioners. It’s common to be growing in several levels at once. Levels may be experienced in a different order than listed here. Some practitioners never consciously experience some levels. Some traditions focus completely on God while others ignore God and go into Oneness. There are many differences in opinion about the higher levels of Samadhi. The levels are presented here as a general guide.
1. Understanding the purpose of our existence. We are Spiritual beings enjoying an earthly experience, not human beings searching for a Spiritual experience. You attain this level when you consciously begin your Spiritual work.
2. Seeing the suffering of others. When you begin seeing past your own selfishness to the needs of others, you begin wanting to help them.
3. Removing the suffering of others. Consciously working to heal and teach others gives you the fastest growth.
4. Finding passion, peace and love. When we work selflessly for others we become very passionate about our practice and work. We also discover peace in ourselves and universal Love, love with a capital L.
5. Conversion of negative energies to positive. Anger, fear, sadness, negative thoughts and entities striking your aura are transformed to Love by the Love emanating from you.
6. Opening the Third Eye. Your psychic abilities awaken.
7. Bliss. You experience limitless joy. You become able find happiness in all circumstances because bliss wells up from your internal being and is not dependent on external circumstances.
8. The Source. You experience your direct connection to the Supreme Being, also called Allah, Jehova and God the Father.
9. Becoming The Source. You become an inexhaustible source of energy exactly like God.
10. Oneness. You experience that our entire universe is one conscious, living, intelligent organism with no division or separation. Everything is one very alive energy field.
11. Nothingness. Your complete being, all your experiences and creations dissolve completely into blackness. All egoic mind structures disappear. You become able to experience reality and create real structures.
12. Nirvana or nether being or non being. There is much debate about this state and if anything lies beyond it. It can only be experienced. It cannot be explained in understandable terms.
