I’ve been working for my guru offering SEVA in Nimboli / Ganeshpuri, India … here are a few of the videos I have produced to date:
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
my life for the last 10 years has been a Tapas ...
my life for the last 10 years has been a Tapas ...
by Tim Shaktim Maloney on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 5:25pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas_(Sanskrit)
Tapasya (tápasya) in Sanskrit means "heat". In Vedic religion and Hinduism, it is used figuratively, denoting spiritual suffering, mortification or austerity, and also the spiritual ecstasy of a yogin or tāpasá (a Vriddhi derivative meaning "a practitioner of austerities, an ascetic"). In theRigveda, the word is connected with the Soma cult. The adjective tapasvín means "wretched, poor, miserable", but also "an ascetic, someone practicing austerities".
In the yogic tradition, tapasya may be translated as "essential energy", referring to a focused effort leading towards bodily purification and spiritual enlightenment. It is one of the Niyamas (observances of self-control) described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Tapasya implies a self-discipline or austerity willingly expended both in restraining physical urges and in actively pursuing a higher purpose in life. Through tapas, a yogi or spiritual seeker can "burn off" or prevent accumulation of negative energies, clearing a path toward spiritual evolution.
Personified, Tapasya appears as the father of Manyu in the Rigveda. The tapo-raaja ("king over austerities") is a name of the Moon.
Sanskrit tapasya (neuter gender), literally "heat", refers to a personal endeavor of discipline, undertaken to achieve a goal, accompanying suffering and pain. Earliest reference of this word is to be found in the Rgveda-8.82.7, where its is used in the sense 'pain, suffering' (Monier-Williams)[not in citation given]. It is usually applied in religious and spiritual terms, but can be applied to any field or context. One who undertakes tapas is a Tapasvin. From tapas the more widespread word tapasyā was derived, which is used in all three genders and was mentioned in Katyayana-Shrauta-Sutra, Baudhayana's Dharma-shashtra, Panini-4.4.128, etc. Rigveda has dozens of references to words derived from 'tapas' which indicate that "suffering, austerity" was its meaning from the Rigvedic times.
Monks and gurus in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism practice tapasya as a means to purify and strengthen their devotion to God, practice a religious lifestyle and obtain moksha, or spiritual liberation.
Tapas may be the striving for nirvana, or moksha. It may also be striving for perfection in a particular sport, field of knowledge or work. Tapasya may also be undertaken as penance, to liberate oneself from the consequences of a sin or sinful activities, or karma."
... You See, When I got sick in 2000 with a full blown AIDS diagnosis, I was happy that it was coming to an end and that I would be near God sooner than later. But within a year, I discovered Reiki and became a practitioner. Within two weeks of opening myself up to the Universal Energies, I met my guru and took my first 'BREATH with Intention'. It was an auspicious coming together of an AIDS martyr and a GU RU ... meaning from Darkness to Light. Within a short time I began to love myself and NOT want to die, but to live a new life full of this incredible drop of bliss that I was receiving everytime I sat with my guru.
The truth of the matter is I have not been great at keeping to an austere practice. I probably would have been merged with all that is sooner, if I had been, but the relinquishing of the body and the desires of my mind and soul to 'Entertain' have made this 10 year process (and the process is not over, but soon it will be accomplished) a challenge with every waking moment. On the flip side of the coin, when I do BREATHE, I am MERGED. It is a complete surrender to all parts of my body to the breath being poured into me. NOT me doing anything. (my singing lessons helped make this a firm reality in my yoga... breathing the deep bellows breath ... naturally and not forced).
In my knowing... sitting with Bhagwan Nityananda day after day, watching the other sadhus and the other sanyasi's doing their own forms of 'penance and austerities' ... i recognize the same inner drive to be at one with God as they have. And it is a beautiful connection I have with them. Me doing my lotus and my deep pranayam and them making trips walking around the temple ... what is the meaning of this 'reality' check and why state it publically.
Imran Khan made the statement all the way five years ago that he wanted to make me an ashram and have me do my healing work there. I looked at him and Laughed a big laugh. I did not see what he saw. And now, my friend and brother Pankaj Mishra, a man I really hardly know has bought a piece of land near my guru's ashram for me... for him as well, but for me to do my sadhana in the place that I have come to cherish,
Nimboli | Ganeshpuri.
Nityananda gave me the realization last night at temple that in fact, I have
already been doing my tapas for all these years... i am here in India to 'let my life go' and take on the spirit of the guru to share with others the true meaning of 'Enlightenment' ... GIVING to OTHERS with an open heart.
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