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CONSCIOUSNESS OF ONENESS

Issue 6 • December 2014

© Sabiha Betûl 2014

Center for Spiritual Awareness of Ankara-TurkeyIt is prepared to be freely distributed for program participants.

Any part of this journal may be used with reference to the source.

"Lonelinessis the reality we awaken when we discover

the untouched purity beyond everything we know or we suppose to know."

Sabiha Betûl

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© Sabiha Betûl 2013

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ve Bütün’e dahil olduğumuz anlamına gelir.’ Sabiha Betûl

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FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE ARE MY HIGHEST CHARACTER.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Quote of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ...............................................................................

“New Year Message” from Roy Eugene Davis ............................................................

Quote from Roy Eugene Davis ...................................................................................

“Spiritual Master” from Shree Sadhak Satyam .........................................................

“Atma-Shatakam - Nirvana Shatakam, The Song of the Self” by Adi Shankara .........

“My Own Om” from The Reiki Master Horst H.Günther .............................................

A Tibetan Proverb ........................................................................................................

“The Life Enhancing Benefits of Contemplative Meditation and Intentional Living”

by Roy Eugene Davis...................................................................................................

Answers to Questions About the Spiritual Path by Roy Eugene Davis ........................

Quote from Paramahansa Yogananda ........................................................................

“Human Being is a ‘Sharp Glance’: An Expansive Sight Over Nothingness to Vastness”

by Sabiha Betûl ...........................................................................................................

“Divine Reflections” ...................................................................................................

“The Bread in My Hand is the Body of the Cosmos” by Thich Nath Hanh..................

Our Planet; Our Wonderful Host.................................................................................

“Knowledge, Open Mindedness and the Human Being” from Rahmi Oruç Güvenç...

Poem by Rabindranath Tagore ...................................................................................

“Universe and man” by İskender Azatoğlu..................................................................

“Yoga and Meditation for Children and the Young” by Sabiha Betûl..........................

“Being able to recognize something isn’t the same as being able to recall it” by

Tom Stafford ...............................................................................................................

Quote from Rumî ........................................................................................................

2015 Events.................................................................................................................

2014 Publications .......................................................................................................

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Welcome the New Year with optimism. Bless everyone and all life with your spiritual awareness, kind thoughts,

and helpful actions.

Dear Spiritual Friend.

Knowing that there is one ultimate Reality and every person is a flawless unit of the pure essence of ultimate Reality, it is obvious that all souls in our world and universe represent an extended spiritual family—diverse in external ways while inwardly the same.

Because we share a common Source and essence (true, enduring nature), everyone and all forms of life everywhere can benefit and be uplifted by our clarified awareness, kind, constructive thoughts, and practical, helpful actions.

When concluding your daily meditation session, and at other times when thinking about the more than seven billion people on our planet, radiate good will to them and wish for their total well- being that includes physical health, happiness, ideal circumstances and relationships, prosperity, and spiritual enlightenment. If thoughts of friends, members of your family, individuals in your community, and/or people who have departed from our world arise in your mind, include them. Ultimate Reality is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. Endeavor to see beyond superficial appearances and circumstances to the pure essence of everyone and nature. If you can perform practical actions, do so.

For peace of mind and emotional stability in our current awakening era of rapidly changing events, we need to be firmly established in conscious awareness of our true nature, knowing how to freely and effectively live as spiritual beings in a spiritual universe. We can then discover that inspired thinking and wise, constructive actions actually quicken our spiritual awakening, expand our consciousness, and bring forth innate knowledge of our true nature and ultimate Reality.

Throughout 2015 and far beyond it, diligently nurture your spiritual awareness, wisely use your creative imagination, sincerely endeavor to experience and express excellence in all aspects of your life, and bless others with your compassionate thoughts and deeds for their total well-being. When your awareness is always as pure as your essence of being, you will be fully spiritually enlightened.

With warm good wishes and continuous blessings,

The real purpose for being in this world is not what most people imagine it to be.Paramahansa Yogananda (1893 – 1952)

Some Names for One Ultimate RealityEnglish God, Arabic Allah, Egyptian Teun, Dutch Godt, German Gott, Greek Theos,

Latin Deus, French Dieu, Irish Dia, Italian Dio, Spanish Dios, Sanskrit Ishwara.

Center for Spiritual Awareness Post Office Box 7 Lakemont, Georgia 30552-0001 706-782-4723 weekdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. [email protected] www.csa-davis.org

Roy Eugene Davis

“When you are informed about the realities of life, do not act as if you are not aware of them.

The main purpose of our being in this world is to awaken consciously to our relation

with the wholeness of life.Knowing this centering to your essence of being,

live effectively.”

Roy Eugene Davis

4 Consciousness of Oneness 2014

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Lord Allah is the greatest master of the universe and the world, and He is the only owner of real knowledge. Consequently, it is impossible to know the truth and understand it without understanding God, and without testing our will to understand Him.

By giving us our mind, Lord Allah has already prepared the way to transfer us His knowledge. The purpose of our current life is to use our mind and our intellect properly and get real knowledge and reveal it. To help and remind people who are determined, sincere and ambitious on this path, He sends his assistants, His spiritual masters who are devoted to the truth, who have never forgotten and who will never forget the knowledge of the truth.

In fact in our nature, within our creation principle, we have the capacity and possibility to understand God and His reality, and to know our Source and ourselves. But as our Mighty Lord knows that we may get away from Him and the truth, and we may not use our real capacity, He has supported us by sending us His devoted servants and messengers from his dimension. These sacred beings are spiritual masters, who have been offered to humanity as a grace of Lord Allah.

Lord Allah is not a being with body. But He has consciousness and light and He uses them. His visible body is Light, the expression of His eternal peace and joy that forms all beings; that is infinite and eternal, the Divine Light. Lord Allah is the Divine Light of knowledge. He distributes this Divine Light generously to all beings, and consequently, all of us carry in our cores His Divine Light. The knowledge of the whole truth is recorded in this Divine Light inside us. If we can reveal and begin to use this truth, we know all the truth about the universe and ourselves, and we share it with those who want to know it.

The masters who know the truth always teach us the path to the truth and how to walk on this path. To take a body from our families is not a real birth and a real life. This is only the physical dimension of life. When we are born into this knowledge, when our internal real knowledge is revealed, we become real human beings. We can understand the knowledge of real life, right and wrong, the beautiful and the ugly only

SHREE SADHAK SATYAM

SPIRITUAL MASTER


with the help of a spiritual master who has really understood the truth. When we look from this perspective, everyone is born twice in life. The first birth is from the mother, from the family; to take a body from the parents is the transition to physical life. This birth gives external mind, external body and the physical body to the human being, and it enables us to communicate in the physical environment. Our parents can teach us only what they know within their limitations. Our second birth is our spiritual birth, and this can only happen with the help of a real spiritual master; when our master helps us reach our spiritual light. This is the birth and awakening of our internal and spiritual minds and our spiritual knowledge. After receiving and comprehending the true knowledge of life in this way, we can easily carry the whole life.

Everyone can easily know who is good or bad, who is the king and the poor, but this outer information doesn’t provide peace and happiness to humanity. The poor and the rich always beg Lord Allah and ask for something. Even if the person becomes a king, he still cannot be happy and always asks for something because he has no idea about the real knowledge of life. To be able to know, find and experience the truth, every person needs a real spiritual master in life. Understanding of life is only possible after being aware of, understanding and overcoming pain and misery. People can understand and comprehend peace after experiencing pain and miseries. The only path that will lead us to salvation and freedom is the path of light and knowledge. The spiritual masters give torches to everyone to help them find Lord Allah in this life; this is the torch of unconditional love and knowledge. When we move along this path with this torch in our hands, knowing what we are looking for, focused on our aim, nothing can disturb or surprise us.

There is nothing more important than Lord Allah in this world. The person must first understand Lord Allah by asking the following question to himself; “Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? What is my aim in this life?”

A person comes to the world only to look for and find his spiritual master and to move along on the path of the truth with the light that he takes from his master. When he finds his master, then his life becomes meaningful. Then, nothing has any importance anymore. In sacred Hindu writings (Upanishads), the basic message is as follows: “If there are two beings that I have to obey in this life, they are God and my spiritual master”. The spiritual student first bows his head with modesty in front of his master who will lead him to the truth, and he sincerely allows the flow of love and knowledge. And then, he reaches the Lord Allah with the guidance of his spiritual master. Meeting our spiritual master is the biggest favor that this life can offer us. Since we are in a physical environment and have physical bodies, we can reach Lord Allah only with the help of a master who has understood and comprehended Him, and this is the only way to understand Divinity.

Lord Allah is an invisible and unknown being to us. He is the single light that embraces the entire universe. This mighty light transfers the knowledge of the truth to human

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beings through spiritual masters. In fact these masters are part of Lord Allah. These spiritual masters who know the truth are in communication with the systems of Lord Allah, and they take the knowledge of the truth from these systems and they transfer this knowledge to their students who are genuinely interested. Thus, in reality, there is no difference between a real master and Lord Allah. They are very high consciousness levels who get the knowledge directly and transfer it to human beings.

To provide the flow of the truth smoothly, it is a must that the spiritual master is in contact with the truth and that the student is sincere and he is seriously dedicated to the truth with real determination. If the master or the student doesn’t have a real and pure will and knowledge, they cannot understand each other and they cannot experience the truth. The students should check if their master is a real master or not. In the same way, a real master should check his student. Before transferring the knowledge to his student, the master should check if his student is sincere, honest and real enough, and if he/she has enough capacity and quality to use the energy correctly. When the master and the student are devoted to the truth and when they are faithful, unconditional love begins to flow between them, and the master begins to carry his student towards the truth. Their relationship becomes like the one of the parent and child in a family. Just like in a family where parents are ready to help their children with tenderness in any situation, a real master does his best to guide his students with the same tenderness and care. He does this unconditionally to bring them closer to the truth. This is the agreement of this life.

The connection between the master and student is different from the connection with physical parents; it is totally a contact and a flow of consciousness. When we can make a true and honest connection with our spiritual master, we can experience how our master flows through our minds quietly and how he solves our problem under every condition. He is always with us. The more we remember him and we are attached to him with good feelings, the more he will be with us and solve our obstacles.

Then, let us decide to know ourselves and purify our hearts a hundred percent. The more pure and more open heart we have, the more we can improve our relationship with our master. The benediction of our spiritual master is in positive correlation with our purity. The more purified we are, the more chance we have to benefit from that relation. The more we are interested in purifying ourselves the heaviness of ignorance, the more peace, happiness and knowledge we can find. Therefore let’s try to purify our hearts and let’s do it as soon as we can. Let’s try to reach peace and happiness soon.

Now, I bless you all with my prayers and my best wishes so that you can know Lord Allah in this life and get close to him soon.

(This article is written from voice recording of Gurudev in an informal speech given to ‘Yoga Simurg’ group in Ankara, April 2006)


1- I am not mind, intellect, ego and the memory.I am not the sense of organs (ears, tongue, nose, eyes and skin).

I am not the five elements ( sky or ether, earth,light or fire, the wind and the water).

I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being who is the very emblem of truth,

knowledge and eternal bliss. I am pure consciousness. I am Shiva.

2- I am not Prana ( energy) nor five vital airs (Pancha Vayu),nor the seven essential material( sapta dhatu ) ,

nor the five sheaths of the body ( pancha kosha ).I am not the organ of speech, nor hand nor the leg,

nor the organs of procreation or the elimination (anus).I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being

who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss.

I am pure consciousness. I am Shiva.

3- I have no likes or dislikes; Not I have any greed or delusion; I have no pride or arrogant vanity;

Nor am I jealous of anyone or in competition with anyone ; I do not need the four main necessities of life

(which are Dharma (Law of Life), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desires) and Moksha (Liberation);I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being



Atma-Shatakam / Nirvana Shatakam The Song of the Self

by Adi Shankara 788-820 CE

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4- I have neither merit, nor demerit, I do not commit sins or good deeds,

nor have happiness or sorrow, pain or pleasure.I do not need mantras (sacred chants), nor pilgrimages,

nor scriptures (Vedas), rituals or sacrifices (yagnas).I am neither the enjoyed nor the enjoyer, nor enjoyment.

I am the supreme auspiciousness of the form of consciousness-bliss (chidananda Rupah).

I am the auspiciousnessI am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being



5- I do not have fear of death, as I do not have death.I have no separation from my true self,

no doubt about my existence,nor have I discrimination on the basis of birth.

I have no father or mother, nor did I have a birth.I am not the relative, nor the friend, nor the guru, nor the disciple.



6- I am all pervasive.I am without any attributes and without any form.

I have neither attachment to the world, nor to liberation (mukti).

I have no wishes for anything because I am everything, everywhere, every time, always in equilibrium.



Kailash- Holy Mountain at Tibet


Those who have read my Reiki books know the nonpareil accident that I had in early morning hours of 28 October 1986, told in the section titled “Reiki my way”. Starting off this event, I want to tell you something that happened in January 1987.During the recovery period after my accident, I was not able to carry out routine responsibilities for my company.I had to be patient in curing myself. But I was enthusiastic “to do something”, because I was fabulously full of gratitude…..I was alive by the virtue of “Divine Source’s” blessing. And I decided to attend a drawing course, I had never done such a thing before! I don’t know how many different drawings I made, particularly applying the paint in the palm directly by hand, may be more than a hundred!.... None of us had an artistic talent for painting!But all of us were so creative and happy. I remember now that, I didn’t like any of my paintings! And I wondered why I was there?!I don’t know how it had happened but something inside me changed and…. in a while I felt the word “GRATITUDE” appearing in my consciousness. Simultaneously I started a big scale drawing! I remember precisely that I made this inherently.This was Om!...and it was the last painting that I made of the all course. When I completed this painting, I felt physically that there will not be another! This last drawing, extra-ordinary experience and OM made me so happy till now!In 1989, I had some postcards printed, thus I have the chance to share my real story and my own Om with you.

MY OWN OMHorst GÜNTHER

I have received Sabiha Betûl’s Journal of ‘Oneness Consciousness’, issue 5/13, I thank her. While I was reading the interesting, looked-for articles of this gorgeous journal I stopped at the Om picture on page 6. Suddenly, this “OM” reminded me of the paintings that I made after the severe accident that I had experienced. Internally, I suggested Sabiha my sharing related to “My own OM”. Here is the theme of this article.

Horst H. Günther, 2014 - http://www.creamo.de

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"The four difficulties of sudden Awakening:So close we can't see it.

So deep we can't fathom it.So simple we can't believe it.So good we can't accept it."

Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, Mount Jiuhua, Anhui province, China.

Tibetan Proverb


Roy Eugene DAVISTO CONTEMPLATE IS TO LOOK AT, to examine, to meditate on something for the purpose of discovery. When concentration progresses to undisturbed meditation, and meditation results in awakening which provides insight, one's practice of contemplative meditation is successful.

For this process to be facilitated, the meditator needs to be alert and attentive. Partially conscious or passive participation in meditation practice will not produce satisfactory results.

Until well into the 20th century, most people interested in learning about the effects of meditation had to rely on their own experiential endeavors or evaluate anecdotal accounts professed by others who claimed knowledge of the subject. Personal experience is the best teacher, but it requires time and careful analysis of what is experienced or apprehended. The shared accounts of others may, or may not, be trustworthy even when sincerely proclaimed. Thankfully, for the past several decades, scientific research with volunteer meditators has regularly practiced, confers many life-enhancing benefits-some of which are described in this chapter.

Keep in mind that personal response to meditation and the beneficial unfoldments which can be actualized are almost always more immediate and satisfying when meditation practice is included in a balanced program of conscious, intentional living. Ever alert to the importance of being purposeful, all of our endeavors should be chosen with knowledge of why we implement them. Actions will then be chosen which are essential to our purposes, and actions which are not, can be disregarded. This approach greatly simplifies our lives, providing opportunities for personal fulfillment and spiritual enrichment in the most efficient manner.

Contemplative Meditation ProvidesDeep, Conscious Rest and Renewal

As meditation progresses, breathing becomes slower and more refined, and tranquil calm becomes the prevailing mental condition, providing the meditator deeper,

THE LIFE ENHANCING BENEFITS

of CONTEMPLATIVE MEDITATION

and

INTENTIONAL LIVING

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conscious rest and renewal than usually occurs during ordinary sleep. The body's life forces become balanced, contributing to organized function of physical systems.

Because of physical disturbance, emotional distress, or irregular sleep habits, many people do not get the rest they need when they sleep. The results may be low energy reserves, moodiness or depression, irritability' mental confusion, poor concentration, inefficient work performance, accident-prone behavior, and lower resistance to disease or illness. Meditation does not replace sleep, but one or two short meditation sessions a day will enliven the body, energize the mind, and contribute to improved performance of activities so that regular hours of sleep can be an interlude of undisturbed rest that is physically and mentally restorative.

As meditation results in the unfoldment of superconscious states which persist even during normal waking hours, one's regular hours of sleep may be occasioned by episodes of being conscious while the body and mind rests. The gaps between levels of consciousness become less defined and one may experience lucid perceptions of "being conscious of being conscious" during sleep and of abiding in the eternal now while simultaneously being aware of infinite oneness.

Contemplative Meditation ReducesStress and Its Debilitating Effects

Because of deep relaxation and the physiological and psychological changes that occur during meditation, physical tension and mental anxiety fade as stress is reduced. An examination of blood lactate levels before and after meditation reveals a reduction of those levels, which are usually higher when one is in a "fight or flight" physical and psychological state-a common condition for people who feel it necessary to struggle to survive or who perceive threats to their well-being from real or imagined sources.

Even if one is not presently interested in spiritual growth, meditation practiced for twenty or thirty minutes once or twice a day for the stress-reducing effects will greatly improve mental attitude and physical function and make it easier to accomplish purposes and to enjoy life' The life-suppressing effects of hypertension are well-documented. Common symptoms are high blood pressure, migraine headaches, and interference with normal functioning of physical systems. These symptoms often vanish once a regular meditation routine has been established' Do not make the mistake of falsely assuming meditation practice to be a cure-all. If the services of a health care professional are needed, avail yourself of qualified assistance. When possible, you might want to seek out a health care person who has a holistic orientation and understands your interest and participation in self-responsible wellness regimens and spiritual growth practices.

Behavior related to biochemical influences is more actively being investigated at research centers around the world. Some fairly recent discoveries indicate that certain


genetic defects can cause abnormal levels of serotonin and noradrenaline which, in turn, can influence human behaviors. Originating in the midbrain, these chemicals, referred to as neurotransmitters, enable cells in other parts of the brain to "talk" to each other by carrying messages between cells.

Serotonin, the brain's master impulse modulator for emotions and drives, especially helps control aggression' Noradrenaline is the alarm hormone, triggered when danger to oneself is recognized or perceived as real, and organizes the brain to respond by signaling the production of adrenaline and other chemicals. When serotonin levels are lowered and noradrenaline levels are elevated in susceptible people to environmental stresses, such as violent circumstances and alcohol use, a tendency toward violent activity may result. Low levels of serotonin are believed to be related to depression, suicidal impulses, impulsive aggression, addictive behaviors, sexual deviance, and episodes of sudden rage. High levels appear to be related to shyness, obsessive compulsive behavior, fearfulness, lack of self-confidence, and subdued levels of assertiveness. Low levels of noradrenaline are believed to be related to increased tendency toward premeditated acts of violence or thrill-seeking, while high Ievels may be related to over arousal of emotions, a tendency toward impulsive behaviors, passionate acts of violence, and rapid heartbeat.

These discoveries can provide some insight into human behavior. We must also remember that we are more than physical creatures: we are Spirit-mind-body events occurring in space-time. We cannot deny the effects of brain chemistry and hormonal influences on our physiology and emotions when we are body-mind identified, for we have all experienced them. We should know, however, that there are ways to restore the body to a state of balance: by self-determined adjustment of mental attitude, moods, and behaviors; by choosing a food plan most suitable for our basic constitution; and by adhering to a sensible program of exercise, rest, intentional living, and spiritual practices.

A purely physical approach to behavior modification too often proceeds from a limited self-view that contributes to our believing that we are primarily effects of body chemistry and environmental circumstances and conditions. When we choose to be more conscious and knowledgeable, we can discover that Spirit is superior to mind and body, that mental and physical conditions can be adjusted and organized, and that choices can be made in relationship to behaviors which can beneficially influence body chemistry and restore it to balance. Meditation can be a foundation practice that enhances spiritual awareness, directly influences mind and body in entirely constructive ways, and empowers us to knowledgeable, Self-determined actions.

A Master Guide To Meditation- Roy Eugene Davis. Page: 29 - 34 CSA Press PublishersLakemont, Georgia

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I tend to waver in my intention to be Self-realized. Sometimes I am enthusiastic and focused on purposeful living and spiritual practices. At other times, I aimlessly drift and allow my mind to be preoccupied with mundane interests. How can I be more constructively motivated?

Seriously think about what you do, and why. Then estimate the number of years remaining in your current incarnation. Do you think that you will be Self-realized in your current incarnation if you continue to do what you have been doing? What do you think you should do to make your life more worthwhile? Do you have the freedom (or can you arrange) to do it? Write a course of action that you think will be most helpful for you to immediately implement, then go forward. Don't expect others to motivate you. Don't wait until unwanted circumstances force you to make the right decisions.

It may be helpful to have inspirational books or recordings conveniently available and pictures of spiritually enlightened people to remind you of what is possible for you to experience. The most useful thing to do is to daily meditate until your awareness is clear and you are vividly aware of your essence of being and the wholeness of life. When awareness of your true nature and your relationship with the Infinite and its processes is constant, you will always be Self-motivated.

Explain more about how to surrender to ultimate Reality. What can be done to improve our ability to do it?

To surrender is to stop resisting, to completely give up and let go of whatever interferes with being fully conscious or Self-knowing. It is not always easy to do-even for those who would like to do it. After many years of identifying with a mistaken sense of self, personality traits, mental and emotional states, habits, the opinions and behaviors of others, and environmental conditions, souls sometimes prefer to be as they are, or are reluctant to explore what might exist beyond the boundaries of their consciousness or the limits of their imagination.

Improve your understanding of ultimate Reality and your true nature, intellect, mind, ego (illusional or mistakenly perceived sense of self-identity), body, and environment.

Roy Eugene DavisAnswers to Questions About the Spiritual Path


Improve your intellectual, mental, and intuitive abilities and choose to live responsibly and skillfully. You don't have to wait until you are fully spiritually enlightened and liberated to live freely and enjoyably, have an extensive understanding of higher realities, and be Self-realized.

To be Self-realized with some karma (accumulated subconscious mental influences) yet to be weakened and neutralized and a few erroneous ideas yet to be discarded is to be almost free or liberated from restrictive conditions. When you are at that stage of spiritual awakening, avoid making the mistake of thinking that you are completely enlightened. Continue in the right way until all levels of your mind are purified and your consciousness is fully illumined by the radiance of your pure essence of being.

Remember that complete Kriya Yoga practice includes mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral disciplines; profound Self-inquiry using discrimination and regular superconscious meditation; and surrender (of an egocentric or ordinary sense of self-identity) to allow Self-realization to occur.

What are some of the causes of lack of spiritual awakening and incomplete spiritual awakening?

Not everyone has the ability to learn and do what needs to be done to allow spiritual awakening to occur. They can benefit by nurturing aspiration to be spiritually conscious and learning how to improve intellectual powers and functional skills.

Among people who have the ability to learn to do what they need to do, a few are intentional enough to follow through and have some constructive results, but they don't enthusiastically persist long enough to be proficient in experiencing refined and transcendent meditative superconsciousness. Some are able to elicit meditative superconsciousness but seldom go beyond the stage of experiencing superconsciousness mixed with thoughts, emotions, and mind-produced perceptions. Or, although they can have refined and fleeting transcendent meditative experiences, they cling to erroneous ideas and opinions when they are not meditating. Although their meditative insights may be authentic, at other times they don't always skillfully use discriminative intelligence when they think or talk about higher realities.

Many people awaken to the extent they have a little understanding of higher realities and are satisfied with it, or mistakenly think that they are Self- and God-realized and neglect their metaphysical studies and spiritual practices. Or decide to be a spiritual teacher or healer without having the necessary knowledge and abilities.

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Effective spiritual practice requires our sincere, completely dedicated participation through the weeks, months, and years until our liberation of consciousness is fully actualized by our right actions (kriyas) and the freely provided impulses of grace that arise from within us and can be expressive in the various processes of nature and in the course of human events.

It is helpful to remember that we dwell in a universe: a whole manifestation of cosmic forces pervaded by a universal mind and enlivened by the spirit (life) of God (ultimate Reality).

The same God that is in me, is in you!Paramahansa Yogananda (1893 - 1952)

Can I be dedicated to discipleship if I don't have a guru to guide and encourage me?

The Sanskrit word guru means teacher. A spiritual teacher can explain higher realities and recommend lifestyle regimens and spiritual practices that can enable a disciple to awaken to Self-realization. A wise, competent teacher can be very helpful. If a teacher is not available, one can still acquire knowledge about higher realities from reliable sources, learn to improve their functional abilities, live holistically, and experience rapid spiritual growth. Helpful characteristics to have are I) sincere desire to learn; 2) firm resolve to be spiritually enlightened; 3) attentive adherence to effective spiritual practices; 4) persistent right endeavor until Self-realization is complete.

Truth seekers who have a spiritual teacher need to be responsible for how they think and act in the course of everyday life, study higher realities, meditate deeply, and learn to allow their innate qualities and Self-knowledge to emerge.

To what extent can a guru or competent spiritual teacher assist a person to grow spiritually?

A competent teacher who is spiritually awake can only assist to the extent that a disciple (student or learner) is capable of learning, willing to learn, and willing and able to apply what is learned. The truth seeker has to be receptive and sufficiently emotionally mature to assume responsibility for his or her behaviors and circumstances. Many people who say they would like to have the guidance of a guru (teacher) are not yet intellectually, mentally, or emotionally prepared to have that kind of relationship. Many men and women who were initiated by Paramahansa Yogananda maintained the relationship for only a few months or years, then either went to other teachers, re-


sumed (or adopted) traditional religious practices, or became disinterested in spiritual matters. Many who stayed in contact with him, and benefited from their personal association and spiritual practices, didn't always fully understand what he said or taught by his actions. Some didn't have the ability to experience transcendent super consciousness when they meditated. A few who quietly adhered to holistic lifestyle regimens and spiritual practices for many years were highly Self-realized.

A competent guru patiently works with disciples according to their capacity to learn and practice. Some disciples easily meditate effectively while others quickly comprehend higher realities, nurture devotion, perform selfless service, or harmoniously integrate several constructive practices. A meaningful guru-disciple relationship should continue until the disciple is completely spiritually enlightened.

Disciples who have complete liberation of consciousness as their highest aim think and act in ways that allow it to be most easily and quickly realized.

You, and other spiritual teachers, emphasize the ideal of being spiritually enlightened in one incarnation. Is it really necessary to aspire to that? Won't our natural evolution eventually result in our spiritual enlightenment?

When our innate qualities and knowledge are Self-revealed, some of the future troubles that we might have had are avoided and we are healthier, happier, wiser and more capable of being helpful to others. In our current era, it is necessary for most people to improve their intellectual powers and to awaken from modified states of consciousness to super consciousness in order to further awaken to Self-realization, cosmic consciousness, and liberation of consciousness.

Although trends of evolution are supportive and influential, we have to help ourselves. Paramahansa Yogananda said that Kriya Yoga practice quickens human evolution by purifying the mind, clarifying awareness, refining the nervous system, and developing areas of the brain that process consciousness.

Some philosophical systems (and yoga teachers) say that the culmination of effective spiritual practice is realization (conscious experience) of one's true nature as a unit of an ultimate Reality. Others say that the final stage of awakening is union with God' Which view is true?

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Yoga is the uniting or joining of attention and awareness with one's essence-not the uniting or joining of our essence with God. To say that the aim of spiritual practice is to be united with the Reality referred to as God is to suggest that until we are joined with it we are separate from it. All beings as units of the pure-conscious aspect of ultimate Reality are never other than what they are-even when they erroneously think or feel other-wise.

It is common to hear some truth seekers say, "Even though I sincerely try to do God's will and daily pray to know him, God has not yet come to me or answered my prayers." Their self-created difficulty is caused by trying to relate to that Reality as they mistakenly imagine it to be rather than as it is.

When occasional authentic insights into higher realities are had in spite of one's erroneous ideas regarding philosophical concepts and spiritual practices, they should be contemplated, understood, and allowed to replace false ideas and notions. It is not spiritually beneficial to cling to immature or traditional views and behaviors. To have faster spiritual growth, discard all delusions (false ideas, beliefs, and fantasies).

"Meditation results in revelation. Out of the reality of one's being arises the perception and experience of the pure Self.

Self-realization is the Self-revelation of our true nature by the illumination of our pure consciousness."

Lahiri Mahasaya

"Human beings are intuitively aware of the existence of a Reality of which the components of the physical world are but attributes."

Swami Sri Yukteswar

Source: Radiance Spring 2012, Radiance Spring 2014, - Truth Journal, Dec. 2012 – Jan. 2013, CSA Publications.


"The most devastating side of maya-illusion

is the lack of aspiration to meditate.

Because of this attitude

people cannot tune themselves with guru and God."

Paramahansa Yogananda

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‘Sharp glance’; is the sight released from dualism that is pure, neutral, shiny.‘Sharp glance’ is the purest and most natural awareness of one’s essence. It is the sight over that is not owned by oneself, without expectations, dispassionate.It is the sight over that penetrated one’s body-mind and senses and use all limitlessly and it is subtler, ‘Divine Glance’.It is the view that faultlessly anchored in Serenity, the view fully serene in the presence of Divinity.

When we reunite with permanent sereneness and feel deeply satisfied at heart, we know we are always living in the presence of Supreme Divinity. This is the ‘Oneness’,‘To Be’ in the Eternal Life. Once The Supreme Radiance of The Omnipresence, The Omniscience, The Omnipotence Supreme Existence that is pervading as Wholeness of Life fully prevailed, ‘I’ and ‘my’ cannot exist anymore. Any secondary existence that is not real as shadow cannot be able to reside and rest in that brightness. Therefore no past and future; up or down; forward and behind; feminine or masculine, there is no any nature for respond to ordinary human conditions as inspection, manipulation, agitation, comparison or competition etc. Once Universal Oneness - Wholeness is realized really, it always prevails in one’s whole Life spontaneously. Since the authentic ‘Human Being Nature’ is really natural and pure, it is kindly, serenely, surprisingly powerful too. This is the main point that all sages noticed us and showed us by ‘Be’ing during History of the World. It is only ordinary delusions to describe the saints as ‘mysterious’ who are just embracing their natural being and showing us we can also do the same. While we really respect the real nature of Human Being and love to be pure and natural, there is nothing to describe as incredible. We will just be what we are already. In this natural process one should understand previously that there is no ‘separate or special or extraordinary’ one but Divine Omnipotent only. This is the natural gift of total submission with pure

HUMAN BEING is a ‘SHARP GLANCE’:An Expansive Sight Over Nothingness to Vastness “But rather man has complete sight over (sharp glance) his own condition.”

Quran- Surah Al-Qiyama:14

Sabiha Betûl


heart. ‘Sharp glance’ is the natural result of fidelity. ‘Sharp glance’ is the pure light of our essence that is involved in our worldly journey and so ensured our involvement in Infinity. Very natural process, very spontaneous outcome is so.

Sacred Scriptures inform us that purification process of oneself from identifying with personality and obsession of separate existence can be rapid with one’s decisiveness and sincere endeavor. Who decides is the one to do all necessary endeavors.

‘Person’ must only Love God, desire God only, submit God only in any role of Life and so must learn how to move in God only. Person; without escaping from the wholeness of Life, while doing effective activities sincerely in every role that life provided, should do all with open heart and with full confidence to Absolute Omnipresence, only.

Devotee always be in deep comprehension and devotion that ‘Divine Sharp Glance’ is everywhere from the atoms of the physical body to the vastness of eternity. This is the real and unique conscious partnership that God graced for Human Being for realization of oneness with Absolute Omniscience. This is the end of run after or run away of Self. This is the end of duality and self deceive.

"When senses purified, heart purify;“When the heart purified

Truth spontaneously rememberedWhen Truth permanently remembered

All binds of ignorance break ofThus freedom and eternity reveal."

Chandogya Upanisad

“Open your mind and heart to the Infinite and Love God”.Roy Eugene Davis

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DIVINE REFLECTIONS‘It is’ who sent down peace and happiness into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allah belong the all

beloved of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Omniscience and Omnipotence.’ Qur’an: Surat Al-Fath

Omniscience: Have absolute knowledge to know everything that there is to know.Omnipotence: Have absolute power in all actions and occurrence.

*‘Learn from me, briefly, how one who has awakened to perfection also attains to

Brahman, the highest state.’ Bagavadgita 18/50

*‘Oh giver of Self!

Let us see and hear the universe completely and enable us to work there with our all energy. Let us fully live the life that you have given us,

let us take bravely and give bravely. Help us to dislodge from our minds the feeble attitudes

that would make out joy to be a thing apart from action.’ Rabindranath Tagore

*‘Extrovert desires send us away from the inner paradise; these desires

offer artificial pleasures that only imitate soul’s happiness. Lost paradise is regained by holy meditation.

Since God is infinite novelty that is out of time, we are never tired of him.

Human life is surrounded by sorrow until we learn to tune ourselves in right direction, usually towards divine will that shake egoist mind.’

Sri Yukteswar*

‘Oh Master! I am burnt by the hot, scorching flames of the world's fire. People whom your eyes are on for a moment are divine ones.

That is to mean you accept and have them.’ Shankara

*‘When clever man speaks and sleeps God should grow and flourish.’

Sri Aurobindo*

‘When the purity of individual awareness is clear and immaculate as Self,absolute freedom occurs.’

Patanjali Yoga Sutraları.3.56*

‘Establish yourself in the loneliness. You will experience God in yourself.’ Sister Teresa


Eating is a meditative practice. We should try to offer our full presence for every meal. As we serve our food, we can already begin practicing. Serving ourselves, we realize that many elements, such as the rain, sunshine, earth, and the care taken by the farmers and the cooks, have all come together to form this wonderful meal. In fact, through this food we see that the entire universe is supporting our existence.

Having the opportunity to sit and enjoy wonderful food is something precious, something not everyone has. Many people in the world are hungry. When I hold a bowl of rice or a piece of bread, I know that I am fortunate, and I feel compassion for all those who have no food to eat and are without friends or family. This is a very deep practice. We do not need to go to a temple or a church in order to practice this. We can practice it right at our dinner table. Mindful eating can cultivate seeds of compassion and understanding that will strengthen us to do something to help hungry and lonely people be nourished.

Practice

Eating a meal in mindfulness is an important practice. Turn off the TV, put down the newspaper, and work together for five or ten minutes, setting the table and finishing whatever needs to be done. During these few minutes, you can be very happy. When

Thich Nath Hanh

MINDFUL EATINGThe bread in my hand is the body of the cosmos

25

the food is on the table and everyone is seated, practice breathing: “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile,” three times.

Then, look at each person as you breathe in and out in order to be in touch with yourself and everyone in the table. You don’t need two hours in order to see another person. If you are really settled within yourself, you only need to look for one or two seconds, and that is enough to see your friend or family member. I think that if a family has five members, only about five or ten seconds is needed to practice this “looking and seeing.”

After breathing, smile. Sitting at the table with other people is a chance to offer an authentic smile of friendship and understanding. It is very easy, but not many people do it. To me, the most important part of the practice is to look at each person and smile. If the people eating together cannot smile at each other, the situation is a very dangerous one.

After breathing and smiling, look down at the food in a way that allows the food to become real. This food reveals your connection with the Earth. Each bite contains the life of the sun and the Earth. The extent to which our food reveals itself depends on us. You can see and taste the whole universe in a piece of bread! Contemplating your food for a few seconds before eating, and eating in mindfulness, can bring you much happiness.

Upon finishing your meal, take a few moments to notice that you have finished, your bowl is now empty and your hunger is satisfied. You can take a moment to be grateful that you have had this nourishing food to eat, supporting you on the path of love and understanding.

Happiness- Thich Nath Hanh / Parallax Press.2009. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace.


How about us? What kind of guests we are?

Today; August 19, 2014 is the day when the sources of the planet is exhausted!

It has taken less than eight months for humanity to use up nature’s entire budget for the year and go into ecological overshoot. We will live the rest of 2014 by borrowing from the next year.

The Global Footprint Network (GFN) which is the strategic partner of WWF announces the "Earth Overshoot Day" every year. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s Footprint in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year.

In the year 2000 the "Earth Overshoot Day" was in October, by the increase of consumption and population the date comes earlier in each year.

Today 7 billion people live on the earth. In 2050 it is expected to be 9 billion. This situation will put more pressure on the natural resources of the planet. But the resources of Earth is limited. Where and how do we live, work and travel? What and how do we consume? Starting up these questions we need to question everything we do and change our way of thinking.

"Earth Overshoot Day" is the striking indicator that this change should be made today. A small step can make a big difference. All of us have an important role for building the future where we live without exceeding the ecological limits of the Earth.

Why do we exceed the limit? Throughout most of history, humanity has used nature’s resources to build cities and roads, to provide food and create products, and to absorb our carbon dioxide at a rate that was well within Earth’s budget. But in the mid-1970s, we crossed a critical threshold: Human consumption began outstripping what the planet could reproduce. According to Global Footprint Network’s calculations, our demand for renewable ecological resources and the services they provide is now equivalent to that of more than 1.5 Earths.

Our wonderful host,OUR PLANET

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The data shows us on track to require the resources of two planets well before mid-century. The fact that we are using, or “spending,” our natural capital faster than it can replenish is similar to having expenditures that continuously exceed income. In planetary terms, the costs of our ecological overspending are becoming more evident by the day. Climate change-a result of greenhouse gases being emitted faster than they can be absorbed by forests and oceans-is the most obvious and arguably pressing result. But there are others-shrinking forests, species loss, fisheries collapse, higher commodity prices and civil unrest, to name a few. The environmental and economic crises we are experiencing are symptoms of looming catastrophe. Humanity is simply using more than what the planet can provide.

This latest edition of the "Living Planet Report" is not for the faint-hearted. One key point that jumps out is that the Living Planet Index (LPI), which measures more than 10,000 representative populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, has declined by 52 per cent since 1970.

Put another way, in less than two human generations, population sizes of vertebrate species have dropped by half. These are the living forms that constitute the fabric of the ecosystems which sustain life on Earth - and the barometer of what we are doing to our own planet, our only home. We ignore their decline at our peril.

We are using nature’s gifts as if we had more than just one Earth at our disposal. By taking more from our ecosystems and natural processes than can be replenished, we are jeopardizing our very future. Nature conservation and sustainable development go hand-in-hand. They are not only about preserving biodiversity and wild places, but just as much about safeguarding the future of humanity - our well-being, economy, food security and social stability – indeed, our very survival.

In a world where so many people live in poverty, it may appear as though protecting nature is a luxury. But it is quite the opposite. For many of the world’s poorest people, it is a lifeline. Importantly though, we are all in this together. We all need nutritious food, fresh water and clean air – wherever in the world we live.

Things look so worrying that it may seem difficult to feel positive about the future. Difficult, certainly, but not impossible – because it is in ourselves, who have caused the problem, that we can find the solution. Now we must work to ensure that the upcoming generation can seize the opportunity that we have so far failed to grasp, to close this destructive chapter in our history, and build a future where people can live and prosper in harmony with nature.

We are all connected - and collectively, we have the potential to create the solutions that will safeguard the future of this, our one and only planet.

The information above is quoted from the http://www.wwf.org.tr and http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en


Hz. Mevlâna Celâleddin-i Rumî, who lived 800 years ago, in book 4 of his Mathnawi, states that the musical melodies are the results of the movements of the heavens. He says: "We, in heaven were the particles (cells) of Adam and were exposed to those melodies but we have forgotten them" and points to the possibilities of feelings of harmony, attunement and peace.The feelings of pleasure and pain are vitally important; it is known that living organisms prefer alkaline (basic) environments over acidic ones. The human being is also searching for peace, harmony and attunement in this universe and these are only achievable through the use of will, acquiring knowledge and making choices accordingly.In his book Risale-i lubbu'l lub, the ultimate sheik (sheik ul ekber) Muhiddin-i İbn-i Arabi, who lived just before the time of Rumî, mentions a hadith of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him):"I was a hidden treasure, and I wished to be known, so I provide a creation (mankind)". In the Sufi paths, we see that knowledge is defined by light, and ignorance is defined by darkness; epistemology defines knowledge as the relationship between the object and the subject. The strength or weakness of this relationship defines the quality of the knowledge. Acquiring knowledge creates familiarity with the subject and this in turn increases intimacy.Human beings are inclined to presume about the unknown and presumption usually develops towards expectations, hopes, fears and worries and therefore is not objective. In the Sufi paths, presumption is seen as an obstacle on way one has to overcome. With the inspirational knowledge (intuitive knowledge, true knowledge) which is interwoven with and reinforced by experimenting, one goes beyond that obstacle and reaches the path of the unchanging knowledge.The true knowledge show its quality of being true by being attuned to all the dimensions of time and space and one can only know about the principle elements of true knowledge by knowing its opposite, the relative knowledge. The relative knowledge is deceiving; today's knowledge of something may change tomorrow -genetics, astronomy, physics are just a few of the ever developing and changing branches of science. The appearance of Quantum physics obliged the science of physics to change its previous knowledge. The discovery

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rahmi Oruç GÜVENÇ

KNOWLEDGE, OPEN MINDEDNESS AND THE HUMAN BEING

29

of anaerobic bacteria living in an arsenic based environment leaded to the acceptance of the possibility of life in space. Only 20-30 years ago, science was denying what we stated above and was mercilessly condemning those who arrived at the true knowledge by intuition or by some other means.According to the Sufi masters, the unchanging knowledge is the knowledge of ilham (inspiration) and vahiy (revelation). Vahiy is the knowledge which is bestowed on the prophets by Allah, through angel Gabriel and ilham is the inspirational (intuitional) knowledge which will down on the heart after one arrives at the third level of self. (nefs-i mulhime.)There is an important hadith on this topic: "One who knows his Self , knows the Divine Source." Knowing the nefs and achieving marifet (the true knowledge one gets without any intermediary) is an idea and a system of acceptance which is one of the pillars of Turkish Islamic Sufism and it also exits in the Western philosophical movement. Henri Bergson introduced the idea intuition in the Western philosophy literature. According to Bergson, the intuitive knowledge is a deep and first-hand knowledge.İbn-i Arabi has some assessments about the knowers -those who acquire the true and unchanging knowledge: "... after that Allah gives this knower a divine eye, ear and tongue... Asking and answering starts. This way, the servant goes beyond the state of nonexistence, arrives in the universe of existence and exists by the existence of the Truth. His true knowing, understanding will start afterwards. But in that first moment of manifestation, there is neither science, nor knowledge, nor consciousness. That is the land of absolute non-existence"."The masters of intuition are tolerant for all the orders and all stations. They are addicted to both the divine stations and the created states. They are not ignorant of anything. Their knowledge covers everything...""The knowers become like this for many reasons. The first reason is that they have the knowledge of all the names of the Truth. He knows that all the stations and states are caused by the divine names. And everything is the manifestation object of one or the other divine name. And he knows that the manifestation of one name in a certain place is connected to the inclination and talent of that very place. The Truth has bestowed on him the way to interpret the hidden meanings in the depths of those names. He reads, he understands, he explains. That is why he can take everything into his being; his frame is wide and covers everything."Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him): "What I was given first is cevamiul kelim - the state of interpreting many things from few things."In human being's journey for maturity, knowledge will always protect its very important place in human history and it will always be a center of attraction for the human beings.May you be healthy and peaceful.

Prof.Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç was born in 1948 in Tavşanlı - Kütahya. He studied philosophy at İstanbul University, Faculty of Literature, he acquired his Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology in the field of Music Therapy at Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine. With the collaboration of the Marmara University, Institute of Research for Turkish Music and Munich University, Higher Music Academy, he started music therapy projects and established music therapy schools in Berlin, Manheim, Zurich, Madrid and Barcelona; these schools are continuing their education. In 1975, he founded TÜMATA (The Group for the Research and Promotion of Turkish Music), and began researching the origins and the therapy value of Central Asian Music. He has works in the field of classical Turkish music and sufi music where the lyrics and the compositions belong to him. www.tumata.com


“Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads!

Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple

with doors all shut?

Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee!

He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground

and where the path maker is breaking the stones.

He is with them in sun and shower,

and his garment is covered with dust.

Put of thy holy mantle and

even like him come down on the dusty soil!

Deliverance? Where is this deliverance to be found?

Our Master himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of creation;

he is bound with us all for ever.

Come out of thy meditations

and leave aside thy flowers and incense!

What harm is there if thy clothes become tattered and stained?

Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow.”

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

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Global warming, environmental pollution, ongoing wars of share and massacres are the most discussed issues today. Some of the humanity, whose awareness is high, watching the unfavorable course of events, senses a negative future for both their ancestry and the planet they live on and feel the pain of being helpless in stopping this situation in their deep hearts.

How and why the humanity came to this point? Historians, sociologists, wise people who are experts in different fields of science put forward the reasons and the possible negative effects of this point, they cry out that this course of events is a ‘cul de sac’ that stops evolutional development and they warn mankind by visual and audial means of communication.

In this vicious circle two different type of earthman live on the same planet. While on one hand, an extremely illiterate part of man act with the most egoist feelings, on the other side, in the same water, a model of man who is educated, constructive, interested in science, technology, culture and art try to sustain his being with the

concern of carrying all the intellectual and vital values that have been achieved till today to the future.

Rulers who come forward with ego choose the ones who live with the most primitive incentive as the “strategic partner”, and as a result events that we all know repeat continuously, an unscientific perception continue to govern the common consciousness with the notion of “historic reoccurrence”.

Briefly, since the belief of “Mother Earth” which dominated our world thousands of years ago was overthrown by the gender of man, “abundance/fruitfulness” began to disappear in time, and egoist, discriminatory, selfish attitudes took the place of naive society model, which involves all the virtues that was gained in thousands of years.

Earth Mother/Goddess, Cybele.Çatalhöyük, B.C.E.8-6000. Symbol of nature/naturality, Goddess, universal source of naive belief, unrequited love, abundance/fruitfulness, healthy reproduction/production.

Universe and man

İskender AZATOĞLU


The groups, who are in this notion, being ignorant in history/geography, create environments to satisfy their most primitive instinct, they continue to making our world, our ‘home’ in the Universe as unlivable by signing every negative event and life style.

Universal values of equality, freedom, brotherhood which have been the achievements of mankind for thousands of years of adventure are depleted, become the talk among the class of rulers and their supporters who have control over the earth, and when it is needed, same universal rules are spoiled and used to repress/marginalize the intellectual/productive human beings.

Despite all the pressures and oppressions, ‘prudent’ mankind continue to proceed in line with natural laws of the universe, walk in the way of conscious evolution while increasing awareness and act with the effort to accomplish the responsibility that has been given to him in completing the true alteration/transformation and development.

Now, goal of this kind who carry the burden of being a human is to save our earth from this degenerated living style, and say ‘stop’ to this vicious course of events that proceed towards an end. Adventures of human being has not been over yet, in the coming hundreds and thousands of years, he has the aim of entering the door of the Universe and reaching/achieving more deep mysteries. Therefore Divine Natural Power will give the chance to mankind and so our planet will rejoin the environment of ‘paradise’ that is deserved.

Godfather of Sumerians, ZU, B.C.E. 2500. Source of man dominated society, tyrant god, at the back of wars, severity and discrimination.

İskender AZATOĞLU is a retired lawyer, historian researcher and author. He is the owner of the “Idakoy Farm House” where we carry out our Kriya Yoga training camps peacefully in the unique nature of Mount Ida (Kazdağları).

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It is pleasing that positive impacts of yoga life style regimens and practices that become widespread today are acknowledged by communities to a larger extent. It is observed that expectant mothers who practice yoga, breath and meditation techniques on a regular routine and comply with the natural life principles, get ready to birth process in trust, prefer primarily natural delivery, and the fathers are also involved in with close attention to this special process. It is confirmed by the statements of families, teachers and other observers that mothers who practice yoga, breath and meditation deliver peaceful, calm and healthy babies and they grow up as children and youth who are inclined to self- discipline, act wisely, love nature, prefer naturalness, are open and interested in spiritual realities, have adaptation power, independent personalities, responsibility, tranquility and balance. In schools, yoga appears as one of the first activities that children and youth are interested in and useful impacts of it are accepted by the educationalists. According to the observation results obtained from teachers, for the children who regularly participate ‘yoga’ activities, it is seen that personal conflicts decrease, qualities of being open to sharing, cooperation, and helping each other increases. Main cause of the emotional disorder that develops in childhood and continues in adulthood is explained as the imbalance between the energy of mind (manas shakti) and life energy of the body (prana shakti) in yoga sources. If the child’s field of mind is active whereas the life energy of body is low, being introverted, social incompatibility, depression, anxiety and tiredness appear. Due to lack of energy, he cannot express his thoughts with creative actions. In case where the life energy is high but abilities of the mind (intellect-rationality) is limited, extreme, vain and redundant restlessness comes out (hyperactivity), and special attention should be paid to such children. In both cases, regular practice of techniques of yoga and breath, tune, strengthen protect and support internal glands that results in providing very positive and effective outcomes in maintaining the overall balance. When we are meditating with children, we can learn a great deal from their joyful beings. Repeating a simple mantra at the beginning stage helps their sitting still quietly for 3-5 minutes. A short, clear, natural pray and an affirmation that is said before and after meditation can instantly ensure the unfoldment of their potential essence that is inside. For example: “Om, happiness, joy, peace, Om. Eternal Divine Love and Light spreading from our heart to our environment surrounds the whole planet and all of us, we thank to everything and everyone supporting our lives while sitting calmly in the all-pervading Ocean of Divine Energy. Om, happiness, joy, peace, Om!” Remembering that children love to develop empathy with nature, we can motivate them by facilitating their getting into meditation easily. For instance: It is seen that children who had before observed a turtle

Sabiha BetûlYoga and Meditation for Children and the Young


withdrawing into its shell, imitate this process successfully, sit still in patience for 5-10 minutes, even some of them want to continue by keeping their concentration.Children want to know the meaning of every new word they hear. I explain the word Om as the Divine Light and joy of life that radiates to our surrounding by every heartbeat. I tell them that all beings know this word so when we say this word, we touch all the beings and great each other with love. I share with them the knowledge that our hearts are actually in a Divine light radiating from One Huge heart and they beat with the life forces supplied from this light. When they hear that we are little ‘Oms’ in various sizes (frequencies), colors and styles forming a sea of Eternal, infinite sound and light, I join enthusiastically to their natural glowing responses arousing from their ‘remembrance and acceptance of consciousness of Oneness- Unity’ .Children who grow up in families practicing meditation, are so lucky to have a supporting environment around them. While we sensitively try to fulfill the physical, social, cultural earthly needs of our children, we should always remember that we and our children are spiritual beings that have spiritual capacity, residing in this material world for a short time. In order to prove this remembrance we should perform conscious, wise, exemplary behaviors and make the lives of ourselves and our children’s meaningful and successful. While fulfilling physical and social needs, spiritual essentials should not be left behind and the reality that awakened, regularly nurtured spiritual qualities and abilities that support and enrich the success of the individual in every physical, social, cultural field of life should be recognized with an open heart. In my yoga classes, a great majority of the participants who grow up in families that have love and respect of God and accept the religious rituals of invocation and prayer in their childhood, adapt easily to yoga life regimens and regular practices and demonstrate rapid progress with sincere implementation. I am glad to see that seeds of divine love that awakens at hearts in childhood, begin to develop and come into blossom quickly with yoga practices. A World that radiates vibrations of peace, harmony, joy to Universes is possible with us, such a world hosts souls whose consciousness is enlightened with True, pure knowledge with extensive awareness, who are sensitive, constructive, creative, respectful to each other’s choices, life areas and to the planet and always expand understanding, love, compassion and peace from their hearts to their surroundings.

Thank You.

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Studies of memory suggest that we have a worrying tendency to rely on our familiarity with study items to guide our judgements of whether we know them. The problem is that familiarity is bad at predicting whether we can recall something.

After six hours of looking at study material, it’s easy to think we have it committed to memory. Every page, every important fact, evokes a comforting feeling of familiarity. The cramming has left a lingering glow of activity in our sensory and memory systems, a glow that allows our brain to swiftly tag our study notes as "something that I've seen before". But being able to recognize something isn't the same as being able to recall it.

Different parts of the brain support different kinds of memory. Recognition is strongly affected by the ease with which information passes through the sensory areas of our brain, such as the visual cortex if you are looking at notes. Recall is supported by a network of different areas of the brain, including the frontal cortex and the temporal lobe, which coordinate to recreate a memory from the clues you give it.

Just because your visual cortex is fluently processing your notes after five consecutive hours of you looking at them, doesn't mean the rest of your brain is going to be able to reconstruct the memory of them when you really need it to.

Metacognition

The ability to make judgements about our own minds is called metacognition. Studying it has identified other misconceptions too. For instance, many of us think that actively thinking about trying to learn something will help us remember it.

Studies suggest this is not the case. Far more important is reorganizing the information so that it has a structure more likely to be retained in your memory. In other words, rewrite the content of what you want to learn in a way that makes most sense to you.

BEING ABLE TO RECOGNISE SOMETHING ISN’T THE SAME AS BEING ABLE TO RECALL ITTom Stafford University of Sheffield, UK.

Source: BBC Future, September 1, 2014.


I asked my mind

“what is faith?”,

My mind whispered in ear of my heart,

“Faith is nothing but decency!”

Rumî

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If you want to experience a more realistic and peacefull life that stands on sound foundation, you can begin with our program of ‘Introductıon to Kriya Yoga” to learn the Philosophy of Kriya Yoga, Life Style Principles and Super Conscious Meditation techniques.

Before attending the program, it is important that the aspirants read carefully all the explanations/information in the ‘KRIYA YOGA’ section and all the sources available as PDF in the ‘PUBLICATIONS’ section, primarily the book titled “Conscious Living in Seven Lessons” by Roy Eugene Davis, and motivate themselves to rightly realize what they will learn during the program.

"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole nature in its beauty."

Albert Einstein

2015 EVENTSINTRODUCTION TO KRIYA YOGA

For the New Year 2015We wish

all the humanity and every units of life on our Planettotal well-being.


This Program is for the aspirants who have attended the ‘Introduction to Kriya Yoga Program” and feel ready for more information and practice. Sabiha Betûl shares enlightening information about all the content of the progressive traditional teaching, and support descriptions by techniques and practices.

Philosophical concepts forming the basis of the preliminary stage, life style principles and theirs aims are presented to the participants. By controlling life, methods to support the awakening of consciousness are explained, strengthening the concentration, drawing attention to inside and recommended meditation techniques for the preliminary stage are practiced, group meditations take place.

Aspirants who want to participate to the program is expected to be ready for regular spiritual practices and be enthusiastic to know the highest purpose of life and be decisive to realize this purpose.

‘KRIYA YOGA PHILOSOPHY, PRINCIPLES OF LIFE AND MEDITATION TECHNIQUES’

CLASSIC HATHA YOGA Program is a combination of basic classical hatha yoga asanas which provide preparation and support for meditation practice of Kriya Yoga, deep relaxation, sitting still for a long period and powerful concentration. Postures practiced with breath awareness provides body and mind control, complete individuals by harmonizing the holistic energy flow. By the help of regular practices, it is intended to overcome physical and mental resistances, acquire skills in meditation and realize naturally super conscious meditation.

Wednesday evenings, open conferences are presented on the selected themes in the light of ‘Philosophy of Kriya Yoga and Life Principles’.

WEEKLY CONFERENCES

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Sundays between 12:30 pm - 13:30 pm‘Group meditations of sitting in deep silence ‘wishing Peace and wellbeing of whole, supporting collective consciousness and nature’ are open to everyone who have learnt Kriya Yoga Meditation Techniques.’

Connecting directly to the Source of Unconditional Love that is inside us, for strengthening our flow of spiritual energy, for a more conscious, healthy, balanced, positive life, our seminars which are an effective choice to start firstly caring ourselves take place when six participants form a group.

GROUP MEDITATIONS

USUI SHIKI RYOHO REIKI

Zühtü Tiğrel Cd. 28/1 06450-Çankaya/Oran- Ankara

For more detailed information about our programs you can visit www.sabihabetul.com.

And when you decide please call us.

Phone: +90 532 4233088 +90 532 5845458 +90 532 6878195


You can find these publications in PDF format at www.sabihabetul.com and www.csa-davis.org

2014 PUBLICATIONS "With Our Deepest Gratitude to Our Beloved Master Roy Eugene Davis"

These publications are prepared by Center for Spiritual Awareness of Ankara, to be Freely Distributed to Program Participants and Sincere Spiritual Aspirants.

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“Be aware of your true nature and your relationship with the infinite, expressing through your mind, personality and body. Purify your awareness

by nurturing your mental and emotional calmness and practicing regular super conscious meditation.”

Roy Eugene Davis

2015CSA (Center for Spiritual Awareness)

Kriya Yoga Seminars and Retreat ProgramsPO Box 7 Lakemont/Georgia 30552 Tel: 706-782-4723 Weekdays 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

[email protected]

Meditation and lifestyle routines taught by Roy Eygene Davis and CSA Ministers. Kriya Yoga initiation Thursday 1p.m. during week long retreats.

Guest houses. Vegeterian meals. Donation basis.

2015 Public RetreatsJune 15 – 19 July 13 – 17 August 17 – 21

Weekends: October 24 – 25 November 21 – 22Holy Season Meditation December 5 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

2015 Private RetreatsMay 11 – 15 18 – 22 25 – 29

September 7 – 11 14 – 18 21 – 25

Roy Eugene DavisMeditation Seminars

January 11 2015 – Florida, Embassy Suites Hotel. [email protected]

March 21, 2015 – California, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, [email protected] ; www.csecenter.org

March 22, 2015 – Sacramento, [email protected]

“IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN DO.”

Paramahansa Yogananda

Sabiha BetûlRuhsal Farkındalık Merkezi

Zühtü Tiğrel Cd. 28/1 Oran-Ankara

CONSCIOUSNESS OF ONENESS - sabihabetul.com · Lord Allah is the greatest master of the universe and...

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