SENTIMENTS

Karachi has been so quiet and dead due to so many killings, strikes and riots, very terrible and sad. These situations create unnecessary depression in the air which we cannot avoid. Media plays important role but we can’t help it as we have to keep up with things as what has been happening around us, for information sake. I wish peace could prevail in Karachi and could be sustained forever. We Karachities are peace loving and sweet people, I have no clue that who are those people, those create and cause all those terrible things, who control and support them, have no clue as everyone seem to be disoriented. So far I have never met a single soul who liked the idea of terrorism, target killing, snatching, mugging, riots or any other crime. Than question remains, who are those people? God knows: I just wish things could change as such situations just being damaging in all regards.

Coming back to my thinking head, I wanted to share something very insignificant and out of the ordinary. The word metaphysics means in latin, beyond the physical realm. It is the plane of our feelings, emotions and the spiritual connection with the Superior Being, God, Mother Nature, or whatever image means the grandiosity of Creation for you. The study of metaphysics has one premise: that the universe inside is like the universe outside. ("As above, so below" is a phrase found in the Emerald Table). A spiritual path is a path towards one's self. Through it, one begins to understand the harmony with which the universe works. By learning to keep the physical, mental and emotional aspects in balance, our life aligns with the universal harmony, to experience the peace in the heart that nurtures us, regardless of the events outside. Metaphysical practices are based on Vedanta, Quantum Physics, and the works of many secular, religious and spiritual beings who have transcended the ordinary nature or life. In metaphysical practices there are deep reflections about the nature of life, our purpose on earth, our roles as humans, and our relationship with the divine. Meditation is one of metaphysics' main tools and if we are able to learn to use such tools that we can discover our hidden fortunes, from within ourselves, the entire universe and the God. I have come to conclusion that God is in Us, yes, within us, we have to find him. Yes that is pretty much possible.

 I keep saying this to myself, “where student become teachers” that’s when we must realize that we ought to learn things, no matter what age group we belong and how much age difference we have. I was blessed with such amazing students all throughout the life who became teachers. And I still know few powerful individuals who have abilities to conquer the world by conquering their inner self; I hope their energies are not wasted in meaningless endeavors, like other young ones, maybe in a manner that I sadly did. I would like to extend my heartiest thanks to few super individuals (SS, EW) who played significant role in teaching me things, for me one single word could mean the entire world. 

They might have said few things about Metaphysics and similarly someone dragged me into spiritualism and extreme meditation (needless to say that she once asked me to write about meditation and she asked me teach her how to meditate) whereas she wanted to teach me so many other aspect of seeking/searching and self-discovery. Now I am all smiles, and saying this to myself, thank you guys, you all gave me a word and it became a book, when I searched and explored into my own self. So I am now beyond the physical realm of myself and feel so connected with the divinity of superior being. It is so grandeur and so immense, I request you all, please look for that simple one word and get on to your quest and hunt or search, explore or discover, be patient though but get on to the ride. Ride of self discovery and realization. I am telling you the secret of success is in us, hidden deep down. Once you are there, you will feel words like “depression, stress, anxiety, boredom & so many other morbid aspects”, are so tiny and meaningless, and you would feel that “one single breath” has entire Universe hidden in it. The secret lies in one single breath, so much hidden energy is enclosed in one breath, it has more power than that of plutonium breaking, or any nuclear fission. It is the matter of reaching out to that one single secret breath (Inhale and exhale). It might seem like a fairy tale or something close but it is not. I wish and pray for all of you to reach to that point when you all could find that one word which will give you the translation and composition of entire book, a divine book, a book of life and beyond. I have very high hopes from few individuals who are at their tender ages are very deep in their quest and they could achieve a lot in life to become teachers soon, so that I could learn from them as well Have a good day.

Love nf.

LOVE & LOVE STORIES

I had been thinking about this topic for  quite some time, and for this I read so much, researched, discussed with people, experienced and experimented a lot to learn things. And I thought it’s the best time of the year (as spring is in the air and I could hear distant voice humming “Bahaar Ayee” as beautifully rendered by Tina Sani as soulfully written by Faiz)   to share this article which has been a question mark on my intellect self.

It is ironical that somehow all those famous lovers of various times & period didn’t get a chance to live happily ever after. Somehow all mythical and classical love stories ended with the death of both individuals and one of them and the other one followed by becoming a mystic or martyr.  Matter of fact if any lover gotten together (married or consummated) their story never became popular or attracted any limelight. They became same old run of the mill family tales for which historian never bother to pen them. Whereas all other love stories in which lovers didn’t meet or for that matter died while struggling for longing, their story became a famous love story. I wonder often times why is it so? And all those lovers who died in such manners were considered heroes and true lovers, rest became like me or still in a process of progression towards it. All those Lovers names are etched in golden letters in the history of mankind. Those famous love stories are a living proof that love is immortal.  Have you notice, that in wars and battles and these days in normal life, so many so many people or soldiers die, and they are given a label of “Shaheed” (martyrdom). They gets more recognition than those who survive, just stay ordinary souls. Similarly those lovers who die, they become immortal. Love remains forever and does not let their sacrifices go waste. These popular love affairs are an inspiration for so many people around the world because we all need heroes or celebrities to look up to. Most youngsters smitten by love often become synonymous to these famous lovers. People give them names like Romeo-Juliet that proves that these famous lovers are a big inspiration for falling in love, never mind the consequences.

It is said that love conquers all (as a song states) but then there is another song which I used to listen at one point of life and had become anthem of my heart (Sometimes Love just ain’t enough by Patty Smith). We say Love but it’s not just Love, it’s a lot more than that to be loved or to love. It takes a life time to understand what love actually is. All those epic lovers gave their lives without even thinking twice. I wonder if such love exists in our times. As someone said to me, “aaj kal Koi kisi kay liay nahi marta”…….maybe that’s true or maybe it’s not, as we don’t get to hear such stories anymore. All those lovers who died for each other, they just wanted to live together happily ever after. However, it is not that easy and we all know that fairy tales rarely come true. The trials and tribulations that these young lovers braved, just to be with each other, is enough to send shivers down the spine. They were happy to die together too. They were of the belief that since they couldn't live together, at least in death they shouldn't be separated. Some of the famous love stories are those of Antony-Cleopatra, Pyramus-Thisbe, Salim-Anarkali, Heer Ranjha, Soni Mahiwal, and Laila-Majnu. Their great love sagas are an inspiration to fall in love and not to be afraid of giving even the biggest of sacrifices. Though these great people are not alive, they shall always remain immortal in the hearts of all those who are in love.

Antony and Cleopatra, one of the most famous love stories by William Shakespeare, the love saga of Antony and Cleopatra is a truly a fable of worshipping your beloved. Antony and Cleopatra epitomize that love is another name for sacrifice. Their love story is among the most tragic ones, where both the lovers die instead of living ‘happily ever after’. ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ is among the most popular plays by Shakespeare.

Laila and Majnu is an eternal love story that has a tragic end. These two young lovers sacrificed their love for each other, as they couldn't be together. Such selflessness was their love that they did not hesitate for even a minute when it came to laying down their lives for each other. The love story of Laila and Majnu is a very famous one and is no less than a legend. The love affair of Laila & Majnu is known to be so tragic and moving.

Pyramus and Thisbe, a very touching love story, sure to move anyone who reads it. Their love story is part of a Roman mythology. It is a beautiful tale of the most sentimental romance, though not without its share of tragedy. Theirs was a selfless love and they made sure that even in death, they were together. The love story of Pyramus and Thisbe continues to inspire lovers all around the world.

Salim and Anarkali, their love story is a story that every lover knows. It is one of the most tragic love stories known to people.

The Mughal prince Salim falling for a courtesan Anarkali is the kind of stuff that legends are made of. (it has been sensationalized in an epic and the grandeur, a true cinematic master piece of Kamal Amrohi/K-Asif-in Moghul-e-Azam, which is till date is the biggest Indian movie ever with on Screen love tale of Dilip Kumar & Madubala, which itself is a story in the story, would require pages to talk about just her beauty and her epic smile :). The relationship of Salim and Anarkali outraged the Mughal emperor Akbar to the extent that both father and son decided to go on war. However, as all great love stories are associated with a disastrous ending, the love affair of Salim and Anarkali did blossom, only to meet a tragic fate L So many myths exist about Anarkali and her existence, some say she was a keep of Akbar’s harm, some say she was an illegitimate daughter of Akber that’s why he didn’t want Salim to marry her, and some say she was buried alive and some say she was secretly sent to Iran via caved Tunnel BUT after her death or departure Salim, dude, did live happily after by becoming a Moghul Emperor and loving/living with various other women so I guess their love was just glamorized by the tales and movies.

Another great example of Love that we take or give is of Taj Mahal which was built in memory of Noor Jehaan but strangely she was married before with children and emperor saw her, fallen in love with her and have her husband killed to marry her than she had 14 children from him, after her death he married again and had several other flings, whatever………….I mean I don’t get it? Was Taj Mahal, was a fluke or maybe he just wanted to show or prove his superficial love or Might and maybe he had other reasons of making it, I am not sure but what I do know that it is indeed a greatest piece of Art that mankind has ever produced. Credit should go to the architect and workers but I am so sorry that no one knows about them as they say that after the construction ended, Mughal Emperor, had cut the hands of the main person who was behind its construction, how  cruel is that and this is not good.



Coming back to Love stories, the list is endless, from Sheer-e-Farhad, to Sassi-Pannu or Heer-Ranjha or Sohni-Mahiwal but my question is why in our times we don’t have any such love or memorable stories, were they all made up and fictitious stories? As they say that they don’t have any proof for the story of Anarkali and it’s all made up, not sure though. Question remains, what happened to true love? Do they all get married and forgotten or if they don’t get married than what happens? They are not brave enough to die? Or what is the reason that we do not have any such great Love stories as mentioned above. There has to be some reasons. Maybe it’s in the air; love dies with time or with prevailing zooming commercialism, plastic age, virtual aspects, economic deprivation or lack of motivation. I also wonder if all the lovers wanted to get married. Was marriage—the true destiny? And also my head spins, when I think “what if they had gotten married, would they have been happier? Or popular? Please quote examples of our times of great love stories that you have seen or experienced maybe you can come up with few but not exactly commendable stories. I think most of the love stories die down with our social pressures and “Awwh haye” factors. But we ought to bring and create examples of classical love stories. I have few examples which I shall quote, maybe someday. Same things goes for Soul mates, as I had written in one of my post, a detailed analysis and analogies about Soul Mate Phenomena, which is ever green to be complicated and confusing, as it has just become a term of reference or subject of fascination.   

“kal or ayain gay mujh say behtar kehnay walay, tum say behter sunnay walay”

VICES OF OUR TIMES

 
 

Do you ever stop and think about how insane this is? You have "your life", and some crazy idea you get to order it, you get to have some control over how it's going. You live somewhere (if you're fortunate), and you may have a measuring stick you think of as "your stick", and in it you may have "your trees", your trunk, your branches, leaves and your fruits. In other terms your views, your inhibitions, highs, goals, memories, your car, your day, your responsibilities, and your routine? Your spot in the room when you go to yoga, it is a small thing but I am sure all of us want to be in our favorite spot depending on our mood, day, who is around and environmental (air, light etc) factors. We centralize lives around our loved ones, friends, dreams, work and sadly finance. The clothes we pick for ourselves. Your identity, you know? Your daily list of things to do and all those things that you want to do but been unable to do b because of one reason or another. Your schedule for today, as in Monday As if it's up to you. As if the entire thing, your entire life, and every plan you've got couldn't be turned on its head in the blink of an eye. Its endless list of things, issues, commitments, liabilities and responsibilities. Do the people in your life know how much you love them? Are you making that clear with your actions and the words you choose every day? Did you do that today? If something happened to you today (and I certainly hope nothing but beautiful things happen for you today), what would be left undone? Unsaid? Unexplored? Life does not have a rollover plan for wasted moments. 

The only thing you truly have any control over, is how you're going to respond to whatever it is life is going to bring your way. Maybe something or someone amazing will cross your path. You get to decide if you open to that or you don't. Maybe something devastating or disappointing will happen. You have the power only as much as you're able to open to those events, also. But please don't suffer under the delusion that you're in control and you can put off your joy and your fun and your yes for now, so you can enjoy those things, life's most meaningful gifts, in your future. Tomorrow isn't promised, every single day is a gift and an opportunity to be lit up from the inside, powered by your purpose here, spreading all the love you've got in your heart and co-creating the story as it unfolds. You're either in the flow, or you're exhausting yourself swimming against the current. When people wear themselves down like that, it's so painful, they just want to sleep. How many different ways do we have to do that? To disconnect, to check out, to numb out? Our infatuation with our cell phones, this is crazy but I have become one of those who are always fondling with a cell phone, and if I don’t have it in my hand I feel strange and its funny that I keep playing with my cell phone, even if I don’t have any message or email or check or write, this attachment is ever growing which is not good. I wish if it was with a human being instead of a gadget. We are so much whatsapping, bbming,, forgetting to actually to be with those people, this infatuation with gadgets tweeting or "checking in", is alarming and instead of being with the person in front of them we are literally changing reality into virtuality.  Everyone racing everywhere because we're all so important, you know? We have places to be and we're "swamped" and "inundated", and wow, I'm beat, so happy there's a Gloria Jean’s Coffee Company or Espresso! What are we distracting ourselves from, and why are we so afraid to sit still and open to the wonder within us and the wonder around us? This is serious and concerning, as what are we leaving behind for new generation. I ask myself, when was the last time that I had actually written a letter to a loved one, and I feel sad plus sorry that it’s been more than a year J. Now we have to realize the sentiment of knowing the power of NOW.  That's the only power you have, opening to things as they are, as of now, yes, be it MONDAY. Why can’t we simply embrace it to face it with an open heart and a big smile? Facing reality as it is, is a blessing. Why today’s time and age I am more worried about that my cell phone is out of battery than anything else. My phone went dead on me last night and God I was miserable & freaking out as if I had some allergic reaction. Life is a lot more than that, sometimes it's full of indescribable beauty. You are a part of that. A unique, amazing part. It would be such a shame to miss that. If you're just arriving yet, welcome to this moment. So glad you're here. I wish and pray that you always stay in that moment and keep on cherishing that moment, every moment of your life.

Love…nf

THE ART OF KISSING

Make sure your lips aren't dry - moistening them (but not too much) makes it easier for your lips to slide over your partner's. Use colorless, stick lip balm for best results. Squeezable balm will work too but use in moderation. You don't want to smear shiny Carmex all over your partner.

When French Kissing. Don't dive straight for the tonsils. Play with their tongue - caress, fondle, wrestle with it. Think of it as trying to massage the other's tongue. NEVER bite; you could easily hurt the other person.

Let your partner take the lead sometimes and get used to his or her style. Give each other chances to lead and you may find a different way you like to kiss.Close your eyes just before your lips touch. Some people enjoy looking into their partner's eyes when kissing, but for most, it's a huge creepy turn off. Keep them closed and you will enjoy it more. Think about how blind people sense so much more than sighted people, the same principle applies. You will get a more rushing sensation from the touch and feel of a kiss if your eyes are relaxed and closed.

Use your hands! Don't let your arms awkwardly hang there. Guys, your hands should be around her back, waist, or on the sides of her face. Girls, your hands can be in a NUMBER of places, including: around his neck, on the sides of HIS face, on his stomach, on his hips, or a guy's favorite, on his biceps. Also don't be afraid to run your fingers through your partner's hair, just make sure your hair is clean just in case it happens to YOU!

Let them know what they are doing is good. Softly moan, sigh, or kiss back harder if what they are doing is pleasurable. Girls, if you are holding their arms/biceps, give a little squeeze plus a moan to drive them nuts.

Use your tongue in the way you want your partner to use his/hers - both of you will naturally do the same.

If you're smaller than the partner you're going to kiss, then hold your head a little back and stand on your tiptoes if comfortable. If you are a girl and you are shorter, as it is in most cases, wrap your arms around his neck and he will naturally wrap his around your waist and lift you up.

If you're taller than the partner you're going to kiss, bend your head a little down and keep your legs a little wide apart for the other person to stand.

If you're a bit intimidated by French Kissing, don't be! It sounds scary only because it is not as easy as a regular kiss, but just do it in small steps. First, start kissing like a normal kiss, then slowly open your mouth and touch your partner's tongue softly with yours. They will get the hint and go from there!

Relax! As long as your are comfortable and at ease, your kiss will be pleasurable for both you and your partner. Just empty your mind of everything except the moment at hand and you will master the art of kissing.

WHAT IS INFATUATION

Ever wonder, so many of us fall for others, not knowing what the feelings are: In general terms, everything is labeled as Love and we keep on dwelling upon the thought, love this, love that, and love forever, love and death, what not. Not realizing that most of the cases it is not really love, rather it could be one of the following: Love :: Lust :: Infatuation :: Obsession :: & Ishq.

There has a lot been said, and discussed about love, we have shared several documents on “Love’ at DC. By now I am sure we all know the definition, feelings and thoughts behind “Love”, as far as “Lust” is concerned, most of us will always deny it, will never accept it, this aspect needs to be discussed along with Obsession and my personal favorite “Ishq”. Ishq, only exist in “Udru” or so to speak in sub continental cultures. Ishq has its own dimension, wavelengths and off course concept, definition & explanation. Every individual could define this term in their own set of examples, feelings and experiences. The term “ishq” requires comprehensive discussion, which I shall do some other time. Once there was a debate at DC, very interesting one, with few members at DC, and one of the member dragged me into the explanation of all these feelings, back than I did explain all of these and ever since then I wanted to write in detail about all of these subjects. I did somehow explained all, time to time, specially “ishq” was explained in the post of “Homage to Raja Gidh”, however, it shall be refreshed with more clarity and examples. Today, I want to focus on “Infatuation”, that too, was explained before but I think we need a refresher. Sometime back a dear member at DC had sent me an interesting document related to the subject under discussion, which I am sharing with you all. Many thanks to her.

[We’re in love with it! Millions of men and women live in anxious hope of experiencing it as soon as possible... and over and over again... if necessary. Come to think of it, infatuation has become a popular model for love itself, and at this very moment, infatuation fever is directing the most critical intimate choices of an enormous sub-culture of singles.

But wait! Before you rush to your next rapture, consider some of the following viewpoints on this most popular of all feeling states. Think about what it really is to be infatuated.

Plainly, the word itself is officially defined as a kind of affliction. In common parlance, infatuation is known as "being a fool for love". Most of us recognize it as a state in which a person’s normal ability to think clearly and act rationally are flung aside with suspicious eagerness. Desire focuses on a particular someone and suddenly nothing matters but that compelling attraction. The dictionary strongly suggests that the overt result of infatuation is a reduction in mental capacity. A frequent synonym given for infatuation is "folly", predicting grave consequences to follow from stupidity resulting from fixated passion.

Sounds ominous. Nonetheless, there must be something about infatuation that accounts for the hold it has over our imaginations... and our choices. Most of us know the feelings of infatuation from direct personal experience. Certainly we’ve all been introduced to Love Fever through stories told in pajama party whispers, fairy tales, the anguished confidences of dear friends, through cartoons and fine literature, B-movies and cinematic art, TV sitcoms and soap operas, and romantic novels. Wherever and however reported, though, the sensate phenomenon are remarkably similar.

Infatuation Phase I: Stricken!The first act in the life of an infatuation is that magic moment when someone suddenly takes on "special" meaning for us.

You hear a phrase or a particular inflection in someone’s voice that strikes a chord in your heart. You are struck by the exact tilt of his head. You are warmed by a gaze or an unexpected tenderness. An intriguing remark goes straight to your soul. Or, perhaps from a respectable distance, you notice legs or skin or hair (or a more private physical trait) to die for. Lightning has struck.

Infatuation Phase II: Intrusive ThinkingAfter the bolt of lightning comes a storm of intrusive thinking about the desired one.

Every experience you now have seems interwoven with their qualities, every shared moment weighted with new meaning. When apart from them, you review and relish each moment spent in their presence and ruminates on their flavor. In fact, many infatuation informants report spending 80 to 100 percent of their time compulsively trying to crystallize the vision of their new love, living in vigilant expectation of the next contact.

Infatuation Phase III: IdealizationEarly in the intrusive thinking phase, idealization sets in. The erotic sizzle permeates everything and creates that famous halo with which we love to blind ourselves. For a while, the infatuee sees no flaws in the beloved and admits to no blocks to forward progress.

Infatuation Phase IV: The Emotional RollercoasterFrom this high intensity anticipation comes the primary emotional dynamic of infatuation: an exquisite combination of hope and uncertainty which has funded libraries of poetry.

At this point, life becomes that famous rollercoaster ride: precious moments of delightful reciprocity (real or imagined) followed by agonizing doubts of ultimate success. Infatuation is now more consciously driven by simple fear. In fact, The Nagging Fear of Not Getting What You Have Begun to Desire is the unique torment reserved for the infatuated elite.

This pattern of human experience is as well-documented as any emotional experience has ever been. You can find poignant elaborations on the process incised upon clay tablets, etched in marble, painted on papyrus, fixed in celluloid, playing on the radio, and filtering through the voices all around you. It is a famous and favorite form of anguish.

But how can something so uncomfortable be so irresistible?

Science Has An Answer For Infatuation!Research has confirmed the existence of an amphetamine-like chemical which is rapidly activated (like lightning!) when we begin to feel attracted to someone. This chemical is called phenylethylamine (PEA), that famous substance that makes laboratory rats press levers until they drop dead from exhaustion.

Diane Ackerman, author of The Nature of Love and A Natural History of the Senses, describes PEA as a "molecule that speeds up the flow of information between nerve cells", whipping the brain into a frenzy of excitement, sending ordinary attraction into overdrive and providing the assertive oomph! needed to take social risks and overcome any obstacles to mating. We can consider this a well-designed molecule from the point of view of species survival.

But... some other researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute claim to have discovered that PEA has a tendency to pave the way for that peculiar contemporary disorder, The Relationship Addiction. They point out that this internally-generated infatuation drug acts a lot like speed. Some people (and a lot of rats) not used to the rush begin to crave it.

In other words, some people are always infatuated, but not necessarily with the same person, and not long enough to develop a relationship that makes them really happy or leads to lasting happiness.

Is this what it means to be A Fool For Love? A Fool for Phenylethylamine? By many indications, once we are pierced by the arrow of attraction, the biologically compelling quality of infatuation insures for many people a helpless emotional state.

Psychology Has An Answer for Infatuation!Biological models explain a lot about the "how" of infatuation, the mechanism governing the actual phenomenology of love foolishness. The social sciences have a lot to tell us about the "why". Why this particular man, why that woman?

Naturally, Freud would have said that it is all in your head. What else? His most profound contribution to modern thought was to show us the extent to which our behavior, especially our love behavior, is guided by unconscious processes. He might further have emphasized that we are attracted (compelled?) to experience specific relationships in an attempt to meet intimacy needs shaped in our earliest years, with our first love objects: Mom and Dad. (Just the basic meat and potatoes of attraction dynamics, folks!)

Carl Jung popularized the idea that opposites attract, and for very good reasons. He theorized that we are unconsciously drawn to those who exhibit qualities we find lacking - or somehow undeveloped - in our own psyches and that we always seek to complete or balance ourselves somehow through intimate attachments. In the state of infatuation, then, we are pulled like a moth toward the flame we wish to acquire for our permanent warmth.

The Imago Model of InfatuationHarville Hendrix, author of Keeping the Love You Find: A Guide For Singles, has one of the best explanations I’ve heard for why we tend to fall so heavily and helplessly, if sometimes so briefly, into the infatuated state.

He says we each have in our memory banks a highly individual imprint, a mental construct called an imago, in which the best and worst attributes of our earliest caretakers have been crystallized.

The imago we have of our dream lover is like an intimacy template. It influences and filters our perception so that we are particularly attentive and sensitized to those who match our private patterns. This then accounts for the highly specific nature of our infatuations.

Dr. Hendrix thinks we have something like psychic receptor-sites for certain people who evoke highly idiosyncratic responses in us. He argues - as do many others - that we are unconsciously attracted to people who help us recreate early relationship dynamics in the (also unconscious) hope that things will turn out better and we will have a lot more control this time around.

The perception of strong attraction then acts as an internal signal which flips the PEA switch (remember the infatuation drug?). Apparently, such attraction is relatively involuntary, primitively-driven, and seemingly beyond our control. Just like the drug itself.

Good News/Bad NewsThe deeper we go into this matter, the more infatuation seems to reflect its dictionary definition as the epitome of foolishness. The experience seems to take conscious choice right out of the picture. When we are infatuated with someone - or something - it is as though we become little love robots, biochemical puppets with no will of our own, without a rational thought in our heads! And what is the stupendous pay-off for what seems to be a love offering of mindless surrender?

Answer truthfully, now: How often have you experienced highly erotic and deeply gratifying love-making with someone with whom you were infatuated? How often has the object of your feverish desire turned out to be as you imagined him or her? How many smoldering, day-dreamed passions have actually burst into flame for you? How many times have you been a Fool For Love only to realize within weeks (if you are lucky) or months that there was no love there, only helpless yearning? How many sunny, companionable days have you actually spent with someone you worshipped and longed to possess? In short, how many times has infatuation worked for you?

The answers to these questions will tell you there is little happiness in infatuation itself, precious little daily satisfaction is possible while we are acting the Fool For Love. That is because the state of infatuation thrives on distance and frustration. It flourishes under difficult circumstances. It is not magnified by consummation and familiarity.

Please note: Infatuation cannot exceed its own expectations. It is the spark and the emotional kindling, not a steady, warming fire. It is an appetizer that makes you anticipate the full banquet. But it will not keep you warm and it will not fill you up.

Infatuation begins as an important emotional signal to point you in the direction of desire and get you moving. But it is not yet love and its impetus will never take the place of thinking about what you want and acting persistently on that intention.

Still and all... there is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater!


Transcendental InfatuationWhen all is said and done, we will always want to fall in love with the pull of a potent attraction. We will always want to love infatuation and we will always reserve our right to be a Fool For Love. And that is as it should be. Who does not want to feel moved by the thrill of a profound, mysterious attraction that is able to overpower our ego defenses and cause us to open our soul to another with the impetuosity of a child? The state of infatuation is so powerful that we want infatuation to have a meaning beyond that of a chemically-induced trance phenomenon. And that is possible, but with just one little catch.

In order to make certain that infatuation can fulfill its true role in the natural discovery and growth of love; we have to stay semi-conscious and aware of our choices. Only conscious surrender and sustained attachment can make the original spark of infatuation eventually work to our benefit.

WHAT IS LOVE

What is love? It is one of the most difficult questions for the mankind. Centuries have passed by, relationships have bloomed and so has love. But no one can give the proper definition of love. To some Love is friendship set on fire for others Maybe love is like luck. You have to go all the way to find it. No matter how you define it or feel it, love is the eternal truth in the history of mankind.

Love is patient, love is kind. It has no envy, nor it boasts itself and it is never proud. It rejoices over the evil and is the truth seeker. Love protects; preserves and hopes for the positive aspect of life. Always stand steadfast in love, not fall into it. It is like the dream of your matter of affection coming true. Love can occur between two or more individuals. It bonds them and connects them in a unified link of trust, intimacy and interdependence. It enhances the relationship and comforts the soul. Love should be experienced and not just felt. The depth of love can not be measured. Look at the relationship between a mother and a child. The mother loves the child unconditionally and it can not be measured at all. A different dimension can be attained between any relationships with the magic of love. Love can be created. You just need to focus on the goodness of the other person. If this can be done easily, then you can also love easily. And remember we all have some positive aspect in us, no matter how bad our deeds maybe. And as God said Love all

Depending on context, love can be of different varieties. Romantic love is a deep, intense and unending. It shared on a very intimate and interpersonal and sexual relationship. The term Platonic love, familial love and religious love are also matter of great affection. It is more of desire, preference and feelings. The meaning of love will change with each different relationship and depends more on its concept of depth, versatility, and complexity. But at times the very existence of love is questioned. Some say it is false and meaningless. It says that it never exist, because there has been many instances of hatred and brutality in relationships. The history of our world has witnessed many such events. There has been hatred between brothers, parents and children, sibling rivalry and spouses have failed each other. Friends have betrayed each other; the son has killed his parents for the throne, the count is endless. Even the modern generation is also facing with such dilemmas everyday. But love is not responsible for that. It is us, the people, who have forgotten the meaning of love and have undertaken such gruesome apathy.

In the past the study of philosophy and religion has done many speculations on the phenomenon of love. But love has always ruled, in music, poetry, paintings, sculptor and literature. Psychology has also done lot of dissection to the essence of love, just like what biology, anthropology and neuroscience has also done to it.

Psychology portrays love as a cognitive phenomenon with a social cause. It is said to have three components in the book of psychology: Intimacy, Commitment, and Passion. Also, in an ancient proverb love is defined as a high form of tolerance. And this view has been accepted and advocated by both philosophers and scholars. Love also includes compatibility. But it is more of journey to the unknown when the concept of compatibility comes into picture. Maybe the person whom we see in front of us, may be least compatible than the person who is miles away. We might talk to each other and portray that we love each other, but practically we do not end up into any relationship. Also in compatibility, the key is to think about the long term successful relationship, not a short journey. We need to understand each other and must always remember that no body is perfect.

Be together, share your joy and sorrow, understand each other, provide space to each other, but always be there for each others need. And surely love will blossom to strengthen your relationship with your matter of affection.

MEDITATION-ss

As we all know and we all have observed that People who meditate are much happier and healthier than everyone else. They have greatly extended their life spans, too. It is also used as an aid to speeding up learning programs and for solving problems in nuclear and atomic physics. There just seems to be no end to the great benefits of meditation. There have been numerous studies showing that meditation dramatically reduces, and even reverses disease of all type including Cancer. Now question would be HOW?

Meditation can lower your oxygen consumption and it can even assist in decreasing your respiratory rate, which can help with many different types of lung conditions as well as relaxation. It can also be very helpful for heart patients as it helps to increase the patient’s exercise tolerance, making their muscles and heart stronger. Using mediation daily can help you to build your immune system as it increases the activity of the natural-killer cells that kills the bacteria and cancer cells and it can also reduce your chances of catching viruses as it lowers your emotional distress.

Depression could also be dodged with Meditation because silence is very nourishing to the body and it helps the cells heal themselves naturally. So any chemical imbalance in the body can be rectified simply by practicing inner silence. Meditation allows your attention to become free of the stream of thinking. This will allow your negative thoughts to lose momentum and subside eventually. Consciousness has the power to transmute confusion to clarity, negative thoughts to positive thoughts and restlessness to calm. Meditation is a great way to bring consciousness of your being into activeness, which is inherently a very powerful state. Meditation brings in “space” in the area of a noisy mind. This space of silence allows intelligence to flow through. One is amazed at how solutions can make themselves evident when one allows some silence to come into the noise of the mind. It can increase the vibration of your energy field and help you attract positive thoughts and feelings. Consciousness, or silent awareness, has a nourishing effect on the body and automatically hikes your vibration.

The bottom line is that meditation helps bring about a conscious awareness into the area of noise dominated mind. The energy of silence can easily counteract the negative thoughts and emotions. Also, meditation is considered to be healthy for the body because it has the capacity to bring about a balance by rejuvenating the energy field of your being.

Many women find it very beneficial as meditation can help out to reduce the symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), reducing the tension and emotional stress that come with a woman’s period. Women who are with child can benefits greatly as well, as meditation can help the mother-to-be to get in tune with their unborn child. This can also aid the new mother after childbirth to refocus themselves and make sense of the thoughts that come with the events of childbirth and being new to motherhood. Meditation is a key step in the process of purifying the body, mind, and spirit. When we examine the power that meditation has over the spirit, the spirit's influence over the mind, and then the mind's influence over mental and physical health, it is made plain to us the interconnectedness of all aspects of the complete person. It has long been accepted that we are what we eat, could it also be that we are what we think? How many times do we feel ourselves stuck in psychological patterns, victims to our own emotional addictions? I believe that meditation can have and does have a profound effect on the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of all individuals. 

The benefits of meditation don‘t stop there. Studies also show that experienced mediators those who are able to achieve the deepest levels of meditative states are able to tap into dormant levels of brain function they never thought possible levels of function that exist in each and every one of us resulting in increased intelligence and moving us closer to answering life's mysterious questions. Upon closer examination of mediator’s brains, they consistently show to function at a superior level than the average person‘s on every single test, measurement, and assessment generated among the scientific community. In fact, if you do your homework, you'll discover that many of history's greatest inventors, philosophers, and scientists received their revolutionary, future changing ideas during their daily meditation sessions. 

One of the reasons mediators experience greater levels of happiness and health is because meditation significantly increases the brain's production of several euphoric chemicals the same chemicals that flow through your bloodstream on those days when you've never felt better. Even more, meditation allows these euphoric brain chemicals to be produced constantly.

Mediators also sleep much better than those who don‘t meditate. As a matter of fact, they have shown to need fewer hours of sleep every night because their minds and bodies are completely refreshed and rejuvenated during their highly pleasurable meditation sessions. Meditation is many times more powerful than sleep.

Meditation is also known for providing its practitioners with superior mental and emotional health; it rids our minds of subconscious layers of anger, depression, anxiety, fear, phobias, and sadness, and produces a perfect mental and emotional balance. There are many ways to commune with the divine in yourself, one of the first ways that we can practice Ishvarapranidhana is by putting aside some time each day, even a few minutes, to avail ourselves of an intelligence that is greater than our own." In the Yoga Sutras, meditation is dealt where it states, One-wontedness is steadfastness of the mind. Unbroken continuation of that mental ability is meditation. That same meditation when there is only consciousness of the object of meditation and not of the mind is realization.

People who meditate are known to have more friends, maintain healthier relationships, and feel a great deal more satisfied and content with their lives. With all of the dramatic improvements meditation can bring to our lives, why isn't everyone doing it?

Well, for one, traditional methods of meditation often take a considerable amount of time and effort every single day. And it sometimes takes years, even decades; of practice before you are able to reach the deeper states of meditation required to achieve life transforming results. The learning process can also sometimes be boring and feel like a chore. As with everything else, only those who are extremely dedicated, disciplined, and committed are able to attain the life enhancing benefits that meditation has to offer. If you're like most people, you don't have hours upon hours to commit to daily meditation. And the last thing you want to do is spend years practicing before you get anything back in return.  But what would you say if I told you that with just a press of a button, you could reach the same deep meditative states as those with decades of experience? And get the same results in a matter of days and weeks, plus a host of other life—enhancing benefits? You would all love it and would want to have that button. I wish we could have such buttons in life, for happiness, contentment, love, trust and loyalty. But no buttons yet and no real life "Emoticons" yet :) but honestly start with 3 minutes of meditation daily and see how it helps and take it from there. When I started writing this post, I didn’t know I would write so much but now I am ended up doing so. I started listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali's Qawali, "Yeah Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hay", sung live and it’s an extended version, for 1 hr 8 Mins, I got so much engrossed into the tranz of the song and just couldn’t stop writing, and heard the qawali for almost 2 times (if anyone want the link for this qawali, check below). It’s almost Dawn. I hope you guys take time out to read this lengthy piece. Good Morning wishing you all for another SUPER SUNFUL SUNDAY

Link for Qawalli (rare version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvgXBp8N7O4

Experiencing the Experience

Experiencing the Experience

Have you ever wonder how to actually experience the experience?

I guess not, we don’t go that far or that deep into things, let me explain this notion which had been bugging me since last night and I slept over it, thinking, dreaming and realizing, making my own mental notes, and here comes another Sunday morning with another complication/assortment of thoughts. So many chores, duties, kids and responsibilities lined up, needless to say back of my head thinking that tomorrow is Monday, and it shall be another fast paced week with work related meetings, tasks and issues to deal with, don’t want to think about it. This very thought, element of intrigue kept me restless all night, woke up unusually early and not wanting to do much, got my hair oiled (Maalish), my entire body is sore from yesterday’s intense yoga session and this soreness is the testimony of pleasant power and eternal endurance which makes me feel great and at brings my emotions at peace. Read two newspapers, been browsing through three new books that I invested upon at Liberty books, spent an hour in finding, reading and selecting my choice of books, not that I intended to buy them all, but it’s my weakness, once I get into a book store I am simply lost, though we don’t have great book stores here in Karachi, whatever is available, we have to cherish., My daughter is the one who dragged me into the store as she wanted to buy a new book which she said no one in her class has it (new series of diary of a wimpy Kid).  It was terribly crowded at Dolmen Mall, my son wanted to check out the Yamaha music store, but it was decided to go to liberty books first (as I also enjoy being in there), To get away from the hustle bustle of the main mall, we got to the store, me being in my zone, literally crawling into isles of my favorite sections until my daughter got tired of asking me to “let’s go” which she had said at least 13 times.  I gave in after selecting 3 interesting books of my choice and my son too had found a book so we all were buffed with books.  We didn't hang around much in the mall as nothing was to be done. Now it’s Sunday, almost 1 pm  and I have to finish up some official work, than a meeting, kids homework, than have to take my son to one of the birthday party of his class mate, and before that I have to shower, Yoga, change and get into the rhythm of things.

(This post was written last Sunday but didn’t have time to share it and here I am almost a week has passed sharing it now)

Coming back to the topic, how is it if we cannot express or explain any experience that we encounter, for example “death” no one knows how it feels, tastes, and what exactly happens when you are dying, when your spirit is getting out of your body. So many myths about it but no real explanation such experience. Than ‘near death experiences’ but whoever I talked to about it, who had experienced that, most of them said they went blank or went into unconscious zone which they do not remember. When experiencer is lost than experience is also diminished, who and how will anyone relate that experience, when there is no subject, the object also disappears. And also similarly, the case of knowledge, when it might be there but the knower is not there or exists anymore. THIS HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM WITH ALL SUFIES, MYSTICS AND SAINTS, they reach to ULTIMATE STATE but they cannot relate to or relate with others, who are simply there or even with them who might be following them. This intellectual explanation could only be transferred or possible if the other person to ready to receive it and the person who has attained that state of experience is ready to explain it. Words, symbols, theories, equations cannot simply do it.The experience is such that it is more like an experiencing than like an experience itself. It is a complete and continuous process which when begins, and it never ends. You enter into it but you never possess it. It is like a drop dropping in the ocean, or ocean itself dropping into the drop. It is a very deep merger, it is ONENESS, and you simply melt away into it. Nothing is left behind, not even a trace, so who will communicate?   Who will come back to the darkest night of your solitude to tell you?All the mystics and saints all over the world have always felt impotent as far as communication is concerned. For them communion is doable but communication is literally impossible that is why I say that they cannot explain that Ultimate state that they had achieved. Now this concept has to be understood from its basics. A communion is a totally different human dimension, two heart meet, it is a love affair. Communication is from head to head whereas communion is from heart to heart, communion is a feeling. Communication is knowledge in which only words are given and only words are written or explained and only words are understood. Even in daily life, forget the ULTIMATE, just simple things of life, as we say so many times, “I can’t explain in words” and “it was great I can’t tell you on phone”, “I kissed her and the feeling was out of this world, which I shall never be able to explain”. Someone told me about her “ishq’ she had encountered while being married, she met someone that she had visions about. Yes, she had seen him before actually seeing him. As she explained the feelings which seems unrealistic. She narrated and defined it to be ultimate of all, romantic to the core of passion, lust, intimacy, infatuation, obsession, hormonal, emotional and to top it all off “spiritual” as if it was magic and not wanting to get into it, she felt dragged by a “pull” an unknown force. She wanted to meet him right away, be with him, listen to him, hearing his voice became fuel of her pulse. She broke all the norms of values and explored her visionary man to find out and to follow her dreams.  She experienced amazing feelings which she said, no other man she had felt with. I do not understand any of it, still don’t because whatever she said was something which we might hear from a teenager or maybe from someone who is probably a saint. It seemed complicated. I wonder if she made things up to justify her encounter with another man, or was she really serious, not sure yet.  I researched a lot on this kind of feelings but in five years I am still unable to relate or measure the intensity of that ‘pull’.  So many other things, good or bad, we cannot write or words cannot replace the experience which one has gone through, not even any kind of communication could do much in this. Only Communion could if it exists between two individuals or between a person and the ultimate/supreme being (GOD).Research of my latest understanding is real Communion, and which shall take me to the understanding of Supreme nature, the ultimate state, which I might someday acquire or reach (not sure if I have achieved that already). Communion could be involved in all kinds of understanding be it life, heart, mind, soul, love, intimacy or consummation, each state as an ‘Ultimate” aspect of it and we shall be able to reach out to it and attain it.I shall be writing more about this concept as I read more, understand more and achieve more, I might not be able to have Communion with you all, but I shall make communication possible in best possible manner and I am open to further discussions to explain more and to understand more from your experiences, knowledge, and information. At the same time I shall be delighted if we understand to develop Communion with others to make them understand more, to bring them where we are in terms of understanding and realization. Yoga, meditation is one way of attaining Communion and its further branches are also very interesting, especially Tantra practice which understand and develops ultimate Communion between two souls to achieve highest possible natural Ecstasy. I shall be writing about this as well as I mentioned in my last post that I had been working on various aspects of Kundalini and Tantra to acquire understanding and attain the state so that I may explain ‘experiencing the experience’. There is a lot to share and discuss and off course reveal but I shall never conceal what I discover or experience. Some interesting experiences  have jolted me last year by my own way of lucid dreaming (refer to my post on lucid dreams) and meditation, and I must thank a student who became teacher to me and shall always remain in my spiritual sight as an ultimate light, to follow and to reach out to touch the face of fate.

Kundalini Awakening

Kundalini Yoga

There is no way that you can understand the impact and the depth of the relationship. I am not talking of love in imagination, or love of people. I am talking about love in action.............It is an attraction of polarities: one polarity seeks to merge with another to create a neutral state of mind. That is why partnering in Yoga is so much better than otherwise.

There might have been a lot of myths associated with Yoga and its branches. Few years ago when I mentioned Yoga to my close friend who is a dude kind of a person (very muscular and eye candy for ladies) and he responded to me sarcastically that Yoga is such a sissy thing, he would never do it, and he called me faggot, I smiled and carried on (this was in 2005). And few months ago same friend called me, to find out some basic poses of Yoga as he had left working out and wanted to start Yoga, and according to him it is a cool thing now..........and I said in my head, oh wow!!! fabulous.....

 My short quest into Yoga which is about 20 years old but I wish I had started practicing it back than, when destiny has given me a platform and a very solid reason but I guess we learn things harder way, so did I. Its strange though that life kept on taking me into this field by one way or another. 

I had been deeply rooted into Yoga and its branches not just by adopting as a daily life chore but considering it as a blessing. My own research and quest of learning more, by reading, exploring and attending courses during my traveling opportunities. Life has taken me deeply into the science and basics of this ultimate Practice. Back in 1993, while being in University in US, studying world's most difficult Engineering, which is not just Chemical but seriously was so Physical that it had drained me like a long lost dessert.  I met a lady who was about 13 years ahead in the race against time with me. She introduced me to so many different ventures, it was exactly the same time when Val Kilmer got a kick start of his career again with The Doors, (yes Jim Morrison had been my musical and poetic God, which took me to pay homage to his grave in the outskirts of Paris). Quintin Tarentino blasted the 90ies with Pulp Fiction and man, I was so Uma Thermanized. She practiced various Goethe crafts, including but not limited to Morbidism, Yuma, Vegan diet and foremost of all of them was tantalizing Tantra, I got intimidated and attracted by all means and did try to learn and practice but I was not doing Yoga so it eventually did not make much sense apart from the fact that I got to learn a lot of interesting things about it. She tried to influence me towards becoming an ultimate Yogi and join one of the ashrams in India or Nepal but me being myself I kept on drifting from one interest to another, as I was searching something which I did not know myself and which I was going to discover in 2011. During one of my trip to United States re-visiting the past in 1998 I met the lady again, but now she had transformed from a Gipsy to a Metro Woman, while she was living in upscale neighborhood of Beverly Hills, and still working for the same trendy fashion ensemble.  We spent few days hanging out in various cafe's and streets. She again tried to convince me to get into the practice and adopt seriously, during that weekend I did practice and tried to learn a bit, mainly breathing exercises and again lime light was calling me, as I was so much influenced by the trance music and experimenting Ecstasies of life that I sneaked myself to catch an early flight to Fracisco to meet another friend for a party of a lifetime. (I guess it wasn't the right time yet for me to attain the blissfulness of nature). Life went on and so did everything else, I did adopt few breathing Tantric rituals for my own benefits and vested interests and I clearly remember mentioning the term "Tantra" to a friend who translated it into Tantrum and I smiled. However, till the year 2009 when I was done with experiencing all kinds of highs and lows of life, traveling from Japan to Mexico, dancing all nighters in Ministry of Sound, back packing through the wondrous European Alps and camping into Black Forest, hot tubing in the wild desserts of Arizona and skinny dipping in serene surroundings of Thai islands, getting married, having two beautiful Jewels in the form of children, than getting into self imposed hiding from the charms of the world for about 8 years, making own house which was the monumental and most difficult task I had ever accomplished. Commencing or shall I say conceiving my lifelong project of writing about Sixth Element and ultimately meeting what I had dreamt lucidly, yes discovering my own Sixth Element for the first time. Meeting her and also saying farewell to her very soon, with pride and again influenced by Yoga and Spirituality, She said "I am not a destiny that you seek, I am the 'turn' that you ought to make in life", she showed me the path and disappeared in oblivion. She told me about state of a soul which is almost impossible to acquire, I presented her those 33 pages of my work and she smiled and said "your task is way ahead and you must not drift, you have to reach the state of IRFAN".  She was the actual awakening which I named my Sixth Element and she   showed me the light, as I moved on seeking more spirituality by staying as normal as any other human being could possible can. Quest has began.

It was 2009 that I formally began learning and practicing Yoga, once I got into it, I was actually into it, and within few months of rigorous practice I could or anyone could see the major transformation in me, physically, and emotionally both, until it hit me spiritually. Within a years time I had met a new me, who was by all means Yoga eccentric and would live Yoga (eat drink, smell or sense) anywhere and in any manner. At the same time my quest back in my head went on and I kept asking people about Tantra and by now there was so much material available online, I found out about Kundalini and how it was kept as a secret treasure and was only shared in dedicated Yoga clan/monks etc so I started reading, ordering books and all that. This was almost the same time again lucid dream occurred in which I had planned to meet the Sixth Element, she and I meditated spirituality, 4am in the morning, she asked me to read Raja Gidh again (refer to my post of RG to know about the book) which I did and out of all those interesting factors and facts I got to find out about life and humanity, book also had a little chapter on the subject of Kundalini, and bang, that was it: I focused all my energies and interest in finding things about it and learning it. You could only learn so much through online information and courses, I tried to find out if I could locate anyone in Karachi or Pakistan who could help me learn or teach or even if someone would be interested in learning it together with me about this amazing phenomena called Kundalini, but nopes, no one was interested, let alone practice (welcome to Pakistan). People would look at me as if I was asking or telling something BAD, same old myths and taboos. My discovery was evergreen and  I kept on reading and trying, an extensive online course took me to another level. By the start of 2012 I was true Yoga lover, and I had influenced so many people to indulge into it and utilize its benefits. It would make me sad as most of the people I met or practiced Yoga, they were out there to either reduce their wait or built their muscles whereas I advocated something more intense and interesting about Yoga. I wrote several posts, documents about the positiveness of Yoga and Meditation. During the mid of 2012 life blessed me with another treasure, during my visit of United States, while practicing Power Yoga almost every city that I traveled and practised all forms of yoga with various instructors and Yogies/Gurus. I short listed a full one month lived in course for Kundalini Awakening in Hawaii but due to a family problem I had to cut my trip short and come back, I guess it was not a time for my Chakra's to be manipulated yet. 

Another interesting thing happened during my trip that I registered for one day workshop on Kundalini Yoga, in Phoenix Arizona, conducted by a lovely soul, named Sevak Singh. That duration or learning was a "NEW BEGINNING" for me, for my soul and myself. As we were told before the start up of the course that after the end of the workshop we will feel the difference, which is unlike any other differences which we might had felt, in any manner whatsoever in life, be it Yoga or anything else. That workshop also had a 20 minutes session in which we had to dance, freely as if we were naked in our bathroom and no one is watching, and during that dance, I felt it, I saw something happening, very strange as mentioned in books or seen in movies. That was enlightenment which our soul already posses and it is locked/hidden within our chakras and we cannot register or comprehend to/with unless we reach out to awaken it. Coming out of that course and standing with Sevak Singh, I cried with my smiles and wanted to stay in that ashram but I could not. I promised myself that I shall continue learning and practicing/promoting it.

Now ever since than I try everyday to nourish my soul with its blessings, also at the same time I keep on asking and telling people about this hidden or unexplored treasure of life. I ask anyone that I meet who might be interested, I write on different groups and websites about it but people hardly pay attention and which reminds me of famous scene when Mcantosh (Apple) had developed a thing called "mouse" which the company like Xeros had rejected it saying "who would want to use something called Mouse". I get more or less same response from people and my yoga colleagues. Most of the Yoga places/studios and instructors are mainly out there to make money by telling people the physical benefits of Yoga. No one promotes, its education in real sense or awareness about other treasures like Kundalini but sadly everyone has watched the Movie Kama Sutra and admired all those elements in it, but that too is a science associated with Yoga and beyond.
 I have read enough by now that I could write a book on Kundalini Yoga. At the same time I wish that I could educate people about it so that everyone could realize about all the goodies that it possess. I am also trying to attract like minded Yoga Practitioners to help my cause and help me help others. This is the practice which require ultimate dedication and hence it gives an ultimate transformation in the form of "Awakening". Similarly, one could also learn the Tantric exercises which too are blissful in so many ways. I truly feel that with the combined effort of friends and fellow Yogies we can commence learning and hence teaching of Kundalini. I do intend to attend more courses/classes if life and time permits and ultimately transfer all of my knowledge and learning to others so that maximum people could benefit from it. I wish one day I could have Kundalini Yoga Center where we can generate a total mental retreat,  we can educate, teach, learn and earn the ultimate blissfulness of nature through our own selves and other souls. I try to be friendly and courteous to people and friends and I go out of my way to help or to smile and to listen to people/friends and sometimes people think whats up with him but I do not intend to change, this is how I am and this how how I shall remain. Being nice and friendly and sweet is the least we could do for and to fellow humans, as we see enough hatred, issues and depression all around us so why not spread and share smiles. This is exactly what Sevak Singh had endorsed, he spent good half an hour with me after the class, man of his stature in Pakistan, will run off and will never talk to someone new or someone like me. I believe in Love and spreading Love without any inhibitions whatsoever.

Don't live at or with each other, but for each other. Hold on to the 

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Me and Sevak Singh: The Guru:

  

To most of the people in our society sex is just a release and nothing more. However the highest sexual relationship is an absolute worship, reverence, devotion and love, where the aura and subtle bodies merge..............It can be transformed into the worship of divinity in the temple of their lovers body.

According to yogic philosophy, kundaliniis a spiritual energy or life force located at the base of the spine. It is conceptualized as a coiled up serpent. Literally, kundalini or kundalais that which is coiled (Sanskrit kund, to burn; kunda, to coil or to spiral). It is believed that Kundalini yoga is that which arouses the sleeping Kundalini Shakti from its coiled base through the 6 chakras, and penetrate the 7th chakra, or crown. This energy is said to travel along the ida (left), pingala (right) and central, or sushumna nadi - the main channels of pranic energy in the body. This process can be seen depicted even today in modern medical iconography as two snakes spiraling a central staff, and although the origin of this image is more directly derived from the Caduceus of the Greek god Hermes, it may express the same or a similar principle.

Kundalini energy is technically understood as being sparked during yogic breathing when pranaand apana blends at the 3rd chakra (naval center) at which point it initially drops down to the 1st and 2nd chakras before traveling up to the spine to the higher centers of the brain to activate the golden cord - the connection between the pituitary and pineal glands - and penetrate the 7 chakras.

Borrowing and integrating the highest forms from many different approaches, Kundalini Yoga can be understood as a tri-fold approach of Bhakti yoga for devotion, Shakti yoga for power, and Raja yoga for mental power and control. Its purpose through the daily practice of kriyasand meditation in sadhana are described a practical technology of human consciousness for humans to achieve their total creative potential.

As per one school of thought, there being four main forms of yoga, Mantra yoga, Hatha yoga, Laya yoga and Raja yoga; Kundalini yoga is really considered a Laya yoga.

Mainstream traditions propose that kundalini energy can be awakened and enlightenment attained by practicing a combination of yogic techniques—ideally following the guidance of a certified teacher—including the use of mantra,prana and breathing techniques, sadhana, asana practice, meditation, or purely through devotion and prayer.

Some Hindu traditions, Kundalini yoga is considered a highly developed spiritual awakening which relies upon a technique called shaktipat to attain enlightenment under the guidance of a spiritual master.

In the classical literature of Kashmir Saivism kundalini is described in three different manifestations. The first of these is as the universal energy or para-kundalini. The second of these is as the energizing function of the body-mind complex or prana-kundalini. The third of these is as consciousness or shakti-kundalini which simultaneously subsumes and intermediates between these two. Ultimately these three forms are the same but understanding these three different forms will help to understand the different manifestations of kundalini . 

The word 'Kundalini' can be traced to the Sanskrit word 'kundala', which means 'coiled'. Kundalini can therefore be used by believers to refer to the latent energy within the human body which is constantly trying to manifest as our insight, power and bliss.

According to one author, the word kundalini literally means "the curl of the lock of hair of the beloved." It is a metaphor, a poetic way of describing the flow of energy and consciousness which already is said to exist within each person.

The practices are said to enable the person to merge with or "yoke" the universal self. This merging of individual consciousness with the universal consciousness is said to create a "divine union" called "yoga".

Source: Wikipedia

KUNDALINI

The word Kundalini is a familiar one to all students of Yoga, as it is well known as the power, in the form of a coiled serpent, residing in Muladhara Chakra, the first of the seven Chakras, the other six being Svadhishthana, Manipuraka, Anahata, Visuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara, in order.

All Sadhanas in the form of Japa, meditation, Kirtan and prayer as well as all development of virtues, and observance of austerities like truth, non-violence and continence are at best calculated only to awaken this serpent-power and make it to pass through all the succeeding Chakras beginning from Svadhishthana to Sahasrara, the latter otherwise called as the thousand-petalled lotus, the seat of Sadasiva or the Parabrahman or the Absolute separated from whom the Kundalini or the Shakti lies at the Muladhara, and to unite with whom the Kundalini passes through all the Chakras, as explained above, conferring liberation on the aspirant who assiduously practises Yoga or the technique of uniting her with her Lord and gets success also in his effort.

In worldly-minded people, given to enjoyment of sensual and sexual pleasures, this Kundalini power is sleeping because of the absence of any stimulus in the form of spiritual practices, as the power generated through such practices alone awakens that serpent-power, and not any other power derived through the possession of worldly riches and affluence. When the aspirant seriously practises all the disciplines as enjoined in the Shastras, and as instructed by the preceptor, in whom the Kundalini would have already been awakened and reached its abode or Sadasiva, acquiring which blessed achievement alone a person becomes entitled to act as a Guru or spiritual preceptor, guiding and helping others also to achieve the same end, the veils or layers enmeshing Kundalini begin to be cleared and finally are torn asunder and the serpent-power is pushed or driven, as it were upwards.

Supersensual visions appear before the mental eye of the aspirant, new worlds with indescribable wonders and charms unfold themselves before the Yogi, planes after planes reveal their existence and grandeur to the practitioner and the Yogi gets divine knowledge, power and bliss, in increasing degrees, when Kundalini passes through Chakra after Chakra, making them to bloom in all their glory which before the touch of Kundalini, do not give out their powers, emanating their divine light and fragrance and reveal the divine secrets and phenomena, which lie concealed from the eyes of worldly-minded people who would refuse to believe of their existence even.

When the Kundalini ascends one Chakra or Yogic centre, the Yogi also ascends one step or rung upward in the Yogic ladder; one more page, the next page, he reads in the divine book; the more the Kundalini travels upwards, the Yogi also advances towards the goal or spiritual perfection in relation to it. When the Kundalini reaches the sixth centre or the Ajna Chakra, the Yogi gets the vision of Personal God or Saguna Brahman, and when the serpent-power reaches the last, the top centre, or Sahasrara Chakra, or the Thousand-petalled lotus, the Yogi loses his individuality in the ocean of Sat-Chit-Ananda or the Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute and becomes one with the Lord or Supreme Soul. He is no longer an ordinary man, not even a simple Yogi, but a fully illumined sage, having conquered the eternal and unlimited divine kingdom, a hero having won the battle against illusion, a Mukta or liberated one having crossed the ocean of ignorance or the transmigratory existence, and a superman having the authority and capacity to save the other struggling souls of the relative world. Scriptures hail him most, in the maximum possible glorifying way, and his achievement. Celestial beings envy him, not excluding the Trinity even, viz., Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. 

 

The 4/4 Energizing Breath!

What will it do for you?

Do this at a break in the action of the game. It will relax and energize you, and help combat encroaching fatigue and excess emotionality. In any life matters, business meetings, relationship encounters or sports it can rejuvenate coordination and spirit, and possibly avoid any conflict.

This is a great quick pickup when you have only a few minutes. If you do it 2 or 3 times a day at strategic times (before meals, meetings, driving home, etc.) and when you begin to feel tired, you will notice a big difference in the way you feel.

How to do it:

Sit straight. Place the palms together at the heart center with the fingers pointing up. Focus at the brow point with eyelids lightly closed. Inhale, breaking the breath into 4 equal parts of sniffs, filling the lungs completely on the 4th.

As you exhale, release the breath equally in 4 parts, emptying the lungs on the 4th.
On each part of both the inhale and exhale, pull the navel point toward the spine. (The stronger you pump the navel the more energy you will generate.) One full breath cycle (in and out) takes about 7-8 seconds. Continue for 2-3 minutes.
If you press the hands very hard, and do it vigorously, 1 minute will recharge you. If the mind has a lot of anxiety or confusion, add the mantra "Sa -Ta - Na - Ma" mentally on both the inhale and the exhale.

Sa=infinity Ta=Life Na=Death Ma=Rebirth

To end, inhale deeply, press the palms together with force for 10-15 seconds. Create a tension in the whole body by pressing as hard as you can. Hold as long as possible. Exhale powerfully and repeat the inhale, hold, press. Exhale, relax and allow the tension in the body to vanish.

If you need rest, immediately lie on the back with the eyes closed and relax for 2-5 minutes. Take a few deep breaths, stretch, and you will be ready for action.

I am always ready and available for any kind of information, help, assistance, in any area of Yoga or otherwise, it will be indeed my pleasure and honor to help anyone who wants to learn Kundalini.

Many Thanks to Guru Ratna for the blessings and information.

Satunm Kaur, one of the Kundalini Yoga Instructor