Week 11

Monday – October 12, 2020 – “In the beginning….”

“TODAY is the first day in the rest of my life.” I remember being told that many times by my “care givers” throughout the years. After the diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in November of 1976 I was in a new world. It was a world of uncertainty. I have written about my experience with this dis-ease and, often times, I compare the experience to be like taken away from home. Taken to the circus to play a high wire act of high and low blood sugar, needles and doctors. Another analogy I have used to describe the experience of living with diabetes and manually managing blood glucose levels through meticulous monitoring of diet, injected insulin, testing, testing, testing and “complications’ is that it is like flying a plane. In the early days I was flying blind. Today, I have 44 years of experience and I have some slightly more modern tools to access.

Having to struggle with this dis-ease on a daily 24/7 basis I have accumulated some experience in descending into a different world. I am sure many of you have had a similar experience. The thing with the condition I must deal with is that it is so insidious. The word itself derives from the Spanish word for the Devil. Is our human life an exodus from our “home.” Is home Samadhi? It is so elusive to us, isn’t it? Some have solutioned this through faith in a system or map of Reality provided to them by a philosophy or religion. Some have solutioned this by ignoring it or discounting any hope of returning so it does not really apply to the individual’s current perspective. “My truth is my truth and your truth is your truth.”

I have a vision for the journey forward. I see the next three weeks as preparation time. I wish to share a map of the 5 “steps”, “phases”, “levels”, “stages” of Creation. In the next three weeks I am going to attempt to share this “map” with you. We have reached the “mountain top.” We have had a view from above. Now where do we go? And maybe more important…….WHY?

There is only one map of the territory I have found that has a description and explanation of what happened before “the Big Bang.” I found it in The Torah and the decoding of The Torah via Kabbalistic Concepts and Understandings and Texts. I need to STOP here for a moment and explain something, again. It bears repeating often in our type of inquiry and journey. All things that we look at and explore are done so in the spirit of it being a map. Nothing is presented as a belief, a religion or a faith to be adopted or, supported or followed.

Become the Witness. Take the role of Witness. The ability to watch….to observe with objectivity is so valuable, especially now as we are on the precipice of major transformation and change. This information I share is done so with the intent of offering you further paths of inquiry for you to pursue or not. But staying still, not moving or wanting things to go back to the way they were is not an option right now. As your yoga guide I am telling you to move both body and mind. Keep it moving even if it is the subtlest of ways. Don’t stop moving.

I struggle with how to “put it out there.” What is the primary reason for Creation? WHY are we here? What’s all about? Perhaps, the answer is not as important as it is to ask the question(s). ?

The answer is clear in the Kabbalah Map. We are here to fix something that was broken. We are here to perform our Tikune; To Correct. The world we find ourselves in is set up, specifically, so we could go about this task in the best way. Sure doesn’t feel like that sometimes. Now, what broke? What needs to be fixed? WTF happened? Did we do something wrong?

Tuesday – October 13, 2020 – Here we go…………

“Every Cause has its Effect, every Effect has its Cause, everything happens according to Law; Chance is but a name for Law not recognized; there are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the Law.” – The Kybalion

The last three Monday night sessions we have, together, journeyed through a few different guided meditations. The first one was called “A View From Above” where we explored a wider perspective. The second one was an inquiry into the Third Eye and the pineal gland with connection with others sending healing energy. The third one was called “Big Mind.” It was an abbreviation of a 2 and 1/2 hour process invented by Genpo Roshi, one of my favorite Zen Masters. Here is the video of Genpo and Big Mind.

I have been thinking about the” time” we are in and how we have talked about it being “planting seed time.” I am not sure this is completely accurate. We just exited “Harvesting time.” Perhaps, this is “Collecting Seed Time.” Planting seed time will come up later, after the winter, during the spring.

In the study of The Kybalion, we begin to learn about and experience the duality ingrained throughout our universe, in Dharma; The Law. In the spiritual realm, it is said that “Time” does not exist. That Cause and Effect is immediate; instantaneous. The “Law” expresses itself in unity.

Over the next three weeks I will be “stepping it up.” Yes, we are in the beginning, however, imagine the energy one has at the beginning of “the hike”, “the climb up the mountain”, “The journey”. The energy is new, fresh and expectant. Anything is possible. We are in “The Zero Stage;” “The potential of the potential.” Let’s, in our yoga journey, connect to the energy of the beginning.

Saturday – October 17, 2020 – Bereshit

What happened in the Garden of Eden?

Today is the first Shabbat. It is called Bersheet or Bereshit. The Torah section is Genesis 1:1 – 6:8. It covers a lot of happenings and time….like 1500 years bringing us up to the next weeks reading which is called Noach – Genesis 6:9 – 11:32.

Here are two short videos that will provide youth some perspective.

Weeks 1-10 check out next pages………