All posts by Michael

The 4th PHASE

A good Kripalu Yoga Teacher will start the class by describing what we are going to do, then, do it and then, describe what we did.

As we enter the 4th of 5 “Phases” in our inquiry of yoga, meditation and “maps of the territory” allow me to recap the past 14 months and set the stage for this phase and the final phase.

RECAP

In the first phase, March 2020 – December 2020 we “confronted” the mystery of the body-mind connection through the practice and study of yoga – meditation and multiple maps of the territory. Our focus was on right alignment and discovering our personal edge.

In the 2nd phase, January 2021 – March 27 2021 we began to explore a bit deeper. At least we became more aware of being in inquiry. We has awakened the mind that seeks The Way and we went into inquiry mode.

In the 3rd phase, March 28 2021 – May 17 2021 we deepened our contemplation. We went into incubation. We considered how to best utilize our awareness of the path.

Phase 4

The 4th phase, May 17 2021 – July 24 2021, is the illumination stage in the process. We have confronted, explored and incubated. Now, we must take inventory of what we have accomplished and allow the manifestation to bloom. It is interesting that the 4th book in The Torah is named ….”The Desert.” The message being that while it appears we are not making progress, that we are in a Desert, we are really making progress with our work. It is just hidden. Will it appear as a mirage? How much longer can you hang in there. We are almost there.

Phase 5

The 5th and final phase, July 25 2021 – September 29 2021 is the manifestation stage. Actually, the way I see it, is that it is more about managing the manifestation. We are always achieving results. On a moment to moment basis we are achieving results. What do we do with them? In The Torah we have reached the proverbial “Promised Land.” What is this territory and how should we be? What do we do now?

Now What?

On September 30, 2021 we start back at phase zero. But with a larger and more efficient vessel to receive The Light of The Creator. I will be setting up the retreat experience. Want to come join me?

Shelach

Each Parashat is like a piece to the puzzle. One of my Kabbalah teachers once said that the spiritual work is like putting together a puzzle. It is only when you have all the pieces does it “light up.”

Remember, we are in the 4th step of our 5 phase process. Also, at the same time, remember, everything arises with its’ polar opposite. The more of this then the more of that. This awareness combined with the concept of Anicca are the two main components of our consiounseness if we wish to progress along the path at an accelerated rate.

This week’s reading from the Torah is called Shelach (שלח), an imperative verb that means “send out.” The portion is named from the first few words of the second verse: “Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan” (Numbers 13:2).

The reading tells the tragic story of how the spies returned with a bad report about the Land of Promise and influenced the congregation of Israel to rebel against the LORD. Thus God consigned the generation of Moses to wander in the wilderness for forty years.

Beha’ alotcha

The third reading from the book of Numbers and the thirty-sixth reading from the Torah is called Beha’alotcha (בהעלותך); “When you ascend.”

It comes from the first verse of the portion………….”When you ascend the lamps” (Numbers 8:2), a reference to the fact that the priest had to step up to clean and light the lamps of the menorah.

This portion is jam-packed, telling the story of the consecration of the Levites, the first Passover in the wilderness, the silver trumpets, the cloud of glory, the departure from Sinai, the grumbling in the wilderness, the first Sanhedrin and the punishment of Miriam.

Naso

The second reading from the book of Numbers and the thirty-fifth reading from the Torah is called Nasso(נשא), a word that literally means “lift up.” It comes from the first word of the second verse in Hebrew, which could literally be translated to say, “Lift up the heads of the sons of Gershon,” an idiomatic way of saying, “Make an accounting of the sons of Gershon.” This Torah portion finishes up the census of the Levites that was under way at the end of the last Torah portion, before going on to discuss the purification of the camp, the ritual for a woman suspected of adultery, the laws of the Nazirite vow, the priestly benediction and the gifts the heads of the twelve tribes brought for the dedication of the altar.

THE Problem??

Let’s start here.

Words are limiting.

Stay Open mentally.

Establish a “state of inquiry.” Suspend Belief. Understand the meaning of ” “the willing suspension of disbelief.”

Doubt Everything.

We KNOW the destination. Our yoga map clearly states it. It is Unity, Oneness, a connection to “Source.” In fact, most metaphysical, religious and spiritual “maps” agree. Yoga calls this destination Samadhi. Other words from other maps are “Heaven, Nirvana, The Endless, Brahman ……

And furthermore, this destination is also the “Origination.” We came from Oneness and somehow are “born” into this world of Duality.

Is Duality The Problem?

We want something we don’t have and the space in-between represents the unfulfilled, the lack, the separation, the distance……

Buckminster Fuller, in his “Re-thinking The Lord’s Prayer” writes…….”Total Accountability and Total Feedback constitute the minimum and only perpetual motion system.”

There is a living relationship between the poles on each end of the continuum of duality. Nature always “seeks” balance of some sort. The Fibonacci sequence, for example, is an expression and map of this process. There is movement and a give and take in the precession, interaction and transformation.

I found this gem of a discourse between two great minds. It’s the end (last 15 minutes) of an hour+ discussion. There is a link in the description section (if you go to the YouTube channel) to the full discussion.

WARNING. This takes focus. One of these guys is a professor who drives me crazy sometimes because he takes too long to make his point. The other dude is cool. Don’t drive or use heavy machinery while listening. Try not to multi task while listening.

As you watch, can you “see” the problem? Can you see why studying the process of expanding consciousness could be valuable to finding solutions? Can you see why we practice yoga and meditation and study multiple “maps of the territory.?”

“The paradox of the paradox is that the paradox is a paradox.” Krishnamurti.

“All paradoxes can be reconciled.” The Kybalion