Ah Man Blog

I Need Your Feedback

I have some exciting news!  SelfGrowth.com, the #1 self-improvement site on the Internet, recently published my article “Meditating with George” and I have a favor to ask.

Would you please click on the article link above and read the article, and then rate it based on your honest opinion?

You can leave your rating by clicking on the stars right above the article. You'll have to register at the SelfGrowth.com site in order to use the rating feature, but I believe that you will find that the site features a great deal of information, insights and resources that will be interesting, enlightening and relevant to you or someone you know.

I also invite you to leave a comment on the article at the SelfGrowth.com site or here at the blog.

Thank you so much.  I really appreciate your support!

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

Freedom and Independence from Debt

Back in my 12/11/09 blog article, I talked a little about debt, how it sometimes occurs and about my own debt, specifically.  I mentioned that I started my consulting business after I invested all of my savings in a separate business venture.  The consulting piece started off slow, and the business venture did likewise.  I found myself borrowing money over the next year to keep my business (and myself) afloat…to the tune of some $70,000.00 dollars.

So I can talk to you today from my own experience with debt, from my experience watching my friends and family get into debt, and from my observations of how very few have been able to get out of debt.

Before I talk about getting into and out of debt, I will say I have only three more payments before that $70,000.00 debt will be eliminated.  I will still have mortgage debt of around $130,000.00, but that’s it. 

I live within my means, I pay off the credit cards as I get them, I save for the future and I put money away for vacation and holidays.

Debt starts and ends with our relationship with money.  Money is energy.  It might take the form of paper or coin, but you received that paper or coin in exchange for something you gave someone else.

Your relationship with money and how we respect it is going to determine how it flows in and out of your life.

It’s the same as with other relationships you have in your life; those with friends, family, work associates, etc.  When you find a balanced, respectful way of working and living with others, life flows much easier around those people.

The same goes for money.

When you honor the money you have by staying in balance with what comes in and what goes out, there is balance.  When you are able to stay out of the red, and you can save and invest in your future, it does bring some level of Freedom and Independence.

However, when you are out of balance, e.g., in debt, you will feel dependent and trapped, and you will experience all the anxiety that surrounds those feelings. 

So how does it look to disrespect money?  Let’s compare the relationship with people to the relationship with money.

A way to have a good relationship with others is to treat them with honesty and respect.  And, for the most part, that is what you will get back. If you are dishonest and deceitful, you will not have a mutually beneficial relationship with others.

It’s the same is with money or, more to the point, the energy of money.  When you live beyond your means, you are not being honest.  We find ourselves wanting things we can’t afford, but some of realize that until we have saved enough to buy it, it just has to wait.  This is being honest and respectful.

A dangerous place to go is to put something on a credit card and pay for it over time.  That is debt, even if your plan is to pay it off within the next three months.  This can be seen as avoiding the truth (that you can’t afford it right now) and hoping it works out and doesn’t come back to haunt you.

A disrespectful place to be in is to tell yourself: I’ll buy it now, even though I know I can’t afford it, and I will pay the minimum on the credit card and will worry about it later. This is just disrespectful and dishonest.

Let’s take a look at the three ways of handling money described above and see how they might look like when compared to a relationship with a friend.

A friend asks you if you want to go out on Friday night.  But you already made plans with someone else.  So you let them know you have plans and maybe ask to make plans for the future.  That’s being honest and respectful.

Then another friend asks you out for the same night, but you just say, “No, I can’t go out with you tonight.”  While you are telling them a partial truth, you are not telling the whole truth…you’re not sharing the real reason for not going out with them.  You are omitting a very important part of the whole picture for whatever reason.  You might think you have a good reason.  Perhaps the two friends don’t like each other and you’re trying not to create awkward feelings.  It is still omitting the truth and that is a dangerous place to put yourself in.

In the third scenario, your friend asks you out, but you tell them you’re not feeling well and you’re not going out.  You say this because you don’t want the friend to know you’re going out with someone they don’t get along with.  You know you lied, but you convinced yourself that it’s okay.  This is dishonest and disrespectful.  By continuing this behavior, you’re only hurting yourself and the others.  Your co-dependence and enabling will only make the situation worst.

The debting and lying to friends will just continue to lead to dependence (your dependence on how others will perceive you and how important it is for you to look a certain way) and all the anxiety that follows all that manipulating and dishonesty it takes to live that lifestyle. There is no Freedom in living a lie.

As I mentioned earlier, this is about your relationship with money.  If you do not have a loving relationship with yourself and Higher Self, then you will “think” you need things from outside to make you Whole.

You will even be convinced you have to do this or that for your mother, your kids, your passion, etc. But that might not be true.

Maybe your journey is to allow you to experience those very feelings of helplessness, insecurity and low self esteem, until you can get right with yourself and your Higher Self.  We sometimes have to understand that our loved ones have a Higher Power and we’re not it.

There are plenty of books out there to help you live with a balanced budget.  Find one that works for you.  The one that worked for me was “How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt and Live Prosperously” by Jerrold Mundis.  If you’re struggling with money and debt issues, it’s definitely worth a read.

Freedom and Independence is an inside job. I would love to hear your experiences of eliminating debt in your life.  Please click on the comment link and share your story.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

Work

Everyone has to do it! It’s part of the journey.

Today, lots of folks will tell you that if your work involves doing something you’re passionate about, you won’t be so unhappy with your job.  Or maybe if you’ve found your purpose in life and that’s what your job is all about, you’ll be more fulfilled.

While those things are true, many of us don’t have the luxury of making a living by doing something that we are passionate about.  For some of us, we have to work a regular job and then volunteer or work in our spare time doing that which we are passionate about.  It’s not always that easy to find our dream job…doing that which we love to do and being able to support our lifestyle and/or our families.

Now don’t forget that as we journey in life, we change and the things that we were passionate about in our 20s and 30s are not the same things we are passionate about in our 40s and 50s.  As we have changed, so have our passions.

So how do we stay happy and possess that inner freedom from being entangled or overshadowed by that which we have to do in world?

First, we must have vision; knowing what is real and what is temporary and being true to our self.  Knowing the difference between something that will bring about happiness now, and that when its gone, not being attached to it so that you are able to be grateful for having it while you did and understand that you were not meant to have it forever.

Work is that way.  You do the best you can at your job, no matter what it is you’re doing and at the end of the day you will feel good about it.  You’re not always going to be 100% satisfied, because at times you know more could have been done, but within the limitations of the tools and materials you have been given to work with, you have done all you have can.  So, yes, there is a difference between knowing you did all you can, and knowing that if you had more material, funds, etc, more could have been done.  This is being true to you and letting go of the attachment that it could have been better.  As long as you have made it known that you could have done better under different circumstances, but have done the best you could with what you have, you are being true to yourself.  Of course it would be nice if others appreciate your work, but that’s not always going to be the situation.

And what about our purpose in life?

We all can practice our purpose in life, no matter what type of work we do for a living.

Don’t we all share a common purpose in life, in one form or another, to be kind, to be generous, to be loving, to be openhearted?  And can we not practice these qualities as we walk through life in different situations?

It’s easy to practice them when everything is going our way.  But the real deal is learning to practice them when life isn’t going our way.

So, in essence, we work.  But the trick is not to allow work to work us. Remember we have obligations, but also remember our real obligations (purpose), doing the best we can and being true to ourselves, and not allowing the things we do to entangle and overwhelm us.  When we are not attached to the outside things, our hearts will be more opened to others, regardless of where they are coming from.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

Buddhism-Nirvana through The Divine Masculine

In honor of Father’s Day, the June issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter focuses on “The Divine Masculine.”  Remember that I am just offering a glimpse of what the Divine Masculine may look like. The Divine Masculine is a path of actions that brings results. So we do certain things to achieve a particular type of result. This is the Masculine.  The Feminine, you will recall, is to do nothing and just receive what is already there.

Buddhists are followers of the Buddha, who showed people how to free themselves from the cycle of birth and death through the achievement of enlightenment.  He did this by teaching his disciples the Four Noble Truths (see below) and the Eightfold Path (see below), which combines moral teaching with guidelines in meditation and concentration.

Four Noble Truths:

1. Life means suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment.
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.
4. There is a path to the cessation of suffering.

In summary, there is suffering in the material world.  We cause our own suffering by becoming attached to (or overshadowed by) people and things. With knowledge of what is real and what is not, cessation of suffering is attainable. The knowledge is found in the Eightfold Path and other scriptures from other religions.The Eightfold Path is made up of eight parts: right thought, right speech, right behavior, right occupation, right effort, right contemplation and right concentration.

Buddhists do not worship Buddha as a god, but rather as a spiritual teacher.  Therefore, they do not see him in the same way that followers of other faiths view their god(s).

The Buddha appeared in northern India around the fifth or sixth century BCE.  The Buddha was first known as a prince who was to become a great king and/or spiritual teacher.

While traveling outside of the palace, he encountered three different aspects of human suffering (old age, illness and death) and was greatly disturbed by them.  He eventually gave up his family and riches to seek enlightenment and to avoid suffering from the cycle of death and rebirth.

There are two main branches of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana.  Theravada Buddhism, which developed first, adheres strictly to the Buddha’s original teaching through a defined set of scriptures and is know as the “doctrine of the elders.”  The practice of Theravada focuses on enlightenment for the individual.

Mahayana Buddhism developed later during the first century BCE.  It is more open to different ideas and approaches, using a wider set of scriptures, and emphasizes compassion and enlightenment for the sake of others.  Therefore, the Mahayana school is known as the “greater vehicle” and Theravada is known as the lesser vehicle.

The goal of Buddhism is to reach enlightenment.  In the Theravada system, it is believed that you have to become a monk in order to attain enlightenment.  It is very focused on Self Realization through meditation, following the original scriptures called Tipitaka and monastic life.  Theravada Buddhism rejects bodhisattvas (other enlightened ones/teachers), following only the Buddha.  Followers of Theravada seek to become saints and believe that to attain nirvana (a state of being free; it literally means “blow out” the fires of greed, hatred and illusion), it is essential to join a monastic order.

So one can see that attaining enlightenment while practicing Theravada Buddhism would be similar to being a priest and attaining Samadhi (a place where the mind becomes very still but does not merge with the object of attention, and is thus able to observe and gain insight into the changing flow of experience.)  It would be a monastic life.

On the other hand, the Mahayana Buddhists believe that enlightenment is open to everyone, not just monks.  Mahayana Buddhists believe that bodhisattvas can provide an alternative source of inspiration, and help others through compassion and enlightenment.  They also believe that in the future, another Buddha will come to revive Buddhism.

In both traditions, you can practice The Divine Masculine by what the Buddhists refer to as Merit.  Buddhists believe that when people perform good deeds, they acquire good karma.  For lay Buddhists, meritorious actions include helping others, especially the poor and members of the Sangha (community of monks), attending religious services and festivals and practicing the Five Precepts (Prayer, Alms, Offerings, Prostration and Circumambulation).

By taking the actions described above, Buddhists believe they can eventually help stop the cycle of birth and death, which causes suffering.

The beauty of Buddhism is that it can be practiced side by side with all other religions and is open to being practiced with other religions.

To learn more about The Divine Masculine, visit http://www.mythiclove.net/sunyata/divine_masculine.html.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

Islam and The Divine Masculine

In honor of Father’s Day, the June issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter focuses on “The Divine Masculine.”  In this month’s blog, I am sharing just a glimpse of what The Divine Masculine may look like.

Islam is very much like Judaism and Christianity, as are far as rituals go.  All three religions perform rituals to bring them closer to God by proclaiming their faith, cleansing themselves of impurities, by helping others, fasting and making pilgrimage.

I will show comparisons as I go through what is known as the “Five Pillars of Islam.”

Shahada is the first pillar of Islam.  Here, words are used to proclaim the uniqueness of God and the importance of the Prophet:  “There is no god but God (Allah) and Mohammad is the messenger of God.”  Shahada is a testimony of the faith of Islam and provides the basis of conversion.  By sincerely reciting these words, a person proves his or her acceptance of the faith.

In Christianity, the ritual is called Confirmation, an initiation of faith.  In Judaism, it is known as a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah; an initiation into the faith and community.

Salat (ritual prayer) is the second Pillar of Islam.  A Muslim prays five times a day facing toward Mecca.  Also, a congregational prayer takes place on Friday afternoon.

Christians and Jews pray throughout the day: in the morning thanking God, at meals and before bed might be the usual times for them.  Then, on either Saturday or Sunday they go to church or temple and join in communal prayer.

Zakat is the third pillar.  Muslims are obliged to help the needy by giving alms.  Zakat embodies the notion that God can be worshiped indirectly, by showing gratitude for God’s favor.

Some of the greatest humanitarians have been of the Jewish faith.  Religious orders of Christianity have dedicated their lives to helping others.  A recent saint would be Mother Theresa.

Sawn (fasting) is the forth pillar.  Sawn is observed during the month of Ramadan, the ninth lunar year.  During this period, Muslims will not eat or drink from dawn until dusk.

During certain holidays and different times of the year, fasting is required for both the Jewish and Christian faiths.

Haji is the fifth pillar.  This is when Muslims are required to make pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.  Pilgrims wear white unsewn clothes, which are later used as their burial shrouds.

In Christianity, visiting shrines and the Holy Land is important, but not mandatory.  In Judaism, it is not mandatory either.

All the methods described above can bring you to God Realization; thinking of God first and experiencing the love of God.

Remember that I am just giving you a glimpse of what the Divine Masculine may look like.  The Divine Masculine is a path of actions that bring results.  So we do certain things to achieve a particular type of result. This is the Masculine.  The Feminine, you’ll recall, is to do nothing and just receive what is already there.

To learn more about The Divine Masculine, visit http://www.mythiclove.net/sunyata/divine_masculine.html.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

Christianity and The Divine Masculine

In honor of Father’s Day, the June issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter focuses on “The Divine Masculine.”  In this month’s blog, I am sharing just a glimpse of what The Divine Masculine may look like. 

The Divine Masculine is a path of actions that brings results. So we do certain things, to achieve a particular type of result. This is the Masculine.  The Feminine is to do nothing and just receive what is already there.

Hundreds of thousands of followers of Christianity have been able to reach Self Realization through The Divine Masculine.  It is a true path. Unfortunately, all paths get watered down at times.  This is why it’s so important to stick with reading the scriptures and Saints of each religion, rather than the interpretations of others.

So what might The Divine Masculine look like through different practices of Christianity?

Well, you have prayer, meditation, reading scriptures, attending rituals such as Mass, receiving the sacraments, participating directly and indirectly in those rituals, service (helping the community and others), supporting your church financially, participating in the maintenance of the church and service directly to those who have dedicated their lives to the church.  There is more, but I think you get the picture. In fact, it is the same for all the major paths of religion.

There are many prayers, but my favorite and, perhaps, the least known is “The Jesus Prayer.”  I use it like a mantra and repeat it whenever my mind is idle (and whenever I remember to). It goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.”  It is a simple, yet powerful, prayer that brings love into my heart.  I was introduced to it on a retreat, when I read a book that tells the story of a nineteenth-century wayfarer in Russia who is in search of the answer to the question: “How does one pray constantly?”I encourage you all to read it. It is called The Way of a Pilgrim and the Pilgrim Continues His Way, by Helen Bacovcin. You can get it on Amazon.

At times, I use this prayer even when I meditate; I pray for a while, and then let silence seep in.

The reading of scriptures is another way to bring peace and knowledge into your life.  I love history, and the Old Testament rich with history and so much more.  So are the Gospels of the New Testament.  They are both wonderful readings to be done daily, if possible.  But the Bible is not the only scripture; you can also read the writings of the Saints as well.

Attending Mass and receiving of the sacraments are another way.  It brings the community together, united in their belief, to honor God through the rituals of the mass and receiving of the sacraments.

Service of any kind is very important.  The main teaching of The Christ through the Churches is “Love One Another.”

Financial support is also very important.  Most Churches rely heavily on support from its parishioners.  And in today’s world, even if you are a very dedicated member of your Church, it may be difficult to make the time to do service.  So those who can’t perform service might contribute more financially.

All of the methods described above can bring about peace in one’s life.  If you participate a little in all of them regularly, with an open heart and without some monetary gain in mind, only through the desire to love, serve and know the God of your understanding more, you will achieve different levels of God/Self Realization.

To learn more about The Divine Masculine, visit http://www.mythiclove.net/sunyata/divine_masculine.html.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

The Divine Masculine

In honor of Father’s Day, the June issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter focuses on “The Divine Masculine.”  In this month’s blog, I want to share just a glimpse of what The Divine Masculine may look like.

The Divine Masculine is a path of actions that produces results.  So we do certain things to achieve a certain type of result. This is The Masculine. The Feminine, you’ll recall, is to do nothing and just receive what is already there.

This week, I will focus on Hinduism, one of many approaches to The Divine Masculine.

Sometime around 1972, when I was 16 years old, I picked up a book called The Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.  My parents had recently passed away and I was searching for answers.  The religion I was raised up in wasn’t fulfilling me at that time.  To make a long story much shorter, two years later I become a Hindu monk and lived a very austere lifestyle for the next couple of years.

While in this ashram (which was in a very secluded spot in the hills of West Virginia), I practiced what is known as Bhakti Yoga.  Bhakti means “love and devotion” and Yoga means to “link up.”  So when we practice Bhakti yoga, we are using love and devotion to link up to God.  Bhakti yoga is just one of the many paths of The Divine Masculine in Hinduism.

Our days in the ashram were very long ones.  We would rise anywhere between 2am or 3am (depending on the individual), shower (in the brahmacari ashram where I lived there was no hot water), and begin our japa meditation, which was chanting the Maha Mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.  According to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Harā refers to "the energy of God," while Krishna and Rama refer to God Himself, meaning "He who is All-Attractive" and "He who is the Source of All Pleasure."

We would chant 16 rounds on a set of beads that included 108 beads. This meant that we chanted the names of God more than 27,000 times per day.  I tried to do my rounds before morning ceremonial services, which began at 4:30am and ended at 6:30.  Then we broke our fast at 7am.  All the food we ate was first offered to God.  Before every meal we would pray and, as soon as we were finished eating, we began our day of service.

Living in a self-sufficient (as much as possible) community, there were many jobs.  But we were instructed to do each of our jobs as if we were performing them for God himself.  So if we washed pots and pans, we washed them so clean that God could eat off of them.  If we worked in the garden, we planted, cultivated and nourished all the plants as if each one was being offered to God.

So in Bhakti yoga, everything we did, be it chanting, working or eating, we did it all in the service of the Lord. Everything was done for God out of Love.

This was a Masculine approach to God, one with lots of ceremonies and actions.  The return was tremendous.  What I received through all of this was a knowledge and understanding of God that I had never experienced before.  I actually developed a loving relationship with God that I could have never even considered before; not from the religion I grew up in.  Today, that loving relationship continues to grow every day.  I can see how others could completely devote their whole life to God and only God.

Yes, it was hard work.  But, no, you don’t have to do all of the above to achieve The Divine Masculine.  Remember that I was a monk, living an austere life.  You can do any one (or any combination) of the things I did as a monk.

So as you’re out and about today performing your daily tasks, can you do them as if you were doing them for God?  Can you work with others as if God was right there with you, witnessing it?  Can you work as if the results of your efforts were for Him?  Can you raise your family as if they were God’s family?

As you do things throughout the day, are you doing them in a way that can raise your consciousness?  Can you connect your actions to God in a way that will make you and those around you more aligned in love?

Then there is the ceremonial part, which involves going to temple, church or whatever your house of worship is and participating there on a regular basis.  Or it could be by chanting our praying daily.

Can you see how this path could bring one to The Divine Masculine?  As George Harrison’s song says, “Chant the names of God and be free.”

To learn more about The Divine Masculine, visit http://www.mythiclove.net/sunyata/divine_masculine.html.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

Affirmation: The sun never says…

The current issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter focuses on “Connecting with The Divine Feminine Energy Within.”

For the month of May, I am using quotes from spiritual teachers, affirmations from my book, I AM Ah-Man, and spiritual poems to get attuned to the Divine Feminine Energy and help you slip into Her Consciousness.

Following is the quote/affirmation for this week.  This last blog of the month is a poem from Hafiz, a Sufi master:

THE SUN NEVER SAYS

Even
After
All this time
The sun never says to the earth,
“You owe Me”
Look what happens
With love like that,
It lights the Whole Sky.
~Hafiz

I ask you to first read the quote, then close your eyes, bring your attention into your heart area and repeat that quote over and over for about five minutes and then be silent.  Focus on the heart chakra and imagine yourself being rocked in the arms of the Divine Mother, keeping your heart open to receive what it is yours to receive.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  Look for additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

 

Affirmation: Many are Seen Where There is Only ONE

The current issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter focuses on “Connecting with The Divine Feminine Energy Within.”

For the month of May, I am using quotes from spiritual teachers, affirmations from my book, I AM Ah-Man, and spiritual poems to get attuned to the Divine Feminine Energy and help you slip into Her Consciousness.

Following is the quote/affirmation for this week:

All sorrow is due to the fact that many are seen where there is only ONE
~Anandamayi Ma

I ask you to first read the quote, then close your eyes, bring your attention into your heart area and repeat that quote over and over for about five minutes and then be silent.  Focus on the heart chakra and imagine yourself being rocked in the arms of the Divine Mother, keeping your heart open to receive what it is yours to receive.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  Look for additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.

Affirmation: Love is a Profound Commitment to Both Our self and Our Higher Self

The current issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter focuses on “Connecting with The Divine Feminine Energy Within.”

For the month of May, I am using quotes from spiritual teachers, affirmations from my book, I AM Ah-Man, and spiritual poems to get attuned to the Divine Feminine Energy and help you slip into Her Consciousness.

Following is the quote/affirmation for this week:

I understand that love is not just an emotion…
But a profound commitment to self/SELF.
~I AM Ah-Man, pg. 131

I ask you to first read the quote, then close your eyes, bring your attention into your heart area and repeat that quote over and over for about five minutes and then be silent.  Focus on the heart chakra and imagine yourself being rocked in the arms of the Divine Mother, keeping your heart open to receive what is yours to receive.

To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Web Site.  Look for additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter.