Ah Man Blog

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.