The Path to Enlightenment is as Sharp and Narrow as a "Razor's Edge"

I was finally watching the famous American movie about a spiritual seeker called "The Razor's Edge" from 1946 starring Tyrone Powers, and a number of discoveries occurred for me.

First, the film is about an adventurous man who goes off to find himself, and at first I was frustrated because the movie is vague about what he's seeking and what he discovers.

He finally gets some answers when he winds up at an Ashram in India. There, a guru tells him we're like "raindrops from Heaven being reunited with the sea that created us."

He also tells him about the three paths to God (faith/worship; good works/seva; and the pursuit of knowledge). Here is a link to the scene.

Later the guru can see that he has discovered that "You and God are one."

"Yes" he replies, with a look of wonder in his eyes. You can see it here.

His character gets challenged in many ways after this enlightenment, and he handles these challenges with amazing grace due to the deep peace he has found within himself.

SO THEN I researched the story, and it turns out the main character was based on Christopher Isherwood, a writer who was into yoga and Hinduism long before the Beatles discovered Eastern religions and helped popularize it in the United States.

"Isherwood became a disciple of the Hindu monk, Swami Prabhavananda, the leader of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. He was introduced to the Swami in 1940 by his friends Aldous Huxley and Gerald Heard. Isherwood studied Hindu philosophy, translated sacred texts, and practiced meditation and yoga from 1940 until his death in 1986. He also reviewed books and wrote articles for the Society’s newsletter, Vedanta for the Western World. His short story, “The Wishing Tree,” is considered a model of the parable form and a key to understanding the Hindu idea of karma."

I found this book for free on the internet and it's an amazing collection of essays that's easy reading for "westerners." Gautam Baiji agreed it would be a good book to share, so here is a link. Also here. Spiritual seekers will enjoy this book!

Isherwood even writes the introduction, which in itself is an excellent primer on divine spirituality.

Wonderful Music and a Thousand Acts of Kindness

As the sun went down and the air cooled, the musicians at the Hindustani Classical Concert yesterday at Divine Art of Yoga Center performed music that transported you, even transformed you...

But behind the scenes, dozens of volunteers performed a thousand acts of kindness to help make the event happen.

With the inspiration of Mahatma Rammurti Baiji and Mahatma Gautam Baiji, a crew of devotees generously donated their time and resources to cook delicious homemade Indian food, set up chairs and tables, facilitate parking, and more, all for a good cause: proceeds would go to the ashram in Kathmandu for orphans and the elderly. We all worked together as one. 

Aside from meditation, I don't know any better way to experience oneness than working together with an exceptional group of people to create such an experience for 350 people. Seva is giving, but it's also a gift we give yourselves for our own spiritual path.

If God is love, then we surely experienced both for the duration of the event.

- Scott Ware

Q: Does Yoga Change You? A: Which You?

Am I a different person if I’m less anxious than I was six months ago because of yoga? Less worried about things that are out of my control, less inclined to indulge in behaviors that, in their absence, now offer more space and clarity in my life, leaving me more empowered?

Yes, that’s different. But did I change?

Yes, but in this way: my ego shrunk, and my higher self expanded.

What does that mean? And why does it matter?

We all know what our ego is: it's that thing that takes things personally, and gets upset at the smallest slights. It's that thing that worries needlessly, and prevents us from being vulnerable, fully expressed loving people for fear of getting hurt (because we got hurt being vulnerable and loving in the past). 

Ironically, the ego thinks it’s protecting us, but it’s just trying to keep us in an emotional, and even spiritual box.

What is our higher self? Does it mean we're "coming from our heart?" Is it referring to "our better angels?” God? The Divine? Our connection to the Oneness? Something we imagine? Something that fills us with great joy? 

I know which sounds better to me. 

Who knew the practice of yoga would shrink one and expand the other and make me so much happier?

Millions of you? Why didn't you tell me sooner?!