metaphysics and mysticism
Things that happen outside of physical time and space are metaphysical, and things that happen in the inner world or psyche that can't be explained are mystical. There is overlap between the two types of experiences which can combine and transcend us to new heights and visions of realization and new realities.
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Discoveries about the ultimate reality
In one fluid motion, Cassy shoved her chair back, sprang her lanky frame to its full height, raised her arms above her shoulders, and shouted: “This table is real!” Then she bent forward and swung her forearms down. Bang! The table shook and everyone jumped in their seats. The outburst made Brad’s stomach churn. What did I say to cause that? His medical experience forced him to look at her arms for signs of an injury. No evidence of broken bones. But that must have hurt. Returning to her chair, Cassy looked around at the dozen startled faces. Her eyes were burning like fiery coals, and a tight frown had…
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Throwing oneself to God
The monks were in constant motion, chanting scriptures, maintaining the temple grounds, and doing Gyo. The Master did not believe in being idle. He would explain that Gyo was the practice of “throwing oneself to God,” and would purify the spirit. Eventually it would bring Enlightenment which was the goal of all monks. When foreigners came, they mostly did basic forms of Gyo, like walking around the temple grounds lighting candles, or sitting in the hall chanting for world peace. The more energetic ones might do the Hyaku Gyo, walking back and forth between two engraved marble posts 100 times, while chanting blessings, which took about 2 hours. Brad had…
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Wanderers to a Buddhist Temple
The naked monk, holding nothing but a plastic bucket, stepped into the small pool at the foot of the little waterfall. Brad could hear him gasp as the shock of the icy water went through his body. Following the path of the flashlight held by another monk, he waded in and sat down, the water up to chest level. Then he began chanting the Heart Sutra. “Kan ji zai bo sa gyo- jin han-nya ha ra mi ta ji…” As he chanted, he pulled the bucket through the freezing water and splashed it onto his face and chest, again and again. his voice tremulous, shouting as if to fight off…
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Wanderers and the Law of Squares
Brad found himself with some free time after giving up his calling to be a health care reform activist. Patient referrals were steady, but not overly busy, and with occasional time to reflect, the old riddle “to become square, square yourself” came back to haunt him. A dream came where he was with the 3 beings who had appeared in a vision when he was 14. There were images of a barren and alien landscape, like another planet. He looked down at himself and saw that his body was blue like theirs. In the dream, he felt lighter, and faster than a human should. They were playing a 3-dimensional game,…
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Enlightenment lost to life’s illusions
Brad made a second trip to India, less than a year later. The taxi dropped him off at 5 am near some cheap hotels near Lachsman Jhula, and just minutes walk from ShantiMayi’s ashram. After an 8 hour ride from New Delhi, as if to test his desire for attaining Enlightenment, he sat shivering on a bench until the sun rose. The hotels began to open for business, creating a mystical setting in the foothills of the Himalayas. Smoke drifted in the morning glow from fires lit up and down along the hillsides. It would be hours before the sun would shine directly into the valley along the Ganges River,…
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An Enlightened Guru on the Ganga
John adjusted his glasses and pinched his beard. “Oh yeah, there’s some real good gurus all up and down the river. I’m going to a different one every day. But nobody can make me meditate like Andrew Cohen does, that’s why I’m here at his retreat.” “I need to see a spiritual teacher I can talk to,” said Brad. I have a hundred questions, and Andrew couldn’t give me an answer to the first one!” “Oh!” John replied. “If you want someone who will answer questions, go see ShantiMayi. She might not give the answer that you want to hear though!” John laughed, and a pained expression came across his…
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Finding what is missing – the search for Enlightenment
A gift came after Dr. Sherman helped heal Brad’s traumatized inner child. Gone was the fear of failure that drove him out of bed every morning to work until he would drop late at night. The need to find and conquer an endless series of challenges, a need that had constantly goaded his mind and body, was gone too. It amazed him that he could sit and do nothing, and not feel guilty or worthless. Going to work and taking care of people with aches and pains became a welcomed routine, and getting STAT trauma calls nights and weekends was not missed at all. It didn’t take long for a…
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The Visitation: “To become square, square yourself”
The next eviction notice came after Brad turned 14, which was right before the Christmas holidays. Mo was between jobs, working hustles with his partner Shue. Plays he called them. They would come in all excited in the middle of the night, get drunk, and pass out. Natalie would get some cash for food, beer, cigarettes, and her Astrology magazine. But lately there hadn’t been many good plays and they were 3 months behind on the rent. The Sheriff posted notice and they had to get out. The parent’s options were living in the car, or giving the kids up to foster homes. In desperation, she called her mother Mary…
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Fairies in the bushes
“Bradley, Bradley…..Braaaadlyyyyy,” whispered the soft voices around the side yard where a grove of flowering plants separated their small rental cottage from the neighbors. He had a warm feeling in his chest whenever he heard them which was happening every few days. He was always going out to the bushes to check, and sometimes he saw twinkling lights around the flowers and moving up and down the leafy stems. When he stood very still their murmurs would surround him, and they seemed to be telling him everything would be okay, don’t be sad, it will get better. He wasn’t sure if the sounds were coming through his ears or from…
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Challenged to help humanity
Numan’s encounter with his lovely and radiant mentor from the higher dimension confirmed his decision to be born on Earth. In a strange way he felt he would miss her, knowing his human life would cut him off from any contact. Impulsive by nature, confident that his mental abilities and deep drive to succeed would make his mission as a human a cakewalk, he rushed into the Earth birth protocol. Some members of his local planetary group had incarnated as humans in the past, and not all with good results. A few were stuck there, old souls in human bodies struggling with the task of discovering their purpose in life,…