September 2008
In this issue:
I love October. The sky always seems a little extra blue and the clouds are a little more puffy and white. The grass is sweet and the air is crisp. September 30th through October 9th is Navaratri. It's considered a very sacred time for Mother Divine. It's a nice time to do a little extra meditation.
The Kaivalya Retreat Course
The Learning Center at Mount Soma |
Our new home at Mount Soma opens up so many possibilities for us. One is the Kaivalya Retreat Course, a 6-week meditation course beginning on February 7, 2009. This course is fully customizable to your individual needs and schedules. You can choose to attend as much as the entire course or as little as a 3-day weekend.
The dates of the Kaivalaya Retreat Course are February 7 (Saturday) through March 21 (Saturday). The annual Surya Ram Meditation Retreat will take place during the last week which is March 14-21 (Sat. - Sat.).
The cost of this one-week retreat is $815 (meals included). The rate goes down the longer you stay. For a full schedule and breakdown of costs, please click below.
Attend the Kaivalya Retreat Course this winter!
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The Superego – A New Article by Michael
So many people long for self-empowerment. They strive to rebel against external authority figures, parents, social norms, teachers, and experts. Believing it is composed of their own convictions, few realize the real culprit they long to be free of is their own superego. However, the superego beats them into submission on an ongoing basis, dictating not only major life decisions, but even things as miniscule as what side dish to have along with lunch.
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An Excerpt from Unconditioned Spirit by Michael Mamas
 From Chapter 23, page 98.
When light shines through different filters, a broad range of color is displayed. Similarly, when the knowledge within the Transcendent wells up through different cultures, a diverse range of natural laws emerge. Over the ages, unique cultures developed based upon the laws of the land where those cultures existed. Corresponding spiritual, moral, and legal codes emerged.
Truth is universal. But expressions of truth diverge, just as flowers, born of the same soil, come in many types.
So too, the traditions appropriate to each culture are unique. The religious teachings then, unique to each great culture, are something very precious. They are the expression of the light of the Transcendent in the form appropriate for each culture. They are to be cherished and honored. However, at the same time, we must not forget that the moment those words are spoken, they are misunderstood by the listener.
Because times change and people change, the appropriate expressions of truth must also change. So here we have a double-edged sword. On one hand, we have something precious to be protected and upheld-cultural integrity. On the other, we need to adapt to the times which are ever-changing and eternally in flux. Navigating those waters is a delicate craft. Individuals must simultaneously uphold tradition, while all the while breathing new life and new ways into those traditions.
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Closing Thought
"To grasp what lies beyond your conditioning through your conditioning is not possible. Yet, what lies beyond is the best of who and what you are." – Michael Mamas |
