Ancient Wisdom in the Popular Media

What prompted me to write this essay was that Fox Cable is bringing on, yet a new miniseries based on esoteric genre in February, From writer David Hudgins (“Friday Night Lights”), and inspired by the book “The Reincarnationist” by M.J. Rose, comes PAST LIFE, a new drama series that investigates the world of the unexplained through the eyes of a doctor and a former detective who must work together to solve decades- old mysteries.

Karma, reincarnation, I have never thought upon these concepts before but I just felt that I was lost for nearly 40 years in my world view and in an instant I was back on track.

When I was growing up in Europe these things were taboo, hush-hush, nobody was writing books, let alone making TV series on esoteric matters like past life. In the west we remained in the Judeo-Christian realm, sheltered from the ancient and time honored beliefs the Hindu or Buddhists held Karma/Reincarnation.

Naturally, after moving to America when I came into the teaching a few years back, it was as if I had my eyes opened, it felt like a glove fit my hand perfectly, as if I had practiced these ancient eastern customs and beliefs for a few lifetimes.

But recently, well at least in the last couple of years, I have been noticing the reoccurring theme on the pop media, TV shows and other venues. These two ideas are constantly coming up, being mentioned all over.

Before I took up the path I have never noticed this but strangely this makes me feel, that what was once news to me and seemingly a secret, it wide open. Everybody knows; it is all out there. Only those who do not wish to see, remain closed to these.

Interestingly (and perhaps a little alarmingly) these shows and stories on the TV,  media dabble into reincarnation mainly, while leaving karma behind as if someone were to dilute the meaning and cheaper the effect of these laws. As you know the two goes hand in hand but while the idea of past life could make a viewer warm and fuzzy in the notion that this life is not his fist and last, karma with its message, that of ALL actions and thoughts have consequences[1], I suspect, are not as pleasant to the average Joe, TV watcher.

I am wondering if others have noticed this. Of course the message is not to teach awareness and the usefulness and benefit of these laws but to entertain, amuse and perhaps befuddle.

Active Meditation

We live in an insane, speeded up world where privacy, peace and quiet are luxuries that we must take. But we always have a choice to take thirty minutes every day to shut out the world’s problems and noise, to seek inner quiet and rest or we can be obedient and slavish and accept the information overload that we all face.

There are too many TV channels to watch, too many books to read and too many movies made that will not give us quality only numb our senses.

When I was a child I grew up in a slower environment, we did not have a TV until I was 8 or 9. We had much less stress and crime around us. Things were quiet and stable.

We were also taught to pray. My maternal grandmother had taught me her favorite prayer and I followed her advice and prayed. When I felt sad or in discord over something I prayed to God and then waited in hopes to get results.

It was comforting. Psychologically it is good to have an outlet like that but as I grew older I prayed less and less. I guess I did not believe that anyone was listening to my petty little problems when there were bigger issues to deal with than mine.

When we pray we seek solace that is external. We look up and in hopes we tell God about our problems and ask him to help by doing this or that. As if some acts were to alleviate our problems.

Contrary, in meditation we must listen to God. We do not ask God for things but we listen to him. By listening we are remaining in a state of alertness. We are ready here and now to receive guidance, solace and peace of mind. After all, wouldn’t an all knowing, omniscient God already know what bothers us and what we need? What is the point of praying and explaining?

In meditation we do not think of our problems or issues. Instead we must put everything on the backburner. All issues and concerns we have must be quieted down. We must focus on our own being.

The very essence of life and be-ness is enough to start your meditation. Banish all thoughts from your mind. Be in a room that is quiet; do not let anyone disturb you. Wear comfortable clothes and sit upright in a comfortable chair.

Concentrate on your breathing. Imagine that when you breathe in, you are alive; when you breathe out you are dead. Every inhale you are alive again, and every exhale you die. Your death is momentary for the length of the pressing of air from your lungs. Then you breathe in again and are resurrected. Do not think of anything else but to be alive. Nothing matters and nothing can hurt you. You are ready to die and come back to the living with each and every breath you take. Just listen to your own heart beating and the air passing through your body.

This is one technique of meditation and there are countless others. You must pick and choose what you like, just like the clothes you wear. Find the one that fits you best. The scenarios are numerous but you must take one that is close to you and your personality. I, personally found OSHO’s “The Book of Secrets” a great help to guide me through scenarios of meditations, but I stopped where he puts too much emphasis on tantric exercises that manipulate and open up centers. I would not advise you to do those.

The other meditation technique is where you imagine a scenario of you sitting in lotus position near a mountain lake; you are in the alpine region of forest, sitting near crystal clear water. You are very relaxed and slowly you put all your fears, every one of them, in little boxes and float them on the surface of the water. You watch the water carry the little boxes further and further away from the place where you are until the little box is no longer visible. During this meditation you are not to think of any of these negative and scary things, you are observing yourself doing this. As the observer you see you sitting in meditation and letting go of all your fears. After each little box passes on, you feel happier and more relaxed.

You see, this is self suggestion. You can do this as part of your meditation practice or you can do this while driving your car. It does not matter. The key to this is to have an active imagination, and visualize the scenarios well. After more practice the visualizing will get better.

Meditation can be done as I have suggested, alone, or in a group setting. When the group meditates together it is called guided meditation, as usually the group has a facilitator who guides the group. It is nice to start out in a group setting to get your feet wet, but my experience is that you can do this anytime and anywhere. This is the liberating part. You do not need a shrine, candles or incense. Those things are nice to have, such as a statue of your favorite Master, be it Buddha, Jesus, Vishnu, Krishna, or Mohammed, but are not important. What is important is your imagination and control of your own thinking, or in this instance, non-thinking. Visualize well and you will start “hearing” from God.

It is said, that people who meditated for decades have lower cases of health issues, almost no stress and in some instances they can experience out of body episodes. In my humble opinion this should not be your goal when you meditate, but you should know, extraordinary things are included in the beneficial list of the effects of regular meditation.