The Order of Things

 

The Order of Things

1. The observants know that The Path is a spiritual path composed of three practices and a pillar of moral recommendations, the agya. They know that these practices are service, satsang and meditation. This triptych is not only observed on The Path; in India, other spiritual paths have more or less this sadhana (what to do).

Inseparable pillars

2. The observants know that one cannot decide one’s own selection among these practices, adopt some and omit others: they form a coherent whole and are interdependent. The consciousness of Grace, of its guidance in our existence, can only be realized on the condition that the agya is respected in its entirety.

3. If you meditate formally, without working to remain throughout each day in consciousness of the Holy-Name, by the practice of the homonymous technique, it is useless, like being in service without having satsang, except in cases of major force, like no internet connection, no access to satsang or simply blindness. In this case, that of blindness, it will be possible to request to receive audio satsang, with the help of third parties for the download.

The sharing of time

4. Then, we do not always know how to measure each of the items, of the agya pilars; in terms of time, how much is the minute of satsang, the minute of service and the minute of formal meditation worth?

5. For service, that is, action in attachment to the Holy-Name, the practice of technique, the goal is to be vigilant from sunrise to sunset. There remains the question of satsang and meditation… Meditation must be practiced every day, unless there is an accident beyond his control. How long? Forty-five minutes is a minimum.

6. For my part, I meditate two or three times a day, in the morning and in the evening, I should say at night and a little in the afternoon, but it is according to his taste and his possibilities. At one time, I meditated ten hours every day, three times.

7. It is also a good idea to take a few “Holy-Name breaks” during the day, when we stop all activity, sit down, close our eyes and meditate on the Holy-Name… These breaks do not need to last long, two or three minutes may be enough, depending on its taste and possibilities.

8. With a little experience, we find the solution, that said, things can change, for example, if there is a minimum of time, for formal meditation, there are no limits, you can meditate as long as necessary as it does not negatively affect your daily life.

Respect for one’s duties

9. The practice of formal meditation must not prevent you from assuming your daily obligations towards your loved ones, your own hygiene, your work and your "domestic" life. All ancient spiritual books, having to do with The Path say so.

10. “The wise does his duty, he does not have to.” (Dao-De-Jing, excerpt from 27)

11. ''The consciousness of Grace comes to Men who fulfill their duties with dedication and by Observance of the pillars of the true way. Duties are given by knowledge (non-appraisal) and knowledge comes from the consciousness of Unity.'' (Bhagavad-Gita, 3.15)

12. The observance of the pillars of The Path must not hinder the fulfilment of one’s duties, that is to say, one can do so, to fulfil one’s obligations and duties in service, that is, in the consciousness of the "Holy-Name", by the practice of the technique of the same name.

Order of spiritual things

13. Something I know is that spiritual realization, through the observance of agya, works in the following order: meditation, satsang, service. This ad can cause confusion and generate the question, "Yes, so what? That is?"

14. In meditation, one communicates with the harmony of Unity, Lao-Tzu said: «Dao». This inner contact, with the essence of everything, ploughs the ground of our consciousness. Next, satsang sows the seeds of understanding and service causes these seeds to take root and allow them to grow and bear the fruits of realization.

15. Deep meditation, or dhyana, awakens what was dormant in us, consciousness, this beautiful sleeping, but how many meditators know dhyana, the consciousness of bliss? Whatever, dharana* already prepares the consciousness to receive satsang.

* The first phase of meditation, when the mind concentrates on extracting itself from the consciousness of vrttis or mind fluctuations. 'Deha-bandhashchittasya dhâranâ'. Dharana is the perfect concentration on one point.' (Yogasûtra, 3.1)

16. Even if we do not experience something phenomenal, in formal meditation, to do so, to apply ourselves daily to this asceticism, to “be in the agya” and to be aware of Grace in our life.

17. In formal meditation, what counts is to arrive on your zafu (meditation cushion) prepared for contemplation, quite calm and internalized. If you have spent your day distracted, in the throes of your emotions, moods and thoughts, how do you want to meditate on your cushion?

18. It is customary to say, "Service and satsang are the antechambers of meditation."

Meditation: instructions for use

19. One of the interests of service is to prepare you to meditate… this also applies to satsang. What also matters is to stay perfectly still, I mean, to not move anything, not even a little finger! Like tetanized, but supple, cool.

20. Then, what counts for meditation is to practice the techniques taught in the Revelation, as I taught you. Do not adapt them.

21. If you have a health concern, open it to me, by e-mail, I will answer you. For example, if you have glaucoma, the technique of light must be adapted. If you have tinnitus, the technique of music will be difficult, if not impossible, to practice.

22. When you have achieved mastery, samyama, deep meditation, dhyana, can begin. When dhyana begins, be like a lizard in summer, standing still in the sun, on a dry stone wall.

23. Above all, do not lose sight of the reason for your meditation: why do you meditate? Intention counts as much as the practice of techniques. I know a reason to meditate that gives the most chance to find peace and satisfaction in this practice: the will to be in the presence of God.

24. Know that God is not a man, nor a woman, that he is infinitely great, never born and immortal, omnipresent and omniscient. One day, scientists will find an equation, the first of all, which gave life to Creation and will show that this equation has a will, a purpose.

25. "1.1. In the beginning was the will* of God. 1.2. In the beginning, the will of God was the unique expression of the Whole. 1.3. All things have been done by this will and nothing that has been done has been done without it. 1.4. Life comes from this will of God and his light."

* Will: the Greek word "logos" (Word, Verb) can be translated as "will", "plan". Here it is the will, the plan of God. We can say, using the word «Verb» that the Word was with the Whole, that it was the Whole, as in the usual translations of this Greek word in Genesis.

 

This satsang may help you in your spiritual research, I hope, but I must say this: it was said at the house where I live, recorded and then transcribed for the initiates who received the Revelation. The full 'benefit' of this satsang can only be achieved if you have had this Revelation and practice the four pillars. For more information, contact lavoie.eu@gmail.com

In the Sight of God

 

In the Sight of God

 

A gap with the moment

The mind always has a gap with the moment. It has a mania; the obsession with the goal to be achieved. It is sporting as a mentality. Scoring goals. Go to the goal line. On The Path there is no goal… Well, if, in truth, there is one; there is the Liberation of the chains of samsàra. But this goal can only be achieved at the time of disembodiment.

Disincarnation? It’s death! Is it a very motivating goal on a daily basis? There’s also realization, being conscious all the time.

You are going to tell me that this is a goal. Yes, but you are already there. Every day, you have the opportunity to realize that. At every moment, we have the opportunity to be fully conscious of the moment.

This mania to set a goal, it is good that you always have a time of delay on the moment. When you have a goal, you are next to life. You look at yourself and think about what you need to do.

Everything is there, you have nothing to do but to realize it and observe the agya. If you can’t, well, keep going, and if you still can’t, keep going. Constancy is a cardinal virtue. “Time does not exist, only the moment counts, eternity is an endless moment” (Bhaktimàrga 104).

Enjoy life as it is

Enjoy life as it is. Enjoy eating, bathing, being in good company, meditating, having satsang. Enjoy! If you don’t do it now, when will you?

God has given you life and the least courtesy is to honor His gift. Be constant in the Observance of the agya. We know when we are in the service and when we are not. When you are in the Holy-Name, stay there, when you are not there, get involved.

Accept that you have arrived. Do not turn the practice into a pensum. With the mind, it’s often like this: cleaning is a pensum, taking the subway is a pensum, going to work is a pensum.

It’s the same for meditation: “I have to meditate tomorrow too”. Yes, so what? When you’re hungry, you eat! You don’t think, "Tomorrow I have to eat, the day after that!" You do not think about the meals you will make tomorrow, no, you eat because you are hungry. When you are hungry for God, you meditate.

The Inner Light is there anyway

The Light is there, anyway, whether you see it or not. The problem is always this goal story. The goal, what is it? To see the Light? It is there, anyway, whether you see it or not. If, by practicing the meditation technique that allows you to see the Light, you see it, so much the better, if not, so much the worse!

Sooner or later you’ll see her. If you don’t see it, switch to another technique and at the end of the “cycle”, if you want, start again. “Deep meditation is only possible after the Revelation of the Holy-Name, light and music.” (Bhaktimàrga 322).

This life of contemplation is beautiful. You are a child before your father’s eyes. That’s what people look for with their guardian angel. The guardian angel of men, it is the Grace and the invocation that brings it is the Observance.

As a child, I was told about my guardian angel and I had a regular, intimate relationship with him. In fact, I know today, my angel, it was the Holy Name. It was his love: it was my guardian angel, his love!

 

Under the gaze of his father

 

It’s good to be under the eyes of your father, but you have to be conscious of that. Imagine a parent watching his or her child swim and the child is not watching his or her parent. So? What’s in it for the child? It’s like for God’s attention. What’s the point if you’re not conscious of His attention?

The Observance is The Path to put oneself under His gaze. Of course; there are the small worries of everyday life, that’s normal! If your car breaks down, you need to have it repaired and the agya will not.

Grace is not an eraser of daily worries. One time, the boiler is down, another time, the Internet bill is “overflowing”, and so on. The goal of The Path is not to be free from everyday worries. It is a matter of being conscious of the love of God in itself. The purpose of The Path, of its practice, is to be at the centre of the sphere of its being.

Have the pressure on The Path

Why have the pressure on The Path? There is no diploma at the end. It is to be happy that you came there. Of course the Observance can sometimes stir deep and painful things in you. This is normal, but these old and painful things come out and never come back.

You are used to looking and you no longer need to look; you have found... so it destabilizes you, get used to it!

It’s like someone who’s about to go on vacation and when they go out, they start looking for what they might have forgotten. He searches, but he does not find: he has forgotten nothing, he has everything! It’s time to get out, get in your car, get behind the wheel and go on holiday, finally enjoy it! It’s all there.

It’s all there. When the time comes, you’ll find what you need, when you need it. There’s everything in your backpack, no need to inventory it. You can’t inventory everything, it’s far too long. Instead of taking inventory, we leave with confidence.

 

 

The Holy-Name

 

The Holy-Name

 

In the Holy Books, the Word of God, the Name of God, the Word, the Holy-Spirit, the Holy-Name, the Satnam, the "De" (the One of the Dao-De-Jing), etc. are often spoken of. These are different names for the same principle.

 

« If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. »

John 8:31-32

«He who listens only to the Holy-Name is in perfect peace. »

Bhaktimàrga 343

 

The purpose of The Path is to make you intimately aware of this word, this Word, this Name of God. It cannot be pronounced or written, but you can hear it if you know what and how to listen. "... if you abide in my word...", the gospel means to remain conscious of that name which is pronounced alone. This is the whole purpose of our practice, the agya, the sadhana* of The Path, made of the four pillars.

 

*Sadhana: Sanskrit word meaning "What to do" and designating all the practices of a spiritual path (màrga).

Why are the initiates of The Path, who practice, so attached to staying in this Word? Not because they have to, but because that’s what they like to do. It’s as simple as that. We could gloat throughout the days, as the Pharisees did, the masters of the faith, but no, it would be time lost for what we love most: to remain in this Word, this Holy-Name, this Word. "The Holy Name cannot say to itself, listening to it means entering the Kingdom" (Bhaktimàrga 1-1-6)

 

« In the beginning was the Holy-Name (the word),
the Holy Name (the word) was with God,
the Holy Name (the word) was God... »

John, 1:1

 

If you have not received the Revelation, I will give you a simple way to feel this Holy-Name: go to a quiet place, a day of wind, lie down on the grass and close your eyes… The wind will rustle the leaves of trees, poplars, aspens would be perfect and, in spring, you will hear the birds singing. Let yourself go.

 

After a while, you will feel a sensation in your chest: a special feeling of peace, joy, serenity and fullness. This is the effect of the Holy-Name, when you let go. Do you know this feeling? Of course: everyone knows it! It’s happiness.

 

We also feel it when we love a person. This particular feeling is in you all the time, similar for everyone. You don’t always feel it, because of your distraction and because you don’t give it the attention it deserves, not knowing how important it is.

You think it’s just a feeling of satisfaction, of love that an object, or a person gives you, that it’s a hormonal reward and still? The body is the temple of God. In truth, this feeling is there all the time. It is you who are not attentive to it.

 

The practice of the techniques of The Path has the consequence of allowing this feeling. When you feel the Holy-Name, no word is more useful: just feel, be happy and stay happy. If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

 

The truth is this Holy-Name and it makes free, free from suffering, confusion and doubt. Come, if your heart tells you, know that no one will go in your place: "Knock and they will open you, ask and give you... " (Matthew 7:7)

 

Jesus knew this Name of God, this Word, this Word
and he practiced a “prayer” which was, in fact,
the meditation taught on The Path. 

 

 

 

 

 

This satsang may help you in your spiritual research, I hope, but I must say this: it was said at the house where I live, recorded and then transcribed for the initiates who received the Revelation. The full 'benefit' of this satsang can only be achieved if you have had this Revelation and practice the four pillars. For more information, contact lavoie.eu@gmail.com

 

The Service

 

The Service

 

Summary:

Service is one of the four pillars of The Path, with meditation, satsang and angas. It consists in acting, in all our daily tasks, while practicing one of the four techniques of meditation revealed, that of the Holy-Name. The service allows you to stay focused throughout the day.

 

The book of The Path says: “Through meditation and service, you realize the Holy-Name.” (Bhaktimàrga 215)

"Whatever you do, eat, sacrifice and lavish, some austerities that you practice, whether to offer it to the One in the Service. Thus, you will free yourself from the consequences of your actions, virtuous as guilty. By this principle of detachment you will be released and come to Unity." (Bhagavad-Gita 9:27/28)

All spiritual paths have a Sadhana (that Sanskrit word that means what to do). The practice of The Path is based on four pillars, or agya, which is a set of recommendations.

The goal of The Path, the practice of its four pillars

(the Observance)

is to stay focused and not be the victim

of a mind without master.

This in order to accomplish what must be accomplished

during this lifetime:

Prepare to return to our origin in full consciousness.

The four pillars of The Path propose to allow you to do this: to stay focused as much as possible. Service is a form of meditation in action. Lao-Tzu spoke of "inaction", this difficult notion is in the Tao-Te-King, it is also in the Bhagavad-Gita.

"Assume your duties, without seeking to escape them and without being bound by success or failure, it is your freedom. Strive to act by renouncing the fruits of your actions and do not believe to be at the origin of their consequences. Remain in Unity, out of the fluctuations of the mind. Avaricious are those who yearn for the fruits of their acts. The service liberates, who is committed to it, from the consequences of the action, good or bad." (Bhagavad-Gita, 2:47-50)

On The Path, there are four meditation techniques and one of them can be practiced while doing everything you have to do in the day. Her practice allows her to remain centered and master of her emotions and thoughts. This technique is known as the Holy-Name technique.

 

By practicing the technique of the Holy-Name, at the same time as everything we have to do, we are in the service. It is important for an initiate, practising The Path, to practice the four pillars, therefore service. It is the way to live under the gaze of God and to fulfill his spiritual destiny by deepening his consciousness. Service is also a state of mind. On The Path, it is said to be an 'inner posture'. Service is also:

-Do what we must, as we must, and when we must.

-Doing what we need to do the best we can.

-Being detached from the merit of his actions.

The service is what Lao-Tzu called the "inaction" (Wu Wei), in the Dao-De-Jing. “The wise practice the inaction, conscious of the Tao, he even teaches without saying anything.” (Dao-De-Jing, excerpt from 2). Another enlightened master, Guru Nanak, who was the founder of the Sikh religion, taught the same way. For him, service is Sewa.

"The sky and the earth do not notice creatures or human passions. Similarly, the wise see everything with the same look. The Tao is outside and inside. The movement of its virtue is like a forge bellows. The sage remains silent, attentive to its breath." (Dao-De-Jing, 5)

When you clean the tiles of your home, while being in the service, it is as if you were also cleaning the interior of your home. PS: to be able to practice it is necessary to have received the Revelation and to ask for it by the email address given at the bottom of the texts.

 

 

 

 

 

Contact email: lavoie.eu@gmail.com

True Humility

 

True Humility

True Humility

 

The Path is open to all, no one is prevented from entering it. However, a virtue is useful for every authentic spirituality, that virtue is humility. In our society, where the individual is put on a pedestal, and where everyone claims his rights, sometimes forgetting his duties, humility has become rare and often confused with modesty, naivety and weakness.

 

Humility is not humiliation, it is the virtue of one who sees himself objectively, without the distortions caused by pride, vanity, egocentrism, narcissism, self-loathing and concepts. Humility is not devoid of self-esteem and pride. Lack of humility is the main obstacle in spirituality.

 

A teacher is a teacher. The human being accepts to receive the teachings of a baker, to make bread, a Karate, to make karate, a driving instructor, to learn to drive, but he refuses to receive the teaching of a spiritual guide, for spirituality.

 

A High Gaze

 

Imagine someone lost in the middle of a maze and wandering for years. Another, who has come out and is watching him from a height, tells him that he can show him The Path, inviting him to join him. He who is within the high walls of the labyrinth refuses this help in these terms: "No, I do not need help, who are you, you who want to help me? You think you’re better than me? I’ll do it alone".

 

Who is the master of pride? Do you not obey, when you obey pride? To learn something, one must recognize that one does not know and this recognition requires objectivity about one’s situation, that is, humility. Accepting to be guided is the beginning of spiritual life.

 

Revelation is a seed. For this seed to germinate, grow and bear the fruits one hopes for, the earth must be prepared. The words earth, humility and Man all have the same Latin root (for the french): "humus" and this Latin word has an Indo-European root, "ghyom", which means "soil".

 

In the genesis, did God not give life to earth to create Adam? Humility is the soil that allows the seed of knowledge to grow in Man. Without humility the seed will not germinate. Humility is the land to sow the seed of knowledge (not learned).

 

As you can see, etymology comes to our aid when it is necessary to shed light on certain words that are distorted by ignorance and vanity. In the age of individualism, of the reign of the self of “to each his truth”, many give the words the meaning they want according to their concepts. Etymology puts everything in its place and reveals objective truths. That the words “terre”, “Homme” and “humilité” have the same root (in French) means something.

 

Other texts about humility:

 

Humility, spiritual virtue.

Humility, modesty, humiliation.

 

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Contact email: lavoie.eu@gmail.com