The last months, many roads and footpaths in our community were digged up. Also the pavement in front of our house was opened for a while: A fiber optic cable network is being installed successively in all quarters: ‘fiber to home’ – also to our home.

The marketing slogans highlight: “With fiber optics you surf faster and more stable; you can consume data over several devices at the same time – watch movies, play games or book holidays…”

Consuming data – until indigestion? Yes; I will also profit from it. And I observed what was going on – with the streets and with me.

The roads were opened, work was going on, the cables installed,the roads were closed again. And you could see some traces on the roads.

A little later, the roads and pavements were tarred and the wounds of the surface disappeared again. The cables were inside, ‘implanted’.

It made me think of the nadi system, the subtle energy network in our body which is not visible to the physical eye but which you can trace in meditation. Medical science considers them as inexistent but yoga science explains their details – if you try to dissect a magnet, you won’t find the magnetic field nor see any electron-magnetic waves but you can discover their functioning.

Of course, the fiber optic cables are more dense than the nadis, you will find them in the streets. But just like the subtle lines of force the cables are part of a great network of intelligence steering our consciousness.

The flood of stimulations is increasing. Information and the stories of the next generation multi-channel entertainment will do their best to keep us attracted – whereto?

It is difficult to withdraw the attention, to find the way through the hyper-active vibrations inside and outside. To discover the inner light and life.

But that is what is nourishing, not the maelstrom of busy-busy-busy. We need to learn swimming against the stream which is powerfully rushing from all sides. To turn inward, again and again, regularly and persistently .

A kind of wilful stimulation fasting helps keeping away from unnecessary pace-makers. You will be rewarded with experiencing your Self and the greater whole of life.

Last week a man from France contacted me via e-mail: Sylvain wanted to bring me a gift from friends living on Ko Pha-ngan island of Thailand. (I had written a blog-post about their activity of spreading the knowledge about rudrakshas.)

Last Saturday evening, Sylvain arrived – a tall young man with a special present in his hands, caringly enveloped with a fine string. I opened it and discovered inside two light-brown rudrakasha seeds (called “white rudrakshas”), embedded in a rudraksha shell and embedded in white cotton-like fibres.

It is a very special special gift and the messenger had travelled quite a distance – it was his way of giving thanks to our friends with whom he had lived for some months on the Thai island.

We were not prepared for an overnight stay in our apartment but somehow could arrange. And this was very good. Sylvain and I had an intense exchange. Sylvain told me about adventures on a bicycle tour from France to Kyrgystan, nearly to the Chinese border, about other journey to North and Central America, about his spiritual search and a project related to Ayurveda he is trying to realise in the French Alpes. He carried a fresh energy of bringing inspiration to people and of knowing how to realise his visions.

Sunday morning, he joined the meditation and fire ritual; afterwards we did a walk over a nearby field and enjoyed the magic of the sunrise. Before he left again back to France, we did a selfie with my wife on the balcony. A hearty encounter.

A friend sent me this well-done and urgent video of children from around the world addressing the adults about their destroying the planet through greed and a call for the Global Climate Strike 20 – 27 September.
(I could not find out from where it comes, I didn’t find it on YouTube or elsewhere, so I upload it here without giving due credits.)

In 1993, when Sri Kumar on a journey to Switzerland came to know that it was the 500th anniversary of Paracelsus (1493-1541), he did a hike with two friends to the birthplace of this great alchemist initiate. At this birthplace next to a bridge across the Sihl river (known as Teufelsbrücke, Devil’s Bridge) near Einsiedeln, he had the vision of an eagle, symbol of an initiate and that it is a very sacred place.

During the May Call celebration 1999 on Mount Rigi he did an excursion with the entire group to this place and proposed that it would be good to have a centre there to enable being in the presence of the energies of Paracelsus.

Some group members picked up the proposal and within two weeks they had rented a small apartment in the house at the site of the birthplace. In June, we visited the rooms and planted some trees on the meadow near the house (which a bit later goats used for their meal….). And then we furnished the apartment.

In December 1999 around the birthday of Paracelsus, Sri Kumar gave a seminar on Paracelsus in Einsiedeln and the entire group came for the inauguration of the Paracelsus Centre. And with Sri Kumar as editor-in-chief, an international team started to publish the “Paracelsus Health and Healing” magazine from 2003 on.

In the beginning, we did regular weekly meetings at the Paracelsus Centre to study the teachings of Paracelsus and other wisdom teachings. It was a lot of travelling, and about 10 years later, the frequency of these meetings got less. Since 2014, we have been meeting there during equinoxes and solstices. And also the team of the Paracelsus magazine does an annual retreat at this beautiful serene place.

On summer equinox morning, we met on the nearby mountain ridge for a fire ritual and later celebrated this cardinal point of the year in the Paracelsus centre – with meditations, little rituals, study of the importance of summer solstice, cooking and eating together as well as a walk to experience the solstice energy. At summer solstice, there is a subtle change of energies in nature and in us – witnessing it is a good preparation for the transformations it brings.

Around the house at the birthplace of Paracelsus, there had been some changes: the Cultural Heritage and Historic Monuments office has recently renovated the place with the Paracelsus memorial plate and some civil service workers had built a new fountain at the roadside. Hikers now stop there to drink some fresh water.

On 30 May, the group made an excursion to Crater Lake in Oregon, about 260 km from McCloud. The lake formed in the caldera of Mount Mazama after a huge eruption about 7700 years ago. It is one of the deepest lakes of the world (about 650 m) and there are no rivers flowing into or out of the lake.

In three buses and a number of cars we drove through a beautiful, spacious landscape. My roommate Mark took me and the two friends from Denmark in his car and we enjoyed the sprightly conversation.

The roads along Crater Lake were mostly closed because of snow but the access from the West was open. We walked a bit along the rim of the crater surrounded by steep slopes and looking a bit like a huge chalice where heaven and earth meet. Although people were talking and busily taking pictures you could feel a profound silence and sanctity in the atmosphere. The buses arrived a bit later – the group had brought picknick for all of us.

When on the way back approaching the Mount Shasta area, there was a short and intense hailstorm. We stopped for some time at the side of the highway for evening meditation. Afterwards, a beautiful rainbow formed over Mount Shasta like a bridge to heaven. I couldn’t take a photo – the battery of my camera was down… But here is a beautiful one by Mathilda seen from Shastina – Mount Shasta would be in the centre.

35 years years ago, Master EK (Dr. Ekkirala Krishnamacharya) passed over to the subtle spheres – the day of his transition was 17th of March, 1984, on Pisces Full Moon day.

Master EK left his physical body earlier than expected. Through he is no longer in the physical, all these 35 years he has been guiding invisibly all those who orient to him, and he will guide us as long as we relate to him and do not forget him. Master EK’s writings are so powerful that even if we read one page of his writings a day, it will bring us a lot of transformation.

His radiance goes on – in January, two books with lectures he has given in the west were published in India, volumes 6 and 7 of the “Overseas Messages” series:

As a little souvenir of Master EK’s teachings you find below an extract from a lecture of Master KPK (Dr. K. Parvathi Kumar) at the celebration of Master EK’s birthday 2018:

“Master EK disrupted some of the existing customs in the society with a view of transforming the society. He used to perform cremations of orphaned dead bodies. As per the customs, a son is not allowed to attend a cremation while the father lives but Master EK went against that tradition as he felt that a proper cremation to a dead body is more important than a non-essential custom.

Also, in those days, women were not allowed to chant Gayatri mantra. He went against this custom as well and said that “all are equal before the light. Men and Women are equally entitled to worship the Divine light through Gayatri Mantra.” He said there are no restrictions in chanting Gayatri mantra. One just has to know the proper pronunciation and can chant it with a clean mind and body. Grand Masters have even decided to spread Gayatri Mantra to people across the globe with no restrictions because it is a mantra which can lead any aspirant into the planes of light. We should understand that if something good is taught by a Master of Wisdom, it can be followed by anyone and not only his direct followers. Only what is told matters and not who told it. We should not think that I will follow the teachings of only so and so Master and reject everyone else. If it is something which inspires you and enthuses you, then you can take up that teaching or instruction or practice.

In this manner, Master EK did not follow many of the existing customs which he felt were non-essential in the path. Though he was born into an orthodox Vaishnavaite family (Worshippers of Vishnu), he did not follow many of the Vaishnavaite traditions. He worshipped the Divine in multiple forms and not just as Vishnu. He was very particular and highly disciplined in following the essentials but he cared very little about the non-essentials. The non-essentials are to be left to each person’s comfort. If one is stuck with in non-essentials, then the essential aspects are forgotten.

Master EK’s chanting of mantras or OM used to be so effective that it used to purify the surroundings and the people sitting around him. People used to get subtle experiences just by keenly hearing his chantings. Master EK used to hear OM within and then utter it outside. We at least have to utter it and hear it. Then we can gradually hear OM from within without actually utter it with the mouth. Master EK used to have a constant alignment with OM within. It is possible to ones who do not have unnecessary thoughts. It is inner silence which enables one to hear OM within. It is because of this experience that Master EK could speak about silence in the invocation he gave. He said ‘May the silence in and around me, present itself.’ Only one who experienced that inner silence could give such an invocation.

To reach a state where one could hear OM, one should regularly practice alignment with the pulsation. With constant relation with the pulsation, one gets to experience the subtle pulsation and then OM. These are gradual steps that happen to one who practices regularly.”

Nearly six months ago, I received a parcel sent by friends from an island in Thailand. It contained a small wooden box with 91 rudraksha beads and a rudraksha necklace, beautifully decorated with a piece of tree bark from a fallen branch of a rudraksha tree, a red tissue and a thread.

Two years ago they found a first rudraksha in a waterfall area on Koh Phangan island and then started exploring the beauty and depth of rudrakshas in different parts of Thailand. They are publishing information about rudrakshas and other trees and plants and are exploring their sacred vibration and beauty. They are also giving courses on how to use rudrakshas. On the website inaturalist.org, they are maintaining a section “Rudraksha Planet” about observations concerning this holy tree. Originally from Russia, they are working in Thailand with a NGO based in Scotland, Kalos Fund. It is a very inspiring mission.

In a talk in Miami February 2018, Master Kumar spoke on using rudrakshas in the course of a question-answer session, see below. And he has published a booklet on Rudra (more; see here the PDF) explaining more about this lord of Will and of Fire, causing the vibration in the ether

“Question: I have been asked by several people about what you have mentioned that we should soak the rudraksha and change the water daily. The question is: should we drink or not drink that water?

Answer: Drink the water. A rudraksha carries vibrations. Rudra stands for vibration. The vibrations will rearrange the energies in you. That is the beauty of Rudra. There is a book on Rudra so you can look through. The Rudras, they destroy the darkness and build a field of light through their vibrations. A Rudraksha has the impact of these vibrations. That is why a lot of people wear these rudrakshas in the East. A tacha rudraksha daily is very very beneficial. Many people hold it like a chain with the rudrakshas touching their vibrating center at the heart. You daily touch a rudraksha and offer water to it, because it is a very vibrating energy, it is kept cool, kept in poise with water; and water is also electrical. The higher dimension of water is that it is electrical. That is how we originally produced hydro electricity because in the water there is electricity. So, it is electrical and if it is kept cool though you are very vibrant you remain cool. This is the idea of holding a rudraksha. So, daily relating to rudraksha will enable you to gain the vibrations. So, it is the matter of respect that every day you change the water for it.

In the morning you can set it in water and utter forth the mantra for Rudra, OM NAMO BHAGAVATE RUDRAYA. That is the mantra. A much more powerful mantra for relating to Rudra is, YO RUDRO AGNO YO APSUYA OSADISU, YO RUDRO VISWA BHUVAN AVIVESA TASMAI RUDRA YA NAMO ASTU. Like this, there is a mantra, which I also gave here before. In there it says 3 times to utter the mantra Rudra. Do it saying it 3 times, or 5 times or 7 times, maximum 11 times. Eleven are the Rudras. If you can do it, you do it. Otherwise you hold the rudraksha daily, change the water and the vibrations will be there at home.

Everything should be optional; nothing should be compulsory in spiritual practice. But once we accepted to do it, then you have to follow a rhythm. It is like a marriage. Once you are married you are committed. Isn’t it? You can’t change it. Like that, with any practice you can keep it at a optional level or at a level of consecration and commitment.”

The formula “E Pluribus Unum” (from many, one) is the traditional motto of the United States used on seals and coins. Its meaning, however, is much more profound than just uniting different ex-colonies to one nation. It is even deeper than what the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus gives as “The one is made up of all things, and all things issue from the one”. The eternal wisdom teachings explain that focussing on diversity, as we do with our analytical minds, makes us lose the sense of oneness. All multiplicity is coming from one source, is being held in existence by the unfathomable background of all and is merging again into the inconceivable oneness – from many to one.

Chris Jordan, a photographer and artist, has created a mandala named “E Pluribus Unum”. In the video project realised in 2010, he visualises the many different “organisations around the world that are devoted to peace, environmental stewardship, social justice and the preservation of diverse and indigenous culture” (from the video) by zooming from a detail structure to a great globe of interconnected lines expressing the beauty created by all the goodwill work done on the globe.
The video contains a million names of such organisations – Chris explains that it would need to include more than twice the number of names to cover all activities.
All these projects seem to be different activities but together they form one unified effort to promote the well-being of earth and of the beings living on it – a great visualisation of oneness done through Chris’ video.
The mandala is constructed around a circle containing 108 equally-spaced points. In Eastern wisdom, the number 108 is explained as containing profound keys to understand time cycles, like 4 x 108 = 432.

In many of his artworks Chris visualises complex realities in photos or movies. See also my 2007 blogpost about his activities or about the trailer to his impressive video “Midway” about plastics polluting the Pacific Ocean.
His works are intended to raise our awareness to understand complicated relationships by visualising with his “environmental art” the effects of pollution, mass consumption or destructive behaviours.

See more on his website or his videos on Vimeo.

Picture (c) Chris Jordan, from the video

Recently, I came across a fantastic time lapse video with sequences of the Sun’s atmosphere observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft between 2011 and 2015. The music “Una” by Murcof (from the Album Utopía, 2004) fits very well with the scenes of solar eruptions.

From viewpoint of the Wisdom Teachings, the essence of the Sun and of ourselves is but one and the same. We are no different from our Sun.

There is a beautiful prayer in the Isavasya Upanishad. Here, the disciple who can withdraw at will from the activity of externalisation through the senses is compared to the Sun that withdraws his rays. When the rays of the Sun are withdrawn the Sun globe is visible. Likewise, when the externalisation from the senses is withdrawn, the Soul is visible. Sun is the Soul. The Sun globe appears like a golden disc when the rays are withdrawn. Likewise, the disciple also experiences his golden form when he suspends the activity of senses. This golden form is the subtle body which is immortal and divine. (from Agni. The Symbolism and the Ritual of Fire, by Dr. K. Parvathi Kumar; see also his book on “Sun – That I Am“)

PÛSHAN EKARSHYE
YAMASÛRYA PRÂJÂPATYA VYÛHA RASMÎN
SAMÛHA TEJAHA.
YATTE RÛPAM KALYÂNATAMAM.
TATTE PASYÂMI YO
SAVASOW PURUSHAHA.
SOHAM ASMI.

Meaning:

“Oh! Solar God,
You are the son of Prajapathi.
You are lone ranger of the sky.
You are all nourishing and all regulating.
Please withdraw your rays and brilliance.
By your grace I would then be able to see
Your beautiful golden disc.”

Isavasya Upanishad, 16th Mantram
Here you can listen to the prayer or download the text.

Image from the video, courtesy of: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Scientific Visualization Studio

You haven’t seen the moon rotating. Given modern digital technology, however, combined with many detailed images returned by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a high resolution virtual Moon rotation movie has now been composed.

Picture capture from the video, (c) Video Credit: LRO, Arizona State U., NASA