Blogpost about sport, art and religion

At the moment, the attention of media and of millions of people is focused on Qatar and the FIFA World Cup. Without a particular interest in football, I therefore have also followed this global phenomenon a little. In meditation this morning I remembered that I had read an article a week ago:

In “Das Magazin“, a weekend supplement of our regional Swiss newspaper, a writer made fun of an installation by the Berlin-based world-class Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Elisasson, who had realised circular mirrors in the Qatar desert. The writer found it “completely ballaballa”, meaning crazy. It somehow caught my attention: In a video presentation about my paintings (Creativity and Originality), I mentioned Elíasson and his work.

I found it interesting: In the past, art and religion have been closely associated. Religion and art have much changed their roles and both have become much more mundane in most of their expressions. For millions of people sport has taken over the role of religion:

Quasi-religious fervour of ascetic aspiration in a hatha-yogic style drives athletes’ and sportsmen’s /sportswomen’s devotion to extreme efforts in their training to strive for their very highest. And huge crowds of people gather in the cathedrals and temples of sport for their quasi-religious devotional celebrations – at the moment, in Qatar’s soccer arenas. There are also very many sects and beliefs among the followers. A gigantic effort was made to hold the big celebrations in a desert state. Many discuss the sense and nonsense of such events. Some avoid them, others travel there to participate.

When Eliásson now says in his artistic and context statements that “There is no artistic connection between my sculpture and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022”, this might be his intention and understanding but the exhibition is financed and organized by the state of Qatar and the opening of the exhibition coincides with the FIFA World Cup – “honni soit qui mal y pense“.

Here are the photos of the circular mirror installations in the desert, reminiscent of the ball religion celebrated nearby in football stadiums. The ball, the sphere, the circle are deeply occult symbols of the world, of creation. May the world’s attention go beyond the mundane levels to understand and practise the deeper spiritual aspiration to the highest and thus gain the experience of bliss, mundanely aspired by sport.

All photos are press material giving installation views of the Northern Heritage sites, Doha, Qatar, 2022. Photos by Iwan Baan, courtesy of the artist; neugerriemschneider, Berlin; Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York / Los Angeles © 2022 Olafur Eliasson.

Sagittarius is a fire sign and it is called the house of initiation. In Sagittarius, we can receive a great push on our path to the light. But every initiation is preceded by a crisis. Therefore, Sagittarius is also the house of crises. Crises are a fiery means to find the path to the light. Therefore, we should not flee from the crises, but face them. In Sanskrit, Sagittarius is also called the month of progress (Margasirsha), the way to the head, the upward path. You find more information about Sagittarius in the book “The Mysteries of Sagittarius” by Dr. K. Parvathi Kumar.

The Images of Synthesis for the month of Sagittarius illustrate the related symbolism. You find there all previous Sagittarius paintings with detailed explanations in four languages (en/de/es/fr). You can also download print-versions for free. Find here the Images of Synthesis with short extracts from the wisdom teachings. Or subscribe to the Lunar Messenger newsletter giving thoughts from the wisdom teachings to inspire putting them into practice.

In Spiritual Astrology, Sagittarius is considered the messenger of the dawn, and it rules the two hours before sunrise. This time corresponds to the dawn of the day, the first phase after the new moon, the month before the solstice of Capricorn and the preparation of the World Mother for the awakening of a new creation from out of the background of space.

At dawn, a surge of energy rushes through the atmosphere, reviving the bodies of living beings, and the Lords of the Seven Rays prepare the souls on the subconscious levels for the awakening of the Light. Thus, this time before dawn contains highest spiritual potency and is therefore most suitable for spiritual activities.

In the background of the picture there is the photo of a beginning dawn during a flight over India. Overlaying this, there is the photo of large stone statues taken in the car park of the Vietnamese Buddhist monastery Tu Vien Kim Son in Watsonville, California. In the foreground you see Quan Yin as a symbol of the Mother of the World. She holds a staff and an egg-shaped sphere in her hands. She is seated on a lion, suggesting the sign of Leo, ruled by the sun. The Buddha resting in the background evokes representations of Vishnu, resting on the serpent of time in the ocean of space.

The star at the top alludes to the cosmic source of light. Below are the seven stars of the Great Bear, symbol of the seven cosmic rays. The seven different coloured spheres of light in the lower part of the picture indicate the terrestrial reflection of the rays that bring a fresh impulse to life. And the Moon, like the Mother, is a reflector of light.

The Images of Synthesis for the month of Sagittarius illustrate the related symbolism. You find there all previous Sagittarius paintings with detailed explanations in four languages (en/de/es/fr). You can also download print-versions for free. Find here the Images of Synthesis with short extracts from the wisdom teachings. Or subscribe to the Lunar Messenger newsletter giving thoughts from the wisdom teachings to inspire putting them into practice.

Last Tuesday afternoon, 1 November 2022, I surprisingly got a call from a friend living in California. He told me that there is a message in the WhatsApp group of WTT India called Radhamadhavam (this being also the name of the assembly hall for teaching and spiritual activities in Master Kumar’s house).
Guru Prasad, the son of Master K. Parvathi Kumar, had just posted, “Our beloved Master KPK has sailed to higher realms. Master KPK Namaskaram.”

It was a shock. Although I knew that Sri Kumar was seriously sick, he had speeded up giving inspiration and guidance in many directions over the last months. His weekly “Merry Life” talks every second Saturday were brimming with inspiration and wisdom. Although his body was handicapped increasingly by the progressing stages of blood cancer and he was having pain, he kept on a high pace of interacting with members via writing, speaking, teaching.

I found it breath-taking, also what I came to witness from people who visited him or were in contact with him directly. He kept on reacting quickly when I asked questions concerning activities of WTT-Global in a chat group with him. In the last 2 months, he initiated several far-reaching new projects, which he first submitted to us in the “Triangle”, the internal organisational steering team of WTT-Global. We discussed details in a Zoom meeting, and then he presented them to larger circles of members. He contacted members to take over the responsibility for these new projects and gave guidance. As late as September/October, he even conducted the several days’ long Durga Festival and the Festival of Light, Divali, in Radhamadhavam with many participants.

When hearing of his passing, I started functioning in a kind of “auto-mode” for the following days – preparing and sharing communications, speaking with close persons and trying to keep up with other ongoing work and situations. Slowly, more information came in about the situation of Master Kumar in the last time, especially the last day. Guru Prasad, his son, gave a detailed report last Friday night about the disease and the moments of passing. And there were short videos and photos of the final rites, the cremation of the physical sheath of the Master last Thursday, and now about the 10 days of traditional rituals done after a passing. At the moment, Guru Prasad is on a journey bringing the ashes of Master KPK to sacred rivers in India.

After the first shock, there were intense experiences of the sublime presence of the Master and joy. And the feeling of a new cycle starting. Gratitude filled my heart. Last Wednesday and Saturday evening in my German and English online study groups, we exchanged about the situation, and the members expressed their experiences. It was a very profound moment of sharing and meditation. Some had been in e-mail contact with the Master until the last days before his passing. The members of the group had similar experiences and we all felt a profound bond of connectedness. Yesterday, a friend who participated in the group exchange wrote: “It feels so good to go on all together this way. A big hug for all, Namaskaram.”

Today is Sri Kumar’s anniversary. He was born on 7th of November 1945 in Vijayawada, a Wednesday at 07:20 AM in the month of Scorpio. Through him manifested a great amount of global goodwill work; therefore, we celebrate the 7th of November in his honour as “Day of Goodwill”. He now concluded his journey on earth after 77 years. Our acts of goodwill, together with the regular prayer/meditation and self-study, are the best ways to pay homage to him and to keep him present among us.

A small group of WTT members from ANIMA Channel visited Visakhahaptnam in August and recorded a face-to-face personal interview with Master KPK which was just published in the ANIMA channel under the title “Man behind Master”. They shared it today, on Master KPK’s birthday, to honour His life and forever radiant presence, and as a token to the groups.

You find here the video with original sound in English (subtitled in German, French and Spanish) and here with Spanish voice-over.

Scorpio presents to us an encounter with our darker sides, which we usually can’t or don’t want to see. The messages of Scorpio often come in the form of pain, conflicts and crises, which we hope to quickly disappear. But should they actually disappear, we would not have understood and integrated Scorpio’s message. In a crisis, events force themselves upon us with intensity, and previously hidden problems come to light. It often takes time to integrate changes into our lives. But if we are willing to open ourselves to a new perspective, we can get beyond the limitations of the old state. Saturn leads us in small steps to transformation and inner growth. The growth of a seed into a plant can never be observed with the naked eye.

The Images of Synthesis for the month of Scorpio illustrate the related symbolism. You find there detailed explanations of the paintings in four languages (en/de/es/fr). And you can download print-versions (high resolution) for free. Or subscribe to the Lunar Messenger newsletter.

I yesterday published a post “25 October 2022 – Partial Solar Eclipse“. Today, Sri K. Parvathi Kumar (Master KPK) gave some hints in relation to the two eclipses and concerning the energies of the coming weeks not favourable to humanity. He recommends using a mantra for ensuring protection at individual, groupal and global level. You find here the communication:

Dear brothers and sisters of WTT
Hearty fraternal greetings to you all.
I wish to inform you all that until the end of the month of Scorpio (22 November 2022) we may all contemplate upon the six syllabled Mantra “ Om Vi Shna Ve Na Maha” from Ajna to Muladhara envisioning sky blue color in the vertebral column. Kindly do as much as possible this contemplation to ensure protection at individual, groupal and global level.
The ensuing times are not very favorable to humanity. We would do well by contemplating upon this mantra at all levels.
Please be aware of the two eclipses that are ahead. May lord Vishnu insulate us all. Look for a quiet place and quiet time for contemplation.
Diwali greetings to you all. Much light be installed within and outside. Relate to Deepotsav in Ayodhya where there is a great effort to manifest Light for the safety of all concerned.
With best wishes.
K. Parvathi Kumar

Explanations:
Deepotsav: a traditional Indian festival celebrated during Deepavali, the Festival of Light.
Ayodhya: an Indian city in Uttar Pradesh; birthplace of Lord Rama, one of the most important Indian pilgrimage sites.

On 25 October 2022, there is a partial solar eclipse. See here on “Time and Date” a map of the path of the eclipse. And read more here about the path of the eclipse.

You can read in the book on “Sound” by Sri K. Parvathi Kumar how to prepare and use eclipses for inner orientation.

The wisdom teachings speak of a single pillar around which all is moving. This pillar exists externally as the axis of rotation of the visible space globe around the celestial pole. It exists as the axis of North Pole and South Pole, around which the earth rotates. It has its correspondence in us as our central vertical column, around which all our activity happens.

Inside the central column, we can experience the unchangeable part of our existence around which the mutable life plays. The central vertical vibration enables us to experience the pure consciousness and the different states of existence. Within the column, there is the Light of awareness, which awakens us in the morning. And it is the same Light, which enables the Sun to shine. Reaching that Light is the aim of yoga.

I used extracts of two NASA photos of the Sun for creating the seven globes connected by a central channel of light. They show the central axis and the vibration of the energy. They also indicate the seven centres within the human body and the seven planes of existence. Contemplating on the column of light may reveal further subtle dimensions.

On seeing the image, a friend asked how its topic is linked with Scorpio. When working to bring down the image, I tried different ways to illustrate the descent of spirit into matter but without success. I then realised that the path of descent and ascent is the same, and I fused them in the central vertical column. At the bottom you see a dark semicircle around the two suns at the base indicating the sphere of dense matter.

At the very bottom, there is a little deviation of the central column. It corresponds to the coccyx or to Mula, the constellation between Scorpio and Sagittarius, the bottom point of descent and ascent. Without the question of my friend, this would not have been revealed.

The Images of Synthesis for the month of Scorpio illustrate the related symbolism. You find there all previous Scorpio paintings with detailed explanations in four languages (en/de/es/fr). You can also download print-versions for free. Find here the Images of Synthesis with short extracts from the wisdom teachings. Or subscribe to the Lunar Messenger newsletter giving thoughts from the wisdom teachings to inspire putting them into practice.

In our body, the Sahasrara or head centre corresponds to the North Pole, while the Muladhara or base centre is the South Pole. The diaphragm, between the solar plexus and the heart centre, is the equator, which corresponds to the equator of the planet and to the zodiacal sign of Libra. The equator is equidistant from the North Pole and the South Pole and the point of balance between the two poles. Libra represents the equilibrium between the outgoing horizontal movement towards objectivity and the inward vertical movement towards subjectivity. When the fulcrum is stable, there is an ascent of consciousness to higher planes.

The Images of Synthesis for the month of Libra illustrate the related symbolism. You find there detailed explanations of the paintings in four languages (en/de/es/fr). And you can download print-versions (high resolution) for free. Or subscribe to the Lunar Messenger newsletter.

Last Friday, there was autumn equinox. We also call it Libra equinox, because the September equinox is the moment when, seen from Earth, the Sun on his southward movement crosses the equator marking the entrance of the Sun into Libra. In the Southern hemisphere, it marks the beginning of spring. It is one of the 4 cardinal points of the year. Such points have been celebrated from ancient-most times. The Masters of Wisdom are renewing and encouraging such orientation to the cycles of time with meditations, rituals and using the changes of energy for spiritual upliftment.

Thus like in previous years, we met again with a small group at the Paracelsus Center near Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The weather was fine, and so we met on the mountain ridge near the Etzel pass for a little fire ritual and meditation.

It was windy, and so we chose a place surrounded by bushes and trees. It was a little difficult to start the fire ritual but the Devas cooperated…

We afterwards went to the Paracelsus Center and aligned to the equinox energies with mantrams, meditation and study.

In the afternoon, we went uphill to the Etzel mountain house from where you have a grand panorama.

A friend of a friend joined us for the evening meditation. We strongly felt the sanctity of this moment and place and were filled with silent joy and gratitude.