There are dozens of streams which lead to self realization.

In India only, Yoga and Tantra propose two approaches or views on this.

Some paths require you be become a Sanyasin and renounce many aspects of your worldly life.

This is the equivalent of becoming a monk in the West.

Tantra on the other hand embraces all desires and emotions and uses these emotions and energies as a way to evolve spiritually.

All doors are open. There is no one single unified view on this.

It is like climbing a summit; you can take the Northern route or the Southern one. Both take you to the summit.

What matters is that you choose a path which matches what you feel and what you want.

If some practices feel artificial and don't match with what you feel inside, shift directions and find a tradition which does reflect what you feel inside.

If you can't find a tradition which reflects what you feel, you are welcome to create your own.

You are the master of your existence and all you have to do is trust your instincts.

Deep inside, you know the answers to your questions.

Identify what these answers are and create practices and spiritual approaches which do match what you feel.

Engaging in sexual activity or not is your choice and you are free, always.

It can be the most uplifting experience if it matches what you feel inside.

No need to be exclusive.

There is an infinity of approaches.

Choose the one which matches what you feel.

You are free!

Labels: articles, celibacy, challenges, choices, renunciation

Imagine that you want to energize your body:

You can go to the gym one day, to the swimming pool the following day and do some light jogging the third day.

Every sport will energize your body.

The same goes for meditation.

You are free!

What matters is that you feel excited by what you do.

Excitement is what motivates you.

If you repeat a practice in a systematic way without truly feeling thrilled, you might miss the point altogether.

The goal is to gain total freedom.

If you walk a path one day, it does not mean that you need to walk the same path for the next twenty years of your life.

Your mind is naturally calling for change and diversity.
It can be more exciting to immerse yourself in different streams rather than sticking to a single one.

Your instinct is your guiding force.

If you don’t know what you want or what to do, simply go with the flow of what feels the most natural.

If I was giving you some new techniques, I would usually tell you to try this technique for a week and then shift to the next one.

If you feel like you are “digging” deeper every day into a practice and truly feel thrilled by mastering a technique, you can of course stick with one practice for as long as you want.

It is essential that your mind stays awake and alert.

Free yourself from anything which limits you in any way.

The goal is not the discipline itself.

The goal is usually an increase in life force and energy, expansion of awareness, self realization and much more.

You can see that some of these experiences can sometimes be achieved instantly with any technique without any form of discipline or perseverance.

If you focus on the discipline aspect of what you do, you will usually miss the point and rigidify your mind.

At the same time, technique can be important and you develop it by training a given skill.

Here is another example:

Imagine cooking the same meal over and over again.

Your taste will get bored, right?

Why limit your experience when you can actually diversify your approach and touch on many different streams.

When you have to make a choice, trust your instinct and go for what you want.

Don’t let anyone limit you within a rigid mind set.

Free yourself from any form of alienation.

If you still can’t decide between shifting techniques or not, ask yourself these simple questions:

· Is my choice going to isolate me or free me?

· Does this create an expansion or a limitation of my consciousness?

· Will I feel energized or drained?

· What is the option I feel the most excited about?

Your mind can get bored.

Emotional satisfaction is a big part of any spiritual step.

There is no need to limit your senses or the satisfaction you get from practicing anything spiritual.

Today’s society is already packed with limiting mind sets.

No need to ad to the burden.

Go with the flow and choose for what gives you the highest level of satisfaction, pleasure, energy and excitement.

If any technique or choice limits the flow of life force in your being, than shift directions and always connect with what energizes you and frees you.

It is the best way to keep you spiritual evolution, awake, alive and exciting.

Labels: articles, challenges, choices, meditation, techniques, yoga

You are free!

I am sure that many of your friends feel affinity for more than one stream.

If the Dalai Lama gives a speech in your city, you might go and listen to it.

If you see a program on TV about Hindu rituals in the Ganga river, you might get hooked to your screen in wonder with what you see.

If you hear about one of your Muslim friends taking off for the Hadj to Mecca, you might give him your blessing and best wishes for his trip.

You are in a place in human evolution where you can rise beyond differences.

Religion exclusivity is still practiced and required by most religious systems.

Now, is this needed?

Who exactly needs it?

If your inner drive tells you to taste various meals, why not?

Who says you should limit yourself within a single belief system.

If you touch on this sense of universality and realize the unity of all religions and spiritual streams, you probably feel a sense of joy and inner freedom.

Embrace it!

It is one of the most empowering experiences you will ever have.

Next time someone asks you: “So, what is your religion?”

It is okay to respond with something like: “I feel affinity for all spiritual streams”

Will this stop you from reaching the absolute, nirvana or self realization?

Of course not!

Everyone (almost) knows that both Christians and Muslims worship the same absolute reality. They simply give it a different name.

Some will say that the path of Jesus in the only path.

Some others will say that the path of Mohammed is the only path.

In fact, it’s okay. Let anyone believe what they want.

What matters is the way you stand in this.

Choose for yourself.

If someone says:

“Well, you can’t enter this temple unless you renounce your other beliefs”

Simply accept it and make your choice.

I am convinced that if you keep on walking, you will come across a system which does not ask you to renounce anything.

The ultimate goal of your spiritual development is absolute freedom.

What is the mind set which has the power to take you there instantly?

Labels: articles, challenges, choices, questions, traditions