Super Highway to God / Light

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff 

Each traveler must find their own wisdom, and will never be totally satisfied with the formulations of another. While a traveler can benefit greatly from a wise man / woman, ultimately each traveler must make their own way.

What a wise man / woman does is offer training, and is an exemplar, on how to unlock inner capacity to know. That is why there are so many books offering personal visions of wisdom; many travelers have found their own inner capacity and wish to share it. Yet what works for one will not work for another; hence the growing realization that self-help books usually fall short.

Ultimately, it is the grace of a Path and the traveler’s own inner capacity that leads the traveler Home. Waiting inside each is the Super Highway to God / Light; and precious are those who help a traveler unlock their own inner wisdom.

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Register for my upcoming retreat weekend atop Bangor Mountain, in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Kirkridge Retreat Center on Sufism & Enlightenment, May 30- June I, 2014. For information scroll down to program listing: http://kirkridge.org/programs/upcoming-programs/. Then click on Detailed Information for full program highlights.

Read my new book: Beyond The River’s Gate. Book is availabe on Amazon.com in paperback, Kindle format or local bookstore.

To Order Your Copy Visit Amazon: http://bit.ly/bitkoffriver

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An Agonizing Reappraisal

A Letter to the New Spirituality

By Daniel Moler

Remember in the year 2012 when everyone thought the world was either ending or ascending to some type of higher human consciousness? The world turned, wars still rage, and my rent still needs paid.

That same year, author Jonathan Talat Philips wrote a blog for The Huffington Post called "The Rise of the New Spiritual Counterculture." In it, Philips describes a societal crowd of hipsters made up of "the Whole Foods sustainability crew, Yoga Journal aficionados or New Age healers" as a "rising planetary awareness with radically practical solutions to address global challenges." Philips is associated with the Evolver Social Movement, a movement that I have been involved with myself over the years. They have published many of my articles as well as my e-book about Terence McKenna, himself a "prophet" of the psychedelic/neo-shamanic/spiritual counterculture that seems to be growing exponentially on the fringes of ordinary society.

Whereas Philips dubs this movement as a collective of pioneers engaged in spiritual activism, I have, over the years, come to disagree. Although many good things have sprung out of this cultural meme—like environmental activism and promotion of sustainable practices—there is a danger in the spiritual component attached to it . . . particularly, the hype and popular promotion of shamanic trance states  and shamanic plant medicines, otherwise known as psychedelics, as a modern panacea.

Interestingly enough I am a strong proponent of these particular spiritual traditions. However, I browse this “new spiritual counterculture” which claims to promote the concepts of shamanic practice and I see a great distortion of information.

We have turned the shamanic way of life into a fad. It’s fine that it is popular. There is, truthfully, a need for a reconnection with the natural powers of the world. But, what is being offered far differs from the philosophy and practice of an authentic shamanic life-walk. Take a look around at what the “new spiritual counterculture” has to offer: music festivals, ayahuasca retreats, and workshops promising to heal your wounds, expand your consciousness, and raise your kundalini.  We have assumed that we are spurring a revival of archaic theosophy through our tribal tattoos and drum circles; we believe we are the next evolution of neo-shaman, using our technology and hip psychology to move humanity towards spiritual progress—one  seminar at a time.

So, where is the futility in all this? (more…)

The Star Child

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff 

Day- I

The people suffered.  Long had it been a time of fear and darkness.  All of the old ways had been tested and each failed. Greed consumed the lawmakers and Masters of Business.  Their decisions turned against them and the once great structures of finance and service lay in the ashes of burnt dreams.

After the collapse of government and halls of finance, the Generals took control and worked toward order.  Gradually, goods and services were restored. However, this system too was filled with graft and long delays.  Even under the Generals, the rich got richer and the people worked long hours to feed their family.

After the graft, little was left for the people. Their hearts cried out for deliverance and freedom from the struggle of their daily lives and empty promises.  Over time, the Masters of Religion had taken to hiding in the shadows.  Also, fearful the people would turn against them, blaming them for the chaos and destruction.  Had not the old prophecy come to pass?  Was not the world in disarray and darkness?  All could see greed and fear consumed the land. People from one sector turned against the people of another.  Nightly, mother’s cried as their children lay in their beds with swollen, empty bellies.

Lost in despair, most had forgotten the second part of the prophecy.  From the ashes, The Deliverer would appear. On an inner level, the people’s hearts called out for justice and redemption. Where was the One who would lead them from the darkness into the Light?

From the people’s heart, the Deliverer was reborn.  The people’s suffering called forth her arrival.  This was the time.  This was the place. (more…)

Give as much as you can

By Lt Col R K Langar

Bhagavad Gita says that to give is our duty. The Gita further underscores that real giving is when you do not expect any return from the receiver. It is said that joy of giving is sixteen times more than the joy of receiving. Giving elevates the giver. Giving makes you a selfless person who is ever prepared to give to others. Selflessness is a big virtue while selfishness is a great sin. A giver never gets tired of giving.

Giving has many dimensions. Giving includes sharing, caring, helping and most importantly serving others. Serving others means doing something good for the society you live in. swami Vivekananda had said those who live for others, they only live while those who live for their own sake are more dead than living. When you live in the thought of doing god to the world you attain fruit of good work out of sheer power of your thoughts without doing anything physically. When you send thought vibrations of good will and love to others from the core of  your heart, your own faults are washed away. Giving creates positive impression on the mind which neutralizes certain amount of negativity from the past samskars stored in the mind. Giving is conducive for our self evolution. The law of attraction states that what you radiate outside in thoughts feelings and mental pictures, it will come back to you because you attract the same in your life. If you send good wishes to some person good wishes will come back to you. And if you send vibrations of dislike or hatred, they shall be returned to you in the same state. You attract what you are and not what you want. To radiate something good outside, you must have abundance of goodness in you. We shall now study the art of giving under four heads as enumerated above. All four acts are interrelated. (more…)

Moth to a Flame

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

If I could give you one thing
It would be the burning, yearning
In my soul to fly higher.

Like an eagle
That follows an up-draft
Over and beyond the cliffs;
I seek to go higher and higher.
Like a moth
That circles the candle’s flame;
Waiting, to build up courage
To dive into the fire,
I seek to loose myself
Again, in something Greater.

O where will this restless, endless burning
Lead me?

Suddenly, I am overwhelmed
By a bolt that shatters my brain;
Then another door opens and I hear:
“Accept the wisdom of the heart;
It is only here that you can rest
And become One, again.”

What is this Path
That lies before me?
So many times
I have trodden this Way-
Only to be left
At the door, again.
What difference does it make:
If I go or I stay?
I know not who I am?
All that I see before me
Is the fire of Love.

Now, I am tired and must rest.
O spiritual traveler, have pity on me
For I have pity on you.
This is the only Way Home.
-SB

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Check-out my two books: Sufism for Western Seekers: Path of the Spiritual Traveler in Everyday Life and The Ferryman’s Dream.  Both books are available through Amazon.com or local bookstore.

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Transcending Death

By William T. Hathaway

Death. The very word casts a pall of doom. Why is it so upsetting to us? Perhaps because it conflicts with two different ways in which we know the world. If both of these ways told us we are nothing more than matter, merely a conjunction of atoms, death wouldn't bother us. We would just accept that as the way the world is. But we know intuitively that we are immortal beings. Our sense perceptions, though, tell us we die and cease to exist. We see that the person we knew is gone. The body lying there is not them at all. Where are they? Where are we going to be when we die? How can an immortal being cease to exist? This contradiction between two kinds of knowing creates an epistemological crisis in us. What is really true? (more…)

Visit to the Brahmasthan

By William T. Hathaway

I recently visited the ashram that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi built at the central point of India, the Brahmasthan. Two thousand Vedic pandits live there, meditating and performing ceremonies.

I've been doing Transcendental Meditation for many years and have had wonderful results in my active life -- clearer thinking, less stress, more energy -- but I've had very few experiences while meditating. A couple of times a year I might have a moment when the thoughts thin out enough for me to sense there is a field of silence underlying them. Very rarely I've glimpsed a bit of glow coming from that underlying field. I treasure these few moments.

In my first program in the yogic flying hall I felt deep silence as soon as I started meditating. And it didn't go away as it always had before. It lasted, and it glowed. When I started the sutras, I gradually became aware that the silence had an energy to it, an inner dynamism. As I went on, joy began radiating from it like sunlight. (more…)

Child of the Universe

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Each of us
Is an eternal Child of the Universe.
Traveling from world to world
Living on
As Beings of conscious energy;
Creating one adventure after another.

In our present form
We are bound by physical laws.
When sickness and death enter
We forget for a time
Our individual greatness and invincibility.
Caught-up in the moment
Of pain and suffering.
Wondering why
It has to be this way?

O Child of Light
Remember this is but one port of call.
One stop of endless possibility
Along the glorious voyage Home.
Here we explore
The many aspects of Creation;
Learning, partners in the Divine Plan.

-SB

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This poem appears in my new book: Beyond The River’s Gate.

To Order Your Copy Visit Amazon: http://bit.ly/bitkoffriver

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Simplify your life

By Lt Col R K Langar

Greatness lies in simplicity as great things are always simple. Simplicity aims at present day things as they are without complicating  them by showing your command over language or grammar. Simple statement and writing are easily understood and when things are clearly understood, they are well assimilated. Simplicity is directly linked with your inner life. When your inner life is anchored on virtues like Truth, love, purity,  righteousness and peace, your expression becomes simple and straight forward. Then Truth becomes centre of all your activities.  Truth becomes your guide. The life of a simple person is an open book where there is nothing to hide any thing from any one. A simple person attracts others with his inner beauties. Unless you practice moral virtues and use them in your conduct, You cannot be branded as a simple person. (more…)

Prayer to the Morn

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

As the sun ascends the mountain
And slowly caresses the new day,
Hear the young birds serenade the morn.
Expectantly they cry out for food
Celebrating their opportunity for life.

O spiritual traveler,
How do you greet the new day?
Are you joyous for another chance
To create your life?
Is your heart’s song
Full of joy;
A prayer to greet the morn?

-SB

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