The Esoteric Charles Goodwin

2006-11-02T06:36:00.001+10:30

Charles Goodwin has published his latest book 666 The Cauldron on this Blog. (Copyright © Charles Goodwin All rights reserved) - The first in a trilogy - The founding of Chiron. (Scroll down for the blog posting index.)

666

The Cauldron

The Founding Of Chiron

by Charles Goodwin

Warning: 666 The Cauldron is an extremely scary novel of the supreme battle between the light and dark forces. The reader is advised that The Cauldron contains violence and sexual content. Please do not read this if you are under 18 years old and/or such subject matter offends.

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Copyright 2004 – 2007 © Charles Goodwin. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, storage in a retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior express written permission of Charles Goodwin.

All characters - other than obvious historical figures - in this book 666 The Cauldron are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Prospective publishers or Literary Agents

with expressions of interest are invited to contact

Charles Goodwin at cgoodwin@wealth-creators-club.com

Table of Contents

(Click on Chapter Heading to open)

Chapter 1 The Amsterdam Connection

Chapter 2 Destiny or Coincidence

Chapter 3 Visions and Dimensions

Chapter 4 Shattering Through Barriers

Chapter 5 Belief Systems Crumbling

Chapter 6 Seeds of Awakening

Chapter 7 So Close Yet So Far

Chapter 8 The Devil’s Due

Chapter 9 The Austrian Headquarters

Chapter 10 Close Encounters

Chapter 11 The Mantles of Hell

Chapter 12 Temptations And The Esoteric

Chapter 13 ‘And Deliver Us From Evil....’

Chapter 14 Australian Dreamtime

Chapter 15 The Pit of Venom

Chapter 16 From Darkness Into Light

Chapter 17 The Community of Light

Chapter 18 The Nexus

Chapter 19 Chiron’s Ecumenical Solstice

Chapter 20 The Seal Of Empowerment

The Esoteric Writings Of

Charles Goodwin

Table of Contents

Evil is the Sewerage of Contaminated Mind

Do You Believe in Reincarnation

Consciousness Is Always Self-consciousness

Charles Goodwins Ten Esoteric Tenets

The Mind Is Centered In The Past

The Past Is Dead

Truth Cannot Be Found In Doctrines

Miscellaneous Meanderings And Extracts

Charles I'm an Atheist

Enlightenment Is Not Individualized Or Separate

You Cannot Step In The Same River Twice

Enlightenment And The Guru

Hate Is Not The Opposite To Love - The Fallacy of Opposites

War And Peace - (More on the illusion of opposites)

Surrender To Oneself Is The Only Surrender

Knowing

Karma Destiny And Freewill

Link to Mark LeRouge's new site

The Parables and Stories Of

Charles Goodwin

I have been to India upon a number of occasions. The primary purpose of these memorable journeys was not only to revel in India’s spiritual and magical energies, but also to observe and experience the techniques and examples of the Masters. Many of the profound parables I share with you here are my esoteric versions of stories based loosely from the lips of those Masters. The stories are pregnant with meaning.

Table of Contents

The Parable of The White Horse

The Parable of the Lily Pond and the Fishes

The Parable of the Sacred Nanny Goat

The Story of Govindamurti

The Enlightenment of Babu

The Pumpkin Man

The Story of the Frog

The Story of the Two Friars

The Sadhu and the Prostitute

Copyright 2004 – 2008 © Charles Goodwin. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, storage in a retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior express written permission of Charles Goodwin.

Prospective publishers with expressions of interest are invited to contact Charles Goodwin at cgoodwin@wealth-creators-club.com

Wealth Creating and Enlightenment

– Vice or Virtue?

By Charles Goodwin

My readers have often commented on the paradox that my writings encompass both the esoteric/spiritual areas and wealth creation principles. A judgmental few have even “strongly commented” that there exists a high level of hypocrisy between the two apparent conflicting subjects.

Yet I make no apologies. To a starving child, is there any benefit in offering a copy of a Bible, a Koran or other holy book? To the countless millions out there in this world who have trouble paying their rent and food bills etc, is there any point preaching that because enlightenment is at hand, one does not need to be worried or concerned?

As a young man I "owned" dozens of apartments and houses. One in particular was rented by a handsome young twenty two year old bank officer. He had absolutely everything to live for. Yet one Monday morning, I received a call from the bank security asking that I arrange to have the apartment opened. The young bank officer neither arrived to work that morning nor informed the bank that he would be absent.

This scenario triggered a security alert in the bank. I later learnt that my tenant had shot himself dead with a spear gun. The reason? He was two payments in arrears on his car payments to the bank! At the time I was devastated. I knew that with a few hours of mentoring, I could not only have taught him how to be wealthy but also shown him why he never needs to fear poverty again. Yet I was only three years older than he was and at such a young age, I did not think I had the right to teach anyone anything about life's experiences.

Thirty years later I wrote The Secrets Of Wealth Creation Revealed. Upon release, most of Australia's libraries purchased copies, then the Australian and New Zealand book stores, then amazingly the book went through the major banks and I found myself being invited to interstate Head Offices. Finally the book took off world wide on the internet.

It has been the highest honor of my life to know that thousands of peoples' lives worldwide have been dramatically turned around because of both The Secrets Of Wealth Creation Revealed and the various wealth creation articles that I have written. From small villages in Africa, to Bangladesh to the mighty USA - the book has been used as a teaching aid in seminars and classes.

So I offer no apologies and see no conflict between "detached" wealth creating and the spiritual pathways. One inevitably so often leads to the other as financial security affords the time to ponder the higher secrets of existence.

Love always

Charles Goodwin

Wealth Creation Articles

by Charles Goodwin

How You Can Become a Millionaire via Your Hobby

How you too can become a Millionaire – the six dynamic steps of Wealth Creation

Gold Investment versus Alchemy – turning dross into Gold!

Wealth Creation and the Values Myths that keep you Poor!

Wealth Creation – Kiss it or Say Goodbye!

Making Money versus Wealth Creation

Wealth Creation Made Incredibly Easy!

Wealth Creation, Real Estate and the Internet – the Golden Triangle?

Critical Difference Between a Gamble and a Calculated Risk!

Wonderful news for China and the world!

China plans to build a wonderful mega billion dollar "Cultural Symbolic City" to revive Confucianism -

"refining personal morality, cherishing peace and harmony, and filial piety. Ideally, it shall be the spiritual home for the whole nation."

Read all about it at our newest website

CulturalSymbolicCity.com

The Story of Govindamurti

2006-09-08T12:00:00.000+09:30

The story of Govindamurti

"Repressions are like a genie in a bottle waiting for the uncorking".

It was an auspicious day indeed. It was the day Govindamurti decided to leave his wife and family and seek enlightenment in a cave in the Himalayas.

For eight long years through the harsh seasons, Govindamurti sat alone in his small cave practicing austerities. He “meditated” long and hard throughout the prolonged cold nights, chanting his mantra, disciplining his mind and practicing his breathing techniques.

With few distractions, his mind soon silenced and he began to experience such beautiful peace and tranquility. Visions of Krishna and Buddha became common and Govindamurti wept with gratitude.

“I am enlightened at last!” Govindamurti one day proclaimed to himself. “I must now return to tell my wife and family.”

“Govinda, my husband, you have returned at last. Please sit down, put your feet up while I prepare a feast to celebrate your return!” exclaimed his wife ecstatically.
Govindamurti was pleased indeed with the welcome and made himself quite comfortable in the armchair.

“I am surprised you haven’t noticed, but I am now enlightened!” he later announced with feigned humility.

“That’s nice darling. I’ll pour the chai.”

“I don’t think you understand, I am enlightened,” Govindamurti repeated, his voice now perturbed.

“Oh, yes, yes, I understand, that is wonderful. Now just relax and drink up,” answered his wife, obviously unimpressed.

Govindamurti stood up, trembling with restrained anger. “You don’t understand. I’ve spent eight years becoming enlightened and you dismiss it out of hand with platitudes, you stupid unspiritual woman!”

“You are tired my husband, just sit down and relax. Perhaps practice some of your nice meditation.” His wife remained unruffled.

Govindamurti lunged at his wife violently and held her painfully by the hair, shaking her as he shouted, “You ignorant woman, you haven’t changed a bit. I am telling you one last time. I am Enlightened! I am now filled with love!”

--oo0oo--

Yes! Repression is the Genie in the bottle that will demand to have its day! Repression is not a substitute for expression. And what is the moral to the story? Well there are many. The obvious "if you know you are innocent, you are not!" (Think about it.)

Enlightenment may well occur in solitude. However, it is in the marketplace that true enlightenment is verified.

Neither are visions a sign of enlightenment:

The disciple with tears of devotion in her eyes proclaims to her Master whilst meditating in the ashram, "Oh Master, I am having this most beautiful vision of Krishna!"The Master is unmoved and replies dryly, "Don't worry, just keep doing the breathing technique I gave you, the vision will soon go away."

The mind has its self-imposed peripheries. Tantra techniques, through expression, are aimed at breaking through these boundaries into freedom and totality.

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Copyright 2004 – 2006 © Charles Goodwin. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, storage in a retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior express written permission of Charles Goodwin.

The Parable of The White Horse

2006-09-08T11:45:00.000+09:30

I have been to India upon a number of occasions. The primary purpose of these memorable journeys was not only to revel in India’s spiritual and magical energies, but also to observe and experience the techniques and examples of the Masters. Many of the profound parables I share with you here are my versions of stories loosely based from the lips of those Masters. The stories are pregnant with meaning.

One such beautiful story relates to the fallibility of judgments and comparisons. Delve even deeper into the meaning and you will discover the indiscoverable!

The Parable of The White Horse

A woodsman and his son came across a magnificent white horse deep in the forest. Their gentle nature combined with their skill of horsemanship came to the fore and they soon were able to lead the valuable stallion back to the barn, adjacent to their modest cabin.

The neighbors and other villagers were envious and quick to judge. "What good fortune. What luck. A magnificent white stallion… You should be so happy!"

The woodsman merely shrugged his shoulders. “Please do not judge the situation. The reality is, there is a white horse now on my land instead of in the forest – no more – no less”.

News spread and stories of the magnificent animal, the best horse in the land, soon reached the king. The king naturally wanted to possess the horse; after all, he was the king. Clearly, the king rather than a peasant should ride on the best horse in the land.

He sent his top negotiator to buy the horse with the instructions to buy at any price.

The woodsman was unmoved and declined the offers. A king’s fortune was offered yet the woodsman still declined. The horse simply was not for sale. The negotiator sadly returned to the king without the horse.

The neighbors and other villagers were again envious and quick to judge. “You fool! How could you refuse such a fortune? You would never have to work again in your life.”

The woodsman observed but refrained from answering.

Two days later the horse escaped back to the forest. Now the villagers really scoffed in their judgments. “We told you, you were foolish. Now you have neither the horse nor the king’s fortune! How unintelligent can you be?”

Again the woodsman was unruffled. “The reality is that the horse that was originally in the forest has now returned to the forest.”

The villagers laughed at the stupidity.

Two more days passed and the stallion returned. This time the magnificent animal led a whole herd of wild horses back to the woodsman.

The villagers now reversed their attitudes. “You are so clever. How did you know that the horse would return leading a herd? Now you own many horses. What luck you have!”

The woodsman again ignored their ravings. “The reality is simply that now there are many horses in my yard. All else is judgment.”

Weeks went by and one day a tragedy happened. The woodsman’s son, whilst breaking the wild horses, was thrown to the ground and became crippled. He was no longer able to ride and could now only walk with the aid of a walking stick.

The villagers once again reversed their judgments. “We told you that you should have accepted the king’s offer. Now your only son is a cripple! What misfortune.”

The woodsman did not reply. He had tried to show them the foolishness of judging a situation, to no avail. Unperturbed, he quietly went about his work.

Months went by and the kingdom was at war. The king ordered that every able-bodied single male be conscripted into the army. All the villagers knew the war was in a distant land and un-winnable. They knew they would never see their sons again. They went to the woodsman. “We will all lose our sons. Your son’s misfortune now appears to be fortunate. You are so lucky and we are so damned.”

The huntsman felt compassion for the villages. “Can’t you see that it is your judgment that continually causes your conflict? Observe the reality of what is and accept it. There is no need to judge. None of us can see the immensity of reality, the overall play of creation. Simply accept the what is and leave the rest to the Creator.”

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The Enlightenment of Babu - The Pumpkin Man - and many others!

2006-09-07T13:21:00.000+09:30

The Enlightenment of Babu

Early one morning, young Babu went running to his master in the ashram.

“Master, master come quickly, Govindamurti has finally become enlightened.” Babu paused to catch his breath. “I’ve just come from the river, Govindamurti was on the other side. I beckoned him to me. He simply walked across the surface of the water to me. Govindamurti can now walk on water!”

Babu’s master remained seated and unmoved. His eyes glared at Babu with mocking joviality.

“Master, it is true,” protested Babu. “Govindamurti is enlightened. I saw him with my own eyes walk on water.”

The Master beckoned with his finger for Babu to sit before him. Silence followed.

An hour went by. In the presence and aura of the Master, Babu’s thoughts settled. He lapsed into deep meditation. Another hour elapsed. The silence was eventually shattered by a mosquito buzzing around Babu’s face.

The Master finally spoke. “Babu, is the mosquito enlightened?”

“Of course not, master.”

“Yet even a mosquito can walk on water, can it not?”

“Yes, but…”

“So you think that enlightenment is raising yourself to the talents of a mosquito do you?”

Babu was humbled. “No, master.”

“Enlightenment is dropping all notion of body consciousness and becoming the mosquito. Not imitating the mosquito, is it not?”

Babu nodded “Yes, master.”

“When you beckoned Govindamurti to come to you, how do you know it was not your power that prompted him to walk across the surface of the water?”

Babu looked perplexed and did not answer.

“Babu, the path to enlightenment is fraught with dangers. You will develop various powers and view many visions. All these powers and visions are impermanent, hence illusory. Know that enlightenment is even beyond sidhi powers.”

At that instant, the mosquito suddenly bit Babu on the face. Impulsively Babu slapped and killed the mosquito. The Master vanished and Babu was instantly enlightened.

Question – Why did the Master vanish?

Here is another pregnant Zen parable as it was once told to me. The story is often told to children so they can learn to distinguish between their real self and their ego. On a higher level, it also relates to distinguishing between the immortal soul consciousness and the temporary physical body.

The Pumpkin Man

The child was only small when the parents tied a small pumpkin to his back. The child felt uncomfortable and encumbered at first, but in time slowly became used to wearing the pumpkin. The young boy played, ate, and slept with the pumpkin attached.

As the boy grew, the pumpkin also increased in size in proportion to his growth-rate. Others in the village began to wonder why the poor boy hadn’t simply removed the pumpkin from his back. He was certainly now old enough to do so, and the weight and the hindrance seemed too much to bear.

The boy remained steadfast. The pumpkin had now become an integral part of his psyche. He began to believe he was the pumpkin. If anyone dared advise him differently, he would become defensive and angry.

As the boy became a man, he was known far and wide as “the pumpkin man”.

Years went by. The pumpkin grew until the weight forced the now elderly man to stoop as he trudged through the village. The children would often run after him laughing at the foolishness. He would become angry and bitter, and wave a stick at them to frighten them off.

One night the children decided to play a trick on the pumpkin man. They entered his hut while he was asleep and cut the pumpkin from his back.

The children hid until dawn to see the results. The pumpkin man eventually awoke and realizing the pumpkin had gone, clambered out of bed and immediately began ranting and raving. “I am dead. I am dead. I do not exist anymore!”

Your ego and your physical body are your pumpkins. Your attachments and possessions are your pumpkins. Do not be like the pumpkin man and think that these pumpkins you are burdened down with, are you.

The story of the frog

A frog lived in a well. As the frog was born in the well and had never ventured from the well, the frog naturally thought that the universe consisted only of his well. One day the frog heard a voice coming from the top of the well. The frog thought that the voice must be God calling! The voice was the frog’s wake-up call. For the first time the frog was motivated to climb up the side of the well to the ledge near the top. When he reached the ledge he could see another frog sitting upon the top of the well.

“Are you God?” the frog respectfully asked.

“No, not at all. I am merely a traveling seeker after truth,” came the reply.

“Then, where are you traveling to and what are you seeking?” asked the inquisitive frog.

“I am traveling to the coast to experience the ocean!”

The frog was bewildered by the visitor’s answer. “What do you mean by the word, ocean?”

“The ocean is a huge body of water.”

The frog thought for a while and then replied, “Ah, the ocean is like a big well.”

“Yes, I suppose you could describe the ocean like that, but the ocean is, of course, very much larger.”

“I see. The ocean is much larger than my well. Is it ten times bigger than my well?”

“No much larger!” explained the amused visitor.

“Is it a hundred times larger?”

“No, even much larger than a hundred times bigger than your well.”

The frog was now even more bewildered by the strange visitor’s remarks. “This is all beyond my understanding. What you are saying is that this ocean you talk of, is maybe, even a thousand times bigger than my well, possibly even ten thousand times. A well that big must be dangerous! I don’t think I want to hear anymore. I could get lost in such a big well.”

“Well, I’ll be on my way then as I have a long and arduous journey ahead of me. Good day to you.”

“Good bye,” answered the frog as he scrambled back down to the safety of his well.
The frog summed up his little adventure this way. “I’ve been blessed to meet an enlightened Master who has explained to me that the ocean is a large and dangerous well of a size at least ten thousand times bigger than my well!”

The mind cannot cope with such immensity.

The frog mind can only consist of the known. It rehashes past experiences and conditioning, and simply by it’s own conglomeration of recycled memories, creates the ego.

The Story of the Two Friars

The world is often a mirror reflecting our painful insecurities, repressions, fears and prejudices. The following story shows us how the mind projects those negatives onto others.

The sudden storm had passed. With the run-off from the mountains, what had been a gentle stream only a day before, had now become a torrid river that threatened to burst its banks.
Streams, like people’s minds are subject to change – especially when sudden storms arise that unearth repressed desires.

Friar Umberto was walking down-stream with the talkative and jovial Friar Vincenzo, his younger colleague, seeking a safe place to cross the turbulent waters.

They came to a bend in the river where the waters narrowed. A most attractive young girl was standing upon the banks with the obvious intention of wading waist deep into the waters, in an attempt to make the dangerous crossing unaided.

Friar Umberto instinctively handed his staff and backpack to Friar Vincenzo, ran to the girl and lifted her into his strong arms.

“Hold on tight, my dear,” he commanded. “I will carry you across these raging waters.”

The girl did, indeed, hold on tight. Friar Vincenzo observed how the girl’s firm breasts pressed against the chest of the older friar as they carefully made their way across the river. Friar Vincenzo became troubled as well as perplexed.

Once on the other side, the two friars bid farewell to their grateful companion and continued their journey back to the abbey.

Umberto noticed that Friar Vincenzo was unusually quiet and sullen on the return journey. The sullenness continued even after the evening meal was served.

“Obviously, something is bothering you,” stated Umberto. “Since the river crossing today, you have hardly spoken a word. What is the problem?”

The young friar was more than hesitant in his reply. “It was the manner in which you assisted that young girl across the river today…. We have taken vows of chastity…. We are taught to avoid contact with the opposite sex because of the dangers of temptation of the flesh. Your actions did not sit right with me.”

The older friar felt compassion for Vincenzo. His reply was gentle. “Can’t you see that your problem springs from within yourself? I left the girl upon the opposite bank. Whereas, you my dear Vincenzo are still choosing to carry her!”

The Sadhu and the Prostitute

I wrote this (with guidance from beyond) at 4am one spring morning loosely based on a story I heard in my travels. It still brings tears to my eyes.

Chandra, as a young man, had renounced the world of possessions and became a wandering ascetic. He practiced faithfully, both brahmacharya (celibacy) and vegetarianism. He worshipped the Divine Mother aspect of God and was constantly moved to tears of ecstasy when his heart chakra centered on her image in meditation.

He wandered from village to village, preaching the gospel of love, right conduct, service and right action to all those who would care to listen.

Chandra was sure that after such a life devoted to God, he would soon become enlightened. After all, he thought, many others already considered him an enlightened saint. Attainment must now only be months away, if not sooner. The cycle of births and deaths for him will surely end. He has earnt his Buddha-hood.

In India, to be able to provide food and lodgings for an ascetic is a great blessing and a privilege. A village dignitary persuaded Chandra that he should retire from his wandering days and take up permanent residence in a small cottage that was, until then, unoccupied. Old age had been creeping up on Chandra. The thought of a little comfort in his final years would help make the pain of his arthritis a little more bearable.

From the front window of the cottage, Chandra could see the goings on in the busy street and more importantly, could observe the entrance to the cottage immediately opposite. His curiosity was aroused (if not inflamed) when he came to realize that his neighbor across the way was obviously a prostitute. He observed that men would be clandestinely visiting her at all hours of the day and night. He also came to learn that the woman had four children.

The situation both infuriated and disgusted Chandra. After such a life of purity in honor of the Divine Mother, to be faced with such blatant defiance of God’s laws, was an affront to Chandra’s senses.

As the days went by, his obsession with the “sinner” across the street, increased. He moved his prayer mat in front of the window, so that whilst practicing his long hours of meditation, he could continue to observe and keep count of how sinful his neighbor really was.

Each time the woman would have a male visitor Chandra would place a rupee in a large jar that he had placed next to his prayer mat. Each rupee would represent, or symbolize, a sin that he was certain, would have to someday be atoned for.

As the months went by, Chandra’s obsession did not wane. The months turned into years. The jar now contained thousands of rupees. Exaggerated rumors spread around the village. Whispers abounded. “The old sadhu keeps a fortune in his front meditation room. What need has a sadhu for money?” “He is obsessed with the prostitute across the street. He is out of his mind.”

As fate and the karmic law of relationships would have it, the prostitute fell gravely ill. There were those in the village who had contemplated robbing the sadhu. When they heard that the local prostitute was dying, they panicked. “Once she is dead, the old swami will more than likely give the money away. We must act quickly or risk missing out. It is time for action!”

The same night the prostitute died, the robbers entered the sadhu’s front room. The plan was to sneak up behind the meditating holy man and render him unconscious by knocking him over the head.

The blow was heavier than intended. That night, Swami Chandra also died.

The keeper of the gate met Chandra at the ethereal gates of heaven.

“I am truly sorry, Chandra I cannot let you through these gates as you have not yet earnt entry to this holy realm. You must now return to earth, reincarnate and try again.”

“But …., I have lived a life of austerity. My life has been entirely devoted to God. I have loved the Divine Mother all my life,” stuttered the sadhu. “There must surely be some mistake.”

The gatekeeper’s reply was compassionate, yet irrevocable. “We do not make mistakes here. Your name is definitely not on our list of new entrants. Now please go from this place. We are expecting an important guest at any moment. ”

Chandra felt shattered. He had noticed the excitement and preparations being made on the other side of the gates and naturally thought the festivities were for him. He was about to turn, when the trumpets sounded their fanfare. A harmonic choir of angels began singing a most beautiful bhajan or spiritual hymn. The gates suddenly opened.

Her face was transfigured. Glowing with radiance. A golden healing aura streamed out of her body into the ethers and into other dimensions. Yet, there was no mistake. Chandra recognized her immediately. She was the prostitute.

“How can this be?” he cried. “This woman has been a prostitute for most of her adult life and is welcomed into heaven as a saint and I have led a life of austerity and are refused admittance. I don’t understand. My Divine Mother has let me down badly. Her love has failed me.”

The keeper of the gate ceremoniously closed the gates before answering Chandra.

“Yes, Chandra. She was, indeed, a prostitute. She chose to prostitute herself, not as you thought for the sake of her children, but for one other exemplary cause. However, each time she engaged in the sexual act her mind was centered totally upon God. She constantly begged the Lord’s forgiveness. Upon each of those thousands of occasions, she felt wretched and un-lovable. Each sexual act was a torturous sacrifice. On the other hand, whilst her mind was on God, your mind was centered upon her performing the sexual act. Can you not see the difference?”

The truth of the keeper of the gate’s words found fertile soil in Chandra’s heart. “You are right. I am not deserving to enter this sacred place. I will re-incarnate a thousand more times to earn forgiveness for my self-righteousness, vanity and egoism. How could I have thought that I was so close to attaining enlightenment? I have been such a complete and utter judgmental fool.”

Chandra, head bowed, turned and began to walk away. “Thank you for your help. At least I have the Divine Mother to love for a thousand more lifetimes. From this day on I will trust only in her purity and love. I will give up all notions of enlightenment and attainment.”

“Chandra!” The voice was angelic and the voice of the Divine. ”Chandra, come back!”

Chandra turned his head back to face the gates. The gates slowly opened. Through the golden brilliance he could make out a figure of a beautiful woman beckoning him to return.

Hesitantly, though as much in trepidation as in reverence, he edged back to the gates.

As he approached, the prostitute’s face changed into the image of the Divine Mother. “Come on in, Chandra,” she said gently. “My undying love cannot fail you.”

And her words made Chandra suddenly realize that he was the “one other exemplary cause” for the Divine Mother’s earthly sacrifice. At that split second, Chandra attained enlightenment.

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The parable of the lily pond and the fishes

2006-09-07T13:02:00.000+09:30

I have been to India upon a number of occasions. The primary purpose of these memorable journeys was not only to revel in India’s spiritual and magical energies, but also to observe and experience the techniques and examples of the Masters. Many of the profound parables I share with you here are my versions of stories based from the lips of those Masters. The stories are pregnant with meaning. I wrote this story around a short parable that devotees in India are often told.

The Parable of the lily pond and the fishes

Prince Abdullah was a most fearsome warrior in battle, and a wise and intelligent ruler over his people. His magnificent marble palace, gleaming in the sunlight, was centered in over two hundred acres of majestic gardens. An outer walled fortress protected the peaceful sanctity of these gardens from the noise of the bustling city, over which Prince Abdullah ruled.

The fragrant gardens were a meditative retreat for the Prince, away from the heavy responsibilities and burdens of state. Many exotic trees and plants, ordered by the Prince from the far reaches of the world, thrived in the garden. Prince Abdullah was particularly fond of his large circular lily pond. The ancient pond not only contained the Prince’s beloved exotic fish, but also his wife’s favorite colorful lilies that the Prince had brought back especially for her as a gift from a distant land.

The Prince’s daily early morning routine was to walk around the lily pond seven times reciting verses from the various Holy Scriptures of the world’s great religions. This practice, he considered vitamins of the soul and helped him to understand the varying cultures and religions in the lands over which he ruled.

On one such early morning walk the Prince happened by chance to notice a problem.

The lilies in the pond appeared to be doubling in area daily. The prince realized that the fish, being mainly from the warm shallow waters of the tropics, needed sunlight. If the lilies were to eventually spread over the entire surface of the pond, they would shut out the light and the fish would surely die.

The problem posed a dilemma for the Prince. He neither wanted to offend his wife, nor lose his prized fish.

The Prince called for his top horticulturist and his most gifted mathematician. After several days of studying the plants the horticulturist confirmed the Prince’s observations. The lilies, were indeed, doubling in area every twenty-four hours.

The mathematician meticulously measured the circumference of the pond and the rate of the lilies growth. He made his calculations and after carefully checking his results, requested an audience with the Prince.

“My noble Prince, I have measured the circumference of the pond and the rate of growth of the lilies. The area of the pond is very large and my calculations show that it will be quite some time before action is needed to divide the lilies.”

The Prince was visibly relieved. “Master mathematician, your news pleases me. How long may I wait before I instigate action?”

“My noble Prince, my calculations show that in three years, three months and three days the pond will be completely covered. However my respectful advice is that you instigate action well before this time to ensure against the unexpected.”

The Prince was delighted. “ Ah, three years, three months and three days - such a long time. I accept your wise counsel. I will regularly observe the pond and take action, as and when needed.”

Prince Abdullah continued his daily routine of walking seven times around the pond studying and reciting scriptures. His knowledge of religion steadily increased. The seasons came and went. The lilies doubled in area daily, but their combined area still did not appear to pose a threat to the fish. The pond was vast and the lilies so small. The prince rightly observed that even more than 99.99% of the surface of the pond was still covered by water.

The Prince, over the ensuing months, became fascinated with the teachings of the world’s great religions. He noticed that they all taught certain “pillars of truth”. For example, each religion claimed that there was one God and that the one God was all encompassing. Each religion also taught the virtues of love, peace, non-violence, right conduct and detachment. Each religion spoke of the continuance of the existence of the “soul” in some higher state of consciousness, after the physical death of the body. The founder’s of each religion, each in their own way, had attempted to convey these “pillars of truth” to the masses.

And the lilies kept on doubling in area.

The Prince became bewildered. He was the warrior Prince who had fought valiantly and without mercy for the religion that he had been born into. He posed the question to himself that if all the religions proclaimed the same truths, why do humans butcher each other in war, each side fighting in the name of their God, or to uphold the truths of their particular religion. On some mornings he would spontaneously laugh at the absurdity. On other mornings he would cry with compassion.

And the lilies kept on doubling in area.

Three years and two months passed, as if time itself was surreal. The Prince noticed that the total area of the lilies, in relation to the water surface area of the pond, was rapidly increasing. However, the lilies were still covering only a very minute surface area. The prince began to doubt the mathematician’s calculations. He murmured softly to himself, “Over three years has elapsed and the lilies are yet to cover even one percent of the pond! Not even one percent. Ridiculous! The mathematician must surely be wrong. I will continue to wait before I take action”

The final four weeks drew to a close.

The Prince was now an “expert” on the dogma of all the great religions. His mind was filled with parables, psalms, quotes and verses. He could argue with the local religious leaders as valiantly as he once fought on the battlefield. He also proclaimed non-violence, violently. He also discussed the concept and immensity of the one God without ever experiencing that which he was discussing.

And in the meantime, the lilies kept on doubling in area.

The Prince knew it was now nearly three years and three months since the mathematician’s prophesy. It was early morning and he chuckled when he studied the pitiful growth of the lilies. Only a mere six to seven percent of the pond was covered with the plants. The mathematician’s calculations had been proved wrong. After that day, only four mornings remained. The lilies had taken nearly three years and three months to get this far and only four mornings remained. Surely, it would be many more years before he would have to act.

The Prince began his seven rounds of the pond, philosophizing on the philosophical truths of existence. He brooded upon the tragedy that the leaders of the world’s major religions, instead of uniting under a banner of love and truth, competed against each other for the hearts and minds of potential followers. This competition created conflict amongst his subjects and often boiled over into physical violence.

It was at that instant the Prince had a profound and dangerous revelation. He stopped and spoke out loud to his fish and the lilies. “Why am I brooding? I am the great Prince Abdullah, the warrior Prince. I will summon all the leaders of the religions, along with the other leaders of my lands, to a grand celebration. There, I will make a surprise royal pronouncement. We will together celebrate the unification of all religions. If there be one God, there must also be only one religion. I will call this new religion, “the religion of love”. I will order all of them to love each other in the name of God and Prince Abdullah. Those who choose to resist my edict will be banished from my lands.”

The Prince excitedly hurried back to his palace and began issuing the relevant orders. The celebration was planned for four days hence. He’d have to work fast. The Prince was practical. He knew there would be opposition. By giving only four days notice, his potential dissidents would have less time to hear the rumors that would surely abound, and more importantly, less time to hatch their plots to unseat him.

There was much to arrange. Many details had to be taken into consideration. Every important citizen of his lands would be invited. The hundreds of guests would need to be housed and fed. Varying entertainment would have to be arranged at short notice. So much to do. No time to be. In fact the Prince became so busy that he did not have the time to take his regular morning garden walk.

The four days flew by.

And in the meantime, the lilies kept on doubling in area.

It was two o’clock in the afternoon. The worried guests were seated in the grand hall awaiting the Prince’s arrival and announcement. The religious leaders were present along with the generals, the politicians and the business leaders. The tension in the hall was electric. All were impatient to hear their Prince’s impromptu announcement. Rumors abounded! Each and every one of the guests were vitally concerned of their own respective futures. Their wealth, their egos and their positions were threatened.

The drums rolled and the trumpets sounded. The gathering stood in unison as the Prince entered the room and took his place at the regal podium. He beckoned his audience to sit.

The silence was apprehensive rather than peaceful. The Prince began to make his announcement. “My lords and honored guests, as you know I have a special proclamation to announce. This edict is sure to affect each and every one of you.”

At that split second the Prince noticed his master mathematician standing, sullen faced, at the rear of the hall. The Prince immediately realized why the great scholar was there.

“Oh no,” the Prince cried out. “My fish, the lilies have killed my fish!”

To the mutterings of his surprised audience, the Prince leapt from the podium and ran to the garden. He gasped as he reached the pond. The pond was totally covered by the lilies. His rare tropical fish were all dead.

The Prince cried out in anguish. “Oh God, how can this possibly be. I have been absent for just four days. After so many years of being “alert”, just four days of absence and my fish are dead. The mathematician was right after all.”

The Prince began to do the sums. “The combined area of the lilies doubles each day. Five mornings ago I observed that only 6.5 % of the pond was covered. Therefore, four mornings ago in my absence, 13% of the pond was covered. Three mornings ago 26%. Two mornings ago 52%. This morning the pond was totally covered. In just four days of absence the lilies increased their area by a further 93.5% of the pond’s surface area.”

The Prince felt shattered. He sat humbly on the edge of the pond and began to meditate and offer a prayer to the ethers. His meditation flowered and his prayer became the fragrance. For the very first time in his life he was able to drop his obsessive ego mind. He finally realized that his thoughts, however noble and well intended, had created the thinker. He’d always assumed the opposite. That he was the creator of his thoughts. Now without thoughts the thinker or the ego was also absent. There was a space and that illumined space was his true self.

For the first time, he was now able to truly observe the lilies. He felt their presence expanding once more, as if they were reaching out to his soul. All about him began to shimmer, to vibrate. The trees, the flowers, the grass and the clouds, vividly colored – all pulsated in a celebratory rhythm of love. The pulsations merged. The Prince became the pulsations and experienced the bliss of totality. At that instance, a soul became enlightened.

After a lifetime of absence or sleep, less than a minute of true alertness led to enlightenment.

Back in the grand hall the plotting was well advanced. The religious leaders and the generals were arguing vehemently with the business moguls and the politicians. “The Prince must surely be insane,“ they shouted. “His grand announcement was that the lilies have killed his fish. He must have gone mad. Such a leader is highly dangerous. He must be stopped!”

And the high priests murmured, “And, of course, there are those rumors of heresy. He even had the audacity to think that he could begin a new religion. How dare he threaten our positions?”

The business moguls and the politicians wanted to imprison the Prince in one of his own dungeons. They reasoned that the Prince would command a high ransom. Most of the religious leaders and the generals preferred a more permanent solution. They argued to have the Prince executed. To them, a living martyr is an embarrassment. On the other hand, the memory of a dead martyr can be turned into a powerful asset.

The religious leaders and the generals finally won the argument, but only after agreeing to pay a suitable monetary consideration to the others as compensation.

The meditative Prince, sitting crossed legged and facing the pond, was not aware of the approach of the assassin. He was not aware of the blade slicing through the back of his neck as his physical body fell into the lilies. His space now contained all.

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The Parable of the Sacred Nanny Goat

2006-09-07T12:34:00.000+09:30

I have been to India upon a number of occasions. The primary purpose of these memorable journeys was not only to revel in India’s spiritual and magical energies, but also to observe and experience the techniques and examples of the Masters. Many of the profound parables I share with you here are my versions of stories based loosely from the lips of those Masters. The stories are pregnant with meaning.

The story of the sacred nanny goat

If a million people say or do an idiotic thing, it is still an idiotic thing.

Many hundreds of years ago there lived a great saint named Ramaswami. The enlightened Ramaswami had many devotees at his ashram. Each day at sunset, they would meet to sing spiritual songs (bhajans) and chant sacred mantras. After this session, Ramaswami would give a thirty-minute discourse from the sacred Vedas and when finished, all would share in the evening meal.

Ramaswami also had a pet nanny goat gifted to him by a devotee. The saint had no use for a goat but accepted the gift with humility and reverence. Each evening, after all had eaten, the goat was fed with the leftovers from the communal meal.

A problem gradually arose. Because the goat would hear the singing and realize it was near feeding time, she would wander over to the group and disrupt the devotees singing and chanting. These disruptions became a down-right nuisance and it wasn’t long before a few of the grumpy elderly devotees asked their guru if the matter could be brought under control.

Ramaswami made a decree. Before the bhajans began each day, the goat would have to be collected from the surrounding fields and tied up near the gathering. The problem was thus solved. After all, a decree is a decree!

The years went by. The crowds were now larger. The new arrivals soon realized that the collection of the goat was the significant sign that meant bhajans were soon to begin. Indeed, the person given the privilege to collect the goat was one of the most respected elders of the group. He even adorned himself with an ochre colored robe so that others would see the importance of the ritual. Several of the women of the group took it upon themselves to wash the goat each day, so as to keep the bhajans area pure and clean. They even embroided a blue and gold sash for the goat’s back.

Ramaswami merely smiled as he saw the development of this ritual and did not attempt to hinder the devotees.

Eventually the now ageing goat died and another was immediately chosen to replace the old goat.

Many years later, Ramaswami also dropped his body. The ashram was in a quandary. What to do now? Disband or continue?

The elders soon agreed that the ashram should keep going in memory of Ramaswami. They appointed themselves as guardian officers of the ashram. They insisted that there should be as little change as possible.

And naturally, the goat was still required.

A hundred years went by. The sect was now known as the Sect of the Golden Goat. At sunset, the procession of the goat would begin. The high priests would lead the goat to the altar. The sacred goat would be adorned with garlands of flowers and robed with an exquisite blue and gold sash. The devotees would bow and clasp their hands in reverence as the goat was led by.

After the bhajans, the priest would give a half hour discourse on the spiritual significance of the holy goat. These discourses would explain in some depth, how the goat unselfishly gives milk, wool and meat, how the goat survives in the most rockiest and steepest terrains without losing it’s footing and how goats have been placed upon this earth to give us deep spiritual insights.

Ramaswami was honored at each session as the enlightened one who discovered the holy connection between goats and spirituality.

Books were created from these discourses. Of course, each scholar added his or her own philosophical interpretation and knowledge to the text as each book was written. Soon a whole library of literature was available upon the esoteric teachings of the Sect of the Golden Goat.

A beautifully carved statue depicting Ramaswami’s body with a goat’s head was eventually placed upon the altar. Devotees would often prostrate themselves before the statue and ask the image of the Goat God to grant them favors or healings. Because of, either devotion or coincidence, often these favors would appear to be granted and healings would, indeed, take place.

Tales of miracles spread throughout the land like the Ganges in flood.

The high priests stature rose with each added million followers. Temples were built throughout the world. Money, gold and precious stones flowed into the vaults of the new religion’s hierarchy.
The religion of the Goat God was thus born.

If a million people say or do an idiotic thing, it is still an idiotic thing.

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Evil is the Sewerage of a Contaminated Mind

2006-09-05T04:50:00.000+09:30

S.K. With respect Charles, your writings at times frustrate me. I certainly relate to your teachings regarding belief systems. The way we set them up as our ego security posts and then continue to defend them, even unto the death. As you often point out, when one analyses the process, it seems such immature nonsense bordering on insanity. You are offering humanity a way out of conflict and for that I thank you.

However, it is when you talk of this existence, (to paraphrase your words) as a “dream sojourn” and that the world is an illusion, is what really gets my back up.

C.G. Mmm, interesting, please continue.

S.K. I’ll give you an example. A missile blows apart a building and the media immediately labels those killed and injured as a statistic under the title “collateral damage”. So much suffering and yet in your writings you seem to dismiss these events as illusions. I feel outraged at your insensitivity. In my example, the warhead on the missile and the destruction and death it has caused is surely not an illusion.

C.G. Have you investigated the source of the outrage you are feeling? You are currently projecting this outrage towards me, as if I am the cause. If I am the cause, I must also be the source – which of course is absurd. In your example, I presume the loved ones of those killed and injured are also outraged. Their outrage will, more than likely, hunger for revenge. I suspect that those who deployed the missile you speak of were acting out of outrage from a previous event. Can there be any difference between your outrage and theirs? Are you not conjoining in their cycle of conflict?

S.K. You are merely putting the problem back onto me. OK. I accept that I feel immense anger when I hear of such atrocities and I am perhaps projecting that frustration onto you. But that doesn’t answer my question. I desperately need an answer. Others can turn their heads away from such problems and get on with their lives. I feel at times disgusted at being a human being. There is so much evil in the world. I feel like shouting, “Stop the world I want to get off. I no longer want any part of it!”

C.G. Evil is the sewerage of a contaminated mind, is it not? An uncontaminated mind will cease to project evil and conflict. If anger and outrage were the answer to rid the world of the evil you speak of, then surely the world would have rid itself of such evil long ago.

S.K. Yet a child dies and you call the existence of the world a dream, an illusion? How can you dismiss suffering so blatantly?

C.G. The two questions you ask are not totally related. The phenomenal world is an illusion. (Yes) Children die needlessly. (Yes). But then you load the question with another question: How can I dismiss suffering so blatantly? I cannot dismiss suffering. I have immense compassion for all who suffer. You too, obviously feel a great deal of compassion. The difference is that, while my compassion remains constant, you choose to allow your compassion to become contaminated with anger and frustration. It is a question of perception. You see yourself as separate from the world (duality) and I know that in essence, there is only non-duality or totality. When you observe suffering in others, you inaccurately perceive the suffering as their personal grief. To your observation, they appear separate from you. When totality is realized, all suffering is personal. When a child suffers – I suffer. The child’s suffering is my suffering. When the World is in pain I am in pain. Thus I cannot dismiss suffering. Neither will suffering inflame an angry response within me. To become angry and to make others suffer in retribution will only add to one’s own suffering and to the cycle of conflict.

S.K. This wholeness you speak of is idealistic. One cannot take on the suffering of the whole World.

C.G. On the contrary, one simply cannot avoid it. The ocean of humanity and the World are one. People place protective mental barriers up against the suffering of the world because they feel that if they were to surrender and “let go”, they will become overwhelmed with a tidal wave of suffering. And of course they are correct. Eventually these barriers will come crashing down and the ego personality and individuality will be washed into the ocean of oblivion.

These false barriers can never be absolute. An 'ego manageable’ amount of suffering seeps into the consciousness – usually just enough to become frustrated and angry. For example, you may have watched the news on television and became understandably upset by the graphic ‘newsworthy’ pictures of the latest violence. All the while, in other parts of the world, millions of malnourished and impoverished children are needlessly and prematurely 'crossing over'.

Such selected or partial compassion neither helps the sufferer nor the observer. Partial compassion, as you are demonstrating by your anger, can only lead to more violence and increased suffering. To further illustrate, each side in a conflict has compassion for the suffering of their own population and their own defence forces. However because such compassion is partial, it only leads to hatred and to the escalation of the conflict.

If you truly wish to embrace suffering, be total in your acceptance and total in your surrender. Be total in your compassion. Have compassion and patience even for those who perpetrate the cycle of suffering. The soul call is always, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And I use the term ‘soul call’ with purpose. Such a petition should arise from the heart centre and evolve from compassion and patience rather than from the tolerance and judgement of the mind.

S.K. I still cannot perceive the world as an illusion. To my observation the physical world is real. I am separate from you. I am sitting here looking at you. We are two people in a real world.

C.G. The problem begins and ends with body-identity. You ‘think’ you are your body, your mind and your personality – all of which is impermanent. You ‘think’ you are a human being. You wish to escape from the world but in reality the world is within you. The body, mind and personality are impermanent and permanence cannot flow from that that is impermanent. Only that which is permanent is real and the real (being permanent) cannot die.

You, as the cognizing being, are the subject and all that you perceive is the object. It is important to understand that the object also includes your body, mind and personality - the observer, the real you, perceives these attributes also. Now the question is, can the impermanent object exist without the permanent perceiver (subject)?

Rather than trying to answer the question, simply hold on to it. Enquire deeply into its roots. You do not need an intellectual answer. An intellectual answer will be of the mind and of no use. Be earnest in your enquiry. The question alone can lead to enlightenment. Ask yourself, if you are indeed separate, where do you finish and where does the object (or the not you) begin. What or where is the periphery of your consciousness? These 'koan type' questions alone will lead you to self.

Your consciousness is limitless and beyond time and encompasses all that you perceive. I can assure you that if your consciousness did not encompass the world you would not be able to perceive the world. Consciousness is both formless and timeless. In contrast; all that you perceive including your body, mind and personality has duration. In the cinema you can become emotionally involved in a film. Yet you know that the story is an illusion. You know it is mere dancing light. The film ends and you exit the cinema. Similarly, when this earthly sojourn ends you exit the earthly cinema and realize it was all mere dancing light.

So continue to ask the question, ‘Can the impermanent phenomenal world (object) exist without the permanent perceiver (subject)?’ But don’t attempt to answer it intellectually. Awareness will emerge as you begin to break the false habitual thought that you are your body. Remain detached. You (the real 'I) can easily observe that you are separate from the body. You have observed yourself as a child. You have observed your body maturing and then growing old. You will also observe the same body withering and dying. Yet you still remain as the detached observer.

Totality or enlightenment is the promise for all souls. Once even a glimpse of totality is experienced, there will no longer be a need for the question to be asked and there will no longer be the need for an answer.

To experience totality is the blissful realization that all is one.

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