Reflections, Realisations
To Inspire & Be Inspired

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Tune in to my spiritual space...

I have decided to document all my spiritual retreats. I will start with my most recent spiritual trip to the mountains and national park off Sydney and slowly make a trip back to my previous ones while documenting new spiritual trips at the same time.

The purpose is mainly for me to see for myself how much my spiritual horizon has widened, and for my friends and anyone interested to share my joy and be informed of avenues to grow spiritually themselves.

I will also gradually use this platform to launch my "Anything Spiritual Supermart".

Sounds gd!? Tune in to my spiritual space...


Suggestion: read articles from bottom up, from oldest to newest.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Awakening the Third Eye - 25 - 26 Feb 2012

These 2 days start with misty and foggy mornings, the sun seems to have disappeared. The temperature drops drastically (compared to the 1st day we arrived) and I am SO grateful for all the warm clothing I bring = D


I am so looking forward to this segment of the intensive - Awakening the Third Eye (ATE). I am always a visual person, I am sure ATE will superlatively enhance my meditating experiences and insights.

Eye icon 

The following are all my 1st person encounter:
The 3rd eye physically resides between the brows. Seeing in spiritual terms means feeling (etherically in clairvision term) and knowing (astrally in clairvision terms). It is a holistic integrative experience activating the physical and subtle bodies, such that I enter into a wider, deeper space when I interact with both my external and internal worlds.
Further, absorption into the qualities of the deep vast space is more clarity, serenity and groundedness.

ATE is achieved, in clairvision technique, via throat friction which amplifies the gateway (third eye in this case). Whenever the gateway is subtle, use throat friction. Though I find myself not needing throat friction much to access this gateway, I do feel the amplification using it especially when I am distracted.

When TE is activated, pulsation, warmth or tingling sensation is felt in between the brows. Once focus is maintained on these qualities, I find myself dissolve/melt into a vast still space. It feels like my body is not me; it feels like I have transcended myself; it feels like the space and I are one. It is the same feeling as Anatta (non-self) a key concept in Buddhism, a feeling I have experienced previously in my Buddhist Vipassana meditation in 2005. I am surprised I took 5 days to experience this in the previous Vipassana retreat but just one seating in ATE this time round. Is ATE method more effective or such quick access the result of my continuous practice on dynamic awareness since 2005. Or both. Anyway I am grateful = D

In the beginning, the space is dark and almost black. With more practise and "fine-tuning", the space turns from dark purple to velvety purple to velvety purple with glow in the center. Towards the later part of intensive, whenever I cross my eyes, I automatically enter this velvety glowy purple space without much conscious effort, and the glow in the center becomes more and more intense (yet not blinding). I have yet to find a physical parallel to compare this glow with. I can only say it is a kinda light from the higher realms.
Purple Space White Pattern
Actually this is not even close, I just can't find anything similar...

After throat friction and ATE on one's own, ATE is further activated with a partner by looking at each other's "third eye". I can tune into my partner's space by connecting to his/her third eye, and I can experience what he/she is experiencing by being in the same space.
My experience with 2 partners are particularly interesting:
When I connected with Sue, I can feel a "bridge"connecting our third eyes.The feeling is very concrete and real. The best thing is Sue felt the same too (after the session we shared our experience). I can detect her dark and bright spots in her body and her aura as well.

The only problem connecting with 3rd eye with eyes open is that once I blink, I inevitably snapped out of the deep vast space which takes time to build up again. I posed this qn in the group discussion and asked for solution. Soon after I asked, I realised the answer myself...

My next sitting is with Suki who is here to assist our intensives:
I started by simply softening my gaze and immediately I found myself blink less. As soon as I am aware that I blink less and am excited about it, I start to blink again!
I realise that thinking, trying, sense of self are deterrents to letting go.
Letting go, non-grasping, not trying are ingredients for deepening into the spiritual experience.
When I blinked less, I find myself more absorbed into the space, more melted away, dense solid and firm.
Suki experienced and reported the same when she connected to my space which is very assuring that I am getting it.

When I dissolve into a vast still space with pure concentrated mental energies, I first experience vast capacity for love and other positive energies. All the emotions start to run through me and I find tears roll down like running water. At first I was too shy to cry in public. Then I realise it is gd that I release the suppressed emotions within. After sometime, I come to even realise that I am not crying but just emotions flowing through me. Let it flow let it flow...

After sessions of "cleansing", in subsequent sessions on the second day onwards, I feel more still and dense. It feels as if I am rock solid against external forces. It is when I know I am unshakable.

We also have experience connecting with centres along the column (can map it to the spine and extended to the crown), particularly the belly and the heart. I personally do not have significant experiences with these pts perhaps I am still mastering my third eye and absorption. Others do share interesting experiences though.

Now on mundane things. Food! 

This is our kitchen and dining area (on a foggy cold day):

We are served 3 vegetarian home-made meals a day by our loving and generous Clairvision practitioners who have come to stay and volunteer. I am eternally grateful to them for spending 6 hrs a day, and sacrificing a part of their lives, coming here to feed us!

It is a shame I did not take any picture of any of the sumptuous gorgeous spreads and the lovely helpers. It is my greatest regrets. RenG, can I count on you for this? Did you take any picture???

Nevertheless, we have such gd meals, from Indian to Chinese to French to Italian all home-made! Carrot cake, ginger cake, rice pudding cake, banana walnut cake... oh heavenly!

I can't say thank you enough!

This is the "spiritual tree" under which many people seek refuge for a quiet time after meals:

  This is the evidence I was there haha...

 Group photo taken under the tree

This is the space beyond the dining area, where the helpers stay. View taken between the dining area and the spiritual tree.
 

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Prelude to ISIS 101 - Clairvision School of Meditation @ Hidden Valley, NSW, Australia

Whom I consider as my spiritual brother, Resh Teoh (Teoh Renshang), is someone I kept a look-out for since my JC days. Back then, I knew him only by name as a school councilor (whilst I am an ikan bilis in the competitive pool of talents).
Even back then, without knowing each other in person at all, I knew we have met the previous lives...
In this life, repeatedly our paths have crossed without either of us knowing at all (e.g. we came from the same batch same school, we both are devoted Buddhists, spending months in meditation retreats, under the same spiritual and meditation teachers, both adore Yukie Nishimura's music for its spiritual energies etc.) 

One day I decided to write to him to tell him he is an "old friend of mine" and he started to introduce Clairvision to me. 
As an open-minded spiritual seeker of truth, I am open to any concept and technique so long it is positive and deliver results. I am creative and wise enough to integrate everything I experience and learn to my own growth and advantage. I am of the view that truth is not afraid of revealing and subjecting itself to scrutiny and cross-referencing. Truth comes in different forms, flavors and languages; conventional boundaries are just superficial. Hence my spiritual practice is not exclusive to any school or denomination.

What Resh described to me about his clairvision experiences over hawker fare at 7 am one morning sounds fascinating to me.
However it wasn't till Jan 2012 was I informed of the intensive 10 day retreat in Hidden Valley (where I heard was full of spiritual energies).  

An important point is also my encounter with Danny Louange, a surgeon and Resh's fellow ISIS practitioner. His ability to tune into my space can only come from his ISIS experience (I can tune into his space to know this too haha).

With 2 weeks notice, I made up my mind to go. 
In 2 days, I registered, made payment, booked air-ticket, purchased ETA (Australian visa) and packed my bag.
In 2 wks, I went through the Awakening the Third Eye book and 2 Knowledge Tracks (correspondence course materials which typically takes months to finish).
Efficiency is my mandate = D

Despite going alone, I know I have all the spiritual forces with me and gd "old" spiritual friends waiting for me to meet them again. 
Just 1 wk before departure, Resh told me his younger brother RenG is joining me. I feel that I would be taken care of. RenG turns out to be my best platonic friend...


On 24th Feb, having to arrive at 7am at Sydney Int. Airport, RenG was kind enough to meet me at Velluto cafe to wait with me for the mini-bus to arrive at 1130am to pick us to Hidden valley.

During the trip, RenG described to me how connected the Aussies are as a people and to nature. His knowledge of plants in OZ (which he says is typical of Aussies) impressed me. He told me about home-grown Eucalytus and Tea tree oil and all the flavorful natural foods I can get in Sydney and asked me to stay 2 full days in Sydney before my return to SG for him to show me to all the great eateries (it turns out that we spent only 1/2 day cos I am just too carried away by the vast nature of Morton national park and the homeliness of cosy Santi Forest Monastery, see stories later).
I am grateful to his hospitality and am excited about what I am about to experience.

 RenG under a Eucalytus tree


The bus ride to Hidden valley took 4 hours and passed round Blue Mountains (name due to blue Eucalytus vapor). All-time adorable Michelle (fellow ISIS attendee) took a video of the ride scenery by sticking her cell phone to the window. I hope she is kind enough to send me the video to post it here. Michelle sweetie?? = D

Yes! she responded (26 March):


(1/2 of the original video clip)

The following pictures show the way in from the gates to our sleeping barn:




(taken the next morning with daylight scattered by the mist)
A little digression about our dorms and sanitary facilities: 
our dorms do not operate on electricity and they are right in the wilderness with Kangaroos and Wombats:
 
Gotcha! Wombat!

We have to walk around 10 mins to the WC to shower, pee and poo, so we usually just do pee in the bushes. Environmentally friendly! = P

The shower uses dam water which contains soil and all the minerals. I thought I am gonna get pimple breakout  without clean water to wash my face but to my surprise hardly any! And the theory being...? I reckon the minerals in the dam water are actually gd for the skin plus my bodily cells vibrate with positive energies from meditation!

It's cool and low maintenance to be Natural and Spiritual !

Back to the bus ride...
We arrived at 6pm on a scorching hot Friday which makes me kinda regret bringing 1/2 luggage worth of thick clothes. I was told the weather in Hidden Valley fluctuates like the desert's and soon I was about to witness this amazing weather change (within a wk and even within a day!)...

Sunday, March 13, 2011

米兰历险记

这是一则真实的故事。
2000年是我实现欧洲背包旅游的梦想。背包旅程惊喜万分,单在意大利就发生了许多趣事。。。


米兰 - 意大利时尚首都,是必到的旅游景点,也是每个女孩儿梦寐以求的购物天堂。

只有设身处地,才知道它果真名副其实。

米兰的诱惑太大了!

上等的意大利服饰及皮革货品凌囊满目。货真价实,许多还是无超所值。

米兰购物的魅力真是无法挡!原本不太注重时尚的我,受到诱惑,也开始兴奋了起来。再说,米兰是我此行的最后一站,口袋里还存有不少零钱,就索性在此全部花完!

于是我便展开了前所未有的狂扫运动!

“阿皮革风衣!天气转凉,有件皮革风衣保暖是再好不过了,买一件吧!”

不到五分钟:

“哇!皮革裤带大出销!还是意大利名牌!哇!要买要买!买给爸爸吧!”

再走不到十步:

“不是吧!找遍全西班牙都找不到的吉他大师“巴日欧丝”的著作乐谱竟然在米兰给我找到!”我真是高兴的见牙不见眼!

就这样,这里买东,那里买西,这里花一小时,那里呆两小时,正有如中邪,不由自主,疯狂的购物起来。

这时,我旅游同伴提醒:“盈芬,我的班机先起飞,我得先回旅店收拾行李,你要更我一起回去吗?”

“哈!那么快!我还有很多东西要买也!不如你先走,一路顺风!”

“好,记得你的班机5点钟就起飞,可别忘了!"

“行了!行了!”

我又继续购物。当我再次看手表的时候:“什么!3点10分!天啊!嘿请问请问,这里离飞机场有多远?” 我用我不流利的意大利文。

“最快也要一小时。”

这时我有如被锤子击中,惊慌失措。

我急忙回旅店把购物品塞满李包,这才发现:哎呀!怎么有三大箱行李这么多阿!

没时间了,我拖着行李,飞毛腿般的奔向旅店门口!

“计程车!怎么没有计程车!计程车!” 我简直成个热锅上的蚂蚁!

还好,托我平日做善事的富,不知从何而来,一辆计程车闪电般的在我面前出现。

自动门打开以后,一幅英俊的脸孔带性感的声音迎接我“小姐,机场吗?”

“是!请用你最快速度!重重有赏!”

“我曾是法莱丽跑车的驾驶员。包在我身上!小姐你坐稳了!”

话没说完,计程车便火箭般的奔驰而去!

计程车师傅拐弯,越车的技术一流,还曾不顾交通规则,在反方向的公路上奔驰了一阵。还好他及时返回正道,才没闯上迎面的汽车!

真是让我捏了一把冷汗!

他说他是法莱丽跑车的驾驶员,我一点也不怀疑。

这种情节好像在好莱坞电影上才看得到。我现在竟然是主角!太兴奋了!

喂!紧张时刻还能做白日梦,真是的!

“小姐,到了!”

啊!才40分钟!是原本车程时间的三分之二!

我太感动了!把大部分的意大利现钱都给他!“谢谢你老兄!有缘再见!”

时间只剩40分钟了。

登记处的小姐看了我的机票,紧皱着眉头说;“怎么那么迟?你是最后一位了! 还超重!我得罚你10万立拉!”

“好好好,你说的是!”

她赶紧让我登机,我是感激万分。

随后,我直往机舱飞驰。只见机舱内一双双冷眼盯视着我。我苦笑。找到座位后便钻了进去。

哈!终于可以歇息了!

事后感言:

嗨!不懂得节制的结果!

那是11年前贪玩的我,和现在截然不同,你们想也想不到吧!

经一事长一智吧!

(不过,还真的蛮好玩的!= P)

练瑜珈的好处

这是一项现场示范。您可在此看录影 


大家好,我是一名合格的瑜珈导师, 今晚我想与大家分享练瑜珈的好处。
请问在座各位,什么是瑜珈?(运动?很好!再来。。。)很好!大家都答得很好。

瑜珈不仅是一项生理运动,它还是一门情绪管理技能,有医疗作用,还能提升智慧,是一门全方面的保健训练。更正确地说,瑜珈是一种生活方式,我们如要真正受益,是得把瑜珈融入与我们的生活当中。

“瑜珈” 这两个字来自凡文,意思是 “将身,心与气结何一起”。

瑜珈的理念是:我们在做每一件事时,如能集中精神,并用节律的呼吸调理心情,事情必能做得很成功。

练习瑜珈运动就是为了练习将身,心与气结何一起。此外,每项运动还有它的功效或医疗作用。我在这里为大家做些示范:


我们大家都是讲员,都希望自己的嗓子宏亮。秘诀就是:用腹部呼吸。

在吸的时候,把气吸入丹田,丹田胀满,腹部也就会膨胀。在呼的时候,刻意把腹部缩小,气就很自然地从丹田排出。这就是腹部呼吸。

练习时将手掌靠在腹部,以观察腹部的起伏。有节律地吸3下,呼6下。

来,大家跟我一起做:吸3下,呼6下。来,观察腹部的起伏,吸3下,呼6下。

很好,请大家回家继续地练习!


接下来我要介绍另一项瑜珈运动。都市人的工作大都是在电脑面前,所以往往有气血不循环的问题。在这,我想给大家示范一项比游泳跑步更有效的气血循环运动。它还有一个妙处:你只需 2 尺长,半尺宽的空间和一张瑜珈垫,这运动便随时随地,即可派上用场!

因为时间有限,很遗憾的我只能示范,不能为大家分析它的步骤。有兴趣者,请在散会前向我拿电话号码!

我开始示范啦 。。。

这是一环。每日坐上12环,保证你无病无痛,精神百倍,身材苗条,容光焕发!


再请问在座各位,有没有情绪低落的时候?有吧?大家都有吧!有没有精神不能集中的时候?都有吧!

好!这是献给大家的:树公公!

来,大家站起来,学我做树公公:在视平线,选择一个集中点。单脚站立,用手将另一支脚板靠在小腿或大腿旁。确保身体笔直,不倾向任何一方。吸3下,呼6下。吸3下,呼6下。平稳以后,双手合十,往上延升,确保手靠在耳朵旁。吸3下,呼6下。有节律地,缓缓地呼吸,吸3下,呼6下。吸3下,呼6下。来,大家维持5 秒钟:5,4,3,2,1。

非常好,请大家回家积极地练习!


听了那么多练瑜珈的好处,大家是否也想学呢?

请拨 +65 8 3221 659 邮电 dhammika.ang@gmail.com 与我联系!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

故事 - 成功的秘诀

在一条河流的岸边,一个不起眼的角落里,有一位老人,风雨不改,每早都来捕鱼。

老人以非常熟练的技巧,在河岸插上了几根钓杆。他心平气和,认真地放下鱼线。没一会儿工夫,那几根钓杆都不停地摆动。当他快速地收线时,一条条活泼乱跳的鱼儿就上钩了,当中还有几条一两公斤重的大鱼呢!

老人的捕鱼技巧,引起人们的注意。有人想向他偷师,却是偷鸡不着反失一把米。老人也不贪心,捕捉满一蓝的鱼儿后,便骑上铁马,快快乐乐,吹着口哨,回家去了!

有一位过路的商人,对老人捕鱼的技术非常赞叹,便上前夸扬他,想知道他如何这么成功。老人很谦虚,也很乐意的分享:“噢,我已有二十年的钓鱼经验。再说我对周遭环境及水流的动静,观察入微。就这样,我能准确的断定,鱼儿在何处!”

商人认为老人这般智慧,如不加以发挥,简直是埋没人才。他建议老人扩张事业,还为他买了艘小船。老人乐意尝试,就接受了商人的建议。

老人每早风雨不改,划着小船到河上捕鱼。由于他经验丰富,往往都满载而归。

商人看到老人这番成绩,更是赞叹不已。他认为老人不但有智慧,而且很有财气,于是便打算与老人合作。他大事布局一番以后,便向老人建议:“首先,让我们购置一艘大船。只要经营妥当,大船一出海,总比我们现在的小船收获多上好几倍。”

老人坦让地回答:“噢,然后呢?”

商人口沫横飞地接着说:“这些满满的收获都是金银珠宝呀!我们又能买上多几艘大船,进一步扩张我们的事业!”

老人又问:“哪,然后呢?”

“然后收获当然更大啦!我们还能为公司挂牌。”

“然后呢?”

“接着就是垄断市场!到时我们可是不愁吃呀不愁穿,有名有利!”

老人微笑,再次问:“然后呢?”

“然后?当然是退休!过着悠悠闲闲的生活,做我们喜欢做的事啦!”

“这不就是我现在在做的事吗?”

朋友们,这个故事在这里告诉我们,成功的秘诀之一就是活在当下。一直忙碌追逐未来快乐的人,往往看不到也感受不到眼前已拥有的幸福!

老人接着说:“更何况,小河与大海捕鱼看似相同,却是两种不同的领域。我没有大海捕鱼的经验与知识,怎么会做出同样的成绩呢?我们要知道自己的长处与短处,要在自己擅长的领域发展,才会有成果。

“年轻人,有梦想固然是好,但我还得提醒一点:如果野心太大,克制不了贪念时,不只财物损失,往往还会失去我们做事原本的目的。”

这时,商人如梦初醒,对老人的敬佩是更上一层!

您可在此下摘录音

Monday, December 6, 2010

我的人生目标

身为一名成功学/软技能培训员 (life-coach),我的主要任务就是帮助学员确认并达到他们的人生目标。目标明确是成功道路上最为关键的第一步。人生目标明确的人,富有自信,生命力,自我推动力;生活过地充实而不迷茫,;碰到挫折时,他们还能借此锻炼自己,好不乐观!人生目标明确的人,自己受益,也正面地影响他周兆的人。所以,要成功,目标就得明确。(这是为什么国际讲演会早在作业三就要求演讲目标分明。)

要帮助他人,我当然得以身作则。

我的人生目标是:寻求真理并从事教育工作。

我是怎么确认这个目标呢?

我观察到我从小就常思考生活中的种种问题。我寻找答案的途径先是通过艺术(演讲,舞台剧,音乐,绘画)表达人生,后来觉得物理提供的答案更准确客观。在大学就读物理系时又碰到了佛学, 认为它与科学的发现十分符合。至今,对我而言,还是佛学最能解答生活中的问题,是最直接最有说服力最深入透彻的理论。(对许多认识佛学的人来说,真正的佛学并不是我们一般理解的宗教 - 因为它毫无麻木崇拜神灵的信念 - 而是个生活哲学,生活艺术)。

要寻求真理,只有经过分享知识与心得,理解才会更深一层, 从而也学到更多东西。这一点同时加上我比较善于正面影导他人,毕业以后我就开始对教育充满热忱。

寻求真理与教育是最佳搭档。 他们是我生命中最大的喜悦与满足感。他们是我的人生目标。

现在我给大家具体的说明我是如何实践我的人生目标。

认识了佛学以后,我学习了禅修与瑜伽。这两种利器有助于维持我的教育工作。怎么说呢?我从事教育工作已十年了。每早上讲堂前,我都会做个半小时的禅修与瑜伽,这是为了集中精神与充电,以备有足够正面的能量影导我的学员,应付一天即将面临的种种挑战。下课回家后,我又做上一小时的禅修与瑜伽,这是为了松懈身心,回顾一天所发生的事 (感恩他人对我的好,反省自己做错的事,提醒自己造福人群),更重要的是,学习放下,路才能走得更长远。

工作时间以外,除了运动,便是阅读,看纪录片,做数学题,学习语言或弹乐器。他们都有助于锻炼分析思考能力, 是寻求真理的必需。

一年当中,我还得出国两次, 每次长达一个月。主要目的是让我更贴近真理。

一次出国是背包旅游。增广见闻,体验人生的同时,有机会也会做义务的教育工作。我选择背包而不参加旅行团是因为只有这样才能真正深入民间,认识当地生活情况。我认为要尝尽生活百态, 人生观才能有所突破。

另外一次出国是到世外桃源闭关修炼。闭关修炼就是与世隔绝,静修禅定。这是一门很有效的心灵调养,修炼者的领悟能力也会有所提高。佛陀本身就是通过静修禅定达到涅磐(圆满觉悟的意思)。据我的经验,一个月的静修期最有功效。我们这个胡思乱想的脑啊,需要一段时间静下来以后才能入定(回到当下集中观想一样禅物,这就是禅定的意思)。入定又需要一段时间连续不断,修炼者才能在领悟方面有所突破。所以禅修是得持之以恒的!不过只要是认真的修炼,哪怕时间的长短,修炼者都会看到性格的良性改变,例如,脾气较温和,贪念减少等等。所以只要有心修炼,必有收获!

背包与闭关以后,我又将满满的体验及感触与学生们分享。就这样,既受又施,既分享也学习,寻求真理的道路是多么的充实,快乐。

朋友们,您是不是也想往您的人生多姿多彩,富有满足感呢?今天就确认您的人生目标吧!成功的道路就由此开始。

让我协助您实现您的梦想!