Paul Wagner

May 6, 2020March 28, 2024

Alchemy’s Revival: Transformation

We are all Alchemists. A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

What is alchemy? Alchemy comes from the Arabic al-kīmiyā, a synonym of al-iksir (elixir), and was thought to mean something akin to, “The process and means by which something is obtained or changed.” This definition holds true today.

While originally a protoscience (precursor to an academically approved science), alchemy is now part of a global lexicon that serves people in their pursuits of individuation, self-empowerment, and embodiment of the light. When choosing to become an alchemist, you are saying you believe yourself to be in service of the light, in pursuit of understanding and healing your shadows, and on a path that seeks to up-level and heal humanity. If we believe ourselves to be representative of the universe, born of light and stardust, and with unlimited potential, then it is quite possible that we can change our hearts, minds, and physical realities. It is in this way that each of us might be an alchemist.

“The True Alchemists Do Not Change Lead Into Gold;
They Change The World Into Words.”
― William H. Gass, A Temple of Texts

The Light Beyond The Stars

Zep Tep, meaning “first time,” is an ancient Egyptian phrase. It refers to an age that occurred over 12,000 years ago when divine beings came through the eternal void to educate and enlighten primitive humans inhabiting the earth at that time.

While well-intending human beings contaminated the original teachings, this ancient, timeless, angelic download is known as the pre-foundation of modern alchemy. To the champions and disciples of what is also known as “the way,” alchemy is a seraphic gift from light beings who descended from beyond the stars.

What Is Alchemy?

All of life is interconnected. Our minds are the galaxies, our fingers and toes are the planets, and our organs are the stars that bring us light and life. We are each an embodiment of the universe, and therefore have the power to improve our lives, conditions, and environments at every turn.

We achieve these things through prayer and meditation, healing and nutritional remedies, and clear and intentional activities. These are the premises behind esoteric or spiritual alchemy, as distinct from those seeking to make gold, known as exoteric, the obsolete branch of alchemy.

Before Chemistry, Islam, and Christianity, there was Alchemy, a system of pre-science assumptions, beliefs, elixirs, processes, and traditions that purported to heal the sick, transform personal relationships, remove mental afflictions, turn metals into gold, change the dynamics of political power, grow allegiances, open hearts, co-create miracles, and even kill. Alchemy was a catch-all for how to gain control of life and its many foes and challenges.

Originally based on what are now widely considered to be disproven scientific principles, the whole of alchemy remains a beautifully woven fabric of fascinating, illuminating, and transformative ideas derived from magic, physics, mythology, art, astrology, and a variety of religions.

Even though portions of early alchemy are antiquated (and slightly funny), what some academics seem to have forgotten is that Sir Isaac Newton, often recognized as one of history’s most influential scientists (and the master of gravity and calculus), utilized Alchemy to understand the physical world and develop some of his most profound laws, theorems, principles, and algorithms. Even though he also dabbled in junk “science,” Newton thought highly of all branches of alchemical sciences and considered himself a student, if not an embodiment of its tenets.

If you remove the disproven principals from early alchemy, the result is a profound, productive, and experiential ideology based in the idea that as conscious, living beings, existing in three-dimensional space, we have the ability to represent and embody the universe, and in so doing, effect change in our lives, and in the lives of the those we love and serve.

In Paulo Coelho’s highly acclaimed book, The Alchemist, he writes:

“This Is Why Alchemy Exists, So That Everyone Will Search For His Treasure, Find It, And Then Want To Be Better Than He Was In His Former Life. Lead Will Play Its Role Until The World Has No Further Need For Lead; And Then Lead Will Have To Turn Itself Into Gold. That’s What Alchemists Do. They Show That, When We Strive To Become Better Than We Are, Everything Around Us Becomes Better, Too.”

Alchemy Today

Alchemy is widely practiced in our modern world, yet generally misunderstood. While once considered science, it now functions within the categories of mysticism, the new age, and transpersonal psychology. While some see alchemy as antithetical to science and possibly the work of the devil, a growing population has come to understand alchemy as an effective pathway to personal growth, empowerment, and transformation. Carl Jung was a passionate alchemist and he used alchemical methodologies to heal his patients.

“Closer Examination Of The Dark Characteristics – That Is, The Inferiorities Constituting The Shadow – Reveals That They Have An Emotional Nature, A Kind Of Autonomy, And Accordingly An Obsessive Or, Better, Possessive Quality.”
– Carl Jung

Jung helped his patients accept and address the contents of their subconscious, even the things that could bring about darkness, shame, and fear.

Secret Ciphers And Cryptic Symbolism

All of alchemy is drenched in secrets, ciphers, and symbolism, the derivatives of which are used by Sufis, pagans, new agers, scientists, and alchemists alike. While the mystery of ciphers and symbols cannot be covered within this one article, ciphers and cryptic symbolism are at the foundation of early life on this planet and have been used by brilliant leaders, writers, priests, shamans, healers, doctors, and psychologists throughout time.

What is a cipher? A cipher is a disguised style of writing, used to prevent the reader from fully understanding what he or she is reading. Cryptic symbolism refers to the use of secret signs, designs, icons, and messages hidden within delicate and precarious manuscripts. The word cryptic comes from the Greek and was first used to describe the vault beneath a church where dead people were buried. If something is cryptic, it’s serious, secret, and hidden.

Alchemists are famous for their secrets. Secret codes, secret symbols, and secret methodologies. Some alchemists chose a variety of methods to protect themselves and their families from government and religious persecution. Others felt that their ideas were sacred and should not be shared with the general population. The codes, ciphers, and symbols protected everyone involved, along with all of their rites, rituals, and ideas.

The use of secrecy methods helped to create a hidden society and a pathway to membership. If you knew the codes, ciphers or symbols, then you probably knew someone in the tribe. This would have given you the ability to request entrance and initiation.

The extended list of the original alchemical symbols includes earth, air, water, fire, salt, mercury, sulfur, copper, silver, philosopher’s stone, gold, iron, antimony, tin, platinum, lead, arsenic, phosphorus, bismuth, magnesium, zinc, potassium carbonate. Some say this list was the beginning of the periodic table, but these symbols have deeper meanings that are intrinsic to the ancient rituals and ideology embedded in alchemy’s history and traditions.
Alchemist symbols can be mapped to Carl Jung’s analysis of the anatomy of the subconscious. Many of the symbols and their derivatives are signposts in Jung’s journey toward individuation.

Jung would say that the psyche could not be understood intellectually, and only through images or symbols. According to Jung, it’s in this way that the symbols of alchemy are a roadmap to self-discovery.

Notable Alchemists

Partly based in The Hermetic principles (and associated with the Rosicrucian brotherhood), and with a history steeped in Hellenistic Egyptian ideology, alchemy is rich in science, tradition, culture, and mythology. At several junctures in the earth’s history, it took courage to be an alchemist.

Here is a shortlist of some of the most notable alchemists throughout time. Each has a unique perspective on the principles of alchemy. Please note that this is a partial list provided strictly to help the reader initiate their own research. While this list is neither comprehensive or complete, it’s a great place to start and covers a broad spectrum of alchemists from several continents and time periods.

Hermes Trismegistus
Leonardo Da Vinci
Ostanes
Kanada
Nagarjuna
Yogi Vemana
Jesus Christ (According To The Gnostics)
Wei Boyang
Khalid Ibn Yazid
Jābir Ibn Hayyān
Al-Kindi
Alain De Lille
Roger Bacon
John Dee
Marie-Louise Von Franz
Wouter Hanegraaff
Diane Di Prima
Rudolf Steiner
Carl Jung

How Can I Use Alchemy To Improve My Life?

For some, alchemy offers a workable ideology and practical solution to alleviating fear, sadness, conflicts, and pain.
To be an alchemist means you enjoy using words, writing, incantations, rituals, intentions, and right action to heal yourself and coax reality into fulfilling your heartfelt desires.

According to the basic tenets of alchemy, if we engage in thoughtful, prayerful and love-based intentional action, we can create, promote, help, heal, and enhance our lives in myriad ways, including:

Setting And Achieving Goals
Healing Our Minds And Bodies
Helping A Loved One
Attracting A Symbiotic Life-Partner, Mate, Or Lover
Serving Humanity
Letting Go Of The Past
Achieving Forgiveness
Finding The Right Business Partner
Softening The Blow Of Trauma

May 6, 2020March 28, 2024

City Of Atlantis in the Sahara

Atlantis in the Sahara? A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

If you feel challenged by our relatively unconscious society, you may be one of the many dreamers who fantasizes about the lost city of Atlantis. Some believe the Eye of the Sahara in Mauritania holds the secrets we’ve long imagined to be true. Stretching 14.6 miles across, the Eye appears to be from another world. Considering Plato’s writings on the subject, it’s possible that this incredible structure is the final resting place of millions of Atlanteans.

While Plato’s descriptions of Atlantis are epic and mind-blowing, many believe he barely scratched the surface. He described Atlantis as a massive formation of concentric circles, alternating between land and water, similar to how the Eye is seen today. He emphasized that Atlantis was a wealthy, utopian civilization that created the basis for the Athenian democratic model. Plato went on to describe the land as rich in gold, silver, copper, other precious metals, and gemstones.

According to Plato, the story of Atlantis, first told by the ancient Egyptians, has all the elements you’d expect from a culture that was not only ahead of its time, but also wildly arrogant. Atlantis was a leader in academia, architecture, agriculture, technology, diversity, and spiritual empowerment, their navy and military were unmatched, and the Atlantean kings ruled with extreme authority. It’s no surprise that Atlantis fell in ways similar to Rome, and potentially in a similar way to how the United States could fall.

“This power came forth out of the Atlantic Ocean … an island larger than Libya and Asia put together … Now in this island of Atlantis, there was a great and wonderful empire which had rule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of the continent.”
― Plato, Timaeus/Critias

Soon after waging an aggressive, unprovoked war on parts of Asia, the Atlanteans were defeated by the only army willing to defend the continent: the Athenians. Amidst the battles, the Gods thrust violent tsunamis, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, and floods upon the Empire of Atlantis. As if admitting its sins, Atlantis burst apart, dissolved into the ocean and desert, and was never seen again.

The Eye of the Sahara, also known as the “Richat Structure” and “Eye of Africa” is located in the Sahara’s Adrar Plateau in Mauritania, the Islamic Republic in Northwest Africa. This massive geologic, inverse dome contains rocks and sediment dating back to a time before life on Earth.

Visible from space, the Eye of Sahara resembles a massive bullseye, which began to form when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart. The igneous rocks embedded in the Eye include carbonates and black basalts akin to Hawaii’s Big Island.

The Richat Structure And Atlantis

Many believe Plato’s stories about Atlantis were parables and that he used Atlantis to set the stage for his ideology. Plato’s Atlantean narrative might be in the same vein as James Cameron’s Avatar, in which he warns us that corporate greed and racism can quickly pollute and potentially destroy our civilization.

King Atlas, aka King of Atlantis, and namer of the Atlantic Ocean is the same person as Atlas of Mauritania. Herodotus’s map from 450 BC places Atlantis in the same place as the Eye. The Egyptians, the first tellers of the Atlantis story, were colonized by Atlantis. It’s through their lineages that we came to learn about Atlantis and its precise location.

The circular isle of Atlantis was described to have a diameter of 127 Stadia. 1 Stadia = 607 feet. When you multiply 127 x 607, the result is 77,089 ft. This is equivalent to around 14.6 miles – the diameter of the Eye.

More Similarities Between Atlantis And The Eye Of The Sahara

Solon, Plato’s relative, was an Athenian statesman and poet who traveled to Egypt and learned about Atlantis first-hand. It’s these stories that Solon relayed to Plato.
In Plato’s Critias and Timaeus dialogues, he describes Atlantis as three alternating zones of water and two of land, which could easily be transposed onto the physical structure of the Eye that we know today.
The nearby mountains were seen as representatives of the Gods and celebrated for their lush rivers and waterfalls. These mountains were said to be in the north, the precise location of the Eye’s mountains. When you look at the satellite images of the Eye, you can see the river and water lines that appear throughout the landscape.
Plato described the sea to the south of Atlantis and the desert surrounding the area, which also appears in satellite images.
It was said the freshwater flowed from the center island of Atlantis, which also exists in the center circle of the Eye.
Satellite imagery shows that weather pushed mud across the region, which could easily be attributed to a tsunami, one of the many aspects of the weather system that simultaneously destroyed Atlantis.
Mauritania exports copper and gold, which were plentiful throughout the Empire of Atlantis.
Eye of Sahara from space
Plato reported that elephants, and many other animals, were abundant on Atlantis, many elephant bones have been found near the Eye.
Black, red and lighter colored rocks were reported to be embedded throughout the land of Atlantis. This is also true of the Eye.
There have been thousands of artifacts found in and around the Richat Structure. Most are 12,000 years and older, which puts them in the time frame of Atlantis. These items include arrowheads, spears, stone spheres, surfboards, oars, ship hulls, and more.

“There were a great number of elephants in the island, and there was provision for animals of every kind, both for those who live in lakes and marshes and rivers, and also for those who live in the mountains and on the plains, and therefore for the animal which is the largest and most voracious of them.”
― Plato, Timaeus/Critias

Legend tells us that Atlantis was an empire made of ten kingdoms, with the island of Atlantis as the capital. The God Poseidon gave birth to five sets of twins, ten children in total, each one running one of the ten kingdoms. Having twins is a rare occurrence. It just so happens that the highest birth rate of twins on planet earth is found in Nigeria – very close to Mauritania.

Plato and Solon were known to have integrity and were therefore rarely challenged. Atlantis is the only story of Plato’s that was ever disputed.

One of the strangest aspects of the history of Atlantis is that none of these theories are presented in Wikipedia, and every related page is locked. This includes pages about the Eye, King Atlas, and the God Poseidon. How is it that the universally accepted concept that Atlantis existed is left out of one of society’s most treasured resources?

If you’re still on the fence about the Eye of the Sahara being the location of the city of Atlantis, consider that the City of Troy was thought to be a myth for thousands of years, until it was found, exactly where Homer said it would be.

May 6, 2020March 28, 2024

Freemason Secrets: Ancient Masonic Rites, Rituals, And Myths

Freemasons have a fascinating history! A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

My father, uncle, and grandfather were Freemasons. My grandfather held the title of Worshipful Master (akin to a president) at a New York City lodge near the turn of the century and had some fascinating clothing and accessories — his ring was beyond cool.

I remember asking Pop about his lodge when I was in kindergarten. Replying in his thick German accent, he said, “There is nothing for you to know at this time, boy.” I love that answer.

“George Washington Was A Mason, Along With 13 Other Presidents And Numerous Supreme Court Justices. Benjamin Franklin Published A Book About Freemasonry On His Own Printing Press. Nine Signers Of The Declaration Of Independence Were Freemasons, Including The Man With The Biggest Signature: John Hancock.”
— “Secrets of ‘The Lost Symbol,” MSNBC

The History Of Masonry

The Masons most likely grew as extensions of the membership rules of Scotsman William Schaw’s stonemasonry tribe and The Knights Templar; a secretive group of Christian warrior-monks that protected the aspirants who traveled along the pathways to the Holy Land.

At the turn of the 16th Century, William Schaw developed his own club-like culture, housed within a lodge, and infused with a set of rules for sworn members, including, “They shall be true to one another and live charitably together as becometh sworn brethren and companions of the Craft.”

When diplomats and politicians joined the organization in the mid-1600s, the stonemason lodge movement began its climb as a stealthy phenomenon. If you were politically active and wanted to connect with the power structures of the times, you would do just about anything to become a member of The Masons.

In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization in London, when four lodges united to form the first Grand Lodge. This gave the organization credibility and added to its membership’s mystical allure. Men flocked, begged, coerced, and maneuvered to become members. Everybody wanted in.

The Freemasons Of The United States

The United States Masons, otherwise known as The Freemasons, were a highly political society in the 1700s. The first US lodge was opened in 1730 in New Jersey, where they initiated early plans and strategies used to fight the British. With its growing vault of secrets, expanding political influence, and stealth missions, it was an exciting time to be a Freemason.

Initially, the Freemason creed declared anti-Catholic, anti-Royalty, and Republican virtues, including self-government, personal freedom, and free enterprise. The basic tenet was that no person or organization should be controlled or oppressed by a government or religion, or their respective laws and doctrines. At their start, and for centuries, The Freemasons were a feisty, calculating, and powerful coalition.

Much to the chagrin of The Catholic Church, the early Masonic organization’s philosophy evolved from Deist ideology, which believes God does not interfere with creation, as it runs itself according to the laws of nature.
If you were a Mason in Europe in the 1700s, you stood against the notion of natural selection as it pertained to royalty. As Masonry developed and grew, you rooted for the wild, unruly kids across the pond – the Americans.

In 1870, The Shriners, a group of elite Freemasons, created their first rituals, emblems, and costumes based on Middle Eastern themes, when 11 Master Masons were initiated into the organization.
And while it seems they were rigorously involved in politics, Freemasonry describes itself as a “beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”

Masonic Secret Society

Long ago, when the British government and the Catholic Church were more militant, it was dangerous to share these secrets, so all members worked hard to protect them. This is why, for several centuries, the coveted secrets of the Freemasons were known only to loyal members.

While the rest of the world is no longer fearful of Freemasonry, The Catholic Church continues to warn its “faithful” of Freemasonry’s alleged anti-church teachings. In 1983, the papal state declared that Catholics “who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.” This proclamation comes from the same church that continues to profess that women are not holy or God-ordained enough to be in the priesthood.

But that’s not to say Freemasonry’s history is entirely free of controversy…

On the notorious date of September 11, 1826, New York writer William Morgan was kidnapped from his home by a known group of Freemasons, and taken to Fort Niagara, never to be seen again. The attackers were eventually indicted but served lenient prison sentences. This kidnapping and assumed murder are why Freemasonry membership numbers began to decline throughout the United States.

Was Morgan killed because he threatened to reveal the secrets of the Masons in a brash exposé? Masonic thugs warned Morgan not to publish his book and repeatedly threatened him. There were many witnesses to these threats, and for a while, Morgan lived in fear of retribution, regularly transporting his wife and children between several safe, temporary homes.

For the most part, Freemasonry has maintained the core of its secrets. Over the past few centuries, Freemasons have been loyal to each other and the organization, helping increase Masonic influence in politics and businesses throughout the world. While it’s no longer a hotbed of controversy, Freemasonry membership still proves to have political, networking, and financial benefits.

Some of the secrets at the foundation of Masonic traditions, while fascinating, are not so secret anymore. Here are a few of the secrets that may or may not continue to hold any mystique:

Members might roll up their pants to symbolize their understanding of what it takes to work on building a Masonic lodge
There is a frightening initiation ceremony that reenacts the construction of Solomon’s temple
Freemasons might not testify truthfully against each other
There are secret handshakes, phrases, passwords, committees, and ceremonies
One or more rituals involve a noose
The sun is an inspiration for some of the rites, rituals, and ideologies
Members who seek political office and financial control in business seem to earn notoriety and celebrity within the organization and specific lodges
The symbols within Masonry are found throughout American architecture and on the US one-dollar bill (notice the pyramid on the back)

Freemasons around the world love their secrets, yet, Masonic leaders have maintained that Freemasons “are not a secret society, but rather a society with secrets.”

Masonic Rituals

Rituals help us physicalize our beliefs, desires, and commitments. For many, performing a weekly or monthly ritual is akin to a profound physical, psychological, or emotional cleanse. Rituals help people connect to themselves, their chosen communities, and their Gods.

Given that all Masons profess beliefs in a monotheistic God, it makes sense that rituals are an essential part of the culture. There are initiation rituals and ceremonies to commemorate a member’s advancement to new Masonic levels.

Geometry and architecture are essential themes within Freemasonry, which is why Freemasons often refer to God as either The Supreme Being or The Grand Geometrician. These names help keep the concept of God as generic, and not tied to a specific religion, which removes any chance that a member will be offended.

Without the specificity and allegiance to one particular faith, the community can focus on enjoying, relating to, and helping each other, rather than judging each other or seeking to enroll each other into a specific tradition.

Masonic Symbolism And Texts

In most Masonic lodges, the Bible, the Quran, Talmud, and Vedas are prominently displayed, which gives each member a holy text to reference and utilize during rites and rituals. Solomon’s Temple is a substantial part of the rituals and symbolism found within Freemasonry. During membership initiation rites, portions of the story of the structure’s construction on the Temple Mount are reenacted.

While no ciphers are used today, during the 18th century, the pigpen ciphers were used to keep Masonic rituals and memberships secret. Some lodges may have created their own systems, symbols, and rites to protect themselves. The Mormons utilize some of the same stories and symbols as the Freemasons; however, the meanings and purposes are not the same for both traditions.

The secret art of Masonry can be found on the rings that most members enjoy wearing, which features the famous eye and pyramid, also located on the US one-dollar bill. These symbols can also be seen on the Masonic jewels of office, which are often worn as necklaces by the Masons who have specific responsibilities within the local, national or global organizations.

This necklace tradition goes back to the 1400s in England, when leaders of local craftsman guilds wore them after being placed on city councils and when given titles like mayor or sheriff.

Freemason Handshakes And Secret Masonic Hand Signs

The secret Freemason handshakes are not so secret anymore. You can google them and see a fascinating little list with images, noting their respective nuances.

The original reason for these handshakes was to validate someone’s membership at meetings, events, and secret missions. Today, vetting members occurs at the entrances to Masonic meetings, which requires membership cards and other forms of written or tangible identification.

Masonic Secret Word

While some lodges have a regionalized, secret lexicon, the most famous secret Masonic word is “Ma-ha-boneor,” or “Mahabone.” This word is commonly known to mean “The lodge doors are open.”
Some say that Maha was taken from Hebrew, meaning, “What, the builder.” Some say its origins are from the Sanskrit “Maha,” meaning great, or lord.

“Mahabone” is a subtle celebration of exclusive membership and a commitment to specific communally agreed-upon ideals.

Freemasonry Criticism

Some say it’s unethical for any organization to exclude women, but psychologists say that men, women, and other genders, who at times congregate within their genders, are happier, healthier, and more confident. Just like any group with specific missions and membership archetypes, it seems helpful for human beings to participate in same-gender organizations.

The other criticism that seems to hold weight in some circles is that Masons might promote, advance, or elect other Masons to leadership positions within their local communities, governments, and businesses.
While this sounds dangerous, networking among your peers and promoting people you know can lead to more consistency and stability within organizations. In terms of supporting specific members for positions of power, the Masons are no different unions and other regional or global organizations function. They pick influential power-players and put all the organization’s might behind them.

Preferential treatment and unified promotion of members within large organizations can lead to landslides, imbalance, and exclusion, but they can also lead to healthy, non-violent revolutions.

Freemason Strong

Today, you can join the Freemasons for between $150 and $500 in annual dues. You won’t be involved in too many secret missions or controversies, though. You’ll mostly network with small business owners and help a charity or two. If you’re really into it, you’ll climb the magic ladder and achieve its highest title of Master Mason. At that point, you are eligible to become a Shriner.

Freemasonry has approximately five million members around the world, some more active than others. It’s still quite an honor to be involved with the Freemasons, as the experience promises to be as enriching and inspiring as it has been for centuries.

If you’re interested in membership, be prepared to be a fiercely loyal member, because new initiates are still sworn to the same rites and secrecy as Scotland’s William Schaw and former President George Washington.
When it comes down to it, ritualizing our beliefs and networking with like-minded people, even with a gender requirement, can be exciting, empowering, and life-enhancing. Mahabone!

May 6, 2020March 28, 2024

The Cocaine Mummies: Henut Taui’s Ancient Global Trade Network

Cocaine Mummies – I’ll take that coke to go 🙂 A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

Imagine the perfectly mummified Egyptian princess and priestess, Henut Taui, “The Lady of the Two Lands.” She was beautiful, powerful, and gently alluring. Imagine you’re thrust back in time and immediately invited to her palace to enjoy the most luxuriating experiences of the day.

As you sit near her throne, you’re showered with new delights and substances, the likes of which you never imagined you might find in Ancient Egypt, like cocaine and tobacco… wait a minute.

While this fantasy defies the narrative of mainstream Egyptology, there’s evidence it actually could have happened. That’s because Henut Taui and the controversial “cocaine mummies” revealed a vast global trade network that linked the new world with Ancient Egypt.

Although there is no physical evidence of tobacco or coca plants in ancient Egypt, Egyptian recreational drugs were plentiful. The leafy plant Harmal can be converted to the chemical Harmine through a simple distillation process. The result is a potent antidepressant, which can also be used to treat inflammation and fever. Psilocybin mushrooms were used to acquaint avid aspirants with the Gods.

The most probable street drug of choice in Egypt was Blue Lotus. This lovely flower helped the shy become more talkative, relaxed and more blissful. It was enjoyed in tea and alcoholic spirits by every faction of society. Homer and Odysseus feared this plant because it removed the fear required for war.

When the King of Bavaria purchased Henut’s remains in the early 19th century, her sarcophagus was placed in a Munich museum and stood undisturbed for a century.

In 1992, toxicologist Svetlana Balabanova discovered traces of cocaine and nicotine in the hair of Priestess Henut Taui. Since these drugs were not found on the African continent until after Columbus voyaged the seas, archeologists and historians have wondered how this might have occurred.

Did the arrival of these drugs on Egyptian soil begin with a trade? Or was there another source for the drug already thriving in Egypt?

How Did Henut Taui Source Her Cocaine?

While traditional archeologists and historians fought the findings, the headlines were accurate: “Cocaine Found in Mummies!” So began the mystery.

Since nicotine was accessible on many continents and easily derived from plants other than tobacco (i.e., Withania Somnifer and Apium Somnifera), finding nicotine in a mummy’s hair was not unusual. Even cannabis had been part of Egypt’s cultural and religious practices for centuries prior to Henut’s reign. Cocaine was a different story.

It’s only recently that koʊˈkeɪn or كوكايين (cocaine in Egyptian) has become one of the most popular drugs in Egypt. Heroin, imported cannabis, and ecstasy have also become increasingly popular. But these trends developed over the last 30 years, not centuries.

To explain the tobacco nicotine and cocaine found in the hair and skin of mummies took some digging. Some thought that the rampant fraud found in the mummy business was the culprit. After all, if your mummies had cocaine in them, wouldn’t they be more valuable? Most certainly.

The History Of Fake Mummies

In Victorian times (1837 to 1901), Egyptian artifacts were the rage. This is when recently deceased; mummified Egyptians were sometimes sold off as the real, ancient thing.

During this era it became fashionable to sell individual limbs from these corpses. As archeologists dug deeper, it was revealed that some of the handsomely preserved deceased were convicted and recently euthanized criminals. The demand for authentic mummy fingers and toes outstripped supply.

In the 16th century, armed with the belief that ground-mummy cured illnesses, people would eat the flesh of mummies in the form of a powder akin to bitumen, known as “Mummia.” While this traditionally Islamic and ancient Greek practice started with the consumption of bitumen, a type of asphalt, the public began to interpret “Mummia” as “a black, resinous medicine scraped out from embalmed Egyptian mummies.” This is when real mummies were seared and then powdered for mass consumption. Crazy, right?

While the mummy-powder often made people ill, it was assumed that the negative aspects exiting the body caused the immediate sicknesses. Because of the insanity, hype and related fear, expensive “Mummia” bitumen was sold in apothecaries around the world.

It’s from this lineage of events that fraudsters may have thought to inject cocaine in the hair of ancient and recently deceased mummies. Their hope may have been to inspire a lucrative market for “cocaine mummies.”

While this sounds like a reasonable explanation and correct to some extent, the only logical theory that solves this question is that sea-based trade routes between The Americas and Africa existed long before Columbus.

Cultural And Academic Snobbery

Some archaeologists and cultural snobs believed the mummies Balabanova tested were faked, but subsequent investigations of her “Munich Mummies” proved the mummies were authentic. Balabanova went on to test 134 additional mummies and bodies, including ones from Sudan, China, and Austria. One-third of them tested positive for nicotine and cocaine.

Even the mummy of Ramses was examined. Not only were tobacco and cocaine found in his body, but the nicotine was 35x that of an average cigarette smoker.

This means that the once elusive recipe for embalming included not just nicotine, but nicotine from South American tobacco. The idea that Egyptians could trade with an undiscovered continent thousands of miles away was almost inconceivable, but it’s true.

While some archeology purists claimed that all Balabanova’s and subsequent tests were contaminated, the evidence is conclusive. There was no contamination. There was an ancient international drug trade connecting South and North America with Africa and Asia. There is no other explanation.

Proven Ancient Trade Routes

It’s already been proven that American plants landed on the other side of the Pacific Ocean long before Columbus, including sweet potatoes and peanuts.

There’s a temple in Southern India with a sculpture of a goddess holding an ear of corn. This would suggest the existence of a trade route extending from The Americas to India. So then, why couldn’t tobacco and coca reach Egypt in the same manner? If not by sea, these crops could also have arrived through a land-based trade route.

When you add to the story the recent discovery of silk in the hair of a Luxor mummy, you begin to see that Egypt engaged with China by sea. At the time, silk was only made in China.

Filling In Historical Gaps

The majority of our histories have been lost. Many civilizations and inventions have disappeared without a trace. There are multitudes of gaps. It’s only cultural arrogance that fills the gaps with certainty.

Why do modern scholars defend the notion that the only established trade routes were created in the 18th century? Over-confidence and arrogance.

In many things, what has been proven might easily be seen as uncertain. To deeply explore our past and all possibilities, requires an open mind and the release of cultural identities, career-induced masks and old, societal stories.

If we can unshackle the agendas from our determined minds, we can further our understanding of all the mysteries in the Universe, including Atlantis, UFOs, and the ability to travel time. It’s all within our minds and within our reach.

May 6, 2020March 28, 2024

The Temple Of Damanhur: Aliens, Atlantis & Time-Travel

The Beautiful Temple of Damanhur. A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

Born from a vision to establish the next Atlantis, infused with a profound and universal ideology, and remarkable works of art, The Damanhur Temple is quite possibly the 8th wonder of the world. I liken Damanhur to the contrived city of Celebration, FL, the cute, All-American hamlet initially built and owned by The Walt Disney Company, which has since divested most of its control.

The town of Celebration began with a pro-tech, yet 1950s premise, aimed at a specific demographic. Soon enough, designs, architecture, and strategies grew into a master-planned community. It was as if a loaf of white bread was magically transformed into a living, breathing neighborhood, equipped with speedy internet and an ice cream man.

Damanhur began similarly, but with a bit more mystery. They built a massive underground temple in secret over 20 years. Besides the thousands of tourists that visit every year, the community is siloed, if not proprietary.

The Magical Allure Of Temple of Damanhur

The writing on the Damanhur website is alluring. It speaks to my heart, soul, and belief system. I must say, at first glance, I loved it. Here is my favorite excerpt:

“The underlying hypothesis is that life in this universe, in all its manifestations, originates from a single divine matrix. This force is greater than the universe itself, so in order to enter into the world of forms, it had to fraction into many smaller forces. Some of them have a physical form, others do not. In Damanhur, this force is called the Human Primeval Divinity, and all the manifestations of its essence on the subtle or non-material planes, form what is commonly called the spiritual ecosystem.”

The concept of Damanhur, named after an ancient Egyptian city, probably began before 1975, near Turin, Italy. Around that time, the founder, Oberto Airaudi (1950 – 2013), aka Falco Tarassaco, began speaking publicly on the nature of the universe, the paranormal, and naturopathic medicine. From there, Falco created courses on meditation and established a process for spiritual liberation and enlightenment.

Damanhur’s emerging Olami University is focused on the union of the material, spiritual, and technological. It appears to be a noble premise and pursuit.

Regardless of where you live in the world, the organization will provide its courses via their approved instructors, but only upon the creation of a local “Damanhurian” group. Oberto Airaudi and 24 disciples were the first members of Damanhur. In 1978, three years after incorporating, they began building the Temples of Humankind, a secret, underground project aimed at resurrecting the ideology and practices found in the ancient, mythic city of Atlantis.

Initially, the Italian government fought the Damanhurians and threatened to blow the temples to bits, but eventually, they permitted every building, approved all construction, and called the temples, “The 8th Wonder of the World.”

There are currently around 750 souls living at The Federation of Damanhur. They have their own currency, the “credito,” (equal to the Euro), and a sacred language. They welcome new citizens, visitors, and tourists regularly. The leadership structure includes a traditional Senate, who are elected by the community. The Senate appoints a group of spiritual Guides, the highest authority at Damanhur.

Breakdown Of Citizenship Classes

Class A Citizens * – share ownership of all personal property with the commune and live onsite at all times.
Class B Citizens – contribute money and must live at Damanhur at least three days a week.
Class C Citizens – not required to live on-site.

(*) Only Class A citizens can use the time machine.

WAIT, THERE’S A TIME MACHINE?!

Damanhur Time Travel And Singing Plants

Damanhurians believe that plants can communicate and sing. I do, too. They even developed equipment that allows humans to hear the melodies. You can see one of their videos here. In 1997, the group revealed that they unlocked the secrets of time travel. Damanhurians say that it’s safer to travel deeply into history versus traveling to the recent past, which could adversely change current events. The machine magnifies a person’s psychic energy and somehow allows them to project into a prior or future time and space.

The Damanhur community is dedicated to esoteric research, exploring things at the intersection of artistry, consciousness, spirituality, technology, and the material world.

The Idea Of The Damanhur Cult – An Overreaction?

Damanhur: The Federation of Communities has a unique marketing hook. They’re not only actively researching time travel, but they also say they’re rebuilding Atlantis, collaborating with aliens, and communicating with the eternal consciousness.

For a new-age initiate, this trifecta of ideas is the Holy Grail. It’s pure MDMA. It’s completely intoxicating.
They even have their own rules around marriage, which sound incredibly reasonable. Instead of lifetime contracts, marriage at Damanhur works on the premise of renewal. You and your partner agree to a specific number of years, after which, you renew. Fascinating!

Though it’s hasn’t always been all light, love, and innovation at Damanhur; there are some grumpy, former Damanhurians who say they believe the organization is a cult. There’s even a private support group.

But if someone is unhappy with how they were treated, isn’t it best to learn how you can do better? Wouldn’t it be nice if you apologized? Rather than attack them and build counter-intelligence websites, wouldn’t it be more evolved to be transparent and seek improvement? If you did, I’m sure Atlantis would be proud.

While every great vision has the potential to elevate a population, it’s reasonable that it might also invite consequences and losses. Over time, organizations like Damanhur tend to have growing pains. The best any leader or organization can do is to admit mistakes, seek amends, change the hurtful processes for the betterment of the community, and put sincere effort into healing all of the fractured relationships.

“No man from outside can make you free; nor can organized worship, nor the immolation of yourselves for a cause, make you free; nor can forming yourselves into an organization, nor throwing yourselves into work, make you free.”
— Krishnamurti

Damanhur Temples Of Humankind

Regardless of the press, hype, or negative chatter, these remarkable people built a beautiful, underground set of temples, unlike anything on planet earth. Imagine the Petra caves in Jordan merged with the Grand Canyon, multiply it by 1000, then add lots of spiritual artwork and positive energy.

The Temples of Humankind were built to awaken the sense of the sacred in all of us. The halls are open to visitors year-round. You can rent one of the temple’s halls for your wedding, or you can wander the labyrinth alone for hours, in pursuit of spiritual, artistic, and personal inspiration. This underground haven is over 4000 cubic meters, based on principles surrounding the ancient legend of Atlantis, and covered with intricate murals.

There are 100s of yards of tunnels and a unique group of giant chambers, including The Hall of Water, The Hall of the Earth, The Hall of the Spheres, The Hall of Metals, The Blue Temple, and the Labyrinth. It’s like a Disney theme park for universal spirituality and dedicated to the advancement of humanity.
The temples became public knowledge when a former member sued to regain the possessions he had given to the community. He revealed that the temples were built over 17 years in secret, and are still under construction. It’s possible that only 15% of the original vision has been constructed.

Initially, they had no building permits, but it was all eventually approved by the Italian government. This spiritual and artistic masterpiece has become one of the most important tourist attractions in the country. To construct the temple there were no architectural plans and no intricate engineering, as all the work was derived from sketches drawn by the founder, Falco.

Every detail of the temples adheres to a precise code. It’s all been created by hand and with tools that were no more advanced than an electric hammer. Throughout the temples, you’ll see mathematical and ancient symbols, generally understood by the initiates who live there. As such, the halls are used for prayer, rituals, community gatherings, and for individual spiritual purposes.

One of the ideas here is for community members to send psychic and prayerful messages to the cosmos, aliens and the eternal consciousness. One goal seems to be centered around communicating the needs of humanity to help our species evolve. Damanhur’s next construction project is The Temple of Peoples, which will be built at the intersection of Synchronic lines, supposedly beneficial for psychic and spiritual alignment. V

Free Will

I love what the people at Damanhur have created. While it’s not perfect, it’s a remarkable accomplishment. Before you buy something expensive, do your research. If you buy something that puts your financial well-being in jeopardy, get a warranty. If you pay $10,000 for a timeshare in Detroit, own your mistake.

Similarly, if you join a community and award them all of your earthly belongings in exchange for lifelong effort and loyalty, isn’t it you who should bear the brunt of your decision and eventual change of heart? Certainly.
Be clear and informed before diving into complex labyrinths. If you’re not aware of the complexities of a possible experience, take the time you need to make a congruent decision. Choose things that honor all parts of you. As Carl Jung says, in all things, seek your “ideal self.”

Don’t Drink Anybody’s Kool-Aid, Except Your Own.

Head over to Italy and check out Damanhur’s amazing Temples of Humankind. Visit damanhur.org for a deep dive into a fascinating universe.

May 6, 2020March 28, 2024

Osho: The Bhagwan Rajneesh

Osho was quite magical. A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

While many agree that Jesus, Buddha, and Guanyin (among others) are enlightened and eternal light-beings, it’s a bit difficult to experience them in three dimensions, let alone receive a hug from them. It might be said that for those who cannot see their internal-masters in a living, breathing human being are missing out on something special.

The moment someone calls themselves a spiritual master, all the beings in all the realms perk up and get to work. These etheric forces will test potential spiritual masters, not to bring them down, instead, to prepare them for the paths of service they declare.

The universe continually seeks ways to infuse the eternal nature of consciousness into human beings. It loves to assist in the births of powerful spiritual avatars. This tendency is one of the most beneficial wonders of this world. Because of it, there’s always an abundance of living spiritual gurus, masters, and sages.

Avatars take births to teach us about love and consciousness, and to challenge our attachment to the physical universe so that we can know the world within us. Much to our collective chagrin, authentic spiritual gurus generally do not seek to validate our financial and physical realities, or reinforce society’s oppressive constructs and rules, although some of them do.

There are some who might judge and condemn today’s living gurus and their disciples, noting that this world is not holy enough to birth a living saint. These naysayers doubt many gurus’ divinity, teachings, and methods. Some protest, picket, and write books about how horrible one guru or God is versus another. These folks probably have similar doubts about themselves.

While discipleship can be a profound and liberating experience, it comes with challenges. A guru will help her followers reduce their attachment to their egos and minds, but she also peels away our layers of illusion and delusion, which, while freeing, can be painful. Being a disciple of a guru is not for the spiritually timid.

This process of devoting oneself to a guru can also be frightening and life-shattering because it has the potential to disrupt the false identities and lives we’ve built. Upon the guru’s glance, our egos might also become inflamed, causing us to think that we are the All and Powerful Oz. Egos don’t always dissolve without a fight.

From the outside, a community centered around a spiritual guru can appear quite insane. Why wouldn’t it? Most people living in traditional society are climbing ladders, pursuing goals, and conquering a temporal world. It’s difficult to defend the eternal against the emanations of the physical, especially to people who have no frame of reference for alternative spirituality, and no interest in change.

The Bhagwan

Gurus like India’s Osho, otherwise known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, can be misinterpreted by society and misrepresented by devotees. In the documentary, “Wild, Wild Country,” fears and egos dominated what might otherwise have been a profoundly peaceful pursuit.

The Osho biography describes a variety of miracles, contradictions, and controversies. What does “Osho” mean? Originating from Sanskrit, it refers to a master or teacher. Osho was a renegade, which can be both a challenge and a blessing.

In the 1980s, Osho and thousands of his followers moved out of India and descended upon a small town in Oregon. Instead of infusing the city with love, they conquered it, which caused their neighbors to demonize them.

During their tenure, several of Osho’s followers were charged with crimes, including attempted murder, and eventually served time in prison. Chances are this wasn’t the original vision. Google “Rajneesh Oregon” and you’ll see a flood of fascinating pages.

Most of us weren’t there, and we can’t comment on what it was like to be a disciple of Osho’s or a local homeowner. I’m also not here to judge. That said, I believe there are some profound, applicable lessons to be extracted from the ordeal.

For the guru, it’s not about the details, drama, or press. Peaceful or not, and authentic or not, a guru’s path is about the spiritual journeys and advancement they’re called to inspire in their disciples. It might be said that when we are subject to change and catastrophe, our minds evaporate and our souls progress.

How To Avoid Toxicity

In all things “guru,” here are a few key lessons to consider:

We need not adhere to rules and pursuits set by a tangential collective. The goal is to follow the teachings of the guru and the eternal.
When engaging in a spiritual community, refrain from becoming entangled in heated activities, even if they appear to be benign.
Each person’s journey is unique, each with her own pace and personal responsibilities. In the enlightenment scene, as long as it’s based in love and includes service to those in need, an individual’s spiritual growth takes precedence over the worldly goals of a group.
Infuse your beliefs with love and base your projections in love. This will reduce your ego and fears.
The communities that emerge around gurus are often spiritual hospitals. Refrain from being interested in or attached to the drama unfolding around you. After all, a fair number of spiritual aspirants tend to be little devils working out their small problems or new-age narcissists seeking to enroll others in their spiritual self-aggrandizement.
A guru’s physical form is not reality. Their bodies are metaphoric vehicles meant to help us see their eternal nature within us. When we attach to a guru’s form or life, we put them in boxes, which, in turn, does the same to us.
Refrain from blaming a guru for your participation in their ideologies, methods, and communities. We only lose our free will when we relinquish it, which is also a choice.

Wild, Wild Country

If you’ve not yet watched this fantastic documentary about what is often called, “the Rajneesh cult,” let me sum up its spiritual gems:

Many of us do not know how we feel or how to express ourselves. Learning how to do this can open doors to our divinity.
Having a spiritual master can expedite our evolution. This can be invaluable.
For a sad, broken few, a guru relationship might send a disciple in the opposite direction, and deeper into their shadows.
When we fuse our worldly desires with our spiritual projections, we might make other people jealous, confuse ourselves, and possibly set the world on fire.
When we believe a guru to be anything but the embodiment of the universe, which includes everything, both good and bad, dark and light, love and evil, we are mistaken.
Just like regular folk, some spiritual people love recognition, power, and control. Given the right conditions and motivations, they might consider doing anything to bring these darker attributes to life, especially when holding power-position within religious organizations. Think priests and little boys, nuns and rulers, and preachers who demonize gay people to avoid their self-hatred and gay natures.
While certainly family-focused, loving, and prayerful, small-town America might not be the most open and aware populace in the world. Being landlocked has consequences.
We don’t know whether or not there was a pre-birth pact between Osho and his infamous directors and their helpers. We also don’t know whether or not Osho was an enlightened master or if he encouraged some of the organization’s less benevolent activities.
It might be that by allowing his directors to manifest their dangerous and illegal actions within his controlled, confined organization, thereby distilling them from society, Osho saved the world from another Jim Jones or Hitler.
A few things about gurus: some gurus might have karma to work out before they blossom into embodiments of light. They might have pre-birth soul commitments to fulfill before merging with the eternal. They might also not be consciously omniscient or care about omniscience. The lessons and benefits from their missions might only be derived from the insanity they inspired.
When a collective is seeking a particular style of spiritual advancement, radical gurus are required to awaken the group through specific, uncommon modalities. Without these modalities, a large number of people might never know their light.
Praying for dark or damaged souls, whether they are evil are not, is helpful to all living beings and healing for our judgmental hearts and minds.
Living within a judgment-free spiritual path means that we must look at all the attributes from an experience, whether it is our experience or another person’s, and we must use

Rajneeshpuram: The Rajneesh Compound

Osho’s mysterious compound, which the majority of inhabitants seemed to love and cherish, and where all sorts of drama and illegalities occurred, is a metaphor for our minds. This metaphor begs a few questions:

If we were given the opportunity, would we live with an enlightened master in a community of like-minded souls?
If it appeared to be the only way to protect our loved ones, would we use guns to defend ourselves?
What spiritual chaos have we each created or fed in our lives?
What imaginary fires have we turned into harsh realities?
Where have we allowed our needs to experience liberation to wreak havoc in our lives and the lives of others?

Who Are The Living Spiritual Masters In The World?

Spiritual masters and gurus are not always public or famous people. Your babysitter, mechanic, or optometrist might be a living spiritual master. You might be one breath from becoming enlightened.

Luckily for humankind, many wonderful public masters have taken birth to bring light and healing to the planet. Steering clear of the gurus at the center of controversies and lawsuits, here are a few profound and divine rockstars whom I’ve met, enjoy and love:

Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)

Known as “The Hugging Saint,” and found at Amma.org, this Amma is a profound master, teacher, and humanitarian. She has the broadest and most comprehensive mission of love and benevolence seen in recent centuries. With multiple hospitals, housing charities, and millions of followers, Amma has inspired volunteers from all walks of life to serve others. When receiving a hug from Amma, she chants in Sanskrit and helps unlock and dissolve your karma. You can get a mantra from Amma and ask her pertinent questions. Amma tours the US every summer and then returns in the fall. Her ashrams are found all over the world, most notably in San Ramon, CA and Kerala India.

There are other lovely spiritual masters, also known as “Amma.” For example, Karunamayi, who, from an early age, decided to shower the world with unconditional love through prayer and seminars. Karunamayi is known to be a beacon of light which seeks to remove suffering from the hearts of her followers. You can learn more about Karunamayi here: http://www.karunamayi.org/

Mother Meera

The lovers and followers of Mother Meera say that she is the Divine Mother on earth, the embodiment of the Divine Feminine. She offers free transmissions of light, love, and grace as her gift to the world. Visit https://www.mothermeera.com to learn more.

Thich Nhat Hanh

This enlightened soul is an inspiring spiritual leader, poet, peace activist, and teacher of mindfulness. Enjoy his books, entitled, How to Love, Peace in Every Step, Being Peace, and The Art of Power. You can learn more about this peaceful master here: https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/

Onward On The Path

There are many living masters, including but not limited to: Sadhguru, Eckhart Tolle, and Ram Dass. There are also many enlightened masters who have since passed, including Paramahansa Yogananda, Swami Vivekananda, Neem Karoli Baba, Jesus Christ, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Explore these beautiful human beings and others who appeal to you, and continue to seek the source of light within you. Engaging with and devoting oneself to a guru can have miraculous effects, especially if the master is rooted in love and is devoted to humbly serve humankind.

May 5, 2020March 28, 2024

Thich Nhat Hanh: Buddhist Master Of Mindfulness, Miracles & Peace

Thich Nhat Hanh – such a beautiful human being. A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

Known as “Thay” in the western hemisphere, Thich Nhat Hanh is a poet, scholar, Zen Master, and lovely human being. He is also the father of “Engaged Buddhism,” a movement that brings together practical Buddhist wisdom, social activism, and mindfulness.

Thay is a global phenomenon and a gentle, inspirational friend to all. His tireless efforts as a teacher of Buddhadharma have alleviated the pain and suffering of millions of people across the globe. His beautiful lectures, meditations, and bestselling books have inspired countless followers to seek the light within, and find peace.

Thay was born as Nguyen Xuan Bao, in the city of Quang Ngai, Vietnam, in 1926. By age 16, he was a novice monk at Từ Hiếu Temple, in Hue City, which is where he was given his name, Thich Nhat Hanh. Thay was the first monk to be seen regularly riding a bicycle in public and one of a handful of monks who saw serving humanity to be a form of meditation.

“There Is No Way To Happiness. Happiness Is The Way.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Thay graduated from Báo Quốc Buddhist Academy and received extensive training in Mahayana Buddhism and (Vietnamese) Thiền “Zen” Buddhism. Soon after, he became a Bhikkhu, a fully ordained male, monastic, Buddhist monk.

To Thay, everything is a meditation: eating, walking, seeing, speaking, breathing, and relating. With each step and each breath, we can either inch away from the depth of ourselves or be fully present to our peacefulness. In every moment, we have an opportunity to decide the fate of the next.

Thich Nhat Hanh has been continually involved in the peace and nonviolence movements since his early days at Từ Hiếu. He believes veganism is vital to saving the planet and that nonviolence toward animals will inspire a more profound peace and improve the natures of our souls.

“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Plum Village Monastery

Thay founded a lovely, Buddhist community known as “Sweet Potato” near Paris in the 1970s, shortly after he left Vietnam. In 1982, it was time to expand into Plum Village, which began as a small, rustic farm and developed into what is now the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe.

The official name of the monastery is Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. It’s here that Thich Nhat Hanh established his monastic order, which consists of around 600 monks and nuns in 9 monasteries across the globe. The Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation is the charitable arm of Plum Village.

Thousands of Buddhists and other visitors journey to Plum Village every year, where each is nourished by the hundreds of resident monks and nuns who practice and teach Buddhism for the benefit of humankind.

The primary purpose of this lovely community is to live mindfully throughout every activity. This includes eating, walking, working, relating, laughing, or sharing a cup of tea with fellow visitors from other countries.

The monastery’s environment is peaceful and nourishing. In addition to serving the global, monastic Buddhist community, PlumVillage.org states that they hold many programs and retreats for laypeople, teenagers, veterans, the entertainment industry, members of Congress, law enforcement agencies, and people of color.
All meals are vegetarian and delicious.

“When You Touch One Thing With Deep Awareness, You Touch Everything.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Thay’s Remarkable Accomplishments

Thay was very busy in his youth, which continued throughout his life. In the early 1960s, he founded Lá Bối Press, Van Hanh Buddhist University, The Order of Interbeing (Tiep Hien Order), The Unified Buddhist Church, and the School of Youth for Social Service. The latter provided immeasurable value to Vietnam by sending young Buddhist workers to rural areas to build schools and clinics, and to help rebuild infrastructure in towns and villages.

Thay studied comparative religion at Princeton University, taught Buddhist psychology and other courses at his Van Hanh Buddhist University, taught comparative religion and Buddhism at Columbia University, led symposiums in Vietnamese Buddhism at Cornell University, and was a lecturer and researcher in Buddhism at the University of Sorbonne, in Paris. In short, Thay is a rock star.

In 1966, he became a Dharmacharya, or “one who becomes the dharma,” from Zen Master Chân Thật. He became the head of The Từ Hiếu Pagoda and a long list of monasteries. Later, he would chair the Vietnamese Buddhist Peace Delegation.

Thich Nhat Hanh has a long list of celebrity and religious followers, including Martin Luther King and Thomas Merton. After nominating Thay for a Nobel Peace Prize, King said, “I do not personally know of anyone more worthy of this prize.”

When Thay visited the United States to inspire efforts toward peace in Vietnam, both North and South Vietnam denied him entry. This exile lasted 39 years. The CIA labeled Thay a political dissident. By all accounts, Thay was an unrelenting and powerful force during these years. He led the Buddhist delegation to the Paris Peace Talks in 1969.

His monasteries and Dharma centers include:

Blue Cliff Monastery in Pine Bush, NY
The Community of Mindful Living in Berkeley, CA
Deer Park Monastery (Tu Viện Lộc Uyển) in Escondido, CA
Magnolia Grove (Đạo Tràng Mộc Lan) in Batesville, MS
European Institute of Applied Buddhism in Waldbröl, Germany
Từ Hiếu Temple in Vietnam
Prajna Temple in Vietnam
Additional monasteries can be found in Paris, Hong Kong, and Australia

More recently, Thich Nhat Hanh founded “Wake Up”, a global movement of young people training in mindfulness, and related education centers in Europe, America, and Asia, known as “Wake Up Schools,” where teachers are trained to teach mindfulness.

Thay has been invited to teach at some of the most prestigious companies and organizations in the world, including Google, The World Bank, and The Harvard School of Medicine.

His mindfulness calligraphy has been exhibited in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Germany, France, and New York. Thay’s artfully crafted phrases are spiritually inspiring and nurturing.

In addition to his native tongue of Vietnamese, Thay is fluent in English, Chinese, French, Sanskrit, Pali, and Japanese.

Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes

Thay’s sweet and touching sentiments penetrate every heart who hears them. Enjoy these simple, yet profound thoughts from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh:

“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”
“The real power of the Buddha was that he had so much love. He saw people trapped in their notions of small separate self, feeling guilty or proud of that self, and he offered revolutionary teachings that resounded like a lion’s roar, like a great rising tide, helping people to wake up and break free from the prison of ignorance.”
“Many people think excitement is happiness…. But when you are excited, you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.”
“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
“It’s very important that we re-learn the art of resting and relaxing. Not only does it help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it allows us to clear our minds, focus, and find creative solutions to problems.”
“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”

“Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity.”

Thich Nhat Hanh Books

Thay wrote over 100 books on mindfulness, peace, fear, death, communication, and Buddhism. Over 70% of his books are written in English. Here is a sampling from his authored works:

Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire
Being Peace
The Sun My Heart
The Miracle of Mindfulness
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Zen Keys: A Guide to Zen Practice
The Heart Of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra
Living Buddha, Living Christ
True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual on Meditation
The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-Day Mindfulness Retreat
Be Free Where You Are
No Death, No Fear

“If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine. You get in touch with Mother Earth and eating in such a way, you feel in touch with true life, your roots, and that is meditation. If we chew every morsel of our food in that way we become grateful and when you are grateful, you are happy.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Living And Dying In Peace

In 2014, Thay suffered a severe stroke which left him paralyzed on his right side, and without the ability to speak. Fortunately, he can write, and often uses hand, head, and body gestures to answer questions.

In 2017, Thay was given an honorary doctorate from The Education University of Hong Kong for his “life-long contributions to the promotion of mindfulness, peace, and happiness across the world.”

In November 2018, Thay returned to the Vietnam temple where his initiation into monkhood took place, Từ Hiếu. Imagine those early days when the young Thay eagerly learned about meditation, mindfulness, and Buddhadharma from his Zen Master, Thanh Quý Chân Thật. Thay has chosen to spend his remaining days here.

Throughout the years, media outlets have called Thich Nhat Hanh, “The Father of Mindfulness,” “The Other Dalai Lama” and “The Zen Master Who Fills Stadiums.” Martin Luther King Jr. said Thay was, “an apostle of peace and nonviolence.”

May 5, 2020March 28, 2024

Mahavatar Babaji: The Eternal, Holy Master Of Kriya Yoga

Mahavatar Babaji OM OM OM. A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

The most magical, mystery tour imaginable might be a holy trek to the Himalayas, in search of the eternal Kriya Yoga master known as Mahavatar Babaji, or Babaji, an incarnation of Krishna.

It has been recorded that this immortal yogi transferred the ancient Kriya teachings to thousands of initiates, working behind the scenes, and without their conscious knowledge of his transmissions.

Having achieved a high level of spiritual awareness and superpowers, Babaji was and is a great Siddha. Within each of several lives, he overcame a long list of human and spiritual limitations, on his eternal quest to help humanity evolve.

Few have seen the great Kriya master, yet many have claimed that he is the holy Being that gave birth to their devotion and spiritual lineages.

“If You Come To Doubt, I’ll Give You Every Reason To Doubt. If You Come Suspicious, I’ll Give You Every Reason To Be Suspicious. But If You Come Seeking Love, I’ll Show You More Love Than You’ve Ever Known.”
— Mahavatar Babaji

Mahavatar Babaji’s Quick Ascent

According to ancient legend and tradition, Babaji was born in 203 AD, to two Nambudri Brahmins, in a village known as Parangipettai, in Tamil Nadu, India. Babaji’s father was a Shiva devotee and Hindu priest. Mahavatar Babaji’s birth name was “Nagaraj,” which translates to “Serpent King,” a reference to the energy “snake” of Kundalini.

After being kidnapped and freed at the age of 5, Babaji sought the Kriya Kundalini Pranayama teachings from Agastyar, the revered and holy Vedic sage and scholar of Hinduism. Nagaraj soon moved to Badrinath, where he surrendered his ego and gained initiation into divine service.

Kriya Yoga Comes Back To Life

In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defines Kriya Yoga as, ”the constant practice of and cultivation of detachment, self-study, and devotion to the Lord.”

Kriya meditation and yoga techniques have been around for thousands of years but were kept a secret to protect their purity. These techniques were utilized by Jesus Christ and his disciples, the Buddha and his followers, and Arjuna, the most powerful archer in history, as noted in the ancient Indian epic, Mahabharata. Arjuna and Krishna’s dialogue is found in the Bhagavad Gita.

Kriya Yoga was reinitiated into the physical world in 1861 when spiritual initiate Lahiri Mahasaya asked Babaji to be his guru. In return, Babaji transmitted to him the ancient and powerful knowledge of Kriya Yoga.
Sri Yukteswar, one of Lahiri’s disciples, requested the Kriya transmission from Mahasaya Lahiri, and it was granted. Paramahansa Yogananda was one of Sri Yukteswar’s disciples, who received the Kriya teachings when he was in his 20’s.

During a meditation in his home, Yogananda sought Babaji for reassurance in his quest to take Kriya Yoga to the west. Babaji appeared to him, gave him the assurance he needed, and then disappeared.
Describing Babaji’s eternal role here on earth, Paramahansa Yogananda wrote, “Babaji is well aware of the trend of modern times, especially of the influence and complexities of Western civilization. He realizes the necessity of spreading the self-liberation of yoga equally in the West and the East.”

Babaji promises to guide all Kriya Yogis on our quests toward liberation.

Mahavatar Babaji’s Home

The small, humble village in the Himalaya Mountains known as Badrinath, in Uttarakhand, India, has long been considered the home of Babaji. The large temple in the town, The Temple of Badrinath, is regarded as an eternal doorway to Babaji, through his prior incarnation, Narayan. Hundreds of thousands of people visit this site every year to chant his name.

Adi Shakira, a late-7th-century philosopher and theologian, and the yogi who consolidated the Advaita Vedanta doctrine is credited with reestablishing Badrinath as a holy site and preeminent stop on any pilgrimage. Adi compiled the main concepts of Vedanta which formed the basis for today’s Hinduism.

Yogis of the Himalayas who wish to connect with Babaji will faithfully pray to Narayan at this magical temple. They chant the names Narayan, Babaji, Krishna, Babaji-Krishna and Babaji-Narayan hoping to receive their blessings.

As noted in the Bhagavata Purana, ”There in Badrikashram, the supreme being, in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities.”

This is a reminder of a true Yogi’s sadhana in Amma’s (The Hugging Saint’s) mantra, “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu,” which translates roughly to, “May all the Beings in all the worlds be happy.”

Babaji Quotes

“Love is the undisturbed balance that binds this universe together.”
“The Divine realm extends to the earthly; but the later, illusory in nature, does not contain the essence of Reality.”
“Even in the world, the yogi who faithfully discharges his responsibilities, without personal motive or attachment, treads the sure path of enlightenment.”
“Even a little practice of this dharma (through religious rites and righteous action) will save you from great fear, the colossal sufferings inherent in the repeated cycles of birth and death.”
“For the faults of the many, judge not the whole. Everything on earth is of mixed character, like a mingling of sand and sugar. Be like the wise ant which seizes only the sugar, and leaves the sand untouched.”

“Whenever Anyone Utters With Reverence The Name Of Babaji, That Devotee Attracts An Instant Spiritual Blessing.”
— Paramahansa Yogananda

How Do I Invite Mahavatar Babaji To Appear

As with all eternal masters, they might appear to us when we truly need it. Only they know what our soul requires for liberation.
Consider these ideas in your pursuit to merge with the eternal nature of Babaji:

If Your Desire Is To Be Showered With Babaji’s Love, Chant This Mantra For Some Time, “Om Babaji, Om Babaji, Om Babaji” With A Sweet And Vulnerable Reverence.
To Experience The Essence Of A Light-Being, You Might Imagine The Master’s Form And Bow To His Or Her Image. Humbly Ask For A Blessing By Saying, “My Heart Is Open. I Am Open. Bless Me With Your Light So That I Can Grow In Love.” You Might Also Speak To Babaji As Your Most Treasured Friend.
Consider These Chants To Invoke These Divine Incarnations:
- “Om Hreem Kreem Babaji Namaha”
- “Om Kreem Babaji-Narayan Namaha”
- “Om Hreem Narayan, Om Hreem Krishna, Om Hreem Babaji-Krishna Namaha”
Some Might Also Chant The Maha Mantra, Found In The Upanishads:
- “Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare Hare. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare.”
This Divine Meditation Technique Might Also Be Of Help:
- Sit cross-legged on the floor or in a comfortable chair, with your spine straight.
- Take ten very slow and deep breaths, commanding that each breath’s energy fill your body’s cells, organs, and systems with light and love.
- Take another ten breaths, using them to go deeper within yourself so that you can be without thoughts.
- Imagine the physical form of Mahavatar Babaji in front of you. See him at the age of 25, filled with light, copper skin and brown hair, and with rose petals at his feet. Ask Babaji to fill your heart and life with peace and love.
- Consider repeating in your mind, “Mahavatar Babaji, have mercy upon me.” You might also repeat “Mahavatar Babaji” in your mind upon inhaling, and then “have mercy upon me” upon exhale. Use a cadence that opens your heart.
- After some time, say this aloud, “Sitting within the sphere of the divine light of my master Babaji, I am safe, whole, happy and aware. I seek the master’s divine presence, love, blessing, and guidance in my life. I am with you master, forevermore.”
- Take ten more breaths and imagine the love of the universe filling your vessel. Pray for a handful of people whom you love. Open your eyes and have a blessed day.

Even if we do not experience visitations of spirit, when we seek the eternal light in specific forms, we will undoubtedly receive their essence in the forms of joy, light, love, and peace.

May 5, 2020March 28, 2024

Chögyam Trungpa: Crazy Wisdom

Chögyam Trungpa was a profound soul.

I was entranced with the beautiful writings of Chögyam Trungpa for many years. His book, Shambhala: The Sacred Path of The Warrior became a staple in my life. It opened my eyes to spiritual potential and deepened my understanding of life, love, and the divine.

The more I learned, the more I craved Chögyam Trungpa’s books. When I meditated on him, I could feel his playful and loving heart. He had died a few months prior to my first experience of his unique spirit and work.

My favorite Chögyam Trungpa quotes are, “Everyone loves something, even if it’s only tortillas” and “The ideal of warriorship is that the warrior should be sad and tender, and because of that, the warrior can be very brave as well.”

A prolific writer and Buddhist meditation master, Chögyam Trungpa (March 5, 1939 – April 4, 1987) is among the first masters who brought Buddhist teachings to the west and made them accessible. The holder of the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages, Chögyam Trungpa, was a brilliant man who lived a remarkable life.

Besides being the 11th Trungpa Tülku, an incarnating line of Tibetan lamas, Chögyam was:

A radical, groundbreaking teacher in the Vajrayana school of Buddhism
A re-imaginer of the original visions of Shambhala (a mythic Buddhist kingdom)
A Tertön, someone who discovers ancient, hidden, Tibetan Buddhist texts
The Supreme Abbot of the Surgmang Monasteries
Globally adored Poet, Artist, and Scholar

“Enlightenment Is Ego’s Ultimate Disappointment.”
― Chögyam Trungpa

The Adventurous Life Of Chögyam Trungpa

While studying meditation, philosophy, calligraphy, painting, and monastic dance, Chögyam Trungpa became a monk in 1947. In the 1950s, when Chinese communists repatriated Tibet, the Rinpoche trekked over the Himalayas and narrowly escaped capture. He reached India in 1959 and began teaching Buddhism to young lamas in Delhi, India.

Fluent in English, Chögyam Trungpa studied at Oxford, and taught throughout North America and Europe, giving thousands of talks to eager initiates.

Known for presenting Buddhist teachings in secular terms, Chögyam founded his growing Buddhist community and teachings under the name, “Vajradhatu” in 1973. The organization was renamed, “Shambhala International” in 2000 by his son, born to a nun named Lady Kunchok Palden.

Shambhala International focuses on Buddhadharma, meditation, mindfulness, wakefulness, creativity, and new thoughts on living a peaceful life.

In 1970, Chögyam married a wealthy sixteen-year-old student named Diana Judith Pybus (also known as Diana J. Mukpo). They had three sons together, two of whom are recognized as reincarnations of Buddhist lamas. Diana also had a son out of wedlock, Ashoka Mukpo, raised by Chögyam, who is also considered a reincarnated Tibetan lama.

Ashoka states on his blog about his father, “I believe from the bottom of my heart that we will be unpacking his life and teachings for a thousand years.”

Diana wrote a book entitled, “Dragon Thunder: My Life with Chögyam Trungpa”, which details the challenges and triumphs living with the Buddhist master. While remarkable, their marriage wasn’t all malas, mantras, and magic.

In 1974, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche founded Naropa in Boulder CO, the first Buddhist-inspired university in the United States. Chögyam’s books are published by Shambhala Publications and is not affiliated with Shambala International or Naropa University.

To many Buddhists, Chögyam Trungpa is known as a profound and enlightened Buddhist master. He is also one of the most influential spiritual leaders of our time. His books and lectures are considered essential teachings on meditation and Buddhadharma.

The Chogyam Trungpa documentary, “Crazy Wisdom: The Life & Times of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche” can be found on online and in stores.

“We Do Not Have To Be Ashamed Of What We Are. As Sentient Beings, We Have Wonderful Backgrounds. These Backgrounds May Not Be Particularly Enlightened Or Peaceful Or Intelligent. Nevertheless, We Have Soil Good Enough To Cultivate; We Can Plant Anything In It.”
― Chögyam Trungpa

Chögyam Trungpa Books

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s work is vast and profound, so please do not allow this short list to limit your exploration of his work.

Here are a few highlights among his remarkable publications:

Born in Tibet (1966), autobiography, the story of escaping from Tibet
Meditation in Action (1969)
Mudra (1972)
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism (1973)
The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo, translated with commentary by Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa (1975)
Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior (1984)
Crazy Wisdom (1991)
The Heart of the Buddha (1991)
Secret Beyond Thought: The Five Chakras and the Four Karmas (1991)
The Lion’s Roar: An Introduction to Tantra (1992)
Timely Rain: Selected Poetry of Chögyam Trungpa (1998)
Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala (1999)
Glimpses of Space: The Feminine Principle and Evam (1999)
The Essential Chögyam Trungpa (2000)

Famous Chögyam Trungpa Quotes

It’s impossible to encapsulate the writing of Chögyam Trungpa in a few quotes, but here are a handful of his thoughts that might inspire an opening of heart and mind:

“Shambhala vision teaches that in the face of the world’s great problems, we can be heroic and kind at the same time.”
“Becoming “awake” involves seeing our confusion more clearly.”
“As long as a person is involved with warfare, trying to defend or attack, then his action is not sacred; it is mundane, dualistic, a battlefield situation.”
“When we talk about compassion, we talk in terms of being kind. But compassion is not so much being kind; it is creative to wake a person up.”
“Enlightened society has to be real and good, honest, and genuine.”
“When we are afraid of ourselves and afraid of the seeming threat the world presents, then we become extremely selfish. We want to build our little nests, our cocoons so that we can securely live by ourselves.”
“The key to warriorship and the first principle of Shambhala vision is not being afraid of who you are. Ultimately, that is the definition of bravery: not being afraid of yourself.”
“Warriorship is so tender, without skin, without tissue, naked and raw. It is soft and gentle. You have renounced putting on a new suit of armor. You have renounced growing a thick, hard skin. You are willing to expose naked flesh, bone, and marrow to the world.”
“Meditation, or samadhi, is connected with the idea of overcoming the constant search for entertainment.”

The Wild Side Of Chögyam Trungpa

It might be said that every master who can see through the veils of reality might also enjoy an occasional, secret dip into the most human enslavements.

To boot, any great re-imaginer and re-presenter of ancient texts are bound to cross lines that most of us would consider sacred. Whether the crossing of these lines is inconsistent with the path leading to liberation is up to the reader.

Chögyam taught many students to explore their wild natures so that they could know their passions, depths, and limits. He encouraged others to seek authenticity in pursuit of knowing their gifts, values, and uniqueness. Given the wide berth he gave his followers, Chögyam may have imagined that each soul would eventually tire of these mundane activities and seek the divine.

Chögyam Trungpa loved to engage elite and revolutionary writers, artists, and thinkers. His students included the famous author Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck, and the lovely Joni Mitchell. He also spent time with the voice of the Beat Generation, Allen Ginsberg, and poets W.S. Merwin and Anne Waldman, among many others.

It was said that Chögyam Trungpa enjoyed drinking alcohol, and on occasion, used cocaine. Some have said that they would not recommend becoming a student of his due to his narcissistic and sexual tendencies. Chögyam’s wild side could be challenging, off-putting, and potentially dangerous, if not harmful to others.

When we dance with the pains, perilous thoughts, and behaviors of humanity, either as a writer, artist, or teacher, we begin to see that every vice is akin to the others. Over time, the collection of human vices becomes a collage, each one fading into the next. There is no reason to judge one vice over another, except in the harm that it might engender to ourselves and others.

There have been other accusations against Chögyam Trungpa, including sexual liaisons, consorts, and the like. While we cannot know the depths of pain that Chögyam may have inspired in others, we must realize that not all teachers are as pure as they portray. If we weren’t present to the mayhem, we might never know the truth. Chögyam said, “You shouldn’t imitate or judge the behavior of your teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche unless you can imitate his mind.”

It might be said that Trungpa enjoyed provoking people, even shocking them, out of their attitudes, masks, apathy, and aloofness, with the hope that they might seek expansion and liberation.

“My Devotion And Gratitude To The Vidyadhara Know No Horizon For Bringing Us The Blessings Of Our Lineage, Which Continue To Inspire Me To Be A Genuine And Compassionate Human Being. It Bears Remembering How Difficult It Was For Him To Transmit That Lineage, And What An Integral Part Of His Heart And Mind It Was. I Have Great Faith That We Are In A Special Moment Right Now; May The Memory And Legacy Of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche Guide Us.”
— Ashoka Mukpo, Journalist, Photographer, and adopted son of Chögyam Trungpa

Chögyam Trungpa’s Controversial Son

When high-profile, spiritual leaders repeatedly make mistakes that hurt others, it’s usually the sign of something much deeper and more problematic, not only within the individual but also within the related organization.

Born Sawang Ösel Rangdröl Mukpo, Mipham Rinpoche, also known as Sakyong or King, is the leader of one of the most expansive Buddhist organizations in the world, known as Shambhala International, which includes over 220 centers, groups and gathering halls in over 50 countries. It was initially founded under a different name by his father, Chögyam Trungpa. Sakyong Trungpa is Chögyam Trungpa’s son and spiritual heir in this life.

Chögyam imparted profound Buddhist teachings to his children but may have imbued his son with sexual and mischievous ideas and behaviors, along with other related dependencies and complications. It is impossible to know what was transmitted, transmuted, and consumed into Sakyong Trungpa.

Choseng Trungpa Rinpoche: The Reincarnation Of Chögyam Trungpa

It appears that the teachings of Chögyam Rinpoche are getting a second life. Choseng Trungpa has born as the 12th and current Trungpa Tülku on February 6, 1989, in eastern Tibet. Enthroned at Surmang Monastery, where his father Chögyam Trungpa was the most recent abbot, Choseng has been officially recognized as the reincarnation (reemergence into a new life through birth) of Chögyam Trungpa.

It’s True: In Life And Death, What Comes Around, Goes Around!

Alchemy’s Revival: Transformation

“The True Alchemists Do Not Change Lead Into Gold; They Change The World Into Words.” ― William H. Gass, A Temple of Texts

The Light Beyond The Stars

What Is Alchemy?

In Paulo Coelho’s highly acclaimed book, The Alchemist, he writes:

Alchemy Today

“Closer Examination Of The Dark Characteristics – That Is, The Inferiorities Constituting The Shadow – Reveals That They Have An Emotional Nature, A Kind Of Autonomy, And Accordingly An Obsessive Or, Better, Possessive Quality.” – Carl Jung

Secret Ciphers And Cryptic Symbolism

Notable Alchemists

How Can I Use Alchemy To Improve My Life?

“This power came forth out of the Atlantic Ocean … an island larger than Libya and Asia put together … Now in this island of Atlantis, there was a great and wonderful empire which had rule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of the continent.” ― Plato, Timaeus/Critias

The Richat Structure And Atlantis

More Similarities Between Atlantis And The Eye Of The Sahara

The History Of Masonry

The Freemasons Of The United States

Masonic Secret Society

But that’s not to say Freemasonry’s history is entirely free of controversy…

Masonic Rituals

Masonic Symbolism And Texts

Freemason Handshakes And Secret Masonic Hand Signs

Masonic Secret Word

Freemasonry Criticism

Freemason Strong

Did the arrival of these drugs on Egyptian soil begin with a trade? Or was there another source for the drug already thriving in Egypt?

How Did Henut Taui Source Her Cocaine?

The History Of Fake Mummies

Cultural And Academic Snobbery

Proven Ancient Trade Routes

Filling In Historical Gaps

The Magical Allure Of Temple of Damanhur

(*) Only Class A citizens can use the time machine.

WAIT, THERE’S A TIME MACHINE?!

Damanhur Time Travel And Singing Plants

The Idea Of The Damanhur Cult – An Overreaction?

“No man from outside can make you free; nor can organized worship, nor the immolation of yourselves for a cause, make you free; nor can forming yourselves into an organization, nor throwing yourselves into work, make you free.” — Krishnamurti

Damanhur Temples Of Humankind

Free Will

Don’t Drink Anybody’s Kool-Aid, Except Your Own.

The Bhagwan

How To Avoid Toxicity

Wild, Wild Country

Rajneeshpuram: The Rajneesh Compound

Who Are The Living Spiritual Masters In The World?

Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)

Mother Meera

Thich Nhat Hanh

Onward On The Path

“There Is No Way To Happiness. Happiness Is The Way.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

Plum Village Monastery

“When You Touch One Thing With Deep Awareness, You Touch Everything.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

Thay’s Remarkable Accomplishments

His monasteries and Dharma centers include:

Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes

Thich Nhat Hanh Books

Living And Dying In Peace

“If You Come To Doubt, I’ll Give You Every Reason To Doubt. If You Come Suspicious, I’ll Give You Every Reason To Be Suspicious. But If You Come Seeking Love, I’ll Show You More Love Than You’ve Ever Known.” — Mahavatar Babaji

Mahavatar Babaji’s Quick Ascent

Kriya Yoga Comes Back To Life

Babaji promises to guide all Kriya Yogis on our quests toward liberation.

Mahavatar Babaji’s Home

Babaji Quotes

“Whenever Anyone Utters With Reverence The Name Of Babaji, That Devotee Attracts An Instant Spiritual Blessing.” — Paramahansa Yogananda

How Do I Invite Mahavatar Babaji To Appear

Besides being the 11th Trungpa Tülku, an incarnating line of Tibetan lamas, Chögyam was:

“Enlightenment Is Ego’s Ultimate Disappointment.” ― Chögyam Trungpa

The Adventurous Life Of Chögyam Trungpa

“We Do Not Have To Be Ashamed Of What We Are. As Sentient Beings, We Have Wonderful Backgrounds. These Backgrounds May Not Be Particularly Enlightened Or Peaceful Or Intelligent. Nevertheless, We Have Soil Good Enough To Cultivate; We Can Plant Anything In It.” ― Chögyam Trungpa

Chögyam Trungpa Books

Here are a few highlights among his remarkable publications:

Famous Chögyam Trungpa Quotes

The Wild Side Of Chögyam Trungpa

Chögyam Trungpa’s Controversial Son

Choseng Trungpa Rinpoche: The Reincarnation Of Chögyam Trungpa

Testimonials

Ana P

Dr. D.

Mina W

Lee H

Mandy C

Ben T

“The True Alchemists Do Not Change Lead Into Gold;
They Change The World Into Words.”
― William H. Gass, A Temple of Texts

“Closer Examination Of The Dark Characteristics – That Is, The Inferiorities Constituting The Shadow – Reveals That They Have An Emotional Nature, A Kind Of Autonomy, And Accordingly An Obsessive Or, Better, Possessive Quality.”
– Carl Jung

“This power came forth out of the Atlantic Ocean … an island larger than Libya and Asia put together … Now in this island of Atlantis, there was a great and wonderful empire which had rule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of the continent.”
― Plato, Timaeus/Critias

“No man from outside can make you free; nor can organized worship, nor the immolation of yourselves for a cause, make you free; nor can forming yourselves into an organization, nor throwing yourselves into work, make you free.”
— Krishnamurti

“There Is No Way To Happiness. Happiness Is The Way.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

“When You Touch One Thing With Deep Awareness, You Touch Everything.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

“If You Come To Doubt, I’ll Give You Every Reason To Doubt. If You Come Suspicious, I’ll Give You Every Reason To Be Suspicious. But If You Come Seeking Love, I’ll Show You More Love Than You’ve Ever Known.”
— Mahavatar Babaji

“Whenever Anyone Utters With Reverence The Name Of Babaji, That Devotee Attracts An Instant Spiritual Blessing.”
— Paramahansa Yogananda

“Enlightenment Is Ego’s Ultimate Disappointment.”
― Chögyam Trungpa

“We Do Not Have To Be Ashamed Of What We Are. As Sentient Beings, We Have Wonderful Backgrounds. These Backgrounds May Not Be Particularly Enlightened Or Peaceful Or Intelligent. Nevertheless, We Have Soil Good Enough To Cultivate; We Can Plant Anything In It.”
― Chögyam Trungpa