While your mind will naturally take you off course and away from your pure Self, your mind is also the key to your liberation – because it conjures the thought to enroll you in the path to freedom. Picture your mind as a vibrant landscape, where each thought and desire plants a seed that can either flourish into a beautiful garden or conjure a tangled thicket.

In this inner world, desires take two forms: those that elevate and those that bind – those that are noble – focused on enlightenment and love, and those that are base – devoid of light and love.

The noble desires, akin to rays of sunlight, guide you toward enlightenment and freedom. They are the seeds of compassion, love, and a deep yearning for spiritual growth. These desires illuminate your path, clearing the way for a journey filled with purpose and liberation.

On the other hand, base desires such as lust, envy, vengeance, and greed are like shadows that obscure the beauty of your inner garden. They cloud your understanding and hinder your progress on the spiritual path. Recognizing these desires for what they are is the first step toward transformation.

“I am no longer the wave of consciousness thinking itself separated from the sea of cosmic consciousness. I am the ocean of Spirit that has become the wave of human life.” ~ Paramahansa Yogananda

Some might say that most of our desires are tainted – but you can cleanse your desires through thoughtful scrutiny and discernment. You can dissect each desire before taking action on it. If you use a simple method of evaluation, you can determine which aspects of each desire should stay and which should be removed. You are the master of your desires, if you wish to be.

Many of us thrust into our desires the moment they emerge. We barely pause to breathe before embracing even the most base desires. We believe that our natural urges are continuously working in our favor, but they are not. Our natural urges are born from an unmonitored ego and mind. These urges respond to chemicals running through our bodies, not our most divinely inspired intentions. 

Each thought you have is either a gift or a hindrance. It’s up to you to evaluate it in the moment – and take care to pause if the thought is working against your peacefulness and divine nature.

From our thoughts, we establish intentions. From intentions, we conjure actions. From our actions we create our lives. Be careful with each thought that arises so that you are continually protecting the present moment and the path ahead.

What Is Sadhana & How Does It Help?

Sadhana, or spiritual practice, cultivates a profound and illuminating exploration of the soul and helps us establish streams of noble desires. Tending to your garden with care in this way, a calmness will blossom as a sign of your spiritual evolution. 

When we practice Sadhana through meditation, chanting mantras, engaging in prayer, performing rituals, practicing yoga, offering selfless service, smiling, or loving others unconditionally, we open our hearts to universal joy and a blissful consciousness. With practice, our lives become vibrant tapestries emanating divine light and love to benefit all Creation.

Sadhana, in its myriad forms, is not merely a set of practices but a way of life that guides us back to our true Selves. It is a journey that begins with a single step towards inner transformation, leading us through the false and stuck layers of our Being, to the core where our spirit resides. In this sacred space, we find clarity and purpose, and our daily actions become reflections of our love of The Divine.

Meditation, the primary modality toward our liberation,  is a profound tool for transforming the mind, offering a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond the moments of stillness. At its core, meditation cultivates a deep sense of inner peace, clarity, and awareness, enabling individuals to navigate the complexities of life with greater ease and resilience. By regularly engaging in this practice, one learns to quiet the incessant chatter of the mind, become a witness to thought, thereby reducing stress and enhancing overall well-Being. 

Meditation helps us release emotions and dissolve the cores of our traumas. Over time, it improves focus, creativity, and emotional intelligence. As we become more present and attentive to Now, we develop a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us, enriching our experiences and relationships. Meditation is the most profound pathway to spiritual growth.

In essence, the value of meditation lies in its ability to transform our relationship with our minds, opening the door to a life marked by peace, purpose, and profound joy. 

“The more space you create between your body, mind, and spirit, the more your focus rises into the heart and crown chakras, inviting non-linear, non-physical, divine, and other extraordinary experiences.” ~ Shri Krishna Kalesh

As we chant mantras, the vibratory energy resonates within, harmonizing our inner frequencies with the universe. This alignment brings forth a sense of unity and belonging, reminding us that we are not isolated entities but integral parts of the cosmic whole. Prayer, in its sincere form, becomes a dialogue with The Divine, where our fears, emotions, challenges, hopes, and gratitude are shared, fostering a relationship built on faith in the eternal and providing nature of The Cosmos.

Rituals, physicalized metaphors of our union with The Divine, with their symbolic gestures and offerings, connect us to the traditions and wisdom of the past, anchoring us in the present with a conscious acknowledgment of our power and presence. Yoga, as a holistic practice, unites body, mind, and spirit, offering a physical and metaphysical balance that radiates health, purity, divinity, and serenity.

Selfless service, or Seva, allows us to step beyond the confines of our ego, to touch the lives of others in powerful ways. This act of giving without expectation purifies the heart and cultivates compassion and empathy, qualities essential for spiritual transformation. Smiling, a simple yet profound gesture, has the power to break barriers and build bridges, spreading joy, inspiring hope, and fostering the birth of light and love in the world.

Loving others unconditionally is perhaps the most challenging yet rewarding aspect of Sadhana. It asks us to look beyond the surface, to recognize and honor the divine spark in every Being. This love, free from judgment, projection, and expectation, heals and transforms us all, creating environments where kindness flourishes.

“Stand up tall. Do not be afraid any longer. There’s nothing that can hurt you. There’s nothing in this world that can actually do anything to you. You are free. You are the substratum of all existence. Everything is an image on Consciousness. The whole universe, all the planets, all the galaxies, are all images, on consciousness, and you are consciousness. Know yourself and be free.” ~ Ram Dass

When we commit to Sadhana, we invite light into our lives, dispelling the shadows of doubt and fear. Our perspectives shift, our relationships deepen, and our actions gain meaning. Challenges become opportunities for growth, and setbacks, lessons in resilience. We learn to embrace each moment with gratitude, seeing the beauty in the mundane and the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Our lives, enriched by these practices, become beacons of hope and inspiration for those around us. We realize that happiness is not a distant goal but a present reality, accessible through the simple act of turning inward and extending outward with love and compassion. In this way, Sadhana becomes not just a practice but a celebration of life itself, a testament to the transformative power of love and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Approach Sadhana with an open heart and tempered mind. Be ready to embark on this journey of Self-discovery and freedom. This will elevate you as you contribute to the upliftment of the world, creating a legacy of love and peace that transcends spacetime.

From Broken To Divine Mind

Our fears and worries, those shadowy figures that often loom large in our minds, are indeed creations of our own making. Before they took root in our consciousness, they were non-existent, mere potentialities that we breathed life into through our thoughts and perceptions. 

This realization is both sobering and liberating, for it reveals that just as we have the power to create our fears, we also possess the power to dissolve them.

At our core, we are Beings of light, embodiments of peace and love. This is our natural state, our most authentic self. However, over time, our minds, like gardens untended, can become overrun with the weeds of negative thinking, past traumas, and societal conditioning. These influences distort our perception of reality, leading us to view life through a lens of fear and scarcity rather than one of love and abundance.

“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Our apparently broken minds are not inherently flawed but simply misguided, having lost their way in the dense forest of egoic illusion (Maya). The fears and worries we experience are not reflections of the world as it is but projections of our inner turmoil. They are phantoms, devoid of substance, yet they wield immense power over us, clouding our judgment and leading us away from our divine intentions.

The journey back to our pure Selves, to a life of peace and fulfillment, begins with the recognition of our fears as creations of the mind. By observing our thoughts without attachment, we can start to see these fears for what they truly are – transient, insubstantial, and ultimately, conquerable. This practice of mindfulness, a key aspect of Sadhana, allows us to detach from the mental narratives that feed our anxieties and to return to the present moment, where peace resides.

Engaging in positive perspectives, meditation, and other spiritual practices can help reprogram our minds, replacing fear-based thinking with thoughts rooted in love, gratitude, and trust. As we cultivate a more loving and compassionate relationship with ourselves, our perception of the world changes. We begin to see opportunities where we once saw obstacles, and our problems become less intimidating, more like puzzles to be solved with creativity, patience – even laughter. Yes, laughing at ourselves can go a long way!

In this light, our fears and worries are not curses but imagined disruptions. If we can command them into nothingness, we can grow our faith and deepen our connection with The Divine. Our mental perseverations remind us that we are still allowing the mind and ego to rule the day. 

Truly, we are not bound by the creations of our minds unless we choose to be. In every moment, we have the choice to return to love, to align our thoughts, words, and actions with our most divine intentions, and to live a life of peace, hope, and limitless potential.

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” ~ Ram Dass

In this way, we not only liberate ourselves from the shackles of fear and worry – but also light the way for others, proving that a life beyond stress and anxiety is not only possible, but our birthright.

Imagine your purified mind as a clear, tranquil lake, reflecting the sky above without a ripple. This calmness is not just a state of mind but a beacon guiding you forward. You can live in partnership with this beacon, continuously hearing its call and responding with right thought, right intention, and right action.

Dive deeply into your heart with your purified mind and a resounding peace and clarity will emerge. When we allow this to happen, we embolden our resolve to become Self-realized.

Enlightened Masters On Desire

Sri Ramana Maharshi, Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi), and Paramahansa Yogananda, though coming from distinct spiritual backgrounds, share common ground in their understanding of desires and suffering. Each, in their unique way, addresses the root causes of suffering and the role of desires in the spiritual journey. 

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Sri Ramana Maharshi taught that not all desires inherently lead to suffering; rather, it is only the base desires that lead to suffering, while the noble desires illuminate our lives toward liberation. the attachment to the outcomes of these desires that causes pain. 

Maharshi might ask a seeker to inquire, “Who is it that desires?” By deeply investigating the source of desire within the Self, one realizes that true happiness and peace are not found in the fulfillment of desires but in the recognition of one’s true nature as the pure eternal Self (Brahman), extending far beyond the ego, mind, and their cravings.

Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)

Amma, with her boundless compassion and love, might approach this question by acknowledging the natural human experience of desire but would also highlight the importance of discerning between transient pleasures and the deeper longing for spiritual fulfillment. She could explain that desires rooted in the ego and materialism lead to suffering because they are insatiable and fleeting. 

Even in death, we are confronted with the loss of the results of our desires and that all desires are not real. She teaches that the desire to grow spiritually, serve others selflessly, love unconditionally are expressions of The Divine within us and lead us toward true happiness and liberation from all suffering.

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda, with his teachings on Kriya Yoga and Self-realization, differentiated between worldly desires, which can entangle us further in the cycle of karma and rebirth, and divine desires, which propel us toward our ultimate goal of union with The Divine. Yogananda often taught that by practicing meditation and living a spiritually-focused life, one can transcend lower desires and cultivate divine desires, thus reducing suffering and moving closer to God-realization.

“The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it.” ~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Finally

Our desires are born from our essence. If we are purifying ourselves daily, our desires become purified. This results in less suffering and further cements our habits and path toward enlightenment. 

By embracing Sadhana, our spiritual practices, we embark on a transformative path, gently unraveling the false and concreted layers of our Being to uncover the essence of our true nature. 

Through these ancient practices, you will eventually distinguish between the transient cravings of your ego and your soul’s deeper yearnings for a divine and fulfilling transcendence. 

Begin with just a few minutes of meditation and prayer each morning and evening. This will help you lay the foundation for habits that blossom into preferences, guiding you ever closer to embodying your purest Self amid purified desires. 

This simple, yet profound, commitment to Sadhana can illuminate your heart and mind, and transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Over time, your daily practices can lead you to the realization that within you lives an infinite wellspring of peace and a constant flow of boundless love from The Cosmos to YOU.

Nourish your connection to your spiritual essence, one breath at a time, one moment at a time, one day at a time, and so on. You are far more expanded than you realize.

You will love The Shankara Oracle as it will take you deeply within yourself and connect you with your pure, divine Self.

Holy Chaos: Israel To Be Replaced With A World-Religion Theme Park

Truth be told, I don’t love the concept of countries – mine or anyone else’s. 

Why? Because the idea of “country” that’s emerged over the years is no longer about preserving beautiful cultures, honoring unique peoples and traditions – and serving them with statehood: Now, it’s about making sure that some cultures die horrible deaths, all in the name of fear, hatred, oil, control, and the darkest of prejudice. 

Meanwhile, most religions are based in such extreme and hidden hatred, they’ve become somewhat irrelevant to me. To practice religions where little boys are raped and women are silenced or killed is insane to me. How can you support them? You’re complicit. 

I say – dismantle them because they are nothing. They mean nothing. There is no integrity, virtue, or value in such an organization – OR in the people who support them. Given all that, they should at least be paying taxes simply for being silly, dishonest cunts.

While this article pokes fun at my disdain for Israel’s actions throughout the years, I have disdain for many countries. I do love Israel, but have also given up on it. It’s just a hateful war machine now – and a tool for the US to exploit for its benefit. 

That said, Israel’s women are beautiful and powerful – and the food is amazing. And Israel is one of the most successful makers of tampons, which is nice. 

Maybe they should use that same fabric to plug the wounds of all the people they’ve injured and massacred over the years.

More To My Point

Long ago, Britain gave Israel its land – only the land already belonged to someone else. 

During “The Nakba,” a secret political deal forced nearly 800K Palestinians from their ancestral land to make way for what eventually became a massive military base – created by the insane Zionists, Britain, and the US – to be called Israel. While a nice sentiment, it created immense havoc. The hatred that ensued has become epic and beyond repair. 

Even now, the US continues to vote against a Palestinian state. How is this possible?

Israel was a great idea for Britain and the US – “let’s force ourselves into an area of the world where we are not welcome, under the guise of a new country – and let’s call it Israel.” 

Since the US was failing at infiltrating Muslim and other countries to the point of owning them, they needed their ally Britain to find a way to have a commanding military presence in the Middle East. Using Holocaust guilt as a short-sighted ploy, Israel was born.

The term “Nakba,” (“catastrophe” in Arabic), refers to the harsh invasion of (obviously) Palestinian land in 1948, which resulted in the displacement of an insane number of Palestinians. This is akin to what the US did to countless Native Americans. Apparently, Oklahoma wasn’t what it was cracked up to be, either.

The creation of Israel was greatly influenced by the Zionists, who are some of the most hateful and ignorant twatwaffles on Earth. Zionists seem to only have sex with their cousins and siblings, which sounds fun, but it’s really dangerous, I mean, from a medical perspective. It must do something to the brain where they can only perceive other potential lovers if they resemble their mother in some way. More testing is needed in this area.

The twisted Zionist goal has always been to establish a military complex and spy network to alienate (rape, kill, and starve) Palestinians and Muslims. Their hatred (and inbreeding) runs deep. It might be said that Israel was given birth in exchange for the guilt the US and Britain felt after allowing Hitler to succeed for so long – and for allowing their nations corporations to support and empower The Third Reich. Thank you, IBM! You wicked Nazi-lovers!

The Israel initiative had horrendous implications for the Arab populations living in the region, leading to ongoing conflict, hatred, murder, rape, and displacement that persists to this day. 

I mean, from a Palestinian perspective, how do you forgive such a thing, especially when they had no say in the matter – and Israel continues to deny it? These are dark times and Israel is the darkest horse – the epicenter of a new breed of shadow.

After killing more than 40,000 Palestinians in response to 200 wealthy college kids being kidnapped (and some killed), Israel has emerged a shining example of hatred and insanity in a world continuing to go mad. 

Israel could have taken the high road – and use the events as a pathway to peace and mutual respect. They could have looked at all the great things that have happened to them since 1948, but they didn’t. They could have been amazing – but, they were cunts.

The word cunts btw is not so charged outside the US. Scottish great grandmothers use it when swatting flies. We’re just a little touchy here in the US because we have so many woke, toxic, and politically correct idiots running around wild and free. Wouldn’t it be nice to send all of those people to Oklahoma – and give the Native Americans back their original land? I think so.

This Is Why Israel Should Be Replaced With A World Religion Theme Park!

As an act of karmic retribution, across all of Israel, all government structures and homes will be dismantled, and all stores, parks, churches, temples, heritage sites, and sacred iconography will be burned, sanitized, and turned into tampon containers. 

As Israel is lovingly “un-settled,” Israeli citizens will be encouraged to walk to Germany on one leg while whistling “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” where they will live in small huts made from the skin and screams of deceased Muslim children.

In the place of its people and infrastructure, a giant-sized theme park will arise from Israel’s ashes and feminine pads to embody the most irreverent, blasphemous, anti-religious, and hilarious experience imaginable.

This amazing park will be a shining example of how world religions should be viewed and experienced – according to the horror and insanity they bring into the world. 

By the way, I feel the same way about the US. I mean, it’s become quite an insane place filled with hatred, ignorance, and hypocrisy. And all of the following rides would be much more successful in the US, because, well, Americans just love illusions.

Let’s do this.

Announcing….

“Holy Chaos: The World-Religion Theme Park”! Where Invisible Friends Come To Die!

This divine, 5.472 million-acre, high-tech mind-fuck of a park will include over 1265 wild rides taking attendees through the world’s most revered beliefs – all reduced to absurd, sidesplitting attractions that will leave you questioning the sanity of the creators of every religion on Earth.

Holy Chaos plans to be the most sacrilegious adventure ever created.

Here are a few of the most promising rides in this inspiring, unholy park from hell:

Ride 1: “The Apocalypse Coaster: Armageddon Edition”

Experience the end of the world in glorious, gut-wrenching detail! This powerful aqua-coaster begins with the waterboarding of you and your closest friends – and ends when you exit your body to fuck the parasitic God of your choice. Enjoy fisting demons, flaming carcases, and a cameo from Donald Trump as he phalates your father and rapes a waitress in front of you – all while you’re serenaded by a heavy metal choir, vocals by young molested Catholic boy-singers, and the Christian rock-n-roll phenomenon The Imperials. 

Ride 2: “Mohammad’s Magic Carpet Ride of Doom!”

Take a thrilling journey through the Islamic afterlife on a magic carpet made from the hymens of early Christians. Adorn yourself with a Bedouin ceremonial gown and eat the recently sliced knuckles of the men who continue to rape and kill the Muslim women who speak their minds. 

As you traverse the various levels of this misguided testosterone ride from hell, enjoy a surprise visit from 72 underage virgins, each with their own unique sexually transmitted disease!

THEN, choose between life in prison (where you’ll be anally penetrated by Trump’s retarded insurrectionists) OR growing compassion and intelligence, which will cause you to drop your religion to become a human being.

If you love watching crazy people kill their beloved family members for reading western books and singing Dolly Parton tunes, you’ll LOVE this iconic ride!

Ride 3: “The Buddha’s Belly Buster”

Embrace the cycle of birth, suffering, and rebirth on a massive spinning Chakra-car that’ll leave you questioning your life choices – and blissfully regurgitating your lunch through multiple orifices. As you exit the ride, you’ll be tackled by a gargantuan-sized Buddha who will sit on your face and sing show tunes until you magically bleed 12 Jungian inkblots that point to the eventual-but-not-promised potential for your enlightenment.

Ride 4: “Kali’s Clitoris And The Holy Hindu Hellhole”

Confront the cycle of karma on a rollercoaster that’ll toss you through a psychedelic underworld filled with every demon and ex-spouse from your past lives – complete with a cameo from Kali – who will command a dildo-sword to penetrate you for each of your soul’s infractions throughout spacetime, even the minor ones.

As you disembark the giant clitoris karma-boat, enjoy lightly salted papadam and a generous portion of curry made from the ashes of the most vilified Pakistanis.

Ride 5: “The Mormon Tabernacle Choir of the Damned!”

Harmonize with the heavens on a gamified, musical thrillride that’ll have you baptizing the dead with goat blood, while screaming “Nearer, My God, to Thee” in ancient Dutch. For those chosen by the archangel Gabriel (or the college intern taking your ticket), you’ll be dressed in an elastic, rainbow unitard and blessed with a surprise visit from a lineage of Osmond Family zombies – who will molest you with their songs and smiles.

If you reach the game’s highest level, you’ll be awarded your own celestial kingdom, drenched in the urine of your 18 angry wives, and shipped to your new planet – genital-free.

Caution: Some mormons might find this unsettling.

Ride 6: “The Zen Garden Of Poison”

Find inner peace in this tranquil, poisonous Japanese garden, enhanced by water features built by stolen Chinese children – with 12,000 pounds of decapitating pressure thrusting into a crowd of nuns. Enjoy a large band of deaf, naked taiko drummers and a Sake-swilling Budda who reveals his most provocative tattoos – and turns his penis into a playful, Sanskrit-chanting puppet! Finally, be inspired by our special guests – the ghosts of David Carradine and his underage Chinese concubines, who will perform acrobatic lap dances while squirting their luscious pheromones into ceremonial tea cups – all to the tune of one hand clapping.

Ride 7: “The Catholic Confessional Coaster of Shame!”

Experience the thrill of absolution on a twisting, turning adventure that’ll leave you confessing your sins – along with your deepest, darkest secrets. For every infraction, you’ll be electrocuted by 4000 volts of forgiveness, while you hang upside-down over a pond filled with hungry, priestly pedaphiles. 99% of all riders defecate themselves into crisis-level dehydration and eventually tell the pope to fuck himself – all in exchange for a t-shirt that says “Jesus died for nothing!” and “Priests make the best rapists!” 

Bonus feature: If you torture a Catholic, an angel gets his wings!

Ride 8: “The Scientology Spinning E-Meter From Hell!”

Embrace the power of Xenu on a dizzying, spinning teacup that’ll have you screaming “Tom Cruise is my savior! Take me to my home planet, m*ther-f*cker!” As your soul’s resistance is zapped and disintegrated by the patented E-Meter (or psycho-calculator), you’ll review the long lineage of events and delusions that brought you to the religion in the first place. After you abandon your family, publicly berate the children you abandoned, and fistfuck a stranger for exiting the religion, you’ll get a free lunch in the cult’s commissary – and an ankle monitor FOR LIFE!

Ride 9: “The Israeli Zionist Fox Hunt”

Dress up like an old-style British aristocrat and hunt real-world Israeli Zionists as they wear fox ears and scurry the rocky hills of the former Israel. Trap them using the promise of world domination – and eat one of their fleshy sex organs – all to celebrate the emerging less-hateful world without them. The winner of each “Fox Run” will have the chance to dress the surviving Zionists in Marvel villain costumes of their choice – and sell their children to loving families who have experienced at least some form of genetic evolution.

Ride 10: “The Born-Again Christian Lazer Party”

Blindfold yourself at a theatrical cocktail party where REAL Born-Again Christians talk naturally about their hateful beliefs. When you’re confident you hear one of them speaking, you can tag them with a secret lazer light. 

Following the “party,” the patented theme-park technology will synthesize the data and pinpoint the locations of the most insane and inbred Born-Again Christians. Within moments, each Born-againer will spontaneously combust into bright colorful lights to the tune of “The Star Spangled Banner,” followed by “I Love My Truck.” Their ashes will be used to stuff refugee futons and pad the coffins of future Republicans.

All remaining Born-Againers will be forced to take a 900-day “retreat” on “How To Enjoy Gay Sex While Releasing White Nationalistic Tendencies.” Volunteers will be randomly selected for extreme “de-semenation” – and mini-workshops on how to pray-away the ignorance – and rectally take 10 inches with grace.

Disclaimer: This article is meant to be a work of satire and not intended to offend any religious beliefs or communities, except the ones that use God to justify war and revenge.

Important note: Your invisible friends are not real Gods, they’re projections of your ego and false temporary self-images – all of which you created to feel superior to others and subjugate those less fortunate. #suckaholydick #fuckzealots #JesusWasPalestinian

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Congratulations, You’re Having a Baby! But Are You Sure?

Ah, the miracle of life. That moment when a couple looks at each other and thinks, “Let’s make a tiny, adorable human!” The excitement is palpable, the nursery gets painted, and everyone starts cooing over tiny baby clothes and the potential for ginormous breasts. But hold on a second, are you really ready for what you’re signing up for? Because that adorable baby is only cute and tiny for, well, a very tiny period of time. The rest of the time, you’re raising a karma-inducing, planet-abusing, carnivore built for hurting nature and starting wars. Let’s break it down, shall we?

The Cute Phase: Blink and You’ll Miss It

Newborns are a delight, aren’t they? Soft, cooing, and wrapped up like a burrito of cuteness. But before you know it, that squishy bundle of joy transforms. First, it’s the drooling, then the teething, and soon they’re crawling into every nook and cranny, like a tiny, determined Roomba with an appetite for destruction.

The Toddler Years: Your New Overlord

As soon as they learn to walk, toddlers become tiny dictators. They don’t just want things; they demand them. Their favorite words? “No,” “Mine,” and “More!” Suddenly, your peaceful home becomes a battleground for toy possession and snack negotiations. Cute, right?

The Kid Years: Needy, Needy, Needy

Once the toddler phase is over, you might think you’re in the clear. But now you’ve got a full-blown kid on your hands. They need help with homework, want to join every extracurricular activity, and ask “Why?” about everything. And let’s not even get started on the sleepovers. You thought babies kept you up at night? Wait until you’ve got a house full of sugar-fueled kids.

The Teenage Mutant: Brace Yourself

Oh, the teenage years. Remember that sweet baby smell? Now it’s been replaced by the pungent aroma of body spray and gym socks. Your once adorable child is now a hormonal whirlwind, slamming doors and declaring that you just don’t understand. Cute baby, who?

The Adult Child: Surprise, They’re Still Around!

Eventually, they grow up and (hopefully) move out. But don’t get too comfortable. They’ll still need advice, money, and a place to crash when they’re “in between jobs.” And then, just when you think you’re done, they come back with their own tiny bundles of joy, and the cycle begins again.

The Bigger Picture: What Have We Done?

Let’s face it, folks. Babies are cute for a fleeting moment, but then they become humans. And humans, as we all know, are a mixed bag. We’re not just raising babies; we’re raising future contributors to traffic jams, office politics, and environmental degradation. Every cute baby today is a potential participant in tomorrow’s corporate boardroom or political debate.

The Spiritual Perspective: A Gift to the Universe

Now, here’s the kicker. Spiritual masters often say that by not having children, you’re giving the universe a great gift. Think about it. By not adding another human to the planet, you’re reducing the strain on Mother Earth, avoiding the karmic entanglements of parenthood, and giving yourself the freedom to pursue higher spiritual goals without the distractions of diaper changes and PTA meetings. Imagine the peace, the freedom, the sheer luxury of living a life unencumbered by the constant demands of another human being who relies on you for everything.

The Spiritual Benefits of Not Having Children

Choosing not to have children offers numerous spiritual benefits that can significantly enhance your journey towards enlightenment. Without the constant demands and responsibilities of parenthood, you have more time and energy to devote to spiritual practices, self-discovery, and inner growth.

Deeper Connection to the Self

The absence of child-rearing responsibilities allows for deeper introspection and a more profound connection to your true self. In the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, understanding the self (Atman) is crucial for realizing the ultimate reality (Brahman). This non-dualistic approach teaches that the individual soul is not separate from the universal consciousness. By not having children, you free yourself from the distractions and attachments that can cloud your perception and hinder your spiritual progress. You can immerse yourself in practices like meditation, self-inquiry, and mindfulness, all of which are essential for experiencing the oneness of existence.

Freedom from Karmic Entanglements

According to many spiritual traditions, including Advaita Vedanta, human relationships create karmic bonds that can either support or obstruct spiritual progress. Parenthood, in particular, can entangle individuals in deep karmic ties with their children, perpetuating cycles of attachment and desire. By choosing not to have children, you minimize these karmic interactions, allowing for a purer, more focused spiritual path. You can channel your energy towards understanding and dissolving past karmas, thereby moving closer to liberation (moksha).

Amplified Spiritual Practices

Without the obligations of raising children, you have the opportunity to engage more deeply in spiritual disciplines. You can dedicate more time to practices such as yoga, meditation, chanting, and reading sacred texts. This increased focus can lead to higher states of consciousness and profound spiritual insights. The peace and solitude that come with a child-free life provide the ideal environment for these practices to flourish.

Serving the Greater Good

Not having children can also allow you to serve the world in unique and impactful ways. With more time and resources at your disposal, you can contribute to causes that promote spiritual growth, environmental sustainability, and social justice. By dedicating your life to the service of others, you align with the principles of selflessness and compassion taught by spiritual masters. This path not only benefits the world but also accelerates your spiritual evolution by dissolving the ego and fostering a sense of unity with all beings.

Enhanced Focus on the Present Moment

Parenthood often involves a significant amount of worry and planning for the future. Without these concerns, you can live more fully in the present moment, appreciating the here and now. This mindfulness is a key aspect of many spiritual teachings, as it allows for a deeper connection to the divine and a greater sense of peace and contentment.

Conclusion

Choosing not to have children is not just a personal decision; it is a profound spiritual choice that can lead to greater freedom, deeper self-awareness, and enhanced spiritual growth. By freeing yourself from the responsibilities of parenthood, you create space for the universe to fulfill you in ways you may never have imagined. You open yourself to higher possibilities and align more closely with your true nature.

So, next time you look at that sonogram and imagine the sweet, cuddly moments ahead, remember this: you’re not just having a baby. You’re inviting a whirlwind of neediness, rebellion, and potential chaos into your life. It’s time to wake up to the ridiculous idea that having children is the ultimate fulfillment. In reality, it’s a choice filled with challenges, compromises, and often, significant sacrifices.

Why not give the universe a break and focus on fulfilling yourself? Allow the best of reality to come and fulfill you without the incessant demands of parenthood. Be seen, heard, and loved for the simplest version of you. Embrace the mindset: ‘Fuck it, I’ll be myself, let the best of reality come and fulfill me!’

Congratulations, and good luck! You’re going to need it. But perhaps, just perhaps, you might want to rethink the whole baby thing. Because sometimes, the greatest gift you can give to the universe—and to yourself—is to simply be.

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Embracing and Transforming Rumination: A Journey to Emotional Release and Healing

What Is Rumination? How Do You Ruminate?

Ruminating has Rumi’s name in it. Rumination can be a mystical transformative experience, but it can also be a circular obsession, an eventual prison.

In the process of a mystical experience or projection, rumination (Rumi-nating) is about transcendence. You’re mystifying the nature of the reality that you’re considering or thinking about, thereby detaching in a healthy way and looking for the spiritual truths around it. Ruminating in this way is wonderful. The best ruminations are transcending and transcendent, taking us into the mystical. On the dark side, you could be taking yourself into a box labeled healing, which is natural.

My hope is that you begin to release the stories that appear to define you—not drastically or dramatically, but by stopping the connection to those stories. There’s a way to talk about stories you might find helpful: looking at our stories as if they happened to someone else. This can help us draw a conclusion that could unlock us from the attachment to that story—truly detaching from it. From this high perch of the soaring Eagle, we can begin to see the value and the absurdity of holding onto that story as part of our narrative. As you ruminate, I hope you are releasing. Because if the rumination is circular, you will never break from the loop.

Reaffirming old stories through rumination, you begin to believe the mystical re-experiencing of the emotions of those stories to be real and happening now—that’s what your mind believes. In this case, the mind isn’t smart enough to know that the stories are old. It will cause you to believe that you cannot be reborn in this moment. Take this one additional step—ritualize the conclusion to this old-style rumination, however you have wrapped it in illuminating or mystical language.

The glorification of rumination distracts us from dealing with our actual, present, and repressed emotions. These emotions can ferment and become very comfortable inside of us, becoming like living organisms that attract things to us and inspire us to do things. We can become very comfortable with them, and they begin to ferment—fermentation produces alcohol. Then you’re kinda drunk, even peacefully, on what the emotions are producing and becoming within you. In their fermentation, they become something else, something not true and not real. So, explore the release of emotions rather than the affirming of old stories.

Regret, guilt, and similar emotions lend themselves to unhealthy ruminating. The expression of these emotions towards their release should be the result of healthy ruminating. If you’re staying in the process of rumination to enable and uplift the stories—or to remind you of them to experience some form of nostalgia—it’s time to stop. Ruminate, instead, to recall, allow, and release the emotions. When the emotions dissolve, so will your impulse to ruminate, and the stories will leave.

There could be a new mantra for you, one that resides in your subconscious, the substratum of your soul’s processes: “Am I releasing? Am I allowing my emotions to release? Can I let them go, and when?” Rather than continually focusing on fermented emotions, you are freeing yourself for all time—to heal, to become new, to be happier, and to find peace.

The Mystical Aspect of Rumination

In moments of mystical experience or spiritual projection, rumination, or Rumi-nation, becomes a vehicle for transcendence. It involves mystifying the nature of the reality we are contemplating, thereby detaching ourselves in a healthy way and seeking the spiritual truths hidden within it. This form of rumination is wonderful and enriching, as it helps us transcend the mundane and tap into the mystical realms. As Rumi himself beautifully put it, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

Rumination of this kind elevates our consciousness, allowing us to see beyond our immediate experiences and recognize the deeper, often spiritual, lessons they carry. This process can help us release the stories that seem to define us. Instead of connecting ourselves to these stories in a drastic or dramatic way, we learn to view them with detachment.

Detaching from the Stories

A helpful technique is to look at our stories as if they happened to someone else. This perspective can unlock us from the attachment to these stories, enabling us to truly detach from them. From the high perch of the soaring Eagle, as Paul Wagner’s Seven Arrows Ritual suggests, we can begin to see the value of our experiences and recognize how ridiculous it is to hold onto certain stories as part of our personal narrative. This ritual helps us see our lives from a higher vantage point, facilitating the release of outdated narratives.

Paramahansa Yogananda, a revered spiritual teacher, echoed this sentiment: “Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you. The future will take care of itself.” By focusing on the present moment and releasing past narratives, we free ourselves from the grip of rumination that keeps us stuck in a loop.

The Dark Side of Rumination

However, rumination has a dark side. If it becomes circular, it can trap us in a loop, reaffirming old stories and emotions. This type of rumination causes us to re-experience past emotions as if they are happening now, making it difficult to break free and be reborn in the present moment.

The glorification of rumination can distract us from dealing with our actual, present, and repressed emotions. These emotions, left unchecked, can ferment and become comfortable within us. Over time, they transform into something else, something not true and not real. As Eckhart Tolle wisely observed, “The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.” When we ruminate in unhealthy ways, we become trapped in our thoughts, unable to move forward.

The Fermentation of Emotions

Fermentation is a powerful metaphor for understanding how emotions can evolve within us. Just as fermentation produces alcohol, our emotions can ferment and intoxicate us, making us comfortable with their presence. This intoxication can be peaceful, yet it prevents us from seeing the truth of our emotions and releasing them.

Healthy rumination, on the other hand, should lead to the expression and eventual release of these emotions. Instead of enabling and uplifting old stories, we should use rumination to recall, allow, and release the emotions tied to these narratives. When the emotions dissolve, our impulse to ruminate diminishes, and the importance of the stories fades away.

Ritualizing Emotional Release

To break free from the cycle of unhealthy rumination, we need to ritualize the conclusion of our old patterns. Paul Wagner’s Changing the Book of Life ritual, for example, offers a powerful way to reframe and release our stories. This ritual involves rewriting our life’s narrative, letting go of past chapters, and embracing new possibilities.

Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, a living embodiment of love and compassion, teaches us the importance of letting go: “Love is our true essence. Love has no limitations of caste, religion, race, or nationality. We are all beads strung together on the same thread of love.” By embodying love and compassion, we can transcend the limitations of our stories and release the emotions tied to them.

The Path to Healing

The path to healing involves a conscious effort to release fermented emotions rather than clinging to old stories. Regret and guilt, for instance, often lead to unhealthy rumination. The expression of these emotions toward their release should be the goal of healthy rumination. If we find ourselves staying in the process of rumination to experience nostalgia or relive past emotions, it’s time to stop.

Instead, we should use rumination to recall, allow, and release the emotions. When these emotions dissolve, so will our impulse to ruminate, and the stories will naturally leave us. This process aligns with the teachings of Gabor Maté, who emphasizes the importance of understanding and healing our emotional wounds: “The attempt to escape from pain is what creates more pain.”

New Mantras for Emotional Release

To support this journey, we can adopt new mantras that reside in our subconscious, guiding our soul’s processes. Questions like, “Am I releasing? Am I allowing my emotions to release? Can I let them go, and when?” can become powerful tools for self-inquiry and transformation.

By continually focusing on the release of emotions rather than their fermentation, we free ourselves for all time. This freedom allows us to heal, to become new, to be happier, and to find peace. Eckhart Tolle reminds us, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” By living in the present and releasing past emotions, we can transform our lives and find true liberation.

Conclusion

Rumination, when understood and used correctly, can be a powerful tool for emotional release and healing. By detaching from our stories, allowing our emotions to surface, and ritualizing their release, we can break free from the prison of unhealthy rumination. Embracing the teachings of spiritual masters like Rumi, Amma, Paramahansa Yogananda, Eckhart Tolle, and Gabor Maté, we can transform our lives and find peace in the present moment.

As we embark on this journey, let us remember that the goal is not to escape from our emotions but to understand, embrace, and release them. By doing so, we honor our past, heal our wounds, and open ourselves to the infinite possibilities of the present moment.

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