After Enlightenment, The Laundry

"After enlightenment, the laundry" is a famous Zen Buddhist saying. As humans, we dance precariously between two realms: from the divine to the mundane. Enlightenment sounds so mystic, so epic, so magical; a carefree existence where we are elevated miles beyond the hassles of mere mortals. And while enlightenment as Buddha called it, or God-realization as the Eastern ancients called it, is indeed a high state of consciousness, it too is a process of shedding preconceived ideas about what it means to wear the badge of an ascetic and learning how to navigate a strange new inner world. 

I was thinking how spiritual transformation is akin to the metamorphosis from a caterpillar to the butterfly. It's like waking up to find you're out of the chrysalis and you've grown wings after a horrendous struggle (that lasted hundreds, or thousands of incarnations). I'd never considered what happens to a butterfly after she gets her wings. I assumed she would live happily ever after. I mean, what could be more carefree than the life of a butterfly? But the Zen saying about the laundry is true. While we may have graduated spiritually, life goes on as before, and the laundry has been multiplying while we were meditating. A few facts I learned that made me appreciate the butterfly anew, and also confirmed that enlightenment isn't a snap:

When the butterfly first emerges from the chrysalis, both of its wings are soft, because the butterfly had to fit all its new parts inside its tight cocoon. Like most life-altering happenings, my spiritual awakening occurred quietly within my own heart. It was a sweet event flanked by an uncontrollable cascade of grateful, humble tears. I cried for two solid days (at everything) because my wings were so soft. I was raw, wide open, and like the new and delicate butterfly, easily crushed. But I was free! Finally free of what other people thought. This unbounded freedom made me want to dance about and pray unceasing. My Soul was celebrating! I could only think of prostrating myself before the Hindu and Christian masters who had shared their wisdom with me in books. I felt so grateful-for everything! Grateful to have walked a road of suffering, grateful for the suffering to come, grateful for everyone who had ever taken the time to love me. I had been so full of myself that when I was finally cleaned out, I was empty inside, though it wasn't a lonesome kind of emptiness. More like a hall that has been swept clean. Due to years of endless seeking God, I didn’t have to push the door open-it had swung wide all on its own. I suppose my heart was tired of being full of myself and my useless agenda. I was overcome, awash with tears as every stronghold against the divine was swept out to sea. I heard music, and the sun rose for the first time on my mind. It was sweet and strong like a captivating perfume, but I was the only one who could smell it. I couldn’t believe I was the only one able to hear the music. I felt a loneliness for someone who could understand this sunrise that was only shining for me. I had never wanted people around me, I only wanted to be left alone and to write, to keep the world at a safe distance. But in that moment, I wished I wasn’t the only boat out at sea. I realized as time marched on that this was impossible experience to share with another person, for it was not meant to be shared with anyone but God. 

But let's get back to the butterfly. Next, it must rest and gain strength for its new journey. Like the butterfly, a period of intense withdrawal followed my rebirth experience. God and I would commune for hours through the medium of meditation, like two lovers hungry to know each other. It is like that, God realization: God wants to talk to you all night. It is beautiful like that, it is soft, cozy and intimate like that. The thing I couldn’t get over was that God wanted all of my attention, and I wanted all of Gods. We were lost at sea and the sun rose for us in silence. We didn’t even have to talk-often we didn’t, mostly I just wept. I’m not sure why I had so many tears, but some of us are crying saints, and some are laughing saints, and others are saints who haven’t realized they are saints yet. 

God realization sometimes feels like being lost, because the further you travel in your spiritual journey, the further away from mainstream popular thought you get. You must re-learn who you are, and how to spend your time. While enlightenment sounds romantic and perfect, it is at first disorienting, for it is stepping into a different world. The ego melts, finally giving way to the you buried beneath the layers of hurt that life piled on. But this new you holds a radically different attitude and perspective (which is why I changed my name). It is like moving to a new country. While a foreign country is beautiful and fascinating to explore, you don't yet speak the language, and you don't know anybody (except for God, who brought you). So, you hug close to God, because in this new dimension you haven't the slightest idea how to navigate or who to turn to. It's like being a child all over again. I think this is why Swamis and gurus spend so much of their time lost in meditation. It is simply because they do not feel at home anymore in this world. The only one they recognize and who gives them meaning is in the next realm, so they prefer to stay there. It's not that I'm hiding, for I feel a keener sense of responsibility to teach and coach, and to write books than I have ever felt. No, I'm not interested in escaping anything anymore. I've just moved from one dimension to another, and my thinking is so radically unlike it used to be that I am reaching out like a shy child who starts a new school and badly hopes for a friend to show her around. God realization is more real, and more life altering than I could have imagined. 

Before the butterfly takes to the sky, it pumps blood into its wings to get them in working order and flapping. The butterfly must prepare before it tries flight, adapting to its new streamlined flying apparatus and abilities. Enlightenment isn't instantaneous, either. You must orient yourself, for there's no more making your own plans. You trade the ego and its agenda for doing every single minute what your heart is directing you to do. The thought of taking up my old agenda makes me cringe. In fact, doing anything except for what I'm being directed to do is like approaching an electric fence and getting within a foot of it to realize I cannot move any closer. There is a strange invisible barrier between me and anger, or my own plans which keeps me backing away from it; I never expected that. And now I am so unimpressed with myself that I am happier living in a tiny home with a dash of my favorite art. I honestly couldn't care less about money, cars or houses, because they don't guarantee happiness. In fact, they had tripped me up. This is a strange new land-and while I would not go back from here, I am struck by how radically different things are. But then, all of me needed to be changed, which is why I supposed it happened. Nothing less than a complete and total overhaul was necessary, for I had become corrupted by the illusion of success. What's left of me is a stripped-down version. And while my lifestyle has become minimalist, my soul has become extravagant, craving more time to talk with others about being at this new school of thought, for I am just finding my way around. 

But for the butterfly, in a short time its preparation is complete, and it masters flight. This brilliant bug takes to the air in search of two things: flowers to feed on, and other butterflies to mate with. One of the most surprising aspects was my immediate need for connection. I thought the moment of enlightenment would bring understanding, but instead, it brought a desire for connection. You take flight into meditative states far superior to anything you were able to achieve before. In fact, you fly so high in meditation that it becomes difficult to return to earth. This is why masters of meditation don't concern themselves with worldly affairs. They exist mostly in another unseen dimension and the body is only the anchor that drags behind them. 

The thing to know about God realization is that it isn’t an event like a party or an anniversary. It isn’t gaining some otherworldly knowledge that the rest of the world cannot have. It is instead a private moment that will happen when you’ve sat at the bottom of the holy hill until your butt hurts and your eyes are too tired to be looking anymore. This is when it will happen-when you’re not expecting that it will. The only advice I can give you is to keep seeking, and like the sages say, it will come to you. I hope I will meet some of you there...should I save a seat for you? And don't forget, the laundry will be waiting.

To see all of Devi Nina's books: http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Bingham/e/B008XEX2Z0

The Importance of Surrender in MEDITATION

Now I understand why the Hindu masters sat in meditation for so long, unmoving...it's all about surrender. They would give up their earthly agendas to sit before the celestial masters, and like a well-trained dog who stays for as long as the master likes, the purpose of deep meditation is to learn obedience to, and devotion for your master. They also sat for hours to stay connected to the 3rd eye chakra, for this energy center located between the eyes is a lifeline to the mysteries. It opens and becomes the same "tunnel" to the Other Side that people who have near death experiences use to travel. The 3rd eye always leads to the same place-paradise. 


I remember being enthralled with the below picture of my guru's teacher, Haidahkan Babaji . I couldn't imagine keeping your eyes open while in meditation. I'm still working on it, but it's more natural now than it was. If I am absorbed in a deep state, I can go stretches without blinking until my eyes are burning when I will force myself to blink. 

Babaji in 1970 in India

Masters of meditation have developed powers of concentration that are nearly impossible to break. They can lapse into an unseen dimension with eyes open or closed. Ultimately, the goal is to stay connected at all times. Can you imagine walking through your turbulent day with a smile on your face, in utter bliss as the world around you spins? 

While in meditative trance one is keenly aware that the external world and the body you inhabit is an illusion-it is all "maya." The world seems strange and otherworldly, and the internal landscape of the expansive soul seems to be more real than reality. A certain disconnection from the exterior world is a sign of spiritual health. Buddha instructed us to be free from attachment, but renunciation of the world cannot occur unless you see that the world and its trappings are nothing more than a mirage which evaporates the minute one drops into a meditative state. Meditation prepares you for the moment of departure from the body. Perhaps more importantly, it prepares you to have mastery over negative emotions, especially fear, anger and sadness, for if the exterior world is an illusion, we can remind ourselves that suffering will pass. You don't have to be driven to anger, revenge or jealousy when you understand it's all a dream, and you are the dreamer.

We call the 5 senses "reality." But the 5-sensde reality we agree on is a projection of our Higher Self. If I am the originator, the projector of this reality, then it's not "happening to me," it is happening because of me. I am not a victim (even though it can certainly feel like I am); I am the one dreaming this dream, and death is awakening from the dream. But there is another way to wake up from the world of illusion while we are still in it, something like having a lucid dream. Through meditation you can wake up. Your true identity is not the character you are playing, such as: mother, father, partner, employee, etc. In reality, you are much bigger than the play, you are the playwright. But the stage scenes and characters are so clever that you have convinced yourself that it is not a dream. Meditation allows you to pull back from the elaborate set long enough to be reminded that "this too shall pass," and to glimpse your larger self, your Cosmic Consciousness, which is formless, timeless, and unfettered by a body. In meditation you see that your real self, the soul, is completely and magnificently surrendered. Meditation is an act of utter openness, which is what makes it so beautiful.

Surrender in meditation, Dorothy! Your most radiant self awaits.

To see all of Devi Nina's books: http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Bingham/e/B008XEX2Z0

10 Commandments for Meditation Practice

Here are my 10 Commandments for Meditation Practice:

Research shows the long-term benefits of meditation to be significant, even life-changing and positively mood altering. People prone to anger and depression are less likely to have meltdowns if they practice meditation, and stress levels are reduced. Though meditation techniques can be learned quickly, it's no instant fix and requires discipline. But in a world of constant activity, even a little stillness goes a long way.

1. THOU SHALT MEDITATE SAME DAY, SAME TIME, SAME PLACE.

To be successful, find a comfortable environment and stick with a routine. My office is transformed into a meditation alter each evening. Meditation is a rejuvenating way to start your day, or a relaxing way to end your day, gearing you down for a peaceful night's slumber. Try different times and places, then decide what is most effective for you. The key is consistency.

2. THOU SHALT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

No matter how good your intentions, some days won't allow for commandment #1. A successful meditation practice includes the

flexibility to occasionally adjust your schedule. If you have to skip your regular time, try not to miss it altogether. Instead, find a niche earlier or later, even if you have to cut your time a little shorter. Skipping too many days is a slippery slope. Be flexible, because perfection isn't a prerequisite.

3. THOU SHALT USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM.

We all begin with the best intentions, but schedules can get in the way. Recruit a buddy, local or remote, who is interested in meditation and agree to "meditation check-ins." A once- a- week email, instant message or even a 5-minute call can spell the difference between success and defeat. Monks and nuns meditate in groups for a reason!

4. THOU SHALT CREATE YOUR OWN RITUALS.

Seasoned practitioners will tell you their practice evolved as they did, so understand that your methods will change over time. Don't let conventions dictate your practice, it should be as unique as you are. Your meditation style is completely YOUR CALL because you've got to use a format that's right for you. If you meditate best to music, chants, Guided Meditations or Hypnosis, give yourself permission to use those props. If you'd rather be outside than in, find your groove under a tree (Buddha did that). If meditating in the dark with candles is your Gothic twist, draw the curtains and enjoy the show. If you're an eye-open-type meditator, trust your eyes to find their meditative muse (maybe water, a tree, clouds, or a field inspires peace). Whatever rituals and location you prefer, if it feels right-go with it. No apologies necessary, meditation is a guilt-free pleasure.

5. THOU SHALT BE HAPPY WITH THE LITTLE THINGS.

There's a reason it's called "practice." Some days you'll be in the zone and exhilarated, while other days you'll be bored or distracted. Remember, you're practicing. Meditation is mind training and brains don't change overnight. As you're practicing, be excited for the big leaps forward but also acknowledge that tiny steps are forward movement, too. Rome wasn't built in a day.

6. THOU SHALT ALLOW YOUR MIND TO WANDER.

Contrary to popular belief, meditation isn't about clearing or stilling your mind. It's really about observing what your monkey mind is doing. The restless monkey is going to wander, get bored, complain that it's sleepy and jump around. It may pick on you and pick fights-all in your head! The goal of meditation is not to make the monkey sit and stay, but to watch the monkey with detached awareness. When you catch the monkey at play, remind it gently to simmer down, and observe as it begins to quiet.

Concentrate anew on your breath, or on whatever focal point you've chosen (like the music, the candle, or the cloud). The point is your mind will wander because that's what monkeys do. Don't be alarmed, but don't give up, either. It happens to every monkey, even experienced ones.

7. THOU SHALT RELAX THE BODY.

Begin your meditation with a "body scan." Your body will "talk to you" if you tune into it, and this practice also sets your body up in a relaxed yet aware posture. Ask:

1. Head-Is there any pain, tension or tightness?

2. Neck and shoulders-Sit erect with arms still and palms facing up. Notice any tension stored in the shoulders and neck. Roll

your head from side to side for maximum flexibility.

3. Torso-Is my stomach in a knot? Am I sitting upright using my best posture, and is my stomach pulled in?

4. Pelvis-Am I seated as comfortably as possible?

5. Legs-Are they intertwined or in alignment with my upright spine?

6. Arms and hands-Are my arms resting comfortably and are my fingers still?

7. Feet-Are my feet planted firmly on the floor, grounding me to the earth? If sitting in the lotus position, are my feet free from tension and strain?

8. THOU SHALT BE PATIENT.

It's easy to think you're doing it wrong, or think someone else is doing it wrong, or the opposite-that their practice is superior to yours. Instead of criticizing yourself or someone else, be reminded that there is no magic way to meditate. Whatever works for you is the right way. If what you're doing isn't working be willing to adjust your approach. This isn't a race-you're not competing with anybody. If you or a friend is making headway, have faith that in time you'll both become meditating superstars.

9. THOU SHALT LEARN TO BREATH.

Breath work is the core foundation of meditation. Begin each session focused on your breathing. Place your full attention and awareness on your breath This will shift your focus from the exterior world to your interior world where meditation really comes alive. Meditation is an exercise in re-focusing, and breath work is the fastest, most time-tested method of getting you to your goal of deep connectedness.

10. THOU SHALT HAVE A GOOD TIME.

I saved the best commandment for the last. If you're not having fun, then something is wrong because meditation should not be stress-inducing, nor anxiety provoking. The goal is to alleviate stress-not add to it! If you go easy on yourself, applying patience and allowing yourself to be happy with the small gains, meditation should be a treat you'll look forward to. Make your practice uniquely yours. Own it, and you're more likely to stick with it. If you're having a good time, odds are you are doing it right.

To see all of Nina's books: http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Bingham/e/B008XEX2Z0