Vedanta, Lent and Bruno
ATTC - Week 2
Notwithstanding waking up at 4:30 every morning, breathing exercises for 1 hour and holding poses for more than 5 minutes, I am growing and learning a lot at the ATTC. My favorite are the lectures on Vedanta Philosophy, “a system of thought which preaches the unity of existence or oneness of Consciousness. It proclaims that all beings are, in essence, one and the same.” Jesus knew this when he said that “I and the Father are One.” There is a resonance between Vedantic philosophy and the books I’ve read on Buddhism (Zen and Tibetan); Christian Contemplation (Merton, Eckhart, a’Kempis, de Mello, Mother Teresa); and an unfinished reading on Jung. Vedanta sheds light on the sameness of all spiritual practices and gives a deeper insight on the study of the subconscious mind. There are, of course, some fundamental differences such as the idea of reincarnation and resurrection and theology statements such as “We/You/I are God”, as oppose to “We are created in the image and likeness of God.” I am inclined to focus more on the similarities and synthesize what I am learning from Vedanta to add depth and earnestness to my Catholic faith.
Every religion and thought study asks the question “Who am I?” Vedanta shows a way. The study of the mind is the door on which one enters. Here meditation, contemplation, mindfulness, and concentration are the techniques used to slow down the endless whizzing of the mind. Slow enough to give a euphoric feeling of peace (initial benefit) and reveal all the illusions that mind has wrapped itself (us) with. Quiet enough so that we can see how mind works and how it creates the web of illusions that we perceive as the truth. Ultimately one realizes that we are not our name, we are not our possessions, we are not right, we are not our body and we are not what we think. If all these ideas, notions or beliefs are peeled away all that is left is God, Consciousness, Nothing-ness, One-ness or Something Bigger. The first step is keeping the mind still. Of course, I am just parroting what I’ve read and what our vedanta teacher told us, but to me it makes so much sense! Alas, Vedanta also warns “Do not think you are very wise and that you have understood everything; you know nothing, my friend; you are deceived. There is an ocean yet, and you have not tasted even a full drop!”
Before Thomas Merton’s conversion to catholicism (a Trappist monk and prolific spiritual writer) he met Brahmachari, an Indian sanyassin (Hindu monk) in Chicago. When Merton made queries on spiritual matters Brahmachari “pointed Merton toward Roman Catholicism; rather than proselytizing Merton and his friends, Bramachari urged them to explore the religious traditions of the West” (Elie 2003). A true vedantin, Bramachari understood that “all paths lead to One truth.”
So, here I am, a Catholic, deep in the season of Lent, living in a Hindu ashram for a month. So how do I prepare myself for Easter in this environment? I am in an environment that encourages me to practically experience God’s presence by keeping my body supple and flexible with asanas (yoga exercises) so I can sit longer and keep my mind still and meditate on God. A passage I read somewhere exhorts “Be still and know that I am God”. On a deeper level that is essentially what I am learning to do here, although initially I didn’t come here for that. I came because I wanted to learn how to be better at teaching yoga.
Bruno’s passing was a difficult time for me here. In December, when Paul and I last visited, Bruno played a Filipino song over and over (see previous post). He liked the song so much that he indulged me with a dance. I’m only a week into the course when I heard the news and I wanted so much to be there for his funeral. Initially, I’ve decided to cut short my course and come for his funeral. The next day, after an hour of early morning meditation, I realized that he was with me during that full hour. Every thought as I inhale was of Bruno. Every thought as I exhale was of Bruno. I realized that in the silence I feel his presence. That I feel closer to him and can do more for him by being here in this spiritual place. That same day I received an email from Pop (Bruno’s brother and Paul’s dad). He said that Bruno was a firm believer of the spiritual and physical aspects of yoga and saw it as a means of being one with the universe and God. Pop confirmed what Bruno tried to tell me during my meditation. So I stayed to finish the course. I talked to our teacher about Bruno and they offered a prayer for him during the puja (hindu ritual). In the evening satsang (chanting), everybody (200+ people) chanted a spiritual send off for Bruno.
Thank you for all your prayers and condolences. Father Jerome SJ said that Paul and I now have our very own Saint. I like that.
Feb 18, 2008
