Aum Gung Ganapathaye
Namah
Namo tassa
bhagavato arahato samma-sambuddhassa
Homage to The
Blessed One, Accomplished and Fully Enlightened
In the
name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Hinduism
A Collection of Articles, Notes and References
References
(Revised:
References
Edited by
An Indian Tantric
What’s
in a name? That which we call a rose
By
any other name would smell as sweet.
- William
Shakespeare
Copyright
© 2002-2010 An Indian Tantric
The following educational
writings are STRICTLY for academic research purposes ONLY.
Should NOT be used for
commercial, political or any other purposes.
(The
following notes are subject to update and revision)
For
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You may print copies of this work for free distribution.
You
may re-format and redistribute this work for use on computers and computer
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Otherwise, all rights reserved.
8
"... Freely you received, freely give”.
-
Matthew 10:8 :: New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in
the last days.
2 People will be lovers of
themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient
to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without
self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers
of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
5 having
a form of godliness but denying its power. Have
nothing to do with them.
6 They are the kind who
worm their way into homes and gain control over
weak-willed women, who are
loaded down with sins and are swayed
by all kinds of evil desires,
7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these
men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as
far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.
9 But
they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their
folly will be clear to everyone.”
-
2 Timothy 3:1-9 :: New International Version (NIV)
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest
for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
-
Hebrews 5:6 :: King James Version (KJV)
Therefore, I say:
Know your
enemy and know yourself;
in a hundred
battles, you will never be defeated.
When you
are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself,
your chances of
winning or losing are equal.
If ignorant both of your
enemy and of yourself,
you are sure to be defeated in every battle.
-- Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c. 500bc
There are two ends not to be served by a wanderer.
What are these two? The pursuit of desires and of the
pleasure which springs from desire, which is base, common, leading to rebirth,
ignoble, and unprofitable; and the pursuit of pain and hardship, which
is grievous, ignoble, and unprofitable.
- The Blessed
One, Lord Buddha
Contents
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A Brief Word on Copyright
References
Educational
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A Brief Word on Copyright
Many of the articles whose educational copies are given
below are copyrighted by their respective authors as well as the respective
publishers. Some contain messages of warning, as follows:
Republication or redissemination
of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited
without the written
consent of “so and so”.
According to the concept of “fair use” in US copyright Law,
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and
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Moreover,
I believe that satisfies the conditions for copyright and
non-plagiarism.
References
Some of the links may not be active (de-activated)
due to various
reasons, like removal of the concerned information from the source database. So
an educational copy is also provided, along with the link.
If the link is active, do cross-check/validate/confirm the
educational copy of the article provided along.
References
Swami
Jyotirmayananda. (July
2003) Srimad Bhagavad
Gita. (Commentary). Chapter One.
Karunakara Guru. Akhandata.
Siddhis
(Occult Powers). Ego and its Consequences. Santhigiri Ashram.
http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/santhigi/book/marcos/occult.htm
Karunakara Guru. Siddhis (Occult
Powers), Kalpaseva Tecniques.
Santhigiri Ashram.
http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/santhigi/book/marcos/kalpaseva.htm
Mishra, Ramamurti
S. M.D. (Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati) (July 1997) Self Analysis and Self Knowledge Based
on Atma Bodha of Shankaracharya, with Translation & Commentary. Baba Bhagavandas Publication
Trust. ISBN: 189096428X. Paperback, 272 pages.
http://anandaashram.org/baba.xml#book1
Rao, Subba M. (1995)
Whitney, William Dwight. (Trans.), Lanman, Charles Rockwell (Revised
and Edited) (1984) Atharva-Veda-Samhita.
A humble
disciple of Ramanuja. (
http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003050900910800.htm
Ananda Ashram
http://anandaashram.org/index.html
Nagaradja (Lhudjal) - The Serpent King and Master of Tantra
http://www.iol.ie/~taeger/tengabio/nagaraj1.html
Royal Kumari
http://www.midgetbigot.com/god/kumari.htm
The six schools of ancient Hindu Philosophy
http://pub42.ezboard.com/fyoga84291frm7.showMessage?topicID=184.topic
Vaishnava Philosophy - The Roots of Existence
http://www.iskcon.org/main/twohk/philo/roots.htm
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Educational Copy of Some of the
References
FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
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Reference
Swami
Jyotirmayananda. (July
2003) Srimad Bhagavad
Gita. (Commentary). Chapter One.
Immensely pleased with the sacrifice made by Bhishma, Shantanu bestowed upon him the blessing that he would have the power of commanding his own death, being able to die only at his own will. In fact, the very name “Bhishma” which means “the terrible one” was given to him by the Gods when he made the vow of life-long celibacy. Prior to this he was called Devavrata.
During the Mahabharata War, the Pandavas realized that as long as the great Bhishma was the general of the army,
it would be difficult to win victory over the Kauravas.
Lord Krishna advised them to approach Bhishma himself
in order to learn the secret of conquering him. Accordingly, led by
When Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, expressed their intention of finding the secret of defeating and destroying him, Bhishma was not affected. He calmly said it was impossible to actually kill him, but it was proper for the Pandavas to find the method of disabling him.
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Personal
Note
(In those days, the great war
heroes fought during the day, but during the night relaxed in their camps, free of any hatred
and bitterness towards their enemies).
Ponder…WHY?
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Reference
Karunakara Guru. Akhandata.
Siddhis
(Occult Powers). Ego and its Consequences. Santhigiri Ashram.
http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/santhigi/book/marcos/occult.htm
A person’s desire might harm some and benefit others. From its creation, the World stands as a blend of good and bad. Most of us are likewise a combination of the two. Only after realizing this nature of the World, should one try to work a miracle or even a supreme miracle. Otherwise to counter the undesirable effects of such miracles, a prodigious effort will have to be made, which in itself would amount to the miracle of all miracles. Then, the efforts of both become wasted, one canceling the other. This will mean that one created and the other destroyed. This is how the efforts of all the sanyasis get wasted.
(Reference: Karunakara Guru. Akhandata.
Siddhis
(Occult Powers). Ego and its Consequences.
Santhigiri Ashram.)
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Reference
Karunakara Guru. Siddhis (Occult
Powers), Kalpaseva Tecniques.
Santhigiri Ashram.
http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/santhigi/book/marcos/kalpaseva.htm
Guru: Certain yogic practices enjoin Kalpaseva -techniques for living very long lifes and for performing certain prowesses
(ocult powers)- on sanyasis -renunciates. It was
well intended. Though gradually
it became corrupt in practice.
Kalpaseva was for keeping the body free from pain. As a result of
its practice, the body became invulnerable to even harsh and adverse physical
environments. This led to indulgence. There were several applications of
this body occult, for example, practices of gaunamani
and sthambhana mani.
There were practices enabling one to levitate. There
were techniques to retain vital energy too. Several yogis have made fatal
mistakes in this practice. In some cases these caused premature death. Some who were passionate, caused death to their female
partners. Bhogar, who was Subrahmanya’s
Guru was one such adept.
Human
intelligence leads to trouble if applied in excess. Only optimal and
responsible use of it can be rewarding.
Disciple: Please tell us about Bhogar.
Guru: It is better not to go into that story here. People might find it objectionable. Kalpaseva is intended to develop and preserve the latent qualities in the body, in order to make it invulnerable to adverse circumstances. Certain varieties of gourds are cultivated with special manures. When the fruit appears, either the plant stem or the fruit itself is bored and certain medicines are introduced. Later the fruit which would have special properties is eaten as prescribed.
Kalpa bases are several. From Tulasi to Kanjira leaves, this is Kalpa prescription with leaves. Another application is with herbs. There are crushed together and juices extracted. Yet another application is with the refined seed of Kanjira. There is the use of the ‘nine poisons’ -navapashana- like mercury, sulphur etc.
The use of the leaves is fairly mild. The use of the ‘nine poisons’ however enables the adept to develop extraordinary powers and appear ‘divine’ in the eyes of common people. The nature of his body’s needs changes. The adept can survive without food or water, the moisture in the atmosphere is enough to sustain him. This can increase his longevity too. Ordinary mortals fall for it and start thinking that all this is by God’s grace. Kalpa techniques were established by Rajarshis, kings who took to yogic practice.
An adept who completes kalpaseva might effortlessly remain seated on a block of ice or walk over water. They might levitate or hold fire in their palm. Ignorant people, and even scholars sometimes, are convinced that such feats are the signs of austere and ascetic sanyasis. Less discerning scholars who are thus convinced left descriptions of this ‘sanyasa’ for posterity. Posterity was deluded by what was thus written. Some people misinterpret this as spirituality, but obviously they are far away from Truth.
Sri Krishna is believed to be the most exalted in the knowledge of the attainment of spiritual liberation. He never took to such techniques. He merely ate and drank like a normal human. Yet his was a far greater life than that of all past great yogis. Buddha severely criticized some practices that lead to the attainment of siddhis -occult powers, such as levitation, walking on water, etc.- because he said that this could severely interfere with your spiritual growth. The great Indian sage Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said that the siddhis were an obstacle in the attainment of spiritual liberation.
Krishna, Moses, Jesus, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Dayananda Saraswati, Chattampi Swamikal and Narayana Guru are some of the great sanyasis of known times. All these had gone through pain at the time of death. Narayana Guru, Chattampi Swamikal, Ramakrishna and Vivekananda are closer to us in time. Quite a few people know about them -who can deny that they are great renunciates? They had followed the natural law (Dharma) of the body. They are out ideals. There is a belief that the laws of the body, drop once a man arrives at the science of self. It has its origin in the misconception of scholars.
Misconceptions of this kind have not been cleared so far. We still do not have right understanding of what a pure Acharya, highly respected spiritual teacher, is like. People tend to misunderstand.
It is a handful of Rajarshis -kings who took up yogic practices- who diiscovered the Kalpa techniques. This system for attaining occult powers, came to be widely misunderstood as sanyasa, renunciation that can lead you to spiritual liberation. This is very much like the misconception that siddhi, working of miracles, is atmavidya, the knowledge or science of self. Even the learned are caught in this prevalent misconception. An excess of intellection is at the root of all this.
Even science enthusiasts have fallen a prey to the same error of excess intellection. Resultant misconceptions are leading the World to disaster. Man should realize that he is still continuing to stockpile destructive devices, instead of discarding them. In spite of realizing that the knowledge he has acquired can annihilate life on Earth, man continues to build his defenses on that knowledge. And he is moving with force towards self-annihilation. This is not strength, but weakness, not realization but delusion.
Disciple: Earlier mentioned practices that negate true renunciation, were like the self-defeating course science has taken today. Is this what you mean?
Guru: Yes. We have yet to know many more things. There are errors both of the followers and the preceptors whom they follow.
Normally brahmacharis
-unmarried male spiritual aspirants- or
Disciple: Are you cautioning brahmacharis and householders alike?
Guru: Brahmacharis may have certain special virtues. They do not desire learning or wealth. It is a grace they have been given. And all who become associated with them find them lovable. When the renouncer is a woman, even if she is of some spiritual stature, she becomes vulnerable. Women are most vulnerable. A woman or man from an affluent background gets quickly attracted to a renunciate of the opposite sex. This may lead the renunciate astray.
Brahmachari, householder or sanyasi, all can be equally vulnerable. Only if this problem is handled with knowledge of its root causes, can this be solved. It is the lack of such understanding that led to the breakup of the sangha -spiritual community- of monks, that was raised through the utmost self-sacrifice and striving of the Buddha.
(Reference: Karunakara Guru. Siddhis (Occult
Powers), Kalpaseva Tecniques.
Santhigiri Ashram.)
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Reference
Mishra, Ramamurti
S. M.D. (Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati) (July 1997) Self Analysis and Self Knowledge Based
on Atma Bodha of Shankaracharya, with Translation & Commentary. Baba Bhagavandas Publication
Trust. ISBN: 189096428X. Paperback, 272 pages.
http://anandaashram.org/baba.xml#book1
Self
Knowledge (or Atma Bodha)
is one of the celebrated writings by the renowned sage Shankaracharya,
who is said to have lived in the eighth century AD, at a time when
Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati's translation and commentary on the Atma Bodha provide an enlarged philosophical context for the investigation of the true nature of the Self. The poetic treatise resonates with power, sensitivity and scholastic integrity. Individual verses may be contemplated for daily meditation and inspiration, while the entire work serves as a comprehensive text for in-depth Self analysis and study. The sixty-eight verses comprising this classic are presented in the original Sanskrit devanagari script with English transliteration and word-by-word translation, furthering this edition's utility for Sanskrit students.
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Reference
A humble disciple
of Ramanuja. (
http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003050900910800.htm
There has been an extraordinary instance of one who was gifted with all of them but yet remained absolutely humble and at one stage threw away his belongings and power to take to religious pursuits. But for him, the philosophy of Ramanuja would not have taken deep root. His outstanding merit can be seen by the manner in which, when he was asked to seek from God any of his desires, he wanted that a minister who earlier ordered that he be tortured, should also be excused and he be granted an exalted place in the Divine Kingdom. To forgive one who was totally antagonistic to him is indeed a trait that has no parallel. This apostle was none other than Kurathazhwan, who was the shadow and soul of Ramanuja
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Reference
Rao, Subba M. (1995)
When the bees grew loud and the
days grew long
And the peach groves
thrilled to the Oriole’s song
-
Sarojini Naidu, ‘The Song
of Radha, the Milk Maid’.
‘We’ll conquer the sorrow of life with
the sorrow of song’.
-
Sarojini Naidu, ‘The Song of
Radha, the Milk Maid’.
(Reference: Rao, Subba M. (1995)
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Reference
Whitney, William Dwight. (Trans.), Lanman, Charles Rockwell (Revised
and Edited) (1984) Atharva-Veda-Samhita.
Atharva-veda
means ‘the Veda of the atharvan’ or ‘the knowledge of
Magic Formulas’. Originally, however, the word Atharvan meant
fire priest, and it is probably the oldest Indian name for ‘priest’ in general, for
the word dates back to the Indo-Iranian period. It is a collection of seven
hundred and thirty-one hymns, which contain about six thousand verses, in the recension which is best preserved. The great importance of
the Atharva-veda Samhita
lies in the very fact that it is an invaluable source of knowledge of the real
popular belief as yet uninfluenced by the priestly religion, of the
faith in numberless spirits, imps, ghosts, and demons of every kind, and of the
witchcraft, so eminently important to ethnology and for the history of religion.
(Reference: Whitney,
William Dwight. (Trans.), Lanman,
Charles Rockwell (Revised and Edited) (1984) Atharva-Veda-Samhita.
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Reference
Ananda Ashram
http://anandaashram.org/index.html
"...we have to change our hearts completely from disunity and disharmony to unity and harmony. This transformation is the work of Yoga."
- Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, Founder of Ananda Ashram
"Experience this sublime pulsation of life. Total universe is nothing but vibration of this ocean of tranquility and bliss. It is pulsating in our heart in the form of our own pulsation of life. Feel it."
- Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati
"Although you have a body and mind, you are not the body and mind... Therefore, meditate on the sense of 'I-Am' beyond the body and mind."
- Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati
Ananda Ashram - Founded in 1964 by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati (then known as Ramamurti S. Mishra, M.D.), Ananda Ashram
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Reference
Nagaradja (Lhudjal) - The Serpent King and Master of Tantra
http://www.iol.ie/~taeger/tengabio/nagaraj1.html
According to the elements (east=water=blue,
north=air=green etc.) and mixing of the
elements (bluegreen, yellowred
etc.) they have a different color.
(Reference: Nagaradja
(Lhudjal) - The Serpent King and Master of Tantra.)
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Cross-reference
Lord Hanuman –
son of God Vayu, the Hindu God of Air.
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Reference
Royal Kumari
http://www.midgetbigot.com/god/kumari.htm
circa 1987 AD,
alias Taleju
job Temporary incarnation of ten armed Hindu diety.
description Child goddess of
Hindu and Buddhist followers.
why are they a god Is required to watch as more than 100 buffalo and goats are sacrficied to
her. walks over the severed heads to prove she has the composure of a
goddess.
Pedigree Is selected by a panel of high priests using a 32 point guide to perfection
(neck like a conch shell, cheeks
like a lion's, voice like a duck, and golden
skin)
marketing Annually
renews power of
forehead.
financial As she is not permitted to touch the ground she has a staff to carry her
everywhere. Receives lifetime pension of $8 a month.
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Cross-reference
56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness,…
- Deuteronomy 28:56 :: King James Version (KJV)
Personal
Note
In modern social environment - added westernization onto
traditional social setup, these women suffer a lot on “retirement”. They face
social restrictions - inability to move freely in society as other women, less
freedom to mingle around, to make friends etc – all due to their child-hood
status of “goddess”. So it is not a “life of riches” as some other women may
dream of.
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free
time Watches
TV; heals the sick. Likes Coke and chees puffs.
and
sex? Prepubescent virgin. Loses her
divinity upon her menstruation and the
goddess finds another virgin to inhabit.
what
else Personal
health believed to be a reflection of the state of
suffered an earthquake three days after she chipped a tooth.
where
are they now? Indoors allowed to leave her palace only 13 times a year.
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The six schools of ancient Hindu Philosophy
http://pub42.ezboard.com/fyoga84291frm7.showMessage?topicID=184.topic
The
The objective of the Yoga school
is attaining union or at-one-ness with the divine-spiritual essence within
which is virtually identical with the spiritual essence or Logos of the
universe. True yoga is genuine psychology based on a complete philosophical
understanding of the entire inner human constitution. There are several states
leading to spiritual powers and perception. The eight stages of yoga usually
enumerated are: 1) yama (restraint,
forbearance); 2) niyama, religious observances such as fastings,
prayer, penances; 3) asana, postures of various kinds; 4) pranayama, methods of
regulating the breath; 5) pratyahara (withdrawal), withdrawal of the consciousness from
external objects; 6) dharana (firmness, steadiness, resolution) mental concentration, holding
the mind on an object of thought; 7) dhyana, abstract contemplation or meditation freed from exterior
distractions; and samadhi, complete collection of
the consciousness and its faculties into union with the monadic essence.
The Purva-Mima-nsa (First Vedantic
School)
Jaimini is reputed to be its founder, as well as the author of the Mimansa-darsana, the sutras or aphorisms which constitute its chief doctrinal authority. This school is also sometimes termed Karma-mimansa because of the doctrine advocated that by its teaching one can be more or less freed from the making of new karma. Jaimini (Sanskrit) Celebrated sage and philosopher of antiquity, pupil of Vyasa, to whom the Sama-Veda was transmitted by his teacher (Bh-P 1.4.21). The founder of the Purva-Mia-nsa or Karma-Mima-nsa system.
The Uttara-Mima-nsa (Latter or
Superior Vedantic School).
Sankaracharya is the main popularizer of the Advaita or nondualistic Vedantic philosophy, which is virtually identical with Central Asian Buddhism.
(Reference:
The
six schools of ancient Hindu Philosophy.)
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Vaishnava Philosophy - The Roots of Existence
http://www.iskcon.org/main/twohk/philo/roots.htm
"It is a time of progress, my dear. You are nothing more than a bundle of atoms and your silly little feelings are nothing but chemical reactions in your brain, which, by the way, is merely a product of billions of years of random evolution of some kind of soup, like anything else around here..."
Sounds familiar? That is not a coincidence. It is indeed the time you are presently living in. Remember? You were taught like that from your very childhood. And even at the highest university levels this is the officially accepted value of your life. Or any life for that matter.
Yes, true. Externally we may be forced -- by mass media and social pressure -- to submit to these unpalatable concepts, but something deep within refuses. Something deep in our hearts, that continues its quest for the answers to those timeless questions.
Who am I?
What am I?
Why am I?
Questions that echo from the soul.
Questions that need to be answered.
Questions that can be answered.
The ancient Vedic scriptures urge us,
atatho brahma-jijnasa: "Now that you have attained a human form of life, you should utilize your developed consciousness to inquire into the Absolute Truth."
Yet we rather engage in polished styles of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, which is available even in animal species without the hassle of nine-to-five jobs, supermarkets and tax assessments. And thus we claim the world. We claim the very world we destroy with our own ignorance of higher values and truths.
Once again we are "too busy" making a career. Once again we have "no time" to ponder over the actual substance of existence. Once again we cling to those flickering opportunities that our short life span offers to pursue some temporary satisfaction of our thirst for happiness.
We
keep running like mad after the oasis in a mirage, castles made of sand,
and the gifts of Santa Claus. But the illusion of
this material world will never quench the spiritual thirst of the soul. Invisible shackles. Prison without bars.
And all bait hides a hook.
But if we follow that advice, that has come to us through millennia of wisdom and
realization, we may find our ignorance dissipating. We may find our questions
answered. We may find meaning to our lives. We may
find meaning to their lives. We may find meaning...
We may find the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, who tells us: "To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance." (Bhagavad-gita 10.11)
(Reference: Vaishnava Philosophy - The Roots of Existence.)
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“Thou belongest to That Which Is Undying, and not
merely to time alone,” murmured the Sphinx, breaking its
muteness at last. “Thou art eternal, and not
merely of the vanishing flesh. The soul in man cannot be killed, cannot
die. It waits, shroud-wrapped, in thy heart, as I
waited, sand-wrapped, in thy world. Know thyself, O mortal! For
there is One within
thee, as in all men, that comes and stands at the bar and bears
witness that there IS a God!”
(Reference: Brunton, Paul. (1962) A Search in Secret
Amen