The Enlightenment Process
Shiva, and used the ocean as a metaphor for the enlightenment process. The ocean is vast, apparently going on forever. I am a part of the endless ocean. I am a cube of ice bobbing in the ocean. A tiny part of it, seemingly separate. I meditate deeply. I become one with everything…for a moment. At that moment I melted. At that moment I am the ocean. I am everything. It is an experience of oneness.
The moment passes. I am again an ice cube bobbing in an endless sea. Separate. I am again frozen, but I am not the same. I remember oneness and know I will meditate again and again. I will melt for seconds and never refreeze exactly the same. And maybe someday, I will not refreeze at all.
- Phoenix
Profound help
After every Zoom session with Shiva I feel inspired and empowered to continue and deepen my spiritual journey. Sometimes he discusses a topic that puts our practices into context, and sometime he answers a question that I bring up. Whenever I ask a question, his answer is well-considered, wise and profound. It always helps me solve the difficulty I face. During our meditation zoom sessions, I am often catapulted into a sea of light and energy, and I dissolve completely into the musical journey. I emerge clearer both mentally and emotionally. I notice that my interactions with my spouse, co-workers and friends are more loving and intentional, and I feel better about myself as a being on this earth. It is a powerful and magical experience that brings incredible positive changes in my life.
- T
The high heart practice
Going deeper into the teachings of the high heart was incredible. The effects and transformation it ignited was so evident, the only way to describe it is like taking one of those medicines that immediately start working the moment you take it. Because thinking on something that is not so positive in our lives, dissolving it, and then filling the space with unconditional love, with the very essence of eternity, definitively you felt after that like it had never happened, or as if it was a grievance of someone else, and indeed it was someone else who was suffering and is no more, because after that whole day of intensive indeed that self that sat at the beginning of the day that I identified with to move around in this planet, was gone, that self was long gone, and what is left is another self, another layer of personalities, points of view, and that hopefully has a little broader level of awareness and consciousness that makes me be more connected with the divine.
- J
Machu Picchu
The day we went to Machu Picchu was really magical, I feel like it was a lesson to reflect on the transient nature of this world, and how that very transience is necessary to really understand the teaching of Vajrayana which is mainly about the reconciliation of opposites, the recognition that everything is one. Going through the ruins and learning about the story of the Incas sometimes made me sad what they went through, but then when I come back to the teachings I realize that it is all perfect, because chaos is perfection as well, because that is why those things happen, if there were no terrible things to see and learn about in the world, there would not be motivation to cultivate unconditional love and compassion, and as a result no possibility to seek and attain enlightenment. The night meditating by lake Titicaca was very profound, the empowerment and transmissions received I know will have everlasting effect during this new year that is wrapping up in a time to collect all that was planted during the spring in terms of goals and projects. I know I was successful in several objectives I had, and I am on my way to finishing the rest before the end of the year, and I think the power trip to Peru was an amazing booster of energy to accomplish of the physical and spiritual progress that I had set out to achieve.
- L
Incredible experience
I cannot begin to describe my meditations with Shiva. It is such a joyous happy feeling. I have felt the energy and watch myself dissolve into the cosmos... Being with an enlightened teacher that can help guide you and help oneself to open their eyes to truth, beauty, and so much love. I myself find words inadequate to explain what I felt and witnessed. Only that it is something intangible but real that I hold in my heart.
Each time I go to another meditation or power place with him, I find my life changing radically for the best. I am happier, more loving and also...more compassionate to others. I guess that is all I have to say now.
- E.W.
Spring Equinox 2018: Santa Fe, New Mexico
We were at home after finishing a 3-day retreat with Master Shiva in Santa Fe. In the morning we took a brief hike at the alpine trail Rama took us to in the 90’s. There was snow on the ground and the air was cold. We encountered some people filming a martial arts movie in the woods. We were headed back to the parking area. We came upon a clearing. Shiva said he “saw” this was the right place. He asked us to line up in a row. He gave us an empowerment after invoking Mother Kali.
At home I was sitting on the couch reading the book “Mystic Scuba.” The album “Mystery School” was playing on our stereo. The music built up to a crescendo and I stopped reading and began to meditate on my third eye. I felt my awareness expanding and Kundalini energy arising in me. I followed the crescendos of the music as my mind became silent and still. With my eyes closed, I saw an explosion of colored patterns fly past in my mind, and then I suddenly felt engulfed by a feeling of emptiness or void. I felt an infinite awareness that was both empty and somehow completely full. I began to cry, sobbing softly, but at the same time almost laughing. I felt ecstasy. Tears streamed down my cheeks. Gold light flooded my awareness and I saw a vision of Rama’s face, gently and mischievously smiling at me. I felt a sense of profound happiness and at the same time a feeling of relief and completion. It was so beautiful. Eventually I opened my eyes and the room was bathed in gold light. Nothing seemed solid. The furniture was glowing. I felt my consciousness descend into a more structured perception of place and time. I meditated for a few more songs until the album ended, thinking of my cousin whom I had been feeling resentful towards for the past few months. The negativity dissolved and I felt intense love and compassion toward her. I visualized taking in all of her pain and emotion into myself and sending out a flood of unconditional love. Tears still streaming, I bowed inwardly and came back into awareness of my body. My ankle was hurting a little, something I had been oblivious of before. The room solidified and I sat in awe for a few moments. - DJ
Winter Solstice 2017: Valley of Fire, Nevada
The day after the Solstice retreat, I was camping in Valley of Fire, NV and I thought about my safe room.
I went down to it and I opened up the windows, something that I've never done before. The light was shining into the rooms. It looked beautiful.
Seeing how wonderful the light looked, I decided I would go sit outside in the sunshine so I took my lounge chair, put it outside and sat in front of my house and I realized that I was on a island surrounded by water. And as I sat there, I felt the waves of the ocean slowly and gently coming up over my feet and legs.
slowly submerging me and my house. My house and I were dissolving into the great Ocean. - Arjuna
Summer Solstice 2015: Bigfork, Montana
I arrived in the early afternoon, Friday, 19 June to the house in Bigfork, Montana that we were using as a venue for our retreat. We gathered for an evening meditation. It was easy to stop my thought and just enter into the energy of the meditation.The following day, Saturday, in the evening meditation I actively meditated in the manner of “reconciliation of the opposites.” The feeling of surrender and oneness were very deep for me in that meditation.
On the Sunday evening meditation, we meditated the 55 minutes of the Zazen Cayman Blue album. I did the unusual thing of meditating with my eyes open—not hard gazing on anything in particular, but it was an exercise in feeling meditative awareness while the visual sense was being stimulated. It helped that I was mostly looking in the direction of plant life outside the porch in which we were sitting. In the corner of my eye I was watching as Shiva meditated, which tied me into his awareness somewhat, although it was still a challenge because of my eyes being open to focus on the subtle indications of the gathering and movement of energy inside myself. - Kelly
Spring Equinox 2015: Silver Falls, Oregon
Shiva’s Spring Equinox 2015 retreat in Silver Falls, Oregon was exceptional. The meditations and lessons brought the balance of the Equinox into our lives. The fellowship was amazing. We learned about the power of the spoken and written word, and moving in meditation into our upper chakras toward spiritual enlightenment. Shiva’s meditations took us to a peaceful, higher level than ever before. The forest surrounding us even further enhanced our experience.
We returned home with a new balance to cope with our mundane lives through the power of the Summer Equinox and Shiva’s lessons. The promise of the universe was fulfilled, a gentle rain came down around us and our inner equilibriums were restored. - JM
Winter Solstice 2014: Joshua Tree
I felt the connection of all planes and forms. Starting from the dawn of our first day, Shiva connected with Joshua trees, the surrounding hills and with us. We are all connected and as he said “if you hurt one, you hurt the others.”Things come to life that one doesn’t normally notice until for those moments that we allow our second attention to call us. I saw hills taking form as crows and as the sun climbed higher in the sky, the hills returned to being hills. At that moment, I asked myself “where did the crows go?” A second later I heard a crow cawing behind me. It is indeed true that our second attention can show us many wonders if we flow into it. Taking part in these retreats, the veil of maya is lifted just enough to be able feel the mysterious wonder of life.
Shiva showed our group where a vortex was in the desert and we looked at it. The experience was beyond what my mind could compute at the time. Until later that night, right before going to sleep, did I realize of what an amazing thing I witnessed. I saw another plane of existence connected to this one and I felt the energies that protected them both. The same feeling that I got from seeing Shiva connecting with the energies of the Joshua Trees, at dawn, was present in this night time glimpse of the vortex. This oneness surrounds us constantly.
I am grateful to have these opportunities to shed my limited forms and to able to form more refined selves in such a blissful way. Namaste. - Medicine Deer
Winter Solstice 2014: Joshua Tree
On the winter solstice Shiva took us into the high desert at Joshua Tree National Park for a very spiritual awakening. The awesome, solstice sunset descended like a colorful bird swooping up and capturing all the fear and negative emotions within. Quietly walking through the darkness, we experienced the occult power of the intertwined Joshua trees and sacred energies of this special, unique place. The black sky was filled with endless light bodies normally invisible. Witnessing the incredible, desert, solstice sunrise, we awakened our inner-most spiritual entities, the eternal God, the light beings within us.
As Shiva promised, we did not walk out of the desert the same people who walked in. - JM
Desert Experiences
I have had some great meditations with Shiva in the desert. Shiva has a strong connection with the natural forces. The two times that I have had great experiences, haven’t been directly related to what Shiva was trying to point out but they were directly related to the power that Shiva was accessing and opening up to all of us.
One time we were in Arches National Park and we were all sitting on the ground and Shiva was leading us in a meditation/visualization. I felt very relaxed and open to the meditation. Then I started gently looking around at the rocks, the sky, and the desert, when something opened up and I could see/ feel/ sense the invisible existence around me.
It was invisible, intelligent particles around me. I was in the midst of them and a part of the reality they made up. I felt safe and that I belonged. I didn't feel as if I were better or less than them, just that I belonged as a part of them. It was home, and I was home. I have not gotten back to that same state since that time, but the actual, experienced awareness that what I really am is an integral part of the universe, of existence, and that I am nurtured as such, has shown me something deeper than the fear of the ego.
The other time I had a really expanding experience with Shiva was at Joshua Tree. It was just past dusk, and Shiva had just finished a visualization/meditation. I was drawn to a very large rock formation that was next to us. When I got to it I put my hands on the surface of the rock, and my heart opened up. I could feel that this was a sentient being, ancient, calm, completely aware of my presence, and emanating love, but not in a human way. There were no human emotions entangled in the love, but it was a very powerful, and stable love. I didn't want to leave.
I feel that Shiva has a very pure connection with nature, and a very strong gift. - Cas
Summer solstice 2003: Devil's Tower
The Solstice Retreat at Devils Tower was filled with profound and unbelievable experiences, but my most amazing experience happened as we sat in mediation looking at Devil's Tower. I watched the Tower breath - in and out. It had a very powerful presence. I was in awe as I watched Shiva fade in and out with the breathing of the mountain. We were all one with the universe, all lifted into the presence, infinity, all, nothing, everything. It is truly impossible to put into words. But, I wish everyone could experience this miracle, this oneness with nature.
- TB
Summer solstice 2003: Devil's Tower
Shiva teaches mysticism, so setting with him is always an opening into the other realities. And over time one sees the magic in all things and the ‘perfect moments’ happen more and more often. Shiva was holding a meditation intensive in the city where I live. Near sundown Shiva took a small group of us up to a hilltop that overlooked the city, for an evening sunset meditation. He told us that he would open different dimensions and for us to just stop our thoughts and just observe. I had the most awesome experience, the phenomena were amazing. I flipped through dimensions of time!
This was important to me because I had been wrestling with the concept of time for a while. In the microcosm of our life, time exists, the days pass, lives end, friends come and go and we feel all of this with our emotions or our physical bodies. But, without something to reference to there is no time, just moments passing through our view. But I’ve strayed from my story.
As I meditated with Shiva, I saw the world sliding and shifting like an illusion in the desert. The world wasn’t physical at all. I saw the city change into what it must have looked like at the turn of the twentieth century. There were only a few twinkling gaslights and not nearly as many trees, only a few strung along the river. Then the sunset and there were only shades of deepening gray over this city from 1912 or 1913 that I was looking at. Then it all dissolved into the void. Now you must understand I was not asleep nor did I have my eyes closed and imagining all that was going on.
Shiva ended the meditation and we slid back into what is called the first attention. I was shocked! The sun hadn’t gone down, the sunset was still happening. Brilliant oranges and pinks filled the sky and the city was once again the growing, thriving twenty-first century city. I had been totally involved in the 1912 city that it was totally real – I was in another time dimension while at the same time that my body was in the present time setting on a hill with Shiva.
So, I saw that time is not linear! You can reincarnate in the eighteenth century, the twenty-first century or the twenty-seventh century. Time is not linear, all things are happening at once.
As we were setting on the hill I saw another student, Vadra, with a nice neon green aura. Then he disappeared and then was pure white light – his true nature, his true being. I thought “hmmmm…. If I saw that in him, that he’s more than just his physical body – could it be that it is true of me also?”
- KF
Experience during a Meditation intensive
The summer solstice of 2003 was about Will and Intent for those that were able to attend the event. Some were single parents, going to collage and with little discretionary money for travel to seminars or power spots. Some traveled more than 1400 miles to attend. Some took the only vacation time they had in order to attend.
Shiva met all of the attendees at the Mt. Rushmore visitor’s center. The carvings of the four presidents head is an amazing example of an individuals will and intent to conceive and finish such a massive project. And the detail of the sculptors when viewed through high power binoculars is amazing. And although not mentioned by Shiva, Mt Rushmore is a power spot in it’s own right. Even with all of the human aura and thoughts there at a high visibility tourist spot, it was still easy to slip into the second attention and mediate there.
We then spent time at the Devils Tower National Monument. This is a true power spot. This is a place where you can just breathe; listen to the natural sounds with no thoughts, just your true consciousness. Totally aware of what’s going on, but no thoughts to distract, to cause despair, cause worry, and cause guilt -just your true self – God consciousness. Theses were times of being in the present moment, in the “presence of the moment”; aware of God, the Universe and the part of our beings that is that. These moments happen more and more often when one sets with Shiva and you learn from him. You become aware of the magic of the moment. And, the world is truly a magical place. To hold that state of mind you need to control the ego – not destroy it, but control it. The ego is controlled (tamed) by meditation. It is the use of your will and intent that leads you to sit in Zazen and experience the clear Light of reality – your self.
- RA
Amazing experience
For years I have heard shiva say that we weren’t who or what we thought we were. He has said that we were a breeze blowing through the Universe. Or, we were like a puff of a dandelion drifting on a wind. All of this seemed like a wonderful analogy but did it have any relevance in my life, the world I lived in? More than once, when on trips to Places of Power with Shiva, I had seen the world in front of my eyes undulate and shift back and forth. This was due to being in higher states of awareness that Shiva held us in at the time. These were direct experiences that the world was not as it seemed. But I couldn’t make the leap to “knowing” that we are just beings of energy having experiences in these bodies. Then, recently on a pilgrimage to Mt. Shasta, all that changed. Meditating on that mountain with Shiva brought a truth, a knowing. I had been meditating and had a short discussion with Shiva and had gotten up to walk around and look at the mountain. The world in front of my eyes was undulating and shifting back and forth. I brought my gaze closer and the foreground was doing the same. So, I gazed at my hands as I extended them in front of me. My hands were dissolving and shifting back and forth. Then my hands disappeared! This world is not as it appears and we truly are beings of Light and energy having adventures in these bodies!
- KF
This experience changed my life
Do you like surprise packages? I love the joy of anticipation and the delight of a surprise. If you also like the unknown, you may want to explore meditation with a spiritual teacher. The time in my life I value most is the time I spend meditating. I ‘m not always very effective with it by myself so I am most fortunate to have my spiritual teacher, Shiva to meditate with. Shiva is powerfully active while meditating. I have experienced many rare and splendid moments while setting with him. They are far too sacred for me to try to describe. I have a greedy ego that would just muddy up my experience if I search for the “just right” words. Is your soul searching for home? Feel your heart at peace for a moment and consider embarking on a very exciting journey through meditation. I’ll meet you in “the real world.”
- BI
A trip to the desert
February 6, 2001 I went with a group led by Shiva on a trip to the desert. We walked up a gorge. As we walked, I felt as if some adventurous part of me that had been asleep was waking up. I was also sobbing for no reason. It was just about dusk. Shiva said, "look at the mountain", as I gazed at it, I realized that I was dissolving into the air, my head and the mountain and the air were one thing. It was freezing, we were all bundled up in jackets and gloves and hoods. Shiva took everything but his pants and T-shirt off to show us the body siddha. He said he could only do this because he was in a non-physical state. At one point Shiva and D. knelt facing each other about five feet apart and they seemed to merge into one. Something within me changed and when I got back home. I made major changes in my life.
- NA
I dissolved in light
In the extraordinary world I inhabit when I sit with Shiva, I lose all the words necessary to describe it. And in the ordinary world, it is often difficult to remember. I meditated with Shiva tonight, so that world is fresh in my mind, my ego has not yet had a chance to deny the experience. Meditation with Shiva is like being in a world of light. The room glows and the mind stops. Even when I try to have a thought it just evaporates. I feel my heart open and light pour in. My judgmental, critical mind is gone and a peaceful emptiness inhabits my body. I feel like I am dissolving into the light.
- MG