An Ancient Healing Mantra

The combination of sounds in any mantra creates a specific vibration in the body. Our body also has a vibratory dimension. All the cells and atoms are vibrating in harmony with each other. The moment this harmony is broken at the vibratory level, destruction of the body takes place and we start to die. In death the pulsations of the body stop, the animation of the cells ceases and the life force leaves the body. The vibrations are the manifest symptoms of the life force. – Swami Niranjan (http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2000/cmay00/mantras.shtml)



We live in a vibratory universe. On a physical material level all that exists can be understood as arising from an underlying field of pulsating energy; a field of quantum potential which manifests as our physical universe. On a microcosmic level it manifests as our individual body/minds. Each of us is an individual field of energy vibrating in a vast interconnected coherence of energy. We are intimately connected with everything and everybody in an ocean of vibrations. When our body minds are in a state of coherence they function optimally and when they become separated and out of sync they begin to fall apart.

In terms of Tantra Yoga each of us is a combination of two primary principles: consciousness, known as atman, and energy, known as prakriti. On a macrocosmic level these are known as Siva and Shakti; universal consciousness and energy. The universe is evolving in and through us as it becomes more and more conscious of itself. As human beings we are in the unique position of being able to willingly participate in and accelerate this process. On the other hand we can choose to become stagnant, unconscious and disconnected. From the Tantric perspective human birth is a tremendous opportunity for enlightenment. To waste it in a mere sensory and material level of awareness is extremely foolish.

Tantra does not eschew or prohibit involvement in the sensory material level but it recommends that we do so with full awareness. Full awareness means full self-awareness; consciousness of ourselves as spiritual beings. While the phenomenal universe is in a state of continuous flux the atman is ever-present, unchanging and unattached. It is the “hidden observer” within us. When we are identified with the ego we are involved with a sense of identification with something which is fundamentally unreal because it is in a state of constant change. On a deep level our psychological and physiological problems originate in a false sense of self. "The self,” states Deepak Chopra, “is the isolated ego clinging to its small reality and the Self (atman) is the unbounded spirit that can afford to not cling at all."

The essence of Tantric teachings might be boiled down into “Enjoy life but don’t forget who you really are.” Actually we can enjoy life much more when we are aware of our true Self. We can take things lightly. Rather than fighting our tendencies towards desire and anger we can simply drop them in recognition of their futility. When we are inwardly attuned to the Self we can realign, recalibrate and reboot our psychophysical beings. When we come home to the Self we can drop all fear and anxiety, all anger and aggression. We can heal on a deep level.

One powerful way of coming home is the practice of mantra recitation. Many people these days think of mantras as autosuggestions, phrases meant to influence the subconscious in a certain direction. True mantras are much more. They are sound vibrations which free the mind. They help us to relax into the vibratory ocean of being, to reconnect and to recognize our true being. Mantras are not about meaning in the sense of ordinary language. In fact they take us beyond the merely intellectual sense of meaning. They open us to our deeper being.

Mantras may be used for healing, for achieving life goals and/or liberation. They originate in the universal field of consciousness-energy and are received in deep states of meditation or sometimes in dreams. The most powerful mantras have been revealed in ancient times and their field has been reinforced throughout the centuries. The best mantras influence our evolution on multiple levels and according to our needs. They also influence the evolution of consciousness on the planet as a whole. The Mahamrityunjaya or Mahamoksha mantra is one such mantra.

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

Mahamrityunjaya roughly translates as “great victory over death.” It is a mantric prayer that takes us beyond the world of illusion, the world of death, into the reality of our immortal essence. It is regarded as a powerful healing mantra on all levels: physical, psychological and spiritual. With consistent practice it will transform the deluded consciousness of the practitioner into the enlightened consciousness of a realized Yoga master. Like all mantras it also creates a field of healing, peaceful and enlightening energy across the planet. You can chant this mantra for your own healing and for healing others. (Remember separation is an illusion.)

We are familiar with the mantra Om, or Aum. It is the basis of all mantras and it is the beginning sound of the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. This is a more complex mantra meant to help us on a number of levels. It may seem difficult at first. Some of the sounds are unfamiliar and may seem hard to pronounce. It is important to learn correct pronunciation. Mantra is about sound more than conveying some external meaning. The meaning is contained within the sounds and revealed through meditation. Here is the mantra in its basic form:

Om Trayambakam yajamahe

Sugandhim pushtivardhanam

Urvarukameva bandhinam

Mrityor mukshiya mamritat



Don’t fret, we’ll break the sounds down here and give a sense of the meaning. The sound is essential however. An entire dissertation could be made trying to explicate the deep layers of meaning in this mantra. However they will be revealed in your consciousness through repetition and meditation.

Om – This is the sound symbol for the Absolute, the formless essence of being. To get a better sense of Om please read the previous post .

Trayambakam (tra yum bu kum) – Tray means “three.” Sounds familiar? Our current language is based upon earlier Indo-european roots. Ambaka means “eye.” The whole phrase means “the one with three eyes.” It refers to the deep unified consciousness within us who sees past, present and future and is aware in the states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep.

Yajamahe (yah jah mah hey) – means “reverence.” It means letting go of ego attachment and importance in praise of the greater Self.

Sugandhim (suh gahnd him) – means “all pervading fragrance.” Fragrance here is both literal and symbolic. We all have experienced how a particular smell can spread and permeate the atmosphere, whether pleasant or unpleasant. The Self is all pervasive like a sweet but subtle fragrance which can be actually experienced in deep meditation.

Pushtivarhanam (push tea var da nahm) – means “that which sustains all beings.” It refers to the field of consciousness from which we all take our individual identities. It is the imminent and transcendent presence of God.

Urvarukamiva (oor va rook ah meeva) – means “powerful illness.” It refers to whatever illness we may be suffering in life but more importantly to the illness of illusion, spiritual blindness and inability to recognize our true nature.

Bandhinam (bahnd hi nahm) – means bondage, being bound, stuck, etc.

Mrityor (mrit your) – means death, ignorance, untruth.

Mukshiya (mook she ah) – means liberation from all of the above.

Mamritat (mahm rih taht) – literally means “give me the nectar of immortality.” It is asking for and opening to the infinite supply and potential of the universe.

So we might say that the mantra means: “I offer reverence to the Consciousness which is omniscient and all pervasive, and which sustains and nourishes all beings. I pray for liberation from suffering and deliverance from death into immortality.” Or something like that. Remember that it is the sound combinations that are considered essential. When this mantra is recited with an attitude of devotion it brings about physical and psychological transformation. Swami Niranjan states, “When we use a string of vibrations, as in the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, these vibrations realign the disturbances in the vibratory system. Disease and illness can be managed effectively with this mantra.”

The concept of mantra healing may seem strange for modern Westerners. Some scientists will reluctantly admit that studies indicate that prayer can be beneficial in healing and preventing illness. Mantras are much more precise than ordinary ideas of prayer. The sounds intensify the healing intention permeating our deeper levels of consciousness with their vibrations.

There are various recordings of this mantra and some can be found easily on youtube. Here is a brief recording of 11 repetitions if you would like to chant along with me : ) http://soundcloud.com/turiyaom/mahamrit This mantra is chanted 108 every Saturday in ashrams throughout the world for healing and peace. We can join in this energy by developing a weekly Saturday practice of chanting it as well.

An Attitude of Gratitude

God is always coming to you in the Sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude in that sacrament.

- Evelyn Underhill


I’ll be honest. Gratitude has been a hard one for me. Growing up in a family beset with alcohol abuse and domestic violence, I developed a habit of holding onto bitterness and resentment. I am regularly depressed around the holidays and Christmas carols make me cringe. I learned at an early age to regard the world with cynicism and suspicion. When I became a teenager this attitude crystallized into an attitude of rebellion against all that was conventional, superficial and fake. I found my way to the bitter rebellious joy of getting high and drunk. Love and gratitude seemed to be concepts that were contaminated beyond recognition. Still there was a spiritual longing within me and a deep faith buried under multiple layers of defenses.

Eventually I found my way to India and the practice of yoga; not the commercialized yoga of glossy magazines but the deep spiritual yoga of the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras as taught by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Yoga helped open my heart to the spiritual dimension of life but I was still conflicted inside. Now as a yoga teacher and a psychotherapist I see so many people with similar conflicts and defenses. It is hard sometimes to open to love and gratitude when you are going through or have lived through a personal hell. How do we find our way back to God and the Kingdom?

Research shows that an attitude of gratitude is beneficial for health and healing on both physical and psychological levels. Robert Emmons summarizes this research in Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Houghton Mifflin, 2007). Various studies showed that patients who use a daily gratitude journal "reap emotional, physical and interpersonal benefits." It seems to be an antidote for the stressful thoughts that can so disastrously affect our health and wellbeing. It is a form of writing meditation.

The practice of witnessing or observing thoughts in meditation is very helpful in this regard. Through meditation we can uncover and release some of the negative cognitive structures and emotional energy which have taken roost in the subconscious mind. By further focusing on feelings of love, gratitude and compassion we open up dormant functions of our brain/minds which help us to grow and evolve as spiritual beings. Of course we need to take this practice out into the world as well. The Buddhist teacher Atisha suggested we take up and practice the slogan: Be grateful to everyone. Now that might be a challenge!

However, we can learn to be open to the blessing of each moment in our lives. Each breath is a blessing, each sip of coffee, each encounter with another soul. When one’s heart is open the world is full of opportunities to feel grateful and compassionate. From a spiritual perspective, even the most horrible things that happen have meaning and can lead to the soul’s evolution. If we are just grateful for the good things in life, then what happens when they go away? How do we feel when “stuff happens?” Spiritual teachings tell us that this world of our experience is really a projection of the unconscious karma within us. It is a setting through which we can work out all the stuff that obscures our inherent divinity; an opportunity to go beyond the ego and to realize the Self. Practicing gratitude is a great way to make progress.

Accessing Quantum Consciousness

Oh Lord, I see within your body all the
gods and every kind of living creature. I see
Brahma, the Creator, seated on a lotus; I see
the ancient sages and celestial serpents.
I see infinite mouths and arms, stomachs and
eyes, and you are embodied in every form. I
see you everywhere, without beginning, middle,
or end. You are the Lord of all creation,
and the cosmos is your body.
- Bhagavad Gita


Mystical, shamanic, and yoga traditions tell us that there is a greater consciousness inherent in the universe through which we are all connected. It is the deeper “I” within each of us, the resplendent Self. This greater consciousness lives in and through us as embodied beings but is generally hidden to us due to the process of avidya, or self-forgetting. When we have forgotten our connection to this greater consciousness we believe ourselves to be separate body-mind entities living in an essentially hostile world. As the Taitirriya Upanishad states, “Until we know the unity of all life, we live in fear.” Once we know this unified consciousness; once we have overcome a chronic case of mistaken identity, we realize that there is no birth, no death and that we are eternally abiding.

Now this may sound like a huge leap beyond reason, common sense and general sanity. It violates almost everything we have been taught either by science or traditional religion. Our whole lives have been structured around this sense of being a separate ego-identity and many of us feel terrified of the idea of giving this up. As one student put it, “If I and my world are not real, what is left?” The answer is: just all-encompassing unconditional love. Not so bad really.

Beginning in the early twentieth-century physicists investigating into the smallest units of matter encountered the interaction of consciousness with matter on the quantum level. Going on a century later scientists and philosophers are still arguing over what this means. Some say that it is either a) mistaken, or b) irrelevant. Others, of course, more aligned with “New Age” spirituality say that it means that “consciousness creates reality.” Personally, it seems that the former are simply overly attached to a materialist-reductionist paradigm and afraid to investigate beyond it. The later seem to be both naïve and opportunistic. On the level of ego-consciousness we have very little control over “reality,” mainly because we are identified with it. It is only when we are able to step outside of body-mind egos that we can grasp the bigger picture.

The body-mind ego is a particular constricted focus of consciousness. Mystics, shamans and yogis use various methods for altering consciousness so that they are able to move outside of the consensual trance in which most of us live. Investigating consciousness is a subjective endeavor. It is not a matter for physicists, neurophysiologists, intellectual philosophers, etc. It requires the courage to turn away from the world presented by the senses, projected by the mind and presumed to be the entirety of our world. It requires “pratyahara,” the yogic term for disciplined introversion. Just as externalized disciplines teach us to examine the world in a particular way, disciplines of consciousness seek to guide us on an inward journey.

Quantum Field theory, though, has given us a new language for understanding the greater consciousness. It has provided a model through which we can understand Consciousness as the field of infinite potential, wisdom and abiding Love through which our world comes into being:

The property of pure self-interaction of the Unified Field together with the resulting three-in-one structure of the 'measurement process' in quantum cosmology implies that the Unified Field generates sequentially progressing series of events through the process of pure self-observation. This quality of pure self-observation in turn means that the non-material, Quantum Mechanical Unified Field can be identified as the field of pure self-referral consciousness. http://www.worldpeaceendowment.org/invincibility/invincibility6.html


Meditative states of consciousness allow us to access this field (although we are never truly apart from it.) Meditation is essentially a way of retraining consciousness through a disciplined refocusing of attention. Meditation helps us to move awareness away from a fixation on the external world-projection in order to become aware of the field of awareness itself. Becoming aware of this unified field of consciousness is what Yogis have referred to as enlightenment. “Enlightenment results from extending the abilities of our brain, nervous system and consciousness into quantum fields of human potential that go beyond anything we have ever imagined.” (Bob Fickes, Quantum Enlightenment) The meditative state allows us to access our inner connection to infinite energy and intelligence.

States of consciousness can be measured through monitoring brain waves. Simply put: beta waves are generated in the waking ego state. Alpha waves represent a more relaxed and introverted consciousness, while theta waves are generated when consciousness disconnects from the outer world and delta waves signify deep sleep. Meditation helps us to move into alpha, theta even delta states with conscious awareness. Alpha represents a gateway into the quantum field consciousness. Through meditation the experienced practitioner can move from alpha into the deeper states of theta and delta at will and with awareness. It is in these deeper states that we come into contact with the greater consciousness within.

There are numerous ways for entering into meditative states of consciousness. It is not even necessary to receive official training in a traditional methodology although it helps. One technique which I learned through Swami Satyananda Saraswati is called Yoga Nidra. Yoga Nidra is a guided process of deep relaxation and inner awareness which can take one into the deeper layers of consciousness fairly easily. It helps with healing, learning, creative problem solving, inspiration and, of course stress reduction. I have made a recording of an introductory session which can be downloaded at http://soundcloud.com/turiyaom/yoga-nidra You can learn more about this profound technique in Swami Satyananda’s book Yoga Nidra.

Doing or Being Yoga?

Your duty is to Be, and not to be this or that.

- Ramana Maharshi



People often ask “How often do you do yoga?” It’s a question, though, which is hard to answer because it is based on a misconception. We might attend a yoga class three times a week, practice asana, pranayama and some meditation method for an hour or so daily. This, however, is just a preliminary glimpse of what yoga means. For one who is dedicated to the path of yoga, each breath is practice, each thought an opportunity to be aware. For one who has realized, yoga is a state of being; a continuous flow of consciousness.

Swami Niranjan says, “Yoga is about becoming aware. Yoga is about managing the negative aspects of our character and developing the positive qualities which uplift our nature, and with that uplifting others as well. When we are expressing these qualities then other people are uplifted, and that is yoga!” It is important to understand that there are a variety of forms of yoga; hatha, raja, bhakti, gyan, karma, laya, kriya, etc. Karma yoga is an important basis for our ongoing practice of awareness. Karma yoga can be defined as awareness in action.

Ordinarily when we practice some form of yoga we dedicate a limited period of time, but with karma yoga we continue that awareness into daily life. We are present in each moment whether at work or at home cleaning up the kitchen. The Bhagavad Gita defines it as action, i.e. work, for its own sake without regard to its fruits. In other words, it means being present and aware in the moment without being distracted by imagined future outcomes. It is service which is not motivated by self-centered desire; meditation in action.

When we are truly embodying yoga, there is no anxiety about the future, nor is there dwelling on the past. Even while involved in worldly activities there is an underlying awareness of nonduality. There is a deep awareness that all separation is an illusion. For the yogi this is not just an intellectual stance; not just a matter of saying the right words. It is a matter of transcendent awareness.

There is a story of a student who tried to impress his master with a description of the illusory nature of phenomena. The master listened patiently then hit him with a stick! When the student became angry it was apparent that he had no real understanding. When we react with fear or anger, when we become worried, anxious, resentful or demoralized it is a reminder that our yoga is incomplete and superficial. We have been smacked with the master’s stick to help us awaken.

Sometimes people refer to yoga practice as “being on the mat.” Real yoga though has nothing to do with a mat. Even after you’ve rolled it up and put it away you have to face the vicissitudes of life. Yoga means developing and maintaining a calm mind and a unified consciousness. We have to practice constantly until we realize that we are it.

The Science of Life

Disease-free condition is the best source of virtue, wealth, gratification
and emancipation, while the diseases are destroyers of this (source),
welfare and life itself
Charaka Samhita 4: 15-16

Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of India with roots going back to ancient times. It is a form of naturopathy which focuses on maintaining optimal health and longevity. However it also has a curative aspect as well which relies on herbs and diet as well as behavioral and psychological interventions. It is closely allied with Yoga and is the basis of Yoga therapy. It is a holistic science which takes into account body, mind and spirit.

The term Ayurveda comes from two words: ayus, meaning life and veda, meaning science. As Swami Vibhooti Saraswati writes,

“The science of Ayurveda began thousands of years ago in the Himalayan regions. The great seers who founded it did not differentiate between our inner and outer world, seeing both as one. They treated spiritual suffering along with the body and mind. In fact, the fundamental philosophy of Ayurveda is that any kind of suffering can be termed disease ('dis-ease'), while inner contentment is equated with good health. True health, according to Ayurvedic science, means a sound body, a sound mind, sound emotions and a sound soul, which also equates with another great science -yoga. Ayurveda used plants and herbs, diet, aromatics, and even cosmetics, for restoring and maintaining mental equilibrium. Ayurveda also used the breathing and meditation techniques that form the basis of yoga, its sister science.” http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2005/lnovdec05/ayurcom.shtml

To understand Ayurveda and Yoga, for that matter, we need to appreciate their particular viewpoint and value system. Health and happiness are not seen as based on external circumstances but on inner peace, contentment and joy. It is a matter of balance within body, mind and spirit and well as within nature. Our modern society, unfortunately, is out of balance on all levels as we fall prey to diseases like cancer and depression while living in and continuing to create a toxic environment for ourselves. However, these traditional approaches can help us get back on the right track.

Ayurveda employs a number of common herbs which are often used in preparing meals as a way of promoting and maintaining health. Traditional Indian cooking is based in the principals of Ayurveda. Common condiments such as garlic, ginger, coriander, black pepper, cumin, fenugreek, cardamom, tamarind, cinnamon, turmeric, and nutmeg can be used based on knowledge of their properties. Rosemary is another common herb with wonderful properties which will be presented in a workshop at The Spiritual Treatment Center in Redlands, CA by Mina Jain and Mina Lerma on November 4, 2011 at 6:30 PM. (For more information visit: http://www.meetup.com/The-Spiritual-Treatment-Center-of-Redland/events/36989772/)

You can learn more about the relationship between Yoga and Ayurveda from this short video with Dr. David Frawley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0TJkqhsKLQ

Or for a more in depth presentation on Ayurveda, here is another video you can enjoy by Dr. Shudha of UCSF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTOJ8c__rk8

For Ayurvedic supplements for a variety of needs visit India Herbs at:
http://www.india-herbs.com/aff/Turiyaom/main

http://www.india-herbs.com/aff/Turiyaom/main_es (Español)

(These are an affiliate links so commissions on any orders will help support this blog : )

Navigating the Mind-Ocean

Just look, watch. What is your mind?
What is meant by the word mind? What exactly it consists of?
All your experiences...knowledge...past...accumulated ? that is your mind. You may have a materialist mind, you may have a spiritualist mind, it doesn´t matter a bit; mind is mind. The spiritual mind is as much mind as the materialist mind. And we have to go beyond mind.
- Osho



All our experience is conditioned by mind. Who we are, what we perceive, believe; what we take to be real is a product of mind. We live our lives submerged in an ocean of mind. The very concepts of a world “out there” and a me “in here” are mental constructs. "There is no difference,” writes Deepak Chopra, MD (stating a truth which is grounded in the ancient philosophy of Vedanta but which is also consistent with modern physics,) “between what is happening in your inner world & what is happening in your outer world. The outer world is just a reflection of your inner world. The world is a mirror of your mind & your mind is a mirror of the world. But you are neither your mind nor the world; you are the creator of both. Even that idea is only a partial truth because there are no inner & outer worlds. There is only the self-interaction of the one Being, infinite consciousness."

Why then are we so caught up in, so immersed in this reality-construct? Yoga psychology tells us that it is because we have developed these powerful patterns of mind over innumerable lifetimes. Or as Albert Einstein once remarked, “Reality is an illusion, albeit a stubborn one.” We maintain our reality as it is by constantly thinking about it. It is reinforced by the cyclic interactions of thought, feeling, action and reaction that comprise our daily lives. At night when we sleep they dissolve. In deep dreamless sleep the world ceases to exist but we never notice. As soon as we awaken the process starts up again.

We tend to think in terms of “my mind” and “your mind”, but these are just sub-programs of Mind-at-large; the great field of energy and information in which we are imbedded. You could call this the Universal Mind Matrix, the Akashic Field, or just “Mind.” In terms of Yogic cosmology it is referred to as Mahat. Out of this field intellect, or Buddhi, is generated, as well as the sensory and subconscious mind, Manas, and the individual ego identity, or Ahamkara. This is the Yogic conception of mind. The Self, Atman, is beyond the mind. It is the eternal witnessing awareness.

Yoga is a process of waking up to our true identity. The various methodologies are ways of detaching from and deconstructing our ego-trance. The roots of our false sense of self lie in the subconscious and unconscious layers of mind. Our ordinary waking consciousness is like the tip of an iceberg with 90% hidden. When we are functioning in the world we are rarely aware of what is happening below the surface. Just as we might learn to ride a bicycle as a child and do not have to remember the details as we get older, most of our habits, proclivities, sense of self and world are products of prior conditioning. We are conditioned by our parents, schools, religious institutions, cultures, as well as by the unique learning experiences we have had.

In yoga terminology this conditioning is the result of “samskaras,” latent impressions within the subconscious and unconscious mind. Samskaras often function below the level of conscious awareness but also arise as memories. All memory is an aspect of samskaras but we are not able to recall all of our samskaras – that would be overwhelming! Karma is the “outer” aspect of samskaras. Things, events, relationships, etc. come our way in life as a result of the influence of samskaras. Whether we are aware of it or not a samskara gives rise to a mind-pattern, known as vritti, which results in both an inner and outer experience.

This idea of samskaras is confirmed by recent brain research. We know that experiences create neural pathways in the brain which are then self-reinforcing. These pathways are the physical counterpart to the samskaras. They can be very powerful habits which are hard to overcome. Of course, like in bike-riding, they can also be beneficial. Positive thoughts and emotions create and maintain positive samskaras, while negative thoughts and emotions create and maintain negative samskaras. Often times we experience an inner battle between positive and negative samskaric impulses. This results in confusion, inner turmoil and distress.

Through deep meditation the Yoga practitioner can become aware of the latent impressions within. When the surface mind patterns, or vrittis become still the yogi dives deep into the unconscious layers of the mind and gain control over the deep samskaras. The fire of Samadhi burns away these impressions. The liberated soul, Jivanmukta, is one who has depleted the store of samskaras. He or she is truly free.

In order to overcome the samaskaras it is important to practice meditation regularly with an attitude of non-attachment. This means that no matter what appears in the mind, we just observe it without reaction. Eventually we learn to rest in the Self, in stillness, inner peace, bliss and love.

Meditation and the Problem of Evil

There is no such thing as moral phenomena, but only a moral interpretation of phenomena.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

We experience good and evil because we perceive a presence of duality rather than unity.
- Ernest Holmes



The concept of good and evil is ancient and mythological. We find it throughout the chronicles of wars both ancient and modern. It makes its way into our current culture through films such as Star Wars and the novels of J. R. R. Tolkien. We also find it in crime dramas and hear it played out in the complaints following romantic breakups. But really, what is good and what is evil? Ask most people about evil and they will point to the poster child of evil, Adolph Hitler to make their point. Mother Theresa, of course, exemplifies the opposite end of the spectrum. And it is a spectrum. As human beings we all fall somewhere in the middle.

In order to determine the nature of evil we must try to understand what our highest value is. The good is that which unfolds within us as our highest potential as spiritual beings. It is our Buddha nature; our capacity for joy, love, compassion, communion, wisdom and creativity. This goodness is innate within all beings as it flows from our source. We can connect with it through meditation and prayer; through art, music, dance, etc. We find it in communion with nature, intimate relationships, solitude and sacred love-making. Unfortunately there are also numerous ways through which we can disconnect. It is when we disconnect from and forget our true nature as Being-Consciousness-Bliss that we become mired in a false reality; in dualistic consciousness.

Our fragmented consciousness is based in ignorance, ego-identification, desire, hatred and fear. Once we are disconnected from our source we fall into ignorance. We identify with our limited body-mind egos and we strive to find happiness outside of ourselves by chasing after what we like and running from or attacking what we dislike. We cling to our familiar beliefs, to our ego-selves, out of fear. Imagine the young man who stabs his girlfriend to death out of jealousy. He might even say he was motivated out of “love.” In truth he is under the spell of profound ignorance, not realizing that in killing her he is murdering part of his own soul. All of us are ignorant to some degree when we assert our own needs and desires over those of others; even worse, at their expense.

We disconnect from Unity when we become attached to material things and money, mindless media-consumption, gambling, thrill-seeking, over-eating, sex, drugs and alcohol. We disconnect through our very insistence on the dichotomy of good and evil. I have often used the Irrational Beliefs Inventory developed by Albert Ellis, Ph.D. with clients and trainees in psychotherapy. One irrational belief is the idea that some people are wicked or evil and deserve punishment. It has been surprising how strongly people will defend the supposed rationality of this belief. Even fellow therapists! Our irrational hatred and fear of what we define as “evil” is an “evil” in itself.

The really hard part to come to terms with is that any time we label someone or something as evil, we are projecting an aspect of ourselves. Our world is a mirror of our shared consciousness. We hang on to this idea that “it’s not me,” but we all carry the seeds of ignorance, of “me-first,” attachment, and aversion. Think of how easy it is to get people to murder each other by defining the enemy as evil. In their haste they forget that war itself is a great, and perhaps greater, evil. The peoples and nations that we call evil consider us to be the evil ones. The reality is that we are all human beings trying to learn to live together as a global society. The deeper reality is that we are all one being.