From the Vedas to the Magazines

A Short History of Yoga

Mysticism is a word for the philosophy or science of human transformation. Some of you may be familiar with the phrase “the method of Science – the aim of Religion” – which is a particularly succinct way of describing mysticism. Despite its contemporary, “Westernized” manifestation of rhythmic breathing and stretches or poses for building a strong body, yoga is such a system of methodical experimentation, observation, and data collection applied to the self as a means to know oneself, know reality, and unite or harmonize with that reality. This sounds a bit more intense than the activities that go on in gyms and studios across the country, so how did this stuff develop from such a rich spiritual tradition?

Be a Person!

I really can not remember at all where I found this meme, but kudos to whoever made it and to Chris Rock for pointing out the idiocy of bandwagon thinking.

I think it's a great and natural kind of thing - to be in and to identify with a particular group - but not to allow that group identity to replace your own thoughts and feelings. Think! Explore your own feelings without judging them as good or bad or weird. Otherwise, you won't really get to know yourself or where you really fit in, will you?

Some Words from Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick is one of the most influential names in science fiction. If you're unfamiliar with his name, it is unlikely that you are unfamiliar with his work. His stories have been made into major motion pictures like Blade Runner, Total Recall, Screamers, Paycheck, and Minority Report.

Check IMDb for a more extensive list.

I highly recommend that you read him. There are several collections available in print, and since many of his stories are very short, they are ideal for those times you're sitting on a bus or waiting in a doctor's office.

...and remember to check out and "like" my Facebook page for more graphics like this, and for various articles and news stories from around the web. I tend to focus on issues concerning the way that we perceive the universe as well as the way that the media shapes social realities. or something like that. Check it out!

Demystifying the Mystical - Language and The Master Who Makes the Grass Green

One of my favorite authors, the polymath Robert Anton Wilson, used to discuss the koan: Who is the master who makes the grass green?

When I asked a friend this question, his logical response was chlorophyll. As we all have learned in elementary biology studies, chlorophyll is the essential element of photosynthesis by which plants absorb sunlight and convert the energy into a usable form. Without chlorophyll, grass would not appear green to us, so my friend's answer makes perfect sense. It is scientifically accurate. It is totally correct…and completely untrue.

Demystifying the Mystical - Overcoming Stereotypes and Misconceptions

Jacob's Ladder - William Blake

I don’t know exactly where to start – it would make sense to start with the very beginning of mysticism, but the truth is that no one can really put a date to it. It might make sense to begin with a definition, but even a definition is somewhat difficult because it is a broader term than one might think. I can turn my attention to what mysticism does, and even that might be somewhat difficult to describe in objective, pragmatic terms because of a befuddling plethora of traditions. Of course one of my main goals is to clear away all of the mystical, magical language and funny words associated with the subject so that anyone can understand what it’s all about. Greater minds than mine have attempted such introductions with the same goals – and have done a much better job than what I’m doing now – but both time and the volume of new information have put us back in the same situation as when these greater minds were at work. That is – gross misunderstanding and prejudgments made from ignorance prevent many people from taking a serious look at mysticism.

Be that as it may, ignorance isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s probably the very best place to begin. If that sounds strange to you, visit my previous post on ignorance to find my explanation. Otherwise, read on for an introductory glance at:

• The roots of the word “mysticism”
• The fundamental branches of mysticism
• What mysticism is
• What mysticism is not