March - April 2024 Transformation

10

10

On Spirituality On Spirituality

By Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) By Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)

At the subtle-most core of every human being there resides a deep, compelling desire to know the meaning of life, and to directly experience and understand the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent force from which the entire universe, including you and me, has evolved. Direct experience of this profound Truth provides a person security, optimism, wisdom, love, creativity, happiness, and strength.

But today, even in the midst of an unprecedented technological revolution that makes our lives so much easier than life in any previous age, human beings suffer from a lack of purpose and self-confidence, and are troubled by dissatisfaction, dread, fear and anger.

Why is it that so many of our fellow travelers are so unhappy? On a very practical level, much of the pain in today’s world is caused by a crisis in education. Without question, our modern schools, colleges and universities do teach us how to memorize and recite useful information that can translate into higher paying jobs, but they have never provided us a spiritual education that teaches us how to create a philosophy that prepares us to fulfill the highest purpose of a

human life that’s free from pain, misery and bondage.

As a consequence, much of humanity has become addicted to receiving knowledge and happiness from outside sources. Every day, from morning to night, people habitually extrude their vital creative energy outward through the senses of sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch, frantically seeking the illusory “pot of gold” at the end of a rainbow. Nobody has taught us how to seek within, how to find within, and how to verify within.

So the essential questions of life remain unanswered: “Who am I? From where have I come? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? And where will I go from here?

Clearly, our collective dysfunction lies in the fact that we have not been educated to know we are citizens of two worlds; that we are essentially Spirit, pure consciousness, wisdom, bliss and fullness having a human experience in time and space. Without direct knowledge of this higher wisdom within, we remain strangers to ourselves and to each other.

True Spiritual Education must define spirituality in its most scientific, practical and universal terms. Spiritual Education

trains us to set aside those debilitating, faulty, unconscious concepts that skew our perceptions and lead nowhere but to pain. Spiritual Education helps us discipline our thoughts, words and deeds, in order to follow that which leads us toward the center of consciousness, and thereby begins unlocking all our vast inner creative potentials.

Jesus, speaking as the Enlightened Yoga Scientist, taught His students that, “The Kingdom of the Supreme Intelligence exists within each human being.” On a very practical level, Spiritual Education can teach humanity how to direct the mind inward to

receive unerring Super Conscious Wisdom from the intuitive library of wisdom at the core of our being. Once this knowledge is received and becomes the basis of our thoughts, words, and deeds, human beings increasingly experience the Self-reliance, Self-confidence, creativity and freedom from fear essential to meeting all of life’s challenges with joy.

As you live your own personal Hero’s Journey, you must be forewarned and prepared for certain important signs. For that reason, I have prepared for you a list of the 10 warning signs of Spiritual Awakening.

The Spiritual Gift of a Glass of Water

By Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)

A brilliant young student, feeling proud of his great knowledge, once asked his teacher, Narada, to explain to him why it is that everyone can’t see the Eternal Truth, cultivate one-pointed attention, make discriminating choices and, in that spiritual awakening, end their sorrow. With great love for the disciple and an understanding of his limitations, the master agreed to share this knowledge, but only after the young man fetched a glass of water from a nearby house to quench Narada’s thirst.

The eager disciple approached the house and knocked. When the door opened,

the most beautiful woman he had ever seen stood before him. As he gazed into her eyes, he fell deeply in love, and the two soon married. In the years that followed, he and his wife found joy in one another, were blessed with healthy children and amassed considerable wealth and property.

But after many years his fortunes changed. Death snatched away the lives of his wife and children, and floods destroyed his property. He was left alone, poor and old. Then one night, as he sat brooding in his hut, there came a knock at the door.

When he opened it, his master, standing

before him, asked, “So? Where’s my glass of water?”

The mind, ignorant of its true nature, habitually moves among desire, fear and anger. When the mind operates in this manner, our decision-making process becomes corrupted, and neglects the discriminative faculty of the Conscience (buddhi) in favor of the rapid-fire, unexamined reactions born of deep-seated, unconscious habits or compulsions (samskaras).

In principle, the training of your attention is simple: when the mind wanders, gently bring it back to that which leads you for your highest and greatest good. Problems arise when a distraction is not just a stray thought, but the product of a deep habit pattern––a compulsive resentment, worry or desire. The power of such thoughts grows because there’s nothing the ego likes more than thinking about itself, justifying its dualistic orientation and fearing its own annihilation.

In the midst of such challenges, our leader is the mantra. Whenever a contractive thought appears in your awareness, witness and honor it, then withdraw your attention and redirect your attention to the mantra. When the mantra takes hold, the connection

between the distracting thought and your attention is broken. A compulsive thought or powerful sense craving has no real power of its own. All its power comes from the attention you give––and as you withdraw your attention, your spiritual awareness heightens. Then the formerly powerful thought, desire or emotion can no longer compel you to act in conflict with your own ever-expanding inner wisdom.

In Sanskrit the point of fully focused attention is called bindu ––a seemingly insignificant dot vibrating with awesome possibility. This concept can be easily grasped by considering its parallel in physics: the process of nuclear fission. When concentrated energy penetrates an atom it releases enormous energy, enough power to destroy––or to illuminate––a major city.

As the training of your attention grows, you’ll observe a similar, more subtle process occurring in your own consciousness. When you cultivate concentrated, one-pointed attention on the immense power of Love within you, and in all that you encounter you gain the freedom to choose thoughts, words and actions that reliably serve your highest and greatest good.

Getting Ahead

Jiya Patil

the 2024 National Conscience Month High School Essay Contest

At 8:16 AM on Tuesday, I’m still in my car, but I know I shouldn’t be. I should be walking into school, and my heart races–the passing period bell is about to ring. Suddenly, I can’t help being irritated at the student driver in front of me. And why are the middle schoolers taking so long to get onto the bus? I watch as one of the cars in front of me steers into what seems to be a hidden route. Within the next minute, it's back, and 10 cars ahead of its original spot. Excited by the prospect of this seemingly magical road, I look forward to the next day. Maybe I could wake up even later.

At 12:39, the line begins to form, curving around the metal control fences. The boys dap each other up as a means of subtly pulling each other forward. Some friend groups press themselves against the cafeteria wall, making a line of their own, and it seems faster than the lunch line. People’s grumbling stomachs motivate them to push to the front of the line; everyone else is pushing past each other, so why wouldn’t I? Today is not the day to get left behind.

Over the years, I’ve developed a technique of my own. As I slip into the middle of the line, I recite my favorite mantra, “Fill the gaps. Fill the gaps.” My nose scrunches, eyebrows furrow as I move past tall seniors. I stick right next to the fence; if the lunch line were a racetrack, I know I’d be in the lead.

At 2:13, I’m in AP Literature, and we’re reading an article titled “The Tragedy of the Commons.” My excitement about what

sounds like a modern Shakespeare play quickly fades to unease as I realize the true content of the text. My English teacher explains that “the tragedy of the commons explains how overusing a shared resource for personal gain leads to depletion.”

Lost in thought, I observe how capitalism glorifies individual desire and consumption as a means of climbing hierarchies. My mind races to more examples of how we exploit opportunities to help ourselves, ignoring how it may affect others: cheating on tests to keep up with the class, deforesting trees to expand agriculture, overfishing to maintain eating habits, etc. The tragedy of the “commons” seems to permeate American culture and beliefs, and I can’t help but wonder where I fit into everything: does the system make me a winner or a loser?

At 8:23 AM on Wednesday, I’m still in my car, but I’m not worried. I turn off my usual route before swerving back to pass ten cars stuck in traffic. It eases my anxiety, but I feel the weight of the tragedy of the commons in my race to school. I tell myself I’m not abusing resources; I’m just being proactive about finding new resources, so it’s fine. If getting to school were a race, I would win, and that’s all that matters. At 12:39, I make my way to the front of the line at what feels like breakneck speed, pushing past multiple groups rather than just one or two. Today is my day, and in my mind, the score is 2-0 in my favor.

At 2:13, I’m in AP Literature, and we’re

Winner of

discussing “Into Thin Air.” I can’t fathom how Jon Krakauer and his team could take advantage of the Nepali Sherpas out of their superficial need to climb Mount Everest. Eager to contribute to the Socratic Seminar, I raise my hand. I’m captivated by the narrative Krakauer paints regarding the climb, and I address the point in great detail. “To Jon, mountaineering and being a good mountaineer is a large part of his identity, so accepting the possibility of failure doesn’t align with his sense of identity; therefore, instead of accepting his humanity, Jon uses the Sherpas as a means to his end of climbing the mountain. I wonder how much Jon is willing to lie to himself to justify his identity.”

At 8:20 on Thursday, I’m late again, so I take my magical route and end up ten cars ahead of where I started. “I’m just being proactive. I’m just being proactive.” I mentally repeat the mantra, but I can’t help thinking about how Jon Krakauer’s irrational need to scale Mount Everest inadvertently devastated both his team and his family. Today, I take a closer look at the ten cars behind me,

and it doesn’t feel like I’m winning the race. As I look in my rear view mirror, I see ten cars that have been cheated. Behind the wheel, I see someone who had to lie to be a winner, and my heart sinks.

At 12:39, the lunch line looks different to me. As more people push past each other, I notice that they no longer get to the front before the rest of us. The tragedy of the commons has made the power of finding gaps in the line obsolete; I do not doubt that the same thing will happen to my “proactive” path to school as more people discover it.

Slowly, I’ve realized that the tragedy of the commons is nature’s way of forcing each of us to listen to our conscience, a lesson that I hope we all learn earlier rather than later. Instead of continuing to lie to myself, I hope to let my conscience guide me away from engaging with this tragedy. By choosing not to feed into it, I might ensure my status as a loser to some, but I’m no longer willing to win the race if I have to cheat to get to the front.

©American Meditation Institute, Inc.

“Both Easter and Passover teach the same spiritual Truth: When we consciously choose to escape our own mental house of bondage, we see that the death of each debilitating habit clears the way for a resurrection to a higher consciousness and the freedom to dwell in the Land of Milk and Honey.” – Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)

A Six-Week Scientific Journey to Spiritual Awakening

A MI MEDITATIO N®

Foundation Course of Yoga Science with Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)

A Living Link in the World’s Oldest Health & Wisdom Spiritual Tradition

A Clinically Proven Mind/Body/Spirit Curriculum

Developed by Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev), and derived from his award-winning books

The Heart and Science of Yoga and YOUR CONSCIENCE ®

Yoga Science & Philosophy–WEEK 1

Learn to expand your creative consciousness

How to use the mind for the best choices

Understanding pain as an agent for healing

Increasing energy, will power & creativity

Antidotes for worry, stress and depression

AMI Meditation®–W EEK 2

Systematic procedure for AMI Meditation®

Diminishing distractions with your Mantra

Learning the one-minute meditation

Building focus and fearlessness

Breathing Techniques–WEEK 3

Breath as Medicine

How breathing irregularities foster dis-ease

Three-part diaphragmatic breath

Yoga Psychology & Ayurveda–WEEK 4

Coordinate the Four Functions of the Mind to access the power and Inner Wisdom of Your Conscience

Use the power of NOW to build and heal relationships

Ayurvedic Medicine & Nutrition for your health

Easy-Gentle Yoga Exercises–WEEK 5

Yoga stretches to detox the lymph system and benefit your muscles, nerves, joints, glands & internal organs

Physiological benefits of yoga postures

Mind / Body Self-Care Plan–WEEK 6

The healing power of prayer

The practical benefits of contemplation

Creating a therapeutic self-care plan for yourself

Learning to budget your time

Integrating spirituality into daily life

Taught by Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)

Leonard (Ram Lev) is an American spiritual teacher, a direct disciple of medical pioneer Swami Rama of the Himalayas, and a living link to the world’s oldest health and wisdom spiritual tradition. A noted educator, philosopher and Yoga Scientist, Leonard is the founder of the American Meditation Institute, developer of the AMI Foundation Course curriculum, and originator of National Conscience Month. He is the author of the awardwinning books, The Heart and Science of Yoga® and YOUR CONSCIENCE, and the Mind/Body/Spirit Journal, Transformation. A rare and gifted teacher, Leonard’s writings and classes are enlivened by his inspiring enthusiasm, vast experience, wisdom, humor and a clear, practical teaching style. Leonard has presented courses at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, numerous medical colleges, Kaiser Permanente, the Commonwealth Club of California, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point and The New York Times Yoga Forum with Dean Ornish MD.

modern

science with the world’s ancient

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March 2024

MAR 14 - MAR 21: YOGA SCIENCE LAB® see p. 11

Thurs. Nights, 6:30-8:30 PM ET (2 wks) Live on ZOOM

MAR 31: EASTER/PASSOVER LECTURE see p. 7

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APR 7 - MAY 12: AMI MEDITATION® see p. 8-9

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APR 8 - MAY 13: GITA/ YOGA PSYCHOLOGY see p. 11

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MAY 15: COMPASSIONATE BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY

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American Meditation Institute

Education for Enlightenment®

March-April, 2024 • Vol. XXVII No. 3 PO Box 430, Averill Park, NY 12018

©2024 by Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) and The American Meditation Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, Inc. americanmeditation.org \ Tel. (518) 674-8714 ami@americanmeditation.org

AMI is a tax exempt, non-profit 501(c) 3 educational organization. Donations are fully tax deductible. No part of this journal in any manner, in whole or in part, in English or any other language, may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

What Others Say About SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

“AMI’s Foundation Course of Yoga Science, taught by Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev), continues to inform my daily meditation and spiritual practices, providing me with increasing access to joyful self discovery. Through this rewarding process I am able to perceive the boundless potential that is within my Being–just waiting to be utilized in thought, word and deed.”

André Tremblay (Jaidev)

“By taking the AMI Foundation Course, I learned how to create my personal philosophy of life, and it has been guiding me every day on the fulfilling path of discovering who I really am.”

Joyce Zurenko (Parvati)

YOGA SCIENCE LAB ®

How to Practice Meditation-in-Action

Valerie Chakedis Ed.D. and Kristin Kaelber MD PhD

Prerequisite: AMI’s Foundation Course

Level II: In the AMI Meditation® Foundation Course, you learned that your thoughts are your most valuable asset. The Yoga Science Lab® will help you examine your thoughts and expand your ability to focus your attention. The techniques learned in seated AMI Meditation® are applied in every duty and responsibility throughout the day. This process is called Meditation-in-Action. As you experiment with the Truth reflected by your Conscience, you’ll develop decisionmaking skills that will enhance your confidence in all relationships. As you have already learned, to experience real freedom you must be centered in the present moment, know who you are, and follow your Inner Wisdom. The Yoga Science Lab® can help you achieve that freedom!

THURSDAYS, 6:30PM -8:30 PM ET, $75. MARCH 14 & 21 (2 WKS) LIVE ON ZOOM

YOGA PSYCHOLOGY

BHAGAVAD GITA STUDY

Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness Perlmutter

LEVEL II: In continuous six week installments this course presents the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita as a handbook on the science of life and the art of living. If you are seeking a manual or guide for the supreme task of living a fulfilling and purposeful life in the world today, this ongoing study will provide you the practical wisdom, tools, meaning, courage and confidence you need. Each week Leonard and Jenness will teach you how to reduce stress and enhance your health and creative abilities, while offering you a fresh, positive perspective on all your family and business relationships. This course provides the practical blueprint to resolve all of life’s challenges, and is highly recommended for psychologists and all spiritual seekers.

MONDAYS, 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET, $150. (6 WKS) APR 8 - MAY 13 LIVE ON ZOOM