by Michael Mamas | Monday, April 2, 2018 | The Gods, The Veda |
Every coin has two sides. The two sides of our existence are science and psychology… rational and emotional… objective and subjective… right and left brain… etc. For knowledge to be pure, it must include both. Wisdom is the integration of heart and mind. The word "Veda" is not just one or the other. It is both. The legends of the Veda are beautiful from a personal level. But understanding them from the scientific perspective enhances their beauty and enhances our understanding of them. The intellectual understanding is far reaching. Instead of coming up with a rigid perspective, it is wonderful to reflect and ponder… Viewing the mechanics of creation, represented from many angles and many levels… the heart and mind… They sing the song of life together… in harmony. Exploring one enhances our ability to fathom the other. What follows is an example I invite you to ponder:
According to Vedic scriptures, there are three birthdays for Hanuman:
- One marking his physical birth, which we celebrate in Vishakha Maas.
- One when he got Gnyana (True Knowledge, or enlightenment), which comes in Kaarthika Maas.
- One when he met Lord Rama for the first time and he felt he got a new birth, which was Saturday.
In different places, they celebrate Hanuman Jayanthi as they would like.
Last Saturday was also my first live-stream video talk with the Remote Advanced Techniques Course, Phase 1. I didn’t realize it coincided with the celebration of Hanuman meeting Lord Rama, until that morning.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | Vedic Arts |
There will be an eclipse on Wednesday, January 31. Read the USA Today article about the upcoming Supermoon, blue moon, lunar eclipse. According to Vedic knowledge:
- Because during an eclipse there is imbalance physically, it is suggested that people not eat or drink during the eclipse because the body does not process food and water correctly. Wait to shower, drink, and eat until 10 minutes after the eclipse. It is okay to drink up to 10 minutes before, just not during the eclipse.
- It is advised not to look at eclipses. Even if you do not look at the eclipse, the effects of an eclipse last 3-6 months. It states in the Vedas that as a result of an eclipse, there can be changes in nature and natural disasters can occur.
- During the whole lunar eclipse, it is best to stay inside and not look outside or even allow moonlight in starting 10 minutes before and finishing 10 minutes after the eclipse. During the eclipse, it is best to meditate or chant or sleep – a good time to go inward. Find out when the eclipse is visible in your area from timeanddate.com.
- Because the moon is not directly visible in Asheville starting at 7:30 am, Panditji said that at Mount Soma, we just need to stay out of the moonlight from 5:45-7:45 am. This is also the period when we should not drink or eat. We can eat, drink, and shower after 7:45 am. He suggested we do our group meditation starting at 9:00 am. At 11:00 am, we will clean the temple floors. After 11:00 am, we can offer a white flower to the Moon, and do Pradakshina 9 times while chanting “Shri Sum Chandraya Namaha.”
- The moon signs most affected by this eclipse are Cancer, Leo, Libra, Capricorn, and Gemini.
- About the Supermoon:
- With a Supermoon, the earth is closer to the moon, bringing more Soma; and the moon is closer to the sun, bringing more Agni.
- During a full moon, especially during a Supermoon, the tide comes in and there are bigger waves. The same happens to the emotions, which is why there is more lunacy on full moons. The moon influences emotions, will, and mind. This choppiness happens on new moons and full moons – people are affected by both. Brilliant moons are more upsetting than less brilliant ones.
- The Supermoon can affect the rest of the year. It also influences all the planets. It especially affects those with a debilitated moon in their Jyotish chart.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Friday, January 12, 2018 | Vedic Arts |
Mercury will be right on top of Saturn this Saturday night/early Sunday morning. That is challenging. Moon is debilitated… that is challenging. Venus and Sun are right on top of each other. That is challenging.
The good news is that after Saturday night, the net effect of these things will start getting better. It has been a long two-year period of very difficult Jyotish. Of course, all this depends upon your chart as it applies to your personal life.
Also, all the planets will still be on one side of Rahu and Ketu (which is not good for world affairs) until early February.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Tuesday, January 2, 2018 | Vedic Arts |
Some say that on January 1, 2018, the Moon was in Ardra Nakshatra. Actually it was not. Calculations were made thousands of years ago by ancient Jyotish masters. Over time, subtle shifts in the earth’s poles, etc. make a difference, even though those shifts are indeed subtle. The ancient Jyotish masters did refer to those shifts, but today many still refer to the parameters of ancient times.
The Moon was full January 1. It was then also in its closest position relative to earth as per
the National Ocean Service. This makes it appear larger and brighter… a “supermoon”. However, though that of course has some effect, it is not a significant Jyotish consideration. There is no critical point/Nadi associated with that.
Some consider the astrology of January 1 to be like the birth chart of the upcoming year. That is also not really valid because January 1 has no astronomical/astrological significance. It is essentially just an arbitrary selection of the beginning of the year.
This is not meant to be critical of some approaches. However, the information is important (and in fact profound) meriting consideration.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, December 27, 2017 | Clarifying Confusion, The Gods |
Do you believe in miracles? Do I? I guess that is a matter of what one means by miracles. In this world, everything functions through science. Miracles are mastery over laws of Nature (of science) not yet understood. Wouldn’t it be a bit presumptuous to think we know all the laws of science? In that case, any ‘miracle’ would be considered bogus or superstition.
The laws of Nature can be called “the gods.” The gods can be thought of as various aspects of the one God, what some in the field of modern physics would call “the unified field.”
Doesn’t it make sense that the one thing out of which all persons were born also has a personified aspect? And just as with all of us, the personified aspect is what gives us meaning.
It is all so simple… so obvious really.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
