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October *Light On Vedic Astrology* Newsletter |
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In This Issue:
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October 1, 2004
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A Call For Spiritual Practice
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October Printable Ephemeris
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Jyotish Seminar Oct 8-11
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Astrology, Time, Compassion and the Ego
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Astrology is the study of time and the qualities eminating from the planets that effect any moment of time. Time is the realm of the ego, however, our soul's nature is timelessness. The planets positions at the time of our birth represent our karma for this lifetime as we pass through time. Our ultimate journey must take us to timelessness and the end of the ego.
Here's a short article I wrote for the Maui Vision Magazine for their October issue focusing on the ego. This is titled "The Ego and the Value of Compassion":
I've recently been fascinated with the idea that the ego is associated with time. For instance, the ego keeps us bound to the body and our temporal existence. Paramahansa Yogananda, author of The Autobiography of a Yogi, says, "The ego is the soul identified with the body." However, the soul's natural state is timelessness. The ego loves to make comparisons about people and maintain separation. The soul, on the other hand, loves to join with others and experience unity. I remember hearing Ram Dass say that the reason we like nature is because it gives us a break from our critical minds. When we walk in the woods we never think, "that tree is too fat" or "this one here is too straggly." We just accept trees as they are. But the minute we get around humans the judgments start flying. When we're able to accept our diversity, like the trees in a forest, the walls of division dissolve. We begin to see others and ourselves as we truly are as timeless souls. One of my favorite quotes from a Course in Miracles is, "It's not up to you to change your brother, but merely to accept him as he is."
In Hindu mythology the goddess Kali wields her sword and cuts off the head of the ego. She's often misunderstood as a militant goddess. However, her sword is really the sword of compassion because she removes the illusion of time. "Kal" means time in Sanskrit and "Kali" means timelessness. Compassion, therefore, opens the door to timelessness where the ego is undone.
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