Smoke - As A Symbol(Mythology and Mysticism)

"When the mind is enlightened,
the spirit is free
and the body matters not."
- Oma Desala, Stargate SG-1, Episode, "Meridian"

We gaze into a fire and watch the wood as it burns. We then
notice that from the burning wood Smoke is created. We watch
this Smoke as it leaves the fire and ascends toward the sky
above. As we watch, we notice that the Smoke begins to
dissipate as it ascends until it is finally becomes invisible; as
if swallowed up by the heavens above.

This is the essence of Smoke. It begins as a thick mass which
dissipates as it ascends until it finally becomes undetectable
somewhere above us. From this characteristic is where we obtain
the Symbolism, along with the Rituals, which is associated with
Smoke.

Smoke symbolizes the transition of matter into spirit. Therefore,
Smoke represents the ascension of the immortal soul as it leaves
the mortal body.

Smoke represents the release of the soul, or spirit, from its visible
and physical form and its sublime ascent back into the invisible
and spiritual realm from whence it originally came: the realm in
which it existed prior to its imprisonment in matter.

This metaphor is a Lesson which reminds us that Spirit, in its
natural state, is free. It also reminds us that Spirit can exist
without matter, but matter cannot exist without Spirit.

Smoke is also used as a method of communication.

In addition to sending secret and sacred messages between other
persons, tribes or communities here on earth by way of smoke
signals, the sacred fires of indigenous cultures use Smoke to
communicate their Prayers and requests to the Deities and the
Spirits of their ancestors who reside in the heavens above.

As a Symbol of ascension and communication, Smoke is also
used in sacred religious Ceremonies in conjunction with Prayers
and Blessings. It is also used in Rituals that both invoke and
honor Divinity and acknowledge the Spirit which resides within
each one of us.

The Smoke rising from funeral pyres symbolizes the final release
and ascent of Spirit from the material remains of the deceased.

The Smoke rising from the peace pipe Symbolizes the Prayers
and Promises of the participants as it Travels upward, in a united
vision and bond of friendship, toward the spiritual realm of the
gods and forefathers of those participating in the Ceremony.
In this manner Smoke carries the vows, oaths, and Promises of
the participants of the Ceremony into the Spiritual Realm where
they are recognized, accepted, recorded and Blessed.

Incense, resins and herbs are placed within Censers and burned
in order to create the scented and aromatic Smoke used in
religious Ceremonies which is pleasing and Harmonious to both
people and Spirits.

The Censer is then swung in the direction of the participants
in order to Bless them, cleanse them, and unite in Prayer.

The pleasant aromas from the Censer help set the mood for the
Ceremony and make the participants Aware that Divinity is
among them and is also participating in the Ceremony along
with them.

See also: "Spirit and Matter" and
"Dust (Mythology, Mysticism and Symbolism)"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Statues, Images and Idols (Symbols For Prayer)

"Thou shalt not place false gods before me"
-Second Commandment

Since the dawn of the most remote beginnings of antiquity mankind
has artistically manufactured material images, such as statues,
idols, and various Symbols, to represent the many different aspects
of Divinity and Nature.

These statues, idols, and Symbols were crafted from either stone,
metal, wood, or precious gems. Images honoring Water or the sky
were painted blue. Images honoring fertility or growth were painted
green. Images honoring purity, enlightenment, or Divinity were
painted white. Images honoring an untarnishable or incorruptible
Truth, or Quest, were painted either Gold, or yellow.

The artisans, craftsmen, shamans, and high priests who created
these images were highly skilled in the use of the colors, materials,
shapes, and features required to represent the Divine Essences
which they wanted their images to portray.

However, although a spiritual essence, along with the effort and
intention of the craftsman, was contained within the final image,
this statue, idol, or Symbol was simply a sacred representation of
a much greater Divine Principle or Truth.

An image or idol, regardless of how well it is spiritually and
materially crafted and blessed, can never contain the entire
Essence of the Divine Principle for which it has been created
to represent.

For example, a painting or carving of a tree is not a tree. It is simply
a portrayal which represents all of the visible and invisible essences
which are contained within a tree.

With these Thoughts in mind, The Second Commandment:
"Thou shalt not place false gods before me", is not a warning or
condemnation regarding the worship of Idols and images. It is a
reminder that although we should respect the created, man-made,
images of Divinity, in all of Its Infinite Aspects, it is not the image
or idol that we should be focusing our Prayers upon. Instead, we
should be focusing our Prayers, Thoughts, invocations, and
intentions upon the Divine Essence which the image represents
and not upon the image, idol, or statue itself.

Images, statues, and idols are simply Symbols, archetypes and
expressions of Divine Truths and Essences. They are not Divine
Truths, Essences, and Aspects in and of themselves.

Prayer is a Spiritual Conversation. When we focus our Prayers
on something which is material, we are focusing our Prayers on
something which is external to us and occupies the world of matter.
This is why most Prayers go unanswered. For our Prayers to be
answered we must direct them to, and hold an inner conversation
with, the Spirit (the Atman) which dwells within us and has direct
access to all aspects of Divinity.

If we desire prosperity, we should focus our Prayers on the essence
of prosperity. If we desire peace, we should focus our Prayers on
the essence of peace. Whatever it is that we desire, that is the
Essence, or Aspect, of Divinity which we should be focusing our
Thoughts, Prayers, and Actions upon. And although we should
always respect and honor the statue, idol, image, or Symbol, we
should also keep in mind that these images are simply material
representations of the invisible Spiritual Essences, or Aspects, of
Divinity.

With this in mind, the next time we go to our favorite place of
worship, let us remember that no matter how powerful, sacred,
holy, or blessed the image is that we are praying before and
honoring, it represents a much more powerful, infinite, sacred,
and invisible Divine Aspect (Divine Principle) which is the true
recipient of our prayers.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

The Wilderness (An Inner Journey)

The Wilderness is a Metaphor which describes an Inner Journey.

Ancient Teachings from all civilizations speak of Great Masters
who traveled into the Wilderness seeking a place of Solitude
where they could Meditate and Pray.

These Teachings go on to say that, while in the Wilderness, these
Great Masters would grapple with Demons that resided there.

We are also taught that this Journey of Solitude, and the conquering
of Demons, was a task (a trial) that the Master needed to face and
overcome alone.

Once the Master completed His time in the Wilderness, and
conquered His Demons, He left the Wilderness having achieved
a Higher Level of Consciousness.

But what is this Wilderness, and why do all the Great Masters
journey into it?

The Wilderness Symbolizes a Time and a Place in the Master's
life where his Journey "pauses" so that He can confront and
conquer an Inner-Conflict that is blocking His Spiritual Path.

The Physical Wilderness is a real place to where the Master
Travels in order to be alone. Once He is in the Physical Wilderness,
he is able to relax, meditate and explore the Secret Realm of His
Spiritual Wilderness. His Spiritual Wilderness is where His
innermost Thoughts, Feelings and Conflicts reside.

The Demons that the Master "grapples with" are His deepest
and darkest fears and doubts. They are the Specters of his
Subconscious; the Beasts that only He can Confront, Conquer
and Banish.

Once these Demons are defeated, and exorcised, the Master leaves
the physical wilderness Spiritually Cleansed. This Spiritual Cleansing
is His Rite of Passage. It is the process by which the Master
Initiates Himself into a Higher Realm of Consciousness.

Each one of us is capable of experiencing this same Inner Journey
undertaken by the Great Masters of Antiquity. We simply need
to follow their example: seek a place of Solitude...Meditate...
Banish our Inner Demons...and insure that the Road we are
traveling is in Harmony with our Divine Nature

(Note: I have used the masculine gender for literary simplicity.
However, Ancient Masters have been both men and women.
Therefore, both genders equally apply.)

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2008

Prayer (A Spiritual Conversation)

Prayer is a Peaceful and Solemn conversation we have with our
Inner Self, Our God-Within, Our Atman. It is the same kind of
Simple, sincere, and Honest conversation we would have if we
were speaking to our best friend. When we access Our God-Within
through Prayer we are, in fact, having a conversation with our best
friend...our best Spiritual Friend.

We can have this Spiritual Conversation any time we Choose.
We can have this Conversation while lying in bed at night or while
taking a walk. All it requires is a calm, peaceful mind and a specific
topic on which we are Seeking Guidance.

This Spiritual Conversation has been called by many names: Prayer,
Meditation, and Thought Experiments (such as practiced by Albert
Einstein, Isaac Newton and others). This Spiritual Conversation can
even be called Imagination.

Regardless of what it is called, Spiritual Conversation (Prayer) is
simply accessing Our God-Within and asking for Guidance, Answers
and Strength.

We begin by taking all the Time we feel necessary to describe the
topic, or issue, that is concerning us. The longer we take to describe
our "issue" the more relaxed and peaceful we find ourselves
Becoming. There is no reason to hurry this process.

Finally, we end our Spiritual Conversation by asking Our God-Within
to "Show me how to...","Guide me...", "Teach me what I need to
learn to..." This is the Magical Process by which Prayer is created,
received and answered.

We need not go to any "designated place" to pray. Our Sacred Place,
our "Holy of Holies", is within us. We need not pray to a statue, idol,
or image. These are all external, material objects which simply
"represent" Sacred Essences. They are not Sacred Essences in and
of themselves.

Tragedy and "dire need" cause many people to "pray" for help and
rescue. However, this is not True Prayer. This kind of "praying" is
based on fear, desperation, and emotion and is directed outward
toward some "assumed" authority figure instead of inward toward
Our God-Within. This kind of "praying" is seldom, if ever, answered.

It is through Peaceful, Solemn Conversation (Prayer) with Our
God-Within that we obtain Calmness, Stability, Strength and
Awareness. Calmness, Stability, Strength, and Awareness are
Spiritual Tools that enable us to steer our way through the
ever-Changing currents of the Great Sea of Life.

Furthermore:

As any Seeker of Spiritual Truth will attest: One must exercise
patience and dig deeply when attempting to understand the
metaphors, parables, and quotations contained within scripture.

For this is the only way by which the Seeker can un-Veil the
Esoteric Lesson which lies hidden beneath the exoteric, or
common, story which that particular scripture presents.

Does modern scripture confirm what Prayer is?  Does
modern scripture teach us how to Pray? And is modern
scripture consistent with ancient teachings in regard to
Our God-Within; Our Atman?

The answer to these questions is a resounding "Yes"!

Let us look at one example:

The Lord's Prayer begins with "Our Father, which art in Heaven....."

Luke 17:20-21 tells us: "The Kingdom of God [ Heaven ] is within
you..."

Therefore, as per Luke: as God [ heaven ] is within us,
The Lord's Prayer is instructing us to Pray thusly:

"Our Father, which art within me..." OR "My Father, which art
within me..."

Therefore, The Lord's Prayer is Instructing us to recognize and
direct our Prayers to the God-Source...the Divine-Source...the
Atman which resides within us and is, IN FACT, our Spiritual Self.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2008

Atman (God Within)

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary
to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."
-Hermann Hesse

Atman is derived from Ancient Sanskrit and translates as
"God within us". Our Atman is our Higher Self; our Ba; our Soul.
It is our personal connection to the Eternal and Infinite Great Spirit
which permeates all things.

Each one of us has two sets of Parents. We have our Spiritual Parent
and we have our biological parents. Our Spiritual Parent is Divinity.
Divinity is The All, The One, The Eternal Spiritual Life Force that
governs everything and is within everything.

Our biological parents are, of course, our physical mother and father.

Just as our physical DNA connects us with our biological parents,
so does our Spiritual DNA connect us with our Spiritual Parent. And
just as we can communicate with our biological parents through
spoken and written Words in the material plane, so too can we
communicate with our Spiritual Parent through both spoken and
unspoken Words, and Thoughts, in the Spiritual Plane by way of a
Spiritual Conversation which we call Prayer.

Distance can separate us from our physical parents but distance can
never separate us from our Spiritual Parent; our Atman. Our Atman
is forever within us. We can communicate with our Atman any time
we Choose. Our Atman is always available, attentive, and receptive
to our Spiritual Conversations...our Prayers.

Our Atman, and Its intimate Relationship with the Eternal All, is
what is referred to when we read: "I and My Father are One"...and...
"I am in My Father and My Father is in Me".

But, most profoundly, we find the presence and power of our
"God Within" best expressed in psalm 82:6 which states:
I have said, you are Gods; and children of the most High".

Once we realize, and accept the fact, that we are One with our
Spiritual Parent we then know that we can accomplish anything
we Choose. We become Aware that The Universe, and its Eternal
Truths, has never been beyond us...It Is Within Us!

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2008