Fractal Enlightenment

It was news to me, probably because history was never my favorite subject in school. But reading about the artistic side of the German dictator Adolf Hitler was quite interesting.

Art was one of Hitler’s major interest, he even tried to make a living as an artist before his rise to power. But Hitler never succeeded, no wonder this aspect of the Nazi ruler goes unnoticed.

Hitler began by painting simple landscapes then he started to imitate scenic postcards, and he use to sell them too, mostly to tourists.

His paintings might not be extraordinary, but when you see the change that followed in his personality from being an aspiring artist to lord of war, its absolutely fascinating. Hitler moved to Vienna when he was 18 with the hope and dream of becoming an artist. He use to stand for hours staring at the grand buildings in Vienna, ponder over how to make them better, see operas and read papers with anti-semitic ideas. Hitler appeared for the admission test for an art academy, but failed. Disappointed he went to the academy to get an explanation and was told his drawings were unsatisfactory and lacked appreciation of the human form. With the help of a friend he started selling his drawings to tourists, and earned a meagre living from them. He appeared again for the admission test and failed this time too. So feeling rejected and depressed, Hitler left Vienna to return home and in 1934 he became lord of the war.
I wonder what would have become of him if he got through the art academy? History would have been rewritten then! What do you think of his paintings?

Image Source:

An almost unknown artist

Pictures from the Life of the Führer

Osho, the Indian mystic, spiritual teacher and a controversial one too, emphasized the importance of meditation, awareness, love, celebration, courage, creativity and humour, qualities which he viewed as suppressed by society’s belief systems and religious tradition. Osho’s teachings have had a significant impact on western and new age spirituality.

On one of our trips to Pune, I picked up a book on ‘Osho At the Feet of the Master.’ I was curious to know more about his teachings and extreme views.

So what were Acharya Rajneesh or Osho’s contributions to the world, lets take a look at his 10 commandments.

Never obey any one’s command unless it is coming from within you also.
There is no God other than life itself.
Truth is within you, do not search for it elsewhere.
Love is prayer.
To become a nothingness is the door to truth. Nothingness itself is the means, the goal and attainment.
Life is now and here.

Live wakefully.
Do not swim – float.
Die each moment so that you can be new each moment.
Do not search. That which is, is. Stop and see.

His ashram, known as the ‘Osho Meditation resort’ located in Pune, India, is one of India’s major tourist attraction. The whole vibe there is very peaceful, but the resort is too commercial. Although the Osho park can be a spiritual experience in itself – the lotus in the pond, massive bamboo plants, lush vegetation, in fact, the park is built out of a sewer running through it, gives the message of rising through adversity, unspoiled and strong.

His life was surrounded by controversy – including his lifestyle, fleet of Rolls Royce, views on sexuality and his entire business model – but at the same time its also important for us to pick out the good and let go of the rest, as long as we have open minds we can keep evolving by realising the good in everyone’s teachings!

Here’s an interesting video on Osho’s, God is not a Solution – but a Problem

Here’s one of his quote, “There is no need of any competition with anybody. You are yourself, and as you are, you are perfectly good. Accept yourself.”

For those of you who would like to meditate here are some videos that can help you meditate via different methods.

Interesting read:

Osho the controversial guru

The rise of spiritual gurus empire of wealth

Once there was a man rowing a boat down a river. Someone on the shore warned him, “Stop rowing so gaily down the swift current; there are rapids ahead and a dangerous whirlpool, and there are crocodiles and demons lying in wait in rocky caverns. You will perish if you continue.”

In this short parable, “the swift current” is a life of lust; “rowing gaily” is giving rein to one’s passion, “rapids ahead” means the ensuing suffering and pain; “whirlpool” means pleasure, “crocodiles and demons’ refers to the decay and death that follow a life of lust and indulgence; “Someone on the shore,” who calls out, is Buddha.

In another allegory, a man who committed a crime is running away with some guards following him. So he tries to hide himself by descending into a well by means of some vines growing down the sides. As he descends, he sees vipers at the bottom of the well, so he decides to clung to the vine for safety. After a time when his arms are getting tired, he notices two mice, one white and the other black, gnawing at the vine.

If the vine breaks, he will fall to the vipers and perish. Suddenly, on looking upwards, he notices just above his face a bee hive from which occasionally falls a drop of honey. The man, forgetting all his dangers, tastes the honey with delight.

“A man” means the one who is born to suffer and to die alone. “Guards” and “vipers” refer to the body with all its desires. “Vines” means the continuity of human life. “Two mice, one white and the other black” refer to the duration of time, days and nights, and the passing years. “Honey” indicates the physical pleasures that beguiles the suffering of the passing years.

Here is the last parable and one that is quite interesting, a king places four vipers in a box and gives the box into the safekeeping of a servant. He commands the servant to take good care of them and warns if he angers even one of them, he will be punished with death. The servant, in fear, decides to throw away the box and escape.

The king sends five guards to capture the servant. At first they approach the servant in a friendly manner, intending to take him back safely, but the servant does not trust their friendliness and escapes to another village.

Then, in a vision, a voice tells him that in this village there is no safe shelter, and that there are six bandits who will attack him, so the servant runs away in fright until he comes to a wild river that blocks his way. Thinking of the dangers that are following him, he makes a raft and succeeds in crossing the turbulent current, beyond which he finally finds safety and peace.

“Four vipers in a box” indicate the four elements of earth, water, fire and air that make up the body of flesh. The body is given into the charge of lust and is an enemy of the mind. Therefore, he tries to run away from the body.

“Five guards who approach in a friendly manner” are the five aggregates, form, feeling, perception, volition and consciousness that frame the body and mind. “The safe shelter” is the six senses, which are no safe shelter after all, and “the six bandits” are the six objects of the six senses. Thus, seeing the dangers within the six senses, he runs away once more and comes to the wild current of worldly desires.

Then he makes himself a raft of the Buddha’s good teachings and crosses the wild current safely.

I found this video on youtube from IndiaJiva, from their album, ‘Universal Mother’, this is Buddhist Chant, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Chant along and experience the bliss!

The parables have been taken from, The Teachings of Buddha ~ Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai.

Have you wondered how caught up we get in our daily lives that we hardly make the time to bond with nature. In our spare time, we either watch TV, play games, sit on the computer or meet friends. That has a negative impact on our health.

There is a term called ‘Ecopsychology’ which shows the connection between ecology and human psychology. Well, hope this doesn’t sound too boring, but its a simple theory which we just forget.

Distancing yourself from nature and finding comfort in this concrete jungle has negative effect on humans, mentally and physically, and even nature.

We develop less empathy towards nature, so end up destroying what we never created, but the fact remains that humans have an emotional bond with Mother Nature, which we remain oblivious to.

Going out of town closer to nature, participating in nature activities, or going for a walk in the park, not only gives you some peace of mind, but also helps you to switch off for a while. Even looking at a beautiful landscape picture can make you feel light.

How can we disconnect from nature? Ecopsychology explores how to embrace nature without judging it, and that way we can be one with nature and feel in harmony. Many therapists have used ecopsychology to treat mental illnesses or disorders. Greenery has a spiritual healing effect on our senses, that’s why people prefer to meditate in the open.

Many tribes like the aborigines, shamans, pagan led a nomadic life, with very little damage done to the environment. Their lives were so entwined with nature that destroying their land or significant place would be devastating for them.

Its about sustainable living, if people had realised that our planet wouldn’t be facing such a grim situation. Ecopsychology helps to understand the inevitable connection between humans and nature.