Ishayas' Ascension
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Ishayas' Ascension is a spiritual practice founded and propagated in the west by Maharishi Sadashiva Isham, usually referred to as MSI (born April 13, 1949 in Seattle, Washington), deceased August 12, 1997.
MSI started his spiritual career as a trancendental meditation teacher, but after a huge turning point in 1988 he started searching for a new meaning in life. Quoting him, MSI said that: "Life is meant to be lived in Eternal Joy, Infinite Freedom, Unconditional Love and Unbounded Awareness. Any other life is utterly missing the point of being born as a human."
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[edit] History
According to MSI in his account of his experiences in the book "First Thunder"[1],[2] it was in this period he travelled to the Himalayas and met a secret brotherhood of monks. The monks were protecting a set of spiritual techniques which Jesus Christ himself had been practicing. The techniques had been protected by the apostle John after Christs' departure, when he went to the Greek island of Patmos. Eventually he was supposed to have traveled to the Himalayas to form the secret brotherhood.
The meditation techniques are today known as the Ishayas' Ascension.
[edit] Procedures and theory
The techniques of The Ishayas' Ascension are called Attitudes. There are several attitudes to a Sphere. The First Sphere consists of four attitudes, and are being taught in what is called the First Sphere weekend.
The Ishayas' Ascension technique involves thinking a short phrase, known as an Ascension Attitude, whenever a thought is noticed. Practitioners claim that the use of the Attitudes remove root stresses and expands awareness, resulting in a complete transformation of personal experience. Ascension can be practiced with the eyes open or closed, and in any position that is comfortable.
[edit] Learning Ascension
Ascension is taught most often in a course known as a First Sphere Weekend. A free introductory lecture is often included before the course begins. The course typically takes place on a Friday evening, and all day on Saturday and Sunday. The techniques are explained and practiced, and the first four Ascension Attitudes are given. Cost ranges from U.S. $200 to $300 per person. Once a student has attended one First Sphere course, attendance at any subsequent First Sphere courses is free for life.
[edit] Followers
The followers of The Ishayas' Ascension do not consider the teaching to be a following of any kind. Ascension is not a belief system to them, but a series of easy to use techniques that allow the mind to experience its true nature. Ascension is instructed by trained and qualified teachers. Everything else must come from the individual's own desire to discover how the practice relates to and affects his or her experience of life.
The Teachers of Ascension are Ishaya monks. Having taken vows to God, Christ and the Ishaya lineage, they are given a Sanskrit name (e.g., Ishvara Ishaya or Devi Ishaya). Ishayas are dedicated to increasing purity, unconditional love and compassion in themselves and in the world. Rarely, a trained Teacher of Ascension may choose not to join the order and receive a Sanskrit name.
There are several collectives of teachers of Ascension around the world, along with websites besides those linked within this page. Some centers and teachers are affiliated with each other and some are not.
When considering this teaching, it is recommended that the student carefully search all sources at their disposal (including teachers not affiliated with any centers or websites) and listen to their own inner voice to guide them to the teacher most suitable for their personal involvement.
[edit] Programs
Program survey [3]
- Free introductory talk
- First sphere weekend
- Advanced meeting
- Advanced weekend
- Residence course
- Intensive
- Mastery of self course
- Meditation teacher training in Mexico or Canada
[edit] Comparison with Transcendental Meditation
Ascension has the following similarities & differences from Transcendental Meditation:
Similarities:
- Use of a puja ceremony
- Mental recitation of a phrase
- Similar theory of consciousness (7 levels, etc.)
Differences:
- TM uses a non-English mantra; Ascension Attitudes are given in the student's native language
- TM students receive one mantra; Ascension has multiple Attitudes
- TM mantra does not change for the life of the student; Ascension attitudes include a component which can change at will
[edit] External links
[edit] United States
- The International Society of Ascension
- The Ishaya Order
- The Ishaya Tradition
- Ascension: The Ishayas' Teachings
- The Ishayas' Ascension
