At Last! An Out-Of-Body Experience Worth Writing About!

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Author Richard F Holmes

Since May 2014 I’d only had three out-of-body experiences; none of which were worth blogging about. They were a combination of brief and unspectacular. It’s amazing really that I should look upon three out-of-body experiences in a 15 month period as being so mundane. Most people, I’m sure, go an entire lifetime without experiencing any. But, I’d become so used to having astral adventures of quite a spectacular kind on a fairly regular basis, that anything else seemed quite boring. Then it happened!

On the morning of Saturday 29 August 2015 I was laying in bed asleep and having a dream. The next thing I knew was that I felt the all-too-familiar sensation of the presence of spirit around me; I was awake and being carried away at speed. What happened next was probably one of the shortest astral adventures of the countless I’ve had over the years. However, it is right up there vying for top spot when it comes to the spectacular. It really was short and sweet; and I feel I was lulled into a false sense of expectation as I waited for a truly incredible adventure to unfold. Nonetheless, what I did experience was indeed nothing short of truly incredible.

In what seemed like no time at all I was placed in what I can only describe as the most incredibly amazing natural scene I have ever witnessed. I didn’t even touch down before I was back in my body, but I was there long enough to gaze upon the most wonderful sky. It was dusky; like that magical time just before dawn breaks or darkness falls. It was red and mottled; like a mystical, cosmic blanket above me. It’s difficult to describe accurately what else I saw, but I will do my best. Up above, and in front of me, were three planets in close proximity to each other; all magnificent in their splendour. Now I’m sure all of you have seen a full moon? Well it will help you to understand what I saw if you can hold the image of a full moon in your head at the time when it appears lowest in the night sky. It looks big and slightly yellow in colour and it radiates such beautiful light.

All three planets looked so beautiful; and at least one displayed patches of a most beautifully gorgeous red colour. The two smaller ones to the fore; one slightly eclipsing the other, and the larger one to the rear and slightly higher. The light radiated was just truly amazing; and coupled with the red sky and mottled cloud, it was something that was heavenly to behold. As I gazed in awe I felt that familiar tug and in no time I was back in my body, in my bed, and trying to get my thoughts around what I’d just experienced. No words can truly describe what I saw; even words such as “amazing”, “incredible” and “spectacular” do not do it justice.

Ticking All The Boxes

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Author Richard F Holmes

I was browsing on facebook one day when I noticed that a you tube video by a man called Rupert Spira had appeared on my wall. I was attracted by the title and decided to give it a go. To say I was blown away is an understatement and I am now a Rupert convert. This man really ticks all the boxes as far as I’m concerned and he is my current “man of the moment”, relegating Neale Donald Walsch down to #2. He has a very calm, almost deadpan, manner about him and explains potentially complicated subject matter in a way that is mainly easy to understand. In the last video of his that I watched the point of discussion (and this is not word for word, it’s simply my way of explaining things) was about how our true nature is always present but the mind, or ego, prevents us from recognising it. He used the analogy of a cinema screen and a film; how the film is simply a series of images that masks the screen, but whilst it is showing, the screen is ever present although not visible. When the film is over the screen remains.

It is the same principle as our true nature (the screen) being ever present before and after we take birth in the world (the film). Many people still do not understand who they really are simply due to ignorance of their true nature. In the video an audience member asked a question regarding this and Rupert gave the following explanation:

“Ignorance is a point of view; it’s not something that is really there. It’s a way of seeing, it is not something that is seen”

There are many ways to describe our true nature; and they are all accurate. Truth, God, Bliss, Awareness and Consciousness are just a handful of ways to describe who we really are. In the following example Rupert referred to us as “happiness” and he said to the same audience member:

“Happiness is not a state that comes and goes, it is the true nature of consciousness and is ever-present. It reveals itself when the layers of ignorance periodically dissolve away”.

He also referred to:

“the dissolution of thoughts”

as being the cause for happiness to reveal itself. Of course, it has been stated many times before that the infinite, creative force that we know as “God”, of its own will, splits itself into billions of particles and experiences the physical life in order to know experientially what it previously only knew as concept. So, in other words, the infinite voluntarily becomes the finite on a temporary basis. Although the finite is always only an illusion. Rupert describes this phenomenon thus:

“The finite mind is infinite consciousness modulating itself”.

Rupert Spira is one of many wonderful souls on the planet right now who truly are a fountain of wisdom and wonder. I’m not on a commission; honest! but you could do a lot worse than check out this man’s you tube channel. God bless!

Rupert’s you tube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/rupertspira

Eternal Life? Just WHAT Is There To Be Sceptical About?

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Author Richard F Holmes

Why is there still a prevalent mindset amongst sceptics that does not accept that we cannot die? Eternal life can be proven scientifically in a very simple way. Firstly, science has proved that everything in the universe and beyond, without exception, is energy. Science has also proved that energy is eternal and cannot be created or destroyed; this must surely apply to our physical bodies, which simply change form at so-called death and continue to exist (either merging with the earth if a body is buried, or merging as heat energy with the total energy mass if a body is cremated). So, what about our consciousness?

Well, science has also proved that our thoughts (brainwaves) are electrical pulses. If electricity is energy (which of course it is), it also means that our thoughts (consciousness) are energy, which, yes you’ve guessed it, can neither be created or destroyed and are therefore eternal. So, the concept of eternal life (no pun intended) is a no-brainer!

We don’t die, we only evolve, and we have all the proof we need to support this; so what is there to be sceptical about?

The Language Of Silence

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Posted on July 6, 2015 by Author Richard F Holmes

Language is only a medium for communicating one’s thoughts to another. It is called in only after thoughts arise. Other thoughts arise after the “I”-thought arises and so the “I”-thought is the root of all conversation. When one remains without thinking one understands another by means of the universal language of silence.

Silence is ever speaking. It is a perennial flow of language which is interrupted by speaking. These words I am speaking obstruct that mute language. For example, there is electricity flowing in a wire. With resistance to its passage it glows as a lamp or revolves as a fan. In the wire it remains as electric energy. Similarly also, silence is the eternal flow of language, obstructed by words.

What one fails to know by conversation extending to several years can be known instantly in silence.

Ramana Maharshi

The Social Effect – Video #4

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The Social Effect – Video #2

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This is the second in my series of videos entitled “The Social Effect”. I am aware that I said in my last post before going off on my trip to Wales that my next communication would be a video showing how we can use our own voice to enhance our general well-being. Well sometimes “stuff” just takes over. The good thing is, that particular video is still on the horizon and I WILL get around to sharing it with you. In the meantime I hope you enjoy The Social Effect.

The Social Effect – Video #1

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This is the first in a series of videos specifically aimed at a group of incredible people, “The Social Effect”, social media group on facebook. As with all my work, it is there for all to view and share at will; hence I’m posting the videos on my blog. Please leave feedback; it would be much appreciated! Thanks.

Yoga v Self-Enquiry

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Author Richard F Holmes

In the last few weeks I’ve been reading a book called “Be As You Are – The Teachings Of Ramana Maharshi”. It’s a very interesting book; although a bit difficult to grasp at times. In a nut shell, Sri Ramana Maharshi advocated a spiritual practice called “Self-enquiry” as a direct means to Self-realisation. It works on the principle that all that exists is the Self (infinite consciousness), and if you constantly enquire “Who Am I”, and go to the source of where the thought arises, then you destroy the mind and realise this Self. However, it’s not as simple as that in practice; or so it would seem. But before I go into more detail I want to touch on Sri Ramana’s views on yoga (I should probably say my interpretation of the great master’s views on yoga).

Sri Ramana did not recommend yoga as a means to realise the Self. He said that yogis simply suppress the mind through their yogic practice, as opposed to “killing” it. The thinking behind it is that if you suppress the mind in your meditative state, once you come out of your meditative state thoughts will once again arise; therefore, through the practice of yoga one can only flit in and out of Self-realisation. Whereas, through the practice of Self-enquiry the mind is obliterated and the Self is realised.

Self-enquiry is very simple in principle; and it makes a great deal of sense. If you go to the source of the “I” thought, or ego (this refers to the false “I” that states “I am this body”) the mind will simply disappear. Does it not stand to reason that if the false “I” arises out of the Self, if you go directly to Self, then this is what you experience; Self, or who you really are. This is why Ramana called it the direct means, because it meant bypassing all the other “stuff” in between. He said that meditation and mantras etc. are OK, but they cannot ultimately take you to Self-realisation because to practice them is to engage the mind and you cannot use the mind to destroy the mind.

He said ask the question “Who Am I” and go directly to the source of the thought, without actively seeking it; because to seek something means to engage the mind. This is where it gets complicated for me, but the great man assures us that it is possible. It would also be possible here to ramble on and on and on because there are so many permutations and possibilities depending on how you interpret Self-enquiry. But instead of rambling on I’m going to get to the point of this article.

It’s quite common for people to develop spiritual snobbery; even if they don’t realise it. You find that followers of certain gurus and teachers get feelings of superiority because their teacher is “more spiritual” than yours etc. But I saw this business of Self-enquiry versus yoga as an opportunity to make a point. Contrary to popular opinion, yoga has got nothing to do with sticking your foot behind your head! The word “yoga” means “union with God”. Therefore, if Self-enquiry is a proven means to Self-realisation (union with God) it is simply another form of yoga.

God bless you all and I’ll see you when I get back from Wales. I haven’t forgotten that I posted recently that I have another video project in mind, “Using The Voice To Enhance Your General Well-Being”. I’ll probably get this underway during the first week in June. Bye for now!!