Ishayas' Ascension
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."
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 traveled to the Himalayas to form the secret brotherhood.
The meditation techniques are today known as the Ishayas' Ascension.
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.
The theory of the techniques is based in Advaita Vedanta.[3] [4] However, belief in the theory is not emphasized as important in the teaching of Ascension. [5] The Ishayas claim that simply by using the techniques, beneficial effects will result regardless of belief. [6] [7]
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.
Practicers
Those who practice The Ishayas' Ascension are referred to as Ascenders within the Ishaya tradition. The recommended practice for Ascenders is to use the techniques for 20 minutes with the eyes closed, 2-3 times per day. [8] [9]
Teachers
The teachers of Ascension are Ishaya monks, usually referred to as Ishayas. Having taken vows to God, Christ and the Ishaya lineage, they are given a Sanskrit name (e.g., Gauri Ishaya or Sarasvati 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 so would not 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.
Programs
- Free Introductory Talk
- First Sphere Weekend
- Advanced Meeting
- Advanced Weekend
- Residence Course
- Intensive
- Mastery of Self Course
- Meditation Teacher Trainings throughout the World
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
(though to the non-traditional ascenders it may well be that: ceremony, recitation used as a crutch, and theories are merely acculturated thoughts)
External links
United States
- The Ishayas of the Bright Path - Serving Canada & the U.S.
- The International Society of Ascension
- The Ishaya Path. The Original Traditional
- The Ishaya Order
- The Ishaya Tradition
- Ascension: The Ishayas' Teachings
- The Ishayas' Ascension
International
- The Ishayas of the Bright Path - Serving Canada & the U.S.
- The International Society of Ascension
- Ishaya Denmark (Danish)
- Ishaya Norway (Norwegian)
- The Ishaya Tradition
- The Ishaya Path. The Original Tradition
- Ishaya Canada
- The Ishaya Tradition Europe
- Ishaya Mexico
- Ishaya South America
- Hong Kong Ascension
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