I.
Set up
a. Supplies
i. A white candle for each participant
1. The candle
represents the individual soul or jiva.
2. A large
black candle engraved with Om Nama Shivaya
3. A small
table with a black alter cloth
4. An image
or idyll of Shiva
5. Incense
with matches and holder
6. Bowl with
salt pitcher with Water and a glass or bowl to mix the Salt and water.
7. Chapter
20 of the Ashtavahra Gita cut up into individual stanzas 1-14 as below. If more
than 14 participants, including the priest and priestess the cut into smaller stanzas as needed. Hand out verses so that they will be read by all in the correct order.
b. Alter set
up
i. Place a black alter cloth
on a small table in the center of the circle. Place upon the alter a Single Black
Candle etched with the mantra Om Nama Shivaya
ii. Also place an image of Shiva
on the alter of some sort. A Shiva lingam would do fine. Explain that Shiva is the substance consciences and the Shakti is his energy and will.
c. Suggested
dress
i. Have the participants where
something black and comfortable. Also have them bring a pillow or something up
which to meditate in a seated position.
II.
Opening
a. Have
all stand in a circle around the alter. Priest and Priestess stand across from
each other with the alter in the middle.
b. Call Ganesha
i. Priest Says Om Shri Ganeshaya
Namaha 3 times
ii. Priestess Says Oh Ganasha,
You are the brilliance of millions of suns, kindly remove the impediments from
all our works
c. Both
Priest and Priestess Bless participants
i. Priest starts in the east
and finishes in the west.
ii. Priestess starts in the west
and finishes in the east.
iii. Touch right eye say Om Apo
Jyothi
iv. Touch left eye say Raso Amtritam
v. Touch third eye say Brahman
Bhur Bhuvaha Swaram
III.
Quarter Call
a. 3
participants intone the Manta element for each direction thereby making circle, raising energy and calling Quarters. For example,
each should start one after the other the effect should be Ya, Ya, Ya, ending in a chorus, a sort of short round.
b. The First
should draw the invoking pentagram for that Quarter.
c. The
Second should charge with purify with Water and Earth (Holy Saltwater from Saltwater ritual).
d. The Third
should charge with Fire and Air(burning incense)
e. Make
circle with Ya
f. Call
east saying Va
g. Call
south saying Shi
h. Call
west saying Ma
i. Call
north saying Na
j. The
three should join in Circle. All join hands and chant Om
IV.
Call Shiva/Parvati
a. Say
Om Shivaya Namaha Pujam Samarpayami
b. Say Om
Parvatiaya Namaha Pujam Samarpayami
V.
Main Portion
a. Light
the center candle then light all the other candles from the center candle. Pass
out the Candles to the participants. Do this while reading the following.
b. Read Chap
15 from the Ashtavakra Gita
i. Priestess
1. The man
who is pure of heart
2. Is bound
to fulfill himself
3. In whatever
way he is taught.
ii. Priest
1. A worldy
man seeks all his life,
2. But is still
bewilderd.
iii. Priestess
1. Detached
from the senses,
2. You are
free
iv. Priest
1. Attached,
you are bound.
v. Priestess
1. When this
is understood,
2. You may
live as you please.
vi. Priest
1. When this
is understood,
2. The man
who is bright and busy
3. And full
of fine words
4. Falls silent.
vii. Priestess
1. He does
nothing.
2. His is still.
viii. Priest
1. No wonder
2. Those who
wish to enjoy the world
3. Shun this
understanding!
ix. Priestess
1. You are
not your body.
2. Your body
is not you.
x. Priest
1. You are
not the Doer.
2. You are
not the enjoyer.
xi. Priestess
1. You are
pure awarness,
2. The witness
of all things.
xii. Priest
1. You are
without expectation,
2. Free
xiii. Priestess
1. Wherever
you go, be happy!
xiv. Priest
1. Desire and
aversion are of the mind.
2. The mind
is never yours.
3. You are
free of its turmoil.
4. You are
awareness itself,
5. Never changing.
6. Wherever
you go,
7. Be Happy!
xv. Priestess
1. For see!
2. The Self
is in all beings,
3. And all
beings are in the Self.
4. Know you
are free,
5. Free of
I,
6. Free of
mine,
7. Be happy.
xvi. Priest
1. In you the
worlds arise,
2. Like waves
in the sea.
3. It is true!
4. You are
awareness itself.
5. So free
yourself
6. From the
fever of the world.
xvii. Priestess
1. Have faith,
my Child, have faith,
2. Do no be
bewildered
3. For you
are beyond all things,
4. The heart
of all knowing.
5. You are
the Self
6. You are
God.
xviii. Priest
1. The body
is confined
2. By its natural
properties
3. It comes,
4. It lingers
awhile,
5. It goes.
6. But the
Self neither comes nor goes.
7. So why grieve
for the body?
xix. Priestess
1. If the body
lasted till the end of time,
2. Or vanished
today,
3. What would
you win or lose?
4. You are
pure awareness.
xx. Priest
1. You are
the endless sea
2. In whom
all the worlds like waves
3. Naturally
rise and fall.
4. You have
nothing to win,
5. Nothing
to lose.
xxi. Priestess
1. Child,
2. You are
pure awareness,
3. Nothing
less.
4. You and
the world are one.
5. So who are
you to think
6. You can
hold on to it,
7. Or let it
go?
8. How could
you!
xxii. Priest
1. You are
the clear space of awareness,
2. Pure and
still,
3. In whom
there is no birth,
4. No activity,
5. No I,
6. You are
one and the same.
7. You cannot
change or die.
xxiii. Priestess
1. You are
in whatever you see.
2. You alone.
3. Just as
bracelets and bangles
4. And dancing
anklets
5. Are all
of the same gold.
xxiv. Priest
1. I am not
this
2. I am He
3. Give up
such distinctions.
4. Know that
everything is the Self
5. Rid yourself
of all purpose.
6. And be Happy.
xxv. Priestess
1. The world
only arises from ignorance.
2. You alone
are real
3. There is
no one,
4. Not even
God,
5. Separate
from yourself.
xxvi. Priest
1. You are
pure awareness
2. The world
is an illusion,
3. Nothing
more.
4. When you
understand this fully,
5. Desire falls
away.
6. You find
peace.
7. For indeed!
8. There is
nothing.
xxvii. Priestess
1. In the ocean
of being
2. There is
only one.
3. You are
already fulfilled.
4. How can
you be bound or free?
5. Wherever
you go,
6. Be happy.
xxviii. Priest
1. Never upset
your mind
2. With yes
or no.
3. Be quiet.
4. You are
awareness itself.
5. Live in
the happiness
6. Of you own
nature,
7. Which is
happiness itself.
xxix. Priestess
1. What is
the use of thinking?
2. Once and
for all,
3. Give up
meditation.
4. Hold nothing
in your mind.
5. You are
the Self,
6. And you
are free.
xxx. Have each participant Read
from cut up parts of Chp 20 of the Ashtavahra Gita. After they read there last
verse have them put out their own candle. This represents the individuals dissolution
into Shiva.
1. 1
a. I
am fulfilled.
b. The elements
of nature,
c. The
body and the sense,
d. What are
they to me?
e. Or
the mind?
f. What
is emptiness or despair?
2. 2
a. What
are holy books,
b. Or knowledge
of the Self,
c. Or
the mind,
d. Even when
it is of the senses?
e. Or
happiness,
f. Or
freedom from desire?
g. I
am always
h. One
without two.
3. 3
a. Knowledge
or ignorance,
b. Freedom
or bondage,
c. What
are they?
d. What is
I,
e. Or
mine,
f. Or
this?
g. Or
the form of the true Self?
4. 4
a. I
am always one.
b. What do
I care for freedom
c. In
life or in death,
d. Or for my
present karma?
5. 5
a. I
am always
b. Without
I.
c. So
where is the one who acts or enjoys?
d. And what
is the rising
e. Or
the vanishing of the thought?
f. What
is the invisible world,
g. Or
the visible?
6. 6
a. In
my heart I am one.
b. What is
this world?
c. Who
seeks freedom,
d. Or wisdom
or oneness?
e. Who
is bound or free?
7. 7
a. In
my heart I am one.
b. What is
creation,
c. Or
dissolution?
d. What is
seeking,
e. And
the end of Seeking?
f. Who
is the seeker?
g. What
has he found?
8. 8
a. I
am forever pure.
b. What do
I care who knows,
c. What
is known,
d. Or how it
is known?
e. What
do I care for knowledge?
f. What
do I care what is,
g. Or
what is not?
9. 9.
a. I
am forever still.
b. What are
joy or sorrow,
c. Distraction
or concentration,
d. Understanding
or delusion?
10. 10
a. I
am always without thought.
b. What is
happiness or grief?
c. What
is here and now,
d. Or beyond?
11. 11
a. I
am forever pure
b. What is
illusion,
c. Or
the world?
d. What is
the little soul,
e. Or
God Himself?
12. 12
a. One
without two,
b. I am always
the same.
c. I
sit in my heart.
13. 13
a. What
need is there
b. For striving
or stillness?
c. What
is freedom or bondage?
d. What are
holy books or teachings?
e. What
is the purpose of life?
f. Who
is the disciple,
g. And
who is the master?
14. 14
a. For
I have no bounds.
b. I am Shiva.
c. Nothing
arises in me,
d. In whom
nothing is single,
e. Nothing
is double.
f. Nothing
is,
g. Nothing
is not.
h. What
more is there to say?
xxxi. Start Meditation. Meditate for about 10 minutes. If longer
inform the participant how long. An hour
is ideal but most cannot currently meditate for an hour.
xxxii. Ring bell three times. Start ending music.
xxxiii. End by saying
1. We are Father
and Mother
2. We are Relative
and Friend
3. We are Wisdom
and Wealth
4. We are everything,
God Supreme
5. Everything
which We may have done through thought, word, or deed, through habit or Karma,
6. We offer
to ourselves, The Lord of all Forms
7. Lead us
from unreality to reality
8. From darkness
to light
9. From Death
to Immortality
10. Om Shanti
Shanti Shanti
VI.
Thank Shiva/Parvati
VII.
Release Quarters
a. Chant
Om for a few seconds.
b. Release
north Na
c. Release
west Ma
d. Release
South Shi
e. Release
East Va
f. Release
Circle Ya
VIII. Finish
