Why Sahaja Soma?
The nature of mind is like this…
So close you can’t see it
So deep you can’t fathom it
So simple you can’t believe it
So good you can’t accept it
Most of us think that the goal of meditation is somewhere else, that the fruit of practice is something that we need to acquire and possess. Meditation does involve effort and progress, but it has little to do with attainment and achievement. In my experience, as we progress, meditation becomes more about letting go and emptying out.
Like a mirror covered with dust and dirt, the mind is unable to see clearly through the various particles of our attachments, aversions and destructive emotions that obstruct our view. With meditation practice, we’re polishing this mirror so that we can clearly recognize our own true nature.
The purpose of meditation is to recognize this view, gradually stabilize this recognition and increasingly embody this realization in our everyday lives. This is the essence of awakening.
This approach to meditation derives fron nondual traditions in Buddhism (Zen, Vajrayana) and emphasizes ease, effortlessness and playfulness.
My first goal is to make these teachings and practices accessible to people looking for inner peace and more reliable sources of happiness, yet to those who might not initially be drawn to study Dharma and meditation in a formal and traditional context.
Plant medicines like Soma and Ayahuasca can accelerate awakening.
My second goal is to speak to those already practicing Dharma (Buddhism) or yoga in a more traditional context, and to offer psychedelic integration support to those who wish to include entheogens as a skillful means for accelerating awakening.
Soma and Ayahuasca are sacred medicines for grounding the body, opening the heart and cultivating a clear mind. Just like with meditation, it is extremely important to approach working with these plant medicines with a clear view of the path.
Beginning this journey with the right intention is also very important for orientating ourselves in the right direction. Entheogens are powerful compounds that can offer great insight but can also potentially pull us into serious delusion. Starting with the right intention and the right view makes it far more likely that we will ultimately transform confusion into clarity.
So, what do I mean by the “right intention”?
I teach meditation and offer psychedelic integration coaching through a Dharmic (Buddhist) lens. While I’m very drawn to working with fellow yoga and meditation practitioners who share a similar language and orientation, I enjoy serving people from any background, including those with a secular worldview. What is important, though, is that we approach meditation and entheogenic journeys with the right intention.
This is why I prefer the term “entheogen” over “psychedelic,” for the term entheogen invites us to view compounds such as DMT or psilocybin as sacred medicines that we consume for the purpose of connecting to The Divine or recognizing the nature of mind or furthering personal growth. Whatever language aligns with your values and priorities is fine, but what’s important is centering your intention and doing so for the right reasons.
When people take these compounds to have a fun or interesting experience, then the moment things are unpleasant they label it a “bad trip,” resist what’s happening (which exacerbates suffering), then they often dismiss the value of these medicines out of hand.
Inquire into what feels like the “right intention” for you.
As a baseline, I would suggest that right intention includes undertaking these efforts in order to become a better human being, not only for the benefit of ourselves but for the benefit of others. Though we aspire to offer a positive contribution to the world, it’s important to begin with ourselves, for everything that we experience happens within our own heart-mind.