Let there be light! Sunburst is dedicated to personal and planetary awakening through spiritual practice, conscious living and sustainable Earth stewardship. May our publication offer you inspiration and community along the path of Self-realization. JANUARY 2011 Seeds of Meditation Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect. –Alan Cohen Return of the Builders Norman Paulsen is month Sunburst celebrates the fifty year anniversary of founder Norman Paulsen’s transformational inner experience in which he was given direction and instructions to begin his life’s work. Norman remained in meditation, prayer and fasting for over a month during this encounter in the desert with beings of divine consciousness whom he called the Builders. e following is the story of how this experience began. New Year’s Eve 1960 –e possibility of fulfilling my mission now seems as remote as the farthest star. I seek the divine Companion I know so well in meditation and now long to be with. Outside, the blast of horns and the shouting of people generate the excitement of the coming New Year. Sitting up to meditate, I strive diligently to find comfort and peace for my restless mind. Now a chorus of many voices singing, accompanied by an organ, come drifting in upon me. Somewhere nearby a large group must be celebrating with song. e music and melody sound so strangely familiar. It touches the very essence of my soul. Where is this incredible chorus coming from? Drawing up the window, a busy street below reveals its images—the source is not out there. ese sounds I hear are coming from within. I close off my outer senses using an ancient meditation technique to hear and see inner- dimensionally. My inner senses convey thousands of voices singing. is is the most profound chorus I have ever heard, accompanied by the most beautiful organ music, rising and falling in gigantic crescendos. e voices of angels! ese sounds and vibrations are touching the inner- most center of my soul. Love is welling up in my heart. Tears run from my eyes as energies long dormant, yes, almost forgotten, burst outward. O God! Yes, friends and companions long-lost, I hear your music once again. e voices are conveying the message that all the previous experiences of my life may now be caught up in some incredible divine revelation! Could I somehow be a part of all that I am hearing? e night has departed and light is streaming through the windows. Still the voices sing on. Great rainbow shafts of astral light shine down from the abun- dant heavens, penetrating rooftops! People walking on the streets below are bathed in this splendor. Do they know it? Do they hear it? Can other people see and hear this divine revelation, or is this experience just happening within me? continues next page
Transcript
Let there be light!Sunburst is dedicated to personal and planetary awakening through spiritual practice, conscious living and sustainable Earth stewardship. May our publication offer you inspiration and community along the path of Self-realization.
January 2011
Seeds of Meditation
Do not wait
until the conditions
are perfect
to begin.
Beginning
makes the conditions
perfect.
–Alan Cohen
Return of the BuildersNorman Paulsen
This month Sunburst celebrates the fifty year anniversary of founder Norman Paulsen’s transformational inner experience in which he was given direction and instructions to begin his life’s work. Norman remained in meditation, prayer and fasting for over a month during this encounter in the desert with beings of divine consciousness whom he called the Builders. The following is the story of how this experience began.
New Year’s Eve 1960 –The possibility of fulfilling my mission now seems as remote as the farthest star. I seek the divine Companion I know so well in meditation and now long to be with. Outside, the blast of horns and the shouting of people generate the excitement of the coming New Year. Sitting up to meditate, I strive diligently to find comfort and peace for my restless mind. Now a chorus of many voices singing, accompanied by an organ, come drifting in upon me. Somewhere nearby a large group must be celebrating with song. The music and melody sound so strangely familiar. It touches the very essence of my soul. Where is this incredible chorus coming from?
Drawing up the window, a busy street below reveals its images—the source is not out there. These sounds I hear are coming from within. I close off my outer senses using an ancient meditation technique to hear and see inner-dimensionally. My inner senses convey thousands of voices singing. This is the most profound chorus I have ever heard, accompanied by the most beautiful organ music, rising and falling in gigantic crescendos.
The voices of angels! These sounds and vibrations are touching the inner-most center of my soul. Love is welling up in my heart. Tears run from my eyes as energies long dormant, yes, almost forgotten, burst outward. O God! Yes, friends and companions long-lost, I hear your music once again.
The voices are conveying the message that all the previous experiences of my life may now be caught up in some incredible divine revelation! Could I somehow be a part of all that I am hearing?
The night has departed and light is streaming through the windows. Still the voices sing on. Great rainbow shafts of astral light shine down from the abun-dant heavens, penetrating rooftops! People walking on the streets below are bathed in this splendor. Do they know it? Do they hear it? Can other people see and hear this divine revelation, or is this experience just happening within me?
continues next page
The real Second Coming will be the birthing of Christ consciousness in millions of beings who turn, in the Father-Mother, towards the fire of love and take the supreme risk of incarnating divine love-in-action on Earth. This Second Coming could potentially alter the
level of consciousness of the whole of humanity and initiate it into that mystical wisdom that it desperately needs if its problems are going to be solved. May all those who [read] this be
inspired to allow themselves to be “birthed” into love and so serve humbly, and with undauntable love, the future of humankind.
– Andrew Harvey
I must ask them and find out. Strange looks and hurried departures are their only answers. They must think I am out of my mind.
…Suddenly, I am not alone. A presence is sitting here beside me—the image of a most beautiful lady, dressed in a flowing white gown trimmed with violet.
“Who are you? Please tell me what is happening. Your face, those large, liquid eyes, the facets of a crystalline soul. You must be one of the immortal angels, a daughter of God from the inner dimensions. Please speak to me.”
Her soft reply is audible thought-transference. “We are beings from another realm that once was your world also.” Tears are running down my cheeks; many memories from the past parade before me and fade away. I embrace the wonderful healing and comforting energy emanating toward me from my radiant companion. “You will begin to remember many truths.”
Before me now is the vision of an immense spherical vehicle, radiant like the sun, with rainbows of color, like fire, emanating outward in all directions. It is one of the divine chariots of fire, celestial vehicles belonging to the angels, the Builders, the beings of Christ consciousness. Yes, it was from this divine chariot that I had heard the projected music and voices. My companion is revealing images to me along with divine love and healing. She has given me hope, and restored my faith, and my resolve never to give up—a promise I made so very long ago. The promised return of the Christ has begun and it involves all of humanity.
Norman’s inner experience and encounter with the Builders continued for many days and is described in detail in his book, Christ Consciousness: Emergence of the Pure Self Within.
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The origins of Kriya Yoga reach back into unknown antiquity. This meditation technique—simple, yet so profound—describes the very movement of divine Spirit in creation and within your body. Working with the breath of life, the Beloved Spirit is awakened within and all around you, opening your heart, bringing joy and freedom to your soul, revealing life as it was originally created to be. We celebrate those who allowed this sacred knowledge to be made available for all who seek to understand the great mystery of life.
In 1861, among the quiet foothills of the Himalayas, a momentous event took place, unknown to most of the world. A humble family man and accountant, later known as Lahiri Mahasaya, received initiation from the great yogi Babaji into the ancient and powerful Kriya Yoga meditation technique. This liberating knowledge had been safeguarded for untold years by a small group of mountain yogis, passed on to very few select souls, including Jesus and his close disciples.
It had not been given to a householder for centuries. But Lahiri’s kind and open heart understood the pressing need of many souls for the sacred knowledge. He petitioned Babaji and received the authority to teach Kriya Yoga to all sincere seekers. More of this inspiring story can be read in Paramahansa Yogananda’s spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi.
Lahiri Mahasaya never created an organization around the teachings. But as word of his divine realization spread, people from all walks of life, Hindu and Muslim alike, began coming to his home day and night for blessings and initiations. Eventually he left his job to spend all of his time in meditation and in receiving and instructing students.
One of Lahiri’s many disciples was Sri Yukteswar, who became the teacher of Paramahansa Yogananda. Yogananda revealed to his students that it was Jesus who appeared to Babaji and asked him to send the divine teachings of Self- realization to the West.
In 1894, Babaji gave Sri Yukteswar the following instructions: “You have a part to play in the coming harmonious exchange between Orient and Occident. Some years hence I will send you a disciple whom you can train for yoga dissemination in the West. The vibrations there of many spiritually seeking souls come flood-like to me. I perceive potential saints in America and Europe, waiting to be awakened.” [Excerpt from Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda]
Several years later, Sri Yukteswar revealed to his dear student Yogananda that he was the disciple Babaji had chosen for this work. In 1920 Yukteswar directed Yogananda to accept a speaking invitation from the International Conference of Religious Liberals in Boston, Massachusetts. This was the open
The Roots of Kriya YogaValerie King
doorway through which the Kriya yoga teachings flowed to the West.
When Sunburst’s founder Norman Paulsen first met Yogananda in 1947, they immediately recognized each other as dear friends in spirit. Norm knew that his lifelong desire to meet and know God was at hand through the practice of devotion, service and the key of Kriya meditation. Now it is available for each one who desires to unlock the mystery of their soul. Sunburst today offers the techniques of Kriya meditation with the blessings and guidance of our spiritual ancestors.
“’My followers,” Jesus asserted…“have forgotten the art of divine, inner communion. Outwardly they do good works, but they have lost sight of the most important of my teachings, to ‘seek the kingdom of God first.’” –The New Path, Swami Kriyananda
Blessing from Babaji When we first began Sunburst, while meditating one night in the back yard I observed what appeared to be an orb
of light approaching. As it drew near, a sphere of light about the size of
my head came right up to me. It then entered through the crown of my head. I saw it transit the length of my spine, and come back up, exiting at the crown. Through thought transference it expressed pleasure at finding the spinal centers clear and without obstruction. As the light was leaving, I asked, “Who are you?” The reply was, “I am Babaji.” By thought waves, he as much as said, “Adieu,” or “I’ll be seeing you.”– Norman Paulsen
Sunburst EventsLight & renewaL retreatthurs., Dec. 30, 2010 - sun., Jan. 2, 2011Transform Yourself–Transform Our World Learn Kriya MeditationAwaken to the divine light and presence within you. Refresh your spirit and pro- ject your intentions for the New Year. Please call for more information and suggested donations. Reserve early.
triBute to norman PauLsensunDay, FeBruary 6, 10:30 a.m.This meditation service is dedicated to the life and legacy of Sunburst’s founder.
ceLeBrate LiFeFriDay - sunDay, march 25 - 27Relax - Renew - RechargeEnjoy gentle yoga, meditation, inspira-tional sharing, nourishing meals, evening devotional jam session. Meals and some activities by donation; please call ahead.
meDitation services sunDays at 10:30 a.m.Join us for Spirit-filled music, an inspiring talk and silent meditation, followed by a delicious, lovingly prepared meal. Please call regarding childcare.
PersonaL retreatCall ahead to reserve.Enjoy the peace and beauty of the sanctuary in a private cedar cabin. Renew yourself with group meditations; walk the Hopi labyrinth, or hike in pristine nature.
It was years ago when I asked myself: Could a single, thirty-something, starving writer/stand-up comedienne/aspiring TV personality with a flicker of faith, an intuitive hunch and a wheat-gluten intolerance follow her dreams to become a success story? Yes, I now know it can be done. But what I didn’t know then was that to have a better life, I would have to become a better person.
Today I asked myself, how do people get from where they are to where they want to be? For me, it’s been faith, perseverance, courage and a good sense of humor. My journey toward creating a divine, beautiful life has been a great, big adventure. One filled with challenges, triumphs, tears, matters of the heart, blessings and a motorcycle accident that broke my wrist but luckily not my funny bone.
There were so many lessons I’ve learned along the way to becoming a modern-day goddess—a woman in touch with her inner spirit, inner soul and inner laughter. I can see how my dips into the divine provided me with a protection of grace, a strong inner self and a synchronicity of events that enriched my life forever.
Lightheartedness - a sacred trait to be cultivated Cynthia Daddona, adapted from Diary of a Modern-Day Goddess
