The "Godhead" Archetype Manifests

My wife and I have been enjoying watching you on Thinking Allowed for quite some time. We are both 50 plus, and in my seeking I have found voice in carving stone as an expression of the two spiritual paths that resonate within me, Native American and Kabbalah.

I have been carving the sacred hebrew letters from the red pipestone sacred to the Native Americans for making their pipes.

I only carve when I feel a call to make a letter for someone, and I have learned not to question, but to simply do it and then give it to that person as a give away.

I have carved you a letter and will send it to you at the address that you sent. I will probably send it out by the end of the week, because I would like to include a narative giving you some references to the meanings and intent within the stone from these two paths.

I could also send you a link to my photo album of samples of my work if you are interested.

I am grateful that you will receive what is yours to have.

Rich
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Without giving the matter much thought, I accepted this generous offer. That evening, I had an unusual dream one that felt like "more than a dream." Here are my notes from the next morning (September 24, 2005):
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Last night I had a dream in which I was with Da Lovenanda - also known as Da, Franklin Jones, Adi Da, Adidam, and other names. In this dream, I was practically shouting to him - something to the effect that I wanted him to take my "self" (my soul) and mold it or use it to his ends. The dream stuck in my mind and remained with me as I took a hike this morning on Turtlehead Peak.

It seemed like a significant dream to me - and I had a feeling of some certainty that something was going to come of this. I made a mental note to myself, as I was climbing down Turtlehead Peak, of the date - thinking that this was some sort of important demarcation point in my life. Some new phase, some new adventure, was about to begin.

Then, later, as I was listening to a lecture by Manly P. Hall, about Madame Blavatsky's book, The Voice of Silence, reference was made to the realm of the heart. Hall pointed out that the final initiation is one in which the Guru is within one's own heart. In effect, one initiates one's self. And, as I listened to these words, they resonated with me. And, I said to myself, that is what this dream was about - not Adidam at all (whose devotees believe he is an avatar, or incarnation of god).

When I went to my back office and checked e-mail. To my surprise, I found an unusual message - sent to me from somebody I do not know, who works at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, in behalf of a man named Bill Stranger (whom I had once interviewed on my Wisdom Radio program).

Synchronistically, Stranger was representing - of all people - Adidam. His e-mail told me that a special private event was being arranged for certain sincere seekers - and that I was invited to phone him to discuss it.

My first reaction was that this must be, indeed, the confirmation of my intuitions regarding last night's dream. Certainly, I would contact Bill Stranger. Certainly, I would arrange to see Adidam. Certainly, it would be the most literal, obvious interpretation of my dream.

Now, however, I am inclined to think NOT. Undoubtedly, the synchronicity occurred. Undoubtedly, it is a reflection of the archetypal power and psychic energy that works through Adidam. But, I must remember, this is not the first such dream I have ever had concerning a guru figure.

Many years ago (about 1990, I guess), I had a session with Gurumayi Chidvilasananda - (arranged by Jessica Fullmer). That night I had something of an initiatory dream involving Gurumayi, in which she came and touched the "third eye" area of my forehead. In the dream, I felt a strong sensation of electricity running through my body. It was very powerful. I equate the feeling of electricity running through my body with what has been called kundalini in eastern traditions. And, yes, the dream seemed to impel me to consider becoming a devotee of that guru.

But, it was an easy decision for me to pass, then. My logic at the time was that, actually, I recalled other similar dreams - of electricity running through my body - that did not involve a guru figure. It struck me that the dream was really my dream. Gurumayi was symbolizing some aspect of me - my inner guru. And, I deeply feel much the same way about the Adidam dream. It was about me, not about him.

However, the message from Bill Stranger suggests a different type of connection. After all, in the case of the Gurumayi dream, I had seen her the day prior to the dream. In this instance, the dream was more precognitive - i.e., responding to my knowledge later that day that Adidam was reaching out to me. Or, perhaps, it was even telepathic - in some sense - regarding his outreach (which was probably initiated yesterday or so).

In any case, I do not think the dream was primarily about Adidam. I do not think it likely that I will act upon the invitation and visit Adidam in Northern California. But, I do think it suggests I have a relationship with an inner archetypal figure - one who resonates with Adidam. This is, actually, another example of "archetypal synchronistic resonance."
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A few days later, Rich Okun's carving arrived. You can see it above. It is the Hebrew letter, aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet (or Aleph-Beit). And, it is a silent letter. It is a mystical letter and embodies the same symbolic meaning as expressed in the title of Madame Blavatsky's book, The Voice of Silence. But there is more...as expressed in my personal journal of September 27, 2005:
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Back in about 1988 or so I gave a talk at the "Mind and Supermind" symposium in Santa Barbara which - to this date - I consider possibly the most well-received talk I have ever given.

One thing that I remember distinctly about that experience is that I had the feeling then that "Da Loveananda" (as I think he was then known) was somehow an influence on me at the time. I had been reading his books then. I remember this: he had been speaking about the need for greater fervency in spiritual practice. And, I wove that theme into my talk. Somehow, I felt connected with this guru at that moment - and, I believe, it brought out the best in me.

Now, here's another interesting synchronicity. Bill Okun's carving arrived yesterday and turned out to be an exquisite carving of the letter Aleph.

Here's the synchronicity. The carving brought to mind the fact that, in my Mind and Supermind lecture, I had concluded with a reflection on the short story, The Aleph, by Jorge Luis Borges. That, I think, is what led to the standing ovation. I had completely forgotten about that - until reminded by the carving.

The story of the Aleph, for me, had a similar (but slightly different) message as that of Adi Da. It is about how we experience the sacred in our life - but fail to acknowledge it, fail to integrate it, fail to fully digest and act upon the opportunity that it affords us. We can do better. That was my message and it was a powerful one. I am glad to be reminded of it.

And, the message for me of these synchronicities is that the universe itself is the great teacher. In fact, I very much like the term that Seneca used - "providence."
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Here's how Jorge Luis Borges described the mystical Aleph in his story:

"When I opened my eyes, I saw the Aleph."

"The Aleph?" I repeated.

"Yes, the only place on earth where all places are -- seen from every angle, each standing clear, without any confusion or blending...."

"For the Kabbala, the letter stands for the Ein Sof, the pure and boundless godhead; it is also said that it takes the shape of a man pointing to both heaven and earth, in order to show that the lower world is the map and mirror of the higher..."