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“We all need joy, and we can all receive joy in only one way, by adding to the joy of others.”

EKNATH EASWARAN


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Support for Your Practice

A Journey of Discovery

“You are now embarking on the most extraordinary journey, the most exacting and rewarding adventure, open to a man or woman. I haven’t tried to conceal the fact that learning to control your mind is difficult – the most difficult thing in the world. But I want to remind you always that what you are seeking is glorious beyond compare, something far beyond my capacity, or anybody’s, to render into words. In my heart I have no greater desire than that you should reach the goal. Accept my wish for your great success!”
– Eknath Easwaran, Passage Meditation

I am interested in trying passage meditation.
  • Easwaran’s book Passage Meditation is the best overall source for a complete view of the program. You can read complete chapters online or purchase the book here.
  • Have you found a passage or passages that appeal to you? You can browse through some selections specifically chosen for meditation here.
  • And if you have trouble memorizing, some tips can help you.
  • You might like to read Blue Mountain, our free quarterly journal. It includes uplifting articles from Easwaran and interviews with people who are practicing passage meditation.
  • An introductory retreat is an ideal place to learn about passage meditation, try out the program in the company of other seekers, and have your questions answered by longtime meditators.
  • Did you know that passage meditation is an eight-point program? Click here to learn about the seven other tools for spiritual growth that can be used throughout the day.

I would like to establish a regular practice.
  • If you would like to simplify your life to make more time for your meditation practice and the other things that are important to you, Easwaran’s perspective on slowing down offers some ideas and insights. For more in-depth guidance, Take Your Time is as readable as it is practical.
  • Our introductory and refresher retreats are designed to help you set up a regular practice in a way that works for you. We also offer programs tailored to the needs of young adults and seniors.
  • For a short dose of daily inspiration, many people turn to Easwaran’s Thought for the Day. You can read it online, have it delivered to your email address, or purchase it in its book form, Words to Live By.
  • Have you found a variety of passages that appeal to you? If you learn by listening, you can hear Easwaran recite a few passages here. And if you would like a wider selection and own a cassette player, Sacred Literature of the World offers a wonderful variety of inspiring passages. You can also read many passages here. The new anthology Timeless Wisdom is filled with many beautiful selections.
  • Do you receive our free journal, Blue Mountain? Having an inspiring article from Easwaran and interviews with other meditators appear in your mailbox each quarter can bring a fresh boost of energy and enthusiasm to your practice.
  • Would you like to learn more about the rest of the program of passage meditation?

I have been meditating every day for a month or more.
  • Spending time in the company of other passage meditators, either in person or online, provides invaluable support to one’s practice. You are now eligible to join any of our local BMCM Satsangs (fellowship groups).
  • You are also eligible to subscribe to our eSatsang (email fellowship group) and, if you are between the ages of 18 and 35, our young adult email Satsang (replaces email fellowship group). Even if you are just listening in, the inspiration, encouragement, and rejuvenation that are found through this companionship can make all the difference in your spiritual journey.
  • Is your meditation getting stale or mechanical? If so, memorizing a new passage can breathe some new life into your practice. Many passages are available online, and you also might want to have one of Easwaran’s anthologies of passages he selected expressly for meditation. God Makes the Rivers to Flow includes many features such as biographical summaries of those who wrote the passages and a guide for using specific passages to shed unwanted habits. Timeless Wisdom is a more compact edition, designed as a companion for Passage Meditation.
  • Attending a retreat in your area or at the Blue Mountain Center will get your practice off to a strong start. You’ll meet others who are just starting the program and have your questions answered by those who have been practicing it for many years. We also offer special programs for young adults and seniors.
  • To reap the greatest rewards from your meditation periods, deepening your understanding and practice of the other seven points in the program of passage meditation is essential. For example, using a mantram during the day will greatly support your meditation. Here is a list of mantrams to choose from. You can also read online instructions for choosing and using a mantram.

I have been meditating daily for 6 months or more and want to deepen my practice.
  • You are now eligible for an in-depth retreat. These intensive weekend and weeklong programs are designed to help you take your practice to a new level by improving your meditation and helping you integrate the other seven points into your day in powerful ways.
  • As your meditation deepens, you start to notice more and more about the workings of the mind. Easwaran’s fresh perspective on the thought process offers not only wise guidance but lighthearted entertainment. Two fascinating sources are the DVD series Dynamics of the Mind (view a short selection here) and the book Conquest of Mind.
  • If you haven’t already joined a BMCM Satsang, whether one that meets in your area or our eSatsang online, doing so will boost your practice immeasurably.
  • Are you finding and memorizing enough passages to keep your meditation fresh? The book God Makes the Rivers to Flow includes dozens of beautiful inspirational passages from major spiritual traditions, background notes on each passage, and other features. If you’d like a more compact edition, have a look at Timeless Wisdom.
  • Easwaran never tired of telling us how valuable the mantram is for spiritual growth. As you may have already discovered for yourself, one of many benefits of using the mantram during the day is that it helps keep your mind calm, so that you go into your next meditation period with greater focus. For an in-depth exploration of this simple tool and its many applications and benefits, see The Mantram Handbook.
  • Easwaran considered The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living his major work. It can be read and re-read over a lifetime of ever-deepening insight. The End of Sorrow, volume 1 of this three-volume commentary, is a great place to start.

It takes effort to develop a regular practice of passage meditation, yet people all over the world continue to make time in their daily lives for this dynamic program.

Having the right support at the right time can keep you going deeper, which brings increasing benefits.

Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, PO Box 256, Tomales, CA 94971 USA | Telephone: 800.475.2369 or 707.878.2369
The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are deductible from US federal and state taxes.

Blue Mountain Center of Meditaton, PO Box 256, Tomales, CA 94971 USA   Telephone: 800.475.2369   Facsimile: 707.878.2375
© 1997–2010 by The Blue Mountain Center of Meditation