Shumsuh is Rehnadee Shum's Culture of Meditation. This culture is a framework for spiritual progress which gives a mystic the ability to progress from his or her starting point to then gradually expand meditative achievements using specialised tools. These tools are Meditation Prep, Dynamic Meditations and the Rehnadee Shum Diary. Shumsuh is a chapter of Shummef (The Shum Perspective) and is nestled in its Third Truth that is Shumnam~ Shummef~. This Truth states that Rehnadee Shum meditations are dynamic and they cause spiritual evolution. Shumsuh is a methodology that is pointedly focused on delivering for the mystic the goals that are laid out in The Path of Enlightenment.
Shumsuh, An Innovation of Rehnadee Shum
The Culture of Meditation is an innovation of Rehnadee Shum that brings to the practice of meditation elements that are effective for meditators to attain their mystic goals. This culture objectively focuses on the practice of meditation and is not concerned about creating or maintaining the identity of the community that practices it. Shumsuh describes a pattern of practice to follow so a mystic can reap the benefits of using Rehnadee Shum for her meditations. This culture teaches a meditator to practice meditation by using three key elements of the Culture. These elements are, firstly, preparation for meditation, secondly using meditation maps in their practice and the third, maintaining a Rehnadee Shum Diary to journal meditations, a practice that is crucial for uncovering next steps. The Rehnadee Shum name of each of these elements are as follows:
- LeeEeSee–Preparation for Meditation
- Shumnam–Dynamic Meditation
- LeeYuTyayLinReh–Rehnadee Shum Diary
Shumsuh will make the time you spend for meditation efficient and effective. Efficient because you will have a pattern of practice that will fill up the time that you allocate to its practice. Effective because it will give you the discipline to keep a log of your meditations which is crucial for progress in meditation. Shumsuh is the practical tool that is used to attain the goals laid out on The Path of Enlightenment. The Path of Enlightenment aggregates the quest for the highest levels of enlightenment into steps that builds ever greater meditative capabilities by organising enlightenment experiences until the mystic reaches Emkaeef; the ultimate state of enlightenment. Shumsuh can also create commanality in practice, allowing groups to meditate together using meditation maps and then discussing the map together.
The Four Perspectives of the the Mind
Rehnadee Shum reveals a faculty of the mind that is available to all of us which hasn't been developed through education compared to the other faculties we are familiar with, such as the intellect, creative skills of body and mind and communication skills. This is a natural cause from emphasising basic survival in life. The mystical side of life is often viewed in culture as either distant or a pursuit for the later days of life. Thus the development of this faculty has seen little development as we have in the areas of communication, commerece, logic and arts; which is why a language for meditation, such as Shum is a milestone innovation in life not unlike what other languages and numbers did for culture and the sciences. The mystical faculty of our mind is however not distant to us, it is part and parcel of our lives though we may not realise it simply because we hadn't been taught to recognise it. In the Shum language our mind is understood to function through the Four Perspectives. These Four Persepectives show how our lives are built around our needs, ambitions and hope. The Four Perspectives of the Mind is among the first Shum lessons that Gurudeva gave us to teach us about how our mind functions. The Four Perspectives of the Mind in Rehnadee Shum are Vu'ummf–The Perspective of Thoughts, Se'ef–The Perspective of Fact, Tyaf–The Perspective of Hope and Shummef–The Shum Perspective.
Briefly Vu'umf, the Perspective of Thought is as representative of the human race as is our communities. The ability to create languages to articulate thoughts is effectively what makes us human and differentiates us vastly from other types of life on Earth. We take this perspective for granted as it is what we use in our daily lives, and we cherish our thoughts as much as we do our body. Vu'ummf is the default faculty of the mind through which we understand our world and our place in it. Out of Vu'ummf are two more child Perspectives that emerge and these are Se'ef and Tyaf. To further manage life we use Se'ef and Tyaf to varying degrees based on our preferences.
Se'ef, The Persepective of Fact is the foundation of logic through which we have the sciences and the consequent technologies that have developed from it. Se'ef colours our perception of life through our observation of proceedings relative to our standing. What we believe is true or not, how we develop consensus in a community and how we organise societies and commerce come out of Se'ef.
Tyaf, the Perspective of Hope is about how we manage our thoughts and feelings about the future. Perceiving or concluding what might or could or will happen is an important function in our lives. It can be both a blessing or a curse depending on circumstances we are faced with. Tyaf, the Perspective of Hope is about managing uncertainty. Through Tyaf religion and culture is developed. Managing uncertainty is a very important aspect of life that brings communities together through culture and beliefs to overcome trials and tribulations and also to celebrate successes.
The Fourth Perspective is Shummef the Shum Perspective, and it is a unique perspective that is different from the other three as it emerges from the part of our mind that perceives life as essentially spiritual. While Vu'umf, Se'ef and Tyaf are centered in all matters of life on Earth, Shummef colours our perception with spiritual endeavours as the ultimate objective of life. Shummef counts life in lifetimes on Earth juxtaposed to the singular incarnation focus of the other three perspectives. Through Shummef one can experience the perception of life as a spiritual journey where everyone is a mystic at heart. When a mystic uses Rehnadee Shum to meditate he is utilising the Shum Perspective through the methodology espoused in Shumsuh, the Culture of Meditation. Through Shumsuh a mystic can also enjoy a life enriched with adventures in the Innerverse.
The Elements of Shumsuh
LeeEeSee, Shumnam and LeeYuTyayLinReh are the three elements of Shumsuh. These three elements come together to create the practice of meditation following the principals of Shummef. On its surface LeeEeSee, which is preparing to meditate, Shumnam, which is the practice of meditation and LeeYuTyayLinReh, which is recording meditation in a diary may seem elementary but when each element is expanded it will become clear just how meticulously Shumsuh incorporates Shummef (the Shum Perspective) and The Path of Enlightenment into its three elements. Take meditation maps (YuTyayLinReh) which central to Shumnam's Dynamic Meditation. YuTyayLinReh adds a layer of astute understanding to the practice of meditation which is based on the testimony of successful mystics that can be used practically by other mystics on the Path. Meditation maps are created out of tried and tested string of steps that lead to a particular goal. This goal is aggregated precisely on one of the Path of Enlightenment's five progressive levels and can be practiced by other mystics who have developed their capabilities to be able to attain the goal of the map. Meditation maps allow for a graduated flow in meditative progress similar to how education is accomplished through schooling. This is an innovation in the practice of meditation from the classical methods of meditation, which can be juxtaposed as Static Meditation, where a mystic learns one technique that targets a lofty enlightenment goal that may have to persist in practice usually over years to reach attainment. The classical (static) style of meditation involves a preparation for meditation that doesn't evolve and emphasises consistency and high frequency of practice. This style gives little attention to initial mystic ability and has an end-all-methodology of 'one glove fits all.'
Contrasting to this classical method is Shumsuh, where LeeEeSee's preparation for meditation is expanded to include assesment of one's innate mystical ability so the most effective meditation map that will build on a mystic's innate skills can start him or her on the Path. LeeEeSee evolves with a mystic's spiritual attainments and this can be gauged through the collection of meditation maps in the Rehnadee Shum Diary. Different meditation maps will prescribe different preparation relevant to the map and this allows Shumnam to take on a more hands-on approach in the practice of meditation. Mystic effort can easily be aggregated in stages which are punctuated by numerous mystic goals outlined in medtation maps. Shumnam acknowledges that every mystic will carve their own journey to the ultimate state of enlightenment based on their selection of meditation maps. It is not necessary that one mystic has to follow another mystics path, instead each mystic will determine their path through revelations they experience from their practice of Shumnam. These revelations are uncovered by the practice of journaling in the Rehnadee Shum Diary which is crucial to advancement in a mystic's spiritual journey. Keeping the Rehnadee Shum Diary is as important in Shumsuh as is sitting down to meditate. The Diary will uncover and keep in record revelations and experiences had that would otherwise be lost, thus under appreciated. In Shumsuh the Rehnadee Shum Diary is the personal scripture of a mystic. It provides direction to the next meditation map and tangibly enhances the reward to effort ratio in meditative progress. The Culture of Meditation affords a mystic flexibility and discipline in his or her practice that is approached with nuaunced understanding of the Path of Enlightenment.
LeeEeSee–Preparation For Meditation
LeeEeSee is a Rehnadee Shum Portrait that is part of a compendium contained in VumRehLeeEeSee. LeeEeSee is a word that is a catch all for the many methods employed to prepare for meditation. In Rehnadee Shum, LeeEeSee, is the first step of meditations of the Beginner Level to the Advanced Levels. The LeeEeSee of a meditation map will describe the preparation required for that particular map. The goal of the preparation is to get a mystic in a conducive state of mind for meditation and also to become accustomed to the instructions in each step of the map before beginning practice. Meditation maps are replete with steps that involve everything from visualisations to breath modulations, chanting of mantra to yoga postures. These steps can require practice. For instance breath modulation are not necessariy as easy as they seem, for which some initial practice can make it more comfortable, when its practice comes up in a map. The same goes for meditations that require chanting of mantras or mystic sounds and yoga exercises. Instructions for all of these are given in detail in the LeeEeSee of a meditation map.
Essentially LeeEeSee is the manual for a meditation map. Beyond instructions LeeEeSee also educates the mystic on the goal of the meditation map and how it's experienced is placed in Rehnadee Shum's Path of Enlightenment. LeeEeSee is key to the successful attainment of the goal of a meditation just as training and rehersals are for tasks and shows.
The Importance of LeeEeSee
I wan to emphasise the importance of LeeEeSee. To do this I need to digress into the reason anyone might want to dedicate time in their life to sit stationary of body and mind. Meditation is word that evokes wonder, mystery, extraordinary ability, calmness that is other-worldly, spiritual advancement and healthfulness. When a mystic is seen in meditation one can only wonder what he or she might be experiencing. Whatever it may be that is running through the mind of a meditator, whether the mystic is being moved by his mind or the mind is being moved by the mystic is the difference between just sitting down and actually meditating. To be trully meditative there has to be a deliberate lead up to sitting for meditation. This is what LeeEeSee is, the preparation for meditation that puts the mystic in command of the forces within himself. LeeEeSee is not just freshening up for meditation, which is important, but an essential step that will lead to the eventual attainment of the goal of the meditation map in practice. LeeEeSee sets the stage for an effective measure of meditative effort even if the yield of a meditation session was nothing more than keeping at bay distracting thoughts or tiredness. After LeeEeSee simply running through the motions of the meditation map, even if it doesn't result in any mystic experiences carries value in spiritual growth. The diary entry for a session like this may just be about struggling with distracting thoughts or fighting to stay awake, but the key for this meditation session is the LeeEeSee. The deliberate practice of bringing the mind to focus on meditation and then finishing the meditation creates the potent habit of being in control of the forces of the mind and fosters spiritual evolution even if progress seems slow or imperceptible.
My guru had explained how spiritual evolution works even through seemingly unproductive meditation sessions. He was asked about the frustrating days when it seemed that the mind was difficult to keep focused during meditation, even when there were previous sessions that were very fulfilling. It seemed like one was digressing in the meditation instead of continuing to make progress. Gurudeva, the practical mystic that he was gave confidence in his answer. He drew our attention to flying in an aeroplane. During the flight from where we are, thousands of feet above the ground, looking down at the ground seems as if we are moving very slowly when in fact we are actually moving very fast, close to the speed of sound for a jet plane, and making a lot of progress towards our destination. Just like that meditation sessions are never wasted effort if one is set in an effective method to begin with. There are many reasons why one might struggle with the mind while meditating, from the weather of one's mind on that particular day to feeling tired, but once the decision is made to go through with LeeEeSee and the subsquent steps of the map, progress happens. After the goal of the map is attained one will have mastered the area of the mind that led up to that goal and one will have gained mastery over a particular challenge posed by the mind that was presented to the mystic by the LeeEeSee.
Gurudeva had also explained how important right effort is to meditation. Right effort and wrong effort has to do with the preparation for meditation. Simply sitting to meditate in whatever the condition the mind is without gently bringing the mind to the Shum perspective through LeeEeSee is akin to trying to cross a thick patch of jungle to get to the other side of it by foot through an untrodden path, whereas when LeeEeSee is done it is like flying over the obstacle, basically much faster and with much less hassle.
The Meditation Space and Timing
LeeEeSee also provides guidance for the meditation space and other things required for a particular map. Generally the meditative space should be private, uncluttered and clean. When meditating indoors the space should be dimly lit or for some meditations kept as dark as possible. The size of the space is not important, it can be segment of space in a bedroom for instance or anyother place in ones home or room that feels reasonable. A meditation mat that is used exclusively for meditation is a must. At best there should be no distractions such as phone calls, being needed or rushed. Also good is to inform all in a household or room-hold of your meditation practice (though it is not necessary) and the need for privacy during the time unless an urgent matter comes up. If something like that does come up, the LeeEeSee will also provide instructions of how to properly pull a mystic out of his or her meditation.
Time and frequency of meditaiton is also key to progress in meditative effort. The guidance for this in LeeEeSee is based on the Shum Perspective that calculates spiritual evolution in lifetimes. In LeeEeSee the most important rule when it comes to time of day for meditation and frequency of practice are consitency and practicality. LeeEeSee will recommend a frequency that is the minimum times a week for a practice. This recommended frequency is generally at least once a week. Because there is no race to reach the ultimate state of spiritual enlightenment and the fact that an over-demanding frequency could lead to giving up on practice, LeeEeSee always recommends an attainable frequency that is practical based on the natural flow of ones day, week and month. In some cases because of the hustle and bustle of life a frequency of once every two weeks is way more better than a demanding schedule of practice that can exasperate effort. As far as when during the day or night to practice Rehnadee Shum meditation, again there is flexibility here. Some people are morning people who prefer to meditate first thing in the morning before getting into the day; others may prefer to put the day to rest and meditate just before bed. Then there is the in-between times too. LeeEeSee's general advice is anytime so long as it is not right after a meal, snack or intense physical activity, giving time for the body to get digesting food out of the way, the body relaxed and as long as one is not too tired.
Religion and LeeEeSee
Rehnadee Shum is a Language for Meditation, its goal is to help meditators achieve their spiritual goals. These goals are mystic experiences that are universal in nature. In Eastern Mystical schools that are connected to religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zen or Taoism their devotional aspects do filter into meditative effort. Using of mantras, worship rituals and devotion to dieties are part and parcle of mystic effort in these schools. Rehnadee Shum being universal in its scope as a Language for Meditation allows it to be adopted with religious practices of various religions that is part of the culture of the meditator. For instance mantras of different religions, practices that prepare a meditator's mind for meditation that is conducive to a mystics cultural affinity can be part of their LeeEeSee. No matter one's religion the Shummef's guide is that there should be no conflict to the practice of one's religion. Religion is important aspect of human life as it is part of the Four Perspecitives of the Mind–Tyaf, The Persepective of Hope. If any doubt crops up about one's religious beliefs and practice of Rehnadee Shum meditations one can consult a Rehnadee Shum Master or Shum Guide for clairfication or how to manage any personal conflicts that may crop up from the intermingling of faith and spirituality. The rule of thumb here is that Rehnadee Shum is a Language for Meditation, it is a tool for the practice of meditation. In and of itself it is not a religion and can be practiced universally just as how hatha yoga–yoga exercises has been universally accepted as an exercise.
Shumnam–Dynamic Meditation
Dynamic Meditations are Rehnadee Shum meditations which use meditation maps. Meditation maps are charts with steps that lead to a destination, or a goal, that a mystic is seeking. These goals are set along Rehnadee Shum's Path of Enlightenment which divide a mystic's meditative effort into increments designed based on a mystic's proclivities, or natural mystic abilities and takes them on a spiritual journey that is charted by progressive meditation maps that evolve the mystic's spirituality through attainment of successive enlightenment experiences. In Shumsuh, Shumnam is the next practice after LeeEeSee–Preparation for Meditation. In LeeEeSee tutorials provide instructions on each step of a meditation map and also includes timing of moving from one step to the next while provides information on how to identify when the goals are attained. Every meditation map is tailored to a mystic's current ability with the goal of growing it incrementally through attainable goals. This is Dynamic Meditation, Shumnam. Dynamic Meditation also means that new paths can be uncovered by mystics who practice Rehnadee Shum meditations and try out new techniques or even discover new goals from revelations that they uncover. Tried and tested meditations maps are maintained in the digital libraries of Shum Sanctuary for the benefit of generations to come.
Elements of Shumnam
1. The Starting Point
2. Meditation Maps
3. Meditation Mat
4. Rehnadee Shum Diary
5. Other Meditation Paraphernalia
The Starting Point–TiiCha
Meditation for Enlightenment. Why do you want to meditate? Why anybody decides to sit quietly with their eyes closed and ponder deeply into their mind regularly for a length of time is an important question to answer to determine the first meditation map in a budding mystic's journey through the Innerverse. In Rehnadee Shum speaking about one's inner motivations to a Rehnadee Shum Master or a Shum Guide will uncover their first meditation map that an aspiring Rehnadee Shum mystic will use as their first stepping stone in their practice. The Starting Point in Rehnadee Shum is known a TiiCha and it is part of a compendium that carries the Path of Enlightenment–TyayeeShaLeeUngTiiCha. This is a natural process for anyone curious about Rehnadee Shum. They will want to communicate with a Master about the language and how they might use it tot advance themselves spiritually. During this consultation a Master will first lead a mystic to pinpoint when they first felt the motivation for mystical experiences. Once this is determined the next step is to reveal what has been already learned and understood about the Path of Enlightenment. This includes previous meditation practices and mystic experiences already had. This information should be shared voluntarily with the Master. Information that an aspirant feels need to be kept private or withheld should be left uncovered. A mystic who is starting out should feel comfortable and inspired by this process of revelation which will result in their first meditation map. This map can be as simple as learning a skill such as how to breathe diaphragmatically or a more advanced map from the Intermediate or even Advanced Level.
Meditation for Health. Meditation for Health has become a mainstream reason to pick up meditation. Using meditation as a practice to aid in lowering stress and its related symptoms has become common in our fast-paced-high-demand world. Meditation techniques that calm the mind has been shown scientifically to lower blood cortisol levels and increase hormones that stimulate feelings of wellbeing which are healthful. In Rehnadee Shum meditation maps will be created specifically for these purposes and tagged as Health for easy search. Physical and mental health specific meditations are usually a one-off maps, though it can also include meditation skills that need to be learned as preparation for meditation. The LeeEeSee for these maps are rudimentary and made to be flexible based on the health condition and situation of the meditator. Also in the health scene is meditation as a sleep-aid. Sleep of course is one of the best natural healer and for those stuck with difficulties falling asleep non-chemical solutions are the most preferabble . In Rehnadee Shum maps for tuning the mind to sleep through sleep culture will also been tagged with Health and also they will be accessible through an additional web URL that collates meditation maps one can try and incorporate as sleep-aid. ZeroSnooze.com will hold maps that offer solutions for not only falling asleep but shutting down our conscious and subconscious thought and emotional processes so our sleep can rest our physical and mental cores for deep, healthful and rejuvenating results.
Meditation for Self Development. Success is a commodity these days. Training courses to that teach habits and perspectives to create a culture of generating success is all the hype and in these courses unlocking the full potential of one's mind is very important. Techniques to concentrate the mind, psycological paths to clear the mind of distractions or hinderance causing 'thought-matter', unlocking magical powers of the mind such as the 'Law of Attraction' tie into meditation techniques. In Rehnadee Shum you will be able to find meditation maps that work to clear the mind of disturbances that can have many causes. These meditations and techniques they include work on surplanting the subconscious from shallow and deep-seated problems that form obstacles to progress in any endeavour and replace them with clarity and confidence. These meditations can be equally used on the Path of Enlightenment or in training courses for Self-Development. They will be tagged as Self-Development for easy search. For some of these meditations their preparations can be extensive, especially those that involve deep-dives into the subconscious. If you are Self-Development coach and find a meditation map with a goal that suites your course you can work with a Rehnadee Shum Master on the LeeEeSee to fit the course.
DIY TiiCha. Do-It-Yourself TiiCha, is you figuring out for yourself your first meditation map. If you feel confident in trying out a meditation map on your own as your first map in your mystic quest you are more than welcome to browse through the collection of maps in the Beginner and early sub-levels of the Intermediate maps. These maps won't require more training than video tutorials provided in their LeeEeSee. Of course you can just as easily email a Shum Master for clarification and guidance as needed. To be a Rehnadee Shum meditator is your choice. Beginner Maps and many Intermediate Maps can be effective just through self-learning and practice and they can initiate the first entry of your Rehnadee Shum Diary. They will be tagged as DIY, that you can use to search for a collection of maps that are available.
Meditation Maps
In Rehnadee Shum meditation maps are called YuTyayLinReh. They are the primary tool of Shumnam. All meditations involves steps to perform from yoga postures, breath modulation, concentration techniques or creating contemplation situations. These are strung together in a meditation map to attain the goal set in the map. The main advantage of using medtation maps is that it create flexibility and continuity for a mystics spiritual effort. Flexibility allows a mystic to grow spiritually by attaining experiences that are closest to their natural mystic ability and then from there moving to the next closest mystic goal, thus adding nuaunce and gradual appreciable growth to a mystic's spiritual effort. Continuity is cultivated through maintaining the Rehnadee Shum Diary. This diary keeps a tangible record of a mystic's effort, progress and attainments which allows a mystic to pickup where one had left off, if for some reason or another they had to stop their practice for a time. The Diary also has the added benefit of building inspiration for continued practice or to restart ones spiritual effort.
If you equate that the ultimate goal of a mystic's quest to an endeavour to summit a challenging mountain, then meditation maps are the path to all the base camps needed to gradually progress to the summit. Though in the mystic's quest for enlightenment there can be as many base camps as necessary depending on the mystic's personal path. There is also no time-limit or special prizes for summiting entlightenment the fastest. Time is irrelavant to mystic endeavours. It's all about the experience that is gathered from one meditation map to the next.
Meditation Maps–A Collection of Inspiration and Growth
Meditation maps are more than just a tool for meditation, they are also mystic diagrams that enrich a meditator's life with a new avenues of experience that are enriching and fulfilling. Every map that I had practiced helped me uncover mystic experiences as if I was touring in my mind. Through them I discovered insights, sublime emotions, inspiration but of course not without also overcoming challenges. A new map brings new challenges and also new experiences. In the beginning one might not be able to fully cognise the amazing utility that meditation maps provide, but after going through a few, their effectiveness becomes apparent and their innovativeness obvious.
Nuaunce on the Path of Enlightenmment is the key utility that meditation maps provide. Most of us who are inspired by spirituality or mystic experences are novices on the Path. When we first learn or discover the Path of Enlightenment it is normal to want to attain the ultimate state of enlightenment from the get go. Yet the path requires growth and development of faculties within ourselves in stages that up to the point that we can attempt the highest of goals. I have found meditation maps as the most inspiring and most defined tool for meditation that takes into account a meditator's needs. Meditation maps are like having a lit torch that lights up the path clearly from one landing to the next. They provide structure to mystic growth and a sense of adventure to a mystic's quest.
The following link has more about medtation maps and how to use them.
The Meditation Mat
A meditation mat is a sacred item for a mystic. It's significance is not unlike a throne to a King or a Chairman's or CEO's designated chair. The meditation mat maybe more humble a seat but it is a valued and meaningful possession for a mystic. It reminds a mystic of their spiritual endeavour and holds spiritual vibrations that accumulate from use and attainments achieved. Shumsuh recommends using foldable or rollable mats that are made of natural plant fibres such as cotton, jute or coconut fibres or wool. Plastic, synthetic fibres or rubber are not suitable for meditation map, however rubber can be used as padding for comfort. Natural fibres have always been traditionally used as meditation mats because they can retain 'pranic-static-energy' that can flow into a mystic's consciousness simply by touching or sitting on the mat, thus giving energy and inspiration for the meditation.
The size of the mat should be around 2 feet by 3 to 4 feet and its thickness within an inch. It should be easy to fold or roll and carry around. It should be stored in a designated area of one's meditation space and it can be brought along while travelling. The mat can be washed when required and should be sun dried instead of using a dryer to preserve its fibres. Meditation mats shouldn't be used for yoga exercising, though it can be rolled or folded to use as a pillow while lying down or sleeping.
You can also keep more than one meditation mat, especially if you have more than one meditation space, for instance at home or in the office or a mat meant for travelling. It is best to use your own meditation mat whenever possible, though you can use other's mat with permission if yours is not with you. In meditation centers it is also ok to use meditation mats provided by the center. Meditating on bare floor is also alright, but without the mat the vibration developed from the meditation will fade into the earth and not be preserved–which is the main function of the meditation mat. You will be able to feel the difference meditating with or without a mat especially if you are sitting or a tiled, stone or bare-earth floor. Wooden and carpeted floors will feel more comfortable and hold 'pranic-static-energy' that helps with circulation of spiritual energies while meditating.
LawSimBe, Seating Posture for Shumnam
In Rehnadee Shum the meditation mat is LawSim. It is a a mystics possession that is held in reverance and is a symbol of his or her dedication Shumsuh. When sitting on the LawSim a pillow or wedge shaped cushion can be used at the head of the mat. Sitting on the cushion helps with rotating the hip forward which helps relieve tension on the spine to sit upright. The muscles on the back should be comfortable to maintain an upright sitting posture and sitting on a cushion helps with this. The cushion or even a pillow can be any that you have that your are comfortable with.
The best posture to sit in meditation is the Lotus yoga posture or Padmasana. This posture makes it almost effortless to sit for long durations in meditation (typically between 40 minutes to 2 hours). In Rehnadee Shum the lotus posture is LawSimBe. LawSimBe takes practice as it basically ties the legs in a knot. To sit in LawSimBe first lift the right ankle and put it on the left tigh. The slowly lift the left ankle and lift it over the folded right leg and place it on the right tigh. This is LawSimBe. This posture rotates the hips forward and keeps the spine erect naturally without having to delibearately prop it up. If you can sit in LawSimBe it is not necessary to use a pillow though a pillow will just make it even more comfortable and provide for maximum rotation forward of the hip which is always goood for meditation.
LeeYuTyayLinReh–Rehnadee Shum Diary
LeeYuTyayLinReh is integral in the practice of Shumnam. It emphasizes the importance of practicing a meditation map until its goal is attained and then maintained until it leads to the revelation of the next meditation map. Each mystic carves his or her own way on the Path of Enlightenment. From the first meditation map until a mystic reaches the ultimate goal of enlightenment, the number of maps required, the sequence of maps and the time it will take is all unique. Two mystics might start at the same time using the same meditation map but the maps that follow is not set in anyway as a standard sequence to follow. The next steps for each of the meditators can only be known through a process of revelation which is ensconsed in LeeYuTyayLinReh.
LeeYuTyayLinReh and IngLeeYuTyayLinReh
Attaining the goal of a meditation map the first time is always a fulfilling experience though it is not enough to progress to the following meditation map. On the Path of Enlightenment the next meditation map after the current is attained must be revealed by IngLeeYuTyayLinReh. IngLeeYuTyayLinReh is a spiritual process that occurs while LeeYuTyayLinReh is in practice. IngLeeYuTyayLinReh means Spiritual Immersion, which happens during LeeYuTyayLinReh when the deliberate practice of continued attainment of a meditation map goal reaches a point of saturation. This point of saturation is known as Spiritual Immersion from whence the mystic's next meditation map will become apparent.
IngLeeYuTyayLinReh is an intuitive process that is similar to those times in life when we reach a fork and wonder what to do next after we have reached the goals we had set up to that point. A flash of inspiration, a conversation that 'hit the nail on the head' or stumbling of a new activity that gives the impetus for the next leg of our journey in life. In Shumsuh a mystic's path will be dotted with as many IngLeeYuTyayLinReh as the meditation maps that they collect in their diary.
When I was learning Shumnam from my guru I went through this process–LeeYuTyayLinReh and IngLeeYuTyayLinReh–with him. I would practice a meditation map and when I reached its goal Gurudeva would tell me to continue practicing the meditation map until the goal became second nature to me. He would say, "practice until even your little finger experiences it." This is where the Rehnadee Shum Diary that is also a meaning of LeeYuTyayLinReh becomes pertinent.
The Rehnadee Shum Diary
My first ever Shum Diary was started at the behest of Gurudeva. He urged me to start it with drawing my own meditation maps after every meditation. He explained to me how the diary would stimulate my memory of all that I had experienced during the meditation. With that instruction I started my entries by dating the day, time and place of meditation followed with drawing each step of the map. At first I couldn't draw the Shum Images and simply wrote the steps romanised, with lines connecting one step to the next. While making entries into my diary, I had to jog my memory to remember all that I had experienced in my previous meditation. To my surprise with almost in every entry I was not simply copying my meditation map but drawing supplementary lines from the main steps to add insights and experiences gained. These insights were about random issues that was in my subconscious (which in and of themselves were valuable if not enlightening to the matter I was carrying around in my mind) and there were also mystic experiences that though wasn't the goal of the meditation was nevertheless wonderful. These memories would just appear as flashes of inspiration that enriched my meditations in ways that I cannot have conceived of myself, of how the simple act of journaling my meditations could be such valuable and wonderful experience. Maintaining my diary became a chore that I looked forward to everyday because of what I might reveal to myself from my meditations post-practice. The diary also created a positive feedback loop for my meditation practice. Shumnam and LeeYuTyayLinReh built on each other so naturally that it unassumingly strengthend my Shumsuh.
If not for LeeYuTyayLinReh I would have glanced over much of the valuable insights and extra-mystic experences that I had in my Shumnam and writing them down magnified their effect on me. The practice enriched me with wisdom from within. From it I learned to recognise when I reached IngLeeYuTyayLinReh. This happens when I am struck by inspiration from one of the insights or experiences that I had had. This would lead me to either explore the Shum Lexicon or discuss with Gurudeva about the next meditation map. With the next meditation map set a new cycle of Shumsuh starts the next mystic journey on the Path.
The LeeYuTyayLinReh can be any book you choose it to be, or if you prefer to maintain it digitally, it can also be so. If it is a book it is best that the pages are blank and without lines, or if it has a blank page followed by a lined page. Either way you will need to be comfortable drawing a meditation map with your media. I would personally recommend using a book instead of digital media out of habit, though a book has the added value as a stand alone item that can evoke inspiration much like how your meditation mat evokes inspiration to meditate. Over time of cultivating LeeYuTyayLinReh and committing to journal your spiritual journey will turn your diary into your personal scripture that you will come to cherish. The practice of journaling your meditation might seem inconsequential in the beginning, and there are those days when nothing much happens in the meditation that you might think it pointless to make an entry, but on those days when your meditation is deep, the vicarious experience that you will have as your write your inner journey down will be the foundation of your consistency in practice. It will keep you going on, maintaining your inspiration and also accompany you in your quest. Shumsuh recommends making a journal entry before the next meditation, though it shouldn't be right after the meditation. After meditating go on with your normal activities and find some time before your next meditation session to journal your last meditation. Even if you are not meditating daily you can still make your entry after a few days. The meditation will come back to you as if you had just meditated.
Breaks in Practice
It is not uncommon for breaks to occur in a mystic's meditation practice. Normal changes in life as one matures to different stations can cause adjustments minor and major to schedule and responsibilities. They can cause breaks in the continuity of Shumnam practice, but this is neither unusual nor should it mean giving up on one's spiritual quest. These breaks can sometimes last years, however as long as the mystic can relate these breaks as part of the Path of Enlightenment the spiritual maturation process continues even if it is at a slower pace. How long these breaks last are irrelevant to the ability to pick up in practice where one had left it off. This is where LeeYuTyayLinReh, the Rehnadee Shum Diary will be of special significance.
Even myself when I was living in the monastery, despite the stability and simplicity of monastic life, I encountered breaks in my personal meditation time. Though they did not last very long, usually around two weeks, when I was ready to get back to practice my Shum Diary proved its worth. All that journaling inspired the restart as I thumbed through the various experiences that I had collected and the last meditation map that I was praciticing was right there as a foundation for the restart. From there Shumsuh picks up where it was left off.
Most mystics don't have the opportunity of living in a monastery, however because of Shumsuh one can confidently start the practice of Shumnam. Shumsuh provides the flexibility to set a practical frequency to one's practice and also understands breaks in practice and has built in it the tools to restart from where one left off, even if months and years have passed. Through this break time one can still make entries in the Diary to record insights and mystic experiences had from random meditation sessions. To restart, one first has to determine the new frequency of practice and then make a journal entry of parsing through the time that had passed since the last practice. Insights gained from journaling this time will often reveal indirect spiritual growth and provide the impetus for the reboot. The last meditation map in the diary will be the map for the reboot practice until IngLeeYuTyayLinReh occcurs and the next map is revealed.
Other Meditation Paraphernalia
Meditation Maps–YuTyayLinReh, Rehnadee Shum Diary–LeeYuTyayLinReh and the Meditation Map–LawSim are the must-haves in Shumsuh. With these you can be on your way in your mystic journey practicing Shumnam. Other items that you may choose to use in your meditation practice such as a bead necklace, lamp, candles, crystals, pictures or statues of deities or gurus are left to your preferance. Whatever that you use as part of your Shumnam will have special significance to you and hold the vibration of your meditation.
In LeeEeSee where the repetitive chanting of mantras or mystic sounds are part of the Shumnam you can use rosary beads to keep count. The rosary can be kept together with your LawSim or LeeYuTyayLinReh. You can also wear it whenever you wish. When it comes to bead necklaces the rudraksha bead hods a special place in Shumsuh. It follows the reverance given to Blue Marble tree and its seeds, from which rudraksha beads are collected, by Hindu and Buddhist schools of meditation. Rudraksha tree is said to carry soothing vibrations that is healthy for the heart and its fruit and ground rudraksha seeds is used in Ayurvedic medical preparations in tonics for the heart. When worn in Shumnam the rudraksha necklace effectively absorbs the vibrations produced from enlightenment experiences. Like the meditation mat the bead necklace also accumulates mystic vibrations produced from Shumnam and so inspires one's dedication to practice. The bead necklace can consist entirely of rudraksha beads or it may be interspersed with semi-precious stones such as quarts, amethyst, garnets or lapis. The bead necklace can be worn to any occasion other than meditation that one feels appropriate to.
Conclusion
Shumsuh–The Culture of Meditation is an innovation that Rehnadee Shum brings to the practice of meditation. It is born of our individual uniqueness. Who we are is a byproduct of experiences and forces that we have gone through not only in this incarnation but from previous ones. Whatever that brings a person to the point of looking for the primordial answers to his or her existence is as varied as the path required to find those answer that one's psyche requires. Shumsuh with its meditation maps and Rehnadee Shum Diary lights up different paths for each mystic that will ultimately lead to the same goal of spiritual freedom.
Shumsuh was not thought to me by my guru, it is an innovation emerged from my experience with the Shum langugage. In Gurudeva's original rendering of Shum we were given access to meditation maps in the Shum library of the monastery, where we'd choose a map to discussed it with Gurudeva and learned how to practice it. In Rehnadee Shum this is what LeeEeSee is. LeeEeSee provides all the instructions necessary to practice a YuTyayLinReh. The Rehnadee Shum Diary–LeeYuTyayLinReh was born out of Gurudeva's insistence for me to start it, though the diary was not a requirement for practice in the original Shum. It was an informal instruction that Gurudeva gave me that I had incorporated into Rehnadee Shum as an integral part of the Culture of Meditation. The importance of the diary was highlighted when I discovered IngLeeYuTyayLinReh–Spiritual Immersion which is process in meditation that reveals the next progressive meditation map to practice.
I was intrigued about the Shum language from the first time I heard of it. It was interesting and very novel, but I wondered about its real utility in the practice of meditation. It was when I started to meditate using the language on my own did its practicality strike me. The path forward became clear and there was no ambiguity of whether I attained an experience or not. The language brought certainty to the Path of Enlightenment through the simple practices of moving from one map to the next and journaling. You'd experience the unfolding process of spiritual development when you progressed through maps and realise that you are well on your way to fulfill your mystic ambitions.
(Note: In this article there are three Rehnadee Shum words that are very similar. There is YuTyayLinReh, which are meditation maps; LeeYuTyayLinReh, which is Rehnadee Shum Diary; and IngLeeYuTyayLinReh which is Spiritual Immersion. These three words are part of a five word Shum Compendium which is a unique feature in the Structure of Rehnadee Shum. You can learn more about the Structure and Syntax of Rehnadee Shum from This Link.The complete meanings of the IngLeeYuTyayLinReh Compendium can be found through this link to the Rehnadee Shum Lexicon)
