The Asala Festival, which is also known as the Festival of Humanity, the Festival of the Christ, and the Festival of Goodwill, will be conducted by Arani (Annie Mai Hartley) on Thursday, 23 May at 7:30 pm (AEST).
We will be using some parts of the Heart Healing Service. Feel free to play some relaxing music before the service commences. Pre-service mantra If you would also like to utilise the pre-service mantra, it is: I open to the Way of the Heart. 1. Welcome and Introduction Welcome to the Asala Festival 2024, where we will be working with the Way of The Heart. I will begin with Ananda’s* words from the Asala Festival in 2002 describing what the Asala Festival is about: ‘… this is Maitreya’s** Festival - it is the day, at the full moon, the moment where He reads Gautama Buddha’s first speech to the Hierarchy. It is Maitreya’s Day. It is a day of goodwill.’1 To me, there is such respect and love the Lord Maitreya has for His brother, the Lord Gautama Buddha, for the teachings He gave to humanity 2,500 years ago in the form of the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. These teachings, combined with those of the Lord Maitreya through Lord Jesus on the Law of Love, have contributed to the creation of what is called 'the Way of the Heart'. This path leads all who choose to walk it, to be part of manifesting one of the great qualities needed within humanity: Right Human Relations upon the Earth. Ananda says, ‘Right Human Relations are based upon love and respect, respecting all people and nations no matter what they believe in…’2 We enter this path once service and goodwill become important parts of our lives. In Ananda’s words, ‘When a human being starts to become a person of goodwill… the soul starts to be felt.’3 And so, on this path we open to, and become more influenced by, that purest and highest aspect within us. Some of the teachings of Gautama Buddha*** that we are asked to consider, and eventually manifest within ourselves, include what right belief may mean for us, as well as right thinking, speech and action in all we say and do. And without right effort, it is difficult to really progress, not only on the physical level but more so to that connection with our soul light that ignites the love we have burning within, waiting to be discovered or rediscovered - depending on one’s spiritual development. We can also open up to the help available on the inner, to aid us along the path. The gateway through which we walk is the Heart of the Lady White Tara, and Ananda says that with the 'all-embracing Love and all transmuting Light of the Mother, [She]will become the guide and the teacher on the Way of the Heart.’4 So today, as we now build up to the full moon that will peak at 11:55 tonight, we celebrate the Way of the Heart, with the Lady White Tara as the doorway and the guide to that great Heart, Maitreya. Let this down-pouring of Maitreya’s and White Tara’s love ignite in all hearts on our planet the desire to walk the Way of the Heart and to use it for the benefit of all, so love, joy and transformation may flow - so goodness and right human relations may manifest on Earth. Let us celebrate this Festival and this path with the beautiful song, 'Maitreya Buddha'. 2. Singing To listen, click on the white arrow in the audio bar below.
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Protection of the Cosmic Light Everyone: We ask for the protection of the Cosmic Light. Archangel Michael, Thou art that Light. 4. Attunement to the Heart Ananda will guide us in the 'Attunement to the Heart'. To listen, click on the white arrow in the audio bar below. 5.
Invocation Everyone: We invoke the Lord Maitreya, the Rising Light of Earth. We invoke the White Tara and the World Mothers of the Earth and the Holy Trinity: the Divine Will of God the Father; the Divine Love-Wisdom of God the Son; the Divine Intelligence of God, the Holy Spirit within the Mother. Blessed Lords and Ladies of the Hierarchy, grace us with Your Loving Presence. Bless this group that it may become a worthy channel in this healing service. Holy Mother of Compassion, show us the way. Inspire us divinely as to where the healing is needed the most on Earth. 6. Earth Cleansing Meditation In this meditation, we will open to the Love and Light of the Lord Maitreya and the Lady White Tara by singing the song 'Maitreya Heart of All'. Let us see our hearts, and the hearts of humanity, opening to these beautiful Masters. As we sing, we invoke the ‘Heart of Maitreya, [and we also invoke] the White Tara who forms the gateway through which humanity can walk the Way of the Heart, at which end stands the Lord Maitreya, to receive, to welcome every soul who comes to know Him as the Christ, the Buddha.’5 By opening to the Love Maitreya and White Tara have for humanity, goodness and right human relations can be stimulated in the hearts of all. We begin by singing, and then music will follow which allows us flow into a quiet meditation on the heart of humanity opening to these beautiful beings. Feel free to repeat the mantra, 'I open to the Way of the Heart', as you sit with the music for as long as you would like to. To listen, click on the white arrow in the audio bar below.
Feel free to sit quietly for some moments.
7. Prayer to the Light of Earth Everyone: Lord Maitreya, Thou Rising Light of Earth, White Tara, Thou Spreading Light of Earth, Son and Daughter of Logos Thou art. Heart within Heart Thou art. We pray to You that Your Love for Humanity and Earth may see us through the impending crisis. Give us time to build Your society so that the Children of the Heart will have the knowledge of this society as the seed sown within their hearts, that they may, in lives to come, want to live for You and for all, the Way of the Heart. 8. Healing Meditation In this healing meditation, we will continue to work with the Way of the Heart. I will use some of Ananda’s words from her meditation on the Way of the Heart, written on 5 August, 1991. Let us move into the meditation. To listen, click on the white arrow in the audio bar below. 9.
Prayer of Gratitude Everyone: Thank You beloved God, Father-Mother, beloved Hierarchy and beloved Grace of God for the help given throughout this healing service. May the Light of Maitreya remain with us, and shine within the hearts of all. 10. The Great Invocation Everyone: From the point of Light within the Mind of God, There appears Maitreya as the Son of the Sun. Let His Light stream forth into the minds of men, Let His Light stream forth on Earth. Redeemer, Thou hast come. From the point of Love within the Heart of God, There comes Maitreya, the Lord of Love. Let His Love stream forth into the hearts of men, Christ the Risen One is here on Earth. From the Centre where the Will of God is known, Let the Avatar of Synthesis guide the wills of men. Maitreya, Your Purpose is clear. Avatar of Synthesis, make Yourself known. We serve You, Masters of the Light. From the Centre which we call the race of men, Let the Plan of Love and Light work out, And may it seal the door where evil dwells. Let Maitreya restore the Plan on Earth. Let His Light, Love, and Power be with you. The Great Invocation as given by the Christ to the Lord D.K. has been rewritten by the Christ through Ananda Tara Shan, making it more in keeping with the times. 11. Completion Let us complete this Asala Festival by celebrating the Way of the Heart, with all the challenges and rewards it gives to us, knowing that some of the goals are love, joy, and right human relations. Let this song remind us of our own heartbeat and how it can have a connection to that great Heartbeat of Maitreya. It is a jolly song - feel free to dance as you sing along. To listen, click in the white arrow in the audio bar below.
*Ananda Tara Shan (1946-2002) Mother Founder of Heart Flow Worldwide and The Theosophical Fellowship
**The Lord Maitreya has been the Bodhisattva - the Christ of Earth - since the Lord Gautama became the Buddha 2500 years ago. ***The Noble Eightfold Path - teachings of Gautama Buddha explained by Ananda Tara Shan References 1. Ananda Tara Shan, Asala Festival, Theosophical Fellowship, 26 May 2002 - unpublished 2. Ananda Tara Shan, Right Human Relations, November 2000, <https://www.maitreyatheosophy.org/right-human-relations.html, accessed on 35/5/2023 3. Ananda Tara Shan, Soul Consciousness, December 1988, < https://www.maitreyatheosophy.org/soul-conciousness>, accessed 31/5/2023 4. Ananda Tara Shan, God the Mother, November 1992, <https://www.maitreyatheosophy.org/god-the-mother.html>, accessed 31/5/2023 5. Ananda Tara Shan, Heart Healing Service, The Theosophical Fellowship, 23 February 1992 - unpublished 7. Ibid Recordings - Attunement to the Heart, tp253a, 26-32 Music and songs – used with the kind permission of the artists: - Maitreya Buddha - lyrics Bernhard Wein- Music Love of Maitreya - Maitreya Heart of All lyrics-Ananda Tara Shan Music by the group 'Love of Maitreya' -Music behind the Healing Meditation- Meditations 2 CD, T1, and Buddha Light CD, Track 2 by Sage - Angels Calling CD, T5 'Heartbeat of Maitreya' by White Lotus. Image by Melissa Antonsen |