Ascension: The Ishaya's Teachings

Kalyani teaches a series of techniques known as Ascension. The Ascension techniques are a systematic mechanical means to take the mind into silence that require no belief.

When I hear the word Ascension, I think of something weird. What do you mean by Ascension?

Kalyani: Many people hear the word Ascension and think of the resurrection of Christ.  This is not the way I mean it. One could say Ascension is an elevation in consciousness well as being the specific techniques we teach. It is a way of increasing our vibratory frequency.

What is an Ishaya?

Kalyani: The Ishayas are structured in consciousness. My Teacher set up the guidelines for monks of this order. Ishaya literally means for higher Consciousness. This is a teaching from the Adviata Vedanta philosophy, which is a teaching of Unity.

So is this associated with any religion?

Kalyani: There are no ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’. Ascension is based on your own experience. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; it is an experience that can be experienced right here and now. There is nothing one has to do to deserve the experience. The series of techniques known as Ascension involve no belief whatsoever to practice, nor does it involve specific morals or behaviors defined by someone outside of you.

What do these techniques do?

Kalyani: Ascension stills the chatter in the mind and allows one to experience the underlying peace and coherence inside. It becomes easy to rewrite old beliefs and habits, based on a new experience of life. Behavior changes based on a new experience of life, not by following a bunch of do’s and don’ts. It is difficult to change our behavior from the outside. By changing the experience on the inside, the old programs and mental garbage begins to naturally fall away and dissolve.

We all have a lot of mental garbage and by introducing a new experience of stillness it can fall away?

Kalyani: Correct. When the mind is not noisy, it is easier to be more in the present moment and direct life from the stillness instead of the chatter. From that stillness inside we can pick up new beliefs and internal programs of our own choosing and drop those which are damaging and no longer serve us.

Are these techniques a kind of prayer or meditation?

Kalyani: Yes. I do not call it either because people have so many different ideas associated with those words.

Kalyani: The techniques are called Ascension Attitudes. They are basic truths that cause one to rise beyond their old style of functioning and experience something new. This name was chosen to avoid the potential confusion of the words ‘meditation’ or ‘prayer’. Ascension is practiced with the eyes closed, but not always. One of the wonderful facts about these techniques is that they can be practiced with the eyes open or closed. You don’t have to rearrange your life totally in order to ascend. You don’t have to dedicate your whole life to it. They are powerful enough that even a brief introduction of an Ascension Attitude in the midst of activity has miraculous results.

Kalyani: When one feels stressed out confronted, fearful or even happy one simply introduces an Ascension Attitude and clarity comes into awareness. The Clarity is already there but often it can not seen because one is stressed. The natural state of innocence we all have on the inside is clouded by stress. All action can be right and evolutionary when it is done from that place of clarity inside. Ascension opens one to that tremendous beauty and truth lying just beneath the surface of the mind.

I maintain that if you remove all the stress and beliefs adopted from our society, from our families, from all the pain of our past experiences, what is left is a perfect reflection of which you really are.

Kalyani: Without Ascension, I would say it could be quite difficult. However Ascension is extraordinarily simply and the most easy, effective and effortless thing in the world to do.

Kalyani: Each is based on the natural tendency of the mind to experience more joy. Ascension is built into the very fabric of Creation. All of nature leads naturally to Ascension. These techniques simply open up to the shortest path to reconnect with that river of ascending energy.

What is the Structure of the Ascension Attitudes?

Kalyani: There are Seven Spheres of techniques. Each Sphere consists of four techniques. The First Sphere is usually taught in a weekend course format. It is a personalized individual program of self-development. Some people move quickly through the Spheres, some slower. The seven Spheres are the "Seven Thunders" John referred to in his Apocalypse, the Seven Thunders he was told to seal up and not reveal to the world at that time. Each sphere is more powerful and subtle than the one before and yet even the first technique of the First Sphere is powerful enough to transform a life. When they are all working together, the spheres build on each other, creating a wondrous magical pathway into the light. It is a magnificent teaching.

Kalyani: It is my belief that these are the true teachings of Christ, and even Christ had teachers. The history, as told to me, is that after John wrote his Revelation on the isle of Patmos in the Aegean, he returned to Epheseus in Asia Minor, where he had laid Mary to rest some 50 years earlier. Then he dropped off his book with a few disciples, telling them to distribute it to the early churches in Asia. Then he gathered up a few close followers and traveled eastward, following, some say, the same route that John the Baptist and Christ took before they taught in Galilee. John traveled to the Himalayas and established a secret monastery. He taught his closest followers the 27 techniques of Ascension and charged these monks with the responsibility of keeping this teaching pure and secret from the world until the end of the second millennia.

You are saying that for almost 1900 years these monks kept this secret teaching alive?

Kalyani: The Ishaya monks have preserved this teaching for almost 2000 years for this very moment in time. Christianity of the first century bears almost no resemblance to the Christianity of the world today. People of all religions can learn this teaching and have it not interfere with their current religious practices. The desire to give Ascension a chance and suspend your disbelief is all that is required.

Kalyani: I learned from the first American to meet the Ishayas. About nine years ago, I was trained as a teacher of Ascension, six months after meeting my Teacher, Maharishi Sadashiva Isham (MSI). I attended the first teacher-training program in the United States along with four other people and five subsequent teacher-training programs. In order to become a teacher of these techniques one must just ascend for an extended period of time, which helps the teacher facilitate others in using the techniques correctly. I have spent over a year and a half just ascending in order to become a teacher and facilitator of Ascension.

Kalyani: He was a wonderful, peaceful, non-violent, clear man who totally lived for others. He emitted pure unconditional love through his actions. He was the most conscious person I have ever known. The moment I met him I knew I wanted what he had. Now that he is no longer physically with us, I conduct Teacher Training programs to train teachers of Ascension.

Kalyani: There is nothing that stirs my soul more then seeing people change right before my eyes. I have devoted my life to helping others. If I could find a better teaching or method I would be teaching it. It has completely transformed my life. The need in society is great for Teachers. To heal our planet we must begin by healing ourselves. Ascension is the means to bring about this transformation in consciousness.