ALOHA Sādhana

Meditate and connect with the vast unified field of ALOHA.

Recite the Proclamation of ALOHA:

May ALOHA’s presence dawn
May the confidence of ALOHA be eternal
May ALOHA be all victorious
May ALOHA bring profound, brilliant, glory

Repeat 3 times:

In the sky without beginning or end,
The brilliance of ALOHA shines peacefully, illuminating the world.
In this I take the vow of living ALOHA.

Repeat 3 times:

With the warrior’s cry of fearlessness,
I courageously dedicate my life to the welfare of others.
May the vast multitude of beings who suffer in this dark age be liberated
into a perfect state of goodness.
In this I take the warrior’s vow to awaken all beings.

Perform a warrior bow.

Suddenly in my heart center, the golden dot of ALOHA arises. It is golden like the sun, radiating brilliant light and emitting the warm heat of wisdom. KIKI SO SO

Today I celebrate this wondrous Truth, my inherent nature of ALOHA. The essence of all beings from beginningless time, this universal Truth has always existed. It transcends the notions of good and bad; therefore it is primordial. It is beyond time and space; therefore it is inconceivable. It surpasses thought and nonthought; therefore it is remarkable. This is the golden transmission of all beingness. It is the great cosmic secret transmitted confidently by countless realized ones – the flowers of human beauty – and proclaimed in the modern era by Aunty Pilahi Pakī, Aunty Nana Veary, and Aunty Morrnah Simeona. This rare human gift is at our fingertips day or night, whether we are walking, sleeping, or talking. It constantly pulsates within our being, ever transmitting wakefulness that has never known doubt or fear.

When beings recognize the inherent brilliance of ALOHA and develop doubtless confidence in this fundamental truth, the sky of possibilities opens up. When we delight in our own natural goodness, the river of human intelligence comes flooding in. When we touch our inherent strength, we receive the wealth and glory of the three worlds. When we relax into our genuineness, we discover universal love and kindness.

This brilliance of ALOHA is the source of all happiness. Recognizing this Truth even for a moment reveals inconceivable wisdom. Even briefly touching this majestic human dignity relieves us from the torment of continual thinking and concept. Taking our seat in this palace of wisdom frees us from the torturous mind of pride and jealousy. Even considering this ancestral gift purifies all-consuming desire. Embracing this victory banner of virtue relieves us from bitterness and resentment. Thus we are freed from our self-centered ignorance, which allows us to bask in the sun rays of authentic manifestation.

Sit with good posture and reflect on the golden sun of ALOHA in your heart center. Contemplate that it is the fundamental wakefulness of all beings – the essence of who we are. Feel your beingness.

The Vow of Confidence

Ring the gong, and consider its sound as proclaiming our confidence in ALOHA. Then read slowly:

Now I confidently proclaim the brilliance of ALOHA.
This sweet treasure-trove of humanity is radiant like the sun,
Illuminating the dark age and allowing all beings to see the true nature of reality.
It is open like the sky, accommodating all possibilities.
It is majestic like a mountain, immovable in its conviction.
It is like misty falling rain, awake and cheerful.
It is like a cool valley stream, intelligent and energetic.
It is like a vast open view, inviting and relaxing.
It is like a lush forest, natural and rejuvenating.
It is like a great breeze, refreshing and alive.
It is like a tiger shark, aware and powerful.
It is like a monk seal, delightful and playful.
It is like the hawk flying high in the sky, knowing no bounds.
It is like a giant dragon, mystical and wise.
This sun’s brilliance is self-existing, and its glory overwhelms all.
Its inconceivable miracle has not been stolen by time.
Therefore it is neither caught in the past nor carried off into the future.
Rather it is here now, in my very being.
With the blessings of all great warriors who courageously acknowledge this goodness,
I will – on this very day, in this very moment –
Recognize and proclaim this brilliant inner sun of ALOHA.
KIKI SO SO

With good posture, imagine your body not simply as ordinary, but as the body of awakenment. Open your body’s energy centers.

Slowly recite the following 3 times, with gong at the beginning of each repetition:

Now I awaken ALOHA in my heart.
I confidently arouse my innate qualities –
Goodness, wisdom, kindness, and strength –
Within the brilliant sun of ALOHA.

Ring the gong once and repeat 7 times:

I am essentially good.
I am essentially wise.
I am essentially kind.
I am essentially strong.

Now recite the following mantra:

I am essentially good.

Follow the chant leader in when to repeat the mantra aloud then recite to yourself.

While reciting this mantra, visualize a small sun disk in your heart center. In the middle, it is brilliant golden-yellow. As you become more confident in your proclamation, imagine the sun disk growing, extending both light and warmth, becoming more golden-white. The radiance fills your entire body, then radiates out, eventually illuminating the world. As the sun of ALOHA’s light and warmth increases, visualize that it is warming cold, frozen ground. As the earth thaws, rivers of goodness appear, and flowers of love and compassion sprout. Trees of strength and confidence grow. Feel the sun melting the hard ice of fear and doubt in your heart, dissolving and purifying embarrassment, resentment, anger, fixation, obsession, karma, habit, and discursiveness.

Feel the sun rays increase your inherent qualities: gentleness, friendliness, love, compassion, intelligence, discipline, cheerfulness, humor, and exertion. Experience the following traits becoming stronger: humility, contentment, consideration, steadiness, and steadfastness. Feel the sun waking up your sense faculties: you see better, hear better, feel better. Because you feel and trust your inherent goodness, you are less self-conscious. Your body feels relaxed and invigorated. Your mind feels less distracted and insular; it feels open and inquisitive. Now, with more balance and confidence, we can appreciate the world. We see its inherent sacredness, beauty, and vitality. Others’ negativity and life’s unpredictability neither threaten nor destabilize us. With ALOHA in our heart, we feel more complete as human beings, with strong character, love, and intelligence. We feel the warrior’s courageousness, confidently living in the challenge.

Having experienced my true nature as ALOHA, I rouse the wish for all beings to know ALOHA as themselves. When beings do not recognize themselves as ALOHA, they are trapped in doubt and fear. The world becomes solid. Issues become big. Problems seem insurmountable. Life’s flow becomes speedy and chaotic. The mind becomes sensitive and nervous. The body feels tired and aggravated. Every small pain or minor irritation becomes distracting. Our energy is low; our vitality appears to be waning day by day. Socially, we have difficulty getting along with others. We become territorial, and anger arises at anything and anybody. In this state, we mindlessly create negative karma instead of purifying it, perpetually putting into motion negative scenarios that eventually come back to haunt us. The scope of our life diminishes, and we aspire to do less and less. Or conversely, we panic and become overly ambitious.

Thus when ALOHA is not proclaimed, negative forces gain momentum, usurping our ability to lead a forward-moving, successful, and liberating life. We become self-obsessed, which traps us. Since the body becomes a haven for these negative intentions, sickness ensues. Physically, we are never comfortable, so we constantly have to move and change positions. Since we are mentally fearful, we surround ourselves only with comforting and non-threatening concepts. Because we cannot simply be, we constantly seek entertainment. Emotionally, we become tight and unapproachable. Even minor gestures of love and kindness are difficult.

In such a state, all humanity suffers. Our discontentment and aggression lead us to wage war on others, so we can consume their physical and emotional resources. This creates social imbalance. Lack of inherent strength makes us constantly seek comfort in material possessions. Thus life becomes a perpetual ritual of acquiring new things, going new places, finding new friends. We become dissatisfied and speedy. In this state, we abuse our environment; therefore the elements are thrown out of balance, and famine and other natural disasters occur.

At this point, the state of the world is painful. People are self-centered; animals are scared. The general good will of all is disappointed. Because it is impossible to solve every scenario, there is only one thing to do in this dark and confusing time – understand and remedy the source of this confusion. It all begins in the mind and heart. In a split-second decision, we either choose to acknowledge ourselves as ALOHA, or we cower from it in fear.

When we acknowledge ALOHA, we gain energy and strength, and thus we feel a bravery that allows us to engage in the world with positivity and inspiration. Discovering our fundamental goodness revitalizes mind and body, and we become less confused. Looking up to see life’s possibilities, we become joyful. We see our life as a journey of growth and enrichment. We become curious, and from our inquisitiveness, knowledge and wisdom grow. Art, science, and music flourish. Because discovering ALOHA allows us to touch reality, we see the suffering of others. Natural compassion and kindness abound – thus love is ever-present. With vision and the exertion of being awake, our life and the world seem full of possibilities; we meet challenges with intelligence and vigor.

The power of the golden sun of ALOHA allows us to face our problems with gentleness and strength. In this state, humanity has the integrity to be successful. When we cower from ALOHA, humanity becomes fatalistic, and the future takes on a depressing inevitability. It is therefore up to us warriors of ALOHA to relax, breathe, and genuinely look at our own mind and heart, seeing the golden sun of ALOHA. KIKI SO SO

The Wish for All Beings to Realign with ALOHA

The world is in constant turmoil because beings have not realigned with ALOHA. From this, the feeling of inadequacy arises. Thus beings torture each other, and ruin their environment. Now, as a warrior of ALOHA, I make the one-pointed, heartfelt, supreme aspiration that all beings may realign with ALOHA. Through my aspiration, may all beings be relieved from their suffering, and may the milk and honey of their innate goodness create abundant love, kindness, and harmony.

Now, the light rays from the golden sun of ALOHA in my heart extend beyond myself. I see this brilliance illuminating and touching all beings, purifying sickness of mind and body. With this brilliance, all beings realign with ALOHA.

Extending the golden sun rays of ALOHA, I now extend this light to cover our planet, restoring it to its natural harmony. I imagine this radiant light brings balance to all the elements and the environment.

Pause. Slowly recite the following 3 times, striking the gong at the beginning of each repetition:

Now I awaken ALOHA in my heart.
I confidently arouse the innate qualities –
Goodness, wisdom, kindness, and strength –
Within the brilliant sun of ALOHA of all beings.

Ring the gong once and repeat the verse 7 times:

All beings are essentially good.
All beings are essentially wise.
All beings are essentially kind.
All beings are essentially strong.

Now recite the following mantra:

All beings are essentially good.

While reciting the mantra, visualize that the sun in your heart center creates happiness, prosperity, and glory for all beings, and that it eliminates all pain and suffering. Visualize the light touching all beings you know, as well as those you do not know. If you are emotionally embroiled with another, and therefore have anger, resentment, or jealousy – or if you feel that others have behaved badly – contemplate that it is only because they have not touched into their essential nature, and therefore experience turmoil and act out. As a warrior of ALOHA, take a bigger and more expansive mind. Let your sun-rays forgive those who have wronged you. Feel sympathy for those who are tortured, compassion for those who are suffering, and finally, through the power of your intention, have them realize their true nature. Focus on emanating light out, mixing it with thoughts of others. If you become distracted, reestablish your own connection with ALOHA by refreshing your awareness of the golden sun of ALOHA in your heart. Then continue to extend that light to others.

Society

Now, with the brilliant rays of wisdom and the heat of kindness, I extend the golden sun of ALOHA to society. I see and experience the ALOHA nature of society itself. This invisible, underlying current within the innate structure of human interaction is enlightened society. At its core, society is the expressive power of ALOHA. It is this fundamental wakefulness and energy that has allowed humanity to succeed. This is what will allow humanity to succeed in the future.

Our inherent connection creates a tapestry of human relationship. Thus society is like a giant being whose heart beats with ever-present, all-seeing goodness. How this being feels about itself creates power and energy in human relationships. Thus, to create a strong society, self-reflection must occur. Although society may seem overwhelming and complicated, it is based on humanity’s attempt to contextualize its existence. This is a continual emotional and intellectual dance in which we all participate. Whether it is challenging or inspiring, society is trying to understand itself.

Society can be seen simply as a relationship between two people: the play between them is the synapse of societal self-cognition. When two people acknowledge each other, goodness is invigorated. This arouses dignity and respect. Natural virtue and ethics arise. Love and understanding are released. Thus society is strengthened. On the other hand, when two people fear each other and doubt their goodness, the environment is poisoned by suspicion and paranoia. Individual pain increases and society is weakened. War and other catastrophes occur. But even at the razor’s edge of unenlightened society, enlightened society always exists. The brilliant light of ALOHA is like photosynthesis: it can turn an unenlightened society into one that is good and healthy.

This interdependence of self and other is the heart of the human aspiration to always live in a good society. It is up to us – the brave, kind, intelligent, and good-hearted – not to give up on society. Society is where humanity is growing and learning about itself. We must love and encourage its magical display, knowing that our need for context and meaning completely depends upon it. When we know that, we will see every action and interaction as a ritual leading us on the path of understanding the human conundrum “Who am I?” This is the cosmic and daily ceremony in which we all engage. Thus we discover our societal heart, this brilliant light of ALOHA.

Praise

Now I will look at society as natural and free-flowing.
It is like the elements, interdependent and free.
It is like a celestial garden, magical and wholesome.
It is like a great river, strong and unstoppable.
It is like fire, brilliant and intense.
It is like wind, felt but unseen.
It is like the sky, accommodating and ungraspable.

Slowly recite the following verse 3 times. Ring the gong at the beginning of each repetition:

Now I awaken ALOHA in my heart.
I confidently arouse the innate qualities –
Goodness, wisdom, kindness, and strength –
Within the brilliant sun of ALOHA of society.

Ring the gong once and recite the verse 7 times.

Society is essentially good.
Society is essentially wise.
Society is essentially kind.
Society is essentially strong.

Now recite the following mantra:

Society is essentially good.

With the sun in your heart, extend your intention for society to awaken its heart and to manifest the principle of ALOHA.

Conclusion

While courageously rousing ALOHA, and wishing for all beings to discover that goodness, brilliant light rays from the radiant sun in my heart dissolve back into the center of the sun. The sun finally dissolves into complete openness, and ALOHA pervades my whole being. I am now a warrior of ALOHA in thought, speech, and action. I will continuously aspire to create a world of goodness and delight. KI KI SO SO

Rest.

Dedication

Bow to begin the dedication.

By this glorious goodness, may all beings be awake.
By this magical discovery, may all beings be confident.
By this proclamation, may all beings be victorious.

Aspiration

In Anjali:

May the ALOHA I have aligned with today continue to grow and grow. May its brilliant rays shine throughout my life. May this primordial truth, the inheritance of all humanity, be a brilliant torch to guide all beings. May the warm-heartedness I have discovered be a parasol to protect all beings. May the love that I have tasted be shared with the entire world. May the courageousness of this moment never be forgotten. May there be harmony between family, friends, and nations. May the earth be healed. May the elements be balanced. May humanity have peace. May enlightened society manifest on this earth. May all experience the golden sun of ALOHA.

Dedication of Merit

In anjali:

By this merit may all obtain omniscience. May it defeat the enemy: wrong-doing. From the stormy waves of birth, old-age, sickness and death, From the ocean of samsara may I free all beings.

In warrior posture:

By the confidence of the Golden Sun of the Great East, May the lotus garden of the Rigden’s wisdom bloom. May the dark ignorance of sentient beings be dispelled. May all beings enjoy profound brilliant glory.