Click to Enlarge Dr. Emoto at Lake Como

Water Revealed
by Sheila M. Duddy KTC, June 7th, 2004

Ten years ago Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese doctor of alternative medicine, had an interesting hypothesis. Working on the premise that "natural laws are everywhere the same in the world as in living beings", Dr. Emoto wondered the following: "If pure water transforms into a pure(beautiful)crystal, will polluted water transform into an impure (ugly) crystal?" He also thought about the impact between thought and beauty. No one before him took the time, gathered the specialized equipment or moved these questions into the scientific realm as skillfully as Dr. Emoto. He experimented with the idea that words, music, prayers, and intentions do matter and could affect physical matter. Dr. Emoto and his staff proceeded to actually photograph crystals from frozen samples of water and captured the answer to his questions. Finally a way was created for everyone to look directly at the long awaited bridge between science and spirituality. To see how this was done go to the following link, hado.net and then select Water Crystals from the left side buttons, then How the crystallization is photographed , and Order of Water Crystal Experiment.
Start here: www.hado.net

Dr Emoto came to Minneapolis the first week of May. On Tuesday, May 4th, 2004 Lama-la and some members of KTC were fortunate enough to spend an evening at the Wayzata Community Church attending a talk and slide show given by him, and then to participate with him in a blessing ceremony the follow morning at Lake Como in St Paul. Synchronistically, all this talk of water happened in the 4th rainiest May to hit Minnesota in the last 114 years! We might consider, is that mere coincidence?

The intention of this article is to provide you with a summary of Dr. Emoto's theories and how they relate to our daily Buddhist practices; and provide you with a way to look at examples of Dr Emotos crystals.

What's New!

Cosmic Questions
As in all things we must begin at the beginning. The questions we should be asking ourselves and each other are profoundly interconnected between our daily life and the world we live in moment to moment. First, how did we, as a global community, arrive at so many complex and serious problems over the course of a century? We have wars raging in every part of the globe, terrorism emerging as a threat to all people, vast environmental changes that result in suffering for untold numbers of sentient beings. We have new chronic lifestyle diseases and infectious diseases that penetrate borders without discrimination. What we don't have is enough leaders with the requisite wisdom and insight around our globe. Second, why do we fail to recognize the terror of the situation? Why do we fail to initiate appropriate countermeasures?

From a Buddhist standpoint all of the situation we're in is samsara and we are currently working out our karma (action,cause,result). Karma cause and effect is the third of the four thoughts which turn the mind to a spiritual path. The other three thoughts are: 1.The human body so difficult to obtain, 2. Impermanence 4. The defects of samsara.

Here are other cosmic questions. Will the suffering of this samsaric world awaken us from our deep sleep of mindlessness and help us turn to the awake, mindful path of wisdom and compassion in order to help others? Will the visualized manifestation of our blessings, chanting, intentions, and compassion, which we can see concretely in the form of a water crystal, increase our aspiration to Buddhahood? Dr. Emoto gives us concrete proof that we can see with our own eyes, of the incredible effectiveness of our Buddhist practices. Why and how should we examine science in context of our practice?

The Nature of Vibration
Dr.Emoto is one of a growing number of scientists standing up for changing our direction from a path of destruction to a path of peace. He suggests that we go back to a starting point called "Energy". He reduces energy to the level of the indivisible atom because, he says, "All energy is vibration and everything is made of vibrating atoms. This, vibration, is the foundation of all living things." Flowers bloom because of energy. We inhale, exhale, and circulate blood because of energy. Energy is life and life is energy. When we look at the nature of vibrations in the universe we see order not chaos. The megacosm consists of waves of motion. In fact, there exists nothing other than vibration! Just look at todays awesome photographs of outer space to see the solar system of organized bodies and predictable movement. Looking back through time we see harmony, patterns, and uniformity of cosmic structures, elliptical galaxies, globular clusters, and the barred spiral galaxies. Patterns that elicit expressions of magnificant beauty similiar to Dr. Emotos frozen water crystals.

Order can also be found in music and the principles of music. Vibrations are the song of the universe, whether we can hear it or not. Sound is an organized vibration, set in orderly principles of structure and behavior. The same principles of vibration that governs music also govern all vibration throughout our universe.

At KTC Monestary we are surrounded by vibration. In Tibetan art we can look at the superb orderly images of the Buddhist cosmology in the form of mandalas. We also see the vibrations issuing forth from the thankas or paintings of the enlightened Buddha's and Bodhisattvas. Their compassionate energy pulsates and radiates in all ten directions. The artists who painted the thankas were following a prescribed order and system to this expression. They were naturally aware of the visualized experience of meditation and the expressed intention of wisdom and compassion. In the shrine room we also have singing bowls. Their vibrations set a tone to wake up for meditation. Our minds begin to respond to the bowls vibration which we feel on all levels of our consciousness. As we begin to chant we change the energy in the room and in ourselves. We transcend the ordinary and enter into our meditation.

Vibrations proceed in all kinds, aspects and densities of the matter which constitutes the universe and earth, from the finest particle to the coarsest. Nothing can stay in the same place or remain what it was in this vibrating cosmos. Everything moves, is going somewhere, and is changing. Inevitably all vibrations either resonate or decay. This idea of impermanent nature is not new to Buddhism. Buddha said on his deathbed over 2500 ago: "Decay is inherent in all component things. Work out your salvation with diligence". Buddhism teaches about the impermanent nature of everything.

In Buddhism there are two truths, absolute and relative. The Absolute truth is the fully enlightened mind and the wisdom to know that all things are pure appearance and totally absent of independent existence and self-identity. Apart from mind, nothing exists, not even the most infinitesimal particle. Relatively, just for a frozen moment, we see the beauty of a pure water crystal manifest as a result of a song or a blessing.

Some might ask how the external world of sound, form, and so on appear to be real? (Especially since the focus of this article is on the appearance of water crystals from water exposed to sound, form, blessings, etc.) In the realm of absolute truth we can attempt to answer that the mind being unaware of its true nature has perceived the duality of self and others from beginning less time. Clinging to these, the mind builds up a sediment of impressions and this causes external phenomena to appear as real to the deluded mind. Hopefully that will keep you dazed for awhile, while you move on to look relatively at the books and web sites that exhibit the water crystals influenced by words, music, thoughts and sadhanas. As Dr Emoto says, our consciousness definitely influences water, especially when groups of us concentrate it with the same intention, it has tremendous power. Click on the following link and see pictures of Dr Emoto's crystals and more. www.thank-water.net/english/index.html

It is easy to understand, as one becomes more aware of Dr. Emoto's scientific work, how one naturally begins to become mindful of his or her vibrations and the possible patterns that we are creating. One also begins to recognize the collective vibrations of our present day world and people. All of these vibrations intimately affect all of us and the earths environment. Dr. Emoto's work is an inspiration to a focused awareness of the messages in water that can, through our efforts in time, be beneficial to all beings. Our daily meditation practice should help us become mindful of the world we live in. Through a serious inquiry into how our mind works we take notice of what thoughts arise and disperse. Our practice influences ourselves and the world around us. As we make greater effort and become more skillful in our meditation practice we notice changes in our being. Once we begin to tame and train our minds we are in a fluid state of existence learning to abandon the negative aspects and to cultivate the positive.

She's Got the Fever
The 6.3 billion men, women and children now inhabiting the earth necessitate her to vibrate at an absurdly rapid rate. Dr. Emoto reminds us that the faster a vibration is the higher the temperature will rise. We need only to glance at today's news to affirm the global climate changes that are dramatically impacting the people of our world. The north and south poles are changing at a rate that is quite concerning to the scientists who study these areas. Extreme variations on weather patterns across the globe have caused massive death and destruction. These climate changes which are intimately linked to carbon emissions require serious consideration of alternative forms of energy. When we think in terms of vibration and population we see an incredibly sharp ascent from 180 million people before the first century, to 1.5 billion in 1900, to 2.5 billion in 1950, to the 6.3 billion today. Earth is depleting her energy level to accommodate this fantastically swift growth of population. According to Dr. Emoto the result of this energy depletion is a rise in the temperature of the earth. In medical terms, the earth has a fever that is a sign of illness. It is similar to you or I getting sick after a prolonged, exhaustive state of taking care of several billion children. Today we must consider eliminating forms of energy that elevate earths temperature. Dr. Emoto states that "If we don't change how we impact earth and each other we will continue to suffer immensely." This begs the question "What other element beside fire/heat can we use to heal the earth?" "Water!"

Interconnected Bodies
Dr. Emoto suggests that we look at ourselves as Earth. Imagine, Earth is your body, the solar system is your organs, stars are cells, galaxies are molecules, and that clusters of galaxies are your atoms. Think of your body is a "little universe". "If we can understand the secret of our body", remarks Dr. Emoto, "we can understand the secret of the universe."

Each part of our body vibrates differently. When we have an injury there is a strong counter force that disrupts the integrity of our body. Humans are fragile and very vulnerable to all manner of injury and disease. The integrity of the skin is disrupted and we acquire an infection. We fall down and a bone breaks. It is painful because of the energy of the irregular vibrations invading us at an alarming rate. Think about the range of normal temperature in which a human can survive. It is a relatively narrow, merely a few degrees! Do we really know what the normal range of temperature is in which the earth can survive? Do we want to find out by experiential method in our lifetime, our children's or grandchildren's ? This current trend of abnormal rates of rapid vibration and high temperatures on earth demand an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment in order to restore the integrity of a harmonious balance and normal vibration. Earths health is a pursuit of optimal well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

How do we turn the tide? Dr. Emoto suggests that we put our hands together in daily prayers for peace. By bringing the hands together in the center of our being we create positive
energy. We say "I Thank You water, I Respect you water, I Love you water." That is what the waters revealed to him over the last 10 years of research.

The Vibration of Healing Prayer
The power of healing prayer is beautifully manifested in water crystals and can be seen in Dr. Emoto's experiments. The purer the heart held consciousness, the higher the frequency of vibration, and the more beautiful the crystal. Nothing at this elementary level is polluted. It is as pure as the vast sky without clouds, as pure as gold without contaminants, as pure as our Buddha nature without obscurations. "All phenomena are pure and each thing that makes up the ocean of existence is pure and so am I". We should visualize our healing intentions at the elementary level where they are always pure. When we wake up each morning we can bring our hands together in front of our heart in a mudra. Standing straight up with this posture our body is symmetrical and brings in positive energy. According to Dr. Emoto's extensive research and supported by observation of others, the most beautiful crystals are manifested when exposed to the words "Love and Thanks". Love is the root of all creation and is the root of our energy and nature. It is through love and gratitude that we can increase our immunity for the benefit our health and well-being. Having seen the crystallized expression of "Love and Gratitude" we can expand its manifestation in the world and in ourselves. Clearly, we are on the brink of change. Our world needs to strengthen her immunity from the hatred, ignorance, and greed (aversion, ignorance, and attachment) that humans are using to destroy the environment and each other. One of the ways to disperse these poisons is through our love and gratitude for others and the earth. With our two wings of wisdom and compassion we can help this work in a balanced and harmonious way.

The morning of May 5th a group of diverse men, women and children stood before the waters of Lake Como, in St. Paul Minnesota, and participated in a ceremony of healing for the lake. Immediately after the ceremony it began to rain and it didn't stop for the rest of the month of May. In Buddhism we are always creating vibrations, or in other words "turning the wheel of dharma." Our practices include, but are not limited to, silent meditations called Shamata and Mahamudra, chanting, hanging prayer flags, performing prostration's, lighting butter lamps and making other offerings, circumambulating, spinning prayer wheels, reciting Sanskrit mantras counted on sacred malas, Tong len or sending and receiving meditation mounted on our breath, Sadhana practice... As we do our practice and dedicate the merit of this activity we bless our environment and benefactors, increase our wisdom and compassion, touch and become non separate from all sentient beings, and strengthen our aspiration to continue this journey to enlightenment.

The prayer wheel, for example, embodies all the actions of the Buddha's and Bodhisattvas. Within its protective cylinder can be millions, even billions, of prayers printed on very thin paper wound around a spindle. The wheels are always spun clockwise (as viewed from above) so that the syllables of the mantra rotate in reading order, follow the direction of the sun, and matches the clockwise circumambulation of stupas. Therein lies an innate order of healing prayer. It is neither random nor chaotic. By spinning a prayer wheel we purify negative karma and obscurations. A prayer wheel containing 100 million repetitions of "Om Mani Padme Hung" is said to accumulate the same merit as having recited 100 million "Om Mani Padme Hungs". A water prayer wheel blesses the water that it touches. When that water enters a stream, river, lake, or ocean it carries the blessing and power to purify all the infinite creatures living in that water. A drop of prayer water can permeate the ocean. This same principle applies to wheels turned by fire, wind, or earth. Any sentient being touched by these elements that were touched by healing prayers will be blessed. These methods and intentions have been in place for thousands of years in Tibet and other Buddhist countries. Prayer Flags are another simple method that works with the natural energy of the element wind. Prayer flags quietly harmonize the environment and impartially send blessings to all beings. The prayers, mantras and symbols displayed on the flags produce a spiritual vibration carried by the wind. Now with Dr. Emotos photographs our eyes can see what the heart has known all along.

Conclusion
Science is a system of inquiry based on two propositions. First, that nature is ultimately rational and predictable, and second that theories about how nature works are to be judged, not by the eloquence or personal authority of the person who articulates them, but by whether their predictions are verified experimentally. The spiritual beauty of Dr. Emoto's work is the recognition that in a captured, crystallized molecule of water is the proof that thoughts and feelings do affect physical reality. The scientific fact of being able to reproduce his experiments and arrive and the same conclusion is the icing on the cake.

In Buddhist teachings we are reminded of the need to be aware that what we perceive and what we experience are not inherently true. Remember, the way things look and the way things are can be quite different. We are encouraged by Buddha "to rely not on the teacher/person but on the teaching, the spirit of the words and on the experience. After observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." Therefore, it is up to us to follow the dictate of Gandhi and "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Speak kind and compassionate words. Be generous with your loving kindness. Make an effort to overcome the obstacles that cause you to feel you are separate. Live out of a wholeness grounded in equanimity. Renew your motivation to relieve suffering each morning when you wake up. Dedicate your practice to benefit all beings. Generate joy and give joy to everyone. Tame your mind, and train your mind to be positive and happy. And from now on pay attention to the messages in the water.

Books by Dr. Emoto can be found at: AquaEssence ReSource.. %E.T.C., 12002 County Rd. 11, Burnsville, MN 55337, Phone: 952-890-3141, FAX: 952-890-3207

Comments and Impressions
Share your thoughts on "Water Revealed" and Dr. Emoto's blessing ceremony at Lake Como.
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Thought
In my head, the irreverent part of me was singing The Beach Boys: "Good, good, goooood, good vibrations" for the whole presentation. Fortunately, I didn't have a watch so I had no idea how long it was,until it was all over. I had a couple of insights. I was impressed with how "in tune" this information is with the sadhana we are creating. When he talked about resonance and how humans have this unique capacity to send out compassionate energy in waves of sound it made me think of the Buddhist belief in this "precious human existence". Sound to me, however, is not the sole equivalent to energy. Consciousness is also silence, and light, and space.

Marva

© 2004 KTC Minneapolis