“I had felt for some time that I had no direction or clarity and my troubled and unsettled mind directed what I should do and feel. The first sphere course reset my mind and re-booted my soul. I learned a technique which was beautiful in its simplicity; it could be applied Now with eyes closed and, get this, eyes open too.
The Ishaya teachers have found a simple truth and are very experienced, Arjuna in particular, in communicating this to others. Their favourite sayings are ‘play with it’, ‘keep it simple’ and ‘you can’t do it wrong’. If you take this at face value, you can’t go wrong. In many disciplines, there is so much formality and structure which create barriers to the Mind.
So some years down the line, how have I changed as a result of my practice? I do feel calmer and more centred. I feel I can cope more easily with life’s ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’. I have my bad moments but I feel more in control of my life than ever before.
Arjuna is a great teacher of the Ascension techniques, I think because he is part of real life. He practises his beliefs in a modern world and is able to communicate the value of the Ascension Attitudes in that context. Or maybe it’s just because he has a real knack for communication!
Often times when I have the privilege of being in the same room and hearing him speak, my mind clicks into place and says to me ‘oh yeah, that feels absolutely right!’. A greater compliment I cannot find.”
“I was worried that on my course I would feel like I didn’t ‘fit in’ at all. For a long time I’d never imagined people like myself would be into meditation.
I was (pleasantly) surprised by the cross-section of society represented within the group. People from very different walks of life. I immediately felt very comfortable among people ‘just like myself’!
I like the fact that Ascension techniques are straightforward & simple to apply. You can’t really ‘do it wrong’.
I think that I’m already much less judgmental … (despite being a relative newbie..)
I’m generally much calmer. I used to seek ‘validation’ in my life. Ascension has helped remind me of ‘who I am’… I’m certainly checking my phone a lot less!
I’ve enjoyed interacting with other people: My attitude towards my family, friends & colleagues is much more accepting & respectful … and loving.
I now feel part of a very wide network. There’s the opportunity to attend a group or resit the course anywhere in the country, as well as seeking help from an Ishaya whenever it’s needed. At the same time there’s no pressure to be involved as such … it’s just all there if you need it.
I was sceptical for a long while, but loved the course. The weekend is very relaxing, but also good fun. There was a lot of laughter! Certainly nothing to be nervous about … and it works.
Arjuna has a gentle, calm approach. He eloquently illustrates each point with interesting anecdotes or stories, making everything seem very clear & simple. He’s very respectful & caring, as well as very wise!”
“Before learning Ascension I was nervous that I’d feel uncomfortable and would want to leave, or be singled out as different or even a freak. And concerned that I might be wasting my money.
But I was surprised how natural and familiar it was to me. My head was saying no ( perhaps because of negative past experiences of people who thought of them selves as ‘spiritual’) and my heart was screaming YES YES YES! The content of the weekend course even made sense to my mind and the experience appealed to my deepest nature.
I learned that life doesn’t need to be difficult, there’s another way. The technique has given me inner peace and access to my intuitive knowing. It’s provided me with a road map for my life.
Ascension is a path of joy. The result of Ascension is living in the present moment, the only place joy can be experienced. What I like about it is its ease, simplicity, and that it works.
It has also given me a community that’s primary purpose is to facilitate and support the fulfilment of my heart’s greatest desire. A life, not without its challenges, and yet lived with purpose, intentionally, in love and joy. And peace of mind.
I would tell anyone who is skeptical that Ascension is the way to go beyond the chatter of the mind to experience what’s truly real, not imaginary. It’s worth everything to find out for yourself. Ask yourself this question: “What would be the cost, if I ignore this invitation and it REALLY is what I’ve been waiting for?”
There are few people I would recommend as highly as Arjuna. From the beginning I immediately felt at ease with him. He’s at ease within himself and in that can share from a place beyond judgement, with total acceptance of what is. In his presence I feel everything is not only OK, but golden. He and those like him inspire me to greater heights of experience, that which allows my true Self to come out and play.”
“Honestly, the thing that most concerned me most about Ascension was what was in my head. There were lots of judgements and self-critical thoughts, and I didn’t really want to see them or deal with them. I knew I needed the course.
It surprised me that it was instant. As soon as I began to use the techniques, it was like something opened up in me. There was something I’d been looking for all my life, and I knew I’d found it.
It’s hard to put into words. I’ve been Ascending for a long time now, but when I first learned what I most noticed was that sense of opening up or coming home, of having found what I was looking for. And I mean what my heart was looking for. My mind thought I was trying to get rid of stress and bad memories, but Ascension was never about what I could have less of, it was always about what I could have more of. Truth, joy, peace – call it what you will.
What I liked most of all was the peace. If I was really using the Ascension techniques, the past no longer existed. Everything – and I mean everything – became a big, still, clear space.
I’ve gotten more peace. More laughter. More joy. Relationships that are more real, more honest, more open. The ability to be fully present with my partner and kids, which was something I’d craved but didn’t know how to do – I’d spent a long time in my head. A more creative, authentic life.
Arjuna is awesome. He’s so clear and light. He’s still. His presence brings peace to people, and a sense that everything will be all right, even if he don’t do or say a thing. He’s funny. He’s totally committed to your path. He’s an inspiration.”
“I went with a trusted friend who was keen to repeat her Ascension meditation course. So I was more open and curious than anxious at all.
I was amazed how quickly my mind went still! I’d dabbled in a couple of other meditation techniques, neither of which resonated with me. Ascension, in contrast, “clicked” almost instantly. It’s so simple—and effective!
The best specific benefit has been the experience, whenever I want it, of a still mind. What a gift this has been! I also like how easy it is to fit into a busy work life, and I love being part of a global community whose lives are motivated by praise, gratitude, love and compassion.
I love having a spiritual life that I feel 100% comfortable with. Previous involvement in spirituality had always left me feeling embarrassed in some way or other.
I think it’s understandable to be skeptical—most people feel just like that the first time.
But if you don’t try, you’ll never know.
Arjuna is a very special guy. He listens without judging, he’s very good at getting to the heart of the matter (if you’re feeling a bit confused, for example), he’s very compassionate, and he’ll make you smile.”
“I was surprised by its combination of simplicity and complexity. It is so simple to do and to fit in my life but the background behind it pleased the scientist in me.
Since learning my anxiety levels have dropped over the last year even though I took on a stressful job. Anytime my head is feeling busy or experiencing difficult situations, the techniques come easily and alleviate any problems I am experiencing.
I love how you can do it with your eyes open. I use it when I am driving, walking or even when someone is offloading their own stress on me verbally! I find it really grounding.
The other things I love about Ascension is meeting lovely people and knowing that there is a whole community of people who feel the same as me. I now prioritise meditation more highly which is a real benefit. A real feeling that my meditation is meaningful and life giving.
I would definitely recommend it to a friend as I feel it can work for anyone from any background, with any beliefs. It is easy to learn whether you have any previous meditation experience or not.”
“I’m a singer, and my idea was that Ascension would help me perform better on stage. One more tool. My expectations were pretty low. And then I showed up there and it changed my life. Ha!
I was surprised. What I expected was a mental tool that might give me 40% of what I wanted. I didn’t expect those easy techniques blowing my mind.
The first thing was that it was so easy, so easy. That really surprised me, and what the technique did. Ultimately they made me feel awesome. That wasn’t an unknown feeling to me, and that is one of the most beautiful things about Ascension. It doesn’t take me to an unknown secret, mystical place, it takes me to a place that I know very well. But before Ascension I didn’t have unlimited access to that space.
Before I learnt I had many things in my life that wasn’t very good. Struggling, new situations, struggling with anxiety and panic attacks that where controlling my life to a level where it almost got too much. In the beginning I didn’t believe Ascension could deal with those huge problems but they did. It took three or so months but then I realised there hadn’t been any anxiety attacks around.
After a while of doing Ascension I realised I was more happy than I had ever been before. I was happy for no reason, every day is more fun than the day before and it has nothing to do with the content of the day. That’s incredible to me.
I always thought I was a melancholic guy, and I always hoped pain would decrease but I never ever thought joy would increase in my life, but that’s what happened. It’s joy to be able to laugh this much.
It changed my life. No – it hasn’t changed the content of my life, it’s changed my perspective on my life. I’m doing the same things in a different way. Ascension has given me the opportunity to live life in a way I never dreamed was possible.
What I also like is that I’ve met some incredible people. I didn’t think that there could be so many cool people in this country. I’ve gotten to know some beautiful, inspiring people.
I’ve been able to embrace my career in a different way. It’s always been stressful for me. The work, but the expectations as well. Ascension has let me approach those expectations in a new way, an easier way.
It has also changed my relationship with my family. it’s truly amazing. The way I interact with my family has really changed.
If all the people in the world could experience the things I’ve experienced, the world would be an amazing place. Ascension is truly about your own experience. It’s not about believing anything, I don’t even need to believe that the tools will work, yet they do.
Arjuna makes this so simple, so simple. And his teaching is down to earth, it’s about the experience, it’s about relationships, it’s about work, it’s about human things, all the things where we spend most of our time.
It’s so easy to relax around him. I feel very safe and looked after around Arjuna. I couldn’t have gotten a better teacher than him and I’m very grateful for that. He’s a very cool guy.”
