IFA teachings – Page 2

Sango IV

This text is a continuing of the post from July 29 | Sango III.

Remember that the first Sango was the one that left the city of HEAVEN- ORUN AJANTE or AJULE ORUN (that is Yoruba name for heaven), with other great divinities, called IRUNMOLE. These great divinities include Obatala Oseremanigbo, Ifa Orunmila Bara me Agboniregun (HEEPA BABA IMOLE ), Ogun Alakaye Osin Imale (OGUN EREJA), ESU LALU (ESU LAROYE, ESU ODARA, ONILE ORITA OKUNRIN JOGOLO) AND SANGO AKOKO ( THE FIRST SANGO ) .

After the exit of these great Irunmole or Divinities, and most especially Sango in question, ascended to heaven through mysterious means, there had been many of the reincarnation of Sango (the first true Sango ). One of these reincarnation was called TELLA, in the city of Oyo (note, in the olden days, the city of Oyo was called Eyeo or Katunga ). Tella because of his similarity and aggressiveness and fear factor, he was named after the first Sango, IRUNMOLE ATELEJA (divinity with metaphysical forces). Till now, Tella was taken and still mistaken by many for the original Sango who came directly from heaven and His parental lineage is Olodumare, and that is the reason, the first Sango was called DIVINITY from the realm of divine (any being from the realm of divine is called IRUNMOLE ). Tella had earthly Mother and father, His mother came from the land of Nupe, and his father was one of the sons of Oduduwa, hence the later Sango whose original name was Tella is Orisa (a brave man turn to saint, that is, he became a saint after his demise). In Saint in Yoruba Pantheon is called ORISA.

Indeed, Sango and Tella had been taken to be one or the same, because of physical, emotional and spiritual similarities and attitude related to fear, intimidation and aggression. This is a faulty observation as the time that elapsed between divinity and Deity (the heavenly created and earthily glorification). Indeed, Tella’s family is known as Against Sango Irunmole whose parent can be traced to Olodumare as the original mensenger of Infinite merciful Creator. Tella who is later known as Sango Oba Koso, had his mother in the person of OMOTOYOSI, and His father in the person of Oranmiyan It was tella who was a king in the city of OYO or Eyeo ort Katunga who attempted hanging himself and his follower including his cohort advised him against his selfish attitude hence he was name

ARAMBABI EKUN OKO OYA (NOTICE- OKANRAN MEJI STATES, A KI LEGBE LAYE, KI A MAA MAA NI TORUN, MEANINGS, WE HAVE ASSOCIATION HERE AND HERE AFTER, THAT IS EARTHILY MATES. OR ASSOCIATION AND THE HEAVENLY MATES OR ASSOCIATION ARE CONNECTED AND PRESENT IN OUR LIVES), NOTE THE ASSOCIATION OF AYE AKAMARA IS HEAVENLY BOUND. WE ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER NOT BY HUMAN WISDOM BUT BY DIVINE MEANS, IT IS GREAT PROMISED THAT WE SHALL ALL LIVE TO SEE THE BLESSINGS OF OLODUMARE IN OUR LIVES ALWAYS. REMEMBER THAT WHATEVER YOU DO TO ONE MEMBER HERE ON EARTH, WILL BE RE-MEMBERED IN THE HEAVEN, THAT IS, THE HEAVENLY MATES WILL PICK UP THE VIBRATION TO BLESS OR CAUSE YOUR CLONE IN HEAVEN. TO REMEMBER YOUR GOOD ATTITUDE IN HEAVEN, YOUR ACTION HERE AND YOUR ATTITUDE MUST BE DIVINE AND GOOD. ALWAYS LOOK FOR WAY TO ADD VALUE TO OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES, MOST ESPECIALLY YOUR EARTHILY MATES OR THOSE ON THE LIST OF OUR PRAYER REQUEST .

SANGO, ARAMBABI, TELLA OKO OYA ORIRI – THE STORY

About a two and half centuries ago OR MORE, there reigned in the old town of oyo know as OYO ILE or KATUNGA, a king called Shango Oba Koso, who was very powerful and wise monarch. He was a great medicine man or witch-doctor and claimed to be able to kill people by ejecting fire from his mouth. His reign was tyrannical and cruel, brute and violent . He had two emissaries in the person of GBONKA and TIMI.

GBONKA complete name was GBONKA EBIRI OMO AJIBOGUN SORO, KUGUKUGU BOJU RORO POMOJE MEANS A GREAT GBONKA WITH POWERFUL CHARM AND MYSTERIOUS EYES THAT KILL WITHOUT MERCY ) WHILE TIMI FULL NAME, WAS ”TIMI AGBALE OLOFA INA, OKUNRIN BI OKUTA, JAGUNJAGUN ( TIMI, THE BRAVE MAN WITH GREAT ARC FLETCHER OR ARROW, MAN LIKE STONE, THE GREAT WARRIOR )

The two powerful men was under the control of SANGO ARAMBABI OLUKOSO AJALA IJI, but he ( SANGO ) knew that his end was imminent because of these two great warriors, he decided to eliminate the two by setting them up against one another. He failed to realize that ”OKo ta ba so mope, lope ma saa so maani, eni derun lerun ma to, elulu to fa ojo, ori ara re lo fa le, ohun ti a ba gbin la ma ka”, translated, to mean, whatever you plant you reap, it is written at the portal (door) of heaven, which is unchangeable law of divine realm). Hence every man must desist from evil, evil spread like ashes, likewise goodness spread like fire under the sun, always seek good, do good and establish good where your leg and your destiny take you to. The witch and the wizard are within, the mercy and goodness are within, you only fuel the one you like best and like most , like a small seed that transform into big tree or large shrub, your past attitude, action and habit are picked by the outside vibration and ether, and they were sent back to you in double or triple, hence, you accuse the world and the people living in the world as being cruel, brute and nasty. Examine yourself, most evils are the products of your ignorance, selfishness, greed, and non- chalantan attitude, whenever you want to set one man against another, remember the story of TELLA. Be careful of what you are doing and do it well.

Sango was jealous and set these two great men under him to fight against each other, hoping that both would die. Gbonka conquered Timi, and later Gbonka deposed king Sango. Sango fled in total shame. He was accompanied by his three wives; OYA , OSUN, AND OBA and some of his loyal followers or devotees. He became wanderer in the forest or bush, being gradually deserted by all, until only his favourite wife OYA remained with him. Then, in despair, Sango hung himself on an old tree called AYAN (AYAN TREE ). OYA fled north and became the presiding goddess of the river called ODO OYA or RIVER NIGER .

People who had seen the body of Sango hanging from a tree entered the town and reported OBA SO that the king hanged. The friends of Sango were so incensed that they determined to avenge their deceased monarch

To be continued.

God bless you all,

Olayinka Babatunde Ogunsina Adewuyi

Sango III

This text is a continuing of the post from July 27 | Sango II.

Sango is the god of Lightning, thunder and storms, He is known as Jakuta because of the attitude of throwing stone or fight with stone when he was not invited to choose a holy day for Himself and for his disciples.

Sango is a special kind of divinity that loves to tell the truth. Liars cannot be around or within his presence. Sango metes out justice with precision as IFA makes us to understand that Sango can see anything kept anywhere and can fetch it within seconds no matter the weight of the article.

Odi Ogbe

1———1

1———11

1———1

narrates how Sango’s power was sought to arrest the person who kidnapped the wife of orisa (Deity ). In a brightening light from the sky, he saw where the woman was located and person who took her there; Sango brought the two of them out for the punishment that is adequate. Sango not only punish his captives with death, when the offense committed demands death, he makes sure that they do not receive sympathy. In many instances, he would dissect the corpse of the victim as if the keenest hacksaw blade went through the body but he still keep him in the whole body, the corpse is always black as if it was burnt according to ifa verse:

SANGO OOO

HUM

SANGIRI LAGIRI

OLAGIRI KAKAKA

FI IGBA EDUN BO

EFIN INA LA DA LAYE

INA NBE LODO OKO MI LORUN ,

TRANSLATION

SANGO OOO

HUM

WALL BREAKER , THE GREAT WALL BREAKER

THAT DESTROY OR BREAK THE WALL INTO MANY PARTS

HIDE TWO HUNDRED THUNDERBOLT INSIDE THE FALLING WALL

WE ONLY HAVE SMOKE OF FIRE HERE ON EARTH , THE REAL FIRE IS WITH MY HUSBAND IN HEAVEN

Sango hates impostor and He always brings down those with high look. Never look down on anyone, be meek, gentle and radiate your environment with divine love, wisdom and truth.

Many theory or assumption, have been made in respect to the name of Sango, some even trace his origin to Egypt that is, Sango name was traced to ancient Egypt (God in Egypt) bearing the name of Sango, or a name from which the word is derived. The name ”SANGU ” occurs in the religion history of Chaldea and denote, ONE WHO IS BOUND TO A GOD or ”the representative or vice -gerent of a god” . The view maintained by some observers has been expressed in an earlier books of wisdom that the OMO ODUA or what the modern people called Yoruba seem to have had some contact with Chaldeans. The similarity between the Yoruba words ”Sango” and the Chaldean word ”Sangu” seems to support the view and to suggest the need for research base on the data now available.

The other name of the deity – Jakuta – unmistakable points to an Egyptian origin. The word JA- KU- TA , means ” THE LIVING SOUL (KHU) OF PTAH ” . THE EGYPTIAN GOD PTAH WAS REGARDED AS INCORPORATE IN A STONE .

THE YORUBA WORD FOR A STONE IS OKUTA , THE SOUL OF PTAH , HENCE , THE LITERAL MEANING OF JAKUTA IN YORUBA IS THE FIGHTER WITH STONE.

Another noteworthy Yoruba word is ”A-pa-ta” that is , a rock . It consists of two Egyptian words namely ,Pa , -”a house” and Ta , a modified form of ”PTAH

another words is related to Sango, the word is MOGBA, the word is restricted to the domain of Oyo in the olden days, Mogba is one the highest office within the pantheon of Sango, as god of thunder , fire, sound and storms . Mogba or Magba is from the two word i”OMA(N) or OMO(N) AND ”A-GBA” , that is ”people of the ba” Agba or elderly persons being regarded as possessing in a. special way the spirit or soul of the ancestors.

Sango was once described as –”THE RAM HEADED GOD OF THUNDER”, as one of the chief Yoruba deity, he is highly revered and respected among Yoruba at home and in diaspora.

To be continued next time.

God bless you all,

Olayinka Babatunde Ogunsina Adewuyi

Sango II

This text is a continuing of the post from July 25 | Sango.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, this fear give rise to the spiritual and divine invocation and communications to a divinity called SANGO, one of the primary and most complex emotions known in the jungle of life is the emotion of fear. In regard to Olodumare, this emotion has lost its energy because of the fear you have in the being called Olodumare. In regard to Sango it’s energy reaches its climax and raises the emotion to the level of complete terror and dread. No deity is more dreadful in the religion of Omo Odua for its malevolence as Sango, the god of thunder, lightening and fire. The first name given to Sango is known as Jakuta, that is “the stone thrower”, or “the fighter with stone” . How did he use the name Jakuta, according to the myth in Ejiogbe.

The five great divinities gathered together to choose a day for their devotee to adore and to sing the song of praise to Olodumare through them. Indeed, Obatala chose the first day, know as ojo Taala tabi ojo obatala, orunmila chose the second day name ojo Ifa, Ogun chose the third day named as Ojo alakaiye osin imole, Esu was not asked to choose any date because of his mischevious and cunning manner, out of annoyance Esu went on to inform Sango about the secret plan of the three divinities. Sango rushed to the meeting and threw stone at them to show his anger against the three divinities. The three implored him to stop throwing stone and they explained and begged him for the occurrence. Indeed, Sango accepted their plea and the fourth day was given to him as the day of Jakuta Based on the action of through throwing stone at them during the chosen of holly days for each great ORISAS.

Indeed, within ORISA. We have only four days. That make a week days. Ojo obatala. Ojo Ifa. Ojo Ogun and Ojo Jakuta.

However, Each of these days must used to pray or to offer sacrifice to each of the great divinities to attract to their vibration, support and guidance.

Indeed, Sango name is synonymous with anger, hate and worry. Hence those who worry much and whose anger is constant and hate and fear are great, those who cannot have last long solid relationship with friend, family and parents Should employ and adopt Sango as his guiding ORISA or Irunmole that is ruling his or her destiny.

Sango symbolizes total domination, victory and power to overcome terror Fear and dread.

We shall continue next time.

Alafia

Olayinka Babatunde Ogunsina Adewuyi

OBATALA

Izklopi za jezik: angleščina

OBATALA HAS A REFERENCE FOR WHITE COLOUR AND HE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF ALL THINGS THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHITENESS , PURITY , HONESTY, FAITHFULNESS AND FIDELITY IN CREATION . NOTHING IS HIDING WITH OBATALA , HIS NATURE REVEAL S AND MANIFESTS TRUTH AND TOTAL PURITY . PEOPLE WITH OBATALA IN THIER LIFE ( PEOPLE WHO INITIATE INTO OBATALA) MUST SYNCHRONISE FIDELITY , TOTAL FAITHFULNESS , HONESTY AND PURITY BOTH IN THE PRIVATE LIFE AND ALSO IN THE PUBLIC LIFE TO MANIFEST THEIR TRUE DESTINY AND TO FULFIL THEIR DESTINY AT ALL LEVEL OF LIFE .. HE IS THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF SOUND MARITAL HARMONY , PEACE , FAITHFULNESS , FIDELITY , BLESSINGS AND LONG LIFE IN GOOD HEALTH FOR ALL MARITAL COUPLES . MEN , WOMEN CHILDREN AND ADULT IN CREATION . INDEED , EVERY FAMILY OR COUPLE SHOULD ADOPT OBATALA AS THIER GUIDING DIVINITY .

THEN WHO IS OBATALA OSEREMAGBO.?

THE BELOW ACCOLADE DESCRIBE OBATALA IN VERY CONCISE WAY

AWAYE WORUN

AKAKA BI AKUN

O DA BABA LOJU

O DA OMO ELENU

ABIRI OJO TI IWA SE

TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE VERSE

HE CAME TO THE EARTH AND DWELL ON EARTH

HE CAME TO THE HEAVEN AND DWELL IN HEAVEN

ONE WITH MIGHTY PROWESS

HE CREATED FATHERS WITH EYES

HE CREATED CHILDREN WITH MOUTHS

THE ONE WHO WITNESSED THE DAY CHARACTER WAS MADE

THE ABOVE VERSE SHOW THE IMPORTANT OF OBATALA AS ONE OF THE GREATEST , IF NOT THE GREATEST DIVINITY EVER GRACED THE SURFACE OF THE UNIVERSE . HE WAS ASCRIBED TO PHYSICALLY DESIGNED THE BODY OF ALL CREATURES , HE ALSO GIVE THEM THE STRUCTURE AND FORMAT HE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN IN CREATION FOR THEM TO WANDER WITH CARE IN THE JUNGLE OF LIFE , HE WAS GIVEN ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CREATING THE BODY OF ANIMALS AT ALL LEVEL OF CREATION , BEFORE OLODUMARE BREATH LIFE INTO THE IMAGES OF THESE CREATURES . HUMAN ,ANIMAL AND OTHER EXTRA TERRESTRIAL OR CELESTIAL BODIES ARE THE WORK OF OBATALA OSEREMAGBO .ALASO FUN GBOOO

SINCE NAMES AND WORDS IN IFA OUT WHICH YORUBA LANGUAGE EMANATES ARE COMBINATION OF DIVINE INTERPRETATION AND JOINED ALPHABETS TO FORM A WORD THAT GIVE TRUE MEANING TO ALL THINGS IN CREATION , THE WORD OBATALA WAS A COMBINATION OF OBA AND TALA WHICH MEANS THE KING IN PURITY OR KING OF PURE SPECIES OR LEADER OF WHITE APAREL

WHILE OSEREMAGBO IS MYSTICAL WORD THAT REPRESENT ANCIENT OF DAYS OR OF ANCIENT MEMORY

OBATALA OSEREMAGBO BECOME A KING WITH PURE LIFE OR LEADER OF PURITY, AND FIDELITY FROM THE ANCIENT TIME.

CONTINUED TOMORROW.

Alafia, Olayinka Babatunde Ogunsina Adewuyi

Love for Olodumare

Ogbo ato.

What is the supreme, satisfying and unfailing practice which Ifá is awakening us to, and leading us to? The practice of unbounded devotion to Olodumare. After many days, weeks, months and years of Ifá study and reflection, what can we conclude that Ifá is? In the final analysis what is Ifá? In one word what is Ifá? Ifá is love. Ifá is truth, actual reality, caring and concern. Whose love? Whose caring? Whose concern? Ifá is the love, care, provision and concern of our true friend, mentor and heart companion Olodumare. Have you ever stopped to consider the fact that Olodumare pines, yearns and longs for you? Has it ever occurred to you that all that Olodumare does, he does so that you might understand and know that he loves, values, respects and cherishes you? Olodumare yearns, longs, pines and waits for your intelligent spontaneous response of gratitude, love and devotion. When we outgrow our spiritual immaturity and self-preoccupation this reality becomes powerfully and personally revealed to our hearts and understanding. For our soul, inner capacity and need to love to find fulfillment, it has to have a living responsive person an an object to whom it can direct its love, care and concern who is able to reciprocate our feelings, affections and devotions in full. Who else but Olodumare can satisfy our longing for communion and completeness. We find fulfillment and realization in loving the Supreme One and receiving the divine love. The longing, love and affection in our hearts cannot satisfy itself. It needs to reach Olodumare and its needs to experience Olodumare so that we might know peace, fulfillment and satisfaction. Undoubtedly you have heard the name Olodumare and perhaps you have learned some things about Olodumare. But do you know Him? Do you know the glorious personality and attractive character behind the name? What do you really and personally know about Olodumare? How can you know Him? How can you know His reality and experience His love? Do you not know that in all your seeking for happiness, meaning, fulfillment and satisfaction through so many means you are in fact searching for Olodumare? You are seeking to know, understand and return to the Source of your being. Ifá says that “Olodumare is the king worth depending upon.” Olodumare is unlike human kings who want and demand to revered, acknowledged and served. Olodumare is the King who serves us wholeheartedly, lovingly and unselfishly. Is it possible for you to depend upon whom do not yet know? Theories and philosophical beliefs about Olodumare cannot and will not ever satisfy your heart, mind and life. Living contact with Olodumare alone can satisfy the depths and longings of your spirit. What to do? Where to begin? How do we begin to develop a deep love for Olodumare? First of all Olodumare has to be more real to you than your mother, father, brother, sister, friends and spouse! Only by practicing devotion to Olodumare in whatever present inner and outer condition we happen to be in, can the light of divine love, understanding and truth be kindled within us. This is why we fellowship together in the Ijo (the community of Ifá-Olodumare worshippers). In the association of other devotees is where we obtain and catch devotion, faith, love and fervor. Love for Olodumare cannot really be taught but it can be caught in the association of genuine devotees. What are the main features of devotion? Devotion does not look at your past. Devotion does not care if you were a drunkard, thief, liar or cheat. Devotion is not impressed with your affluence, connections, possessions, knowledge and power. Devotion is impressed by humility, simplicity, guilelessness and unpretentiousness. Where you were and how you presently are is not an obstacle at all to devotion to Olodumare. Olodumare will accept you as you are. There is no need for you to pretend to be other than who you are and where you are at the present moment. Just like a mother picks up and accepts her soiled child to then proceed to clean it up, so does Olodumare take us a we presently are without any objections. So from our side there is no reason to fear or worry that Olodumare will not take us and accept us as we are. There is no reason for us to pull away or withdraw from approaching Olodumare. We are dear to Olodumare and nothing but His love, kindness, acceptance and guidance can clean us up and make us experience a qualitative change and transformation at the root level of our being. The spirit of devotion does not care about and does not look into your past. The spirit of devotion cares about you now in the present and will take you as you are with the guarantee that she will cleanse, strengthen, transform and empower your life. On account of our weaknesses, imperfections, defects and past wrongful acts we have no reason to despair of the committed love and firm dedication of Olodumare towards us. The reason why our imperfections, defects and flaws are so glaring to begin with is because we are lacking the awareness, fullness and experience of divine love, real love. Devotion and sincerity towards Olodumare will transform an unwholesome, unworthy and embarrassing life into a revered, satisfying and honored life. Try it out and see for your self. Olodumare is not peering into your past. Neither is he keeping a list of past wrongs. He is not peering into your past and he has no lists. He has only love, concern and sympathy for you together with the power to do something about your troubles, sorrows and loneliness. Let us draw near to Olodumare without fear and with full confidence. Let us come to Olodumare with transparency and honesty. Let us come to Olodumare without attempting to hide anything from Him and without trying to justify past wrongs. Just as you are and where you are, cultivate devotion and sincerity towards Olodumare. Put pride and ego to the side altogether. Don’t project yourself to Olodumare other than what you are and where you are. Open your heart and mind to Olodumare. Share your thoughts, problems, gratitude and feelings with Him. With feeling and sincerity apply your heart and soul to speaking with Olodumare. This is sincere and genuine unbounded devotion. By so doing you will know and experience the relief, support and salvation of Olodumare. After arriving at Olodumare’s palace and having been accepted by Him it does not behoove us to go around knocking on other doors. Who can do more for you than Olodumare? Who can understand you more and sympathize completely with you more than Olodumare? Cultivate a living gratitude, love and respect for Olodumare, and his power, grace and presence will uphold you and transform your life. The reason we have lost our way and are easily overpowered by our passions and weaknesses, and have lost our genuine spiritual convictions is because we are too far removed from Olodumare. We are trying to live our lives with unverified and inexperienced second-hand information about Olodumare instead of knowing Olodumare directly for ourselves. Think about these things. When was the last time you raised up your hands and head to praise and glorify Olodumare and to communicate gratitude and dependence upon Him. When was the last time your heart was moved and stirred to joyful tears at the thought of the kindness, loyalty and friendliness of Olodumare? How many of our mistakes and shortcomings has Olodumare overlooked and forgotten about? This is what Ifá is inviting us to understand and cultivate. What will be your response?

The only way to reach, experience and know Olodumare is to ask for his asé (grace, presence and power). This asé is always available to us but because we live our lives distracted and so preoccupied with ourselves, petty matters and involved without being invited in the affairs of others that we lose sight of the fact of the ever present availability of the asé of Olodumare. This asé does not come to us from people but comes to us directly from Olodumare whenever we need it. Olodumare is only waiting for our sincere heartfelt devotion so that He can manifest Himself to us.

Olodumare has given us wonderful abilities, talents and faculties that we can apply and use advantageously for our benefit and the benefit of others. There are many useful, progressive and wholesome things we can use our talents, intelligence and abilities for, all on our own. But there is one thing that we cannot with our talents, intelligence, faculties and abilities do alone. We cannot reach Olodumare. We cannot reach Olodumare by unaided efforts. Only by and with the asé of Olodumare can we know Him and our true eternal divine identity. Our human intelligence, strength, will and abilities cannot themselves help us to reach and know Olodumare independently of the gift of asé (grace, power and presence) that is available to us from Olodumare when we humbly approach Him and request Him to supply us with His asé. Let us request from Olodumare this gift of asé together with the spirit of devotion. By so doing we will find and know the meaning and purpose of our lives. By so doing we will find fullness of satisfaction, delight, peace, joy and contentment.

Ogbo ato asure iworiwofun.

IWA

He who has undertaken the noble responsibilities of overcoming Himself does not resign himself to anything, that is evil, he subjects himself only to that which is good, beneficial and serving both God and man in creation. To resign into wickedness, evil and bad utterance is the lowest weakness, obedience to good is the highest power. To resign oneself to criticism, condemnation, complain, anger, argument and evil task, or resign to ignorance, suffering, and other negative intention is a reverse of sound spiritual and divine trait of a man, who want to change the cause of destiny and extend the goodness of God in the land of living must always clamour for the goodness of other and ensure total inner peace in the face of challenge. Such submission to evil shows itself in a selfish and sorrowful life. We ask you to pray, fast and undergo vigil for those who want our support, some of us grumble and complain of no time and no capacity to Fast. Do you ever know the purpose of your creation? The essence of your existence? It means to serve, both man and God so as to revert our ancestral curse and bless our future generation, in a such manner never seen before. Nothing is by chance in life, everything is conform to rigid laws of divine and highest spiritual terrain Your coming into contact with any member of your family or friends or those we implored you to pray for, are not chance, but a products of destiny. We are products of destiny and divine phenomenon.

Man is not framed and structured by resignation into sorrow, doing easy things and subject his own body to corruption and sorrow, but for final victory and joy. All the spiritual laws of the Universe are with the good man, for good preserves and shield. There are no laws of evil, its nature is destruction and desolation. The conscious modification and change of the character away from evil and toward good, forms, at present no part in the common course of divine consciousness . The conscious formation of good character which is called IWA must be the core of our religion education and spiritual growth. Indeed, a man can be useful, and helpful when he is able to control himself, has unblemished integrity and exalted purity. So as to be able to give sound instruction in the making of good character which will then be the main feature of existence, and of divine and spiritual education he has in creation.

Hence, established yourself in the knowledge of good , and sound moral behaviour and swim in the ocean of peace with your family, friend, well wishers and enemies alike. The unenlightened may see your character as weakness, remember that you come to the world without power,and your going back will be of no significant, if you cannot do good to all you have met in creation, never wish any evil so as to avoid evil repercussion for ourselves and our generation. No man satisfying the divine laws through evil, but man is filled with joy when his mouth, mind and work extol, and exalt others in creation and pray for peaceful existence of others. Hence, can you pray now for ourselves and for others this morning, If you have not done that, do it now.

May God and His infinite divinities bless you.

The Spiritual Dominion

The greatest things which man is destined to rule with unswerving move are his own mind, mouth and life. These things are just extension of the universal order of discipline. They are connected and related to the entire human race or humanity in general.

No victory or success can be achieved without taking these three things into absolute consideration. Whatever you do not have cannot be given to others. I have seen a man who promises better life and victory when he in his inner sanctuary and secluded place lack true discipline and he’s mentally corrupt. I have severally taught and advised people that man who cannot discipline his own mouth would forever remain slave to passion and immorality. Fasting and prayer are two greatest means to reach out to the universe and connect our lives to the source of all things in creation. Some have treated the issue of fasting and prayer with great levity and given no attention to these two of the most potent power in creation and have equated fasting to certain religion and sect in the modern era. Fasting is a tradition which emanated from the source of life which must be undertaken and performed by all men in creation . It is the source of power and the beginning of all things in creation. Man gain soul in fasting and died in fasting and sleep till eternity in fasting. Both temporary sleep and permanent sleep are rooted in fasting. Your daily sleep give a vivid example of how universe want you to fast . I have a couple of people who are against fasting because of one thing – total indiscipline deeply rooted in lack of self control and mental disequilibrium,

The mastery of the craft (fasting, prayer and vigil) embraces the mastery of the knowledge of life. It lifts man into the supremacy of wisdom, discipline, bestowing upon him the gift of miracle, wonders and divine attributes out of which all divinities derived their most potent power. Fasting, prayer ,vigil and sound mental state give man power to distinguish between good and evil, between discipline and indiscipline, also to comprehend that which is above both good and evil and to know that nature responds positively to disciplined life with miracle and wonders .

At present, men are more or less under the sway of rebellious deeds, acts , thoughts and utterances, they fail to conquer their mouth, mind and action, they fall for indiscriminate and compulsive acts of perpetual eating and drinking of alcohol or sugary drinks that have actually corrupted their body, mind and soul. They cannot hold themselves accountable to connect the true divine state through refraining from food for certain hours, and thereby poison their mind with unnatural foods and drinks. Immorality and indolence arising from gluttony and drunkenness . To conquer these habits means supreme conquest of life. The fools believe that everything can be mastered or taught or written without self discipline and self conquest, they defile the body with foods and live with evil thoughts. They seek happiness through immoral doctrines and sweet preachings, condemning the rationality of life by seeing the world of spirit through their myopic character, criticising and arrogantly modifying external things and eternal wisdom to suit their own needs, rules and regulations, thinking the universe must bend to their own little understanding and feeble wisdom, pretending to give advise on what is spiritual and divine without an accurate knowledge of divine orderliness.

Your attitude depict your spiritual and divine knowledge . hoever fails to learn the basic spiritual and divine character will not only destroy his temporary life but his generational bearing and will suffer eternal consequences.. The wise knows that there is no real mastery or discipline until self is subdued and conquered. Until fasting and prayer are undertaken on the perpetual basis, your reality and human cannot be redeemed. Do you learn about the story of Ela the greatest and the precious child of Olodumare (GOD), whose teachings go beyond mere sacrifices and rituals. He thought the world the basic principles of divine state through shared love, prayer and fasting. He was eventually victimised and forced to ascend because his teachings contradicted the views of divinities before him. He wanted a change in the tradition of his predecessors, but the oppressors and the impostors of his days did not allow his teachings to see the light of the day, due to their gluttony, immoral behaviour, alcoholism and self praised attitude that did not serve God and man in creation . Learn the secrets of fasting and prayer, start to fast even for just six hours a day to see and witness abundant energy in creation unseen to your physical eyes, and you will perceive the difference in your life and the lives of your generation. It shall be well with you as long as there is an appearance of the sun.

Alafia.

True Battle and Conquest

To overcome self in the jungle of life is the foundation of truth and wisdom. The process is one of orderly growth, like the growth of a tree and as fruit can be produced by carefully and patiently training the tree, even so the pure and satisfying fruits of holiness can only be obtained by faithfully and patiently training the mind in the growth of right thought and conduct.

When men fail to overcome their shortcomings and errors, it is because they try to begin at the wrong end. Indeed, never misuse your power if you cannot use your position to help people then consider and reconsider your steps. Never hurt any man but in your little way always clamour for the happiness and blessings of others. No man passes the stage of victory without prevail upon his own errors and shortcomings .

Always check and control the wrong act, such as an outburst of temper, a hasty or unkind word, a self indulgence and never allow them to take any form. This is equivalent to the gardener cutting off the useless buds and branches from his tree. It is necessary process but a painful one. The tree bleeds while undergoing the process and the gardener knows that it must be done to ensure successful growth . The hearts also bleeds when it refuses to return passion for passion, when it ceases to defend and justify itself .

By subdue oneself is only the beginning of self conquest, hence the heart must be purified to avoid hypocrisy, that is, hiding of one’s true nature and striving to appear better in the eyes of others than one really is, in that caseit is evil. Train your habits in your private life to have a public good character. Every secret evil shall be revealed to light.

E must endure in the face of challenges, consider every challenges of life as true alternative to learning then improve your life and your soul through sound mental, emotional, spiritual and physical growth and divine understanding. Endurance is a process in which one silently endures the pain which arises in his own weakness and not in the wrong attitudes of others toward him , because the latter being merely the means by which errors and mistaken are brought to the surface and revealed to him. He then gradually free all others from blame in his falls and lapses of conducts and accuses only himself and so learns to love those who thus unconsciously reveal to him, his shortcomings and errors.

Hence we must eliminate all wrong from the mind, act, deed and speech as it appears. Conscious strength and divine joy begin to take the place of pain and the mind become extremely calm, a good disciple strive to gain deeper insight into the complexities of his mind and thus understand the inception, growth and outworking of errors and shortcomings. For when you have knowledge of your errors and eliminate them totally from the root, that is the evil seeds in the mind is cut off , it can no more be allowed a place in life, it is abandoned for ever, then mind is at peace. The wrong act of others no longer arouse pain. He is glad, calm, peaceful and wise, filled with divine love and perform all his activities with total blessedness and commitment without complain, criticism and condemnation. Here, total victory is attained.

Work on yourself on daily basis, focus on your improvement, never listen to the noise of the market (never listen to the gossipers), concentrate on what give you joy, success and happiness, think less of those things that cause you great pain. Life is too short to indulge in gossip, criticism and condemnation. Contribute in your little way to make others happy and greater blessings shall be your lot and your generation,

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL THE TIME.

ESIN ORISA IBILE IS A TRANSFORMING POWER

Ela ‘boru. Ela’boye. Ela ‘bosise.

This is from our member Mark Casillas.

It is not enough to profess belief. It is not enough to have mere surface intellectual knowledge. What is essential and indispensable is that we place practice of the principles of Esin Orisa Ibile in the forefront and center of our personal lives. Unpracticed divine principles and knowledge becomes a dead weight and cancer in our lives. A bonafide initiate or adept in the sacred mysteries and principles of esin orisa ibile should always feel the need to always press forward, to penetrate more deeply into the divine realities and always should aspire through practice and inquiry to rise higher in his or her practice of the moral-ethical and spiritual teachings and mysteries of Ifa. Contact with the Orisa is for the purpose of ennobling our lives, for gaining inspiration and motivation. Contact with the Orisa is for the purpose of having our understanding illuminated, corrected and empowered. The ase we receive joins itself to our intelligence, feelings and will so that we can live effective, positive and productive lives. The ase we receive enlightens and guided us along noble and dignifying paths. Contact with the Orisa and practice of the sound principles of esin orisa ibile helps us to ennoble our character and to nurture and develop an attitude that is full of dignity, contagious positivity, courage,love and enthusiasm. Esin Orisa Ibile teaches us the path of self-perfection, renewal, growth and progress through dedicated and loving service towards others which will fill us with satisfaction and will permit us to decrease the focus of attention upon ourselves and thereby attenuating, reducing and ultimately eliminating the force, hold and strength of egoism in our own lives. Without practice we cannot truly understand the truth neither can we form a genuine and deep comprehension of divine realities independently of submerging ourselves in a life of practice. From practice personal verification and faith are obtained. From patient practice deep wisdom is gained and humility is cultivated. Esin orisa ibile does not teach us to withdraw or run away from the world. It is by immersing ourselves in the reality of everyday living armed with divine understanding and wholesome Ifa outlook that we can grow, progress, mature and live truly enlightened and empowering lives. In isolation one cannot practice divine spirituality. We cannot be aloof from the needs, pains and suffering of our friends, family, neighbors and contemporaries. We must contribute to the benefit and uplift of our community by engaged and practical living. It is in serving and loving others and by being served and loved by others that fulfillment, contentment and satisfaction in life is gained. There is no true mastery without loving and productive service to others. There is no true mastery without responsible living. Esin Orisa Ibile enjoins on us a vision of life and of our possibilities which are actual, realistic, balanced and satisfying. To help others who need our help. To come to the rescue of those who are reaching out to us for support and comfort. To share in the joys and sorrows of others. To give of yourself and time to benefit and uplift others. This is the heart of Esin Orisa Ibile. If our religion is not practical then we have no religion. If our religion renders no benefit to ourselves or others then we have no religion. Esin Orisa Ibile is the path and religion of the heart. The path of love, humility and respect. It is the path of good conscience and peace of mind.

God bless you all,

Olayinka Babatunde Ogunsina Adewuyi

True-discernment

Ela ‘boru, Ela ‘boye, Ela ‘bosise.

In our own lives we discover that it is much more difficult to discern between what ‘feels right’ from what is actually right, than from making the relatively easy distinction between what is clearly right or wrong. All things good are pleasurable but not all things pleasurable or gratifying to our senses are good for us. We can miserably fail in life and put ourselves through much needless and avoidable suffering, stress and anxiety if we fail to make the distinction between what ‘feels’ right or good from what is actually right, beneficial and good. This is where honest self-reflection, discernment, humility, personal discipline and Ifa divine guidance-instruction comes in. What distinguishes a child from a mature adult is that a child is entirely driven by its childish desires, feelings and wants, whereas a mature adult is led by his developed reason, life experiences, understanding, cultivated wholesome values, personal discipline and discernment. Today we live in an impulsive culture that is pleasure driven and not truth driven. This impulsive and pleasure seeking attitude prevails in the secular and the so-called spiritual life of many. Some live in gross selfishness and others in ‘refined’ and socially ‘acceptable’ selfishness but it is selfishness, conceit and foolishness all the same. An alarming great many ‘adults’ today lack moral-emotional and intellectual maturity. They lack foundation, stability, discipline and orderliness. They are like ships without a rudder, cast upon the sea of life and being mercilessly pushed, pulled and controlled by the waves, storms and currents of impulsive desires, base and low (meaningless) selfish and directionless pleasures. A great many adults today are no more than overgrown children: They cannot accept a word of correction, truth and discipline from anyone without feeling offended or provocated in some way, because they don’t like to think with clarity, they just want to live their lives by how their own undeveloped, undisciplined, foundationless, and immature feelings leads them. In otherwords, they want to live by their feelings and emotions. They have put the cart before the horse! They refuse to accept the facts of their personal, actual and present condition. They confuse true happiness with fleeting sensual pleasure. They want to feel good and right but without living a truly good or upright life! They want to remain intellectually, morally and spiritually blind and deaf. Today the rule of life in a great many quarters is: If it feels right or good then just do it! This is the thinking of the animal world and not the one of highly endowed human beings. Even animals have better sense than that! So you see how childish and immature today’s society has become. From this pleasure seeking mindset is where corruption, vices, unclean practices, lawlessness and disrespect are born from. Instead of taking pleasure and delight in that which is truly meaningful, noble and useful, a great many minds and lives are poisoned with a hedonistic attitude of mere pleasure seeking without any true reference to what is true, right and proper. Such people live disconnected, dysfunctional, self-inflated and selfish lives. How can they avoid and escape suffering, dissatisfaction and a sense of meaninglessness living in this way?! Blinded and shackled by their base desires and contaminated understanding they are unawares creating more suffering, disillusionment, depression and dissatisfaction for themselves and others; like the blind leading the blind and together falling into a rocky, dark and deep pit of pain, anguish, meaninglessness and repeated suffering. This is what happens when we are led by our feeling and emotions instead of our Ifa informed understanding, intelligence, conscience and the guidance of worthy, proven and reputable elders. The former life is an animalistic life of needless strife, continual dissatisfaction and struggle whereas the latter life is an illuminated, orderly, satisfying and serene life, rooted in divine (lofty) understanding and personal integrity. If we have taken the time and care to study, consider and reflect upon many stories of Ifa and holy tradition, we will quickly discern that a great many if not most of the failures, mishaps, sufferings and unsavory happenings in the lives of the Orisa, Awo, Kings, Queens and the general populace etc., were due to this fundamental mistake of pursuing fleeting, petty, low and base pleasures, which when you really think about it and the consequences they brought to the mind, body and life of the wayward ones were not pleasurable at all. Momentary base pleasure with long lasting painful repercussions is what they found, created for themselves and experienced. This is how the inner ajogun (enemy defilements) and elenini (inner antagonists) trick us. While intoxicated and spiritually incapacitated by blind and unregulated passions, pleasureable expectations, feelings and emotions, we do not see the terribleness and shamefulness of our present actions and the more terrrible and shameful consequences that they will undoubtedly bring. We are lulled to sleep in the dingy bed of false, unbecoming, base and shameful desires, feelings, actions and emotions. This is why we need to ponder and consider the way we have been living our lives carefully. Many people see the cause of their problems as existing outside of themselves but in most cases they themselves are the cause, root and source of their own life problems. When they fail to accept this reality they go in search of imaginary or supernatural excuses or causes to explain their current state, condition and predicament. Ifa teaches us how to live, think and behave so as to avoid and escape the sorrow, suffering, illness, pain, dissatisfaction and shame. Ifa is mostly about prevention. One pound of prevention is better than one hundred pounds of cure. Responsibility, discipline and genuine desire

for spiritual-intellectual and moral growth is the heart and aim of Ifa. You might not want to hear this but sometimes the bitter tasting medicine is the most effective cure! Ifa is not here to make you financially rich! If you want to be financially rich then you have to study and prepare yourself with an honorable career which will compensate you for your many years of dedication, work and effort. That is how you make money. Ifa and Orisa are not dispensing money to anyone. That is not what what they are here for. Ifa is not for you to accumulate personal power and influence over others. Ifa and Orisa share their ase with you so that in a spirit of compassion, generosity and kindness you can serve and benefit others and so that you can improve and correct yourself. Why should you feel prideful or great for the work that Ifa or the Orisa are doing to help and benefit someone. It is not your personal ability, power or wisdom which is benefitting others but the ability, power and wisdom of Ifa and Orisa. So why take credit for what you yourself out of your own abilities and resources are not accomplishing?! Ifa is not about last minute miracle solutions to our life’s challenges and problems. Ifa is about giving us the spiritual-moral and intellectual tools to live orderly, meaningful, productive and responsible lives. The virtue, blessings and ase of Ifa goes in our lives and gains great momentum only to the degree we live in harmony with and practice from moment-to-moment and day-to-day the principles and precepts of Ifa. The only master that Ifa will make you into is a master of yourself alone! Ifa is about the truth. The beautiful truths of life and about the sour truths about ourselves that we ignore and push into the back of our minds and don’t want to deal with. Ifa is about the heart and about cultivating and storing up the treasures of the heart. Ifa is about caring for people and thinking about someone others than ourselves! Ifa is about unpretentiously serving others out of kindness, love, generosity and empathy. Ifa is not here to make you a superhuman but to make you a true human being. Ifa will fill your life with peace, serenity, contentment and inner happiness if you live the truth that is Ifa. This takes real work, perseverance, patience and commitment. It is easy to buy materials for ebo. It is easy to make ebo but it takes work, determination and dedication to live the truth of Ifa. Ebo is secondary to Iwa. Without Iwa no ebo will be effective or complete. This is the understanding and true discernment we must have, embrace and accept if we want to live a true life of value, genuine happiness and clean pleasure. Ifa is for the maturing humble person who acknowledges that he or she needs guidance, help and support. Ifa is not magic! Ifa is not a genie in a bottle to satisfy your whims. Ifa outlook does not pull you away from reality or cause you to seek escape from reality. Ifa gives you a true, unvarnished but balanced and actual understanding of life as it is. Ifa immerses us into the reality of our lives in this present world and asks and enlists our support to take up the task of performing real work for the benefit, correction and upliftment of the world, of which we are an integral part and live in. Ifa is not about unrealistic fantasies, but about reality. Ifa is about actuality. I hope that these sober considerations serve to correct and adjust the minds, thinking and lives of many. It is time to get real and to make the best use of our lives and time. It is up to you. You can remain childish and immature if you want or you can take to the path of truth, courage, personal discipline and maturity. Don’t preach, don’t discourse, don’t talk and talk and talk. Live! Practice! Demonstrate with your life what you know! Stop wasting your time procrastinating and forever planning and simply get to the actual implementation of all your talking, planning and thinking. Take responsibility for your own life and own it.Stop blaming others, society and your upbringing for your present failures and bad choices. Stop making yourself a victim and stop looking for excuses to do nothing but live a lazy and fruitless life. Put an end to the pity party and do something about your life and with your life. Stop sitting around and just waiting for some miracle to happen that is going to make all things good in your life and fix everything in your life. It’s never going to happen. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Without your personal continual commitment, participation and involvement nothing meaningful and satisfying will be accomplished by you.Ifa and Orisa are not going to take up your responsibilities for you. What do you think? Ifa and Orisa will be working while you lazily sit and live a passive, uninvolved, complacent and indulgent lifestyle?! Dear friends do not be alarmed by the tone of this message. Know that it is offered in good faith and true concern. Some things cannot be sugar coated. Please think and reflect upon the above message. Promote your true happiness and wellbeing. Appreciate the preciousness and fragility of life. With every breath we take time is running out. Use your time wisely and live meaningfully.

Ela ‘boru. Ela ‘ boye. Ela ‘bosise.