Interview with Baba Kali Bhujangi, writer of the intriguing book Haile Selassie I and the concept of enlightenment, the supreme overstanding. A book which places the mystic revelation of Rastafari within worldwide age-old mystical traditions. The book displays a lot of deeper overstandings regarding Haile Selassie I and the quest of the higher Self.
Part 1
 
 
Roland: Who is Baba, tell the not initiated reader something about you?
 
 
Baba: The scriptures declare simply "IAM;" verily, in the Irit if the ol' mystics of yore, I attest to the truth that I was never born, and shall never die, I am the Fool, the Magician, the Gatekeeper of nothing, from nowhere. But let Us talk of His Majesty; I have been a servant of Haile Sellassie I since 12 years old. I have been in the Irit of Haile Sellassie from eternity. I am just one hue, man.
 
 
Roland: what is your main drive to write this book?
 
 
Baba: Let Our book stand as an offering upon the altar tabernacle of the so called Rastafarian. Let Our book serve as a humble servant to clean the dust, the residue from what has been called the "Far Eye" by the Rastafarian; which is the ajna, the pineal, the third eye. Let Our book aid ones and ones in recalling, reclaiming, renewing the enlightenment of Rastafari. O let Our book be mastered in thought, then discarded like a walking stick whence the village is reached-and in that village, there is no one but One there-One Self, naked and free. The proverbial child entering Zion; free from opine, debate, idea, utterly innocent. Simply being.
 
 
Roland: how got the I attracted to the revelation of Rastafari?
 
 
Baba: Joyous laughter is to blame! but, in details I will explain thus: Haile Sellassie I was born 1892 in the year of the Dragon. The I was born 1976 in the year of the Dragon, nine moons after Haile Sellassie I left the tabernacle. Then, in 1988 in the year of the Dragon, my Father tore of picture of Aba Janhoy from an old book, and handed it to Eye, twixt cleaning collard greens from his teeth. He simply declared H.I.M. as a "good man, worthy of study," and fell into his afternoon nap soon thereafter.
 
I was immediately struck by the power, majesty, spirit, of this Emperor. Instantly, a newfound sense of being was born in Eye. There was an article on the page talking about His so called death, and how His body was never found, and that a "cult" was born in His name, in Jamaica, known as Rastafarians. I remembered a mysterious man in my neighborhood, who everyone feared, who donned the same matted hair, and red, gold, green colors which, according to the article were trademarks of this "cult." All this occured inside of Eye within minutes, mind you. It wasn't long before I was knee deep in books of anything I could find on the Rastafarian, at the local library. It wasn't long after that that I finally mustered up the courage to consult the mystic in my community, who, after shunning my 12 year old self for a time, finally took Eye under his wing, and showed Eye what he could of our Most August Majesty, Haile Sellassie.
 
 
Now this mystic man was mad! Yet all too familiar to Eye. My comrades would think I had gone mad, daring to be in the company of such a boogyman, or blackheart man, as they say in Jamaica. But I was being restructured, opening my third eye as my friends were trying to find openings in nets and hoops and so called "goals." My poor mother feared I was being taken by a "cult," and tried everything to stop my associations with the Rastaman. She did it with love, mind you, and genuine concern and fear of the Unknown. I suffered a hair cut or two, and then she gave up, desperately holding onto the words of my family who declared it but a "phase." How right they were. Further on, twas the year 2000 that Kundalini entered the first gate/chakra, after I first experienced her in 1999, when I was reminded, that is awakened.
now the readers may notice my talk above of the Dragon. This has been a subject of controversy for many years with I and I talks with the Rastafarian. It must be briefly noted that we do not here speak of the Ol' Dragon of Revelations, but of the Asiatic astrologos, otherwise known as Chinese Astrology. The Dragon is the Lion. The He(Lio), the Sun, the Chi, and dare I say, the Serpent upon the staff of (DA)vid. Da is Dan, or Danballah, the Serpent Kundalini energy spoken of deep in the bosoms of Egypt, Ethiop, and India, as well as within the loins of our Drudic brethren to the North. Many great leaders are and will always be born under this (apparent) sign, namely Martin Luther King, Che Guevara, Yogananda, Clarence 13x, John Lennon, and other trumpet blowers in this time. 2012, the Nu cycle is the next Dragon year, whence Haile Sellassie I will be 120 (12) years.
 
 
Be careful to note that IAM not claiming greatness of any sort, save the fact that IAM the Great Fool. In stating above that I was born nine moons after I left the body, is not some outrageous egoisitc claim. IAM simply doing the Math, the Ma'At. It is one. Verily IAM one. We have faith that the readers, in this late hour, can see beyond the details, and grasp the essence of what We here speak of. Every Naga is a star! Old man river, don't cry for me.
Stardust.
 
Roland: In what did the livity of Rastafari changed your life, perception and lifestyle?
 
 
Baba: Awo. Haile Sellassie became I Guru. Now, the trinity of the Guru is teachingmg, example, and influence. So, by meeting H.I.M., verily I met I Self, and went on to find I Self in every single being, and non being for that matter. I scoured His words, His life, I listened to His childreb sing and chant in His name. These words were my mantram. His words, I Meditation. I stopped grooming and eating meat when I was 12, the same summer I received the I-Mage of Haile Sellassie I fromn Daddy. I studied scripture, I became fit in and fit out. Now I live beyond rules and Laws, save the Law, which is to say, "Harm ye none, O do what thou Wilt," As Horus did declare. I still do not groom, and perhaps I enjoy fish here and there, but I let ones and ones live as they Will, for it is the highest way. Indeed and undoubtedly we need rules, and dogma, and ritual and ways during the initial stages of awakening. But let our beloved readers know fully that the Tabernacle of Tabernacles is the House of Absolute Freedom.
 
 
Roland: there is a lot of confusion regarding enlightenment. What is enlightenment?
 
 
Baba: Now, here and nowhere are the same thing. Enlightenment is the sound of the tree swaying in the wind. The very moment the seedling becomes flower and the direct experience thereof. Enlightenment is a smile to our Elders that I have come again not to gain, nor lose. But to be. To the mystics, there is no enlightenment to even speak of. But let Us keep our talk toward our Beloved-Enlightenment is the upright posture of Haile Sellassie I, as well as His gaze, and His steadiness of being, like a lamp in a windless place. If the (re)volution is for the people, then IAM for the (re)volution. Revolution means to revolve until Eye evolve. The youth decided it was time to try something new, and so I left the Throne to sit on the floor, my most auspicous Throne. And now We see Ethiopia today, but Lo, out of the mud, the Addis Ababa (new flower) is born. Let revolution begin and end within, with ceasless meditiation as thy sword.
 
 
Roland: Is Haile Selassie I an enlightened being, and thus divine?
 
 
Baba: We have already touched upon this, and will clearly say here that yes Haile Sellassie is, was and ever shall be an awakened Eye. IAM known perpetually through the aeons of time and space by certain signs, tokens and grips. By certain movements or the lack thereof i.e. stillness. It is only a Lazerus in the tomb of blindness that could fail to see the Enligthtenment of Negus Negast. Even today, some 23 years later, everytime I read His words, I am more enlightened, more free, nay, freer than free. Such is the power of the Guru. Everlasting and undying Bliss given as food, nectar, ambrosia, for the hungry. O may the hungry be fed.
 
Roland: There is a strong tendency within the movement to focus on the christian character of Haile Selassie I only. But by studying the life of his majesty is it not clear enough that HIM got a much more broader view and perception than one religion only?
 
 
Baba: IAM moved to quote Our beloved:
 "The temple of the most high begins with the human body, which houses our life, essence of our existence. Africans are in bondage today because they approach spirituality through Religion provided by foreign invaders and conquerors. We must stop confusing religion and spirituality. Religion is a set of rules, regulations and rituals created by humans which were supposed to help people grow spiritually.
Due to human imperfection religion has become corrupt, political, divisive and a tool for power struggle. Spirituality is not theology or ideology. It is simply a way of life, pure and original as was given by the Most High."
This says it all. It is further proof of His awakening and overstanding. Everything I do is for show. Life is a stage. I am the performer. Haile Sellassie I loved the Coptic concept of Hero, He(lio) Yashua, the Guru, Master, the Lover of All. Haile Sellassie knows the power of the repeititious Solar Myth, told over again, from Egypt to India, from Greece to Rome. Haile Sellassie is fully aware that the Son of God is the Sun of God, know by a myriad of names throughout the human diaspora. Haile Sellassie I knows that out of the myth, the Self is born. Haile Sellassie I knows that Christ is an inborn concept available to All. When the I gave that by now infamous interview speaking of the Christmas and the Love of yahsua, He did is for the State, for the Order, for the status quo.
 
 
The deeper mysteries does no good on the radio for talk. The deeper mysteries of the Christ mythos can only be know through the initiation of Direct experience, dear Beloveds. So, yes the Eye is a Christian, but even the early Christians were not Christians, but Gods! These lables bind, retard, stunt our growth. Do I need to remind them that even the label "Rastafrian" was a term thrown upn the awakened ones sometime in 1930 or so by the same spirit of the scribes who wrote of these early Christians.
 See, Haile Sellassie is aware of all these things, and His very beingness is the Witness to these truths. Even if ones and ones continue to don the locks, or the colors, or the claims, let ones and ones transcend, go beyond. Even if ones and ones enjoy a good argument, nay, reasoning with the laity of is H.I.M. a God, yes or no, let them still sight the emptiness, the vanity, and at once the Liberation therein. Haile Sellassie can wear all the crossess and holy garb and kiss all the rings of the big bad Abunas He wants to; for inside, again I say, He is like a lamp in a windless place. Be ye also.
 
 
Roland: Is Haile Selassie I an mystic or with your words a guru, and what does guru mean?
 
 
Baba: Guru means literally "dispeller(gu) of darkness(ru), and yes, for them that desire to see Eye in the person of His Most Elegant majesty, then indeed the I is Guru. I came as a beggar(KRST) and then as a King(H.I.M.), and still no one can save ye but thy Self. O IAM but a flash of lightening upon thy paths to the pathless. the Solar House of Judah, July 23, the first day of Leo/Lio, again, Helio, Sun, is indeed, and auspiciously so, the dispeller of darkness. If it were not so, I would not tell you. But let Us remember keenly, Life is Guru! and Haile Sellassie or any other sacred object of worship lives in the mirror.
 
 
Roland: What is the main role of Haile Selassie I towards his followers? What should they ‘learn’ from HIM?
 
 
Baba: IAM sure the readers are well aware of the fact that the I visited with the Rastafarians in 1966. It was then that I was able to trasmit I highest teaching-a warning not to deify flesh. To always aspire toward the Upward, the Higher I. Now, as a diplomatic statesman, I employed certain Coptic words, as per Christ and the Bible. But know ye well, no denial was there. But a reminder that even Gods decompose. It was a very touchy situation, though from the few photographs and gold coins given to them, the I love for the Natty Dread was present. It was no surprise that the I would be worshipped by His Suns and dawtahs from near and far. But the work of any guru is to point to the God above (Crown Chakra), within.
Even this Jesus, when called "good rabbi" quickly responded that no one is good(God) but the One(Monad). So, although some went on to shave and renounce His Majesty after that fateful visit, there remains and few others who seen the truth in the Master Teachers word sound and power. Again, every single Master Eye have ever sent has always shunned the worship of the body, or any Idol for that matter. So, to INI, Haile Sellassie I displayed His divinity all the more, by seemingly denying it. This is something that some readers may struggle with. But I say, Do What thou Wilt. Equality is divinity.
be Still(meditate) and know IAM.
 
Roland: The first Rastafari, like Leonard Howell were true mystics. Can you give some examples why they were mystics?
 
 
Baba: Ganguru Howell studied the yogas, the mysteries of african obeah, the egypto coptic ideas of Christianity, as well as the masonic truths from the bosom of egypt and europe. Haile Sellassie did, does too. The greater ones study, the more vast ones reach, verily the more well rounded is ones enlightenment. It is as simple as that. Ones and Ones must cease from the stagnation of dogma and expand the mind deeper into the occultic, esoteric mysteries, without fear nor judgement. Peace be upon Ganguru! The gatekeeper of the mystic revelation of Ras Tefferi.
 
Roland: Your book is built around the quest for the Higher Self. What is this Higher Self and how does it correlate with the higher I of the Rastafari?
 
 
Baba: The Higher Self is but the one who wears the Crown. The Crown is the Sahasarara Charka opened up, pierced by the creative force called Kundalini, or Kundali, or Jagadambu, or Bhujangi, or Sakta Pranayam. The Higher Self is actually no Higher Self at all-but a full circle. a Marriage twixt the lower regions of being and the Higher notions of God Hood. The Alpha and Omega means a marriage twixt the dark and light aspects of being. When one is awakened, the two become one, nay, a realization that the two were forever one, is born within the seeker, who can now stop all seeking, all hankering, and arguing, all hoping all praying and simply sit in the bosom of the One, resting perpetualy in the seven(sabbath), the seventh Chakra, Sahasarara.
This is what is meant by the Lord resting on the Sabbath day, but the laity play it out week after week, round and round. Now this is beautiful, for ritual has its play. But one must see all outer rituals within. Even as ones and ones prepare for the sabbath on the sixth day, so too does the mystic prepare for the Sabbath on the sixth Chakra(ajna). It is in the ajna that we meditate, settle down, get ready for the Sabbath, Seventh Chakra to commence, whereby eternal rest in the notion of IAM is duly secured for-eye-vermore. O So Mote it Be!
 
Roland: Rastafari notify the existence of the so called Far I, or the Far Eye. What is the significance of this third eye, the observers eye, towards the transformation to the Higher I or Self?
 
 
Baba: As We touched upon above, yes the Far Eye has become a term of endearment for the Third Eye also known as Ajna Chakra. When We meditate, we are taught to keep our eyes half closed and focus upon the brow, that is, the center, the middle. This is the abode of the Christ Consciousness. See, the two eyes are the thieves, the yes/no, good/bad, dark/light etc. etc., yet KRST is crucified,that is, fixed in the middle, between the two thieves. Two are the deceivers, though as faithful as they may be; but the Christ/Krsna/Krst is the Liberator.
Listen, the most auspicous ritual Ones and Ones can perform when meditating is to smile. Yes, to smile. No need to be so serious, I mean, the I is just sitting there. So smile, laugh, even. To learn to sit for 3 hours is an ancient teaching. It took me 7 years almost exactly, to learn to sit for 3 hours. Now I sit sometimes for 9, or 12 hours, though I open I eyes, here and there, perhaps grab a book, return to the center; maybe chillum commences, or shivambu. After 3 hours is mastered, one can sit for eternity. Yet, let Us admit that a flash of mediation is worth more than a days observance of the mundane, as beautiful as it be, Still.