Worries and thoughts are like fleas on a dog. They constantly bite the individual, suck the energy (blood) and torment. It is only when the number of fleas or worries become insurmountable do we see it as a problem.
After a while the individual becomes comfortable being a worry wart. In fact they believe if they do not worry they will have adverse results.
There are two components to worry. One is the thinking and the other is anxiety with fear. The thought or thinking is important because it helps sort out an effective way to approach the problem. However the anxiety or worry part is detrimental both to the body and consciousness. After a while the anxiety takes over and takes a permanent residence in the individual.
Thus what started out historically as an approach to thinking to solve problems later became anxiety and fear. If you can learn to think without fear or anxiety you can be more effective. In the end, though the results are determined by Gods will and your own karma
How can one get rid of the fear component? It is very hard. It requires a constant diligent practice of yoga and a constant re affirmation not to worry. It may take three to twelve years or in multiples there of and is very difficult. (according to Ramkrishna Paramhansa it should take three seconds or minutes or at the most three days to uproot each sanskar). If we do not make an effort now the way God has the system arranged is that the situations that evoke anxiety will escalate birth after birth till we are determined to uproot it once and foreever. This was stated both by Paramhansa Yogananda and the mother. Please refer to the books by Yogananda on how not to worry or getting rid of fear from your consciousness
Every person, whether a Yogi or not should make an attempt to get rid of the worry consciousness. How did Ramkrishna Paramhansa say, sanskaras (including worry etc) can be conquered in 3 seconds or three minutes or 3 days (based on if the disciple was of the highest order, or mediocre or adham (weak))? Paramhansa Yogananda began to crave Ginger ale. Once he went to someones house and he asked for Ginger ale. They did not have it and he felt a little remorse. He immediately realized his craving. He closed his eyes and got rid of the craving within 3 seconds. How did he know he got rid of the desire? Next time there was an opportunity to have Ginger ale, he had a sip and he was disgusted with the taste. If someone argues with me and states this is self hypnotism, my answer is as follows
1) Yogananda did not Will that he dislike the taste of Ginger ale. All he Willed or did Sankalpa was that he do not crave it anymore
2) In the final analysis, everything that we see or perceive is because we have been hypnotised by Satan or Maya into its existence instead of seeing everything as God. Like Swami Vivekananda said, we have to learn to dehypnotise ourself. So, we could say, that Yogananda dehypnotised himself from the craving of Ginger ale.
For a Yogi, the method of achieving this is as follows. He turns his eyes upwards to the Agna chakra. He merges his consciousness in the divine with a WILL to get rid of the “affliction” and it is done. At that time, he or she is surrendered totally to God, does not want anything but God, realizes that worry and desire is a strong impediment to reaching God and lets the holy Ghost / divine light or Aum get rid of the worry (cauterzie it permanently).
For ordinary people like me, this is not so easily accomplished. it takes a lot longer. Our trataka or Will or ability to remain submerged in the divine at the agna is weak and constantly the worry tendency or any other desire pulls us down. There are several reasons why this happens to us.
1) No matter how much we intellectually say we have surrendered to God, a part of our heart has NOT surrendered to God and that part which has not surrendered creates Worries and Fear. Otherwise, for a child of the Divine where is the reason to fear or worry?
2) The reason why we cannot surrender completely is because we have lack of faith. If we had total faith in God, we would gladly and willingly give ourself upto the divine will.
3) The reason why we lack total faith is because we always have the mistaken ego that we can solve our problems by our own effort rather than relying totally on God.
A word of caution : There are people who appear not to worry. However, they may not worry in a given situation but worry or have fear in other situations. Moreover, there are some who are mentally numb and have the I do not care attitude. THAT IS NOT FEARLESSNESS. The fearlessness I refer to is the fearlessness of having total faith in the divine. In India, some people have the name Abhaya meaning fearlessness. It is the name of God, because only God can be totally fearless (or one whose consciousness is fully merged in God).
I cannot end this without explaining how the liberated souls function without worry or thoughts. These great souls when faced with a problem, go to their “shell” surrender to God and follow divine Guidance and the Guidance of God alone. I will end with a tremendous example of Yogananda. Yogananda was building a wishing well in California. It so happened that a big boulder fell on his leg and shattered his foot. Immediately the disciples wanted to take him to the hospital but Yogananda asked mother and mother said no. The pain was excurciating. The next day, his foot had all the colors of the rainbow and some more. The pain had gotten worse. Once again, he did not go to the hospital inspite of his disciples persuading him because Mother said no. (A normal person would be worried about amputation etc at this point). The same thing happened on the third day.
On the fourth day, Yogananda had to give a discourse. He walked down, horribly limping and just as he was about to enter the lecture hall, Mother said, now walk on your shattered foot! Yogananda stepped inside the lecture hall with his shattered foot. The pain, as per Yogananda was excruciating. But with that, his foot was healed instantly!
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Entry for January 24, 2006
A common misunderstanding and misconception is the presence of the lotuses or chakras in the human body.
The lotuses and chakras do exist. They exist in the subtle body. The soul has 3 bodies. The gross physical, the subtle or sukshma body and the causal or Karana body.
There are seven chakras. They exist in the subtle body but there is a corresponding part in the gross physical body. The lower 5 charkas are different seats where the subtle body is bound to the gross physical body. They chakras also correspond to different places where the consciousness is bound to the physical world.
The chakras face downwards. As one progressively has a greater awakening of the consciousness, the awakened shakti opens the chakra and turns it upright.
The order of opening the chakras varies according to ones method and depends on ones Guru also. It is my belief that if one follows the method of Knowledge, Agna chakra opens first. In Bhakti yoga, it is the Hridaya chakra. In the tantric method, it is usually from the Muladhar.
No matter what method you follow, they all require one essential thing – awakening of the Shakti
Saints of high qualities are rare. Most people fail to recognize how great they are This is by God wish. Just like when Ram and Krishna were there very few truly recognized them
The converse is just as true. If many recognize they are less likely to be of extremely high order.
The world is not ready for the highest of high
We can recognize them after they pass away. Their body does not decay. And a few other signs which should not be revealed
What is the use of declaring: ‘The world is real’ or ‘The world is an unreal appearance’; ‘The world is sentient’ or ‘The world is not sentient’; ‘The world is happiness’ or ‘The world is not happiness’?
(Bhagavan in ‘Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu’: v. 3)
Making statements like this without any experience is worthless.
Imagining this state of unity with God is useless
Trying to understand it is worthless
Experience the state – without ego. Where duality of the universe is gone !
Be there!
How ? No thoughts. No ego. No body. No imagination. That is pure consciousness. It is to be experienced while in the body. Not after death. That state is Samadhi.
But I know. Most people are eager to understand. Few will want to know how to still the mind. Some will say yoga , maha yoga, Raj yoga or Bhakti. But in all of them if the mind is active it can’t take you to God or self.
Isn’t it so curious?
Todays meditation was at a higher level. It was pure consciousness and in pure consciousness, there is simply awareness without I ness. This is the true witness, which is known as “saakshi bhava” The word has been very poorly understood and grossly misinterpreted by most people, making it a matter of convinience on their part, for inactivity and self congratulatory egotistic sense of pseudo progress.
In this pure consciousness, there is peace, a tremendous amount which has the power to overthrow and overcome any vibration of this world. A few months ago, a phrase came to me from the divine
“Defeaning sound of silence”
It will make no sense to most people so, I will elaborate. This is the experience of the vishudha chakra. As one is deep in meditation, there is a sudden loud sound like thunder which has the power to silence all other vibrations.
Sounds or nada, occur at 3 different levels. The most gross sound is that of the body and body functions, eg, breathing, heartbeat etc. They are the sounds of the Kauravas or “asura” Incidentally, the word sura means pleasant music and asura is the opposite. I must emphasize, that the disciple should never get stuck with these sounds, he or she MUST make a strong effort to go beyond these sounds, deeper in meditation.
The second level of sounds are the sounds which are the vibratory sounds of the activity of the mind, intellect, etc. They are more subtle but nevertheless, are helpful in taking us into deeper meditation
The third level of sounds are the vibratory sounds of the 5 basic elements. Very few disciples ever reach this level. They are sort of the “bija”. This is the level at which, one finally begins to have “siddhis” or more control. When one reaches this level, finally the lotus or the chakras (which are the nodes of consciousness) begin to turn over from downside to upside. In other words, the consciousness which keeps us bound and looking towards the world, finally begins to turn inside and upwards.
One final thing, a very clear perception which I had. Before the Gods were created, eg before Ganeshji was seen by the rest of the world, he existed as a bija mantra. This bija mantra is not recited but heard. And subsequently, he took birth as Lord Shivas son! This would explain why and how, as described in the Shiva Mahapurana, it is said that Lord Shiva prayed to Ganesh before his wedding. This occured before the birth of Ganeshji, i.e. Lord Shiva had a very clear perception of Ganesh as a bija mantra.
I talked with Pramodbhai today. I got confirmation that his difficulties have abated. Last time, I talked with him, I saw that his difficulties were to be lifted. I confirmed this and he said, yes for the last week his difficulties have gotten better. Pramodbhai Jaiswal, is very advanced. He has tremendously strong vibrations, mostly that from Neem Karoli Baba. The vibrations are not only strong but have a physical existence also. I have always been able to feel them, and I silently pray, every time I talk with him and I keep enjoying and absorbing those vibrations. I am very thankful to him for it.
I think I have said enough. I will hold off from writing more now! God bless everyone
Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi:
The Self is the one Reality that always exists, and it is by the light of the Self that all other things are seen. We forget it and concentrate on the appearance. The light in the hall burns both when persons are present and when they are absent, both when persons are enacting something, as in a theatre, and when nothing is being enacted. It is the light which enables us to see the hall, the persons and the acting. We are so engrossed with the objects or appearances revealed by the light, that we pay no attention to the light. In the waking or dream state in which things appear, and in the sleep state in which we see nothing, there is always the light of Consciousness or Self, like the hall lamp which is always burning. The thing to do is to concentrate on the seer and not on the seen, not on the objects, but on the Light which reveals them.
Questions about the reality of the world, and about the existence of pain or evil in the world, will all cease when you enquire ‘Who am I?’ and find out the seer. Without a seer the world and the evils thereof alleged do not exist. The world is of the form of the five categories of sense objects, and nothing else. These five kinds of objects are sensed by the five senses. As all are perceived by the mind through these five senses, the world is nothing but the mind. Is there a world apart from the mind?
Though the world and consciousness emerge and disappear together, the world shines or is perceived only through consciousness. That source wherein both these arise and disappear, and which itself neither appears nor disappears, is the perfect Reality.
Gems From Bhagavan
But once experienced the question of who am I never occurs! So Maharshi was speaking to those with curiosity and people who want to debate.
Otherwise if you ask am enlightened who are you? They will say ….. Chidananda Rupa … Or just remain silent because your question was illogical.
A common debate.
Recently someone sent me a video by SadGuru, about his take on Veg versus non veg.
For a Yogi, this is no debate. Anything that increases your attachment to a body is not good for meditation
Now of course there is no scientific study out there. But a yogi, it does not matter
Consciousness is not a subject of scientific study to begin with.
If you want to know what science says about vegetarian versus non veg., dont go to SadGuru. He is not a scientist. There is an abundance of information on it in medical journals, botanical journals.
What I say about it, will no doubted have my own bias. This bias is generated by information by Patanjali, Holy Science and Raj Yoga as written by Vivekananda.
I am clear on this. Medical science has not touched the surface of pure consciousness. Ask a Yogi for that..A true yogi who can touch pure consciousness. Go beyond the three bodies of the soul
I am yet to see any current so called Guru talk about causal body, describe it…let alone, describe the divine experiences in it.
If their experiences are limited to the gross physical body, they cannot help me in my quest
On the other hand, if someone wants to reach those layers of the consciousness, dont you think they should talk with someone who has gone there?
All the religious orators – from a purely spiritual standpoint – are nothing more – from my perspective – than a dance of eunuchs. Unable to give anything. Very few can give a direct perception of God
This applies to blogs also. Websites. In order to have a direct perception – spiritual awakening an awakened kundalini is needed.
You can tell everyone about being nice, be kind, not to get angry, hurt or upset but in reality very few can actually stay that way
Why? Without the awakened shakti it is not possible to get that inner cleansing
Otherwise all the talks – they give NOTHING. It is much sweeter to stay in meditation enjoying God love What discussion is needed after that ?
Link to Original Document
This is rather difficult, isn’t it? Every step of the way. We get confused. And lost. We ask for guidance and don’t even know if we can trust it.
Now in the path of spirituality, we are callous. We walk a path and then if we don’t like it we drop it and follow another path. The consequences of wrong steps ? All we think is a few years lost. But it is a lot more. The one opportunity to Go to Yoga and salvation is lost. But we are not bothered
On the other hand, if you make a wing business decision, money is lost. So what do we do ? We are very careful and try not to make the wrong decision. Here money is lost but we are very careful
So is there a way how we can avoid wrong decisions? Yes there is
Don’t get me wrong? I give you the theory. Not the practical proof
The correct answer is unerring intuition
Sri Aurobindo Congress another word – liberation of the psychic. What he meant was an aspect of soul that constantly turns to God
Both instances are very challenging. We make the mistake of thinking our emotions and thoughts are soul guidance or intuition. This of course is absurd.
The next question is how can I differentiate between thoughts and our random fantasy and intuition? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
IT is quite easy. When the mind and emotions are silent, then something within sends a vibration, coming from above and that vibration if you can see it , decipher it and follow it – can save a lot of anguish in life ! Simple
There maybe more steps in between though!
This is what Aurobindo says
There is only one thing which knows in you, that’s your psychic; it makes no mistake, it will immediately, instantaneously tell you, if you obey it without a word and without your ideas and arguments, it will make you do the right thing. But all the rest… you are lost. And for everything: what are you going to study, what are you not going to study, what work are you going to do, what path are you going to take? But then there are all the possibilities which come in, all that you have either studied or met in life, all the suggestions you have received from all sides, which are there, like that, dancing around you. And with what will you decide? I am speaking of people who are absolutely sincere and have no preconceived ideas, prejudices, established rules which they follow in a mechanical routine, without endeavouring to know the truth at all, and for whom their mental construction is the truth. Then it is so simple, one goes straight on his path, bumps his nose against the wall but doesn’t notice it until the nose is smashed. But otherwise it is terribly difficult.
This was what Sri Aurobindo meant when he said that one lived constantly in ignorance and that unless the mind of ignorance is replaced by the mind of light one could not follow the true path, and that this was the indispensable preparation before any integral transformation could take place.
The Mother, Questions and Answers 1955, CWM volume 7, page 222.
Everyone misses the point
Meditation is not to focus on the world or body but to focus on pure consciousness
Someone has to introduce you to pure consciousness otherwise you cannot succeed
It is that simple
Bhavin
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