When I use the word Yoga, many people have the vision of someone chanting Om om or sitting in various Yogic postures or doing breathing exercise. Those things are a small part of Yoga. The true meaning of Yoga means to be united with God. Choose whatever path that suits your fancy but the fastest way nad perhaps the only safe way is performing Yoga under the guidance of a TRUE GURU. Many people claim, to know about Kundalini, Siddha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Kevali Pranayama, Yoga, etc but how do you differentiate the the true Guru from a charlatan. Everyone can read about things and claim and sometimes even with the best intention be misguided.
The same question was asked by Parshuram – to his spiritual Guru Dattatreya. And Dattatreya Bhagwan said, it is almost impossible to differentiate them. However, there is one subtle clue. Ask a true Guru to interpret anything from a scripture and they will come out with something very subtle, sublime which is not known to the others.
The role of a Guru is to awaken the shakti in the disciple and lead him or her to a direct perception of God. People who are halfway there can also awaken the Shakti but that is a dangerous business both for the so called Guru and the disciple. A person can ONLY assume the role of a Guru when directed by God. The Guru takes up the sins and personality of the disciple and unless he or she is able to work those outs, he will most certainly fall.
Right now, I not know of anyone who is out in the public who is qualified to awaken the shakti (and permitted). So a warning for my kids – there is NO ONE right now. It is sad. However, I am glad they had their shakti in part awakened by Mangaltirthji Maharaj. I have imparted some of my shakti to them – under the Guidance of Kashinathdada. The seeds are there. At some point the tree will blossom.
In the mean time, I struggle with my own problems. I have been sick sick with sinus problems and fever. It is a blessing. It gives me an opportunity for spiritual progress in many ways.
1) When the body is sick, it is a lot harder to seperate the soul consciousness from the body. The body constantly pulls one down and keep us identified with the body. There are two great examples of Yukteshwar Maharaj and Yogananda. Yukeshwar maharaj was sick. After a month of feeling sick, he had lost a lot of weight and he went to see his Guru Lahiri Mahashaya. Lahiri Mahashaya chided him and said, “Yukteshwar, what have you done with your body?” He said, “Guruji, I have been sick” Lahiri Mahashaya, said, “What nonsense. I say you are not sick” Instantly he felt better. The next day, Yukteshwar went back to see his Guru and Lahiri Mahashaya said, “Be careful, Yukteshwar, you dont want to fall sick again. Take things lightly”. The next day, Yukteshwar felt sick again. This went on for a few days – feeling sick and better alternately. Finally, Lahiri Mahashaya said, “Yukteshwar, this is all in your mind. Your mind is making you sick and your own mind is making you feel good. Now sit down and be firm in your resolution – do sankalpa and it will come to pass” It is said that Yukteshwar then did Sankalpa that he was healthy and his weight be doubled and he instantly was healthy and his weight was back to normal. In fact, people who saw him immediately, thought he had “dropsy” (an old term for congestive heart failure). But the truth was he had total mastery!
A similar story is told of Yogananda, when he was sick with fever and other health issues. He was summoned by his Guru Yukteshwar Maharaj. With much difficulty, Yogananda made it to visit his Guru. His Guru told him to perform Bhastrika Pranayama. Now that is one of the more challenging pranayama and is perhaps almost impossible to perform when you have fever and have body aches all over. Yogananda protested, “Guruji, you have no idea how I feel. I can barely walk” But since he was directed by his Guru, he did the pranayama and he was cured instantly.
I should add, do NOT try these things at home. Smile. After all, they were siddha Gurus and could perform these things.
So, I welcome this opporutnity of being sick to overcome this weakness. I know I cannot reach their level but one has to keep trying and persevering with all our might.
2) When one is sick, a few other things happen. The bodily consciousness or Abhinivesha as described by Patanjali, the body does not like it and and that dislike keeps us bound. One has to slowly, learn to be neutral to it and calmly let the Divine get rid of the uneasy feeling, the dislike and seperate our consciousness and the restraints imposed on the soul by the delusion of bodily identification.
3) The third thing that happens, is when one is sick we tend to have unhealthy dreams. Again, this is a result of the prana ascending in the wrong nadi. This nadi is at the Vishudha chakra. When one can remain neutral, we slowly get the ability to prevent the prana going in this nadi called Swapna Hedki.
The process of liberation is difficult – very difficult indeed. Hasten slowly!
One final comment, many years ago, more than ten years ago, my mother was sitting upstairs meditating. I was happy to see her make an attempt. I was passing by and did a Sankalpa that may she see Gurudev. Immediately, she saw Gurudev. Later that day, she was bragging, Bhavin, you have no idea, I saw Gurudev today. I merely smiled!
Bhavin