The Impermanence of Outer Beauty

https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-impermanence-of-outer-beauty_3145601.html

Equally true for men also

It is the sad reality. At a younger age we are obsessed looking at the mirror while the hour glass of death is about our head and we remain oblivious to it.

At a later age we see death approaching but shocked

Someone smart drew this

But very few observers will wake up to this reality

I read the translation and explanation of Vigyana Bhairava

Extraordinary book. Original written 1200 years ago by Abhinav Gupta.

Translation is one matter. But to truly give an explanation you have to be a yogi with deep experiences

Otherwise you will mislead and misguide people

I am not at liberty to write the correct explanation.

My answer was

First one must have a clear understanding of who is a yogi and definition of a Guru
Right now , everyone has the misconception that they are a great yogi or Guru
Sad is the plight of the world when people want to be a Yogi or Guru.
Why do you care to be either?
Isn’t it enough to remain hidden in the love of God?
Achieve God first. His love is enough.

Your goal should only be God. Gyana mata life is worth remembering and emulating

That is what I follow. This is for those who label things

For those who are curious, sanatana is not properly described in the web

But feel free to look it up

On the final step – pray without desire

In the initial stages pray to get liberation, to find a Guru , to have perpetual deep experiences in meditation

The true devotee’s heart is always saying: “My Lord, my Lord, I do not want to become ensnared in the delusory drama of Thy creation. I want no part of it except to help in establishing Thy temple in the souls of men. My heart, my soul, my body and mind – everything belongs to Thee.” Such devotion reaches God. That devotee knows God.

Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

Yogananda tried to establish love for God. However he knew his indivisible higher self also

They want to be stuck!

Their choices are messed up because of that!

1. We think our desires of the body will go away once we have a Guru or we have spiritual awakening or we know ourselves

Truth is you have to make a constant protracted perpetual effort of giving up physical desires before a Guru appears or you have a glimpse within!

2. We will forego heaven and self realization for our ego generated wrong convictions. These convictions include – my religion is correct. My church is correct. My teacher or Guru is correct. My path of swaminarayana or Krishna etc is correct and I will be saved. My book is correct

Truth is God is above all books or dogma. And is much more than your puny understanding. For you to truly reach there your soul has to reach infinity. With that comes infinite understanding. Many many secrets will come out

And inspite of all this your intellect will say this seems right or wrong. Which is another door or block. Your ego and intellect prevents the divine self realization in dawning instantly

The goal is there.
Described in detail. But written in secret code

Few know about them, fewer understand and even less practice it properly, hardly any finishes the journey

Here is an interesting ratio

Watch it. Entertaining

To a yogi this is duh. Obviously It will be true

This ratio is part of progress spiritually. It is Shakti in action.

It is his it is. The only one person who talked about it was Abhinav Gupta in the 9th century

He was one of the greatest yogi – follower of Shaivism

Once you study Shaivism, you will conclude it is the highest

I am not into any religion. It would be unfair of God if he said only those who believe in Christ gets salvation
That’s means all those who were born before Christ are lost. And anyone who has not heard of him is lost

Sadly there are many foolish people like that. Such dogma is present in ISKCon. They say the same about Krishna

Swaminarayan say that about Swaminarayan

Similarly in Islam

I stand away from them.

Santana dharma stands high and above all such narrow mindedness.

They came up with the name sacchidananda. Something that describes the attributes of God. Pure consciousness.

Find and associate with a self realized person ! He is verily God. Don’t worship idols or icons in temples, etc.

Well I don’t know anyone like that – then find a true person on the path

I don’t know anyone like that – then go to some living samadhi in India

I don’t know of any such place – then go to a Sidha pith in India. The spiritual vibrations are very strong in some places

I can’t travel there – read scriptures from enlightened people. Those scriptures are living words of God.

I don’t believe in scriptures. I wonder about authenticity – no problem. Just pray daily with faith and devotion and purity. Lord I only want thee. I don’t want any pleasures of the world. If you like treat me by depriving me of the pleasures

There you have it.

You will not want the test – were lord deprives you of pleasures of the body. ( food etc )You will get depressed and bitter

If you remain joyful the lord has to appear in person

Prayer in which your very soul is burning with desire for God is the only effectual prayer. You have prayed like that at some time, no doubt; perhaps when you wanted something very badly, or urgently needed money – then you burned up the ether with your desire. That is how you must feel for God. Talk to Him day and night; you will see that He will respond.

Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

This is the best way to connect up God

But it should be selfless. Only wanting him. This prayer attracts the attention of great perfected Guru and then they send a messenger. This takes you to God very swiftly

Babaji sent Yogananda for maybe 2-3 people.

What a sacrifice! Such great people will come . Assume a physical body – if only there are 2 or 3 people on earth ! They don’t ask for many genuine people

So is there God?
Just the divine self?
Who casts the grace?

There is God when you don’t know yourself

This puny ego which you call your self needs that Grace.

Why disgrace yourself? Why get stuck in that ego? What a fool!

John 10:34

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”‘?

Why stay stuck.

Once stuck you will need a reminder. Someone to help get rid of the Satan or darkness in you. Otherwise, desires for the flesh will keep you bound. We can’t get rid of the desires for the flesh. That is the breaking point.

God / divine self. Or the flesh.

We want the flesh desires. So unfortunate

So is there God?
Just the divine self?
Who casts the grace?

There is God when you don’t know yourself

This puny ego which you call your self needs that Grace.

Why disgrace yourself? Why get stuck in that ego? What a fool! Know ye not that your

Because they have ego
The biggest ego is thinking they know and understand
Even these blogs – there is a sentence from day Ramana maharshi. Or Yogananda

What do I do ? I write an understanding / explanation / expound on what they say or meant. Worse still is when we try to correct what they said

And then I get likes or dislikes or a nod.

This is the truth. We have no qualification compared to them.
We can like what they say
We can only partially understand what they say
We can try to achieve what they tell us
But if it does not agree with our understanding we should not deny it. Rather say wish I could comprehend or achieve it. My intellect is not pure yet

In any of the above cases, our ego puts its ugly face out there

Perfection needs no addendum
If it did it is not perfect

But it may need an explanation for dim wits

That’s all

The Searcher of Hearts wants only your sincere love. He is like a little child: someone may offer Him his whole wealth and He doesn’t want it; and another cries to Him, “O Lord, I love you!” and into that devotee’s heart He comes running. Don’t seek God with any ulterior motive, but pray to Him with devotion – unconditional, one-pointed, steady devotion. When your love for Him is as great as your attachment to your mortal body, He will come to you.

Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

What more can be said

Easy for the pure in heart.

Pure in heart – genuinely seeking God

If you can talk with God – your in the right direction

Talk with God. Not a prayer or monologue. A situation where god appears in front of you!

Not impossible. Be pure

Someone assured this question

My reply was

Depends on what level you are at and what you seek

1. Smoothest book – the divine Romance
2. Wow book – how to talk with God
3. Sheer Yoga – God talks with Arjuna
4. Intellectual book – science of religion

Talking about books there is a nice book by Donald Hoffman on consciousness.

This would be for people who want to understand consciousness not experience it

The case against reality

My opinion. Why bother. Just experience it!

This is what Yogananda said

Why forgive one who wrongs you? Because if you angrily strike back you misrepresent your own divine soul nature — you are no better than your offender. But if you manifest spiritual strength you are blessed, and the power of your righteous behavior will also help the other person to overcome his misunderstanding.
The desire for vengeance is a karmic cage that imprisons both individuals and cultures into enduring suffering. If you carry a strong enough desire for vengeance into your after-life, you will have to reincarnate in circumstances where you can fulfill that desire.
But then your “victim” will have to get his chance for vengeance. On and on goes this terrible cycle until you can say “Enough, let God, not me be the judge.” You will pass a great test of karma if you truly pray that God forgive your adversary.

The latter half is from Ananda.org. He was also a direct disciple of Yogananda

He did write it properly. There are a few deeper reasons for it. But that is not for public discussion.

You CANNOT regress to learn about past life with hypnosis

This has been kept hidden and will remain hidden till your sufficiently advanced

Those who claim hypnosis as a tool to past life are liars

In fact regression even into childhood memories is inadmissible in court of law since it has been almost always a lie. How can you regress to past life ?

I know a few who know their past life. But that is an exception.

Kriyā Yoga is an instrument through which human evolution can be accelerated.

The ancient yogis discovered that the secret of cosmic consciousness is intimately linked to the domain of breathing.

This is an immortal and incomparable contribution that india offers to the flow of human knowledge. Vital Energy, which is generally absorbed in the maintenance of heart activity, must be released in favor of superior activities, using the method of calm and silence the uninterrupted demands of breathing. –

Swami Shri Yukteswar.

No editing or explanation to be given. That can be done by your Guru

You’re Still ‘Alive’ After Death Say Researchers, Who’re Studying the Conscious Mind

https://www.theepochtimes.com/youre-still-alive-after-death-say-researchers-whore-studying-the-conscious-mind-2_2954766.html

For the latest US and political news download The Epoch Times app now! https://ept.ms/2mCEjel

Having said that – epoch times is not a very reliable source
Neither is Dr Oz

What do a do?

Someone asked me about Deepak Chopra. He has been on multiple national TV shows, has multiple books. Surely he is great

My answer to this question was

Being famous , popular, liked or rich does not mean there is anything of substance

Very similar to many politicians, singers, religious leaders, doctors – famous but no substance

The highest people are those that no one knows. There have been many tirthankars, sufis, saints that hardly 5 people knew

No one went to them or will go to them for advancement

People are generally comfortable with their ignorance and refuse to get out

Like Vivekananda said , they want to stay in their fish storage horse ( or pig sty)

So many words seem different but they mean the same
Why do they appear different ? Ignorance. No experience

Be still
Love yourself
Love God
Know yourself
Surrender
Knowledge ( experience )
Bhakti
Yoga
Mediation

But they can be known as the same only when you reach the final step. Before that – there are very subtle differences

Like the faces of an octagonal cone

• Paramahansa Yogananda meets Sri Ramana Maharshi *

Swami Yogananda with four others arrived at 8.45 a.m. (29th November, 1935) He looks big,but gentle and well-groomed. He has dark flowing hair, hanging over his shoulders. The group had lunch in the Asramam.

Mr. C. R. Wright, his secretary, asked:

How shall I realise God?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.:
God is an unknown entity.
Moreover He is external.
Whereas,the Self is always with you and it is you.
Why do you leave out what is intimate and
go in for what is external?

Q.: What is this Self again?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.:
The Self is known to everyone but not clearly.
You always exist.
The Being is the Self.
‘I am’ is the name of God.
Of all the definitions of God,
none is indeed so well put as the Biblical
statement “I AM THAT I AM” in EXODUS (Chap. 3).
There are other statements,
such as Brahmaivaham, Aham Brahmasmi and Soham.
But none is so direct as the name JEHOVAH = I AM.
The Absolute Being is what is – It is the Self.
It is God.
Knowing the Self, God is known.
In fact God is none other than the Self.

Q.: Why are there good and evil?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.: They are relative terms.
There must be a subject to know the good and evil.
That subject is the ego.
Trace the source of the ego.
It ends in the Self.
The source of the ego is God.
This definition of God is probably more concrete and better understood by you.

Q.: So it is. How to get Bliss?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.: Bliss is not something to be got.
On the other hand you are always Bliss.
This desire is born of the sense of incompleteness.
To whom is this sense of incompleteness?
Enquire.
In deep sleep you were blissful:
Now you are not so.
What has interposed between that Bliss and this non-bliss?
It is the ego.
Seek its source and find you are Bliss.
There is nothing new to get.
You have, on the other hand,
to get rid of your ignorance
which makes you think that you are other than Bliss.
For whom is this ignorance?
It is to the ego.
Trace the source of the ego.
Then the ego is lost and Bliss remains over.
It is eternal.
You are That, here and now.…
That is the master key for solving all doubts.
The doubts arise in the mind.
The mind is born of the ego.
The ego rises from the Self.
Search the source of the ego and the Self is revealed.
That alone remains.
The universe is only expanded Self.
It is not different from the Self.

Q.: What is the best way of living?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.: It differs according as one is a Jnani or ajnani.
A Jnani does not find anything different or separate from the Self.
All are in the Self.
It is wrong to imagine that there is the world,
that there is a body in it and that you dwell in the body.
If the Truth is known,the universe and
what is beyond it will be found to be only in the Self.
The outlook differs according to the sight of the person.
The sight is from the eye.
The eye must be located somewhere.
If you are seeing with the gross
eyes you find others gross.
If with subtle eyes (i.e., the mind) others appear subtle.
If the eye becomes the Self, the Self being infinite,
the eye is infinite.
There is nothing else to see different from the Self.

He thanked Maharshi. He was told that the best way of thanking
is to remain always as the Self.

Later the Swami Yogananda asked:
How is the spiritual uplift of the people to be effected?
What are the instructions to be given them?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.: They differ according to the temperaments of the individuals and
according to the spiritual ripeness of their minds.
There cannot be any instruction en masse.

Swami Yogananda.: Why does God permit suffering in the world?
Should He not with His omnipotence do away with it at one stroke and
ordain the universal realisation of God?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.: Suffering is the way for Realisation of God.

Swami Yogananda : Should He not ordain differently?
Sri Ramana Maharshi.: It is the way.

Swami Yogananda .: Are Yoga, religion, etc., antidotes to suffering?
Sri Ramana Maharshi.: They help you to overcome suffering.

Swami Yogananda.: Why should there be suffering?

Sri Ramana Maharshi.: Who suffers?
What is suffering?
No answer!

Finally the Yogi rose up, prayed for Sri Bhagavan’s blessings for his own work and
expressed great regret for his hasty return.
He looked very sincere and devoted and even emotional.

~ From talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi book ,Talks : 106,107

Yogananda displayed a lot more powers. Ramana maharshi rarely did. But he always remained in Advaita

Yogananda did not. Staying at a slightly lower level he talked a lot about ways to progress. Depending on flaws of individual he changed methods to teach

ENDURANCE;

 You need not drown in the river of life when you encounter the strong storms of trials. Learn to be an expert boatman and you can row across this tumultuous river to the safe shores of God. "He that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22). As you work and plan, remember that it is God who is working through you. Your mind should be charged with joy and detached from all unpleasant experiences. Be active, but not constantly active; relax completely when not active. Strenghthen your will power so that you will not be controlled by circumstances, but will control them. Develop your will power by striving to do things that you thought you could not do. Work for others. Thus will you develop endurance and strength.


A “Para-Gram” by Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

However it is difficult We have become like a Pavlov dog, trained by circumstances to get depressed, anxious, angry and pessimist

Yogananda has given us the right attitude. The best way to develop that attitude is by deep meditation

Love for someone else is inferior. And is binding.
Love for yourself – here yourself refers to the higher pure consciousness which is the true self – is true self.
However without mediation you will think and only know yourself as Ego. Loving that ego brings destruction. Why? You will not be able to find or surrender to a true Guru
Foolishly, purple think of information as knowledge or progress but that is not so

How do you know you have reached that true consciousness? There is love for others. Instantly. Equally. You will love your every as much as you love your kids or husband and b much more than your desire or love for food sex etc

A human life is rare? Human population is 7 billion

Insect population – 10 quintillion
Fish – 3.5 trillion
Bacteria 5 million trillion trillion

Human life is relatively rare.

This brings the question of rebirth – some may agree. However, many will not be able to believe in rebirth as an animal

The only way to know for sure is by deep mediation. Or having faith in the words of shastra or enlightened people like Yogananda.

Since your own mediation is extremely weak – meaning you have not experienced yourself as pure consciousness without any body ( gross or subtle or causal) – you cannot grasp or accept.

With trillion of people on earth hardly less than 100 have true strong desire for that divine experience. We may think we have that desire – but it is contaminated with other desires of food, sex, money, fame

True desire for that experience includes a strong desire of that experience alone

Those who have that kind of desire that will certainly find a Guru. Such Guru are rare. It will be difficult to hold on to such a Guru though. Your mind will betray you with doubts.

I have written a lot but hardly one has understood. Or asked for more. Few ask where can I find such a Guru

What a tragedy !

It’s already too late to ask

Simple isn’t it?

Just don’t think

Try it!

I suspect this was not translated properly. Here instead of work, use the word money.

If your not destined to make money you simply won’t. However, you must make the effort

If your destined to make money, you will make money at the right time. Meaning there is no need to steal, or do other illegal activity – the money will come looking for you

Now in this message there is a hidden trick given. However few can grasp it and fewer will know how to use it

You have to learn it from someone

VICHARA IS NOT INTELLECTUAL, BUT INWARD
AND SUBTLE

D. If I go on rejecting thoughts can I call it vichara?

M. It may be a stepping-stone. But really vichara begins when you cling to yourself and are already off the mental movement, the thought-waves. off the mental movement, the thought-waves.

D. Then vichara is not intellectual?
M. No, it is anthara vichara, inner quest.

D. That is dhyana?
M. To stick to a position unassailed by thoughts is abhyasa or sadhana, you are watchful. But the condition grows intenser and deeper when your effort and all responsibilities are taken away from you; that is arudha, siddhi state.

• Sat Darshana Bhashya and Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

Finally we have clarity. Here Ramana Maharshi states clearly what ( vichara ) thoughts are. He does not call the superficial thinking and emotions we have daily as thoughts. He refers to something much much deeper. To this he uses the word vichara Since there is no English translation, the occurred of calling it as thoughts.

He calls vichara as the single first thought or wave that created the universe. That thought which created the universe is vichara and that is the one he wants us to observe and remove

“They both listened silently to the water, which to them was not just water, but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.”
Hermann Hesse – Siddhartha

Guruji – Lake Chapala, Mexico 1929.

Yogananda quoted this in the past

The water is a secret yogic technique which creates life

I cannot say more in public

How do you create it?

We keep reading books. We think we have love and faith. But the moment we get a speeding ticket, we get apprehensive or angry

In difficult times our behavior changes. We wonder is our prayer reaching God.

We have spent multiple life’s and will spend more life’s trying to figure out the right way to making this secure. In our foolishness, we belong merely reciting his name, changing, saying a prayer On weekend, or Hong to temple, church etc does it. Sadly. It does not.

True love develops after seeing God. Faith is the one step before the final merger

So how does one develop that faith and love?

The mind – true for everyone- has doubts
Jesus scoffed Peter “ye men of little faith”. Peter has walked side by Side with the lord. Yet he could not have faith.

Whaat is to be done?

“It is never a question of belief; the only scientific attitude one can take on any subject is whether it is true. The law of gravitation worked as efficiently before Newton as after him. The cosmos would be fairly chaotic if its laws could not operate without the sanction of human belief.

~ Sri Yukteshwar Giri ji
Autobiography of a Yogi

The difference is this.
Gods love is always there. It is more likely to give results when you have faith / a certainty that God can give results

We lack that faith. We can’t make the Red Sea part. Even though Gods love is there and willing to part it

In the recent times many saints have shown the miracles of God from full faith. There are stories like that in the Bible. In the autobiography of a yogi.

Nagendranath Gupta , Ramkrishna disciple had the Ganga river sprout a fountain instantly merely by saying, “if I have worshipped you once correctly let the river sprout here”

What is laughable is since then many may have tried, but few have succeeded.

So what is wrong with our purity? Why can’t we do the same

Now when you read this, all written by Maharshi it seems like a riddle

The method to dissolve the mind has to be slowly uncovered. Like a banyan tree leaves. The final peel and there is no mind !

What he says is – the final step is giving up the struggle to know. And it is done

But that is the final step. Until the last step is taken effort is made to get to it

How to do it?

Satan is fear. Satan is doubt. Satan is ego. Satan is illusion

Since it is part of our thinking how do we rid of it ?

“Egotism is an anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.”

Spiritually we are extremely stupid. We think we have made progress when all we have done is made a tiny step.

An example is – you read my blogs. And you think there is something gained. But what was gained is clarity. However most often, with that clarity comes ego of information. If you can read my blogs, get clarity, not divulge the information and not develop ego then you will discover a slight push within to make progress

But that would be difficult – not developing ego

More about it later

Do you think of past experiences? Oh that was a good time or bad time? Then you have more to work on!
What is that source? What does it feel like?
Oh its like water on a lotus petal

True partly. To keep the mind at its source is not easy. It constantly has its demand for food, pleasures. So it cannot go to its source
That’s why meditation!

A simple test

For those who do not have knowledge [of themself], [and] for those who have, the world is real. For those who have not known [themself], reality is [limited to] the extent of the world; for those who have known [themself], reality pervades devoid of form as the support for the world. This is the difference between them. Consider.
Ramana
(Bhagavan in ‘Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu’: v. 18)

• Translated by Michael James.

This is the universal statement from anyone who has gone to the highest.

Remember that when this happened in Chicago, Yogananda was not born. Vivekananda saved his life while Vivekananda was in India
Vivekananda never mentioned what he did to anyone

“Mr. Dickinson!” The next parcel contained a gift, which I had bought in a Calcutta bazaar. “Mr. Dickinson will like this”, – I had thought at the time. A dearly beloved disciple, Mr. Dickinson had been present at every Christmas festivity since the 1925 founding of Mt. Washington. At this eleventh annual celebration, he was standing before me, untying the ribbons of his square little package.

“The silver cup!” Struggling with emotion, he stared at the present, a tall drinking cup. He seated himself some distance away, apparently in a daze. I smiled at him affectionately before resuming my role as Santa Claus.

The ejaculatory evening closed with a prayer to the Giver of all gifts; then a group singing of Christmas carols.

Mr. Dickinson and I were chatting together some time later.

“Sir”, – he said: “please let me thank you now for the silver cup. I could not find any words on Christmas night”.

“I brought the gift especially for you”.

“For forty-three years I have been waiting for that silver cup! It is a long story, one I have kept hidden within me”. Mr. Dickinson looked at me shyly. “The beginning was dramatic: I was drowning. My older brother had playfully pushed me into a fifteen-foot pool in a small town in Nebraska. I was only five years old then. As I was about to sink for the second time under the water, a dazzling multicolored light appeared, filling all space. In the midst was the figure of a man with tranquil eyes and a reassuring smile. My body was sinking for the third time, when one of my brother’s companions bent a tall slender willow tree in such a low dip, that I could grasp it with my desperate fingers. The boys lifted me to the bank and successfully gave me first-aid treatment.

Twelve years later, a youth of seventeen, I visited Chicago with my mother. It was 1893; the great World Parliament of Religions was in session. Mother and I were walking down a main street, when again I saw the mighty flash of light. A few paces away, strolling leisurely along, was the same man I had seen years before in vision. He approached a large auditorium and vanished within the door.

“Mother”, I cried: “that was the man, who appeared at the time I was drowning!” She and I hastened into the building; the man was seated on a lecture platform. We soon learned that he was Swami Vivekananda of India. After he had given a soul-stirring talk, I went forward to meet him. He smiled on me graciously, as though we were old friends. I was so young that I did not know how to give expression to my feelings, but in my heart I was hoping that he would offer to be my teacher. He read my thought.

“No, my son, I am not your guru”. Vivekananda gazed with his beautiful, piercing eyes deep into my own: “Your teacher will come later. He will give you a silver cup”. After a little pause, he added, smiling: “He will pour out to you more blessings than you are now able to hold”.

“I left Chicago in a few days”, – Mr. Dickinson went on: “and never saw the great Vivekananda again. But every word he had uttered was indelibly written on my inmost consciousness. Years passed; no teacher appeared. One night in 1925 I prayed deeply that the Lord would send me my Guru. A few hours later, I was awakened from sleep by soft strains of melody. A band of celestial beings, carrying flutes and other instruments, came before my view. After filling the air with glorious music, the angels slowly vanished.
The next evening I attended, for the first time, one of your lectures here in Los Angeles, and knew then that my prayer had been granted”.

We smiled at each other in silence.

“For eleven years now I have been your Kriya Yoga disciple”, – Mr. Dickinson continued: “Sometimes I wondered about the silver cup; I had almost persuaded myself that Vivekananda’s words were only metaphorical. But on Christmas night, as you handed me the square box by the tree, I saw, for the third time in my life, the same dazzling flash of light. In another minute I was gazing on my Guru’s gift which Vivekananda had foreseen for me forty-three years earlier a silver cup!”

Paramhansa Yogananda

(“The Autobiogarphy of a Yogi” by Paramhansa Yogananda; Ch. 47 “I Return to the West”)

Vivekananda said

Swami Vivekananda’s wisdom for daily inspiration.

I will tell you a great lesson I have learnt in this life. It is this: “The higer is your ideal, the more miserable you are”.

He [Sri Yukteswar] added humbly. ‘If ever you find me falling from a state of God-realisation, please promise to put my head on your lap and help to bring me back to the Cosmic Beloved we both worship’.
~ Paramhansa Yogananda -Autobiography of a Yogi

Yukteshwar was asked by Yogananda parents and yukteshwar told them he had much to do. This obviously hurt his parents feelings. After his parents left, Yogananda gently said please spare my parents hurt feelings from my lack of progress.

That’s when yukteshwar said

He [Sri Yukteswar] added humbly. ‘If ever you find me falling from a state of God-realisation, please promise to put my head on your lap and help to bring me back to the Cosmic Beloved we both worship’.
~ Paramhansa Yogananda -Autobiography of a Yogi

It is difficult for such enlightened people to err. That is what yukteshwar meant. IF.

Yoga Vasistha is one of the highest books ever.

It has everything in it. Including details of life in other planets and universes.

This statement is literally true. Few are lucky enough to experience immortality and nectar

The book of course talks about those people!

How do you reach there?

Non stop practice!

Practice of? – not having thoughts!

How do I stop thoughts? – proper meditation. Not the meditation that focuses on body or imagines things or imagines Chakra

Help! I can’t stop thoughts – learn the trick. It is not in books. Universal problem. Takes time. Patience.

How can I do it faster? – simple. Pure heart. Occurs instantly.

From ~ A Sadhu’s Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi, P.22

Major Chadwick, a principal western disciple
about Sri Ramana.;

Bhagavan was a very beautiful person; he shone with a visible light or aura. He had the most delicate hands I have ever seen with which alone he could express himself, one might almost say talk. His features were regular and the wonder of his eyes was famous. His forehead was high and the dome of his head the highest I have ever seen. As this in India is known as the dome of Wisdom it was only natural that it should be so. His body was well formed and of only medium height, but this was not apparent as his personality was so dominant that one looked upon him as tall. He had a great sense of humor and when talking a smile was never far from his face. He had many jokes in his repertoire and was a magnificent actor; he would always dramatize the protagonists of any story he related. When the recital was very pathetic he would be filled with emotion and unable to proceed. When people came to him with their family stories he would laugh with the happy and at times shed tears with the bereaved. In this way he seemed to reciprocate the emotions of others. He never raised his voice and if he did occasionally seem angry there was no sign of it on the surface of his Peace. Talk to him immediately afterwards and he would answer calmly and quite undisturbed.

The enlightened behave in ways mysterious to those who struggle with material desires

So here is a logic used by Ramana Maharshi. He is accurate but that logic belongs to a higher realm. You cannot use his logic or discussion when trying to explain to someone only belonging to this world

D.: If one is to withdraw oneself, why is there the world?

M.: Where is the world and where does one go withdrawing oneself?
Does one fly in an aeroplane beyond space? Is it withdrawal?
The fact is this: the world is only an idea. What do you say: Are you within the world or is the world within you?

D.: I am in the world. I am part of it.

M.: That is the mistake. If the world were to exist apart from you, does it come and tell you that it exists?
No, you see it exists. You see it when you are awake and not when asleep.
If it exists apart from you, it must tell you so and you must be aware of it even in your sleep.

D.: I became aware of it in my jagrat.

M.: Do you become aware of yourself and then of the world?
Or do you become aware of the world and then of yourself?
Or do you become aware of both simultaneously?

D.: I must say simultaneously.

M.: Were you or were you not, before becoming aware of yourself?
Do you admit your continued existence before and when you become aware of the world?

D.: Yes.

M.: If always existing yourself, why are you not aware of the world in sleep if it exists apart from the Self?

D.: I become aware of myself and of the world also.

M.: So you become aware of yourself. Who becomes aware of whom?
Are there two selves?

D.: No.

M.: So you see that it is wrong to suppose that awareness has passing phases. The Self is always aware. When the Self identifies itself as the seer it sees objects. The creation of the subject and the object is the creation of the world.

Subjects and objects are creations in Pure
Consciousness. You see pictures moving on the screen in a cinema show. When you are intent on the pictures you are not aware of the screen. But the pictures cannot be seen without the screen behind.
The world stands for the pictures and Consciousness stands for the screen.
The Consciousness is pure.
It is the same as the Self which is eternal and unchanging.

Get rid of the subject and object
and Pure Consciousness will alone remain.

~ Talks with Sri Ramana Maharishi, #453

What is the fault with the logic. If someone lives in China and you are not aware of it, can you say he does not exist? Thus the existence of the world continues when the person dies

The level at which Ramana Maharshi was talking at was so far beyond everything, that’s why no matter who it is, you will find great difficulty following the logic

I have said this before and also vaguely mentioned how to get rid of it

Aurobindo wrote very well on it

The only person who thought you can get rid of desire by satisfaction is Rajneesh. Osho. From what I understand – I could be wrong, my apologies – he said if you like sex indulge in it as much as you can and want. People did it quite liberally in his Ashram. Of course it was very popular and he became quite popular

Some roads will lead to total disaster. So pick your road wisely. There are roads that teach rituals, thinking of the body ( and indulging), Satanic worship, imaginary meditation, using drugs etc.
God has given everyone an opportunity to practice whatever suits them

The only road that leads to God is the road that teaches purity. Humbleness. Surrender. Love for God. Tolerance. Forgiveness. Non attachment to worldly things – including the pleasures of body.

It would be cruel to tell everyone to instantly have those qualities. It takes time. Forgetting your the body with proper technique under the guidance of a Guru saves 100, 000 years of hard labor. That is what Yogananda said. The shastras say the same

But your ego week prevent you from surrendering to a Guru or even finding one. The Guru is quite special. His greatness is not in giving lectures. It is something special that causes quick transformation

Turn the mind within
Read the statement! Applaud. Wow so great. So wonderful
And everyone thinks they know how to turn the mind inside
Some reactions I have seen

1. Oh simple! Very simple – meditate.
2. Its nothing – yoga!!!!!
3. What is there to it? Sing and dance to the glory of God
4. Surrender to God. He will take care of it.
5. Holy water. Duh
6. The witness attitude. Smug look
7. Karma yoga. In Gita he says that is the best method. Fastest. ( They forget karma yoga means not attracted to pleasures of body also)
8. And the list goes on

But seriously think about it. You try to mediatate – the mind wanders. You can imagine going in, imagine Chakra but that is not truly going within is it?

Yoga – so many half baked ignorant methods that has left people bewildered. I feel sorry for the lost ones they go deeper in the rabbit hole

Turn the mind within
Think about it – how do you do that ? God is within but you simply don’t know how to turn it within. You have heard of techniques and you may try it and your mind can easily imagine things. Some are chemically induced and some from a susceptible hypnotized mind – gullible
Do you see the maze? Who do you believe?
A famous person? A rich orator? Someone who quotes the Bible? Or can talk in sanskrit?

Turn the mind within!
Not so simple is it. So at this point you have a few options.

1. Imagine you know the method feel proud
2. Be confident of someone even though he or she knows something
3. Give up in frustration
4. Too difficult. Say I don’t care
5. Keep reading or searching

Turn the mind within. Simply ask a true Guru how

So I tire of blogs
And the spirtual talks
Books and vedas
Courses and yoga
Have no scope
Read the upanishad
Read the Gita
Read the Bible
And the recitals
They are like a tour book
A charming promise
Of things not seen

To get there
You need a passport
A visa and a guide
Oh what a fool I was
Spent life after life
All I did was read the books
Never got the visa or a guide

Divine grace fell on my way
I threw my tour book away
Who needs the book
When within you look
A bright outlook
The heart throbbed
Subject object absorbed

Oh my friend
Do what is right
Don’t read the goal
Books can’t help your soul
Learn the secret path
For truly there is one
The secret is
Walk the path that is inside
thats where the lord resides

Oh I tire of the blogs

Read as much as you like, it gives the goal.
But does not give the method. The method is always always kept secret. Doesn’t the Bible say don’t cast pearls to the swine?

So the subtle tricks have been left out of books
That is my opinion. But who am I to say anything. There are so many intelligent people out there