They are nodes of consciousness. There is NO anatomical location for the chakra. What is present in the body is an imitation Something like a 1 year old drawing a plane. It would be foolish to call the drawing a real plane
So true
We have everything necessary in the world today to bring about the millennium. Only man’s selfishness makes it impossible. Tremendous unnecessary suffering is created by man’s shortsighted self-interest. Money that could feed and clothe needy people is used instead for destruction. The root cause of the world’s troubles is this selfishness born of ignorance. Each person thinks he is doing right; but when he seeks to satisfy only his own interest, he is setting in motion the karmic law* of cause and effect that will inevitably destroy his own and others’ happiness.
The more I see of world tragedies caused by man’s ignorance, the more I realize that even if every street were paved with gold, happiness would not be lasting. Happiness lies in making others happy, in forsaking self-interest to bring joy to others. If each one would do that, then everyone would be happy; and all would be taken care of.
~ Paramhansa Yogananda
This is so true. Selfishness is from ego.
Ask that it be removed!
Prarthna – prayer
The word prarthna is more accurate than prayer
First learn what prarthna is then do it
Prayer and sadly in the modern days prarthna is a concept that is either cultural or mimicked by observing others
People either close their eyes and speak their thoughts or feelings to god ( either in the temple or church or home ), or they chant certain names, read religious books, or recite hymns or they follow rites using fragrances, light / diya, and wash adorn adore an idol
Some of those things if done properly helps. Doing it diligently with disciple becomes a tapa and can act like “cash” to get wishes fulfilled
Prarthna is very different from any of it. I should stop here
For all those who imagine realization by reading and understanding
But such masters are rare!
They don’t go out and give lectures or give meditation lessons or talk openly about kriya yoga!
They simply unlock. Open doors and you have realization. How soon? Can be instantly. If your a very very weak disciple 12 years later!
That’s it.
Shodhashadhar
What happens? We go and hear a great motivational speech. Or listen to a brilliant orator talking on Gita or Upanishad. And a week later all is forgotten. Even the initial zeal of practicing good values, being tolerant, forgiving, decreasing sensory appetite goes away
Within a few weeks, if that, all is forgotten and we are back to square one
People try and fail. Yogananda called them antique furniture, since this has been the case for many births
What happens?
- We forget what we were told to do very quickly
- The enthusiasm is there but we remain surrounded in the wrong company.
- Repetition of good values are needed and good company is needed. Without that not much can be achieved
- However the biggest reason is past habits from many many births. This is why some people gravitate towards music, others towards religion, some towards yoga, others towards sense pleasures, alcohol etc. However, the attitude towards anxiety, anger, fear, resentment, sensitivity, feeling offended etc are also part of the same issue THIS HAS TO BE CLEANED. Without cleaning this, nothing can be achieved permanently. These roots are very deeply imbedded in us.
It is for the cleaning of deep roots, yoga is needed. It use only with yoga, can we go deep within, like the ego part described by Freud , where we have to discover the flaws and “cauterize” it. This can be only done with “kriya”. That is how Yogananda described it. In maha yoga awakening of the shakti takes care of it has been described.
But there is more ! One has to practice it for 12 years. – cauterizing the flaw and practice not getting angry for 12 years makes it permanent
These flaws exist in a shell called prakriti. One has to find it , cleanse it.
However even that is not sufficient. One has to establish oneself in a higher level and plane. And stay there. Those stations are called shodhash adhar. There are 16. Hence it is called shodhash adhar. In maha yoga Vigyan Shankar Bhagwan or God says, if you do not know those stations, you are not a yogi.
-
So purity is needed
- Purity requires getting rid of bad personality
- That has been present for years
- Find the shell where it is stored. Prakriti. It it an actual shell
- Cauterize it
- Practice for 12 years
- Establish in the higher station
- Repeat from one station to another to you are at the highest
- All the sermons or lectures can’t help because this practice of purity is needed
- That’s why Yoga
- Perfect purity is needed to remain merged in God
A popular picture created by a Japanese neuroscientist
If it is immobile your calm
Moving slowly stressed
Moving very fast like a carousel – very stressed
All it has to do is can you do tratak. Keep your eyes Rock steady. ( My interpretation)
Mental games
One of the curiosity of the human mind is playing mental games
What do I mean by it?
Simple – let’s say that a yogi is supposed to eat less. Now if someone has a self portrayed image of being a yogi, naturally he will show in public he rarely eats. And when he eats he will say oh it is because my disciples get offended and sad. An act and ruse from ego
On the other hand a true yogi would just be honest and say, yes the sense of bodily consciousness is strong and I try to overcome it
Now which scenario is more inspiring?
So many people play these games. In life. Wanting to portray a great personality but scum within
But why is it a problem? This week aspire to be on the path play these mental games! They try to test!
I recently came across who was reading my blog. I knew it but I did not reveal it. Not my business. Now this person pretended not to know about my blog. Why play games? It only hinders
I try to tell some people, divinely guided, of course but the power if Maya is very strong. I may Say contradictory things but both of them are true. Instead of asking why or how, people get upset. A golden opportunity is lost
There are many levels to Shakti awakening. Someone who knows them has to be awakened and if you know none then there is no awakening
A Guru can hint but he will not proclaim in public.
Faith – it is something spontaneous and is present and reveals itself when logic says impossible. This is not mathematics where logic makes it correct. It is beyond all calculative conclusion of logic. It automatically knows. But substantial purity is needed. Faith is the first step to freedom.
Reading books and logic can’t help it merely gives a proper order of events and helps guide a novice in selecting a proper Guru.
Generally an impure mind will only find an impure and worthless Guru
Only pure hearted can hear true words. And appreciate it
I have had a few questions – but some things can only be answered in person.
Lastly today is Guru Purnima.
Paying tribute to your Guru. I helped a few people do puja in Philadelphia. They were told the truth. But strangely like I told them the entire burden is on them
If they like what I say that is a burden of looking which came from their own mind
If they hate me, that is a burden that was created by their own mind
My actions do not exist – since I want nothing. Talking is a burden. Peace within is what is enduring
What is Bhakti? ( devotion to God )
Being completely absorbed in ātma-niṣṭhā [self-abidance], giving not even the slightest room to the rising of any thought other than ātma-cintanā [self-thought or self-attentiveness], alone is giving oneself to God. Even though we place whatever amount of burden upon God, that entire amount he will bear. Since one paramēśvara śakti [supreme ruling power or power of God] is driving all activities*, instead of yielding to it why should we always think, ‘it is necessary to act in this way; it is necessary to act in that way’? Though we know that the train is going bearing all the burdens, why should we who go travelling in it suffer bearing our small luggage on our head instead of remaining happily leaving it placed on that [train]?
(‘Nāṉār?’ [‘Who Am I?’], 13th Paragraph)
[everything that happens in this world]
Translation by Michael James
However it is difficult for many reasons
1. The mind is not trained to be vacant
2. When the mind turns inward it is goes to a make belief imaginative God. That God cannot give real lasting peace or joy
3. The mind even when it touches the source wants to manipulate God for personal desires.
4. Even when that is overcome, the mind makes that a drab routine. In frustration
But it is amazing few if any teacher Guru or blog talks about the 5 ways God manifests!
Adverse times
We are all here to learn. Learn to love. Learn to forgive. Learn to be perfect. Similar to many countless saints in the past.
This school we enrolled in – rather involuntary – the school of life and death, the world – in order to graduate we have to learn from our mistakes. Note a single “answer” can be wrong. What is the “answer” – our karma and reaction. It is not theory about God or the scriptures
It is about love for God.
So why do I about the theory? Or explain the scriptures? It seems foolish does it not? It is because we have been trained from many many past incidences to reach in a certain way. Selfish ways. Evil ways. Hateful ways. Careless ways. Lazy ways. Craving for food and sex ways. All the flaws of the body.
So in order to overcome these flaws, you can learn to correct it with yoga and deep meditation. Or learn it with experience. If you don’t learn it with simple experience then the lessons become harsher
So in order to learn from yoga , one has to retrace the path of the illusion that we are the body , instead it should be the soul is covered by a body. In order to retrace it a little Map is neaded. That map comes from reading scriptures
So here is a very encouraging guide from Yogananda
Strength in times of adversity
Suffering is a good teacher to those who are quick and willing to learn from it. But it becomes a tyrant to those who resist and resent. Suffering can teach us almost everything. Its lessons urge us to develop discrimination, self-control, nonattachment, morality, and transcendent spiritual consciousness. For example, a stomachache tells us not to eat too much and to watch what we eat. The pain from loss of possessions or loved ones reminds us of the temporal nature of all things in this world of delusion. The consequences of wrong actions impel us to exercise discrimination. Why not learn through wisdom? Then you won’t subject yourself to unnecessary painful discipline from the hard taskmaster of suffering.
~ Sri Paramahansa Yogananda,
Where there is Light
Time for an applause ! Maybe
Here is a great quote ! I won’t tell you the key lime that is missing
Sincere people figure out what is missing
A poem – hides the truth
Illusion
It is not.
Reflective awareness
A gift of love.
Oh human
Know ye not?
Fallen so far.
No more secrets.
Debate me not.
A clueless child
Posing as scholar.
Ignorant of love
Remaining lost.
Heed my word
If thy heart is to heal.
No desire to teach
Mere compassion is my reach.
Mar 11
Veda
All Veda and their maha vakya are for the ignorant
What use are they for the enlightened?
Mar 10
Thoughts
Every thought leading to the world must slowly patiently be changed to the love of God
This process has 7 steps.
This must be done for all thoughts and emotions
Who has the patience?
Mar 03
For a true yogi
The mind is not something abstract
It is a tangible object that is seen in meditation
The brain is not something abstract
It is a tangible object that is seen in meditation
The chitta is not something abstract
It is a tangible object that is seen in meditation
The ego is not just a concept
It is a tangible object that is seen in meditation
The list goes on
First calm them
Then see them as a object as real as a table or amla
Then purify it
This is yoga
No theory
No discussion
Purely practical
Arduous is the task
Purity a must
Mar 01
Signs of an awakened shakti
There are many esoteric signs which have been described in yoga books. Many people , often with a weak temperament, have those signs. Yet since is is generated by an active imagination it holds little value.I am not saying those things are wrong or false. They are true but only if the very basic and practical signs of an awakened shakti are found
So what are the basic and extremely practical signs of an awakened shakti?
I. It follows the 5 stages of kala ( nivritti, pratishtha etc)
II. Less identification with emotions and thoughts.
For a variety of reasons such things are forbidden to be discussed publicly – and I merely follow the wisdom of the great beings ahead and before me
An awakened shakti is something given – just like you can give a piece of gold It can be taken back too !
Feb 29
Brahma gyana
To reach pure consciousness or brahma gyana or para shiv a few conditions must be met
1. Fearlessness : if your afraid of events in life or death you don’t have the firm conviction that you are pure consciousness.
2. Faith : full faith in shiv scripture and a living guru
3. A perfected guru
4. Desire : Not wanting anything in this world. As long as there is desire for the world it is difficult to find a perfected guru
5. Patience : the process is long and past karma with sanskar or habits will relentlessly pull you down. Slowly , repeatedly one must eliminate each sanskar with guru Krupa and not personal ego
6. Ego : the final step is present in all four bodies. Sthula, sukshma, Karana and mahakarana.
7. The ultimate particle of ignorance is in mahakarana
It is only after having all the above is true brahma gyana possible. Not everyone is ready
Just mere reading or saying or thinking shiv is I is not brahma gyana. Using logic to think shiv is I is foolishness. Just direct experience bereft of thought or logic or emotions
Feb 28
A sad mistake
Sad mistake
A perfected being I saw last month
Blinded was I
Bowed before him
But failed to recognize
Beautiful were his words
Now I know
He spoke
He hid
I know not more
At the same Ganesh temple in Indore
A blind fakir , his voice resonating above the tumult, in a captivating mesmerizing voice sang
“Ulat phirat, hari milat
Aise rah guru ne mohe batayi “
Feb 28
The world
Sad it is
For the world
Many great traditions
Got revealed
Now most founders
Have gone into hiding.
Harder it is
For the disciples
To bring Niraakar
To Saakar
But work hard and
Even Niraakar
Will take aakar
Almost all of the great figures of 19 and 20 century got exposed. In a flash of brilliance the traditions now exposed had to lose their tattva vetta figures. The world is indeed lonely Silently waiting for the great feet like gurudev to return. As far as I can see all of the traditions which have continued for centuries lack a figure in public limelight. This includes Yogananda, aurobindo, vishnutirthji, ramana, gurudev, neem Karoli, vivekananda, shirdi Sai baba etc
No one is of their caliber who can do all the great miracles they did in their lifetime.
It is a short wait before they reappear but for an earnest person the short wait is like eternity.
Feb 26
Books
Only seek experience – not understanding. Understanding is like crumbs on the floor! It is so far away from the experience
Enlightened beings only write a few things and many deeper meanings – they NEVER reveal
Sign of someone who is experienced and is enlightened is that he knows a deeper interpretation to all scriptures. For example in Gita – Krishna is asked in chapter 12 – what is better ? Worshipping you with form or as formless ( Saakar or Niraakar ) ?
Another example – people talk about the nadis. They understand it. But have rarely experienced it. If they did – pray tell me – without reading – experiences of vajra and chitra nadi located inside sushumna?
I voice these concerns as I laugh with myself.
Jan 23
The tree
Steps to perfection
1. Know your not perfect
2. Try to become perfect. Look at ways to become perfect
3. Realize you can’t reach perfection on your own
4. You seek a guru.
5. You find multiple guru but none who can destroy your imperfections. You go into intellectual discussions and back to step 2
6. Multiple fake guru later. You find a perfect guru.
7. You fail to accept perfect guru. You go back to step 5 or lower
8. You finally find a perfect guru again. You accept him. Fully. Unconditionally.
9. Now the perfect guru awakens your shakti fully.
10. Until now all you were doing is cutting branches or twigs or the trunk of tree. But not the roots
11. The roots are the bija mantra which lead to imperfections. The same bija mantra when enlightened leads to perfection.
12. The real bija mantra has never been written They will never be written or said. A guru can point you and give it to you in an awakened shakti
13. The seeds are destroyed. Never will the tree of samsar come again
Stop cutting branches or the trunk. Reach for the vibrations that are a cause of ignorance
Sep 19
Sunderkanda
“Sundere sundero ram sundere sunderi katha
Sundere sunderi sita sundere Kim na sunderem”
Translation : In Sunderkand, Ram is beautiful, the story is beautiful and Sita Ma is beautiful, hence the name Sunderkand.
In Sri Lanka, the Trikutachal Mountains had 3 levels, Neel, Suvel and Sundar. Most of the events of Sunderkand occur in the Sunder peak of the mountain range. This is where Mother Sita was held captive in Ashok Vatika.
First I will give the story and then the Yogic interpretation. The only proof I can offer anyone about the interpretaion is Go deep in meditation and confirm the validity. It is a matter of experience, not a matter of intellectual discussion.
The story starts off with Jambvant reminding Hanumanji of his divine powers of being able to fly. Hanuman then flies over the ocean and en route he encounters Sursa and Lankini. (I have related the story of Sursa who killed birds flying over the ocean by capturing their shadow). Hanuman is also offered an opportunity to rest on a mountain but he declines and says, he has a very important task and he will continue his path. He reaches Lanka and enters the area by becoming very small. He defeats Lankini and goes to Ashok Vatika. The lead Rakshasi Trijata (who also secretly worships Ram) is there also.
Ravana hears of a “monkey” who has invaded his territory and sends a troop headed by his son Akshaykumar. Hanuman quickly kills Akshaykumar. Then Ravana sends his other son Meghnad who uses the Brahmastra. Hanuman, out of respect for Ram surrenders to the Brahmastra and is taken to the court of Ravana. Ravana orders that Hanumans tail be set on fire and Hanuman uses the tail to quickly burn all territories of the trikutachal mountain except Ashok Vatika. Finally, thinking that Vibhishana is a traitor, Ravana expels Vibishana from his kingdom. Vibhishana surrenders to Ram and Ram proceeds to build a bridge to go to Lanka.
The 3 levels of Trikutachal mountains refer to the 3 grant his of the Sushumna nadi. The lower 4 chakras – Rudra granthi are the neel mountain range. The ordinary people of Lanka live there. Meaning, most people have their impulses restricted to the lower 4 chakras which give them either ego or emotionalism or intellectualism. An ordinary person is not able to go beyond it for several life times.
The second range of mountains refer to the Vishnu granthi the chakra ranging from Anahata to Agna chakra.
The highest range, where Ashoka vatika resides is the Brahma nadi or the Sunder Nadi as described by Tulsidasji Maharaj. This is the area between Agna chakra and Sahastrar. Sahastrar is the place of Rama. Below the Sahastrar is Shakti or Sita Mata. Nada is below Shakti and then one comes to Agna chakra. One more thing, there is a manas chakra and Ravana represents the Abhasa Chaitanya.
Even as I write this, my heart knows no limits to the Joy. The Joy of being there. The joy of the incredible work of Tulsidasji.
Thus he states, the Brahmanadi is beautiful, the 2 goals in Brahmanadi – Ram and Sita is beautiful and the path or story itself is beautiful. What else can I call the chapter but Sunderkanda or Brahmanadi?
In the initial part of the chapter, Hanuman or the prana has forgotten his divine right. He is reminded by Jamvant or the Guru his divine power. The prana first leaves the body and goes to Lanka or the Sushumna nadi. It assumes a very small form and secretly enters the lower part of the Sushumna. As soon as the prana enters the area, Bhakti begins (VIbhishana). However, it will be a long time before Bhakti or Vibhishana can meet Ram. Vibhishana directs Hanuman to Brahmanadi where Sita mata resides. When hanuman or the prana hears the loud sound of Meghnada, Hanuman or the prana finally becomes very still. At that point, when Ravana tries to burn hanuman, but instead, Hanuman or the prana anhilates or destroys all the lower parts or chakras of the Sushumna. Thus all the Sanskars are destroyed.
In short, the story of Sunderkand is beautiful because it is a very accurate description of the travels of a Yogi with the prana from the body to Brahmanadi. This final lap or trip through the Brahmanadi is very beautiful. Everyone should go there.
Sep 12
Who am I?
A word of caution for those who chose this method to find the Purusha or Atma. Once again, remember, God is beyond this and before you can surrender to God, merge into God, you will have to be at the level of the Purusha or Atma.
Merely saying or thinking you are the Atma or Purusha and feeling you have discovered the highest like Ramana Maharshi is nothing more than self deception. It is like a child walking around with a fake stethoscope and claiming to be a real doctor!
Before you are on the verge of discovery of the self, you have to uncover the Karana or Causal Body. One should go to “Hiranyaloka” the place where you can at will, instantly create universes. These universes are NOT imaginary. The causal body has ego and consciousness. This ego and consciousness is a reflection of God and constantly forgets its divine self. This forgetfulness of itself is called “Avidya” and the same forgetfulness in the Hiranyaloka and the gross universe is called Maya or Satan or Delusion.
There are two opposing forces in the causal body. Sattwa or pure intelligence which pulls it to God and the Mana or mind which pulls it to Maya and creates universes.
So remember if you are on the verge of discovering the soul or Atma you have to be at this level first. This is the level which if purified makes one fit to receive the Wisdom from Vedas, from the Guru and is at the Agna Chakra. Here, the question or self inquire method as given by Raman Maharshi or Shankaracharya will bear fruits.
I should remind the reader, that this was the starting point of Ramana Maharshi when he was around 10. He was seized with fear and his subtle body left his gross body!. The part that witnessed his subtle was the karana or causal body.
So for my children, the method is true but you have to learn to meditate, go beyond the gross physical body, learn to separate the subtle body from the gross body, then uncover or release the outward pull of the mind in the causal body to the universe from the sattwa or pure intelligence, and the pure intelligence from the Self or Atma or Purusha. (Devatma Shakti).
In short, here are a few tips to know you are closer to the Atma. DO no settle for self deception and a world of self deception that you have uncovered the Self or Atma.
Here are a few tips to know you are on the way or you are there.
1) If you are at the Atma, the first thing that gets uncovered is the ability to know your own future with precision and certainty. When you are there longer, you will be able to see events occurring in the universe simultaneousy. Gurudev gave examples of this ALL the time.
2) The ability to read the mind of people around you like an open book
3) These are not siddhis, merely an extension of being in the self. You would not call using your hands a Siddhi!
4) You should be able the SEE the Sattwa buddhi or intelligence and the Mind. It is NOT abstract
5) WHEN THE MIND IS SILENT BREATHING STOPS. IF the person is breathing HIS MIND IS NOT SILENCED and HE or SHE DOES NOT HAVE KNOWLEDGE of the SELF.
6) At the Karana deha or causal body, the breath gets lost and converted to the mind.
7) When the subtle body is liberated from the Gross body (the pre requisite to the above) one is able to withdraw the prana from the body. The gross body loses all sensation.
I hope ALL who try to unconver the self, know the Atma or Purusha keep the above in mind so there is NO SELF DECEPTION.
Sep 07
Shiv Mahimna Stotra
The story behind Shiv Mahimna stotra is as follows.
Pushpa danta was a Gandharva (a musician for the Gods). He would visit and enjoy the Garden of the King Chitraratha. He enjoyed the gardens and the flowers immensely and subsequently started stealing flowers from the Garden. King Chitraratha could not catch him because he had the power to become invisible. So King Chitraratha spread Bilipatra on the garden. Pushpadanta not realizing it, stepped into the garden and was caught. Since the bilipatra is something offered to Shiv as oblation, Shiv was displeased. The result of this transgression was he could no longer remain invisible. Pushpadanta wanted to have the powers to remain invisible again and he prayed to Sada shiv and created the Shiv Mahimna.
Reciting the Shiv Mahimna 11 times is called the laghu rudri and reciting it 108 times is called Maharudri.
The interpretation : King Chitraratha refers to the creation of all 3 universes ( gross, subtle and causal). It is called chitra ratha because this entire creation is nothing more than an imagination or picture created by God but appears eternal (referring to the motion like effect of the picture).
Pushpadanta refers to Atma or Purusha (not the soul). This is the pure consciousness present throughout creation, invisible to all. He was enjoying the “garden” or creation but he made the mistake of walking in the garden with Bilipatra. Bilipatra with its 3 leaflets refers to the three gunas. This is why we offer Bilipatra to the Shiv linga meaning we offer all our gunas to Sada Shiv. Thus enmeshed with the three Gunas, he immediately incurred the wrath of Sada Shiv and was forced to become visible in the creation in the form of a human or jiva. The only way back was by getting the blessings of Sada Shiva.
For the advanced Yogi, who has reached the Agna chakra, using the word Pushpa has a deeper significance. In Sanskrit, Poo or Pu means unfolding. Thus with the development of pure ego or Purusha (this is way beyond the 5 koshas or the three bodies – gross, subtle and causal), the three lokas or universes unfold. The word danta or teeth or mouth is used to depict the brahma randhra. It is the mouth of God, the site of creation of the universe. As per Yogananda Maharaj, when the sperm meets the ovum, the point of entry becomes the medulla oblangata. (The agna chakra). For someone who is familiar with neuro anatomy, the medulla has a “mouth” or groove.
The only way back for the jiva or individual is by the grace of Sada Shiv. With the grace of Sada Shiv, the individual first realizes himself to be the Purusha or Atma present in all creation and then much later realizes the Purusha is the same as Sada Shiv. Please see elsewhere for more details about Atma or Purusha. The word atma or purusha is <strong>not</strong> the individual soul.
Apr 25
General thoughts
It has been a while since I wrote on here. I have had several experiences but have not had time to write them and with time I forget them
1) Swami Vivekananda visited me a few days ago and blessed me. I do not remember the things he told me though.
2) In his books he has written in the future many will be liberated. Today I had a flash and vision which showed people in near future will be liberated by the thousands. When I say near future I mean in the next century or so
3) Do not ever be proud or think you are making progress. So much more is to be achieved that any spiritual experience like this is still a baby step in the giant picture. For eg, look at the achievement of Kabir, Mirabai, Shirdi’s Satya Sai Baba, Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Krishna, Mohangiriji Maharaj, Kevalgiriji Maharaj, Laxman Giriji Maharaj etc.
4) Definition of Samadhi based on Prana and Light : Savikalpa Samadhi – all the prana from the body goes through the 5 lower chakras and ascends to the Agna chakra or above. Nirvikalpa Samadhi – When the divine light from Sahastrar descends into the body and transforms the mind, chitta and intelligence. For the very great and higher beings, they have the divine light go into the very atoms of every cell of the body and attain immortality.
5) Nachiketa story and dialogue with Yama is an experience of Dashamdwar or the tenth opening. This is just above Agna chakra. You can read about the story in Katha Upanishad
6) Agna Chakra and below is the area of Maya or Delusion or Satan
7) In order to be free of Maya you have to go above Agna chakra.
8) At the 10th door or Dashamdwar (please read the book by Yukteshwar Maharaj – the Holy Science), one has the experience of Abhasa Chaitanya or reflection of the divine (also known has Agnana Or Ignorance Or Diti) and flashes of the beyond which is the Kutastha Chaitanya.
9) For liberation one should be able to go to Kutashtha at will.
10) The divine light is present everywhere. However, it remains very subtle and hidden. As one progresses one should start having flashes of the divine even in this world. The way this world appears to the higher beings is very different than what it appears to ordinary people. Imagination and thoughs have NO ROLE in the final steps but ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT in the initial progress.
11) Swami Vivekananda has described this has a “hydrostatis paradox” – meaning small changes in our own self has a tremendous impact in the external world esp after most of the strong Karma is washed out. The slightest thought or feeling of anger, hatred, affection, bias will cause an immediate reaction in the gross physical world and come back to haunt us. Thus Samta or having balance is very important both to evil and good. Yet, the role of a Guru is very difficult because he has to be impartial to both evil and good but at the same time support the good in a disciple because it will deliver him from the bondage of Karma and give liberation. That is why in the bible it is said, “Thou shall not judge” because when we see evil, it is a judgement on our part. One has to love all, unconditionally, expecting nothing in return and that is verily the only condition which gives liberation. The same love which one has towards money or family should be towards all. Yet the cultural norms have to be followed by a householder and for a Sanyasi or a renunciate he has to follow the norms of a Sanyasi.
There are many more things but it is difficult to write them all, they are best conveyed by a Guru in person with transmission of his spiritual power and his words.
Mar 28
Ramayana stories – Hanuman battles Ahiravana and Mahiravana (interpretation)
During the battle between Rama and Ravana, Ravana’s son Indrajit is killed. At that point, Ravana calls his brother Ahiravana for help. Now, Ahiravana is the king of Patala (the underworld). (There are many variations to the story. All of them can be interpreted spiritually). Ahiravana promised to help. Vibhishana somehow manages to hear about the plot and warns Rama about it. Hanuman is put on guard and told not to let anyone within the the room where Rama and Lakshmana are. Ahiravana tries to enter the room and makes many attempts but all attempts are thwarted by Hanuman. Finally, Ahiravana takes the form of Vibhishana and Hanuman lets him enter. Ahiravana quickly enters and takes the “sleeping Rama and Lakshmana” away.
When Hanuman realizes what happened, he goes to Vibhishana. Vibhishana says, alas they have been abducted by Ahiravana. If Hanuman does not rescue them fairly quickly, Ahiravana will sacrifice both Rama and Lakshman to Chandi. Hanuman goes to Patala. The door to patala is guarded by a monkey. Hanuman asks him who are you and the monkey says, I am your son! This confuses Hanuman, since he did not have any child. He was an adept Brahmachari and knew it to be impossible. The son explains, while you were jumping over the ocean, a drop of your sweat fell in the ocean and in the mouth of a fish called “Makardwaja”. This is the orgin of my birth.
After getting the cooperation of his son, Hanuman enters Patala. He encounters Ahiravana and Mahiravana. They had a strong army and Hanuman is told that the only way to vanquish them is by blowing of 5 different candles located in 5 different directions, all at the same time. So, at this point, Hanuman assumes the form with 5 heads (Panchmukhi Hanuman) and he quickly blows of the 5 different candles and thus kills Ahiravana and Mahiravana. Through out the saga, both Rama and Lakshmana are rendered unconscious by a spell by the demons.
Now for the interpretation.
1) I have to start of by an interpretation given by Yoganada about Makar or makardwaja. In Bhagvad Gita, Krishna bhagwan says, amongst the fish he is Makar. Makar meaning shark. The shark is the king of all fish and devours all other fish in the ocean. The spiritual interpretation is that, “Bhavsagar” or this world is full of the fish of desire. However, there is one fish that devours all other fish – the shark. In other words, there is one desire that devours all other desires. That is the desire for God is the one desire that devours all other desires.
2) Vibhishana is true Bhakti. When the demon takes the form of Vibhishana, it is the fake Bhakti that everyone performs (lighting candles, singing songs, hymns, etc), Rama and Lakshmana are rendered unconsciouss. Meaning that form of Bhakti does not have the power to awaken Brahma gyana or love or passion for God. The true Bhakti which Rama accepted was that of Vibhishana where he gave himself up to Rama unconditionally. For us, also, true Bhakti starts when we give ourself up completely to God. But in order to give ourself upto God, we must first know ourself as the soul (not just a mass of thoughts or emotions).
3) Like I have repeatedly tried to explain, there are 2 pranas – universal prana which is the same as Shakti and the individual prana which works in the body taking care of all of its need. Patala here refers to the body, Hanumana is the universal prana and his son, is the individual prana taking of patala or the body. Ahiravana and Mahiravana are Raga and Dvesha (attachment and hatred). One needs the cooperation of the individual prana to go within, and destroy the 5 candles referring to the 5 lower chakras. Thus when the 5 lower chakras are turned upwards, Raga and Dvesha are destroyed. Liberation is still far, because “Ravana is still alive at Agna chakra”.
There are other variations to the story which I will try to explain at some other point.
Mar 25
Unconscious
We are generally unconscious of all the different parts of the intellect, mind, sensory system, body and more importantly of our psychic, our subconscious and of the higher worlds completely. At best, we get rare intimations from them. Thus the words, Be here now, referring to when our consciousness is here, we are in touch with most of the other aspects. This fog which covers our consciousness is very difficult to over come.
In the morning, while I was in the bathroom, I had a vision where the antarkarana of KP appeared to me and said to me “He is leaving shortly and wanted to wish me good bye” I called the person up and he was in good spirits. I do not think he was aware of the communication I had with his antarkarana. I am sure in short time, he will pass away and this is something his deeper inner self is aware but on the surface he is not aware of it.
Mar 24
The curious case of the cart before the horse.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is they put the cart before the horse. It is a perpetual mistake in spirituality and thus no matter how much they desire to progress, they always remain stagnant or at best make a tiny step forward.
What do I mean by putting the cart before the horse? Let me give you a few examples
1) When we read about the life stories about great Saints, Jesus, Rama, Krishna, Ramkrishna, Yogananda, Vivekananda and read about their hardships, we automatically say “Well they had God or were God. So for them it was easier to endure the hardships”. The truth is because they endured without complaining and continued to pray deeper and deeper that they were in tune with God. It is true that initially when they endured it was in a “cast of clay” and later God made their endurance like iron. Thus, we have to learn to endure and ask God for strength and not ask God to solve our problems. So, we have to learn to endure to be closer with God and not think I want God to be with me before I endure.
2) When we endure, we often barter with God. We tell God, if I endure will you give me this and this and this? Again this is wrong. This is what is meant in the bible, “Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple” Money changers refers to the business men. This idea of telling God, I will endure or do this or do this rosary or mala and asking for something in return is Barter or being a businessman. God wants our unconditional surrender and love. This method of negotiation does NOT work.
3) In Shiv swarodaya or when we do the Sohum kriya or Hung Sau technique, the breathing slows down. We try to slow the breathing thinking we will get to God. The truth is when we get closer to God, the breathing slows down automatically
4) We tell and pray to God, show me that you love me so I can love you back. God answers, “I already love you, you just dont see it. Give me all of your love unconditionally and then my love for you which is hidden will become obvious every second of the day”
5) We tell and think, “God, I will be nice when I know for sure you exist” God says, “Be nice and then you will know for sure I exist”
One can have countless such examples. The bottom line is, we have to try OUR VERY BEST SINCERELY, then and only then will God show us all of his greatness and love in all its glory. He knows it is not easy for us and we have to struggle. But all we have to do is keep trying sincerely and with all our might!
Mar 22
General statements
Just a few general statements
1) Dont wish that you could do good things to those who need. When you wish to do good, you are also subconsciously wishing that someone be in need. Instead, God will send you people automatically if they need help but never wish that you could help. Also help them when given the opportunity but without making them a begger. Like Vivekananda said, the giver should worship and thank the taker for giving him or her the opportunity to serve.
2) A corollary of the above is the famous Veda hymn : “Aaano Bhadraha Vishwata ” Let noble thoughts come to me in from all directions.
3) Wish happiness to all in this world. If you wish everyone happiness, then happiness will come to you. This is like the Veda hymn : Sarva sukhina santu, sarve santu niramaya, sarva bhadrani pashyantu, ma kaschid dukhapnuyat” Meaning : let everyone be happy, let everyone be healthy, let everyone and everything be pure (bhardrani), and dont give anyone dukha (a word meaning physical pain and emotional anguish). This is the law of Karma.
4) What good is Atma gyana if you dont have any siddhis with it? It is worthless. Along with Atma gyana, siddhis MUST appear. Otherwise it is just dry intellectuality – a dead weight on the mind
5) I had seen my daughter had admission in Villanova 6 months ago. However, I thought her admission would come as early decision and she would be committed to it. Gurudada and Kashinathdada protected her and wanted her to go to pharmacy and so they did NOT let her get admission as an early decision but took it away and gave her admission at a later date. What a miracle!
6) One of my acquaintainces is having a lot of pain at the site of his radiation. I saw that this will continue and get worse for another 2.5 weeks. This pain is a blessing but he does not know it.
7) Yukteshwara means one who has merged with God.
8) I read the interpretation of Ramayana by Gurudev. I was totally amazed with it. I had read it in the past but Gurudev interprtation of Ramayana is in depth just like the interpretation of Mahabharata by Yogananda. Kaushalya means one who is very skillful (in the art of yoga) referring to Kriya Yoga and if you have that your son would be Rama which means Brahma gyana (the knowledge of God). I just could not resist writing this. Gurudev interpretation is far deeper. Soon, I will write about Ravanas brothers Mahiravana and Ahiravana and the 5 faced Hanuman that killed them.
Well enough said!
Mar 21
Cracking of the Egg
I have not written a few experiences and actually have begun to forget them. The one big experience I had the other day mercifully came to me because of getting sick. The night before I did not have the heart to tell my wife no to her variety of different meals she cooked. I overstuffed and had a miserable night with acid reflux and bloating. When I woke up early in the morning, I was still feeling miserable.
Thus the subtle layer of the mind, which keeps us tied to the body became clear. It feels like a shell in which the soul is trapped and tries to free itself. I kept trying and I “felt the egg” crack. This liberation for me occured in the forehead, where suddenly there was a slit like opening and immense white light poured. This is, I believe the opening of the third eye into the universe where the experiences are no longer confined to the body.
After that meditation, I went down to meditate on mysofa. I had my eyes closed. A little later, I had a very clear vision of seeing my daughter calling me and soon saw my wife come down to tell me they were ready to go for the college trip. 5 minutes later, the event unfolded exactly as I saw.
Mar 21
Navratri – Chaitri, Durga stories and meaning.
It has been a while since I am writing.
In the Indian calendar there are 2 navratri – the one we all know about and the other is chaitri. The regular navratri is usually in October and this is usually in March. In the regular Navatri which is more widely publicized people are supposed to pray to Amba Ma (but in general most people celebrate it by dancing in what is known as Garba). In the chaitri (month in Indian calendar), we pray to Durga.
First the story of Durga. I will only present it very briefly. The Demi-Gods were being tormented by an Asura names Mahishasura. Inspite of multiple efforts they were unable to slay him. Finally, all the Demi-Gods got together and prayed to the Gods who poured their own divine powers together and created Durga. Durga then began the battle with Mahishasura. Mahisasura kept changing her forms and appearance and finally he took the appearance of a buffalo and mahisharua slayed him effortlessly.
In another battle, there was a blood demon who engaged in a fierce battle with Durga. Everytime the blood demon was cut or slayed, from every drop of the blood another demon arose. In no time, now Durga / Kali was fighting many demons. Durga then instructed Kali to slay the demons by sucking the blood out from them and thus the blood demon was destroyed.
The second story of Durga with the blood demon is an allegory explaining how to slay the mind. This is very similar to the story told by Gautamkaka about Narayanastra, ashwatthama and the pandavas. It is very difficult to slay or silence the mind. Every effort we make to silence the mind, makes it stronger and more fierce. Even the very effort to silence the mind backfires after a while. Thus, in time one thought and trying to stop or control or rid of it leads to a million thoughts. The only way to slay the mind is by sucking the “blood” out of the mind. The mind can only be active as long as the prana or vital energy is there. Thus, let Shakti or the divine, suck the prana out of the body and thus you can slay the mind and go into Samadhi. This is of course a subtle reference to Pranayama. It also refers to what Yogananda always said, “the direct route to God. Kriya Yoga, where the prana is controlled” or what Yukteshwara said, “Make Pranayama your religion” or what Gurudev said, “Yoga Vah Shrestha, instead of saying Yogavashishtha”. There is no other way to control the mind the fastest. Surrender to shakti completely and let her suck the prana from the ENTIRE body and thus we go into Samadhi.
The first story refers to slaying of Mahaprakriti.. Mahaprakriti then divided into two – Para and apara. Apara prakriti gave rise to this gross world. Para prakriti gave origin to the subtle and causal world. In the vedas the same thing is conveyed as Diti and Aditi. (Aditi is para and Diti is apara prakriti). Thus we have 2 mothers, since we all have the three bodies, gross, causal and subtle. Thus the Demi-Gods were unable to slay the maha prakriti and seeked the help of Durga who destroyed Mahaprakriti.
This sstory of mahisasura I talked about are exepriences between the agna chakra and Sahastrar.
One more thing – the Indian calendar is Vikram Samvat 2066 right now. Meaning the calendar started about 2066 years ago. It is based on the angles between the earth and the moon. However, many of the stories of the birth of Rama, Krishna, and other divine religious holidays existed long before that. Thus the calendar when started in 2066 was created by a divine rishi and was in perfect synchronization at that time. Right now, in my religious experience, I have noticed that the calendar is 3 days lagging. Meaning, that the events actually occur in the subtle world (at least in my perception) 3 days prior to the Vikram Samvat calendar. At least that is when shakti and God blesses me with their appearance.
Mar 14
Desires and Satisfying the Senses
As I have written in my previous logs, Vishnutirthji Maharaj told me a few months ago, that the Gita for a yogi is Devatma shakti. I compare God talks with Arjuna, written by Paramhansa Yogananda like it is the Vedas and devatma shakti is the Gita or smaller excerpt of it.
In Devatma Shakti, Maharaj has written the four steps of Yoga. The primary mistake is the ego is identified with the Purusha. So, the ego has to be separated out from the Purusha. Before we can seperate the ego from the Purusha, we have to separate the sensory system from the body. Before we can separate that out, we have to separate the motor system first.
Thus the first steps, the 6 chakras from agna to muladhar all refer to co ntrol over the motor system. This was written by Vishnutirthji Maharaj and I have verified it. When we are able to stay at Agna chakra sufficiently long, then and only then, slowly do we get control over the sensory system. When this is done, finally can we rid ourselves of desire.
I know what I wrote is very difficult to follow or understand. It is a matter of full experience. However, in laymans terms, I can explain it as follows :
1) Ordinarily, when we see an object for eg. our favorite food item, the sight and smell immediately grabs our attention. Since our attention is grabbed outside, our prana goes out also and once the prana goes out, our mind is uncontrolled and we struggle to suppress the desire. Most people thus, end up battling trying to control the desire but are wholly in effective. Most of their idea of Yoga, or meditation or zen or concentration is a battle against the desire. In the end, people use book knowledge to suppress the desire and fail. Any victory is temporary. It will ALWAYS crop up again.
DESIRES CAN NEVER BE QUENCHED AS LONG AS OUR SENSORY SYSTEM CONSTANTLY PULLS US OUT. OUR SENSORY SYSTEM WILL NEVER BE HAPPY OR BE FULFILLED WITH THIS. IT WILL CONSTANTLY DRAW US OUT. A YOGI, WHEN HE HAS MASTERED THE TECHNIQUE, LEARNS TO INVERT THE SENSORY SYSTEM ITSELF! THUS THE SENSORY SYSTEM INVERTED, NOW LOOKING WITHIN IS FULLY CONTENT AND NO LONGER DRAWS THE MIND OR PRANA OUTWARDS AND THUS DESIRES COME TO AN END. ALL ATTEMPTS TO GET RID OF DESIRE BY THE USE OF LOGIC, DETERMINATION OR SUPPRESSION WILL ALWAYS FAIL. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY. I REPEAT, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY. THIS IS THE SUPERIORITY OF YOGA, KRIYA YOGA OR MAHAYOGA OVER ALL OTHER METHODS.
This is the result of meditation at the Agna chakra / manas chakra. After one learns to draw the prana from the motor system, in time, we learn to INVERT the SENSORY SYSTEM (gyanendriya). When this is done, the sensory system truly does what it is supposed to do, that is provide information and no longer remains a reason for the mind to desire and wander for in the world, wanting anything in this gross physical world. The SENSES ARE SATISFIED and REMAIN for the most part SATISFIED. THIS IS WHAT ALL TRUE YOGIS DO. This is what Yukteshwar wrote in the HOLY SCIENCE. This step occurs when kriya yoga is almost perfected.
The other characteristics are as follows
1) As stated above, the sensory system itself is satisfied and no longer imposes its will on the mind or desires
2) The prana is slowly withdrawn from the sensory system. This numbness is different from the numbness of the motor system. It is more superficial
3) The sounds or nada become those of Panchjanya (Krishna’s conch as described by Yogananda in Gita). It is a conglomerate of the 5 sounds of the lower chakras
4) The eyes blink less frequently in the waking state
5) Sleep and the need for sleep seems to abate
6) The vision changes – truly. Both in meditation and outside meditation. The world is more like a picture or unreal (not just because we think and have read it but in appearance
7) Intuition becomes more precise. The ability to understand others, their thoughts is more clear.
8) There is a constant happiness within (without cause and even in adversity) and in time, (I hope) the ability to see things intuitively in meditation should appear.
9) The breath gets lost (Kriya Yoga)
I was told it would take me 6 more months to get this perfected. However, so far I have had a tremendous start as described above.
Mar 12
The Book of Job
My daughter asked me a question if the book of Job was accurate.
Let me relate the story of Job briefly. Job was an extremely pious and pure person. He had a wife and 7 sons and 3 daughters. Job constantly asked Gods forgiveness for the transgressions of his children. Satan then goes to destroy his family and possessions. Job continues to remain loyal to God and constantly reaffirms his innocence and purity. His friends wanted Job to confess his sins. Job insisted on his innocence.
Later 3 of his friends came over to comfort him. But they were in fact misguided and misleading him. Finally, Elihu appears (literal meaning God am I) and after a long interchange between ELihu and Job, finally the ice between Job and God is broken and God appears before Job and grants him back his lost prosperity and has more children and lives for another 140 years.
There is a deeper spiritual meaning to the whole story. This can be given at an intellectual and at a Yogic level.
First the intellectual interpretation. What did Job do wrong?
1) Job was very “good”. Being pious is being very Sattvic. Just like Yudhisthir was very pious and Sattvic. The cardinal mistake we make is in thinking that being Sattvic is getting very close to God. God wants our love – first and foremost. Doing the right things are very subjective and right karma confounds even the great Saints. The truth is God is above all duality of Good and Evil. All Good and all evil ultimately arises from God. Without Gods permission, Satan cannot exist.
2) His three friends tried to convince him to confess his sins and he maintained he had comitted no sins. Moreover, he constantly prayed and pleaded his innocence. This shows that he had not fully surrendered to Gods will. A person fully surrendered to God, does not fight for right or wrong, merely surrenders to Gods will and only wants God. Like Ramkrishna Paramhansa said, “Mother, I dont care for your rights or wrongs, I only want thee” Or like Shankaracharya said, “Mother, There is no other sinner like me and there is no other person like you who forgives sins. Knowing this, Mother, do whatever you please. I only want you” This is also what Elihu tried to tell Job. Do not please your case for God and do not try to convince God of your superior moral concepts. After all morality is cultual.
Now for the Yogic definition.
Job here refers to the ego of being pure. The ten children represents the 5 indriyas (5 gyanendriyas and 5 karmendriyas). Slaying of the 10 children means taking the prana away from the body and centralizing them in the Sushumna. The 3 friends are the 3 gunas – sattwa, rajas and tamas. They constantly mislead and take us on the wrong route. Elihu refers to the holy Ghost. (hun is part of or very similar to hun of the sohum technique or Hungso technique) Elihu means God is he (very similar to the words Tatvamasi or sohum) It is only through the holy Ghost, can the silence with God be broken and finally one is able to communicate with God directly. “Elihu” does not fully appear till the 5 motor and sensory system is “slayed” and till we learn to stop listening or being guided by the chatter of the intellect drived by the 3 gunas.
The final conclusion is as follows
1) God is above the dualities of good and evil. Cling to neither and do not insist on your “righteousness” otherwise you will be put through trials till we learn to Surrender to God and only want God. God has the right to judge. We do not. Judge not lest you be judged. When we say we are right or good, we are judging ourselves.
2) The holy Ghost or Elihu is the way. Focus more and more deeply on the Sohum technique till the ice with God is broken.
Mar 09
Fleas / Worries and Fear
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!
Mar 07
Avidya or Agyan or Satan or Maya
What is Avidya or Ignorance?
The truth is this world that seems so real to us is nothing but a dream in the eyes of god. We may understand this accept it but that does not help us. This is avidya. In the bible this goes by the name of Satan or lucifer. Everything that came from Satan is a lie. Meaning it is an illusion and has no substance. In Hinduism it is called Maya or para prakriti. Allegorically it is hiranyakashipu.
To destroy this ignorance and actually seeing it as a dream world of god is vidya or knowledge. This should not be a mental imagination but an actual perception
I have written elsewhere about Satan or Maya as a royal prank elsewhere
Everytime we desire something we increase our ignorance or avidya because we are wanting something that has no value wanting a part of the dream or illusion of god and not wanting god. Thus it becomes the original sin where we are tempted by the lies of Satan or Maya and wanting the gifts or illusionary gifts of god rather than god himself
That is why vairagya or not wanting anything in this world is of extreme impotance as a first step. Once this is perfected the next steps are easier and less painful
Feb 28
Swarodaya or knowledge of the breath
Swar : means flow of breath through the nostril. Odaya means arise. Swarodaya is the knowledge of the breath.
This knowledge of the breath is absolutely necessary for everyone – whether one is walking on the path of Yoga or not. If you are a Yogi, you must have a detailed knowledge of the breath.
I will share some basics here but a more detailed account is related in Mukta shastra and I would direct anyone who is interested in it to that book.
Why is Swarodaya so important? This is because our breath is constantly telling us things and hints different events about to unfold in our life. It tells about death, it tells us when we are about to have a horrendous day and it tells us when we will fall sick. All this is an interplay of Surya nadi (breath through the right nostril), Chandra nadi (breath through the left nostril), Sushumna (breath through both nostrils equally), Amrita yoga and Visha yoga. ALL astrology for the immediate future is from this science.
Just remember, if you have Sushumna nadi. “breath through both nostrils simultaneously” STOP all activity. There will be NO SUCCESS and can easily lead to death. I repeat STOP all activity and DO NOT start any activity on that day if that is the nadi that is there when you wake up. EVERYONE should wake up and the first thing to do is check your nadi, (left nostril, right nostril or both). If it is in both nostrils, DO NOT get up from the bed till you change the nostrils. In general, activites done when there is flow of breath through the left nostril is good for most purposes in wordly matters. Gurudev, Yogananda, Vivekananda and all great saints had a detail knowledge about this.
A few more things on the subject
1) The breath comes out of the body with varying degree of force. The more the force it comes out with, the less spirituality. A true Yogi, knows how to decrease the force or flow outside. This force with which the breath comes out is measured in finger breaths. While sitting this flow is 12 finger breaths and while having sex it can be as high as 64 finger breaths.
2) When the chandra nadi is in force, the basic elements that are active are Earth or Prithvi and Water or Jala. These forces are helpful. REMEMBER, these basic elements were created before the creation of the universe. YOU CANNOT see them till you are close to perfection and having ALL the wonderful powers of a Yogi (see previous blog where Yukteshwar was able to double his weight by a thought)
3) The durations of the different elements (tattvas) are as follows : Akasha or ether is 4 min, Vayu or Wind is 8 min, Agni or fire is 12 min. Any activity done in those elements are detrimental. One has Surya nadi or flow through the right nostril at that time. The duration for Water or Jala is 16 min and Earth or Prithvi is 20 min. This adds up to an hour and these numbers are applicable for a Yogi. When one has Jala or Prithvi tattva, flow is through the left nostril.
4) Gurudev taught me a trick which some Yogis used to identify the Tattva. Again, this method is to be used by those who cannot see the tattvas (and that includes 99.99999% of the population). The yogi, after getting the blessings of his Guru, carries in his pocket 5 different marbles of different colors. Black, green, red, white and yellow corresponding to the five elements – Akasha, Vayu, Agni, jala and Prithvi. They pick a marble from their pocket randomly and depending on the color proceed with the task or abandon it, knowing the results will not be auspicious.
5) A yogi when he or she is established in himself, automatically slows the force of the exhalation. There is a very detailed description of this in Mukta shastra. This is a must read for anyone who wants to be sure of his or her progress. If you try to slow the force of exhalation that DOES NOT WORK. The slowing of the exhalation should be automatic because, the yogi has his attention (the great Dictator as Yogananda called it in The science of religion) within.
6) When sitting in meditation, slowing the breath from 12 to 11, makes one feel hot within. In this situation one has the prana in Muladhar. Slowing it to 9, the prana is at Manipur and at 7 finger breath the prana is at Anahata. Gurudev, always had his breath at this level. This gives one the feeling of Videhi or without a body and one is established in pure consciousness. This is the breath at which Kriya Yoga starts spontaneously. At 5 finger breath, Samadhi begins to emerge and the prana is at the Vishuddha chakra.
God bless everyone!
Feb 28
The path of Yoga (union wih God)
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!
Feb 21
Sankalpa (WILL)
Todays blog will be brief.
A few more points on Sankalpa. An exercise in liberation and getting your sankalpa perfected.
Remember : Sankalpa is done without any desire.
The higher the person the more immediate the results of Sankalpa.
This entire world is the Sankalpa of God.
All interactions between people and the eventual results are based on whose Sankalpa or will is stronger.
This explains why Vasistha Maharaj was so great. His wife was Arundhati. The meaning of Arundhati is one who does not suffocate someone else. She always agreed with ANY sankalpa Vasistha had. Thus the power of his Sankalpa was higher. This is what I learned from Dineshbhai Bhatt.
As Yogananda said, “All one has to will I am free and you will be free” This is the power of a true Sankalpa. (ref. crystal publishers in one of the books by his disciples )
However, this is not seen to occur because the moment our Sankalpa says I am free, there are a million small arguments from the intellect, a sense of elation from the chitt and a sense of superiority from ego. If you can get rid of these three things when you will or do Sankalpa that I am free, you will be free.
The entire process of Yoga is to get rid of all the clamour created by the ego, chitta, intellect and mind.
This was the process that Sanatkumar taught Narada
Start off by doing sankalpa or will in changing your own intellect. Tell it not to intervene and the intellect should become silent and merely receptive. Like it is said in Hanuman Chalisa – Buddihin tanu jani – Oh God Hanuma please know I am without intellect. Not to use your intellect at all in meditation is a very high stage. Before you can stop the intellect, first you must get rid of the doubts. This corresponds to the muladhar (like Yogananda said in Bhagvad Gita – savitarka savikalpa samadhi). When you silence the intellect, it is called Suvichar savikalpa samadhi. This corresponds to swadhisthana. When our petty human intellect ceases, su meaning good vichar meaning thoughts – meaning divine thoughts begin to emerge.
Then you will be faced with silencing the chitta or emotions. Learn to do Sankalpa and tell all your emotions no matter what they are to be silenced! Stand aside from those emotions. (Like the process described in Bhagvada Gita, Kapil muni, Vivekananda and Aurobindo) This corresponds to Sananada Savikalpa samadhi. This corresponds to Manipur chakra. When you can silence your own emotions, the real joy begins to slowly emerge.
In the above three steps, a disciple does NOT feel any movement of the prana. It is only after the manipur chakra is turned upwards, does the prana begin to ascend.
Once you can do this then you will, then you will in time learn to have control over the prana in your body.
Once you have control over the prana, you can make it ascend through the brahmanadi and receive true Wisdom – like Jesus said, My father and I are one!
The above steps were written perfectly by a Yogi who lived about 100 years ago in South India. His name was Yogi Darshan. Try to get that book!
Sanatkumar told Narada – Do Sankalpa for the love of God and liberation. When you first do Sankalpa, it will initially stimulate the chitta, desires, intellect, emotions and ego. They arise so you can get rid of them and know yourself to be the pure soul.
Another book that is worthwhile reading is Book of Mirdad. It is a book that relates to Noahs Guru. The account of Noah or Manu is true.
Feb 20
Hanuman Chalisa, Tulsidasji
A few days ago, Hanumanji and the Hanuman chalisa appeared and it has become “jagrat” or alive. Then very shortly, Tulsidaji appeared and blessed me with his living presence.
This morning, once again I was blessed by Ganesh Bhagvan.
I believe, that since I am Gurudev and Kashinathdada’s child, God has is partial and blesses me repeatedly by granting me visions. My meditation is extra ordinary (for me). It is far better than I could have imagined or expected – considering the number of obstacles I have had to surpass.
Like I said in my previous blog, Gurudev would merely think of something and it would materialize in this world. He has perhaps several thousand times (while he was in the physical body) granted his disciples with visions of God. Merely by his thought. Or his touch! I can relate an experience my mother had with him. Normally, Gurudev’s style was to touch a disciple and take him or her to Samadhi. This time, my mother was sitting outside on her bed in the porch. It was early AM. She was attempting to do Pranayama. Gurudev was in the porch also. He merely looked at her. Immediately my mother could not breath in or out. Lord Krishna appeared before her. The vision was not long and no word was said by Gurudev during the entire process. He merely looked at her!
Gurudev had told me, he was “nastik” in his younger life. Like an idiot, I looked at Gurudev surprised. He always knew every single thought that crossed my mind. He said, “I believed in the Nirakar but in the Akar” – meaning he believed in God as the formless but he thought that God in form was more of a mental projection. God gracefully corrected this concept of his. Gurudev continued, “Ganesh Bhagwan appeared before Gurudev and stayed with Gurudev constantly for 6 months. Day and Night. In all of his activities. Not even for a second did Ganesh leave. Ganeshji did not say a word but merely smiled and Gurudev in return smiled back”
I have not heard of anyone in the recent times for whom Ganesh or any other God was in the physical form constantly for this long. Gurudev, like Yogananda Maharaj never slept through out his life. He did at least 3 long Anusthanas. During those 3 anusthanas, all he drank was half a cup of milk. Of course, he did not sleep. He meditated constantly for those 6 months. He would be in his room. He would have someone lock the door from outside. Not just lock it but seal it with wood. His meditation was so intense, that like it is described in Gyaneshwari Gita, such great souls shed their skin, like a snake sheds his skin and their skin is replaced by a newer divine layer. Anyone who had seen Gurudev during that time could attest to this greatness.
I describe these things, so everyone can realize who vast, how much more progress he or she needs to make in this path.
We talk about meditation, but who can meditate for this long? How can we expect to spend eternity with God, when our fickle mind will not even let us meditate for 24 hours? A few minutes of meditation and our mind longs for this material world! Wake up and give thyself to God completely and march valiantly towards God, giving up all desires, all hopes for anything in this world except for the love of God.
Feb 20
A brief followup on Tapa and Sankalpa
Tapa is like repeated chanting of a mantra
It is the best way to get Gods attention and desires fulfilled
A simple prayer would be Jesus I bow and surrender to thee
If you say that all day and night it is doing tapa
If said with intense devotion and surrender Jesus has to appear or give proof
It should be done without wavering mind without doubt
With love and not forgetting the task
It is not as easy as it seems and if done for 24 hours he has to appear
A Guru will do a sankalpa and say God appear before my disciple and bless him and god has to appear instantly
That is the power of a true guru
Such Gurus are rare
Yogananda was like that
It is difficult to find a disciple worthy of this too
Vivekananda had maybe three disciples who could recieve this power
A lot of disciples and followers but few who can sustain this much power
Same for yogananda
Feb 16
Several points
This is mostly a reminder for me to write on the following points
1) Murcha pranayama
2) Location of gunas – explain the difference as described by Yogananda and Gurudev
3) The chakras and the nadis and how the petals of the chakras which are actually rays of light relate with the sahastrar
4) The “pulley” system
Feb 14
Purity and Love, Aurobindo, techniques to fight faults
My blogs have been written, solely for my children. I do not wish anyone lead them ashtray in the matters of spirituality. All my accounts, if read and understood, should be signs of the true way to God. Until one has experienced all these things, one still has not fully caught on to the strong current that takes us to God.
In the end result, all that is needed is absolute purity. The only sin is not to love God. When I say love god more than our love for money fame family wealth vengenance anguish etc. One must love God and give oneself up to him completely thoroughly not caring for a single thing in this world – no anguish, no depression, no vengenance, no bitterness, no regrets, no thoughts of helping anyone, no selfish desires! Relinquish them all, and only want and love God. One must be able to love God even when God puts us through bitter trials. We have to prove to him, that nothing in the world matters except him. Then and only then, will he accept us and Shakti knows we are sincere and we mean “business”. I cannot stress this enough. To reach this state of purity is very difficult.
A few days ago, I forgot to mention, Gurudev showed me the few spots or defects in my Antarkarana. For the most part, it is pure. There are a few small spots and Gurudev saw me fumbling. He laughed and said, dont worry, I will wait for you till your cleaning is done. It is only a matter of moments. However, moments in the spiritual world could translate to several decades for us in this mortal world.
I am slowly but surely getting there. Nothing matters, except to love God. Reminds me of the book by Gyanmata – “God alone” The title of the book says it all.
Sri Aurobindo has decribed 2 ways to get rid of the faults (in the last steps) – either by extrusion into the environmental consciousness or by the light of God in the subconscient. I finally experienced both ways. When it goes to the environmental consciousness, it continues to haunt us repeatedly (like a yoyo moving horizontally, always coming back giving us momentary peace). If converted by light, it is more permanent but still takes time. Aurobindo, did not describe when it goes in the environmental versus converted by light. I experienced the difference and this is the difference. When the fault bothers us, we dislike the fault or we are attached to the fault, it will get eradicated by going into the environmental consciousness. If we are at peace, indifferent to it, then the light of God will permeate into our body and get rid of it.
Lastly, when the faults are overwhelming, we are desperately trying to get rid of it but it attacks us repeatedly, there are a few things that can help the process
1) Doing Kumbhaka
2) Try to remain calm
3) Trying Mantras
4) Using a strong will – Nothing matters except God and I will not succumb to it because if I do, will have to come back to this hell called Earth. I only seek and love thee God, and I do not want any part of this fault or anguish except you
5) Eyes focused on Agna chakra
6) Even when all of the above fails, one thing that can be very effective is, focusing at Agna chakra, a strong will, slight kumbhaka and doing the “lion face” which is described in Yoga text books. Yogananda has described a partial technique of the lion face in his SRF lessons – wrinkling of the forehead around the Agna chakra.
Feb 09
Introspection and Nidhidhyasana.
Before I forget, I should jot down a few experiences.
Gurudev told me about my association with Dinesh uncle. He told me to do a sankalpa for Moksha for both me and Dinesh uncle. This occured a few days ago. I hope this is not in anyway a hint from Gurudev that Dineshuncle is about to make a departure.
I had a talk with a Saint today. It took me a while to understand what he meant by introspection. He kept repeating that one has to “be here now” meaning be constantly vigilant and alert as to the faults one has and constantly make an effort to correct it. Anyway that was the gist. He said that this is introspection and it is just as important as meditation. For those in the spiritual path, the traditional indian word is Nidhidhyasana. What I could not understand is why does one have to be aware and look for ones faults when you can actually see them!
Let me explain the steps of Nidhidhyasana. I will start off with an analogy.
Let us say you are in a house with a few rooms. You hear a little sound. But the sound is soft and so short, you are just not sure if the sound was real but think it was there. This would be the first step where one realizes that a small voice or something inside did not have the ring of truth, but we are not spiritually awake enough to catch on to it.
In the second stage, you hear the sound repeatedly but you cant place your finger on it. This is like a stage where you are passing a street, someone frowns at you, and you feel unhappy about it. After a while you forget the incident but your heart stays heavy but you dont remember why
In the third stage, you hear a sound and you know the sound is coming from the room next door and you have a more precise idea and you try to shut off the noise in your mind. This is a stage where you are more in tune with your faults and you are trying to be vigilant and not let the sound or your faults take over. This is closer to the real Nidhidhyasana.
The fourth stage is something different. Your no longer in the house but you are above the house and the house has no roof so you can see the source of the sound! Here, you are no longer looking or searching for your faults, you actually see it. This is not something imaginary nor is it a feeling or perception. It is seen.
In the third stage, you are aware of your faults or enemies but you cannot vanquish them. In the fourth stage, you actually see the fault and slowly, in time learn how to vanquish them.
When I say, you see your faults, this is what happens. All of our faults lie in different chakras of the body – usually between manipur or swadhisthana or muladhar and some in Anahat. When we try to station ourselves in the higher self, one can actually see the activies of the lower chakras and see the fault we have and keep ourselves surrendered to Shakti and let shakti remove our faults and thus the obstacle to remaining in samadhi at all times.
Lately, when I am in meditation, I see various strings which connect the agna chakra to the lower half of the body. When focused on agna chakra fully, immediately prana begins to reverse and climb back up through the “strings”. When our attention is not fixed fully on agna chakra, I see how our faults pull on agna chakra and prevent the consciousness from blossoming within and keep our prana from ascending.
The degree to which the prana reverses it flow has gone up exponentially. The more prana reverses its flow, more and more do I feel myself without body and more as pure consciousness. Also, when the attention is fixed on agna chakra and the prana begins to ascend, I realize the existence of Manas chakra. This is a chakra with 5 leaves and described by Vishnutirthji maharaj in Devatma shakti.
Feb 09
Yoga Basics and Shiv Swarodaya and the Science of Breathing / Breath
I will only touch the basics about Shiv Swarodaya here. However, there are a few fundamentals about Yoga that everyone should know.
1) For all individuals, the flow of air / breathing occurs in either left or right nostril. (Medically, this is due to changes in the sinuses). When the flow is through the left nostril it is called chandra nadi or ida or jamuna and when the flow is through the right nostril it is called surya nadi or pingla or ganga.
2) As per Vivekananda Maharaja, flow through the left nostril is usually auspicious for most purposes
3) Flow through the right nostril is good before going to war and meditation (Gurudev)
4) The flow alternates through left and right nostrils every 1.5 hours for a person in good health. For a yogi it changes every hour. For an advanced yogi, the flow is through the left nostril in the day time and right nostril at night time. This increases his longetivity
5) If you lie on your left side, the right nostril opens up and if you lie on your right side, the left nostril opens up. It is more effective if you are able to exert pressure in the axillary area while lying on the sides
6) Generally, when either nostril is open, there is minimal flow through of air on the other nostril too. The key word is minimal.
7) If the airflow is only through one nostril and not even a minimal amount flows through the other nostril then it is inauspicious to do any task
8) If the airflow is through the left nostril mostly and minimal air is through the right side it is called amrit yoga. It is very auspicious
9) If the airflow is through the right nostril mostly and minimal through the left side it is called Visha yoga and is inauspicious.
10) All the chogadias which hindus use come originally from the knowledge of the breath.
This is the bare essentials. There is a lot more to this which can be discussed later, including how to recognize the basic elements from breathing, how to effective in communications etc
Now, let us talk about Sushumna nadi. This is what the Yogi aspires. Sushumna nadi is said to be open when the air flow through both nostrils is EQUAL or if the breath changes from left to right and right to left with rapidity. This nadi is EXTREMELY inauspicious for wordly matters. It is an indicator of death, people disliking you for no reason, extreme difficulties etc. However, the same nadi is EXTREMELY auspicious for a Yogi if he can reverse the air flow, take the prana inside and it can lead to Moksha, or freedom. Without the Sushumna nadi opening, one cannot have any Yogic experiences
The duration of how long Sushumna remains open predicts remaining life. I will explain this later. For now, suffice to know that when the airflow through the nostril changes, one has to go through Sushumna for a short time. Now, you will understand why some days can be good, bad and ugly. Our breathing is constantly telling us and reminding us of impending success or problems
Lastly, one more thing. When we breath out the breath goes out for a certain distance. This distance is measured by a Yogi by the distance measured in the width of the finger. Normally, this distance, the distance the breath travels out is 12 finger breaths. During activities it goes up. If a person can just decrease the distance travelled by the breath by one finger breath, he or she begins to feel warm. If the breathing goes down to 7 finger breaths, he begins to experience Samadhi. I will discuss this more when I translate Muktashastra.
My daughter asked me the other day, why did she feel so warm while doing mala. The answer is, her breathing had slowed down from the normal 12 (not rate of breathing but the distance travelled outside the nose) to 11. The more one can decrease it, the more Yogic powers appear.
How does one decrease the distance travelled by the breath? That is the real art of a Yogi! Just forcefully breathing slowly DOES NOT work.
Bhavin
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