Hi Srikanth uncle it’s Sneha. My father is going to send a few questions that I wrote about to your Gmail. Please do not make the answers complicated but explain logically for my understanding. I am a 7th grade student.
*The universe is expanding (This is scientifically proven). Is the universe expanding into already created space or is it creating space as it expands?*
Answer: Good question! I would start with a question? Did space exist before creation? Yes, it did exist. After the Big Bang as the universe expanded space expanded too. It continues to happen. I would suggest you read Alpha and Omega beginning and end of the universe.
*Is ‘God’
a person (spiritual human being), someone who can be felt with your senses. E.g. see, touch, hear etc.
Note - One should be able to see ‘God’ when you go near it. This ‘being’ does not have human qualities but has ‘Godly or Divine’ qualities.
OR
a spirit / soul (which is the essence of ‘something’, for example a person)
Meaning of spirit - The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.*
Answer: I will give you a very simple example to understand this concept. If you plant a seed , seed grows into a plant and then into a tree. You can say seed manifested into a tree. Then, where did the seed go? The essence of the seed or nature of the seed is all pervading the tree though we can not see the same seed which is planted. You can not see it, touch it, feel it. But the essence of the seed is in every part or cell of the tree.
Similarly from that state of nothingness when this universe manifested the essence which is the cause for this universe now is in every atom , every particle. *I would like to call this essence as GOD.* God is not a person or a thing but it's a principle. The essence which is everywhere in everything of this universe.
The other word given to this essence is SOUL. The GODLY essence in everything, Human soul is also in every cell of a human. Every manifestation of this SOUL or GOD acquired different attributes, characters. That is why there are different life forms, mineral forms in this universe.
Since the GOD is an essence you can not touch , see or even you can not feel. One way to realize is with the help of master who is capable of giving transmission which elevates the consciousness to perceive it;
*Who and how did the sages meditate? Did they do heartfulness or mindfulness?*
Answer: All sages understood this essence and even our scriptures say the same about
GOD what mentioned in the above answer. So all the sages practiced Heartfulness way of meditation. But they did not have a GURU who could transmit the essence hence they spent long years meditating and lived a very disciplined life to achieve these higher states of consciousness.
Mindfulness was taught by Buddha who said this essence to be nothing hence he did not agree to the concept of SOUL
*Why did the “Gods” only come to India? Were there only terrible things happening there? (ex. Ravana was in Srilanka but Rama was born in India. Not any other land)*
Answer: It's very wrong to think GOD is born in a certain place , Rama,, Lord Krishna, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Lao Tzu all these are evolved people who are born in various parts of the world and taught us how to appreciate and cherish life. As far as demons like Ravana, they were living in the southern tip of India, more barbaric people, in the story it just so happens Ravana abducts the wife of Rama. They end up in a war and Rama kills Ravana. But that is not why Rama came into existence.
*Why are there so many gods when there is only one supergod? (A supergod is one thing ymajig that started everything.)*
Answer: As per our scriptures, there is only ONE GOD the supreme SOUL. All the other Gods which are depicted in our stories known as Puranas are functionaries of NATURE. Like Sun, Moon, Air, Fire, and the Brahma (who is responsible for creation of life), Vishnu (who is protecting life) and Shiva (who is the destroyer) depicting birth, life and death cycle. These are also functions of nature or life itself.
Our scriptures have created these rituals for various occasions with a purpose to conduct life in a very natural way.
*What does it mean to be connected with God?*
Answer: Several people/religions think of different ways to stay connected to GOD. Some sing songs in praise of GOD, some gave different names to GOD and constantly chant those names; For a meditator its a deepest meditation experience and brings that feeling into all days activities.
*How do you know when you are connected with God? It's possible but practically impossible to get to that level.*
Answer: It's very simple and easy, just like you feel good when you think of your parents, good friends; We just try to feel that deep meditation or that feeling to stay connected. That is why Daaji says we think through our minds and we feel through our hearts. That is why meditation is thinking to feeling. Hold on to that good feeling and joy to stay connected with GOD.
1) You said Bhakti is the same as constant remembrance. How would someone know tangibly, if he/she is doing Para Bhakti or Apara Bhakti? I mean, which stage he is at. Because the differences described above (in the NaradBhaktiSutra) appear to be loose. I understand Para Bhakti is a higher degree of experience, but my question is, how can one really differentiate between his two states?
2) Can this Para Bhakti and Apara Bhakti be co-related with the 13 points?
3) What does it mean by 'securing liberation'. As described earlier, liberation is non-attachment to the worldly things.. Just this non-attachment/no bondage/no compulsion will ensure no-rebirths? Can I infer this?
4) On a separate note, how is God's merger related to the 13 points? Does merger only happen when one reaches the 13th point experience? Is it like, liberation at point 1 experience.. In other words, can the points be related to the liberation (first ~3 points), realization (~4-6 points), merger (advait/non dualistic identity, at next 7 points)?
I will attempt to address all the questions within this write-up rather than tackling them one at a time.
The scriptures describe numerous stages of Bhakti and Samadhi, each representing different levels of consciousness. To put it simply, these stages reflect an evolving and expanding awareness—awareness of what? The awareness of the divine essence.
Much like any worldly desire, let’s consider the longing for an expensive car. First, one must be aware of what car they want, all the associated luxuries, and the status it brings. This awareness shapes the aspiration, and one must also have the means to acquire it. However, these are all transient phases; as life experiences change, so do our desires and definitions of success.
Similarly, when we become aware of the divine essence, devotion is no longer transactional—there is no asking. Devotion that remains within the realm of transactions is known as Apara Bhakti. "Apara" implies attachment to an external form—be it an image, deity, prophet, or guru. However, when the mind transcends this transactional nature, it enters the realm of the Self (Atman). It then realizes the ultimate goal is oneness (mergence, Laya Avastha) with the essence, where no external image remains—only pure essence. At this stage, there is no seeking, not even for mergence itself. This is Para Bhakti, meaning higher, transcendental devotion.
The mind, upon finding its true source, reaches a state of perfection it has been longing for. Once this journey begins, there is no turning back; it inevitably moves toward culmination—a state of true balance. This state is far superior and subtler than the concept of Sthitaprajna (equanimity in all circumstances) described in the Bhagavad Gita.
This transcendence starts from the lower stages and progressively refines itself. In Heartfulness, our Masters introduced a system of points to define these states and provided a method to navigate through them. At each stage, there is a culmination, known as Laya Avastha (mergence into that state). As one progresses, a certain degree of awareness develops. When one fully matures in a particular state, the vision of the next state unfolds, and the journey continues. The ultimate state lies at the 13th point, known as the Center of the Central Region, where mergence must also be achieved.
Is this the end? If there were an end, it would not be infinite. Beyond the 11th point, as the mind enters a state of nothingness, even the idea of mergence becomes difficult to grasp. This is where the Master’s role becomes crucial—guiding the practitioner through these indescribable states. If one does not cultivate deep interest early on, progressing through the later stages can become challenging.
One common question seekers ask is whether they are progressing, or to which point they have advanced. The very act of questioning implies a transactional mindset, which is not Para Bhakti. True progress happens effortlessly when one simply continues the practice without expectation. I have known individuals who wrote to the Master claiming to have reached the Central Region. The Master never corrected them; he simply congratulated them. After all, what can one say? One can only wish well for others. Just as an expensive car can become a false identity or status symbol, so can the idea of spiritual attainment. It is best to avoid such traps and simply continue the journey—transformation happens naturally.
Consider skydiving for the first time. A beginner jumps from 10,000 or 20,000 feet with an instructor. An intellectual might hesitate, analyzing all possibilities—what could go right, what could go wrong, what the experience might feel like, and what if it doesn’t match expectations? In spirituality, such individuals read endlessly, deluding themselves into believing they are already there.
In a practical approach like Heartfulness, knowledge alone is not enough. One must take the leap—cross the mental barrier. The moment this barrier is overcome, one attains a liberated state. This journey is not about escaping the cycle of life and rebirth, though that may be a byproduct. Rather, it allows us to move forward in the infinite journey of consciousness.
This is not blind faith. As awareness deepens, the need for oneness becomes self-evident. This journey is undertaken with wisdom and true understanding.
Philosophy is thinking, Yoga is doing and Realisation is undoing.- Babuji
*Question: Kind of understand what is Undoing after realization ,But not really sure , can someone shed light on this?*
*SK:* Philosophy is all about speculative thinking or rumination over the idea of GOD and existence. This idea of GOD emerged from the context of the self or individual or from situations in life. That is why primitive beings thought of GOD as air, sun, thunder, rain, hurricanes, moon, skies, stars. Whatever they could not explain is GOD. Slowly this concept evolved and man started to question the existence itself. Hence this enquiry began *WHO AM I ?* The answer to this question always has been from the state of the mind of the individual and little bit of a projected idea based on the learnings from scriptures. *Scriptures are revelations by the seers of the past but when they had to translate these revelations into verbal form so much is lost in translation. Therefore a scripture again only reveals so little and much more is lost by the limited perception of the individual who is reading or hearing*. Hence sravanam ( hearing & reading) Mananam( analytical thinking) falls in the category of thinking and philosophy. There is a barrier the mind reaches cannot further answer this enquiry in its real sense.
Now the question is how to cross this limitation of the mind. This is not truly a limitation of the mind but the limitation of the conditioned mind or perception. This barrier can be removed by bringing some prescribed yogic practices by our seers or as depicted in our scriptures. Here i am not qualifying which one is better. Most agreeable yogic method is Dhyana or nidhidhyasanam( meditation) if one understands the purpose and process correctly. *Therefore Yoga is doing.* Yoga requires certain attitude, discipline and mostly interest to seek. Here the mind with extrovert tendencies is being internalized. *Here internalized does not mean going inside the body, but going beyond its mental sphere.* Now it has to get rid of all this layers and layers of identity. As mentioned in the scriptures these layers are broadly categorized as 5 koshas. *One thing i would like to emphasize here in the practice of YOGA there is NO negation*. It is a very natural process as there is expansion in consciousness there is a dissolution of the layer of identity. As this dissolution is happening the idea of WHO AM I transforms. Sometimes you hear the questions like who is the experiencer or the real doer or thinker. It is always the ego self how much ever someone wants to project this esoterically. Through yogic practices and by the grace of the GURU this ego becomes a witnessing entity (refined ego). Truly the role of the Guru is to transmit his own state to the disciple to make this possible. Otherwise in spite of individuals interest and ardent practices still this is an impossible task. You will see this evidently in umpteen cases like Ramakrishna transmits to Vivekananda, Lord Krishna on the battlefield transmits to the Arjuna.
As the mind and conscious becomes a witnessing entity and due to the dissolution of layers of identities which are formed over eons of lifetimes one realizes the true SELF, the ATMAN. This process appears like peeling of the onion, *UNDOING*. Once the mind identifies with the ATMAN it also realizes the primordial essence of the existence is one and the same appearing as manifested state. Many misunderstand Advita as a concept or idea. *Advaita is a true state of a being immersed in oneness.* At this state this mind cognizes the ATMAN and the manifested universe. This is the last layer Vijnanamaya kosha. When this too dissolves the cognition is also gone a state of nothingness , true state of Neti Neti( neither this nor that).
*Follow up Question:* Brother can you explain the concept of Negation?
I will try to give a very general idea! The path of negation is very complex it is almost like self hypnosis without proper understanding.
Often we hear whenever we are exposed to any religious or spiritual texts you will find the instructions like do not have any attachments, do not have any desires etc ...etc. Basically you will see so many don'ts in order to grow spiritually.
One might also argue even in Heartfulness emphasis on these aspects and also the idea of cleaning impressions. In a pure consciousness, presence of these impressions hinders its freedom. It's like a virus in the body, the mind reacts to it thinking it is a foreign body. Virus by itself is not harmful but the reaction of the body and mind makes it harmful. Similarly the reaction to the presence of impressions is the cause for all actions, likes, dislikes, attachments and desires. Those who are exposed to indian scriptures call them VASANAS.
*But truly speaking Impressions(samskaras) at the seed form manifest into vasanas.* It is difficult to deal with them after they manifested. *By forcefully trying to avoid these vasanas create even more a havoc in the mental sphere.* That is why the more effective way is to *CLEAN THEM AT THE SEED FORM*. Hence the cleaning process in heartfulness by using the divine will to clean, which basically means all samskaras transform into the divine and merge into a higher consciousness when they exit out of your system. (Note: we are not separate from divine consciousness either)
Once its manifested we have to either undergo the bhog or the best way to complete this bhog is by attaching the mind to a higher state.
As long as the idea of getting rid of samskaras or vasanas is there , instead of taking them away we are making them stronger and stronger. This idea of getting rid of something I am call it negation.
Rather the right attitude is to focus on the higher states of consciousness you may call it godly consciousness.
On the other spectrum like Adi Shankaracharya in his NIrvana Shatakam says you are neither this body nor intelligence or Ego, you are ever pure blissful consciousness and I am shiva, i am shiva. Here he gave an ideology, concept an expression from a higher state. Its top down. Now we can not go upwards by saying i am not this body and ego consciousness. So this is even more dangerous path of negation.
Will the LIGHT come when Darkness goes away OR the LIGHT comes and the darkness goes away? Somehow we got into the trap of getting rid of the darkness to bring the light. But just bring the light and darkness goes away by it self.
*Question:* Srikanth, I am confused about the concept of Pranahuti. I have seen in sahaj marg literature that transmission is referred to " nourishment of soul". Babuji described this as food for soul. My understanding was that atman being pure, does not evolve and all are work is on subtle body. When they say soul do they mean the causal body? Or is Pranahuti transmission of consciousness or something else? Thanks
*SK:* You are asking the right question but the answer i can give is not so straight forward. Take the concept of Time; What is time, does time really exist. Or is it relative or perceived delay between two events. Time is a relative measurement, a concept, continuous progression. Everything which is perceivable is in relation to something. That also means that there can be no direct perception of anything. Any knowing is only by contrast.
Transmission can not be perceived because at that state none exist. Hence direct perception of transmission is not possible. Only its effects can be perceived on our consciousness and on our mind.
Now lets understand Soul, it cannot be an entity. Again here there is no second exists hence no direct perception. It becomes an entity when it associates with a body. There is no equivalent word in english for this. In sanskrit it is called Jiva Atma (Being - embodied soul), loosely called as SOUL. When we say BODY the real meaning here is "a covering". The first covering of this being (soul) is the CAUSAL BODY, the next level of covering is a SUBTLE BODY and the next is PHYSICAL.
Physical Body is nourished by food but its sustenance comes from the subtle body. Subtle body also needs its nourishment, which is very much based on mind, consciousness, ego. Subtle body is sustained by the essense of the causal body and causal body is sustained by soul.
Now what does the soul need? Does it really requires something to sustain upon. The answer is YES and NO. Depending on how we look at it. Now that, it is embodied, needs sustenance which can be transmission.
Scriptures say SOUL is eternal , so is embodied soul. But embodied soul is dormant. But beyond this nothing can be explained. Here all explanations , definitions fail. That is why they say a rational mind is only half way. When the mind enters this realm it eludes, negates everything else.
It is very difficult to pinpoint and say this is Transmission. Transmission is everything and nothing at the sametime.
*Question:* Brother thank you for taking time and replying me. But my concern is beyond this question. It is clearly mentioned in books and discussions that babuji is the source and incarnated from the central region. All these master's addition is somehow hiding this fact at every-way possible. Sahaj marg is now called heartfulness. there is no mention of babuji the ultimate. rather it feels 4 master with equal powers or something. I was told by one perceptor that babuji himself is Bhooma !! and we pray to him for our spiritual advancement. if you can precisely give me the idea. even on heartfulness app , no mention of babuji. if a person don't know babuji how will he attain higher states ? This is a major major concern for me. I know the truth but new abhyasis may not get the correct gist and may never know who babuji truly is !!
*SK:* Jesus when he was arrested by Roman soldiers before he was sentenced with crucifixion taken to the Roman Governor Pilot. Pilot asks Jesus are you the messiah tell the truth? Jesus answers even if I tell you how will you know the truth? Very pertinent question how will you know the TRUTH? Each one is blinded by their own perception. If spoken words or written answers could bring clarity the whole world would have been full of saints. So simple answer each on must open their heart and do a sincere prayer to bring clarity.
When it comes to the question of who is the source?One will say Jesus is the only one and other will say Krishna bhagawan is the only source, this list goes on and on. But Babuji's clarion answer, only GOD is the real master and is the only source. Rest every one act like conduits. That is how every master presented themselves as conduits only not as a source.If you listen to Chariji or Daajis talks , I do not think they ever gave a talk without taking Babuji's name. Every new and old seeker when exposed to Heartfulness the first name they will know is Babuji.Someone has to carry the torch after Babuji, a living master is that torch bearer. Babuji clearly emphasized the need for a living Master. How does it matter where the transmission is coming from as long as i am willing and open to absorb the transmission. For that i must prepare myself. If you notice my comment to your previous question Transmission is all pervading there is no proprietorship on this. Brother my sincere advice is please continue the practice and let your heart be open for this divine grace. My sincere prayers to Babuji to bring clarity to your thoughts.
Revelations
Over last 3 days when i started to India i was ruminating over the ideas of the absolute which is omniscient , omnipotent this sarvantaryami which is every where yet one cannot be known easily. I always wondered why?
So many scriptures try to talk about its Tatva(characteristics) from an existential context yet could not explain the real essence. Nasadiya Sukta (the Hymn of Creation) in Rigveda says Neti Neti ( neither this nor that). Since it is omniscient can not be conceptualized i.e can not be confined. Yet ad nauseam Humans have tried to fit this into various contexts. But its beauty is whatever the ideology, belief , philosophy or even in dogma it appears very fitting and evident. Hence everyone from stand point of individual thought process always settled on a concept which they believed it to be the only process and confined to it.
Adi Shankaracharya in his wisdom said any conceptualization of this absolute is MAYA(illusion). Any conceptualization appears to be fitting yet not completely true. It also means there can be only one TRUTH(advita). Which basically implies everything else is false. Here the FALSEHOOD is only attributed to the ideology or the thought process does not imply life or existence of this physical universe.
Now the real question is how to realize this TRUTH?
Like I mentioned already in this path everything appears to be fitting depending what individual subscribes whether it is Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga , Dhyana Yoga, or even Idol worship, or worshiping of the human masters/gurus, prophets. Some also think that by negating every idea and considering it to be untruth one can realize the truth.
This path cannot be so complicated it has to be absolutely simple. All that it requires is one should have intent to seek it and will have to feel the absolute need for it. That is all it takes and little bit of practice to pay attention to it.
Heartfulness mediation is all about bringing this simplicity and just meditate on the idea of this absolute( we need not conceptualize it nor define it) so that it will be revealed by itself.
*Q*: What is the true meaning of "BG 4
*Abh:* ** I resonate with this … I am on top of the world .. I have met my master with all of these qualities… but I find myself doubting… am I worth it?? I have to work very hard to be worth His love and support .
*SK*: If I have to become worthy of his grace I would present my self as it is now without any reservations….. if I have to become worthy in future it’s never going to happen
*Q*: What is the true meaning of "BG 4.5: The Supreme Lord said: Both you and I have had many births, O Arjun. You have forgotten them, while I remember them all, O Parantapa"
*SK*: You should read the next verse to understand what Krishna means by taking many births at his free will and the form of his choice. He is telling Arjuna that he does not have the same free will
*Q*: But Babuji said, he was an avatar and directly came down without any previous lives.
Does it not contradict advitha concept that there is only one soul and once jeevathma merges in paramathma , there is no individual soul exists to come back
*SK*: According to Advita even you are not the individual soul .. for an avatar there is no prarabda karma neither sanchita karma .. in other words no baggage of previous lives. But he also has to deal with collective consciousness or the karmas of the people he is associated with.
ALL the manifestation formed shariras (bodies or coverings) - physical, subtle and causal. This embodied shariras goes through birth and death life cycle. And the individual soul (jiva atma) in this context is only the reflection of THE ATMA.
This enlightened consciousness or pure consciousness in this case which has taken the form of Lord Krishna is referring to all the births it has taken and has the ability to choose at will.
If you look at the true aspect of the advita even lord krishna is NOT the ultimate but a manifested entity. All this existence or manifestation has to merge into ultimate only at the time of Maha pralaya.
Since Shankaracharya could not retrofit the manifestation with the concept of Advaitha, he called all manifestation as Maya which is not real. But he failed to explain how maya can evolve to real or have the JNANA of the ultimate.
*Question*: Are impressions form if there is no emotional charge with it? I other words … If a situation comes in life but I do not associate emotions, does it still stay within as impression?
*SK*: Impression is emotional memory stored in our consciousness ...but without emotion we cannot make decisions or perform any actions. So emotion/reaction is a necessary evil and impression is the result of that action. Even masters form impressions just like us. But for them and even for us if we can maintain and work through remembrance , they get cleared as soon as they form.
[8:03 AM, 10/18/2022] Srikanth Katakam:
*Whatever you meditate upon and worship you become (Yad bhāvana tad bhavati)*
According to Agama Shastra the deities can be depicted in different modes.
Śānta-rūpa - peaceful
Ugra-rūpa - wrathful
Vīra-rūpa - heroic
Bhoga-rūpa - householder
*Yoga-rūpa - Ascetic. - if one wishes to pursue the path of self-realization then one should meditated on the yog-rupa or the essence of the ultimate is the only way*
Brother thank you for bringing forth these questions and also qualifying it by saying Gitas point of View. In fact even before you posed these questions i was exactly thinking about it during my evening walk yesterday.
If you all please permit and forgive me, i would like to give a different spin to it. It is easy to present a perspective of a Guru or Bhagawan or a scripture, it is difficult to reach that perspective. But our ego gives an illusion that we are already in that perspective because we read or heard about it. This is MAYA in my opinion.
*Who are you?*
What i think I am; meaning only imagination of what i am. An European philosopher said Cogito Ergo Sum ( i think therefore I am). The gita says thou art that(tatvam asi)! You are all in me Bhagawan propounds.
Ramana Maharshi keeps bringing up this question who am i? can i say I am that sat chit anandam! ... NO! If not then this is a moot question how may ever times i ask who am I. The solution is to find that omniscient , omnipresent , omnipotent brahman as bhagawan suggested in dhyana yoga by meditating on him.
*What are you?*
It is interesting on the first thought, the above question and this question means the same. Basically bhagawan in Gita is challenging all of us it's not important who you are, it is more important what you are going to become. Can i ever say *i am what i ought to be*. Bhagawan's clarion call in gita is abide in me he says. But what are we doing we created an imaginary HIM which is very much bound in MAYA, creating a false image of abiding in him.
So it is important to awake and understand , like we discussed in verse 17 &18 of chapter 6. Then all the bhagawans words make perfect sense.
*Where are you?*
You are where you are. But the question is where are you going. Like Jesus asks Peter *quo vadis dominie meaning where are you going*? Its not important where you are, more important is where you are going. Bhagwan in his grace understands all our shortcoming, that is why he proposed different yogas (karma, dhyana, jnana , bhakti yoga). Each one according their own gunas can adopt one of them and still make it to him. So we should *NOT* be content and happy just because our life presented an opportunity to read Gita, associated with great personalities like Gurudev (Chinmaya), we must fulfill their dreams . Like Vivekananda says *Rest not till the goal is achieved*. A spiritual aspirant can not be in a state of contentment. That is why where are you is not important where are you going is more important.
*Question:* I would remind you that Master prescribes the mental recitation of prayer just once in the morning, before meditation is commenced. Now if the prayer is what connects the abhyasi to the Master, then if the prayer is not mentally repeated, the connection is not established. It is perhaps for this reason that many abhyasis show lack of progress! In our morning practice, it therefore works as a connecting switch.
What do think of this? Do u agree with this?
*SK*: If prayer is understood in the right context then this connection happens... not just because we recite the prayer. First and foremost its all about feeling the inner need. Even if we do not feel the inner need the transmission which is invoked, at some point or stage should enable this need. But most of time our external priorities take over do not become sensitive to this inner need. Sometimes our ego function blocks this need.
When this inner need is present, then prayer becomes automatic ...just like in the example of the baby crying.
As per progress what Master referred i am not sure if that is defined in a proper sense in our system. In my understanding progress is feeling this inner need and longing to fulfill it, this should be a continuous process.
Is peace possible in this world of turmoil.
All our thoughts at an individual level cumulatively manifested in to what we are seeing in this world, all this turmoil, war mongering, terrorism, prejudices. Today we can not trust another human.
All this advancement in weapon technology, biological warfare is to protect from whom? It is not to kill some Godzilla, or some beast. Today that beast is my fellow human.
Where are we heading, can this end, is there a bright future envisioned by our Lord Jesus and many other evolved personalities. Love thy neighbor, is this just a statement to be carved on walls or can we make it happen in our lives.
This can only happen when each individual establishes that peace, love and harmony within.
Heartfullness way and its simple practices to establish this harmony, peace within; We welcome you all to participate in next 21 days every day evening at 630pm to meditate and pray for world peace.
Recently when we were chatting you mentioned that " life is precious ". I've been thinking about it a lot. I wonder how it is precious if there is infinite cycles of birth-death? So if I don't reach goal, I am coming back anyway?!
Also the terms used such as liberation and salvation give me the idea that being incarcerated is some sort of punishment. I believe Chariji himself has described reincarnation as punishment.
Weren't I better off if i had neve been incarcerated?
I was in my homeland until creation and now I have to go through all this with the goal of going back there, just sounds stupid, sorry
SK: Life is precious! Thousand lives back i must have been a worm relishing cow dung. All animal life relishes only humans have the ability to cherish. Appear Omar Khayyam entered into me after reading the excerpts you shared yesterday. All existence is precious.
Liberation is a myth and existence is the TRUTH. Even after liberation i must be existing in some dimension and dealing with problems of life in that dimension.
Sometimes in this path of life we happen to get stuck in a limbo; our soul is struggling to get out of that state because it acknowledges that it is not in a very congenial place. That is when we feel life is a painful journey. Suppose my life ends in that state ( either due to natural causes or Suicide ) it is inevitable that our next life start in the same state.
So how much ever painful and uncongenial it is we have to give sometime; one sudden morning all life changes. We are out of it, things appear in different light.
Is reincarnation a punishment? Yes and No.
No because - Its another opportunity to work my way up. If I compare this idea to the believes where one subject to eternal hell or heaven after death. The idea of incarnation i guess, gives much more hope.
Yes - incarnation definitely a punishment if i am not at all inclined to work my way up. What i mean by up is to raise above the conscious state of present existence. But is it up-to me? I doubt it.
What if neither the concept of reincarnation nor the eternal hell or heaven are true; What if there is no existence after the death. If existence is only bodily then perhaps none of these are true. But if the true existence is the mind and the consciousness , surely this has to take some shape and form.
What if i never wants to be liberated? like i said liberation is a myth. It's all about the expansion of the consciousness and as per this state, the shape it assumes changes. At a very high conscious state human body perhaps may not be the right fit. Hypothetically speaking then it has to take whatever that existential state in a higher dimension.
All our role is to keep working to wards this evolution. It will happen whether we like it or not.
Teachers from past and present, to explain a spiritual concept depended on certain simile , certain choice of words; But it does not explain the whole concept. Sometimes they do backfire, sometimes they can be misleading too. Depends on how we want to perceive it. To me it is like saying we originally emerged from a higher state, whether we call it evolution or devolution this is where we ended up. But we have the potential to go to that dimension where all this started.
Not all concepts needs to be accepted by the seekers. I only take what appeals to me rest i try to ignore as its not going to add any value to me anyway.
Question: My question is... what's the best way to absorb the new impression for which I do not have any past cognates. Is it inevitable to be "dissatisfied" and be in a state of ignorance until I place it in a group ?
I have noticed this pattern in my life itself... That when i get a new impression/ knowledge.. i get anxious.. frustrated until the new impression makes sense.
Answer:
Impressions are patterns, my teacher used to give this example some riverbeds / streams go dry in summer. During the rainy season the water takes the same path into the riverbed. How because the riverbed is formed in the past due to continuous flow of water.
Similarly when opportunity presents due to impressions we react/act in the same way.
My sincere recommendation is not to read too much into the words; All these ideas are given to us to understand and get some general idea.
The challenge of spiritual concepts are , if it is explained then we are stuck with the hypothesis and vocabulary used. If it is not explained, cannot make sense on our own.
So the right thing to do is get the basic idea and apply the method to get rid of these impressions then you see slowly these patterns drop.
We might form new patterns but daily practice is a remedy to get rid of them without making them strong.
Question: The example you gave about the natives not being able to notice the big ship was a very intriguing one. But would you say IF.. for example... the native people's consciousness was evolved enough and they were perceiving 'True Knowledge' by just witnessing the uncolored present.. do you think would they be able to notice the big ship in front of them instantaneously ? Even if they did not have the cognates of this new experience in front of them(this new big ship) ?
Message
I wish things are as black and white and logical as we imagine them to be. In reality things are so dynamic, multi dimensional. Expansion of consciousness helps to witnesses the subtleties of a situation. I do not want to confuse you with more examples. Example is only to explain a very small face of the truth.
As this expansion of the conciseness happens , it allows the mind and life to pay attention to more vital things than mundane things. Appreciation of life also changes. Many assume its total disconnect from life, but where as it is about cherishing life as it presents itself.
As far as the new experience it requires certain repetition to realize regardless of the conscious state but only appreciation of it depends on its level.
All that we need is to meditate to deepen this experience.
Page 208 -
"a Guide of caliber can give birth to our Spiritual Entity into the higher dimensions known as the Brighter World. This is a very crucial step in the onward destiny of a seeker. The fascinating thing is that we remain alive here in this physical dimension while our Spiritual Entity is born into the Brighter World. Our Spiritual Entity can dwell in multiple dimensions. How do we understand this? Have you ever been in one place physically but thinking about somewhere else entirely? The mind is in another dimension, right? You may also be remembering someone you love dearly in the back of your mind, so your feeling is somewhere else again. We actually use our capacity to exist in multiple dimensions much more than we might think!"
MY QUESTION IS - Going by this example.. say I am thinking about my relative in New York while being physically present in Australia. Doesn’t that just mean my mind is wandering off.. playing psychology dramas/stories and not being aware and rooted in the present moment. I am sure that doesn’t mean my mind is in another completely different dimension ?!
The whole idea or essence of spirituality is to live in the present. But how is it possible to live in present, in ever changing universe. Some think make your mind still and you are in present, some say be in godly remembrance you are in present. Some say do not think of future or past you live in present. So present is a relative concept.
If i am standing still am i moving? Technically i am moving because earth is rotating. Even stillness of mind is also relative and momentary.
Soul (atman) is also defined as moving and thinking, brahman is also defined as expanding. Buddha went beyond and said there is nothing. Teachers of Heartfulness said go to the essence of nothing which is nothingness. But its a journey. One part of this journey is taking this existence beyond this dimension which Daaji is referring as SE(Spiritual Entity). It is much more feasible to reach this state of nothingness, the real present , a continuous present (not in a moment), true state of being with infinity.
Sometimes we take the examples literally and which eludes the essence. Going to the essence is the key, which is beyond all concepts, cannot be philosophized, cannot be confined to a doctrine, where words fail to explain.
pain - subtle body
Page 201 - Levels of subtlety : the physical and subtle bodies of plants are generally more closely bound together than in animals, and the more evolved the animal, the greater that separation can be. The less tight the tethering of the subtle bodies is to the physical body, the more possibility of pain there is in death. Imagine that a great saint is in front of you. It would be unthinkable to eat that person because their subtle bodies are everywhere. He or she is one of the most evolved beings in the universe, and if you were to kill them the pain associated would be enormous because of their highly evolved consciousness. The subtler the being, the more evolved the subtle body, so the more pain there is. And that pain is then transmitted to whomever or whatever consumes it
MY QUESTION IS - why less tight the tethering of the subtle body to the physical body = more pain. I thought if a high evolved being has more freedom between the physical and subtle body, shouldn’t he be able to overcome pain because of more freedom/flexibility ?
I really appreciate your questions. It shows with the level of interest you have been reading this book. This book touches on very subtle topics like this and as we think over it can take us to a very deeper space.
Suppose if i need to get operated i will be given anesthesia and then the doctor cut opens through the flesh. In this scenario all that is happening is the medicine is blocking the brain receptors and pain sensitivity is gone until medicine wears off. But just because i am not feeling it during surgery can i say there is no trauma in the muscle during the surgery?
Now let's look it from a physical , subtle and causal body perspective.
Minerals , rocks all these since the tightly bound physical, subtle, causal bodies the conscious state is almost zero. In plants it is little less loosely coupled there is some consciousness. Hence limited awareness and its body is also the bodies evolution is to support the level of consciousness.
In animals these bodies are even more separated and accordingly expansion in its consciousness. Hence more complex body structure, more sensory system. Here the idea of pain begins. But fortunately animals do not have the idea of suffering. They just go through the pain.
Then evolution has taken the form of Humans (Homo sapiens) . Now they have more chakras( intersection of energy state between physical, subtle and causal). *In humans the body type is to feel pain and subtle body type to feel suffering.*
Evolved human beings, these are very special type. Every cell has expanded consciousness. *Now you can imagine every cell to be another being itself. * But their mind is absorbed in the state of divine(higher essence) , which makes them more and more capable to with stand pain and feel no suffering. Due to which they become capable to absorb all the suffering from their surroundings. That is why if we ever go in front of these evolved beings like Daaji, there is sense of peace enters in to us and all the suffering is gone. These evolved beings are like cosmic vacuum cleaners of suffering. So this divine absorbency acts like an anesthesia in my first example. You can imagine now how much suffering and pain is there.
I have seen a documentary where some of these Tantrics (aghoris) who eat flesh of the saints who died, thinking they might get their spiritual powers. But what they are not aware of is the other side of the problem.
By killing a saint or evolved person you are at once absorbing all that associated with the saint. Obviously we are not at a state to absorb their divine conciseness as our system is not prepared yet. Hence there is more likely that lower tendencies which their system is sucking from the cosmos is absorbed by our system. You can only imagine what happens to the person who killed a saint.
Hope this makes sense.
Jnana & Liberation
Brother Srikanth question ?What happens to person who is close to being jnani just like eamcet remember if you get within 500 you get medical otherwise you settle for dental veterinary etc what happens we practice hard get close to liberation stage cannot make it does that mean are still destined to be born again or do we have some excellent discounts based on our efforts to reach bhagwan in a quicker way ? Please pour your wisdom brother sairam
'Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah' (meaning: Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions).
If there is a wisdom in Donkeys braying let me grasp it.
Brother Sai ... you asked me a question which Nachiketa asked Yama Dharamaraja. Lord Yama said NO ONE knows the answer.
Since this discussion came up would like to share few thoughts. Let me put my understanding of the words Jnana and Liberation; Forgive me and correct me if misstated anything.
*I would request Ilaji to shed more light on this.*
*Jnana* - Our Shastras have given this method Shravanam, Mananam, Nidhidhyasanam.
Shravanam - Listening from learned people; scriptures etc. I consider reading is also shravanam.
Mananam - Ruminating over the learnings and try to imbibe the essence.
Nidhidhyasanam - Many mis understand this as a third step ....but it has nothing to do with the above elements. This is the most misunderstood process. Nidhidhyasanam is connecting to this param atman and realizing that essence. This is JNANA.
*Liberation*: Moksha , is it just escaping life and birth cycle or is it more than that. Depends on whom you ask this question.
If we consider Moksha as the final, becoming one with Param Atman the true culmination of YOGA. If this is not achieved in this life we have to begin another life with the Prarabda Karma ( subset of Sanchita karma) because we still have the baggage. Go through all the bhog to exhaust this karmas in many lifes.
OR achieve this Jnana which can clean us completely , get rid of our baggage, this is possible in this LIFE.
For a Jnani - mind is situated on the paramatman. Until this is achieved the mind is situated on external world. Like Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi says the mind has to come back with the remaining baggage.
*What i have accumulated (punya) in this life? Does it add up to the next life?* I do not like to discourage anyone. But the real answer is YES and NO. Because we do not know what is in store for next life. It just does not depend on my goodness, there is a collective karma is also in place to act with us. The only and real ammunition we can carry from this life to support next life is the bhakti and prem towards the bhagwan.
*It become imperative to use this life correctly in attaining moksha... by bhagwans grace we are all exposed to this idea.*
Sincere prayers to Gurdev to guide us all in this Jnana marga. Hari OM!
*Question: We refer to surrender all the time - what does it actually mean?*
*SK:*
Surrender means many things to many people, depending on individuals' perceptions.
Man is an emotional being hence he uses his emotion wherever feeling is necessary. It is more so when another individual is involved, whether its parents, spouse or children, friends, teachers, gurus, gods, colleagues, neighbors, enemies, etc... all these realations are only dealt with emotion. We have never learned any other way.
So when it comes to surrendering, the same emotion is used, now we go a little further and say all my emotions are submitted to this individual called GOD or GURU(spiritual teacher). Then we assume that every aspect, decision, emotion is guided by this entity. Thus we think we are showing real faith and believe completely in this entity. The danger with this approach is we suppress all our natural instincts, slowly instead of growing in the state of consciousness, which leads to fanatism. If you go further down to prove this belief further and expecting favors and protection from this entity in this life and afterlife, man is ready to kill and die for this cause. This is the indication of fanatism further solidified in that individual.
Now if we move up a notch, man thinks he formed many identities due to EGO function and assumes he has to lose all these identities in order to find the real essence. He goes further and says all this existence is Maya(illusion), not real. Once again try to suppress all-natural instincts because of the assumption all this is not real. This further pushes the man into deeper confusion. If not either adopt Nama japa(reciting the name of the lord or guru), idol worship, rituals ...many other forms of worship. There is nothing wrong with all these approaches, but still, the lower senses of emotion are used.
So far I seem to point only to negative aspects, but all of the assumptions are very much true; our scriptures explained them in detail. Put a lot of emphasis on identities formed due to our EGO, how the nature of each individual varies according to the GUNAS(Satva, Rajas, and Tamasic). All this is true and can be applied when there is a real perception when we get to the state or level from where these teachings emerge in the first place.
Now coming back to the question of Surrender, one answer I can think of is *being in tune with the entity we want to surrender.* If we understand the real aspect of meditation then we understand surrender. What happens in meditation?
We meditate on the divine essence, on the divine principle itself. Why? Because our inner self aligns with this higher essence so that, slowly our nature transforms into this higher nature. and our lower nature dissolves into this higher nature.
Truly speaking in the real approach to spirituality we are not really getting rid of anything, all our negatives and positives are dissolved into this higher essence WITHIN.
As this dissolution is happening from the state of Maya(Illusion), the being transcends into the divine principle. All my gunas(nature) start aligning with this principle.
The initial meditative which starts with the supposition of divine presence to.... sayujyata : Complete unification, or merger; close conformity; something identical; become one with.
When this identicality happens, all other EGO identities dissolve, the ego starts refining, a TRUE ADVITA(oneness) STATE IS ESTABLISHED.
Then the entire being is in tune with the divine nature, this is called a TRUE STATE OF SURRENDER. Here there is no place for emotions, sacrifices. Emotion is replaced by true feeling, true perception.
There is no place for seeking or seeing in true surrender. YOU ARE WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE.
*Question: Daaji explains to us about the bubble of active consciousness sandwiches between the ocean of the subconscious and the sky of the superconscious.With each deeper practice towards nothingness, do we evolve to witness these oceans without getting affected?*
*SK:* Brother thank you for bringing up this question!
A baby fish asks the mother fish, mother when can I see the ocean? Mother says my dear you are already in the ocean. Baby fish says: this is not ocean this is water. Can the baby fish ever see the ocean, in this situation even mother fish do not know what the ocean is, it's only conveying the information!
This is the biggest challenge I would say for everyone who is on the path of spirituality, does not matter which organization, which path one is following. Just by grasping information and intellectually talking about it, we assume we are knowledgeable about the subject. *INFORMATION CAN NEVER BE KNOWLEDGE;*. Ironically everyone agrees with this statement, but the subtle ego overwrites this agreement. The so-called JNANA or knowledge (a loosely translated English word) does not mean information; A repeated study of this information and relating them to very mundane examples, we assume we are gaining knowledge, to support this statement we say very fortunate to have this understanding. Just like the donkey chewing the paper we are chewing the beauty of language, information, some level of intellectual application to the extent our perception permits. And we are happy, dedicating our entire life to this. But that is how it begins for everyone there are always exceptions. Now having spent so much time and effort here, we should be willing to take it a notch up.
I do not mean any criticism with the above statements rather I am expressing myself. I personally feel very humble and not even qualified to write all these things.
Going back to the question can baby fish ever see the ocean? Assuming it sees the ocean, in what way the baby fish is going to benefit; You see, now it only has some elevated perception, from information to personal experience. Is that the end of it?
In the pursuit of JNANA(Knowledge) the true culmination is YOGA, become that what we seek. Being in this state even knowledge seems very insignificant. Because from this state only everything is manifested. Yoga is a state, this state provides certain wisdom we call this knowledge; through this knowledge, there is a certain feel or experience or state of being in witness, and from this experience comes information. But Information fails to explain the true STATE as it has to be brought down to words.
Coming back to your question we witness our thoughts because they have a certain vibratory state mind can immediately perceive. But the consciousness is much subtler than that, hence the only option is to merge into its state. *This is called LAYA AVASTA(state of mergence) and this takes place at many levels and is a continuous process*. This conciousness is the base for all feelings, the base for all thoughts and mind, and identification of the self. /*In Sanskrit it is called ANTAHKARANA an inner bridge. It appears to be limited because of the limited perception of the mind, we call this active consciousness*/ Because the mind is our only instrument through which we can start going inwards. We use this mind to meditate so that it can be transcended to this state of consciousness. Then through this consciousness alone we achieve the different states of YOGA. Each state like I said gives certain wisdom, witness experience. That is why evolution is only of the consciousness which inturn evolves the perception of the mind, refines ego, intellect. This evolution goes all the way to Brahman(godly state) and beyond.
When we practice diligently, with shraddha(interest), continuously doing it, and just like each drop coming together becomes an ocean surely it happens. One clarification I would like to provide .... there are no layers, it is only for our understanding, just information.
"If some trouble develops in the digestive system or diarrhoea starts, God forbid, then, having a firm imagination of the sun, even when you are in the shade, draw red electricity into your digestive system. This practice can be performed for up to five minutes. Practising it for more than that will bring the experience of warmth.
“If, God forbid, coughing and catarrh is aroused, then draw in bluish (violet) rays of the sun into your chest. This practice can be adopted for up to ten minutes.
*Definition of Spirituality given by Lalaji:*
"There can be several definitions of spirituality, and people have given various definitions at different stages. Everyone has constructed its definition in accordance with his own condition. It is that simple path, as a result of which all the dust and din, thorns and thistles leave the mind alone, and thoughts take such a turn as to be aware of nothing at all. Nothing, not even a subtle point, remains in view. There is neither self-awareness, nor any concern about family, nor even a longing for the Ultimate. This is something superb, which is available very rarely in the real sense. This alone is real spirituality, on arriving at which the entire army of the five senses is merged at its post, and the person concerned finds his condition to be that of a corpse. One does not have awareness of all the wealth remaining there. In other words, it can be said that he becomes as one freshly descended from eternity at the beginning of creation.”
That is the special feature. It is one minute's work to set the sun and moon all right. You can make a research about the sun if you like: that will help you in your work. I tell you Lord Buddha's version about you and your work. Do not fail to proceed to Bodha Gaya.
“If sensitivity is to be made more bright, the firm thought of the sun rather than the star can be fixed upon. I, however, do not permit this except in a very special circumstance, which is hard to estimate except by someone whose connection with me or elder sages of yore is established so deeply that light and permission in this regard is obtained. This thing is available only in incarnate beings and, as such, it is in general strictly prohibited. The thought of the moon should never be fixed upon: that reduces warmth and produces dullness.
“Many precautions and a correct estimate are needed in fixing upon the thought of the sun as well. I strictly prohibit the use of any of these practices, unless permission is obtained from me. For this practice concerning the star, the essential special requirement is that the sensualities of the person applying this practice should be dormant. The person most suited in this context will be the one who has acquired permanence of this state, and in whom sensuality is absent even when thought of, and does not come up to experience in any way. For the rest, very special people who may be able to bring their sensualities to the sleeping state for whatever period of time may practice this method on others, only during that period of time. Even then, I forbid the use of this method."
11) Aditya or Surya (sun): Provides light and heat. Creates colours. Gives movement to the sense organs and limbs.
12) Chandramaa or Nishapati (moon or the Master or husband of the night). Bestows the attributes. Increases coolness. Provides cupidity or erotic force to the senses during the night.”
(Pause) About the sun losing heat, I have already given dictation to you. You can set it right at any time you like, but that also is not necessary. That is the symptom for the ensuing destruction. Your prophecies, included in the book (Reality at Dawn) are correct and will come to pass in due course. You have not written anything in the book about Japan. Its future in the long run is not very optimistic.
(Referring to India) “Bright it is, and bright it will be, shining as it did in the days of yore.
“(Referring to U.S. - Pakistan military pacts) These are destructive pacts. Pakistan is going down day by day. Poverty is increasing. It will be the poverty-stricken area."
Abhyas: Q: besides by example and regular mediation practice; how can I help a family member who does not want to meditate be less anxious and live a balanced life? Is there a way to dedicate my practice to someone?
*SK:* When we meditate and practice regularly the people around us also benefit ( i am not trying to quantify or qualify the benefit) but deep down something changes in them.... but every human has their own freedom to choose and create their own world. Since we realized the need for spirituality and realized that life is to become one with our maker... we started our march towards it. Then our job is to only offer a sincere prayer to the almighty to create this realization in everyone.
By words and trying to convince someone is not going to work. But the only other thing we can suggest is to take master's classes once.
First dictum of spirituality is freedom
Brother few thoughts I would like to share. First dictum of spirituality is freedom. There is no spirituality without freedom. That means I am fully permitted to choose my life towards the progress or stall that progress. This cannot be forced on anyone. I do not think we adopted Heartfulness practice because we are sensitive enough to feel the transmission or someone explained very well. Yet we are here. Masters tirelessly working, but we are not yet ready to fully co-operate. Co-operation means working together. But what we do, in our false humility we say, oh master will take care of everything. If only one is working it’s not co-operation. Then we say I have gone a step ahead and surrendered. In my understanding surrender means I have taken the full responsibility. Not that I have given my work to master. In any case we are not utilizing this greatest opportunity bestowed on us just by coincidence of our destiny. In our pride we make statements that others are not able to understand the importance and others are not adopting it.
The question is having understood, how much am I using this opportunity. In spite of our shortcomings masters still do not abandon us because they give all the freedom for us to choose. At every stage it’s a matter of choice.Babuji says freedom from freedom but we are not there yet even to quote it.Second dictum of spirituality as Babuji says where religion ends, spirituality begins. What does it really mean, ending religion? It basically means ending TRANSACTION in our mind. In order for me to begin spirituality I must end transaction. But we ask for carrots, we ask for positions, we seek attention, we delude ourselves thinking that we made it. I am in this mission for more than 10 years; did I progress the way I should be progressing. Am I craving for that GOAL which I recite in my prayer. If all that did not happen in spite of understanding the importance of Heartfulness practice. That means i am not ready for any rewards of any kind.
Expecting that rewards will encourage me, some certificates will help me progress faster; is totally antithesis of spirituality. We are asking for something against the principles of a spiritual system. where the TRANSACTION is supposedly ending. In the journey of infinity how much should I be crossing to get my white belt or black belt?
Spirituality is not for the lame. Everyone is welcome but if I am not ready no one can force it on me. Even in our minds if we put that force, the seekers will feel and run away. That is why we should welcome all, but do not put the idea that they should adopt. The moment you put the idea you are trying to take away their freedom, there will be resistance. That is why we pray, our universal prayer is a submission to the almighty to create that highest condition in everyone's heart. Prayer is not a suggestion, prayer is not supposition or sankalpa. Prayer is a submission from a free heart to another free heart the god almighty himself.
*Q:* does a seeker feel in physical sensations if we are traversing spiritual point? Does he/she is aware of progression in anyway? Or is it like it doesn’t matter to know that.
*SK:* Physical sensations may feel all the time during meditation. But these points are not on the physical plane they are in the subtle body. When we reach a point there is a significant shift in consciousness and it's very subtle. If we are very observant we feel it otherwise it's not even known. While meditating you are able to feel where your attention is shifting which means you automatically without your effort your focus shifts onto that point. Reaching a point does not really mean anything as we might be traversing through these points several times before we settle down on a certain point. Which is normally referred to as my base point. But my approach means I might have traversed to higher points before. The highest point i have reached is known as my approach. ... Should i be thinking of these points? Absolutely not as our focus is the highest goal which is mergence i do not consider these points as milestones. As babuji calls them rightly as KNOTS which means consciousness is trapped , when certain spiritual elevation is reached these knots will be released. basically saying a trap is removed
*/ Excerpt from Truth Eternal/*
*Narapashu, Gurupashu, Striyapashu, Vedapashu Samsara |
Manusha Soyi Janiye jahie Viveka Vichar ||*
*Those who are slaves to the ego, the guru,
to sensory pleasures and the Vedas are like animals.
They alone are human who are capable of thinking and discriminating.*
Purport: Kabir’s observation, of human behavior is so accurate that it’s difficult to argue against. Anyone who follows someone else’s order blindly is a brainless animal. These people just follow the orders given by their leaders. They go where their leaders tell them to go. They do what their Guru tells them to do. They eat what their scriptures tell them to eat. These are the people with no thinking of their own. According to Kabir only those people are not animals who have intelligent thinking of their own.
Those who do not know the status of God and their own status, and worship God. not with their own but with God’s viewpoint, to them Vishnu becomes Rudra and makes them weep. Those who do not know the status of deities and their own status, and worship deities with the deities’ viewpoint rather than their own viewpoint, the deities make beasts of burden. Those who do not know the status of guru and their own status, and worship the guru with the guru’s viewpoint rather than their own, to them the guru becomes Satan in the form of Kal. Casting off the form of a dayalu (kind person) he swallows whatever earning the worshipper has, making him a beast. Such men have no salvation. They always remain beasts among the beasts until they experience suffering and claim their rights of humanity by means of heartfelt sentiment. They attain this condition after a very long time. The sage Yajnavalkya, in the Brahadarnyaka Upanishad, explains to his wife, Maitreyi, thus:
*“O, Maitreyi! Those who know Brahman, Ishwar, Veda, sons and the atman,
not with their own viewpoint but with the viewpoint of Brahman, Ishvara etc.,
are destroyed by them.”*
*Srikanth Katakam:*This is the kabir doha i was referring to .. one of my friend asked me to explain this ... below is my response.
Srikanth Katakam: Srikanth Katakam: i can explain this better over the phone ... this is a very profound thing ... we usually tend to ignore ... we try to put the whole burden on the guru assuming a grandeur image of the guru …. once i asked one abhyasi why do you practice meditation .. .she said because my Guru says so .... i told her that is a big mistake ... we should practice meditation because i feel and understood the need for it.
another idea is i can not hold something which is greater than me ... hence the master , god or guru i can only perceive is to a level what i can hold ... instead of realizing this ..we project the guru (god or lord krishna) to be ultimate (which is true, but it is not my truth) by saying this, I think and assume I am also seeing the truth from his perspective ... our ego gets satisfied due to this , also creates a delusion that we are becoming Jnanis like gurus, on top of it we add some false humility. Even by having the most caliber guru and teaching at our disposal it becomes useless … I become a mere parrot, without the inclination to explore, we become the mere followers of teaching without our effort and contemplation into it … *we become mere guru pashus …. And our progress stalls. *
Instead i should raise my self to the level of guru to understand what guru is ... that requires effort, that requires practice ....then i also feel the necessity of the guru to help me ...then i go to him for the sake of progress .... then slowly he becomes the absolute for me ...then the role of guru changes it is only towards real progress. That is what we should be seeking.
Question#1: Is Turiya state same as Samadhi? Is Turiya/Samadhi supposed to be thoughtless?
*SK:* Thoughtlessness is not samadhi. During meditation thoughtless state happens very naturally as mind rests on something without any effort. But that is not samadhi. Samathi is much deeper than becoming thoughtless.
There are four states of consciousness , namely waking (jagrat), dreaming (svapna), deep sleep (suṣupti), and the fourth state is described as Turiya a state of pure consciousness.
The Turiya condition is possible in Heartfulness meditation even for a person who is meditating for the first time. This Turiya is also a state of Sahaj Samadhi.
If one is able to maintain this condition even after meditation and prolong this, then it becomes the Turiyateet state with open eyes, where we have three-hundred and- sixty-degree consciousness with eyes open
Samadhi of 3 types
savikalpa samadhi : “The first of these is wherein a man feels lost or drowned. His senses, feelings and emotions are temporarily suspended in a way that they seem apparently dead for the time being. He resembles a man in a dead slumber, unconscious of everything.” “It is consciousness in an unconscious state. In this state of mind the consciousness of other things appears to be in a sleeping state and creates little impression.”
nirvikalpa samadhi: “The second form is, in which a man though deeply concentrated on a point, does not feel actually drowned in it. It may be described as a state of consciousness within an unconscious state. Apparently he is not conscious of anything but still consciousness is present within, though only in a shadowy form”
sahaj samadhi(Turiya Condition): Sahaj Samadhi is a condition where we are deeply absorbed in meditation, and at the same time fully conscious of everything else that is going on. In the Yoga Shastras this is known as the Turiya condition, or the fourth state. “This is the highest form of samadhi and little remains to be done after a man has entered this state permanently”
References#1: https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/samyama-part-4/ for more explanation on Samdhi and Tuirya
References#2: Completeworks of Ramchandra Vol1 : Chapter Realization.
*Abhyasi:* When I do my practice regularly and try to follow the maxims, does it mean that I have accepted guru and I'm under his guidance? Or do I necessarily have to develop belief/ faith in him? Thanks
*sk:* Love, Faith, Surrender is not something we can NOT develop, it just happens. Whether in mundane relationships or in spiritual relationship with the guru. Right now we are just undertaking the practice and experimenting with it. As we see the changes first trust in the system develops, then gratitude towards the guru develops as he is the reason for this. Then slowly we start interacting with this guru externally and internally. Somewhere without our knowledge , faith love and surrender happens .. this is not a conscious decision.
As this is a experiential based system, only experience and heart should be guiding us. This is not a belief system where things happens only if you believe. In those situations we are subjected to the temptations of hell and heaven. Here there are no such conditions. Either we do it on our own willingness or we don't.
*Abhyasi:* I was listening to Daaji and he was saying that having doubts and skepticism in guru is tragic and ruins our efforts, that's what made me think. Thanks
*sk:* Yes scepticism and doubt spoils our willingness to take up the practice. In Heartfulness we can question anything whether its practice or the guru. Question as much as we can .. take up the practice with confidence and do as much justice as possible.
*Question:* Let me rephrase your question. How do i realize the need to reach the goal. Where as most of our thoughts, ambitions, aspirations are oriented towards material achievements. How is it possible for me to feel the need to go inwards.
*SK:* The inner need is always there, in order to satisfy that need we are trying to fulfill it in many ways that is what is prompting all the aspirations, ambitions of life, of course the samskaras are also playing a role in making those choices.
The first stroke of the transmission from master makes the heart realize that is what it has been seeking all its life( many lives if one believes in it); The need is always there but the transmission makes the heart realize what is the real thing which can fulfill it. Now here comes the play of samskaras always pulling away from these subtle states because the mind is always attracted/reacts to the external influences.
So it requires a willful choice to turn the mind inwards and keep at it. That takes certain discipline and awareness and help of the master.
This continuous drawn of the mind inwards slowly sets the journey. The subtler it gets difficult it becomes to tangibly feel it. Also there are numerous transitory states, mind has to go through before it settles on a higher condition. There is a continuous change of conditions.
Imagine everytime you go to sleep and you wake up in a different place or a country how much confusion and disturbance it would cause. Here we are required to adopt new conditions and keep moving. So this requires a constant assistance and attention. That is why we require a master in this journey of spirituality. It is the master and we are working together to make this journey.
It's wonderful journey filled with wonders ...nevertheless it is the heart which is pushing us to go more and more deeper into it, now the heart realizes what can full fill this internal need. Earlier we were not cognizant of it now it becomes evident.
*Question:* What is the purpose that resulted in we getting separated from GOD , I know the stir or the motion from the will of GOD resulted in the existence but what is the purpose of the stir or why GOD was unable to restore the disturbance caused to get back the balance st away.
*SK:* There was never a separation from GOD. World is not created it got manifested by this motion set-in from the original stir( or bigbang).
Just like I was explaining from the seed tree is manifested. Where did the seed go, seed is not separated from the tree. Now every cell of the tree has essence of the seed.
Everything has to go back to its seed form. Similarly there is an inherent necessity in this manifestation to go back to its originator. That is when everything merges back to where it came from. As the life is evolving it recognizes this need of YOGA.
Interestingly we think of Yoga is two things coming together. But according to Patanjali *"the word yoga as "an effort to separate the Atman (the Reality) from the non-Atman (the apparent)."* This definition makes more sense. The consciousness is dropping its bondage with unreal and remain with the real essence which is already there.
It is up to each individual to understand this destiny of all life and wilfully participate in its evolution. That is all spiritual practice or journey is about.
*Question:" - Is asking him to help me change ( or change my condition) also begging? We've been told to sit without expectation, but how can I not expect to receive Pranahuti, expect to progress or change when I meditate ?
*SK:* Suppose if i am standing at the shores and think of crossing the ocean, if i have to ask the question how far i need to go, i presume to travel very far, but i can only perceive what is in the offing. Only so much i can ask. But i have no choice but to make this request with all humility in my heart to bring that change. But I do not know how much change that is. I do not know how much progress it is. So i can only say reaching the state where YOU are is my goal. Please get me there. That is exactly what we say in our prayer. Acknowledging that is HE is everything; which is real principle. Here it is not a matter of belief, i can not think of anything other than being there and becoming that.
Such prayer is not begging. It is an absolute need where i have no option but to seek guidance.
*Question:* Srikanth,Aren't the conditions that we feel in our daily life ( happiness, anger, fear, stress and etc.) related to physical-intellectual body ( realm of ego)? I mean to my understanding they do not overlap with spiritual body. But it's difficult for me to assess my spiritual conditions when I am already overwhelmed with these feelings. Or I probably still don't understand ( or feel) what exactly the condition is that we are referring to.
*SK:* The definition of condition is the state of mind at that point of time. Suppose i am angry due to a situation my condition shifts to anger; this shift is happening constantly due to various situations while we are dealing with this external world. Similarly when we go into meditation there is a shift in state of mind. Now the mind is absorbed into the subtle state created by meditation, by transmission. If we can make a keen observation while and after meditation this gets imbibed in the mind. We carry that state as long as possible. As we practice this regularly we can feel more and more subtle states.
Our mind got used to this stimulus, tangible emotional states, when we go into meditation we expect to have similar stimuli. But now we need work on perceiving subtler states. The more I say i have to perceive, it becomes impossible. The more we surrender during this observation it becomes very evident. We just need to sit in a very absorbed state, surrender to the essence. The mind acquires that higher state and it continues in that state even after meditation as long as we permit. That's all it takes to feel these subtle conditions.
Question: Srikanth,
I have a question about prayer ( sorry to bother you constantly):
I understand That we are supposed to pray for oneness, for the master himself, and it's said that any other form of prayer ( for health, wealth, protection and etc.) is just begging. And I truly want to pray for the highest however I cannot not be honest with masters ( or my inner self) as at this stage there are probably a lot of worldly things that I desire certain things( suffering, miseries) that I want to become free of.
I understand that by practice we develop detachment to these, but what about now? Is it wrong to ask master for such things in prayer?
Thanks again for your time.
SK: Prayer as a an element of practice putting myself before that principle (higher self within me) …. Hence even in suffering and pain also we do the same, present my self with the problem…. When I present myself that represents all of me , including problems and sufferings, joys and sorrows.
Often prayer becomes begging because we also put solution in the front ( the solution we think should happen) … but in real prayer we only put the problem out there and wait for the higher to resolve it. Any problem which is troubling my inner which deviates me from my spiritual growth should be presented and our job is to wait for it to resolve … my experience is it surely resolves.
You are not bothering me at all …. We are all in this together
*Question:* Well it's me again, with another question re meditation ...
I would suggest that we should not even think of Him as residing in our heart, but as our heart itself- Chariji ( messages 1983-1995 p.30)
So in our spiritual life we should think of the Master himself as the heart, not just as someone who is seated in the heart, or illuminating the heart from inside- Chariji ( messages 1983-1995 p. 30)
When we meditate we make the supposition that the source of divine light is in our heart or divine light fills our heart and illuminates from inside. Why don't we make such supposition that " my heart is divine ( or the divine light itself) and illuminates from inside”?
*SK:* Here in the context of meditating on the heart , we meditate is the essence it self. We are meditating on the essence which is already there, has been there, will be there for eternity. As I mentioned earlier life is continuous, Death is only a state of transmigration. This essence is the principle which we call divine light in the heart or master within or divine within. It's not easy for the mind to perceive essence, as this idea is very abstract. Hence Babuji suggested divine light, which has no color(color comes as reflection of the object), no weight , no attributes, most subtlest tangible substance; with the idea of divinity associated with it, makes it easy to meditate upon.
Babuji said he always meditated on his master form(the entire form, not just face or bust, entire form). Chariji said this is possible when we treat the essence, the heart everything as HIM. Only if this happens naturally in the mind, then we can treat heart as the maser itself; But for most of us we have not experienced or perceived human guide as the principle itself.
In this state it is easy and effective to meditate with the prescribed method of supposition of divine light in the heart. There is no illumination when we give this supposition, light is just an idea. So that my object of meditation is subtle, so that my mind attains such subtle state of divine; starts going inwards; Extravert Mind now starts getting attracted inwards towards the essence. Transmission creates this inward pull, puts the mind in higher state of consciousness.
Question: Happy Monday! Another question sorry!!
Reviewing Sahaj Marg literature you find in many instances that master has mentioned that failure to liberate is an endless cycle of death-rebirths.
So it tells my now that I'm alive is a consequence of failure in previous lives to achieve liberation. So my impression is that life is a failure.
It makes it hard for me to look at life as a gift.
Now one may say that it's an opportunity to liberate and reach the goal, but what if one does not want this opportunity 😀? Is there any other way???
I must say you bring very insightful questions. Thank you for sharing these questions with me.
If I look back and remember my childhood, i wish how nice it would be had i not aged. Do you think its possible. The law of nature does not allow it.It's a cycle of life. Can i chose not to age? Similarly every LIFE is oriented towards its evolution whether its amoeba or human.
Many masters from various cultures and religions have discovered that there is a higher life possible for humans to attain. The so called life and death is only referring to be born as human and die as human, reincarnate as human. But life is continuous even after liberation in a higher dimensional existence, this dimension need not have form; could be a simple vibratory state. Form is not necessary to exist.
It's a very common knowledge at least for indians because of the our scriptures. That which is born(manifested) must die(go back to its seed form). But if one gets opportunity and learns, then realizes about this possibility of higher life; with masters help if that individual can experience the stages of higher life while alive; In my opinion such LIFE is truly blessed.
This evolution indeed will take place for everyone; if not in this life will certainly in future LIFEs.
When Chariji said the LIFE is a failure if liberation(escape from the cycle of life and death) is not achieved. I do not think he is referring to any individual failures. He is referring to the LIFE it self. Life(as an individual existence) is always filled with choices, god has given free will for everyone to choose according to their perception. But LIFE(capital SELF) itself has no choice but constantly work towards its evolution. We as individuals can chose to support on its journey or willfully deny it.
Ignorance is bliss, if I had no information regarding idea of this evolution, i would have spent my life with so called achievements, aspirations;
Babuji says the only requirement to partake in spiritual journey is WILLINGNESS; he did not say accept the guru, he did not say you need to believe in guru. Willingness to cooperate with life in its evolution.
To me from this stage it's a choiceless choice.
One more thing a liberated soul can make a choice to comeback to human life for serving humanity.
Consciousness vs Essence
```We have to focus only on the Essence. If we have to learn the Essence of the Master, the Godly Essence, the best thing to do is look at our own Essence: we are part and parcel of Divinity. Recognize that Divinity in ourselves, so we see it in the Master, because we see and feel things according to what we are.
Babuji said: Don't worry about the past, and don't worry about the future. The past will only remind you of memories, and the future will have you indulging in imagination. 'Now' is the only reality we have. If the mind keeps working back and forth, back and forth, past and future, past and future, we miss out on the now. ```
```Even a simple diversion from that very moment of Realisation can destroy it. Even our effort towards Realisation will destroy the moment of Realisation. ```
```The moment you think of the physical Master may also destroy the moment of Realisation, because the physical Master and the true Masters are different entities.```
https://www.sahajmarg.org/newsletter/sahajsandesh/2017.46
_*Question*_
Thank you for sharing . This message is pushing me to go for deeper understanding I am curious to know how did Babuji remember Lalaji .. as a entity or as essence?
How did Babuji recognize lord Krishna and other elevated souls ( referring to whispers) ? , as entity or essence.?
Last few weeks , I have been thinking on this and I am more inclined towards the inner presence rather than Physical master because I haven’t made such association with Him so far and don’t have any personal contact with him and I don’t know Him personally as well.
*SK*: Brother very good thought provoking questions! I will try my best to elaborate the idea of essence and consciousness.
Each one of us can only perceive things within the permitted consciousness. Whether it is right or wrong understanding or perception about a concept or about other individual or the self. Everything remains within the sphere of individual permitted consciousness. We can not go even an iota beyond this permitted consciousness. The degree of perception varies according to individual level of consciousness.
Each of us are exposed to various spiritual practices. Someone does the nama japa (taking the lords name repeatedly) it sort of creates a lull in the mind, that creates certain peaceful state in the mind. But it does not expand the consciousness to the state of ultimate essence or divine. No matter if one practices nama japa for next 1000 years. The disciples of the system might say our gurus have achieved ultimate states doing this practice. How would you answer? You can not.
Some practice, reading of the scriptures and qualifies it as Jnana yoga. This kind of practice might clear few concepts, might bring right understanding, right perspective to the life. Improves the discernment in the practicant to lead a dutiful life. Which is not a small achievement by any means. Again such practice can never elevate one to the ultimate divine conscious state or to the state of higher essence. As all that is again limited to the individual state of perception, within the sphere of existing consciousness. Reading all the shastras(scriptures) and understanding not alter the level of consciousness. It might alter the state of consciousness.
Here comes meditational practices, again it might bring some balanced state in the mind, it might improve the ability to regulate the mind. It will bring the mind to a state of object on which the practicant is meditating . In this situation too, the possibility of reaching divine state is not in the offing.
Then how can someone reach the ultimate divine state. Here comes the guru like Lalaji sahab , Babuji and all the heartfulness masters who are capable of transmitting this higher state or their own higher essence to the abhyasi. Especially when we are in meditative state where the mind has come to the state of presence( does not mean thoughtless). In its total balanced state ( not a lull state) the mind develops the ability to perceive and experience this higher essence. Nay we only feel the manifestation or effect of that transmission but not the transmission itself.
But as we go through this several times, there is certain longing created to reach this ultimate divine state. As this continues we are going to reach more and more higher states which means our consciousness begins to expand.
Having said this if I ask this question how one perceives a physical vs real essence of the master. Are they two different or are they one?
When i think of my mother in India, what i am feeling or perceiving really? The feelings and her physical presence and my affection, affiliation towards her. And if want to go beyond and try to feel her essence i can only feel my own consciousness nothing else. The same applies to the master. But having experienced the transmission the real essence of the master, we have an added advantage to feel that higher perception without being at that level.
So one can feel the physical master at the level once own perception and real master via the transmission. You see how they are two different and being one at the same time.
That is why in Heartfulness the living physical master is so much needed to work in our dimension and take us to that higher dimension. A master can not take the abhyasi(practicant) to the higher state without abhyasi being ready and willing. So the master and the disciple must work together to make this happen. That is why we call it co-operation. He is willing are you willing? Hence the total onus shifts to the abhyasi. Persevering with total interest is the key.
Now how do you know if your consciousness is improved or expanded? We only feel it, when the shift in the consciousness takes place either in deep mediative state or deep state of remembrance. After this shift takes place we can not know until the next shift happens as this current state becomes our natural state. It goes on and on and on....
As per meeting the master, you can plan a trip to kanha or plan to meeting when he travels to this part of the world. But the true requirement is to practice as regularly as possible.
*Emotion vs Inent*-
I like what all you guys are saying .... at the same time i felt compelled to share some of the communication guidelines whether in our groups or whether we are talking to people in our satsanghs or in our outreach activities or even talking to a friend.
#1 There is nothing wrong in expression...but if my value does not reach effectively and intent is shadowed by my emotion, then not only we loose our own value at the same time we make people run away from Heartfulness. Just like they run away from the guys who do AMWAY marketing or any other missionary people.
During my high school days i used to walk through a very busy bus station, there is one guy puts a big stool and stand on it, read Bible loudly pretty much all day. No one is paying attention to him. Does he have a good intention of course yes, is he serving his master of course yes. Is he adding any value of course NOT.
There are organizations running around New Jersey, New York Railway stations distributing pamphlets to people about their meditations, yoga techniques . Let's not bring our situation down to that level.
*Please do not look at every person you meet is a potential abhyasi. Everyone is very perceptive, when people feel they are being compelled they do not pay attention to what we are saying*
#2 I have been observing mindfulness for a long time. They kept this emotion out of their communication. Only good intent, what might work for you. Very neutral in their approach. . We must adopt this kind of approach then we sound very mature, very professional , very neutral.
*All expressions of my relationship with master, gratitude, love every thing is a very PERSONAL MATTER. it should not be displayed in public. * When i am doing it , *in my opinion it is a compensation mechanism.* It is like a student fails in exam and comes home try to help his mother in the kitchen, try to help in all the chores before showing his progress report.
We do not talk about our bedroom matters in the social media right .. why because it is a very private matter. Same way my relationship, my inner connection with the master is also a very private matter; If i am always talking about it really an indication there is something wrong about it.
Will you share about this method people because its Masters cause OR are you sharing it because you see value in it?
/*I recommend you read this BOOK "Do You Need a Guru?" by Mariana Caplan.*/
#3. More important is let's work on strengthening our expression, not in a very flippant way of saying things. For this we must understand the practice, remove all this grandeourness around master. If you are putting in public media, whats app groups , read twice or thrice on the what you are writing and see if you are adding any value to people by sharing that information. Or is it your emotional reaction.
One of my colleague said "GOD is the savior if you are not adopting him you chose life of suffering" he is very much right ...but how am i reacting to this statement ...i will try to avoid any future conversations with him. Because this statement does not appeal with me. You see its not about what you feel or say ... what message are you getting across is a very important aspect of communication.
PLEASE PLEASE watch what you are saying. How you are presenting yourself. Even the things you are posting on this whatsapp group.
Question: If anger and ego are God given, why can they not be God taken?
Srikanth Katakam: Good question... everything which is given, for our use ... Ego is very much required for us to function in the world and for existence. It makes us work and achieve. The sense of achievement starts with Ego. As the consciousness evolves Ego gets refined. Anger is also for our defense...it comes to our aid a lot many times. Daaji says we must use anger for our evolution. Anger also creates certain restlessness ....primarily anger because the ego recognizes I am not there yet. Everything should be put to use in the path of evolution.
But what typically happens is we use these faculties for our devolution as we are not fully engaged in spirituality or with a master who is capable of transmitting this essence which is of the highest order. We require the ego very much for connecting with the master as well.
Question: Is it ok to go back to sleep after morning meditation? What happens if one does that?
SK: The purpose of beginning our day with meditation is to create a deep condition and carry ourselves with that condition into our daily activities. But often if we end up working late in the evening we tend to sleep after our morning meditation ... if that happens when you wake up meditate again for a few mins and get back to that condition. .... but ideally, it would be good if I can continue my day after meditation .. the important thing is to hold onto that condition.
Question came up during five week challenge group today. Someone asked to know how to know where are we in journey?
Aren’t we on a continuous journey, sometimes we go between points? is it important to know where we are?
SK:
Where am i standing?
Here is the interesting paradox ... On this journey there is infiniti behind me which we passed already and infiniti ahead of me ... if we look back we are at the infiniti .. yet there is infiniti ahead of me !
Quo vadis? Where are we going?
The answer is truly based on what we can perceive, that which is in the offing.. or based on what our consciousness is permitting.
The greatest challenge of this journey is, our head is always facing the past and processing the information that there is an infinite journey to go through. Babuji said just turn your head the goal is achieved. The beginning and end is the same, this is the whole essence of advita. It's not happening because of the vasanas(impressions, trapped consciousness) make us look backwards.
When it comes to observation of the points it only gives an indication that the progress is happening. At each point the thin layer of awareness or consciousness which is trapped between subconsciousness(past impressions) and supra consciousness (divine) is expanding through practice and by *Gurus grace*. Thus one achieves YOGA or Sayujyatha with the higher consciousness gives mastery over this state.
That means we attained Gyana(complete knowledge) up to that state. Here in this context Gyana really means we have become ONE with the supra conscious state at that level. And we gain approach to the next level. In this Sayujyatha we get the glimpse of the ultimate state as well. That creates craving in us to move further.
This aspect is also explained in Bhavagavad Gita Chapter 6 verse 20-23. Many times people read this as a final state but only by understanding this journey from my practical experience i realized that this culmination happens at every state(but it is not the final state). This process of merging with higher consciousness happens at every step in the journey.
To give a short answer to your question: Observing this journey allows us to become aware and become sensitive. In this refined state of sensitivity makes us WITNESS the journey. This is the reason we are recommended to make this observation during our meditation and witness where the work is happening, how its is happening.
Below is the summary of chapter 6 verse 20-23.
https://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-06-18.html
Thus the mind disciplined by executing the science of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness becomes spiritually stable and by this, perceiving the inner self by the purified becomes satisfied only in the inner self; thus this being experiences superior, transcendental bliss, which is perceptible by spiritual intelligence and thus situated one never deviates from the truth. By attainment of this state one does not consider any other attainment greater than that and being situated within which one never is distraught by even intense suffering for as soon as suffering commences it is dispelled. *Know that all perfection is the science of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness.*
Question#1: What is the difference between samskara and karma?
Question#2: Removing past samskara meaning nullifying karma phala??
It is interesting that both questions to me posted on the same day.
Excerpt from Article “Karma, Jnana & Bhakti Yoga - Part 1” by Daaji. https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/karma-jnana-bhakti-yoga-part-1/
Karma is action. Why is action necessary? It is the practical manifestation of existence. Without action we cannot infer life, as action expresses life. Karma is the ‘movement’ part or the ath of the atman or soul. Karma was also the movement of that stir at the time of creation that became the ongoing ‘expansion’ part, the bruha, of Brahman or God. This aspect of movement and expansion that is critical to all life is what we call karma.
So in Karma Yoga we learn to express life through action according to the natural law. If life is expressed in this natural way, without harming anyone or anything, there is neither merit nor wrongdoing in it. When we spend time observing newborn babies, we soon see that there is no consciousness of right or wrong in their actions, or any thought of legitimate or illegitimate. Every action is so natural, in response to the most basic needs and stimuli. The ideal Karma Yogi is like a newborn – so pure that there is no need for ‘right or wrong’ consciousness.
But are we there yet? Instead we are entangled in thoughts of right and wrong, creating bondage and the need for ethics and values. When we act in accordance with mundane desires, we develop a chain of karma after karma, of desire after desire, and we become trapped in that net. Then the need to free ourselves arises, otherwise it would not even enter our thought.
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Every Action or Karma produces certain result(Karma Phala). For example good actions brings prosperity happiness etc. where as bad actions causes distress, suffering, pain. When we read such statements we assume that the person who did good or bad karma faces this effect(Karma Phala). But every concerned or associated individual with that action goes through the effect. For example a merchant was traveling with lot of wealth. On the way he saw a thief who fell into the well. He pulls the thief out from the Well. The thief was happy that he is saved from a plausible death and merchant is happy that he did good karma. Thief realizes merchant is carrying gold , diamonds. He pushes the merchant into the well and runs away with his wealth. See due to the bad action of theif it is the merchant who suffered. Similarly every good or bad action is done by every individual has a cumulative effect on the society.
The individual who performed the action assumes the ownership of the action due to the EGO, the emotional intent of the action forms as a samskara(impression) on his consciousness which is stored in the memory of consciousness. Which in Sanskrit referred as CHITTA.
When these impressions are solidified due to repeated actions becomes a tendency or in Sanskrit pravritthi. Since these impressions and tendencies are part of the conscious memory hence carried over from life to life. This is loosely termed as past Karma … but this is not referring to the direct result of Karma phala which is an immediate result or effect of the action. It is referring to the emotional memory , chitta of consciousness (chit).
In heartfulness practice cleaning helps to remove the impressions (samskaras) and vasanas which are result of samskaras. Tendencies are removed by Transmission. Babuji gives an example of river bed which is dried out in the summer when the rain comes automatically water flows through the same river bed. Though samskaras are removed since the same tendencies exist when the opportunity arises we form the same samskaras. THROUGH PRAYER AND WITH THE HELP OF THE TRANSMISSION THESE TENDENCIES ARE REMOVED PERMANENTLY.
When these tendencies and samskaras are removed the individual is supposedly attain certain balance who has ability to make the right choice of the action which intern always produces congenial results for himself and the people associated with him. Thus brings harmony in the society i.e produces good karma phala.
by Srikanth Katakam
How does transmission help us to be free of the shackles of these impressions that we have been carrying from one life to another life? They are not something physical to be removed. They are like wrinkles in clothes that have to be ironed to be removed; the samskaras that create ripples in the mind, their wrinkles have to be removed. How can they be removed? Proper understanding and an even deeper level of realization. And what gives us this deeper realisation of any situation?
Somehow, transmission irons things out. We could describe it by saying, “In a magical way.” It is something we cannot express. Transmission goes to the very root of the samskara and removes it. At times, it allows it to dissolve or evaporate so as to bring the settling vibrations of impressions to zero.
-Daaji, 7th February 2017
Question: Hi Srikanth, is there any vedic reference for this
Transmission(Pranahuthi) is age old technique. Gurus of the past transmitted there own spiritual achievement only to selective disciples. Then we here the guru passed on his grace which made the disciple the next successor or that particular disciple attained jnana. In this case there was no shastras taught to the disciple, no verbal communication happened just a mere transmission. There are many methods and ways of transmission. But our adi guru Lalaji maharaj re-discovered this age old technique through which many can be transformed and the technique is using the will power and transmitting the essence to the abhyasis heart. Our heartfullness system our gurus did not limit this transmission to few selective individuals where as they extended it to everyone who is willing.
Yes’. We do have many such references in ancient texts where the Yogic energy or the divine energy was transmitted by the teacher to the disciple, resulting in the transformation of the latter. We shall see just a few of them here.
The Yoga Vasishtha, ascribed to the legendary saint Valmiki (who wrote the Ramayana), contains reference of the great saint Vasishtha transforming his disciple lord Rama at once, using this method of transmission. Here three methods of Yogic transmission, viz., by touch, by sight and through words are mentioned(8) . The Sutasamhita, which forms part of Skandapurana, which is at least one thousand five hundreds years old, adds one more to the above list. It includes transmission through will power (or thought) and says that this is the subtlest and the highest method of transmission. It may be pointed here that Sahaj Marg adopts the same method.
In ancient and medieval Sufi systems, this technique of transmission from the heart was known as Tavajjhoh. It may also be noted that ancient Chinese Buddhism also contains references to such practices. The 9th -10th cent A.D. text on Kashmir Saivism also contains references to such method of Yogic transmission adopted by the Master in effecting spiritual evolution of the disciples.
Lord Krishna transmitted the divine energy to Arjuna on the battle field and made him an immortal hero, as can be seen from the great epic Mahabharata.
In recent times, 19th cent, A.D. the great Master of Bengal, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa transformed his disciple, Narendranath into a Yogi of immortal fame viz., Swami Vivekananda, through the method of transmission of divine energy, Such is the efficiency of this method. The tradition has continued from generation to generation for thousands of years.
Question-
*How can this be explained to new person?I do not understand how feeling comes from thinking? When I think I just think not feel; how is thinking and feeling related?*
*Sk:* Thinking to feeling we do it all the time in our daily lives. If I remember ice cream we automatically we feel the taste it, from my earlier experience. I want to make it a reality again then i get the same ice cream and eat it. If we think of a person we like the most, suddenly our heart is filled with the joy and longing to be with that person. At the same time we feel the cherished moments with that individual. If we think of a person whom we don't like, it follows the feeling of hatred and anger. Did we not move from thinking to feeling in the above mentioned examples. If we observe carefully we remember or think with mind and feeling of it is reflected in our hearts almost instantly. *To feel anything i need to have a prior experience of it or association with it. The memory or thought of it the feeling follows almost instantaneously and very naturally. I do not have to consciously tell my self that now i am thinking and now i am feeling.*
All these feelings are our experiences or associations with external elements or situations (At the physical level, mental level and emotional level). Which our consciousness and mind can relate to it very easily, they are all very tangible.
Now coming to the aspect of meditation, we are going inwards and experiencing the most subtlest states which mind cannot comprehend very easily. But through repeated experience of these states, we gain certain perception of it. Then we try to internalize, remember this state. By remembering we can produce this state or feel this state very naturally. Here it appears like a process , it requires certain attention on our part in the beginning as things are not as tangible as in the external world. But slowly even this too becomes natural. In heartfulness we move through infinite stages and states. We also get accustomed to these changing states and will be able to feel them as well.
Again even in the process of internalizing the thinking to feeling becomes natural as well. No need to differentiate between thinking and feeling as both states go hand in hand.
Is Swadharma mentioned in the Gita same as ‘Authentic self’?
SK:
I remember one abhyasi asked Chariji about starting a new venture and a carrier change decision. Chariji's response was a cobbler must to cobblers job.
This is what exactly swadharma means in the context of Gita or in the context of Swa-dharma itself.
In Gita, chapter 3 , verse 35, Krishna says, (Excerpt from Chinmayananda, Swami. Geeta Chapter 3 . )
śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
śhreyān—better; swa-dharmaḥ—one’s own duty; viguṇaḥ—devoid of merit;; para-dharmāt—than the duty of another; su-anuṣhṭhitāt—perfectly done; swa-dharme—in one’s personal duties; nidhanam—death; śhreyaḥ—better; para-dharmaḥ—duties prescribed for others; bhaya-āvahaḥ—fraught with fear
Better is one’s own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well discharged. Better is death in one’s own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear (is productive of positive danger).
There is a clear distinction between Dharma , swa-dharma, para-dharama.
Dharama is a broad category, to put it succinctly it's a principle which covers all aspects of life.
But when it comes to the definition of swa-dharma, its an individual principle - each individual is born and acquires certain natural abilities according to his/her samskaras(past impressions), vasanas(predetermined channels of thinking created by one’s own earlier ways of thinking). This pattern is intrinsic nature of each individual.
In bhagavad gita "swadharma" is used as meaning of the four castes( Originally depicted in Manu Smriti) in the expression Bha. Ch2 v31 svadharmamapi caveksya where the lord is telling Arjuna to fight, having regard to what his dharma is and also later in the expression Bha Ch3 v35 swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ i.e it is better to die performing one's own(caste) duties, following duties enjoined on another caste is dangerous.
Wether the rest of the world subscribes to this caste system or not, but one can observe that duties of all four castes are being performed every where in the world.
Swadharma (one’s own duty) is not the duty which automatically imposed or conferred on an individual because of caste. It has nothing to do with the caste one is born into. It is adjoined due to nature of individual according their own impressions and awareness.
Even the ancient greek philosophers were of the opinion that one has to take "the virtue as the highest ideal of mankind and dealt with the question of the doable and the not doable from that point of view.
Our seers put the adhyatmic pragati (spritual upliftment) as the highest ideal of every individual; that the question of doable and the not-doable is considered on the basis of whether it contributes towards this upliftment or not.
If there is a contradiction in performing any action, if it is doable or not just follow that path in which there is no opposition. Here i would like to point what Daaji says about listening to the heart , heart will give a very subtle indication or almost say nothing if the action chosen is right , it only speaks when the outcome of the action is not going to be congenial. (Note: not quoting verbatim)
Conclusion : Swadharama also means identifying the natural abilities and excel in it. The duties born of our nature can be easily performed with stability of mind; Living this way i am free from impressions and it will allow the mind to aspire the true spiritual progress.
If this means authentic-self then the answer to your questions is YES!
17th July 1944: Revered Lalaji:
The habit of observing defects indicates the particular defect is present in the observer in seed form, which is reflected in the other person. The indication is that if the heart feels trouble on seeing the defects in others, that defect is present in seed form in the observer. It should be cleaned off. If, on knowing another person's defect, no trouble is felt within, that is the quality of sensitivity. Where one's inner virtues are not reflected in the other person, there the defect will also not be projected.
*Question: Brother, can you please elaborate above statement with an example.*
*sk:*
Sometimes we take these statements to the extreme and every judgement we make in a situation try to apply the above statement. Which is not correct. Heartfulness is always about moderation, we should remember that.
If one observes few repetitive patterns to which we react strongly those are the impressions or defects are in the seed form, which manifest or germinate when circumstances arise. These reactions tend to be strong especially with our kith and kin.
Especially the Father shows a very strong reaction towards the son for any small , inadvertent mistakes. This reaction is so uncontrollable for the father and tend to use very discouraging language towards the son which affects the child's self-esteem very deeply. This happens because the father is observing his own defects in the son and he hates it from the core. Deep down in his heart the father knows those are his defects. Hence the strong reaction to those defects.
If the father realizes or acknowledges that they are his own defects then his reaction towards his son is more empathetic and try to advice on how to deal with them as the father himself has been dealing with those defects all his life.
You will see the simliar pattern between wife and husband. In this is case there is a projection of their own defects to the other partner and react strongly. You will see the similar pattern among the siblings. That is why it is very difficult for the siblings to get along.
When i know these are my defects what i am seeing in other people, our reaction patterns will change. Otherwise we hate our defects and the reaction destroys the harmony with our own people. In case of the children they are unimaginably affected due to parents unwarranted , uncontrollable , incorrigible reactions. Parents should recognize and correct themselves first before correcting the children.
Heartfulness cleaning method is more effective to correct this compulsive behavior and pattern.
Is it possible for me to both diving into the materialistic world and spiritual path at the same time?
I've always been enthralled by the materialistic world (money you know) but I also believe in energies, universe, God, Buddhas, angels. As far as I know (just so you know I know extremely little about spiritual awakening) people have to choose either materials or higher self growth right?
Idk but I've had experiences with precognition, precognitive dreams, Deja Vu and stuff like that unintentionally since I was a child, I've also been communicating with inner voice for 2 years which I believe is my spirit guide or guardian angel (lol please don't think I'm mad/schschizophrenic cuz it really guides me out of depression phases several times and it all says positive things). I also posted a thread yesterday about LOA and getting results whenever I'm in depression and a guy said I was in the state of submission (tbh idk what that means) whereas another person said I resonate with negative energies stronger than positive energies (seriously idk why but my life has always been exactly opposite to whatever it is supposed to be when comparing with other people's lives) and things like the Universe wants me to learn to share my burdens with it and immersing in now. Tbh I have really vague understandings of all the above. I don't do any meditation or on my way of spiritual awakening or anything related to that.
Anyway, I just want to ask people have been on their way of spiritual awakening, well I believe that souls exist in this world to serve for some purposes but do you think sometimes some souls don't want to follow that path and want to go into the opposite direction? Will resisting end up in any consequences? And is it possible for me to both diving into the materialistic world and spiritual path at the same time?
ANSWER:
I always wonder why we have to compartmentalize life. Life is life it is a continuous stream of events, situations, emotions and most importantly sustenance. Whether in physical existence in a mortal form or after death in immortal form (we loosely call it as SOUL) life is there. The same tendencies we carry into the life after death. Life is an expression, for each one it presents differently. In our most depressed state, we recognize two things one the futility of this existence, second we are capable of nothing. That’s when the invertendo takes place, where we somehow recognize this inner guide , the inner SELF, you can call it godly existence within, or guardian angel, inner voice, however you name it, it is our own higher SELF which is trying to guide us all the time. It is there in our every phase of life, in our happiness, in our sufferings. We ignored that inner voice all the time. A classic example is Neale Donald Walsch(read his conversations with god).
When we start to listen to this inner voice, our spiritual life begins. We discover our new real friend. For this I do not have to reach depressed states. We should just start listening, listen to the inner voice, listen to the surroundings, listen to the plants in your garden.
We created so much noise inside us and outside us and we stopped listening, we paid deaf ears to all the good music around us. We blame it on material life, which is not the cause. Material life is very much important for our existence and sustenance. Even animals have, so-called material life. When we start attending to our material affairs with this inner connection certain balance is restored. A true life is this balanced state Like a bird fly with two wings, if one wing is heavy it cannot fly.
I started to listen when i got engaged with meditation the heartfulness way. You can learn more about it by going to heartfulness.org or you can reach out to the nearest trainer and practice meditation. Basic concept of meditation is to wait to listen to this inner voice, connect with it and become one with it. When i become one with it, i recognize it as my own voice.
What is the difference between karma-fal and samskara-bhoga? Is there a difference?
I can write the answer in one sentence but would like to elaborate make sure we all are on the same page with the basics of this question.
We all understand the CAUSE and EFFECT principle. Without the cause there is no effect. There has to be cause for every situation , every event in life. Even before we think about something , there is cause for our thought. Like i am thinking the answer for this question , because a question is posted. The comprehensive answer depends on many causes and effects before, which created certain perception in my mind to put the answer this way.
We should not look at life from a Karmic or Samskarik theories perspective. There will be a cause for everything but the effect is not always the same. It is very dynamic and that is what makes the life dynamic not fixed. Many like to think the other way by saying what is written in my fate is bound to happen. Trust me there is nothing written upfront. If we understand this point then we will be able to c comprehend karmik and samskara theory better.
Every action, every choice, every emotional reaction to a situation causes an impression on the state of consciousness. This we might call the memory of consciousness. In Sanskrit it is called Chitta(memory of consciousness) and CHIT is the consciousness.
This chitta we call it as samskara or karma phal ( fruit of the action). This memory forces our future choices , which creates more actions and more feedback into the memory of consciousness. Its a continuous loop, Every choice making is a bhoga( cause) , which has consequences (effect - this effect is very dynamic, it varies according to the time and situation), Usually we recognize the consequence as the bhoga but making a choice is the result of samskara which is bhoga. See if this has become and endless cycle, there is no way we can exhaust all the accumulation on the consciousness.
Like i said consequences are dynamic as well as choice making as this choice making is the effect of cumulative samskaras. You see samskara can be cause and effect at the same time. So to put it simplay the result of the action is samskara ( karma phala) and its effect is bhoga.
That is why in heartfulness we follow the method of cleaning so that we do not have undergo bhoga of all samskaras. Basically we are cutting down the feedback loop. Once this loop is broken we can start exhausting all the samskaras and thus free from this bondage. Then we can enter the sphere of inner spiritual journey.
The other way of looking at this when we establish remembrance of the essence(divine principle) , and when we perform actions in this remembrance it does not create any samskaras( there is no karma phala). That is why in Gita , Lord Krishna says leave the Karma phala to me basically saying perform all actions in remembrance.
Question
Hello bhaiya,
I wanted to know what is your understanding on:
1. What is God
2. What is Love Hello bhaiya,
Hope you’re doing good.
I wanted to know what is your understanding on:
1. What is God
2. What is Love
What is GOD? the famous answer from Babuji "GOD IS GOD" what else can he be? Basically saying there is no definition to GOD. Because to define something means existence. You can not say God exist neither not exists.
Nasadiya Sukra says "Neither this Nor that - Neti Neti"
Here is how I put it,
A seed sprouts into a plant and then into a tree where did not the seed go? The essence of the seed is all pervading.
If you think of seed as first from of existence, that first form is known as Saguna Brahma this is what we learned in our last reading session correct?
Saguna Brahman is nothing but vibration, virat means sound. That is why they say AUM is the sound of that primordial vibration.
From where did this manifested, you cannot put a definition to that.
The traditional understanding of GOD is Saguna Brahma.
The spiritual understanding of GOD is from where both Saguna(Manifested) & Nirguna(Un--Manifested) emerged. Even emerged is not a right word because there is no causation. It just happened.
What is LOVE?
There are so many answers for it. But we start to switch from Saguna to Nirguna there is certain vibration or feeling evoked in us. In this state it is not emotion, just a subtle feeling. When our EGO and mind start to identify itself with this feeling of love it transcends into a much higher state goes beyond all human perception. That is truly known as LOVE. Becuase at this state you are LOVE.
That is our masters called LOVE is a noun not adjective. This is what they mean. Lot of people just quote it without understanding.
*Question: I remember you mentioned that cows and cats have the heart chakras developed to a certain extent. How did you know this?*
*sk:* it was a simple thought that all animals with proper spinal and skeletol structure would have developed multiple chakras ... spinal cord is key as it has to support the moving of prana across the body. The role of the heart chakra is to create samanvaya or bonding between all other chakras. Basically saying if chakras are formed it is imperative that heart chakra is very much required.
*Question: So, what’s special about cows and cats’ spinal cords and skeletal structure compared to dogs or any four legged animals that walk on all fours*
Depends on the level of consciousness, which differs based on their physical subtle and causal vibrations and how they interchange
*Question: You are answering like a consultant! 😀😀 Never give the straight answer*
*sk:*
😀I thought was giving straight answers ... let me try it again. You already know most of the stuff but start from the basics
What is a Chakra? it's a juxtaposition or where the subtle and causal bodies intersect. If the three bodies are closer to each other there are no chakras. When there is sufficient distance basically means more consciousness, cause for the formation of chakras. I do not recall when i spoke about cat and dog ... i might have said in animal kingdom, they start forming chakras according its evolution, example cat and dog. All animal with spinal cord are little more evolved.
You will see the reference in Babujis stories where he transmitted to the DOG.
Another reason to form chakras is when consciousness and mind is acting in conjunction, there are impressions hence the need for causal body to provide its feedback. Hence the chakras. Cow, elephants, dolphins are all little more evolved.
When someone is sufficiently clean these chakras dissolve as the requirement for feedback mechanism significantly reduces.
There has to be a samanvaya or certain bonding coordination of this energy flow , this is where the heart chakra plays a key role. In-fact the real connection with the causal body is through heart chakra. So any little evolved life start forming heart chakra and its effect covers the entire pinda(physical sheath). That is why babuji called it heart region.
In animal life mind region, godly region are very thin or insignificant. This where humans differ. We have sufficiently developed mind region to even start feeling the godly vibrations. Even this is a rare species, as not all humans have this inclination.
Need your advice.
*QUESTION:* I have been very much irregular in practice. I am sure many of us have been through it. Also, many of us have overcome this and become regular. Can you kindly help me with this phase?
Also, I know that developing love for the Guru will help us in this situation, can you kindly guide me what shall I do to develop love for the Guru / which books should I start reading? I ready My Master, down memory lane, many of constant remembrance editions long time back.
*SK:* Heartfulness is a practice where the heart is guiding oneself. Sometimes we are regular in our practice and sometimes we might skip practice, but the way i see it we are assimilating during that period and getting accustomed to the progress we attain during the practice. At this stage its very important to get individual 1:1 sessions with the preceptors(Heartfulness trainers).As far as developing love is also a very natural process. I have this theory love only develops through service.Excuse my examples here below but this explains the idea of developing love through service.When a girl is pregnant, due to some unfortunate situations the fetus is lost the girl might feel bad for couple of hours and forgets about it. Suppose the child dies during the birth, mother feels bad for a month or two and forgets about it.Suppose the same child dies after few years, the mother takes that pain to her grave. Why? In all those years the mother serves its child with all her heart.
During my childhood i have observed where predominantly women were homemakers and men are providers making money. If wife dies due to any health reasons the husband forgets the wife very easily and moves on, as he just played a mere role of the provider but never took personal care for his wife. Where as the wife serves the husband day and night, takes lot of care, if the husband dies the wife never thinks of another person in her life. Such is the power of service. Only through service, by taking up the practice ardently, make the Gurus mission as our mission, participating, volunteering we develop love.
Dissociation from world
https://tinyurl.com/yv7dy8xs
*Question:* I have been meditating for a while now (seven years). This year I went to Kanha for the first time and it has produced a change in me. I am very inclined to the practice now but I also find myself losing any interest in daily world activities. I have been unemployed for most of this year and I have no inclination to find a job. I don't desire to be part of this world. This is concerning because of the fear of losing money eventually. Can anyone relate or help?
*SK:* I am practicing heartfulness for almost 30 years; my experience has been it always helped me when I am down physically as well as mentally.
The kind of losing interest in worldly things Babuji is talking about where someone has taken up spiritual work of highest order. Babuji said though I appear to be lazy I am doing work round the clock.
Your loosing of interest I am very much sure has nothing to do with your meditation. Sometimes each individual go through different phases of life, especially when you were in search for job for a long period.
My suggestion to you is take up Yoga asana practice and get trained at Kanha. Take regular sittings, discuss your situation with the preceptor.
Only you can decide how your life should be played out. You will have to motivate yourself to find the proper means to support the life. When I started my carrier with small jobs which payed me only Rs.1000 but one lead to another. Now live in USA working for a big company.
Losing interest is not any spiritual quality, it basically tells me that certain laziness is setting in your psyche. In our shastras laziness is said as the Tamo Guna. If you read Vivekananda, he is talking one of his abhyasi, tells him that he lost interest in things, that basically means I might be advancing spiritually. Vivekanda says those who are lazy are not qualified to even start spirituality. Moral of the story is you must motivate yourself and stay in the company of motivated people. The best thing for you to do is constantly participate in Heartfulness and you will find the company of very motivated people.
I sincerely pray that you will come out of this state of mind.
*Question:*
What's this Yogic transmission thing ? Though I saw videos explaining it but it adds an element of mysticism to meditation
*SK:* Let me come from the very basic idea. Suppose there is a disturbance or situation with someone the mind keeps thinking about it. Mind goes where its attention is drawn; It is also that mind takes the shape of where its attention is going. This is a very natural state of mind. That means the natural state of mind is to think about something , which is also the definition of meditation.
That said mind needs to be drawn on to something , now how to draw this mind towards the divine presence in the self. Transmission comes to the aid, it leaves the mind wanting to go there. It gives the experience of divine essence. Transmission is the sankalpa made by the guru to draw the minds attention. It is nothing but the the essence of divine itself. Transmission does two things, one - it draws the mind towards the divine presence in the heart; two - it gives the experience of that essence and makes it evident to the mind, so that mind can get glued to that experience. Otherwise this experience is not possible how much ever one meditates without transmission.
I tend to physically look for divine light in Heart
*Question:* *Whenever I meditate with the thought that divine presence is inside my heart and attracting me, even my closed eyes start to physically drift down leftwards as if to see that presence. I am unable to do Heartfulness meditation correctly. Please explain to me how to sit for meditation and where should be my closed eyes resting upon ? When I order my eyes to not look physically for that presence, it asks me ok I will not look down left wards, then where do I rest ? How do I free myself from this situation*
*SK:* Very interesting observation.
If i am closing my eyes and listening to nice music, which direction the eyes should be going. First music cannot be seen, we just feel the music. In case of music, you are simply enjoying the melody. I understand you are not trying to see. The problem with most people is that they understand meditation as focus. But meditation has nothing to do with focus.
Before going to bed if i close my eyes generally thinking about the day which direction my eyes should be looking at. Here too there is no specific focus is required. Meditation is about feeling. Daaji says, meditation is from thinking, to feeling. All feelings take place through the Heart. In movies they often show, if someone gets really disturbed emotionally, gets a heart attack.
Please observe the instructions carefully.
- Give a supposition that the heart(feelings) drawn into this divine essence present. Present where?
Where is gravity on earth? Every where; then where do you feel it, wherever you are standing. Similarly, since heart is the felling instrument, it is natural to feel presence of divinity in the heart, though it is omniscient, every where. If you like to taste the sweet, eat the mango. Similarly if you want to feel the divinity just meditate because heart can feel it.
In meditation we just relax and try to feel that divine effulgence, the essence. Here the location of the heart is not important nor we have to focus on the heart. Focus inhibits us from feeling the divine. When this idea of focus is removed, meditation becomes a very natural process. Then you do not have to use any force divert attention towards the heart, then there is no need to drift your eyes towards the heart.
Transmission for research purpose ?
*Question:* I am writing this question completely for reseach purpose. Can we make an arrangement where only one Abhyasi is taking personal sitting with 100 Perceptors with each respective perceptor directing the transmission to that one Abhyasi ? We are significanty making progress with Polarity, Can this experiment bring something new and useful to us ?
*SK*: Interesting thought!
Have you ever seen Iron smith hammering hot iron to shape it. It requires certain temperature, multiple blows at certain force. Imagine hundred hammers hitting same iron piece at the same time, you can do it, but it does not shape it well, more over it might break.
To give you another example if a doctor writes a prescription of antibiotics to treat infection, to take it over 10 days. Imagine what i happens if I take all of them in one day.
This is the in case of mundane things, one should not apply full force achieve the right results.
But when it comes to more, profound, more potent and divine essence, it must be applied even with much more care and requires absolute precision, a very small dose. It is the most potent thing one can even fathom. It should be given according the persons state of mind and ability to absorb transmission.
Transmission is the divine effulgence, it should be applied according the person receiving.
I do not want to say anything more than what i stated already, obviously the question posed is a curious one, but when you understand its real essence, we receive it with complete reverence and gratitude.
If you can send me a personal message i can give you more details.
Few questions: 1) Do I always have to meditate with a trainer i.e with transmission ? 2) Do I meditate on next points as I progress ? For example: Point 5(Vishuddhi) in later stages ?
Meditate is to connect with the inner essence, transmission or pranahuti as it is called in sankrit is a life force or the essence itself. Daaji gives a very good simile, if you turn on the fan its just directing the air which is present in the room towards you, its not creating any new air. Similarly, this essence is all pervading, but when it is transmitted by will force of the trainer or master, the feeling of this subtle force becomes little evident. Which in turn makes meditation more meaning full and allow us to have the experience of this essence. So that we can seek it again and again.
As we meditate regularly, on our own we can start feeling this transmission, it is limitless but we only absorb according to our capacity.
Still it is necessary to take regular sessions with the trainer mostly for the deeper cleaning . Cleaning of impressions is the key for our spiritual progress.
Regarding meditation on points beyond point 5 - We do not have to meditate on any specific point, as we progress there is a shift in the consciousness according to our approach. We always meditate on the heart. Through heart, all the spiritual evolution is possible as it connects with all the higher points.
One more clarification, Point 5 and Vishuddhi are not the same. All the points as depicted in yoga shastra(science of yoga) are along the spinal-cord. Where as the points identified in Heartfulness are in the frontal section. Though point 5 appear to coincide with Vishuddhi.
*Question: Srikanth, What’s the best way of asking for forgiveness and relieving from guilt?*
*SK*: Sorry for the delay in responding to you!
Forgiving oneself is a very noble thing at the same time we find it difficult. I would like to give some clarity around it. Hope it helps.
There is no power which can change past, whether its immediate past or few years back. But we carry all those memories. At some point it dawns upon us that we treaded on the wrong path. Now that creates enormous guilt because, from where we stand today, our identity cannot accept the wrongs of the past. But let me tell you even if GOD was helping me in the past i could not have done anything different. All those mistakes were sort of destined. Nothing could have changed it. Just like the present is destined too.
So, the moment I acknowledge the wrong done by me, and feeling guilty about it, start to repent about it, itself is a huge step towards overcoming the past. Overcoming the past is not to about forgetting it. Truly accepting it, knowing it could not have been any different. Hence the only path available to us is to move forward, by resolving in our hearts and let the heart cry it out, do not hold it. That is the only way for absolve ourselves completely.
Pray to the GOD to give the strength to move forward. We have no right to destroy the life bestowed on us by GOD. Hence it is imperative to overcome it with a prayerful heart.
Here is the link where Daaji is reading Maxim 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHgSkYt60f8&t=130s
*Question:* Confusion about meditation
Hi, I have recently started to do heartfullness meditation and I am a bit confused about the technique, I have tried to ask my teacher but I don't think they did a good job clearing my confusion,so I am writing this to ask yuall to clear my doubts, What does this mean to suppose that divine light is present in my heart, do I have to imagine light in my heart and have that imagination continuously, or do I not imagine the light and continuously keep saying in my mind that a divine light is present in my heart, or do I try to feel something in my heart and assign that feeling as divine source of light?
*SK:* Very good question and many get confused over it, even after years of practice. You wonder why this confusion is not removed. It is confusion because we want to fix it into a pattern. Make it as tangible and as instructive as possible.One thing i would like to clarify is, first meditation is not a fixed method, it is a very dynamic approach. In this dynamic approach, a minimum instruction is given saying give a supposition that there is a divine light present in the heart. *Now this would have become even more abstract if the instruction is to think of divine is presence in your heart.* How do you know divine. Hence divine light makes more sense, its a light with divine essence in it. Human mind can understand light, adding idea of divinity in it makes it more dynamic. Babuji said light is most subtlest object a human mind understands. Really speaking it has no attributes like volume, size, length, even color etc. Color to the light only comes due to the medium it passes through. If the light flows through a vacuum there is nothing to reflect, hence we don't see the light.
So now the correct instruction is to meditate on the source of the light with the divine essence , and your mind is drawn into it. In the beginning you want to feel or see the light, which is okay, whatever come to your mind. But slowly our mind transcends and tries to get absorbed into that essence which is divine. This is due to the effect of transmission( yogic energy - pranasya prana). Once mind sort of drawn to that on which we are really meditating on! from this piont it is drawn to that feeling only whenever we think of divine light. That basically means the idea of light completely drops.
/8What i am trying to say is do not worry about the semantics, there is no right way or wrong way here. Just start with the supposition of divine light; if the idea of light comes to you so it be; let the meditation go on; the meditation it self directs you in the right path. Slowly what we want to seek in meditation is also changes with every meditation.*/
*Question from todays session:* I meant to pose the question in today’s session on Karma, but was hesitant that I might be deviating.
I understand that longer ailments and life experiences and instances do have a connection with Bhoga.
However - Is there a link between physical sickness (just mundane cold/ congestion) and internal cleaning?
*SK:* Bhoga is another misunderstood topic, conventional thinking of bhoga is suffering or enjoying life situations. Because of this concept, somehow, we think life situations are fixed/predetermined due to the karma(samskara) we accumulated.
The past Karmas are only a very minuscule part of life. What is life? Life is just an expression; this is expression is not complete because of our reaction to situations and these reactions are results of the past impressions. *Evolution is the only purpose of life, not bhoga.*
Ailments in life has nothing to do with Karma. Life is dynamic, if this is predetermined, then it has no evolution. Life dynamic and it unfolds itself as it goes through; One is fortunate to meet a divine personality, then life realizes the purpose and start moving through evolutionary process.
*Body goes through its own cycle, in that cycle ailments is a natural part and has nothing do with Karma. Even the situations like accidents, or any other good situations has nothing to do with Karma.*
Our emotional reactions and choices are driven by Karma. If these impressions are cleaned our choices are reinforced by wisdom not emotion.
*Question:* In short, how do I condition my inner voice to be kinder to myself? I am prone to rather negative thinking, especially towards myself. What kind of meditation should I be looking into?
*SK:* You will get lot of advices the moment you say negative thoughts. First lets understand the root cause; Negative and positive thoughts are like a south and north pole in a magnet. They always co-exit. If you have a positive thought, like when you say i am going to be healthy, the idea is you might fall sick. You see there is always negativity behind every positivity.
No one on this earth can only think positive as said because there is negative thought forcing the positiveness. If you do not think of falling sick you will never think of being healthy. Do you agree.
Now lets understand what is causing negative thought. Its a mental projection of the future based on the past experience. All my past experiences created a residue on my state of consciousness, this is what is projecting all the negativeness and the positiveness. When we get rid of this residue or impressions we are neither positive that means we are not negative either.
Heartfulness gives this wonderful practice of cleaning all these impressions from the past so that i can start my day clean slate. I am providing the link for Heartfulness practice. You can also reach out to the nearest trainer by using this link https://heartspots.heartfulness.org/
Master Classes -1 - Relaxation
https://youtu.be/ric0XnCqcwc
Masterclasses Day 2 - Clean & Simplify
https://youtu.be/XrBojZA8YbA
Masterclasses Day 3 - Connect With you inner self
https://youtu.be/zX5l-LIn7KY
*Question: Can somebody explain to me about the process of transmission! Does the trainer chants some mantra on his side?*
*SK:* The principle of meditation is, "we become that which we meditate upon". So the best thing to start meditating on the real goal. But this real goal is so abstract, not tangible to our senses or the mind.
Daaji gives a wonderful simile, when a fan is turned on the air is blown towards us. Until then, though air is present in the room we do not feel it. Similarly the effect of transmission (tavajju - in sufism, yogic energy, pranasya prana - by which life force sustains) provides the real feeling or experience of this abstract higher essence and makes it evident.
*The word Transmission creates a bit of confusion, its like something is moved from source to the target. But what is the method of this transmission, if that which is being transmitted is everywhere i.e already present at the target?*
*Like in the above example the fan is not creating air, its blowing the air which is already present. Similarly when a high conscious mind makes a sankalpa, A WILL, which makes this presence of divine essence evident to the consciousness. That gives the experience of this divinity already present within. You can say that this divine energy is invoked through the power of willing (sankalpa), so that the lower mind can feel it, and seek it. This is how transmission works.*
Suppose i never ate pasta in my life, would i be thinking of eating pasta. Atleast i have to have a taste of pasta once, before i say i would like to eat pasta gain.
Transmission makes the experience of divine essence possible for the lower mind/consciousness. Then slowly surely our soul recognizes that this what its longing for all along, then the progress towards this higher goal begins. Otherwise its almost impossible to seek this most subtler divine knowledge.
*Question: Hi Br, One of the sisters asked me a question. Why don't i have any experiences (profound, unforgettable, extraordinary ones like out of the body etc) in meditation or otherwise? when we come in touch with divine consciousness, can't we expect to have divine visual experiences. She acknowledges that she do feel various degrees of peace, lightness, awareness, acceptance etc. but is that it? Don't the experiences in meditation validate our spiritual progress?*
*Can you please explain spiritual experiences, when do we have them and their role in our journey 🙏*
*SK*: Experiences in Spiritual practice does not say anything about progress.... they are not the milestones of spiritual journey.... 99% of the experiences people talk about are only mental projections and has no spiritual significance. Other experiences are because of the cleaning. I personally never had any spiritual experiences.
The sort of conditions our masters mentioned in the books people loosely call them as experiences. Conditions are not experiences.
*Question:* In my diary i wrote yesterday that if i have only one more day to live and look back at my life I felt nothing is achieved in my life so far neither spiritually nor materially.
While driving to satsangh yesterday thoughts were running through my mind on what is the true purpose of life and how does one fulfill it? at the time of death one should one do a true reflection of life.
*Answer:* Steve jobs toward the end of his life wrote in his journal there is so much to achieve in life and I have not done anything so far. This is the case with everyone, regardless. That is the way of life. Life is a endless journey, one is always looking forward, whatever is achieved looses its significance as its done, completed.
Death is inevitable and life is always looking forward. Hence according all spiritual/religious teachings talk about life after death.
Coming to the question of purpose , life has no purpose, i do not think when god manifested this universe and life did create with any purpose. It is futile to think life has some purpose.
Natural aspect of life is its evolution because it recognizes subtlest and deepest inner need to reach the stage of its maker. Life is wanting, craving to dissolve into its maker and loose its identity.
Buddha said life is suffering. Our inner is trying to loose its identity to become one with its maker and external life is trying to make more and more identities. Hence is a conflict in our life's approach, this conflict is the one creating the suffering. Meaning we are resisting the evolution of life.
All scriptures talk about restraining some aspects in life, asking us to be desireless, develop non attachment .. etc.. etc. A logical mind concludes this means we have to negate or discard all desires and attachments. Negation only makes us stone like , it shrinks our consciousness. Where is as the true meaning of evolution of life is expanding in all dimensions., because GOD(paramatman) is omniscient. But how do we feel such aspect which is in existence and non existence at the same time. Meaning its not available to human sense in any which way. That is why our seers have said it Neti-Neti. Means neither this nor that. Some philosophers assumed that to achieve god one must negate everything. But that which we are attempting to negate is only according to our perception and this kind of negation does not add any value. Its a very devolutionary approach.
So the right thing or attitude to develop first, that which needs to be reached the destiny is already with us. Its just that we have to evolve out of our current state of perception. That is what all spiritual sadhana is about, to become free; This freedom is very simple and easy to achieve by meditating on that which is always with us, it is our essence of existence. With the aid of pranahuti by the guru where he is elevating our conciseness to this divine consciousness which helps us to develop this inner identity, the identity with paramatman or atman(soul). Then we are in true advita oneness.
That basically means the conflict is removed, now we are truly participating with the lifes nature to evolve. Means the conflict is is removed, means sufferring is also removed; The entire being is filled with JOY as this is the nature of the atman(soul) as now we are coming in contact with the soul with complete awareness.
True reflection as Babuji suggested should be done everyday before we go to bed. True reflection at the time of death serves no purpose. The available life is very important to utilize it by participating in its nature which is evolution, that is what babuji saying being in tune with nature.
Here are some practical tips for better spiritual and material life.
To grow materially, consistent work is required. In our ashram in chennai a gardener munu samy , i always admired that guy, very much engaged in his work with full of heart and vigor. There is so much joy in his face. Fulfilling our day to day duties with confidence and consistency makes us skillful in what we are doing, removes lot of stress.
Maintenance of health as much as possible, but at some point old age takes over that is the nature of the body
Consistency in spiritual sadhana(practice) and developing right understanding. You should listen to what Daaji spoke about today, become authentic; Instead of becoming authentic we become dogmatic and this gives us a false illusion that we are becoming spiritual. Developing the right understanding is the key; We lack this understanding because we mystify our gurus, mystify the whole aspect of spirituality , assuming it to be something other than our material life.
Spirituality is all integration, inclusive to create the true freedom in our hearts to develop oneness with the higher essence.
Most philosophies(I think mostly Indian) say the whole world exists inside you. That you are creating your own reality. But this very thing feels like a burden to me. I think the reason I have headaches almost everyday is because I feel the sense of self or I exist in my brain.
I have read about the Heartfulness system of meditation before.. so sometimes I sit and try to bring my awareness into the chest area. When I do that the headache seems to disappear immediately. But it comes back after a while again when my mind "moves". Like any acknowledgement of a slight movement in my brain gives me a headache. Why do spiritual texts say stuff like "everything is inside you". It feels like such a burden. Maybe I am getting it wrong and I am hoping someone here can help me on this.
*SK:*
I am a heartfulness trainer for 25 years. Constantly I have to remind people that Meditation is not a healing system, especially Heartfulness practices are not for any kind of healing.
My advice regarding Headache is to consult a good Neuro Physician and my sincere prayers for your speedy recovery.
Please DO NOT to practice any kind of Meditation until your health problem is addressed.
It is only going to make it adverse.
Regarding the concept of whole world existing inside you is like this ... Suppose you take a water drop from the Ocean .. all the characteristics of the Ocean are inside this water drop. That is all it means. It does not mean the Ocean is inside the water drop. Philosophically you can say ocean is inside water drop.
*Same thing the entire world is being inside you, it only means all the characteristics of this existence are also inside you and in all beings. There is nothing esoteric, nothing profound about this statement. But people tend to think by saying this statement they found some secret of life or divine.*
I do not want to say anything more than this. Please seek medical advice.
*Question: * How long transmission has do be done?
I received some sittings with a trainer for three months, every week, now we kind of stopped it and I am wondering if I should keep doing them with him or I can continue by myself... I honestly don't know if I need more or when is the time I should need more.
There is a moment where transmission is no longer needed?
*SK:* It bothers me when people talk about "transmission" and the utterly flawed concepts they come up with. Sometimes, we say, "I felt a lot of transmission today," or ask others, "Did you feel the transmission?"
When you are watching TV and a mosquito bites you, it takes some time to realize the bite. Similarly, when you are deeply engaged in work, you may not hear your cell phone ring. This illustrates when we are not attentive, how we cannot perceive much tangible things around us. *How do you expect to feel something the most subtle and subtler than the subtlest?*
I would like to clarify some misconstrued ideas surrounding this topic.
In our scriptures the ATMAN/PARAMATMAN is described as cannot be known, cannot be seen, cannot be experienced. Transmission is of the same category. You can imagine the subtleness or characteristic of the transmission (Pranahuti - pranasya prana - the life of life) .
For the question of feeling transmission, *I will assure you NO ONE HAS FELT IT SO FAR.* Only its effects can be perceived at the mental level, if one is totally attentive and mentally available.
Whether we feel it or not it does its work.
That which takes place deep down at the state of ATMAN , in a state of Turiyateet its perception is carried all the way to mental state. After 100+ meditations one might begin to get the glimpse of the *effect* of the transmission which is received in our first meditation.
So please do not get disappointed if you do not feel transmission.
My sincere recommendation is to continue your practice, please keep it simple and basic. You will draw much benefit this way from the practice.
I cannot give the full description here. But I did an audio on this concept. Please listen to it when you get a chance.
Question: I can only devote myself to one ie Babuji, Please guide me
I have love and respect for Daaji but I can't give anyone the place Babuji has in my heart. The problem will start with constant remembrance. Who do you remember constantly? Daaji or Babuji ? And after Daaji will you be able to show the same conviction to others ?
SK:
I wish I had responded before all the comments came through. I will ask everyone a simple question, why are we practicing meditation? For our own upliftment in spiritual path. That is the most important and imperative aspect of our life.
Now how does it matter whether I am devoted to a personality (Babuji, Chariji, Vivekananda, Guru Nanak, Jesus, Lord Krishna). Of course all the gurus of the past, from all the paths, we can learn from their teachings and get inspired.
But it does not change our course whether I am devoted to a particular master or not.
Am I able to practice as prescribed, Am I able to see the value in the practice, Is it benefiting me, these are the most pertinent questions.
At my state of existence we need a guru to whom I can reach out in person, share my problems related to practice and take guidance. That is why Babuji himself instructed that living master is to be taken as a GUIDE.
Regarding constant remembrance let me clarify, it is not about remembering Daaji or Babuji.
The deep state of meditation or condition experienced during meditation we must carry it throughout the day until my next meditation. This condition which we experience is the REAL MASTER.
Babuji or Daaji are guiding us on this path.
*Without recognizing or not maintaining the condition rest all is useless does not matter who is the physical master. *
https://bit.ly/49zfhQH
*Question:* What to do when you feel resistance/uneasiness with purity? How to cross that resistance and increase Purity to next level? any practical suggestion?
*SK:* First of all know that there is nothing called purity! So this idea of purity is it self is a big block for spiritual progress. If i think i need to attain purity then the idea is I am not pure. That starts the question of chasing purity without knowing what it is like. The divine essence if you call that purity is always there within us. So we are never devoid of purity.
At end of each element of practice give a supposition that you are already in the state of divine essence (purity in your idea). This supposition should take care of it.
*Question:* What is the role of a vegetarian diet in spiritual progress?
Is there any scientific evidence against non veg diet or against alcohol or against very attractive/involved/heavy vegetarian diet? I understand there are physical health reasons but are there documented spiritual health reasons as well?
*SK:* Good question! i will give you a simple and a logical answer? In the past human has to hunt and walk and run several miles to get their food. Slowly after the farming started and technology developed humans do not have to physically work very hard.
In India as the Varna (brahman- engaged study and performing rituals, Kshatriya - Learn warfare and fight wars, Vaishya- mostly businesspeople, Shudra - who does lot of physical work) are developed the life style of each varna is different.
I will explain these varnas in detail when the next opportunity presents. Brahmins and Vaishyas do not have physically work much for their daily activities. Hence they should be consuming little lighter diet which is vegetarian (in the past there is not so much frying but eating mostly boiled or raw vegetables. Which in my opinion is a true vegetarian food). Once you fry it in oil its NO-FOOD, even medically this statement is true.
As far as meat eating is concerned one who is doing lot of physical work ( not like one hour going to Gym), throughout the day for their daily lives like Kshatriyas who are engaged in warfare’s and Shudras who are doing lot of physical work then Non-vegetarian food is much more conducive.
When the food is not completely absorbed in the body it creates certain heaviness (in medical terms inflammation) in the body. Which in turn alters the minds ability ( even in medical terms minds health is through the gut as the gut is the one releases serotonin for mental function). *Hence by consuming the wrong food which is not suitable to our activity causes dullness in the mind(tamasic), which in turn diminishes the ability for it to participate in spiritual activities which are mostly mental. *
If you are an athlete, military person or does hard physical labor and at the same time a meditator can consume non-vegetarian food.
*One more disclaimer* - In the past animals are consuming mostly lot of herbs which are very good for their bodies. Even Cow urine is used for medicinal purposes. The same cow urine today is very toxic. Because of the food poisoning and the way meat industry runs .. meat products have turned very toxic...even vegetables are becoming toxic but less compared to meat. Hence, I do not advocate meat eating to anyone.
Yesterday I was talking to a medical student and telling her that if you want to eat non-vegetarian eat fish, crabs & prawns which are caught in the deep oceans, whose meat is less toxic.
Without swaying into apathy? This is something I struggle with from time to time; to the point where it almost comes off as if I don’t care about anything. I know in spirituality there is a great emphasis on detachment from our emotions to the environment around us but how does one detach yet still maintain empathy? Would love to see what y’all think? Thank you 😊
Kishore’s response was excellent and well-articulated!
Detachment, as commonly understood, is a rather limited concept. The nature of the mind is to attach itself to something—it cannot function without attachment. To detach from one thing, it inevitably needs to attach to another. So, can we truly call it detachment or attachment? It is detached from the previous object but now connected to something new.
It’s like a flight at an airport—it was on the ground, then it took off. Now it is detached from the ground, yet still within the context of the ground. Flying at a certain height from the ground and travelled certain distance from its starting point. All within the context of the ground.
When life came into existence, its foundation or base is the inner essence (whether you call it Atman, the Divine, or Paramatman). However, as it engages with the external world, it becomes so absorbed in it that it starts identifying with the external, forgetting its true foundation. Just like the flight cannot leave the context of ground life cannot stray away from its base which the atman.
Through meditation and spiritual practices such as heartfulness meditation, the mind reconnects with its subtle, sublime essence. Its real base. This realignment fosters greater harmony on both the physical and mental planes, brings a true balanced state. From this state of awareness, one interacts with the world with more clarity and balance, avoiding excessive emotional reactions to worldly situations.
This state of balance might be loosely termed "detachment," but in reality, it is neither attachment nor detachment—it is a state of deeper awareness.
We may call it attached detachment!
Hello,
I have been practicing Heartfulness for some time and have always wanted to ask this question. My question is when we clean our grossness that which has been accumulated over past years and many lives what it gets replaced with?
I am asking this question from a very rational sense which I know not a great way to approach spirituality. But this question is bothering because I want to make sure that when I clean it is done efficiently. So once we clean out grossness what it gets replaced with or else it will get filled up with different kinds of grossness?
https://www.reddit.com/r/heartfulness/comments/1l2wbvq/comment/mvws3u2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Good question. Let’s explore the science behind it.
The idea of gaining impressions isn’t new. It’s explained in the Bhagavad Gita and the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, and Swami Vivekananda often spoke about it in his talks.
When you drop a stone into a calm pond, ripples form on the surface. Similarly, every action we take creates ripples—or vibrations—on the surface of our consciousness. Once these vibrations settle, what remains is an impression. This is the emotional residue or memory left behind by an experience.
Repeated actions create repeated impressions. Over time, these impressions form tendencies. When these tendencies become strong and consistent, they shape our character and personality traits.
I could go further into the concept of past karmas, but I’ll save that for another time, as it requires a more detailed explanation.
Think of it this way: if you like someone and meet them again after several years, you feel happy. But if you had a bitter experience with them, you might not even like seeing them. That emotional response is the result of a deep impression left on your consciousness.
This memory is known as Chitta—the storehouse of impressions in the consciousness. Chit refers to pure consciousness itself.
As long as we are alive and interacting with the world, we cannot stop forming impressions. But Heartfulness meditation offers a solution: Cleaning Method.
Our mind creates impressions, and the same mind can help remove them.
Let’s understand this a bit more technically.
Our mind naturally thinks in terms of the body—within space and time. So when we say "inner consciousness," we often assume it’s located somewhere inside the body. When we say "outer," we think of something beyond the body.
Because of this, the impressions on our consciousness are perceived as spread throughout our entire body. During the cleaning process, the mind visualizes these impressions being removed from the whole body system and released into the external, universal consciousness.
Once they dissolve into the universal consciousness, they take on its nature. What fills the space left behind? Pure divine consciousness.
This lightens us from the burden of impressions—which have been silently shaping our perceptions and personality all along.
I am meditating for 2 years regularly and I came across the concept of surrendering while doing meditation. So can anybody explain it properly and how to do it and also is it really important to surrender or one can actually skip that part?
Answer:
It’s interesting how different spiritual traditions speak about surrender, each offering its own interpretation. Yet, surrender is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts in both religion and spirituality.
This raises a few important questions:
Why surrender? What is its purpose? What is the end result? And most importantly, how does one actually surrender?
Life is all about experiences. Each person goes through a unique journey of ups and downs, which shapes their individuality. But at our core, beyond all these experiences, we are the same. We share the same essential being.
When we meditate, we begin to connect with this core essence — the universal, all-knowing, and all-powerful Purusha (the true self). Over time, through regular meditation, our consciousness begins to identify more with this inner self.
But the outer identity — what we often refer to as the ego — resists this deeper connection. Overcoming this resistance is the process we call surrender.
The purpose of surrender, then, is to develop oneness with our true, inner essence.
However, surrender cannot be achieved through superficial beliefs, imagined techniques, or mere intention. Three essential elements are required:
Regular meditation practice – With consistency, the inner self slowly begins to reveal itself. As this unfolds we are able connect with that feeling. This connection is called constant Remembrance. Nirantar Smaran.
Cleansing impressions – Life experiences leave behind impressions, or emotional residues, from this and past lives. These impressions distort our perception of the true self. Letting go of them is crucial.
Cultivating a prayerful and humble mindset – A heart full of humility and devotion naturally aligns with the deeper self.
When these three aspects come together, our consciousness becomes refined. At this point, resisting forces and external distractions fall away effortlessly — and surrender happens naturally.
A truly meditative mind is already in a state of surrender. No extra effort is needed. Surrender becomes not something we do, but something we are.
Question: I do wanna seek your advice on refining my relationship with expectations in general. For instance when I meditate since years I’ve felt sensations at my points which is one aspect of spiritual experiences, and i really want them because they tell me that something’s happening. When i try to go deeper without any physical sensation involved i end up falling asleep or going to yoganidra and I don’t like the feeling because i like consciously enjoying my meditation
SK: If you’ll allow me to be candid and transparent, I’d like to clarify a few aspects regarding sensations and certain experiences.
In American football, players often soak in ice-filled tubs after games because their muscles take a serious beating — the game is extremely physically demanding. Now, consider someone suffering from dengue fever, goes to a football player and says “Even my muscles are aching like yours,” can the two experiences really be compared?
To me talking about sensations, experiences, Yoga Nidra, and so on are NOT markers of progress. Most sensations and experiences are simply mental projections. Often, we unconsciously seek such experiences just to validate our meditation. But this, I believe, is one of the biggest obstacles in meditation — the expectation of some experience.
True meditation is about patiently waiting for the divine essence to unfold within us. The instructions in Heartfulness Meditation are simple and clear: we meditate with the idea of divine presence in the heart, and wait. In this waiting, a natural shift in our state of consciousness begins to occur. We connect with that subtle feeling and, after meditation, try to carry that connection forward into our day. Over time, this connection refines and deepens.
That’s all there is to it.
All the inner shifts in consciousness help propel our spiritual journey through the chakras or points. A mere sensation is not a true indicator of this inner journey.
Question: I also have an amount of resentment towards the gurus and daaji because i emailed daaji at a time when i was confused and he didn’t respond which increased my resentment because i was jealous that he got to have a one on one relationship with babuji and Chariji both but won’t give me a very troubled person with a strong craving the attention that I’m seeking. even though i genuinely recognise all the gurus values and love them equally, i couldn’t bother less about their physical manifestations and i do love daaji as a best friend and guru i just want to address my human jealousy to grow and expand because it shouldn’t hold me back.
SK:
You expressed what most abhyasis go through. But let me give you a different perspective to this …*
A disciple who had been following a Sufi master for just a month was once approached by a fellow disciple, who asked, “You look very disappointed. What’s troubling you?”
The first disciple replied, “I’m always around the Master, trying to get his attention, but he doesn’t seem to care about me.”
The second disciple responded, “I’ve been in my Guru’s service for 15 years, sincerely following all the instructions. One day, he simply glanced at me — and in that moment, I felt a deep jolt in my heart. It brought about a total transformation.”
The role of a disciple is to practice sincerely and stay prepared. You never know when the Master’s Grace will descend.
Often, abhyasis try hard to get the Master’s attention — and yes, he may speak to many people. But the real question is: Are we truly ready for that transformative moment when it comes?
Spirituality is essentially about waiting. Meditation is about waiting and preparing. All great Masters did the same. They didn’t become Masters just by being physically close to their Gurus — they prepared themselves deeply.
Please reflect on this.