Bye Bye from Australia

This is just a beginning….12 years of Spiritual Exile

All of us are on spiritual path of self-realisation. Once we choose this path we have to keep walking as turning back is unlikely. It is not an easy task as it sucks the life out of you. Some stages are challenging than the others. I embarked on this journey around 2009. Before that my practice was basic just lighting a lamp every evening  in a little puja room and on Thursday offering bhog  to Swami Maharaj. However, before 2009 every morning I used be awakened by Swami’s appearance in dream of which I never bothered to find out any meaning. Then Mukund kaka came in my life which began my real spiritual practice encompassing agnihotra, rudra abhishekh and Naamjaap meditation. Then onwards many sincere seekers such as Rucha, Vandana, Nirupa, Shefali, Puru and Deepak came into my life. Each one of them was at different level of spiritual maturity.

On this spiritual path,  I have realised one has to have open mind and be unbiased of different traditions. During this journey, Swami Maharaj will bring into your life people from different traditions who will try to teach you something new. Please be open to any new learning that you come across as it is good for your progress. Do not be stubborn with the idea that such and such medium or guide is my only learning source  and rest I don’t care.

We all are fortunate to have  Mukund Kaka  as our guide, he is the strength  of our practice. But there will be others too who will enhance your learning. Just like in a school or college situation you have to study languages, mathematics, sciences, history-geography to qualify for year 10 or 12 exams. Similarly to reach self- realisation these encounters with various experts adept in different areas is extremely important. All these experiences are necessary  for  all round development of our mind. Believe me it will not take you away from Swami, on the contrary, it will bring you closer to Him.

On my spiritual path, Mukundada Kaka laid the foundation stone, then I met Chattre Maushi (householder yet immersed in complete devotion from her I learnt many valuable things),  Didier Hector and Ware Kaka (both Kriya yogis), Lisa  (Clairvoyant of kabala tradition), Rene Morlet(Buddhist yogi), Dr. Dhekne (Swami Bhakt), Kalibaba( Aghori kali Bhakt), Hugh Gurney (Shakitpath and Shaivism scholar),  Aai Aarolkar (Devi Bhakt) and my dear friend Nirupa who is spiritually very mature who guided me during difficult moments, now it is Latkar Kaka(Swami Sanchar). All these people came from different traditions of spirituality. They taught me different ways. All this learning was necessary. From the Kriya yogis, I learnt the Omkar Sadhana of Mahaavtar Babaji which benefitted the chakras in the body, kali baba taught me the importance of Devi upsana as Devi is Shakti Swaroop, her worship as kula devata or mahamaya is necessary as she gives fuel to the fire of Sadhana. Although Swami has shown Devi roop, He has asked us to not ignore the importance of Kula Devata. In our Rudra practice we do Shree Sukta as well because the highest union is that of Shiva and Shakti. Then the Buddhists have a very advanced practice which teaches us to live in present with mindfulness meditation. Lisa acted as a medium and channelled my energies in right direction.  Hugh Gurney a friend I met in Melbourne by chance at a temple had Shaktipath experience once in my house when he was visiting us. He looked at Swami’s photo and Swami gave him Shaktipath through His eyes. From him I learnt mysteries of Shaktipath and Kashmiri Shaivism. Now I am moving back to India to my home to begin a new life. I am not the same person who left India 12 years ago. This does not mean and please do not misunderstand me I have not realised the self as yet. I am nowhere near there as I am still troubled by fluctuating chitta-vrittis. It is just a beginning. It is long way it might take a few more births but at least it has started.

So my friends persevere hard, I am sure some of you must be already very advance experiencing more delightful things,  nevertheless, keep making progress on the path you have chosen. All these varieties will enrich your life and bring you closer to our beloved Swami Maharaj……

Silencing the monkey of mind 4

Om Shree Swami Samarth

 

Silencing the monkey of mind 4 (Please refer to other blogs in the series to understand the context of this one)

Svadhyaya is the fourth Niyama or discipline of the yogic path.  Svadhyaya means self-study but this translation does not give the real depth of its meaning. In true sense Svadhyaya is study of consciousness. In the western context self-study is equivalent to psychoanalysis which encompasses study of thought, feeling, behaviour etc. However, Svadhyaya has nothing to do with our external personality of being ABC or XYZ  or being introvert or extrovert, angry or shy. On the contrary, Svadhyaya leads us to deep introspection on mysteries such who we are? Of what  importance is our existence? Or why are we here?

As we progress to this level this element of Svadhyaya   connects us to the inner sheath of our self. We delve deeper beyond our existence of being ABC or XYZ into our higher self which layman’s word is also God. God is nothing but our shinning inner self. This can be achieved by meditation. Nevertheless, to be successful at this level we need to be accomplished sadhaks of Saucha, Santosha and Tapas (refer other blogs for these Niyamas). Arduous training and habits of mind   will allow us to be thought free to connect to who we really are.

 

Thus, to reach to our consciousness we have to meditate. The goal of meditation is to connect   to our inner self, to dive deeper and deeper into our inner world which is full of bliss unattainable in the external world. To reach this bliss however, we have to have the ability to calm and silence the thought waves of our mind. Once all thoughts are banished, the road to see the inner light is clear. As long as thoughts  keep resurfacing  this path will be foggy preventing us to see  our clear self. But once the agitations of the mind are silenced, the fog will also clear and then unlimited joy follows. This inner contact is also called realisation of who we are.

Although, this seems easy but in reality is extremely difficult. Our mind indulges in thinking, tempting us to wander from one pleasure to another  but the ultimate pleasure is never found. Delight is found only when we can direct our mind to our inner self.

There are different pathways to do  Svadhyaya. These steps can be helpful

1. Learning a few yoga stretches from a local yoga centre will be beneficial as this will enable the body to maintain correct posture without any discomfort during meditation
2. Pranayama or breathing exercises are good way to calm the thought waves of mind. Routine of breathing in four counts and breathing out eight counts in slow and gentle manner, focusing on the breath could become a part of this process. Focusing on our breath allows us to create awareness of our body in turn calming the ongoing thought processes of our mind. If this practice is established, there will be moments when a stage of thoughtlessness arrives. Once this happens we can start connecting to our consciousness.

Nonetheless, the process of establishing inner connection can be fast tracked if mantra jaap meditation is followed along with every in-breath  and  out-breath. Mantra or chant has an amazing energy to retain our focus and dissolve the thought waves. Mantra can be from a scripture of any religion or even some self-affirmation phrases such I am the higher self or I am that self… works well.

 

 

For those on the path of Swami seva can use  OM Shree Swami Samarth  which  is extremely effective but divine Names of other faiths  are equally potent.

The goal is not which  divine name  to chant, the goal is silencing the monkey of our mind which leads us to distress, war, crimes, hatred, jealousy and vices of all kinds.

Living Link

Shri Sharad Lathkar from Aurangabad is one the living links with Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj. He is such an advanced yogi that Swami Samarth uses him as his medium to pass on knowledge to uplift the human consciousness. Click on the link below and listen to Akkalkot Swami's real voice in Hindi during once such Sanchar or Trance like discourse when Lathkar kaka was used as a medium. Hope all you listeners benefit from this and find the path of self realization through this
"हम गया नहीं, जिन्दा हैं । "
या श्री स्वामी समर्थांनी दिलेल्या वचनाचा प्रत्यय आणणारी ही अत्यर्क घटना आहे.
श्री स्वामी समर्थ यांनी त्यांच्या अनेक भक्तांवर कृपा केली आहे आणि गेले ८०० वर्षे करत आहेत. त्यांचे असे की भक्त आहेत कि ज्यांना living link म्हणता येईल. ते त्यांच्यातर्फे, आपल्या भक्तांना मार्गदर्शन करत असतात. श्री शरद लाठकर यांच्या मध्ये श्री स्वामींचा संचार होतो आणि त्यांचा आवाज बदलतो.
या अगम्य अशा लीलेमध्ये, श्री स्वामी समर्थांनी दिलेला संदेश त्यांच्याच आवाजात ऐकण्याची सुवर्ण संधी आपल्याला मिळाली आहे. श्री स्वामी शुद्ध हिंदी मध्ये बोलतात. त्या संदेष्याचे रेकॉर्डिंग खालील ठिकाणी ऐकता येईल.
हा महत्वाचा संदेश ऎकताना, एका जागेवर बसून शांत चित्ताने, मनामध्ये कुठलाही विकल्प न ठेवता ऎकावे, एवढे आपण करू शकतो.
आपल्यला आवडले तर जरूर आपल्या मित्र मंडळींना पाठवायला विसरू नका कारण याचे प्रसारण सर्वाना व्हावे असा श्री स्वामी समर्थांचा खूद्द आदेश आहे.
http://swamisamarthaspeaks-usa.org/play-audio-list.html?file=http://swamisamarthaspeaks-usa.org/message/swamimessage28-apr-2013.mp3&img=img/swami-speaks.png

A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot by Dr. Mukund Hanumante has a French version

Chers lecteurs français je vous présente Le Grand Siddha du dix-neuvième siècle: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj d’Akkalkot. Profitez-vous de cette chance de comprendre la philosophie et l’enseignement d’Akkalkot Baba. C'est une traduction d'un livre anglais, "A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot". Shri Swami Samarth est le seul Maître Divin qui vous mènera vers la voie intérieure du soi…… Vénérez-Lui avec une foi inébranable et  un sentiment sans réserve.

Tous les chercheurs seraient reconnaissants de cette célèbre bénédiction de Shri Swami Samarth :

Ne craignez rien, Je suis toujours avec vous !

«Absorbez-vous dans le doux chant du nom de Shri Swami Samarth et demandez sa grâce. Avec Sa dévotion votre vie sera complètement transformée et un jour Il se matérialisera dans Sa forme radiante dorée devant vous ». (Shakatai Agate)

Ce livre est disponible sur les sites Amazon, google play, itunes, kobo comme un livre électronique.

French readers will now have an opportunity to understand the philosophy and teaching of our beloved Akkalkot Maharaj in French language. I am indebted to Swami Maharaj to give me this opportunity to make his Divine Leelas accessible to wide audience. In today's troubled time only Swami Maharaj is our solace. He can lead the whole humanity to peace and connect every human to his inner self. Please spread the word dear seekers, let everyone benefit and experience inner connectednes. This book is available as e.book on Amazon, itunes, kobo and google plus.

shree swami samarth: Silencing the monkey of Mind 3 : Tapas or Austerit...

shree swami samarth: Silencing the monkey of Mind 3 : Tapas or Austerit...: Tapas or Austerity   Shiva in the Circle of Fire also known as Natraja   The next Niyama to follow Saucha (clean...

Silencing the monkey of Mind 3 : Tapas or Austerity

Tapas or Austerity

 

Shiva in the Circle of Fire also known as Natraja

 

The next Niyama to follow Saucha (cleanliness) and Santosha (contentment) (check the previous blogs) is Tapas or Austerity. Now austerity in strict sense is often interpreted as strict religious practices of chanting, fasting, rituals, observation of silence etc. The body is passed through severe tests to withstand hardships in order to reach the ultimate goal of salvation or nirvana. Nevertheless, the physical hardships do not necessarily silence the monkey of our mind. Our mind is so fickle that it reverts back to thinking unnecessarily despite severe austerities inflicted on the body. So  tapas is beyond physical hardship, it is most importantly training of mind to still.

Tapas means to set habits of mind, to establish a mind culture so that it behaves and stills itself. It has to be obviously practised in a structured way to show the desired results. Just the way we train children to adapt to socially acceptable behaviour through education and nurture, Tapas is a mental discipline of teaching mind to stop thinking and to connect to our inner self.

We are told if you fast on a particular day of the month or on a particular occasion our prayers will be fulfilled. Our rational mind wonders how fasting will lead to fulfilment.  A practical, rational and modern approach to understand this process is to train our mind through tapas or austerities to fulfil our desires.  How is this done then?

In our daily life, we always have a burning desire to achieve something or to possess something. At some point in life women always dream to have lots of diamond jewellery or all clothes and bags made by Chanel. Men on the other hand, want to have a Ferrari or Jaguar. We can buy some diamonds but we cannot always buy all new high fashion from Chanel or our dream wheels.

Positive thinking principles teach us nothing is impossible if there is internal fire or a burning desire to achieve or possess something. In reality we might not get a Jaguar or Ferrari  which such cravings but we will able to reach some level of financial success through our intense desires. Tapas is all about these burning desire. To direct tapas into our inner self is an art. We tend to ignore the tremendous volcanic energy present in our inner self. Our mind so preoccupied with thoughts that we fail to discover the potential of our inner self which is often covered with clouds. Tapas teaches us to move the clouds of obscurity covering our inner self and make it shine brightly like the sun.

In meditation you have enter into the deep recesses of your mind and nurture it with positive affirmation of your goals or desires, some examples could be  “ I can do it” or I am the best person for this job”, or “ I am the happiest man”, “ I am most successful person in this industry”, “ I can buy this”, “I will own biggest shopping mall in the town”  Let these affirmations seep in every cell, every part of your body to such an extent that one day your thoughts and feelings will merge. That is the moment when your inner self will be connected to you, that spark of awakening will enable you to conquer the world.

Reflect and think about moments when your thoughts and feelings were one. They could be simple ones like getting the dream job you wanted which made you feel out of this world with happiness or when you were in love and  your beloved accepted your proposition or you won an award or recognition for something you worked hard. Remember the feelings on such occasion or some other occasions when you were thinking and you got what you wanted. That is the merger of thought and feeling, which is also the  moment when you are connected to your inner self. It is important to understand this concept only then you will be mindful of the awakening taking place.

This practise has to be embedded into your life style keeping into mind the previous steps of Niyama (saucha and santosha), so that tapas is in sync and in coherence with the previous steps. It is not so easy said and done. This requires perseverance as there is no short cut. Practising tapas is not like making two minute noddles. It requires constant training of mind. Mind has to be taught again and again to look inside to find your inner self. This search is also a search of divinity. Your inner self is your God who will guide you to climb the ladder of success material or spiritual. Not to forget this happens when there is heartfelt desire such as I want it at any cost.

We are familiar with the image of Shiva as Natraja, Shiva dancing in the circle of fire. This symbolism is interesting.  Circle is wholeness and fire is purification.  Purification here is the purification of mind to reach the wholeness of our self. The  tandav or the dance of Shiva also symbolizes the sufferings, disappointments, failures  we have to confront in life which are like hot  fire,  we have to pave our way through them, conquer them. Just because we suffer loss of a family member, lose money, lose job etc. we cannot stop living, we have to face it and find a way out in the circle of fire.

Similarly, dancing in the circle of fire was not easy for Shiva, the fire was hot and it was burning. His forehead sweated with heat. Shiva here is none other but an individual who keeps dancing to achieve the wholeness of his inner self. Like the circle of fire we are trapped in pain and suffering in our life, we confront downfall, misery, loss.   Practice of tapas will equip us to face trying times and emerge triumphant. It will teach us who we are and what our real identity is.

In our life we cannot get anywhere without tapas. Tapas will transform your life in harmony with your inner self which will manifest into living in harmony with nature and environment. You will have better skills to deal with competition, aggression, sorrow and suffering at work and home.

Meditative technics which could help:

1.    Sit down in calm relaxed position on a mat facing north-east.

2.    Burn incense or candles to create a soothing atmosphere

3.    Close your eyes and turn the vision inside. Breathe in and breathe out telling yourself your goal in life “I am the most successful person in this universe” or  “I have everything that life needs”. Breathe in these affirmations and breathe out these affirmations. Time for 10 minutes and do it with focus. Each time you say this statement make sure it penetrates every part of your body, every cell of your body.

4.    Meditate for 20 minutes focusing on your breath. Be mindful of every rise and fall of your abdomen with each breath. If other thoughts invade your mind, push them aside and concentrate again on rise and fall of your breathe in your abdomen.

5.    Keep siting in silence and peace feeling your inner self and just breathing in and breathing out saying to your “I am that” (which means I am the Absolute self)

For believers each in breath and out breath say Om Shri Swami Samarth or Om Namah Shivah

For non-believers for each in breath and out breath say I am the Absolute self or I am that.

 Niharicca

My sincere prayers that Swami Maharaj takes you to your inner self.

References:

1.    Image:http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collectiononline/search/39328

2.    Swami Shankaranda,2003 in Consciousness is Everything: Yoga of Kashmir Shaivaism. Shaktipat press.

3.    http://yogatherapies.com.au/my-musings/tapas-the-internal-fire/

 

Silencing the Monkey of Mind 2

Silencing the Monkey of Mind 2

 

Santosha or contentment

Once you have cleansed your thought process by Saucha or purity, the second big Niyama or Discipline is Santosha or Contentment. This is hardest to achieve and sometimes impossible. How does one define contentment? It is a state when mind is happy. The state of happiness is different for every individual. For a child a lolly or a toy can lead to contentment, for people in love, a glance of their lover could lead to contentment, for someone trying to immigrate overseas the arrival of their visa to foreign land could lead to this state, for a shopkeeper, increase in  sale of his products would lead to contentment. Therefore, it is evident that contentment is not same for everyone. It is also important to note that one cannot be content in face of death of loved family member, in poverty, in a diseased state or in loss of job.

Man is on constant search of contentment or happiness and unfortunately that happiness eludes him. He tries to find happiness by getting a good job, a big house, travelling overseas for holidays, having buying power to buy branded stuff etc. Unfortunately, these materialistic toys do not give everlasting contentment. In spite of having a house, a car, branded goods, hefty bank balance and what not one still feels there is something lacking and there is need for more. Thus, the search is endless which can lead to a diseased state of body as our mind is constantly preoccupied to buy happiness in form of tangible objects.

Patanjali in his yoga sutra says we attach ourselves to pleasures  which makes us search for happiness in pleasure and are forever deceived. He says “happiness is a basic need of human being yet it is not available easily”. Our search for happiness is like the Musk deer. This animal in the Himalayan region emits a glandular substance which has beautiful fragrance. However, the musk deer runs everywhere looking for the source of fragrance not knowing that it comes from his own body. Our craving for happiness is similar to a musk deer. We try to find happiness in objects of desire but in vain they do not give us any contentment, we keep buying things, worrying about what we do not have only to be deluded.

So the solution is to turn this search inwards. This can happen only with meditation.  For doing meditation one does not have to give up worldly life. We can perfectly keep doing what we are doing but try to find some time at the beginning of the day or  the end of the day to sit down in quietude, in loneliness and turn our vision inwards. It is a simple practice, it is also achievable but it requires perseverance. Once you taste the nectar of connecting to your inner self it is so intoxicating that you will like to spend more and more time in solitude. However, to bring oneself to do this practice is a real challenge. Nevertheless, if your goal in life is to be content or be happy than you will definitely give this a serious thinking. A few simple steps would help:

Early morning is the best time but these days we are late risers so night time is also not bad.

•  A 2 hours gap after dinner is always recommended before meditation.
• Sit down on a mat in a quiet place, turn off the TV, phone, music etc
• Light a lamp (tea light or oil lamp).
• Burn some incense
• If you believe in God have a picture of your divinity in front of you
• Close your eyes and surrender yourself to God or to your higher self before promising to start a fitness regime for your mind
• Breathe in to the count of four and breathe out to the count of eight (for believers Inhale saying Om and Exhale saying Shri Swami Samarth in the mind) for 10 times.
• Focus your attention on your heart chakra and feel the rise and fall of your tummy with your breathing process or keep chanting Om Shri Swami Samarth with same rhythm of your breathing.
• Sit for 15 minutes and come out refreshed.

Mind you miracles will not happen in one day. Keep doing the practise regularly without fail. Give more time on the weekends. If on the weekends there are social commitments, take some time out before these commitments and go refreshed for the party. Remember in life we have to strive hard for everything. To train your mind to look inward in also one such task that requires consistent practice.

Over the period of time the some noticeable changes would be:

• control over anger
• abandonment of consumerism and preference for simple life
• happiness in whatever we possess or whatever situation life puts us in, we  will always find courage
• ability to think clearly and make better decisions.

 It does not cost any money to invest in meditation, in fact you will see that happiness you tried to find spending hundreds  of dollars just comes free of cost if you turn that pursuit inwards.

May Shree Swami Samarth give you success in your endeavour to find everlasting happiness.

 

References:

1. Byrant, Edwin. 2009, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, North Point Press, New York
2. http://findyourmiddleground.com/tag/story-of-the-musk-deer/.
3. http://satsang-foundation.org/?page_id=80