Fearlessly I will sing...

Nirbhay Nirgun Gun re Gavunga...

Kabir is a fabulous teacher. He chooses such apt words and emotions to make us understand the complex of complex things. He explains how simple the spiritual journey is.

Saint Kabir weaving chadar...

In his one of the most mystic bhajans (Nirguni Bhajan) Nirbhay Nirgun Gun re Gavunga... Kabir says "O lord, I will sing your glory fearlessly. I will be fearless in singing your attributes O' the one without attributes (formless, colorless, odorless, can not be heard, tasted with tongue or be touched).

Spiritual journey is actually an inquiry into one's own existence. its an inquiry into existence and non-existence and the relationship between these two. Its realizing true existence. An inquiry has to be open without any fear in mind about the ability or outcome. So being fearless is the first step in the path of realization. We are always under the influence of some or other fear. The fear is an outcome of either illusion or weakness to understand and tackle the situation. Illusion can be overcome by acquiring knowledge while weakness can be overcome by acquiring strength. Fearlessness is prerequisite as well as an outcome of spiritual quest.

Hence, Kabir says be fearless to know god.

Once you are 'fearless' then further journey is simple. Merging with that ultimate "oneness' is easy. There are multiple ways, methods, techniques to achieve it. Sunk yourself into Bhakti and you are there. Acquire the pure knowledge and you are there. Do the karma without desire for the fruits from it and you are there...

Here Kabir explains about the path of Kundalini Yoga to reach the Truth.

"Mula Kamal Drudh Aasan Bandhu Ji Ulti Pawan Chadhaunga"

Which means I will sit firm with my back straight. Muladhar the base chakra is the first point for prana to travel upwards. Hence I will be firm in my sitting lotus posture (in padmasana) and then will pull the prana upwards from muladhara.

"Man Mamata ko dur karau ji pancho tatt milavunga"

Which means all the desires, affection arising in my mind, I will control them with efforts and will merge myself in all the five elements seamlessly. So the identity crisis is over. You feel part of a greater scheme. You experience the greater scheme. The ultimate one.

"Ingala Pingala Sukhaman naadi ji Tirveni pe ho nahavunga"

In my technique of pulling prana upwards, I will use ingala, Pingala and Sushumna naadi.I will enjoy the bliss where all these confluence.Ingala is the left naadi also called at Chandra Naadi. Pingala is the right naadi also known as surya Naadi. Sushumna is the central nadi around which the two other naadis intertwine.

"Panch Pacchiso pakad mangavu ji ek hi doh lagavunga"

Though the above few steps look simple, they require great understanding and effort in the beginning to master them. Hence Kabir says I will try it many times to achieve the result. And there will be one ultimate effort where I will experience the magic of upward movement of prana and meeting the confluence.

"Shunya Shikhar par anahat baje ji raag chattis sunavunga"

When I achieve this, I reach the summit point. The shunya shikhar. The point where there is nothing beyond or there is nothing within. That ultimate emptiness, void. At this point where I am slefless. I am the wider self My existence is so cosmic, so complete with knowledge, which I will continuously enjoy.

"Kahat Kabir Suno Bhai Saadho, jeet nishan ghuravunga"

Kabir says that this is the ultimate victory over desirous mind and I will wave the flag of victory from this summit point.

Wow Kabir - The Simple Buddha!


Samarth Yogi Arwind, Rishikesh

Who Am I?

During the recent travel from New Delhi to Haridwar in the train, a gentleman from Bhuvaneshwar, Odisha asked me a question, “ Who suffers? Whatever suffering happens, it is experienced by whom? Is it our body, our mind, our Atma or by the divine of which we are part of?”

Such precise question from a so called semi-literate person was the best trigger for a beautiful conversation that followed upon. Ultimately the Vedantic  take on suffering (Hey Dukkha) and its experience and the measures or experience of the ‘state of non-suffering’ (Haanopaay) was discussed. What was impressive was the immense knowledge of such complex subject by this group of people from rural Odisha.

All these questions ultimately led to the famous quest we all subject ourselves to: 

Who am I?

In a day to day life, chat on internet, registration on any website / forum, filing a complaint in the office, serious debate about religion, international forums and so on. This question of establishing ones identity comes up. It starts from name, then surname, religion, caste, geography, state, nation, city, ethnic group, body type, education, profession so on and on. The list is unending. In the world of ‘Naam-Roop’ (the world that is seen and experienced) these constant engagements with the ones own identity is a continuous exercise in today’s world. This exercise of identifying with something itself gives rise to confusion, creates dilemma and takes the quest to the further level: Who really am I?

Identifying with something is a natural human tendency. I think some identities originate with the ‘sense of ego’. For example, an artiste starts considering himself larger than life or very special than others. It probably is reflection of his overgrown ego.

Some identities originate from the social compulsions/norms. Husband or wife of somebody obviously expects you to mould you in some social sanctions which approve you to be right or wrong. As a spouse you have a code of conduct to abide by. And in identifying with this role, one keeps himself / herself busy. When the role is demanding and encroaches upon personal wishes / ambitions then the ‘conflict’ starts. Then one goes into identity crisis. This crisis takes a toll in the form of end of that role or personal damage to an individual playing that role.

Religious identity is something that really keeps big population of the world engaged. People want to identify with a religion. A group following similar lifestyle. The interesting fact about this identity is it comes with birth. Very few in their lifetime, make it a matter of choice. Being born with some religious identity brings some sense of security / and insecurity to one. And both these feelings keep seriously engaged to the one who seriously identifies with a religious identity.

This ‘identity business’ with something, that our senses experience is a major determining factor of the worldly affairs. Some identify with something that is beyond senses. Something that is invisible, intangible still its authority can be experienced. And we hear terms like ‘one love’, 'peace', 'divine', 'Brahman' etc.

What to identify with, certainly has to do with ones intellectual, emotional, spiritual evolution. Some may find it easy to live with a religious identity as it suits his/her level of evolution. Some like to identify as ‘modern’ as it gives some sort of mileage / satisfaction to them. Not everybody in the world will understand or identify with the ‘Brahman’. Some chose identities, some follow identities they are born with, some don’t care about identities those have sanction. Some intentionally try to break away from given identities. 

Break Away to Pure Consciousness

In this world today, there are many identities and multiple sources keep adding. Also the vast, complex universal phenomenon creates conflict among identities. Many of my friends say they are not happy with the religion they are born in. Or with the caste they are born with or the economic situation to they identify with. I think these are superficial identities and if given sanction to, they will hardly give the experience of ultimate peace.

Then what identity will bring that peace?

It’s un-identifying!

Identity is a ‘conditioning’. And any conditioning brings its weight with it. So it brings stress or joy. Positive or negative conditioning. Best way to deal with this stress is to un-identify. Just not molding into something that adds layers of illusion on the core.

Any dialogue is a good opportunity to recognize what one identifies oneself with.

Dialogue with the self!

The Supreme Consciousness

Adi shankaracharya was once traveling in the Dakshin Bharat (South India). He reached a place Shri Veli. He met a dumb boy there. His name was Hastamalak.

Shri Adi Shankaracharya asked this boy, ‘O’ boy, who are you? From where are you coming? Where are you going? Who are your parents? Etc. All those questions which we face often.

Hastamalak replied,

“I am neither human, God, yaksha, brahmin, kshatriya,vaisya, sudra, brahmachari, householder, forest-dweller, nor sannyasi; but I am pure awareness alone. I am the eternal, single, conscious Self, reflected in various intellects, just as the sun is reflected on the surface of various sheets of water.”

I think this is a beautiful identity to live with. Pure awareness.

Or let's say it is a non-identity.

Let’s try to live with one such. Or without!

Shubham Bhavatu!

Samarth Yogi Arwind, Rishikesh

(Image Courtesy:  - Eric Pepin, psychedelic adventure)

Ban on Bhagavad Gita? Why?

The controversy of ban of Shreemad Bhagavad Gita is uncalled for. In Siberia someone has filed a case in the court of law that the holy scripture should be banned as the local translation of it contains 'extremist views'.

For me, the perceived notion of extremist element in the Shreemad Bhagvad Gita, is fighting agains one's own evils. If that is an extremism then it is good for one's own sake. Isn't it?

I would like to put light on what Shreemad Bhagavad Gita means to me.

For me Shreemad Bhagavad Gita is a complete code to lead successful life from an illusion to light. This is such a incredible universal text that every individual born in any religious body - so called Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jew or any can follow the preaching of Gita and succeed the goal of self realization. Hence Gita is a guide of life for every single individual on the Earth.

Shri Krishna and Arjuna in the Kurukshetra - Shreemad Bhagvad Gita

We must understand that with the flow of time, with the change in lifestyle, it became difficult to learn Vedas (Ultimate Source of Knowledge) for everybody. As it used to happen ancient times. So the sages interpreted them to suit to the changing times and three texts got importance as 'guides of life' which were, Upnishads, Brahmasutra and Shreemad Bhagvad Gita which is called as Prasthan Trayee. Prasthan Trayee literally means the three that lead to successful departure. i.e. successful departure of the soul from human body after self realization. So study of all these three help in liberation of the soul.

We must understand that Shreemad Bhagvad Gita is not a religious text on the basis of definition of modern religion. Modern religion is more a political manifestation to group and regroup people. Shreemad Bhagvad Gita has wider role to play. It speaks of cosmic law. The law of nature. The eternal law. The divine law. This law is all prevalent irrespective of changing times and situations. Hence Shreemad Bhagvad Gita is the guide to know and follow the law of eternal.

Shreemad Bhagvad Gita speaks of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga etc. All these are the means of self-realization. The god himself is communicating these means to his creation. Hence Shreemad Bhagvad Gita is the communication from the God, the divine itself.

Shreemad Bhagvad Gita by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Another argument which is normally made against Shreemad Bhagvad Gita is that it speaks of caste system. Any intelligent researcher of Shreemad Bhagvad Gita will agree that it does not support the caste system based on birth. It only mentions the division on the basis of skills and karma one carries. Such division we find in every sphere of life.

One single verse of Shreemad Bhagvad Gita, 'Karmanyevadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana' (Karma is my right and not the fruits from it) if followed faithfully, the whole world will become stress-free.

From Mahatma Gandhi to Albert Einstein, the World's great thinkers have vouched by the supremacy of Shreemad Bhagavad Gita. The message of 'rise, unite and fight' from Shreemad Bhagavad Gita is given by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.  Shreemad Bhagavad Gita simply gives the message of fight against adharma for the establishment of 'dharma' - the cosmic law.

With these facts about Shreemad Bhagvad Gita, the controversy about it is creation of some unsettled mind. When the world is going through the difficult phase today, teachings from Shreemad Bhagvad Gita is the solution for every single problem. Its the best medicine to cure whole world today.

The beauty about Shreemad Bhagvad Gita is one can interpret is as per his / her own situation and find a right solution for his problem. Such universal applicability of Shreemad Bhagvad Gita in itself underlines the eternal value it represents.

When the divisive forces in the world are falling apart one by one. When the layers of illusion are tearing away fast as a divine course, when the rays of light are reaching uninterrupted to the souls, Shreemad Bhagvad Gita has played important role in this awakening. Shreemad Bhagvad Gita has become popular text of life for billions on this planet.

If this movement of awakening has to be strengthened for the better sake of the universe, Shreemad Bhagvad Gita needs to be taught to every one. Not banned.

What needs to be banned is the 'systems of illusion', developing sense of 'one upmanship', 'increasing greed and tendency of hoarding', 'mechanisms that give rise to false ego', 'divisive techniques in the name of religion, pseudo patriotism, misleading governance  that lead to misery and suffering of masses'.

Every single soul on this planet has a right to walk the path of light. Shreemad Bhagavad Gita ushers this path so flawlessly.


Shubham Bhavatu!

Samarth Yogi Arwind, Rishikesh 

Some great thinkers on Shreemad Bhagavad Gita:

1. "When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous." - Albert Einstein

2. "In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagvad-Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial." - Henry David Thoreau

3. “It is meant to lift the aspirant from the lower levels of renunciation, where objects are renounced, to the loftier heights where desires are dead, and where the yogi dwells in calm and ceaseless contemplation while his body and mind are actively employed in discharging the duties that fell to his lot in life.” - Dr. Annie Besant

4. "The Gita is one of the clearest and most comprehensive summaries of the perennial philosophy ever to have been done. Hence its enduring value, not only for the Indians, but also for all mankind.  It is perhaps the most systematic spiritual statement of the perennial philosophy." - Aldous Huxley

5. "The Bhagavad-Gita is a true scripture of the human race a living creation rather than a book, with a new message for every age and a new meaning for every civilization." ~ Shri Aurobindo 

6. "The Bhagavad-Gita has a profound influence on the spirit of mankind by its devotion to God which is manifested by actions." ~ Dr. Albert Schweizer 

7. "When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-Gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day." ~ Mahatma Gandhi 

Rig Veda (ऋग्वेद) Theory of Origin of the Universe

Recently I came across an article about research going on Higgs boson (that Gods Particle) and Indian scientist leading the effort. They are doing research on the Theory of the Origin of the Universe as mentioned in the Rig Veda.

Nasadiya Sukta of Rig Veda is the theory of origin of the universe. Here is the Sukta and its translation:

नास॑दासी॒न्नो सदा॑सीत्त॒दानीं॒ नासी॒द्रजो॒ नो व्यो॑मा प॒रो यत्।
किमाव॑रीव॒ कुह॒ कस्य॒ शर्म॒न्नम्भ॒ किमा॑सी॒द्गह॑नं गभी॒रम्॥

Then there was neither existence nor non-existence.
There was no space(air?) nor sky beyond.
What covered everything? Where? In whose protection?
Was there water, deep and bottomless?

न मृ॒त्युरा॑सीद॒मृतं॒ न तर्हि॒ न रात्र्या॒ अह्न॑ आसीत्प्रके॒तः।
आनी॑दवा॒तं स्व॒धया॒ तदेकं॒ तस्मा॑द्धा॒न्यन्न प॒रः किं च॒नास॑॥

There was neither death nor immortality then,
There was no sign of night or day.
That One breathed all by self without any outside support,
Other than that there was nothing else beyond.

तम॑ आसी॒त्तम॑सा गू॒ळ्हमग्रे॑ऽप्रके॒तं स॑लि॒लं सर्व॑मा इ॒दम्।
तु॒च्छ्येना॒भ्वपि॑हितं॒ यदासी॒त्तप॑स॒स्तन्म॑हि॒नाजा॑य॒तैक॑म्॥

There was darkness all wrapped around by darkness,
and all was water then.
The life force which was covered with void arose through
the power of heat(Tapas).

काम॒स्तदग्रे॒ सम॑वर्त॒ताधि॒ मन॑सो॒ रेत॑ प्रथ॒मं यदासी॑त्।
स॒तो बन्धु॒मस॑ति॒ निर॑विन्दन्हृ॒दि प्र॒तीष्या॑ क॒वयो॑ मनी॒षा॥

Then arose desire (Love?) which was the primal seed of mind,
Seers searching for knowledge in their heart
found existence in non-existence.

ति॒र॒श्चीनो॒ वित॑तो र॒श्मिरे॑षाम॒धः स्वि॑दा॒सी३दु॒परि॑ स्विदासी३त्।
रे॒तो॒धा आ॑सन्महि॒मान॑ आसन्स्व॒धा अ॒वस्ता॒त्प्रय॑तिः प॒रस्ता॑त्॥

A ray of light energy cut across the dark and gloomy abyss.
Was it beneath? Was it above? who can answer this?
There were bearers of seed and mighty forces,
Pushed from below and forward move above.

को अ॒द्धा वे॑द॒ क इ॒ह प्र वो॑च॒त्कुत॒ आजा॑ता॒ कुत॑ इ॒यं विसृ॑ष्टिः।
अ॒र्वाग्दे॒वा अ॒स्य वि॒सर्ज॑ने॒नाथा॒ को वे॑द॒ यत॑ आब॒भूव॑॥

Who really knows? Who can confidently declare it?
From which was it born? Who gave raise to this creation?
Even the Gods came subsequent to creation,
Then who can reveal from whence it arose?

इ॒यं विसृ॑ष्टि॒र्यत॑ आब॒भूव॒ यदि॑ वा द॒धे यदि॑ वा॒ न।
यो अ॒स्याध्य॑क्षः पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्सो अ॒ङ्ग वे॑द॒ यदि॑ वा॒ न वेद॑॥

That out of which creation arose,
whether it formed by itself or it did not,
He who oversees it from the highest heaven,
only he knows or maybe He does not.

Another Theory of the Origin of the Universe, that fascinates me is from Shiva AtharvaShirsha. Soon I will write about it.

Shubham Bhavatu!

Samarth Yogi Arwind (Rishikesh)

References: Rig Veda text, Atharva Shirsha, The Telegraph, Kolkata, desiteep

Bhajan, Stotra, Mantra sung by Yogi Arwind

Yogi Arwind on You Tube

Yogi Arwind Foundation's photostream

Yogi Arwind Foundation's photostream on Flickr.

Vyuha Lakshmi Tantra - Divine experience in Tirupati

I ended my Brazil trip abruptly. There were couple of Pujas and Satsangs were organized. I cancelled it and came back to India. My meditative experiences in the forests of Brazil were incredible. Strong divine force was calling  though.

My devotion and connection with the Lord Venkateshwara is my treasure. Such strong communication I had from him, that I was called back to India. There were other less spiritual reasons too. I changed my Emirates ticket from Dubai to Hyderabad in place of Dubai to New Delhi. It happened like so quick as if everything was preplanned.

Hyderabad to Tirupati and Tirupati to Tirumala, everything was like well organized. I used plane, trains, bus, taxi to reach the Venkateshwara Temple. Even after the long journey of 45 hours from São Paulo to Dubai to Tirupati, I was not at all tired. Got a place to stay in Aditya Birla House and was very well taken care by devotees.

It was such a blissful existence there on the divine abode of Shri Venkateshwara, that I was like floating. Importantly the Brahmostavam - annual grand festival was going on. It was really difficult to get the darshan as the VIP darshan was also closed during the festival. None of these things bothered me. I simply meditated beneath a tree in one of the beautiful quiet gardens near the temple.

It was almost evening. During the meditation, Lord Venkateshwara invited me for the darshan. I went to the temple. Through the special Darshan Que, I reached the sanctum sanatorium of the temple in 45 minutes.

The moment I stood before the beautiful, smiling, richly ornamented, idol of the god, it was a celestial hug that I experienced. I lost my sense of existence. I was merged completely. There was no I. All light. After few seconds / minutes / tens of minutes... I don't know... I was back to the senses. I was about to collapse. A temple priest was holding me for support.
There was quite a crowd around. I did not feel a single person around during this experience.

I managed to walk slowly out of the temple. Had the darshan of Bakula Devi. Had the teerth from the priests. I prostrated before the Vaikunth Dwaram. I sat on a platform near the Vaikunth Dwaram and started my dhyan. This was almost continuation of the earlier experience. The meditation was quite powerful. Communicative. The lord himself communicated me to go to the place where I was meditating before - in the garden.

It was quite dark out there. It was a Friday night. The moment I reached the spot of meditation, an old aged sadhu / brahmin / yati  was waiting for me there. The moment I reached there the old man hugged me close. He was wearing the same Namam on his forehead. He slowly moved his hand on my back. Patted me. His eyes were out of this world!

He said, " I am Venkatesha. I invited you here to give you some important knowledge. Listen to this technique I explain to you in your ears. This Tantra is guhya (highly secretive) and has to be followed with utmost secrecy. Please follow this with faith and respect for welfare of the world. Not for own benefits." He explained the whole Tantra (technique) for quite some time. I asked couple of questions where I felt necessary. I got the answers. We recited few things together.

He said, "This is Vyuha Lakshmi Tantra. This is for Goddess Lakshmi, who resides on the Venkatesha's chest always."

We walked together to a milk shop and had a glass of milk together. He again reminded me the secrecy to be maintained and helping the needy.

As Shri Venkatesha was about to leave, I put my head on his feet. I have no words to explain what I experienced then.

I got up. I was hugged again. He slowly moved his palm on my back. Put it on my head. He murmured the words 'Kalyanmastu' 'Mangalamstu'

He walked towards the lotus pond. I was watching him till he disappeared in the dark. For a moment I thought, the Vishnu of resourcefulness has merged in the ultimate darkness of Shiva.

I came back to the Birla Guest House. Repeated the technique he taught, for few times for not to forget. I continued my meditation.... It went on till midnight.

Even after 61 hours of non-stop journey and activity I hardly felt tired. I felt like I lived bodiless for this time.

As per the instructions, I have just finished the Anushthan for 40 days in Rishikesh to experience the 'bliss of the other world'

Shri Lakshmi Narayan Namostute!!!

(The whole narration is my own experience. It is a limited expression than the actual experience - for lack of words. Readers may interpret  it as per their level of spirituality / understanding)

Shubham Bhavatu!

Samarth Yogi Arwind

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Halasana

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Halasana, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Halasana

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Happy-World

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Happy-World, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind's idea of the happy world - A small 'plus'

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-11-11-11

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-11-11-11, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind near Devprayag on the banks of Ganga on 11/11/11 at 11.11 AM

Consciousness Hijacked!

We are living in the world where our consciousness is hijacked. It has been hijacked by powerful ‘Maya’ lobbyists. And there are some signs of rescue.

Going by the reports from all over the world few terms can fit to describe the situation everywhere. They are - ‘unrest’, unease’ resentment, awakening, rising etc.

This appears like a collective uprising is taking place against something. This something changes from place to place, time to time and culture to culture.

This something for me is ‘deprivation from knowledge’

Masses in the world were kept away from the knowledge. They were misguided in the name of education, information and societal norms and laws.

Wasted interests, who are the lobbyists for Maya, always have run the campaign of misinformation. They have floated new and newer concepts of hierarchy, classes, groups etc which kept the populations in different parts of the world busy in identifying with. Be it in the form of nations, religions, rich and poor divide, and divide on the basis of race, caste, color, creed and currencies. Anything that divides is Maya. And her lobbyists have been so marvelously successful in their design. But they also are part of our wider consciousness.

These lobbyists are not a specific set of people. It’s you, me and everybody who on and off subscribe to the idea of division. This division is the basic tool used to create layers of illusion that keep one away from the ‘Truth’. Falling prey to the tactics of division and getting away from the 'truth' is what I call as 'Consciousness being hijacked'.

We are deprived from the ‘Truth’ of global oneness by the misplaced egos associated with the notions of nations. In the process, physical bodies became less important than the ‘passports’ made of paper. Concept of ‘patriotism’ is enough to provoke hundreds of thousands. Concept of ‘nation’ was used more by the lobbyists as a small territory to manage effectively their designs. Nations are important. Not as the physical boundaries drawn by few whimsical, but as a natural geography and history of evolution associated with it. That’s all.

We are kept away from the Truth of universal oneness by the idea of division between living and non-living things. What is non-living in this universe? If the air, which by the common understanding is considered non-living is an instrument to keep every living being alive, how does it become non-living? The soil which nourishes every plant which in turn nourishes humans cannot be a non-living entity at all. The ‘truth’ is there cannot be life independent of the so called non-living. 

We are deprived of the ‘Truth’ that there is wider consciousness of which we are small, negligent but important and integral part of. 

The present day unrest, I believe is the beginning of acknowledging this universal consciousness. It is the beginning of knowing ‘All is one’. It is the beginning of shading away the wrong full notions of division in the name of ‘he’ and ‘she’, ‘us’ and ‘them’, ‘me’ and they’. It is the beginning to go inductive from deductive. It is the beginning of knowing that the ‘universal consciousness’ is so beautiful to live with. 

Interestingly, everywhere in the world, this awakening is inspired by the followers of ‘Yoga’ – The Assimilators. Yogis are bringing this light. Be it the tribes in the Middle East, occupy activists in the America or Anti-corruption crusaders in India. They are not the products of any system. They simply believe in the ‘truth’. They have pure intentions.

It is a time of ‘correction’ in the stock market of the divine. Shares of ‘illusion’ are on downslide. ‘Knowledge’ stocks are doing well.

Amen!

Shubham Bhavatu!

'I Am'

“Have this.”

“This is treasure.” His eyes were shining.

Yogi prepared himself for the meditation. For the meditation that is self-realizing!

“I am always in a relationship. I know how to deal with relationships. I purify my mind by cultivating a feeling of friendliness with happy people, situations. I develop the sense of compassion for them who are suffering. I experience gladness when with virtuous. I remain neutral with those who are perceived as wicked or evil."

"I develop these four types of attitudes, namely, Maîtra (friendship), Karuna (compassion), Mudita (gladness) and Upeksha (indifference or neutrality) to deal with relationships that help me make my mind clear and undisturbed. ” Said Yogi.

"This develops an ability to discriminate amongst people and situation and respond accordingly. This helps me understand and deal with my surrounding well. This makes me well placed in the society."

“Well, after this preparation for long time, there are multiple techniques of focusing the mind or making it experience one-pointedness.”

You should know that the seven chakras in our body are associated with the different states of mind. These Chakras are - Muladhar, Swadhisthan, Manipurak, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajya, and Sahastrar. Concentrating on each Chakra with a given technique brings specific experience.

विशोका वा ज्योतिष्मती I

‘Vishoka va Jyotishmati’ is a state of mind that is ‘without any pain or suffering’ and ‘self illuminated with divine light’.

How do I achieve this state of mind?

“Okay, lets concentrate on Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra or cardiac Plexus). This chakra is a lotus which is facing downwards and the stem is upwards. With the Rechak (exhale) this lotus is made face upwards. (There are micro details about how to do this). In the center of this upward facing lotus resides ‘Om’. The stem of this lotus is connected to the Sushumna Naadi that reaches straight to Murdhna. This Naadi is called Brahma Naadi.”

“During the meditative state when one exercises the complete control over thoughts, the whole lotus appears like the Sun, the Moon, the constellations etc. It illuminates. Then it leads to a Sattvic light that’s self illuminated. With no reference. This is inner light. Divine."

"And since it is Sattvic, it is called ‘without suffering’ as there are no Rajas or Tamas attributes”.

Mind in this state experiences the ocean of calmness and stability.

Here the yogi experiences ‘I am’.

(Author’s 'free flow' explanation of 36^th Sutra of Samadhi Pad of Patanjali’s Yog Sutras. Readers are suggested strictly not try any aspect of this meditation without guidance!)

Why Define?

We like to 'define' things. We want everything to be described with the help of 'words'. We love definitions. We often ask during the discussions, 'can you define please?' 'Could you be more precise with the words'.

Is everything and anything possible to be expressed fully with the help of words? Are words enough to communicate the 'reality' in totality? Does the exercise of expressing with the words, dilute the 'experience of truth?'

Most of the problems in our life are because of mis-perceptions. Our mind is in the habit of developing perceptions, frames of references. For example, 'person X is a good person', person Y is a bad person', etc. This perception is based on one odd interaction with the person. May be few interactions. And during these interactions, when one receives 'favourable' response from the person. Then he becomes 'good' person. But, it probably is not the reality. So our habit of defining something deprives us from the experience of reality.

It certainly is important to develop a perception and try to define it with the help of words. But our experience should not stop there itself. The complexity of experience is not necessarily possible to be explained fully with the words through definition. So the definition with the help of words should be considered as an aspect of the reality. May be just one facet of multiple ones.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutra addresses this aspect of cognition in its Sutra 9 of Samadhi Pad:

शब्दज्ञानानुपाती वस्तुशून्यो विकल्पः I

(Shabda gyananupati vastushunyo vikapah)

In the process of knowing (cognition), perception is a first stage. We perceive with the help of words carrying the image. Our minds are often thinking and creating chains of words and images. Often this process leads to thoughts or impressions that have no actual reality to associate with. This is called as fantasy or imagination (Vikalp).

Often our thought process, we connect with the future. The mind processes the current perceptions, thoughts. and then fantasizes some new combination as being the future, even though that fantasy is occurring in the present moment.

Perception, imagination, frame of reference, paradigm etc are the words which can be associated with this aspect of cognition.

I think as one progresses in meditation, in yogic experience of uniting with the divine, perceptions those are expressed with the words carrying images fade away. Every external and internal experience of life appears like fantasy or imagination. The discrimination itself becomes difficult as the experience is 'wholesome'. (To be continued...)

Shubham Bhavatu!

Yogi Arwind, Rishikesh

Postpone The Death...

I am in pain. Severe pain.

When everybody is predicting collapse of the world or doomsday in 2012 as per the Mayan calendar, I believe it will happen certainly. Not necessarily as a result of any astrological phenomenon but as a result of ‘collective karma’ the human race living on this planet has done. Even if one tries not to be pessimistic about the future, one cannot afford to be unrealistic. Immense mass destruction happening in near future appears to me as a self inflicted tragedy by a human race living in illusion.

My constant interactions with friends and people in general, my meditative experiences, my intuition and more importantly ‘common sense’ easily guide me that the devastation is not far. Soon the collapse will happen! Big and mighty blow!

Mother Nature is furious.

She has been kind to give you everything. But the excessive greed of yours does not end.

She created trees to give you shelter and some necessary wood and medicine. You are using it as timber to sale.

She created land for you to reside and grow crops. You are using it to dig for minerals to sale. To build huge buildings to sale. To use fertilizers to grow more crop to sale.

She created rivers for pure water to quench your thirst. You are using it to build dams to generate energy and sale.

She created animals around to coexist with them. But you are using them to kill and get meat to sale.

Beautiful human race is created to make your life colourful. Humans around are to live happily together. But we are getting excessively competitive. We cheat, deceive, lie. We harm each other. We don’t mind false fully progressing at the cost of someone else’s life. We consider each other as enemies. Why?

When the divine has created this beautiful universe and its elements, it is to live together happily. It is for interdependence. It is to value each other’s importance. It is to use each other’s special features for mutual happy coexistence.

We want independence. We want everything for ‘me and me’. We divide. We divide on the basis of color, race, geography, history, age, class, caste, income, physique… and what not.

Excessive greed of our fellow humans in the business, insensitive rule of our fellow humans in the politics, divisive policies of fellow humans in the field of media, irresponsible behavior of our fellow humans in authority, and more importantly clueless, submissive fellow humans who get themselves ruled as a herd. All have caused a great damage to this beautiful planet. The imbalance has reached a boiling point.

The air has been polluted enough with no further scope, water has been mindlessly polluted with no further scope, land has been irreversibly damaged, land has been dug enough with no possibility to fill it to original composition. Minds have been cultivated corrupt enough to ensure inevitable decay of the human race.

I guess only miracle can change this huge mighty damage that seems approaching so fast is to bring ‘little change’ in me. And few of my friends and few more of their friends and ultimately the whole human race.

The little change –

By treating plants and trees as friends to live with and live for.

By treating the land as a friend to live with and live for.

By treating the rivers and all water bodies as friends to live with and live for.

By treating the atmosphere around as a friend to live with and live for.

By treating animals around as friends to live with and live for.

By treating fellow humans as friends to live with and live for.

Lets be independent by being interdependent. Lets be independent as ‘a whole universal existance’. Lets live 'together'.

Lets avoid the mass destruction. Lets postpone the death.

Lets befriend the universe.

Shubham Bhavatu!

Yogi Arwind, Rishikesh.

Nadistuti Sukta (Praise of Rivers) in Rigveda...

Rigveda, the most ancient among the four Vedas has mention of Nadistuti Sukta (Hymns in the Praise of the Rivers) in its 10th Mandala... This praise of rivers as goddesses is 8000 years old. (Lokmanya Tilak considers time of Rigveda as 6000 BC while Prof. Jacobi considers it as 4500 BC)... So, this Praise of Rivers can be considered as the oldest documented praise known to the mankind.

Verse 5 of this Sukta mentions rivers Ganga, Yamnua Sarasvati, Sutudri Parusni, Asikni, Marudvrdha, Vitasta, Arjikiya, Susoma... Seven from these 10 rivers are called Sapta Sindhu. In all there is mention of 99 rivers in Nadistuti Sukta...

Last verse of the Sukta praises the rivers as 'Chariot of Permanent Joy'.

Here is the Nadistuti Sukta as it is...

Nadistuti Sukta (Sanskrit: नदिस्तुति सुक्त) :

पर सु व आपो महिमानमुत्तमं कारुर्वोचाति सदनेविवस्वतः |
पर सप्त-सप्त तरेधा हि चक्रमुः परस्र्त्वरीणामति सिन्धुरोजसा ||
पर ते.अरदद वरुणो यातवे पथः सिन्धो यद वाजानभ्यद्रवस्त्वम |
भूम्या अधि परवता यासि सानुना यदेषामग्रं जगतामिरज्यसि ||
दिवि सवनो यतते भूम्योपर्यनन्तं शुष्ममुदियर्तिभानुना |
अभ्रादिव पर सतनयन्ति वर्ष्टयः सिन्धुर्यदेति वर्षभो न रोरुवत ||
अभि तवा सिन्धो शिशुमिन न मातरो वाश्रा अर्षन्तिपयसेव धेनवः |
राजेव युध्वा नयसि तवमित सिचौ यदासामग्रं परवतामिनक्षसि ||
इमं मे गङगे यमुने सरस्वति शुतुद्रि सतेमं सचता परुष्ण्या |
असिक्न्या मरुद्व्र्धे वितस्तयार्जीकीये शर्णुह्यासुषोमया ||
तर्ष्टामया परथमं यातवे सजूः ससर्त्वा रसयाश्वेत्या तया |
तवं सिन्धो कुभया गोमतीं करुमुम्मेहत्न्वा सरथं याभिरीयसे ||
रजीत्येनी रुशती महित्वा परि जरयांसि भरते रजांसि |
अदब्धा सिन्धुरपसामपस्तमाश्वा न चित्रावपुषीव दर्शता ||
सवश्वा सिन्धुः सुरथा सुवासा हिरण्ययी सुक्र्तावाजिनीवती |
ऊर्णावती युवतिः सीलमावत्युताधि वस्तेसुभगा मधुव्र्धम ||
सुखं रथं युयुजे सिधुरश्विनं तेन वाजं सनिषदस्मिन्नाजौ |
महान हयस्य महिमा पनस्यते.अदब्धस्यस्वयशसो विरप्शिनः ||

Shubham Bhavatu!

Rivers are Life

It looked reddish. But was transparent. You could see through the stones and base... I drank this water. It was energizing. Unbelievable taste. It was water from one of the numerous rivers of Chapada Diamantina of Bahia, Brazil. I was told that it was because of high iron content in the water. So I had natural mineral water. Not fake...People who drink it have many health benefits like no anemia, hair grow well, strong joints etc.

During my walk in these less traveled forests, I found rivers red and blue, black and green. All with different minerals and ever-flowing. A bare foot walk of more than 70 kilometers was no doubt an unmatched meditation. More importantly it was such a lovely embrace by mother nature. She did not keep me thirsty throughout the journey. I would feel thirsty and a beautiful stream of water, river, waterfall would be there to provide me 'natural mineral water'.

From New York to Mumbai and Sao Paulo to Varanasi, rivers all over the world are fighting the battle of survival. The battle against those whom they feed, whose thirst they quench. Its battle against those whose civilization was given birth, nurtured and flourished by these eternal divine flows of 'life'.

The battle is imposed on them. The battle is one sided. Rivers have never denied 'to give'. The rivers have never denied to 'flow'. The rivers have never denied to 'water crops'. The rivers which are source of happiness of life are being treated like sewage canals in the 'Modern Developed World.' In the world where the level of knowledge is limited to 'water comes from the tap'.

In our day to day life we are so busy in 'earning money'. The money which we use for joy and happiness in our life. The real source of joy and happiness is an environment around. Its the rivers, trees, animals, birds, pure air.... We shall respect these elements and gain the real joy by being with them. By protecting them.

Ganga Stuti says - Bhagavati Tav Tire.... O' Goddess, River Ganga... just by your sight and bathing in you, all obstacles of life go away and doors of paradise open.

May the doors of paradise open for us.
May we make Mother Earth, the paradise - by respecting our rivers...

Shubham Bhavatu!

(Here are some pictures of my recent visit to Brazil: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yogi_arwind_in_brazil/)