Ananda Sutra

Patanjali (Yoga Sutras) by Samarth Yogi Arwind

2012-03-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

A talk on Patanjali (Yoga Sutras) by Samarth Yogi Arwind as a part of Mahashivaratri Knowledge Festival organized at Yogi Arwind Ashram in Rishikesh from 18 to 20 Feb 2012.

samarth-yogi-arwind-rishikesh-yoga

2012-01-21T00:11:00.001-08:00

samarth-yogi-arwind-rishikesh-yoga, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Fearlessly I will sing...

2011-12-27T04:25:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-12-23T01:59:00.000-08:00

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

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

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

Whoam I?

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

Identifyingwith something is a natural human tendency. I think some identities originatewith the ‘sense of ego’. For example, an artiste starts considering himselflarger than life or very special than others. It probably is reflection of hisovergrown ego.

Someidentities originate from the social compulsions/norms. Husband or wife ofsomebody obviously expects you to mould you in some social sanctions whichapprove you to be right or wrong. As a spouse you have a code of conduct toabide by. And in identifying with this role, one keeps himself / herself busy.When the role is demanding and encroaches upon personal wishes / ambitions thenthe ‘conflict’ starts. Then one goes into identity crisis. This crisis takes atoll in the form of end of that role or personal damage to an individualplaying that role.

Religiousidentity 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 intheir lifetime, make it a matter of choice. Being born with some religiousidentity brings some sense of security / and insecurity to one. And both thesefeelings keep seriously engaged to the one who seriously identifies with areligious identity.

This ‘identitybusiness’ with something, that our senses experience is a major determining factorof 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 toidentify with, certainly has to do with ones intellectual, emotional, spiritualevolution. Some may find it easy to live with a religious identity as it suitshis/her level of evolution. Some like to identify as ‘modern’ as it gives somesort of mileage / satisfaction to them. Not everybody in the world willunderstand or identify with the ‘Brahman’. Some chose identities, some followidentities they are born with, some don’t care about identities those havesanction. Some intentionally try to break away from given identities.

Break Away to Pure Consciousness

In thisworld today, there are many identities and multiple sources keepadding. Also the vast, complex universal phenomenon creates conflict amongidentities. Many of my friends say they are not happy with the religion theyare born in. Or with the caste they are born with or the economic situation tothey identify with. I think these are superficial identities and if givensanction to, they will hardly give the experience of ultimate peace.

Then what identitywill bring that peace?

It’s un-identifying!

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

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

Dialoguewith the self!

The Supreme Consciousness

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

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

Hastamalakreplied,

“I am neither human, God, yaksha, brahmin,kshatriya,vaisya, sudra, brahmachari, householder, forest-dweller, norsannyasi; but I am pure awareness alone. I am the eternal, single,conscious Self, reflected in various intellects, just as the sun is reflectedon the surface of various sheets of water.”

I think thisis a beautiful identity to live with. Pure awareness.

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

Let’s try tolive with one such. Or without!

ShubhamBhavatu!

SamarthYogi Arwind, Rishikesh

(Image Courtesy: - Eric Pepin, psychedelic adventure)

Ban on Bhagavad Gita? Why?

2011-12-20T22:02:00.000-08:00

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 clearestand most comprehensive summaries of the perennial philosophy ever to have beendone. Hence its enduring value, not only for the Indians, but also for allmankind. It is perhaps the mostsystematic 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

A walk with a miracle named Kailash Kher

2011-12-20T05:27:00.000-08:00

It was 11.00PM on the windy night of the beginning of winter in Rishikesh. We were walkingon the Ram Jhula. Oscillations of the Ram Jhula, the cool breeze waving ourclothes, misty surrounding and the quiet flow of Ganga beneath the bridge, itwas all enchanting set up to throw away all stress, strain and open up mindsfor the sake of divine. It so happened.

Kailash Kher,the musical prodigy of the mainstream Indian music industry, flagship name ofthe Sufi Music and the heartthrob of millions of youth world over. He wentnostalgic. I could see the shine in his eyes. Every step of his on theoscillating bridge was a telling story of life. This same bridge bridgedtwo phases of his life – one, of an ordinary son of Ganga struggling for some stabilityin the life and the other as one of the most beloved celebrities of today’sIndian music arena and Bollywood.

“This is thecassette shop I sung my first bhajan at. This is the place where I used to drinktea, mostly as a favour from the elderly gentleman tea shop owner. This is theplace where I used to sing aarti - the famous Parmarth Aarti.” Kailash went onspeaking as we crossed the bridge and continued walking. Even at such late Rishikeshnight, it was quite a crowd following him, for a small glimpse of theirfavorite singer, for a special autograph of him, for shaking hands with him,for a picture with him. By the time we reached Parmarth, it was a biggathering.

‘Arey,Kailash Kher aaye hain’ (Oye, see who has come. Kailash Kher!). Went themessage on and the crowd got swelling. ‘Kailash ji, pehchana kya? Main aapkekamre ke paas rehta tha.’ (Kailash ji, do you remember me? You used stay in aroom nearby mine) Introduced a sadhu. Kailash ji, aap to hume bhul gaye.(Kailash ji, you have forgotten us.) ‘Kailash ji, hum aapko little champs meindekhte the. Bahut badhiya salah dete the aap bachchonko. Kai baar rulaya aapne.’(Kailashji, we used to watch you on Zee Little Champs. You really used to guide verywell to the participant kids. We cried many times while watching the show.) ‘Kailashji, aap humare liye kuch gaayiye na’ (Kailash ji, please sing something for us.)‘kailash ji, swamiji aapko bahut yaad karte hain’ (Kailash ji, Samaiji,remembers you a lot)…so on and on.

Everybody was so eager to speak his heart tohim. Some were talking with words. Some with eyes. Kailash politely respondedto everybody. It was such a spectacle full of emotions, joy, love and pride.

Kailash Kher with the tea shop owner at Rishikesh

We walked toa tea shop. The elderly owner of the shop very innocently asked Kailash, “ aapParmarth mein rehte the na?” (you used to stay in Parmarth, right?) He was soaway from the glitter of the celebrity world. But his immense love for Kailashwas visible from the manner he welcomed him and insisted to have a cup of tea.We sat in a small room of his tiny restaurant. The dingy room on the very banksof Ganga was full of emotions as Kailash was explaining the hardships he wentthrough during his phase of life there. My eyes went wet few times. These werethe tears of joy for the successful, eventful journey of a divine soul.

When we wereabout to leave the place and Kailash offered some money to the shop owner, hedenied. He simply denied. After a lot of requests, he agreed. Such pure soulshave kept the universe in balance. I believe.

A Sadhu baba, Samarth Yogi Arwind and Kailash Kher drinking divinity on the banks of Ganga in Rishikesh

Kailash andI met through a wonderful soul named Padmashri Shri Prahlad Tipanya, soulfulsinger of Kabir bhajans. We became close friends like we know each other foryears, lives. The bond of friendship is based on pure love and respect for eachother. Perfect Maitra Yoga.

Kailash Kheris a miracle for me. What wonders me about Kailash is his perfect ‘presence ofmind’. He is always in the given moment. Like an evolved yogi. I have found himso polite with everybody around him. I have never seen him tired. He is always100 % ready in a given moment. He just doesn’t live that celebrity cocoon. His body language, words, emotions, everythingis so truthful. He lives the truth and acknowledges the ‘grace of god’ throughevery single word and action.

Our walk oftwo hours that night has a lasting impression on my mind. I have walked withthe ‘living example’ of success and humility. In the world around, full of ego,arrogance, dirty tricks and greed, Kailash has managed to try to be ‘pure athis conscience’.

Kailash Rangeele Kher isone of those successful friends, that they live with humility and I havetremendous respect for them.

As a flow ofGanga which originates as small streams in the Himalayas and becomes a mighty flowafter confluence at Dev Prayag, Kailash has become a force to reckon with.Further journey of his is going to be more fascinating - taking him to newerheights of success. I intuit.

Sheetal, Kabir,his family and enumerable well-wishers are walking this journey with him.

Kailash, you are the 'messenger of joy'

Amen.

ShubhamBhavatu!

Samarth YogiArwind

Rig Veda (ऋग्वेद) Theory of Origin of the Universe

2011-12-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

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

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind

2011-12-14T22:58:00.001-08:00

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

Samarth Yogi Arwind at Yogi Arwind Ashram Rishikesh

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Ushering-Pathless-Path

2011-12-09T05:54:00.001-08:00

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Ushering-Pathless-Path, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Happy Dattatreya Jayanti!

Bhajan, Stotra, Mantra sung by Yogi Arwind

2011-12-01T04:34:00.001-08:00

Yogi Arwind on You Tube

Yogi Arwind Foundation's photostream

2011-11-29T19:33:00.001-08:00

Yogi Arwind Foundation's photostream on Flickr.

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind01

2011-11-29T05:53:00.001-08:00

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind01, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind Rishikesh

Vyuha Lakshmi Tantra - Divine experience in Tirupati

2011-11-22T22:19:00.001-08:00

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_Tantra

2011-11-20T09:12:00.001-08:00

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind_Tantra, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind - Vyuha Lakshmi Tantra

Samarth Yogi Arwind

2011-11-18T01:48:00.001-08:00

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

Cultivate mind with Samarth Yogi Arwind

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind_Dhyan01

2011-11-16T05:49:00.001-08:00

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind_Dhyan01, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind_Dhyan_Mudra

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Halasana

2011-11-15T14:29:00.001-08:00

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

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Halasana

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-Happy-World

2011-11-15T02:30:00.001-08:00

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-Vashishth-Guha

2011-11-14T01:26:00.001-08:00

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

Samarth Yogi Arwind at Vashishth Guha near Rishikesh

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind

2011-11-13T01:27:00.001-08:00

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind

2011-11-12T05:33:00.001-08:00

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

Samarth Yogi Arwind in Alto Paraiso, Brazil

samarth-yogi-arwind-color

2011-11-11T06:31:00.001-08:00

samarth-yogi-arwind-color, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth-Yogi-Arwind-11-11-11

2011-11-11T01:11:00.001-08:00

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

samarth_yogi_arwind

2011-11-11T00:42:00.001-08:00

samarth_yogi_arwind, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind at Leher Leher Kabir

samarth-yogi-arwind

2011-11-09T23:40:00.001-08:00

samarth-yogi-arwind, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind in Brazil

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind

2011-11-09T09:27:00.001-08:00

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

samarth-yogi-arwind

2011-11-09T00:04:00.001-08:00

samarth-yogi-arwind, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Yogi_Arwind_Ganga

2011-11-08T21:36:00.001-08:00

Yogi_Arwind_Ganga, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind for Clean Ganga

Yogi_Arwind_Ganga

2011-11-08T21:17:00.001-08:00

Yogi_Arwind_Ganga, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Yogi Arwind Foundation for Clean Ganga

yogi-arwind

2011-11-08T19:57:00.001-08:00

yogi-arwind, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind performing havan at Yogi Arwind Ashram in Rishikesh

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind

2011-11-08T07:46:00.001-08:00

Samarth_Yogi_Arwind, a photo by Yogi Arwind Foundation on Flickr.

Samarth Yogi Arwind Rishikesh

Consciousness Hijacked!

2011-10-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

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 canfit to describe the situation everywhere. They are - ‘unrest’, unease’resentment, awakening, rising etc.

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

This something for me is ‘deprivation from knowledge’

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

Wasted interests, who are the lobbyists for Maya, alwayshave run the campaign of misinformation. They have floated new and newerconcepts of hierarchy, classes, groups etc which kept the populations indifferent parts of the world busy in identifying with. Be it in the form ofnations, religions, rich and poor divide, and divide on the basis of race,caste, color, creed and currencies. Anything that divides is Maya. And her lobbyistshave been so marvelously successful in their design. But they also are part of ourwider 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. Thisdivision is the basic tool used to create layers of illusion that keep one awayfrom 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 themisplaced egos associated with the notions of nations. In the process, physicalbodies became less important than the ‘passports’ made of paper. Concept of ‘patriotism’is enough to provoke hundreds of thousands. Concept of ‘nation’ was used moreby 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 theidea of division between living and non-living things. What is non-living inthis universe? If the air, which by the common understanding is considerednon-living is an instrument to keep every living being alive, how does itbecome non-living? The soil which nourishes every plant which in turn nourisheshumans cannot be a non-living entity at all. The ‘truth’ is there cannot belife independent of the so called non-living.

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

The present day unrest, I believe is the beginning ofacknowledging this universal consciousness. It is the beginning of knowing ‘Allis one’. It is the beginning of shading away the wrong full notions of divisionin the name of ‘he’ and ‘she’, ‘us’ and ‘them’, ‘me’ and they’. It is thebeginning 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 isinspired by the followers of ‘Yoga’ – The Assimilators. Yogis are bringing thislight. Be it the tribes in the Middle East, occupy activists in the America orAnti-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 thedivine. Shares of ‘illusion’ are on downslide. ‘Knowledge’ stocks are doing well.

Amen!

Shubham Bhavatu!

'I Am'

2011-10-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

“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?

2011-10-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-10-09T04:03:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-09-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

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/)

Great ladies of Vedic India - Story of Gargi

2011-07-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

“Arrange the best of best one thousand cows in a pen. Tie ten big size gold coins to the horns of these cows.” ordered King Janaka to his servants. As the arrangement was made, the king turned to the Brahmins and said, “O’ learned Brahmins, I would like to know who the great scholar amongst you is. The one who knows the best about the Brahman, the Supreme Being. The one who is confident of his mettle can take these cows and the gold put on them. Yes, he will have to satisfactorily answer to all the questions anyone from this august gathering asks to him.”

King Janaka was a very generous and learned king. He had interest in philosophy and he himself was a great philosopher. This king of Mithila had organized a great yagya and Brahmins from various states had gathered to perform at the yagya. King then became curious to test the knowledge of the Brahmins.

The Brahmins became restless after the declaration of the king. They were hesitant to go ahead and take those cows and gold with them. Each one thought, if I take the cows with me and the rest of the Brahmins start debating with me, I will have to answer them. If I fail to satisfy the gathering, it will be a big embarrassment.

Yajnavalkya, the great sage, stood up from his seat and said, “Saumya, you take control of all these cows and take them to our Ashram.” Saumya was his celibate disciple learning Sam Ved. Saumya followed his Guru’s orders sincerely.

This action created a wave of restlessness amongst the lot of gathered Brahmins and they thought this is a matter of shame for them to be proved ‘less knowledgeable’ than Yajnavalkya.

Ashwala, the head priest of King Janaka, great scholar of Rigveda asked,”Yajnavalkya, do you think you are the most knowledgeable here?” Yajnavalkya humbly answered, “ I bow before the knowledgeable. Kindly let me know who is knowledgeable here?”

Ashwala thought he should interrogate Yajnavalkya. He asked many questions to Yajnavalkya, but Yajnavalkya answered them all. Many other Brahmins threw questions at Yajnavalkya and this great sage satisfied them all with his quick answers full of knowledge and wisdom. While some Brahmins were genuinely interested in knowledge and they asked relevant questions, some jealous of Yajnavalkya for winning the cows and gold asked foolish questions too.

Artabhaga, a very scholarly Brahmin rose and asked few questions. He was a much respected Brahmin for his knowledge. Yajnavalkya answered all his questions satisfactorily. Then Bhujyu, Ushasta and Kahol asked questions to Yajnavalkya and all got answers from him.

In the end rose a great lady named Gargi, the daughter of the sage Vachaknu. She was a very intelligent lady. Gargi had already asked a few questions, but now she asked the permission of the Brahmins to put forth a few more.

“I shall ask him two more questions, “ Gargi proposed. “Should he answer them, none of you will ever be able to beat him in this debate.”

In Vedic India, women had access to philosophical enquiry – and what tremendous self confidence we find in Gargi, daring a great sage Yajnavalkya to answer her questions!

Gargi asked, “O Yajnavalkya, what pervaded the whole cosmos and whatever is, was and shall be?”
Yajnavalkya replied, “The unmanifested ether (Akasha) It is above the Heaven and below the Earth. The Heaven and the Earth are part of it.”

“I bow to you, Yajnavalkya. I am satisfied with your answer. Now I have another question.” Said Gargi.
“O Gargi, please ask.” said Yajnavalkya.
Gargi continued, “What pervades the unmanifested ether?”

This question was a real test of Yajnavalkya’s wisdom.

He replied: “The unmanifested eather is pervaded by the immutable Brahman. It is neither gross nor minute, neither short or long, neither shadow nor darkness, neither air nor ether. The different worlds, the sun and the moon, do not transgress its mighty rule. Whoever departs from this world without knowing this immutable being has to continue to experience an endless series of births and deaths. This Brahman is never an object of thought or intellect, being thought or intelligence itself! It is the ultimate knower who knows through all intellects. Brahman, which is the self within all and is beyond all relative attributes like hunger, various desires etc. is the ultimate goal, the highest truth. By this Brahman is the unmanifested either pervaded.”

Then Gargi said: “Respected Brahmins, listen to my words. I have already said that if Yajnavalkya answers my questions, none of you can beat him. You can never hope to defeat him. In comprehending Brahman, there is none other here who matches his intelligence.” Saying this Gargi sat down and listened humbly to rest of the proceedings.

The quality of questions asked by Gargi prove the level of knowledge she had. Though she had such knowledge, she was so humble, that she never had the misplaced ego to prove herself right.

Gargi is considered as one of the most respected woman philosopher of the Vedic period for her intelligence and politeness. Her questions provided new dimensions to the enquiry of the Brahman, Supreme Being.

Salutations to the power of knowledge of the ladies of the Vedic India.

Gargi was one of the brightest star amongst them!

Shubham Bhavatu!

Yogi Arwind

At the doors of death…

2011-07-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

(Kathopanishad simplified!)

Nachikta was unhappy with his father. His honesty could not tolerate the fact that his father Uddalaka (a great sage) has donated the useless cows to the Brahmins who performed a ‘Great Yagya’ for him. Uddalaka, one of the most respected sages of the time performed the Vishwajit Yagya and donated all his wealth to the Brahmins. Some of the cows he donated were of no use to the Brahmins as they were aged, incapable of progeny and could not produce milk. Nachiketa did not like this act of his father.

Wishing for best of his father, he asked, “Father, I am also part of your wealth. To whom you are donating me?” Uddalaka did not respond. Nachiketa asked second time but did not get any answer from his father. When he asked third time, Uddalaka angrily answered to Nachiketa, “I am giving you to the God of Death, Yama.”

His father’s answer did not disturb Nachiketa. He said to his father, “This body is going to tear away one day. But good actions (karma) are going to last forever. Hence, to keep your word, please grant me the permission to go to the house of Yama, the god of death.”

Repentant father granted Nachiketa the permission to go to Yama.

Yama was surprised to see such handsome boy sitting at his doorsteps. He very well knew the power of truthful souls and effects of any disgrace to them. He went to welcome Nachiketa with the gold bowl in his hand with warm water. He washed his feet and said, “You have been waiting at my doorsteps for last three nights. I am ashamed that you had to fast for three days and I could not take good care of my guest. I am guilty of you as I failed in my responsibility to honor my guest. So, please ask three boons as a gift from me for each night you waited.”

Nachiketa said, “O’ lord of death, my father should lose his anger at me and should develop compassion for me in his heart. When I go back from you, he should welcome me with the love and respect.”

Yamaraj granted the boon.

Secondly, Nachiketa said, “O’ god of death, Yama, you very well know that the god of fire (Agni) is the medium of reaching the heaven. I want to know more about Agni, the fire god!”

Yama said, “Agni is no doubt the medium to attain the heaven. The fire in its biggest form itself is the root cause of sustenance of this universe. You can say that it resides in the cave of knowledge of learned people”

Yamaraj described about how the yagya should be performed. What types of bricks to be used to construct the fire pit, what other items should be used to make the place of fire worship, the yagya. What type of fire should be selected to perform the yagya and so on…

The Yamraj said, “Nachiketa, I am so pleased with you that the fire for yagya will be named after you. Also please wear this mala of special beads which I want to gift you”.

Nachiketa was pleased.

Yamaraj then asked Nachiketa to ask the third boon.

Nachiketa said, “O’ Yama, you are god of death. Atman, ‘The soul’ which resides in the body of a human being to keep it alive cannot be experienced through senses. Hence I would like to know more about the ‘Nature of Atman’.

Yamaraj was surprised with this question. He firstly tried to deviate nachiketa from this query and said I have power to offer you many other beautiful things. He said, “I can offer you beautiful women with whom you can spend your life. I can grant you long life. I can grant you all resources of pleasure”

Nachiketa was unmoved with these offers. He said, “I would like to know about the Atman, The nature of the Soul.”

Yamaraj praised Nachiketa. He said, “I appreciate your determination and sense of detachment. I appreciate your ascetic and non-possessive mindset. A person who is so detached from the worldly attractions only is eligible and capable of understanding true nature of the Atman, The Soul. Hence I answer you.”

He further said, “Atman is the life force. It has no birth or death. It is not born of anything nor does any other thing originate from it.”

“Brahman, the supreme being, the wider expression of the Atman, is eternal. It is always there. It remains there even after leaving the body it wears. It is in all living things. But it is still. It is in every living and non living thing. The whole universal cycle is directed, guided and controlled by it. All the five elements manifest as per its wish.”

Yamaraj says further, “Human beings, who know this nature of Brahman before leaving the body, liberate the soul form the cycle of rebirth. They do away the sufferings and enjoy the bliss of ultimate knowledge.”

“This ultimate knowledge, The Truth is attained by only those, who have controlled their desires, whose heart is pure and mind is unwavering. More importantly, the Truth is experienced by those who have strongest urge to ‘Know.”

Nachiketa was blessed with such knowledge. He thanked Yama and returned to his father’s house.

He was welcomed with honor by his father and the most learned sages with great respect.

Shubham Bhavatu!

Yogi Arwind

ॐ is a lock and the key too...Gorakh Nath

2011-07-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

ॐ सबदही ताला सबदही कुंची सबदही सबद भया उजियाला
कांटा सेती कांटा षुटे कुंची सेती ताला
सिद्ध मिले तो साधिक निपजे, जब घटी होय उजाला

(ॐ is a word. ॐ is a lock. ॐ is the key. This word is divine light. Like the thorn pierced in one's toe is removed using a thorn itself, or as a the lock is opened using a key, the lock of ॐ can be opened by the key of ॐ only. To know how to open such lock, the seeker has to be blessed with the realized master (Guru). Once the lock is opened, then there is no end to the divine light!)

As a researcher of Upanishads, the theory of Brahman (The Absolute) and various approaches to realize it, have always fascinated me. There is no better author philosopher than Gorakh Nath, who simplifies Upanishadic essence for commoners in 'easy to understand' language.

In the Gyan Chalisa of Gorakh Nath, the very first verse delves with the word form of ॐ and beyond as the representation of The Absolute.

ॐ, the Pranav Mantra, is everything. It is the ultimate being which is expressed through the word. ‘Pranav’ in Sanskrit means to express that loudly which is already there. Amplify something which already exists in the seed form.

In one's spiritual journey, the goal is to reach and experience the ultimate Truth, The Absolute. The goal is to reach the Supreme Being, experience the union with the Supreme Being by shading away the duality. This ultimate being which is the eternal sound of ॐ, for easier understanding is expressed with the word 'AUM'. Hence this ॐ is everything!

Gorakh Nath says, this word itself is the lock and it the key too. When the word is not interpreted well, or the meaning behind it not understood and experienced fully, then it is a mere 'set of letters'. This 'ignorance' to treat ॐ as a set of letters and not understanding it as the representation of the eternal sound 'locks' the treasure of knowledge. So the ignorance about ॐ is like lock.

When the seeker understands the meaning of ॐ, through sadhana, then 'the whole new world' of realization opens for him / her. Practicing of Pranav Mantra during various sadhana options like Japa, Pranayam, Dhyan, etc takes the sadhak on the path of realization. Such persistent, focused sadhana ultimately opens the lock of ignorance and the seeker experiences the Ultimate Truth!

This is the moment of experiencing divine light. In such state, there is no illusion, no misconceptions, no attachments, no suffering, no pain. All that one experiences after such stage of realization is the ultimate brightness of the truth.

Gorakh Nath uses the symbolism of thorn and lock &key. Like thorn is used to remove thorn, or key is used to open the lock, the knowledge of ॐ opens the lock of ignorance and takes one to the truth.

So ॐ, which is ever existing naad, is simply loudly expressed with the sound that unifies with the cosmic sound, the eternal sound. Aum is the reflection of absolute reality. Upanishads say Ometi Brahman! Which means Aum itself is the Brahman, The Supreme Being!

The syllable ॐ is mentioned in all the Upanishads, set forth as the object of profound meditation, the highest spiritual efficacy being attributed not only to the whole word but also to the three sounds a (a-kāra), u (u-kāra), m (ma-kāra), of which it consists. A-kara means form or shape like earth, trees, or any other object. U-kāra means formless or shapeless like water, air or fire. Ma-kāra means neither shape nor shapeless (but still exists) like the dark energy content of the Universe. When we combine all three syllables we get AUM which is a combination of A-kāra, U-kāra, and Ma-kāra.

Gorakh Nath says, to open such lock of ॐ, the sadhak has to be blessed with the right Guru, who really is the Siddha - the realized master. Such master, then, instead of involving the sadhak in the meaningless rituals, opens the treasure of knowledge by appropriately and honestly guiding at various stages of sadhana. The ultimate result of such realized Guru's blessings is the experience of bright light of Truth! ॐ

Shubham Bhavatu!

Yogi Arwind

It is beyond Zero. Zero doesn’t fit into it! Gorakh Nath

2011-07-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Gorakh Nath has caught my imagination more than any other saint, philosopher & guide. His philosophy and the language is so captivating for obvious reasons like upfront style of communication, use of very apt phrases, clarity of the concepts, innovative methodology and no-nonsense approach to the spiritual journey.

Kabir, Raidas, Haridas, Dadu, Namdev etc are the saints of the same tradition of which Gorakh Nath is the initiator and torch bearer. Gorakh tradition of spiritual experience is deep rooted in the masses, language and techniques of this tradition are powerful yet simple. Gorakh Nath’s Sabadi, Pad, Gyan Tilak, Gyan Chautisa, Abhaymatra Jog, Atmabodh etc are the available literature.

The very first verse of his Sabadi is so powerful that it has all Upanishadic essence and glory.

Basati Na Shunyam, Shunyam Na Basati Agam Agochar Aisa I

Gagan Sishar mahi Balak Boley Taka Nav Dharahuge Kaisa II

This verse talks straight about the nature of the Param Tatva (‘Supreme Being’). Param Tatva being the ultimate creator, preserver and destroyer is the force that is not possible to be experienced with our limits of senses.

Basati na Shunyam Shunyam Na Basati

Gorakh says, the nature of the supreme being is such that you can not accommodate the supreme being in the ultimate void (Basati Na Shunyam) in which the universe is experiencing its existence. Shunya is zero. Zero means nothing left after it. Hence Zero means everything. And Zero in terms of universal reality is the ultimate void in which the universal existential dance is taking place. Gorakh says that the Supreme being who created this universe does not fit into this ultimate void (Shunya). It is even bigger and beyond it. And the big void does not fit into it too. Hence the supreme being is so vast that there is no measure to fathom its vastness.

Many Upanishads speak of such existential reality with the help of numerous examples. Ishavasya Upanishad, Prashopanishad talk of nature of the Supreme Being beyond the abilities of human senses to understand it.

Agam Agochar Aisa

Further says Gorakh, that the origin of the Supreme Being is not known. It is ‘Agam’. i.e. one doesn’t know from where and when it is originated. It means the Supreme Being is always there. There is no origin / beginning and end to it.

The Supreme Being is ‘Agochar’. It means it can not be understood fully with our parts of the body and senses. Hence our senses are so limited that the nature of the Supreme Being is simply beyond their capacity to ‘sense’ it.

Gagan Sishar mahi Balak Boley

Gorakh Nath uses a very unique phrase to explain further the nature of the Supreme Being. He says that it is like a small child speaking with his voice in the vastness of the sky. Symbolism associated with the child reflects many times in the spiritual literature. A child is ‘unconditioned’ existence. Child is life force with no conditioning of ‘Maya’ or illusion. Hence Gorakh says that the Supreme Being is the true existence like a child whose voice is spread all over the universe. The Supreme Being is ultimate Truth.

Taka Nav Dharahuge Kaisa

And lastly, in the first verse of the Sabadi, Gorakh Nath says that such Supreme Being, which is so vast, so huge that no timeline can bound it, so unlimeited in its expression that no senses can sense it, such an ultimate truth that you just can not name it. The Supreme Being is beyond Nam – Roop.

Shubham Bhavatu!

Yogi Arwind

Sadhana is to 'Enjoy Heavens Within You'

2011-05-12T09:23:00.001-07:00

Recently Yogi Arwind had a chat with Cristoforo about his Sadhana experiences and related queries. The questions were impressive. The questions and answers are useful for all sadhaks at various stages of spiritual evolution. Here are the excerpts with little editing:

Cristoforo:

Do you think its important to practice pranayama and meditation and asanas every day - or is sadhana something else? Can just getting on with the day be a deep form of sadhana - istead of forcing my self to squeez in some practice

Yogi Arwind:

Last sentense is beautiful. Sadhana is a flow. Sadhana is means to reach the spiritual goal which is connecting with the supreme and remaining in constant integrity with the supreme. Ultimate spiritual experience is enjoying heavens within us.

So means like pranayama, asan are significant if they help us reach the goal. Ultimately its our psychological being that has to enjoy and experience the integrity with the supreme being. Our bodily being has to be supportive to our other beings like emotional, mental etc. So means like aasan, pranayam are important to provide the stable base for further spiritual journey.

In fact, every thought, performing every action in a day as meditation is the ultimate phase of spiritual experience. Living the presence!

Cristoforo:

My communication with the supreme is weak in words nowadays - but strong in action and presence. I feel present in the kingdom of god living to learn, serve and cleanse my self - but my prayer is weak - sometimes I pray to an external form or idea - sometimes to my higher inner state - but I feel like I am just following other peoples ideas - I love to serve, purify my will and keep growing and fulfilling the will of the supreme - but my verbal or linguistic communication and understanding is weak - I feel worth in serving - but I want to deepen my communication - I used to chant mantras - but now I speak to the cosmos - not sure if I am speaking within or without - how important is it to speak and communicate with the divine with words.

Yogi Arwind:

I am impressed with the precise description of your state of spiritual evolution. Well, when we say we are in tune with the supreme, the difference of inner and outer does not remain any more. Its an ultimate oneness - 'Shunya' awastha - which is all encompassing. Nothing is left beyond it. All sounds, feel the same, as part of wider being - the divine. Getting used to this sate of being or experiencing this being constantly is a challenge and hence Sadhana is required.

Sadhana can be any form - from listening music to chanting mantra to meditating on some thought or object. For every person, different trigger works. I guess for you the mantra works.

Awareness has no language. It is just there. Its comprehensive experience. So trying to limit it with spoken words or understandable language is not advisable. We shall not enslave ourselves to the means of words. They are important means but not the end in itself. When we travel to New York from London, reaching to New York and enjoying the surrounding, places there is the goal. We shall achieve that by reaching there by boat, plane or whatever means. It is not true that only British Airways takes us to new York. There are other airlines and other means of travel.

Similarly, we shall not limit our experience of 'union with supreme' to some means of mantra or any specific techniques of meditation. We must acknowledge its importance as well as significance 'limited' to take us there.

In nutshell, keep chanting mantras as they are the tool to take to the higher experience. Use them as a tool and not the goal

Please don't judge on the basis of - whether you chant regular for x number of times etc

Just use it as a trigger. Bullet should hit the spot!

Cristoforo:

Thank you for your words and energy

Yogi Arwind:

You are welcome.

Cristoforo:

I used to chant the Mritunjaya, the Dhyana Sloka and an other guru mantra that I forgot the name - "om sahan vavatu, sahana bunktu, saha viryam, karavavahai etc". But then I stoped because it lost power.

I was questioning what I was singing - I thought I was just blindly following what someone had suggested.

Now I will chant with grace and love, devotion and totality again.

Yogi Arwind:

Beautiful!

Mantra gains more power with

1. More recitation

2. Meaningful recitation

3. Recitation with focus / concentration ( one's all beings viz, body, mind and soul should be totally involved)

4. Recitation with the firm feeling that gods are actually going to listen it (Conviction, Belief, Faith)

5. Not disclosing it with arrogance to others

Cristoforo:

This is my big question.That my rationality is stumbling upon. Should I be humble in the presence of external gods - chant and pray to them. or are they all part of my inner true self. When I pray to Saraswati, should I bow and give thanks and blessings to her grace and wisdom or am I resonating that state within me.

Yogi Arwind:

Well, I understand where it comes from. Its a phase through which every sadhak goes. Let me try to explain.

Brahman is one. the truth. The divine which creates, sustains and destroys.

The universe which we see and experience and beyond is his creation and representation.

Hence every universal being is the part of this ultimate truth

You, me, trees, rivers, animals, mountains... every seen and unseen. Every matter and live beings.

In the process of making these things simple to understand for a common man, sages started using examples, symbols etc for thousands of years.

So came in form the various gods. These gods are nothing but various permutations and combinations of energy fields. So for someone who understands symbolism behind Saraswati, her worship is means of Sadhana.

For someone who understands 'divine sound of OM (AUM),' chanting of OM is sadhana

For someone who understands tree, or river as a representation of divine being, praying them or taking care of them is Sadhana.

What we need to understand is, ultimate goal is to achieve the state where we recognize ourselves as a part of supreme being and experience so. Imagery of gods are an attempt by sages, wise men to simplify things.

The supreme (Brahman) is with no attributes. Or with all attributes.

Most importantly, spirituality starts where rationality or logic ends.

Hope this helps you to develop perspective...

Cristoforo:

Mr, Master, friend and Lover. Divine light and blessed existence. Thank you for your messages. I will print it and stick it in my diary. Your words have helped me a lot - to overcome the paradox of linguistics and to live love with devotion and joy. My prospective is definitely been developed.

Yogi Arwind:

Shubham Bhavatu!