Multiculturalism - Understand it!

It is very important to understand other cultures. The main problems in the world are the result of differences in culture, religion and so on. 

We think, "Why should I do this? It is not my culture. Why should I wear a turban? It's an Indian culture." If someone wants to wear a turban, then they should be able to wear a turban. Who are we to discriminate against someone who wears a turban? 

This is the problem. And this problem exists because ignorance rules in this world. People are not educated properly - they know nothing about other cultures and that's why they discriminate against them. In European schools they are beginning to teach the children about other religions and cultures. 

Once someone asked Gandhi why there were so many Goddesses in India. Gandhi said that it was thanks to God that there were so many Goddesses. He went on to say that if a garden has many different kinds of flowers growing in it, then it's a beautiful garden, but if the garden has only one kind of flower, it's not as beautiful. Pumpkins are good, but if you only have pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins in your garden, then it is not so good! 

Someone said that the whole world has become like a small village, and in a small village there must be unity. However, to bring about unity, there needs to be understanding - we need to understand the diversities. We should be informed and educated and we should be free to follow whatever culture we wish. 

There is so much discrimination in the world - "my religion, my tradition, mine only - no others". 

One person likes to eat with a spoon, the other likes to eat with their hands - why not? Why should the person who eats with a spoon discriminate against the person who eats with their hands? After all, God gave us hands - we were not born with a spoon! But this is how we think. We discriminate. The main thing is that they are eating - it doesn't matter how. 

We should respect our culture, we should maintain our culture but we should not discriminate against other cultures.

 

Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda
Kranj, Slovenia - 9th November 2002.

Wake up, grow up!

We have experienced much in our lives and finally now we have grown up and have become awake inwardly. We have become seekers of God. Therefore say to yourself: "Lay down your childish habits and wake up at last."

 

Live a happy life. – The most beautiful, most fortunate life is a life in the community. A lonely, "individualistic" life is sad. Therefore Mahabrabhuji said: "I miss the Satsang company, I miss my guru brothers and sisters.”

 

However some people like only certain persons, all others are "red hanky" for them. The problem is in yourself. Don't think that no one likes you, that others are envious and jealous. The mistake is not in others, but always only within ourselves! This is because you want everything for yourself. When someone does not want to follow your suggestion you feel offended. This is not the aim of spirituality, or of a yogi, or of an awakened person, but of a person who is egotistical, fearful, greedy and angry. These people are like the honey spoon, which stays on top of the honey but does not know how the honey tastes.

 

Live! Enjoy your life! Live with your friends, share with your friends. And what can be nicer than to be with your yoga brothers and sisters? To spend one or two weeks together and to practise and meditate together, to have beautiful satsangs, to enjoy the nature and calmness – even so, some never feel fortunate.

 

This is my only prayer to Mahaprabhuji. I wish for myself nothing other than my disciples live in harmony. At Gurupurnima, at my birthday and at Christmas I wish myself only one thing: harmony among my disciples. This would be my second enlightening level. This has never happened to God Krishna, to God Rama, to Jesus. However maybe I will succeed in this and for how long I shall be waiting "only the wind knows".

 

This does not regard only your yoga group, but also your family. It is important that you remain in harmony also with your family, with your partner, your colleagues and friends.

Thoughts have a stronger effect than physical acts. Our ego, our proudness has a stronger effect than a slap. A slap hurts only once and the pain goes away soon, but a person who is egotistical and arrogant, afflicts all life long. Many people are full of anxiety to return home from work and many women have fear when their husbands come back home.

 

Doing only Yoga exercises will not change your nature. You must decide yourself to change. You can make a cat vegetarian, but as soon as he sees a mouse, his nature comes out and he runs after it. Although you live with holy people, although you practise every day, you have not changed your inner qualities, your characteristics. You like studying philosophy and Sanskrit - but in this way you will not obtain liberation. Only when you practise love, understanding, goodness - this way will lead you closer to God.

 

A poem says: ”If you only read books you will never get wise not even in a hundred years.

In the moment when you experience ‘love’, immediately you will belong to the wise ones."

 

To be offended, to be jealous, greedy, egotistical - this does not change so quickly. On the contrary, the more one practises, the more these characteristics come out. Therefore just as the mud whirls and rises to the surface when you mix it with water, so do some people become hypocritical "self-made Gurus". At this point the unenlightened reveals himself, that is, he thinks he does not need a master and affirms he is a master himself.

 

Keep away from your spirit the nettles of destructive thoughts and the thorns of angry words. When you make other people happy, you will receive happiness yourself. As soon as you cause problems to others, you will also receive problems.

 

 

Mahaprabhuji's teaching is Advaita (unity) - to understand all the four yoga paths as unity: Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Gyana. You cannot go on one Yoga path separately. You cannot do Karma Yoga without Bhakti, as you cannot do it without Raja (discipline) and without Gyana (knowledge). Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Gyana cannot be separated in a yogi, just as we cannot separate any elements from our body. We need all five elements: Akasha (space), Agni (fire), Jala (water), Vayu (air) and Prithvi (earth). If any of these elements are missing then the body can no longer live.

 

Our mind is hungry. This hunger brings us always back in this life. We are hungry for praise, fame, wealth, beauty, enjoyments … but the hunger of our soul can only be satisfied forever through Gyana, knowledge. Gyana Amrit, the nectar of knowledge makes you immortal – compared to the "sweetness" of worldly life, which only makes you diabetic!

 

In Samsara (world) you get milk mixed with water (reality and unreality). Your intellect, your heart should be "Paramhansa" (divine swan), who drinks only milk and leaves out water. The world is not empty, it is full of flowers, good people, Satsang, wisdom and knowledge. Open your eyes, your heart and your consciousness and you will see it. Don't be like a fly always going around what is dirty. Be like a bee who looks for flowers and takes the honey from them, even from a poisonous plant she knows how to get the nectar.

 

Enjoy life! When I speak of joy, I do not mean the worldly joys like eating and drinking, money, properties, lovers, sexual relations. They are not joys. On the contrary after awhile they become burdens. One day they will bring sorrows, more sorrows than the pleasures you once obtained from them. Don’t depend on these things but look for the eternal joy.

From here to Brahmaloka there are many beauties to enjoy. You do not have to renounce to this joy because you are not any more the one who enjoys the joy, you are joy itself.

 

Don't think of your body, don't think of your feelings - think of your reality. Who are you? You are not what people are praising or criticizing. You are your Self. Recognize your Self - this is the answer to all your questions, the remedy to all your suffering, the aim of all your searching. Your Self is everywhere, like oil in seeds, like fragrance in flowers.

 

The world seems empty, nevertheless it is complete because you are in it. Your Self is the eternal, divine Self, which is everywhere, infinite and unchangeable as the blue sky above.

I am you and you are me. However you think and feel only with the body. These body attachments separate us. We are much closer to each other than what you can imagine. There is no distance except that you are thinking "far". As long as this thought of distance is in your consciousness your suffering will never cease. You feel alone, separated, lost. I am what you are, too, and what I am, you are. You are not separate from me. The brightness of the Self is omnipresent and omniscient. It is everywhere in every atom.

 

Krishna said to Arjuna: "Give up all this Prapanch (worldly nonsense) and surrender yourself to Me. Then all your sins will be forgiven" (Bhagavad Gita, Kap. 18)

 

This is another Yoga. This is what we are looking for, the reason why we have come here. Try to understand this reality and to "digest" it. Collect the nectar, not the poison. Only you can help yourself. Only you yourself can do it. In order to be full, you have to eat yourself. In order to understand, you have to digest yourself.

 

OM SRI DEEP NARAYAN BHAGWAN KI JAY.


The Practice of Yoga in Daily Life

Leture by Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swamiji)
Perth, Australia 2004

 

Adoration to all divine incarnation on this globe. Salutation to the Cosmic Light, Lord of our hearts, omniscient and omnipresent. Merciful Lord, bless us with good health, a harmonious, happy and long life. Bless us with mutual understanding. Let your divine Mercy shower upon us as nectar of wisdom leading us towards immortality. OM Shantih, Shantih, Shantih.

Today I will tell you about some of my own experiences of teaching and practising of Yoga. I will give you some first-hand information.

The Yoga-system we practice is called Yoga in Daily Life. What brought me to call it a "system"? In this lies the success for our practice.

I've been travelling around the world since 1970, my permanent residence, at least on paper, is Austria. Why did I choose Austria? Because I had many invitations from the previous communist countries to teach Yoga. And these countries are near to the Austrian border; as well Austria is a beautiful country and people.

When I first began to teach, people told me they were only interested in Hatha Yoga. In India Hatha Yoga means Shat Karma or purification techniques. This entails every day practicing Neti, Kunjal Kriya, Nauli, Tratak, and Kapala Bhati. So, I told them: Ok. We will begin with Yoga class at 5.30 in the morning. Then nobody was interested. They said a Yoga class should be in the evening. For me this was like saying: let's take breakfast in the evening. Eventually it came out that people meant Asanas and Pranayam, not the original Hatha Yoga purification techniques.

Many Yoga schools dive into and practice only the higher techniques like head-stands. There is no systematic development, and in this way many people damaged their health instead of improving it. The common opinion is that Yoga means upside down and contortionist-like postures. This is not true.

So I consulted doctors and physiotherapists, and decided to develop a system that begins with very simple and effective practices and gradually advances to the higher levels. And it is this systematic way of practicing that leads to our success. From elementary school to university we have to learn and practice systematically. A staged development has to take place in the brain, in the psyche, in the mind.

The more gradually and slowly you practice, the greater will be the effect. The more you strain your body, the less you will gain. The simplest exercise, practiced properyly, has an immense effect on your psychic development for the more slowly you move, the more you need and will develop psychic strength.

Let's put this into practice right now with an experiment: Take off your wrist watch. Raise your left hand and look into your left palm. Now close and open the fist about ten times. What do you feel? Nothing special. Now do the same very slowly. Close your fist and hold it closed for a while. Now open the palm. Do you feel the difference? Now close the fist again, and with the right hand hold your left wrist tightly. Slowly open your left palm. It will appear pale, because the blood flood has been blocked. Now slowly release the right hand, and what happens? The blood is flowing into the hand very intensively. Now repeat with the right hand. Your hand will feel warm, fresh blood, more oxygen, more energy is coming in. All tissues get new energy, blockades have been removed.

In the same way, practicing slowly, you gain the same effect. By practicing this way you will gain enormous mental power.

The same holds true for Pranayama. You shall use a pranayam-stick. It is a very useful tool, a support for your arm, you will not fall into sleep, you will easily sit straight, your arm is relaxed, back and stomach are relaxed, lungs are open and you will take in maximum oxygen, and when you practice mantra with your mala, your mala will not touch the floor.

Do Pranayama softly and slowly. It purifies your blood, purifies your Kapha. Concentrate more on Pranayama than on Asanas. It does not matter how advanced you are, maybe you are an acrobat, but for Yoga exercises you still need to take a step-by-step approach starting from the beginning. The more slowly you do the exercises the more mental strength you will gain. This way of practicing requires much self-control, patience, awareness and discipline.

It is the same way for eating. Your eating should be like drinking, and drinking like eating. This means you should chew your meal thoroughly until it becomes like liquid. And you shall drink so slowly, as if it were solid food.

Yoga is a science. If you neglect your exercises for ten days, you are a beginner again. It is very important to start slowly and proceed systematically and continuously. And the first and most important exercise is relaxation. For most people it is not so easy to relax. And then to learn correct breathing, slow and deep breathing.

After three years of systematic and frequent practise you will gain strength and trust in your body, and be able to control your muscles. Your practice will become like a Cosmic dance. Never hurry in Yoga. In Yoga there should be no challenge and no competition. Asanas are postures in which you remain for a longer time. Yoga is not gymnastics. In Sukha (bliss, happiness) Asanas, you shall feel comfortable in every posture.

Because many people do not have the strength and will power to practice slowly they have no success in Yoga and give up. The more slowly you practice the more benefit your will gain from your Yoga practice.

Yoga in Daily Life is a system to master your five bodies. Annamayakosha (physical), Pranamayakosha (pranic energy), Manomayakosha (mental), Vijnanamaya (wisdom) and Anandamayakosha (bliss). These five bodies influence our whole life, our entire being.

According to Patanjali there are steps or stages in one's Yoga practice: Asanas (postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawing of the senses from the external objects), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (complete realisation). To develop through these stages we have to develop our mind, our emotions, our hearts, and our knowledge. Therefore we go to Satsang, for we require continual inspiration and support. Satsang purifies our consciousness and inspires our mind.

Eating, drinking, working, speaking, whatever we do in 24 hours should be Yoga, the daily tasks in our lives should be practiced with yogic-awareness and love. Therefore I call it Yoga in Daily Life. Living life according to yogic principles throughout our daily lives. In this way you lead a life united with the Divine, a Divine life.


Sustainable development and the impact of human consciousness

Lecture by Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda at the University of Zagreb, Sept. 22, 2004

 

OM asato ma sad gamaya – lead us from the unreality to reality
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya – lead us from the darkness to the light
Mritiu ma amritam gamaya – lead us from the mortality to immortality
OM shantih shantih shantih – peace, peace, peace be in this world and in the whole universe.

 

Salutations to the cosmic light, Lord of our hearts, omniscient and omnipresent. In His divine presence, my dear brothers and sisters, respected Dean, Prof. Dr. Ćurko, previous Dean Prof. Dr. Franc, respected Excellency Dr. Muftić, former Minister of Science, dear organisers, Indian Friendship Society, it is my great pleasure to be here today. This lecture is aimed to undertake some integration between the science of technology and the science of yoga.

 

I see two kind of worlds. One world is made by God, and one by the humans. We know that the man-made world is not so perfect like that of God. But in the last centuries humans have made immense of development. Human consciousness has developed very much. It is said in Yoga: Mano Matra Jagat – the world is created out of the mind. God's world has been created out of the cosmic mind, and our world we create out of our mind.

 

Technology has made immense of progress and development. But is this a development in reality or not? In medical science it is so that every kind of tablets have many side-effects. You try to cure your flu but you damage the liver and kidneys and digestive system. Similarly we made immense of progress in technology, everything has become faster, but we humans face now the biggest problems and challenges. The biggest threat of this world is not the threat of terrorists but the climate changes. And the cause of climate changes is the human mind. We try to make everything comfortabler, faster … but the side effects are negative. Now we ask ourselves how to safe the world from pollution. Physical, social and mental pollution. Pollution is very hard to control. United Nations constantly organised conferences in last years, searching a sustainable development. We have to ask us, is that what we do sustainable or not. We construct a car, a computer, a machine - but within few years it is not any more useful. But how much pollution it has created and is still creating till all parts have been recycled.

 

In the last century people had problems with water, especially in Australia, Israel and other dry countries, and experts designed a dam system. They built big dams. In Europe, in order to have a safer life, the built river banks. The result is this that hundreds of square-kms nature is dying, ground water level is sinking. In countries like India the ground water level has gone down 100-200 ms deep. Entire nature is dying. Do we call this sustainable development or sustainable destruction? It is very important what comes out of the human brain. You who are students here and will be the experts of the future. I wish that you find some models without creating pollution, without negative side effects, that have only positive effects. Such models I would expect from modern technology.

 

Besides this modern technology can do real "miracles". In Yoga we have the Siddhi of telepathy. But it rarely functions and only some people know it. With the modern technology of telephone the entire world can communicate. But still it creates negative side effects and is misused in many ways. Our grand-grandparents would have thought that it is a fairy tale when you would have told them that we have now vehicles that move without horses or that there are vehicles flying in the air.

 

This university is the future of your country, future of the world. Your professors can help you to give you such an inspiration that you may concentrate and realise on positive development. Create and invent such things, such methods and technologies that are helpful in any case, will not be misused and do not create any negative effects at all. The person who invented the atomic energy did not think that it will be used for deadly weapons. Technology has its benefit but also its great dangers. Atomic energy has become like a devil that threatens the whole globe. This devil to destroy or get rid of it is not easy. Many things in our world went out of our hands. So think about the effects and side effects before you do something. Don’t think only of the momentary benefit and momentary effect that you like and that brings some support in your life. Think also on the long lasting effects and results that may be much more unpleasant and dangerous than the short enjoyment or comfort out of it.

 

For example: You drink alcohol and you maybe enjoy it for a short time, but think on the damage you cause in your body and mind. Do something, find something that brings real sustainability. Man made world should not go against nature, against creation. Be protective, respect the laws of nature.

 

The developed countries, I call destroyed countries and destructive countries, because of the pollution that they cause and that they suffer. So, it is very important to create positive, sustainable methods and technologies.

 

Yoga is not only physical exercises but a science of mind and consciousness. Through Yoga you can develop your concentration and bring your visions and ideas in realisation. For the students in particular Tratak is a very good method to develop and increase concentration, will-power and ability of imagination. It is a very easy technique and consumes only 15 minutes a day. If you are interested contact the Yoga in Daily Life centre in your town our country.

 

Thank you for your invitation. God bless you, and God bless your country. Thank you.


Cultivate your relationships

Strilky, 26th November 2004

 

 

Many people probably did not value the presence of Guruji and His Darshan enough to receive any benefit from it. On the other hand, blessed are they who saw Guruji with their physical eyes.

When a person has gone, then you realise what you have lost. As long as you are together you don’t value it so much. But afterwards you are complaining to yourself: this and this you could have done better, etc. It means that in the end you find yourself full of regrets or you see your own weak points. Then you realise that you could have done better, could have understood more, compromised more, tolerated more, spoken more – but when they have gone it is too late. This could be in many areas of your life, with your parents, your partner, your children, your friends and so on.

 

There are two things that are hard to understand and hard to differentiate: relationship and attachment.  Every human relationship is different.

 

Humans have relationships with nature, with animals, with trees, homes, colleagues, friends, relatives. When at some time a deep relationship has taken place, it puts certain motives into your subconscious. Sometimes you don’t care much about this. But then when it has gone, those patterns come out from your subconscious into your consciousness in the form of feelings, imagination, memories, dreams, thinking, or feelings of loss. This is not attachment, but the characteristics of a human relationship. Attachment is when you only want to have something for yourself. When it creates jealousy, when you don’t want to let it out of your hands, then this kind of relationship is connected with suffering. This will awaken anger in you, hatred, and jealousy. You can even harm your relationship with good friends. For certain periods we think we don’t care. But this kind of thinking, be sure, will one day be the cause of great suffering.

 

Nowadays it is very hard to keep friendships. Humans are separated into many different directions by profession, distance, films, television, internet. Humans have become more and more individual. They don’t care about others. There was a time when all village people lived in their village their whole life long. And they were happy to welcome others, they were happy if somebody immigrated. It was a great shame for a king if his people had to emigrate; it was a shame for a father if children had to go away. Happy and proud were they who could welcome others in their country, their village, their family. Now in this modern civilisation, what we call the modern system, humanity is suffering from four things: 1. Environment – pollution is a problem throughout the whole world, it is not limited, we are all included. 2. Immigration problems – one of the biggest problems internationally. 3. Problems of unemployment, that means problems of existence. 4. Water problems – this is growing every year. Water is already more expensive than milk.

 

All these problems have been caused by humans. The modern way of living, education, thinking – our entire system is wrong. Everything is connected with one expression: “I don’t care. I don’t want to be like that, I don’t want to do this or that any more. It's not my duty. I don’t care about my friends, they are not my friends any more. I want to be by myself…” and so on. If we had cultivated our relationships, pure relationships without expectations, we would have taken care of nature, of animals, of water, of human society and we would not face these problems today. In the past we had to carry water a few hundred metres, now we don’t even want to go 10m away. We want to have a bathroom and toilet in our bedrooms. We don’t even want to have water one metre from our cooking place. We are cleaning potatoes under running water, and wasting millions of litres of water, day after day. Don’t think that you have enough rain and water. Very soon it will not be so, and if there is water, you won’t be able to drink it.  Less than 50 years ago in your rivers there were many healthy creatures, and now there are only bacteria.

 

Spirituality doesn’t mean to pray and pray all the time. Spirituality means to take care of this beautiful living planet. Never think: “I don’t care!”  Don’t break the beautiful relationship with your friends. When you break this confidence you will be more unhappy.

 

Human life is for understanding relationships.

 

Relate with others as much as you can. Never be too tired to make friends, and to change enemies into friends. Never be too tired to work for your friends. This is a part of your success in life. And don’t expect that others will understand you just as you understand them. They don’t know. Cultivate your relationships. You have to give. Don’t expect. Give. When the thinking of “yours and mine” begins, when you divide the world, you have divided yourself from everyone. Don’t say, “this is not my duty.”

 

I was born as an individual, and now I will relate to all. When I die, all those relationships will die with me, that is, they will all feel the pain of my leaving.

 

Kabirdas said in one poem: When I was born I was crying, and people were laughing. They were happy.  You should do such a work, such activities, create such relationships, so many friends that when you die, maybe you will be happy to leave all these sufferings, but others will cry.

 

Don’t become such a person, that when you die, people will say, “thanks to God that he died.”

 

Cultivate the relationship. Not the attachment  which creates anger, jealousy, hate, complexes, that divides you. That’s bad for you. This is blindness, madness. Then you lose the love, the human qualities and then you say: “I don’t care.” Then all negative things are on your side. Then you start to count only negative things.

 

Whether your life will be successful or not successful is in your hands.

 

We should become aware of the environment. Pollution is not only physical pollution.  The biggest pollution is mental pollution. This has brought the world to this point today. We think in the last 60 years we have been living in a democratic way, that the world has been developed – but I say, it has developed towards destruction. So many diseases, catastrophes, wars, pollution – this never was in the past. You are sitting here from many different countries, professions … don’t think always that the government shall do. Government can do when the public helps. That is democracy.  In reality the world is  governed by a few rich people. With their money they produce the things. And you are utilising those things. Don’t be the consumer of such things  which harm our planet, our relationships, our spirituality. We don’t want to be divided, we want to be one. Don’t separate your friends from you. Only money is governing the world. It is a moral, an ethic, a human matter. Love is not only physical between male and female. You can love your house, your car, flowers. Love is an indescribable power. Maintain the relationships, cultivate the relationships.  Not only to humans, also to animals, nature …. Never think, never say: “I don’t care.” You should care about every relationship in this world.  It may be about your house, river, water, washing powder, way of dressing, what you buy, what you eat, your friends, humans and animals.

 

Make a Sankalpa: with this brain I will not think negatively at all, with this tongue I will not criticise. Don’t hate any person. You can hate the action, not the person. You should not criticise, but support and help if someone makes a mistake. Don’t throw one more knife.

 

These are life instructions for you. Maybe someone doesn’t like them because they themselves have these negative qualities. But I don’t talk for one person,  I talk for all who will listen. Understand and forgive. Like Jesus did.  Who lives according to Jesus' words is a Christian. Christianity is not a religion; it is a way of life! And I am telling you the same instructions.

 

How many friends do you have? Count your friends. Are you in oneness with them? Can you take their duty upon you? Can you count on them?  Will you cook for them, clean their windows for them?  Can you do this?

 

Ekoham Bhaushyami – we can understand like this: “I am one, and I will relate to all.”

 

Why are you here (in this lecture)?  Because we are friends. I count on you and I am ready to give my life for you. Nothing is more beautiful than this, that we can see each other from time to time. What brings us together: love. It is like a magnet that pulls us together. ThroughKusang and negative thinking when this love is gone then, although you have time, you will not come. Because you did not cultivate this love, which is like the flame of a candle, and now you have to go through the storm. Exactly like protecting a tiny candle flame in the storm is it to cultivate and protect our friendship in this stormy world.

 

Everyone is supporting the strong one, not the weak one. The same wind that makes a fire into a great fire will blow out the weak candle flame. Our relationship and love is still too weak. It can blow out very quickly. You have to protect your flame and walk very carefully.

 

Our anger and jealousy will harm us. Don’t compare yourself to others. Understand each other. That’s very important.

 

This I wanted to tell you: gone is gone. Then you are sad and think: I could have done this and this. But then it is too late.

 

Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda


Start to practise Yoga in Daily Life

When your body is full of vikara (impurity) then your mind is also infected and it’s as though your intellect is covered with fog and dust – your view of reality is unclear and wrong. Our food is full of rajasic and tamasic guna. It depends how the food has been prepared, this can already change the quality of the food. We have developed a wrong sense of taste, a wrong way of cooking, we don’t know anymore what to eat, when to eat or how to cook.

 

The best and the only way to purify the body is to practise yoga. Asanas, pranayama, shanka prakshalana (purification of the intense tights). Lets make a sankalpa for the coming year to practise regularly, make shanka prakshalana four times a year, eat healthy food. If you doshanka prakshalana regularly you will avoid many illnesses and maintain your good health.

 

For your good health, positive and sattvic energy, do every morning: neti, kapala bhati orbhastrika pranayama and agnisara kriya. Also asanas and pranayama for one and half hours each day. Each week on Monday do kunjal kriya and four times a year (when the seasons change) you should make shanka prakshalana. (An alternative for those who cannot do shanka prakshalana: take sonamukhi (senna) or bitter salt, every second week.)

 

Eat sattvic (pure) food: vegetables, fruits, sprouts, salad. Less bread, cheese and sugar. Change your diet and set your alarm to 4:30am. Then do your sadhana peacefully, and you will have a beautiful day. If you practice two hours a day, you are winning two additional hours for your life.

 

Living in a lazy body is like living in a coffin. A lazy body, an undisciplined body, is a dead body. Wash out tamas guna and vikara!

 

Observe and realize in practice four points in your daily life:

acara (how you should behave), vicara (what you should think), ahara (what you should eat),vihara (with whom you should keep company).

 

Don’t treat your body like a garbage bin. Ask yourself what has been your motivation and goal in your life, and have you fulfilled this motivation or wish?

 

My recommendation for you is: You should start to practise Yoga in Daily Life.

 

Our "slogan": “Yoga in Daily Life – Harmony for Body, Mind and Soul”. This inspired many of you. This you were searching, this you wanted to realise. We are civilised and educated people. We know what body, mind and soul are, we know what harmony means. Harmony in the family, in the environment, in society, in relationships and within us. That was the cause that attracted you, that inspired you. And now you are here. Many years, months or days later.

 

Only a hungry person knows what food is. Only oneself knows the reality about oneself . Ask yourself now: How far have you realised the aim that you came here for? Has the iron been changed into gold? The question is: Is the paras a real paras, or didn’t the paras touch the iron properly? So, either Yoga is not that, which can give us harmony for body, mind and soul. Or it still did not touch your heart. Due to our ignorance, our laziness, our doubts…

 

I would not say that yoga is not real. Yoga is divine. It is a science of body, mind and consciousness. It is the balancing principle for the whole universe.

 

Obviously the problem lies within us.

 

Constantly we complain about our illnesses. When you really practise yoga you will be far away from roga (illness). Where there are bhoga (desires), there is roga, illness. Where there is raga, attachment, jealousy, anger, there is also roga.

 

But yoga is something else. If you practise yoga, those three things will automatically disappear. When the sun rises, automatically darkness disappears. When you begin withyoga, then raga, bhoga and roga will go away. But we don’t let them go! We’d rather miss ouryoga exercises, but we don’t want to miss our bhoga exercises. For bhogas and ragas we have plenty of time. And the result of ragas and bhogas is roga, illness. And if you take drugs  roga is rising even into your mind and intellect.

 

Ayurveda means knowledge about life, about the expansion of the life. Ayurveda provides a program for arogya. Rogi is the ill one, arogi is the healthy one. In Sanskrit we don’t say “good appetite” before eating, we say “Arogye”, “good health”. Culture is connected to the language. The language is a picture of the culture. Culture is a living principle. Culture leads us. That culture that gives us a right direction through language, food, arts, music, dance, singing, painting, writing … there are many branches of culture. Culture is a leading power for humans. When humans loose their culture, they have lost their direction.

 

Therefore I would ask you to begin more seriously with yoga. You will gain contentment and happiness. You will experience joy with your body, mind and soul. So, start to practise seriously asanas, pranayamas, mudras, bandhas, kriyas, meditation and seva, helping, serving.

 

We need two kinds of persons: the yogi and the rogi. The yogi who can cure and the rogi to be cured. But two we don’t need: the bhogi and the rogi.

 

You should realise what you came here for. You should show the world that yoga can really give harmony for body, mind and soul. Be the paras, the precious stone that turns iron into gold. Turn the negative qualities and vibrations into wisdom, understanding and forgiveness. Help others, turn their ignorance into knowledge and remain steady in your faith, discipline and inner harmony.

 

Life is very unsure. We cannot trust our life. That means we don’t know when our last day will come. A sudden accident can happen any time. Illnesses. Heart attack. This body is not given to us forever. Therefore Guru Nanak Sahib said: Teri biti umara Hari Nam bina – “Your life is empty without the name of God.” At least now, begin to remember God.

 

This human life is given to gain knowledge, atma gyana, knowledge of the Self. This life is given to us to become liberated. It is the only chance. If you miss this chance, you will not forgive yourself. Whatever you are angry or jealous about, or have doubts about, or like, or don’t like, will have no any meaning. You are bothering about others unnecessarily. You should only create friendship.

 

Love is life. If you don’t have love in your life, it is no life. Love of friends, love of nature, love of other creatures. Prem hi jivan – life is love, and love is life, and love is God.

 

In order to get friends you have to become a friend. The distance depends on you. If you think you don’t like others, or others don’t like you – it is only your phobia. Therefore create more and more friends. Then there will be no wars. There will be no fighting.

 

So many are sitting here from different nations, and none of us has a weapon. We are all friends and we are all happy together. World peace and happiness and friendship depend on you, individually. It is in your hands. Now, at the end of the year, according to Christianity, you should remember all your friends. Don’t forget to remember them and wish them a prosperous and happy new year. And at the end of next year you should have twice as many friends!

 

In India we say: dosthi. Do means two, and sathi is truth. One is going on the path of truth and takes along the other, also on the path of truth. We all are on the path of truth and spirituality. And we should walk with harmony, love and understanding. Mistakes happens with everyone. Don’t think that you don’t make mistakes. There will be one day when you will stop making mistakes, when you die. As long as your friends live they will make mistakes. Forgiveness should always be there. As long as you are alive.

 

Friends are the richness in life. Not cheats, not back-biters. But first you have to make the step towards friendship. We don’t know what will happen to us in this life. As long as we are in this body we do our best. Do good and positive things. Meditate and pray. Repeat the name of God.

 

There are three mental principles: manas, buddhi and viveka.

 

The principle of manas is sankalpa and vikalpa. The mind is influenced by senses and feelings, and actions follow them. There is shama and dama in gyana yoga. Shama means to withdraw your senses and Vrittis from the external world. That doesn’t mean that you detach and run away. When you drive a car and another car is coming, carefully you pass by. You avoid touching this car. But you don’t go off the road. Similarly you should handle samsara. There are many things, and you need not to take all of them into consideration. You should be able to say: “No, I don’t want that." This means to withdraw, to become introvert. Introvert doesn’t mean to become dull. Not to become depressed, not that you talk to everybody. That is an unhappy state of mind. That you are not able to coordinate your body and mind and outer world. This is not a yogi. Dama means to observe and control the senses. You tell your dog: Sit down, and he is sitting there. Still you will observe him that he is not running away and hunt behind something. Similarly you tell your senses to draw back that they don’t run wild. Who can manage this is the happiest person.

 

Sayama means to everyday observe carefully that your senses and vrittis keep within a certain border. Don’t allow them to go out of this border. This is not for one weekend only, but forever. This is called niyama, discipline. If you get up at 6am then do it every day. Keep your habits. Sandhya vandana, in the morning and in the evening at sunrise and sunset, you should make prayer and think of God. When the darkness appears, when the sun goes down, then you put on the light. The first light that you see in the evening, does not matter where, the first light in the darkness, you should greet. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya – “Lead us from darkness to the light.” Light is something indescribable. We don’t know what the light means. He who lost his eyes knows what he has lost. Our eyes are the most precious senses God has given to us. When you see the first light, be thankful to God. The light is the same for all. It does not depend on one’s religion. It is the same for Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Moslems, Jews etc.

 

To protect sanatana dharma means to protect yourself. To protect yourself means, protect your eyes, your ears, your speech, and all limbs. All limbs should be healthy. To take care of them needs to do some sadhana, sayama and niyama. A healthy, sattvic diet, clean and fresh water. When you are thirsty the body requires water – not juice, not beer, not wine, not Coke. Keep your body clean and pray. The human aim is to gain atma gyana. That is only possible through sayama and niyama, sandhya vandana. That will help your spirituality to develop and grow. Look into your inner mirror always. What are you thinking? Achalramji said in his Bhajan: Purity creates positive thinking, and impurity creates negative thinking. When you get up think positive. Greet God. Make a positive Sankalpa for the day. Wake up and get out of the mud and dirt. Purify the spots from your mind. They are so oily that you have to wash them through many, many lives. One life is not enough to clean them away. On the stone of gyana, with the water of bhakti and the soap of vairagya. Gyana, bhakti and vairagyaare the essential qualities.

 

Don’t think that you will never achieve this. Don’t think it is senseless. Just start, and keep the discipline. Bring your train onto the rails and it will run. Sayama and niyama you can do anywhere in the world. Protect your body. Observe your thoughts. Keep your eye on your senses. Atma chintana. Think of your atma. "Who am I?" Higher thinking. Tapas, tyaga is very important. Have the ability to endure something. Use your buddhi, your intellect – train and educate it in the proper way, so that it can give you the right judgements. The cream of the cream, the best part of your intellect, is viveka. Whatever you are saying, whatever you are doing, use always your viveka – discrimination. Otherwise you will be sorry. Only viveka can divide the truth from untruth. Like lemon divides the milk, separating the water to one side and panir the other side. Whoever has viveka all the time is the happiest person. Viveka is not a victim of emotion. Senses, mind and intellect are influenced by your emotions, but withviveka your always see the truth, the reality. This ability only humans have. Without vivekayou will suffer, not only in this life, but in many, many lives.

 

Within you is a fountain of joy! This fountain you should seek. It is called paramananda. It is within us. As long as you have not discovered this fountain, you have desires. But this enjoyment will bring you more sorrows than joy. Because viveka is not there. When vivekaappears you will find the fountain of eternal joy, the ocean of bliss that is within you. Can you measure the water of the ocean? It is endless, limitless. Your blissfulness is immeasurable, too. All divine blessings are there.

 

But to experience this you have to follow what I have said. If you seek only joy of the senses you will not find endless pleasure, only endless misery. Unbearable suffering for many, many lives.

 

Within you is the immortal atma. Kill your little "I", your pride, and enjoy a divine life. It is there. It is such a miraculous thing. You are carrying it within you, and don’t know about it.

 

Kabirdas said: “When I see the fish in the water is thirsty, I laugh. Where can the fish quench his thirst other than in the water.”

 

Similarly, you are fighting with so many foolish and rubbish things, jealousy, sadness, depression, loneliness. Throw away the blanket of laziness; blow away the cloud of darkness. Wake up and become Thy Self!

 

Mahaprabhuji said: “I am my Self. I am that tapasvi, I have no moha. My vandana (reverence) to my Self. The entire universe is my Self. “

 

This consciousness we have to develop. The easiest way is sayama and niyama. And morning and evening prayer, sandhya vandana. And protect the sanatana dharma – the dharma of your body, of your mind, of nature, of the seasons. Follow the Eternal dharma with which we are connected. Get up every morning with good and healthy thoughts.

 

Endure, and finally you will be there. I wish you all the best. Many blessings to everybody.

 

Sri Deep Narayan Bhagwan ki Jay.
Sri Deveshvar Mahadeva ki Jay.
Dharmsamrat Paramhans Swami Madhavanandaji Gurudeva ki Jay.

 

 

Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda


Mala Vikshepa Avarana

Spirituality
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swamiji)
Perth, Australia 2004

What is spirituality? Where does this term come from? After searching in the dictionary, in meditation and discussion with spiritual seekers, we come to understand spirituality to mean purity. Crystal clear purity. This purity refers to our Atman, to our inner Self. Impurity is in our actions and thoughts. Where there is impurity there is ignorance, darkness. Mahatma Gandhi said: We hate the action, not the person. Therefore it is our action that makes us impure. Hindus say karma, Christians say sin. Hindus say punya, and Christians say virtue, good.

GU-RU, 'GU' means ignorance, darkness, and 'RU' means light, knowledge, and clarity. Lead us from the darkness to the light. This is the guru-principle.

In Vedanta there is mention of three obstacles. All holy saints in this world, it does not matter from which belief, tradition, culture or religion they come, try to remove these three obstacles.

These three obstacles are:
Mala
Vikshepa
Avarana

MALA - impurity

When the mirror has a lot of dust upon it you cannot see your face. You have to clean the mirror. How do you clean the mirror? There are many ways. The mirror is our Citta, consciousness. When you close your eyes and meditate you see your inner mirror. You can see how clear it is. If you can't see anything that means that your inner mirror is still not clean. There are many kinds of impurities that create pollution: physical impurity, and nourishment.

To eat food is not only to feed your stomach. A philosopher said: we should eat to live, not live to eat. Human food is something divine. Annapurne Sadapurne - grains. The transmission of the soul, when it leaves the body and goes into the astral world, enters into the clouds and the rain, and into the vegetation, into the seeds, and through the seeds into the body, into the mother's body. Our first birth in this world is when we enter, second birth when we enter into the grains, third birth into the human body, forth birth into the mother's womb, and fifth birth is when we come out of the mother's womb. In meditation you can see and follow this circle, this cycle.

We all have a different, individual destiny. Everyone is responsible for his/her own destiny. Destiny is a result of our karma. Actions are in our hands, but the results are not. So, we don't know where we will end up after death. Life in this world, and in the astral world, is something very peculiar, and mysterious. The leaf that falls from the tree will return. And maybe in some way and in some form it will return to the same tree.

God has given us freedom to do whatever we like. So do whatever you want. But your have to decide between two paths, where you want to go: up or down?

Purity in nourishment is very important. Also mental purity. Pure thinking. Mental pollution is the most dangerous pollution. All that happens in the world, all environmental pollution, and all the wars are caused by mental pollution. And what is this mental pollution? Money. Money is the god of our time. Mental impurity leads to impure actions. People give money to kill someone.

VIKSHEPA - disturbances

When the ocean has many waves, you cannot see to the ocean's bottom. When you look through a glass that breaks the waves you can see it clearly. The ocean has waves, movements only on the surface. In the deep it is always calm and still. Likewise with the wise, they are totally calm and peaceful in their inner Self; emotions are only on the surface. The more actions you perform, the more waves you create in the mind. Relax, relax, and sleep. Seek relaxation in nature. Eat and sleep for 36 or 48 hours, take a walk, meditate - you will feel like a completely different person. In sleep your brain centres, your body regenerates. Therefore we go on holidays.

Vikshepas keep us from our inner purity, our spirituality. You are very spiritual! You are all incarnations! When you were born you were completely pure. But through certain actions, certain experiences, we forgot who we really are.

Vikshepas can be overcome through meditation. Self-inquiry meditation. Let your thoughts come when they come, and let them go when they go. Just observe them. And suddenly they will disappear. Our life is connected with the moon, with the sun, with the planets. They influence our mind, our health. Many planets are playing in between. Through mantras we can change certain influence and disturbances of the planets.


AVARANA - curtain

Our window is very clean, but we have a very thick curtain, and we cannot see through it. This curtain is the ignorance between our real Self and this present consciousness. That's why we can't realise our true spirituality. Love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, understanding all develop our spirituality. To help to remove the curtain it is good to read holy books. Don't read books that are fanatical and one-sided. We need freedom. Our birthright is freedom. Yoga means freedom, liberation. Freedom, happiness, love, joy are divine principles, our divine heritage. Even a small ant likes to be happy. Put a cone of sugar in front of an ant, and you can see her smiling and dancing. Every creature longs for happiness. Holy Guruji always said: every creature wishes to attain happiness and to overcome unhappiness. Because happiness is a universal principle, it is your reality.

Mantra, meditation, prayer, satsang are very important for developing our spirituality. Without satsang you cannot be happy, and cannot develop and increase your spirituality.

Spirituality means purity, happiness, forgiveness, clarity in actions and thoughts, and no fear. Don't be afraid. Even though you may die, don't be afraid, you can die only once in this life. Pure thinking, pure thoughts, pure nourishment.

Eating is something divine! Don't eat dead bodies, don't bring dead bodies into your house, and don't store them in your fridge. Humans are different than any other creatures. Humans should be protectors, not destructors.

Don't say that you are unhappy, that you are lonely, that no on loves you. Everyone loves you, but you don't love yourself! Be happy when you are alone, then you have time to meditate. Don't torture yourself and others.

Spirituality is not hidden only in the church, in the mosque, temple or monastery. It is also in your own house. Make a spiritual home, a spiritual family, and thus create a spiritual society, a spiritual world.

God bless you. Hari OM


The purpose of human life

Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda

VÉP, 3rd December 2004

 

The purpose of human life is to gain and realise Gyana, knowledge of the Self.

 

Recently I read an article. There was a very nice sentence in Sanskrit language, translated into Hindi. It was a Rishivakya. Rishis were the great sages of India. Rishivakya and Guruvakyaare the same. Rishis told about their knowledge of Creation. Brahma has created different creatures with different qualities. We know that on this planet the Creator has created 8.4 million different creatures, and all are created out of five elements. Among these, one is the human being. And the Rishis say that nothing has been created without a purpose. Everything, including the planet itself, and the life on this planet, including vegetation, life in the water, in the air, on the earth, everything has its meaning or purpose. That purpose should be fulfilled.

 

If you miss and cannot fulfil your purpose in this life, you have failed and will have to repeat it again and again. Numerous creatures on this planet have the purpose just to be there and go through their destiny. They do not have any choice. Humans also have to go through their destiny. But humans have got some choice – a choice to make Karma.  First the destiny is created, then life is given. Other creatures cannot choose or change anything. They just have to go through it.  Humans have intellect and Viveka, so humans can decide to do something or not to do it.  Therefore the purpose, the sense of human life, is greater. Eating, sleeping and creating children – animals are also very active in. If humans do nothing else than this, then there is little difference between animals and humans. Humans have more obligations, a greater purpose in life.

 

The main purpose of human life is Gyana, to gain knowledge. Knowledge means Atma Gyana, self-realisation. If you die without this you have failed your purpose. It means you fail the human life. In order to achieve that knowledge humans should lead a very Sattvic life. A life without consuming meat, eggs, alcohol and drugs. A Sattvic life is very, very important, because the nourishment, the food that you take or any kind of drugs, affect your intellect, your Buddhi. And it will turn it to a different direction so that you lose your positive, spiritual thoughts and feelings. The worldly pleasures seem more joyful to you. A simple and disciplined spiritual life seems boring to you. A fly sitting on a sandalwood paste gets a head-ache and does not feel good. But on the excrements she feels well and at home.  On the other hand, when you lock a honey bee into an open toilet in the country side, she will try to escape as quickly as she can and fly out into the garden to the flowers and blossom trees. And it takes her a few hours of Pranayama to get rid of the negative qualities!

 

Therefore, a negative person cannot endure Satsang.  Either they go away or fall asleep. This is a sign of negative Karma and bad destiny.  Mala, Vikshepa and Avarana, these three are covering your consciousness. What treatment can help?  The treatment is Satsang. When the doctor gives an injection of medicine, the first time you don’t like it, but when the injection has a positive effect, then you will even suggest to others to take it as well.

 

Rishivakya, the saint said : “Human life is given to collect and realise knowledge.”

 

The human spirit, human soul, human consciousness, human mind, human intellect, human qualities and human abilities are indescribable. God has given you a divine life, a godly life. You have incarnated as divinity and are behaving like very low creatures.

 

The great saint Achalramji Maharaj said in a Bhajan: “Everyone likes sweets. The best sweet is that sweet , which makes you immortal when you eat it. Eat that sweet which makes you immortal or that gives you the knowledge of immortality. That is a real sweet.”

 

When you put lemon into milk, the milk is spoiled. Similarly there are certain things that spoil your appetite towards the desires. However many desires you have, by that much are you bound.

 

He says further: “You will never be satisfied completely by all worldly enjoyments. It does not matter what you do, the next day you are longing again for something.”  Is there anything that you can take and through this you will not have any longing any more? – Yes, there is something!  When you get a slap on your cheek. That’s called a karmic slap. But this you will get, if you want it or not.

 

There is nothing in the world that will fulfil your desires forever.  On the contrary, day by day, the thirst is growing in your mind. It is like an incurable disease. Having a human body, and you still have desires? You would give up the nectar and drink poison? What a pity. What will be the result of this?  There will be a result. Every action will have a reaction, and every reaction will cause an action. Everything has a result. Every step will be counted. Either you make a step forward, backwards or sideways.  What a pity, having a human body and still having desires. Declining the nectar and drinking the poison. What will happen after this life? Such trouble you can't imagine.

 

Vairagya is the lemon that will detach your mind from all desires. Without Vairagya it is not possible. Vairagya means that from this planet till Brahmaloka, all kinds of enjoyments are tasteless for you. And this is irreversible. When milk is spoiled through the lemon you cannot reverse this process. But you can make something out of it – you can make good Panir (curd cheese) for instance.

 

The sweet that makes you immortal is Gyana. The sourness is Vairagya and the nectar is wisdom and knowledge. When you have tasted that knowledge you will not die, you will be immortal. The taste of this tonic is so sweet and so powerful. This tonic makes you strong. What is meant by “strong”? Fearless. Free from fear of death and birth.  Above everything.

 

Human life is given to realise the Self. Realise Gyana. Without knowledge we are like animals. Therefore Adi Shankaracharya said: “Know Thyself.”  All relationships, all belongings, nothing will help you. All will remain here. It is called a blind Moha (attachment) to cling on to worldly relationships and things.

 

But we are sleeping. Therefore Holy Guruji said: Bhai tuma jago re … “O brothers wake up. You are missing your chance.” And what is the result of this? For lives and lives you will suffer.

 

This is the bitter truth. Day by day, every second that is lost is lost. The past will never come back.

 

You don’t know the reality. Children are angry when parents don’t allow them everything. But they will realise when they are 50 years old. Then they realise the truth that their parents have told them.

 

So, first is Gyana. And second is surrender. Surrender to Gurudev, surrender to God. Ask for His help. If you really pray from the heart you will get it. He can make possible the impossible. He can remove what would have happened. Gurudev is Parabrahman. He can make everything for his Bhaktas. But Bhaktas have to surrender completely. Not little, little …

 

First you offer everything to Gurudev, but when he advises something to you, then you cry, “No, I didn’t mean this!”

 

Thousands, millions of creatures try to bite each other. Compared with the endless universe this planet is a tiny one. And on this little planet all creatures are eating each other. Life eats life. This is Naraka. This is suffering. Everyone has fear. We have fear of our Father's creatures. Every creature tries to escape from the other creatures.

 

Bhaktas are full of doubts. Why this, and why not that? There should be no questions.

 

Bhagata hi vare bega, avo Mahavir… Holy Guruji said to Mahaprabhuji: Mahavir is the greatest hero. The hero of the heroes. Lord, your strength is endless. One day when death will attack us, all our position and powers, physical and mental abilities, all will be finished. Finally we have to surrender. Therefore we call Him the Almighty. The mighty one who is above all. He is the greatest hero. He can rescue us. No negative energy can attack. No magic, no ghost, no blackmailing, no one can attack you, because Mahaprabhuji is there. But he can only be there if you allow him. However, if you have doubts, no devotion, no faith, and only call him when you need him, then he will tell you, “I am not your servant, that you call and he comes.” He will tell you, “Take the hands from the rocks.” He will test your confidence. You know this story. He is the Lord of Lords. Death has no chance. Death is serving him. He is immortal and his body is very powerful. Nothing can harm Him at all.

 

“O Lord, all these negative, terrible people, they give lots of trouble to me. Lord, shoot your arrow and hunt them.” Who are these? Kama, Krodha, Madha, Moha, Lobha, Ahamkara.Passion, anger, hatred, attachment, jealousy, ego. These are the terrible people, your enemies. Only through Guru Kripa can you get rid of them. But you have to invite Him!

 

Like Mangilalji said in his Bhajan: Re nibhana he … “Obey, obey and follow the word of yourGurudev.”

 

Bacana vale lage sa … “How dear are the words of my master to me. Even if he is angry they are very dear to me. Only I know this, it is beyond my expression, I cannot explain to anyone. Indescribable.”

 

If you think and do like this, then the highway is ready for you. Take off.

 

Otherwise there is so many Kama, Krodha, Madha, Lobha …

 

You know Indian streets. You have a speedy car, but there are the camel cars, the trucks, the bicycles … and you cannot come forward. There are so many obstacles.

 

Therefore call the Almighty Lord to remove all obstacles from your way. Whenever Bhaktas are in great troubles, finally the Lord comes. He has to come. But how many troubles!  Think about the Mahabharata, the birth of Krishna in the prison, his mother and father's condition there. The demon Kansa murdered all their children. That is called trouble! Then Krishna has to come when Devaki called him with pure heart. That is prayer! But when we pray we are looking at our watch.

 

Become one with your body and soul, and when you pray with a full heart, immediately He will be there!  Ultimately the Lord has to come and He comes for the sake of his Bhaktas.

 

The last confidence, last hope for all, is only one: God. Everyone can disappoint you, can trouble you and cause pain to you, but not He.

 

O Lord, please cut off the chain of troubles of this world. This chain that has bound us tightly. The Jivatma is caught by the chain of troubles. Only God can bring you out of these troubles and rescue you. Pray to the Lord to save you and make your life successful.


Christmas Satsang 10 Dec. 2005

I am very happy to see you all on this very special occasion and that you came to the first Christmas Satsang in Guruji's Ashram in Vienna. You are most welcome.

 

Each spiritual festival or occasion has a great meaning, not only for humans, but for the entire planet. Whenever a spiritual incarnation manifested on this globe, the benefit was not for one particular person or country but for the whole world. God’s incarnation is for everyone. The spiritual energy of that incarnation remains for ever and ever on this planet. The day of His incarnation, is the day to think of others and to bring others to the spiritual path. In ancient times it was the elderly who gave their blessings to all who had gathered together to celebrate the spiritual occasion. The whole family would then share their meal together. To give a blessing, means to forgive. These days instead of blessings we give presents. It keeps the economy flowing, the cash flow. But in reality giving means for-giving: to forgive all mistakes and make a new friendship.

 

Jesus was the incarnation of love, peace and forgiveness. This is what we should believe in and what we should practise. Who cannot forgive has not understood the meaning of Christmas or Diwali or any other spiritual festival.

 

The real sense of celebrating Christmas only can be realized, if we follow the teachings of Jesus and all holy saints.

 

God realization or liberation is not limited to any culture, any country or part of the world. It is universal and therefore spiritual realization, God Realization or Brahma Gyana is for every one, if we follow the principles or rules.

 

Spirituality needs discipline and continuity. Worldly people change their feelings many times and break their discipline due to their worldly desires.

 

Spirituality is very rich food that cannot be digested by everyone. In order to be successful we need discipline. First we have to become free from those negative powers that are within our phenomena: Kama, Krodha, Madha, Lobha, Moha and Ahamkara: passion, anger, selfishness, greed, attachment and ego.

 

If you have not purified these qualities the door is closed for you, no matter how long you have practised! It is a hard work to change one’s inner feelings and qualities. Actually Prakriti (nature) can’t be changed, but it can be purified.

 

Take for example a cat. Regardless if you feed it vegetarian food, as soon as a mouse appears before her eyes she will attack the mouse, kill it and eat it. But of course she does not think that she is doing something bad. This is the difference between a cat and a human.

 

Some say “I don’t want any thing more from this world. I only want to live a spiritual life and meditate. But when a temptation arises, when inner desires come out, then all pure actions and divine thoughts vanish. Temptations and desires have destroyed many people.

 

Therefore we have to observe and guard ourselves like a security guard who guards the whole house from dangers near and far.

 

The ATMA who resides within us is that VIP, that very important person, who must be guarded!

 

The guard is your Buddhi (intellect) whose main duty is to guard your ATMA from Kama, Krodha, Madha, Lobha, Moha and Ahamkara!

 

Otherwise years and years of practise are destroyed. I see many people day by day cut off, because of their weakness and lack of willpower. The inner enemies attack them and they are lost, like a vegetarian cat that sees the mouse and completely forgets Ahimsa.

 

You cannot follow Ahimsa when you do not know what it really means. Put yourself in the position of the mouse when the cat attacks, then you will know! Therefore in the Bible it is said “Thou shall not kill” – it means, not only refrain from killing humans, but refrain from killing any living being! Suffering and pain is not easy to bear for any living being. We are already afraid to receive an injection, so just imagine how the cat bites a living mouse. That mouse may pray and suggest to the cat “Thou shall not kill!” but the cat doesn’t listen because her nature is like that. The cat does not know Ahimsa. It only acts according its nature. But God gave humans the intellect, therefore use your intellect. Use what you have between the ears – your brain!

 

Tell everyone: Do not eat meat! Become vegetarian! Teach them how to become vegetarian.

 

Bird Flu is a great warning for us. This disease does not occur due to the immigration of birds. Birds have immigrated for centuries upon centuries. Rather this disease is due to the unnatural and terrible living conditions in which they are tortured and killed. Now nature has taken revenge and the only solution for this problem is to become Vegetarian!

 

Spread this message everywhere! Write it on the streets, on the bus station:

 

Protect yourself from Bird Flu– become Vegetarian!

 

I tell you, it can come so far that a similar "human flu" will arise, where humans will kill humans as they are now doing with chickens. Millions and millions of chickens have been thrown into the fire and they will put humans in the fire. It can come so far!

 

We shall protect our self to become free!

 

You all know how healthy grapes are. Its juice is its essence. Wine is also the juice of the grapes, but its Prakriti (nature) has changed, and it is harmful. Similarly, when your Prakriti has changed you can become harmful for yourself and others too!

 

Even when on pilgrimage in India or other holy places, many people fall into the trap of temptation. They loose their path and confuse even others. This is a double sin.

 

Therefore we have to learn and to remember those holy souls and incarnations who manifested their divine form on this planet. They too went through great difficulties, because whoever comes into the mortal world is not physically immortal. However, it is only in this mortal body that we can achieve the Realization of immortality.

 

Wise are they who overcome Kama, Krodha, Madha, Lobha, Moha , Ahamkara, Irsha andDvesha.

Irsha is jealousy and Dvesha is duality, fighting, quarrelling with hatred, which divides. If you have Irsha in your heart then all the other negative qualities are in your heart and consciousness too.

 

The holy festivals such as Christmas, Diwali, Raksha Bhandan, as well as the festivals of Judaism, Islam and Buddhism, all remind us about love and unity. Only love can bring unity.However, if there is Irsha and Dvesha there is no unity.

 

When I was in hospital now, I was thinking very much about this. Irsha is so intensive, it is like the needle that pricked my veins. When I wanted to bend my arm, this needle said “NO!” Like this, Irsha is the needle in the heart that always says “No”. For example if I ask Madhu to do something then Ganga immediately is inside shouting “Why Madhu? Why not me?” That isIrsha. If you are like that you are still on the ZERO-point, you are nowhere!

Yesterday I saw a Video about Lord Krishna – a very nice story about God, and in the first episode Bhakti is very unhappy and crying because she is lost in Kali Yuga. Her two sons, Gyana and Vairagya were suffering very much – because in Kali Yuga they have only very little place within us. Rishi Narada, the son of Lord Brahma, promised Bhakti, to make her two sons happy.

 

In this video you see the picture of God. It does not matter if He is male or female. Gods always looks very young, like a youthful 25 year old boy or girl, even if this God is already a grandmother. How is this possible? The answer is this: where there is spirituality there is always youth. Spiritual people never become old. However, when spirituality is lost then also the beautiful aura, the charisma is gone. Look to the aura of such persons and there is nothing, all is gone! But one who is very spiritual looks ever young and beautiful.

 

So, Bhakti's sons Gyana and Vairagya were suffering and crying; that means Knowledge and Detachment were suffering. Narada went in search of God Krishna to ask for his help, but in doing so Narada was full of ego and thought that “he” was a special person and very close to Krishna. So, because of these thoughts he could not find Krishna. He couldn’t find Him in the whole universe. Finally Radha told Krishna, that Rishi Narada was searching for Him. Lord Krishna answered, "Because of his big ego I gave him a punishment…”

 

The master always gives punishment to destroy the ego of His disciples. The right disciple has destroyed their ego, but those who have left the master and got lost – to those the master is strict; but always with love.

 

Finally the merciful Lord appeared to Narada and granted him to re-establish Bhakti, Gyana and Vairagya on this planet again.

 

Likewise you are searching the Lord in Mrityun-Loka (mortal world), searching the king of your Atma and your inner Self. But you cannot find Him, you cannot see Him because of your Agyana (ignorance), because you are full of Kama, Krodha, Madha, Lobha, Moha, Ahamkara, Raga (desires) and Dvesha.

 

This is the clear answer for you and me. If you have these qualities, you know the door to God is closed. But you don’t want to believe it: “I have jealousy in me? NO! How is it possible? I? Me? I am selfish? Never!”– but deep inside you know how you are!

 

Nobody will tell you how ugly you are. All will only tell you how beautiful you are. Only the blind one, the ignorant one asks others, if someone is jealous or selfish. You know it. Therefore ask thyself.

 

If you are jealous to others you only show how far you are.

 

On these Holy days of Christmas, on the incarnation of Jesus – and of Krishna, Lord Rama, Buddha –each gave a message for humanity, and they gave their positive energy for the entire planet, that the whole planet, all elements and all creatures be protected. God is here for every one. Therefore there is no duality, no limitation in the love of God. It is free, endless; every one can have it – like a beautiful lake gives its water for every creature.

 

This Christmas Paksha (Christmas time) – we do not know the exact time of Jesus’ incarnation – is the time of His light! Here it is dark, but in Australia is now summer and they celebrate Christmas in the summer time, on the beach. Did you know the largest number of Catholics live in India?

 

Gods name and Gods light is everywhere. You should realize that He did not come from the Occident (west), He incarnated in the East. Christianity is not a European religion, it is an Eastern religion. Sooner or later this will be realised.

 

The Christmas tree is a symbol of life. Already 25,000 years ago in South India the tradition of the Christmas tree began, a tree to place lights on. But this tree was made from cast iron with hundreds and hundreds of Deepaks (oil-lamps) on it. This is much better than to cut thousands of trees and destroy forests. We have imitated this tradition in the wrong way.

 

Chapter 15 in the Bhagavad Gita there is everything written about the Christmas tree. God Krishna clearly spoke about it as a symbol of life, of human life. This tree has its roots above and its branches below. The human brain and limbs are the roots and the branches are the Vedic mantras and hymns. The fruit is the fruit of our karmas and the light is the glory of our good deeds; to spread the light to everyone in this world. We are born to bring light in the darkness.

 

You are the Christmas tree! Every one who takes shelter near you should find love, forgiveness and light – not jealousy and duality. Therefore purify this Kama, Krodha, Madha, Lobha, Moha and Ahamkara.

 

Tamaso ma jyotir gamayah.
Mrityo ma amritam gamayah

 

This Mantra is from the Upanishads. “Lead us from unreality to reality”. However we can only proceed towards the Divine if we follow the teachings of those holy incarnations like Jesus. For me Jesus is a true idol and example, such a great example. No matter what happened to Him, He remained on His path. He did not change His opinion even when He had to suffer on the cross. He remained dedicated to the TRUTH. Jesus suffered to bring the message of love and unity to mankind. With His great heart and forgiveness He went through hunger, thirst, name, fame and pain. As it is said in the Bhajan “Milta he sacca…” – “Even if I have to walk on thorns and through fire, my Lord, I will be here for You, because I kno­w … !”

 

The message of Christmas message is very clear: We have to follow the master truthfully and not only eat sweets and cakes.

 

I wish you all the best for your family, your friends and your countries. God loves all creatures and in the name of God we should forgive all and let all be free.

 

 

I wish you many blessings of God Jesus and all holy incarnations,
That this day gives you Sat Buddhi (a positive mind)
To forget all enemies and to forgive all mistakes.
Love everybody and purify your heart!
Blessings for your family and your friends!
And I wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

 

 

 

Of course we will see each other many times but you never know when it will be.
Let us be happy together as long as Mahaprabhuji wishes for us.

 

 

SRI DEEP NARAYAN BHAGWAN KI JAY !

Guru Purnima

Generally, Gurupurnima is celebrated between July and August when the monsoon season begins in India. At that time, Gurupurnima is also known as Vyasa Purnima. Bhagwan Ved Vyasa wrote and dictated the Vedas and many Holy Scriptures of ancient India. His works include writings on the sciences such as: Yoga, Mantras, Tantras, Yantras, and writings aboutParavidya and Aparavidya. Because he wrote the Vedas, modified them into four parts, and because he possessed the knowledge of the Vedas, he is therefore known as Vedvyasa. 

It is said that Gurudev is Brahmanishtha Shrotriya – the knower of the Brahman – not merely theoretically, but with the realization of Eko Brahman Dvitiyo Nasti. The Supreme Truth and the Ultimate Reality is BRAHMAN – the ONE and only God, the Supreme Truth, light, love, and so on. That is called advaita. There is no dvaita, no dualism. And our aim in this life is to achieve that state of non-dualism: Atma so hi Paramatma. 

There is no difference between Atma, Paramatma and Brahman. Atma is universal but the soul is individual, not universal. Duality is there where the soul is, and the soul is not the Self. The soul is not the Atma, but the individual. As long as we see the differences among people and other creatures we are in duality. 

Adi Guru Bhagwan Shankaracharya said: The first step of self-realization is when you see yourself in every living being. 

Just as God Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita, “I am in everyone – in the cow, the elephant, humans, animals – in all!” 

If you see dualism then there are two. If you see the Atma, then there is ONE! Our knowledge is limited to the form. We see the material world with our physical eyes. We see the forms, the colors. We perceive the smell, touch and sound. But the Atma has no physical senses.Brahman has no eyes, yet sees everywhere and everything. Brahman has no nose, but smells everything. He has no ears, but hears everything. 

To come to know this non-dualism, you first have to establish harmony within yourself and to develop love for all creatures. 

At the time of Mahabharata, Ved Vyasa was also a part of that story. He was the ancestor of the Pandavas and Kauravas. The battlefield Kurukshetra, is lying now in Haryana, near the border of Punjab. When the Great War was over, Bhishma was laying on a bed of arrows. At that time hie he received his final realization. The Pandavas came to take this blessing away from him. It was Arjuna who shot all the arrows into the whole body of Bhishma, from the feet to the neck. Bhishma had a siddhi, the blessing of iccha mrityu, to die only with his free will. In Yoga, this is very common. People speak about that as “living samadhi.” A person makes a hole in the ground, sits inside, lets the hole be covered, and then leaves the body. That person has iccha mrityu and has told beforehand: “Please do not open the samadhi!” But sometimes people feel pity for that one because they think that he does not have enough oxygen in the hole. So they open the hole and take the stone away and what do they see? There is nobody inside! Dematerialized! And in certain places a sound, an oracle came, “I told you – don’t make this mistake!” 

Bhishma had this blessing. It didn’t matter who would cut him into many pieces, he would not die. Because he wanted to know who will be the winner, what will happen with the kingdom of Hastinapur, with the abode of the king. 

Well, therefore he couldn’t die - desire, wish! For that he was peppered with arrows. 

So at the end of the battle, the Pandavas went to him to pay their respect and, being their grandfather, to ask him for his blessings and pardon. 

When Dharmraj Yudhishthira came to Bhishma, he bowed to him, having great pity for his condition, and asked for his pardon, blessings and instructions how to lead his life now. Though he was known as Dharmraja, he asked for guidance! 

Bhishma had tears in his eyes. He realized his mistake and received the knowledge that millions of soldiers lost their lives in vain, how many children lost their mother and father, and so many wives became widows – just for nothing! There was no mercy, no compassion in the war, but when Bhishma got this knowledge he said, “Oh Dharmaraja, Ahimsa Paramo Dharma! Lead your life according to ahimsa. The highest principle is ahimsa.” 

And that was when the word “ahimsa” was spoken for the first time. 

To live a life of ahimsa does not just mean physically, it also means to follow the principle also mentally, emotionally and materially. It is a very hard principle to follow, but follow it! Whenahimsa enters your heart and consciousness, then love, mercy, and compassion awaken. 

That is called the first step of realization – to see Thy Self in all. 

Mahaprabhuji said, “Love each and every entity as much as you love yourself.” 

If you did something wrong to someone then you did it to your own self. This is the first step of realization! 
Therefore, Eko Brahman Dvitiyo Nasti! Where there is non-dualism, there is Brahman. Where there is dualism, there is maya. Reality is that which never changes, but the non-reality does change. Our body always changes but somehow it is immortal. This is because the tattvas(elements) will merge into the tattvas, into the universe, into oneness, into Brahman. Water in water, air in air, earth in earth, fire in fire - it is a recycling process. Reincarnation is a cosmic system and recycling is a biological system but in essence, they both are the same. 

Therefore, Ved Vyasa was known as a Brahmanishtha and Shrotriya. Not only that he knewBrahman and could speak about it, he could also describe, inspire, and motivate. 

Motivation is very important in every aspect of life. Children get motivation to study from their parents. If there is no motto, no motivation, you fail in your life. Laziness comes and you give up the hope of life. Suddenly, you feel alone and that no one loves you. But why? Why should someone love you? 

Love is just your imagination. Yet we still hope and wish for an object toward which we can transport our love. But that only ONE is God and only God! 

Without motivation you will have no money. Why? Work, then you will have money. From where will money come if you do not have the motivation to work? 

Many people earn billions of dollars a year and also pay lots of tax. If you don’t want to work, you don’t pay taxes - then you will live off of public money, which others paid for by paying their taxes. That means you are living from someone's else money which is a bad karma. The system should function. 

The entire system in India has collapsed. One man had to pay 50 crores in tax (equivalent to 500 million Rupees). Some official said, “Give me 25 crores and you the other half you need not to pay.” This is greediness and corruption. That greed brought the civilization into conflict and collapse, causing fighting and wars among cultures, religions, and nations. 

Gandhiji said, “Mother Earth has enough for the people's need, but not for their greed.” 

India was a rich country. At the time of the English Empire, they called India a “Jewel in the Queen’s Crown.” India is the master of the whole world, the Vishwa Guru. Every religion has its roots directly or indirectly from India. 

One European came to Mahatma Gandhi and asked, “What do you think about the European culture?” And Gandhiji answered, “Would be good!” Which means that the European culture does not exist at all. 

We need motivation and inspiration for knowing Brahman. 

Samadhi means ‘three merge into Oneness.’ The knower of Brahman is a Shrotriya who can lead and guide us. That is why Gurupurnima is dedicated to the birth anniversary of Ved Vyasa. 

We call the seat on which somebody is sitting or standing or speaking a stage or podium. In the spiritual language, when someone speaks about God, this seat is a the ‘Holy Seat,’ – aVyasa Pith Gadi. From the chair where I am sitting is coming Vyasa's knowledge. To research that wisdom was, at that time, a great tapasya and hard sadhana. Because it was a “re-search,” meaning it already existed but again had to be revealed. Believe and trust is good, but to have control is much better. The “re-search” took place through meditation. The Yogis have opened the door for all sadhakas who are searching for the answer to the question, “Who am I?” by giving them meditation and mantras. Practice is much more valuable than theory. 

Guru is that one who removes the darkness and guides us to the light. “Gu” is the ignorance and darkness, and “Ru” is the light. 

Who is enlightened and has become one with Brahman, that one you can call God. His consciousness is still in an individual form, but now, what the body is doing has less meaning and value to him. Most important is the consciousness. The sheath does not matter, only the sword. For that we have to make seva and abhyasa for many lives. 

Don’t waste your time in gossiping. Bhai tuma jago re! “Wake up, brothers and sisters!” You are sleeping in the sleep of ignorance and what is the end result of that? In every life you will have to suffer as the result of your avidya, ignorance, and laziness. Who does not meditate, does not repeat mantra, and is not working with devotion, has lost the time! 

The human life is a most precious diamond. And you will not get it again and again! Therefore a thousand things can wait, but not your meditation and mantra. Your devotion should not wait. 

The Thursday, Guruvar also means the day of Jupiter. Jupiter is also known as Gurudev. When your Jupiter is very strong, then all other planets are below this. 

"On whom the mercy of Gurudev is flowing", Guruji said, “that person has harmony and happiness." -Guru kripa hi kevalam, shishya ananda mangalam. 

Seek the shelter of Gurudev and then your life will be successful. 

Manushya tana se Atma kojo” - search for God and you will find Him in your heart. In everyone, God resides. But adoration should be given to that one in whom God himself is speaking. Otherwise moving here and there has no sense. 

SHRIMAN NARAYANA NARAYANA NARAYAN ….

SHRI DIP NARAYAN BHAGWAN KI JAY

DEVESHWAR MAHADEVA KI JAY

ADI GURU BHAGWAN SHANKARACHARYA MAHARAJ KI JAY

SATAGURUDEV SHRI SWAMI MADHAVKRISHNA BHAGWAN KI JAY


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