Spirituality, Meditation and Self Realization

"Spirituality and worldly affairs run parallel to each other. There is a widespread misconception among the people regarding spirituality. Spiritualquest, they believe, calls for renunciation of worldly affairs. And those worldly pursuits warrant an end to spiritual pursuits. Many people regard meditation as the ritual to be performed at the end of their lives. If someone is asked to attend a Satsang, he shrugs off the invitation saying “this is the time to enjoy life. Mediation can wait till its time comes.” This is wrong. If an individual is totally engrossed in materialistic world, then, in his twilight years. if he wishes to chant Ram’s name and turn to meditation, he will not be successful. For the simple reason that his materialistic preoccupations will subdue his desire to meditate. Upon meditation, he will discover that his materialistic cravings will overwhelm his Dhyan Sadhna. More importantly his zest or enthusiasm for meditation will be found lacking.
In ancient times the regimen for self-elevation was superb.

A child was sent to Brhamcharya Ashram in his formative years. Here he was imparted contemporary as well as spiritual knowledge by his Guru. In the later course of his life, when he assumed his worldly and domestic responsibilities, his spiritual values were strongly in place. Taking a cue from this, you must ensure that spiritual conditioning of your child should begin well in earnest, as soon as he arrives in this world. You need enlightenment or power to enjoy the benefits of this worldly life. This Shakti comes to you solely through Dhyan and spirituality. Many people come to me and say: “Babaji we amassed wealth, we have everything going for us in terms of prosperity and family life, yet we do not have peace and tranquility.” Someone went to the extent to say that his body was rendered incapable of enjoying the luxuries of life. According to him, while he subsisted on frugal cereal diet his servants feasted on the choicest of foods cooked in his house. This pained him immensely. Had he struck a proper balance between his worldly and spiritual life right from the outset, things would not have come to such a pass.

Many people have this notion that anybody who is spiritual will have no interest in his worldly life. He will no longer be a practical person. This is far from being true. Actually, a spiritually inclined person has many advantages. He experiences an enhanced state of conscious- ness, besides witnessing a substantial increase in his willpower. Hence it is quite natural for a spiritually aware person to be more successful in life as opposed to the person who does not possess a spiritual outlook.

Now let us come to the vexed issue of renunciation and spirituality. Many people hold the view that renunciation is the gateway to spirituality. This logic is absolutely erroneous. Out of the twenty-four hours that you have got, you can spend two hours easily to nourish your soul and the remaining twenty-two can be comfortably utilized for the day to day life. Worldly existence with its all-incumbent factors is equally essential in terms of priority, as is the spiritual quest. Spiritual perspective shapes your personality. It teaches you how to be a responsible father, how to be a caring husband, how to be a dutiful wife, how to be a compassionate and obedient son or daughter. In essence, it inculcates a strong sense of dedication towards your apparent responsibilities.

On the other hand, your will never realize God by relinquishing the world. Whereas you can easily realize Him while staying rooted to your worldly existence. This begets an important question. Where do you search for God? Outside? The truth of the matter is Paramatma or God is present very much inside your own self.

Gautam Buddha. visited his home after attaining enlightenment. His wife asked him was it not possible for him to attain what he attained without being ati ascetic? Yes. it was very much possible. Buddha replied. “But’. he continued,” at that stage I .‘ obsessed by my quest hir enlightenment and there r nobody to guide me. hence I renounced everything to pursue my objective’S. he said, This goes out to prove that enlightenment can be attained by staying well within the parameters of domestic life Various Maharishis and enlightened souls have attained Siddhadom following their daily life routines, The attained Moksha and Self- Realization that way. This is the simplest way to Realization. This truth, is the essence of realization. When you are able to fully comprehend these simple facts. the gateway to your Moksha becomes clearly visible to you.

There is a lot to meditation than meets the eye. It is a multi-dimensional process that revolves around the quest for salvation. Meditation is your own medium for soul-searching and self- refinement. Thus, -you become more amenable to receive the Higher energies. It is here that role of divine stimulants like Kundalini Shakti assume significant importance. Kundalini Shakti is the backbone of your spiritual evolution. It helps you to transcend the barrier of individual consciousness to merge with universal consciousness.

An ordinary person utilizes only four percent of his total mind power. Rest ninety six percent lies unused. Now with this state of mind, a person aspires to achieve different goals. The goals can be anything ranging from excelling in studies to scaling new heights in other fields. Little does he realize that the driving force behind this aspiration was provided by the four percent of cerebral power that he used. The remaining ninety-six percent of his cerebral power was still languishing in darkness. Despite this our man in question decides to pick up the challenge to excel on behalf of his dormant brainpower.

Now that ninety six percent of dormant mind power is restless to prove its utility but there is no way it can be channeled for its maximum use. Similarly an alcoholic pledges to turn himself into a teetotaler. Here also only a meager four- percent of his mind power has chosen to abstain from drinking. But the rest ninety six percent of his inner power is inclined favorably towards drinking; with the result that major part of his inner self is still infested with vices. At the stroke of seven in the evening these vices will emerge from the darker side of his brain and pervade the remaining four- percent of the same. As this happens, the resolve to abstain along with the positive mind energy is laid to waste.

Opposed to this, any person whose Kundalini is aroused, will not face any kind of above-mentioned predicament. because his consciousness is refined and developed by Kundalini Shakti. It can be best understood by utilizing the afore-mentioned paradox. The Kundalini Sadhna, which begins with the four- percent mind, scythes through the darker side of your mind illuminating and expanding the consciousness in its wake, till the time hundred percent of your cerebral power is harnessed from its dormant position to the benefit of your own Self. The development of Kundalini Shakti in your body corresponds with an enhanced stale of other powers and of course a steady rise in your will power.

With resurgence of Kundalini Shakti, all the hidden and latent powers inside you are revitalized and awakened. This includes your spiritual powers and will power. You posses everything inside you. Shivatva the pan of Paramatma is present inside you. You only have to arouse it. Once aroused it banishes the darkness from your self and illuminates your entire persona, This illumination ushers inhappiness and prosperity in your life.

The upward progression of Kundalini Sadhna cleanses the Chakras and rids the Self of all the incumbent negativity. In the process the accumulated Karmas from previous life are also exterminated. This extermination of past Karmas eradicates sorrow, hardships and precludes all possibilities of their reoccurrence.

Baba (Gurudev Nityananda) had a disciple who himself was an accomplished Siddha. Prior to meeting Baba, this noble soul wandered throughout the country in his ascetic days. In that period he never asked for anything not even food. If someone gave him food he ate it, or else he stayed hungry. At times he used to be without food for days altogether. In between, gripped by severe hunger, he used to eat anything, irrespective of the fact whether that was edible or not. Consequently, he developed stomach ailment due to his rigorous lifestyle.

He reveals that after his Shaktipat when he experienced Kundalini arousal, he was struck down by terrible bouts of diarrhea. Concerned by his condition, his disciples wanted to take him to hospital. He politely turned their request down. His condition, according to him, never warranted medical attention. Rather, it was related to his altered state of consciousness in the wake of Kundalini arousal,Whatever was coming out of his body, he said, was in reality hardships, ailments and other similar entities which were being evicted well before they could affect him in any way. This was the wonder of Kundalini Shakti.

Kunda-lini Shakti completely negates all the ills and ailments thereby lending a healthy glow to the body. Students experience a stark change and rapid increase in their intelligence and retentive powers and concentration. On his own, a person acquires divine knowledge of Shastras. As he mcditates, he is able to see his past, present and future. Not only that, he also visualizes the future events of his life. There is nothing magical ?bout all these qualities.

Powers responsible for such divine forces are present well inside the darker recesses of the mind. Meditation aided by Kundalini Shakti illuminates those darker areas of your Self and in this way all your hidden powers are brought to the fore. No wonder sages and Maharishis have laid supreme importance on Kundalini Shakti. In Holy Scriptures it has been specifically mentioned that you attain Moksha only when your Kundalini Shakti rises from Mooladhara Chakra at the base and reaches Sahastrasar Chakra at the top. Thus, it connects with Shiva that is present in Sahastrasar Chakra paving the way for your Moksha or final ascension. Therefore Sadhak should always strive for Shaktipat, Gurukripa which would eventually take them to theKundalini arousal.

Kundalini arousal in turn will lead to a fulfilling worldly and spiritual life. Kundalini is the best nourishment or reward for yoursoul. For your physical body there is no dearth of stimulants and rewards. And everything related to your physical body is transitional or terminal, which will not remain with you forever. But your spiritual nourishment is going to hold you in good stead forever. It will never desert your soul. It is said, if you die after your Kundalini has risen to Visuddhi Chakra at the throat, in your next birth, you will be born in a noble and virtuous family. You will perpetually remain in the ambit of Devbhavdivine grace.

Hence, you will find the same everywhere right from your family, environment and rest of the things. These factors will facilitate your mcditational pursuits, as you would not be bogged down by stniggle for sustenance for your family.

Above everything else, you will find your Kundalini Shuktl stationed at the same point where you left it in your previous birth,i.e. Visuddhi Chakra. In our Siddha family, there are numerous children who display these traits. From the looks in their eyes, it becomes clear that they are Sadhaks. I have seen six-year-old kids in a state of Shambhavi. which is not possible for fully grown-ups.

These kids are in a world of their own. About Shambhavi, it is said, if a person is in a state of Shambhavi. his mind is filled with elixir. Excellent lineage or pedigree is indicative of the spiritual merits of the previous birth. More so because a person carries the impressions of his virtuous deeds into his next birth. Hence he continues from that position in his present birth. At a relativel’ younger age he will find his Guru.

So much so. that some newborn babies are given Diksha. Yes, people frequently come to me and seek Diksha for their infants. I am sure. in the turbulent times or Kalvug. these children will come to the rescue of humanity.

Now let us come to the prime important subject of Guru. Essentially Guru is your vehicle for divinity and salvation. He chain the course of your spiritual voyage. Guru, is a reciprocal entity. Which means he is subject to your Sadhna. It is the merit of your Sadhna. which alone decides the type of Guru you will get. Above all. Guru is a multidimensional phenomenon. Even the parents are Gurus. During infancy mother is a Guru. The child learns the fundamentals of life from her. She teaches him to eat, drink and walk.

That’s why the first word that a child utters is “Maa”. Then comes Brahman or the teacher who imparts the Mantra. He is also a Guru. Thus begins man’s journey of existence. During his life, he finds many Gurus. Each Guru performs his designated task and leaves, without asking for anything in return. Entry of a Guru in your life is commensurate with your spiritual quest.

Finally it culminates on one Guru who is called Param Guru. Param Guru Is entrusted with the divine task of piloting your spiritual transcendence to its final destination. Param Guru is endowed with divine attributes. Company of a highly spiritual Guru, and Sadhna with utmost devotion are the two basic pre-requisites for spiritual evolution. One must always fervently pray to God to give him the Guru, who himself has achieved Self-Realization: who himself has achieved Moksha. Guru, embodied with these credentials is the sole medium for Moksha. Secondly. you are nobody to search for a Guru as one Siddha had once remarked. He has said
its not for you to search for a Guru, rather it is for the Guru to seek you out’. This is a universal fact. As you advance deeply into your Sadhna, it’s the Guru who seeks you out. You never realize that it’s not your prerogative to look for a Guru. This honor belongs to him, the Guru. Without any fore knowledge a Guru materializes in your life. Guru’s advent in your life in this manner has a strong and irrefutable logic.

If by any chance, even if Param Siddha Guru happens to appear in your life at a time when your Sadhna has not reached the desirable state, then in all probability you would not be able to recognize him, as your perspectives will remain clouded by ignorance. You may wonder whether he is really a true Guru or not. That can happen to anybody. Guru and his Gyan (wisdom) do not conform to any conventional norms. One has to strive diligently to seek Guru and his wisdom. Secondly, Guru’s knowledge is not hereditary so that it is automatically transferred from father to his son. Maharishi Vyas is an appropriate example in this context. His son Shukant Dcv Shakumri. was a highly erudite person. Being son of Siddha Mahrishi Shakumri had mastered many Param Siddhis. Shakumri provided Moksha to Raja Parikshit by imparting the knowledge of Shrimat Bhagwat to him. Despite his exalted credentials Shakumri was not able to attain Moksha for himself, as he was not a self realized soul. Hence he was not able to attain eternal peace.

This incident underscores the peculiarity of the whole issue. That Siddhaguru was not able to impart the divine knowledge to his own son. The knowledge that could perhaps have qualified his son to attain Moksha. Now this factor illustrates the point that Guru Shishya relationship is entirely different from father-son relationship. For divine knowledge Guru is a must. Mahrishi Vyas was unable to enlighten Shakumri because that knowledge required the tutelage of another Guru.

So finally when Shakumri asked him why he was not able to attain eternal peace? The legendary sage replied: ‘You did not get eternal peace because you did not have a Guru who could have guided you to self realization, without which eternal peace is not possible.” A perplexed Shakuniri wanted to know ‘who was the most appropriate Guru for him other than his father Mahrishi Yyas the Param Siddha?’ It was this very mindset that my father is an accomplished Siddha’, which turned out to be the biggest impediment in Shakumri’s path to eternal peace. Such feelings instilled a superiority complex in him. Your father’s status is inconsequential as far as your own self is concerned. On the contrary what are you, matters the most. You can never relate your existence to your father. Nevertheless, Shakumri was ordered by his father to go to Raja Janak, who, his Siddha! I-low easily people forget that first person to preach the tenets of Mahabharat to the world was none other than Krishna, a ruler by birth.

In compliance with his father’s wishes Shakumri went to Raja Janak. He found Raja Janak surrounded by a bevy of female attendants, who were fanning him. This sight made him wonder how come a person who is the centre of so much female attention be a Siddha? This brought him to another widespread fallacy that is rampant even to this day. That male and female can coexist and yet at the same time pursue their respective Dhyan Sadhna. On the flip side, people have no qualm in worshipping Shiva-Parvati and Laxmi Narayan. In the same fashion, Shakumri found it hard to accept Raja father believed, was the appropriate Guru for him.

Under his tutelage Shakumri could progress to eternal peace. Shakumri had his own reservations about Raja Janak’s abilities with regards to divine knowledge. Raja Janak, in reality, was a Siddha personality. Even today people subscribe to the belief that holy persons and Siddhas are only those who lead a very frugal and detached existence meaning they are always ill clad and ill fed. Under such ill placed notions it becomes hard to believe that any king could also be a Siddha. To buttress their contention, people reel off verses from Geeta to prove that only a pauper can be a true Janak QS a true Slddha whom he found in the company of women. He believed that Brahmacharya (celibacy) was the tirst pre-requisite of Siddha hood. Even today the same perception prevails in the minds of many people. Female for them is the end of Bramhacharya.

Even I was faced with this question many a times. I took them to task and told them clearly if your Bramhacharya is so fickle that it can not withstand female company then you are not a true Brarnhacharya in the first place. Such people are worse off than a common man obsessed with agnostic pursuits. Bramhacharya does not mean only celibacy. Bramhacharya means Bramha like conduct. When the elemcnt of Paramatma is present inside, a person resides in a state of eternal bliss. In that state, there is automatically no desire let’t for the fairer sex. Simply because that person is operating in a bliss which is thousand times more gratifying than the desire to cohabit, so naturally such people are hardly bothered by the company of female or male. He is only concerned with Parbramha who resides in both man and woman. Parabramha is neither male nor female.

This is the true state of ;Akhand Bramhacharya, where one sees only the Parabramha in every individual, irrespective of his or her gender. Parbramha is Anant meaning eternal and Ajanma -birthless.

Shakumri was oblivious of this knowledge. For him Raja Janak was another self-indulgent man with a strong inclination for worldly pleasures. How could he (Raja Janak) be my Guru, wondered Shakumri. Thus he returned back. i-Ic went to Maharishi Vyas under the impression that his father had perhaps erred in sending him to Raja Janak. “ Father are you sure whether it was Raja Janak whom you deemed fit to be my Guru?” he asked.” How could you send a great Bramhachari and a Yogi like me to him for Diksha”? he continued. His father emphasized his views again and asked Shakumri to approach Raja Janak for Diksha. And so he went again to Raja Janak.

There he found Raja Janak in the course of his royal bath. assisted by royal maids. Shakumri was taken aback by what he perceived to be a show of misconduct not befitting a Siddha. Again he returned and narrated his experience to his father. All through while Maharishi Vyas remained steadfast on his view that Raja Janak was the right Guru for Shakumri. In this manner Shakumri made nine trips to Raja Janak, only to return empty handed each time. On his ninth visit as he came out of the royal palace of Raja Janak. a divine power. under the guise of a Brahman, told him "O Shakumri you went to Raja Janak nine times.

Each time you saw a reflection of your own hidden lust in him. what you saw was in truth a reflection of your own suppressed desires and yearnings. Each time you criticized Raja Janak. you lost equal number of Siddhis jnsent inside you. With the result now you are absolutely devoid of an divine powers that you once possessed Shakumri realized his mistake and he wanted to atone for it.

Thus a chastened Shakumri approached Raja Janak who had the foreknowledge of Shakumri’s arrival. Raja Janak ordered his guards to stop Shakumri at the gate and then keep him waiting for three days. In his earlier days Shakumri might have taken it as a grave offence to his exalted status of a Siddha not to mention being the son of the greatest sage! But now he was a changed man. After three days. Raja Janak asked his guards to send Shakumri to his royal harem, where queens were instructed to look after him in the best possible manner. Shakumri was a man of utmost restraint now; he studiously avoided any act, which may have been construed as misconduct.

Later he was taken to Raja Janak. 0 king please take me as your disciple’. pleaded Shakumri. Raja Janak. being a Param Siddha was wanted to rid Shakumri of all his vices. So he asked What are you going to give me in return for my tutelage?” Shakumri was prepared to give anything as Gurudakshina. Anything that you wish my lord,” said Shakumri. Raja Janak then asked him to give him the most useless thing as Gurudakshina. Shakumri was elated as he thought it to be the easiest thing to do. He went out and took a fallen twig, but then he realized it had some use too. Then he picked up an iron object only to relent after he realized its use. Each time he picked up some object he discovered its value or use. He was frantically searching for some appropriate Gurudakshina.

His efforts continued till the time he collapsed from fatigue under a tree. A foul smell woke him up from his slumber. Shakumri discovered someone has defecated near him while he was asleep. The excrement with its concomitant stench appeared to be the most useless thing to Shakumri. An unusual thing happened as he tried to pick up the filth. The excreta jumped out of his hand as he tried to gather it. It kept on occurring till he heard a voice.

Stop you filthy creature! Don’t you dare pollute me by touching me,” a voice rang out from the mound of trash that he held so dearly. Shakumri was flabbergasted to hear that. To his mind excrement of man was the dirtiest of all the objects and here it was, forbidding him not to pollute it. The voice continued, “ I came to earth in the form of very pure milk. Even the cowherd was ecstatic to see me. Later he took me to a sweet shop where I was turned into a sweet. My aroma drove everyone crazy. From the shop I was Luken to a temple and offered as Prasad to God. It was the beginning of my ordeal. You people ate me up and after sometime transformed me into my present repulsive form. Therefore you are the most worthless of the entire lot.”

These words had a miraculous effect on Shakumri. He knelt before Raja Janak and wailed “ 0 king Janak now I have realized that even the body of an animal serves a purpose. Compared to everything my body has no utility. Therefore, it is the most worthless of entire objects..” Thus, Shakumri realized the essence of ego. It was his ego, which was his biggest obstacle. And Raja Janak had rid him of his ego. Now he was on the threshold of self-realization. Ego, is the biggest impediment in the way of self-realization. “I” and “Mine” syndrome never allows you to progress spiritually. You can attain self-realization within seconds if you want. It is very simple. The moment you remove the “I” from your system He will be there. He’ is your self-realization. It is you who have blocked His access. The very minute you step aside He will come over. You will fade out, the moment you make way for Him. That’s how you attain salvation.” 

My Guru Baba Shivanandji