Sadhana (Asceticism)

Sadhana (Asceticism)

Life begins with a physical body full of dirt- stool and urine. An infant does not even know what dirt is and what holiness is. It does not care being in dirt. Mothers have to instruct that dirt has to be avoided and cleanliness has to be maintained.

When s/he grows up, several aspirations force him/her to do something for livelihood. From the youth age, they want to earn, manage comforts, set up families with children. In the course of fulfilling these desires or necessities, man has to struggle a lot. You meet a good many numbers of hurdles and difficulties on the way. Before we reach our destination, we have to resolve these obstacles. Many timid ones blame the gods and goddesses; some others curse their fate and collapse. Is their not a proper way to change what has been written in your fate? Is there not any scientific method to cross the barriers and reach upto the destination?

Yes there is. It is called sadhana. This path is not for cowards or timid ones. It is for those who are determined to alter the courses of fate. It is for them who believe that guidance or company of GURU is the answer of all earthly questions. This path is valid for them who have ardent faith on GURU, that's why on sadhana too. Sadhana is a way to light from the utter darkness; it is and art to transform a drop into an ocean and poison to nectar.

We know that human body is the excellent of all other bodies. A human being can think of happiness and misery, right and wrong, past and present etc. Man uses his wit, conscience and energy before performing actions. Man lives in a family, where one learns to love and care others. Many of our forefather sages lived in forest but they managed families. They had managed ideal family lives with ideal family norms and values. Management of family did not disturb their compassion to God. They did make effort to explore the realities of the world or universe. They pioneered in knowledge in many departments such as physiology, theology, astrology, astronomy, ayurveda, literature and science. They were the masters in karma, bhakti, yoga and knowledge.

Like them, we can also make pursuits in these affairs. Sadhana can be briefly categorized into four sectors; they are:

1) Karma
It gives importance to festivals, rituals and customs.

2) Bhakti
Unconditional faith and devotion in God bhakti. Holiness in heart, mind and body is necessary. For accustomed ones, every good action is also a part of it.

3) Yoga
Yoga is to merge with the paramtatwa. A yogi tries to become one with the supreme power.

4) Knowledge
To gain the enlightenment through information and wisdom is the target in this path.

A person walking in the path to achieve God should be free of ego, snobbery hypocrisy. Lust, jealousy and other weaknesses in us will hinder the progress.

Diksha,a nobel work

Diksha is a way of schooling or education. Many people are likely not to have a fair understanding of what it is. Education imparted at school or colleges is for general purposes so is of limited use. However, the education a Guru (of spiritual community/mission) is qualitatively different. Wisdom received from a venerable Guru energizes you a thousand times. It unifies your fragmented being, it pacifies your restlessness, it promotes your patience and it gives you that insight which can be heard in no formal school.

A Guru chooses some deserving people and delivers diksha to them. These people known as disciples follow the instructions day and night. They never have any reservations in the commands of Guru. Guru is a magnet and his/her work is to convert pieces of iron into magnets. In other words, a noble Guru continue working to change these disciples into a batch of Gurus. Preparing a Guru is a tiresome work but he/she handles the job with utmost sincerity and patience. Once the new magnet start working for the welfare of the society, the old magnet disappears from the stage.

SHREEGURU

The word GURU is an energizer in itself. A person sunk in the sea of problems can come out with the benign help of a GURU. He/she can free you from all problems and let you fly in the problemless sky. All scriptures accept the significance of a GURU. A helpless person tramped by all in the street can become an idol by the mercy of GURU. An ordinary person caught in sorrows can become a great celebrity. A GURU is a great being and a seer. Remember, he is not an ordinary being but is a great authority and to come across Him/Her is a rare opportunity.

Only after a whirlpool of births and deaths, the pilgrim soul in you becomes eligible for climbing. And if you are eligible, the very name or reference of GURU gives you a relief and unearthly repose to you soul. As above, He comes to world to enable the eligible and many of them are chosen before. When he comes, his services are available to many others (besides the chosen ones). If you are chosen one, your first appearance with Him leaves an everlasting impact. Thenafer, a thin memory of Him energizes/excites you. This is his identity but this it cannot be applied to all yet it certainly applies to the ones he wishes.

A real disciple is the finest creation of a GURU. He enables his disciples by transmitting unparalleled knowledge and energy. He empowers them with all qualities and virtues. Therefore, some disciples are the successors of GURU, whose material identity is of little significance. To potential successors, GURU is no other than summary of all God and Goddesses, the supersoul of the supreme being (paramatma). He discloses his magnificent form at the right turn of disciple's life.

In this way, people in general cannot perceive his significance. His true followers know that He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. And he is masked as a simple being to the rest of the world. There is a heart to heart communication between GURU and disciples. Despite his role as a moral teacher, the kind-hearted GURU looks after his followers as a mother and a father (at the underlying level) too.

In fact, Gurus are embodiment of limitless virtues and qualities like to that of God. Devotees make their lives useful by adopting his qualities.

Once accepted, GURU should not be ranked below the God. Each of his activities should be known as a work of maya (play). Whatever is imparted by him has to be taken for granted. If he is accepted as a human being even after a determination to follow his path, such a sadhaka does not make progress. Only those, who follow Him as Supreme can follow his direction.

Traditionally, this supreme master used to testify the devotees and the latter used to wait for years and years or births after births. But now, masters are available here and there and the advertisements of mastership has disillusioned and disturbed the passers-by. Competition among a crowd of masters is taking place, however, such incidences do not make any difference to a real GURU with a mission.

Further, devotee must be submissive to GURU all the time. This does not mean that He loves sycophancy. He measures your inner feelings than your tongue (words). The master returns and rewards in proportion to your inner feelings and in terms your sugar-coated expressions.

To summarize, GURU is the only reliable guide to lead you to the grand cosmic reality. Without his blessing, moving a single step towards the reality becomes a Herculean task. Recalling GURU means recalling all the Gods and Goddesses at a time and praying him means praying all of them.

GURU and disciples

Attraction to Almighty is not a common phenomenon. Before you have very sincere regards for the Supreme Being, you must have passed a series of lives with good ethics and highly standard moral practices. Without a proper qualification at the background, the thirst to be attached with the ultimate Creator never becomes apparent in you. Attraction sometimes evokes a determination to achieve Him by any means.

This type of feeling or determination alone leads you nowhere. Until you are passionate and your willpower is very very strong, feelings like this will appear and disappear.

Yes, if you pursue with a strong willpower, you are potential. But the seed of potentiality has to be treated well so that it will sprout one day; it will bloom and it will bear fruit for you.

Now, you are at a crossroad with a number of ways or roads ahead. All these roads are options for you. At this stage, to identify an appropriate road that leads you to the destination becomes a crucial question. There are a number of religious faiths, streams and sub-streams around you. Similarly, there are many many Gods and Goddesses willing to support you. Your eager mind at this turn can be easily influenced by what other people are doing in this regard. If your neighbour is a devotee of Lord Krishna, you are prone to follow his path. After a while, you have a possibility of losing interest over Krishna and follow after Mata Durga. Whether you continue your journey or discontinue, you are more prone to arrive at the crossroads, from where you had begun. It doesn't matter how many years you have spent practicing sadhana of Krishna, Durga, Ganesh, Mahadev or vice versa. It is bitter that years will be fleeting smoothly and your dream of reunion will be still a nightmare.

During hours of despair, faith can keep you vigilant. Faith on the road taken should be unshakable and unlimited. Faith is a matter of heart and not the matter of head. Normally, we are habituated to live by logics, reasons and calculations so questions do come to us at our endeavours.

Your attitude and moral standards of today are largely affected, shaped and controlled by the events of your past lives, particularly immediate past life. Limited by knowledge and capacity, beginners cannot catch sight of their merits and cultures of past lives. If you know the ways of past lives sadhana can become simpler and more straightforward. Is there any way to make the way more direct and fruitful?

Yes there is. To be assisted by the one who has travelled into the most wanted secrets; completed the journey and the one who has measured every inch between the crossroads and the final destination- He is GURU, a great being and a seer. Remember, he is not an ordinary being but is a great authority and to come across him/her is a rare opportunity. Once you are close to a true GURU, you can suppose that half of your work is done.

Materialists consider this time as an age of prosperity. But in terms of moral paradigms, it is the most disappointing period in the entire history. Deception at each step is the chief motive of many people so crisis of confidence is the salient feature of the present age. Amid this turmoil, some so-called agents of God (sometimes they declare themselves to be the God) have been advertizing their importance in the market. Frustrated human beings are easy targets beneficiaries of their advertisements of rescuing people.

These target beneficiaries have often become victims of deceptions in the name of Godhead. Materialist agents (self-declared agents of God) do certainly accumulate a certain amount of materials cheating the deceived followers to become more pitiable.

After all, GURU also looks like a human being. At the age of DECEPTION, how can you bestow infinite faith on somebody (supposed GURU). How can you identify that he is a true one who can rescue you? How do you accept that he is an exception? How to choose a proper guide to whom you can surrender without any reservations? has become a complicated question, indeed.

This question will remained unsolved if you deal it with your head. Rather than head, apply your heart. With a brief fellowship with a true GURU, your heart will be electrified. Your heart, which was restless and thirsty, will be comforted at the presence of a real MASTER. This GURU has come down to the earth for people like you and He has no regard for material wealth/value. Welfare is His main undertaking so He is relieved to give what He has rather than to receive. He is away from the advertisements so He neither cheats anybody nor He can be cheated.

But be cautious, commoners can not apply their hearts as touchstones to identify a GURU. He is one with God and that is his real identity. Commoner here stands for not a poor person but poor in spiritual awakening.

In this way, to discover a proper GURU and surrender unto Him seems a big dealing. Yes, it is not a simple dealing. Only after a whirlpool of births and deaths, the pilgrim soul in you becomes eligible for climbing. And if you are eligible, the very name or reference of GURU gives you a relief and unearthly repose to you soul. As above, He comes to world to enable the eligible and many of them are chosen before. When he comes, his services are available to many others (besides the chosen ones). If you are chosen one, your first appearance with Him leaves an everlasting impact. Thenafer, a thin memory of Him energizes/excites you. This is his identity but this it cannot be applied to all yet it certainly applies to the ones he wishes.

In fact, Gurus are embodiment of limitless virtues and qualities like to that of God. Devotees make their lives useful by adopting his qualities. He is a great being without proper qualifiers, however, for the convenience of sadhaka (an aspirant of truth), he has been described as: noble, holy, has control over sensory desires, familiar with brahma and vedas, pleased to help others, engrossed in peace and austerity, master of yoga and many more.
In the practical life too, he should be a role model in every inch. He maintains his holiness in his genes (hereditary), activities and consciousness. Despite of being perfect, he is modest and accessible to people, who naturally revere.

A real GURU always has some inflexible criteria for the selection of disciples. Some basic qualifications of disciples are: noble, ethical, determined to follow the path under GURU's direction, careful, faithful, has control over sensory desires, has no arrogance, reverence to GURU, parents and seniors and obeys GURU whatever his decree is.

Surrender to Him and GURU will make you another GURU

Active Kriya Yoga

Active Kriya Yoga What is the ultimate goal of a conscious human being?

Ø To eat, drink and sleep?

Ø To collect cash, gold and ornaments and leave them at death?

Ø To acquire power and control people?

Ø To pass time and to wait for death?If said collectively, human beings have thousands or millions of aspirations. Different people have different ways of living their lives. Of course, they are free to choose any walk of life they want. There was a Mahabir, a Ram, a Krishna, and a Buddha whose ways of life were not ordinary. With their active exercises, they reached upto the par excellence. In fact, each of us are potential to reach to that level.Present-day science also says that man uses less than 10% of its given capacity. There are 108 sensory organs in our human body but we are exposed to 10 only: eye, ear, skin, mouth, hand, legs etc. Where are other 98 tools? Cannot we revitalize them?Yes we can, like our forefathers. If Bashishta could do that, if Bishwamitra could do that, if Brihaspati could do that and many of our ancestors did that we also can certainly do that. Sakriya Kriya Yoga is a good way to this extreme achievement. Bashishtha and Samkaracharya were well conversant of this methodology. This method has three basic phases:

1) Dharana

Maya (play or illusion) separates a jiva (living being) and the Shiva (Lord). Illusion covers a jiva with a thin cover. Commitment of a person to shatter this veil is called dharana. Dharana or acceptance of a Guru eases the way to crush the cover; his instruction or teaching helps everybody to go ahead. It is wise to visualize our Guru at our agynachakra (inside the forehead).

2) Dhayan (Meditation)

This phase comes after acceptance and visualization of Guru. Nowadays, people are becoming increasingly familiar with the importance of meditation. Meditation means absorbing at a single object or person that we like or love most. Those who have already accepted Guru, should absorb in Guru forgetting all other affair of the world.

3) Samadhi

This is the third and the last stage. In this stage, all the chakras are fully activated. Phenomena of the world can not affect the mood of the person. In this stage, man shares the knowledge and abilities of the Godhead; one can travel anywhere, knows about anything's past and future, becomes like a Rama or a Krishna.

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Yoga of Meditation

Thousands of books are prepared to give knowledge on meditation. For centuries and millenniums, meditation has been a world of charm to many people. There are some ways and methods to reactivate energy within us- Hath yoga, Pranayam, Tantra-Mantra, recitation of Aum, meditation etc. Meditation is the one people talk much about; people want to practice more.

Progress in meditation has correlation with our confidence. The deeper we go into meditation, the greater confidence we achieve in our life. We have immense power within us and that power can be compared with water. If used properly, electricity can be generated out of water. If the water is stored in a pond and it cannot move anywhere, it loses its quality; it becomes rotten. Similarly, the immense power within us is fixed and immobile, it has loses its vitality. The power within us can be handled to grant fearlessness, to make our life juicy, and to give us uninterrupted bliss.

It is suggested that this particular meditation is practiced in the morning after becoming fresh. Utmost dedication and strong determination is necessary for results on time. Process for meditation has been summarized in five steps hereafter:

Lesson One

Have a comfortable pose,
Close the eyes or can cover with black cloth,
Concentrate on respiratory system/breathing, the in and out of your breath,
Breath fast -- with a greater force-- pause for a while once you are tired,
Make a second and a third round.

Lesson Two

Mind may have accumulated dirt of different kinds; suffocation or restlessness may be there. In the past, you may have repressed some of your desires. These suppressed feelings and ideas may have made your mind a bit of junk. You are going to empty it.

You are going to empty everything-- anger or arrogance, fear or jealousy, greed or tension. Let the mind be free wherever it is obstruct. You can start with dancing or weeping, laughing or singing. Indulge in an action of your choice in a full-phased way. Just think that you have freedom to do everything you like. Just do whatever you like - continue it for 10-15 minutes so that you feel relaxed.

We will certainly have a common sense. While crying and weeping, we will not attract others. We can do it in such a way that feelings are intense but noise in minimum.

Lesson Three

Raise hands up,
Try to stand on your toes only,
Jump up again and again- continue until you are tired,- you are sweating,
Lie on the ground like a dead body- let no idea disturb you-- practice shavashan,

Lesson Four

Feel emptiness--feel you are in void,
Just relax in nothingness,
More you relax in nothingness, more energy is charged in your mind and body.

Lesson Five

Irrigate every cell of your body with the delight received in the fourth stage above,
Feel that body seen is like a dry land in Summer season and power within is a fountain of fresh cool water,
Let the river of delight flow everywhere and all the time,
It can demand the time and patience- bliss is certainly there.

Human Life and Kundalini (Serpent Power) Yoga

'Kundalini Sadhana' in real meaning is the sadhana of mind and soul. A co-ordination of different yogas like Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Gyan Yoga is the consequence and result of Kundalini Yoga. The body is tuned by Hatha Yoga, mind through Raj Yoga and Sadhana of soul through (Gyan) Jnana Yoga. Hatha Yoga is directly linked with Pranayam - especially with the breathing practice. Respiration or breathing is related to 'Prana' and Apan Vayw. Therefore Sadhana of Prana through Pranayam is the principal objective of Hatha Yoga.

Raja Yoga is the second step to Kundalinin. The main topic concerned to Raja Yoga is meditation. Control over mind through Raja Yoga is the main target. Then what is meditation? Meditation is a process of entering into the inward path from the outer world and changing the external personality of individuals. Meditation is the only means, which helps to enter into the inward world. It is due to this reason that almost all religions, the world over accept meditation as one of the principal means of purification. There in conflict among different religions but in the process and practice of mediation all agree unanimously. The principles among Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Siekhs, Christians all differ. Very Surprisingly, people of whatever religion he or she is, takes meditation as the only means for personal happiness and pleasure. It is the only means to reach the Godhead. Therefore meditative practices are the steps to reach the stage.

Life infact ends up so fast because time waits no one. We talk too much, make wasteful efforts in searching in the outer surface. But we do not think thoughtfully and make a deep search inside ourselves. The whole treasure of happiness is within us, deeper inside. The deeper we go, the more we find and the means to travel inside is meditation. The worldly peace that are think we enjoy is not lasting, they are only momentary, transitory, for example the tastiest food, the best clothes, anything like that is not lasting. We may think that this is happiness, but they have nothing to do with the real happiness. In fact they are the sources of unhappiness. Pleasure and happiness is a state of mind when it is at zero. Zero does not mean negativeness. To be in a state of zero, one needs meditation.

Our education system, the civilization, culture and many other manners teach us to establish relation with others, teaches us how to behave with others. But one of the missing element which is so important that is establishing relationship with the self. All others methods of education fact where as meditation is the only way to know the self.

Dhyan is a state of mind, which is dormant, a state of thoughtlessness. The state of thoughtlessness can be achieved when we become quite aware with the thoughts. We misinterpret Dhyan as simply closing our eyes. Closing the eyes is just a means of delinking self with the outer world; the mind cannot be closed. Closure of the eyes has no linking with the closing and opening of the mind. Thus when we succeed of link the eyes with the mind we began understanding meditation. The mind is the carrier of thoughts. The free flowing of the mind and stopping them is the process of advancing towards meditation. If situation like this creates an environment and appropriate state when the thought waves become stable. Indeed the last state of this state of affairs is " Nirvichar Chetana ". This state is also known as zero thought. Here at this stage there is no one known as " I ". This state is the optimum level of Dhyan and it is also known as Samadhi.

Dhyan or meditation is the means, and Samadhi is the objective. Therefore let us not think more about Dhyan. Instead let us proceed towards action, start doing it, and reap the benefits. The mind may ask different questions or justifications and so long the mind is not tamed properly to filter the questions and inquisitiveness we can not succeed in what we try to do. Dhyan or meditation is the practice a real task that has to be practised. When Dhyan prevails, the mind slips away. The mind is the doorway to worldly matters where as Dhyan is the doorway of Moksha, the liberation. Things desired by mind and achieved can not be gained in Dhyan where as things unsuccessful to be achieved by mind can be achieved through Dhyan.

The main purpose of Raj Yoga is Dhyan - meditation and Samadhi is the ultimate objective of Gyan Yoga. To realise the Atman, Soul through the medium of Samadhi is the purpose of Jnan Yoga. Jnan Yoga in fact is the only means and end of consolidating Atman into the state of Paramatman.

Regarding Kundalini Yoga, there are different means and they are Body, Mind and the Soul. The means to reach the destination is Pranayam, Dhyan and Samadhi. Kundalini Yoga is in fact is the co-ordination of different yogas such as Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnan Yoga. Kundalini should be the main objective of life. Because the present life, the body itself is the means and there are different ways, the doors remain open. Once the body is destroyed everything is gone. Therefore, this is indeed the right time and moment to understand the importance of life. So let us make this life a grand success, gain and achieve personal success and happiness. Kundalini is the power, which can be activated and energized.

Yagya

Pollution by smoke and dust has spoiled the whole environment. The whole atmosphere is on the verge of perishing in the name of development and human welfare, unlimited number of doctors and medicines have proved to relieve the ever increasing pains and troubles of mankind, new diseases, toxicity, bad feelings, and over all impact of these are on the rise.The road and the end of this development is unimaginable and the destination unclear.

The pronouncing of "Swaha" mantra from the very core of the heart leads into the development of mental powers and helps in the creation thoughts. Bad ideas perish. The word as such is "Brahma and therefore "yoga-mantra" itself is "Brahma mantra" and entirely signifies "Brahma" the pro-nomination of the mantras creates and originates unique sound and vibrations and this sound and vibration in turn innovates mental and physical strength. Take for example, the case of wind, strong wind can originate fire. In the same manner, the promising of the "mantra" by people who have the dedicated feeling of human welfare, helps to destroy all shorts of mental disorders, the troubles and instead, bring in and prevail peace and happiness. This is the time to awaken and let all of us perform this good deed for the sake of peace happiness and tranquility of the people through out the world.

"Havan" the sacred act, performed according to one's own capacity and dedication devotion is undoubtedly the best way to get rid from all sorts of ill effects like disease, problems, quarrel, financial problems worry and agonies. Therefore start from this day the good deed and be determined to bring in peace and welfare within the self, the family and the whole world by performing "Havan" daily, or once a week or BI-monthly or monthly.

As a symbol of peace for the souls of the world, this Pariwar is conducting "Deep Maha Aarati" programs. This program is for the sake of flourishing courage and inspiration and cultivates positive thinking and wisdom through dedication and devotion. This deep Arati is performed once a month in different temples, the "sadhak Pariwar" has been performing this deed since the last six years, and so far has conducted at more than 28 different temple premises. You can join in the program as per your convenience and be a partner in this effort for details, please contact the Pariwar office.