Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji
[fb_button]Guru
Vande Garunaam charanaravinde
Sandarita Swaatmasukhaavabodhe
Janasya ye Jangalikaayamane
Samsara Halahala Moha Santyai
The above stanza is from “Yogataraavali” of Adishankara. It aptly describes what the venom is and how one could get rid of it from Human Life. The worldly affairs intoxicate man kind with their short term, instantaneous results in favorable and unfavorable forms .Favorable results prompt us do more of such actions to extract more positive outcome and generate momentary joy .A person cannot be happy with the same amount of good results for his actions and yearns for higher and improved quality and quantity in life. In short any person would wish more positive results disproportionate to his efforts. That extra gain makes the person happier. In short favorable results are the beginning of a poisonous cycle of “birth and rebirth.” Originating from an inquisitive seeker, desperate soul who is trying to get away from this “cycle” passionately aspiring ever, the Guru Principle enters yours life as “Bhavarogavaidya”. He is there to cater to all the needs of a “seeker”, first to disseminate the true knowledge to help him put the principles of knowledge in to practice, to show the path of inner pursuit, more decisively to protect from deviations. To finally help cherish and realize the everlasting blissful experience of Soul.
Can you think of a burning “bulb” without electricity in it? Can you talk to a person in USA from India without telephone lines? Can you think of a ship without the rudder? So also you cannot think of spiritual life without a “Master” invariably. The place of guru in spiritual life is very important. Bhakt Kabirdas says—“Guru Govind Dou Khade, Kisho lagu Paya” “Balihaari, Guru Appne, Jin Gobind diyo Uppay” Kabir was in confusion as to whom he should bow down first when Guru and Govind both appear together. He says, he surrenders because he enlightens the path to reach Gobinda. Therefore, unless someone shows the way to reach Gobinda, we are like Drunkards staggering in the worldly Maya. “Guru” is the person who shakes us from the deep sleep and removes the veil of “Maya” and directs us towards the destination of life.
As rightly said by sage purandaradas, “Guruvina Gulaamanaguva thanaka…….” any person must surrender to the “Guru” at any point of time and serve him. The reality is in the form the Sadguru the true Master who rarely comes across out life and shakes out situation a bit. He does this with great Love and compassion. The shake up is compulsory. In our ancient tradition in India. Guru is supreme Master unequalled in his compassion to suffering humanity and he is ever a guide.
When Human life came, the “Guru Tatva” principle also appeared simultaneously to guide. Mother becomes the first “Guru”, then the father as “Guru” and then the teacher in your school as Guru guides you further then the “Wisdom” Guru comes across your life. These events occur by destiny alone as many say. You do not choose your Guru. He chooses you. Or in other words the Primary Nature (Prakrithi) chose your Guru. Therefore the spiritual Master or true sage should be honoured as the messenger of Almighty and revered with full respect. There are many chants in “Sri Guru Geeta” directing the disciple as to how to worship the Guru. He is honoured as the Supreme Lord. He is most confidential Servitor of Lord. Dattatreya is a primordial Guru Principle who descended on this Earth. Such a bonafide representative of Lord took the form of Trinity and walked amidst the society with full spiritual effulgence and wisdom. He keeps coming to us all the time in various forms. Such a great Mahatma Guru is in our midst in the form of Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. He cannot be easily identified also. He has his own rules of conduct. All these are a bit mystical to deal with. Only pure Love and Bhakthi can win him.
This manifest form of Dattatreya is Ganapati Sachchidananda. Serving him physically and mentally is a great effort. He accepts you only when you are aligned to him fully. He checks your faith. He is a great actor of the drama of cosmic play. Only by continuous association you can “feel him”.You cannot so easily understand his actions and underlying meaning in the beginning. You question and question all his acts. But he speaks with his “heart”. Once you surrender to him totally, he gives everything, you did not even ask for. Such is the greatness of “Sadguru”. He is “Brahman alone untouched by “Maya”. EntireUniverse lies in Him and at his feet. He is a unique phenomena in spiritual seeking and unequalled in strength. We pray to such a Master Lord Datta. Jai Guru Datta.
Sri Swamiji – The Divine Manifestation
Divinity is beyond definition. It simply Is. One can define or describe a matter, which pertains to the objective empirical phenomena. But when it comes to explain a divine phenomena, all our principles of common empirical thought fail to prove the validity of supra-logical, supra-intellectual, supra-metaphysical conceptions about the Absolute Truth which Divinity represents. In matters divine, all explanations, all understanding and all logic flop simply because divinity is above the sphere of empirical phenomenal consciousness. It can only be felt, intuited and experienced and that too, not by one’s choice, but by the grace and compassion of the Divine Himself who incarnates and descends in the form of Sadguru to redeem mankind.
Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji of Mysore, India is the living example of divinity personified. His mystic personality and spiritual stature defies all description as well as analysis. He is relentlessly engaged in fulfilling God’s mission to help mankind to revel in the glory of the Eternal Spirit rather than waste their lives in transitory, self-centered, passion and prejudice laden narrow pursuits. His Divine personality and his spiritual mission have so vastly touched the human population both within India and abroad that His manifestation, as a great spiritual phenomenon of contemporary times, has come to be recognized throughout the greater part of the universe.
Divine Incarnation
The concept of Divine Incarnation or ‘Avatara’ as popularly known in the Hindu tradition is not a vague-expression; it is something, which is quite precise connoting a definite meaning. An ‘Avatara Purusha’ is distinctly distinguished and stands out at an altogether different pedestal. It may be asked, what is the difference between an ‘Avatara’ and a man who realizes union with the ‘Atman’ (Pure Self) in the highest form of ‘Samadhi’? The man who realizes the Godhead within himself does so as a climax of many human births. His ‘Karma’ from past lives, growing ever better and better, propelled him through various deaths and rebirths to this moment of realization. It is, as it were, the apex of a huge ‘Karmic’ pyramid. An ‘Avatara” on the other hand, has no past, no ‘Karma’. He is not driven by ‘karmic’ circles to be born. He takes human birth as an act of pure grace for the good of humanity.
As Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi puts it: “The Divine comes in the human body, for otherwise, you will not be able to relate to him. The Master appears in the human body in order to dispel the ignorance caused by our deluded minds just as a deer is used as a decoy to capture another deer in a jungle”.
Though He voluntarily ( Swa-ichcha ) enters the world of time and space, He remains Eternal, as He is not bound by time. He is not subjected to ‘Maya’; He is the Master of ‘Maya’. He comes into the world with absolute knowledge of the Supreme Reality rather then realizing it through austerity and spiritual discipline. The basic purpose of His descent is to awaken and kindle the sparks of divinity in man so that he realizes his true divine nature. There is a well-known adage that man is made in the image of God. But the sad part is that mostly, man remains an ‘image’ alienated from God.
It is only when God descends and the ‘man’ is fortunate enough to interact with Him (The Master), that the process of man elevating to Godhead starts, and with constant interactions thereafter with the Master, the image (man) begins to turn to Godliness- i.e. God making His ‘man’ also God-like.
This explains the phenomenon of Divine incarnation. The divine power from time to time comes down on the earthly plane to raise it to a higher status and to inaugurate a new world based on the principles of eternal religion, Pujya Sri Swamiji’s Avatara (descent) on this earth is also a descent of the Divine into the human world-a descent to enable the common man to ascend!
Avadhuta Yogi
Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji is an Avadhuta Yogi, i.e. a Yogi who has perfectly realized the ideal of ‘Samarasakarana’ perfect unification of the individual body with the Cosmic Body and the Power of the Absolute Spirit. When this ideal of ‘Samarasa’ is truly realized, the difference between Matter and Spirit vanishes, the difference between the Finite and the Infinite disappears, the difference between ‘Jeeva’ and ‘Siva’ passes away, the difference between the Self and the World ceases to exist. The Yogi then sees the world within himself and himself in all existences of the world. In his experience, his own body is spiritualized and the whole universe also is spiritualized. To his illumined consciousness, the Absolute Spirit, Siva alone exists in all the names and forms and nothing but Him really exists. He sees and enjoys the most beautiful and blissful Unity in all the apparent diversities.
An Avadhoota yogi is one who has attained perfect freedom from all ignorance and ego-consciousness, all bondage and narrowness of outlook, all desires and attachments; all cares, fears and sorrows, all sense of difference and plurality. He is not only blessed with direct experience of Absolute Truth in the state of Samadhi, but he is also able to bring down the light of that transcendent experience to the intellectual, mental and vital planes of his consciousness, and his normal life is always illumined by that Divine Light. His state of Samadhi seems to continue undisturbed and unclouded even in the midst of his outer activities in relation to various sorts of people under various kinds of circumstances. Such an Avadhoota Yogi is called as ‘Natha’ in the true sense of the term, He is the perfect master of himself, a perfect master of the circumstances in which he may dwell in his outer life. Pujya Sri Swamiji is such a ‘Natha’-a Sadguru who is capable of destroying the darkness of ignorance, which prevails in the ordinary people, and of awakening the spiritual wisdom, and spiritual power, which normally lie asleep in human consciousness.
During the 60s and the early 70s, on many occasions, Sri Swamiji would go into states of Samadhi- losing the outer consciousness of the world, and would fall flat on the ground.
(* Samarasakarna is a concept expounded in Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati of Natha Sampradaya ) and remain in Samadhi states for hours together. In such states, there remained no distinction between the ‘Knower’ and the ‘Known’ and even the slightest trace of individual identity is completely lost-a phenomena whereby there is a total destruction of the ‘mind complex’, and what remains is the pure Divine Spirit devoid of any semblance of any modification. Such Samadhi states of Pujya Sri Swamiji ended in the late 70s because He had a global mission to perform for the good of humanity at large and which required Him to be aware of the outer phenomenal world, not as an ordinary mortal, but as one who is always aware of the Self and whose individual ego has totally merged into the Cosmic Mind- which is the source of all creations.
The Universal being- One With All
The very nature of any divine manifestation is that it is for all. It is not something like a private personal profession or claim. The Sun, the Moon and the Stars – will any one make a claim that these heavenly bodies belong to any selective or specific individuals or regions? They belong to one and all. Likewise, Pujya Sri Ganpati Sachidananda Swamiji’s manifestation is the manifestation of the Universal Soul – the Eternal Being, who is all-inclusive and operating at diverse levels of individual consciousness and at multifarious planes of phenomenal existence. Yet, He remains in that permanent illumined state of spiritual unity of all orders of existence, that perfectly effortless state of consciousness and that living profile of perfect case, equanimity and self fulfillment which, in the spiritual parplane, is referred to as “Nitya Nirantara Sahaja Samadhi” (Eternally dwelling in the transcendental state of consciousness)
His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji sees Himself in others. They are not different from Him. With wise people, He is wise but with ignorant, he becomes ignorant. With children, He will play and behave like a child and with the learned, he will be scholarly. He does not have His own separate will to be projected in any particular manner. Possessed by the Universal Divine current, He becomes an instrument of the Divine and His behavior, in multifarious situations and contexts, becomes a spontaneous and instant display of Divine Energy.
One may listen to lectures about truth, meditation, self-realization etc and come away with hardly any grasp of the subject. However, then one comes into contact with Sri Swamiji, His very glance or smile will give such an inspirational feeling of self-elevation that one would instantly experience the transmission of divine grace. In the company of Sri Swamiji, what would heal the agitated or disturbed mind is not some thing like a verbal lecture or counseling or a discourse on spiritual matter. Instead, it will be the untainted, undiluted and spontaneous flow of His Divine Energy penetrating into all those who come within His Holy orbit. That is why, on many occasions, Sri Swamiji would say, “My language i.e. the language of silence”. It is true indeed that, in the company of a holy sage, silence acts as the greatest eloquence !
The Siddha ( Perfect Being )
A Siddha is a sage who is Perfect in himself and remains Perfect in all the variety and complexities of phenomenal existence. He consciously deals with plurality of material things and at the same time, sees the One Infinite External Spirit in them; He experiences the particular objects of various kinds in the phenomenal world, and at the same time, experience his divinity manifested in all of them. He outwardly participates in the joys and sorrows of the people, and at the same time, inwardly enjoys the supreme bliss amidst all the transitory enjoyments and sufferings. In other words, ‘Siddha’ is the perfectly ‘ Enlightened’ state in an embodied life. He dwells in a plane of consciousness, which is above the planes of the ‘baddha’(non-liberated) as well as ‘Mukta’ ( liberated). He enjoys himself with perfect tranquility and brings his illumined outlook into all the planes and regions of phenomenal experience.
His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji is the glorious living example of a ‘Siddha Purusha’ ( the perfect Being ) who represents perfect consciousness, perfect existence and perfect bliss. The word ‘Perfection’ has become synonymous with the spiritual stature of Sri Swamiji. Such being the lofty and the ethereal dimension of His Consciousness, the spiritual energies, which flow from Him, are spontaneous and instant rather than consciously acquired through spiritual disciplines and austerities. His extraordinary powers, which in common usage, are referred to as ‘miraculous’ powers are a natural flow of His Perfected state of being a ‘Siddha’, a divine manifestation of the Supreme Power. This explains the difference between the ‘occult’ powers and the natural flow of powers of a ‘siddha’, great saints, seers and jnanis. The occult powers are within the ‘minds’ framework. They are acquired, and whatever is acquired, is lost as well. But the powers of a ‘Siddha’ belong altogether to a different category. The mind of a ‘Siddha’ is completely dead and is anchored in the spiritual heart. A Siddha has no more sankalpa ; he is desire-free. The question of his using the mind to perform ‘siddhis’ does not arise. Yet he works miracles, which happen because he is a pure channel for the manifestation of divine powers. This explains for the miracles of Krishna, Jesus, and Jnanis like Pujya Sri Swamiji. Their power is the fullness of the power of the Supreme Self, which works through them and they sport such power spontaneously and without any effort whatsoever. Their power is indeed a true wonder, for it is unsought and unlimited. They are the true siddhis of a Siddha Purusha.
Sanatana & Poorana ( The Eternal & The Full)
Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji as an ‘Enlightened Being’ is Sanatana – the Eternal, the same ‘One’ all the time. Yet, every moment, he is ‘Nootana’, new and afresh, Every second, every moment, he radiates fresh rays of light. He may appear to be carrying a physical profile like any other human being but ‘in’ and ‘out’ , He is the Supreme Light under whose cover all darkness vanishes.
His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji has all the attributes that one may possibly think of and yet, He is attributeless. It is not a paradoxical statement but a living spiritual truth. He is ‘everything’ and yet ‘nothing’ – ‘Sarvagna’ and ‘Shoonya’ at the same time without a split second.
Every truth of spiritual wisdom, every austerity of spiritual discipline and every intricate and subtle aspect of yoga system –they are all not only perfectly ingrained within His Personality but equally shine forth, moment to moment, in all the situations and contexts, in all the activities and interactions and in all the plans and projects around Him, When viewed from this perspective, His manifestation as Poorna Purusha becomes unmistakably evident .
All that has been said above is just like a few flashes of Divinity that Sri Swamiji represents and radiates in His embodied form. However, since the Divine Absolute – the ultimate truth is beyond the scope of any description or categorization, the true nature and state of Sri Swamiji’s Divinity would always remain beyond all intellectual comprehension. The One who represents Self- luminous, Difference-less, Non-dual Spiritual Existence – How can ‘That’ be described? One has only to feel and experience, for it is said…Where words and logic fail, the voice of heart alone prevails!
Guru Purnima
Excerpts from Sri Swamiji’s speech on Guru Purnima. July 13, 2003.
Om Vyasaaya Namaha
Who is this Vyasa?
He is our ancient Guru. Our scripture, Puranas, Maha Bharata, Upanishads were given by him. He is the beginner of Guru Purmima tradition. If you sit near any Guru who gives lecture, that seat is called VYAASA PEETHA or JNAANA PEETHA.
Who is a Guru? Is it necessary to have a Guru? How to judge a Guru? What does Guru mean?
Guru is like Atman. He is in you. He is in your inner self. It is very difficult to find a Guru these days. Male Gurus, Female Gurus are all pervasive these days. They are in all denominations, decorations, bearded ones, shaved ones; it is very difficult to find a Guru.
Sadguru came down to your level to be with you. All times I am happy. I want to keep myself happy. I am saying all this because Sadguru is always struggling to bless devotees.
Sadguru is always happy. Even while watching your antics and confusion, I am laughing inside. Such a lesson is given to you. He helps you to be happy. When touring Andhra Pradesh last month, a millionaire came to Swamiji and asked, “ I have seen your devotees. Many are friends in my business. Even after having lost all their money. They are still happy. I want to join this family. Please bless me”.
Sadguru is like a signboard. It only leads you in a path. But you are driving that car. You have come here with your Karma bundle to go through that. He can never change that KARMA. YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT. But Guru is a good company to keep.
Purnima means full moon. Full moon means fulfillment. So. Guru Purnima is a day of fulfillment. If you go to a millionaire, he may give you a dollar or two. If you go to Kali Ray, she may give you yoga. If you go to Swamiji, he will give you ANANDA. That’s all. But Sadguru is very difficult to please. You must keep praying . Because he is a miser. It may appear like a stubborn diamond. But at the same time, a Sadguru is a delicate flower. I always say this. “If you apply heat to butter, it will melt. But Sadguru’s heart can melt in a refrigerator also. Such is the delicateness of Sadguru’s heart”.
Guru Padukas
“In the right foot under the toes, there are three chakras. They are different shapes. There are three letters (Bhoo – Vi – and Sri) on them. It means that Vishnu along with Bhoodevi and Sridevi is in the front portion of the right foot. There is a waveline connecting these three chakras. Beneath it there is a star. These two together are the symbols of nature power. Below this are two serpent lines. One of them is the symbol of Yoga Siddhi and the other is the symbol of the Navagraha Sakthi ( power of nine planets). These Navagraha lines are also called the diamond line. Below these in the middle of the heel, there is a peculiar chakra. They call it Agastya Chakra. In the left foot, under the toes there are again three different types of Chakras. The one, which is vertical, is Agastya Chakra. The Agastya line in both feet clearly indicates his powers of equalization and transformation, and there are some other specialties, which are not relevant now. The middle Chakra is Dattatreya Chakra. Near the third one is written A- Shanti. It means Akhanda Shanti or infinite peace! Superficially it will appear like Ashanti (peacelessness). It is the special feature of this incarnation. There is Prakruti Shakti Rekha connecting these three chakras. Below this are the Trisul Rekha (Trident line) and Velayudha Rekha (spear line). They are symbols of Divine Power. Below this, there is a peculiar yantra. In it, there are Ganesh Khanda, Surya Khanda, Amrita Saras (lake) and Srichakra Bindu. It is all about Sri Vidya. Beyond this, nothing should be told now. Near this hind part of the foot, there are a chakra, a triangle, and a Shivalingam. All these together form the symbol of our prime Beejakshara (prime seed letter). What should I say beyond this? That day, Abhedananda Swamy decided and said that all these lines are in these feet”.
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Biography Volume 1
Guru Pada Puja
The Guru‘s feet are worshipped or revered because all the Guru’s shakti dwells in the feet. If you do research into this, you will find that the vibrations of the inner self constantly flow out through the feet. The nerves that come from the Sahasrara reach right down to the feet. The feet serve as the support for the whole body. This is the reason the feet are given so much importance. More shakti flows from the feet than any other part of the body. The glory of the Guru’s feet, or the Guru’s sandals is great. Kularnava Tantra says: “Remember the Guru’s sandals …. They provide protection against great diseases, great disturbances, great evils, great fears, great calamities, and great sins.”
The foot of Guru is no ordinary foot. “Gurupadanghri padodakam ganga.” All holy waters, including Mother Ganga , live in the Guru’s feet. This is what you should think in your heart when worshipping the Guru . All holy waters, all Devatas, or angels, and all sacred hills abide in the Guru’s feet. One should have firm sankalpa ( intention, determination) to behold all gods in guru’s feet. The trimurtis – Brahma, Vishnu, Siva- live in Guru’s feet. These three Divine Forms symbolize the removal of the three qualities of nature that keeps the soul in bondage. The three qualities are tamas ( sense of ego), rajas ( passion, desire) and sattva (goodness and purity) when these three qualities are removed, then the soul becomes free or sanyasi. In this state, one renounces desire and becomes like a stone –not senseless, but chinmaya (full of light). So, after Guru Pada Puja, one should surrender the three qualities to the Divine Trinity. This is the significance of self-surrender to the Guru’s feet.
For the sake of His disciples, the formless Guru takes the form in Padukas. Guru lives in Padukas. A devotee should pray “O my Guru, wherever my mind goes, may your form be there. Wherever my head bows in salutation, may your feet be there”. The Guru continuously tests the devotees. It is very dangerous for the devotees to look on the Guru as an ordinary man. The devotee must think that the Guru is higher than Shiva, Vishnu or Brahma. If one thinks that the Guru is the physical form and activities, then it becomes very easy for doubts to infiltrate the citadel of devotion. After a while, the doubts may destroy devotion. Nothing the Guru says or does is ordinary, there is always a higher reason.
Music for Healing & Meditation
All music springs from Sound (Nada) and all music carries vibrations emanating from the rhythm and tone of music. Whatever may be the form of music, its key constituents are always rhythm and tone (Taala and Swara) Here lies the potent substance of music – the vibrations.
Now look at the human organism. The pulse rate, the beating of heart, the circulation of blood, and the inward-outward movement of breath – they are all related to the system of rhythm and tone in the human body, producing invisible life-giving and life sustaining vibratory activity. When health is out of order it means that the rhythm and tone within the body is out of order. The help of harmonious vibrations is then very much necessary to bring us back to the state of harmony. And what is the effect of music? It regulates the rhythm of a person and tunes it to the harmony of the music that is being performed.
Man lives, moves, and thrives in vibrations he is surrounded by them just as a fish is surrounded by water. His different moods, inclinations, actions, and all conditions of his life depend upon a certain activity of vibrations. The soul perceives the vibrations of feelings; the mind conceives the vibrations of thoughts; the eyes see the light vibrations emanating from the objects of the physical world.
Vibration is the activity of Consciousness (Atma) and it is Consciousness, which is the cause of Creation. Each vibration originating from its original source is the same- it differs only in its tone and rhythm due to a greater or lesser degree of force behind it. On the plane of Nada, vibration causes, diversity of tone. The vibrations become audible when they are massed together. Nada gives to Consciousness an evidence of its existence, even though it is Consciousness itself, which has turned itself into Nada. In other words, Consciousness bears witness to its own voice. That is why it is said that Music is the expression of the Soul. Everything being derived from and formed of vibrations has Nada hidden within it, as fire is hidden within flint. It is for this reason that a man of spiritual wisdom always says that in each atom, there is the indweller, God. Tell me where He is not . Such being the all–pervasive nature of Nada, it is befittingly and worshipfully addressed as Nada Brahma.
The power of vibrations connects in some manner all things and all beings in the universe on all planes of existence. Thereby a Seer knows past, present and future and perceive conditions on all planes of existence. The Saints and Sages spread their peace according to the power of vibrations that they send out from their Souls.
Nada vibrations work through the chord of sympathy existing between man and his surroundings to reveal past, present and future conditions. The human body has 72,000 astral nerves, which incessantly vibrate in a specific rhythmic pattern. Disturbance in their rhythmic vibration is the root cause of diseases and the musical notes restore their normal rhythm, there by bringing about good health. There is no complication about it, once you are in tune with the modus operandi, says Sri Swamiji. Listen with your heart and not your intellect. His music therapy lays stress on concentration (Ekagrata) on both the part of the healer- musician and the listener. Listening, He says, is a special technique requiring sense control. Cerebral sounds are aroused and long concentration on a Raga (tune) creates a healing effect on the listener.
“Music is not a substitute for medicines- it only potentates them”, states Sri Swamiji. I use devotional music as a means of spiritual energy transmission. Playing on a synthesizer to simulate the sounds of 1008 different instruments, and accompanied by a troupe of classical India musicians. Sri swamiji utilizes different rages for different health conditions. “The music therapy is combined with Ayurveda, Psychology, Gem therapy and Astrology’, says Sri Swamiji. “I only affect a rapport between man and God, the Supreme Reality, with help coming from man himself in good measure. I attune man to God through belief and music . Once that results, body-consciousness vanishes gradually, and with that, affliction ceases to be experienced and ceases to exist. That is healing through Music and Meditation”, declares Sri Swamiji. “Music is my religion, Music is my language, Music is my soul, and Music is my expression”- Sri Swamiji
Kriya Yoga
Mooladharam tatha swadisthnancha manipoorakam
Anahatam vishudhakhyam agnachakram vidurbhudhah
Tavadhara swarropani konachakrani parvathi
Trikona roopini shakthihi bindu roopa siva smruthah
Avinabhava sambadhaha tasmat bindu trikonayoh !!
Essential facts about Kriya Yoga
Each of us is the source of others wisdom and we should be reminded constantly of Yoga and to live in perpetual present tense. Kriya Yoga is the Yoga of action and it can be interpreted and practiced at different levels. It is just like aligning the opposites in man just like in a manner of a binocular vision. If we could close our right and left eyes alternately different images oscillate; but with both eyes open wee see things in depth. Kriya Yoga therefore is a revelation of your capacity to see things in depth.
There are many Yoga Sampradayas in the ancient land of India. Primarily, Raja yoga, Astanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Kriya.Yoga are some of the modifications.
“Tapswadhyaya Eeshawra Praneedharani….” is the statement of Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Kriya is a mental initiation and this mental action should be supported by Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dhrarana, Dhyana and Samadhi, which are the real essences of Yoga. Man’s yogic conduct is determined by the highlights of Astanga Yoga. Any vision and visualization is a product of ones perspective and it is a mental Kriya. Mental Kriya is a powerful energy dynamic. Some of the mental activities have to run parallelly, systematically in order to bring about a perfect harmony and energy flow in man and this is based on the need to be in continuous state of quietude. A mans primary duty acc to Kriya Yoga is to unshackle himself from the bonded life and see the eternal truth. Yoga therefore has sufficient reason to solve the puzzle of life and to drive the attention towards the truth. Kriya Yoga has cleared the ground long ago. As modernity has arrived, there is change of lifestyle and the campaign against ignorance has become stronger to cause expansion of knowledge of nature. Even though science has progressed dramatically, it cannot touch the values and life giving belief system of human beings. However in the Age of Reason one would make appear people to be sane, it is still a myth overshadowed by superstition that the human mind has embraced, Directly Yoga deals with a functioning belief that the essential nature of man is divine. There is a need to revive the processes connected to Kriya Yoga in a powerful way with a functioning belief that the essential nature of man is divine. There is a need to revive the processes connected to Kriya Yoga in a powerful way with the help of Yogic personalities. Yoga deals with invisible which science cannot touch. The full range of reality (Yogic truths) is a subject of higher intuition which nature alone has to bestow. Is it possible to be in durable peace and harmony? There are forces of contraction and repulsion in the mind and the life supporting systems are getting out of balance. We need to understand these subtle ‘co-incidences’ forcibly and heed to the warnings of Yogis and Prophets without ejecting the baby with the bath water.
How to deal with day-to day life
There are many spiritual traditions in the world which you can follow and deserve. Today Yoga is accepted as a scientific and systematic study by the East and West. There is little possibility for misunderstanding, misconception and misinterpretation. There are 2 approaches-one is a committed approach and the other is a non-committal approach. Committed approach means, a conscientious man will not escape from life, he accepts it much more completely than those whose pleasures are tinged with anxiety and whose defeats are embittered by regret. Carefully, devotedly, wholeheartedly, he does divide between a chosen activity and what is done as a necessary
chore. All Kriyas become important and vital for a Kriya Yogi.
Seek that knowledge – what is behind an action, behind all life, the ultimate Reality. All good and evil are relative to individual point of growth. But in the highest level there is no good or evil as such. Once we develop the awareness and reach a particular stage of development and take the attitude that the almighty is everywhere and he is always perfect and he neither kills nor destroys. That is the height of realization in Kriya Yoga. In spite of the complexities of the human life a Kriya Yogi is moving towards spiritual perfection by meditation and repetitive sadhana. There are 3 aspects – one is seeking a perfect master who has realized the truth of Kriya and who holds the key for awakening another person (people like Sadguru Swamiji who is always in fearlessness and peace). The second aspect is being in the region of purity unconditionally always (Samadhi). The third is indicating authority and power, which is dynamic aspect (Kundalina Yoga aspect). All the 3 aspects have to be realized.
Kriya Yoga practiced in earlier times
Kriya yoga was practiced in India for thousands of years. In order to acquire supernatural powers, Sadhus and Yogis practiced controlling of mind and body through Kriya Yoga. Many have realized the truth of kriya Yoga, exhibited unusual energy forms. The Yogis who were born in the Dattatreya tradition in Maharastra, Gujarat and North Indian plateau infused faith in the ultimate by Yoga Sadhana. They showed the possibility to sacrifice body needs and point out towards experiencing a union with the ultimate reality. They wanted Human beings to get away from the painful life. So many subtle forms of Yoga were taught in Bengal , prayers and disciplines were given utmost importance, purificatory methods were given by Himalayan Yogis. In this period of time we are learning such ancient practices of Kriya Yoga for fulfillment of inner needs by His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. He also carries the tradition of Dattatreya Yogis of the past.
How Swamiji has taught in course of time
His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji began teaching for small groups in Jammu, Vijayawada, Mysore and else where in India. Strikingly, He exhibited a daringness that was visible in the classroom because of a spiritual depth, He spoke about- Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Samadhi, etc. He also talked about the Nadis, Mudras and the power indwelling spirit as Shakti. He was stressing on the need for Hatha Yoga very much to acquire a suppleness and flexibility of mind and body. He also spoke about the non-dual nature between matter and spirit. In substance, the Kundalina energy that has been spoken off since ancient times is supportive of conscious development to a certain kind of realization. There is an unusual charm and energy in Him. His intention in the class was to share that experience through energy even though not all could understand and perceive it. There by Swamiji has made caused faith to grow in Yoga in Kriya students. Many of the students have become more peaceful away from anxiety and are practicing Kriya yoga even today after more than 2-3 decades. Kriya Yoga according to Him involves using the disciplines of various traditions. The mystic Swamiji is blessed by Almighty Mother with Kriya Yoga by which he is able to achieve He was able to do stupendous tasks which ordinary people cannot perform. He talked about the power of breath ( let the breath take you into the body, breathing in light). He also talked about the creative use of mind focusing on the inner energy fields (charkas) His worship methods during traditional navarathri represent Kundalini Yoga for conscious arousal of energy and pure thoughts. He speaks about the closeness of Mother goddess and yourself and takes you to the portal of the unmanifest power which you can only EXPERIENCE ( Anubhava Vedya). Many of the students could feel the energy in their body and a pure space deep within with less and less external distractions.
His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji urges you to take a deep plunge into the teaching of Kriya Yoga without resistance initiating a student to transcend the body limitations. He suggests meditative way to get in touch with the universal life energy. He Himself lives day-to-day perhaps in an absolute stillness, yet performing all other external activities perfectly. He has respect for the daily duties of man in this physical universe and tells not to differentiate between world and the other world. Students have reported that there is deep sense of peace in then somewhere in background, which they cannot express. There is a stillness of mind no matter whatever happens out in their life. They are ready to face external challenges with more power and they have developed a respect for Yogic teachings. Swamiji has spoken about the inner body portal, the dream portal and the absolute beyond. Seamiji’s Kriya Yoga is really a spiritual teaching to awaken a student from the body consciousness. Swamiji tells that body is subject to disease, old age and death, but the ultimate real You and I are essentially deathless. Kriya Yoga therefore talks about beyond birth and death getting way from the limitations of body, mind that are changing and illusory. Do not fight with your body which is Karmic Package but you can restructure the body and its fragments by Pranayama and Pratyahara. The deepest root connection for all this a powerful Master. Spiritual practice should be done regularly and this is the only chance in human life to survive as a Yogi. Be alert always; get rid of old patterns; get away from anger; jealousy and defensiveness and the urge to feel limited.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Yoga
“Established in Yoga, giving up attachment, and with evenness of mind in success and failure, perform actions, O Arjuna. This evenness of mind is known as Yoga.”
Arjuna said: “O Krishna, this Yoga of evenness which has been declared by You,
I do not see its firm endurance, owing to unsteadiness (of the mind).”
“The mind, verily is, O Krishna, restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate. Its control I deem very difficult to achieve, like that of the wind.”
The Blessed Lord said: “Doubtless, O Mighty-armed, the mind is restless and difficult to control, but it can be controlled, O son of Kunti, by practice and detachment.”
Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
Yoga is one of the respected means accepted for the achievement of Self-unfoldment. But memorizing “Yogasutras” (Yoga principles) serves no purpose. Hunger cannot be appeased by mere book knowledge of cookery. In a similar way, no one can achieve the goal, viz, realization of the Self by merely expounding how “Rechaka” (exhalation) and “Puraka” (inhalation) are to be done and the manner of performing various asanas (postures). Stay free from the trammels of the body, mind, and intellect. Continuous and regular practice alone can lead the seeker to the desired goal.
Everyone is familiar with the eight limbs or steps prescribed by the Yogasutras. It is necessary to obtain absolute perfection in every step, one after another. One cannot just jump to the last step without climbing the previous steps. Certain outward symptoms herald the attainment of such perfection.
After obtaining excellence (siddhi) in the first two steps, viz, . Yama (restraint) and Niyama (observances), the seeker should strive for “asana siddhi” (accomplishing posture) and after achieving that only, pranayama ( breath control) should be practiced. With the obtaining of perfection in pranayama everything becomes easy. The sadhaka (practitioner) gets a number of psychic powers, ultimately drinks the nectar oozing from the Sahasrara (seat of the soul). Then only can one be called a “Yogi” .
A true “ Yogi” does not move about wearing a badge, displaying that he is a yogi. Even when he is accosted, he will not confess that he is a “Yogi”. A perfect master prefers to remain un-noticed and unrecognized. He dwells in the realization and contemplation of the Self. He has no more duty to perform in this world. His is a life of fulfillment.
This is our heritage. It should be our endeavor to reach that state before the body falls off.
Pranyama
Pranayama. What is this? Inhaling and exhaling. It looks very easy. But, when you begin to practice, it will seem very hard. The Kriya yoga will be helpful for health, meditation, and knowledge. All the time there are tensions and disappointments in your life. Kriya yoga helps in the day to day life.
I think that you are very lucky because only some rare people practice this kind of yoga. Everybody knows the names of Kriya Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. So many yogas are being taught. Only lectures, teaching and beautiful books. That’s all. That’s not sufficient for our life. We must practice . There are so many theories and lectures on radio and TV and various kinds of seminars. Talking for hours together. That is not the end, the aim. We can go further. We must practice. Our lifetime is a very short period. You must experience. You practice in this lifetime.
There are some Sanskrit words in Kriya Yoga. But it is not a religion. It is not a ritual. Don’t think of Kriya Yoga as a religion. So many mantras are chanted: Ganapati, Bhaskara, Shiva. Of course, these are all the names of Hindu gods. They are Hindu god’s names because each deity, each god, each angel is the master of a particular pranayama. That’s why we call this pranayama’s master as so and so. We are praising our masters, not Hindu deities. Don’t think, ‘What is this Hindu deity? Oh, this is a sort of Hindu religion.’ Don’t think about that. Christ is also the master of one kriya pranayama. A Muslim saint is also the master of one pranayama. Because Christ is doing some miracles, there is one pranayama that he knows. It is not Christian. It is not Muslim. It is not Hindu. Lord Buddha also practiced one pranayama. He is the master of one pranauyama. And Lord Maitreya practiced one pranayama. He is the master of one pranayama.
Prana (vital energy) is very important in yoga. Prana is our soul. Prana is our breathing. When you are in a coma state, you are still doing prana. You can be in any state- out of body, conscious, subconscious, going to Omkara or So- Hum – you are still doing prana.
See. Our sounds have the word, “so-hum” , “Omkara”. Our breathing is so-hum, so-hum. Inhale – Exhale. What does so-hum mean? I am. I am full. I am only one, without a second. I am everything. All souls are mine. I am God. I am full in these planets, in this world. I have no karma. I don’t have any kind of good or any kind of bad.
These are the teachings from breathing a long breath all the twenty-four hours.
Some people breathe very short. That’s why they have a short life. When some pain comes in your body, you can breathe a long breath. Long inhalation and long exhalation. Those who use a long inhale and exhale live 100,120, and even 200 years. Ancient Hindus, certain yogis, lived 200 or 300 years. This is from controlling our food, controlling our breath, controlling our senses, and controlling all sorts of our actions. Long breathing and high thinking. Now , our attitude and actions get irritated. Suddenly, we get upset and disappointed. Somebody says something about you. You become disappointed, afraid, and angry. You are so upset that you don’t sleep, don’t eat, don’t talk and you are crying. Our energy is automatically used. Our energy, our one year of life is wasted. We get angry. The energy is lost. Three or four days’ energy is lost. Our nervous system is working so hard, and our pumping system, our heart is rapidly pounding. The nervous system gets weak. The heart pumping station gets weak. The energy is automatically lost. That’s why go calmly. Be calm. If anyone has disappointments, always remember Swamiji’s words : no appointment, then no disappointment. When you get unhappy and disappointment in your life, take easy. You laugh. Take easy. OK. It comes. No problem. Kriya Yoga helps.
Dhyana (Meditation)
Everyone, whatever his position in society may be, yearns for peace. All of them are searching for it every where except the place where it is available. Man is ensnared by the seemingly glittering and pleasure- yielding sense-objects of the world and confuses the temporary sense gratification obtained by possessing them for real and permanent peace. The fountain of perfect peace is within one’s own Self. The only means to know and experience this center of infinite and absolute peace is DHYANA or meditation, as prescribed in the scriptures and taught by the Guru. Concentrating the mind on one particular object or symbol or thought to the exclusion of all other thoughts and contemplating on it without interruption constitutes Dhyana.
One should not attempt to do Dhayana for a long time at one stretch in the initial stage. Over- enthusiasm will not be of any value here. The period of Dhyana should be increased gradually. In the beginning one should practice Dhyana for shorter periods daily and regularly, and after attaining ease and perfection, extend it gradually to longer periods. Ultimately, one will be able to remain in Dhyana for hours together continuously.
Namajapa (constant and repeated chanting of divine names) can be used as an aid to Dhyana in the early stage. Namajapa helps the practitioner to control and direct the thought- flow in a particular channel. Other important disciplines that contribute to the efficacy of Dhyana are regulation in food and recreation, and normalcy in the performance of actions, sleep, and awakening.
Dhyana is not an activity. It is an essential and integral part of one’s existence. It is the gateway to perfection, and to freedom from all anxieties and stresses that are the inescapable results of the modern lifestyle.
Man’s ascent to divinity or descent to animal nature, or his rise or fall in the ladder of cultural evolution depend solely on the state or quality of his mind. Mind by itself will always be agitated and uneasy. It is by nature fickle, turbulent, powerful, and obstinate. It is as difficult to control or make quiet as it is difficult to control the wind.
A steady and calm mind is the instrument needed for the attainment of divinity, which is the true nature of human beings. An unsteady and agitated mind takes man down the ladder of evolution.
For attaining quietude or calmness of mind, such positive virtues like friendliness, compassion, contentment, and indifference towards worldly enjoyment should be cultivated by purging the mind of its negative tendencies such as hatred, cruelty, discontentment and longing for worldly enjoyment.
Among the factors, which disturb the mind most, desire takes the first place. Desire is born of thinking constantly of sense- objects. From desire arise frustration, anger, and envy, which ultimately lead to the fall of man. It is desire that is the most powerful obstacle to man’s progress on the spiritual path. Desire causes his downfall by veiling his faculty of discrimination. It alone is man’s real enemy. All of man’s efforts should therefore, be directed towards eradicating this wicked and elusive foe ( desire) which destroys knowledge and obstructs realization.
Puja
“Daily, Sri Swamiji is performing puja to Sri Yantra. It is a worship for world peace, not only for this ashram, but the benefits are distributed to all the worlds.” Silent teacher.
“ Puja itself is discipline….. It itself is everything. When you do puja with devotion and sincere faith, the deity will respond to you as if it were speaking. Why does Swamiji do puja? Swamiji does not need to do puja, but still does it every day. Why ? He does it for you so that yourself, your children, and all others who see the puja could develop shraddha (faith). When you see Swamiji doing puja, hear recitation of mantras, the whole atmosphere becomes holy and divine, and you are at peace with yourself. Your heart feels, ‘it is something very nice, very pious’. So you begin to develop devotion.” Nada Prasara 1993.
“Worship of the formless one in the form of an idol or a saligrama or a Sivalinga has been an inseparable part of our Sanatana Dharma ( eternal law). Idol worship is a bridge to cross the gulf of samsara, and over which the journey from the ego to the Lord is to be undertaken.” God Word.
“Pray to God with all your might to give you the strength to meditate upon Him. Do not pray for anything else. This is the key to obtain all powers from God.” Niti Mala.
“Devotees offer fruits, garlands and money to their guru. Does the guru need them? Guru is not Patra ( receiving vessel). He is the Daata ( giver). A devotee should never think that by his offerings, however big the offerings may be, he can please his Guru. The guru gets pleased through your devotion and your sadhana to get rid of your ego. The relationship between guru and devotee is not a business deal. Instead. It is essentially based on shraddha (faith), bhakti ( devotion) , and seva ( service). If these qualities are there in a devotee, they constitute the best offerings to the guru.” Sadguru Sookti Sangraha.
“ Then there is “ akshatam”. Akshatam is a mixture of rice grains with turmeric powder or Kumkuma powder. Each rice grain represents a “ Jiva” or soul. The red or yellow powder is karma. “Oh Swami, help. Oh Gurudeva, help me. I want good soul. But due to karma, I am suffering, I am burning. You help me to get rid of this karma. Now we come to “deepa” or light . “I want light. I want “ Jnana” ( wisdom). I want light in my heart. My body is the wick and my karmas are the oil that is burning. Oh, Gurudeva, help me. I don’t want any more births. Your touch gives your blessings. I want your touch. I want your talk. I want your friendship. Help me to use this birth for a good purpose. Then there is the breaking of coconut and offering at Guru’s feet. What does it mean? The coconut is “ ajnana”, or ego. When it is broken, the sweet water of “Jnana” can be experienced. “Oh Gurudeva , I want you to break my “ajnana” (ignorance) and bring out my “jnana” (wisdom). You also offer fruits, flowers, water and milk. Fruits symbolize your heart. “Oh my Gurudeva, I will give this fruit. I will give my heart.” Then “patra”. leaf, like tulasi or bilva, when offered represent the body. When you look at a tree, you can always observe some leaves falling. In the same way, the body will one day be discarded. “My body is a leaf, oh my Gurudeva. I am offering this body because one day this body will fall down.” “Pushpa”, flower is “buddhi” or intellect. “ Jalam” means water. When you see anyone you love, tears of happiness flow out of your eyes. Finally, there is the repetition of 108 or 1000 names of God. Then “ashtanga namaskara” to the feet of the “Gurudeva”. “Ashtanga namaskara” means prostration with all eight limbs. And “Pradakshina” which means seeing God on all sides by walking around clockwise” “ Heart to Heart” .
“The next important part of worship is ‘abhisheka’ ( water is offered invoking all the sacred rivers). This signifies purifying one’s mind and intellect- which alone can render the worship purposeful. Then milk and curds are used for revealing the pure self to guide the worshipper. By offering sugar he asks God to erase the laziness, both physical and mental and to fill him with satvic (pure) energy. Ghee is poured to wash the sins away, especially lust, anger, and greed, By offering honey during abhisheka, the worshiper prays for sweet ananda (bliss). By anointing the deity with haldi ( turmeric), he prays for the removal of all diseases. With sindhoor ( red colour) he prays for good relationship with the society and harmony within the family. Chandan (sandal) is smeared as a protective shield. The light or arati is for obtaining strength in meditation through a positive and firm mind. Incense is burnt signifying burning of all evil tendencies of the mind the physical impurities. Finally, camphor is lit and offered to the deity, signifying a total surrender to Him.” God Word.
Service
His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji
“ At the end of one’s life,
We shall not be asked
How much pleasure we had in it,
but how much service we gave to society;
Not how successful it was,
but how full it was of sacrifice;
Not how happy we were,
but how helpful we were;
Not how much ambition was gratified;
but how love was showered”.
The Twelve Directives
His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji- Enjoy your wealth by sharing it with others.
- Sing the Divine names of God every day.
- Strive to cross the ocean of Samsara ( worldly life) before your body becomes weak.
- Those who criticize you are your true well-wishers and Gurus. Respect them.
- Realize that God alone is your true friend.
- Abandon ostentation. Lead a life of contentment, compassion, humility and generosity, and be ever engaged in prayer.
- Do not ask God for anything.
- Do not forsake moral restrictions.
- Do your duty with unflinching devotion towards God.
- Always remain contented.
- Keep good company.
- Endure pain and sorrow with courage and fortitude.