Erase your ego and be modest

There are two tendencies of mind one is egoistic and the other is modest. Egoism comes from foolishness and modesty is the result of good sense. Out of foolishness, people become proud of their wealth, learning, power or good looks. ‘Nobody has the power, beauty, learning, wealth or the family like I have,’ they think. Billions like you have come and gone. If you look at the beauty, power or the family (the universe) of God, from whom you and all others got theirs, where is the room for pride? When we are ignorant, when we are unable to see the splendour, the Knowledge, the potency, the opulence of the Supreme Lord, we become proud of this body which started from a drop of vital fluid and collection some information by reading books and hearing others we boast of our learning, power, status or wealth. And we blow our own trumpet making our finite individuality separated from that indivisible whole.

A son may get separated form his father and have another house or factory for himself. But can a jiva build any factory separated from the indivisible Pure Consciousness? Can we have peace imagining ourselves to be separated from the Supreme Being and taking pride in our assumed individual existence? We have egoistic feelings only because we do not have Knowledge of the infinite, the Cosmic Person. It is not that only the educated or the uneducated or the wealthy feel proud. People feel proud of not having wealth. Many people are proud of renunciation, being an ascetic. They take pride in things like, ‘I am no run-of-the-mill sadhu; I have not taken salt for the last twelve years.’ ‘I walk barefooted.’ I have not shaved my beard of six years.’ Our ego assumes various forms and turns the mind inwards one cannot attain absolute peace, absolute Knowledge and Indivisible existence.

The most learned of men, if takes recourse to enquiry (in to the nature of reality), his pride of learning cannot persist. The most powerful men, if takes recourse to enquiry his pride of power cannot persist. The most beautiful person, if takes recourse to enquiry, his/her pride of beauty can not persist. Non-enquiry is the only cause of pride. Enquiry brings modesty.

Suppose your enemy comes to your house. Finding the enemy at your house, your get up, offer him a seat, give him a glass of water and show respect towards him; you bow your head before him. Your treating him with respect doesn’t make your enemy great; it shows your greatness. One who makes another great (by showing respect to him) is greater than the great for he is the maker of the ‘great’. Modesty does not make one meek. Rather modesty combed with discriminative insight delivers the mind from the ego and fills it with Self-Bliss.

Allegations were leveled against Kabirji and Kabirji received them with all humility. The king of Kashi says, ‘Kabirji! There is still time to mend your ways and if you do so, I can forgive you. Hitherto I have been dismissing what the priests said about you as rubbish but when I with my own eyes see you holding the hand of a whore in your one hand and bottle of liquor in the other, I am constrained to ask you what has brought this degradation in you. It is the question of your honour. When you have disciples like me, the king of Kashi why is it that you are seen in this state-holding the hand of a whore in your one hand and a bottle of liquor in the other?

Kabirji says:

‘Listen O brethren! Listen my friends! Kabir is changed.
The milk is curdled when mixed with curds
And it is changed into butter.
Kabir is changed
Coming into contact with the philosopher’s stone, iron is transformed.
That iron is transformed into gold. In the Society of the saints
Kabir is transformed,
That kabir is transformed,
That kabir is transformed into gold.
In the Society of the Saitns
Kabir is transformed,
That kabir is transformed into a saint. ]
Kabir is changed’.

The ego based on false notions is destroyed. When the ego is destroyed, the mind is established in Supreme self. While Kabirji was saying all this in the court of the king of kashi, he poured the water filled in the wine bottle on the ground.

The king of Kashi asked, ‘Why did you spill the liquor on the ground?”

Kabirji replied, “The clothes of the cook at Jagannathpuri, who cooks food for the Lord have caught fire; I am extinguishing that fire.”

“Extinguishing the fire at Jagannathpuri from here..!”
“Yes”.

Messengers were went to Janannathpuri whereby it was confirmed that the clothes of the cook at the temple had actually cautht fire but he was miraculously saved as his clothes suddenly became wet. This made the king of Kashi realise his mistake. He became convinced that this must have been a malicious ploy of the prostitute or the priests and sought Kabirji’s forgiveness. Kabirji took this respect in the same manner as he had received the earlier insulting treatment. Those free from ego don't get perturbed at being insulted or disrespected nor do they become puffed up at being treated respectfully because the respect is given by the other person. It is out of his goodness that he gives respect. If we become conceited, it means we have forgotten the Supreme Self, the source that enabled the person to respect us. This will strengthen our flash ego.

Conceitedness is born of Ignorance. To get rid of the ignorance, pray, ‘O Lord! It is you who inspires those who give respect to me. O Merciful Lord! You also take care to destroy my ego by getting me insulted at times. Your mercy is great and unbounded. For thousands of times the troublesome nature of the mind has caused me to hang upside down in mothers’ wombs. So many times I have been passing through the dirty organs of fathers’ bodies. O Lord! Endow me with good sense at least now.’

The prayer made early in the morning gives great strength. The wishes and resolves made in the morning get accomplished. This will endow your life with the virtue of modesty and remove your egoism. The radiance of satsang will illuminate your life.

It is strange that we don’t want to keep our bathroom or kitchen or compound dirty but we are blissfully unaware of that we should do to clean our heart that will accompany us even after death is full of filthy things like pride, egoism, sexual desire etc. if we don't take care to clean our heart, howsoever clean and sparkling our bathroom and kitchen may be, it is of no use.

So, go to the company of the holy to fill your heart with blessedness and pray to Gold early in the morning seeking his company, ‘Lord! Bless me with satsang. Let me be endowed with the virtue of modesty today. Let some good deed be done by my body today. Be merciful enough to let this body, this mind, this intellect and the wealth of mine be used in making some contribution to the embellishment of your creation; to let this servant of Your render some service to you and repose in you, my True Self.’

If you pray like this early in the morning, the Lord will be ready to give you what yogis get by practicing yoga is mountain caves, what ascetics get from mortifying themselves in dense forests, what chaste women get through unwavering devotion not their husbands. Nothings is difficult for Him.

Glory of the Self-realized Guru

Look Krishna says to Sudama “Dear friend! He from whom one is born and thus invested with the body, is the first guru. He from whom one becomes twice-born by performance of the upnayana or investiture of the sacred thread and becomes eligible for study of vedas and performance of religious duties is the second preceptor. He is worthy of reverence as myself. And the Guru who imparts spiritual knowledge and makes one realize the Supreme Soul, is veritably identical to Me.

“Dear friend! Those varnashramis who, in this mundane existence, obtain oral instructions in spiritual matters form their preceptor, easily cross the ocean of samsara, as they know the real essence of Svartha and Parmartha.
Dear friend! I abide in all beings as their real Self, the inner controller I am not pleased by performance of sacrifices or the duties of a householders, life, by the performance of the investiture of the sacred thread of upanayana implying the observance of in the vanaprastha stage of life or by the path of renunciation followed by sannyasins as much as I would be pleased by rendering services to the guru.

Dear friend! It is by the grace of the guru that a man becomes perfect and eligible for supreme peace.

It is in this manner that a good disciple should repay his debt of gratitude to his preceptor, namely that he should offer with a sincere heart, whatever he has with him including his very life.

Goal and Refuge

So, if you sole refuge and motive behind your action, speech and transaction is God, you will attain communion while the Truth-consciousness and Bliss Absolute Supreme Self.

The samsara grieves us through friendship and worldly things make us toil when we think them our own. One remains busy looking after ornaments, cars, back balance, this and that only to die leaving everything behind. We have to leave them even after doing everything to secure them but if we secure it to meet our own selfish ends, it leads to bondage and if we do so for the sake of devotional love and altruism, it leads to liberation because both, the goal and refuge in this case is God. I too am looking after ashrams and so many things, but I am not bound by anything. It is only when you do anything out of selfishness that your action brings you disturbance, worry, sin and bondage and pushes you into the cycle of birth and death. If you utilize your capabilities for the good of all beholding the one Lord Vasudeva in all, and take refuge in God by surrendering the fruits of your actions to Him, your heart will be blessed with magnanimity and your intellect with divine inspiration. Then there will be no need for you to pass big examinations cramming big volumes in order to practice managements or parrot huge scriptures before giving sastang.

If you seek refuge not in your ego, but in God before speaking, if you speak for the sake of Lord Hari, Who is the Real Self of all beings, your eloquence will become satsang, your actions noble and life divine.

People do practice devotion for God’s love and support but in their hearts, they give important to (cherish the goal of) familial matters, money and fame, father than to God. So they do not seek refuge in God but in transient things enhancing their entanglement. If you give importance to God in your heart while working, shopping with your wife or traveling, then you have taken refuge in God. If your main aim is God and if you give importance to God in life, if translating or actions into Karmayoga and carrying out righteous actions is your motto, then your goal and refuge is God.

If your aim is to get pleasure by taking recourse to theft, then your goal and refuge are mean. If the aim is big, then even seeking support of lower person will do. For example there was rich couple who had a devout young daughter. Her aim was to have darshan of God. Once upon a time three or four thugs came to her house in the disguise of sadhus. In the absence of her parents, they told the girl, “Come with us wearing all the ornaments, we will let you behold the Lord.” She accompanied the thugs who disrobed her of all the ornaments and said, “Look into this well, you will behold God.” No sooner did she bend down to look into the well than the thugs pushed her into it and ran away. God appeared there and saved the girl! Though her refuge was mean, her goal was God, and hence she was saved. A detailed description of this incident appears in the ‘Bhaktamal’.
In the case of some, both the goal and refuge are higher. For example, when Hanumana went to Lanka, this aim was to serve Lord Rama and his refuge was Rama name, Karmayoga. Hanumana tried to make Ravana see reason in the name of Lord Rama but Ravana was far from surrendering his ego. Hanumana then burnt down Lanka. His aim was to make Ravana estimate the power of Lord Rama0 through the demonstration of the power of an ordinary messenger of His. So Hanumanji’s motto was to glorify Lord Ram. He was not hostile to Ravana, nor had he any intention to show his greatness by burning down Lanka. His aim was to bring good to Ravana by making him realize the greatness of Lord Rama.

God too while sending his messenger, says, “Go, see to it that while our purpose of bringing Sita is fulfilled, it should bring good to Ravana.”

‘Just frame your speech to the enemy in such a way as to advance my cause and benefit him too.’

Know the world to be transient and changing, and God to be Eternal and permanent. The samsara is the abode of sufferings. It torments through an enemy and inflicts pain through a friend. If a friend falls sick, we get disappointed. We will be sad if he meets with an accident. Any problem or calamity befalling him would mean pain and sorrow for us. We will be troubled if a friend turns into an enemy or dies, even after his death, his memory will grieve us.

The Right Conduct

Understand three things in order to be successful in devotion in practical life.
1) Treat yourself masculinely. Just as a man’s heart is disciplined and stern, so also treat yourself sternly. Restrain your mind if any mistake is committed.
2) Treat others motherly. Just as a mother is lenient and forgiving towards her child, be lenient towards others. There may be a bad son (or daughter), but never a bad mother. Similarly, you should treat others motherly.
3) Be childlike in your devotion to God. If there is artlessness, spontaneity and innocence in your life, God-realization will be easy; and the more there is deceit, fraud, guile, complexity and duplicity in life the more distant will God be from us. Lord Rama says,

‘I have an aversion to duplicity, wiles and censoriousness.’
Therefore, stay clear of these. Just as an innocent child remains carefree in the lap of its mother, you too at times, lie peacefully in the lap of the Mother Lord Naryan while meditating on Her and contemplating, ‘I am reposing in that Supreme self, the divine Bliss… I do not worry… God will take care of everything.’

Rishi Patanjali has enunciated four principles for a successful life:
1) Maitra (friendliness and fellowship): Cultivate an attitude of friendliness and fellowship towards the noble ones, towards those who avail themselves of satsang, tread and make others tread the path divine. Work shoulder to shoulder with them in their divine endeavors.
2) Karuna (compassion and kindness): Be compassionate and kind towards your inferiors, children, servants and those who are ignorant.
3) Mudita (approbation): approbate and encourage those who are engaged in good works, in divine endeavors.
4) Upeksha (indifference): Be indifferent towards incorrigible persons. If you try to reform them you will only waste your time. Consider such people as non existent for you. Neglect them.

To Hell Do They Go

Be humane. Learn to cultivate humanistic qualities. One who is humane listens to the good of all and does good to all. Sant Meera has said:

Those who defame us,
To Hell do they go.
To Hell they go, cleansing our sins.

The man not knowing himself, gets engaged in knowing others: “This is like that… he is like that…” Knowing oneself means knowing the Atman is rare. Every body says, “I am right.” You would ask: “Swamiji! Is this (knowing oneself) important?” yes, sure! One, who has not known his sown Self, how can he know others? He is a mere animal.

Having obtained the human form, if you have not awakened your real nature, not kindled the Light of Knowledge in your heart, not known your real self, then what have you achieved by coming into this world? The real good of man lies in knowing his true Self.

By indulging in calumny, hatred, deceit and trickery you are harming yourself and the society. And God knows how many wombs you will enter to reap the fruits of calumny and deceit.

It is said: One, who has no deceit in the mind who is sincere and honest, such a saintly soul can transcend the ocean of samsara, so says the poet Narayana.
Calumny and praise bind the jiva. Therefore, living in the company of the God loving saints and listening to their satsang, know thyself. This will relieve you from the miseries of birth and death forever.

Thy Will be done!

Self is immutable and so is the Supreme Self. Be one with the immutable. Why do you allow yourself to be swept hither and thither like a straw? You become placeless in the face of petty troubles-not being able to have your way in some big small matter, not being able to gratify your senses, a slight to your ego, a servant not saluting, not getting approval or recognition in some bit or small matter… how small you become!

As you think so does your mind become therefore, please think over God. As you get up in the morning, remember, ‘God abides in my heart. I shall move outside by his power. I shall come to Him again and again.’ Practice ajapa Japa, means spontaneous Japa when the Mantra repeats itself without conscious effort, along with breathing. Practice the hints that were given to you at the time of Mantra Diksha. Practice reposing in the Self for 4-5 minutes at each hours of the day.


‘Which the mind not moving towards any other thing, made steadfast by the method of habitual meditation, and constantly meditating, one goes to the Supreme Person, the Resplendent, ‘O Arjuna!’

Let the practice be converted to yoga. Don't let your mind go towards any person or thing other than God. Your mind will go towards different people and things but keep your attention fixed on the Lord alone, the non-dual reality manifest in the forms of different people and things.

Take an example. The bulb; the tube light; the fan, the motor, the pump and the refrigerator are different equipments; but all of them are powered by the same electricity. Similarly, my beloved Lord is there in everybody and everything. It is He in the form of father, mother and a friend. You come up with a doubt, ‘It is the Lord in the form of father and that Lord tells me not to go to satsang. Should I then go to sastang or I shouldn’t? Should that wish of the Lord be fulfilled?’

A woman put the same question to Swami Ramsukhdas, ‘It is the Lord in the form of my father-in-law as you say. Father in-law says I shouldn’t come to satsang. Should I then come to satsang or I shouldn’t? if I don't come to satsang, I am deprived of good teachings and knowledge which in turn makes my mind impure and turned to samsara. And if I come to satsang, I disobey the instructions of God in the form of my father-in-law.’

It is not the Lord in the form of father-in-law that tells her not to go to satsang; it is delusion or ego or both in the form of father-in-law that forbids her. It is not the Lord in the father that forbids you; it is ignorance and arrogance in the form of father that forbids you. God never forbids you from going to satsang; it is the ego ruling the father’s mind that is going so. The instructions of mother in-law, father-in-law, father or mother thus are inspired by delusion.

You are told in the satsang that Lord is in everybody and everything and that the Lord’s will be done. Your wife may interpret it that you should fulfil her wish of going to cinema for there is God in her. A drunkard in the name of being God will want you to have a drink with him and a gambler will like you to play a game of dice with him.

No! Lord is in everybody and everything means that the Lord abides in you. Thousands of gamblers are playing dice; let them play. You think of playing with the indweller Lord and thus turn your mind inwards. You shouldn’t mar your sadhana yielding to Guruless persons. You shouldn’t exhaust yourself capitulating to kinsmen laboring under delusion. God’s will be done means accepting whatever is happening whether or not it is to your liking. You don’t’ want to be insulted but somebody insults you; yield to the situation taking it to be God’s will and you will not feel hurt by the insulting behaviour. You want to eat something or get something but are not able to. Take it as Lord’s will and remain calm and composed. Taking what comes your way as God’s will, you should remain contented in yourself and should thereby attain self-Bliss. Not that you should capitulate to gamblers, drug-addicts or demands or your near and dear ones to cooperate in the matter of sense-gratification.

God’s will be done not that of our lust. ‘May not the will of my desires be done; may not the will of my ego be done, may not the desires of my friends engaged in sense gratification be done; instead may the will of the all-pervading Lord be done!’ That is all that is to be done! This looks to be small but if you do this, everything is done. Contemplate the name of God with every ingoing breath while counting every outgoing breath. You will start experiencing the bliss of inner self,

Some people, when they meditate, expect some type or depth of meditation. No, do not predetermine any type of meditation nor have any preconceived notion of the results it should produce. That is not the way. As you sit for meditation, tell Him, ‘O Lord! Hails to you! Thy will be done!’ this is meditation and reflection too! Empty your mind of all resolutions. Keep eradicating one thought after another as you go on reading ‘Sri Narayanstuti’ (a Book published by the ashram). Read this book and then immerse yourself in its meaning. You will start experiencing divine bliss immediately by doing so.

Whatever you do, do it for the pleasure of indweller Lord. Don't work for sense gratification or ego trip. Work with a view to propitiate the Lord. This is real service. If people seek your help or service by flattering you, be careful and examine yourself whether you are being motivated by adulation or you are rendering service for the pleasure of the guru or the indweller Lord. If you exercise this care, your service will become much rewarding.

Those who serve of appreciation and fame, become supercilious. They quarrel and fight amongst themselves like dogs they, on the other hand, develop a very sweet nature, who render service for the Guru’s or the Lord’s pleasure.

Submit to the will of the scriptures, God and the Guru and reject your ago. This will bring you immense good. Give your acceptance by saying, ‘O Lord! What you will is for the best of all! Thy will be done!’ if you admit this, what will happen? God is poorna, perfect. The perfect wants perfection everywhere. God, the knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute and Freedom Absolute, wants you too to become the same. What do you lose by His will being done? We don't give our acceptance and want out won will to prevail and that is the only cause of our troubles. ‘O Lord! Thy will be done!’ make no resolve, cherish no desire; have no insistence of any kind. God’s will being fulfilled means God will make you God. The fulfilled means God will make you God. The Supreme Brahman wants to see you as Brahman for you are in substance one and the same as Himself.

The folly commit is to importune God for fulfilling our wishes. We tell the Lord to grant us a son and we fix the time frame for His granting the wish and also spell out the qualities our son should possess as if God has no sense. Are you praying to God or giving instructions to a servant? This is lack of good sense. ‘O God! Let such and such thing happen in such and such way; let the weather be like such and such!’ no, he does whatever His sweet will says and that alone is good for us. Instead of praying for a particular kind of weather, pray to Him, ‘O Lord! Thy will be done!’ then whatever the weather may be, it will not cause any trouble to you. Just give your consent. If somebody hurls abuses at you, say in your mind, ‘God! You are great! Through these cuss words, you are destroying my ego. O Lord! Thy will be done!’ this in itself is a great sādhanā. If you think, ‘Oh my God! It is very hot…’ you will be tormented by hot weather. if you want to enjoy the rains yon will have to bear the summer heat as well. Summer heat is essential for the rains to come. Summer heat is essential also for making one strong enough to bear the cold as cold is essential for making one strong enough to bear the summer heat. Insults are necessary to make one able to assimilate appreciation and fame. Death is necessary for one to assimilate life. The Lord is doing all that is necessary for you. Acknowledge this and say, ‘O Lord! Thy will be done!’ this is the mantra and this is enough. It is very short and open to all. It is bliss all the way.

‘There is bliss every day, every moment, in every circumstance.

When one has become a lover of the Lord, the Bliss absolute, where is the scope for affliction?’

Karma Yoga – the yoga of selfless action

Once Shri Rangachari, a known Telugu scholar of ‘Worries College Vellore’ expressed to Rama Maharishi his desire to know about Karma Yoga. Maharshi give no answer. After some time, Raman Maharishi went to a hill for a walk. He was accompanied by Shri Rangachari and a few others. A thorny branch of a tree was lying on the way. Maharshi picked it up, sat on the ground and started smoothing it.

The thorns were cut away; the knots were scraped and the entire stick was made smooth by rubbing with a rough leaf. The whole operation took around six hours. Everybody was surprised to around six hours. Everybody was surprised to see a beautiful stick come out of a thorny branch. As they moved ahead, they met a shepherd boy who was troubled because he had lost his stick. Maharshi gave the stick to the boy and moved.

The Telugu scholar said, “This is the correct and appropriate answer to my question.”

Let the readers guess how the Telugu scholar got his answer. To help those whom we are attached to is selfishness. To help those, for whom we have no attachment, is called Nishkama Karmyoga or action without desire for fruits. It is neither action without a purpose nor action with a selfish motive; nor is it escaping from action or remaining totally engaged in action or seeking any return for the action!

Contemplate Lord Narayana, Who is free from attachment, and start reposing in Him. Start contemplating again and them repose. Incantation of ‘OM’ in a protracted tone too is a supreme act of righteousness. Meditation reading scriptures and inspiring others to propagate culture is direct Karma Yoga. Blessed are those who are engaged in the service of ‘Rishi Prasad’! Blessed are the ones who spread noble thoughts and goodwill and distribute spiritual literature in the society! Just as the cowherd boy got the support of the stick, so also in the world, one gets the support of noble thoughts. This selfless action, the stick of knowledge, stands one in good stead in this world and in the other. Salutations to the Supreme Soul ‘Ñ’ Peace! O Selfishness! O Deceit, fraud, falsehood, trickery! To hell with you. Where is the need for desires in the guileless Lord Narayana, the Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute? Where is the need for deceit, fraud and trickery? ‘OM’…. ‘OM’…… ‘OM’…
Lord Rama says:

‘Only a man of pure soul can find me; I have an aversion to duplicity, wiles and censoriousness.’

Ramacharita Manasa (5.43.3)
Selfishness alone is the breeding ground for deceit, fraud and trickery. Where there is a lofty aim in life there is no place lofty Self, your Brahmic nature be revealed. Make no delay.

Karma Yoga – the yoga of selfless action

Once Shri Rangachari, a known Telugu scholar of ‘Worries College Vellore’ expressed to Rama Maharishi his desire to know about Karma Yoga. Maharshi give no answer. After some time, Raman Maharishi went to a hill for a walk. He was accompanied by Shri Rangachari and a few others. A thorny branch of a tree was lying on the way. Maharshi picked it up, sat on the ground and started smoothing it.

The thorns were cut away; the knots were scraped and the entire stick was made smooth by rubbing with a rough leaf. The whole operation took around six hours. Everybody was surprised to around six hours. Everybody was surprised to see a beautiful stick come out of a thorny branch. As they moved ahead, they met a shepherd boy who was troubled because he had lost his stick. Maharshi gave the stick to the boy and moved.

The Telugu scholar said, “This is the correct and appropriate answer to my question.”

Let the readers guess how the Telugu scholar got his answer. To help those whom we are attached to is selfishness. To help those, for whom we have no attachment, is called Nishkama Karmyoga or action without desire for fruits. It is neither action without a purpose nor action with a selfish motive; nor is it escaping from action or remaining totally engaged in action or seeking any return for the action!

Contemplate Lord Narayana, Who is free from attachment, and start reposing in Him. Start contemplating again and them repose. Incantation of ‘OM’ in a protracted tone too is a supreme act of righteousness. Meditation reading scriptures and inspiring others to propagate culture is direct Karma Yoga. Blessed are those who are engaged in the service of ‘Rishi Prasad’! Blessed are the ones who spread noble thoughts and goodwill and distribute spiritual literature in the society! Just as the cowherd boy got the support of the stick, so also in the world, one gets the support of noble thoughts. This selfless action, the stick of knowledge, stands one in good stead in this world and in the other. Salutations to the Supreme Soul ‘Ñ’ Peace! O Selfishness! O Deceit, fraud, falsehood, trickery! To hell with you. Where is the need for desires in the guileless Lord Narayana, the Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute? Where is the need for deceit, fraud and trickery? ‘OM’…. ‘OM’…… ‘OM’…
Lord Rama says:

‘Only a man of pure soul can find me; I have an aversion to duplicity, wiles and censoriousness.’

Ramacharita Manasa (5.43.3)
Selfishness alone is the breeding ground for deceit, fraud and trickery. Where there is a lofty aim in life there is no place lofty Self, your Brahmic nature be revealed. Make no delay.

Why is Man Miserable?

One should not let one’s mind suffer in any circumstance or happening. If the mind does suffer in spite of one’s efforts to prevent it from suffering, one should pray to God, ‘Lord! Save me from this world full of sorrow and lead me to the Light of Self knowledge. Deliver me from attachment and delusion and lead me to my Eternal Self.’ Praying thus your heart out to God or the guru, you should give vent to your sorrow rather than suppressing it.

What is the real cause of man’s misery? The reason is that he doesn’t appreciate what he has nor does he feel the joy of having it; he just complains comparing himself with others. It reminds me of a parable: A baby peacock was crying. Mother peahen enquired, “What makes you cry my son?”

The baby peacock said, “See how beautiful the parrot baby is!”

“Well, I will take you to him.” And the peahen took her baby to baby parrot only to find the latter crying.

The mother parrot was asking, “What makes you cry?”

The baby parrot said, “See how beautiful the peacock baby looks!”

The peacock baby thinks the parrot baby is more beautiful and the parrot baby thinks that the peacock baby is more beautiful. The Seth thinks the Babu is enjoying life and the Babu thinks the Seth is having everything in life. Men think women are better off and the women think men are all joy.

In the Sri Yogvasishtha Maharamayana, Kakbhushundiji, “O great save! All the beautiful objects, all the marks of luxury are unreal. Emperors on the earth and Gandharvas, Vidyaharas, Kinneras, gods and their consorts and gods’ army etc. are all subject to death. Men, demons, gods mountains, ponds, rivers and all other objects including the biggest ones will get destroyed sooner or later. All the sense-enjoyments on earth or in heavens or in the netherworlds are transient and inauspicious. Nothing in the universe is desirable or felicitous – neither sovereignty over the earth nor the form of gods nor the worlds of serpents etc. It is profitable neither to live long nor to die foolishly; neither to fall in hells nor anything else in all the three worlds. Only the Existence-Knowledge Bliss Absolute, where the saint’s mind reposes is most desirable and propitious.” As you get up in the morning, settle your mind in God, the Bliss absolute and say, “My Beloved Lord is Eternal existence, Pure Consciousness, Bliss absolute and Knowledge Absolute. O Lord!

‘Live up to Your reputation of being merciful to the distressed and deliver me from my grave situation. O Lord! O Vasudeva! I bow to thee.”

Take your mind to the Lord and make your mentation Divine. The mentation of enmity will make your heart burn in the fire of envy. Similarly, the mentation of of fear, malice, attachment or delusion etc. entangles us in the world. Such states of he mind cause fear, attachment, aversion, and worry etc. and deplete our energy. So, what should we do? So, what should we do?

‘I belong to God and God is mine. He is my supreme well-wisher, my most benevolent friend. Be firm in your ownness with God and be a dispassionate witness to the happiness and sorrows that come your way. Conduct yourself in a manner appropriate to the situation at hand. Set a lofty goal before yourself. Thus you will learn the art of trampling all the sorrows.

Learn to Value Yourself

Along with the believe that the shivalinga is God, we should understand through satsang that God abides in it but it is the deep slumber state of consciousness. If one wants to disbelieve through reasoning, then even if God Himself appears before a person like Duryodhan-a non-believer, he will proclaim God as a sorcerer, a magician. When Duryodhan orders his soldiers to arrest Sri Krishna, the Lord levitates in the sky in the four-armed form, but the unfortunate duryodhan callls Hm a magician. Duryodhan and Shakuni mumble rubbish about God but arjun gets benefited by Sri Krishna’s presence. Gita was instructed to him and we are benefiting from it. Faithless people won’t be rid of their mean mentality even after having darshan of Sri Krishna or the four armed Lord Narayana. There is no dearth of such duryodhans in the society. However, the noble ones endowed with faith and understanding, do make the consciousness manifest in their intellects and lives by nurturing faith and beholding divinity in a shalagrama, shivalinga or an idol. A person who has God sense, who respects his or her own life, will respects great souls, scriptures ant the Vedas. The intellect of drunkards and meat-eaters becomes unfit for God realization. Such people degrade themselves. It is said in ‘Gurubaani’, ‘When a cloth stained by blood becomes impure, how can the mind of one who drinks blood remain pure?’ It is said in Sri Ramacharit Manas’, ‘Liquor and meat deprave a pure mind.’

How shameful that man, who has the ability to realize his Self, eats and drinks such things and entertains such thoughts as would deprive him of this ability, and imagines God to be in some foreign land or in heaven, forgetting his Self-God! What is wretched thinking! How base a mentality!

How can a person who does not respect his or her own life, respect great men and our scriptures? Such a person will fritter away his or her own life if you respect your own life, your Creator, your scriptures, your parents who have worked so hard to educate and rear you, then perform such actions by which seven generations in your clan would obtain salvation. If we become sad in adverse circumstances and happy in favorable circumstance, what is the difference between us and dog? Know happiness to be a dream and sorrow to be evanescent like a bubble. Both are guests…. Why do you become subservient to them? You get a promotion and you become elated; you get a transfer and you shrink! Why do you lead such as helpless life? Seek refuge in a Guru. Someone rebukes you and your happiness disappears! Someone flatters you and you become elated! Then you are like a German toy, what else? You get a notice from the income tax department and your tension increases. An income tax raid takes place somewhere and you trouble yourself. You establish contact with a high-ranking official and you feel proud of that. Why are you getting entangled in the world by mistaking these toys for real? At least try and make some progress on the path of knowing your own Self. Contemplate Him, with love and reverence, who is your Supreme friend and well-wisher. Remain blissful, tranquil and reposed in Him.

Ma Parvati’s Trial

Parvati practiced prenacne in order to wed Lord Shiva, who appeared before her and blessed her with His darshan. Lord Shiva agreed to marry Parvati and then disappeared. Just then, she heard the scream of child who was caught by a crocodile in a lake at some distance. As she listened to with attention, she could make out that the child was crying pathetically, “Help me… I have no one... Help…!” Parvati was deeply moved by the wailing of he child. She went there and found that a crocodile had caught hold of a child by its leg and was dragging it into the river.

The child was saying, “There is no one for me in this world. I have neither mother nor father, nor friend, nor anybody else. Help me!”

The crocodile replied, “It is preordained for me by destiny, to accept as food, whatever I get in the sixth part of the day, and Lord Brahma has sent this child to me in the sixth part of the day. So, why should I let it go?”

Parvati said, “O crocodile! Leave the child.”

The crocodile replied, “It is preordained for me by destiny, to accept as food, whatever I get in the sixth part of the day, and Lord Brahma has sent this child to me in the sixth part of the day. So, why should I let it go?”

Parvati said, “O crocodile! Free the child in exchange of anything you want.”

The crocodile said, “I will leave this child only if you give me the fruits of your penance which you have carried out to please Lord Shiva, and not otherwise.”

Parvati, said “Is that all you are asking for? I am ready to give you the fruits of penance carried out not only in this life but of those carried out in many other lives as well, but let go of this child.”

The crocodile said, “Think again, do not be so emotional.”

Parvati said, “I have thought about it.”

The crocodile made Parvati resolve to donate the fruits of her penance. No sooner was the crocodile blessed with the fruits of her penance, than its body shone with splendour. Leaving the child, the crocodile said, “Parvati! Look how beautiful my body has become by the power of your penance! I have become a mass of radiance. Why did you sacrifice the merits of your whole life for the sake of a small child?”

Parvati said, “O crocodile! I can practice penance again, but how could have such an innocent child come again, if you had devoured it?”

The child vanished even as Parvati looked on. The crocodile too disappeared. Parvati thought that she would have to practice penance again as she had donated all her merits. She had hardly sat down in meditaion when Lord Shiva appeared again and said, “Parvati! Why are you practicing penance now?” parvati said.’ “Lord! I have donated the fruits of my penance.”

Lord Shiva said, “Parvati! It was me in the form of the crocodile and the child. I played this lila to test whether you are empathetic or not. I am the one existence who appears in many forms. Even while abiding in many bodies, I am the incorporeal Atman who is distinct from all bodies. Blessed is your spirit of empathy to all living beings.

May the Mother, Father and Teacher be They God

At a small age, Bayazid left home and took to a life of asceticism to attain the truth. Left alone in the house, his aged mother was spending her time in praying to the Lord for her son’s well-being.

Through strenuous efforts and severe austerities, Bayazid attained certain spiritual powers. Self-mortification, solitude, Mauna (slience), japa and Pranayama purify the mind and do endow it with some psychic powers.

One day, Bayazid wearing an ascetic appearance in worn out clothes, stood at the door of his own house. Standing at the door, he heard his mother praying to God for his well-being.

Bayzid said, “Mother! I have come” “Who is there?”
“Your poor son.”
“O my son! You have come in my old age!”
“Mother! I have realized after so much trouble that what I had regarded as petty and insignificant was a great thing. After practicing all austerities, I have realized that the blessing of parents and elders is a great thing. Service to them uplifts one instantly. Mother! Now I will serve you.”

One night his mother said, “My son! I am very thirsty; please give me water.”

The broken pot that was used in the house for storing drinking water was empty. He went to the river that was quite faraway, and brought the water.

When Bayazid came back, he found that mother was fast asleep. He stood there holding the pot in his had thinking what to do. He didn’t want to put the pot down lest mother’s sleep should be disturbed by the sound. He didn’t want to sleep lest mother should wake up after some time and hesitate to wake him from his sleep. He kept standing in the same position.

After a few hours, mother woke up and then he gave water to her.

Mother asked, ‘Why didn’t you give me water earlier?”

Byazid said, “I didn’t want to disturb your sleep. So I was standing holding the pot of water in my hand.”

To keep standing with a pot of water in hand is not a big. Not doing so is not a crime either; but to remain uninfluenced by the pairs of opposites like happiness and sorrow while rendering service is a great thing. It was a cold night; he could have caught cold. He had low grade fever; but a goal was fixed in his mind-to serve the mother. He did not care for the pairs of opposites. Blessings came from the core of his mother’s heart and he became a great saint. ‘
Pujya Bapuji too served His parents from childhood itself and they blessed Him into a Jivanmukta and a world revered saint.

Bahut rat tak pair dabate,
Bhare kanth pitu asis pate.
Purra tumhara jagat me sada raheganam.
Logo ke tumse sada, puran honge kam.

Hed Bapuji not ignored the pleas of His mother and family members, who didn’t want Him to go to the Guru’s abode and surrender Himself at the Guru’s feet for God-realization, and had He stayed at home yielding to their attachment or had He not stuck to the Guru’s feet, He would not have become so great either.

Celebrate ‘Parents’ Worship Day’ and Not Valentine’s Day

The children and youth of a nation, which belongs to the farsighted rishis, should shun ‘Valentine’s Day’, which ruins their vitality and energy. Celebrate ‘Parents’ Worship Day’ instead of it. On this day, children should pay respect to their parents and worship them by placing flowers on their heads and bowing before them. Parents in turn should shower their affection and blessings on their children. Parents and children should love each other in the name of God and awaken the divinity in their heart. Let the mother and daughter apply tilak to each other. Let the father and son do he same. Along with your external eyes, let your inner eye, the auspicious eye of discrimination and knowledge be opened as well.”

‘May the Mother be thy God, May the father be thy God, May the daughter be thy God, May the son be thy God’.

Mahashivaratri : The festival of Reposing in the Self

The fourteenth day of dark fortnight in the month of Falgun (Magha in Gujarat and Mahashivaratri) is celebrated as Mahashivaratri. This is the festival of increasing asceticism, self-restraint and sadhana; of infusing simplicity and naturalness in life; of seeking contentment in the Shiva of True Self; of observing Mauna.

Mahashivaratri is the festival of reposting in the true Self beyond the body, in the Absolute, in the Ultimate Truth. It is not the day to drive oneself out of wits under the influence of opium. It is the day to make your heart pious by imbibing the nectar of Lord’s name. Exercising self-restraint and proceeding on the path of reposing in the True Self is verily the meaning of Mahashivaratri.

Mahashivaratri is the night to stay awake and get engaged in sahhana and Bhakti. ‘Shiva’ means well-being. Thus Mahashivaratri means the night of great well- being. Staying awake in this night, observing fast and doing japa and meditation contemplating the meaning of the mantra being repeated affords great religious merit. It is mentioned in the ‘Brahmotter Khand’ of Skand Purana, ‘The shivaratri fast is of race significance. Staying awake in the Mahashivaratri night is of still greater significance. Lord Brahma and other gods as also sages like Vashishthaji shower a lot of praises on this fourteenth night of the dark fortnight of Falguan. One observing fast on Mahashivaratri gets entitled to religious merit more than what is obtained by a hundred sacrifices.’

Staying awake at night brings awakening in life. Awakening in life means not being carried away by pairs of opposites like favourable and adverse circumstances; it means waking up in the Shiva of True Self, the changeless one, even while living in the body and the world both of which are constantly changing. If you stay awake in the night with a sense of discrimination intending to save your life from being wasted in meaningless sense-enjoyments and to engage it in attaining the goal of God-Realization; you are moving towards staining the awakening in life that is the goal of staying awake in the night of Mahashivaratri.

One worshipping Lord Shiva, singing His praises and meditating on Him gets entitled to repose in the real Lord Shiva, the Ultimate Truth. The pujya of Lord Shiva is performed with three joined bilva leaves indicating to us, ‘O man! O sadhada! You too are joined to this body by the three qualities of nature. Surrender the three qualities to Lord Shiva. Make an offering of Sattvik, Rajasic and Tamasic thoughts and actions to the Indweller Lord Shiva.’

The fragrance of bilva leaves cures your body of Vata and Kapha disorders. As you worship Lord Shiva, you simultaneously make your body healthy. While offering bilva leaves to lord Shiva, make an offering of the three qualities nature as well. While offering panchamrit (the mixture of five nectarine substances – milk, curd, sugar, honey and ghee) to the Lord, offer your ego to the Pure Consciousness, the power behind the five elements of nature. This will make for your oneness with the Lord. Lord Shiva, the Ultimate Truth is your True Self and your True Self is in substance same as Lord Shiva, the eternal entity fully representing transcendental Existence, Knowledge and Bliss.

On Mahashivaratri day, Lord Shiva is worshiped with panchamrit. Others worship mentally and also by meditating and by filling the heart with His love. It is childish to insist on beholding a form in meditation. One should rather meditate on the all permeating Ultimate Sbsolute Substratum, more pervasive than even the sky. Chant OM…. Namah…. Shivay….’in protracted intonation and get engrossed in the thoughts of the Absolute.

The festival of Mahashivaratri awakens us to the idea that as Lord Shiva lives on the snow-clad mountain-top of cool equanimity, we too should, if we want to elevate our lives, establish ourselves at the pinnacle of sādhanā unmindful of the pairs of opposites like happiness and sorrow. Don't go headlong in enjoying pleasure; rather put it to appropriate use by sharing it with others. Don't be miserable in adverse circumstances. Instead, take advantage of such circumstances. Get rid of diseases through fasting and self-control. If a friend betrays you, know that the Lord want to rid you of attachment and ‘my-ness’ through this betrayal. All the troubles in the world are brought to you to you to delver you from attachment. Make good use of them.

When you go to Lord Shiva’s temple, you see Nandi, the ox. The stupid in the society are likened to an ox. They are deprecated. But the ox is given respect in Lord Shiva’s temple. The implication is that even the one as dumb as an ox is worshipped, if he renders selfless service, worships the real God, the Ultimate Truth and undertakes the lord’s work. What is Lord’s work? Whatever is done for the good of all, for the happiness of all is Lord’s work. ‘cgqtufgrk;] cgqtulq[kk;’, One who worships Lord Shiva, that is, works for the good and for the happiness of others, intending to serve the indweller Lord thereby, will be worshipped sooner or later even if he is a dumb fellow in the eyes of the society – this is the message from worship of Nandi.

Lord Shiva has serpents around His neck. The enlightened ones know the art of reforming even those evil people who are venomous like serpents, to make them useful for the society. Lord Shiva is called Bholenath. i.e. He always protects the innocent. Those who want to cross the world of transmigration, but are tormented by the arrows of lust are protected by Lord Shiva when they remember Him.

Lord Shiva adorns the moon of the second lunar fortnight on His head. The enlightened ones acknowledge even the smallest virtue in other. The Ganga flows from Lord Shiva’s head. Waves of knowledge flow from the head of those who have reached the heights of equanimity. That explains why a halo is a always shown behind the head in the pictures of Gods of Sanatan dharma.

By reducing Cupid, the God of love to ashes, by opening His third eye, Lord Shiva gives the message, ‘O Man! The Shiva Consciousness is hidden in you too. Open your third eye of discrimination to reduce your desires, passions and bondages to ashes.’

Lord Shiva remains ever immersed in the bliss of divine communion. Hence, His aura is so powerful that even animals, which are born enemies of each other, remain established on the throne of equanimity in His in His presence. A single meeting between a lion and a bull, a serpent and a rat is enough to bring about the end of the later in both cases but in the presence of Lord Shiva they forget their mutual enmity because of the equanimity in Lord Shiva’s eyes. Hence, you too tread the path of experiencing the Self so that you get rid of the feeling of hatred in you. Hatred pollutes the blood. So, Shivaratri is the festival that brings us the message that we should transform such mental mode of Brahman and realize our Brahmic Self.

Lord Shiva drank the poison Halahal, during the churning of the ocean. He neither swallowed nor vomited the poison; but held it in His throat and is hence called ‘Neelkanth’ (One with the blue throat). You too are the Lord Shiva of your family, your house. Whenever any good thing is brought to the house, give it to your children, wife/husband, family, etc. and whenever there is Halahal in the form of obstacles and troubles, hold it in the throat and you too will remain ever ecstatic in Self-Bliss like Neelkanth. The senior members of a samiti, family, neighborhood, monastery, temple, institution, village etc. should like Lord Shiva, take the initiative in any endeavour and let others take the credit for success.

If you are a wife, remember Ma Parvatim, the universal Mother Jagadamba as to how she co-operates with Lord Shiva in His Samadhi! You too should think how you can help your husband tread the path of Self–realization. And if you are a husband, think how you can help your wife to become great as Parvati.

The festival of Shivaratri brings us the message that the more we are selfless and compassionate, and the more we restrain ourselves from finding faults with others and meditate on the divine supreme Being, the more will our Shiva Consciousness be enhanced and lesser will we be influenced by pleasures and pains. We will awaken into our equanimous nature, our Divine Being and our heart will overflow with bliss, love, courage and sweetness.

A World-wide Conspiracy to Tarnish the Image of Hindus and Their Religious

His Holiness Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu, who is revered throughout the world and is source of inspiration for the spiritual culture of this nation, is an amazing asset not only to this country but to the world as well. With baseless allegations beings leveled against him, even this great soul who has been constantly spreading the message of spiritualism, has become the target of a dirty conspiracy to malign his reputation.

There have been divine and demoniacal powers in every age. Aspersions were cast even upon in carnations like Lord Rama and Sri Krishna but gold remains ever pure. There are many selfish elements in the society today, who cannot bear to see others being revered and respected. Pujya Bapuji’s endeavours for protecting and nurturing the spiritual culture, are unique and unparalleled inculcating noble smaskaras in little children through the Gurukul tradition will ensure a bright future for the children. Today, Bapuji is revered and respected throughout the country and several religious and altruistic activities are being carried out on a large scale. Millions of devotees attend his discourses and are his initiated disciples. False and baseless allegations are made against this saint and his institutions, which is part of a world-wide conspiracy to tarnish the image of Hindus and their religious leaders. Therefore, Hindu unity is the need of the hour. The flag of Pujya Bapuji’s fame and glory has been constantly guiding the world and the spiritual society and will continue to be a source of spiritual energy and inspiration for India.

Sleep – Its importance and Properties

Food, sleep and Brahmachary – these are the three pillars of the body. That is, the body survives and works on the strength of these three.

Taking them in right manner and quality makes the body stable, nourishes it and equips it withy strength and attractiveness.

(The issue of food has been dealt with exhaustively in earlier Rishi Prasad issues)

Describing the importance of sleep, the great health teacher, Charaka says:
When the mind is tried from work and the senses too, being tired, withdraw themselves from their respective objects, man sleep to give rest to the mind and the senses. Sleep gives maximum amount of rest to body. Such rest reinvigorates the body. Sleep plays an equally important part in sustaining the body as does the food taken by it.

Benefits of sleep:
A sound sleep nourishes the body and increases its healthfulness, strength and vital fluids. It enables the sense organs to function properly and effectively. One habitually enjoying a sound sleep lives a full course life.

Sleep should be taken at the right time and in the right quality. Oversleeping taking sleep at inappropriate time or completely foregoing sleep or taking too little sleep erodes health and longevity. Sleeping in the day is highly injurious to health but those who are engaged in excessive studies excessive hard work or are debilitated by semen-loss, who are tired on account of staying awake at night or of traveling as also children, old-aged, lean and weak people may sleep in the day.

In summers, the nights are smaller and there is accumulation of gases in the body; therefore it is beneficial to sleep for a short while in the day.

Those who consume ghee and milk in excess or are obese and those with Kapha constitutions or suffering from Kapha produced diseases should in no circumstances sleep in the day.

Disadvantages form sleeping in the day:

Sleeping in the day causes reduction in appetite. Food is not digested properly and the raw, undigested food gets converted into Toxins (āma) resulting in heaviness and cramps in the body, nausea, headache, heaviness in the heart and skin diseases etc. the Tāmasic tendencies generated by sleeping in the day lead to diminution of memory and intellectual faculties.

Measures to overcome the tendency to oversleep:

Fasting, Prānāyām, exercise and avoiding Tāmasic foods (garlic, onions,) radish, horse-beans, stale and fried foods) help overcome the tendency to oversleep.

Insomnia:
Causes: Aggravation of Vāta or Pitta, semen-loss, mental agitation, worry and sorrow disturb the sleep.

Symptoms: Sleeplessness causes Vātta related symptoms like itching pain, giddiness, yawning, gloominess and indigestion etc.

Remedies for insomnia:
Massaging oil into the head, massaging ghee into foot-soles, regularly putting oil into the ears, getting the body pressed, taking ghee, milk (particularly of the buffalo), curd and boiled rice, a comfortable bed and pleasing environment in the room these measures help in bringing the sleep back into the eyes.

Massaging the head with ‘Sahchar Siddha’ oil (available in ayurvedic) dispensaries produces deep and sound sleep.

Noteworthy facts:
Increase in Kapha homour and Tāmasic tendencies produces more sleep and increase in Vāta homour and Sāttvic tendencies leads to reduced sleep.
Keeping wawke at night aggravates Vāta which in turn produces dryness in the body. Sleeping in the day aggravates Kapha and increases oiliness of the body. A bit of snoozing in the sitting position however produces neither dryness nor oilness; it rather gives rest to the body.

One should sleep with the head towards east or south.

One should sleep with the head towards east or south.

One shouldn’t sleep with hands or feet contracted, with legs crossed or with hands behind or over the head. One should also not sleep on the stomach.

It is best to sleep 2-2 ½ hours after sunset and to get up 2-2 ½ hours before sunrise.

Reading of scriptures and protracted chanting of ‘Ñ’ immediately before sleeping converts sleep into worship.

Mantra for producing sleep:
Śuddhe Śuddhe Mahāyogini Mahānidre Svāhā .
Going to bed repeating this mantra produces deep and sound sleep.

Yogamudrasana

In the practice of Yoga, this posture is very important. Hence, it has been named YogamudrÍsana (the Yogic mudrÍ).

Benefits: Practice of this asana gives the following benefits:
It stimulates the digestive fire. It cures problems related to the stomach like gas, indigestion, chronic constipation, etc.
Distension of the abdomen gets reduced. Body becomes shapely and strong.
Problems related to the intestines are cured. This asana strengthens the heart.
It cures blood related disorders. Leprosy and disorders of reproductive system are eliminated.
It enhances mental efficiency and intellectual prowess.
It tones up the nervous system, particularly the lumber plexus.
it stimulates the pancreas controlling diabetes. This asana is beneficial for diabetics.
All the vertebrae of the spinal column get separated from each other, cleansing the Sushumna and making it light. This invigorates the activities of the brain.
The Manipura Chakra gets activated, which is the main center of the dormant energies lying within every individual.

Note: Yogamudrāsana is highly beneficial in curing the weakness of the dhātus.

Proccdure: Sit in Padmāsana (lotus posture) and close your eyes. Take both the arms behind your back. Hold the wrist of your right hand with the left hand. Stretch the arms so that they meet at the base of the spinal cord. Exhaling slowly, touch the forehead on the floor. Stay in this position for some time, relax and breathe normally. Then gradually, while inhaling deeply, lift your head up and return to the upright position. Keep breathing normally. Repeat this procedure 4-5 times. Initially, if this posture appears difficult, then sit in Sukhāsana or siddhāsana. However, the complete benefits of this posture can be obtained by sitting in Padmasana only. Generally, this posture should be practiced for 3 minutes. If you are practicing Yogamudrāsana with spiritual objective, increase the duration depending on your interest and capacity.

(C. I. D. Denies Tantrik Practice in Ashram)

Amdavad, 8th December: the Crime Investigation Department has denied any Tantrik practice in the Ashram. D.I.G. G.S. Malik of the Crime investigation Department said that if any tantrik rituals were carried out on the children, why were their bodies found close to the ashram only? They could have thrown somewhere else as well.

The presence of water, food and moss particles in the dead bodies according to FSL reports, proves that the children had died due to drowing. Practice of this asana gives the following benefits:
It stimulates the digestive fire. It cures problems related to the stomach like gas, indigestion, chronic constipation, etc.
Distension of the abdomen gets reduced. Body becomes shapely and strong.
Problems related to the intestines are cured. This asana strengthens the heart.
It cures blood related disorders. Leprosy and disorders of reproductive system are eliminated.
It enhances mental efficiency and intellectual prowess.
It tones up the nervous system, particularly the lumber plexus.
it stimulates the pancreas controlling diabetes. This asana is beneficial for diabetics.
All the vertebrae of the spinal column get separated from each other, cleansing the Sushumna and making it light. This invigorates the activities of the brain.
The Manipura Chakra gets activated, which is the main center of the dormant energies lying within every individual.

Note: Yogamudrāsana is highly beneficial in curing the weakness of the dhātus.

Proccdure: Sit in Padmāsana (lotus posture) and close your eyes. Take both the arms behind your back. Hold the wrist of your right hand with the left hand. Stretch the arms so that they meet at the base of the spinal cord. Exhaling slowly, touch the forehead on the floor. Stay in this position for some time, relax and breathe normally. Then gradually, while inhaling deeply, lift your head up and return to the upright position. Keep breathing normally. Repeat this procedure 4-5 times. Initially, if this posture appears difficult, then sit in Sukhāsana or siddhāsana. However, the complete benefits of this posture can be obtained by sitting in Padmasana only. Generally, this posture should be practiced for 3 minutes. If you are practicing Yogamudrāsana with spiritual objective, increase the duration depending on your interest and capacity.

(C. I. D. Denies Tantrik Practice in Ashram)

Amdavad, 8th December: the Crime Investigation Department has denied any Tantrik practice in the Ashram. D.I.G. G.S. Malik of the Crime investigation Department said that if any tantrik rituals were carried out on the children, why were their bodies found close to the ashram only? They could have thrown somewhere else as well.

The presence of water, food and moss particles in the dead bodies according to FSL reports, proves that the children had died due to drowing.

Sins That Cannot Be Atoned

Dharmaraja (the God of death) says to king Bhagiratha: “O protector of the earth, the person who acts as an obstacle to others going to take their bath or perform worship, is called a killer of Brahmana. One who is always engaged in censuring others, who is interested in self-conceit and self-aggrandizement and who indulges in falsehood is considered a murderer of a Brahmana.

“A person who consents to adharma incurs, the sin of killing a Brahmana. A person interested in alarming and frightening others, a person who indulges in arrogant behavior is called a murderer of a Brahmana.

“O protector of the earth! I shall narrate to you those sins which cannot be expiated. They are the biggest of all sins and lead to infernal regions. There are means to atone for grave sins like a Brahmanatyā. But there is no means to atone for the sin of a person who hates a Brahmana or Knower of Brahman. So also, o Ruler of men, there is no atonement for those who are ungrateful and those who commit breach of trust. There is no expiation anywhere to those persons who indulge themselves in denouncing the Vedas. There is no expiation. Here or hereafter to those who find fault with saintly people.

“ O protector of the Earth, those who listen to criticism about great souls with interest have to bear lot of sufferings. Hot nails are hammered into their ears. Pores thus formed are filled with boiling oil. They are then thrown into Kumbhipā hell.

“Tale-bearers and back-biters have to eat red hot iron for a period of a thousand yugas. Their tongues are pressed and crushed by means of very terrible tongs and they are compelled to stay in a very terrible hell called Nirucchvāsar for a period of half a kalpa.

“Heretics, those who do not perform righteous acts, slanderers of continent men and scriptures are great sinners. Those who are engaged in slandering .others, those who speak roughly and harshly and those who create obstacles in regard to charitable gifts are said to be great sinners. Such sinners stay in each of the hells for a period of one yuga. At the end of it they come back to the earth. They are born as donkeys for seven consecutive lives. Then for ten lives, they are born as dogs suffering many would. For the period of hundred years they remain as worms in feceal matter, after which they are born as serpents for twelve lives.

“O king, thereafter, in the course of a thousand lives, they are born as deer and other animals. Then for a hundred years they are born as immobile beings (trees and the like). Thereafter, they take up the bodies of alligators. Then for seven lives they are born as chāndālas who commit sinful crimes. Then for sixteen lives they lead a depraved existence and then for two births they remain impoverished and afflicted with sick ness. They are always intent on accepting monetary gifts. Again, they go back to hell.

“O King! Listen to the fruits of sins accruing to a perjurer. He undergoes all these tortures for a period equal to fourteen times the reign of Indra, the king of gods. In this world his sons and grandsons perish. In the other world he falls into Raurava and other hells in succession too.