MOON April 6, 2008

SHRI MATAJI - Gudi Padwa Talk

“Here (in India) every festival is based on position of the moon.  And that’s why the dates keep changing (every year) and a festival occurs on different dates in different years.  The reason why we give importance to the moon and keep all our dates according to its position is that the moon has more influence on human beings than the sun. Along with the moon, other planets also have influence on us.  That is the reason we observe festivals as per the lunar calendar.”

“Whatever it is, we must think as to why we give so much importance to the moon.  The reason is that we should remain vigilant about the effects that the moon has on us.  The biggest effect that the moon has on us is because our left side is based on it.  Very few people know about it.  This left side of the body which is recognised and accepted so much in our country, has psychological effects on us.

Effects on the left side are psychological and not intellectual, and we cannot control it.  Whatever psychological problems we have, cannot be controlled.  We cannot control the effect of the moon on us.  That’s why the position of the moon is seen and lunar dates are observed.  For example if it is a no-moon night (Amavasya) or a full moon night (Poornima) then the problem of a person, having epilepsy or any other psychological problem, will aggravate further.  One can immediately see very clearly that such a person has been affected by the full moon or no-moon.

That’s why we are very much sensitive towards the position of moon and date of lunar month.  In our country detailed calculations are done on this, to know about the exact timings and position of the eclipse.  All this shows that in our country a lot of care is taken about the effects of lunar calendar and so much has been discussed and written about it.”

Tad Niskala by Adi Shankaracharya-I am Shiva March 9, 2008

Tad Niskala, A very powerful prayer for meditation.- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

Om. I am neither the mind, Intelligence, ego nor ‘chitta’ Neither the ears, nor the tongue, Nor the senses of smell and sight, Neither ether, nor air,I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness. I am Shiva!  I am Shiva!

I am neither the ‘prana’, Nor the five vital breaths, Neither the seven elements of hte body, Nor its five sheaths, Nor the hands, nor the feet, nor tongue, Nor other organs of action. I am Eternal Bliss and awareness. I am Shiva!  I am Shiva!

Neither fear, greed, nor delusion, Loathing, nor liking have I, Nothing of pride, of ego, Of ‘dharma’ or Liberation, Neither desire of the mind, Nor the object for its desiring. I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness. I am Shiva!  I am Shiva!

Nothing of pleasure and pain, Of virtue and vice, do I know, Of mantra, of sacred place, Of Vedas or Sacrifice, Neither I am the eater, The food or the act of eating. I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness. I am Shiva!  I am Shiva!

Death or fear, I have none, Nor any distinction of ‘caste’, Neither father, nor Mother, Nor even a birth, haveI, Neither friend, nor comrade, Neither disciple, nor Guru. I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness. I am Shiva!  I am Shiva!

I have no form or fancy, The All-pervading am I, Everywhere I exist, And yet I am beyond the senses, Neither salvation am I, Nor anything to be known. I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness. I am Shiva!  I am Shiva!

“That’s what you are. You are Eternal Bliss and Awareness. Consciousness. The pure Consciousness. I think it must be. Everyone must remember it by heart and must say it in all the ashrams. That’s a very good way of remembering what you are!” -           Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

THE CREST-JEWEL OF WISDOM March 8, 2008

Shri Adi Shankara ( 788 – 820 CE) also known as Sankara Bhagavatpādācārya (”the teacher at the feet of God”) was the first philosopher to consolidate the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, a sub-school of Vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the soul and, in which Brahman is viewed as without attributes. In the Smārta tradition, Adi Shankara is regarded as an incarnation of Shiva.

Shri Adi Shankara toured India with the purpose of propagating his teachings through discourses and debates with other philosophers. He founded four mathas (”monasteries”) which played a key role in the historical development, revival and spread of post-Buddhist Hinduism and Advaita Vedanta

His works in Sanskrit, all of which are extant today, concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of Advaita (Sanskrit: “Non-dualism“). Adi Shankara quotes extensively from the Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures in forming his teachings. He also includes arguments against opposing schools of thought like Samkhya and Buddhism in his works.

Fresh and glowing as it was in the days of the Great Sage, Śankarâchârya, The Crest-Jewel bears the ancient glory that is Wisdom into our own time. In its precise and beautiful language, and in that of the other writings of the Sage, which are included in this volume, is presented his brilliant synthesis of all that is best in the Upanishads–the reality of Spirit.

Please enjoy the words of Shri Adi Shankara:

2. For all beings a human birth is difficult to obtain, more so is a male body; rarer than that is Brahmanahood; rarer still is the attachment to the path of Vedic religion; higher than this is erudition in the scriptures; discrimination between the Self and not-Self, Realisation, and continuing in a state of identity with Brahman – these come next in order. (This kind of) Mukti (Liberation) is not to be attained except through the well-earned merits of a hundred crore of births.

3. These are three things which are rare indeed and are due to the grace of God – namely, a human birth, the longing for Liberation, and the protecting care of a perfected sage.

4. The man who, having by some means obtained a human birth, with a male body and mastery of the Vedas to boot, is foolish enough not to exert himself for self-liberation, verily commits suicide, for he kills himself by clinging to things unreal.

5. What greater fool is there than the man who having obtained a rare human body, and a masculine body too, neglects to achieve the real end of this life ?

6. Let people quote the Scriptures and sacrifice to the gods, let them perform rituals and worship the deities, but there is no Liberation without the Realization of one’s identity with the Atman, no, not even in the lifetime of a hundred Brahmas put together.

Mother Kundalini March 6, 2008

“Similar to opening the doors of the house by using the key, the yogi should open the gate to salvation using Kundalini”.  - (Yoga Chudamani Upanishad)  

Kundalini means ‘coiled energy’ and it refers to a power which lies in three-and-a-half coils in the sacrum bone called the Mooladhara which is distinct from, and lies above, the Mooladhara Chakra. (It is interesting to note that sacrum if Greek for sacred.)

A pulsation is sometimes seen at this level during Kundalini Awakening. Like the Sushumna, the Kundalini is normally in a potential state. When it is awakened it ascends through the Sushumna, across the void to the top of the Sushumna.

When the Kundalini emerges at this point, Yoga is said to have taken place. Yoga is impossible without Kundalini Awakening.  

There are a lot of Historical sources about Kundalini.  Kundalini is the power of pure desire within us, a motherly and soothing spiritual energy which lies dormant in the sacrum bone, at the base of the spine. Awakening the Kundalini has been for ages the main goal of all religions and spiritual traditions of the world. The Kundalini gives us the connection to the divine all pervading power.  She is the spiritual mother of each and every one of us, who nurtures and energizes our spirit.  

She has always been with us and gives us the capacity for love and compassion.  
She emits the impulse to search for something higher, for spiritual seeking.  She generates the power of pure desire - the power to evolve and to become one with the spirit. 

In the Christian tradition, the Kundalini is the Holy Spirit.  Her awakening is the true baptism.  After the Kundalini has been raised through self realization, it is important to meditate and become thoughtless in order for it to rise again and help clear any of the damage done to the chakras. 

The Kundalini is like a tape recorder.  It knows everything about you - all your
problems, all your thoughts.  It’s been with you for all your previous lives and has an
unconditional love for you.  It wants to help you connect with the all pervading power
of God’s love.  

This is possible only through Kundalini awakening (self-realization).
The Kundalini can be understood as consisting of many strands of energy.  The more
we meditate, the more strands rise and the stronger our chakras and central channel
becomes.  When we meditate and become thoughtless our Kundalini rises and begins
to clear any blockages we may have on our chakras.  

The Kundalini knows exactly which of our chakras are blocked and informs us through our central nervous system on our fingertips which of our chakras are blocked.  Each of our fingertips corresponds to a particular chakra.  If any chakra is blocked, the Kundalini works on that chakra until the chakra is cleaned and then rises until it reaches and crosses
through the Sahasrara.  This is when yoga is achieved and we unite with the all
pervading power of God’s love

MIND or HEART? March 1, 2008

“He is very sharp.”, “He is very smart”, “He is open hearted”, “He is chickenhearted”.

Should we follow our heart or our mind?

From the medicine we know that when the brain stops the heart can continue working but when the heart stops everything stops.

The ancient scripture Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is clear that our essence Atma/Spirit, Purusha/ is in the heart:

II-v-10: This ether is (like) honey to all beings, and all beings are (like) honey to this ether. (The same with) the shining immortal being who is in this ether, and the shining, immortal being identified with the ether in the heart, in the body. (These four) are but this Self. This (Self-knowledge) is (the means of) immortality; this (underlying unity) is Brahman; this (knowledge of Brahman) is (the means of becoming) all.

Also Bhagavad Gita  shows that the Light is in the heart: 

13.18. That, the Light of all lights, is beyond darkness; it is said to be knowledge, the Knowable and the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts of all.

The ancient Indians believe that the man thinking with his heart. May be is a time to realize this.

It might interest you to know that the heart’s electromagnetic field is the most powerful the body produces. It is approximately five thousand times greater than the field produced by the brain. The heart’s field not only permeates every cell in the body but also radiates outside of us. It can be measured up to eight to ten feet away with sensitive detectors called magnetometers.

Now you know the value of healing from the energy of the heart. Now you know the value of love. There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer; no disease that enough love will not heal; no door that enough love will not open; no gulf that enough love will not bridge. No wall that enough love will not throw down; no sin that enough love will not redeem. It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble; how hopeless the outlook; how muddled the tangle; how the great the mistake.A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all. If only you could love enough you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world. 

Knowledge of our roots February 29, 2008

A lot of people think that yoga is an exercise or fitness.

They are not aware that their body is working under yoga principles every day. Every day our body and mind are exposed to various conditions and pressure and every night we get recovered. This process is spontaneous but with limited capabilities.

By knowing more about ourselves we will reach new level of awareness and understanding. By knowing more about our roots we can sustain better out tree. 

“Nosce te ipsum” - Know thyself