Absorption
If absorption is well understood it
is a state of non awareness. We are always in
this world and shall be so till we leave our
body. There are finer and super finer states
of consciousness but they do not belong to any
other world.
When we talk of absorption we should be clear
as to what we mean by that. Absorbed in hearing
music, doing work, etc., are understandable
terms but when we say we are absorbed in meditation
what we mean is not all that clear. There is
a thought or a pattern of thoughts in which
we are lost and that indicates our level of
existence. So try to note the thought/thought
pattern into which you enter and feel absorbed
or note the same when you come back to consciousness/awareness.
That gives an idea of our plane of existence.
More on Absorption
1. I have absorption without consciousness
Absorption is good but we should be aware. The
Sakshi has to be there otherwise it is to be
concluded that we got into tamasic ananda. There
is nothing of course you can do about that.
Cleaning is the only solution that we have.
Service and Sacrifice
The commitment to serve in the area
of handicapped children/persons requires a high
degree of empathy and what the Vedic seers have
said MAITRI which Lord Buddha expressed as Karuna.
For that we require to grow in consciousness.
This leads to the main point why we meditate.
Ordinarily so far as a person lives at the base
level of animal, namely, attending to food,
shelter and progeny one thinks that life is
only the body and its needs. No one will deny
needs or drives and urges. But human beings
have an extra faculty of mind and also awareness
of consciousness. Mind and Body are derivates
from our Mother (called Sriya (Lakshmi), Bhuma,
Ammavaru, Ranganayaki etc.) which in philosophy
is called Prakrti. But consciousness is something
other than mind and that is the nature of God
or Purusha (called Narayana, Krishna etc.,).
The mind we have is bridge between the matter
and consciousness. Usually we do not know our
real nature, busy as we are with the needs and
urges. During meditation when we close our eyes
and try to look into our heart, we usually find
a blank space often in the colour of orange
or pink or reddish yellow. This is due to penetration
of light through even closed eyes. It is essential
that we meditate where there is light or lamp
mainly for this purpose only. This light when
we experience we understand has no borders as
we go on meditating. We also know that our sense
organs and sensuous feelings do not go beyond
our body but our mental sphere i.e. our ideas
and feelings have no limitations of the body,
and in fact time or space. Thus we become aware
that our life is not limited to body but extends
far. This extension experienced during meditations/contemplations
inform us the great frontiers of our being.
This is what Vedic Seers said as Atman(self)
becomes Brahman(Greater self). I prefer to use
the words particular consciousness becomes Universal
Consciousness. But particular consciousness
is more intimate because of its close proximity
to body and we tend to get influenced by it.
In fact all our problems are because we tend
to limit ourselves to this particular consciousness.
During meditations we try our best to live in
the universal consciousness and through practice
influence our particular consciousness to expand
and grow into greater dimensions. This we accomplish
easily so far as near and dear are concerned
even without meditational practices. But real
expansion is possible only when we try to shed
our attachment to the body and near and dear.
This is what technically Vedantins called Viveka
and Vairagya. But there is no negative factor
in Vairagya as we are getting attached to the
Universal. This is what our beloved Babuji stresses.
Universal Consciousness has got along with it
Universal responsibilities also. It is necessary
that we dwell in Him more and more so that we
may be used by Him for His purposes as He wills.
Our will has to get replaced by His Will and
then real life or life in life starts.
1. Even though one
wants to serve and help, there seem to be so
many institutions, causes etc and where to focus
and how exactly to make a correct and meaningful
difference becomes a rather confusing and difficult
task. How can I better serve the Master.
You should naturally give funds to
organizations who do not misuse the same. The
organizations should be connected to promote
spiritual way of living to be eligible for assistance.
As for others they have their means also.
2. The feeling of fraternity
frequently occurring to me during the day.
Seeking fraternity is selfish. Seeking
the progress of the fraternity to move towards
the Divine is self less service. Please try
to understand the method well.
3. On one occasion
I prayed to the Master, during my commute to
work, to give peace and calmness to a person
who has been very restless for quite some time.
When I opened my eyes and observed the person
I found him calm and peaceful for the rest of
the time I observed him. This has happened on
another occasions too with different person.
Is this real or my illusion ? How does this
happen ?
When the will of a person is fairly
developed and if he maintains a good selfless
thought for another person it works. After all
who is the other and who are we?
Method of Serving
This includes introduction to the system,
individual sittings, group sittings and other
works of Nature that we do. For this the foremost
consideration is that one should think that
Master in his form and person is doing this.
To maintain this thought during the period of
work will only be failure if the proper orientation
is not there. It is not enough that we suggest
to ourselves that Master is doing the work.
One should clean himself bodily and mentally
to the extent possible for him and then feel
committed to the work of the Master. This again
is an abstraction. He should feel how low he
is to do His work and experience the gift to
do service granted by Him. This lowliness of
his being makes it possible to enter into the
field of humility. Then having had proper orientation
of submissiveness to his trainers and the Master
he should offer his self including his mind
and will to Him to be used by Him as He wishes
and follow such directions as may be given to
Him. All this and much more is meant by the
words that we should think that it is the Master
in his form and person that is working. Then
he should think that the person sitting before
him is really the Master and his natural condition
is that and it is clouded or is enwrapped. Then
attend to the work. There is a time frame that
has to be worked out based on the task on hand.
This becomes the first lapse. We would like
to clean the atmosphere in a time frame that
is convenient to us and not the requirement
of the task. This is nothing but our own egoism,
ofcourse of a higher order.
Devotion
No one can interfere with another’s samskaras
without his consent. That is the essential truth
in Spiritual life. Without the basic awareness
and realization of the dependency of the individual
on God, there is no possibility of real devotion.
Unless the Atma point is cleaned thoroughly
and the nature of the Self is understood in
the real sense (It is not Aham Brahmasmi –
it should be Brahma Ahamasmi) devotion in the
real sense does not arise. All is an expression
of the Divine. We are His manifestations. We
have no individual existence without Him. Therefore
He is the doer in the real sense. What we appear
to do is all trustee responsibility only. There
are no ownership responsibilities for us, then
only formation of samskaras stop. Then only
dependency is understood. That is the beginning
of Devotion.
1. Could you kindly explain the meaning
of ‘true’ in true devotee and who
is a true devotee?
Love as ordinarily understood is a
reciprocal issue and relates more to the inter
relationships all beings have. The concepts
of Sneha and Maitri help us to understand this
aspect of the matter. True love however involves
Sacrifice: an act of sacrifice as was done by
the Purusha (Purusha suktam). In any event of
birth sacrifice is involved as we know in the
case of mothers. In spirituality the role of
the Master is similar to the Mother. The Prime
mover is understood both as Siva and Sakti and
it is the Sakti aspect of Siva or the Sri aspect
of Narayana that plays the role of Mother in
matters relating to spirituality. That is why
God is the Guru (mother). However in the case
of devotee the extent of surrender to God decides
whether the devotion is true or not. You may
kindly note that Surrender is the toughest to
make though every one is very loquacious about
it. Usually people discuss about to whom one
should surrender. In fact the issue can be better
understood if we are clear about what we are
prepared to surrender. Does the surrender cover
all the five kosas or not also decides the nature
of the devotee. In the book Silence Speaks the
types of devotees are stated by the Master and
a true devotee would be one belonging to the
category of Murad. Please do read Masters thought
and you may gain better understanding.
2. What exactly is
devotion.
So far as I understand it is a state
we do not remember anything other than the one
to whom we are devoted. It is not flattery or
praise neither song nor bhajan. It is neither
karma (duty) by carrying out orders nor knowing
about His nature etc., (jnana) but is a dumb
state of waiting on Him for what and why for
we know not. May you be blessed with this indescribable
condition?
Surrender
Dependency and devotion pave the way
for Surrender. Surrender in thought, word and
deed takes some time to develop. But if we keep
the practice of remembering our Master it becomes
relatively easier.
Surrender becomes possible only when we surrender
and not when we wish to surrender; Perfect purity
of course is a Divine Gift but efforts at attaining
purity is not through words but through action,
No one gets a gift when one does not deserve
the same. You will not gift a pen to a person
who does not write well.
Devotion point is too tough mainly because it
is very subtle. Surrender never develops in
the real sense unless the awareness of the Master
is silent. However much one may beat about his
heart, work is done by the Master only. Kartrutva
Bhava is the basic ego which never leaves unless
one surrenders totally. Understanding the Prayer
of the system from all the levels of various
kosas perhaps enables develop this attitude.
Helplessness precedes the state of surrender.
In fact it is the establishment of the helplessness,
deep in our heart which is the main sadhana.
Ego being what it is feelings of confidence
arising out of competence or awareness of competence
arise. Allow your self some time through contemplation
to sink these ideas/feelings in the heart, That
is what I call owning up the condition, You
will agree many of the feelings listed by you
cannot be totally owned up that quickly. That
is the reason why we get the same feelings often.
Once something is owned it never recurs and
that is the way to evaluate our condition.
More on Surrender
1. What is Surrender?
Absence of "I" is surrender.
First thing is devotion to God, Second, always
feel dependent. Suppose you have surrendered
to God; If the surrender is real, there will
be surrender to the whole humanity.
2. How to surrender?
To effect the surrender to God in the
easiest way, only an act of will is required.
Self surrender is nothing but a state of complete
resignation to the will of Master with total
disregard of self.
3. I seek your help
and blessings to become deserving and worthy
of His grace.
God when asked for strength gives problems
and difficulties so that we can prove our strength.
Do not ask for anything from God/Master. Learn
to surrender to Him all your wishes and do not
suggest the solutions you like and seek them.
4. During last two
- three satsanghs there has been a feeling of
giving away self totally to Master. Faith in
Him as the means and the goal has increased.
I am not discouraging you but you must
note that Surrender (giving away to Master)
is neither that simple nor easy. If you understand
the role of the five kosas in our lives you
will understand this better. However my best
wishes for you to gain that condition soon.
5. Strongly feel Master's
assurance in surrendering all unto Him.
To say we surrendered is easy and all
say so. To feel having surrendered makes one
confident and doubts vanish. That is the difference
between the conditions of 4th and 5th knots.
6. During morning meditation
had feeling of surrender after coming out of
absorption.
Surrender develops slowly as we realise
our incapacities in the various planes of our
existence. The individual creation is our own
and that is because of the distortions we gave
to the buddhi, Ahankar, manas and chitta. These
distortions and twists have to be straightened
and that is a slow process made faster through
Pranahuti and sincere sadhana.
Balance
The freedom has been given by God to
Man by birth. The pity is he chooses to misuse
the same instead of as a man of courage restore
the freedom. You can see my articles in this
regard in the patrikas. ‘A’ point
can be used to acquire good states but that
is not the thing to do while doing the meditation
at 9 p.m. ‘B’ point also has to
be attended in the way Master has stated. If
the condition so far bestowed by Master are
honestly and sincerely owned up most of the
problems of concern for sex urges, children
welfare would not disturb. All said and done
the question is do you seek to be balanced as
Master desired all of us to be. If so you must
have by now understood this balanced condition
that he is talking about is the state of mind
of a seeker as explained in Bhagavad Gita by
Lord Krishna in the 2nd chapter. Sthita Prajnatva
is possible in four ways.
1. When a person is totally
merged in the Master from birth – Nammalvar,
Suka maharshi.
2. When a person is totally drowned in the service
of Master - Laxmana.
3. When a person discharges his duty as Masters
order - Bharata.
4. When a person performs his duty as if Master
is doing - Babuji.
Master has advised us to resort either the 3rd
or 4th method. He said thereby no further samskaras
will be formed. It is for you to judge which
one you follow. The way we do usually is to
think we are doing or in other words we suffer
from Kartrutva bhava. Unless this is understood
the problems of day to day life cannot be squarely
met. That is my experience. To seek help for
spiritual progress is natural and that we got
by way of Pranahuti already. If the goal of
life is fully understood and we discharge our
duties in office and home resorting to the 3rd
or 4th method above we should neither have retirement
blues nor concern about the children beyond
a due limit. What I say may be difficult to
accept that is precisely the way I have adopted.
We should have concern but should not get involved
in the problems of others. Everyone whether
one is the spouse or son or daughter or one
of various other family relationships has his/her
karma to work out and while we can assist to
some extent cannot modify or avoid any of them.
It is their seeking that matters. The commandments
of Master clearly give the message. Yet we are
slaves of wishes. But instead of overcoming
this stage we try to seek relief from the wishes
by satisfaction and plead Masters and elders
for blessings! Writing further on this topic
is not etiquette. It is one thing to aspire
and another thing to seek. To aspire is the
state of a person in the state of coping and
moving towards mastery. For this effort, dedication
and enormous perseverance is required. This
is the way of the mental plane. To seek means
only to beg--Begging is the method resorted
by those who act from physical, or vital planes.
More on Balance
1. Is the Balance something that we get after
sometime of this turmoil and turbulence? Or
is it to be had and experienced, during our
day to day life during sadhana in initial stages
like I am in?
Your query regarding Balance is quite
amusing to me. It is a state of dynamic balance
in all planes and the question of before or
after turbulence/turmoil etc., has not much
relevance. No Situation is turmoil unless we
make it with our intentional consciousness.
The goal of life is balance and it should be
happy for us.
2. I noticed that for
quite some time now I have a great craving for
reading our system books and my interest in
reading technical books (so dear to me once
upon a time) is totally lost. Sometimes I need
to read technical books to keep myself updated
or to resolve some issues but there is no interest.
Also, the interest in work is fading.
Our system of training talks only of
moderation. It is necessary that you should
update yourself in your profession and also
do the reading of the books relating to sadhana.
3. There were times
feelings of words such as “I am doing”
occurred in me. It also came as words. Immediately
I realize the mistake and feel the mistake and
apologize to Master. Master is doing everything.
I must orient myself so that, such feelings
/ words will not come inside me. This type of
thought has reduced a lot drastically since
coming into the system. But I need to improve
a lot further. When I think about this mistake
it shakes me up.
Me and Mine are the two early lessons
we are to learn in any society. The organising
principle of Ego cannot develop otherwise. In
spirituality we learn these two are our creations
and learn slowly the art of recognising actions,
knowledge and experiences as phenomena that
naturally occur and move towards the condition
of Sthitha Prajnatva - abiding calmly with awareness
only. That is a good state that comes to us
in this path early; but artificially that cannot
be developed. Please kindly note and do not
get upset.
4. Some times I get
a doubt that we are trying to see Divine in
every person (every living being) but when someone
ask or tell us to do something how to take decision
on that when we are also not sure about it.
Shall we take them as granted by seeing Master
in him/her or just ignore it and leave it to
our fate. Especially in the family matters between
Wife and Parents. Because both of them have
Love, affection and care and seems to be right
what they are saying but whom to follow? Please
give me some advises how to proceed in these
matters and also in general.
It is true that we try to see God in
everyone. Actually we come to a stage when we
do feel them to be so. But our duties in life
are varied and everyone has his/her place and
we should attend to duties as we are supposed
to and as expected to. This is the clue for
arriving at what is due regard to all. God of
course manifests everywhere but it is not to
be confused as that we should obey everyone
because they are Gods. God does not expect us
to do any favour to him. He only demands that
we discharge our duties dispassionately. I think
this should be sufficient for you to take necessary
decisions with reference to relatives and friends.
Happiness
The problem of life is how to be happy.
Our method gives the answer candidly and you
will realise that the company of the Master
is the main source of happiness.
Except fortitude and forbearance, no other attitude
is likely to yield happy state of mind. All
are our brothers and sisters and it is only
social convention that makes us have different
relationships and except love no other relationship
like hatred has any place in happy life. Make
a definite resolution to reject negative feelings
to any person.
Contentment is the core of happiness. If you
develop this attitude you would see how Master
is so kind to all of us.
There is no activity in the world where the
Divine is not in play. The warp is the Divine
and the woof are you and me. The goal is to
gain happiness by knowing the interrelationship
with the Divine in all aspects of life.
Happiness is a disposition. It is to be cultivated
deliberately. This is achieved by remembering
the presence of the Master in our heart. Faith
has many shades and only when faith in us is
lost the question of surrender arises.
Knowledge
The state of helplessness simultaneously
with restlessness is the condition that is one
of the last stages and this will continue to
be there. If what you are expecting is knowledge
about everything consequent to this I am to
clarify that you will not have it for curiosity
or for display. But knowledge that is required
for the work that you do is automatically made
available. This is where the scriptures and
other literature have misled us to presume that
we will know everything, though perhaps the
mistake is in our thinking than what they have
written. So the thought that "probably
the mystical insight may succeed in grasping
the whole at once and for ever conveys to me
at least nothing that is specific and is only
a figment of imagination. Knowledge is, always
for some work. Knowledge about everything every
minute is only a wild imagination of no use
to anyone at any point of time
Laya
Laya Avastha has no meaning if we are
not in tune with Him and His purposes. The imaginative
descriptions of the state of Laya resorted to
by poets and philosophers have practically no
meaning. Without annihilation of ego (which
is of various shades) laya even in the lowest
knot is not possible. I consider and I think
I made it explicit many times that knot 1 (including
1a) is the toughest of all and to think we have
moved out of it may be only the result of delusion.
This is the reason for the Master to suggest
cleaning of the heart regularly and this is
a tedious process. According to Fana (Worthlessness)
is the Baqa (laya). What more can I say. Unless
laya is achieved to some extent (happily we
do get such moments often) Divinity will not
be able to get its things done. Any desire to
have conscious awareness of the work of the
Divine is only an expression of the ego and
is therefore bound to fail in the attempt.
Fana
1. Regarding Fana: The development
of fana starts the moment we start yielding
to the Master. When it is total and perfect
there cannot be any awareness of that. This
is the condition that is prerequisite for any
Divine work. Asking for awareness, (in your
language seeking to recognize himself in that
state) is out of question and is meaningless.
You seem to understand it yet your philosophical
knowledge (may I say unreal knowledge) seems
to insist on that.
2. That such a condition should be something
that is recognized by others? Do you not think
that it is just ego of some sort that is demanding
this? Who are others to recognize our work?
It is Master alone we serve and not all sundry
in the street. (Ego).
3. Feel suitably elated about that condition
(Ego?) and enjoy the glow of satisfaction (Anubhava
virodhatva). All these are no states anywhere
near Fana. Your statement that when Ego is pressed
down in one sphere it merely buoys up in another
area is surprising from a person who has done
sadhana for quite some time. We are taken by
the Great Master to the higher realms almost
in Airplane. You seem to be demanding the awareness
of walking the distance from Chennai to Shahjahanpur
while in fact you were pushed through.
4. At any rate unless Viveka and Vairagya are
developed to the required extent, the understanding
does not become possible, though you may have
knowledge about such things.
A) Life is so temporary and that it might end
at any point of time. Now planning as logic
does not have a metaphysical basis once we accept
spirituality. So quite a few questions about
employment etc. are from my point of view deficiencies
in the Viveka. Dependency on Master or God is
a tough one and has to be developed over. Unless
fana is fully established the contact with the
Masters is but an illusion. As is the fana so
is the baqa.
B) I am happy that you feel the need to serve
others. But without the fana not much can be
done more than a lecturer in philosophy or religion.
Unless preliminary state of fana is developed
even giving sittings to others would cease to
have any impact. This I have stressed often
but somehow the doer concept does not seem to
leave you. May be your orientation to the Masters
of the order needs correction.
Bliss
Bliss is a state generally confused
with Anandam of Vedanta. Bliss is a state experienced
in our system after one crosses the realms of
religion, spirituality and reality. The Bliss
of this condition naturally does not permit
any blemish to be seen. Mergence in the ocean
of Bliss should follow by the idea that it is
cleaning us totally. Naturally our attention
during cleaning goes towards enjoyment of the
state of bliss due to lack of comprehension
of the state of Bliss in this system rather
than think of the blemishless condition of the
Master. You would appreciate however much we
tried to tell Master of the mistakes of some
he said that he is incapable of seeing blemish
in others. The grace of the Master is there
for the sinner and the saint alike, both these
words have no meaning in his dictionary as a
matter of fact his dictionary does not contain
those words, So the method of practice of this
cleaning is more tough as it requires complete
awareness of the nature of Master. Once the
nature of Bliss is understood our aim is not
to think about it but know the blemishes we
see in ourselves and more so in others which
we want to get rid off and work for the same
during cleaning timings. You would agree that
comparison with others is the main reason for
our envy, jealousy and covetousness. While Kama
and Krodha are attended in a different way by
doing meditation on point A, Lobha, moha and
ahankar are to be gotten rid of during cleaning.
Nature of Bliss if taken as the goal for us
then comparison and competition and resulting
conflict which cause our samskaras must be got
rid off and for this we work hard and also seek
the help of the Master by contemplating on the
nature of Bliss which is his condition of being.
Rings of Splendour
Regarding the conditions in the Rings
of Splendour there we do not feel separateness
from the Master and it is all a realm of Joy.
There is only a single pointed attention to
His nature which is nothing but Bliss.
The rings of splendour have always been beating
our under¬standing. Considerable amount
of Prayer to Master has to be put in.
Brahmalaya
Devotedness is the identity that is
there in Brahmalaya and devotedness alone is
maintained. As I have already clarified identity
is there but individuality is replaced by devotedness.
The runner does not have an awareness of run
or running. I know this makes no sense but that
is what I know.
