...The Sleeper Awakens...

Set Free (NYC Love Dub!)

2010-12-08T00:50:00.003-05:00

Greetings Godz & Goddesses!!!

This song was done a while back after some very inspiring visits to New York City...

This one was especially thinking of the way the golden light of the morning Sun struck the city...it was a magical experience...the memory kept coming back along with some other beautific visions...

SachaMassaGonna - Dubbing, Creative Engineer
Sacha - Guitars, Bass, Keys
Style Scott - Drums (courtesy of me brethren from Drum Drops)

May this most auspicious Winter Solstice bless you with great spiritual delight!

Blessings & Love!!!

SachaMassaGonna aka 'Das Wizard of OM'
December 2010

..¤ø„¸SachaMassaGonna¸„ø¤º°¨~
¸„ø¤º°¨Set Free (NYC Love Dub!)''°º¤ø*
¸„ø¤º''°º¤ø„¸„ø¤º¨°º¤ø

SachaMassaGonna ॐ = Set Free (NYC Love DUB!!!) by SachaMassaGonna

SachaMassaGonna meets SKI inna Hip Hop Stylee!!!

2010-11-22T00:26:00.001-05:00

SachaMassaGonna meets Ski inna Hip Hop Styleee!!! [clean] by SachaMassaGonna

Golden Lotus Meditation - Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath Radio Transmission!!!

2010-11-21T23:37:00.010-05:00

Greetings Gods & Goddesses!

Happy Kartik Purni-MA!!! May this auspicious full moon bless you all with sat-chit-anand!

This is an excerpt of a radio interview Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath gave on 'It's your day with Laurie Day' (October 5, 2009).

Master Yogiraj responds to the interviewer's heartfelt request to share a simple yogic technique that will bring peace and tranquility to people in their daily lives. The Master bestows His compassion and grace by offering the highly sacred 'Golden Lotus' (Ananda Kanda) Meditation. This simple technique is highly regarded amongst the 'Sages of the Fire-Mist' from time immemorial.

There are other aspects to the Golden Lotus meditation that include japa mantra or sacred 'seed' (bij/beej) syllables as well as specific pranayamas. This must be given by the Master/Guru or authorized acharya/yoga teacher directly according to the ancient tradition for one to receive the full transmission.

'The Soul Cry'
"If Earth Peace and Love are to prevail on this earth we must all realize:

Humanity - is our UNITING religion.
Breath - our UNITING prayer.
Consciousness - our UNITING god."

~Sri Yogiraj SatGurunath Siddhanath

*note - the video should read 'It's your day with Laurie Day' in the intro.

Master Yogiraj Kriya Transmissions and Yogic Techniques

2009-10-30T22:36:00.005-04:00

Jai Gurunath! Jai Shivanath!

It is through the compassionate grace of the Guru and wonderful efforts of a number of Hamsas that invaluable elucidations on Kriya yoga by a Master are now freely available to all sincere seekers.

For those that are already initiated into the ancient science of Kriya yoga will get great benefit by viewing these with humility and absorb the wisdom of the Rishis from a Rishi that walks amongst us!

For those that have not been initiated into Kriya watch with a childlike intensity and foster devotion to this ancient practice that is the Great Liberation for many sincere seekers and when you are finally initiated you will be already having a momentum that many others in other times never thought possible.

How is it that in this time we may see a Master with the click of a mouse and He may enter our thought stream and heart with the Immortal Light, Sound, Love and Wisdom? Sri Ganesh is dancing on the mouse and many obstacles have been removed. Babaji has blessed sincere seekers in this age by sending the Masters to us in diverse and manifold ways. We must not waste these blessings and follow the path laid and enlightened by the Masters...

Bolo Sri Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath a key...Jai!!!

This one is in great bliss seeing this and I am sure many others will feel great bliss who were not fortunate enough to be present at the New Life Awakening Camp at Mt Madonna (2009).

The Original Kriya Yog Part I

"O Divine Indweller, become Thou my Prana Of Kriya Yoga Breath; free my Spiritual Path from all obstacles and lead me into thee." -
"Enter The Here Now Truth Alive!" -Yogiraj Satgurunath Siddhanath, Given on Friday, October 23, 2009 - Mt. Madonna Retreat, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

The Original Kriya part II

"Enter The Here Now Truth Alive!" -Yogiraj Satgurunath Siddhanath Friday, October 23, 2009 - Mt. Madonna Retreat, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

The Original Kriya part III

"Enter The Here Now Truth Alive!" -Yogiraj Satgurunath Siddhanath Friday, October 23, 2009 - Mt. Madonna Retreat, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

The Omkar Kriya

The Omkar Kriya - The Birthing Hum of Creation Part 1 - Friday, October 23, 2009 - Mt. Madonna Retreat, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Here are some other Transmissions of Yogic Techniques by the Master.

Earth Peace Through Self Peace Meditation

Ancient Earth Peace Through Self Peace Meditation

Ancient Earth Peace Through Self Peace Meditation part II

The Nad Bramha - The Earth Peace Meditation of the Hamsa Yoga Sangh. Taken from the Martanda Yoga of Gorakshanath - The Mahavatar Babaji paramguru of the Kriya Yoga tradition. This tradition has its roots in the eternal Himalayan Sanatana Dharma enlivened by the immortal Babaji.

Siddhanath Surya Yoga

Yogiraj Delineates the Fundamental Techiques of Kriya Yog

Mahamudra & Asan

Preparation for Meditation

The Effects of Kriya Yog

Yogiraj SatGurunath and the Kriya Masters

Master Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath Radio Transmission/Interview on October 5 2009!!!

2009-10-07T13:29:00.006-04:00

Jai Shiva Gurunath!!! Jai Gorakhya Babaji!!!

Blessings and Love!!!

Sri Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath was on a Radio show recently on October 5 2009.

If you missed the 'real'-time stream Contact Talk Radio has graciously put up the whole interview on their website to download or listen again.

Yogiraj not only speaks of His mission and gives simple, practical and pragmatic advice on how to walk the path in our daily lives but also gives a public initiation into GOLDEN LOTUS meditation. He responds to the interviewer request to provide a technique for all by giving a transmission of this S.H.E. HYS Technique.

I urge all sincere seekers that want to learn Kriya and have not yet got in contact with a Hamsacharya/authorized teacher of Kriya to listen/download this show. If you can edit and cut out the initiation and listen to this while sitting for meditation - you will be perfectly prepared to receive the ancient science of Kriya Yoga.

There are some compliments to this Golden Lotus technique that Yogiraj gives on this show that include the japa mantra-bij (seed) syllable and this will be given by a Hamsacharya/authorized teacher directly.

“It's Your Day with Laurie Day” - October 5 2009

Direct Download!

Laura Day blog

Om Namo Narayanya! Om Nama Shivaya! Om Parashaktiya Namaha!

Jai Gorakhya Babaji! Jai Shiva Gurunath!

ps.

Experience The Satguru : A Portland Retreat Testimonial
Laura Day gave a very moving personal testimonial of the Greatness and Power of Satguru Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath shared on Sept 22, 2009 in Portland, Oregon.

Live Stream of documentary 'Wings to Freedom'

WINGS TO FREEDOM - STREAM

Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

2009-06-28T11:52:00.009-04:00

Last night while attending a concert by Irshad Khan I learned that Ustad Ali Akbar Khan had joined the Masters in the celestial realms...The world mourns another irreplaceable icon...

This one had the great fortune to see this legend at the Doverlane Music Conference through the great blessing of being in Kolkata (or as many locals say 'Cal'), India/Bharat with some great friends of family who had sponsored Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma. I remember that He had brought many of His students from California and it was a fantastic and unexpected jugalbundi of instruments and voices. Even then He was gravely ill and it was unsure if He would make it. He spoke for some thyme in a mixture of Hindi, Urdu and Bengali and said it would probably be the last thyme anyone would see Him at Doverlane...I remember many people crying after hearing this...thankfully there were several more years where the world would experience the Master live in concert...

We must now connect with this great devotee of Allah and Ma Saraswati through the lineage and the many recordings He has left for us...

"Real music is not for wealth, not for honours or even the joys of the mind... but as a path for realisation and salvation."

click on picture for Lp @ Magic of Juju

Radio Homage @ NPR

Here are some videos about His Father...the Great Ustad Baba Allauddin Khan...

Respect to the One who taught me you don't have to fly to the Moon to do the Moonwalk...

2009-06-26T13:06:00.010-04:00

"Through the ages, the peacock has been honoured and praised for its attractive, illustrious beauty. Of all the bird family, the peacock is the only bird that integrates all colors into one, and displays this radiance of fire only when in love. We, like the peacock, try to integrate all races into one through the love of music."

Michael & Jackie Jackson

It is great to have experienced the myth, legend and the music of Michael Jackson...As many thousands mourn the loss around the world let us focus on the beauty and inspiring message expressed through music and dance...

Jacksons Motown Audition

Big Wolf's Live DJ/VJ Michael Jackson Video Tribute

Rest in Peace...

Tribute to King Joseph pon de Hill...

2009-01-22T20:22:00.002-05:00

Incredible footage of Culture in their element with brethren and sisthren by fire...

One of the greatest vibes in a studio-stylee!!!

Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath - Gateway to Eternity

2008-05-10T16:37:00.004-04:00

Jai Gurunath! Shiva Gurunath!

It is sacred day as it is a celebration of the day Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath appeared on this earth. It is also the (solar) day that Sri Yukteswar Maharaj, Sri Yoganandaji's great guru, also chose to manifest on this earth.

We are so lucky that Yogiraj is blessing us this day with speaking to The Gateway to Eternity Radio Show from the Siddhanath Forest Ashram in Pune.

It is with such compassion that He awakens us here...Countless Thanks to Him!

Jai Guru Deva AUM!

Show airing on May 10, 2008 Click here to listen to the show

Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath

He talks about:

Experiences with Mahavatar Babaji
Kriya Yoga Teachings
Hamsa Yoga Teachings
Earth Peace Meditation
His visit to United Nations

...Om Namah Shivaya...

2008-03-06T23:28:00.001-05:00

May all auspiciousness be showered upon you all on this Mahashivaratri!

Tribute to the O.M...Bob Marley & Dennis Brown

2008-02-06T15:35:00.002-05:00

Bob Marley Dastafari Mix 08

SachaMassaGonna @ MusicWebTown.com

I'm sure Bob Marley would sing 'Rat Race' during this Lunar New Year seeing the current state of the world. But it is not a thyme to be too cynical...let us celebrate the works and most inspirational life of Bob Marley (born Feb 6, 1945).

Hope you enjoy this Dastafari Tribute to Bob Marley Mix

Tracklist:
'Double Tribute to the O.M.' - Joseph Hill & Culture
'Thank You Jah' - Dillinger
'Easy Skanking' - Johnny Clarke
'Natural Mystic' - Horace Andy
'Slave Driver Dub' - Sly & Robbie
'I Know a Place' (heavy version) - Bob Marley & The Wailers
'High Tide or Low Tide' - Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
'Psalm of Bob Marley' - Culture
'Rainbow Country' - Dennis Brown
'Screwface Dub' - Augustus Pablo
'Dreamland' - The Wailers
'I'm Still Waiting' - Johnny Clarke
'I'm Still Wailing' - The Wailers
'Happy Birthday to You' - Jah Thomas
'Bob & Friends Over There' - Ijahman Levi
'So Long Rastafari Call You' - Bob Marley & The Wailers (live bootleg)
'Tribute to Bob Marley' - Prince Far I
'Time Will Tell' - Bob Marley & The Wailers

Click here to get your own player.

'Time Will Tell' - documentary on Bob Marley

'Catch a Fire' - documentary on the making of the classic album

Interesting blog post about 'Bob Marley and the 7 Chakras'

Only have the cyber-universe at your disposal and need to hear Bob Marley Fast?

...no worriez...go here

Of course, we shouldn't forget Dennis Brown who was born on Feb 1, 1957...

Barrington Levy sings 'Revolution', 'Broader than Broadway' & 'Black Roses' @ the classic Harbourfront Centre show in Toronto (Canada)

Dennis Brown with Sly & Robbie rockin 'Revolution'

SachaMassaGonna Nath Infinity (08) Selecta

2008-01-14T10:13:00.000-05:00

SachaMassaGonna @ MusicWebTown.com

Jai Ma!!!

2007-10-16T14:11:00.000-04:00

We are now in the middle of Navaratri...a sacred time for the worship of the Goddess...the 'Nine Nights' of the Goddess...We must pray for Her to bestow shakti to those who stand for Dharma upon the Earth...Even the avatars Sri Ramchandraji and Sri Krishna Bhagavan worshiped the Mother as Goddess...The Bhagavad Gita took place on the battle field only after Sri Krishna instructed Arjuna to worship Durga Ma the night before...She appeared to both of them and they both gave pranams...She said, "Rest assured you will be victorious in Battle my child...rest your worried mind...have faith in Bhagavan Krishna...Where there is Krishna...there is Victory"...Unfortunately, the tides of the mind are often overbearing and despite the countless blessings by Rishis, Gurus and the supreme Blessing of Durga Ma, Arjuna still questioned the need for battle...We must not be dejected if we fall into despair...We must respect the Divine Mother and She will always guide us and give us blessings...It is Her who feels the pain of all...and in Her compassion She will behead all transgressors of Dharma...rest asuras...

Praises to the Goddess!!! Thou art Compassionate Wisdom that maketh Skillful Means possible!

Three aspects of Mother Divine

Symbolised by Navaratri Festival

Swami Chinmayananda

The following are excerpts from a long letter written by Swami Chinmayananda from Uttarkasi on 20th October 1950, which happened to the Vijaya Dasmi Day to Sri. P.B. Menon of Ernakulam, Kerala, and published in "Glory of the Mother" by Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Bombay.

Religion without philosophy is superstition. Philosophy without religion is mere theory. And nowhere is the wedding of these two so perfect and enduring as in the great religion of Hinduism.

Religion, everywhere, includes three sections: the ritualistic forms and symbols, the mythology and the philosophy. These three are three stages regular, systematic, measured and graded. A deluded jiva (embodied soul) is to be taken from the first, through the second to the last. Since the first two are preparations for the third, the previous ones also must have for their basis the essence of the last. This is true in Hinduism. All our rituals and mythology represent the truth of Vedanta. Self-realization through a constant God-consciousness is the message, be it in the ritualistic stage or in the mythological stage of evolution.

In this light let us view Navaratri, the nine day's Devi Puja and the glorious end of it all on the tenth day, the Vijaya Dasami. What do we do in these nine days? Every house is cleaned, and there is an air of festivity in the entire village or town. Each house is converted for these ten days to serve as a temple. For ten days there is regular pujas, kirtans, songs, and reading of the spiritual books.

Now what exactly is the procedure? These nine days are divided into three sections, each three days; the first three days are dedicated for Durga or Kali, the second for Lakshmi (the Raja Rajeshwari) and the last three days for Goddess Saraswati. The nine days' puja ends in the great festivity and joy inexpressible, on the tenth day - the Dussera Day, the Vijaya Dasami Day. Thus the ritual, with forms and symbols - "the burning of the Devil" at the dawn heralds in the Vijaya Dasami, and the merry laughter and joyous feasting.

"It is all very well. At best it is a crude communal festivity, once a year, just after the harvest season is over for the winter." This is the opinion generally of the blind, college-trained-illiterates of our young brethren! In this age of intellectual idleness, the generation has neither leisure nor the spirit of enquiry to make them think and understand. All their thinking is done for them by the editors (and) the news reporters.

But let us be honest to ourselves and make an investigation into this exact ritual, most popular even today among us. Some light may come out of all honest and persevering enquiry.

WHAT THEN DO THESE NINE DAYS OF CELEBRATION MEAN?

The first three days we invoke Sri Kali Mata: Mother Durga. Durga is the "Power Terrible" that manifested out of the Unmanifested Eternal which is paripurna, (full or complete in all respects) and so has in THAT all powers. "Mother Terrible" took the "form dreadful" to kill and end the rakshasas (devils) that were roaming about the world of men, tyrannizing over the faithful, the devoted: the divine sadhakas (spiritual seekers). This is the story in a nutshell as we read it in the Puranas. The Puranic stories are all, Chinmaya repeats, all figurative voiceless truths of the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutra and Gita - the great oceans of the highest philosophies in the world.

Puranas are written for the crude and uncultured to grasp. It entertains, flares up imagination, kindles faith, and makes the reader live a life of righteousness and enduring values of love and dharma.

Yes. Surely, man, the imperfect, the bound, the sorrowful, has a thousand enemies within. He is riddled with negative thoughts, fears and yearnings. There are desires, passions, lusts, hopes, vanities, anger, greed, selfishness, jealousy, meanness, prejudices and hatreds - just to mention a few of the most terrible. If the sadhaka has to get rid of these lawless villains within, in Mother Kali's krpa (mercy) these tyrannous monsters are to be annihilated. No amount of soft persuasion can be of any avail with them. The force of Sri Rudra must be applied. There must be a deep, determined, adamantine resolve, and a fight royal within, as bloody as the Kali's ferocious dripping-sword; and unless the sadhaka is ready to wear about his neck the skull-garland of these murdered false values, there can be no peace or order in the within. So then, the first three days - representing the initial stage of a sadhaka who has started on his pilgrimage to freedom and perfection - are the invocation of the Mother Terrible. This power is also in us; it is only a question of invoking it. The self within is omnipotent; every power is in it. Only invoke any power you want, it will manifest according to the degree of invocation. In your chair and table is fire! Only it needs invocation; set fire: tend it: nourish it until it is well set - thereafter the whole house can be brought down by that very chair on which you are so comfortably sitting now! Just look around: the almirah, the windows, the doors, the table, the shelf each containing some thousands of calories of heat. And yet, when not invoked, you are comfortable with them: yet, all the same, the fire is full-packed in them. Invoke the fire, and what a terrible conflagration! What a terrible heat!

So also the Self has all the powers in it. When we know the trick of invoking whatever power we want at will out of it, we are the masters of the Self. Supreme perfection is only in the Lord, the Self. To become the Lord is the state of the Absolute from where there is no return. He who has attained this state is a jnani.

Thus, as we have seen, the very first stage in self-perfection is to invoke the Mother Terrible, to help us by eliminating from within us all negative forces all weaknesses. It is these that have removed us from ourselves: the Supreme Paramesvara svarupa which we all really are!

Now a mere elimination of our weaknesses in itself is no achievement permanent; for, if the bosom is thus empty, they will again enter by the "back doors".

So then, we must understand that though we have to eliminate many wrong trends of thinking, acting, feeling and asserting that are now with us, we have to also side by side invite in, plant well, cultivate, collect or learn new healthy enduring values. In short, mere negative sadhana (spiritual practices) alone is of no avail; we must equally emphasize the positive side in our right effort: then only the purushartha (four factors necessary to make life full - dharma or right action, artha or wealth and happiness, kama or desires and aspirations and moksha or spiritual realization which is the ultimate goal of all existence) becomes complete and whole. Not only strive to assert that "I will not be dishonest" but in the same breath, as it were, we must assert "I will be honest at all costs".

Fear is meaningless. I am not afraid of anything - I am Courage Absolute. I am He: He am I. I am courageous. Nothing is or can be there which can frighten ME.

By such an invocation of the positive, we grow! This growth is the next stage that should follow the efforts at elimination and self-purification of the sadhaka. And this is the meaning of worshipping the Goddess Raja Rajeshwari, Sri Maha Lakshmi, the lady of all aisvarya (divine wealth).

In the first three days through the "Power Terrible" we have met, fought and killed the devilish tendencies in us. The rakshasic forces have been won over. This period of war is immediately - and even side by side followed by the constructive efforts at the organization of order and security by patronage of order and security by the patronage and growth of the Divine Forces in us. Lakshmi is not the Goddess of rupees and paise. She is the Goddess of Aishvarya: Daivi Sampatti, divine wealth. She is the embodiment of Love, charity, kindness, devotion, peace, tranquility, honesty, courage, faith, and mumukshutvam (desire for liberation).

These are to be engendered, and the vacancies created by the elimination of the negative qualities must be filled in by these positive traits.

Hence the Lakshmi Puja for three days following Kali Puja of the first three days! How pregnant!

When a jiva on his march has thus purified himself, and gets recharged with the Daivi sampatti (the divine wealth), he is a fit adhikari - a fit student - to be initiated into the philosophical side of religion. He is told of the supreme Reality, the state of sat-chit-ananda (absolute Knowledge, absolute Existence, absolute Bliss, the padvi (state) of sivoham the becoming of the Lord, the merger of the jiva to become Mahesvara, the final waking from this dream of samsara into realization that "I am the all-pervading knowledge in itself. Pure existence beyond time, space and causality - where the experience is I am God". This knowledge is the last and final stage in the evolution of man. There the mortal rises to become immortal. Death has no more strings for him - beyond death, beyond birth, beyond maddening cruelties of dharma and adharma, pleasure and pain, heat and cold, success and failure, love and hatred. The sadhaka drops his deluded conception "I am a man, devotee", and realizes, remembers - I am He (Nitya-mukta-chinmayoham!)

With the jnana (knowledge) that I and Siva are one - I in Siva - Siva in me - Siva is jagat – jagat is naught but in Siva - Siva alone is "I am": the man has risen to Godhood. Jnana is the last stage through which sadhaka - the bhakta (devotee) walks to reach this native house of his, the Param Padam ( Supreme State) - stage of absolute Perfection.

The Goddess of Jnana is Devi, Mother Sarasvati. Her veena is tuned within when the heart strings are polished off it's clogs - the asuric sampatti, non-divine traits. In the resulting peace, the bhakta sees his Lord in the peaceful, purified within. The soft floating tunes waft from within as the Lady of the veena passes Her tender fingers blessingly over thy heart-strings. The Siva bhakta melts in that music of the within and becomes one with Siva!

Now "I am He, He am I ". This is the great victory . . . . .the total victory, the VIJAYAM.

Thus in nine days, in three stages, even the ignorant is made to go through the right invocations in their required sequences of worship, and on the tenth day, make a huge bonfire of the devil, the samsarin in me - the mortal, who dreamt, and wept his dreams.

Now you know everything. As a Guru, Chinmaya has initiated you to the vidya supreme - the para-vidya. You are told about the destination - you are told about the route. Enough "means-to-go" have been placed at your disposal.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba discourse: The Mother Divine (pdf format)

Durga Puja with Ma Anandamayi

Pt. Rajan & Sajan Misra sing Durga Ma

Navaratri - An Exposition by Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba

Meaning

"Navaratri means nine nights. Darkness is associated with night. What is this darkness? It is the darkness of ignorance." Sai Baba, SS, 11/92, p. 267

"Navaratri means 'nine nights'. What does the nine signify? There are nine 'Grahas' (planets according to astrology). The human body has nine openings. If a deep inquiry is made, it will be found that mankind is dependent on the planets (Grahas). Although astrologers speak about nine, in reality, there are only two planets that matter. They are 'Raga' (attachment) and Dwesha (hatred)." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94, p. 289

"The six enemies of man are eating into his vitals, embedded in his own inner consciousness. They are the demons to be killed. They are lust (Kama), anger (Krodha), greed (Lobha), attachment (Moha), pride (Mada), and malice (Matsarya). They reduce man to the level of a demon. They have to be overpowered and transmuted, by the Supreme Alchemy of the Divine Urge. Then, the nine (Nava) nights (Ratri) of struggle will become new (Nava), a new type of night, devoted to the purification of the mind, illumination of the soul - the night described in the Gita as "the day of the worldly". What is clear and attractive to the ordinary man is uninteresting and unknown to the Yogi. What is clear and attractive to the Yogi is uninteresting and unknown to the worldly man. This is the nature of this topsy-turvy world." Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. VIII, dis dtd 12-10-69, p. 107

Shirdi Sai Baba Was Born On The First Night Of Navaratri

"All festivals have been designed to teach men how to lead a godly life while carrying out worldly activities. It is to teach this truth to mankind that Avatars and saints made their advent on earth from time to time. This day (the first day of Navaratri) has another special significance. Shirdi Sai Baba was bom on 27 September 1838. He was born in a poor Brahmin family in a village of Aurangabad District".

Sai Baba, SS, 11/92. p. 255. Discourse date: 27 September 1992

Purpose

'The Navaratri is a festival to commemorate the victory of the good over the evil. The Embodiment of Divine Power (Para-Shakti), in its various manifestations, Satwic (as Maha- Saraswati), Rajasic (as Maha-Lakshmi), Tamasic (as Mahakali) was able to overcome the forces of vice, wickedness and egoism, during the nine days' struggle and finally, on Vijaya Dashami (Dasara, the tenth Day commemorating victory), the valedictory worship is done". Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. VIII. discourse on 12-10-69, p. 107

The purpose of the Navaratri celebration is to enable man to get rid of nine types of darkness, which have taken hold of him. Sai Baba, SS, 11/92, p. 267

"The Navaratri festival is observed by contemplating on God for ten days, cleansing one's self of all the impurities to experience the Divinity within." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94. p. 291

"This festival (Navaratri) is intended to make man realise his true worth as the most precious object in creation. All things in the world derive their value from the labour and skill of man." Sai Baba. SS, 11/94. p. 289

"It is a festival of thanksgiving. Gratitude is Divine. Ingratitude is demonic. But while offering the homage of gratitude, you must also try to discover who was killed, who was saved, and why." Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. VIII, discourse on 12-10-69, p. 107

"The Navaratri celebration is an occasion for revering nature (Prakriti) and considering how natural resources can be used properly in the best interest of mankind. Resources like water, air, power and minerals should be used properly and not misused or wasted. Economy in the use of every natural resource is vital. Pollution of the air has many evil consequences. The inner significance of observances like Nagar Sankirtan and Bhajans is to fill the atmosphere with sacred vibrations and holy thoughts. The inauguration of the Navaratri celebrations means that you should use this occasion for offering worship to nature and resolving to make sacred use of all natural resources." Sai Baba. SS, 11/92, p. 269

"So, the Navaratri is to be dedicated by all for the propitiation of the outer as well as the inner divinity, so that the outer and the inner worlds may have peace and joy. By means of systematic Sadhana, it is possible to tap the inner resources that God has endowed on man, and elevate yourselves to the purer and happier realm of the Reality. That is the message of Navaratri, the Nine Day's Festival celebrating the victory of the Primal Energy. That energy, when it is manifested in its quiet aspect (Satvic), is delineated as the Great Teacher and Inspirer, Maha-Saraswati; when it is active and potent (Rajasic), the great Provider and Sustainer, Maha-Lakshmi; when it is dull and inactive, but latent and apparently quiet (Tamasic), as the Great Dark Destroyer and Deluder, Mahakali. Since Shakti is all-pervasive, omni-potent, infinitesimal as well as all-comprehensive, it can be contacted everywhere, in outer nature or inner consciousness. Prahlada told his doubting father: 'Why doubt, discuss and delay? Seek it anywhere; you can see It.' It is near and far, before, behind, beside and inside, everything in the known and the unknown world. People dare describe Her or Him, as thus and thus; that reveals only their faculty to guess. No description can portrait in full." Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. VI, discourse on 4-10-67, p. 83

"Our Vice-Chancellor described Swami's love as that of a thousand mothers. But, one who cannot understand the love of one mother, how can he understand the love of a thousand mothers? So, first and foremost try to understand and experience the love of your physical mother. Go on adding to the physical mother's love a millions times. The divinity principle of the God lies in this love, which is your life principle. Experience this love and understand the significance of mother worship in Navaratri." Sai Baba, SS, 7/99. p. 186

Three Phases Of Navaratri Celebrations

"The Navaratri has been divided into three parts. The first three days are dedicated to the worship of Durga, next three days to the worship of Lakshmi and last three days to the worship of Saraswati. All Hindu festivals have a sacred purpose. Unfortunately, now-a-days the festivals are observed only with external rituals without understanding their inner meaning. In the performance of all forms of worship, there should be steadiness of mind and body. Only then concentration can be achieved. Today men are unable to maintain steadiness of body and mind." Sai Baba. SS, 11/92, p. 268

Purpose Of Devi Worship

"Ichcha-Shakti (the Will Power) arises from thoughts. This 'Iccha-Shakti' is the source of several other potencies like intellectual power, the discriminating capacity and others. To develop this 'Ichcha-Shakti' (Will Power), one has to worship Devi. This calls for the cultivation of renunciation or detachment. For instance, if one has a desire for various drinks, he can bring the desire under control by giving up, to begin with, the desire for some of them. Thereby the Will Power (Ichcha-Shakti) is developed, and in due course, it becomes easier to give up other desires. In Vedantic parlance, this is described as 'Vairaagya' (renouncing all attachments). Vairaagya is not abandonment of hearth and home and retiring to a forest. It means developing godly thoughts and reducing worldly feelings. It is when this balanced development takes place that one acquire-control over the powers of nature (Praakrita Shakti). When these powers are got, the mental power in a person increases." Sai Baba, SS, 12/92, pp. 304 & 305

"The Devi Puja performed during Navaratri is intended to get rid of worldly attachments and divert-the mind towards God." Sai Baba, SS, 12/92, p. 305 -

Devi Is Satya-Swaroopini

"You worship Devi (goddess) in these nine days of Navaratri. You consider Devi as your Divine Mother. This Devi is called 'Sathya Swaroopini', which means she is the embodiment of truth. So, worshipping Truth amounts to worshipping Devi. If you understand and follow this truth, you will be successful in every field. The Vedas also proclaim this Principle of Truth." Sai Baba. SS. 11/98, p. 283

Symbolism Of Devi Worship

"The world is a manifestation of three Gunas (Satva, Rajas and Tamas qualities). The Divine is worshipped as "Devi". The term "Devi" refers to the feminine aspect. The term "Stree" is used to denote a woman. There are three syllables in this term: "Sa", Ta" and "Ra". "Sa" symbolizes the Satvic aspect of a person. The Satvic quality is the very first quality that manifests in man. The feeling of love develops from the mother. It is impossible to describe the nature of maternal love. The mother converts her own blood into love and gives it as milk to feed the child. Therefore, the first quality represented by "Sa" is the Satvic quality. The second syllable is "Ta". This does not represent "Tatva" or "Taamas" as eating and sleeping. In the term "Stree", the syllable "Ta" represents bashfulness, modesty, self-esteem and other such traits which are the characteristics of women. Shyness is a predominant trait in women. They attach great value to their honour and reputation. It is because of these sacred qualities that her "Tamasic" aspect is significant. The common view regarding the "Tamasic" quality does not apply to them. The third quality symbolized by the syllable "Ra" is Rajas. Such qualities as sacrifice and high-mindedness in women reflect the Rajasic aspect of their nature. When necessary, women will be prepared even to sacrifice their lives to safeguard their honour. Without regard to the difficulties and troubles they may encounter, women are ready to make any sacrifice to protect their honour and self-respect. When the "Tamasic" elements attempt to subvert the Satvic qualities, they are ready to combat and vanquish them.

The term "Devi" thus represents the Divine Power which has taken the Rajasic form to suppress the evil forces and protect the Satvic qualities. When the forces of injustice, immorality and untruth have grown to monstrous proportions and are indulging in a death dance, when selfishness and self-interest are rampant, when men have lost all sense of kindness and compassion, the Atmic principle, assuming the form of Shakti (energy/ power), taking on the Rajasic quality, seeks to destroy the evil elements. This is the inner meaning of the Festival. When the Divine Goddess is in dreadful rage assumes a fearful form, to pacify the dreaded Goddess, her feminine children offer worship to Her with red kumkum (sacred powder). The Goddess seeing the blood-red kumkum at Her feet, feels assured that the wicked have been vanquished and assumes Her benign form. The inner meaning of the worship of "Devi" with red kumkum is that thereby the Goddess is appeased. During the ten days of the (Navaratri and) Dasara, the demons in the form of wicked qualities have been routed. Rakshasas (demons) do not mean demonic beings. Arrogance is a demon. Bad thoughts are demons". Sai Baba. SS, 11/91, pp. 284 & 285

Forms And Manifestations Of Shakti

"During these sacred nine days (Navaratri), people go through the sacred texts such as Devi Bhagavatam, Ramayana and Mahabharata. People also worship the deities Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Goddess Gayatri is the presiding deity of our senses. Savitri is the presiding deity of speech. All these three are within the same Principle of Truth. Gayatri Mantra begins with 'Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah'. 'Bhuh' means materialization (Body); 'Bhuvah' means Vibration (Life Principle); Svaha means Radiation (Atma).

During these nine days, Goddess Shakti (Energy Principle) is worshipped. Truth, righteousness, peace, forgiveness are all expressions of the Principle of Shakti. Truth is the primal cause. There is nothing other than this. All faculties of energy are present in this Truth. So, consider Truth as your mother and follow it. The Vedas proclaim, 'Satyam Vada; Dharmam Chara', which means speak the truth and follow the righteousness. Unfortunately, today people do not follow this. On the contrary they follow Asatya (untruth) and Adharma (unrighteousness)" Sai Baba. SS, 11/98, p. 284

Durga, Lakshmi And Saraswati Symbolize Three Potencies

"Bharatiyas (people of India) have been celebrating the Navaratri festival from ancient times as a mode of worship of Devi (the Divine as Mother). They worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati during these nine days. Who are these? They are three forms, which have fascinated man. Their esoteric significance is represented by three potencies (Shaktis). They are Karma (action), Upaasana (worship) and Jnana (wisdom). Their potencies have been given other names". Sai Baba. SS. 11/94, p. 282

"The significance of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati has to be rightly understood. Three represent three kinds of potencies in man. Ichchaa Shakti (will power), Kriyaa Shakti (the power of action) and Jnana Shakti (the power of discrimination). Saraswati is manifested in man as the power of speech (Vaak). Durga is present in the form of dynamism (the power of action). Lakshmi is manifested in the form of will power. The body indicates "Kriyaa Shakti". The mind is the repository of"Ichchaa Shakti". The Atma is "Jnana Shakti". "Kriya Shakti" comes from the body, which is material. The power that activates the body, which is inert and makes it vibrant, is "Ichchaa Shakti". The power that induces the vibrations of'khchaa Shakti" is "Jnana Shakti" which causes radiation (of energy). These three are represented by the Mantra "OM Bhur-Bhuvah-Svah". "Bhu" represents Bhu-loka (earth). "Bhuvah." represents the life-force (also means conscience of man), "Svah" represents the power of radiation. All the three are present in man. Thus, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati dwell in the human heart." Sai Baba. SS. 11/94. pp. 283 & 284

"The Vedas declare that whenever the mind wanders, the three worlds will be perceived. What are these three worlds? All are familiar with the pronouncements in the Gita and in the Gayatri Mantra. The three worlds are: Bhu, Bhuvah, Svah (the Bhu-loka,Bhuvar-loka and Swarga). These three are present in man: Aadibhoutika, Aadidaivika and Aadhyatmik). These three worshipped by our ancients are: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Every form is that of Durga, the deity that is associated with energy (Shakti). There is infinite power within man, power that is beyond comprehension and which is divine. But he makes no effort to recognise it. What is the power that makes the earth revolve round itself? It is not any machine or mantra. The power is within the earth itself. This energy, present in man and other objects, has been characterized as cosmic power. The sun derives its energy and effulgence from this cosmic source. It is the same cosmic source that accounts for the power of the human mind and the marvellous power of the eye to see the most distant stars." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94. p. 287 & 288

"The energy in man is a primordial power (AdiShakd). It is termed 'OM'. This power permeates the physical world (Prakriti) of matter. There is another power, which animates this material substance. This is the power of vibration. It is termed 'Prana Shakti (the Life-force). It is this Life-force which activates every part of the human body. This is termed 'Bhuvah'. Lakshmi symbolizes this power. Lakshmi is the embodiment of that power, which enables a human being to see, to hear and to do many things. Lakshmi represents the power to see what is good, to hear what is good, to speak sweet words, to entertain good thoughts and to do good deeds. The Lakshmi principle accounts for the good, happy, auspicious happening in the world. The third form of energy is symbolized by Saraswati. She is regarded as the Goddess of Speech (Vak Devata) Lakshmi is Praana Swaroopini (the embodiment of the life-force) Durga is Shakti -Swaroopini (embodiment of physical energy). (These) three in their unified expression represent the Atmic Principle." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94, p. 288

Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswati Symbolize Three Qualities

"Men are prone to exhibit Rajasic qualities like anger and hatred. They are menacing manifestations of Durga. The extolling of the Divine in song and poetry and the pleasing vibrations produced by them indicate the power of Saraswati. The pure qualities that arise in man such as compassion, love, forbearance and sympathy are derived from Lakshmi. When people worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati externally in pictures or icons, they are giving physical forms to the subtle potencies that are within them. The unfortunate predicament of man today is that he is not recognising the powers within him and developing respect for them. He goes after the external, attracted by the physical forms. The relationship between the material and the subtle has to be understood." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94, p. 284

Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswati Natural Powers

"During the Dasara festival, three goddesses - Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati -are worshipped according to certain traditional practices. Durga represents the prodigious power of nature (Prakrit-shakti). As against this power of nature is the Paraa-Shakti (the power of the spirit). When spiritual power is predominant, the power of nature is kept under control. When spiritual power is weak, the power of nature becomes predominant. This is illustrated by the example of smoke and fire. When smoke is predominant, the fire is suppressed. When the fire is blazing, the smoke vanishes. Hence, to enhance the power of spirit and limit the power of nature, man has to cultivate detachment (Vairaagya). To the extent that power of nature is under control, to that extent spiritual power grows. "Ichchaa-Shakti" is one of the of several other potencies like intellectual power, the discriminating capacity and others. To develop this "Ichchaa-Shakti" (will power), one has to worship "Devi". This calls for the cultivation of Tyaaga (detachment or renunciation). For instance, if one has a desire for various drinks, he can bring the desires under control by giving up, to begin with, the desire for one of them. Thereby the Will Power (Ichchaa-Shakti) is developed and in due course, it becomes easier to give up other desires. In Vedantic parlance this is described as "Vairaagya" (renouncing attachments). Vairaagya is not abandonment of hearth and home and retiring to a forest. It means developing godly thoughts and reducing worldly feelings. When this balanced development takes place, one acquires control over the powers of nature (Praakrita-Shakti). When these powers are got, the mental power in a person increases. Durga represents the Praakrita-Shakti and Lakshmi represents the Thought Power (Sankalpa Shakti). Vaak-Shakti (the power of speech), is represented by Saraswati. In order to acquire these three powers, various forms of worship are performed during the Navaratri festival. But prayers alone are not enough. Prayers should not be just from the lips. They should emanate from the heart. The heart (Hridaya) symbolizes the Ocean of Milk (Ksheera-saagara). When Lakshmi emerges, purity of speech follows. Whatever you speak should conform to truth." Sai Baba, SS. 12/92. pp.304 & 305.

Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswati Symbolize Mother

"Recognising one's mother as the very embodiment of all divine forces, one must show reverence to her and treat her with love. This is the true message that the Navaratri festival gives us. The Supreme Shakti manifests herself in the form of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Durga grants to us energy - physical, mental, and spiritual. Lakshmi bestows on us wealth of many kinds, not just money, but intellectual wealth, the wealth of character, and others. Even health is a kind of wealth. She grants untold riches to us. Saraswati bestows on us intelligence, the capacity for intellectual enquiry and the power of discrimination. The Navaratri festival is celebrated in order to proclaim to the world the power of these goddesses. One's own mother is a combination of all these divine beings. She provides us energy, wealth, and intelligence. She constantly desires our advancement in life. So, she represents all the three goddesses that we worship during the Navaratri festival. If the Pandavas were able to become so dear to Krishna and make their lives worthy by serving Him, it was not on account of their own merit or austerities. It was Kunti Devi's love for them that brought to them such a great fortune. Even when they had to live in the forest or in the House of Wax, she always stayed with them and prayed for their welfare. The Pandavas also reciprocated her love, and that accounts for their final victory. Lakshmana, likewise, was able to dwell in the forest with his brother Rama, serving ceaselessly, only because of his mother Sumitra's blessings". Sai Baba, SS, 11/88. p. 290

"There is no need to propitiate Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati for material prosperity, energy and worldly knowledge. If we love and adore the mother, we shall be showing our love and devotion to all these goddesses. One's mother is greater than heaven itself. Sri Rama himself declared that one's mother and motherland are greater than even heaven. The Navaratri festival teaches this profound truth. One must remember that reverence to one's own mother is one's paramount duty. If one's mother is unhappy, all expenditure one incurs and all the worship one offers in the name ofDurga, Lakshmi and Saraswati in the Navaratri festival will yield no fruit". Sai Baba, SS, 11/88. p. 291

Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswati Symbolize The Supreme Divine

"The Navaratri festival should not be observed as a festival for worshipping the consorts of Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. These goddesses symbolize divine potencies. All these potencies are derived from Vishnu. The entire cosmos is a manifestation of the myriad forms of Vishnu. People must recognise this oneness underlying the different forms. All beings breathe the same air as their life-breath. Likewise all the five basic elements are the stuff of nature. But in the Para-Tatwa (the Supreme Principle, the Divine), these do not exist. The elements are mortal. The Divine is immortal. To proceed from the mortal to the immortal, the easiest means is the cultivation of the Divine Love (Prema). The heart is like a sky wherein the clouds in the form of thoughts hide the Buddhi (the intellect) and the mind representing the sun and the moon. Vairaagya (detachment) is the means to get rid of thoughts and desires arising from them. The Devi Puja performed during Navaratri is intended to get rid of worldly attachments and divert the mind toward God. There are four different qualities in man: humanness, the animal nature, demonic nature, and divine nature. When man follows the dictates of the body, he is a prey to his animal nature. When he is subject to the vagaries of the mind, he becomes demonic. When he is following the Atma (conscience), he is manifesting his divinity. When he is governed by all the three- the body, the mind and the Atma, he is human". Sai Baba, SS, 12/92, p. 305

"Vishnu pervades the cosmos as His body. All things in the cosmos are limbs of the body of Vishnu. Hence, no one should have any aversion to anything in the universe. He should not hate anyone, because the same Divine is present in you and in everything in the universe. The cosmos has three forms: the gross, the subtle and the casual. The physical universe represents the gross form. The subtle form is the mind, and subtler than the mind is the Atma". Sai Baba, SS. 11/92. p. 270

Lakshmi Puja

"Let me tell you frankly, I do not like this Lakshmi Puja, which people do, expecting to grow rich and accumulate wealth. They even speak ofDhana-Lakshmi and special Stotras to propitiate her. Lakshmi or wealth accrues by fair means as well as foul. Money is earned by gambling, by various forms of deceit, by highway robbery itself, by high and low, by all and sundry. Worship Lakshya (goal), I shall appreciate you. Keep the Lakshya, the goal of expanding your love till it embraces all beings, till it sees every being as your own self. Keep it ever steady before your mind's eye, then Lakshmi will, other own accord, favour you to the extent necessary for realising the goal. Never doubt that. Never falter at that." Sai Baba. SSS. Vol. III. p. 35

Significance Of Tripura-Sundari Puja

"During the Navaratri festival, Tripurasundari is worshipped. Unfortunately, from ancient times people have been observing only the external forms of worship without understanding the inner significance of these festivals. The entire cosmos is a temple. The Lord pervades the cosmos. Nature (Prakriti) teaches the spiritual truth about Navaratri. Realise the love of Sai through spiritual practice (Sadhana). The Lord has to be realised through Sadhana. Sadhana does not mean adoring God in a particular place or in a particular form. It means thinking of God in all that you do wherever you may be. It may be asked whether this is possible. The answer is that it is possible by dedicating every action to God". Sai Baba, SS. 11/92. pp. 270 & 271

Significance Of Anga-Arpana Puja

"During Navaratri there is a form of worship called Angaarpana Puja. In this form of worship, all the limbs of the body are offered to the Divine in a spirit of surrender (Sharanagati). Surrender means offering everything to the Divine and giving up the idea of separation between oneself and the Divine. There can be no true surrender if there is a sense of separation. There must be conviction that it is the same Divine who dwells in all beings (Ekam Vasi Sarvabhuta-antaraatma). In the performance of Anga-Arpana Puja, there is a form of self-deception. When a devotee says: "Netram Samarpayaami"(I offer my eyes to the Lord) and offers only a flower to the Lord, he is indulging in a kind of deception. The proper thing would be to say that he is offering a flower. Actually Mantras like "Netram Samarpayaami" arc intended to indicate that one is using his eyes only to see God. The real significance of the Mantra is that you think of the Divine whatever you see or do. Therefore, the true meaning of Anga-arpana puja is to declare that you offer all your limbs in the service of the Lord. This means that whatever work you do should be done as an offering to God. Now-a-days selfishness is rampant among devotees and they love God, not for God's sake but to get their selfish desires fulfilled. As long as selfishness prevails, the Divine cannot be understood". Sai Baba, SS, 11/92. p. 271

Significance Of Aayudha Puja

"The Navaratri festival is observed by contemplating on God for ten days, cleansing one's self of all the impurities to experience the Divinity within. The penultimate day of the festival is dedicated to what is termed 'Aayudha Puja' (worship of weapons). The weapons to be worshipped are the divine powers in man. When the Divine is worshipped in this way, one is bound to progress spiritually." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94, p. 291

"Today is Ashtami. Ayudha Puja is performed on this day. What is the significance of this Ayudha Puja? After Mahishasura and other demons were slain by Chamundeshwari, there was no more use other weapons. So, the weapons were kept aside and worshipped. The Ayudha Puja is being celebrated since ancient times. But of what use arc such weapons to us? In fact, our weapons are Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema. Prema is more powerful than hydrogen and atom bombs of today. Why worry when such power is within us." Sai Baba, SS, 6/2001. p. 191

Significance Of Using Kumkum For Worship

"During the Navaratri festival, for the purpose of eradicating one's demonic tendencies, the deities are worshipped with Kumkum (sacred red powder). The red powder is a symbol of blood. The meaning of this worship is offering one's blood to the Lord and receiving in return the gift of peace from the Lord." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94. p. 290

Devi' Compassion And Grace

Among the many lessons driven home to the students in Brindavan by Bhagavan Baba in His evening discourses in April, 1997, in Trayee Brindavan', one was concerned with the need for firm determination on the part of a devotee to earn the grace of the Lord. Bhagavan related an episode from the life of Adi Shankara as a young lad.

"The great Acharya was barely four years old at the time. His father, a devout scholar, used to offer daily worship to Goddess Raajeshwari every morning. Meditating before the Goddess with closed eyes, he would offer a bowl of cow's milk to her. When he opened his eyes after meditation, he would find that bowl was only half-full, the other half having been accepted as an offering by the Goddess. One day, he had to go to a neighbouring village for three days. He told his wife to arrange worship of the Goddess in the customary manner with the offering of milk, with the young Shankara deputizing him in the worship. In accordance with his father's instructions, the young lad sat in front of the Goddess in the sanctum and performed the prescribed ritual. After meditation, when he opened his eyes, he was astonished to see that the bowl of milk offered to the Goddess remained full. He felt sad and cried out: 'Divine Mother! What wrong have I done? I cannot bear this punishment. Please show your grace on me as you did for my father.' He prayed intensely for some time with closed eyes. When he opened his eyes he saw that the bowl was now totally empty. All the milk had gone. He was in distress again and cried out: "Devi! You have consumed all the milk. Where is our share of the Prasadam? If we are denied this, what mother will say and what will others think? I will not leave this place till the bowl is refilled.' In response to fervent prayers, the Goddess spoke: "Dear child! When the river has joined the river, how can it be redirected? Shankara said: 'Nobody will believe me when I say that no milk was left in the bowl after my worship. They may think that I drank all of it. I cannot face them. Devi! Without your Prasad, I will not leave this place. I will lay down my life at your Feet.'' Swami concluded this moving account of the episode with the following finale: "Devi Raajeshwari's heart melted on hearing the young boy's appeal. She took the bowl and poured her Divine breast-milk into it and gave it to the young devotee.' The compassion of the Divine, Swami said, has no limits." Sai Baba. SS. 6/97. p. 153

How To Celebrate Navaratri?

"The Navaratri festival should be used as an occasion to examine one's own nature whether it is human, animal, or demonic, and strive to transform the animal nature into the human, and divinise the human nature. Wisdom cannot be acquired from outside. It has to be got through inward Sadhana". Sai Baba, SS, 11/92, p. 271

Sai's Message On Navaratri

"The Navaratri festival should not be observed as a festival for worshipping the

consorts of Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. These goddesses symbolize Divine potencies. All these potencies are derived from Vishnu. The entire cosmos is a manifestation of the myriad forms of Vishnu. People should recognise the oneness underlying the different forms. All beings breathe the same air as their life-breath. Likewise, all the basic elements are common to all. These elements are the stuff of nature. But in the Paratatwa (the Supreme Principle, the Divine), these do not exist. The elements are mental. The Divine is immortal. To proceed from'the mortal to the Immortal, the easiest means is the cultivation of the Divine love." Sai Baba, SS, 12/92, p. 305

"It is essential to celebrate festivals in a sacred spirit. It is not enough to do this for only 10 days during the Navaratri festivals. It should become the rule throughout one's life, even as one draws one's life-breath till the end." Sai Baba, SS, 11/94, p. 291

Glimpses Of Navaratri Celebrations At Prasanthi Nilayam

"To celebrate the Navaratri, new (Nava) as well as nine (Nava), at Prasanthi Nilayam, is indeed a rare chance, replete with wonder and joy. For, this is the Abode of Peace, the peace that ensues when six enemies are destroyed forever. The Prasanthi Flag, which now will be hoisted, is the symbol of this consummation - the conquest by man of the six enemies and the illumination within him of the flame of wisdom installed in the Lotus of Heart. It is the Flag of Swaraj, dominion over oneself, the true independence, when you genuinely claim to be Master of the Realm most related to you." Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. VII, discourse on 12-10-69, p. 108

From the book - Festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam - An Exposition by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - Compiled and Edited by Suresh C Bhatnagar.

Dr. Robert Svoboda article: When Kali Comes to Call

Durga in Battle

Authoritarian & Enslaved Regimes and Dissolution of Negative Afflictive Influence...

2007-10-12T13:29:00.000-04:00

So-called 'Authoritarian' regimes have no power in and of themselves. Authority can only be claimed in any subject or field if there is respect, honour and truth. These regimes should rather be called 'Enslaved Regimes' - because the corrupt governmental officials and their black-plague-like influence on their military and people in society are enslaved to greed and the lust for power. Actually, it is their insecurity that is often the root of their most unspeakable acts of repression. Insecurity whips them hard because their conscience tells them constantly that their apparent 'power' and 'influence' is ephemeral and impermanent - out of desperation they act and feed flames through sadistic pursuits...the desecration of pristine forests, lakes and mountains...the raping and pillaging of villages and monasteries...the burning of texts and twisting of laws to bear even a heavier burden on the poor and the intellectuals in society. These acts are hardly 'authoritarian' or 'powerful' nor do they give glory to the motherland or fatherland.

Ink and Paper do not make a text sacred...
So why bother burning libraries in monasteries?
Flesh and blood do not threaten political status...
So why bother crippling monks and nuns?
There are no curfews for a heart that beats with compassion...
So why bother setting them...
The blessings of the Awakened Ones transcend time and space...
Why bother confiscating a picture...
Imprisoning a gem will only make it more precious...
For we all long to see its beauty...

In fact, these enslaved regimes accuse those who have the greatest love for Mother Nature of 'splitting' their country. These enslaved regimes then literally split the country and sell it off like a whore in the name of profit to anyone. In fact, enslaved regimes may include democratic countries for they support through economic endeavours and also become infected by the virus of co-dependent economic needs and desires. Every day the aarti bell rings in the stock exchange and all cheer and laugh with joy at the rising and falling of numbers flashing upon a screen...all which are dependent on consumer confidence. Many of these numbers do not properly represent the support of enslaved regimes to our minds...but they do. In fact, the American government can be tried for treason for supporting a 'communist' regime such as the 'Peoples' republic of China through their economy. In any case, the enslaved regime in China and Burma are in its death throws...the people will revolt more and more from all walks of life. Freedom to express oneself will be placed above economic growth in the long run.

Treating people who live in rural areas like sub-humans is akin to defiling your ancestors - for that is the way in which they lived and flourished in the past! Taking land from farmers and selling it to corporations is sacrilegious to the core philosophy of communism. It is not a coincidence that HH Karmapa and HH Dalai Lama chose to be born in such a society in these modern times. These hypocritical actions will be the downfall very, very shortly.

Blind Rapers of Sacred Land and compassionate vessels...
Beware the Vajra that now descends on you!!!
No one can undo your impure actions...
...they will come to haunt you when you become aware of the spiritual path...
All are on the path to Liberation...
Behold the Dharma that will unite the land...
Behold the Dharma that will make all prosper...
Behold the Dharma that makes life a precious wish-fulfilling gem...

True power, influence and authority can only come through respect not fear, torture and shallow promises and treaties. The way the disciple completely obeys the Perfect Master, the Supreme Guru, in body, speech & mind can never be achieved through elitist oppression. This is Author-it-aryan...Noble Path of meditative and devotional practice...

The Masters will free the people from negative afflictive emotions not the military!

Proud was I plucked from the forest and offered upon the altar...
Among the images of the Masters, I sat bestowing beauty and divine fragrance...
Incense, money and tears accompanied me on my enthronement...
The morning, afternoon and evening prayers I lasted...
Then beginning to wilt, my divine glow waned...
My good deeds exhausted...blemishes appeared on the moon...
Thrown from my altar-throne vase...I was swept away with the dust and filth...
To merge with Mother Earth once more...
There the Masters remain untouched, pure...
With compassionate smiles and mudras, detached and unaffected...
They bless me still...

From henceforth the shakti of the Tibetan people, Burmese people and all persecuted peoples will increase...the noble and compassionate ones will begin to free these enslaved regimes...

May there be peace in Tibet! May there be peace in Burma! May there be peace in Africa! May there be peace in China! May there be peace in Sri Lanka!
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti...
Om Mani Padme Hum...
Om Mani Pema Hung...

His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa: Global Oneness Interview

Give Peace a Dance...

2007-09-18T11:39:00.000-04:00

The substratum of all creation is Love...within each atom is Atmic principle...within every heart is the Lord of Lord enshrined...We often forget that the Lord is ever present in our whirlwind of thoughts and desires...we generally only come to Divine in our most stressful moments or when we urgently desire something...The Lord is always there and knows what you want and need before the prayer has even begun to formalise...

It is for this reason that in Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna says that even a leaf, flower, fruit and water offered with heartfelt love will suffice for an offering...as Sri Yogananda has written in His commentary on the Gita...this offering is sufficient for very few Self-Realised Yogis exist in the world to offer themselves completely...of course, the leaf, flower, fruit and water can be made into symbolic offerings for something deeper...for example...

Oh Lord, I humbly offer the fruits of my karma...
Oh Lord, I humbly offer the flower of my ever-blossoming love...
Oh Lord, please accept the leaf of my limited knowledge plucked from the tree of wisdom...
Oh Lord, please take the water of my tears of joy and sorrow - and transform them into the waters of Ganga...

...this is but one example of how one may use symbolic heartfelt offerings in place of or in conjuction with the literal objects prescribed in texts...Just recently HH Karmapa forbade all of His followers from offering alcohol and meat for Mahakala and Kalachakra rituals as literally prescribed in the texts...He said unless you are at the advanced state whereby Mahakala actually appears and partakes in the offerings or you have the siddhi of restoring life to the 'dead' then one is merely satisfying ones own desire for the objects themselves...

In anycase, the offerings must be done with heartfelt compassion and love for all!

Often, we feel alone, melancholy and forgotten by the world...we see that our friends and family are too busy with their lives to feel your pain...yet the Lord is there in the heart and feels everything...it is when we die and leave this world that suddenly our friends and family are affected profoundly by our existence on the earthly plane...their love becomes more fully manifest...yet the love was always there...if we shall commit suicide...there will be some who condemn the act...but more will feel great loss...Too often we do not know how much we affect our own surroundings...even trees that you passed by everyday will notice your departure...even birds that watched you run to work from the telephone poles notice that you are no longer...

Everything is interconnected in the universe...not even one grass can move without the will of the Lord...like a complex webpage that is designed with flash and java...even the addition or omission of a single letter or symbol will result in the web-page not appearing properly...it is the same with the universe...

Look at the waves in the ocean, lake or sea...there are bigger waves that have more power and grace...then there are little ones that rise and fall hardly for a moment...both are equally important and the ocean would not be what it is without either one...

Whatever love and compassion we have fostered in our lives up until this moment...we must radiate this Love to all...there is no such thing as anti-radiation...and with so many harmful vibes radiating in the world now...we must radiate love and peace...just as there are suicide bombers who crave a heaven for themselves and their exclusive elite sect...we must detonate love when we are in a crowded market, street or metro...and envision an abode for all to have eternal peace and rest...

The Elements are gifts from the Lord so that the Pure Consciousness can express itself through Kriya-tion...The Elements can be envisioned as Gods & Goddesses, Kings & Queens, Buddhas & Bodhisattvas or scientifically as divinely complex and mysterious phenomenon...

"Water is Life"...Praises to Shiva for carrying Ganga Ma in His Locks!!!
Hara Hara Gangey Maya ki JAI!!!

Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath Earthdance Message

Dr. Emoto Earthdance Message

Happy Janmashtami!!!

2007-09-03T13:56:00.000-04:00

And the pinnacle of mysticism reaches its zenith in the complete absorption and union with the Supreme Reality...and what a celebration Janmashtami is in relation to the divine outflow of devotion for Sri Krishna!!...Verily, thousands of years have past since the Avatar's lotus feet blessed the earth...and even still millions around the world dance and sing in ecstasy in recalling His Supreme Magical past times...reflecting upon His teachings and asking for His grace...

The divine life of Sri Krishna gives endless amount of reflection upon how to deal with and transform every relationship we may have in our lives...between ourselves and the gods...between ourselves and our Supreme Self...between ourselves and Nature including our own nature of thought and action...between ourselves and the Guru...

His life is a mandala of teachings upon the perfection of yoga through taking any chosen relationship and fusing the Triple Divine Jewels of Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga in one holistic Path of Enlightenment...

He teaches Kriya Yoga to His Kriya-tion!!! For it is through Kriya Yoga that He, Himself, has fashioned, manifested the manifold universes...

We emerged through the independent co-origin and eventual intermingling of the three gunas and skandhas...We are are held suspended in the matrix-like, kaleidoscopic winds of Karma...and the winds of Karma are held within the Pure Bliss Space of Emptiness...

Like the Supreme Guru...Sri Krishna is the Attractor...the Magnetic Pull...the source of Beauty...look at the world and whatever you find attractive know that that object of attraction is but a mere fraction of His Glory seen through the see-through silken cloth of Prakriti...

And it is this aspect of glimpsing Him through Nature that drives the devotee into madness of divine intoxication...When we hear a melody in any respective genre that strikes a chord with us that makes our eyes upturn into the third eye in ecstasy...we cannot go anywhere else for there is nothing to grasp...This feeling occurs over and over again as everything, every experience reminds us of Sri Krishna...then we twirl like whirling dervishes out of suffering merging samsara with nirvana...Then it is our duty to share our glowing heart with the world...to transmit our ananda to the world at large...

Jai Shri Krishna!!!

Hari Bol!!!

Sri Krishna Govinda Hari Murari...Hey Natha Narayana Vasudeva!!!

Great Films in Cyberspace...

2007-08-17T16:08:00.001-04:00

Sri Sathya Sai Baba - 80th 'Birthday' Discourse

HH Swami Chinmayanana discourse on Kaivalyopanishad in 1975

His Majesty, Emperor Selassie I Speaks to the Press

Sathya Sai Baba: His Life and His Mission

Sathya Sai Baba: The Universal Teacher

Satyajit Ray Documentary on Rabindranath Tagore

Sathya Sai Baba: Pure Love

Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion

His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia visits Jamaica

Ethiopia: His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I "Talaku meri"

H.I.M. Lion of Judah

Concert for Bangladesh Part 1

Concert for Bangladesh Part 2

Space is the Place

The Adventures of Goopy and Bagha (1968) - Ghost Dance sequence

The Secret Life of Plants (music by Stevie Wonder)

US vs John Lennon

Yellow Submarine

Let It Be

Help!

Magical Mystery Tour

Richie Havens @ Woodstock

Dr. Emoto and the Y Factor...Sacred Water

Jai Bharat Ma!

2007-08-15T17:25:00.000-04:00

In honor of Mother India here are some poems by the Premavatar Sri Paramhansa Yoganandaji...

My India

Not where the musk of happiness blows,
Not where darkness and fears never tread;
Not in the homes of perpetual smiles,
Nor in the heaven of a land of prosperity
Would I be born
If I must put on mortal garb once more.

Dread famine may prowl and tear my flesh,
Yet would I love to be again
In my Hindustan.
A million thieves of disease
May try to steal the body’s fleeting health;
And clouds of fate
May shower scalding drops of searing sorrow –
Yet would I there, in India,
Love to reappear!

Is this love of mine blind sentiment
That sees not the pathways of reason?
Ah, no! I love India,
For there I learned first to love God
and all things beautiful.
Some teach to seize the fickle dewdrop, life,
Sliding down the lotus leaf of time;
Stubborn hopes are built
Around the gilded, brittle body-bubble.
But India taught me to love

The soul of deathless beauty in the dewdrop
and the bubble –
Not their fragile frames.
Her sages taught me to find my Self,
Buried beneath the ash heaps
Of incarnations of ignorance.
Though many a land of power, plenty, and science
My soul, garbed sometimes as an Oriental,
Sometimes as an Occidental,
Travelled far and wide,
Seeking Itself;
At last, in India, to find Itself.

Though mortal fires raze all her homes
and golden paddy fields,
Yet to sleep on her ashes and dream immortality,
O India, I will be there!
The guns of science and matter
Have boomed on her shores
Yet she is unconquered.
Her soul is free evermore!
Her soldier saints are away,
To rout with realization’s ray
The bandits of hate, prejudice, and patriotic selfishness;
And to burn the walls of separation dark
Between children of the One, One Father.
The Western brothers by matter’s might
have conquered my land;

Blow, blow aloud, her conch shells all!
India now invades with love,
To conquer their souls.

Better than Heaven or Arcadia
I love Thee, O my India!
And thy love I shall give
To every brother nation that lives.
God made the earth;
Man made confining countries
And their fancy-frozen boundaries.
But with newfound boundless love
I behold the borderland of my India
Expanding into the world.
Hail, mother of religions, lotus, scenic beauty,
And sages!
Thy wide doors are open,
Welcoming God’s true sons through all ages.
Where Ganges, woods, Himalayan caves, and men dream God –
I am hallowed; my body touched that sod.

*blognote: These were the last word uttered by the Master before merged into the Infinite.

If I Visit India

After four and ten years, when I behold Thee, My India,

I shall roll in the dust at Thy Feet,

And I shall behold the scenes where childhood laughed, wept, and dreamed.

And I shall weep for the familiar flowers of faces that are plucked from the vase of my gaze,

And I shall stand, as of yore, with folded hands under the temple of sheoli leaves,

Where the tree willingly dropped blossoms on the altar of the grass,

Where my tears commingled with the fragrant, devoted dew

To wash the feet of Thy Light.

And I shall go places where I was not allowed to go before

Because I was a little boy.

And I shall touch the sod where the faded footprints of my beloved Gurus and parents sleep,

And I shall see the dear faces made sad by my forgetfulness and the despair of never seeing me again.

They will gleam with the joy of seeing me come to life once more.

I shall return to those places where I wept for God and

Waited long for Him, expectant, doubt-filled, sorrow-filled,

Anguish-filled, despair-filled, only to laugh and wildly dance

In ecstasy of unexpected meetings, when I least anticipated His Presence.

Ah, those dreams, beloved dreams, forgotten, darling dreams,

I shall dream again in the sweet company of India.

India and I played, wept, and laughed together.

India and I will play, laugh, weep, pray, and dance in ecstasy together again.

I shall behold every little, dark, forgotten niche

Where memory will rekindle the light of faded candles of experiences,

And I shall behold the same sky and moon,

And embrace the same breeze laden with the fragrant living God

Blossomed into Being in the garden of devotion of the great Masters.

And if I see India once more,

I shall blush to hear again from Her Lips

Of my first love, of my love for the Most Beloved of all.

*blognote: Inner Culture, May 1935. The Master apparently said that He would reincarnate again in the future within the Himalayas and spend His whole incarnation in the bosom of their divinity with some of His close disciples.

The Genius of India

Here are some videos inspired by the words of another great Master and Rishi, Sri Aurobindo

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

When the Three 7's Clash!

2007-07-06T23:11:00.000-04:00

Well in this area of the earthly sphere we are about three quarters of an hour from the 7-7-7 day...So from the prophet Joseph Hill's Two Sevens Clash to the Three...

Numer0logically speaking the seventh digit is extremely esoteric in virtually all ancient traditions...

In Judaism...7 is pronounced as 'Sheva'...same as 'Shiva'...representing the Immortal principle that is the source of all auspiciousness and the firmament of Creation...In Sanskrit 7 is 'Sapta' and the Sapta Rishis are the 7 Great Seers whom are the Supreme wire-pullers of Creation...It is they who draw the sacred Creation Mandalas on the Face of the Waters as per the will of the Lord God...

The Union of Shiva Shakti is the Supreme Liberation and it was worshiped all over the world...in Mecca the Black Stone is a Lingam united with a Yoni...it is a sacred Shakti Pith of the Goddess and the murtis all surrounded it...even now upon the columns you can see Ganesh...and the angels do parikrama with the pilgrims still to this very day...

Allakh Niranjan! Adesh!

"Shiva is Allah, Allah is Shiva"
Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi

*blognote: 'Two Sevens Clash' is a direct link from a 'silence is a rhythm too' blogentry

Divine Consciousness....The Face of the Waters...

2007-07-04T21:55:00.000-04:00

"Consciousness - One's only God"
Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath

The currents of thought within the timeless stream Consciousness are like the sacred Mother Ganga...She takes whatever you offer without discrimination...the dhiya offerings of live light and ghee, camphor or oil...the marigolds and other numerous majestic flower offerings...the offerings of incense...of the remains of saint and sinner alike...the waste products of body, mind and soul...the toxic wastes of human endeavor...She carries it all to vast ocean...

Like our thoughts so will the apparent nature of our mind and the avenues for expression for the Consciousness...Consciousness is innately pure...beyond time and space...it is immortal yet ever new and unique...words of the Guru are the pure teaching of pure Consciousness...and we can only perceive that purity if we attune ourselves with the Clear-Light Mind of the Master...otherwise we are blessed by the words of the Guru, however we understand not the full totality of the implications of the teaching and how to pass on the exact vibrations imparted by the Master to others...

As one develops control over the mind and the senses...the will and intent can have increased clarity when directing awareness to any given object/subject presented before the third-eye...Here we can see the Masters in the practice of the transference of consciousness..the Christ transfered the spirits possessing an individual into the swines and the demonic swines ran into the waters and drowned...Milarepa also transferred a portion of His consciousness to a door when He was poisoned by a hypocrite who gave Milarepa offerings...the door shattered and Milarepa said, "That is only a portion of the pain this body is enduring"...Marpa also demonstrated transference of consciousness by leaving His body lifeless and entering various animals that had just died...He also transferred the consciousness of His beloved son to a bird when his son met with an untimely death...

The Masters can also transfer their enlightened mind...their Divine Consciousness...to their worthy disciple...a worthy disciple may not be the most senior or the most knowledgeable of the group...only the one that is purest in heart and best suited to ensure the lineage carries on in that particular age...

When one reads the Ganga Mahamudra Upadesa of Sri Tilopa...one must realise that the great Master Tilopa bestowed the name Ganga to the teaching to not only pay homage to the sacred river upon whose banks the Realized Masters have meditated for aeons regardless of their religio-socio-economic backgrounds, but also to denote that Ganga symbolises pure Consciousness as Sri Yoganandaji has said in His most excellent commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, 'God Talks With Arjuna'.

Ganga Ma

She carries offerings of flowers & love...
ashes & mortal remains...
and pollution & filth
with equinimity...
Karma Yogini...
Consciousness...
Thoughts are offerings that float upon the surface...
The thoughts of attraction and repulsion must be transcended...

Oh! Ganga Ma! We do aarati in the morning and evening...
But the Sun does aarati all day...
The Universe wants to worship you...
All want to give thanks and be cleansed...
You bestow deep inner peace...
You bring happiness that's sweet and birthless...
Your waves and current may dance...
but your grace and Love remain firm and unshakeable...
Praises to You, Ganga Ma!
Make your heart a garland for the Lord's Lotus Feet!
Hari Om...Hara, Hara...
Hari Om...Hari Om...
To know you've been flowing since the time of Sri Krishna...
and even before Sri Rama Chandraji...
It's such a joy to reflect upon you...
Jai Gomukh! Jai Gangotri! Jai Ganga Maya!
Hara Gangeya Mayee Ki...Jai!
The Rishis adore you...

Jai Sai Geeta!!!

2007-05-24T16:52:00.001-04:00

Rest In Peace Sai Geeta!!!

I remember waiting for Sri Sathya Sai Baba's darshan on His 75th 'birthday' celebration.

I had read about Sai Geeta and had always wanted to see her. Then right at the appointed time the doors opened and lo and behold it was Sai Geeta all annointed and covered in silver and gold ornaments...then Sri Sathya Sai Baba followed in His chariot...what a divine vision!

I know that Sai Geeta will do great work for humanity in the future!

*blognote: Direct video stream linked from SaiCast.org

Maya - The Powerful Hypnotic Mother Who Measures our Sincerity

2007-05-21T12:05:00.000-04:00

The concept of Maya has been in the human psyche for thousands of years. Invariably, over such a period of reflection, absorption, blind belief and partially blind belief, there is little surprise to see that in the present day there are a plethora of perceptions on what Maya exactly is.

Maya as 'Measurement'

Dr. Robert Svoboda, who spoke just recently on Tantra and Akasha: Hive-minds & Henotheism and who wrote an article on this 'topic' in latest edition of the most phenomenal publication Namarupa, brought it to my attention that the Sanskrit term 'Maya' comes from the root that means 'to measure'. This measurement can take on many forms - 'measuring' time, commodities, space, money, our intellect, spiritual attainments, our wealth, our health or how physically endowed we are. This is a seemingly innate tendency to 'measure' and attribute a specific 'value' to that measurement.

Maya in Time and Space

I had often thought of the Mayan civilization when I heard the word 'Maya' and it seems like the association goes beyond a wrathful architect mentioned in the ancient epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. For the Mayans were indeed great architects but also experts in measuring time and their predilection for it has even baffled or rather inspired modern day astrologers and astronomers. The fact that their calender abruptly ends at the winter solstice of 2012 have caused many to foreshadow this as an omen of either auspiciousness (the end of time and the sentiment to go beyond time) or dire consequence (the dreaded earth changes and a potential polar shift reversal).

The wisdom of the Mayans has inspired some (like Jose Arguelles) to dig deeper and as a result bring to light the matrix of which their religio-philosophical astrological calculations rest upon. The word 'matrix' itself is very much related to 'maya' for both contain the root 'ma'. Etymologically speaking 'matrix' is seen in Latin as 'womb', 'pregnant animal' and 'source, origin' from mater 'mother'. Matrix seen as sense of "place or medium where something is developed" is first recorded 1555; as a sense of "embedding or enclosing mass" was first recorded 1641. Matrix as a logical sense of "array of possible combinations of truth-values" is attested from 1914 (taken from the Online Etymology Dictionary). Here we see how a term can spiral to encompass and embody a number of manifold concepts - mater is just as much 'mother' as 'matter'. Anyways, language when imbued with a mystical insight whether it be Latin, Mayan, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic or modern-day English can always be considered a matrix in the mathematical sense because the root of language itself is a form of 'measurement' of the universe through a combination of sound and script with intent and meaning. Hence, when one reads the Zohar it need not always be in a linear fashion.

In any case, measurement is a preoccupation that can indeed 'veil' one from the bigger picture. A family so caught up in paying the rent, bills/taxes and acquiring food can hardly muster sympathy for another family in a similar plight or worse - let alone climate change. Hence, the 'illusion' of measurement causes us to forget that that which we are measuring is in fact a temporary exercise in giving 'value' to the sum of the parts and negating the whole from which they arise. In Jainism there are four kashayas ('passions') which obstruct ones path to self-realization; maya - 'deceitfulness', mana - 'ego', lobha - 'greed', krodha - 'anger'. Vedic, Buddhist and Sikh scriptures speak of five obstructions to sadhana as kam - 'lust', krodh - 'anger', lobh - 'greed', moh - 'attachment', ahankar - 'ego'. In most traditions these four or five impediments to awakening are further categorized or elaborated upon to form a more precise description of how one is not living harmoniously. Maya as 'deceitfulness' is definitely the cancerous root that is threatening all forms of life on the planet - it is the placing of one's own 'measurements' above all others. This is having catastrophic consequences the world over because this world can only give fully and unconditionally when there is a harmonious balance between our consumption and the waste-products therefrom.

Maya as Illusion & Maya as Mother Nature

Maya is often spoken of as an 'illusion' or 'veil of delusion'. The negative perception of Maya as something to be feared and something we must be free from is entrenched in various schools of thought (of a predominantly monastic bias) is contrasted with ways of life that view Maya as Maya-Shakti - the All Powerful, Forever Merciful and Compassionate. Here, Maya is not resting upon the Spirit or Truth like oil on water, but rather like a wife in union with her husband - Shiva-Shakti. Maya-Shakti as our Mother shows us and teaches us who our True Father is (Shiva).

Nevertheless, Maya as 'ignorance', 'illusion' or 'delusion' is a state that can be likened to being so overwhelmed consciously or sub-consciously by the currents of Nature through the three aggregates (Gunas) of which Nature manifests: sattva guna, rajo guna, tamo guna. Sattva guna generally denotes that which is inherently pure and is associated with clarity, that which is 'good' or unblemished, 'white'. Rajo guna is generally associated with activity and the seemingly endless desire to act and achieve ones desires, to 'grasp', to take, to conquer and vanquish. Tamo guna generally denotes 'inertia', darkness, ignorance. So, according to the view that Maya is 'ignorance' or 'illusion which keeps us in a 'darkened' lost and aimless state, then from this perspective Maya is or puts one into a predominantly tamo guna state. However, this does not seem the case if we see that guna can mean 'string' or 'thread' just as it is seen as a 'quality'. From the point of view of Tantra, we see that these gunas which in many peoples lives serve as either noose are at the very least nuisance, are actually the 'thread' that is inextricably part of the warp and weft to create the cloth of Creation - the Mandala of the Rishis to express the Divinity of the Lord of Lords. As we have seen, the pearls of enlightened perception are strung upon the pure necklace of the Lord - Pure~Bliss~Consciousness.

Swami Tejomayananda, spiritual head of the Chinmaya Mission, once said during a Bhagavad Saptah in Siddhabari, "Maya-Shakti makes the impossible possible" (the opposite is true, of course, to the one who is not attuned to their Inner Soul. From the perspective of the Masters who are self-realized and remain unfazed by the workings of the world and live according to its natural laws, everything is possible! Now and again, they may exhibit what may deemed 'miraculous' but even these supernatural power are expressions of their mastery over the senses and the perfection of subtle workings of samkalpa ('will' and 'intent') harmonized with the grand-play of Providence. The Masters, Prophets, Rishis...the living Gods and Goddesses always give encouragement to humanity and make it known that no one is totally lost. As the great Mahavatar Babaji has said, "There is no Saint without a past, and there is no Sinner without a future".

Maya as Beyond Attributes, Unknowable and Pure Love

The expression of Absolute Truth through the vehicle of a human body will carry with it the tone of one who is not measured by time or space - the body. When great saints like Sri Anandamoyi Ma say "I shall be the same - though the dance of creation change around me in the hall of eternity" or when a Sufi mystic exclaims "I am Allah!" in a heightened state of God-union induced ecstasy - they are expressing their inherent divinity that is beyond all measurement...beyond all rationalisation and logic...beyond empirical knowing and speculation. There are countless saints in India that have proclaimed this to humanity either in a packed arena or in a quiet forest hermitage. Just as the Divinity in the human body may express its formless, eternal nature so may Gods and Goddesses in a pantheon. It is for this reason that the Vedic religion sees the Absolute God-head through a kaleidoscope of dieties. There are Gods, Goddesses, demi-gods, semi-gods, hemi-gods and a plethora of levels of spiritual attainment that a spiritual aspirant may attain to in a seemingly inconceivable amount of universes.

Vasudeva Sarvam Idam

Getting back to the concept of Maya as 'measurement' we find that all linear investigation breaks down even with scientific analysis. Let us look at the numerical system. When we count 1, 2, 3, 4, etc...We cannot say that 1 is 2. Yet between 1 and 2 there is infinity in the form of decimals or fractions. Between every numeric is infinity. Similarly, sound as any letter or word is the infinite AUM. The idea that we are separate bodies is erroneous for our bodies are composed of the same matter and the light of our consciousness reflects Solar Source of Undifferentiated Consciousness. In this context We are ONE.

Mother-Maya as the Compassionate Witness

When we understand that Maya is Mother and then we realize that we are not 'measured' for what we have attained or amassed...but rather we are 'measured' in our sincerity in dealing with each and every situation as honestly as we can. There is no way to trick Maya-Ma for She is aware of our most subtle thought currents. In this way, the world, itself, shows indications of how we are progressing on the spiritual path. Animals will be joyous in your presence, the plants and trees will dance when you turn the corner, the flame will speak to you and tell you some ancient stories or let you know how your loved ones are doing in this world and beyond.

When the Buddha Sakyamuni 'attained' enlightenment He was tested by the wrathful Mara, the so-called 'Evil One', and Mara demanded the Buddha to show him some kind of sign or proof that the Buddha is indeed Enlightened. Mara sought to make things uncomfortable for the Buddha through the means of wizardry. Eventually, after the Buddha being more or less unresponsive to any type of threat to His tranquil equinimity - the Buddha eventually touched the Earth and said, "The Mother Earth Bears the Witness". And the Earth shook and there were many strange signs in the sky. Here we see Maya as Mother Nature actually being a Supreme Witness and in the case of the Buddha Sakyamuni it is especially noteworthy that His mother's name was also Maya - one who is said to be the self-same Mother for all the Buddhas.

When Marpa, the great Tibetan 'Translator', sought out His Guru, Naropa, He eventually found Naropa reclining in a hammock naked in a dense forest. Marpa in an ecstatic state of devotion gave pranams and offered gold (some say gold dust others say a gold mandala) to His Guru. Naropa declined the offering several times saying that He had no need or desire for gold. Eventually, Naropa accepted the gold offering saying, "Let this be an offering to the Guru and the three Jewels" and threw it over His shoulder into the forest. Marpa although initially in bliss because the Guru had accepted the offering, then began to remember the hardships He went through to obtain the gold, and, moreover, the great devotion behind all those that offered gold. Naropa read Marpa's mind and said, "I can see that you are attached to the gold mandala offering! Here it is again!" The gold offering reappeared in the Guru's hand unspoilt and just as before. Naropa continued, "I don't need anything, for all is provided for me! This forest is my gold!" Naropa put out his leg and lightly touched his lotus feet on the forest floor. Lo and behold! The whole forest turned to gold! The leaves, the trees, the fruit, the insects, everything! It was a transmission teaching of the Wealth of 'Suchness'...the Realization of the Preciousness of Human Birth and taking Birth in the world where Buddhas expound the Dharma.

Maya can, Herself, be an indication of how one has mastered themselves. In much the same fashion as Naropa, Trailanga Swami also expressed His mastery over the senses and the Universe by the spontaneous lilas ('divine plays') that He exhibited for all to see. When one masters themselves - they master Maya. The physical sheaths that cover the soul become transformed into the most precious substances. In such state there is no samsara or nirvana

Jai Ma!

Jaya Guru Deva AUM!!!

2007-05-10T20:40:00.000-04:00

This day is a special day in the light of the Solar calender (of the Gregorian variety) for it is when Sri Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath decided to be born and help humanity with His vision of Earth Peace Through Self Peace...It is also a special day for the remembrance Sri Yukteswar who also chose such date...Their similarity is quite remarkable in some respects and although Yogiraj doesn't like people to dwell on siddhis...supernatural expressions of mastery of mind and matter...He has shown Sri Yukteswar's face in His...personally, I have seen also seen Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Chinmayananda...

In any case, we are supremely blessed when Masters choose to take birth for they are like ornaments upon the earth...they are jiva-muktis 'liberated whilst living'...They have nothing to gain from the world but inspiring people to become Self-Realized of their own Divinity and serve humanity as their larger Self...

Allakh Niranjan!!!!

Here is a great photo of Yogiraj in California doing His Hamsa Yoga Surya Yoga...Not sure who took it...many thanks for posting!!!

Also, for those of you whom haven't seen the new blessings on YouTube thanks to the great work of HamsaYogi!...you are all in for a treat...over 20 clips of Yogiraj expounding ancient truths during satsangs!!!

Sri Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath on YouTube

Wings to Freedom

2007-05-08T16:07:00.000-04:00

Here is a 24 minute clip of the film 'Wings to Freedom'...Sri Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath gives a transmission of the ancient Nath Yogis in such a direct manner that it seems to uplift one into a higher level of consciousness just by observing the video. It is incredible how the Masters can transmit through any media necessary - whether it be dreams, inner voices or direct communication through mudra (mystic sign language)/voice or the written word in its potent prosaic or poetic form. It is pure bliss to behold Him recite mystic poetry in the Himalayan Forests. This mystic poetry is some of the most direct transmissions of Truth and reflects theory and practice as fused within the very 'being' or 'non-being' of the Yogi - Wisdom and Skillful Means United...Vajrayana - 'The Lightening Path'.

THE DIVINE ALCHEMY OF KRIYA YOGA

Untie the chord of breath that binds the soul to the bodily cage

Sri Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath

The divine alchemy of Kundalini Kriya Yoga to hasten the evolution of the self-soul exercises a double action; the upward breath of Prana expands soul consciousness and the downward breath of Apana burns the seeds of past karmas before they ripen into fruit.

In the Bhagvad Gita (Ch V Verse 27-28), Yogavatar Krishna says, “The meditation expert (muni) becomes eternally free from external phenomenon by concentrating his gaze between the eyebrow; and by neutralising the uneven currents of Prana and Apana flowing within the nostrils. Such a yogi transforms his sensory mind, his intellect and frees himself from the karma of fear, anger and desire.”

There are two main currents in the body. One is that of Prana which flows from the coccyx to the point between the eyebrows. The nature of this current is soothing.

It introverts the practitioner’s attention during sleep and wakeful state, and in meditation unites the soul with the spirit in the third ventricle of the brain called the Shivanetra- third eye. The other current is that of Apana which flows from the third eye to the coccyx.

This extroverted downward flowing current distributes itself through the coccyx centre to the motor-sensory nerves. This keeps mans consciousness delusively tied to the body. The Apana current is restless and engrosses man in sensory experiences.

Kriya Yoga is a process of converting breath into life-force and realising the body as light. This pranayama arrests bodily decay connected with Apana, manifest in the exhaled breath, by fresh inhalations of life-force (Prana) distilled from the inhaled breath. In the practice of Kriya Yoga the will and imagination of the practitioner transmutes the oxygen of breath into life energy and blends it into the spiritual currents of the spine. As one inhales and exhales continuously according to the prescribed method, oxygen is quickly converted into life energy that recharges the entire body, especially the blood and the lungs with vital sustenance.

Due to the circulation of Prana and Apana, up and down the spine, positive and negative poles are established on the opposite sides of the hollow spinal tube, between the Agya Chakra and the Muladhar. The magnetic pull between the two poles brings the actual circulation of the Sushumna current, and awakens the subtle layers of the Kundalini.

Such must be the absorption that with every inhalation one becomes the cool ascending breath word of Prana, transmuting the atoms of oxygen into life energy in the spine. And with every exhalation one becomes the warm descending breath word of Apana burning carbon-dioxide and the venous blood.

This movement of Prana enables the practitioner to do away with the illusion of decay and mutation; who then realises the body to be made of lifetrons of congealed light. The body of the Kriya Yogi is recharged with extra energy distilled from the breath and energised by the tremendous dynamo of energy generated in the spine, the decay of body tissues decreases.

This ultimately makes unnecessary the blood cleansing functions of the heart. The heart pump becomes quiet owing to the non-pumping of venous blood and exhalation and inhalation of breath are evened out. The life energy unites in the currents in the spine.

The light of pure Prana scintillates from the six chakras to all the bodily cells keeping them in a spiritually magnetised condition.

Kriya Yoga teaches man to untie the cord of breath that binds the soul to the bodily cage. Thus releasing the soul to fly and expand into the super conscious skies of omnipresent spirit and come back at will into the little body cage.

No flight of fancy this but a true experience of divinity. In the shadow of words may Kriya Yoga be dimly perceived, but more beautifully, in the light of its living may it be expressed. Kriya Yoga is a way of life and much more. It is the divine alchemy, which transforms the mind and merges it into the ineffable presence of the SELF who dwells within all of us. Whether we call this presence Krishna, Christ, Shiva, Buddha or Allah is a question of mere dialect. The essential fact is becoming the Presence, becoming the peace that passes all understanding.

(taken from the Financial Express 'Faith' Section on April 22, 2007)

Solitude - Isolation vs Self-Contentment

2007-04-25T18:36:00.000-04:00

Solitude is a mystic space that one immerses oneself in ancient traditions...it is reserved for those who are on a Spirit Quest...those who want to enquire into the deepest depths of ones consciousness...unravel the question of "Who am I?"...to acquire further wisdom and skillful means via the acquisition of siddhi - attainments through tapasya (severe 'penance' or 'austerities') or highly 'potent' and often 'dangerous' ritual.

Solitude was something that one earned though grace and was generally sought after for the benefit of the community or all sentient beings. Imagine that as I write this or you read this - there are yogis deep within the earth in caves and caverns in the deepest samadhi - praying for peace on earth and harmonious living between all sentient beings. There are Rishis who are in other lokas ('worlds', 'realities', 'higher vibrational plains') that are like astral caves deep in the abyss of the creation also doing the same...they have earned the final salvation...they have earned the final 'resting in peace'...yet they shunned their private salvation and liberation and created self-made cosmos to further do their sadhana ('yogic practice') for the benefit of all.

The Prophets all went into solitude away from the haunts of men to further question the Lord, their God...to further realize their purpose...to find solutions to the problems that lay within society...to conquer the senses and be 'turners of the wheel'...to evoke a resurrection of the fundamental precepts layed down by the Rishis...to speak the gospel of Truth and awaken man in his slumber...

Today, we find that children and teenagers are given too much time alone without any foundation in meditative techniques...there is generally no guidance as to what one must reflect, contemplate or meditate upon...In the past, there was no escape from your community...whether you were bullied or not...you had to deal with it...your actions were watched and compared to the normal traditional values & precepts...children were listened to and their dreams and suggestions were considered with the same attention as their parents...Few dared to venture into the solitudes without a purpose...

Nowadays, we find - especially in the so-called 'developed' world...thousands of children and youths spending entire days without contact with society...A quiet person can slip through the cracks because he may be 'unremarkable' or of no immediate interest. They push themselves into an isolation from their family, peers and society. When the prophets sought out solitude it may have been from an existential angst, however, there was a self-contentment...there was a confidence in their message...a message that they risked their lives preaching on crowded streets and parks...They had drunk the mystic wine only gained through deep yogic meditation...
...a wine so sublime all other enjoyments in life pale in comparison...

When a mere lost child seeks solitude, it is due to isolation caused through lack of confidence or despair in finding ones place in the scheme of things - this can be argued as a good thing, however, an imagined 'solitude' where they identify with other lost children so they may be 'together alone' where the 'us versus them' paradigm is re-inforced is no longer solitude in a self-contented state, but eventual hypocritical fantasy...True solitude is not thinking of what other people have that you do not...That is festering in your own envy and jealousy...This is re-inforced by what we are conditioned to believe in society...The 'in-crowd' conditioned breeds the 'loner'conditioned...both are conditioned...both serve each other meglomania on a bourgeois plate.

It is critical that young men are not let to wander and wallow in their own morbid fantasies in isolation...whether there be a name to the condition or not...this primarily male denomination of human society is one of the greatest dangers to the community at large - primarily women and children. It is absolutely staggering to sweep across the drama of human existence and see how much suffering was wrought by a man that is not satisfied within themselves and is preoccupied with what is not in their possession - whether it be women he does not know personally or women that are seeking satisfaction elsewhere - in another or their Self. Women generally feel the existential angst once a month throughout a great portion of their lives...There is little comfort in those moments...but the recurrence shows that it is a natural cycle...in some traditional societies that is time to bond for women...because women working harmoniously together often synchronise their moons...

Depression, psychosis and alienation of an individual are the problems of the community...and the teachings of the Rishis have long foretold of tragedy that unfolds when these patterns are not dealt with through incorporating yogic meditation along with herbal medicines...When one fosters self-contentment...all the thoughts of what others have drop off in due course...

Let us look at Stephen Hawking...here we find an individual who, no doubt, may have experienced existential angst at the thought of what others have and he does not...but his introspection led him to find that he has a consciousness...a consciousness that is pure...he has honed his intellect and mental faculty to be way above average in comparison to those whom he may feel have 'more' - in terms of physical mobility and the pleasures there derived. He can be said to be completely helpless - completely dependent on modern technology and on the loving care of others...yet his brain waves and eye movements are still precious in communicating thought-provoking theories of existence and reality. Had he been born in another time or indeed in another part of the world today, he may have been seen crawling on the side of the road begging for change...muttering and fluttering incomprehensibly...There is a time and place for every 'disability' to let shine its spark of divinity...

Below we find the healing wisdom of the Rishis given by the One whom inspired their realizations and prophecy...If one deeply contemplates upon the purport we can find how violence erupts from the deluded mind and intellect...

Arjuna said:
What is it that drives a man to commit evil, Varsneya (Oh Krishna),
however reluctantly, as though propelled by force?

The Blessed Lord spoke:
It is desire, it is anger, which springs from the force of rajas
(restless dynamic activity-'centrifugal movement'),
the great devourer, the great evil: know that this is the enemy here.
This world is clouded by it as fire by smoke,
as a mirror by dust,
as an embryo by the caul.
The knowledge of the conscient is covered by this eternal enemy desire,
Kaunteya (Oh Arjuna), as by an insatiable fire.
The senses, the mind and the intellect (what one may think is his spirit) are said to be its lair:
by means of them it clouds knowledge
and leads into delusion the one within the body (the embodied Soul - the jivatman).
Therefore, Oh great warrior, first control/purify your senses,
then kill off that evil which destroys insight and knowledge.
~Bhagavad Gita 3:36-43

Bhagavad Gita Tibetan Tantra Synthesis

2007-04-21T16:42:00.000-04:00

Tantra is oft translated as a 'loom' or 'weave'. This perception of tantra is definitely highlighting the nature of bliss/enlightenment/bliss-void consciousness as inextricably interconnected with the very fabric of the cosmos/universe(s)/Creation. This definition further brings us to the Tibetan translation of tantra as 'rgyud' which can, in turn, be translated into English as 'the thread upon which beads are strung'.

Each bead is an experience - confined by time and space, senses and stimulus, objects and subjects. The chord represents the bliss-void consciousness that pierces all experience to the core. This tantric perception becomes alive when the third-eye burns all the layers of an experience to reveal the supreme irreducible substance/matter of a thought/experience = beholding the Dharmadhatu.

Etymologically there is a link between 'atomos' (Greek, Latin) and 'atma' (Sanskrit)...In the beginnings of Western scientific thinking it was believed that the 'atom' was indivisible, roughly the same definition the Greeks gave to their term; 'indivisible', 'uncuttable' and 'indestructible'. Actually, most descriptions of the Atma and Atomos are for the most part harmonious. Sri Krishna further demonstrates the link in ancient thought in the Gita when He says the Atma cannot be cut by a sword/blade. [It must be noted that terms in Sanskrit are not necessarily static and much depends upon context - therefore atma can be a king, the heart, the Supreme Witness, the Supreme Knower, the One Who Experiences, the soul/the Soul, the spirit/Spirit]...Sri Yoganandaji speaks of 'lifetrons' and He seems to point to another scientific discovery yet beyond the subatomic particle theory...which can also be seen as Shiva-Shakti...and critics say this is just putting a modern scientific gloss on ancient thought...however, ancient thought was always scientific...how else can there be a word for 'a thought, before a thought, before a thought, before a thought'?

"But know that on which this world is strung is imperishable."
-Sri Krishna (Bhagavad Gita 2:17)

"All is strung on Me as pearls are strung on a thread"
-Sri Krishna (Bhagavad Gita 7:7)

So, it is here that we see that the Supreme Tantra is actually being spoken of by Sri Krishna in the Gita. In various Tibetan thangka paintings showing the mandala of creation...the cosmogony...we sometimes see a fierce deity behind holding the wheel of creation...the mouth open displaying the sharp jagged teeth and tongue lashing like the flames of a sacred fire...This is the same fierce form of Sri Krishna as shown to Arjuna in the epiphany...Sri Krishna reveals Himself as 'Time grown old', 'Terrible Time', 'Powerful Time', 'Death' (11:30) - whatever translation, the sanskrit term 'kala' is used. The Kala Chakra Mandala and initiations within Tibetan Buddhism are extremely similar to the epiphany of Arjuna in the middle of the battle field...

Every opportunity is one in which we may practice self-realization...the Vajra-Intellect pierces through the polar opposites of pleasant and unpleasant circumstance to reveal the untarnished Truth...

Healing and Embracing the Divine Memory

2007-04-17T15:23:00.000-04:00

It is just as important to focus on the paths to healing as it is to focus on the 'fact' or the 'event' in the case of tragedy. It is to be applauded that some news agencies world-wide are broadcasting the gathering of persons from Virginia Tech and their representatives from various religious communities on campus...I only hope that the live tele-cast is repeated as oft as the graphic and horrific scenes that occurred during what took place. Words of wisdom from all faiths and backgrounds were spoken and the moments of silence gathered together will instigate a healing process most definitely. This is what is most noble in man at the moment - the unanimous call of all faiths (this includes athiests & scientists - for they oft have more faith in their perceived reality than many a 'believer') for resisting the urge to hate and instead fostering an unshakeable strength to carry on living with noble values in the face of strife.

We cannot come to terms with such 'events' and 'facts' from a purely rational angle - unless one is of a highly advanced self-realized state; where one 'cries/weeps not for the living nor for the dead' (as paraphrased from Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 2:11). Hence, it is of the utmost importance to find the balance between coming together to reflect upon ourselves and the world and what is beyond both. The gathering ended with a great charismatic lady speaker shaking things up with the "Let's Go Hokies!" chant...it is in times like these where group chanting can uplift so much of the existential burden put on our hearts when we are carried by the 'events' and 'facts' of this world. Every human lost is one less representation or expression of the Divine upon the world...unique in every way...their perceptions, their dreams, their pain, their joy...cannot even be suggested at through mere words or the recounting of 'events' and 'facts' of their souls departure from the bodily temple - the 'golden cage' as the poetic mystic saint Rabindranath Tagore once referred to it (the body) in ecstatic epiphany.

Swami Chinmayananda once said that to find the source of a river you must go against the current...go upstream to the source...It is not an easy journey and those lost along the way would only want us to continue on whilst we are still embodied in these blessings in disguise - our golden cages.

The Great Spirit teaches us in a mysterious way...on the way home I look upon what trees there are left here...the birds that fly and call out to one another and to the heavens...I hear the voice that says, "Wherever there is a bird flying...Wherever there is the wind in the trees...Wherever the light shines from the sky...That is where the beauty of the Native Spirit is..."

Innumerable tragedies have plagued this Mother Earth...She is the Eternal Witness to our deeds and actions...The Sun and Moon have seen many a horrific deed and battle...They urge us on...for everything will continue anyway...

Senseless though all tragedy seems to be...we must not only try and 'make sense of the insensible' through our limited reality tunnel, but broaden our vision and honour the Spirit which never dies...

"Never was there a time when I did not exist, or you, or these kings,
nor shall any of us cease to exist hereafter"
-Sri Krishna (Bhagavad Gita, 2:12)

Messages from the 'Lost' Civilizations...

2007-04-12T19:52:00.000-04:00

...We must learn the lesson from the pyramids - the ancient tradition of mummification of the dead and the large scale entombment/burial of what they held near and dear throughout their life...In the desire to experience these in the heavens beyond the mortal coil...they let the poor starve here on earth...It is the ultimate teaching of how the quest for wealth is not the ultimate goal of man...We must seriously reflect upon the beauty and sophistication of our ancient heritage...however, over the years the great teachings of the Seers...the Rishis...became obscured and the lack of meditation and reflection led to the priests taking poetic phrases and teachings too literally and failed to pierce into the esoteric significance of ritual...The Rishis are extremely mysterious in their ways and everything they do is for an ultimate purpose...Hence, we must see that the greatest of Kings and Queens ultimately left their wealth in the dust for looters to pick at for centuries...

It seems that around the same time all over the world...the priestly class went on a tangent and engaged in widespread sacrifice...Here we find a polar-shift in what various sections of society hoped to achieve by building and fostering civilizations...

An ancient remnant of a mantra from the Rishis that may say:

Through offering the pulsating heart to the Solar Deity in the Heavens...
Peace and Prosperity is assured to the Noble Ones upon Earth...
Cast aside the body and achieve Immortality in the Spirit-Essence Eternally!

We can get an idea as this teaching was disseminated and translated to various dialects...passed though minds with different temperments...we can visualize how this mantra may be taken literally and used to repress the poor...strike fear in other people belonging to other cultures...and redefine what is meant by 'Noble Ones'....

...But ironically, the crooked priests and their scheming warrior counterparts never fully penetrated the mystical meaning of the ancient scriptures...the language is a codex that is unlocked through not only deep metaphysical understanding and elaborate ritual - but by deeper still meditation and self-realization...self-unfoldment...enlightenment...The degree of knowing only indicated by the secret internal-external...micro-cosmic and macro-cosmic dialogues and discourses between the Great Spirit (Paratman) and the embodied spirit (jivatma)...The Great Spirit communicates like the wind...supremely mysterious...unseen yet felt...the Great Witness...is the One that determines 'how much' one knows and sees. This is played out in the relationship between the Guru and shishya.

...So the irony is that dogma has preserved much of the ancient texts and scriptures for future generations of yogins/yoginis to meditate upon and pierce to the essence with their vajra-like intellects and to demonstrate these ancient truths through skillful means...

Srimad Bhagavad Geeta Vidya Reflections...

2007-04-12T01:37:00.000-04:00

In the heart of all resides the Lord...He is as a flame in the cavity of the heart before the altar of the mind. When the mind is purified through practice and more sadhana...the mind perceives the flame of illumination [as a mirror]...However, the flame flickers for the senses are not under full control. The jnani ('man of knowledge') transforms into the vijnani ('man of wisdom')...The vijnani must transform into the Yogi ('universal transformer')...Prana...Natha...The Lord of Prana instructs the Yogi upon the path of Truth and Self-Realization. Currents of prana and upana swell as the oceans of samsara...

Oh, Best of Men are those whom still the breath...
Salutations to Thee - Oh, Tamer of the Waves!

With gates of the sacred temple locked and the prana-upana yagya complete...
The flame stands firm as the Agni Lingam...The Atma Lingam...The Parama Lingam...

Thus illumined, the Yogi attains solitude and tranquility - even amongst the crowds...with mind kept pure...the illumination/flame of Agni Lingam is reflected by the mind with one-pointed attention on any object the Yogi desires...The object thus burnt by the fiery gaze of the Yogi reveals its Supreme Reality...And as a whole village may be blessed by the light of aarati and many may be fed prasadam and given great joy - so many are benefited by the nearness of such a Yogi - a living mundir where the Self-Illuminating flame is ever kept lit in the inner sanctum-sanctorum...

Piercing the Reflection

2007-04-12T01:21:00.000-04:00

Until you look at the mirror and fail to see the Divine (Indweller)...
(Then) there will continue to be dust upon the surface...

Ode to the Nameless Aghoris

2007-04-11T17:53:00.000-04:00

Beautific Compassion...
No where are you not at peace...

Wandering in the cremation grounds...
The Mother holds you dear...

...And from Her bosom you drink wisdom and all the siddhis become your lila...
Temples are burnt.
The altars that hold the Lord must perish.
And you smear the ashes upon your skin...

You whisper sweet moksha into the ears of the corpse...

The Sweeper

2007-04-11T17:48:00.000-04:00

When you are friends with the sweeper...
You try to leave (around) less filth...

When you are best friends (with the sweeper)...
You begin to leave flowers...

Guru-Shishya Yoga

2007-04-11T17:22:00.000-04:00

The relationship between the Guru and the disciple can be expressed through the relationship between the musician and the instrument...There are many ways that the two are tuned to one another...The tabla player hits the tabla (drum) with a hammer and continues to slap, tap and hit the disciple into perfection. The sitarist slowly harmonises the strings together in resonance - tightening, loosening & turning and tweaking. The vocalist tunes his vocal chords with breath. The disciple is internalised and is the exponent of the Guru's teachings.

Amrit-Like Words of the Guru

2007-02-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

"Humanity...One's only Religion
Breath...One's only Prayer
Consciousness...One's only God"

"Earth Peace Through Self Peace"

"...Make your Own Equation..."

-Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath