Guidance
Question
QUESTION: Dear Sir
Can you please tell me how should I proceed on the spiritual path? I feel a longing for realization and sometimes also experience vairagya. I am practicing Brahmacharya for the past 3 months.
There are so many versions of yoga given by so many Mahatma's that I am very confused about which path to follow and which not to follow.Sometimes I think of joining Iskcon or Ramakrishna Mission or sometimes I think of following Swami Sivananda's 20 instructions.I do all this to find a guru to guide me.
But since I am a college student in Delhi with duties to fulfill towards my parents, I have not been able to find proper guidance from anywhere.
Your answers show that you are a very intelligent person with many spiritual qualities.Your guidance can also be requested through the internet.I would be privileged if you can tell me how to get on with my quest for realization.Please give a detailed answer for which I am longing for so much time.Kindly do not leave any point un-discussed.
P.S : Your previous answers suggest that you believe in Nirguna Brahman. But I am a devotee of Lord Krishna and worship him as the Param-Pita. So please do tell me something on how to strengthen my Bhakti( it is said that Bhakti yoga is the best for this age).
Thank you very much.
ANSWER: The decision on which path to follow becomes evident to oneself further to the practice of true and unbroken Brahmacharya beyond a year. The inner voice of the Âtman will guide the aspirant in the right path. But for receiving guidance from the Almighty in this manner, there must be honest and sincere perseverance, devotion and surrender to the utmost degree. One should be strictly wedded to the practice of true Brahmacharya through thick and thin, disease and health, pain and pleasure and all obstacles.
It is very beneficial to oneself if there is regular practice of 'Ashtanga Raja-Yoga' as put forward by Maharshi Pathanjali. The practice of this Yoga with Yama-Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Prathyahara and meditation will ensure that Vairagya (dispassion towards the world) will dawn by itself and become firm. This system is one of the most scientific and direct methods of attaining to Yoga, acknowledged by all self-realized masters and saints. All great souls without exception agree on the universal and effective nature of 'Ashtanga Raja-Yoga' propounded by the great Sage Pathanjali. The very same Yoga has been advised by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita. It is one of the most comprehensive and all covering approach to attaining self-realization. Strictly following the essence of this approach to Yoga will help one start getting established in Brahmacharya and vairagya beyond doubt within a year.
There is no mode of action or lifestyle higher than one's Dharma. The Dharma of a student is to study well and fulfill his obligations to himself and his parents by being a good student and by devoting the rest of his time and energy to the practice of those deeds that will lead him towards the objective of this human birth namely self-realization. The Dharma of a householder is to provide for his family, be affectionate and loving towards his family and devote the rest of his time and energy for achieving the objective of this human birth namely self-realization. The Dharma of a Sannyasi (renounced monk) is to work for the betterment of the society and again devote the rest of his time and energy to the purpose of the human birth namely self-realization. So we see that the central purpose of the human birth in all cases of human beings is self-realization and nothing more. This is why God has given the soul with a human birth after millions of births in animal form.
This thing called Dharma is incidental and not central. Based on our past karma and the will of the Almighty, each soul will be awarded a Dharma unique to itself. The nature of one's Dharma has no bearing towards reaching or not reaching self-realization. But being true to the given Dharma has a very strong bearing on reaching self-realization. A student has to fulfill his academic requirements and a householder has to provide and protect his family. These are their respective Dharma's as regards this illusory world. Self-realization becomes attainable when this Dharma is carried out dutifully and the rest of one's energy and time is devoted to God through Yoga. By the term Yoga, we mean that activity which leads to the union of the individual soul with the Almighty. Thus a householder who is striving for Yoga, limits the purpose of the sexual act to begetting a child or two and then completely gives up on the act and diverts his Prâna (vital energy) to attaining self-realization through unbroken Brahmacharya. He has limited the act rightfully to procreation and not recreation. He looks upon his wife as the 'Divine Mother' from then on and both lead a life of Brahmacharya with God-devotion and surrender. This is his Dharma and this will lead him to enlightenment beyond doubt. In the same way, a Brahmachari who is a student views all women as his sisters or mothers and focuses on his Dharma of being a good student and being a good Yogi. He too is assured of concrete progress.
It is said in the Vedas -" Tad Ekam Sath, Vipraha Bahudha Vadanthi" - "HE is only one, HE alone is real, the sages call him by various names." This is a very beautiful and complete statement. That Supreme creator is one and only one, call him by what name you may. All offerings of Bhakthi to the Supreme go to that one Supreme alone, immaterial of whether the worship is through Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, Christ or Allah. It is the sincere longing, devotion, love and surrender through worship to the Almighty that matters. Honest and sincere prayer to HIM never goes answered, immaterial of whether the worshipper calls himself a Hindu, Christian or a Muslim. These religions and names concern man, not God. To HIM, all are Âtmans, a part of his infinite and formless self. In his true, original and default state, he occupies the entire universe and the multitude of galaxies, all these being within his own self. The scriptures describe this beautifully with the statement -" There is not such a place, here in this world or beyond, even as big as the point of a needle which HE does not occupy. This is the meaning of 'Nirguna Brahman'. It refers to that supreme Almighty who is formless, shapeless, attributeless and infinite, occupying all space, time and beyond. The cause of all causes while he himself has no cause! He incarnates in different forms such as Lord Krishna, Lord Rama etc...and then he becomes the 'Saguna Brahman' or the Almighty with a definite form, shape and feature. It does not matter which form or formless is worshipped by the devotee yogi. The devotion/intensity of worship and love for HIM are that which matter.
By following a strict life of Brahmacharya governed by the tenets of Yoga, Bhakthi (devotion) will dawn by itself in course of time. Even to develop Bhakthi, one needs HIS grace and blessings. This feeling of devotion is not given to all and sundry. It is reserved for those who consistently adhere to a virtuous and pious mode of life, wishing good to everyone. There is no better method of availing of his grace than by the practice of true Ahimsa (non-violence), Sathya (truth) and Brahmacharya carried out with an intention of realizing HIM, aided by God-meditation and devotion. For this, the Yogi indulges in and shuns various activities, all with the pupose of attaining to Yoga. When one's efforts and intentions are true, deep and strong, there appears a helping hand from the Almighty which guides the aspirant in the right path without doubt. This is the absolute truth.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)
[an error occurred while processing this directive]---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: A doubt which I have is:
Do we don't need a guru to practice Ashtanga Raja-Yoga? Can you please suggest some Raja-Yoga techniques for which we do not require guidance of a teacher?
Secondly, do you agree to the statement that Bhakti Yoga is recommended in the present Kali Yuga; where peaople do not live long enough for attaining perfection through other modes of yoga?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Who is a Guru? He is the medium who dispels one's ignorance and shows the right path. All ignorance around the soul is ultimately dispelled by the Almighty alone. So a Guru in the human form is nothing but the Almighty working through the person who is a Guru. This is why it is said:
|| "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo, Maheshwaraha. Guru Saakshaath Parabrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave namaha" ||
|| "Guru is the manifestation of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara. Guru is the actual Almighty - Brahman, I bow to that Guru, the personification of perfection ||
So a person whom one considers a Guru is really nothing but a medium of transference of guidance from the Almighty. The Guru is the tool through whom the Almighty works. If one's efforts and actions at attaining to Yoga are genuine, sincere and honest, if one perseveres with determination and genuine will, the aspirant will find the right Guru at the right time by the grace of the Almighty. It is not necessary that the Guru be alive in flesh and blood. Practicing Yoga with honest and sincere devotion to any great self-realized saint such as Shri. Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi, Shri. Yukteshwar, Shri. Lahari Mahashaya, Lord Jesus etc...by considering them one's Guru will yield excellent results. These great Mahatmas are not in their physical form but exist as energies in the cosmos, having merged into the Brahman. One's sincere effort and practice through devotion to any one of them as the Guru will make them guide the aspirant astrally. Only sincere and honest efforts will induce them to guide an aspirant. A lackadaisical and casual approach that is not serious will be of no use. One can mentally consider any one of such masters to be one's Guru, install a photograph of such a realized saint, pay obeisance to them before the practice of Yoga and request sincerely for their guidance and blessings. If the intention and efforts at self-realization are genuine, they will help the aspirant.
Only a self-realized soul can be a Guru. Not anyone else. All the above mentioned Mahatma's were self-realized souls. A true guru knows the problem of the student even before he comes to the Guru. The true Guru never charges money or accpets anything material for the service he renders to the deserving pupil. He is looking for quality and not quantity. He is content even if one single student of this calibre comes to him in his entire lifetime. If a man conducts expensive workshops on spirituality, uses the lure of Yoga as a means of making money, name or fame, one can be rest assured he is not a real Guru or a real Yogi. The true Yogi Guru does not charge money for his service at all. Money and Brahma-Vidya (knowledge of the Supreme) do not go together. Where one resides, the other vacates. The current breed of so called 'Yoga gurus' who have built palatial ashrams, who merely wear saffron or white colored robes, who 'sell' yoga or yogic products as a business and who maintain a vast business empire by marketing yoga are not Guru's or Yogis. They are shrewd businessmen disguised as Yogis. They are of no use to the honest apirant thirsting for self-realization.
Only a self-realized soul will be capable of being a Guru to an aspirant in the correct path, unique to each person in the attainment of self-realization. Much effort, sincerity and honesty in practice are required to find such a Guru. If one's efforts are that very genuine, the Almighty will send such a Guru to the pupil at the right time. Or, the Almighty himself guides the aspirant through 'flashes' or thoughts of intuition that appear during meditation, dreams or sometimes even in the wakeful state. The best approach is sincere effort, devotion and honest practice. This will yeild the desired results in course of time, either through a Guru or directly by the Almighty.
Bhakthi (devotion to the Supreme) is of paramount importance to an aspirant aiming for self realization, immaterial of whether it is Kali Yuga or some other Yuga. Hence it forms one of the important Niyamas of Pathanjali's Ashtanga Yoga. People in Kali Yuga have less time, energy and perseverance to practice the discipline of learning complex scriptures or treatises. Hence Bhakthi has been stated as a preferable approach. This does not mean that a person can break the Yama-Niyamas and merely claim to follow Bhakthi. No result wil accrue in such a case. If a person is not rooted to Ahimsa, Sathya, Astheya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha, if a person lies, steals, covets others property, is bound to the lower emotions, is lustful and merely claims to have Bhakthi, he will not proceed even by a hair's breadth as regards self-realization.
True Bhakthi means complete devotion, love and surrender to God. A man who has true Bhakthi will resign to the will of the Almighty completely. He accepts whatever happens in his course of life as destined by the Almighty. His devotion and state of trust to the Almighty are unflinching and unwavering, even in times of great danger or pain. He has given his entire life to the dictates of the Almighty by negating his ego. The true Bhaktha unconsciously follows the tenets of Yoga without his own knowledge. He never harms others, tells lies or exhibits other base qualities, for indulgence in any of these is being untrue to the Almighty. So it amounts to the same as following the tenets of Yoga consciously. Either path is equally tough and equally testing. The highest truths come to one after great tests. There is only one Yoga finally. All Yoga's, be it Bhakthi Yoga, Kundalini Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga are one and the same in their final effect. All of them require man to attain the highest degrees of purity and virtue. Without these, a man is no Yogi. So immaterial of what name one calls the path he is following, it is ultimately one Yoga which demands God devotion, surrender, love and honest effort at being true to the tenets of Yoga on a universal basis.
Refer to books written on Raja Yoga by Swami Sivananda or any of the other noted saints. This will give a clear method on how to proceed. The science of Pranayama has also been described by Swami Sivananda. All these and many more are available as free downloads from the site : http://dlshq.org/download/download.htm
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)