Sthita Prajna

Guru Vandana

Samsara sagara samuddharanaika mantram brahmadi deva munipujita siddhamantram Daridrya dukha bhavaroga vinasha mantram Vande mahabhayaharam gururaja mantram - Guru Gita verse 112

I adore and bow down to the great mantra of the Guru which is the only mantra that enables one to cross the ocean of the world. Thus it is the siddha (perfected) mantra that is worshipped by all the celestials and even Brahma and the munis. This divine mantra rescues one from all manner of poverty, misery, worldly disease and fear.

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3 CONTENTS

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 4 Sub Page No. • GURU VANDANA 3 • EDITORIAL 5 • MESSAGE FORM THE MASTER 6 • DATES TO REMEMBER 8 • PRAJNANAVANI 9 • PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY 13 • TEACHINGS OF THE MASTERS 17 • BIRTHDAY OF PARAMAHAMSAJI 18 • GURUPURNIMA SERVICE TO THE TEACHER 19 • MYTHS AND METAPHORS 21 • KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI 25 • THE YOGA SUTRA OF PATANJALI 28 • VALUABLE VOLUMES • ANAHATA CHAKRA 32 • LIFE’S ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS 36 • MYSTICISM OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS 39 • STORIES TO LIVE BY GOD’S PRESENCE 41 • ATMA-VIDYA - PURSUING SELF KNOWLEDGE 43 • BALASHRAM BIKE EXPEDITION... 47 • AROUND THE WORLD 49 • NEW BOOK RELEASES 2012 54

Printed and Published by Swami Achalananda Giri on behalf of Prajnana Mission, Printed at Graphic Art Offset Press, at Nuapatna, Manglabag, Dist : Cuttack (Orissa) and published at Prajnana Mission at Nimpur, P.O. Jagatpur, Cuttack-754021, Orissa. Editor : Swami Achalananda Giri

4 FROM THE EDITORS :

“Human life is a gift from God. We the children of God have great potential divinity. Through selfless service our hearts will open, the bud of life will blossom, and we will be worthy children of God. - Paramahamsa Prajnanananda In this issue “Message of the Master” talks of spiritual harvest and how the Kriya Yoga technique will enable us to reach the divine goal quickly. In “Prajnanavani”, Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji talks of levels of intelligence and the ability to make right decisions. Rama Katha takes us to Sundara Kanda, the most beautiful section, when Hanuman succeeds in his search for Sita, finding her in the Ashoka vana. Kaiivalya Upanishad our series on Self Knowledge talks of the unity of – the trinity, the Indra, the Sun, the Moon, the fire, the time and the prana as the divine manifestations of the Brahman – the one Supreme reality. Relevant excerpts from some of Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji’s seminal works, “The Universe Within” and the “Changing Nature of Relationships”, continue elaborating on chakras, and multiple relationships. Practical Spirituality talks of Sannyasa – the fourth stage of life and what it really means. In this issue we are happy to introduce the series on Yoga Sutra of Patanjali with the commentary of Lahiri Mahasaya and metaphorical explanation. Hope you enjoy this issue and those to come.

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5 MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER SPIRITUAL HARVEST

This is the time to know mulapadme kundalini yavat God. Human structure and nidrayita prabhu constitution are made for God- tavat kinchit na siddheta realization only. In human tantra mantra, beings there are two qualities: archanadikam one is the gross body, full of illusion, delusion and error; the As long as you are not other is the invisible body, your withdrawing your power from indwelling self. That is your the coccygeal to the sacral, soul. That is your real body, cervical to medulla, you cannot which is pure, perfect, sweet, know God. It is why Jesus said: kind and loving. Your five sense “You are born of the flesh, so organs are your enemy. Always you are after the flesh.” (John engrossed in the material world, 3:5,6) You are always after you do not feel that the power money and sex, food and food, of God is within you. In the sex and money. You know only scriptures it is said that if you about these external activities, do not cultivate your body land and you are spending your days and if you do not sow seeds, in this way. Jesus said, “You then you cannot expect any are to be born from above, spiritual harvest from it. The through water and spirit.” (John Archanadikam says: 3:5-8)Water means love for God, and spirit means the power 6 of God, which is within you. He your bad habits to good. Leave also said, “Your divine kingdom dishonesty for honesty, is there. Your heaven is within ignorance for knowledge, you. Your liberation is in your impurity for purity, imperfection hand.” (Luke 17:21). If you for perfection, and bondage for meditate now, you will get liberation. liberation. You are not to go to pindam kundalini shakti the grave having spent your life hamsa iti udahrtam only eating and sleeping, rupam bindu iti jneyam working and having physical rupatitam niranjanam pleasure. Your whole body is In scriptures it is said: covered with illusion, delusion yoga karmasu kausalam. The and error, which is called Kriya Yoga technique will kundalini shakti. Hamsa iti enable you to reach the divine udaritam: All the power is goal quickly. The pilot lifts the remaining below. You are to airplane up very quickly, and he bring the power to the top. is able to cover a long distance Rupam bindum: Then you are within a short period. Similarly, to fix your attention in the atom by the practice of the authentic point where the power of God original Kriya Yoga, within ten is remaining. Rupatita minutes’ time, you can change nirañjanam: Then you will get your mind, thoughts, intellect the stage of Godhood. The and ego into knowledge, power of God is formless. You consciousness, super- are to perceive, conceive and consciousness, cosmic- realize it. consciousness and wisdom. It is not to be perceived by It is said in the suggestion, speculation, Mahabharata : hallucination and imagination. It “Animals and men are is to be perceived by going to alike in many ways. Both of the atom, by God-realization them eat, drink, sleep, enjoy only. sexually, and give birth to You should realize God, offspring and experience fear. because without God you have But there is a difference nothing. Your life is meant for between on animal and a man. God-realization. You can change That is known as dharma. 7 Animals have four legs, but like the blind man seeing man has two legs and two nothing. His life like the life of hands for work.” Work is an animal always in ignorance. worship. The Western people People who do not seek their know the technique of working divine quality spoil their human scientifically, but they do not and rational qualities. These feel the power of God acting people are in hell.” through the human brain. I pray to the Almighty Isha Upanishad (mantra Father to lead all in the path of 3) says. God-realization. The power of “Man is born for God- God is abiding within you. I want realization only. The soul is just to bow to every human being like a sun. If man does not seek for you are all the living power the soul, then he is in darkness, of God.

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DATES TO REMEMBER June 21 : Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath July 3 : Guru Purnima August 2 : Mahasamadhi of Swami Satyananda Giri August 9 : Janmashtami, Birthday of Lord Sri Krishna August 10 : Birthday of Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji Maharaj September 19 : Ganesh Chaturthi, Birthday of Lord Ganesh Sept 22 : Miami Ashram Foundation Day Sept 26 : Mahasamadhi of Lahiri Mahashaya Sept 30 : Birthday of Lahiri Mahashaya

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8 PRAJNANAVANI - THE VOICE OF WISDOM WHO IS INTELLIGENT?

People want to portray would be great,” the journalist themselves as being very said. intelligent. What is the sign of The monk replied, “I will intelligence? If someone is give you an honest answer. successful in life, would you say Those who have entered the that he or she is intelligent? political arena are not very I was very fortunate to intelligent. If they were truly have the opportunity to spend intelligent people, they would not some time with a great monk act the way they do.” from India, who was highly What he said is true, and intellectual. He was just like a should be taken as an roaring lion. One day when the observation, not a criticism. media was interviewing him, a Many of our leaders, in all journalist asked, “Swamiji, I levels of government, behave in would like to ask you a question. ways that are not ethical or Why are you not involved in morally healthy. So, can we politics?” honestly say they are “Why should I be?” intelligent? However, if those “Because if we had a who lead us are not intelligent, leader like you, this country then who is?

9 The yogic scriptures give Memory plays a key role a description of one who is when it comes to the decision- intelligent. They say an making process. For example, intelligent person is one who in the judicial system, people makes the right decision at the bring their disputes before a right time. However, let me judge who then makes a take a step further by saying, decision on what the outcome after one makes the right should be. The presiding judge decision, one then has to act relies on his or her memory of upon it. One may call this the law and prior outcomes of practical intelligence. Simply similar cases. I knew an making a decision is not enough. attorney, a good friend of What is required is making the Gurudev, who was an right decision at the right time exceptional genius with unusual and then taking the right step. brain power and an amazing Unfortunately many of us do memory. Typically, one will find not make the right decisions. We many law books in an attorney’s become confused. Why can’t office. However, in this we see things clearly? In order attorney’s office there were to find the answer, we must none – no books on the shelves first analyze where the problem and none on his desk. When lies. Often we cannot see our clients came to see him, they own mistakes, we cannot see would sit in front of him and our own weaknesses, we describe what type of problems cannot see things as they are; they were experiencing. Without therefore, we cannot find an referencing any written material, intelligent solution to our he could counsel them. He problem. Why does this happen, retained the facts regarding all if the function of our intellect is similar, prior cases – the court, to make the right decision and the year, the judge, the verdict take the right step? The problem – everything was in his head. may be that you do not have a Hence, you can make a good good memory. You may not decision when your memory is remember the lessons you good. In our own lives, when learned from past experiences we remember the and therefore you repeat your consequences of doing mistakes. something, we are able to act

10 accordingly. For example, if you repeat the same mistakes over remember getting punished or and over again, obviously we scolded about something wrong are not learning from our own that you did, it is more than experience. So how can you likely you will not repeat the honestly think that children will same mistake. learn from their own Different Levels of experience?” I then further Intelligence said, “If this is the case – that children should learn from their When it comes to own experience – then you intelligence we can divide should not send your child to people into three categories. school, because whatever is First, there are those who studied in school, for example, observe and learn. Next, are science, mathematics, and other those who have difficulty such subjects, all came from learning. Finally, there are those someone else’s experience. For who never learn. If we analyze instance, the law of gravity our lives, can we honestly say came from Newton’s that we are learning from our experience. So if you really mistakes? One day at lunchtime believe one should learn from I was having an informal one’s own experience, then one conversation with a few should not study science or disciples. We were discussing anything else.” But the truth is, about whether or not we should we do get the benefit of others’ give children our opinion about experiences and by what is good or bad. One remembering what they learned, person remarked that children it becomes useful to us. should learn from their own experiences as they grow up. Making Wise Decisions However, I did not agree with We can make an this view. I said, “You have intelligent decision if our stated that children should learn memory is good and if our ego through their own experience. does not interfere. When our My counter-question to you is, ego gets involved, our decision have you really learned from will be flawed. We make good your own experience? Have decisions if we have clear you not repeated the same vision, clear understanding, and mistakes again and again? If we if the mind is peaceful. But, 11 what happens when we are Now we already said that unable to reach a decision when forgetfulness can interfere with it is needed? There is a proverb our ability to make decisions, in Odia language: “You get but we also often fail to reach more ideas after the thief has a decision because of our left.” I will illustrate what this natural habit to procrastinate. means with a true story. In Once a son asked his father, India, there was an elderly “Father, would you please tell monk who had gone to bed for me the meaning of the word the night. It was around procrastination?” The father midnight and a disciple was replied, “Don’t worry, tomorrow meditating nearby, after having I will look it up in the dictionary given the monk’s massage. and let you know.” So Suddenly, a thief entered the procrastination means to not room and began searching the give an answer today, to keep pockets of the monk. The thief it for tomorrow. Paramahamsa took the monk’s cell phone and Yoganandji said, “You can whatever papers were there. postpone everything for The disciple that was meditating tomorrow, except your search got up and asked the thief who for God, love for God, and your he was. However, the thief did own inner transformation.” My not reply; he just silently left father often said, “My dinner the room. The puzzled disciple can be postponed for an hour, stood there for a moment, but not my meditation. First I pondering whether or not the will meditate; then I will eat.” person that came in was a Do you procrastinate when it devotee. Then he realized he comes to the truly important had made a mistake and that things in life? If you do, then he could have easily stopped the you will be unable to make a thief, because the thief was a right decision at the right time. man of small stature. He If you want to be an intelligent wondered why he did not at person, then live intelligently. least close the door or shout Use your memory; use your ego for help. But it was only after in a healthy way. Make wise the thief was gone that all these decisions, and then put them into ideas popped up about how to practice. deal with the situation. *** 12 PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY THE FOURTH STAGE Jyothi Bathina

Recently my parents took The third stage or sannyas. They left behind family vanaprastha, is when we and friends, home and should be turning away from belongings, rights and material pursuits, planning responsibilities, and entered the retirement, enjoying our fourth stage of Hindu life. It is grandchildren, gradually not something most people do. relinquishing responsibilities to Despite knowing from the next generation and childhood what our tradition lays beginning in earnest our spiritual out as ideal, most remain in practice, study and meditation. either the second or the third The fourth stage is stage. And frankly whether or sannyas, when having spent a not one is Hindu I believe most decade or two in preparation can identify with the four stages and gradual detachment from of life. worldly affairs, we cut those The first stage is that of ties for good and turn brahmacharya or the student. completely toward rapid spiritual Our first 25 years are spent in enlightenment. No longer bound learning about the world, by any burdens, bonds or exploring our options, indulging responsibilities other than our senses, feeding our intellect, finding peace and spiritual and generally figuring things out. progress, we are free at last to The second stage or focus wholly on our self- grihastha, is the time when we realization. become householders, with Looked at in this way, it families of our own, building our seems to be a perfectly logical, careers, pursuing our dreams, even pragmatic structure for putting all that learning to use living. By gradually to create a rich and fruitful life encouraging elders to let go of for ourselves and for our material pursuits, the wise sages children. who created this structure

13 allowed for the younger their jobs and their love interests generation to flourish and for than about academics. Where the elders to hand over the reins householders have no time for when it was time. In the old their families because they are days, even the wealthiest kings so intent on providing for them would leave the throne when and where the retired have no they entered vanaprastha and time to rest or reflect. set off into the forest to Despite the mixed up meditate. This helped them nature of the first two stages in avoid much of the chaos and modern times, we still manage conflict we see throughout to pass through them without history around the world, when too much difficulty. We get kings refused to relinquish their through the brahmachari stage thrones and sons had to fight to quite well, with different gain their rights. degrees of experience and At the same time, this indulgence and manage for the structure allowed for young most part to flourish in the people to have the luxury of householder stage as well. We enjoying their youth, unburdened pursue careers, build families by responsibility. They were able and raise children despite the to lead lives of scholarly pursuit ups and downs of fate. It’s the and youthful curiosity. This was third stage we have a problem followed eventually by the with. timely indulgence of human No one wants to stop instincts for passion and and reflect, to let go and to procreation. Every stage had move inward. Once on the its time and was enjoyed fully. householder track, we continue Each stage also had its duties to climb up, continue to strive and since they were clearly set for more, continue to pursue an forth, those duties could be always-elusive end goal of fulfilled properly. prosperity, often confused with A far cry from today, happiness. when children work at While there are no increasingly younger ages in thrones to relinquish or forests order to fulfill their desires for to retire to, we refuse to leave an xbox or designer clothing, the boardroom or the operation where students care more about theater, the law office or the 14 engineering firm, because too so much, and has so much yet often, our career defines who to offer, who has time to sit we are. Even if we were to and meditate? Who can possibly have an identity apart from our indulge in self-realization and job, there are too many how realistic is it to renounce a obligations that need to be world that we continue to live fulfilled and income needs to in? continue unabated in order to Well, my parents are two fulfill them. of the rare souls who even in And so, because we this day and age, have chosen refuse to downsize, because we to follow through. They were continue to upgrade our homes, fortunate enough to enjoy each our cars, and our wardrobes, of the preceding stages, we continue to be trapped in studying hard to get their the struggle to make it. For degrees, building a marriage and those fortunate souls who have strengthening it through fifty accumulated enough wealth and years, raising three children and no longer need to work, there making sure they were all settled in their own lives, is the desire to enjoy the fruits enjoying and indulging their of our labor, to travel, to grandchild, seeking and finding consume, to acquire to explore. a Guru, practicing meditation So that, rather than moving and spiritual progress and forward to the focus on spiritual gradually cutting down on their enlightenment and gradual material attachments and detachment, we cycle back to responsibilities, until now, when the brahmachari stage, both they and their Guru felt feasting the senses, exploring they were ready, they chose to new horizons, always looking for formally begin their period of something new, taking on new self-realization. Now in their hobbies, boating, golfing, seventies, and having lived a remaining in effect a student of dharmic life, they have chosen life, a consumer. to spend their last years totally Unable to get through the devoted to the path of third stage, most of us have enlightenment. They are completely dismissed the fourth incredibly happy in this decision stage as unattainable and also and I am equally happy for undesirable. When life demands them. 15 Rather than admire those It is a luxury in fact that who are so intent on self- my parents and those like them realization, we are conditioned have earned. It is the luxury of to think that those who give up being absorbed in God the world must do so because consciousness and having the they have nothing of value in it. opportunity to study, to meditate, We fail to see that in fact, those to reflect and to serve, every who “give up the world” are actually giving up their own waking moment of the rest of selfish view of the world, their their lives. I would not deny narrow identity as student, them that hard-earned luxury. worker, parent, friend, and That is why, as their embracing the larger world by daughter, I feel not the least bit acknowledging their part in the of remorse or sadness or loss. universal family. ***

Brazil Retreat

16 “The door of Kriya Yoga is open only to earnest seekers and sadhakas.” Mahavatara Babaji

“There is not work without desire Work which is duty bound is also born of some desire.” Lahiri Mahasaya

“Everyday do regular svadhyaya coupled with meditation and study of spiritual books and scriptures.” Swami Shriyukteshwar

“Keep your mind always in tune with the scriptures and the teachings of the Masters.” Sanyal Mahasaya

“The first rule in prayer is to approach God only with legitimate desires. Pray for their fulfillment, not as a beggar but as His child” Paramahamsa Yogananda

“Never accuse others of their mistakes. If a person has only one good quality out of 100 then try to see that good one not the 99 bad ones.” Swami Satyananda

“The Mind is lord of all senses, but breath rules the mind. So breath-control will lead you mind- control and liberation.” Paramahamsa Hariharananda

“One must constantly endeavour to be perfect in every thought, word and action.” Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

17 BIRTHDAY OF PARAMAHAMSA PRAJNANANANDA

the Bhagavad Gita while talking about manifestation of Divinity the Lord said: maunam chaivasmi guhyanam (Gita X-38) “Among all the secrets of knowledge, I am the Silence.” What does it mean? To find the hidden treasure in you, Lord said you have to enter the August 10th, marks the state of silence. Be silent birthday of our beloved Baba externally and internally. Prajnananandiji. After a hectic Practice it. Everyday allot some schedule of book work and time for silence. Spiritual conducting several New masters gave these disciplines Brahmachari and Monk for self-control. Through initiations in February, Baba understanding and analysis Prajnananandaji has taken some accept some disciplines and time off for seclusion and follow them. Without discipline silence and working on some spiritual progress is a dream.” books. Even if physically absent Baba has emphasized the presence of the Gurus is several times on the power of everywhere. On the auspicious silence. As he has said, “In day of the birthday of our great prayer, we talk with God. In Master, let us pledge to meditation, God talks to us.” ourselves to be more disciplined What is God’s talk? When one and meditate more by entering enters into the inner temple of the inner temple of silence. All silence, one hears a continuous Ashrams and centers across Divine sound. That is the voice the world will celebrate the of God. That is the whisper special day wishing Baba a from eternity. happy and healthy birthday and In Sanskrit silence is praying for his blessings. mauna and mind is mana. In *** 18 GURUPURNIMA SERVICE TO THE TEACHER

Knowledge is God. expectation. The willingness to Knowledge is power. serve and the readiness to serve Knowledge is the door to with an unquestioning attitude liberation. Knowledge is the is what benefits the student and special gift of God. Knowledge through this he will progress. is free and it makes others free. “By bowing down, by The taste of freedom is possible asking the proper questions, and through living in knowledge. through service, you will be Knowledge is the beginning and taught this knowledge by those the wisdom is the end. Wisdom who are wise, by those who is the applied and assimilated have the vision of truth.” knowledge. How do we get this (Gita 4-34) wisdom? The attitude of the The disciple attains the student should be like that of state of wisdom by Arjuna who surrendered to apprenticeship to an able Lord Krishna saying master. You can learn about supreme consciousness if you “Unable to judge what is become a favorite of your right or wrong and deprived of master. Follow the master my heroic nature, I am now a deeply, serve the master victim of the strain of humbly, remain indebted to your cowardliness. I therefore ask preceptor, and always ask how you; please let me know, what to achieve God-realization most is suitable for me? I am Your quickly. If you do, the realized disciple, I surrender myself, person will teach you the please teach me.”(Gita II:7) quickest means to success in This should be the God-realization. attitude of the student – willing Service and surrender to to surrender, ready to be the Guru should be given without disciplined. any personal ego, with respect The primary essential and devotion and without any quality of a spiritual teacher is 19 love. If one has not experienced a friend? One who knows the love within he cannot give love. way can alone be a good If he is not rich in love he companion and guide. When a cannot distribute love. If the teacher is with you he cautions, teacher has the realization he alerts and guides on the way. becomes a lover of the whole The primary essential quality of universe. He spreads a spiritual teacher is love. knowledge to the true seekers The Guru always who have surrendered encourages and inspires, helping themselves to him. A teacher is us to overcome the weaknesses one who has experienced love of life through knowledge, and manifests that love through understanding and love. every thought, word and action. As we celebrate Guru The disciple is one who is ready Purnima – the full moon day to receive that love from the designated for the worship of teacher. all Gurus let us remember our For one who is on the teachers and try to serve them spiritual path the journey by surrender and learn from becomes easy if there is a their wisdom. friend on the way. Who can be ***

Balashram Summer Camp 20 MYTHS AND METAPHORS RAMAYANA Sri raghavam dasaradhatmajamaprameyam sitapatim raghukulanvaya ratna dipam. ajanu bahum aravindadalayataksham ramam nishachara vinashakaram namami

Salutations to Sri Rama, the son of Dasaratha, the jewel of the Raghu lineage, of long arms and beautiful eyes like the lotus petals, the husband of Sita, and the destroyer of the rakshasas.

The Search for Sita Towards the south went Sugriva related to Rama Angada, Hanuman and others. how his brother Vali Before they left they all came misunderstood him and drove to Rama for blessings and him out of the kingdom. Rama Rama gave his ring only to agreed to help Sugriva to regain Hanuman to give to Sita as his his kingdom and Sugriva in turn identification and not to anyone promised to help Rama in the else. He knew that only search for Sita. Rama killed Vali Hanuaman had the capability to and made Sugriva the king. know the whereabouts of Sita. Rama and Lakshmana spent the Only an egoless person can rainy season in a cave near the serve God and work for God. Rishyamuka hill. They spent A person with ego is far away time in discussions related to from God. On the way wisdom and Rama spent time Hanuman and his group met in giving valuable advice to Sampati the brother of Jatayu. Lakshmana. Sampathi can see for hundreds Once the rainy season of miles and he gave them the came to an end, Sugriva sent whereabouts of Ravana. But his men to the four sides of the the question was how to cross earth under the leadership of the ocean and reach the island four chiefs to search for Mother of Lanka. In the troop of Sita. Angada, different warriors

21 declared their capacities of how that even after crossing the far they can reach but there ocean he was not out of breath. was no one who could cross He reached Lanka and the ocean and return back. Then entered the kingdom of Ravana the members of the troop turned at night. At first he tried to towards Hanuman and chiefs search for the divine mother Sita like Jambavan started reminding in the palace of Ravana. He Hanuman of his strength. Here soon realized the mother who is the role of the Guru. The represents peace and divinity Guru reminds us who we really cannot be in the palace of are and what capabilities we material prosperity, glory and have. Each individual is a glamour. Then as he was going deluded person forgetting who from house to house from one he is. We are potentially divine house he could hear the name but we have to establish of God. He discovered that it ourselves in that state of faith. was the house of Vibhishana They said, “Hanuman, you don’t who advised him to go to know who you are. As a child Ashoka Vatika to find Sita. you thought the rising Sun was Hanuman entered the Ashoka an apple and jumped to catch Vana and found a beautiful lady the Sun. Through your breath sitting under a tree surrounded control, you have the capacity by many asura women to achieve whatever you want. guarding her. Hanuman was Now you have forgotten your sure she must be mother Sita. strength.” Inspired by these At the time he saw Ravana words and reminded of his approaching her and Hanuman strength Hanuman with his himself among the branches of heart filled with love for Rama the tree and heard the and his mind determined to find threatening words of Ravana Mother Sita, took a leap into asking Sita to forget Rama and the sky and was over the marry him. After Ravana left ocean. Overcoming many Hanuman started singing the obstacles on his way, Hanuman glory of Rama. Surprised crossed the ocean and reached Mother Sita looked up to see the city of Lanka. It is said that Hanuman. He dropped the ring Hanuman had so much strength of Rama near her and narrated because of his breath control the story of Rama’s search for

22 her and introduced himself as glory of Rama in front of the messenger of Rama. He Ravana and declared that asked her not to lose hope, as Ravana will never be able to Rama will come to get her conquer Rama. Enraged by this back. Sita asked him about the Ravana ordered Hanuman to be welfare of Rama and killed. At this point Vibhishana Lakshmana. She sent her interfered and said it is not message to Rama to come soon ethical and against the code of and save her from Ravana. conduct for a king to kill an After finding Sita and emissary. Then Ravana said comforting her by giving the as a tail is dear to the monkey message of Rama, Hanuman let the tail of this monkey be started jumping from tree to tree set on fire. Hanuman took and breaking the branches. This advantage of this and jumping shows the increase of the from house to house set the city mental strength. When mental of Lanka on fire. Except the strength increases you do what house of Vibhishana who was you want. He destroyed many a devotee of God, and the of the gardens. The report went Ashoka Vana where mother to Ravana that a monkey is Sita was, everything else was ruining the gardens. He sent burnt to ashes. many of his chiefs including his Is Hanuman really a son Aksha Kumara to catch monkey? A monkey in Sanskrit Hanuman and bring him to the is called a vanara. A vanara court, but Hanuman killed them means a special kind of being all. Then Hanuman also wanted whose mind is in God. The to see Ravana and assess his second meaning is one who strength. Hanuman was a very lives in a vana. Nara is one wise person. One who is a who lives in towns and Vana celibate and has breath control Nara is one who lives in the has a powerful mind. He forests. The tail in Sankrit is wanted to be taken to Ravana known as langula or priccha. Those who have read the to have a direct conversation Taittiriya Upanishad come with Ravana. So he let himself across be captured by Indrajit and taken to the court of Ravana. tasya priccha Hanuman started praising the pratishtha – priccha means brahman. 23 langula means one who orders. The story goes on. He has constant communion with used all nature for his own God. Langula also means laga pleasure. So the name could – the divine sound. So have been based on this. Hanuman is burning Lanka After destroying Lanka, means to be free from body Hanuman went back to Sita to consciousness with the divine bid farewell. She gave him her sound. Chudamani (an ornament worn This section of on the head) to be given to Ramayana is known as the Rama and Hanuman returned Sundara Kanda. sundara has to Kishkindha. As he two meanings. One meaning is approached Rama he uttered beautiful. This section has many the words, beautiful descriptions of the city Sita was seen of Lanka and the Ashoka Vana. He presented Rama Ravana always with the ornament given by Sita suppressed and oppressed many and narrated his findings and divine beings. Kubera was his Sita’s message to Rama. All gatekeeper. The fire God was were happy and preparations cooking for him. The air God started to go to Lanka and was blowing wind gently to his rescue Mother Sita.

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24 KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI THE BIRTH OF KRISHNA

janma karma ca me Brindavan. When the father divyamevam yo vetti obeyed the infant’s commands, tattvatah he was miraculously free of his tyaktvã deham punarjanma chains and his prison, and was naiti mãmeti sorjuna able to safely speed the infant across the waters. He then The one who knows the switched the baby Krishna for truth of my divine birth and Nanda’s baby and brought her actions, O Arjuna, attains Me back to the prison. This is the giving up the body and is not story in brief. But what is the born again. Gita IV: 9 real meaning of this birth? The lives of divine What is the hidden significance incarnations like Krishna, are of these miraculous events, and not just stories. They are much more importantly, how are they more significant than that. A useful to us? Let’s take a close childish understanding perceives look at the circumstances them as stories; an intellectual surrounding Krishna’s birth. approach analyzes them as Krishna was born in a history. It is only when one goes prison. What does the prison beyond both story and history, represent? Each human body is and penetrates the mystery a prison. Why? Because our behind them, that one really body consciousness, and our understands their significance. identification with the body we Most of us know the are in bondage. Our soul is tied story of Krishna. He was born down by the attachment to and at midnight in the dark recesses identification with the body. of a prison, where both his Both the parents were chained parents were held captive, and the mother was exhausted weighed down by heavy chains. and not conscious at Krishna’s Once he was born, he spoke to birth, but the father was his father, and asked him to take conscious. As the father was him across the turbulent waters looking at the child, the child of the Yamuna River to started speaking to him. “Take 25 me out of this prison, cross the the chains gave way of nearby river and take me to the themselves. When one is God- other side to the house of conscious and loves Krishna in Nanda. There is a newborn every breath he becomes free. child there. Exchange me for Crossing the river has two that child and bring that child meanings. The river is the here.” This is the mythological world. Here the river is story. Yamuna, which symbolizes The story seems devotion. Krishna represents unrealistic- A child talking knowledge. With knowledge immediately after being born and devotion, one can attain and giving instructions to the success. Krishna was born at father. There are two ways of midnight. Those who are looking at this. familiar with the Christian tradition know that Jesus was One way is to agree that also born at midnight. Night is anything is possible in God’s the time of spiritual practice and creation. The other way is to meditation. explore the inner significance. When a person is trying to attain In the Bhagavad Gita it is said, real spiritual progress with ya nisha sarva bhutanam enlightenment as the goal, tasyam jagarti samyamí though the individual (the father- yasyam jagrati bhutani sa Vasudeva) is living in the cage nisha pasyato muneh of the body (in the prison), his Gita II-69 ordinary human nature (the mother - Devaki) is sleeping. Ordinary people spend The individual attains Krishna their nights engaged in pleasure consciousness. The father looks or in deep sleep. The spiritual at the child and obtains an inner person, however, remains awakening - the specific awake, his mind absorbed in directions from the child. So one God. When one sits absorbed must, like Vasudeva, escape in meditation, then slowly the body consciousness, keep one’s moon rises. The moon is the attention on God, and crossing symbol of the enlightened mind. the perilous river of life, get to So with steadfast the other side. concentration, the inner darkness disappears and light is When Vasudeva placed seen. This is why Krishna was Krishna on his head in a basket, 26 born at midnight. If you want been exchanged for Maya when Krishna to be born within you, the children were switched. you should meditate with self- Krishna’s life from the control. Devaki and Vasududeva start was full of challenge. Lord spent eleven years in prison, Krishna faced hostile threats forsaking all material comforts. and attempts on his life from Here, the prison represents a his very birth in a dark prison life of strict discipline and on a dark and gloomy night. His control. They became the whole life thus becomes a parents of Krishna. metaphor for the struggle of the Krishna was the eighth soul to survive obstacles and child. Why eighth? In each dangers and remain pure bright human being there are seven and whole. Throughout his chakras in the body. Yogis have danger filled childhood, despite the experience of an eighth poisonous milk and venomous chakra above the body. When snakes, an uncle who wished the mind goes beyond the seven him dead and his displacement chakras, crossing them, one is from royalty to a peasant family merged in God and yogis call in a dusty village, Krishna this samadhi. Krishna was born remained ever beautiful, ever as the eighth child after passing joyous, and ever content. As a the seven issues. When the child who stole the butter and a father had this eighth child on youth who stole the hearts of his head, he was free from all around him, as the kind and bondage and could cross the generous friend, and brave and Yamuna noble warrior, as a pious and When Vasudeva took wise teacher, as Yogeswara Krishna to the other side to Krishna and a leader of his Nanda’s house, Yashoda was in people, Krishna stands out as deep sleep after giving birth to an example of how to live each a female child, Maya. Vasudeva moment of our lives with exchanged Krishna for the baby contentment and joy. He girl and returned to the prison. teaches us the lesson of love, When he entered the prison of keeping love as the main with the child, all the shackles focus in every activity and every reappeared and the bondage breath. May this recounting of was renewed, since God had his story remind us of that important lesson. ***

27 THE YOGA SUTRA OF PATANJALI

Sutra 1 Atha The Discipline of Yoga Atha is the word used in atha yogânuúâsanam ||1|| all the three sutra books mentioned earlier. Word Meaning atha atah bhaktim atha – now; yoga – vyakhyasyamah yoga; ânuúâsanam – teaching, discipline, exposition “Now we will explain and examine devotion (divine Translation love).” This is the discipline of - Narada Bhakti Sutra (sutra yoga. 1) Commentary by Shri Lahari atha atah brahma Mahasaya jijnasa Thereafter, yoga is really “Then therefore the explained. By complete question of Brahman, the tranquilization of thoughts Absolute” (intellect), one will keep the mind completely absorbed in the - Brahma Sutra (sutra 1) “atom-point” (bindu), like an Why does every sutra innocent (pure) person scripture start with atha? The continually concentrating on a word atha has six meanings – star. One will attain the mangala (auspiciousness), spontaneous state of samadhi. prashna (question), When one is entirely engrossed karyarambha (initiation), in one thought, it is anantara (thereafter), samprajnata, and when one is adhikara (qualification or completely thoughtless, it is right), pratijna (promise or asamprajnata. determination) – that relate to Metaphorical Explanation six chakras, from the This aphorism consists of muladhara (bottom center) to three words: atha, yoga, and the ajna (soul center). ânuúâsanam. To understand Ordinarily, people believe this sutra better, one should that the word atha means to understand the meaning of remember God, Who brings all these words clearly. auspiciousness in the beginning of any work. So, it is an 28 invocation to God. But this and love, one wants to know auspiciousness is really atha kim and questions, “What associated with the coccygeal is after this?” This is the state center, muladhara chakra. of self-inquiry. One should bring auspiciousness The fifth meaning of into life through the practice of atha is “qualification.” When yoga. one crosses the propensities of The second meaning of the heart center and reaches atha is “question.” The general the neck center, the vishuddha explanation of this atha starts chakra, and then transcends with the question, “What is above, one is in the state of a yoga?” Sage Patanjali’s entire qualified spiritual aspirant, to book explains yoga in its perceive, conceive, and realize entirety. Here, atha is also used yoga. in connection with the second The sixth meaning of center, svadhisthana chakra, atha is “promise” or pratijna. and with a question: “Do people When one really goes to the really want God consciousness sixth center, the ajna chakra, in daily life or not?” one enjoys peace, bliss, joy, The third meaning of calmness, and love, and atha is karyarambha, which promises not to be distracted means “initiation of effort.” from this state. Metaphorically it consists of Yoga two syllables atha, a is the The second word in this formless power of God and tha sutra is “yoga.” Yoga in Sanskrit is the syllable in the navel has a multiplicity of connotations center, the manipura chakra. and meanings, covering at least Thus atha means the spiritual thirty-two different uses. But journey as the one progress the spiritual meaning can be from the navel center to the correlated with the word formless power of God. The “yoke”: to unite or to be in the navel center is the center of state of union – of body and energy. Spiritual practice starts soul, of the individual self with from this center. the Supreme Self. Just as the The fourth meaning of union of two wires in an electric atha is “thereafter.” When one circuit makes the flow of crosses the nabhi chakra and current possible, the union of comes to the heart center, the the above-mentioned pairs – anahata chakra, with purity body and soul, individual self and

29 Supreme Self – yields a life that mundane, restless life, and to is divine. enter a life of inner calmness Although this state of and peace. union constantly remains in In essence, it can be said every person, ignorance that a disciple, through his prevents most people from apprenticeship with the realized realizing it. Just as the thread Master, should try to discipline is the link in a rosary, keeping his extrovert mind and senses the beads together, the thread and make them more Truth- of breath keeps the body and oriented. Yoga is really a soul together. When, by the discipline. Undisciplined people grace of the Master and cannot enjoy the beauty of blessing of God, one learns the yoga, which is already within science of soul culture, which them, though they are not removes all the impurities of aware of it. Those who follow mind, one perceives Truth the realized master and his constantly. teachings, particularly the Anushasana teachings about scriptures, and practice a technique like Kriya The third and last word Yoga, can really enjoy the of this aphorism is constant state of yoga. anushasana, which means “the directive, discipline, or The Scriptures contain teachings.” The realized master the treasure of sacred and teaches the disciples to divine wisdom. They are the discipline their minds and senses echo of the voice of God, and directs them on the path to experienced by the realized perceive the inner reality. masters. The scriptures are the divine dictum instructing us to The intelligent seeker lead a God-conscious life. All (sadhaka) should silently, the scriptures are like the Divine sincerely, and meticulously Mother. As the milk from the follow the instructions and mother’s breast nourishes the practice them in daily life. Yoga body of the child, the scriptures is the union of body and soul, are the personified Divine which is what life is. The Mother, the words that nourish purpose of yoga is to lead the spiritual life. Each word of the individual to a divine life scriptures has the potency of because it enables one to the highest spiritual truth. The overcome all human limitations scriptures are the spiritual and go beyond the realm of handbook of every seeker for 30 quick progress and realization. following him sincerely) In the Bible, it is said, shastra kripa – the “All scripture is God-breathed grace of the scriptures and is useful for teaching, (revelation of the inner meaning rebuking, correcting and training of the scriptures achieved in righteousness, so that the through purity of mind and man of God may be thoroughly intellect) equipped for every good work.” Through the grace of the (2 Timothy 3:16-17). master, the disciple is exposed In the Indian spiritual to the real and metaphorical tradition, people believe in meaning of the scriptures. A grace. Grace in Sanskrit is student with ego cannot really kripa. The grace of the Divine understand the deep purport of is always associated with the scriptures. An egoistic sincere effort. Spiritual life is student can follow neither the not a life of dreams or idleness; master, nor the scriptures. Truly sincere and scrupulous effort is speaking, the words of the necessary in every stage of life. master are the content of the So man’s effort is first and scriptures. God’s grace is next. Gurudev O Seeker! All the Paramahamsa Hariharananda scriptures sing of the glory of taught this truth in the following the Divine and the path of the humorous way: When anyone soul culture and God-realization, prayed to him to receive grace, a message with a charming he said, “Please ask for Kripa”. impact on the heart of the Then Gurudev asked, “Do you seeker. He gradually becomes know what kripa is? Kri means free from all vanity and ego. ‘you do’ and pa means ‘you Elimination of ego is possible get.’ Everyone gets the result only through humility – of his own effort (thoughts, pranipata (humble reverence) words, and deeds).” This kripa to God, guru, and scriptures. is of three kinds: The scriptures bring self- atma kripa – the grace discipline and self-unfoldment. of the soul (achieved through They contain the seed of self-effort) spirituality, which can grow into guru kripa – the grace a fruit-bearing tree if the mind of the master (achieved through is pure, like fertile land.

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31 VALUABLE VOLUMES

IN THIS ISSUE WE HAVE EXCERPTS FROM THE UNIVERSE WITHIN AND THE CHANGING NATURE OF RELATIONSHIPS BY PARAMAHAMSA PRAJNANANANDA

ANAHATA CHAKRA (From THE UNIVERSE WITHIN)

The Anahata chakra, or Through breath control heart center, is located in the and self-control, yogis regulate spinal region behind the middle their life energy and are able to of the chest in the human body. tread the path of inner peace The Vital Energy and joy. The prana or the life Air is the vital life energy. energy can be classified into Air is the symbol of stillness. different types, each responsible There is still air outside which for different activities. But the is a symbol of the still air inside, heart is the place of the main the vital life energy referred to vital life force, which regulates as the Prana in Hindu the breath. scriptures. When the air The sons of Vayu becomes restless outside, it Breath control is self blows as a breeze or a wind. control, breath mastery is self When air moves inside mastery and no breath state is the body, it manifests as the the state of realization. Yogis breath. When the wind outside through breath control bring becomes strong, it can take the control over the inner universe form of cylcones and which in turn brings ones own hurricanes, causing natural control over the response to disasters. Likewise, when our outer universe.Through breath breath becomes fast and strong, control one gets immense it results in the damaging strength of the body and mind. emotions of anger, passion, Heart centre is the place of depression, and tension. such control and regulation. 32 Two mythological heros much too quickly attached and are described as the sons of very quickly bored. Our moods Vayu. Vayu is the air God. take pendulum swings from Hanuman in Ramayana and wildly happy to miserably Bhima in Mahabharata are both unhappy. Anger is an emotion considered the sons of the wind we have trouble controlling. It god. By controlling the breath bursts forth in harsh, cruel and thereby controlling their words we would give anything mind they have both shown to take back only a few super human powers. Hanuman minutes later. And despite our was of unparalleled strength and own moods, we are extremely was able to accomplish sensitive, unable to take the impossible feats. slightest criticism, and resent Bhima the middle such criticism as a wound to Pandava brother symbolising the very soul. The heart, which the middle air or heart center is should be a place of love, has described as invincible and become a place of anger, ego conqueror of all the enemies. and pride. Both the characters In recent times, indicate the powers of breath emotional problems have control. become rampant. Mood disorders, stress related Life is preserved in the disorders, depression, anxiety, body through the breath. The suicide, among adults and teens other centers are used alike, have become widely periodically, but only the breath prevalent. The pace of modern circulates continuously. Even society, the stress of the when the body is resting, the workplace, the loneliness and heart center preserves life isolation of urban life, and the through the circulation of life disintegration of the family unit energy. have all been cited as factors Emotional Disorders in this increased emotional The heart center controls turmoil. Whatever the cause, our emotions. Most of us are and there are plenty, for pain, ruled by our emotions. Our anger, or depression, there is loves are deep and our agonies only one cure. That is to are devastating. We become achieve a balanced emotional

33 state in which neither pain nor thousand-fold when it is given pleasure can disturb the inner unselfishly and without ulterior calm and tranquility of our motives. minds. How can such a state be Universal Love achieved? Through the same The heart center can be process of relaxation, the source of either immense meditation and self-inquiry with emotional satisfaction or intense which we overcome the emotional despair. By focusing downward pull of the other on this chakra and by chakras. Selfish emotion drags developing our awareness the mind down, burdening it with through deep meditation, we feelings which bury our spiritual can energize this center and energy and dissipate it in the make it a source of profound joys and sorrows of the inner joy. First, by achieving the moment. True happiness and balance needed to deal with spiritual awakening require that ups and downs with equanimity, we expand our emotions to and secondly by channeling our envelop the entire universe and emotions into constructive gain the riches therein. channels. Self-love, which is the Vishnu -The Symbol Of root cause of many of our Tolerance problems today, will be replaced The presiding deity of the with the all-encompassing love heart center is Vishnu. Vishnu for others. All of us have the is the maintainer and the same basic need: to love and to sustainer of creation. Once a be loved. By turning the selfish great sage by the name Bhrigu love we feel toward ourselves wanted to test the tolerance of and our immediate circle into Vishnu and went to visit him. the warmth and compassion for At the time Vishnu was all who share this earth, we will sleeping while his divine consort find ourselves released from the Lakshmi was massaging his self-made prison of our feet. Bhrigu expected Vishnu to emotions. We will be free at get up and greet him as Vishnu last to love wholly, without fear is the omniscient God. But and without restraint. Through when he did not show any signs loving others, we love God, and of recognizing his presence he that love returns to us a was upset and wanting to test 34 Vishnu with apparent anger or travel upward to the super went close to him and kicked conscious state by going to the him on the chest which was a upper three centers. The path great insult. Vishnu woke up and of spirituality requires the looking at the angry sage transformation of passion to touched his feet as a mark of compassion and emotion to respect and said, “Please don’t devotion. This transformation is be upset. I am sorry I was possible through the art of sleeping and did not recognize breath regulation and control your arrival. Your soft feet must under the proper guidance of a have been hurt by kicking my teacher. Sometimes people are hard chest” and started transformed temporarily, but are massaging the feet of the saint pulled back by temptation and with sandal wood paste to passion. But by regular practice pacify him. Life can be and persistence the maintained in the body by transformation becomes tolerance. Brahma creates and permanent, just as butter once Vishnu maintains the universe separated from milk by with tolerance and with the help churning, does not go back into of his divine consort Lakshmi the milk again. The presiding he sustains the universe. deity of Vishnugranthi is Vishnu Preservative Knot and many believe that the (Vishnugranthi) presence of God is manifested more there. Those who Located in the middle of meditate in the heart center gain the seven chakras, it is also love and devotion which should called the center of be directed properly by transformation. From here the ascending to Vishuddha chakra. mind can go down to the lower three centers when necessary,

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35 LIFE’S ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS (From THE CHANGING NATURE OF RELATIONSHIPS)

MULTIPLE make each one of our RELATIONSHIPS relationships healthy and ‘It is hard to live peaceful, loving and divine. without the sun and without When the threads of a a relationship.’ relationship break, there is Indian Proverb usually a great deal of pain, it Our relationship with the is like a bud stunted in mid- external world starts with our growth. Every circle in life must mother, who provides our first be complete. home, the womb, and nourishes A relationship is us from her body. A good permanent in life only when it mother gives the best of herself, combines love, humility, and is capable of any sacrifice sweetness and flexibility. There for the well-being of her is a wonderful story about an offspring. A mother’s love is the old philosopher who lived in purest form of love. China, long ago. A young A multiple family student approached him, relationship involves the rest of wanting to understand the truth the family unit, and it is made about life. The old man wrinkled up of blood links between his face into a huge, toothless people that are physically and grin, and in a husky voice emotionally close. In some whispered, “No teeth, only the countries the family bond tongue. What do you encompasses grand-parents, understand?” The thoughtful aunts and uncles, nephews and young man was quiet. After a nieces and often has several long while he answered, “The generations living under the tongue is soft, flexible and same roof. humble, whereas the teeth are strong and adamant. Those who Our external relationships are hard, strong, unbending and are ever expanding. The unable to compromise will come purpose of each relationship is and go, but the tongue will to enhance our life, and allow outlive them.” us to grow. We should strive to 36 When a conflict starts, A larger circle includes ego rises on both sides, but if the place in which we were one side remains humble, there born, our particular culture, is no fight, no further reason to religious affiliation, and mother struggle. It takes only one small, tongue. A more expanding harmful word to spoil a circle covers the world in which relationship, but a hundred we live and the environment. unselfish acts are needed to Finally comes the most maintain it. Human relationships essential, all-embracing circle, are bilateral, they depend on one which is our relationship with another. When two people are God. tuned one into the other, their Human beings are born emotions, happiness or into a social environment, and unhappiness, are reflected in belong to particular ethnic and each other like a mirror. religious communities. Life The Social Nature Of itself is an extended learning Relationships experience that has the family As we step into the as a primary foundation, but outside world, we start to be continues through the school exposed to many people and system, university, working before we know it, we become place, or any communal link we immersed in many types of create for ourselves, once we relationships. have reached a certain maturity. Our relationship with society starts with our teachers While family relations and friends. As we grow into hold a paramount importance adulthood we must learn to for a developing child, the family handle the more complex unit, however strong, cannot relationships of our working provide the overall training environment. It is not always required for the proper evolution easy to find balance between of an individual. Family relations superiors, colleagues, and are a bond that can make us subordinates. Throughout our strong or weak. The relationship life we must strive to grow in will be strong, if it is directed an atmosphere that will bring towards the positive goal of out the best we have to offer. enabling the individual to expand and thrive, but the same 37 relationship can become a environment is not easy. A bondage if it is filled with young adult must have already troubles and difficulties. developed an independent, If the child is overly strong mind, and a well defined dependent on the parents, or if personality. To have inter- the parents themselves are too active, successful protective, the child’s overall communication, we must have development will be hampered. developed the ability to give and Coping with peers in a social receive, in an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

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Summer Camp

38 MYSTICISM OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS RED AND WHITE SANDALWOOD

White sandalwood is ignore the developing pride and used for some specific purposes ego, which results in committing by the Brahmins, the priests. mistakes. So do not develop Red sandalwood is used by the either excitement or kshatriyas, the warriors or unhappiness; instead, be in a administrators, as well as by cool and balanced state. This those who practice tantric state is symbolized through the procedures, and is offered to red dot on the forehead. the Divine Mother Durga or The bhasma or vibhuti Kali. White sandalwood is used symbolizes elimination. In the for Mother Saraswati. Isha Upanishad (mantra 17), it What is the symbolism of is said: kumkum (vermillion) or the red bhasmantam shariram mark? It is the color of fire, krato smara kritam smara, and fire is eliminating. When fire “May this body end in eliminates, let it eliminate the ashes, O Intelligence, negative qualities. It also shows, remember, remember what has at the same time, the rising or been done.” setting sun. The rising or setting sun is like a red dot on the Remember the end of forehead of the sky. When the everything. Everything has an sun is rising, it is beginning of end. Do not be attached to prosperity, when the sun is anything that is transitory. Be setting it is beginning of conscious that one day this adversity. The sun maintains a body will be burned into ash; similar color, teaching us to this body will become ash or maintain equanimity in all stages will go to the soil. Do not be of our lives. When problems too attached to the body, and come, people are sometimes do not develop pride or ego unhappy, sad, or depressed and because of the body. when success comes, they are The Vaishnavas also use excited or happy, and they special clay, known as tilaka 39 or gopichandana. The many people in naturopathy use Vaishnavas are those who seek this soil on the body. This soil Lords Krishna, Rama, or cools the body, eliminates Vishnu. They use special clay tension, and brings more divine to make a paste, which they awareness. put on the forehead and on The mark on the different parts of the body. Its forehead should always be used name is gopichandana, a to open the eye of knowledge, special clay in memory of the to eliminate ignorance in our gopis, the devotees who loved life. The sandalwood and holy Lord Krishna from their heart. ash have medicinal value and It is said that where they left should be used on the body. their bodies, it became holy soil Some people use stickers that that was a beautiful yellowish are like the bindi on the color. This soil also has a forehead, but these do not have healing effect on the body, and the same effect on the body.

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Denver Retreat

40 STORIES TO LIVE BY GOD’S PRESENCE

Once a holy man was Shiva.” So he opened his water walking on foot from northern pot and slowly poured the water India to southern India with a into the parched mouth of the group of pilgrims. He carried little donkey. with him a container filled with His traveling companions, Ganga water from northern who were watching the scene India, to take to the Shiva unfold, could not believe what temple. Often people will carry they were witnessing. They water to be offered to (poured began to yell, “What are you upon) Lord Shiva. These doing! You came thousands of pilgrims had been walking for miles carrying this water, and many days and they had instead of going to the temple, traveled thousands of miles. As you are pouring it into the mouth they neared their destination of this donkey!” and were only a couple of miles The holy man, ignoring from the temple, they joyously their reaction, said, “Go to the began singing the song of God. temple and offer your water to Suddenly the holy man Lord Shiva. I am offering my saw a donkey in the field that water right here. Continue on looked very feeble and your way.” extremely weakened by the So the pilgrims once blazing summer sun. As he again set off for the temple, approached it, he could see that leaving the holy man to care the little donkey was dying of for the donkey. When they thirst. It had not rained for quite entered the temple, they had a some time and no water was strange vision. They found that to be found. The sight of the the holy man, who previously suffering creature filled the holy had poured water into the thirsty man’s heart with compassion. donkey’s mouth, was already in He thought, “It is better to give the temple, pouring water on this Ganga water to this thirsty Lord Shiva. Unable to donkey than to pour it on Lord comprehend what they were 41 witnessing, they thought, “This others – even those whose cannot be. We left him a few behavior may be hard to accept miles back. How could he reach – and remember that God’s here before us? It is not presence is within them, we will possible.” begin to find omnipresent God Reflection and realize He is everywhere. It is not possible to find the all- This story is a simple pervading nature of God if you incident in the life of a holy man. deny His presence within Is it really possible? Can one someone, even if you disagree really see God in a donkey with their actions or dislike rather than only finding God in them. To be able to see God’s the stone? Yes, omnipresent presence in all is the greatest God is everywhere. If we wisdom. develop the attitude of serving

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Having learned this immortal yoga sadhana I re- established it with the wish of spreading it to each and every house, so people will tread this path to ultimate liberation. God appears as the Master to show the path to devotees. Roads to receive God’s grace is closed to those who are doubtful. Lahiri Mahashaya

42 ATMA-VIDYA PURSUING SELF KNOWLEDGE KAIVALYOPANISHAD The Guru continued his teaching on self knowledge further to answer Asvalayana’s question. This verse explains the suitable conditions for meditation and the importance of understanding the teaching of the guru. Mantra 8 sabrahma sa shiva sendra sokshara parama svarat sa eva Vishnu sa prana sa kalogni sa chandrama

Substance on continuously. If a good thought comes we are happy He is Brahma, he is and if a bad thought comes we Shiva, he is Indra, he is the are unhappy. We are puzzled imperishable, supreme ruler, he with these thoughts and we alone is Vishnu, he is the vital cannot experience a continuous energy, he is time, and he is the flow of happiness and love as moon. the quality of the thoughts keeps Commentary changing. But all thoughts are Let us look at the inner coming from one source and no meanings of all those listed as thought is permanent. We live He. In Hindu tradition there is in a world of changing the trinity of creator, sustainer phenomenon but there is one and the destroyer. These are changeless state, which we the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. should experience. A meditator In our life when a thought is –having meditated, goes within, created, it remains in us for beyond body and mind realizes sometime then that thought the state of oneness or dissolves. Again another thought brahman and coming down comes and the cycle is also maintains that. repeated. In our life moment to sa brahma –brahma moment there is creation, could be the creator. brahma sustenance and dissolution going is the thought. 43 yatra yatra mano yati Then sa akshara – brahmanastatra darsanat- akshara means imperishable wherever the mind goes there and immutable. kshara means is the presence of God. First perishable, changing and theoretically accept the flowing down. Akshara means omniscience of God. Even imperishable changeless and when a thought comes to without any flow. The body is distract you never forget changing continuously, the mind divinity. is changing continuously, sa shiva –Shiva means everything around us and also the soul. From Shiva if you our inner life is changing remove i kara it becomes continuously. With all these Shava that means dead body. changes there is one imperishable soul. This is one sa indra- Indra is the meaning of the akshara. Lord of the kingdom of heaven. Indra is also found in the Akshara is also a word upanishadic and Vedic –any syllable that is coming out. prayers. Indra is an abbreviated Brahma is thought and what name. The actual name is comes out is the word or idandra-idam drashta. One akshara. We do not speak who is only watching everything everything that we think. is Indra. When I perceive the Sometimes we think one thing divinity as brahma coming as and speak another thing. thought, divinity of Shiva the Akshara is that word which is soul, remaining in the body as coming out as the thought. In breath and divinity just the Upanishad mantra it is said, observing is Indra. Indra also vak vai brahma. Each word means the Lord of the that comes forth is God. indriyas. In every indriya or paramasvarat- means the sense organ there is a lord the supreme Lord or Supreme or the presiding deity. In the left ruler. In our life, who is ruling eye the moon, in the right eye all the activities in life? Yogis the Sun and in the third eye say it is the breath. Without fire, in the nose is Ganapati, in breath nothing is possible. the tongue shakti, in the hand sa eva visnuh – vishnati Vishnu and so on. pravishyati iti vishnu- The meaning of Vishnu is one who 44 is penetrating everywhere. sa kala –kala is time or There is no time and no place the time spirit. Looking at the where you can ignore him. The watch is not time. The date and touch sensation is Vishnu. time are not the time. The time sa prana- prana is the is the flow of consciousness that vital energy. In the body there is appearing to us in the form are five principal vital energies- of past present and future but prana, apana, vyana samana it is beyond the past and future and udana. Prana is the life and is a present flow. The force that controls the heart and etymological meaning of kala lungs, apana is that which helps is kalayati iti kala –that which in the excretion, samana is that measures and assesses life energy that digests food and everything is kala. Kala is the provides the food to every part time spirit, which watches of the body, vyana keeps the everything within you life force vibrant in all parts of individually and in the given the body and udana is the vital frame. Kalosmi – I am the energy remaining in the throat Kala says Lord Krihna in the and is very interesting. Udana Bhasgavad Gita. plays an interesting role. udana sa agni –agra ye nayati is the gate for evolution or the iti agni – that which always downfall. goes up is agni. There are five Prashna Upanishad elements- the earth for ex. stone explains this as, or soil, if you throw it up it falls down. Take some water and do atha ekaya urdhva udanam, the same, it falls down. Air goes punyena punyam papena everywhere in all directions- papam, vayu sarvatra gomahan. If ubhabhyam manushya you look at the fire it always lokam nayati points upwards. So the literal When you do something meaning is - that which takes good udana helps your you upwards. Our two eyes are evolution and takes you much the eyes of duality but the third higher, and if you do something eye is the fire that can take negative it will push you you upwards. The fire purifies downwards and if your good everything and most religions and bad karma are equal it just ceremonies are done keeping a stays where it is. fire burning. 45 sa chandra ma – Supreme Being alone. One who candrama manaso jatah says knows that he is that awareness the purusha sukta. From the that is anantam or eternal, cosmic mind the moon was which is inclusive of everything born. Moon influences the mind. that exists, realizes that all the The Latin words Luna means above – the trinity, the Indra, the mind and those who are the Sun, the moon, the fire, the mentally sick are called lunatics. time and the prana are all So mind and moon are himself. correlated and in the body the This is mind is the moon. ayam atma brahma, All these are the prajnanam brahma manifestation of the one and aham brahmasmi

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The seed of devotion and faith is hidden in the hearts of All.Good Company, spiritual discussion, and self analyses are essential for the development of the plant. Every karma or action has a twofold result. One enjoyed in this life and the other deposited in the next life. Swami Satyananda Giri

46 BALASHRAM BI-CYCLE EXPEDITION ON EARTH DAY

Nature gives of Earth Day. We shared our everything for our existence but knowledge as well as gained in return we exploit it more than some ideas on environment our need. With an idea for from the interaction. creating awareness amont the We got an opportunity people of nearby villages the to see the river Brahmani. Balashram scout students Though it flows a couple of started on a bicycle rally on 22 kilometers from Balashram, we March 2012 on the occasion of hardly get to see it because of Earth Day. In the morning all the busy schedule. When we of our scout students got ready reached the river bank, we with bicycles each holding a were hungry and our teachers placard of slogan on Earth Day. arranged for some snacks from We were guided by our scout the nearby daily market. master Shri Gopinath Dash and Although the river is big, assisted by other teachers and currently during the summer Br. Anandananda. The Principal season, there was less water in of our school flagged off the the river. During rainy season rally. We left Balashram at 7:10 it floods and affects the nearby a.m. and bicycled towards villages. Indupur which is about 15 We experienced that kilometers away. On the way, nature plays crucial roles at villagers greeted us and offered different moments. We humans water to drink thereby making contribute to disturbing the our journey comfortable. They harmony of nature. We do not were curious and asked take proper care of our questions about the significance surroundings and as a resutl we

47 face various problems in our importance of plantation. If we everyday life. take care of Nature, Nature Trees are the main will take good care of us. Our agents of soil conservation. We rally on Earth Day was tried to create an awareness enoyable as well as educative amont the people about the for all of us.

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“Love is the only bow on life’s dark cloud. It is the Morning and the Evening star. It shines upon the cradle of the babe and sheds its radiance on the quite tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of the poet, patriot and philosopher. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody for Music is the voice of love. It is the perfume of the wondrous flower –the heart. Without it we are less than beasts but with it is heaven and we are gods in embryo.” Robert J. Ingersoll

48 AROUND THE WORLD

INDIA Arupanandji presided over the PRAJNANA MISSION evening satsang. Asimanandaji Maharaj was the chief guest Kriya Programs and who addressed the satsang. Retreats Yogacharya Siddheshwar Baba Several Programs were also spoke on the occasion and conducted in many states of Hemant Baba concluded the India by Swami program with a vote of thanks. Samrpananandaji with other The satsang was well attended monks and Brahmacharis of the and on the hot and humid day mission. March through May, and at the end of the program Kriya Yoga initiation programs four hundred people took and satsangs were conducted Prasad. Cuttack ashram, now in many centers of Andhra the administrative office of Pradesh including a program in Prajnana Mission, was founded the capital city of Hyderabad. by Paramahamsa There were also Prajnananandaji, with the advice programs in Lucknow, Patna of Gurudev, Bilaspur and Tatanagar. Gurudev’s Jayanti In south India programs Celebrations –May 27, 2012 were held at Coimbatore and Gurudev Baba Madurai. Several sadhana Hariharanandaji’s 105th Jayanti camps were also conducted in was celebrated at all ashrams the cities of Cuttack and and centers across the globe Bhubaneshwar on a regular with special prayers, worship, basis giving the disciples a seminars and meditations. chance to intensify their Ratha Yatra celebrations sadhana. Our Hariharananda Foundation Day of Cuttack Gurukulam took an active part Ashram –May 17, 2011 in Lord Jagannath’s Chariot We celebrated the 19th/ festival, serving the pilgrims 20th Foundation Day of with our book store, ambulance Jagatpur Ashram with Swami and medical services. Shuddhananda Giri. Swami

49 Gurupurnima Celebrations Balashram Guru Purnima will be This summer was special celebrated at the Gurukulam for children of Balashram. 10 with Guru paduka puja and students who could not go home havan at the Guru Mandir. for Summer went to a summer Matru Ashram News camp at Nagpur and Bhopal organized by Kriya Yoga In the month of April two Centres at those respective satsangs exclusively for women locations. At both places the were held in the village of Arua camp was action packed .The by the residents of Matru children were involved in Ashram. Matru Ashram is also various activities such as organizing health camps along drawing/painting, trekking, Judo with Prajnana Mission to training and music. They also provide medical help and also had sessions of child basic health education for psychology, yoga and women. Two such health meditation. There were visits to camps were organized at places of interest which included Nimpur near Pattamundai and Mantralaya, Vidhan Sabha, Birla another at Baluriya near Mandir, Bada Talab – Boating Dandisahi. The Nimpur Health and Bike Show, Indira Gandhi Camp was inaugurated by Manav Sanghrahlaya in Bhopal Swami Gurukrupanandaji, a and the Raman Science Center senior monk of Matru Ashram. in Nagpur.They also had the A group of doctors from opportunity to visit the Radio Cuttack and Pattamundai Center where there a recording provided consultation to the was done for Bharat Darshan villagers. More than 460 Programme of Akashawani, patients at Nimpur and nearly which was broadcasted on 300 patients at Baluriya were first Sunday of June 2012. The served during these camps and Boys recited Sanskrit prayers were provided free medicines. and Hindi and Oriya Songs and All the monks and were also interviewed. It was Brahmacharinis of an exciting and great learning Matruashram were present experience for the children during the camps helping in thanks to the sponsors and registration, and assisting the organizers the two cities. patients and the doctors. 50 ASIA Kriya initiation programs were Mar 2, Kriya Program, Hong held in centers of many Kong, China countries throughout Europe. Swami Atmavidyanandaji Upcoming retreats will be conducted a Kriya Program in held Hong Kong in March 2012. Latvia, Poland, Ireland in There were 34 new initiations the month of August and a special question answer August 10 session for those previously The Birthday of initiated. This is our second Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji program in Hong Kong. will be observed as a special EUROPE event at the Tattendorf ashram Vienna Ashram, Tattendorf AMERICAS March 7-12 North America Mother Center Europe Mother Center – had Higher Kriya retreat with Homestead FL Swami Atmavidyanandaji. The Higher Kriya Retreat, April retreat was well attended. 18-23 Swamiji also gave talks on “Faith” and “Science of sound” The Higher Kriya which were very interesting and Retreat at the Mother Center informative. was well attended form national and international participants. May 25-28 Swami Atmavidyanandaji Gurudev’s Birthday was conducted the retreat assisted celebrated with a special by Yogacharyas Bhadrayu Seminar at Tattendorf. Baba, Durga Ma and John May 21-24 Thomas Baba. Several of our A retreat was held at monks and brahmacharis also London, England with Swami helped in organizing the Samarpananandaji and Swami program for new initiations into Mangalananada Giri higher Kriyas and with guiding meditations. June 4-6 Swami Atmavidyanandaji Retreat at Budapest, gave interesting and informative Hungary, talks on Science of Sound and

51 the specific benefits of chanting Ashram. Swamij’s talks were of certain sounds like specific inspiring and guided meditation mantras with a scientific sessions thrice each day and the explanation which triggered question and answer sessions great interest in the listeners. enhanced spiritual progress of Gurudev’s Birthday the disciples. Program, May 24-28 Guru Purnima Seminar - Our beloved Gurudev, June 30-July 3 Baba Hariharanandaji’s A 3 day seminar is birthday was celebrated with a planned for GuruPurnima five day seminar and special celebrations at the Joliet worship at the Miami ashram Ashram with Swami with Swami Atmavidyananda Atmavidyananda Giri, other Giri, resident monks and resident monks, Brahmacharis Brahmacharis and and yogacharyas. The highlight Yogacharyas. Several disciples is an Interfaith Conference of national and international Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, attended the program. Muslim and other faiths. Guru Purnima Seminar – South America July 1-3 Brasilia April 4-10 Guru Purnima will be Swami Atmavidyanandaji celebrated with a 3 day seminar along with Yogacharya at the mother center with Bhadrayu Baba conducted the special worship and meditation. annual Kriya program and Kriya Vedanta Gurukulam retreat in Brasilia. There were Joliet twenty four new initiations. The Midwest Retreat - May 11- theme for the retreat was “The 13 Law of Karma” which was interesting and thought The Annual Midwest provoking. retreat was held at the Kriya Vedanta Gurukulam - our Sao Paulo –April 11-16 Midwest Ashram, with Swami The Kriya program in Atmavidyananda Giri, Sao Paulo with Swami Yogacharyas Durga Ma and Atmavidyanandaji and Bhdrayu Baba, assisted by the yogacharya Bhadrayu Baba monks and brahmacharis of the brought in forty-eight new 52 people to the path of Kriya. The Argentina and Chile retreat was attended by a large Kriya Programs are audience of over hundred planned this year in the New people. Planning for a new Kriya centers of Argentina and ashram continues and hopefully Chille expanding the Kriya will be reality before the end of family in South America. this year. ***

Earthday at Balashram

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS For available Books on Yoga, Philosophy & Spirituality. Please visit our websites.

For India – www.prajnanamission.org For USA – www.kriya.org For Europe – www.kriyayoga-europe.org

53 NEW BOOK RELEASES 2012

ONLY HER GRACE changing world. Paramahamsa The much awaited major Prajnananandaji brings out the work on Devi Mahatmya essence of these teachings in (Durga Saptashati) of seven his own unique way for our hundred slokas describing the understanding and application in glory of the Divine Mother is daily life. finally here in three beautiful DIVINE MOTHERHOOD volumes, with a commentary by Another inspiring work Paramahamsa Prajnanananda. of Paramahamsa FREEDOM FROM FEAR Prajnananandaji, this book is A thought provoking contemplation on the beauty of work on what is fear and how Mother and Motherhood to be free from it by starting with the earthly mother Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji. and ending with the divine Mother. SEEK GOD ALONE: TEACHINGS ON BHAJA A COLLECTION OF GOVINDAM INSTRUCTIONS ON KRIYA YOGA The teachings of Adi Shankara’s composition, Bhaja – By Paramahamsa Govindam, also known as Hariharananda Mohamudgara are like the Instructions by the great blows of hammer that crush Kriya Master Baba delusion, to save man tossed Hariharanandaji – a must for over by waves of pain and everyone on the Kriya Path pleasure in the sea of this

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Visit our web site: www. prajnanamission.org For current information. E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected]

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