NEWSLETTER FROM THE SATSANG FOUNDATION APRIL 2010 This newsletter is for private circulation only.

For sadhaks the most important thing to understand is to light the “inner fi re that consumes all other thoughts other than the reaching of perfection – that is the central meaning of the .” — Sri M

The Dhuni was continuously kept ablaze at Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela with Sri M

childhood friend Nina, sent an email asking if I knew how her good friend Evelyn could go to Kumbha Mela the Kumbha Mela. Wow! I immediately asked the 24—27, February 2010, Haridwar organisers, no problem at all. And Evelyn and I started back and forth emailing every minutest – Yogaratna detail, as she is extremely well organised. As I’m usually always late, I didn’t want to miss out or inconvenience anyone this time, so I made sure of arriving at the airport 90 minutes, as stipulated, before departure, and was the fi rst to had always thought that I’d never get a chance to go to the arrive, armed with hot drink in a thermos and yummy home KUMBHA MELA. It was one of those things I’d postponed for made bread sandwiches, very kindly prepared by my new Ithe ‘next life time’. But when I got a text message inviting me live in guest. Soon some friends arrived, and recognised to go, and just a few days to confi rm, I immediately checked and befriended me. After an uneventful fl ight where I the calendar, and then decided to accept this once in a life enjoyed views of India from the sky and time to read, we time opportunity. How else would one get the opportunity arrived and I started recognising other familiar faces from to go to one of India’s biggest spiritual festivals? And in a ‘The Satsang Foundation’ yet I was feeling nervous of living group too, so that one didn’t have to think about anything, in close quarters with semi strangers – my mind said “ Well, not even booking the air ticket from Bangalore to Delhi. The you’re a sannyasi so you can handle everything!” “Accept icing on the cake was that we were going with ‘Sir’ Shri M! everything, reject nothing give everything take nothing!” So there I was, no thinking, no planning, except to In a central park in Delhi we stopped for tea and snacks. arrange a relief teacher for my students – and luckily for me, There we met Shri M and we were able to pay our respects a good friend was happy and eager to help out. The most to the leader of this spiritual journey to the holiest river in diffi cult thing I had to do was to fi nd out what time the the world, at a most auspicious time, Kumbha Mela. airport bus left and what time I should get up - 2.45am! Almost at the same time, out of the blue, my old Continued on page 6...

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 1 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:08:53:08:53 AAMM 2 SATSANG, APRIL 2010

you an answer to this question, how do you reckon, if I am speaking the Q & A with Sri M truth and I am not speaking the truth. I can tell you what I believe. Suppose it Excerpts from an Interview on actually makes no sense. So instead of fi nding out, after death what happens All India Radio in Madikeri, Coorg or does life exist, it is good to examine death. Because then from there one January 2008 begins the journey. What is death? What does death imply? I am sitting here. I live in a place. I have a family. I have my relatives. I have my desires. I have my likes. I have Commentator – Sir we are very perhaps, reached there. We can’t say happy, you have come to Coorg. We my dislikes. All these things make for sure, if he has reached or not. How me what I am. I am part of all this. welcome Sir Mumtaz Ali, who is also can we judge? Unless we get there called as Mr. M, to Madikeri. Sir we Probably if somebody said to me, that ourselves. you are going to die tomorrow. And would like to ask a few questions. So then we take the help of Question – Sir in the path of when you die, you can also take your someone who probably has traveled house, and your car and your wife and , do we have to have a before us. Maybe senior to us. Who ? If so, why do we have to have a your girl friend and your children and has moved forward. Seems to have your wealth and everything with you Guru? And also, why do anyone have reached some kind of balance of to take to spirituality? when you die. I will not be afraid of mind. So then, we begin to go and death. Sri M – The fi rst question can be meet that person. Try to fi nd out what easily answered. The 2nd question, My fear is not death actually. is going on. I think that would be My fear is, leaving that which I am why do we have to take to spirituality called the guru. Beyond that, I think is a very serious question. You really attached to. That is death actually. after a while, the guru may become Even physically, I don’t know. Who can not answer in a few words. But I an obstacle to our search. This is my will try. We will come back then to the knows what is going to happen. Plus, understanding. I have to leave all that is near and 1st question. In the beginning it is necessary The thing is, most people are dear to me. This is the greatest fear of to have a teacher. But after that death. satisfi ed with normal life. They belong a true teacher will slowly make formally to a religion. They all go to While we are alive, it is diffi cult you independent—Stand on your to understand what happens after church. Or they go to a temple. Or own feet. Because you can not be they may go to a mosque. And they death. When we are dead, we don’t dependent always. know if we can come back and tell are happy with that. They satisfy Suppose I am standing here. themselves. They do their work. They anybody. So it is a no-win situation And you don’t know the way to go to both ways. come back. some place. Some estate, let us say. There are some people who are However, we can certainly I am at the gate and you are coming understand the implications of death not satisfi ed with that. They want to and asking how do I go to that estate? go into the deeper meaning of life while we are alive. I think, that if we Do I know the place ? Suppose I know. understand the implications of death and this happens many a time, when Suppose I am a kodava. I have been we are faced with certain serious life while we are still alive, we probably living here for many years. I would say, will be able to sort out what death is. situations. ‘OK you go this way. Then you turn Suddenly someone you love, Which is, as we discussed just now, right. Then you walk. On the left side, the fear is mainly that we will have dies. For instance. You don’t know count six and that is the house’. I can what to do. Because here was a to leave all the attachments that say that if I have lived here. we have. All the things that give us person with whom you could talk, you Now if you have to reach that could communicate and suddenly happiness, that give us pleasure. This house. What should you do? You have we have to leave behind. the person has gone away. So you to walk. Or go in your car or whatever. begin to think. Is that person there? Let us say, a doctor says, your You have to move. You have to go system is so and so. 18 blocks are Is he gone? If he has gone where there and fi nd out yourself. I can’t do has he gone? What was it that was there in your heart. We can do nothing the walking for you. I can only guide about it. Your kidney is failing. In 3 alive until now, with whom I had the you. relationship? days you are going to die. And we Instead of that, instead of going accept that we are going to die. What So all these questions come up. there and fi nding the house, if you stay That is when one begins to search for would I do under such circumstances? here and me and light a lamp Actually I know I am going to die. a spiritual meaning in life. There are and do to me, you will not reach some who even in that situation, will You will fi nd this story in the Srimad there. So you should understand that Bhagwad. Parikshit is cursed that he say, ‘Well it is nothing. What is gone is a teacher is necessary to guide us. But gone and forget about it’. They also will be bitten by a snake and he knows once, you are hungry, you have to eat he will die in 7 days’ time. He is sitting have some kind of a religion. Could be your own food. Nobody else can eat religion of the bar. Or something else on the banks of the river, waiting to for you. die. He knows he is going to die. And to divert their attention. But some are Your question, whether you not satisfi ed. They want to seriously then Sukhadeva comes along and need a teacher ? Yes. You would need gives him the teaching. That is the fi nd out. Whether they fi nd out or not, a teacher. For anything you need a we can not guarantee. But the search Bhagwad. teacher. But the teacher should not So unless and until some such begins there. become more important than the What am I? Where am I? How experience takes place in us, we will taught or the teaching. That is the not be able to solve this problem of am I related to this world? This is the danger always. For which we have to spiritual search. death. If we can work on this idea carefully watch ourselves. called death, immediately and see if it When you are embarking on Question – Is death the end of such an exploration into largely is possible to live without attachments. our life? Is there rebirth? It is very diffi cult. Is it possible even unexplored territory, it is a good Sri M – You know this question idea to fi nd out if there is someone for a day to say, I am going to die so which you have asked, I can give you let me see what happens. Perhaps who has traveled on that path and an answer to this question. If I give

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 2 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:15:09:15 AAMM SATSANG, APRIL 2010 3

Sri M in a study “Your question, whether you need a teacher ? Yes. You would need a teacher. For anything you need a teacher. But the teacher should not become more important than the taught or the teaching. That is the danger always. For which we have to carefully watch ourselves.” — Sri M

from that will come an understanding of what death is. And then we will probably know what will happen after the death actually takes place in Shivaratri Satsang the physical body. Questioner – Sir, the world Madanpalle, 12th February 2010 speaks of Rama, Krishna, Christ, Buddha and there are so many names. Whom should we consider as great? Or is there anything which is more powerful, and greater than these e meet again this year for to, or, we are not attracted to, is very names? Shivaratri. There are many attractive to the . Our attraction Sri M – Regarding this question, Wreasons why Shivaratri is is usually in the outward world, the which you have asked, I think over celebrated and night vigils are kept yogi’s attraction is to the inner world. thousands of years diff erent people and people fast during the day. Now, So therefore this night is a symbol of have come and gone. Diff erent beings. this is a very important day in the turning inwards. Diff erent human beings have come year. Actually every fourteen days You know how is and gone. According to their spiritual after the full moon, it’s supposed represented? Shiva is represented with stature and according to their spiritual to be an important day, but when it three eyes, two like us and the third achievements, we have given them a occurs in the month of Magha then which, normally, we do not have. So godly stature. Right? it is celebrated as Shivaratri. It comes when Shiva meditates he closes these Why are they being give a godly every fourteen days actually – on the two eyes. People always ask if Shiva is stature? Because they seemed to fourteenth day of the month. God why is He meditating, what is He have understood, fi rst who they were Now the concept here is the meditating upon? Which means, even and what was their connection with concept of Shiva. In the night one sits when you have a concept of Shiva as outside world. And they sort of, sorted on a vigil like a yogi - you know Shiva Shankara, to meditate upon the inner out the spiritual search and attained is the symbol of Maha Yogi. Even in core one has to shut one’s eyes and go it. At least we think they have. our Parampara - the Nath Parampara inwards. It’s a symbol of going inwards So therefore, we give them great - the fi rst Guru, the fi rst teacher is than outwards. respect. And we try to understand supposed to be Adinath and Adinath Therefore when Shiva meditates what they said and try to understand is none other than Shiva. Shiva and with His eyes closed, the from their life’s experience. And so on. Adinath are indistinguishable. Since opens, which is called the eye of It is always easier to understand from Shiva is considered to be the Maha knowledge, the eye of understanding. a biographical story, rather than from Yogi and since , according to the It’s not any organ situated here, plain notes. In the same way, then description of Krishna in the Bhagavat you cannot open the third eye with there are scriptures like Ramayana Gita, are those who stay awake a screwdriver. You can only open and Mahabharata. There are so many when others sleep and sleep when it through unfolding of the inner books in story form trying to describe others are awake, therefore Shiva, wisdom, that is the third eye. So Shiva to you what happens in spiritual who is considered to be the Maha represents that. Shivam, in Sanskrit, quest. Yogi, Adinath, is considered to be the also means auspiciousness and bliss. If you ask me if something is source of all the Nath Parampara. Of It can also be used as a substitute for greater than that I would say that the course when you say Nath Parampara ananda - which we all seek. Therefore greatest thing that should be given it means the Yogi Parampara. It is Adinath is considered to be no other our respect is the Supreme Reality one of the most ancient Orders from than Shiva who taught the path of the which is behind this whole universe. where the practice of has come. practice of Yoga so that one may turn So, even if you respect a So therefore, people sit at night and inward and fi nd the source of one’s personality and you consider that meditate and try to go deep within being, the source of all happiness person great, it must be because of oneself to show that what is night and the source of all knowledge. This the content not because of the form. to the ordinary man is day to the is the concept of Shivaratri. That does not mean we should not yogi, and what is day to the ordinary Now you look at the idea of respect. My father or my mother also person is night to the yogi. Which Shiva, how beautifully it has been have form and I respect them. But I means—what one would naturally created. Most of the other Gods may respect my teacher perhaps more and normally be attracted to in this and Goddesses require a lot of – whose spiritual content is greater. world is not very attractive to the paraphernalia to be worshipped, yogi and what you are not attracted look at Maha Vishnu we need all

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 3 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:16:09:16 AAMM 4 SATSANG, APRIL 2010

paraphernalia to worship Him. But absolute Supreme Brahman who know that story about the churning you have a concept of Shiva, who is also called the . In Kashmir of the ocean - the Manthan - and wears a tiger skin or deer skin which Shaivism, Shiva has no image, He is the when the churning took place, fi rst a is found in the forest, smears his body Supreme Being. Now what does this very powerful poison called ‘Halahala with ashes, has matted hair because mean to us - all these matters which Visha’ is supposed to have come out. It he cannot be expected to have a dip we have discussed? Does it have any would have enveloped the world but everyday. He doesn’t need to have a implication for us or are we just sitting for the fact that Shiva was supposed dip because the Ganga is supposed down in the night and meditating, to have drunk it up. It stopped in his to descend from Him. This concept of does it have any meaning? What you throat and it became blue, so He is Shiva, who sits cross-legged like a yogi, must understand is that there are called Neelkantha. Now this is a fact either in Siddhasana or in Padmasana, two more symbols of Shiva which are which is applicable to all yogis, not has a crescent moon on His head. very, very important. One is the snake, only to Shiva. When you churn your The crescent moon is a symbol of which is around His neck, and that mind in , which means, , you see it in Durga and Kali, snake represents wisdom. In some when you delve deeper and deeper the Navadurgas all have a crescent, ancient religions snakes have always into the layers of your mind, the fi rst now crescent is also the last digit of represented wisdom, especially the thing that comes out is not Amrit. The the moon either when it is going off ones with the hood. You’ll see it in the fi rst thing that comes out is poison, or when it is coming back. Therefore headdress of the Egyptian Pharoahs, because, that’s the only way it can it is considered to be the come out and disappear, sixteenth letter of the sixteen which is why, many people lettered Shri Vidya. This little who start the practice of moon, the crescent moon is sadhana, after a while, give an ancient symbol which has up sadhana and take on to been popular in many parts other things because that of the world. This crescent poison has come up. They moon is a symbol of Shakti get carried away by the and moon is also called as poison, or they drink the , therefore Shiva is called poison. There is no Shiva Soma Shekhara - one who nowadays, unfortunately, keeps or collects or retains to drink the poison for us. Soma. Now Soma has two This is something which meanings. One is the moon, every practitioner of spiritual as the physical moon, the exercises should keep in mind other is that, the imagination —that when you practice and is always associated with the go deeper and deeper, all the moon. The moon in Greek is tendencies that have been called Luna, therefore when hidden in your subconscious you are going close to Shiva mind till now, bottled up, they you become more and more will all come to the surface, lunatic. In the sense, your that is the poison. reason is not the ordinary Now that is where sanity that we normally have, you might get some help but something is slightly from a teacher, who knows turned off . In this world of how to handle it, otherwise, inner exploration you can’t everything will go berserk. stick to two plus two is equal It has to be someone who to four, you have to go a little knows how to handle this off the tangent. It may be six poison. Suppose somebody or fi ve or eight, which is not thinks that he is not angry at Newtonian mathematics, it all but he has other qualities may be Quantum, but not Sri M and others in a Satsang which he would like to deal Newtonian. Some holy men with, and then he starts behave like they are mad. intense and sincere sadhana. Although you think they are mad, who followed a wisdom religion. After six months he fi nds that his anger they think you are mad. The snake also is the symbol of the level has gone up. Why? Because that Soma is also that which when Kundalini, which remains inactive in little bit of anger which was inside us imbibed, causes the most people but resides in all human and which is usually hidden by smiles to ascend to diff erent levels. Like systems, and the level of wisdom and is coming out. We hide! All that is the Soma which was drunk in the that a person hidden has to come out, if it doesn’t Vedic ages to transform the mind, ascends to is when this energy uncoils come out it cannot evaporate and go. to raise it from the ordinary state of itself and moves upwards. Of course, It’s almost like heating water to make consciousness to a higher state of in an anatomical hall you cannot tea - you heat it, the bubbles have to consciousness. Some people say that see any snake lying anywhere in the come, the glug, glug sound has to Soma is a herb, maybe, which is lost body, it’s not that! It’s not a physical come, then it will become vapour. So now, but the real Soma is that which thing! It’s a symbol of energy rolled you have to watch out at that time. the yogi feels when his energies or, up in potential form which has to That’s another important symbol of when his consciousness ascends to be awakened by the yogi and Shiva Shiva’s story of drinking the poison. the highest center in the human body. again is the symbol of that awakening The third important aspect That is Soma and it really intoxicates where the human being becomes a is the Tandav Nritya. Shivaratri is you, so much so, that you don’t need God. also considered to be the day when to have any intoxicants ever! And Shiva One more thing that I have Shiva did His Tandav Nritya. It is is the carrier of that Soma therefore to tell you is that Shivaratri also, also supposed to be the day when He is called Soma Shekhara. traditionally, is supposed to be the He met Parvathi in the Himalayas. Shiva can be Shankara, as day when Samudra Manthan was Here Parvathi indicates Shakti, you see in form, or Shiva can be the done and the poison came out. You Shakti indicates Kundalini, Shiva

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 4 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:17:09:17 AAMM SATSANG, APRIL 2010 5

indicates that energy, that Supreme and we go into the realms of inner there, mainly to see him. He had this Consciousness, which is seated in our consciousness. And Shiva sits there peculiar habit that when he went Sahasrara . So when they say guiding us on to this tour, this journey on Friday for the public prayers, he Shiva met Parvathi, it means, that this into the inner, where we go breaking used to tie a black blindfold and go. energy, which is known as Shakti, has image after image, image after image, Everybody used to wonder, ‘What is ascended the Sushumna and touched and then we come to the Source of this?’ He had to be led to the mosque Shiva and they are together. In fact, the Consciousness, because of which, the because he had this blindfold. One coming together of Shiva and Shakti is mind is able to create and this is the day one of his close associates asked what is celebrated by Shankara in the most important aspect of the concept him, “Sir why do you tie this blindfold? beautiful verses called the Soundarya of Shiva. Can you tell me?” The saint said, “Do Lahiri. What we should bear in mind you want to try?” The man said “Yes I think the most important on Shivaratri is to think about all Sir, if you don’t mind”. The saint said, thing we should stress on today these concepts, which we discussed “Okay, you take the blindfold today”, is the Tandav Nritya. They say that today, and when we sit down here to and he gave it to him. This fellow when Shiva dances the whole world meditate, with the fi re, in the night, went to the mosque, before the shakes and is about to collapse, He we should meditate keeping our prayer started, everybody was sitting pulls Himself together, otherwise mind on these matters. Say break down, lots of people. He covered his everything will collapse. This is a down all my images. But be careful, I eyes with the blindfold and he was symbol. You know, we are taught in don’t know if you can survive with all shocked, terrifi ed! Because through our Parampara, that when Shiva or images broken. It’s very diffi cult! Very the blindfold, which was acting like Adinath dances his Tandav Nritya, he few people can really survive with a kind of optical fi lter, he saw that all destroys all images, he explodes all all images broken and those are the the people sitting had human bodies the images that we have created and people who are generally free. but they had animal heads. The fellow without that destruction of the old So, the Tandav Nritya of Shiva sitting next to him looked like a wolf, and the stratifi ed and the calcifi ed is meant to free you from all the the fellows sitting near were like a and the fossilized, nothing new can conditioning, all the images, all the cat and tiger although their bodies come up. Like death! What would attractions and repulsions that keep were all human. He got terrifi ed. He have happened if all the people who you rooted to the understanding that was sitting next to the saint and he were born in this world were still alive? you are an individual diff erent, and said, “Sir, please take this off , what is But people move, they come, they go, not the same as everybody else. So if this?” The saint said, this is their real new people come. Now that going is you are ready to embrace the dancing characteristic. They have only human destructive and that is the dance of Shiva, then you are free, if you are not, bodies but they are ‘pashus.’ Now you Shiva – who is also called Maheshwara, then you are not free. You can choose. know what Pashupathi means! the destroyer. Now that “destroying” is Shiva is not a dictator, although, one The linga also represents Shiva. only a “transforming” because unless of the symbols that Shiva carries is This is a unique concept, it’s unique the old goes no new can come up, the paasha. Do you know what is a in the world, that there is no need of that is, on the physical side. The paasha? It is a noose. You see in the a human image of God. God can be psychological side is relevant to the Tandav Nritya that in one of the hands represented by a simple symbol, which yogi who is always in search of his true there is a noose, this noose is called is the symbol that stands like a pillar. identity, or, true consciousness. True a paasha - which can be thrown and You know the pillar is the support, consciousness means to go beyond pulled. Now this noose is only thrown without a pillar you cannot have all images, not images that you see by Shiva on those who are ready to anything horizontal. The whole edifi ce around you. But the images that we take the noose, it is not thrown at stands on pillars. Today also, if you build up in our mind and Tandav random, because, most of the time want to have big buildings, you have Nritya is a beautiful expression of the even when Shiva throws the noose pillar foundations. That represents breaking down of all the images that people duck out, they don’t want to Shiva as the single principle around we have created. So many images! be caught in that noose. Believe me, which all other activities take place, Look inside our mind and you will see it is a beautiful noose, once you are but, for the activity of the linga, you’ll that we have hundreds of images and caught there, which is also the reason fi nd that in any place, in any temple, it is because of these images that we why Shiva is also called ‘Pashupathi’. there is a linga, there is another little get hurt, our ego goes up, we have all Pashu means all the instincts which we thing down, that’s called the . It the problems, everything! I believe have as animals and this is the noose is the womb. It is usually linga-yoni, that I am an intelligent man, now that pulls that animal and makes it do so the whole of production, creation, somebody pricks it by telling me that exactly what He wants, this is called movement, everything depends on you are a bloody fool, I get terribly the paasha. Therefore He is called the linga and the yoni. Which means, upset. Why? Because I have created Pashupathi. We all are actually pashus as the energy of the linga is there, so an image that I am an intelligent man. although we think we are manushya, also there has to be a womb to receive Nobody can be one hundred percent deep down we are all pashus and it. So Shiva and Shakti here together, right, therefore you could be wrong, Shiva is the Lord who presides over represent the entire creation of the can we think that way? us, so He is called Pashupathi. Cosmos. It is so simple that you just One of the functions of Shiva’s I must tell you this story which need a little stone kept there, Shiva Tandav Nritya is to destroy the images comes from a diff erent tradition. If doesn’t need any elaborate off erings, that we have created. We create so you go to Delhi, there is a railway give him a ‘bilwa’ leaf and a little cold many images- I am so and so, I am station called Nizamuddin. It’s built water. That’s how a yogi’s life is as this, I am that - fi nally what happens? because of the name of a great saint, well. He doesn’t need anything, he Because of the image you are not able a Sufi saint, who used to live there, needs water to drink and perhaps to explore, you are not able to listen. called Hazrat Nizamuddin. The story some food to eat and he is happy You put blinkers on your eyes and is that he never went for public with that. Therefore, Shiva represents look in one direction and walk. It’s prayer except on Friday, the rest of the perfect Yogi. Shiva represents that like horses with blinkers- they can’t the days he would sit quietly in his symbol of the creation of the entire go this way or that. This destruction room and meditate. He was a great universe. of all images is the most important practitioner of meditation. On Fridays Now there is a which is function of Shiva and the night is he would go for public prayers. Now, invoked whenever you say Shiva and supposed to be the time when the because he went on Fridays for public outside world vanishes from our mind prayer, large crowds used to gather Continued on page 10...

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 5 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:17:09:17 AAMM 6 SATSANG, APRIL 2010

He said, “Many people have endure, all for the search of truth!” ...Kumbha Mela, Continued from page 1 the misunderstanding that Hatha Could we live like that? Yoga is something to do with asanas. That afternoon we all 60-80 of The bus journey was blissfully In the Nath Sampradaya when you us went for our big ‘dip’ in mother long, enabling me to keep enjoying say Hatha Yoga it does not mean Ganga. I had no idea what it would my book, in between wondering physical exercise. What it means is be like, imagining a sea of humanity whether Evelyn, a new comer to India, that the system recognizes two types stampeding towards Mother Ganga. had noticed this or that which I saw of energies operating in the body on But the Hari Ki Powdi area of Haridwar from the window. Lunch stop helped either side. One is called the Ida and was very orderly, so orderly that there in further orientation to the group, the other Pingala. The Ida is the left were police with rifl es and machine with Shri M and Evelyn. She was smart and Pingala is the right. Just like you guns at check posts at strategic points. enough to fi nd the coolest breeziest have two nostrils. They are supposed Bags were searched. place where we could chill out while to be the two pranas active in the After walking towards the river awaiting others. system, in the right and left. Pingala in awe of our new surroundings At last in Haridwar, we arrived on the right is plus and Ida on the left being a sanyasi, I was keen to get a at ‘Camp Nirvana’ after dark but there is minus. I am deliberately saying plus head shave before dipping (there were so many bright neon lights that and minus avoiding the terms positive are 2 types of in India, those we could easily fi nd our luxurious tent and negative. That’s because minus that never cut their hair and grow and settle in ready for a late dinner does not mean negative and plus dread locks that are usually wound with blissfully plenty of tomato soup! does not mean positive. It is like two around their heads, and those who Unfortunately one of our members, poles of a battery—two terminals of a keep a clean shaved head; both Shri, tripped and fell requiring stitches battery. Neither of them can be called practices symbolizing detachment to her cheek which our travelling negative or positive except that they from physical vanity). Luckily, our Doctor Rajendra Prasad was easily do two functions. One sends and the wonderful guide, Kamal Jeet Singh of able to minister same evening at the other receives and they are equal and Skylark Nature Tours, took us (Evelyn local hospital. they are very important otherwise and I) to the barber section, a quaint These tents are so luxurious there is no circuit created. So it is like (river bank) studded with barbers that they have carpet inside and out, the anode and cathode. on their mats under an electric pole an attached bathroom complete The right side pingala which that advertised the government rates with luxury basin, shower stall, toilet is the plus is represented by the of Rs 25 for head shave and various mounted onto a wooden stand and sound “Ha” and Ida which is the left is barber services. Nearby there were hot water on tap. Poor Evelyn crashed represented by the sound ‘Tha’. When little wooden box stalls with sadhus as soon as we arrived while the rest you say ‘Hatha’ it means that which holding court and off ering special of us had the good fortune to hear involves the movement of energies poojas (ritual off erings). After the head Shri M’s introduction to lineage in the here and there to form the right circuit shave, the hair is off ered to Maa Ganga ‘Nath’ sect and how he got the name and there can be a spark that ignites (immersed in her furious waves). Madhukar Nath from his guru, Babaji, the Muladhara and the energy begins Evelyn also decided to renounce her who he lived with in the Himalayas to act through the central channel hair and enjoyed giving up to Maa. for 3 years, as we sat around the which is called the sushumna. This is By the time we went back, most dhuni (spiritual camp fi re). Shri M also the meaning of Hatha.” had already had their dip and were on showed us how to use the Chimta Shri M then read and explained there way to the opposite bank of Hari (tongs) and explained the signifi cance some of the verses from the Gorakha ki Powdi. So we quickly went towards of the Trishul (trident). He initiated us Shataka which deal with the practice the bank. The water was a beautiful into the Nath mantra for that retreat of yoga. The text talks about the best aquamarine and fresh as if alive and and told us that for this time, we asanas suitable for the practice and full of energy, rushing past at an could consider ourselves as Naths how the fruits of this yoga bring an end alarming rate so that we had to look (Wow!)...... to the misery of this world. It mentions for a fairly safe place. The banks were That night I went to sleep, not that “this by which the mind is tuned well constructed steps with chains tired, but buzzing with excitement at away from sensual enjoyments and you could hang on to. We chose our being blessed by the direct disciple of is attached to the supreme spirit is spot and went in, in such hurry that Babaji. a ladder to fi nal release; this is the I forgot to take my glasses and watch Next morning, usual 4.30 am cheating of death.” off . I kept the glasses beside the leg wake up and cold bath. Followed by At lunch time we had the good of a nearby wooden box stand and hot tea (5.30) and meditation with fortune to be able to give free feeding forgot totally about the watch which Shri M (6.30). Although I have known to 50 Sadhus, who came in a bus. I was also had a chance at bobbing up Shri M for well over 15 years, this is thrilled to see the variety of sadhus and down in the waves like us two actually the fi rst time I was attending because though I’ve been a bald goons, cleansing our sins away. his meditation. It was like my usual (sannyasi) for over 25 years, I’ve never It was so fresh and invigorating! We , struggling with monkey had the chance to mix with many fi lled up our bottles with holy Ganga mind only a little shy at being in group outside of our own (Bihar water and headed to the change area and in Shri M’s presence. School of Yoga) and found myself dripping like drowned rats. Luckily Asanas by Uma Singh at 7am too shy to introduce myself and talk there is a separate area where women were a welcome way to follow instead to them though I felt so good to be can change, while being harangued of lead, and gave the body a wonderful in their presence. It also reminded by the tough boisterous women warm and loose feeling that brought me very much of my main ashram owners of wooden beds used to put energy and suppleness to the rest of (Bihar School of Yoga, Rikhia Peeth your stuff on. Sweet and innocent, the day. After breakfast we had our campus) where we fed the poor and we raced back up the stairs to the 2nd satsang with Shri M in which children and local villages regularly. other bank where everyone was he started telling us more about the I felt a little uncomfortable ‘gawking’ watching the Ganga fl ow in front of Naths and the Goraknath’s text - the at the sadhus but enjoyed joining in the numerous little temples with all ‘Goraksha Shataka’ which means their pre-prasad (food off ering) sorts of sadhus, pandits (priests) and “Hundred verses of Gorakh Nath”. (singing), and enjoyed at the end devout pilgrims, singing, chanting, During the talk Shri M spoke about a when departing they vied to sing and praying and dipping to remove their few commonly held misconceptions impress Shri M with their wisdoms. As sins and woes. This was really the such as on Hatha Yoga. one devotee said “What hardship they only ‘crowd’ we saw the whole time.

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 6 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:18:09:18 AAMM SATSANG, APRIL 2010 7

Everyone was sitting silently and to me, to reveal their mystery to me. – ashes. That is a constant reminder. peacefully. I was able to get very close They kept dancing like little fairies or When you watch the fi re see how to the bank. There were government nymphs, almost teasing me. Whether beautifully the fl ames come and how men selling donation tickets for the is was the little fairies jumping up and warm and nice it is… but you also see upkeep of the pilgrimage site, they down to a silent music, reaching their that the wood is constantly burning. sounded like auctioneers but it was arms to the skies or, the cool blue shy You cannot keep the same wood. quite entertaining and I think a great smudges hovering around the coals Tomorrow it is gone and become way to collect donations! As the sun or the slender white arms wrapping ashes. This also illustrates time as it went down the loudspeaker music of themselves around the logs, it was moves, which doesn’t leave anybody. chanting and pujas got louder and life more and more captivating until I felt Fire is a great symbol of the spirit savers began coming up and walking drawn to the fi re, inch by inch until and I personally believe that fi re has a on the bank. I was imagining hoards I was almost touching it. Yet I didn’t life of its own when it is lit. it is not just of pilgrims pushing us all in while they feel at all sleepy, in fact I felt more a fi re which is an inanimate object. It vied to get to Ganga Maa at sunset to and more fascinated, wanting to has a life of its own which relates to put in their little off erings (a leaf boat penetrate into this secret. you in a certain way. When you sit for with fl owers, and fl ame) for Finally the spell was broken and a long period before the dhuni and their ancestors. I put one in for all my I went to bed in order not to be up meditate on the outer fi re, it helps to students and friends (this is for you!). all night and sleepy the whole of the light the inner fi re.” As the light faded, the temple lights next day. The dhuni reminded me also “The fi re always goes up, means got brighter and the bells got louder of Tratak (candle light meditation) the spirit however it may descend to until on the stroke of sunset, suddenly and Sai Nath’s Akhanda Dhuni and the earth, it still has the aspiration to the loud speaker began to blast Ganga I wanted to know more and more go upwards. This is also a symbol of ki Aarti and all the poojaris the Kundalini fi re started waving their that burns inside lights and the colour and and is lit through sound of devotion was all deep meditation.” encompassing. This was “For all refl ected in the river sadhaks the most which was like a rainbow important thing coloured heaving serpent, to understand rushing past (shades is to light the of Kundalini?). People inner fi re that here and there started consumes all off ering their leaf boats to other thoughts Maa Ganga with fervent other than the prayers for . reaching of We all fi nally rose perfection – that up and started following is the central our Master with elevated meaning of spirits. As we walked back the dhuni. And to collect our shoes and unless it is a fi re then to the buses waiting Evening prayers at Har-ki-Pauri, Haridwar it is not going for us, other pilgrims, to work. Once seeing Shri M’s stature and your enthusiasm his devotees all following, about it. is fi red by it, then started coming and paying their Early the next day even before it will work. It also shows that one respects by touching his feet. 5.30 tea, quite a few were already at cannot aim for it unless you one has Back at our Camp Nirvana, our the dhuni soaking up its heat, life and decided that all is well and fi ne but heads were in a whirl and we dispersed mystery. now I have to move on. Without this for dinner, kirtan and the dhuni. Shri After another intense basic notion sadhana does not work.” M had suggested that devotees meditation in the presence of our Nath “And leaving it on continuously should mind the dhuni for an hour Master, and loosening up with jovial burning means that this is not merely each right through the day and night humour, we had a wonderful satsang a symbol that we do it one day and so that it was kept alive ceaselessly from Shri M on the signifi cance of forget about it when we go home. (ahkanda dhuni). I felt bad that I the dhuni. This was a wonderful way But this desire for perfection burns hadn’t volunteered at the beginning, to impress on us the mystery and eternally within us all the time. That so I asked for a chance and was lucky energy of the dhuni, bringing to life in is the symbol of leaving the dhuni enough to get one immediately while our minds what was already burning burning continuously.” others were eating. Luckily there was in our hearts. Few excerpts from his “The dhuni also indicates someone there to show me how to do talk : bringing about light in darkness. it and I got the hang of how to place “Looking at the fi re is one of the Starts of course with a spark which the logs and branches on so that most beautiful experiences especially comes to someone who has emptied they burn slowly and easily without at night. I was taught to completely all his contents and is open and becoming a roaring fi re, smothering open your eyes and watch the fl ame. receptive to what is coming. All that in smoke or going out completely. And then to close your eyes and you carry – the tons of cabbage on Then I sat and relaxed in front the fi re, visualize it inside. It actually burns one’s head – has to be burnt to ashes gazing into it and remembering the off many of the leftovers from our before something new comes out. scenes of people sitting in front of past just as it does physically. It is the When that happens the third part of their own hearth in European homes. symbol of burning away of all desires. the mantra is fulfi lled – Mrityor ma The fi re was really mesmerizing and I That only a fi re can do. You cant wash amritam gamya. From death I have was wondering how come I had never away all desires with water but fi re moved into the deathless.” realised just how beautiful a fi re can can burn away everything. And it also Many of us received initiations be. I got so involved in its attraction keeps you constantly exposed to the from Shri M that morning, simple and that I started mentally talking to the fact that this is the end that we are profound, like only a real Master can fl ames, asking them to communicate all going to come to. The same thing give - a spiritual link to the ancient

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 7 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:18:09:18 AAMM 8 SATSANG, APRIL 2010

traditional lineage of Nath’s and Babaji, singing and all enjoyed raising spirits so subtle and mysterious that only by further till we formally thanked Shri sincerely following the instructions M and he blessed us by giving each Where they for daily practice can we imbibe the one a tilak (annointing the third eye) secret essence of the Masters. with ashes from the dhuni which had After the 2nd day of Sadhu been infused with everyone’s mental Feeding after which Shri M and the mantra chanting as they had tended learn... sadhus talked, some of us raced up to the dhuni throughout our time Manasi Devi temple on top of the hill there, and with over looking Hari ki Powdi. To The deities: Sri Manasi Devi Har-ki-Pauri, Haridwar and Gayatri Devi [Inset: Sw . Yogaratna and Evelyn] were beautiful and the whole discover temple had Discovering an ancient and classical air. The The Satsang trip up and down in the cable car Vidyalaya was absolutely fantastic! We had panoramic views of Haridwar and he people at the the Ganga and the Satsang Vidyalaya ground directly Tprobably do not beneath had see themselves as been planted with exceptional. However, masses of coloured they are role models for a fl owers which added hundred children or more, as greatly to the joyous they look to embrace life and atmosphere. To the meet its challenges head on. get there we had to ra ce Come with us and meet some through the winding streets of local and of them here. markets which were full of temple . When I received Shri M’s Like us, you will also delight wares and pilgrimage paraphernalia blessing, I said to him “I would much in knowing that these children have adding richness and depth to our rather receive your tilak with ashes cleared the Zila Parishad exams with experience. from your dhuni than any other sadhu distinction and have gone on to the We got back in time to in the akhada” and he said “Have you next step in their education ladder - accompany Shri on to higher classes in government M to the Juna schools. Akhada, the Krishnaveni, was a little child living place playing carefree, She was happy to of the Naga go to school – The Satsang Vidyalaya, Sadhus which close to where she lived. One day she literal means developed considerable pain and ‘naked holy discomfort in the eye – so much that men’. Actually led her to believe that there must they ‘clothe’ be some cure for the malady, that a themselves in doctor would know. Though she got ash, rubbing well, soon enough, the determination the ash in her remains of what she felt. She from their wants to study well and become a dhunis over doctor – an Eye doctor! their bodies She has a good friend and keeping them classmate – Pushpalatha, who warm and Sri M and others around the Dhuni at the camp ‘Nirvana’ studied with her in The Satsang purifi ed by Vidyalaya and is also interested in the ashes. The becoming a Doctor – as she wants akhada was an area of lots of tents ever smelled such sweet ashes from to help people by serving them. She separated by winding lanes and with a fi re before?” This made my day, the says that she is fortunate to get the our big group it was diffi cult for all of whole retreat! We were truly blessed! quality education that is required, to us to go in and see the Sadhus. Some A fi nishing note by Gagan: I think realize her ambition and goal along seemed to be ‘out of it’ and others the entire experience was so over with the hard work and study which austerely sitting erect by their dhunis. whelming with the sadhus coming she puts in. The walk through the akhada and a to our camp, our visit to the Juna Bharathi & Sahana, are from glimpse of the way the sadhus live Akhada, the tranquil Goddess river a family of six brothers and sisters. was quite an experience! Ganga ma, radiant Guru Nath form They have no father. Their mother Our last evening by the dhuni of Sir, the fragrant bhasma tilak, the works in a hospital close by. Sahana back at Camp Nirvana was highly group initiations and Sir’s chimta! All is very good in academics and is the charged! After our walk thru the woven together in a retreat which top scorer for the school. Bharathi Sadhus’ Akhada and knowing it was our was like stepping back into time and looks up to her sister and wants to last night, everyone was expectantly experiencing the glory of The Nath follow in her foot steps. crowding around the dhuni. Bhajans teachers! Smt Indira is the Principal of and kirtans were sung and luckily I had The Satsang Vidyalayas since the last enough courage to pluck up to off er eight years and going by the way the

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 8 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:20:09:20 AAMM SATSANG, APRIL 2010 9

school has grown, her involvement and passion for the children, is self- evident Indira started her career as Memoirs of a trip a teacher. Early on, at ‘Neelbagh’, To Trivandrum and Kanyakumari David Hosborough, was her mentor and shaped her thinking. David, an March  Englishman, had founded Neelbagh, – Srikumar M a rural school for the needy, at Rayalpad, close to Madanapalli. Indira has also served in Rishi Valley, another t was, as always, quite uplifting…. disturbed patients. Next to this was exemplary school. travelling with Sir, especially this the tomb of Kaladi Mastaan where Indira cares deeply for the Itime to many places of spiritual too, we paid our obeisance. Sir had children and the teaching staff . She is a signifi cance in Trivandrum and requested the qazis at both the tombs one-man army in marshaling facilities, Kanyakumari. I would try to visualize to chant prayers while all us stood shaping the curriculum and driving whenever he recalled moments of with folded hands in supplication. the pedagogic approach. the experiences with many masters We prayed at the tomb of Thuckalay Should you be staying in he had met during his early days. Peer Mohammed Sahib enroute to Madanapalle for more than a day, it This is a general recollection of those Marudvamalai. is likely that you will eat at the school moments with Sir. Some of the details Climbing Marudvamalai to mess and you are sure to bump into of his discourse on ‘The Alphabet of the cave where Sir used to meditate her then and see her magic in action. Reality—Om’ are also part of this short took us about 2 hours. Sir used to We wanted to make the school recall. meditate in this cave for 3-4 hours in real to you, so we have introduced In Trivandrum, we entered sheersasan with legs in padmasan. these few faces to you from the every place that Sir visited with eager He has met several saints like Naina school. hearts to, hopefully, assimilate a past swami here during his visits. Sir said Today Indira and 9 other experience for posterity. We visited this is defi nitely a power centre. committed teachers/ support staff the house of his friend and were Marudvamalai (‘medicine mountain’ help more than 130 children believe told by the friend’s sister that Sir’s in Tamil) is home to the sanjeevani in themselves and their bright future. predictions from the time he was herbs that fell here when Hanuman follow in her foot steps. 16yrs old had always come true for carried the sanjeevani mountain them. Saw the courtyard behind Sir’s to Sri Lanka during the war with childhood house where Ravana. It is awe inspiring to think the fi rst meeting with his that a few boulders from Hanuman’s master had taken place. cargo could have created such a big We visited a saint’s mountain. We rested outside the samadhi where once used cave in the cool air after a tiring and to be a forest with a lot of hot climb. Personally, I have never snakes. Sir used to meditate felt the enormity of these physical there and had heard the eff orts when Sir is around (Kailash sound of ‘Om’ chant coming trekkers would agree). Marudvamalai from the samadhi on a few has attracted a number of saints occasions. This saint had including Sri Chattambi Swamikal, asked for some air vents to his teacher Ayya Vaikunda Nathar and be made for his samadhi. others. We had visited the ashram of Smt. Indra and her students at The Satsang Vidyalaya Sir also had some terrifying Swami Abhedananda in Trivandrum experiences during and this ashram was one of the many meditation at this particular dedicated to Sri Chattambi Swamikal. place. Gopalaswami Pillai We reached our destination, the mentioned in Sir’s book Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari ‘Jewel in the Lotus’ used to meditate in the afternoon. During the 2-day stay here. at the Kendra, we had meditations, We also visited the place where yoga sessions and satsangs with Sir. Poojapura swami used to stay. Sir I really liked the walk with Sir to the said he used to kick people to beach for viewing the sunrise. It was bless them, presumably to clear breath-taking to view the greatest or activate the energy centres in force of nature reveal itself with such the body. He had once kicked Sir beauty and grace. In comparison, pretty forcefully. one wonders at the ego, a smaller In Beemapally beside the force which manifest itself with false sea, we paid obeisance at the pride in violent forms when there is tombs of Beema Ameen and so much to learn from watching the Abdul Qader (her son). Long time wonders of nature. The Sastang Vidyalaya, Madanpalle ago, two coffi ns were found fl oating During the satsangs, Sir provides free education to rural children from beside the sea shore by the locals. answered many questions with the tribal areas of Sugali Thanda. When they opened, the mother and characteristic clarity. He mentioned son sat up and decided to stay in that in order to become a disciple, The school runs a sponsorship programme that village. These saints used to treat one has to be ready because mental whereby education of children can be sponsored people with psychiatric disorders and strength and the eff ort that is at an annual cost of INR 7,500 per child. also people who were possessed. The required are enormous. He said that area around the campus of the tomb the force that comes from realization For details contact: Smt Jayasri Achuta is lined with dwelling for people is more powerful than a nuke bomb Rao (098863 11999), C.N. Bhushan who need treatment. After the saints and one has to be prepared for it. He (09341254570), or write to: passed away, their tombs serve as also stressed on non-consumption [email protected] healing centres for the mentally of external chemical stimulants during practise of kriya. This includes

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 9 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:35:09:35 AAMM 10 SATSANG, APRIL 2010

avoiding frequent intake of strong tea ...Continued from page 5 shariram’— so says the Ishavasya and coff ee. Upanishad. Finally that is what In the MahaGanapati Temple that is called the Shiva panchakshara. happens, ashes, and Shiva represents at Trivandrum, Sir gave a talk on the It’s called panchakshara because it that. What does it mean? It is actually alphabet Om and the relation with has fi ve letters. ‘Om,’ of course, is the auspicious to have ‘,’ why? Lord . Lord Ganesh, being the ‘pranava’, which is added to all , Because your body has been turned son of Shiva and Parvati, is supposed to and then you have ‘na’ ‘ma’ ‘shi’ ‘va’ ‘ya’. to ashes and your soul has ascended represent the whole of consciousness, So it’s called Shiva panchakshara. Now to the higher spheres. It’s something the Om. If one looks at Lord Ganesha all these fi ve letters represent the to celebrate, not something to cry from the side, his fi gure gives the ascent of consciousness through the about. Actually when a child is born in visualization of Om as written in diff erent psychic centers of the human the world it comes crying. I have never Sanskrit. He holds the Pasha, Ankusha system. When the Shaiva Siddhanta seen a laughing child. The fi rst sound and the Modaka or poppy fruit in his practitioners practice meditation you hear is its cry, because somewhere hands. The pasha is used as a noose to on the , they start with Om deep down in it’s subconscious I pull a sadhaka towards the supreme (gesturing to the centers in the body), think it feels –‘Oh God! Now we have consciousness. The ankusha is used to na ma shiva ya— fi xing each letter entered!’ Generally, even when you goad the seeker repeatedly to tread on each center. This panchakshara go, you go crying, or we go crying! We the path of realization. The holding has so many variations that, chanted are saying that we cannot do anything of the modaka symbolizes that Lord in diff erent ways, it brings about about coming crying, but we can do Ganesha holds the fruit of realization diff erent eff ects in the consciousness. something about going laughing. or the supreme consciousness in his Sometimes it is chanted as “na ma Now that going back laughing can hand. What I found inspiring was Sir’s shi va ya”; sometimes it is chanted happen only if you understand this description of the meaning of the as “shi- va ya na ma”; sometimes it is concept of Shiva. I am not saying rat, the carrier of Ganesha. If the rat, chanted as “va shi va ya na”; “va ya na that by twelve thirty we would have a lowly creature, found commonly, ma shi”, there are diff erent variations, understood this concept of Shiva. I’m is a carrier of Ganesha, who is the depending on which teacher teaches only saying that if it is understood, supreme consciousness—Om, means you and for what purpose. ‘Om’ is then you can be free, and this may we can also become of the carrier of usually added, one or two bijaksharas be a good starting point, when we this consciousness or become one are added and it is chanted according sit down with the fi re. I hear that with it. to the eff ect. So you see this whole some wonderful people are going to Sir had also elaborated on the theory and practice is the symbol of also chant the Soundarya Lahiri, so Mandukya Upanishad at the start of the Shiva as the Supreme energy, in co- hopefully, we can also enjoy the bliss trip at the palace in Trivandrum. While operation with Shakti, which creates of Shakti and Shiva coming together. it is pointless to try to repeat what he the entire universe, and it is linked And look at the fi re and see how your said about Om, the central topic in to our inner system by which we inner energies may be turned to the the Upanishad, the interesting point can actually touch those parts of the pure agni and transported to the is about the meaning of Mandukya. energy which are active in us. It’s a higher spheres. While some say that it was written by whole topic of what we call Shaivism. In the Nath Parampara wherever a sage called Mandukya, it means the The ‘bhasma’ is put because Shiva the yogis go, they light a dhuni. following: mandukya means a frog; is also represented as living in the Dhuni is a very important part of a tadpole by losing its tail in water, cremation ground- a place where their tradition. It is the fi re that is lit becomes a frog and jumps on to the everybody fears to go- which shows outside, it represents the fi re that is land. It becomes amphibious i.e. it is that every one will end here… inside. The fi re in the Vedas, in the able to survive in the material world destruction! So, if somebody can stay Mundaka Upanishad, termed the (land) and also swim in the ocean of and win over that where everybody Nachiketas fi re- the fi re of Nachiketas- spirituality (water) after losing its tail ends, then he is an ultimate winner the fi re of sacrifi ce, the fi re that burns (the ego). May we all lose our tails and, therefore, he smears the ashes up everything and leaves only the forever… from the cremation ground. “Bhasma pure consciousness intact. This is the antam shariram, bhasma antam concept of Shivaratri. Shivaratri has started, thank you!

Sri M and others at Kanyakumari Swami Vivekanand Memorial, Kanyakumari

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 1100 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:38:09:38 AAMM SATSANG, APRIL 2010 11

at 0630 hrs and then had breakfast. There was an outing to Al Ain in a bus In Your Love with around 40-50 people. The journey I’m but a child in your arms was great with people exercising You knew me before I was their vocal chords. We come back You will know me after I am around evening after sighting some But I still do not know myself fl amingos from afar in Dubai’s bird sanctuary. We had meditation at 1830 You gave me mum and dad hrs after which we all had dinner. Who taught me life’s lessons On Saturday, Sir and some I have tried to learn them friends went to Abu Dhabi and And I’m still learning today returned in the evening from Abu Dhabi and went to Params’ place in Sharjah where we were with him. Sir Life has been good at times and blessed Param & Siham‘s new born Life has not been so good at times baby boy and we all had great time My mind fails to understand and then were served dinner. Why life cannot be happy at all times Next morning was Sunday, the fi rst working day of the week over A deep yearning was stirring here. Sir visited a few friends after Even when the child in me was which Sir went for lunch. Towards Sri M at the India Club, Dubai Until it grew so big that the adult in me evening Sir attended a get-together Now asks what exactly am I looking for at a sky scraper in Dubai. This meeting Sri M’s was at a place they call the “Third Eye” Then you came along and took my hand an independent group that promotes Your look showed me the depths of love spiritual discussions and pranic Dubai Visit healing etc. Here I was fortunate to Your words were balm to my heart listen to Sir in what I felt was really Your longing now engulfs me January  an absorbing & powerful discourse. – K N Reddy from After this one of the families here Night and day, day and night had a big gathering waiting for Sir’s All relationships seem merged in you Dubai darshan at their place where we all I now know my anchor had dinner after which every one paid Please don’t let me go their respects to the Master. Next morning, meditation was In your love let me be hanks to the eff orts of at Dubai at Sudha’s place where there was a Wherever you may place me that we were able to work out an sizeable gathering. After breakfast, Sir Whatever happens to my lot Titinerary for Sri ’M’, (hereinafter came to our place where there were Hold me close to your heart referred to as Sir) to make his visit several one-to-one meetings. That to the UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) a evening we had arranged for a small delightfully enriching experience for function at the India Club wherein Sir Shaila Saldanha (Australia) us all. Also, when Sir decides to visit, would speak to a gathering of 60-70 we have always experienced several people. Also on display and sale were issues being resolved by themselves Without You Sir’s books, CDs and DVDs. We did It is obvious leading to joyous experience for all. experience brisk sales. Prior to Sir’s Sir’s visits to the UAE have always discourse Sudha had arranged for 3 I am no Arjuna been fi lled with joy and laughter for us musicians and we were treated to live But I have an invisible chariot as we get to interact with him. We have rendition of bhajans/carnatic music. A On the fl ag of that chariot also managed to receive profound lamp was also lit to start the function. Is sitting an invisible Hanuman insights into spiritual uplifting from Sir spoke about his experiences right I haven’t seen him the Master. from his young age, those beautiful Personally I have felt great joy years he spent with his Guru in But incidents indicate in his presence, but then such is the the Himalayas, and several other I have a charioteer too state of my Sadhana that when he is experiences which was absolutely a Like Krishna not around, every now and then I slip treat to watch and listen Everybody Who has saved me so many times back into my usual samsaric follies listened in rapt silence as the master From total destruction. that impede sustained growth of the communicated various facets of spirit for consistently experiencing spirituality in his own inimitable style. I do get wounded that inherent joy which he so easily This was followed by dinner. Sir came brings out in us in his presence. home to retire for the night. Once in a way Many of us went to receive Sir Next morning (2nd Feb) was But without this charioteer at the airport on the 28th of Jan ’10 started with meditation after which This chariot and this Hanuman in the afternoon and we drove him we had breakfast. More people had I would have been to the offi ces of Manav Enterprises one-to-ones till lunch time. Ladies Completely annihilated at the DAFZA. Sonjib was at his together made lunch for all of us. emotional best, attributing to divine That evening we took Sir to the Burj So many times so long ago. grace and Sir, the meteoric growth of Khalifa up to the 121st fl oor (the Why am I saved Manav in spite of the diffi culties being tallest building in the world). We all Again and again experienced during the downturn. had a great time at the Dubai Mall What merit do I have After this we went to the guest-house as we went around the aquarium as of Manav where Sir was going to stay What is to be achieved through me well. Sir’s fl ight was that night and we And why does that not get done ? overnight. We meditated at 1830 hrs all paid our respects to the Master and after which we all had a great dinner. fondly wished him goodbye. Who knows ? Next morning being Friday, we all attended the morning meditation Ajai Kumar Singh

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 1111 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:40:09:40 AAMM 12 SATSANG, APRIL 2010

Mystic Sojourn I was here in Heaven LListist ooff BBooks,ooks, CCDs,Ds, DDVDsVDs bbyy SSriri M Amidst the hell-bare nescient dusk Where the devout warrior sans untruth CDs Price To redeem his glad communion of trust (Rs.) I was here in Heaven  Essence of the Upanishads . In this world wearied fl esh  Voyage . When the iridescent light of God’s honeycomb  Guru . Devoured the illusory titans of darkness

 Gayatri . I was here in Heaven  In Search of happiness . Amidst the coldest despair of vanity  Meditation . Where valour feeds on fear that feeds on nescience From the chief nourisher of unstained desire  Techniques of Meditation .  Kundalini . I was here in Heaven  . In this blissful fi re of irised hues Where immortality drew a wealthier breath  Dasha Mahavidya . From the relics of ancient death  Ramayana .  Teachings of Upanishads and . Abhijit Jadeja Geeta [BVB Kodagu]  New Dimensions .  Mystic tales of the East .  . THE DVDs SATSANG  Guru Poorinima & Tantra . FOUNDATION  On the Banks of River Betwa (&) .  A Simple Meditation Technique . Registered Society in Karnataka Founder President: Sri Mumtaz Ali  Your Questions Answered (at the . Secretaries— Suryadeo (09740616573), CN Bhushan (09341254570) residence of Ajay Singh) Treasurer — Smt. Jayasri Achuta Rao (09886311999)  The concept of Kundalini in Yoga . E-mail: [email protected] and Tantra [Set of  DVDs] Website: www.Satsang-Foundation.org  The relationship with the teacher . Registered Address: and the taught 13/1, Bachammal Road,  Gayatri Kodagu talks [Set of  . Cox Town, Bangalore - 560005 INDIA, DVDs] Tel: 080-2297-4090  Sthitha Prajna Kodagu Talks . Sri M’s Address:  Kailash Manasasarovar . Snow White, Nakkaladinne Village  Ishavasya Upanishads . Ponnutipalayam post, Madanapalle Pin -517325,  Meditation [USA interview] . Andhra Pradesh, India,  Kathopanishad [Set of  DVDs] . Telephone: +91-8571-221107  Satsang at residence of Ajai . Satsang Locations: Kumar Singh -  Chennai: Smt. Katyayani Devi: 098-8443-0557  Man’s Eternal Quest for . Mysore: Smt. Chandrika Devi: 093-4259-3041 Happiness - Kodagu Talks  Coorg: Sri Balaji: 098-4583-1683 [Set of  DVDs and  MP] Palamneer: Sri Vanajasana Naidu: 085-7925-8555  Mandukya Upanishad & The . Chittoor: Smt. Soumini Reddy: 093-4734-8054 Alphabet of Reality - Trivandrum Hyderabad: Sri Naeemullah: 094-4081-8096  [Set of  DVDs and  MP] New Delhi: Sri Vivek Mahendru: 098-1821-1515 Smt. Bhavani Devi: 098-1131-3326 Books Smt. Gagan Ahluwalia: 098-1110-5056  Little guide to glory and happiness . Mumbai: Sri Sudhir Naik: 093-2299-0874 Jalandhar: Dr. Rashmi Vij: 098-1593-8484  Wisdom of the Rishis . Dubai: Mr. Param Singh: +971-50-4225403  Jewel in the Lotus: Deeper aspects . USA: Ms. Geeta Betrabet, Hemant S. Betrabet : +1-262 886 6757 of Australia: Mr. Manoj R. D’souza: +61-07-3711 4883, Cell: +61-04-3876 3645  Kailash yatra Travelogue . (By a disciple)

Enquires and orders for CDs/DVDs/Books can be sent to Hima Communications, The Satsang Foundation and The Satsang Trust are exempt E-mail: [email protected] , Tel: 098-4583-1683, Attention: Shri Balaji Kashyap. under section 80(G) of the Income Tax Act for donations.

htt p://www.satsang-foundation.org

ssatsang_april2010.inddatsang_april2010.indd 1122 66/9/2010/9/2010 99:09:41:09:41 AAMM