Shri Rama Dootham - Story Series - Part 7

Dhyana Mandir Anjaneya

Click here to read Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

When I was collecting my Hanuman Chalisa book to leave the place with strong heart, I saw the Messenger sitting in meditative pose with mischievous smile waiting to see my reaction...

I said to Messenger, "OK Sir, I take leave, see you again if I am worthy of it…" 

"You are so clever with your words my boy", the messenger replied back..

I don’t know if it was a passing comment or is he really praising me… with confusion, I gave a dry smile and started leaving the place, with no more intention to trouble Him..

As I was near the door step, the messenger said “STOP” with roaring voice that echoed the whole Dhyana Mandir, at Sadhana Dhama

"Is the Hanuman Chalisa book that you have only contains first four Doha’s in it" ?...

I just stood confused as I really didn't understand what He wanted to convey…

He spoke again, “You only read the Doha’s and explained me the meaning… I am eager to know the remaining stances as well in Hanuman Chalisa, will you please explain my dear son”…. 

I just took some time to understand what I just heard from the Messenger. He is asking me to recite the remaining Hanuman Chalisa and explain Him the meaning ??!!!

I was so excited by this sudden turn of events. The Messenger whom I believed to be a great saint with immense knowledge, wisdom & powers, is seeking my help to read out the remaining stances of Hanuman chalisa and also to explain Him the meaning…  Am I so learned?

Ah! The little ‘I’ was trying to peep out with Ego, and dutifully, I immediately gave a stare to it, because of which it went to sleep again. How these ego's play with our life, I thought to myself, "just for a second, I started to feel so proud, even though I know I stand nowhere in front of the Messenger". I should feel humbled that the Messenger is only heading to my prayers for wanting to be with Him for some time, and hence He has created this situation to allow me to be with Him…"

With so much exuberance I started walking towards Messenger. Suddenly I could feel a creature inside my stomach, gaining for attention. I could sense it would not allow me to do anything further until I attend to it. Ah!, the H-U-N-G-E-R. I just noticed it must be atleast more than 2 hours ever since I walked into the Dhyana Mandir after I got up in the Morning… Didn't really realized that I haven’t had my usual morning Tea as well which has by now become a habit before starting any work.  

While the Hunger was silent all these time, now being noticed, it started to show its true form. It is now slowly taking its Vishwaroop and suddenly I felt I won’t be able to do anything until I attend to it…

I thought to myself, "How does great masters do tapas with limited food & basic needs in mountain ranges, when I could not even overcome one time meal in a day? What a Shame…"

"Hmm..... " Strong sound from the saint shook me from my thoughts. It was like a order from the Messenger to read further.

But I could feel the aroma of the breakfast dish that was getting prepared from the Ashram Kitchen. Is it my illusion again or am I really feeling the aroma ? I think they are preparing 'Poori' today as I remember our Ashram cook sharing this great piece of information yesterday to me.

With great difficulty controlling my senses, I sat near the Messenger, and opened the Hanuman Chalisa book…. 

My thoughts again were centered around “POORI”….

"Food at Sadhana Dhama Ashram is always deliciously made. Even yesterday's 'Poha' was very tasty. I only hope and they stick to their plan and prepare 'poori' as they told me yesterday", as I kept wandering with these delicious thoughts...

"Get our from here..." thunder voice from the Messenger blew my brains away.

Oh god, I just forgot that the Messenger can read my thoughts very well… and I felt I just missed a golden opportunity…. Is this how the spiritual aspirants slip when they start to grow in their Sadhana, by not able to overcome from their old habit patterns... 

"Eh Karunamurti…. Merciful messenger, Please forgive me, I am still to raise above from these things, please do not ask me to go out…. " I started to plead again...

"Bete, let me recollect what the great Himalayan Master Swami Rama said once about these food habits. He says;

Dietary habits play an important role during sadhana. The sadhaka should be careful in having such a diet that does not pollute the body or agitate the nervous system. Sugar, salt, and fat should be curtailed. This will give you a joy that is derived from having a healthy body, breath, and mind”

If you can change your dietary habits by avoiding too much roasting and toasting the food, killing the food, too much grease, extra sugar and salt, then you will not suffer on account of many, many diseases. Preventive medicine is an important part of modern life. Why should we be sick? We should be aware of health, we should be aware of diet and nutrition, we should be aware of good living, of how to eat right.

Eat whatever you want to, but eat the way I want you to eat. You do not chew your food well. If you go on chewing your food well, you cannot overeat, let me tell you this. You’ll find an improvement in your digestion. Count thirty-six and chew, you cannot overeat. You overeat because you don’t relish food, you just fill up the belly and it expands. Filling up your tummy, converting it into a pantry, is not good for you, is unhealthy for you. You are not paying attention to your meal, you are not tasting the food. You actually live to eat, yet you don’t have time to eat. What a horrible thing.

Meditation should not be done when you are hungry, when you have overeaten, when you are tired or sleepy, or when you have any digestive problem. Select a suitable time and do it

In all great traditions, when you sit at the dining table, there is something called saying grace. Remember God before you eat. Do you know why it is done? Do you mean to say that God comes down to eat your food? It has a scientific purpose. You are calming down and giving enough time for saliva and other gastric juices to flow in readiness to digest the food. That’s the point. 

So Son, remember your great Himalayan Masters teachings, and accordingly be aware of what you eat and how you eat. Now you can go and have your Poori, I will wait…."

"Sir!… It’s OK I can sit through…"

"You Fool!, I said, go and have your breakfast, I will wait… Don’t pretend before me…", the messenger roared…

In a whisk of time, I just rolled up my sleeves and ran towards the Kitchen to have my breakfast… As I guessed it right, it was indeed “Poori” which was prepared…

I hurriedly washed my plates and got served with delicious tasty poori’s with good supporting side dish….

The HUNGER got much stronger & stronger as I saw them in my plate.. I hurriedly took a big piece of Poori, mixed it with the side dish. My jaw opened as wide as it can, my tongue ready to taste it with full eagerness and my hand giving it the full support to stuff it inside my mouth…. The inner voice feebly said…"don’t you have to pray before having food”… 

With Strong push I made my tongue to wait for some more time and asked my hand to put down the piece of Poori that it was holding tight and requested my eyes, which was seeing the dishes as if it had never seen any food before, to shut for few seconds…

After few seconds of resistance, all my senses came under my command and it did exactly what I wanted them to do …

I started chanting the food prayer that I was taught, within myself:

Om  Brahmarpanam brahma havir brahmagnau brahmana hutam 

Brahmaiva tena ghantavyam brahmakarma samadhinaha 

Om shanti: shanti: shanti: 

Vishwatma Priyatam….

Next 20 minutes, I merged in the ecstasy of tasting Poori... 

I remembered to chew every bit as reminded by the Messenger today from Baba’s teachings. This certainly helped me to control myself from asking for extra poori’s apart from the counts served in my plate. Though the Ashram Cook and his wife, the two great Karma Yogi's, who have served thousands of people with utmost care & love for so many years, were again kind enough to serve more, I resisted their tempting offers and decided to be content with what is there in my plate which was sure filled my stomach considerably. 

Post my breakfast, the mind was reminding me that since I didn't had my quota of early morning tea, it ordered me to take a big cup, so that I can double my tea intake to nullify any deficiency. Again the hand cooperated to what the mind ordered and it took the big cup so that it can be served with double quota of Tea.

In these things, I really wonder how the sensory organs cooperate fully with the mind, whereas when I ask them to sit for Meditation, all of them immediately start their Non-cooperation Movement by moving in different directions. There is no synchronization between the senses when it comes to Sadhana, the Meditation, whereas for any pleasure seeking activity, all the senses are in perfect sync working systematically. 

Thinking myself that I still have a long way to go,  I put down the big cup that my hand initially picked and started searching for a relatively smaller up. Though I could find many smaller cups, still the war with the mind was 'ON' and eventually I gave it up by picking up a medium sized cup so as to keep a balance between my desire and my real need. 

After spending fruitful 30 minutes in the dinning hall having my delicious Poori and tea, I washed my plates and now briskly walked towards the Dhyana Mandir. 

Seeing the messenger still seated there near the Hanuman Deity inside the Dhyana Mandir, made me feel happy that he didn't ditch me by sending out so as to escape from me.  

I again bowed before him, sat and opened the Hanuman Chalisa book to recite the next stanza from where I left. I looked at the Messenger to seek his nod to go ahead. But he remained silent looking far ahead.

I waited for few minutes, but only the silence was prevailing. I started to feel restless by now but still decided to remain calm. 

After few more minutes, the Messenger looked up to me and asked,  “Bete did you had your breakfast well?”

"Yes Sir, I had, as usual it was very tasty…." I replied with sense of relief as the ice got broke. 

"Good son, Good…",  Messenger acknowledged and again he looked far ahead and remained silence. 

I wanted Him to say something but he remained silent. Confused, I started to think if I had done something wrong for which the Messenger is not willing to talk… 

I asked, “Sir, did I do anything wrong”?

"No son, you were alright… "

I thought to myself, then why is He silent? Is He wanting me to realize something that I shouldn't have done?

I started pondering… 

Didn’t I clean the plate cleanly?

Should I avoided taking that medium size cup and settled only for the small cup?

Was it because of my desire for few seconds to relish few more additional poori’s than what was being served in my plate?

Or my desire to complete my quota of tea which I missed in the early morning?

What is that?

Still confused…. I did a Google search inside my mind and after few seconds, it gave me the perfect result that sent a thousand watts shiver in my spine. 

I immediately stood before the Messenger and with breaking voice, asked…

“Sir, did you had food since morning”… ?

(to be contd..)

Ram siya Ram siya Ram jay jay Ram
Ram siya Ram siya Ram jay jay Ram"

- 'Bansuri'

Let's hear from Guruji - Intensify your Sadhana (Series 7)

Guruji Pattabhiram - Intensify your Sadhana

Pranams to all the readers of 'Let's hear Guruji" series, a series which looks upon various DVD's of Guruji's public programs and its contents. Today we are happy to share few info about "Intensify your Sadhana" - 2 DVD title, Based on One day workshop conducted at IIT, New Delhi by Guruji Pattabhiram & Smt. Jyothi Pattahiram. 

For any spiritual aspirant, Sadhana is very important as it gives a comprehensive knowledge of life with all its currents & crosscurrents. As Swami Rama puts it:

All sadhanas, all practices, are meant to purify and strengthen the mind that disturbs your being and prevents you from being aware of the Reality that is within you.

So Sadhana plays a pivotal role in any sadhaka/aspirant's life and it is equally important to know how to intensify our Sadhana. This DVD is divided into three sessions and below let us see briefly the contents of these sessions. 

Guruji Pattabhiram - Develop Intent deep inside

Session - I

Our Guruji explains beautifully what is Sadhana and what is required to Intensify our Sadhana in this session. Guruji says, "For any intensification, mood is very important. If the mood is positive, congenial and also very encouraging, then the very mood very attitude, very feeling, will lift our energy level. 

If there is no intent in doing the Sadhana, then Intensification is not possible. Intensification is possible when we develop intent deep inside. The intent here is the Sankalpa, an important dimension in life. Sankalpa means 'samyak kalpa', which means accepting completely what you want to do. When you accept something wholeheartedly, then the very acceptances gives you the confident energy". 

Guruji Pattabhiram - Develop 'Samyak Kalpa'

Guruji says, that most of us are not able to pursue our sadhana successfuly, because we have not accepted it totally. We have taken our Sadhana in a very lighter way as it is put in the list of other priorities and only sadhana becomes a victim in prioritizing our other values, issues and the activities. Guruji here beautifully explains the reason behind one's failure in their Sadhana. He says, When we put Sadhana in our priority list, we give importance to those which gives us immediate effect. Since Sadhana does not give anything instantly, we shift & postpone our Sadhana.

Hence developing the intent feeling completely is very important for your Sadhana to prosper. Guruji then goes on to explain how to develop that intent in all of us. This is very important aspect for any spiritual aspirant before starting the Sadhana. Guruji explains the ways to intensify the Sadhana. He talks about three important aspects i.e. Sadhya, Sadhana & Sadhaka.

Sadhya, Sadhana & Sadhaka

He then goes on to explain all these three aspects in detail and how they are connected with each other. Understanding these 3 aspects helps any students to intensify their Sadhana beautifully. 

Through these aspects, Guruji also explain what is the purpose of life according to Himalayan Tradition. Guruji breaks the conventional thinking and asks, "If you think that the purpose of life is God Realization, then you will not reach the destination because we don’t know what God is. When we don’t know what God is, how can we realize Him?. Guruji then puts it very clearly that according to Swami Rama, the purpose of life is not to realize God, but to get 'Freedom from the known & the Misery'. 

Guruji then goes on to explain what are those miseries and how to overcome them. 

He says, "If you trust life, it connects you with the right person". Guruji then recollects his younger days memories and shares few experiences from his own life, to make us understand how the Life helps a Sadhaka when He trust it. It is a great experience for all of us to hear few glimpses of our Guruji's younger days which itself can be a great inspiration for many especially the incident when he was travelling in a train towards Mumbai, where he apparently lost all the contacts and his belongings and how He got the right help at the right time. Must Watch!.

Session - II

In this session, Jyothi Ma shares few episodes from Swami Rama's life, taking reference from the famous book "Living with Himalayan Masters" and explains the take away from these episodes which in turn help us intesify our Sadhana. 

Jyothi Pattabhiram talking about Swami Rama's life

Jyothi Ma states that, "Students are many, but very few become disciples. Disciple is the one who has accepted the discipline in the path shown by the Guru in totality. Students do practice whatever the Guru tells him, he practices sincerely diligently, by that alone, one cannot become a discipline, he is a mere student. Then what additional quality, that is needed for a student to become a disciple, so that he can intensify his sadhana, by the grace of guru ? 

Jyothi Ma answers this question by stating, "To become a disciple, you have to have the Sankalpa Shakti (determination) which has no conflicting ideas, to do or not to do. You simply do it. Then she explains How does the Sankalapa Shakti can be attained. by referring to Swami Rama's life. 

Below is a brief excerpt from this Session that can be viewed from the youtube:

Session – III

This is a guided meditation session taken by our Guruji Pattabhiram. Before the meditation, He explains, what is Sri Vidhya, Shiva Shakti union, Bindu & how to keep uninterrupted focus on the Sushmna point. He also explains beautifully the message of Sri Vidhya practice in very simple words that we all can understand.  

If you are wondering why our Gurudev always ask us to concentrate on the Sushmna  point atleast for few minutes, you will get the answer by listening to this session. 

Guruji Pattabhiram showing the Sushmna point

He then guides the aspirants to a beautiful Three Minutes meditation at the Sushmna point, which is a must for any Sadhaka if they want to intensify their Sadhana. 

As Guruji says in this DVD, according to Swami Rama there are four types of people. They are:

- Target oriented people 

- Time oriented people

- Pleasure oriented people

- Purpose oriented people

A Sadhaka should always be purpose oriented and for that whatever quality that needs to be developed, that has to be developed. In that way, this DVD is a great help line for any aspirants to become purpose oriented by understanding the purpose of life, what is Sadhana, why one has to Sadhana and what is required to Intensify your Sadhana. 

Guruji Pattabhiram - Trust Life

Friends, hope you liked this coverage. If you are interested to get this DVD, please contact +91-9312796128 / 9868112750 or write to basantpnd4@gmail.com. For other list of DVD's please visit here

See you soon in another series, till then, let's hear Guruji...

- 'Bansuri'

Shri Rama Dootham - Story Series - Part 6

Selflessness & Surrender

Click here to read Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

After few silent moments passed away, the Messenger then looked back to me again, as if waiting for me to leave. 

My emotions were mixed. I certainly didn't want to leave the place. Sometimes, it feels so much of peace and inner satisfaction just being around with great masters. If one understands to listen to the voice of Inner silence, then there needs no discussion, talks, individual attention, just the mere presence of great Master around speaks volumes of divine inner experience. I felt I am beginning to experience that ecstasy and hence didn't want to lose it so soon. 

"Sir, Can I stay here for some more time…" I started to plead once again...

The messenger eye brows took its peak height as if asking what more you want from me.

Not knowing how to start, I mumbled, "Sir, Can I know who are you? I have never seen you here before…" 

He calmly responded back stating, "I already told you that I am just a Messenger to the lord, what else you need to know?"

Now sensing the opportunity to ask my next question, gently I folded my hands and asked , "Sir, how can I become a Messenger to my Guru? ".....

"You are already one my son…" the Messenger replied calmly.

I responded back, "But Sir, I feel sometimes, my actions are more selfish oriented when I do any service to my Master. In the name of service to the Guru Parampara, sometime my mind goes in search of recognition, it demands attention, it demands status. Sometimes it get hurts, when the service rendered are not noticed or sometimes there is a great fear if the service rendered does not go as per my plan…"

The Messenger now sat back with folded legs and said, "Often, in this path, everything is mystery which cannot be decodified by ordinary human beings. You plan your service according to your wish & how your ego wants to execute it. However, the result always goes not according to your expectation"

"In that case, how should I make myself effective to overcome these personal emotions when one is in the service of the Guru Parampara? How can I overcome my ego, which longs for recognition & expectations?" 

The Messenger silence, allowed me to pour out more that is occupying in my mind for quite some time.  I continued stating:

“Sir, Sometimes I feel what I am doing is so small that I regret my helplessness for not able to do much beyond this. Sometimes I feel so high thinking, even with my limited ability, when I am doing so much, I start to long for recognition & Guru’s attention & blessings. I want to come beyond both these stages, where I just want to be the Messenger, where I can deliver the best I am capable of, yet not worry about the outcomes. So kindly let me know how should I approach this issue sir". 

"Son what you have asked is a very important question. Often many disciples when they start doing service to the Humanity, they get struck with their own inner ego . When you are doing service to your Guru, there is no point in seeing the gain & pain. Rather one must feel blessed to have become an instrument to do this service". 

Messenger continued, “Never feel that it is YOU who is doing. The Guru parampara can always see better alternative than YOU. It is the sheer kindness & concern that they have in YOU, they have chosen YOU to render this service, so that in the same service you render, they silently teach you how to overcome from the issues created by your personal emotions & ego". 

"However if you start doing calculations of how much you have done for the Guru Tradition & how much you have got in return, then you are doing accounting system of Debit & credit. Unfortunately, if one does the calculation of Debit Vs Credit in this, the life become miserable and you are no where". 

Then looking straight into my eyes, the Messenger said sternly, "If you have to lose your identity, lose your esteem, lose your pride, be ready to face it. Never feel afraid losing them. If you are, then please never pretend to do any service to the Lord or the Guru". 

I took some time to understand what I heard from the Messenger just now. But still I thought I am still unclear on how to over come these emotions. I again asked, "Sir, I totally agree with you, but still sometimes these emotions keep coming and I find it difficult to keep it aside while rendering the service. I get struck & don't know what to do". 

The Messenger closing his eyes stated, "Bete, Selflessness & Surrender is the only way ahead.  Your Baba, Swami Rama also have given a wonderful talk on Selflessness & Surrender. 

Swami Rama used to say, “Do not work for yourself; that is not the way of life. You will become selfish. Learn to work for others. If the wife learns to work for her husband, and the husband learns to work for his wife, they both will be happy. Problems come when they both become selfish, demanding, and expecting. Learn the path of selflessness. That is the only way of liberation.”

Learn to give to each other, and then slowly that learning will expand to the whole universe. One day you will feel that the whole universe is your family, and you are one of the members of that family.

On the path of selflessness there is a great joy. Selflessness is the singular expression of love.

True enjoyment can never be had through the satisfaction of greed, but only through the surrender of the individual self to the universal Self.

When Christ was crucified, he never said, “Sorry, forgive me; release me from the cross.” Christ had conviction. He had faith in God. He had so much faith in God that he didn’t care what was happening to his body. This is something great. One can see the same thing in Buddha and Krishna. Buddha was very calm, and Krishna played the flute. Why the flute, when there are so many good instruments? Why did he not play another instrument, like the vina or the guitar?

A flute has many holes, just as all human beings have many weaknesses. However, a flute has nothing inside; it’s empty. Christ said, “Empty thyself and I will fill thee.”

Having many holes, if you become an instrument of God, a beautiful melody will come through. In all conditions, trust in God who is within you, witnessing your thoughts, speech, and actions.

"So bete, Become that flute, become that Bansuri with Selflessness & Surrender. Soon you can play beautiful melody", Messenger said with a twinkling smile in his face. 

"Sir, Thank you so much for explaining this to me. This means so much to me now". Having said this, I watched meditating Lord Anjaneya statue at the backdrop and I thought to myself that, when we talk about "Selflessness & Surrender", who else than Lord Hanuman, that perfect Messenger who always stood first in the service of Lord Rama is a great example for all of us. 

The Messenger calmly started speaking again, "Son, in the service of Lord Rama, there are thousands of great souls who are always in the service of the Lord. Some of their service though may be significantly small, but still they have it's own importance like the story of Squirrel in Ramayana." 

Even though I have heard about the Squirrel story in Ramayana, I wanted to hear again from the Messenger, so I gently asked him to share it for me. 

The Messenger now started to talk about it more enthusiastically and I was eager to hear it as a child hearing stories from the Grandfather. 

"When the great mighty monkeys were helping Rama to build the bridge to Lanka, a little squirrel also wanted to join to render service to the Lord. However seeing its size and strength, it was obvious that it cannot carry the mighty rocks & stones as the others were doing. 

However not for a minute, it stood aside & idle thinking of its helplessness & inabilities. You know what it did!? It thought for a moment, and then started collecting small pebbles lying on the shore, and dropped them in the ocean. After a while, it was too tired to even carry those pebbles, but still wanted to participate. It ran to the edge of the water, and, after rolling in the sand, ran to the water and washed himself. He ran back to the shore and rolled again, and more sand got stuck to him, since he was now wet. Again he ran to the water to wash himself. The small grains of sand which stuck to his body were all he could contribute to the massive task of building a bridge across the ocean!!

Though one may think the service rendered by the Squirrel is not significant enough, but when you see from the view point of squirrel, it did its best to its capacity, without any expectation, not longing for any recognition, not worried about its limitations. It only had two qualities, Selflessness & Surrender, and that is what one should learn from this episode. 

Always remember, however small, every task is equally important. A project can never be completed by the main people alone. They need the support of all, and however small, an effort should always be appreciated!

The Squirrel did not pretend to work only when the Lord was around, so that it can gain attention. For the squirrel, it is not relevant if Lord Ram is around seeing his work or not. For the squirrel, what is more important is the selflessness & surrender".

After speaking, the Messenger looked far ahead as if searching for something which only he could see.  But that doesn't stop me from disturbing him and I continued asking, "Sir, from your story, I get the self assurance that if one work with selflessness & total surrender, automatically they would get the blessings & attention from the Guru, isn't it sir?...

"Yes Son, also if you don't know where to start & if you want to gain your Guru’s attention, I am giving you a clue, take His projects. 'Guru ko pakadna hai to, unke Kaam ko Pakado'. So the moment you take Guru’s projects, you would automatically be in touch with the Guru". 

The Messenger continued, "But the word of caution is, it’s not easy to take up His projects. At the start, You may have to face humiliations, frustration, dejection, failures, sufferings, pains and what not. But that is the pure love from the Guru, who is silently working on you to overcome from your own clutches. So if you succeed in your project, surrender the fruits of it at Guru’s feet. If you have faced failures & humiliations, again surrender them at Guru’s feet and seek more strength to start again". 

Having said this, the Messenger closed his eyes gently. By now, I have learnt not to disturb him until he open his eyes again. 

Meanwhile I recollected what my grandmother used to say from oral tradition that Rama, delighted with the squirrel's selflessness & surrender, picked up the squirrel and stroked it; because of which, one can still see the imprint of Rama's three fingers in the three lines that are obvious on the back of every squirrel! 

I prayed to the divinity to make me that worthy instrument so as to receive those gentle three lines from my Master one day...

(to be contd..)

-'Bansuri'

(Please note that the views expressed in this fictional story series are the views of the author's own imagination taking reference from various sources which includes but not limited to Valmiki Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Hanuman chalisa along with Swami Rama & Guruji Pattabhiram's teachings. If you find any text inappropriate, the author seeks humble apologies.) 

Guru Poornima (Special story)

Om Shreem Gurudevaaya Namaha

(Reference: Swami Rama's Teachings)

Gentle Reminder:

Guruji's Guru Poornima Message & Meditation - Please read here

Vande Guru Paramparam...

-'Bansuri'

Sadhana Sangama Public Program - New Delhi

Guruji & Ma would be visiting New Delhi on 25th July, 2013 and they have kindly accepted to conduct two public programs this time before they leave for US & Canada. Please find below the program details. Kindly share and invite all your family & friends to this free program and get benefited. 

Himalayan Kriya for Rejuvenation

Concept of Dhaaana

Let's hear from our School - Sadhana Vidyalaya (2)

Sadhana Vidyalaya

Guru Poornima

Guru Poornima Meditation  - Sadhana Sangama

“Jab Tak Mera GURU Balwan, Mein Pahalwan”

- H.H. Pujya Swami Rama of the Himalayas

The dynamism of life is very uncertain and the tides and waves of uncertainty camouflages the definite, certain, fathomless foundation of Reality on which the dance of life is going on with rhythms, colours and enchanting whirly, swirly movements. You are caught in this and this is creating insecurity, uncertainty and anxiety which have become the bed rock of tension–charged life that you go through. This situation makes mankind desperate, hopeless and directionless. But deep within you are searching for a path, for a guide, seeking for support, praying to the Divinity to stretch its compassionate and caring hand to hold, guide and lift you to the sky of transcendence, bliss and beauty from the ghastly paws of uncertainty – this is the eternal misery that the mankind is going through. This very tender but all powerful, ever-loving hand of Lord is “GURU”, which is the eternal, unbroken bridge between you and Divinity.

On this Guru Poornima day let us contemplate on this eternal truth, GURU, and pray to it to strengthen the connection that exists between us.

To give an example: You are like a raw material that has reached the compound of a very huge manufacturing facility awaiting its turn to be processed, refined, fine-tuned and pushed out as finished product.

The first step where you have to begin is to accept this reality and then work your way through. You need a firm ground to walk the path and the firm ground in the pathless path of Sadhana is “Purification – Practice – Prayer”.

Purification: Keep yourself clean, dirt-free at the physical level, emotional level and at psychological level.

Practice: Without an iota of doubt, start applying the teachings shared by the Guru in your daily life situations.

Prayer: It is the product of purification and practice. Prayer is nothing but the sincere and deep longing within to experience who you are beyond the mind-body entity. In other words, the moment you begin to purify and practice regularly, prayer happens automatically. Prayer, no doubt, is a definite tool of communication with Divinity i.e., YOU.

You are blessed and don’t fail to embrace the Grace on this auspicious occasion. For this, I personally request you to devote sometime for yourself and do the following practice:

PRACTICE:

1. Sit in a comfortable posture – in padmasana or ardha padmasana or sukhasana or vajrasana or in any other comfortable position – by keeping your back, neck and head along the same straight line. You need not tension your face and back to sit straight. Your sitting posture has to be a relaxed one.

2. Gently scan through your body and relax from head to toe.

3. Step 1: Focus your attention on stilling the body. Stop all conscious movements in your body like scratching, moving the fingers, contracting the body muscle, etc.

4. Step 2: Listen to the sounds that is coming from outside and inside you. Make it a point not to get disturbed by the sounds that you hear. Do this activity with full involvement and awareness – to accustom yourself with your environment.

5. Step 3: Shift your awareness and bring it on to Shushumna Kendra – Shushumna Kendra is located at the root of the nose (not the tip) the place where the middle wall of the nose and upper part of the lip meets. Staying in shushumna Kendra, feel that while inhaling you are inhaling the pure, divine cosmic consciousness and while exhaling feel that all your spent and impure energies are coming out of you. This pranayama definitely works if you do it with feeling. It cleans your system. Do this for 5 minutes.

6. Step 4: Focus your attention on the Ajna Chakra (eyebrow centre). Ajna chakra is located in-between your two eyebrows. Staying in Ajna chakra, observe your thoughts. You should consciously practice to separate yourself from your thoughts – you are not your thoughts. Do this for at least 5 minutes.

7. Step 5: Come to Guru Chakra which is just above the Ajna Chakra. Focus on Guru Chakra for 2 minutes and gently relax. Invoke Guru in energy form, or in paduka (two feet) form, or in physical guru form (face of your Guru), or in the form of light, etc. The short point is keep an image in the Guru chakra in which your concentration can stay for a longer time without getting disturbed.

Focussing on that image chant:

“Hiranya Garbhaa Aarabdhaam, Seshou Vyaasaadhi Madhyamaam

Swami Shree Rama Paadaanthaam, 

Vande Guru Paramparaam, 

Vande Guru Paramparaam, 

Vande Guru Paramparaam”.

After the above prayer, make a sincere Sankalpa from the bottom of your heart that, ““in this sadhana let all the members of my family join and bring harmony and in that base of harmony let me experience the Guru”

Then start chanting (minimum one mala - 108 times)

“Om Shreem Gurudevaaya Namaha “

by focusing on Guru in Guru Chakra. Don’t chant the mantra too fast, don’t drag also. Maintain a steady rhythm. You find your comfort level. The important thing is do this japa with the understanding (explained in the first page) and with feeling. Let your awareness and attention follow the mantra each time you chant.

8. After completing chanting of mantra, sit silently for one or two minutes without doing anything and experience the presence of Guru in the form of light, etc. Feel as if they are offering everything to that light which is there in the form of Guru and praying from deep within that I seek nothing but your Grace, your Presence and your Blessings.

9. Feel your individual consciousness is merging with GURU Consciousness and that is pervading everywhere. In that feeling you offer the following prayer to the Universal Consciousness:

Om Sarve Bhavanthu Sukhinaha, Sarve Santhu Niraamayaha

Sarve Badraani Pashyantu, Maa Kaschit Dhukka Baagh Baveth

Loka Samasthaa Sukhinou Bhavanthu, Loka Samasthaa Sukhinou Bhavanthu

Samastha Sanmangalaani Bhavanthu, Om Tat Sat

Akhanda Mandalaakaaram

Vyaaptham Yena Charaacharam

Tat Padham Darshitham Yenaa

Tasmai Shree Gurave Namaha

10. Rub both the palms, massage your eyes and slowly open your eyes.

Akhanda – unfragmented;

Mandalaakaaram – one infinite whole;

Vyaaptham – pervades;

Yena – by which;

Charaacharam – movable & immovable;

Tadpadham – That state;

Darshitham – has shown;

Yena – by whom;

Tasmai – to that;

Shree – glorious;

Gurave – Guru, teacher;

Namaha – my salutations.

My Salutations to that Guru who revealed to me that Truth, which is unfragmented, infinite, timeless divinity, and which pervades the entire universe – movable or unmovable.

BABA Bless All !

As ever,

Jyoti Pattabhiram

Let's Hear from our 'School' - Sadhana Vidyalaya

Welcome all to this new series 'Let's Hear from our School' where we intend to share periodical updates about our School 'Sadhana Vidyalaya'.

Let's hear from our 'School'

Below is the video/audio format in HD quality of our first update about the School under this new series. (watch it in full screen with audio)

Readers who doesn't have enough bandwidth to play the above video can read the same update below in text format. 

Sadhana Vidyalaya - The School with a difference

Set in the virgin jungles of Karnataka, with Kanva Lake on one side and Silk town of Ramanagaram on the other, mango groves and coconut plantations spread across the campus, the school offers a perfect atmosphere for children to study and play.

The school building is a structure that uses hollow bricks for walls as well as for the roof; these bricks are made from clay and maintain temperature within comfortable levels through all the six seasons.The class rooms are airy and spacious and windows open on pleasantly green surroundings.

Since the school is built in a hilly terrain, different sets of classes are on different levels. Interestingly, what is the ground floor for one class appears to be the first floor for another! It gives the school a landscaped appearance.

Sadhana Vidyalaya is an English medium co-educational school that runs on the Gurukul principle of the Vedic lore. 

School Building

At present we have two buildings in which school runs. There is an older building in which we started the school; it has since been converted in to a hostel. 

One building houses LKG, UKG and First Standard in addition to Head Master’s office, staff room and computer laboratory.  Second building houses Standard II to Standard IX. This building has 8 class rooms. First floor is under construction. Construction work shall be completed by August 2013.

When first floor becomes available, all classes from Standard I to Standard VII and one computer lab will occupy ground floor. Standard VIII to Standard X, Library, Senior Computer Laboratory, AV Room and Staff Room will occupy the first floor.

Facilities

The school has all the necessary facilities and more. There is a Computer Laboratory, a Library, a Laboratory for mathematics and science, an Audio-Visual room, a large auditorium, a large dining hall and playground. 

Apart from all modern facilities, school offers space for Yoga, Meditation and Prayers with a cave for meditation, a Prayer room with a Pyramid top and a large hall for group Yoga.

Library

Library has three sections – educational books for children, reference books for teachers and a general category of books that covers a broad spectrum of subjects like Yoga, Poetry, Stories, Language enhancement and Communication skills etc. The library is housed in a separate hall where children and teachers can sit and read the books.

At present we do not issue books however the reading room service is available from 9AM to 9PM.

The Library is being elaborately planned with standard ID and Access system. We shall have a Librarian to maintain and manage the library so that it is optimally and conveniently utilized. Furniture and PCs have also been planned. 

The library shall be shifted to the first floor of the school building sometime in the third quarter of 2013 when staff and material becomes available as per plan.

Mathematics and Science Laboratory

The Laboratory provides tools that help students understand the concept in a practical way. These tools are currently kept in a hall and are used by students in their class room by way of demonstration as well as in a hands-on mode.

We have all the recommended material and equipment in our laboratory so that all subjects of all standards are covered. Students and teachers take keen interest in handling the equipment.

The laboratories shall be shifted to the first floor of the building towards July 2013. Furniture has been planned and shall be fabricated in the campus itself under expert guidance. We shall appoint a laboratory assistant. The laboratory activity shall thus be streamlined and so the students shall then get a better hands-on experience. 

Audio-Visual Room

We currently have one LCD projector but we do not have a separate AV Room. We use Computer Laboratory to show the educational CDs. This is possible since Computer Laboratory is not engaged all the time. We have a good collection of material in the form of educational CDs that match the courseware; we also have interactive programs that enhance understanding of the subject. But space and power constraints have restricted the use of this facility. 

We have planned one AV Room on the first floor of the school. This room will have a foldable screen for projection and a dedicated computer [Laptop]. It will also have three PCs for teachers to learn educational software before presenting the material to students. It will further have broadband Internet connectivity so that educational YouTube programs can be viewed online.

We expect teachers to use efficient techniques of teaching so that they have sufficient time to research the material for enhanced learning experience.

Auditorium

We have a large auditorium that is equipped with a stage and three layers of curtains. It has a capacity to seat 500 viewers.  This auditorium normally serves as a Group Meditation Hall. It has multiple Pyramid structure and a life sized idol of Anjaneya. Anjaneya is depicted as sitting in Meditative posture with eyes half closed. It creates an ideal atmosphere for group meditation. Every morning children who live in the Hostel gather here along with their teachers for meditation and then again in the evening for a session of devotional chants, story-telling and learning at least one short verse in Sanskrit. 

Cultural programs and Annual Day of the school are celebrated in this auditorium.

Dining Hall

We offer mid-day meal to children to ensure that they get holistic food and also that all children partake the same quality of food. This develops the feeling of equality and community living. This program is not aided by any government or NGO. School bears all expenses. The dining hall can seat 200 children. 

There are about 50 children in our hostel. These children get breakfast with milk, lunch, snacks in the evening and dinner, all served in the dining hall.

Hope you all liked our first update from this series. We will be back soon with more updates on this series, till then..

Happy Sadhana, Vande Guruparamparam...

Shri Rama Dootham - Story Series - Part 5

Shri Rama Dootham

Click here to read Part 1, 2, 3, 4

"Stop Interviewing Me. Go & do your duty. Don't waste my time" came the stern reply from the Messenger.

I tried to plead him to spend some more time with me but the messenger was so stubborn that he asked me to stop bothering him anymore. I knew I had many questions to ask and I did want this to end so abruptly. My mind started thinking to device a plan quickly to allow me to sit with him for some more time.

Sir, I want to learn from you more, allow me to be with you please.. I begged.

"Why you want to learn new things, when you are not practicing what is already been taught to you? Haven't your Guru taught you so much already, what have you done with those teachings?", Messenger replied calmly.

I didn't knew what to answer. While I know he is right I still want to defend myself. So I continued my argument stating, "Sir, if not today, I will certainly start practicing it soon. I am working towards it". 

"Son!, It's now or never, don't wait for a day to come, when you think you would suddenly transform yourself". 

"I agree Sir!, but atleast if I be near with such learned people, I can be inspired". 

"What are you going to do with such inspiration" ?

"Sir, may be I will remember our conversation and contemplate on it so that... "

"Do you remember what I said when we met an hour ago ? Do you remember why I told you the Shiv Parvati Union story?"

"I do... I think I do... Sir!...". I tried to recollect why the messenger told me the Shiv & Parvati story some time ago. 

"You don't, please don't try to make a fool of yourself... ", the Messenger roared. 

"Sir!, believe me, I can recollect & write down what we discussed and may be even share with others..."

"Next week, You may not remember what I taught you today and even if you share it with others, it can be interpreted in anyway. If that's the case, why should I bother to share my thoughts with you ?"

"Sir..Why are you so harsh on me" ?

"I am not, please don't misunderstand me. I am just reflecting my thoughts on the reality. If hearing me, being with me becomes a mere engagement, because you don't find any other better alternative of your interest, then you are wasting your time and also my time." 

I was slowly trying to understand the meaning between His words. I do not know if he is sending a strong message to me, on how I should associate with my Guru. Every time I listen to my Guru's teachings & when He is around, I feel so inspired, his words so intoxicating, I feel my time is worth spent, I myself get hooked to that so called 'spiritual' experiences & feelings, I say to myself, "Oh! I have got it". I am separate from the rest of the people as I am a 'spiritual person'. I get a superior feeling that I move with a physical living true 'Guru'.  After some time, when I again get into the mundane world, the teachings goes for a toss. I say to myself, 'I still have time, I can do it any time, let me pass on this day as I passed on my life so far'. I mark a future day in my life time, to start practicing the teachings and then forget it. So what happened to those inspirations, those so called intoxicating moments, and last but not the least, the precious teachings of my 'Guru'?  Only my spiritual 'ego' remains & nothing else.

'DON'T WASTE MY TIME' the messenger voice echoed. I presumed he is rather trying to say "Don't waste your precious Guru's time". 

I did not wanted to argue anymore with the Messenger as I knew I have nothing to argue. I decided it's time to move on and leave the place. 

I asked for his permission to do  'Pranams' and he readily nodded by standing up. I did a Sashtang Namaskar to the messenger with heavy heart, still not wanting to leave the place. As I got up, the messenger caught hold of my shoulder and gently hugged me with all smiles. With no control, the tears started to flow and for a moment, I felt I am washing away all my sins under his loving hug. 

While I wanted the hug to remain for some more time, he kept me aside and smilingly watched me crying like a baby. 

"A sadhaka never cries in weaker moments, my boy... ", the messenger said trying to calm me down.

"Didn't Hanuman cried when Lord Ram hugged Him", I responded swiftly. 

I noticed that the messenger was taken a back as I responded. With false anger, he took his hand to slap me. As I tried to defend myself, he laughed and asked:

"Do you know how it happened" ? the messenger asked me with enthusiastic voice. 

I was more happy to know that the messenger is now willing to keep me with Him for some more time, I moved my head so fast showing my ignorance & the interest to know more...

The Messenger spoke:

"As I told you earlier, Hanuman’s first appearance in Ramayana shows him with an important assignment from his King Sugriva to find out who the two strangers humans were who are wandering on the slopes of the Rishyamuka Hill.

Even though his soul was melting by a sudden surge of love for them, his mind still keeps working to find out who they really were. Hanuman nears Rama and Lakshmana, disguised as a Brahman youth, and impresses Rama greatly with his modest bearing and his replies to his questions. After listening to but a few words of his, Rama says to Lakshmana:

“It appears that there is no knowledge, brother, that this young man has not acquired. He looks a very ocean of vedic lore. Who can he be, this child of the eloquent tongue? May he be Brahma or may he be Shiva?"

Hearing this, when Hanuman felt at his feet. Rama protested that being a Brahman he should not have fallen down at his feet. Then Hanuman remembers His Mother’s words that Rama would come to Him and bless Him! Hanuman understood that though Rama could identify Hanuman, Rama was not revealing it to him. Having understood this, Hanuman asks Rama: 

"I questioned you and enquired about your identity, since I’m a layman. I really do not know who you are. I had been waiting for Rama since many years but could not recognize you! If you don’t recognize me, who else will recognize me? You are Omnipresent and Omnipotent! You have to call me by my name. I posed a question to you since I’m ignorant. I do not know anything. How can you forget me? I do not know how to praise you. I do not know how to sing in praise of you. You are all pervading yet you pretend as though you do not know me at all!!"

Hanuman, uttering these words, fell at the feet of Rama! Till then Hanuman was in disguise of a Bikshu! But once Rama touched Hanuma to lift him up, by touching Hanuma’s shoulders, Hanuman got back His original form.

Rama then called Hanuman closer and then the ultimate, divine and very touching episode for any Bhakta took place. 

"Rama embraced Hanuman!! and this is how both of them had tears of happiness". The Messenger, concluded.

Not only those two, I could see we two had tears of happiness visualizing this divine episode, at the backdrop of smiling meditating Lord Anjaneya statue at the Sadhana Dhama Ashram. 

(to be contd..)

-'Bansuri'

(Please note that the views expressed in this fictional story series are the views of the author's own imagination taking reference from various sources which includes but not limited to Valmiki Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Thyagaraja  Krithis, Hanuman chalisa along with Swami Rama & Guruji Pattabhiram's teachings. If you find any text inappropriate, the author seeks humble apologies.)