Teachings of Shivyog

Baba ji says that in life problems arise when we look for attribution in work. That is, when we bring "Kartabhaav". This kartabhaav creates expectations. Expectations of praise, expectations of applause, reciprocation in relationships so on and so forth. Never perform any action to seek credit. Consider even the pettiest of the pettiest tasks as God's work. Take every small action as...whatever you do think that it is God's work, DONE FOR GOD, DONE BY GOD Himself. The results leave it on Him. You just do the karmas as a divine service to God. That way there will not be any concerns of reaping the fruits of your karmas and karma dosh will fizzle out in thin air. Because Nishkaam sewa is a sewa without a prior motive. Never bring the "egoistic sense of doer ship". That is the best way to learn detachment.

"Accept everyone the way they are". So says Baba ji. He may not cite forthrightly the basis of the teachings but they have a very rich underpinning to them. When we accept a person, we appreciate a creation of nature. We acknowledge the fact that everyone is unique. We appreciate their uniqueness. By accepting someone the way he/she is, we automatically stop being judgemental since o...nly non acceptance leads us to pass remarks, whether good or bad. Acceptance means unconditional love; it doesn’t mean "My husband/brother/mother/sister is a boring/temperamental/jealous/lazy person but I still accept". This is not acceptance. This is complaining. The words of a Shiv Yogi must be "Thank you God for this unique experience of existing with unique individuals which do not have any parallel in this world". This way, no hatred will breed. One will come to respect the unique soul agenda of every person. And whether shunning "kartabhaav" or starting "nishkam sewa" or acceptance, start from your home. Your soul group is the first place where your Guru's teachings must be applied. If not there then it will be nowhere. There will be different kinds of people. But only one mantra is to be followed for everyone---Unconditional love.

Baba ji says "या तो तुम आसुरी प्रवृत्तियाँ चुनते हो या दैव्य भाव| तीसरा और कुछ भी नहीं है| यदि कोई कहता है की मैं तो दोनों करता हूँ तो वह मिथ्या भाषण करता है| संसार में सिर्फ़ दो प्रकार की ऊर्जाएँ हैं- Positive और Negative | घृणा आसुरी है, प्रेम दैव्य है| क्रोध आसुरी है, सहनशीलता दैव्य है| ईर्ष्या और लोभ आसुरी हैं, आस्तेय और संतुष्टि दैव्य हैं| अक्षमाशीलता और अकृतज्ञता आसुरी हैं, क्षम...ा और कृतज्ञता दैव्य हैं| अस्वीकार्यता आसुरी है, और किसी को स्वीकार करना दैव्य है| मन तुम्हारा है| तुम्हें ही चुनने का अधीकार है| गुरु तो बस मार्ग दिखाता है| उस मार्ग का अनुसरण करना तुम्हारे उपर है| उर्जा को एक ही दिशा में लेकर आओ| सिर्फ़ दिव्यता चुनो| चुनने का अधीकार तुम्हारे पास है| कोई भी कर्म करने से पहले अपने से पूछना मेरा भाव क्या है इसको करने के पीछे ? मैं चाहता क्या हूँ ? यदि उत्तर में आसुरी गुण आएँ तो तत्क्षण गुरु की वाणी को याद करना| शिव योगी हो उत्तम ही चुनना अब|"

For sadhaks unable to comprehend Hindi, here is the English translation of the status: In life you either choose devilish or angelic tendencies. There is no third tendency. If someone contends that he has both, he is deluding. There are only two types of energies in this World – positive and negative. Hate is devilish, love is divine. Anger is devilish, forbearance is divine. Jealousy... and greed are devilish, whereas contentment and honesty are divine. Unforgiveness and ungratefulness are devilish whereas forgiveness and gratefulness are divine. Non acceptance is devilish, acceptance is divine. You are the master of your mind. You have the power to choose. The Guru can only show the way. Walking on that way is entirely on you. Direct your energies in one direction. Select only divinity. Before undertaking any action, ask yourself the intention behind it. If the intention has any of the aforementioned devilish traits, remember the Guru’s divine words. As a shivyogi now onwards you have to choose the best.

Baba ji likens ego to the deadly demon Mahishasur. He calls ego as the most astute of the vices or "avagunas". One would wonder why call a negative trait clever? Because it is only ego which can take multifarious forms, at times deceiving the individual to the extent of unawareness about its very presence too. Some recognized forms of ego are- administrative ego, wealth ego, power driven ego, health and size driven ego. Ego it should be remembered does not only imply establishing your supremacy on others and give vent to the Alpha male tendency as Ishan Shivanand ji harps time and again, but a harmless statement too can have egoistic undertones. Even saying that "I’m a very good person", "I’m a very spiritual person", "I have a very good nature" is ego. Till the time the consciousness remains in the physical body, the false "I" remains. That’s why Baba ji advises uttering these words before sadhna "I’m not this body. This body is mine. I’m not this mind also. This mind is mine" Then who am I? I AM THE SOUL, Purest of the purest creations of Shiva. Shun ego. Be humble. Wondering whom to look up to as an idol for humility? Who else but the down- to-earth achiever Avadhoot Baba Shivanand ji Himself.

Baba ji talks of detachment and unconditional love in the same vein. One would ponder on the impossibility of the co-existence of the two. That’s because we have come to associate detachment with hate. Detachment is not repulsion or hate. The righteous way of living is respecting and loving everyone despite their drawbacks and at the same time being aware of the fact that everything is transient and temporary and that one day every soul including you and your loved ones have to leave for your Higher abode. "साकार रूप धरा है तो मृत्यु तो एक दिन आएगी ही" says Baba ji. This is true detachment. Play your part on the planet for the duration you are here to perfection, leaving nothing for tomorrow. And one day when your time is up, may it be by your own will, being satisfied with how you lived your life. For that, leave nothing for tomorrow. Enjoy life every moment. Do not delay or postpone any wish, joy, leisure or any task for that matter. This is true detachment.

Baba ji hails sewa as one of the ways of facilitating one's spiritual growth and extricating oneself from the karmic cycle of give and take. It is sewa which teaches an individual the real significance of non duality. Philanthropy isn’t done in a condescending manner. It is done with the feeling that "I am administering food to my own self". Shiva is in me. Shiva is in everyone. Shiva is serving Shiva. With the same pure thought in mind, Ishan ji commenced his birthday celebrations last week to have the most divine of build-ups to the day itself. This is true celebration. This is what is really called as celebrating the meaningful existence, a privilege with which the Almighty has bestowed us with. Find inspiration to do the same on your birthday.