Art of Dying -- Cont.

Baba ji says that the way we react to different situations in life is based upon our ‘sanchit sanskaras’ or the accumulated psychic impressions of this birth or some other previous birth. These impressions are stored in our Gyanmay shareer or the Causal body or the 4th of the 5 bodies.

All reactions and emotions -- be they of jealousy, greed, anger, repulsion, hate, resentment or sex -- in this birth to get accumulated in our Gyanmay shareer.

Another point Baba ji makes is that if you are quite well-off, rich, have all the facilities at your disposal, it is because of your past good deeds of this birth or the good done in some previous births.

All the luxuries that you are enjoying today are the fruit of your kindness and good karmas of the past. Someday these will exhaust. So don’t just live them off. Do even better karmas in this birth. Because the motive of your good deeds in this birth mustn’t be to get more luxury and wealth, but spiritual ascension.

Good deeds give 2 kinds of results. One bring enormous wealth and worldly joys. The second one bring spiritual growth along with worldly comforts. One must choose the latter because that way we won’t get stuck in the materialistic illusions.

Whatever emotions and desires we have throughout our lives as humans, multiply a thousand fold at death and the next birth is decided as per these desires since the sensual urge demands them to be satisfied at all costs. These desires can only be fulfilled with a body. So without thinking of the consequences, the soul may select animal body if it realizes that the desires can be fulfilled in that animal body.

The taste of the tongue and relentless desires lead us to a vicious cycle of unending greed and sorrow to ultimately spell our downfall.

Death is not the end. It is just a pit stop for the next transformation to take place. The transformation is that of the body. The soul remains the same. Every birth that the soul takes is according to the desires and karmas we did in the previous births. So one must endeavor to purify oneself through meditation to acquire the best birth which is that of a human, born in a family where spiritual growth is easy to attain.

It is the soul which creates the body again and again. This it does because it is only with a human body through meditation can the soul attain Self-realization or God-realization or Nirvana or Moksha. But the problem is that when the soul creates the human body, the senses come into play.

Throughout our lives, we do everything to satisfy only the senses caught by worldly illusion called Maya. We forget our original aim because of which we got the human body through our soul. The problem with satisfying the senses is that it is an endless greed. For example if there is a tendency to eat junk and tasty food, the person will look to explore more and more food joints, eating more and more from each one. One desire to have good food will lead to thousand more desires and the cycle will become endless almost like an expanding spider web. Similarly if one aspires of great bank balance, every new figure achieved will lead to the desire to add more zeros to it.

Baba ji also adds that the desire to do good only for oneself is animal and that to think of the welfare of all is human.

As humans this greed of amassing infinite wealth, of taste, of sex, of winning praises gives rise to animal tendencies where ego rules the roost. These animal tendencies eventually lead the soul to create an animal body for us in the next birth where such tendencies come naturally and instinctively.

Thus, it is in one human birth that the seeds of all the next births are sown. However, it is also in the human birth that one can clear all of one’s previous mistakes through meditation taught by the Guru.

Advance Prati Prasav Sadhana, Toronto

Shiv Yog Prati Parsav Sadhna Dissolve the Karmic Layers of Past lives.

Prati Prasav Sadhna is the ancient wisdom that was practiced by the Maharishis such as Guatam Buddha and Mahavir. In this sadhna one can release all the stored baggage of psychic impressions or sanchit karmas, one has collected through various life times. With Babaji´s grace and Ishanji’s guidance, you will be able to transmute and release the sanchit karmas, thus freeing yourself from your present miseries.

Ishan ji's Navratra Message 2013

Ishan ji's Vasanta Navratra Message 2013

by Shiv Yog Foundation (Notes) on Thursday, April 11, 2013

Namah shivay! There comes a time in a Child’s life when everything seems magical and during such a period, I was lucky enough to have a guide like my beloved Baba.

He would tell me tales of magical and otherworldly places and the glory of the mystic Siddhas. He would tell me of places where God Himself lived and could be witnessed if one so chooses.  One of such places was the abode of Lord Shiva , Mount Kailash. 

Having meditated so much on Shiva, Baba ji was at a vantage point to tell all the folklore associated with Mount Kailash. Seen here ruminating over Shiva in flesh and blood at the feet of Mount Kailash.

While growing up, I would dream of the place where Lord sits and where I would experience the ultimate divinity.

As luck would have it, one day, finally I got the chance to go to Kailash. Expectedly, I was ecstatic and overjoyed for since childhood, I had only fantasized of the divinity of that land and the opportunity to meet my god.

The approaching Kailash sent butterflies in Ishan ji s stomach. Seen here immersed in an animated discussion with Baba ji, Guru Ma, Jitendra bhaiya and the guide (on the right) at the market near the camp just before undertaking the final journey by road to Kailash

As Kailash drew near, my anticipation of the divinity started to grow and I began to weep in awe. The feeling that, finally I would meet my God began to overwhelm me. And when I stood below the holy mountain, I was in love. Ah! My Kailash. Ah! My Shiva . 

Ishan ji  mesmerized and  enchanted by the serenity of Mount Kailash

Suddenly, my moment of surrealism and romantic tryst with the place was interrupted by the guide. He told me in the driest of tones “Kailash the abode of Lord Shiva do your pranam.” And I looked at him, taken aback at the lack of devotion in his eyes.

And suddenly, I found that the emotion of love for Lord was now replaced by my intrigue and bewliderment for this man’s blatant disregard of divinity. it was then that these words of Baba ji struck me “Never worship the idol my son. Through your heart see the God within the idol. The inanimate stone has no power. Through your heart, see not only the god in the idol, but invoke that God in the idol. Because it is the amount of love you have, which will awaken the God within the stone. For an indifferent man, the idol is but a stone. For  Meerabai however, it is God Himself.” 

Baba ji bathing in the divinity of Mansarovar lake

And then Baba ji would ask me, “What did you understand son?” I would say, “Father, I understood that if I have bhaav, I can invoke God.” And He smilingly He would say, “No mychild ,,, what you must understand is that if you can invoke the God in a stone, then you can invoke the God in each and every person, and each and every object. You have this power.”

Much to His dismay, Ishan ji did not find the tour guide attaching the deserved respect and piety to a pilgrimage of the enormity of Kailash. This was in stark contrast to the hallowed portrayal of the holy mountain which Baba ji had narrated to him in all these years

And at that time it struck me that this guide had not travelled a thousand miles to see God, he did not have decades to dream about the union.This poor man had been around Kailash all along. And because of that he had done one thing which comes so very naturally to us -- he took it all for granted.

Next, I thought ‘Can one take God in oneself for granted if he is around, all the time. And if we can take THE ALMIGHTY for granted, then what all were we capable of.’
I started to look around myself. I was amazed. Even shocked. Everybody takes everything for granted especially that thing which matters the most. The physical body is taken for granted and abused till there is the dawn of a disease. 

Relationships are taken for granted. Every husband thinks that I would have been better off with another, not thinking what if she was the one who was destined to give you the ultimate happiness.

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE: Ishan ji says that of late, people have started to take their relationships for granted. They reckon that they would’ve been happier being with someone else. Such a feeling tantamounts to escapism and not giving kinships, their deserved due

I even see people taking their Guru for granted. We must be privy to the awareness that he is the eternal fountain of knowledge, and so what if a few words go here and there. People even take their lives for granted till finally there is time to die.

I found it rather amusing that people say that the divinity in them is gone and that they can’t feel the romantic connection with God. When I saw the behavior of such a bunch, it was like that of a teenager who sends 500 friend requests to girls on facebook, because he is desperate, doesn’t care who accepts, as long as somebody does. He is not in love with any, but is desperate for any.

The numerous friend requests a desperate person sends on facebook as a callow and imprudent youth is not out of need but ruthless greed and misplaced priorities

The same trait I saw in another human being who knocks at all doors -- medicine, allopath, naturopathy, yoga and spirituality. Like the teenager, he is not in love with any; he just wants somewhere, something to happen, someone to fall back upon.

And then they ask me where the divinity is gone. My answer to them is ironically, a question which they would do well to ask themselves ‘Where is the genuineness and sincerity of purpose?’

As I sat there, thinking of all the things I take for granted, my eyes fell on a reflection of myself. it was at that time the eureka that the one worthwhile person I take for granted, the one person who I always neglected, the one person to whom I must always be truthful but never am, the one person who can truly help me find Him is none other than I, myself.

Love thyself says Ishan ji

And that is the whole point when they say charity begins athome. What can be more ultimate a home to me than this body, this mind, thisself where the real I resides?
To all, Im compassionate. Baba ji asks, what about being compassionate to yourself?  I am ready to forgive the world, but Baba ji says when will you forgive yourself ? I search the world to find somebody to love me but He says all is in vain, till you have not learnt to love yourself.

Such a practice is the first step in making you independent.This truly makes you a Shiv yogi.  ‘Har hal me khushi’ means the power to be happy with this Self. Learn to enjoy your existence truly and unconditionally. You have truly only romanced if first you are at peace with what you call I.

And that was the whole point. When we live , slowly we start taking everything for granted --  the God,the body.

The Siddhas said that a time should come in life when one can truly realize how special life is, when he can rejoice, be happy,acknowledge the divinity. And this time, the siddhas say is the time of the Navratras.The time when a person should be in an eternal state of gratitude for what he has received and what he is about to receive in his life. and yes there must be Upvaas in the Navratras. 

All Shiv Yogis must undertake vrat or fasts for all nine days.

But remember, true gratitude is not given to the mother by not eating, but if you really want to be genuine towards the self and the Goddess.

The upvas for the nine days is that in these nine days not only will you not be angry, not raise your voice , not abuse, not be sad, but as my beloved Baba says -- HAR HAL ME KHUSHI.

In these nine days, you will be the one who searches diamonds even in the darkest of the diamond mines, the one who searches the reason to be grateful whatever the circumstances, that in these nine days you will become an oasis of love, warmth and comfort to all those who look towards you with expectations.

 Understand that you deserve the best of the best and if in these nine days your words are musical and you are finding reasons to stay happy, then this is the ultimate gift you can give to the one who deserves and that is you.

Also in the days of the Navratras, choose to do the Amrit bhojan of raw foods without contamination as the energies are very high , and also before and after you do the Saptshati sadhna, invoke the Adhishtatri Devi (Presiding Goddess) of that day nine times.

Saptashati paath during Navratras is a sine qua non for a Shiv Yogi

If you are a Shree Vidya sadhak,then in the evening do the sadhna as taught by Baba ji and when you will combine the sadhna with the upvas, you will start to reconnect with the divinity.

I am not saying that the Goddess will be happy by your actions because its like saying that a glass of water will overflow the oceans.My dear Shiva loves you already. The Goddess is happy with you already.

Baba ji told me, God can never be angry with you, because if He is, then He is not God. You cannot make the infinite happy with your actions. They are always happy and blessing you. But yes, with your actions, you can connect yourself with this state of bliss. With your gratitude, you can connect to the Shiva and Shakti who love you the most.

So remember, the whole upvas, the whole sadhna, you are just doing for yourself , as you deserve to be loved by Him, that is the One who loves you the most .

And it is my message to you that your Baba has never taken you for granted. All his tapa , all his knowledge, all his spiritual wealth and all his wisdom he showers on you as he knows your worth. It is time you know yours.

So be aware and be in the know, acknowledge and accept that Shiva loves you.Your Baba loves you. And how to acknowledge this ? By loving yourself. Charity begins from home.

Lots of blessings from Baba ji and Ma

Namah shivay

ISHAN SHIVANAND