Don’t Say Corona, Corona, Say Karo Maa, Karo Maa

Don’t Say Corona, Corona, Say Karo Maa, Karo Maa

May 11, 2020 | Articles, Discourses, Essential

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Taken from Online Satsang March 19, 2020

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I welcome all of you with love, from my heart. I really love all of you. Love is the only thing that is here right now, for all of us, that’s how it is, times are like this. However, we must not forget jnana, because love must have the support of wisdom, jnana, otherwise it becomes blind. Jnana means wisdom, wisdom means the eyes, the eyes should always be there, so that we can know what true love is, otherwise it becomes attachment.

So, let’s start this Satsang by paying homage to the guru. Who’s the guru? The inner light, guru means the dispeller of darkness, the one who dispels darkness. What a time! We need that so much, isn’t it? So, let’s bring the prayer from our heart and let’s start with the hymn to the guru:

 Om Akhanda Manadalakaram Vyaptam yena Charaacharam

Tadpadam Darshitam yena.

Tasmai Sri Guruve Namaha 3x

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

 “The Lord is the one whose form is the whole, which is indivisible, present everywhere and which permeates both the living and the immovable (or inert) manifestation.

 

The Guru is the one who has been at the Lord’s feet, and who has experienced “Oneness” with the eternal, greetings, or blessed. Peace, peace, peace.”

Let’s just sit for two minutes, recognizing the inner light that we all are blessed with, the light that seems to flicker at this moment, but it is always there. The light of the inner guru let’s recognize it within us. (Meditative pause). Slowly, open your eyes.

If you really must appreciate a guru, really, then we must appreciate his teachings. Isn’t it?

What is he teaching? The teachings are the guru himself. My own Guru, Sri Sri Dubeyji, used to say that the guru is nothing other than sadhana. Sadhana means practice, that is the real guru. The form is not the real guru. The formless essence of the guru is the sadhana, is the practice.

And what is the teaching? What is sadhana? Sadhana is to abide in Truth. That is sadhana. Simple! Let us, not make it very complicated; it’s a very simple thing. What is sadhana? If I am abiding in Truth, if I am established in Truth, I’m in Sadhana.

So, what is Truth? The next question. In Vivekachudamani (a treatise in the tradition of advaita philosophy of Hinduism, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankara, 8th century AD) Adi Shankara says:

 Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya

 It means, Brahman is the only thing that is real, the Truth is Brahman. Jagat means the world is illusion, unreal. That is the Truth. One sentence, he says about Truth is this, Brahman is the Truth and Jagat is unreal.

We understand Jagat, but the next question is: what is Brahman? What is Brahman? Adi Shankara, answers “Aham Brahmasmi” I am Brahman, the SELF is Brahman.

So, the next question is, what is SELF?

I am SELF, you are SELF, what we have within and outside of us is SELF. So, you say I know myself, but what is yourself? What do you know about yourself? ‘Well I am this so and so person, I am married, I have so many children, I do this and this work, this is self’.

Vedanta says: no, no, no, no, that is not the SELF. That is what you imagine yourself to be, that is what you have wrongly identified yourself to be. The SELF that Vedanta talks about or the Shastras talk about is the one that is indestructible, imperishable, immutable, changeless state of peace and timeless. Whereas all that you have described about yourself which is form and name, I am so and so, that identity, is all perishable, ever changing in time and space, is it not so?

Look at yourself, I mean, look at anybody, our identity, whatever we identity with, in this form and this name is it not always changing? The relationships aren’t they not changing all the time? Is our form not changing?

So how is SELF unchanging, how is it imperishable, when I see myself, everything decaying day by day? I don’t know what Vedanta is talking about. What is it? The one that I know, the one that I’ve been told that I am who I am, is this form and name this is how I operate in this the world. This is how I function.

Vedanta says, no, that’s not who you are. You are the one who is changeless, immutable, imperishable and timeless. You don’t appear, you seem to appear in space and time, but you are not that.

Whatever appears in time and space is what you have imagined yourself to be, but it is not who you are.

So, one argument could be, how do I know that then, how do you say I am that Vedanta, c’mon how can you say I am that the one that you say? That is not my experience.

Vedanta says, well look deeper, can you not the witness the form? Can you not witness time? Can you not witness space? The one that you are is not the one in time and space, not the one who is perishable, not the one who changes, but the one that stands behind, the one that is witnessing everything that is changing, everything that is moving, but you are immovable. You are the witnesser and you can obviously verify that in your life, isn’t it? Simply, you can see how what you feel remains the same about yourself, right, that when you witness with total awareness, then that background awareness of feeling remains always the same. While everything around it, in the foreground as I say, in the foreground, ahead of it, is changing, is moving, is perishing.

The very simple thing, that Vedanta first understands about Truth is that one must get to know the background SELF, get to know yourself as that witnesser, as the one that is changeless, and then you will be able to understand a deeper dimension of your own self. There will be a good, an understanding of yourself which will not be restricted or confined to the self-imposed limitations, which is based only on your body, form and name. By being this witnesser, you get a deeper glimpse of what Vedanta talks about, as the real SELF, so that is the first thing.

Witnessing your thoughts, witnesser as witnessing the body, witnessing your sensations, witnessing your fears, witnessing your emotions. All of that, that is sadhana, that is Truth. But that is the first part.

The second part is sinking into that state of witnesser. Can you not simply relax?  Even as I speak now, can you not really verify that? Can you not feel what I am saying? You all have it. It is not that one will have more than the other, one will be more advanced than the other, no, in this moment, everyone can recognise the simple fact, that you are the witnesser, and that, that witnesser can be felt as a feeling of a background state of peace.

When that peace becomes deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper you begin to enjoy Ananda, Ananda of your SELF, who you really, really are, called as Sat-Chit-Ananda. Sat means Truth, and what was Truth? That I am this background witnesser. This is the Sadhana.

Chit means what? As long as I am aware of this background awareness, that awareness becomes expansive, freeing, unrestricted, immutable, changeless. That is called as consciousness. Ever expansive state of consciousness is Chitta and Ananda. Then the peace, becomes deeper, not just stillness, we all experience stillness, and in that stillness as that stillness goes deeper and deeper, we experience Ananda. Joy. That joy, which is unconditioned, not that I get an object I become conditioned to it, ah, no unconditioned. Unconditioned by the presence or absence of any object. That is Sat-Chit-Ananda.

And that is Truth and that is Guru.

So, if you understand this, that being in this background state of Ananda, Sat-Chit-Ananda; of course, as you progress, you realise that even the body is Ananda, the foreground also is Ananda this I spoke about in the last Satsang. Your understanding matures from beyond witnessing, beyond witnesser, and everything becomes Ananda, everything becomes joy. Right, so this is Truth.

How beautiful it would be if things could be like this, isn’t it? But does it become like that? All of you experience what you are feeling, but then I know after 1 hour post satsang someone will send a message of corona or say something unpleasant and you will begin to self-contract…go into fear or anger…

You have that unshakable state of Ananda, the SELF that is unmoved and unchangeable that begins to shake, tremble. Isn’t it? It’s a common experience.

What we did now, when we are abiding in Truth, we are in a state of self-assurance, we are in a state of self-expansion. But the moment this fear comes, something, we go into a state of self-contraction. Suddenly expansion becomes contraction.

I am a teacher of the timeless, a worshipper of timeless, as I have written and as I talk about Advaita Vedanta. Non-dual.  We are this timeless state of Sat-Chit-Ananda, let that never, ever, leave your consciousness. No matter what you feel! No matter what this body goes through at this moment, whatever thoughts are getting into your mind, whatever sensations you are going through, please hold on this Truth. 

This timeless state, this is the message number one. Let’s not immediately, by a little incident or something, forsake this Truth and go into something that’s unreal. That seems to exist, but it’s unreal, according to Vedanta. Which you will verify yourself, which you must verify in your own inner sadhana.

Now, even though, as I said, that I am a worshipper of timeless, there are times where I understand the significance of Kaal. Kaal means time. There is an aspect of timeless, from the timeless, there is an aspect called as Kaal. Kaal can have an influence or impact (positive or negative) even though we are this timeless state of existence. It is like, the timeless state is like Shiva, but the shadow of Shiva is Shakti. So, the timeless state, the Shakti of the timeless state is Durga-Kali.

When too much adharma takes place, when we get too much self-obsessed with our own needs and narcissism, self-obsessed, then the timeless Shiva releases its Shakti into the world in the form of Kali and Durga. That is what I was going to talk about today, isn’t it?

This Durga and Kali, they appear to be very ferocious, they appear to be very threatening to our existence. But they are actually there to purify us, burn the unwanted dross from our mind.

You see, if you really understand Her doing, then you will really begin to appreciate what She is here for. That’s why I say, as I wrote yesterday, ‘don’t just say corona, corona, say Karo Maa, Karo Maa’, which means, ‘mother do, do, do Maa, do Maa, whatever You’re doing is fine’. Allow Her to do what she is doing; you cannot fight it anyways. You cannot. See, no narcissism, no amount of narcissism, self-obsession nor self-protection has been able to do anything so far, isn’t this so?  At least it appears like this. It may come with time when we learn our lessons. It is important for us to learn the lesson of why She is here. Is She here to harm to us? It appears like She is here to harm us, but this is not the truth.

It’s a warning, a warning for all of us to stop being self-obsessed about our needs, to stop being self-victimizing all the time, and to devote ourselves to be accountable for our actions, be accountable to ourselves and to the society and to people. That is what it is, drop this, me, me, me, ego all the time and include others in whatever, little way that you could, because if we could do this, in our lives, then even these things like the corona virus won’t happen. But time and time again we have seen that it happens and no politician no matter powerful he is, can do anything about it, can he? No! Because you cannot fight Durga-Kali in Her form. She is here to purify, She is here to cleanse, and She will do the job ‘til we realise this.

First, we need to understand that there could be a hidden blessing in this. And look at what, how Durga-Kali is indicating this, look at the message that She is giving to the world. What are the authorities telling you, first thing: wash your hands, isn’t it? Regularly, wash your hands. Clean them! What are hands? Hands are symbolic they are karmendriyas. They are the hands through which we work, so it means that you have to clean your work, clean it. Whatever we are doing, just do not only work for ourselves, do it for others. Be authentic in your living. That’s what it means, not just physical cleaning your hands, which is understanding from a lower point of intellect, from a medical point of view. But the deeper message that Maa is giving you for cleaning your hands is that you are to cleanse your karmendriyas, and therefore work for the betterment of people. That’s the first thing.

Second, instructions that we have been given by the authorities, is that we are not to touch our face, we are not to touch our eyes. What does face symbolise? Face is your identity, isn’t it? We recognise each other, we recognise ourselves how? I am this person, I’m looking good today, I like it. I’m not looking good today, I don’t like it, isn’t it? We recognise each other also in this way, he is so beautiful, she is not that beautiful. See, these divisions that we have created. Our identity with our look, even this, Durga-Kali is taking away. She is taking away our comfort from us, taking it away. Now, if you understand it to be only about, not touching our face, you have understood it only partially, this is partial knowledge. What is She trying to say? Get into the deeper understanding by connecting with the Divine Mother, in that way which I’m trying to bring to you all, you will really understand what She is trying to do. What message she is trying to give. Don’t be identified with your face, don’t be identified with your look, don’t try to have a relationship based on looks, on how others are or how they behave. Identify with your consciousness, that is what She is trying to say. That’s the second message.

Third message what is she saying? Social distancing. What does that mean, social distancing? Ok I must now distance myself from other people that I like and love or whatever, no more being in crowds, no more going to offices, no more doing, is that what it is? The deeper significance of this is detachment. I must learn to detach myself from the situation, from the people, not get too attached, practice a sense, state of detachment, equanimity with everything. If I get something fine if I don’t get something fine. Now look at it, what’s happening with people, people are buying stuff more than what they need, and others who are unable to go to stores are not able to get essential things. See, see what they are doing is opposite of what they should be doing. Again, its human nature. But what Mother is doing is forcing detachment on people. With time to come, if we do not learn this lesson, it is going to get worse. I’m not trying to scare, no we will try and find a remedy, but to know a remedy we must know what Durga-Kali is trying to say first, right? We must first know a symptom before we cure something, we must know what causes it, so let us remove the cause first and then maybe we do not have to deal with the symptoms. Third thing is this, social distancing.

And the fourth thing is self-isolation. Now, we are required to remain in a room for 14 or 21 days. 14 days used to be the sadhana also for many people, do you know? People, in the olden times, people used to say, go for 14 days and sit in the room, and do your Sadhana. We can bring about meaningful changes in our lives and habitual patterns if we adopt a new habit for 14 or 21 days.  That is what it means, sitting in self-isolation. It does not mean sitting in self-isolation feeling pity for yourself, feeling like a victim. No. Rejoice! You have been given the opportunity to do Sadhana. You have an opportunity to do this great work and develop the habit of sitting alone in meditation.

So, if you remember these four points that are there, you will understand the deeper significance of Durga-Kali’s message. This is the primary, the most spiritual aspect, before I give you a mantra, because a mantra has no meaning, if you don’t change yourself, your attitude, your behaviors, those patterns that you are living with. You are still self-obsessed, still the narcissist. It’s not going to help; no amount of mantra will help with this unless you develop the deeper understanding of the mantra. And when I tell you the mantra also, you will know the significance of what the mantra is, understand the meaning of the mantra. Then when you do, the mantra, you will begin to appreciate what Durga-Kali is saying. Ok I will give the meaning of the mantra.

The second thing, before I give you the mantra, we are going through an astrological and numerological period of Rahu. Rahu is number 4. When we entered 2020, it became number 4. That means astrologically Rahu will have the greatest influence, now, in our life, and that’s what has happened, even though in Wuhan the corona virus started in December 2019, it only became known in January, February, March, the beginning of 2020. This year will be critical, 2020 and more so April because that is also number 4. January, February, March, April. Again, I’m not trying to scare you I’m just trying to tell you to prepare.

If we are prepared, we can deal with it and the beauty about spirituality, what the Shastras tells us, is that within us resides the Brahman. The entire Brahman is within us. Everything that you see outside is within us. So, if we make these changes, that the Divine Mother is imploring us to make, little bit, even slightly, we will begin to see changes in the Brahman around us. Try it, see it and feel it and then you will know what I’m saying. We don’t have to get scared, thinking that when April comes it is going to get worse, no. However, if we continue to behave, how we are currently behaving it will get worse.

And that’s why I am bringing this message today, make small changes in your life, follow the four points that I said earlier, do your sadhana, don’t be self-obsessed, drop your identity with yourself as the body-mind, try to feel yourself as pure consciousness. Yeah! Clean your act! Clean your act through your karmendriyas, through your hands and then you will see changes. 100% you will be able to see it and perceive the changes within you, you will start to feel the joy, peace, and you will see how things are also changing outside. Because that is science. Whole Brahman is within me, if I clean up, everything will begin to clean. Everything around also, will begin to reflect it. Within me is Brahman, I am Brahman, it is going to happen.

 So, who presides over Rahu? Maa Durga. She is the presiding deity of Rahu and Rahu is known to be a deceiver. Rahu is known to deal with illnesses that cannot be detected, the cure cannot be detected, that’s the whole thing about Rahu and such illnesses originate from a foreign land and affect all of us. These are the characteristics of Rahu. And the preceding deity of Rahu, the one that controls Rahu, the malefic influence of Rahu is Maa Durga.

So, now I will tell you the mantra which you all should do daily if possible, in the morning and at night, twice, 21 times. The mantra is very simple, and I will request that someone send an email to all of you so that you get the right pronunciation also. But I will tell you the mantra, its:

AUM AIM RHIM KLIM CHAMUNDAYE VICCHE

This mantra you are to do 21 times, at least once if not twice in a day, morning and evening before you sleep. This is for Mother. Before you do this mantra, I must tell you please pay homage to Her Son who is Lord Ganesha. And so please do the mantra:

OM GAN, GANAPATAYE NAMAHA

Do this 21 times followed by Aum Aim, Rhim, Klim, Chamundaye Vicche 21 times and then 21 times:

OM NAMAH SHIVAAY

Shiva is the Lord of Mother. Here the entire family is brought together. See you have brought Ganesha who is Lord of wisdom, you have brought Shiva, who is Her husband, with you and you are paying love and homage to the Mother. When all three gods are together no harm can come; it is not possible. Do these three mantras during this time. I’m praying, with all of you of course, I’m doing the same thing and I will be doing the same thing until we get through this period. With pure, pure heart, She will bestow you the courage, and Ganesha will bless you with the wisdom about how to handle, because Ganesha is the Lord of wisdom. And Shiva you know, Shiva is the absolute state and right now he’s gone very silent. He’s allowing the feminine part, Shakti to do whatever She wants, and you know when Shakti wants to do Shiva can’t do anything. You know in your households, when the wife wants to do something, the husband can do nothing. Right now, the wife is in full power. Total dominance. So, we must do this puja, I’m saying on a lighter side, but you can verify this.

But also understand that it is not just about chanting the mantra it’s necessary to understand the deeper significance of this, as explained before, with full humility and surrender.

And the deeper significance of Aum Aim, Rhim, Klim Chamundaye Vicche is this, that we are asking the three goddesses, Aum is the world, the modern world, that is, the waking state, the deep sleep state and the dream state, and beyond the dream state, all the three states, ‘Oh Mother Saraswati, Mother Lakshmi and Mother Kali, Aum, Aim, Rhim, Klim, these three goddesses, please help me, please grant me the boon so that I can go beyond attachment and anger’. See this is the meaning of the mantra. Aum, Aim, Rhim, Klim, Chamundaye Vicche. Chand and Munda were two demons that Mother had killed during the wars.  What does Chand and Mund mean? Together their meaning is, one is attachment and one is anger and wherever attachment is there is anger, they are always together. That’s why wherever you see attachment anger comes along with it. Otherwise you will be peaceful, when you are not attached to something you are very objective about it. Have you noticed? But the moment you are attached to something, you get angry; if your expectations are not met and your attachment to something is there, anger will come, naturally. That is why they are together, Chamunda, they are not separate, they are one.  So, you are praying to Mother, not to save yourself from the Corona virus, not to save you from Rahu, which are the result of wrongful actions and habits; you are praying to Mother so you can get rid of anger and attachment. Even if they can’t be totally eliminated (as we are humans) at least we should know how to manage them. So, by praying to Mother Durga we are pleading to Her to give us the strength and wisdom to go past anger and attachment.

So, this is the message I’m trying to, convey, that we do these 3 mantras with the significance of the Chamunda mantra. First you start with the Ganesha: Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha. Second, Aum Aim Rhim Klim Chamundaye Vicche, 21 times, 21 times and Om Namaha Shivaay 21 times. This will protect you, and of course, we will pray, and we will pray to the Lord, to the Guru.

This is the time of Kaal you can say, this is the time of Mother, and we must go to Her and surrender ourselves at Her Feet.

So, on that note, we will do a little chanting now, just to get a feel of how to do it. We will do it 11 times each, only 11 times, the rest 21 times you please do when you go back home or anytime that you feel you are able to do it.

So, let’s start with first the Ganesha mantra: Om Gan, Ganyapate Namaha x 11. Wait for 30 seconds, meditate on Him, you can meditate on the form or you can meditate on the formless, Ganesha, the essence of Ganesha, in the formless. Feel His protection, feel His love. You can meditate on His lotus Feet.

Now we will meditate on the Mother Divine Durga. Aum Aim Rhim Klim Chamundaye Vicche x 11. For 30 seconds meditate on the meaning of this mantra while surrendering to the Divine Mother. You are surrendering your anger; you are surrendering your attachment to Her and at Her Feet. That Shakti, you are offering everything, that you thought your identity was, you are giving it back to Her. You are willingly cooperating, you are willingly supporting what She wants to do, what transformation She wants to bring by offering your anger and attachment at Her Lotus Feet.

We will now do the last, Lord Shiva, mantra for Shiva Om Namah Shivaay x 11. Meditate on Shiva. What is the best meditation for Shiva? Simple: I am nothing, I am nobody. I am you; I am me, I am Shiva. Lord Shiva, I am nothing, I am nobody, and when I am nothing and I am nobody I become Shiva. So, remember this, this is the best way to worship Shiva. The mantra is Om Namah Shivaay, but the feeling is of being nobody and nothing. I am nobody, I am nothing, I am Shiva.

Ego always wants to be somebody, something, but the moment you say I am nobody, I am nothing, the ego cannot arise and when the ego cannot arise there is only Shiva. From that state of nothingness, I realise myself as Shiva itself.

Combine your sadhana with these 3 powerful, powerful mantras and the essence of the mantras. Again, I am saying not just the mantras, but connect with the meaning, the deeper meaning as much as you can.

It’s not that if say I am nothing, I am going to become nothing the next day or the moment, just because I have said it. But even if I can feel some Truth in that, I will feel Shiva, I have succeeded. I will feel joy, I will feel peace and fear cannot come. Because fear cannot touch nothing, no? Fear can only touch that, when you are something when you have something, there fear comes. But when you are nothing, yourself, nothing can stick to you, then what is the fear for? It is the inner feeling of being nothing and nobody in front of that, no fear can come at all.

So, practice this, not just the mantra in these difficult times, but understand the significance of it, that’s why I have given 30 seconds. This entire sadhana of 21, 21, 21 and in between 30 seconds to 1 minute, and you might even want to go to 2 minutes, sometimes you may want to go to 5 minutes and 10 minutes, take it, whatever you can, that depends on you. 30 seconds does not mean that 30 seconds he said so I should do only 30 seconds. Wherever you feel in between, as your feeling increases and intensifies, and as you deepen in it. You can do it. But overall, this whole sadhana will not take more than 20 minutes maximum, 17 -20 minutes, maybe, and maximum I’m saying 20 minutes is the maximum sadhana.

Do it once, at least, in a day, and you will see the changes, not just in you, for you or for your loved ones, but also around you. That is the biggest Seva that means Mother is working through you, not against you. You are making Mother work through you. That message should go to Her, and when that happens along with the entire family, Ganesha and Shiva and Mother, Hare! Such will be the joy, unparalleled in your life.

So, on that note it is not a corona message it is a Karo Maa message, Karo Maa, do it through me, that is the message. Mother cleanse through me, clean me first, clean me first, cleanse me first, purify me first and then allow me to be an instrument through your sadhana.

~Rajiv Kapur 

  

Soma and the Pineal Gland – The Source of Mystical Experiences

Soma and the Pineal Gland – The Source of Mystical Experiences

Aug 12, 2019 | Discourses, Announcements

“Stop seeking” is a piece of very common advice we get to hear often in spiritual circles these days. It would be great if that were to happen by merely deciding to be so. Unfortunately, such “non-seeking ness” doesn’t sustain for long. 

The mind can never stop moving, pondering and desiring. It is not in its nature to stay still by mere mental understanding or reasoning. After all, it is the mind telling itself to do something that’s contrary to its own nature. The seeking, therefore, will continue as long as something from beneath or prior to the mind doesn’t captivate it or hold it to itself. Something more powerful than the mind alone can manage to tie the mind down into non-seeking. 

The closest one can arrive into non-seeking state is by falling in Love. When one is in Love with another person, most problems simply disappear and energies begin to find a new sense of aliveness and joy within. Love is an extremely potent form of feeling/sensation that can often neutralize the anxieties, fear, disturbances, challenges etc that the mundane world brings forth. It is beautiful to be in Love and temporarily all problems appear to dissolve or drown in the presence or thought of the lover. But the downside is eventually the mind kicks in again by creating a world of fantasy and expectations. 

Unmet expectations lead to agitation and eventually a fall out of romantic love itself. This is unfortunately often the case.

Hence, the Yogis suggested we find the joy we seek within. They pointed out that a sweet nectar-like honey pot ever flows within us and through meditation, we can drink that divine juice which will finally silence the mind. 

They asked us to learn from bees. Bees don’t hover or circle around sugar. Sugar too is sweet but it is not honey. Once the bee finds the honey, it will stick to it and its entire world will revolve around the honey pot. 

What is that honey pot within you? It is Soma. Soma means nectar. A liquid of intoxicating bliss and joy that manages to captivate the mind and hold it steady like a bee to honey. Through soma, a yogi is able to maintain constant awareness without the interference of thought much like the bee is able to maintain a constant connection with honey. Nothing can divert a bee’s attention away from the honey pot. Similarly, the inner intoxication brought by Soma stills the movement of ever unsteady mind and emotions. 

How are we to access the Soma? 

Soma is pouring at all times from within our brains and into our whole existence but we may still miss it. Why is that so? Sometimes it could be raining so heavily but if the mouth of a vessel is kept upside down, it won’t be able even a single drop inside. It’s the same. The mouth of our vessel (attention) is often away from the direction where the bliss is pouring from.

So what is that centre within us from where such bliss, such joy ever flows? It is the pineal gland also called the third eye. The pineal gland is like a pine cone-shaped similar to the size of rice grain and is accessed through meditation on our 3rd eye (the space between the eyebrows).

When we stimulate the Pineal gland through 3rd eye meditation it releases soma in the form of various secretions. Soma is a collection of various secretions and chemicals. Pineal gland can, therefore, be compared to be a beehive which contains the Soma honey and can release it as and when desired as per the Yogi through various secretions and chemicals.

What are the chemicals released by the Pineal gland? 

Serotonin:

Neuroscientists say that the secretions of the pineal gland control and moderate one’s moods and experiences. If you have a very stable and sufficient pineal secretion, having a pleasant mood within yourself is not a problem. Serotonin is the “feel good” chemical produced in our body. It provides energy, alertness, and clarity to a person. Often when a person is depressed or low, it is due to a lack of serotonin in the brain. 

Melatonin:

Melatonin secretion by the pineal gland of the brain plays a pivotal role in the control of circadian rhythms thereby regulating sleep. The pineal gland is made up primarily of secretory cells called pinealocytes, which secrete melatonin at varying rates throughout our 24-hour cycle. The highest rates of melatonin secretion occur in the middle of the night; they begin to decrease as it gets closer to dawn. This schedule of melatonin release is maintained based on information about the amount of light in the environment that the pineal gland receives from the retina. The retina sends this information to a nucleus in the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and from there it takes a convoluted path to the pineal gland. The significance of melatonin in maintaining circadian rhythms, however, and the pineal gland’s role in producing it, suggest that the pineal gland is an essential structure for the health of the central nervous system.

 DMT: 

The pineal gland has been also attributed to produce and release another mystical psychedelic compound called “DMT” (Dimethyltryptamine). 

According to Dr Rick Strassman M.D, the pineal gland contained all the enzymes and building blocks to make DMT. The pineal gland DMT is also called as metatonin. DMT produces visions of extraordinary nature like light, tunnels, OBE experiences, near-death experiences, buzzing sounds, interaction with and visions of higher intelligent beings etc. 

My own experience (in addition to the above) was exploding white light whereby my vision transformed and I could perceive the world to be a form of 3 D illusion like a holographic movie or images within space. This experience absolutely assured me that the world had no real substance or existence apart from the reality that all is held in a blissful empty space. DMT is similar to LSD except that DMT is natural, organic while LSD is a synthetic drug and of course more complex. Yogis can easily induce this chemical by simply focusing on the third eye stimulating the pineal gland. 

Oxytocin: 

On the stimulation of the pineal gland, we may experience the release of another molecule called Oxytocin. Its referred to as the LOVE molecule. This is the chemical that the brain releases when we fall in love. Soma is not a poetic expression or a romantic idea but an actual substance with chemical properties. This is now being scientifically proven through research. 

My experience 

When Soma is released in meditation (but awareness of the physical body is still present), then it is released as these chemicals (serotonin, melatonin, DMT and Oxytocin).

It is my absolute conviction and experience that through specific way of inner breath retention a meditator can induce specific neurotransmitters mainly serotonin and dopamine through the connection between the gut, spinal fuild and pineal gland. Same goes for melatonin (hormone responsible to regulate sleep) and DMT. 

The energetic connection between these three cause a certain liquid or “juice” to enter inside the pineal gland. Inside the Pineal Gland are tiny little calcite crystals. These crystals are known to produce bioluminescense, which is a form of light without heat. By stimulating the crystal’s within the pineal one can induce these chemicals to flow freely apart from experiencing higher altered states of consciousness. Kechari mudra, in my opinion facilitates the partaking of Soma immensely.

The Yogi over time and with regular practice can regulate and modulate these secretions as per his/her will resulting in the altered state of consciousness as mentioned by the neuroscientists.  

Imagine what it would be if those suffering from depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and other mental health issues could have access to a more natural, organic and holistic way which their own bodies can naturally produce, rather than depend on chemical drugs in form of pills with severe side effects. It’s too early to provide precise medical conclusive evidence (other than my own experience) but efforts are on in this direction. 

Finally when deeper absorptions happen in one’s meditation (when the awareness of physical bodily existence is not present), the effect of these chemicals becomes 1000 times more profound and powerful. 

One cannot call it a secretion or chemical anymore. No words can describe what happens to a Yogi in that state.

There is no Yogi left. The world becomes Soma. 

It is scientific and those who are willing to explore this should work on the third eye under the guidance of a Guru/teacher who has enough experience and knowledge about the functioning of the Pineal gland.  

~ Rajiv Kapur

The 3 Types of Pleasures

The 3 Types of Pleasures

May 19, 2019 | Articles, Discourses, Essential, ISIP, Meditation

Bhagavan Shri Krishna has laid down three types of pleasures: Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. 

Starting with sattvic, the Lord says (BG XVIII: verse 37) :

 

यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् ।
तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तमात्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् ॥

That pleasure which feels like poison at the beginning, but becomes the very nectar of life towards the end, is sattvic, and leads to happiness.

         

Sattvic pleasures involve study and activities involving creative art like music, martial arts, painting, acting, learning languages, rendering seva and service to society, etc. to name a few. Meditation is highest form of sattvic pleasure.

These activities require discipline, commitment and hard work in the beginning but once mastered, they become big sources of happiness for oneself and inspire others to do the same.

The next type of pleasure is rajasic. On this, Bhagavan says (BG XVIII: verse 38):

विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम्।
परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम्।।

That enjoyment which, arising from the union of senses with their objects, is at first like nectar but like poison in the end, is known as rajasic.

 

Most pleasures fall into this category. The type of enjoyment that is highly appealing in the beginning, but turns out to be painful later is referred to as rajasic. Rajasic pleasures are food indulgences (over eating), movies and music (excessive visual and auditory stimulation), total preoccupation with career, money, fame (worldly pursuits), etc.

Our senses are forever turned outwards towards objects to seek some form of pleasure and happiness. The “unholy alliance” between the senses and the sense objects, even though they look promising in the beginning, always results in pain later. Neither our senses belong to the sense objects nor do the objects belong to the senses. They deceive each other and can often lose interest in each other. When that happens it becomes very painful and the mind will remain agitated for a very long time unable to meditate. That is why I call it an unholy alliance. Hence, a wise person does not fall prey to such an insidious play between the two, and therefore moderates the needs and desires of the senses and their objects.

Most do not understand the need for “sense management” and often get swept away by the play of senses and suffer severe consequences later. If the senses are allowed to roam freely indulging in every object of desire either through thoughts (fantasies), actions, or both, it will always lead to agitation of the mind and interfere in sadhana. Attachment to sense objects will also lead to fear and anger and create further disturbances in our mind. By restraining the mind and body (Sama and Dama) towards such indulgences, we prevent ourselves from much pain and suffering and can easily focus on our sadhana.

Sense management through Sama and Dama doesn’t mean total abstinence. It means moderating our desires towards these pleasures, so that we don’t fall into cravings and urges which would agitate our mind. Total preoccupation and obsessions must be totally avoided and efforts must be made towards removing them if we are to succeed in our sadhana. 

 Last are tamasic pleasures. According to Bhagavad Gita (BG XVIII:39):

यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः।
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।

That pleasure which deludes the self initially and in its result, caused by sleep, lethargy and intoxication, that joy is called as tamasic

Unlike the two other types of pleasures mentioned above, tamasic enjoyments are those which do not make you feel good at any point. Tamasic pleasures are intoxicating substances of any kind, excessive sexual thoughts and desires, excessive sleep, etc.

They are distasteful at the very beginning, in the middle and until the very end. Not only are they distasteful, but they also dull the intellect, and do not allow the mind to remain focused and concentrated on any higher goal as one falls prey to false intoxication, lethargy, dullness and sleep.  YET, many people suffer from indulgences of tamasic nature. Why?  Because there is some sensation of joy which has to be acknowledged even though it is unwanted and destructive. It is toxic and is a perverse form of joy and pleasure. This is what makes tamasic pleasures different from rajasic pleasures. 

Such habits don’t go away easily due to repeated past actions of indulgence in these forms of enjoyments. Often those who indulge in them experience an uncontrollable urge and craving, and fail to get passed such habits. They also suffer from guilt and shame due to that.

One must never be disheartened despite repeated failures to overcome such addictions and obsessions, and strive harder each day. One will require supreme effort to overcome it but with conviction and devotion to the Lord (Higher OTHER) one can easily overcome such addictions.

With love and support from ever deepening faith in the Lord arrived through discernment (making conscious right choice) and daily meditation (at fixed time each day) such cravings can lessen in a matter of days, and finally one becomes free of being dependent on them. Once free from these pleasures one must NEVER try to flirt with them even to test one’s inner strength. One must forever guard against them and totally renounce such pleasures. If memory or craving arrives we must remind ourselves the of the limitations (dosha) and suffering (dukkha) that such pleasures bring about. Total abstinence is the requirement as regards pleasures of tamasic nature.

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The Song of Kali

The Song of Kali

Apr 21, 2017 | Articles, Discourses, Essential

The Song of Kali

by Rajiv Kapur and Daniel Mills

The I-Am that I am is not just in the background; the I-Am that I am is also in the foreground.

The I-Am that I am in the background is in the form of Durga; the I-Am that I am in the foreground is in the form of Me, Kali. Together we serve Shiva, the Absolute. But know, O Wise Ones, that unlike Durga, the Kundalini, I have no interest in merging with the Absolute; I work independently.

The I-Am that I am in the background in the form of Durga manifests beauty in this world. Golden sunshine, sparkling streams, flowering trees, majestic mountains are all part of My creation. But when I, as Kali, arrive in the foreground, the sun, streams, trees, and mountains may still remain, but their beauty fades and vanishes.

The I-Am that I am in the background has always been given attention; the I-Am that I am in the foreground has always been ignored. That is why I, Kali, come for you with a flashing sword, eyes red in rage, face and breast stained with blood. Your cries of “Mother, Mother” cannot save you. Your Father, Shiva, the Absolute, cannot protect you. No one and no thing can rescue you. Know that for certain, O Children.

The I-Am that I am in the foreground, I, Kali, am brutally fierce with any and all deep relationships you have established with anything, profane or sacred. Your misery, pain, and agony will show you I do not allow any trace of attachment or identification, lofty or lowly, to remain.

To know the Absolute, you need the blessing of the I-Am that I am in the background, but to recognize even a glimmer of Consciousness, you need My blessing.

Impure ones are obsessed with the world; pure ones are obsessed with the I-Am that I am in the background. But in the foreground, I, Kali, spare neither the impure nor the pure.

The I-Am that I am in the background is available as peace, stillness, joy, and bliss. But this is all lost to you when I, Kali, arrive in the foreground. I bestow the blessing of the destruction of your pride; I will burn you in the flames of True Wisdom.

The I-Am that I am in the foreground comes in three forms:

  • One to burn the seeds of habitual tendencies and vasanas.
  • One to dispel the results of past bad karmas.
  • One to deliver suffering, humiliation, and disgrace.

I, Kali, come as temptation, anger, and attachments in my first form,
As loss of health, money, and people you love in my second form,
And finally as old age, prolonged illness, ignominy, and death in my third form.

The I-Am that I am in the foreground, I, Kali, see no difference between Jnani or fool, saint or sinner, spiritual or worldly. When I come, all doors to the I-Am that I am in the background will be closed.

O Proud Ones, remember that the I-Am that I am in the foreground, I, Kali, will destroy whatever pride and faith you have in Me as the I-Am that I am in the background. Indeed I am my own bane and adversary.

The I-Am that I am in the background deludes Jnanis, Yogis, and Bhaktas to believe their ego is gone; the I-Am that I am in the foreground reveals the truth that the ego never leaves you until your skin is burned, bones are crushed, and heart is wrung like a piece of wet cloth. The last shred of ego is never destroyed by any practice, means, path, Guru, or God, but by Me alone.

You cannot please Me through any penance, abidance, meditation, devotion, or good deeds. Nothing can soothe Me. Only the humiliation, disgrace, and helplessness that arrive by your defeat can satisfy Me. O seekers of Truth, know that this alone may calm Me and free you from My wrath.

When tremendous pain and suffering, humiliation and disgrace come, know that it is not a time for seeking or accepting. Both will be impossible. Meet My arrival by surrendering and enduring all, and taking refuge only in My ferociousness and brutality.

The I-Am that I am in the background can witness, accept, dissolve, and direct you towards the Absolute, but when I, Kali, arrive, none of that is possible. Know, O Wise Ones, that at that time, you are Mine.

Some offer Me mantras. Some offer their breath. Some offer various other sacrifices. Yet the One who pleases Me most is the One whose eyes are ever-resting on My feet, and whose heart is one-pointedly devoted to My Lord Shiva, the Absolute.

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Intuit the Sacred Cavities in the Heart and the Brain

Intuit the Sacred Cavities in the Heart and the Brain

Apr 21, 2017 | Articles, Discourses

Imagine there is a dark room. Inside there is a lot of furniture, among which is a small cupboard containing a precious gem. You are asked to get that gem. But there are problems. Not only is the room completely dark, but the pieces of furniture are moving around at rapid speed. How will you ever get to the gem?
 
You will have to not just turn on the lights, but also stop the speeding furniture. You must find the gaps and spaces between the furniture to find the gem.
 
That is why, in order to find the Gem of the Self, we need both Awareness (turning on the light), and the ability to find the gap between our thoughts (speeding furniture). Let me say this again—we need both!
 
Fortunately, Awareness facilitates our ability to STOP the thoughts. Once we are able to “turn the lights on” by being AWARE, we will then be able to STOP the movement of our mental thoughts, be at the GAPs, and find our way towards the inner Gem. But to do so, you will first need empty space to move around.
 
Today’s meditation is a very special and advanced one. Moving beyond the head and the Heart means intuiting the hole or cavity in the brain and Heart where we can find unalloyed and uninterrupted Bliss and Joy.
 
We must strive to arrest the movement of the thoughts in order to locate the cavity of Joy in the brain. And we must also strive to arrest the movement of life force into the left side of the Heart, and locate the cavity at the right side. 
 
Now we will begin the process of intuiting the two cavities or holes—one at the Third Eye and the other at the Heart…
 
The first part of this process is done by freezing the brain through a deep looking-within. So begin by first simply noticing the flow of thoughts. We close our eyes, and allow our AWARENESS of the flow of thoughts to arrest its movement. These thoughts condemn, justify, and spin stories around themselves. We simply accept the Void, but not the thoughts. We trust the GAP and the Void. Thoughts are nothing but ways to fix, dominate, control, complain, and worry. They are RANDOM thoughts that create obstacles. We are letting them all go, and allowing them to disappear into the GAP.
 
IN THIS MOMENT WE DO NOT NEED OUR THOUGHTS.
 
We are allowing ourselves to feel naturally and completely safe and secure. We trust this Emptiness and Nothingness. And from this state of pure Nothingness and Void emerges a pathway within the Third Eye. And as we move within the Third Eye, we begin to experience total Void—the brain will be nothing but total space.
 
So the first pathway or cavity is in the Third Eye where the random thoughts are silenced. As thoughts begin to be silenced in our brain, we feel sucked into our Third Eye, where we begin to float in the Void inside.
 
Now we will begin the process of intuiting the cavity or hole at the right side of the Heart. The first practice of moving stillness into our Third Eye prepares us for this advanced process. Here you will meet the real you—the SELF.
 
The moment I mention the right side of the Heart, most of us will begin to move into the area of the chest, and try to stay there or move energy there. But that is NOT how Sri Ramana prescribed. He gave only one instruction called, “Summa Iru,” which means “JUST BE.” That means putting forth no effort to know the SELF, but simply Being. Sri Ramana gave this instruction because the more effort we will put into knowing the SELF, the more frustrated we will become. It all becomes a quest of the mind. 
 
But how do we attain what Sri Ramana instructed? The way to know the SELF is through the INNOCENCE of a pure Heart. And the first rule in attaining such innocence and purity is to be honest and AUTHENTIC. It is obvious that we have to be authentic all the time, and not just in our sitting meditations or other practices. It is not about forcing the life force into the right side of the Heart. No amount of forcing the prana to the right will help. 
 
We are not required to change anything. There is no demand except to be authentic and real in our search for the SELF. And to be authentic, I have to begin from where I am at this moment itself. Otherwise, I would be someone else. We must have the character and strength to allow and accept ourselves to be how and what we are, without the interference and manipulation of the mind.
 
Thus, the process here is entirely different. We are going to do nothing except allow and accept everything we are in this moment. We will not focus on any specific thing or area specific, but simply allow everything. We will allow all kinds of thoughts, good or bad. Allow all kinds of sensations, pleasurable or painful. Allow all kinds of feelings, loving or fearful, to emerge and arise. This will activate within us both the left side and the right side of the Heart—the left being our humanness, and the right being our Divineness. We will accept ALL.
 
We will accept our fears, our weaknesses, our desires (both human and spiritual), our conditionings, our defenses, our strengths, our purity, our impurities, and everything else that makes us what we are—what I AM.
 
There will be no judgments, nor opinions. Everything will be cast aside and I will simply relax into knowing both my left side and right side. I will accept BOTH totally. I will look and accept even the way I judge things—like my desire to be free and not bound by the limitations of my humanness.
 
I can also allow my mind to drift anywhere it wants to go, and I will simply remind myself to relax and accept. There will sometimes be a pull towards the left side with all its human desires, and sometimes towards the right with all its spiritual goals. I will accept BOTH equally, and allow the pull to take place. I will be patient enough to watch how this process unfolds. As it does, I will keep breathing and relaxing.
 
The right side will tell me what I NEED to do—be detached, be humble, and practice spirituality by honoring the life force and the breathing practices, and by serving others. Meanwhile, the left will entice me with what I WANT to do—be in the world, profit from it, and desire it.
 
Everything has weight—both right and left sides. This weight we carry is called “concepts,” and so both sides exert their pulls and influence on us. Accept and allow BOTH. Then RELAX. In this way, we can end the conflict between the two, instead of being a part of that conflict.
 
Simply watch, accept, and relax as ourselves, no matter what is presented within to us—material or spiritual. Nothing is specifically desired. BUT all is accepted. The body is NOT desired. The breath is NOT desired. Thought is NOT desired. Bliss is NOT desired. Peace is NOT desired. Purification is NOT desired. Worship is NOT desired.
 
YET, EVERYTHING is accepted and allowed! Neither the left side nor the right side is desired, YET both are fully accepted. When everything that arises from within you is accepted as it is, WITHOUT ANY FORM OF MANIPULATION, BUT WITH TRUTH AND HONESTY, then and ONLY then the cavity of the Heart opens up. Humanness is also Divine—just like the wave is also the ocean. So accept it all.
 
In this meditation, the left side of the heart (humanness) is also acknowledged. And in fact, it is allowed to be expressed as it wants, in terms of thoughts and feelings.
 
NOTHING IS NOT ALLOWED!
 
There is no resistance to any kind of feeling or thoughts, because we are AWARE that they come from either our humanness or divineness. And BOTH are accepted.
 
Please remember that “accepting” the feeling or sensation means continuing to persist in being with it for as long as needed to clear the pathway towards the spiritual Heart. But because we are not fighting with ourselves or any particular thought, and simply watching and allowing everything, we will save energy and be able to attend to THAT point where there is inner unity—where both left and right meet.
 
We are allowing the complex human body-mind and the spiritual body-mechanism to operate on their own will without any interference, except watching, allowing and relaxing more and more. Soon the feeling, emotion, and thoughts will dissolve and leave us in a state of neutral Void, or in deep acceptance and peace.
 
Automatically the left side will begin to dissolve into the right side, and the Spiritual Heart will begin to open up to receive Peace, Bliss and Love.
 
The vasanas of the left side will be consumed by the Wisdom of the right. Only when we learn to forgive ourselves, can we love ourselves, and only when we can love ourselves, can we truly love others. It is only then that our heart will begin to smile or feel warmth—will begin to LOVE.
 
In short, by allowing, watching, and accepting the pulls of both the left and right sides, we NEUTRALIZE the two, ending the conflict and effortlessly allowing the left to slip into the right. That is how clarity, honesty, authenticity and innocence emerge.
 
The moment the two sides meet, the conflict is over, and the door opens. The cavity and the hole become wide open. Love happens. The gate opens, God enters, and the ego drops. And that is how we begin to live our lives 24 by 7.
 
Through authentic living, acceptance becomes easier, and opens the window of innocence and purity for LOVE to HAPPEN—A LOVE not for just one person or a few people, but for everyone. Our hearts will become alive and will beat with so much Love that they will become gardens of beautiful, fragrant roses sowing seeds of newness and freshness each and every moment.

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How to Recognize a True Guru

How to Recognize a True Guru

Apr 21, 2017 | Articles, Discourses

My dearest ones. Today is Guru Poornima — the day where we honor and worship our Gurus.

So who is a Guru?

In reality there is only ONE true Guru and he is always within us — in our hearts as our guiding light. Some call it the Self, some God, Christ-consciousness, Krishna-consciousness, Shiva, etc. But often we cannot hear its voice as we are in a trance completely besotted and infatuated due to the constant stimulation we derive through our connection with this world.

That is why a physical Guru becomes important… whose only purpose is to speak the language of the inner Guru, help guide you to Him where eventually you become one with Him. Therefore a big part of worshiping and honoring your inner true guru (which is the very purpose of this auspicious day) is to first recognize a real physical Guru. 

A real physical Guru is recognised by two things:

  • First by the message he gives, and
  • Second by the level of responsibility he takes of your spiritual growth.

In the message lies his wisdom, and in his responsibility for you lies his love and compassion. 

So lets first take what is the message of a true Guru. From the very beginning of Guru-Shisya tradition, the two messages given to every shisya is Abhyasa and Vairagya, which means Practice and Detachment. This was the constant message. 

The first message —  Practice — means bringing the mind under control, constantly watching its movement and redirecting all energies to higher spiritual centres at the third eye and the heart. This is very important, as the long time habit of the life force is to feed the senses and derive temporary pleasure from them by the constant interaction with the objects. By virtue of intense practice a seeker reverses that habit and brings the life force to eventually sink into the very source of happiness and joy and meet the inner Guru. 

The second message — Detachment — means being in the world, but not of it. The root cause of all our suffering is due to the various identifications we inherit from this world. It is very easy to get caught up in this love affair of the world. Therefore, one must be very careful and constantly watch if passions for the world and for its objects arise in the mind and bring the mind within as per the instructions of your Guru. 

So Practice and Detachment are the two basic messages given by real Gurus.

Now look around and you will find almost 90% of today’s so called teachers or Gurus never talk on that. In fact, they teach you just the opposite when they say nothing needs to be done, you are already free, there is nothing to attain and all you need is to be present —  here and now. They are all therapists, but not Gurus. All they do is point to a certain “stillness” by a practice of recognizing an awareness independent of thought which they term as “what is” or “now” or the “present” but such a recognition has only a temporary effect as the ego finds its way to pull you right back again into the world once the effect wears off. It lacks the intensity and depth that a sadhaka needs to reverse the life force back into the SELF for it to stay there. 

So you see, the very foundation of such new age teaching (on which your entire spiritual journey rests) is compromised as these teachings ignore the two most basic instructions given by our sages and saints.

Now we come to the second part of recognizing a true Guru.

Which is about the level of responsibility he is committed to take for you. A real Guru takes complete responsibility of a seeker, which means he is committed along with the seeker in respect of time given and efforts put. This means he is forced to be selective. He carefully chooses his disciples and works with them very closely through his physical and subtle presence. Nowadays the modern Gurus who hold so many retreats aren’t even aware of the names of those who attend their satsangs, let alone the progress he or she is making on the path. 

The path is not as easy as it is made out today. It is not about embracing life or making it easier, comfortable or happier “here and now”.

In reality the path with the Guru seems to do exactly the opposite, especially when one starts working with Guru. The Guru recognizes the egoic patterns based on habits and tendencies which want pleasure through stimulation of senses. The same ego then seeks momentary stillness by attending retreats and satsangs and finds some comfort in that. Hence many of the new age non-dual Satsangs today do nothing but feed the patterns of the ego by offering that comfort. They are, therefore, actually working against your real interest yet surprisingly they manage to thrive and grow exponentially because the majority of the seekers want to continue to indulge themselves with the pleasures of the world and are happy with the instantaneous ease and “spiritual” relief offered. It seems like a great deal earlier on, but a bummer later when 15 to 20 years have gone without any serious gains. 

On the contrary, a real Guru who works closely with his few chosen disciples, hits a disciple’s ego hard, repeatedly and relentlessly, till the disciple’s ego finally releases its hold and grip on his disciple. His method is not to induce comfort, but to bring you out of your comfort zone, to reverse the egoic pattern and ultimately to bring about its complete annihilation. 

Expiration (of ego), and not just inspiration, is the goal of a real Guru.

Those who stay long enough, and can endure the work that a Guru puts on him, ultimately knows real freedom, real joy and real love which is not of this world. Such blissful realization is not fleeting nor changeable according to the circumstances he or she is in, the presence or absence of anything. It stays forever blissful in the midst of grave calamity, or even if this world had to collapse. 

So you see the real responsibility of a Guru is to remind you of your responsibility, which is a life long commitment to never forsake or abandon the true goal of acquiring a human body/mind, which is Self-Realization. 

On this blessed day of Guru Poornima, I hereby conclude by reminding you of 3 things you need to do to serve and honor your Guru:

1) Practice
2) Detachment 
3) Unconditional surrender to the instructions of the Guru.

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