Yogi Speaks

The term "Mantra" is being used very loosely these days. People often say, what is your success mantra? Tell me what your mantra is. It is often implied as if it is some secret formula to do something in a shortcut manner. Well, let us discuss what it is and how does it compare to Stillness. The term "mantra" comes from "man" and "tra." "man" means mind and "tra" means tool. So mantra can be referred to as a tool of the mind. Mantra has absolutely no meaning in itself, it is the sound enhancement of a particular subtle vibration. Now even the quantum physicists are declaring that this whole universe in made up of subtle vibrations of energy. We, yogis, refer to this universe as "Naada Brahmn." The term "Naada" means sound and "Brahmn" means God. So this creation is very subtle amalgamation of vibrations and those vibrations have their own sounds, so this whole amalgamation of sounds is referred to...

What is renunciation? Its literal meaning is a formal rejection of beliefs, lifestyles, and/or course of action. In religious and spiritual terms, it means renouncing all material lifestyles, relationships, and living life as a renunciate monk. It is very popular in India. It is said that one who has renounced this material world has come on the path to God.  A renunciate or a "sanyasi" as we call it in India, basically means he/she renunciates all the desires for himself/herself. All their course of action would be either for the attainment of Enlightenment or for the betterment of society or any other selfless motive. So they move out of the material world. They refrain from working for personal gain, or from living with family, or from having any sensual pleasures, from living an ordinary lifestyle.  All this is done just to direct their life energies towards the higher goal, Self - Realization.   Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi says, " Sannyasa is only the renunciation o...

An Emotion is an inner experience which consists of a sensation complimented with a thought to which the body reacts in a certain way, and this way it shapes our human experience. Isn't it so? Observe right now, are you feeling any emotion? Then you'll be aware of a subtle feeling sensation. What is causing that? Then you'll be aware of the thought pattern which is most probably influenced by any outside situation. And then see how is your body reacting to that? Then you'll understand how these are determining your course of action moment to moment. Don't just read, start to observe, start to be aware of the inside. Then only you'll understand. Or my words would just come and go, you'll gain absolutely nothing at all from reading this. Just observe yourself and see how it all is happening.  "Emotions or sensations are natural, healthy, normal. But when thought takes over, all the mischief begins." ~ J. Krishnamurti Then question yourself where do e...

I got initiated into Kriya Yog by Yog~Martand Yogiraj Siddhanath Himself on September 22, 2019. He is the realized kriya master and the direct disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. He gave us Pranpat where He breathes through our breath and makes it much more longer and deeper than we can ever do by ourselves, Shaktipat when He initiates us to do the Kriya and Shivapat when He bestows forms of samadhi upon us for our quicker spiritual upliftment.  Satgurunath reveals that the immortal Mahavatar Babaji is the Shiv Gorakshnath Babaji, who is regarded as the manifestation of Shiva Himself. He is the great founder of the Nath tradition. He has been bestowing yogic practices on humanity since ages for the spiritual evolution of the mankind. He is one of the manifestations of the divine master (Satguru) forms of Shiva just like Adinath, Adiyogi and Dakshinamurthi.  Kriya Yoga is the combination of Raj Yoga and Hatth Yoga practices. It leads to the perfect balance of the Ida (left energy pat...

Who am I? The question has become very famous now, thanks to Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi who, with His grace, is helping masses to go within and find the true ultimate Self (Yes, I replaced "their true ultimate Self" to "the true ultimate Self). So when I read these teachings of Bhagwan Ramana, Bhagwan Buddha, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Shri Ashtavakra and all the masters who primarily prescribe the path of Jnana or Gyan Yoga which translates to the Wisdom Yoga, one of the four main types of Yoga, I am pushed to become aware of the mind and analyze how it all works. So all my literary work is mostly based on my analysis and my little experiences and understanding of the within.  When for the first time I started meditating and I went into a meditative state, what I experienced was pure silence within. For a few moments, there were no thoughts at all, it was pure silence and pure peace and it was so so beautiful. But after a few moments, my karma bounced back and pulled me back to...

In Advaita Vedanta, which is known as the non-dual system of the religion, it is said that there is only one Self (Atman) and that is all-pervasive, that is the Supreme Self (Brahmn) and that is the Ultimate Reality. Rest all are the mere 5 sensory experiences happening in the Self and the Self is beyond all the experiences, but being aware of it all, unaffected by any of it. It is everywhere yet its location is nowhere at the same time which means it is beyond space-time continuum. It is the same Self having different experiences through whole universe at once. It is all a divine play(Leela). Duality exists because the Consciousness is locked up in this mind-body matrix which is called the great illusion (Maya) and when it is freed, it starts to perceive the Ultimate Reality, the Oneness of All there is and there is not. Whereas, Buddhists say there is no Self. There is nothing at the core of it, it is all emptiness (Shunya). What is there are mere sensations, perceptions of the m...

I often hear people especially in religions and spirituality talking about serving other people and I find myself thinking about it. Then I question myself, serving whom? A particular society or community? Who are these people who need to be served and why? Why am I concerned about serving others? If I am really concerned about them, are they still "others?" YES, read the previous line again.  This I feel is the whole point of doing selfless action for others(Karma Yoga). "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"  When the service is performed because, on a deeper level, somewhere, you have realized that they are no "others" but your own people(I would restrain myself from using the term your own "Self" since I'm not enlightened yet;). Then whatever you do for them becomes sacred. When their joy becomes your joy, which further means that when you have crossed the boundaries of your worldly i...

I opened my eyes after my meditation and became aware of the natural light falling on the objects all around me. The sunlight, clearly screaming joyfully that dawn has arrived. Now the other side of the planet is kept in the dark by the Divine. If you think about it, actually there is no day or night in cosmic reality, just this planet spinning around. It's our interpretation of the experience that gives names to various natural phenomena happening all around everywhere. What a phenomenon life is. What a phenomenon light is. It lifts my mood like nothing else. Recently, I remember visiting Downtown Toronto on a sunny day. I've been there before at night several times but it was my first-time visit on a bright sunny day and it all looked much more beautiful. It felt like the crowds were smiling, the traffic was dancing and the buildings were meditating all at the same time. It doesn't look the same at night at all. Of course, the night has its own glory but the day has its...