Samadhan Prakash – Part 3

Sri Guru has given brief and clear answers to the questions that often arise in seekers’ mind while traversing the spiritual path. The lamp of clarity and solution is illuminated only where there’s a spark of surrendership. This illumination boosts the preparedness (Patrataa) of the disciple. It is at this point that every question serves as a stepping stone in the journey. Read and contemplate so that it becomes a part of your nature.

1. What lies beyond the Mind?

Question: When a seeker goes beyond the mind, does he lose the sense of belongingness with his thoughts? Prabhu, what lies beyond the Mind? 

Solution: Mind is a collection of thoughts. Until you understand the true nature of Self, it doesn’t matter whether you are on this side of the mind or beyond it. On one side of the mind, there’s Moksha (salvation), while on the other side there’s Sansaar (material world). This understanding emerges only out of Self-realisation. Till it happens, one can surely accept this at the level of thinking & belief that “I am not these thoughts.” — This will help reduce the sense of belongingness. That being said, the actual belongingness with thoughts will secede only upon Self-realisation, where all your thoughts will appear in accumulated form at the level of Mind. For instance, I visualise the various objects lying in my home as a collection, and I use them as and when required. In the same way, I see my thoughts as a collection in the “House of Mind”, and therefore make use of them when the need arises. Thereafter, their presence or absence really makes no difference.

2. Should questions arise from Satsang?

Question: Sri Guru, we find we have no question to ask you, but we always feel your Grace; and even if a question arises, it either resolves on its own or gets resolved through your teachings. Is there something wrong with this thinking? 

Solution: Why don’t you have questions is a question in itself..! Nevertheless, your feelings are understandable, and certainly there are many seekers who receive numerous solutions just from listening to Satsang and its teachings. The foremost purpose of getting solutions from Satsang is to invoke your trust in truth, and to develop intense faith in a Sadguru. Shrimadji writes, “To awaken Bhakti (devotion) towards enlightened beings upon receiving knowledge from them ﹘ this is the sole aim of knowledge (Satsang). In that, the memory power of people today is so poor that they cannot even retain the knowledge conveyed in Satsang. In present times, people understand a Guru’s teachings, but cannot retain it in their memory for long; therefore, you must invoke Bhakti on the basis of understanding. A seeker who manifests Bhakti in this way always feels that the grace of Guru and solutions arrive on their own. Your question itself indicates that devotion towards your Guru is blossoming within you – a great achievement.

3. How to overcome a recurring vice?

Question: Having Satsang, Sadguru and meditation on the spiritual path helps evolve many qualities within us. Still, we get stuck on a particular vice and the mind also repeatedly directs our attention towards it, which sometimes breeds self-doubt within. How to maintain our self-belief in such a situation, please guide us.

Solution: Being stuck with the same vice repeatedly means that Nature is signalling us to rid yourself off it. When the mind begins to doubt itself, understand that it is disagreeing with that vice of yours, so you should make a strong effort to eliminate it. There are some vices that are averted by the understanding of Satsang, many are erased by Sadhana, but for certain vices, Sanyam (Self-discipline) is essential. This  can Sanyam be embraced in two ways:

• First: As soon as that vice arises, practice Sanyam (Practices like staying in silence, voluntary fasting, limiting phone use, Mantra-writing, etc. are various ways through which restraint can be adopted). 
• Second: Commit to any of the practices given in the bracket above for 21 days, and pray to God every day keeping in mind its purpose. Personally, I find the second way  more useful.

4. Are all Mantras the same?

Question: I find all Mantras (Soham, Om, Shivoham etc.) to be similar. But I cannot decide which Mantra I should recite.

Solution: Mantras are like “seed-words”. Just as each seed has a unique purpose, similarly the purpose and usage of each Mantra is distinct. All Mantras are not the same. Some are intended for strengthening the belief in your true nature (Self), like Soham. While others like Om are aimed at balancing the energies within. Some Mantras seek to establish harmony between Self and God, such as Shivoham. And the process to use is different for every Mantra. Therefore, it is essential to receive the clarity of Mantra-reciting from an enlightened Master. Reciting out of Swachhand (one’s own selfish desire) can prove to be more damaging than beneficial, as Mantra-reciting tends to activate a certain part of our brain, where it may cause opposite effects. Therefore, it is important to be careful while using the Mantras.

5. How to take Agya (permission) for a discipline?

Question: We are not able to receive your live Samagam (congregation), so how do we take your Agya if we want to commit to a Niyam (discipline)? Also, at times we tend to violate a Niyam, then how do we seek forgiveness in such a case?

Solution: There are two types of Agya – Vyavaharik (practical) and Paarmarthik (transcendental) Agya. At SRM, there is only one Paarmarthik Agya i.e. SwaRaj Kriya. Apart from this, all other minor Agyas that serve to refine the practical aspects of your life are VyavaharikAgyas. They can be embraced as per one’s own understanding and live Samagam may not be required for it. You may initiate these Niyams with a prayer (like Navkaar Mantra) before the Chitrapat (or at any temple-like sacred space in your home). Mantra-recital should be done at least three times before taking the Niyam. Furthermore, if ever you happen to violate it, sincerely commit to writing down a “Prayer for Forgiveness” once for repentance and contemplation.

6. How to improve concentration during Satsang?

Question: During Satsang, I have trouble maintaining concentration for a longer time period, which is wrong. What should I do?

Solution: There are certain underlying factors that influence concentration on a subject, for instance – people tend to concentrate well on something they either find interesting or beneficial. You watch Satsang because you find it interesting. However, since you don’t have much experience of its benefits, your concentration doesn’t last as long as it should. My suggestion to you is that if your concentration span is 20 minutes, then watch Satsang for 15 minutes only. When you follow this, the wisdom you gain by watching attentively will go deeper into your consciousness, and will bring transformation in your life. Subsequently, your consciousness will seek to find the source of that transformation. As a result, you will be further drawn towards Satsang and the duration of your concentration will improve too, since you have now experienced its benefits.

7. How to let go of the Niyams that were taken without understanding?

Question: Prabhu, we adhere to the Niyams taken after understanding of Satsang with great joy, but the ones that we took ignorantly feel restrictive and burdensome. What should we do?

Solution: Every Niyam followed with awareness and joy yields a genuine outcome. It is a firm belief in Spirituality that any Niyam taken in ignorance shall become non-existent, when you become aware of it. For instance, if someone borrows money while in a state of dream, he is not expected to return it in the state of wakefulness. Similarly, the Niyams taken unconsciously lose their existence when you regain consciousness upon understanding. This is a revolutionary leap, wherein you realise the futility of the Niyam taken unconsciously, and free yourself from such burdens with understanding. Having said that, there shouldn’t be any feelings of disrespect towards anyone while doing so, rather one should feel grateful for understanding the truth.

8. Is it possible to evolve without the live Samagam?

Question: We are able to attend your live Samagam only 2-3 times a year, even though many seekers attend multiple times. Though we watch your Satsang and practice meditation techniques regularly, does it hinder our progress if we are unable to come to live Samagam?

Solution: One aspect is that a seeker is not able to attend the live Samagam, another is, he does not make an effort to attend it. If he does not want to come out of his comfort zone, it is certain that his inner progress will be obstructed. The spiritual journey is about merging with the infinite and therefore, how can a seeker proceed without leaving behind his narrow mindset and boundaries..! Yes, if you are unable to attend due to some unavoidable constraints, and if there is a  feeling of repentance, then this emotion shall nurture your inner foundation to support your progress. Always remember that a Guru’s live Samagam is not for gaining knowledge (that is possible on YouTube as well). But by entering into a Guru’s energy field, there is an invisible change in the seeker’s own energy field, which usually takes very long to achieve by self-effort.

It is possible that the above answers give rise to more questions in the seeker’s mind. Thus, we encourage you submit them in the comments section below. Sri Guru gives clarity upon many doubts associated with your spiritual journey. Answers to some of these questions will be published in the upcoming edition of Samadhan Prakash series.

Read previous blogs of Sri Guru’s Samadhan Prakash: Part 1 | Part 2

Get in-depth answers to more such questions, in ‘Samadhan’ book: Click Here»

Bliss of Wisdom is a blog for seekers who are in search of their real self. It is published by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Delhi – a spiritual revolutionary movement founded by Sri Guru. She is a spiritual Master who has transformed innumerable lives through her logical explanations and effective meditation techniques. To know more visit www.srmdelhi.org.