To meditate in the right way a positive attitude is required; equally important is the physical posture. It is nearly impossible in a normal situation, to sleep in shirshasana, the head-stand posture. But it is pretty easy to doze off while lying down or even while sitting. Thus, when the body is in a comfortable position, sleep comes naturally. But in the standing position it is quite difficult to fall asleep. For meditation the right posture is a definite pre-requisite.

When one learns the art of meditation, then one truly understands the art of distancing oneself from the rumblings of the mind

If the spine is not erect but curved, the gravitational pull of the earth has a greater effect on the body – you feel like relaxing and there is an inclination to lie down. All through the day our arms are by our sides in a vertical position, so they do not hurt or pain. But if we are asked to hold our arms straight in front of the body in a horizontal position, it will be a punishment. Why is it so? Because in the horizontal position the area acted upon by gravity increases; in the vertical position the area acted upon by the earth’s gravitational pull is lesser as our arms span a smaller area.
In exactly the same manner, if we sit straight then the area of gravitational pull decreases and it becomes easier to be alert. Body posture also includes the positioning of our hands. The hands should be placed in the lap – one above the other – with the palms facing upwards. Or they should be in the gyaan mudra with the tip of the thumb and first finger joined.
When we meditate, vibrations and auras arise in the body; to contain them the hands should be positioned in the right manner so that energy does not flow out to the earth but remains in the body. This bio-plasmic energy travels; we have to ensure its smooth passage so that we get all the advantage and benefit of the rising energy. Once this energy is experienced in its full force, then you can definitely share it with others: human beings, the earth, air, water and animals.
The posture of the body is very important for proper meditation. In the Gita Sri Krishna says:

With the senses withdrawn from all objects
Spine kept erect and contemplating at the middle of the brows
Concentrate on balanced in and out going breath
Such a person is called a conqueror

Let me explain this in detail. Sri Krishna says that first and foremost a person should take leave of the sensory world for a while and let the sense organs rest. If the eyes yearn to see the world and the tongue to taste – in short, if you are seeking pleasure in smells, tastes, sights and fragrances, if you are engrossed in a futile search for material joys, how will you be motivated to strive for meditation? At least momentarily, for the time being, the senses have to be turned inwards and the spine has to be kept erect at a ninety-degree angle.
Sri Krishna says that all attention has to be brought to the centre of the eyebrows – an area which is also called the ‘third eye’ or Shiva netra. You should then focus on the breath which should be balanced. He says that a person who is able to do so will conquer the senses. Such a person is yatindriya – one whose senses are tamed and whose mind rests in peace and does not wander in search of joy; a person who has attained the right balance in life. Yatindriya is not a person who denies his senses or lives a repressed life, but a person who experiences immense joy from within. He is a person who is free of all slavery and bondage.
By constantly practicing sadhana and dhyana, the urge to seek the Lord’s blissful form can be awakened in the heart
Man is enslaved to woman and woman to man as both are dependent on each other for sexual gratification. But a person who attains inner bliss will communicate at a different level; there can be friendship and understanding, but there is no exploitation in the garb of social relationships.
Man is not the master of his life as he proclaims himself to be – in actuality it is material objects which rule man. I remember a Sufi story:
Once, Sheikh Farid was walking in the outskirts of his village with his followers. They saw a farmer taking his cow for a walk. Farid asked his followers, “Who is the master, the cow or the farmer?” The followers replied, “Definitely it is the farmer, sir.” Baba again asked, “If someone hits the cow and the cow runs, who will follow whom?” All the followers started thinking. Farid went and hushed the cow; it started running towards the fields and the farmer ran after the cow cursing Farid for playing such a prank on him.
Then Farid spoke: “It looked as though man was the master of the beast. But the animal is least bothered about ownership, and in a way it is the cow that is being followed by the man and not the man being followed by the cow.”
Such is the pathetic state of our mind that we have enslaved ourselves to objects, to money, to status and to prestige. But Sri Krishna says that man can become the master of his own world; a human being can become yatindriya by following the rules given by him for meditation. One has to learn to get rid of the shackles; all chains and all bondages are to be broken. Then for the first time in your life you will be able to breathe freely. In another shloka Sri Krishna says: “Anger and tension take leave of such a person and he is satiated once and for all.” For those who taste the nectar of spiritual wisdom, this becomes an experience and does not remain a scholarly discourse.
As I have mentioned earlier, in ancient times two stones were rubbed together to generate sparks to light a fire for a yagna. Similarly, by constantly practicing sadhana and dhyana, the urge to seek the Lord’s blissful form can be awakened in the heart.
You have probably heard innumerable discourses on dhyana and yet you have not been successful in understanding their essence. Why? It is because you lack the practical experience of meditation. Many may have a mantra which they repeat mechanically while telling the beads of a rosary. But have you achieved single-minded concentration? Or is meditation a mere formality, a chore that must be performed to satisfy the conscience?
Knowledge is established firmly only by experience and not when it is based on hearsay. For instance, there is a general superstition that prevails about solar eclipses. People confine themselves to the four walls of their homes with the curtains drawn, so that even the rays of the sun do not enter and harm them. The period of the eclipse is considered very inauspicious, but a student of science knows that there isn’t an iota of truth in this blind superstition. When a solar eclipse occurred recently, crowds collected at places like Neem Ka Thana, Bharatpur and Calcutta, to observe the phenomena through special dark glasses. Slowly awareness and understanding has grown in the general populace that it is the shadow of the moon that falls on the sun and partially veils it.

Tulsidas says in a verse:

Until I see it with my own eyes
I will not believe the words of my dearest guru

Without seeing with my own eyes, how am I to have faith in my guru’s words? Not that Tulsidas was an atheist or a non-believer, rather he was a devotee – a bhakt of Sri Rama. Although a truly conservative person, even he says that his belief can not be based on mere words. Without experiencing something for himself, he could not accept it for what it was. We value our shastras, our ancient textures, the Gurbani and the Gita, but why not experience the message contained in them and know the truth for ourselves? I call upon all who want to tread this path; belief in the scriptures is not essential.
You are aware that the mind is always on the move, never still for even a moment. It is like a mad monkey that jumps restlessly from one branch to another. So what then is meditation? It is taking the mind to a state where the thoughts are stilled and emptiness prevails. But how does that benefit us? Normally the mind is in a state of turmoil, filled with anger, jealousy, worry, hatred and ill-will. It is continually pulled in different directions resulting in constant restlessness. An unhealthy mind with polluted thoughts invariably leaves its mark on the physical health; stress and pressures of the mind lead to a disease-prone body.
The economically weak class spends most of its waking hours engaged in strenuous labour, thereby having no spare time for unnecessary and unwarranted thoughts. Where diseases like blood pressure and cardiac ailments were once common amongst the well-to-do sections of society, today materialism has entered the fabric of our society to such an extent that every man from a rickshaw puller to an owner of a posh car is in a rat race, thus facing immense stress and suffering from stress-related diseases. Mammon is worshipped openly; money is the new god!
Exhibitionism, possessiveness, attachment and thrill seeking have become the common hobby of this generation. Instant gratification is desired; this generation that belongs to the times of instant noodles and instant coffee can’t wait to experience happiness in the future; they want everything now – be it fame, health, wealth or celebrity status. The hunger for titillation is so strong that morals, ethics and religion have been left to stagnate.
It is only when serious damage is done that people wake up from this blindness. No one is ready to listen; everyone wants to acquire wisdom, but perhaps the harder way and not like you, sitting comfortably in your seats and listening to the words of wisdom. I wonder: Are you really listening even now?
Psychosomatic diseases are spreading like bush fire. People can’t sleep well; all six systems of the human body do not work properly. Have you ever felt real hunger? Today people feel like eating when they watch food commercials or see billboards of food advertisements. They get hungry when they see advertisements of burgers and pizzas on the television – a false hunger takes over and they call for home delivery. When you eat because of false hunger, how will your stomach digest the food? It will simply rot in your intestines and will lead to various diseases. And when stomach ailments affect you, then you need medicines for indigestion, constipation, ulcer and acidity! When a sedentary life style complements a high stress job, insomnia is the result! And sales of sedatives rise!
Today’s is a cola, coffee, fast food generation. The result is: rash, brash and trash – diseases of mind and body; no deep sleep – often no sleep at all – no real hunger and no real happiness.

Normally the mind is in a state of turmoil, filled with anger, jealousy, worry, hatred and ill-will – leading to disease-prone body.
In meditation, mind moves to a state where the thoughts are stilled and emptiness prevails

Therefore meditation is extremely vital to maintain physical and mental health. Recently a conference was held in the US entitled ‘Medicine of Tomorrow’. Leading cardiologists from Germany, Japan, Canada and America participated in it. I too attended the conference and elaborated on the fact that for a healthy heart, medicine in the form of meditation is a must. Today the medical fraternity completely agrees with the observation that the rise in incidence of cardio-vascular disease is due to unhealthy lifestyles and high levels of stress. Some doctors are themselves victims of these diseases.
Prevention is better than cure. Why not pay attention to this often repeated dictum? Rather than visiting doctors and incurring heavy hospital bills and unwanted worries, take charge of your life and bring a wise discipline into it. Eat right, sleep right, meditate right.
Once a man was admitted to a nursing home after a severe heart attack. A week later when he was discharged, the doctor cautioned the family members against anything that would upset him or cause any sort of excitement as his heart was weak and would not tolerate the stress. Hearing this the patient promptly turned to the doctor, “Sir, then I sincerely request you to refrain from presenting me with the hospital bill as my poor heart will be unable to bear it.”
Keep your heart healthy. The scriptures say that god is in your heart – do not defile it with vices and ill will. Let it be pure.

Sri Krishna says:

O Arjuna! Though I am omnipresent
If you wish to find me, I am always dwelling in your heart!

If you wish to see the Almighty, turn inwards for He is to be found in the depths of your heart. He who resides within should be sought within. The source of ‘I’ is God who is present where you are. What you need to do is to go back deep into the source of your roots.
Meditation is the process of plumbing deep within; it helps us to unburden the mind. The mind becomes free of thought and thus we are able to feel the Lord with heightened perception. One who meditates takes care to follow the master in spirit; in the process of meditation he remains extremely vigilant and alert. One who is on the path of peace cannot be careless, lax or ignorant.
A mind which is a compulsive thinker suffers and spreads suffering to others too. Therefore, for your own benefit and for the benefit of those around, we need to learn the art of mediation, which in other words is the art of managing the mind.

Let us try to understand this in another way. If you are given the choice of running or walking to a particular destination, which would you choose? Obviously walking will be the preferred choice as it involves lesser strain. Then again, between walking and standing the choice would be to stand as it involves still lesser physical strain. Similarly, between standing and sitting it is obvious that sitting would be an easier choice. Between sitting and lying down one would prefer the latter, and if the choice is between just lying down and sleeping one would opt for sleep. And now the last question: Would you prefer sleep or death? Shouldn’t death be more relaxing, more peaceful than sleep? Isn’t it so? But you will mess up your death as you have messed up your life. What does all this teach you? You must understand that happiness increases with decreased activity of the mind!
Happiness increases with decreased activity of the mind!
The lesser the activity of the mind the more integrated and calm it becomes. Just as the body needs time to sleep and relax, the mind too needs time to rest and relax. Although sleep is designed by nature to provide us mental rest, we human beings have polluted our sleep with more of dreams and less of deep sleep; the time of restful sleep has decreased considerably. In an effort to sleep, people toss and turn in bed and as a result they wake up tired. If you cannot sleep deeply, you will lose your sanity within days. Sleep provides natural respite from the constant chain of thoughts; had there been no sleep, the entire human race would have gone mad!
When a person is asleep, the mind is seeped in the slumber of unconsciousness and so you do not really enjoy being asleep. Sleep provides some relief from the madness of the mind. Have you ever wondered why an alcoholic cannot stop drinking, knowing well enough that it is destroying his health and family life? The reason is that the mental relief he gets in drunkard-ness is so alluring that he is deaf to all counseling and advice. Human beings can’t really be pulled away from intoxicants unless and until they learn to experience a state of mind where one is conscious and yet not disturbed because of the mind; when one knows how to manage one’s emotions and feelings with detachment. This can be learnt only through meditation.
When one learns the art of meditation, then one truly understands the art of distancing oneself from the rumblings of the mind. As the mind becomes empty and non-productive, stressful thoughts vanish and the mind becomes determined and focused. It is then our best aide in helping with external interactions and it stops being a nuisance. As awareness grows, a quietude envelopes the mind and calmness simply oozes from every pore of one’s being. Serenity pervades your being and a singular joy is felt deep within.

Gurumaa: People desire good clothes, good things, cars, etc., and sometimes they even question why the guru owns these things? “I too should get a chance to enjoy them!”
The reality is that we are not even aware that there are repressed desires deep within us. We don’t even know which desires we are harboring and when they will come up to the surface, overpower us, and even make us cast aspersions on the guru: ‘How come he is wearing good clothes, possessing good things, traveling in a Mercedes…etc.’
Only wisdom can show us the way out of the trap of desires that our mind creates; as such, not even experience can. If only the experience of sensual gratification could lead us out of it, the whole world would be wise. But it is only the wisdom to distinguish the perishable from the imperishable, and the discernment to understand that there is a pit into which we can fall if we don’t watch out, that can help us come out of the web spun by the ego.
It is not a bad thing to desire good clothes or good stuff, but to make it the means and not the end is harmful. The Birlas, Tatas, Ambanis, Donald Trump, Bill Gates: all have tons of money – they don’t just jet around the world, they own private jets. Yet, after having all this, do they possess the wisdom to realize that all these things are transient; are not meant to be pursued and multiplied, and in the end will not give them the true happiness they actually seek in this round-about way?
We do not have to judge only other people; we can be unbiased but critical of ourselves too. We need to just watch our mind and learn from our mistakes. If we are watchful, we can learn new things every moment – that is the only way to come out of the trap set by the mind. Every enlightened being has once stumbled, fallen and made mistakes, but also learnt that when and where you fall, know it to be just a fall – and get up again.
So I say that mind can be changed. The body has its limitations; we are built in a certain way and after a point we cannot really change that structure, but the mind can break the boundaries it has created and it can expand. Acceptance of limitations and boundaries is necessary to overcome them.
Observe the sky, the trees, the flowers, the grass… the colors, the fragrances all around, and rejoice that you can do so. Have you ever woken up in the morning with sheer joy: ‘Wow, I am actually alive! I can see, smell, hear, taste, touch….?’
What we see is not real; the world is not real…Everything seen is imperishable. ‘Conditions apply!’ Therefore be very vigilant and mindful all the time. Watch your mind.


Q. Why do we have desires, emotions and attachments? How can we detach our selves from them as they create so much of suffering?

Gurumaa: Desires and emotions are a part of being human. We have been blessed to feel emotions; the problem arises when we don’t know how to manage these emotions and when unnecessarily because of the ignorance we stumble upon our emotions and fall down.
You can’t blame nature for giving us emotions and should rather be thankful to it. From mother we experience unconditional affection; from father we get immense inspiration and support – both financial and emotional support; brothers & sisters and all other relatives play a very important role in shaping up your personality.
Whatsoever differences or problems may arise in our relationships but that doesn’t mean that emotions and attachments are bad. No, they are good. Even attachment is good.
It is only through attachment that one learns to cling and only the one who has learned to cling and enjoyed worldly affections can come out of it. Attachments are not meant to get stuck but to experience, enjoy and simply move beyond them.
Have you ever seen a dry leaf falling down from the tree? No one pulls the leaf; no one asks it to come down. Leaf is not making any conscious effort to fall down. But by just being with that branch one day it starts getting dried up. Leaf is attached to the branch but slowly the juice flowing in the leaf starts drying up, and gradually the color of leaf changes, and one day it simply falls down.
The family attachments and emotions are just like tree and leaf; we are like a leaf and family & society are like a tree. Till the time the juice of affections and emotions is flowing we are happy. But yes, whenever you are happy you should not forget the fact that you can’t continue to be happy always. Happiness comes after sadness.
The fun of meeting a friend is only when you meet him after a long separation. When two friends or two relatives sit together and live together for a long time, all fun and ecstasy just vanishes. So we need some separation to enjoy the meetings and we need some sadness too to enjoy the happiness. We need death to celebrate life.
Beauty of life is in its contradictions. Wise persons know how to live whereas unwise persons don’t know how to live and how to die. That is the reason of their pain and turmoil. See, with pencil you can write beautiful poetries, short stories, novels; you can write anything but with that pencil you can hurt yourself too. Have you ever seen a child who pokes the pencil in his nose, puts it in his ear, put it in his eyes and then cries? Child can also say that throw away all the pencils and pens from home. They are so dangerous why have you kept them at home.
But we always teach the child that it was his mistake to poke the pencil and there is no reason to throw away all the pens and pencils from home. Similarly there is no need to throw away all the emotions and attachments. Experience them but with open eyes. Know that every emotion and attachment has its own limitations.
Every life is followed by death, happiness is followed by sorrow and every meeting is followed by separation. So we should accept life in all its dualities. Problem is this that we want to remain on the bank only i.e. we don’t want separation, we don’t want death, we don’t want sadness and we don’t want misfortunes.
Whether you want something or not, problems are going to be there. Be easy and accept the life in its totality. When sadness comes be sad, when happiness comes enjoy, when death happens be very thoughtful, when birth happens rejoice. Rabindra Nath Tagore, on birth of any child used to say that God is still not angry with the humans and that’s the reason a new being has entered in our life.

The human body is a part of nature – a microcosm of the universe. When it runs perfectly – as it was designed to run – it can be perfectly healthy. It does try to be perfectly healthy all the time, using its innate self-healing and selfregulating ability as it strives for a perfect balance, but we repeatedly interfere with this process. Nature has set us up with all the equipment we need to be perfectly healthy. Health is our natural state and ill health is unnatural. Every day our systems are exposed
to millions of bacteria, viruses, allergens, even carcinogens; yet our immune system has the intelligence and skill to deal with all the invaders and keep us healthy. However, when stress, inadequate nutrition, or fatigue weaken the immune system, the same invaders produce disease.
Every second the body is adjusting to thousands of changing parameters, keeping us in perfect balance. No matter what comes along to upset this balance, the body knows its own nature, knows what ideal temperature it should be and the correct chemistry it needs to maintain, and it keeps referring to that blueprint to maintain a proper balance. Ayurveda, the ancient holistic system of medicine from the vedic civilization of India, teaches that health is maintained by the balance of three subtle energies known as doshas: Vata, pitta and kapha. This system teaches maintenance and protection of the
whole person – mind, body and soul. Ayurvedic medicine is based on an individual’s characteristics and body frame rather than being oriented towards treating disease or sickness.
Each of us is made of a combination of the three doshas which are comprised of five universal elements: Space, air, earth, fire and water. Vata is a combination of air and space, pitta is mostly fire with some water and kapha is mostly water with some earth.

“Ayurveda, the ancient holistic system of
medicine from the vedic civilization of India,
teaches that health is maintained by the balance of
three subtle energies known as doshas:
Vata, Pitta & Kapha”

Vata Dosha

Vata governs all movements in the mind and body. It controls blood flow, elimination of wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts across the mind. As pitta and kapha cannot move without it, vata is considered the leader of the three Ayurvedic principles in the body. It is very important to keep vata in good balance.

Formation of Vata
The action of swallowing enables us to take in food from the external world. This movement is ongoing and depends upon previously digested food, which creates the need for more food to sustain the processes already set in motion by previous eating. This results in a continuing process of ingestion, digestion and elimination. A direct relationship exists between energy and food absorption. The more energy we require in order to function, the greater the need for proper food to sustain it. For example, we need to eat more when we do hard physical work.
Vata dosha is described as the by-product of the digestion of food and includes the energy produced by digestion as well as the waste gases of the digestive process. Anna mala, the ejectable portion of food, equals vata dosha or the portion of vata that is produced. This absorbed energy is then utilized by the body for essential movements like breathing, heartbeat, digestion and excretion of waste products, which are the main actions of vata. These movements cannot be measured or weighed, therefore vata is perceived by the totality of its functions. However, if vata is produced in excess, it becomes a negative factor, drying or disturbing the various tissues and organs.
Functions of Vata Dosha
As the principle of propulsion, vata carries out diverse functions in the body and mind. It controls cell arrangement and division, the formation of different tissue layers and the differentiation of organs and systems. It conducts impulses from the sense organs to the brain and from the brain to the motor organs. Vata controls the expulsion of faeces, urine, sweat, menstrual fluid, semen and the foetus. It regulates respiratory, cardiac and gastrointestinal movements, as well as all higher functions in the brain and spinal cord. Vata governs the movement of the mind and its transmission of information; it provides the energy to perform all mental activities of thought and perception.
The five sub-doshas of vata, called vayus, are: Prana, Udana, Vyana, Samana and Apana: these are responsible for various movements.
Prana – Udana: These two forms of vata have opposite movements but operate together. Prana Vayu moves from the outside to the inside and is responsible for receiving air, water, food and impressions from the outside world. Whenever a sound, touch, taste or smell is attended to with concentration, it has an effect on the respiration (Prana). Prana vayu moves downwards from the head to the body. In the process, it brings in various external forms of nourishment and energy from food and breath to impressions.

Udana Vayu: This moves from the inside to the outside, mainly through exhalation and speech, but also through various forms of exertion. Food and water received by the stomach and rendered fine during digestion, are eliminated to some degree through expiration. Speech, which occurs through exhaling air through the vocal chords, is due to Udana. Memory, which is the bringing out of the knowledge that has been previously received by Prana, is also a function of Udana. Thus Prana is responsible for intake and Udana for output. Udana governs will, enthusiasm and motivation. Udana moves upward from the center of the body to the head and is centered in the throat.

Vyana – Samana: These two types of vata also have opposite movements. Vyana vayu is responsible for propulsion from the center to the periphery of the body. The movement of the heart in pushing nutritive substances to the periphery is a function of Vyana. It governs circulation to the limbs and the flow of blood and sweat. Vyana carries efferent impulses from the sense organs to the brain. Vyana pervades the entire body from its center in the heart. Physical exercise and stretching of the limbs occur mainly through Vyana.

Samana vayu on the other hand, is the propulsive force from the periphery to the center. Afferent impulses in the nerves, bring the fluid pushed out by Vyana back to the center and promote the process of digestion and are functions of Samana. Thus, the action of Samana is the central pulling action opposite to the outward pushing of Vyana. We could say that Samana is centripetal force, while Vyana is centrifugal force. Samana is centered in the navel and is responsible for the churning action in the intestines due to which we digest food.

Apana: In contrast to the above two pairs, Apana controls all downward discharges of urine, faeces, flatus, menstrual fluid, semen, and the foetus. All these are controlled for a particular period of time before being discharged from the body. The overall control of these for a particular period is beneficial for building or maintaining the tissues. Since this control is beneficial to the other types of vata, it is said that Apana controls all the different forms of vata. Apana also sustains the immune function that depends on proper elimination. Apana moves downward from the navel. It is often regarded as opposite to Prana, as eating is opposite to elimination.

Causes of High Vata
Vata becomes disturbed due to cold weather and exposure to wind or air-conditioning. Dietary factors that effect it are cold substances like iced water, refrigerated foods or foods cold in energy like green salads, food that is dry, rough or light in properties like barley, millet or corn, and irregular eating habits. Excessive physical exercise, particularly of a strongly aerobic nature, as well as improper movements of the body aggravate vata. Lack of proper nutrition and lack of proper rest are additional factors. Psychological factors that increase vata include mental and emotional stress and anything that disturbs the peace or security of a person.

Symptoms of High Vata
High vata is indicated by a desire for warm food, warm environment and warm clothing. Physical symptoms are constipation, lack of energy, loss of sleep, fatigue, emaciation, abdominal distention with flatulence, blackish coloration of faeces and urine, and defective sensory functioning. Psychological symptoms include fear, anxiety, insecurity, confusion, and aimless talking.
Management of Vata
Vata requires patience and consistency over a long period of time in its treatment. Treatment of vata is divided into two types based on whether the cause is tissue deficiency (dhatukshaya) or obstruction in the channels (srotorodha). The former is indicated by low body weight while the latter is indicated by pain.
For tissue deficiency, the best therapy is tonification or tissue building. Anti-vata diet should be given after making certain that the digestive fire has sufficient power to handle the heavy food required. If the digestive fire is weak, digestion-promoting herbs like dry ginger and cayenne or black pepper should be given. Then light oil massage should be given with warm oils like sesame or Mahanarayan oil, and a mild steam therapy. Herbal wines like Draksha can be taken before food to increase appetite, or after food as a tonic. Tonic herbs such as Ashwagandha and Bala should be taken. Seated yoga postures with silent meditation are helpful.
For obstruction in the channels, detoxifying and stimulating herbs such as dry ginger or fennel should be used. Oil massage is recommended, emphasizing herbs like Nirgundi or Vishagarbha oil. Special alkali medicines may be taken internally to open the channels. Mild laxatives and decoction enemas should be taken. Herbal wines prepared with jaggery and herbs like Dashamula are indicated. When the system is clean, then anti-vata diet and tonifying methods can be started.

Recommendations
1.  Avoid alcohol, hot spices, excessive oil or greasy food, and too much salt.
2. Vitamins: B-vitamins, calcium and iron are usually prescribed.
3. Wear an emerald set in silver on the middle finger of the right hand. Pearl and moonstone are also recommended.
4. Chant the mantra Sham. It has a cooling and calming effect.
5. Recommended herbs include Aloe, Arjuna, Barberry, Gotu Kola, Motherwort, Myrrh, Goldenseal, Saffron, Shatavari, Sandalwood and Katuka. Sometimes Chinese herbs such as Salvia and Coptis, and formulas such as Coptis and Rhubarb in combination are prescribed for acute conditions.
6. Apply sandalwood oil to the chest and to the ‘third eye’ in the middle of the forehead.
7. Practise meditation to reduce pent-up anger, hatred and resentment. Cultivate peace, love and forgiveness.
8. Limit exposure to sun. Avoid strenuous exercise.
9. Take Katuka or Barberry in equal parts with Licorice and ghee (Take two grams after meals).
10. Purgation is helpful in acute conditions.
11. Herbal combinations often prescribed for this condition include Arjuna preparations, Gotu Kola compound and Brahma Rasayana.

In fact, a skillful touch is an extremely powerful therapeutic tool which connects us at deep emotional levels.
A study carried out in America illustrates this very clearly. Two groups of premature babies were studied; the first was the control group in which the infants were left alone most of the time, except for feeding. The infants in the second group were held and cuddled each time they were fed. After the study was complete, it was observed that 80% of the infants in the second group had put on more weight than those in the control group. These babies were healthier and were able to leave the hospital much earlier than the control group, saving the government thousands of dollars in childcare.
This and other similar studies show how vital the sense of touch is to human beings; in fact it can be a lifesaver. Throughout history, nearly every culture developed its own traditional hands-on healing methods, which profoundly affected human beings on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. In fact, touch can vary from direct contact with the area to merely stroking the aura without any actual physical contact with the body.
Massage is a wonderful technique which employs skillful touch to relax both body and mind. It is a unique way of communicating without words; a healing art, which relieves pain and suffering.
In today’s jet age, massage is most definitely a stress buster as energy levels are low but stress levels are very high – whether it is deadlines at work, commuting in crowded cities or emotional confrontations in relationships. Children particularly, are brought up more with dictatorship than with love and understanding; the stricter the upbringing, the more dysfunctional and stressed-out adults they become.
It is now proven beyond doubt that our thoughts and emotions have a direct imprint on our body. In fact, we are what we think!
Often we notice that when we are happy and positive, our body feels light, flexible and energetic. When we feel depressed, stress, tension and negative emotions take over and we feel weighed down – as if a heavy burden is upon us. It is as if we are literally carrying the ‘weight of the world’ on our shoulders.
If this tension is not dissipated, it gets stored in the body. Negative thinking and suppression of desires leads to more blocks, preventing the free flow of energy. This blocked-up energy causes rigidity in muscles and tissues. Excess tissue builds up in the affected area forming a ‘protective’ psychological barrier. Wilhelm Reich, the father of modern psychology coined an apt term for it. He called it ‘Body Armour’, a term massage therapists are all too familiar with.
Rigidity in the body brings rigidity to the mind, and each perpetuates the other, setting up a vicious cycle.
This brings along chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, chronic shallow breathing, a negative self-image and low self-esteem – the classic pathologies of neuro-muscular stress.
Stress can be stored anywhere in the body. However, it is found that specific areas like the neck, shoulders and back muscles usually accumulate more stress. These muscles tend to remain stiff and tense all the time until eventually the pain becomes chronic. It gets aggravated with bad posture, hunching over the computer for hours together, wearing ill-fitting uncomfortable shoes and lifting heavy things incorrectly.

“Massage is a wonderful technique which employs

skillful touch to relax both body and mind.

It is a unique way of communicating without words;

a healing art, which relieves pain and suffering.”

Our muscles have an inbuilt memory; they learn to contracton stimulation and relax whenthe stimulus is removed. However, when we remain stressed for a long time, muscles forget their original relaxed state and remain contracted all the time – a condition called sensory-motor amnesia. This leads to chronic stress and can be very painful.
A good massage therapist locates and gently eases out the tension areas. Different massage strokes like kneading, friction and application of pressure enhance blood circulation and flush out wastes and toxins from the body. The heat generated by friction and rubbing helps to loosen the tight muscles. In expert hands, knots slowly unravel and the muscle gradually comes back to its original elasticity. This takes time, but guided breathing by the therapist and a willingness to consciously let go of holding patterns on the part of the client, are key factors. Once muscles relax, breathing slows down and the positive and negative charges in the body start to balance out.
A massage treatment should ideally feel like one continuous flow, and a good massage can even lead to altered states of consciousness.
Circulatory massage can be relaxing or energizing. The strokes are nearly always in the direction of the heart. Long, smooth strokes called effleurage, and kneading, squeezing strokes called pettrisage, are the two most important strokes in circulatory massage, so called because blood and lymph circulation as well as the heart function are greatly facilitated.
A relaxing massage generally starts with the face and head to calm the thoughts, and then moves downwards.
Esalen Massage, developed at Esalen Institute, California, at the very beginning of the New Age movement, is a very soothing massage with long, rhythmic strokes, which can put people to sleep! It is great for business oriented people and those who are tense and hyperactive, as it is a wonderful way of transfering healing energy.
Swedish Massage on the other hand, is brisk and invigorating and generally starts with the legs and feet. Rapid strokes with deep friction and percussion movements break down congested lymph areas, cellulite, and muscle spasms, leaving the person totally rejuvenated. It is excellent for athletes, obese people and those who are depressed or withdrawn, as it increases vibrancy levels dramatically!
These days Deep Tisssue Massage is very popular. This employs firm, constant compression, which liberates psychic tension in the muscles. It elongates and restores the elasticity of muscles as well. This kind of slow, deep work is most effective when both the client and therapist breathe in unison.
Thai Massage is also called Yoga Massage and includes some amazing stretches, postures and unique pressure-point work, all of which have a direct effect on the energy meridians in the body. This enhances chi, the vital life-force energy in the body. The therapist uses his or her own body weight in a fluid, rhythmic manner and gently guides the client into a deeply relaxed harmonious state, where yin and yang – the polar opposites – come together in perfect balance.
Ayurveda – the ’science of life’ – too recommends massage as a daily practice to stay fit and healthy and to remove toxins from the body. The sequence moves from the legs upwards to the back, torso, the arms and then finally to the head. The strokes are proximal to distal and flow outward to nourish the extremities as well.
Ayurveda especially recommends the correct use of different oils according to the season, pulse diagnosis, age and temperament of the client.
Ayurvedic Massage is said to balance the tridosha – the three humours: vata (wind), pitta (bile) and kapha (phlegm). It is known to rejuvenate the system, nourish the seven dhatus (constituents of the body), remove fatigue, improve eyesight, increase longevity, enhance immunity and strengthen the skin improving its color and texture.
Head massage is given a lot of importance in Ayurveda as it increases the supply of fresh oxygen and glucose to the brain, relaxes the nervous system, improves the circulation of life-giving cerebro-spinal fluid, increases the secretion of hormones and enzymes necessary for growth and development of brain cells, cures dryness, and increases the level of pranic energy in the brain. Nowadays, ‘Indian Head Massage’ is in great demand in spas and beauty parlours the world over.

Some other benefits of massage include

* Feeling relaxed yet alert
* Increased body awareness
* Increased freedom, ease and range of movement
* Enhanced confidence andenergy
* Reduced need for sleep, yetsleeping more peacefully
* Faster healing
* Feeling emotionally nurtured
* Feeling good and positive

“Head massage is given a lot of importance in

Ayurveda as it increases the supply of fresh oxygen

and glucose to the brain, relaxes the nervous system,

improves the circulation of life-giving cerebro-spinal fluid,

increases the secretion of hormones and enzymes necessary

for growth and development of brain cells, cures dryness,

and increases the level of pranic energy in the brain”

Massage is nearly always done with oils. These days, Aromatherapy Massage with essential oils is very popular. Essential oils like lavender and tea-tree are the only ones that can be used without dilution. Almost all the others, like geranium, rosemary, cypress, citrus and many others are generally blended in tiny amounts with carrier oils like olive, almond, apricot seed and vitamin E. All these have their own characteristic aroma and give a luxurious feel to the massage. These oils have many beneficial properties and are a wonderful complement to a good massage.
They relax, awaken and energize the nervous system, increase immunity, combat insomnia and infections, and have an overall healing effect on the body and mind, particularly on the emotions.
Ayurvedic massage also uses sesame, mustard, coconut, olive and castor oil. These oils are all extremely beneficial and can be heat-producing or cooling, depending on which oil is used. Particular herbs and spices mixed or cooked in these oils – according to the season – are recommended for sound health.

Uses and Benefits of Massage Oils

* Mahanarayan taila – for muscular pain, rheumatism, arthritis, gout and stiff joints
* Brahmi amla – for head massage
* Bhringaraj – for head and hair. Prevents dandruff and dry hair. Soothes pitta
* Almond oil -for disorders of the brain, nervous system and for premature aging. It soothes the burning sensations of the skin
* Mustard oil – cures pains, swellings and wounds. It is a wormicide. It increases pitta and body heat. Destroys diseases caused by vata and kapha
* Olive oil – helps rheumatism, gout, athritis, sprains, polio and assists with general muscle, ligament and nerve weakness

Aromatherapy Oils

* Antiseptic – lavender and eucalyptus
* Anti-inflammatory – chamomile and lavender
* Fungicidal – patchouli, tea tree, sweet marjoram
* For burns, cuts and scars – lavender, geranium, neroli
* Deodorant – bergamot, thyme, juniper, cypress, lemongrass
* Insect repellent – spike lavender, clove, camphor, garlic and citronella

Contra-indications in Massage

Massage, if judiciously used, helps in healing. However, it should be avoided in the following conditions:
* Inflammation or skin disease
* Purulent (pus) accumulations
* Swellings that might be malignant
* Recent phlebitis (inflammation of veins)
* Recent osteomyelitis (bone infection)
* Recent lymphangitis (lymph node infection)
* Recent thrombosis (clots in blood vessels)
* Severe degrees of hernia
* Very high or very low blood pressure
* Indigestion, constipation, vomiting, fever, very bad cough or cold – (aggravated kapha)
* Heart problems
* Epilepsy
* Pregnancy
* Just after meals

Most people find it very difficult to really relax; they are tense all the time – even in their sleep. The deep relaxation that a massage treatment affords paves the way for the body and mind to heal, as beneficial hormones are secreted by the endocrine system, which in turn affect all other systems in a positive manner.
Massage heals and nurtures not only the recipient, but the masseuse as well.
It is a most amazing and fulfilling experience to connect at such a deep and non-sexual level with another human being. For many people, it makes a tremendous impact when they find that they are received fully and non judgmentally – just as they are. Massage can therefore also be an opening for deep emotional release, as long withheld patterns may emerge, which are then gently released. The intention of the therapist plays a vital role here, and a loving, caring attitude makes a world of difference in turning a massage into a memorable experience.

So treat yourself to some TLC
(tender loving care)…TODAY!!!

The author is working as a massage therapist in Gurumaa Ashram, Gannaur, Sonepat, Haryana.

Tantric tradition suggests that there are two ways of using the sriyantra for meditation. In the ‘outward approach’, one begins by contemplating the bindu and proceeds outwards by stages to take in the smallest triangle in which it is enclosed, then the next two triangles, and so on, slowly expanding outwards through a sequence of shapes to the outer shapes in which the whole object is contained. This outward contemplation is associated with an evolutionary view of the development of the universe where, starting with primordial matter represented by the dot, the meditator concentrates on increasingly complex organisms, as indicated by increasingly complex shapes, until reaching the very boundaries of the universe from where escape is possible only through one of the four doors into chaos. The ‘inward’ approach to meditation, which starts from a circle and then moves inwards, is known in tantric literature as the process of destruction.

The mathematical interest in the sriyantra lies in the construction of the central nine triangles, which is a more difficult problem than might first appear. A line here may have three, four, five or six intersections with other lines. The problem is to construct a sriyantra in which all the intersections are correct and the vertices of the largest triangles fall on the circumference of the enclosing circle. We shall not go into the details of how the Indians may have achieved accurate constructions of increasingly complex versions of the sriyantra, including spherical ones with spherical triangles.

There is, however, a curious fact about all the conectly constructed sriyantras, whether enclosed in circles or in squares. In all such cases the base angle of the largest triangles is about 51°. The monument that comes to mind when this angle is mentioned is the Great Pyramid at Gizeh in Egypt, built around 2600 bc. It is without doubt the most massive building ever to have been erected, having at least twice the volume and thirty times the mass of the Empire State Building in New York, and built from individual stones weighing up to 70 tonnes each. The slope of the face to the base (or the angle of inclination) of the Great Pyramid is 51°50′35.

It is possible from the dimensions of the Great Pyramid to derive probably the two most famous inational numbers in mathematics. One is pi, and the other is phi the ‘golden ratio’ or ‘divine proportion’, given by (1 + sqr-rt 5)/2 (its value to five decimal places is 1.61803). The golden ratio has figured prominently in the history of mathematics, both as a semi-mystical quantity (Kepler suggested that it should be named the ‘divine proportion’) and for its practical applications in art and arAhitecture, including the Parthenon at Athens and a number of other buildings of Classical Greece. In the Great Pyramid, the golden ratio is represented by the ratio of the length of the face (the slope height), inclined at an angle theta to the ground, to half the length of the side of the square base, equivalent to the secant of the angle theta. The original dimensions of the Great Pyramid are not known exactly, because later generations removed the outer limestone casing for building material, but as far as we can tell the above two lengths were about 186.4 and 115.2 metres respectively. The ratio of these lengths is, to five decimal places, l.618 06, in very close agreement with phi. The number phi has some remarkable mathematical properties. Its square is equal to itself plus one, while its reciprocal is itself minus one. But the most intriguing feature is its link with what are called the Fibonacci numbers.

The Fibonacci numbers are the sequence

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, …

where each number equals the sum of its two predecessors. This sequence aops up in a variety of natural phenomena – in pattems of plant growth and in the laws of Mendelian heredity, for example. It is easily shown that the ratio between successive Fibonacci numbers gets closer to phi the hurther up the sequence one goes. In the Fibonacci sequence given above, the ratio of 233 to 144 gives the value of phi calculated from the dimensions of the Great Pyramid.

The quantity pi can also be found in the dimensions of the Great Pyramid. If its height (1466 metres) is taken to be the radius of a circle, the perimeter of its base (4 x 230.4 = 921.6 metres) is almost equal to the circumference of that circle (2pir = 921.6 metres). The product of pi and the square root of phi is close to 4.

The largest isosceles triangle of the sriyantra design is one of the face triangles of the Great Pyramid in miniature, showing almost exactly the same relationship between pi and phi as in its larger counterpart. It would be idle to indulge in any further speculation.

Many of the accurate constructions of sriyantras in India are very old. Some are even more complicated than the one shown. There are those that consist of spherical triangles for which the constructor, to adlieve perfect intersections and vertices falling on the circumference of the circle enclosing the triangles, would require knowledge of ‘higher mathematics whidh the medieval and ancient Indian mathematicians did not possess. Kulaidhev famous expert goes on to suggest that the achievement of such geometrical constructs in Indian mathematics may indicate’the existence of unknown cultural and historical altematives to mathematical knowledge, e.g. the highly developed tradition of special imagination’.

Meditation is not meditating upon something but just being with oneself. There is no movement, no flickering – only being fully in the moment, in the NOW! When a person meditates, he loses all restlessness, his thinking stops and in that moment, he is a pool of energy. He becomes tremendously powerful. Meditation relieves you of all these pressures and artificial living. You begin to see the world with clarity and wisdom. When you see how fickle the world is and understand – impermanence, it opens up new avenues for you. The peace experienced during meditation works as a balm, soothing the mind. Remember, no one gives you pain – it is you who have induced pain on yourself. See life retrospectively – how you have lived and what mistakes you made unknowingly. Once you do, then it will become much easier for you to make the transition from living ignorantly to living consciously. Meditation is being with our true self; being able to control all activities of the mind and senses a well as making the right choices. It is an antidote to the mounting stress and tension. The tremendous transformation that meditation can bring to you can be derived only by delving into its experiences with the child-like innocence.

Mind is always restless, always in a state of flux. It is difficult for us to sit in the silent mode, to be in a relaxed state of mind. What to say about meditation, even simple relaxation is difficult. We need to undergo catharsis to remove all the repressions, all the emotional clouds, all the useless chattering that goes on in the mind. When we achieve this state, we’ll be able to relax totally. Meditation is the quietening of the mind. The power to heal comes from meditation. Meditation gives right knowledge and the right training to handle life. A blind man needs a stick to walk safely, but if we can cure his blindness, then he can do without that stick. Most of us are metaphorically blind. The eyes of our mind are shut. We need to open up our inner eyes – the eyes of our awareness and then we’ll be able to enjoy the every-flowing bliss of life. And then everything will be clear – meditation gives pristine clarity towards our life. True happiness can be experienced when our mind is peaceful. Even when we are presented with adverse conditions if our mind is calm then we can be happy all the time. The mind can be trained through meditation to achieve this state. One is no longer disturbed by external situations.

Urja Meditation or Dynamic Meditation is based on ancient methodology of a special breathing technique called Kapalbhati which involves strong and forceful exhalations.
It is powerful and easy method to get free from all the suffering, tensions, and garbage of mind. It refreshes our body, mind and intellect. Urja should be practiced by all of them who want to live their life with lots of energy, joy and calmness. It works as a great de-stressing tool and even helps the mind to clear off the negative thoughts.

This technique should be done on an empty stomach or at least three hours after eating. Sit comfortably in any meditative posture. Sit erect. Breathe normally for about five minutes. Once composed, you can begin. In Kapalbhati more attention is to be given on forceful exhalation while the inhalation remains passive. Exhale through both nostrils, contracting the middle and lower abdomen portions. Release the contractions quickly and immediately follow with another forceful exhalation. Inhale passively and effortlessly. Gradually increase the frequency. This technique increases exchange of gases in the lungs manifold. There is large-scale elimination of carbon dioxide and a huge absorption of oxygen. This process brings about catharsis which cleanses the inner recesses of the mind – and then mindfulness becomes easy. This exercise can give excellent results if done with conviction. You will glide into a state where mind will be totally at peace, relaxed and energized. Layers upon layers will get clearer and once all these are cleared and there is emptiness, then there will come this bright light of consciousness.
Regular practice will lead you to higher level of consciousness.

All meditation techniques of Anandmurti Gurumaa are backed with soulful music which is especially composed for the particular method. With easy-to-follow instructions, meditation becomes a joyful journey.

Why Not Bring in the Clones?

Michael Levy is the author of eight inspirational books. He is a prominent speaker on health maintenance, stress eradication, wealth development, authentic happiness and inspirational poetry.
Most people looking for success on planet earth – with only a physical self-image of who they believe themselves to be – may never locate true success, no matter how much money they accumulate and/or how much notoriety they achieve. At best they may earn a lot of money, own a big house, a big car and a big identity crisis later in life, when the so called luxuries no longer satisfy their desires. Pitiable are people who are looked up to by the entire world and yet are strangers to their true selves. Therefore, why don’t we do some soul searching in a way that is different from the norm, pinpointing answers that will elude most people dwelling in a scientific, hi-tech, media driven world.

“Very soon we will have robots that can think for themselves”

Controversies abound over the science of cloning human beings. Scientists have successfully cloned sheep and other animals, therefore it is only a matter of time before we have walking, talking replicas of ourselves. Science and religion have always been at loggerheads. Too many wars are caused by strong beliefs that rely on the ego’s view of the world. The more people seek the truth, the more it seems to elude them.
The question asked here is: Will clones have a soul? I guess the answer depends on how we define a soul and who we think we are. It is a deep probing question, and many philosophers of the past have come up with a variety of answers as to the identity of the soul, but humanity as a whole has not settled on any meaningful answer to date that will satisfy everyone.
Indeed, can any answer be found that will satisfy everyone? Well, how about looking into the future with the following scenario: An atheist by the name of Will is fifty years old. Would you say Will has a soul? If you ask him he will say no, because he does not recognize any image of God cultivated by other people, as his reality. However, that does not necessarily mean that God does not exist in Will’s world, by another description and unknown to Will. Likewise, Will – the atheist – may not know if a soul is his true identity when he sees himself in the mirror of life as just flesh and blood.
Will is very wealthy and decides he would like to create a clone of himself. So a clone is composed and is physically identical to what Will looks like in the natural. The clone studies hard, is very religious and becomes a priest. Does the minister not have a soul? Can religious people say: “God is going to disown the clergyman because his human double does not believe in souls and he has not been born naturally?” Is Will the atheist, the same as ‘Will’ the clone – apart from their beliefs?
What about the advancement in microchips? Very soon we will have robots that will think for themselves. They may be solar powered, or they may even generate energy by inhaling oxygen. Science fiction is fast becoming science reality. Androids may well look just like human beings, but that is artificial life, and a machine does not have a soul – but can it?
It may well be that machines are made exactly like human beings in every detail, with live cells that have the ability to acquire the means to access universal intelligence in the same manner as naturally born humans (although most well educated human beings on planet earth will disagree that they have that ability). Radical thoughts are possible sometime in the future as science fiction becomes scientific reality.
Now more than ever, people need to understand who they are and the reason why they exist. If human beings go through life with no idea of who they truly are, they will get more and more lost in the high-tech revolution. Humanity requires a truthful, sound, solid foundation upon which to build its life.

“Every life-form is energized by something so why not universal intelligent energy, that encompasses love & joy and acknowledge it s a soul”
Every life-form is energized by something, so why not call it the universal intelligent energy that encompasses love & joy, and acknowledge it as a soul.
Therefore, if we characterize our life’s energy as soul, a clone with a life-force will be energized by a soul, once the breath of life is infused in the body. To reiterate, the life-force, the true identity of all life forms is the soul, which is another name for intelligent energy manifesting love & joy. As time goes by, we may not be able to distinguish between a natural born and a clone.
Spirit is another name humans use that has many definitions and can describe anything that is not physical. Why not call the source that forms intelligent energy and which is in all life: spirit. Religious, pious people may think their religion has an exclusive contract with the spirit of their god. They may feel anger and hatred towards the thoughts of cloned humans. However, if they cannot distinguish a clone from a naturally created human, they have nothing to fear.
Many people who do not understand what intelligent energy is, may declare that a clone has no soul, and therefore is not really human. Many religious people think they are superior to a dog or a cat when it comes to God’s creations. They believe a soul is located somewhere in the human brain. They may well believe animals don’t possess a soul; however, if they possess intelligent energy, how can they not have a soul if it is defined as a life source?
Blind faith and dogma has been programmed into human beings for thousands of years. That could be the reason why many religious people can’t be happy. They say that the afterlife is where they will find heavenly peace. They believe God is exclusively in their camp of ownership just as they safeguard their personal possessions. Their belief system detaches them by denomination from other human beliefs, that are also mostly misinterpreted pathways to God and to all other species of life.

Some people go as far as to think that other humans are not in God’s camp at all. Many different schools of thought, lined up in divisions of the ego’s blind thinking, and so much time wasted worrying and hating others. Millions of people have been slaughtered by religious dogma and what has it proven? Nothing but the fact that human beings are still living in the realms of primitive ignorance.
Oh! by the way, did I mention genetic engineering? I hear that today they can put genes in our food to make us fit and well. And maybe also to control our minds in case we feel like protesting against the clones! Some doctors who believe they know best because they have academic papers to prove it, pressurize school children with high spirits, to take mind-dulling drugs that can become addictive and also induce devastating side effects.
On another note, athletes are experimenting with all kinds of stuff to make them compete faster. One-hundredth of a second can make the difference in big sponsorship money, and athletes will try anything to become winners.
With such competition in sports, how long will it be before gene therapy is introduced and injected into sportsmen. We will be able to tailor-make our bodies. Maybe we will re-manufacture a human being to suit a trend… maybe we will become designer beings in the same fashion as designer clothes.
Stem cells which are cloned cells, may be injected into human beings to fight disease. Does this mean they will lose their soul because the cells are cloned? The possibilities of modern science boggle the mind. The cures for many diseases maybe just a few years away. Can the planet cope with a population explosion?
This is just a brief glimpse into the future. How do you think the folks who lived two hundred years ago would comment on today’s lifestyles?
Science is advancing at a warp speed and the way humans are destroying the earth, humanity’s very survival may well depend on modern science and technology.

“Now more than ever, people need to understand who they are and the reason why they exist. If human beings go through life with no idea of who they truly are, they will get more and more lost inthe high-tech revolution”
Before we get too carried away, we need to acknowledge that moments in life are precious and few. We are on earth to enjoy our lives; to enjoy the wonderment in a sunrise; to hear the birds sing; to gaze at a sunset. The things in life that are free are enough; simplicity in all things is the answer in any era – everything else is just the icing on the cake. How big a slice do we need?
We all need to recognize that we are the energy that drives the motor but we are not the motor. We are the energy that feeds the mind; we are not the mind. We are the energy that feeds the thoughts; we are not the thoughts. We take a ride on the carousel of life, but we must remember not to go around so fast that it makes us sick and dizzy.

The mind has strange ways of misleading and miscalculating things – and then suffering because of it. Although everyone wants to be happy, yet everyone does all the things which create the reasons for more and more unhappiness. It is very important to understand one thing: that one cannot live in peace if one is in bondage. If a person is bound in physical chains then that is a physical bondage that is very visible, but when the chains are invisible and subtle, then it is more difficult to overcome them.

A mind that is bound by its desires, attachments and dreams is a ‘pashu’

In the Hindi language the word for animal is ‘pashu’; the root of the word ‘pashu’ is ‘pash’ which means rope. Hence the meaning of ‘pashu’ is one who is bound by rope. Animals are tied, not human beings. One end of the rope is tied round an animal’s neck and the other end of the rope is tied to a pole. Have you ever seen an animal that is tied up? Such a sad state; its movement is restricted. If its drinking water or food is kept at a distance, then it has to suffer hunger and thirst and can’t do a thing about it. The animal is in an helpless position – it can’t complain or shout or submit a complaint against its owner with any court or authority. Man too is bound; man too is in chains; the state of man too is pathetic. Can a person who is in bondage be happy? A mind that is bound by its desires, attachments and dreams is a ‘pashu’ too. The difference between an animal and a man is not just of the body; the truth is that the mind of a human is also in chains. The only difference is that the rope that ties an animal is visible and the rope that ties a man is invisible.

One cannot live in peace if one is in bondage

Shiva is also known as Pashupatinath – ‘pashu’ means animal and ‘pati’ means lord. Hence the meaning of Pashupatinath is: Lord of the animals. We are born with the possibility of, and ability to, become pashupatinath, i.e., lord of the animal within. This name signifies that unless and until you are awakened, you are a pashu – an animal – a slave of the senses and the mind. When you are awakened you become a master of your senses and of your mind too. In Shiva is the objective and target of human life – that is to rise above the mind and senses. When the mind is the master, then you are the slave. When the mind knows only sensual physical joys, then it is bound to them – there is no other option left.
From birth you were dependent on your mother, father, aunt, nanny, or granny for anything you needed. When you were hungry, when you were afraid, when you were lonesome, when you fell down and got hurt – you called for help, and the one who was available to you most of the time was the person you got attached to the most. Slowly this attachment led to a sense of security, happiness and protection. This develops into emotional bondage and one begins to feel weak, vulnerable and sad if that person is not close or within reach. This emotional slavery clips your wings and imprisons you in an imaginary cage – one which you have created, and jailed yourself in.
I see people worrying endlessly about individuals they are attached to. Any small delay in a child or husband’s return home from school or work gives rise to fears of what may have happened. Thoughts of a possible accident or mugging plague the mind. People are in constant fear of their spouse being involved with someone else; they always keep a watchful eye over one another.  The mind begins to torture itself incessantly till the loved one or his message arrives.
These are some of the external situations which may arise in your life, but there is no end to the possibilities of such circumstances. If you are not free from emotional bondage, then neither can you ever be really free of worries and anxieties. And if you have a high level of anxiety in your mind, it will certainly give rise to a number of diseases in the body too. An unhealthy mind lives in an unhealthy body.
So the question is: Do you know how to keep your mind anxiety and bondage free? If you don’t, then you are really in bad shape – you are slowly inching towards disease and death!

An unhealthy mind lives in an unhealthy body

A stressed out mind is home to many psychosomatic diseases. I can honestly say, that if you wish to remain physically and mentally healthy, then you must keep your mind free of bonds and stress. Actually all the stress occurs because of bondages. You want  that a person who is a source of joy and security to you should stay with you forever; he should never leave you. Therefore, no matter how difficult it is to live with that person, you still carry on. Unhappy marriages continue because of such insecurity and mental bondage.

You don’t know how to survive without certain people so you put up with them and end up suffering a lot. And the more you suffer, the more you seek opportunities to hit back! In the name of relationships, individuals torture one another. Arguments and fights happen all the time between husband and wife, parents and children, friends, and lovers.
Are you aware of a state of mind, a state of consciousness which is bondage free where you relate well with yourself and with others – be it friends, colleagues or relatives. A person who has not struck up the right relationship with himself, cannot have a relationship with anyone else.
There are some people who cannot live or sleep alone; they need someone with them, be it a person or a toy. Fear of loneliness and darkness etc., is simply because you do not know how to live with yourself; you haven’t had a communion with yourself. Man has time to relate with others through mms, sms, phone and email, but he never has the good fortune to meet his own self. When you lose out on having a relationship with yourself, how can you have an in-depth interaction with others?

I saw an advertisement of a textile company on television. The ad said that their fabric makes you a complete man. I really wondered how a piece of cloth could complete a man! But the reality of life is that this is how people live. Some feel a relative completes them, some say a certain amount of money completes them and yet others feel that social status completes them! They feel incomplete without the object of their desire. How untrue these statements are!  So untrue! But people love the lies which offer false consolation. A fool’s paradise is what everyone is looking for; no one wants a real paradise – the fool’s paradise comes cheap and without effort too! But does such a paradise really exist? It certainly does not!
Human life is a gift from god, from nature, then why is it so difficult for a human being to see life as a precious gift? The answer is very clear: they don’t have the eyes to see; ignorance and darkness have blinded their vision. To put it simply and harshly: people are handicapped. The mind which is full of cluttered thoughts, scores of unfulfilled desires and hundreds of grudges, cannot see what lies ahead.
Jesus used to say that if you have eyes then see and if you have ears then listen to me. I always wondered what kind of a statement this was! He was not dealing with throngs and throngs of blind and deaf people, then why did he say this. The eyes we have are made to see the truth; the ears we have are made to hear the inner song of divinity. But those eyes are different and those ears are different. In ancient Hindu scriptures, it is said that the master is the healer; he is a physician. We are all born with deformities and handicaps, and until and unless you find a physician you will not be normal.

The diseases of the mind are many; of them, dependence on others is the worst one for it makes people’s
life a living hell

The diseases of the mind are many; of them, dependence on others is the worst one for it makes people’s life a living hell. A wife is dependant on the husband – physically, emotionally, financially and socially. Children are dependant on the parents, parents are dependant on children, the list goes on and on. In all relationships, one is weak and the other is strong. The weaker one is dominated by the stronger one to serve his selfish ends. Until and unless an individual is free – totally free – he cannot live in peace. Our mind is always looking for some shoulder to lean on – this makes one vulnerable and weak.
Ask yourself this question: Do I want to remain vulnerable and tied to someone or something, to the extent that that thing or person becomes my master and then treats me like an animal? There is no weakness that cannot be overcome. The only thing needed is the will to overcome it and I say: ‘Yes, I can overcome it, without any doubt.’
Once I heard the story of a trader who halted at a serai – a type of an inn. As he was tying-up his camels, he found he was short of rope. Exhausted and too tired to look for rope, he sat wondering what to do. A kind man saw his plight and asked what the problem was. When told about the shortage of rope, he said that he had a piece of advice for the man. “Just move your hands in a tying motion around the feet of the camels and talk to them telling them that now you have tied them up so they should just sit there and relax for the night.” The trader was bewildered and wondered how this nonsense would work! “Trust me, it always works,” said the kind man. Disbelieving the man, the trader anyhow did as instructed. Then he went into the inn to rest for the night. Early next morning he went to see his flock. To his amazement the camels were all there – as he had left them – not one was missing!
He started untying the camels and ordering them to move. One by one the camels started getting up slowly – but not all of them – some just kept sitting. He shouted at them, yet they didn’t move. He whipped them; still they did not budge an inch. He was flabbergasted. What had happened to his camels? On seeing the kind man pass by, the trader rushed to him for help, “What have you done to my camels? They are not getting up. The kind man smiled and he said. “Did you untie them?” “Yes, of course I did. What kind of a stupid question is that?” said the trader. “Including the ones you tied with imaginary ropes?” The trader felt embarrassed recalling the last night’s episode. He said, “No, I didn’t untie those who were tied with imaginary ropes. But how does it matter? They were not real ropes.” The kind man laughed and said, “If imaginary ropes can tie, then they can hold back the camels too. So go to your camels and untie them the way you tied them – talking to them and moving your hands around their feet.” The trader did as instructed, and Lo! the camels moved and started walking.
Human minds are also tied with imaginary ropes, and you forget when you had bound yourself. Someone is tied to his house, wife, husband, children, money or status – hence he can’t move – move on the path of self-awakening. We have to untie these ropes to move above and beyond the body, ‘I’ consciousness, pettiness and all the diseases of the mind. To begin with, you have to understand where you have tied your mind; one has to look for the unseen ropes and be free of them.
When you are unbound, only then are you totally free; free to be what you are; free to express; free to interact without any expectations, slavery or silly conditionings.
Meditation teaches you to be with the self in such a way that you are richer, happier, and more content with yourself. Then you do not need others to feel happiness, joy or completeness.

Q: What exactly is an emotion and from where does it arise? Is it a mental state related only to the individual or does it involve others as well. How is it related to our thoughts?

Gurumaa: In this world duality is concerned only with subject and object. The interaction of these two results in a range of experiences. The entire experiential world consists of an object and a subject. Every individual has a characteristic mind set, a particular background, a certain upbringing, a defined socio-economic structure, and a personalized ability to comprehend life: these differ from other individuals. Hence each individual’s reaction to an object or a situation is different. The mind too works at various levels: conscious, unconscious, sub-conscious and super-conscious. All the inputs received through the five senses – eyes, nose, ears, tongue and skin – are continuously perceived and registered by the mind. The objective world is known by its sight, smell, taste, touch and sound: all these sensory inputs are stored in the sub-conscious mind which can be called the hard disk of our mental computer.

It is strange that each mind perceives and stores information in a different way. The same thing can be good, bad, wonderful or ugly to different people. Our world is created by our perceptions, therefore I can say that emotions are spontaneous reactions of individuals to objects experienced by the senses. Emotions are waves that emanate from a conditioned mind. Waves of thoughts keep rising in the mind; the mind reacts impulsively or responds logically to a given situation. When the sub-conscious mind receives information it is passive, but most of the time the conscious mind – dependant on its preconditioning – imparts a certain hue to the input received. At other times the information is analyzed by the mind itself, for we have strong opinions about most things.

Emotions are spontaneous reactions of individuals to objects experienced by the senses

Q: Could you please explain us about emotional dependency?

Gurumaa: Every individual seeks joy and security. Fear of loss, fear of the unknown and fear of death is intrinsic to the human mind – therefore the mind always looks for happiness and emotional security. It is the natural tendency of the mind to seek a person or thing most likely to give us hope of joy and security in an uncertain future, and fit into the requirements of our needs. Because insecurities are deeply embedded in the human mind, therefore one is unwittingly attracted to the source of apparent hope. And soon the mind spins a whole web of expectations around that thing or person. No one wishes to be alone or unwanted, so the mind plays all kinds of games and uses all kinds of ploys to seek attention and to make a positive impression on parents, teachers, friends and colleagues. The mind tends to lend a wide spectrum to its aspirations – it wants to grab everything which can give it a sense of worth!

It is the natural tendency of the mind to seek a person or thing most likely to give us hope of joy and security in an uncertain future, and fit into the requirements of our needs

The mind suffers from the disease of possessiveness; it clings to objects and individuals as though this alone can make it happy or secure. From here dependency begins. This one line: I cannot live without you, is the trademark of your dependency. On record no one will admit to being dependant, yet no one is free of dependence. Take a minute to think and look deep inside and see if you feel that you cannot live without something or someone. If the answer is yes, then certainly you are an emotional dependant. This fact is unrecognized and unaccepted by most people; that is how you end up suffering at your own hands.
I know of many people who say that they can’t live without something or someone – a relative, a car, a dog, the husband, the wife, the job or status – the list goes on and on – and yet if you confront them directly with this fact, they will simply deny it.

Q: What does it mean to take emotional responsibility? How can one change the pre-conditioning of the mind?

Gurumaa: Being emotionally responsible means not being vulnerable, rather, being conscious in our dealings with people. It also means to be conscious of our mind and to observe our responses to people and situations. Unknowingly the mind creates mental bondages and desires – propelled by lust and greed – which are then topped with insecurities. You are constantly and untiringly occupied with creating a mess in your life! Speculations that are strife with anxiety add fuel to fire, increasing our agony further. One has to look deep into the mind and ask: ‘What do you want O mind. What are you looking for?’ If you have a little clarity the answer will be right in front of your eyes. But if you are totally immersed in worldly pursuits, then only the bitter knocks of life can give you a wake up call!

Awareness is the anti-virus to the infection of dependency in the mind
If a virus infests our computer we have it cleaned up; so it is always wise to have a good anti-virus system installed on your laptops and computers. Awareness is the anti-virus to the infection of dependency in the mind. But awareness does not happen in a day, one has to learn to develop and strengthen it with every passing day. A life lived without awareness is indeed a bed of thorns, of insecurities and of slavery.

One has to look deep into the mind and ask: ‘What do you want O mind. What are you looking for?’ If you have a little clarity the answer will be right in front of your eyes

Q: How can one rise above emotions?

Gurumaa: By simply being a witness to them. All emotions arise in the mind – and the knower of the mind is indeed different from the mind. The association with the mind is so strong that it seems absolutely impossible to see oneself as separate from the mind. The identification with the mind is even deeper than the association with the body. When one can’t see the body, senses and the mind as being different from the self, then how can one be a witness to their action? We never feel that the body is different from us – we see the body as being us. The same is true of the mind. Although we do say that ‘my’ mind is sad, happy, excited, anxious or angry – yet deep inside we see ourselves as a body and a mind. Thus any sensation taking place in the body or any  emotion arising in the mind, are thought of as happening to us. So when the mind is shattered we feel that I am shattered; when the mind is happy then we say that I am happy. The waves of emotions which arise in the mind engulf you. The identification with the mind is so strong and overpowering that it is very difficult to see the knower as distinct from the mind.

We never feel that the body is different from us – we see the body as being us. The same is true of the mind. Although we do say that ‘my’ mind is sad, happy, excited, anxious or angry – yet deep inside we see ourselves as a body and a mind
It is difficult to learn to swim when the river is in flood; it is wiser to do so when it is calm. Similarly, when the mind is not disturbed one can understand experientially, the art of witnessing thoughts. What is the mind? It is the sum total of thoughts, impressions, memories and conditioning. As one practices awareness, one by one the thoughts unravel and very slowly one begins to understand the whole drama played out by the complexities of the mind. This art requires deep patience and perseverance on the part of the meditator – it will not happen in one day, nor will it happen with theoretical knowledge. It will happen only by first accepting the fact that thoughts exist and then alienating one’s self from them. Emotions are strong responses which occur more as a reflex than as a deliberate exercise. You do not think of a response to a situation, it happens spontaneously defeating all your meticulous plans of not getting angry, sad or jealous. When the situation arises you do just the exact opposite of what you had planned! And feel guilty into the bargain!
Emotions fail all your great philosophies. Life is full of new situations and challenges, and  no one can prepare or tutor one’s self to meet them. The mind is very complex and one needs to understand its mechanism to overcome its grip. Witnessing the functioning of the mind gives you the ability to be established in the process of witnessing – this paves the way for overcoming the grip of emotions.

Q: What about the accumulation of suppressed emotions, is it not also a disease of the mind?

Gurumaa: There are two schools of thought on this issue: traditional society favours suppression and modern western society favours expression. In the first the practitioner suffers and in the second where you vent your feelings, there is a possibility that the other person suffers – so one party has to suffer, which is definitely not a good thing. A third way is to neither suppress nor express, but to watch the drama of emotions played out in the mind as a witness to the reactions and responses of people including yourself. People are so well conditioned and trained to emote that they act and react accordingly. There are some words which will upset you and others which will make you happy. Every smart person tries to learn the trigger words; those who do can easily manipulate people. Deep in their hearts everyone tries not to be vulnerable and they create a wall around themselves – a wall of cold behavior, anger, egotism or aloofness. That is their way of protecting themselves from an onslaught of emotions and its repercussions.

Society requires people to behave in a certain way; there is code of conduct to be followed in offices, in families and in public places. Everyone tries their best to follow the diktats of social mores, but this only adds to their hypocrisy, leading to further suffering. Society is more accepting of robots than of human beings who respond to situations.
I have heard that when Rinzai’s master died, he cried so loudly that people were surprised: How could a man of his stature cry like this in public. Some advised him not to wail like a woman, others reminded him of his master’s message that the body is mortal. Rinzai said, “Well, I do know that, but I have lost my master’s body, the one that spoke great words of wisdom, that loved me and accepted me as I am. I am not bothered about what people will say about my crying. I am weeping for the body and not for the eternal soul. I am crying for the body which will never again be seen in all its beauty and glory.
Rinzai was not a hypocrite – he was a normal person who could cry when he was hurt, while simultaneously witnessing the crying; he could come out of it whenever he wanted to.

Who are you? What are you? Where are you?

There is a story in the Upanishads of ten students who studied together in a gurukul. One day all of them went to attend a function in a neighbouring village. They had to cross a river which was in spate. They held hands and cautiously waded through the powerful current of the water till they crossed over safely. The leader of the group said, “Let me check if all of us have reached the shore safely. God forbid that anyone has been washed away in the current.” Everyone lined up and the leader starting counting: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine – the line finished at the ninth man! They were all shocked. Where was the tenth man?  Another student offered to re-check and he changed positions with the leader; he too counted in same manner and again the count ended with the ninth man!
Now the finding was confirmed; tragedy had struck! The tenth man was missing. They started crying, all of them grief-stricken. A wise man was passing that way. Taking pity on them he asked what the problem was. Sobbing uncontrollably they narrated the whole story. The wise man immediately understood the problem! First he assured them that they had no cause for worry as he knew where the missing tenth man was. But they would have to pay him for the help he offered. Encouraged by his words, they all agreed and took solace in the words of the wise man.
So this wise man made them stand in a line and asked the leader to count each one. The leader did as instructed and again the count came to nine. The wise man slapped the leader and said, “And you are the tenth man.” Everyone was ecstatic and all of them started dancing and singing, thanking the wise man for having solved their problem.
This is a story from the Upanishads. Through such simple stories seers explained great philosophical truths. Every one is looking for the truth, for god, as though god is lost somewhere. But no one realizes that the one who is searching for truth doesn’t know who he himself is.
In creation, starting from one’s own body, a gross physical entity, (individual and cosmic total) is objectified. If the gross and subtle entities are effects then the entity which brought them into being, (individual and cosmic total) is objectified as the personal as well as the total ego entity. In short, the gross, subtle and causal entities are objectified.
These gross, subtle and causal entities are objectified very clearly in the waking state, are vague in the dream state and completely resolved in the deep sleep state. So there are three distinct entities, each of them objectified in three states of experience. What is objectified must be different from the subject. Just like in the Upanishad story, the ’self’ is apparently missing, but all the above mentioned nine entities are counted by the ’self’ itself.
The ’self’ is the subject and distinct from the above mentioned nine entities. But it is seldom realized as the one which counts the other nine entities. Thus this story establishes the existence of the ’self’. The analogy in the Upanishad story must be used only to the point of establishing the existence of the ’self’. Every example should be taken only up to the limit it is meant to be taken to. The ’self’ cannot be grouped with the gross, subtle and causal entities of waking, dreaming and deep sleep states, as it was done for the ten students mentioned in the story.

Every one is looking for the truth, for god, as though god is lost somewhere. But no one realizes that the one who is searching for truth doesn’t know who he himself is.
The study of the ’self’ is not just a study by itself, but an exploration of the ’self’. We are focused on the body and senses, and even more focused on the objects of the senses, i.e sound, sight, smell and taste. Our senses are exposed to all the five objects and the mind is in an ever non-gratifying mode; it asks for more and more – the hunger of the mind is insatiable. The mind can eat all it pleases and have sex with all the men and women of the world, yet it will crave more. Our whole journey is towards the outside world. Your involvement is with everything; the identification with the mind is so great that it is not even as though we have just attached our self with the mind, but as though we have become the mind itself. So the important question that arises is: Who is the one who is behind the mind and beyond the mind?
We know about the mind and its hunger. We count the titillations and the material achievements, but what about the one who is a silent witness to all the flimsiness, the wanderings of the mind, the ego trips and the physical sensations? We never ever wonder about the one who is the master of the body, the senses, the mind and the intellect. The self which we have created is a false self. The route to this false self too is via the mind. This Upanishad story provokes you to seek the real self – the universal self, in its nakedness, stripped of the body, senses, emotions, thoughts and perceptions. Who are you? What are you? Where are you?

Knowledge is that which stays with you in life; information stays in the head alone and it has no link with the life you are living.
You have lost your real identity and taken the false self to be the real ’self’. If the body is the ’self’, then where were you when there was no body? Were you there or not? Were you there or not when the mind did not exist? Were you there or not? Who are ‘you’?

Know who you are, not through the head but through experience. Know who you are and that you cannot objectify your self.
Knowledge is true knowledge only when you are focused on searching for the real ’self’. Is the ’self’ an amalgam of emotions, senses, thoughts and perceptions alone, or is the ’self’ more than this. Is ‘I’ limited by space, time and object, or is the real ’self’ way beyond this; is it omniscient and all pervasive? If yes, then is ‘I’ a part of god or is god my own name – a bit different and exotic!
Knowledge cannot be gained from external sources like books and scriptures. Gurus can provide you with only information, and information is not at par with knowledge. Real knowledge is experiential and not abstract.
I once heard of a vedantist who fell sick; he was in tremendous pain. His brother disciple came to meet him. Seeing him writhing and shrieking in pain he said, “O brother, the pain is in your body, and you are a brahman. So why are you cursing everyone? Be calm and witness the whole drama.” The vedantist shouted the choicest of abuses and said, “To hell with brahman, I will break your head if you dare lecture me again. I am dying with pain and you are lecturing me.”
Knowledge is that which stays with you in life; information stays in the head alone and it has no link with the life you are living. Know who you are, not through the head but through experience. Know who you are and that you cannot objectify your self. Keep on peeling off the layers around you – the truth which you seek is you – not in you, but you. You are the truth!