Tempation on the Path to self-realization

Swami Ramji narrates one of his experiences:

I went to see a swami, who told me the following story to teach me about temptations on the path to self-realization.

A young man took vows of renunciation and became a swami. His master told him to avoid three things: gold, women, and fame.

One day the swami was crossing a river and noticed that part of the riverbank had been washed away. Then he saw that some big jars full of gold coins had been uncovered. He thought, "I don't need it, because I have renounced the world - but if I build a temple, that will be good." So he went to some builders, showed them what he had found, and asked them to build a temple. They said to one another, "Why should a swami have so much money? Let's throw him in the river and distribute the money amongst ourselves."
He was almost drowned, but by the grace of God he was able to save himself. He thereupon determined with finality: "No matter what happens, no money." He went far into the woods. When anybody came to see him, he said, "Stop there, please. If you have any money, put it aside before you come closer."

A woman came, and he ordered, "Don't come near me." She said, "Sir, I will only leave food here every day and go away." But each day she came slightly closer to him. The swami had confidence that she was a good person. He thought, "She really wants to look after me and wants me to enlighten her."

One day she brought a cat to keep him company. But the cat would not eat the food which had been prepared for the swami. He requested: "I need some milk for the cat each day." She brought a cow. He asked, "Who will look after this cow?" She asked, "May I look after it?" And he agreed.

She looked after the swami more and more. Eventually they began to live together, and woman bore him a child. One day the swami was taking care of the child when another swami came along and said, "What has happened to you?"

The swami began to weep and he realized how much he had again become entangled with this world. He left, and went even deeper into the forest. He practiced very sincerely, and after some years acquired some siddhis [powers].

One day a man from a nearby village sought him out. He bowed and said, "Swamiji, you are so kind and such a great sage. I am very poor; my children do not have enough to eat. Please help me!" Swamiji said, "Take one hair from my beard, put it in your cupboard, and tomorrow your cupboard will be full of money. But don't tell anyone about it."

When he returned to his home that man naturally revealed the secret to his wife, and she to many other. Soon the news had traveled far and wide. Hundreds of people thronged to the swami to pull a hair from his beard. His face was fore and bleeding.

Once again he had to go away and begin his practice anew. But he had learned a valuable lesson. He now knew the consequence of becoming involved with gold, women, and fame.

The swami who told this story to me said, "This is a lesson which you should never forget. Let this story be a lesson to you relate it to all young swamis who meet you on the path."

Source : From the book : Living with the Himalayan Masters by Swami Ram. Page 179-180

Why do I feel afraid during Meditation

Q: Why do I feel afraid during meditation?

A: This problem often occurs in those who have avoided becoming aware of certain desires and suppressed thoughts, as well as those who wish to escape from self-awareness, not wanting to analyze or understand their thinking process.

Actually a student is always safe during meditation, because the closer one is to the innermost, immortal reality, the safer one becomes. It is true that in meditation, hidden motivations and repressed feelings do become conscious, but the aspirant should cultivate inner strength and allow these things to come to awareness , and then learn to let go of them so they do not continue to distract the mind. Sincere effort and practicing meditation consistently and regularly, with firm determination, eventually help the student overcome such hurdles.

Source: page 84 - 85, Meditation and it's practice by Swami Rama

Meeting an Aghori – Swami Rama

Aghor is a very mysterious study which is rarely mentioned in books and hardly understood even by yogis. It is esoteric path involving solar science and is used for healing. This science is devoted to understanding and mastering the finer forces of life. – finer than prana. It creates a bridge between life here and hereafter.

In 1942, I was on a journey to Badrinath. On the way, five miles from Shrinagar there is a Shakti temple. Two miles from there lived an Aghori baba. if any one approached him, He used to call villagers by names and through pebbles at them. I asked a local pandit to take me to this baba. We reached there just before dark.

Baba was seventy-five years of age, six feet five inches tall and well built. He had long hair and a beard and wore loin cloth made of jute. He had nothing in his cave except a few pieces of gunnysack. Pandit wanted to leave but, baba asked pandit to fetch a pot of water from river. Then he handed a cleaver and said, “there is a dead body floating in the river. Pull it offshore, chop-off the thigh and calf muscles and bring a few pounds of flesh to me…or I will chop you and take your flesh. Which do you prefer?” The poor pandit, out of fear, went to the dead body and started cutting it up. He accidentally cut his two fingers, which started bleeding profusely. When the pandit came near, the aghori baba touched the cuts and they were healed instantly. There was not even a scar. He ordered pandit to put them into an earthen pot and cook.

We both said, “Sir we are vegetarians”. Baba said, “Do you think I eat meat? I am pure vegetarian.” After ten minutes he ordered the pandit to serve food. When pandit began filling my bowl we were astonished to find an indian sweet – rasgula. I had been thinking of it as I was walking to baba’s cave. It was very delicious. Baba gave leftover sweet to the pandit to distribute among the villagers. This was done to prove that we were not fooled by means of hypnotic technique. After I meditated for two hours we began talking about the scriptures. He was extraordinarily intelligent and well-read and no doubt, a very learned man.

Aghor is a path which has been described in the Atharva Veda, but in none of the scriptures have I ever read that flesh should be eaten. I asked him, “Why do you live like this, eating flesh of dead bodies. He replied, “Why do you call it a ‘dead body’? It’s no longer human. It’s just matter that is not being used. You are associating it with human bodies. No one else will use that body, so I will. I’m a scientist doing experiments, trying to discover the underlying principles of matter and energy. I’m changing one form of matter to another form of matter. My teacher is Mother Nature; she makes many forms, and I am only following her law to change the form around. I did this for that pandit so that he would warn others to stay away…..I throw pebbles, but never hit anybody.”

He said he behaved that way knowingly so that no one would disturb him as he studied and so that he would not become dependent on the villagers for food and other necessities. He had the power to transform matter into different forms, like changing a rock to sugar cube. One after another he did many such things. He told me to touch sand – and the grains of sand turned into almonds and cashews.

I asked, “What is the use of doing all this. He said, “What do you mean by ‘use’? This is a science, and a scientist of this knowledge should use it for healing purposes (remember, the cuts on pandit’s hands healed instantly with no scar left), and should tell other scientists that matter can be changed into energy and energy into matter (E=mc²)^[1]. The law that governs energy and matter are one and the same. Beneath all names and forms there lies one unifying principle, which is still not known in it’s entirely by modern scientists. Vedanta and the ancient sciences described this underlying principle of life. There is only one life force, and all the forms and names in the universe are but varieties of that One. It is not difficult to understand the relationship between two forms of matter, because the source is one and the same.

When water becomes solid, it is called ice; when it starts evaporating, it is called vapour. Young children do not know that these three are forms of the same matter, and essentially there is no difference in their composition. The difference is only the form it takes. The scientists today are like children. They do not realise the unity behind all matter, nor the principles for changing it from one form to another.”

[1] an entire chapter on this can found in Autobiography of a yogi by Paramhamsa Yogananda.

Source: Extracted from Living with the Himalayan Masters - Swami Rama. p 319-324.

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Selfishness v/s. selflessness – SWAMI RAMA

One day I, still in my teens, was quite hungry and was about to start eating when my master said, “an old swami has come. He’s hungry and you must give him your food.” I denied. He said, “You won’t die. Give it to him. But don’t give it just because I am ordering you. Give it as an offering of love.” The swami came in. My master said, “I am so glad you have come. Will you bless this child for me?” But I said, “I don’t need your blessings. I need food. I am hungry.”

My master said, “If you loose control in this weak moment you will lose the battle of life.” I helped him wash hid feet and gave my food. Later I found that he had not eaten for four days.

He took the food and said, “God bless you! You will never feel hunger unless food comes to you. This is my blessings to you.”

There is a narrow barrier between Selfishness and selflessness, love and hatred. After crossing it one enjoys doing things for others, without seeking anything in return. This is highest of all joys, and an essential step in the path of enlightenment. A selfish man can never imagine this state of realization, for he remains within the limited boundaries built by his ego. A selfless man trains his ego and uses it for higher purposes. Selflessness is the common characteristic that we find among all great men and women of the world. Nothing would be achieved without selfless service. All the rituals and knowledge of the scriptures are in vain if actions are performed without selflessness.

Source: Living with the Himalayan Masters – Swami Rama

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Is light music / incense / candles helpful in mediation?

No. Music is an external stimulus, which takes the sensory system and mind in the direction of external awareness, rather than towards the internal focus of meditation. Concentration on some pleasant , external stimulus  such as a rose or soft music – can be quite soothing, but it doesn’t lead you in the direction of the highest state of consciousness within. Enjoy at other times, but do not confuse this with meditation.

For the same reason, burning a candle or incense can be a distraction.

Candles that flicker can also be a distraction.

Source: Extracted from “Meditation and it’s Practice” by Swami Rama (Page 80)

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Should I use alarm clock to time my meditation?

From the beginning, you should learn to strengthen your sankalp shakti (power of will) by resolving that you will wake up on time and meditate foor 10, 15 or 20 minutes. The mind is the greatest of all timekeepers, and as you progress, you will find that the mind wakes you up for your meditation. Nothing external is really needed when you have decided that you want to awaken and meditate at a particular time.

Generally, it is not necessary to use an alarm clock to time a meditation itself. It’s also rather unpleasant to end a tranquil meditation with the jarring tone of alarm clock. If you are concern about time, keep the alarm clock in view so you can check the time, or better still, try to set up your meditation session so that you don’t feel so much time pressure. Meditate earlier in the morning, or in the evening when there are no more duties or responsibilities awaiting you. (i.e. do not keep your schedule too much tight. This will help you to relax and meditate properly without tension.)

Source: Extracted from “Meditation and it’s Practice” by Swami Rama (Pages 82-83)

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