The power of thought, visualisation and meditation

 Hari Aum.

Sivananda has written a fascinating book called 'Thought power'. It outlines the various capacities of the mind and how to use them for spiritual progress. In this book, he says that your thoughts are actual things. Just because you cannot see them, does not mean that they are some airy-fairy fleeting thing that does not impact the material universe. No, that could not be further from the truth. 

In this book, Sivananda says your thoughts are a tangible substance. They exist in a realm known as 'manas' or mind-stuff. Your thoughts, whatever their quality, affect you on many levels- they directly impact your body, they impact your character, they impact the quality of your consciousness. They affect you very powerfully. 

Not only this, they affect others too. Sivananda writes that your thoughts are transmitted to the rest of humanity; he says we are all swimming as it were in an 'ocean of thoughts'. 

Birds of a feather flock together. Similarly thoughts 'of a feather' flock together. What does this mean? Sivananda writes that people whose minds contain similar thoughts, actually 'absorb' each others thoughts; this is a bit like a radio that is tuned to pick up certain frequencies. And by absorbing each other's similar thoughts, their own thoughts of the same nature become further strengthened.

He therefore advises us to watch our thoughts, and think noble, good thoughts as much as possible. Of course we are not spiritually perfect yet and cannot have noble thoughts all the time-- but we need to try our best. 

Sivananda says that:

1. A noble thought is thrice blessed: it blesses the one thinking it, it blesses those who 'absorb' it, and it blesses the whole of humanity (by raising the overall vibration of the collective human consciousness).

2. A lowly thought is thrice cursed: it harms the one thinking it (it takes one away from one's true, pure, divine nature), it harms others who absorb it and who it targets, and finally it harms humanity as a whole (by lowering the overall vibration of collective consciousness).

Thus, he says, take responsibility for your thoughts. They can make or mar you. They can lead you God-ward or downward.

Now, on a practical level, it is not always easy to entertain spiritual holy noble thoughts 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year for one's entire life. Especially as a spiritual seeker who is yet to attain God. Purity and impurity exist side-by-side in our nature. 

When the lowly mind rebels powerfully against the higher spiritual nature (as it will many times on the spiritual path), one can feel in spiritual danger. At such times, one's spiritual practice, one's established connection with God and Guru will save one. When in any danger, spiritual or material, one needs to turn to God in humility and ask for help. One cannot succeed in spiritual life on one's own, His/Her grace and protection is needed at every step. 

Mantra japa also plays a vital role in the management of one's thoughts. The word 'mantra' literally means 'that which protects the mind'. 'Man' (pronounced 'mun') in Sanskrit means 'mind'; and 'tra' is the verb root meaning 'to protect'. So, that sound of God, which is one with God, which protects the mind, is known as mantra. 

Now, by protecting the mind and thoughts, one's speech and actions are also automatically protected. Because it is our thoughts that lead to speech and action. And action produces karma, and karma results in joy and suffering. So you see how the mantra, by protecting the quality of our thoughts, protects all aspects of our lives. And, it not only protects our present and future actions or karmas, it also has the capacity to destroy the effects of our past negative karmas due to its tremendous purifying nature-- as it is none other than God Him/Herself in sound form.

So, having talked a little about the power of thought, let us now look at the power of visualisation.

Visualisation involves utilising your creative power when it comes to thoughts. It involves creating within one's own mind certain images, certain sights, sounds, shapes, colours, smells and tastes. These may or may not be based on what you have seen in 'reality', in the waking state.

Visualisations are a type of thought. So the laws of thoughts described above apply to these too. Noble visualisations produce good results. Ignoble ones produce lowly results. Again, we have to simply try our best here (perfection is not expected from us but the commitment to try our best is expected).

The ability to visualise forms the basis of many types of meditation. As you know, meditation is a state that results from deep contemplation or rather, deep concentration, upon a single thought. So, we are really practicing concentration, with the aim of entering into the state of meditation (a bit like lying down in bed with the aim of falling asleep; you cannot make yourself sleep, but you can create circumstances that lead to it. Similarly, you cannot make yourself meditate, but you can create a mental situation, namely concentration, that leads to it).

You can visualise sights, sounds, colours, shapes, tastes, smells, feelings, emotions, actions and more. When you use your creative power of visualisation to think of God or to contemplate a divine subject, you are concentrating upon God. When you concentrate deeply upon God, you are able to enter the state of meditation or nearness to God. When you enter deep meditation, you can enter the state known as 'samadhi' or a state of oneness with God. Becoming established in samadhi is said to lead to 'moksha' or spiritual liberation or God-realisation as is said to be characterised by great peace, bliss and wisdom including recognition of one's true, immortal, divine nature.

Sivananda and other Gurus actively encourage their students to freely use their creative powers of thought in spiritual life. I can say from my experience that visualisation certainly helps to create a closer, more intimate bond with God. When one visualises being in the presence of one's favourite form of God, and walking, talking and worshipping Him or Her, a strong feeling of closeness is undoubtedly created. 

One feels like one has 'met God', hung out together (like one would do with a friend or beloved), had a chat. The yogis also tell us that God appreciates us taking time to spend time with Him/Her in this way. Even in human life, people appreciate it when others think affectionately about them. Similarly, God too is said to feel our love when we make an effort to think of and be with Him. And, as the yogis tell us, He is not very far away. No, not at all. He is right here. I mean, within you, within me, within all. In the heart. Closer to you than your very breath as they say. Very close, very very close. You do not have to go far to find Him. Only thing is, our thoughts need to turn to Him. When that happens, we connect to Him, and we feel His closeness to us.

As I walk the spiritual path, I realise more than ever, that every moment when I am able to concentrate on God, feel devotional, feel interested in Him, is the result of His grace alone. It is not because of our cleverness or specialness that we are able to think of and feel interest in God. It is due to His grace, and His grace alone. (I am therefore very grateful to Him for the moments when, in the midst of the madness of this world, I am actually able to focus sincerely on Him, even for a little while. Those moments are very precious, priceless.)

That is why the yogis say that your call to God is actually His call to you. When you long for Him, that is actually Him longing for you. The rebellious, turbulent mind cannot be conquered except by His grace. When He is on our side, when we connect with Him, the mind will gradually become serene and a feeling of joy arises from within (not connected to any of the five senses or anything else). 

So, feel free to visualise and use your creative power of thought on your spiritual path. Do not be too formal with God as He/She is your very own, your relative, your friend, your beloved. Do not constantly worry about 'offending' Him as many people like to emphasise; focus rather, on developing a loving affectionate bond (Of course, it is fine to apologise to God at times if you feel you have made a mistake, but do not get too fixated on this and give up worship out of fear of His wrath as some people end up doing).

Formality and love/intimacy do not go well together. Informality and love do. Obviously, as He/She is the great Lord/Goddess of the universe, there will be a sense of awe and wonder along with the love. And that is fine, it is natural and appropriate. Of course, one cannot help but respect the great Power that has created us, all beings and this universe. 

But this Power is also lovable, playful, humorous and kind (not merely a strict dispenser of justice as is often emphasised). And this great Being likes to relate to us in a friendly, intimate, loving way as we are also His/Her very own. So let us connect with Him/Her, who is worthy of being loved, respected and adored, using all of our powers of thought, including the wonderful power of visualisation.

Before I conclude, I would like to make one suggestion. Visualisation is often recommended by yogis and Gurus as a way to invoke the grace of God upon, not only ourselves, but also the entire world. It does not require much intelligence to see that the Earth today is in a sad state. And that this is mostly thanks to the actions of the human species, whether it be due to the never-ending wars and hostilities that we have with each other, or our harmful, environmentally-destructive conduct. 

According to the yogis, visualisation is a powerful tool to harness the power of the mind to connect with God and help to reduce the impact of some of the negativity that we and others have inflicted upon our home, this planet, known in the yogic tradition as Mother Earth.

So I would like to suggest a method of visualisation that is popularly recommended by many Gurus of various spiritual traditions to invoke the grace of God upon ourselves and the entire planet (this posture and technique can also be used for personal meditation upon God)

The technique is broadly like this (feel free to adjust it or alter it based on your own connection with God, on what feels right and comfortable to you):

1. Sit comfortably with your spine straight but relaxed (sit cross-legged or on a chair etc, keeping your ankles crossed. Crossing the limbs is said to contain the energy or 'prana' within you so you can direct it better). Keep your hands upon your knees or in your lap, whichever feels comfortable. Close your eyes if you are comfortable with this (it can help concentration). If you prefer to keep your eyes open, and look at a picture on an altar etc, that is also fine.

2. Invoke God. Use a mantra, phrase, prayer or say something that feels comfortable to you. Say it verbally or mentally as you like. Invoke God, with or without form, using the name of any spiritual tradition that appeals to you, such as Krishna, Jesus, Allah, Moses, Buddha, Durga, Mary and so on. If you don't like any specific name, you can just connect with the Supreme Being, Supreme Intelligence or Higher Self, or Truth.

Tell Him/Her that you would like to be His/Her instrument, invoke His grace upon yourself and all beings, that you are asking for His/Her protection for yourself and all beings.

3. Visualise:

i) Bring your attention to the space just above your head (this is known as the 'crown chakra' in yogic anatomy; don't worry if you are unfamiliar with this term). Meditation on this space is often used to 'draw in' cosmic energy or God's light into one's being.

ii) In this space, just above the very top of your head, visualise the presence of God (if you are a devotee, visualise the feet of your deity). See God as a radiant Being of divine light.

From this God presence (which exists everywhere), visualise a beautiful white light emanating downwards towards you. 

Visualise this light, gently cascading onto you, entering your physical body through the top of your head. See it travel downwards and fill your entire body. Feel that you are a being filled with divine light. Feel the connection with God. Ask Him/Her to heal you, your physical body, your mind, emotions and thoughts. 

Ask Him/Her to cleanse you, of all that is undesirable spiritually; ask for forgiveness for any mistakes made. Ask Him/Her to bless you with all that you need spiritually. Ask that you may be an instrument of the Divine, that your will may be merged with that of Him/Her. 

iii) Now, visualise the Earth in front you, in front of the centre of your chest, at the level of your heart, in miniature, around the size of a tennis ball. 

Keeping your shoulders relaxed, and your elbows by your sides, raise your hands and place them lightly with palms facing either side of this mini-Earth that represents our planet. Keep your eyes closed and stay connected to the Divine. 

iv) Bring your attention to the centre of your palms (this space contains the 'hand chakras', places from where spiritual energy can be projected outwards). 

While asking God to bless the planet and all beings, and especially those who are suffering greatly and in urgent need of help, visualise the white divine light streaming from God above you, through your body and out through both palms of your hands. 

See a beam of this divine healing light, like that of a brilliant torch, leaving each of your hands and bathing the mini-Earth in front of you. 

Visualise this light enter the Earth and fill it to the core. See the entire Earth filled with this divine light. See this light expand outwards and envelope the outside of the Earth (a few inches above the surface). Continue to remain in a prayerful state, connected with the Divine, throughout. 

Ask God to grant dharma (righteousness) and bhakti (devotion) to all beings (as when this is attained, all else is automatically attained. All peace and bliss come with dharma and bhakti; all strife and discord come from the opposite). Let the planet be healed, let our minds and hearts be healed. Let us always remain on the path of righteousness, let us be instruments of the Divine here and hereafter. Thus, let our lives be blessed. 

Stay with this visualisation for a few minutes until you feel satisfied that you have done what you needed to. Then, bow down and thank the form of God that you have invoked for this healing, for allowing you to be His/Her instrument in this meditation.

And repeat this as often as you can, ideally once a day, or at least a few times a week.

Note- while you are visualising, if you wish, you can verbally repeat a favourite mantra or prayer if you have one. This is not mandatory but can help you feel connected to God during this process.

This type of visualisation opens the 'heart chakra', it helps our connection with other beings and thus with God. Concern for other beings is a win-win situation; it is excellent for our own spiritual progress and benefits others too. The more we do this sort of meditation, the closer we will draw to God and earn His/Her grace.

With that, I will leave you for now. I wish you every success on the wonderful path of using your power of visualisation to connect with the Divine and thus benefit yourself and all beings.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Om Sri LakshmiNarayanabhyam Namah.

Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Spiritual routines

 Hari Aum.

The Gurus of all spiritual traditions warn their students not to waste time. They tell us that time is a precious resource that cannot be got back. 

What constitutes a waste of time? Well, the Gurus would say anything that does not lead us Godwards is a complete waste of time. 

Out of every twenty-four hours, the problem is that we often find ourselves wasting time idling away in complete pointless pursuits and following utterly absurd trains of thought. The annoying thing is that it is very difficult to be one hundred per cent disciplined all the time. It is hard to control the wayward mind all the time. Overdoing it can lead to the mind rebelling like a difficult toddler and going completely off the spiritual path.

So, one has to handle the mind with infinite patience. Not easy at all. Those of you who have small children are probably familiar with their random, completely out-of-the-blue tantrums. It is impossible to reason with very small children as this faculty has simply not yet developed in them. It can be a nightmare for the poor parents who are trying to convince a toddler to do something sensible, like get to bed on time for example (they often try to resist sleep even when very tired). 

One needs a combination of kindness, firmness and above all, patience (a lot of patience) to deal with a very small child and their endless tantrums (as my experience in dealing with my three-year-old has shown me). 

The human mind, even in adults, sometimes goes into a time-wasting, disobedient mode. There are times when we need to let it do exactly that-- be a little bit disobedient. And times, when we need to coax it into being productive. 

But the bottom line is that the time we waste in pointless, unspiritual activities will never come back. That is a sad fact. We need to therefore get our act together and plan our time, plan our day, in such a way that it is productive, at least on some level.

Sivananda wrote out some suggested daily spiritual routines for his students and tweaked these to make them suitable to various stages of life. The link below is his 'routine for busy people'. There are various other suggested routines in the same section of the website. One need not follow his recommended routine to the letter  but this can inspire us to make our own timetable of daily activities that is suited to our specific circumstances. This will help ensure that the mind is compelled to do something useful every day. 

I have had a habit of writing out a timetable of daily activities for a long time. This served me well when I was a student and has been helpful in managing my time now that I have a variety of commitments. I do find this useful and would highly recommend trying this out (if you are not doing this already). Of course, when one is on holiday or having a relaxing 'downtime' day, one may choose not to have a timetable and just let the day unfold naturally. But in general, having some sort of timetable helps get the most out of one's day, and thus over time, enables one to make the most of one's time on this planet.

https://www.sivanandaonline.org/?cmd=displaysection&section_id=548&parent=538&format=html

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat

Janmashtami greetings

 Hari Aum.

As many of you would know, today is the birthday of Lord Krishna based on the lunar calendar (known as Janmashtami). I would like to wish all readers a very joyful celebration. 

Also, just to say, the four Krishna books that I wrote are available for free download from Amazon for five days starting from today (12 am PDT). The link is below in case you are interested:

https://www.amazon.com/Vishnupriya-Devi/e/B07B95YQCV/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk

I am going to attend my local Krishna temple shortly to do some kirtan singing and hopefully eat some birthday party sweets (they do very good ones!).

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Om Shri Krishnam sharanam mama.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

May Lord Krishna bless and protect us all.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Kundalini, mental health and spiritual development

 Hari Aum.

In the past few days, I have been reading a book called "Living with Kundalini" by a yogi of the last century known as Gopi Krishna. I have read about sixty per cent of it and hope to finish it in the next couple of days. This book describes how a sincere spiritual seeker practices a seemingly simple technique of meditation of a type known as 'Kundalini yoga'-- and how this goes very wrong (before, by God's grace, he manages to correct things). 

This specific type of yoga technique should only be practiced under the watchful eye of a true Guru. This is because 'Kundalini yoga' has the capacity to awaken the spiritual energy known as Kundalini (that lies dormant in every human being) unusually quickly compared with other yoga paths. 

In an unprepared mind, the awakened Kundalini can unleash devastating mental and physical health problems with associated pain, mental disturbance and in rare cases, even death. In a properly prepared mind and body, the awakened Kundalini eventually grants the experience of spiritual enlightment.

The yogi, Gopi Krishna, was genuinely seeking God when he started practising Kundalini yoga meditation without a Guru. He then experienced the awakening of the Kundalini. This led to months of extraordinary physical and mental pain and suffering (before he was finally able to balance the energy by the grace of God). The reason he suffered was because the spiritual energy was expressing itself in a mind and body that was not yet fit for purpose. 

Let me give you an example to highlight this point. Imagine for a moment, that a snail is suddenly given the consciousness of a human being. What would it feel like? Would it be pleasant or unpleasant? It would be wonderful but also frightening and shocking, as it is such a radical transformation of consciousness. To have the body of a snail, but the consciousness of a human being, would feel very disturbing for a snail and turn its life completely upside down.

The human consciousness requires a suitable instrument, namely the human body to express itself fully-- the human mind, intellect and personality require a human body for complete expression. A snail is a beautiful creation of God and may very well be capable of much more thinking and feeling that we humans currently realise. However, clearly its consciousness is not the same as that of a human being; it can eat, sleep and procreate but it may not be able to think, feel, analyse and meditate as human beings can (the yogis say that one day, the soul in the body of a snail will acquire a human body, but until then, the soul must be patient).

The universe gives each creature (or soul) a body that matches its level of consciousness. This is an important point.

A higher-than-human consciousness requires a suitable physical instrument to express itself. The human body and mind, according to the yogis, are capable of being transformed into such an instrument. This is done by following a clean diet (based on non-violence towards any living being; generally this is vegetarian), ethical principles, and certain physical exercises (yoga asanas) and breath control (pranayama).  The practice of mantras and singing the names of God are powerful cleansing techniques (aside from being methods to cultivate devotion to God). 

There are many ways to prepare the mind and body for the awakening of spiritual energy, and these generally need to be practiced for a significant period of time. This is required to cleanse the body and mind energetically in order to ensure that the spiritual energy, Kundalini, can be safely expressed.

Gopi Krishna and other yogis say that the awakening of Kundalini is not as uncommon as one might think. In general, it can be a frightening and disconcerting experience for those who are unprepared. It involves an experience of tremendous energy, described as light or a void, a 'roaring' energy like a 'waterfall' or a river flowing at terrible speed. There are various descriptions by various people but they broadly involve the experience of a terrific energy that one would not have experienced previously.

I have possibly had a limited experience of this a few times in my life and the terror it generated provided me the motivation to do mantra japa every day without fail. As mentioned in a previous post titled 'unglamorous spiritual experiences', on a few occasions I have experienced a frightening black void, devoid of anything including my own existence, and associated with a terrific sense of speed. And, in that state, the only thing that existed was the name of God, specifically 'Keshava' and 'Narayana'. Hence my great love for these names; they were my solace, my refuge, when I felt nothing else could save me. 

I therefore trust these names of God like I trust nothing else in the world. For a long time, I wondered what this scary experience could be. After reading some similar experiences of other yogis, I recently realised it was very likely the Kundalini that exists in all of us. I have often said that I strongly feel the Divine Mother is my 'sadhana shakti', the force behind my spiritual practice. Kundalini is a manifestation of the Divine Mother, a manifestation of divine energy or Shakti. And so, I realise that it was literally my experience of Her, albeit in this unfamiliar terrifying form, that created a powerful motivation in me to do mantra japa every single day. I am therefore very grateful to Her.

Coming back to Gopi Krishna, as he had no Guru, he had no one to turn to when his Kundalini awakened and began to work on him. The description of what he went through is both petrifying and fascinating. It serves as a powerful reminder for us to avoid playing with things that we do not know and understand. Like a mother tells a toddler to never play with fire, so the Gurus (our spiritual parents) tell us to never play with Kundalini. She is not a toy. She is the very life force, the the breathtakingly, incredibly powerful force of creation, preservation and annihilation. Her power, Her glory simply cannot be described in words even by those who are enlightened, much less by spiritual seekers.

All paths of yoga ultimately lead to awakening of the Kundalini. In a prepared human instrument, the awakened Kundalini travels from the base of the spine to the crown and a divine union of consciousness occurs. This sacred union produces the experience of universal consciousness, wisdom and a bliss beyond anything experienced in this world. I will write another post on Kundalini and 'spiritual anatomy' one day for those who may be less familiar with this (though most of you probably know about this already, i.e. the nadis, chakras, astral body etc). 

However, some paths of yoga, such as mantra yoga, involve a gentle, steady purification of the mind and body and a natural, safe, slow arousal of the Kundalini. Other paths of yoga, such as Kundalini yoga, involve a sudden, shocking awakening of the Kundalini. The former paths of yoga are relatively safe, with or without a Guru (as the deity of the mantra protects the person reciting it). The latter path, Kundalini yoga, offers no protection without a Guru. 

A Guru is usually needed for all paths of yoga. But one can make a start on one's own on the path of mantra/bhakti yoga until one's Guru appears (in fact, it is recommended that one makes a start on one's own to show that one is serious about spiritual progress and this can then 

lead to the appearance of the Guru). But one should never try Kundalini yoga on one's own without a Guru. This is the advice of Sivananda and many other spiritual teachers.

During the course of my training as a doctor, I worked in psychiatric hospitals and saw a range of severely unwell patients. Mental illness unfortunately has a stigma associated with it, though it should not (as it is extremely common all over the world, in all sections of society, including in doctors and nurses). It should be treated with the same compassion and sympathy as physical health issues such as a broken leg or cancer. 

In some ways, mental illness can be even more tragic than physical illness as it can feel like one loses a sense of one's very self, one's own mind; few things can be as painful as this. My present work involves the recognition and treatment of individuals with mental health issues in the community, and requires working with doctors in the hospital setting. 

As a person who practices both medicine and spirituality, I was recently reflecting upon the similarities and differences between the signs of spiritual development and mental illness. I feel it is important to be aware of this so that we can recognise what we may be going through if we develop these symptoms. I would therefore like to share my thoughts on this subject here.

Mental illness can range from mild to moderate to severe. Mild symptoms of anxiety and even depression (without suicidal thoughts) are very common. Many adults, and sadly even children, experience this during their lifetime. Some people choose to manage this on their own and others prefer to seek medical help.

Moderate mental illness may involve significant anxiety with panic attacks and depression with suicidal thoughts (this often requires medical input in the form of talking therapies and/or medication). 

Severe mental illness is less common (though this has also increased significantly during the pandemic along with mild/moderate mental illness). This always requires medical help, and the sooner help is sought, the higher the likelihood of a good outcome. 

There are various signs of severe mental illness, which include the experience of psychosis. Some key symptoms of psychosis include:

1. Hallucinations (hearing voices of known or unknown people; seeing people that others cannot see i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations are the most common)

2. Delusions (feeling that one is somebody that one is not e.g. a king/queen/inventor etc)

3. Disordered thoughts (feeling that others can see one's thoughts, control one's thoughts etc)

In addition, people with severe mental illness can often experience the following (in the acute phases of illness, until they recover):

1. A loss of function: an inability to carry out basic self-care (bathing, personal care), household tasks (cooking, shopping etc), or professional work.

2. A strain or break in relationships: those who are close to them may find it difficult to cope with their symptoms, and this may lead to relationship break-ups

3. Unusual behaviour and speech: for example, an inability to control speech (speaking unusually excessively or too little), excessive abnormal spending, excessively sexualised behaviour which may put one at risk of harm.

Sometimes, rapid awakening of the Kundalini in an unprepared individual can manifest as mental illness in the manner described above. In this situation, one must stop the practice immediately and seek appropriate help from medical practitioners; in addition, one may wish to consult an experienced spiritual practitioner.

People who are progressing spiritually may experience some of the above symptoms which can feel alarming; however, there are important differences between this and mental illness. And there are certain clear boundaries that are never crossed as described below.

Before we go further, it is important to recognise that, in the world of yoga and mysticism, the mind is said to have far more capacity compared with the current medical understanding. Sivananda has written a book called 'Thought Power' where he beautifully describes the mind and its extraordinary capacities. Other Gurus have expressed similar views. Telepathy, thought transference and so on, are regarded as genuine phenomena accordining to yogis. 

However, yogis who are progressing spiritually, or already spiritually advanced, do not experience hallucinations, delusions or disordered thinking.

It is true that over time, over a long time, more advanced yogis may develop a capacity to truly read minds, to converse with spiritual people who may not be physically present, to transfer their thoughts to others and receive thoughts (genuine telepathy). 

Their experience is clearly grounded in reality though. It can be confirmed by the other party i.e. if a yogi reads my mind, I can confirm that the thought s/he detected, is what I actually was thinking. In the case of a mentally unwell person, there is a false perception of telepathy, i.e. they are unable to truly recognise the thoughts of others but only believe that they can.

So the experience of a yogi can be tested and confirmed as being true. Their experience is true perception in contrast to the mentally unwell individual. This is one key difference.

Secondly, yogis generally do not lose the capacity to function in daily life or to maintain healthy connections with other people. They are generally able to feed themselves, bathe, dress, perform household tasks and work for the welfare of society. 

In fact, the majority of yogis, both spiritual seekers and Gurus, are actively involved in social work for the welfare of others. (Note- in exceptional cases, advanced yogis may go through short phases where, due to being in 'samadhi'/enlightened state, they neglect the care of the body).

In contrast, individuals with severe mental illness are generally unable to work intensely in the service of society (in the acute phase of their illness; they usually require rest and recovery and, once better, may be able to take up work again.) 

Thirdly, yogis generally have very good self-control and will power. Despite having good and bad days, even beginner spiritual seekers will have some degree of these qualities. One will not just say or do anything that comes to mind. 

The will-power is used to control the sometimes unruly mind and moderate its conduct. Genuine spiritual practitioners will also make a strong attempt to abide by the yogic ethics of non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya) and self-control (brahmacharya). They will not let their mind run amok doing whatever it pleases. 

In contrast, those with severe mental illness are usually unable to control their minds. It can be very difficult for them to control their speech and behaviour (however, this can often improve with suitable medical treatments).

So these are some of the key similarities and differences in the signs suggesting spiritual progress versus mental illness. 

I have met and read about yogis who have suffered mental break-downs and find it difficult to accept that they are going through a period of illness rather than spiritual progress. While walking the path of yoga, which involves dealing with the mind and its many complexities, it is very important to remain grounded. 

The practice of ethics, and the presence of a Guru and other spiritual seekers in one's life, can go a long way in ensuring that one stays safe on this valuable path which takes us to the goal of human life, namely, spiritual liberation.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Om Shri MahaLakshmyai Namah.

Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

Some favourite kirtan music

 Hari Aum.

There are many amazing devotional yogi musicians today both in the East and the West. Also, within India, there are the North Indian/Hindustani and South India/Carnatic devotional music styles. 

(I am a fan of both Eastern and Western devotional music--having spent about 40% of my life in India and 60% in the West. I also really like both Hindustani and Carnatic music--as my family's roots are in South India/Kerala but I grew up in the North/Delhi).

So I'd like to share some East, West, North and South kirtan music here. :) All of the musicians below have created numerous beautiful compositions; I am sharing just a few examples of their work here. There are many other musicians that I love; this is just a small selection of current favourites (might update this list in the future as I discover more favourites). 

Some of my favourite North Indian/Hindustani devotional musicians:

1. Pandit Jasraj

i) Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya (mantra of Krishna that grants spiritual and material blessings)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-L1MONqWHI

ii) Shiva raksha stothra (mantras of Lord Shiva that grant protection)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK_XESpC8cE

iii)  Devi Kavacham (in praise of the many forms of the Divine Mother)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-EPOp09BO0

2. Gurumaa

i) Mahishasura mardini strothram (in praise of Mother Durga)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPLDxJ-ryCg

[Note- Gurumaa created an album on Sufi music called 'Zikr' some years ago, I cannot find it online anymore (though I have it on iTunes) but it is wonderful if you get a chance to listen]

3. Manish Vyas 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4T5gOfOCSM&list=RDJ4T5gOfOCSM&start_radio=1&rv=J4T5gOfOCSM&t=29(Sufi prayer)

Favourites by Carnatic musicians:

1. Kuldeep Pai's students 

Radhe Govinda (in praise of Radha and Krishna)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzFQPyb8lfQ

Pibare Rama rasam (in praise of Rama nama)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJxVWF8KjFI

2. Mixed group of singers

Guru ashtakam (dedicated to the Guru)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqCji-oDTlA

3. Uma Mohan

Ganesh prayer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLnHu2bv2cE&list=PLyhZ7IugkAiJLzVU_AJy6gex72C8aRVjH&index=1

Favourites by Western yogi devotees:

1. Krishna Das

Radhe Govinda (in praise of Radha Krishna)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l79XVpZMQBU&list=OLAK5uy_my60wBfXkV4TNigmxLn1iBMEmp2GiF8mc

2. Jim Gelcer

Om Bhagavan (dedicated to Sivananda)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrVuqm5lLhE

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

The sacred Guru-disciple bond

 Hari Aum.

It is nearly ten and a half years since I started this blog. So many events have taken place during this time, both 'good' and 'bad' (from a higher perspective, I suppose one could say that even the 'bad' was actually good as it was in accordance with the will of God and ultimately for my benefit).

I have come some way, and have so much longer to go. So, so, so much longer. I am grateful to God for what He has given me, both materially and spiritually. And there is so much more that I want-- specifically spiritually. If the spiritual journey can be likened to the distance from the Earth to Moon then I feel like I have travelled maybe just a few hundred feet into the air.

It is not comfortable to think about the journey that is ahead. Every day that passes takes one one day closer to the day we leave this planet (sorry if that sounds a bit gloomy but it is true). When there is an important task to fulfill, and the deadline (no pun intended!) looms, one feels a bit uneasy. Death is our deadline. God is to be realised when we are still alive, that is what the yogis say. They also tell us that human life is a rare and precious opportunity given to us to attain our spiritual birthright, namely God-realisation. To fritter away our precious life by running after the petty trifles of this world is not the best use of this great blessing that we have been given. 

On this immensely challenging yet rewarding spiritual journey, the Guru is our trusty guide and companion. He or she inspires us to get started on the spiritual path. S/he keeps us going every step of the way. And finally s/he grants us the goal of spiritual life, namely spiritual wisdom.

The Guru is therefore a tremendously important part of one's spiritual life. S/he will appear in the life of every one of us when the time is right. There is a saying that 'marriages are made in heaven' (though many married couples might question this from time to time!). Well, the Guru-disciple bond is very much made in heaven. It is decided by God Himself. 

The Guru is a manifestation of God. A unique manifestation who has one foot, as it were, in the spiritual world, and the other foot in the material world. S/he is a bridge connecting two worlds and is therefore capable of leading people from the material to the spiritual.

Cultivating a strong bond with one's Guru is therefore a vital necessity for spiritual progress. So what can we do to cultivate this bond, this connection, this relationship? 

I would like to share the view of my Guru Sivananda on this subject. And I would also like to share my experiences of attempting to cultivate a bond with him as I regard him as my Guru.

Sivananda says very simply "Obedience is better than reverence". And that in a nutshell, is it. He advises disciples to obey the Guru-- meaning, follow the spiritual instructions of the Guru in letter and in spirit. Be sincere, be true, he says. Be true to yourself. This is the key. The Guru delights in the disciple who, while adhering to the spiritual precepts provided, makes spiritual progress. The Guru wants nothing more than for the disciple to express his/her full spiritual potential and attain God. This is the wonderful nature of the Guru.

This obedience, this sincerity in the application of the Guru's teachings in one's life is the way to cultivate a bond with the Guru. This application needs to be consistent, done daily and regularly (not occasionally when one feels like it). One needs to make an effort to plod on steadily no matter whether life feels easy or challenging. 

On that note, I would like to share some of my experiences of cultivating a bond with Sivananda since I discovered him nearly eighteen years ago.

I discovered Swami Sivananda in early November 2004. I was at university in my second year of studying medicine. It was the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The national students union had suggested a day for 'solidarity fasting' where non-Muslims could fast along with their Muslim friends to create a closer bond between communities. Some of my friends (who were from various different countries) and I randomly decided to participate in solidarity with some of the Muslim students whom we knew. We spent a day without eating or drinking anything and attended lectures as usual. It was actually quite a useful experience. 

Afterwards, we were invited to the 'iftar' in the evening, the meal where the day's fast is broken. When I attended, an eminent university scholar of Islam (a European convert to Islam) gave an interesting speech about the benefits of fasting. He quoted people from various religious traditions saying that, despite the many differences between religions, fasting is one aspect that unites them all. When he talked about the Hindu view on fasting, he mentioned Sivananda. That was the first time my Guru's name fell upon my ears. 

He said "Swami Sivananda says 'Fasting controls passion. It checks the emotions. It controls the senses also. It is a great penance. It purifies the mind and the heart'". For some reason (destiny I suppose), these words produced a deep impression on me. I wondered "Who is this Sivananda?". When I returned to my student room, I looked him up online and came across the website of the Divine Life Society based in Rishikesh, India (the organisation that he started). From then onwards, I was hooked. My life and priorities changed fundamentally from that time onwards.

I found myself reading his books, experimenting with the various spiritual practices he had written about, attending the local Sivananda Centre. Within six months, I decided to take mantra initiation and was permitted to do so. Later I completed the  one month Sivananda Teachers Training course in 2006 during the university summer holidays. 

At this stage, I was seriously contemplating leaving medicine to join the Sivananda organisation as a trainee yogi with the aim of eventually taking monastic vows (I went through a painful relationship break-up with the express purpose of pursuing this goal). However, when I asked for permission to do this, I was turned away by a senior Swami who told me I must first finish what I had started i.e. the medical course, and then decide if I still wanted to join the organisation. 

Three years later, after I finished medical school, the Swamis asked me if I still wanted to join. At this stage, various things had happened that made me realise that the path of monasticism was unfortunately not for me. It was very difficult for me to accept this (a huge blow to my ego apart from anything else!). I had also discovered some senior doctors whose medical practice had really inspired me and made me realise that medicine could actually be quite spiritual if done the right way. I therefore decided to continue to train as a doctor and keep up spiritual life as the foundation. I also decided that I would one day marry and seriously practice spirituality as a 'grihastha' (householder).

I have done as I decided. I have plodded along the spiritual path, having good and bad days, having good and bad phases. There have been times when I have felt on a spiritual high, with the mind constantly thinking about God and mantra, feeling very connected to God and Guru. These have been times of peace, joy and a feeling of fulfilment. 

There have been times which have been just the opposite-- the mind filled with worldly thoughts, finding it impossible to concentrate for more than a few seconds on God. These times have been filled with spiritual despair and immense frustration. 

So I have regarded Sivananda as my Guru for eighteen years. Initially, he was a figure in a book, on a website, a picture on an altar. Over time, as I began to practice his teachings, I felt him to be my inspiration, my spiritual muse as it were. I meditated upon him sometimes, I imagined him within my heart, I talked to him (as one sometimes talks to God) and I sang spiritual songs to him. I began to feel that he could hear me. I began to feel his pictures looked alive, as though he was looking at me and listening (they always seem alive now whether or not I'm having a good day spiritually). 

And then, after I published the third Krishna book, in August 2018, he appeared in a dream for the first time (I felt he approved of my writing the Krishna books as I did it as a form of spiritual practice which I dedicated to him). I was facing some challenging issues at the time. They were of a 'worldly nature' and I did not want to ask him to resolve them as I felt I should only ask him for spiritual blessings. 

Out of the blue, I dreamt of him towards the end of a particularly difficult night (during which I'd had a splitting headache, a migraine)--in the early hours of the morning. The dream was weirdly detailed-- we spoke as if we were meeting in person. I discussed a specific worldly problem in great detail with him. He listened and asked me a few general questions which I answered. At the end of our conversation, I felt I could ask him for a blessing-- this could be resolution of the wordly issue, or a spiritual blessing. 

Knowing that he always advises his disciples to ask only for spiritual blessings (and leave worldly matters for God to handle), I felt the latter option was the right one, and asked for this. I asked him to bless me that I would attain God in this very lifetime (though I know that even if the Guru blesses one with this, there is still no guarantee as the disciple still has to put in much effort. The disciple must play his/her part as spiritual wisdom is not a freebie). In the dream, he  agreed and blessed me by placing his hands upon my head three times. That portion of the dream then ended. Afterwards I dreamt that I was going to the Sivananda centre to do some 'karma yoga' (voluntary work) which I used to do in real life. Later, when I woke up, I thought "Well, that was a nice dream!" and felt happy (ecstatic was more like it actually). 

But I tend to doubt and dismiss my spiritual experiences (out of fear of giving undue importance to things and deluding myself) and thought, 'it's just a dream, my imagination. He didn't really come to me (why would he)!' Six weeks later though, the worldly problem that I had discussed with him in the dream, was resolved. It was quite extraordinary and unexpected. I was delighted and began to feel that the dream of Sivananda had something to do with it. I thanked him then and am still extremely grateful. 

Two-and-a-half years later, in April last year, I dreamt of him again while going through a spiritually difficult time. A few days prior to the dream, I told a friend that I felt I was a terrible disciple, an awful student, a disappointment to Sivananda. If I met him now, I said, how disappointed he would be, how unhappy he would be with me. Saying this, I actually burst into tears and the friend said something sympathetic which didn't really make me feel much better. 

A few days later, on Easter Sunday, again out-of-the-blue, I dreamt of Sivananda in the early hours of the morning. This time, it was a much briefer conversation than the last dream. We were at his ashram in Rishikesh (where I have been a few times in real life). In the dream, he went down some steps to the Ganga and then came back up and met me (in real life, there are several steps leading down from the ashram to the river). He said only one thing "If you carry on the way you have been doing, you will attain" (attain the spiritual goal that is). That was it. I then told him that his book 'Japa yoga' was a great inspiration for me. He simply smiled. 

(Note--some time after I wrote this blog entry, I checked my written record of this dream that I had made in the morning after it happened. I wanted to check if I'd missed anything important. But I have not. This message was essentially the key part of the dream (I wrote down his exact words as I remembered when I woke up that morning). There were a few other minor details which are less important such as my getting a bit teary-eyed with happiness upon seeing Sivananda (as it felt like meeting a long-lost parent) and touching his foot etc as a mark of love/respect, but that was not the key. 

In the dream, I also asked him for clarification on what he meant, and he responded by repeating the same message. I had the impression that he was asking me to carry on with the mantra purascharana practice, karma yoga and other elements of sadhana that I had been doing over the years. In the dream, I then went away and reflected upon his words. I then returned to ask him to bless me that I would succeed in following his instruction-- I had the feeling that he did when I woke up but could not remember this fully.  At the very end of our conversation, I said that, as I could not usually see him physically, his book 'Japa Yoga' was a great inspiration for me. That was when he smiled). 

I woke up feeling very very happy. I felt that he was saying that he was not disappointed in me, that he was not upset with me, that I should continue spiritual life, no matter what was happening in my external life. I again doubted myself later thinking maybe it was just my imagination. But that dream has had a lasting impact on me; somewhere deep inside, it felt very real. 

And so, I feel my Guru has my back, he is responding to me. He is not just a picture anymore. He is not just a spiritual person who wrote books, a yogi who lived in the past century, a distant person from another generation, a Guru of only other people, a far-away figure. No. No. A thousand times, no. He is not that at all.

He is a living being, he knows what his disciples are going through, he is with us every step of the way, whether we know it or not. Even when we stumble and fall, especially when we stumble and fall, he is there with us. He does not let us go, even when we do. 

I am writing this today for every spiritual seeker,  as a reminder that you are not alone on this journey. No matter what you are going through, regardless of whether or not you have found your Guru, you are being cared for and protected every step of the way. You are not alone. The universe, God, your Guru, has your back. You can trust them. You just need to keep going.

I want to be perfectly frank. I am an extremely average spiritual seeker. Very, very average. As I said previously, I have some moments when I feel really connected to God and Guru. And others, when I really don't, when I forget God for a while. The constant remembrance of God that I aspire for is really not happening right now. 

It feels more like constant remembrance of the world. I am fed up of myself and literally have to apologise to God after every session of mantra meditation these days because of the way my mind wanders. It is absolutely dreadful (the only small hope is that when I sing spiritual songs, I have good concentration). One of my daily requests to Him is to sort this out, to get me back on track. But the response currently feels very limited.

Yet. Yet, He looks after me, in the form of Sivananda he takes care of me. He tells me to just keep going, no matter what. The yogis say, we are not the body, mind, thoughts, feelings, emotions, intellect, senses, none of it. This is just not who we are. We are Spirit. We are one with God. We always were, we still are, and we always will be. Regardless of whether or not we know it at this moment. 

Therefore, the message today, is hang in there. No matter what, just hang in there. This blog is not being written by a person who has achieved spiritual success. It is being written by someone who is right in the middle of the spiritual struggle. 

And that is why, despite my many flaws, I write. I am not perfect, I am very, very far from it. But I believe that spiritual perfection is my true nature, as it is yours. We all have a right to know this, it is our spiritual birthright.

So let us continue with spiritual practice. As Sivananda said-- if you continue your spiritual practice, you will attain the spiritual goal. I strongly believe this message was not just for me, it is for you too. And that is why I am writing it here. Never give up. That is his message, it is the message of all Gurus. Never give up on yourself, on your true Self.

On that note, I am now going to go off and do a bit of my mantra meditation with the faith that it will help (regardless of the level of mind-wandering!).

In summary, the only thing that is needed to cultivate the bond with one's Guru, a true living bond, is spiritual practice. Every single day. Every *single* day. 

This needs to happen regardless of what is happening in one's life. Regardless of how good or bad the quality of the spiritual practice feels. The mantra or name of God needs to be recited every single day. 

That is all that I have done. I have recited the mantra that I was initiated into by the representative of my Guru every day for nearly eleven years (prior to this period, the recitation was sporadic). The practice of this mantra obtained from the Guru (via his lineage) has been the heart and soul of my spiritual practice (the mantra received from the Guru is called 'Guru mantra'; it is a link between the disciple and Guru/God). Everything else (all other spiritual practices such as karma yoga, puja, homam, even kirtan etc) has been built upon this foundation. 

I feel this practice has helped me build a living connection with my Guru, my Guru who is one with God. And it continues to help me forge an ever-closer bond with him.

Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.