I LIVE IN TODAY

I have evolved to understand that past , present and future are interconnected. It is just 'now' that remains. What we are calling past was sometimes 'now' and now it has become past. The future , which we are not certain about, will become our 'now' someday. What is the truth? Neither past , nor future. 'NOW' is eternal and rest is changing nature of the ' now'. If somebody refuses to talk about his past, it means that he is somewhere stuck in there only and not living in 'now'. Some feel that be remaining in touch with the past , one loses something. I take it as c challenge. Am i so fragile that just by getting in touch with my past, I can lose anything? And if at all this can happen , I would definitely like to experience it. If I am not living in my now, what kind of mystic am I ?

Krishna – The Unborn One

While the world celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna, let us prepare to celebrate the advent of the consciousness of the unborn one into our lives. For God has no birth and no death. He is the lord of all hearts, the whole universe submerges in him. God is truth and truth never dies.

Krishna is the Paar Brahm, he is the chaitanya in us. He is sat-chit-anand. Your very soul is Krishna. You do not need to search him outside of you, in idols in temples where crowds jostle for a glimpse. Wherever you go, whatever you see, is the glory of the Lord. Without the scent, a rose is nothing. So we have to decide whether we want just the idol or the essence of the presence of the consciousness. See the Lord in all the people you meet, treat them as you would Lord Krishna. Since we cannot see him, do not wait to wish the idol a Happy Birthday. Wish all those you meet on the way, for aren’t we all but little Krishnas? Those on the spiritual path are trying to make themselves as pure as the Ulimate Consciousness, so why not see the Lord in all beings? Send the message of your love for Lord Krishna through all living beings on Janmashtami. The perfume of your love will permeate all beings and reach the ultimate being, Lord Krishna the object of your love.

Once you feel the oneness with the Lord through Raj Yoga or meditation, illness, old age and death cannot touch you. When we meditate, there is no difference between us and Him. We are one and the same.

But the question is, how do we attain the Lord? By praying to the idol, there is progress, but it is slow. The first lesson is to shed your ego. We are but a bubble, we have to become the ocean. The second lesson is to shed your attachment. There should be only one desire, to attain God and no other desires should remain. Then we will find that we ourselves have become Krishna. We are also not born, neither do we die. It is only the body that is perishable. Once we realize this, that will be the day we celebrate the birth of Krishna Consciousness within us. That is how we should celebrate Krishna Janmashtami this time.

Lets make a difference in the lives of those who live in darkness. Bring the light of Lord Krishna into the lives of the underprivileged. That is the way we can come closer to God. Bring a smile to the lips of the sad, give food to the hungry, give knowledge to the ignorant. And just spread love, love and love. For the Lord dwells in all and love given to a being is love given to God. Celebrate a different Janmashtami this year, resolve to give birth to love in your heart and help give birth to love in all hearts. Let anger, jealousy and enmity die within you and in others. Give birth to a Krishna in you this Jamashtami!

Seema Mishra

Om Shanti!

Where,OH Where,Is Such A House ?

"A handful of mustard seed;
but it must come from
a house where no one
has lost a loved one . "

Ther was a woman named Kisa who was much devoted to the Tathagata (Buddha) and liked to sit at his feet to listen to his preaching . Kisa had given to a baby daughter not many months before . But , as fate would have it , the child had fallen ill , and now lay dead in her arms , Nearly mad with grief the came to Buddha carrying the baby , and weeping louldy she fell at his feet .

"Lord , " she wailed , "you have divine power and can bring my daughter power and can bring my daughter back to life . You are full of mercy and I know that you will honor my request . I am sure you have some remedy . "

Buddha looked down at her and his heart burned with her sadness and misery . "Bring me , " he said slowly , " a handful of mustard seed ; but it must come from a house where no one has lost a loved one . "

Now Kisa , thinking this to be part of a charm that might restore her baby , wiped her tears and full of hope set off on her quest . From house she walked . At the door of every one she heard : " Alas , not here . We lost our grandfather here . " " Last year my mother died . " " A beloved cousin was staying with us and she fell to a fatal disease . "

At last the light dawned upon Kisa that what had happened to her is what all beings are caught in , the ancient pair , life and death - the chain of becoming , in which all are bound .

She gave last rites to her child , and came back to her master . She was ready now for entering the stream , which means starting , with Buddha's guidance , on the Eight Step Path to Enlightenment .

Rishi Amrit March 2008

Ode to the Master

The divine farmer tilled the land

She sowed the seeds of Sewa, Sadhana and Satsang

She poured the water of divine grace

And lo and behold, tiny saplings are showing their pretty heads!

I have the firm belief that these saplings will grow into plants

and plants into trees as the divine farmer keeps nurturing them!

There is a new meaning to my life, a new spring in my step

My goal is clear to me now

There will be obstacles on the path

But now my divine guide with a beacon light walks by my side

So, no fear or doubts in my mind about reaching the destination

I am in the safe hands of the divine boatman

who will row me across the ocean of Sansara!

Seema Mishra, Kolkatta

Unreal World

When you recognise the world to be unreal and ephemeral , you will no longer have any love for it.

Suppose rice is boiling in the pot , to test whether it is properly boiled , you take one grain from it and press the same between your fingers. At once you come to know whether the whole pot of rice is boiled or not. Surely you would not press each and every grain of rice.

Just as you know the condition of the rice by testing only a few grains , so also you can know whether the world is real or unreal , eternal or ephemeral , existent or non - esistent , by examining two or three objects in it . Man is born , Lives for some days , and then die. So too are animals and trees born and live and die. Discriminating like this , you come to know that the same is the fate of all things endowed with name and from , even of the earth , the sun and the moon. Do you not thus come to understand the nature of all things in the universe ? When you thus recognise the world to be unreal and ephemeral , you will no longer have any love for it . You will renounce it from the mind , and become free from all desires . When you succeed in this act of renunciation , you come gains the realisation of God in this way - if he is not all - knowing , what else is he ?

Rishi Amrit August 2008

VYASA AND THE DAIRY –MAIDS

Once there was a great sage named Vyasa. He lived near one of the big river in India, called the Yamuna. In those days one had to across the river by ferry boats, and one day when he wished to cross, the ferry, for some reason, did not show up. He noticed that some dairy-maids of the village of Vrindaban were seated on the bank, also waiting. They had tubs of butter, milk and yogurt with them. to be carried to the market acroos the river. The dairy-maids were getting worked up, and quite anxious about not getting there before their produce began to spoil. Vyasa said to them,"I am very hungy." Now the milkmaids,thinking" this is a famous holy man,who keeps no money; so it is surely our duty to feed him,"asked him to help himself. So Vyasa drank and ate and ate and drank till he finished about half of their wares. People like Vyasa can acquire great spiritual power , and sometimes this comes out as "miracles." That is why Vyasa could say to the river:"O Yamuna! If I have not eaten anything today,let your waters part and allow us to walk through." Andsure enough, the water of the river parted, leaving a pathway through which they all walked!
(You may have heard or a similar incident in the Bible.)

When they reached the other bank the dairy-maids were in antonishment."What?! He ate all that food and then he says to the river, 'If I have not eaten today, may your waters part!' What does it means?"

Well, it means this: Vyasa, being Enlightrned, no longer thought of himself as a body or mind. Constantly he kept himself in the thought "I am the oul, the Atma. No action, good or bad, belongs to me. It is the work of the Universal Doer." His ego had gone.

RISHI AMRIT SEPTEMBER 2006

EVERY THOUGHT IS DUST

A mystic is neither a noble person nor a cruel person. A mystic is neither an ethical person nor a n unethical one. An enlightened person is neither religious nor irreligious. All distinction fell. All distinctions have to fall.

Buddha was asked this question, " What you have attained in Samadhi ? " Buddha said, " I have attained nothing in Samadhi . "The person asked , " What do you mean ? Long years of your search, long years of your pursuit and say , you have found nothing . "

Buddha said, " Yes it is true . I haven't attained anything. On the contrary , I have lost many things . I have lost my hatred , I have lost my jealousy , I have lost my ego , I have lost my dumpness , I have lost my unconsciousness . I have lost all the darkness , all the ignorance . "

Buddha's language was the language of negation. Because the language of finding and attaining something is the language of lust. So Buddha gave very - very negative answer.

And lucky are those who loose and poor are those who are victorious. Because all victories will strengthen your mind's power and the loss of mind means loss of ignorance and the loss of ego . It is the loss of all boundages , it is the loss of all shekels , it is the loss of all pains and sufferings.

It is the loss of mind but then who is gaining ? To this , Buddha remains silent. He says, " Don't speak this language. This is too filthy. Don't speak this language. "

A spiritual person is neither virtuous person nor non - virtuous person . Who is he then ? He is just a he . He is not even he . Because once you have realised , you neither remain a he nor a she . Then you justt exist . Then you are just pure being and pure being neither a he nor a she . A pure being is neither good nor bad .

Existence cannot be labled ; will not be labled. No one can do that . So don't fall into honey trap that good thoughts have to be kept in mind , noble thoughts have to be kept in mind . Don't be fool yourself by saying that we should be having spiritual thoughts .

So many speakers these days on television are preaching this - " Have good thoughts . " It is the biggest , the stupid thins which anyone can say . They say , " Cultivate good thoughts in you . Cultivate noble thoughts in you . " A person who is speaking this language , is just exhibiting that he is absolutely ignorant , he doesn't know anything about the inner world.

The ways of the inner world are diffrent from the ways of an unenlightened person. A thought is a thought and every thought is just a dirt . And the dirt has to be removed , should be removed .

The higher you go , leser the weight should be on your back . Have you ever done hiking ? Have you ever walked on a mountain ? HAve you ever scaled great heights and if you have then you know that hiegher you go , heavier your weight begins to be felt . Closer to the oeaks , the mountaineers have said that , the bag which carries their food supplies and vital medicines , which they might need at the time of emergency , that small packed bag too seems so heavy , that they really wish to take that off.

Although while climing a huge mountain , may be for last few feets you leave your bag pack also and just climb , and may be you still carry your bag pack and some how in a snail speed reach the top . But in spiritual hiking you cannot carry a weight of single thought with you .

Even a single thought is so heavy that you have to leave that . So until and unless the state of thoughtlessness occurs , remember that you are still away , very much away from your goal .

Taking a quantum jump from the mind to no - mind . This is something which is to be done . A jump from the mind to the no - mind and in this state of no - mind , Samadhi will blossom . There is no other way . This is the only way .

RISHI AMRIT Sep, 2006

ITS STRANGE, ISN'T IT?

• Isn't it strange how a 20 rupee note seems like such a large amount when you donate it to a temple, but such a small amount when you go shopping?
• Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you are praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?
• Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you are in a temple, and how short they seem when you are watching a good movie?
• Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bhagwad Gita, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?
• Isn't it strange how everyone wants front row tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Jaagran?
• Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bhagwat Geeta?
• Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event in the temple 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?
• Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do or say anything to get there?
• Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?
• Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?

RISHI AMRIT : AUGUST 2007

Mysticism Unraveled

Anandmurti Gurumaa is the modern day alchemist, mixing the inner spirituality without practicality an uncomplicated and balanced vision. 4th D Woman Edition Vikrant Shandilya here discuses life, human potential and spirituality with this self – confessed mystic.

I AM FOR EXIST:

Existence is multi – dimensional and all pervasive. You cannot define its starting or its end. One facet of existence merges into another to produce the symphony of life. You can’t exclude anything from life experiences. I don’t define myself and find it rather awkward when people try to do that for me. Most of the times I end up exclaiming, ‘oops that’s me they are t is they are talking about’. I don’t access what I have achieved or try to fix my goals. There are no demarcations in my life. I believe that nothing changes and that is the eternal change. This is the very nature of life, and existence of this sort can never be inert.

LET YOUR MIND SOAR:

Thinking of something, which lets us down and limits us because human mind has its limitation has a very finite existence and very close – cut demarcation, and moves only within them. So anything that happens in mind is very much constrictive. I have to move beyond those constrictions to disseminate knowledge to my listeners. Even Buddha, after reaching the age of 80 and speaking for 40- odd years, was once asked: Do you think you have said what you wanted to say? Buddha answered while sitting besides the written transcripts of volumes of his teachings; “I never spoke a single word in my life”. It is not knowledge, which is imparted from the periphery of mind, it is just borrowed information. Anything that is being said beyond the mind is always new, that’s the real knowledge. At times when many questions are asked repeatedly, they meet with different answers, for I don’t prepare for answers, I don’t think in advance. This is the only difference between a mystic and a thinker.

REBEL WITH A CAUSE:

I do have my share of enemies who find me too hot to handle or very rebellious, and they are not happy about anything that goes against their set conditioned mind. Society is not ready to accept a living person and that too a woman as a mystic. When I try and break people’s set mindsets, it hurts them. But I do it with a smile so that the pain or sorrow of losing something dear to them is compensated. I never get offended of the wrong questions and try to answer them right. But mostly people get enlightened the hard way. That was how I learnt for I did not have any Guru to judge me, correct me and give directions. It was my inner Guru only who kept on whacking me if I erred and it really whacks your hard.

I’AM A MASTER, YET A STUDENT:

There is one level when you reach the zenith of enlightenment and it remains constant. Once a Buddha, always a Buddha. Then there comes a level of mind where a constant change exists. Six years back, I was more rustic and used to sing like a gypsy, but today the ability to express and to bring those feeling out in singing has transformed. Life is a teacher and it sharpens our minds with experience; more you experience, more you grow. It’s wrong to say that Buddha knows everything. He wouldn’t know new technology or gizmos. I don’t know many a things but it neither lessens me as a master, nor does it bring me down from my pedestal. At the level of mind there is always a scope for I don’t comment on things where I have no authority or information. I never preach for everything exists in the form of knowledge and one doesn’t produce more knowledge. So I interpret the existing knowledge with my Vivekshakti (wisdom). I don’t believe in being unapproachable or non-comprehensive for my whole motive is lost if my listeners are not able to approach me. My job is to make them understand that they also have the quality and potential to be what I am today, provided one is ready to explore or exploit one’s potential.

I LIVE IN TODAY:

I have evolved to understand that past, present and future is interconnected. It is just ‘now’ that remains. What we are calling past was sometimes ‘now’ and now it has become our ‘now’ someday. What is the truth? Neither past, nor future. ‘Now’ is eternal and rest is changing nature of the ‘now’. If somebody refuses to talk about his past, it means that he is somewhere stuck in there only and not living in ‘now’. Some feel that by remaining in touch with the past, one loses something. I take it as a challenge. Am I so fragile that just by getting in touch with my past, I can lose anything? And if at all this can happen, I would definitely like to experience it. If I am not living in my now, what kind of mystic am I?

LOVE IS TO GIVE:

Manure (cow dung) is very bad to smell, almost unbearable; but that very manure after mixing with soil results in plants and flowers. And that foul smell transforms in to fragrance. Difference between ‘Moh’ (attachment) and love is same. What people find difficult to understand is that we will become sad if we overcome Moh, which gives us happiness. What is required is to change that manure of moh into fragrance of love. It is much more enriching as you are receiving a lot while giving. It is matter of evolving that attachment into love.

CELIBACY – AN OVERRATED VIRTUE:

I don’t think that celibacy has got anything to do with spiritual attainment. This just another proof of limited minds. Celibacy was not a part of strict regimen for our seers, as it is widely perceived; rather their search for truth engulfed them so much that they had no time for these physical needs. It was strictly by choice. Time came, when they chose to get married of their free will, seers like Vashishtha were married. And there was a trend to get married with more than one woman and many rishis were actually having more than one wife. But it never belittled their status as a Guru. However, anything that is forced always takes you away from the cause.

SANYASA IS A STATE OF MIND:


I like that I am adventurous and knowingly wind. In every manner it has helped me. I always do what I feel like doing. At the age of six, I happened to mumble some Sanskrit shlokas, without knowing where they came from. It was only when I recited them front of some seer that I came to know they were from such and such scripture. I started moving around with various saints, and enjoyed their company. Gradually, I developed a liking towards coloured clothes. As life is evolving and so is my mind, so I have come out of that love of colour as well. Now I wear anything provided by anybody. I don’t remember taking proper ritualistic Sanyas. I realized that rituals lose sanctity when they are mindlessly followed without any understanding. For me, Sanyas is a state of mind rather than a strict regimen.

I BELIEVE IN STRAIGHT APPROACH:

I am too straightforward and people get offended. Although I know that it was their benefit, but still as a human I feel bad about hurting them. I say everything consciously. Sometimes, listeners take my discourses wrong but they will have to comprehend the truth for truth cannot stoop down. They will have to come up to that level.

I AM HAPPY BEING MYSELF:

I am like a bird singing in forest that not hunger for applause. I don’t have any agenda of enlightening people. I just do my job and leave the rest on their comprehension level. For seers, sages or mystics are highly misunderstood people. No matter how much they try to put things straights, people are people. They have their own interpretations. I don’t care about the expectations and the rules set by my listeners for me. I live on a single rule of awareness. Life is not mundane. For me there was no ambition to be fulfilled, no goals to be achieved.

LIFE IS A CELEBRATION:

I celebrate life to the fullest. If people respect life, perfection comes itself. Then one is more concerned about giving one’s fullest. But people take is a bit too frivolously. They postpone their responsibilities; they don’t do what they are supposed to do. They work half-heartedly, they interact half-heartedly, they live half-heartedly and they pray half-heartedly. Nothing is done in absolute. That’s why they are so unhappy, unsatisfied and in anguish. If 70,000 people are listing to me, I can happily tell them that it is not going to affect me whether they are listening to me whole heartedly or are implementing my discourses. I am happy because I am not having any analysis chart with me that mark how many people are going to follow me or be my disciples. I have done my part, I have shared my knowledge or music, and rest is upon you. I am relieved. Success or failure becomes mundane there.

POWER DOESN’T AFFECT ME:

If whatever I have today-followers, consideration or so-called celebrity status-vanishes tomorrow, I would still be myself and enjoy life. Life is much bigger than all this. Once you have tasted that, nothing else matters. This is the biggest revolution one can gift to oneself. Situations give you chances to understand, to accept, and to deliver the goods. Earlier, I was having some set standards of interpersonal relationship between Guru and disciple. If that was flouted, I would get irritated. Now I am more patient.

GURUS - SPIRITUALITY EQUIPS YOU TO LIVE - LIFE POSITIVE MAGAZINE (MAY 2005)

By Suma Varughese and Ajay Kalra

Majestic and attractive, fiery and outspoken, a Sufi, Sadhu, and Zen practitioner all rolled into one, an activist and mystic, a divine singer and speaker, Anandmurti Gurumaa is a peculiarly modern godwoman
She is majestic in appearance, tall, well-built and fair, with an upright carriage and an attractive face. Calm and poised, she speaks with a slight accent, thanks perhaps to her many sorties abroad. Anandmurti Gurumaa (38), is relatively new, though her early morning discourses on Sony and her sensational music albums with Times music such as Baawari Jogan, have earned her a considerable following.Born in Punjab to Sikh parents, she is said to have attained enlightenment at age 16. She has been a teacher of spirituality since then with an ashram in Haryana. Many centers in India and abroad have sprung up to host satsangs and meditation for the growing number of her followers. Gurumaa fits no recognizable mold. Though clad in regimental saffron, she can quote as easily from Rumi, Buddha, Guru Nanak and Jesus Christ as from the Bhagavad- Gita. Her discourse is peppered with Mulla Nasruddin and Zen stories. Equally at home with English and Hindi, she radiates a refreshing and very modern plurality. "She is an alchemist who has brought together the scientific temper of the West with the wisdom of the East," says a follower. An excellent singer who weaves into her discourses bhajans and sufi songs, she is also a talented photographer. Bluntly outspoken, she rails against insincere seekers and 'pseudo' gurus, even as she does not hesitate to address social issues like alcoholism and women's rights. A unique aspect of her teaching revolves around the many original meditation devices she has created to help seekers eliminate the inner "garbage".One of them, Rachan Kriya, consists of calling out the name of God (whichever you please), with as much ardour, love and passion as possible, until tears gush forth and festering wounds heal.At a satsang she held in Mumbai, more than 30,000 people listened in pin drop silence to her forceful and inspiring delivery. It was a piquant thing to see this saffron-clad woman sing a sufi song, invoking Allah with full-throated fervor. She has a powerful voice, deep and strong. One listener close by was shuddering uncontrollably, a few danced with total abandon, while many sat with closed eyes listening raptly. Excerpts from the interview…Could you tell us something about yourself, how you began your journey…What I am will benefit only me. Mullah Nasruddin once asked his disciples: "Would you like to achieve samadhi without effort?" Every one said, yes, yes. He said, "Run away from this place. There is no way you can achieve the highest goal of your life without sweating." Whatever one has achieved is an asset to that person only. Seeing these assets or reading about them doesn't make you rich.Couldn't it inspire people?No. Let me give you another example of a close enlightened friend who is no more. He lived anonymously on the banks of the Ganges. Something brought us mysteriously close. One day, I asked him: "Why are you silent? The whole world needs someone to guide them; to inspire them." And he smiled and said: "Something moved me when I chose this path and started working upon myself. The day this happens in a person's life is the day he will begin to change. You don't change by seeing, you don't change by listening. You don't change by going through the whole encyclopedia of religion. So why should I bother? Let me be silent on the banks of the Ganges and enjoy this moment with you."I am aware that the presence of an enlightened person does make a difference. That is the reason that I am in society. But I would endorse his statement 100 per cent. All my speeches and discourses and traveling of the last 22 years has given me this experience through my bones. People only change when they want to change.But maybe you can be a catalyst to that change…In Vishnu Mahapuran there is a story of Druv who was given Vishnu's darshan and asked to name his boon. He said: "Give this vision to everyone on earth." Vishnu smiled and said that it was impossible. Nevertheless, he added: "Bring all those who wish to see me and I'll present myself to them." It is said Dhruv went around the whole earth seven times and everyone had their stories and excuses and justification not to go to Vishnu. He ended up with one pig. Halfway there, the pig asked if he would get shit to eat there. When Dhruv said no, the pig said: "Sorry, then I am not interested."So what kind of a catalyst could Dhruv be? Despite God himself offering to reveal himself, there was none to see him. This is true even today. People are not ready for it, because until and unless that urge, that fire, engulfs one's heart, nothing happens. But like that beautiful couplet in Hindi says: " Keep on yelling, keep on speaking aloud. Be awake, the night is here. The thieves are too."And yet if nobody wakes up that is not your fault. Your job is just to say 'wake up!' So that's what I am doing. That's what any enlightened person can do. In half an hour or so I will address around 30,000 people who will sit in absolute silence as long as I am speaking. Sometimes, I can hear my own breath in that silence. And yet after the session I really wonder if it is fruitful for me to spend that much time with them. I left them yesterday with so many questions by hitting at all their beliefs.I keep wondering if what people are practicing is a fake thing or a real thing. Because if it is a real thing that reality should reflect in their life.There are a few people who do…Very few! And this is a hard fact. It was so hundreds of years ago, when Kabir said: "I don't find a single soul who is ready to buy the product I have." And it was true in the 12th century when Jalaluddin Rumi said: "I am wandering in these streets of Konya, looking for a soul who is crying, I am in love with God, and I can't find a single person. There are just hypocrites who do their namaz five times a day and yet they are untouched by love. And my heart is praying , 'Send me one friend at least, with whom I can share the agony which I am experiencing, with whom I can share this longing in my heart.' "Do you feel like that too?I don't, but people really have to be pushed and banged and banged and banged and reminded to stop doing what they are doing or they go back to slumber.Is it exhausting to be a guru?It's not exhausting because I am not a mathematician or an accountant who is keeping count of how many have awakened. I always say my job is the most joyous job on this earth. I am just enjoying my being and through that the words just come out. If they are of use to anyone, fair enough, and if they aren't, then thank you very much.That seems like a very balanced approach.That's how I have to be. Otherwise, I could get haggard and angry. Would you stay calm if your sibling, son, daughter or sister wastes your hard-earned money in front of you? Similarly, an enlightened person is giving his magnificent treasure to people who are not giving a damn about it. That should anger me, being a human, it should. But it doesn't. This is what makes us different from other people. For us, the sowing in itself is enough. Sowing this seed of true love is so fulfilling, and so enjoyable that it doesn't bring any fatigue. I still have the same spirit, the same fire that I had when I delivered my first discourse.That is why I evolve various methods for today's generation. I bridge the gaps and redefine traditional notions. Spirituality is not for retired, sick and old people. It's for every living being. It will teach you how to fight, how to live, how to celebrate, how to face the ups and downs of life without getting broken. Spirituality prepares a person to live. If you don't have that, then you can't live your life. How could you? All the while, you would be wary, carrying a sign on your forehead, 'Don't come close…'No one is bothered about that.Yes, no one is bothered that you are fragile, that you will be mishandled, and you cannot even sue anyone if they treat your roughly! So you run away from society. To some pilgrimage, solitude, or to one's own cocoon. That's not life. Life is every moment testing us with altogether different circumstances and challenges. Every one of us has to develop that knowledge, that power to discriminate, how to respond and how much to respond. Not too much and not too little. When to be silent and when to be vocal. When to be passive and when to be active. This requires a very high understanding.I believe that this religiousness that I teach is for very evolved people. I believe every seer is more than a scientist. A scientist is known for his curiosity, his research, his constant need to know. His search is for the material, but for a seer it is for something out in the unknown, beyond the mind, which you can't see. A seer is concerned about that energy making this body move, which is making these senses move, which is making this mind move and think, which is making this intellect think and reflect. The seer is also concerned with constant search and research, using the methods of observation, using the methods of introspection …What is the path that you teach?If I were to summarize it into one thing, it would be awareness. How to develop that awareness-insight. I am not referring to awareness at the level of the mind as seen in mountaineers or astronauts. A slip in awareness and the mountaineer can be buried alive under snow or the astronaut blasted away from his ship. But that awareness does not transform them or cause them to disassociate from the mind and its functions. To be an observer is to be totally neutral and to be a witness. And somewhere, I would add, the awareness of who I am, or what the truth is.What influences did you have to arrive at this understanding?I didn't have any influences. And I would suggest you do not get influenced.Do you feel it's necessary to have a guru?Yes.Yet you didn't have one?I didn't. Things just unrolled. In my childhood I used to accompany my mother to spiritual discourses, gatherings, satsangs. We would also have assemblies of sadhus coming home. And the very friendly mahatmas would pick me to speak to. Some mystical reason must be there; I don't know. I was still a teenager when I had this full blown enlightenment. I didn't put in years of austerities. I was a bubbly kind of girl who used to enjoy all games, sports and extra-curricular activities, which I continued after college. Enlightenment never distracted or distorted me. That's the reason I have stated that youngsters are the best candidates for what I have.Were you aware of what happened to you?Yes. Definitely! Four years onwards I remember each and every incident that happened. It was not difficult for me to understand what the mahatmas were speaking. The grownups would be raising their eyebrows and I would be volleying the mahatmas with my questions. They would get baffled, sometimes angry. I remember one got so angry that he said: "If you don't shut up, I am going to give you a shrap and you are going to just burn over here." I said: "Okay, go ahead, do it." I must have been 11 and this whole incident became the talk of the town. The sadhus used to warn each other: "Do not go to that house" (laughs). So I am pretty much aware of the things that were happening. I didn't see myself as a seeker, but there were moments when this great yearning would pierce my heart and that took some time to open up. That's my experience that your true guru is within you.What do you think is the role of benediction versus effort for spiritual growth?They both go hand in hand. As I said there were moments when this yearning, this fire, would just kill me, because questions would pierce the heart and there was no one to answer them. So it brought me to my own senses. But it wasn't easy. I had my share of pseudo masters. For seven years I was in awe of a highly intellectual person. I was a child at that time. As my own fog went away I could see that he was not what he was portraying himself as. That's the reason I admonish all these pseudo gurus because I know how much they can hurt. That's why I always advise people not to be dependent on me. Be dependent on your own self, be dependent on your own understanding. You have to develop that awareness that even I can go wrong someday; although once realized one never goes wrong.Is this realized state permanent?Yes. Once the atom has been brought to that point where it explodes, you can't reverse it. You are not awakened in one moment and unawakened in another. It doesn't happen like that. That's the reason it's the highest human achievement. But it is not too arduous because the treasure we are looking for is already within us. That makes the whole journey very simple.Can you tell us about the experience of enlightenment and how an enlightened person functions?The experience of enlightenment cannot be expressed in words; you have to be in that state to know what it is. And to know that, one needs an enlightened person whom you associate with on many many levels. Right from the physical to the emotional to the intellectual; you can even be in love with the guru. There are some hidden ways. Sometimes, the master would use words; sometimes it would be the presence, at one point, he would give a push. Because the fear of losing your identity becomes so powerful, you dare not jump.Does random thinking go away altogether and you are functioning from moment to moment?Once you are enlightened, the darkness in the corners and layers of the mind goes away.The mind is still there?The mind is definitely there. The enlightened person now has the ability to use the mind whenever it is required and to not to use the mind when it is not required. So you have the button on or off. That's the reason you are called a master. At present the mind is using you and consuming you, dissipating your energy. The mind is the master, the lord. In an enlightened person, the mind is the slave.But random thoughts…There is no place for random thoughts. There is no room for unconsciousness, basically. That's the reason the Gita says an enlightened one never commits a mistake. Even if an enlightened person kills a cow he would not be called a paapi. Why? Because he has done it in awareness. Not because of some random thought, or in anger.Do you think a person should teach spirituality only after enlightenment?Yes, very strongly.What about Vedanta teachers?Vedanta is a subject that needs constant thinking. Teaching can clarify your thoughts and give the students around you a new thing to listen to. The question is are these Vedantists willing to admit that what they have understood is at an intellectual level and not existential?Being a woman how difficult is it on this path and to be a guru?In my own personal capacity it is not difficult. But it is a BIG difficulty for those male mahatmas. A section of the Jain scriptures affirms that a woman meditates and does austerities so that she can be born as a man in order to achieve self-realisation...What do you feel about this?Do I have to feel it? I am the living evidence of it. I am the living evidence that you don't have to grow old to be fit for enlightenment. It's something that can happen at a very tender age. At six, nine, 10, 30, 40, whatever. It has nothing to do with your sex, but with your ability and urge to be on the path.

In Touch With The Real You

An exclusive Question -

Answer series where Her Holiness Anandmurti Gurumaa responds to various questions that offers you a deeper insight in life. 4th D women present a delightful, simple and in - depth coverage on spirituality through her extraordinary vision and spontaneous answers.

Courtesy - Editor Vikrant Sandaliya Snigdha Das together with the Editor team of 4th D Woman.

Enjoy this Question - Answer Series and quench your spirit quest. Know the spiritual world lock, tock and barrel.

Ruchi Seth - What is the meaning of MEDITATION ? What will I achieve through it ?

Guru Maa - Meditation is not an exercise or some kind of concentration, rather it is state where all conflict cease to exit. It is the state of utter silence of mind. But it does not mean that mind becomes inert. The chattering of mind stops. We all are so bothered by unnecessary chatter of mind. It tries us. Meditation is going beyond all this. It is freedom and who does not like freedom ! In a way we are all working to achieve this freedom, so why notin a right manner! And meditation is the right manner.

Sneha Chatterjee - The daily household chore is so time - consuming that we hardly get time to meditate. Wha should we do ?

Guru Maa - It is true that household work is time - consuming, and it is difficult to meditate, but may I ask you something, is this all there is to life ? I do not say that you ignore your work, but most of the time we work and live for others. Once in a while this question must have crossed everybody's mind, what have I achieved ? Am I deriving complete satisfaction out of what I am doing ? At the end of day is my mind a rest ?
Meditation is about finding time for yourself. It is about being in touch with the real you. We must not forget that whatever we may do, at the end of the day boils down to just one fact, that i 'why are we hara ?'. There is a deeper meaning of life that needs to be explored. This exploration will make you more creative, more vibrant and will offer you clarity to look at this world with different vision.

Ravi Kalra - At times life seems very boring. And out of this boredom comes aggression. What is the remedy for this ?

Guru Maa - Boredom comes when something in life seems to be missing. Before understanding boredom, we must understand the working of mind. Mind is never at rest. Thoughts keep coming into our mind, one thought comes and the other goes. Our mind is a clutter of thoughts. Man is always aiming to give comfort to the mind. We are always entertaining one thought or other. And in this commotion we lose ourselves and suddenly a moment comes when we say what's this happening to me. Boredom in an inner call, which says that now I am fed up with the on going thought process. The mind appears stagnant, but in reality it is restles. This restlessness causes reaction. A kind of defence mechanism arises which can be termed as aggression. Absence of creativity is boredom. Delve in the art of meditation ; it brings out your creativity. For the first time you will realise what it feels like to be sable and tranquil. Stagnation or get connected to your deeper side to this ocean, so calm and restful. Take a dive. It can only happen through meditation. Meditation is a plunge in your inner ocen.

Deepa Tripathi - Who is a religious person or believer of GOD ?

Guru Maa - The one who explores, not the one who believes in the existence of Divine, because scriptures or beliefs around him say so. Divine is the fact of his experience and knowing.

Rishi Amrit July 2005

DIVINE TALK

What is the Difference between alone & Lonely?

This Loneliness is so different that you won't be able to identify that you are lonely. Since underlying sadness is always imaginative, that does not go away. Like those people who said that MEERA was leading an unhappy life all the time. She had a lovely childhood. Yes, she did not want to get married but due to political compulsion she had to get married but her husband was very loving. He took that great care of her and her needs that although they were Kali worshipers and they had great hatred for other Gods but he constructed a KRISHNA temple for her because she loved KRISHNA as God. So he want against his whole family, a very conservative type.

Traditionally speaking even today no one will allow a Zoroastrian to go into a Gurudwara. Even today they do not like. they always are going to dislike it.

People when they stuck with their ideology, they are not happy if any one breaks it or even think of breaking it. But just imagine the love of MEERA's husband towards her how deep that he went agaist those religious confinements and he made a beautiful temple for her.

It is even said that she straight forwardly said that she is not going to sleep with him. Right away she said that I am least interested and as the princess used to have their concubines, he is happy with his concubines and she is happy that he is getting what he wanted.

Can you see the level of understanding over there? She knew that he has his needs and she won't fulfill that, so she allows him readily, without any complusion, although if he would have chosen then he would have easily taken over her, exploited her. But it is the pre-widow hood I am talking about.

She had a pretty nice time but yet her all poetry filled with longing ness , filled with heartache, filled with pain, the colour of sadness is always there in her poetry. You really have to shuffle a few pages to search out for a happy poetry of hers.

Why? Beacuse that sense of being away from that union which the spirit was in, now the spirit is engaged in the body with the goal of ignorance around, that spirit, wings flatter, wants to fly away but is unable to.

So when your hopes are of that higer quality, you would never compromise with anything. So it is not fair then to say to such an individual to go ahead and be in a relationship because that would fulfill you.

The fulfillment won't be ever there - what can happen is a little more messing. So we create some more confusion and then we solve a few of these confusions and we get a relief.

People are really not truly happy - what they get is a temporary relief from one problem or one situation and then momentarily that relief is taken to be as happiness.

Being alone and being lonely are two different things.

The society has its own parameters. For them being alone means being lonely. Being alone does not means being lonely and being lonely is not a good thingh but being alone is a very good thing. So you may see sitting all alone and yet you won't be. You might not be. So, it is not necessary that one have to go through the whole exercise.

There is another thing also that once you have experienced the life the life of being in relationship and learnt our things; we move on, we learn things, we move on. We grow, we evolve, we grow and we evolve.

Once that growth has happened we do not have to revert back, we do not have to. that is not necessary. Standard of people's thinking is too shallow. Like, if someone is not married then normal married people would pronounce seeing that spinster 'that the person is missing'. Now what they would be talking or thinking about is sex. Nothing more than that or may be the joy which one has from the kids - having, nursing. "You really are missing out life; you do not know what you are missing".

Over here some married couples are sitting - they would always be remembering the golden times when they were not married but the moment a bachelor comes their version changes, their version changes into recommending marriage to anyone and everyone and when they are sitting with their equals, then it is different. Then the questions can be - may be you are happier, may be have what I do not have. They would be constantly comparing one another looking for flaws or always looking for those greener pastchers, which are around.

The society is really going through a change and now the premarital sex is OK. There was this Viva done in Delhi schools and colleges. 60% of the youngsters said that they do not mint it. They are already practicing it so what is the all fuss about. It is happening with the married people also. They are calling it fun.Switching spouses is becoming the happening, the most happening thing. Basically what they are looking for is the same thing. They are looking for what they had when they were not married. When they were not in a relationship and now when they are still looking for the same thing. They are creating some mess around.


I have nothing against a relationship as such - let me say that, But if it is happening in someone's life with the fair standards and one can be with the perfect man or woman it is fine but I have heard a story.

"A man was sipping Cappuccino in an Italian restaurant. A gorgeous looking woman entered the restaurant. His heart flattered. He could not hold himself. He had never done this thing but today he could not hold himself. He asked the lady if she could join her for a cup of Cappuccino or latte.

The gentleman was handsome and the lady was beautiful and they were sipping hot Cappuccino and the talk stared about relationship. It turned out that the man was a bachelor and so was the woman, Unmarried.

He took the lead and asked why she did not marry. She said "I was looking for the perfect man and I never found one." So he said, "The same is the case with me, I was looking for the perfect woman and I never found one."

"Alas! Now we are sitting across and seeing one another." Man said, "What do you think?" Woman said, "What do you propose?"

Man said, "Are you interested?" Woman said, "I have rejected all those man who offered to propose on the first cup of coffee."

That is the story of the people. So those who compromise with the lesser perfect men and women then they say how happy we are, we are not perfect but at least we are with someone. "We are better than those who do not have company."

See the comparisons how people make so it is just the matter of seeing the things. It is a matter of your perceptions. How you evaluate your and others life. But the fulfillment because of someone else can never be true. The completeness, which would happen to be a slave to that person always to have that feeling of completeness and how can a slave be truly happy? Feeling of completeness and how can a slave be truly happy? Cannot.

But still let me say this, I am absolutely for a good relationship. Definite. But you cannot go looking out in the society, is there anyone who would be prefect match to me? If it happens naturally, it is fine but if it does not happen then one should not be having this feeling that I am missing out something.

So if one is feeling that I am missing out something then one should definitely go and look out for someone. But you don't get someone by just looking. Yes, you do get a cup of coffee - a nice cup of coffee, which you can buy, but you cannot buy, you cannot get relationship. And I do not think that one can miss anything just because that person is not in that man-woman kind of relationship.

Life is bigger than this - much bigger than this.

Article from RISHI AMRIT MAGAZINE September-2005