List of Topics

As part of the Mission of the Adhyatmik Foundation to dissemenate Vedic wisdom and Dr Svami Purna's teachings, Questions with Svamiji are being made available to all through this website, www.adfoundation.org.  A broader selection of Teachings is available under Publications.  The list of topics covered in detail below:

• Role of Grace
• On the Spiritual Path
• Obstacles on the Path
• Relationships
• Forgiveness
• Pranayama- Healthy Breathing

 

Role of Grace

Question: Svamiji, could you please further elaborate on grace and its role and importance on the spiritual path?

Svamiji:  It is said that when you take one step forward, grace will move towards you by a hundred steps.  It depends on how much you long for this grace, how much you realize and understand.  Compare this to the sunshine outside, and although you can see it, you still have to go outside to enjoy the benefit of the sun by exposing yourself to the sunshine.  Confining yourself indoors will not help.

The energy of grace is an invisible esoteric force and when you are preparing yourself, that preparation becomes a spiritual act with all that is involved in growing and learning. You need to integrate all these forces within you to become more qualified to receive grace.

I have often said that there is no point or value in meeting the highest Teacher or Master, if you have not evolved yourself to recognize Him or Her. For even if you meet the highest Master what is the value if you do not recognize?  Before such a meeting can take place you have to prepare yourself, and in the process of your preparation you come closer to spiritual grace. Even without noticing you will find one day that you are under the protective grace of the Master who will lead you from one state of grace to another and finally, when the time comes, then there will be total opening of energy, of shakti.  Shakti path is the event of having grace bestowed upon you. (In today’s computer language it resembles the transmission of data onto your hard drive.) The Master can bestow energy and grace which is like a transfer of instant knowledge, providing you are qualified.  Grace is powerful energy, but before this can take place, a certain amount of development and evolution has to take place to prepare yourself for this powerful experience. You may be asked to do something apparently impossible, but when the energy of grace is there, manifestation can take place. Thereafter your entire development is expedited and you can approach your goal much faster.

 

On the Spiritual Path

Question: Svamiji could you please explain what  the necessary qualities are for the seeker to walk to the end of his spiritual journey?

Svamiji: Eagerness to know!  To make every effort to receive knowledge followed by the necessary practices.  A longing to get freedom or liberation is an essential quality. You need to be open to understand without blocking, without concluding, without imposing your thought, without any kind of conditioning.  For if you are stuck in one particular concept or belief, you have created your own boundary, stopped your growth.  You must break all barriers and boundaries. When you want to reach the infinite, you cannot set up finite blocks.  Many seekers get stuck at one point or another due to having confined themselves. This is a pity.  You should not be satisfied with the small fruit but aspire to the greater fruit.

Question: Have you seen that many seekers have been satisfied with the small fruit before the end and not go further?

Svamiji: Many times this happens, people will get the small fruit, and then they are satisfied and make no further effort in this life.  They may think that they will continue in the next life.

Question; Does it also happen that some seekers achieve a certain level of evolution with genuine experiences of an altered state of consciousness and believe that they have reached the final stage?

Svamiji: Yes, this happens. Until you reach the highest state of enlightenment there can always be some delusion, confusion or misconception.  That is when some people say that they hear angels speaking to them. It is difficult to ascertain how much the angels speak and how much is the person’s own delusional feedback.

There can be many mixed impressions based on your own fantasies.  However, there can also be genuine experiences.  In the process it can happen that you may have many experiences – impressions of both past and future.  Look at yourself objectively and ask:  what motivates me, what makes me say, or think or do anything?  All depends on the real motivation of anything you say, think or do.  For instance, the statement of “I love you” has many different motivations: everybody has a different understanding, perception and expectation of love.  What do people mean by that statement?  What is the background thought for such a statement?  Actually, it is by exploring, by finding out and defining what your motivation is in any given situation that you are moving into another form of contemplation.

 

Obtacles on the Path

Question:  Svamiji, could you please speak about the biggest obstacles that can occur when on the spiritual path to God realization and how one can overcome them?

Svamiji: The most difficult obstacle is the conditioning of mind, for when your mind is conditioned to any thought, concept or belief, your thoughts are fixed and your attitude is somehow blocked. When you are not open to analyze, to contemplate, to understand, and to look into different aspects of the meaning and purpose of both minor and major issues, you are limiting the mind. Limitation of mind is a great obstacle.  We know that the mind is not you, but that mind is part of your emotional manifestation and that it is the nature of mind to fluctuate constantly.  Those fluctuations can be high or low, depending on the influence of the three gunas, the three fundamental tendencies: sattvaguna, rajaguna and tamaguna. These three qualities govern your body, mind and emotion. 

• When you are in the state of sattvaguna you are creative, positive, inspired, balanced, and objective and that opens you for further development and understanding of yourself.
• In the state of rajaguna you are active, full of restless energy, passionate, with a drive to get things done, yet also prone to cravings, heated arguments, even bullying and greed.
• When in the state of tamaguna you are depressed, angry, upset, frustrated, unhappy and confused and all the negativities are dominating your senses. 

These three stages fluctuate within twenty-four hours and are also constantly affected by the outside influences of the society you live in as well as by your environment. People continually contribute to each other, especially through raja-and tamaguna, since these two qualities are prevalent in society, wherever you may go.  These two gunas also present the biggest obstacles; they can actually become a trap whereby you become imprisoned by these two qualities.

On that basis you feed each other, your friends, families, co workers, anyone you come into contact with, wherever your common interests may lie.

However, when in sattvaguna all is clear, it is like a vast clear blue sky, there are no clouds, it is all sunshine. Everything becomes lucid, you have no doubts; everything unfolds and becomes a revelation to you. Every conundrum unravels. You are self-inspired and you begin to understand ‘what is what’ and ‘how things are’; in short, the world makes greater sense.  All insecurities vanish.

The idea is to bring sattvaguna into your senses and into your life. The effect of the environment on your senses is around you all the time. Any time you go out you are affected by outside forces; then you come home and you reflect those influences on your family, who in turn will radiate the same vibrations and affect others.  You cannot eliminate these influences; they are part of your creation, part of life.  Nevertheless, there is a way out: 

When you purposefully increase your sattvaguna with all your positive qualities, then the effect of the other two elements is greatly reduced.  Thereafter you are governed predominantly by the laws of sattvaguna, which are so powerful that when you go out into society, the negative influences of rajaguna and tamaguna will simply roll off you like water off the lotus flower petals.  The outside world does not affect you; you are not influenced and you are self-assured.

Now the question arises of how you can increase the qualities of sattvaguna. This is again related to how far you can raise yourself during meditation and contemplation, and how far you can analyze yourself.  That comes with knowledge. Of course the grace and energy of the Master is always there to support you in this and to make things easier for your growth and understanding. However, when you have strong conditioning of mind, this is the biggest impediment of understanding the greater Self.  That attitude can be like solid cement which solidifies to the extent that you cannot move and that will be the end of all growth; any chance of realization is gone. You can never just say “this is it” after any kind of revelation.  Rather focus on the journey of continually growing further into your self; the journey itself is beautiful and worthwhile, but as soon as you lock yourself into one concept or one attitude, your growth will cease and this can be the biggest challenge in your further development.

 

Relationships

Question: Svamiji, could you please speak to us about the subject of relationships, especially intimate relationships, while on the spiritual path? How do they affect human growth and what is the appropriateness and value while on the path striving for enlightenment? Is there a way to avoid the pain and suffering that frequently accompanies a relationship?

Svamiji: Primarily you need a strong signal that can help you to communicate. Interaction and communication are very important. If you have a beautiful experience, it is natural that you may want to share this experience and knowledge. Many people are miserable, how is one to make them happy? I see all the suffering and pain. The whole purpose of my being in this world, of having manifested in duality, in body, is to show people how to overcome their unhappiness and suffering, to show them the path to happiness, to enlightenment,.

Question: Where is it helpful for one’s spiritual goal to be in a relationship and where is it a hindrance?

Svamiji: If the gap of consciousness between two people is too big then it can be a hindrance because then you are dealing with different expectations. There is no attunement and therefore communication is obstructed; it is not a parallel walk. A relationship needs to be synchronized, like the cogs in a machine to function as a unit. When you are not synchronized in your minds, expectations are not the same and the relationship becomes mutually unfulfilling and will eventually fail.

If a couple can discuss their relationship problems objectively and is willing to listen to each other, really listen, with tolerant understanding, then there is a possibility of coming to a workable compromise. When both partners are willing to let go of the many unimportant issues that each one has built up and is so hung up on, and when each partner can look at those personal things that are not good for the partnership, and decides to let go, progress can be made. One very important aspect in resolving disagreements is self-analysis and self-correction. This is important, for you cannot overcome conflict by justifying and defending the prompts of you ego and your emotions. I recommend for everyone that before you go to sleep, to take 5-10 minutes to analyze your day, and where you have done anything that is not helpful to you. Then make sure you do not repeat this.

The emphasis is on self analysis; it has to be done by oneself, for if brought up by others, justification, excuses and finally anger will result. Ego is the main personality here. It is strange that people often prefer to be right than to be happy. Ego is always there, in many different guises. Someone may try to provoke you into reacting to a perceived criticism and tell you: “you should not tolerate this…” so you agree and act in response, rather than think for yourself, explore that other person’s motivation and find out yourself. It needs courage coupled with being perfectly honest and true to yourself. You cannot progress spiritually if you are not honest with yourself. That is the basic requirement. Do not fool yourself, do not pretend. You may pretend your whole life that you are this or that – but it does not make it so. It is actually far too much work; pretension and ongoing lies can become a very stressful exercise. It is also a burden and it is most transparent. You need to have courage to be rigorously honest with yourself.

 

Forgiveness

Svamiji: You ask about forgiveness … what is there to forgive in anyone? The very concept, based on strong Christian teachings, is not really appropriate. If you want to forgive anyone for a perceived wrong, that puts you in a morally superior position; it makes you the judge … giving remission of a supposed debt.

It is not helpful to feel superior; rather you should feel confident of yourself and make an effort to deal with the given situation. Try to understand that there was a mistake and make the other person aware, thereby also giving the opportunity to correct the mistake. Of course both sides have to evaluate the alleged wrong. However, if the other person does not see the situation in the same way, try to accept things as they are. Rather, endeavor to change them within the framework of your available resources. The important point is that you do your best – and hope for a resolution.

There is nothing to forgive. People have different levels of growth and understanding, based on upbringing, religion and cultural values. Considering the widely differing personalities, conflicts are bound to happen. You cannot change anyone. Often it is your own expectation that is the cause of anger toward anyone. This serves no other purpose than to make you miserable and unhappy.

Before you attempt to judge another, examine your own actions and expectations. You have to co-exist and communicate with others, despite different levels of consciousness. Whenever involved in human entanglements, sit quietly, detach and try to sort out the conundrum. By understanding the human complexity you can rise above it.

At times there may be a strong reaction by one of the “combatants”. In that case it may be prudent to drop the issue, although in principle a solution is always possible. Attitude alone stands in the way. Communication is always better than reaction. Recognizing the other person’s limitations is a form of forgiveness.

Human communication seems to be one of the biggest challenges in the world throughout the ages. It does help if at least one person is aware. However, if the other person feels guilty it is your responsibility not to take advantage of the guilty consciousness. That is the moment of real communication – and real mutual forgiveness. There is no doubt that spiritual practices are the most effective method to deal with human interaction on all levels. 

Question: “Svamiji, I get confused when thinking about non-attachment. How can one love someone and not have attachment to that person, especially to one’s child?”

Svamiji: “The relationship of parent and child should be one of mutual fulfillment, and I do not say that this fulfillment should be denied. But it is possible that you are the best parent you can be, according to your understanding of that role and yet your child will not behave accordingly, thus denying you a sense of fulfillment. Do not allow this to make you unhappy or feel that somehow you have failed as a parent. Being unhappy you will react and this, in turn, will cause situations which are not beneficial, but harmful. If you know that starting this chain of reaction will lead to a more destructive attitude with further negative results, do not allow yourself to succumb to those negative forces.

Although attachment indicates a relationship of intimacy, a feeling of internal connection with the object of your attachment, it produces a kind of ownership and possessiveness. It becomes a source of constant desires. It limits your freedom of action and imprisons your consciousness. The result is self-alienation, frustration and finally sorrow. Love under the yoke of attachment becomes subject to manipulation by the ego which expects a return on its investment. If the ego feels that love and affection are not being returned in kind, it becomes hurt and angry. Eventually it will turn against the object of its attachment.

Many people interpret non-attachment as carelessness: I don’t care … I don’t bother … that is not non-attachment. In fact those who have been truly non-attached have been the most caring and loving. Non-attachment gives you complete freedom. Free from the dependence on anyone or anything, love finds full expression without condition or demand. Non-attachment is a way of living and enjoying life by not allowing yourself to submit to the obsessive and possessive forces which make you unhappy.”

Question: “Is it not desirable to be attached to someone and to want to be with this person again in another life?”

Svamiji: “It is possible that there may be a particular purpose for incarnating close to another person you have known before. For instance, both of you may need to continue certain work that you did not complete in your previous life. Or one person may be in need of teaching or being taught by the other. That would provide a definite purpose for continuing contact in another life.

But if incarnation takes place just for the sake of mere attachment, then you are bound to meet again and again. That is the normal process when people are attached to each other by love – or by hate. This cycle may often continue within family bonds, although there may be changes in relationship and gender. In this way you continue to love or to hate the same personalities for many lifetimes, never outgrowing your attachment.

To further your own evolvement and growth you need to develop non-attachment. Love and cherish the other person, but free of the confines of attachment.”

 

Pranayama- Healthy Breathing

Question: Svamiji, could you please explain to us the importance of Pranayama – breath control and give us some instructions for practice?

Svamiji: As most of you know, Pranayama is the control, regulation, and integration of prana, the energy source by which life is sustained. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘breath of life’. Pranayama is a Sanskrit term composed of two words, prāna, life force, or vital energy, and yāma, control. Therefore Pranayama becomes the energy source by which life is sustained. It is your own energy and that of your environment. As you inhale, you take in air and life energy. Exhaling, you expel the waste products of your body’s metabolism.

Most people go about their lives quite unaware of the importance of effective breathing. Often the breathing is shallow and rapid, providing insufficient ventilation of the lungs which can and does eventually result in disease.

Before considering any kind of special breathing exercises, it is necessary to correct any existing faulty techniques and truly learn to breathe. The air we breathe is designed to enter the human body via the nose. This organ is equipped with fine hairs to filter dirt and dust; it has the ability to moisten and warm the air; and of course it has the sense of smell which warns us of unhealthy, poisonous, or toxic substances. To breathe effectively, inhale through the nose, keep an upright posture, avoid highly polluted surroundings such as smoky rooms, and whenever you can during the day, and spend a few minutes breathing deeply, fully, and slowly, without straining. Implementation of these few simple instructions alone can bring you renewed energy and well-being as well as a strengthened immune system.

As part of a healthy routine it is recommended to practice pranayama for ½ hour daily or at least 10–15 minutes to benefit body, mind, thoughts and emotions.

It is a good idea to have your lung quality checked by your medical adviser. It is a simple and fairly accurate test of a few minutes – if the test indicates that your lung/breath capacity is low, this can be a sign of poor physical and mental health. This is the time to do pranayama.

Breathing patterns should be affecting all 7 energy centres or chakras of the human body. Whereas most people breathe superficially, when you do pranayama you learn to breathe deeply affecting all organs and chakras.

Question: How far can we benefit from meditation when practicing pranayama?

Svamiji: I would suggest the following form of pranayama meditation.

Breathe slowly in and out, concentrate on the breath and relax the entire system – the body, the mind and also the senses.

Feel light all around you, then light and energy inside you. Your body is your light house, your mind is filled with light energy - your senses are filled with light – every part of your body is being charged with light energy – all impurities are leaving you, you are becoming purified, free from disease and free from pain and suffering. Your entire being is filled with light-energy.

Do not try to control your mind, rather let mind wander and follow it instead. As you follow your mind you will find that mind is no longer interested in details but rather in substance.

Let mind feel and visualize all aspects within and without. You become the observer, witness, onlooker and do not get involved – just watch – your body, watch your senses watch your feelings, emotions, watch your duality - both the negative and the positive, bad and good, low and high - watch them all without getting involved. You are not your mind, you are not your senses, and you are not your physical aspects.

You are in control and you are in command – you are the Ultimate, the Whole and you are the Complete. These are all your manifestations – observe them and watch the play, the lila.

Watch and observe, feel and enjoy the beautiful aspects of the cosmos and nature’s manifestation without and within repeating the sacred sound Om –SoHam. 

 

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