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Savitri- Light of Inspiration
What is Savitri?
Savitri is a Sanskrit word meaning stimulator or rouser and is often associated with inspiration; it also has been used to refer to as the light of the Sun, the literal and spiritual Sun. This light has the power to inspire us on many levels of our being. Savitri, in fact, is not different from who we truly are...rather it is a symbol of the great power that exists within all beings, providing inspiration to strive higher to find the Truth- in our lives and of our existence.
Inspired Messages
From time to time, Adhyatmik Foundation will post on www.adfoundation.org writing and other materials from friends of Adhyatmik Foundation who are inspired by Dr Svami Purna's Teachings and life.
- Circles: a Poetic Contemplation- poem
- Eenie Meenie Beenie Bo- rhymes for children
- The Eternal Path- poem
- India's Cuisine- balanced flavours provide nutrition for the Body, Mind and Spirit
- Sitting in the Presence- tips for increasing connection with the Guru
- Interview with Dr Svami Purna- part of the Dialogue with the Masters Series
Circles: A Poetic Contemplation
I was contemplating how or why we follow certain steps in life
And I came to other thoughts - several relevant and others far removed -
And most of my thoughts involved circles or cycles
And through them I let go of all ideas of belonging to or being part of either
So circles of belief, philosophy, culture, profession and cycles of wealth, health, age and discrimination were released
If I am truly whole and I reflect the Universe, nature, wisdom and balance, why do I need circles, cycles, categories or classes
I cannot differentiate between the individual and the Universal Soul
I cannot draw apart
Life is complete and is given for that fulfilment
With the wonder of evolution and growth
What ought to be is
It is the eternal
Dr Linda S Spedding
inspired by the teachings of Sri Svamiji
Eenie Meenie Beenie Bo
Introduction from Eenie Meenie Beenie Bo, a book of rhymes for children by Dr Linda S Spedding. You will find the book available for purchase on the Publications page. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Adhyatmik Foundation.
"We are all aware of the significance of our formative years and its influence on our lives, whether positive or negative. While they often remain as memories, they do remain.
The response of the child to rhymes has also continued and persisted through the generations and through the ages. Yet many of these ryhmes- though regularly sung or recited to jolly rhythms- contain unfortunate lyrics in my experience. Having sung many during my own childhood, as a mother I therefore began to seek within for fresh words and messages that could be catchy enough not only to have one of pleasure but also to provide positive daily tools for our young ones. After all, our thoughts are so powerful they can have a ripple effect. My hope is that Eenie Meenie Beenie Bo rhymes will have just that effect and that the audience will enjoy them as much when reading or reciting them as I have had in creating them. So let us all glow and grow with Eenie Meenie Beenie Bo."
by Dr Linda Spedding
The Eternal Path
How to enjoy the play that is today
How to let go and grow
How to abstain from the thought of pain
How to ban all ideas on a set plan
How to move on toward the One
That is the joy of the Path
by Dr L S Spedding
India's Cuisine
Since food and nutrition – together - form one of the most important aspects of life, it is intended to develop a series of short pieces to explain the role of Indian cuisine and the Vedic tradition. In India even those with few resources were taught and inspired to prepare the most delicious food with locally available ingredients in recipes that have been handed down over generations. Indeed traditionally – and often even now – the guest was greeted with the offering of food and a special dish. The arrival of a guest was considered auspicious: they were treated like a god and nourished with the best available cuisine. Moreover many Indians that have travelled elsewhere – outside India - look first for food from India –and prefer the fragrant home cooking.
India is the only country in the world in which the cuisine has been predominantly vegetarian. Thousands of years ago the whole population was vegetarian in accordance with the Vedic philosophy of not killing and the respect for wildlife and the environment – known as ahimsa. Indeed the principle of sanctity of life – and quality of life – was clearly ingrained in Hindu philosophy and religion. Coupled with this, there was no need to kill because food – including fruit, vegetable and grain crops – was abundant. The main spiritual texts – the Vedas “spoke of a time when cows were continuously with milk and plants produced constant harvests, without respect to the seasons we now experience. ‘Land of milk and honey’ symbolises the love and wealth of Mother Nature”. (The Truth Will Set You Free by Svami Purna ). Indeed this was demonstrated by the conditions of Mithila, an ancient and fertile land in North East India, covering an expanse of over 25,000 square miles and now spanning various different states and countries including Bengal, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh, as well as Nepal . At that time, Mithila’s twenty million inhabitants were well provided for through the fertile soil which yielded three or four harvests each year with crops that included mango, indigo, lychee, lentil, maize, cotton, sugar cane, coconut, banana, rice wheat and bamboo. Due to this effusion of nature’s bounty the place was called “Madhubani” – forest of honey.
There was a traditional understanding of the waves of vibration that ebb and flow in cycles throughout all forms of nature in three designations: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is the pure quality, full of light: its brightness manifests bliss, harmony and pure consciousness. Rajas could be called ego: rajasic qualities are stimulating, active, chaotic and hot. Tamas is the signature of darkness, density, decay, corruption and greed. When applied to cuisine these lead to general tendencies:
- Sattvic food is pure, health-giving and soothing;
- Rajasic food is salty, acidic, hot, dry, spicy and stimulating; and
- Tamasic food is impure, rotten, stale, leftover and with preservatives.
With these qualities in mind dishes, recipes and food choices can be categorised in a manner that can enable spiritual, mental and physical health and wellbeing.
India’s cuisine is often considered to be the most universally acclaimed food because of its delicious variety and balanced flavours, many of which were learned by practice and word of mouth rather than by theory and in writing. The range of ingredients was developed to stimulate a healthy appetite and promote good health. The regional variation and the impact of other peoples over the centuries (which will be discussed another time) demonstrate how India’s food reflects the heritage of the people, embracing historical developments, religions and spiritual beliefs and cultural practices.
By Dr Linda Spedding under the guidance of HH Prof Dr Svami Purna
Sitting in the Presence
While at the outset, it may look to the casual observer that the Teacher (Sadguru) is an ordinary human being, He is not. If we relate to the Sadguru as an ordinary human being, this way of relating and perceiving caps our ability to be uplifted by the profound unlimited power of Grace that moves through this Being.
Initially, many people in the West come to the Guru with quite a number of concepts and ideas about who and what the Guru is, and what He can or cannot do for the seeker.
Ideally, it’s helpful to begin with the understanding that the Guru is a principle. In teachings of Kashmir Shaivism (the non-dual Tantras), the Guru is said to be the Grace-bestowing power of God. The Self, the Sadguru, and God are all one in the same.
These ideas can be confusing for a Western mind birthed in the milieu of a Western psychological context where one is encouraged to develop a strong healthy independent ego structure. The mind hears these teachings about the Guru and fears loss of control, is concerned about giving away one’s hard-won power and individuality, and worries about being misled.
While these concerns are all valid in a world where many claim to be gurus, they’re worth truly investigating when one has connected with a True Teacher.
Many times people initially approach the Guru as they would an ideal parent, one who can make up for all that the seeker feels he didn’t get from his own parents, or isn’t able to do for himself in his own life circumstances. This parent/child orientation is a normal phase to move through in the relationship. Ideally this is noticed and matured through as quickly as possible to get onto the real business of Awakening to Truth within.
The Guru in human form, by virtue of His identity being fully merged with the Absolute, generates vast amounts of spiritual energy (Shakti). These strong fields of energy can be quite intense for the seeker, and test the seeker’s powers of concentration, focus, and attention. There is an inner musculature that must be built through consistent practice in order to remain awake, alert, and present in the company of the Guru.
If you find yourself feeling sleepy, agitated, distracted, or uncomfortable, it’s very likely that strong inner purification is underway, and you would benefit from self-support. A simple practice is to focus on deepening your breath. In the presence of deep states of consciousness, it’s easy for the breath to become shallow, and thus the body gets less oxygen, and begins to fall asleep. The simple remedy is to increase the oxygen flow and watch your alertness return. This easy tool is also a great support in meditation sessions when you find yourself getting sleepy or passing out. Just deepen your breath, which will bring fresh strong lifeforce (Prana) into your physical and subtle body and return you to wakefulness.
If you find your mind pulled and distracted by all sorts of thoughts, in addition to deepening your breathing, you might also adjust and realign your posture in a way that lets your spine elongate and your body be supple. From there, if you’re still distracted, bring your Awareness to the center of your chest, to the Heart center. You might even place one of your hands over this area. Have the feeling that you are breathing into the Heart with each inhalation, and breathing out thoughts and bodily tension with each exhalation. Within a short time of these practices, you’ll feel refreshed and alert once again. Don’t worry if you find the need to re-engage with these practices many times over the course of a satsang, course, or retreat. You’re worth it. The profound force of the Awakening Shakti of the Guru’s Grace will consistently bring you towards your edges, to the places where the ego perpetuates your experience of being separate from Truth, separate from Love. At times this separation appears subtle, and at other times can feel like deep suffering. These simple practices can help soften the grip of the ego, and the more you engage with the tools, the more prowess you’ll experience in utilizing them to uplift yourself.
Svamiji has said that 90% is up to you, 10% is up to Grace. Self-Effort draws Grace, and Grace inspires deeper Self-Effort.
In the heightened environment of the Guru’s physical presence, there is usually a strong magnification happening. You can experience a magnifying of enjoyable states of bliss and expansion as well as a magnifying of ego tendencies that no longer serve you. This magnification of ego tendencies is actually a form of Grace, to help you see your own limitations and encourage you to drop them.
There’s a great teaching story in the Indian tradition. Once upon a time, a seeker was out walking in the countryside. Along the way he came across a High Being perched in a tree. As he approached the High Being, each of the hairs on his body stood at attention, his skin flooded with goosebumps.
‘Surely I am in the presence of Grace,’ he thought, and with all the humility he could muster, asked the High Being, “Sir, please show me how to get my ego to let go of me.”
“I will happily answer your question,” said the High Being with a great smile, “but first you must help me get this tree to let me go.”
“Just let go,” said the seeker, “the tree is not holding onto you, you’re holding onto the tree.”
“Exactly,” said the High Being, “Your ego is not holding onto you, you’re holding onto your ego. Just let it go.”
This letting go is rarely overnight. It’s a process, and this process is called sadhana, and sadhana requires right-effort. Learning what that right-effort is, and how and when to apply it is part of the process of waking up itself. The more you engage with the practices, the more the practices teach you and refine your ability to engage with the practices.
It’s also highly beneficial to work with how you prepare to come into the Presence of the Guru. If you want to see your True Face clearly, it’s priceless to polish the mirror of the senses to be clear reflectors of this Truth. Getting up a little early to meditate, contemplate, chant, repeat the Mantra, do some hatha yoga, or pranayama, are all ways of cleansing and heightening the perceptive ability of the senses and mind for the day.
Some practical matters would be making sure to get enough water. The body is an electrical system, and in a retreat situation, there’s a great deal more energy moving through the nervous system and subtle system the one may be used to. Keeping hydrated will support the body to accommodate the increased energy. Additionally, choosing foods that are high in nutrients, but easy to digest is incredibly helpful. Living foods tend to be the most supportive.
Applying all of these suggestions in the weeks and months prior to being with Svamiji (and eventually as a way of life) make it easier to work with them in the retreat situation.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2011 Scott Patrick Schwenk for Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc.
Interview with Dr Svami Purna
In March 2006, Jane Attwood interviewed Dr Svami Purna for her Dialogues with the Masters Interview Series where she asked questions about SatChitAnanda, How Can I Achieve Inner Peace, Free Will vs Destiny, Solutions for Chronic Illness among other topics. You may listen to the interview online on Janet's website. The audio is available for download. Below is the full transcription of the interview.
Janet Attwood: Good morning, everyone. Actually, it’s evening for Svami Purna, who is in Delhi, India, and I am in Bangalore, India. Welcome to the Dialogues with the Masters Series, I’m the cover editor for Healthy Wealthy nWise magazine, and author of The Passion Test—The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Destiny.
As many of you know, over the past two years I’ve spent more than 12 months in India and Nepal, and I’ve had the good fortune to meet more than 60 masters revered for their wisdom and enlightenment. Every one of these masters was extraordinary, and I was deeply moved by the master who is our guest today.
I first met His Holiness, Sri Svami R. Anand Giri Purna, Acarya Mahamandalesvara, as Svami Purna in London on my way to India in July 2005. I flew from Amsterdam to London and Svami G. was amazing to see me during my five-hour layover before returning to Amsterdam. Actually, my great friend, Martin, whom I had been staying with in Nepal, had told me that I had to meet Svami Purna, so I was very intent on getting an interview.
Svami Purna was very gracious to open his doors to me. I was so deeply impressed by the quality of him, and I can honestly say that my first meeting with Svami Purna—and I don’t know if you knew this, Svami G.—I felt like I was sitting with a great, old friend; a great master and a great friend.
Dr. Svami Purna was born into an Indian family of philosophers and rulers. Educated in India and Europe, he later renounced material wealth, position and possession, and began a spiritual life of austerity and hardship among the caves, forests and mountains of the Himalayas. He is a Sanskrit master and a doctor of medicine, psychology, philosophy and literature.
Dr. Svami Purna’s mastery of the six schools of Indian philosophy, and the eightfold path of yoga has earned him the title Vidya Vacaspati, Lord of Learning. That’s so beautiful. His unique courses and seminars on yoga and philosophy have been accredited in the universities of Europe, the USA and other parts of the world.
He has advised and guided prime ministers, presidents, leaders and diplomats all over the world. We’re not talking about the past, we’re talking about right now, that is still going on. It has been said of Svami Purna that while there are many gurus who have found fame and success in the West, he is one of the very few who are also greatly revered in India.
Dr Svami Purna has also trained in the law. In the 1960s, he used this training to remedy injustice as a pioneer to enable access to justice for the poor and the needy of India, especially in Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. He memorized the entire constitution of India for this purpose, with the assistance of his spiritual discipline that is a largely an oral tradition requiring extensive memory concentration. Svami G., thank you so much for joining us today.
Svami Purna: Thank you.
Janet Attwood: As we’ve told you, our readers have submitted questions for our interview, and with your permission, I’ll pose these questions to you now. Is that okay?
Svami Purna: Yes, of course.
Janet Attwood: “Will you speak to us about the meaning of the Sanskrit words ‘Sat-Chit-Ananda’ and living a fulfilled life?”
Svami Purna: Yes. Actually, this mantra, called a seed mantra, is a beautiful Vedanta Vedic mantra which is the very root word for Sanskrit. The literal meaning [of Sat] is truth and Chit is heart consciousness. Ananda, of course, is happiness, and ultimately the bliss. So Sat represents physical body, the reality that truth has many different forms and understanding that the possibilities of the physical body which is our vehicle to take to our destination.
Then Chit represents the heart consciousness, meaning body, emotional mind, emotional body, subtle body. And Ananda is supreme happiness and bliss, which represents the soul and an ultimate reality of ours. Of course, when we follow three aspects of oneself, it is integrated aspects, and these three aspects bring fulfillment. When we follow the law of life, the life is automatically fulfilled.
Of course, how to go about it is a detailed understanding of each—one can go on giving the extensive explanation. But when we follow that though, and the law of life to balance the body and the mind and the self, that fulfillment will come out of that contentment. Contentment comes out of being satisfied with yourself. When you are satisfied with yourself, that gives you contentment and that contentment will bring fulfillment. So it is like a step-by-step, achieving Sat-Chit-Ananda.
Janet Attwood: When you say “when you’re satisfied with yourself,” what do you mean by that?
Svami Purna: When you are engaged in activities—work or whatever brings understanding and interaction with the world, with yourself and with people around you, whether they are relatives, friends or anybody else in the world—and when you know that your interaction is balanced, and when you are satisfied that this interaction is bringing balance between you and others.
Of course, so many different levels of interaction can take place, and that is [indiscernible] to yourself that whatever you are doing, whether you are interacting with people, following the spiritual principles, doing yoga or following the path of knowledge, or bringing other aspects of life into the line, so that complete harmony takes place in your life.
Physically, when you are sure what you are doing will bring positivity, that will bring the result of happiness, and that of course, will ultimately bring fulfillment. It’s living every day life, every minute, every second.
Janet Attwood: That leads me to the next question. “How can I achieve inner peace?”
Svami Purna: You do not achieve inner peace, it is built within you. That is your source. You are peace, you are bliss. What you have to do is open the door—you have to remind yourself that you are peace, you are bliss. It is not separate from you. It’s a reminding; it’s like opening the door to find out the [world] within.
So when we forget that we are what we are, then there is distress and anti-peace elements. But when you are aware of your peace, then of course you’re living with the peace and you’re living the peace. That peace that is [indiscernible] has to be opened, because you have that right within [indiscernible], which needs to be tapped.
Janet Attwood: You said you have to remind yourself of who you are. Can you talk more about that?
Svami Purna: When we say the [indiscernible] spoken with Sat-Chit-Ananda, when we are Sat-Chit-Ananda, and we are not just body, we are not just mind, not [indiscernible]—we are all together. We are manifestation. “That’s not me, all of my emotions are part of my manifestation.” When we remember the wholeness of us, then automatically, you are connected with the peace.
Janet Attwood: How would you tell someone to remember, on a regular basis, who they are? I keep feeling like I’m separate from the world, separate from myself or separate from others, and I feel this deep separation.
Svami Purna: That brings contemplation. You contemplate, you reflect, you review. You look into your own self, your understanding, your achievement, your study, your understanding of life, your understanding of others, your interaction, how you have dealt with people in the past, how you should deal with them. What have you received so far from the people—interacting with them?
What is the best thing you can get from others in the sense of learning and living, not just learning and leading, but living within, living, implementing? All these things are involved. It’s an everyday process, it’s not separate from us, it is part of us. Somehow you have to click that, and then you are there!
Janet Attwood: I love that you said you don’t achieve peace, you are peace, you are bliss. Why do we forget who we are?
Svami Purna: Again, this is what we call, in Vedanta, the illusion, the maya. That is our task. You are thrown into the world of maya, a world of illusion, a world of contradiction and conflict, and it’s like a big, cosmic game we are playing. And how well we play the game—that is a question. Adversity has been created for us so that we really remember who we are, what we are.
So that is a big game, big illusion, big maya. We have to find out ourselves, otherwise what would be the challenge? It would be so easy. It would not be any challenge. The whole idea is to find out, and that is the very nature of the maya, or of the world, to bring all of these contradictions and conflicts so you emerge yourself as a supreme human being, or the being of the great quality, or the [optimal] self.
Janet Attwood: “Could you explain destiny and free will, and how much control do we have over our circumstances?”
Svami Purna: This is very puzzling and complex for many people. I have often been asked this question. Of course, free will is your destiny, and all what you have done in the past is your destiny. And all what you will do now is your own free will that will be your destiny. But it seems that you are not in control of your own destiny, and rightly so, because you have created the past.
What you have created in the past, it has become a destiny for you today. That destiny, somehow, you seem unable to change. It seems that everything is already planned for you. Everything is planned, and we just seem to fit into this great plan. Sometimes, we feel that we are helpless, but we are not. After all, we all have created ourselves.
But in spite of all that, you have a great deal of your own free will. You are in charge, you are in control in a way. I’ll give you one example. I live in a house of 5,000 square feet. Outside my house, I am not able to change anything because of planning permission, I can’t do anything outside. We have to follow the rules of the planning department.
Yet, inside the house, I have done so many changes to suit my own comfort, requirements and convenience. I have done a great deal of changing, and that is my free will. Although it seems you are not in control entirely, still you have been given a great deal of freedom within that framework and you must exercise that in balance in the way that it will create your destiny again.
In a way, you have complete free will, yet you have created destiny, not by God or some other entity; by your own self. You have created your own understanding, your own destiny, and that is your free will.
Janet Attwood: Thank you so much, that was so clear. “Are we each here for a special purpose? How does one determine his or her purpose in this life?”
Svami Purna: Yes, we are each here for a special purpose, definitely, but each person, of course, is unique and each person can [indiscernible] individually and independently. The point is that we do not go around looking for a purpose. So many people go around the world, looking for a purpose, and in that search, they will go to a scholar, their svamis, healers, psychic—anyone who can give you the purpose.
Of course, they all can help and explain to a certain extent, but the true purpose, they are not able to tell you. The true purpose, the purpose of your own developmental role, will come to you; you only have to prepare for that role, that purpose. It will come to you. When you prepare and when you are ready for that great purpose, it will come to you.
When it comes to you, accept it, fit into the plan, fit into the purpose. Do not muddle up your wants and your desires and your needs. That time, you have to be clear because understanding that purpose is very clear and that’s a very special purpose. Each one does know when the time comes. Until then, one has to prepare it.
Janet Attwood: When you say “prepare for that role,” what do you mean by that? In what way?
Svami Purna: When I say prepare, many times things happen to us, and nice things happen to us, but we are not prepared. We do not have open eyes, we do not understand, we miss the opportunity, because our mind is not focused on that. The purpose may not be what you want, or what one wants, because one wants according to one’s own immediate need, desire and wants.
Immediate needs and desires are not necessarily the long-term plan. It is to be alert and aware and when the time comes, the purpose will be there, and how to recognize, accept and go about that.
Janet Attwood: In the meantime, until each person realizes their special purpose, wouldn’t you agree that part of preparing for that role is following your bliss? That’s a good way to prepare, would you not agree—following what feels like it brings inner peace and happiness?
Svami Purna: Yes, of course that follows the [indiscernible] we discussed. When you follow, does that mean that you wait for a great purpose and do nothing? Of course not; you follow your purpose. Your purpose is a [greater] purpose—the law of life. And the law of life is to enjoy the life every minute, every day, every week, every month. To live with the life, to understand the life, to just be there, understand and enjoy every minute.
Janet Attwood: Wouldn’t you say that’s a path in itself? In our book, we talk about how in order for a person to really live a life that is filled with fullness or passion, to choose and savor every day, what brings that happiness. We’re talking about real, true happiness. Then in every moment, there’s a choice, would you agree? And that’s part of the path you’re talking about that prepares you for that role in living your special purpose on the planet.
Svami Purna: Yes, of course. It’s everyday living. It’s not like you’re living in the past or future; living right there, present, every day, every minute, right this minute. That has become what we call in Sanskrit “sadhana [chathushtaya].” Whatever you do, it automatically becomes part of your exercise to grow, develop and tune yourself to the higher purpose, which is emerging every day.
Janet Attwood: Thank you. This one was asked by many people. “Fear can be very powerful. What is the most powerful technique or exercise for acknowledging our fears within our conditioned mind, letting it go, and acting, in spite of it, with courage, any time it shows up?”
Svami Purna: Actually, the fear is a symptom of greater strength within you. That strength, we do not understand. Do not allow the fear and insecurity to come together, because they will destroy the individual, the human being. Remember that we are all Sat-Chit-Ananda, and being Sat-Chit-Ananda, one cannot be harmed or damaged.
Remind [yourself] that you are the most powerful being on Earth, you are not weak nor vulnerable. So use the power of fear to your own advantage. Why do we fear? Whom do we fear? What is fear? The fear to die? Fear to lose? Fear of suffering, fear to love? All these main fears, which we all have, why do we have those fears? What do we do about that?
We know what we love. It’s [right] to know what is death, what is pain—and knowing them, understanding the pain, the death, life, the love—we become friends. Once we become a friend of what we fear, there is no longer fear, and fear will transform into strength and courage.
You can be a lone lion in the field, forest, mountain or jungle and sit without any fear, very relaxed and fear no one. That is to confront the fear, face the fear, and to know the fear and turn the fear into advantage for our own understanding and growth and happiness. That is the answer.
Janet Attwood: We have a beautiful saying in the United States, and I think you might have heard it because you’ve traveled so much: “Do the thing you fear the most and the death of it is certain.”
Svami Purna: Yes. That’s right.
Janet Attwood: So just go for it.
Svami Purna: Yes, it’s like when you go to the forest, you pick mushrooms and berries and don’t bring the poison home. It’s having the right discrimination. People wait for a favorable time and it never comes, so what do you do—so many beautiful things are happening around you. Why not pick what is right, what is good for you, what is for your growth and balance? By the right discrimination and the right selection, bring the fruit home.
Janet Attwood: I love that, because otherwise, there’s no life. There’s really no mistake, it’s just an experience.
Svami Purna: Right, it’s a process. We go through the process of life. We always judge everything right and wrong, dark and light, low and high, day and night—and these are the terms created for many in conversation, but I don’t think these stand in a spiritual mind. There is no right and wrong; it’s all going through a process.
What do we find out through the process? What if right can become wrong, wrong can become right? Right and wrong is an individual thing, it’s not a collective. Every time we try to put collective right and wrong, then you will create chaos in the world like what we are seeing today.
We are seeing, in the Middle East and in many countries, even in the United States, that collective people try to put wrong and right, and that becomes a collective right and wrong, and then truth suffers. So the right and wrong is a very individual thing. It cannot be collective.
There can be guidelines, of course, guidelines around the world, that’s all. But guidelines cannot be imposed, they cannot be enforced. If they are enforced, then truth is no longer there, truth is hanged on the cross.
Janet Attwood: There’s so much to this. I mean, where does true character come from? I was just reading something the other night in a spiritual book, when I was in the Himalayas. When are we growing the most? Is it when everything’s going great, or when we’re faced with a huge challenge in our life?
Svami Purna: Of course, it’s the experience of every day, every week, every month, every year. Why not enjoy every moment of the life? Why wait for some future happiness? Why not be now with the happiness, why not experience life now? There are so many beautiful aspects of ourselves which we are missing and it’s a great pity that many people suffer and have pain—sometimes rightly so, but still, the pain, one can manage.
That’s why I introduced the pain management system and suffering management, like life management or health management. I call it “How to Manage Your Life” so that pain and suffering can be reduced, and you can pick the best out of this world and not wait for the favorable situation outside the world, because the world will never change. The world will continue as it is—sometimes low, sometimes high—but that is the nature of the world.
That doesn’t mean that I’m trying to paint a pessimistic picture of the world. I’m just explaining that in spite of all this contradiction and conflict, there are beautiful things to choose and select, and every reason to be happy and celebrate life.
Janet Attwood: I want to go off the question because you said something I’d like you to share a little bit more of. You do a course called pain management system?
Svami Purna: Yes. We have developed so many different systems, like whatever problems people face today, say health management, so we have [courses] for health management. You must remember a hotel called Greenbrier in West Virginia? That hotel is supposed to be one of the oldest hotels in America. It belongs to an old company and used to be the hideout of the President of America and the Congress at the time of nuclear war.
Of course, the communists were dismantled and then they reported the secret of that place and now it has become a museum. I was there to assist and I was invited by Ted Kleisner, who is the president of that hotel. They have 10,000 acres of land. It’s a beautiful setting and I did give health management system courses there.
I introduced walking meditation that was a five-mile walk, where you have a beautiful experience of going through meditation exercise, mantra, contemplation, reflection and so on in the beautiful mountains and forests of West Virginia. Of course, there were many other life management [courses], fear management, how to overcome fear and insecurity, and so many other courses are available. I have tried to help people individually as well as groups.
Of course, I don’t use much media because one year in the 1960s, I was quite the everyday talk of the media and I decided that the mass media is not for me. I started selecting people all over the world to disseminate the knowledge to the right people. But of course, you are very special, so I’m talking to you! But normally I discourage the media because they distort everything I say.
Janet Attwood: We promise we’ll keep this really pure, Svami Purna, because we’re so honored that you’re with us. I’m so thankful. Are you going to be teaching anymore of these courses in West Virginia?
Svami Purna: Yes, perhaps this year. They’ll let me know when they are arranging it. I will let you know when it happens.
Janet Attwood: You’ll have the information on your website?
Svami Purna: Also, at the Ananda Hotel In the Himalayas, I have given many courses. You have been there already.
Janet Attwood: That’s rated the number-one, best spa in the world now. It’s in Rishikesh up in the mountains.
Svami Purna: Yes, I’ve helped them a great deal, as you know. They were not making money in the beginning and then I helped them, so now they are quite happy—the people who own the hotel. He’s a nice man, very pleasant man who always likes my company.
Janet Attwood: Well, they’re smart people then. I like them all the better. Svami Purna, I’m going on to a couple of other questions and then I’ll ask Chris to summarize. I want to make sure we have time to share your website so our listeners can go there and learn more about you, hear your wondrous knowledge and take some of your great courses. We really want to support all the good you’re doing for the world.
The next question is: “Why do I struggle constantly with not having enough money? I have tried just about everything I have been offered, yet I still struggle.”
Svami Purna: Of course, money is what we call in India “Lakshmi.” Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth. There is a saying in India that Lakshmi will come and go. The only place she belongs is the place of Narayan, who is her consort, her lord, and she belongs only to Narayan, otherwise she comes and goes. Only the false reality, which is representing power or [indiscernible] and we all need money.
I’ll give you one example. When I was working in the Himalayas, and all over the world for that matter—many times naked without anything at all, just my body—that time, I lived in that meditation. Today, I travel all over the world, living in palaces, castles and five-star hotels where people put me, but I couldn’t say that my state of mind is better now than then, when I was in a Himalayan cave.
The question is how do you make your mind, train your mind and talk to your mind and say, “Look, why don’t you enjoy what you have?” Leave it open for futures so that Lakshmi, money or power can come, but why not enjoy what you have already? It reminds me of the great mystic, whom I like very much, Kabir. He said, “Stretch your leg as far as your shawl (or blanket) will allow you.”
He’s saying that you should understand your limit. Of course, there’s no end of desires and need. We can go on creating desires and needs. I gave you that example that happiness does not depend on the money and all those things, it depends on your state of mind, but money is the real thing. We cannot move without money. I can’t travel without money, or for that matter, nothing can be done without money.
The first thing is to enjoy whatever one has and the second thing is to leave that channel open for money to flow. Money will come and money will go—that’s the nature of the money, to come and go! Sometimes I get a brand new note of $100 or 100 Euros or 1,000 Euros. In Euros, they have 1,000; 5,000 and 10,000. In India, we have 1,000 rupees note.
With a brand new note, sometimes I think I’d like to keep it because it’s so brand new and looks so nice. Unfortunately, I cannot; I have to pass it on to somebody else! [Laughs] So that is the nature of the money—money will come and go! Don’t get stuck with money consciousness. That will get you nowhere.
Janet Attwood: You said something very important, which was to enjoy, be open, love what you have and leave that channel open. Does that channel get opened because you are loving what you have and allowing life to flow, therefore the energy is flowing? Is that what you’re saying?
Svami Purna: That’s right. This is a major thing, it will follow a flow, the energy will come.
Janet Attwood: The struggling is what actually obstructs the flow.
Svami Purna: That’s right, so remove the struggle of your life. Don’t struggle; celebrate! Come to India and see the man on the street. He is making chapati roti and he is so happy if he gets a roti!
Janet Attwood: That is really true. We were walking down in Rishikesh the other day with my girlfriend, Diane, and she said, “Can you believe it? These little rickshaw drivers are happier than most of the people we know.”
Svami Purna: That’s right!
Janet Attwood: Yes! It’s really true. I love what you said to love what you have. It was so big because the first way of staying open—and Chris and I talk about it in one of our books—is to love what you have, which means appreciating exactly what you’ve been given and look for the good. It’s like the cup half empty or half full—where do you want to live?
Svami Purna: That’s right. When I’m in Pennsylvania and sometime I’m taken to the Wal-Mart, and of course I don’t like to go to any story, but sometimes I sit in the car and watch all these people coming out of Wal-Mart, having so many things and are looking so miserable and unhappy. Then I wonder what the money brings to them? [Laughs]
But the man in the street is making chapati or roti or bread and he’s singing and is so happy and he eats chapati and roti and dhal. He’s singing the song and he can sleep on the land, right on the earth. He goes to sleep so fast and gets up in the morning so fresh and so happy.
Janet Attwood: Yes, it’s really true. I can attest to that. It’s just amazing. The next question is: “How can one overcome chronic illness?”
Svami Purna: This is very difficult for the person who has a chronic illness. If one has accepted the chronic illness as part of your life and living, the important thing is not to dwell. Many times, people keep on talking about their illnesses and disease, on and on and on. It’s like promoting the pain and suffering by talking.
The first attitude should be acceptance and once you accept, then you don’t dwell on it. Don’t remind yourself all the time that you have a chronic disease. Of course you have, and that’s part of your life. To make life more balanced, to live physically as well as mentally and spiritually, balance emotions. By having a balanced life, the effect of the chronic illness can be drastically reduced. In many cases, I helped a lot of people.
Suppose you have back pain—it can be reduced drastically—or any other problem. I can assure you that it can be reduced. Pain and suffering can be reduced by the right attitude, the right mind and right practice. Of course, one has to learn, find out and then you can reduce this a great deal, so it can be more manageable.
Janet Attwood: You were talking earlier about one of the courses you give called pain management systems, so that would be really good for whomever sent in that question. We’ll be sharing Svami Purna’s website information so you can find out more about this program, which I’m sure would be wonderful.
The last question is: There is so much going on around the world. We’re all aware of terrorism, the environment. Everywhere you look, something is getting blown up. The weather, nature, is just rocking and rolling these days. What could you say that, during these difficult times, could keep us all passionate and inspired?
Svami Purna: It is very important to remember that we are not miserable. We are Sat-Chit-Ananda, we are a very wholesome person and we have forgotten ourselves, who we are. To remember and bring awareness around that, not everything is lost and miserable, we are very powerful, we are very inspired individuals.
To remember, to remind, because everything has been said, reminding oneself who we are, that we are not little creatures just to live in misery, pain and suffering—no, we are not. We are absolutely a great, happy person, a blissful person—Sat-Chit-Ananda, a blissful, complete, whole, absolutely. It’s the ultimate reality. That’s what our source is. Remembering that, having awareness of that, that will give us inspiration and also help others not to forget that.
Janet Attwood: I love how we went full circle. We started with Sat-Chit-Ananda.
Svami Purna: I go around the world and I witness all sorts of conflict, pain and suffering. Many times, I think, “Why do people suffer?” I would say that 95% of suffering is self-inflicted and 5% maybe other factors. The human beings create suffering for each other and for themselves, and it all can be removed.
I don’t have any problems, pain or suffering—absolutely none—and I tell people, “Look at me! I don’t have any problems, anything at all. I am happy, why can’t you also be happy like me?” I say that and I am sincere about that. I’m not just making a statement. If I am very happy, why can’t people be happy?
Janet Attwood: I wish everyone could see you, Svami Purna, because I remember how shocked I was to see how young you look. I’m really sincere about this, because I know that you were at Stanford, invited by Governor Jerry Brown, many, many years ago. You looked in your 40s when I saw you and I know you’re not anywhere close to that. I hope everyone will get an opportunity to be able to not just listen to you, but have the opportunity to sit and be with you and truly “be” with you, Svami Purna.
I want to share your website with everyone. www.AdhyatmikFoundation.org [UPDATE: www.adfoundtion.org]. Visit his site if you want to learn more about Svami Purna and the wonderful courses he offers around the world. Svami Purna, thank you so much for being with us. It’s always an honor and I look forward to being with you again.
Svami Purna: There’s also www.SvamiPurna.org. Thank you.
Janet Attwood: Svami Purna, thank you so much. It’s always an honor. Chris, would you like to summarize? Then I want to share who we have for our upcoming calls.
Chris Attwood: I’ll do my best. First, Svami G. talked about the Sanskrit words Sat-Chit-Ananda. He said that this is a seed mantra of the ancient Vedic tradition of India, Vedanta. He said that Sat is truth, Chit is that heart consciousness and Ananda is supreme happiness or bliss. Sat represents the physical body; Chit the heart consciousness, mind and emotional body, the subtle body; Ananda is that supreme happiness. These three aspects, integrated, bring fulfillment. We follow this law of life and life is automatically fulfilled.
This law of life, balancing the body, mind and self—fulfillment comes out of that. Contentment, which comes of being satisfied with oneself, that contentment brings fulfillment. Janet asked, “What do you mean by ‘satisfied with the self’?” Svami G. said that when you’re involved in work, interaction with the world and people around you, and when you know that interaction is balanced, then there’s a deep satisfaction, a contentment, that arises. When you’re sure that what you are doing is bringing balance, then that brings fulfillment.
Then talking about inner peace. Svami G. said that we don’t achieve inner peace. Inner peace is your source, you are peace, you are bliss. You just remind yourself that this is your reality, this is truly what you are. It’s like opening the door. When we forget who we are, then there’s distress, suffering and unhappiness. When you’re aware of the peace that is you, then you live in peace. It’s just a matter of opening this peace reservoir. You have a deep reservoir of peace within you and that has to be tapped.
Janet asked, “What do you mean ‘to remind yourself what you are’?” and he said when we are aware of being Sat-Chit-Ananda, we’re not the emotions, the body. These are not me; these are part of my manifestations, the things which have been expressed through or by me, these are the things I’ve created. Then what remains is our own true nature.
The way we do this is to reflect, review and contemplate. Go back and review your understanding and interactions, how you’ve dealt with people, what you’ve received from people, what is the best you can gain from others in learning, living and implementing? All these things are involved. It’s a process, it’s not separate from us. You just have to click into that and then there you are.
Janet asked, “Why do we forget who we are?” and in Vedanta, Svami G. said that we get lost in maya, this world of illusion, and the reality is that it’s a big, cosmic game. It’s a lot of adversity created for us to help us remember who we are, so the process of playing this game is finding out who our own self it.
Otherwise it would be so easy, without challenge, because we ultimately can accomplish or be anything, but we have this adversity to remind us who we are. The purpose of bringing all the contradictions and conflicts is so you emerge and know yourself as this great being, atman, the self.
Talking about destiny and free will, Svami G. said that this is complex and puzzling for many people. He said that free will is your destiny. All you’ve done in the past is your destiny; all you do now, that will be your destiny in the future, yet it appears you’re not in control because you’ve created in the past.
He gave the example of having a 5,000 square-foot house and outside my house, I can’t change anything because of the planning department rules. Yet inside the house, I can make so many changes. I can do them to suit my own comfort, requirements and convenience. I’ve done a lot of changing within that, and that is my free will.
We’re not in control of the entirety, but we still have great free will and we must exercise that in a balanced way that will create your destiny again in the future. You have created the destiny—not God, not some other entity—you have created your destiny by yourself, through your own understanding. You have created the situation now and you create in the future through your free will now.
In talking about our special purpose, he said that we’re all here for a special purpose. Each person is unique, each can develop individually. You don’t have to go looking for a purpose, just prepare yourself, and when you are ready, it will come to you, it will come naturally. All that’s necessary is to be open to accept it, fit into the plan, don’t hold on to you own desires. It will be clear when your time comes because you’ll know it and the thing is just to accept it.
He said that many times, things happen and we’re not prepared, we don’t recognize, we don’t understand until we miss the opportunity. We’re focused on our immediate needs and desires and not necessarily this big, long-term plan, so when the time comes, our purpose will be there. We just have to think how to organize, accept, and go about doing that. The big thing is being open.
Janet said that in the meantime, part of preparing is following your bliss and he said, “Absolutely,” following what feels to bring inner peace and inner happiness. It doesn’t mean you wait for some great purpose and do nothing, you follow your everyday purpose, enjoy every minute and every moment, be present to every moment and the joy that’s in that moment and celebrate life. That becomes what, in India, is called “sadhana.” Whatever you do is automatically part of your exercise, to attune to your higher purpose, which is emerging every day.
In talking about fear, Svami G. said that fear is a symptom of the greater insecurity within us. It’s just a matter of remembering that we are Sat-Chit-Ananda, we cannot be harmed. It’s a matter of understanding and making friends with the pain, death, love—all these things that scare us.
When we can make friends with the things we fear, then they cannot harm us, there’s nothing they can do to us. It’s like when you go to the forest, you pick the right mushrooms and berries and don’t bring the poison home. Have the right discrimination. There are so many beautiful things happening in your life. Take those things with right selection, right discrimination, and bring the right fruit home.
Svami G. talked about how he’s developed these different systems for pain management and health management. In a moment, Janet will give you his website again so you can see all of those things.
Lastly, Svami G. said that money in India is called Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Lakshmi will come and go. The only place she belongs is Narayan, her consort. Narayan is the power and energy of the self, the power and energy of who we truly are. We all need money.
Svami G. said that when he was walking in the mountains, all over the world, often he was naked and had nothing. Now he travels around the world, stays in five-star hotels where people put him, but he wouldn’t say his state of mind is better now than when he had nothing. It’s just a matter of enjoying what you have now. Leave your mind open so Lakshmi can come, but in the meantime, enjoy what you have.
There’s a saying, “Stretch your leg as long as your shawl allows you,” understand the current limits. There’s no end of needs and desires. First is to enjoy what everyone has, second is to leave the channel open so the money can come. The energy is always flowing, just be open to allow it to come. When we struggle and strain after life, then it obstructs the flow.
Janet Attwood: That was beautiful, Chris.
Svami Purna: Janet, I must say that Chris is an excellent presenter. I’d like to steal him from you.
Janet Attwood: I knew you were going to think that! Isn’t he incredible?
Chris Attwood: Thank you, Svami G.
Janet Attwood: He does it every week. Every time we get on the phone, he’s just the best.
Svami Purna: He’s doing great work. I’m so pleased.
Janet Attwood: Yes, he’s a great listener. He’s a great, great being. That’s because he’s my best friend, Svami Purna.
Svami Purna: That’s why I don’t lose the hope in the world!
Janet Attwood: He’s a great light. Thank you.
Svami Purna: That’s why I think that’s not all in vain.
Janet Attwood: That’s right, it definitely isn’t. For all of our listeners and readers to learn more about Svami Purna, what he teaches and how to be with him, you can go to www.AdhyatmikFoundation.org [UPDATE www.adfoundation.org] or www.SvamiPurna.org.
The next Dialogues with the Masters call will be on April 20th, with Svami [Mustananda] from Ananda Ashram in Kerala. On May 18th, we will have Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from Bangalore. On June 22nd (the day before my birthday), will be [Nani Ma] from Uttarkashi, whom I was just sitting with about two days ago up in the Himalayas.
We’ve got some wonderful people, wonderful saints who are going to share their profound wisdom as Svami Purna has done. We want to thank all of you for joining us. Svami Purna again, we bow down to you again and again, thank you so much.