INDEX

Publishers’ Note

Introduction

Contents

Chapter One—Nature of God

Chapter Two—Religion

Chapter Three—Philosophy

Chapter Four—Call to Sadhana

Chapter Five—Instructions on Sadhana

Chapter Six—Formulas for Meditation

Chapter Seven—To The Mind and Senses

Chapter Eight—The Path of Devotion (Bhakti)

Chapter Nine—Power of Divine Name

Chapter Ten—On Love

Chapter Eleven—Glory of Satguru

Chapter Twelve—Sage’s Experience

Chapter Thirteen—Who is a Saint?

Chapter Fourteen—Siva’s Wisdom

Chapter Fifteen—Definitions

Chapter Sixteen—Woman

Chapter Seventeen—Wisdom Through Humour

Chapter Eighteen—Wisdom Through Stories

Chapter Nineteen—Health and Long Life

Publishers’ Note

With great delight we place before the aspirant-world, the present work ‘Adhyatma Yoga’ by Swami SivanandajiMaharaj, the world renowned sage, who needs no introduction. This book contains over four hundred highly illuminating, and inspiring poems on a variety of subjects connected with religion, philosophy, etc., and will serve as a happy companion to the author’s other poem-books published already, viz. ‘Wisdom Sparks’, ‘Waves of Bliss’, ‘JnanaJyoti’, and ‘Wisdom in Humour’.

Coming as it does from the pen of a realised sage, this book is rich in sagely wisdom and wit, and should prove an invaluable asset to every seeker in his onward march to Godhead. We hope the aspirant world will take advantage of this precious boon, study it, assimilate the wisdom contained in it, and practising it in their everyday life, expedite their march to Perfection, Peace and glory.

-THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION

The attainment of God-realisation is the goal of human life. Great seers, saints and sages have been from time immemorial voicing this truth and striving to spread the gospel of God-realisation in different ways, through books, speeches, heart-to-heart talks, etc. And exactly it is to remind man of his Goal, and to show him the path that leads to it that this book ‘Adhyatma Yoga’ is dedicated.

The first chapter of this book deals with the nature of God. The second chapter throws light on the concept of religion. Various subjects connected with philosophy are discussed in the next chapter. The fourth chapter raises the clarion call to Sadhana, pointing out to man the false, perishable nature of the world, and the glory and sublimity of a life in Spirit. The fifth chapter is rich in profuse instructions to aspirants on their path of Sadhana, and will be treasured by all earnest aspirants. Formulas for Vedantic meditation are given in the sixth chapter. The seventh chapter, containing a series of addresses made to the mind and senses will be found highly useful by all Sadhaks, as it throws much light on how to coax and cajole the riotous mind and senses. The path of devotion is dealt with in chapter VIII, and the glory of Divine Name is described in chapter IX. In this age of hatred and dissension, the message of love alone will be the saving factor, and a full chapter (viz. chapter X) is devoted to a discussion of ‘Love’ and its infinite potencies. Sadhana, to be successful, has to be done under the guidance of a Guru. The glory and need of Guru are dealt with in chapter XI. Chapter XII gives out the experiences of a Sage of Realisation,—the experiences which are the Sadhak’s ideal. A description of the characteristics of a saint is given in chapter XIII. Chapter XIV is a highly interesting treatise on a wide variety of subjects, and thinkers and intellectuals will immensely like the thoughts contained in this chapter. Definitions, from a spiritual angle, of different things and phenomena are given in chapter XV. A description of woman, the spiritual helpmate of man, is given in chapter XVI. Chapters XVII and XVIII respectively convey valuable lessons through humour and stories. The concluding chapter deals with the means of acquiring health and long life, so very essential for attaining God-realisation.

It is hoped that all aspirants will make the best use of this book, by studying it and putting the teachings into actual practice.

May Lord bless you all.

CONTENTS

Chapter One—Nature of God

1. Nature of God—I, 2. Nature of God—II, 3. God is infinite, 4. Where is God, 5. God, Fountain of Goodness, 6. God is your Guide, 7. God is Love, 8. God is Truth, 9. Truth—I, 10. Truth—II, 11. Truth is within you, 12. Heart and centre of the world, 13. Lord is Supreme Abode, 14. Substratum, 15. Brahman, 16. Brahman is all-in-all, 17. The One is true, 18. Eternal Light, 19. Nature of Self, 20. Atma, 21. Atman is the Essence, 22. Who directs the mind?

Chapter Two—Religion

1. My religion, 2. True religion, 3. Real religion, 4. Essentials of religion, 5. Know one God, 6. Practice of religion, 7. Fruit of practice of religion.

Chapter Three—Philosophy

1. Lame man and a blind man, 2. Cause of this world, 3. Evolution—I, 4. Evolution—II, 5. Jiva becomes Brahman, 6. Jiva is Brahman, 7. Inner Illumination, 8. Oneness, 9. All are equal, 10. Why do you not weep? 11. Jnana or wisdom, 12. No Samadhi but Jnana, 13. Disease and remedy, 14. Ignorance is a dire disease, 15. Path to Self-realisation, 16. Tree of life, 17. Secret of renunciation, 18. Pain, 19. Cause of pain and sorrow, 20. Remove the veil of ignorance, 21. Attain illumination, 22. Through mind man suffers, 23. Pull down the dividing wall, 24. Seat of mind, 25. Waking versus dreaming, 26. The world is a long dream, 27. Dream, 28. Ideas and feelings differ, 29. Object and idea, 30. JeevaSrishti and IshwaraSrishti, 31. Life—experience "I", 32. See without eyes, 33. I am, 34. False and real ‘I’, 35. You are distinct from the senses, 36. You are witness or Atma, 37. Sakshi is always calm, 38. Brahman is the Witness, 39. The two drivers, 40. Brahman is unattached, 41. The soul is untainted, 42. Upadhi gives form, 43. Develop intuition, 44. Requisites for attaining Knowledge, 45. What is Sattwa? 46. Boomerang, 47. Force of Karma, 48. Karmas and Samskaras, 49. A Sage is not bound by Karmas, 50. A Deva, 51. Life in heaven, 52. Asuras in the body, 53. The three Saktis.

Chapter Four—Call to Sadhana

1. You came alone, 2. Struggle on, 3. None is poor, 4. Individual life, a phantom, 5. God is with you, 6. Chinta consumes everything, 7. Pleasure is evanescent, 8. Optical illusion, 9. Seek Anandalaya, 10. Who is happy? 11. No one is happy in the world, 12. Emptiness of wealth, 13. Be quiet and know, 14. Count not the doors of Buckingham Palace, 15. The educated fool, 16. O Deluded fool, 17. Admonition, 18. Analysis of your daily activities, 19. A poor man and shawl, 20. Value of Brahma Jnana, 21. Who is Father? 22. Atma—Basis for everything, 23. How long? 24. Time and Timeless, 25. Precious is your life, 26. Awake, O Man, 27. Wake up, O Man, 28. Long only for God, 29. Meet thy friend now, 30. Look within, 31. Seek the Immortal, 32. Seek the Eternal—I, 33. Seek the Eternal—II, 34. Seek the Eternal—III, 35. Seek the Eternal—IV, 36. Seek the Changeless, 37. Know thyself, 38. Realise the Truth, 39. Come ye young ministers, 40. Come with four, 41. Immortal fruit, 42. Nectar within you, 43. Body is a moving temple, 44. Man into woman, 45. Woman into man, 46. Finite implies Infinite, 47. Tap the Source.

Chapter Five—Instructions on Sadhana

1. Sadhana—I, 2. Sadhana—II, 3. Heart temple, 4. How to increase Sattwa? 5. Renounce, 6. Thy eternal heritage, 7. True and eternal bliss, 8. The ten precepts, 9. The ten rules of life, 10. Learn, 11. The triple secret, 12. The triple Gem, 13. Spiritual furnace and crucible, 14. Spiritual ploughing, 15. Spiritual war, 16. The inner war, 17. Dwell in the One, 18. Soar High, 19. Seva Yoga, 20. Ring out, ring in, 21. Forms of hatred, 22. Slay the evil, 23. Greed is Kali, 24. Slay the three K’s, 25. Three obstacles to spiritual progress, 26. Break and construct, 27. Fry the Vasanas, 28. Manorajya, 29. Draw me, 30. Bolt not the heart’s door, 31. Spiritualise, 32. My resolves today, 33. Way to blessedness, 34. Way of Yoga, 35. The Divine way of life, 36. Siva’s way of life, 37. This is the way, 38. The path to eternal bliss, 39. Path to God-realisation—I, 40. Path to God-realisation—II, 41. Be good, do good, 42. Towards God-realisation, 43. Sit and meditate, 44. Enquire who am I? 45. Enter the silence. 46. Enter into Samadhi, 47. Walk with God, 48. Joy-filling experience, 49. This is the highest blessing, 50. This is the greatest blessing, 51. Cultivate the Spirit, 52. Live in the Spirit, 53. Be hungry for God, 54. Forget thyself, 55. Contact the soul, 56. Be determined, 57. I will unlock the mysteries, 58. Uttishtha, 59. I am at thy side.

Chapter Six—Formulas for Meditation

1. I am life eternal, 2. Vedantic meditation, 3. I am the Source, 4. I am the All, 5. I am Existence.

Chapter Seven—To The Mind and Senses

1. To the mind—I, 2. To the mind—II, 3. To the mind—III, 4. To the mind—IV, 5. To the mind—V, 6. To the mind—VI, 7. To the mind—VII, 8. Meditate and realise, 9. To the senses.

Chapter Eight—The Path of Devotion (Bhakti)

1. Prostrations to Brahman, 2. Para Brahman, 3. Prayer—I, 4. My prostrations to the 7 year old boy, 5. Come and live within my heart, 6. Save us, O Lord, 7. Save me O Lord—I, 8. Save me, O Lord—II, 9. Guide and save, 10. Lead me, O Lord, 11. O Lord, purify me, 12. Make me Thy instrument, 13. Prayer of an aspirant, 14. This is my prayer, O Lord, 15. Self-surrender, 16. A prayer, 17. Prayer—II, 18. Prayer—III, 19. Prayer—IV, 20. Common prayer, 21. General Prayer, 22. Sivananda’s Prayer, 23. Grant my prayer, O Lord, 24. Divine Glory, 25. Thou art the Prana, 26. No ‘I’ without Thee, 27. I am Thyself, 28. Nothing is mine, 29. There is only Thou, O God, 30. Thy drink is Bliss, 31. Glory of Lord’s Feet, 32. Lord Rama’s Eighth Brother, 33. O Spiritual Treasure, 34. In Thy mercy save, 35. Thou art beauty and ugliness, 36. O My King and solace, 37. Let me live in Thee, 38. Bring me into Thy light Eternal, 39. Sivananda at Thy door, 40. Where shall I go? 41. Eternal tree of shelter, 42. Do not test me severely, 43. When, my Lord? 44. The palace of my King, 45. To the Cuckoo, 46. Come Thou quick, 47. My eyes rain tears, 48. Union with the Lord, 49. My fragrant garden, 50. I have God’s Grace, 51. God’s Grace. 52. Lord Siva’s Ray, 53. Bhakti, 54. Sadhana and Bhakti, Sadhya, 55. Nava Vidha Bhakti, 56. God wants your heart, 57. Prem, Ram and Kam, 58. Avatara like the Sun, 59. Goddess Saraswati.

Chapter Nine—Power of Divine Name

1. Power of Name, 2. Name is nectar, 3. Lord’s Name is life, 4. Power of Lord’s Name, 5. Power of Ram Nam, 6. Repeat the holy Name.

Chapter Ten—On Love

l. Love is Divine—I, 2. Love is Divine—II, 3. God is Love, 4. Love is Force, 5. Love conquers, 6. Love is bliss, 7. Live in love, 8. Love to give and share.

Chapter Eleven—Glory of Satguru

1. Guru is the boat, 2. Guru, 3. Guru like mother, 4. Guru and Upanishads, 5. Blessed Guru’s Feet, 6. Guru’s Grace—I, 7. Guru’s Grace—II, 8. Personal Guru, 9. Spark and a raw aspirant.

Chapter Twelve—Sage’s Experience

1. I live God-absorbed, 2. I am not afraid of anything, 3. I have slain death, 4. I have slain the cycle of rebirth, 5. I shall never return to this world, 6. I hail you all, 7. All is one, 8. Look and find me, 9. I am Siva, 10. Siva the Source, 11. I am a born Siddha, 12. Vedantic Hill.

Chapter Thirteen—Who is a Saint?

1. Who is a saint—I, 2. Who is a saint—II, 3. Who is a saint—III, 4. Who is a saint—IV, 5. Who is a saint—V, 6. Who is a saint—VI, 7. Who is a saint—VII, 8. A saint, 9. Yogi’s family, 10. Saint’s family.

Chapter Fourteen—Siva’s Wisdom

1. Four types of disciples, 2. Purity, truth are your real nature, 3. Atma is supra-intellect, 4. Knowledge alone can give Moksha, 5. Marriage, 6. Attain wisdom, 7. Mind like fish, 8. A wicked man, 9. Fixity of consciousness, 10. Clapping and shaking hands, a nuisance, 11. Prayer and worship, 12. Avidya Forest, 13. The family of egoism, 14. Lady’s toilet case, 15. Food for the mind, 16. Silence—I, 17. Silence—II, 18. One, 19. One big family, 20. Kill not creatures, 21. Ram or Raheem, 22. Bhakti’s two sons, 23. Husk paddy and not chaff, 24. Adhikari for Vedanta, 25. Seven difficult things, 26. Become a Dheera, 27. Pleasure versus Bliss, 28. Pleasure and Pain—I, 29. Pleasure and Pain—II, 30. Pain is blessing, 31. World is relative, 32. This world is a vast university, 33. Your real enemies, 34. How to develop Vairagya, 35. Positive overcomes negative—I, 36. Positive overcomes negative—II, 37. Virtue victorious, 38. Abhiman, 39. Way to Bliss, 40. Anger has its raison d’etre, 41. Vairagya, 42. Self-sacrificing tree, 43. Paropakara, 44. Bring peace and happiness, 45. Sow love and joy, 46. Elevate, serve and protect, 47. Axe and needle, 48. Be tolerant, 49. Equal vision, 50. Ajaghar and Bee, 51. Be pure, 52. Siva’s view of life, 53. My creed, 54. Pseudo Sannyasi, 55. Prayaschitta, 56. Corruption, 57. Atomic energy, 58. Vedas, Puranas and Kavyas, 59. The fruits of Swadhyaya, 60. Voice of the Himalayas—I, 61. Voice of the Himalayas—II, 62. Significance of Muruga’sVel, etc., 63. Six heads of Lord Subramanya, 64. Rasa-Lila, 65. Seven Chakras and seven screens, 66. Nada is sound, 67. Influence of sound on mind, 68. No Mukti without knowledge of music, 69. I am music, 70. No Mukti without English education, 71. 2796 languages.

Chapter Fifteen—Definitions

1. World, 2. What is life—I, 3. What is life—II, 4. Abundant life, 5. What is death? 6. Death and eternal life, 7. What is matter, 8. Real beauty, 9. Real culture, 10. Signs of culture, 11. Real civilization, 12. Civilisation, 13. Real Sannyasa, 14. Who is a gentleman—I, 15. Who is a gentleman—II, 16. Who is a Brahmin? 17. What is sin? 18. Silence, 19. Moksha, 20. Time, 21. Eye.

Chapter Sixteen—Woman

1. Woman—I, 2. Woman—II, 3. Who is a woman? 4. Man and woman, 5. Women, 6. Woman versus Man. 7. Tele-woman.

Chapter Seventeen—Wisdom Through Humour

1. God, 2. Think well before you act, 3. Learn any science perfectly, 4. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, 5. The unfailing remedy, 6. Monkey and man, 7. 840, 8. Double personality, 9. God an embodiment of intelligence, 10. Stomach—a Post Office letter-box, 12. Gall-Nux Vomica heart, 13. Smile and smile.

Chapter Eighteen—Wisdom Through Stories

1. Story of two disciples—I, 2. The story of two disciples—II, 3. Raja Janaka and Pundits, 4. Compare Ramayana and Bharatam, 5. A poor man and Kubera, 6. A king and the court pandit.

Chapter Nineteen—Health and Long Life

1. How to attain health and long life, 2. How to attain longevity, 3. How to be young at 100? 4. Cause of diseases, 5. Mental health, 6. Don’ts in eating.

ESSENCE OF SWAMIJI’S TEACHINGS

"Eat a little, drink a little, talk a little, sleep a little,
Mix a little, move a little, serve a little, rest a little,
Do Asan a little, Pranayama a little, Reflect a little,
Do Vichar a little.

Do Japa a little, do Kirtan a little, write Mantra a little,
Meditate a little,
Serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realise,
Be good, do good, be kind, be compassionate.
Be bold, be pure, be truthful,
Be patient, be tolerant, be obedient.
Be simple, be humble, be noble, be gentle,
Adapt, adjust, accommodate,
Bear insult, bear injury, highest Sadhana.
Enquire "WHO AM I"; know the Self and be free,
Be still, be quiet, know thy Self,

Find the Hearer, find the Seer, find the Knower,
You are not this body, not this mind:
Immortal Self you are."

—SIVANANDA

Chapter one

GOD

1. Nature of God-I

God is Ananta Jnana

God is infinite wisdom

God is Ananta Sakti

God is infinite power

God is Ananta Ananda

God is infinite bliss

God is Ananta Jyoti

God is infinite light

God is Ananta Prem

God is infinite love.

2. Nature of God-II

God is beginingless and endless

God is the first cause

God is both immanent and transcendent.

God is Absolute Perfection

God is Supreme Goodness

God is light, wisdom and Love.

God is sexless

God is eternal, infinite, immortal,

3. God Is Infinite

The Lord has thousand eyes and ears

The Lord has thousand feet and heads

The Lord has thousand names

He is bigger than the biggest

He is taller than the tallest

He penetrates beyond the sky

He penetrates beyond the nether-word

He is immeasurable

He is beyond speech and mind

He is infinite.

4. Where Is God?

He is in the sound

He is in the word

He is in the tongue of saints

He is in the heart

He is in the intellect

He is in the pupil of the eye

He is in OM.

5. God Is Fountain of Goodness

The Lord is never far away

He dwells in your heart.

He is dwells in your heart.

He is the way, the Truth and the Life.

He is fountain of goodness and love.

He is the source, substratum and goal ultimate.

He is your father, mother, friend and guide.

Meditate and go from strength to strength

From glory unto glory

To God, all praise and glory.

6. God Is Your Guide

God is your sincere guide

He leads you on

The paths you do not know.

He catches your hands on the way,

He lifts you up,

When you faint and falter.

He guides your steps

In storms and darkness.

He cheers and encourages you

In despair and despondency.

7. God Is Love

In God there is no East nor West,

In Him no South nor North,

Neither light nor darkness,

Neither day nor night,

Neither pain nor pleasure,

Neither good nor evil,

But one great mass of love,

Wisdom, peace, joy and bliss.

8. God is Truth

God is truth

Truth is God,

Truth is His Name,

His essence is Love,

Recite His Name,

Glorify Him,

Sing His praise,

Mukti is through His grace.

God alone is Truth,

All else is a passing show that dies.

9. Truth-I

Truth is Love

Truth is Beauty

Truth is Infinity

Truth is Eternity

Truth is Immortality

Truth is Consciousness

Truth is Existence

Truth is Bliss

Realise this Truth

And be free.

10. Truth-II

Truth is God, or Brahman, or the Absolute

Truth is consciousness, existence, immortality

Truth is beauty, love and light

Truth is peace, bliss and joy

Truth is eternal; it cannot die.

There is nothing so enduring as truth.

Truth cannot be tainted by anything.

Truth alone triumphs in the end; not falsehood.

Truth is your centre, ideal and goal.

11. Truth Is Within You

Truth is within you

Truth is Brahman

Truth is the Absolute

Truth is Sat-Chit-Ananda

Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute.

Truth is your own Self

Truth is Infinity, Eternity, Immortality

Truth abides in fullness in your heart.

Truth is all-pervading and interpenetrating.

Purify your heart and meditate

You will realise this Truth.

12. Heart and Centre of the World

God is the Heart of the world.

He is the Centre of the Universe

He is the Guide of the lost

He is the Lighter of the lamp

He is the Master Supreme

He is Perfection and harmony

He is Truth and Love

He is Beauty and Self-effulgence.

13. Lord Is Supreme Abode

Lord is Parama Dhama

Lord is Supreme Abode

Lord is Parama Gati

Lord is Parama Shanti

Lord is Supreme Peace

Lord is Parama Sukha

Lord is Supreme Bliss

Lord is Parama Dharma

Lord is Supreme virtue.

14. Substratum

Ether is the substratum for air

Sand-bed is the substratum for the river

Canvas is the substratum for the pictures

Foundation is the substratum for the building

Bone is the substratum for the body

Wood is the substratum for chairs and benches.

Even so Brahman or the Eternal or the Absolute

Is the substratum for the world, body and mind.

Substratum is Adhishthana.

15. Brahman

Eye of my eye

Ear of my car

Mind of my mind

Prana of my Prana

Heart of my heart

Soul of my soul

Spirit of my spirit

This is Brahman

This is the Absolute.

16. Brahman Is All-in-all

Brahman is the Eternal Infinite.

He is the whole.

He is All-in-All

He fills earth and air.

He fills the entire world.

I am in Brahman.

Brahman is in me.

Or else there is no All-in-all.

How can I be outside Brahman?

I dwell in Him.

17. The One Is True

The one is True

The One is Om

The One is changeless.

The One is All-blissful

The One is pure consciousness.

The One alone exists.

The One dwells in all.

In all is Immortal One.

The One alone endures

The One is Atman or Brahman

The One is all-Pervading.

Realise this One and be free.

18. Eternal Light

O Eternal Light, Self-effulgence

O Supreme joy, eternal satisfaction

O Everlasting peace, bliss Immortal

How pure and self-radiant is Soul!

How awe-inspiring is His Majesty!

His splendour of wisdom is very great

His miracle of love is ineffable

His Altar is in the temple of silence.

19. Nature of Self

Like the ocean is your inner Self,

It is deep and unfathomable.

Like the ether is your Atman.

It is subtle, spotless and all-pervading.

Like the sun is your soul within,

It is self-effulgent and ever brilliant.

Like the Himalayas is your inner grandeur

It is motionless, majestic and firm.

20. Atman

Atman is another name for Eternal Peace

Atman is another name for Everlasting Bliss

Atman is another name for Infinity

Atman is another name for Eternity

Atman is another name for Immortality.

Atman is another name for Moksha.

21. Atman Is the Essence

Atman is the own innermost Self

He is the essence of all

He is Infinity, Eternity, Immortality.

He is the Light of all lights

He is the Light of the world

He is self-luminous

He is without a second

He is hidden in all names and forms

Realise Him and be free.

22. Who Directs the Mind?

Who has poured forth beauty

And fragrance in the rose?

Who sends rain from the clouds?

Who is at te back of intellect?

Who gives power to the mind?

Who directs the mind and the senses?

Who is behind the sweet music?

Who is the Creator of this world?

Nature is Japa, insentient.

The Lord of Nature, Isvara

Who is omniscient and omnipresent?

Chapter Two

RELIGION

1. My Religion

I have renounced all sects
I have removed all creeds and dogmas
My religion is the religion
Of Truth and Love.
My religion is the religion of heart.
My religion is the religion
Of Upanishads and Vedanta.
My religion is the religion of OM.
My religion is the religion
Of service, sacrifice and renunciation.
My religion is the religion
Of goodness, kindness and tolerance.

2. True Religion

Religion is not dogma.
Religion is not creed.
Creed is broken reed.
Religion is not Theology.
Religion is Life Eternal.
To live is to love.
Religion is a life of goodness and service.
Religion is a life of meditation.
Religion is life in God.
Religion is knowledge of God.
He who is loving, kind, pious and truthful,
He who is endowed with faith and devotion
Is truly religious.

3. Real Religion

Real religion is beyond speech and mind
Real religion is self-realisation
Real religion is God-consciousness
Real religion is Oneness, unity
Real religion is Life Eternal
Real religion is Upanishadic Consciousness
Real religion is non-dual realisation
Real religion is Aham Brahma Asmi Consciousness.

4. Essentials of Religion

Eternal peace can be had only in God.
Be virtuous.
Speak the Truth.
Have faith in Guru, scriptures and God.
Love all, serve all.
Observe Brahmacharya,
Slay egoism, mine-ness.
Kill all attachments and desires.
Control the senses and mind.
Purify the mind,
Be serene and self-restraint.
Concentrate, meditate and realise.
These are the essentials of religion.

5. Know One God

Abandon self-indulgence.
Be humble and compassionate.
Reject all sects.
Know one God.
Realise God.
Love God.
Live in God.
This is the essence of religion.

6. Practice of Religion

To lead the life divine is practice of religion.
To live in the Eternal is practice of religion.
To cultivate virtues is practice of religion.
To serve, love and sacrifice is practice of religion.
To discriminate is practice of religion.
To practise renunciation is practice of religion.
To become a Jivanmukta is practice of religion.

7. Fruit of Practice of Religion

Religion frees one from sorrow and pain.
Religion bestows everlasting peace.
Religion makes one perfect and free.
Religion makes one independent.
Religion makes one an AtmaSamrat.
Religion gives knowledge of Brahman.
Religion unites the soul with Brahman.
Religion frees one from births and deaths.

Chapter Three

PHILOSOPHY

1. Lame Man and a Blind Man

There was fire in a village

A Lame man sat

On the shoulders of a blind man.

And guided the blind man.

Both escaped from the fire.

There was movement.

Even so the blind japa Prakriti

Joins with the lame intelligent Purusha.

Creation starts.

There is movement or creation.

The blunt iron pieces move

Towards the potential magnet.

This is movement.

2. Cause of This World

One man says,

Brahman is the Cause of this world;

Another man says,

Maya is the cause;

A third man says;

Jiva is the cause;

A fourth man says,

Atom is the Cause;

A fifth man says,

Ether is the Cause;

A sixth man says,

Air, or fire or water is the Cause;

A seventh man says,

Mind is the Cause-

Mano Matra Jagat-

Mano Kalpita Jagat-

In reality there is no world,

Brahman alone is!

3. Evolution-I

Stone sleeps.

Plant breathes.

Animal moves.

Man is conscious.

Sage is superconsious.

4. Evolution-II

You died a mineral

And became a plant.

You died a plant

And rose an animal.

You died an animal

And became a man.

You died a man

And became a sage.

5. Jiva Becomes Brahman

The lamp burns

So long there are wick and oil.

Even so there is mind

So long there are Vasanas and thoughts are destroyed

Jivahood vanishes.

The mind is absorbed in Brahman.

Jiva becomes one with the Absolute.

6. Jiva Is Brahman

A spark is only fire.

A wave or bubble is only water.

A ring or bracelet is only gold.

Te prince is only future king.

Even so the Jiva or the individual

Is only Para Brahman or the Absolute.

7. Inner Illumination

When one attains

Inner Illumination

When he realises his Atman

He attains perfection,

He attains Atma Sakshatkara,

He attains his fullest expression,

He becomes Immortal.

8. Oneness

Camphor melts

And becomes identical with the fire.

River joins the ocean

And becomes one with the ocean.

A lump of salt or sugar dissolves

And becomes one with the ocean.

Even so mind melts

In the fire of wisdom

And becomes one with the Supreme Self.

The individual soul or Jiva

Becomes identical with the Supreme Soul.

9. All Are Equal

One soul abides in all.

There is one humanity.

There is one Brotherhood.

There is one Atma-hood.

None is high.

None is low.

All are equal.

Vain are the distinctions.

Man-made barriers

Should be ruthlessly broken down.

Then alone there will be peace

In this world.

10. Why Do You Not Weep?

When a man is weeping

You ask him, “Why are you weeping?”

You do not ask a man

“Why do you not weep?”

Weeping is illusory

Weeping is born of ignorance

Weeping

Is not one’s real nature

Bliss alone is one’s essential nature

Bliss is Brahman or the Eternal

“Thu art Brahman”, “Tat Tvam Asi”,

Realise Brahman and be free.

11. Jnana or Wisdom

Give up Ahamta-Mamata

I-ness and Mine-ness

Behold the Atman in all

Behold thy Self as the All,

Behold thy Self as the world

This is Jnana or wisdom.

12. No Samadhi But Jnana

For a Vedantin

Samadhi has no value.

It is the opposite state of Vikshepa.

He wants only Jnana.

He praises only Jnana

The wisdom of the Absolute

Which is beyond Vikshepa and Samadhi

Satyam jnanam Anantam Brahman.

13. Disease and Remedy

Hunger is kind of disease

Food is the remedy.

Thirst is another kind of disease

Water is the remedy.

Death is a kind of dire disease

Brahma Jnana is the remedy.

14. Ignorance Is a Dire Disease

Ignorance is a dire disease;

Raga-Dvesha is an awful disease;

Egoism is a terrible malady;

Attachment is a formidable disease;

Birth-death is a terrible malady;

The only remedy for all these is wisdom of Atman!

15. Ego is the seed of this Samsara

Intellect is the sprout

Thoughts are the branches

Kill the ego through surrender or Enquiry

Meditate on the Supreme Self

The whole tree of Samsara

Will be cut down

You will attain Self-realisation.

16. Three of Life

Truth is the root of the tree life

Truth is Para Brahman

Truth is the Absolute

This tree of life is nourished by Karmas

The Gunas are its trunk

Vasanas are its branches

Pleasure and pain are its fruits

Cut this Mayaic tree

Through the sword of dispassion

And merge yourself in Brahman.

17. Secret of Renunciation

The three Ishanas bind you

They are the desire

For son, wealth, and name and fame,

You can renounce wife, son and wealth,

But it is difficult to renounce name and fame.

If you renounce egoism,

All the Ishanas will perish.

The secret of renunciation is

Renunciation of egoism.

18. Pain

Pain is born ignorance

Pain is due to identification with the body

Pain is extraneous to you

It is not thy essential nature

Thy essential nature is Bliss.

When knowledge dawns pain vanishes

There is no pain in deep sleep

There is no pain when you are under chloroform

Pain manifests when mind is attached to the body

If the mind perishes there is no pain.

19. Cause of Pain and Sorrow

Craving is the cause for birth and death,

Craving is born of memory of pleasure,

Memory of pleasure is born of contact with sense objects.

Contact causes attachment,

Attachment is born of non-discrimination,

Non-discrimination is born of ignorance;

Annihilate ignorance;

All the links will be broken at once.

20. Remove the Veil of Ignorance

When there is cloud

You cannot see the sun

But the sun is there.

When the cloud disappears

You can see the sun clearly

Even so when the veil of ignorance is torn asunder

Through meditation and enquiry

You can realise God or Atman.

21. Attain Illumination

Bring a lamp

Darkness vanishes

Bring a lamp

The rope snake disappears

Trembling ceases

Fear takes its heels.

Even so attain the light of knowledge of Self,

The darkness of ignorance will vanish

Fear, pain, sorrow, delusion will disappear.

22. Through Mind Man Suffers

Place a red flower before a crystal

The crystal appears red

Even so the pure blissful Atman

Appears to be miserable or happy

Through contact with the mind.

The Jiva identifies himself

With the mind, Prana, senses and body

And therefore feels pain and pleasure.

When the red flower is removed

The crystal is again pure white

When the Upadhi mind is destroyed

Man becomes one with the All-blissful Atman.

23. Pull Down the Dividing Wall

This dividing wall is not made of bricks.

There is neither cement nor lime here.

It is not built by a mason.

It is more firm than Ferro concrete slab.

This is dividing wall between man and soul.

This dividing wall is mind.

It is made up of Vasanas and egoism.

Annihilate Vasanas and egoism.

This wall break to pieces.

You will shine in divine glory and effulgence.

24. Seat of Mind

According to Hatha Yoga School

Trikuti is the seat of mind.

Trikuti is the space between the two eyebrows.

According to Vedanta

Right eye is the seat of mind during waking state.

Hita Nadi in the throat is the seat of the mind

During dreaming state.

Puritat Nadi in the heart

Is the seat of mind during deep sleep?

25. Waking Versus Dreaming

There is continuity in the waking state,

But there is no such continuity in the dreaming state.

You see the same things in the waking state,

But it is not so in the dreaming state.

The experience of dreaming persons differs.

The subject and object are different

In the waking state.

In the dream mind is the subject

Mind is the object.

26. The World Is a Long Dream

A man dreams

That his head is cut.

He weeps bitterly.

When he awakes

He stops crying.

Even so when one attains Brahma Jnana

This world vanishes.

This world is only a long dream.

27. Dream

In dream one who has taken sumptuous meal

Feels very hungry.

In dream one feels that his head has been cut

And cries bitterly.

One moves to London from Madras and comes back

Within half an hour.

One sees vision of mountains, rivers

Chariots, ocean and houses.

The small brain cannot contain all these.

Dream becomes false

When one wakes up.

This world becomes false

When one attains Turiya or Illumination.

28. Ideas and Feelings Differ

For one man

A woman is his wife;

The same woman is mother for another;

The same woman is sister for another;

The same woman is grandmother for another;

The same woman is aunt for another;

The same woman is sister in law for another;

The same woman is niece for another;

The woman is the same;

But idea and feelings differ.

It is all Maya and her work.

Mind is Maya.

But Brahman is One and the Same.

There are no ideas here.

There is neither difference nor destruction.

Realise Brahman and be free.

29. Object and Idea

For every object there is an idea.

There cannot be any idea without object

Object and idea are inseparable.

Annihilate the ideas-Chitta Vritti Nirodha;

The world of objects will vanish.

Brahman alone will remain.

That Brahman thou art, O Ram!

30. Jiva Srishti and Isvara Srishti

Jiva is individual soul

Isvara is Lord

Srishti is Creation.

Isvara has created water, fire, earth, etc.

The world of ideas is Jiva Srishti.

You can destroying the world of ideas

Isvara Srishti is beneficial for the Jiva

Jiva Srishti binds the soul.

31. Life Experience-“I”

Life here is experience

It is experience through the senses

The experience hangs on “I”

One says, “I see, I hear, I eat, I know”

Without “I there is no experience

This experience is transitory and illusory,

But the experience which is eternal

It is life in the eternal

It is infinite, changeless and divine.

32. See without eyes

Meditate on Brahman.

Rest in Chaitanya or Brahman.

Or Absolute consciousness.

You can see without eyes.

Hear without ears.

Smell without a nose.

Taste without a tongue.

Walk without feet.

Grasp without hands.

Feel without skin.

33. I am

Man says:

I am sick

I am fatty

I am black

I am fair

I am an Indian

I am an Australian

I am blind

“I am” “is the only Truth

“I am” “I exist” is the only Reality.

Existence is the only Reality.

Existence is Consciousness-Bliss

“Sick” “fatty” etc. are illusory.

34. False and Real ‘I’

Egoism is the false small ‘I’

It is the illusory little ‘I’

It has no real existence.

Brahman is the infinite ‘I’

Brahman is the real big ‘I’

Brahman alone really exists.

Realise Brahman and be free.

35. You are Distinct from the Senses

Even if your hand is cut

‘I’ remains.

Even if your eye is removed

‘I’ remains.

Even if your leg is cut

‘I’ remains.

You are not the Indriyas or the senses.

You are distinct from the senses.

You are distinct from the body.

You are distinct from the mind and Prana also.

You are in essence identical with Brahman.

You are pure consciousness-Bliss.

36. You Are Witness or Atman

You say

“May mind is not alright

I cannot work now.”

This indicates you are distinct

From the mind, You are the witness of the mind.

The witness of the mind is Atman.

You are in reality Atman or the Soul.

37. Sakshi Is Always Calm

The water is agitated.

The reflection of sun is agitated.

But the sun remains firm.

Even so the Jiva is agitated

Through the Upadhi, Antahkarana (mind)

But the Sakshi (the witness) remains always serene.

38. Brahman Is the Witness

In front of a lamp

You can do forgery

You can write a spiritual book

You can study Gita

But the lamp stands as a witness.

It is not affected a bit.

Even so is Brahman or the Absolute.

It is a silent witness

It is not in the least affected,

By pleasure and pain, good and evil.

39. The Two Drivers

In a car there are two drivers

One drives the car.

The other is simply seated in the back seat.

The driver was punished for rash driving.

The other driver was a silent witness.

He was not affected in any way.

Even so in this body there are two drivers

One driver Jiva reaps the fruits of his actions.

He is egoistic and feels I am doer and enjoyer.

He laughs sometimes and cries at other time.

But the other driver is a witness.

He is ever joyful. He is not touched by pleasure and pain.

The other driver is Brahman.

40. Brahman Is Unattached

Air carries fragrance as well as bad odour.

It is not affected by them even a bit.

It is Asanga unattached.

So is Brahman.

Sun shines on rose and excreta

It is not affected by them.

So is Brahman.

41. The Soul Is Untainted

The sun is not affected by the clouds

Or the defects of the eye

The sky is not affected by the air

Or the lightning or the thunder-storm

The wind is not affected

Bu the sweet aroma or bad odour

The crystal is not affected

By the colour of the objects placed before it

The ether is not affected by pleasure and pain,

Virtue and vice, health and disease,

Name and fame, honour and dishonor,

Like and dislike longevity and death.

The Soul is ever immortal and unaffected.

Man is essentially identical with the Soul.

42. Upadhi Gives Form

Fire in the wood has no form

But it takes the form of any objects it burns.

It becomes small and big.

Water takes the form

Of the vessel in which it is placed

It also becomes small and big

Even so Brahman is formless.

It assumes from through Upadhi

Or limiting adjunct, body and mind.

43. Develop Intuition

Reason and logic will not help you

To attain Self-realisation;

Intellect is a finite and frail instrument.

Reason can work within time-space.

But Atma is beyond time, and space.

Intuition alone can know the Atma.

Therefore give up arguing and logical chopping;

Develop intuition through meditation.

44. Requisites for Attaining Knowledge

Reverence for the Teacher.

Freedom from greed.

Eagerness to hear

Shedding off laziness.

Patience and perseverance.

Application and tenacity.

These are indispensable

For the acquisition of knowledge.

45. What Is Sattwa?

Sattwa is purity

Sattwa is harmony

Sattwa is peace

Sattwa is illumination

Sattwa is light

Sattwa is wisdom

Sattwa is spiritual microscope

To find out subtle existences

To find out God

To detect super-sensual facts

To probe into the divine mysteries.

Anger acts as a boomerang

Because it injures the man

Who becomes angry?

It comes back to the angry man,

And does harm to him.

Therefore control anger

By Kshama, love, enquiry and service.

47. Force of Karma

Nala did not want to got the forest

And yet he was forced to go

His Karma compelled him.

Lord Rama alone was to be installed king of Ayodhya,

He was forced to enter the forest.

Gandhiji wanted to live for 120 years

He did not like himself to be shot down

And yet Karma brought this event.

48. Karmas and Samskaras

Lotus and leech are born from the same Source

Nectar and poison came out

From the churning of the ocean

Even so a good son and a wicked son

Are born of the same parents

Karmas and Samskaras are responsible for this.

49. A Sage Is Not Bound By Karmas

A sage is not bound by Karmas

Because he has no egoism

No Moha or infatuation

No attachment, no Asakti.

No desires or expectation of fruits

No identification with body, mind or senses.

50. A Deva

A Deva is a celestial being

His body is brilliant

It is made up of more fire

He has no hunger or thirst

He has no disease

He moves in celestial car

He has no shadow

He never winks

His feet do not touch the ground.

51. Life in Heaven

The denizen of Swarga or Heaven

Is free from disease, hunger and thirst

He has long life,

He moves in celestial cars or Viman

There are Apsaras to serve him.

He enjoys Divya Bhoga.

But there are jealousy and hatred in him,

He fights and quarrels.

When the fruits or his virtuous actions are exhausted

He comes back to this world.

52. Asuras in the Body

The senses are the Asuras.

Asuras are demons.

They are enemies of Atma.

They stand in the way of Self-realisation.

They cause distraction.

Evil Vasanas are also Asuras.

Lust, greed, egoism are evil Vasanas.

Subha Vasanas are the gods.

They help the aspirant to attain Moksha.

Divine virtues are subha Vasanas.

Slay the evil Vasanas through good Vasanas.

Always generate good tendencies.

53. The Three Saktis

Will is Ichcha Sakti

Desires is Ichcha Sakti

Prana is Kriya Sakti

Action is Kriya Sakti

Knowledge is Jnana Sakti.

Chapter Four

CALL TO SADHANA

1. You Came Alone

You came alone

You will go alone

You came weeping

You will go weeping

You came with empty hands

You will go with empty hands

Be virtuous, serve, love, give

Be dispassionate, be detached,

Enquire, meditate and realise.

2. Struggle On

Struggle on, O man!

Undaunted

In the face of all obstacles

In the battle of daily life

Be bold.

Do not stumble

Boldly bear all the troubles

March forward! 0 hero

Take refuge in the Lord

All sorrows will vanish

You will attain eternal bliss.

3. None Is Poor

O Ram! none is poor

Everyone has priceless Atmic pearl

In his bundle

In the cave of his heart

But how to open the knot

He does not know

And therefore he is poor

Open the three knots of A.K.K.

Avidya, Kama, Karma

And attain the supreme wealth or Atma.

4. Individual Life a Phantom

The individual life is but a phantom,

It is full of pain, disappointment,

Cares, worries and fears,

It is closed and lost in darkness and despair

It is but a walking shadow.

It is a leather bag of impurities.

It is a pot of mud.

Abandon infatuation for the body.

Realise the self-luminous eternal Atman.

5. God Is With You

God is with you,

God is within you,

God is behind you,

God is before you,

God is beside you,

God is beneath you,

God is above you

To comfort and save you,

Love Him and be happy.

6. Chinta Consumes Everything

Chinta is anxiety- worry

If one Chinta is over

Another Chinta is waiting immediately.

There is Chinta for food

When you get food

There is Chinta for clothing

When you get clothing

There is Chinta for marriage and house.

When you get that

There is Chinta for son.

A millionaire has Chinta

For becoming a multimillionaire.

There is no end for Chinta

No one save a sage

Is free from Chinta.

Funeral pyre consumes only the body

But Chinta consumes everything

Take refuge in God and His name

All Chintas will vanish.

7. Pleasure Is Evanescent

Sensual pleasures are like bubbles.

They are like the fleeting lightning.

They are like the rainbow,

Which disappears quickly?

They are like the rose,

Which fades in a minute.

But the bliss of Brahman is eternal.

Therefore realise this Infinite Bliss.

8. Optical Illusion

A straight stick appears to be bent

Underneath water.

The two parallel lines of a railway

Appear to meet at a distance.

One man sees two moons

A tower at a distance looks very small

When you come very near

The vision is quite different.

When you stand at its base

You cannot see the top of the tower,

This is all a play of the optical lens,

It is all Maya's trick.

The senses dupe and delude you.

Seek the immortal Seer behind the eye

Transcend all Maya's illusion and delusion

Attain the saving wisdom of the Self.

9. Seek Anandalaya

In Vastralaya, cloth shop

You will get only clothes,

In Pustakalaya, book shop

You will get only books.

This world is Dukhalaya

You will get only pain.

Brahma is Anandalaya

Seek Brahman

And realise the bliss Immortal

10. Who Is Happy?

God Indra is not happy

An emperor is not happy

A dictator is not happy

A president of a state is not happy

Who is happy then?

A sage is happy

A Yogi is happy

He who has controlled his mind is happy

Glory to such Yogi and sage.

11. No one Is Happy in This World

A rich man has great wealth

But he has no children,

And so he is pained at heart.

A poor man has 14 children

But has nothing to eat

And so he is miserable.

One man has wealth and children

But his son is a vagabond

And so he is worried.

One man has riches and good sons

But his wife is very quarrelsome

No one save a sage is happy in this world.

12. Emptiness of Wealth

Can gold give you everlasting peace?

Can gold give you freedom and bliss?

Can you dig wisdom from the mine?

Wealth begets pride

Wealth causes restlessness.

Wealth stiffens egoism

Wealth is the enemy of devotion

Wealth is the root of all evils

Attain the inexhaustible spiritual wealth

The supreme wealth of wisdom of the Self

And be happy for ever.

13. Be Quiet and Know

O! Man, You are heir apparent to God,

Rejoice, Rejoice,

You are not bound,

Praise Him,

From whom all blessings flow,

He fills your whole being,

Be still, be quiet and know.

14. Count Not the Doors of Buckingham Palace

People want to count ​

The doors of Buckingham palace.

hey do not wish to count T

he doors in their own houses.

They are curiosity-mongers.

​What will they gain by counting the doors?

Will that give them eternal bliss?

Will that bestow upon them wisdom of Atma?

Will that give them liberation?

O deluded man! O Ignorant soul!

Enquire, discover, recover;

And be happy for ever.

15. The Educated Fool

The educated fool always thinks of the body

He goes to the club, drinks

And wastes his money, time and energy

He plays cards, and reads novels

He speaks ill of saints

He has no faith in scriptures

"Philosophy of flesh" appeals to him

He worships the body and mammon

He takes the body as Atma

He has neither discrimination nor dispassion

He does not make enquiry of "Who am I?"

He worships his wife

The world abounds with such fools.

16. O Deluded Fool!

Look not at the face for enjoying beauty

Look within.

And realise the Beauty of beauties

Do not run after little sensual pleasures

They are illusory and fleeting.

Dive deep in the hear

And realise the eternal bliss of Atma.

17. Admonition

O deluded man,

You have given up reciting Lord's Name

But you have not given up telling lies.

You have given up study of Gita

But you have not given up injuring others.

You have given up meditation

But you have not given up anger and lust

You have given up prayer and service

But you have not given up greed and pride,

Wake up now and become virtuous.

18. Analysis of Your Daily Activities

Cooking

Eating

Drinking

Sleeping

Procreating

Gossiping

Vilifying

This is the analysis of your daily activities

What a deplorable state

O, Man, Serve, Love, Meditate, Realise.

19. A Poor Man and Shawl

A richman gave a costly shawl,

To a very poor man.

The poor man used it for wiping the feet.

The rich man took it back.

Even so the worldly minded man

Uses the body shawl for sensual pleasures.

Instead of utilising it for attaining Moksha.

The Lord will take back the human body.

And give him an animal body.

Keep the body healthy, pure and strong.

And use it for meditation.

And reach the goal in this very birth.

20. Value of Brahma Jnana

You may be a king, or an emperor

This is of no use

If you do not possess devotion and wisdom.

You may be an erudite scholar

You may have the eight Siddhis

You may be beautiful and strong

You may be a wonderful songster

You may know the sixty-four Kalas

You may be famous in the whole world

All these are of no avail

If you have no Brahma Jnana

Brahma Jnana alone can give you perfection.

21. Who Is Father?

Who is son?

Who is father?

And uncle who?

Who is mother?

God is your real father.

God is your real mother,

Know Him and be free

All illusory attachments

Will be broken down.

22. Atma—Basis for Everything

The Empire State Building in America

The tallest building in the world

Has 102 storeys and a height of 1250 feet.

The five sided Pentagon

The world's largest office budding

Covers 34 acres, has 62.2

lakhs square feet floor space.

Friends! All are made up of earth and lime only.

They must perish today or tomorrow.

The only Majestic, infinite thing is your own Atma.

The basis for all building and this world.

Realise this Alma and rest peacefully for ever.

23. How Long?

How long do you like to be ignorant?

How long do you like to be passionate?

How long do you like to be proud and vain?

How long do you like to lead this deluded life?

How long do you wish to be a slave of senses?

Wake up from this long slumber of ignorance'

Purify, meditate and attain wisdom

And roam about happily.

24. Time and Timeless

Time is formless.

But it devours everything.

Time does not spare any body.

Time is relentless

Time is Lord Yama.

Time is a mode of the mind.

The Eternal is Timeless.

Brahman transcends time.

Attain Brahman and conquer time.

25. Precious Is Your Life

Precious is your life

Waste it not in sensual pleasures

Pursue not the shadows

Which come and go

Wander not after the mirage

God is now, here

He abides in your heart

Pray, sing and meditate

Drink the Divine Nectar

Be filled, be full.

26. Awake, O Man

Behold,

All are passing in this world,

All uncertain,

O, deluded man,

Awake, awake,

Think of Hari,

Except through Hari,

There is no hope for you.

27. Wake Up O Man

Are you really advancing?

Or are you falling

From a high spiritual state?

Institutions are declining.

Creeds are collapsing.

America is a victim

Of softness and luxury.

Europe has declined.

Atom bomb is God now

Industrialisation is God now.

People are sunk in deep materialism.

All have embraced the philosophy of flesh.

"Eat, drink and be merry"

Is the slogan of the day?

O man! Wake up from this long slumber of ignorance.

Realise Atma and be free.

28. Long Only for God

O man! Give up your bad habits

Long only for God,

Who is wisdom, bliss, love and peace.

Worship Lord's feet in the lotus of your heart

With faith, devotion and love

With eyes filled with tears

Plunge yourself in the ocean of bliss

Immerse yourself in the sea of joy.

29. Meet Thy Friend Now

He is eagerly waiting to meet you

You can trust this friend at any time

He will overlook thy faults

He is ever ready to help you

He will guide and protect you

He will give you light, peace and bliss

You can draw inspiration from Him

He is the Immortal Friend

He is Light of lights

He is omnipotent, Infinite.

He will make you Immortal.

30. Look Within

If you have ears to hear, hear

If you have eyes to see, see

If you have heart to feel, feel

If you have a mind to think, think

Shut the external instruments

Learn to look within

Develop the eye of intuition.

Rest in Satchidananda Atma

Enjoy the abiding peace of the Eternal.

31. Seek the Immortal

This world is a shadow

Its loves are unreal

Human love is hollow and shallow

Its objects are illusory

They are like a mirage

The objects are like bubbles

They come and go

Seek the Immortal

And attain eternal bliss.

32. Seek the Eternal—I

This body is a bubble

It is like lightning

This world is a play for two days

It lasts today

It continues tomorrow

No more, no more.

O deluded man!

Awake, Awake!

Seek the Eternal

Rest in the Satchidananda Atman.

33. Seek the Eternal—II

The bloom of rose.

The beauty of the skin,

The pomp of power,

The strength of a wrestler,

The wealth of a millionaire,

The grandeur of an emperor,

The fame of a songster,

The pride of a minister,

All pass away quickly,

Brahman alone endures forever.

Therefore seek Brahman, the Eternal Atman.

34. Seek the Eternal—III

It is not certain whether you will live today

Do not think that this e world is eternal

If you want to do good deeds do them now

Who knows what will happen tomorrow,

A doctor talks on the telephone

And dies on the steps when he goes upstairs.

Such is life's uncertainty here

Seek the Eternal

And be happy for ever.

35. Seek the Eternal—IV

Vibheeshana left his brother

And joined Lord Rama,

Prahlad abandoned his father

And worshipped Hari

Mira left her husband

And sang the glory of Giridhari

Gopies deserted their husbands

For the sake of Lord Krishna

Bharat left his mother

And worshipped the sandals of Sri Rama

Bali abandoned his Guru Sukracharya

They lost nothing thereby

They all attained Life Eternal

Renounce anything

That stands in the way of your God-realisation.

36. Seek the Changeless

One element can be changed into another

Mercury becomes gold

If one proton is lost

Uranium gives arsenic and iodine

Nitrogen can be changed into oxygen

Male is changed into a female

Female is changed into a male

This is all Maya

Maya can do anything

Change is Maya

Changelessness is Brahman

Trust not this changing world

Seek the changeless

Rest in the changeless Brahman

And be blissful for ever.

37. Know Thyself

O ignorant Jiva!

How long will you love vanity?

How long will you utter falsehood?

How long will you be selfish and jealous?

How long will you cheat others?

How long will you run after shadows?

How long will you be slave of mind and senses?

Wake up from the slumber of ignorance.

Know thyself and be free.

38. Realise the Truth

Truth is one,

Sages call it by various names,

Truth is Para Brahman,

Truth is the Absolute,

Truth alone triumphs

Truth is thy own Self or Atma.

Realise the Truth,

Truth will give you freedom.

39. Come Ye Young Ministers

Come ye young ministers, young judges

Young professors, young doctors,

With Vairagya, with spiritual Samskaras

With four means, with plenty of money

And join the Yoga Vedanta Forest University.

Be bold and take Sannyasa.

Study, meditate, realise,

And disseminate spiritual knowledge.

Then alone your life is blessed.

Waste not the precious life any more.

Enough of Iddali, Coffee and Parotta.

Cordial greetings, love and Pranams.

40. Come With Four

Come, come, do come

Who are weary in life?

Come ye all who are sorrow-ladden

Who are bereaved and heart-broken

Who are tired of strife

Who are in despair

Come with four

Here all shall find eternal peace,

Permanent joy and bliss immortal.

41. Immortal Fruit

I have the fruit

That makes life fruitful and immortal

It is an Immortal fruit

That bestows perfection and freedom.

Within my heart

The tree of Brahman grows

That bears emancipation for its fruit

I eat this nectarine fruit

Come friends, join with me

And taste this divine fruit now.

42. Nectar within You

Why do you wander, friend

When the Immortal Atma

Is within you?

Why do you wander?

From forest to forest

In search of what is within you?

Go where you will

To Badri, Cape

Where will you find the place?

That will give you everlasting bliss?

The nectar of Immortality

Is within you.

Meditate and drink this nectar.

43. Body Is a Moving Temple

O man! Your body

Is a moving temple of God

Keep it pure

Your heart is Lord's castle.

A rich treasure lies in your heart,

It is the treasure of treasures.

It is supreme inexhaustible wealth.

Attain this priceless wealth

Through faith, devotion and meditation.

And be happy for ever.

44. Man into Woman

Christine Jorgensen

Formerly George Jorgensen 26 years old

The ex-American G I.

Was changed into a woman

After a series of plastic operations

And hormone treatment in a Copenhagen Hospital.

He had 2000 injections in 2 ¼ years

The body developed curves, the bust grew

Skin and muscles became softer

The beard gradually disappeared.

He wore woman's clothes

The handwriting altered considerably

He had feminine hips

He used powder, lipstick and perfume.

In my opinion the complete change

From a man into a woman

Or vice versa is an impossibility.

Only when there are ovaries and uterus

Can one speak of female organs?

And change from man into a woman.

What is the benefit of this change after all?

Tata Kim Tata Kim Tata Kim

Can this give eternal bliss?

This is Maya's another trick or fraud

Change yourself into Brahman

Through devotion, enquiry and meditation

No plastic operation or hormone injection is necessary for this

You will enjoy immortal bliss.

45. Woman into Man

B. K. B. is endeavouring

To change her sex.

She wants to become a man

And to marry the girl whom she loves

She wants to do a man's job.

What a strange craving!

This is Kali.

Moha is intense (Athi Moha).

This is a very strange world

Maya havocs in a variety of ways

Mind havocs in a diverse manner.

Sex is an illusory thing

This is an illusory world

There is no permanent satisfaction here.

Man wants to become a woman

And woman wants to become a man.

Foolishness, stupidity, ignorance.

Attain the sexless, changeless, Brahman

Here alone you will find eternal satisfaction.

46. Finite Implies Infinite

Finite implies Infinite.

Change implies changelessness.

Effect implies cause.

Law implies law-giver.

Brahman is Infinite, changeless and causeless.

Realise the changeless Infinite

And be happy for ever.

47. Tap the Source

There is a light that never dims

There is a beauty that never fades

There is a drink that immortalises

There is a silence which is ever eloquent

There is a friend who is eternal

There is a peace which ever comforts

There is a bliss that never decays

There is a realm which is boundariless

There is a life eternal, which is ever joyful

It is Atma, thy innermost Self, lndweller,

The Source of all creations.

Chapter Five

INSTRUCTIONS ON SADHANA

1. Sadhana—I

Practise ceaseless enquiry

Have eternal vigilance

Practise incessant meditation

Have burning Vairagya and renunciation

Cultivate intense aspiration.

2. Sadhana—II

Tear off old bad habits

Cultivate new good habits.

Eradicate evil traits.

Cultivate divine virtues

Steady the mind.

Strengthen Sadhana Shakti.

Be a silent witness

Identify with the Sakshi

Rise above body and mind.

Now rest in your own Swaroopa.

3. Heart Temple

Make your heart a temple of God

Remove the weeds of lust and greed

Fill the heart with love and devotion

Pray, sing and meditate

Bum the incense of faith

Let your sovereign enter in

Let sublime and noble life begin.

4. How to Increase Sattwa?

Remain in the company of saint

Take Sattwic or pure food

Do Japa of Mantra

Recite Lord's Names

Sing the glories

Pray fervently, Antarika

Meditate on God or Atma

You will increase your Sattwa.

5. Renounce

Renounce egoism and mineness

Renounce desires

Renounce comfort

Renounce attachment

Renounce lust, greed and pride

You will move onward to the goal

Renunciation bestows immortality

Renunciation confers wisdom.

6. Thy Eternal Heritage

Abandon all desires and cravings

Crush this ego

Silence all thoughts

Seek the Immortal Bliss

Seek it in your own heart

Plunge in the chambers of your heart

Melt the mind in the deep Silence

And realise the abiding Peace

This is thy eternal Heritage, O Ram!

7. True and Eternal Bliss

There is a true, eternal happiness

Beyond sex, food, drink, etc.

This is the eternal bliss of Atma or Soul.

Break your ego

Slay this mind

Control the senses

Annihilate cravings and desires

Abandon attachment

Meditate and realise.

8. The Ten Precepts

Be civil

Be temperate in all things

Be detached

Be kind

Be compassionate

Be generous

Be humble

Be courageous

Be patient

Be forgiving.

9. The Ten Rules of Life

1. Meditate in Brahmamuhurtha 4 a.m.

2. Control anger.

3. Observe Brahmacharya.

4. Be truthful.

5. Be righteous.

6. Cultivate cosmic love.

7. Control the senses.

8. Study religious scriptures daily.

9. Share what you have with others

10. Slay lust, greed, jealousy and pride.

1 0. Learn

Learn to obey

Learn to discriminate

Learn to be dispassionate

Learn to love

Learn to give and share

Learn to be true

Learn to be kind and compassionate

Learn to be pure

Learn to be good and do good

Learn to be non-covetous

Learn to pray, sing and meditate.

11. The Triple Secret

Renounce

Be humble

Be truthful

Renounce desires, egoism, mineness

Humility is self-abnegation

Truth is God. God is Truth.

This triple secret

Renunciation, humility and truthfulness

Is the key to God-realisation.

12. The Triple Gem

Be detached

Be desireless

Be in the company of the wise

You will have spiritual strength

You will enjoy perennial peace

You will be free from pain and sorrow.

You will attain immortality

You will realise undying bliss.

13. Spiritual Furnace and Crucible

Make faith your bellows

Self-restraint your fire

Meditation your crucible

Truth your furnace

Ahimsa your anvil

Renunciation your goldsmith

Dispassion your fuel

Melt your egoism

And enjoy the bliss of the Eternal.

14. Spiritual Ploughing

Plough your heart with the plough of dispassion

Use the ox of vigilance

Sow the seed of health

Put the manure the Self-restraint

Fertilise it with the water of purity

Reap the harvest of eternal bliss and Immortality.

15. Spiritual War

Put on the armour of dispassion

March on the horse of Yoga

Hold the weapon of concentration

Kill the enemies of egoism, lust and hatred

Enter the limitless dominion of bliss Eternal.

16. The Inner War

The Vasanas and cravings resist.

They resist, persist and recur.

A Dheera or spiritual hero alone

With patience, perseverance and vigilance

Can attain triumph.

Pray and attain God's grace.

Without God's grace

You cannot make even an iota of spiritual progress

Sadhana Shakti is God's Grace

Guru is God's Grace

Sadhana and comfort are God's Grace.

17. Dwell in the One

Always remember the One.

Recognise the one.

Dwell in the one.

Hold thou the one.

Meditate on the one.

Reflect on the one.

Attain the one.

Live and move in the one.

Sing the glory of the one.

18. Soar High

O Man! rise above thy limitations.

Rise above senses and mind

Soar high in the realms of eternal bliss

Slay egoism, desires and cravings

Meditate on thy innermost Atma

You will become one with the soul

You will find Light and Immortality.

19. Seva Yoga

Banish hatred

Banish war

Nurse the sick

Protect the weak

Raise the fallen

Elevate the down-trodden

Be friendly to all

Comfort the distressed

Cheer up the depressed.

20. Ring out, Ring in

Ring out hatred and malice

Ring in love and harmony.

Ring out ignorance and foolishness

Ring in the wisdom of the sage.

Ring out worldliness and selfishness

Ring in the Music of life Divine.

Ring out unrighteousness

Ring in righteousness.

Ring out thoughts of jealousy

Ring in thoughts sublime and divine.

21. Forms of Hatred

Jealousy is hatred

Anger is hatred

Ghrina is hatred

Irsha is hatred

Matsarya is hatred

Asuya is hatred

Remove hatred through love,

Prayer, Japa, service and meditation

22. Slay the Evil

Slay the evil that is in your eye

So that the eye cannot see evil

Slay the evil that is in your tongue

So that the tongue cannot speak evil

Slay the evil that is in your ear

So that the ear cannot hear evil.

Slay the evil that is in your mind

So that the mind cannot think evil

Slay the evil that is in your hand

So that the hand cannot do evil.

Slay the evil that is in your feet

So that the feet cannot walk after evil.

23. Greed Is Kali

Wherever there is greed

There are untruth, hypocrisy, selfishness,

Cunningness, theft, violence, injustice.

Misappropriation, fraud and forgery.

Greed is Kali

The desire to take other's property is Kali

Greed is an enemy of peace

Abandon greed through magnanimity,

Charity, generosity and integrity and contentment

And rest peacefully forever in Atma.

24. Slay the Three `K' s

Slay the three 'K' s

Kamini, Kanchana, and Kirti:

Lust, gold and fame.

They are the three Ishanas.

Sthree Ishana, Vitheshana and Loka Ishana.

It is very difficult to slay the desire for Kirti.

Plod on, strive and strive

You will succeed eventually.

25. Three Obstacles to Spiritual Progress

Self-sufficiency, self-justification

And self-assertive Rajasic nature

Are the three important obstacles to spiritual progress.

The aspirant falsely imagines

That he has reached the goal

That he is a great realised Yogin

That he knows everything in Yoga.

He has false Tushti or contentment

He stops his Sadhana.

He does not want to hear anything

From great sages and saints.

Self-justification is a very dangerous habit.

The aspirant has done serious mistakes.

When his mistakes arc pointed out

He argues and justifies himself.

He wants not to be corrected by others

He asserts himself at every step.

He is egoistic and self-seeking

He fights and quarrels

He says, "Do you know who I am?"

He wants to lord over all.

26. Break and Construct

The peasant breaks the soil first

Then he puts manure

Afterwards he sows the seed and waters

In the end he reaps a rich harvest,

Even so, you should break first

All old evil habits and evil traits,

Then you should develop divine virtues.

You should practise meditation.

Then alone you will reap the harvest

Of Samadhi, eternal bliss and everlasting peace.

27. Fry the Vasanas

If the seed is fried

It cannot sprout forth.

Even so if the Vasanas or desires are fried

There will be no rebirth.

If the branches are cut

The tree will yet grow.

If the root is eradicated

The tree will totally perish.

Even to if egoism is totally rooted out

There will be no rebirth.

You will be in union with the Lord.

28. Manorajya

Manorajya is building castles in the air

It is Vikshepa or tossing of mind.

This is due to Rajas.

Do Vichara, Japa, Tratak,

Kirtan, meditation, worship,

Pranayama, Soham breath Abhyasa

It will vanish.

29. Draw Me

I can come near to you,

But you must draw me

By your faith and devotion.

I can enthrone in your heart,

But you must remove the weeds

Of impurity in your heart.

30. Bolt not the Heart's Door

The doctor came with medicines, etc.

To treat the patient

He was standing at the door,

But the patient bolted the door from inside.

Will the patient be benefited? No.

Even so the Guru came to the aspirant

To give spiritual instructions

But the aspirant did not pay any attention.

He was self-sufficient and heedless

He bolted the door of his heart,

And so he was not benefitted like the patient.

31. Spiritualise

Spiritualise and ascend

March on your return journey

To the abode of Eternal Bliss

Fill every atom with Divine Glory

Power and Light and Love

Banish all darkness and ignorance

Shine with Divine Splendour.

32. My Resolves Today

will speak truth today

I shall not bear towards anyone

I will not become angry

I will serve the sick and the poor

I will recite Lord's Name for one hour

I will study religious book for one hour

I will bear insult and injury

I will not fear anyone on this earth

I will eat only four things today

I will observe silence for one hour

I will observe Brahmacharya for one month.

Take these resolves as soon as

You get up from your bed

You will develop will power

And attain peace and strength.

33. Way to Blessedness

Be tolerant

Be forgiving

Be magnanimous

Be courageous

Be compassionate

Be humble

Be serene

Be self-controlled

Be reflective

This is the way to Blessedness

34. Way of Yoga

Grieve not for that

Which you have not

Restrain your speech and mind.

Restrain all the senses

Restrain your actions

Empty your egoism

Be ever calm and serene

Be refined in your conduct

Be cordial in your ways

Cast off lust and hatred

Meditate regularly and vigorously

Now you will attain bliss eternal.

35. The Divine Way of Life

Govern thy turbulent mind

Walk in the path of righteousness

Illumine thy mind

Be merciful to all creatures

Be truthful

Be pure and chaste

Be moderate in all things

Meditate on God.

36. Siva's Way of Life

Practise right living

Lead a virtuous life

Cultivate divine virtues, humility, courage, compassion, etc.

Work for the welfare of others

Be one with all

Cultivate cosmic love

Speak truthfully, lovingly and sweetly

Earn your livelihood honestly

Entertain divine thoughts

Pray fervently from the bottom of your heart

Sing Lord's glories

Meditate ceaselessly.

37. This is the Way

I have appeared in this age

To indicate the way unto men.

The way is:

Simplify your life,

Purify your heart.

Slay egoism and pride

Cultivate cosmic love;

Practise self-discipline.

Serve all, love all.

Hear, reflect, meditate.

Enquire and know Thy Self

Live in the Eternal.

38. The Path to Eternal Bliss

Leave sensual pleasures,

Obey the moral code,

Cultivate patience and forbearance,

Harm not any creature,

Yearn for emancipation,

Harbour not any desires,

Control thy senses five,

Train thy mind to be steady and calm,

Meditate and attain bliss eternal.

39. Path to God-realisation—I

Injure not any creature

Speak the Truth

Practise Brahmacharya

Endure afflictions

Maintain inner and outer purity

Study the scriptures

Adore the Lord

You will attain God-realisation

40. Path to God-realisation—II

See what is good

Hear what is good

Speak what is good

Think what is good

Do what is good

41. Be Good, Do Good

Be good, do good.

Speak good, think good.

Do all the good you can

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can

At all the times you can

To all the people you can

As long as ever you can.

42. Towards God-realisation

See the form of the Lord

Hear His Leelas

Speak about the Lord

Sing His glory

Meditate on His form and attributes.

43. Sit and Meditate

Sit in Padmasan,

Shoot your glance at Trikuti,

Be pure and calm,

Keep the body still,

Restrain the breath slowly,

Silence the thoughts,

Watch every thought,

Be vigilant,

Prolong your meditation,

Pierce the heart,

Rest in your own Atman

Enjoy eternal bliss.

44. Enquire Who Am I?

Enquire who ant I?

Cultivate a burning love and consuming zeal

For the attainment of Divine Light.

Peep into the inner depths of your heart.

Wage a heroic battle with egoism and desires.

You will attain Immortal Bliss.

If you do not do this

You will lose your way in false path.

You will face defeat.

Enquire after the Subjective Centre,

The Real Man, the Metaphysical Entity.

That is lurking in your heart.

This is the first step.

45. Enter the Silence

Be strong,

Be brave

Be heroic

Be patient

Look within you.

Wander not elsewhere.

Enter the Silence

Within you.

Realise what you really are

Within You

46. Enter into Samadhi

Be silent

Acquire steadiness through Asans

Control the breath

Keep the senses away from objects

Concentrate

Meditate

Attain equipoise

Enter into Samadhi.

47. Walk with God

Conquer temptations

Live in your religion

Be utterly fearless

Build up your faith

Overcome evil by good

March towards the goal

Walk with God.

48. Joy-Filling Experience

Be detached

Serve the saints

Serve the Gum

Serve humanity

Aspire intensely

Be thirsty for love of God

Grow in longing

Learn to walk on the way of love

The way of Guru-Bhakti

The way of Guru-Seva

You will obtain divine grace

You will have a joy-filling experience

You will feel the thrill of divine love.

49. This Is the Highest Blessing

Have a poised mind

Keep company with the Sages,

Be righteous and harmonious

Meditate regularly

Serve the poor and the saints

Be contented, be humble,

Be pure, be serene, be kind

Be good, do good and think good

This is the highest blessing.

50. This Is the Greatest Blessing