Shraddha means respect, implicit faith and trust. It also means self-confidence. Besides having the greatest respect for our teachers, we must have implicit faith and trust in them. We must also have the self-confidence that we will surely be able to experience God with our teachers help, even though the path of spiritual progress, as the scriptures say has many obstacles and difficulties.
Note – The above points are notes I have scrubbed down while reading the book “Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s” written by Swami Bhaskarananda. I am blogging this material only to encourage the readers who see my blog to read the book and is not meant for any commercial purpose. It is just sharing information about a good book.
1.Fake teachers usually try to project a mysterious image. This is often achieved by making themselves less accessible.
2.Fake teachers claim to have acquired some ancient and secret techniques from a mysterious holy man. They also claim that they alone has been empowered to teach those secret techniques to certain chosen people, preferably the rich and the famous.
3.Very few aspirants are willing to work hard for long periods to achieve spiritual progress. Taking advantage of that reluctance, some fake teachers claim that hard work will not be necessary for those who become their students. They also claim that by their spiritual powers they can awaken the student’s dormant spirituality and liberate them here and now. Such claims are utterly false. The food in our stomach cannot be digested by anyone else. So also with spiritual progress – it is we who have to work hard for it; no one else can do it for us.
A teacher can only give us guidance and inspiration. We must follow our teacher’s guidance and work hard to progress spirituality. The expression spiritual practice means repetitive spiritual effort. Intense spiritual effort has to be made over and over again to achieve the goal of spiritual life.
4.Another technique that false teachers use is to flatter the egos of their students. They tell the students that they had been highly advanced souls in their previous incarnations and were born this time to assist him in propagating his message throughout the entire world, preferably in the affluent west.
5.Another technique fake teachers may use is to pretend to be all-knowing. With the help of accomplices they first collect information about the unsuspecting people who visit them. Using that information, then try to create the false impression that they know everything about them.
6.False teachers may start religious communes and encourage their followers to come and live with them. Those joining these communes are almost totally controlled by these teachers.
Note – The above points are notes I have scrubbed down while reading the book “Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s” written by Swami Bhaskarananda. I am blogging this material only to encourage the readers who see my blog to read the book and is not meant for any commercial purpose. It is just sharing information about a good book.
As long as there is a demand for true teachers, numerous false teachers will abound. As long as good money is in demand, lots of counterfeit money will be in circulation. A realistic view of this world reveals that proportionately what is best is always the least. There is very little cream in milk, very little perfume in flowers, and only a small number of good and noble people in the world. The same applies to genuine spiritual teachers. Their number is negligible compared to the relatively large number of fake teachers. With no quality control inspection in religion, false teachers continue to explore the ignorant and gullible without hindrance.
Characteristics of genuine spiritual teachers:
1.Genuine spiritual teachers have no ulterior selfish motives. They always think of the spiritual and mundane well-being of others.
2.They do not carve praise, honor or fame. If praised by others they feel embarrassed. Yet they are always eager to give praise and honor to others.
3.They are beyond lust and greed. Both lust and greed are rooted in selfishness. Genuine spiritual teachers are totally unselfish.
4.They do not crave money.
5.Genuine spiritual teachers do not look upon themselves as either teachers or saints. Their natural humility prevents them from doing so. They give their teachings without the vanity of a teacher.
6.They never write books or autobiographies to glorify themselves; nor do they indulge in any other kind of self aggrandizement. If they write books at all, they do so as a service to mankind or God. As long as they are alive, they are against anyone writing their biographies.
7.They are not interested in any kind of publicity.
8.Genuine spiritual teachers may start organizations but will never name them after themselves. Nor will they allow an organization founded by their admirers to be named after them. They may found organizations and out of reverence and gratitude name them after their deceased Gurus or spiritual teachers.
9.Truthfulness is one of the most important qualities of genuine spiritual teachers. If they lie they are not fit to be teachers.
10.Genuine spiritual teachers practice what they preach. They do not advise others to do what they themselves would not do.
11.Genuine spiritual teachers are not mystery-mongers. They do not mystify religion. They do not want to awe people by claiming to have miraculous powers, nor do they ordinarily want to display them. If at all they perform miracles under the inspiration of God, they consider that to be God’s glory, not their own.
12.They are never depressed or morose. They are always peaceful and cheerful. They are humorous, but their humor does not hurt or ridicule anyone; the use it to help people spiritually.
13.They are naturally nonviolent, kind and considerate. They never become really angry. Sometimes they make a show of mock anger to discipline their students for their spiritual good.
14.Humility is a special distinguishing quality of all genuine spiritual teachers and saints. All great spiritual teachers and saints are humble.
15.In addition to all these qualities, a genuine spiritual teacher should also have a good spiritual lineage.
Success in secular life, whether in the past or present, is not the right criterion to judge the spirituality of a teacher.
A saint’s humility is the outcome of many years of intense spiritual practice.
Humility is a realistic recognition of our imperfections. It does not make us feel worthless; it urges us to strive for perfection. One cannot overcome defects by trying only once. Repeated attempts have to made. As success comes only after many failed attempts, one develops humility, and cannot feel superior to others.
Note – The above points are notes I have scrubbed down while reading the book “Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s” written by Swami Bhaskarananda. I am blogging this material only to encourage the readers who see my blog to read the book and is not meant for any commercial purpose. It is just sharing information about a good book.
The dormant spiritual power of man resides between the base of the sexual organ and the anus. When awakened through spiritual practice, it enters the Sushumna channel that is inside the backbone and starts coursing upward toward the brain. Inside the Sushumna channel, there are six different centers of spiritual awareness called Chakras. These Chakras are visualized by the Yogis as so many lotuses. They are, in ascending order:
1.Muladhara - situated near the anus, is a four-petaled lotus
2.Svadhishthana - situated at the base of the sexual organ, has six petals
3.Manipura - which is in the region of the navel, is a ten-petaled lotus
4.Anahata – located in the region of the heart, contains twelve petals
5.Vishuddha – near the base of the throat, has sixteen petals
6.Ajna – situated between the two eyebrows is a two-petaled lotus
Muladhara is the seat of the Kundalini power. After being awakened, this power passes through these six chakras and reaches the cerebrum where the Sahasrara, the thousand-petaled lotus is located. When the awakened Kundalini power reaches the Sahasrara, the spiritual aspirant becomes illumined.
Book: Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s Yoga by Swami Bhaskarananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. Price Rs.75/-. Pages – 252.
Note – The above points are notes I have scrubbed down while reading the book “Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s” written by Swami Bhaskarananda. I am blogging this material only to encourage the readers who see my blog to read the book and is not meant for any commercial purpose. It is just sharing information about a good book.
Disclaimer: [As these types of topics cannot be put down in very few lines and there are different methods and schools of thoughts regarding the same, I, being at the beginner level, trying to follow what great sages or swami has written, will be blogging all those materials which I have read and thought of useful. These are notes or scribing I normally take when I read a book or some stuff on net and is not intended for any commercial use and no claim is made by me on this written material. This written stuff belongs to the writer or publisher or organization but is blogged by me only to spread awareness about a good book or method so that the blog readers are encouraged to read the original books. Details about the book name, author, publisher, organization, price and the links are given below. ]
Meditation is a state of intense concentration. If the mind is made to flow in an uninterrupted manner to its object of thought for a prolonged period of time, it is called meditation.
“Tatra pratyaikatanata dhyanam” i.e., “Uninterrupted thinking of one thought is Dhyana or meditation.” – Yoga Sutras 3/2.
It is not true that we cannot concentrate. What we lack is the ability to concentrate our minds on everything, and under all circumstances. It is easy to concentrate on what is pleasant. The difficulty arises when we have to concentrate on something unpleasant. A student finds it hard to concentrate on a dull and uninteresting book and a parishioner feels drowsy when listening to a boring sermon.
Yet, all that is pleasant is not necessarily good. On the other hand, what is unpleasant may be good and beneficial. We must learn to concentrate on whatever we do, whether pleasant or unpleasant, as long as it is beneficial for us. Meditation – which is no other than training in concentration – can enable us to do this.
Concentration is indispensable in achieving success in life. Success in no area of human life can be attained without it. Swami Vivekananda used to say that the different between a genius and an idiot is in their power of concentration.
Benefits:
Some say that meditation is good for health. It removes stress by relaxing the body and mind. It reduces high blood pressure. It helps slow down the aging process and improves memory. Some also say that meditation helps in gaining supernatural powers. While all these claims may be true, the sages tell us that these are not the best reasons to meditate. Rather, meditation has a much higher purpose which is God-Realization or experiencing the Ultimate Truth.
Now a days, Yoga is often incorrectly known to be only some physical postures that can enhance health and longevity. In India, where all these techniques were originally developed – such exercises are called Hatha Yoga. The word Yoga has many other meanings. In the context of spiritual life, it means methods which help one in establishing communion with the Divine Reality, viz. Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, etc.
Man is a combination of
1.The physical body
2.The vital energy
3.The sense organs
4.The motor organs
5.The mind
These put together are called the body-mind-complex. Although involved with the body-mind-complex, the soul of man is not a part of it. The soul is eternal, changeless, infinite, and the only source of consciousness. Man’s body-mind-complex acquires consciousness by borrowing it from the soul. The soul is also called the Divine Spirit, the Divine Self, and the Divine Essence.
Methods of God-Realization – The Four Yogas
The Sanskrit word Yoga means a yoke or a link – a link between the spiritual aspirant and God, means a technique or path by following which we can establish communion with God.
Hinduism offers many different Yogas or techniques to reach God. Out of them, four are most important as they correspond to the four broad catagories into which Hinduism classes all spiritual seekers. These Yogas are:
1.Bhakti Yoga or the path of devotion. This path is meant primarily for people who are temperamentally emotional and respond easily to love and affection.
2.Jnana Yoga or the path of rational inquiry. This path is prescribed for people of rational temperament to whom reason appeals more than faith.
3.Raja Yoga or the path of psychic control. Raja Yoga is for aspirants who are of meditative temperament with a natural yearning to completely maser their minds.
4.Karma Yoga or the path of right action. The path of Karma Yoga is most attractive to people who are habitually very active.
All these paths, except for Karma Yoga, prescribe their own kinds of meditation to experience Divinity. The path of Karma Yoga teaches the practice of selfless action as a means to experience Divinity. It does not teach meditation. Raja Yoga, however, puts maximum emphasis on meditation.
Book: Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s Yoga by Swami Bhaskarananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. Price Rs.75/-. Pages – 252.
Note – The above points are notes I have scrubbed down while reading the book “Meditation – Mind and Patanjali’s” written by Swami Bhaskarananda. I am blogging this material only to encourage the readers who see my blog to read the book and is not meant for any commercial purpose. It is just sharing information about a good book.
Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, India
Call me as u like - tirumalanath, thiru, tirumal, timmi, tirumala, neelaiagari or neel. Took my first breath on May 21. Graduated in Chemical Engineering but still learning about action and reactions of life. Working Labour as Sr QA Analyst in Software Product Testing. Always in Pepe Jeans/Tshirts. 8 to 10 cups of Tea for daily survival. My Background score now a days is limited to Indian folk, Instrumental, Classical and my favorite MASS BEAT. Not understanding anything I read, piled up all the books into a small library. I have been all over India but keep visiting places like Varanasi, Tiruvanamalai, Nashik and Goa , but city life is just fine with me. My only
Passion is Thinking..Intense thinking about everything and anything. Very serious about life. I cherish the past (na..re...na), enjoy the hell out of the present and ****cally looking for the future. I have good appreciation for Places, People, Culture, Food, Writing, Reading, Music, History, Meditation, Gadgets, Spirituality, Politics, Architecture and heritage. I love to be either alone in calm place or with dozens of people in very crowded places.
Posts
