Sahaj Marg says – From Source to Matter: Babuji Maharaj

Dr. Sanskrit Kannan narrates this very interesting and profound incident that he heard directly from Rev. Chariji Maharaj.

Once some scientists visited Rev. Babuji Maharaj in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. During the course of conversation, Babuji Maharaj told them about Sahaj Marg Raja Yoga meditation. They asked Him, "What is the use of all this?"

Babuji told them about the efficacy of Sahaj Marg. After listening to Babuji, the scientists asked what benefits he derived by meditation.

Babuji told them that he has realised what he had to, and by His Master's grace, he could know anything. Then, Babuji added, "If you want to test me, give me small experiment".

One of the scientist asked Babuji to explain about the atom. Rev. Babuji Maharaj took a paper and a pencil, drew the structure of atom and its particles and gave them a lecture for one and half hours.

The scientists were spell bound. Then, one scientist got up and said, "Babuji, you are a liar".

Babuji Maharaj asked him innocently, "Why are you saying this"?

The scientist said, "Babuji, you said that you had not gone to any college. But unless you had a Ph.d on this topic, you could not have explained like this."

Then Rev. Babuji Maharaj made this wonderful statement:

“SCIENTIST GOES FROM MATTER TO THE SOURCE WHEREAS THE YOGI GOES FROM SOURCE TO THE MATTER".

As above so below: Sahaj Marg meaning by Chariji Maharaj

"In the tradition of India, there is a famous statement, which makes its earliest appearance in the Rig Veda. It later reappears in the Katha Upanishad. It says that the immortal fig tree, representing Brahman, has its roots above and its leaves and branches below.

My Master very kindly explained to me that this imagery of the fig tree, inverted in shape, really shows that all life below should draw their sustenance directly from above. If they do so, then they acquire the possibility of becoming like that which is above the Ultimate Self!"

- Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari

Also, in the first and second verses of Bhagavad Gita Ch. XV, the example of Aswattha tree having its root upwards and the branches facing downwards is given as analogy. Rev. Chariji Maharaj often used to quote this verse.

When Chariji Maharaj asked Rev. Babuji Maharaj about this symbolism, Babuji told that it says that the Source is above and everything is derived from the Source. This represents the famous Invertendo principle that is present in many of the Sahaj Marg literature.  

In a similar context, Rev. Chariji Maharaj also quotes the passage "All this and Heaven too" and said, it should be "Heaven and all this too". The significance of this statement becomes clear when we look at it from the context of the inverted fig tree example.

Coming back to the inverted fig tree, it means that the Source is the root, which is above and the branches and leaves, which are spread below are the Vedas that is knowledge.

So, more than the various branches of knowledge, it is the source that is most important and everything is directly derived from the Source. One who realizes this Truth would attain Immortality.

This is the wisdom of the Masters of Sahaj Marg who say that we should seek only the Highest, the Source from which everything comes, including knowledge etc. and not seek what gives us worldly things.

About Shri Kamlesh D Patel

Shri Kamlesh D Patel is the President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and the Spiritual Master of the Sahaj Marg system of Raja Yoga meditation. Shri Kamlesh Desaibhai Patel was born in Gujarat, India and his interest from a young age in spiritual matters led him to the practice of Sahaj Marg, while he was in college in India. He became a dedicated disciple of the spiritual teacher, Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, also known as Babuji Maharaj (1899-1983), the founding president of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, and later of Shri Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, also known as Chariji Maharaj (1927-2014), who succeeded Babuji Maharaj. Shri Kamlesh Patel’s successful career in pharmacy took him to New York City along with his family, where he became an entrepreneur. This exposed him further to people from many countries and backgrounds, and gave deeper insight into the struggles of modern-day living.

Over the decades, Kamlesh Patel has assisted his guide, Chariji, in the management of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, which offers the Heartfulness approach to the practice of Sahaj Marg in most countries of the world free of charge. After Chariji Maharaj’s passing on the 20^th of December 2014, Kamlesh succeeded him as the spiritual representative and president of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, fulfilling Chariji’s directive. Kamlesh’s every effort is now devoted to providing Heartfulness to one and all, making it possible to experience yogic transmission, the unique feature of this Sahaj Marg meditation practice.

Concept of Rebirth: From Sahaj Marg Literature by Chariji Maharaj

Topic of Rebirth from Sahaj Marg Literature: Conversation between Chariji Maharaj and Babuji Maharaj

"We were talking in a general way of liberation, liberated souls, past life and so on.

When talking of past life, I asked Babuji Maharaj what could be the time interval between two births, or rather between death and rebirth.

I told Master that I had read somewhere that souls with good samskaras, which have however to be reborn, are reborn almost immediately, whereas the souls with bad samskaras remain suspended in limbo, as it were. Master said this was not correct.

According to Master it was the soul with bad samskaras which was reborn soon, some almost immediately too, whereas the ones who were good had usually to hang around awaiting the creation of circumstances suitable for rebirth. Also, good souls were reluctant to be reborn and avoided this as long as possible. He then pointed to certain human examples where a soul had to wait several hundred or even several thousand years before taking rebirth."

Taken from Chapter-5, Yatra Vol-1

More clarification from Dr. Kannan: 

Rev. Chariji Maharaj has mentioned that the grossest soul takes immediate rebirth. He was explaining that it was the Samskaras of the soul and it chooses the parents. When asked, "Should it not be the Samskaras of the parents that they should get such a child or children?" Rev. Chariji Maharaj replied, "It is the soul which decides. You see, before a seed is sown, the peasant tills the ground, manures and prepares the land and then only the seed is sown. Similarly the Soul chooses the proper environment for it to descend." And went on to add, Lord Krishna also says the same in the Bhagavad Gita.

Further elaboration: 

Actually one need not worry about rebirth. Rev. Chariji Maharaj has said that it is another opportunity given to us for attaining liberation. No law gives this many opportunities, but God in His infinite wisdom and compassion goes on giving more and more opportunities for us to evolve higher and higher.

Also if one cannot pass the lower class how will he get through the higher classes?  So, looked from this perspective, even rebirth is a gift. This is what Rev. Chariji Maharaj told us once.

Rev. Babuji Maharaj said, "Why don't you think that this is your last birth?"

So you see, all the Masters of Sahaj Marg are positive in their approach that instead of condemning rebirth, one should take it as another opportunity to go higher and higher.

Also think of the great Masters like Buddha who said that he would not like to get liberation till the last soul is liberated.

Rev. Chariji Maharaj also told us once that the work or the mission of the Master is not over till everyone is liberated.

Such is the noble task and large heartedness of the Masters of Sahaj Marg.

What determines the birth of a child? Science or Genetics in particular may say different things. But, please consider this:

Is it the father or mother or the environment or something else, which determines the birth the child?  In the texts on Ayurveda, like CHARAKA SAMHITA discuss on this.

If it is environment, then how is that those living in clean and palatial buildings do not have children?  On the other hand those living in huts or streets get healthy children.

If it is the parents, then there are many men and women who do not beget children.

Even if father or mother is having deformities (like dumb, deaf, blind, lame...) and the child is born without deformities. But even if the parents are without deformities, the child may be born with deformities (including congenital heart disease or other problems).

So what is the cause?

The ancient Rishis in the text say it is one' s KARMA. Sahaj Marg calls this SAMSKARAS. Patañjali also calls it by another term Vaasanaa. But Karma or Samskaras, it cannot be seen or understood. The laws of Karma are inexorable, says Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita.

Rev. Chariji Maharaj once mentioned, how can one explain the fact that four children born to the same parents are different, though born and brought up in the same environment? One becomes doctor, one an actor, one lawyer, one a rogue. In many places children are born even without milk to drink? Why? Sometimes the father or mother is very intelligent and the son is dull. The opposite is also there.

What does science say? Spirituality says, Sahaj Marg says it is due to one' s Samskaras. This is popularly called KARMA. The Karma is three fold:

• Sanchita -- acquired through eons of time.
• Praarabha -- that which has started from the time of this birth.
• Aagaami -- which is yet to come. Future. This depends on what we do now.

The Masters of Sahaj Marg lay importance on the present moment, as we cannot change the past. Swami Vivekananda says: past is past. But out of the past comes the future. So the Present determines the future. The Masters of Sahaj Marg advise us to live in the Present.

How is it possible?  Simple. Attach your self with the one who always lives in the Present. Well that personality is only the Great Master.