Transmitting Spirituality to the Future Generations: Shri. Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari

In India we have this funny idea of Ganga
 being a holy river, Narmada being a holy river, Brahmaputra being a holy river. Why? Because from the transcendental heights of the snows where they melt and come down until they reach their ocean, there is a continuity of flow from the source to the goal.

So we human beings, especially those who aspire to civilise themselves in a spiritual way, we are not only to transmit our genes and chromosomes by
 the process of physical reproduction. That every animal does, bird does, beast does, and we do it avidly, with enormous interest in it, lustfully, joyfully, lovingly. The situation may change. But are we 
just transmitters of genes and chromosomes, or are we to transmit something better, something more profound, something with the transcendental dignity of divinity itself? Therefore comes this idea of a spiritual father, a spiritual mother, a spiritual child, a spiritual marriage, as distinct from human marriages, human parentage, human children. Your human children transmit your human genes. The spiritual children must transmit the spiritual genes – if I may use that term, though it’s not correct.

So you see, we abhyasis have, shall we say, a commitment, a responsibility to the future that
 we consider ourselves as transmitters more than anything else.... We are not here to relieve ourselves, even of our miseries. We are not here to find satisfaction and pleasure. They are transitory. We
 are here to absorb, grow into something which, by nature, naturally, will be transmitted to those with whom we come in contact.

Somebody was saying, “Why in the presence of the Master there is so much love and harmony?” Because the Master is like an open flower – not afraid of the bees, not afraid of the ants, willing to be sniffed at by everybody. A closed bud does not distribute its perfume into the air. When it opens, the perfume comes. This is the secret of human life.

So, are you able to fill? Are you willing? Is your heart open enough to say, like Christ says, “Come
 all unto me. Come ye unto me. Suffer them to come unto me.” Are you willing? Are you ready? Are you prepared? Not with the head, not with a momentary emotional setup which says, “Yes, Master, I am here.” I have heard too many people saying it. Are you willing to put your life? Spiritual transmission,
 I mean not in the sense of the Sahaj Marg transmission of pranahuti, but the ability to transmit the spiritual lore, the spiritual wisdom, the spiritual greatness, the spiritual heights of possibilities, of evolution – this transmission needs people who are willing to open their heart at both ends so that it may go through you. Here there is no room for a person who says, “I will take and I will keep.” Society is full of such people who want to take and to keep. This is not the place for that. Here you have to take, add and give. In a sense, like a bank: take money, add interest to it and give.

Can anything be hidden from him? You may strive to hide but he cannot. I mean, it cannot be hidden from him. Don’t seek to hide from him. Expose everything to him that is rotten, so that on the other phase, you may expose everything in you that is delightful, glorious, noble, to the rest of the world. See, this is spirituality. Does the Master regret having to do it? Not at all. Because he has the ability to remove this, so that finally you are beautiful, glorious, noble, all around. To such a day we look forward in your lives, in every one of your lives, in a certain way selfishly too because as I said, you are the future transmitters of such a profound, such a glorious tradition.

Babuji Maharaj said this was the Sahaj Marg system of meditation. Transmission was there seventy or eighty generations before Raja Dasharatha and then it disappeared. Why did it disappear? Because people thought it was too good for the ordinary folk. Even today, you have people who will not teach you some aspects of medicine. They will not teach you certain secrets of gem-cutting or this cutting. Eventually the secret is lost. So, many things have been lost in this great country because of this idea of secrecy in the giver. “No, no, I cannot teach you. This is only for the elite.” Who is the elite? The elite is one who has become elite, not one who was born elite, you see.

Today we have the Master you see, My Master, Ram Chandraji Maharaj, who is willing to trust every one of us with this sacred lore of spiritual evolution to the highest, entrust its practice to our rather besmirched hands, entrust that teaching to our not too trusting hearts, put that enormous burden of transmitting it to future generations on our not very strong shoulders, hoping that as we carry it we will become stronger and stronger. Like anything else, you start carrying twenty kilograms, you can carry twenty-five, then thirty, then forty.

Here it is not a physical load, so your capacity can be ultimately infinite, provided you are willing to carry it. If you don’t, you lapse back into the sordid world until you have developed again the craving, the eagerness, the anxiety to develop yourself, and the willingness now to lift up a load and say: “In the lifting up of this load, in relieving the others of their burden of this weight, lies my destiny.”

Thank you.

[Excerpts from The Principles of Sahaj Marg, Vol. 15, 1st edn., 2012, Author: Shri. Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, affectionately known as Chariji Maharaj, Spiritual Guru, Shri Ram Chandra Mission]

Practise with Love - Shri Kamlesh D. Patel

Often we speak of conditions, evolution, changes; so much we talk about. We talk of how to retain conditions, etc. A lot of time is spent on it. There is only one solution: practise, practise and practise with lots of love. Never look here, this way or that way or backward. Let us keep our eyes focused on the Goal, come what may. Life’s difficulties will be there, enjoyment will
be there, joys will be there. We
participate in all of them with
equal attention, thanking our great Master in the process and continuing our march onward.

Often when we speak to seekers who are looking for or looking forward to embracing a practice like Sahaj Marg, what do we tell them? “Please join us and experience what yoga through Sahaj Marg can be.” This union through Sahaj Marg can be an experience. A number of years after having joined the system, we conclude that the experience of one time or of one sitting is not good enough. It is like becoming a millionaire for one night and then again being a pauper. My inner richness, my inner wealth must be maintained and, if possible, must swell.

Experience should not be momentary experience. Yet our Masters keep on instilling experiences after experiences with each meditation. We get fed up with these experiences, and then we realise: “Enough of it. Now I must become worthwhile.” When this realisation comes, that “I must become,” it’s a big step in our life. And then we start making life changes. We start adjusting our life in such a way that what we are becoming is conducive, is compatible with this.

Then another principle kicks in: that this is also a process which must culminate in something where there is permanency. And we are no longer becoming, but we be in that state all the time. And the final joke will be that we dissolve our existence in that final Being. We no longer exist; we have reached home. Please meditate over this.

An excerpt from the concluding talk given by current President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shri Kamlesh D. Patel on 25 July 2014 at the bhandara for Master Chariji Maharaj’s 87th birth anniversary, at Diamond Jubilee Park, Tiruppur. 

Movie Tamasha Review: A Sahaj Marg perspective

I saw this Bollywood movie 'Tamasha' yesterday and it was a nice movie. It makes one think and entertains as well. It was different, the caption in its advertisement says, "Why always the same story". It brings up the dilemma of "Do what you like Versus Like what you do". And of course, like any Indian movie, ends up saying that it is best to do what you like, what you love to do.

This made me think and I was trying to see if I can connect any of the lessons that I have probably learnt from Sahaj Marg system of Spiritual practice. I feel most of our decisions are based on emotions and Babuji Maharaj as well as Chariji Maharaj have very clearly warned us of the pitfalls of an emotional life. To the end that Babuji makes a statement, "An emotional life is a dangerous life". Of course, he refers to this from a spiritual point of view.

I read a quote, "Goals are Dreams with Deadlines". Now, it is good to dream big, but actualizing your dream is critical. Deadlines does not make things dry and sour, like how it was trying to show in the movie that a product manager's job is very bad and things like that. It is just that, we add a practical tinge to dreams and make it feasible, possible and available so that one can pursue the dream to make it come true.

One way of looking into this is from Sahaj Marg literature where Babuji talks about desire and craving. According to Babuji, desire when fulfilled leads to further development of desires and this is a vicious cycle because the seed of desire is settled deep within the mind and it germinates at the right opportunity. However, Babuji talks about a peculiar form of craving, which when developed within the heart and when such a craving is fulfilled, it is pretty much the end of the journey and does not lead to any other craving. "One craving that can put an end to all cravings of the human". This is possible only when the craving is diverted towards the absolute, infinite, divine being.

Should one try to distinguish between emotion and passion? Emotions bubble out of desires and play on the heart. They apparently show the drive and love for things to do, but they are only release of desires inside the man. So, as mentioned above, Emotions are just traps that a human mind get entrapped in, however beautiful or romantic they may sound. However, when we look a pure passion for achieving something higher, aligning it with the craving that we talked about, is a powerful tool that can drive us towards the goal.

Another interesting thing shown in the movie is to try and bring out a subtle difference between Success and Excellence. This was nicely shown in the movie. The President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the current Master and successor of Chariji Maharaj, Shri. Kamlesh D. Patel simplifies the spiritual pursuit to nothing but excelling in what we may be doing or pursuing. This statement by Shri. Kamlesh helps in demystifying the spiritual approach for ordinary human beings of the 21st century to understand and apply in our lives. Shri Kamlesh says that success is limited to fame and money, whereas excellence is far reaching and when we excel in something, success is sure to follow.

So, to sum it all up:
BEWARE OF DREAMS, EMBRACE GOALS
BEWARE OF DESIRES, EMBRACE CRAVING
BEWARE OF EMOTIONS, EMBRACE PASSION
BEWARE OF SUCCESS, EMBRACE EXCELLENCE

Invitation to Meditate

Babuji Maharaj on Faith: Some Gems from Sahaj Marg

When suffering is endured with faith and a determination to face up to it, it becomes an unparalleled asset. The best is thus achieved. Each person has his or her own karma and must cope with it. 

The sufferings of the animal and plant worlds are great, and moreover they are not understood by humans as they should be. The plant kingdom is the most helpless, having no means of expression that can be perceived by the human race. 

Courage and perseverance are major assets. When faith and spiritual commitment support a person on a daily basis, everything becomes more bearable, allowing each one to grow. 

--- Babuji Maharaj

Observations: Aren't these real gems of statements from the Master of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. How much humanity and divinity must co-exist in one single person to make such beautiful statements. The current Master, Shri Kamlesh D. Patel has also spoken of faith as one of the highest virtue and extolled the need for faith and acceptance in an abhyasi's life as paramount spiritual traits. 

Is SRCM Sahaj Marg a Sect?

Sahaj Marg is not a path that is restrictive, closed or sectarian. Some principles are adhered to, which is normal, but it is accessible to all. It will always keep growing over time, supported in this by new methods that permit an easy elevation that generates the best. Spirituality is slowly winning over hearts in a manner that is natural and feasible for all. We wish for the spiritual development of our brothers and sisters, without any sectarian constraints. A genuine commitment of the heart is much more productive for everyone than overly strict rules that do not really promote the progress of the seeker. Only the call of the heart is decisive. - Babuji Maharaj

My observations: It is very clear from this above statements, that Babuji makes about Sahaj Marg. There is nothing sectarian about it. There are obviously some principles of Sahaj Marg, which mainly deal with practical aspects and value based system, which are essential for the spiritual growth of the seeker, but it is open to all and purely a heart based system. Kamlesh D. Patel, the current Master is taking this system of Sahaj Marg offered by Shri Ram Chandra Mission, to greater heights by making things more accessible. As referred to it above, "new methods" will help in expansion. 

Sahaj Connect: Connect with Sahaj Marg

'Sahaj Connect' mobile app is now available and it is really helping out all the abhyasis around the world to take meditation sittings from SRCM Preceptors whenever they want. SRCM Preceptors download this app into their smartphones and they can say whether they are available or unavailable. A list of available SRCM preceptors in the geography of choice is displayed when a Sahaj Marg abhyasi logs into his side of the app. From that list, he can choose an available SRCM preceptor and request for a sitting. Right then and there, the abhyasi of Shri Ram Chandra Mission is getting his sitting.

Interestingly, our current Master of SRCM, Kamlesh D. Patel has also been using this app extensively and he has been giving sittings to abhyasis who request him from this app. Lucky are those who can get a meditation session with the Master directly and it is worthwhile to note that latest technologies can also be used for productive and positive things. Imagine, that now, one can simply use this app and receive a meditation sitting with transmission wherever he may be. It can be so helpful to abhyasis who are traveling. Our beloved Master Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, Chariji Maharaj, would be so happy to know that such a thing is being made possible now.

Please search for "Sahaj Connect" in google play store and click on the App offered by Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation to install in your android device. Alternatively, you may download APK file and install manually in your android device. For any further technical enquiries, please contact: sahajconnect@srcm.org

Sensitivity (Sahaj Marg Meditation of SRCM)

Once Rev. Babuji Maharaj asked few Prefects to go to Fategarh to Rev. Lalaji Maharaj's samadhi. Dr. KCV, M.L. Chaturvedi, SKR and few more including Chariji Maharaj went there. Dr.KCV conducted Satsangh there.

After they returned,  Rev.Babuji Maharaj asked them how was the sitting.  Each one said something very good....

Finally Chariji's turn came and He was feeling awkward. He told Babuji Maharaj, " Actually Babuji,  I am sorry to say that I didn't feel anything.. " 

Rev. Babuji Maharaj said," sabbash,  Parthasarathi. You are right. What is there? Everything is only here! "

Our current Master of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Kamlesh D. Patel has commented on Sensitivity extensively and emphasized its need in our lives as abhyasis and preceptors. 

Benefits of Heartfulness (Sahaj Marg Meditation offered by Shri Ram Chandra Mission)

Internal skills development such as clarity of mind, self-confidence, empathy, awareness and focus are just a few of the benefits of Heartfulness relaxation and meditation. Our unique cleaning technique helps in liberating oneself from those hard to get rid of habits and tendencies. We also experience higher energy in our activities and a great sense of purpose and fulfillment. In a nutshell, it strengthens our strengths, weakens our weaknesses and makes us more holistic.

Master Kamlesh Patel was recently talking about how to explain meditation to new comers and he was talking about using a simple scientific approach to explain the benefits of meditation. Keep the talk to a necessary minimum and let people experience the transmission. 

Heart Based Meditation (Sahaj Marg meditation offered by SRCM)

“Mens Sana In Corpore Sano” – A sound mind in a sound body: says an old proverb. Once the body is deeply relaxed, the restless tendencies of the mind can be addressed using a very simple and effective Heart based Meditation technique. The mind experiences a stillness it has never seen before and the heart awakens to its fullest potential, enabling the person to experience life in its totality. Master Chariji Maharaj has used this quote so many times in his talks.