When you can drop and let go, yoga happens

Yat gyatva matto bhavati, stabdho bhavati, atmaramo bhavati

Knowing this you become intoxicated, spellbound and you repose in the Self. There is nothing that can intoxicate you like love. And all the intoxication that people use is to be in that love, is in the search for that love. But they are searching for love in the wrong place. It is the frustration, the ‘unfulfilment’ that makes one go for intoxicants, isn’t it so? What happens when you are intoxicated? The ‘two’ disappears, the ‘other’ vanishes. When the other vanishes, then you are more at ease and love is that which gives you such ease, such comfort.

Divine love intoxicates you. Just knowing Divine love, you get intoxicated, spellbound and wonder-struck. When we are miserable, we ask many questions, “ Why this, Why this?” When the questions turn into wonder, love arises. Love does not give rise to more questions - it is the  answer for all the questions.

Love is not a path actually. Love is home. Love brings you back home. Love is not an act or an action. It is a result.

Then the next question arises, “How can I have it? That’s what I want.Yes. What you are saying is right! How can I have it? I want to have it. I desire for it.” Then the Rishi says :

Sa na kamayamana, nirodha rupatvat

It cannot be an object of desire. When the desires cease, then love can be felt, experienced. Don’t make love an object of desire. Desire means what? Not now, not this; something in the future. Desire simply means, ‘not now, not this - that and then’. Desire causes such feverishness, love is such a cooling impact. Sa na kamayamana - don’t make love an object of desire, the goal of your desire. When the desires calm down, you realise that love is right here - Now. That is why Buddha said that desires are the cause of sorrow and misery. Love is the goal of all desires  and when you cannot have, when you cannot experience or achieve that love, then hatred and anger come. The desire for love brings all other imperfections, for e.g. frustration. Whether fulfilled or unfulfilled, desire brings frustration. This is the nature of desire. Love cannot be  achieved by just desiring it because it is the cessation of desire. It is the source or goal of all desires - sa na kamayamana.

Then what is that cessation? How does one stop that?

Nirodhastu loka veda vyapara nyasah

It is taking a break from all activities, whether worldly or spiritual, whether religious or material - being centred in both activities. Nirodhastu - there is a feverishness to do something, to achieve something. You say, “I don’t want anything material,” but then it could switch over to wanting to achieve some heaven, some spiritual merit, or bliss or some state of consciousness.

See, you are still holding on to the desire and the action, but it has shifted from the material to the more ethereal, non-material. Our mind is so tricky.

Loka veda vyapara nyasah - you cannot leave activity just like that. So what can you do? If you are 100% in an activity, then you become free from the activity. You are able to rest from that activity. This is what we don’t do. Being 100% in an activity centres you. Desire is not  being involved 100% in action.

Suppose you want to drive and go to Los Angeles - you just drive and go; but if you just sit and keep thinking about it, it creates the feverishness. This is desire. Desire is chewing on to something and not swallowing it - not really acting on it. Those  activities which you have to do, do them and rest. Those which you don’t need to do, leave them and rest.

Nyasah - being centred, letting go. However important an activity is, are you able to let go of it in a moment? Then you will see that it does not bother your mind, it does not bother you and it increases your efficiency. It is your attachment to an activity that makes that activity suffer,  whether it is spiritual or material. Your obsession to act, your inability to retire and repose in the Self brings you frustration. Do anything with 100% and you will be able to drop it effortlessly.

This ability to let go comes to you. Often you let go of things when you are frustrated. When you can drop and quit in a moment, without getting frustrated, then Yoga happens - you have retired back to the Self. You are holding onto things, onto activities and that holding on creates frustration. This is what desire does.

Excerpts from the book An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Diwali: Celebrating the Light of Wisdom

Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Lamps are lit on this day not just to decorate homes, but also to communicate a profound truth about life -- when the darkness within is dispelled through the light of wisdom; the good in us wins over the evil.

Diwali, in essence, is celebrated to kindle the light of wisdom in every heart, the light of life in every home, and bring a smile on every face. Diwali is the shortened form of Deepavali, which literally means rows of lamps. Life has many facets and stages to it. It is important that we throw light on all of them, for if one aspect of our life is in darkness, we cannot express life in its totality. The rows of lamps lit on Diwali remind us that every aspect of life needs our attention.

Lighting Good Qualities

Every lamp that we light is symbolic of a good quality. There are good qualities in every human being. Some have forbearance, some have love, strength, generosity; others have the ability to unite people. When all these qualities are lit, awakened, that is Diwali. Don't be satisfied with lighting one lamp; light a thousand! If you have the value of service in you, don't be satisfied only with that. Light the lamp of wisdom in yourself and acquire knowledge. Awaken all the facets of your being.

Letting Go

Another profound symbolism of Diwali is in lighting firecrackers. In life, you often become like a firecracker, waiting to explode with your pent-up emotions, frustration and anger. When you keep suppressing your emotions, cravings and aversions are bound to reach a point where they explode. Bursting crackers is a psychological exercise from ancient times to release bottled-up emotions. When you see an explosion outside, you feel similar sensations within as well. Along with the explosion, there is a lot of light as well. When you let go of these suppressed emotions, the light of knowledge dawns.

Being in the Present

Diwali means to be in the present -- dropping the regrets of the past, the worries of the future, and living in the moment. The sweets and exchange of gifts symbolize forgetting the bickering and negativities of the past, and renewal of friendship for the times to come. A true celebration means dissolving all differences. Happiness and wisdom have to spread in society, and that can happen when all come together and celebrate. Even if one member of the family is shrouded in darkness, you cannot be happy. You need to kindle wisdom in every member of your family. Extend it to every member of society, every person on the planet.

Spirit of Service

Any celebration is incomplete without the spirit of service. Whatever we have received from the Divine we should share it with others, for it is in giving that we receive. That is true celebration.

Diwali is a time when you throw light on the wisdom you have gained and welcome a new beginning. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration. Celebration is the nature of the spirit and every excuse to celebrate is good. For the one who is not in knowledge, Diwali comes only once a year, but for the wise, Diwali is every moment and every day.

For the one who is not in knowledge, Diwali comes only once a year, but for the wise, Diwali is every moment and every day. This Diwali, celebrate with knowledge and take a sankalpa (vow) to serve humanity. Light the lamp of love in your heart; the lamp of abundance in your home; the lamp of compassion to serve others; the lamp of Knowledge to dispel the darkness of ignorance and the lamp of gratitude for the abundance that the Divine has bestowed on us.

10 Myths About Meditation

With more than seven billion minds active every moment, there are endless streams of thoughts in these minds on every aspect of creation. Some thoughts perceive reality the way it is, some are imagination, and some are simply misconceptions. While there are misconceptions and myths about many topics, one of the most popular topics is meditation. Say the word, "meditation" and all kinds of images and notions come up. Is this for me? I can't sit for long hours. Who wants to meditate anyway?

Here are some of the most common myths about meditation:

Myth #1: Meditation is concentration
Meditation is actually deconcentration. Concentration is a result of meditation. Concentration requires effort, while meditation is absolute relaxation of the mind. Meditation is letting go, and when that happens, you are in a state of deep rest. When the mind is relaxed, we can concentrate better.

Myth #2: Meditation is a religious practice
Yoga and meditation are ancient practices that transcend all religions. In fact, meditation has the ability to bring people of different religions and nations together. Just like the sun shines for everyone, and the wind blows for everyone, meditation benefits everyone. Global humanitarian and peace ambassador Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, "We encourage people from all backgrounds, religions and cultural traditions to come together and meditate in a spirit of celebration."

Myth #3: Sit in the lotus posture to meditate
The Patanjali Yoga Sutras are perhaps one of the most scientific and detailed study that man has produced dealing with the nature of the mind. "Sthira sukham asanam," a yoga sutra by the venerable sage Patanjali, explains that while meditating it is more important to be comfortable and steady. This helps us to have a deeper experience in meditation. You can sit cross-legged, on a chair or on a couch. Any of these are fine. What's important is that when you start your meditation, you maintain a posture where the spine is erect and head, neck and shoulders are relaxed.

Myth #4: Meditation is only for old people
Many young people seem to think this way, however, meditation is essential for all youngsters. A majority of our learning happens during our youth, and we also gain skills to live a happy life. Regular practice of meditation instills such life skills in young minds. One important skill is learning to be emotionally stable and strong, and meditation can help develop this ability. Just like a shower keeps the body clean, meditation is like the shower for the mind.

As an Art of Meditation (Sahaj Samadhi Meditation) teacher, I believe that when we are emotionally weak, we tend to latch on to negativity more easily. Meditation can bring you to a space that is unshakable, and you can view life from a balanced perspective.

Many youngsters have shared how they have been benefitted from meditation. "After practicing meditation, I do not get as angry as before," shares Sandra, a middle school student. "Just a few minutes of meditation keeps me calm all day," shares 19-year-old Karan, another young mediator. "Meditation gives me the zeal and enthusiasm to spread positivity around me," shares 23-year-old Don, who works in the IT industry.

Meditation adds value in our lives, across age groups. One can start mediating at the age of 8 or 9.

Myth #5: Meditation is like hypnotizing yourself
Meditation is in fact an antidote for hypnosis. In a state of hypnosis, the person is not aware of what he or she is going through. Meditation is complete awareness of each and every moment. Hypnotism takes the person through the same impressions that are in his mind. Meditation frees us from these impressions so that our consciousness is clear and fresh. Hypnosis increases metabolic activity while meditation reduces it, and provides deep rest to the mind. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar notes that those who practice pranayama and meditation regularly cannot be hypnotized easily.

Myth #6: Meditation is thought control
Thoughts do not come to us by invitation. We become aware of them only after they have arrived! Thoughts are like clouds in the sky. They come and go on their own. Trying to control thoughts involves effort and the key to a relaxed mind is effortlessness. In meditation, we do not crave for good thoughts nor are we averse to bad thoughts. We simply witness and eventually transcend thoughts and move into that deep inner silent space.

Myth #7: Meditation is a way of running away from problems
On the contrary, meditation empowers you to face problems with a smile. Meditation enables us to develop skills to handle situations in a pleasant and constructive manner. We develop the ability to accept situations as they are and take conscious action instead of brooding over the past or worrying about the future. Meditation nurtures inner strength and self-esteem. It acts like an umbrella during rainy days. Challenges will arise, but we can still move ahead with confidence.

Myth #8: You have to meditate for hours to go deep
You do not have to sit for hours to have a deeper experience in meditation. The connection with that deep inner core of your being, your source can happen in just a fraction of a moment. Just a 20-minute session of Sahaj Samadhi meditation every morning and evening is sufficient to take you on this beautiful inward journey. As you practice your meditation every day, the quality of your meditation will improve gradually.

Myth #9: If you meditate, you will become a monk or recluse
You do not have to give up material life to meditate or progress on the spiritual path. With a relaxed and peaceful mind, you are able to live happily and make others in your family and surroundings happy, too.

Myth #10: You can only meditate at certain times, facing a particular direction
Any time is a good time for meditation, and you can sit facing any direction. It is good to meditate when your stomach is not full, or else you may nod off to sleep instead of meditating. However, it is generally a good practice to meditate during sunrise and sunset (morning and evening) as it can keep you calm and energetic throughout the day.

The perfection in true love

Desire is trying to hold on to air in a fist. How much air can you hold in the fist? The more you tighten your grip, the lesser air you can hold. Love is like the vast sky and the sky cannot be held in the fist. You have to open your palm. That is nirodha - when you open your palm, the entire sky is in there and if you hold a mirror in your hand, you can have the sun, the moon - everything. A small palm can hold the sun, but not the fist - nirodha rupatvat.

being centred, being 100% in activity and rest. This is the way to be in Divine love.

Tasmin ananyata tad virodhishu udasinta cha

Often love is thought to be between two - one and the other. When there is another, you don’t feel totally one with the person. You always question and doubt the other person’s love for you. If you doubt whether the other person really loves you or not, you will be unable to love them unconditionally, unable to merge with them. Certain things you have to take for granted. One thing is the love of the other person from whom you want love. You have to take it for granted. Even if the love is not there, you must feel that it is there.

Tasmin ananyata - means feeling totally one with the other. That is Divine love. Be  indifferent to anything that appears to be opposing it. It might happen that you are in love with God, and sometimes things happen that don’t seem to show that God is really in love with you. But ignore those things. A saint was once spreading the message of God in villages. One rainy day he came back home and found that most of the roof of his little hut lay broken in the rain. His disciple got very angry and blamed God for being so cruel. “We have been working so hard for you and you couldn’t even save one roof for us!” he complained. On the other hand, the saint was so thankful, “Oh God, you are so kind, you saved half the hut so that our heads don’t get wet. In this big storm the whole house could have been destroyed. Now we can also see the stars and the moon.”

Tasmin ananyata tadvirodheshu udasinta cha - whatever appears to be opposing love, you just be indifferent to it. Otherwise it is very easy to get drawn into the opposite values of love, hatred, anger, jealousy and frustration.

If you want to be centred in love, you have to drop anything that appears to be opposing love, otherwise you will be caught up in the cycle of opposites and you will never be free, you can never achieve that perfection. You are born to be perfect - siddho bhavati and the perfection is not in action or speech, perfection is in the Being. The perfection in the Being alone can bring perfection in speech and action; and to be perfect in the Being, you need to immerse yourself in that intense love. What is ananyata bhakti? How does one feel this sense of ‘no other’?

Anyashrayanam tyago ananyata

Often you have so many other supports, for e.g. you are on a spiritual path and you go to an astrologer and ask if you will make progress? What will happen? You are taking another support. Letting go of all the supports is anyashrayanam.

Niradhar - that is dropping the crutches - and the mind is looking for crutches. It is looking for some anchor here and there, for e.g., if you feel negative, you go and talk to someone. If anyone supports your negativity, you start feeling better. If someone shuns your negative statement, it irritates you.

Excerpts from the book An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Divinity is not easily understood

Often people say, “be the same outside as what you are inside.” I ask you, how is this possible?

Inside you are a vast ocean, an infinite sky. Outside you are finite-just a small limited form, a normal stupid person!

All that you are inside - the love, the beauty, the compassion, the Divinity - doesn’t show up fully outside. What shows is only the crust of behaviours.

Ask yourself, “Am I really my behavioural patterns?” “Am I really this limited body/mind complex?” No... you are not the same inside as outside.

Don’t mistake the outer crust for who you are inside. And don’t show your infinite lordship outside for Divinity is not easily understood. Let there be some mystery.

Excerpts from the book An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Researcher decodes gurus, finds them ‘coloured’

Kirti Nuwal's study says that inter-personal communication skills and ability to explain personal life situations help spiritual gurus enjoy the loyalty of their followers



The controversies surrounding spiritual gurus and godmen, who were once considered infallible and God-like, have brought to question the prudence of subscribing to their ideologies. While the controversies and allegations might have tarnished their public image, it has failed to shake the faith their followers have in them. MICA graduate Kirti Nuwal conducted a study to understand what made the spiritual gurus of our times a brand whose value doesn't diminish, at least among their followers. The study 'Branding of spiritual gurus', which was part of Kirti's dissertation project, mainly focused on three revered gurus - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Radha Maa and Nirmal Baba.

Under the guidance of Dr Falguni Vasavda Oza, associate professor of marketing, Kirti interviewed four followers of each spiritual guru. She said, "This research was done with an objective to decode marketing and branding strategies of spiritual brands. Lately, several spiritual gurus have come to the scene. I wanted to know what made them such a success among people. My study was done in Gujarat and Rajasthan."

Kirti took about six months to complete the interviews and collate the data before analysing them and arriving at a conclusion. So what were the challenges she faced? "The biggest challenge was to collect unbiased data. Since the respondents were loyal followers of their respective gurus, they were hesitant to answer sensitive questions. We had to be very careful while framing the questions, keeping in mind not to hurt their sentiments," Oza said.

Apart from a narrative analysis of the gurus' websites, she also found out that the followers associated their gurus to a particular colour. Oza said, "Sri Sri Ravishankar is associated with white colour while Radhe Maa with red and golden. Radhe Ma is followed by North Indians, mainly Punjabis who believe in Matarani."

The key findings of the study include, every follower has interacted with their guru on a personal level and the gurus share their life stories with their followers. The oratory skills of the gurus and their way of interaction attracted many followers. The strongest marketing tool for the gurus was 'word of mouth'. "Personal interaction, ability to explain aspects of life in a lucid manner and uniqueness on part of each guru is what gives them such following."

Kirti said, "Unlike old days when our tradition or clan dictated our spiritual leanings, today we have the freedom to choose our own teacher. Many of the gurus are secular, modern and have embraced technology, allowing them to appeal to both the religious minded and those who are looking for a teacher. They are able to find a decent connect with their followers' socio-psychological and spiritual aspects."

Move towards action that nourishes love

Anyashrayanam tyago ananyata – letting go of all supports. Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita: ananyaas chinteyeh janha paripaas – I am there for the one who is one-pointed and does not look for other supports. “I become the feet for those who do not look for crutches, I become the eyes for those who do not look for glasses.”

Loka vedeshu tadanukul aacharanam tadvirodheshu udasinta – In the world, as well as in spiritual matters, act towards that which nourishes this love, accept that which moves you in the direction of this love and be indifferent to that which is not supporting this love, because life is full of opposites. In life both things, events will happen – those that will support your hatred and destroy love, and those that will destroy hatred and support love, because the field of activity and life is full of opposite values. The same occurs in the scriptures, too – one scripture will authenticate this and another will authenticate that and if you go into all this, you may get really confused. Even in the name of dharma – righteousness, people can make a lot of mistakes. If Jesus was crucified, he was crucified since it was thought that he had been blasphemous – that he had committed a blasphemy against god.

Loka vedeshu tadanukul acharanam tadvirodheshu udasinta – if the activities in the world become an obstruction for your growth, then act skilfully. Often people prepare for pujas or ceremonies, but the preparations eat up all their time. So when they actually sit for meditation, their minds are caught up in insignificant little things.

All the preparations have been in vain. Your aim is to sit and meditate, but you are upset because someone next to you is snoring. So the whole exercise has become futile. You then sit in an angry mood and cannot meditate. So when opposites come your way, take it with ease. Be indifferent. If you are sitting for meditation and someone is irritating you, take it lightly. Otherwise, there is no point in sitting with your eyes closed, getting irritated. Just be indifferent to anything that seems to be opposing it.

If you can be in love, be in love. If you cannot be in love, at least be indifferent. Don’t swing to the opposite of love, that is hatred. You cannot force your self to love something that you don’t like, but you can definitely be indifferent to it. Don’t force yourself to love things which you cannot. Just be indifferent and wait. It is a great secret – indifference. But you know, indifference will irritate people more than hatred! If you hate somebody, they are at ease, but if you are indifferent, they will feel uncomfortable. To anything that appears to be a conflict, indifference is the solution. Conflict has never brought joy. Even in the time of the Ramayana, Rama fought the war and there was no joy later, only misery. Same with Mahabharata– after the war there was no joy.

Conflicts cannot bring peace.

Whether solved or resolved - there is no question of peace.

With indifference, there is hope.

Loka vedeshu tadanukul acharanam – behave in such a manner that it is supporting to love and be indifferent to anything that appears to be opposing love. Again, love is not just an emotion, it is not being mushy-mushy. Love is the innermost strength, love is the force that you are. We depend so much on the expression of love. This is not ananya bhakti. If you are dependent on an expression or a gesture from someone, to feel love for them, I tell you that you are mistaken and  you have not grown. If you can see love beyond expressions, beyond the physical gestures, if you can peep into the Being, you can see that there is no other – there is no difference, there is only absolute oneness. That is ananyata. Like when the child is sometimes cranky, rebellious, the mother sees beyond the expression. That ‘connectedness’ of you with the divinity, with the whole world, with the creation makes you perfect, makes you stable, makes you intoxicated,  makes you fulfilled. Otherwise you go with a lack consciousness, with a craving - “I want, I want.”

Excerpts from the book An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar