8/1/10

Our Teachings

SADHANA VIDYA:

Sadhana Vidya is a bi-monthly magazine brought out by the organisation which contains an editorial written by Guru Pattabhiram, articles based on the teachings of Swami Rama and other Masters as also articles of interest contributed by various Sadhakas.

To subscribe for Sadhana Vidya contact: +91-9873833655


DVDs:

Sadhana Sangama Trust has brought out various DVDs which are as follows:

By Shri. Pattabhiram:-

1. Antar Darshan (Set of 2 DVDs)
2. The Science of Meditation
3. The Role Of Guru
4. Experiencing Silence
5. Spiritual Dimensions Of Health (Set of 2 DVDs)
6. Your Questions Answered
7. Moving Beyond The Space Of Conditioning
8. On The Path Of Enquiry
9. Intensify Your Sadhana (IIT workshop) (Set of 2 DVDs)
10. Awakening Your Intelligence Through Gayatri Mantra (Set of 2 DVDs)
11. Grace and Deservedness
12. Creating a new setup for Sadhana
13. Developing Skills and Samskaras
14. An Insight into Mantra Sadhana
15. Health to Spirituality (Set of 2 DVDs)
16. Ashtanga Yoga (Set of 2 DVDs)
17. Dhyana Yoga (Set of 3 DVDs)
18. Exploring Different Dimensions of Sadhana (Set of 2 DVDs)
19. Arogyavardhini (Set of 2 DVDs)
20. Expansion of Consciousness Through Meditation
21. Meditation For Holistic Health (Set of 3 DVDs)
22. Self Discipline (Workshop in IIT) (Set of 2 DVDs)
23. Overcoming Fear (Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra) (Set of 2 DVDs)
24. Yoga Sutra (Set of 7 DVDs – Daywise)
25. Mandukya Upanishad (Set of 6 DVDs)
26. Harmony – The Purpose of Yoga
27. Yogasana (Set of 2 DVDs)
28. Nitya Sadhana (Set of 2 DVDs)
29. Upadesa Sara (Set of 6 DVDs)
30. The Inner Quest (Set of 2 DVDs)
31. Freedom - Are You Ready?
32. Maintaining The Right Balance
33. Obstacles On The Path Of Sadhana
34. Overcoming Obstacles
35. Removing Kleshas Through Kriya Yoga
36. Removing Impurities
37. Ashtanga Yoga - The Eight Fold Path Of Yoga (Set of 2 DVDs)
38. The Path Of Fire & Light (Set of 3 DVDs)
39. Shakti Sumeru Dhyana (Set of 2 DVDs)
40. Do's & Don'ts For Sadhakas
41. Good Health - The Stepping Stone For Sadhana
42. Chakra-Prana-Mantra Dhyana (Set of 3 DVDs)
43. Awaken Your Intelligence (Gayatri Mantra) (Set of 3 DVDs)
44. Self Healing Through Yogic Kriyas (Set of 3 DVDs)
45. Vyadhi Vs. Samadhi
46. Harmony In Family Life & Relationships (Set of 2 DVDs)
47. How To Pray?
48. Our Questions Answered
49. Identifying The True Center (mp3 Audio)
50. Experiencing Oneness
51. In Communion With Eternity
52. Tuning To The Supreme Consciousness
53. Goal Vs. Purpose
54. Meditation - The Art Of Dying
55. Touching The Divine Essence Through Meditation
56. Developing Deservedness
57. The Inner Realms Of Meditation
58. Self Healing – An Introduction (mp3 Audio)
59. Understanding The Disease Process (mp3 Audio)
60. The Four Pillars Of Self Healing
61. Preparing For Self Healing - Stabilizing The Posture
62. Preparing For Self Healing - Cultivating Silence
63. Preparing For Self Healing - The Inward Journey
64. The Four Dimensions Of Self Healing
65. Meditation For Self Healing
66. An Enquiry Into The Self

By Smt. Jyothi Pattabhiram:-

1. Rasa Yoga
2. Japa & Its Four Dimensions
3. Karma & Japa – Their Correlation
4. From Dance To Spirituality
5. The Concept Of Guru
6. Strengthening Your Japa & Meditation
7. Understanding Bhakti Yoga
8. Vibhaga Pranayama
9. The Horizon Meditation
10. The Twilight Meditation

Our Teachers

TEACHERS:

Shri Pattabhiram and Smt. Jyothi Pattabhiram – couple, the directors of Sadhana Sangama Trust, are the direct disciples of Swami Rama of the Himalayas.

SHRI PATTABHIRAM

Shri Pattabhiram is a disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. He studied under great philosophers and yogis including J.Krishnamurthy, B.K.S.Iyengar, and Swami Vishnudevananda before becoming disciple of Swami Rama. Shri Pattabhiram is also guided by masters of Sri Vidyaranya tradition in the science of Sri Vidya. He travels extensively to teach, inspire and guide people with the wisdom of yogic science. In his workshops he gives profound understanding of yogic science in the context of modern life and complements it with systematic practices that can be easily followed on a day to day basis.

SMT. JYOTI PATTABHIRAM

Smt. Jyothi Pattabhiram is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and a teacher by passion. She learnt the art and philosophy of dance from various renowned teachers in India. She is also a disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. She has trained hundreds of students in classical dance and has also choreographed many well acclaimed dance-dramas. Smt. Jyothi Pattabhiram blends the art of dance and the science of yoga and teaches unique ways of evolving spiritual dimensions of ones personality through art, dance and music.

Summer Camps

SUMMER CAMPS:

Children’s Camp:

Every year in the month of April, Children’s Camp is organized in the Ashram. The children get an opportunity to become disciplined and self-reliant. Special emphasis is given to meditation and yoga which make the children vibrant and focused in all spheres of life.

Camp for Elders:

A camp for elders is held in the month of May every year. All participants are given a daily routine comprising of morning prayers, yogic asanas and kriyas, pranayama and silent walk.

Guru Pattabhiram also gives lectures on various topics and gives guidance to live life in a happy, healthy and harmonious way.

Sadhana Vidyalaya

Sadhana Vidyalaya is a day school for the rural children. The vision of the school is to revive the ancient educational model of Gurukula system, in which students and teachers stay together and establish a personal relationship outside the academic zone as well. This facilitates forming a foundation for character building and personality development right from tender age. On this foundation of human values, academic skills are sharpened. This vision is realized in a 3 dimensional approach.

Environment: Learning experience of a child is enriched in a stress-free environment.

Ennobling the child’s personality: Sadhana Vidyalaya recognizes and nurtures a child’s potential by integrating academics with yoga, meditation, dance, art, music and community service. Educating without inducing fear and respecting the freedom of a child are the building blocks of Sadhana Vidyalaya approach.

Education: Sadhana Vidyalaya adopts an academic curriculum that is according to the State Government syllabus. The school has a methodology of teaching which empowers a child to face the challenges of modern life along with academic excellence and become an integrated and harmonious human being.

Envisioned to be a residential school, Sadhana Vidyalaya made a humble beginning as a day school in June 2005 with 150 students in 3 classes. Since then it has been steadily growing each year. Sadhana Vidyalaya provides free mid-day meals and subsidized transport and tuition to children from surrounding rural communities.

Sadhana Vidyalaya: Present Status

Classes: Kindergarten to 9th Standard
No. of Students:527
No. of Teachers:22
No. of Buses :6

Facilities:

Computer & Science lab
Library
Dining hall
Steam cooking system
Multi-purpose hall
Playground
Hostel for students and teachers







 

Sadhana Dhama - Ashram for holistic living

SADHANA DHAMA : THE ASHRAM FOR HOLISTIC LIVING

The Government of Karnataka, in recognition of the trust’s services, has awarded a 10 acre plot at Kanva, 60 Kms from Bengaluru, near Channapatna on the Bengaluru-Mysore highway. The ashram is situated in the midst of lush green valley, close to Kanva reservoir.

The Ashram has the following:

Dhyana Mandir: It is a spacious meditation hall incorporating 3 pyramid roofs. The hall can accommodate about 500 people. The hall comprises of a 5 feet statue of Ista Anjaneya in meditative posture and also a Stage (dias) for conducting programmes and special events.

Sadashiva Chintamani Cave: The cave temple of Shiva has been built underneath the Dhyana Mandir which has a Shivalinga with ‘OM’, ‘Gayathri’, ‘Naga’ and ‘Nataraja’ carved on it. It has been specially built to intensify spiritual aura.

Rajarajeshwari Shikharini: The pyramid has been scientifically built for chakra activation and energization in the Meditator’s body.

• The Ashram also comprises of Guru Nivas, Yogashala, Gayathri Kutir, Shakti Peeth, Library, Goshala, residential facilities for guests and Sadhana Vidyalaya.






Sadhana Sangama - Multi Dimensional Activities

Sadhana Sangama Trust organizes workshops, lectures and seminars on spirituality, yoga, Indian culture and art forms. These are aimed at addressing the needs of individuals at the physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels. Sadhana Sangama has a group of volunteers living in different cities of India as well as in USA and Canada who are dedicated to coordinating these activities. We conduct these workshops annually during summer/fall seasons.

Some of our workshops, lectures and seminar topics are listed below:

Exploring Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are often viewed either in a scholarly or hatha yoga perspective. In reality 196 aphorisms of yoga sutras present the human integral science. Organized in four distinct chapters, yoga sutras unveil scientific and psychologically proven that can lead to a blissful life.

Yoga Anushasanam : Freedom from the KNOWN

Patanjali Yoga Sutras proclaim that you are defined by your mind stuff! You could live in any corner of the world, you could belong to any social, cultural or religious group, you could belong to any family situation or adopt any professional life, but your mind defines your personality.

Developing a clear understanding of oneself at different levels is the key to leading a healthy, happy and harmonious life. This effort starts with understanding one’s own mind and its modifications.

In this workshop, based on the the first chapter of yoga sutras, Sri Pattabhiram presents simple and practical ways to understand the MIND.
 
Chant the sutras and learn how to practice - Contemplation and Meditation
 
Ashtanga Yoga : Eight fold approach to integrated personality

Patanjali Yoga sutras reveal a scientific eight-fold approach of adopting a balanced middle path in the external life and systematically integrating body, mind and intellect through a discipline of inner life.

Sri Pattabhiram presents this ancient wisdom to the taste of modern mind but with the fragrance of ancient times.

Chant the sutras and learn how to practice:

Yama…Niyama…Asana…Pranayama…Pratyahara…Dharana… Dhyana…

Prati Prasava : Counter evolution through Kriya Yoga

In our day to day life, we face numerous problems. We often resort to treating the symptoms but the problems keep resurfacing as we have not resolved the underlying disease. Be it in personal, professional or social life, the reason for stress, anxiety, insecurity and conflict is because we do not understand the root cause.

Sri Pattabhiram shares his insights and experiences in applying Patanjali Yoga Sutras to modern day life. He presents a systematic flow chart for the process of Counter Evolution through Kriya Yoga

Chant the sutras and learn how to practice - Contemplation and Meditation

Gayatri Mantra Meditation : Awakening Cosmic Intelligence:

Since time immemorial Mantra, a seed of sound energy, has been used as a powerful tool for inner purification by focusing one’s attention inwards. Gayatri Mantra is empowered with radiant energy to integrate Body, Mind and Intellect.

In this workshop, Sri Pattabhiram explains the profound meaning of Gayatri Mantra, and reveals the relationship between Mantra, Mind and Breath.


Join us and learn how to practice: Mantra japa, Pranayama & Gayatri Mantra Meditation


Mrityunjaya Maha Mantra Meditation : Art of fearless living

Life in the modern world is full of stress, anxiety and conflicts. These three elements arise from the foundation of fear and insecurity. To experience 3H – Health, Happiness and Harmony, we must learn to be fearless.

In this workshop, Sri Pattabhiram presents Mrityunjaya Mantra in a rare yogic perspective as a scientific tool to overcome the negative tendencies of fear and insecurity.
 

Join us and learn how to practice: Mantra japa, Pranayama & Mrityunjaya Mantra Meditation

Antar Darshana : Art of blissful living

Lectures
  • Art of Relaxation – foundation for stress-free life
  • Importance of Posture & its significance
  • Science of Breath
  • Unveiling Meditation as a tool for stress-free & harmonious living 
Practice  
  • Art of relaxing the body
  • Basics of sitting posture
  • Breath awareness and effective yogic breathing techniques
  • Systematic and sequential learning of meditation

Dhyana Yoga : The science of meditation

In chapter six of Bhagavat Gita, Lord Krishna reveals the Science of Meditation. The student - Arjuna represents every individual striving to realize one’s true nature. And the battle field is in essence our own life context where we aspire to experience 3H – Health, Happiness, and Harmony.

In this lecture series, Sri Pattabhiram reveals this profound wisdom in a modern perspective.
 
Learn the practice of Relaxation, Pranayama & Meditation 

Chakra – Prana – Mantra Meditation

Systematic yogic practices to energize your being. Understand the esoteric science of Chakras, the associated philosophical system and energy practices

Chakra is a center of activity that receives, assimilates, and expresses life force energy. Chakras control the body parts and functions associated with them. Through systematic practice of Chakra-Prana-Mantra meditation energy blockages can be removed and positive energy released to rejuvenate the body and activate the mind.

Practice ways to activate and balance the 7 chakras through Prana, Mantra and Meditation

Stress Management

Understand
  • Why, what and how of stress
  • Yoga way of stress management
  • Freedom from stress, anxiety and depression
Practice  
  • Simple joints and glands exercises
  • Relaxation & Breathing techniques
  • Guided Meditation

Love and Family Life

Healthy, Happy and Harmonious families have been the foundation of human evolution. The Himalayan Tradition recognizes the importance of family life in the evolution of an individual. These teachings can be understood and applied in the context of modern family life

We live in a time where families are facing tough challenges in relationships due to selfishness, lack of commitment, egoistic attitudes, and measurement of love by materialistic values. Family is a sacred institution that provides a context for fulfilling ones aspirations in the external world while allowing practical spiritual evolution of individuals.

In this workshop, Sri Pattabhiram presents simple and practical methods for individuals to guide their families blossom into the space of listening, selfless sharing and unconditional loving.
 

Yoga Bala

Awaken the hidden power of yoga as taught by the masters of the Himalayan tradition

Yoga Bala – Why
  • Stress is the source of a negative mind
  • A negative mind generates toxins.
  • Toxins harden the pranic passages in the glands, joints, muscles and nerves.
  • This deposition of toxins leads to psychosomatic disease.
  • Disease destroys joyous life.

Yoga Bala – What  
  • Easy but effective yogic practices for joints, glands, muscles and nerves
  • Powerful nerve purifying, health rejuvenating, “Pranava Prana Kriya”
  • Art of Relaxation
  • Four Stage Meditation for spiritual enrichment

Jyothi Pattabhiram is a direct disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayas, a great yogi, artist, musician, and dancer too. Having received the blessings and spiritual tutelage from her master, Jyothi successfully blends spirituality and the art of dance into a holistic personality of bliss in her following workshops to lead a stress-free blissful life.  

Rasa Yoga

Workshop on ‘BODY TO BLISS DYNAMICS’  Sail through YOUR - Physical, Emotional & Spiritual BEING

  • Envigour and strengthen your physical being by systematized beats, dance movements and yoga postures
  • Cultivate and refine your emotional being  through rhythmic breathing and richness of expressions
  • Integrate your Body-Mind-Intellect to land onto your spiritual being through RASA YOGA i.e. by harmonizing the inner state 

 The Holistic Dancer

A Holistic blend of Art-aesthetics and Life-aesthetics in a dancer’s personality – an awareness and insight into this concept is the objective of this workshop. The skills of a classical dancer, in terms of rhythm – movements – expressions – need to be yoked with a Holistic inner self, to achieve COMPLETENESS & TOTALITY OF THIS DIVINE ART OF DANCE.

The Holistic Dancer’ workshop is inspired by “Three” concepts: 
  •  Annadasya Sarve Jeevaha Maatram Upajeevanti” i.e. from this Bliss, all living beings derive happiness – Ananda is at the base of all life.  This is the Vedantic insight into Holistic personality.
  • Bharata Muni in his treatise Natya Shastra refers to “Samaahita Manas” i.e. only a serene mind can produce pure satvic feeings, which are not touched by personal emotions, yet spontaneous, creative and fragrant with human essence.  
  • A dancer’s personal emotions to be analysed in the light of this insight and refine the Satvika Abhinaya.The Holistic concept of man’s personality in five sheaths of existence – “Panchakoshas” as presented by the Taittareeya Upanishad is the third source of Inspiration in this workshop.

What do you learn and experience during the workshop?


  • Specific physical movements training to enhance most effectively the dancing skills of a dancer. 
  • Subtle but powerful breathing technique – PRANA MOVEMENT – to accelerate the physical efficiency in terms of Stamina, flexibility coupled with mental efficiency such as concentration, memory, spontaneity, and creativity.
  • Unique techniques of Demonstration of Satvika Abhinaya – facial expressions of inner emotions. 
  • The Holistic Dancer workshop concludes with a Meditation technique with Mantra Incantation and a special Relaxation – “Yoga Nidra” – to touch the depths of one’s Being.

  
The Tradition: We are citizens of two worlds – Inner and Outer. The teachings of the Himalayan tradition help to build a bridge between the two worlds by prescribing a two-fold approach of being skillful and wise in the external world, while following the path of exploring our inner dimensions and realizing our true SELF.

Sadhana Sangama Trust - Overview

Sadhana Sangama Trust is a registered Non-Profit Organisation established in the year 1986 in Bengaluru, India. It is guided by the teaching of the great Himalayan Yogi, Swami Rama, the author of the classic “Living with the Himalayan Masters”, with the vision and mission of creating a healthy, harmonious and happy society through appropriate integration of yoga, music, dance, art and holistic living in a practical way to suit modern times.

Since its inception, the Trust has touched and transformed the lives of thousands in India and Abroad, through its scientific, innovative and thought stimulating activities.

Himalayan Tradition

The tradition of the Himalayan sages is an unbroken chain extending for thousands of years, a living tradition existing even today untouched by the passage of time. The Himalayan Tradition is the tradition of meditation. It is not bound by any particular dogma. It is not bound by the frontiers of religion and caste. It is universal. Meditation is the key and the central aspect of the practices of the Himalayan tradition. Gurudev Swami Rama of the Himalayas, an important link in the lineage of Himalayan sages, emphasized on spiritual practice or Sadhana.

Liberation from misery, not realization of God, is the purpose of life. Realization of God comes later. Freedom from the bondages of our own suffering, our own misery, our own man-made conflicts, confusion and stress comes first. The Himalayan Tradition commences with the Patanjala Yoga Shastras as the base. Patanjala Yoga Shastra is a study of human psychology which is much deeper than the modern day definition and coverage of psychology as a subject. The very purpose of Patanjala Yoga Shastra is to liberate oneself from the conditioned behavioral mind-activities. Yogic activities are only the first step. The destination is Sri Vidya, the highest pinnacle of spiritual experience. Sri Vidya is the goal and Patanjala Yoga Shastra is the foundation. Strengthening the foundation, building the beautiful mansion and experiencing the fragrance of Sri Vidya is the very purpose of the Himalayan Tradition.

Our Inspiration



Sadhana Sangama International is dedicated to and derives its inspiration from the great Himalayan Yogi of our times, H.H.Swami Rama of the Himalayas. He was born and raised in Northern India by a Himalayan sage, Bengali Baba. Swami Rama lived an extraordinary life for many decades in the caves of the Himalayas and the plains of central India committing himself to intense spiritual practices, getting trained in numerous yogic traditions by various sages, and preparing himself for a mission to deliver the message of the Himalayan sages. He held the prestigious post of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham for few years and renounced the same to pursue his intense sadhana. 

Swami Rama traveled to the west as a representative of the Himalayan tradition with a mission to bridge the modern western science and the eastern yogic wisdom. He submitted himself to researchers to do experimental verification of yogic wisdom.

Swami Rama founded the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in India and USA, Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust in India and guided numerous other institutions. He studied in Europe, visited and lectured in more than fifty-six countries, touching the lives of thousands of people leaving schools, hospitals, and spiritual organizations to serve others. Scholar, social reformer, author, artist, scientific explorer of human potential, tantric master, humanist, poet, gardener, musician, philosopher, philanthropist, he is a rare yogi beyond time and space. Swami Rama entered Mahasamadhi in 1996.

Arogya Vardhini - Holistic Health Centre

Holistic Health Centre:
 
Swami Rama’s concept of holistic health was integration and harmony at all levels of human activity – physical, emotional, intellectual, social, professional. Yoga is also defined as: Yogah samadihi. This means harmony with oneself, others and the surrounding environment. The opposite of samadhi is vyadhi, which means anything that goes against the harmony.

Holistic health is achieved by bringing harmony between various dimensions of human life:
  • Physical
  • Pranic
  • Emotional
  • Intellectual
  • Spiritual
  • Social Relationship
  • Professional
This project aims at training people to maintain the harmony and remove vyadhis with non-drug therapies like yoga, ayurveda and naturopathy.

Objectives
Sri Pattabhiram has taken up Arogyavardhini project to promote the concept of holistic health.  The organization will be called Swami Rama Holistic Health, Treatment, Research and Training Institute. Project is being taken up to provide the following facilities in Sadhana Sangama Trust ashram near Bangalore:
  • Treatment: Treat patients using Yoga, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Home Remedies
  • Research: Conduct research in these areas
  • Training: Provide training to the teachers in holistic health. Also provide weekend training to the corporate managers in holistic health concepts and practice.

Facilities
Three-storied building in the ashram campus will be constructed on a 1 acre land area. This will have facilities for patient beds, treatment rooms, kitchen, dining halls etc. 

3/8/10

Hello! How are you..?

Dear Sadhaka,

Swami Rama Tirtha used to say that the secret of happiness lies in static mind and dynamic body. Now-a-days, people are imbalancing themselves either by leading a lazy and lethargic life under the garb of meditation, or by a monotonous routine, thinking that they are active. The emphasis here is blending these two. One has to have a balanced approach--quietening the mind at the psychological level and making the body active at the physiological-level, and blending these two; and, making the psycho-physiological entity a balanced, healthy, and dynamic apparatus to express oneself completely. That’s the right approach.

Mind is an abstract thing, and comprehending it will take time. Whereas, the body is gross in nature. So one has to begin with the body first. That’s why, even in meditation, Pujya Gurudev Swami Rama insists on stabilizing the body as the basic essential step. Pujya Swami Rama used to say “if you know how to stabilize your body, then meditation happens in you”.

An analogy would make this point clear. Water is stored in Dams. If the water level exceeds the danger level, then it has to be discharged. At that time, if the flood gates do not open or if only few open partially, what will happen? Pressure will build up and the Dam will develop cracks and finally it will break down.

The same happens here as well. The capacity of the mind is something magnificent, whereas the body has its own limitations. And the beauty is, mind expresses itself through the body only. This being the case, if we don’t keep our body intact, if thoughts can’t express themselves through actions, our personality, like the Dam, develops cracks and eventually breaks down.

Beloved Sadhakas, it is happening every day with all of us, and with utmost concern I am writing this editorial. To be dynamic at the physical-level, one has to discipline oneself and give the physical body a good exercise. There are many asanas, stretching exercises which can help in removing the toxins and help the energy to flow freely within and through the body. Once the energy flow becomes smooth, then that body is really capable of translating the thoughts into action. The vitality of the body is very, very essential. Once this preparation is ‘pucca’, one will flower in meditation and then he will open out to higher dimensions of life.

May Baba, Pujya Gurudev Swami Rama, bless you all in your Sadhana.

In service of the Parampara,
Sri Pattabhiram

Shaki - the Female Power

Without woman, man is never complete. Tagore, a great Indian poet, has written, “O woman, you are half in reality but half in a dream.” That dream which all men have, that dream without which humanity will not survive, that dream which is inexplicable, is really woman. She should try to understand her status in society. I have always considered women to be living temples. The most ancient scriptures say that without shakti, without the female power, it is not possible for humankind to survive. The female power has been the force behind all the great leaders of the world. For example, if you study the life of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, you will learn that he became great because of a woman. Likewise, Krishna became great because of Radha. And Buddha became great because of many women who played important roles in his life from the very beginning.

Women have the real strength, but the problem is that they are not making creative use of that strength. The world needs their help today. Woman is suffering because of her own lack of awareness of her strength. The power of shakthi is being dissipated in advertising, television programs, movies, magazines, books-and we are reaping this consequences. Women do not exist for the fun of Men, but many women today have forgotten this. Many a woman is still looking for someone to appreciate her. This way of life is not helpful for our rising generation. Women are also mothers, and such an attitude of dependence on men is helpful for educating children. If we really love humanity, we should learn to understand this.

We have been building many churches and education institutions, but the main institution is the family. When it is ignored, we can never be happy. Dive into the heart of all problems, and you will discover that the base of all problems lies in the family life. If we do not appreciate the importance of the family, though our society may survive, it will create wild people with no understanding. So my first request to woman is that instead of being preoccupied with whether they are inferior or superior to Men, they re-establish the family life. Then there is a chance for future generation, a chance for the children to learn.

Swami Rama

Antardarshana

Even samprajnaata is a state of mind, and it is not complete; it is not Samadhi. Samprajnaata means a state where you have experienced the higher knowledge.

After samprajnaata, what happens? When you start doing this again and again as abhyasa, as it grows, then you will move on to the second dimension, that is anya, the state of otherness. Sage Patanjali is not giving any name to it. Many people call it as asamprajnaata. But it is not that. It is anya, where one can’t explain what it is. That is anya. What is it?

viraama pratyaya abhyaasa poorva samskara shesho anyah

When all contents of the human mind/consciousness have completely died, that state is called anya. It is a complete cessation of all the pratyaya. Pratyaya means content, experience, memory, concept.

For example, I have a concept about Krishna. When I meditate on Krishna for some time, and if I am still holding on to Krishna, it means, I am still in the samprajnaata zone. That is called ‘content’ or ‘pratyaya’. Here, ‘pratyaya’ is Krishna. I am meditating on Krishna and the content of meditation is Krishna. A time comes when even Krishna disappears. When I continue to meditate, and when even Krishna disappears, I experience a state where I don’t have words to explain; because all words are only at the mental plane; beyond mind, no word. Words can’t reach that zone. That is why words can’t explain, words have no power to explain that. That is why, as a sadhaka deepens his meditation, slowly he becomes non-communicating; words drop. He will not be able to share. Even if he wants to share, he can’t and he finds no words. What should one do then? Silence. One gets into a beautiful state of mauna. Everything springs from that mauna, everything expands in that mauna, everything merges into it. Mauna becomes the seat, and it is beyond ‘I’ consciousness. It is not in the purview of asmita, it is beyond asmita. It travels further. Then he experiences a zone called ‘anya’, a viraama pratyaya abhyaasa poorna, after completion of practice. After repeated practice of samprajnaata, one experiences anya.

When one comes back, the reminiscence of that samskara remains in the mind, but one can’t explain that samskara. That samskara will tend to dive into that state again and again - ‘anya’. If one is blessed by the Masters, one experiences ‘anya’. One can’t explain it. You are not there and nothing is there, but you are very conscious. You will not know what it is. Your body is not there, your mind is not there, intellect is not there, nothing is there, but only That is there.

bhava pratyayo videha prakriti layaanaam

Bhava means coming back to Prapancha, coming back to the conscious world through taking the body. Here pratyaya means just to experience. Patanjali says, there are two types of beings: those in whom the prakriti has completely merged itself (prakriti-layaanaam), and those who are not in the pancha-bhoota-shareera (videhi). Videhi means those who need not have body, Gods/Goddesses. That is why God doesn't have any form. Whenever he needs one, He can take any form. Infinite forms He can have; yet he is beyond forms. Prakriti-layaanaam means those who are great yogis, avadhootas, in whom there is no Prakriti, who are pure consciousness. They too can come on to this earth like, we visit a hotel and have coffee and snacks. They are called avadhoota. It means, those who are not bound by the rules and regulations of this world and are beyond them. That is why in the Himalayas one can see hundreds of such avadhootas. They will be sitting on the ice naked.

I met one avadhoota near Badrinath. He was on a snowy mountain, completely naked. I think, it was towards the end of October. I did pranams to the avadhoota. He didn’t speak anything. I sat down for a while. Then he looked at me and he made some gesture in the air and an apple came down. He gave it to me. There are many like that. Another avadhoota is Neem Karoli Baba. All the avadhootas are the Kings of this universe. Whatever they want, it is given to them. They worship the Prakriti so much that the Prakriti has lifted them up and it is serving them. They don’t come under any rules and regulations or any morality of this world. They are above morality. We are stuck in the moral plane, whereas avadhootas are not.

May you succeed in your Sadhana

Sri Pattabhiram

Put the Glass Down...

Study this small story; Hope that makes a BIG change

Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students,

"How much do you think this glass weighs?"

'50gms!' ..... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ... the students answered.

"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is:

What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"

'Nothing' ..the students said.

'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.

'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student

"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"

"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!" .. ventured another student & all the students laughed

"Very good.

But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" asked the professor.

'No'. Was the answer.

"Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?"

The students were puzzled.

"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked professor again.

"Put the glass down!" said one of the students

"Exactly!" said the professor.

Life's problems are something like this.

Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.

Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache. Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything..

It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life, But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to 'PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before You go to sleep...

That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!

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How your contribution does really matters a child in Sadhana Vidyalaya… Sadhana Vidyalaya Students Mid-day meal – recurring expe...