You are the best person to know why meditation does not work for you. Let me ask you this question: Does sleep work for you? It may seem like a silly question, but meditation is an elder brother of sleep. No effort is needed for either sleep or meditation. When you sleep, you wake up …
Good question! Before understanding the guru’s role in Kundalini awakening, it is important to understand what a guru really is and how a guru is connected to God. First, we know that there are five functions of God: 1. God manifests, not creates, the universe 2. God maintains the universe 3. God dissolves, not destroys, …
The happiness derived from each of the five senses – hearing, touch, sight, taste, and smell – depends upon external objects and lasts as long as the object of happiness is around. In other words, when the sense object is gone, happiness is also gone. An example will make this clear. Suppose you are listening …
You can certainly change your life style for the better. First, please understand what life really is. This very moment, it is life in you that is regulating your breath, circulating your blood, and digesting your food. Life is eternal. It moves from one body to another. You are already the life. Discover it through …
Can you suggest me a spiritual book that can change my life? Read More »
The best question: What is the nature of the supreme truth/Self as it really is? In the Yoga Vasishtha, the great sage Vasishtha answers his disciple Rama’s question about the supreme truth by becoming silent for a long time during which time his breath ceased and eyes remained closed. The supreme truth is answered only …
What is the best question and what is the best answer to the best question? Read More »
In meditation, the mind merges into its source, the Self (atman in Sanskrit). Analogy: Mind is like the ice and water is like the pure Consciousness/Self. Through meditation, one perceives ice as water. There is no need to melt the ice; even when water appears as ice, it is still understood as water.
If I could teach the world one thing based on my life experience, it would be to experience one’s own true being. Only human beings — no other living species — have the capacity or potential to discover the true Self. My own discovery came through an experience known as a Kundalini awakening. Given below …
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The nature of the most fundamental question, Who am I?, is such that it can never be answered. However, one can experience one’s own true being through shaktipat. What is shaktipat? Shakti refers to energy and pat means to descend. So, shaktipat means the descend of energy on a worthy seeker through the medium of …
When one becomes deeply immersed in prayer, the “I-thou” duality merges into oneness, like in love where beloved and lover no longer exist; only love and love alone remains. That is how prayer turns into meditation. In real meditation (dhyana in Sanskrit), there is only oneness — the pure I-awareness as a witness. The witness …
When you are identified with your physical body and mind rather than your own inner Spirit (atman in Sanskrit), this weakens you. In reality, you are neither the body nor the mind. If you consider yourself to be something that you are not, that is impure ego (ahamkara in Sanskrit) — simply ego. If you …
What weakens us? What strengthens us? How to get rid of what weakens us? Read More »
An atom bomb can destroy only a person’s physical body of one lifetime whereas meditation can open up the central nerve/channel that can destroy the accumulated karmas of a person’s countless lifetimes. Indeed, meditation is so powerful. The central nerve/channel is also known as sushumna nadi, madhya nadi, or the brahma nadi, which is located …
How is the power of meditation greater than the power of an atom bomb? Read More »
A best book on kundalini is not merely a book; it is infused with the spiritual energy. I will suggest a couple of books on kundalini to you. But first, you must ask yourself what the goal of kundalini practice is. If someone were to ask me what the goal of kundalini practice is, I …
The universal energy, called Shakti in Sanskrit, resides in every human being and is known as kundalini. Shakti is the active aspect of the Absolute (Shiva). When kundalini awakes, it rises from the base of the spine in the mooladhara chakra through the central channel (sushumna) and unites with Shiva at the top of the …
What is kundalini rising and what does it feel like? How do you know it has happened? Read More »
Nadi Shodhana Prānayāma is a simple, yet powerful breathing technique to relax your nervous system. Nadi Shodhana pranayama literally means purification of “nadis” where “nadis” cannot be translated into English. According to Swami Sivananda (1887–1963), a great spiritual master, “Nadis are the astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry the subtle Prana. It …
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Actually, it is my kundalini awakening experience that led me to write my book, Building a Noble World. Given below is the description adapted from my book, Building a Noble World, along with the following link to my previous answer on Quora: Shiv Jhawar’s answer to What is meant by a partial kundalini awakening and a full kundalini …
Have you ever met a person whose Kundalini is awakened? How can I awaken the Kundalini? Read More »
No, not at all! All fears are baseless. It is the rigors of one’s unusual spiritual practices that may cause insanity or disease, not Kundalini. Actually, it is divine Kundalini that removes one’s physical and mental diseases. If Kundalini awakens through the guru’s grace, there is absolutely no danger because the grace itself guides the Kundalini to reach the top of the head. Remember, mere …
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Describing what a kundalini awakening is, Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) writes in his masterpiece Raja Yoga: “When that Kundalini awakens, it tries to force a passage through this hollow canal [Sushumna], and as it rises step by step, as it were, layer after layer of the mind becomes open and all the different visions and wonderful powers come to the Yogi. When …
Real spiritual masters are not rare. A real spiritual master will never tell that he/she is a real one! Even if someone mentions a certain spiritual master, how can you verify the truth of such an assertion? Unless a seeker is truly worthy, no benefit can accrue by meeting a spiritual master. What to do? Remember that …
First, you must ask yourself what the goal of kundalini awakening is. If someone were to ask me what the goal of kundalini awakening is, I would say it’s to experience one’s own true being. This is the source of all happiness, peace, love, and contentment. Only by experiencing the innermost reality beyond the body-mind limitation can one become …
Can one have a spontaneous Kundalini awakening? How do you manage it after? Read More »
Where does God live? The heart is the abode of God. What is this heart? To answer this significant question, first one must understand what God is. What is God? God is existence –total existence. In fact, existence and God are synonymous. Since existence is God, God exists. God not only exists but God alone exists. …
It is important to understand what God is before delving into God’s existence. What is God? God is existence –total existence. In fact, existence and God are synonymous. Since existence is God, God exists. God not only exists, but God alone exists. To see God as God truly is, one must see God as manifested in every form throughout …
Let me first answer the first part: the Bhagavad Gita says that God lives in every human heart. Then, I will answer your second part: Why do humans do bad things? Here is the exact verse that states that God lives in every human heart: “God lives in the heart of every being” (Bhagavad Gita 18-61) ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति ॥ …
It is a partial awakening if the Kundalini becomes dormant again (the awakening is not sustained). It is a full awakening when the kundalini rises to the Sahasrara – the highest chakra located at the very top of the head and the goal of the Kundalini’s journey. Sahasrara signifies infinity where samadhi is experienced. After this samadhi experience, the Kundalini never becomes dormant again. The …
What is meant by a partial kundalini awakening and a full kundalini awakening? Read More »
In Vedanta, Veda means knowledge and anta means last, final, conclusion. Simply put, Vedanta means the last knowledge beyond which no one can speak. For example, Upanishads, which form the final section of the Vedas, come under Vedanta. The core teaching of Vedanta is to experience one’s true nature. To understand sin in Vedanta, we need to first understand …
You ask: How am I to consider myself as God? Any example to grasp it? First of all, what does God mean? God means existence — total existence. In fact, existence and God are synonymous. Since existence is God, God exists. God not only exists but God alone exists. To see God as God truly is, one must …
How am I to consider myself as God? Any example to grasp it? Read More »
To know whether meditation or service to humanity is better, you must first understand what meditation really is. The main purpose of meditation is to experience one’s own true being/Self — the source of profound peace. Just as in sleep you find new freshness, vigor, and peace, so also you find even greater peace in meditation. Meditation is …
It is important to understand what God is before delving into God’s existence. What is God? God is existence –total existence. In fact, existence and God are synonymous. Since existence is God, God exists. God not only exists but God alone exists. To see God as God truly is, one must see God as manifest in every form …
Let me answer your question with a question: Do you need to give up your worldly life — home, the family, wife, children, or work — when you go to sleep? Meditation is just an elder brother of deep sleep. Just as deep sleep lies beyond your waking state, so also meditation lies beyond your deep …
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The difference between learning, understanding, and experiencing can be easily grasped from the following example: In her childhood, a little girl learns that this is my mother. After a few years, the girl grows up and understands that she is my mother because she gave birth to me. After her marriage, when the girl becomes a mother herself, she experiences that …
The only way to develop a personal relationship with a saint is to develop a relationship with your own innermost being (also called Self). Remember, the same saint also lives inside you. The saint (also called guru) and the Self are one and the same. How to develop a relationship with your own innermost being? Meditate on the …
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The Law of Periodicity (or Law of Rhythm) states that everything in the universe moves in a circle. The sun moves from east to west, coming back to the east to begin a new cycle. More than a century ago in 1903, Rama Tirtha (1873 –1906), who was not only a renowned spiritual master but …
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This is a super deep question about true identity. Most people live in delusion as they are not aware of their true nature. To realize one’s own true nature is the greatest experience in the world. Whatsoever can be watched is completely separate from you. You can watch both your body and mind. The “I-awareness” is …
Is your “I-awareness” completely separate from your body and your mind? Read More »
The secret of secrets to getting into meditation naturally and spontaneously is Shaktipat. It is important to understand what happens in meditation. In meditation, the mind merges into its source, the innermost Self (atman in Sanskrit). What is Shaktipat? According to Shiva Sutra Vimarshini, “Guru paramesvari anugrahika shakti” (“Guru is the grace-bestowing power of God”). This bestowal …
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Sir John Woodroffe (1865-1936), also known as Arthur Avalon, studied at Oxford University, England and became a judge of the High Court of Calcutta and Professor of Law at the University of Calcutta. His most influential book is The Serpent Power, which refers to the Kundalini energy. In his popular book, The Garland of Letters, he expounds on the non-dualistic Advaita …
What incident at court made Sir John Woodroffe (1865-1936) interested in Kundalini? Read More »
A guru who can give shaktipat initiation is rare. The word “shaktipat” might sound esoteric, but it is a sacred initiation, common to all religions. This initiation has been passed down from guru to disciple, called lineage or Guru Parampara, through the ages. To understand who can give shaktipat, it is important to know that …
Meditation is a subjective science — it explores the inner world. Through meditation, the bliss of the innermost Self is experienced. Just start meditation by sitting quietly and turning your mind within. Let your mind think whatever it wants. Your goal is not to fight with thoughts whenever thoughts come. Your goal is to focus …
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Both Christ and Guru refer to one and the same ultimate consciousness. Christ Jesus is the individual (a river) whereas Christ (ocean) is universal. Once a river merges into the ocean, the river is no longer there. The ultimate universal consciousness happened not only to Jesus but also to many great beings before Jesus as …
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As far as the ultimate realization of every founder of a religion is concerned, it is the attainment of the same Absolute Reality. It is for this reason that the title “Christ” conveys exactly the same universal consciousness as does the title “Buddha.” Both Christ and Buddha refer to one and the same ultimate consciousness. …
When you chase your mind during meditation, it is mentation, not meditation. Have you ever become aware of the gap between your two thoughts? A gap always exists between two thoughts. This gap is called the Self (atman in Sanskrit), Spirit, Consciousness, or I-awareness. If you can settle with full awareness into this gap, you …
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Lord Jesus’ birth has become such a significant event in the history of humanity that we use B.C. (“Before Christ”) and A.D. (“Anno Domini” meaning, in the year of our Lord) to measure time. Lord Jesus was a fully enlightened being who inspired mercy, love, and humility. The ultimate statement of Jesus that, “I am …
How has Lord Jesus’ birth become the most significant date in history? Read More »
What makes kundalini yoga different is that the yoga that is best suited to your temperament begins to unfold spontaneously. After having the kundalini awakening as a result of shaktipat, meditation happens to you naturally without any effort on your part. In other words, meditation goes after you! In Sanskrit, shakti refers to energy or …
Every year, Guru Purnima, the full moon day of July (the Hindi month of Ashadh), is celebrated to honor the Guru. The word, “Guru” has no exact translation in English. The literal meaning of the word “Guru” is the remover of psychic darkness. Just as the darkness is dispelled when you bring light into a …