The mystery of the Immortal Beings (Yogis with super natural powers) : Living in the Himalayas !

Over the years there has been  great interest and mystery associated with sages (Yogis with super natural powers) that live in the Himalayan region. 

These advanced Yogis  by virtue of their penance and Sadhna and mastery over Yogic practices, can choose to live for ever. They are therefore immortal and usually  live in seclusion in the inaccessible portions of the Himalayas .They are known to be perpetually engaged in Sadhna and worship for the betterment of mankind. 
The enclosed  article is an amalgation of  fascinating incidents related to encounters of ordinary people with such immortal sages and Yogis. These are accounts of ordinary  people that have chanced upon these immortal sages  in the Himalayan region, or have been helped  by them in times of extreme distress and have chosen to write or talk about their magical experiences

The enclosed article is a direct quote from Akhand Jyoti Magazine, and is an article published in the March-April issue of the magazine in  2004.(Certain language modifications have been made to the quoted text for ease of reading).

Quoted Text from Akhand Jyoti magazine: 

The mystery of Immortal Beings(Yogis) Living  in the Himalayan region:

There was  an incident of 1942 when the King of Kumaon invited an army officer of Western Command, Mr. LP. Farrel for a picnic trip to the hills. There was a special reason for inviting Mr. Farrel. In spite of his being a Britisher, Mr. Farrel was very much interested in Indian religion, philosophy and culture.

He had a few opportunities of witnessing demonstration of miraculous feats of some Indian yogis. Under the influence of such events Mr. Farrel  had become a pure vegetarian. That is why he always welcomed any opportunity to go towards the Himalayan wilderness, with the hope of meeting some saint or Yogi who could initiate him into spiritual Sadhana(worship).

Mr. Farrel, the King and the Queen of Kumaon and their entourage reached a place near Nainital( a place  full of natural beauty in the region) .The place  so enchanted them that they decided to camp there overnight . So, dozens of tents were pitched and the lonely place got filled with the hustle and bustle of people . Gossip, merriment, eating and drinking went on till midnight. Everyone went to bed exhausted with  the whole day’s exertions, and immediately slipped into deep sleep. 

The first phase of  sleep was hardly over when Mr. Farrel felt that there was someone near his cot. He woke up to  listen and heard a voice say clearly-"We need the place where your tents have been pitched. You vacate this place. If you are unable to understand this message  then you should come to that Northwestern Hill in front of you. I will explain everything to you ." 
"But who are you?" – saying this Mr. Farrel got up from the bed and lit his torch. But there was no one. He came out of the tent but there too no one could be seen nor could he hear anyone’s footsteps. After experiencing  momentary fear he became normal and then went back to his bed again for sleeping. It was 3.30 a.m by his watch.

Despite his best efforts Mr.farrell could not find  sleep again. Somehow he was managing to keep his eyes shut. Once again he felt someone’s presence. Still lying on the bed he opened his eyes and  saw the shadow of a person standing in front of him. This time again he uttered the same words- "Who are you"?.  As soon as Mr. Farrel lit the torch,  the shadow vanished again . Mr Farrel's  body started shaking and perspiring. This army officer who did not get frightened by watching horrible bloodshed in a war, momentarily got un-nerved and dumbfounded by the mere imagination of a supernatural being. He lay awake in his bed with his eyes closed till the morning but heard nothing more . A strange attraction was arousing within him to see the hill mentioned by the shadowy presence. He put on his clothes and shoes and silently came out of the tent and walked towards that hill.

Describing this incident Mr. Farrel has himself written: "The way to the place where I was directed to reach was very difficult, narrow and dangerous. I was not at all able to climb up by myself but I was constantly feeling that somebody was showing me the way and was providing me the energy to climb up. After a hard effort of three and a half hours I could climb up. It seemed difficult to go ahead due to heavy breathing and perspiration. So I sat down on a square stone, lying down on it to take some rest. 

Hardly two minutes had passed and the same voice awakened me. ‘Mr. Farrel! Now you put off your shoes and slowly climb down the stone and come to me. With these words in the ears, I looked around and saw that a saint, with very weak constitution but brilliant splendor on the forehead, was standing in front of me.I thought.... I had never met or seen him earlier. "Then how could he know my name"? He was here, then how did his shadow reach in my tent in the night? There was no communication link like a radio or a microphone etc between us. Then how could his voice reach me? 
Several such questions arose in my mind. Putting a stop to the unending trail of questions the sadhu said-"Whatever you have heard and seen cannot be understood by ordinary human mind!". To gain understanding ,  one has to do long sadhana and the practice of yoga, abandoning the worldly pleasures and attraction of the senses. There is a specific purpose for which you have been called here."

Farrel could not make out whether the saintly person was a human being or a godlike person . The thoughts arising in his mind were being constantly read by that person like an open book. Mr. Farrel climbed down the rock and in a short time reached the place where the Sadhu was sitting. The place was so small that only one person could take rest there. There was nothing else there except the fire burning in the Dhooni (firepit).

Farrel further writes- "The Sadhu patted me on the back with his weak hand and I was stunned how could this electricity like power be there in that old body. My body that was almost breaking with pain due to exhaustion - now seemed light like a flower. As an humble gesture of respect for him I knelt down and touched his feet. I had seen many sadhus; but I have always felt that sahdus and saints who had influenced Indian philosophy and increased its dignity were not those who were roaming around on the roads but they were truly devoted persons who lived in total seclusion. Their physical bodies might weigh 80-90 pounds but the intensity of their energy and power was more than that of thousand bombs going off together and they were the storehouses of knowledge."

The Sadhu continued to tell  me-"I have inspired a youth to reach the place where your tents have been pitched. He was my disciple in his previous birth. His sadhana is half-completed. Now I want to guide him again to undertake his sadhana and penance for the universal welfare of mankind . But the memories of his previous birth are dormant. The impressions and circumstances of this current birth are attracting him and keeping him away from his incomplete task. Therefore he is unable to take up his  sadhana again. I have called him to me through subtle inspiration. If he comes here and is unable to locate the directed place, then he will get confused and will go back to his home again . If that happens , whatever I want will not become possible, Therefore, please vacate that place immediately."

Mr. Farrel said – "Lord! Please tell me also a few things about my previous birth "? The Sadhu replied-"My son- These siddhis (accomplishments) are not for demonstration. They are meant for some special purposes and it is better that they are utilized for that purpose only. Of course, if you wish you can be present at the time when I show this young man who i have invited  the events of his  previous birth. Now you go. People are searching for you in the camp. I too am in a hurry."

Mr. Farrel returned to the camp. Indeed, people had been searching for him. Mr. Farrel narrated the incident to the King. They then left that place and pitched the camp some 200 yards away.

By the evening of that day, a young man did indeed come searching for that place. After satisfying himself in all respects, he sat down where the tents had been pitched earlier. In the meantime, Mr. Farrel also reached there. His curiosity was getting more and more intense as the time passed. In a short while the Sadhu also  reached there. Mr. Farel and the young man touched his feet and stood waiting for his instructions. The place was in the centre of a grove of trees.. After lighting a fire, the  Sadhu did some puja, recited some mantras and told us to sit down in a meditating posture. A ray of light emanated from his forehead and a circular spot of light appeared on the trunk of a thick tree. Then whatever was seen in the spot was just like a cinema where they saw the characters actually walking and talking. Like a movie, they saw the events of the previous birth of that youth with their own naked eyes. In between the pictures, the  youth used to get excited and would say – ‘Yes-yes I had done that’.

At the end, that youth touched the feet of that sadhu and said "Lord! Now my attachment with the mundane world is broken. I am ready to take up the unfinished sadhana of my previous life. Please guide me so that I can complete the unfinished task."

The Sadhu said – "My son! Today you take rest here. In the morning, you return to your home. At an appropriate time, I will call you." After that Mr Farrel did not know when that youth was called again? What became of him  later and with what name did he became popular? But with this Mr Farrel  became a staunch devotee of Indian religion and spirituality. This incident has been narrated by Mr. Farrel himself in an article in the May 17, 1959 issue of Saptahik Hindustan (a weekly Hindi magazine).

A similar incident is said to  have happened in the life of a famous Indian yogi Sri Shyama Charan Lahiri, popularly known as Lahiri Mahashay, in the book "An autobiography of a Yogi", authored by Swami Yogananda. Lahiri Mahashay happened to be Yoganand’s Dada Guru. Lahiri Mahasay was also  called  Babaji, and was an immortal siddha purusha of the Himalayas, who taught  Yoganada,  the science of Kriya Yoga so that the knowledge continued and did  not become extinct.

Indian scriptures are filled with descriptions of immortal souls like Shiva, Bhairav, Hanuman, Ashwatthama and many such Siddha Purushas. There is a story in Kalki Purana, which goes like this. When Lord Kalki saw that the entire world had sunk neck-deep in perversities (like sexual indulgence, anger, greed, attachment, ego, laziness, etc.) and the light of their souls had been extinguished, he decided to guide the masses groping in the darkness of ignorance. The darkness was dense. The entire world was badly trapped in the materialistic pursuits and the pleasures of the senses. 
Lord Kalki felt that he lacked the power required for this awakening of the masses. Then his spiritual mentor Parashuram called him to the Himalayas and made him undertake a penance at a place where he (Parashuram)  himself had undertaken penance. This penance awakened in Kalki an  enormous power, which was needed for the transformation of the era. Lord Parshuram was born in Vedic Yuga, which came much earlier than the Kaliyuga. His presence in Kaliyuga too is an indication of his immortality and a testimony of the fact that immortal souls like him are still present in the Himalayas. 

Dr. Hari Dutta Bhatta, has given an interesting description of his mountaineering experience of Janwali (Garhwal) hill, which is located 22000 feet above sea level. This narrative was published  in Dharmayuga (Hindi weekly, 23 rd August 1964 issue). He was convinced that some supernormal power saved him and his group from getting buried under a landslide. All these incidents prove the fact that immortal souls possessing fierce supernatural power are still present in the Himalayas and they will remain there for an infinite time.

Can the  Immortal existence Yogis of the Himalayas be  scientifically validated ??

To further validate the existence of the Siddha Purushas, or immortal beings in the Himalayas, modern scientists are also actively engaged in the research for finding the elixir of life. Zoologists of Russia, France, Britain, Germany, USA, etc. have been investigating for a long time the process of aging and death. On the basis of the results obtained so far, they have concluded that death is not an inevitable phenomenon. Aging is a kind of disease. If it be possible to find a cure for it, a person could live for a thousand years. The modes and methods of Kayakalpa (rejuvenation) mentioned in Ayurveda also prove this fact.

In fact death is the result of collapse of life sustaining mechanism in the body. The gradual reduction in the efficiency of the body organs is the cause  leading to death. If the life sustaining mechanisms are kept healthy and if the process of cell renewal is kept intact, a human being could be kept alive for an infinite time. Genes are immortal so there is no inevitability of bodily death.

After studying Ayurveda, one can easily conclude that ancient seers and scholars had identified several herbs, fruits and chemicals, which help in the rejuvenation of the body. There is a popular phrase that explains this :  "A person does not eat food; it is the food that eats a person." 

Our physical body is nourished by blood. The latter provides oxygen to the entire body. Oxygen and other nerve fluids sustain consciousness in the body. All this is accomplished and sustained by  emotions. It is the thoughts and emotions that give rise to secretions of hormones. These hormones control the metabolic processes within the body. Therefore, it appears that the responsibility of keeping the body healthy rests with our emotions and thoughts which are the real essence of life. There is a bird called ‘Salyon’, which gets sick after laying eggs. After investigation it has been found that after laying the eggs, her pituitary gland (which is centre of thoughts and emotions), gets excited and it starts secreting a hormone called A.C.T.H in huge quantities, which leads to her sickness. This has been found in the case of some other creatures as well. This shows that, if a person makes his thought process robustly positive and keeps his food light, he can keep himself alive and active for a long time.

Modern science has no knowledge of the thought control mechanism. Is there  power in the sentiments and emotions of a human being such that they  can catch in its purest form the life (genes/ prana ) floating in the sky? This vidya (knowledge) is known only to accomplished Indian Yogis. Modern day  scientists are now  agreeing with the existence of such a process . For example in 1975 some zoologists of Strasberg carried out an experiment for changing the genes of a duck. Two ducks, one of Campbell variety and the other of Pekish variety, were chosen. The DNA of the first were injected in the second and that of the second one were injected in the first. This gave rise to change in the color of both. Within a few days the dust colour of Campbell started appearing in the Pekish variety and the neck of Campbell variety started getting white.

Science can perform only a few experiments of this type. Changing one or two chromosomes is the first step towards success. The reproductive cells of a human being contain about 10 billions pairs of nucleotides and every pair has 46 chromosomes. It is difficult to change the behavior of a person without changing them. Then there are several cells in the body, which after being formed never change. The question of keeping them healthy is even more of a daunting task. It will take a long time for modern scienctists  to search the solution for this. To study the ageing process further,  scientists have suggested that atmospheric temperature should be subzero. Mr Clark in his book ‘Space Odyssey’ has written that in order to undertake a space voyage lasting for 200 to 400 yrs, it will be essential to keep the space voyager in the sleeping state at sub zero temperatures. 

The science and  knowledge already exists in the science of yoga and the ancient Indian Vedic  methods. Looked at from this angle  the existence of immortal beings in the perennially frozen regions of the Himalayas cannot be considered as a myth.

In fact, the Himalayan region has been a special haven of true Yogis and Mahatmas from times immemorial. The likes of great yogis who have lived in this sacred region cannot be found elsewhere. It is said that there is "Gyangaj Yogashram" in Tibet, which is a training institute for Yogis. . This Siddhashram isolated in the subtle-physical realm and is therefore  not accessible or visible to ordinary persons. Only  awakened and gifted Sadhaks have the privilege of entry into this Siddhashram.

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Source and credits:
Akhand Jyoti Magazine published by Gayatri Pariwar. The magazine is based on the writings of Acharya Shriram Sharma.

http://www.akhandjyoti.org/?Akhand-Jyoti/2004/Mar-Apr/ImmortalBeingsHimalayas/

You may also like to read two excellent and  related books that have fantastic descriptions of the Himalayan regions as well as  descriptions of the sages living in secret regions of the Himalayas in their astral formats. The books also describe the purpose and mission of these saints .

1. My Life its Legacy and Message.
2. Companions in Solitude.

Inspiring Quotes, Short Stories,Tales and Fables from "Akhand Jyoti" Magazine (2).

Enclosed here is a collection of  inspiring quotes, short stories  tales and fables  with a great message. These tales are from the magazine "Akhand Jyoti" or the "Light Divine". The magazine publication  was initiated  by Acharya Shriram Sharma  in 1936. 
The magazine completes 75 years of publication and circulation this year and has millions of readers worldwide.  (Note: certain grammatical amendments to the quoted text have been made for ease of reading.)

                                Inspiring Quotes, Tales and Fables

The Sage and the naughty youth: 

A sage once lived in a hut outside a village. Almost every evening, the villagers gathered at the sage's hut to hear his discourses. When the time would come for evening prayers and discourses some naughty youngsters from the village would descend upon the hut and begin to chat noisily. From time to time they would tease the sage and interrupt him. This routine continued for some months, but not once did the sage show anger or irritation towards the youth. Sometimes he would actually participate in their noisy chatter and laugh with them.

After prolonged efforts when the sage showed no signs of anger at the boy's behavior the boys began to feel remorseful of their conduct. They begged forgiveness of the sage, and asked: " O Great Soul - We deliberately tried to tease you, vex you ,but not once have you got annoyed or lost your temper. Why is that?". The sage replied: " Son, if I had got angry, how could I have taught you anything?

(Akhand Jyoti magazine- September-October 2011)

The Importance of dietary discipline, hard work and a disciplined life:

A king once lost his way in a jungle and in the course of his wandering's , reached a village. The villagers did not know of the King , did not recognize him to be a King and yet they welcomed him warmly and attended to his comforts. The innate goodness of the villagers greatl impressed the King deeply, and he in turn wanted to return their kindness. He noticed that the village had no medical facility, so he proceeded to build one for the village and appointed a well qualified doctor there.

One year passed. The doctor visited the King to give an update and told him : " O king- I remain without work in that village. In the last one year , not a single patient has turned up. All the medicine stock is also remaining un-utilized". The King became really curious about this situation , so he went to the village himself to enquire as to why the villagers were not using this medical facility? The villagers explained- "We observe dietary discipline in our daily routines and engage in hard labor.  Our food items constitute natural products and are fresh and pure. Our daily routine is also well regulated with hard physical exertion as its main constituent. All this helps us ward off disease, and if per chance , an illness does occur, it soon gets expelled from the system through the mechanism of sweating!". The King realized the importance of teaching all his citizens the importance of natural , fresh food and hard disciplined labour. The Doctor was shifted out of the village to a more appropriate location.

(Akhand Jyoti Magazine- May-June 2011)

Anger:

Anyone can become angry -That is easy. But to be angry with the right person- To the right degree,at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way - That is not easy.   ( By Aristotle)

(Akhand Jyoti Magazine- May-June 2011)

Lord Buddha and Bhikshu Kashyap ( Bhikshu, means a sage that lives on alms):

Bhikshu Kashyap, through the power of his "Yoga" started to display miracles of "yoga" in the city of Sravasti. This spread his fame far and wide. After the spread of this news, he remained surrounded by a crowd of people day and night and he could find no time for his own self purification and his own Sadhana. Lord Buddha was saddened to hear of this state of events and he sent him a message- "If you had used your powers of Yoga in the service of the needy and not misused them for getting fame and praise , many people would have benefited including yourself".

(Akhand Jyoti Magazine- May-June 2011)

The greatness of Mahatma Gandhi ( His simplicity and an even temperament):

A peasant was once greatly inspired by the message of Mahatma Gandhi and wished desperately to see him and have his darshan. Gandhiji, was scheduled to visit a nearby village, so the villager boarded a train from his village and set about to see Gandhiji. On the way he kept visualizing  what Gandhiji would look like? He presumed Gandhiji would be a person of great splendour!

At the village station , he bought a train ticket and boarded the train. The train compartment was really crowded. The peasant tried to make space for himself. He saw a gentleman reclining on a berth, and he seemed to be quite exhausted. The peasant approached him, shook his arm to wake him up and said -" Can you get up and sit up, you are reclining as this was your own train?". The gentleman got up and vacated his seat for the peasant  The peasant sat down in the vacated seat and started talking to the people around him. He said "I am going to see Gandhiji. I believe he alleviates the sufferings of the common man  and the distressed". The people around him simply smiled at his words.

When the train finally reached the next station, a crowd of people rushed in looking to welcome Gandhiji. The peasant was astonished and anguished to know that the person he had admonished to "sit up" was none other than Gandhiji.

(Akhand Jyoti Magazine- May-June 2011)

We hope that you enjoyed reading these inspiring and  motivational quotes, tales and short stories. For more of the same we invite you to read Akhand Jyoti magazine online.

 Read Akhand Jyoti Online:http://literature.awgp.org/magazine

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Source and Credits :

Akhand Jyoti magazine was started by Shriram Sharma Acharya  to transmit the Acharya's writings and Literature. The spirit of the Divine purpose of  Acharya Shriram Sharma's Life lies in Acharyaji's  extensive writings (translation of all Vedas , Puranas, Upanishads, learnings from Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana etc) and forms the essence and substance of this magazine.

How to maintain mental balance in tough situations(3): Lose Not Your Heart Series

Enclosed below are inspiring motivational quotes  on how to maintain your mental balance while dealing  with stressful and difficult situations from the  pocket book "Lose Not Your Heart", authored by Acharya Shriram Sharma.

Readers , can print out this  page and put it on the school bulletin board, the  refrigerator, the school library, a local temple etc. This is an easy way to    build  these inspiring and motivational quotes in  everyday life. These short Motivational  Quotes have helped so many people deal with ordinary everyday problems and prevented these problems from becoming larger issues that can overtake our lives.

Do not Depend on Others:

The day you develop faith in the strength of your own hands, feet and heart, your soul will tell you to go forth alone. Keeping high expectations of others is like building castles in the air, unreal and worthless. 

Pinning your hopes on others cripples your own originality and courage. The person who centers his life around another person becomes alone very quickly. Putting your life in another person's hands is like setting sail without knowing where you are going.

Love , is a Great Power:

Love is a kind of power that can further any aspect of life. It is impossible to bring about a change in any one's thinking without love.Healthy mindsets are rarely ever formed through reasoning and arguments. Healthy mindsets as well as trust are developed through prolonged good company. The result of this prolonged good company is love. Therefore, a healthy mindset and trust are both results of love.

We must use love to change others outlook and way of thinking. Logic and intelligent arguments are not sufficient. If what you have to say is full of love and sympathy, the world will be willing to follow you.

The cause of Failure:

We are constantly trying to force others to think and act according to our own beliefs. These attempts to correct other's behaviour neither changes their minds or satisfies us. 

We justify controlling others in several ways. We believe that if we control them we may acquire some immediate gain , or that the person is a hindrance to our progress, or that the person is constantly criticising us , spreading rumours about us etc. Using such reasoning to blame others for your own failure will not benefit you.

Forget Painful Memories:

When you find yourself recalling painful memories, the best thing to do is forget and ignore them. The way to preserve your emotional stability is to replace your unpleasant memories with pleasant ones. If you wish to keep your physical, mental, and emotional health, then learn to remove unhealthy memories in  this way.

Even if someone close to you has caused you grief, will you keep obsessing over your pain? Lose yourself in purposeful work and forget these painful experiences. The best way to free yourself from worry is to forget our misery.

Control over Happiness and Unhappiness:

Instead of being controlled by happiness and unhappiness, establish your mastery over them. This will render your life more interesting and meaningful. It is every persons responsibility to uplift himself and better his life, and you should full involve yourself in this task. 

You can achieve a great deal if you take full advantage of favorable circumstances and are not afraid of adverse ones. Learn from every circumstance and move forward. As you progress, whatever seemed adverse will seem favorable, and then when that time comes you will be free from your sadness.


Find Happiness in all situations:
It is only wise to be prepared for changing times. You should never feel conceited about your successes, happiness, luxuries, or progress, because you do not know how long these will last. If they do not, there is no point in spending your energy, complaining, despairing or becoming angry. Use your  time to think through the situation and devise a solution , or otherwise reconcile yourself to it. In the end this will be more beneficial for you.
Real intelligence comes form finding happiness in whatever is available,and in this way in keeping your mental balance.

Dear readers- if you liked the above  inspiring and motivational quotes  on how to maintain our mental balance while dealing with stressful and difficult situations in Life - we also invite you to read other articles in the "Lose not your Heart" series. 

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Source credits and  References:
If you would like to read the book "Lose Not Your Heart" please click the link below.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/56434985/Lose-Not-Your-Heart-motivational-book-by-Shriram-Sharma-Acharya-Shantikunj

How to be Spiritual - The Connection between Chastity, Spirituality and Incredible memory!

Illustrious sages, like those that are of the Paramhansas level, like Swami Vivekananda, Ramkrishna Paramhansa and Vedmurti Shriram Sharma Acharya have all left us a legacy of great literature that is simply invaluable. Their Lives are living examples of how to be Spiritual? Therefore it is pertinent to ask what defined their Spirituality? How did they live such exemplary lives and accomplish tasks of such extraordinary magnitude?

Each of them individually in their own lifetimes were voracious readers of great books. Those who lived in close proximity with Pt.Shriram Sharma Acharya know that he would read through multiple large texts in a short span of time and remember it all. 

Pt.Shriram Sharma Acharya wrote Literature greater than his own body weight. All his texts are scientific in content and research validated. How was this possible in a time when then internet was absent ? Similar was the prowess of Swami Vivekananda. He could read through volumes the size of Encyclopedia Britannica and remember it all !

In the words of these great sages themselves - sexual continence is a great enabler of energy, vitality and also of memory and concentration in people. Sexual continence helps retain and enhance the vital "Prana" or energy in the individual and that enables the accomplishment of a large body of work of extra ordinary magnitude !

The enclosed passage emphasising this point is captured in a conversation between Swami Vivekananda and his fellow disciple....

Quote of a  Conversation between Swamiji and a Disciple:

"Despite his spare food and scanty sleep, Swamiji is very active. A few days ago, a new set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica had been bought for the Math. Seeing the new shining volumes, the disciple said to Swamiji, "It is almost impossible to read all these books in a single lifetime." He was unaware that Swamiji had already finished ten volumes and had begun the eleventh.

Swamiji: What do you say? Ask me anything you like from these ten volumes, and I will answer you all.

The disciple asked in wonder, "Have you read all these books?"

Swamiji: Why should I ask you to question me otherwise?
Being examined, Swamiji not only reproduced the sense, but at places the very language of the difficult topics selected from each volume. The disciple, astonished, put aside the books, saying, "This is not within human power!"

Swamiji: Do you see, simply by the observance of strict Brahmacharya (continence) all learning can be mastered in a very short time — one has an unfailing memory of what one hears or knows but once. It is owing to this want of continence that everything is on the brink of ruin in our country.

Disciple: Whatever you may say, sir, the manifestation of such superhuman power cannot be the result of mere Brahmacharya, something else there must be.

Swamiji did not say anything in reply."

The subject of Chastity occurs frequently in Swami Vivekananda's Lectures and Speeches. Enclosed below is a  seperate excerpt from a letter written in 1894 -once again emphasizing the connexion between chastity and spirituality. 

"I come back to the one, fundamental, vital point: 'Find God. Nothing else matters.' He emphasized morality as the basis of the spiritual life. Without truth, noninjury, continence, non-stealing, cleanliness, and austerity, he repeated, there could be no spirituality.

The subject of continence always stirred him deeply.Walking up and down the room, getting more and more excited, he would stop before someone as if there were no one else present. 'Don't you see,' he would say eagerly, 'there is a reason why chastity is insisted on in all monastic orders?

Spiritual giants are produced only where the vow of chastity is observed. Don't you see there must be a reason? There is a connexion between chastity and spirituality. The explanation is that through prayer and meditation the saints have transmuted the most vital force in the body into spiritual energy. In India this is well understood and yogis do it consciously. The force so transmuted is called Ojas, and it is stored up in the brain. It has been lifted from the lowest centre to the highest. "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me."'

He would plead with the students as if to beg them to act upon this teaching as something most precious. Further, they could not be the disciples he required if they were not established in chastity. He demanded a conscious transmutation.'The man who has no temper has nothing to control."

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Source credits and references to the above article:

http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/conversations_and_dialogues/from_the_diary_of_a_disciple/scc_i_frame.htm

Swami Vivekananda Quotes on : Worshipping The Mother Form, Upanishads, Buddhism, Vegetarianism, The difference between a Prophet and a Scientist !

Enclosed here are short excerpts from the words and writings  of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, and Swami Vivekananda. These  short excerpts are explanations on subjects as diverse as : How were the Upanishads written? Should we limit ourselves to the scriptural texts or go beyond? Why do we worship the Mother form or the female form of energy? When do societies move towards vegetarianism, what prompts them to make this move? What distinguishes a prophet from a scientist?The greatness of Buddhism!

The exact same thoughts and message on the same subjects is echoed in the extensive Literature penned by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya. 

Quoted text:

Ramakrishna Paramhansa on the short shortsightedness of placing a premium on wealth and social position: 

"Some people are proud of their wealth, their fame and social position,but these pride things are transitory. None can take them away with them after death.It is not good to be proud of wealth.You may say "I am wealthy",but then there are millionaires, multi-millionaires, and so on.

In the evening fireflies think that they are lighting the world; but when the stars begin to shine, their pride is subdued.The stars in turn think they are lighting the world,but when the moon shines the stars are put to shame. The moon too believes that her light illumines everything;but lo! the dawn appears and the rising sun effaces the light of the moon; If wealthy people thought of these things, the would no longer be proud of their wealth."

(Source and Credits :" The Gospel Of Ramakrishna" by Swami Abhedananda (a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa).

Swami Vivekananda on the Limited Value of chanting Gods name without a corresponding internal change in the self:

There is a vast difference between saying "food, food" and eating it, between saying "water, water" and drinking it. So by merely repeating the words "God, God" we cannot hope to attain realisation. We must strive and practise.

(Source and Credits : http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/vol_7_frame.htm)

Swami Vivekananda on why many religions of the world worship the "Divine Mother" or the Female form of energy:

Mother is the first manifestation of power and is considered a higher idea than father. With the name of Mother comes the idea of Shakti, Divine Energy and Omnipotence, just as the baby believes its mother to be all-powerful, able to do anything. The Divine Mother is the Kundalini ("coiled up" power) sleeping in us; without worshipping Her we can never know ourselves. All-merciful, all-powerful, omnipresent are attributes of Divine Mother. She is the sum total of the energy in the universe. Every manifestation of power in the universe is "Mother". She is life, She is intelligence, She is Love. She is in the universe yet separate from it. She is a person and can be seen and known (as Shri Ramakrishna saw and knew Her). Established in the idea of Mother, we can do anything. She quickly answers prayer.

She can show; Herself to us in any form at any moment. Divine Mother can have form (Rupa) and name (Nâma) or name without form; and as we worship Her in these various aspects we can rise to pure Being, having neither form nor name.

The sum total of all the cells in an organism is one person; so each soul is like one cell and the sum of them is God, and beyond that is the Absolute. The sea calm is the Absolute; the same sea in waves is Divine Mother. She is time, space, and causation. God is Mother and has two natures, the conditioned and the unconditioned. As the former, She is God, nature, and soul (man). As the latter, She is unknown and unknowable. Out of the Unconditioned came the trinity — God, nature, and soul, the triangle of existence. This is the Vishishtâdvaitist idea.

A bit of Mother, a drop, was Krishna, another was Buddha, another was Christ. The worship of even one spark of Mother in our earthly mother leads to greatness. Worship Her if you want love and wisdom.

(Source and credits : http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/vol_7_frame.htm )

Swami Vivekananda explaining that as Societies progress( move away from military power to intellectual power, they move towards vegetarianism) 

The meat-eating animal, like the lion, gives one blow and subsides, but the patient bullock goes on all day, eating and sleeping as it walks. The "live Yankee" cannot compete with the rice-eating Chinese coolie. While military power dominates, meat-eating still prevails; but with the advance of science, fighting will grow less, and then the vegetarians will come in.

(Source and credits : http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/vol_7_frame.htm)

Swami Vivekananda explaining The Upanishads and how they were written ?( As algebraical symbols):

Vyasa's philosophy is par excellence that of the Upanishads. He wrote in Sutra form, that is, in brief algebraical symbols without nominative or verb. This caused so much ambiguity that out of the Sutras came dualism, mono-dualism, and monism or "roaring Vedanta"; and all the great commentators in these different schools were at times "conscious liars" in order to make the texts suit their philosophy.

The Upanishads contain very little history of the doings of any man, but nearly all other scriptures are largely personal histories. The Vedas deal almost entirely with philosophy. Religion without philosophy runs into superstition; philosophy without religion becomes dry atheism.

Vishishta-advaita is qualified Advaita (monism). Its expounder was Râmânuja. He says, "Out of the ocean of milk of the Vedas, Vyasa has churned this butter of philosophy, the better to help mankind." He says again, "All virtues and all qualities belong to Brahman, Lord of the universe. He is the greatest Purusha. Madhva is a through-going dualist or Dvaitist. He claims that even women might study the Vedas. He quotes chiefly from the Purânas. He says that Brahman means Vishnu, not Shiva at all, because there is no salvation except through Vishnu.

(Source and credits : http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/vol_7_frame.htm)

Swami Vivekananda on what distinguishes The Prophet from  The Scientist:

Knowledge can never be created, it can only be discovered; and every man who makes a great discovery is inspired. Only, when it is a spiritual truth he brings, we call him a prophet; and when it is on the physical plane, we call him a scientific man, and we attribute more importance to the former, although the source of all truth is one.

(Source and credits: http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/vol_7_frame.htm)

Swami Vivekananda on Vedanta Philosphy: How it asks you not to be limited by  whats written in the books. It prompts you to self experience and self realise.

"The ancient Hindus were wonderful scholars, veritable living encyclopaedias. They said, "Knowledge in books and money in other people's hands is like no knowledge and no money at all."

(Source and credits: http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/vol_7_frame.htm)

Swami Vivekananda on the greatness of Buddha and Buddhism:

Buddhism, one of the most philosophical religions in the world, spread all through the populace, the common people of India. What a wonderful culture there must have been among the Aryans twenty-five hundred years ago, to be able to grasp ideas!

Buddha was the only great Indian philosopher who would not recognise caste, and not one of his followers remains in India. All the other philosophers pandered more or less to social prejudices; no matter how high they soared, still a bit of the vulture remained in them. As my Master used to say, "The vulture soars high out of sight in the sky, but his eye is ever on a bit of carrion on the earth."

(Source and credits: http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/vol_7_frame.htm)

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Swami Vivekananda on: How to Meditate and the subject of Kundalini?

Enclosed below is the  excerpt of a conversation between Swami Vivekananda and a Disciple  on the subject of How to Meditate and the subject of Kundalini. 

The excerpt touches on the  impediments to meditation and how to overcome them? It also talks about how to prepare for Meditation.

In the below mentioned excerpt :Swamiji goes on to talk about the subject of Kundalini .(Kundalini awakening is for experienced meditators and disciples who practice meditation under the guidance on an enlightened Master or Guru). 

This conversation between Swamiji and a disciple also gives us a gimplse into the Vikalp Samadhi and Nirvikalp Samadhi states of Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa! 

Quoted Text:

"After about an hour and a half, Swamiji rose from meditation with the words "Shiva, Shiva". His eyes were flushed, the expression placid, calm, and grave. Bowing before Shri Ramakrishna he came downstairs and paced the courtyard of the Math. After a while he said to the disciple. "Do you see how the Sadhus are practising meditation etc. nowadays? 

When the meditation is deep, one sees many wonderful things. While meditating at the Baranagore Math, one day I saw the nerves Idâ and Pingalâ. One can see them with a little effort. Then, when one has a vision of the Shushumnâ, one can see anything one likes. If a man has unflinching devotion to the Guru, spiritual practices — meditation, Japa, and so forth — come quite naturally; one need not struggle for them. 'The Guru is Brahmâ, the Guru is Vishnu, and the Guru is Shiva Himself.

Within there is the lion — the eternally pure, illumined, and ever free Atman; and directly one realises Him through meditation and concentration, this world of Maya vanishes. He is equally present in all; and the more one practises, the quicker does the Kundalini (the 'coiled-up' power) awaken in him. When this power reaches the head, one's vision is unobstructed — one realises the Atman.

The ordinary man's mind is scattered on different objects, and at the time of meditation, too, the mind is at first apt to wander. But let any desire whatever arise in the mind, you must sit calmly and watch what sort of ideas are coming. By continuing to watch in that way, the mind becomes calm, and there are no more thought-waves in it. These waves represent the thought-activity of the mind. Those things that you have previously thought deeply, have transformed themselves into a subconscious current, and therefore these come up in the mind in meditation. 

The rise of these waves, or thoughts, during meditation is an evidence that your mind is tending towards concentration. Sometimes the mind is concentrated on a set of ideas — this is called meditation with Vikalpa or oscillation. But when the mind becomes almost free from all activities, it melts in the inner Self, which is the essence of infinite Knowledge, One, and Itself Its own support. This is what is called Nirvikalpa Samâdhi, free from all activities. 

In Shri Ramakrishna we have again and again noticed both these forms of Samadhi. He had not to struggle to get these states. They came to him spontaneously, then and there. It was a wonderful phenomenon. It was by seeing him that we could rightly understand these things. 

Meditate every day alone. Everything will open up of itself. Now the Divine Mother — the embodiment of illumination — is sleeping within, hence you do not understand this. She is the Kundalini. When, before meditating, you proceed to "purify the nerves", you must mentally strike hard on the Kundalini in the Mulâdhâra (sacral plexus), and repeat, "Arise, Mother, arise!" One must practise these slowly. During meditation, suppress the emotional side altogether. This is a great source of danger. Those that are very emotional no doubt have their Kundalini rushing quickly upwards, but it is as quick to come down as to go up. And when it does come down, it leaves the devotee in a state of utter ruin. 

It is for this reason that Kirtanas and other auxiliaries to emotional development have a great drawback. It is true that by dancing and jumping, etc. through a momentary impulse, that power is made to course upwards, but it is never enduring. On the contrary when it traces back its course, it rouses violent lust in the individual. Listening to my lectures in America, through temporary excitement many among the audience used to get into an ecstatic state, and some would even become motionless like statues. But on inquiry I afterwards found that many of them had an excess of the carnal instinct immediately after that state. But this happens simply owing to a lack of steady practice in meditation and concentration.

Disciple: Sir, in no scriptures have I ever read these secrets of spiritual practice. Today I have heard quite new things.

Swamiji: Do you think the scriptures contain all the secrets of spiritual practice? These are being handed down secretly through a succession of Gurus and disciples.

Practise meditation and concentration with the utmost care. Place fragrant flowers in front and burn incense. At the outset take such external help as will make the mind pure. As you repeat the name of your Guru and Ishta, say, "Peace be to all creatures and the universe!" First send impulses of these good wishes to the north, south, east, west, above, below — in all directions, and then sit down to meditate. One has to do this during the early stages. Then sitting still (you may face in any direction), meditate in the way I have taught you while initiating. Don't leave out a single day. If you have too much pressing work, go through the spiritual exercises for at least a quarter of an hour. Can you reach the goal without steadfast devotion, my son?

Now Swamiji went upstairs, and as he did so, he said, "You people will have your spiritual insight opened without much trouble. Now that you have chanced to come here, you have liberation and all under your thumb. Besides practising meditation, etc., set yourselves heart and soul to remove to a certain extent the miseries of the world, so full of wails. Through hard austerities I have almost ruined this body. There is hardly any energy left in this pack of bones and flesh. You set yourselves to work now, and let me rest a while. 

If you fail to do anything else, well, you can tell the world at large about the scriptural truths you have studied so long. There is no higher gift than this, for the gift of knowledge is the highest gift in the world."

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Other related articles on Meditation :

1.Swami Vivekananda on the importance of Meditation 
Link :http://guidingthoughts.blogspot.in/2012/11/meditation-excerpts-from-lecture-by.html

2. Meditation video in english : How to meditate on the Gayatri Mantra ?
Link :http://guidingthoughts.blogspot.in/2013/08/gayatri-mantra-video-lecture-and.html

Source, credits and references to the above article:

http://cwsv.belurmath.org/volume_7/conversations_and_dialogues/from_the_diary_of_a_disciple/scc_i_frame.htm

Swami Vivekananda on: What is Meditation? Why Meditate?

Meditation is defined as the prefect resting state of the body. Enclosed here are short paragraphs explaining the 'Basics of Meditation' and illustrative paragraphs regarding - What is Meditation? What are the  different stages of Meditation ? and how does meditation help?

The below mentioned excerpts and quotes , also answer the question- Why Meditate? .These excerpts are from a lecture on Meditation by Swami Vivekananda.This lecture was delivered at the Washington Hall, San Francisco, April 3, 1900. 

To facilitate ease of reading the Lecture excerpts on 'What is Meditation and how it Helps' , the excerpts have been given subheadings. These excerpts are from the Frank Parlato Jr collections of Swami Vivekananda writings and lectures.

MEDITATION : THE PRACTICE OF WHICH MAKES THE DISTINCTION THAT WE ARE NOT BODY BUT SOUL.

Meditation has been laid stress upon by all religions. The meditative state of mind is declared by the Yogis to be the highest state in which the mind exists.

We have taken the colour of the body and have forgotten what we are. All our fears, all worries, anxieties, troubles, mistakes, weakness, evil, are front that one great blunder — that we are bodies. This is the ordinary person.

It is meditation that brings us nearer to truth than anything else. ... This is what I mean by meditation — the soul trying to stand upon itself. That state must surely be the healthiest state of the soul, when it is thinking of itself, residing in its own glory. 

THE THREE STAGES OF MEDITATION: ( Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi).

There are three stages in meditation. The first is what is called [Dhâranâ], concentrating the mind upon an object. I try to concentrate my mind upon this glass, excluding every other object from my mind except this glass. But the mind is wavering . . . When it has become strong and does not waver so much, it is called [Dhyâna], meditation. And then there is a still higher state when the differentiation between the glass and myself is lost — [Samâdhi or absorption]

HEALING THROUGH MEDITATION: IS IT A MIRACLE OR IS IT SCIENCE?

For every action there is equal reaction.... If a man strikes me and wounds me it is that man's actions and my body's reaction. ... Suppose I have so much power over the body that I can resist even that automatic action. Can such power be attained? The books say it can. ... If you stumble on [it], it is a miracle. If you learn it scientifically, it is Yoga. 

I have seen people healed by the power of mind. There is the miracle worker. We say he prays and the man is healed. Another man says, "Not at all. It is just the power of the mind. The man is scientific. He knows what he is about." 

The power of meditation gets us everything. If you want to get power over nature, [you can have it through meditation]. It is through the power of meditation all scientific facts are discovered today. They study the subject and forget everything, their own identity and everything, and then the great fact comes like a flash. Some people think that is inspiration. There is no more inspiration than there is expiration; and never was anything got for nothing. 

MEDITATION: A SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF GAINING KNOWLEDGE.

Herein also you see the power of meditation — intensity of thought. These men churn up their own souls. Great truths come to the surface and become manifest. Therefore the practice of meditation is the great scientific method of knowledge. There is no knowledge without the power of meditation. From ignorance, superstition, etc. we can get cured by meditation for the time being and no more. [Suppose] a man has told me that if you drink such a poison you will be killed, and another man comes in the night and says, "Go drink the poison!" and I am not killed, [what happens is this: ] my mind cut out from the meditation the identity between the poison and myself just for the time being. In another case of [drinking] the poison, I will be killed. 

If I know the reason and scientifically raise myself up to that [state of meditation], I can save anyone. That is what the books say; but how far it is correct you must appraise. 

MEDITATION : THE TOOL TO MERGE THE INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT WITH THE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT.

God is spirit!" God is spirit and should be worshipped in spirit and faith. Where does the spirit reside? On a tree? On a cloud? What do you mean by God being ours? You are the spirit. That is the first fundamental belief you must never give up. I am the spiritual being. It is there. All this skill of Yoga and this system of meditation and everything is just to find Him there. 

I am spirit, and therefore the spirit of all spirits must be in my soul. Those who think it anywhere else are ignorant. Therefore it is to be sought here in this heaven; all the heaven that ever existed [is within myself]. There are some sages who, knowing this, turn their eyes inward and find the spirit of all spirits in their own spirit. That is the scope of meditation. Find out the truth about God and about your own soul and thus attain to liberation. ... 

MEDITATION: THE PRACTICE OF DISSOLVING EVERYTHING INTO THE ULTIMATE REALITY -THE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT.

No man can teach another. It. is through experience [we learn]. ... That young man cannot be persuaded that there are any difficulties in life. You cannot persuade the old man that life is all smooth. He has had many experiences. That is the difference. 

By the power of meditation we have got to control, step by step, all these things. We have seen philosophically that all these differentiations — spirit, mind, matter, etc. — have no real existences. ... Whatever exists is one. There cannot be many. That is what is meant by science and knowledge. Ignorance sees manifold. Knowledge realises one. ... Reducing the many into one is science. ... The whole of the universe has been demonstrated into one. That science is called the science of Vedanta. The whole universe is one. The one runs through all this seeming variety. ... 

Meditation consists in this practice [of dissolving every thing into the ultimate Reality — spirit]. The solid melts into liquid, that into gas, gas into ether, then mind, and mind will melt away. All is spirit. 

Meditation, you know, comes by a process imagination. You go through all these processes purification of the elements — making the one melt the other, that into the next higher, that into mind, that into spirit, and then you are spirit.

Spirit is always free, omnipotent, omniscient.

WHO IS GOD?

God means absolute existence, knowledge, and wisdom, infinite self-luminous consciousness. No person. It is impersonal. ...

I am never Râma (never one with Ishvara, the personal aspect of God), but I am (one with Brahman, the impersonal, all-pervading existence). Here is a huge mass of clay. Out of that clay I made a little [mouse] and you made a little [elephant]. Both are clay. Melt both down They are essentially one. "I and my Father are one." (But the clay mouse can never be one with the clay elephant.)

I stop somewhere; I have a little knowledge. You a little more; you stop somewhere. There is one soul which is the greatest of all. This is Ishvara, Lord of Yoga [God as Creator, with attributes]. He is the individual. He is omnipotent. He resides in every heart. There is no body. He does not need a body. All you get by the practice of meditation etc., you can get by meditation upon Ishvara, Lord of Yogis. ...

DIFFERENT WAYS TO MEDITATE :

The same can be attained by meditating upon a great soul; or upon the harmony of life. These are called objective meditations. So you begin to meditate upon certain external things, objective things, either outside or inside.

Then, meditation upon different objects. There are meditations upon different centres of the spine. [According to the Yogis, there are two nerves in the spinal column, called Idâ and Pingalâ.They are the main channels through which the afferent and efferent currents travel.] The hollow [canal called Sushumnâ] runs through the middle of the spinal column. The Yogis claim this cord is closed, but by the power of meditation it has to be opened. The energy has to be sent down to [the base of the spine], and the Kundalini rises. The world will be changed. ... 

MEDITATIVE EXPERIENCES OF HIGHLY EVOLVED YOGIS:

All the heavens and all the hells are right here. In meditation sometimes you touch another plane, and you see other beings, disembodied spirits, and so on. You get there by the power of meditation. This power is changing our senses, you see, refining our senses. If you begin to practise meditation five days, you will feel the pain from within these centres [of conciousness] and hearing [becomes finer]. ... That is why all the Indian gods have three eyes. That is the psychic eye that opens out and shows you spiritual things. As this power of Kundalini rises from one centre to the other in the spine, it changes the senses and you begin to see this world another. It is heaven. You cannot talk. Then the Kundalini goes down to the lower centres. You are again man until the Kundalini reaches the brain, all the centres have been passed, and the whole vision vanishes and you [perceive] . . . nothing but the one existence. You are God. All heavens you make out of Him, all worlds out of Him. He is the one existence. Nothing else exists.

YOU KNOW YOUR MEDITATION IS EFFECTIVE : WHEN YOUR BODY BECOMES LIGHT!

Meditation means the mind is turned back upon itself. The mind stops all the [thought-waves] and the world stops. Your consciousness expands. Every time you meditate you will keep your growth. ... Work a little harder, more and more, and meditation comes. You do not feel the body or anything else. When you come out of it after the hour, you have had the most beautiful rest you ever had in your life.

That is the only way you ever give rest to your system. Not even the deepest sleep will give you such rest as that. The mind goes on jumping even in deepest sleep. Just those few minutes [in meditation] your brain has almost stopped. Just a little vitality is kept up. You forget the body. You may be cut to pieces and not feel it at all. You feel such pleasure in it. You become so light. This perfect rest we will get in meditation. 

                                                                                         

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Credits and Source of the above article:

Excerpts from a lecture by Swami Vivekananda :http://www.vivekananda.net/Lectures/Meditation.html
Visit our Life Transforming Books section to read the complete works of Swami Vivekananda, The Gospel of Ramakrishna Paramahansa as well as the luminous writings of 16 direct disciples of Ramkrishna Paramhansa.