Sivakami Om Anandi-Article

Ambe Sivam God is Love

It has come to my attention recently, what a misunderstood phrase this seems to be for modern humans; although it is a straightforward statement.

Anbe Sivam does not say, God is Love if you are detached, or God is Love if you are the watcher, or any other modifying factor. Like all else on the spiritual path, Love is a ladder of intelligent vibration you climb one step at a time. All these steps begin from where you are, in a physical body with physical responses.

My own spiritual mentor, Swami Bhaktananda compared it to falling in love with ones potential mate or significant other. This is one of the first deep spiritual experiences that is experienced as a result of the practice of deep meditation. I have seen several devotees so drunk on Siva that they were temporarily nonfunctional and needed help to get home. It is also not uncommon for these feelings of Love to be directed to the Guru or Acharya who has taught the Chela the art of meditation. The classic case that comes to mind is Bagavad Krishna and the Gopis who were all in love with Him. It should be understood that this is OK. It represents a major breakthrough to the underlying reality Anbe Sivam. This is the magnetic force behind and beyond all creation. Through connection to the teachers expanded realization of this state, the devoted Chelas own vibration is moved in that same direction. This could be compared to a tuning fork that is set to vibrating. If you put another tuning for in proximity to the one vibrating, the second will vibrate in like fashion. In a students case, this happens through devotion and meditation given by the teacher. Among other qualities, this creates a new spiritual family that is founded on Gods LoveAnbe Sivam.

As the devotee goes deeper and deeper, great levels of bliss begin to fill them. This automatically turns one more and more inward where one is absorbed in the Samadhi of Love. This is the great secret of the statement, God is Love, and why Thirumoolarji compares it to being Lovepossessed. In verse 284 of the Thirumandiram, He says,
Like the sweet love in sexact

experienced, so in the Great Love, let yourself to Him succumb; Thus in Love sublimed, all your senses stilled, Bounding in Bliss Supreme, that this becomes.

This state of being in love that is so much like that of falling in love with a potential mate is the key to the realms of the highest states of bliss; where you feel cooked and you melt in surrender to the sweet ecstasy of Love. For it is inside this Love, that one finds Sivafor this is His nature. When one resides in this Love, then and only then is one set free.

- Sivakami Om Anandi For Maha Siddhar Thirumoolar 10 November, 2009

The Sat Guru

There is much confusion in this day and age of the real meaning of the Guru. My experience in this area goes clear back to 1976 when I first joined SelfRealization Fellowship, founded by Paramahansa Yogananda. A year after I joined, I went to a weekend retreat offered by SRF and led by a swami/monk of their order, by the name of Brother/ Swami Bhaktananda. During my very first exposure to this swami, a lightning flash passed between his spiritual eye and mine. We didnt talk about it; but I intuitively knew, he knew it had happened by the expression on his face. He also knew that I knew. Did this make him my guru? No; but it did make him my first connection to Paramahansa Yogananda, and thus to this line of Yogis. He was also my mentor for many years.

The night following this experience with the lightning flash, Yoganandaji came astrally to me in my room and quietly took on much of my karma. When he was done, He bowed to me and then was instantly gone. My life changed from this moment forward. Suddenly, I could concentrate like never before in my life. Since I was already seriously committed to meditation, almost overnight I now received results. In less than 4 months time, I moved through all the levels of Samadhi until I found myself one with the Sea of Spirit, spread throughout the whole universe. Did this make Yoganandaji my true Guru? I certainly thought so. Certainly, I did not question it.

A few years later, while meditating, Mahavatar Babaji Nagaraj suddenly gave me His darshan. It was a powerful experience, that suddenly caused me to realize that it is not the individual Guru only; but the Guru Line to which I was connected, that was truly important. This essentially means those who are trained and receive the spiritual charge along a given line of teachings.

Only later did I learn that the Ancient Siddhas of South India refer to this tradition of gurus as Parampara. In the Tamil Siddha literature there is
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almost a total absence of any local cults of Deities. No genuine Siddha in ancient Tamil literature (including Siddhar Thirumoolar) seems to have ever sung in praise of any local God or deity. It would appear that no Siddha ever worshiped any deity in the temples. Without saying it in so many words, this was even SRFs approach. The only things on the altar are the photos of the Masters of their line. This also fits with what Thirumoolar says,
The Guru is SIVAM; the guru is the ineffable one

SIVA (as the guru) is said to contact the disciple in the Ajna chakra (spiritual eye) and from that time forward, contact is continuous. Even after all these wonderful experiences that I had been graced with from this line of Gurus, the pinnacle experience did not come to me until early in 1992. The minute my mind learned who Thirumoolar was, He came to me in the traditional manner; through the Spiritual Eye, and astrally out into my bedroom. He spoke my name, how happy He was to be with me again, and many other things He shared with me. As He was leaving, He touched my ajna center with his fingers, and was gone. I was drunk on His love for days following this experience.

All doubt was gone forever. I knew this great soul was my True Guru; my Sat Guru; the original from many past lifetimes ago. The question arises in the mind; could I have been able to receive this great beings presence and power if those down the Guru line from Him had not come to my aid when they did?

It is said, there are no (or few) true accidents. If that is so, then I have to conclude I was not meant to experience only the single guru; but the parampara of Gurus that are in this line, from Paramahansa Yogananda back to Lord Shiva. Paramahansa Yoganandas line of gurus goes back to Mahavatar Babaji nad through him back to his Gurus, Siddhars Boganathar and Agastyar. Thirumoolars Guru is Nandi, and both Nandis and Agastyars Guru is Shiva.
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The 9th Tantiram of the Thirumantiram, states the deep importance of the guru. In verse 139 Thirumoolarji says that proper understanding is achieved by the disciple by looking at the guru, by chanting the gurus name, by following the gurus message, and by meditating on the gurus figure. Only the guru can give one the inner experience of contact with the higher worlds and with Siva. This was their aim; to have the direct Spiritual experience. Within the individual, exists all the sacred places and the synthesis of all idols.

The great difference between the Guru line of the ancient Tamil Siddhas and others is addressed by Siddhar Korai very simply. A true Siddha points to the path of experience whereas a nonsiddha points to the path of scripture. Recently, Thirumoolarji has shown me He lives all the time within my Crown Chakra. It is from this location, anchored within physical reality, He initiates those chelas who are sincerely following His teachings (offered on this TSY website).

It is a fascinating story, of how these great Siddhas have kept their teachings alive and vital from one generation to the next. Always a willing living human vessel is the temple into which they move. They have been doing this for countless generations and I can only guess they will continue in this manner for many generations to come. My replacement, already known to me, will continue this work in a like fashion for this Maha Siddhar Thirumoolarji, and for the greater expansion of His bliss into each of His disciples.

- Sivakami Om Anandi 14 November, 2009

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Anatomy of the Self

by Sivakami OmAnandi and Acharya Premananda (Dr. Basavaraj Udapudi)

History of the Three Selves

The oldest record of a reference to the different levels of the self, actually come from ancient Polynesia. The author of many books on the Spirituality of the Hawaiians, Maxwell Freedom Long tracks the ancient Hawaiians on a long journey that took several hundred years. The short version, is they escaped Egypt when the worship of the Goddess was being replaced by male deities. They stayed for a while in the Atlas Mountains, to build ocean going raft-type ships. They knew where they wanted to go. Through skills with astral projection, they knew of the Hawaiian Islands, and that no one lived on them. Their longest stop, of approximately 100 years, was in South India. From India, they sailed to the islands that now are known as French Polynesia. Here they stayed for another long period of time, before sailing North to the Hawaiian Islands.

M.F. Long tracks this in his books by decoding the language of the Hawaiians, which took him many years. During this decoding, he found reference to the 3 selves that made up the consciousness of a human. I will not go into all the language decoding and how he did it here in this short article. However, what he found was the belief in a low self, a middle self, and a High self. Today, these are most often referred to as the Subconscious, Conscious, and Super Conscious.

Both Paramahansa Yogananda and Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, have taught their students about the levels of basic consciousness by using these more familiar terms; but they are the same levels; low, middle and high self. The Kahunas, as Hawaiian Siddhas were
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called, taught that the High self must be asked to help. It will now interfere with the individuals free choice. Further, one must have the cooperation of the low, or subconscious self, or the middle conscious self will not be allowed to make contact with the High, or Super conscious self. This is also reflected in the personal lessons of Paramahansa Yogananda, when he states; for ones prayers to be successful, one needs the cooperation of the subconscious mind; or words to that effect.

The Kahunas said that the main reason that people have trouble getting the cooperation of the subconscious/low self is guilt If it feels guilty about something, usually a hurt you have inflicted on another, real or imagined, it will not deliver your prayer or affirmation to the Super conscious/High self. So as you can see, it is a very good idea to make friends with your low self, the subconscious mind. Although childlike, it is very powerful. Your attitude towards it, as well as towards anyone you may have offended, should be loving and forgiving.

This has become a serious problem in the world today. Babaji told Sivakami Om Anandi that so many souls are earthbound when they die, because they have lost contact with their High selves. That little nagging voice of conscience, is your subconscious/low self, warning you not to make a mistake. It always pays to listen, and to be thankful for its help. By listening and forgiving, you are given an audience to your High self, and this is truly the greatest of gifts.

Personal contact with your Higher Self

The higher self is the true expression of you as an individual. Its purpose is to fulfil your hearts desire and soul purpose of your present life. The experience of the higher self is joy, self-confidence, and self empowerment. It uses the faculties of clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience and intuition.
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The higher self is a part of you that usually remains hidden from view. It's thought of as your spiritual self or the higher aspect of your being. Yet most people misunderstand it and don't realize its significance. It can augment a successful career and dramatically improve your level of self-confidence and measure of happiness.

Your Higher Self as your mentor

A mentor is someone who is wise and highly perceptive, unconditionally interested in your highest good, and capable of figuring out where you are getting off track, with the same intensity that is required to get you to really listen. In this sense your higher self is a powerful mentor. You can certainly get assistance from this powerful mentor if you are setting out to change your life or achieve other types of seemingly impossible things and find you are having difficulty with the important decisions of your life.

How to get assistance from your higher self

Here is a two step formula to contact your higher self. 1)The more relaxed you are mentally and physically, the better your contact with the higher self will be. So the best way to contact the higher self is through meditation. Do the So-Ham meditation for 5-10 minutes. Then ask the higher self for the solution to any area of your life situations and decisions; after sending love and thanking the subconscious/low self, for its help in your life. 2)Keeping the conscious mind in an expectant but detached attitude is very important. Otherwise the other levels of mind would attempt to pose guesses as true knowledge thereby often confusing the true information received from the higher self. Usually the first impression or thought to pop up in your mind is the right one. Record it at once or speak it out-before your conscious mind has a chance to change or reinterpret your original thought. However, you must analyze each experience to make sure it is not made up of your fears,
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worries, wishful thoughts, prejudices or imaginations before accepting the impressions as genuine or acting on them.

As a matter of fact, a true higher self experience generally carries a feeling of joy, authenticity, enthusiasm, contentment, well being, clarity and conviction about it. As you gain more proficiency in using your ability to recognize answers from the higher self, you will be able to recognize this feeling of conviction quite easily.

Sound, Breath, and Transcendence

Unless we deliberately seek to regulate our breathing, we are ordinarily unaware of breathing. When we begin to meditate, we become conscious of the sound produced by our lungs. For some beginners, this can be a disturbing experience. For the more experienced, this is rythmic sound that is welcomed, because they can fasten their attention on it until the mind itself is transcended.

In Yoga, the breath, which is technically known as hamsa (swan), is seen as a manifestation of the transcendental Life, or Self. The two syllables of the word; ham and sa; are the ingoing and outgoing breath, and are also the ascending and descending currents of life force. They contain a great message; I am He. In this way, breath is the constant reminder of the absolute truth, and that we are identified with the great Life of the Cosmos. This is the core teaching of the HamSa- Upanishad.

The sequence of hamsa can also be heard as Soham-Soham. Its esoteric meaning is I am He. ie: The Divine One. In this way the body is constantly affirming its own true being. If one meditates on Soham, and this is the form suggested by Thirumoolarji in His famous Thirumandiram, then we can merge with the Divine. The goal of this practice is liberation from the rounds of rebirth. It gradually refines our state of consciousness.

Prana, or Life Force, is in the air that we breath. This Life Force also is the sum total of all existing energy in the Universe. Within this Life Force, exists the primal consciousness. By continuing practice of So-Ham with the breath (pranayama mantra), one gains control over both the central nervous system and the mind. By its practice, selfishness and passions are brought under ones control. This also helps in awakening the dormant kundalini energy, or Sakti.

The nerve channels through which the energy of kundalini flows, are cleansed through consistant practice. Another biproduct of this practice, is it increases the alpha waves within the brain. If done correctly, it leads to control over the emotions, calmness of mind, and refinement of sense perceptions. Awareness of the internal noises of the body may also become apparent. Over time, all impurities of the mind are removed and a sense of peace and harmony is born.

This then leads naturally into a state of meditation, where the mind becomes the abode of extra-sensory perception. Intuitive knowledge increases as scheming is eliminated. So-ham repetition with the breath, favorably influences ones subconsciousness, aiding in calmness, onepointedness of mind, and the burning of Karma. The body is further helped as well by the proper elimination of carbon dioxide and absorption of oxygen, a relaxed effect upon the heart, and the whole of the nervous system. In the Brahma Vidya Upanishad (knowledge of the Absolute), the practice of Hamsa meditation is recommended for both householders, and renunciates. It tells us that it leads to not only Spiritual perfection, but also is designed to awaken ones paranormal abilities. It makes no difference if you practice So-ham in the morning, afternoon, or evening just practice it! Find a regular time in your schedule to do so. Try to always practice it daily at the same time (whatever time you pick). Consistency is very helpful, for Where and When become absolutes to the subconscious mind (which you are training). Watch the whole process as you practice, and enjoy the reality which will begin to open to you.
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Sivakami Amma's teachings

All teachings here were given by Sivakami Om Anandi or simply Amma. More are added from time to time.

Editor's note (Acharya Babananda): Sivakami Om Anandi acted as a teacher of Thirumular's Siva Yoga and the Three Divine Qualities-teachings given by Siddha Thirumular. Sivakami Amma pointed to these teachings several times. I have edited these places and replaced the words Siva Yoga and 3DQ with the word Kriya Yoga. I've seen this necessary so that those who follow Siddha Thirumular's Sundara Kriya Yoga could understand to what practices Sivakami Amma refers to. Both Siva Yoga and Sundara Kriya Yoga are teachings given by Siddha Thirumular and are found on the same principles. I think this editing makes Amma's message more clear.
(28-9) I believe in the next 30 years, there is going to be a push by these Siddhas

to bring back the Higher Self... 8th and 9th chakra understanding among disciples that are ready for it. My experience showed me from a 9th chakra perspective, how one lives conscious of both the universe and the little self simultaneously; and how the balancing of masculine/feminine energies creates this. about something, it is much more cooperative. Devotion is very important
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A promise impresses the subconsciousness. When it knows you are serious

here as well. I've learned by experience, Parashakti energy is drawn by devotion.

I'm sure my work had to do with the Master's wishes to put forth a

comparatively easy, yet dynamic teaching that would take students on an inner journey of real progress. The number of emails I get from students who have studied with countless so-called "Gurus", and have apparently made no progress until they did 1. 51 Lettered mantra, and 2. 1st level of Kriya Yoga and on, is pretty amazing.
Dogma and orthodoxy tend to strangle intuition and creativity. Always follow your intuition. It has been my experience in life, that it is

seldom wrong. If it is, I've read it incorrectly.

Even if one is a freed soul, it can take years for the real realization of

these states to sink in. How you do that without at least some on-going meditative work? I don't know... I would think it would slip away into only a memory. Of course, it is a spectacular memory that will never be forgotten.
These great Siddha Masters never cease to amaze me. They are all so

obviously "in-tune" with each other and the disciples that they seem to share in common. Such complete Siva Consciousness is pretty incredible.
As Thirumoolarji said of the 51 Lettered mantra, it brings the

transcendant reality into the body. Truth is the same, wherever it comes from. Babaji and Thirumoolarji are oviously of one mind; that of Siva.
A few additional bits of advice that might help with astral projection. It is

very helpful to be physically completely relaxed... like right after soaking in a hot-tub or do the addition of relaxation teachings. This can put you at the edge of sleep without going to sleep. Since people astral project from sleep on a semiregular basis, this sort of relaxation can make it easier for the soul and astral body to "let go" of the physical body. This is much like dying, only, of course, you don't. I felt the energy of the body rush into the spine and then up it and out between the eyebrows. At this level, your only form is a scintilating ball of white-golden energy, tipped in many rainbow colors. You take your senses with you in this light ball... Nothing does more to show you, you are NOT THE BODY. Fear of death just simply subsides forever. Beyond this,
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many Masters teach from this level and I have learned much from them during the years my health was good enough to do this on a regular basis.
Chidambaram is the only place in India I really wanted to go. Just to

walk and meditate in that hallowed place where my beloved Thirumoolarji went into mahasamadhi, and to drink the vibration that must exist there, for those who can tap it... The teaching of Kriya Yoga is an update of an ancient teaching from Babaji and Thirumoolarji. Babaji asked me to teach it. Thirumoolarji instructed me. Chidambaram is the home of Thirumoolarji... Back in the late 80s there was a young man who did travel shows for the PBS (Public TV, like BBC) in the States. His name was Michael Woods. He did a video of India. He began in the North and ended in the South at where else, Chidambaram! I was only casually interested, as India in general does not hold the fascination for me that it seems to for most in the West who practice any sort of yoga. However, when the camera panned over a lotus pond to the Chidambaram temple, it was as though I'd been hit in the solar plexus. I knew this place. I'd lived in this place. I could see and feel the cool interior, before the camera even went there. The coolness of the stones on my bare feet was palpable!!! At that time, I had no way to make a contact, nor the money to have gone there. Now, my consolation is I have beloved Thirumoolarji, who clearly asked that I never leave Him again.
After you have "arrived" so-to-speak, it doesn't take very much to put you

back into those areas of practice that raise so much powerful energy that the body is again in danger of being over amped. My old mentor, Brother Bhaktananda, told me it was because of too many past lives of constant pranayama practices. I had learned to channel way more high voltage energy than the body could or can process. Concerning Kriya Yoga-practice:
I've been on the spiritual path more years than you've been alive (wow...

don't remember getting so old!) and almost without exception, it is the most complete, and yet fairly simple group of techniques I've ever encountered.
Great liberation does best when it is coupled with acquired wisdom. Babaji employs all who are willing, at a level which they can give. He is

very good at that. It is amazing that one such as He, still walks the face of the Earth.

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What leads me to believe you more than the words, is the level of

vibration. In my opinion, this is the true test. Words, as you have learned, can come from any source. This excellerated vibration is a much repeated adjunct to an authentic experience of Babaji, in particular. It's a level of vibration I'm sure my older-ill body could not have handled. It is undoubtedly why in my latter years, Babaji chose to lift me (without the physical body) into the astral world to communicate with me.
It is interesting that you mention Babaji as a guide to talented people

without their knowledge of the true source. A student in the US told me about his boss's close relationship with Jesus. When this student showed him a photo of Babaji, his boss said, "That's Him! That's Jesus!"
Early on my spiritual search, I learned guided meditations from a woman

who was a very good clairvoyant. She taught us an opening prayer, I use to this day. It goes like this: "Heavenly Father, Divine Mother, and Christ Consciousness, we ask that our auras be cleansed, and that all negation be neutralized. We ask that our vibrations be raised to touch with that of God, Christ, and Gurus, and we give thanks that it is done. Om, Shanti, Amen." It is basic and very easy. Since she (our teacher) was completely clairvoyant, she could see the results of this prayer/invocation.
(8) You need to broaden your own horizons by reading about many different

paths to God...not do them, but study them. You already have the techniques that will take you there. However, as it says in the Old Testiment of the Bible..."With all your getting, get understanding." It will enlarge your understanding and one day help you to help others. Besides, it's fun!
It is technically true that if one can drop all desires and thoughts, they can

spontaneously go into samadhi. However, it's pretty much unheard of in reality. Perhaps if one was already an ascended master, who for some reason reincarnated, then such a thing could be possible.
I believe astral projection is a very normal activity. Many people do it

from the dream state regularly and remember doing so. In some traditions, Master teachers instruct devotees from Astral classrooms. In my case, Babaji took me astrally with him to show me the ruins of a place in either South India , or the Indonesiean Islands where I had lived and meditated in ancient lifetimes. It didn't hurt me. It was exhilerating and informative. I've had the

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guidance and help of a number of masters when I was on the higher Astral planes. I'm thankful for all of it.
Paramahansa Yogananda said, " The path is a razor's edge, and if you

cannot discriminate, you cannot walk the path." I always looked for truth, even when it wasn't what I wanted to hear. Sometimes it causes us pain, but for me, it has served me well. According to Satguru Subramuniyaswami, founder of the Hindu Himalayan Academy, there are no more than 100 Jiva Muktis on earth at any one time. If that is true, there are a lot of "fakes and wannabes" posing as the real deal. The teachings of the 18 Siddhas, say, only when the guru comes to you through your spiritual eye, and he is also an ascended Siddhar, is he a true guru. They also state that via certain mantras, you can develope the powers without becoming a Master... scary idea.
I believe it is harder to be a disciple, for a westerner, than for an Indian.

We are taught from an early age how to reason, how to question, and descern truth from fiction. This helps us in the outer world, of course, but it makes the act of surrender, that many Indian disciples find easy, hard. I had an interesting example of this with a student recently. She wrote a review for her Kriya Yoga-level application as she was requesting the next. She gave a fantastic review of psychic bells and whistles (my term). However, she said nothing that spoke of the outcomes of the practice of Kriya Yoga. She did tell me about the teacher (I know of him through other students) who gave her a series of mantras that brought this about. I wrote her teacher (who seems to think He's the greatest!) who admitted she had passed him spritually, using his teachings. The question is, why did she do better than her spritual mentor, using his teachings? The answer is, she surrendered, and without question, did as she was told. Unfortunately, he left her not knowing what was happening to her. This is the on-going problem with many who teach. They think they are more than they are, and some of them can cause real problems for the student.
In the Higher Kriya Yoga offered by Paramahansa Yogananda, the lessons

state, it is Laya Yoga. They only said it was a group of techniques that are taught together. Only after first Babaji, and then Thirumoolarji made contact with me, did I understand that Kriya Yoga and it's higher levels together make up the higher (and original) teachings of the 18 Siddhas. Traditionally it was called "Laya Yoga". This higher form destroys all mundane forms of desire by it's practice, without the need to individually strike down each desire we have. It brings with it the experience of eternal bliss, in which the mind and soul merges (eventually) into the Supreme
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Being... Siva. With daily practice of Kriya Yoga, it first cleans the chakras, and when this is accomplished, builds the Golden body of immortality. This is a dynamic teaching that Thirumoolarji and Babaji have restored to it's original and anciently taught forms. In the few short years this teaching has been available, several students have already made it to Satchitananda, or Om Samadhi.
The Higher Self has direct access to Siva Consciousness, everywhere

present, and for old souls, which most serious meditators are, it retains all the spiritual knowledge of those lifetimes. The HS is infact that brilliant light seen in the Spiritual eye at the end of the tunnel. At death, this IS the brilliant light that near-death experiencers describe over and over in case after case.
At the time of enlightening, nothing is a secret. However, this is a very

difficult state to hang on to. It is very hard on the physical body. I would agree completely on this. The reverse side of the coin of God's great love, is power. Power like you cannot grasp or understand until you experience it first hand. It is also very hard to be a teacher if you are gone in Samadhi all the time, and even if not in Samadhi, one is so detached from the world that it seems to be a dream of little or no importance.
Saints and sages are at many different levels of realization. I suspect some

of the old Christian saints did now have as much bliss in their lives as you have already experienced via your Sadhanas. Many may have even been illiterate and didn't understand much of the inner life that they viewed. The teachings of these 2 higher chakras has been all but lost to most. I first learned about them from Western Metaphysic's teachings. Then one day, by what seemed sheer coincidence, a catologue for books came in the mail. One of their books was entitled "Laya Yoga". It was a large and expensive book, but I was too attracted to it not to buy it. It is a beautiful work of art, with large beautiful drawings of all the chakras, their deities, etc. Also in the text is shown an ancient silk hanging from ancient times, showing all nine chakras. Later, when I read all of Swami Subramuniyaswami's (founder of the Himalayan Academy) books, I learned about lower chakras in the legs, as well as these 2 higher chakras. Obviously, in ancient times, these 2 higher chakras were part of India's higher spiritual knowledge. For whatever reason, it has been mostly lost. Too bad; as they turn out to be more important than was previously understood. (105-8)
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The spiritual path is always a struggle. Great changes take place within

us in a short period of time. This takes adjustment. In the case for Spiritual advancement, the race does not go to the fastest, but to the persistant!
9th Chakra, which is the "I am That I am" personal oversoul...ie. the High

Self. My experience with this level is pretty much beyond description. A thousand Suns, spread over countless miles is about as close as I can come to a description.
Concerning anger issues... This is absolutely counter-productive to

spiritual work. It is said to be even worse than drugs, or meat eating, karmicly. This implies past desires that have been repeatedly frustrated. I don't mean little desires, but deep seated ones. I'd guess these are carried from early childhood, or past lives. Whatever the cause (some can be learned and forgiven) it will greatly slow the progress spiritually, if one cannot get control of this destructive emotion. I'm glad you find the "I am the Love of the Soul..." part of the affirmation helpful. Perhaps you should add, "I am the infinite patience of the Soul..." to your affirmation.
For a marriage to really work, one has to feel great love and compassion

for one's partner; perhaps more so than they do for themselves. It is a great test of unconditional love.
A depressed person has to want to help him/herself. This can be hard to do

when one is depressed. Other environmental aids are warm colors in the house - reds, orange, gold, or bright yellows. Comfort foods can help also. These are usually things like hot chocolate with marshmellows, or coffee with flavorings and sugar or honey. Foods like melted cheese, or soups that have good color, such as tomato soup or squash and or corn chowders can be helpful too. A hot bath or shower and a loving spouse who will follow it up with a good massage can also be helpful, coupled with a supportive attitude. Also helpful is music that one feels lifts his/her spirits. If one is willing to help him/herself, a good place to start is the Bellows Breath. Years ago, I knew a young man, who was suicidal. He said he did 6 hours of Bellows Breath a day for weeks before it corrected itself. This is an extreme case, but the key here is, the Bellows Breathing eventually cured him completely. This young man eventually became a successful playwrite. The hatha yoga "Salutations to the Sun" exercise can be of help also. Positive affirmations can be used to advantage. ie: "I am a child of God, So all that is my Father's, is mine also, therefore I shall not worry or be fearful."...or words to that effect. (166-185-9)
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Be patient and RELAX. (As you follow the teachings of Kriya Yoga) You are now climbing the inner

ladder to Self-Realization. Nothing; not any practice you do, is more important than the ones you have that teach you to make contact with Om!

Pranayama practice has it's place and time in the growing spiritual life of

a student; but there comes a time when it too is mostly outgrown. These stages seem to be mostly ignored by most teachers. Perhaps they are not aware of this fact. However, just as we progress from lower grades in school, to higher, so too do we do the same with spiritual growth.
The root of most true spiritual traditions have been lost or corrupted. It

seems to be the way of the physical world's power structure. Greed and power seem to be irresistable to many souls. You cannot control the mass of humanity if they have their own direct connection to God; thus these teachings, wherever you find them, are weeded out of religious teachings...by force if necessary. However, many of them show up again in Mystical teachings, sometimes as only thumbnail sketches of earlier times; but the clues are still there, if you know how to look.
We all need to remain humble. Even Jesus said, "It is not I, but my Father

who does these things..."

...even the Masters do not come to us, except by permission of our own

individual Higher Self.

Essentially, when you are worshipping Thirumoolarji, you are

worshipping Siva.

Thirumoolarji is a Universal Being. He is one with and identical to Siva.

He sees every child as His son or daughter, as He is partially in every soul. (95-8)
Kriya Yoga does all sorts of wonderful things over time with steady

practice. Enjoy!

Intuition is still the most reliable source of information. A week or so back, I had a vision of dozens of Indians kissing my feet and

fingers... I have no desire to be worshipped, and it makes me sad when I know the less educated among them, give their own power away. To show
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respect and reverence is fine, but when it becomes devotion in place of one's own inner efforts, it is wrong.
It also offers you more time to study the books that offer the philosophies

surrounding your chosen practices. None of it is wasted time. It rounds out your own understanding of the spiritual path that you have chosen.
...Try 5-600 counts of the 51-mantra - no breath - just mantra. It brings

the transcendent reality into the body, and it is very, very, protective.

Remember, Babaji asked me first to teach it (Kriya Yoga). It was after that

when Thirumoolarji gave it as it was practiced many hundreds or thousands of years ago. It is clear to me that almost anything within the 18 Siddhar Tradition is of One teaching, and that these great Siddhars work together behind the scenes.
What Yoganandaji was doing was trying to ensure that His teachings were

not lost and were properly cared for. I'm sure He would not approve orthodoxy where a fanatic outter attitude overshadows the truth of the message. I fear that is what is happening (editors addition: to His teachings)... I guess this is the common destination of any spiritual teaching that makes it to the average population.

When you follow any inner spiritual practice; most particularly ones that

also incorporate pranayama, you set up psychic channels to the source of those practices. When you do too many at once, it can confuse those psychic links being developed, one crossing another, even breaking some of them, so all your hard work is lost. I followed quite a number of spiritual paths in my 35 years, but only one at a time. Sometimes spending 3-4 years exclusively on one practice as well as the teachings surrounding that approach. Only then did I move to the next spritual approach of interest... Yoganandaji was fond of saying, the path is a razor's edge. He also said if you are digging a well, and you dig a little here and a little there, you will never get to the water. He understood this problem very well. He didn't want his devotees (while he was in the body) to practice anything but what he taught. doing now is reflecting on what you have learned from all this, and how to best avoid the same problems in the future.
(86-8) Namaste.
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I'm glad to know that you are feeling calmer. Of course what you should be

Even though these happenings can be challenging, do not become upset or discouraged. Part of the challenge, and it is that, a challenge, for lesser souls give up. These are some of the problems that separate the chaff from the wheat, so-to-speak. P. Yogananda said, "God is shy and will not completely reveal Him/Herself until convinced that the devotee's love is unconditional". He (Yogananda) had a prayer for this: "You may come, you may go, devotees may come, devotees may go, but I will love you always." God is not a side show, or a circus. He/She does not reveal itself for our experience of bliss, but for our love. This God-force may even test that principle within you from time to time. This internal love for, and commitment to Spiritual union - This Love Affair for lack of a better term, is a lifetime commitment. There will be times when you will do less sadhana than others. Everything in life, cycles. This will also. But the cycle is like an upward spiral. Each time you come around, you are on a higher rung of understanding. The path is not always just sadhana. It may also invole outter world activities that your High Self would like to see you involved in. This is usually identified by intuitive hits or "ah ha" moments. If these are followed, it helps to fulfill some of the reasons your HS incarnated. After all, it is, and knows God at all times. It brought you into incarnation for an outter interest, as well as the inner spiritual work. The spiritual path is like a mystery that unfolds before us. A number of times I have thought I had all the pieces of the puzzle and I would not be asked to learn more. I was wrong. Always there is a higher rung to reach for. Siva Consciousness is so vast, so full, that even what you learn instantaneously in Cosmic Consciousness, takes time and revelation with regards to it's parts, to unfold within one's personal life. I recall somewhere in Jesus' teachings where in the last days He warns about false teachers. When His disciples asked how they would know them, He said, "By their fruits". So my Spiritual friend, most of your life is a celebration of good. I see nothing but both an interesting and beneficial future stretching out before you.

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We have several students who have experienced Om Samadhi...and

according to P. Yoganandaji and many other saints and swamis, the only way to liberation is through Om Samadhi. Swami Sivananda, founder of the Divine Live Society, who I quote in the lessons, says it is your only saviour, the true Guru.
I once asked Babaji... "Why can they not get themselves into the light?" His

reply was, "They have lost contact with their own High Selves", meaning that part of Soul which resides in the 9th chakra and does not incarnate into the physical body.
My life story is more one of "God helps those who help themselves". Soul is your God-self, and it's power is the greatest protection you have

besides the 51 Lettered mantra.

Kriya Yoga incorporates the 5 lettered mantra (Om Nama Shivaya)

within the 51 Letter mantra. This is the ONE greatest protection against negative forces, that I know of. Also it teaches an Om/Aum technique. Paramahansa Yogananda says in His lessons, that any path that does not teach one how to contact the Om vibration, is A FALSE PATH!
True wisdom cannot be wisdom without love. Love is the mother of

wisdom, and without it, wisdom is not.

There comes a time when we need to find our own way. Wisdom comes

only with age and the living of life. I don't want you to feel dependant upon me, or any other Guru figure for that matter. They and I can love and guide, but you are a unique soul. No one else is exactly like you, and your truths will be slightly different from everyone elses... and that is as it should be.
(81-8) I listened to Him on an unauthorized cassette tape in 1982, where He

(Yogananda) clearly said: "You all ask me to give you God-Realization, but if I did, you would be instantly electrocuted." He was saying, they had not yet done the spiritual work that would raise the body's vibrations enough, for it to be safe... I wasn't sure my body was going to survive the experience. Of course, it does change you forever. You never forget. You are reborn, truly a new consciousness.
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You shouldn't be too surprised that I can "pull these things out from my

yogic sleeves". After all, Babananda, I've been actively on the Spiritual path 35 years. I actually know all sorts of paths and techniques. I'm a Westerner, and metaphysical information of any kind, East or West, was pretty hard to find in 1973. I also learned to be skeptical of many of them. You have the get-rich quick groups, this is so easy you can't fail group (usually not true unless you've already done a great deal of work elsewhere on the spiritual path) Then there are those that are so lost in the thought-forms of their chosen religions, that they can't see beyond it's fog. I asked just one thing when I began my search. I wanted truth. That search has led me on some interesting journeys. It has also allowed me to side-step false paths that some of my friends fell into along the way.
There could also be some residual fear in the subconscious. You can talk

with it like a small child: 'I love you and appreciate all you do for me, but there is nothing to fear.'

Remember, Siva is the generative power behind all creation in its dormant

state. When you make that maniest by sound and thought, this is the power you are working with.
(59-8) I understand the sense of grief from separation with such wonderful bliss

and union with the Divine Beloved. However, you will need to learn to balance outer world responsibilities with inner world realities. Over time, you will balance it all. You are at the beginning, that wonderful, wonderful, period of loving and being loved by the greatest Lover of them all. I envy you. Enjoy it while you can.
I cannot express strongly enough the deep importance of becoming "the

sound current's divine Lover". This is your true saviour, your true friend, your true lover, your true soul master. Even when the passion of union has passed, the bride/bridegroom (om) will always be silently with you; your friend, your protector, closer than your Guru, always looking out for your needs. I could tell you stories of how it has changed and guided my life, but I think these better know personages can do so, more eloquently than I.
One needs to be spiritually prepared if one is to receive the greatest of

results. Part of that preparation is to love God with all your heart and soul,

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and to be absolutely surrendered without question to the creator of ALL THAT IS.
If you look at the picture of Shiva, you will see that He sits with what looks

like an arm rest. That is how old this teaching is. It originates with Shiva.

Nothing changed my life like Om Samadhi; not before, or since. This is the

great liberator when experienced as coming to you from without. However, in reality, I have figured out it is actually a combination of kundalini and the Oversoul joining. The first puts you in contact with the world within, the Over-soul with virtually EVERYTHING. It is through this Over-soul that one communicates with everything from the Masters (in and out of incarnation) to unfolding to experience oneself as spread through solar systems and universes of physical matter.
(50-8) My key to those higher states was to simply do mantric meditation as

given by P. Yoganandaji, and listening for the Sound Current. Any Kriya Pranayama* came after the fact, and I didn't really need it. In fact, it got me in trouble... Learned kriya techniques seeemed to be more of an educational feature for me. I also read a lot of books that helped me to understand their effects on the physical body. All this helped train me to teach others who do need more pranayama than was the case for me. I have used different kumbhakas to help a number of people through the years from the time I knew a fellow disciple of Yoganandaji's, who told me of his radical depression. He cured it by doing 4-6 hours a day of bellows breathing. After about 3 months of continuous bellows breath practice, he said one day the deep depression was just gone, and it never returned, even when he stopped doing the practice. But for myself, I just cannot handle the increase in energy. It is too electrically powerful and too gross.
The other unspoken and mostly unseen dimension not being addressed, is

this is a time of rapid change on the earth. Many children, starting with your generation, and still being born now, are already very spiritually inclined when they arrive here in their baby-bodies... I believe within the next 50 years you will see many thousands of young people who can make direct contact with the great Siddhas who have blessed this planet in the past. There is great acceleration now, and a need for many spiritually inclined people to step up to the call. That call will take different forms depending on the skills and talents of each soul, but as a whole, they will change things for

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the better on this planet; even as global warming and other phenomena accelerate problems world-wide.
Be cautious about how much you tell others of your Spiritual

accomplishments.

Yoganandaji came to me in His astral body and took on a large portion of

my Karma, or I would never have reachieved those levels of Samadhi so rapidly.

Truth is EVER the same. P. Yoganandaji taught that as well. He said where

teachings of different paths agree, there you will find truth. Truth is always what I have sought. 'Sat Tat Om', So as well as Love, God is 'Sat'... TRUTH, and it was always my goal.
Sometimes it is best to hide your light under a rock. The Kriya Yoga-teachings, I was told by Thirumoolarji and Babaji, is

restored to it's original form. Over the centuries it had apparently undergone many changes.
How magical is the ability to surrender, the golden key that unlocks the

entrance to the Higher worlds.

Kriya Yoga and The Immortal Body

In my own experience with Kriya Yoga, they build the Golden body, also

called the diamond or crystal body of immortality. The one you step into at death. This begins after the cleansing of the Chakra system is completed. However it is an advanced and powerful practice when all 5 steps are done on a daily basis, and I have no doubt it could take the practitioner to such a place as Nirvakalpa Samadhi if the devotee is in a state of surrender. Savikalpa and Nirvikalpa Samadhi
The very first state of Samadhi is breathlessness...so that, in of itself, is the

first level of identification. Savikalpa (samadhi) is experienced within the body as intense merging and absorbtion of Sat chit ananda. It is enjoyable in the extreme and usually follows an in-rushing experience of the OM vibration. Nirvikalpa (samadhi), on the other hand, seems to be an expansion of consciousness and is often experienced by advanced chelas during everyday activities. It's classic form is seeing everything everywhere
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(even out of normal sight range) as Spirit...realizing the form is just the projection and manifestation of Spiritual light. Attain Sat-Chit-Ananda
To attain Sat-Chit-Ananda is no small accomplishment. It makes one a

walking magnet that can raise the vibration of others enough to clear a path toward enlightenment for them. However, I am of the opinion that even then, if there is not total surrender by the student/devotee to the process, it will not happen. Every person I have ever seen reach great spiritual realization, have this in common. They have a period in their lives where they are so identified with the Teacher that they (by devotion) steal the same vibration from them. For an unenlightened person, this might break down their personal store of energy; but when the teacher's energy is tapped into universal energy, it is harmless. Of course, the great Satgurus of our planet, be they physically living or dead, can effect this for the student too; but those without a body (physical) can do it only from higher planes, the astral upward. This means the student must be advanced enough to reach at least this high on their own. A good example of this is my own experience. The night Paramahamsa Yoganandaji came to me in His astral body; his direct desciple (in the flesh) Brother Bhaktananda, passed a physical/spiritual charge to me, during the previous evening. Of course Babaji does have a physical body (semi anyway. I'm pretty sure it's mostly astralized at this point). This means He is an exception to the rule, at least when He chooses to be. Still, just by having a realized person among the non-realized, those who are ready, are lifted enough to also be realized if they do the work in a surrendered state.

Devi's Words of Love

Devi is a dear friend, a spiritual sibling of mine. She is one of Sivakami

Amma's senior disciples and lives in India. With Devi's permission, I have gathered some quotes from her emails and present them here. Enjoy!

Babananda

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Divine Mother is the embodiment of Unconditional motherhood. Kindly follow your heart... There is a stage when we have to consciously

and gratefully drop certain techniques. No technique is for the whole life time and the ultimate technique is dropping every technique and just be. But we can't do that until we have had a full course round of sadhana...
At times the books and the bygone Masters say a thing but experience

proves that there are different dimensions to the same fact for the simple reason that Truth is multi-dimensional. The Masters who are physically present are as absent as the Masters who are physically absent are eternally present. Our Siddha lineage is rich, eternal and infinite and they are ever present to guide us and guard us. We need not worry about the physical proximity... We are very much looked up on and directed.
As Sri Aurobindo and Mother say... The humanity can take a great leap

in evolution when a significant number of people attain the body of light. They could not complete the process of converting to light body as the humanity was not ready.
To my knowledge Light Body is the only experience that can be

called permanent and sustainable. All the rest (of experiences) are temporary and we are forced to do sadhana to re-experience them. Let's aim for the highest...
Let us be the empty instruments for the Masters to use and serve... Inner realm is filled with love. Self Realization! This is a term or a state or a goal that I wanted to attain

and tried desperately... but nothing happened. I moved from one place to the other and from technique to another technique... But the goal that I had set was nowhere to be seen... It was suddenly and of course by Grace that I started realising few facts. Self-Realization is a moment to moment happening. It happens when you enjoy the smallest miracles of life... Your self is a reflection of the collective self... You are in everything and everything is in you and when you enjoy a flower, a breeze, a chocolate, make love, be alone and feel complete... All these moments you are becoming one with the self. Everytime you learn something mystical the Universe has been removing a veil of illusion and showing you a slice of Truth... A perfect moment of Self
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Realization. In moments when you have extreme "self love" and you do all that you deserve to explore and experience, you are taking one step towards this goal. Do not set an imaginary goal... THERE IS NO END TO SELF REALIZATION. This is an eternal journey... It has no culmination but only a long never ending path. The moment you have arrived and relaxed you are shown a much more longer path to start off... A new journey and a new realization... So what is self realization? The states of samadhi last for a day, week or may be a month for advanced beings but then it's just like being in a state of infused euphoria and nothing more. The true realization and true euphoria lie in living each moment with awareness. This I could attain only when I dropped the desire for Self Realization... or the need to experience bliss or whatever. You are already realising in every moment of awareness! It's a never ending journey... So let's learn and share what we have learnt and learn more... We are the Siddhas who have no mukti. There are two states... one is birthlessness and another is deathlessness. Birthless are those who attain mukthi and go back to the source. But immortals are those who are like a grain with the potential to become another tree but they dont sprout instead they cook themselves to become food for others... food becomes life... life turns into knowledge and knowledge turns into wisdom. We are those grains of Siddhas who are here to cook in the test of time and become source of wisdom for others... Drop all the goals as there is no permanent state... Every millionth of a second the Universe is changing. No realization is permanenet... Live the moment.
From what I have understood we are the siddhas and not mukthas. Siddhas

have work to do and a samadhi state can hinder us from working for the society. A poem in ancient Siddha Tamil-language: Grihathil Grahathey Grahithalum Savu Soozhal Suzhiyil Surundalum Savu Guhathul Guhaney Ganithal Gavani
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Unakkul Udikkum Aam Savatra Savu

Death takes the one who is an expert in astrology Death takes the one who is a slave to destiny Listen if you have experienced Muruga in the cave of your heart In you will arise a deathless death - a life immortal
Let this joy and equilibrium make you a greater way-shower and let more

people find guidance and light.

Not analysing what the state is but simply flowing with it.

One with the Master

In the introductory material of Siddha Thirumoolar's Siva Yoga it is told:

By concentration upon Thirumoolar before or during (or both) these

techniques, he has said; 'By concentration on me, the student will draw me to initiate a spiritual charge of transmission for the opening necessary for them to tap the power that lies in these great teachings.' He (Thirumoolar) told me (Sivakami Om Anandi) to make this known, and so I am. I cannot stress enough the importance of following this simple request. It could very well mean the difference between success and failure in your practice.

As Sivakami Amma has said, tuning in with the Master might mean the succes or failure in ones sadhana spiritual path and practices. Obviously we are dealing with something very important, perhaps even crucial, here.
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It is a well known fact that, when remembering and praying to their Gurus, spiritual seekers and devotees have received special blessings and healings, even such blessings which could be called miracles. Everything is One, all living beings and creation rests in inseparable Oneness. Master is one who has realized this and embodies this Truth behind all created form. Therefore Master dwells everywhere. There is no place or situation where Master's Oneness Consciousness is not. He, the true Guru, is always here.

In verse 139 of the Thirumandiram, Thirumoolarji says that proper understanding is achieved by the disciple

by looking at the Guru, by chanting the Gurus name, by following the Gurus message, and by meditating on the Gurus figure.

If we meditate on the Satguru by remembering His name, His picture and teachings, we can join with Him (and His realization) and hence become one with everything. For this reason a Satguru, as He is essentially formless but has a name and form, is important to a spiritual student. A realized Guru is there to guide a sadhaka spiritual seeker - whenever he or she, the seeker, desires so and chooses to request a blessing from the Master and tune in with Him. The initiative must come from the student because we have the freedom to choose. As we remember His name, His picture, His teachings and His Divine mantra of Siva, we will become unified with Him in all His beauty. Surely, if one wishes to, he/she can adopt the exact method of Guru dhyana meditation from the Jnana Sindhu and in the beginning when one is learning the practical skill of tuning in with the presence of the Master, it can be helpful. But repeating Mularji's Siva-mantra and visualising His picture
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works just as well. The point is to get a first hand experience of His presence, here and now. In the process the meditator learns much of him/herself and becomes intimate with the Master.

If you wish, you may chant aloud or silently these as well.

Thirumular Satguru Thirumular Thirumular Namaste Om Thirumular Om Thirumular Namaha Om Thirumular Nath Namaha Jai Satgurudeva Thirumular

Feel free to chant the Master's name in a way or a melody that you enjoy. Just remember to do it with love and devotion, not in harsh manner. You might also print a small pocket size picture of the Master, so that you can carry His picture and look at Him wherever you are. Sooner or later, you come to learn what is it exactly (or who He is and how the Master is in this present moment) that you come aware of as you do this.

By meditating on the Satguru, being One with Him, in this way, both our spiritual and mundane lives become filled with joy, peace and grace that we couldn't even imagine.

At Mular's Divine Feet, - Mularmurti Babananda, 12/2010.

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Support Sundara Yoga with a donation. Thank You.

Meditation of Satguru Thirumular

Tools for spiritual growth
The Three Divine Qualities are sound, light and vibration. These three qualities are found behind all creation and they are useful pathways when something that has been created (such as a human being) wishes to find out ones own origin in regressive steps from physical towards the subtle. Sound, light and vibration are irreplacable tools for this. It is good to remember, however, that they are still only tools.

Because a realized master, a satguru, represents with his whole being the origin of all creation and Oneness, therefore taking the satguru as an object of meditation is very wise. When the student is in a conscious connection with the satguru, his/her karmic being begins to be gradually replaced with pure consciousness.

These two: three created qualities and satguru's meditation can be combined into one meditation practice. In this way the student can learn to know his/her satguru in a very intimate and personal way and also to observe and go deep into meditation with the help of sound, light and vibration. Even though the following practice is the most wonderful practice, it is not meant that main
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sadhana would be replaced by it. This is a helpful tool which can be said to cast a solid foundation for the practice of Sundara Yoga.

To begin with, the student has to learn how to be conscious of Satguru Thirumular's presence in his/her own phys. body. 'Feel Thirumular's presence'. This is the first step. Creating the connection and realizing the presence of Mular can be practiced by watching his picture and by remembering his name, for example by repeating 'Om Thirumular Namaya' nama mantra or more simply 'Thirumular...Thirumular...'. When you look at the master's picture or repeat his name, be consciously aware of the sensations in your physical body. When you repeat the master's name over and over again ja watch/visualize his picture in your mind, you start to perceive the presence of Thirumular despite of his name or picture. When this perception develops further, only an intention is enough to create a conscious connection with the master. This can be practiced eyes open or closed in sitting meditation or at any time of the day at work, at school, at home etc.

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The second step is 'to listen to the sound of Thirumular' inside students own body. This is done in sitting meditation so that the student is aware of his/her physical body, of the space inside the skin, and listens attentively the sound current which emanates of Thirumular's presence. This is the listening of Satguru Thirumular's Nada-sound. As the student is focused on this sound which might sound of many kinds of instruments, he/she starts to feel very sweet, relaxed and deeply peaceful. It is not so important what the sound sounds like (it can sound like soundless silent sound too) but that the student is tuned into Thirumular's presence and is attentively listening to the sound emanating from him.
Drawing of Satguru Thirumular. Painted by Gail Tarrant.

The third step is 'to watch Thirumular's light' inside students own body. The method is the same as in the second step except that now light is perceived, instead of sound. Be conscious of the bright, golden light of Thirumular inside your body. Observe and enjoy this brilliance in the presence of Satguru Thirumular.

The last of the three qualities is vibration which meditation is included in all the previous steps in a way that Thirumular's presence is observed in students physical body. It is common that in sitting meditation the students body may calmly swing from side to side like a pendulum of a big wall clock. This movement is natural and pleasant and the body might move like this when it is deeply relaxed. However, if the body doesn't move like this it doesn't matter, it shouldn't be made to move self-motivatedly.

These three steps:

1. feeling the presence of Thirumular in students phys. body, 2. listening to the sound of Thirumular in students phys. body and 3. watching the light of Thirumular in students phys. body

are good aids in knowing and becoming close with the master and in developing concentration and meditating the three divine qualities which will guide the student to the source of truth.
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In this instruction it is presented that the perception of each step happens inside the limits of the physical body of the student. This is an important baseline. However, with practice, deepening relaxation and loving surrender the inner sensation of Mular's presence, sound and light expands beyond the borders of the students phys. body. But we always begin the practice from ones own body. The expansion happens naturally in its own accord.

Finally it needs to be reminded of the importance of lovefulness. Loving surrender is a precondition to all spiritual growth which is the recognition of ones own self. Because realizing life as love is the deepest of all realizations, it is good for the student to develop his/her heartfulness so that he/she might approach this realization and truth. The fire of love can be set alight by sincere words of prayer coming from the heart, by singing the masters name with love or by singing spiritual songs. It is a matter of expressing love, showing it, to the object of love. So when you meditate Satguru Thirumular, his sound and light, express your love, your longing and your desire of truth to him. Like this you can make your spiritual path and your whole life full of joy and love.

Om Namah Shivaya Om Thirumular Namaya Support Sundara Yoga with a donation. Thank You.

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Spiritual Retreats
You just have to look at what the situation allows you and jump in with

both feet where you can... and when you can't, let go of it and concentrate on the job at hand. Everybody has periods when things are more intense than others and it's also the reason for, especially for householders, 2 or 3 times a year, if they can retreat somewhere, for 3 to 10 days. Usually 10 days happens when you get older, are more secure in your job, have vacations and all that sort of thing... Where you really can practice silence, eat clean foods and basicly meditate, do nothing but meditate... Because it's very refreshing, it brings you back to center... I talked to Premananda quite a bit about this the last I was on the phone with him because I had never approached it before. I pointed out to him that it certainly is an important part of the spiritual life of a householder-yogi. So that they get breaks from time to time where they can re-generate essentially. And then of course you go back to your job and your family and whatever else you have, it's not like you're leaving them permanently, these are just mini-retreats... But they are very effective, if they're done right.

Sivakami Om Anandi

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