It was on the 18^th of June, 2008 that an exquisite incident took place in my life which will have a long life impact on me. Therefore, it has become necessary for me to narrate it as I am convinced that this experience will influence the following posts of my blog as well, such is its overall deep impact. So Mandira, to let you know what was it, my story goes something like this…

Around 12.30 p.m. on that day, I completed my daily chores, feeling very fresh after a good bath. I came in my room and ignited two musk incense sticks on the altar to remember God, it is my daily ritual. As you know, these days my sleep pattern is irregular and erratic, so I decided to rest a while before lunch. I put my head on the pillow under the fan and began to feel relaxed as the cool air from the fan had a cooling effect on my wet hair and gave me a respite from the sweat and heat of the day. For me, all this was like any other normal day, but I soon discovered that I was wrong as it proved to be otherwise.

As the alluring scent of the musk incense sticks spread around me and in the room, it had a very soothing effect on me and the whole atmosphere was baptized. My mind became calm and the whole body felt very rejuvenated and light. My eyes closed gently on their own and I, like a gentle breeze, then drifted into another world very far away. My mind began to dissolve slowly as though I was melting away gently in a vast, deep ocean. I was getting cut off from the outside sensory world and entering the space of a higher domain which is not accessible easily. I reached and entered a Space that is very high and far away from the earth’s gravitational pull. May be higher than the skies. Then……most unexpectedly, the visual image of Mahavatar Babaji appeared before my closed eyes and in a flash of a moment it captivated me completely.

I began to float and I saw that there was a very thin sheath around me that was wrapping me like an envelop which broke, releasing me from a kind of a cover and a chain of bondage. The release gave me more freedom of movement in the upper skies or ether and I began to soar higher and higher like a light feather in the limitless sky. I was floating as though there was no gravity and I lost the sense of body consciousness and felt free at last!

At this juncture, Babaji spoke to me in a very sweet and gentle voice, “From now on, you will write from this height.”

Mahavatar Babaji, for the reader’s convenience, is an immortal soul living and moving presently in the vicinity of Shri Badrinath temple in the Himalayas. He is ever young and like Spirit, eternal and deathless. He is now more than 1,800 years old in age but His body is beyond the physical laws of decay and degeneration and therefore he is forever young. He has a world wide mission of uplifting mankind through spiritual evolution. It is Divine will that unless his prescribed mission is completed, he will not forsake his physical body.

His built is firm and complexion very fair and he has long, knee length flowing copper colour hair. He wears ochre colour dhoti or a long cloth wrapped around his waist and shoulder and he usually carries a stick or danda with him while walking.

His countenance and body glow brilliantly and the eyes are dark, deep and serene.

His smile is mysterious and enchanting while his speech reminds me of the tinkling of tiny mellifluous bells in the ears, a sheer delight and entrancing melody!

Babaji’s work includes helping humanity to rise above nationality, religion and individual self. He is extremely concerned about the current world issues and the worsening situation. The various cause of concerns are -the rapid erosion of the world environment, the unchecked spread of consumerism, greed and exploitation by the politicians and people in power, unhealthy environment and increasing pollution, the indifference of man towards his fellow men and other living animate and inanimate creatures as well, the rude and shocking exploitation of the natural resources and most important of all these is- The slow erosion of eternal spiritual values and principles known as Sanatan Dharma on which humanity thrives.

He believes in and wishes to create an egalitarian society for man’s happiness, prosperity and well being. He strives to unite the nations and spreads awareness of oneness of God through the science of Yoga and meditation and some other lost ancient techniques of God union. He preaches Love. He wishes to spread love through his teachings and kind words and he uses people to accomplish his uphill task diligently. His work goes on silently and He is capable of appearing and disappearing at will. He possesses many extra ordinary mind boggling yogic powers and multitude siddhis but  he applies them only for the benefit and good of others in desperate need.

He can take on various forms and can speak just about any language of the world in which the recipient can communicate, but his own favourite is Hindi. His medium of transport is ether and mode of communication telepathy and intuition. He can appear in two or more than two forms and places at the same time as the need may require him to be.

Babaji’s body is made up of pure Divine Light and where ever He goes, there is a huge halo surrounding him. He is most of the time moving and has no requirement of food, water or sleep. He lives on Cosmic Light alone. He does not feel cold even in the severest of cold conditions. He meditates deeply in the caves of the craggy mountains near the river Alaknanda and lives with some of his devoted and trusted disciples in an ashram on the hills of the Himalayas invisible to all but visible to just a few if he so desires. He does not come out open in the public and leads a reclusive life in the quietude of the solitary mountains in shrouded mystery. Only those people are able to see or perceive him on whom his blessings fall gently like a divine shower of compassion and Love. It is because of our past life good karmas that he takes charge of our lives and spiritual growth. If it is destined that he come in our life as a messenger of God, then he shall.

His aura has the power of transformation and he has divine powers to change the fate and fortune of a faithful and devoted disciples and devotees. He loves those who have love and devotion in their heart, who do good and pray for others and are concerned and involved with the welfare of the society. He showers profuse blessings on those people who are pure in heart and blesses them many times who are unselfish and devoid of any evil tendencies.

He gives darshan to those who remember him in distress or are in a dire need or call him out with a clean heart for spiritual help and guidance. Through telepathic communion, he guides them in their spiritual efforts and sadhana though not physically present with them. The recipients many a times do not even ever become aware of the fact that they have or had received telepathic messages or subtle hints planted by Babaji for their advancement and growth. Such is His humility and compassion for mankind. He will relieve them from both- the worldly and spiritual sufferings in this as well as in their future lives yet to come by helping them working out their karmas of previous lives and of their present life too. He undertakes long term projects for us which are although time consuming and very far-sighted, but they involve and concern only the welfare and progressive evolution of our soul. ( Please visit The process of liberation and Our lives are in our hands-II to understand his nature and characteristics better)

He indicates and shows people their path of salvation by helping them do those right deeds and actions. He makes them fearless by giving strength to face their difficult and demanding present life situations. He provides them mental and spiritual power to overcome the heavy burden of karmic suffering and misgivings and in return gives them peace, contentment and knowledge to elevate their sufferings.

All this is very important and please listen to this carefully now. Keep your mind fully focused and absorbed in what is being told to you and retain it very well for times to come, my child.

Once the devotee is liberated and free from karmic obligations, He involves him or her in the world wide mission of God’s continuous work of human upliftment. He blesses those lavishly who do not consider themselves to be the doer of any action and whose heart and mind are devoid of any pride, vanity or prejudice. Blessed are those who realize one day and know that we all are the children of one God and selfishness, hatred, jealousy, contempt, hostility have no place in our heart. We must forsake all these undesired thoughts and beliefs as they are the doors of hell and untold misery.

Good actions such as brotherhood, unity of all religions, love, compassion, kindness, empathy, mutual co-operation and understanding are dear to God as we are all God’s children. Blessed are those who live and work for God, who worship God through service and God manifests in those people who worship mankind !

Dear Mandira, to wrap up this post, I am inclined to add one poem which I wrote in the early days of March this year in a meditative mood one evening. I hope you will appreciate the theme behind it and try to live up to that.

Grace in solitude

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Solitude is the time when the soul comes in direct contact with the Spirit. The Spirit, the source of true knowledge and understanding.

As I returned from a quiet evening walk to my abode, the Spirit silently descended over my being and revealed to me that was so far unknown.

I remembered a dear soul whose heart ached and could no longer hold its own weight. My heart went out to give solace and tend to this tired soul.

Our ache and helplessness became one, from where came the source of the pain and who was sharing it became blurred.

His pain became mine and I the source of his load, the way it is difficult to differentiate the light from its glowing radiance.

Just then my eyes became moist and wet, and a drop of tear filled the eyes.

My heart was filled with a mild and poignant pang and in no time it took over my complete self.

How else can I give relief and more comfort to the soul who wants to help itself but does not know how to do so?

A few fleeting moments passed by when my Spirit, in the form of a Voice spoke to me in a calm tone – “Vasudeva is very pleased with you. You have risen many steps upward today.”

“Higher than the worship of deities is the worship of Guru. Higher still is the worship of mankind.

God is worshiped best if worshiped through mankind. Those who love and worship humanity is loved the most by God himself.”

Note: To know and read more about Sri Mahavatar Babaji, read the book ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Sri Paramhansa Yogananda, chapter 33.

(The slow erosion of eternal spiritual values and principles known as Sanatan Dharma on which humanity thrives…

What is Sanatan Dharma?  Read –‘The Light of the world Shri Mahavatar Babaji’-II )

Picture:google images.

By now we are familiar with the notion that Ananda or the Joy of  Spirit is an integral part of our being. Naturally we all wish to be in that state of perfect happiness where there is no tinge of sadness or insufficiency. It is possible for us to achieve that state of perfection and we must strive to achieve and experience that quintessential state of higher being.

At this juncture, I know Mandira, that an obvious question has sprung up in your mind and you must be wanting to ask me, “Mother, I agree that Ananda is our true nature and I wish to live in that state. But where do I find such Divine Bliss and how do I attain that state of being?”

Yes, I understand that this is a serious thought and subject and it requires a thorough understanding and also patient practice of spiritual efforts. For practical application, a definite method and a whole process of transformation is to be undertaken by the aspirant. This path and destination is not commonly sought, but nonetheless we are going to travel on it because the journey is worth taking and the destination worth visiting. The expected requirements and tools are your lifelong commitment, sustained interest and focus, untiring effort and unflinching sincerity towards your goal.

My dear, all the efforts are worthwhile as the fruit of  earnest labour are wondrously enriching, enormously rewarding and benignly enlightening!

So let’s begin our journey to reach our desired destination and find the source of Joy within us.

Mandira, let’s step back for a while and do some introspection by going back in time. Let’s attempt  to recall and recreate those moments when we were just born!  For us life began then and for our dear ones it was a day to rejoice.

Now try to focus on the moment when we took our first breath, yes the first breath. It was a critical moment because that particular moment heralded a new beginning for us as we embarked on an incredible journey called ‘life’.

Can you recall that specific time? The expected answer from you would be how can I recall that? It is so far away back in time, I was not even aware of that action. Alright, let it be. Instead let us just imagine and visualize for a short while the crucial moment when we first inhaled the air and took the first breath in. Stop here and think!

You must be wondering what is my mother up to? Why is she asking me something that no one thinks about? Why is it important to remember the moment when I took my first breath?

The importance of one breath!!

My dear, I took you way back in the past so that we realize the importance of one breath!! In one breath we began our life and our whole life is made up of multitude breaths! And today I am going to reveal to you a few important hidden facts about something as vital as breathing and other related topics to which we have never given a careful consideration. One might wonder what is the connection between breathing and Ananda? And what is the significance of it in my life?

To begin with, let us know that Ananda is sublime Joy. Ananda is different from sensual pleasures and it is perceived and experienced in a state when the senses and the mind are in a stationary and complete calm state. The subtle vibrations of Spiritual Joy are received from the upper regions of the astral world. The mind and body should be prepared and attuned beforehand to be ready to receive those soft and subtle rays of enchanting  light! Such is the magic of those beatific rays of divine joy! And joy when prolonged for a longer period is Bliss!!

So you see who would not like to make an attempt to explore the world of untapped Joy and Bliss!

Mandira, do you remember that as a child you have first learnt words so that in future you would make sentences?  In the same way, the key to the hidden treasure of Joy of the Spirit is the meditation technique in which the ‘prana’ or the vital force which resides in the breath is disciplined and the latent  power of the mind awakened.

To make things interesting and simpler let us do a simple exercise.

Take a few deep breaths. Focus on the point between the eyebrows and concentrate there for a while. Do not care about the noise from outside or sound of the thoughts in the background. Sit calmly and allow the mind to become motionless and enjoy the peace. Once the peace settles over you, bring your attention gently  over the incoming and outgoing breath. Watch the continuous flow like an observer and do not apply any force or will.

Let this go on for some time and you will notice that as you are doing this, the mind has become calm and still and the breath is becoming shorter and slower. Now with a quiet mind, notice that there is a gap, a void* after we exhale and before we take the air in. Focus on that empty gap and become conscious of its presence. When we concentrate on these gaps or nothingness by keeping our  attention on them, the body starts becoming  motionless and  the mind arrives at a point of Absolute Stillness like a still lake devoid of any ripples!

 Enjoy the calmness that has now enveloped you! 

Gradually, with continued practice, when you focus on the empty gaps, you will experience a state of breathlessness when the heart and lungs stop functioning temporarily. This is the stage when the mind is completely absorbed in Absolute Bliss. The body consciousness is abandoned and the Spirit soars and takes a flight in the Infinite sky to experience vastness. It is state of great joy because the cord of the small self is cut and the soul becomes free to float in Infinity and from within a divine song flows-“Ananda, Ananda, Nit Naveen Ananda.”   “Joy, Joy, Ever new Joy.”

This reminds me that it was in Nov’03 that I visited Ranchi for Sharad Sangam and took Kriya Deeksha at YSS. There I was initiated into a breathing technique after which I experienced some outstanding spiritual experiences. That’s when I understood  many scientific explanations of the ancient science of Yoga as explained by many yogis and maharishis like Patanjali,  and also Sri Paramhansa Yogananda in his ‘Autobiography of a Yogi.”

During those days, I used to meditate very frequently and was trying to learn the art of concentration and meditation by regular practice and discipline of  the body and mind. I was practicing the ‘Hon Sau” technique of breath control, which is a type of ‘Pranayam,’ with dedication and strict adherence  to the steps prescribed by Guruji.

The day I returned from Ranchi, I felt like meditating before sleeping. I was filled with the spiritual vibrations of my week long stay in the Ranchi Ashram. I closed my eyes naturally and began observing my breath. My mind and body became extremely still effortlessly and I slipped into deep calmness and solitude. It was then, with some passing moments I realized that I was not breathing at all and my body was motionless. I did not have the need to draw in air and I entered a state of very deep and intense calmness. The murmur of the heartbeat was not audible to me anymore and I underwent into a state of Absolute Silence. The body was seen as a separate entity like a cage and I a bird in it, a soul, the silent onlooker, who could see the cage as a separate object. There were two separate entities as I could see then clearly.

Imagine here I was in a breathless state at home while so many yogis and other spiritual aspirants strive to achieve this in the caves and other places in tough terrains of the far off Himalaya Mountains! How fortunate I am, just think over it.  It was such a rare experience for which I shall forever be grateful to Guruji, Sri Paramhansa Yogananda and to our Revd. Mahavatar  Babaji.

I sometimes wonder how could I, out of innumerable people in the world get so lucky to have been chosen by the divine to experience such exalted spiritual state. The most convincing answer that comes to my mind is that God chose me to show the other seekers that it is possible by one and all to reach the higher states of spiritual advancement with their sincerity, devotion and ardent efforts. Who so ever follows the Spiritual Preceptor’s advice obediently will be showered by His Grace and Compassion.

So my dear child, the initial  steps that you have taken on the journey are the stepping stones of the regal palace that will be made in future by you. Take each step with enthusiasm and cheerfulness and enjoy every stage of the magnificent path ahead.

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Updating and Notes –

I have spoken about ‘void’ or ‘gap’. It is also called ‘Kumbhak’ in Yoga and it finally leads you to ‘Shunya’.  I have described this in this blog post-

https://spiritinlife.blog/2018/11/25/my-first-direct-interactions-with-maharishi-vishwamitra-ii/

They are now infinite; you are in extreme peace of mind and stillness. You have reached a depth when there is no tarang or a ripple when you are meditating. You are in shunya always when you are sitting quietly. Shunya is samadhi.

Shunya is samadhi.

And I quote a portion from-https://spiritinlife.blog/2018/12/02/my-first-direct-interactions-with-maharishi-vishwamitra-iii/

Part B 

The Earth disintegrates slowly but with natural disasters as it had formed, it perishes and all living beings die except one of five natural elements.  

It is also called ‘Pralaya’ or complete destruction, an act of God by which cleansing and submerging of all wrongdoings and actions conducted. 

 

For a prolonged time, no activity of breeding or recreation takes place, there is no earth, water, fire or air, they return to its inactive or dormant state.  

Only ‘Akash’ or ether stays intact rest retreat, it is the job of akash to take on the role of master supervisor or a manager who now manages. 

 

Akash becomes active in activating all its nutrients which are embedded in its constitution called anu or atoms, the thoughts or sankalpa are the seeds. 

The dormant seeds of all thoughts of the Universe are looked into and sorting done as rotten, very obnoxious seeds are separated from very good and pious. 

 

It is then God and nature both take a long sabbatical, rest and restoration work to plan and envision how must the new world be ensued and emerged.  

The creative powers, regenerative and destructive both need restoration periods so that they can self-sustain by itself without additional burden on God. 

 

This period is called shunya, a long phase when nothing is built, created or a time period of no possibility of germinating seeds of cycles of birth and death.  

What should never be germinated is destroyed permanently, the remaining good virtuous seedlings are stored in a repository, a germ bank readied…..

(References-Food and breath control and  about Paramhansa Yogananda -‘Autobiography of a Yogi’)