Bhoomananda Foundation

Swamiji exhorts seekers to understand their own inner domain–namely the mind, intelligence and the Consciousness. A seeker has to understand the infinite potential of his own inner personality. The mind, intelligence and ego are nothing but functional notes of the Consciousness.

Swamiji says that one may have infinite number of possessions, but nothing will make any addition to one’s own personality. We are full, complete.

A seeker will have to start feeling that the whole world can add nothing to him inside. He must Realize his own inner fullness and abundance.

PR 12 May 2012

This is the second in a set of four talks on 'Sadhana Chatushtaya', based on Vivekachudamani, during the Sadhana Shibiram Jamshedpur held on 09 October 2023.

In this Satsang, Swamiji explains the Sadhana Chatushtaya (the four-fold pursuit of the spiritual seeker.) When the seeker has Viveka, the quality of Vairagya also starts growing in him.

A human being is governed by two forces acting on his personality. The Centripetal force anchors the mind within and the centrifugal force tries to take one away from the centre or core and the mind is distracted by external things. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that a seeker must generate centripetal force to make the mind focussed within and parallelly reduce the centrifugal force. This reduction of centrifugal force is Vairagya where the mind does not get affected, attracted, or repelled by any external object or situation.

Vairagya is impersonality and impartiality of outlook. Normally, we apply the colour of ‘me and mine’ and ‘others’ to everything. Whatever is connected to ‘me and mine’ we develop a liking for it and whatever is connected to ‘others’, we develop a dislike for it. A seeker must remove the colour of ‘me and mine’ and ‘likes and dislikes’ from all world perceptions. Vairagya is an impartiality where one is free from raga and dvesha. Impersonality must be practiced by a seeker in all activities and interactions.

We suffer from delusion, right from birth. When the intelligence overcomes the delusion, then one will grow indifference towards everything. Vairagya is a quality of the Soul. Introspecting constantly on the Self, one can grow Vairagya.

For human beings, everything in this world—enjoyments, name, fame, honour, beauty, virtue etc.-- is coupled with fear. Vairagya (dispossessiveness, not clinging to external enjoyments) alone bestows fearlessness. Swamiji emphasizes that Viveka should naturally lead to Vairagya. Vairagya shows us the real nature of the world and object enjoyments and helps us grow in unaffectedness and impersonality.

This is the first in a set of four talks on 'Sadhana Chatushtaya', based on Vivekachudamani, during the Sadhana Shibiram Jamshedpur held on 08 October 2023.

In this Satsang, Swamiji discusses the Sadhana Chatushtaya—the four-fold pursuit of a seeker of Truth. They are Viveka (Discrimination), Vairagya (Impersonality), Sama damaadi Shatka Sampattih (the six-fold inner treasures) and Mumuksha (yearning for liberation).

We live life guided by our own sense attractions and repulsions. But deep within us there is a voice which constantly guides us towards the ultimate felicity. So, there is a constant tug of war in us between these two tendencies or forces. Spirituality draws us within and makes us permanently happy, unaffected, and fulfilled. Sadhana Chatushtaya should be practiced by a seeker only to enhance this inward vision.

Viveka is when one discriminates between what is permanent and what is impermanent. By Viveka, a seeker must understand what is eternal and what is changeful. Once the intelligence does the discrimination, one must follow the path which will lead to the ultimate auspicious goal.

In the initial stages of spiritual pursuit, Viveka is discriminating between Shreyas and Preyas. In our life, every moment nature comes with two baskets—Shreyas (that which may be immediately not pleasant but will take us to the auspicious goal of life) and Preyas (that which gives immediate pleasure and gratification but will take us away from the goal of life.)

Scriptures say that one with an active and discriminating intelligence will probe into the pros and cons of any situation and will choose the Shreyas. Whereas, a dull-witted person will choose worldly gains and possessions. Swamiji emphasizes that a seeker must take all decisions based on Viveka, without any selfish worldly attractions or repulsions. The result of the decision may be negative also, but he will have the confidence that it was the best decision taken after sufficient consideration. He will be open to accepting any result.

In her own unique style, Ma teaches us that we should approach all our activities joyfully, for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. When we cultivate this feeling of surrender to the Supreme, we are assured of security, protection, and hope while living and interacting in this world. We feel as secure as a child in a mother's lap.

Drawing from her own personal life experiences, Ma shares the secret to effectively handling unwanted and tormenting thoughts. A must-listen!

In this talk, Ma tells the listeners about a daily sublime routine in the Ashram—Prabhata Rashmih (short messages by Poojya Swamiji). During the quiet and meditative hours of the morning, Poojya Swamiji imparts these messages based on Sadhana. They cover a wide gamut of subjects, like Supreme knowledge, the spiritual pursuit, virtues, introspection etc. This practice of Swamiji giving spiritual guidance at the conclusion of Pushpa Samarpanam (flower offering) started in 1996. These inspiring messages have been published as a book (‘Prabhata Rashmih- in three volumes).

Ma emphasizes that we should never forget that we are spiritual seekers. All our thoughts, speech, activities, and interactions should be like that of a seeker. All sādhakās must aspire for divinity and a spiritual attitude in everything. They must be graced with a feeling of sublimity, blessedness, and expansion throughout the day.

In the Prabhata Rashmih, Swamiji says that the spiritual or devotional life is a life lived in the heart, mind, and intelligence. The effort and emphasis must be to generate sublimity and purity. Any activity of the intelligence which does not generate sublimity and purity is merely an intellectual exercise.

Reading and explaining a message from ‘Prabhata Rashmih’ Vol 1, Ma says when the messages are read, one must introspect on it and understand the meaning and intent. It must give rise to a feeing of expansion, purity, and sublimity. Then only the reading or listening is fruitful and will help in progressing in the spiritual path.

Swamiji delves deep into the process of thinking or mentation.

There is a presence within us which makes us aware of the body, mind, senses, everything. It animates and activates our body. This presence is the very source of the thought process. But we miss it because we do not enquire about it. Swamiji exhorts seekers to understand and realize this thinking substance. Through a process of deep and constant introspection one can reach the thinking substance which is the Self.

Shlokas Chanted in the Track:

यद्वाचानभ्युदितं येन वागभ्युद्यते ।

तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥

Kenopanishad-1.4

यन्मनसा न मनुते येनाहुर्मनो मतम् ।

तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥

Kenopanishad-1.5

In this short message, Swamiji discusses the auspicious monosyllable ‘OM’. It is a combination of three syllables- ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’. These three syllables put together represent the entire gamut of knowledge articulated by our mouth. It is the symbol of the Supreme Reality called Brahman or Ātma.

A human has three states of awareness-Wakefulness, sleep and dream. In all the three states, the ‘I’ is there as a substratum. We relate all the three states to the ‘I’. We say, “I woke up, I slept, I dreamt and I woke up”. So the ‘I’ is a self-experienced phenomenon or fact.

So, apart from the states wakefulness, dream and sleep, there is a fourth factor which remains unchanged as the substratum of the three states. The symbol OM is a very rational and logical symbol of the Supreme Reality, which is denoted by the term ‘I’.

What is sentience? In this track, Swamiji speaks about sentience or Consciousness which animates and activates our body. Because of the Consciousness, the entire magic of creation happens.

Mind has got a capacity to generate pleasantness and unpleasantness, sympathy, hatred, jealousy, intolerance, competition etc. Though the mind produces and makes us experience all this, it does not itself become any one of this. Understanding that it is so, one should never be overpowered by either a thought or a memory or an emotion.

Swamiji exhorts everyone to understand that the sentience in us which expresses as the mind has got a static character. It does not get affected by either a colour, an emotion, a memory, a thought or any reaction or response.

PR 07 Aug 2012

In this talk, Swamiji speaks about the nature of Brahmavidya and the hallowed lineage from the Vedic period that preserved it, nurtured it, and spread it across the country. What do the Vedas pronounce about it? They give the gist in the form of the 4 Mahavakyas. The Brahmavidya is a knowledge path, to be walked upon with the help of the intelligence. Swamiji mentions the disciplines that aid us on this path, and speaks about the ‘I’ within us that denotes the Self.

Mahavakyas chanted in the track

प्रज्ञानं‌ ब्रह्म ।

अहं ब्रह्मास्मि ।

तत्त्वमसि ।

अयमात्मा ब्रह्म ।

PR 10 Jul 2013