DAY 6 : 19th April : Culmination
Understanding the Ajna Chakra Divya Netra Meditation Be Blissful : Drop your guilt! Understanding the Sahasrara Chakra Sahasrara Dhyana Meditation About Energy Darshan
APPENDIX
Is there a phenomenon called No-mind State?
[Research report of American neurologists who studied THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM's science-defying neurological system]
Day 1: 14th April
Preparation
THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM enters and seats himself. He greets the crowd with a Namskaar. The crowd returns the greeting and settles down.
THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM chants: Brahmanandam parama sukhadam Kevalam jnaanamoortim Dvandvaateeetam gagana sadrisham Tatvamasyaadi lakshyam Ekam nithyam vimalam achalam Sarvadee saakshi bhootam Bhaavaateetam triguna rahitam Sadgurum tam namaami
[ Obeisance to the Sadguru (Master) He who is Bliss Absolute, Bestower of Supreme Joy Embodiment of Knowledge Beyond Duality, Expansive like the Sky The object of Mahakaavyas like Tat-tvam-asi (Thou art that) Peerless, Eternal, Pure, Steady Witness to all Thoughts Beyond all Modifications of body and mind And above the three Qualities of Purity, Passion and Passivity! ] My beloved friends, I welcome you all to this meditation camp.
Each of you has come here looking for something. Do you know what it is? You may have come here expecting to gain some insights into meditation, some experience, some knowledge. But what kind of knowledge will you gain here?
Broadly speaking, knowledge is of three types.
The most basic kind of knowledge is intellectual knowledge. This is the knowledge you get from the outside world. If you just use your head, use your mind, that is enough to pick up this knowledge. Like how you learn in school, in our regular academic system. Just concentrate, and you can do it. Logic, arithmetic, come under this category.
The next type of knowledge is knowledge from the heart: like art, like music, like poetry. This kind of knowledge cannot be learnt with the head. For this the head is of no use. If you want to learn poetry, can you do it with your head? In fact, it can't be learnt at all. At the most it can be picked up.
A small story:
Once, there used to be a potter. He used to make pots everyday. Seeing him, his son also picked up the art. Then one day a man came to them. He asked the son, How did you learn this art? Can you teach me also? The son replied*, I didn't learn, I just picked it up! Just by watching, just by absorbing, I came to know how to do it. It cannot be taught!*
Art cannot be taught, only learnt.
That is why, in olden days, music could not be taught by anyone and everyone. It could be taught only in the gurukul. All great musicians were those trained in the gurukul. They stayed with the master for years, living with him, working with him, absorbing his music.
See, you can learn an art only by soaking in it – and by soaking it in, like a sponge! By watching every day, how the master sings, how his life itself flows, like poetry, the learner becomes still. He listens and picks up.
Art can never be taught like mathematics. If you try to teach poetry like how you teach arithmetic, the person may learn some techniques, maybe the craft of writing poems – but the poet is lost. The man may write poems – but they won't be poetry. There is a great difference between poems and poetry. There is a big difference between intellectual learning and emotional 'picking up'.
The third type of knowledge is spiritual knowledge. Actually, we can't call it knowledge at all! Wisdom might be a
better word…
This knowledge can neither be taught nor picked up. It can only be transmitted from Being to Being. Listen clearly – it cannot be taught or learnt. We are speaking about something which cannot be spoken about!
So, you are not here to learn anything.
Be very clear, I am not going to give you any philosophy, any system. I am here to give you the Light which is in my heart. That is what is going to happen, all these six days. I am going to give you a glimpse of satori, or spiritual experience – whatever you may call it.
In these six days, you will get a glimpse of your Being.
Why are you all sitting like this? Come here. (beckons) Come and sit close to me. Whoever can sit on the floor, come and sit here. Otherwise of course, you can use the chair. And I don't want these kind of distinctions! I don't want anyone sitting near their relatives. Come on, get mingled – get confused! (laughs)
Someone from that side, come here – you go there. Just make sure you're not sitting next to your relatives or friends.
So the seating arrangement is over!
Before we start the class, some instructions. When you leave the room, please enter your name in the register. And one more thing: please be punctual. It is just the respect we pay each other. I think none of us is here without any work..? All of us are busy. I think all of us have our own work. But we've all gathered here to be helped by each other. Be sure, it's not just as if I'm helping you! You are also helping me!
How?, you may ask.
See, when a woman has a baby, she becomes a mother. Not only does the woman give birth to the child, the child also gives birth to the mother. Until the child is born, where is the mother? There is only a woman. So the child gives birth to the woman - into motherhood! There is a transformation both ways. In the same way as the child helps the mother, you are helping me!! I am helping you become more meditative, to move towards enlightenment. You are helping me to become a real Guru! You are teaching me how to teach you. Without disciples, what is the meaning of the word Guru? So both of us are helping each other grow.
That is why the Katopanishad starts with a beautiful mantra. A mantra which is incomparable! The Shanti Mantra:
(THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM chants in resonant tones)Om sahanaavavatu Sahanaubhunaktu Sahaveeryan karavaavahai Tejasvinaavateetamastu Maa vid vishaavahai Om shantih shantih shantih
Here, both guru and disciple pray to Existence – to Parashakti, to God, whatever you may call it – they pray to the higher energy, saying, may we both (guru and disciple) help each other, may we both illumine each other's paths. Do you see what a beautiful idea that is? There is no ego at all! There is just a beautiful mutual respect.
So what I mean is, even when we come in time – just by being punctual – we are showing our respect to each other. Even a single person missing here would mean something less. Don't think you are only here for yourself – you're helping others also.
And do you realize, when the class starts, there will be a beautiful flow – and suddenly someone comes in late and opens the door. Naturally, everyone's eyes move in that direction - right? And the flow is broken.
It's just like a speedbreaker. The speedbreaker is only one foot high, but to cross it, you have to start slowing down half a kilometer ahead. After that, you pick up speed again only after half a kilometer. That means you can raise your bike up to normal only after one minute. In the same way, when someone comes and opens the door, it takes only a second but the flow is disturbed…
So what else do I need to say to you, before you introduce yourselves to each other? First of all, don't come here with a serious, loaded mind. Come with a simple, sincere mind. Don't come here expecting that in the very first session, you will get to experience God, or something like that! In a light and easy mood, without expectations, you will be able to receive much more from me. If you come with a prejudiced mind, full of expectations, you will be thinking only of your expectations. You are not here to focus on your expectations. You are here to focus simply on what I say.