SOHAM - Newsletter by Tanuja Thakur - Vol.

1 Issue No 7
Weekly newsletter for sincere Spiritual Seekers
Email: soham@vedicupasana.com | www.vedicupasana.com Blog www.tanujathakur.com

SOHAM

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A PRESENTATION BY UPASANA HINDU DHARMOTTHAN SANSTHAN

(Upasana Socieity for Hindu Resurgence)

TOPICS OF MAIN ARTICLES: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Suvachan (Words of wisdom) Basic principles of spiritual practice Practical guidance on implementation of spirituality Anubhutis (spiritual experiences) of Seekers Spiritual healing to counter problems by negative energies Clarification of doubts Efforts made by seekers for spiritual progress Obstacles during Dharma Yatra & Dharma Prasar
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9.

Guru Poornima special

10. Activites of Upasana 11. Why is it so in Vedic Sanatan Dharma?

Dear friends and seekers, Starting with this issue, we are introducing two more topics in the form of articles. These are Why is it so in Vedic Sanatan Dharma? and Activites of Upasana. The second topic is being started so that you can be updated about the activities being carried out under the aegis of Upasana.

SOHAM - Newsletter by Tanuja Thakur - Vol.1 Issue No 7

1. Suvachan (Words of wisdom)

(a) Shree Guru Uvaach (Quotes from the Master) : The uniqueness of Vedic Sanatan Dharma : : (Sadhananam anekta va upasyanaam aniyama) It means the potential of every individual varies. Hence unlike other religions, Vedic Sanatan Dharma does not recommend only one path, or worship of only one deity ! - His Holiness Dr. Jayant Athavale.

His Holiness Dr. Jayant Athavale

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Implied Meaning: Every persons Sanchit (Cumulative karmic deeds of all births), Prarabdh (destiny), Kriyaman (wilful actions ), Panch Tattwa (five elements) Panch Mahabhut, (five principles), the temperamental characteristics, spiritual level, everything is variable. Hence, every persons mode and path of spiritual practice too are different and only Vedic Sanatan Dharma has such a well-grounded approach that thinks so subtly over all these issues with such a broad-minded outlook. (b) Quotations from Shaastras:

(Shrutvaa Dharmamvijaanaati Shrutvaa Tyajati Durmatim Shrutvaa j~naanamavaapnoti Shrutvaa mokshamavaapnuyaat) - Chanakya Neeti Meaning: By listening to Dharma, one understands; by learning about Dharma, one quits his bad disposition; by comprehending Dharma, one attains knowledge; by studying Dharma, one attains salvation. (c) Dharma Dhara Pure dnyan (knowledge) is beyond words! Let us see who does not possess a thirst for dnyan? (i) Egoistic people, for they feel that they possess immense knowledge; (ii) Self-realised saints, progressing towards Absoluteness(purnatva), lose all interest in acquiring knowledge imparted through words, for they begin to derive bliss from a state of Paramshanti(state of Absolute peace ) which is beyond words - Tanuja Thakur.

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(d) Essence of Gita: (: ) (Yasy sarve samaarambhah kamsankalpvarjitah Gnyanagnidagdhkarmaanam tamahuh panditam budhah ) - Shreemad Bhagvad Gita - (4:18) Meaning: One whose all actions are performed as per scriptures but without any desire or resolve, and whose deeds have been burnt in the Agni, (Fire) of Absolute Knowledge such a Mahapurush (the Great One) is referred to as Pandit by the Knowledgeable Ones. Interpretation: One whose all actions resemble the Karmic deeds approved by the scriptures, and whose Karmas dissipate in the Agni of knowledge, such a person is called a Pundit even by the most knowledgeable people. It means every action should be in conformity with the scriptures; otherwise according to the principle of Karmic destiny, the result of good deeds manifests in the form of Punya (merits) and the bad deeds in the form of Paap (sin). All the resultant fruits of action are burnt in the Agni of knowledge, when the one does the Karma (action) without Kartapan (a sense of doer-ship), that is, when one offers the credit of doing the act to the Lord, or to the Guru (Master). The Karma of such a Karmayogi are Akarma Karma (the action which does not result in either a positive or negative accrual). This is attainable after having achieved a spiritual level of 80%. Below this level, when a Sadhak (Seeker) makes an attempt to offer the sense of doership, it is done only at a mental level and the fruits of such actions have to be undergone. Hence, a seeker must perform every deed with alacrity. Every mistake enhances the Paap Karma (bad deeds) and Sanchit Karma. The Satpurush (Noble ones) who do not have to bear the fruits of their actions, are referred to as Pundits by the knowledgeable ones.
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2. Basic principles of spiritual practice

Is it imperative for spiritualists to wear saffron clothes? Several people feel that those who don saffron only can be saints or the torch-bearers of Vedic Dharma. This too is a false notion because of a lack of Dharma Shikshan (education on Vedic Dharma). Saint Tulsidas has said, , Samarath Ko Nahin Dosh Gosain, meaning rules of Karm Kaand (rules of ritualistic worship as defined in the scriptures) and Dharmaacharan (abiding by the Vedic Dharmas code of conduct) are not binding on those who are spiritually capable. An ordinary person and Seeker (those at a spiritual level between 20-59%) must wear Bharatiya (Indian) dresses and Saatvik (pious) colours in cotton, and if the financial condition allows for, wear silken clothes. Black, green, purple, brown and other such dark colours are not spiritually conducive for Sadhana for the Seekers. Synthetic clothes and western clothes made from artificial thread, are not conducive for spiritual practice. Bharatiya attire made from natural thread like cotton and silk possess a higher efficiency to attract the divine element,protect the seeker from the attack of negative energies and it forms a Samrakshak-Kavach (protective armour) on the seeker. But the colour or thread has no impact on a person above the spiritual level of 60%, for such souls are connected to the divine element at an internal level for maximum period of time. In the case of Saints who are connected to the divine element always, the type of clothes does not have any special bearing on the energy or bliss they emit, as they are already above this. The higher the level of a Saint, minimal is the impact of external objects on them. Thus, a seeker must concentrate on increasing the Sadhana, observe how the saintly ones served their Gurus, or how they practised Sadhana, rather than focus attention on their external appearance. Sadhana must be increased to a level where we can recognise whether the person in front of us is a Saint or not. Sanyasis(Celibates) sporting saffron too can be Saints, or a person wearing ordinary clothes too can be a spiritualist, a Guru or a saint providing Dharma Shikshan.

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3. Practical guidance on implementation of spirituality:

In the last issue, we had obtained information on why one should not do Sadhana as per ones own wishes or mind. In this context, I am narrating some personal experiences of some seekers who have been doing spiritual practice as guided by their own intellect. a) In 2010, I happened to meet a close relative. He is a devotee of Maa Durgaa (Goddess Durga). I had last met him as a 10-year-old. At that time, the kind of experiences he shared with my father, gave the impression that he was a seeker of a good spiritual level. I was curious to meet him, to know where his Sadhana had reached after all these years and listen to his experiences. However, upon meeting him, I could subtly experience that he had not made any progress. In fact, his spiritual level had come down and that there was an excess sublte black veil on him. During the course of our conversation, he admitted that he was not able to practice Sadhana with the same spiritual yearning and when I told him that his spiritual level had declined, he even agreed to it. But even after hearing all this, he did not ask what should he do to progress further in spirituality .I gave him a slight indication that his life was beset with problems caused by negative energies and it was important to implement certain solutions, but he began airing his thoughts on the subject to me as a discourse. Today, the troubles in his house have aggravated. b) In another incident, an acquaintance came to give me Prasada (offering) of a famous temple in 2010. He was 70-years-old. I took the Prasada from him, but just then I received a message from the Divine to tell him to chant Shree Gurudev Dutt. I told him, Please start regular chanting of Shree Gurudev Dutt. No sooner had I said this, he got angry and started saying, I consider Shiv to be my Guru, I cannot accept any mortal as my Guru, nor can I do chanting of any other deity. I politely told him, When did I ask you to accept me as your Guru ? I only said that your devotion is so good, and if you do this chanting too, your Sadhana will gain momentum. He replied, I know what I have to do, and went away. I picked up a little fight with God saying Why do you ask me to mention about Sadhana to such egoistic people ?

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A week later, he fell down in the toilet of his house and passed away while he was being taken to the hospital because of brain haemorrhage. He had been absolutely healthy and the news of his sudden demise shocked everyone. Upon receiving the news, I went to his house and saw that his dead body had been kept in the courtyard and the near and dear ones were mourning his demise. No sooner had I reached, his subtle body started talking to me and began to ask for Gati (momentum after death). I told him, You do not worry, you have made Shiv your Guru, He will give you Gati, call out for Him. He replied, My voice is not reaching Lord Shiv, I know my son will not be able to grant me Gati so please give me gati I asked God, He replied, He cannot get Gati now. When that day, I asked him to do chanting, with you as the medium, he made fun of you. Now let him endure the consequences of his ego. I conveyed Gods decision to him, went to his son and told him he must do the last rites as per the scriptures and also perform Shraddha (post death ritual for ancestors) sincerely and also told him to do chanting. But as feared by his father, the son did not do anything properly and this mans embodied soul could not get Gati and he got Brahmarakshasa Yoni (a subtle and powerful negative energy class).

c) In the third incident, one day another acquaintance came to me with his daughter. She was suffering from several physical afflictions at a very tender age. I asked him to remove the photograph of his late mother from the house and chant, Shree Gurudev Dutt. He replied, My daughter was very close to my mother, why will she create problems for my daughter? What you say is unacceptable to me. Today, his daughters health has deteriorated, but he continues to do everything as per his own wishes and mind.

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d) In the fourth incident, it was in 2009 that I met a person who had been chanting Gayatri Mantra for the past 30 years. But I could see there was a medium-level Pitru Dosh (curse of ancestors) upon the house and a severe level of problems caused by negative energies. (In the present times, 50% of ordinary people and 70% of good Seekers suffer from medium-level to severe-level of troubles caused by negative energies.) One day, I was having a casual chat with him, when I felt that the Gayatri tattva (principle) in his subtle body(pind) had been complete and to make further spiritual progress and for protection from negative energies, he must chant the name of Lord Krushna. I told him to chant the name of Krushna to which he said, Gayatri is Adyashakti, Ved-Mata,(the Divine Mother) she will grant me everything. I said, As you wish. After a few days, his son met with a severe accident and developed many physical problems. Had this person started with the chanting the name of Lord Krushna from that very day, he would have got protection from the negative energies that were about to cause troubles to the son, but because of ego, this person and the son had to experience troubles.

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4. Anubhutis (spiritual experiences) of Seekers

Today, we will look at the spiritual experiences of Shri Bireshwar Banerjee from Delhi: In March 2012, Tanuja Didi was in Delhi. On March 23, I called up Didi and told her that I wanted to have her Darshan that very day. Didi asked, All right. Can you perform a Seva (service) before coming to meet me? Some of my belongings are at Tagore Garden and I am at Pusa Road at the house of a seeker. Can you bring those things from Tagore Garden and come to Pusa Road? I immediately consented. Upon reaching Pusa Road, Didi gave me the Seva of preparing a list of spiritual prasar articles such as books, pictures of deities, Gau Mutra (cows urine) etc. Completing the Seva took me three hours, for Didi wants the Seva to be done with perfection. After the seva when I finally boarded the Metro at 9 pm, I did not get a place to sit down and I had to stand during the entire journey to Noida, I have a heavier build and physical labour tires me out very soon. However, that day, even after doing the Seva and despite standing during the entire Metro journey, I was not feeling tired even a wee bit. On the contrary, I was feeling quite energetic, delighted and experiencing amazing bliss. All this was the impact of Didis Satsang and Her Chaitanya (divine consciousness). Bireshwar Banerjee Analysis of the experience: Whenever a Seeker does Seva pertaining to Dharma Prasaar (spreading spirituality), he/she derives Chaitanya and bliss. Hence, my optimum effort is that the Seekers should experience the taste of bliss. Hence, I request them to do Seva. The impact of chanting is 5%, that of Satsang(holy company) is 30% and the impact of Seva is 100%. In simpler terms, we derive more divine consciousness from Seva compared to chanting, and Bireshwar derived the same experience.

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5. Spiritual healing to counter problems by negative energies

Over the last year, several parents and students have shared studies-related problems to me. These include lack of concentration during studies; inability to memorise lessons; not feel like studying; falling ill during examination ; students turning rowdy; despite being competent, not being able to get the desired result in competitions; turning addicts, excessive sexual thoughts coming to mind; developing a habit of watching pornography on internet. We will take a look at what solutions can be undertaken to protect oneself from such things during student life. During student life, concentration of mind and self-control are extremely important. If any student is facing the above mentioned problems in his /her life then he/she should try to implement the following solutions on a regular basis: Carry out Vaastu Shuddhi (purification of the premise) regularly. Just as the mind gets focussed inside a temple,. Similarly, make an effort to make the study room and the home a Saatvik place. In the previous issue of Soham, an article was carried on Vaastu Shuddhi, but if you wish to seek more information again, please visit this link: http://www.tanujathakur.com/?p=1789 Avoid studying after 11 pm. If need be, get up at 3.30 am and study. Pray to Shri Ganesh and Maa Saraswati everyday. Chant the following Shlok before you start your studies and pray thus:
(Vakratund Mahakaay Suryakoti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kurumedev Sarv Kaaryeshu Sarvada)

,
(Saraswati Namastubhyam Varde Kamarupini Vidyarambham Karishyami Siddhirbhavatu me sada) 11

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After this, say this prayer thus: O Ganesh ! You are the Lord of intellect. May the black veil around my mind and intellect be removed and may my intellect become Saatvik. Please grant me the power to distinguish between good and evil, and may I be blessed with Vivek (attitude of distinction), have such Grace upon me. After this, pray to Maa Saraswati, O Mother Saraswati ! You are the goddess of learning; protect me from the negative energies that are trying to put hurdles in the way of receiving learning. Whatever I am about to learn, may I be able to imbibe it with ease and simplicity, have such Grace upon me. Before studying, chant the name of your Kuldevta (family deity)[Shree Kuldevtayai Namah] and Lord Dattatreya(shree gurudev datta) for 10 minutes each and then start studying . Besides, whenever you get time, do Naamjap (chanting) as part of your daily routine. While doing Naamjap, do Nyas (a kind of mudra or hand posture by bringing all the fingers together).

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Whenever we join our fingers together and place it on a particular Chakra (cycle) or on the body, it is known as Nyas. It is a type of mudra or hand-posture. It accumulates the energy coming out of finger tips and directs it towards a Chakra or a body part, where Nyas is being done. If the trouble pertains to mind for instance, make a Nyas on Adnya Chakra (the midpoint between the two eyebrows) and do chanting. You can perform this Mudra at other times too. Just do not perform this Mudra on any person afflicted with negative energies, until you have been ordered to do so by your Guru. By reading the Shlok (couplets) in Sanskrut, reading books brings Tejaswita (increases the divine fire element) to your tongue and the black veil surrounding the mind and intellect is destroyed. Take a bath with salt-water and Gau Mutra regularly. Perform the spiritual healing of dipping the feet in water. This solution has been recommended in the previous issue of Soham, but if you wish to seek more information on this issue, please visit the following link: http://www.tanujathakur.com/?p=1798

Avoid black-coloured clothes totally as it attracts negativity in us. Face East-west direction while sitting down to study. Do not study lying down. Keep your behaviour ideal, so that the blessings of parents and Acharyas (teachers) are with you forever. Study in a planned way daily, as this does not put sudden pressure during the examination time. Everyday indulge in some activity connected to physical work, like sports, doing Yogic postures and exercises. Use your mother tongue, or the national language as much as possible. English is a Tamoguni (spiritually impure) language. Do not waste too much time in front of computer and television. This enhances the black veil on our mind and intellect. Be especially mindful of the company you keep. Bad company forces us to go through hell on earth itself. Read good literature. Do not read English novels as they increase sensual thoughts in our mind. Associate yourself with social or spiritual programmes without any sense of expectation and contribute your mite. This leads to our spiritual progress.
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Have a tendency of sacrifice. Establishing physical relations without marriage means destroying your Paurush Tej (celibacy). With this feeling, follow the oath of Brahmacharya. Children in those households which have a severe level of Pitru Dosh, start developing indifference towards studies from Class VIII, or encounter any of the above-mentioned troubles. Hence, chant the name of Lord Dattatreya, play his chant in the house and chant Shree Gurudev Datt for at least two hours daily to nullify the effects of pirtu dosh.

Maa saraswati

6. Clarification of doubts
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I know that when ladies have their menstrual periods, one should not perform Puja. But is performing Manasik Puja (worship in the mind) also forbidden during periods? It is said that during such times, one should not visit temples either. Though I do not go, but I do not know the reason behind it. I always keep chanting a Mantra of Lord Hanuman. But during periods, I dont chant hence there is a feeling of incompleteness. I have a curiosity as to why it is so. I myself abide by Dharma, but I want to know the exact reason behind this. One of my friends told me that I should pose this question to you. Please clarify my doubt and bless me. - Aditi Agarwal, Jaipur Answer: The Rajogun(raj component) of a woman during periods increases by .0005% and the physical body becomes impure. Hence, whatever Sadhana is to be performed through the physical body, ie. the Sadhana pertaining to Karma Kaand should not be done. Similarly, one should not enter a temple, for a temple is the abode of deities and a Saatvik (pious) place where we derive the requisite energy and peace of mind for performing Sadhana. This is due to the sattvikta (Sattva element) present in the temple. If women having periods start going there, Rajogun and Tamogun(raj and tam component) will increase there and one will not be able to experience peace in a place which is predominantly rajoguni and tamoguni. Thus, every Hindu must strive to uphold the purity of temples. This is our Samashti Sadhana (Social and spiritual aspect of sadhana). During menstrual periods, Naamjap can be done as it is done by mind, you can also attend discourses, but you should not offer obeisance to saints by touching their feet. Also, you can perform all other Seva except those related to cooking and performing Puja. Your spiritual level is at 45% and you are already habituated to deriving bliss by Naamjap and that is why you have that feeling of incompleteness. During periods, you can do Naamjap. But please ensure you do not take up a rosary and only do mental chanting. Ultimately, Naamjap will become continuous and even if you make an effort, you will not be able to disrupt it.

7. Efforts made by seekers for spiritual progress

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Having made 4% spiritual progress within two years, a young seeker of Godda, Shri Abhishek Thakur is an ideal role model for todays youth.

Abhishek Thakur

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In June 2008, I came to my ancestral village in Jharkhand and in November 2009, started the Seva of performing Arati in the Kaali temple of my village. To associate youth with it, I also started imparting the training of self-defence. As part of this training, Abhishek started to impart Karate training. He started his Sadhana during that time. Blessed with a sharp intellect, 21year-old Abhishek possesses several qualities of a good Seeker. Performing every Seva due to virtues like perfection, obedience, Kshatrvrutti (warrior attitude), affection, leadership, humility, curiosity to learn scriptures, ability to plan, efficiency, sacrifice, determination etc, he has made 4% progress and has reached a spiritual level of 54%. (In reality, even if a person does regular worship, observes fasts, visits temples and reads scriptures with complete dedication, then one makes 1% spiritual progress in ones lifetime. From this, you can realize the amount of flow of Gurus grace upon him!). When I started imparting lessons on Gita, his dedication was worth witnessing and within a few days, he learnt reciting Sanskrut Shlokas, and was reciting the Gita perfectly. Whatever Seva is assigned to him, he never says no to it, be it organising a book exhibition; performing priestly duties of Guru Pujan (worship of Guru) during Guru Poornima; taking discourses; or settling accounts, he makes an attempt to perform every task with a spiritual viewpoint and does every Seva with perfection. From day one when he started practicing sadhana under UPASANA , I have always pointed out his mistakes strictly before everyone, but no trace of even an iota of a reaction, has been seen on his face, though the repentance of the mistake could clearly be seen. In 2011, I was teaching the Seekers of Kolkata how to organise Guru Poornima and Abhishek took up the charge of organisining Guru Poornima as well as the discourse at Godda and most of the Seekers experienced nice Anubhutis during his discourse. In 2010, I had given him the Seva of performing Guru Pujan during Guru Poornima and he did the Seva with such excellence that people started coming to me and asking me whether he was a Pundit of Gurudhaam (local Sanskrui university in Godda). He did not know Sanskrit, but through practice he performed that Seva too with perfection. Be it the Seva of maintenance of generators at Vishnu Dhaam (where I live), or colouring flower pots, or that of cleanliness, he is always eager to perform any Seva and tries to learn it.
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He is still doing his BCA, but there too his Vyashti Sadhana (individual spiritual practice) continues and if need be, he also performs Samashti Sadhana. He is an ideal for todays youth and he is not given to any addiction. This seeker is of a soft-spoken and peaceful nature and has been a seeker of Ucch Swarglok (higher heaven region) and born at 50% spiritual level. As soon as he started with his Sadhana, looking at the radiance of his face, people started inciting his family by saying that your son is bound to become a celibate and this led his family to oppose his involvement in seva . But despite rigid opposition, due to his Bhav (spiritual emotions), devotion, refuge, Kshaatrvrutti, willpower and such divine qualities the consistency in his sadhana continued . He has been imbibing divine qualities of a disciple within himself. Abhishek too was troubled by a Mantrik of the third level of Hell, and this mentally and intellectually sharp student had to become a victim of corruption, not once, but on three occasions. The spirit of sacrifice too is strong in him. If I give him money for any seva, he is conscious that the money has come for charity and should thus be utilised well and efficiently for Gurukaarya (work of Guru). He also gives the account for each and every penny spent. Every month, he saves some amount from the pocket money that he gets and offers it for Gurukaarya. He is the most loved and dear seeker of Upasanas centre at Godda. When I asked him to send his photograph for inclusion in this ssue of Soham , he performed that seva too efficiently ,you can have a look at his photograph again. He had to suffer the trouble of having failed in Class XII continously for three consectuive years without his fault. The distress caused to a bright, talented student can only be understood by someone who has been through it. After starting Sadhana, he failed once again in 2010 and several people derided him. Upon the strength of his Sadhana, he endured everything and kept performing Sadhana. Can you believe that the same student secured 60% marks in first year of BCA in 2012 from IGNOU . He is the same student whom the Jharkhand plus 2 Board gave 8, 12 and 25 marks in different papers in the examination for continuous three years, even though he was ranked as a talented student of the school and intercollege. Many such students have been the victim of corruption prevailing in the education system of Jharkhand, he is just one example.

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8. Obstacles during Dharma Yatra & Dharma Prasar

We will take a look at the kind of troubles that negative energies pose during every Seva of Dharm Prasar. In September 2011, I got five digital video recordings made. Out of these, one CD was about spiritual healing through Mudras. Through the spiritual experience given below, one can understand how negative energies create troubles during Dharma Prasar. Shri Mithilesh Mishra, who has knowledge of digital recording and editing, expressed a desire to do this Seva. At the time when video recordings were done, he was merely a curious person, but has now started practicing Sadhana sincerely. We will take a look at the spiritual experiences that he had during the recording. I had started a Seva of doing video recording for Tanuja Didi. In the beginning, everything appeared normal. But gradually, minor troubles started bothering me. First, my laptops graphic card stopped working without any reason and I had to get it repaired for Rs 5,000/-. It worked barely for a month and stopped again. Then, the laptop engineer told me the motherboard will have to be replaced. When I paid Rs 9,000/- to him for repairing it, he disappeared! He even stopped taking my mobile calls, whereas he had been a trusted person for the past 10 years. It is difficult to easily believe that a person would disappear for such a small amount, but it happened! Secondly, I noticed that there was always some laziness in doing any work pertaining to Upasana and I used to keep postponing things. One day, I reserved time for Didi for a video recording, But just a few minutes before the recording time, a major electrical fault occurred and only after the reserved time was over, was the electricity restored. Besides this, an already shot section on spiritual healing titled Shree Krushna ki Manas Padya Pujan(worship of the lotus feet of Lord Krushna at the mental plane.) strangely disappeared. Despite playing the tape time and again, it could not be found.

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Whenever editing was planned, some emergency work would come along. Many other small obstacles would creep up every now and then. These would appear minor otherwise, but proved hurdles in the Seva of editing, thus delaying or postponing the work. Despite repeated warnings by Didi, in the beginning, I could not do chanting regularly. But I kept sprinkling Gau Mutra in the house and would do salt-water treatment which made some difference. And now, I am not having any problem in doing the Seva of Soham and everything is proceeding without any hindrance. - Mithliesh Mishra Analysis of the experience: Shri Mithilesh is also suffering from problems due to Pitru Dosh (problems due to unsatiated ancestral souls) and negative energies and that too of severe level. When such Sadhaks start Samashti Seva(service unto spreading spirituality), both ancestors and negative energies oppose it, so that the Sadhaks get diverted from Sadhana and they keep creating mayhem in Sadhaks lives. But they cannot do this for a long time, for due to the chaitnya ( divine consciousness) acquired during the Seva, the powers of negative energies get reduced. The truth is that we can defeat them only by increasing our Sadhana. Before giving Seva to the Seekers, I caution them and also tell them the solutions, so that troubles caused by negative energies do not have a harsh impact on them. However, in the preliminary stage of Sadhana, the black veil on the Seekers is rather pronounced. Due to a lack of spirit of Kshaatrvrutti(warriors attitude), they are not able to start their Sadhana with determination and negative energies succeed in their plans and cause troubles. Hence, those doing Samashti Sadhana must proceed cautiously and must perform Vyashti Sadhana(individual spiritual practice), only then can they perform Samashti Sadhana regularly.

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9. Guru Poornima special

(a) How and when do we get trapped by fraudulent Gurus? (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) If we are not familiar with the science of spirituality. If we do not possess the knowledge of the Sukshma (subtle dimension). If we look for a Guru with a purpose of acquiring material gains. When there is no solid foundation of our own Sadhana. When we want to pursue spirituality in order to get rid of lifes routine problems. When we do not have full faith on Guru Shastra. One gets a Guru as per ones own Sadhakatva (Seekership qualities). Thus if we want a Guru of a high level, we will have to enhance our seeker-ship qualities. (viii) When we get influenced by the size of the crowd to accept someone our Guru. The reality is that we do not accept a Guru, but Gurus accept us as disciples. (b) Inspriring story : It is not easy to do Guru Bhakti Obedience is the king of all virtues in a disciple, but devotion towards Guru and obeying gurus directives is not all that simple. Deliverance is certain for a disciple who obeys Gurus command. In this context, let us have a look at a story.

In 2004, the process of the Aham nirmoolan(removal of my ego) started. During that period, due to Gurukrupa, a seeker gave me a story to read. That story and some others, as well as some important viewpoints, kept me connected to my Shree Gurus lotus feet during this tough process. I will narrate one such story:

There was once a disciple who used to serve his Guru with a lot of dedication. One day, happy with his Seva, the Guru decided to give him everything he had (his knowledge,
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devotion and detachment - saints primarily possess only this kind of wealth), but decided to put the disciple through one final test.

Both Guru and disciple reached the sea-shore, where some children were playing. Guru told the disciple, Quickly dig up a well. The disciple immediately set about digging the hole and started scooping out the sand with his hands. After sometime, when the hole was all dug up, Guru told the disciple, Put all those children playing there one by one into this hole.

The disciple glanced at his Guru who was in an angry posture. The disciple quickly put all the children one by one into the hole. The Guru then asked the disciple to Cover the hole with the sand. The disciple knew well that his Guru was a real incarnation of Lord Shiva, so no harm will be caused to the children. Surely, Guru is at some divine play, he thought. He filled up the hole with quivering hands. Guru said, Now, sit upon it and meditate. The disciple thought of his Gurus Charan Kamal (Lotus feet) in his mind and sat down to meditate.

Two hours later when the children did not return home, the parents came looking for them. There was nobody there except Guru and the disciple. Everyone asked the Guru about the children. Guru ji said, See that impostor there doing meditation? Remove him from there, below him is a pit, all your children are in that pit. Go quickly. All the people rushed to the spot, dumped the disciple on one side and started madly digging out sand from the pit. All the children came out smiling. But the parents were bursting in anger so they started kicking and punching the disciple while praising the Guru profusely. They kept asking the disciple again and again why he did so, but the disciple did not utter even a single word, nor was he angry with his Guru.
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When he became almost half-dead, Guru stepped forward and asked the people to spare him, saying he must be some lunatic. After freeing the disciple from the mob, he held him by the hand and led him back to the Ashram. Guruji asked the disciple, How are you feeling? The disciple replied, It is all your Grace. Guru said, Go, your Sadhana is complete now. With tears in his eyes, the disciple fell at the feet of his Guru !

10. Activities of Upasana

An outline of Dharma Yatra in the days to come: 17.5.2012 23.5.2012 Ahmedabad 28.5.2012 5.6.2012 Hosur and Bangalore 6.6.2012 7.6.2012 Kolkata

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11. Why is it so in Vedic Sanatan Dharma?

How to offer Namaskar while climbing stairs of a temple? While climbing stairs of a temple, touch the stairs with the fingers of your right hand and run the fingers over your head. Within the premises of a temple, the chaityna (divine consciousness) of the vibrations of deities is maximum. The divinity prevalent in the temple affects the stairs too. Hence the tradition of touching the stairs with the fingers of the right hand
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and running them over the head! This reminds us that even the dust of the stairs is filled with consciousness. We should revere even that. Please do visit these websites too for more inputs on Hinduism and spirituality www.hindujagruti.org www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org www.forumforhinduawakening.org

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