Non-Attachment, Even to One's Own Spiritual Path

Non-Attachment, Even to One's Own Spiritual Path

Non-attachment is liberating, and to the ears it might sound strange to say this perhaps but, one of the greatest gifts is to be non-attached even to one's "own" spiritual path in order to truly be a devotee of it. It's essentially like saying, give up Christianity in order to follow Christ. There is wisdom in remaining aloof from organizational politics, intrigue in the palace court and institutions, in order to be a sincere lover of the Beloved. Good to be on guard about overbearing mental impulses and attachments. No putting on airs -- in simplicity there is genuineness. When he first arrived in Hathras, Tulsi Sahib at night slept in the hollow of a banyan tree that was located about a mile out of town. In that spot he also spent much time in meditation.

The Buddha was once asked: "To what extent can a person be a speaker of the Way?" He answered: "If a person teaches the Way in order to transcend the tyranny of material things and to teach how to transcend feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness -- teaching non-attachment with regard to these -- then that person can be called a speaker of the Way. If he is himself trying to transcend the pull of the material world and to feel non-attachment toward it, then it is fitting to say he is living in accordance with the Way. If he is liberated by this transcendence and non-attachment, then you can say he has found Nirvana here and now. (Samyutta Nikaya)

"Effortlessly" by John Astin, Youtube Music Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGLCprEizRE

The truth is that happiness
already exists right here,
in all things appearing
each thought and every feeling,
that blow like the wind inside
the vastness that's looking
from no place and everywhere
the vastness is loving each moment
appearing and resolving effortlessly.

Awareness shines, so effortlessly.
No beginning, no end, unceasingly.

Magnificence of Inner Sound Meditation, By Achyutanand Baba

The Magnificence of Inner Sound Meditation (Nada Dhyan), By Swami Achyutanand Ji Maharaj



Sant Mat Mysticism Blog:
http://santmat.gaia.com/blog




Below are translated excerpts from the book, "Vindu – Nada Dhyan", authored by the octogenarian Sant Revd. Swami Achyutanand Ji Maharaj, one of the eldest living disciples of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans, as well as an eminent scholar in the tradition of Santmat founded by Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras. Swami Ji has had the rare fortune of very prolonged close serving association of more than three decades with Maharshi Mehi who appointed him as the founder editor of the spiritual monthly "Shanti Sandesh" (Message of Peace) published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India. Swami Achyutanand Ji even at this ripe age has dedicated his life to propagating the ideals of Santmat by widely travelling across the length and breadth of India, his mother country. He has a number of books to his credit like, "Vindu – Nada Dhyan", "Santmate Ki Baten", "Navadha Bhakti", "Bandaun Guru Pad Kanj", "Maharshi Mehi Ke Ashirwachan Aur Upadesh", "Sukti Sudha Sagar", etc. He also is the current editor of the quarterly "Adhyatma Prakash" (Light of Spirituality) published by Maharshi Santsewi Dhyan Yogashram, Agarpara, Kolkata, India.

- Translated into English by Pravesh K. Singh

(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati
http://profiles.yahoo.com/praveshksingh)



The Magnificence of Nada Dhyan (Inner Sound Meditation)

It is essential to practice bindu-dhyan, Drishti Yoga -- the Yoga of Inner Light -- before doing Nada–Dhyan [Yoga of Inner Sound], because with continued practice of Drishti Yoga (meditation on the Inner Light), the ability to practice Nada meditation is truly gained. The mind gets completely controlled with Nada–dhyan. The mind does not merely become controlled, it actually dies down. Sant Charandas Ji has depicted it exquisitely:

"jabase anahad ghora sunI |
indri thakit galit mana hUA, AshA sakal bhunI||"

[Since when I perceived the Divine Sound echoing within, all the organs became completely quiet, the mind got dissolved, and all longings ceased. ]

How did this happen? Charandas Ji further elaborates,

"ghUmat naina shithil bhayi kAyA, amal jo surat sanI |
roma roma Ananda upaj kari, Alas sahaj bhanI ||"

This means, on turning the Drishti (vision or gaze) inward (i.e. practicing Drishti Yoga), and on perceiving the Inner Sound, the body turned motionless, every pore of it got soaked in Divine bliss, and all lethargy, quite naturally, fled away.

It is why Kabir Sahab taught,

"shabda khoji mana basa karai, sahaja yoga hai yehi |
satta shabda nija sAra hai, yaha to jhUThI dehi ||"

[Subjugate the mind by finding the Inner Sound; this is the sahaja (natural) yoga.] |
The True or Unstruck Word is our essence; this body of ours is otherwise illusory or impermanent. ||]

Sant Charandas Ji further says,

"karate anahad dhyAn ke, Brahma rUpa hoi jAya |
Charandas yon kahata hai, bAdhA saba miT jAya ||"

[By meditating on the Word, the practitioner becomes the same as God or Brahman. |
Practicing this way, says Charandas Ji, all obstacles are removed. ||]

In the Nadabind Upanishad it has been said about the Inner Sound (Nada) meditation that,

"sarvachintAm samutsrijya sarvachesTA vivarjitah |
nAdamevAnusandAdhyAnnAde chittam vilIyate ||
nAdAsaktam sadA chittam vishayam na hi kAnkshati |"

That is, sidelining all worries and all efforts, one should mainly focus on the exploration of Nada; by doing thus the mind gets dissolved in the Nada, and the mind thus absorbed in the Nada does not crave anymore for the sensory objects.

Nada itself is Brahma. We should absorb our mind in this very Nada. Shrimadadya Shankaracharya has stated in Yogataravali:

"sadA shivoktAni sapAdalakshyalayAvadhAnAni vasanti loke |
nAdAnusandhAna samAdhimekam manyAmahe mAnyatamam layAnAm ||
nAdAnusandhan namostu tubhyam tvam manmahe tattvapadam layAnAm |
bhavatprAsAdAt pavanena sAkam vilIyate VishNupade mano me ||
sarva chintAm parityajya sAvadhAnena chetasA |
nAda evAnusandheyo yoga sAmrAjyamichchhatA ||"

[Lord Shiva, the propounder of the Yoga Shastra, has listed 1,25,000 ways of dissolution of mind. |
Amongst these Nadanu-sandhana (meditation on the Inner Sound) is the best, as well as the easiest way. ||
I bow to thee, O Nada! You lift me on to the Highest Throne. |
It is only with your grace that my prANa-vAyu (vital life-air) and my mind get dissolved in the Highest echelon of the Supreme Lord. ||
(Therefore,) renouncing all sorts of worries and with an alert and focussed mind...|
Those who yearn for the union with the Highest should meditate on the Divine Sound within. ||]

Balayogi Shri Bala Swami Ji Maharaj has beautifully expressed his views regarding Nada-dhyana, "This is such a means that enables us easily experience that supreme bliss that is our very own. Nada has a unique power. All of us know of the joy we experience while listening to melodious music in the outer world, but so unique and unparalleled is the bliss of this Inner Melody that the mind gets completely dissolved, and all its cravings get annihilated."

`indriyANAm manonAtho manonAthastu mArutah |
mArutasya layo nAthah sa layo nAdamAshritah ||'

[Mind is the master of all the organs; prANavAyu (vital life-air) is the lord of the mind. |
`Manolaya' (dissolution or absorption of mind) is the boss of prANavAyu, and this dissolution is accomplished with the help of Nada, the Inner Sound.||]

"Perseverance in the practice of Nadanu-sandhana leads to the dissolution of the mind. By sitting in a proper posture and consistently practicing looking within, with the eyes closed, one gets to listen to the Nada." (Kalyana Yoganka, p 325)

Sant Kabir sings prolific praise of Shabda-sadhana or Nada-dhyana:

"Kabir shabda sarIr mein, bin gun bAjai tAnt |
bAhar bhItar rami rahA, tAtein chhoTI bhrAnti ||
shabda shabda bahu antarA, shabda sAra kA sIr |
shabda shabda kA khojanA, shabda shabda kA pIr ||
shabda shabda bahu antarA, sAra shabda chita deya |
jA shabdai sAhaba milai, soi shabda gahi leya ||
shabda shabda sab koi kahai, wo to shabda videha |
jibhyA par Awai nahIn, nirakhi parakhi kari deh ||
shabda hamArA Adi ka, pala pala kariye yAda |
anta falaigI mAnhi kI, bAhar kI sab bAda ||
yahi baDAi shabda kI, jaise chumbak bhAya |
binA shabda nahin ubarai, ketA karai upAya ||
shabda binA sruti AndharI, kaho kahAn ko jAya |
dvAra na pAvai shabda kA, firi firi bhaTakA khAya ||"

[The Word, says Kabir Sahab, keeps ringing in the body |
It is pervading within and without; this alone can destroy all confusion. ||
There are many Words, each different from the other, the Quintessential Word is the crown of all. |
One Word is explored through the other, as one Word is the Guru of (or leads to) the other. ||
Words are much different from each other; focus yourself on to the Quintessential Word. |
Grasp that Word that would take you to the Supreme Lord. ||
Though everyone talks of the Word, that Word is without form. |
The tongue can't pronounce it; it has to be perceived within the body. ||
The Word has been there before we came into being, remember (meditate on it) constantly.|
This Word alone that is found within will prevail in the end, rest all being of least significance. ||
The beauty of the Word is that it acts like a magnet. |
One can't be liberated without the Word however hard one might try. ||
The soul is blind without the Word, knowing not which way to go. |
Not finding the Word, the soul keeps wandering again and again. ||]

Ten 2009 Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Available at Blog Talk Radio

Ten 2009 Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Available For Listening or Downloading at Blog Talk Radio

Sant Mat Mysticism Blog: http://santmat.gaia.com/blog

December Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Hear readings from the following sources: a new book called "Petals of Love", by Professor Agam Prasad Mathur of Agra, on the history and spirituality of the classic Sants of India; verses of the Devotional Poetry of Saint Namdev from a text known as the "Hindi Padavali"; "The Harmony of All Religions", by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, on the primary goals of this living school of spirituality from India known as Sant Mat; also a reading about the astral plane or region known as The Thousand Petalled Lotus (Sahas-dal-kanwal), from the book, "Enchanted Land". That reading includes a passage from the "Sar Bachan Poetry" of Soami Ji Maharaj, Volume One. On the ahimsa ethics of the Masters, there is a reading from the "Saakhi Granth" of Guru Kabir: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/12/19/december-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

October Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: hear a Spiritual Discourse of Shri Swami Sant Bhagirath Baba. Shri Swami Sant Bhagirath Baba has authored four books that are full of spiritual insight, namely, "Maharshi Mehi ke Dincharya Updesh" (Life and Teachings of Maharshi Mehi) , "Santmat Tatva-Jnaan Bodhini" (Quintessence of Santmat), "Maharshi Mehi Leelamrit", and "Maharshi Mehi Chaitanya Chintan": GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/10/16/october-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

September Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Guru Kabir says, "The imaginations of the mind are just as innumerable as the innumerable waves of an ocean. If somehow this mind can become quiet by itself, attainment of the true Knowledge-like Diamond will become easily possible (everyone in this world is sad or restless because of lack of Knowledge. This true Knowledge can be attained only when the mind becomes quiet)." One of the effects of adhering to the ahimsa ethics of the Masters is a reduction in tension, in agitation of mind. The program begins with sixty seconds from an old recording of a Bhajan (chant) of Baba Somanath (disciple of Huzur Baba Sawan Singh), which is quite haunting and otherworldly. Then there is a reading from an ancient Hermetic-Gnostic text from Egypt titled, The Greatest Human Evil is Unacquaintance With God, followed by satsang readings from: The Bijak of Guru Kabir Volume Two (The Shabdas); The Bijak of Guru Kabir Volume One (The Ramainis); The Saakhi Granth of Guru Kabir; Songs of Kabir, by Rabindranath Tagore. The Bijak and Saakhi Granth of Kabir have always been considered primary texts of Sant Mat, and are genuine "Satsang Templates" providing a holistic approach to life on earth following the Path of the Masters. Other readings are from: The Philosophy of Liberation (Moksha Darshan) by Maharsihi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj; a Shabd in contemporary English from a recent translation of the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry Volume Two, by Swami Ji Maharaj; a list of essential Sant Mat principals and techniques for a successful spiritual journey, a Bhajan (chant, hymn from India) by Guru Arjan Dev, and a meditative Bhajan of Sant Surdas titled, "Hai Govind." Additional unlicensed music comes courtesy of my musician friend Paul Alexandre John, who performs Indian classical ragas playing the Bansuri flute, giving me permission to make use of his music on the air: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/09/12/september-inner-light-and-sound-satsang-podcast

August Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Often a spiritual path coming from one cultural context and language is not fully understood by those from afar in another part of globe. Of course those with a heavy-handed "new age" perspective seeking to impose their own spin on the teachings of others, unnaturally mixing Sant Mat with countless other techniques, paths and practices instead of respecting the Path on it's own traditional terms, simply adds to the misunderstanding and confusion, and I would argue, is a form of Western colonial imperialism that thinks it knows best, when in fact, it does not! Genuine Sant Mat (The Path of the Masters) in it's traditional Indian context has much wisdom to offer about life in-the-body, and not only about out-of-body travel during meditation. The Masters do have much guidance to share about those 22 hours each day that take place between meditation sits! A life limited to action alone is missing literally many other dimensions, yet a life of only contemplation would not fully be alive either. The Eastern Vision is to live a life of both contemplation and action, to be open to all states, physical, dream state, unconscious, and spiritual states. Hear Bhajans of Kabir and Jayadeva. Readings are from the following sources: Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose, by Swami Ji Maharaj; Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry (the Forgotten or "Lost Gnostic Gospel" of Sant Mat), by Swami Ji Maharaj, both volumes translated by S.D. Maheshwari, Agra; An Ahimsa Prayer of Ramesvarananda Sahab found in the book, Praises to a Formless God, by David Lorenzen; The Dawn of the Third Millennium by Kirpal Singh; Prem Patra Radhasoami, by Huzur Maharaj Rai Saligram, Agra; The Philosophy of Liberation, by Maharshi Mehi; The Five Precepts; and from the chapter on Right-Speech from an ethical manual of the Sants known as the Saakhi Granth of Guru Kabir, translated into English by Kunwar Anil Kumar, in, 1008 Kabir Vani, Manoj Publications, New Delhi, India: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/08/16/the-august-sant-mat-satsang-podcast-by-james-bean

July Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Readings from The Adi Granth and from the Dadu Panch Vani: verses from Sant Dadu Dayal; the article: "Do Simran -- Do the Meditation", by Swami Sant Harinandan Baba, translated from Hindi into English by Pravesh Kumar Singh; The Ethical Foundation of Sant Mat: The Five Precepts and Meditation Requirements; a reading from a quintessential manual of Sant Mat teachings and practice known as, "The Philosophy of Liberation", by Sant Maharshi Mehi on: the inner spiritual technology, steps, stages, and stairway of heaven known as "The Eight Limbs of Yoga": YAMA: satya (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word, and deed), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacarya (continence), and aparigraha (control of greed -- non-possessiveness). NIYAMA also consists of five practices: sauca (internal and external purity), santosha (contentment), tapas (penance), svadhyaya (study of scriptures and wisdom of the Sants), and isvara pranidhana (meditation on GOD); ASANA: correct posture in meditation; PRANAYAMA or breath control, which is, for the most part, not emphasized in contemporary Sant Mat Meditation; PRATYAHARA: withdrawal or sensory transcendence, as well as it means to bring back, as in refocusing oneself again whenever one notices that one has lost focus during their meditation sit; DHARANA: an increment of time characterized as quality meditation -- good concentration; DHYANA: one-pointed attention, stillness, also meaning true meditation or contemplation - not to be confused with the term "Dhyan" (visualizing or seeing the form of a Master, though of course that too is part of, or a stage of, traditional Sant Mat Meditation); SAMADHI: the bliss of being completely absorbed in meditation, unity, union with God, oneness. There are also readings on Amrit Veela/Brahmamuhurta/The Hour of God, and a list of some of the Sounds of Surat Shabd Yoga: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/07/06/july-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

June Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: A Bhajan (hymn) of Mirabai, a reading from, The Last Discourse of Soami Ji Maharaj of Agra about Huzur Maharaj (Rai Salig Ram), a thirty-minute reading from, Radhasoami Faith - A Historical Study, authored by Agam Prasad Mathur (Dada Ji) of Agra, India, featuring excerpts from Chapter Five: a most excellent summary of the Spiritual Teachings and Goals of Sant Mat Mysticism, the Path of the Masters, on: The Creation (Planes, Grand Divisions or Levels), The Supreme Being, Origin of Evil - The Concept of Kal Niranjan (Gnostic Demiurge or Negative Power/Lord of the Matrix of Illusion), The Soul (Surat, Spirit Entity), Salvation (Moksha) of the soul, The Four Essentials or "Sats" of Sant Mat: Sat Shabd/Sat Naam (True Eternal Sound Current or Positive Power of God), Satguru (True Eternal Teacher), Sat Anurag (True Eternal Love), and Satsang (True Eternal Association). After that a short reading titled, The Principles of Santmat: on the nature of God, the soul, our condition as a jiva-soul at the level of the physical plane, the practices of Sant Mat Meditation, the ethical Precepts of Ahimsa, and the requirements in order to attain liberation (Moksha). The program concludes with chant from the Morning Prayer (Jap Ji) of Guru Nanak: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/06/03/june-sant-mat-satsang-podcast

May Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Readings from the Dasam Granth, a Bhajan of Guru Kabir, The Four Meditation Practices of Sant Mat, Encyclopaedia of Saints of India, Volume 19: Radhasoami - on the practice of Dhyan - contemplation of the form of the Master - also about Inner Light and the Radiant Form of the Master (Inner Guide), Two Reflections on the Spiritual Journey: 1) 'There is No Vatican of the Spirit', and 2) 'Do You Remember Who You Were Before Time Began?' and, Readings from the Sant Dariya Website about the Life and Teachings of Sant Dariya Sahib - also mentioning that Sant Dariya appointed two spiritual successors/Sat Gurus to carry on after him, and that this Dariya Branch of Sant Mat is still alive, still exists in India, and has "two hundred Sants" according to the webmaster of the Sant Dariya website: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/04/30/may-sant-mat-radio-satsang-podcast

March Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Know Thyself: A wide variety of readings from the writings of the Sant tradition on knowing one's Self and God, the recitation of several bhajans (mystical hymns, devotional poems) from recent or classic Sants including from the Adi Granth, Dasam Granth, Huzur Maharaj (Rai Saligram); also the theme of knowing yourself found in, The Bijak of Kabir, Saakhi Granth of Kabir, The Stranger of Galilee by Russell Perkins (who has some great passages from Kirpal Singh), also a couple of selections from the sayings of Lord Mahavira (Jainism) and the Gospel of Thomas (Gnostic); a Bhakti Approach to Simran (Radhasoami Naam) according to the Founder of the Radhasoami Faith. Satsang is an Eastern term used by Indian spiritual paths including Sant Mat for a meeting or spiritual gathering either facilitated by a living Master (Sant Sat Guru), representative or group leader affiliated with such a living teacher. The facilitator reads from the writings of various Masters, perhaps making some comments. The focus is always the words and the wisdom of the Masters about the essential truths of the spiritual journey, knowing God, Bhakti (love and devotion), right conduct and ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word and deed), effective meditation practice: Soul Travel: Surat Shabd Yoga: Inner Light and Sound Meditation, the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God or Inner Space: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/03/28/march-sant-mat-radio-satsang

February Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Reviewing Several Steps and Stages of Inner Light and Sound Meditation: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/02/21/Sant-Mat-Meditation-Practice

January Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: A Satsang Talk by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj (Hindi with English translation provided), given at the Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar: GO TO:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/santmatfellowship/2009/01/12/Sant-Mat-Satsang-Part-Two-a-Satsang-Talk-