Story of the two birds - Mandukya Upanishad

There is a beautiful story in the Mandukya Upanishad about two birds on a tree. I will try to re-tell that story here.

 

In a great grand beautiful tree, sat two birds.

 

One was a very ordinary looking bird. It sat on the lower branches pecking at the fruits and flowers. It was very busy, not turning away even for a moment. It came across sweet fruits, sour fruits, lovely little butterflies and nasty insects. Caught in its own desire for more, it went on pecking, searching for the sweet ones.

 

At the topmost branch of the tree sat another bird, resplendent and effulgent in glorious golden glow. It embodied peace; eternal peace. It was unperturbed by anything and everything that surrounded it. The tree, the other bird, the pecking and eating and all the other small and big things in the tree, went on with their business. The Golden Bird sat as a mere witness, ensconced in its permanence and bliss.

 

One day, the ordinary bird, in its very gradual journey up the tree, caught a glimpse of the Golden Bird. It was enchanted by the sight. For a moment, it forgot everything else. It wanted to be like that Great Golden Bird. Soon it returned to its surroundings. Though, it went on pecking and eating the sweet and sour fruits, the thought of becoming like the Great Golden kept coming back to it. At times it stopped eating to watch the beauty and splendor of the Great Golden. At other times, it was busy with its hunger. But after that first glimpse, life for the ordinary bird was never the same again. It wanted to get to the top of the tree to that Great Golden.

 

Yes, the ordinary bird wanted to be near the Golden Bird, wanted to be like the Golden Bird. Eternal peace, tranquility and in the state of one. However, every time it tried to ignore all the fruits and goodies around it and fly upward, just then the juiciest and most succulent ripe fruit would catch its eye. It would think, "just this one and then I will go.". This distraction from reaching Great Golden was, at times, overwhelming. The ordinary bird struggled a lot with this. It really wanted to go the Great Golden, but it was as if, the tree with all the paraphernalia kept it ensnared and entrapped.

 

Finally, one day, with one resolute and sweep decision, it left everything behind and flew straight up to the Great Golden. As it approached the top, it saw that the Great Golden looked very familiar. The ordinary bird moved closer and closer and eventually reached the Great Golden. It found, to its dismay that there was no Great Golden there, but in its place, the ordinary bird saw itself in the same Awesome Glory. There was never another bird in the tree ever, the Great Golden Bird was the ordinary bird itself all the time and that was its true identity.  

 

द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षं परिषस्वजाते ।
तयोरन्यः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्यनश्नन्नन्यो अभिचाकशीति ॥

Transliteration:
dvā suparṇā sayujā sakhāyā samānaṃ vṛkṣaṃ pariṣasvajāte ।
tayoranyaḥ pippalaṃ svādvattyanaśnannanyo abhicākaśīti ॥

 

English Translation:
Two birds, inseparable companions, perch on the same tree,
one eats the fruit, the other looks on. The first bird is our
individual self feeding on the pleasures and pains of this world;
The other is the universal Self, silently witnessing all.

 

Hindi Translation:
दो पक्षी, अविभाज्य साथी, एक ही पेड़ पर आश्रय करते हैं,
एक फल खाता है, दूसरा केवल देखता है।
पहला पक्षी हमारा व्यक्तिगत स्वयं है जो अपने कर्म से सुखों और दुखों का भोक्ता है;
और दुसरा सनातन स्वयं है, जो मौन रहकर साक्षित्वरूप​ से सब कुछ देख रहा है।

 

Source:
Mandukya Upanishad 3.1.1

 

Heartfulness - The Real Deal - Part 3

Settling into the Practice

With time, we can form the habit of meditating at a fixed time and place. The corollary practices of relaxation, cleaning, prayer etc. are also very critical to success. Another catalyst to progress is the practice of "one-to-one sittings" or individual sittings. Here, a Preceptor gives a highly focused sitting for one Abhyasi. It is highly recommended that in the first 3 to 6 months, Abhyasis take at least one personal sitting per week from any of the Preceptors, preferably the same Preceptor every time.

The HeartsApp is another very important platform to keep you connected to Heartfulness practices. You can find trainers as well as have Sittings with Transmission (Pranahuti) using the HeartsApp.

There is a registration process that has to be carried out by a preceptor on your behalf. Your credentials such as phone number, email address, and postal address are gathered and a login ID and password is issued to you which you can use with HeartsApp and other HFN resources.

There is a lot of literature and material developed over the past 75 years and more. This material helps us improve our understanding of the origins and fundamentals of this beautiful system. You may find the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg to be very practical and impactful if you let your faith settle in the system. The 3Ms, Master, Mission and the Method, if followed with faith and love, are sufficient to ensure spiritual growth.

Grounding in the Practice

There are many subtle concepts that we get exposed to as we settle into our practice. These are the essentials of actual spiritual growth. They need to be understood, accepted and followed with faith.

Faith has to be the result of personal experience. This system encourages each and every Abhyasi to experiment with themselves. All questions and doubts can be converted to small experiments and we can try those out ourselves to test and see if the claims are valid or not.

For instance, you may wonder, is Yogic transmission real? Or is it just mumbo-jumbo? Well, check for yourself. Meditate with Transmission and without transmission. Do it several times and compare every time. It will take some earnest effort and investment of time. But, if you are genuinely trying to determine the existence and efficacy of transmission, you will certainly try it. The findings are yours to arrive at.

We become the experimenter, the laboratory and the results.

 

Some Basic Heartfulness Concepts

Heartfulness Meditation

Of the many methods of meditation available today across the world, Heartfulness Meditation is one of the simplest and most effective. It is a heart-based meditation. It is also called Sahaj Marg, or, Natural Path. Abhyasis are guided on how to bring our heart and our intuition into everything that we do. Our experience is proof that this method of meditation helps bring about inner transformation very silently. Over time, the changes in ourselves is clearly perceptible and palpable in terms of behavioral changes, attitude and approach towards situations and relationship with all fellow-beings. One starts to understanding what spiritual growth could really mean.

It has scientifically been proven that the heart communicates twice as much to the brain than the brain does to the heart. The heart is able to give more accurate decisions in life, and far supersedes the capability of our brain. The heart is capable of leading us much better than the head.

Pranahuti in HFN

Heartfulness Meditation is very unique since it is assisted by Yogic Transmission (“Pranahuti”). Pranahuti has existed in Indian spiritual practices 72 generations before the time of Raja Dasharatha. It was lost to us for a long time. It was re-discovered and revived into actual practice by Shri Rama Chandra of Shahjahanpur [affectionately called Lalaji] about 100 years back. We have attempted to give the meaning of the word Pranahuti in the Vocabulary section at the beginning of this booklet. Pranahuti by a Living Guide is the real transformational factor in Heartfulness.

Scientific Approach

The Masters of Sahaj Marg, encourage Abhyasis to experiment with the methods and practices prescribed and come to their own conclusions. Constructive experimentation and a scientific approach to understanding the method is considered important and highly recommended. Blind faith is actively discouraged. Any form of pooja or worship of Masters is also discouraged. No practices similar to religious practices are recommended or encouraged.

However, our Masters also advise us that once the Abhyasi is convinced of the method through direct experience in the course of his/her experimentations, then (s)he should drop all doubts and get down to sincere and disciplined practice.

Master

The SRCM is founded on the Guru-Shishya parampara and thrives on the existence of a Living Master. Lalaji Maharaj is considered the Adi-Guru if this system. However, he did not start an establishment. Babuji Maharaj founded the Shri Rama Chandra Mission on 21^st July 1945 and remained the Global Guide and President till 19^th April 1983. He attained access to the Brighter World on that day.  Shri Parthasarathy Rajagopalachari [affectionately known as Chariji], was one of the leading disciples of Babuji Maharaj who chosen by Babuji as his successor. Chariji Maharaj presided over the Mission for about 30 years till he attained Mahasamadhi on 20^th December 2014. The current Global Guide Shri Kamlesh Patel [affectionately known as Daaji] took over the mantle from Chariji Maharaj.

Each of the Masters have made very significant contributions to the Global growth of the Mission as well as have bringing this practice closer and closer to the common man.

Balance Material Life with Spirituality

All the Masters of Sahaj Marg have been Grihasthas (family-man or householder), leading normal lives. They were all married, had children, had jobs and careers and friends and relatives. They took care of all these things on one side and on the other side, evolved to the highest levels of Spirituality possible for man. For instance, the current Global Guide, Shri Kamlesh Patel, setup and ran a large pharmaceutical business in the US during this prime.

We are taught that there is no need to shun material life to attain Spiritual growth. On the contrary, home and society are the ideal grounds to practice spirituality. Masters teach us how to balance our family lives with our spiritual growth.

This fundamental tenet brings the entire world into the fold of Sahaj Marg. Every human is given hope that (s)he can achieve the Ultimate Goal even when living the life of a normal householder which may include family, career, and other material paraphernalia.

Babuji teaches us that we have to fly like a bird whose two wings are material life and spiritual life.

Attitude

One of the most critical components in the Heartfulness System, for that matter, in any system of spiritual practice, is the attitude we bring into it.

An attitude of Love for the Ultimate is an essential ingredient. An eagerness and willingness to transform for the greater good is needed.

Teachings

Lalaji Maharaj’s teachings were systematized by his prime disciple, also by name Shri Rama Chandra [affectionately called Babuji] of Fatehgarh. He was a spiritual scientist par excellence and developed a set of very simple but most effective spiritual practices.  For the last 75 years, the Shri Rama Chandra Mission [started in the name of Lalaji Maharaj] has helped thousands and thousands of people across the world find higher meaning in their lives.

 

Heartfulness Vocabulary

Heartfulness Vocabulary

When you start on any new subject, the first thing that hits you is the jargon and vocabulary specific to that subject. If you start using the same vocabulary, you already start feeling comfortable with the subject. The vocabulary listed below are given in the order most people come across them in Sahaj Marg.

Sahaj Marg - Natural Path – is a 100-year-old system, consisting of a set of simple practices, principles, and concepts. These also form the basis of Shri Rama Chandra Mission, also known across the world as Heartfulness. Heartfulness is practiced in over 160 countries today by over 4 million Abhyasis and is supported by over 13000 Preceptors in over 132 countries. This is the beginning of a silent revolution that is set to transform the world, one heart at a time, using love as its only credo.

Sitting - A meditation session is called a sitting. Abhyasis can sit by themselves and follow the prescribed method of meditation. Abhyasis are also quite often “given sittings” by Preceptors. Sittings can last anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Daaji Giving Sitting at Kanha

Abhyasi - A practitioner of the Sahaj Marg method of meditation, also called Heartfulness Meditation is known as an Abhyasi. By the way, we all know it is a Sanskrit word that just means “a practitioner”.

Preceptor - An adept Abhyasi, who has been trained specially by the Global Guide, to “give Pranahuti” is called a Preceptor. Preceptors are also Abhyasis. Any Abhyasi can volunteer to be a Preceptor. There is a proven and prescribed process to become a Preceptor.

Pranahuti - The act of concentrating the Universal and Ultimate Love or Power and directing it towards an Abhyasi or a group of Abhyasis for their spiritual evolution and transformation is called Pranahuti. This is merely a technical description. Language would fail miserably in trying to explain Pranahuti in the real sense and to explain it’s benefits and impact. It is like feeling the aroma of an exquisite flower or tasting a particularly delicious dish. The aroma or the taste can never be explained to one’s satisfaction. It has to be experienced. That is all.

Master - In Heartfulness, the word Master means God in some contexts. In certain other contexts, it also means the Guru or the Guide. The tenacious and persistent Abhyasi develops a deep connection with this word over time and finds the true meaning. Every Abhyasi is invited to develop a personal relationship with what this word may represent for themselves. Yes, it is a bit enigmatic.

Mission - The Shri Rama Chandra Mission is called the Mission. The Mission was established on the 21^st of July 1945 in Shahjahanpur by Babuji Maharaj.

Method - The set of practices developed by Babuji Maharaj under the tutelage Shri Lalaji Maharaj and other Greater Beings of the Brighter World, is together called Method. Babuji Maharaj was a Spiritual Scientist of the highest order, probably beyond the imagination and understanding of the ordinary mind. The method is very scientific, we assure you.

Cleaning - The Heartfulness Practice of removing samskaras from our system is called cleaning. In practice, it may seem a childishly simple process, but the impact and benefits of this process are immeasurable. It can be effectively carried out only by Abhyasis who have been initiated into the system by a trained Preceptor.

Satsang – A group Meditation is called a Satsang. It is conducted by one of the Preceptors of Heartfulness or by the Global Guide himself. The session may be remote or in person.

One-To-One Sitting – To make speedy progress, Abhyasis need regular individual sittings with Preceptors. In this, only one Preceptor or the Global Guide and one Abhyasi participate and the focus of the Preceptor or the Global Guide is completely on the Abhyasi present. Compare this with Satsang, in which one Preceptor or the Global Guide gives sitting to many people at a time.

A one to one Sitting

Lalaji – Shri Rama Chandra of Shahjahanpur (2 Feb 1873 - 14 Aug 1931), the Adi-Guru of Sahaj Marg and Guru of Babuji.

Babuji – Shri Rama Chandra of Fatehgarh, (30 Apr 1899 - 19th Apr 1983), the founder and first President of SRCM.

Chariji – Shri Parthasarathy Rajagopalachari (24 July 1927 – 20 Dec 2014) was the third Global Guide of the Mission.

Daaji – Shri Kamlesh Patel (b 28 Sept 1958) is the current and Fourth Global Guide of the mission.

Heartfulness is completely free of charge. The Masters in this system truly believe that Spirituality is not for sale.

 

Heartfulness - The Real Deal - Part 2

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You may be aware of the Shadripus - the six enemies. (Shad- six; ripu - enemy)

Kama - Passion

Krodha - Anger

Mada - Ego / Ahamkaar

Moha - Desire

Lobha - Greed

Maatsarya - Competition, especially the destructive type

When these emotions go to excesses, we kind of "lose it", so to say. We lose direction, we lose judgement, we make blunders and end up in misery. And what is worse, we create misery for many around us. 

If we go back further behind these six enemies, their mother is our ego. This is usually depicted by the small "i". We deliberately use the small i, to signify that this is an illusion, it is unreal and detrimental to our being. We should not confuse this "ego", with the regular English meaning of the word. Ego, here refers to, the sense of individuality and sense of a separate "me", not necessarily "conceit", or "self-importance" or "aggrandized self-worth". This ego, causes the identification of the "doer". i did this. i did that. i am rich. i am tall. This sense of "i", individuality, when left unchecked, becomes the seriously detrimental conceit and self-importance. 

Then, there is the capital "I", which is used to represent the Higher Self or the Param Atman. More about this some other time. 

In this context, I plan re-tell the story of the two birds from Mandukya Upanishad, in one of my subsequent blogs. 

So when our small ego vanishes and we realize that, inside of us is the unchanging and original capital "I", then we are said to be enlightened. This is, of course, theoretical knowledge. Any Indian child, with any amount of proper upbringing will know about all this. As they say in India, "bacha bacha jaanta hai!" - (every child knows this). 

But, hardly anyone we know in our day today lives, has the first hand experience of this enlightenment. Those who had it, will never talk about it, have no need to talk about it. The others who speak about it do not have it. So, the real saints are always hidden under heaps and heaps of "gyaanis". 

i am also a "gyaani"; i am sure, so are you. So, why all this prelude?

Weeks after i started the Heartfulness practice, i observed that many of the above mentioned "shadripus" had become slightly moderated than before. The first and foremost change that hit me was, i was not getting angry like earlier. When i did get angry, i was able to become quickly aware about it and was able to do something about dispelling it before it caused any damage.

By deduction, i may say that the shadripus were coming under a little control, at least the vague impression of being under control. Suddenly, today,  i am filled with hope that with practice and help from my Master, i would be able to get rid of these shadripus to the right extent and therefore the ego behind them. 


Please do not take away the impression that I am laying claim to any traits of sainthood or that I have made any great achievements. All I am saying, is that, these days,  I tend to screw up much less than before. And, since it seemed impossible earlier, but suddenly became viable now, I attribute it entirely to Heartfulness Practices. In fact, I am sure, it is due to Heartfulness Practices. 

They say, that in Patanjali's Ashtaanga Yoga Sutras the first among the eight steps is Yama. Of the 5 sub-components that Yama has, Ahimsa is the first. In other words, in the sense of sequence of steps in Ashtaanga Yoga, the first and foremost thing that we come across is Ahimsa. And it goes on to say how, Ahimsa at the level of not just action, but also at the level of word and further at the level of thought is True Ahimsa. 

The lay person will, of course, find this, an absolutely insurmountable task to accomplish. How can I, as a man of the world, have True Ahimsa as a character trait when everything around me is utter chaos. The pre-requisite to have Ahimsa as a basic character trait, seems to be "being enlightened" itself. If I am already enlightened to begin with, why do I need Ashtaanga Yoga? 

When we confront this cyclic argument and arrangement, we throw in the towel and "leave things to evolution to take it's course". We expect that achieving "The Merger with God" is theoretical for most of us commoners.  We conclude that only those born into that destiny, will achieve it. There is no motivation to go down that road. There is no hope or possibility of success if we did make an attempt.  So we seek comfort in religious rituals and life goes on. 

But, in my experience, for the first time, I see that by following the Heartfulness Practices, there is at least a suggestion of possibility that Yama and Niyama can be achieved not necessarily as first steps but as consequences. 

When I was told long back, that Heartfulness starts at the stage of "Pratyaahara", I was highly critical of it. I found it impossible that you can start the journey from mid-way. But, today, when I have already got into daily practice and have my own daily experiences, I see that it is very much a reality. You can start at Pratyaahara and the other characteristic traits can be built with time and effort. 

Heartfulness brings together the last steps together in a unique way to help the Abhyasi. I I do not consider myself competent to talk further on this subject here. 

But, I am full of hope, that God Realization is possible. For you, for me and for anyone who cares to seek, Truly Seek. 


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Heartfulness - The Real Deal - Part 1

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Lurking somewhere deep inside all of us is that innate calling; 

To get to "The Truth". 

To know, "That", which will make us All-Knowing. 

To "Get to the Bottom" of the secrets of life. 

In our own ways, we search, knowingly or unknowingly. And in this search, we stumble upon those who claim that they "know". And, in today's world of God-men and God-women, there are so many who "know".  Sadly they don't, and it is further pathetic when they themselves are under the illusion of "knowing". So many fakes around us. It is hard to tell what is true and what is not. There are so many people, who think that they have found that fountain of Reality, that all their problems are solved, but we do not see them transformed from deep inside. They go about life just slightly noisier than earlier about God or some such thing. 

Nevertheless, we all know, it is a journey. These are all necessary steps of evolution. 

Thanks to our 10-year-old daughter, we stumbled upon Heartfulness. Well, that is an oversimplification. I have come across this method earlier but did not take it up seriously at that time. 

We had enrolled our daughter in the "Brighter Minds" program. This program comes from the house of Heartfulness (Sahaj Marg). At that time, we did not know much about Heartfulness or its history. After the course, we were expecting some marvels to happen with our child. But nothing did. Then, when we spoke to the trainer and facilitator, Mrs.N, she said, "The ambiance at home has to be conducive. Why don't you start meditation yourself? It will have its effect on the child." 

So, started our journey. Little did I know at that time, how much impact this method can have and how much life can change due to this simple method. We started our practice somewhere at the end of August 2019. The few months following that have been unlike the rest of my life till that point. 

For me, Heartfulness has become a journey of great personal significance. 

What unfolded ever since I started to practice and whatever unfolds even as I write is this has been very good for me. Very good!

In my upcoming blog, you can find out what happened next.  

Note: If you are wondering what is Heartfulness, please click here.

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