Meditation Times

JUNE MONTHLY
JOURNAL OF
2008 MEDITATION

this issue
EDITORIAL TEAM
SWAMI DHARAM BODH, Sri Aurobindo p.1
SUFI LAKSHMI SAHAI, Message from Taoshobuddha p.2
PT. MAHENDRA NATH MAHARAJ,
PT. GAJENDRA KUMAR, Book Review p.3
SWAMI SUDHAMA Bay’at or initiation p.4
From medication…
CHIEF EDITOR: …to meditation p.5

SWAMI ANAND NEELAMBAR

Sri Aurobindo 1872 -1950

SAVITRI – THE IMMORTAL EPIC

On the dumb bosom of this oblivious globe
Although as unknown beings we seem to meet
Our lives are not aliens nor as strangers join,
Moved to each other by causeless force!
The soul can recognize its answering soul
Editorial Across dividing Time and, on life’s roads
This month we present a special tribute to Absorbed wrapped traveller, turning it recovers
Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo who composed the Familiar splendors in an unknown face
immortal epic Savitri. This poem ushers the And touched by the warning fingers of swift love
beginning of a new era in poetry. It is
It thrills again to an immortal joy
explores the synthesis of prose and poetry.
Wearing a mortal body for delight
We continue with our regular features and There is a power within that knows beyond
introduce more new ones. This issue has Our knowings; we are greater than our thoughts
poems by Swami Dhyan Yatri, one of our
And sometimes earth unveils that vision here
regular participant in Meditation. We also
introduce Nainee, another participant in
To live, to love are signs of infinite things
Meditation. Love is a glory from eternity’s spheres.

We hope you appreciate their contributions.

SRI AUROBINDO SAVITRI BOOK V THE BOOK OF LOVE: CANTO 2
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Meditation Times
 MESSAGE FROM TAOSHOBUDDHA
SAVITRI the epic is the master piece of
Sri Aurobindo. It opens with symbolic You are from the very beginning a Buddha. To the very core of your being you
dawn; Sri Aurobindo begins: are a Buddha. It is your nature. It is like water and ice: apart from water, no
ice, outside living beings, no Buddhas. Not knowing it is near, they seek it
afar. What a pity! It is like one in the water who cries out for thirst; it is like
It was the hour before the Gods awake.
the child of a rich house who has strayed away among the poor. The cause of
Across the path of Divine Event our circling through the six worlds is that we are on the dark paths of
ignorance. Dark path upon dark path treading, when shall we escape from
The huge foreboding mind of Night, alone birth-and-death? The Zen meditation of the Mahayana is beyond all our
In her unlit temple of eternity, praise. Giving and morality and the other perfections, taking of the name,
repentance, discipline, and the many other right actions, all come back to the
Lay stretched immobile upon silence’ marge practice of meditation. By the merit of a single sitting he destroys
innumerable accumulated sins. How should there be wrong paths for him?
Almost one felt, opaque, impenetrable,
In the somber symbol of her eyeless muse My beloved ones: I love you. Love is my message. Love is my being. Love is the
communion. Love is oneness. Let it be your message too. Love is my colour and
The abysm of the un-bodied Infinite; my climate. To me, love is the only religion. All else is just rubbish. All else is
A fathomless zero occupied the world nothing but dreams. A mental game! Love is the only substantial thing in life!
All else is illusion. Let love grow in you and then god will be growing on its own
CANTO ONE THE SYMBOL DAWN SAVITRI accord. If you miss love you will miss god and all.
SRI AUROBINDO
There is no way to god without love. There is nothing more sublime than love.
God can be forgotten but not love. If love is remembered, god will happen as a
consequence. It happens as a consequence. It is the fragrance of love and
**** nothing else. In fact there is no god but only godliness. There is no person like
god anywhere. Drop all childish attitudes. Never go on searching for a father.
Divineness is, god is not. When I say divineness is, I mean whatsoever is, is full
of god. The entire creation is full of godliness. Only you need eyes to see this.
The green of the trees! And the red and the golden all are divine. A crow crying
HORIZON and a bird on the wing, a child giggling, and a dog barking all is divine. Nothing
else exists. The moment you ask ‘where is god?’ you have raised a wrong
question. Because god cannot be indicated anywhere! He is not in a particular
BY SWAMI DHYAN YATRI direction. He is not a particular thing. He is not a particular being. God is
universality. God is hidden in the entire creation. Ask where god is not? Only
This line repeats across my mind then you have asked the right question. But for that right question you will
have to prepare the soil of your awareness.
And draws the Sea onto a Sky
If you are not in love, then what to say about god! Even you are not. I was
That times the Moon and tells the Sun thinking what should I give to you today? Because this is the birthday, the
enlightenment day, and mahaparinirvana day of a Buddha! This day Gautama
To hide and seek as man and God incarnated as Siddhartha. This is the day when Siddhartha saw for the first time
the green of the trees and the blue of the skies. This was the day for the first
But when Night rends her Garment off
time when Siddhartha opened his eyes and saw god all around. Of course the
And dances naked in the surf word 'god' did not exist at that moment. However all that he saw was god. That
is what I mean by love - A union. Because in a union those who join together
There is no light to end my eyes remain separate. In a unity they dissolve. They melt into one another. They
become one. And that moment I call the moment of truth, when love has given
To desecrate the Great Divide you unity. First, love gives you unity in your innermost core. Then you are no
more a body, no more a mind, no more a soul. You are simply one. Unnamed,
So with my heart from dusk to dawn undefined, unclassified! No more determinate, definable, no more
comprehensible. A mystery, a joy, a surprise, jubilation, and a great
Like waves I follow her to Beyond celebration! First, love gives you an inner unity. This is fana as Sufis call this
happening. And when the inner unity has happened the second happens on its
To flow among the footless paths own! You are not to do anything for it. Then you start falling in unity with the
whole beyond you. Then the drop disappears in the ocean and the ocean
A grain of sand transformed to glass. disappears into the drop. That moment, that moment of orgasm between you
and the whole, is where you become a Buddha. That moment is the moment
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 BOOK REVIEWS
‘MEDITATION THE WAY TO SELF REALIZATION’
TAOSHOBUDDHA
STERLING PAPERBACK
AN IMPRINT OF STERLING PUBLISHERS PVT LTD
NEW DELHI, INDIA

This is a CLASSIC compilation that removes the mystery and intricacies of Mediation and makes it available
for the ordinary modern mind.

You will definitely discover the taste of your being. Begin by listening to the guided meditation CD. Read the
preface. This is the epitome of the work. The language clarity, simplicity, contents, and the presentation are
all a beauty you would not like to miss.

‘AWAKENING IS THE KEY TO MEDITATION.’

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 Many years ago in deep silence, a flowering
“B efore I begin to say anything, let me clarify
happened. The beauty and the fragrance of this
flower were not going to last forever. Whatever
certain things from the very beginning. I am not happens to the flower is momentary; bees
interested in any metaphysical questions. It does gather around the flower and begin to
not matter who created this world or if God is or is experience its beauty, fragrance, aliveness,
not? You are! This is most important to me. You presence, and its fragility. This is the
can be transformed. This is meaningful. It matters experience in the end, of all those who are
not what was the relationship between Jesus and thirsty of something emanating from deep
Mary Madeline nor why did Rama put Sita to the within the flowering of the Being; and the flower
fire test or why did Rama abandon Sita? Answers continues to share its presence, its being, its
to these questions cannot transform you or give silence, and its wholeness. Those who are near
you the taste of Enlightenment. A Buddha is never such flowering, begin to experience their own
concerned with such questions. He works with you inner flowering. This is the Secret of the Golden
and on you alone. Flower of a Zen master, Lu Tzu. Such is the
milieu. Out of this flowering, a commune is
These methods do not belong to any religion. Just born. A Buddhafield! Commune refers to a
as the Theory of Relativity is not Jewish because deep union between Meditation and Love. An
Albert Einstein conceived it, so radio and television oasis in the desert of the world! In such an
are not Christian because a Christian mind environment of deep lovingness, one grows in
conceived this. And no one asks, why are you awareness, understanding, and meditation.
using electricity because it is Christian? A Christian This is the trinity of the Hindu mystical
mind conceived it. Science does not belong to any existential sound, AUM.”
religion, race, caste, or creed! Just because these
techniques were developed by a Hindu mind, does Extracted from the Preface
this mean these techniques are Hindu? But you
cannot change the ‘wisdom’ of human stupidity. So ‘MEDITATION THE WAY TO SELF REALIZATION’
think through it. TAOSHOBUDDHA

Taoshobuddha Overflows
Love is the way of preparing the soil of your heart. If you are full of love, the world is full of God. They go parallel. They are part of one
symphony. God is the echo from the universe. When you are in love, the echo is there. When you are not in love, how can there be an
echo? God is an echo that lingers in your heart like the dissolving note of a melody that you have once heard in the wilderness. It is only
you who are reflected again and again in millions of ways. It is you who are thrown back to yourself again and again. If you are in love,
God is.

I was thinking what should I give to you today as my gift for the birthday of a Buddha? Then I remembered a saying of Buddha: SABBA
DANAM DHAMMA DANANA JNATI ‘the gift of truth excels all other gifts.’ And my truth is love. Truth is solitary. Truth is love. AND THAT
IS ALL YOU NEED TO DISCOVER DEEP WITHIN.

The word 'truth' looks to me a little too dry and desert-like. I am not in much tune with the word 'truth'. It looks too logical. It looks too
prosaic. It gives you the feeling of philosophy, not of religion. It gives you the idea as if you have concluded. You have come to a
conclusion. And there has been a syllogism behind it, argumentation and logic and reasoning. No, 'truth' is not my word. LOVE is my
word. Love is of the heart. Truth is partial. Only your head is involved. In love you are involved as a totality. Your body, your mind, your
soul, all is involved. Love makes you a unity. But and not a union. Remember love is UNITY not
My word is love. So I say: My beloved ones, I love you. And I would like you to fill the whole world with love. Let that be our religion.
Love is simply love. In love you can be a Christ. In love you can be a Buddha. But there is no Buddhist love and there is no Christian love.
In love you disappear, your mind disappears. In love you come to an utter relaxation. This is my message as my gift to you for the
celebration of Buddha’s Enlightenment NOW AND EVER AND ANON!

LOVE AND LOVE!

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 are imposed on reality. What we actually see is our
BAY’AT or projections on reality.
Bay’at is a Sufi term for initiation. It is a mutual
INITIATION pledge between the sheikh and the murid relating
to the striving, arranging, executing and adhering
REPRODUCED: LEAVES FROM A SUFI HEART VOLUME 2
TAOSHOBUDDHA to the laws of Amal-e Zaahiri and Amal-e Baatini -
the inner and the outer. This pledge to establish
May the journey of transformation begin! harmony between inner and outer is called Bay’at-
When you feel pain, e-Tariqat. Bay’at has been in vogue as essential for
Give thanks to God, for this pain, the inward journey of the aspirants by the masters
from generation to generation from the earliest
In His hands this is beneficial.
time of Islam.
When He pleases pain becomes joy,
RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam had enacted
And fetters become freedom. bay’at of the Sahaabahis not only on Jihad, but on
RUMI MASNAVI I: 836-7 Islam and the adherence of the Ahkaam or Laws in
general as well on practical deeds or Amal. This is
established by numerous Ahaadith. The following

B ayat or Initiation is the ultimate in the Hadith is one such Hadith:

process of transformation. Why is initiation ‘Will you not make bay’at or pledge to the Rasul of
into meditation or initiation to a master Allah?’
essential? Because:
We stretched our hands and enquired: On what
As such as man exists, he is asleep. Even in his shall we make bay’at to you, O Rasul of Allah? He
waking he is asleep. His sleep is neurotic. He said.
cannot wake up from this sleep. On his own, he
may wake up but still remain in slumber. ‘That you make the Ibadat of Allah, - that you
associate nothing with Him, - that you perform the
A Master is needed to wake him up from such five Salah; that you hear and obey.”
neurosis. Initiation is the process for him to remain
in contact with the one who is awakened. Without On this occasion the bay’at which RasulAllah
this it is almost impossible for you to be awake. Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam took from the
You are capable of dreaming even when you are Sahaabahis was neither Bay’at-e- Imaani or Pledge
awake. of Iman nor Bay’at-e-Jihaadi or Pledge to wage
Jihad. This Hadith is categorical proof for the
When it is said that man is asleep, this has to be validity of the system of bay’at in practice by the
understood. Man dreams twenty-four hours a day. Mashaa’ikh of Tasawwuf. Like there are four
In the night when we are closed to the outer world, Mazhab or Schools of Thought in Fiqh, viz. Hanafi,
we continue to dream. During the day our senses Shafi’i, Maliki and Hambali, so too are there four
are open. Our senses open in the outer world of schools of thought in Tasawwuf, viz., Chistiyya,
duality. It is through the senses that we continue to Qadiriyyah, Naqshbandiya and Suhrawardiya. Like
experience the outer world, but the dreams the Hanafi Way is dominant in this area of India
continue within. Just close your eyes and you start and Pakistan, the Chistiyya Way too is dominant
dreaming again. Dreams are continuity inside. You here. Bay’at has been emphasized in all the four
are aware of the outer world but that awareness is Schools of Thought or Silsila so that respect for the
imposed on the dreaming mind. Thus, continues four Silsila is maintained although Chistiyya is
the dream. In such a case we cannot envision dominant.
reality although we are awake. This is how dreams

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The founder of the Chistiyya Silsila is Hazrat Certain instructions are given to the murid at the
Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti Ajmairee; founder of time of bay’at. This remains secret between the
the Qadiriyyah Order is Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir sheikh and the murid. There is no generalization.
Jilani; founder of the Naqshbandi Order is Sheikh Now that Sufism is no longer confined to Islam
Bahauddin Naqshbandi; and the founder of the alone so the nature of instructions and the dhikrs
Suhrawardiya Silsila is Hazrat Sheikh Sahabuddin etc differ from the murid to murid. The most
Suhrawardiya. important among these is the dhikr and a special
Tawajjuh to work on states of nafs that need to be
worked upon. Yet still certain instructions may be
THE MODE OF BAY’AT: common. These are:
The bay’at is enacted by the Sheikh taking into his
1. Fully guarding the sense organs like eyes,
right hand the right hand of the murid or disciple. If
ears and the tongue that constantly bring
the group contracting the bay’at is large, the
Sheikh used a length of cloth onto which each information from the world of duality;
member of the group holds with his right hand. 2. total abstention from haraam and
Ladies who contract the bay’at do so from behind a mushtabih or doubtful wealth;
screen. A mahram of the lady should also be 3. appearance, or dress to be in conformity
present at the bay’at ceremony. Hazrat Aisha said: with the tradition and in doing this decency
‘RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam never
of time and occasion is essential;
touched the palm of a woman, but he would make
the pledge or bay’at upon her. Upon having made 4. total abstention from innovatory customs
the bay’at he would say: Go. Verily, I have already and practices on occasions of happiness and
made bay’at with you.’ sorrow;
It is for this reason that in entering ladies into the 5. to refrain from unlawful methods in all
bay’at, the Mashaa’ikh do so verbally or by means affairs;
of a cloth which is spread from the Sheikh to the 6. to constantly bear in mind not to harm
lady behind the screen. This was in practice
anyone by means of one’s hand or actions
because of the tradition and the orthodoxy.
or tongue;
This is the method of bay’at when in the presence 7. not to hurt anyone;
of the Sheikh. Those who are not able to present 8. refraining from association;
themselves personally to the Sheikh could contract 9. meeting according to need;
the bay’at by means of a letter or through the 10. constant repetition of dhikr; and
agency of a responsible and trustworthy person.
11. Abstaining from unnecessary conversation.
This form of bay’at is called bay’at-e-Uthmani.
RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam on the
occasion of bay’at-e-Ridhwaan made the bay’at of • Constantly maintaining the dhikr of Kalimah
Hazrat Uthman in his (Uthman's) absence. On this Tayyibah, i.e., while walking, sitting,
occasion, RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam reclining and lying down! The way to do this
placed his right hand on his left hand and is to continuously engage in reciting La-
announced that he has made bay’at of Uthman. Illaha ill Allah. After reciting if a few times,
The bay’at in absence of the murid is therefore Muhammad-ur-RasulAllah should be added.
termed bay’at-e-Uthmani. After Ishaq Salaat, at the time of going to bed
engage in muhasabah or self-reckoning and
INSTRUCTION AT THE TIME OF BAY’AT: muraqaba-e-maut or contemplating death.

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 can be in the world but the world will not be in you. Not only will
FROM MEDICATION… you feel free but also free the objects of your pleasure. This will
help you to move away without any feeling of frustration.
…TO MEDITATION
By Nainee BREATHING A CURE FOR ASTHMA:
I am sure you have heard the statement “your health is your My first experience with illness was with one of my younger
wealth”. Many of us never ponder about the significance of sisters who began to suffer with asthma from about age ten. She
those words until someone close to us is diagnosed with some was constantly on medication. And she had to be in and out of
dreaded disease. It is only then, that we may begin to consider hospitals. Also she had to endure every kind of herbal medicine
that with all of the wealth and success a person may attain in life that my parents heard about in their quest to cure the child of
he can only enjoy it if health is. This is a topic that is always close this condition. Years went by and still no relief! Finally we
to my heart and it is with the guidance and blessings of all my assumed that the medication was working because two months
teachers that I can share some of my understanding with you. I went by and she didn’t get ill. Then one day she had a severe
know that once you become aware of the importance of health, attack and she kept on using her inhaler or asthma pump but of
you will make it a number one priority in your life. no help. No one knew how many times she had used the
inhaler. My father took her to the hospital and when he came
Well friends, this is Nainee. Your host for a new series of home, he was crying. Her body was not responding to
program! For the next fifteen minutes I will take you on a new medication. She was just sixteen then.
voyage. Have patience! I will definitely tell you the name of my
program. But not now! First things first! Nainee means eyes. A year later I began to suffer with asthma as well. And as a young
Eyes are the windows to the world of existence. And through adult I had to swallow almost a handful of tablets twice a day
eyes alone to see all that is happening in the outer world. When and I really resented it. I had to find a way to get out of this
your inner eyes open, you can see all that is happening in the condition. A new beginning came.
inner world of being. Eyes are the link between the inner and the
outer. So is me- Nainee. I knew that yoga can help with breathing problems and that
asthma is a respiratory problem. That’s when I joined my first
Through my insights I will take you to a mystical realm of yoga class to learn to breathe properly. Joining that yoga class at
understanding. An understanding where you begin to experience the YMCA was the start of a whole new learning process for me
each phenomenon differently! When you encounter situations in the area of natural healing and alternative medicine. This is
in life where you seem to have no way out a new avenue opens the understanding that I will be sharing as part of my search for
as insights into another realm. This is the beginning of the health.
journey FROM MEDICATION to MEDITATION. I am sure you
know now. Yes! this is a new program on health and inner Can you tell, what is the most significant thing that keeps you
healing- FROM MEDICATION TO MEDITATION. alive? Without it, this body will no more be alive for long. I’ll
give you a clue or two. It pervades the whole universe and it is
Trust your body. It is the temple of the unknown. A mystery of free! If you guessed that it is AIR, you are absolutely right.
the unknown! Do not neglect it! Respect it! Start working with From the air that you inhale, your body gets oxygen as well as
the body. The body is an intelligent flow of energy. Stay with other pollutants from our chemical factories, vehicle exhaust,
your body. You can transcend it and experience a feeling of and the gases that are used for air-conditioning units and a host
merger with pure energy. The harmony you create within your of different canned sprays, e.g., hair sprays and all other sprays.
body will become the door to your inner harmony. All that you Oxygen helps to get rid of the toxic stuff within our body and
experience within the temple of the body manifests through the oxygen plus glucose nourishes our cells. Our respiratory system
body itself. Breathing is the alphabet of the body and meditation is our link to life! Did you know that your lungs are the second
is its grammar. Just be aware of it. Your body is gross, and that largest organ in the body as well as the biggest excretory system
has to change alchemically. That is why; so much emphasis is on in the body? Through your breath the lungs throw out more
the gross. Through breathing, the body will bridge you to toxins from the body than the skin and other excretory systems.
meditation and then…? This can only take place if you breathe deeply, that means
abdominal breathing. Something even more important is the
Life is to learn from and grow in awareness. Life presents understanding of mystics. Air that we breathe in is only the
moments and situations so that we can learn awareness. We container that carries something with it. Wilhelm Reich calls
also witness what happens in interpersonal relationships all these as Orgone and mystics call this as Prana. These are subtle
around us. When you are aware, you can learn how others affect energy particles that come in with breath. If a man is alive it is
you. As long as we live, there are opinions, ideas, and criticisms because of this Prana. Out of this word evolved the entire
everywhere. In a way dukkha or sorrow is all around. It is like a science of breathing techniques as PRANAYAMA. Only this much
black spot amidst happiness. When you are not aware, you can for now!
get carried away and then suffer when things change. When
there is awareness, there will be no clinging. With awareness you I will be back soon with another….

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 have in-depth conversations about spiritual and divine
ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ subjects. At age seven, his father Mehta Kalu enrolled
him at the village school and he was sent to Pandha.
However he soon left school because he showed himself
GURU NANAK to be proficient. He started to spend lots of time with the
religious leaders of his village soaking up all that they
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH knew.
(Born April 15, 1469, Rai Bhoi di Talvandi, near Lahore,
India — died 1539, Kartarpur, Punjab) At an age when children play some normal games, his
games were spiritual. When he was nine the parents
GURUDWARA NANKANA SAHAB
wanted the Janeu or Upnayan Sanskar according to
Hindu rites. It is after this ceremony the child begins
education both worldly and spiritual. Nanak refused for
the ceremony. He was never interested in studies. He
used to ask such question that normally puzzled the
teachers.

As a boy Nanak, learned Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic.

However he had more interest in religion than
education. At the age of five years Nanak is said to have
begun to discuss spiritual and divine subjects. Despite
his father's efforts to steer him into a bureaucratic or
business career, Nanak remained enchanted with his
spiritual quest.

Birth and early life: There are two early sources on the life of Guru Nanak,
the Janamsākhī and the vārs of the scribe Bhai Gurdas.
Guru Nanak was born in Talvandi on April 15, 1469. He The most popular Janamsākhī are said to have been
was named Nanak after his elder sister Bebe Nanki. She written by a close companion of the Guru Bhai Bala
was married to Jai Ram in 1534. Jai Ram was employed before Nanak died. However, the writing style and
with Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi of Sultanpur. Nanak language have left scholars such as Max Arthur
was born into a family of the Hindu Bedi Khatri clan, in Macauliffe certain that these were composed after his
the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talvaṇḍī. The village is now death.
known as Nankana Sahib and is situated about fifty
miles west of Lahore, the capital city of the Punjab, Bhai Gurdas, Gurū Granth Sāhib's scribe, also wrote
(Now Pakistan). His birth place is marked by about Nanak's life in his vārs. However, these too were
Gurudwara Janam Asthan or Gurudwara Birth place. It compiled after Guru Nanak's death, and are less detailed
is known as Gurdwara Nankana Sahab. His father, than the Janamsākhīs. Sikhs tend to hold Gurdas's
Kalyan Das Bedi, also known as Mehta Kalu, was the accounts in higher esteem because of the author's
patwari or Revenue Clerk with the Government of the generally perceived trustworthiness.
time or an accountant of crop revenue for the village of
Talvandi under the Muslim landlord of the village, Rai The Janamsākhīs explain in minute detail the
Bular, who was responsible for collecting taxes. Guru circumstances of the birth of Nanak. They claim that at
Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi. Guru Nanak is the first his birth, an astrologer who came to write his horoscope
of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was a born saint. insisted on seeing the child. On seeing the infant, he is
said to have worshipped him with clasped hands. The
Mystics claim that when he was born, an astrologer who astrologer then remarked that he regretted that he
came to write his horoscope immediately clasped his should never live to see Nanak's eminence, when the
hands and began to worship Nanak. The astrologer bud blossoms into a flower. Therefore he worshipped
prophesied that both Muslims and Hindus would Nanak as he should be, not only by Hindus but by
worship him. By the time he was five, he had begun to Muslims as well.

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In his youth he became familiar with the popular creeds scholars have been debated for centuries. However these
of Muslims and Hindus and gained knowledge of the are the insights of a mystic.
Quran and Hindu Scriptures. He is reported to have
been displeased with the corruption and indifference of
the learned. A manuscript in Persian mentions that his Birth of Japuji:
first teacher was Kabir. Nanak astonished his teacher
when he asked the hidden meaning of the first letter of The first experience of samadhi or Satori Nanak had
the alphabet, which is almost straight stroke in Persian when he was sixteen or seventeen years of age. He was
or Arabic. It resembles to the mathematical version of working for a grocer.
one and denotes unity or oneness of God. Nanak left
school early after he had shown his scholastic Nanak went missing for three days. Legend says that he
proficiency. He then took to private study and was believed to have drowned after going for a regular
meditation. morning bath in a stream called Humber Bain. After the
three days, he reappeared, and when anyone asked him
Numerous Janamsākhīs state that Nanak used to retire to a question he uttered the same response in his native
the local forest and also enjoyed the company of the Punjabi tongue: There is no Hindu; there is no Muslim.
religious men who frequently visited such places. From this moment, he began to spread the teachings of
Several of them were profoundly versed in the Indian Sikhism.
religious literature of the age. Nanak thus became
acquainted with the latest teachings of Indian While bathing in the river Bain, Nanak had a spiritual
philosophers and reformers. experience, which he described as a message from God.
After three days of visions, he re-emerged, and Japuji
was his message. Then Nanak was thirty six years six
Marriage and family life:
month and fifteen days old. Nanak gave away all of his
possessions, and became a wandering preacher. He took
Nanak’s father found his ways and means strange. It his message, throughout India and the Middle East,
was thought that Nanak be married. And that marriage meeting with Hindu and Muslim religious leaders. His
will certainly change his ways and means. Everyone message of fraternity and universalism was well
thought Nanak to resist profusely. Nanak had no received, and his following grew rapidly.
problem. He agreed to the surprise of every one. As a
result his marriage to Sulakhani the daughter of a rice He eventually settled in Kartarpur, where he and his
trader was arranged when Nanak was in his teens. devotees practiced a daily routine of bathing, prayer,
and communal meals. Among these was Guru Angad,
Nanak was then married to Sulakhani. His marriage who succeeded him as the second Sikh Guru, in a line of
took place in the town of Batala, Punjab in India. The succession that continued until 1708, ending with Guru
marriage party had come from the town of Sultanpur Gobind Singh the tenth guru.
Lodhi. He had two sons out of this marriage; Sri Chand
and Lakhmi Dass. The elder son was a deeply spiritual Guru Nanak's teachings were recorded in the Adi
and founded a sect known as Udasi. He is known as Granth, which formed the basis of Sikh theology.
Baba Sri Chand in Sikhism. The term Baba refers to the Among the teachings, a unique synthesis of Hindu and
respectful title given to an elder. The younger son was Muslim theology is observed. Nanak stressed that Caste
immersed in worldly life. Guru Nanak did not nominate was irrelevant, that only inner purity mattered. He
either of his sons as his successor. Sri Chand lived a admonished practitioners of idol worship and
considerably long life. However after the death of Sri encouraged charity. One of his most influential
Chand, his pagri (symbol of succession) was sent to the teachings was the admonishment to his followers to
sixth Sikh Guru, Har Gobind. The Udasis or follower of oppose tyranny and oppression.
Sri Chand continued to remain in the fold of Sikhism
perhaps much of what we know of Sikh founder Guru The Adi Granth, a Sikh Holy Book, transcribed by
Nanak is passed down through many legends. It seems Nanak's disciple Bhai Gurdas, contains nearly one
the details of his life, corroborated by mystics and thousand hymns, many of which are sung daily during
worship. It is written mainly in Punjabi, a language not

9|P age
considered acceptable by the religious elite of the time, ultimate Unity in existence, and one who always spoke
an intentional move by Nanak to underscore his of God as 'The One without a second'.
insistence that God favors no caste.
NANAK AND TRAVELS:
Many contend that Guru Nanak was influenced by the
sannyasin and Hindu religious thought. But one look at Nanak took four significant journeys to help spread his
the life of Guru Nanak makes it obvious that he lived teachings.
amongst Muslims, was employed by a Muslim, visited
and prayed at Muslim shrines sometimes spending as 1. East towards Bengal and Assam.
long as forty days in contemplation (culminating in his 2. South towards Ceylon;
visit to Mecca) and that his religious thoughts were 3. North towards Kashmir and Tibet; and the
deeply influenced by the Islamic teachings. A reading of
last
the Janam Sakhis also makes it clear that Guru Nanak
4. West toward Baghdad and Mecca.
spent more time with the Sheikhs and Sufi Masters of his
time and his teachings and practices were nearer to the
Islamic faith. He went on four journeys, through India, Arabia and
Persia, touching on Mecca and Baghdad. He spoke many
It was a period of comparative peace and security under languages and in temples and mosques. He spoke
the reign of Sultan Bahlol Lodhi (1451-89) and the against religious rituals, pilgrimages, class system called
formative years of Guru Nanak coincided with the caste system, and the sacrifice of widows.
period of Lodhi ascendancy under Bahlol and his son
Sikandar. It seems that Nanak was born into a favored One of the two people accompanying him was a
period of peace, law and order and economic prosperity. Muslim. With this he gave a massage of religious
He grew up in his father's village. At some time in his equality. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation
early manhood he moved to Sultanpur where he worked through disciplined, personal meditation on the name
in the employment of Daulat Khan Lodhi, Governor of and message of God. It is the fifth-largest religion in the
Punjab. From Sultanpur he began a period of travels to world.
places such as Mount Sumeru, Mecca, Medina, Baghdad
and Bokhara at the shrine of Naqshbandi master Guru Nanak Dev spoke widely on equal rights for
Naqshband Bahauddin. everyone, not just women. Three of his beliefs were:

In India he visited Sheikh Sharaf at Panipat, Delhi 1. Equality of women,

(Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi), Pak Pattan (Sheikh Farid 2. Universal message for all people, and
Ibrahim), Saidpur (Babur) and Pir Bahauddin of Multan 3. Equality of humans.
besides other places in Ceylon, Kashmir and the south of
India. On his journeys he was usually accompanied by During his time his messages were not well received
his close companions variously named as Mardana, however with the passage of time they are widely
Saido, Gheho, Hasu Lohar and Sihan Chhimba. recognized.

The word GURU needs some explanation. It has two DEATH:

components, GU meaning one who dispels ignorance
and darkness, and RU meaning one who brings On 22 September 1539, aged 69, Guru Nanak met with
enlightenment. When one reads the Janam Sakhis of his demise, after he had requested his disciples to sing
Guru Nanak, it is possible to argue that Guru Nanak the Sohila (hymn in the praise of God).
was a reformer speaking and acting against the caste It is said some of his followers wanted to cremate him,
system and trying to improve the status of women. while others wanted to bury him. When they lifted the
Equally one can say that he was a religious synthesizer sheet from the body, they found flowers, some of which
who attempted a blend of Hinduism and Islam in his they cremated, and other were buried. Although not
own way. Beyond superstitions Nanak was a defender known for being a feminist, he is wide known for
of pure religion. A more satisfactory evaluation of Guru promoting human equality and helped thousands.
Nanak is as a mystic and a Sufi who had realized the

10 | P a g e
THE SECRETS OF BHAKTI concludes that whichever path an aspirant may follow,
ultimately he will reach Me.
PRELUDE TO MEDITATION
The path of devotion is very sacred and sublime. Love Scriptures narrate a traditional story where Sage Narad
which is spontaneous is the essential core of this path meets the sage Veda Vyas on the banks of river
that leads to ultimate fruition of human consciousness. Saraswati, and how Narad makes Vyas accept that the
Bhakti is most easy. Yet still aspirants find it very Path of Knowledge alone is dry and sapless. Also
difficult. The problem is not with the path. In fact it without devotion for the Lord and His glories spiritual
deals with your understanding. Once this understanding seeking is futile and without joy. Vyas accepted this and
comes the path becomes easy to travel on. undertook to write the portrayal of Krishna as
BHAGWATAM. In the light of this it is clear that even
What is so difficult that? It is said god created man in though he might not have composed these sutras. Yet
His image. This does not mean that God looks like you. still it is right to dedicate these sutras to Narad.
If this is what you understand when the scriptures say
God created man in His image. Then you are mistaken. As the greatest champion of the path of Devotion, this
And this will create problems for you along the path. If wandering saint, an eternal devotee of Sri Narayana
this be true then just like you God should have many Narad alone can instruct an aspirant along this path of
religions, many colors, shapes, gender, and nationalities Love. May be through this we develop courage of
etc. Mystics say it is not so. God has no form no, shape. conviction to live this DIVINE LOVE. And thus come to
He is both far and near. Certain attributes as explore fulfillment through this overflow.
compassion, love etc. when manifest through your day
to day functioning! Also there comes a deep In the beginning of creation God became unmanifest
understanding of the cosmic law, only then it can be and thus you came into existence. And yet still God
said that you are in the image of God. remains unmanifest hidden in His entire creation. The
seed, that can transform your being from the present
Secondly the consciousness that is given to you in its state of chaos, is hidden within you. All you need to do
purest form is now encaged in the domain of senses! is to manifest all those attributes that are the quality of
Your energy moves only through the lower centers. And God and remain unmanifest through your being and
thus does not reach the heart centre. This energy needs actions. This is the attainment of devotion. Where do
to reach this centre before devotion could be possible. you seek Me, O Fool, I am within you.
And overflow may happen.
I am reminded of an anecdote. I have heard many
Because of all this you continue to impose your wish. centuries ago there were two friends. One was blind
You want everything to happen your way. Everything and the other lame. Together they lived and sought
happens in this cosmos in a unique way. There exists a alms for their livelihood. Both were devotees. The blind
synergetic harmony. Hindus refer to this as the will carry the lame on his shoulders. The lame will give
unheard, uncreated cosmic sound of AUM. You need to directions. One day a fight broke between them over a
flow in harmony with this cosmic harmony. Buddha says trivial matter, as normally happens around us. The two
the moment you accept all that is happening that very beat one another. Blood stained the two remained
moment you are ENLIGHTENED. Or it can be said you uncared. God felt compassionate. And decided to help
attain to realization. This is the key to devotion. them alleviate their problems! So He came on earth.
That was the time God used to visit the earth and His
The present treatise is an overflow by TAOSHOBUDDHA disciples regularly. So first He went to the blind,
on the Bhakti Sutras of Sage Narad. Narad takes an consoled him and took care. Then He asked the blind if
aspirant along the path. The path of devotion runs he had any wish He will certainly fulfil. Then God went
through the entire spiritual traditions of the Aryans as a to the lame and in His usual way took care of the
glimmering stream of golden effulgence, soaked in person. Also He asked the lame to seek a boom. Do you
ecstasy. The path contains the songs of laments and joy. know what did these two, once friend and still
The entire Puranic literature is aglow with emotions of devotees, asked God. The blind said, ‘If you are really
love for the Lord. Many paths are there. And Krishna pleased with my prayers and worship and want to grant
a boon, then please make that lame blind as well. This is

11 | P a g e
his punishment.’ God got surprised. Then He decided to Also Kabir describes Love as two and a half letter word.
ask the lame what he wanted as boon. So He went to The Hindi word for love is PREM. It is most beautiful and
the lame, and asked him to seek the boon. The lame sublime and explains Love. In Hindi it is written as two
said, ‘O father if you are really pleased with my prayers and a half letter word. The first and the last letter refer
and want to grant a boon. Then please cut off the leg of to the subject and the object. And the half letter R with
the blind so that he could not walk. I do not seek the vowel E makes the word meaningful. But what
anything for me. This is the only boon I seek of you.’ really happens between the lover and the beloved
This is the way we pray. You can see this happening remains always incomplete. The more the lover and the
around you. This is not the prayer, Bhakti or devotion beloved express them, the more they feel nothing has
Narad is speaking of through these sutras. yet been said or happened. Such is the beauty of Love.
That is why Kabir calls love as two and a half letter
The world my friend is fine a stage, phenomenon.
On which we come to play our part,
Then do the most of what ye may This overflow is part of Taosho’s regular talks and the
‘Cause frigid claws of death may soon descend programs on various Radio Stations here in Trinidad in
And seal your humble fate, the Caribbean Islands.
Then you shan’t have time to mend
Shan’t have time to mend! So many are the names who have helped for this
project! Taosho is thankful to Ms. Salisha Baksh who
Therefore, lent her voice for the program ‘Hour of Introspection’
on one of the Radio Stations. Also the program
In the barren soils of thy inner sanctum, Directors, the technicians and other staff members
Oft do I use the manure of compassion? deserve appreciation. Many times it happened, the
Then one day seed of Awakening I sow, moment I spoke, I was identified through the voice and
With the rain of Thy Infinite Bliss its modulation. It happened once I visited one of my
The seed shall sprout one day customers here in Trinidad as part of my living. Listening
And then….. to me the person, Mr. Shaffie Mohammed said my voice
Reckoning shall reap the fruits resembles to that of Mr. Taosho on the Radio. This was
Of Bliss and Harmony the beginning of a new association. He decided to
At the dawn of new Awakening! sponsor the program.

After finishing the script for the present publication I I must make mention of my family, my wife Gita,
feel much is still left. Such is the path of devotion. Just daughter Dr. Sargam, and son Vivek Mohan for their
as we know end is the beginning. It feels as if I have not support and cooperation, in their own unique way, in
yet spoken. One never feels finished when it comes to making this publication available to you. Without their
Love. Love is an unfinished, ever continuing happening support this could not reach you.
between the subject and the object. An ecstatic Kabir
says: How can I not mention the name of Swami Anand
Prem Gali Ati Sankari Neelambar who provided all technical help on
Tame Dui Na Samain computer, recordings, editing, and finally making the
Raja Praja Jehi Ruchai subject matter available for you in such an eloquent
Sheesh Dai Lai Jai! form!!

Love lane is very narrow. It cannot accommodate two at Lastly, though not the least, I extend my deepest
the same time. Love makes no difference. It is equally appreciation to the publishers and the entire staff for
available for the king, the highest and the subject, the making it available in such a short time.
lowest in social order without any discrimination.
Whoever is ready to give his head can experience the With Love and awareness!
beauty and subtly of Love. [Head, according to Kabir refers
to all dogmas, thinking, belief system and other such thing!!] TAOSHO BUDDHA

12 | P a g e
 Poetry Corner

TO MEDITATE

SWAMI DHYANA YATRI AASHIYAAN

I think of death’s hypocrisy,
That parting gift that life bequeaths I drank the wine of your love
Of preachers, prophets and even priests and became forever drunk.
Who pauperize us with beliefs? I fell into a swoon
and lost all consciousness
of pain, misery and sorrows.
Oft guided by their private tastes
And fuelled by a founding faith
They claim to know our final fate My heart was drowned
And feed the fear our minds create. into the ocean of desperation
but I found eternal life
Religiously, they understand by drinking the wine of your love.
The market says supply - demand
And so conceived, the master plan This intoxicating elixir
To sell acres of a promised land! has made me mad.
Now I roam hither and thither
Our guilt, greed and passions are Seeking your love;
The devi who destroyed my reality,
The secret salesmen of a war and gave me elusive dreams.
That helps the sickness to the cure:
Prescriptions from a vast dogma!
All I want is this wine
Now, I am not an atheist, to keep me forever drunk.
Or some religious heretic If I become sober
The dreams may fade,
I do believe love exists perennially and reality return to haunt me.
In everything, feel it within.

But often in a timeless haste I drink this wine

We end the journey at the gate to remain eternally drunk.
And seek to buy, when we should wait Swami Anand eelambar
To search ourselves:
to Meditate.

13 | P a g e
 Tulsidas meets Hanuman reaches the place before every one and leaves after
every one has left. This was an enough hint.
The Communion! On seeing the leprous Tulsi bow down to him and sought
his blessing to meet Sri Rama and Lakshman. At first
Hanuman pretended, but then he had to yield to the
Tulsidas felt hurt with the words of Ratna when she said
love, sincerity, and aspiration of Tulsi. Hanuman
if even half of the love that you have for me is directed
promised and created the situation for the vision of Sri
towards Sri Rama your life will attain a new meaning.
Rama.
Apparently Tulsi felt hurt but deep within these words
created an insatiable quest to seek eternal. It is believed
Sri Rama and Lakshman appeared in their princely garb
it these were the words of Hanuman who chose Ratna
with bows on the shoulder, the form that appealed most
as an instrument.
to Tulsi. But this he could not see through his mortal
vision. Divine vision has yet to happen to him. Only an
Something was stirred within him. Thus he entered an
enlightened master can provide this vision. Tulsi missed
ascetic life. A TRANSFORMATION that has made Tulsi
the opportunity. So he once again asked Hanuman for a
ETERNAL in every Hindu heart! Tulsi spent much of his
second opportunity. This time Hanuman decided to be
time in wandering as a preacher of the necessity of a
present so that the opportunity is not lost.
loving faith in Rama. He first made Ajodhya his
headquarters, frequently visiting distant places of
Remember in existence there is never a repetition. Each
pilgrimage in different parts of India. During his
time the manifestation happens it is always as new. Tulsi
residence at Ajodhya Rama is said to have appeared to
was preparing the chandan for the worship at the temple
him in a dream, and to have commanded him to write a
to be offered to the devotees coming there for the
Ramayana in the language used by the common people.
worship. This time as Sri Rama and Lakshman appeared
Hanuman feared that Tulsi may miss the opportunity
The sequence of events so happened that because of
once again: Tulsi spoke through Hanuman:
the conflict with the Vairagi Vaishnavas at Ayodhya,
Tulsi migrated to Benares, where he settled at Asighat.
The work of writing the portrayal of Sri Rama had
already begun in the year 1574, yet still Tulsi was G<aga jI ke xaq pe -yI s<tn kI -Ir
seeking something else to bring forth the most intricate
episodes. This he could not do on his own. His intuition tuulsI das c<dn ixs<E itlk det rxubIr
did not allow him for this. Still certain insights were
needed.
A GREAT CONGREGATION IS THERE ON
Such insights can only be invoked by a master within an THE BANKS OF SACRED RIVER GANGA!
aspirant. Tulsi was coming closer to being a devotee. AN HUMBLE TULSIDAS IS PREPARING
Time was approaching for the meeting with the master. CHANDAN THAL FOR CONSECRATION!
Deep within, he was inclined towards Hanuman. But DAZED HE IS AT THE SIGHT AS SRI RAMA
there was no way for this commune. Sri Rama or the THE LORD OF RAGHUS! THE ABSOLUTE
CONSCIOUSNESS! THE VERY ESSENCE
existence has to create the situation for the meeting.
OF ALL THAT IS MANIFEST AND UNMANIFEST
Tulsi used to the outskirts every morning to attend to
IS NOW CONSECRATING WITH A TILAK
nature’s call, as was the customary among the ascetics AT THE FOREHEAD!
then. He used to carry water in a goblet. And every
morning while returning he used to throw the remaining This was enough a hint to fulfil his longing of lives. After
water at the root of a tree. This unfolded the sequence of this even Tulsi was able to continue the work until its
events. fruition!
It appeared the pages of a script are unfolding itself. At Although before settling on Asi-ghat in Benares he had
the root of that tree lived a spirit. With constant water already finished three episodes. But he could not
offering he was pleased and thus appeared before Tulsi continue beyond that. And even the third episode of
to seek a boon. Tulsi was only seeking the way to Kishkindhakand he could not complete.
envision the lord of his love Sri Rama. The spirit said it
cannot be possible without the grace of Hanuman. Such is the glory of the commune with an enlightened
Hanuman is the way to Sri Rama. Thus seeing the master.
possibility only through Hanuman, Tulsi focussed his
attention on seeking refuge in Hanuman. SRI RAM JAI RAM JAI JAI RAM!
JAI JAI SHARANAM!
The spirit assisted Tulsi. He said hanuman comes every SRI HANUMAN SHARANAM
day on the banks of sacred Ganga to listen to Ram
Katha. This he does in disguise as an old leprous. He

14 | P a g e
 Sri Aurobindo Sym
mbol WHEEL OF TIME
Wheel of time too swiftly it moves,
Goes on mopping as it rolls,
No powers can its fury ebb;
Or check its passage!

It has been going,

And, shall go for ever without a break,
Then do the most of what ye y may
What ye may!

The world my friend is fine a stage,

A stage! On which
we come to act our part
Then do the most of what ye may.

‘Cause frigid claws of death

May soon descend and seal your humble fete.
Then you shan’t have time to mend!
The
he descending triangle represents Sat
Sat-
Shan’t have time
me to mend!!!
Chit-Ananda. *****

The
he ascending triangle represents the
aspiring answer from matter under the
form of life, light and love.

The junction
ion of both, the central square
square: is
the perfect manifestation having at its
centre the Avatar of the Supreme - the
lotus.

The water: inside the square represents

the multiplicity, the creation.

Sri Aurobindo came to tell us: "One need not leave

the earth to find the Truth, one need not leave the
life to find his soul, one need not abandon the
world or have only limited beliefs to enter into
relation with thee Divine. The Divine is everywhere,
in everything and if He is hidden, it is because we
Taoshobudd
dha at the
do not take the trouble to discover Him." - The SRI AUROBINDO SHRINE,
Mother SRI
RI AUROBINDO ASHRAM
NEW DELHI, INDIA

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