Inner Journey

The basic approach of Hindu yogis is to control the mind, by controlling the five senses.The mind is considered as the  sixth sense. In Katha Upanishad, the senses are compared to five unruly horses,going after the objects [the road] while mind becomes the reins.The soul is the charioteer.... and so on.
Make a list of time wasters--like excessive reading of newspaaper/magazines,TV, web/internet,gossipping and so on.Reduce them ruthlessly.

   " The mind is like a package of mustard seeds.Unless you hold it firmly ,it will be extremely difficult to gather the seeds once they are scattered."
                                                       ---- Sri Ramakrishna

The world of Gurus is intriguing.Many gurus have come and gone.The word 'Guru' means 'one who dispels darkness or ignorance'---by ignorance is meant spiritual ignorance....
Gurus can be classified into three groups:1 who teach scriptures and expound on philosophy...they are like college professors 2 Those who teach some techniques [yoga,pranayama,kriya and so on] 3 those who mould and train you in the spiritual path with specific guidelines and take responsibility for your progress....They may even follow you for several births.
Genuine gurus are interested in the spiritual progress of disciples or chelas, not in their own progress.A guru can take only a few disciples at a time, may be a dozen.Even Sri Ramakrishna had only 16 direct disciples who became monks and perhaps 20 householder-disciples....Having hundreds of disciples are bogus programs;they mean only formal teaching of a course as in an university;You can get a diploma and hang the certificate on the wall and become a routine  instructor and open your shop.
   A true guru is following the disciple for life and is close to him for ever.Infact genuine gurus know how to spot a future chela and, watch him, train him carefully.The training would be intense and can be painful to the chela.
The guru's main aim is not to teach, but to clean your mind.!to teach you humility [vinaya].!!In short, at the right time, the right guru will run towards you.Be prepared.
  Be wary of Gurus giving quick methods to attain Nirvana or Self-realization or raising of the Kundalini [the divine force in the spine] and mass awakening by a flash--- in these days of instant foods and instant gratification!.These are gurus after your money...Usually the spiritual practices in Hindu tradition  take  8 to 12 years,unless you are already bestowed with grace like Bhagavan Ramana.We are not Ramanas or Ramakrishnas--Period.
Satsangs or discussions/discourses with great souls are very powerful, but again don't expect great progress in a matter of days or weeks of retreats.If you want to get your certificate to teach/preach and open your shop,that is fine.
    A GURU IS ESSENTIAL...but choose a guru carefully.Don't fall into the trap of 'organisational' [corporate-style] gurus who want to builld big enterprises or ashrams.If you offer some voluntary service for a few hours each day,that is good.Not beyond that. Do not offer your personal wealth or assets to these gurus and later become penniless and end up in the street, if the guru or his chelas throw you out.! Watch out for young gurus who keep in touch with their original  families. Watch out for gurus who give quick methods of realization[say, in a week or two!.!
Modern day gurus have the gift of the gab, and talk in simple cliches..[The common cliches used by bogus ones are: " I have known you for many births', "I have been waiting for you', "why you took so long to reach here']
These are general counsel; I do not have any particular guru in mind while writing this.But examples of  sham gurus are plenty and I don't have to list them for you.
    It is indeed a sorry state of affairs that these gurus have spoiled the fair name of India and Hindu culture.[Guru ratings are available and can be useful for a beginner- western seeker.]
   Again do not be deluded that one can get self-realization or other spiritual  goals by reading books,taking notes,learning Sanskrit or listening to lectures,attending satsangs or visiting temples.....these things help to a great extent and are preparations only......Only regular Japa,Prayers,Meditation can give you progress..Then a touch of Divine Grace is required. You must become  worthy of Grace--- that is all.
     There is a saying in India: "It is easy to find a guru,but difficult to find a worthy disciple!"..Keep this in mind.

Sarvajana Sukhino Bhavantu---May all People attain Peace!!

You need a small space or room for quiet meditation.It could be a part of a room partitioned or an attic or under a tree where you would not be disturbed...If you have a room, decorate it with a few things--pictures or images you like, a soft light,a few fresh flowers ,avoid plastic artificial flowers;burn incense sticks and an oil lamp or candles...Avoid gaudy pictures,calenders ,tourist spots pics and so on.These are guide -lines only.....
As far as possible, let no one enter that space except you and close followers...Use white cloth or light colour cloth or curtains.....no gossip/idle talk in that room...slowly the room becomes your personal chapel or shrine.....
Chant and sing in that space ,as often as you can..avoid loud music...do not sleep in that room...
  Daily spend some moments in the morning and night in that room...When you are away,try to visualise that space in your mind.

Many meditative practices include chanting or affirmations for  world peace and welfare of mankind.....Dont be limited to your village/city/state/country...Pray for people of all colours,races and religions....Though you may think that such methods are not going to reduce violence and warfare in the world,there are tangible benefits....Firstly it expands your mind and gives YOU calmness  and peace....secondly such prayers spread the message slowly through your thought patterns...Those who come in contact with you will feel the good thoughts emanating from you..
Thirdly you will attract like-minded peace-loving persons who form an informal peace group...It is indeed difficult to quantify and measure these things ,but the simple fact that we did not have a nuclear war after 1945 bombing [of Hiroshima and Nasgasaki] shows that the efforts of pious souls do  have an effect.
Before you wish to attain Cosmic Vision or cosmic consciousness, Pray .... Visualising people of different countries,different colors,different races---scan different continents in your mind's eye---Pray for their welfare and prosperity...this prayer will expnad your thoughts and feelings----
May there be Peace in my heart!
May there be Peace in the hearts of my country folks!
May there be Peace among all the citizens of this world!!
Repeat such chants several times.
" We must go about our labours quietly,calmly and lovingly,entreating Him to prosper the works of our hands." -------Brother Lawrence

  I have been telling in these pages the efficacy of chanting Lord's name---loudly or in whisper...In this higly materialistc world or kali Yuga, when people rush about to work and do the necessary chores around the home, simple chanting of Lord's name for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night will suffice.Nama Japa has the means of healing many ailments,,,i do not have statistical analysis and clinical trials for this....Just try --it does not cost money...Swami Sivananda of  Rishikesh was a great advocate of this healing process which he called "Namopathy"---note that he was an allopathic doctor who practised for many years in Malayasia.!
    Complex pujas and elaborate rituals may be practised due to convention or tradition, but not really necessary in this Kali Yuga..
    "Silent prayer is meditation;meditational song is prayer." ---Sant Keshavdas