Old Story, Golden Moral By Sirshree

Once upon a time in a village, there was a man who used to break stones for a living. He used to go to the hills on the outskirts of the village for stone breaking. Once, while at work, a thought occurred to him – ‘I work hard all day to break these stones and people use them to build their mansions. How I wish that I had a mansion too!’ immediately there was a prophesy from the skies ‘All your wishes will be fulfilled.’ Indeed the man was graced with a beautiful mansion. He spent a few days in joy.

One day, a king’s convoy was passing by his mansion. Seeing the king seated in lavish comfort on an elephant, he thought ‘Wow! It must be so wonderful to be a king and go around in such luxury. I wish I were a king…’ His wish was immediately granted.

Having become a king, he used to roam around in his cavalcade. After spending a few days enjoying this luxury, he began to feel hot inside his carriage. It was summer and he was perspiring in the severe heat. A thought struck him ‘The sun seems to be stronger than the king. If only, I could be the king…!’

He did become the sun, but his happiness lasted only till the end of summer. With the onset of the rainy season, the sky was overcast. The clouds veiled the sun. He felt ‘The clouds seem to be more powerful than the sun; I wish I were a cloud. Presto! He became a cloud. He was thrilled to wander as a cloud in the sky. As you might expect, strong winds began to shove the clouds from one end to the other. While being jostled thus, he thought ‘The wind is stronger than the clouds. I would love to be the wind…’ No sooner did this thought arise, then he became the wind.

Delighted to be the wind, he was blowing all over. He uprooted many trees in glee. But he realized that he could not budge the hill. The hill blocked his movement. This meant that the hill prevailed over the wind. He thought, ‘It would be better to be a hill….’

However, having been through the entire journey with awareness, Stonebreaker now remained always happy. (image curtsy : Wikipedia)

With this thought, he became a hill. After a few days, there came a man who started striking the hill for stones. ‘The person striking the stone appears to be dominant over the hill’. Upon getting this thought in his mind, he once again became the stonebreaker.

Thus, this man went through the whole journey from being a stone breaker till he returned to the life of a stonebreaker with awareness. Having been through all these experiences, he no longer desired to change his job. He continued stone breaking for the rest of his life. However, having been through the entire journey with awareness, he now remained always happy.

Oneness wallpaper -15

“Meditation is not wasting time, unfortunately that is what some people think. Meditation is investing time, without which we cannot attain our full potential.”
.. Tejguru Sirshree Tejparkhiji

Oneness wallpaper – 15 : Meditation

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Related topics:

1. Understanding Meditation
2. Neutral Meditation
3. Thought Numbering Meditation

Understanding Thoughts with Self Enquiry

Q&A with Sirshree

Seeker: How can we continuously do “self enquiry”? It is but natural for thoughts to arise. They are bound to come. In such a situation, what do we do?

Understanding Thoughts with Self Enquiry

Sirshree: This enquiry is not difficult at all if one understands it properly. Whenever any other thought arises, ask yourself ‘to whom has this thought arisen?’ (Who is the thinker?). It doesn’t matter how many thoughts come to you. When you ask this to yourself (to whom has this thought occurred?), an answer might occur to you, “This thought has occurred to me”. Immediately ask yourself, “Who is this me?”, “Who am I?”. Then you will be thrown back to yourself. When you ask yourself, “Who is this me?” or “Who am I? “, then do not give the answer in words. Don’t answer from the intellect… ‘I am consciousness’, ‘I am self ‘, etc. Beyond these answers, beyond the intellect – one has to experience the feeling – one’s being – the feeling of “sense of presence”. Reaching the experience of the true self is the real answer to this question. In this way, every time, every thought… will take you back to your true self. Right now, if you are getting this thought that “I am not understanding this”, then ask… “who is it that is not understanding?”. If I have not understood, then who… who… who…? Immediately you will see that thoughts disappear for some moments. You become thoughtless. Only the self remains. In this way, by repeatedly contacting your true self, the mind will weaken and the light of consciousness will shine. The mind will learn to stay at its source by repeating this process. By dipping into the self again and again, the mind shall dissolve. It is like the story of the dolls made out of salt. They wanted to dive into the sea to measure its depth, they themselves got dissolved before reaching the bottom.

Seeker: Are there no other ways to quieten the mind?

Sirshree: Quietening of the mind is not the destination; it is just one of the steps. If after quietening of the mind, the required understanding is not achieved, the whole purpose is lost. This understanding does not arise through other methods. Some people try to quieten the mind by regulating their breath (pranayama). Or through chanting of mantras. In all these methods, one does feel that the mind has become quiet for some time. However, the mind returns back after some time with the same old understanding. The doubts of the mind appear again . The mind’s thoughts continue to trouble us. When someone focuses the mind on the gap between two breaths, then also the mind shall become quiet. One feels that along with the breath, the mind too has stopped. In deep sleep, even while the breathing is going on, the mind is quiet, it even ceases to exist. It is therefore, better if we can be on our source while breathing is taking place normally. Self enquiry achieves this naturally.

Seeker: Since there is no end to thoughts, how long should one continue “self enquiry”?

Sirshree:  Do this enquiry until you find out your true identity, as long as your concepts about yourself don’t dissolve. One of the root concept is that you are the body, the moment such concepts / beliefs dissolve, self-enquiry will end because then you would have stabilized on your self. You would have become a sthithpragnya (one who is stabilized in truth). After that, even if there are thoughts, you would have understood that they are separate from you. You are witnessing those thoughts. Thoughts are in your body-mind mechanism. This machine is just a mirror which makes you aware of yourself. If there are thoughts happening to this mirror, then how can they trouble you? The mirror always does its work. It always reveals your presence to you. (It means it always makes you aware of your awareness). Practising self-enquiry and thus being established in oneself is the highest devotion of all. Eliminating thoughts the moment they arise by the process of self-enquiry is the truest sacrifice of all.

How to do Self Enquiry

Q&A with Sirshree 

First ask - "Who I am not?"

Seeker: How does one begin Self Enquiry?

Sirshree: For the right start, first understand a little more about the body. Then about the mind, intellect and the Real Self (Sakshi). Understanding this will help.

Seeker: Should I directly begin by asking “Who am I?”

Sirshree: No. First ask – “Who I am not?”. I am not this body because the moment I say that this is my body, then it is something external. Not me. I am not “my car”. “My house” possibly cannot be me. I say : “Please come to my house”, and not “Please come in to me”.

• Name given to this body is not me.
•  The five elements of this gross body – earth, fire, water, wind and space is not me.
• The astral body within the body is not me.
• The five senses of the body -eyes, ears , nose, tongue, and skin is not me.
• I am not those things that are related to the senses sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
• I am also not the breath due to which this body-mind mechanism functions.
• Neither I am the mind that thinks about what I should be.
• Nor am I the intellect that is absent along with the body during deep sleep.

Seeker: If I am not all these, then who am I?

Sirshree: You are the only one who remains. It was you who were using the five layers of the body. It was you who were the master of the intellect. Now it is you who is the witnessing of the mind.

You are beyond every label

• Now, if you no longer are the body and intellect, how can you be an engineer or a doctor or a leader or a student?
• How can you be a brother or a sister, a father, a mother, a friend, a husband, a wife, a disciple or a Guru?
• How can you be American, Indian, British, Chinese, etc.?
• How can you be a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew?
• How can you be cheerful, intelligent, foolish, positive, active, honest, pious, lazy? Now it is just you who remains – pure, non-state , without any imagination of name or form. Accept your true form as it is. And remain that. You have become something that you aren’t. Now is the time to be established in your consciousness. To be who you really are – the bright witnessing.

Also read:

1. Who am I
2. Self Enquiry with Honesty
3. Thoughts and Self Enquiry
4. Tejam: Bright Witnessing

Enquiry about Ego

Q&A with Sirshree

In relationships, there should be 'bright love' and not mere expectations (Photo via flickr)

Seeker:  Is fear, greed or ego the reason behind all the work that we do? Is that why you are asking us to do self-enquiry?

Sirshree:  When you think honestly, you will find that you work with some expectations and with some ego. You have expectations from your brothers, sisters, spouse, children, etc. You want these expectations to be fulfilled. If they do not fulfil these expectations, then they become the reason for your unhappiness and anger. In relationships, there should be ‘bright love’ and not mere expectations. Also in exchange of this love, one should not expect name, fame, and gratitude. This bright love will come to you automatically through understanding. The ego will dissolve.

Seeker:  How does this ego get created?

Sirshree:   Once a child is 2 or 3 years old, the contrast mind begins to form. Which then takes the credit for every action. Then ego begins to increase. Different experiences… successes, wealth, status, etc. fuel the ego even further. Because of the habit of taking credit through appreciation, we gradually become a slave to praise. There is no limit to the ego. One can never satisfy it. This is its nature. If we wish to feed the ego with praise and when we don’t get praise then we have to bear its miseries as well. Self-enquiry with honesty will dissolve this ego and you will then find out your true nature, your being. Most of your problems will end immediately. Enquiry is such a technique that if it is done with understanding, then it can result in self realization.

Seeker:  Now, I am beginning to understand many things. What else have I to learn?

Sirshree:   You have to learn a little and do a lot of unlearning. Whatever concepts and beliefs you have assumed and accepted have to be removed and cleared through understanding. Whomsoever has the desire for happiness, peace, bliss etc. should do this enquiry.

Self Transformation through Knowlerience

Self Transformation is self liberation followed by self development followed by self expression.

An individual may have many aims. He gets joy and satisfaction only after achieving his aim. However, he is unaware that hidden behind every aim, is the chief aim of self transformation. This can be termed as ‘Aim Beyond Aim’. Self transformation refers to realizing one’s potential and then expressing it. In this article Sirshree presents the perspective with which one should approach this aim.

“Self Transformation is self liberation followed by self development followed by self expression. Self Liberation refers to freedom from negativities such as fear, worry, anger, etc. Self Development refers to improving positive qualities, working on every level of life. Once you are liberated from negativities and have developed your qualities, the demonstrable results in your life and their impact on those around you become your Self expression. In other words,

Self Transformation = Self Liberation (from problems) + Self Development (in all 5 areas of life *) + Self Expression (the impact on your life and others)

Self Transformation is akin to blossoming. A photograph is of no use if it remains confined within the camera itself. For a photograph to be expressed to the world, it first needs to be washed and then developed.

The one who is in the path of self transformation is a warrior. A warrior takes everything in life to be a challenge, responding fully to what happens without complaint or regret. What usually matters most to people is affirmation or certainty in the eyes of others; what matters most to a warrior is commitment to transformation. This warrior is one who has clarity of body, mind and intellect. Clarity with respect to the body refers to being aware of postures, the breath, the interplay of the physical elements, becoming sensitive to just how much food and sleep is actually needed. Clarity with respect to the mind refers to clarity of emotions, thoughts and different mental states. Not getting caught up in the whirlings of the mind, retaining the balance in their flow of thoughts. Clarity of intellect refers to not being muddled or confused about what is happening. And he does not have this clarity at merely an intellectual level, but at an experiential level. He is a warrior with knowlerience.

Knowlerience

Knowlerience is a word that you will not find in the dictionary. Knowlerience refers to knowledge and experience. Knowledge could be mere expression in words. Experiential knowledge is what is more important, not just intellectual knowledge.

You have understood that Self Transformation is needed across the three layers of the body, mind and intellect and in the five levels of life. But mere understanding is not enough.

For the transformation of the body, you have to practice a proper diet (pure diet), practice breath control (pranayama), exercise, and take timely rest. Also, you should seek the benefits of all the gifts of nature such as air, water, sunlight, natural herbs, etc. Many have a ‘body of knowledge’ about the body. Only when they practice what is mentioned therein, they have knowlerience of body transformation.

For the transformation of the mind, you should practice cultivating optimistic thoughts (Happy Thoughts) and a strong aim. Be deeply watchful of your thoughts and you will be liberated from vices such as fear, worry, anger etc. Many have a mindful load of information about the mind. Only when they practice a few things from that truck load of information, they have knowlerience of mind transformation.

For the transformation of the intellect, you should practice farsightedness, originality, practicality and act as per what the situation needs. Many intellectually understand the intellect. Only when they practice what they intellectually understand, they have knowlerience of intellectual transformation.

Even if you are told the deepest secret of the universe, it would appear as just empty words until there was enough practice.”

You will find more information about this topic in the book by the same name. In it you’ll also find an action plan for each aspect showing how you could plan your actions and work your plan. Imbibe them and you will have knowlerience of self transformation. Then you would have learnt to convert problems into opportunities.

Note : * 5 areas of life are : physical, mental, financial, social and spiritual

Time required for Understanding the Truth

Q&A with Sirshree

Time required for Understanding the Truth (Photo from Flickr)

Seeker: How much time would it take me to understand the Truth?

Sirshree: This depends upon your desire to understand it. It depends on your thirst for the Truth. As and when this thirst increases – you will find that this is very easy. Some people are like camphor. The fire of Truth lights fast in them. Some are like incense sticks – a little bit more time is required. Some are like coal – more time is required. And lastly some are like wet wood – whom the fire of Truth can’t even touch.

Seeker: Can’t everyone get this understanding?

Sirshree: It is possible. Because within everybody the Truth exists. But the desire to know the Truth has to arise first. Till it doesn’t rise, then for ‘that’ the mind is like wet wood. The mind won’t be ready to listen at all.

Seeker: How will this thirst arise?

Sirshree: If somebody keeps listening to the Truth, keeps attending the discourses, if he keeps company of those friends who are also seekers of Truth – then this thirst will surely arise.

Also read:

1. Is the Truth bitter or sweet
2. Listening to Final Truth
3. Interval Meditation

 

Neutral Meditation

Neutral meditation means you are neutral for every thought. If you are in sorrow, you are neutral; if you are in joy yet you are neutral. When you are practicing this meditation, then:

1) If you are sad, don’t say, “I am sad.” At such time, say, “Thoughts of sorrow are passing through my mind.”

2) If you are happy, yet you should remain neutral. At such time also, say, “Thoughts of happiness are passing through my mind.” At such time, don’t say, “I am happy” or “I am sad”, instead your thoughts should be neutral in both instances. That is why it has been called as ‘Neutral Meditation.’

Neutral meditation means you are neutral for every thought

You can practice this meditation any time of the day. When you get thoughts of boredom, make them neutral. When you get thoughts of hatred, then too look at them with a neutral feeling and say, “At this time, thoughts of boredom or thoughts of hatred are passing by.” Never say, “I am bored… angry… depressed… anxious… ” etc. This will help you to remain balanced and steady in every situation.

Oneness wallpaper – 13

“Use the head and heart in a balanced and appropriate way. Think from the head and feel from the heart. Be passionate and alert, strong and intelligent all the time. In this way, you will always be free from attachment and illusion. ”
.. Tejguru Sirshree Tejparkhiji

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Oneness wallpaper – 13

Also see other Oneness Wallpapers.

And read:

1. The law of Karma demystified
2. Blessing of A Good Character
3. Aim High, Reach Higher

How is Contrast Mind formed

Q&A with Sirshree

Contrast Mind

Seeker: How is Contrast Mind formed in the first place?

Sirshree: The first thought that arises within us when we wake up in the morning is the ‘I thought’. There are variations to the ‘I thought’, viz.

• I woke
• I arose
• Now what is the first thing that I should do?
• My eyes are a bit heavy today
• Is it time for me to wake up?

Maybe the words could be different – but all of them are only those pertaining to I. With the advent of the ‘I thought’ – other thoughts start to follow. By then, the senses are awake too. It is only after the ‘I thought’ that the contrast mind forms which then judges everything as good or bad; ‘this was good’ or ‘this was bad’. This mind assumes a separate identity for itself – My work, My name, My actions, My religion, My nation, My sins, My pious deeds…

It compares and contrasts every event, every thought. It is precisely this that is unhappiness. It is precisely this that is bondage. It is this that is ignorance. It is this that is illusion. It is this that is the obstacle to attain truth. It is this that is the black cloud shrouding the sun (Self). It is this that is an eclipse. It is this that is the speck that has got into your eye and now won’t allow you to even see something as obvious as a mountain.

Also read:

1. Thoughts and Self Enquiry
2. Look who’s fooling you
3. Tejam: Bright Witnessing
4. Is the Truth bitter or sweet

Who am I

Q&A with Sirshree

Who Am I? ...Instead of imagining, experience it with peace.

Seeker:	Who am I?
Sirshree:	This is something that only you have to tell.
Seeker:	I try a lot. Yet I cannot find out that ‘I’. What is it like? Even after lots of effort I’m unable to find it. Nothing is clear.
Sirshree:	You are trying to know it with the help of your imagination. Truth is beyond imagination. When the mind is unable to see a particular thing then it starts imagining about it. Who is that who says that the ‘I’ cannot be found? Instead of imagining, experience it with peace. Before grasping the ‘I am’ feeling, ‘Understanding’ has to be gained. Otherwise the mind will again and again raise its head and will weave a web of imagination. Reach the roots of it. Understanding is imparted in the final truth discourses – that can make you reach there. Once you reach there, the mind falls or surrenders itself at the feet of God where everything is acceptable to it. This way, the mind will die. Surrendering yourself and understanding is one and the same. When the ego understands the power of God – then it surrenders. By understanding, it goes into silence.
Seeker:	How should this surrendering be?
Sirshree:	Surrendering is successful only after the real meaning of surrendering is understood. This knowledge comes only after attaining final Truth and supreme knowledge. This is not a state where the feeling changes and faith falters when our wishes are not granted. It is total acceptance and surrender, whether our demands are met or not. Surrendering is complete only when it is doubtless. Such surrendering encompasses absolutely everything, whatever happens with us or with others.
Seeker:	But isn’t it funny that we constantly keep trying to find this ‘I’? ‘Who am I? Who am I?’ – We keep thinking only of this.
Sirshree:	You think of yourself as the body, that is why it seems humorous. But it is exactly the opposite. This thing is very serious. The moment you know yourself – all problems, all the depression, anger, worries, hatred vanishes. The fear of death and the struggle of life ends.

Understanding Meditation

Giving attention is not meditation. Meditation is not concentration. Meditation is not contemplation. The word ‘meditation’ originated from spirituality. In India, spiritual seekers understood the deeper aspects of ‘meditation’. But today the word ‘meditation’ has become commonplace and is being used without its deeper meaning. It has therefore lost its importance. ‘Giving attention’ is being understood as ‘meditation’ by most people.

Meditation is an attribute.. attribute of the witness

Meditation is an attribute. It is an attribute of the witness. The witness which is called differently by different people… God, Allah, Self, Self-awareness, Consciousness, etc. Meditation is that source which is present even in deep sleep – self-awareness – even in the state of unawareness.

Meditation simply means ‘doing nothing.’ For some people ‘doing nothing’ is very difficult. How can we do ‘nothing’? If someone asks, ‘What should I do to get sleep? What can be done to get sleep faster?’ Then he will be told , ‘You have to do nothing to get sleep. Just go and lie down. If you try to get sleep, it will run away. You can get sleep very easily without making any effort.’ In the same way, meditation is also a process in which there is no need to do anything. You simply have to be present.

The techniques which have been designed to kick start meditation or to improve concentration, have also been called ‘meditation’. This ‘meditation’ is a path to self-meditation. Self-Meditation means meditation of ‘Self’ which is the real aim of meditation. Just improving concentration is not the goal of meditation. The word ‘Self-Meditation’ is more appropriate than the word ‘meditation’. But due to the greater prevalence of the word ‘meditation’, people have forgotten the real meaning of meditation. Concentration is a ladder in the path of meditation. Concentration improves with meditation. But if someone is meditating with the aim of improving concentration, then he is taking only minimal benefit from meditation. Many a times it so happens that someone begins on the path of meditation to attain ‘Self–Realization’, but he becomes very happy with improved concentration having gotten some powers and strays away from his real goal.

Meditation has also been taken as a Yogic Practice. Meditation (awareness) is necessary in every field of life. No work can be done without meditation. Meditation is essential for all activities of life. All our senses affect our body. Whenever our senses are directed externally and are involved in external things, then all the energy of our mind gets exhausted in the external objects. Therefore it is necessary that we have some control over our senses, which is possible through meditation. Through meditation it is possible to utilize for ourself a part of the energy which is getting consumed in the external world. To shift the mind from external objects and stabilize it inside is the beginning of meditation.
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Complete Meditation - 222 Question and Answers

The above article has been taken from ‘Meditation’, a book written by Sirshree. Although it was targeted primarily for beginners, it can be useful for everybody – even for those who practice meditation regularly. Just as you can’t learn swimming by just reading a book on swimming, similarly you can’t get the benefits of meditation, you don’t get absorbed in meditation just by reading a book on meditation. Practicing regularly with the right understanding is necessary to make progress.

Also read:

1. Preparation before meditation
2. RELAX BUTTON MEDITATION
3. Concentration Meditation
4. “I Don’t Know” Meditation
5. Tejam: Bright Witnessing

Role of friends in your life

Q/A with Sirshree

How to find a true Friend? Whom to befriend and whom not to?

True friends are those that together walk the path of Truth.

Seeker: I spend a lot of time with my friends. My family opposes it, saying that I’m wasting my time with them and they are not good for my future. What should I do?

Sirshree: Your choice of friends reveals your character. There is a quote which reads: “Tell me the names of your friends, and I will tell you your character.” It is said so because you tend to make friends with those who are similar to you. If you like to stay in ignorance, you will befriend those who speak in ignorance.

“Birds of a feather flock together.” Such proverbs make people stop and ponder. Now stop for a minute and think of what your friends convey about you. If someone were to go and meet your friends, thereafter what kind of an opinion will he form about you? If you feel that he will form a negative opinion, it means that it is time to change your friends.

If an unwise and egoistic person were to choose his friends, he will choose those who are less knowledgeable than him, because he feels comfortable and superior in their company. We feel superior among people who are less knowledgeable than us and inferior among those who are more knowledgeable and wiser than us.

To empower your character, choose the company of people who have a strong character and good qualities. Only by doing so, you can start working on your character. Looking at the systematic work and the qualities of an intelligent and progressive person, the weak ones start feeling that they must overcome their weak points and develop their qualities.

Seeker: How to find a true friend? I am a bit confused Sirshree as to whom to befriend and whom not to?

Sirshree: True friends are those that together walk the path of Truth. Radiance is added to your character by treading the path of Truth. A true friend is the one who restrains his friend from wrong deeds, shows him his demerits, and inspires him to tread the path of Truth. Only in the company of such friends can you rightly build your character. Else, among false friends, you will lose the priceless treasure of your character.

Even if one among your friends has new and limitless thinking, you gain by his thoughts. If, in a group, this person talks about integrity or some new creations, the others immediately begin to think on those lines.

To achieve your goal, take help from only those people who have the same goal as you. While climbing up a mountain, join hands with those climbing up and not with those going down. Because the one going up will also pull you along towards the top. The one going down will pull you downwards. If you want to become a doctor, staying in the company of doctors will help you in achieving your goal. Staying with engineers or teachers will not help your goal. Similarly, if you want to build your character and work on strengthening your foundation, stay in the company of those who have a strong foundation and have already worked on their character.

Befriend those who are at least two steps ahead of you or equal to you in qualities (and not in wealth). By maintaining friendship with such persons, your possibility of building a virtuous character opens up, because they know the importance of becoming virtuous. Thus, both of you can build a virtuous character and lead a happy life. If your friend is already a virtuous person, it is very good for you because by staying in his company, you too can speedily build your character.

By staying in bad company, you too start imbibing their bad qualities. Man loses control over himself in bad company and indulges in things that degrade his character day by day. Thus the saying goes: “Don’t drink milk sitting under a toddy palm tree.” A toddy palm tree produces toddy, a type of liquor, which looks like milk. Sitting under such a tree, even if you just drink milk, people will assume that you are drinking toddy. More importantly, where will your attention be? Definitely, on the toddy tree. You start thinking about what you see. You start speaking of what you think. Sooner or later, you start doing what you speak. And bad deeds reap failure and misery. Therefore, enhance your maturity and avoid bad company.

Spiritual Transformation and beyond 12 steps

The road to spiritual transformation is a 12 step path and there are 12 states that are progressively experienced. We will learn 12 steps in this article and 12 states in the next one.

The 12 steps

Illustration: "Stairway to Heaven" by Jim Warren

The mind of the seeker can aid or can abort his spiritual progress. There are 12 steps that a seeker progresses through. The mind can get stuck at any 1 step. The mind ought to be given the understanding that it has to keep progressing up the steps.

Step 1 : What?

As a child grows, the child starts asking the question, What?. What is this? What is that? It wants to explore everything. So, the first step is the question that the child poses to the world what?

Step 2 : How?

As the child starts to learn new words and starts to make meaning, then the word what slowly starts losing significance. The second step enfolds. The child starts to ask the question, How?. How does this work? How does that work? He asks everyone the question how. Children nowadays know the answer to the question how fairly early. They can operate computers and mobile phones at a very early age.

Step 3 : Why?

The third question is a critical junction. The child starts asking, why? Parents are now in a fix. The child asks, why did someone die? Parents can at most explain that he died out of sickness. The child then asks, but why do human beings die at all? Parents may be dumbstruck. They tell the child not to ask a why for everything. The child asks why shouldn’t I?

Step 4 : I know

When the answer to why is suppressed, many children erroneously form conclusions and stop at Step 4. They have got a few readymade answers to the question why. They have received some basic kindergarten answers to the most profound questions of life. The child, now a youth, starts to imagine that he knows it all.

Step 5 : I dont know

At this step, the youth listens to a discourse. Maybe reads a book. And then it hits him (or her) that I don’t know. However, many do not even progress to this step. Now at least he knows that he doesn’t know. This is very fortunate that he has received the first gem of wisdom that he is not wise at all.

Step 6 : I am in KG

The youth then starts understanding various concepts of spirituality. He starts understanding about concepts such as karma, heaven and hell, liberation, etc. He assimilates all answers, but there is a vacuum somewhere. He wants to know more. He wants the final answer. He realizes that all that he knows is either GK or KG. General Knowledge or mere knowledge of KinderGarten spirituality. Now he is a bit wiser. The answers he has received are not wrong. They have their own place. But they are still correct to the extent of Kindergarten spirituality only. The thirst for the final answer begins to arise.

Step 7 : I want to know.

In this step, he has become a seeker. Now the thirst to know the final answer deepens. He yearns to know the truth. A thought occurs that I want to be liberated from all thoughts. This is a happy thought. He has now progressed through steps such as, I don’t know, I may not know and is now at I must know.

Step 8 : I have knowledge

At this step, he now understands the truth intellectually. He intellectually knows what is the meaning of duality, non duality, Self at Rest, Self in Action, etc. At this transformational step, he derives happiness by intellectually knowing and understanding the truth.

Step 9 : I am knowledge

At this step, the seeker understands that what he is, is nothing but knowledge itself. Now he has progressed from intellectually knowing and saying that I have knowledge to I am knowledge. He understands that there is no one else to know. There is no individual who will be left to know the knowledge. Knowledge is. Experience is. Experience is experiencing experience through experience in experience. At this step in the transformation of the seeker, the seeker and the sought are no longer separate. The knowledge seeker and the knowledge sought are no longer different.

Step 10 : I am is knowledge.

At step 10, he transcends even further. Now even I am knowledge is transcended. Only I am remains. This is the bright wisdom (Tejgyan) that is brought forth. However isness continues to exist. With the experience and existence of I am, the knowledge is complete.

Step 11: Am is.

At Step 11, the I also does not exist. There is no knowledge either. What remains is just amamness. isness. Beingness in truest sense begins. Just being. Just presence.

Step 12 : Bright silence

At this step, there are no words. Just bright silence (tranquillity). After the 12th step, the expression (demonstration) of the bright silence occurs. Only after all 12 steps have been ascended, does life in its truest sense begin.

Thoughts and Self Enquiry

Q&A with Sirshree

Who am I?

Seeker: How to make the mind thoughtless?

Sirshree: Mind means thoughts. Being thoughtless means being in a “no mind” state. To quieten the mind, self-enquiry is the most beautiful method. This method is the road (means) as well as the destination (end). When you ask, “Who am I?”, this thought in the form of a question will cut off other thoughts. While this enquiry is on, other thoughts cannot remain. After ending all other thoughts – this last thought of ‘Who am I?’ will also end itself. Then self-realization takes place. This will break the concept of form – the concept of body. You are not limited by the body. You are boundless and boundary less. You will come to know by experience. That is why self enquiry is the most beautiful method to make the mind thoughtless.

Seeker: Why do you say that self enquiry is the best method? Why is it better than all other meditations?

Sirshree: Those who meditate generally do so by uttering a word, visualizing an image, repeating a mantra, etc. But, these repetitions are not effective to enhance your awareness about yourself as the question “Who am I?”. Many who meditate don’t know whether they are meditating or sleeping or are merely in a hazy state of mind. You cannot be in a hazy state when you ask the question “Who am I?”. You become aware of the response to this question. This question pierces within you like a sharp instrument and drives you within to ‘your centre’. In the beginning you may not be able to recognize the deep silence within you in spite of reaching your centre (source). However by persisting to ask this question, you will gradually start recognizing the deep silence, a stillness – which is your true self. Later the question itself becomes the answer.

However advanced a meditator is, thoughts continue to crowd the mind. We need a very potent thought to annihilate these thoughts; a thought that will annihilate all the thoughts. You require a steel instrument to cut steel. An antidote for a poison is another poison. In the same way, let one thought annihilate all other thoughts.

The Whole-Sole Purpose of Your Life

Being established permanently in the Self is called Self Stabilization

We have within us a centre, a core, from where all our thoughts and feelings emanate. The most interesting part is that this center is always fixed, it never moves. It is akin to the axis of a fan which is always stationery and is essential for the fan to function. Similarly there is something within us which is stationery and fixed. To get established there is the whole sole purpose of your life. Once you have access to that centre, then you will learn that there alone lies eternal bliss. That center can also be called the Self. Being established there permanently can be called as Self Stabilization, which is distinct from self realization – a one time glimpse.

There are three steps to attain the whole-sole purpose of human life.

Step 1 : Be Positive Minded.

Always bear a positive outlook. Several pessimistic and negative thoughts might come across your path in this journey towards your goal. Transform every negative thought to a positive one by using the word ‘but’. If a thought comes to you, “I am sad”, then immediately transform this thought into a positive one. Say, “I am sad, but if I desire, I can experience the feeling of bliss here and now itself”. If you think that “I cannot do this work”, then reframe the thought in this manner: “I cannot do this, but with the help of God it can be possible”.

Step Two : Be Present Minded

In this step you are required to keep yourself alert about every sound, every incident, every thought around you, every moment. By doing so, you will become sensitive about yourself and your surroundings. You will also get rid of forgetfulness. You shall no more remain absentminded. Your awareness about the present also will make you aware about negative emotions or vices in you such as hatred, disgust, anger, pride, comparison and greed. Thus your mind starts to become pure. Practice living in the present using all the methods and meditations that you come across. (Many such exercises are featured in our newsletters regularly)

Step Three : Be Single Minded

In the third step, you are undisturbed and only focused towards the whole-sole purpose of your life. Remind yourself of your whole sole purpose throughout the day. It is the law of life that whatever you are receptive toward, whatever you focus your attention on, that manifests in your life. Be single minded about the whole sole purpose of being established in the centre within where you experience eternal bliss.

These three steps take your mind within. Mind is the cloud that is shrouding the sun (Self) from shining. When your mind surrenders to the centre then only will happiness, tranquility and love manifest. What was always ever present can be experienced. Practice Self Enquiry to reach the Self, to reach that centre. Practising Self Enquiry is one of the best ways to take your mind within where it gets eliminated so that the Self shines.

Self Enquiry is a path that is gaining popularity nowadays. It is an ancient method, that has been time and again revived by realized souls. After Ramana Maharishi revived this process, many have taken up this path. Still it is one of the most misunderstood of concepts. Sirshree Tejparkhiji demystifies Self Enquiry and leads the seeker step by step in his book “Self Enquiry with Understanding”.

Visit http://www.tgfonlinestore.com/ for Tejguru Sirshree Tejparkhiji’s books.

Real Happiness

Q&A with Sirshree

Seeker: What is real happiness?

Sirshree: Real happiness is not that happiness which you get when you achieve something. The mind has cast a shadow over the real ‘you’, the nature of which is happiness. When the mind falls – then what is behind the mind – that Truth manifests. And when that happens, it is real happiness. Suppose you have an aim, a desire to achieve something or to own something. And when you actually achieve it – then the mind, that was thriving only on that desire – falls for some moments since the desire has been fulfilled. And in those few moments of no-mind, you experience emptiness and you call this as happiness or bliss. All happiness you have ever experienced is only because of the mind getting empty, because of the no mind state, because of the lifting of the shadow of the mind.

But you get the notion that ‘because’ the target was completed – you got happiness. Because you got what you desired – you got happiness. Because of this wrong notion, desire for newer and more things increase. But, anything that gives you lots of happiness today, does not give you the same amount of happiness later. After some time, happiness diminishes. It ends. Real happiness, which is your nature, is shadowed by the mind. When that is experienced, it being your nature, is not dependant on external situations and never diminishes.

This happiness is beyond happiness and sorrow… beyond polarities for which there is no opposite. To cite an example, the opposite of ‘success’ is ‘failure’. Similarly: hot – cold, up – down, love – hate etc. – these words are interrelated. But what is beyond both opposites is ‘bright’. What is beyond love and hate is ‘bright’ love. This is beyond happiness and grief. When you come to know of that ‘One’, then you are liberated from duality.

About Sirshree

Sirshree’s spiritual quest, which began during his childhood, led him on a journey through various schools of thought and meditation practices. The overpowering desire to attain the truth made him relinquish his teaching job. After a long period of contemplation, his spiritual quest ended with the attainment of the ultimate truth. Sirshree says, “All paths that lead to the truth begin differently, but end in the same way—with understanding. Understanding is the whole thing. Listening to this understanding is enough to attain the truth.”

 

 

To disseminate this understanding, Sirshree devised Tejgyan—a unique system for wisdom—that helps one to progress from self-help to self-realization.

 

He has delivered more than a thousand discourses and written over fifty books. His books have been translated in more than ten languages and published by leading publishers such as Penguin Books, Hay House Publishers, Jaico Books, etc. Sirshree’s retreats have transformed the lives of millions and his teachings have inspired various social initiatives for raising global consciousness.