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Magic of Awakening Retreat in Australia
Magic of Awakening Retreat
( 2 day retreat over 2 Sundays )
Magic of Awakening is the flagship self-realization retreat offered by Tej Gyan Global Foundation where participants gain access to the experience of the Self and learn to live in the present every moment. The teachings of the retreat are non-religious. Retreats are delivered all over India, USA, Singapore, Europe and Australia.
Make a shift from mind centred living to consciousness centred living
- Overcome trials and tribulations of the mind
- Break free from the birth-death cycle of the egoic mind
- Learn practical methods to gain access to the Pure Presence at will
- Understand your mind-body mechanism to attain Freedom from its Patterns
- Learn how to Meditate in the Marketplace
- Connect to the Source of all answers (the inner guru)
Discover answers to
- Who am I?
- Where am I?
- Why am I here?
- How to live in the present?
The retreat will be offered simultaneously in Sydney and Melbourne on both days by facilitators of Tej Gyan Global Foundation
– Dates –
Sunday 19th and Sunday 26th May 2019
( Attending both days is required. )
– Venue –
Strathamore, Vic and St. Andrews, NSW.
– Time –
9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Entry Free. Voluntary donations welcome.
– Registration Link –
https://magicofawakening.ucraft.net/
For further details call
0 405 210 035 (Melbourne) or 0 423 644 082 (Sydney)
Email: ma@tejgyan.com
2015 New Year Message from Sirshree: The Power of Right Questions
Questions are powerful tools for spiritual growth: Questions have the power to lead us to enlightenment. Certain questions are in-built within us. Humans have been asking these questions from time immemorial. Questions such as ‘Who am I?’, ‘Why am I here?’ etc. might have occurred to you sometime. These are perennial and profound questions which may have lost their impact with time.
Even if you are trapped in a place with nowhere to go or no one to talk to, questions can serve as a powerful anchor not only to keep you sane, but as a tool to always grow spiritually. The key is to ask empowering questions. Disempowering questions such as ‘Why me?’, ‘When will this stop?’, ‘When will the other person change?’ etc. only lead you into a downward spiral of negativity.
Let us look at some profound questions that will automatically propel you towards your happy natural state of spiritual bliss. Instead of forcing yourself to accept a given situation, it is better to ask a gentle question, “Can I accept this?” This question usually automatically helps you accept the situation without any resistance. Let us begin the New Year by answering this question: What spiritual questions should I ask myself in 2015?
2015 New Year Message from Sirshree: The Power of Right Questions
The first recommended question for 2015 is: Is the lamp within me that I want to behold again and again, lit? Use this question to remind yourself of the consciousness within you and within which you are. This question would remind you about your divine nature. It helps to be aware whether you have moved away from your divine nature or whether you are moving towards it. If you are indulging in a negative behavioural pattern or feeling low because of a Self-limiting belief, immediately ask this question. You will be reminded about the divinity within you and operate from a happy natural state automatically.
The second recommended question for 2015 is: If today was the last day of my life prior to enlightenment, how would I live this day? The question is not how you would live today if it was the last day of your life. The question is: if you were to be enlightened the very next day, how would you live today? How would you live in preparation for your enlightenment? On enlightenment, the sense of separation dissolves. If the individual personality who assumes himself or herself to be limited will no longer exist, how will your life be today? You will notice that this question cuts off the labels of good or bad, past or future etc. It roots you in the present, in an egoless state.
The third question for 2015 is: Whom should I forgive and seek forgiveness from today? Again, the idea is not to force yourself to seek forgiveness or forgive others. By asking this question, you mentally scan the events of the day where karmic bondage could have been created and liberate yourself from such events by asking for forgiveness or by forgiving the other person mentally. If you like, you may directly communicate with the person in question, having mentally forgiven or having sought forgiveness. Always remember that the treasure trove of forgiveness is within you and you can use this power whenever you want.
The fourth suggested question for 2015 is: What is the true weight of whatever I resist? Understand this important question. You resist sights, sounds, smells, feelings, etc. This could be things you do not like to see, or hear. It could be painful sensations, tiredness, negative emotions such as sorrow, guilt, etc. At such times, ask this question to yourself gently. This will make you notice the emotion and make you aware whether it is indeed as big as you make it out to be. Is the physical sensation or the emotion worth 10 grams or is it 10 pounds? Asking the question will teach you to see things as they are without the exaggeration of the mind.
The fifth key question for 2015 is: Is thy will indeed my will? Lot of people mechanically say: Thy (God’s) will is my will’. When you put this up to yourself as a question, then you will be nudged to truly surrender to the almighty, the Higher Self without doing so mechanically. This question ensures that a divine response ensues from you. Awaken yourself through this question.
The sixth question for 2015 is: What divine role is the other person playing in my life? The idea is to look at others in your life not as a ‘body’, but as a part of a miracle. This question will help you not see the other person as a contributor to your problems, but as a co-creator. Let us look at an example: If you wish to be more courageous, there will be someone in your life who makes you fearful. He or she is your co-creator. The person whom you are resisting as someone who nags you is actually a co-creator in the miracle of life to make you more peaceful. Any resistance within you will dissolve, even if it is a boss-employee relationship or of that between a daughter-in law and a mother-in-law.
These are six suggested questions. You may add a few more. For example: ‘Is this real or unreal?’ is a great question that hones your ability to ‘discern the truth’ (Viveka). The power of the right question is that you can always be connected to the Higher Self through such introspection.
Let 2015 be the year when you grow even more spiritually through the power of right questions.
~Sirshree
Celebrating St Valentine’s day
St. Valentine was a pastor in the church during the Roman period. The king of Rome announced that if the soldiers are married, they are not productive – therefore, the king motivated those who were not married and did not show attachment to any relatives or family members. St. Valentine opposed this and he was imprisoned by the king. St. Valentine was recognised as a “friend of Love” and as a remembrance of his sacrifices, St. Valentine’s Day is generally celebrated on the 14th of February.
Dates are only a reason to get people to remember the true purpose. The true purpose of St. Valentine’s Day is to understand the importance of and increase the following qualities in our lives:
– Sensitivity
– Receptivity
– Starting and finishing things on time (Well in time)
– Timely service
– Seeing and loving the world as one family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
Those who are “friends of Love” are in love with qualities of love that was seen in St. Tukaram, St. Mary etc. Let us understand the real meaning of this in more detail.
Love is the only thing that you get when you give – not when you take. To receive love you should be receptive i.e. ‘well tuned’. A radio that is tuned catches the frequency right when it is turned on so you do not have to keep tuning it and lose time in doing so. Similarly, we should not waste too much time in tuning ourselves to receive the final truth of life. We must understand and fulfil the true purpose of human life. When you receive a call on your cell phone, you try to reach a place where the reception is clear. Similarly you should tune yourself to go within to listen and receive truth clearly.
Always use your ‘understanding’ to interpret the meaning of rituals and do not go by what the majority of people say. St. Valentine’s Day should help us understand the meaning and importance of “Oneness”. Whatever you are in Love with you become receptive and sensitive towards that. If your level of consciousness is low, you will love lower things.
Receptivity is catching the signal or the channel you want among many different signals. If you are less receptive, then the sounds will be less and other channels will also show. But you will choose to see the channel you want even though the sound is less. Sensitivity is catching even the slightest signal. Ideally you should have both qualities of sensitivity and receptivity, but if you have to choose, you should choose receptivity. When you are receptive, you are more tuned to what you want to see. Therefore, decide what you want to see, what you want to choose.
The higher your consciousness level is, the better are things you will love. Do not fall in Love, “Rise in Love”. If your love for someone easily turns to hatred, jealousy or ill-will due to a simple event or a misunderstanding then you must realize that there was no love at all. When your level of consciousness is low, then you will be influenced by the company you keep. Tough events in your life are a means to test the existence or persistence of love amidst an environment of low consciousness.
With time, the word saint vanished and the meaning and real essence of the word Valentine disappeared too. In order to maintain the sanctity of this day, we should wish each other as “Happy St. Valentine’s Day.” Valentine’s Day should be addressed as St. Valentine so the meaning is not lost with time. It should serve as a reminder for us to contemplate on the real purpose, to become sensitive and receptive to “Bright Love”. Once you experience and become one with such Love, you will be able to express the best qualities and achieve your full potential.
~Sirshree
This is that what we need
Old Story, Golden Moral By Sirshree
A saint was going to a village with his disciples. His disciples said, “It’s getting late and it will be dark by the time we reach the village. Let us stay here for the night.” The saint said, “No, we will go.” The disciples could not oppose him and they set off for that village. It was indeed nighttime when they reached there. In that village, majority of the people were those belonging to a different sect. They were quite unwelcoming and did not provide any food or accommodation to them. All the disciples got angry as they had not wished to come there in the first place.
They started complaining, “We shouldn’t have come now. Where will we go at this hour?”
The saint said, “Don’t jump to conclusions.” Whatever was happening, if only the disciples had known the mantra, they would have said, ‘This is that what we need.’ But they couldn’t say that.
This is that what we need
They found a ramshackle hut outside the village to spend the night. They had to sleep with all kind of hardships in that rundown place where half the roof was broken. When night set in… what a night it was! A lovely full moon was shining in the sky with all its glory. When the saint opened his eyes after midnight, he witnessed that wonderful sight in the sky and felt so elated that he woke up his disciples to show them too. When the disciples saw it, such feelings stirred within them, such bliss arose in them, which otherwise they would never have experienced. It was then that the disciples realized and agreed that no matter what the situation, it always is: ‘This is that what we need.’
Points to Contemplate:
- What do we understand from this story?
A few moments back it appeared that whatever was happening was wrong. They felt we certainly don’t need this, we did not need to be thrown out of the village. But from the scene that came next, it was evident as to: What was the reality? What were we being prepared for?
- What kind of experience was to be got?
- What was the next scene on account of which this scene was created?
Understanding:
The one (Guru) who sees from the helicopter view (higher level of consciousness) knows this. Surrender Completely to your True Guru.
More such stories with golden moral by Sirshree:
Am I on the right path or not?
‘Tejgyan’ and the ‘System for Wisdom’
Human beings have the ability to communicate their feelings and thoughts to others through speech. But some thoughts which are too esoteric to be spoken are communicated only through silence. Through these various expressions — feelings, thoughts, speech and silence — we learn about something extraordinary within us, that which makes us feel good when we hear about it, meditate on it and experience it. What is it? What is this truth that lies within us? The answers to these questions will lead you to a state of pure consciousness, the existential experience of being — the source of silence.
Is it really necessary to make so much effort, put the body through so much pain? Isn’t there someone somewhere who can answer all my questions? Something is wrong in all this, somewhere there is a missing link.
The primary aim of man is to attain and be established in this state and then share his experience with others. Only those answers which serve this purpose are of any value, no matter how many times they are heard or read. The purpose of the question-and-answer is not to impart intellectual knowledge, but to help you access the Self, the existential experience, which Sirshree refers to in almost every answer.
Answers to all questions are available at the very place from where the questions originate. When this secret unfolds, you will be able to get to the core, the source or the centre of your being. Then you will say to yourself, ‘No question has remained a question anymore. I can now get all the answers from within myself.’ Hence, you access tejgyan.
Tejgyan is that wisdom which is beyond knowledge and ignorance — the source of all knowledge. Knowing and understanding tejgyan leads to a perfectly integrated life. Tejgyan is that state of wisdom where nothing is concealed, everything can be seen clearly.
People assume that Meera sang the praises of the Lord and attained wisdom. But it was the attainment of wisdom that made her sing with so much devotion. Jesus attained a particular wisdom and acts of kindness automatically followed. Not the other way around. This ‘particular wisdom’ is tejgyan.
Many truth seekers feel apprehensive about their quest: ‘Am I on the right path or not?’ Often there is a feeling of vacuum inside; something that makes you think, ‘This path that I have chosen is inadequate, there has to be something more to it.’ At times you ask yourself, ‘Is it really necessary to make so much effort, put the body through so much pain? Isn’t there someone somewhere who can answer all my questions? Something is wrong in all this, somewhere there is a missing link.’
The answer to all these doubts and questions is tejgyan — the truth that is beyond knowledge and ignorance, the truth that can only be experienced. And the missing link is that of ‘understanding’. Understanding leads you to the final truth.
It is this understanding that Sirshree imparts in the MA Retreat (Maha Aasmani / Magic of Awakening Retreat) organized by Tej Gyan Foundation. This understanding leads you to the experience of truth — you may call it self-realization or enlightenment or God-realization or by whatever name. The direct experience of God or Self is possible provided the right method is followed. Tejgyan is that method, that understanding. That understanding can be attained just by listening — systematic listening. This systematic listening curriculum is called ‘System for Wisdom’.
God’s Desire
Old Story, Golden Moral By Sirshree
A mother has three sons. They are all seated in a room. The first son wants to watch the television, the second one wants to listen to the radio and the third wants to paint a picture. All three are fighting with each other. The first son says, “You stop painting.” The third one says, “Switch off the television.” So among each one of them, if one has a problem with the television, the other has a trouble with the radio and the third is upset with the painting. The mother observes them fight and thinks, “Let their wishes be fulfilled.” The mother loves her children and so she does not say a word to them. She feeds them on time, buys them toys and provides them with everything they need.
The children are busy in fulfilling their desires. Then suddenly one day they think of their mother. ‘What is her wish? Does she want us to watch television or not? Does she want us to listen to the radio or not? Does she want us to paint or not? What does she want? It is important to know mother’s wish.’ Every child at some point of time does think what his mother desires, who has always been showering him with unconditional love.
The three children in this analogy symbolise the body, mind and intellect. The mother symbolises the Self. The body, mind and the intellect wish that their mother’s will be fulfilled. They want to know her wish. True happiness lies only in fulfilling their mother’s wish. They discussed among themselves and prepared to surrender themselves to her cause. They all realised that whatever they did so far was only a drama.
Points to contemplate:
* What was the mother’s primary desire?
* What will happen if that is fulfilled?
* What do children need to do to fulfill it?
Ask yourself whether you really want that your mother’s (God’s) desire be fulfilled through you?
* Find out the answers by reading the book ‘The Unshaken Mind’
You can also read these related topics:
From Teacher to Tej Teacher
To create a highly evolved society, inculcating of values in students and children is important. Needless to say, values that teachers and parents live by are what students imbibe. Thus on this teachers’ day, let us look at top three values every teacher could imbibe and the way to inculcate these qualities. The acronym TEJ can help you remember these three qualities. TEJ stands for Truth, Enlightenment and Joy! The word TEJ is prefixed to the word teacher to remind the potential that every teacher has. When teachers lead their students to Truth, Enlightenment and Joy imbibing the qualities in themselves first, then they become Tej Teachers.
Truth here is all about being honest to oneself and to the profession avoiding all forms of deceit. Enlightenment is the pursuit of the highest knowledge leading to a spiritual life. Joy represents being happy and spreading joy.
Now, this is not a discourse on just what one should do and what one should not do. Let us discuss the one immediate step that automatically propels you to be a Tej Teacher. And it is not just for teachers alone. If you are a doctor or an entrepreneur, you can become a Tej doctor or a Tej entrepreneur with this first powerful move that you can take in your life.
What is this immediate step or powerful move? It is the shift from living a personal life to an impersonal life. The dictionary meaning of the word ‘impersonal’ is unfriendly or formal or aloof. That is not what is meant here by the word impersonal. Impersonal as opposed to a personal life here refers to an inclusive (as opposed to exclusive) or selfless (as opposed to a selfish) life.
A life lived in the service of others is an impersonal life. When you put service of others first, it automatically leads you to Truth, Enlightenment and Joy (Tej). Someone leading an impersonal life finds that honesty comes naturally to him or her, spiritual growth happens effortlessly because of selfless service and there is sheer joy everyday in putting a smile on someone else.
Teaching is already a noble profession. But the internal shift from personal to impersonal is critical to leverage this noble profession to truly live a life in the service of others. Thus, contemplate deeply how is it that you are going to cause a shift in the life of your students. What can you do over and beyond teaching subjects? What can you do while in the classroom to cause a shift in the minds and hearts of your students? Your profession as a teacher takes fantastic shape once you take on an impersonal vision and pursue it. Then, money and finances are just vehicles and mediums to support you to attain your impersonal vision. As you practice living life impersonal, you will begin to be free from thoughts of ‘I, me, myself’ and experience oneness with one and all. This is the liberation that a Tej teacher can experience. The motto of a Tej Teacher thus becomes ‘Living for others because there is no other’.
~Sirshree
Sirshree is the founder of Tej Gyan Foundation. Follow Sirshree on twitter.com/sirshree or visit www.tejgyan.org
The Faith Piece for World Peace… Piece
Based on Sirshree’s teaching that…
“The world does not need a new religion, but needs a new string that binds all religions”
…Tej Gyan Foundation intends to build a ‘Center For Humanity’ at its MaNaN Ashram premises in the outskirts of Pune, India that acts as such a string.
For more details, click on the leaves of the image that is displayed once you click on: http://tejgyan.org/CenterforHumanity.aspx
Is there anything beyond self-realization?
Seeker: Is self-realization the ultimate goal of life or is there anything beyond?
Sirshree: Before answering the question, it is important to know your understanding of self-realization. One day a seeker experiences a deeply profound meditative state. He is in a no-mind state for quite some time. It is an experience of self-realization. Somebody experiences oneness with the universe when he is on a nature trail. He experiences that he is no longer a separate entity. It is an experience of self-realization. It can be said that self-realization is just the beginning. Self-stabilization is the goal.
Self-realization is experienced only when the interfering and comparing mind (termed as the contrast mind) disappears. But what happens after that experience? The mind emerges again and takes credit for the experience saying, ‘I performed meditation, I attained this deeply profound state and experienced realization.’ The mind does not have the understanding that it is not the one that has experienced that state. On the contrary, it was when the mind was not there that the Self experienced itself. Self-stabilization is when the mind does not emerge later. Self-stabilization means remaining stabilized in the experience of Self or Being, or constantly abiding in the truth. It is not just a one-time experience. That is why it is said that self-realization without understanding is futile. The importance of guru is that he ensures that you progress from self-realization to self-stabilization, which is the ultimate goal. Self-stabilization is the basic purpose of life and the prerequisite is the surrendering of the contrast mind.
It can be said that self-realization is just the beginning. Self-stabilization is the goal.
Seeker: What happens after self-stabilization? I am a little confused between self-realization and self-stabilization.
Sirshree: Along with self-stabilization occurs self-expression. It is expression of the Self through the body-mind mechanism to fulfil its true potential. On attaining self-stabilization at the age of 35, the Buddha continued to spread the message of truth till the ripe age of 80. This is self-expression where his body was used by the Self to express itself after attaining self-stabilization. This self-stabilization and self-expression are the ultimate goals.
If you are confused with the word self-stabilization, then you can call experiences on the path as self-realizing experiences and the goal as self-stabilization. Hence the understanding of self-realization is most important. If self-realization is seen as self-stabilization, then it is the goal. If you see it as a one-time experience, then it is just the beginning.
Seeker: After self-realization, what changes take place in our lives?
Sirshree: After self-realization, what happens is not change, but transformation. Transformation is a total, paradigm shift. For example, when a person begins to climb a ladder to reach the terrace, he moves from the first step to the second. This is a change. But he is still on the ladder. When he moves from the second step to the third, he is probably able to get a better view of the terrace. However, he still continues to be on the ladder. This is what is called ‘change’.
When the person moves from the ladder to the terrace, it is a shift or transformation. When there is only a change, ignorance continues to exist, because you are still at the level of the mind. In the case of transformation, it is not change or alteration, but the whole frame or structure of the programmed mind is shattered and you are directly on the terrace (the Self).
Let us try to understand this further. Suppose you are sitting in a room and there is a pillar blocking your view. Changing your view means getting up and sitting at another place within the same room. Moving out of the room and getting into the helicopter to get the complete view of the room is called a shift or transformation. Self-realization is this shift or transformation, and not merely change.
Happy Guru Purnima!
“Guru, God, and Grace are one. Grace is the only way (to God). Grace of the Guru is the final grace. Getting a true Guru is God’s grace.”
.. Tejguru Sirshree Tejparkhiji
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 at the outskirts of the village for chipping away at stones. 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 prophecy 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…’ This wish was immediately granted too.
Having become a King, he began roaming 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 Sun…!’
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, that 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. I wish I could be that person’. And lo and behold, he became a stone breaker again.
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 or situation. He continued stone breaking for the rest of his life. However, having been through the entire journey with awareness, he now remained always happy.
The Power of Wise Discrimination
Wield the sword of Viveka
Wield the sword of Viveka
A thought comes to your mind, “I am very much disturbed.” Then the intellect steps in saying, “Are you really disturbed, or are you allowing yourself to get disturbed?” A second thought arises, “Oh! I am getting bored.” Then Viveka (power of wise discrimination) will say, “Are you really getting bored, or are you allowing yourself to get bored?”
Thus when the sword of contemplation works, you will be astonished. No sooner you look at your thought in this manner, “Oh! I am allowing myself to get bored, is it necessary to get bored?” If it is not necessary, you will find that those thoughts will disappear instantly.
When a thought emerges, “That person is disturbing me,” then Viveka will think, “I am giving an opportunity to that man to disturb me. Should I allow him to do so?” When you ask this question to yourself, the sword of Viveka works. When the sword of contemplation starts operating, a question will immediately arise, “Should I give him that opportunity?” The answer will come from Viveka, “I will not allow him to disturb me.” Then the person in front of you will not be able to disturb you and you will see that you have stopped getting disturbed, you have stopped becoming unhappy. This is the sword of contemplation. Whenever thoughts arise, this sword will operate and a division between the truth and untruth will occur.
In this way, with the help of Viveka, you will be able to bring every belief, tendency and pattern to light. These patterns and tendencies will then begin to break. With the awakening of the power of discrimination, nothing will disturb you ever.
Think A Thought That Will Annihilate All Thought
This article by Sirshree was first published in Speaking Tree on Sep 20 2006.
Why should we engage in self-enquiry? Behind everything that you do, isn’t it happiness that you seek? Every action you perform is for this happiness. But that bliss is lost in the hurricane of thoughts that cloud the radiance of the Self.
When you are in deep sleep, there are no thoughts. There is only pure consciousness. The way a spider weaves a web out of itself and then takes back everything into itself, thoughts arise from the ocean of the Self and manifest our world.
They disappear during deep sleep and along with them the world, too, disappears. This illusory game goes on uninterrupted. To clear the cobwebs of illusion, you have to go to the source of these thoughts.
When you do rigorous self-enquiry and see all the facets of the mind and its colours, then the mind weakens and finally disappears; it never truly existed. This mind is ego, the false ‘I’.
Enquiry is for the death of the mind. It is also called the ‘contrast mind’, which keeps coming between the seeker and the sought. The meaning of God is love and love can never be unhappy.
What has observation or seeing got to do with transformation? Lots. With correct observation, the wrong automatically ends. You cannot get angry, or kill in awareness. You can only harm others when you lack awareness.
We can be selfish only when we are not aware; when we are unable to feel the other person’s unhappiness. If you start seeing yourself in every situation, then soon you will be transformed.
For the first time you will begin to understand the mind. How can the mind be thoughtless? Mind means thoughts. Being thoughtless means being in a no-mind state.
Why does the mind fall off on self-enquiry?
To quieten the mind, self-enquiry is the best method which is the means as well as the end. When you ask, “Who am I?” this thought in the form of a question will cut off other thoughts.
After ending all other thoughts this last thought of ‘Who am I?’ will also end. Then Self-realisation takes place. This will break the concept of form, the concept of body.
You are boundless and boundary-less. Those who meditate generally do so by uttering a word, visualising an image, or repeating a mantra.
But, these repetitions are not effective enough to enhance your awareness about yourself. You cannot be in a hazy state when you ask the question “Who am I”?
This question pierces you like a sharp instrument and drives you to your centre. With persistence you will gradually start recognising 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 potent thought to annihilate these thoughts; a thought that will annihilate all thought.
You require steel to cut steel. An antidote for poison is another poison. In the same way, let one thought annihilate all other thoughts. Why does the mind fall off on self-enquiry?
Let us say that the mind is asking a question: “What will happen when I die?” At that moment, if you ask: “Who is it that will die?” then the mind is forced to go within.
You find out for the first time that there is nothing that can be called as the mind. Mind is just a bundle of thoughts. When thoughts sink into absolute silence then the death of the mind happens.
Awakening one liners
About the book
A one liner is a powerful quote that can awaken you. It forces you to contemplate and brings forth a new dimension you may not known to light. Take a look at this example for instance:
Similar to the above quote, find below some powerful one liners from the book The Magic of Awakening. The book contains 111 Answers on life and living and though every answer is detailed, a glimpse is provided below through powerful one liners chosen from the answers:
Q 4: For whom is spirituality meant for?
Spirituality is reality, and reality is meant for all. – Sirshree
Q 13: Is it wrong if we raise our hand to hit someone?
Let your consciousness rise first and then your hand. – Sirshree
Q 16: Should I live for myself or for others?
Live for others because there is no other. – Sirshree
Q 23: Does using make-up or cosmetics distance us from spirituality?
What make-up you use does not matter as long as you wake up within the make-up. – Sirshree
Q 24: Should I worship idols or not?
If by the worship of God’s idol, you imbibe the qualities of God, only then it is of consequence. – Sirshree
Q 39: I feel incomplete as a woman because I am unable to bear a child. What do I do.
If you are able to transcend the body and know your true self, then the very question of ‘incompleteness’ would not arise, because you are complete or absolute from the very beginning – Sirshree
Q 78: How do we practise the greatest devotion in the world?
The greatest devotion in the world can take place only when the thought, ‘The greatest devotion should take place,’ which is present within you disappears. – Sirshree
Awakening to Religion
The poem below based on Sirshree’s teachings highlights that ‘consciousness’ is the underlying thread of all religions. One of Sirshree’s key teachings is that the world does not need a new religion, it needs a new string that binds all religions together. And the existential experience of consciousness is that string. Hindus worship the sun. Muslims consider the moon auspicious, while Christians refer to the star of Bethlehem. But the hidden idea behind these reflections is to prod the humans to take a deeper look at the sky. The sun, the moon and the stars are symbolic pointers for gazing at the vast nothingness of the sky – the all encompassing consciousness.
Instead of arguing whether it is ‘Aham Brahma’ of the Hindus, ‘Allah’ of the Muslims, ‘Wahe Guru’ of the Sikhs, ‘Yaweh’ of the Jews, ‘Bodhisattva’ of the Buddhists, or ‘God’ of the Christians that is more meaningful and relevant, then, it must be known that ‘consciousness’ is the most appropriate and the true reference to the Self. The whole world needs to understand the nature of the Self; it is the same pervading consciousness that is referred to in all religions. This consciousness can only be experienced. Words are only a medium to understand just, the existence of this Consciousness. Words can never surpass its meaning or explain it entirely. The experience of the Self is beyond description of the material words. This feeling of the Self or consciousness can be experienced through various methods suggested in every religion. The ‘understanding’ of how this can be made possible is the only thing the world requires. With this experiential understanding, you get led to the divine, silent, stillness – the tranquil point of consciousness. Rest in the celestial stillness and know that you are God, that consciousness is your true nature. The poem below only serves as a pointer:
The word ‘Buddha’ means the awakened one,
Aren’t we all Buddhists if awakening in us is done?
A true ‘Christian’ is one who has awakened to Christ consciousness,
Aren’t we all Christians if we are established in this oneness?
The word ‘Islam’ means being surrendered to God’s will,
Aren’t we all Muslims if we are surrendered and still?
A ‘Hindu’ is one who follows the vedas – the essence of wisdom, Aren’t we all Hindus if we have access to knowledge’s kingdom?
The word ‘Sikh’ means one who is a disciple – a learner,
Aren’t we all Sikhs if we are a seeker?
A ‘Jew’ is one who believes in Yaweh – the inexpressible name of God
Aren’t we all Jews if the inexpressible yet accessible consciousness is our Lord?
Awaken to the Self – whatever be your religion,
When you begin to awaken, you belong to all faiths or belong to none.
Extract from the book “The Magic of Awakening” in the Hindustan Times
On 27 Sep 2009, Hindustan Times Delhi featured an extract from The Magic of Awakening. You can read the text version below:
Botox for the brain : Bottling Karma Cola
What makes a complete deed? The deed (karma) in which the soul (atma) in which the soul is infused is a complete deed — it’s a deed done with karmatma. Karmatma means the soul of the deed. Without the soul, a deed is a dead deed. If the deeds that are happening through us carry such a soul, then the gates of moksh or salvation, can open for us.
Those who awaken the soul of a deed are called karmayogis. A karmayogi is able to understand signals given by nature for performing a particular deed. Acting in accordance with those signals, the deeds that he performs open the doors of liberation.
There are three constituents of karmatma: love, right intention, and wisdom. The first important constituent of karmatma is wisdom. The time invested for understanding leading to wisdom is very important. We should not perform soulless deeds because they result in nothing but misery.
If a deed is done with love and devotion, only then does it become impersonal. If love and devotion are lacking then the soul of the deed is weak. If love, right intention and wisdom are proportionate, then karmatma is strong. People are performing deeds, but without karmatma being the driving force. When these three elements, love, right intention and wisdom are present in our deeds, there is no attachment, and no bondage results from these deeds. When the fruit of karma (the result of a deed) is surrendered to God, then there is no attachment to the fruit. If there is the feeling of being a non-doer in karmatma, then karmic bondage is not formed. The feeling of love, non-doership and understanding are the life of karmatma. Hence, it is very important to know the intention behind every deed.
Evaluate the actions that you carry out from morning to night and analyse with reference to karmatma. Is it that our deeds are handicapped? Even small talks should be done keeping karmatma in mind.
Excerpt from Chapter 6 of the book the Magic of Awakening by Sirshree;Penguin 2009
The Asian Age showcases an extract from “The Magic of Awakening”
The Asian Age featured an extract from the book, “The Magic of Awakening” on 20th Sep 2009. The same article was also published in Deccan Chronicle, a newspaper under the same publishing house on the same day. Click here to access the Deccan Chronile Article. Or click on the image on the left hand side to open it in a new window and see an enlarged view. Alternatively, you can read the extract below.
The Employee’s Question : When I am at home or here with you, I am very focused on the truth, on the self. But I just don’t know what happens at my workplace. I feel that at my workplace, policies and politics promote illusory attractions (maya). I tend to get entangled in the workplace and get lost in that illusion. I don’t feel that I am focused on the final truth at my workplace. What should I do at the time when I get entangled?
Sirshree: At that time, you should do nothing. At the same time, you must not explicitly try to do nothing as well. People often ask, ‘What should I do when I get angry?’ The answer they get is: ‘When you get angry, don’t do anything. You should have done something much earlier.’ We ask such questions only when we are angry or faced with a difficulty. Instead, one should actually prepare for such situations much earlier.
The question is: ‘When I go to the office, I get involved in an environment that promotes illusory attractions. What should I do?’ Well, at that time you shouldn’t do anything. But after returning home, you should definitely reflect on it and ask yourself, ‘What do I gain by indulging in such things? Is this why I have come into this world? Is this what I want to do all my life? How long will this go on?’ Then make up your mind. If you decide that you will continue to indulge in the same old activities of this illusory world for another six months, it is fine. Continue. However, after this predetermined period of time, you have to stop. In this way, you will have planned in advance. Subsequently, if a similar incident occurs, you will be alert, and, therefore, find that you are able to back off easily on some pretext, from the situation that leads to delusion.
You should plan well in advance and resolve: ‘People constantly indulge in illusory things at my workplace. Should I too continue to live like them? Or can I set an example for them so that they are encouraged to get out of them?’ It is possible that on seeing your determination, someone else may think that he too can start living like you.
For example, when you watch a cricket match, you watch a six or a four being hit or a wicket going down. Similarly, you can observe yourself while functioning in this world of illusion as to what happens to you and when. Observe when you get excited. Also make a note of the times when you are not trying to ‘do nothing’. You only need to observe this and your awareness will grow.
You will then go home and think, ‘What did I gain in the process? Why have I come into this world? Have I come here only for doing this?’ Contemplate the ultimate goal of your life. Ask yourself, ‘What is the real purpose of my life?
The Manager’s Question: As a manager in a company, am I to be blamed for wrong decisions? Should I feel proud of my accomplishments? At a spiritual level, am I responsible for things at all and am I to be blamed for certain matters?
Sirshree: Suppose that your name is Rama and you are playing the role of Shakuntala on stage. Being Shakuntala, you are weeping and shedding tears. In the story of Shakuntala, she is separated from her husband. Her husband forgets her because of a curse. Hence, she weeps and tries her best to win her husband back. Finally she succeeds when the curse is lifted. Let us talk about the scene where she laments that her husband has forgotten her. She is weeping and is inconsolable. Rama, who is playing the role of Shakuntala does a wonderful job of crying and complaining, ‘Why did this happen to me?’ The problem is that he continues to weep even after coming off the stage. Then if he is told that he alone is to blame for his sorrow, he retorts, ‘Why should I be blamed? It is my husband who has forgotten me.’ You will tell him, ‘No, become who you actually are—return to your true identity. All this was only while you were on stage, enacting a role. Now come out of the play, come down from the stage and reassume your true identity.’ If he still persists with the question, ‘Am I to blame?’, you are likely to say, ‘Yes, you are to blame. You are the one who has forgotten your true identity. If you remember it, everything will be fine.’
Similarly, whether we are responsible for certain matters, the answer is: ‘Not only for certain matters, you (the true self) alone are responsible for everything. If you have asked this question having forgotten your true identity, if you have posed this question assuming yourself to be what you are not, i.e., a separate, limited individual, then you are not to blame. There is nothing in the hands of the individual. You were given a particular thought, hence the action took place. Similarly, thoughts are being given to others as well, and actions ensue. The problem is with your intellect. You need to remember who you really are.’
Despite receiving the knowledge about your true self, if you continue to act without remembering your actual identity, then you are to blame. Alhough both the statements, ‘You are not to blame’ and ‘You are responsible’ appear contradictory, they relate to who you identify with. The one who you are in essence (self, God) is responsible for everything.
The Telegraph pays a glowing tribue to “The Magic of Awakening”
The Telegraph, one of Calcutta’s leading dailies has paid a glowing tribute to “The Magic of Awakening” in one if its book reviews. You can either click here to read the review on the Telepraph site or read the contents below:
THE MAGIC OF AWAKENING by Sirshree claims to provide ‘111 Answers on Life and Living’. This is a refreshingly different volume from run-of-the-mill books that make spirituality sound like mumbo-jumbo. Sirshree’s advice is always practical, based on his awareness of the ways of the world, and in step with a progressive vision of life. Take, for instance, his advice to a lady who wanted to know whether not being able to have children is supposed to be the sign of an incomplete woman: “A woman …believes herself to be incomplete because she considers herself to be the body. If you are able to transcend the body and know your true self, then the very question of ‘incompleteness’ would not arise, because you are complete or absolute from the very beginning.”
45 Cities, 9 Languages, 1 book
Tej Gyan Foundation, a NGO focused on spreading wisdom, shall unveil a book, “The Magic of Awakening” in 9 languages by Sirshree on 09/09/09.
Published by Penguin Books India in Hindi, Marathi and English and other regional publishers in Gujarathi, Kanadda, Bengali, Punjabi, Telugu and Malayalam- the book shall be released in various languages in 45 cities across India on the same day.
The Magic of Awakening is a book in the body-mind-spirit genre and contains 111 answers on life and living by Sirshree. Sirshree is the founder of Tej Gyan Foundation, an organization that disseminates a system for wisdom from self help to self realization. For this purpose, Sirshree has authored more than 40 books that have been translated in various languages.
The English book shall be released in New Delhi, while books of other languages shall be released in various cities including Mumbai, Pune, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Chennai, Surat and Sydney. If you are interested in attending, please click here and contact the city coordinator.
Tej Gyan Foundation’s intent to release the same book on the same day in so many languages across multiple cities is so that awakening of consciousness is truly enabled in the world.
Book Release of “The Magic of Awakening”
“The Magic of Awakening” book authored by Sirshree shall be simultaneously released in 9 languages on 09/09/09 across 45 cities in India. Penguin Books India is the lead publisher in English, Hindi and Marathi and other regional publishers shall be releasing the rest. The languages are mentioned in the graphic below:
For further details of the 9 languages and the 45 cities in which the book shall be released, please click here : http://tejgyan.org/html/magic_of_awakening_event.html
Readers of this blog can contact the respective co-ordinator in every city to attend the event.
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