0:00 Introduction
0:10 The strength of our concentration versus trying to see in meditation
4:45 Are there other ways to silence the mind besides meditation?
7:44 The path of knowledge
11:31 Inspiration to reach the truth
13:35 What the mind gives cannot give us the truth
15:32 Does a Yogi rise above all suffering?
17:33 Who is thinking if a Yogi’s mind has stopped?
19:30 What happens when Babaji answers a question
21:38 Permanent happiness is not an imagined thing
27:01 Why does my mind not stop when it is brought between the eyebrows?
28:02 How to not be bothered by the world
29:26 What happens when the mind stops?
32:40 Can an experience of sight and sound progress towards Self-Realization?
34:10 Pulling of the head downwards during meditation
35:47 Is it correct that no lasting peace and happiness can come from an experience within the mind?
37:38 Is it necessary to see thoughts or visions in the mind in meditation?
38:44 Does a Yogi still have pure peace when the body experiences pain?
39:38 Can one still stay in the state of stillness when in activity?
45:02 How can one overcome the thought ‘how much more time is left in this 1 hour meditation?’
47:08 How many minutes of silence can be a good start in meditation?
47:30 Sitting quietly for some time before sitting
49:20 Constant thinking that creates a vibration in the mind, a habit to think
51:10 If you have a desire for Self Realization, is this also a vasana?
52:30 Definition of vasana and samskara
54:09 A habit to be quiet in tasks during the day

Silencing the Mind | Thus Spake Babaji – online Q&A, No.144
Recorded on 16 July 2023 with US participants

The strength of our concentration versus trying to see in meditation

Question:

One point about the meditation practice, I think previously you said it’s about the strength of our concentrations versus trying to see during meditation. There was something that clicked, particularly in Victoria, last time we had a meeting. You spoke about the importance of just having the attention concentrated there, focusing there, you’re not trying to see anything, or trying to imagine anything. There’s nothing to know, it’s just stilling the attention on that spot. The strength of our concentration on the bhrikuti. Could you talk about that?

Babaji:

This is highly significant, because in between the eyebrows, what is known as bhrikuti as you mentioned just now, using the technique is, first you use the eyeballs to remain focused in the beginning. And when this comes in between eyebrows, both the eyeballs, what happens… Like the other day I was answering, if you write a road’s art, that when it comes and joins at one place, we call it as the vanishing point. As long as the eyeballs are moving parallelly, it gives a jerk to the mind also, making it to spin. So this is naturally, without harming the health of the brain, when the eyeballs can come together, it can hold the mind, and it can totally silence the mind. So that is why this is also known as Agna chakra, ‘commanding circle’. Means when you are able to bring the mind here, you become the commander of the mind. Means you can hold without thinking anything, hold on to the silence of the mind. That’s when you will realize mind is trying to watch itself, or in other words, you are trying to watch yourself.

And when you come to the ultimate truth of yourself, it is not through the eyes that you watch yourself, you will realize. Because when you watch through the naked eyes, nothing will be visible there. When the mind is totally silent, except for one consciousness of existence, the ‘I’ that arises, you cannot locate it for a while – simply you are able to feel it. And when it is coming from you, yourself, you don’t need to locate also. You are there. You are not separate at that time when you are merging with yourself. You are not separate that you have to see yourself, or you have to locate where you are, that doesn’t arise. So, this is the wonder that you can experience, when you succeed in just watching. That’s why repeatedly we try to teach, “Watch in between eyebrows. Just watch. Don’t bother for anything, any other existence, except for that ‘I’.” So, this is the highest significance of the highest technique that has been used since very ancient times, one of the highest techniques. And our Guru was so lucky, He got it by the manifestation of Lord Shiva who came as a Jangama sage, and He passed it on to us. This is an amazing, unique technique of watching in between eyebrows, and eventually you will see that your attention shifts towards that ‘I’ arising. That’s what, in other words, I call it ‘consciousness of existence’.

Same questioner:

Thank you, Babaji. That’s beautiful. Thank you.

Are there other ways to silence the mind besides meditation?

Same questioner:

So, sadhana is our effort to silence the mind?

Babaji:

Yes.

Same questioner:

And you say the most important sadhana is this form of meditation for quietening the mind and discovering the truth of who we are. But are there other ways to silence the mind besides meditation?

Babaji:

Several other ways are there, but equally difficult. One must not think that it can be easier than sitting and closing the eyes when thousands of thoughts arise. Same thing; when you are active in this world, when you want to put an effort to achieve, when you have a desire, and if that is not fulfilled, then acceptance does not come easily. Then the mind goes into a spinning of brooding, disappointment, all these things happen. So, if you can maintain the acceptance, then the mind recedes, mind becomes quiet. You don’t even bother why the world is like this. Means here, you must understand, I am not trying to teach you to be insensitive to the world, not that one. Mentally do not bother. Simply, mentally, if you keep bothering, you cannot help anybody. You become corrupted. You must understand this one. But when you purify your mind, your mind gains ability and you can definitely help better. You will gain a lot of abilities to consider about others. So, you must not have any doubt that you don’t have to be insensitive to the world. That is important. So, then the Karma yoga happens. The same mind becomes silent. When it becomes silent, it recedes towards its original source. If it imagines, it expands and scatters, goes out of control eventually. So, like that, a long distance in illusion, whereas no distance exists there. In itself, it has created such an illusion, thus forgetting about itself. That’s why “Who am I?” as Ramana Maharishi taught – that we need to understand. So, that’s what you are trying to observe, from where the ‘I’ is coming eventually. Watching here also. Because the ‘I’ doesn’t have any such location, from where. But simply, you have to catch hold of yourself, by getting rid of all other thoughts.

The path of knowledge

Same questioner:

Baba, it seems that knowledge, our beliefs and the knowledge that we have is important. Maybe it doesn’t take us to Self-Realization, but it can keep us on the path. We have to believe in the Self. We have to believe you. We have to believe that it’s possible to have supreme peace. And we have to become aware that, you know, everything in our mind is temporary. It arises and it disappears. These bodies are temporary. That can give you kind of a conviction to pursue this type of thing.

Babaji:

You see, in the path of knowledge, first of all important that you need to have faith, because it is not coming from within. It is coming from outside when you read a scripture, when you listen to a talk. Like, when you listen to our answers or our talks also, we recommend, have faith in the beginning, because always having doubt is like death. You will never get anywhere else, that happens. First have faith, but then follow the methods recommended that you, yourself experience, and then you will know. So that is the knowledge. So for this you need to be lucky that you are able to find a Self-Realized master who will insist on the same thing again and again, not anything else. He won’t conduct any other activities. Slowly, he will help you to narrow down to this thing only. To catch hold the consciousness of existence.

So like this, several, any path, through any path, even Bhakti Marga also, slowly, first, you narrow down to one single thought, like imagining about the form of divinity or the ultimate truth, and making it as your dear one, falling in love with that one, either a Guru or a deity. Then slowly the same deity, means the form of the ultimate source, will help you to give up that form also and merge with the Self. That’s what happens really. So when you do any of the path, you need to have faith in yourself. That is important, whether you do Karma, you need to know the technique. That is also important, what you are supposed to do. Karma Yoga, if you want to do it, you should know what you are supposed to do there. “Simply do not have expectations, have acceptance”; repeatedly we try to teach these things, whether that is possible you have to see. Then these methods can be successful. People always try to look for easy methods, where they do not have to put an effort, so then they miserably fail in achieving anything. They don’t reach anywhere else. So that is why, remember, technique: understanding the technique is very important, and also adopting such methods are important. Whether Bhakti marga, Gnana marga, or Dhyana marga anywhere; you have to do. Dhyana marga also, you have to keep quiet. So, in Bhakti marga also, eventually you have to achieve to become quiet, accepting all as God’s wishes. “May it happen according to your wish, please inspire my wisdom”, so that you become quiet. You don’t bother for anything.

Inspiration to reach the truth

Same questioner:

There seems to be a point where you may have an experience, or imagination. All of us are imagining what Self-Realization must be. If we are not there, you are imagining it. That kind of drives you to move forward to that. But there is a point when you have either through meditation or just sometimes from inside, you have this insight. And that insight can transform you in a way that you start to lose the belief that this world is going to ever fulfill your needs. And with that, then it starts to let go of its grip on the mind, and on the world, and all the thoughts. It doesn’t mean you stop enjoying it, but it loses its grip. And then it’s easier to fall into that the Self or meditation. So, that seems to be based on knowledge or some kind of experience, way before Self-Realization.

Babaji:

Exactly. Sometimes you might feel inspired by reading a scripture. A scripture of a Self-Realized master.

Same questioner:
Ashtavakra Gita.

Babaji:
Like Ashtavakra Gita. That could be quite inspiring. And when we talk, if you find a master and you get to listen to the master, and you have a question and you listen to the answer by the master. So, these things can be inspiring. So, then make you to go for that one. Finally, yourself going for that is very important. That’s what is needed, always. The rest is all alright. Just your own imagination needs to stop, finally.

What the mind gives cannot give us the truth

Same questioner:

That belief, I mean, firm belief that anything that mind creates is not the truth, that the mind can’t give us the truth. That one thing seems to be pretty powerful when you really believe that.

Babaji:

Yeah, definitely. That’s why repeatedly I have tried to tell, “Mind can never give the truth because it gives only what it imagines.” And whatever it imagines need not be the truth first thing. Second thing, it cannot imagine completely as it is. Just like you have the imagination power in your mind, but you cannot imagine the space as it is, impossible. Simply you have to accept that it is all pervaded, but how much all pervaded? No such thing. How much is that absolute? What does that mean? There is no beginning, center, or end. These type of things can be given, but how much? Where’s the beginning? How can there be something without a beginning? Like that questions arrive, so one can get confused. So one needs to understand. So that is important. That’s when you have to go for the experience. Experience which is not based on any sound or sight. I have told, entire creation is based on a sound or a sight. Sight means scene that you can see something through your body, through your naked eyes.

Same questioner:

Nothing that can be perceived.

Babaji:

Yes, so your experience must not depend on these two. If any such experience happens, so that is not complete or not a Realization, not the Ultimate Truth.

Does a Yogi rise above all suffering?

Same questioner:

Babaji, the world is full of suffering, and of course we would all like to rise above it. A yogi’s body is subject to the same afflictions that any other human being’s body is. Does a yogi rise above all suffering?

Babaji:

In consciousness, definitely. Because when the mind merges with the Self and realizes that Self and always remains in that Self, being there. So then he rises above all suffering. He understands it is the body because the pain might be felt, because the consciousness is in touch with the brain – I’m trying to tell the truth. I don’t claim any mythical things unnecessarily. A pain will be felt, but in consciousness one would have risen above that level of suffering. So there is no more suffering in the consciousness considering anything as a reality. He is totally aware it is this body which is suffering and waits for the body to get dropped on its own.

Same questioner:

Babaji, if you’re not feeling the suffering, the pain in the body, who’s feeling it?

Babaji:

See, the consciousness is feeling the pain, but suffering happens when further imaginations are created. When it spins, consciousness spins and it becomes mind, then that is experienced. That is not there for a yogi. Simply he temporarily experiences the pain, but he experiences it as a witness. Sakshi bhava, only as a witness only. So nothing else is there.

Who is thinking if a Yogi’s mind has stopped?

Same questioner:

Baba, if a Self-Realized yogi’s mind is stopped permanently, if so, they appear to be, you appear to be thinking just as any other person. So, who’s thinking if your mind is stopped?

Babaji:

See, a yogi doesn’t keep thinking always. Not out of control. If necessary to teach, but very often it happens mechanically, just like I tell, these answers, I don’t have to think, frame anything and then answer. This takes time. But when you ask a question, spontaneously answer comes. That means effortlessly. I do not put any effort to think, imagine, understand nothing. It simply comes. The moment the question comes to register in the consciousness, the answer also instantly comes out. So that’s why, I have felt answering more easy than giving a talk by imagining.

Same questioner:

So, then, when you are Self-Realized, you have the awareness of the Self, the consciousness of existence, and you realize that you are that. But, as long as you have a body, thoughts will rise up from that?

Babaji:

 No, thoughts, it will not be constantly arising. It is the silent one. Even through the brain, when we talk also through the body, my consciousness is very silent. It doesn’t picturize or doesn’t keep thinking anything. The thinking often gets converted to brooding or anxiousness. These things doesn’t happen. All these reactions have stopped totally. Mind is not even thinking all the time, nothing.

What happens when Babaji answers a question

Same questioner:

So, when I ask you a question and you start to answer it, you’ve said that the answer just spontaneously comes.

Babaji:

Yeah. I even do not think from where it is coming, and I do not have any imagination that I am answering the question. No such thoughts come. The ‘I’ itself has disappeared, so that thought doesn’t come, a claim or any ego that I have this knowledge. There is no such thing when the ‘I’ itself is not there. So, such thing coming doesn’t arise. It is the same thing which asks the question, answers also.

Same questioner:

It is a little hard to understand, Okay, Baba, thank you.

Babaji:

One more thing, it is such an amazing phenomenon that has happened. It is the same substance which asks the question and same substance which answers as if for the sake of same consciousness in the form of so many people, where this knowledge may not be there because of the constant thinking. Consistent thinking that is happening, imagination that is happening. So, all the efforts is to stop that imagination in others also to help others also to lose that imagination so that the glow of the Self can come up. The manifestation of the Self can come up. That is what the effort is. The same thing. Means in other words I will tell, I am asking a question, I am answering and I am getting carried away with imagination in so many forms. And I have to get rid of that one. That is what is happening. Isn’t it funny?

Permanent happiness is not an imagined thing

Question:

Thank you, Baba. That was the perfect introduction to my question because I was going to ask this question last time we were together and I didn’t ask it. It was about something you had said. I don’t remember the exact words but it was about happiness as a state before bliss or enlightenment. I knew you weren’t meaning happiness of the mind because happiness is the opposite of suffering in the mind. But I’m wondering if perhaps you had meant you reach this baseline where the suffering of the mind can’t really affect you all that much. Like when something bad happens I just know there is going to be another day and something else is going to happen. I am not going to get depressed or fall into all of those things that take us down. I am wondering if maybe you were talking about some kind of happiness like that. I am very curious. Thank you.

Babaji:

Now, listen carefully all of you. Either suffering or happiness, it happens due to an imagination in the mind. Suppose some suffering happens in the body, some pain comes or connected to the body some painful things happen, some incidents happen, some dear ones happen. So that comes to the mind. Then mind imagines. The mind imagines that it is painful for itself. It is unhappiness. The moment it imagines, it forgets that it has imagined, then it starts considering that as a reality and gets carried away as an illusion, bhrama. Bhrama is the word used in Sanskrit. So, means you get illusioned. Illusioned to yourself as if that unhappiness is happening to you. Just like when you watch the movie, if some unhappy incident is happening, you keep watching staringly that movie scene and suddenly unknown to you, that flashes in your mind and you imagine that you are unhappy. Some unhappy thing is happening, thus you become unhappy. Then you experience as if that unhappiness is happening yourself and you suffer. All this happens in total imagination. One after another, quick succession. Thought after thought gets generated and thus you feel as if you are suffering, whereas you are not actually suffering anything. You cannot touch anything. You cannot experience anything. The actual you. So that’s what the truth is. However, this is not easy to experience. You have to meditate thoroughly to remain detached from the brain’s reflections. Then you will have the supreme peace, which is not an imagined peace. It is an experience of the existence of the Self. That is the supreme peace. Because there nothing is needed, nothing can harm, nothing can trouble. Nobody can create any politics. Nobody can create any double standards. Nobody can criticize you. Nobody can praise you. Nothing. So then when you realize this, all the time you are at peace.

Question:

So the happiness that you mentioned before the supreme peace is just that lack of the mind doing its thing into suffering?

Babaji:

Yes. Whenever the mind stops, then you experience the happiness. Say you get a certain object that you desire. When it comes to you, for a while you are happy. That happiness is because that time for a moment also the mind’s craving stops because it has obtained. But the thing that has obtained is temporary, not a permanent entity. That’s why it starts worrying afterwards, it continuously doesn’t stay in happiness. That’s how the suffering happens.

Same questioner:

So, if you are at a stage in your life where you’re just not happy with where you’re at, but you know it’s a temporary situation, you can still come to awakening knowing that it’s just mind and it doesn’t really matter? Or do you have to change your mind state before that happens?

Babaji:

Long-time practice only can enable you to be like that. That is what is your life.

Same questioner:
So there’s no light in this life?

Babaji:
Meditation and tapas. Not necessary. You don’t have to think there is no light in this life. Why do you have to think? If you put an effort to become quiet and achieve, you might be able to. Always think positively. Don’t lose heart by thinking negatively. It can happen for anybody. Provided you have the dedication, discipline, patience and want to go for that, understand the need.

Why does my mind not stop when it is brought between the eyebrows?

Same questioner:

Thank you so much, Babaji.

Question:

Pranams Babaji, I have two different questions. The first question is pertaining to the technique where you mentioned we should make an effort to bring the eyeballs between the eyebrows. But once both the eyeballs come between the eyebrows, right away the mind does not stop. Is it because again the eyes kind of go to the parallel?

Babaji:

If it goes parallelly, it gives a jerk to the mind. So your ability to hold the eyeballs, that is what is watching. When you watch it with the eyes, then that ‘you’ also stops. Consistently you should be able to hold on to that for some time, then again some time – like that you practice. Long time that you are able to hold. If you are unable to hold it, then it gives a jerk to the mind and the mind runs again.

How to not be bothered by the world?

Same questioner:

And the second part of the question pertains to the Ashtavakra philosophy that you gave a preview at the retreat. So the main, primary message is to listen to the Guru commands, how to still the mind. Is there a secondary message where regardless of how the people may mock us for our shortcomings, how we appear, we need to develop that technology where nothing would bother and be able to bounce it off and this can only happen by stilling the mind. Is that the thing?

Babaji:

Stilling the mind by constant practice of meditation. Watching only can give you that ability. That’s when the mind becomes quiet. Then it stops absorbing any imprints, then it stops bothering also.

Question:

Baba, just a point there, when you say watching, you mean just not thinking, just observing without thinking at all. No analyzing, no recognition, nothing.

Babaji:

Nothing. Not even bother whether you exist or not for that moment. Just become quiet in every way.

What happens when the mind stops?

Question:

Hey Baba, I have a question which is all related to this discussion. So what happens when your mind stops? You are doing the meditation, your thoughts go away, there are no thoughts. What happens then?

Babaji:

Then attention of the mind goes to itself, giving you an awareness that you exist beyond this physical body. Not as any body, not as to be seen as the naked eyes. Simply the consciousness of existence, your attention settles there. Gradually you progress towards Samadhi.

Same questioner:

So is this a process? Because sometimes there are periods when there are no thoughts and then thoughts come back again. So is this a gradual process?

Babaji:

Yeah, gradually as you proceed practicing, one time comes when no more thoughts come. When the mind becomes totally quiet. Then it starts going towards what is known as Samadhi or towards the Self. Then once for all it gives up all such thoughts and imaginations. Then you become aware of your Self.

Same questioner:

And the idea is to hold that state as much as you can or what to do with that?

Babaji:

Yes, in practice, hold on to that, one day till effortlessly you are able to hold on to that. Being there. So you practice so much that one day effortlessly you are able to stop the mind without giving rise to any thoughts. And then see the wonder.

Question:

Baba, could I comment or ask a question about that? As long as the ‘I’ is there, there are thoughts there. If there’s nothing else except ‘I am not having any thoughts’, isn’t that a thought? And you have to keep watching in that stillness until that ‘I’ vanishes, and then that’s when the mind stops completely?

Babaji:

Yes, you hold on to that so that the thoughts stop. When thoughts all go on stopping, along with that the ‘I’ also stops. Imagination of the ‘I’ also disappears. But still you are there. But no imagination as the ‘I’ – then see the wonder.

Same questioner:

So that ‘I’ has become infinite really, it’s become the consciousness of existence when it becomes silent.

Babaji:

Yeah, at that stage one can understand if I tell or one will understand on his or her own.

Can an experience of sight and sound progress towards Self-Realization?

Question:

Okay, just two quick questions. The first one going back to earlier in the conversation when you said that you tell everyone and you hold firm that no experience that we perceive with sight or sound can progress us towards Self-Realization. So really the only experience that could progress us towards Self-Realization is no experience. Right? Is it just the feeling?

Babaji:

Yeah, because many, many people think an experience means when a sound happens or a sight, a vision comes. That is what is crossing the sound, time and space barrier. So once you don’t bother about these sounds and sights – just watch – that is one technique which enables you to cross the barrier of sound, sight, time and space. So then you experience the infinity of yourself.

Same questioner:

The pure awareness, that’s the only non-experience that progresses.

Babaji:

Yeah, that pure awareness is beyond this sound and sight.

Same questioner:

Yes, yes.  Okay.

Pulling of the head downwards during meditation

And so the second question is especially lately I’ve been having trouble. And I believe I read something about this and maybe in a book by Ramana Maharshi or something. But during my meditation I’ve been getting such a strong pulling of my head going down. So I’ll be sitting straight up but my head just wants to keep going down. And when it goes down it’s not like I’m falling asleep or I’m having an abundance of thoughts, it just that’s where it goes. But then I feel like I should be sitting straight with my neck straight and my back so it interrupts my meditation because I then have to sit back up straight. Should I just allow myself to stay with my head down like this or should I continue to bring myself up?

Babaji:

I would recommend you to bring yourself up so that eventually some sleep might occur, you need to be careful. So in that position to keep watching can become difficult. If necessary open your eyes, get up and wash your face and then come back again and sit. So, keeping yourself straight is important.

Same questioner:

So, probably it’s just tiredness that’s causing the head to go forward.

Babaji:

Yes quite possible.

Same questioner:

All right thank you so much Baba.

Is it correct that no lasting peace and happiness can come from an experience within the mind?

Question:

Baba, can I say something related to that? So the idea is to transcend all experience. Everything that’s in the mind, anything perceivable, conceivable. That includes gods, goddesses, other worlds, celestial worlds. Those are all within the mind and those you will never find peace, lasting peace and happiness within those realms of experiences. Is that correct?

Babaji:

Yes you have to cross all the barriers, every imagination, everything finishes, not even the ‘I’… After crossing all these barriers only finally the ‘I’ disappears. As long as the ‘I’ is there, I keep imagining about another duality and so many other things. I want a anchor, I imagine about my father, my dad, my god, my guru, all these things. Then finally, “Chitananda roopa shivoham shivoham”. That happens when the ‘I’ is gone.

Same questioner:

 So the nature of the mind is just to keep manifesting new imaginations, new concepts?

Babaji:

It imagines about fear, then it wants some anchor. Like we want some godfather in the world, that type of thing. That’s when you imagine that you need some anchor who can protect you, who can care for you, who can love you, who will not allow any trouble to come to you. So these are the imaginations. Once it’s over, everything is done with.

Same questioner:

So the instruction is we have to rise above the whole mental soup.

Babaji:

Exactly.

Is it necessary to see thoughts or visions in the mind in meditation?

Question:

Pranams Baba, so I have a couple of questions related to what we’re talking about. So in meditation I remember when you say when you’re watching you can watch whatever appears as a sort of a temporary anchor. But also, it’s not necessary to see a lot of visions or thoughts necessarily. Is it just if you can find that feeling of silence, just focusing on that? Is it necessary to see thoughts or visions?

Babaji:

Not necessary. Not at all necessary. So that’s what you’re trying to stop. So if it doesn’t come, you don’t have to see any thoughts at all. Means by reading somebody else’s experience you don’t have to imagine that you also need to have such visions or such things. Not necessary.

Does a Yogi still have pure peace when the body experiences pain?

Same questioner:

Okay. And then I was also wondering, in the Self-Realized state, if there’s pain for example in the body, even though that might be witnessing that there’s still a pure peace?

Babaji:

Yes. So just like the world is, in the same way the body also becomes part of the world, not part of you. So it becomes part of the world and you in the Self. So then that illusion disappears.

Same questioner:

That’s what I was going to ask – is the feeling more that the body is in you rather than you are in the body?

Babaji:

Yes. Body is within you. You are that space.

Can one still stay in the state of stillness when in activity?

Question:

So once your mind is stopped and then you’re in that state, what happens if you need to do some activities or you need to ask a question as I’m doing now? Can you still stay in that state? I mean you have to think something in order to ask a question. So can you still stay in that state, but function normally?

Babaji:

Yeah. Listen. Now carefully listen. When you practice that, when you’re practicing that, if you want Self-Realization, your sole idea should be Self-Realization and not to bother about anything else, to be active in this world. First, this is the first thing. Say once you get Self-Realized, then slowly you will come back, you can come back and you can be normal in this world. You can practice that skill to be active. But how much active you want to be? Do you want to be so much active that you don’t want the Self-Realization? Or you want to keep the Self-Realization and just be active a little bit that is needed? Equation changes. First, you are so much attached, you want to be active in the world, you want to become a president, you want to become a prime minister and you want to become a businessman. All these ideas are there. Then you are scared to go for Self-Realization. My God, will I be a businessman still if I become Self-Realized? That’s what is scary. And you give up. But once you become Self-Realized, once you become That, then see what you want to do, what you don’t want to do, it is up to you. But I assure you, you can do anything you want to do.

Question:

I’d like to just comment on Raimus’ question. Baba, you attained Self-Realization and you’ve done so much since that time in the last 20 years – it’s unbelievable what you’ve accomplished and what you do accomplish. Often it seems like maybe you’re not doing that much, but you’re always involved in doing something. And so if you want to be, if you have something you want to accomplish after Self-Realization, it surely must be possible, look at what you have done.

Babaji:

It is possible. How it became a bit possible for me easily? The first twenty years with the master, I lived in such a situation. Anybody I would recommend who wants to go to Self-Realization, do such a Karma yoga where nobody of your kith and kin are there, nobody to bother for you, care for you is there. You simply have to adjust everything. Even if you feel sad and don’t want to eat anything that happens in the world, society, nobody will bother for you. You live in such a situation and learn to adjust. Simply adjust, acceptance comes. Then you will know that when there is nobody for you, it’s your Divine Guru there for you always. That’s what we saw. So that enabled me to develop the skills after my tapas to remain in the world. Whether anybody praised me or criticized me, blamed me, loved me, in all such situations, simply went on doing. “This is what I want to do. This is what.” Though sometimes, I didn’t bluntly say this, means whoever comes in front of me, I would like to influence them to meditate, know the Self. Go for the Self, encourage them to do the things. But in this process, if necessary, you travel. If necessary, you stand in the queue. If necessary, you face the security. If necessary, if the immigration bluntly says something to you, accept it. He has the power, he can do anything he wants. He is the king. What to say? Okay. Like that, you develop that attitude, then things become easy. Then you are able to do something for the people of this world. For that also, we have to sacrifice. It’s not easy to help people. Today, if I have to sit with 80 people, 140 people with Zoom also, there is a lot of sacrifice. So many other things we have to give up, and so much assistance is needed. When we depend on the divinity, the divine provides. Somebody comes. Somebody helps at that moment. Something happens. Technologically, somebody comes forward. It happens and we are able to do it. That’s amazing. Here again the ‘I’ is not there. I’m not doing anything.

How can one overcome the thought ‘how much more time is left in this 1 hour meditation?’

Question:

Thank you, Baba. Ok, there are two questions that are in the chat? First is from Gurumani. “My question is, while doing Jangama Dhyana, my biggest challenge has been to overcome the thought, “How much more time is left in this one hour?”” Gurumani you are not the first one to ask that question. Okay, and then the rest of the question is, “How do I overcome the thought? Also, how does time appear to Babaji?”

Babaji:

First thing Gurumani and all others who are sitting there in your places, you see, already by giving rise to thoughts some energy is wasted. And then you start bothering how much in the one hour is left, that wastes more energy. So, don’t feel guilty, don’t keep asking, “Why it is not happening, why the thoughts are not reducing?”, let it go. If more thoughts are coming, give up that idea “Why these thoughts are there?” Simply allow those thoughts to be there, then also it will disappear. Because you are getting involved into the thought, that will increase. Don’t even bother how much time is left. Just watch. Thoughts are there, just watch. Visions are there, just watch. Hundreds and millions of thoughts are there, just watch. Don’t even ask why they are there. The world is like this, don’t even ask why the world is like this. Don’t ask anybody, “Who is there?” Nobody is there. You are there. So, like that when you become quiet, then everything becomes quiet. The world also will disappear for you. Like that thoughts will also disappear. You need to understand this technique once again, all of you. Already because of the thoughts some time is wasted, when you start worrying more, you are wasting more time, so don’t bother. Don’t bother, don’t bother. Now what’s the next question?

How many minutes of silence can be a good start in meditation?

Question:

It’s from Vera. How many minutes of silence can be a good start to meditation?

Babaji:

As much as possible, one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, it’s your ability to keep quiet. How long you can keep quiet. That is good for a good start.

Sitting quietly for some time before sitting

Question:

Baba, some people advocate sitting quiet, silently for a moment before even starting a mantra or something like that.

Babaji:

That is recommended. Take a long inhale and exhale of the breath, relax. Tsshhhh. Become composed. Don’t bother about the outside world. Nothing exists. We can attend to everything afterwards. Just now I need to keep quiet. Relax, cool down, cool down. Don’t bother, don’t bother. Like that, you advise yourself and you try to keep quiet. Then slowly, close the eyes, you can keep quiet for longer time. Slowly, slowly, every day if you do like that, that ability comes to you.

Question:

Baba, oh, Chris has a question. But I’d like to comment on Gurumani’s question. You know, my experience is trying to think your way out of having too many thoughts and meditation is kind of fruitless. You just get embroiled in more thoughts. The only way for me to get beyond that is to double down on focusing between my eyebrows. And then the thoughts stop. Otherwise, if I try to get rid of the thoughts or figure out how to reduce the thoughts, I’m just thinking more and more. The only way to stop is to focus.

Babaji:

Yeah, you are right, definitely. And we need to take this question. It is my shadow, Ambaji. Yes, Amba, come.

Constant thinking that creates a vibration in the mind, a habit to think

Ambaji:

Baba, I was reading something. First, my pranams to you. I just wanted ask this. You always say that the mind has to stop, and the constant thinking of the mind. And I was reading last night, it says that the constant thinking creates a kind of vibration, constant vibration in our consciousness. And that makes a thought pattern. The constant vibration of the mind in your thinking process creates this pattern of the thoughts and ultimately it becomes your samskaras. Unnoticed it becomes your samskaras over the time. And what is your opinion? What do you say about it?

Babaji:

Exactly. The word used for this is the mind’s spandhan, the vibrations of the mind through which it spins. When it spins, that is when we call it acquired habits. Depending on the acquired habits, thoughts gets generated. Either a good or a bad, but when you go for Self-Realization, both are to be considered as a corrupted one which will keep you away from becoming quiet. So that’s what you have to ignore both the things. So that’s what is known as the vasanas and the samskaras, due to which… That’s what you have to get rid of, the thing. So as you learn to accept and simply become quiet and quiet and quiet, so these samskaras all vanish. All vasanas, everything will disappear.

If you have a desire for Self-Realization, is this also a vasana?

Question:

 So if I have a vasana, Baba, to become a Self-Realized, is that vasana also? Is this considered as a vasana? Because ultimately it’s a desire, it’s a thought in the mind which is longing and going, increasing as a desire.

Babaji:

It is a desire to get Self-Realized. Here the vasana becomes of the highest quality. Highest quality imagination, it wants to hold on to that one so that it can get rid of all other imaginations. It becomes preoccupied with one thought, “I want to get Self-Realized.” Then it will go for all such methods that it needs to adopt to become quiet. It will give up everything else, all other egos are left, nothing, no problem, no time to feel sorry for ourselves. That type of preoccupation comes. That vasana is recommended. Until you get rid of the ‘I’. So let that vasana be there until you get rid of the ‘I’. When you go for that, then finally, ‘I’ also disappears. With the ‘I’ only, all vasanas disappear.

Ambaji:

Thank you Babaji.

Question:

Baba, Could you give us a definition of vasana and samskara?

Babaji:

Vasana is acquired habit of the mind, due to which an attitude gets built up. Attitude of the mind gets built up, depending on that attitude only thoughts gets created. So that is what is known as vasana, through which it gets attracted to the body urges, and the worldly urges very quickly. So that is why it is known as the vasana. Samskara again is also acquired habits of the mind, due to which a behavioral structure of the body happens – the mind induces a person to behave in such a way. So that is samskara. If that is of the highest quality, that person will be a matured human being who will not be selfish and narrow minded. Who will think of a larger cause, if at all he has to think. Otherwise he will just keep quiet. So that which builds up the character and culture of a person is the samskara, which builds up the thinking, attitudes of a person is vasana, that which will eventually take you towards the world, and the body urges. But to get rid of the body urges and the worldly things, we hold on to one highest vasana, that we need the Self-Realization for our total peace once for all, supreme peace.

Question:

Thank you Babaji. So grateful for all that you do for us. It’s following up with my question on the chat. I am making it a habit to be quiet, not just during meditation, but even in between my several tasks during the day, two or three minutes here, five minutes there, off and on, it’s becoming like a way of life for me now. So I just wanted to thank you for this wonderful practice that you have given. So I just wanted to ask you, is that okay? Being constantly aware of being in silence.

Babaji:

Yeah, I’m very happy that you have got the technique. You do any work, you want to help anybody, any organization, silently do it, keep quiet. You don’t have to keep bothering too much, “Why others are not doing?” See, I have become Self-Realized, I meditated – I don’t have to bother why others also not meditating, are not becoming Self-Realized. Too much is not necessary. Just silently, quietly keep on doing. Wonderful. You are doing a good job. All my love and blessings to all of you. It’s so wonderful. We will just say bye bye to all of you to go to gallery. It’s time for me to disappear.

End of Session