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Part 1: The Flute of God: Active Meditation and Universal Love Oṁ Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ Tat Savitur Vareṇyam... Oṁ Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ Tat Savitur Vareṇyam... Devo Yon Prachodayāt Oṁ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ... Salutations to Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān, to Śrī Śrī Devpurījī Mahādeva, to Satguru Svāmī Madhavānandajī Bhagavān, and to the Satya Sanātana Dharma. Salutation to the Cosmic Light, the Lord of our Hearts, Omniscient and Omnipresent. In His Divine Presence, good evening, dear brothers and sisters. Good evening to all my dear ones, devotees, practitioners of yoga and life, followers of all spiritual paths, and spiritual seekers around the world. Good morning and good evening to you. Blessings are coming to you all from the beautiful city of Brisbane, Australia. Hari Oṁ. We continue with the subject of meditation, its theory and practice. Welcome. Meditation is the door to our inner self. Meditation is the key to the cosmic door. Meditation with mantra is the oneness with the cosmic self, or with self-realization. But meditation also gives us a harmonious, balanced, relaxed, and happy life. There are different kinds of meditation, but the destination is the same. There is passive meditation and active meditation. It is said, "Mukh me Rām, hāth me kām." In our mouth, on our tongue, should be the name of God, and in our hands should be the work. This is called active meditation. It means that we humans have different obligations, different duties. That we call Dharma. Dharma has many different meanings and definitions. Most people understand Dharma as a religion, but again, religion means to come to oneself. Religion means realizing your relation to the Supreme. That is our duty or aim of human life. We know there are many different creatures on this planet. The creator has created 8.4 million different creatures. Among them, one is the human. Humans have two powerful tools: one is the intellect, and the second is the heart. Which heart has the great treasure? That is called mercy. The person who is on the spiritual path, the person who is on the journey to the self, which is within our heart, can be realized when we develop equal love. In Vedānta philosophy, it is said, "Sabhi Prāṇī Merī Ātmā Hai." Each and every entity is myself, Ātmā, So’ham, Paramātmā, and that Ātmā is the Supreme. Individually, we are as individual beings; there is a duality. But as the light of God, which is in our heart and in all other creatures, is the same light of God. That’s called one in all and all in one. Great Śaṅkarācārya said the first step to self-realization or God-realization is that we project our love equally for all living beings. That kind of love is known as "God is love, and love is God." When we feel that kind of unity and have compassion, at that time, automatically in our heart, peace, certainty, clarity, and love appear. The time for all kinds of mental tensions, anxieties, and searching is finished, because one enters into the ocean of immortality. This is the aim of the meditation. So, "Mukh me Rām," always keep the name of God in your mouth. Through this mouth which God has given to us, one great saint Kabīr Dās said, God has given you this tongue to remember God and sing or repeat the glory of God’s name. Never speak those words which hurt others. The violence which we can do can be physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, social, political, etc. The devotee, the practitioner, always prays to God, "God, bless me that through my words, through my actions, I should not harm anyone." Because I see myself in all. It is said in the Bible, do not do to others what you do not like to be done to you. It means clearly that we are one with others, physically we are different. So, "Mukh me Rām," God’s name. Now, God’s name means not only a particular God. It means good words, good thoughts. There is a beautiful poem by my beloved Satguru Dev, Svāmī Madhavānandajī. You see the picture on the altar, right side from you. He said, "Sab ghat mera saaya or koi ghat khali naye." In every heart is God. No heart exists without God. "Sab Ghat Mera Saiyan, Aur Koi Ghat Khali Nai, Balhari Us Ghat Ki, Pragat Bole." I adore those hearts in which God manifests to speak the language, and that language is the language of love, language of understanding, language of clarity, language of unity. Puri and the language which creates in everyone happiness. Only that language can create happiness. Contentment, happiness, love, harmony, compassion—all these principles God has given to us for free. God never told us to be unhappy. God never said to us that we should do bad to others. "Mahāprabhujī Karatā... Mahāprabhujī, don’t give pain. Don’t give or cause the confusions. Guide all on the right path. If you cannot, then at least you should not misguide." That is the divine principle. That is called active meditation. When you walk through the park, when you walk on the beach, when you walk through the forest, through the mountains, through the city, or you are on a bus, train, or aeroplane, or driving your car, or sitting in a restaurant, try to make an experiment to experience the love. If you feel like all is your family, suddenly love comes, certainty comes. They also say that animals, when you come home, how happy is your cat, if you have a cat at home, how happy is she? She is coming, she is rolling on the ground in front of you, she is coming, touching your calves, she is touching with her tail, and trying to come closer. What makes that cat come to closure? That love. And that one needs our attention, our love. Or your dog. How happy is your dog when you come home after work? Jumping, jumping up. Even he tries to give you a kiss, licking your cheeks. Similarly, humans too. It’s not that we ask someone to love us. No. We have so much love in our heart, and we need some object, some form, something where we can project our love. And that cat, dog, your horse, or any animals, your house pets, they have so much love for you, and they would like to give to you and draw your attention. Now, the love between your house pets or your birds is not that kind of love which we call selfish love, but is the love of God which flows between. When we walk through the park, you see the beautiful trees, you see the beautiful flowers, you are relaxed, you are happy. This is a kind of therapy. Those who have depression or a lot of stress or are unhappy, just go to nature and see how nature loves you. If we learn to love them, then there is no fear. So, there is one story about walking through the park. Should I tell a story? This story is about God. God had a beautiful park, beautiful. Every morning, He used to walk through His park. And all the plants, they say, "Good morning, dear God, I love you. Good morning, dear God, I love you." Every plant, even a small one, said, "I love you, God. I love you, God." Little ants, they said, "I love you, God." The birds said, "I love you, God." And God says also, "I love you all, my dear ones." He touched the gentle buds, the leaves of the trees, and he was so happy. Finally, he comes to one corner, and there was one bamboo plant. Bamboo always had a doubt. I am not so useful, and maybe God will pull me out of his garden, out of his park. So from far already, Bambu used to say, "I love you, my God. I love you, my God." And God said, "Yes, my dear Bambu, I love you, I love you." And from time to time, Bambu used to ask God, "Dear God, I love you. I have only one wish: let me be in your garden. Please don’t cause me pain." Those who have doubts are always asking the question, but positively, asking the question toward the negative. God said, "Yes, my Bambu, you will always be here. I will not cause you pain. I love you too." Months and years passed. One day, God came to his park, walking with his hands behind his back. Bambu was thinking, "Why has my Lord hidden his hands today on his back?" Birds, butterflies, and all other creatures say, "I love you, God," and God said, "I love you all." Bambu said, "I love you, God," and God said, "I love you very much, my Bambu. God, what do you have in your hands?" God said, "Yes, my dear one, in my hands I have one axe." Axe, axe,... Yes, my dear, I love you. Why? For what? He said, "Bambu, I need your help." "Yes, I am ready." "And I will cause you a little pain, Lord." "What have I done? What mistake did I make? I just occupied a small half-square-meter space in your park. I never speak badly about you. I never have done so. Why? You will cause me the pain." God said, "No. O my dear one, you have done nothing wrong, but I need your help. I trust in you." You know, there was a very painful, critical situation. Once Jesus said, "Father, why me, just?" And Father said, "I trust you, my son, and I send you here to help." Prabhu said, "But God, you can help. You cause me the pain that others are happy?" He said, "No, this is not the way." Then what, my Lord? God said, "My dear Bambu, at present time the human’s heart has become like a stone, and I wish that their heart becomes soft like butter, gentle like the blossoms." Yes, but I don’t understand, my Lord. How will I make their heart as soft as butter, gentle like the petals of the flowers? They said, "Yes, you can and you will." Okay, Lord, I am ready. Of course, you are the Almighty. You can do what you want. I have no power to say no, but explain to me why. How will I help them? You cause me the pain. My dear, sometimes we have situations in our life where we feel God has forgotten us. Why me? Why do I have troubles, and why do we try to forget God? Neglect God, but He doesn’t forget us and He doesn’t neglect us. We see our window, we have the troubles of the hard times in our life. There is a God who is more gracious to us. Bambu said, "Okay, my Lord, do what you like, but please don’t cause me the pain." God said, "No, Bambu, I will chip off one of your branches." I will chip up your one arm, Lord. You will chip up my one arm? And people will have a good heart. Which theory is this? What is the connection with that? God said, "Yes, and you know, Bābū, I love you so much, I will make a flute out of this, and I will keep you closest to my lips. I will give you the kiss and blow all my talents, all my prāṇa, my breath." And Lord, what will happen? It is you who will manifest it, such a beautiful melody, a tune from that flute. Whoever will hear this flute, their heart will become soft like butter, the sound. Then, Lord, do it. Here is my arm, please. So that became the flute of Kṛṣṇa, that became the instruments, all the instruments which give us beautiful melody. We don’t need rhythm. We don’t need translations. Everyone is singing with, you know, they were playing the tablās and harmoniums, and all were happy and singing. Thank you, Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavānakī. So the melody, the sound, doesn’t need translation. Nāda Rūpa Parabrahma. The form of the Supreme is the resonance, that sound, that melody. So we should be that flute of God, that our words are so sweet, so harmonious, that all who listen become happy and feel fearless. That was the story, but the story doesn’t end still. Yes, every day God is making his rounds through the park, and Bambu has the same question. God, I love you, but don’t cause me pain. After a few years, one day again, God came with the axe in his hand, and the hands on the bamboo knew something was wrong again. God, what do you have in your hands today again? God said, "My dear, you know me. You know me." Yes, my dear, I love you. I trust you. You are a capable one. Lord, I am not capable. It is all your grace. You gave me this strength. You gave me such a life. What can I do, Lord? God said, "Bambu, today I will chip off your trunk." My whole trunk? I said, "Yes." But you will be mortal. You will live. And so Confucius said, "The cut trunk of the tree will live." The lost confidence will come again. The lost faith, the lost love will grow again, will come again. But Lord, why? I understood the flute, okay, you chipped up my one arm. But what is with the whole trunk? God said, "In the high Himalayas, on one side, there is no rain." Animals, birds, people, and the forest are without water. And, Lord, you will chip off my trunk, and they will get water? I said, "Yes. What karma do I have, Lord?" Part 2: The Bamboo of Life: Active Meditation and Prayer He said, "No, you have good karma. That is why I always come to you." Explain to me, Lord, bamboo. There is a lot of water flowing from those glaciers which are melting, but it just goes down somewhere in the mountains. Because in the front, there is a big rock, and it does not let the water go in that direction. I will make a pipe or a channel and place it on that rock. That water will flow over the rock, and everyone will have enough water. Lord, if it is like this, then please do it. I am ready to do it. So, my dear, our life is like that bamboo, and let God’s energy, let God’s mercy flow for all. Each and every drop of blood should be dedicated in the name of God to serve this planet. Be ready for this planet. All the creatures, not only we said, okay, my friends or humans or my country—the whole world is one. That kind of thinking, and in that way, act; that is called active meditation. Give, serve, but without expectation. That is real love, that is real service. If you work to get something back, okay, it is still good, but not that much. Of course, in this civilization, we humans are so far removed and dependent on all these equipments. When it is a little cold, we say we need a heater; when it is warm, we need air conditioning. We need this, that, everything. We are not used. You see the people in your country, in Australia, the aboriginals, they have strong and good immunities in the body. They can survive without water for a few days. They can survive without eating for a few days. And if they have a fever or something, they know how to endure this pain and become healthy again. But our immunity is not so. Even our house pets, they are not so healthy because we humans have influenced their life too. They are meant to be in nature. They ought to be free, but we should help them. We should love them. This is active meditation. Passive meditation we need, and God said, "Jab jab man ghabrāye, tum prathānā karo. Jab raha nazar nahī̃ āye, tum prathānā karo." Whenever you feel fear, scared, it is a fear inside, and when we pray, we have to surrender our ego. Just we have to come to God like a small baby comes to you. A small baby is crying, and as soon as the mother or father puts the baby in their hands, immediately the baby feels the touch of the father or mother, and how happy the child is immediately, it stops to cry. Similarly, when we pray, God loves us like that. We are in the lap of God. Jab jab man ghabarāye tum prathānā karo, jab rahā najar na āye tum prathānā karo. If you do not see any way out from those troubles of life, pray, pray. Suddenly the fog of confusion will go away, and the light of the sun, as a light of God, will appear. So prayer is also meditation. Singing the name of God is also meditation. Second, we are always searching for the answer. Why? Why? We have to meditate for that. Put evening, every evening, a piece of paper. From morning till now, evening, how many good things you did. How many good words you spoke, how many good thoughts you had in your mind, and how many people or animals you helped—so number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Be clear. Put it as a very clear picture in front of you. And then, second column: how many negative words you spoke, how many negative thoughts you had, how much trouble you caused to anyone. Even while driving a car, Mahāprabhujī is meditating. Mahāprabhujī is meditating. He is only meditating. Mahāprabhujī is meditating. He is only meditating. Mahāprabhujī is meditating. He is only meditating... First, we meditate in an intellectual way; then we sit in meditation and we ask ourselves to forgive ourselves. It is only you who can forgive and ask yourself, "Which kind of talents should I develop in me?" This means, "What makes me human? What are the human qualities that you search for in your meditation?" Mahāprabhujīp Karatā Mahāprabhujīp Karatā He Kevalam. All kinds of meditations, active and passive meditation. So this is the part of the theory, and now we will practice and see how it will be in the practice. Before we do the practice, I would suggest you do a little movement. Stand up and stretch your knees so that you can sit in meditation comfortably. Now, interlock your fingers, stretch your hands above your head, palms facing upward. Stretch your hands and feel the stretching in your side muscles. Now, stand on your toes and take some steps on your yoga mat; just walk here and there. Very good, and hands down. Again, interlock the fingers, palms facing upward. Stretch your hands, feel the stretching in your side muscles. And now, stand on your toes and make some steps on your yoga mat. Just walk here and there, very... Good, and hands down, again interlock the fingers, palms facing upward, stretch your hands, feel the stretching in your side muscles, and now stand on your toes, and make some steps on your yoga mat, just walk here and there, very good, and hands down, again interlock the fingers, palms facing upward. Siddha Purījī, Siddha Purījī... Our calf muscles, our ligaments, those who have problems with the ankle joints, often twisting the ankle joint, this exercise is very good. So again, foot down, left foot, leg stretched down, and again, once more, the right one. And now we will test how good our concentration is, so remain like this, motionless, very good. Now we will test the concentration. Close your eyes. Okay. So I need not tell you, you know your concentration. With the left leg, please. Again, close your eyes. Very good. So you see, our eyes, how important they are. Balancing, concentrating, and so on. Again, interlock the fingers, stretch your body, legs apart as much as you can, and slowly bend your body. Trunk of the body to the left side, in the middle, and to the right side, and in the middle. Left, middle, right, and middle. Bring your hands behind your neck. Just look down. Close your chin to the chest. Try to look at your stomach and slowly come up again. Look to the ceiling, again down. Look to your stomach or toes, and up to the ceiling. In the middle, bend to the right side and look to your left elbow, which is pointing to the ceiling. Slowly, in the middle, other side. In the middle, and hands down. Very good. So, we have a few minutes interval, if you... Want to go somewhere? Oh, sing one bhajan till the interval is finished. Yes, so please put the camera on her. Okay, good. Then you sing, we will hear. Sumeran Karale Mere Mā Pītī Umara Hari Na Sumeran Karale Pankh Binā, Hastī Dant Binā, Rikant Binā, Akṣhinārī Gunt Binā, Putra Pīṭh Binā Hīnā Aise Prāṇī Hari Nām Binā Anā Terī Bītī Umara Hari Nām Binā This is a spiritual lecture about Yoga in the Indian tradition. Bhagavanta nanaksa sun, bhagavanta gamenai koi apna sumrana karale. Mana teri biti umar hari naam bina karale, meri teri biti umar hari naam bina. Thank you. Terī birtī umar hari nāma binā. Oh my mind, now repeat the name of God. Till now, your life passed without the name of God. Thank you. So please make yourself comfortable for meditation. If you want more pillows, there are some pillows. Make sure that you will not feel discomfort during the meditation. This mudra is called chin mudra, the thumb... Symbolizing the cosmic consciousness, index fingers symbolizing our individual consciousness, the aim of the yogī is to become one with the cosmic self. These three fingers indicate the three guṇas, three qualities: tamas guṇa, rajas guṇa, and Sattva guṇa. Yogīs have to come above these three guṇas. Also, there is energy connecting between the index fingers and the thumbs. It develops concentration and peace of mind. You may keep your palms facing upward, or you may touch your palms to your thighs or knees. Second is Jñāna Mudrā. Put your right hand on your left palm and place it on your left. Any mudra which you feel comfortable with, please do it. The shoulders should be relaxed. The shoulders can only be relaxed when the elbows are relaxed. Try to keep your elbows relaxed. When the elbows and the shoulders are relaxed, then automatically our back muscles are relaxed. Try to sit straight, upright, and now close your eyes. Withdraw yourself from the external world, and we will chant Aum three times. I am sure you know how to chant Oṃ from your yoga classes. Deep inhale. Normal breath. Relax your body. Relax your breath rhythm. The whole day you were working physically and mentally, but now it is time for you to relax. Relax the whole body, from the toes to the top of the head and from the top of the head to the toes. Relax. Relax. Purījī, Purījī... The eyes are gently closed. Feel one with thyself. Now, bring your attention towards your breath. Do not change your breath rhythm. Let it flow as natural as it is. Just become aware that you know you are inhaling and you know that you are exhaling. Our breath is our life; life is the breath. How comfortable and pleasant you feel when you can breathe freely and relaxed. At the time of the inhalation, the trunk of the body is expanding, and at the time of the exhalation, the trunk of the body is contracting. Feel expansion and contraction of the trunk of the body with natural, normal breath process. The prāṇa, the life energy which we inhale, all the toxins from the body are exhaled through the exhalation. During the time of the inhalation, the cosmic energy is flowing into the body. That energy you may call cosmic energy, cosmic light, or the love of the cosmic mother. She is feeding us as her child with her divine energy. Develop the awareness of the breath in the body, not only the trunk of the body or the lungs or the diaphragm, but in the whole body. It is like very fine light enters into the body through the whole body when we inhale, and when we exhale, all the toxins flow or go out of the body. We feel relaxed when we exhale. We feel full of energy when we inhale. Go ahead, become one with the breath. Relax. Our whole being is only this prāṇa, only this energy. If you have any pain in the body at any time, or a kind of illness in some parts of the body, this technique of meditation is a healing process. It means, if you have pain somewhere in a particular part of the body, concentrate this prāṇa energy at that particular point. That healing light enters there. When you inhale, as you exhale, imagine pain is disappearing, negative energy is disappearing, that particular muscles, organs, or the nerves, or the joints are recharging prāṇa, meaning regenerating that point or the limbs of the body. Relax, relax, relax. Try to be one with your breath. Feel it in the whole body. Coordinate your body and breath in such a harmonious way that thyself in this body feels very comfortable, very happy. But in your mind, flow only the positive thoughts. Our positive thinking will purify this energy, which is flowing with the breath, even more. And now, bring your awareness to the center of the chest, but continue feeling the breath in the whole body. The center of the chest, inside, what we call the Anāhata Cakra, the heart center, where the light of God, ever and ever, very bright, that is the flame of your life. Yes, you can give the light to the world. Again, bring your awareness to the whole body, from the toes to the top of the head, from the top of the head to the toes. Become aware of your being here in this hall, and try to become extroverted. Be aware of everything that is surrounding you here. We will take three deep breaths. The first deep breath we dedicate to our well-being of the physical body. The second is for pure divine energy in our body. And third, the divine mercy which is constantly given to us by Divine Mother. First, breathe deeply in and out for the well-being of your body. Second for the divine and positive energy in your body, and third for the cosmic energy from the cosmic mother. We will chant OM again three times, deep inhale. Three times, śānti. Be the śānti within myself, śānti in the world, and śānti in the entire universe. Three times. Om śānti, śānti, śānti. Slowly move your fingers, open your palms, close your fists, and open your palms. And fold your hands together. Rub your palms. Place the hands on the face. Open your eyes. Gently warm your eyelids.