Maharishi Shriram Acharya- A Wonderful Personality

Old births of Shri Ram Acharya

It may be unbelievable but a real fact:

Saint Kabir, Samarth Guru Ramdas and Swami RamKrishna Paramhansa

Gurudev Shriram Acharya was born on 20th September 1911 in Anvalkheda, Agra district in India. He scrupulously carried out the biddings of his Guru, a great Himalayan yogi, since he was 15 years old. He had lived in arduous places in the Himalayas several times for varied duration of time ranging from few days to several years. 

Maharishi Shriram Acharya was a rishi of the present age whose heart breathed with divine love for all. Every moment of his life was devoted to the welfare of people and refinement of the moral and cultural environment of life. He also pioneered renaissance of spirituality and creative integration of modern and ancient sciences and religion -- in a manner, most relevant and necessary in the present circumstances of human life. His writings carry the force of his enlightened inner self and have the power to make his thoughts reach deep into the minds and hearts of the readers. Each of his books is a milestone, a guiding pillar in the corresponding discipline of knowledge. His eloquence, logical arguments, authentic references, illustrations and experiences, and comprehensive discussions with sound reasoning and intimacy with the readers’ psychology are indeed remarkable. Perhaps this is the reason why his literature has been well received by people from all walks of life possessing different intellectual and psychological backgrounds. His literature is also serving to be an effective mode of collective enlightenment. Be that the decipheration of the esoteric aspects of the subtle science of Kundalini Yoga and Shaktipata, etc; research directions on brain and consciousness etc, discussions on child psychology and family institutions etc; or, information on healthy food and modes of cheerfulness in routine life, etc, Acharya Shri’s spontaneity and lucidity make every topic interesting and comprehensible. There is no place for illusion or misconception in his perspicuous analysis and guidance. His oral deliberations too manifest similar perfection of eloquence. The simplicity of language in his orations and his ability to set a live linkage with the audience has a hypnotizing effect on the listener’s mind. The spiritual charge and integrity of his character, consonance of his words with his deeds and purity of his sentiments add to the motivating power of his pen and voice.

Yogi Can Control Life and Death of Anyone

Sri Yukteswar was boundless in his kindness when responding to an urgent prayer of a devotee. It was my proudest privilege to bring college friends to meet my guru. Many of them would lay aside-at least in the ashram!-their fashionable academic cloak of religious skepticism.

One of my friends, Sasi, spent a number of happy weekends in Serampore. Master became immensely fond of the boy, and lamented that his private life was wild and disorderly.

“Sasi, unless you reform, one year hence you will be dangerously ill.” Sri Yukteswar gazed at my friend with affectionate exasperation. “Mukunda is the witness; don’t say later that I didn’t warn you.”

Sasi laughed. “Mater, I will leave it to you to interest a sweet charity of cosmos in my own sad case! My spirit is willing but my will is weak. You are my only savior on earth; I believe in nothing else.”

“At least you should wear a two-carat blue sapphire. It will help you.”

“I can’t afford one. Anyhow, dear Guruji, if trouble comes, I fully believe you will protect me.”

“In a year you will bring three sapphires,” Sri Yukteswar replied. “They will be of no use then.”

Variations on this conversation took place regularly. “I can’t reform!” Sasi would say in comical despair. “And my trust in you, Master, is more precious to me than any stone!”

A year passed. One day I was visiting my guru at the Calcutta home of his disciple, Naren Babu. About ten o’clock in the morning, as Sri Yukteswar and I were sitting in the second floor par lour, I heard the front door open. Master straightened stiffly.

“It is that Sasi,” he remarked gravely. “The year is now up; both his lungs are gone. He has ignored my counsel; tell him I don’t want to see him.”

Half stunned by Sri Yukteswar’s sternness, I raced down the stairway. Sasi was ascending.

“O Mukunda! I do hope Master is here; I had hunch he might be.”

“Yes, but he doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”

Sasi burst into tears and brushed past me. He threw himself at Sri Yukteswar’s feet, placing their three beautiful sapphires.

“Omniscient Guru, the doctors say I have pulmonary tuberculosis. They give me only three months to live! I humbly implore your aid; I know you can heal me!”

“Isn’t it a bit late now to be worrying over your life? Depart with your jewels; their time of usefulness is past.” Master then sat sphinx like in an unrelenting silence, punctuated by the boy’s sobs for mercy.

An intuitive conviction came to me that Sri Yukteswar was merely testing the depth of Sasi’s faith in the divine healing power. I was not surprised a tense hour later when Master turned a sympathetic gaze on my prostrate friend.

“Get up, Sasi; what a commotion you make in another person’s house! Return the sapphires to the jeweler’; they are an unnecessary expense now. But get an astrological bangle and wear it. Fear not; in a few weeks you shall be well.”

Sasi’s smile illumined his tear-marred face like sudden sun over a sodden landscape. “Beloved Guru, shall I take the medicines prescribed by the doctors?”

“Just as you wish-drink them or discard them; it does not matter. It is as impossible for your to die of tuberculosis as it would be for the sun and moon to interchange their positions.” Sri Yukteswar added abruptly, “Go now, before I change my mind!”

With an agitated bow, my friend hastily departed. I visited him several times during the next few weeks, and was aghast to find his condition increasingly worse.

“Sasi cannot last through the night.” These words from his physician, and the spectacle of my friend, now reduced almost to a skeleton, sent me posthaste to Serampore. My guru listened coldly to my tearful report.

“Why do you come here to bother me? You have already heard me assure Sasi of his recovery.”

I bowed before him in great awe, and retreated to the door. Sri Yukteswar said no parting word, but sank into silence, his unwinking eyes half open, their vision fled to another world.

I returned at once to Sasi’s home in Calcutta. With astonishment I found my friend sitting up, drinking milk.

“O Mukunda! What a miracle! Four hours ago I felt Mater’s presence in the room; my terrible symptoms immediately disappeared. I feel that through his grace I am entirely well.”

In a few weeks Sasi was stouter and in better health than ever before.

From the book "Autobiography of A Yogi" with thanks 

Science of Fasting

Another powerful healing method used in combination with other nature cure is fasting. Therapeutic fasting is one of the oldest methods used throughout the ages to cure a myriad of dis-ease states, such as arthritis, asthma, skin problems, high blood pressure, digestive disorders, and kidney and liver diseases. Most diseases in man are self-induced through overeating, poor diet, and lack of exercise. Lethargy and overindulging in rich foods is a sure path to autointoxication. Disease then results when glandular activity and metabolic rate slow down, and the eliminative organs decrease in efficiency due to the steady build up of toxic deposits in the cells and tissues of the body. Fasting is powerful method for clearing all these waste materials out of the system. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is a result of uric acid crystals and mineral compounds which have collected in the joints and soft tissues. High blood pressure, along with stress, is a result of metabolic wastes which have been deposited in the arteries and small blood capillaries, resulting in a restriction in the blood flow. Fasting is a very powerful method for clearing all of these waste materials out of the system.

On the third day of a fast, autolysis begins to occur. After 72 hours without food, the body starts to digest its own waste materials. The first to be digested are always unnecessary toxins which are stored in the body, such as cysts, tumors, and excess mineral buildups. These are followed by the digestion of excess fatty tissue. It is also after the third day that the initial discomforts of feeling hungry and possible dizziness or weakness all disappear. In Scandinavia, doctors who follow the biological route for curing their patients, use fasts anywhere from seven to sixty days in duration, with truly amazing results. If a patient is very weak or sick to begin with, they will be put on a healthy diet to build up strength, and later, begin the fasting procedure.

There are different types of fasts. Some are pure water fasts, and other combine fruit juices and vegetable broth. One even combines lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper, diluted in water. The key to any fast is to use only fresh fruits and vegetables. Using a juicer to make the appropriate drink just before you imbibe it is the ideal, in order to benefit from the raw live enzymes. One of the most popular cancer cures developed in the 20’s and 30’s, initially to cure tuberculosis, and later cancer, in the Max Gerson therapy, which is based on the premise that raw live foods act to cleanse and naturally strengthen the immune system of the body. Albert Schweitzer was a great advocate of Gerson’s as his own wife was cured by this therapy.

During a fast, it is important to not only drink plenty of liquid, but it is also important to give yourself a couple of enemas each day to make sure that the bowels are kept clear of toxic materials. After three days of fasting, there is not always enough fecal matter to sustain parastaltic action, however, the toxins do still build up in the intestines, thus it is important to keep yourself flushed out to avoid auto toxicity. For those who are interested in fasting, it is suggested that you consult a wholistically oriented physician if you are trying it for the first time. There are also several books listed with more detailed plans for fasting, the proper way to come off of a fast, and other very pertinent information.

(From Empowerment Through Reiki by Paula Horan with thanks)

The Fourteenth Guru of Dattatreya

King- ‘O’ wise seeker who is your fourteenth Guru?

Dattatreya-Once I saw a wild elephant being trapped. A tame female elephant in season was the bait. Sensing her presence; the wild male emerged from its domain and fills into a pit that had been cleverly concealed with branches and heaps of leaves. Once caught, the wild elephant was tamed to be used by others. The elephant is my fourteenth guru because he taught me to be careful with my passions and desires. Worldly charms arouse our sensory impulses and while chasing after the sense craving, the mind gets trapped and enslaved, even though it is powerful.

This sense is like horses. The body is the chariot; and the mind is the sense; and the intellect is the driver. The soul dwells in the body-mind organism. If the horses are untrained and are not properly connected to the reins, they can destroy both the chariot and the driver. Even if the reins are strong and held tightly in the hands of the driver, wild horses can still creates serious problems.

Therefore, training the senses in of the utmost importance. This training must be based on proper understanding because if you try to restrain your senses without it, repressions and suppression will result. You must be fully convinced of the importance of being happy and healthy, and understand that control over your senses  maintains that state. Using knowledge as the bases for controlling the senses in discipline. Discipline must be lovingly accepted by your mind, not imposed it.

Prayer of Protection

This prayer can be used any time you desire God’s assistance. It is used to call upon the presence of God for divine protection.

The light of God surrounds me.

The love of God enfolds me.

The power of God protects me.

The presence of God watches over me.

Wherever I AM, God is, and all is well.

Experiment with speaking out this prayer now.

Using this prayer and visualizing a white light forming a pillar of protection around you is like having an armor of God’s love to shield you. Imagine the white light of God as sun above your head. Visualize a ray of this sun shooting thorough the top of your head down your body’s midline to your feet. Imagine light radiating out form this ray, forming a pillar of white light surrounding your body with divine protection.

Time of prayer:

Just before entering meditation or another subliminal state.

Just before going to sleep and upon first waking up in the morning.

Just before leaving your home.

Before entering any crowded place, such as a stadium, a night- club, a subway.

Before meeting an authority figure, such as a boss, parent, judge, and teacher.

Before any important event, such as a test, athletic competition, public speaking engagement, television appearance, sales presentation, phone call, court appearance.

Before entering a place with negative vibrations, such as a hospital, mental institution, prison, courtroom, bar, or a place where people use drugs.

Before meeting a client who comes to you for counseling, therapy, or body work.

When you feel negatively influenced or out of control, especially during meditation.

Any time you feel afraid or threatened.

[From Divine Revelation by Susan G. Shumsky]

Santana Dharma (Hinduism)

Religion is definitely important for human development. General mistake in religion is that the soul develops ego by comparing its religion to other religions. With the intrusion of ego soul loses its way to spirituality. Ego destroys the feeling to live a religious life full of divine qualities. Such a soul passes the rest of its life by commenting on the religious activities of others. Under the dark shadow of ego the soul believes that only it is following the best religion where as all the remaining religious customs are mere illusions.

Through the eyes of universal wisdom, different religions are like different schools in cities or town. Truth, sacrifice, love and compassion, non-killing etc. are their classes. Self-analysis is the examination through which we test ourselves to know whether we pass or fail.

Santana Dharma (Hinduism)

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus. It is the oldest of all living religions. Hinduism is not a man-made religion. Any single person did not form it. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It is the product of the seers of the Vedas. It was developed from age to age by the teachings of Avataras, Rishis, Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita and the Itihasas. It will exist as long as the world lasts. There is a peculiar, mysterious spiritual force that is ingrained in the heart of every Hindu.

Hinduism is also known by the names Sanatana Dharma and Vaidika Dharma. Sanatana Dharma means eternal religion, the Ancient Law. Vaidika Dharma means the religion of the Vedas. The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of Hinduism.

Hinduism allows absolute freedom to the rational mind of man Hinduism never demands any undue restraint upon the freedom of human reason, the freedom of thought, feeling and will of man.

Hinduism is a religion of freedom. It allows the widest freedom in matters of faith and worship. It allows absolute freedom to the human reason and heart with regard to questions such as the nature of God, soul, creation, form of worship, and goal of life. It does not force anybody to accept particular dogmas or forms of worship. It allows to reflect, investigate and enquire. Hence, all sorts of religious faiths, various forms of worship or Sadhana (Meditation), diverse kinds of rituals within Hinduism, and are cultured and developed in harmonious relationship with one another.

Hinduism, unlike other religions, does not dogmatically assert that the final freedom or God realization is possible only through its means and not through any other. It is only a means to an end, and all means which ultimately lead to the end, are equally approved.

The religious hospitality of Hinduism is highly popular. Hinduism is extremely liberal. This is the fundamental feature of Hinduism. Hinduism pays respects to all religions. It does not revile any other religions. It accepts and honours truth, wherever it may come from and whatever garbs it may put on.

In every religion, there are three parts, viz., philosophy, mythology and ritual. Philosophy is the essence of religion. It sets forth its basic principles or fundamental doctrines or tenets, the goal, and the means of attaining it. Mythology explains and illustrates philosophy by means of legendary lives of great men or of supernatural beings. Ritual gives a still more concrete form of philosophy so that everyone may understand it. Ritual consists of customs and ceremonies.

Mythology is a part of every religion. Mythology is factual philosophy. Mythology is the science which investigates myths or legends founded on remote events, especially those made in the early period of people’s existence. Mythology inspires the readers through principle and admired examples, and encourages them to attain perfection or the highest ideal. The abstract teachings and Holy ideas are made highly interesting through the garb of stories, legends, and narratives. The high quality philosophical ideas and ideals are taken straight to the heart of the masses through impressive stories. There are great truths behind the ancient mythology of Hinduism. You can not ignore a thing simply because it has the touch of mythology. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by mythology. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote this mythology. You will really enjoy mythology now.

You study geography through maps. There is no real country or town in a map, but it helps you to know a great deal about the different countries. Similar is the case with myths. You can grasp the philosophical truths through myths only. The object of myth and legend is merely to lure the mind to the truths of religion.

Hinduism is not a religion of mere theories. It is highly practical. In no religion will you find such a variety of Yoga practiced, and such admired unique philosophy expounded.

Hinduism provides spiritual food and Yoga Sadhana (Meditation) for all sorts of people to suit their conditions, capacities, tastes, stages of spiritual development, and conditions of life. It prescribes Yoga Sadhana even for people doing professional work to attain God-realization, while performing their duties in the world. Hindu Yoga and Vedanta teachers lay great stress on self-restraint, Tapas, renunciation and practical Sadhana, which are best calculated to control the mind and the senses and unfold the Divinity within or attain Self-realization. 

Hindu philosophy is a way of life. The Law of Karma is one of the fundamental doctrines of Hinduism. As a man sows, so shall he reap. This is the law of Karma. Desire produces karma. You work and exert to acquire the objects of your desire. Karma produces its fruits as pain and pleasure. You will have to take births after births to reap the fruits of your Karmas.

The doctrine of reincarnation or transmigration is a fundamental tenet of Hinduism. You will not cease to exist after death. Before this birth you have passed through countless lives. The word ‘reincarnation’ literally means coming again into a physical body. The individual soul takes again a mortal vehicle. The word ‘transmigration’ means passing from one plane to another or passing into a new body.

The doctrine of rebirth is similar to the law of Karma. The differences of qualities that are found between one individual and another must be due to one’s respective past actions. Past action implies past birth. Further, all your Karmas cannot certainly bears fruit in this birth alone. Therefore, there must be another birth for enjoying the remaining actions. Each soul has a series of births and deaths. Births and deaths will continue till you attain knowledge of the Self.

You do not come into the world in total forgetfulness and in utter darkness. You are born with certain memories and habits acquired in the previous births. Desires take their origin from previous experiences. We find that none is born without desire. Every being is born with some desires, which are associated with the things enjoyed by him in the past life. The desire proves the existence of his soul in the previous lives.

Man contains within himself infinite possibilities. The power of imagination and wisdom is within him. He has to unfold the Divinity within. This is the object of living and dying.

A foreigner is struck with astonishment when he hears about the diverse sects and creeds of Hinduism. But, these varieties are really an ornament to Hinduism. They, certainly, are not its defects. There are various types of mind and temperament. So, there should be various faiths also. This is but natural. This is the major principle of Hinduism. There is room in Hinduism for all types of souls-from the highest to the lowest for their growth and evolution.

PERSONALITY TRAITS (PRAKRITIS)

Human body reveals character of person. There are three types of personalities viz, Sattvik, Rajsik and Tamsik (in descending order) whose individual traits are described, in a nutshell, hereunder.

SATTVIK

These persons have pure mind, clean conscience are sensible, sensitive, sympathetic and philanthropic, soft spoken, amiable, mild, accommodative, simple and straightforward and without any qualms. They abstain from intoxicants, spices, condiments, and heavy/fried food, rely on vegetables and fruits and love whatever is good and noble. Their nobility and decency personified and they possess the highest qualities and values of human heart. They are true in word, deed and thought, rarely get carried away or annoyed; hardly lose their cool and balance of mind. They rarely suffer from Nervous disorders and if, at all, they suffer, they recover quite quickly. They are popular due to their clean image, qualities and virtues of head and heart. They do not indulge or harp much upon sexual matters. 

Milk, butter, clarified butter, butter, whey, curd, vegetables and seasonal foods are their choice and preferred food items. These species are quite rare to find these days but are, by no means, extinct. They are sober, excellent advisers, well wishers, promoters of goodness and goodwill.

RAJSIK

Persons of Rajsik Prakriti (Trait or Nature) are haughty, short-tempered, rash, rough and tough, get enraged over even petty matters. They are good masters but rank bad subordinates due to their dominant and dashing approach to life. They are unrelenting and hard nuts to crack. They are very conscious and careful about their health; hence they love to eat meats, fish, poultry products, use liquor and other intoxicants in abundance. They are ‘quickies, instant decision’ makers, hasty, speedy and fast, valiant, and revel in sexuality due to high rise of libido. They make excellent warriors, soldiers, sepoys, security guards, policemen, dictators and rulers. Being rash and quickies, they antagonize others and, thus, earn their displeasure. Rest and slothness are alien to their nature.

These persons often suffer from insomnia, sleeplessness, headache, high blood pressure, heart disorders, digestion related upsets, joint pains, behavioral disorders and fall an easy prey to psychogenic disorders. In short most of their mental and Nervous disorders emanate from their furious and short-temper, arrogance, hot-headedness, and unrelenting and uncompromising attitude.

TAMSIK

Tamsik people are high rate gluttons, debauches, sex indulgent, sloth, happy-go-lucky, get-goers, easy-going, relish to have and enjoy rest and long sleep. They are profound alcoholics, smokers, drug addicts, disinclined to work shun to take to even minimal physical activity. Any attempt to exert or do even normal chores agitates them and sends shivers down their spines.

For sex, res, money and gluttony they can sacrifice anything. In short, such people enjoy wine, women and wealth with sheer abundance and indulgence. They are, by nature, easy to manage and control due to their easy-going nature, get rarely offended, cultivate hordes of friends, are jovial decent and accommodative. They are quite helpful to others and make sincere and affectionate friends.

Tamsik persons suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, arterio/athero secleosis, digestive and liver disorders, constipation/diarrhea, diabetes, gout, rheumatism, arthritic pains and aches in joints due to their lavish and lax living style. In short, their sluggishness, slothness and inactivity personified. Rest eating, sex are their avowed goals of life.