Yoga books - Selfhelp book on how to read!

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Beloved readers and friends,

Someone visited my blog and pasted a link in his comments which read "Have you read these books on Yoga and Pranayama?". This was a link which was pointing towards some publishing house's directory. Although I did not follow the link but I know what it would have been like if I had! In juicy, emphatic language they would have told the merits of why I should purchase a particular book to learn how to master Yoga and Pranayama. I had only two choices - either to smile on his foolishness of showing candle to halogen lamp or empathize on his grave sickness of CAD Compulsive-Advertising-Disorder of visiting all related or unrelated sites, rated or unrated sites and showcase his products to lure his prospective customers. I admit that I exercised both the choices at the same time.

I have never seen any individual so far who has been foolish enough to get into deep waters just after reading a book  "How to perfect swimming in 10 days". If you find one - please do tell me immediately as my sincere search has not ended as yet. I am still searching for such a person.

On the other hand- I find everyday thousands of books on meditation, yoga, pranayama disappearing from shelves of Crosswords like book joints and outlets and all these so called literate wise people behaving utterly foolish to usher themselves ceremonically in to deep waters of Yog Sadhana.  Sooner or later we shall expect invitation to attend to their last rites. Why?

Without having proper guidance of a master and in the absence of following the correct sequence of Yoga and Pranayama, it has been clearly stated in  Yogchoodamani Upanishad, verse 117

Hikka Kaasah tatha Shwaasah Shirah Karnaakshi vedanaah|

Bhavanti Vividha rogaah pavanavyatyayakramaat||

that if Sadhaka is liable to suffer from hiccups, Asthma, cough, headache, pain in eye and ear and angered Vayu (evergy flow in uncleansed Nadis) creates innumerable of both curable and incurable diseases.

If you are having any Yoga book in hand my request is just throw it in the dustbin right now. If the downslide of economy prevents you from taking such a vehemently merciless decision towards your own hard earned money then place the book in the locker instead and try searching for an authentic, seasoned master who can guide you. Who can help and guide you in taking your first baby step into discipline of Yoga.

Learning Yoga and Pranayama - Playing with fire it is if you are not under personal and direct supervision of an able master. For your information even simple looking Yogic postures need preparation. They are definitely designed to strengthen your body, nerves, energy bearning capcity and immune but before that you must be scanned for what is your capacity. What is your current status of health. What is the state of your nerves, muscles and bone structure. Only an experienced master has that capacity.

In our body we have 72,000 nadis. These are energy channels which carry information and instruction (conscious and unconscious both) to and fro. It should not be a surprise if I tell you that your brain itself consumes so much electricity in just one day that the same amount of electricity would be able to lit a 20 watt CFL for some time. Yes, it is true! And what carries these electric currents in our body? It is only these Nadis which are responsible for conduction of such a massive electric current day in day out.

Will you take chance to fuse these delicate conductors? I hope not. And what should we be called if we knowingly start breaking these life-supporting network of Nadis by indulging in such an intricate and complex practice such as Yoga and Pranayama after reading such self-help books? I would call such a person an idiot - you may rename as you please.

I have received comments and messages after people read my earlier posts that even they have seen many cases where people suffered by practicing Yoga. Their issues range from minor injuries to as severe as brain stroke. But what they did not see or can not see is how much internal nadi system has been destroyed by their irresponsible act of taking up Yoga and Pranayama without preparation and supervision of an able master.

I have also received so many requests to elaborate upon the right methods of practising Yoga and I would definitely write on that yet I must warn you in advance. Whatever I write on the subject of Yoga. Even if I tell you certain methods elaborately here.. please don't try it home. For that you would definitely need a master.

Hope I am clear now to my readers. Also I have given enough number of warnings by now so I can now fearlessly dwell upon elaboration of the subject from next post onwards.

I will come back to you shortly with a series on preparations for Yoga and also elaborate upon each step of Yoga.

Love and light to all of you..

- AD

Divinity of confession.. Sach Ka Samna

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The confession had not fetched us money so far. Confession was never a game which could be played on screen. Confession has never been a publicity stunt as it has become now. This pious act ignited by realization of one's own mistakes and misdeeds has always been a very sacred and personal activity.. primarily to unburden ourselves. The confession in isolation is of no value unless it is associated with Forgiveness, Gratitude and attitude of self-correction.

In Bible Jesus is believed to say - "“I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what you lose on earth will be losed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19)"

It is my personal conviction that this pious statement of an enlightened person was later cunningly twisted to give authority to church priests to accept confession.

There are only two choices in making confession.. the first one is to confess in front of the person whom you think have hurt, cheated, betrayed, humiliated etc.. and second place is in front of an enlightened Guru. Although Christianity may have taken this idea of confession to asssociate it with purification and freedom from your past Karmas but in Buddism there is no place for freedom from Karma even if you have confessed. Always keep in mind that repercussions of Karma (action) can never be undone by mere confession.

Why do we find two enlightened souls speaking different language? Superficially it looks so but in fact there is no difference in the statement. Their concern is your growth.. your freedom.. but they are speaking to different audiences. One is speaking to shepherds and uneducated and the other is talking to people of an educated and intellectually rich country of that time. (just to refresh your memory - India has oldest universities in the world, Taxila and Nalanda are example). Also their personalities are different. One is radiant intellectual and logical, the other is driven by heart and feelings.

It is definitely because of their own characteristic they are putting the same thing in different ways. They both are interested in you however they are least interested in your past. They know your journey can begin any moment and that moment is now. So whatever you are you will have to accept that or free yourself from that and move on. Jesus is trying to use confession in unburdening you out of his compassion and thus he is declaring you shall be free in heaven of what you free yourself from here. But Buddha is brutally hammering the intellectual people on the other side. He is reminding them of repurcussions of not being sane. He is saying so on account of Karma-Phala (Action-Result) principle. The gestalt has changed but the target remains exactly the same, your freedom.

I find these on-screen confessions are just a way of exploiting man's innate desire to peep into other person's life and find out how wrong he could be. And you wonder why would we want that to know? Because that gives a sense of 'Holier than thou' we start feeling we are not as bad as that man on the screen. He slept with a girl younger than his own daughter and fiddled with genitals of his cousin, that he slept with men too. Isn't it s breather for some of you? It is not at all important for us to know what is wrong in this world because that can never help us grow and become ideal for others. The greatest impediment in self-growth is to find fault in others.

Even god knew this when he designed the human body. All the holes which could smell bad or expell out smelly waste have been hidden by him in our body. He could have designed it otherwise but he did not and thus we have writers writing beatiful prose, singing about bodily beauty in their poetry..

There are definitely more better ways and more better things to confess than what is being professed by today's most popular Guru - The TV Guru!

Do I need say more.. I find it is getting shitty..

- Agyaat Darshan

What do you think "Did Michael Jackson killed himself?" -BB

 

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AD:

 It sounds funny and devastating both that people are so much worried about the lives of others. While they are unaware of the fact which foot they had put on the ground while getting down from bed this morning.. they are busy finding out what a particular famous person does in his day to day life, what he eats, how many glasses of water in a day, what are his views about Gay Movement..

People may like to defend themselves this peculiar, ignorant, unproductive, foolish behaviour in the name of "being informed" but the fact is these are the people who have not been able to crystallized their own persona and thus looking out for certain kind of pseudo gratification of ego by associating themselves in "fan-ship" of some or other famous, powerful, popular, unique person. I have never found someone being fan of a beggar. It may sound totally illogical desire of mine to see some perosn as fan of a street beggar but I ask Why not?

Psychologists say all Idol worship emnates from personal incompetancy whereas in the field of spirituality if we attach ourselves to imperfections, if we worship imperfections, if we indulge in anything with is less than "Poorna - The whole"  it is worthless and leads us to darkness. The only light is of that "Poorna Parmaatma-The one whole God" which lights up the universe and its reflections, although beautiful but just carries the imperfections of the objects from which it gets reflected.

Why bother whether Micheal Jackson killed himself or not, BB? Become aware of your own death which is nearing every moment and if you do not get aware of that in fact you are commiting suicide. Michael Jackson will not come to take you when you die. But people still don't give up. You may still like to feel like jesus on your dying..

I have heard.. An old preacher was was on his death bed. He sent a message for his Insurance agent and his Lawyer (they both happened to be his church members), to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and indicated them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher clintched their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling. For some time there was pin-drop silence, no one said anything. Both the agent and Lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moment.

At the same time they were also puzzled because the preacher had never given any indication that he particularly liked either one of them.

Finally, the Lawyer gathered courage and broke the ice , "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?"

The old preacher gathered some strength, then said feelbly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go, too.

Think of your death BB. Plan it.. and only way to plan your death is to become aware of self. Then there is no dying.. there is no death at all.

- AD

Pranayama is killing people! - ||Vedic Yog Rahasya||

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My Beloved disciples and Friends,

In these times when everyone is indulging in some kind of Yoga practices it becomes necessary for me to give correct information on:

 Why one should choose Yoga?

 What are parts of complete Yoga System?

What are precautions one should observe?

The Yoga is a discipline for self-realization. This is such a powerful practice oriented  system that it can never fail irrespective of your individual faith, cast, creed, color of skin. The Yoga is scientific - It is about control of mind. Its central part which is known as Pranayama or breath-control is today being recognized by psychologists and medics. The simple fact that breath can serve as a handle to our emotional state of being and also clarity of thought. Choosing Yoga not only develops you physically but also gives you a solid foundation to take a quantum jump within i.e. Dhayan. It can be summarized that our state of being depends on what is in our mind and thus the control which Yoga gives you over your thoughts and emotional and desire-sets is astounding. It is sure shot theraputic-transformative therapy which elevates normal humans to the domain of super-Humans.

The Yoga is divided in 8 Parts:

1. Yama  2. Niyama 3. Asana 4. Pranayama 5. Pratyahara 6. Dharana 7. Dhyan 8. Samadhi

Just a note - First four parts are to be executed, done by you. These four things require your efforts. Rest four are effortless attainment based on the preparation - naturally.

The precautions:

As a central part Pranayama is not only most essential but most powerful and unavoidable too. No amount of efforts or courage can make you successful in your inner journey if you do not have control on your breath. If you do not have capability to absorb huge quantities of raw energy (prana) from outside word it becomes impossible to attain elevation of your inner consciousness also known as Kundalini. But there is a most important preparation as per our Vedas which is known as Nadishodhana before you indulge in any sort of Pranayama. If you dont do Nadishodhana before practicing Pranayama it is extremely injurious to your physical and mental health and its devastation doesn't end here - your vehicle for spiritual growth i.e. nadi-tantra is destroyed thus stopping your spiritual growth forever. Of course longer your practice heavier price you pay!

The need of Nadishodhana has been validated by every texts and treatise on Yoga by Gherand, Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath and many other including our Vedas. These books are not in chronoligical order even then they echo the same view about the of practice of Nadishodhan before any other Pranayama.

It is my duty to inform the you and all through this medium that people who are not following the Vedic dictum of Nadishodhana before any other Pranayama are heading towards the catastrophe if they are not following the rules inscribed in Vedas and validated by hundreds of Yogis at later date. Today so many people are practicing pranayama before Nadishodhan around the world that I fear tomorrow India may be blamed for spreading this epidemic.

To make all of you aware about this subject we broadcasted a programme on Shraddha MH1 Channel. This program was presented by my yoga guide Yogi Shri Balenduji Giri Maharaj.

Program Name : Vedic Yog Rahasya

Channel : Shriddha MH1

Time : 18:10 IST - 18:30 IST*

The program was telecasted in the month of Septemeber' 09 for 21 days!

Right from the day this post was made public I have been receiving questions about the authenticity of my claim. People doubted my statement as they felt how come commercially successful teachers like Baba Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar have never warned them about it. Intelligent observation it is and surprisingly the answer too lies in the question itself.

This age is of quick-fixes. People are keen to get  ready to consume materials. If someone comes to you and says that Yoga preparation itself would take almost a year... will you have guts to save your enthusiasm for the 366th day? Will you be able to keep the humble learner's attitude for so long? People want quick results.. even if that comes with its side-effects! They want instant breast implants, cosmetic surgeris to get rid of acne, consume kilograms of antibiotics in their much-shorter-lifetime, consume bottled juices and junk,fast or even precooked food.. I wouldn't be streteching it beyond limits if I say that his madness to save time has become an epidemic, a compulsive disorder rather than just the need of hour. Who has time for the elaborate step by step practice of Yoga?

The market-Savvy Gurus understand this very well and this understanding of these cunning Gurus comes handy in popularizing themselves and making them public icons. It is so easy to identify how these gurus are exploiting people's scarsity of time to their advantage. It only needs little bit of intelligence and courage to ponder and question..

If you are serious seeker and devout yoga learner you may want to explore and understand what basic mistakes are knowingly and repeatedly being propogated by these TV Gurus. Do read following posts -

 http://agyaatdarshan.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/yoga-books-selfhelp-book-on-how-to-read/
http://agyaatdarshan.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/pranayama-dont-indulge-in-it-without-preparation/

May existence bless you with health, love and light..

- Ach. Agyaatdarshan

AD, what is your views on Kamasutra? - S.R.

Shekhar, Many people think so but Kamasutra is not a sex manual .

Remember three aims of ancient Hindu life – dharma, artha & kama –Vatsyayana's purpose is to set kama, or enjoyment of the senses in a hierarchy. Thus dharma or virtuous living is the highest aim, artha, amassing of wealth is next, and kama is the least of the three.

Do not wonder, I have deliberately left out  'Moksha - The complete liberation' because whatever I am going to talk, that should be "All about you".. related to you. The question is: Are you interested in Moksha, Nirvana? Don't lie to yourself...  I know the type of Nirvana you may be looking at is easily available at the local pubs and Discs in Ahmedabad. I wasn't surprised when someone told that even the name of one joint is "Nirvana"! So there you get your Nirvana with Mint flabvoured Hookkaa puffs.. Flavoured Nirvana.. (laughs)

I declare that Kamasutra is indispensible for today’s world.

Kamasutra has been whispered among people but NOW is the time to use its teachings. It’s time to learn how this knowhow can be applied to our day to day life in a way that helps us in enjoy pleasures of life while still being rooted in our true nature.

When people ask questions related to sex, its not intellectual answer they are looking at. You too are asking me this question to assess if my master approves of sexuality..  yes I do. I approve it with the final goal in mind.

Everyone desires of enriching sex life. It is in mind but only methods known to you people are use of alcohol, drugs, pills or at best change of partner. Especially the last option comes from the feeling of “I deserve more.” Some may spell it as “I need variety”. Don't you? But my ways are different. I would recommend more meditativeness. I would make you deeper in your feelings. I would invoke all the senses which are now in ths state of slumber and thus you are unable to appreciate and differentiate today from tomorrow. My Kamasutra as you would learn.. is based on invoking your heart and putting your sex center bit upward than your bell. It starts in meditation and culminates in orgasmic bliss. May be with this you would start understanding the statement "Samadhi is 10,000 times deeper, broader and richer experience than your sexual orgasm" and yes you have a choice of achieving it alone. Not that I dont recommend couple experiencing this together but before they do they must have their Auras cleansed, attuned and energized. And yes just wanted to tell Devpriya is exceptionally good at it. If you need help register yourself for "Aura correction Program" coming up next month. She will be here.

In my Kamasutra - which I call "The Gateway to divine Bliss", there are exercises to improve your sensitivity. There are therapies to prepare you to experience it compeletly, be in it totally for hours together.

The uniqueness of sexual experience is that it is always different every single time. But these subtle, sensuous differences can not be perceived in hectic or unconscious indulgence. Each individual experience has power to transform you, uplift you. 

Real Kamasutra is about opening your heart, your senses, letting go of mind. It is about understanding your body energy currents and recognizing your emotional state. Practicing Kamasutra transports you to a state of endless orgasmic pleasure-Bliss!

The poor state of affair is that no one is open to teachings on copulation. All think they are already having post doctoral experience in it. All they know is that different poses are means to sexual gratification but what they dont know and I teach is that these also help in releasing your stored emotions.  But that would require intensive preparation and meditativeness. Apart from recognizing your body type, understanding your energy currents. Thenthere are more than 100 poses to learn. For you too ladies!!

Kamasutra poses are Tantra’s methods of balancing your energies. Each pose has a purpose and helps in releasing particular stored negative emotions. The Frog pose is to be tried if you or your mate is feeling deprived of pampering. But who cares! I teach you to be aware and care..

When Sigmund Freud believed that sex is prime force the external development he wasn't completely wrong. During my previous talks on Yoga I told you about internal matrix development and that Kundalini power (energy near your sex center) can be translated in to higher form of energies to attain Moksha-The total liberation. Kamasutra is "The" way for most of the people who are yet to learn the relaxation techniques being taught in - Progressive Meditation sessions.

Do not forget that you are sexual by nature. Perversion wouldn’t help. Restrain must come naturally to you. Keep yourself ignited throughout the day and relax by night. No more talks – pure act! Because healthy Sex is better than sexuality in mind – hence I advocate Kamasutra today.

(This talk was given by AD to select audience at Ahmedabad in May'2007)