SHANTI MANDIR - Eternally Blissful

At a satsang in May, 1994 at Sea Ranch, California, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Nityananda spoke about the simplicity of the spiritual path, emphasizing the freedom and contentment which comes from cultivating the state of being, incorporating that awareness into daily life, rather than constantly struggling to become realized or perfect.

So we begin to accept. We learn to go along with life's flow, to connect with our Inner Self, no longer looking outside for peace and contentment but experiencing it in what we are doing, where we are and who we are.

Baba Muktananda always said, "God dwells within you as you." Well, that Truth, that God which we seek is not something that will come to us or that we will find when we become somebody or something. We can find that God, that Truth in who we are, in what we are doing right now, as we are. But somehow we always think, "I need to become something, I need to become somebody." Yet the teaching is, "it is there. Look and you will find it."

Baba used the simple example of our experience when acquiring a new possession. He would say that for some time we love the new house, car or relationship. It gives great joy. We are very happy. Months, years go by but one day that love, that passion for the object or person, suddenly disappears. Then we think, "well, it's time to find a new one. I must look for something different, must make a change, must shift." Then we find something new and once again the passion and excitement returns.

This can go on for a whole lifetime. But Baba would say that if we were to just stop for a moment and contemplate, we would see that while we think that a certain object or situation is the cause of that love or joy inside, why is it that, after a period of time, the feeling goes? And why is it that when something new is again obtained, the excitement returns. Ask yourself, does the feeling come from the outside or from within?

As our spiritual journey continues we begin to accept. We learn to go along with life's flow, to connect with our Inner Self, no longer looking outside for peace and contentment but experiencing it in what we are doing, where we are and who we are.

Then we may see that at the very moment when the feeling arises, we are connected to that place which is the eternal source of all joy. It is because of that connection that the feeling of joy arises. But when we are disconnected from that place, the feeling goes. Of course, if we are not aware of the connection, we easily conclude that the external object or situation is the cause.

So think about it. That feeling of joy is yours. It comes from within. When you accept and understand that these feelings are yours, that they come from within, then no matter where you are, no matter what is going on, because you are aware "I am That" you stay connected to that happiness and joy. You don't have to go anywhere, nor do anything. Wherever you are, whatever is happening in your life, the experience of Truth is constant and continuous.

When you are aware, "I am That," the experience of Truth is constant and continuous.

As we learn to accept this experience as our own, knowing that it dwells within, life becomes filled with that joy and happiness.

It is the nature of human beings to act. Everything in life is created, sustained and dissolved but behind that process is something which remains constant, unchanging. When we spend time with a Guru, this is what they try to convey, this is what we learn: whatever actions the body is performing - walking, talking, learning - we remain connected to that source of joy within. Then, it doesn't matter what we are doing, we are always content.

Baba often said, "life is a play, life is a drama." He would say that we can watch a play, enjoying the different performances and scenes but without becoming involved. We have the experience but we are not part of the play. We remain a witness, just watching and observing. Similarly, the actors play their role while knowing within themselves, "this is just a role that I am playing, I am other than this."

So, in life, remember, "I am playing the role destined for me in this life. It can shift, it can change yet within me there is that Inner Self which is not attached to this role."

As we become connected to that witness within ourselves which observes, as we become established in that space, we are able to take a lighter look at life and can laugh and enjoy it.

As Baba would say, "This, too, shall pass." This is how it is. Life is moving continuously.

Baba often taught about becoming the witness. He would say, "as you meditate, as you go inside, you will find the Self or Consciousness." That is the witness. Whether we are in the waking state, dreaming, or deep sleep, there is still something which watches and observes. When we awaken, it can report what has happened. That observer, that witness is what we need to recognize and understand. Then, established in that witness state, we are able to observe what is going on all around and come to realize the true nature of the play.

If we read the lives of all the different saints we see that they never really went out into the world saying, "everybody must meditate," or, "everybody must chant," or, "everybody must practice spirituality." Instead, by living their lives full of spirituality, people were attracted to that ideal. Some came to live and study with them, had the experience of the Truth then returned to the world, incorporating that experience and the teachings into their daily life.

Any true saint or sage will never try to impose upon us, saying "this is what you must do, that is what you must do." At most, they will suggest, "try this," or "try that." Or, as Baba would often say, "do what you think is best." On the spiritual path we go inside ourselves, feel the truth within, feel what is best."

Each day, in the ashram, we meditate, chant, work and do the different practices, trying to maintain the awareness, trying to hold the experience of witness consciousness, always observing the fluctuations of the mind and heart, remaining detached from whatever is happening.

Of course, remaining detached is easier said than done. We can still become caught in things but instead of again going through a whole drama which perhaps has been recurring for years, by making the effort to hold the idea of detachment, at some point, we catch ourselves. There is the realization, "Ah, this is what I always do. There's no need for it. I can be free of it." Thereafter, we find ourselves catching ourselves a bit earlier, a bit sooner, until we come to a point where, at the very moment when something first arises, we are able to say, "Ah, this again. I don't need to become caught in it." Then we are able to let go, become free of the cycle.

Spirituality is about unbecoming, about connecting to who we truly are, becoming more and more established in the awareness "I am that Truth, I am that Consciousness."

Still, even after years, we find that the mind has become so accustomed to some pattern or response that it takes a little bit of thinking or what the scriptures call discrimination. This is something we must develop continuously.

Vedanta says that the first quality required of any seeker is discrimination. As we travel the spiritual path we must hold discrimination in the highest way so that we are not caught in the spiritual traps, thinking, for example, "well, now that I am on the spiritual path everything is okay." Then all we do is bring to the path the things that were binding or limiting us before.

That is why I say that spirituality is really about becoming simple and free, not becoming more entrapped by ideas or thoughts such as, "this is what I need to be," or, "this is who I should become." Really, it's about unbecoming, connecting to that space within, being who we truly are, becoming more and more established in the awareness "I am that Truth, I am that Consciousness."

As we become more strongly established in that experience we are able to witness, to watch, always in the state of joy and happiness, whether there is a new or old house, new friends or old friends. Whatever the situation, we are able to be happy and content.

The essence of what we learned around Baba, however long we spent with him, was contentment, inner contentment. Love, peace, joy, everything, is included in contentment. It is the state of accepting who we are and what we have been allotted. We simply go along with life, allowing it to unfold, to be what it is. We can think of life as water. As long as water flows it remains clean, pure. We can drink it, bathe in it. It doesn't smell or stink. But when it stops and becomes stagnant it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. It smells and is not water we would bathe in. It's no longer clean or pure. In the same way, if life becomes stuck in a place, if it becomes stagnant, it's doesn't produce purity or joy. But if life continues to flow then it is always fresh, always pure, always exciting. And we learn to be an observer, a witness of the whole play, of the situation as it unfolds around us.

This is why we meditate. To meditate, we just sit and become quiet. The simple technique is to become aware of our breathing. As you focus on your breath, using your abdomen to breath slowly, in and out, the mind starts to slow down. The thoughts still remain but you are able to detach yourself from your mind and observe. As you let go of holding on to the mind, becoming caught in the thoughts, you find yourself becoming calmer, quieter. Then, when meditation is over we try and hold that center, that calm, bringing it into our daily lives.

Often, people rise from meditation saying, "Okay, now I'm ready for the day," as if meditation has been left there, to be visited again tomorrow or next week. But if we sit for a moment after meditation, imbibing that stillness, it can accompany us through the day, filling whatever we do. Then, every act of our life becomes fluid, every act gives us joy for we are centered and calm, connected to the Truth within.

For me, this is the practice of yoga, of meditation. Understanding who we are, being connected to who we truly are, then living life with that understanding, knowing, "that Truth, that Consciousness which exists within me is who I really am. All which happens externally is a play that my Inner Self observes, truly detached."

If we sit for a moment after meditation, imbibing that stillness, it can accompany us through the day. Then, every act of our life becomes fluid, every act gives us joy for we are centered and calm, connected to the Truth within.