Understanding Meditation - 3 THE RESTLESS MIND

    Forgetting to merge one's attention/ awareness with external things is the very first step in 

    spirituality, for we can remember the Infinite only to the extent that we have forgotten everything else.

- Aghora.

The feedback on my two blogs on Understanding meditation Part 1 and Part 2,  is that although one understood and appreciated the ideas in theory, they still find it difficult to meditate owing to the restless mind and invading thoughts. So in this blog we deal with - mind and thoughts.

In this world, achieving anything of value requires a price to be paid. For a student to earn a Master's degree, they must invest years of hard work and dedication throughout their schooling and college journey. Similarly, for an athlete to win a medal, they must commit to relentless effort, discipline, and rigorous practice to attain the level of excellence required for victory. This principle holds true across all pursuits—whether in the realms of art, business, science, or even spirituality

For humans to reach the spiritual heights of self-awareness, they must pay the price of purifying and stilling the mind. Many seekers, inspired by the writings of spiritual masters, embark on practices with the hope of quickly attaining the profound experiences described in such books. However, when these experiences do not materialize despite their efforts, many become disheartened and are tempted to abandon their journey altogether.

Spiritual realization is a journey comprising two distinct phases. Much like a child progressing through years of study to eventually earn a Master's degree, a seeker must first discipline the mind through sustained effort to purify and still it. This constitutes the foundational phase. The second phase begins when the spiritual dimension unfolds, revealing new realms to explore and ascend.

However, between these two phases lies a significant void—a period of waiting and uncertainty. Despite dedicated efforts to purify the mind, the awakening of the spiritual dimension occurs at an unpredictable time. This process resembles a mother hen patiently incubating her egg; she persists, trusting the natural unfolding, until one day the egg hatches unexpectedly.

The spiritual journey, therefore, is one of patience and perseverance. It all starts with embracing practices like meditation and Japa, which purify the mind and set the stage for this transformative adventure.

MIND -

The mind is a powerful instrument, capable of leading a person to profound understanding and success in various fields. Yet, it has its own inherent nature—it thrives on restlessness and seeks motion over stillness. It feels alive by continuously generating thoughts, emotions, and feelings, rarely at peace.

A human being is composed of a body, a mind, and consciousness. Due to ignorance, consciousness—our true essence—begins to identify itself with the body and the personality associated with it. The mind reinforces this illusion by crafting an individuality defined by attributes like name, age, nationality, class, and religion, thereby constructing the pseudo-identity we call the ego.

Just as the body is sustained by breath, the ego is sustained by the mind. In this dynamic, the mind can be seen as a powerful minister to the King—Consciousness—who, in a state of forgetfulness, has allowed the minister to dominate and rule the kingdom of the body and mind, perpetuating this illusion through countless lifetimes.

The mind sustains the ego’s individuality through traits such as selfishness, separateness, desires, and indulgence, keeping a person constantly preoccupied and enslaved from birth to death. This ceaseless activity prevents one from discovering their true identity as Soul Consciousness. In nurturing the ego, often through comparisons, the mind cultivates negative traits like jealousy, anger, discontent, and hatred, all of which serve to fortify the ego. The relentless demands of the mind create an undercurrent of stress that most people carry unconsciously, leading them to seek the elusive "peace of mind."

The mind has programmed us to believe that we must always be "doing" something to validate our existence. Even in the most serene settings, the mind engages us in a flurry of thoughts. Instead of simply being present in the beauty, we find ourselves doing thinking.

This is why sleep is so rejuvenating and healing. It’s not merely the resting of the body and limbs; even a day spent lying on a bed won’t bring the same peace as true sleep. In sleep, the mind shifts into a subconscious state and becomes inactive, allowing real rest. During this state, one is free from the burdens of identity—name, age, class, nationality, religion, and all the constructs of individuality. In sleep, a person doesn’t even perceive themselves as male or female; they simply Are.

This state of restfulness allows the intelligent body to heal itself more effectively, as the mind’s negativity no longer obstructs the natural processes of rejuvenation. Sleep offers a glimpse into the state of being, unburdened by the mind’s constant demands and the ego’s endless narratives.

MEDITATION -

So in light of the above, lets view meditation. Meditation is the inner laboratory of stillness where we turn our attention inward to explore and understand our true nature.

True meditation is a state of pure Awareness—a state where the restless mind has been consciously quietened. Imagine this state: the mind is silent, yet Awareness is vivid and present. Such a state opens the door to new possibilities, leading to transformative spiritual experiences.

In our wakeful state, the mind is marked by restlessness, constantly flitting between thoughts and emotions. In contrast, the meditative state thrives in silence and stillness. By creating this inner stillness, we cultivate the perfect atmosphere to reconnect with our true essence. In such an environment, the ego cannot survive, for the mind, stripped of its habitual thoughts, can no longer sustain the illusion of individuality.

When Consciousness becomes aware of its own true nature, a profound transformation begins to unfold within. This self-awareness ignites a journey of inner magic, where the more a being identifies with itself as Consciousness, the greater its evolution and expansion. Such a realization empowers one to transcend the limitations of our familiar reality and step into higher-dimensional realms of existence.

As this inner awakening deepens, the Being begins to uncover the essence of pure joy, pure love, and pure wisdom—qualities that are intrinsic to its true nature. It realizes that the happiness the mind once pursued in the external world was an illusion. The joys it sought outside were always within, waiting to be discovered.

This is the profound truth Christ revealed when he declared, "The Kingdom of God is within." 

But when a person sits to meditate, the mind resists stillness and attempts to hijack their attention with a cascade of thoughts to maintain its dominance. Over two decades of meditation practice, I’ve observed that the mind employs four types of thoughts to distract us during meditation:

1. Mediocre thoughts: Trivial matters that we would usually dismiss during our wakeful state suddenly appear important, demanding our attention.
2. Important thoughts: Genuine concerns or tasks that require attention during the day are brought to the forefront.
3. Anxious thoughts: Worries and fears about the future, designed to create unease and pull us away from stillness.
4. Guilt-driven thoughts: Reflections on past failures or unfulfilled duties, aimed at controlling us through guilt and self-criticism.

The mind employs these strategies to engage and scatter our attention. Yet, our Attention is a unique and powerful resource; where we direct it determines what flourishes in our lives.

When the mind is active and focused, it is a valuable tool for achieving success in the material world. When the same mind becomes still and silent through meditation it can lead us to the ultimate victory in the inner, spiritual world.

RESOLVING THE CONFLICT -

The mind thrives only when you feed it with your attention. Withdraw your attention, and the mind naturally becomes quiet. Easier said than done. For most people, the mind is extremely powerful, having wielded control over lifetimes, and it resists surrender. Yet, with perseverance, it is not impossible to overcome its dominance.

Consider your mobile phone. Owning one doesn’t mean you are obliged to answer every call. You have the freedom to ignore, mute, or disconnect calls that aren’t necessary, attending only to those that matter. Similarly, during meditation, you can "mute" your mind—refusing to entertain unnecessary thoughts—and focus your attention instead on simply Being in silent stillness.

A common question people ask is, "What does one 'do' during meditation?" This question itself reveals a misunderstanding. Meditation is not about doing; it’s about Being. In yogic science, Being is considered the highest form of action—the supreme Karm and the ultimate Kriya. It is the state of profound presence, where you let go of all doing and rest in the essence of who you truly are.

However to achieve the state of pure stillness, Masters have given us disciplines such as pranayama, japa, mantra meditation which is a form of doing, but through which the mind becomes still rather than restless. More of this is discussed in Understanding Meditation - 2. 

So meditation is the right environment to practice that Being. How? Simply by creating pockets of silence between thoughts and being keenly Aware. 

Take a moment and think about it!

Creating pockets of silence between thoughts, and ensuring that these pockets keep increasing in time. You need not fight your thoughts or push them away, just do not acknowledge them. Do not feed them your attention. 

Some may find this hard still.

Please understand that the mind is simply a tool, much like the eye, which helps us perceive the world around us.

The eye is incredibly important. Right now, you are reading this blog with the help of your eyes, and your mind is processing the information. Notice how well you control your eyes. Even though there are millions of things around you to see, you have focused your vision solely on this blog, deliberately ignoring everything else. This is how effectively you can control the eye. Similarly, the mind is a tool. You can learn to control it in the same way—by giving it attention only when necessary. When you don't need it, stop feeding it with unnecessary thoughts and simply be.

This is the secret shared by all saints: they use the mind only when required. Otherwise, they dwell in their own inner bliss, free from the distractions and noise of the mind. When we control the mind as we do the eye, we discover a deeper peace and a higher state of being.

Another Yogic secret to subdue the mind is the Breath. Try this - when your mind is restless, consciously and slowly take 3 deep breaths and let go of the breath completely. You will notice the mind go quieter then before.

 

So next time you sit to meditate- 

1. Begin by taking deep breaths and let go of the mind.
2. Create pockets of silence and keenly dwell in BEING
3. Make these pockets of silence larger over time.

Other factors that play a crucial role in calming the mind are the way you live your daily life. Your environment, the company you keep, and the food you consume— not just through your mouth, but also through your eyes and ears— all feed the mind. These influences fuel the mind, and by controlling them, you can begin to control the mind itself. This is why spiritual Masters advocate simple, moderate, and Sattvic living for those aspiring to meditate.

Achieving lasting change in overcoming the mind requires consistent effort and patience. But know that it IS POSSIBLE! One of the greatest Yogi's of the 18th century Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya use to encourage his meditating disciples by saying "Banat banat ban jaye"  simply translated "Striving, striving, one day you achieve!"

(Images - Bahaduri Mahasaya, The levitating Saint, Autobiography of a Yogi & Image drawn by Pascal Campion)

SIMILAR READS -

1. Understanding Meditation - 1

2. Understanding Meditation- 2

The Feminine & Masculine Principles

When you read about  the feminine principle and feminism, there is some confusion. 

Females are the physical form. Feminism is a movement led by the female form and Feminine principle is an intelligent energy embodied by all creatures of the earth, females and males, animals and even the flora and fauna, in different degrees. This principle represents Love, beauty, creativity, healing, compassion. The primary custodians of the feminine energy are females. The feminine principle is not the opposite of the masculine principle, but rather they co-nourish life on earth. The Goddesses of various cultures are beings who purely embody various aspects of the feminine principles in their being. The Gods are pure representations of the Masculine energy. 

Since ages, the powerful has oppressed the weak. Anything powerful tends to dominate anything weak. This would include - women, men, children, animals and mute nature. Such abuse continues today wherein we plunder nature and make animal life extinct through our reckless greed. This is not masculine energy itself.. rather it is the abuse of masculine energy to gain more power and to get illicit control over gifts of the feminine energy - things beautiful and precious in sheer misuse of personal power.

Feminist movement began to support females and their place in the society and not so much to protect and nourish the Feminine principle. In their efforts to find equality for females in the society, the masculine principles of power and aggression were adapted as it suited their purposes better. Females in their efforts to be at par with men, became men-like in their approach to life. So as feminism grew and the place of females in the society grew better, the role and influence of the Feminine principle in society kept decreasing.

Today Masculine energy is in vogue. Both males and females seek it to posses power, success, money to serve their ends. Humans no longer create beauty by or through themselves, but shell out money to possess such beauty in any form.. through art, music, painting, nature, even temporary associations with the members of the opposite sex lured by the attraction of wealth and power. Beauty is not created, it is simple purchased. 

In ideal societies, men and women honour and nourish the two principles because they are cultured, unselfish and seeking expansion and evolution in wholesome and inclusive ways. Thus both males and females become ideal representatives of  both the principles.

The imbalances in the two principles occur when a society is corrupted in the mind, and selfish in their approach. 

If you look into the life of the saints, most of them played a vital role in nourishing the feminine principle in a society. In the past when humanity lived closer to perfection, a divine incarnate would showcase the highest potential of both the principles. Think of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. They were embodiments of the best of masculine and feminine; of strength and wisdom combined with beauty, compassion and grace. In the darker ages, when many divine incarnates came to earth, they focussed more on repairing the depleted feminine energy through their life's example. Buddha, Nanak, Chaitanya, Christ, Anandamayi Ma, Meera and many others, their lives are proof of the same. The world remembers them more for their superhuman display of love and compassion as much as for their wisdom. The feminine principle shone like a blazing sun through Christ when bleeding on the crucifix He uttered the words of compassion - "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." With those words a tsunami, an avalanche of healing feminine energy swept the erring humanity. 

Today, unknown to many, a great shift of consciousness is taking place. Many wise beings have observed that this will lead to the rise in the feminine principle. There will be a transformation in the way women and men lead their lives. The focus will shift from need to posses power to the need to give Love. In doing so the Masculine and Feminine will find the much needed balance resulting in a Golden Age.

This video to me is the best explanation of the Divine Feminine Principle embodied by women -

Meeting Mahavatar Babaji

The Sacred Himalayas

157 years ago, a remarkable event took place in the deeps of the Himalayas, an event that would go on to leave an indelible mark on the course of humanity.

An accountant stationed in Ranikhet took a walk in the sacred mountains one evening and lost his way. As he struggled to find his way back in the dark, to his utter astonishment he heard a distant voice calling out his name. 

Not too sure, the 33 year old accountant of the Military Engineering Department of the British Raj, began walking towards the distant voice, although it seemed to lead him deeper into the mountains.

Sri Lahiri Mahasaya

Finally he came to a small clearing near a cave, where stood on a rocky ledge, a smiling young man with copper coloured hair. “Tu aa Gaya, Lahiri!” (Lahiri you have come!) said the saintly figure to the astonished accountant. 

This young saintly figure, a rare spiritual being, would be known throughout the world as the revered Mahavataar Babaji, the deathless Master, through the spiritual classic - Autobiography of a Yogi, and the young accountant was destined to be His leading disciple, Sri Lahiri Mahashaya, the one chosen to bring back the sacred science of Kriya to the world.

Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, the author of Autobiography of a Yogi, was chosen by Babaji to reveal to mankind of His presence on Earth and His mission herein. 

Sri Yoganandaji says - “Babaji has been chosen by God to remain in His body for the duration of this particular world cycle. Ages shall come and go, still the deathless Master, beholding the drama of centuries, shall be present in this stage terrestrial.”

The experience of encountering Babaji is the rarest of the rare blessings which can take place solely through His will. Sri Paramahansaji said that since Babaji’s mission is for the ages, He may not reveal Himself to humanity of a certain age although He will ever been known to those attuned to Him. Lahiri Mahashay affirmed - “Those who take with reverence the name of Babaji, attract an instant spiritual blessing.”

One of my most cherished moments in life is a dream I had in which I met Babaji in the Himalayas. I have learnt that to even dream of any Avataar is not a random coincidence. But a few years before, I had an experience which I still find hard to believe. 

A certain saintly gentleman came to my house, accompanied by a common friend. He knew of my path and thus came to share with me some stories of his incredible experiences in the Himalayas which culminated with his brief meeting with Babaji near Mansarovar. The story was truly extraordinary, as if I was seeing a fantastic movie. And yet the narration was so sincere, that it could come by only if such experiences had truly transpired. 

In any case we were enjoying the silence after the story, reliving that experience in our minds, when I felt inspired to share something with the little group even though it was of little consequence. 

I told them of my visit to Allahabad to the Maha Kumbha mela of 2001. Well aware that Babaji always visits the Kumbha mela incognito to share His blessings with the masses, I inwardly made a sincere prayer, pleading with Him that even though I may be unworthy to meet Him, He ensure that my eyes fall on Him atleast once, even if I do not recognize Him as Babaji. And that’s it. I went around the mela for the 4-5 days I was there and came back, not knowing if I did see Babaji. 

The Allahabad Maha Kumbha Mela

This saintly gentleman who was listening almost meditatively spontaneously replied - 
“You did see Him.” 

“I do not know that” - I replied.

“The morning you were returning from the Shahi snan (sacred bath) with your group, in the crowd a young sadhu offered you a puri as prasad, you refused it and went ahead. That was Babaji.”

Now here’s the thing, I was not inclined to believe this as I had no immediate memory of the same; but I was unable to dismiss his words as the scenario he described was actual - I did attend the kumbh during a shahi snan day,  we did bathe early in the morning, we did go back in a group after the holy bath and I do faintly remember a young sadhu in the crowd tapping me and  offering me prasad, something like a puri with some sweet in it and me ignoring it without even refusing it, as it was so sudden and he was a stranger. Perhaps subconsiously I was aware of the constant warnings of the police to not touch any stray luggage or accept any thing to eat from strangers. 

But I struggled to come to terms with this information. The calmness and surety with which he kept affirming this began overwhelming my skepticism.  In any case, since I was not sure of it, I stated emphatically that I may not have seen Babaji at all, when suddenly - Boom!

A loud sound startled our gentle conversation taking place in the mandir room of our house. One picture out of the many had fallen. It had never happened so before, it had no reason to create such a loud startling sound, as there was a thin mattress below it. Of all the photos kept on my alter, it was the photograph of Babaji that had fallen. The photo fell with a huge thud just when I was refusing the possibility of my having seen His form at the Kumbha.

I can’t say what the reader may feel reading this, but this was too much for me. Tears welled up my eyes and a feeling of  remorse came upon me recalling that day when I refused the prasad that He had offered me. The gentleman and the friend both tried to calm me, telling me that I didn’t mean to insult but was refusing to take something from someone unknown and that Babaji would not be offended. But it took me sometime to get over it. 

This gentleman was convinced, but I felt unsure, only because Babaji to me is such a revered figure, I felt it impossible that someone like me could have seen Him. 

But I know my prayers were sincere, and His love infinite.

The Ageless Master - Mahavataar Babaji

Agni ~ The Purifying

  

This was a blog written to explain what really the much maligned Sati pratha was. Why was it done and by who it could be done and what was the sacred science behind it, and also why this custom should never have come down to this lower Kali age. The blog was supported with quotes from the texts and stores and anecdotes to support how various mystics and yogis from time immemorial have had a sacred relation with the element Fire.

Unfortunately and bizarrely, one day I found the text in this blog had vanished and replaced by text from another blog though the title remained the same. I found it very odd, but considered it a sign that this information is not to be shared (atleast by me) 

I thought of deleting the blog, but recalling the effort and the lucidity with which that information came to me, I have retained this space in its memory.

Mythological Games in Switzerland

The Chudamani

Switzerland, July 2004-

Being the only assistant in the small crew, I was overwhelmed with work of different departments on this outdoor shoot. On this day we had wrapped early. When I entered the dining area of the hotel where everyone gathered to relax after the days shoot, I found a group in the right corner engaged in some board game and playing it with a great enthusiasm. On one side was Shahrukh and on the other side was Farah Khan. There was Pam Aunty, Payal, Vaibhavi Merchant, Anil Mehta sir and some other top names of the industry playing the game. They were playing in a fun spirit and yet by their comments one could sense the competition between them. 

The questions being asked covered various fields of science, entertainment, sports, religion and mythology. At one point Farah asked a mythological question which seemed like a complete bouncer and no one was expected to know the answer. So to get things going she asked "Kisi ko aata hai jawab ya points le lein?" before she could discard the question, I called out - "Daksha". All eyes turned on me. After a few seconds Farah said in her usual dry tone - "Achha guess kiya ,... sahi jawab hai!".  I moved on and sat on another table to make the call sheets.

After that round of game was over, they began making new teams. As I was working against time to finish my work, I heard my name called out. Shahrukh had chosen me in his team. I wanted to opt out there was much to do. Srk saw my reluctance and said "Arre call sheet jaane de, ek din nahi diya to chalega.." Farah said dryly "Waise bhi tu kaunsa time pe aata hai.." To which Yashji sitting on another side began laughing.

Giving one answer was fine.. but I wasn't sure I knew all the answers to questions on mythology or religion despite my deep interest in it. 

The game began. I sensed the competition and will to win despite outer niceties. Srk is very intelligent in quiz games and the team went along well until Farah asked the question "Which avatar of Vishnu existed during both the Ramayana and Mahabharata periods?" Unlike other questions this one was met with a muted response. I quickly scanned my memory and said "Parashuram," to which Srk immediately repeated 'Parashuram' as if he knew it too. Farah's look, which was one of - 'this ones in the bag', changed, and she said - "Correct!"

The game progressed further with a lot of tiffs and arguments till things became a bit tense. At another critical point she asked another mythological question - "What did Sita give to Hanuman to show Lord Rama as proof of meeting her.?" Immediately Shahrukh said - "Her ring," which the rest of the team agreed to. Farah was about to give the verdict, when I said to Srk that this may be incorrect. Lord Rama gave the ring but Sitaji is said to have given an ornament she wore on her hair. I do not know what that ornament is called, but on it was studded the gem famously called - the Chudamani. 

Srk wasn't sure about this, he felt it was the ring. The team agreed with him. I was feeling pressured as Farah wanted us to answer quickly with a time limit decided in our last argument. Srk said - "Pakka maloom hai tujhe.." Some other person confidently emphasised that "it was her ring,.. just answer that!" But I looked at Srk and repeated what what I knew.  Srk changed his answer to Chudamani! To which Farah said - "Wrong answer!" I wanted to bury myself. Srk asked for the right answer to which she said - "Shikhamani!" 

Srk said that this is what he said that its the ornament of the hair! I  explained that Shikhamani maybe an assumed name, but it was called the Chudamani and began to describe it -"It is about this big in size, a bit oval and honey coloured, not exactly honey coloured but a bit like...."

They were all curiously looking at me and Farah put their look into words saying "Tu aise bol raha hai jaise tune khud dekha hai?"  I withdrew my point, as the game came to an end.

I cannot recall who won but that night as I tried finishing my work my mind kept going to the summer just a few months back that I had spent in Brindavan.

Swami had come to Brindavan as He usually does and I had the opportunity of serving at His residence - Trayee. One evening after the bhajans at the Trayee sessions, I was alone sitting guarding the interview door which was open, while all other boys were sitting at the main door attending the Trayee session. I could hear the laughs, claps and occasional sounds of awe from within the house. At one point the energy changed.. I sensed a great deal of excitement almost flooding out from the house. When I looked up at the sevadal boys, they had all gone on their knees trying to see something in great excitement. 

I wanted to rush over, but couldn't leave my place out of a sense of duty. Then I looked at my leader Harish, who in excitement motioned me to come over. In a nano second I was there. Swami was walking amongst the boys, the staff and VIPs showing something.. and such was my good fortune that I reached there just at the time Swami was closest to us. I saw with my own eyes a glittering jewel, smooth, almost emanating a glow from within. To my eyes it seemed honey coloured, but it could also be because I saw Swami's palm through it. Having seen the created I switched my attention to the creator who was still moving around showing the jewel to the other boys looking at it curiously.

When Swami sat back on the jhoola, the gentleman who was speaking said in awe and with folded hands that "We all have been privileged to see the Chudamani which Ma Sita had given to Hanuman to show to Lord Ramachandra as proof of having met her!"

The Chudamani

Of Dreams and Divine visions

May 27th, 2017

This morning while having a conversation with my sister, she shared a dream that she had a couple of days after Navratri.

“I saw a dream of Divine Mother. It was a majestic vision of Her sitting on a rock with one leg folded and the other down. Behind her sat an enormous lion. 

I approached and sat at Her feet, taking it in my hands and pressing them as I looked at Her beautiful presence. In my mind a thought occurred that I should ask Her about my daughter T. But before I could ask, She read my mind and said “She is my daughter.. I always look after her.”

I replied “Mother have I brought her up well?” 

She smiled and gestured with Her hand and nod of Her head that I have done well.

I then asked “Mother what should we teach children to make them good human beings?”

Mother replied in chaste Hindi-

“Do not lie.

Without faith, worship and prayers are meaningless.

Avoid bad company.

Do not rejoice at others sufferings, be happy at others happiness.

Do not complain always. Believe that whatever I do for you will be for your good.

Take care of your elders; to give them peace is your duty.

Whatever you do today, do with the awareness that you will reap the fruits of your action soon. Keep an eye on your own karmas.

You will always receive fruits of your earnest efforts.

Patience makes life easier. Patience during sorrows keeps the mind peaceful. Patience during good times will prevent rise of ego/arrogance. Patience is great strength. 

Always remember that I keep an eye on My children at all times. Listen carefully always to your inner voice emanating from your conscience.”

As a parting note She said “No matter what, I will surely give T the fruits of her labour. Have faith in my words.”

As the dream ended I woke up feeling very clear. It was 5:45 am in the morning.

Curious to know more, I asked my sister to describe the appearance of Divine Mother.

“Her presence was absolutely radiant, indescribable. No artist, no poet, could ever capture Her beauty. It transcends all imagination.” She continued, “She wore rich red robes, and Her jewelry gleamed with a divine brilliance. Her tejas (radiance) was as bright as the sun, yet soothing and gentle. When She raised Her hands in blessing, I noticed how small and delicate they were. Her words, spoken in shuddh (pure) Hindi.”

Intrigued, I asked for an example. My sister shared one of Mother's statements: “Bina vishwas ke prarthna, pooja nirarthak hai” (Without faith, prayers and worship are meaningless). 

She further shared that what truly captured her attention was the majestic lion seated behind the Divine Mother. “He was a striking figure—regal, fierce, yet utterly tranquil, as if guarding Her with quiet devotion. His eyes..” she said, “glowed with an almost otherworldly brilliance.”

The purpose of sharing this story isn't simply to recount a dream; rather, it is to highlight a mystical interaction between the Divine and an ordinary person. We often think of God as distant, elusive, but through my studies of spiritual phenomena, I've encountered many accounts where the Divine reaches out to humans in deeply personal ways.

Naturally, I wondered why such a vision had come to her.

When I asked my sister if she had done anything to invoke this blessing, she admitted that for many years now, she experiences a special darshan (divine vision) after Navratri. Usually, it is Swami who appears, but this time it was the Divine Mother. Interestingly, she confessed that she doesn't follow the traditional Navratri rituals as closely as others in our family. She once prayed to Swami, asking not to observe rituals just for the sake of it but only when she felt truly inspired. As a result, she was uncertain why this grace was bestowed upon her.

She went on to mention that her daughter, T (my niece), while not particularly religious or spiritual, yet has a profound and personal connection with Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati. Every Monday, without prompting from anyone in the family, she makes it a point to visit a nearby Shiva temple to offer her prayers.

She shared another incident. 

When T was little, she fell gravely ill, suffering from a jaundice-related ailment that left her weak and unable to keep any food or water down. Her stomach was in constant pain, and sleep was nearly impossible. The doctors were concerned and advised my sister to take great care. One night, as my sister was tending to her, my niece asked her mother to rest, promising to wake her if she needed anything. Reluctantly, my sister fell asleep.

Late at night, my niece awakened needing to go to the restroom, but she didn’t want to disturb her mother. As she turned to get up, she was astonished to see a regal woman, whom she instantly recognized as Mata (Divine Mother), sitting by her bedside in a red saree, gently massaging her stomach. Thinking her illness was playing tricks on her mind, she made her way to the restroom, drank some water, and returned to the room, still leaning against the walls for support due to her weakness. To her astonishment, the Mother was still there, sitting in the same place. Too tired to process what she was seeing, she thought of lying down first and then gazing at Mothers form. Remarkably,  the moment her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep; for the first time in days.

It is natural to question the authenticity of such experiences— but the test of such an event lies in its effect. My sister’s dream wasn’t just about seeing the Divine Mother; it was about the wisdom imparted. What was shared with her resonates deeply with the teachings of our scriptures. My sister, ever self-reflective, admits that the insights she received were not something she had previously considered or meditated on herself, and she experienced the deep wisdom of those words even as Mother spoke them.

A sevadal friend, Santosh, once shared an intriguing experience with me. He had been asked to escort a sadhu for darshan at Ramesh Hall in Brindavan. After the darshan, Santosh found the Sadhu looking perplexed. Sensing something was amiss, Santosh inquired if all was well? The sadhu, with a tone of awe, replied that he could not see the Her clearly during the darshan. Curious, Santosh inquired further, and the sadhu explained that the Divine Mother’s jewelry shone with such overwhelming brilliance that it obscured Her form from him.

Now thoroughly confused, Santosh asked, “But did you see Swami?” The sadhu pointed to a nearby photograph of Swami and asked, “Is this the form you see when you have darshan?”

“Of course,” Santosh replied, “What did you see?”

The sadhu, with quiet reverence, responded, “I saw Ma Bhagwati walking among us. Her presence - beyond majestic, Her aabhushans (ornaments) gleaming with such intensity, as if each one held the light of many suns.” 

This statement compliments the narrative of the above dream.

Another similar case is from my own childhood. I was studying in a boarding school in Panchgani, when one night I had the most memorable dream. 

I found myself in a mystical environment what seemed like a time beyond night and day. Before me lay Lord Vishnu in His reclining form, resting on the Ksheer Sagar (the Ocean of Milk). His feet were close to me and His head away from me. His body was beautiful blue and He appeared to be in a state of deep repose, His eyes closed and a soft smile playing on His lips. 

What distracted me from gazing at His appealing form was Adishesha. As I was at the feet of Lord Vishnu, Adishesha's hood was nearly over me as well. It was a beautiful yet frightening spectacle. Its hood of many faces was bejeweled and shone with many colors. Though not menacing, the sheer size and presence of the serpent filled me with awe and a touch of fear. I remember covering my eyes from it and trying to see Lord Vishnu though my fingers. A radiant light emanated from His chest, and while I didn’t know why at the time, I somehow knew it was coming from a jewel He wore. The scene felt otherworldly, as if I was no longer on Earth but in a divine realm beyond the grasp of ordinary reality. 

As the dream got over it caused me to wake up spontaneously. I found all the other children sleeping in my dorm and I realised it is still very early morning.

One might dismiss this as a child’s imagination, but here’s the intriguing part: I was only in the first grade at the time. I knew of Lord Vishnu, but not Adishesha, or the Ksheer Sagar or Vaikuntha. It was not within my understanding to conjure such vivid imagery, yet as I grew older, I realized that the details I had seen matched the descriptions of Lord Vishnu reclining on the serpent in the cosmic ocean. Even the radiant jewel on His chest, which I later learned was the Kaustubha, was exactly as I had seen it in the dream—so bright it almost obscured His face.

Dreams are a strange phenomenon. Often we have dreams which just reflect back to us our everyday life events. But every now and then we somehow access deeper realms and experience something uncommon. While our physical body rests, our astral bodies can take our dim awareness to various subtle regions, sometimes even penetrating the causal worlds where Divine realms exist. 

My Guru often said that whenever we sincerely think of God, it elicits a response from Him in some way. Swami once taught that the amount of time we spend in sincere connection with God during our waking hours is the same amount of time God spends with us in our deep, subconscious moments, whether or not we are fully aware of it when we awaken. 

It makes one wonder: Is God truly distant from us, or is this distance merely an illusion of our own making? The divine realm may be much closer to us than we think. Nor is it exclusive to the saintly class . The everyday people are after all God’s children too.