Spandanangal:-
(May,2015)
The spiritual leaders who influenced me
Once you (people like me) reach fifty, the time when your duties towards your children (or others) almost come to an end, or when they are no more children, you start thinking of your existence or eager to find out who you are or to find an answer for 'who am I' or why you are born or what is the meaning of life.etc. I think, the family I was born, my childhood and the subject I studied during my college days and all the more my travelling in different parts of India, meeting people of varied culture and of dialects (especially the days we spend in Kaashi), helped me a lot to find an answer for the unending questions. A few years back I could read many books written by great spiritual people and could listen their speeches which could quench my thirst to a certain limit. After my first Himalayan pilgrimage, I was so curious and wanted to know more about the precious heritage of my motherland, the Vedas, the Rushis, who imparted this knowledge to us.
The first book I read, a spiritual travelogue, by shri M.K.Raamachandran in Malayaalam. "Utharakhandiloote (through utharakhand) - Kailas-manasasaras Yathra" was published in 2003. When you go through these books, sometimes you feel as if the author is more on a spiritual adventurous trip than a pilgrimage. He participated in the Kailash-Manasarovar Yaathra, conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs and he was the only pilgrim in that batch who could do the parikrama by foot successfully. This book has won the kerala sahithya academy award for 2005. His book 'Thapobhoomi Utharkhand,' published in 2005, describes the most sacred and beautiful parts of Himalayas where ordinary pilgrims dare to travel. He travelled mostly by foot and had been to the most difficult parts of sacred himalayas. He crossed the glaciers Keerthi, Choukhamba, Rudugaira, Khatling to reach the holy 'Sathopanth lake', which is on the Alakaapuri glaciers on the other side of the peak Balkund in Badaridham. Shri Ramachandran was one of the luckiest persons who could visit the Pancha kailasas.
The book which completely changed my outlook on life is Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahamsa Yogananda, the noted spiritual leader who devoted his life to spread the essence of India's ancient wisdom all over the world .This book has been considered as a modern spiritual classic and widely used as a text and reference work in colleges and universities and translation is available in different world languages. 'The review of Religion", published by Columbia University Press wrote, 'there has been nothing before, written in English, or in any other European language, like this presentation of Yoga.'
Yoganandaji was born in Gorakhpur on January 5th, 1893 and breathed his last as he wished, on March 7th,1952, while giving his speech at a banquet given in honor of the Ambassador of India, in Losangels,California. He often predicted, "I will not die in bed, but with my boots on, speaking of God and India." He proved his prediction true. After his enchanting speech, he quoted from his poem,"My India", "where Ganges, woods, Himalayan caves and men dream God- I am hallowed; my body touched that sod!" He then lifted his eyes upward and entered mahasamaadhi. He showed the world the power and sanctity of Yoga. Later as the scientists examined his body on 27th March, 20 days after the departure, the body looked as fresh as it was on march 5th .
He had a remarkable childhood. His mother recognized his divinity and encouraged his noble ideas and spiritual aspirations. His parents were disciples of Sri Sri Lahiri Mahashaya. His mother's demise at the age of 11 made him more determined as he loved his mother above anything in the world.
After his graduation from Kolkatha University in 1915, he took formal vows as a monk and later founded schools in different places with 'How To Live' syllabus or teaching traditional academic subjects-with yoga training and instruction in spiritual ideas.
Yoganandaji started his mission of disseminating the soul liberating science of Yoga in the West at the age of 27. After 5 years, atop Mount Washington in LosAngeles, he founded the international headquarters for Self-realization Fellowship, the society he started in India in 1917 as Yogada Satsang Society of India. Later this place has become the spiritual sanctuary visited by tens of thousands of people every year. Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, the only place out side India where a portion of the Mahatma's ashes are enshrined is just near this hilltop temple.
The young Yogi brought a revelation in the West as he interpreted Yoga as a universal science and that as such it is indeed the essence of all religion. When the 3000 seat hall at Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles filled one hour before his lecture on January 28,1925, the Losangeles Time reported," A Hindu invading the United States to bring God..."
Yoganandaji,was the disciple of sri sri swami Yuktheshwar Giri(1885-1936), disciple of sri sri lahiri Mahasaya (1828-1895).Lahiri Mahashaya's Guru, sri sri Mahavathaar Babaji revived the age old ancient science of Kriyayoga. It is the transcendent technique of meditation and an art of living that leads to union of soul with God. Yoganandaji learned this from his guru.
His collected talks and essays will help you in your journey to self realization. It is discovering the gift of soul or it is knowing the Divine presence with in us. He told people to find out the reasons for our existence.-Try to give genuine smiles to all,friends, family, strangers alike because your face reflects your mental state.Never allow yourself to get into negative mental ruts. This will help you to retain your youth. Learn to keep your will strong and greater the will, greater the flow of energy. Sincerity is everything, unselfishness expands your consciousness, truth is that which gives permanent happiness, colour is important in life(bring it in diet also ), healthy nerves essential for a healthy body, emotions are to be controlled..........(contd)
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Spandanangal :- (2)
Swami Rama, one of the greatest masters from Himalayas, the founder of Himalayan Institute tried to bridge the ancient teachings of East and the modern scientific approaches of the West. He studied western psychology, philosophy and medicine in Europe, taught in Japan and later founded the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in United States, at Pocono mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania in 1969. This institute help people to grow physically, mentally and spiritually based on the combined knowledge of east and west.
Swamy Rama advocated the philosophy of advaitha, accepted the yoga system followed by Patanjali and wanted his disciples to be selfless and serve the humanity. While following the tradition of the Himalayan sages he believed that each human being is a living institution or a temple with respect to their respective religion and without forcing anybody's faith they were to practice vegetarianism. Believe in universal brotherhood and practicing non-violence with mind,action and speech is important..Putting in his own words, 'it is immaterial whether one lives in east or west. Inner strength,cheerfulness and selfless service are the basic principles of life.'
