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Since
the completion of Tapas in 1999, Shri Shivarudra Balayogi
Maharaj has been carrying on the Mission of His Guru, Shri
Shivabalayogi Maharaj, teaching and exemplifying the highest
ideals of Shri Swamiji. One aspect of this mission is to clear
the doubts and answer the spiritual questions of devotees.
Baba is often asked about the phenomenon of "Bhava Samadhi".
Many devotees, old and new, have expressed discomfort and
concern about it, especially in the manifestation of "talking
bhava". At present there are a number of individuals
around the world who claim to speak for and as Shri Shivabalayogi
Maharaj. In response to an increasing number of requests by
concerned devotees, Baba has agreed to give the facts and
the truth about Bhava Samadhi. Following is Part One of His
answer.
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Shri Baba
Maharaj Answering Devotees' Questions About Bhava Samadhi
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Samadhi means: Standstillness. Bhava means: Mind's Feelings.
A person is in a particular Bhava means, that particular person
is in a particular Feeling, regarding him or herself. Others
may also cultivate a particular Bhava (Feeling) regarding
that person who is in Bhava. So if a person makes claims about
his/her own Bhava or some others
claim something regarding that person's Bhava, it's simply
the play of Feelings and Imaginations. That's all.
Spiritually, true Bhava Samadhi is the culmination of long
time Devotional practices. Such a person becomes more Receptive
to Yogi's vibrations which are flowing always. When such a
person comes in contact with a Yogi's
atmosphere, that person shall go in to a genuine Bhava Samadhi,
wherein all the Mind's energy gets Tapped in to a single pointedness.
The wavering and craving of such a person's Mind becomes "Standstill"
to the Bhava of the Deity to which the person has been Devoted
for a very long time. This shall enable a person to become
Meditative gradually. Depending on the Emotional nature of
that particular Person, others may see some action, such as
body movements. Defining Bhava Samadhi, Parama Pujya Swamiji
once told me that a person who goes in to Bhava Samadhi is
blessed action. Later such a person should be encouraged to
practice Meditation which is the ultimate Sadhana for Self
Realization. Swamiji said further that this Bhava Samadhi
is a preliminary exercise to prepare one to be able to sit
in Meditation. This helps people's emotional energies to get
tapped and to achieve single pointedness of the Mind which
is essential for Meditation. Swamiji once laughed and said
to me "Hey! It's like giving chocolate to a child to
make it to go to the school. But one must Meditate."
HOW IT
STARTED IN OUR MISSION
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After completing His grueling Great Twelve Year Tapas in 1961,
Shri Swamiji remained in Adivarapupeta for some time. One
day when some devotees were sitting with Swamiji, there was
some spiritual discussions regarding God's existence and energy,
etc.. Shri Swamiji said there is a God that one can experience
in Samadhi through Meditation and that every thing happens
due to Divine Energy. To this some devotees argued that when
they want to go, they
go. When they want to eat and sleep, they do so. Swamiji laughed
and said it is not true whatever you feel like doing, you
do. From where does this feeling come? If you Meditate you
can experience that everything happens only by God. Still
those devotees could not understand what Swamiji was telling
and stuck to their arguments.
Then Swamiji asked them to do Bhajans and HE HIMSELF went
into deep Meditation. When the devotees did Bhajans many of
them went into Bhava Samadhi. Many were totally unconscious
of the outside World. Some were semi-conscious. They were
shouting "Oh! What is happening? Swamiji, please help
and stop this! "
Then Swamiji came out of Meditation and smiled. Then when
Swamiji applied Vibuti between their eyebrows, they got released
of the Bhava Samadhi. Thus Bhava Samadhi came into being in
our Mission. Swamiji wanted them to
go into Meditation, later.
In the Sixties and Seventies, devotees who went into Bhava
never spoke.
They used to remain ecstatic and totally unaware of the surroundings.
Such devotees became more introverted and deeply devotional.
Hundreds and hundreds of devotees used to go into Bhava Samadhi
during Bhajans and there
was a definite Transformation within themselves. Gradually
Swamiji's Mission grew. Thousands and thousands were attracted
towards Swamiji. Swamiji never claimed anything. Smilingly
and silently HE worked. Wherever HE went, thousands came for
His darshan. Very often it became so difficult for the organizers
and volunteers to handle the crowd. But Swamiji used to remain
unperturbed and silently Blessed the crowd. Untiringly He
went
around the country to Spread Dhyana Practice. The amazing
Tapas that HE had performed was like that. Tremendous Power,
Energy and Dazzling Light emanated from HIS body. Devotees
were mesmerized. Devotees saw HIM as if Lord Shiva had descended
on the Earth to Bless the devoted. Devotees forgot their worldly
life. They forgot to eat and sleep. Poor and rich came alike
to have His darshan. Blessed, blessed were all those who were
Blessed to see Him physically! Devotees saw Ardhanareeshwara,
{Shiva and Parvati together--the Male and Female aspect of
the Divine} in His body. The devotees were going Mad, spiritually.
Yes! For the worldly people they were going Mad! But they
were Mad after a Great Yogi of the century. Almost all the
devotees
were in some form of Bhava Samadhi. Yes! Such Yogis come once
in ages. It is not every day that people can see such Yogis.
Swamiji used to say, "Swamiji is like Buddha Bhagavan.
Today people hear from descendants of Buddha what He said
. Only the lucky saw Him physically in the same way you are
able to see Swamiji physically.
Future generation will hear what you will say, so, you must
be careful when you represent Swamiji, otherwise people take
Swamiji in a wrong way." In the early days in Adivarapupeta,
an interesting incident happened when
Swamiji was to install Goddess Parvati in the Temple where
Swamiji performed Twelve years of TAPAS...
To be continued...
END OF PART - 1
LOVE AND BLESSINGS,
BABA
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