Printed in Canada in March 2016 The Teachings of Simhananda — Words of Wisdom from an Occidental Master, Eternal Pilgrim of this Remarkable Planet Earth.
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ISBN : 978-1-896523-82-8
Orange Palm Publications© Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada Registration of copyright: 1st trimester 2016 National Library of Quebec National Library of Canada Cover design: Lucie Robitaille Photography : Simhananda Typesetting: Sareyu Honan Roy Translation Reviewers: Kristiane Roy, Sareyu Honan Roy Translated from the original French by Jill Capri Published by Orange Palm Publications© 1206 Saint-Luc Blvd., Suite 110 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec J2Y 1A5, Canada info@PalmPublications.com www.PalmPublications.com All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author, except to quote or photocopy specific passages for the purposes of group study.
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Table of contents Preface 1
The heart and our future
2 Freedom 3 Love 4 Transformation 5
The Soul
6
The mental
7
Existential dilemma
8 Time 9 Evolution 10
The Hierarchy
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Spiritual teachings
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Disciples and discipleship
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Master-disciple relationship
14 Resistance 15 Attachment 16 Anger 17 Nutrition 18 Sexuality 19
The different yogas
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The Light “that we are�
21 Simhananda
Preface I am very pleased to introduce this exploration into various facets of spiritual teaching — a subject as old as the world itself and one that is still a focus of interest and controversy today. The first aim of a work of this kind is to analyse the traps and illusions awaiting us on the path of return when the call sounds from on high. It also examines how the actual transformation process works for those seeking to communicate with their soul through spiritual training. Lastly, it addresses the mysterious and often puzzling (in the West at least) relationship between Master and disciple. These pages are based on Simhananda’s presentations and conferences from 1993 to 2008. Many hours of recordings were reviewed and the concepts discussed were analysed and reorganised to produce a text that is edifying, structured and eminently readable. Simhananda’s primary objective has always been to share his teachings rather than their eventual publication. Simhananda is an enigmatic Being who adores creating confusion in order to destabilize minds too accustomed to relying on solid certainties. He’ll briefly discuss a topic, only to return to it several months or even years later from a fresh perspective. He always approaches each subject from a new and unexpected angle, expresses himself with love and humour and, above all, speaks to his listeners’ needs. Accordingly, his teachings always target the being rather than the intellect. How many times have I been dismayed to see themes of particular interest to me fall by the wayside because they failed to correspond to the needs of the majority at the time? And therein lies the beauty of the work of a true teacher. He wastes no time rehashing theories, as appealing and stimulating as they may be. Instead, he fulfils his role as a simple catalyst, often in a seemingly
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insignificant way, who can awaken the innate understanding dormant within us. The material covered here may not always be easy to understand, particularly when it touches on subjects that are relatively unfamiliar to most of us. Nor can it replicate the oratorical flow and spontaneity that characterizes Simhananda’s teachings. Even if some affirmations may conflict with our beliefs because of insufficient explanations or references, I suggest readers reserve their judgement, let the information wash over them and succumb to the appeal of exploration and renewal. Nothing in this world is fixed or immovable. Who knows whether what may seem like fiction today will turn out to be the most commonplace reality tomorrow? How many times have I had to quiet my mind to prevent it from actively seeking immediate concrete proof when understanding could only be achieved through an openness and awareness that was at that time beyond me? I thus invite readers to browse through these pages and savour each idea and paragraph as sources of reflection and introspection. Evolution is never vertical, never finite. It extends to infinity and once each stage is understood and integrated, it simply serves as a stepping stone to another ever vaster and just as unpredictable level. This infinitude is disconcerting for a rational mind like mine that is always seeking road signs along the way. But no one ever claimed evolution was reassuring, which explains our so very human resistance! Happy reading‌ Snezana S.
Once we accept ourselves as we truly are, our vision alters and we can see the beauty and precision with which the Spirit shapes and perfects our character.
Chapter 4
Transformation Life consists of both negative and positive. In fact it would not exist without this duality, a concept that requires total acceptance of our weaknesses and flaws because they are the compost that nourishes the seeds of compassion. Thus, to undergo a profound transformation within our being, we must unconditionally accept life and all it entails. Any form of repression or rejection impedes transformation. By blessing each part of our being rather than denying it, we can open our hearts to allow God to reside permanently within. According to the sages, the origin of suffering is a lack of love that in turn stems from the denial of ourselves. Once we accept ourselves as we truly are, our vision alters and we can see the beauty and precision with which the Spirit shapes and perfects our character. So let’s examine each and every detail of our lives and observe our behaviour, our reactions, and the mechanisms we employ for protection and closure, and then pray and meditate at any time of day. Let’s ask our soul to guide us towards greater understanding. Take the example of Sathya Sai Baba. Why did a Being possessed of so many powers not choose a more attractive body or face to mirror the divine perfection and beauty he represents? When such a Great Being incarnates, he chooses to personify the perfect balance of positive and negative, to reflect what is good and evil for the Love of humanity. This choice is an integral part of his sacrifice. He unites these two poles within himself, expressing no preference. His actions are at all times governed by Divine Will. As long as the planet fails to attain a higher degree of perfection, these Grand Beings will incarnate, not to
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glorify themselves, but to serve and draw closer to those who suffer, inspiring them with the confidence they need to surpass themselves. Even though our natural state as divine beings is our only true reality, we have exiled this knowledge to the outer reaches of our memory. Accordingly, the process of transformation — which awakens this memory — involves a number of purification steps or stages that lead to the gradual loss of our identification with the personality, a process that is painful for both it and the ego. Light brings transformation. When we open up to this Light and allow it to enter, a protection mechanism almost automatically kicks in to halt the process. When the Light penetrates us too deeply, it can cause severe pain as it strives to access the many layers of protection surrounding our heart and dissolve our defence mechanisms, which do everything in their power to maintain the feeling of separation between us and Creation. It’s as if the Light is trying to swallow us whole, but the ego fights each mouthful with fierce resistance that makes the process painful. However, this resistance is no great cause for concern since genuine change takes time. Before the soul even attempts to tame the human consciousness, it makes sure it is solidly grounded. In other words, that it has lived to the fullest and experienced all facets of human existence. Only such consciousness, once transformed, is mature enough to work towards changing the world around it. Otherwise, it would be impossible for us to seriously embark on the path of return because we would be constantly torn between the spiritual life and the worldly life with all its material pleasures. Our inner suffering derives from our identification with this duality. God created and loves all things. Any resentment or rejection prevents us from being in touch with our wholeness. Light cannot exist without its counterpart, dark. That’s why in our search for wholeness we need to recognize and accept this darkness to allow it to dwell within but 12
Transformation
not invade us. When we forgo judgement and allow something to simply exist, we learn to love it. Love eliminates fear and hate and encourages reconciliation. By penetrating and encompassing all, love identifies with nothing. It frees and makes us free. Love demands selflessness, service to others and unity in diversity, demands that trigger the alarm bells of the ego in relentless search of individuality. When the purification process begins to cleanse our heart through the Light of the soul, the fear and rage released can be astonishing. In its role to wipe out the least remnant of vanity, the Light reveals our hidden tendencies, which we think we have mastered. This cleansing process is in fact a mortal combat between the soul and the ego, which refuses to relinquish its grip. The soul sharpens its weapons through our day-to-day experiences. It has no qualms about humiliating the ego if it resists; it knows it is always the master. The less encumbered our heart, the more open it is to receive. Forgetting ourselves enough to allow our entire being to become a chalice ready to receive the holy wine that is the Light of our soul is an art, a science. Then, even though our world may be in turmoil, and we may feel that we are losing our bearings and overwhelmed by distress, we must remain open to the Light until it clears away all confusion and pain. When our resistance finally fades, we’ll be able to see that our true essence, comprised of Love, Light and Truth, is expressed in the very tiniest particle. We’ll suddenly see the unity of all things, while continuing to live in duality. Therein lies the mystery of transformation. When we’re angry about something or with someone, the problem isn’t really our anger but the fact that we don’t love ourselves enough, which in turn prevents us from loving others. It’s easier for us to project hatred than to confront this gaping lack of love within. By directing our attention outwards, we avoid the internalisation so necessary for our own transformation. The spiritual process requires us to work deeply and tirelessly on ourselves rather than on others. 13
The Teachings of Simhananda
The ego loves to strut the stage of tragedy; it loves to suffer, to take itself seriously and to complain. It’s our job to expose it. We must get used to making fun of our own personal “dramas,” our whining, our suffering and our ceaseless attempts to draw attention to ourselves. These are simply ego games that need to be recognized, subdued and ultimately discarded. Instead of worrying about the injustices and imperfections of this world, we should study ourselves. As we successfully navigate our inner transformation, the world will change at its own pace.
Evolution is an inescapable law. Despite our resistance and unwillingness, sooner or later, we will have to evolve.
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Transformation
The heart’s energy is like lava. Once we can unlock the doors of the burning altar that constitutes our heart, this energy courses through each and every nadi1 without end. Despite the pain life brings, love continues to flow. The Spirit can only penetrate and ignite an open heart, which makes the ego vulnerable. So let’s stop defending and limiting ourselves; let’s become fluid and open. If we can de-centralize ourselves, we’ll see that everything within and around us is overflowing with beauty and joy. We can allow this beauty to pervade us, observe each detail, be amazed, and taste each breath. The air is the most perfect symbol of the space uniting everything that makes up Creation. Abandoning judgement, we must remember that, as the Creator, the Spirit delights in what may seem insignificant to our eyes, which in any event are usually closed. The wrinkles and white hair of old age are as beautiful as the most stunning attributes of youth. Let God shine from our eyes and His beauty illuminate our face. Every morning, we should see this reflection of divine beauty in the mirror and never forget that we are His most perfect creation. The Sound Current, Shabd, Word and Divine OM reside in each and every atom. If we direct our attention away from ourselves even for a moment, we will feel OM resonating everywhere in space. This divine dance is played out within us and without, permeating all of Creation. Once we are receptive to this communion, we’ll experience a union that surpasses the limits of time while sharing space. We’ll resist no longer and yield to the consuming fire of life. We too often forget that God is everywhere and in all things. The gods are not that concerned with our actions. When we pray, meditate or act, only our heart’s intention counts.
The body’s 72,000 nadis are subtle channels around the spine that crisscross each chakra.
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When our mind ceases to invent stories, when our heart opens ever wider and the divine Light fills our being with inner joy and ecstasy, we’ll realize that there is no need to look outward for truths and ideals to secure our existence. Only the great silence in which we discover the great love of who we are exists. In this presence, we feel a joy that cannot be expressed in words because it exceeds all understanding. Words always impede and limit understanding yet we love the comfort they bring. We love discussion, intelligent and witty conversation and words of encouragement because they are reassuring. We think they signal that we’re on the path to progress — but we’re usually wrong. That’s why we first have to attain a certain degree of maturity that frees us from the influence of anything or anyone, whatever their level of evolution, before we can experience unity. Today, we encounter the trials littering the spiritual path in our day-today lives rather than in remote caves or ashrams. Since one of the aims of our human incarnation is to heal the space in which we live, the best place to start is within ourselves. By cultivating and dwelling in our inner selves with full consciousness, we will be able to reach, influence and “heal” those life places in our path. No matter what life brings, our only task is to open our heart and trust the destiny our soul has planned for us. If happiness isn’t in the cards, we must try to change what can be changed and accept what cannot without complaint. Everything in life is transitory. It’s time to pay attention to what is really important and stop judging and criticizing ourselves. Life itself has no raison d’être; it simply is. Does a rose try to explain why it is a rose? Of course not. Its greatest truth is to be what it is. Yet we humans feel the need to justify ourselves, to demonstrate our worth. We must constantly peel away layer after layer and calm our thoughts to allow the joy that is the natural state of the soul to enter us.
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Transformation
When Meister Eckhart2 wrote “I beg God to make me free from God,” he was praying for God to rid him of what he could think of God, which prevented him from seeing Him as He is in His total nakedness. God “IS” beyond all conception, belief or thought. That is why we are symbolically naked at birth and death. When we die, our academic degrees, possessions, hopes, ideals and attachments no longer matter. Even our body abandons us since it no longer serves any purpose. Being fully present in all we experience is much more important than what we can imagine as “being God.” It’s an illusion to believe that spiritual retreats, meditation, contemplation, prayer and everything we think of “spiritual” is superior to “ordinary.” Is not changing a child’s diapers an act of prayer? If we are fully present, every act becomes an offering, a sacrifice, not for God, but simply because we love … because we are alive.
Meister Eckhart (Johannes Eckhart von Hochheim, 1260-1327) was a German theologian and philosopher who founded a major mystical movement in the Rhineland based on an intuitive approach to the Divine. His mystical and pantheistic theories were condemned by Pope John XXII.
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We reincarnate to one day achieve an awakening when we will finally see through the illusion of time.
Chapter 8
Time Linear time undeniably imposes limitations. We are continually affected by the past, which governs our present. And since the past has such a powerful impact, it can compromise our future. However, through meditating and expanding our consciousness, we can pierce the mystery of time and perceive its astonishing malleability. Even though knowledge and riches abound, the Earth is still plagued by widespread poverty and suffering. We prefer to deny this reality rather than accept responsibility for it. Yet despite this apparent denial, we are clearly affected by others’ misfortunes. Because we don’t know how to deal with the problem, we prefer to flee. This attitude applies to any number of things. We’ve been conditioned not to act or react, to believe we are powerless, even in the spiritual realm. We’ve learned that the past signifies what has been and is impossible to change even if it continues to impact us today. Yet who can claim to have no regrets or wouldn’t wish to change a past experience or event? If we were given the chance to erase our mistakes, we wouldn’t hesitate. If only we’d known... But our actions remain and our regrets haunt us. To avoid feeling guilty and alleviate our pain, we attempt to justify our past ignorance, seek excuses and try to believe them. However, we seldom succeed. The past is never truly past. Nonetheless, everything can change if we inject a dose of creativity. Instead of regretting the past, we can recreate our future by remodelling our past in the present. On the one hand, every form of life corresponds
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to a form of death — and death equals disintegration and annihilation. On the other, resurrection is constant, as we witness each and every day. Leaves fall in the autumn and reappear in the spring. Nothing is truly dead or permanently over. Even the past can be altered and positively and dynamically reshaped. The art and magic of touch is a gift we have received and should share. It’s our duty to use this gift consciously and creatively. For example, when we give someone a hug, is it because we care about this person? If we don’t, why bother? A hug can be seen as a sacred act in which one person allows another into his or her magnetic field. If it is offered without love, we create a void. Yet a simple “conscious” hug can revitalize and sometimes even heal a sick aura. It’s all a matter of consciousness. Our past can also be healed by touch if we consciously practice certain exercises. We can visualize an act we regret, preferably one that was unconscious rather than the result of a trauma. For example, it could be a love affair that ended abruptly or in anger. We’ve all experienced many such situations; we simply have to choose one. Once we’ve chosen, we can view the scene as clearly as possible on our inner screen and allow our imagination to awaken the spirit or the intention of the Creator. Just as we played with our toys as children, we can now replay scenes from the past and recreate events as we wished they had happened. In the case of a wound, we can apply a soothing balm. In the case of words spoken in anger, we can rewrite the dialogue. Any tape can be erased; all we have to do is press “Delete” and draft a new scenario more to our liking. We can thus take physical action to “de-create” what we have created over a lifetime. However, we should remember that we can’t effect change through visualization alone. We also have to use feelings and gestures (such as moving our hands or body) to make sure the mental images take root and achieve swifter results. For an idea to materialize, it has to be translated into action. If not, it will instantly vanish into thin air. 20
Time
Once we’ve completed this exercise, we can forget about it for three or four weeks. After that, we can look back and see how our feelings have changed and how we feel. If we feel lighter and more balanced, it has been successful. However, if we don’t feel any different, we may have forgotten to include some details. We can then repeat the exercise more conscientiously, although in principle, one focused attempt should suffice. The linear nature of time gives us the impression that everything is fixed and sealed in the past. But because we are creative beings this is not so. We can penetrate time, change and restructure it to produce a happy ending that can transform how we now feel about past events. This new “present-past” will then shape our future. Naturally we won’t be able to change the past. We can’t erase the fact that we knew death in past lives. Yet we’re still here today. The above exercise can also transport us to other past lives. For instance, if our death was painful, we can alter the memory of our suffering, which will then automatically help us reshape the present. Time is a powerful and tough illusion. By mutual consent, we’ve decided to believe in its reality, and often in its fatality. Yet we reincarnate to one day achieve an awakening when we will finally see through this illusion. We may wonder whether the time that passes is actually real. Or, by encouraging us to experience awakening, is it the experience that opens the door to forgetting the past? Through experimenting with time at the right moment we can revive our memory of the state that preceded our arrival on Earth. In this way, the future can bring us back to the past. We are not “immobilized” in time; we are travellers passing through. It’s important to realize that only one aspect of our entire being embarks on this journey. Even though life on Earth may sometimes be painful, in a way we are on holiday here. We’re enjoying a unique experience in a human body. Eating yoghurt, bringing the spoon to 21
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our mouth, tasting and swallowing are all extraordinary acts in themselves even if we see them as commonplace. The angels are not alone in envying our pilgrimage on Earth. Otherworldly beings are also amazed to watch our movements on this planet. I recently talked to one of them after I’d just come in from outside, where Mother Nature had donned a cloak of ice. He was astonished to see that my ears had turned red from the cold, something he would have loved to experience himself. We underestimate how lucky we are. From the soul’s perspective, everything on Earth is exciting, even a horrific death. Despite the suffering, the soul never tires of its earthly life and is always thirsting for new knowledge and experience. It should be no different for us; it is our responsibility to fully engage with life. Evolution is an inescapable law. Despite our resistance and unwillingness, sooner or later, we will have to evolve.
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