Thursday February 21, 2019 NYC
Shri Mahayogi’s Words of Truth Resound in NY:
February 17th Sadhana Program with Shri Mahayogi
“Throughout thousands of years there have been a number of Enlightened Beings who have appeared and delivered the teaching.”
Upon hearing these words at the end of the Sadhana Program with Shri Mahayogi this past Sunday, we are reminded of how truly uncommon it is to live in a time in which an Enlightened Being has actually appeared and is sitting before us delivering the teaching that has only been conveyed from time to time throughout the past thousands of years.
Even more rare, is to have the opportunity to sit at the feet of such an Enlightened Master and hear the teaching expounded with our very own ears, to see the teaching embodied with our very own eyes, and to feel the presence of the teaching reaching into our very own hearts. But even so, if we sit at the feet of an Enlightened Master, are we aware of it?
What does it even mean for a being to be “Enlightened”? Nowadays the word “Enlightened” or “Enlightenment” has come to be used casually, in reference to a variety of daily scenarios. For example, if someone shares some new information about a topic we may say he or she “enlightened” us on that topic. Or, on the contrary, if we hear the word “Enlightened” we may assume that this is a state that is something quite grand and filled with supernatural experiences. As such, the true meaning of “Enlightened”, indicating the state in which one is completely at one with the One and Only Truth, the same state that Buddha attained, has become diluted, and such a meaning may even be beyond what our minds can make sense of.
So if we do happen to find ourselves at the feet of a true Master, his perfect simplicity, humbleness, and down to earth nature, may not meet our imagined expectation of grandeur, and thus it may be hard for us to recognize. Even so, surely we will feel the lightness of his presence and wonder “how can one become so light and so simple?”
And if we have the opportunity to receive his words, as did the attendees of last Sunday’s Sadhana program, such words may at first seem hard to understand and perhaps out of place compared to the content of our everyday conversations.
For example—Truth, true Self, Existence, Consciousness—these were exactly the words that Shri Mahayogi spontaneously began to speak last Sunday. Such words as these may of course be words that we recognize, but because our everyday conversations may not often focus on such topics, we may wonder about what such words could possibly mean. And even at first these words or topics may seem far too vast to comprehend, as if they have lost place and meaning in the fast-paced world of today. Yet, Truth, true Self, Existence, Consciousness—these words touch upon something that is ancient, yet ageless and timeless.
“The Truth has to be heard, has to be thought about and has to be meditated on. To be heard—means [you must hear and learn] the words of the teachings from the beings who have become One with the Truth.
Throughout thousands of years there have been a number of Enlightened Beings who have appeared and delivered the teaching. According to them, the Truth has only one universal content. That is, our essence, in other words the true Self, is the Immortal Existence. It is formless; in truth, It is nameless (smiling). Yet, when it was taught, it has been called names such as Atman, Brahman, God, or Existence. That Existence is also the Pure Consciousness. This Consciousness is just like light. And the mind appears in front of that Consciousness and creates various activities. And through the [filter of] the mind, the mind recognizes and experiences various phenomena in the world. But these experiences of the mind don’t have any substance. Because, this world is constantly changing. And no matter how certain some existences can be or no matter how certain happiness can be, they do not last forever. That is why, you have to learn the Truth, the true Existence of the Self and the Immortal Existence, and on the other hand, [the truth of] the illusion of this world.
In order to [learn and realize It], you should do the asana and meditation that you practiced today, and you should learn the Truth or the scripture, and you must practice meditation, deepen your meditation on God or that which is the Truth. I would like you to do that every day at least one hour a day (smiling). If it is difficult for you to practice these daily alone at home, then you come to this class once or twice a week at least. Then perhaps you will need less of your own effort (smiling), but you will be able to get more of a result from it. So, I wish you good luck. (Laughs.) (Joyful laughter from some attendees.)
But this weekend there will be Satsangha, which is a time for questions and answers on various spiritual issues and etc. If you can, come and attend it. The location will be here. Invite any of your friends who are interested and come attend together. The purpose is to find out and realize who you truly are, who your true Self is. (smiling) So, then we shall end now for today.”
—Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa
February 17, 2019
Whether or not the listener can make sense of the words spoken is not by any means the most essential. In fact, it is quite natural that these words may seem hard to understand—they do indeed indicate something that is beyond what can be understood intellectually.
However, the ability to understand the teaching that is conveyed by a true Master comes little by little, as one practices, as the breath becomes calm and as the waves of the mind begin to smooth out even a little. This kind of teaching is not something that can be understood or made sense of with the intellect, but rather, it must be experienced and tasted in order to understand. The words are simply the keys or the symbols of what lies behind them. All that is left for us to do is practice, just as Shri Mahayogi encouraged all attendees to do. And surely, as we do so, naturally what is right there before our eyes, that which is so simple yet hard to see, will begin to reveal. And as it does, we too can experience what it is to be truly light and simple.
*
This Saturday will be the last Satsangha with Shri Mahayogi during this visit to New York. Don’t miss this precious opportunity to ask questions and receive answers directly from the Master—it is precisely the opportunity he spoke about in the class last Sunday:
“The Truth has to be heard, has to be thought about and has to be meditated on. To be heard—means [you must hear and learn] the words of the teachings from the beings who have become One with the Truth.”
The words from such beings are not merely words, they are filled with reverberating spirit. And, being in the presence of the Master is itself filled with grace and a blessing beyond what even words can express.
Satsangha will be held Sat. 2/23 from 3-4:30pm at:
Still Mind Zendo
37 W 17th St, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10011
Register for Satsangha through Eventbrite
http://ssmp2019.eventbrite.com
SADHANA PROGRAM:
Join us Sunday February 24thand March 3rd for the Sadhana Program with Shri Mahayogi—learn the practice of asana and meditation.
Register for the Sadhana Program through Eventbrite
http://mym2019.eventbrite.com