Darshans2025#05
NTERVIEW WITH GURUJI
WHO IS A GURU?
Q: So his first question is linked to the book Awakener, to the introduction to the book. It says: finding a true spiritual guide is possible only when we have at least a hint of an answer to the simple yet profound question: WHO IS A GURU?
Then the question is: WHO IS A GURU?
Guruji: The Guru is the one who has achieved enough—let’s say, experience and mastery—in the art of Yoga. I mean, I am talking only about Yogi Gurus. And when his Guru orders him to teach others, and he has a very senior lineage behind him, supporting him—only that person can be called a Guru!
Q: So we know that 16 rupees changed your life, but before you found your true Guru, you came across a few fake Gurus. So how to differentiate? How to know who is a true Guru and who is not?
Guruji: One should do his homework. If you are interested in learning something, you should read everything that is available on the subject. And in Yoga, so many ancient texts are still available.
If you have a genuine interest in learning Yoga and in becoming a Yogi—you will go through them, you will search and find all the ancient texts, and you will read them. Simply through that information, you will be able to assess whether the person in front of you may be able to teach you, or if he’s just having you on.
I went through so many people who were claiming they were great Yogis—but it turned out they were not so great.
But I will say—even they taught me something: how a Guru should not be. This I learned by observing them.
So I am still thankful to them.
SAMADHI — A DEATH-LIKE STATE
Q: How do you think, why does the physical
body take Samadhi as physical death?
Guruji: Well, our brain works with electromagnetic charges, and we hardly use less than two percent of the brain.
If suddenly, if your whole brain will be awaken: that electromagnetical charge will be so overwhelming, that it will burn the physical body.
So ancient Yogis found a safest way to awaken the mind and at the same time keep the physical body safe. So, they introduce the art, to take the body into suspended animation , a death-like state, so when the sleeping giant, your
subconscious mind will wakeup – the overwhelming change will not harm
the physical body.
That’s why it is important
BODY – SUPPORT FOR THE BRAIN
Q: Modern scientists say that during the first sixty years, our brain is still growing and development toward a mature state — and only after that do we reach our full intellectual potential.
But at the same time, by the age of sixty, the body has already completed its reproductive function, and it begins to break down.
So how can You explain this paradox?
Guruji: Well, I’ve come across no system
which actually talks about developing of the brain, except YOGA.
So if brain will mature at the age of about sixty,
and you will start to develop your brain,
Yoga program when you are young — You will have extraordinary development of the brain.
And, the main thing I see here is — physical body is a support system for the brain.
If nothing has been done to keep the physical body in good condition —
so it will continue to support the brain to the maximum level,
then the balance will be lost.
And a person will suffer, because the brain will be exacting too much energy and power,
and the physical body, being weak,
will not be able to cope with the stress of supporting your brain.
So here we have to be very careful to maintain the balance,
start with the physicality of it, and keep developing the brain.
This is how the way I see that.
JOURNEY OF A YOGI
Q: “Is there a connection between the four ventricles of the Brain and the four chambers of the heart?”
Guruji: Well, I will give you a very different answer here. When you start to practice Yoga, you became aware of the brain’s power and how much mysteries it is carrying inside and it is an ocean of consciousness, which we call mind.
When you are sort of recovering from that big surprise — that so many things are there in the brain.
Then your attention goes to the heart — that what is supporting the brain. Then your attention goes to the heart, and the heart itself might be having its own consciousness.
Because only a conscious thing can support another conscious being, which is in the process of development.
Then after you have understood the mysteries of the heart to a certain level, then you begin to think — how heart was created?
And then your attention goes to the pupok (navel) which sounds hilarious. But everybody knows that our whole body was created through the pupok (navel) when we were inside the mother.
So then the mysteries of the navel are understood, and there might be some consciousness there in the pupok also. The machine which created you is switched off there, and it is still there.
Then your attention goes to what is the mother-matter which created our body – then your attention goes to the earth element, and we said that it is located in the Muladhara chakra, which is representing the earth element.
So that is the journey of a yogi in action.
IGNORANCE IS NOT INNOCENCE!
Q: There is a theory that during the Age of Discovery, Native Americans were unable to perceive the arriving ships of the conquerors until direct contact occurred — simply because such a thing as a ship did not exist within the framework of their consciousness.
If this is true, can we then suppose that an ordinary person, for the very same reason, fails to perceive the subtle world?
Guruji: I think they had no information that other people might exist beyond the ocean. But we are in a better situation, because we have been incarnated — our spirit has come from the other side, so we are carrying that hidden information inside us.
It is up to us: if you are adventurous enough, you may access this information, which is already within you, in the form of your spirit.
And the defeat of the American Indians also teaches us:
you should remain aware of the world, of what’s going on in the world — it is very important.
Ignorance is not innocence!
FIRE CEREMONY
Q: Guruji, if we do ceremony with intention, we put something into the fire, will we communicate with the other side?
Guruji: Actually, fire transforms everything! And I will answer your question from an absolutely different point of view.
After death we will all become ghosts. No matter how much rosy talks you hear from philosophers and religious people, but we are all going to become ghosts. And ghosts have air bodies; the main element in their bodies is air.
When you’re putting certain things in fire, it transforms that thing into gaseous form. Gaseous forms are just part of the air in general. If you have done the fire ceremony in right way, all these things will come to your air body when you will be a ghost.
And you will receive great help there. You will very proud to appear like a very rich man in the ghostly world.
It is preparation for puja.
Think on that.
HOW TO BREATHE CORRECTLY NADI SHODHANA
Q: another technical question about kumbhak: here it is said that yogin avoids the technic by pressing the nose – by kumbhak, which is attained by pressing the nose? What is it?
Guruji: oh, that is simple thing you already know: to close the nostrils by the fingers. We have already discovered that closing the nose must be from inside and not by fingers.
Q: here it is mentioned that such pranayama can lead to some diseases?
Guruji: if it will be done incorrectly – definitely. Most of them grow old very fast. Old age is the biggest disease.
Q: even if you just regulate the nostrils by the fingers?
Guruji: it’s a wrong technic! Anything wrong performed will give you wrong results. Karma!
WHAT II IT OMKAR?
Q: all the obstacles in which chakra is removed by Omkar Kriya; then it is also many times mentioned Omkar Kriya – and the question is: what is this chakra? Is it exact chakra among six?
Guruji: you see, chakra is very widely used word in Hindi; life and chakra – like a circle; a wheel is chakra; it is used in many different meanings. in between of inhale and exhale it is also chakra – Shunya chakra. Remember, whatever is written in Purana Purush is not a manual – it is their language of that time, 150 years before. Whatever they were discussing – it is recorded.
Q: which obstacles can be removed by Omkar Kriya?
Guruji: inability to die consciously: that is the biggest obstacle which Omkar Kriya removes.
Q: it is the exact Omkar Kriya which You are practicing?
Guruji: it’s a very dangerous thing, yes. That’s why not many people have received it.
Q: it exists not so profound variations of it for not so advanced yogis?
Guruji: you’re practicing Kriya. It is the beginning of Omkar Kriya. It cannot be the light version of it. And here I will mention: Omkar literally means transference.
Q: it is the climax of all practice of Kriya yoga?
Guruji: then you are mastering the transference of your consciousness or your spirit or your self to another dimension – wherever you’re focusing. This transference is the exact meaning of the word Omkar. But generally people take it as connected with Om. In Hindi it is said : sthana antahkaran – changing the place, transferring, transmigration – whatever.
Q: so Om and Omkar is absolutely different?
Guruji: the meaning is different, yes. And I maybe the only one who is pointing it out. Nobody talks about it – because nobody knows about it.
KUTASTHA ( कूतस्थ) – INNER LIGHT
Q: we discussed before that normal sunlight is of gross nature; but if we could see something paranormal – like we see kutastha or we can see some spirits?
Guruji: kutastha is not a reflection of light, it is coming from inside.
Q: but that light which we could see – maybe by the eyes, because it’s in front of them?
Guruji: eyes – we talk grossly; maybe you’re seeing it with the visual centre inside the brain – because physical eyes are closed. It’s a different principle here.
Q: but that light – it has the gross nature?
Guruji: no. it is your jivatma you’re seeing. Because we are so much attached with the light- whatever similarity we see- we begin to analyse it from the point of view of light. It is wrong approach.
Q: and if we see something from the other side – some spirit or some ghost: their light are gross or subtle?
Guruji: it’s absolutely subtle because it is not a reflection.
Q: so any light which is not a reflection…
Guruji: it is something else. It will definitely have a subtle nature.
Q: that shining: it’s the perception of our consciousness – not our senses?
Guruji: no. it is from your subconscious mind. That’s why it takes many-many years just to understand what you’re seeing.
CHAKRAS AND IMMORTALITY
Q: we have 5 elements and 6 chakras in our body; and 5 of 6 chakras are connected with the elements but one is not connected; why the sixth chakra is so special and so differs from others?
Guruji: they are expressing your consciousness and the developing of it. Elements are also connected, because only through that particular chakra you will have some understanding of that particular element. It is directly connected with your consciousness and your brain.
Q: immortality attained only the all six chakras are developed?
Guruji: when 100% brain is awaken. And body is able totolerate that power: then – maybe.
Q: but if the 5 chakras are developed and all 5 elements are in equal proportion in the body?
Guruji: he will live for thousands of years, such a person. Not the real immortality – but very long-lived.
THE NAME OF THE SPIRIT
Q: You told us that every spirit has its personal name, which is different from other spirits?
Guruji: it is just like: you’re all human beings – but you all have the individual personality. Same way.
Q: some senior spirits, which are guided by Hanuman Ji, – they have the very similar names?
Guruji: they were not spirits, they were siddhis.
Q: their names are more or less similar?
Guruji: no.
Q: where is the difference between the personal spirit and Paramatma?
Guruji: personal spirit will introduce you to Paramatma.
Q: when it could happen – this introduction?
Guruji: when you are ready to be introduced(smiling)
It is a bad habit of human beings to generalize everything – it maybe wrong, not exact approach here.
RAJAS SATTVA AND VASUDEVA
Q: when we are in mother’s womb- we are in tamasic state; but at the same time it is said that such state is similar to samadhi?
Guruji: it is not similar to samadhi. Many people tried to find a similarity between the state of samadhi and state of the foetus – because he is not breathing from the nose, he is breathing with the navel. But it doesn’t mean he is in samadhi. But he is more aware of the other side, from where he is coming. So people said that – because he is aware of that side so he is maybe in samadhi. No.
Q: after human takes birth – he is in rajas?
Guruji: the moment the foetus begins to develop with the menstrual blood – he is in rajas. The sperm was in tamas state.
Q: when during yoga practice yogin could attain samadhi – he somehow touches the sattvic state: is it true?
Guruji: no. as long as the blood will continue to flow- you will remain rajasic. But after samadhi you will begin to understand what is sattvic. Even that is a big accomplishment.
Q: when the yogi reaches the certain level he starts to see Vasudeva who is in the heart…
Guruji: here I will remind you that Vasudeva and jivatma are synonyms, means one and the same.
Q: but the heart is filled with blood; it is full of blood? Soheart is in tamasic state?
Guruji: no. the heart is supplier of the blood as well. Ishwar lives inside the heart so it cannot be tamasic.
Q: why Vasudeva is living in such a place?
Guruji: he loves to live in dark. And blood is the fount of life – as all vampires and bible says. Don’t connect it with the darkness.
Not publishing
There was one Swami – swami Chinmay, who used to live in Seattle; he was very strong. He was good physical culturist. And I think that is how it should be. It’s a big responsibility to give a good example. I suggest push-ups – so one can do pranam easily( smiling)
One of my friends fell from bike and got the shoulder injury; doctors said – we will have to put a plate inside, you will be operated. He agreed. He was prepared for operation, he was taken to operation theatre, anaesthesia was given to him, he was unconscious. Then doctor discovered that he don’t have a plate. He was sent back again to his room, when he came to consciousness he asked – the operation done? – no, tomorrow( laughing). The next day it happened finally.
BABAJI TEAM
Q: You remember the episode when the mother of LahiriMahasaya was at the temple and sadhu came and said that he will take care of him?
Guruji: I think because he had a special birth guided by Babaji – maybe one member of Babaji’s group was appointed to take care of the child.
Q: it could be Babaji himself?
Guruji: no. this sadhu was not mentioned again – but he don’thave to be seen taking care.
Q: do You know how many members are in Babaji’s group?
Guruji: maybe every thousand years he takes a new member. Because whoever will become the part of that group will become immortal. Maybe once in a thousand years or 500 years one is selected.
Q: how the information of his team became known?
Guruji: Lahiri Mahasaya talked about it – because there were several оther yogis also.
Q: after him someone mentioned about this group?
Guruji: then only yogi Ramaya and Nilakanth and Marshal Govindan; otherwise – no one. When they were lefting camp – the saying was on northern Hindi: here everybody knows what does it mean.
Q: You remember the picture done by Lahiri Mahasasya – the person with the big round around him; he said it is AtmaSurya?
Guruji: it is the thing inside kutastha. That is the main thing – but we keep looking at the light.
Q: he said that it is Atma Surya and Chandananda – and today the very long period is over and finally his aim on Earth became clear?
Guruji: it simply mean that what mission Babaji gave him finally came to know; otherwise it remain at the back of his mind, in subconsciousness. He will not act differently, he will appear absolutely normal – because he was to propagate this thing in absolute normal people. In India, if you are extraordinary – you will be held as an avatar or extraordinary person and everybody will begin to expect miracle at the drop of any cult; so to remain normal maybe was very important. I think it is important. And he died soon after – not much time after that.
Usually you realised your mission after you fulfilled it. Then nothing left to do – so he go back to his immortal body and said good-bye to that body.
Q: that body was sitting in the cave?
Guruji: yes, Babaji was taking care of it.
Q: he did prana karma when all his breathing stopped and breathing was entered sushumna – only then you can reach that state. He said it’s euphoria or bliss, which is coming in this state; and it couldn’t be obtained by any other method – only by this practice? And he said that after this experience he realised or understand prana.
Guruji: when his sushumna opened and prana entered it: sobrahma realized about his mind and a power of it. Brahma and mind and synonyms from yogic point of view.
Q: could we say that it’s final Brahma granthi bhed?
Guruji: no, it is much advance.
Q: but You never told us that You have euphoria all bliss in your experiences?
Guruji: I’m always in euphoria. You’re also feeling it – that high feeling; he was using the word “nashaugat” – intoxicating; we’re experiencing it. We are all experiencing it.
Q: how we can call this state according to Kriya yoga practice?
Guruji: it is part of Hridaya granthi bhed. Only then sushumnawill open and prana will start to go in.
Q: it exists the feeling on the physical level that it physically moves through the spinal cord?
Guruji: something will always be there.
Q: it has some temperature feeling like hot or cold?
Guruji: it is the very gross thing; remember – every high emotion, whatever feeling and emotions we are feeling, – body is the carrier of them all. If you’re feeling something divine or very supernatural – you will be experiencing it physically also. Body is the basis of every such feeling and emotions. You cannot ignore the body: that I was not feeling it in the body – but somewhere else: it is in the body, always.
Q: prana has some special feeling – like tingling or something?
Guruji: I was describing that tingling – but it is much overpowering than that.
Q: but it increases the temperature of the body or cooling it down? Or no matter?
Guruji: no matter.
Q: but You feel it on temperature level – like something hot or cold is going up?
Guruji: no, it’s a different thing. Very different.
Q: in Your commentary to the 8th chapter of Gita You mentioned that the feeling of dizziness could be from few seconds to few days: on what it depends?
Guruji: it depends on the mental development. The higher you are- the less soon you will feel.
Q: here is the interesting place from Lahiri Mahasaya’sdiaries: he is comparing Omkar and Thokar Kriyas: if you will practice with the force or with the efforts the Omkar Kriya – which is look like Thokar Kriya, the obstacle, which is blocked in anahata chakra – will go, and anahata will be free? Only then the mystical access will remove all ignorance?
Guruji: this is not a right translation. In Hindi and Sanskrit it is different: when the heart is open – then all your doubts and everything is clear. And Thokar means to kick also: when you’re changing your breath and hit your heart with the prana – then this thing will come to pass. Thokar is kicking also. But they named the Kriya after it. It’s a misinterpretation. If you stumble on the way – it is also thokar lage. You kick – thokarlagae. It’s a common slang. It doesn’t mean that you have toname the particular Kriya as Thokar kriya. But many people, because they don’t understand the depth of the subject, – so these things start. A good kick will always make you sober.
It’s a matter of understanding. If you try to do literal translation – it will be a mistranslation.
Q: that person, who wrote this book…
Guruji: that is obvious.
Q: one person should be cured, and Yogiraj said: come and buy the bottle of rose water, then…(This is about tthe book Puran Purusha, the biography of Lahiri Mahasaya)
Guruji: (laughing) – yes, I remember, he cured cholera with that. It actually happened, yes. It is nowhere mention in ayurveda. I think, when you’re a siddha – whatever you will say, will go.
Q: I think he just did it for fun – or to test the devotion?
Guruji: maybe if you go from today’s scientific point of view – that was the surest way to create antibodies in his intestines. Think on that!
Q: what do You think about the herbs which are strengthen the immune system?
Guruji: very good. You should try them from time to time.
Q: in one place Lahiri Mahasaya is saying, that Babaji Maharaj is Krishna himself?
Guruji: see, he has drawn like a kutastha and there was a face in it; – I maybe having its copy somewhere; and he is writing – the highest being. That is up to you, how you interpret it. Who was Krishna – so is Baba also. It can be depicting the spiritually state also. It doesn’t mean that Krishna is Babaji; but then it’s up to people how they understand it.
Q: here Krishna means dark or darkness?
Guruji: or maybe Krishna Himself. He draws a face of a man: Babaji ka rup – yahi jam, yahi dharm: this how Babaji looks – this is like Yamaraj and Dharmaraj. So he is also making a parallel with Yamaraj.
Q: he could see Babaji in the form like in 11th chapter of Gita?
Guruji: he may have seen it, yes.
Q: like all the deities are inside him?
Guruji: not like that; only three things he mentioned: Guru Baba, Yamaraj and Dharmaraj – that’s it. But Yamaraj and Dharmaraj supposed to be one and the same.
(This is about tthe book Puran Purusha, the biography of Lahiri Mahasaya)
Q: sushumna awakened by the grace or by the affect of the Guru- and in that moment he felt shining power; and he saw sushumna by his all nights – in a dreams or in a deep sleep – he always talked with Gurudev in that state?
Guruji: this the saying that – Guru ki kripa se sushumna jagrathogi; by the grace of the Guru sushumna opens; -it’s the way of saying in India. Nobody will ever say that by my own effort my sushumna awaken -no. always by Guru’s grace this happen.
Q: but he said that he talked with Gurudev in this state?
Guruji: he said: Babaji ka jap sushumna jaega, Babaji ka darshan – whenever sushumna was awaken, he was able to see Babaji and talk with him. Why do you think in my MRI Babaji’s face appeared? If here he can appear – it was appearing there as well. I’ve given good parameters.
Q: You didn’t talk about it with Babaji?
Guruji: I’m nervous, I have nothing to ask: if he’s saying something – I listen. I’ve never ask him any question. I think it is best this way. We must never forget the incident which Yogananda described – in Purana Purush also; in Danapur he invoked Babaji because his friend was curious and Babaji scolded him. Such powers you should not disturb.
Q: and after that he couldn’t invoke, because Babaji prohibit?
Guruji: yes, and he saw him again in Kumbha Mela. And when is son Tinkori Lahiri invoked Babaji and Babaji appeared; Lahiri Mahasaya came running and forbid him – never to do it again. He was aware of status of Babaji and his power. We must never irritate these big powers out of curiosity.
Q: he was asking for something?
Guruji: yes, mentally – please, give me darshan.
Q: so You think who is in paramapara if he is
praying to this power – the power hears, at least?
Guruji: they hear. But to fulfil or not – it’s their decision. And it is best this way. Even you don’t have to invoke them; if you’re a good yogi – then.
(This is about tthe book Puran Purusha, the biography of Lahiri Mahasaya)
Q: in 13th august of 1873 he wrote in his diaries: today I found Mahapurush; what is it? What stage of practice it could be?
Guruji: means he realized Ishwar in his heart and whatever the result of yoga he achieved.
Q: it is the result of Hridaya granthi? Or Rudra granrhi?
Guruji: these are subdivisions of Kriya yoga – so let’s say this is the result of Kriya yoga. That he became accomplished one. Great one: Mahapurush – great.
Many scientists and doctors are monitoring Arnold Schwarzenegger’s routine, his diet and everything, they were testing on him – but nobody started to look like him. We need to keep that in our mind.
Q: maybe again it’s mistranslation; but he wrote that in the night I’m not coming to the dream because I overcome this habit?
Guruji: rat ko nidh nahayes: he is saying – I must overcome sleep so I will practice more in the night. The translation is absolutely different.
Q: what if in the practice someone starts to fall asleep?
Guruji: it happens. If some extra experience is coming – body will feel different.
Q: with the practice we must overcome this state?
Guruji: but if you’re working hard – some sleep will definitely come. We are not supermen. Some sleep is important. But he was retired and he was preparing for the final exit – so he overcame sleep. It is said that he was available for almost day and night – no sleep. Sleeplessness, breathlessness, pulselessness – these symptoms were coming habitually in his physical body.
Q: so great things You’re telling; but why he did nothing with his physical body?
Guruji: why? It was just a short-termed mission, which he did successfully. No need.
Q: I remember he said that he will come back?
Guruji: he is saying: I will awaken again. You can take it any way.
