D E A N D AS Q&A Answers to your questions : Part One A M in d - Yog a Au s tr a lia p ub lic a ti o n
D EA N DA S Q&A A selection of your questions with answers from meditation master teacher Dean Das, disciple of Swami Prakashananda Saraswati (Babaji). Dean was favoured with the blessing of the Guru s full grace (anugraha), it being the principal means of attaining to Self-Realization.
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Dean Das, I am curious to know more about your meditation practices and how they differ from others, for example TM. Kind regards Esmeralda Dear Esmeralda, Thank you for your enquiry. Basic meditation practice, is dependant upon three requirements (a) the ability to sit quietly without bodily disturbance (b) a refining of the breath-flow by breath-regulation, as shallow and rapid breathing cause disturbance to the mind (c) the creation of a steady and focussed mind, to calm the restlessness of the body. Mind-Yoga, employs a set of simple yoga exercises (asanas) to purify and strengthen the nervous system; utilizes a set of breathing practices to regulate the breath, thus increasing inner vitality; and mental focussing practices to develop one pointedness of mind. Dean Das Q & A / 2
Through Mind-Yoga, we learn to accumulate the energies of the body, the breath, and of the mind into one internal energy flow. By this stage, a shift in our experiential consciousness begins to take place. Esmeralda, I need to emphasis that Mind-Yoga is not some newly conceived form of meditation. Mind-Yoga is a time-honoured practice that has been practiced by yogis throughout the centuries. What Mind-Yoga has done, is to formulate a practice system that is suitable for, and accessible to, a broad range of people living normal lives in contemporary western society. Thus, we can live our normal lives in the world, and at the same time practice a yoga and meditation capable of bringing about profound inner-change. I hope this clarifies a few things, and we personally meet at a class. Dean Das Q&A / 3
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Dean Das, I am a little confused about what kundalini yoga mediation is, and how it differs (if at all) from other mediation practices? David Dear David, Apologies for my delay in replying. A very essential question indeed. I will attempt to answer it fully, yet succinctly. The first question for me to answer is -- what is kundalini energy? The word 'kundala' simply means 'coiled', as in a rope. Kundalini refers to a 'coiled female serpent'. The universal creative energy is symbolized as a female snake coiled as if sleeping, at the base of the spine of every single human being. This universal energy is the energy left over from the act of creation. It contains the full evolutionary potential for that individual. Once kundalini energy is 'aroused', it makes its ascent up the centre of the spinal channel to the brain, and releases itself through the Dean Das Q & A / 4
fontanelle (at the top of the head). The individual individual consciousness merges into universal experiences an indescribable state of 'bliss' in an consciousness. It is called self-realization, god- abstracted state, and come to know the nature of their realization, or simply liberation. own being. They realize their full potential as a human being. There are many stages (in terms of shifts in quality of consciousness) along the path of the kundalini ascent through the spinal channel to the brain and fontanelle. Now, what makes kundalini yoga meditation different Though other meditation schools may not talk about the awakening of 'kundalini energy', it is the essential ingredient to significant inner transformation. Any significant inner change is the result of 'kundalini awakening'. from other meditation practices, is that in All meditation practices (whatever mode or tradition) acknowledgment of the above, all the practices are are in preparation for 'kundalini awakening'. The designed to work with the three bodies -- the body, the difference between other forms of meditation practice breath, and the mind, in order to gradually refine their and Kundalini Yoga Meditation, is that KYM is a direct energy flows, then, to accumulate and constrain those method geared toward bringing about that energies. 'awakening'. The constraint of energy causes an intensity within the David, I hope the above clarifies rather than mystifies! body, and it is this intensity (often experienced as 'heat') that causes the kundalini energy to become Cheers, Dean Das 'aroused' or 'awakened', thus beginning its upward ascent toward freedom. The individual is released from limitation in terms of the conditioned mind, thus Q&A / 5
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Hello, I am interested in learning to meditate. Is it difficult? Does it take a long-time? How do you learn to meditate? Phillip, thanks for your question which is direct in its intent. My apologies for the delay in reply. The questions you ask -- 'is it difficult'/'does it take a long time'/ are impossible to answer other than 'how long is a piece of string?' There are too many variables to consider. I have tried to meditate on and off over a number of years, but not with much luck. I am interested in learning. Regards Phillip 'How do you learn to meditate'? can be answered. You learn to meditate from somebody who can meditate. You learn to be a mechanic off a qualified mechanic, not an apprentice. You learn from a master of meditation or at least from an experienced teacher. Successful Meditation practice requires: 1/ Focussed intent 2/ Skillful technique Dean Das Q & A / 6
3/ Open heart. The combination of these three qualities in a student draws forth the spontaneous quality of 'grace' or 'love' from the meditation master. That 'grace' is experienced within the deepest core of the being of the student. The practice of meditation is an evolutionary process. It involves dramatic psycho-physiological change. The meditation process is the unfoldment of your evolutionary potential. It is not like learning tai chi or ballet! Then a spontaneous meditation process unfolds in the Keep meditating even 'unsuccessfully' ( cause that isn t prepared student. so). If you do so, you will find a good teacher, or even a Many people try 'unsuccessfully' to meditate over the years. It is 'unsuccessful' because they are not practicing under the direct guidance of a meditation master. master of meditation. All my best Dean Das Even if your meditation seems 'unsuccessful' yet you continue to practice meditation regularly, in time, you will be brought into contact with a good meditation teacher and finally, with a master of meditation. It is like starting off university study with first year lectures and tutors and progressing to studying under a professor for your doctorate. We understand this is ordinary life. It is no different with the study of meditation. Q&A / 7
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Dean Das, Is there ever a bad time to meditate (or learn to)? Thanks Victoria Dear Victoria, Thanks for your question. The energy of meditation is always present within you. That energy is called 'kundalini'. It lays dormant in each and every individual. It is just waiting for you to recognize it. To recognize it requires some will-power on your behalf. For most people, the energies of the mind are fragmented -distracted by 'this and that'. Kundalini Yoga Meditation offers practice techniques to centre and calm the restless mind. This allows the energies of the mind to accumulate sufficient to develop 'will-power'. Will-power is just another word for 'concentrated energy'. Concentrated energy - in action - is called meditation. Dean Das Q & A / 8
Victoria, I'm not a politician, so I haven t forgotten about your question! So, its ironic, in that the only 'bad time' to learn to meditate is when the mind is fragmented, and not capable of centering itself, yet that is the very time that you need meditation! Kundalini Yoga Meditation is aware of this dilemma, and that is why it has specific practices to focus the mind and increase will-power. So, in fact there is no 'bad time' to learn to meditate. The 'bad time' is the 'good time'! I wish you well, Dean Das Q&A / 9
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Dean Das, What has meditation done / brought to your life? I'm wondering what kind of differences it will make, what kind of insights I should expect. Regards Les Answer Les, Thank you for your question. It is a very big question. Meditation has not actually done anything for my life, in the sense of the content of my life i.e. the events and circumstances of my life. That is one's 'destiny' which cannot be changed or avoided by anyone or anything. What can be changed is the quality by which we experience our life and its events. Quality of experience is determined by the quality of mind doing the experiencing. That's where meditation steps in. Meditation is about bringing about fundamental change to the workings of the mind. The brain is the physical core of the mind, and through the practice of meditation, the neurobiological chemical activity of the brain undergoes radical change. Thus, there is an Dean Das Q & A / 10
altered perception of ourself and of the world. In other words, there is a radical shift in consciousness. As consciousness expands beyond the confines of a limited identity i.e. the ego-self, and begins to move in a beyond personal, universal band of consciousness, many insights arise. The major 'insight' is that we are not simply an identity comprising a physical body and a brain. Essentially we are an energetic consciousness that is unlimited in nature, free of identifications such as 'time' and 'spatiality'. Our nature is that of being, consciousness and bliss. Through meditation every cell of our is filled with a joyful bliss. Les, at the very least, meditation will give you a greater peace of mind. Cheers Dean Das Q & A / 11
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Dean Das, I am a mother of two young children, and my life is pretty busy & fulfilled in certain ways. At the same time there is a personal emptiness that can't be made up by husband, children and family. I feel as though I am always working for others, with little attention to myself. I have done yoga before and a little meditation. It helped, though not enough. I have read about kundalini meditation but I am not sure if this form of meditation is suitable for me. Please tell me what you think. Lalita Dear Lalita, My apologies for the delay in replying. As your letter indicates, time is in short supply. Most peoples lives seem to be busy for one reason or another. That seems to be an unavoidable given in contemporary society. Despite this, its my observation that people are inclined to 'busy-up' their lives more than necessary. The more conscious we become, the more we discriminate between what is necessary and what is not. It is 'personal emptiness' as you describe, that is the motivating factor in attempting to find a more personally meaningful life. So that sense of 'personal emptiness' is a gift given to homo sapiens as distinct from other living species. Dean Das Q & A / 12
When we live in the personal or ego mind, which is consciousness within your own body. Without kundalini conditioned mind, there is always a tension caused by it is not possible to be conscious. We are simply duality. There is the sense of either 'giving' or 'taking', or becoming 'aware' of that consciousness. We are 'too much' or 'too little'. Within the law of duality there is currently asleep or ignorant of that consciousness of life not the possiblilty of getting a perfect balance. itself. Therefore we constantly feel an emptiness borne of unfulfillment. For a perfect balance to ocurr it requires a perfect integration of the opposites into their causal source. In this case we are referring to the source of the mind, and that is consciousness. As all rivers flow Kundalini does not belong to a specific 'sect' or group of persons, kundalini gives light to the universe. Keep looking after your kids and doing some meditation. Lalita, i look forward to meeting you sometime. eventually flow into the ocean, all thoughts eventually subside into universal consciousness. Meditation is the method of returning the conditioned mind to its source Jai jagadamba Dean Das -- the vast ocean of consciousness. Kundalini meditation is the underlying pathway for everyone. Kundalini refers to the movement of consciousness. Consciousness moves within you and outside of you. Consciousness is the support of all living things. Kundalini meditation is simply becoming awake to that Q & A / 13
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Hi Dean I have been doing some research and understand that your Guru passed up to be the successor to Baba Muktananda. Then as I understand it Muktananda named two successors and hence split the lineage of Nityananda. If Prakashananda did not reject this honour (because either it was not in his destiny or he refused because of Muktananda's alleged pleasures of the flesh) would the Kundalini teachings be more original. My understandings of Muktananda's successors teachings are completely different and from what I can tell from your website - you do not believe in the theoretical but would rather your students practice yoga to experience it. Can you comment on your lineage and where do you see your schools going? Dean Das Q & A / 14
Answer Prakashananda. John, hi. Following his heart attack, from America, Muktananda discussed with Prakashananda the possibility of Malti Nice to get your email --- the first from Greece (Chidvilasananda) and her brother (Nityananda) being whatsmore! joint successors. Yes, it is an intelligent and very complex question to At first, Prakashananda didnt think it was a good idea answer. because of their relative youth. Muktananda went with Prakashananda, on many ocassions was asked by Muktanananda to take the principal role at Ganeshpuri. He refused. Muktananda then told him he wanted him to visit it. Prakashananda told him -- 'they will go up and down, up and down, then finally up'. I know of this because I was living with Prakashananda for much of it. Ganeshpuri for no less than 3 days, every 3 months. Prakashananda rejected the role because he had his Prakashananda agreed, reluctantly, to do this. own chelas (disciples) and ashram at Sapta Shring. He Prior to Muktananda's death, he asked Prakashananda to become head of the lineage. Prakashananda refused once more. Muktananda then turned to Swami Pranavananda from Chalisgaon, who was a 'little brother' siddha to Prakashananda. He refused for similar reasons to regarded his principal worldly role as providing food and education for the 70-80 children living in Shree Gurudev Ashram, Saptah Shringi. Other than that he personally identified as being a mahant (like bishop) of the Sarasvati Sannyasi Order. He commented -- 'I dont have any interest in lecturing to doctors and lawyers and rich people. I am a simple Q & A / 15
man with little education. I have my own'. On his passport, he had Swami Muktananda listed as his 'father'. Such was the love between them. When asked what he knew, Prakashananda would say, ' I am a simple man. I only know God and Guru'. Prakashananda extremely rarely referred to 'kundalini' or its process. He stated, 'I am not a yogi. I am a sannyasi. A sannyasi does not practice yoga. A sannyasi is dead to the world'. He taught thru story, metaphor and love. His shakti manifested as universal love. It opened the heart. Therefore, he was entirely unsuited and uninterested in heading up a big organization. He would say to me -- pointing to himself and then to me -- 'One man's. I am one man. You are one man. Stay as one man'. Yes, Siddha Yoga has become 'rich' simply because its destiny has been to cater predominately to the middle class 'rich'. But 'a rich man' is as capable of achievement thru meditation as 'a poor man'. I, myself, just do what I know, and what suits my temperament, thru the grace of my guru. I am not a sannyasi. I am a yogi. I practiced yogic sadhana for a long time, and it lead me to 'gurus grace'. Without the practice, I would not have been worthy nor capable of assimilating that energy. Shaktipat is not an end unto itself. It is simply 'a taste' of the potential of something that given the right environment, will flower to full fruit. If you are sincere of heart in your wish, and do some yogic practice, at some stage or another, in this life or another, it will yield fruit -- your guru will appear in your heart and grace will unfold of its own accord. John, I hope this is of some use to you. In the words of Prakashananda --- Jai Jagadamba Mataki Jay! (Greetings to the universal mother who lives within you as you). Dean Das Q & A / 16
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Dear Dean Das, I have heard of your guru Swami Prakashananda but can find little about him on the net. Is there much information about him anywhere? Swami Muktananda identifies himself with the Siddha lineage. Did Swami Prakashananda also identify himself with the Siddha tradition? You talk about your tradition being the Siddha/Nath tradition. Is this different or the same? Just interested. Marcus Dear Marcus, Apologies for delay in reply. Time might be infinite, but the human being doesn t live in that time zone! Firstly, thank you for the questions. Any question about lineage is important, because in the yogic tradition, you are only as good as your lineage. If the lineage is strong and unbroken, so is the energy that is passed down from guru to disciple. The quality of the student is dependant upon the quality of the teacher (or guru), and the quality of the teacher (guru) is dependant upon the quality of the lineage. There is little written about Swami Prakashananda, my guru. The best sources of information are contained in two books -- 'Agaram Bagaram Baba' -- Life, Teachings, and Parables - A spiritual Dean Das Q & A / 17
Biography of Baba Prakashananda by Titus Foster, On the other hand, the word 'Siddha' translates as 'the North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 1999 (this holder of the 7 siddhis' (psychic powers) required to book is out of print, but is available thru Amazon attain a Perfected state of being. It is a yogic Books); and 'Storytellers, Saints, and Scoundrels, Folk identification with the inner process, whereas, Narrative in Hindu Religious Teaching, by Kirin 'sannyasi', as used by Babaji, does not refer to 'a Narayan, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi, 1992, process', but acknowledges the annihilation of the ego and University of Pennsylvania Press, 1989 -- (also i.e. total non-attachment -- being 'dead to the world'. available thru Amazon Books). I am not a sannyasi monk like my guru. I identify with Babaji (Swami Prakashananda) did not directly identify the inner process, which has been thru the practice of himself with the Siddha tradition of his guru, Swami 'yoga meditation'. Prakashananda. He identified himself with the Sarasvati sannyasi (monkhood) tradition. The term 'sannyasi' translates as being 'dead to the world'. In other words, having no worldy attachment to anything or anyone, having no past and no future. He played a major role within the Sarasvati sannyasi order. The Shankaracharya of Sri Sailam in South India (there are 4 Shankarcharyas, who play a role similar to the Pope in When living, Babaji would make a clear distinction between him and myself. He would say -- 'I am a sannyasi monk and you are a yogi'. At the same time, Sapta Shringi (outside of Nashik in Western India), is the home of the Siddha/Nath tradition i.e. Markendeya, Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath, Chauringanath etc. This mountain is where Babaji lived for 26 years. western Catholicism) regularly visited Babaji when He identified with the Siddha/Naths in terms of the inner visiting Bombay. Babaji formally initiated many people process, but formally identified with being a sannyasi into the Sarasvati Order. This was his formal role, his monk. wordly role. Q & A / 18
I did the majority of my sadhana (inner-work) at Sapta Shringi, as a yogic practitioner, therefore my 'formal' identification is with Siddha/Nath yogic tradition. Sorry for such a long-winded answer, but a question of such complexity necessitates a response of subtle distinctions. At the end of the day, if you are not a sannyasi monk, and do yoga and meditation, you are a yogi (male) or a yogini (female). Prakashanada attained Self-realization/ God realization two means (a) the grace of his guru (Swami Muktananda) and (b) the practice of meditation. Meditation only bears fruit thru the grace of the guru. Then one knows oneself as being of the nature of pure consciousness. Jai Jagadamba Dean Das Q & A / 19
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Hi, Michael, it is an interesting question with lots of ramifications in I have practiced some meditation answer. with a group in the past. Traditionally, it is accepted that 'a guru' is needed if meditation Unfortunately, it turned out to be practice is going to to bear fruit i.e. turn into 'an inner process'. I like a religious cult in adoration of also am supportive of this position based upon my own experience. 'the guru'. I became pretty Meditation is not simply an intellectual process. There is also an disillusioned and gave up emotional element involved. That emotional element is commonly practice. I've got an idea of the referred to, in religious parlance, as 'devotion'. which means being value of meditation but does it devoted to something or someone. For the religious, it is devotion have to end up as a religion, and toward a deity such as God, or Jesus, or Buddha, or Mohammed, or a cult around a leader? a specific 'god' or 'goddess'. Interested in your views? Many 'religious-minded' people who turn to yoga and Michael meditation, project that 'religiosity' onto the meditation master. Dean Das Q & A / 20
That is fine and can yield good results depending upon either from within or outside your self, or both. If you THE QUALITY OF THE MASTER and THE QUALITY OF look outside of yourself, yo will simply attract your own THE STUDENT. projection. Utilizing the master as a form of devotion in one's life is Get back into practice, no matter the teacher fine as long as the master does not take advantage of the student, and as long as the student has good discriminative powers. Jai Jagadamba Dean On the other hand, the yogi worships his/her own true Inner Self, in the manner of practice as directed by his guru. If the guru is of the highest calibre, the yogi then finds that the consciousness of the physical guru is of the same quality of consciousness as his own inner Self. Thus, the adage, 'Self and Guru are one and the same'. Religiously minded practitioners would say 'God and Guru are one'. For the yogi, the attainment of 'universal consciousness' substitutes for 'God'. Michael, whatever 'the quality' of guru, you end up with what you deserve. If you look to your own Self with pure heartedness, you will get the necessary guidance, Q & A / 21
D EA N DA S Q&A Question Answer Hello Dean, You recently mentioned that Swami Prakashananda had become your 'biological father'. In David Gordon Whites' book "The Alchemical Body" he describes a number of different ways that a Guru can penetrate the (etheric) body of a disciple and awaken him/her by placing some sort of seed or spark within the disciples (etheric) body. One of these ways is that the Guru becomes the biological father of the disciple. Could you explain this further to Jai, thank you for such an essential and without doubt, esoterically complex question. The quality of the question sheds light on the quality of the questioner, in the same way as a question about 'the theory of relativity' reveals the questioners serious intent in relation to the knowledge of science. I did mention that my guru, Swami Prakashananda of Sapta Shringi, Nashik, Maharashtra, Western India, with whom I lived with for a number of years, was my 'biological father' in the spiritual sense. I also mentioned that the nature of our relationship was 'like father and son' in the normal sense. He treated me like 'a son' and I treated him like 'my father'. For me, there was no separation between 'the spiritual' and 'the human'. The 'gift of spiritual grace' (anugraha) was drawn from him thru his love for me, as a person. The so called 'spiritual' was not separate from his humanity. me? Thanks Jai Dean Das Q & A / 22
The consciousness of a human being is revealed by to be the recipient of a guru's anger as it is of their their behaviour. It is the same for everyone. A 'good' love'. This is the recognition that 'selfless love' is a most person will act in 'goodness'. A 'bad' person will act in powerful energy that imbues every thought, emotion, 'badness' i.e. deceit, hate or whatever. A fully and action of that individual. It is the energy of the conscious person will act in 'selfless love'. A true guru universe. It energetically affects whomever it comes into (sadguru) is, by definition, a fully conscious person, contact, regardless of whether they are aware of it or ipso facto, acts through the medium of 'selfless love'. not (generally not aware). The more conscious the (the term 'gu/ru' etymologically refers to 'the light' giving receiver, the more they will be aware of its transmission, light to 'the darkness'). and its effects. That spiritual state of 'selfless love' plays through the So it is a portion of the guru's consciousness that totality of personality of that particular individual. penetrates the consciousness of the receiver. Dependant upon the nature of that personality, 'selfless love' will manifest through every mood and behaviour of that individual. It may come in the form 'kindness', but equally, it may come in the form of 'harshness' or even 'anger'. It will come thru every form of manifestaion of that individual, because that person has totally identified with the state of 'selfless love', in the same way that water never loses it's 'waterness', no matter what form it takes -- frozen, liquid, distilled, hot or cold. That's why a traditional saying goes 'it is as auspicious Consciousness itself cannot be found in the physical body of bone, marrow, and blood. It cannot be found in the mental body comprised of thoughts, feelings, perceptions and sensations. Consciousness precedes all this. All of the above are emanations of consciousness, thus arise out of consciousness. On a more subtle level, consciousness manifests as energy. Our energetic body is referred to as the 'etheric body' or the 'vital body' or simply, 'the subtle body'. The guru's state of 'selfless love', whether it be through the Q & A / 23
medium of thought, word, or deed, enters or is implanted in the etheric body of the receiver (the disciple). Using a human biological analogy, the guru, as father, impregnates or 'seeds' the etheric body of the disciple with the potentiality of his own fully conscious state. Contained within that 'seed' is the spiritual evolutionary potential for that individual. A fully matured tree has grown from the seed of another fully matured tree. Likewise, impregnation with the seed of consciousness from a fully matured human being is necessary in order for spiritual maturation to take occur. It is in this manner that the guru becomes the biological father, in a spiritual sense, of the disciple. Jai, despite the limitations of words to describe such esoteric matters, I hope this assists you. x Dean Q & A / 24
DEAN DAS Q & A 2012 Mind-Yoga Australia All rights reserved Dean Das and Mind-Yoga Australia. Dean Das Q & A / 25