Find the Clouds with Angels

Find the Clouds with Angels

The mind can't make you doubt;

it can only invite you to doubt.

The mind can’t make you worry;

it can only invite you to worry.

The mind can’t make you suffer;

it can only invite you to suffer.

These thoughts are like clouds;

even dark and rainy ones.

We (The Sky) notice their passing

And may focus on any

So why would we ever choose

wretched gray over fluffy white?

Perhaps because we sleep in limbo for many hours of the day

Thereby letting the mind live our life while we slumber

Then, it's free to focus on thoughts We wouldn’t choose

And cause our mouths to say things We wouldn’t say

It’s the master and we’re the servant

Until we grab the reins, we will only get the rains

Wake up soon

Or you may not recognize

the life

Your mind has built for You

Winter Solstice is Here

The Winter Solstice was Wednesday, December 21st.

It’s the shortest day, and the longest night.

Just as we’re affected by the changing of the seasons, the Earth’s tilt at this time of year signals a time of withdrawal and renewal; of hibernation and rejuvenation.

Solstice can be a magical, contemplative time—a night of spiritual reconnection and ritual. While solstice may not have gained the notoriety of Christmas, Hanukah, Diwali or Kwanza, many people celebrate it as a deeply meaningful holiday—a time to celebrate renewal, rebirth, and gratitude for the coming light.

One sage said, “Nature itself is inviting us to really accept ourselves, so we can grow and cleanse and prepare for personal growth.”

It can be a time of turning inward, a time of tuning into a deep sense of intuition—trusting your inner voice. Many people like to use the solstice as a time of deep meditation—to reflect on what has been and what will be.

Ancient cultures feared the light of the sun would not return unless they performed vigils and rituals on the solstice. Some refer to solstice as the rebirth of the sun—and not coincidentally Christmas celebrates the birth of the Son.

The pagans were early observers, followed by the Christians stole the winter solstice from the pagans, and capitalism stole it from the Christians. 

But like seeing a blanket of fresh snow, we feel anything is possible. 

The Businessman and the Mahatma - Satsang

A Mahatma-approved edit of a Gautam Baiji satsang:

Once there was a business traveler in a nice suit sitting in first class next to a Mahatma.

During the trip, the businessman noticed that when he asked for tea, the Mahatma also ordered tea.

He had a nice watch and noticed the Mahatma did as well.

His suit was made from the finest cloth, and he noticed the Mahatma's outfit was silk. It was orange, yes, but it was still made of nice silk.

He had questions forming in his mind, and as the plane was landing, he finally asked the Mahatma, "So what's the difference between you and me? We both are traveling in first class seats. We are both dressed wearing fine cloth. You were eating, I was eating. Everything is the same, so why do people follow you and listen to what you say? What's the difference between us?"

"Right now I am praying, so when I finish my prayer, I will give you the answer."

When they landed, they knew there would be a delay before their luggage would be ready, so the Mahatma said, "If you would like to get coffee at the cafe, I will answer your question in full."

He agreed, and they sat down and ordered coffee.

While the coffee was being served, they overheard two people nearby talking about missing luggage. The businessman asked them if it was for his plane, and they said yes, the airline lost their luggage and was trying to find it.

This news upset the businessman very much, but the Mahatma was calm.

"Aren't you upset?!" asked the businessman.

"It's okay, let's just enjoy our coffee."

"But that's my luggage!"

The businessman stood up and looked around angrily, like he wanted to strike out aggressively at something.

"It's mine too. I'm sure they'll find it. Please, sit, and let me answer your question."

"I can't sit, I need to do something."

"You're only stressing yourself out."

"Of course! I'm not a Mahatma like you!"

"That is the difference, and the answer to your question. The difference between you and me. We have the same things: you have the luggage, I have luggage, but I am not in that luggage. I have the luggage, but it does not have me. You have the attachment; I do not."

~

"Meeting a Mahatma or guru is different than talking to your friends.

When you are talking to your friends, they will always ask you about your health, your business, your family, and many other things.

But whenever you meet with any Mahatma, any saint, any guru, they will only want to know one thing: 'How is your meditation going?' 'Are you doing meditation, or not?' 'How much are you connected with the divine power?'"

~ Thank God for Mahatmas!

10 Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Day

Make Your Home a Heaven

After Kantidada spoke about health issues, Gautam Baiji gave satsang:

Kantidada reminds us that if we allow our bodies to collect bad things through what we eat, what happens?

The diseases start coming, like cancer.

The same thing with our mind when we start collecting negative things.

Those things don't bring us happiness! Why do we collect them?

Good things keep on giving. Bad things pollute.

Worries are a good example. They do nothing for us except bring us misery, yet we hold onto them.

'I don't know what will happen in this country!' Forget the country, and just do good in your own home. Make your home like a heaven and everything will change.

Garbage Attracts More Garbage

From a Gautam Baiji satsang:

"When the positive thoughts come into your mind, respect them.

When the negative thoughts come into your mind, don't keep them for long. Don't give them space.

Because once we give bad thoughts space, then other people will start dumping bad things there as well.

You can test this anywhere: go somewhere and throw some trash on the ground. Just some tissues or paper napkins.

You will see, after one hour, everyone will start throwing more trash there.

Why? Because people follow what others do, and what they see.

Someone in India bought the vacant lot next to their house. It didn't look nice for a long time, so neighbors threw their trash there. After a year the pile of garbage was almost as high as the house?

So what did they do to stop everyone from dumping garbage there?

They built a small temple, only about a foot tall, and placed it there.

People saw it and had reverence, and they stopped leaving garbage."

Aspire to purity. 

Open Hearts: Happy Diwali, Happy New Year, Seasons Greetings!

It seems people's hearts open more readily during the holidays.

Many say they wish people would act this way all year long, and that is an excellent goal.

We just weren't taught to come from our heart first.

The message of all the movies we watch give us this message: come from your heart! But we don't listen to that very well.

It's reflected in how we treat the least of us. When we solve world hunger and extreme poverty, then maybe we can claim victory of the mind.


So until then, keep sharing your flame!

We Are Not Our Body

Gautam Baiji did a satsang about not letting others' negative (or positive) words affect our inner peace:

"In our life, sometimes we are happy, sometimes sad. How does this happen?

Regardless of what happens, we should always be steady. Don't get depressed, and don't get too happy.

How can we maintain that?

If people say something bad about us, we feel bad. If they say something good, we feel good.

Try to practice being your true self. Know who you are.

Why do we feel sadness and happiness?

Because we think we are this body.

We don't know our real form. We should know we are just using this body as a vehicle.

The vehicle and the driver are not one. They are two. You will never say "I am the car." You will say, "Me and my car."

The car is mine; I am not it.
The body is mine; I am not it."

What We Leave at the Door

Gautam Baiji likes to say that when we enter the ashram, we need to "forget labels." 

Labels, meaning anything we attach to ourselves that gives shape to our identity that separates us from our True Self, our Divine Self.

Before God, we are not our profession, for instance, our any title or label we might attach to ourselves. 

There are other kinds of labels we should leave behind as well:

I remember reading years ago that when "We Are the World" was recorded with many great American musicians, the only requirement to participate was that they "must leave their egos at the door." 

Less distractions that way.

So there are things we can leave at the door - besides our shoes - that will enable the ashram to have the greatest effect. After all, that's why we came! 

Control the Breath, Control the Mind

I woke up this morning and sat down to meditate. I was in a little bit of a hurry, so I decided I would get right to "the good part."

So I said a few oms and proceeded to go to that state of being.

It started well. I started smiling a little...

But shortly after I'd begun, I realized I was in the middle of a thought. It was a good thought, but a thought nonetheless.

Realizing that, I let it go. After all, thoughts happen - it's a part of meditation.

Then another thought came which I found myself engaging with. My mind is active this morning! It took a few moments to disentangle myself from it, and then I entered back into meditation.

Then another and another came, all quite vibrant and with more frequency than normal. What was going on? Why was I so distractible this morning?

I realized the problem: I had skipped the deep breathing part of my meditation.

"Control the breath, control the mind." I had forgotten the importance of this, and thought I could just rush through my practice.

All the little rituals we do in our practice have good reasons, which we sometimes forget. Meditating at the same time every day for consistency, chanting om, doing cleansing breathing exercises, deep breathing, counting to help elongate the breaths, etc., are all important parts of a solid meditation practice.

Even with deep breathing, thoughts will come, but they are more manageable and easier to let go, along with the emotions that are sometimes attached to them.

Enjoy your practice.

Spoken Words Are Free - Should We Take Them For Granted, or Value Them?

Satsang by Gautam Baiji

"As humans, it's our responsibility to help other people.

But you might say, "I don't have enough money to give to too many things."

You don't need that - you have your voice.

If you have a nice voice, you can sing and other people will feel good. 

You can also say good words to give peace to others. 

Some words are like medicine, and some words give warmth.

Saints say, "Remember the Holy Name." But Swami Vivekananda was asked why he always said that. 
In reply, he said a bad word.
Some people got mad. "How can you say this word? You are a saint!" 
He said, "Sorry." Immediately they calmed down. 
"I said one bad word and your temper quickly flares high, then I said 'sorry' and you are quickly calming down."

This is the power of words.

Our saints say, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

So what is that word? Words can bring happiness, and words can bring sorrow and pain.

But we don't give them much value because they are free. Free things are not much valued by us. We don't see the value behind the gift.

Maybe we can try to do that."

Who is Working Overtime to Separate Us From God?

There are many names for God: the Supreme, the Creator, Spirit, Krishna, Christ, Allah, Love, Shiva, the All, Om, etc. We tend to favor one or two that empower us to live the most spiritual life possible.

In fact, just thinking of the (nameless) Holy Name can instantly connect us to God and our own divinity (as do blessings like "Namaste - the Divine within me honors the Divine within you").

But what about the names for things that separate us from God? Isn't it just ego, or are there more? Can spiritual seekers avoid their traps?

Here are their most popular names:

Mind/Ego/I/Identity/Me*/self

These "God-separators" each show a different aspect how duality (us/them, feminine/masculine, follower/leader) keeps are distance from God. 

In reality there is no "split," but this illusion is so convincing, we allow it to occur many times a day (despite the fact that it's the cause of all suffering!). 

Take "Mind" (please!). Its distracting thoughts pop up frequently and tell us what reality supposedly is.  

Most of us weren't taught that we can control not only our thoughts but also our responses to them. Until we learn this, we just get pelted by these thoughts like a car in a hail storm, which leave large dents in our psyche as well. 

What kind of thoughts? Usually worries of imagined events in the future, or fears that painful events from the past will revisit us. Not healthy at all.

The problems can really pile up without a spiritual practice in place that includes yoga and meditation, both of which help us to stay out of the past and the future, right here in the present.

Being present it our truest state, but the Mind fights that by constantly trying to get us to forget who we truly are (Divine) so we will only take care of it (the Mind), usually through the senses. 

It's consistently successful at getting this kind of care because most of us don't know we are not our thoughts. (We are the ones noticing the thoughts.)

Identity is also a strong God-separator by creating a convincing (phony) beingness that makes being separate from God a plausible reality. With such vivid colors, no less, like painful (or pleasurable) memories of past experiences; the temptation to dwell in the emotional meaning we give those experiences (which affects how we react to life moving forward); our societal conditioning; the story of Me, and who I think I am. 

Identity appears as a consistent phenomenon, and that sameness gives us a comfort we're unwilling to give up, at least without great motivation. 

It's very popular to refer to all of this as Ego because it feels detached; scientific even. Here, it's handy to use what Gautam Baiji teaches, that the ego is a tool which can only be dangerous when handled improperly, much like how fire is very useful for cooking, but you wouldn't want to turn your back on it for long. 

Finally, when one refers to their self, they may wish to pause and ask, "Am I addressing the little self who lives inside me, or the Self?" It's easy to see that we default to our ego-mind-self. We can reverse by entering into an inquiry every now and then to re-member Who We Are again and put the Self back in control (which causes the little self to disappear). 

That is, until we're distracted again. But the back-and-forth is part of our spiritual journey.

*They all have capitals because they are always straining for importance or significance. This is their attempt to replicate the true Self to attempt to fool us, but in the end they are all imposters. 

**One of the mind's greatest distractions (for people on a spiritual path) is the desire to accumulate more spiritual information at the expense of simply experiencing our True Self, or having self-realization. Sri Mooji says, "It cannot be learned, it can only be recognized in ourselves," and yet we frequently find ourselves pursuing more information for "answers." This is one of the mind's final tricks to delay our re-membering/oneness. (Another mind diversion: telling us we are "too tired" or sleepy as we start to meditate, causing us to stop.) 

***Which is ironically like focussing on the dot in the middle of the blank page, while ignoring the vastness of the white paper and who we really are.

Turn Over the Paper; What Do You See?

Dr. Madhu Patel told this story at Satsang:

"There was a professor who was giving his class a test. 

He handed each of them a sheet of paper face down and told them not to turn it over until he tells them to.

Then he told them to turn the paper over and write about what they saw...

So the students turned over the paper and they all saw the same thing: a black spot in the middle of the page. 

After they had time to write what they saw, he collected the papers and read them. Most of them described the dot, where it was positioned on the paper, what color it was, and not much more than that. 

The professor told them that what they wrote is similar to how they look at life: no one described all the white on the paper at all, they all focused on the spot. 

We have a lot of these "spots" in our life - which can be conflicts with family, the workplace, anything we are not happy with - and we tend to concentrate only on that. 

The white on the paper represents the wonderful life God has given us. We would do well to concentrate on the white part and not the spots. Perhaps our anxiety and worries would greatly decrease.

This is a beautiful quote I always see at my work:

You Will Leave It Too

Dr. Madhu Patel told this story at Satsang:

One Sunday morning there was a wealthy man who was sitting on his balcony. He was having his coffee and enjoying the sunshine.

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed an ant carrying a big leaf. The leaf was several times the size of the ant, but he managed to carry it across the floor of the balcony.

For almost an hour the man watched as the ant encountered obstacle after obstacle. It would pause occasionally, or take a detour from his path. Whatever was necessary to complete its mission.

Once, the ant encountered a crack he couldn't cross. So he put the leaf over the crack, crossed it like it was a bridge, then picked it up again and "carried" on toward his destination.

The man was amazed that one of God's tiniest creatures had so much to ability to get a task done. Even though it was so small, it had the brains to reason, to contemplate, explore, discover, and overcome any stumbling blocks.

Then, it finally reached its destination: a tiny hole in the floor that led to his underground dwelling. The man wondered how this leaf was going to fit into that tiny hole.

After all, the ant had managed all the obstacles and difficulties, had come all that way, with all that hard work, using all his skills... but ultimately it had to leave the leaf behind in order to enter his home.

The ant probably never thought about the end before he began his challenging journey, what a burden it was. And the creature had no option but to leave the leaf behind to reach his destination.

The man thought about this and related it to humans. He thought, "We worry so much about our family, our jobs, how we are going to earn a living, where we're going to live, what kind of car we're going to buy, what kind of clothes we're going to wear, what kind of upgrades we're going to make to our appliances and gadgets that we have...

Only to abandon all these things when we reach our final destination. We'll just leave it before we go.

Keep Your Spiritual Techniques Handy

From Gautam Baiji's satsang:

"In the kitchen you have two white powders. One is sugar, and one is salt. How do we know which is which? 

We have to taste it for ourselves.

You don't need blind faith (for your spiritual practice). Whatever technique you got from here, just practice it. And match it according to your scriptures.

We have the techniques, but do we try to practice them? 'Oh Baiji, we get so tired. You don't have to go to a job. We work eight hours and drive for three hours in traffic. I don't get a chance to do meditation, to have that kind of experience. 

'We have time for breakfast, we have time for a shower, we have time for work, for shopping, we have time for everything (essential), but for meditation, we get sooo tired. We have family, we have so many responsibilities.'

Meditation you are doing for whom? Yourself, right?

We have our spirit and our body. Soul and body. We should feed both, right? You have one son and one daughter, but if you feed just one, the other gets sick, right? You have a duty to feed both.

We have two eyes, we have to wash both, right? You never say, 'I don't have time, let me just wash one side of my face. My office is such a way that where I sit, people only see my right side, my left side they cannot see, so let me just wash and make up my right side.'

We don't do this. We get up early and take care of the whole body. We never think our soul needs care. We are feeding only our body.

We make sure we buy what's in season for our body. Fresh fruit in its right time.

But what about the soul?

Our saints say to keep our attention on our body and soul.

At least 20 hours, think of your body. Four for the soul. Or just one!

The techniques you learn are in your pocket, ready to use, right? Don't keep them there. Keep them handy!"

Wednesday Night Pranayam (Yogic Breathing, Meditation, Om-Chanting class)

This is only SOME of the devotees and members who come on Wednesday for deep breathing and meditation. Everyone always glows afterward!

Note: The last blog entry is active - the audio has been repaired. You may now hear Gautam Baiji's satsang, along with Tara and Nishma sharing their wonderful experiences at the ashrams in Nepal!

The Ashrams in Nepal Welcome You With Open Arms

Update: the audio link has been fixed. You may now click the link and listen:

This Sunday, Nishma and her mother Tara returned from the ashrams in Nepal and shared their experiences there. Everyone in the room was fascinated.

(One person told me afterward they were so inspired by what Nishma said, they are going to plan a trip to the ashrams as well.)

You can listen HERE.

Gautam Baiji does satsang first, then at 19:58 Tara speaks, and then Nishma shares at 25:40. You won't regret it.

The Path to Enlightenment is as Sharp and Narrow as a "Razor's Edge"

I was finally watching the famous American movie about a spiritual seeker called "The Razor's Edge" from 1946 starring Tyrone Powers, and a number of discoveries occurred for me.

First, the film is about an adventurous man who goes off to find himself, and at first I was frustrated because the movie is vague about what he's seeking and what he discovers.

He finally gets some answers when he winds up at an Ashram in India. There, a guru tells him we're like "raindrops from Heaven being reunited with the sea that created us."

He also tells him about the three paths to God (faith/worship; good works/seva; and the pursuit of knowledge). Here is a link to the scene.

Later the guru can see that he has discovered that "You and God are one."

"Yes" he replies, with a look of wonder in his eyes. You can see it here.

His character gets challenged in many ways after this enlightenment, and he handles these challenges with amazing grace due to the deep peace he has found within himself.

SO THEN I researched the story, and it turns out the main character was based on Christopher Isherwood, a writer who was into yoga and Hinduism long before the Beatles discovered Eastern religions and helped popularize it in the United States.

"Isherwood became a disciple of the Hindu monk, Swami Prabhavananda, the leader of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. He was introduced to the Swami in 1940 by his friends Aldous Huxley and Gerald Heard. Isherwood studied Hindu philosophy, translated sacred texts, and practiced meditation and yoga from 1940 until his death in 1986. He also reviewed books and wrote articles for the Society’s newsletter, Vedanta for the Western World. His short story, “The Wishing Tree,” is considered a model of the parable form and a key to understanding the Hindu idea of karma."

I found this book for free on the internet and it's an amazing collection of essays that's easy reading for "westerners." Gautam Baiji agreed it would be a good book to share, so here is a link. Also here. Spiritual seekers will enjoy this book!

Isherwood even writes the introduction, which in itself is an excellent primer on divine spirituality.

What Does Lord Ganesh Symbolize?

Satsang by Gautam Baiji

Lord Ganesh is teaching us so many things.

Ganesh's head is big to remind us to think big. High thinking. In our culture, we say simple living and high thinking.

His eyes are very small to remind us to concentrate. You will not have success if you don't concentrate on your task.

His large ears remind us to listen more, talk less, so we can learn.

His trunk allows for two things - he can eat and drink. Two senses are working together. Your thoughts and actions need to match for a peaceful life.

He has one broken tusk. This happened because he was writing an important speech and his pencil broke, so he broke his tusk to finish the task. We should all strive to complete the tasks we start.

His big stomach signifies that we should peacefully digest all that is good and bad in life.

There is always a small mouse with Ganesh. This is the symbol of desire, reminding us to keep our desires small, and not to let them take us for a ride. Control is important.


Sweets are at his feet to remind us that the world is at our feet if we pray to the holy name.

What is the holy name? It is within us.

God is everywhere. The only people who take advantage of that are those who know that, who know about the energy all around us.

Ganesh says if you remember the holy name, the world will be at your feet. Also your thinking will get changed, your actions will be changed, and you will get sweetness in your life (like the laddu). Then you will spread the sweetness as well.

Ganesh has two wives! Why two? Most Indians only have one because one is enough!

One is the symbol of wealth, the other wisdom. If you remember the holy name, wealth and wisdom will come automatically.

He also holds an ax, which cuts off ignorance and attachment. 

Would You Allow a Mahatma to Wash Your Dirty Dish?

Satsang by Gautam Baiji

I want to share this with you - last week a bhajan singer came to the ashram. Dada (the tabla player) brought him along.

He was a very good classical singer. He sang so many nice bhajans here... and that guy was down to earth! He was so good.

He was here during lunch and I told him there was food ready, that he could join us if he wanted to. He said, "I already ate lunch, but I will have tea."

So I served him tea.

Afterwards, when he got up to leave, I also got up and started to pick up the plates and cups and everything...*

He said, "No no, please don't pick up my plate and cup."

I said, "No, it's okay, I can wash them."

He said, "I don't want to give them to you because my guru taught me not to give up a chance to do seva. Why should I give anyone, especially a Mahatma! - my dirty dishes? How can you think that?"

He's here, but still he remembers his guru! This is a small thing, not a big thing, but by that we can learn. There are a few things we cannot teach you directly,** but there are few things we can learn and accept.***

I feel so good about his guru. The guru may not have said, "Don't give up your dirty dishes." But he taught him well, and that even the small things matter.


* As a public place, they keep the kitchen very clean and wash any dishes immediately.

** The Mahatmas devote their lives to serving others, and yet they are so treasured as living saints that true devotees don't allow them to do very much work for them - they would do anything to help with their burden. Which is good, because they don't like to ask for help - they are the ones devoted to helping others, right - how can they ask? They are sooo busy - to run an ashram 24 hours a day, 7 days a week demands they receive and meet with visitors; take phone calls around the clock, frequently to counsel people; plan their satsangs; prepare meals; clean, clean, clean; lead yoga and meditation classes; plan future events; and much, much more, just to enrich our lives. Most devotees consider it an honor to be able to help in any way possible (seva).

*** No one has to do anything. This is simply for those who see the value in devotion and seva and its role in helping us conquer our ego and get closer to God.