Who's In Control?

A satsang by Gautam Baiji

"One person had a beautiful house. It was the most beautiful house in town.

One day the owner travelled to another town. On his return, he saw that his house was on fire.

As we know, when a person builds a house, so many dreams are wrapped up in it, and there are so many personal belongings inside that we are attached to.

So the man started crying. "Oh my God! All the hard work I put into my house, and now it's burning down."

So many people in the town had gathered to watch it burn - there was nothing they could do.

His son approached him and said, "Dad, you don't need to cry. I already sold the house!"

"What?"

"Yes, I got an offer that was three times what it's worth, and I accepted it. I'm very sorry, I couldn't ask you because you were out of town."

"Oh yeah, you sold it?" He was suddenly a very happy man.

Now he turned to watch the house burn with the others, but this time he was a silent watcher, completely detached. Same fire; same house; same person. But now his feeling has changed.

His second son approached. "Dad, why are you smiling? Your house is burning and you're just watching?!"

"Don't worry, son, your brother already sold the house for three times its worth. We got a very good price."

"No, Dad! The buyer only gave us a small amount down! He didn't pay it fully. When he sees it's burned down, he won't pay us the balance!"

The man was suddenly sad again, and he continued crying. "My house is burning!" (Same fire, same house, same person, but the feeling changed.)

His third son approached. "Dad, don't cry. I just came from the buyer, and even though he knows the house is burning, he is a good man and agreed to honor the original price. He said no one knew the house would catch fire, so he will still pay you in full."

The man was suddenly happy again. Same house; same fire; same person; different feeling. No more tears.

This is the situation in our life. Whenever we say, "This is mine" we start thinking we are in control and set ourselves up for suffering.

My wife. My husband. My kids. My things.."

The ego wants to own and control. The soul only loves.

The Answers to Life - A Conversation between Krishna and Today's Arjun

Here’s a rare conversation between Krishna & Today’s Arjun:

1. Arjun :- I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic.

Krishna:- Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you free.

2. Arjun :- Why has life become complicated now?

Krishna :- Stop analyzing life… It makes it complicated. Just live it.

3. Arjun :- Why are we then constantly unhappy?

Krishna :- Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy.

4. Arjun :- Why do good people always suffer?

Krishna :- Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer.
With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.

5. Arjun :- You mean to say such experience is useful?

Krishna :- Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons later.

6. Arjun :- Because of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading…

Krishna:- If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides the way.

7. Arjun :- Does failure hurt more than moving in the right direction?

Krishna:- Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.

8. Arjun :- In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

Krishna :- Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

9. Arjun :- What surprises you about people?

Krishna :- When they suffer they ask, “why me?” When they prosper, they never ask “Why me?”

10. Arjun :- How can I get the best out of life?

Krishna:- Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

11. Arjun :- One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

Krishna:- There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

The Ten Symptoms of Dharma Indicate Our Place in the Spiritual Journey

Satsang by Gautam Baiji 

Did you ever ask yourself how far along you are in your spiritual journey?

Is it the same when you are traveling, maybe going to San Diego, and the person is calling you wondering where you are, then you will say, "Oh, I am in Irvine, or Mission Viejo."

So a person asked me where I was in my spiritual journey.
I said I know where I am, but I don't know what to tell you.

You know why? The same reason someone asks me to describe something I'm eating that is so sweet, and so delicious, but how can I tell you about the sweetness?

For that, you have to taste it yourself.

A doctor may say, I can take a patient's temperature. Or ask what their pain level is: 2? 7?

But a patient cannot describe the pain. A doctor cannot experience the pain.

But for the spiritual journey, we can do a self-examination.

We're doing bhakti, we are doing devotion, we are listening to satsang for a long time, we get knowledge...

We don't need to tell others - they will see our actions.

There is a scripture from Manu Smriti about 10 Symptoms of Dharma (Law of Cosmos, spiritual duty and righteousness, upholds and sustains positive order):

1. Dhrati - patience or fortitude (Especially needed when life is most difficult)
2. Kshama - ability to forgive (Otherwise we are a slave to our emotions)
3. Damah - control over desires (Like when Arjuna told Krishna to take the reins and lead)
4. Asteyam - honesty and integrity (Take only what you earn through hard work)
5. Shouch - purity (We clean our mind through meditation)
6. Indriya nigrah - control of sensory organs (Enjoy your life but control your senses - yoga and meditation help with this)
7. Dhi - wisdom (Despite difficulties and temptations, we choose the right path)
8. Vidya - knowledge (Spiritual and practical knowledge with humility) 
9. Satyam - truthfulness (Always seek truth and follow it for more peace and strength)
10. Akrodho - absence of anger (Not angered at all despite provocations, helped by meditation - how fast it comes! Don't give your remote to others!)

So where are you in your spiritual journey? In San Diego? Irvine? Brea? Mission Viejo? Oceanside?

Check often...

It's a "Spiritual Battery Recharge Station" - Reasons People Come to the Ashram

Why do you come to Divine Art of Yoga Center ashram?

Chaki: "Ashram (DAYC) is a home away from home and a spiritual battery recharge station where I have learned who I am and have grown spiritually. Mahatma Baijis have been true mentors for me, my family, and premis (devotees) in instilling spirituality and yogic characteristics. In addition to imparting Gyan (Knowledge), Baijis at Ashram provide food for the Soul and teach us the importance of balancing materialism and spirituality by means of satsang (religious discourses)." 

God Wants Only One Thing; Can We Give It? - Satsang by Gautum Baiji

"Graciela said she was reading a story where God was going to come down to the Earth.

Everybody was so happy!

'God is coming, let's prepare, let's go meet God!'

When he arrived, everyone was so happy. And they asked him, 'God, you came to visit us, what can we do for you?'

One person said I can do this for you, another person said I can do this... everyone offered something.

Please tell us what you want, they said.

God said, 'I don't want any of those things from you. I only want one thing, if you want to give it to me.'

They said, 'What is it? Tell us!'

God said, 'I don't need your things. I just want you to be happy all the time. Give me your promise that you will always be happy.'

They said nothing...

So we have everything else to offer, but we cannot be happy all the time, and that's the problem in our life. We are never satisfied with what we have. We always think about the things we don't have.

If we don't learn how to be happy with what we have, we will always want more and never be happy.

Satsang and good company brings us positive thoughts. Only positive thoughts can we be happy.

If our mind is unhappy, we are unhappy.

With satsang, we can enjoy our life the most."

Meditation: Doors Open That You Didn't Know Existed - Satsang by Graciela Eichenger

"Some religions think you have to suffer here on Earth to get to Heaven. We don't know. Hindu people believe in karma. Maybe yes, we don't know. Now there are scientists that are starting to prove that many things we do in this life 'come with us' through our DNA - the thoughts, emotions, everything. So everyone has 'a little book.'

To me, we are here to be happy. That is the commandment that I think we have to follow.

So how do we do that?

One day, doors opened for me to get happiness. For me, it's been through meditation. When you do that, doors open for you that you didn't know existed. And things start happening to you, changes start happening. You don't know what happened, you can't explain to anybody what happened, but something's changed inside of you.

You're softer with people, more understanding, more loving with people. You are changing a lot.

And this is most important for me, because when you feel that way (or you try, because it's hard work), you realize we're all part of everyone... we're all like mirrors. What happens to me affects you and everybody, and vice versa.

That's my idea about life. Meditation is the most important thing."

"We Are the Embodiment of Love" - Satsang by Jigna Pandya, part 1

 

Jigna Pandya satsang excerpts:

"It’s Mother’s Day. 

In India we call it “Matru Devo Bhava” and “Pitru Devo Bhava,” which means Mother is a god, Father is a god” and we worship them every day. 

I exist because of my mom, and my mom’s love, my parents’ love. So children are born out of love. Therefore, we are the embodiment of love. The life is love.

She talked about how even if our mother is gone, she can still live within us when we utilize her most important teachings, especially if we lovingly pass them down to our children.

We should not only take care of our mothers, but we should take care of Mother Earth.

Sometimes the love we have for our family, our children, our brother or sister – then can be some sort of attachment. But when I come to the ashram and feel their motherly love, there is no attachment. It’s for the world. There is no attachment there. They have so much compassion to give.

She talked about two births in this life: The first one is from our mother, the second is when we get spiritual knowledge.

Being a mother keeps me on my toes. I have to be so good. As a mother, what I “live” is what she’s learning. 

So every step of the way, I have to think of my thoughts, my deeds, my actions, what am I teaching my child? And that goes a long way. That’s how we change the world.

Passion is not enough. President Obama said recently you have to also have a strategy. You have to take action in your life. 

What I want to do for myself I am going to transfer to my child. That’s what motherhood is about."

Go To The Source - Gautum Baiji Satsang

A spiritual lady started thinking about all the people who go to temple and perform empty rituals without any regard for their meaning. She wondered how she could help them experience a closer relationship with God instead. 

One day, she got her chance. 

Her mother-in-law came to her and said, "Come with me to temple today and pray with me."

The lady never felt the need to go to temple because she knows God is within, but she cannot deny her mother-in-law, so she agreed.

Later, when they approached the large temple, they saw two large statues of lions in front.

The lady said, “Oh, Mom, I don’t want to go inside.”

“Why?”

“Look at the lions, they’re going to eat me!”

So to prove the lions were harmless, the mother-in-law walked over and put her hand on a lion’s head.

“These lions are fake! They can’t hurt anyone, so don’t worry.”

She finally agreed, and they went inside.

Then they saw a statue of Hanuman, and the lady said, “I’m not going in there, he will attack me.”

The mother-in-law went up to the statue and again touched it to show it was harmless.

“See? Only stone. It can’t do anything to you.”

“Are you sure Mom?”

“Yes, I’m sure, let’s go.”

Then they saw Durga, and all the weapons she holds: the sword, the axe, a trident...

“I came this far, but no, I cannot go inside. She has so many weapons and I’m afraid.”

Again the mother-in-law ran to the goddess statue and showed her that everything is fake. “Listen to me: the lions are fake, Hanuman is fake, these weapons are fake, everything is fake.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Finally, they settled down, and the mother-in-law said, “Okay, dear, now pray to the mother goddess for whatever you wish, and she will fulfill your desire.”

“Mom, you told me these are all fake. So how can I ask anything from the fake things and expect to get it? Instead, can you bring me to the real mother? You told me there are not going to do anything, so how can I even get a blessing?”

“What kind of thoughts are these you are having?" the mother-in-law said.

“I know that if we want anything, we don't have to go anywhere to access the real source.”

Seeker, Saint, Seva, Salvation - Satsang by Rakeshbai Pandya, Part 1

Saint Rammurti Baiji asked Rakeshbhai Pandya to give satsang about his experience with spirituality, part 1: 

Shiva and Shakti, what we believe:

One is the supplier, the wealth, who gives you energy, and the Shiv is the protector.

When you see Lord Shiva always meditating, day and night, remember that before the Universe was created, if he says, "Okay, I'm on vacation," think about it: the sun will stop, the moon will stop, all jivas (living beings) will cease to exist, the whole planet will be frozen. Think about Lord Shiva doing all the hard work running the Universe, at Kailash doing meditation - he never complains about the cold weather, as he wears a mrig charma (deerskin) and a bhasma.

When we sing Om Namah Shivaya, Om is the eternal energy. It is in every one of us. When you practice here at the ashram and speak Om, it starts from the belly button, and it goes "A" "U" "M." Only the human being can experience that. Animals cannot. So we are so fortunate. And if you want to get into that energy, you have to learn the technique from the baijis.

If we sing this, we should acknowledge that Lord Shiva is doing everything, and why don't we tap into that energy? Request to the gods and goddesses, "Please accept me, forgive me..."

Spirituality is not for everyone, it's for serious seekers. Everything is s s s... you go to a saint. Then you go to salvation. But you have to work for it (seva), it cannot be purchased. For salvation, you have to work hard on it.

If you want to elevate, and go above, there are two things you can do: if you have money you can hold it, or you can give donation. If you keep holding the maya (material things), you cannot practice spirituality.

You give this way: out of the 24 hours in a day, you sleep 6-9 hours, you commute to work for a couple hours perhaps. How much time do you give your soul? After all, it's energy gives you all this!

To experience this eternal energy is the main thing.

That's what Lord Shiva is meditating on all the time. And we are blessed to have an ashram here with saints to teach us how.

Shiva/Shakti, positive and negative energy, runs the whole Universe. But if Lord Shiva stopped, the whole cosmos would be in chaos. The planets and galaxy runs with that energy and vibration, and that vibration is within us, and all you have to do is focus and tap into it. The baijis can teach you.

Lord Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Rama, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Ramtirth... if in their life they experienced God, why can't we?

You don't have to wear the saffron cloth...

We are so busy, but we have stop... and put our mind with this energy. Because when it's gone, we're not getting anything.

Get Involved and Get Fulfilled

There are many ways to be involved with the Divine Art of Yoga Center ashram, no matter where you live:

Satsang

• Spiritual discourses
• Bhajans (devotional songs)
• Community meal
• Food prep and other assistance

Yoga

• Senior and beginner
• Intermediate
• Private

Donations

• New Yoga Hall
• Ashram
• Kathmandu ashram (for the elderly and orphans)

Pranayam (yogic breathing, Om-chanting, meditation)

Group meditation sessions

Seva* opportunities

• Cleaning
• Gardening
• Repairs
• Various chores

Fundraising drive for the new Yoga Hall

JIVANTA – monthly women’s empowerment group meeting

Weekly Satsang audio recordings – get it free on WhatsApp

Ashram blog

• Enjoy & study satsangs and other posts
• Contribute your own spiritual post

Hindi language lessons (coming soon)

Bhajan (devotional song) lessons

Tabla & harmonium lessons

Children’s programs (plays & activities)

Illustrators (for Divine Stories book)

Translators (for satsangs)

Travel to Nepal ashrams for seva*

*Seva is a Sanskrit word meaning “selfless service” or work performed without any thought of reward or repayment to help one's spiritual growth and at the same time contribute to the improvement of a community

An Egg Broken From the Inside is Better

Dr. Ashok Modh was in La Habra for Holi Festival and in his satsang, he discussed how we could do good things in our life. The festival of colors and colored Easter eggs provided a nice metaphor:

"When an egg is broken from the outside, you lose a life.

But the same egg, when it opens from within... a new life begins.

Goodness has to happen within you, not by somebody saying it.

How best to achieve that?

By yoga

Meditation

Bhajan

and satsang.

Bhajan and satsang in particular creates the environment within us to create something good.

The Guru and the Traveler - Satsang

At Satsang, Gautum Baiji said:

A traveler entered a guru's home and noticed it was completely bare.

"Why do you have no furniture?" the man asked.

"Why don't you have any furniture?" the guru responded.

"Because I am a traveler."

"So am I."

What is a Well-Rounded Life? - Satsang

From Gautum Baiji's Satsang:

Three people were travelling on a boat. As the trip progressed, they introduced themselves and got to know each other.

They were all quite educated in their particular disciplines, and they enjoyed showing off their knowledge.

Soon the conversation turned to the Vedas, and each seemed to know more than the other. They were more interested in impressing each other than in encouraging each others' spiritual enlightenment.

One of them noticed the boatman was listening to them.

"What's your opinion of the Vedas?" one of them asked.

The boatman shrugged and said, "I have not read them."

The scholars looked at each other with surprise. "Are you serious? The Vedas are crucial to a well-rounded life. Only an idiot would not be familiar with them."

"Your life is practically worthless," one of them said arrogantly about the boatman.

The boatman just listened and continued steering the boat.

The sky darkened just then and a storm descended on them. Low clouds brought heavy rain and wind, and the waves rose menacingly around them. They were violently rocked from side to side.

The passengers grabbed on tight or they'd be thrown into the churning waters.

"What's happening?!" one of them cried.

The boatman looked at them grimly. "The boat is taking on too much water and is going to sink. You all know how to swim, yes?"

The first scholar looked at him frightfully. "I spent all my time at the library studying. I never had time for swimming lessons!"

The boatman looked at the others, whose shared the same expressions of shame.

"Well I hope whatever you read in the Vedas is going to help you now. As for my worthless life, somehow I found time to learn to swim and I will continue to live that life past this challenging day."

What is Satsang?

Satsang is a Sanskrit word that means "gathering together for the truth" or, more simply, "being with the truth." 

Truth is what is real, what exists. So all there is, is Truth. 

Whenever something increases your experience of the Truth, it opens your Heart and quiets your mind. 

Conversely, whenever something, such as a thought, fear, or judgment, limits or narrows your experience of the Truth, the Heart contracts and the mind gets busier. 

We are all equally endowed with this capacity to discriminate the Truth. Thus, the true teacher, or satguru, is within you, and satsang, or being with the Truth, is endless. 

The first step to complete peace and liberation is listen to the Satsang carefully and ask inquiring questions of yourself with a guileless heart.

These discourses on the nature and Knowledge of God in the company of Saints vanishes sorrow and brings us joy.

Let the Satsang Go Through You/Learning How to Think

From a recent Satsang by Gautum Baiji:

"How can we tell if a person is good or bad: when we see their actions, not doing things the right way.

The behavior is not good. Then we can see this person needs some change if they want to do good.

Sometimes we change through circumstances over time, but Satsang has the power to change us now. Only by Satsang and meditation can a person create change.

Because we don’t need to change the body. We don’t need to change the color, the caste, or the creed. 

The only thing we need to change is our thoughts. 

Because whatever thoughts we have inside… those thoughts will become our actions. And we will be good or bad people because of our actions.

How can we change the thoughts? 

Because when parents raise their kids, they tell them this is good, or this is bad, you should do this or that. They taught us everything. How we should eat, how we should talk. How we should work.

But nobody taught us how to think.

Thousands of thoughts come into our mind all the time. Each and every second the thoughts are coming and going. How do we control them?

One way is to keep good company. Then good thoughts come automatically.

That’s why we have a need, a necessity for saints.

Saints are like clouds. When the cloud comes in the heat, it brings rain and cools everything down.

The same thing happens when the saints come into our life. They teach us techniques, they give us knowledge. Then we practice meditation, and we change our thoughts. And when our thoughts get changed, our perspective changes, and we can see the positive changes in our life.

Sometimes we think merely reading scripture is enough. Some people say, “I’ve gone through the Gita, I’ve gone through Ramayana, I’ve gone through all the scriptures…”

But have the scriptures gone through us?

If we are only reading, we become like a parrot. If we ask the meaning of Ram, the parrot can repeat the word but it doesn't know the meaning of Ram.

We chant so many mantras, we sing so many bhajans, but as long as we don’t know who we are, as long as we don’t experience meditation, how can we change our self and our thoughts?

If we’re sitting in the satsang, and our mind is wandering everywhere, what happens? We didn’t get any benefit from the satsang. 

But if we let the satsang go through us, we can change our life..."