SWAMI SATYANANDA PARAMHANS : A UNIQUE SAINT (PART II)

(To know more about founding of "SATYAM SHARANAM" kindly go to 2008(2) link on right panel)

Bihar School of Yoga at Munger, Bihar (India) is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary next month. The BSY is a living monument of obedience, dedication and bhakti of Paramhans Satyanandji for our Paramguru Swami Shivanandji. To know summarily the life style and teaching of Paramhansji, I just go on turning pages of some old issues of  'Yoga Vidya' and  books of his satsang.

      A few days ago, I found his forecast about his last days of  this birth, (which we have seen partly.) He had told in late Nineties that he will not like to leave the body in a hospital, laying with nasal tube or on the life support, and surrounded by disciples. His sole desire for the time of leaving the body was 'remembering and uttering the names of Lord Shiva and Devi Maa.'

    I was one of those most fortunate bhaktas who were present at Rikhiapeeth on the night of Mahasamadhi of Paramhansaji. I was there participating in 'Kriya Yoga and Tatwa Shuddhi' course. That course was conducted only for one day. Next day early morning, when we reached the Yajnashala, which was our class room, scene was different. Here we came to know about his Mahasamadhi in the middle of night. We came to know that there was no need of any medical assistant. He left his body sitting in Padmasana. 

 Swami Niranjanji had already arrived from Munger. In the afternoon, all were given chance to have darshan of Paramhansji. He was sitting with Bilbpatra (Beil leaves) placed on his forehead, body straight,calm and still radiating. (After about a year, during my Chakrasadhna Course (Oct. 2010) at Rikhiapeeth, our teacher Swami Muktidharma (New Zealand) told us that the Prana of Paramhansji left his body through “Sahastrara” and a small crack was there on his forehead. This is very very rare happening or attainment for even enlightened yogis)

   I will like to draw attention of all  bhaktas and disciples to a particular picture published in 'Yoga' and 'Yoga Vidya' magazines just after his Shodashi (ceremony on sixteenth day after Mahasamadhi) i.e. January-Feb 2010 issue. In this picture, the body of Paramhansji is placed on a small table near Panchagni, in Padmasana, without any support from any side. Can one imagine Padmasana of a person in this condition?. But it is truth, he is still alive and shall remain alive forever. Hari Om! Namonarayana!!

     

                     Present Status of 

             "Satyam Sharanam"

(To know more about founding of SATYAM SHARAM, kindly go to Oct. 2008 posts under "Older Posts" link or just click 2008(2) on right panel of this post)   

  I did not post anything about the project of Satyam Sharanam for several months. Time was passing but with blessings of Paramhansji, the project has now taken some shape. We tried a lot to associate several organisations to take over this building and run some charity work, but could not succeed. 

      Ultimately Dr.(Mrs.) Indu Singh a well known Gyneocologist of Varanasi came forward. She has a long reputation of running Surya Meditech, G.V. Meditech and also she is Director of Apollo Hospital at Varanasi. She was kind enough to start a small hospital in our building. Due to space restrictions, till now only OPD is started with two qualified physicians and allied staff available daily. The medical consultation for which local people had to travel 35 km to reach Varanasi and pay a fee of Rs. 200/- to 400/- is available at a nominal fee of Rs.50/only that too at their door step. 

      Due to sudden cancellation of NRHM(National Rural Health Mission) cards of BPL population in this area, the targetted work of this hospital is not in full swing, but likely to start in near future with issuence of new cards ro really deserving poor masses.

 Dr. Indu Singh is associated with several Indian and foreign based NGOs who are doing a lot of charity work worldwide and we hope in a couple of years, Satyam Sharanam shall provide a lot of reliefe  to local poor population. 

CAN YOU CONQUER DEATH ?

  Yes. Even though  death is the only thing in this world which is a real truth, which  cannot be stopped from arriving in spite of closed gates and changed address, which you cannot evade, which you cannot refuse to take delivery of, yet most of us are afraid of and are not prepared to welcome death. We think that we have drunk a bucketful of Amrita (the nectar), we will not die so early and finish this and that item of household responsibility within our life time. These are the things cooking inside of almost all of us. (These lines are addressed to my age-group i.e. senior citizens.)

    We have a long wish list for not only our spouse and children but their spouses and children and so on. We are worried for the  assets and wealth which we are physically unable to enjoy with, unaware of the five letter word which has started its journey and may arrive any day any moment without ringing the door bell, we welcome it or not.

As per our ancient Indian tradition, human life was divided in four spans (Ashrams) of 25 years each. We are passing through one of the last two spans i.e. Vanprastha and Sanyasa. My guru Swami Satyananda, (Munger/Rikhia) has very clearly defined these Ashrams in the present context. Vanprastha & Sanyasa Ashrams do not mean settlement in an isolated forest or total renunciation. Instead, keeping with present times, at this juncture of life we should start gradual detachment from our worldly responsibilities and start doing some Nishkam Seva (selfless service).

      If you are lucky to get guidance of some Sadguru (not only guru), he can guide you how to perform some Karma yoga, in the service of your vicinity and society. You might have realised by now that as you gain age and lose income, emotional bond of other family members with you, being practical, starts loosening. We know very well that there is gap of at least one generation between our time and this time, and we cannot change the things altogether to suit our views about the life, but still we try to impose our wishes and values on our juniors in family. We wish the same attitude and lifestyle of entire family as of our own. This is the root cause of conflict. This conflict aggravates not due to living together but due to our own dictatorial attitude.

   Under these circumstances the best way to pass the rest of the life peacefully is to develop “Sakshi Bhav” i.e. to see the happenings around us just like a witness, without physical or mental involvement. This is not as easy as to read or to listen but with a very simple practice of meditation or awareness on breathing this can be achieved.

          Sit comfortably in any sitting posture with eyes closed for say, fifteen minutes. Let yourself breathe in a very natural way without any extra effort. Just start counting inhalation and exhalation as one unit. Try to see the passing in and passing out of your breathe through your nostrils. Continue this practice as long as comfortable every morning and evening. This practice, done regularly at a fixed time  shall help developing Sakshi Bhav gradually.

      This is also an indirect way of realising and worshiping the Almighty, the Brahman. Breathing is confirmative test of existence of life i.e. Jeevatma, which is integral part of Brahman.  So if you meditate on breath, you meditate on Brahman, the God. The Sakshi Bhav shall make you watch the unpleasant happenings around you just like another episode of a TV serial which does not affect your mind and soul so much.

   In the Bhagwat Gita, Lord Krisna has said a lot about continuity of soul through one body to the another. If we have faith in Him, we should welcome death as an entry door to next birth and as an opportunity to lead a much better life in future. However, to minimise the negative impact of the vacuum likely to be created after your death, following points may be considered by all of us.

(1)Write down your ‘will’ as early as possible, preferably with consensus in the family and get it registered. If there are chances of dispute, do it secretly as you deem fit and hand it over to some trusted person. If some of your wards are not responsible by nature, you can form a Trust of your assets to ensure welfare of their children. Try to transfer maximum assets during your life time.

(2) Fill up the forms for donation of your eyes and other organs to govt. agency and make sure that after your demise your family honours it.

(3)Recheck the nomination status of your bank accounts, lockers, D-mat accounts etc. and if any ambiguity found, get it corrected.

(4)During journeys, always keep list of your relatives in the area you are passing through, with their contact details handy with your baggage and in the wallet.

(5)Always pray and thank God for giving such a nice human body for such a long time and assure Him about your resolve to help His other creatures and conservation of his creations in your next birth. 

These actions may lead to reduce the pain of death considerably for you and the family. This is in reality, conquering death! ------

B. L. Gupta

blguptaa@gmail.com

WANT TO SERVE RURAL POOR? YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Right since Mahasamadhi of Paramhansji, Rikhiapeeth is posting very timely satsangs everyday on www.rikhiapeeth.net. Today on Jan.4, 2010, there is a posting of satsang which has an appeal also, it is quite touching.
Blessed by Swami Satyananda Paramhans, “SATYAM SHARANAM” has done something in this village of district Mirzapur near Varanasi (INDIA). A letter was handed over to Swami Satsangiji on 15/10/09 at Rikhiapeeth, which is reproduced below. On 18/10/09, during introduction with Prana Vidya participants, Paramhansji told me that he was aware of the development of this institution. After this date, all of sudden, some medical professionals of Varanasi, under the banner of some U.S. based N.G.O. have approached and some foreigners have inspected this building and approved it for their desired purpose. Something positive is going to happen within a month or two. They have a plan to establish a small hospital for BPL families of nearby villages.
Before interaction withParamhansji, we had lost all hopes of survival of “Satyam Sharanam”. But blessings of Paramhansji and Satsangiji revitalized us and the aims and objectives of “Satyam Sharanam” are going to be fulfilled shortly. This is nothing but a miracle of blessings of Paramhansji. Namonarayana!

SWAMI

SATYANANDA PARAMHANS

A UNIQUE SAINT

Swami Styananda Paramhans was an unique saint of this age in many respects.
(1)About his humility and humbleness, I may give an instance of 1982. A day before Guru Purnima at Polo Ground Munger, a Pravachan on Ramcharit Manas (Ramayana) by an eminent Vyas was scheduled after evening satsang of Swamiji. Just after his satsang and before the start of the Ramayana session, Swamiji suddenly left the dais and came down and sat amongst the common audience on the ground over ordinary tarpaulin laid for them. Any persuasion to stay on the dais could not work.
(2)About his “Guru Hrina” (debt of the guru), throughout his spiritual life and till his last satsang and writings, he never missed to mention the name of Swami Sivananda, his guru. Every fifth minute of his satsang and every fifth line of his books, there is name of Swami Sivananda. One can see photographs of Swami Sivananda at all prominent places in Munger and Rikhia Ashrams. Who is the saint or mahatma in India or abroad who highlights the name and fame of his guru so much, even after so many years of his departure? In India we do not even know the names gurus of many top spiritual personalities of the present times.
(3) About the succession, he had handed over all his spiritual and administrative powers to his successors well within his life span, with the result that there is no vacuum or dispute about superiority and authority. He had even stopped giving diksha since many years. His physical appearance in public had become rare to rarer.
(4) About publicity and politics, he was always indifferent. He never desired hovering of politicians around him nor he encouraged the media for publicity of Ashrams or himself.
(5) About the management: any top management school of world can learn a lesson or two, from the Sivananda Math regarding the services rendered to the poor of Rikhia Panchayat.
He will remain a lighthouse for spiritual seekers and their mentors as well, for centuries to come.
(The above photograph was taken during his Darshan for "Prana Vidya" Course participants on 18th October, 2009)

-- B. L. Gupta,
Secretary,
“SATYAM SHARANAM”

Mob#09838918323

PRANA VIDYA SESSION AT RIKHIA PEETH
I am just back from Rikhiapeeth after doing Prana Vidya course (Oct.12 to 18). The experience was unique in many respect. The session was conducted by Swami Muktidharmananda, who is a modern day yogi and have lived with Paramhansa Satyanandaji, at Munger for 16 years. Swami Muktidharmananda now lives at Anahata Yoga Retreat in New Zealand, devoted to spreading message of ‘Satyananda Yoga’ in the western world. Swami Karma Karuna, also from N.Z. was throuout assisting the session as coordinator and as an able yoga teacher. Morning class was taken by her.
The seven day session was attended by more than 50 aspirants from all parts of world and faith. The women outnumbered men.

The day started with Asanas and Pranayams specific to Prana Vidya, which was followed by theory and practice in the next sessions..
We were taught, how through Prana Vidya practice, one can transfer his Prana from Mooladhar to Ajna, and the vice versa. It was emphatically told that this session was an introductory course only, and perfection shall need dedicated and continuous practice for a long period, may be the entire life time. The opportunity of Seva (Karma yoga), Keertan and participation in different Ashram activities like Rudrabhisheka , Geetapaath, Deepawali festival, were added advantage of this session. All Ashram activities were conducted by Kanyas and Batuks of Rikhia.
The joy of participants was at peak when they were informed that they will have darshan of Paramhansa Satyanandaji on Oct.18 morning and they were free to put any question before him spontaneously. They had the darshan of Paramhansaji, asked many questions, all satisfied, and ultimately no question to be asked.
I may or may not practice Prana Vidya back home, but this session left a changed attitude of my mind towards the life, which is now positive and only positive. And that was the only purpose of going there.
I have sent application and full fees for Kriya Yoga and Tatwashuddhi session being held in December next, have you too?
B. L. Gupta,
Secretary,
“Satyam Sharanam”
Village and post- ADALHAT.
Distt. Mirzapur (U.P.)- India
Pin- 231 302
E-mail; satyamashram@gmail.com

(To know more about ''SATYAM SHARANAM'' kindly go through previous blogs.)

'SATYAM SHARANAM' MAIN BUILDING