2006 August

Contents

Editorial + End Your Inner War + Time to Cultivate + Swami Replies + Understanding each other + Siddhas Yoga Asanas No. 13 + Moss Agate + Shamanic Hot Rock Therapy + The Art of Leadership + Yogiar SAA Ramaiah + Science of Initiation part 1 + Understanding Numerology + Money and Enlightenment + Inspiration + Letters from Heaven + GitaScendence + Science and Power of Gayathri + Truth 4 Youth

Selected Articles

Editorial
Namasté all.

Wow! I’m still recovering from the tsunami of reader’s contributions. We’ve had to go over onto a second page to include them all. Thank you everyone and please keep it up. Also, remember to let us know if the verses you send in are written by yourself or not. We are thinking of putting together a booklet of ‘Devotees’ Inspirations’ one day. (Don’t stress, your anonymity will be retained.)

The next bit of good news is that every month we are printing more and more Transcendence mags and we still run short. We even have quite a few overseas subscribers.

You might have noticed that this issue looks a bit different from the last one. The reason for this is that we have put another ‘upgrade’ into action with a ‘cleaner’ and more ‘executive’ image - always wanting to improve your favourite Spiritual mini-mag.

Our Feature this month is on Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah, a direct disciple of Babaji, who visited the KZN Gayathri Peedam in 2004 and initiated some of the devotees. ‘Yogiar’ recently entered into Mahasamadhi so we thought it fitting to dedicate an article entirely to Him.

The Faith article gives a brief outline of Numerology and what it is. If you find yourself fascinated, there are always Swami Shankarananda’s Numerology Day Workshops to attend - they are affordable and well worth it (and include lunch, by the way - and sweets).

We have introduced a new regular article called The Art of Leadership, the title of a book by Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) from which we will include an extract each month. It is specifically for those who find themselves in leadership positions and teaches how to deal with situations in a spiritual and ethical manner. Swami Murugesu explains the science of initiation in a two-part article and money and enlightenment is discussed by Suren in Meditation.

In line with our ongoing ‘operation upgrade’ plan, we have decided to do away with the little mantra card that has been included every month (and that everyone seems to lose somewhere on the peedam carpet before they leave the centre), but have replaced it with a bigger MasterCard (for a different kind of credit), which will include the image of a Master and some related interesting info. So, every month, from now on, you will find in the Transcendence a postcard of one of the Masters that you can keep for your own enlightenment. This month you will be privileged to receive a Babaji MasterCard. Enjoy!

Until next month, take care and keep up the correspondence.

In Love and Service always,

Editor
jo.petzer@mweb.co.za

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Message from the Master
End your Inner War

It is time for you to start your spiritual walk; let it be done in your yard if outside is not safe. Walk in the garden, become aware of your surroundings . . . of the different sounds of nature - the birds, trees and other smaller creatures. Think: ‘these are lesser creatures than myself, yet they sound so peaceful and happy’. Think about yourself and your fellow humans - are they as peaceful and happy? Why? Be aware of your body moving and single out the thoughts that pass through your mind. Do you find that your thoughts are negative and stressful? Why? Because you have cut off your ties with God; because you have become more ‘powerful’ than God (you think). Power and Greed overtake peaceful and happy states. You are in a battle daily - you against your Self. The time is now. Stop this still war and start your journey to peaceful and happy times.

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Time to Cultivate
by Swami Shankarananda


This is the month to get ready to cultivate, as we approach spring. Be prepared to expect changes also. It is the time for cultivation of the Self. Start today - cultivate a constant peace of mind. Understand that the mind processes all perceptions it receives. It is time also to cultivate inspired thinking - always let your thoughts be impelled and empowered from the very essence of your being, rather than allowing them to be motivated by superficial urges and inclinations.

During these stressful times, it is time now to cultivate constant emotional stability - to cultivate this, accept that you are emotionally stable by knowing that you are a spiritual being, and remaining anchored in that knowledge.

Also cultivate constant happiness - that arises from within the inner altar of your being. Cultivate feelings of compassion, that is, care about the needs of others and assist them to their highest good. Cultivate constant feelings of total well-being, like wholesome feelings from within. It is always nice and good to cultivate thoughts of accomplishment, fulfil your goals and spiritual needs. After these achievements, cultivate thoughts of prosperity and renounce the false idea that there is a steel barrier separating the material and spiritual realities. Because you need to cultivate awareness of the reality of God, know that you are a pure unit of the reality of God.

In conclusion: cultivate constant awareness of your ultimate purpose - to become Self and God realized.

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Feature:
Yogiar SAA Ramaiah
Direct Disciple of Babaji

On Tuesday 13th July 2006 Yogi Ramaiah entered into MahaSamadhi. This month’s feature is a dedication to this great personage who graced the Verulam Gayathri Peedam with His presence a mere two years ago.

On May 9, 1923, in the Chettiar ancestral mansion, a young woman, Thaivani Achi, gave birth to her second son, Ramaiah, which means ‘Ram worshipping Shiva.’ His family was the wealthiest in all of south India and his mother was a devout young woman, with a strong interest in spirituality and mysticism.

Young Ramaiah was educated by tutors and enjoyed the life of a member of the most elite circle in colonial India. He was admitted to the University of Madras, Presidency College, the most prestigious institution in south India in 1940 and majored in the subject of Geology, with a minor in Tamil studies. Ramaiah excelled in his studies and in 1944 he graduated at the very top of his class. Soon afterwards he was married but before he could leave for the States to continue his studies, fate intervened and Ramaiah contracted bone tuberculosis. The best English physicians were brought in to treat him, but the most they could accomplish was to arrest its further spread by imprisoning him in a plaster body cast, where he remained immobilised for six years.

Unable to move or engage in any normal activity, Ramaiah began to practice meditation seriously, and would send invitations to famous sadhus or gurus who were visiting the area including Prasanananda Guru and and Omkara Swami both able to remain motionless for many weeks, locked in meditation or trance. They shared with Ramaiah their intimate knowledge of yogic sadhana.

On March 10, 1952, (the same day that Yogananda attained mahasamadhi) in the USA, Mauna Swami, a colorful sadhu and disciple of Shirdi Sai Baba predicted that Ramaiah would soon be healed, but before this could occur, Ramaiah decided to end his life by holding his breath. While doing so, he heard a voice say: ‘Do not take your life. Give it to me’ Realizing that it must be the mysterious figure, Shirdi Sai Baba, whom he had begun to see in meditation after the visit of Mauna Swami, he asked: ‘Are you my guru?’ The reply came: ‘No, but I will reveal to you who is your guru.’ It was then, that he saw for the first time his guru, Babaji. The next morning the English doctor was sum-moned and the body cast removed. To the astonishment of everyone, the doctor’s exami-nation revealed that the dreaded disease had disappeared. It was then that Ramaiah began chanting the ‘Om Kriya Babaji Nama Aum,’ panchakra mantra with gratitude and delight .

Shortly after this time, Ramaiah met V.T. Neelankantan, (to whom Babaji dictated sev-eral books while Ramaiah wrote the intro-ductions). Babaji also began appearing to Ramaiah and in 1954, and summoned him to Badrinath in the Himalayas where He trained Ramaiah in the sacred science of Kriya Yoga, a complete system of 144 Kriyas, or techniques, involving breathing, yoga postures, meditation and mantras. He also learned how to withstand cold temperatures with a breathing exercise.

Yoga is the basis of all physical education activities. One can be very successful in all sporting activities, competitive and recreational, by making yoga the basis of the same. Through Yoga alone, one can have integrated development of the human body in a holistic way, dealing with the body as a whole, all the five bodies, and accepting all systems of healing, modern and ancient. Yoga develops all organs and parts of the human body and restores the range of motion in the different joints. Let Yoga blend with all the activities of daily living.
Yogiar S.A.A. Ramaiah

Upon his return to Madras in 1955, Ramaiah committed himself to a very rigorous period of practice, during which time he worshipped the Divine Mother in the form of Kali, after which Ramaiah was born anew; he had experienced deep states of stillness, known as samadhi, and thereafter became known as ‘Yogi Ramaiah.’ He was also given several important assignments by Babaji: to begin the study of physiotherapy and yoga therapy in order to help those who, like himself, were handicapped; to begin teaching Kriya Yoga both in India and abroad; and to begin to research and gather the writings of Babaji’s gurus, Boganathar and Agastyar. Towards the end of his studies he asked his professors for permission to conduct clinical experiments telling them he believed he could cure over 20 different types of functional disorders through the use of yoga alone. Permission was granted and the patients were selected by the attending physicians. For three months he worked with these patients every day, guiding and encouraging them in their practice of yoga, and allied regimens of diet and sun treatment. After three months, to the amazement of the physicians, all of the patients had become well. In recognition, he was awarded an honorary diploma.

Yogi Ramaiah wrote and published a book on the 18 Yoga postures, profusely illustrated with photographs, as well as a book entitled Songs of the 18 Siddhas, in 1968, with selections from the palm leaf manuscripts he had collected. Babaji, he related, had given him the assignment to see that their works were published one day. In 1967 Yogi Ramaiah went to Malaysia and then to Australia where he conducted initations in Kriya Yoga. In early 1968 Yogi Ramaiah moved to the United States where he acquired American professional qualifications by enrolling in courses in prosthetics and orthotics while he lived in primitive conditions in an abandoned building on East 5th Street, in lower Manhattan, and worked part time in a bookstore giving talks and classes related to yoga, which attracted local young people. Over several months in early 1971, Yogi Ramaiah initiated into the 144 Kriyas, twelve of his students, those who were living in the centers he had established in California, New York, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and New Jersey.

Throughout his life, Yogiar felt that he had been often betrayed, both by family members and his students. He had an unbending nature, and authoritative and controlling ways. He knew best, and he did not appreciate anyone questioning his wisdom or ways of doing things. He seemed to pride himself on being able to ‘crush the ego’ of his various students, as if this was the most effective means to liberation. Unlike some gurus, who treat their students in only the most respectful and loving manner, Yogiar avoided the confusion which that approach entailed. He would conduct his classes in his India dhoti, and a white lab coat, on how to improve their health and well being through Yoga postures and breathing.

During his three decades in the USA, where he became a citizen in 1975, he gave thousands of lectures and demonstrations related to Yoga Therapy, in hospitals and before medical conferences. To the medical professionals at all levels he emphasized that the most important element in treating patients was ‘to love the person,’ not the drugs or the technology. He himself treated the worse cases, persons without any arms or legs, or severely deformed, with so much love, as if they were the Master himself. Yogiar also loved animals, and maintained a menagerie of dogs, cats, goats, and cows at the Yuma and Imperial Valley Centers. Despite his eccentricities, Yogiar was charming and dearly loved by those close to Him.

From 1954, every year, with Babaj's guidance and inspiration, Yogi Ramaiah organized an annual Parliament of World Religions and Yoga, including Christian fundamentalists, Buddhist monks, Jewish rabbis, American Indians, Yogis and Swamis, Catholic priests and even new age spiritual teachers. Their theme was ‘unity in diversity’ and they served as a powerful antidote to that most common of spiritual diseases: religious fanaticism. It is a remarkable achievement to have continued this service for so long and so well.

Extract from: www.babaji.ca

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Money and Enlightenment
by Suren Pillay

In a world which is dominated so much by materialistic desire, how are devotees of God to resist temptation and still maintain and nurture their spirituality. Money has always been seen as an obstacle to enlightenment. The underlying principle behind this long-held belief is that money, by itself, perpetuates greed and inevitably results in a devotee becoming more materialistic in nature. Sanyassis and Swamis are thus required to renounce material life for a life of religious and civic duty. This duty is no easy task as the renunciant faces numerous obstacles while trying to maintain his vow. Many do not succeed and those who do succeed in not breaking their vow, are not guaranteed of enlightenment.

The question I pose to you today is whether money is really an obstacle to enlightenment. The answer is as complex as the question, and the answer is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Material wealth and accumulation are needed to sustain oneself and, although neither pose an immediate threat to an aspirant’s spiritual attainment, they do provide ample temptation for the aspirant to deviate from the path. A lot would depend on the aspirant’s samskaras, brought forward from his previous births, his temperament and force of will.

Paramahansa Yogananda, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, has written of the advantages of monastic life over that of the householder. Yet, in this day and age, the opportunity of living in an ashram permanently is not an option for most people, either due to an existing marriage, or to other family commitments. So, what is the answer in this day and age, to spiritual enlightenment? God has not issued a decree that people outside a monastic environment may not realize him. Equally so, He has not issued a decree that rich people may not experience Him, either. His light shines in every man; in every blade of grass; and in every raindrop. A philosopher once said ‘If you cannot see God in a flower, do not expect to find Him in a book of scripture’.

The issue seems to have little to do with how much money you have or whether you are married or not, but rather, with your internal state of mind. If your mind never loses contact with the Divine, no matter who, or where you are, spiritual success will surely be yours. Non-attachment in all our duties is required, and one of the best ways to acquire this is to surrender to God and talk to Him all the time.

In our greatest moment of pain, and in our highest moment of ecstasy, God is with us and will continue to be with us even after we die. So, why should we not make His acquaintance today? Whatever your problems are, tell them to Him, He listens to everything for He is the source of everything and knows nothing but Love. It was out of Love that we were created and I have no doubt that it would be His greatest wish if we could act with that same Divine Love in everything that we do.

The answers to the questions of life are never easy, but then again, life wouldn’t be a journey if everything was easy. Wealth accumulation to support one’s needs is necessary, but I would argue that it would not serve anyone to become attached to their wealth for, as soon as your spirituality is compromised by monetary concerns, you will be losing some of the game of spirituality. Our inner happiness should not depend on external circumstances for, when it does, we have truly lost the game of life and, when that happens, we can rest assured that we will come back to Earth to play again until we win. Beloved friends of Gayathri, I wish all of you every success in the game of life; and may that Divine Love within you shine forth and warm the hearts of all those who come into contact with you!

A Declaration of Love
by Suren

With love and joy, may this moment now remain in me evermore!
At my deepest level, may I be ever aware
That the sky, moon, sun and trees are all You.
May I see through Your veil and unravel Your greatest mysteries,
And this I declare to be the greatest expression of my love for Thee!
You are my beloved and I am Thy child;
And may this love grow infinitely daily!
You are all that was, all that is
And all that there will ever be!

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