swami rama (1925โ1996) was born in himalayas. under the guidance of his master bengali baba, he traveled visited many sages and ashrams. heย studied many himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of tibet.
from 1949 to 1952, swami ramaย held the prestigious position of shankaracharya of karvirpitham (also karveer peeth or karweer peeth) in south india. after returning to his master in 1952 and practising further for many years in the himalayan caves, swami rama was encouraged by his teacher to go to the west and spread the spiritual message.,in the western countries,ย swami ramaย spent a considerable portion of his life teaching.
swami rama is especially notable as one of the first yogis to allow himself to be studied by western scientists. in the 1960s he allowed himself to be examined by scientists at the menninger clinic who studied his ability to voluntarily control bodily processes (such as heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperature, etc.) that are normally considered to be non-voluntary (autonomic).
swami rama published numerous books, video and audio recordings. swami rama also founded many teaching centers around the world, many of which continue independently from one another. swami rama also started the himalayan institute hospital trust near haridwar, rishikesh, and dehradun, india.
swami rama book “living with himalayan master” which contains his meeting with sages of himalayas is a must read for any spiritual seeker.
swami rama quotes:
1. in sadhana patience plays an important role.
2. to achieve purity of mind, one should cultivate constant awareness by being mindful all the time. one should remain always aware of oneโs thoughts
3. when you are searching and seeking, you should be doing it honestly with your full strengthโnot halfheartedly.
4. what is good and what is right, thinking makes it so. surrender the mind for a while to god consciousness, and you will find peace.
5. you should learn to be patient. the quest of the soul helps you, if you persist; then, finally, you will find the light from the distance that dispels the darkness of ignorance. will you please practice?
6.you can live in the world and yet be spiritual.
7.modern man is too impatient and wants to master the art of meditation immediately.
8.ย if you learn to go beyond the jabbering of your mind, and can go to the deeper aspects of your consciousness, then body, breath, and mind will not come in your way.
9. happiness is within and the source is the center of consciousness, love, and wisdom.
10. learn to be spiritual in your daily life by doing selfless action. learn to meditate every day.
11. you should do your duty in the world with love, and that alone will contribute significantly to your progress in the path of enlightenment.
12. people continue to build shrines, chapels, churches, and temples. you donโt have to do this, just realize that you are a living shrine. the day you have attained the knowledge that the lord lives within you, you will be in samadhi. all questions will be answered, all problems will be resolved.
13. if your dearest one stands in the way of self-realization, tread over him, forsake him, go beyond. if your beloved stands in the way of self-realization, cast her aside. your trusted friend is truth and truth alone.
14. as long as the mind is outward, only ida and pingala remain active. but when the mind is calm and tranquil, sushumna, the central channel, is awakened. the joy derived from the mind traveling through the sushumna channel is unique; it cannot be compared with any sensory pleasure. because of that inner joy, the mind loses its taste for worldly pleasures.
15. all human beings have inner potentials, but many people are not aware of those potentials and do not know how to use them to have a successful life. those who are not happy internally can never be happy externally; those who are not happy within themselves can never make others happy. those who do not love themselves can never love others.
16. many people think the mind can be controlled. that is not a useful idea. like the monkey, the mind can never actually be controlled; it can only be directed. if you want to try to control your mind, you will regret the results. forget the word โcontrolโ and learn to direct your mind and energy on all levels.
17. meditation is not sitting and fidgeting, daydreaming, worrying, or fantasizing. it means watching, calmly observing the mind itself. calm observation makes the mind itself calmer. the calmness of the mind creates power to go deeper and deeper into the beds of samskaras, into all the latent memories and impressions that daily provoke our habits and personalities. however, by calmly and very quietly going to the samskaras and observing them they are burnt away; they bubble to the surface and dissipate. this is the process of purification. it is a very powerful practice, and an essential one. meditation is the exact method of becoming aware of who you are. it is the fundamental training for knowing your inner world.
18. do not condemn yourself. you have no right to do that. you are created by providence and you should learn to respect its creation. when you stumble against yourself you will also stumble in the external world. donโt hurt yourself. be strong.
19. if you do your practice, it is not possible that you will fail to make progress, although you often do not see the subtle progress at deeper levels. the gurus impart the best of their knowledge, the heart of their teachings, in silence. and when you are in silence within, they communicate with you at that level. do your practices if you want to make progress.
20. non-attachment is like a fire that can burn the binding power of past samskaras. non-attachment does not mean indifference or non-loving. non-attachment and love are one and the same. non-attachment gives freedom, but attachment brings bondage.
21. do not allow yourself to suppress your thoughts. instead, let the thoughts come before you and become a sort of observer. start observing your own mind. do not try to escape; do not be afraid of your thinking.
22. when you sincerely tread the path, you will meet one who can help you with all setbacks.
23. decide that no matter what happens, you will do what you set out to do. if you are determined, possible distractions will still be there, but you will continue on your path and remain undisturbed.
24. the lord of life is love. never get sad. be happy and take care of your happiness. jump in joy without worrying for the future. why remain serious? let you learn to jump in joy and smile all the time.
25. to be on a spiritual path with a guru is not an easy thing. it is not pleasant. the guru tests the disciples, puts them in the most difficult situations, and creates obstacles for them. all the tests, difficulties, and obstacles are meant to train and expand the consciousness of the disciple.
26. sankalpa (determination) is very important. you cannot change your circumstances, the world, or society to suit you. if you have strength and determination, you can go through the procession of life very successfully.
27. learn to love all the things of the world, just as means but donโt get attached to them. this is the secretโthe philosophy of non-attachment.
28. once we are determined to search for the truth through purified thoughts, speech, and actions, we are certain to find the way and reach the goal. truth itself becomes our guide, and without making a mistake we will find ourselves on the right path.
29.ย contentment is the first and foremost virtue that should be cultivated. it comes only when you have done your duties to your fullest capacity without worrying for the results. it is a virtue that always helps and never disappoints the seeker.
30. being free from all distractions, he can undertake his practice wholeheartedly. non-attachment enriches the nature of his practice. practice combined with non-attachment helps him to continue his search until he reaches the goal.
31. belief in god, and experiencing the presence of god at every moment, are two different things. before the actual direct experience of the truth, one may believe in the existence of god, but that belief remains imperfect.
32. sometimes a great teacher teaches his students through silence. the best and deepest of the teachings is not communicated through books, speech or actions, but through silence. that special teaching is understood only when you are silent.
33. sushumna application is the most important factor in spiritual practice. the moment sushumna is awakened, the mind longs to enter the inner world. when the flow of ida and pingala is diยฌrected toward sushumna, and distractions are thereby removed, meditation flows by itself.
34. a person who does not meditate does not know how to expand his consciousness. he has narrow vision as if he is looking through a window, but when he learns to expand his consciousness, it is like going through a door. it is exactly as if one were looking through a small window in a house. from the window his view is very limited, but when he goes out of the house, he has a much wider view. when he goes to the roof, he can see even more clearly. as oneโs consciousness expands, his vision becomes clearer, and he understands things as they are.
35. gurus impart the best of their knowledge in silence. when you are in silence, they communicate with you through silence, and in silence. for the student whose mind is in tune, that teaching is the finest of teachings. this silent communication can happen no matter where you are physically, whether you are 10,000 miles away or very close.
36. there is a problem with your concept of enjoyment. you need an object to enjoy, and then you depend on that object. you search for an object, and you work hard to obtain that object; then you are disappointed, because no object has the capacity to give you enjoyment.
37. patience is a great virtue that needs to be cultivated. one should always pay attention to oneโs determination, sincere efforts, patience, regularity, and loving nature. always try to be vigilant, so that the opposite forces do not take over
38. the word guru is a compound of two words, gu and ru. gu means darkness and ru means light. that which dispels the darkness of ignorance is called guru. the energy and action of removing darkness are guru. guru is not a person, it is a force driven by grace.
39. one who dwells in the domain of the atman does not belong to a particular family, society, or nation. rather, he is part of all of humanity. he loves the welfare of all, as much as he loves his own atman .
40. all your fears should be examined so that you can remain fearless as long as you live. there is no charm in a life full of fear. you should not accept this fearful sort of living. fearless living is possible when you have understood the way to do your actions in the external world and when you have learned about your internal states.
41. we need not force children to believe that there is a god. however, we should provide them with the opportunity to unfold their inner potentials, to gain confidence, and to become inspired to search for god according to their own inner tendencies and capacity.
42. determination is the power that sees us through all frustrations and obstacles. it helps in building the willpower that is the very basis of success within and without. it is said in the scriptures that with the help of sankalpa shakti, the power of determination, nothing is impossible.
43. only one who is well established in the stage of nirvikalpa samadhi is an illumined yogi, and only such a yogi can truly guide other aspirants. such a yogi is beyond the bondage of space, time and causation, and he is ever free, for it is possible for him to remain dissolved in brahman and yet return to normal consciousness.
44. remember, you are not so miserable as you have made yourself out to be. you are god, too, and cultivating this constant awareness within you will help keep you from false attachments, from identifying yourself with your body, mind, and senses. so you must say to yourself, “body, mind, and senses are mine, but they are not me, for i am that eternal flame which is not subject to change, death, and decay.” this awareness should always be with you.
45. i know this will disappoint you, but it is the truth: no one outside you can give you salvation. donโt trust or depend on anyone to do thatโฆ. the truth is, we have to enlighten ourselves. you have to light your own lamp; nobody else will give you salvation. the simple method to enlightenment is to first know yourself. learn to work with yourself; donโt give up in that. give up on anything else, but donโt give up that goal.
46. fearlessness is very important. one should constantly remain in spiritual delight, so that no fear is entertained. fearlessness comes from knowing that god is with us, and that we are with god.
47. in my practice, when all the thoughts have gone through the mind, then i sit down and start to remember my mantra. usually you try to remember your mantra from the very beginning, and there are those thoughts waiting for your consultation, but you do not pay attention to them. then, the thoughts are coming and going in your mind and you are trying to repeat your mantra, and the more the thoughts come, the more you repeat your mantra, and the result is an internal battle. that is not helpful; you do not need that.
48. you have to light your own lamp. no one will give you salvation. i am talking of enlightenment. all individuals have the responsibility to enlighten themselves. do not think you cannot do it. you have that spark. you are fully equipped. you simply need to discipline yourself. discipline is not a prison. it simply means practice.
49. spiritual practices, undertaken at an early age, have a profound and long lasting effect. human beings have tremendous potential provided they are taught to train themselves on all levelsโphysical, mental, and spiritual. let us teach our children how to become aware of themselves on all levels. with a calm and one-pointed mind, children can obtain a glimpse of true peace and happiness.
50. breath is a barometer to measure oneโs inner state. when you observe that your breath is serene, deep, and without any unnecessary pause, you will experience a sense of great comfort and joy.
51. the mantra should not be repeated without understanding its meaning. before repeating the mantra, the student should be fully convinced of its importance. it should be repeated with meaning and feeling. parrot-like repetition is not of much use. repeating the mantra merely with the rosary and the tongue is a very inferior practice. it wonโt do merely to complete a given count. the purpose of japa, or repetition of the mantra is to lead the mind to the higher dimensions and to rungs of meditation.
52. guru is the disciple’s guide through life, through the mysterious terrain of the spiritual heart, and into and beyond the realm of death.
53. truth is that divine force that dwells in every individualโs heart. it is the all-pervading, eternal reality, uniting all individuals, and finally, linking all of existence in one divine awareness. that divine force is called god.
54. the guru wants nothing from the disciple. guru is that force moving a soul toward enlightenment. the guruโs actions are from pure compassion. as the sun shines and lives far above, the guru gives spiritual love and remains unattached.
55. the spiritual seeker should not worry about who the guru is, or what the guru will do. the seekerโs first concern is getting prepared, organizing his or her life and thoughts in a spiritually healthy way, and then working toward a way of life that simplifies and purifies. at the right time the master will be there.
56. godโs existence does not depend on our proofs. there is something wrong with the philosophers and the theologians, for they have the curious notion that god is a kind of hypothesis that can be analyzed and discussed.
57. in the light of the sun, in the light of the moon, and in the light of the stars there is no discrimination. the light within you has the power of discrimination. you can use that light to see the darkest corners of your inner chamber. for that you do not need outer guidance. the purpose of a guide, guru, or teacher is to introduce you to that light.
58. guru is not the goal. anyone who establishes himself as a guru to be worshipped is not a guru. guru is like a boat for crossing the river. it is important to have a good boat and it is very dangerous to have a boat that is leaking. the boat brings you across the river. when the river is crossed the boat is no longer necessary. you donโt hang onto the boat after completing the journey, and you certainly donโt worship the boat.
59. grace is only possible with a disciple who has gone through a long period of discipline, austerity, and spiritual practices. when a student has done these practices and followed the teacher’s instructions with all faithfulness, truthfulness, and sincerity, then the subtlest obstacle is removed by the master. the experience of enlightenment comes from the sincere effort of both master and disciple. when you have done your duties skillfully and wholeheartedly, you reap the fruits gracefully. grace dawns when action ends. shaktipata is the grace of god transmitted through the master.
60. the mind is prone to be reactionary if not trained, and an untrained mind creates disorder, disease, and confusion. if one does something with full attention, he will increase his awareness and ability to perform his duty. if one forms the habit of attending fully to whatever he is doing, the mind will become trained, and eventually concentration will become effortless.
61. meditation is a very powerful thing that gives helpful vibrations to all. when you meditate, it definitely affects your children. if you record the brain waves of a child who is sleeping while you are meditating, you will find a difference. even your plants and your pets are affected when you meditate. instead of imposing your ego or your emotional problems on your children in the name of discipline, please discipline yourself, and then your children will also learn.
62. the simple method to enlightenment is to first know yourself. learn to work with yourself; donโt give up in that. give up on anything else, but donโt give up that goal. remind yourself, โi will continue to work with myself. i can do it, i will do it, and i must do it.โ remember these three sentences: โi can do it. i will do it, and i must do it.โ
63. if you prepare yourself to know the higher knowledge, then you will deserve. to deserve means to increase your capacity. you want to put the entire ocean in a bucket. the ocean is there. you can have it, but you do not have the capacity. when you deserve, you will have the capacity. the lord, the reality, the truth, is always within you. you simply have to become aware. you can make sincere efforts to work with yourself.
64. strive instead for one goal, and that is to understand your self; know how to know the self. if you do not know yourself and you are trying to know god, it is not possible to do so. donโt hanker after god; know about yourself first. you are fully equipped to know yourself; you have all the means and tools to do so. you are not searching for something outside yourself that is difficult to find. you are searching for someone who is already within you, so it is actually easy to find. the day that you see the source face to face, you have accomplished your work as a human beingโthat is your human endeavor.