This is a correspondence between two Kriya Yoga Masters, Marshall Govindan (USA) and S.Dubyansky (Russia). The first letter was written by Marshall Govindan with questions and objections to S.Dubyansky. Subsequently, S.Dubyansky answered and explained his position on the raised questions. This article contains both letters.
The word Satsang comes from ancient Sanskrit, meaning communication with true spiritual seekers, being in the company of real yoga and meditation practitioners. It is also associated with communication with a guru. Satsang can be translated as "association" or "union". Satsang usually includes reading the scriptures, contemplation, discussion, and joint meditation. For many esoteric traditions, Satsang is a spiritual practice that helps achieve spiritual realizations.
The idea of satsang is an auspicious spiritual environment, such as the presence of holy people and a guru, listening to scriptures or beautiful music, which allows one to raise his mind. Satsang is one of the main practices along with meditation, self-exploration and self-control. The great gurus of the Kriya Yoga tradition speak about the importance of Satsang.
Satsang comes from the Sanskrit words "sat" (being, essence) and "sanga" (communication). Yogananda, the great guru of the Kriya Yoga tradition, named his hermit abode Sat Sangha, which means "communication with the truth." The word Satsang refers to communication with people having similar spiritual aspirations, as well as communication with God in meditation.
Author of the article Svetlana Dubyanskaya
Paramahansa Yogananda was born in 1893 in the ancient city of Gorakhpur, India, and left this world in 1952 in Los Angeles, USA. He was one of the greatest Indian yogis who played a key role in the successful dissemination of Kriya Yoga as the ancient system of spiritual practices in the West.
In his most famous book "Autobiography of a Yogi", using the example of his teacher Sri Yukteswar, he describes in detail the almost ideal life of a holy yogi who devoted himself to the search for truth serving God and all humanity. Yogananda founded two spiritual communities uniting people from different religions - the "Self-Realization Fellowship" worldwide spiritual organization in the United States and the “Yogoda Satsanga Society of India”.
The author of the article Mrs. Svetlana Dubyanskaya
Kriya (Kryya) Yoga is an ancient meditation system, significantly accelerating human evolution, leading to Divine self-realization. In ancient times, Kriya Yoga was transmitted by the immortal Maha Yogi Mahavatar Babaji.
In fact, Kriya Yoga has long been known among the Himalayan yogis. In the 19th century, Lahiri Mahasaya, a direct student of Mahavatar Babaji, began to teach his students these techniques openly. At the beginning of the 20th century Paramahansa Yogananda brought this unique knowledge from India to Western countries.
In order to be prepared for the practices of Kriya Yoga meditation correctly, a careful and serious preparation is required. Such detailed preparation and further initiation into the practice of Kriya Yoga is possible in various spiritual schools around the world. This article is for those who want to learn more about the history and philosophy of Kriya Yoga.
The author of the article Svetlana Dubyanskaya
Mandukya Kariki is written by Gaudapada most likely influenced by some Buddhist ideas. Religiously and socially, Adi Shankara acted more as a traditionalist and conservative. The study of numerous Vedic literature was traditionally strictly forbidden to the representatives of lower castes. There are many versions regarding the perception of Advaita philosophy set forth by Shankara as a disguised Buddhism. In the first centuries of the new era there was a sharp controversy between various schools of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism in India.
Researchers note that in the culture of modern India, this is a complex topic demonstrating that the claims about the disguised Buddhism of Advaita are a great simplification of the true and real relationship and interconnection of Buddhism and Vedanta, their mutual influence and correlation. A number of European Indologists consider the Advaita Vedanta set forth by Shankara aslo be the most natural, absolutely logical and accurate interpretation of the main Upanishads.
Adi Shankara identified Avidya as Maya Shakti, the creative cosmic power of Brahman. Avidya Maya in his philosophical system is not defined as a really existing force. Unlike the concept of Shakti in the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism not as a perfect illusion.
Many amazing, talented books can tell the reader in great detail the many secrets of the life and philosophy of the Himalayan teacher, who is respectfully called Mahavatar Babaji. Nowadays, many are trying to thoroughly understand and reveal the deep meaning of his comprehensive teachings and his magnificent global mission on the Earth.
Yet the right of primacy rightfully belongs to Paramahamsa Yogananda, for in 1946 he was the one who published the book “Autobiography of a Yogi”. Its pages opened to the world, to all mankind, the highest immortal guru and prophet, and also openly told the sacraments of science and the art of meditation, and self-knowledge, which is called Kriya Yoga.
The immortal guru is the source of Kriya Yoga meditation techniques, he leads a rather secret lifestyle, living on the peaks of the snowy Himalayas. With ease he can materialize anywhere in the world to meet with the closest students and followers.
It is amazing that his body is unchanged, he spent several eras on the Earth, being at an amazing level of higher self-realization and enlightenment. The Himalayan guru sometimes transfers his knowledge and experience to a narrow circle of yogis who strive for knowledge of the highest truth.
Translator of Sathya Sai Baba
When a group of Indians came to Sathya Sai Baba, he spoke with them in several Indian languages, for example, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali. When a group of foreigners came to him, then the conversation took place in English. Most of the Russian-speaking people did not know English, thus during personal meetings Sathya Sai Baba spoke through translators. I was fortunate enough to translate many times at such meetings. The main advantage of the translator is to have frequent personal communication with Sathya Sai Baba.
I often recall two interesting stories that occurred in the early 90s and were very instructive for me, as a translator. In the beginning when I just started translating for Sathya Sai Baba, I worried too much, especially during the first interview, because I felt a lot of responsibility. However, soon I witnessed two interesting cases, which made me realize that there was nothing to worry about and relaxed.
My first meeting with Yogi Ramaiah
I met Yoga Ramaiah in 1993. By that time, I had been studying yoga and meditation for many years. My meeting with Yogi Ramaiah happened completely unexpectedly. Of course, nothing accidental happens in life; everything is the result of causal relationships. What may seem spontaneous and even random, in fact with mathematical precision embodies a deep spiritual connection from past lives.
My father, Professor of philosophical and sociological faculty of Moscow State University, was open to all new ideas, concepts, theories and teachings by virtue of his nature, and also because of scientific interests. When somebody informed him that an Indian Guru was coming to Moscow with a seminar, my father decided to take part in the program without hesitation.
It was very interesting for my father to learn about meditation and the philosophy of Kriya Yoga, besides meeting a living Yoga Guru in the early 90s was interesting indeed. It is worth reminding, that in Soviet times meditation and yoga were officially banned in Russia. In the early 90s, many Indian and Tibetan Gurus began to visit Russia more frequently, and the Russians finally got the opportunity to travel to India and Nepal in order to learn meditation and yoga. It was an amazing epoch of hopes and dramatic changes in the life of the whole country and the destinies of people.
Strange might be the fact that I did not attend Yogi Ramaiah's seminar in Moscow, although it would seem that I should have been interested in the arrival of the Indian Guru much more than my father, because for me yoga was always a matter of life. Verily, all that happens is the providence of God.
2020 will go down in history as the beginning of a New Era. What will it look like? I don’t know for sure, but one thing is clear, the old world no longer exists. The written and unwritten rules are applicable no longer, in any case, in the format they exist now.
The one who can think in the new way will be able to enter the New Era. However, for most it will be very difficult to get out of their comfort zones. Hence... I prefer to call this world crisis the word RESET.
What is happening... it is a crisis that forces the world political and financial elites to use all the chances for trying to RESET the world community. At the same time, the virus really exists, it is difficult to say how dangerous it is. Let's try to figure this out.
The world is facing a very serious problem, which is somewhere real, and somewhere fictitious. In 1918, humanity was already in contact with the Spanish flu pandemic, then all countries of the world were forced to apply collective security measures.
In that period, according to various estimates, from 60 to 100 million people died, or at that time 3 - 5% of the population of the entire Earth. This allows us to call this epidemic one of the most significant disasters in the history of civilization. The governments of all countries today are trying to prevent a recurrence of this tragic situation.
Our responsible attitude can help the whole world to prevent the spread of the infection and preserve our health and the lives of our beloved ones. I think it would be dangerous to neglect information about the virus without properly scrutinizing the situation , even if there is the smallest possibility of death, let us be careful and alert. In this article I will use some materials that were provided to me by specialists.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born in the very South of India. He left this world in the spring of 2011 at the age of 84. Sri Sathya Sai was a philosopher, humanist, spiritual Guru, a great healer, clairvoyant and a miracle worker.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba was sometimes called Guru or Avatar. The word Guru means spiritual master. An avatar is a divine incarnation, an embodiment that is embodied in this world in order to help all people. Sai Baba preached the interconnectedness and the unity of world spiritual traditions and religions.
Let's look into the meaning of his name. The first word Sri carries several meanings: dear, well-wishes of prosperity, also is the name of the goddess Lakshmi, who is responsible for family, material and financial well-being, self-development. Sathya means the Truth. Baba is a spiritual father, a spiritual mentor.
In his ashram, meditation and mantras were practiced. His blessings transformed the spiritual state of people. He possessed divine powers and healed from ailments. The life and teachings of Sathya Sai generated a lot of discussions during his lifetime, disputes continue even today.
Many world spiritual and religious leaders treated him with great respect, believing that he was a great teacher. Among the admirers of Sathya Sai Baba were politicians from around the world.
