"Swami"

Not all become 'swami' if one just calls himself a swami or herself a swamin/. One has to transcend the limitations of time, space and causality, one has to transcend 'maya', one has to cross the ocean of sansar in order to become a swami. People may call anybody a swami if he/she sees a saffron-robed person with a rudraksha mala or a mark on the forehead, but he/she is fooled. A true Swami does not move around and, may occasionally visit a village or town. In fact a swami has no business in the market place. He has nothing to busy or sell. So one has to be careful about swamis who collect money and teach how to breath, or even profess to teach kundalini yoga, etc A person who travels in jet airways from ashram to ashram or runs a show in his/her ashram is not a real swami. A true swami, as already stated, sits alone in meditation on a hill top, or deep in a forest, or alone in a secluded place on the riverside or lakeside and, definitely will not entertain people unless they want some help like medicine or guidance. Only those who have crossed the ocean sansar can guide or help others to cross the misery of life. So let us be clear about this.

  As it is already stated, "a swami is one who has transcended limitations" What are the limitations? These limitations are that of the senses, buddhi, thinking and decision-making ability, or even the limitations of time, space, and causality (cause and effect). But how to cross these limitations.It is just like the deep sleep or sushupti state where one is not aware of his/her existence, but sleeping in ignorance, not knowing that he/she is enjoying the bliss of union with the supreme (pure) consiousness. But, definitely, remembers the fact that he/she enjoyed the bliss!

  All limitations can be crossed, transcended by just sitting firm, thinking of the supreme Lord Almighty, how He is running the universe! Just looking at the sky may be enough in some cases. Just looking at the vast sky also will help. Just reminiscing the happy times is also another easy method. Staying in a state of trance, in transcendental meditation mode, is a beautiful way to transcend all limitations. What doctors give as anaesthesia is one such; it makes you totally unaware of your existence. Body consciousness ceases as soon as one gets into dhyan mode, meditative trarnce. A regular practice of meditation will do the trick.

   Many people are not aware of the different meanings and connotations of the term 'maya'. teh term ma and ya when reversed becomes ya ma, (kaal) or death). Thus, maya is a limitation, limiting of existence from date of birth to date of death. But one does not know that our existence is not limited to this life between birth and death. We should remember that we were there before birth in the form of light, energy, force, and intelligence (L I F E). We should remember that 'we continue to exist without a physical body, of course,  even after death! So where is the limitation. This knowledge itself becomes liberation.

    Now, a person who transcends the mind, its vibrant activity, chittavrutti, will be free from maya. All that is measurable (ya- that is and ma- measurable) is siad  to be 'maya'; ya ma also means kaal, death that removes the limitations of the physical body. Hence one has to carefully understand and realize the fact that we, as humans, are under limitations, maya, yama due to our ignorance. When we realize that we are no more limited beings, but we are the sat, chit, anand by virtue of our soul, the battle of sansar is won. It is our ignorance, this embodiment of the soul like a cocoon building a nest by its saliva feels that it is imprisoned (but frees itself and flies off as a colorful butterfly later), that we feel we are under limitations. But this ignorance is removed, the cataract is removed by a true guru. But, our ego will not permit us to surrender to the guru. We go on passing remarks one everybody who tries to help us and thereby get lost in this wilderness, this land of sufferings, misiery, sickness and death. The choice to seek liberations is ours!