Discipline, tapas and the practitioner's conduct

YAMA AND NIYAMA AHIMSA

question about Yama and Niyama principles from Yoga Sutras Patanjali: how much they are applicable to the practitioner of Kriya yoga?

Guruji: as much as you can; and they will develop slowly as a result of your practice.

what about ahimsa principle: if some fly is biting – could we kill the fly?

Guruji: ok

but will it spoil our karma?

Guruji: no.

then what is the difference between killing the fly and go for hunting on boar?

Guruji: boar is a different thing; hunting I don’t support. To all the meat- eaters: if you want to eat meat – then go, hunt, and eat. Don’t buy from the butcher.

the life example about ahimsa principle: if the dog is attacking you and the only way to survive is to shoot?

Guruji: do it!

but again we will go against ahimsa principle then?

Guruji: planned violence is not recommended. That is to save yourself.

so if something puts your life to the border of life and death – you’re not thinking about ahimsa principle, you’re thinking about surviving?

Guruji: that is human nature: to survive.

on the other end it could be applicable to our life also: to remain alive in such situation- it’s also ahimsa?

Guruji: yes. In extreme emergency no rules are applicable: main thing is somehow to survive.

is this principle applicable for saying the truth, like satya? Could we lie if it will not hurt someone and even could save the life or to help?

Guruji: why not? Yes. See, if you’re worrying to much about ahimsa – that means you’re not too much into practice( smiling). Deeper understanding will develop with the development of your consciousness. When you will establish yourself in absolute ahimsa – you will not survive. There is a battle going in your body: your immune system is continuously fighting and killing. Don’t take it too far!

so all the principles about good and bad are only social things, which were created by humans?

Guruji: but there are greater rules, natural laws, which are beyond the social things. And I’ve told you about forgiveness, remember that? When your enemy is hanging from his feet, naked, absolutely under your control; and you have a razor – you can do anything with that enemy: then you say – I forgive you, now you go! That will be forgiveness. If you’re in no position to do anything to whatever person you’re having – then it’s nothing. If nobody is asking for forgiveness – then why are you saying “ I forgive you”? just a demonstration of extremely weakness.

so with the development of the practice we will understand these questions much more deeper?

Guruji: much more deeper understanding will definitely happen. You will know exactly, how to behave. Otherwise what is the use of developing your mind and consciousness? Your perspective of life will become very different.

on what will depend the quality of the invoking spirit if someone tries – on the ritual or on the land?

Guruji: on the quality of the person, who is trying to invoke. What is the definition of the practice? It is just the way of convincing yourself that you can do this . What else is practice? So every ritual is like that.

VIPASSANA

Always be very careful with mixing of technics. Vipassana maybe not the good idea. But you cannot stop people from searching through internet and learning something.

what do You think – it’s a technic only for the monks, not for common people?

Guruji: it’s a technic to actually disturb the peace of your mind. You do nothing and thinking you’re doing anything – and you reach nowhere.

Golok, Radha, Krishn, Patal

Of course, discipline is the basis of everything. But if you’re doing a certain ritual with every particular detail – for Hanuman or anyone else – if you’re doing it physically, you’re involved mentally also: otherwise some mistake will come. Ultimately it will begin to train your mind. When your mind is trained enough – it will become your second nature and then it will be very natural for you. It’s step by step progress.

sometimes when I meditate I feel myself inside that person, who guides me?

Guruji: it’s like autosuggestion working. He suggest you to meditate on something and you feel that. But I will say – remain inside your own body and explore it. Otherwise it will misdirect your consciousness. We already have enough problems inside us; now you will enter someone else’ body – he will put even more problems on you. Be careful with that.

how not to pick up the problems from others?

Guruji: just being strong. Mentally, spiritually and physically also. You will be able to face it without any problem.

after that yoga became more popular?

Guruji: yogis was always rare. Nowadays is more popular – it was never for common men or normal person. Those, who were brave enough to go to the extremes – only they were practicing yoga. And I think it will remain so.

yoga is extreme discipline?

Guruji: it is extreme discipline and the result is also extreme. Common people have not that ambitions.

what do You think: first you must establish yourself in asana – only then pranayama can be achieved?

Guruji: if your physical body is not steady – how can you claim that “ my mind has become absolutely steady”? mind is a very fine and very subtle thing. First you need to be able to work with your gross existence; then slowly-slowly you will begin to understand the working of mind and all those – what we called jivatma or spirit or whatever is there. first you need to make your gross things steady; then further things may come.

could we say that like achievements yama and niyama comes after samadhi?

Guruji: it is stand to reason that whoever is sincerely interested in yoga must be a nice person. I think, for a nice person yama and niyama are very easy. But for an unpleasant person they will sound like a very difficult task. I think it also – from a child to a man the difference is there. if you cannot even go through yama and niyama… they should be there naturally. Then they will become more refined with your progress.

but earlier we discussed that we can establish in ahimsa only when we’re not breathing?

Guruji: that is the climax of ahimsa. That also tells me – when you’re in samadhi or in suspended animation, then only you established in ahimsa. Nothing is moving.

could we say that all yamas are coming only after samadhi?

Guruji: no, they should be there in the form of a seed, only then they will develop; otherwise if it is not there – what development can be? You cannot cultivate them; some essence should be there present – so you can make it grow.

but in the perfect condition all yamas can be only after samadhi?

Guruji: yes, the real understanding will come after.

YOGIN RULES

Q : why we shouldn’t take the iron with food?

Guruji : only if you’re practicing yoga. Otherwise it’s good. For a normal person it is good, but it doesn’t suit with yoga practice.

what other types of food I should avoid?

Guruji: intoxication should be avoided. Anything, which directly affects your mind, intoxication.

but I know so many yogateachers who are smoking different things and it is not affecting their practice?

Guruji : how can I say? I am a yogi, I’m not a yogateacher or instructor and I’ve never smoke, I never drink and I feel good.

Q : what is the difference?

Guruji : they are making money on teaching yoga – yoga postures especially. I’ll say: to become a genuine yogi – it is a very difficult thing. They have my best wishes. If you want to be the real yogi – then. Just by making some course or opening the yoga studio, by making money – it’s fine, but not much discipline it required. But if you want to become a living Buddha by practicing yoga – then the very difficult discipline you will have to follow.

Q : You have no classes here?

Guruji : we’re not much interested on asanas. I’ll give you the main book on yoga – Hatha Yoga Pradipika. To achive the results described there you will have to follow extra discipline. For yoga asanas you can eat anything, you can do anything – no big problem there. One chillum will enough to take you to Samadhi.

Q : from where this misunderstanding come – that Shiva Ji smoking the chillum?

Guruji : we discussed on that; you see me blowing that thing? From a distance it will look like a chillum. It could have started like that. Nowhere you will find such reference.

HOW TO MAKE PRACTICE AN ADDICTION

I will say that everything, whatever you are practicing, you should do it very regularly.

Regular practice will become a habit, and a habit will become an addiction. Then you cannot leave whatever you are practicing.

Always be addicted to good things.

Another point I will say is that champions are born. Like, for that matter, our favourite hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, he was born with every quality to become a champion. But it took him years of training to convince himself that he is really a champion.

Then don’t be disheartened if you are born in a normal way. If you train, you will be far more superior than your current situation.

So never be disheartened that if someone is born a champion, you may not be born a champion, but every single person is a special creation of God. So be very happy for it. And train in any way, learn in any way to convince yourself that you can do that!

Thank you!

PRACTICE

Well, practice is a method of convincing ourselves: that we can do that!

That is called PRACTICE!

some people are saying that if your level of development is really very high – you may not remain disciplined and do whatever you want?

Guruji: but if the person is really high spiritually it means he is already gone beyond every desire of all that small things – so why he will start doing that? If he’s doing again that thing – that means he has not reach so-called high spiritual state.

And I will quote the uncle of Peter Parker – the Spiderman : with great power comes great responsibility. So the higher you go spiritually – more stronger your mind will become; to maintain the balance of yourself – you need to follow very strict discipline: because other will follow your example.

And if you just start to let it go – people will not understand your mental state and they begin to copy you and everything whatever you have done, which will set a very bad example. So it’s very important – maintain the discipline, much more for the higher being.

In the shloka 10 of Hatha yoga Pradipika, it is described three types of tapas and the translation of tapas is like suffering. What is these three types of tapas?

A: Please elaborate more on that. There are so many definitions of three types of tapas. Adhyatmik, worldly and about let’s say religious tapas. So yoga belongs to the Adhyatmik. About self-realization, developing and knowing your own spirit that is called Adhyatmik tapas. «Religious» thing is about worshiping certain Gods, so after your death He will allow you to enter heaven or you will be joining the hell if you are not good enough. Hard tapas - is worldly things, to achieve anything significant in this world. All your efforts and hard work is also considered as tapas. So yoga is in the category of Adhyatmik tapas - knowing your own Self, realizing your spirit inside and the immortal substance of it, and to be able to develop your consciousness to its limitless limits, this is what we are trying to do.

Why does it say that tapas is suffering?

A: I don’t think that tapas is a suffering. Just think about a person who is trying to achieve something and he is doing very intense, concentrated, hard work. He is not feeling suffering. Suffering is bad, then when someone else is actually making you do something which you don’t want to do. Then, maybe, it is suffering. If you are trying to achieve your own goal and your own ambition, then the hard work will not appear as suffering. With every hard work day by day, you are getting nearer to your ambition and your goal. So how can it be called suffering. General public will think he has suffered a lot. But you are trying to achieve something. And it can be any art or anything, or even to make money. We work hard to do everything whatever we want to achieve. I don’t consider it as suffering.

I will give you one more thing: you will be successful in whatever you are doing if you actually like it. If you don’t like what you are doing, then you will never be successful in that. And whatever you are doing which you like, you cannot call is ‘suffering’. It is like working for perfection.

ABHYASA AND TAPASYA

what was Your Guru experience when he reached samadhi?

Guruji: we never discussed that. Only one time when I did khechari and went to learn more he called me; I foolishly asked – when You did khechari? He thought; - maybe 62-64 years before. I never asked him anything - because you cannot go the depth of your mind when you have done khechari 63 years before.

I think he was proud of You

Guruji: yes, he was happy.

he is practicing now in astral?

Guruji: I think this word “tapasya” is better: his tapas continue.

what is the real difference between abhyasa and tapasya?

Guruji: abhyasa for a very long time, observing the strictest discipline is called tapas. And it can apply to anything in life: making money, perfecting some art, - it’s all part of tapasya.

if the whole life is concentrated around one aim – it’s a kind of tapasya?

Guruji: yes. The process of achieving that is tapasya. His wife’s name is Tapasya – so he doesn’t need any tapas.

I think in any case wife is tapasya

Guruji: agreed! That means I’ve never done tapasya in my life( laughing)

Sometimes, when you’re practicing – you feel very inspired and feel that you're really progressing; but sometimes you just mechanically do all the techniques by just repeating the sequence?

Guruji: You’re doing everything mechanically. And it depends on the mood: some days you feel good and some days you don’t. but – continue to repeat it even though you feel you’re doing it mechanically: it will have a direct effect on your brain. If you follow your feelings – you will reach nowhere. Use your intelligent mind – if it is there (laughing).

But do we work with the physical body?

Guruji: Without mind – how can you work with the physical body? Please, touch his hand. (disciple touched the hand of asking) Now you tell me: did your body feel it or did you feel it in your mind? There is a very complicated process – that some nerves take the signal, ascend it to the brain, then you recognize that he touched your hand or leg. Who is feeling here? Think on this! You think our body is discussing things or our mind is working?

What to do with the feelings during practice?

Guruji: You need to get over them and understand deeper things.

So in any case we’re working with the mind?

Guruji: Ultimately – body is just an expression of your conscious mind. What else is your body?

Will we reach the same results if we practice mentally? I read about basketball teams – that when they train mentally they have the same results as they played physically?

Guruji: I will say – it is possible if you’re in very great physical condition: then you’ll be able to maintain it. Imagine that you practiced a sport every time and you don’t take enough time to think it over; then very less refinement will follow. But if you’re in great physical condition and you know the game through; when you think about it mentally – you will see so many delicate things, which were missed physically; – so it is possible. Only if you’re a professional on the peak of your physical condition – then the game will be extremely refined.

Before You mentioned progressive resistance training: what is it?

Guruji: Weight training is called PRT – working out with weights. That is called progressive resistance training.

PRACTICE OF YOGA

I think it was in the movie 2012, when they see this huge body of water coming, and people are running to China to board their thing.

And I’m quoting the Russian billionaire there: “You have to kill me to defeat me.”

So I will paraphrase it:

You have to kill me to stop me from practising Yoga!

Think on that!

DO YOUR BEST AND THEN SOME MORE

mind cannot be educated?

Guruji: no.

but when we were children – we somehow learn to read, to walk?

Guruji: here it’s much deeper thing – it’s not about reading different books and getting a degree. Education actually means to become wiser. With control of breathing your mind becomes wiser because understanding will develop. Whatever you will understand – will become your wisdom.

do You have the special technic to extend the holding of breath?

Guruji: only physical conditioning and very regular practice will create this.

because some time you reach the point and nothing happens for some time? Maybe some special exercise?

Guruji: no, it will be deviation from the main goal. Do your best and then some more; - and then you will be through this.

for example, freedivers could hold their breath for very long time?

Guruji: but only holding the breath is not important here. The way you’re practicing in yoga is a very different type of holding your breath. And remember: yoga is not a sport, it’s a very different thing. You must use your body to achieve something spiritually and mentally. Body is an instrument.

from Bhagavad Gita 8 th chapter: …for sadhak is easier to know the brilliance of Time”; in comparison with other practitioners?

Guruji: of course – who is practicing yoga,

developing his mind, his understanding is far more, his consciousness is

developed too much – he will understand.

Not a

bhakta who is just spending his time, singing the glorious name of the Lord. If

you repeat to say : roti, roti, roti or bread, bread, bread – it will not

coming to you. You will have to do some effort to make it and eat it or enough

money so you can buy it.

WHAT DOES TAPAS MEAN?

Guruji, what is actually tapas?

Guruji: it is sadhana, tapasya; when you’re trying your level best to achieve something – that effort is called tapasya. And also for realization or please god – they are also considered as tapasya.

could we say that it’s some kind of efforts?

Guruji: very great effort, not only effort.

why this notion is connected with some heat or flame?

Guruji: it is just a way of saying it. Yogagni – it is also said about fire of yoga.

how these collected efforts could be spent on something?

Guruji: collected effort will give you great power. That power you can use on anything.

is it possible to spent all tapas and be over it?

Guruji: yes – then again they start. To pass the time.

can we compare tapas with currency?

Guruji: tapas is the great effort to become a billionaire – instead of enervating it. That effort can be considered as tapas. How you spend it – it’s up to you.

can we share our tapas with someone?

Guruji: you can only share your experience and wisdom; but he will have to do his own tapas for the power – even for developing of understanding. You cannot share even that with others; even though you can spend your life trying to make him understand.

how this power can be collected? Ok, with yoga the consciousness will develop – but how it works in other cases?

Guruji: like praising a god and taking some force from him, that can be spend. Yoga is never considered into this. It will be termed as a great tapasya of a yogi, nobody will say – he did yoga abhyasa. It is just a term to say he did tremendous effort.

tapas is mental power?

Guruji: spiritual power, mental power, divine power, physical power – everything.

how it’s possible to spend all mental power on something?

Guruji: very easily: when you get this power like a boon from some god or angel – in one moment it can go away.

could it happen with the yogic collected power?

Guruji: no, when you’re developing your mind – you cannot just go back to starting point. It will never happen.

so you can spend what? To achieve something?

Guruji: not spending anything: you’re getting experience every moment with that wisdom. You cannot spend wisdom: you can share it and it will go more . And the effect of tapas like that – when somebody granting you boon or power – will go just like that. Wisdom is the only thing: it will continue to grow: as much as you will share – it will grow.

so yogin couldn’t spend his tapas?

Guruji: never heard of it. If you’re working on someone else – he can fire you at any moment. That is the difference. We’re self-employed people.

5.TERRIBLE TRUTH IS EFFORT

Guruji: that means to realize this – effort you need to put it, is terrible. Only with terrible effort this can be realised. To realize such great thing, the effort which you need to put in – is terrible. The word “Bhairav” literally means terrible also.

why only the few people or humans are able to make the terrible efforts?

Guruji: only few have this quality. Then – ichhcha Shakti Uma Kumari: then they gain the will power, which is the most beautiful lady, most beautiful virgin.

what will be with that spirits or persons who will not attain these efforts?

Guruji: only few people will try to have this thing.

what will happen with others?

Guruji: the effect of their karma – they are already inside that. Ignorance is bliss: they are not even aware such great things are there and they lack spirit of adventure – they don’t want to realize it. Better to ignore them; it is said – don’t even mention such things in front of them, it will disturb their peace of mind. Never create any doubt inside them or any confusion in them.

so for their spirits there is no chance to merge with the source?

Guruji: without terrible effort – impossible.

and for the realised yogi: he would establish his identity and carry his consciousness?

Guruji: he will have independent existence in the Creation. This also will come.

WHAT IS TAPAS?

Tapasya or tapas; tapaswi – who is doing tapas is called tapaswi.

And if the woman is doing it she is called tapaswini.

And in India, in Hindu books it is written that people used to do tapasya for hundreds of years, thousands of years.

And I think if you are not doing something more than 50 years – it can not be called tapasya or tapas.

It’s a very-very deep thing and it takes very powerful mind and a great resolve to achieve something: then you go and do the tapasya.

Do it, you have my best wishes!

PRACTICE IS PROTECTION

I’ve seen many – some of the disciples: I’ve no comment on them.

Whenever they are facing any problem, the first thing they do is to leave the practice – so they will be able to face the problem in a better way.

But they are losing their protection.

It is like you fell in a churning river with high current and you remove your life jacket so that you will be saved.

Never do that!

Because it’s a big protection, it will protect you ultimately!

That is the main theme: no change — because it’s not a commercial venture, it’s a spiritual venture. Because it has been done, given by Shiva — no changes. And nobody is intelligent enough or wise enough to bring about the details.

I was asking the question because in Hatha Yoga Pradipika it is said that the wrong pranayama invites all the diseases to the body?

Guruji: They will come.

So it means someone was trying to change the proportions of pranayama?

Guruji: No, by mistake they may not be doing correctly. They are not intelligent enough to learn properly. But now who cares for intelligent people — maybe except me? They pay a certain amount — and they are intelligent enough to learn. And what is your pilgrimage when you are teaching them yoga? You are smiling all your way to the bank! What can be a better pilgrimage than that (smiling). But we have to make money anyway.

VAIRAGYA

tattwa is the seed and vairagya is the water – and they together form kalpa vraksha?

Guruji: I agreed.

why vairagya is the water?

Guruji: if you’re attached only to hatha yoga, not to the worldly things – then it will act as the irrigation to the seed which has been planted to the bhumi of hatha. It’s a sort of ornamental language.

when in practice vairagya appears?

Guruji: I think it’s already there. That simply tells me – about vairagya – specially for the yogi: you’re so ambitious in the beginning and you’re seeking to find some answers, and you become so attached to yoga that all other attachments becomes secondary and almost non-existence – that is the state of vairagya. Concentrated effort. For a yogi this is vairagya.

People are trying to cultivate vairagya – that’s way of they go down. If the person becomes alcoholic – he is so much attached to drinking alcohol, he is not attached for anything else in the world. Even for drinking people can experience some sort of vairagya. If we are so much concentrated in yoga – for us it should come naturally. That’s my point.

if someone practice without tradition and breaking the rules of the practice – his raise of consciousness destroys him; how it is possible?

Guruji: well, if he is not follow any tradition or the advise of the Guru – this mind is also the most horrible demon. It will begin to misdirect you and will lead to your destruction finally. Without tradition you will never know the secret mysterious practices also. The secret will allude you – but you will think that “I’m doing the right thing” – and your mind will starting play games with you and ultimately destruction will follow. Guru’s help is very much required. The child can’t learn even alphabet on his own. How to claim the most mysterious thing about spirit and other world? You have to have someone guided you.

but everyone think – they are grown up?

Guruji: that is most childish statement I’ve ever heard. Salute them – those, who are so brave and so intelligent – they don’t need any teacher to teach them, they can learn anything on their own. I would ask them the simple question: whether they decided, which school they will go? They were depending absolutely on their parents. If they are depends on their parents – to pay rents on everything – how they can claim they are grown ups? Now they are children of the society and they are depending absolutely on the society and the charity of the society people to get some money and survive – and then make big talk claim “we’re independent, we’re not children anymore”. Nobody is that big. That’s why I keep saying: remain grounded.

First realization is – we begin to see that we ‘re not that smart that we can learn anything on our own. Everybody needs help. Just be humble to accept this simple thing.

MISTAKES IN PRACTICE

it exists some common mistakes of practitioners – not technical, but maybe they are doing something wrong and it created the obstacles in their practice?

Guruji: I think any person with enough common sense will find it out.

Only thing we’re interested – keeping 5 promises and practice regularly. Then the life will begin to take the very positive turn, because the mind will work in a different way, their point of view will be different; so most of the time - I think and I hope – the decisions will be more or less positive and wright.

about 5 promises: they are equal – or some are more important then other?

Guruji: no, every single promise is important. Very important. And one thing I discovered – about reading one chapter of Gita: Gita is the book on yoga, it is written in the end of every chapter; and most of the feelings and experiences and technics are described there. When you will practicing regularly and reading Gita – you will find there what we’re practicing is described there.

This is one point. Second point, which I’ve been noticing for more than 35 years now – that Arjun was the first person to hear Gita directly from Krishna. Within 18 days all his enemies were dead. They won the lost kingdom. I’ve noticed that if you will read Gita every day – most of the negative things will go from your life and the positive things will begin more and more and you will become more prosperous. I think everybody will love to have this things. It balances your mind also. It is part of the tapas, the discipline. Keep reading!

All 5 promises are part of the tapas.

GRACE OF GOD IS COMING

is it required physical endurance for Kriya practice? What if the body has not enough of it?

Guruji: actually the main thing is how powerful is your desire to practice . Will power is needed. Body will begin to follow. And only by practice it will become strong. Use your will power and start.

Now 36 years of yoga practice complete. And last Vasant Panchami it was 25 years of writing commentaries on Gita – even that is long time. Instead of 25 years quarter of the century sounds better. So when you were going to kindergarten – I was practicing yoga.

it’s our luck

Guruji: my luck also. I can’t imagine what I would be doing if not this.

may be they talking more than doing?

Guruji: first step in yoga is being truthful. If you’re not truthful then you’re not doing yoga at all.

and when the person are trying to combine two different practices?

Guruji: it will not give results. You can’t do everything at the same time.

I don’t know any person who is eating and at the same time shitting also.

You have to separate them. Simple observation. If they are combining yoga practice with many-many other different practices – that means they are not very much interested in yoga practice, they just want to learn it – so they can tell others that they practice yoga also.

Q: if someone is not wearing kundals – he is not able to awaken Kundalini?

Guruji: first of all, we are sticking to the most ancient discipline of yoga. And yogi without kundals is not a yogi, or maybe he could practicing some postures or some another things, but actually he is not a yogi.

Q: but from the birth we have no kundals; so we are not able…

Guruji: that is the problem. Earth is producing everything; but on its own Earth can not produce alcohol, artificial flavors, etc. Cow is producing milk – but on her own she couldn’t make it to butter, yoghurt and ghee. For this some extra effort is needed. All cotton is given by Earth – but Earth cannot make threads and clothes from it.

Q: only kundals is needed like external part?

Guruji: it is simple thing to remind you that you are follow the particular discipline and it will activate two nadis and the air streams will change. First you wear kundals – they will help you to make practice the optimum and excellent refine. Kundals are extremely important. When I was not wearing them I was already a Guru. But I can analyze myself before and after. Major change is came. And I’ve already written so many great books like Gita and Yoga Sutra – maybe theta waves become higher after kundals. Combination of everything is extremely important. That is called yoga – union of different pieces together.

Q: for me kundals – is some part, which were not grow with us natural – we put it from outside…

Guruji: but always remember: discipline was not also given by nature.

Q: and what else we need to accept from outside to do yoga practice?

Guruji: first thing: be ready to follow the discipline. And your motive should be just right. And then you should be ambitious also. And then you should be ready to follow Guru’s discipline exactly. Then you continue to practice and you are going free. Very simple. If somebody begins the practice by knowing that “I know everything” , I’m just doing it the Guru favor to following this so-called instructions – I don’t think he’s going anywhere. I can say, some different principle works, which is exactly not possible to define or detect, – it’s not possible, but something happens. And it is there.

I saw in one movie like the meditation was shown like only saying “Om Namah Shivaya”?

Guruji: What else they can show in a movie? It is just a portrait. Such things are described in our books — but they are done for thousands of years. Maybe standing on one leg for thousands of years were developing their brains; and also it is a test for your determination: whether they were qualified to see Shiva face to face or not — it is just a qualification.

You think such tapas could be done in physical body?

Guruji: It is done in physical body.

But Shiva will grant them blessing anyway?

Guruji: Whoever will be qualified. Who is a bad person and who is a good person? But look at the creator Brahma: he was always giving boons to all the daityas and rakshas: he never gave a boon to a good person. That means: those people have very strong mind and very strong determination and should be qualified.

Those who consider themselves as spiritual often torment their body in the confusion of performing penance. They beget only physical and mental deformation. They probably don’t realize that vitalizing the body up to its ultimate limits is itself a consequence of intense penance.

Cremation is that last rite in the life of a person in which one’s own body is offered as an oblation to the sacred fire. Those who have a desire to execute successfully this last rite need to endeavor to vitalize their body up to the ultimate limits. While vitalizing their body, they will realize the immense spread of their mind, and upon knowing physical limitations their consciousness will grow beyond these limits and make this last rite of theirs a big success.

Enthusiasm, perseverance, discrimination, unshakable
faith, courage, and avoidance of the company of common
people are the six (causes) which bring success in yoga.

The first part of Hatha Yoga is said to be asanas. By doing
asanas one attains steadiness of the body and the mind.
The body becomes free from all diseases and absolute co-
ordination of the limbs with the mind is achieved.
Now I am going to describe some of the asanas, which
are accepted by munis like Vashishtha and yogis like
Matsyendranath.