Allow the faculty of feeling to guide you in the quest for a Guru

They will not reveal God to us, but they will improve our health. Ekadashi has nothing to do with God; it’s all about our health. Only when our body is healthy will we be able to sit longer to meditate. The deepam at the Hindu festival of light, Deepavali, is a symbolic thing.

The meaning behind it is from darkness to light: from the darkness of my ignorance towards the light of knowledge. Symbols and rituals are there for many reasons – psychological, physiological, neurological – but none of them are for the realisation of God. For that, you always have to close your eyes and experience His presence. Some people say, “I do mantra japam”. It’s good, and it will help you concentrate and increase your mental capacity to some extent, if you are able to hold your mind on reciting. But when you meditate you are not reciting anything. Imagine if you are reciting your mantra and God comes and goes, will you notice? When you recite, you are busy reciting. The moment of experience is lost when you are busy with anything, be it a mantra or cursing someone – you are still busy. So rituals are okay if we understand them heartfully. Mantra is only to convey a meaning, but people go on reciting without actually understanding the meaning behind it. And if you don’t understand the meaning behind it, then how are you going to implement that in your day-to-day life?

Now, coming to the availability of several meditative techniques and the how relevant finding a guru is. This is extremely relevant in modern times. Your heart will always tell you the truth.

It will not fail. And, if you are a lady, you are more advanced than most men. You have the advantage of the faculty of feeling. You will always know it. The best experience is that which makes your heart happy. That’s all. Are you happy with that experience? If it’s good, continue with that experience. If you are not happy, and you are still searching, then think about your next move. But, how to find the right guru? Your soul, atman, will always tell you. The soul has a purpose for why it incarnated, and until that purpose is fulfilled, it will keep on recycling itself.

This we call life and death, birth and rebirth. When the soul finds a particular system or a guru to be appropriate, it will shower abundant grace and peace within. If you are following the wrong person, it will always make you restless. It will tell you to run away. Your heart will always tell you the truth.

Kamlesh D Patel is the fourth spiritual Guide in the Sahaj Marg system of Raja Yoga meditation. He is a role model for students of spirituality who seek that perfect blend of eastern heart and western mind. He travels extensively and is at home with people from all backgrounds and walks of life, giving special attention to the youth of today.