== SIDDHI & SADHANA ==
Namaskar,
Everyone in our Marga recognises that the practice of sadhana is highly
important and very much indispensable.
Even then it is not uncommon for some to think that the idea of gaining
perfection (siddhi) with regards to their mantra repetition is beyond their
grasp.
Still everyone should always remember that Baba is the Sadguru and He has
graciously given us the perfect formula for attaining mantra siddhi in our
sadhana.
Thus it is sure that everyone can gain success.
WHAT IS MANTRA SIDDHI
Just as a brief reminder, in our sahaja yoga system consisting of lessons
one thru six, we all follow the process of mantra japa-- i.e. mantra
repetition. This everyone knows well. And it is also understood that
through the proper and sincere repetition of the mantra, radical changes
occur in one's physical and mental existence. The spine straightens, the
ectoplasmic cells become distinctly vibrated and change their form, and the
mind gets pointed. All these changes happen as well as many others.
Baba furthermore guides us that when the repetition of our two syllable
mantra becomes perfect and one's entire existence is rushing towards Him
with every inhalation and exhalation-- with every mantra japa, then this
exalted stated is mantra siddhi, or the perfection of mantra repetition.
For many of us though, such a stance or such an attainment seems to be
beyond our capability. Many think like this. When in fact there is no
reason to adopt such an attitude. With sustained and sincere efforts
everyone can attain mantra siddhi.
SIDDHI (PERFECTION) IS OFTEN ATTAINED IN LIFE
Actually, each and every human being has come onto this earth and developed
a particular skill or various specialties to a high degree. This is quite
evident in everyone's life and especially in the life of a sadhaka. In that
way one has achieved siddhi in numerous realms of their existence.
TRIAL BECOMES HABIT & HABIT BECOMES NATURE
And this growth or development into siddhi occurs in distinct stages.
Firstly after sincerely trying, again and again, then little by little a
person develops some skill in a given arena and it becomes one's habit. And
then through perseverance and continued efforts then that practice or that
skill becomes one's nature. In which case the person has achieved a sort of
perfection with that activity.
SO MANY EXAMPLES OF GAINING SIDDHI
For example take the case of typing or keyboarding. Many who use computers
have achieved siddhi with regards to typing. Initially though, in the
beginning typing was difficult and awkward-- not at all comfortable. But
then after sustained practice people become more accustomed to using the
keyboard and it becomes their habit. No longer does it feel strange or
foreign-- they have gained some facility with typing. And still later after
further practice, the whole process of typing becomes their nature. People
no longer need to think about what key to press. Without even thinking
consciously the fingers link up with the proper key-- automatically,
naturally. In that case one has attained siddhi in the field of keyboarding.
And it happens with driving an automobile also. At first when one starts
driving a car it is difficult. The car keeps swerving from one side to the
other-- even when driving on a very straight road. In that early stage even
the easiest aspects of driving are hard for the new driver. But through
on-going practice and sincere efforts then driving a car becomes one's
habit until later on finally it becomes one's nature. At that point one
need not actively think about driving the vehicle. Just the driver does
everything automatically.
Likewise is the case with walking or speaking one's own mother tongue.
After learning to walk at a young age then walking just becomes a natural
movement in one's life. And same with speaking or reading in one's mother
tongue. At the beginning when learning to read one has to differentiate
between all the letters and sound them out one at a time. But with
continued practice one develops that habit and finally it becomes their
nature and wherein merely looking at the word or phrase one can read it
easily. There is no need to go letter by letter. In that way many have
achieved siddhi.
So the state of siddhi comes after sincere practice and continued efforts.
And in various fields one has attained siddhi.
But if one does not practice that skill-- whether it be typing, driving,
walking, or reading etc-- then one will not gain siddhi in that sphere. In
that case the person will have to take care to practice more and more,
otherwise they will just be a novice at that activity.
Here the whole point is that there are so many evidences and examples how
one has attained various siddhis in their life. And likewise Baba
encourages us that this stance of siddhi (perfection) can be surely
achieved in one's sadhana also.
PERFECTION IN SADHANA / MANTRA SIDDHI
In the realm of sadhana gaining siddhi is an achievable reality. At first
when one learns sadhana and repeats their mantra then it may seem not very
easy. And in some cases new practitioners forget their mantra entirely.
But step by step through regular practice then repeating the mantra in
sadhana becomes one's habit. When one sits for sadhana and consciously
thinks about their mantra then they will repeat it, or even it will just
start automatically when the idea enters in the mind to do sadhana. Many if
not all margiis have reached this degree of practice-- this established
habit they have.
And then through sincere efforts the repetition of the mantra becomes more
and more habitual until finally it becomes totally natural. That occurs
when in one's each and every breath the mantra is always repeated,
constantly.
Here Baba beautifully explains how this whole entire achievement of siddhi
takes place in sadhana and He guides us that each and every Ananda Margii
can and will achieve this high degree of proficiency or perfection in their
mantra japa-- after taking sincere efforts.
Baba says, "What's the difference between habit and nature? When habit
becomes one with your existence, it is called nature...'Now it is time for
my meditation', what is it? You are trying to habituate yourself. But when
you cannot live without puja, then it has become your nature. Try to make
it what-- habit or nature? Nature. I never take a drop of water without
doing puja. Why? It has become my nature. And I want that all of you should
make it your nature also."
"When auto-suggestion (mantra repetition) will become your nature, what
will happen? While sleeping you will be repeating that japa (repetition of
mantra) in your unconscious mind. You are sleeping, so conscious mind is
not active. You are not having any dream, so your sub-conscious mind is
also not active. But unconscious mind is there. Automatically there will be
japa. 24 hours you are doing Pun'ya. While you are sleeping, you will be
engaged in doing japa and using your incantation." (AV-14, 'Auto Suggestion
& Outer Suggestion')
Namaskar,
Parashram
Note 1: SIDDHI IN THE PRACTICE OF YOGA
Here Baba explains further how, by the grace of Parama Purusa and through
the constant practice of ideating on Him, an ordinary sadhaka attains
siddhi in their life.
Baba says, "Now how can one attain siddhi through the practice of yoga? The
jiiva'tma' will take the ideation of Parama'tma', and then the former will
become one with the latter. How is it possible for the microcosm to become
Macrocosm? The Macrocosm, or Parama Purus'a, has one unique characteristic,
and that characteristic is, whoever ideates on Him becomes one with Him."
(SS-13)
Note 2: LONG FOR HIM AND ACHIEVE SIDDHI
Baba says, "Sa'dhakas know the secret of becoming great. Thus the basic
spirit of rasa sa'dhana' is to direct one's individual desires and longings
towards Parama Purus'a. Only in this way can a sa'dhaka achieve fulfillment
(rddhi) and success (siddhi)." (SS-8)
Note 3: MORE ABOUT MANTRA SIDDHI
Baba says, "Every mantra is thus sonic or vibrational and is vibrating
simultaneously in the Cosmic system and in the unit body. When, with the
help of a mantra, a person finally establishes the parallelism of the unit
ectoplasmic vibration with the Cosmic vibration, that person gets mantra
siddhi...a person establishes parallelism between his external physical
vibration and his internal ectoplasmic vibration, and then raises this to
the spiritual level. The culmination of this process in the achievement of
the final spiritual goal is called mantra siddhi. " (SS-10)
Note 4: SADHANA & SIDDHI
Baba says, "Sa'dhana' or intuitional practice means an effort to break
through the barrier of this smallness, and Siddhi or beatitude is the
state, wherein the barrier has been broken through." (SS-2, 'Inuitional
Science of the Vedas-4')
Note 5: MOVING TOWARDS HIM AND GAINING SIDDHI
Baba says, "You have been wandering through the labyrinth of a myriad of
lives. You have been ever advancing toward this stage. Knowingly or
unknowingly, you are being drawn unto Him. This is the summum bonum of
life. As long as you have not realized Him, there is no siddhi in your
life." (SS-10)
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How Sadguru is Still Present
Baba says, "The entity by whose grace one comes into contact with
Sat...that entity, or rather, that framework through which Parama Purusa
is working or Ta'raka Brahma is functioning, is the Sadguru."
(AV-3, p. 48)
Note 1: And here below Baba defines the meaning of 'Sat'.
Baba says, "Sat, the non-changeable Entity, the non-changeable stance,
the non-changeable Nuclear Entity around which so many electrons move".
(AV-3, p. 48)
Note 2: That Sadguru still exists and one can see Him through our
various spiritual practices. In that way one can have His loving
communication and grace-- everything. So the form upon which each and
every sadhaka ideates upon Him in sadhana, that form is the Sadguru. And
through the medium of that form every disciple gets His blessing. And
that is why still today when an acarya initiates anyone they say that
your Guru is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
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