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  • Parasu Gopalan

Clarion Calls and the Egregore

Updated: Mar 24, 2020

This is a blog on meditation. Two spiritual teachers issued clarion calls, one in the middle of last century and the other in recent times, inviting humanity to meditate.


One was Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal (1894 –1994). Also known as the Sage of Kanchi or Mahaperiyava (meaning, "A venerable sage"), he was the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. He was revered and loved by all during his lifetime.

The other, Revered Shri Kamlesh D. Patel (affectionately known as Daaji) is the fourth Spiritual Guide in the Heartfulness System of Raja Yoga meditation. He has initiated the worldwide Heartfulness Movement. 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.

This blog examines the relevance of these Clarion Calls in the current times and how the responses to them can influence human activity in a positive way.


The Chant “Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara” reverberates in many religious functions we attend. But when one takes a great personality’s name like this, one must understand his teachings and introspect as to what extent they are  incorporated in one’s daily life. This was the basis of my quest to find out more about Mahaperiyava and his teachings.


I started by reading his magnum opus, Deivathin Kural ( Voice of God). The very first chapter Titled “The Acharya’s Commandment” in Section 1, (Advaitham) surprised me, to say the least. Here Mahaperiyava has conveyed the Commandments of Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada on the need to engage in meditation. Some of His important quotes, are reproduced below :-


"1. Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada’s important Commandment to us in the Peethams, which have come down in his name is that we should always engage in meditating on the Lord (Ishwara Dhyanam) and make others also meditate.

"2. When thus He (Ishwara) and we become One, all attributes will go and what remains will be attributeless.

"3. The sins of the disciple (go) to the Guru, the teacher, says the age old code of morals. If one is a Jagadguru, the entire sins of the world will become His.

"4. I (Mahaperiyava) try to meditate on behalf of all of you, but to the extent all of you meditate yourself the burden on me will be less. (Therefore) everyone must meditate as much as possible.

"5. Engaging in meditation should be considered the first duty in everyday life.

"6. I have placed before you Bhagavatpada’s commandment to us- meditate- tell others also to meditate.

"7. Each one should ask himself or herself, for how long He/she meditates.

"8. If you so manage that we can say that there is no baggage of sin, when leaving this world, we fly away happily as light as carton. We can return to the same place where we had started. After that we can have continuous bliss."


The entire message can be heard in Audio on the following presentation.





Now to an avid fan of cricket like me, this message is comparable to Mahaperiyava hitting sixer after sixer in the very first over of the match. If any reader considers my comparison audacious, I beg his or her pardon. But you will understand how excited I am on making this personal discovery, and that too after engaging in meditation practice for 26 long years. This message, in the form of a Commandment, is nothing short of a Clarion Call by the Mahaperiyava to his followers to engage in meditation.

If Mahaperiyava had chosen to give direct commandments, that too in the name of Adi Guru Bhagwatpada, there must be a great element of seriousness in this Clarion Call. I request readers to ponder over these aspects deeply in their heart.


Having had some experience on meditation, insignificant though it may be, I elaborate on my understanding of this call by the Revered.


On reading some of the other writings of Mahaperiyava, one comes to the clear understanding that various activities such as performance of charitable deeds, engagement in traditional rituals, tirtha yatras and religious discourses etc. can have a positive impact in our spiritual pursuits and take us in the right direction. But they cannot be a substitute for meditation, particularly if the purpose of human life, i.e., to merge in the Lord within us is to be achieved.

I would like to suggest that, if you are already following a system of meditation which will help to realize your goal of life as prescribed by the Bhagwatpada, then you should continue to follow the same so long as you are satisfied with your progress.

The devotee of Mahaperiyava who chooses now to follow His call and start meditation may have another difficulty. How to choose a suitable method of meditation from so many varieties, so to say, available in the market? It is not ethical on my part to make a comparison of different types of meditation for you because I do not have any experience of these different systems of meditation, except the one I practice.


For those who would rightly like to take pride in ancient Indian culture and practices, you would be pleased to know that as per Shri Ram Chandra ( Second Guide of Heartfulness Movement) Heartfulness practices traces their origin to an unknown Rishi who lived 72 generations before Raja Janak. Someone I knew had done calculations to trace the origins back to 1100 BC. Give or take a few centuries here and there, this is as ancient and as Indian as anything that can be.


Here, I would like to enumerate a few features of Heartfulness Practice* based on my personal experience: -


One of the unique features of the Heartfulness Meditation is the infusion of Yogic Transmission (called Pranahuti in Sanskrit) into the heart of the aspirant by a qualified Heartfulness Trainer. This Pranahuti is nothing but pure Love emanating from the Source (also known by different names such as Adi, Iswara, Paramatma, Khuda, Holy Spirit etc.) and the aspirant can possibly feel its profound effect in the very first Heartfulness meditation session. I find it difficult to add any further description to it. But I invite you to have a practical experience of the same, which will convince you of its efficacy. It is Pranahuti which brings life, wonder and joy to the Heartfulness practice.


The application and integration of Heartfulness practices in our daily lives, can result in a feeling of lightness of the system, so that one feels connected, initially in intervals and a later stage, continuously with the Source within us. Again,it must be reiterated that in the Heartfulness System, it is this Pranahuti which facilitates and simplifies this process of delving deep within oneself, which is generally otherwise thought to be complex and difficult to experience. Gradually, the feeling of Love expands to encompass every other being in the planet and universe. I am of the opinion that this is what Mahaperiyava means by saying “we fly away happily as light as carton.” -a state which is experienced even in their lifetime by many Heartfulness Practitioners - often in the initial stages of the practice.


If you are engaged in any other spiritual practice, you can try Heartfulness Meditation in parallel. You can experience as to how it adds depth to your existing practice. Further if you wish you can continue to offer Guru Dakshina to your existing Guru.


Mahaperiyava in his talk has mentioned that “Holy place, Holy waters, body mind, shastra and other conveniences are available in this world only.” I would humbly suggest that you may, to start with, consider Heartfulness practices as one of the “other conveniences” available in this world and take it up earnestly.


The Other Clarion Call

If you closely observe the title of this piece it is the story of “Clarion Calls and the Egregore” –and there are two of them discussed in this blog. One, as already stated above, was given by Mahaperiyava many decades ago. The other Clarion Call is given in recent times by Revered Shri Kamlesh Patel (affectionately called Daaji), the present Global Guide of Heartfulness Movement. For over a hundred years the Heartfulness system grew organically spreading predominantly by way of word of mouth. Nevertheless, about five years back, the numbers had grown to hundreds of thousands of practitioners in over 130 countries all over the world. Daaji has now taken this movement to more and more people all over the world. The movement is presented to schools, colleges, hospitals, corporates, government institutions, temples, housing societies etc. in a structured way so that people can assimilate the system conveniently it in their daily lives.


Daaji aims to create an Egregore – which in the context of meditation is defined as “ A collective thought form, feeling form, or vibrational field that is created by our collective thoughts and feelings. It creates an atmosphere”.


Daaji carries this message : “There is a humble request which is made. I need your help. How ? Purify yourself by practice, Only when you do this are young of the next generation eligible for the genetic changes (which will bring positive changes in this world). It is the vibratory level preparing for this genetic change. Our preparation has a great effect, a great echo into the future. The Egregore that we prepare, the field that we prepare here, will have its impact there (future).”


Daaji further says " My ideas are to bring every spiritual tradition under one roof. Hope it happens soon."


Therefore Daaji has given another clarion call to all like minded persons and organizations with the same objective to come together and join the movement for welfare of Humanity. I find the resonance of this call in the simple commandment of Bhagwatpada conveyed by Mahaperiyava- “meditate- tell others also to meditate.” Mahaperiyava has said “They should be told lovingly and in a manner they react favourably. If something is told with love, even a hard hearted person will listen."

Let us pray that Love of God and all the Great Saints may induce us all to do what is right for us and our future generations.


*For more details on Heartfulness Practice please read my blog at https://parasugopalan.wixsite.com/website/post/principal-benefits-of-heartfulness-meditation. Also visit www.heartfulness.org for more details. To contact a Heartfulness trainer near you visit https://heartspots.heartfulness.org/.


Acknowlegements

Photos, videos and quotes from various official publications and Media of Heartfulness.

Acharya's Call audio from www.kamakoti.org.


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