In this part Gurumaa elucidates the true nature of the mind. She explains that it is the nature of the mind to look outside at different objects, jump from one thought to another, and desire worldly objects.

This is the state of every mind that has not been disciplined through spiritual practices, and as a result it becomes dull and lethargic and filled with impurities.

The scriptures of India say that the mind is your best friend, but can also be your worst enemy. If the mind is trained and purified it allows you to experience your own inner Self.

A good mind is the most important possession one can have. Without this possession it is impossible to realize your true Self. Therefore the sages of India always emphasized valuing and respecting the mind.

However, if one continues to remain under its control they become slaves of their own minds.

So, what is the mind? As Gurumaa says the mind has no shape or form, and is really nothing but emptiness! The scriptures also say that the mind is nothing but a contracted form of the universal consciousness.

It is the nature of the consciousness to create, and just as it has created this outer world it continues to create infinite universes inside our minds. As a result the mind is always creating and dissolving worlds of thoughts, fantasies, and all kinds of dreams.

Therefore the mind is uncontrollable because it is nothing but the pure energy of this universal consciousness!

The great philosophers and sages of India composed many great works which discuss how the mind can be stilled and purified. They developed practices such as yoga, pranayama and meditation which cleanse the mind, and ultimately allow one to experience their own nature, or the paramatma that exists within! As the mind turns within, it merges with the pure Self, and becomes the Self!

We assume that fulfilling our desires will make us happy, but they really don’t! One wish only leads to another, and ultimately we realize we are not finding the happiness that we are always searching for.

How can we experience this true happiness? Gurumaa says the only way we will truly become happy is by discovering our own true nature!

If you experience trembling and uneasiness in legs while doing yoga nidra, know it that your mind, body and nervous system are weak. You also need to strengthen your immune and nervous system.

So how do you do this? Listen to Gurumaa telling us how we can conquer the weaknesses inherent in our system and become healthy, strong and wise!

Practicing yoga nidra everyday enables us to explore the boundaries between the various states of consciousness. Our willpower increases because we make a resolve each day, which does not change.

We are able to study the thoughts arising in our subconscious, accept the positive ones and reject the negative ones. Yoga nidra teaches us how to relax. Stillness enables us to become aware of our inner being, one of the main purposes of meditation.

To maintain stillness in yoga nidra, practice of yoga and pranayam are necessary to make the body receptive to this transformational healing. So, are you a fan of this wonderful combination of yoga, pranayama and yoga nidra? Then, you are well on the way to becoming healthy, spiritually wealthy, strong and wise.

At times one may be faced with difficulties in following certain meditation techniques correctly. A master then comes to rescue the seeker and provide deeper knowledge of the subject to help the seeker sail smoothly.

A disciple asked Anandmurti Gurumaa why she mostly lost consciousness very soon while performing ‘Yoga Nidra’? Many have time and again faced this problem. Listening to this video carefully will clear all doubts related to practice of ‘Yoga Nidra’.

Gurumaa says that while practicing ‘Yoga Nidra’ one should not be physically tired or suffering from sleep deprivation. Chances of losing consciousness and not being able to stay awake all through the practice are very high when one has not slept well at night or is too tired.

One should be physically fit and neither too tired nor suffering from lack of sleep or else the body just utilizes that time of inactivity and the calm state of mind to catch up on sleep and one loses consciousness early into the practice.

Even after taking care of these things if one still tends to lose consciousness early while practicing ‘Yoga Nidra then it may also be that one needs to be more aware and consciously work at strengthening and building a heightened state of mental awareness.

But there is no reason to worry. One must continue with the practice regularly and that will help in getting better. Together with it one can start to practice other forms of meditation. Practicing ‘Sakriya Dhyan’ (meditation technique wherein one is deeply involved in taking deep breath and releasing it with force and letting the body move and go with the flow, to release all pent up energy).

The key is not to give up and be regular in practice and adopting other meditation techniques too to see which one works best for you. With blessings of the master one surely will be able to fill one’s own life with joy and bliss.

At times a seeker may not be able to understand his own experiences and may start worrying. Due to lack of complete knowledge and understanding, true love and happiness just eludes him/her.

To be able to truly soak in the love and bathe in the showers of true bliss, one needs the help of an enlightened master who can guide and lead his disciple to attain that true state of being.

One such seeker who had been practicing kumbhak on his own after reading it in the Bhagwad Geeta – the sacred Hindu script, came to Anandmurti Gurumaa seeking clarifications. He was doing everything correctly yet somewhere that fulfillment, contentment and calmness was missing.

In this video you can hear the enlightened master Anandmurti Gurumaa compassionately explaining the essence of Kumbhak and Pranayam. This is essentially the art of practicing restraint of prana or breath.

Gurumaa emphasizes on the need for correct interpretation of what is written in the scriptures. Regarding the practice of Kumbhak she says that it cannot be practiced in a rush.

A seeker needs to first prepare himself by purifying his body both physically and mentally. One should have been practicing Yoga asana regularly for at least two years.

Before one attempts Kumbhak one should have been regularly practicing ‘Anulom Vilom Pranayam’ (the technique of breathing from one nostril and releasing from the other and then breathing from the same and releasing from the other forming a pattern of conscious breathing), ‘Nadishodhan’ (breathing technique where one needs to hold breath after each inhalation and exhalation) and ‘Kapalbhati’ (where breath is thrown out with a force).

When one is well versed with these techniques of Pranayam, slowly and gradually one can attempt kumbhak – the art of restrained breath. One must not simply try it, but instead it should be learnt from a teacher and initially practiced under guidance.

One should not play with ‘prana’. It is like a scorpion that can kill. Any practice which is not done with a right understanding can be dangerous. To prepare one self, one needs to do ‘Yoga Asana, Surya Namaskar’ and do pranayama for at least an hour a day and then with the blessings of the master go on to practice Kumbhak and seek the benefits of restrained breathing.

Insomnia, or lack of sleep is a common problem these days and the magnitude of this disease is increasing with the complexities of modern day living despite the comforts that are available.

It is gripping the society like plague. Though one has to realize that it is one’s own creation and if the person so desires, he/she can cure one’s own self. But that requires a quantum effort. For the realization that it is one’s own creation is the first step towards its cure.

When a person experiences long spells of sleeplessness then it starts damaging the body balance and disrupts the functioning of all organs. Which in turn plays on the health of the person and ends up in a vicious cycle.

It is most important to be aware and vigilant to see that the mind does not constantly engage itself in meaningless chatter. Thinking about the past or future is unproductive.

To be able to clear the clutter in the mind one needs to detach one’s self from desires and false image of one’s own self. Like the achievements and status symbols or even failures that one faces through the journey of life.

The strings of attachment that one has tied one’s own self with, only the person suffering can tell and then he/she only needs to detach from those unfulfilled desires. Keep in mind that death may come at any time.

If one keeps in mind that death may come knocking at the door at any time then how will one find time to indulge in meaningless and wasteful thoughts about the past or an unknown future that may never come.

Life is a blessing and one needs to live it with this attitude keeping in mind that each moment is precious because who knows when it may come to an end.

Gurumaa also suggests that everyone must practice ‘yoga nidra‘ which is the ancient technique practiced by our rishi’s and saints to rejuvenate and relax the mind.

The technique of ‘yoga nidra‘ has been explained by Gurumaa and is available in the form of a CD or DVD that one can get and follow it to de-stress and calm the mind and heal thy self.

Along with the practice of ‘Yoga Nidra’ if one learns ‘Yoga Asanas’ too, the benefit can be multifold.

Ayurveda suggests ‘abhyangaam’ (hot oil massage) or ’shirodhara’ (massage where oil is dripped on the head for a certain period of time) and cleansing of the body.

Presence of too many toxins in the body or metabolic disorders like constipation too make it difficult for a person to sleep well. An agitated mind leads to an agitated system which further agitates the mind forming a vicious cycle.

So both the body and the mind need to be cleansed and detoxified with the help of ‘Pranayama’ and practicing ‘Yoga asanas’, waking up at an appropriate time and sleeping at a proper time, leading a disciplined life. Most importantly always keeping in mind the mortality of the body.

Always keep in mind that nothing is constant, everything is changeable. Above all know the truth that death is just around the corner.

But the million dollar question is that how can we meditate with this body, mind and intellect? Is it possible for us to surrender totally to God? Our mind is so much attached and engrossed in worldly affairs that it seems almost impossible to sit upright with closed eyes even for few minutes. The moment we try to meditate the mind start behaving like a devil. It starts wandering in all the directions.

Shri Krishna in Shrimad Bhagvad Gita has given a solution to this problem. In this Shloka of chapter 12 he has categorically said that if you can’t establish your mind unwavering and unfaltering in me, the Almighty, at once than you must learn it through practice.

But then the question arises what kind of practice can give us that devotion which Shri Krishna is talking about to Arjuna.

Shrimad Bhagvad Gita itself talks of various paths like Gyana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, karma yoga etc. Then which practice one should follow?

Here we need a master. Only a true master can teach the technique through which we can still our mind and prepare an environment for true devotion.

In this video while explaining the shlokas of chapter 12 of Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, the mystic enlightened Master Anandmurti Gurumaa demystifies the different paths for spiritual attainment and the relation between them.

To be able to dive deep into spiritual practice one needs to be very strong physically too. If the body is suffering from ailments, a seeker will not be able to use it as a tool to nurture his/her spiritual pursuits.

Gurumaa says that to create energy and overcome the weakness of the physical body, practicing ‘Ujjayi pranayam’ can be very helpful.

In ‘Ujjayi Pranayam’ breath is taken in, consciously in a manner such that it goes in rubbing through the wind pipe, producing a whistle like sound and then after holding for a few seconds released through the left nostril.

‘Ujjayi Pranayam’ is a breathing technique which generates a lot of energy, increasing the power of concentration and lung capacity.

Another tool to overcome physical weakness can be ‘Sakriya Dhyan’ (Dynamic meditation) which is a meditation technique introduced by Gurumaa.

In ‘Sakriya Dhyan’ a seeker begins with consciously taking in deep breath and exhaling with force. Then increasing the inhalation and exhalations with force to a point where all else ceases to exist. After which letting the body gives way to all pent up energy in the form of any ‘kriya’ (catharsis). Be it dancing, clapping, humming or any other action that happens on its own.

Chanting too can be practiced to generate energy. The ‘Maha Mritunjya Mantra‘ is a very powerful mantra that if recited properly with full concentration empowers the seeker by bringing out his/her latent energy and creates a positive and charged environment.

A seeker who practices all these techniques benefits greatly. As a result of which a distinct aura begins to build around him/her.

Ayurveda is an ancient health-care system which originated in India over 5000 years ago. This system imparts the knowledge of life, in which the mind, body and spirit are all considered to be integral constituents for a healthy life. According to this system many diseases can be prevented through proper diet and healthy lifestyle practices.

According to the Ayurvedic system there are three humors that govern the human body. In order to function at its optimum level, these three elemental energies or humors need to be balanced.

These humors or doshas are known as vata (air & space – “wind”), pitta (fire & water – “bile”) and kapha (water & earth – “phlegm”). An imbalance of any of these doshas causes the body to become diseased.

Vata governs actions that require movement. Examples include breathing, contractions and relaxation of muscles, heartbeat, impulses within nerve cells, and the primary seat of vata is in the colon.

Pitta represents transformation and this dosha is involved in activities such as digestion, absorption and metabolism. This dosha is mainly found in the stomach, small intestine, skin, eyes, blood and fat.

The chest is the seat of kapha, and this dosha is known as the stirring force in our body. Some characteristics of kapha include lubricating the joints, providing moisture to the skin and enhancing immunity.

Every individual is considered to have a unique constitution, and one must eat certain foods, perform specific exercises, and follow a lifestyle that keeps these doshas in balance.

Anandmurti Gurumaa reveals that in order to remain disease free, it is important for us to know our body type and follow a specific diet and routine so that these doshas are not aggravated.

Ayurveda and Yoga are sister Vedic sciences that complement one another. While Ayurveda deals with maintaining the health of the body, the practice of yoga purifies both the mind and consciousness.

The sages of India devised these methods for keeping the body, mind and spirit strong and healthy so that every person can strive for optimum health and longevity in life.

The enlightened master Anandmurti Gurumaa says the Lord does not discriminate, and just like Lord Shiva we all possess a third eye! It cannot be seen with our physical eyes, and to visualize it we have to explore our inner world.

On the physical level the ajna chakra or third eye is related to the pituitary gland – the master gland that controls the functions of the endocrine system.

The ajna chakra is also one of the seven spiritual centers that are located in our subtle physical body. It is located slightly above the eyebrows, and is considered to be the most powerful center.

The chakras are also represented by a lotus, and each center has a specific amount of petals, and mantra associated with it. The ajna chakra has two white petals and the mantra for this center is the universal cosmic sound Aum.

Under the guidance of a spiritual master, meditation on the ajna chakra brings upon immense benefits to the seeker. It provides great mental insight and enhances intuition and sixth sense powers.

If this center is awakened, a person is able to destroy his past life karmas and can also obtain knowledge of the past, present and future.

Most importantly, the ajna chakra is the gate through which the consciousness can ascend to the seventh center, or sahasrara chakra. The experience of samadhi, or union with God can be experienced here.

Stimulation of the third eye can be accomplished by practices such as tratak (steady gazing), and certain forms of pranayama. While these techniques provide benefits such as improving memory and concentration, Gurumaa says the ultimate goal of such practices is to experience the power that lies within you!

All the vital energy we possess can be utilized in our spiritual journey instead of wasting it on sensual pleasures. As Gurumaa says we cannot be called humans if we don’t turn within and explore the vast powers that are dormant within us!

One of the devotees asks Anandmurti Gurumaa – “Do meditations help in controlling the mind and in improving memory power? Please help.”

Gurumaa says that meditation does help in controlling the mind and also in improving memory and intelligence. But one needs to first have a deep understanding of the mind, how it functions and what are the effects of meditation on the mind.

Mind is a powerful entity. If one is not conscious and aware of the thoughts being generated in the mind, the mind can take over and start ruling.

The mind plays strange games. How one feels depends on what one thinks. Feelings are the bi-product of thoughts. One thought can make a person happy and the very next minute another thought can make the same person sad.

It is natural for the mind to think. But the power to generate the right quality of thought lies with us. One needs to learn how to be watchful (maintain ’sakshi bhav’) and observe each thought that arises in the mind.

This is a very deep subject and a seeker needs to take help of an enlightened master to master the art of controlling the mind.

Anandmurti Gurumaa’s book “Going Beyond the Mind” sheds light on the subject and is a must read for all those who wish to know more on how the mind works.