The 3 Paths of Spiritual Purification To Go From Your HEAD To Your HEART | Paramahamsa Vishwananda

People think that life just happened randomly, it can't be random at the age of 14 I experienced something that changed my life itself, you sat down to meditate and left

your

body, yes for 3 days I was in the state of zadi and what was

your

experience like were you ah really before I heard about Mahar Babaji he B down, look me in the eyes, he revealed that all this time he was in it, everyone is looking for one thing which is happiness, we think that something will make us happy, There is a part of us that is not yet satisfied and it is when your soul itself has that deep longing I want to know every day of your life there is a golden moment that you have to make your Paradise here if you have not made your Paradise here what you are Paradise your goal in everything we do we serve Divinity we find God in everything we are not separate you know of God wherever we are Divinity is with us Hello everyone, welcome back to the Know Yourself podcast today we have the privilege of sitting down with the founder of bakti Marga, an individual who is a teacher and

spiritual

leader, uh, paramahansa

vishwananda

, it is a pleasure to have you here, yes, your mission is to open the

heart

of humanity, yes, I would love to delve into your story, how do you You originated here, but where did I first arrive.

What I want to start with is that I believe and have come to understand that there is a deeper fundamental longing and searching within the mind and

heart

of every human being that we often label as a professional relationship and these different manifestations in the material world, as well. I just want to ask you what do you feel we are fundamentally looking for what is the deepest longing in reality everyone is looking for one thing which is happiness and happiness has different levels some look for happiness in the material world some look for it in a relationship some look for happiness in

spiritual

ity, that is fundamentally all those who seek to be happy and there were different types of happiness, different ways of being happy, why does it seem to elude us so much?

Why aren't so many people happy because we want to? things too quickly now we look for happiness but we want it very quickly and this is because we are very impatient with ourselves and with everything else, that is why even when we look for happiness we do not achieve that happiness when you say Word happiness, what do you mean by that? Because I think a lot of people have different perceptions of what they think happiness means. It's true. You see, we search for happiness very often. We think something will make us happy, but along the way we discover it. what there is no happiness in it our happiness disappeared, it's about time, now we like to have something wonderful, yes, we enjoy it and then sometimes that happiness fades, so for me personally, when I talk about happiness, I talk about happiness, something that carries in something that doesn't fade with time or with uh, let's say you're enjoying something and then it fades like that, no, yeah, I feel like a lot of people get joy like true happiness and joy mixed with pleasure, like they. mix the two because many people say well, a car makes me happy or you know, a relationship that is actually pleasure, right, yes, then you are talking about the deepest fundamental, there is like a satisfaction, there is like an imperfect satisfaction, you have that deep satisfaction because Look, we can do so many things but still there is a part of us that is still not satisfied and that is when what is not satisfied becomes satisfied with what I call true happiness, yes, it feels like there is a presupposition fundamental that we are trying to find something infinite within the finite, well, the infinite is also in the finite, you know that they are not separate because very often, especially on the spiritual path, you know that we try to find that infinite separate from the finite, which is that they are not separated, yes. yes, they are together, so what have you found as what really brings and unlocks that true deep happy happiness that lasts?

Where do you look for that so that it lasts? In reality, we very often try to like that happiness. I said before, you know we tried. find it somewhere else, but it's not really anywhere else, it's in ourselves and in the things that we do with what attitude we do things that also bring out that happiness, so this is the not themselves podcast and we love to dive into exploration. What is the true nature of oneself? Who I am? What is our purpose here? How can we be more effective? You know, they are stewards to serve the planet and I think that is very aligned with their mission of opening the hearts of humanity.

Actually, this is a main goal. question about spirituality, about knowing yourself, yes, so what do you think it really means to self-actualize? Well, in every moment, whatever we do, we do it with some Awareness that we are Divine first and that Divinity can also be diffused in everything. What do we do when we realize that because what brings me personally what I'm talking about is what brings that Happiness is when we are connected to the source of everything and that when you actualize it and in your daily life itself, whatever that may be. You are doing it, you are doing it with some self-awareness, which is also Divine, yes, so it is not separate, it is a powerful distinction to use the word self-realization because you are discovering something that is already there, as you said, the C connection with what Divine you are like you are realizing that you have always been but you come to see something that has always been yes but the Mind separates no yes uh as we are talking right now yes there is a certain realization but you know but there are many people that they know it but they didn't realize it, knowing and realizing are two different things when you realize something that the knowledge disappeared, so it's like, uh, you said that when you are little you grow up, youth disappears, it makes way for different stages of your life you know that when you were young you become young you know that after youth you become old and so on, but all the experiences of this day, but you have transcended them in that way too, although throughout the In life you know when whatever you have experienced, you are transcending it.

I feel like a lot of our pain and suffering comes from our perceptions with the mind about the world and our problems and things, and you talk so often about the shift from the mind to the heart, so I would just love it if you would share a little more. about why it is such a powerful change in one's life and how to realize that we have done everything with the mind and we know very well that we are experts at it, but whatever we do with the mind. what drives our mind does not lead us to true happiness does not lead us to true satisfaction, so there must be something more, but beyond that, why some people are truly happy no matter what happens in their lives.

Still, even if their life is turned upside down, there is happiness within them, so I personally think that's the way you know where the mind has changed, you know, it has descended into the heart itself, so the heart just doesn't know. It stayed like that, you know? when we talk about the heart, we are not talking about the physical heart, we are talking about the spiritual heart, you know, that keeps opening, this is where love comes from, you know what the nature of love is, very often people ask you, do you know what is the nature of love what is what is love because this is something that is very mysterious everyone loves you know, everyone talks about love but what is that love, of course, the religious would tell you religion would tell you yes, it is the love is God, that's all Final point but it cannot simply be that there is more to love that is why we see that love is identified with God in a certain way because it transcends everything it is unlimited when I come into contact with people who I feel live there in your heart.

It's a feeling of freedom, you know, it's like the saying of being in the world, but not of it, you're not attached to external circumstances, you actually see it when it's with your mind, there are a lot of judgments, yes, criticism, etc. ., you know when you come to someone who is very mind-oriented we think that yes, that person knows everything, yes, so you close yourself, you don't open up because you know that they will criticize you, you know that that person will judge you, you know that yes, they will see you. You are different and negative, so you cannot open your heart to that person, but when you approach someone whose heart is open, you are free, you let it flow, you know that there is also acceptance, you know that there is no judgment and it is this flow of love, you know, it just flows naturally, so I think everyone listening has this experience probably on a daily basis where they feel like they feel judgment, no matter if it's big or small, whether it's labeling something as good or bad, having an attachment to certain circumstances and wanting to go another way.

It is a natural process of the Mind, how can we really dig deeper into the heart so that we can begin to hold this and not begin to think so dualistically? Well, dualistically it comes from the mind, you know, we have a mind and everything we do. We do it in the world we do it with the Mind naturally there is good there is bad there is but we should not get attached to it this is what makes the difference is that when we begin to identify in the Judgment whether it is good or not, both are Judgment, so when our The mind begins to attach itself to what I often say, if you judge something to be good you automatically accept the bad, whether you say it or not, you are accepting it, it is there to get to the point of the heart. in itself it's like it's not what you don't care about, but you reach a point where yes, it's okay, how is it, something is going well in your way, it's okay, something doesn't go the way you want, it's also okay, like that that you can Discover that both can take you somewhere.

There is a beautiful story. A master and his disciple used to go on a retreat and they would spend six months in his cabin and six months in the forest, so on the way back when they came back. to their hut after being in the forest they saw that half of the hut was broken, the statue was missing, then the master the disciples began to complain saying: "Oh, sad, we have been meditating in the forest, we have been doing practice spiritual, how unfair of God. to look at our heart you know he can't protect our heart when he looked at the teacher the teacher was on the ground bowing down say thank you God you know you got it you know you knew we haven't bathed for 6 months you know we did .

No, so you have it, we were, I was wondering how this is going to be, you know, because, from the smell, you know all this, so you've made it so open now, so it's natural, uh, AC, yeah, so Surely the disciple must be thinking, you know. something must go wrong with the master drama The Last Retreat, so when they came in, you know, they were sleeping and they looked at all the stars, so suddenly the forecast started and it started raining R, it started falling again, the master was on your knees, thank you. God, you know you know better, so we didn't take a shower, you sent the shower down, very grateful for that, then the disciple looked and said what's wrong with you master, you know it was broken, you say thank you for that and now it's raining. they are completely wet and you even say thank you for that and uh then the teacher said one thing listen, I don't know if God really exists, I have never seen him, I don't know if he ever heard, but one thing that has brought me with me and kept me strong on the way it is my attitude towards life I take it in a positive way and I find it wonderful you know when we start we learn to take things in a positive way in our life we ​​are more relaxed we are We don't need to say stress because stress does not solve the problem , it makes it worse, but we see the world.

When there is a problem, there is something that people attach mainly to that professional they meditate on. the problem and the problem get bigger, yes, I love it, yes, a lot of our joy or suffering, I feel that, when you mention, it is our attitude, our perception about what is happening and one of Vidant's philosophies, uh, what is the visha, what is more. I think you studied the lineage. I'd love for you to share a little bit about what that is in that perspective so we can dive into that understanding. Visha actually comes from Shar, you know, but it's compared to other, let's say, forms of uh.

Adventism knows this and UHA is that we are not separate from God, but wherever we are, the Divine is with us because others said it's okay, the formless aspect. Adic knows the formless look. You know we're separated. Everything is God said no, we are part of. him and of course we have D also, which is said no, no, no, everything is H complete separation, so it is said that there is no partial separation and complete separation, so V we find that in everything we do we serve the Divine , we find God in all that is. We are not separate from ourselves, we are part of it.

I think more and more people are becoming familiar with the non-ISM um and adva teachings, which is surprising, but the distinction with fishta ad is that, as I understand it, there are some similar distinctions, um, could you? Clarify a little bit what they are, this is actually a very long dispute, okay, for centuries, they've actually all been fighting each other between the different schools of philosophy, you know, because Adismo ADV and Vista ADV philosophy, you know, and they go on, we're right, you're wrong, you know, and in fact today it'syou still want more and more is the greed of life, so when that is transcended, then you thought to appreciate what you have, so you carry that devotion only from the self to the Wi. into a greater whole like you dedicated your life very deeply to your mission and I always find that there is something like that.

Grace comes into the picture when you really dedicate your life to something bigger for the collective and that's why I love that you share a little bit more about the power of devotion and how Grace comes into the picture when we talk about devotion, we dedicate ourselves to God, you know , like for us, we dedicate Krishna to Shana, so it's not about us, so we take away that credit. We give the credit to God, you know if it is the same Lord who is within us, the same Lord who is in everything, but we give him that credit, even just that makes you feel yes, more because you have given yourself to him with so much devotion, it is very important. because people have devotion for so many things, or you have devotion to your personality, devotion to your success in life, devotion you have many ways, so you have devotion in the lower spheres or devotion in the higher spheres, so when we are in the SP we give devotion to the highest.

SP you know that we give Devotion to God mhm and then what is the balance between effort and Grace on the path you have to make the effort to attract grace without effort you do not achieve that Grace and what kind of effort well your sardo your spiritual practices, and so the more you dedicate yourself to that, your sad spiritual practice and put that effort, this is very important, what is the feeling of Grace and how does that come. At that point, you see it very often. People every time they think and they do it so intensely mhm, they are not relaxed, yes, look, they feel that yes, I have to do so much, I have to do this, you know, they strain themselves, yes, in the brain.

You know, then they collapse and become militant, yes, they become very militant and then they achieve nothing, yes, because it used to be me a lot, so you have to enjoy yourself. You also know what you're doing, you know when we talk about spirituality. It's not boring at all, yes, I say that because very often people think that spirituality is boring, you know, no, it's not, it's one of the most joyful ways and one that most celebrates life itself, you know, that's important. Yes, but you celebrate every moment of your life. Yes, so how do you experience Grace in the people around you and in your own personal life?

Yes, what is it? How does Grace come? What form does it take? How do you feel? Grace comes in many, you know, and in the smallest things. of your life, you know, I call it the golden moment if you perceive that every day of your life there is Grace in it, but you have to be so to not taste it. It is not just that when you get sick you get well, that is a Grace, no, not only that every day of your life there is a golden moment, every day, when you help someone on the street, when you do something good for someone, this It is the very grace that allowed you to serve.

You know, I think it's part of the journey to get there doesn't involve identifying with such a small, limited self of who we are. Much of the path of spirituality we were in discussion a little bit a couple of days ago at that event, this talk about bravery on the path of spirituality, so I would love you to speak with fear, how do you get to bravery in Pursuing what you know, achieve and serve? This is fear, this is what controls the Mind in reality because the mind wants to be in control and the weapon that the mind uses for that is. fear because the mind knows your weakness and you know your weakness and you like to look at it you know you like to like I said glorifying that wine the more you glorify it the more fear will be there because fear is unknown to what it is you know What will be very frequent when I say, You know, people come to me and say, oh, you know, Guruji, I want to change my life, but you know, the moment you start thinking like that you can't change anything, so we bring our own fear to you.

You know, we make that fear so big, but we can't control it anymore. I love how you talked about the spiritual journey being the longest and shortest distance of 40 centm from the mind to the heart. Yes, it really is, it's like paradoxical nature. That where it really is is from the mind to the heart and yet Tak lives lives and the longest path, in reality, you know it is the shortest journey, but people don't want to let go of the mind that they don't want to. let go of your egoic personality. I once heard it said that the longest distance between two roads is a shortcut and I think a lot of people want to, you know, hold on to the bumper sticker, quotes, clichés of spirituality without really feeling it, integrating it into their body, but which one do you think?

What is the direct path to live in the heart? Truly enjoy every moment of your life. You know, because that moment is unique and if you can't enjoy it, you will never be happy. So we are all on the spiritual plane. I guess whether we are consciously taking it or not, many times we unconsciously pick up on things that we believe will bring us happiness or a pleasurable experience of life, and the path of spirituality is very much the conscious process of how to live in the heart and how to realize these things and, for everyone listening right now, how do you feel that is another big obstacle on the spiritual path that we haven't covered yet?

Well, spiritual ego, yes, because also on the spiritual path. I see the path very often, even despite knowing everything, the ego is still there. You know spiritual Pride. You know that, so that's what we have to be careful of. So you know how to be careful. Try to become humble. Yes, embrace your humanity. your humility, yes I totally agree and you know if Enlightenment is supposed to be something like not having an ego nasty having an ego about how much you don't have an ego is one of the most unfortunate realities you know and it's sad to experience and Definitely I have found that you know where you either have an expanded sense of consciousness or maybe you develop a little bit spiritually and then the ego makes you feel Superior, you are very important.

I've met a lot of people like that, you see, they borrowed. book knowledge, you know, yes, and through book knowledge, you think that spirituality is not about experience, you see, if you are unspiritual, you have not experienced what you know and it is difficult, yes, they are still on the path. MH is important, you know, you see it often, esp. on the path of devotion you know there is a PA who says yes knowledge is important you know you have to have knowledge and then you can have experience and U when I look especially I can speak for my devotee you know I look In my devotee is the opposite, they have that experience first, then they know it, they have the knowledge of it because once you have had a knowledge and you want to experience that the mind is still there, you know, then you want to create that experience. with your mind, then the ego is still playing there, you see that the ego will make you think that yes, you are very special, you know that you are a spiritual person and you can see that in the world itself you know people who have a lot of knowledge, uh, them.

They have great knowledge about all the scriptures, but at the same time they lack humility within them. This knowledge has to help them free themselves and actually traps them in their own selfish nature. I totally agree. I think it is very important to have teachers. and only friends who can keep us in check and make sure we remain humble and every time we gain knowledge it is an inevitable process. I think for most people we lose our way, we lose it a little bit and then we get back on it. the center and sometimes it's normal to lose it, you know, when you have to shoot an arrow you have to pull it back, sometimes it's good to take a step back and then move forward with a different force, yeah, I was just doing a podcast with Someone, the Dr.

Gilbert, you mentioned this phrase that you heard sometimes, I don't know where the line is until I cross it, you know, and that process is zero, you know it before, you know it after, but when it happens, you don't know it. Yes, do you feel like there is an overall intention that Consciousness in life has in itself because we have our own intention of what we want in life, but Consciousness itself apparently almost feels like it is divinely designing and designing the experience to that we can come to know ourselves and realize in many ways, actually yes you see that your Consciousness has its own Dharma, then I know that is why I said you are here, it is not random and your Consciousness will surely, giving you experience, but it will take you where that expands. awareness can happen that's why you see very often people search now you start you're searching but still you don't feel yes this is my path this is my power until you find what you're really looking for much of that path I Feeling is a process of aligning our will with the Divine will and that is largely what you talked about about living in your Dharma.

What is Dharma and how can we find it to live it in our lives? There is a sure universal Dharma. as a human being, that is to love, to be on the path of bti and the path of devotion, which is the Dharma of your soul itself, to reach that blissful state of love, this is a universal Dharma and of course in how achieve it. everyone has their own Dharma in a unique way to approach it, so those who are struggling to find their purpose, their Dharma finds meaning in the way they appear on the planet, we all desire that, but many people find it. frustration and not having it, yes, well, never lose hope, keep searching, keep longing for that, you know, because this will happen, yes, first of all, having the frustration of not having found your Dharma yet, is a good sign, It's not bad, you know.

It means that yes, you know there's something bigger, you know you're destined for something better, yes, it feels like not knowing our path is part of the process of knowing our way, yes, it's a process, yes, so when you look to Karma Baka and Yana yoga, why do you think certain um like of those three why someone is attracted to one of them instead of the other and maybe you could also share what each of them looks like? Each person, as I said, has their own PA. We are some people who are attracted to karma yoga, for example, they feel good serving, they will go out to serve, but you have to understand the nature of service, you even know that you can grow spiritually and that there are many saints who have achieved realization just for service, but you have to understand the true nature of service, you know, as we said, service to humanity is service to God n m m man m s so service to man service a n so having deep inside me that my service is towards the Divine we I am serving for some people, that's easy because you know you go to services.

Also, you don't just say "okay," I write a check and send it. I'm serving, no, go and be with the people who are karma yog, you know, and then you have uh, other people who for them is through P devotion to them, they also serve through an energetic point of view because when you are worshiping it generates a certain energy, it is not just for you that energy expands the expansion of that energy it also helps those around you. help nature, help Mother Earth, you know, and then you have a g yog, you know that those who have a lot of knowledge, you and they are also serving in some way, because without knowledge all the great wise men would not be here and Saints of Antiquity, you know what they have. written length on the scriptures and so on because it was necessary.

Yes, I have personally found the most resonance with people like Krishna merti and Sh Sakara Maharaj and the path of Gana yoga and I feel like that is very aligned with this podcast and my intention. What we want is to share this knowledge in a way that invites us to return to that memory of ourselves, um, and yes, you think it simply depends on someone's temperament, the personality is attracted to a certain SE path, and it also depends from the level of spirituality where You agree that you will be attracted to it, you know it and like you said, you know the oldest teacher, you know Maharaj and then Kasham Morti and everyone found out a lot about who you are, you also know Rah Maharishi, Which is important, you know.

On the path itself, without knowing who you are first, you cannot help another person know themselves, so, bakti, there is a different quality that someone on that path carries within their heart. I feel like it's actually true, you know, Baki. It has a sweetness that for me personally I have also seen all the other

paths

, but the path of devotion has a different sweetness, you know, that sweetness of the relationship with Bhagan, you know, the relationship with God is amazing, he says, okay, I can't reach it. at that level, but I know you're there, you know, no matter what you know, I'm not alone, you know, because on the path of the self, like saying, knowing, it's a path of often there's loneliness, you know I have to travel towards that you.

I know I have to do that, no, but on the way back he said no, but one said: it's okay, I'm with you, so this is the beauty, that's what Krishna reminds Urgin and says: it's well, you see that you do your duty in this battle. You know you can't run away, you know, in the Mahabharat, in the war field, you know when Arjun was, you saw in the first chapter of the BH Gita, he was very, I mean,confused and wants to run away, he doesn't want to. fight whatever you want to do, no Krishna, remind him, but when it comes to duty, you should never put your personal emotion into it, it is beautiful without that, which has the guidance of the sguru of Lord Krishna himself, you know Arjun would not be there, so there.

It is this sweetness of a relationship that you know, but it is there, you know it is right, you do your duty, you do your Dharma, you have committed yourself, do it, but do it selflessly, MH, do it without any selfish motive behind it, you don't want to do it . Having all this is good, but that is the nature of serving, so that those who are listening can feel that Karma Yoga is through our action and detachment from circumstances, we can purify ourselves and follow that path or The Path of Knowledge with Gana yoga or bakti, the path of devotion and infusion with Create yoga as supporting us on our path, regardless of whether there is something you can share to help people clarify what will serve them most and what path you see.

Each path as I said has a uniqueness and what will serve the most in each path is the dedication that MH has if you are dedicated to your path and try to do it. With all your heart you will grow in that, why do you feel that? Could you share a little bit about bakim Marga and why you feel like there's been such a beautiful fragrance, I guess, of this devotional path around you and that people are engaging with, as I say? You see, I have taken the Grace of Mahar Baba and through different Graces of the aaras, you also know and the power of, as I said, has a sweetness that you know and that you do not find in any other path. that what I lack today is why when Mah said teach I said No, I say I also want B in that I want to spread that devotion also because that is what is needed in this time devotion is so poorly understood because because A We often see people say, okay, one is very devout.

You know they are doing rituals. All this is very degraded. If you understand what's behind all this, you know that this is where knowledge is important too. So if you understand what's behind it. You see, that will elevate you. Another thing I want to touch on is that I think all of this is very useful for people. The romantic relationships we maintain and find in association with other people can be an immense source of suffering, but also Awakening, sharing and companionship in the journey along the way, so yes, how do you feel if we choose to do so?

Romantic associations can help and serve on the path of spirituality. Well, love is love, you know, love begins first, as I told you about mhm. It always starts with the relationship with people, so that's the basics of the relationship and our relationships start long term. You know, the moment we leave The Mother, We are placed on our mother's chest to feel that Warmth, that relationship, that's how we all are. constantly on that MH, what do you think most people are getting wrong in the way they approach relationships? In that dynamic, you see that when people approach relationships they expect too much from each other and when they start to wait, this is where problems start to arise and then they start to get into drama I said yes, we start off charmingly you know , people get together, live together, you know, as long as they're dating, it's wonderful, you've seen it, you know, but the moment they move in together, this is where the problem starts. and yes because then you fight you know you have to do it you face the reality of the person because as long as you are away from the person you can love yourself but when you get there you have the challenge MH, so are you ready to accept the challenge or not?

But this is also the beautiful thing. Yes, I think a lot of us struggle with accepting someone's acceptance because we often have those expectations and want things to be done a certain way. it creates friction and resistance in the relationship so yeah anything else you want to share about the power of acceptance and when you come together in a relationship you need to know what brings you together mhm sharing together know it's learning from each other to Support each other, not just criticize each other. Wonderful, in closing, here's something else on your heart that you want to share with the audience today, um, that you feel would support you.

What I would like to share with everyone is simply. be yourself, know that God loves you just the way you are, know the way he has created you and grow with that beauty. Thank you so much. I appreciate you coming here today and the time and you know you're. You haven't been to Los Angeles since. seven years ago yeah it's been a while so I'm glad you're aligned synchronously and worked to come here thank you because you sent a message you know they said you'll be there at the show yeah wonderful wonderful very well and fair in kind of closing, is there anything else you want to share about what's happening in the world and, um, yeah, what's the path of what's to come?

You feel the next decade for bakim Maro, what you are creating. Anything you want to share. Like I said at the beginning, you know, my goal is to spread the love of God, you know, and spread this love to everyone, so that's what we carry and we share it with everyone, yeah, everyone, thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of no. th self podcast uh let us know how this particular episode resonated with you and until next time