Ishtadeva

Shivabalayogi respected each person’s uniqueness.  It is reflected in the traditional Indian notion of ishtadeva.  Each person has a preference to see God in a certain way.  That preferred form is the ishtadeva.

“If you pray to your ishtadeva before meditation you will get a lot of control of mind.  Then you can meditate well.  God will appear to you in your meditation in various forms and bhava.  Let us say you do not like this chocolate.  Instead you prefer another type of chocolate.  If I give you this chocolate you would not like it.  That is the meaning of ishtadeva.  That is the reason you have to pray to your own ishtadeva before you meditate.”

Even yogis differ from each other.  Swamiji emphasized meditation.  Ramakrishna emphasized devotion.  Haidakhan Babaji emphasized selfless service.  Ramana Maharshi emphasized self inquiry.  When asked why different yogis emphasized different values, Swamiji explained

“It depends upon the way they are trained by their gurus.  Depending on the training that their gurus give them, they emphasize different things.  Whatever his guru taught him, he is teaching the world that.”

Each of us is unique and interprets God uniquely.  The One appears diverse.

If God is different to different people, and if Shivabalayogi was different to different people, it should not come as a surprise that each devotee sees Shivabalayogi’s mission a little differently.  Some see it very differently.  When Shivabalayogi was in his own body, the “mission” was a little simpler.  He was it.  Now we are left with much more flexibility.  Each person sees The Living Yogi a little differently.

Some prefer meditation, others the path of devotion.  Some are drawn to Christianity, others to Islam, and others avoid organized religions.  Each of us is unique and Swamiji always emphasized that each person should follow the spiritual path he or she prefers.  He simply encouraged the practice of meditation as consistent with all spiritual traditions.

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The Living Yogi, Perspectives on the Shivabalayogi Mission Today
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