PROGRAMS HOME PAGE | NEXT PAGE
“Yes, automatically you will come to balance. When you have Swamiji’s darshan, just the look itself will give you energy. This is called the currents of spiritual energy. Swamiji gives you those currents. This is the way Swami wants to serve the people. This is the way he wants to change the people. This is called the power attained through tapas: tapas shakti.”
Read more about what Shivabalayogi had to say about Darshan.
Darshan is a Sanskrit word with no English equivalent. The root meaning is to see someone or something holy. It refers to the blessings received from being in a sacred presence. At public programs, Shivabalayogi would be present, whether in his own physical body, or in an astral, subtle body form.
Silent Teaching
Most people who were new to Shivabalayogi expected that he would give a public talk or at least say something, but nothing of the sort ever happened. He never made any remarks or talked to the devotees as a group. He simply took his seat, accepted the arthi (burning camphor, a traditional Indian gesture of welcome and respect) that was offered, and immediately began the meditation.
As General Hanut Singh wrote in his 1981 biography of Shivabalayogi:
“A large majority of those who visit saints and sadhus, go there not only for their darshan, but also to gain enlightenment by listening to their ‘Pravachan’ [spiritual talks or lectures]. The sadhus also, by and large, cater this public hankering by giving talks and discourses Therefore, devotees who come for Sri Swamiji’s darshan and are not yet familiar with his methods, are somewhat non-plussed to find that Sri Swamiji gives no spiritual discourses. . . . This is often a source of disappointment to those who have come with the hope of being treated to a religious discourse, and less discerning among them at times complain that Sri Swamiji only sits silently and gives no instructions. Those who complain thus are obviously ignorant of the nature of spiritual instruction . . ..”
“So in the tradition of the great Gurus of Yore, Sri Swamiji also employs the power of Mowna Upadesa [silent teaching] to carry out an inner transformation of those who turn to him for guidance. This is not to say that Sri Swamiji is averse to giving spiritual instruction of any sort; if a sadhaka [spiritual aspirant] or disciple has some genuine problems in his sadhana [spiritual practice] and approaches Sri Swamiji for a solution of these problems, he receives simple and practical instructions which helps him to overcome them. However . . . Sri Swamiji does not encourage theoretical discussions . . . Sri Swamiji’s answer to most problems will be simply: ‘Do more and more dhyana’ [meditation]”
Read more about the 1981 biography,
Shri Shri Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj,
Life & Spiritual Ministration
“Swamiji gives silent teaching. A yogi always has to be silent. Only by being silent can he control. When he talks, it is because you asked him questions. Otherwise he does not talk.”