The spiritual field is largely an unexplored territory. So it’s good to have someone who has already walked on this path, so that the pitfalls can be pointed out on your journey.
In one way, it’s a good thing to have someone to instruct you and to teach you. On the other hand, nowadays, the situation is such that in this world, there are more Gurus than disciples. So it’s a little difficult to find out, to choose. Therefore, it might be safer for you to, at the moment, start by yourself, read the relevant books available on the subject and not start any difficult and complicated practice which is to do directly with your energy patterns, but some kind of simple meditation. However, if the yearning is very deep in your heart that you need to find the Truth, not powers but Truth, then I can assure you that you will come to the right teacher at the right time.
For a simple meditation like watching your breath, there is no need for an initiation. But if you are going to go into more complicated practices which are to do directly with your energy channels, it will be safer to take initiation from somebody.
Once you are initiated, you become more sensitive and you are likely to absorb the teachings of this person. And if this person happens to be not a highly evolved soul, then you can be manipulated because your mind is an open book for that person. So you have to be a little bit careful on this.
My suggestion is that start meditating in simple ways, deep down in your heart keep yearning for a good spiritual teacher and don’t be dazzled by the external splendor of a teacher. Don’t worry about how many disciples he has. It could be somebody in your backyard who can be a good teacher. You never know!
Paraphernalia is not required for a spiritual teacher. Keep this in mind when you look around.
What exactly is an initiation?
When you give somebody a technique, it’s also called initiation. The actual meaning of the word initiation is to initiate the movement of your mind into the spiritual realm, more than the technique. Now that is more important than an actual ritual in a dark room or something is whispered into your ears. It’s not so important. Whether your journey is initiated, this is more important.
In fact, the word in Sanskrit is diksha. Diksha means to find out the ‘dik’ or the direction in which one moves. This should be the function of a teacher.
How do we meet and connect with Mahavatar Babaji?
I don’t have any license in this matter. I’m being frank. Spiritual progress is not to meet Sri Guru Babaji, but to develop your inner self, so that one day you reach at least to some level as he is in.
There is no such simplistic formula. Please, have no illusions. You cannot decide that you want to see a being like that, unless that being decides that he wants to see you.
In our parampara – tradition, we have a mantra for Sri Guru Babaji, which we chant before the practice of meditation and other kriyas, not to make him manifest, but to link in some way to the guidance that comes from him.
And that mantra is
“Om Hreem Shri Gurubhyo Namah”
It’s very simple. The hreem Bijakshara, that is in the middle, is added, because it’s the sound of Shakti, energy.
This is a mantra given to us for connecting with Babaji in the heart, before proceeding with the rest of our spiritual practices.
-Sri M
