Many years ago, deep in meditation a higher power/energy/being/god asked what i wanted. It was like a telepathic communication…
‘Spiritual growth’ was my natural answer. I was in reasonably comfortable circumstances and was not really in want for anything. (Read the poem below, written some years ago on these experiences).
Things changed! Life, circumstances and fortune changed and i found myself struggling in many ways. To earn a livelihood, i went away to China at a friend’s suggestion and started teaching English there.
There, one night, beset with many troubles and challenges, a visitation happened. A dark presence beckoned and offered financial rewards and fame in exchange for the thing called ‘soul’ which we are barely aware of and whose value we hardly understand.
I awakened scared like I’ve never been. Hanumanji came to my rescue almost automatically and i began to chant Hanuman Chalisa. After about seven jaaps i fell asleep and was never troubled by the dark presence ever again.
Hanumanji began to guide me in my affairs and like an indulgent guardian let me make my mistakes but showing me better ways…
He taught me a great deal about the power of breath through insights and inner answers to questions, illnesses, troubles etc.
Many of my small and even big ailments behan to be cured simply with the power of breath. And, that was enough for me to continue diving deeper into something everyone does but few observe or pay attention to.
Pranayama is an integral part of yoga but most of pranayama deals with largely superficial aspects of this powerful practice. Those that have gone deeper and found treasures have tried to share some of their discoveries but it seems the world at large has not been ready to receive those treasures because that requires a fair deal of effort, discipline, commitment and persistence.
Hanumanji, the son of the god of wind had the Sun as his guru and he has been my mentor, guide and guru! Hanumanji’s ways are special. He does not make his presence felt through physical presence. But he does it by responding very quickly to a call for help, assistance and protection.
That’s how he guided me and continues to do so.
As he hand-held me in my journey with the breath, showing amazing ways to deal with conditions like ED (erectile dysfunction), hypertension, fibromyalgia, hemorrhoids, sciatica, depression, loneliness, rejection from friends and family, and many other small and big challenges, i became more and more of a loner and a breath-watcher.
Over the last few days, the experience of ANANDA has become like a second nature almost. With a little breathwork and meditativeness, waves of Ananda or bliss begin to wash over me.
Yesterday, when deep in that state as i connected to the ‘witness’ state, a dark energy suddenly made its presence felt. This time no enticing exchange offers came my way. However, this energy offered to ‘serve’ me. It didn’t seem or feel malevolent in any way…though it did feel ‘dark’!
Light and dark, good and bad, opposites, contradictions etc are ultimately all part of that oneness. If that oneness is to be experienced in its entirety, how can that which appears as dark be rejected?
Isn’t it important for one in the spiritual path to recognise and accept THAT in its fullness?
I haven’t decided whether to accept the offer or not and will wait for Hanumanji to guide me…
However, for now, in a sense my heart is cleansed of the fear that once gripped me…
In any case, i still have my refuge under Hanumanji’s toe nail…it’s my go-to place whenever I’m troubled or need rejuvenation!
Rajesh Kanoi (rajyogi)
To read more visit our blog page