Podcasts about my guru

Adam's Lessons: My Dog, My Guru in Mindfulness' unveils Sel's heartwarming chronicles of Adam, the golden retriever with a gift for mindful living. Journey through tales of how four paws taught profound lessons on staying present, finding calm, and cherishing every moment. Essential for dog lovers and those on a quest for daily tranquility worldwide. #DogLovers #MindfulnessJourney #GoldenRetrieverLove #PodcastRecommendation #FindYourDailyCalm #LifeLessons #AdamTheMindfulDogOur Sponsors:* Check out Rejoyn: www.rejoyn.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/find-your-daily-calm/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

 It is the best for us to deal with difficult people because it will extend our personality, we will learn different views/opinions, to accept other people and maybe to understand ourselves much better...There was a famous therapist at my previous Guru, he complained about, how rude, difficult had been his roommates… My Guru said: It was best what I could do for you. Because these difficult people will transform your life and at the end, you will become a much better therapist who can love everybody.Similar things had also happened to me when I was working,… My chief said, for instance, you are the only guy who can deal with them, or in the Ashram I had to deal with suicides, mad and violent people,… The biggest problem is that we think we can't… That we stop ourselves out because of some stupid resistance, that we see the problem as unsolvable. In any case, we are the problem because there always exist people who can deal with these difficult people!!!How to deal with dictators as our chief?For instance, we have made a mistake, and our chief is getting mad…Simple we say: You are right, I have done wrong…. How can I do it better, what will you recommend? The strategy is simple: getting him the wind out of his sail, calm him down, admit that we are not always perfect. If we have done so, we can start to persuade him. For instance that we feel sorrow about that, and how would it be if we could improve the situation that such mistake will never happen again? Actually, this is the perfect Aikido strategy, we follow first our Attacker, and then we lead our Attacker in our direction where we want him. - And this with less power.Next example, how to deal with Jealousy? Our partner thinks that we have an affair. Make a joke out of it! Your partner is phoning you, and ask where you are? You reply by my new girl/boyfriend… Your partner is coming home and thinking where is she. You say, Please look under the bed, I have hidden her there… If she is not under the bed maybe she is in the cupboard or in the bathroom….We deal with people who know everything better (for instance our spouse). We are driving our car; our spouse: Do you see the traffic light? You are driving too fast… The solution we mirror our spouse. For instance, we say: There is a traffic light. Oh, I am too fast, it is only 50Km/h, and I am 55Km/h… In the meantime, I have read books about that topic: Dealing with people you can't stand./Dr. R. Brinkman. Coping with difficult people./A. M. Uhl. Both Books are ideal for dealing with difficult people. Also, I got this great persuasion program on mp3: The Code of Influence, from Paul Mascetta;  In this program, we also learn, how to persuade Difficult People.  My video: How to deal with difficult people…https://youtu.be/QVxtepe4xrkMy Audio: https://divinesuccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/Podcast.A/How-to-deal-with-difficult-people.mp3

I have set a table for you in the presence of the illusion,  and I will eat with you, just as I am speaking with you, and you will know now,  that I alone exist.  that (t)here is no 'two'.  Only Love is here. Only Love is.  Love,  breathe. SMILE. It's done. *Hebrews 13:5 **Psalm 23:5 PICTURES OF THE SAND BY THE PICTURE ON PATREON To claim your free gift, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, screenshot it and send it to me at nikki@curlynikki.com!  Join us on Patreon to support the show, and tune into and participate in live video Q&As with me!  Support the show You don't release an emotion by letting it go. You release an emotion by letting it in. Letting go is a paradoxical concept. It does not ask of us to stop feeling, but to feel more deeply. Non-attachment is not indifference, it is the art of making our grief holy. It is in the alchemical ashes from within the furnace of terrifyingly beautiful surrender, that we rise as the phoenix. Not by becoming immune to pain, but by breathing into its embers, and calling forth its light." -Scott Feinberg via @contemplativereflections "Give up all and you gain all. Then life becomes what it was meant to be; pure radiation from an inexhaustible source. In that light, the world appears dimly like a dream.... My intention is to wake you up... My heart wants you awake. I see you suffer in your dream, and I know that you must wake up to end your woes. When you see your dream as a dream, you wake up. "- Nisargadatta Maharaj via @alexbecomingnobody "An illusion isn't something that doesn't exist. An illusion is something appearing as something other than it is." - Keith Kavanaugh  "Do not dwell on even your reality for too long, for your reality is also an illusion. The only reality is Me." - Maharajji "Where am I? Where is the world? ..... This is my house. I am not here. My Guru has taken me away." - Shirdi Sai Baba 

Adam's Lessons: My Dog, My Guru in Mindfulness' unveils Sel's heartwarming chronicles of Adam, the golden retriever with a gift for mindful living. Journey through tales of how four paws taught profound lessons on staying present, finding calm, and cherishing every moment. Essential for dog lovers and those on a quest for daily tranquility worldwide. #DogLovers #MindfulnessJourney #GoldenRetrieverLove #PodcastRecommendation #FindYourDailyCalm #LifeLessons #AdamTheMindfulDogSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/find-your-daily-calm/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The BIC series, My Guru, My Art takes an intimate look at the Guru-Shishya tradition and hopes to capture for posterity the stories of how the magic is created. Conversations between two artistes, Guru and Shishya, will explore their personal histories of learning a classical art form, sharing memories of interactions with their teachers, inspirations, influences, anecdotes of compositions and teaching moments, punctuated by music to illustrate the stories. In this episode of BIC Talks Vidushi Aditi Kaikini Upadhya and her disciple Priya Purushothaman reflect on the Guru-Shishya tradition within their rich musical parampara. Tracing back to Pandit Bhatkhande, Pandit SN Ratanjankar, and Pandit Dinkar Kaikini, this musical lineage is known for scholarship, composition, and an intentional pedagogical approach. Aditiji shares her thoughts about the nature of taalim and the rigorous training she received from her gurus, Smt Shashikala Kaikini and Pandit Dinkar Kaikini. In dialogue with Priya, she discusses her shishya's taalim experience and how this process takes shape in the modern day.  Along with conversation and anecdotes, this episode will showcase special compositions and musical exchanges that highlight the way creative knowledge is transferred in this art form. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast and Stitcher.

Manatita, a.k.a The Lantern Carrier, is a published author and poet, who has been performing poetry for 22 years. Equally at home with performance pieces, Lantern Carrier has won a Hammer and Tongue (H&T) Slam, featured at BYOB, Mind Over Matter, Chocolate Poetry, Word Play and many other venues. He has been runner-up in Slams, as well as making the finals in the H&T National Final (Brighton). Lantern Carrier has read at the famous Nuyorican Cafe and in Nairobi, Kenya. He's a Creative Writer, who also writes short stories, essays, and Flash Fiction. He is the Author of four books, including Maxims for our Children: A look at the Teachings of Jesus, the Christ, and Blossoms of The Heart. Lantern Carrier is a poet who tries to serve, to bring Light, to elevate ...enlighten the understanding. He endeavours to reach the Heart; to bring wisdom to his pieces and is a specialist in nature imagery, music, light, colour and dance in their kaleidoscope of different forms. All his poetry addresses the varying moods of the soul and the human condition, either in mystical harmony or in separation from its Source. Salaam! My Guru, Sri Chinmoy: Life and Teachings: Manatita: 9789937623049: Amazon.com: Books Manatita, The Lantern Carrier: An Esoteric Journey to Spiritual Philosophy: Arvanitis, Ioannis: 9781686095849: Amazon.com: Books Manatita, the Lantern Carrier - YouTube The Lantern Carrier, a.k.a. Manatita Hutchinson, features at Spoken World Online, 8 February, 2022 - YouTube

In this episode, I speak to Jessica Durivage - an intuitive leader with a wealth of experience in the wellness industry - about her passion, reimagining leadership. We weave together a number of threads within our conversation including the many times Jessica has accessed her intuition over the course of her lifetime.  We even have a little sidebar about the amazing Hawthorn tree. Jessica introduces us to the idea of divine assignments and her collaborative initiative Passion for the Possible, which is one of the ways she brings inclusive and reimagined leadership into the world. We talk about how to explore wellbeing and leadership through an intersectional framework and how you can bring ritual into the workplace. This is an unmissable episode that will inspire you to re-examine your own role in reimagining leadership.About Jessica:Jessica is an intuitive leader who focuses on relationship-centered strategies to inspire folks from the inside out to work together towards a common vision and goals.She has over 20-years in the well-being industry from massage therapist and yoga teacher to Regional Spa Director for the Marriott. Jessica pioneered the podcasting age hosting Where is My Guru from 2009 – 2017, founded an online school, produced online courses and conferences for leaders and influencers from around the world. She has a keen understanding of wellness culture (where it was, where we are now, and where we are headed) with a mission to uplift voices, dismantle oppression and make well-being accessible to all.She is a devoted practitioner with a relentless desire to grow and expand her own understanding of how to best be of service to the collective. Through her teaching, she uses her humor, relatability, and a little flair for the dramatic to create meaningful and down to earth spaces for growth and transformation to occur. Jessica is a certified Yoga Teacher, Qoya Teacher, and Yoga Nidra Facilitator.She oversees online programming for Kripalu, the largest yoga and retreat center in North America.Website: www.passionforthepossible.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.durivage/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicadurivage/About Meghan:Meghan Field is an intersectional social justice activist, Qoya Teacher, Intuitive Embodiment and Practical Magic Coach, Moon Mna/Irish Celtic lineage practitioner and Owner of Sacred Kernow Retreats.  Meghan lives in England, where she works as a Director of Advance Charity and offers 1:1 and group well-being and empowerment classes, workshops and retreats for women.In her embodiment and empowerment work, Meghan supports women to remember who we are before the world told us who we should be. Through all of her work, Meghan reminds us to slow down, get clear on who we are, listen to our intuition, honour our unique voices and step into our power.For more information and to work with Meghan:Email: hello@meghanfield.comWebsite: www.meghanfield.comInstagram: @meghanelizabethfieldTwitter: @meghanfeministaFacebook: @Qoyawithmeghan Podcast Music: ‘Behind Your Eyes' by Stereo Soul Future - www.stereosoulfuture.com.

Big Fat Lies with Jennifer Cramer Lewis  My Guru is Better Than Your Guru and other Big Fat Lies Have you had this Big Fat Lie slowing you down in life and in business, that to make an impact and to command the money and influence you crave, that your Guru is the Best Guru? In this week's episode of Big Fat Lies, we will be taking on the BFL's of the follow My Guru mindset in life and business. How it's not even close to what you think it is, and how it's actually something that some of you don't ever have to do. Like ever. Join me live in the studio if you have been asking questions like: HOW DO I STOP BELIEVING WHAT GURU'S TELL ME IS VALUABLE // HOW DO I KNOW WHAT I KNOW WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK SOMEONE ELSE // HOW CAN I TRANSFER THE TEACHINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY GURU INTO SOMETHING VALUABLE FOR MYSELF //HOW DO I CREATE LEGACY WEALTH FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY? But beware, nothing will ever be the same again. Jennifer's clients are experiencing quantum leaps in how they approach their business and life, resulting in them dumping the negative mindset, tsunami emotions, flatlining energy and poisonous situations that were holding them back, and embracing new systems, strategies and support that is creating businesses bringing in 6+ figures monthly. Are you even ready for that? Is this what you want? Or do you want to fall down the “Here's what my Guru says about that… ” rabbithole? Reach out to Jennifer to be surrounded by the support, strategy and systems necessary to take charge of your mind, emotions and energy, so you can command the lifestyle and money you desire, bringing you the peace and abundance you crave, all while working less than 40 hours a week. Of course you want to make more money, but what else would be fun too? Listen to this week's episode on the Inspired Choices Network App in the App Store or Google Play, or at linktr.ee/jennifercramerlewis at 1PM Pacific every single Friday. *Listen now on the Inspired Choices Network app!  https://linktr.ee/inspiredchoicesnetwork ~ More About Big Fat Lies with Jennifer Cramer Lewis ~  Jennifer is Canada's #1 business and relationship turnaround expert for deliciously ambitious visionary female entrepreneurs and is a modern-day shaman and seer. Jennifer has, for over 20 years, assisted entrepreneurs and business owners, to ignite their dream life, find joy, meaning, and success in business through her intuitive strategies and foresight, that include both the body and the business. Her approach is to identify the individual's core talents and energy fields, ignite them and bind them to the bigger dream, then build systems that add elegance, joy and profitability. Jennifer can't help it, she's a champ.  Growing up in the highly competitive world of horses, she earned multiple international titles as an equestrian before the age of 15. With extensive experience managing multi-million dollar projects in Finance, Real Estate Sales, Management and Investment, Jennifer was easily able to see the nuances of the business, saving and earning her clients hundreds of thousands of dollars, creating and implementing new technologies and approaches to old rusty systems that rapidly increased the bottom line in every business she worked with. Jennifer delights in you achieving your dream life and business.  Get to know her in her community called The Joyful Entrepreneur at community.jennifercramerlewis.com where she hosts monthly free trainings on productivity, passion and profitability.   https://www.jennifercramerlewis.com/ To get more of Big Fat Lies with Jennifer Cramer Lewis, be sure to visit the podcast page for replays of all her shows here: https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/big-fat-lies-with-jennifer-cramer-lewis/  

Venture under Maharajji's blanket as Joel and I have a hilarious and fun sacred discussion of the Ramayana. We explore how it applies to our spiritual awakening and you can feel the love of Hanuman for Ram! “The relation of my Guru (Maharajji) to Ram is of perfect service. He is the servant of Ram. My Guru is a reincarnation of Hanuman, and as a perfect servant of Ram, he is totally selfless.” – Ram Dass --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Chapters 18 and 19 of the Sri Sai Satcharita beautifully describe the story of Sathe, Radhabai Deshmukh and Dabholkar, and the Leela of Baba climbing on top of the roof of Radhakrishna Mai's house to cure her of her illness. Other stories included in these chapters are of Baba taking a devotee to task for criticising and slandering another devotee, and setting him on the right path. Thus, it is also a warning for all of us to refrain from slandering others. Baba encouraged devotees to study various spiritual texts and benefit from them, both spiritually and mentally. The Dakshina of Nishtha and Saburi The moment Sathe saw Baba, he became calm. He then completed a Saptaha of the Guru Charita. That night, he dreamt of Baba, who explained the part that he was reading at that time, and told him to do another Saptaha because by reading the Guru Charita, the mind becomes pure, peaceful, spiritual and full of Vairagya. Dabholkar heard about Sathe's dream and thought, 'Sathe is blessed just by doing a Saptaha, while I've been reading it for 40 years without being blessed.' As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Baba asked him to go to Shama's home and bring Rs. 15 as Dakshina from him and chat with him. When Dabholkar went to Shama's house, Shama told him the story of Radhabai Deshmukh, an elderly lady, who was determined to fast until she obtained Guru Mantra from Baba. Shama had become concerned about the lady and had asked Baba to speak to her. Heeding Shama's advice, Baba spoke to Radhabai thus: "Mother, I stayed with my loving divine Guru for 12 years, serving him from morning to night. My Guru was the only thought and the only Sadhana that I had. He asked me to give him two paise as Dakshina, which symbolised Nishtha and Saburi. I willingly gave these to my Guru, who looked after all my needs. When he did not whisper any Mantra in my ear, how can I give you any Mantra? My Guru was like a mother tortoise, who, though on the opposite bank, nurtures and gives sustenance to her young ones just by glancing lovingly at them. So, day and night, just think only of me and me alone, and your spiritual goal will be achieved." After narrating this story to Dabholkar, Shama accompanied Dabholkar to attend the Aarti, when Baba blessed Dabholkar saying, "Forever keep this story in your heart and soul, and your mental state will be as sweet as this candy. Your spiritual goal will be achieved and you will be blessed a million times." In this Leela, Guru Dakshina is given by Sathe in the form of Parayan of the Guru Charita. Baba blessed him with a dream vision, wherein Baba explained the chapter to him. On the other hand, Shama gave Baba 15 Namaskaars in lieu of 15 rupees, and Baba blessed him by making him His spokesman. Dabholkar gave Guru Dakshina of Nishtha and Saburi, and Baba blessed him with sugar candy and showered him with total Guru Bhakti. Purandhare longs for Baba's Darshan Once, Purandhare decided to accompany his family to his hometown. Suddenly, he had an irresistible urge to go to Shirdi, so after making arrangements for his family, he proceeded to Shirdi. Purandhare got off at Kopergaon, and Hassan, the Tongawala, informed him that both Baba and Radhakrishna Mai were very ill. It was about 9 a.m. in the morning when he reached Shirdi. He went straight to the Dwarka Mai. Baba was surrounded by many devotees, as everyone was concerned about his health. Purandhare went into the sanctum sanctorum. Baba said, "Bhau, you have come at last. For the past three or four days, I have been waiting for your arrival. Now, don't leave me, but go to Ramkrishni and stay there." Purandhare was filled with anguish for Baba, who had stopped eating, but there was no change in his daily routine. He still went for Bhiksha rounds and to Lendi Baug with the help of three or four devotees. Purandhare was extremely saddened by the condition of Baba's health. He had lost weight and was very weak. One day, Purandhare started sobbing, "Baba, I will carry you when you go to Lendi Baug and for Bhiksha." Baba pacified him, saying, "Don't cry. I will be alright in four days. Allahmiya has given me this illness and it has to be borne by me, so don't cry. Why should you cry? Some days are good but other days are not. Why should you fear?" Purandhare was equally concerned about Mai's illness and asked Baba for medicines to be given to Mai, but Baba told him that she would recover within two days. The very next day, early in the morning, Purandhare came running to Baba and told him, "Mai is just not getting up. She is groggy and weak. Her condition is deteriorating. Give me some medicine for her. I will not leave until you do." Then, Baba gave him some remedy and explained how to prepare and administer it. That afternoon, Baba got a ladder, placed it against the wall of Gondkar's house and climbed it. From there, He crossed the roof of Mai's house and wanted to descend on the other side. This was a miracle in itse...

Chapter 4 - Vinny Ma's Commentary Baba is all pervasive, everlasting and immortal. Leela Number One Baba said "My Guru has taken me away from this", pointing to His body, that is, His Guru helped him to say that the body was not He. But He was the One-Force that was responsible for manifesting itself as everything in the universe. If you're not your body, and I'm not my body, it is easy to infer that you and I are the same. The difference being caused only by our bodies and not by our real nature. Baba taught him some portion of the truth. Kashinath Upasani Baba was cooking food at the Khandoba temple and naturally wanted to take the food to his Guru and get back some part of it as Prasad. While he was cooking the food, a black dog was watching and even when he took the food towards the Masjid, it followed him part of the way and suddenly disappeared. When first, the dog was present and anxiously looking at the food, Upasani thought it would be absurd to give a low creature, a dog any food before offering it to God and before men ate, so he did not give the food to the dog. But when he went in the hot sun at noon with his food to Sai Baba, Baba asked him, "What have you come for?" Kashinath said "To bring you my Naivaidya." Baba said, "Why did you come all the way here in the hot sun? I was there." Then Kashinath said "There was none but a black dog there." Baba said "I was that dog. So as you refuse to give me food that I'm not going to take the food." The next day he was determined to avoid the mistake. So when he was cooking his food, he looked for the black dog and found none. He noticed a sickly Shudra was standing against the wall and watching the cooking. To his orthodox mind, it was Drishti Dosha and improper for a Shudra to look when a Brahmin was cooking. So he said "Get away" and accordingly the Shudra left. When that date Kashinath came with the food, Baba was very angry. He said "Yesterday you did not give me food and today you told me to go away." "Where were you Baba" asked Kashinath. Baba said "I was leaning against the wall." Kashinath said, "Could you be the sickly Shudra?" Baba said, "Yes, I am in everything and beyond." Baba spoke what was written in the Purusha Sukta. The Purusha or God having pervaded all the world exceeded it and went 10 inches beyond.The advice given by Baba to Upasani and all of us is "See me in all creatures." Though it looks absurd in the beginning to believe that everything is really God. Still by impressing it upon yourself with humility and faith, you can begin to feel and see every object that is around you as Sai Baba, and that you must treat it with the reverence, affection and sympathy, as much as you can. Leela Number Two- Narayan Govind Chandorkar Baba said "I am not in Shirdi alone. I'm in all creatures." Intellectually this was understood, but Nana did not realize it. Baba wanted him to realize it more vividly, as that was a very important step for his higher spiritual progress. So on one occasion when Nana came to Shirdi, Baba asked him to prepare eight Puran Polis for Naivaidya and then have his food. When Nana placed the Pooran Polis before Baba, Baba did not touch them, but flies sat upon them. Then Baba said "Nana take away the Prasad." Nana insisted that Baba should eat some. Baba said that he had eaten it. "When did you eat them? All the eight Pooran Polis are here." said Nana. Baba said he had eaten it at some time. Then Nana got vexed and went to the Chavadi. When Baba sent for him, the same conversation was repeated. Finally Baba said "You have been living with me for 18 years now. Is this all your appraisal of me? Does Baba mean to you only the three and a half cubics height of this body? Am I not in the fly and the ant that settled upon the Polis?" Nana said he knew that, but he could not realize it. If Baba would make him realize it, Nana said he would eat the Polis as Prasad. Then Baba lifted His hand and made a gesture. He thereby revealed a secret, which Nana was hiding very deep in his heart. Nana discovered that Baba knew the secret, but how. The only explanation was that Baba was Antaryami in his heart. If Baba was Antaryami, He must be the Antaryami of the fly and ant also. So he agreed to eight the Pooran Polis as Prasad and was satisfied. This is a lesson for all of us, as it was for Nana. Leela number one and two were taken from the life of Sai Baba, written by Shri Narsihn Swami Ji Leela Number Three Once a sickly bitch came to Mhalsapati wagging her tail. She looked very ill and was drooling from the mouth. He threw a stone and drove her away. She ran away yelping. Later, when he went for Baba's darshan, Baba turned to him and said, "I went with a great deal of hope to you Bhagat, hoping for a piece of Bhakri, but all I got was a stone thrown at me." Two hours after Baba had said this, Kaka and his friends were sitting near the Vada. A dog came and sat on the steps nearby. He drove it away. The dog ...

Listen to my chat with Chris Grosso. Chris is a tattooed, independent culturist, freelance writer, spiritual aspirant, recovering addict, and musician. Chris writes for such venues as "Rebelle Society", "Huffington Post", "Intent" blog, and is a monthly contributor on the radio show "Where is My Guru?" He created the popular hub for all things alternative, independent, and spiritual with The Indie Spiritualist website. A self-taught musician, Chris has been writing, recording, and touring since the mid-1990s playing with independent bands. Find out what Chris is up to here www.theindiespiritualist.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode I summarize a conversation with my Guru who clarifies the concept of 'selfish interest' driven 'karma'. When we do any karma (action), if there is a selfish interest behind it then we have to do it completely for it to give its benefit. The karma can be any work in our daily life, including professional work, or even spiritual work like puja or japa. People do puja (propitiate) Gods because they want something (I need to get a job/ get married /have a kid/ buy a home/ get rid of my illness.....). And when our puja /japa does NOT involve selfish interest, we can drop these anytime. Otherwise, we must do it as prescribed by the Vedas for them to provide us the desired result. If there are any acts of omission, known as pratyavaya dosha in Sanskrit, then the results won't accrue. BUT this is not applicable for unselfish desires and moksha is unselfish. The person on whose behalf I spoke to my Guru, wanted to drop several japa /puja as her health was not permitting her and also she wanted to know what to do to progress further spiritually. My Guru just asked her to drop them right away and do Nidhidhyasanam....but the underlying explanation was superb. Selfish Interest as the motive: Do the Work properly as per injunctions Unselfish interest as the motive: Do your best with Karma yoga attitude --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/happilyoga/message

Hey guys, This episode is very close to my heart and my first ever solo episode on Inside the hustlers Brain Podcast. This is all about my Mentor Garyvee. Garyvee for me is everything, My Mentor, My inspiration , My Guru. I am following him for very long and He is one of the reasons I was able to achieve so many things in my life. This entire episode is dedicated to Garyvee, I have shared How I met GaryVee and what messaged he shared with me and a lot more my mentor GaryVee.

Do you feel disconnected to Western medicine and wish there was a way to integrate Eastern and Western practices? Today we discuss this very topic with the beautiful soul, Deepa Patel, MD. Deepa is a physician who focuses on rare diseases and oncology as well as an Ayurverdic Wellness Consultant, Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Metabolic Balancing and Lifestyle Coach. Deepa gained her knowledge of Ayurveda from My Guru and a renowned Ayurvedic Physician Shri Maa Anantanand Tirth from India. She has completed her Health Professional Certification from Maharishi Ayurveda Association of Americas with Stuart Rothenberg, MD, and Nancy Lonsdorf, MD, two of the most experienced Maharishi Integrative Ayurveda clinicians in the world. Integrating everything I have learned from Yoga, Ayurveda, and real-world experience I offer a unique and down to earth, practical way to incorporate spiritual fulfillment. If this episode resonated with you, consider reaching out to Deepa via text or Email. Text: (732) 397-3298 Email: dpatel.22@gmail.com _______ If you would like to learn more about our Ayurvedic Wellness coaching, head over to www.affirmationsandinnovations.com/ayurvedic-wellness-consulting.html _______ Interested in trying a Reiki energy healing session with Kristen or trying our Full Moon Group Distance Reiki? Head over to https://www.affirmationsandinnovations.com/reiki.html to learn more! _______ Do you practice yoga and other athletics and wish to teach athlete-specific yoga? Sign up for our Online 200 Hour A&I Yoga Certification waitlist today! Go to https://www.affirmationsandinnovations.com/200-hour-ytt.html to sign up now!

Mirabai Starr – Wild MercyAired Thursday, 11 July 2019, 9:00 AM EST / 6:00 AM PSTDo you dare wild mercy? Journey with voice master Kara Johnstad and author Mirabai Starr through the wild landscapes of the fierce and tender wisdom of the women mystics to glean insights of compassion. Discover connections between the perennial teachings found at the heart of all the world’s spiritual paths and their application in justice and peace work.About Mirabai Starr:Mirabai speaks and teaches nationally and internationally on the teachings of the mystics and contemplative practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss. Mirabai’s youngest daughter, Jenny, was killed in a car accident in 2001 at the age of fourteen. On that same day, Mirabai’s first book, a translation of Dark Night of the Soul, was released. She considers this experience, and the connection between profound loss and longing for God, the ground of her own spiritual life.Testimonial:“Ever since I met her when she was a teenager at the Lama Foundation, Mirabai Starr has been absorbed in the teachings of the great mystic saints, especially the women. Like her namesake, the poet-saint Mirabai, she brings to her work an intense love of God and a passion for the Beloved. My Guru said, ‘Love is the best medicine.’ Mirabai will help open up your heart to love.” – Ram Dass

Sai Baba is one of the most venerated saints in India with millions of devotees. In this important talk, Gautam Sachdeva sheds light on the higher aspects of Sai Baba's teachings while stressing on the significance of devotees living the teaching in their daily life. Transcript Nikhil: Today, we are doing an interview with Gautamji, who has very kindly come all the way from Bombay. Gautam has been my spiritual teacher and guide since more than eight years now. Gautam comes from the Advaitic tradition and the lineage of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and Gautam's teacher was Ramesh Balsekarji. Gautam's essential teaching is how to get peace of mind in daily living, so it's very centric to everyday life. The whole focus is on how you live the teaching. I have benefited greatly by association with Gautam, and I'm very grateful. Over the years, as Gautam says in most of his talks, “When you look back is when you really see the changes that happen.” So I had requested Gautam to speak on the higher teachings of Sai Baba, to give devotees a deeper understanding of what Baba meant, because Baba's essential teaching also translates into day-to-day life. In this interview, I'll ask Gautam a few questions on the aspects of daily living where Sai Baba's devotees can imbibe the teaching, live that, attain peace, and move towards what Baba would say, “I will give devotees what they want in the hope that they will want what I want to give them,” which is self-realisation, peace of mind and equanimity in day-to-day living. So, Gautam, the journey for most devotees, especially with Sai Baba and this path, typically begins with people getting drawn to Baba because of a miracle, or a dream, or a vision, and He pulls them towards Him, and that's essentially the common thread with most devotees. And then it is followed up by a series of more miracles, and they are drawn to Shirdi and His life teachings. But somewhere down the line, I have noticed, and many people even write to me through the channel, that their faith and surrender is very dependent upon circumstances which are either favourable, or when Baba does things in accordance with their will. In one of your talks, you had mentioned about true faith. Could we begin with you shedding some light on that? Gautam: Sure. Nik, first of all, thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk on Shirdi Sai Baba's teachings. As you rightly said, there is so much material out there, simply because of the miracles which Baba performed in His lifetime. As a ray of the Absolute, anything was possible in His sphere, in His domain. However, when I read the Sai Satcharita, for me, it was the message behind the miracles, which would impact one's daily living. I started reading it through that prism. So, one level was the actual event of the miracle taking place, and the other was what was being conveyed through that story, which I found to directly impact daily living. Because I was with a teacher for almost ten years, I started viewing Sai Baba's Satcharita through this prism of what you could call as Advaita, or Non-Duality as it is called in the Western world. And I found that it was so practical and pragmatic, but it was hidden, so to speak, because of the overwhelming evidence of miracles. So when I read the Satcharita, I started underlining these expressions of Advaita, of what Baba has said, which really appealed to me because I feel that it is everybody's life experiences, and it is just a matter of focus, and tapping into that, and He does deliver the greatest miracle of all, which, I feel, is Peace of Mind. You know, people ask me about Masters performing Siddhis, and there's this whole other layer of thought which says that ‘don't get stuck on the level of Siddhis because they are mere experiences.’ Even Nisargadatta Maharaj, in his younger days, used to perform certain Siddhis for his devotees, but his Guru, Siddharameshwar Maharaj, said, “Look, don't get stuck at that level. You have to give them the message of Advaita.” And truly, peace of mind is the biggest miracle, which is what Sai Baba gives through His teaching, because that becomes a way of living, a way of being, and a way of looking at the world around you, and yourself. So it is seeing that through the stories, and understanding the core message of such a Divine being who was venerated by Hindus as well as Muslims. That sheer fact itself shows that He was non-denominational. He was a Guru to everyone, and it begins from there. The teaching itself begins from His own life. Nikhil: …where people can learn from his example. Gautam: Yes. Nikhil: You know, there are people who constantly write in, saying, ‘we've had a vision,’ ‘we've had some sort of an experience’ and ‘how do we understand what Baba is trying to convey?’ And this is a common concern for many people: How do I interpret this? How do I relate to it? What is Baba trying to tell me? What would you say to devotees who have these questions? Gautam: As you rightly said, the sheer fact that they've had a dream or a vision is not of their doing. It has happened. That is how Baba has pulled them to Him. They have to trust that force which has pulled them without their volition, without their free will, to do its job. What happens is we tend to analyse and seek meaning in what we have seen or what we have experienced. But that force is so potent, so powerful, that if it had the ability to come to us without our knowledge and pull us in, then we must trust it to take us all the way. So, actually, one does get the answers. If one has such a vision, for example, or a dream, or whatever it may be, one gets the answers once the thinking mind is not too caught up with thoughts like ‘I had this vision’, ‘I had the experience’ because the Me feels great that God has chosen Me to have a vision versus someone else. Nikhil: It can strengthen the ego. Gautam: Exactly! But to have the humility that ‘this vision happened without me having to do anything’ is to trust that Source, which will show you the way. You see, like my teacher would say, “Never consider your glass 'half empty' but 'half full' because if God has brought you this far in your spiritual journey, why do you feel He will drop you here? He will hold your hand and take you home.” So these are visions, these are signs, not for the Me to feel proud about, but to see that life is taking a certain course, through the form of Baba, and one has to trust Baba to lead us along the way. Nikhil: I had a question on this. As one goes down the path of Trust and Surrender, there are certain practices Baba would advocate -- of Japa, of Dhyana, of even Self-Inquiry at times -- for devotees who are sincerely committed to Baba and wish to go down the path of Self-Realisation. Could you talk a little bit on practices for devotees where they can adhere to these, and if these can help still the mind, or if you could give some suggestions here? Gautam: Generally, Masters like Baba saw the aptitude of the devotee and then prescribed what they felt was the right method for that specific devotee. Some were more inclined to Bhakti, some to Japa, and some to Self-Inquiry, and others to a total understanding of what Baba was saying. For example, someone with a very active mind is prescribed the Mantra Japa. In the word Mantra itself, 'man' means mind, and 'tra' means freeing (freeing the mind), so rather than being involved in mundane issues, the mind shifts to the Mantra. This creates a disturbance in the regular pattern of thinking which one is embroiled in, and that is again a step in the direction away from the mundane. Someone may not have the aptitude to practise Self-Inquiry, or understand certain other messages of Baba, but may find it very comfortable doing the Japa. So these were different practices prescribed, and what people resonate with the most is what would be given, and they would all lead to the Source. As is mentioned in the Satcharita, let's say Baba tells someone, “See Me in all the beings.” Now, someone may find that too abstract, but someone else might say, “Yes, what Baba is pointing to is that the same Consciousness functions through everyone, the same sense of Presence of Being functions through all the people.” That may be easy for that particular individual to understand that. Now that person need not do the Japa, because his life becomes the living teaching. He sees God in everyone. So, that is what was meant by different practices for different temperaments and attitudes. It is not that one has to progress from one to the other in a sequential form. Even Nisargadatta Maharaj would see the mindset of the person who has come to him and then decide whether his Jnana Yoga talks drew the person in, or whether he should just do a Mantra Japa. So that is what the Master does. Nikhil: This takes me to a question, Gautam. Now that Baba is not in Form, how do people who regard Sai Baba as their main Guru get guidance that is specific to them, so they know that they are on the right track? Gautam: Generally, the guidance will come. The point is that we have to be open to receiving the guidance. There are some instances, which everyone is familiar with, where Baba actually comes to certain people who are now spreading Baba's message. That is one kind. The others are the simpler people who don't have that connection, but Baba being present in their life will bring about circumstances. The question is: Are we aware? Or is our vision only on one track? You see, it is when we drop this one-track vision, which is just our conditioning through which we are viewing everything, and when we are open and aware, then the Source, as represented by Baba, is bound to step in to show us the way. It could be that we get so stuck on this fact that “No, no, Baba will show me the way,” but Baba is showing you the way through some other Form, or through something which happens in your life which is coming as a gift, but we might just be so unaware of that. Because we have this fixed concept in our mind that it should come to us in a certain way, we miss the opportunity. Nikhil: There are many devotees who have experiences because Baba would give these to them. How do they distinguish between a real experience and an imaginary one? Gautam: A real experience is an experience which comes; and an imaginary one, in the sense you might be referring to, is one which I make myself believe is an experience. So there's a very thin line, and that is why this whole business of experiences is very tricky, because as Masters like Ramana Maharshi or even Shirdi Sai Baba have said, “All experiences come and go.” Baba Himself has said, “You are the witness of whatever transpires,” which means that all pleasures and pains that come and go in life are experiences, because for an experience to be registered, an Experiencer has to be there. “All experiences come and go.” Baba has pointed to this in Satcharita about being the witness. The mind is such that it tends to hook on to an experience and feel special about that experience, and then wants to repeat that experience. Now, that experience may or may not come again, and then one can get frustrated with thoughts like ‘Oh, Baba came to me once in a dream, now I'm going to wait for Him to come another time.’ But the bedrock of your life should be Baba's teachings. It should not be dependent on an experience of Baba. Otherwise, what is the point of a teaching if it doesn't impact your daily living? What is the point if it is stuck at the level of one experience you had? The value of the experience is tremendous because it's like a catalyst. But many of us tend to get stuck on the level of that experience. Nikhil: This takes me to the next question, Gautam. Sai Baba would often advocate the practice of Self-Inquiry, and He would say, “Ask yourself at all times, ‘Who Am I?’” Could you talk a little bit on this practice in general, and give some guidance? Gautam: Self-Inquiry is mentioned in our scriptures. After Baba, sages like Ramana Maharshi were also known for this process of 'Who Am I?' This again will appeal to a certain aptitude and a certain mindset. It's not everyone's cup of tea. But what Baba is pointing to, or this inquiry of ‘Who Am I?’ is pointing to is to understand who is this Me, who feels he or she is living his or her life. Who is this Me? Who is this person thinking this thought? And when this inquiry of 'Who Am I?' is done, the understanding starts sinking in that I am not this, or this. Why? Because I am the one aware of this. Who is the one who is aware of this? This is a regression, because 'Who Am I?' cannot have an answer in that sense, because you are no thing. 'Who Am I?' is to dissolve the constructs which we have created, which separate us from what IS, and from the world. This Me is with its baggage of likes, dislikes, conditionings, feelings and emotions. ‘Who Am I?’ is to deconstruct this shell which we have created around us since childhood and take us back to that pure Being, the pure Source, like the child, before the Ego came and conditioned the child into believing that you are separate and I am separate. So this is what the inquiry of 'Who Am I?' does, and someone who can go deep into this inquiry will realise this Unicity because the riddle has been solved of 'Who Am I?' So again, it is a practice, just like Japa is a practice. Nikhil: Gautam, it seems that it's important for a devotee to be able to discriminate in their day-to-day life as well. Sai Baba has said in one of the ten prerequisites for self-realisation that a devotee must choose the right over the pleasant, and even Bhagwan Ramakrishnadev would make a clear distinction on worldliness and the path of God. It seems that discrimination could be that fork, or the starting point, where a devotee begins to witness, and be aware. Could you speak a little bit about discrimination as a practice, and how devotees could imbibe that into their day-to-day lives? Gautam: There are many aspects of discrimination. Let us touch upon one. Many of us, in fact most of us, are so hardwired with conditioning that based on a past experience, we react to different people in the same way. We are in a reactionary mode rather than a response mode, because we have been hardwired with conditioning. Now in this case, what is discrimination? Discrimination is to understand that we are a result of our conditioning, and so is the other. That itself is a level of discrimination, because you are no longer functioning on an auto-pilot basis. With the understanding that the same Consciousness functions through each of us, as Baba has said, what happens is that one accepts the others for who they are, because God has made them, and one accepts oneself for who one is, because God has made him. This kind of thinking is discrimination. Earlier, if one was going around pointing fingers, accusing, blaming and condemning people, he now understands that this is not right, and this understanding is discrimination. This is just to give you one example, because it's a very wide term. When one follows the teaching, discrimination starts to happen, and every aspect of life and relationships are seen in the light of discrimination. Nikhil: What you shared was discrimination with respect to other people and events that are associated with others. Could we talk in terms of discrimination based on the choices that one makes, which need not have much to do with people but to everyday circumstances and the choices that one makes? This is especially for the devotee who is putting God first in his life, the one who is essentially a serious aspirant and would make certain choices which are favourable to the path than which are not. For example, using discrimination in everyday situations when choosing between something that would trigger lust or peace or something where one could get mired into something and go astray, as opposed to staying on the path. Could you talk a little bit about that discrimination? Gautam: So, let's take desire for example. Desire can arise, but to suppress desire, or to indulge in it, is not the way. This is what the sages have said, right? What happens with discrimination is if desire arises, the understanding arises at the same time that the desire has arisen, but whether it gets fulfilled or not is God's will. So the involvement in the desire drops. That is how a desire arising is witnessed. It could be something as simple as a desire for a cup of coffee. That is also a desire, right? But for some reason the coffee powder is not at home, etc. What do we tend to do? We tend to blame, saying things like ‘Why didn't you buy the groceries in time? Why isn't it stocked? I wanted to have coffee now, but I can't have it.’ And we bring out all this frustration on this one event. But if the understanding is there that the desire to have coffee arose, which is fine, but it didn't get fulfilled because it was not meant to, then the hold which the desire has on us loses its grip. I've used a very soft desire like a cup of coffee, but it would be applicable to any desire, like lust, as you said. Allow what has to come up to come up because suppressing it is not going to work. Also, let go of it, and let go of the outcome, because the outcome is Me wanting an outcome, Me wanting things to be a certain way, and getting frustrated if they are not that way. So the discrimination, in this case, is this: allowing what has to come up to come up, and understanding that it will get fulfilled only if it is meant to, so there is no frustration. The other thing is right-thinking discrimination, which is: ‘does my desire harm anyone?’ If the answer is No and the understanding is there that it is a desire in the moment, there's nothing wrong with that. But sometimes, we are so consumed by our desires that we don't even realise that it could be harmful to someone else, or to ourselves, because we are involved in the desire. You see, so it could also be seen as a gradual progression on our own spiritual journey. I keep pointing to what Baba said, “Be a witness, let the world go topsy-turvy around you, but be a witness,” because that is a very deep teaching in that one line. And “let the world go topsy-turvy” does not refer to just external events, because the world is inside you. Nikhil: He would even say this: “The Bhagavad-Gita and the Kurukshetra is inside.” Gautam: See, it's very simply put. Right now, you are appearing outside me, but the fact is that you are in my field of consciousness. It is because I am conscious that everything is appearing within that consciousness, including myself and you, but are you outside me, or are you within me? It appears that I'm speaking to you, but this voice which you are hearing now is being heard in your own consciousness. That is the Maya. But we have lost so much of this because the sense of separation, which we have grown up with, is so strong that the Me ‘and’ the Other have become the Me ‘versus’ the Other. What was a simple structure, in life, of Duality - black and white, big and small, up and down, rich and poor, front and back, which is the design of duality - has become Dualism. The Me ‘and’ the Other, the polar opposites of duality, have become Me ‘versus’ the Other. So in order to understand this, and to understand Baba's meaning when He mentions these excerpts and says these things, one has to live by that. Nikhil: Absolutely. You know, in this regard, I've had a common string of emails with the same theme coming in, where people say that they are living (at least, they think that they are) in accordance with Baba's principles, referring to Baba’s teaching: “Do your worldly duties, and keep your mind on Me.” But they go about leading a life which is pretty much immoral, not in alignment with Baba's teachings, and sometimes it's abused. So, could you shed some light on that, citing some examples, so people can relate to it? I think Baba had a much deeper meaning when He said “you keep your mind on Me and do your duties in the world.” At least to my understanding, it would be duties that you're meant to do naturally, as you said, not harming anyone else; doing what you're meant to do, or made to do, but the emphasis is for the devotees to go within, and even question whether they are living in alignment with Baba's teachings. So could you shed some light on that as well? Gautam: See, sometimes it's not the time for the teaching to sink in. It is not like they have a choice as such, because the understanding or awareness is at a certain level. So one can't say that they are voluntarily not following the teaching, but the teaching has not yet sunk in. Because how can you, for example, harbour a desire which harms another if you truly were living Baba's teaching? It would just not be possible, right? So this is where words like 'earnestness' and 'sincerity', which all Masters point to, come into play. Be earnest and sincere in your practice. What happens is we segment our life. For example, we have a great hour-long Puja ritual with Baba in the temple, where we are full of Bhakti and devotion. But for the rest of the day, we indulge in arguments and fights with everyone, and we don't get along with people. Baba has said, “See Me in all beings,” which would entail true Bhakti. What is true Bhakti? True Bhakti is to see God in everyone. What can be a higher Bhakti than that? So then Bhakti is not just me merging with the idol at home, doing Puja and Pranams but actually living Bhakti, and that comes when one is immersed in a teaching and a Master. The question is: when does it come? It is only a level of awareness which can, so to speak, speed up the process, but if it is not meant to happen, it won't. But a true Bhakt of Shirdi Sai Baba, or any Master, is one who follows the Master's teaching, and whose every breath, Pran Shakti, life force is dedicated to the Master and His teaching, because they are not two. The Form is of the Formless. They are not two. What tends to happen is that we look at the Master only as a Form. We venerate only the Form, and this creates a disconnect between that and the rest of our lives. The same Form is within us as well. The Guru is actually a projection of one's Higher Self onto a Form. So that is also not separate from us. But we are so stuck in this world of Forms and objects that everything is viewed as compartments. Now it's as simple as saying that the Sun is not separate from you. If the Sun rises and sets in the sky, this is all appearing in your own consciousness. That is how vast you are! That is how vast Consciousness is, that the Sun rises and sets in a vaster sky. But where? Within one's own consciousness! You will find Baba pointing to this in the Satcharita. Nikhil: Following up to this, I had a question. Gautam, as people spend more and more time with Baba, or whichever path they are on, could you give some general guidelines and pointers for them to know if they are on the right track, if they are making progress, almost like signposts which they can self-reflect on and see? Gautam: Here, I recall Ramana Maharshi's teaching. He was asked: How do I know that a Guru is a Guru? Or that so-and-so is my Guru? And he gave a very simple answer. “By the sense of peace you feel in his presence, and the degree of respect you feel for him.” Now, you see, this word 'peace' is very important, because that sense of peace which you feel, is within you, and if you were a true devotee, or true disciple, that would be imbued and imbibed by you. The point I'm trying to make is that your own life, and what happens in your life, will be an indication to you of how close you are to the Master's teaching. How? By the degree of peace you feel in your life, by the sense of respect you feel towards others, by accepting people for who they are. Then you know your reactions to events that happen in your daily life - whether you accept them or revolt against them, and your reactions to people who appear in your life - whether you're accepting of them or always criticising and condemning them. Someone was criticising another Guru to Nisargadatta Maharaj, and he told that man to shut up! He said, “To criticise anything or anyone is to criticise the affairs of Brahman.” So to know the impact of the teaching is to see how it has impacted your own life, your daily living, your tolerance for people, your compassion for people. Because we are not living in caves; we are living in a society where we are dealing with people. As Baba kept pointing out: all relationships are bound by Rinanubandhana, or Cosmic debt of a relationship. That is why he would keep emphasising that even if you don’t want to give money to a beggar, that’s okay, but don't shout and bark at him as if he were a dog. It is on account of Rinanubandhan that we have come together. After being exposed to Baba's teaching, after living the teaching, I find a general sense of harmony with people, which does not mean I have to love everyone. There may be people I don't like. However, I have the understanding that they are who they are because of the way they have been made, and I accept who they are, but I naturally prefer the company of others to them. So, one will see that one's own life has transformed and changed as a result of the message of the Master, and then one knows that, yes, one is living the teaching. Your whole day, from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed, becomes a meditation on a teaching. We think of meditation as a practice - that we have to sit for half an hour, close our eyes, and concentrate. No! My Guru said true meditation is witnessing whatever arises in life as movements in consciousness, whatever it may be. Pleasure and pain come and go. These are witnessed, as Baba says. So the ground for meditation is life and it becomes a way of ‘being’. Peace, equanimity and compassion are its characteristics. No blame, condemnation, hatred, malice, jealousy, or envy. Because Baba says, “I am the sole Doer.” Nobody is the Doer, the Lord is the Doer. So, pride and arrogance that may have arisen earlier for being praised (for something I did) are replaced by humility and an understanding that God gifted me with a set of attributes as a result of which something was done, and so it was appreciated. I may feel pleasure because it feels good, but there is no pride and arrogance. These start dropping away. Hatred and malice start dropping away. So all these are what one starts shedding. Nikhil: Sometimes, one experiences this, maybe in lesser degrees, when one is sort of pulled astray temporarily. At such times, people have a tendency to be very hard on themselves, saying ‘Oh, I've been doing meditation,’ or ‘I've been with Baba for so long, yet I had an episode of anger, an outburst,’ or something else. Could you shed some light on how to be in those moments? Gautam: Yes. See, the thing is we are not sages. It is human nature. One may have a practice for years, and suddenly one incident happens which disturbs one's peace of mind. It's a happening. What happens is that we take ownership of it, and say, ‘I was not disturbed for all these years, I got disturbed by this happening. Why did I do it?’ The fact is you didn't. It happened in the moment. With this understanding, you don't set up these expectations that you have to be the perfect figure which will not make a wrong move, which will not say anything slightly wrong. That's a lot of pressure because we are not perfect. God has made us with all our imperfections. In that sense, we are perfect because our imperfections are also made by God. So when we stop putting this demand on others, as well as on ourselves, that this is the way you ‘should’ be, and this is the way I ‘should’ be, then life becomes free. Joyful living. Things may happen sometimes, for we are human, but we are not claiming ownership of them, because to claim ownership is then to get stuck again. Nikhil: Something that I should've asked you right at the beginning. It is about your relationship with Sai Baba. I remember you had mentioned once that when you were a child you were taken to Baba in Shirdi? Gautam: Yes. Nikhil: Could you share a few personal encounters, interactions, and your own experiences of Baba? Gautam: See, I have not had many experiences. I know He did come to me once in a dream recently. But what I do know is that when I was born, my father considered me a gift from Shirdi Sai Baba. I have this memory. I think I must have been really small, maybe 2 years old when I was taken to Shirdi, and the temple priest who is on the podium was taking babies, whoever had come with babies, lifting the baby up, and putting the baby at the feet of Baba, and then giving the baby back to the parents. This I recall vividly because of the visual imprint. I can actually even now see the vision of being lifted off my parents, and then the statue, and being put at the Feet, and then being taken back. I do have still have that memory. You know, for a lot of people in India, and in Maharashtra especially, we have grown up seeing Sai Baba in taxis, or on the temple side. He has truly become a part of us. Moreover, in my journey with spiritual masters, I kind of picked up on what they call the esoteric aspects. For example, I was very drawn to the Nath Yogis, like Gorakhnath, etc., who revered Dattatreya, and there is a connection between Sai Baba and Dattatreya. They consider Him a manifestation of Dattatreya, and that is why he is even called Sai Nath. He has a Dhuni - the sign of the Naths is the fire, the Dhuni. Once a Nath Yogi told me: “Wherever you go, if there is a Dhuni of a Nath Yogi, you must present yourself before the Dhuni because it records everything which transpires around it ever since it was lit.” So I picked up these cues along the way, and with Sai Baba, because He is so all-pervasive, one kept finding these connections and stories, and understanding aspects of Him as a truly Divine Being. Now just the other day, I was telling my mother that we are planning to have this talk/interview, and she asked me, “Did I tell you about my episode at Shirdi Sai Baba temple?” I said, “Which one?” She said, “About the trunk of Baba.” So I said, “No, what is this?” She said many years ago, she had gone with a friend of hers at Aarti time. She was just looking at the statue. Now, my mother was gifted with a spiritual awakening much later, and she's had a lot of visions. But at that time, she thought that she saw a trunk on the Murti. She dismissed it because she felt with the incense sticks, the Dhoop, and the lights of the flames, sometimes the mind is tricked into creating patterns where none actually exist. But she said this kept insisting, this vision kept insisting on being recognised by her, so she would wait to see the smoke move away, and the priest to put the Aarti tray down, but it was very clearly a trunk. So it was very perplexing for her. So then they stepped out, and there were few shops at that time. Her friend wanted to buy a Murti, and she said that right in the corner, one small photo was leaping out, saying, “Pick me, pick me,” so she was wondering what that was and told the shopkeeper, who he picked it out. He said, “Yeh, ji, to Sai Ganesh hai!” It was of Sai Baba with a trunk! This my mother told me just three days ago. This is quite something. She didn't buy that photo, so I went on to Google and I just typed 'Sai Ganesh' and I clicked on Images, and there are images of Baba with the trunk! So you see, all these are very symbolic. One could very well go into a shop and say, “These buggers, they put one God's face on Sai Baba and do what they want, and venerate Him,” but this is what my mother has seen, so that was her experience. I think it was very beautiful, because there is actually a Form called Sai Ganesh. Nikhil: It's amazing. Talking of symbolism, I think Baba is very 'cryptic'. A lot of His messages, His ways and His Leelas were not very direct. He uses symbolism in people's dreams and visions, even to this day. Any reason? Gautam: Because He wants us to discriminate. He doesn't want to give us an ‘A for Apple’. Nikhil: That's true. Gautam: Yeah. Nikhil: One other question. Sai Baba is probably the most popular deity in India, and pretty much in many parts of the world, especially where there are Indians. Any reason why in the Jnana Marg, or in the West, the teachings haven't spread as much as it has through the path of Bhakti? Why do you think there's been a bit of a gap there? Gautam: You see, one is that, as you rightly said, it is people of a simpler mindset. Now Indians are Bhakti-prone. The tradition has been to revere, to visit temples, and the relationship with the Murti or one's Guru, for example. It is a Bhakti-driven path. The Western mind is more into inquiry, knowledge and thinking. There's very little literature on what Baba has said about Jnana Yoga, for example, but His Leelas all point to that. Even the story of the two lizards, where He is sitting and someone sees a lizard on the wall and says, “This lizard is getting very excited, why?” And Baba says, “Its sister is coming.” And a man, in the next instant, comes in his cart and puts a sack down, and another lizard runs from the cart and goes and meets this lizard. At one level, we say, “Look at Baba's Leela! He knew that another lizard was going to come from some other town!” He had that vision, which He did, and He saw this happen. Now, the process of Jnana Yoga would be: What is behind this? What is the meaning of this? This is very clear. Baba is saying that anyone in your life you meet is due to Rinanubandhana. The Universe will conspire to bring about circumstances to make you meet them. In this case, it was two lizards. That was His vision, His enormity. Because the literature is mainly driven on these stories and incidents which evoke so much Bhav and Bhakti, truly only God or the Absolute could do all this. The Westerners don't have much to look at, unless they really delve deeper. My background is Jnana Yoga. I was with a Master who belonged to a lineage of Jnana Yoga Masters. When I read the Satcharita, I saw it through the prism of Jnana Yoga, and that is why I underlined all these things which appealed to me for I truly felt that living this is the highest form of Bhakti, because they are not two parts; ultimately, it's the same. So I do feel that in time to come, the Western world is going to get more familiar with this Master. I'll give you one example. It's only recently that around Arunachala Mountain, a shrine has come up dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba, which was not there earlier, and I feel that Sai Baba's message is going to reach out far more than it has ever been in the years to come. That is why He said, “My bones will speak from my tomb.” Baba has said that. The message will go far and wide. And, He will come in any form - whether it is a vision, whether it is in dreams, whether it is through Jnana Yoga, we don't know. Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj had very clearly said that Baba was the Absolute. Always there. So I do feel that it would be really wonderful if devotees like us of Sai Baba live His teachings with a direct impact in our daily living. I think that is the service we could do for Baba. Nikhil: So that being said, Gautam, we pray for His grace. Thank you once again so much for your time. And hopefully, this is one of many conversations with you. Thank you so much. Gautam: It would be my privilege.

This interview is not about offering answers, a strategy or a plan but more how to navigate deep change by embracing the unknown, dancing with mystery and meeting one-self in a tender transparent integrity every step of the way.  At the beginning of 2017, Jessica's business and marriage were falling apart, she was sinking into debt and found herself facing an identity crisis in both her personal and professional lives. She made a radical decision to embrace her resistance, step into her deepest fears, and set forth to intentionally fall apart in a wholesome way. Kimberly meets Jessica somewhere on her journey in this interview. She's rebuilding her marriage, and navigating how she "does business" from a place that's generative, collaborative and restorative. Jessica Durivage, the creator of Where is My Guru – an award winning podcast and online school for personal development and spiritual transformation has been a bridge builder for the health and wellness communities and conscious media for over 15 years. Where is My Guru has presented at SXSW, Hanuman Festival, and created the groundbreaking Sex, God & Yoga online conference for women. Currently, Jessica works with clients and small business supporting them in navigating change, building bridges, and transcending and creating new cultures that meet the business and the individuals who interact with it in an honest and wholesome way.    In this episode Jessica shares: Why Jessica dissolved her business The issues Jessica encountered with a thriving business but a failing marriage, a sick father and in debt How we know what enough is for us as working women and parents Placing value on skillset within your passion How to allow space for yourself from breakdown to breakthrough   What you’ll hear: “Where’s my Guru” Jessica’s passion project (3:00) The assumptions made by people on social media when your business is virtual- it’s not often what it looks like (10:00) Jessica becoming transparent and finding her truth (17:00) How we feel that we must be a “task master robot” (20:00) Conditioning from wholeness and placing value on our skillset (25:00) Slowing down, letting go and leaving room for the unknown to allow things to come (32:00) Approaching your “to do” list in a different way (38:00)

Find out what happens when Warm Focus meets Cold Beer (turns out it's a LOT of Pete Rock instrumentals) A sprawling instrumental party mix I played at Pop's Bar on 24th Street in SF, just before the long July 4th weekend. Some new stuff, mixed with a bunch of older jazz-influenced hip-hop. All instrumental. If the mix gets a little sloppy towards the end, blame it on the bartender. "Still D.R.E. - Instrumental Version" by "Dr. Dre" "Smoke & Mirrors" by "TOKiMONSTA" "Runnin' - Philippians Rmx Instrumental" by "The Pharcyde" "Seasons Change (Remix instrumental)" by "Moar, Raashan Ahmad" "Skylight" by "Gramatik" "My Guru" by "Dan The Automator" "Lay-by" by "Tennyson" "DTFT - Instrumental" by "J Dilla" "Kong" by "Bonobo" "Come On feat. Dave Ghetto - Instrumental" by "DJ Jazzy Jeff" "A grand love theme" by "Kid Loco" "Places" by "Shlohmo" "The Vibe (Instrumental)" by "Audible Doctor" "Amaman (Instrumental)" by "Large Professor" "Hip Hop feat.Twone Gabz - Instrumental" by "DJ Jazzy Jeff" "The Boss" by "Pete Rock" "Susie Cues" by "Javelin" "Chara" by "Fat Jon" "Natural Green" by "Blazo" "Time Is the Enemy" by "Quantic" "Stoney Street" by "Amon Tobin" "Mad Blunted Jazz" by "DJ Cam" "Dope Vhs Master" by "Desmond Cheese" "Zodiac Shit" by "Flying Lotus" "A Little Soul" by "Pete Rock" "Knicks Remix (Instrumental)" by "Freddie Gibbs, Madlib" "Pyramids (Change)" by "Madlib" "Electric Relaxation" by A Tribe Called Quest" "Dance (Instrumental)" by "Danny Brown" "We Will All B Free" by "Dela" "Perverted Undertone" by "Prefuse 73" "Dots" by "DJ Premier" "Nachtmusik" by "Seams" "1st N" by "DJ Premier" "Oceanic Lullaby" by "J. Boogie's Dubtronic Science" "Canto De Ossanha" by "Jurassic 5" "People Everywhere (Still Alive)" by "Khruangbin" "Morse" by "Nightmares On Wax" "Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens" by "DJ Cam" "Mbira Beat" by "GoldFish" "You" by "Gold Panda" "Make You Wanna" by "Ta-ku" "The Sicilian" by "Bonobo" "Transit" by "Colossus" "Cigarettes and Chocolate" by "Chet Faker" "About You" by "xxyyxx" "Crush" by "Metaform" "Gypsy" by "Bonobo" "Think Differently" by "Wu-Tang Clan" "Fifth Ave" by "Gold Panda" "Aquarium" by "Nosaj Thing" "Smoke & Mirrors" by "TOKiMONSTA" "Baddest Man Alive" by "RZA;The Black Keys" "The Best Secret" by "Pete Rock" "Nachtmusik" by "Seams" "Get Better John" by "Mux Mool" "In My Car" by "Gold Panda" "Patience in Play" by "Oddisee" "Yeti's Lament" by "Berry Weight" "C.R.E.A.M." by "El Michels Affair" "7eme Souffle" by "Liléa Narrative" "Creation (East L.A.) - Instrumental" by "Quantic, The Western Transient" "Marzipan Children" by "Little People" "Absence Heard, Presence Felt" by "Quantic" "Thai Tea" by "Weirddough" "Two Fish and an Elephant" by "Khruangbin" "Shame (Instrumental) - mixed" by "Freddie Gibbs, Madlib" "Reprise - T Hemingway Remix" by "Gold Panda, T Hemingway" "B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe - Instrumental" by "Syndicate Sound Labs" "Smells Like Gasoline" by "Mungolian Jetset" "Voyager" by "Daft Punk" "Push" by "Milosh" "Micro Melodies" by "The Album Leaf" "That's Love - Instrumental" by "Oddisee" "The Recipe - Instrumental" by "Syndicate Sound Labs" "Fake Five" by "Aus" "Do The Astral Plane" by "Flying Lotus" "Mi Mujer" by "Nicolas Jaar" "So So Lovely" by "Shigeto" "High Noon" by "Peter Kruder, Richard Dorfmeister"

Listen to my chat with Chris Grosso. Chris is a tattooed, independent culturist, freelance writer, spiritual aspirant, recovering addict, and musician. Chris writes for such venues as "Rebelle Society", "Huffington Post", "Intent" blog, and is a monthly contributor on the radio show "Where is My Guru?" He created the popular hub for all things alternative, independent, and spiritual with The Indie Spiritualist website. A self-taught musician, Chris has been writing, recording, and touring since the mid-1990s playing with independent bands. www.theindiespiritualist.com/

Episode 1: Katie Silcox is the "New York Times Best Selling Author" of Healthy, Happy, Sexy and a true visionary in the world of mind-body health. She is a senior student and assistant to Yogarupa Rod Stryker, one of the worldʼs most well-respected yoga and meditation teachers today. Katie Silcox was also named one of San Franciscoʼs Best Yoga Teachers Under 30 by Common Ground Magazine. She is a writer for Yoga Journal On-Line, is a nationally-sponsored Athleta “Power to the She” athlete, and has a regular slot on the Where is My Guru radio show. This is a conversation about new year's resolutions, her spiritual practice and she connects with her true essence to create sustainable goals. We talk social media and the depletion of prana and how to move away from the things that create separation.

Victor Marsh discusses "Enlarging their clearing in the jungle": The (Modest) Significance of "My Guru and His Disciple.” Marsh is Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Queensland. This lecture was included in the session titled, "Isherwood and the Spiritual Life."

Jamie Carr discusses "The "Art" of Living: Writing as Transformative Spiritual Practice in Isherwood’s, "My Guru and His Disciple." Carr associate professor of English and the Director of the liberal arts program at Niagara University. This lecture was included in the session titled, "Isherwood and the Spiritual Life."

Rebelle Wellness Spring Equinox Detox kicks off THIS FRIDAY March 20th and we are pre-gaming our asses off with some of the most awesome and inspired beings on the planet who view self care and self nourishment as an "act of survivial." Founder of Lotus House of Yoga, internationally known yogini goddess, mama and entrepreneur, Mary Clare Sweet rocks it with Jess from Where is My Guru. 

Join us for an exclusive interview with Stanford Professor of Anthropology Dr. S. Lochlain Jain, author of  “Malignant: How Cancer Becomes Us” which explores why cancer remains so confounding, despite billions of dollars spent looking for a cure. Survivor Spotlight is on "Cancer is My Guru” blogger Kathleen Emmets.

Join us for an exclusive interview with Stanford Professor of Anthropology Dr. S. Lochlain Jain, author of  “Malignant: How Cancer Becomes Us” which explores why cancer remains so confounding, despite billions of dollars spent looking for a cure. Survivor Spotlight is on "Cancer is My Guru” blogger Kathleen Emmets. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A begging Faqir, who was very unclean, always slandered Guru Amar Das for not giving him gifts. Bhai Jetha who later became Guru Ram Das, gave the man a very, very expensive necklace. He said "My Guru has given me the jewel of the Name, it is more valuable than anything." Bhai Jetha ji showed us a very great truth that day.https://www.sikhnet.com/stories/audio/true-necklace (read more) Support this podcast