Three days of fasting can renew your entire immune system

A person’s entire immune system can be rejuvenated by fasting for as little as three days as it triggers the body to start producing new white blood cells, a study suggests
Fasting for as little as three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as “remarkable”.

Although fasting diets have been criticised by nutritionists for being unhealthy, new research suggests starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which fight off infection.

Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for people suffering from damaged immune systems, such as cancer patients on chemotherapy.

It could also help the elderly whose immune system becomes less effective as they age, making it harder for them to fight off even common diseases.

The researchers say fasting “flips a regenerative switch” which prompts stem cells to create brand new white blood cells, essentially regenerating the entire immune system.

“It gives the ‘OK’ for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” said Prof Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and the Biological Sciences at the University of California.

“And the good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting.

“Now, if you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or ageing, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”

Prolonged fasting forces the body to use stores of glucose and fat but also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells.

During each cycle of fasting, this depletion of white blood cells induces changes that trigger stem cell-based regeneration of new immune system cells.

In trials humans were asked to regularly fast for between two and four days over a six-month period.

Scientists found that prolonged fasting also reduced the enzyme PKA, which is linked to ageing and a hormone which increases cancer risk and tumour growth.

“We could not predict that prolonged fasting would have such a remarkable effect in promoting stem cell-based regeneration of the hematopoietic system,” added Prof Longo.

“When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged,” Dr Longo said.

“What we started noticing in both our human work and animal work is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then when you re-feed, the blood cells come back. So we started thinking, well, where does it come from?”

Fasting for 72 hours also protected cancer patients against the toxic impact of chemotherapy.

“While chemotherapy saves lives, it causes significant collateral damage to the immune system. The results of this study suggest that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy,” said co-author Tanya Dorff, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital.

“More clinical studies are needed, and any such dietary intervention should be undertaken only under the guidance of a physician.”

“We are investigating the possibility that these effects are applicable to many different systems and organs, not just the immune system,” added Prof Longo.

However, some British experts were sceptical of the research.

Dr Graham Rook, emeritus professor of immunology at University College London, said the study sounded “improbable”.

Chris Mason, Professor of Regenerative Medicine at UCL, said: “There is some interesting data here. It sees that fasting reduces the number and size of cells and then re-feeding at 72 hours saw a rebound.

“That could be potentially useful because that is not such a long time that it would be terribly harmful to someone with cancer.

“But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesise this effect with drugs. I am not sure fasting is the best idea. People are better eating on a regular basis.”

Dr Longo added: “There is no evidence at all that fasting would be dangerous while there is strong evidence that it is beneficial.

“I have received emails from hundreds of cancer patients who have combined chemo with fasting, many with the assistance of the oncologists.

“Thus far the great majority have reported doing very well and only a few have reported some side effects including fainting and a temporary increase in liver markers. Clearly we need to finish the clinical trials, but it looks very promising.”

17th of December 2013 Observe Amavasyopasana by Gurubaba devotees

As per Aarsha Bharatha upasana calendar published by Gurubaba Ashram, 17^th of December Tuesday Observe Amavasyopasana by devotees. Amavasyopasana is fasting without water and cooked food for 2 nights and 1 day on Amavasi (New moon day)) and Pournami (Full Moon day). It starts at 6 pm on the previous day of new moon / full moon days. Up to 6 pm you can eat anything you want.. From 6 to 9 pm slowly you must come to Upavasa.

Benefits from observing Amavasyopasana

1. To thwart evil planetary influences and to obtain the blessings of good planets

2. To retrieve lost prosperity and to maintain prosperity.

3. To enter wed lock for persons having bad planetary afflictions in their birth chart like “Chova dhosham”

4. to attain unfulfilled aspirations.

5. To sustain nuptial bliss.

6. To do away with ‘Doshas’ from previous births and bad actions of this birth.

7. To protect from evil forces and bad elements of nature

8. As a remedy to incurable diseases and maintain health.

Benefits of Fasting

Most religions use periods of fasting as a means of demonstrating faith or penitence, and an opportunity for spiritual reflection. Fasting has also historically been a means to express political views and a form of protest.

Though it may not be the most practical -- or safest -- diet, some people use fasting as a way to lose weight or to cleanse the body of toxins, although some experts say our bodies are perfectly equipped with organs that already do the job. How fasting is used for weight loss varies by diet. Some fasting diets involve drinking nothing but water or eating only raw foods for a period of one or more days, while others restrict food on alternate days. Certain fasting diets only allow liquids like water, juice, or tea, while others dramatically cut calories but do not eliminate food altogether.

Does Fasting Help You Lose Weight?

When you fast, your body is forced to dip into energy stores to get the fuel it needs to keep going, so you will lose weight. The big question is how long you will keep that weight off. Because food was often scarce for our ancestors, our bodies have been genetically programmed to combat the effects of fasting. When you eat less food, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy. Then, when you go back to your usual diet, your lowered metabolism may cause you to store more energy, meaning that you will probably gain back the weight you lost and possibly even put on more weight when eating the same calories you did before the fast.

As you fast, your body will adjust by reducing your appetite, so you will initially feel less hungry. But once you have stopped fasting, your appetite hormones will kick back into gear and you may actually feel hungrier and be more likely to binge.

Research has shown that fasting on alternate days can help people lose weight, but not for long. In one study, people who followed an alternate-day fasting diet shed weight, even when they ate all they wanted on the nonfasting days. However, they could not maintain the weight loss over time.
Can Fasting Detoxify the Body?

Some fasting diets claim that they can cleanse the body of impurities. However, there is no evidence that fasting detoxifies your body, or that your body even needs to be detoxified. It is naturally designed to remove toxins through the skin (by sweating), liver, colon, and kidneys.
Could Fasting Help You Live Longer?

Studies of fasting in both rodents and humans appear to indicate a connection between calorie restriction and longevity. In one study of overweight men and women, a calorie-restricted diet improved markers of aging, such as insulin level and body temperature.

Fasting might also improve longevity by delaying the onset of age-related diseases including Alzheimer's, heart disease, and diabetes. One study showed that skipping meals once a month, as members of the Mormon religious group do, reduces the risk of clogged arteries (the build-up of plaque that can lead to heart attacks and strokes). However, it is not clear from this research whether fasting alone or the Mormons' generally healthier lifestyle (they also abstain from coffee, alcohol, and smoking) is responsible for the improved heart health. 

Researchers do not yet know whether the effects of fasting translate into an actual increase in lifespan, because they have not followed people for long enough periods of time. However the concept of intermittent fasting, such as skipping a meal purposefully on an intermittent basis, is gaining attention. It appears to be a relatively safe way to reduce caloric intake that is easier for some people to do. The data however is not there yet nor is this an accepted practice.
Is Fasting Safe?

Fasting for a day or two probably won't hurt people who are generally healthy, provided they maintain an adequate fluid intake. However, fasting entirely for long periods of time can be harmful. Your body needs a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from food to stay healthy. Not getting enough of these nutrients during fasting diets can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, constipation, dehydration, gallstones, and cold intolerance. It is possible to die if you fast too long.

Even short-term fasting is not recommended for people with type I diabetes, because it can lead to dangerous dips and spikes in blood sugar. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or anyone with a chronic disease, should not fast.

Before you go on any type of new diet, particularly one that involves fasting, talk to your doctor to find out whether it is safe and appropriate for you. Also ask your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian, who can show you how to design a healthy eating plan.

Sri Chakra

The Sri Yantra ("holy instrument") or Sri Chakra ("holy wheel") is a yantra formed by nine interlocking triangles that surround and radiate out from the central (bindu) point, the junction point between the physical universe and its unmanifest source. It represents the goddess in her form of Shri Lalita Or Tripur Sundari, "the beauty of the three worlds (Heaven, Earth, Hell)". The worship of the Sri Chakr is central to the Shri Vidya system of Hindu worship. Four isosceles triangles with the apices upwards, representing Shiv or the Masculine. Five isosceles triangles with the apices downward, symbolizing female embodiment Shakti. Thus the Sri Yantr also represents the union of Masculine and Feminine Divine. Because it is composed of nine triangles, it is known as the Navayoni Chakr."These nine triangles are of various sizes and intersect with one another. In the middle is the power point (bindu), visualizing the highest, the invisible, elusive centre from which the entire figure and the cosmos expand. The triangles are enclosed by two rows of (8 and 16) petals, representing the lotus of creation and reproductive vital force. The broken lines of the outer frame denote the figure to be a sanctuary with four openings to the regions of the universe".
Together the nine triangles are interlaced in such a way as to form 43 smaller triangles in a web symbolic of the entire cosmos or a womb symbolic of creation. Together they express Advait or non-duality. This is surrounded by a lotus of eight petals, a lotus of sixteen petals, and an earth square resembling a temple with four doors.
The Shri Chakr is also known as the nav chakr because it can also be seen as having nine levels. "Nine" comes from "Nau or Nav" of Sanskrit. Each level corresponds to a mudra, a yogini, and a specific form of the deity Tripur Sundari along with her mantra. These levels starting from the outside or bottom layer are:[1]

1.     Trailokya Mohan or Bhupar, a square of three lines with four portals
2.     Sarv Aasa Paripurak, a sixteen-petal lotus
3.     Sarv Sankshobahan, an eight-petal lotus
4.     Sarv Saubhagyadayak, composed of fourteen small triangles
5.     Sara Arthasadhak, composed of ten small triangles
6.     Sarv Rakshakar, composed of ten small triangles
7.     Sarv Rogahar, composed of eight small triangles
8.     Sarv Siddhiprada, composed of 1 small triangle
9.     Sarv Anandamay, composed of a point or bindu

The Sri Chakra (called the Shri Yantra) is the symbol of Hindu tantra, which is based on the Hindu philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism. The Sri Yantr is the object of devotion in Sri Vidya.

Sri Chakr, popularly mistaken to be a symbol of Lakshmi, is actually a representation of Lalita Mahatripurasundari, an aspect of Parvati Devi..Shri does not mean Wealth in this context. The term 'Shri' is used to denote the reverence to be given to this holy Yantr. The prefix 'Shri' denotes that the Yantr is auspicious, beneficent, salutary, benign and conducive to prosperity.The Shri Chakr is often referred as the Chakr Raja which means King of all Chakr which makes it a supreme instrument in the path of spiritual advancement.

Amasomavara Yagna -Benefits

Meaning of 'Amsomavara'

'Amavasi' means New Moon day; 'Somavara' means Monday.
When New Moon day happens to fall on Monday that special day is know as 'Amasomavara'.
Peculiariteis of 'Amasomavara'
'Amasomavara' is very rare. In certain years there will be one one Amasomavara and in some years there will not be a single one.
'Amasomavara' has many mystical powers. Ancient sages who knew by insight the potential of this holy day used to conduct secret yagnas and poojas on this day to appease Gods and to bring prosperity. The Yagna lasted for many days and involved severe austerities to be observed by the 'Acharyas' of Yagna. After the vedic period, when 'Acharyas' become luxury minded and diverted from the path of penance, this rare gem of knowledge was lst to mankind.
Gurubaba - Agnihotri of Kaliyuga
By doing intense Tapa in Chittramoola Cave, inside the dense forests of kudajadri Hills in Karnataka, Gurubaba was blessed with Darshan of Goddess Mokambika. Devi, most pleased, showered many boons on Gurubaba. The most precious of these was the secret 'Moola Manthras' to perform 'Amasomavara Yagna'. Being the real Avatar of Kaliyuga, Gurubaba is the only one selected by God in Kaliyuga to receive the Manthras from Devi Mookambika.

Amasomavara Yagna

The complete Yagna lasts for 14 days. The Acharya who conducts the Yagna has to fast for 4 nights and 3 days continously without even a drop of water. The Yagna involves Sampoorna Navagraha Pooja, Samagra Navagraha Pooja and Sri Mookambika Moola Swaroopa Tryaksharee Pooja.

Real Vedic Tradition

Acccording to Vedas in any Yagna the Acharya who conduct the Yagna should not enjoy anything received by way of offerings from devotees. The 'Rithwiks' who assist Acharya also should not be paid anything by way of Dakshina or fees. This is striclty followed in 'Amasomavara Yagna'.
Amasomavara involves heavy expenditure amounting to lakhs of rupees. But nothing is charged from the devotees participating in Yagna. No fee is levied. No one is approached for donations. By God`s grace every expense will be met by way of voluntary donations from devotees. All the money and articles received as donation will be distributed among poor and needy as 'ISHTI' after completion of Yagna.

Benefits from 'Amasomavara Yagna'

This is the ultimate Pooja and the last resort for all who could not enter wedlock even after exhausting all types of Pooja and other remedial measures.
It bestows Prosperity and Peace in household
It eliminates evil spirits generated by enemies
It helps for progress in career
It rectifies unexpected set backs in education
It assures marital bliss

How to Participate

Devotees can either come to Guruvayur and stay there for 3 days beginning on Trayodasi i.e 2 days prior to New Moon day or they can observe fasting at their residence and register their name for prasadam.
Red Silk specially blessed by Goddess Mookambika is given as prasadam. The Silk cloth should be wrapped around the pillow and used according to the instructions given from Ashram. Prasadam will be sent by courier. Devotee has to pay courier charges only.
Name shoudl be registered atleast 7 days in advance of New Moon day.

How does chanting work to purify our mind

Chanting works to destroy the incorrect impressions in the subconscious mind. This method, known as the deflection method, helps us to benefit from chanting

If we look at the diagram, we see a barrier which is there between the conscious and sub-conscious mind. This barrier has some special qualities. It doesn’t allow the conscious mind to know what secrets are locked in the sub-conscious mind. This sheath is also porous, but it only allows one thought to emerge at a time from the sub-conscious mind. The thought that emerges is the strongest thought. So impressions from the sub-conscious mind rapidly hit the conscious mind in quick succession and return to strengthen the centre that they arose from.

However when the devotion centre grows stronger, through the spiritual practice of chanting it then becomes the strongest thought to shoot up to the conscious mind. Every time God’s Name shoots up into the conscious mind, the barrier seals and doesn’t allow any other impression to come through. Thus any thought from the sub-conscious mind will not be able to pass beyond the barrier but instead gets deflected as you see in the diagram.

In this process the other impressions and centres receive very little attention. By being continually ignored, the other centres eventually lessen until they cease to exist. So this is another effective way in which the devotion centre cleanses the subconscious mind.

Who is Guru

A Guru is very different to a teacher or a preacher. He is a beacon of spiritual light in our world, and teaches us the universal spiritual principles that underlie all religions and cultures. This article expands on His characteristics and salient features. I had seen this article in Spiritual Science Research Foundation web site and resembles Guru Baba,thought its worth to publish in this blog.

The word ‘Guru’ is derived from the Sanskrit language and has a deep spiritual meaning. Its two syllables Gu and Ru stand for the following:

Gu denotes the spiritual ignorance that most of humankind is in.

Ru represents the radiance of spiritual knowledge that dispels the spiritual ignorance.

In short, the Guru is the One who dispels the darkness of spiritual ignorance in humanity and bestows upon them spiritual experiences and spiritual knowledge.

There is a saying that in the kingdom of the blind the seeing man is a king. With a highly activated sixth sense, the Guru is the totally ‘seeing’ person in the kingdom of the spiritually blind and ignorant. He is someone who has already walked the spiritual road under the guidance of his Spiritual Guide, and has access to the Universal Mind and Intellect. In this article, we will explain who can be considered a Spiritual Guide or a Guru and His characteristics.

Definition of a Guru or an evolved spiritual guide

There are various aspects to the Supreme God Principle. These various aspects of God perform specific functions in the Universe. This is pretty much akin to the government of any country which has various departments to facilitate the smooth governing and functioning of the country as a whole.

Just as we have a department for education in a government, which facilitates teaching of modern sciences throughout the country, the aspect of God that looks after spiritual teaching and spiritual growth in the Universe is known as the Guru. This is known as the unseen or unmanifest Guru or the Teaching Principle of God. The unmanifest Guru pervades the entire Universe and is with us at all times during our life and even after we die. The salient and highlighting feature is that the unmanifest Guru stands by us throughout our life and slowly lifts us from our worldly life into a spiritual way of life. The Guru guides us according to our spiritual level, i.e. our capacity to imbibe knowledge whether we know it or not, helping us develop skills such as perseverance, dedication, attention to detail, tenacity, compassion etc. through our lives. All these kinds of skills are intrinsic to being a good seeker of God and are vital in sustaining our spiritual journey. For those who are proactively seeking spiritual growth the Guru is more active, guiding them in an unseen form according to what is needed for them.

Out of the entire population of the world, few take up spiritual practice that is universal and beyond the confines of formal, organised religion. Among these, very few people through their spiritual practice (regardless of their religion of birth) attain a spiritual level of over 70%. The unmanifest Guru then works completely through some of these evolved individuals who are then known as the manifest Guru or the Guru in the human form. In other words, a person has to be at least of the 70% spiritual level to qualify as a spiritual guide or a Guru. The Guru in human form acts as a beacon of spiritual knowledge for humanity and is in total alignment with the Universal Mind and Intellect of God

Literal Meaning of Guru

The word ‘Guru’ is derived from the Sanskrit language and has a deep spiritual meaning. Its two syllables Gu and Ru stand for the following:

Gu denotes the spiritual ignorance that most of humankind is in.

Ru represents the radiance of spiritual knowledge that dispels the spiritual ignorance.

In short, the Guru is the One who dispels the darkness of spiritual ignorance in humanity and bestows upon them spiritual experiences and spiritual knowledge.

 Differences between a teacher/professor and a Guru

The following chart gives the differences between a teacher and a Guru in human form.

Differences between a preacher and a Guru

There is a vast difference between a person preaching Spiritual sciences or religious study as compared to a Guru. The following table expands on the differences between them when guiding people. 

Most preachers in today’s world are at the 30% spiritual level and as a result they are neither able to understand the true implied meaning of the Scriptures they quote, no have they experienced first-hand everything has been written. Thus, the possibility of leading the audience astray is high.

What are the differences between a Guru and a Saint?

What makes a person become a Guru over and above being a Saint?

Every Guru is a Saint but the reverse is not always true. Only a small percentage of Saints qualify as Gurus.

 What are the similarities between a Saint and a Guru?

    Both a Saint and a Guru are over the 70% spiritual level.

    They both have spiritual love for all of humankind, i.e. love without expectation.

    They both have very little ego. This means that they do not identify themselves with their five senses, mind and intellect but with the Soul, that is the God within.

 What are the differences in characteristics between a Saint and a Guru?

The following table shows a gross comparison between a Saint and a Guru at the 80% spiritual level.

Difference between a Saint and a Guru 

  By love for others, we mean loving others without any expectation. This is different to worldly love which is always tainted with some sort of expectation. 100% would mean the unconditional, non-partial, all-pervading love of God, extended equally to all of creation right from non-living things, to the tiniest of living beings like ants to the highest of beings i.e. humans.

  Service means serving the Absolute Truth or Spiritual science, that is the universal principles that underlie all religions and govern the entire universe. 100% here would mean 100% of their time and abilities in all dimensions like physical (bodily), mental, intellectual, financial, social, etc. is spent in serving God.

    Sacrifice means how much of their time, body, mind and wealth have they sacrificed to serve God.

    Quantity of writing of texts related to explaining or propagating the Absolute Truth.

    The nature of the writings of Saints and Gurus are more about spiritual experiences and spiritual guidance respectively.

    God functions by His mere existence. He does not need to make any effort, hence His energy is not manifest. The forms of His energy are unmanifest, like Serenity, Bliss etc. But Saints and Gurus, because they have a tangible physical body, do use manifest energy to some extent.

    What is I'ness

    As Gurus are more one with the unmanifest (nirgun) form of God, they do not need to use much manifest energy. As the ‘I’ in Saints is higher than that in Gurus, they use more manifest energy than Gurus do. But this is much lower compared to those performing similar functions with the help of supernatural powers. For example, when a person is cured of his illness due to blessings of a Saint, only 20% energy is manifest, whereas the same may be up to 50% in the case of one who is not a Saint but heals with supernatural healing powers. As the manifest energy of God is 0, the manifest energy one expends is a function of oneness of God. Thus the more your manifest energy, the further away you are from God. Signs of manifest energy are bright, glowing eyes, sharp hand movements, etc.

    In order to carry out their mission Saints and Gurus alike need manifest energy which is given by God. Saints sometimes solve worldly problems of their devotees which use up comparatively more energy. A Guru focuses His disciple on spiritual growth, which in turn makes the disciple self-sufficient in overcoming problems where the root causes are spiritual in nature. As a result the Guru uses up less spiritual energy.

    Both Saints and Gurus have a spiritual level of at least 70%. After crossing the spiritual level of 70%, spiritual progress is faster in Gurus than in other Saints. They attain the level of a Sadguru (80%) and a Paratpar Guru (90%) faster than other Saints attaining the same spiritual levels. This is because they are constantly engrossed in the mission of spiritually uplifting a disciple, while Saints also help their devotees at a more worldly level.

 What is the importance of the Guru in the human form?

Each one of us seeks guidance from teachers, doctors, lawyers etc. in their respective fields. If a guide is needed even in these comparatively simple fields, then imagine the importance of the Guru, who releases one from the bondage of life and death.

6.1 Importance of the Guru - from the perspective of educating a student

The Guru comes in many forms. He teaches us through situations, books, in human form, etc. The following table is a comparison between these various forms and it shows the importance of the Guru in the human form.

Guide-importance-chart-1

 Importance of the Guru - from a psychological perspective

There are many psychological benefits for a student to have a spiritual guide in the human form.

    Unlike God and deities who do not display their existence and potential, the Guru displays His form through the human Guru. This way the student of Spirituality has a tangible guide to take care of him on his spiritual journey.

    The Guru in human form is omniscient just as the unmanifest Guru and is able to perceive everything about his disciple. He knows through His access to the Universal Mind and Intellect whether the student is sincere or not and where he is making mistakes. As a result, the student being aware of this ability of the Guru, often refrains from doing bad deeds.

    The Guru does not allow the disciple to develop an inferiority complex from the fact that he is lesser than the Guru. He eradicates the inferiority complex in the deserving disciple and grants him the all pervading nature of the Guru.

 Importance of the Guru - from a Spiritual science perspective

The following table shows the importance of a Guru in the human form for the spiritual growth of a seeker/disciple.

Guide-importance-chart-2

Footnotes (based on numbers in red in the above table):

    At around the 55% spiritual level, a student/disciple develops enough spiritual maturity to benefit from the Guru’s presence in human form. It is akin to receiving a scholarship in Spirituality. At this level of spiritual maturity, the disciple is set to take proper advantage of the Guru’s assistance in guiding him towards experiencing God.

    It is relatively more difficult to derive benefit from an idol. The subtle, intangible frequencies that an idol or picture of a Guru emits, can only be useful to a person beyond the 60% spiritual level with an activated sixth sense.

    When one follows the guidance of a Guru in human form, the effort required to make spiritual progress is the least as it is channelised most efficiently. In all other cases, the chances of making mistakes are much higher.

    To be able to understand the implied meaning of the scriptures is no mean task. Very often Holy Scriptures and books are prone to misinterpretation.

    Here ego refers to faith in oneself. If faith in oneself is not high, then one cannot make spiritual progress without taking guidance from someone.

    Without a spiritual guide the likelihood of stagnation or even regression in spiritual growth is high.

Some salient features of a Guru in the human form

    A Guru is beyond organised religion and He looks upon all of humankind as the same. He does not discriminate on the basis of culture, nationality or gender. He only seeks the student who intensely desires spiritual growth.

    A Guru will never ask one to convert from his religion. He will lift the student to comprehend universal spiritual principles that underlie all religions.

    Whichever spiritual path or religion one follows, they all finally lead to the path of grace of the Guru.

Path of Guru's grace

A Guru functions with spiritual power at the level of resolve. With this spiritual power given by God, He lifts a deserving student just by His thought that the student should progress. A seeker/student of Spiritual science cannot reach the spiritual level of 70% unless he has the Guru’s grace and is guided by the Guru in the human form. The reason for this is that, in the earlier stages of our spiritual growth, we can progress just by following the basic laws of spiritual practice. However after a certain stage, the spiritual knowledge becomes so fine that one can easily be misguided by ghosts (demons, devils, negative energies, etc.) through their sixth sense. One needs a highly evolved spiritual guide in the human form to accurately negotiate the way for further spiritual progress towards Sainthood.

    Even after one reaches the level of a Saint one needs to continue one's spiritual practice to ensure a constant flow of Guru’s grace.

    He lifts the student to be able to access the Soul knowledge within. This is as opposed to some people with sixth sense (ESP) who, as mediums, access knowledge from subtle bodies (spirits) in the subtle dimension. When one acts only as a medium, one cannot make spiritual progress.

    The relationship between Guru and student is pure and the love that the Guru has for the student is without expectations and is unconditional.

    The Guru is omniscient and is therefore able to take care of the student even when he is not with Him physically.

    Severe destiny can only be overcome with the grace of the Guru.

    The Guru guides the student according to the six laws of spiritual practice as per the spiritual level and hence capacity. He never teaches a student beyond his capacity.

    The Guru will always teach with a positive attitude. For example, a Guru may advise one to undertake any one spiritual practice among the following, depending on the student’s spiritual maturity, ‘‘Sing devotional songs, chant The Lord’s Name, perform service to God, etc.’’ He never guides in a negative way such as ‘‘Do not drink alcohol, do not behave this way,’’ etc. The reason for this is that teaching not to do certain things is at the psychological level, and does not serve any purpose from the point of view of making spiritual progress. The Guru focuses on the spiritual practice of the student. Over time this itself will give the student the capacity to discard activities which are detrimental to him.

    Though the clouds shower rain equally everywhere, the water accumulates only in craters while the erect mountains remain dry. Similarly Gurus and Saints do not discriminate. The bestowal of their grace on all is the same but the ones with pure intention to learn and grow spiritually are like the craters, able to receive and retain the benefit of their grace.

    The Guru being omniscient intuitively knows what is best for the student to further his spiritual progress. He guides on a one-to-one basis.

How do we recognise and acquire an evolved spiritual guide?

It is difficult for a student of Spiritual science to judge the ability of a Guru. This would be like the student testing the teacher.

Note-Subtle-world

To test someone, one has to be of a higher calibre than that person. The student cannot be that person to test the Guru. More importantly, the ability of the Guru is in the subtle or spiritual dimension, i.e. beyond the understanding of the five senses, mind and intellect. It can be gauged only through a highly activated sixth sense.

 

To grow one’s capacity to discern, one needs to do regular spiritual practice according to the six basic principles of spiritual practice. This will ensure spiritual growth and development of a sattvik intellect. The all-pervading unmanifest Guru or the Teaching Principle of God keeps a constant watch on all of us. When one achieves a spiritual level of around 55%, a Guru in the human form comes into one’s life. (The mode spiritual level of present day people is 20%). At the spiritual level of 55%, a student of Spiritual sciences has the spiritual maturity to have a sense for whether the Guru is genuine with their sattvik intellect itself.