Yogi Shanti Desai's Philosophy
 From lifelong experience and practice, Shanti developed his revolutionary philosophy. By practicing yoga and living a dynamic balanced life, one can achieve personal transformation and serve society.
What is Self? Self is the essence of our very existence. Self is the primary root on which the external universe is based. There is no value in the world without the Self.
The goal of life is Self-Realization. Self is the essence of our very existence. Because of the Self, the external universe exists for us.
The spiritual path is for brave souls. One needs to wake up and realize his own Self. The hindrances in Self-realization are the conditioning from the past, illusions about the future and escapes in the present. We have to be free from the past and the imagined future. We must be rooted in the Self. We must make friendship with our self.
First we need to think clearly without fear, fantasy or concern for public opinion. We need to be born again like a bird to see the world with fresh eyes, coming out of the egg of conditioning to explore the world. We have to realize that our primary goal is to find bliss and use the secondary goals of total health, money, time and wisdom to direct and balance our life. Knowledge is power. With the clarity of goal, we can use the world as a means and set the direction for self-realization.
We have to live in the world. We have to find harmony in life. The world is like an ocean, filled with complexities. We have to learn swimming to remain afloat in the world. The world is like high school to teach us lessons to gain spiritual maturity. Instead of complaining, resisting or indulging in the world, use the world as a tool for learning spiritual lessons to qualify us for admission to the university of spiritual life.
We have the choice in life to please God within or to please the world. Most people try to look good and feel good by pampering their senses and mind. They get frustrated in the end. You cannot please others or find lasting happiness by sense gratification.
If you want to please God within, harmonize your life, simplify your life and set priorities so that you have surplus of vitality, time and money along with the wisdom to follow the path of Self-realization. Use the world and your current situations as tools.
After you harmonize your outer situations with clarity of mind, direct your energy to harmonize your personal life and direct it toward Self-realization. One practices moral conduct and personal duty (Swa-Dharma), yoga positions, breathing, relaxation, introspection and meditation. Living with conscious awareness and not escaping worldly duties while performing our duties (Swa-Dharma) cultivates true renunciation.
To go inward one uses active and passive meditation. One attunes himself upon rising and before going to sleep. One practices passive meditation in the morning to harmonize his body, energy, mind, intellect and consciousness. He charges himself with energy and direction for the day. During the day he performs his duties with love and with conscious awareness as active meditation. One balances life and uses a dynamic approach with the changing situations of life.
One purifies himself and sharpens the mind to cultivate spiritual discrimination and renunciation. He maintains an undercurrent of liberation that is for self-knowledge. You have to be strong enough to save yourself before saving the world. Your first priority should be to nurture yourself and transform yourself from within. It is not a selfish activity. By becoming strong and focused you become an effective instrument to serve others. Attaining personal liberation, peace and contentment makes you free from the prison of the world. You become your own master (Swami). It becomes your joyous natural duty to serve the world as an instrument of God. The external world remains the same, but your world has changed. Worldly life becomes play instead of a chore.
Shanti uses the following approaches and techniques for Self-realization and direction for spiritual evolution.
Shanti’s Message from Dynamic Balanced Living
We are created in the image of God. Health, harmony and peace are our birth right. We do not need to anything but to realize it. We can use our mind and breath as a tool, here and now, regardless of our age or physical condition.
All we need to do is the remove the programs and conditioning of the past. We are children of divinity and not limited by race, religion or nation. We are worthy and can realize Self instantaneously if we choose it. Nothing or no one can stop us except our own mind.
We need to remove illusions and fantasies by thinking clearly. We need to stop running outward using various escapes. We need to slow down become quiet and realize the Self.
We can explore our potentials and direct our energy in the direction of Self Realization. Our mundane life is not a hindrance but the best tool for our spiritual evolution. We can balance all aspects of our life and then use a dynamic and creative approach in life. We learn to flow with life. After all, love and joy are the essence of life, everything else is a means.
Life is precious and a privilege. Why waste it on petty and narrow mundane matters? We are like princes and princesses. Why act like a beggar? Wake up, realize and become free here and now.
Shanti’s Message from Self – I, Me, Mine, Illusion
Self knowledge is the only way to find lasting happiness. As one goes inward in the direction of the Self, one attains personal experience and does not need to rely on the promises of others.
The knowledge is accessible to all. It is simple and easy. Self is closest to us. It is our very existence. It is our birthright.
Self knowledge is the essence of all scriptures and spiritual masters of the world. Greedy spiritual leader and deluded fanatical religious and spiritual cults have made it inaccessible, difficult and prohibiting to the masses. They have distorted the teachings of the great masters and have created religions and split the religions into sub-branches for their gain and Ego. They have induced fear of hell and sin, and temptation of rewards of prosperity and heavens to attract innocent people. Masses of people are caught in rituals and austerities and run to temples, mosques, churches and synagogues forgetting the real goal of life.
One should experience the bliss of the higher Self within and the brotherhood of humanity by rising above religion, nationality, race, culture and society.
Meditation techniques are simplified and anyone can practice them, regardless of age, sex, profession, education, race, beliefs, social status, or health conditions. Everyone who thinks and breathes can practice them.
All one needs is to wake up, accept one’s own self as one is, let go of illusions, and start now.
Shanti uses the following basic philosophies
- 1. Self-Realization through Raja Yoga
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Shanti teaches a holistic lifestyle to live in rhythm with nature (Swa-Dharma) by following:
Yamas and Niyamas: Moral codes
Asanas: Yoga positions for the attunement of body
Pranayamas: Breathing techniques
Pratyahara: Control of sense organs
Dharana: Concentration
Dhyana: Meditation
Samadhi: Deep absorption.
Philosophy of Sankhya and Vedanta to understand the process of Self-realization
- 2. Self-knowledge through Gnana Yoga
- Permanent nature of Self
Impermanence of the world (Maya)
Attachment and cravings is the cause of bondage and suffering
Spiritual discrimination
Renunciation
Desire for liberation
Iintrospection
Personal attunement
Negation
Affirmation
Expansion
Meditation techniques
- 3. Passive meditation:
- Sitting meditation to attune the body, senses, mind, intellect and consciousness
Techniques for each attunement and integrating them in practice.
- 4. Active meditation:
- Living with conscious awareness during the day.
Application of meditation technique during the day using the philosophies of Gnana, Karma and Bhakti yoga.
- 5. Dynamic balanced living:
- Get clarity of goal, direction and means
Set primary and secondary goals
Set priorities and create surplus to utilize for the goal
Balance health, vitality, money and time and direct them with wisdom. (Spiritual discrimination).
Balance body, mind, emotions and spirit
Balance material and spiritual life.
- 6. Personal to Global Transformation:
- Tune in to the inner Self, Awaken and transform your life from within
Practice meditation to be rooted in the Self.
Balance personal life
Balance family life
Balance work and social life
Expand the conscious awareness
Personal attunement, negation, affirmation and expansion.
Serve selflessly
- 7. Selfless Service and Karma Yoga:
- Expand awareness to universality.
Apply selfless service with proper priorities
- 8. Unconditional Love and Bhakti Yoga:
- Cultivate non-attachment
Cultivate devotion (Bhakti) in relationship.
Mantra chants
Surrender
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