By Michael Draper, UK
Having recently undertaken Empowered 5:2 in a hybrid format at the Mohanji Centre of Benevolence in Scotland and then the Beyond Empowered: Avadhoota Awareness event with Mohanji online, the opportunity to participate in Empowered 5:2 in an online weekend format with the Balkan Mohanji Family was not going to be missed. As soon as the event was posted, Jenny and I signed up; we have felt and experienced the benefits of both the Empowered and Beyond Empowered events and were keen to maintain the connection with the Consciousness represented by Mohanji.
In a very short space of time, Jenny has been sharing just how significantly her mental patterns have changed with a deepening connection with internal silence as thoughts go unfinished in her mind. We were also very aware from our previous experiences that even if Mohanji was not physically present, the Consciousness represented by Mohanji would be. Such opportunities are presented by the grace of Mohanji and the Tradition, and to connect is a commitment and investment in our deepening self-awareness and silence. When will the chance come again?
On the first day of the retreat, Subhasree posted: “We have just finished today’s session – the 1st day of introduction. As we started, I expressed to all that they would feel Mohanji’s presence here. Mohanji will certainly show his presence in many ways. I could guarantee that because we felt that during the E5 in Scotland last month.” The post continued with a similar theme, and I read this just before sleep.
I had a dream.
I was conscious of a pale, drab world; there was little light or colour, and I was aware that I wanted to leave. Others were also trying to leave. We passed over many obstacles, and eventually, we came to a vast, cavernous room. I realised that I had the ability to levitate past many of the obstructions in this room and used that ability. At the end of the room, there was a huge wall of great height, and at the top of the wall, I could see a glass panel through which light was shining brightly. Rising up the wall was a frame or scaffolding which would serve as a climbing frame. I realised that I had to climb up to the light, but guarding the wall and the frame were some very aggressive-looking dogs. They would let none pass.
However, I felt confident and had no fear because I knew that I could, if necessary, levitate, and I used this ability to pass over the dogs to reach the frame and began to climb. One black dog pursued, now exhibiting the ability of a monkey to climb. Its monkey-like ability to climb meant that it was quickly catching up and would soon clamp its jaws on my feet and drag me back. It leapt to do so, and at that moment, I levitated away from the frame and was suspended in space and watched while the dog fell far away to the ground. I levitated to the glass panel and broke what turned out to be a very thin pane of glass with my feet.
The height of the climb was such that I could not make out any of the details of the world I was leaving below or the new world I was about to enter; there was just light and some indistinct shapes, and I knew that I simply had to launch myself into the light and I would fly. I turned round to look at the world I was leaving behind and declared: ‘I’m free’.
I then woke up and started to sketch out this sharing whilst sitting underneath a picture of The Mother, the spiritual companion of Sri Aurobindo. That picture has the following inscription: “The luminous heart of the Unknown is She, A power of silence in the depths of God….”
Day 2 of Empowered 5:2 in Serbia would start with a live online Satsang with Mohanji. I hadn’t really slept (see above), so I was up and prepared early. The Satsang was due to start at 6:30 am BST, but I logged onto Zoom at around 5:50 am. Jenny joined me. Subhasree was unexpectedly already talking to the in-person participants. Apparently, Mohanji was now joining Zoom at 6:00 am, so Subhasree was advising resting in silence until then. Alerts had been sent to online participants, but I had not seen these and arrived in good time by virtue of grace.
When Mohanji appeared on Zoom, I had the opportunity to ask the first question, and so summarised Subhasree’s post from the previous evening and the dream that I had experienced. I queried the frame or scaffolding that I had been climbing as part of the dream, and felt that this represented the techniques and practices that we undertake to allow us to reach the point when we are able to experience liberation internally and then externally.
Ultimately, we have to let go of everything, even the practices and activities that have brought us to the point of liberation. Mohanji confirmed that this was the correct understanding. However, until that point is reached, techniques and practices, as well as a consistent connection with Consciousness represented by a Master, were very necessary. Mohanji continued to talk further on this theme and finished with a smile and said, ‘There, I have demolished your dream.’ I happily smiled back.
In a blog written by Mohanji in 2006 describing how, over the years, he has had the privilege of witnessing and participating in many communions with Masters – physically and metaphysically, he shares from one such communion the following passage:
“What is the use of knowledge when it is of no real use and only creates more chaos within? We have to leave off all such knowledge and move higher. We have to shed names and images and move higher. How long will we hold on to such things? And what for? Eventually, everything must dissolve.
The true happiness is in losing. Losing everything that adds to the weight of your existence. The true happiness is that of someone who has nothing inside. Nothing to defend. Nothing to fear. Nothing to run away from. Nothing to do. Nothing to prove. Nothing to think. Nothing to achieve. Nothing!!! No needs. No requirements. Lose everything. Name, fame, image, thoughts, knowledge. Lose everything. You will experience the causeless joy and wonder of your eternal spirit. You will experience the true state of liberation – Jeevan Mukta.”
Mata Devi Vanamali
The week leading up to the Serbian Empowered Programme has been eventful. Mohanji had kindly asked Vanamali Ma to visit MCB Scotland, and Jenny and I were grateful and very happy to share this trip with Mother, along with Aarthi and Subhasree. Chris, Aditi, Rekha, Shene and Maria were waiting to welcome Mother to MCB Scotland with love and respect. Aarthi was in constant contact with Team Scotland to ensure that all necessary formalities for Mother’s arrival were ready to be implemented.
A small group of us, led by Shyama, are currently reading the book ‘Baba Mohanji and Masters’ on a Monday evening. In an early chapter of that book, it is written by Rajesh that “Mata Devi Vanamali, the Divine Mother, is compassion incarnate and a great devotee of Lord Krishna. Mohanji fondly calls her Mataji….. Everything about Mataji is so pure and sattvic that one cannot help but be touched by her mere presence.”
Mother has adopted Mohanji as her spiritual son, and we did our utmost to ensure that Mother’s stay at MCB Scotland was aligned and consistent with this precious relationship. We were very much touched by her presence. I was fortunate to acquire a book written by Mother, “The Science Called Hinduism: The Play of the Divine in the form of the Rishis.” As a group, we were blessed to meditate with Mother and participate in Krishna pujas under the watchful gaze of Baba in the MCB temple. We chanted, we sang, and we danced. Jai! Such joy. To be present when Mother offers aarati is to see grace in motion and stillness.
After my return home, I went into the garden with Mother’s book. In the Chapter’ Brahman and Atman,’ Krishna/Mother has written: ‘Liberation must be attained here and now.’ What particularly struck me in this chapter was the following observation: ‘The Teacher or Guru of the Upanishads insisted that the rules of the inner world should not be applied to the outer until one has reached a state of Cosmic Consciousness and that students should be wary of mixing up the two…..A funny story is often told to prove the point.
The students set out for a walk and saw a mad elephant rushing towards them. The elephant man sitting on top kept shouting to people to get off the road. All the students except one took to their heels. The poor, bewildered one stood in the middle of the road and said, ‘The elephant is Brahman (supreme soul), and I am also Brahman. He will not hurt me.’
Of course, the elephant did not know he was Brahman, so he came and took the poor boy in his trunk and tossed him like a straw to the side of the road. Luckily, the boy survived, and when he returned to his Guru, he complained bitterly, ‘You told me that everything was Brahman, so why did the elephant harm me?’ The Guru said, ‘I have told you not to mix up the laws of one world with the other. Even if you did so, why did you not respect the advice of the elephant man, who was also a Brahman and who told you to keep off the path of the maddened elephant?’
Mohanji says to be practical before you are spiritual and emphasises that true spirituality is not about mechanically following practices and rituals (these serve an important role in cultivating one-pointed devotion) or seeking sensational experiences (these delude), but about cultivating awareness, compassion, and a deep connection to oneself and to all beings.
I noticed in the garden that some young fledgling birds were calling to their parents to feed them. One young bird was sitting in a pile of sunflower seeds on a bird table, food all around (much like love), but still calling to its parents for feeding beak to beak. I smiled. Are we not also like this? At the end of the Serbian Empowered satsang, I narrated this observation to Mohanji as the last question of the Satsang. Mohanji also smiled and acknowledged the point.
The Consciousness represented by Mohanji is everywhere: in us, around us and in every being. We should deeply feel this and cultivate that awareness through an intensity of consistent connection. Intensity, says Mohanji, is the key, and if this intensity is present, it is reciprocated. After all, does not Baba say, “You look at me, and I look at you.” Mohanji reassured those listening to the satsang that help in the form of divine forces is always available if we connect to them and maintain a compatible frequency. We may call them angels.
Equally, there are adverse forces eager to keep us fixed in terrestrial frequencies. These forces often collaborate with our internal enemies of fear, anger, jealousy, hatred and other emotions, attachments and ownership to keep us bound. Such collaboration is our undoing because we have no protection against ourselves and self-sabotage. If we want to be entertained by sensations rather than silence, then that is our choice. However, ultimately, Mohanji reassured those present in the satsang that he is always with us in all the processes and techniques, the group meditations and book readings. We simply have to connect and feel. He does his job.
In his 2006 blog about his communion with Masters, Mohanji recorded a Master as transmitting the following:
“Foolish man, so concerned about “the right path”, does not even know which is his right path and follows someone else’s!!! He cannot allow the soul to guide because he is not aware of its existence, even once a day. Then he repeats the same mistakes of a lifetime, again and again. What a pity!!! Man, liberation is in abandonment, not in ownership. Understand this very clearly. What will you gain by seeing me? What you see is just flesh and blood. That’s not me. Then what do you see? Can you see my soul? In order to see my soul, you should see your soul. That’s the right path!”
Anyway, this will not be understood by many. This food will not be enjoyed by many. This is celestial nectar (amrut). Those who could digest this food will be liberated. This will be heard only by those who are eligible. The rest will continue to intellectually fathom infinity. This is a futile exercise. Eventually, they will drop it and reach the truth. Every path leads to liberation. Time and space are the differences.
With Gratitude to Mohanji’s Mother and the Masters of the Tradition. Samastha Lokah Sukinho Bhavantu. May we be bought by God. May all worlds and all beings in those worlds be happy and free. Aum Tat Sat.
“The luminous heart of the Unknown is She, A power of silence in the depths of God….”
Good Bye (God Buy You).”
|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 18th July 2025
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