Lessons living with Mohanji – Days 181 & 182

Posted on by Mohanji Editorial Team

by Christopher Greenwood

Day 181 – The World is a Big Cage

“The world is a big cage.” This is something that Mohanji said in conversation the other day that really stuck with me. He was referring to the limitations of the mind and his own journey, wherein he went beyond this, to find and touch silence and himself. I really like it when Mohanji speaks about these topics, because it always comes as a good reminder, especially when you’re caught up in many activities. The conversation brought back to me what he has shared before, about our existence in the world, in the waking state world, where really what we’re experiencing is only through our mind and senses. We see objects through our eyes, we can recognise the fragrance through our nose, we have a tongue that enjoys the habitual tastes which we’re accustomed to enjoying, and we feel the skin. Then our mind feels the emotions that we have. This is what we’re experiencing from the world.

Mainly it is habitual, pattern-driven, and for many people, it can also be unconscious. Mohanji made the point that because of this, and because of the limitations of the mind and senses, we are essentially trapped in a cage, imprisoned by these limitations. He extended this to the earth being just a larger extension of that prison. We can be happy going from one location to another, enjoying the various different sceneries, cultures, the different smells, and tastes. But in reality, we haven’t gone anywhere, is what he was saying in this conversation. We may have physically relocated somewhere, but inside we’re still carrying the same mind with its usual likes, dislikes, patterns, and fears. We carry that with us, along with all the junk which we’ve accumulated over lifetimes and this life. We will always be attracted to what we’re habituated to in life. For example, I know that even though I go to many different places, I always want to go to the same food. Not that I’m drinking coffee so much anymore, but I’ll go to the same coffee, even though there are many different options. For me, that’s always a small reminder of the patterns which exist.

I recognise this more now, as I used to travel a lot previously, in the days when I was searching for something more meaningful in life and I thought travel would bring this. I went to many places, but in the end, I recognized that regardless of where I went, I still had the same feelings inside. Now, being connected and living with Mohanji, for some time, I’ve noticed that these typical desires have begun to drop off, or if they haven’t gone away completely, then the intensity or the pull of them, to actually bring me into activity is reducing. That push into the world is much less, which means things become more quiet and clear.

The understanding which is coming now, hearing these messages again and then experiencing more quietness and less pull into the world, is that it’s helping me, in my way anyway, understand Mohanji’s simple teaching of “be you”, differently. It’s giving a different dimension to this now, because then if that’s the prison, if the world is the prison, my sense and my mind – everything which is pushing me out into the usual activity is the binding, then that’s definitely not me. So, what is “being you”? It can only be what’s beyond that; what’s actually running this, as Mohanji has said many times before. But I feel that sometimes it comes at the right time, with a different understanding and awareness, to actually begin to catch something more real. Being you isn’t being the identifications, the likes, the dislikes, or the mind and its senses, it’s something much more.

Day 182 – Unity or Separation?

A few days ago, I had a very interesting conversation with Mohanji, about unity and separation, or oneness and duality. What I share now is a mix of what Mohanji has shared with me and my understanding.

If you take consciousness as one, supreme consciousness exists as oneness, as pure brightness. There are then many forms of that consciousness, and there are also masters, avadhūtas, great beings, who are connected and immersed in that consciousness. For example, it’s been said before that Mohanji is an avadhūta and these are beings, people who are completely immersed inside themselves, immersed within God, within consciousness, fully supreme consciousness. In our tradition, the tradition of liberation, it’s guiding people on that path, liberating themselves from the bindings of identification of the mind of the senses, to connect with that oneness, to achieve and experience that unity.

In this path, the only real main criteria, is a consistent connection, to that being, that form that’s representing that state. For me and many of us following this path, that’s Mohanji, representing that state of supreme consciousness, so through connection, that’s how you achieve. It’s a representation, a living representation, of unity, of oneness. Using the analogy of plugging into this, so that you are connected; with Mohanji, I don’t feel as though you’re plugging into a house, or the transformer outside the house that’s giving the electricity. It’s the power plant directly, the source. For me, at least, that’s what it is.

He shared an interesting perspective about those who begin to criticise, judge, and even go as far as leaving, after once having been connected to him. It was interesting for me because I hadn’t thought about it in this way. If you take Mohanji as the representation of unity, of oneness, and that possibility, when you’re connecting with Mohanji, you’re connecting with that state. So, you begin to experience it. But then for people, if it’s not their agenda, not their path, or not their chosen destiny, to become one with oneness, but rather separation, duality, the world of illusions, then what will happen is they’re likely to leave because that’s not what they want. They want to experience more, take more lives. This is interesting for me because I always thought: “How can someone leave Mohanji, in that sense, because what he’s offering is so precious and special to me, as I understand it.” But this was a real fresh perspective, that it’s probably not their agenda, that they’re not interested at this time, in reaching that unity consciousness.

Then we spoke a little bit more, and we were talking about the signs, which can really show separation, both for people that you see and observe, and also what you can experience yourself. When there’s the beginning of criticism, comparison, conflict, or confusion, there’s a separation taking place. There are tell-tale signs that there’s a separation happening.

First, separation happens in the mind and then physically. So, when you say, “This person is like this,” in judgment, then you already created a separation: “I’m like this, they’re like that.” Then that’s a very simple, clear sign to show where people stand. For me, this is also a good lesson, because then in conversations and being with certain people, when you see these on display, people criticising, comparing, or being in conflict, it’s a sign that there’s a separation at play, or potentially, I wouldn’t say, what their agenda is, but that’s the operating state which they’re currently in.

I feel that anybody who is really striving for that unity, or to come closer, even if they have those comparisons, criticisms, or conflicts inside, they’ll be making an effort not to display them outwardly, because they know that it’s part of them, but that their path is to move beyond that. I feel that this can help in the company that we keep and our own state as well, because as soon as we start to have criticisms, conflicts and confusions, and if I start to judge or compare with somebody, then I know where I’m currently standing or where my thinking is at. So, it’s a good rule or benchmark.

Similarly, now it’s a new understanding that for those who would leave the path, it’s not a bad thing. It’s not something to be looked at as good or bad. It’s simply a recognition of their choice of one option: preferring separation over unity. This was an interesting thing for me to hear and understand.

|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||

Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 18th December 2022

Disclaimer:

The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.

We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.

Mohanji Testimonials team

Lessons Living with Mohanji – Days 99 & 100

Posted on by Mohanji Editorial Team

by Christopher Greenwood

Day 99 Lesson – A vision for each activity   

Good morning everybody. I hope you’re doing very well. 

The Global Summit for 2021 is underway and will continue for the next few days. The Summit is a continuation of the sessions where the heads of countries, activities and platforms outline their plans and vision for the coming year. It’s exciting and inspiring to listen to the activities that have taken place across the world and how each team is planning to take things forward. 

The session yesterday covered many of the country teams from the Balkan region. Last year, they had the vision to bring the Balkan countries together as one overall team; countries such as Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, and Montenegro. The Balkan region has seen many complex divisions through time, even as recently as the war in the 90s. By joining together as one team, they’re ushering a message of unity to the region, which is inspiring. 

As each team provided their vision for the year, I was reminded of one of the early lessons Mohanji shared on the importance of having a vision for everything you do. It helped me become more effective in each area of my work and activities. It’s still a learning for me because obviously, everything you get taught can take some time to settle. So I’m continuing to perfect it. I wanted to reshare this again as it’s a fitting theme given the week we have now for the Global Summit. 

When I look at Mohanji, I see his unshakeable vision for the world, and that’s to raise the collective consciousness of a generation to a frequency where there’s more kindness and compassion so that a new generation and new age can come forth. All of the activities and platforms are born from that grand vision. I realize that the grand vision has been broken down into much smaller visions, down to simple steps that need to be taken to help give that momentum of moving things forward. Speaking to Mohanji and learning that you can have a grand vision, what is good is your reality, your resources, the capacity you have, and where you are right now. This enables you to take steps with what you have. 

This is what Mohanji is encouraging, especially with the spaces we’ve got for the Centers of benevolence. We may not know how we’re going to get to the completion, but at least if we’ve got the next one or two months understood, we can start making foundations and set in place now what needs to happen. I’ve always admired how Mohanji approaches tasks, understands every possibility, and creates that vision for it irrespective of whether the task is big or small.

The following example illustrates the same. 

At the time, Mohanji was working as the Country Head in the shipping industry. He was responsible for all the ships coming in and out of the port – big oil tankers, cruise liners, cargo ships, and vessels. The shipping industry is really dynamic because apart from the activity itself, which is complex to organize with all that loading, unloading, and the timings associated with that; you also have the changeable nature of the sea, of the ocean, the tides, weather; all these types of things have to play the part. 

Once Mohanji had a call in the middle of the night, a mayday call. It was from the Ocean Voyager, a survey vessel (which had found the Titanic). It had met the same fate as the Titanic. Some machinery on top of the deck broke from its bindings and hit the ship. This cracked the ship perfectly in two, and she started sinking fast with the crew on board. Mohanji came to the port, took charge of his team, and led the rescue operation with the American Navy. Mohanji rescued everybody on board, all the crew. He had never handled an operation like that before. The ship sank within six hours, extremely quickly.

I gleaned from that example that when the situation happened for him, he approached the crisis with vision and foresight, thinking about the eventualities that would arise from that situation. In particular, the state of the people as they arrived, their needs, as many would have been in shock, many would have no belongings. Although he had no experience, he made sure that his team had created a kit before they arrived so that they all had the basics such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kits, some spare clothes, something warm, and some food as well. 

The kits were ready and distributed when the survivors arrived from the rescue vessel. They were taken to comfortable surroundings as many were in deep shock, and relevant people were there to help them. Mohanji had informed all the embassies (like Italian, American, and the British embassy) beforehand, as the 32 surviving crew members were from different nationalities, so all those embassies were involved as well. The embassies sent their representatives to receive the survivors, and everything went on smoothly. It was an incredible success. They had to work through many hours, and Mohanji rewarded his team very well for their outstanding effort. 

For me, it’s a great example of building a vision from the reality of what’s there in front. Mohanji encourages me always to have a vision for activities and everybody else so that people can assess all the eventualities and take each activity to the highest possibility it can have.

Personally, I’ve found that it develops a much stronger intention for the activity when I do this. Iccha shakti or willpower also develops, giving the momentum to take steps. It is a good reminder that we can really give justice to everything when we first create a vision for what we want to achieve.

I wish all the teams well in the next steps for 2021 so that more people can benefit from this great platform for their visions to come into reality. 

I hope you have a great day ahead.

Day 100 Lesson – “Be You” 

Good morning everybody. I hope that you’re doing well. 

Early this morning, Mohanji left India on his journey to Istanbul for the upcoming retreat – ‘Transforming challenges into opportunities. This will be the first major public event since the COVID-19 pandemic began and spread worldwide. The pandemic has made travel challenging. I know some people who wanted to attend the retreat, but it wasn’t possible because there were no flights; many routes were closed. There are many new challenges which we’re faced with. Mohanji commented as he travelled to the airport, he said it was like a war situation; everyone and everything was gloomy. In preparation for the retreat, the office team has created presentation materials that will provide an overview of Mohanji, what he stands for and his impactful life-changing teachings.

This has been a great reminder for me of all the collection of things that Mohanji delivered. We have many practices – meditations, kriyas, various techniques like conscious dancing, conscious walking, and many processes. I admire and find the simplicity of his core teaching of this Avadhoota path truly profound. Simply put, you can boil it down into two words: Be You. That’s what he says, ‘Be you’. I think that’s great. 

If anyone ever asks what Mohanji teaches, it isn’t the practices, meditation and the kriyas, but it’s that -“Be You”, fully, because there is no one else like you. The methods are all supplementary, giving alignment and giving some benefit. The practices, processes, and techniques support that journey to understand and be ourselves. 

For example, Power of Purity is helping people to forgive and forget, release from unnecessary emotions that people have attached. But at its core, it’s that path of being you, understanding yourself, accepting yourself, being yourself because that brings authenticity to our life and our uniqueness. 

Mohanji shared a statement, which I think makes an excellent quote. He said, “My only investment in this whole world is myself. That’s the only authentic investment possible. Everything else has just appeared while we are living here, and it does not belong to us.” 

This lesson of ‘Be You’ is emerging as a fundamental and ever-evolving lesson as I contemplate and look to accept life as it comes; I become more aware of who I am. The boot camp was great and gave a framework for looking at all those aspects: body, mind, intellect, ego, soul, spirit, and personality. These things are all aspects of myself, but I never considered them before in how I am now. 

For example, certain emotional patterns which happened or typical reactions in certain situations – although they’re coming and going, now with more awareness, I realize, that’s not me. They’re temporary; they come and go. It has been liberating to know and experience that I am not the emotions that arise or the limiting thought patterns that I once held. I’m learning more to move with life, and I am developing a greater acceptance of my weaknesses without dwelling on them or judging them. 

I’m finding as well the more time that I’ve been spending with Mohanji, especially close to him, the intensity of emotions, mindsets and patterns are coming to the surface. I become hyper-aware of specific reactions to situations and patterns of being, then very quickly see their corresponding impact on my self-esteem or situations around me. For me, this contemplation and awareness are growing and evolving, and I think it’s a life lesson. 

Although I’ve titled this ‘Lessons living with Mohanji’, I don’t think this one will ever be learned. For me, this is an ongoing lesson, and I’m sure the journey of a lifetime. The boot camp opened my eyes and provided a structure to understand and experience this. Now it is a daily living practice of being aware of myself, contemplating and exploring the various dimensions of myself. It’s a process and a journey. But I’m enjoying the simplicity at which we can put down Mohanji’s teaching,’ Be You’. 

I hope you have a great day ahead, and I will speak to you soon.

|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||

Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 5th February 2022

Disclaimer:

The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these blogs are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Mohanji, Mohanji Foundation, it’s members, employees or any other individual or entity associated with Mohanji or Mohanji Foundation. We make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of any information presented by individual authors and/or commenters on our blogs and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use.

We reserve the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner we see fit blog entries or comments that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, of an express commercial nature, or otherwise unacceptable.

Mohanji Testimonials team