What do you mean by being a 'Yogi'?

Q: Guruji, what do you mean by being a 'Yogi'?

Guruji : Yogi means being like a child again. Ashtavakra said the same. No craving, no aversion and no attachment can cover self knowledge.

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Q: Guruji, in this social life everyday with lots of boundaries, limitations and problems, I am unable to concentrate. Can you please advise me on how to concentrate and be focused towards the goal of my life?

Guruji : So, you have the desire to concentrate. This itself is good, you are already focused. You are aware that you want to be focused and you are aware you are getting distracted, that means you are focused. Don’t doubt that, okay?! And to increase that focus, what you are doing is the perfect thing – meditation, pranayama and satsang. Already the focus keeps coming. Also observe what is distracting you too much. You are watching too many movies, isn’t it?! That’s what you do, right? (Ans – Yes) When you watch too many movies the mind is bombarded with so many impressions and so the mind feels so confused. It becomes like a habit to watch movies. So cut down on movies for one per week. When you come back so tired from work, take a good sleep.

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Whatever has happened in the past, just shrug it off and move ahead. When you dust away all the dirt (of the past) that has accumulated inside you, then you will simply start shining. You become much stronger, your consciousness blossoms, and happiness starts to flow. Then you can say that you are alive. This is what life really is.

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Q: Guruji, is it necessary to eat a healthy, low fat diet?

Guruji : You know, there are so many theories nowadays. At first people used to say that you should eat only low-fat, or no fat diet. Now they say that our body converts anything we eat into fat if we do not eat fat at all. So they say you must eat a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet. There are so many different theories now. But the elderly Ayurveda doctors say that you should eat fat. They will often advise you to have a lot of butter! So there is a lot of confusion about what one must eat and what one must not eat. You should listen to your body, and have that which suits your body.
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Q: Guruji, I do exercises, hence I am into controlled breathing. Can you please explain how these meditation courses could help me?

Guruji : It can help you in so many ways and that is why it is so popular. If millions of people around the world are doing it, there must be something to it. I tell you, it is very profound, intense and at the same time, simple as well. It is not just an exercise. It is an exercise with spiritual upliftment of energy. It is for sure that when you walk out from the course, you will go with a bigger smile and contentment in your heart; adding a new dimension to life. You know there are so many prejudices in our minds. We should let go of the prejudices. The mind has different kind of prejudices. See, we accept food from every part of the world. We accept music from every part of the world. But when it comes to knowledge, wisdom and relating to people, we have some prejudices. We should overcome these prejudices and feel that everybody belongs to me, the whole world is one family.

Om Namah Shivay