Practices

What is Sadhana?

Sadhana is often translated to mean a “device”, “spiritual labor” or a “tool” for spiritual growth. It quite literally means the performance of merging the breath, -Ana, with the Truth, Sat or Sadh. The true sadhana is therefore breath awareness for it is the active practice of reuniting the breath with spirit or life. The breath is the bridge between the physical and nonphysical therefore the word Sadhana describes the process of walking with the Truth through the Breath.

Our Practice

The path is Advaita-Kshama and the central practice is Kshama Kriya. The Act of Forgiving (Kshama) + Breath Awareness (Shivanapanasati) = Kshama Kriya. Kshama Kriya therefore is “The act of releasing the past for the sake of the Breath or Awareness Itself.” This practice is twenty four hours, every day and every hour and every minute and second of the day. No matter what we share in our programs, events or other activities, Gurudevi Yoga’s teachings always center around the idea of Nondual Forgiveness as the Way given to attain Self Realization and Communion with the Divine. Swamiji refers to the path of forgiveness as the path of “communication” suggesting that the power of Thought is more immediate than the pursuit of Enlightenment through meditation, exercises, or other means that imply the use of the body and therefore the need for time altogether. In nearly every Satsang, Darshan, or discussion with Swamiji, his hope is to free you and enlighten you with just one question, “Can you feel that you exist right now?”. The answer which is immediate and true, is the beginning and end of your spiritual journey if your goal is Self-Realization. To accept and cherish this simple question and answer is the end of your suffering and the essence of what true, Nondual forgiveness is. However Swamiji realizes that most after receiving such an immediate awakening don’t often the value the power of this exchange and offers a variety of tools and methods to remove the blocks to this awareness.

“The awareness of your own existence is so natural, it’s super-natural. It’s so ordinary, it’s extra-ordinary.”

Therefore the offerings from Gurudevi Yoga are split up into four parts. Swamiji believes every method offered is complete in itself and there is no need to anxiously climb up the ladder of initiations and programs. All events and programs will lead you back to the efficacy and success of practicing Kshama Kriya and Breath Awareness.

These four categories are

Samadhipada - The preliminary stage . For those who do not have much desire in dedicating themselves to sadhana due to ideas of household duties and other responsibilities that hinder their ability to perform longer periods of spiritual practice. Samadhipada can also be seen as the “effortless approach”. However much you give yourself to these free, available practices you will see gradual progress in your daily life.

Madha - These are techniques offered to the one who has mild intensity on the path to Truth. This means you sincerely believe that you can dedicate yourself to an average of 30 minutes of practice a day. The process offered in this phase are simple yet powerful techniques transmitted by Swamiji or a trained Gurudevi Practitioner during a one day program called, “Nirvana - Master Your Own Destiny”

Madhyama - This second phase is for those with moderate intensity who feel they can commit to at least 60-90 minutes a day to dedicated training. The processes offered in this phase help align the energies more toward the goal of liberation while still emphasizing the physical and psychological benefits needed in daily life. These practices are shared by Swamiji or a trained Gurudevi Practitioner over a 3 Day Program called, “KSHAMA - The Fire of Forgiveness”

Uttama - This third phase is for those whose concern is spiritual growth beyond everything. There is no thought about family or worldly situations in the context of how the spiritual path will affect their lives. These individuals whether maintaining a household or walking alone have made the process of enlightenment a priority. You are willing to commit to 120-180 minutes a day to your spiritual practices. These techniques are shared over a 7 day period by Swamiji in a program called, “KRIYA - The Rite to Immortality”

It benefits you nothing to speed through these programs if there is not Bhakti (devotion) and surrender in your heart. You must attend each phase to move on to the next and the third phase, Uttama, will have a required meeting with each participant prior their final acceptance into the KRIYA Program.

You are given Kshama Kriya as a means to practice all through the day and accelerate through this path like you never dreamed of. Kshama is the Way. tion text goes here

Sri Swami Sai Krsna represents Advaita-Kshama Marga, or the path of Nondual Forgiveness. He’s a direct disciple of Sri Mahavatar Babaji and a part of the Shiva Yoga Sampradaya (Tradition).

Main Practice

Kshama Kriya - This is the central practice of Gurudevi Yoga. The Act of Forgiving (Kshama) + Breath Awareness (Shivanapanasati) = Kshama Kriya. Kshama Kriya therefore is “The act of releasing the past for the sake of the Breath or Awareness Itself.”

The practice of Kshama Kriya is split into two parts:

1.) Ksana. Moments

and

2.) Sambandha. Connection

The path of Advaita Kshama is about initiating a love affair that turns into complete communion with the Divine. Both aspects of Ksana and Sambandha are integral and making your Kshama practice successful.

Ksana, means a moment or instant. There is no way to quantify your time spent with eternity. Sometimes these moments correlate to another man spending a hundred years of loveless meditation. To practice this bring your attention back to the breath the very moment it comes to mind and don’t try to hold it, enjoy it and allow it for as long as possible or the situation allows.

This aspect ignites iccha Shakti, Willpower or the power of desire and is most important for those of the world with householder responsibilities and high activity in the world. Instead of loathing about not having the time to do more sadhana or prayer, spend this moment returning back to the awareness of the breath. If only it lasts for a few moments you will return back to your tasks at your work desk, while cooking, in the family life and feel rejuvenated and will bring the peace of that moment into the rest of your day. This aspect of Kshama that is Ksana will begin revealing to you the simplicity and the peace of natural awakening.

Sambandha, means connection, relationship, and refers to that eternal bond the soul has with the Source of creation. The more you practice Kshama Kriya in the form Ksana, or moments throughout the day, that will lead to the desire of improving the Sambandha or connection with your inner Self. This means you will suddenly find more time in the day to just sit and watch the breath. At least twice a day for at least five minutes, sit with eyes closed or open and watch the breath. The peaceful rest and quiet you start to feel will overwhelm you with joy and new life.

“Kshama is the highest of tapas and can only be taken up after many lifetimes of other sadhanas. The grandest and noblest of virtues. Kshama is the breath of life”

Sathya Sai Baba

“The highest pranayama is the Kriya kundalini, but the highest Kriya is Kshama, or nondual forgiveness”

- Sri Mahavatar Babaji

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” - Christ Jesus

“Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride—these belong to one born for a divine state, O Arjuna” - Bhagawan Sri Krishna

Primary Instruction

Shivanapanasati - Breath Awareness. “Be willing to watch the Breath all day.”

Shivanapanasati is the answer to your problems. And it’s very simple but it’s not a small thing. This is the same instruction given to Parvati by Shiva. To Arjun from Krsna. From the Buddha and from Christ to their disciples. You have to be willing to watch the breath all day. Breath is not just svasa, and the oxygen you take in. It is the very presence of life sitting there in your moment to moment activity. Sit twice a day, once with eyes closed, once with eyes open for a focused practice watching the breath. Every moment you can spare between activities or in the midst of them take a few moments to acknowledge the breath and your existence and try to watch it throughout the day the best you can. This is the instruction my Guru gave to me that transformed my life. I’m with you all the way. I know your problems, and this is the solution. When there needs to be an adjustment or something to help even further, that will be provided intuitively and without hesitation by your inner guidance.

Sai Krsna Japa

Hatha Yoga (Dhyanasanas, Sai Surya Namaskar, Savitur Kriya, Soma Kriya, Nirmanasanas, Sri Gurudevi Puja) list all the modules with a brief description